A/N: Yes I am back! You may cheer and applaude now! Anywho, my haitus is over and done with, so I am free once again to be a freaking, fanfic-writing hermit! What joy!

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"Valerie, will you play tag with us?" Even though Valerie's eyes were closed, she still knew Ecetera was creeping up next to her. With each word, the kitten's voice and purring grew louder. Cracking her left eye open a bit, she could see her senses had been right. Ecetera was now parrallel to Valerie's face, while Pouncival, Jemima, and Electra sat near her feet.

Valerie stretched from her lying position on the tire. She felt her spine crack after being still for so long. "I'm sorry guys," Valerie said, half-yawning, "but I'm way too tired." It was the truth after all. After her and Teazer's talk in the kitchen the night before, Valerie hadn't been able to get back to sleep, so she'd tossed and turned for the majority of the night. She'd finally settled on a postion, only to have Jemima waking her what seemed like seconds after she'd become comfortable. She'd gone through the morning in a daze, barely even noticing when Skimble asked her to kit-sit while he was at the station. She'd groggily agreed, but found it impossible to even catch a quick nap with the jumpy kittens begging her to play with them every two seconds.

"Aw come on, Valerie," Pouncival asked, pouting slightly.

"Sorry, Pounce," Valerie said, getting into a sitting postion. "That face only works with Jemima." Upon hearing this, Pouncival elbowed Jemima, who immediately jutted out her bottom lip in a pout as well. Valerie laughed, "I was kidding, ya know."

The two kittens pouts turned into annoyed scowls. They obviously had no patience for a lay-about such as Valerie today.

"Come on," Electra moaned. "You've been laying on the tire the whole time!"

"I'm tired," Valerie said, laying back down and closing her eyes. "I barely slept at all last night. I'm so nervous about this whole acceptance thing and..."

Before Valerie could finish her sentence, the kittens all squealed with delight. The sudden noise made Valerie jerk herself back up, looking to see of Tugger had appeared and caused the sudden outburst. But he was nowhere to be seen. Valerie looked back at the kittens with confusion.

"You didn't tell us you were getting accepted!" Ectetera chirped.

"Jemima didn't tell you?" Valerie asked, surprised. She had figured that Jemima would have told the kittens the second she had the chance after finding out.

"No," Electra said, turning her head to Jemima. The latter kitten blushed.

"When is Deutoronomy going to see you?" Pouncival asked, hopping up on the tire.

"Tomorrow," Valerie said.

"Oh Bast Valerie, this is so exciting!" Ectetera cried, wrapping her arms around Valerie in a warm hug.

"Yeah," Valerie said. "But I am so nervous. I mean, what if they find a reason not to let me join?"

"Oh no," Jemima said suddenly. "They will! They must! You're an orphan. They have to let you in."

"And besides," a suave male voice said from behind them, "what reason could we possibly find to not let you join, Valerie?"

The group turned to see, as they had expected, Tugger, leaning against a nearby pile of junk. The kittens, once again, squealed with delight as Tugger sauntered over to the tire and palnted himself next to Valerie, taking the chance to tickle Ectetera under the chin. It looked like, to Valerie, that Ectetera might faint right on the tire, but the kitten managed to hold herself up.

"Excited, Valerie?" Tugger asked, placing his arm around Valerie's shoulder.

"Not as much as I am nervous," Valerie said, gently lifting Tugger's arm and placing it back to his side. Smiling devilishly, Tugger laid back and stretched in the mid-afternoon sun.

"Relax," he said. "You're almost guaranteed."

"I hope you're right," Valerie said. Suddenly, something hit her in the head, making a sharp pain resound thourgh her brain. She looked up to find out what it was. She saw nothing above her. Just as she was about to confirm to herself that she was losing her mind, she noticed Tugger and the kitten were focused on something laying on the tire. Shifting her gaze in that direction, she saw the cause of her headache. An old pillowcase, full of odds and ends. Valerie felt a smile crawl across her lips as she shouted, "Okay you two, we know it's you. Come on down." And, from atop the pile of junk behind them, popped two furry, orange heads, both looking rather guilty, but gleeful.

"Sorry about that Valerie," Jerrie yelled down to her. "Teaze lost her grip."

"Only 'cause you bumped into me," Teazer said defensively."Too busy admiring the scenery?"

Jerrie blushed. Valerie noticed that he shot a quick glance and grin at her before tossing his own pillowcase down, making sure this time not to hit anyone, and lowering himself down onto the tire behind Valerie. Teazer did the same and grabbed her pillowcase, placing it in her lap.

"Get anything good?" Tugger asked.

"Not much," Jerrie said, opening his pillowcase and shifting through its contents. "Some silverware, pair of slippers, and a hairbrush."

"I got the lady's ring," Teazer said proudly, holding the small sapphire ring for the group to see.

"Mama says you two shouldn't steal stuff from your humans," Jemima said, looking at the ring as though it might come to life and bite someone.

"Relax, Jem," Pouncival said. "They aren't going to get caught."

"We're just that good," Jerrie said, his grin growing wider. When she saw him do that, Valerie felt her heart speed up a little. She hadn't a clue why, but every time Jerrie's face lit up with that grin, she nearly melted.

Teazer had once again started digging in her pillowcase and pulling out items she'd snatched, this time a compact mirror with powder. The kittens were studying it, fascianted. Barely noticing, Valerie felt Jerrie scoot himself closer to her, trying to make it seem nonchalant. Valerie felt herself get a little hotter when she felt Jerrie's body heat growing stronger as he got closer. She tried to act as if she hadn't noticed, gazing off at nothing in a different direction. All she really saw was, out of the corner of her eye, a huge, triumphant grin on Tugger's face.

Oh God, Valerie thought frantically.Tugger was right! This is awful. How can I stop this?! Move away, you ninny! That should get it through his head! This is the last thing you need, especially now!

Valerie attempted to scoot herself closer to the edge of the tire, but her body didn't respond. Biting her lower lip, she screamed at herself to move. Still nothing. Luckily for Valerie, a large flash erupted to Jerrie's left, sending both him and Valerie to the ground in surprise. Smoke dangled in the air, thick and strangely scented. From the screen of smoke, emerged Misto. Valerie remembered when she'd first met him, when he came out of the smoke dramatically, showing off for Victoria. This time, however, Misto looked frantic, jerking his head to every side, like he was looking for something. Taking one look at him, Valerie could tell, and guessed the others could too, that he more or less looking for someone. Or hiding from someone.

"You guys haven't seen Victoria, have you," he said, panting slightly.

"Why?" Pouncival asked. "Can't find her?"

"Well...uh..." Misto began. "Not exaclty."

"Um, Jemima," Valerie said, sensing what Misto was about to say as she and Jerrie got back on the tire. "Why don't we play hide and go seek? I'll count and the rest of you hide, alright." Nodding in pleasure at the thought of the game, the kittens began to scramble about. Valerie covered her eyes with her paw and began to count, "One...two...three...four...five..." When she heard four pairs of paws scamper away, she removed her paw from her eyes and looked back at Misto. "Make it quick, they won't buy this for too long."

"If I didn't know any better, Misto," Tugger said, a knowing grin spreading across his face, "I'd say you were hiding from Victoria."

"I am not!" Misto cried. But his blush gave him away.

"Trouble in paradise, Misto?" Jerrie asked.

"Shut up!" Misto said, sounding more like he was pleading than commanding.

"Misto, if you don't want to be with Victoria, why don't you tell her instead of trying to run away from her?" Valerie asked.

"Because running's more fun," Teazer said, tossing her pillowcase aside. "Makes Victoria look like an idiot."

"I do want to be with her. That is not why I'm running from her," Misto said wearily, plopping down on the tire next to Teazer.

"Thought you weren't?" Jerrie said, feinging a look of confusion.

Glaring at him angrily, Misto said, "Fine. I am. But it's not because I think it's fun to trick her like this. She's just..."

"What?" Valerie asked.

"She's just taking everything so fast!" Misto cried, crossing his legs. "I mean, when we're together, it's great, but half the time, all she wants to talk about is getting mated at the next Jellicle Ball."

"So what?" Jerrie asked. "She's the oldest kitten. Why shouldn't she?"

"Key word: kitten," Misto said. "She's still a kitten. Honestly, how happy do you think she'll be once she gets mated at her age."

"Dunno," Jerrie said. "But Bast knows we'll be happy when she's mated."

"Jerrie, he's being serious," Tugger said. "Victoria would never be happy if she got mated now."

"Exactly," Misto said.

"So why don't you tell her that?" Valerie asked.

"Because..." Misto began, but trailed off. Obviously, this was not a question he'd thought about. "Well...I...you see, Valerie...Victoria is a...very sensitive queen...and if she thought..."

"You're scared out of your mind of her aren't you?" Valerie said flatly.

"I...uh...yes," Misto finally sighed.

"Not like we couldn't tell," Teazer said.

"Thanks, Teazer," Misto said, casting her an annoyed look before uncrossing his legs and laying on his back on the tire. "Can you tell me something that might help me?"

Silence was the only answer that met Misto's question. Even Tugger, who bragged about his success with any queen, was totally silent.

Valerie couldn't take it anymore. She stood and hopped off the tire, landing squarely on her feet. "Well, if I don't get seeking, those guys are gonna think I forgot about them. Wanna help?" The four cats still left on the tire stared at Valerie with suprise. "What?"

"Wouldn't that be cheating?" Tugger asked, lowering himself off the tire.

Valerie smiled and said, "They never said I couldn't get help. And besides, they're probaly spread out all over the junkyard by now. It'll take me forever to find them on my own."

One by one, the other cats matched Valerie's smile and lowered themselves to the ground. Misto was the last off, and as soon as his feet touched the dirt, the four bolted in different directions.

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It just so happened that it took longer than forever to find all four kittens. The sun was beginning to drop to the horizon when Valerie finally made it back to the tire with Jemima in tow. Electra, Ecetera, and Pouncival all sat on the tire looking dejected, but somewhat pleased that the game had lasted so long. Tugger, Teazer, Jerrie, and Misto all sat on the ground, looking tired. Misto looked particualrly exhausted, covered in dirt and laying on his stomach. Looking up and spotting Valerie with Jemima, he sighed in relief and asked, "Are we done?"

"Getting tired, Misto?"Valerie asked bending over his head and smiling.

"Yes," Misto said bluntly. "But I do actually feel pretty good."

"Exercise will do that to anybody," Tugger said, getting to his feet and stretching. Teazer and Jerrie did the same, then walked over and grabbed their pillowcases, slinging them over their shoulders. The kittens hopped off the tire.

"I think we should start heading back," Valerie said, casting her gaze skyward at the darkening view.

"Yeah, probably," Misto said, stretching as he got up.

"So, Pounce, Ecetera," Valerie said. "Where's your den?"

"That way," Poncival said, pointing to his right. And so, the group began in that direction.

"Where are you gonna hide that stuff so Uncle Skimble won't see it," Ecetera asked, eyeing the pillowcases Teazer and Jerrie held.

"Probably under our beds," Teazer answered. "Dad's a lot easier to hide stuff from than Mum."

Valerie had barely thought of Skimble all day. She recalled yesterday. They had decided that Skimble should be the only one who knew about her past. It would be best to save both of them a lot of explaination. After that, Valerie had felt so wonderful to know that someone knew about her now. She didn't feel like she was living a lie. Now she could concentrate on the more imporant matter at hand: this whole acceptance thing.

"So when does this whole acceptance thing happen," Valerie asked Tugger, since he was going to be there.

"Tomorrow, around noon," Tugger answered. "All we basically do is ask you a bunch of questions."

"Sounds easy enough," Valerie said. She was about to ask more, but, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Misto had stopped and was gazing off at something. Turning back around, she said, "Misto, what's wrong?"

The group turned to see what Misto was looking at. When they did, Jemima, Electra, Ecetera, and even Teazer gasped in shock. Jerrie and Pouncival's jaws nearly hit the gorund. Tugger put his hand on Misto's shoulder. Valerie could barely believe what they were seeing.

A few yards away from them, totally unaware she was being watched, was Victoria, laughing and smiling. But she wasn't alone. She was sitting in Plato's lap. And her lips were locked with his.

"What the..." Misto mumbled, just loud enough for the couple laying on the ground to hear. It obviously startled them, as Victoria shrieked right into Plato's ear, causing him to drop her flat on her rear end.

"Victoria!" Misto shouted. "What are you doing?"

"Misto..." Victoria had obviously not planned on seeing him here. "I...I...can explain."

"Go ahead," Misto said.

"I needed a change, Misto," Victoria said, regaining her lost composure.

Valerie could tell this was not what Misto wanted to hear as he dejectedly hung his head and said under his breath, "I thought you loved me..."

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Son of A/N: -sniffs; cries- Oh, poor Misto. See I told you I made Victoria a reall bi inh this story (just wait on that note, she gets worse!). Anywho, sorry about the wait with this chapter. A lot of things kept me from my baby, such as sickness, a play, and a one-eyed- one-horned, flying purple people eater...wait...no that was because of the drugs.

Anywho, Happy (early) Holidays to all. Consider this chapter my gift to you readers out there!

Happy Holidays,

The Lavender Cat