A/N: Tenth chapter celebration! Here's a free cookie for everyone who reads this: (cookie).

Also, as you're reading this, this story has reached 1000+ views! Thanks for reading my story!

Once again, sorry for the long waiting periods between chapters, but I haven't had much time recently. However, from now on, I'll start having more time to write again.

Disclaimer: This text was deleted due to a copyright strike. Please contact the Really Useful Group for more information.

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Chapter 10: Like father, like son (or so they say)

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The Junkyard

About two months after last chapter

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"MACAVITY!"

The cats on the clearing jumped in fear, scared by the sudden scream.

"Where are you?"

Gus got down of TSE-1's roof, and headed towards the cat in the middle of the space. "Grizabella, please don't scream like that, you'll give someone a heart attack. He's a kitten, all kittens run away sometimes. Maybe he's playing with Munkustrap."

"But… how does this keep happening? He disappears as soon as I turn my back! Macavity! I said: no playing before you finish your fish!"

Gus sighed. "Kittens. They suck out all of your energy, but it's worth it. For example, Asparagus is g…" He searched the clearing for his son. "Asparagus is gone. Junior! Where are you? Everlasting Cat, I told him to stay here! Skimble, where did he go?"

Gus headed in the direction Skimbleshanks pointed, followed by Grizabella. They found Asparagus in the company of Munkustrap and little Macavity, playing on a large leather cushion.

"Junior! Here you are! I told you to stay on the car! We were going to practice for the ball!"

Asparagus looked disappointed. "But dad, I don't want to rehearse. And don't call me Junior!"

Gus sighed and gently pulled his paw. "Come, I'll show you something."

They walked away, leaving Grizabella with her two sons. She looked down at the small red kitten with a stern look. "Come on, you're going to finish your fish!" She lifted him so that his head was resting on her shoulder. She turned to face her oldest son. "Munkustrap, you are responsible for your little brother. Make sure nothing happens to him."

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Asparagus Senior and Junior arrived at a metal fence, separating them from the busy streets of London. The youngest of the two followed his father obediently.

"What did you want to show me, dad?" he asked.

Gus pointed through the bars of the fence, showing a broad brick wall surrounding someone's garden. The wall was filled with half-torn posters, some of which started to detach, others losing their color. Nonetheless, several titles could still be made out: 'Cathello', 'East Lynx', 'Maccath' 'Waiting for Catot' and most of all, 'Firefrorefiddle; the Fiend of the Fell'. They all had one thing in common, just underneath the title: 'Starring: Gus the Theatre Cat'.

Asparagus let out a small gasp. He knew of his father's acting career, of course, and he knew he was well-respected for it among the cats, but he didn't know he was that famous in the human world.

Gus smiled at his son's reaction. He kneeled down next to him. "You see, my son, I have a reputation. But I won't be able to keep living up to the expectations. One day, I'll be old and shaky, and those seventy speeches I know, will vanish from my memory. Then it will be your task to be my successor. You will follow in my footsteps. You will get there," he said as he pointed at the wall once more. "But if you want to succeed you will have to rehearse, and for you, one hour won't be enough! And what better place is there to start an acting career than the Jellicle Ball? It is the perfect opportunity!" Asparagus didn't look really convinced, but his father continued: "Then, you can make your way to the top, I even have a few contacts who could help a little, eh? Give you a few roles in minor plays, and before you know it, your name is known in every theatre in London! I mean, just imagine you playing the main part in 'Hamlet', 'Romeo and Julia', 'Uncle Vanya', 'The Tempest', 'King Lear'…"

"But what if I don't want to?"

A silence fell. Gus stopped his fantasies about the future to look at his son, not sure if he had heard that well.

"Well… sure, yes, of course… We shouldn't rush things, I mean, we can start small and then… I mean, there are other things than Shakespeare…" he muttered.

"No dad, what if I don't want to become an actor?"

"But… How could you possibly not? Being an actor is… all you could ever want! You will be a star of the highest degree!"

"I don't know, dad," Asparagus said, looking down.

Gus kneeled and put his paw his son's shoulder. "Listen. Firefrorefiddle has been running for more than five years now, and people still watch it. It has been made into a musical, and has been adapted by almost every theater in England. I need somebody to take my place when it is necessary. I'm not saying you have to, but at least try it once! Do something on the Ball and see if you like it." Asparagus slowly nodded and Gus smiled. "Come on, let's go back. You can play now, we'll practice tomorrow."

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Grizabella watched as her sons silently slept on a small pillow. She had the unpleasant feeling that someone was watching her, and when she walked out of her den, she saw Cleopatra sitting on top of an old car, watching the sky, where the first stars started to appear.

Grizabella was about to walk away when Cleopatra's voice stopped her. "I'm sorry, Grizabella."

Grizabella turned around in confusion and saw Cleopatra getting down from the car. "I'm sorry about the things I said about your son, but I only said what my feelings told me."

Grizabella sighed. "I know, you're just trying to protect us."

"I don't want you to treat him differently. You know, I haven't felt anything since his birth. Remember, nobody is born evil. They become it."

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Grizabella wandered through the streets of London. She always did that when there was too much going on in her head. It calmed her. She liked the noise of a city that was even more alive at night than during the day. She watched the colorful signs of nightclubs, restaurants and pubs.

Despite what Cleopatra said, she knew the psychic was still convinced about the danger she felt in Macavity.

She suddenly noticed a large golden sign, 'The Rising Sun'. She tried to remember where she had heard that name before.

Luphus Smith, she thought. It's one of his clubs.

She looked through the window. Inside, several cats were chatting and laughing. Cheerful music was being played and on a small stage, a tuxedo tom was singing a deep melody. It wouldn't hurt to take a look inside, she thought. After all, she wasn't pregnant anymore.

The music stopped and the tux bowed when he received an enthusiastic applause. The curtains closed and the guests went back to their dinks. Grizabella looked in the reflection of the window to see if her fur wasn't sticking out. She took one last, deep breath before she was engulfed by the light, the warmth and the scent of alcohol.

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A/N: End of chapter 10.