Part 8

Alonzo woke when something landed on him, something that turned out to be his younger brother.

"Tumble I've missed you too", he said. "But why do wake me up by jumping onto me?"

Tumble just grinned and snuggled into his brother's chest. "I missed you."

Alonzo grinned and put his arm around his brother who was lying on top of him and he himself was lying on his back. Tumble purred and fell asleep.

"Aren't you cute", a voice said and Alonzo lifted his head and saw Munk stand in the entrance of the den.

"I know", Alonzo grinned. "Tumble is very cute."

'I was talking about you', Munk thought and aloud he said. "Isn't every kitten?"

"Was Macavity?"

Munk snorted. "I can't remember." Then he sighed. "I found him inside here you know."

"You found that filthy old fur hat in my den", Alonzo asked darkly.

"No, no I mean Tumble."

"Oh well that's much better."

"He was very upset." Alonzo tightened his grip on his brother.

"I guessed as much", he said. "What about you Munk? I hope you didn't take my disappearance too bad."

"I didn't take it too bad… I took it way too bad. I even attacked Cori."

"You did what?!"

"Sh Tumble is still sleeping."

"Why the hell did you attack Cori?"

"He was eh… being an ass."

Alonzo carefully shifted Tumble to lie on the bed and rose. Then he walked to the entrance and nodded to Munk to follow him.


Alonzo lead him a bit away from the dens before stopping.

"Now tell me what happened", he demanded.

Munk sighed. "The same day that I told you to go fishing for information Coricopat and Tantomile came to me and told me that I would suffer a lot but be happy because of it… Then you 'died' and when Cori sought me out and told me a strange thing…"

"What?"

"He told me you love me." Alonzo stared at him.

'Now that's just perfect', he thought. 'How the hell will I get out of this mess?'

"Alonzo", Munk asked as his friend just stared at him. "Yohoo anybody home?" He waved a paw in front of Alonzo's face and the patched tom started.

"Sorry", he grinned sheepishly. "It's just… I do love you Munk."

Munkustrap's heart leapt into his throat and he felt hope in his chest.

"But the twins misinterpreted my meaning", Alonzo continued. "I meant that I love you like a brother."

"Oh", Munk said and almost cried.

"Why do you sounds so disappointed", Alonzo asked and saw how miserable his friend looked. "Y-you don't-"

A crash interrupted him and a screech from Asparagus who was guarding today.

"Humans", he yelled.

Alonzo grabbed Munk's paw and pulled him into an old cupboard. The closeness to each other made both of them feel awkward. Then they saw a pair of feet outside their hiding place and someone tore the door open. Both toms blinked at the light.

"Mum I found two", a child's voice called. A voice Alonzo recognized and he looked up. A woman appeared beside him and looked down at them with a smile. A woman Alonzo recognized.

"Oh they are beautiful", the woman said. "But that one has a collar Mattie."

"It means he has a owner doesn't it?"

"Yes but the other one is thinner and has no collar. I think he is a stray."

"Darling, Mattie", a male's voice said and he came to them holding something in his arms. "Look what I found."

"Aw a kitten", the woman said and Munk jumped out of the cupboard without thinking and Alonzo followed him. Alonzo's eyes widened when he saw that John Addams held his little brother in his arms.

"Aw shit", he said and Tumble looked at him in fright. "Just be calm Tumble."

"Look the patched one is talking to the kitten", Vanessa Addams said and smiled. Matt was now staring at the two grown toms and bent down and picked Alonzo off the ground.

"Is that you Alonzo", he hissed into the cats ear and Alonzo made a Y on Matt's chest by moving his paw. "Is the little one your brother?" Alonzo made a why again.

"Alonzo are you okay", Munk called up to him.

"Yes this kid seems to know how to be gentle to cats", Alonzo called down. Vanessa picked up Munk who tried very hard to not hiss in pain.

"This one look injured", Vanessa said and patted him carefully. "They are beautiful all three of them."

"So", John asked. "Which one will we take?"

"I think we should take the kitten love. This one has an owner and the patched one is already grown."

"But", Matt said but felt Alonzo dig his claws into his arms. "What are we going to call the kitten?"

Alonzo breathed a sigh of relief.

"Don't worry Tumble these are nice people", he called to the shaking kitten.

"Y-you know them", Tumble asked.

"A little. They know the lady who took care of me."

"I know", Matt said and grinned as he put Alonzo down and reached out for Tumble. "Let's call him… AJ."

"Why", his father asked.

"You remember my friend from the hospital?"

"Yes the Italian looking man. What about him?"

"He kind of reminds me of him and J stands for Junior."

Alonzo's eyes turned wide and he bit his lip to keep from laughing. Munk was looking at him oddly.

"Honey", Vanessa said and checked Munk over. "Isn't this the cat on those notes around our street? The one that went missing."

"Blimey dear", John said. "You're right. Let's bring him back to his family."

"It's not necessary", Munk objected but wasn't heard and the family left with him and Tumble. "Well this is just great."

"Come on Munk", Tumble said. "We'll be living on the same street!"

Munk chuckled. "Oh yes I'll never get rid of your pranks and oh the horror I'll see you every day!"

"Hey you already do!"

"No before I could leave the yard and not see you and now I have to."


They rounded a corner, Matt still carrying Tumble and Vanessa carrying Munk when Matt walked into someone.

"Oh I'm sorry sir I", he began and looked up into a smiling face.

"Well lookie here little Mattie have learned to behave after all!" Munk's heart took a leap when he heard the voice and he looked up from Vanessa's arms and saw the man that had saved him. Again it struck him how beautiful the guy was and he felt himself blush.

"Alonzo", Matt cried and Munk started.

"What", he said but only Tumble and Alonzo could understand.

Matt who hadn't understood him hugged the man tightly.

"I missed you", he said.

"I missed you too kiddo, how are you. Hello there sir", he said and took John's hand. "Nice to see you again and you too Vanessa."

"Alonzo it is good to see that you seem well", John said and grinned. "How is life going for you?"

"Just fine sir and how is it for you? Hey Mattie can you let me go? You're cutting of my circulation."

"Oh sorry Lonz", the boy grinned and Tumble took a deep breath after almost being suffocated by Alonzo's leather trousers.

"And who is this little fella", Alonzo grinned and scratched Tumble beneath the chin and the kitten purred.

"This is AJ", Matt grinned. "We named him after you!"

"Me? Kid a cat can't be named Alonzo! It's not good enough!"

Matt started to laugh hysterically and Alonzo grinned.

"Hey", Tumble objected and Alonzo looked down on him. "My brother's name is Alonzo!"

"It looks as if he's been offended", Alonzo grinned again and patted Matt's shoulder and then his eyes turned to Munk. "Well hey again Stripes. What are you doing with these nice people?" he scratched Munk behind the ear. "Are you misbehaving or fighting pollicles again?"

'He knows about pollicles', Munk thought.

"You know this cat", John asked with big eyes.

"I found him battling a big dog and saved him. Then I took him back to his family. Looks like he didn't stay with them for long."

"Do you know his name?"

"M-Stiger."

"M-Stiger?"

"No Stiger I said wrong. The children told me it stands for Silver Tiger."

Vanessa chuckled and saw as Munk tried to get to the man. "He seems to like you."

"Munk", Tumble asked. "What are you doing?"

Munk stopped struggling. His feeling were confusing him he wanted, no he had to get to that man but his feeling for Alonzo was just as strong as always.

"I don't want to go home is all Tumble… I just have to…" He grinned and put his claws into Vanessa's bare skin.

"Ouch", she yelped and dropped him and he darted off. But something grabbed his neck fur and picked him up.

"Now that's not how to treat a lady Stripes", Alonzo chuckled and Munk looked straight into his black eyes and nearly fainted. He recognized them.

"A-Alonzo", he asked in a whisper and Alonzo started and paled. He handed Munk to John.

"It was nice to see you all", he said and ruffled Matt's hair. "Maybe I'll see you again. Bye."

Munk watched him go and when the man rounded the corner he bit John and took off after him leaving Tumble with the three humans.

"Well", Matt said and nuzzled the kitten's head. "Let's go home with AJ."


Alonzo was panting and sweaty when he entered his room at the home and he shut the door with a bang and leaned against it.

"Fuck I didn't think he'd recognize me!" he said to himself. "He was with me for almost a day and didn't do it." Alonzo felt sweat go down his face. "Damn it's irritating!" He shifted back to a cat. "At least I'm not sweating now."

"No but you got some explaining to do", Munk's voice said from the open window and with a light thud Munk jumped down to him and marched up to him.

"Hi there Munk", Alonzo answered sheepishly. But Munk just glared at him angrily.

"Tell me", he growled.

"What?"

"Tell me!"

"Tell you what Munk?!"

"Can you shift into anything else than a human?!"

"I-"

"Do it."

Alonzo glared back at him.

"Shift", Munk went on.

"No."

"Do it or help me Everlasting cat I'll-"

"You'll what?! Banish me from the tribe?! Kill me?! Believe me Munk nothing you can do will hurt me."

"Do as I say Alonzo or I'll tell the entire tribe about this."

Alonzo was about to retort but shut his mouth. If the tribe found out about it they'd all distance themselves from him. He closed his eyes and sadly shook his head.

"Shift." Alonzo sighed and turned into a human and looked down at the silver tabby with sad eyes.

"You can shift into more than just a human can't you", Munk said angrily.

Alonzo merely nodded.

"Then", Munk spat. "Do a cheetah."

Alonzo's head shot up.

"No Munk", he said he didn't want his friend to hear him scream.

"So you understand me as a human."

"Yes."

"Then do as I say."

"Munk please I don't-"

"Now!"

"As… you… wish…" Alonzo focused and started to tremble and transformed and when he did he wailed in agony and pain. The scram started out as that of a man being injured but turned into the roar of a cheetah. Alonzo fell onto all four and a cheetah with black eyes stood on shaking paws and looked down at Munk. When the Jellicle protector heard how it harmed Alonzo to transform his anger disappeared.

"Happy now", said Alonzo his voice much deeper and he barred his sharp teeth.

"I-"

"Are you fucking happy now", Alonzo roared and turned into a human again. He was deadly pale, sweating and shaking. He picked Munk up by the scruff of his neck. "I know you understand me even when I'm a human Munkustrap." Munk winced Alonzo never called him by his full name, well almost never. "You think I enjoy this? Well I'll tell you Jellicle protector it isn't as fun as it seems to shift into any form you like."

"I'm sorry."

"Oh you will be." Alonzo's was shooting lightning. "Let's see how cocky you are when you're turned into a fly!"

Munk paled and felt a strange tingling feeling and Alonzo dropped him in shock when the silver tabby turned into a perfect copy of Tumble. Munk landed on his paw and watched himself in the mirror in the room.

"Bloody hell", he said with Tumble's voice. Alonzo sighed and shifted back to a cat. "Lonz… i-it's amazing!"

"No", Alonzo said. "It isn't… it's difficult, painful and dangerous. What if I can't shift you back or get stuck as something else."

Munk was quiet for a while and took in the sad look on his friend's face.

"That's why we couldn't find you", he stated. "You turned into a human."

"Yes and I bloody hell didn't know how to shift back. I woke up-"

"Before you tell me… eh do you mind shifting me back again?"

Alonzo touched him and focused and Munk was himself again.

"Better", Alonzo asked.

"Yeah… much thanks. So you woke up?"

"Yeah I woke up in a hospital and I bet you can imagine my fright waking up as a human. The humans found me naked in an alley. The fought I'd been kept captive somewhere and I guessed that if I told them something, anything they would accuse me for one crime or another. So I decided that I had to pretend I didn't understand what they said. The poor fools sent me to some kind of hospital to get over my traumatic childhood and learn how to speak as a man of my age."

Munk started laughing.

"It isn't funny Munk!"

"Yes it is! I know how you are when you're cooped up in bed after being injured. Aw man this must have been torture."

"The biggest torture was knowing that I was hurting you and my family."

Munk stopped laughing at once and saw the tear filled eyes of his tom charming. Alonzo looked down at the floor and saw something around Munk's front paw.

"Hey", he said. "That's my band!"

Munk took it off and handed it bad. "I was keeping it safe until you returned."

"Thanks…"

"So that kid from the yard…"

"Aw Mattie… strange kid he could see me for what I really am."

"A cat?"

"Yes." Alonzo told him about his time at the hospital.


"I really missed you Munk", he said when he was done and they were lying on the bed.

"I missed you too and couldn't stop dreaming about you."

"What?"

"Alonzo", Munk said and sighed. "I've put this up for too long."

"What you're going to banish me now?"

"No! Lonz… I-I have to ask you something."

"What?"

"C-can you kiss me?" Alonzo looked at him and a smile played on his lips. "Sorry it was a stupid question. I-I'll just leave now." Munk rose to leave and both toms got a bog feeling of déjà vu.

"No, no Munk", Alonzo grabbed his paw gently. "Look at me."

Munk didn't dare.

"Look at me Munkustrap."

Munk turned to his best friend and felt tears go down his cheeks.

"Do you love me", Alonzo asked.

"Y-yes", Munk stuttered out and let his head drop. "I've loved you since we were kittens."

He felt Alonzo grip his chin and tilt his head up so their eyes could meet.

"Then why the bloody hell didn't you tell me sooner", Alonzo asked and smiled and kissed Munk on the lips. Munk's heart leaped in happiness as he kissed back. Softly at first but then more passionate than he would ever think possible. When they parte to breathe they smiled.

"So Cori was right then", Munk asked and nuzzled Alonzo's neck.

"Yeah… I-I just thought you didn't felt the same and would be disgusted by it."

"Nothing you can do would disgust me Zo."

"Do you wanna bet?"

"No."

Alonzo chuckled and they kissed again.

'Cori and Tanta was right', Munk thought.


In his hideout Macavity was pacing back and forth thinking on how to get his revenge on the Jellicles. Killing Alonzo hadn't worked, the stupid tom had come back and kidnapping his father hadn't worked either. But… maybe he could do it again. He knew Mistofelees was out of town with his family and younger brother. So that meant that no one could get Deuteronomy back. He grinned and it widened when he added another thing to his plan. Something that would hurt his brother Munkustrap more than anything.


TBC Please review

Here is the families: Skimble and Jenny - Alonzo, Demeter and Tumble. But Skimble also found Mungo and Rumple in the streets and cares a bit like a dad for them that's why Mungo calls him dad.

Deuteronomy and Grizabella - Munk, Macavity, Tugger

Jelly and Gus - Asparagus, Admetus, Pounce and Electra

Coricopat and Tantomile are sibblings and cousing to Cassie and Exotica, their parents are already in Heaviside

Misto, Victoria and Quaxo are children of Bustopher Jones and an unknow queen

Plato, Bombalurina, Electra and Jemima are children of two cats who're already dead. Their father was unknown and their mother never told them.