Yes, I do own a tortoiseshell called Juno. She's lovely and beautiful, but also a mean old lady. And she is old. No, really. She's, like, sixteen and that is old for any cat, even a moggy.

I had far too much fun writing this. See, this is why I signed up for this. Because writing Juno fics is so much fun.

Title: Free to a Good Home

Prompt: #42 – Cat

Word Count: 931

"No. Just…no. I refuse to believe you have done this to me. I refuse to believe you have betrayed me this way,"

Bleeker stared up at his girlfriend blankly. Of all the reactions he had expected to this new aspect of his life, this one had not been high up on the list.

The tabby gray kitten on his lap squeaked adorably and looked up at Juno, fixing her the wide, bewildered stare of kittens everywhere.

"It's just a kitten, Juno,"

"I hate kittens. They're so…soppy! And cute!"

"What's wrong with soppy and cute? Come on Juno," Bleeker looked up at her. His eyes widened and his lips pouted slightly. The corner of Juno's mouth twitched, "Can I keep her?"

"But - - I mean - - she - - where did you get her?"

"Down the road," he said, petting the kitten. Purring loudly, she wound herself around his hands, her seal-like tail catching in the crook of his thumb, "The Beach's cat had a litter, and they gave them up: 'Free to a good home'. Mum said I could keep her," Bleeker looked up at Juno, his face still in an adorable expression of pleading.

"But - - she - - it's a cat, Bleek! Why do you want one of those vicious, mangy, scratchy, fur-shedding monsters in your house?!"

"I was trying to name her," said Bleeker, completely ignoring Juno's plea, "But I couldn't think of anything. Suggestions?"

"It?"

"What, for a name?"

"Yeah,"

"No! I'm not calling my kitten 'it'!" the cloud gray kitten curled up in Bleeker's lap, opened one very red mouth and yawned, before closing it's eyes and going to sleep.

"That?"

"No!"

"Sh – ,"

"No swear words!"

"Well, what then?" asked Juno, exasperated, "I don't like cats, Bleek! Besides, she'll probably try to eat your fish,"

"Nah," he said, "The Beach's said that so long as I keep the tank high enough, she won't try. She'll be more likely to try and hit them through the glass and then look confused when she can't,"

"Argh! I am not helping you name your stupid little kitten!" Juno, sullen, collapsed into Bleeker's bean bag.

There was silence for a moment. The kitten then jumped off Bleek's lap and walked over to Juno, who glared at it.

"Piss off, pussycat, I'm not in the mood," but the kitten blinked at her with wide, kitten eyes and rubbed it's cheek against her leg.

"Aw," said Bleeker, "She's already saying you're hers," Juno glared at the tiny scrap of life that blinked up at her.

"I'm not hers," spat Juno.

"Well, she's marking you. That's why they rub their cheeks against you, you know," Bleeker smiled mischievously, "The Beach's oldest cat, the one who gave birth to her? She's a tortoiseshell called Juno," Juno blinked at Bleeker, "Well, that's why I wanted you to name her,"

The kitten was trying, without success, to climb the bean bag. Juno, frowning, picked it up by the scruff of it's neck and, on instinct, the kitten curled up. Juno glared at it, before dropping it on her lap where it proceeded to squeak smugly.

"Did the Greeks have a god for cats?" she asked, running a finger down the kitten's back. It's fur was soft and warm, good for cuddling.

"No, but the Egyptians did. Her name was Bast and - - "

"No, it should be Greek. Or Roman,"

"Well, I don't know about Greek or Roman, but the Norse gods had a love goddess who rode a chariot of flying cats," Juno gave Bleeker a pitying look when he said that.

"I doubt that so much. No self-respecting cat would pull a chariot, not even for a goddess,"

"True,"

There was quiet for a while as Juno twisted her mouth, thinking about what to name the kitten. The little thing sat back on his hind legs and looped it's claws through Juno's shirt. Juno patiently unhooked the kitten. A smile then spread over her face.

"I know what we can call her…"

- - -

"Well," said Juno watching the kitten a week later, "She certainly fit into her namesake,"

Indeed she did. Hera had a habit of being nasty to anybody or thing that even touched something she decided was hers. Fortunately, she seemed to count Juno as 'hers', so Juno was rarely on the receiving end of Hera's sharp claws.

To Juno's glee, Hera did not get along with Bleeker's mother. No matter how many toys she bought the kitten, Hera refused to acknowledge her as matriarch of the household and, despite being only a few months old, was convinced that the house belonged to her.

"Told you that you'd like her," said Bleeker smugly.

"I don't like her!" protested Juno. Bleeker leaned over and kissed her under the ear, "That tickles," murmured Juno, leaning into him.

"You like her," Bleeker said, kissing her under her jaw, "Admit it,"

"Well," said Juno, in an almost absentminded fashion as Bleeker kissed her neck, wrapping his arms around her waist, "I…suppose if you insist…"

"Which I do," said Bleeker, kissing the back of her neck. Juno shivered before twisting around and tackling him to the bed, kissing him firmly on the mouth.

"Meow," she said with a grin, running a finger down the centre of his face.

"Meow," he said back, smiling. He was pulling her down for a long kiss when…

"OW!"

"Juno! What's wrong?"

"That stupid kitten bit me!"

Bleeker sighed. It looked like his womenfolk weren't going to get as long as well as he'd hoped…