Deuteronomy blinked, staring at his son, shocked and confused.

"What do you mean, Munkus?"

"I've been having dreams, flashbacks…and I've been wondering about a lot of my life," Munkustrap told him. Deuteronomy blinked.

"What?"

"I had a dream, a flashback from when I was a kitten," Munkustrap told him, looking at his paws. "I remember Jenny saying that I only had two months left at the yard and she hated Mum because she wouldn't touch me," Deuteronomy blinked.

"Oh, Munkus," Deuteronomy breathed.

"Dad, why?" Deuteronomy sighed, closing his eyes as Munkustrap lifted his head to look at him.

"The Jellicles…our family didn't always lead them, Munkus,"

"No, it was my family," Macavity put in. Deuteronomy gave a small nod.

"But in return for Macavity's family not attacking us, every Jellicle Leader made a deal with the Hidden Paws…a Jellicle of their choice would belong to them," Munkustrap blinked, in pure shock.

"My best friend was one of those Jellicles, Viola…Macavity's mother," Now it was Macavity's turn to be shocked. Deuteronomy turned to Macavity, giving a small smile.

"She was given to your father by his father…but she loved you dearly, Macavity, she loved you so very much," Macavity lowered his head.

"It was that time when I had to make a deal with Macavity's father…we met in my den,"

Deuteronomy looked at Wolfgang, who had an eyebrow raised.

"Which Jellicle do you choose?" Deuteronomy asked softly, sadly. Wolf gave a hum, thinking, his gold eyes glinting.

"Well, my son is growing up," Wolf hummed, thinking.

"Deut!" Deuteronomy looked at Grizabella as she came bustling in, her face alight and her paws on her stomach. She paused when she caught sight of Wolf. Wolf grinned wolfishly, his sharp teeth glinting in the light.

"Your other son is too old for my Macavity," Wolf said slowly. "However,"

"However?" Deuteronomy prompted, feeling uneasy.

"I know the Jellicle I want,"

"Who?"

"That kitten your dear mate is carrying right now," A sharp intake of breath told Deuteronomy that his mate was indeed pregnant.

"What if it's a Tom?" Deuteronomy gulped.

"I don't care," Wolf shrugged. "It's for my boy…if it's a Queen, she can be my son's mate, if it's a Tom, well…Macavity can use him however he wishes and there is only a few months difference between them," Deuteronomy just opened and closed his mouth, speechless.

"So, are we going to follow our predecessors meetings and agreements and have a deal?" Deuteronomy just gave a silent nod in return, unable to form words.

"When your kitten is five months old, I will meet you at the alley in Milon street," Wolf said, standing up.

"Pleasure doing business with you," Wolf grinned. "Ma'am," He winked at Grizabella before he left.

Munkustrap's eyes were wide with disbelief, as was Macavity's.

"What?" They both exclaimed at the same time.

"Y-You were letting him take me away?" Munkustrap whispered.

"I'm sorry, my boy…" Deuteronomy murmured. "It was tradition."

"I-Is that why Mum hated me?"

"She never hated you…but when you were born, she loved you so much, she never wanted to let you go," Deuteronomy sighed. "For in order for it to be less painful for her when it came time to…give you away, she never bonded with you," Munkustrap blinked, guilt settling in his heart when he discovered he had been blaming his mother for all the wrong reasons.

"What happened with the deal?" Macavity questioned.

"I couldn't go through with it…as soon as I saw you in that monster's arms, I couldn't let him take you away from me…you were too precious," Deuteronomy glanced at Macavity as he called his father a monster, but Macavity didn't react. Munkustrap frowned, a faint memory coming back.

Munkustrap sat on the fence post, tilting his head as he looked at the cow that stared at him.

"Moo," Munkustrap grinned.

"Munkustrap!" Munkustrap just stared at the cow, who chewed on a wad of grass as she stared back at the small kitten watching her.

"Oh there you are!" Munkustrap found himself scooped into a pair of warm arms and against a warm chest.

"Hiya, Aunty Jenny,"

"Come on, Moo, we have to go," Jenny told him, her voice shaking a little.

"But…but I was playin' with the cow,"

"I know," She whispered as she carried him through the yard. "Sir, I have him!" Munkustrap glanced around the crowded clearing, looking at his father.

"I love you so very very much, Moo, don't ever forget that," Jenny whispered as she hugged the young kitten close to her chest. Munkustrap hugged her back.

"I love you too, Aunty Jenny…I love you more than Mummy," Jenny squeezed him tighter, pressing her lips against his head.

"Oh, my precious thing," Jenny whispered, her voice breaking. "My little moo," Munkustrap was given to his dad, who smiled sadly at him. Grizabella had left a couple of weeks before.

"Where's Tugger?" Munkustrap asked, looking around for his older brother.

"H-He's playing with the other kittens," Deuteronomy smiled shakily. "Come on…there's something we have to do," Munkustrap stared at the Jellicles over Deuteronomy's shoulder as he, Deuteronomy, Gus, Asparagus and the Protector, Sibus, walked from the yard. Munkustrap tilted his head when he saw Jenny crumple against Skimble, shaking and sobbing.

"We're here, sir," Sibus said in his deep voice.

"Ah, Deut, I thought you weren't going to come," Munkustrap's ear twitched as he heard the new voice, but Deuteronomy held Munkustrap tight to him.

"Whatever made you think that, Wolf?" Deuteronomy questioned coolly.

"Well, I know how much you adore that precious silver kitten in your arms," Munkustrap turned his head and looked at the ginger, white and gold Tom. The Tom gave a small whistle as he saw Munkustrap's face.

"Well, would you look at him," He murmured. "Such an innocent face," Deuteronomy gave a growl at that.

"Oh don't get your tail in a knot, I didn't mean anything by that," The Tom laughed. "There's just something…special about this one, I know you see it too,"

"Enough, Wolf," Deuteronomy muttered, his voice riddled with pain. Wolf reached out, taking Munkustrap from Deuteronomy and cradling him in his arms. Munkustrap stared up at the new Tom, head tilted. Wolf grinned at the interest and curiosity in the kitten's eyes…but there was no fear.

"You're a brave little one," Wolf crooned. "We'll make something special out of you yet," Wolf turned to walk away, the small kitten staring up at him with large hazel eyes.

"No!" Wolf turned and Munkustrap found himself being wrenched back in his father's arms. Munkustrap cuddled against his father's chest, but looked back at the other Tom, who looked furious.

"We had a deal!" Wolf roared. Munkus whimpered, ears flattening at the loud voice.

"Not anymore…this is pathetic, no Jellicle will be handed to you," Deuteronomy said, gently rubbing Munkustrap's back.

"Then the deal is off…your yard will no longer be safe from us," Wolf hissed. Deuteronomy nodded, his face set and cold. The other Jellicles stood by his side, teeth bared at Wolf's followers. Wolf turned and stalked off. Munkustrap found himself being hugged tightly.

"Oh my boy, I can't believe I almost let you go," Deuteronomy whispered, kissing Munkustrap's head and holding him tight.

"Sir, the other Jellicles will not be pleased about this," Sibus murmured. "It was a good decision, but this will cause a lot of…tension," Sibus said, rubbing Munkustrap's ears. Munkustrap purred, nuzzling Sibus's paw. The golden Tom smiled at the young Tom.

"Sibus, I fear Wolf will come back for Munkus," Deuteronomy murmured as they walked back towards the yard.

"I'll train him to fight and defend himself, sir,"

"Thank you," Deuteronomy murmured, nuzzling comfortingly at Munkustrap's ears, just reassuring himself his kitten was still with him.

Munkustrap blinked, looking at Deuteronomy.

"You did give me to him…but you went back on it moments later," Munkustrap murmured. Deuteronomy nodded, glancing at Cori as he and the kittens walked in. Cori saw the look and went to sit a little distance away, taking the kittens with him. Cori sat down and Ronan immediately sat in his lap as Regan sat beside him. Cori smiled at Ronan, who was staring at him in fascination. Cori looked surprised as Ronan took his paw.

"The decision, though I never regretted it, caused a split in the yard," Deuteronomy sighed. "When you were a kitten there were about 50 Jellicles…however, most left when they heard the deal had been broken and they feared that Wolf would attack the yard," Munkustrap blinked, lowering his head. Deuteronomy took his paw.

"I'm so sorry, Munkus,"

"Y-You have nothing to be sorry for, Dad…nothing," Munkustrap murmured. Deuteronomy gently pulled Munkustrap forward. Munkustrap lay against his dad, letting Deuteronomy hold him close. Munkustrap nuzzled against his dad, sighing. Munkustrap looked up at the sound of a giggle and saw Ronan was hugging Cori. Cori was staring at the kitten in surprise.

"How is Cori, Dad?" Munkustrap murmured, still resting his head on Deuteronomy's shoulder. Deuteronomy sighed.

"His banishment ended before I got ill…he went back to the yard but no one treated him the same, especially Tugger," Deuteronomy murmured, looking sadly at the mystic.

"No matter how much I tried to make the others see it wasn't his fault, they just wouldn't accept him and when I got sick, he just stayed with me," Deuteronomy sighed. Munkustrap sighed, rolling his head to look at Macavity. Macavity just looked at him.

"No," Macavity said simply.

"But…"

"No,"

"Macavity, stay here with the kittens and my dad…then you'll know I'll return,"

"How do I know you won't bring the rest of the Jellicles back here?" Macavity drawled.

"You don't," Munkustrap replied simply. Macavity gave a small laugh at that.

"I'll give you half an hour," Macavity told him. Munkustrap nodded.

"Munk?"

"I'm making things right for Cori," Munkustrap murmured as he slowly eased himself out of Deuteronomy's arms.

"I'll be back soon," Munkustrap said quietly, nuzzling his dad.

"See you soon," Deuteronomy smiled tiredly. Munkustrap stood up.

"Daddy, are we going?" Ronan asked sadly.

"No, not yet…I'll be back soon,"

"W-Where you going?" Ronan whimpered. Munkustrap smiled, rubbing Ronan's ears.

"I'll be back soon alright?" Munkustrap told him reassuringly. "Stay with your father, grandpa and Cori," Ronan nodded. Munkustrap smiled and left the Vicarage Wall, heading to the Jellicle junkyard.

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Sorry it's taken me so long to update, but last week and that were filled with rehearsals and performances! But it's over now…at least for another week…

Thanks to those who reviewed!

Please read and review!

Luv HGP!