Emily, Thank you very much! I hope you had a marvelous Christmas! Cassieteazer, I don't think a lot of people put Alonzo and Bombalurina together, which is why I love this couple so much, haha. Thanks for your support! I'm glad to hear you're liking the story :) Debboluh, Read and find out! :D Hope you enjoy!

Ten

Bombalurina strained to push out her first kitten, squeezing Alonzo and Demeter's paws with all her might. The pain she was feeling was nearly unbearable, and something in the back of her mind was telling her that something wasn't right. She knew that kittenbirth was painful, but Demeter didn't seem to have as much trouble when she was having her kittens. Bombalurina couldn't help but worry. She couldn't faintly hear Jenny encouraging her, saying that she could see the head of the first kitten. Beside her, Demeter and Alonzo were both saying comforting words, trying to help her to relax.

With Jenny continuously urging her to push, Bombalurina finally birthed her first kitten. Jenny handed it to Bombalurina, who cleaned it and removed the umbilical cord. The kitten was tiny, having been born premature, but it mewed and nuzzled its mother before it began nursing, a good sign that it was healthy. The kitten was a tom covered in fluffy, bright red fur, like his mother. He had a bit of white on his chest and around his nose and mouth. He had a black patch over his right eye, inherited from his father. A few black spots could also be found throughout the red fur on his body.

"He's a beautiful little tom-kit," Jenny said, smiling at the nursing kitten. She handed Bombalurina one of the bowls of water that Munkustrap and Skimbleshanks had brought back, then sat back and watched the new parents get lost in the sight of their kitten.

Alonzo stared at the kitten as if he were in a state of shock. He couldn't believe that the small creature in front of him was his son. He never pictured himself as a father, but it was finally happening. He was a father to a beautiful tom-kit. He reached out with his free paw, and stroked his son's soft head to make sure he wasn't dreaming. The kitten turned towards the touch and mewed, recognizing the scent to be his father's. He blindly rubbed Alonzo's paw with his tiny nose, then returned to nursing.

"How… How is he?" Bombalurina asked weakly, turning her head to face Alonzo.

"He's perfect," Alonzo replied, smiling at the red queen. His dark eyes became misty. "He's absolutely perfect." He kissed Bombalurina's forehead and then turned to his best friend. "Munk…"

"You did good," Munkustrap said, grinning at the stunned tom. "He really is a beautiful tom."

"Beautiful?" Alonzo repeated. He let go of Bombalurina's hand and stood up, walking over to Munkustrap. "He's more than beautiful!" he suddenly exclaimed. "That has got to be the most handsome tom I have ever seen in my life! He's damn right gorgeous!" He grabbed Munkustrap's paws and spun around with the silver tabby. "Just look at him Munkustrap! I mean, really look at him!" Demeter, Jenny, and Skimbleshanks laughed while Munkustrap just rolled his eyes in faux annoyance. "I'm telling you, Munkustrap," Alonzo said as he stopped dancing, "this tom, right here, is going to be the envy of the Junkyard. All the toms are going to wish they were him and every queen is going to want to be with him. Hell, even some of the toms are going to wish they could be with him! Just wait and see! It's going to happen."

Jenny was just beginning to pat Bombalurina down with a wet washcloth to help her cool off when Bombalurina cried out in pain again. Jenny jumped at the sudden noise and quickly returned to her original position to give her any aid if she needed it. "It's alright, Bombalurina," Jenny said soothingly. "Just do the same that you did for the first kit."

"Je…Jen…Jenny…" Bombalurina said breathlessly as a new flow of tears started to fill her eyes. "Something's… Something's not right…" The pain she was feeling wasn't the same she had felt with her first kitten. It was much sharper and didn't feel natural. She was desperately trying not to panic, so that she didn't put her unborn kitten through any more stress, but it was hard not to.

Jenny kept her face calm, so she wouldn't alarm anyone, but she knew that if a mother was sure that something didn't feel right, then it probably wasn't good news. "Skimble, dear, can you put the towel in the basket and give it to Alonzo?" She then turned to the black and white tom, who looked almost terrified. "Alonzo, do try to relax. We need to keep calm for Bombalurina and the kitten's sake. Can you put the tom-kit into the basket so that he won't be in the way?"

Alonzo nodded and took the basket from Skimbleshanks. Then he scooped his son up into his paws. The little tom mewed in protest at being moved, but was quiet again once he was lying in the basket. He took hold of Bombalurina's paw again and tried to keep his voice steady as he consoled her.

"I can see the kitten," Jenny announced, "but just barely. I'm going to need you to push a little more, Bombalurina."

"I… I don't think… I can…!" Bombalurina cried, but she tried anyway, doing her best to fight through the agony she was in. She pushed again with all the strength she had left. Then she turned to Alonzo with discouraged eyes and whispered, "I can't… I'm sorry…" She weakly squeezed Alonzo and Demeter's paws and then closed her eyes.

"Bombalurina!" Alonzo yelled, horrified. "Bombalurina, no! Wake up, love! Please!" Tears sprung to the tom's dark eyes as he stared at the red queen. "Bombalurina!"

"Alonzo! Please, dear, stop that screaming," Jenny said sternly. "She's just unconscious. I guess the labor has been too strenuous on her, and it caused her to faint. We all need to stay calm or both Bombalurina and the kitten's life will be in danger. This is her last kitten, so it's the only one we have to worry for. Now, Skimble, honey, I need you to soak that washcloth in the cold water and place it on Bombalurina's forehead. Rewet it every now and then so that she stays cool please. Demeter, come over her please." Demeter walked over to the older queen with shaky legs. She was scared for her older sister and wanted nothing more than for everything to be alright. Jenny took Demeter's paws and placed them on Bombalurina's abdomen and then made her press down lightly. "Do you feel the kitten?" Jenny asked.

"Ye…Yes, I do…" Demeter replied, her voice trembling.

"Alright then, I'm going to need you to gently push down on her stomach to help guide the kitten out. Don't worry about hurting it. We can't afford any hesitation. We need to get this little kit out as quickly as possible. Now… Ready? Push!" Demeter pushed against her older sister's abdomen and did her best to guide the unborn kitten safely out. She repeated this motion several times until Jenny exclaimed, "I can get a hold of it now! Wonderful job Demeter. Can you give me one more good push, dear?" Demeter did as she was asked and Jenny smiled. "Thank you Demeter. I can take it from here."

Demeter let out a relieved sigh and trudged over to Munkustrap, who wrapped his arms around the gold and ebony queen. "You did a great job, love," Munkustrap whispered into her ear and then he kissed her forehead. "Bombalurina will be very proud of you when she finds out what you've done for her."

Demeter looked up at her mate with teary eyes. "She'll be ok, right?" she asked in a soft voice. "I…I can't lose my sister…"

"You won't," Munkustrap said soothingly. "Jenny will take care of her. She'll be up and dancing again before you know it."

"Oh! I've got it!" Every turned to look at Jenny, who had the second kitten in her hands. "Alonzo, honey, please clean the kitten," Jenny said, holding it out towards the black and white tom.

Alonzo took his kitten with shaky paws and then swiftly began to lick it clean. He bit off the umbilical cord as well. The kitten let out a strangled mew, but then fell silent and didn't move. "Jenny…?" Alonzo whimpered, looking to the queen with misty eyes. "Jenny… Please help…"

I'm really interested in what you have to say and what you think will happen. Also, suggestions are always welcome! Please, tell me what you think! The more reviews I get, the sooner I'll update. Thanks for reading!

Mew Painappuru