Never mind. I underestimated. There is still one more chapter after this. Enjoy!
Lyriko and Billyann squealed wildly and clapped their clumsy paws as Misto caused a rainbow streamer to dance and weave through the air after summoning it out of an old hat. He smiled, pleased to have delighted his kittens so.
"Mistoffelees, Oi've been thinking'…" he heard Rumpleteazer say. He turned to her.
"Is the knitting getting out of hand?"
She shook her head. "No, the knittin's fine…although, actually, it'd be nice if you could do somethin' other than scarves…Oi wos thinkin' it'd be nice to 'ave some hats or booties for the kittens…" She shook herself, realizing that she was deviating. "Wot Oi've been thinking' about, is that you should go see Victoria one of these days. You two 'ave 'ardly spoken or seen each other since the party, an' that wos months ago."
Misto looked back at the kittens. "I'm pretty sure she doesn't want to see me, Rumpleteazer."
Rumpleteazer sat down next to him. "You know wot she said to me when she told me she wos pregnant? She said she needed you. That she wished you were back. Oi think that she wonts to see you, but she's ashamed of wot she said when you two fought, an' she feels guilty. Oi wish you two could sort it out. You used to be such good friends."
They were both silent, watching the kittens, who were now play-fighting over the sparkling streamer.
"Remember when we wos kittens?" Rumpleteazer said suddenly. Misto looked at her curiously.
"It wos loike the complete reverse situation. You and Victoria wos friends and we couldn't stick each other!"
Misto gave her a half-hearted smile. "It was so long ago."
"Mistoffelees…ain't it worth at try? Jus' to go see her? See if she'll talk?"
Misto quietly considered this before finally nodding. "You're right." He stood up. "I'll go see her now. Are you OK to look after the kittens?"
She nodded. "Yeh. Good luck."
Misto stood outside the den, trying to think of something to say when he first spoke to Victoria. Then all of a sudden, Plato burst out, a wild look in his eyes. He came to a quick halt in front of Misto, and was panting.
"Oh, Misto, thank goodness! I was just about to go looking for you! Come in!"
Misto stared. "What?"
"Victoria's about to give birth to her kitten! She told me to go get you! Come on!" He pulled Misto inside with him.
"Plato, I…I don't know if this is a good idea, shouldn't you go get one of the older queens? I don't know anything about birthing kittens!"
Plato shook his head. "She told me to get you. Besides, you helped Rumpleteazer, didn't you?"
"Yeah, but-"
"Victoria, he's already here!"
Victoria was on the bed, breathing heavily. She opened her eyes, recognized him.
"Misto," she breathed.
"Victoria." He quickly came to her side.
"I'm early," she said sadly. "Like last time."
"Only by a week though, right?"
She shook her head. "Something's wrong again, Misto. I don't know if I can do this."
Misto felt as though he was sinking. "And that's why you called me?"
She nodded.
"Victoria, I…I can't promise things will be different this time."
"All I'm asking," she whispered. "Is that you try."
Misto looked at her sadly, then placed a paw on her heaving stomach. He closed his eyes, concentrating. He could sense that the kitten was dying, its heartbeat weak. Just like last time.
No, he thought.
"Misto…" He looked up at Victoria. She gestured that he come closer, so that she could whisper in his ear. Plato looked on anxiously. Misto bent near her lips.
"Misto," she whispered. "If you have to choose…choose the kitten."
His eyes widened, realizing what she was suggesting. He glanced back at Plato, who gave him a look that said, What is it?
"Victoria," he said quietly. "You can't ask that of me."
Tears were welling up in the corner of her eyes. "Please."
"Victoria," Plato bent down next to them. "I don't care what you say, you are meant to be a mother!"
Victoria just shut her eyes. Misto was racking his brain, searching for some answer.
"Please, Victoria," Plato insisted. "We have so much to gain…"
To gain.
That reminded Misto of…
"We just wanted to tell you," Coricopat explained, "that there is much gained in your becoming a father."
Misto's eyes widened in realization. He looked back at Victoria, remembering the last time she had gone into labour.
"Misto," Plato said quietly, not looking away from Victoria. "Can you help her?"
Misto looked at him in surprise. Plato went on, "You saved Tugger's life when he was dying. Please."
Misto remembered…his paw on the dead Tugger's scarred stomach, when suddenly the bleeding ceased, the scars fading, and Tugger's heartbeat returning.
And then…
Tugger helped her to sit up so that she could hold the kitten. She carefully took him from Misto, and rocked him in her arms. Misto watched, hardly able to believe his own eyes. He reached out a paw to feel the kitten's down-soft fur. Then he noticed something.
He stared at the palms of his own paws and frowned. The scabs that he had received from his struggle in the gutter that stormy night, the night that Rufus had rescued him…they were gone without a trace.
Plato was still mumbling to Victoria, when Misto said hurriedly, "Plato, go get Rumpleteazer! Tell her to bring Billyann and Lyriko!"
Plato stared. "Why?"
"Just do it!"
Plato was alarmed, but complied, climbing to his feet and running out the den. Victoria stared at Misto.
"What is it, Misto?"
"Just trust me," he whispered. He put his paw on Victoria's stomach, concentrating on keeping the kitten alive, while Victoria continued to struggle.
Plato returned with a confused Rumpleteazer, who carried a kitten in each arm.
"Misto, wot is it? Wot do you need me to do?"
Misto shook his head. "Not you, the kittens!"
"The kittens?"
"Bring them over here!"
Not sure what to think, Rumpleteazer set the twins down next to Misto. They stared at him curiously, but were uncharacteristically calm.
The kittens couldn't talk yet. They seemed to have no need for language to communicate with each other, though. Rumpleteazer put it down to them being twins. But Misto knew there was more to it, especially since he could always tell immediately what Billyann wanted him to know. Like the day they were being born, and he sensed where they were.
Misto looked deep into Billyann's eyes.
I need your help. Yours and your brother's.
Billyann looked at him wonderingly. He could feel her agree.
Victoria has a kitten inside her. The kitten, she needs Lyriko to heal her.
Nothing more needed to be said. With one look from his sister, Lyriko began an attempt to struggle up the bed. Misto gently picked him up, and placed him on Victoria's stomach, much to the bafflement of his audience. Lyriko closed his eyes and curled up, as if asleep. Billyann watched on.
Her heartbeat's slow. Help it, Misto projected to Billyann, knowing that she would pass it on to Lyriko. Satisfied, Misto placed both paws on Victoria's chest, and began to concentrate. A golden glow emanated around the three.
Rumpleteazer grabbed Plato's paw, and the two stared, afraid and unsure.
They all stayed frozen like that, for what felt like forever.
Then, like a wave purposefully crashing against an awaiting shore, the heartbeats came strong.
"Misto," Victoria gasped. "I…I think the kitten's coming out!"
"Get ready, Plato," Misto said, tired. He quickly picked Lyriko off Victoria.
All that happened next came so smooth and quick, it seemed like a dream, till the reality of Victoria holding her newborn kitten hit Misto. Plato was crying. Rumpleteazer hugged Misto tight.
"You did it," Victoria whispered.
"We did it." Misto gestured to the kittens, who were once again playing on the floor.
"But…how…" asked Rumpleteazer.
"They're magic, Rumpleteazer, like me. Only, I don't think their overall power is as strong. They have specialties. Lyriko can heal. I discovered that when he was born, he healed some wounds on my paws. And Billyann…she's telepathic. I could only make that connection once, with Macavity, but Billyann…she's so powerful with it. I could hear her, all the time, before she was even born. That song, your lullaby…she thought of it. She and Lyriko."
"My kittens," she said, wonderingly. "My kittens, magical…"
"Misto," Plato said. Misto looked up. Victoria gave him a small, tearful smile.
"Thank you," she sobbed.
Misto came over and kissed her on the forehead. "Don't mention it."
He now took the time to look closely at the kitten, who was small, but otherwise healthy. He frowned. She didn't look much like Plato or Victoria. Instead of their colouring, she was tinged with grey, and honestly quite familiar…
He gasped. "It can't be…"
Victoria smiled gently. "I already know what to name her. Grizabella."