Demeter
There was a soft rumble of thunder that cold morning. Munkustrap was having a drink of water when Demeter asked him, "Did you get enough sleep last night?"
He swallowed and cleared his throat, "Enough to function. That's all that counts."
"Good." She said. "I like it when you sleep well."
"Did you?"
"Mhm."
"Tugger woke me up; one of the gents wanted one more thank you before they left." Thunder crackled again. It would either be a passing storm or just the skies teasing them with the idea. If there's one thing the cats didn't need, it was near-freezing rain at this time of year. "I hope they get back before it pours... if it pours." Demeter stopped, gave a slight, painful grunt as she clutched her belly. Munkustrap's brow furrowed. "What's wrong?"
Demeter grasped where she felt the sharp pain and took a breath. "I'm fine." Munkustrap put his paw over hers, "I think it's just cramps or something..." Her eyes suddenly glistened with mischief and she dramatically cried out. "Oh! Munkustrap! The kittens are coming!" Instead of the more preferred reaction of his eyes going wide, he narrowed them and smirked.
"Are they." He said, hiding a laugh.
Demeter, of course, persisted. She knew that Munkustrap had a silly side of his own; it was easy for the Jellicles to forget when he was busy trying to act regal and dignified. She pretended to swoon into his lap. "You're going to have to birth them right here! Phone up the fire brigade!"
"Ring up the fire brigade."
Demeter scoffed, "It's the same thing!" When she tried to get up, Munkustrap instead held her down and cradled her head. "What? Am I in trouble?" She hooted.
"I didn't get to tell you how beautiful you are today is all." He caressed her temple; his tail perked up in a soft curl. They both began to purr.
"You can't sweet-talk me if you're not going to follow through with it."
He scanned her fur for the pink of her nipples; round, wide circles. His paw brushed over one breast as he kissed it. Then the other. "When the kittens are here, we can spend some time together again." Every time he embraced her, she felt as though they were back at Hyde Park again—safe in each other's arms, far away from everyone and everything else. "I love you." With everything he listed, he kissed down her face and neck, "I love your scent, your eyes, your smile... your voice." And Tugger thought he was the passionate one... well, he didn't, actually. But his suave skills must be hereditary, Demeter thought. Munkustrap, of course, still had a lot to learn.
But she loved her shy, sweet prince. She would take him over a charmer any day. "I'm the luckiest queen in the world to have you." She closed her eyes for a kiss. "Our kittens are going to be so lucky to have you as their daddy." For some reason, the tabby didn't say anything... if anything, there was something solemn about his expression. "What's the matter?"
"Hm? Nothing." He answered. The thunder crackled more loudly, making both cats jump.
—
When Munkustrap left to start planning the ball, Demeter took the liberty of seeking out a certain tom. One she rarely ever went looking for. Demeter was glad that she didn't have to go far when she spotted the large tom asleep under one of the cars. He was trilling slightly with every soft breath he took; much deeper than any regular nap he'd taken. He was rolled up into the ground; his tail covered most of his face. Demeter didn't care about politeness. She crawled under and loudly said, "Tugger."
Immediately, the Maine Coon's eyes launched open. Wide, green pools of surprise. "Wha— what?" He sounded like he'd just ran a mile; her voice had jolted him from an intense sleep. He looked around, not recognizing who had called his name, until he saw Demeter crouched beside him. "What is it?" He stretched, irritated.
"Did you stay on watch like you promised?"
"Yes." He growled, "Why else would I be hiding under a car in the middle of the day?" He yawned. "God damn it. I was having a nice nap. What'd you wake me up for?"
"I had to ask if you saw anything."
"Demeter, I would've said something if I'd seen something." He was not in the mood for this. "Did bro say anything?"
"Not much... just that he had a lot to get done today."
"He's got a lot to get done every day."
"I wish he'd give himself a break... he's going to be a father soon for God's sake."
"Munkustrap kind of likes the work, actually." Tugger said, "it keeps him busy, and he feels like he's getting something done. That's what he tells me, anyway." Demeter sighed as a response; they both felt the wind rush underneath the vehicle and through their fur. He looked at her suddenly and asked, "How are you feeling?"
"I'm all right." She replied. "I've been having a lot of pains in my stomach."
"Really?" Demeter nodded. "My guess is that it's normal for that to happen."
"I know, but I still worry."
"Stress is bad for pregnancy. That much I know is true." He snorted, "Thank God Munkustrap isn't the pregnant one." At that, they both chuckled.
"Are you nervous at all?" She asked. Tugger shook his head. He had no reason to be, he told her. "God, I wish I was like you. I wish your brother was like you, if I'm honest."
"Nah... if I didn't have a brother to straighten me out and remind me to worry once in a while, something tells me that I wouldn't still be here." He sniggered. "Don't tell him I said that." Demeter laughed and told him she would make no promises.
Mungojerrie
Mungojerrie asked Rumpleteazer, "Did you see those two peacocks on the roof earlier?"
"Peacocks? On what roof?" They were sitting on top of a suburban home, waiting for the owners to leave.
"The one across from us."
"No! Ugh! Well there goes breakfast."
"We'll have plenty to eat once the man leaves for work in about five minutes." His lips curved into a thin, dry grin, "I took a peek through the window while you were asleep last night; the woman's got some lovely hair pieces in the jewelry box." At that Rumpleteazer lit up. But then she looked at the sky and lost it.
"I hope we finish before the rain gets here."
"It's not gonna rain, is it?"
"I don't know. Looks like it." On cue, they heard the sound of the car engine starting and they peered over to see the man pulling off. It was time to start. They used the doggy door to crawl in, their family had just lost their beloved pet weeks ago and they still had some of its toys lying about. The Bengals took what they fancied and stuffed it into a duffle bag. On the counter, Rumpleteazer got a whiff of something delicious. She hopped onto the barstool and then on the island and opened up the pizza box. "Brother, look!" She exclaimed giddily. Just enough left over for them to feast.
They each took their share and once they arrived back to the alleyways, they toasted.
"And the family will say, 'It's that horrible cat!'"
They cheerfully dined on their slices, cheeks full and without a care in the world. Such naughty felines, yet such fantastic thieves. "I've got to admit." Rumpleteazer began with her mouth full, "Humans sure can make amazing food."
"Some of the time." Mungojerrie agreed. He licked the grease off his paws. "What did ours dine on again? They called it cuisine or something pretentious."
"I thought they only went out to eat. Why else did they always forget to feed us our basic meals?"
"They must've known we were so hungry that we'd try to steal theirs." They both laughed, agreeing that was probably true. He felt a drop of water on his head and wondered if the rain had finally begun. His sister must've felt it too, for she was looking at the sky wildly. Indeed, it was now drizzling. They took their stashes and hid under an awning. Rumpleteazer was still munching on her pizza. She took her time and savored her special treat, all the way down to the crispy ends. "Guess our walk home is gonna be delayed."
"It's not that bad."
"Not now, it isn't."
Her voice lowered. "...Jerrie, you smell that?" The twins smelled the air, both scenting the same thing. They looked and saw the Copperkits appearing from across the street, looking for a dry spot to wait the rain out. Shouldn't they be long gone by now?
"Keep a tight grip on our catch." Instructed Mungojerrie. He kept Rumpleteazer behind him as they darted out of sight and underneath a parked truck to avoid being spotted. They watched the small pack take refuge near the building they'd just abandoned. "I guess Munkustrap made himself clear. Looks like they're on their way out."
The she-cat sneered. "I'd hope so. Pests ought to know they're not welcome in someone else's territory... especially after a tragedy."
"Just be glad they didn't recognize us. God knows we don't need a reunion with anybody."
"You don't think they came looking for something?"
"No, Sis. If I remember anything about them, it's that they kept their business in their territory." He watched coldly as they whipped around the building, no longer in their field of vision. "But it would have been better if we'd let Munkustrap know. That way if anyone comes back, he'll know what to expect."
Rumpleteazer's entire body twitched. "God, I can't stand thinking about them."
Mungojerrie held her shoulder. "They're gone now." Now that his sister got the idea in his head, he couldn't shake it. "I'm going to have a word with Munkustrap when we get home."
"You really think he'll listen to you?"
"If he cares about his tribe, he will." He insisted. "I told you, he's a good lad. Good isn't dumb."
"Not always." Rumpleteazer added. Mungojerrie then noticed something peculiar: he counted three toms in total.
"Teazer, weren't their four of them that came to the junkyard?"
Munkustrap
"We're gonna need all this cleared out by the end of the month."
"What if it snows a lot? It's already cold and the kittens will need something to stand on if we don't want them to get lost." Alonzo chortled.
"Right now all I care about is having enough space. And even so, Demeter needs somewhere warm to have our kittens when they're ready."
Alonzo took some more notes on the clipboard. They were hidden underneath wooden planks to keep dry. "Don't worry. All that's gonna be taken care of. I went ahead and made the song chart last night." Munkustrap nodded with approval, but there was just one more thing. "So, about the coronation."
Straight to the point. Just like Alonzo, thought Munkustrap. He hid his slight annoyance and looked at him, "What is it?"
"I was thinking we should have it before the ball starts."
"Why's that?"
"The timing just feels more appropriate. We name you our leader, then we celebrate."
"It's a winter ball, it doesn't have to be about me." If anything, he'd beg not to make it about him. The last thing he needed was all that attention in one, long, stressful evening. "In all honesty, because we're cutting it so close, I want to keep an eye on Demeter. Sometimes kittens are early."
"Good point." The black-and-white tom agreed, yet something still seemed to irk him. Munkustrap knew that Alonzo knew he was pushing it off on purpose. But while they were both aware how important it was to him and the tribe, Alonzo couldn't understand the reason behind his reluctance. "You know all of the cats will be there to look after her. You shouldn't worry."
"When you have a pregnant mate, then you'll know." He smirked.
Alonzo laughed, "God knows I'll be so lucky to find a mate as beautiful as yours." Munkustrap jokingly shot him a glare. "And kind and intelligent." He threw in as a save. "Every other queen I've encountered's a spitfire."
"I think being the heir of the tribe had something to do with how queens treated me... They only liked the idea of being a consort." Munkustrap thought lamentably.
Alonzo looked appalled, "That's not true. Your father never had a consort."
Munkustrap clicked his tongue. "Not for long, he didn't. He didn't have a council either." At that, Alonzo opened his mouth, only to quickly shut it. His best friend since kittenhood afraid to speak up? "You wanted to say something?" He encouraged.
"When you're crowned... you're going to have to announce your council members sometime after. Have you..." Munkustrap knew what he was asking. Honestly, how could he expect any other answer.
"Alonzo, of course you're going to be chief advisor. You're the most level-headed cat I know."
"I wasn't going to ask that—" Munkustrap hid a smile; of course he was. "But if you insist." The tabby playfully rolled his eyes and looked out at the dreary weather. The rain brought out a more listless, somber side of him. At least now it did. When he was a kitten, he had to be dragged by the tail not to go out and play in it. He'd ruin his freshly-cleaned fur and track mud all over the place. The grin on his face drooped into a sullen stare. His cold, blue eyes watched the rain in a hypnosis. He was quiet for such a while that Alonzo started to worry. "Munkustrap." Flashing back to reality, he turned to him. "Is everything all right?"
"Yeah." He answered blankly – his default response to anyone that was concerned about him. Everything's fine. But with that tone of voice, even he wasn't convinced. The rain brought back memories of that night; the thunder alone was enough to invoke visions of the last time he saw, spoke to, and scented his father. To know the last thing Old Deuteronomy had seen was his son pathetically begging for Macavity's mercy, though he was intelligent enough to know he would never offer it, wounded his soul.
He wondered if Tugger felt this way, or Demeter, or even Mistoffelees... he had not been the only one to suffer that night. Now he wanted to go check on him, though he was sure he wasn't even home right now. His stomach felt tight and his cheeks felt hot from an unexpected queasiness. He found himself having to kneel over and Alonzo put a paw on his back.
"You all right?"
"Yeah." He parroted himself. Now Alonzo knew it was bollocks... but he knew that also meant Munkustrap would rather not talk about it.
"All right. I won't press."
"Thank you."
—
Later in the day, when the rain let up, it was already sunset. He forgot how much shorter the days became as the year's end approached. The day was 'shorter,' but somehow felt longer. Each passing day felt like an eternity as he waited in dread for what was to come. He hated the unpredictability of what awaited him. He had his routine, but even that had been off-schedule. Still, objectively, these past few days had been all right... so why wouldn't the rest of the year go as planned for once? Though, something happened at their last ball, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen during this one as well.
That's why he wanted to look after Demeter, keep her close and safe. He didn't deny she was capable of fending for herself... but her energy would be diminished and she wasn't able to move as quickly as she used to. It was his duty as a husband – and a father – to protect her. He lied next to her and listened to her stomach.
"Can you feel them?"
"Not really..." He felt himself simper and talked into her fur. "Can you hear me?" Demeter snorted. "You hear me?" He spoke in a playful, baby voice. "You hear your mummy and daddy?"
"They hear their mummy, definitely."
"You better know your daddy." He snickered and crawled up beside Demeter. "They'll know me when they see me."
"I ate half my weight in tossed-out kibble today."
"Good. It better have gone to good use."
"You know who I was thinking would be a good kitten-sitter?" Munkustrap raised a curious brow. "Mistoffelees."
"Mistoffelees? He's a kitten himself!"
"He'll be seventeen in a week or so... and think about it! He'd love to show the kittens his magic tricks."
Munkustrap nodded his head. "All right, I see your point. I guess he and Tugger can keep an eye on them if we need them to." He rubbed his paw over her belly with a soft gaze. Demeter kissed his temple.
"You know just because I'm an expecting mother doesn't mean I won't be dancing with you at the ball." She smiled flirtatiously.
"I'm not sure you'll be feeling up to it when the time comes."
She hefted herself upright. "Don't be intimidated that you might have to lift me with all this extra weight!"
This time, both of Munkustrap's brows went up. "Yeah... We'll see about that." Demeter, with a sudden rush of energy, she crawled over to the old radio and twisted it on with her tail. Betty Grable's Pretty Baby came on. It was the middle of November and already they played holiday songs.
Demeter was acting just as jubilant as the day she found out she was going to be a mother. Munkustrap had no clue what had come over her... but he'd be lying if he said he wasn't gladdened by it.
"You're awfully sprightly!"
She plopped down next to him and hugged his arm. "Of course I am!"
Everybody loves a baby, that's why I'm in love with you!
Pretty Baby! (Pretty Baby!)
Demeter mouthed along. Munkustrap, never in his life, had seen a queen so excited to be a mother. What made this better... he would be their father!
And I'd like to be a sister, brother, and mother too!
Pretty Baby! (Pretty Baby!)
Won't you come and let me rock you in my cradle of love?
We'll cuddle all the time! (All the time!)
The tom gave in, swelled by the music, and lifted her off of her seat, taking her in a dance. She screamed out happily.
Oh, I want a loving baby and it might as well be you
Pretty baby of mine!
He dipped her to the best of his ability, indeed, she was far heavier than she used to be. If only this moment could last longer.
