Munkustrap looked up when he heard the door open. A small hiss escaped his lips when he saw the cat responsible for making him pregnant. The Tom just pushed his glasses back up his nose in response.

"Ah, Stein, it's about time!" Griddlebone exclaimed as she watched him walk into the room. Stein shrugged, walking in and kneeling beside the mattress. A low grumble of a growl echoed from Munkustrap's chest. Stein just glanced at him before going on to feel his stomach, pressing against the swell and feeling around. Munkustrap looked at Griddlebone as Stein continued his examination. She just smiled at him. Munkustrap sighed, laying back, trying not to pay attention to Stein's examination. He hissed as Stein's paw pressed just below his stomach.

"I'm just checking," Stein sighed. Munkustrap glared at him darkly.

"Where's Macavity?" Stein asked Griddlebone.

"He went out for a bit..." She answered simply. Munkustrap looked at her, suspicious. Her tone suggested she was hiding something.

But what?

Macavity strolled to the junkyard, whistling slightly. He paused near the gates, seeing something occurring. Coricopat was standing by the gate, being hugged tightly by his sobbing twin.

The other Jellicles were standing around them, glaring at Coricopat. Deuteronomy said something and Cori nodded, moving out of Tantomile's arms. He touched his forehead against his twin's for a moment before he turned, walking from the yard. Macavity watched, intrigued.

Tantomile was being hugged tightly by Misto now as she sobbed.

"This isn't fair!" She wailed. "It wasn't his fault!" Deuteronomy rested a paw on Tantomile's shoulder, murmuring something to her. Tantomile nodded shakily, giving a loud sob.

"And for the rest of you, you will leave Tantomile be...and Coricopat when he returns from his banishment," Macavity's eyes widened at that.

Cori...banished?

Macavity tilted his head slightly before he entered the yard, going to scare them...and get them even further off of his tracks.

Demeter screamed as she saw Macavity.

"Where is Munkustrap?" Macavity growled, throwing Alonzo aside before grabbing Admetus's throat tightly.

"...not here," Admetus wheezed. Macavity threw Admetus down, the grey Tom gasping for breath.

"Where?" Macavity snarled, approaching Mistoffelees, who was trembling but trying to protect Tantomile. Macavity quickly grabbed Tantomile, resting his claw on her throat.

"Tell me!" He roared.

"Tristram took him," Skimble spoke up, looking at Tantomile worriedly.

"How did he get him?" Macavity growled dangerously.

"Coricopat neglected his duties," Asparagus spat.

"Leave him alone!" Tantomile yelled at Asparagus, not seeming to care that Macavity had hold of her.

"You let that creep take the Tom who is carrying my future heirs?" Macavity hissed, looking at them all.

Silence.

"You better I hope I find him soon, because if those kittens are harmed in any way, you are all dead," Macavity let Tantomile go, before turning and stalking from the yard.

He needed to go visit a certain male mystic.

Cori dragged himself into his humans' house, looking around. He walked sadly to the couch, leaping up on it and curling up sadly. His human, a young woman, was out at work.

He felt terrible...Munkustrap was gone, and who knew what would happen to those kittens.

"Well, you seem to have a lot on your mind," Cori fell off the couch in his shock at that cold drawling voice. Cori quickly scrambled back when he caught sight of Macavity stalking towards him. Cori winced as his back hit the wall. Macavity quickly trapped Cori, placing his paws on the wall on either side of Cori's head. Cori stared up at him fearfully. Macavity looked down at the young Tom, eyeing the bruises and wounds covering him.

"Now, I hear you're responsible for losing Munkustrap," Macavity drawled. He watched as Cori closed his eyes, head lowering. Macavity grabbed Cori's chin, lifting his head back up.

"Well?"

"Yes..." Cori whispered.

"So, you put Munkustrap and my unborn kittens in danger...you've possibly killed them," Cori ripped his head out of Macavity's grip, a rough sob escaping his control. Macavity stared at the young Tom, interested.

He had, at an early point, considered Coricopat or Tantomile to be the one to carry his kittens...but he knew that Cori and Tantomile were far too young, and they wouldn't be able to handle it emotionally.

"How old are you, Coricopat?" Macavity asked suddenly, interested in how old the mystic actually was.

"You're not a full Tom yet, are you?" Cori shook his head, still sobbing softly.

"A teen?" Cori gave a small nod.

"Be more specific!"

"E-Early teens," Cori whispered, not meeting Macavity's eyes.

"Bast...you're young," Macavity murmured, shocked. Cori lowered his head. Macavity lifted Cori's head, stroking at Cori's cheek with his thumb.

"You still lost me my unborn kittens; I should kill you for this,"

"Then do it," Cori hissed, lifting his head. "I've lost my best-friend...I'll never be accepted at the yard again, I can never get past this guilt...just kill me," Macavity gave a small smile at Cori's bravery when it came to facing death.

"No...it would be a waste to kill you," Macavity smirked. Cori stared at him. Macavity stroked Cori's bruised cheek once more.

"Enjoy your banishment," Macavity said before turning and leaving. Cori just slipped onto the floor, curling up tightly, his stomach twisting with guilt and regret.

Munkustrap looked up when the door to the room opened. Griddlebone stopped chattering insistently to look.

"Oh, Mac...you're finally back!" She grinned. Macavity lifted an eyebrow as he walked into the room, carrying two bowls.

"So...how did it go?" Griddlebone asked.

"Perfectly," Macavity answered smoothly, grinning, as he handed Munkustrap the bowls. Munkustrap stomach gave a growl at the sight of tuna and cream. Munkustrap turned his attention away from the food for the moment.

"What did you do?" Munkustrap asked curiously.

"Your Jellicle friends think you're long gone...that Tristram was the one that took you," Macavity watched as Munkustrap's hazel eyes widened.

"So, whatever hope you had that your Jellicles would rescue you...it's gone,"

"N-No...they'll try find me!" Munkustrap whimpered, panicked.

"They believe that Tristram has you...I even went to the yard, threatened them for losing you," Macavity watched Munkustrap's expressions with interest.

"And Coricopat has been banished for...three months, I think," Munkustrap's eyes widened even more.

"What?" He yelped. Macavity sat down on the mattress, stretching out his legs.

"They blamed him, he was the one that was meant to be watching you...and yet, you still were taken,"

"It wasn't his fault," Munkustrap breathed.

"Your father gave him a lenient banishment...considering the other Jellicles wanted him gone for good," Munkustrap hissed softly.

"Relax, Munkus...your father wouldn't banish him...Coricopat was far too young to be left with a responsibility such as that," Munkustrap nodded, lying back and sighing.

Poor Coricopat.

"Now eat, I don't want you or the kittens to go hungry," Macavity told him. Munkustrap nodded numbly, sitting up. Macavity handed him the tuna, watching him eat it closely. Munkustrap looked up, watching as Macavity watched him eat. Munkustrap offered him the bowl. Macavity smirked.

"It's yours," Munkustrap nodded and went back to eating before he consumed the cream.

"How did his examination go?"

"Everything is fine...he looked about ready to kill Stein though,"

"Don't do that, Munkus...we need him to deliver those kittens and keep you alive," Macavity smirked. Munkustrap bit back a snarl.

He was not some kitten to be scolded.

Griddlebone left a little while later. Munkustrap lay on the mattress, staring up at the roof, deep in thought.

"What are you thinking about?" Munkustrap looked briefly at Macavity, who was sitting by the window, when he voiced that question.

"...everything," Munkustrap answered.

"To be specific?"

"The kittens' lives...my family," Munkustrap murmured.

"What about the kittens' lives?"

"What are their lives going to be like," Munkustrap answered.

"Ah," Macavity hummed. Munkustrap sighed, rolling over and curling up. He startled when he felt the thick, soft and warm blanket being pulled up around his shoulders. Munkustrap looked at Macavity briefly before looking away. Munkustrap felt the mattress dip beside him as Macavity lay beside him. Munkustrap squirmed slightly, trying to get comfortable with his aching muscles.

"What's wrong with you?" Macavity's voice asked tiredly.

"My muscles...being pregnant puts strain on them," Munkustrap snapped. Munkustrap stiffened when he felt paws on his back, gently kneading and rubbing. Munkustrap began purring, unable to control it, as the muscle aches went away.

"I'll get something else to help with that tomorrow," Macavity murmured as he continued to knead at Munkustrap's muscles. He couldn't help but smirk when he listened to Munkustrap's uncontrollable purring. After a while, Munkustrap finally relaxed, purring tiredly.

"Feel better?" Munkustrap just gave a tired nod in response, rolling over onto his other side, eyes partly closed. Macavity examined Munkustrap's face as Munkustrap fell asleep.

Macavity yawned, before he dozed off, paw on Munkustrap's swollen stomach.

CCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCC

Naww…poor Cori though…

Thanks to those who reviewed!

Please read and review!

Luv HGP!