A few weeks later, the kit was walking on his own, wobbly feet. Jemima followed him wherever he might decide to go. The kit marched everywhere and played with Demeter's kits a lot. All the adults looked at him with sad expressions on their faces. Little Quaxo didn't notice, he just went on smiling and playing. He was so innocent. Jemima only wished that he had known the love of his father.

Every now and again Jemima had a cry about it. But she tried not to show it to her kit. Everyone liked having him around. Even Bombalurina seemed to have taken to the tiny kit. And Tugger became like an adopted uncle.

But the day came when little Quaxo asked Jemima, "Do I have a dad?"

Jemima nodded solemnly.

"Why isn't he here?"

Jemima could feel herself tearing up. "He can't be here." she said.

"Oh." said the little kit. Obviously he had wanted a different answer. But he moved on. "What was he like?"

"He looked like you." she began. "He was always trying to do what was right and he was very kind. He sometimes had a temper though. But he loved you before you were born. I only wish you'd been able to meet him." Remembering hurt. But she couldn't keep it hidden forever.

"Mom? Are you okay?"

Her head shot up to her kit. Then she nodded.

^..^

"Quaxo! Come back here!" called Jemima. The little tuxedo kitten had run off into the junkyard. "You know you're not supposed to be out here." she said when he stopped running.

"But mom!" he whined. Could those adorable eyes get any bigger? Jemima wondered. She sighed and laughed a little.

"Okay fine. But you have to promise to stay close to me. I don't want you getting lost."

"I promise!" he swore quickly.

"Okay. Then I'll take you to someplace special." said Jemima.

The little kit's face lit up. "Really?"

"Yes." she answered.

She led him through the junkyard along the easiest route for him to follow. She took him to the edge of the junkyard. To the clearing where she and her love had spent time together. Amazingly, it didn't hurt to think of him when she was here. It was almost like she could imagine he was just in the center practicing his magic. She almost believed it too. He was still alive. He was still smiling. He was still with her. But every time she opened her eyes, he was gone. The only thing she had left of him was their little kitten.

"I spent some time with your father in this place." said Jemima to her kitten. "He practiced magic here."

The kitten's eyes grew wide. "Really?"

She smiled. "Yes."

"How did he do it?"

"He told me a little trick to it once." she said. "All you have to do is say the magic word."

The kitten was getting excited. "What was the magic word?"

She leaned her muzzle next to his ear and whispered, "Presto."

The kit's happiness seemed to burst forward. He ran to the center of the clearing and ran in wide circles as he yelled, "PRESTO! PRESTO! PRESTO!"

Jemima laughed. The little black kitten kept yelling the magic word. Then suddenly, he stopped. He was looking at the sky in wonder and amazement. Jemima wondered what he could be looking at. She tilted her head upward. Her paws instantly flew to her mouth. Then she was fighting tears once again. Had her little kit done this?

It was snowing.

"Mom!" called the kit. "Did I do that?"

She couldn't keep the tears in. They fell from her eyes in steady flows. But they were not tears of sadness. They were tears of happiness. A single happy memory was found again. A happy day that could now be relived; but with a twist.

"Mom, what's wrong?" he asked.

She shook her head. Then she wrapped him in a hug. "Just remembering." she said. "Just remembering something good."

Well that's it! To those who actually read the whole thing I hope you liked it! Thanks for reading!