Munkustrap took Ronan's paw and they walked into the main clearing, Alonzo leading them.

"Jellicles, look who's back for the Jellicle Ball!" Alonzo announced, grinning. The Jellicles all turned and froze, before their excitement bubbled over and they rushed to their silver ex-protector.

"Munk!"

"How are you?!"

"Are you okay?"

"Look at you!"

Ronan shied away, ears pressed back as the Jellicles crowded around his father. He had never had so many cats around him at one time. A paw rested on his shoulder and Ronan turned before grinning.

"Hello, Ronan," A smiling calico face greeted softly.

"Cori!" Ronan grinned, throwing his arms around Cori's neck, hugging him tightly. Cori chuckled, hugging Ronan. Munkustrap turned and smiled when he saw a deeply purring Ronan latched to Cori.

"Munk!" Munkustrap laughed as he found himself in Tugger's arms. Munkustrap hugged his older brother tightly. Tugger purred loudly.

"Hi, Uncle Tugger." Tugger blinked, looking around Munkustrap's shoulder at the silver kitten, who had let Cori go. Tugger smiled, letting go of Munk to crouch slightly in front of Ronan.

"Hey…Ronan?" Ronan nodded. He smiled when Tugger pulled him close, hugging him. Ronan threaded his paws through Tugger's mane, his cheek pressed against Tugger's warm mane. Tugger smiled as he held his nephew.

At first he resented the kittens, for taking his little brother away…but now, after hearing stories from Jenny, his dad and Cori, he knew what these kittens meant to Munkustrap, how they kept him going.

Munkustrap smiled as he watched his brother hold his son close. The other Jellicles were looking at Ronan, unsure about Macavity's son.

"What's going on here?" The Jellicles parted and Tugger let Ronan go, standing up. Ronan saw the cat standing there and a beam broke out over his face, his tail swishing excitedly.

"Grandpa!" Ronan cried, running forward and leaping at Deuteronomy, latching onto him. Deuteronomy stumbled slightly but kept on his feet. Deuteronomy chuckled and wrapped his arms around the kitten latched to him.

"My, my, you're almost too big for me!" Deuteronomy laughed, smiling happily, his brown eyes alight. The Jellicles smiled when they saw how lit up Deuteronomy's eyes were as he held his grandson. Deuteronomy smiled over Ronan's shoulder at Munkustrap.

"How are you, my boy?" Munkustrap gave a small nod.

"Good." Munkustrap answered, smiling.

"Come, let's go talk," Deuteronomy said as he placed Ronan back on the ground.

Later that afternoon, while Munkustrap and Deuteronomy were talking…and they had just tripped on the topic of the miscarriage. Ronan headed towards the den exit. Munkustrap's hazel eyes caught him as he neared the door.

"Don't go too far," Munkustrap told him. Ronan nodded and wandered from the den. He wandered around the clearing, taking in the sights. He looked shyly at the Jellicles who were watching them. A rusty red Tom and a pure white Queen frowned at him before they turned and walked away. Ronan's ears dropped slightly. He looked at the giant tyre and leapt up on it, grinning again. He pounced on a leaf that blew across the top.

"…he doesn't look like Macavity,"

"He's Macavity's son!"

"…do ya think Macavity sent him to hurt Old Deuteronomy?" Ronan turned, confused and stared at the kittens.

"Why would Father want me to hurt my grandpa?" Ronan asked, confused. "I love Grandpa." The kittens, who were older than him, snorted.

"Because your father is crazy!" A creamy coloured queen spat. Ronan's ears flattened.

"He is not!"

"He's pyscho!"

"He doesn't care for anyone!"

"He loves Regan, me and Daddy!"

"He kidnapped Munkustrap!"

"Stop!" Ronan sobbed, crouching down on the tyre. It couldn't be true! Sure his father lost his temper some times, but…he loved them.

"ENOUGH!" A roar echoed.

"Don't you dare say those things to him! Get away before I get Jenny and her broom!" A female voice snarled. There were the sounds of squeaks and scampering away.

"Ronan…are you okay?" Ronan looked up, crying softly. He blinked, surprised when he saw two Cori's? One gave a giggle, smiling at Ronan.

"No…it's not two Cori's," Ronan blinked when he heard a female voice.

"I'm Cori's twin sister, Tantomile." She introduced herself.

"I-I'm Ronan," Tantomile sat down on one side of Ronan, while Cori settled down on the other.

"Nice to meet you," She smiled sweetly. Ronan blinked, staring at her. Tantomile gently wiped the tears on his cheeks away.

"Are you okay, Ronan?" Cori asked softly. Ronan looked at him, giving a small nod.

"Don't listen to what they said, okay?"

"Is it true?" Ronan asked, staring at his paws. The twins were silent for a moment.

"Your father loves you very very much, Ronan…and that's all that should matter." Cori answered quietly. Ronan remained quiet. He suddenly looked at Tantomile.

"How did you know what I was thinking before?" He asked, confused. Tantomile looked at Cori over Ronan's head.

"My brother and I are mystics…we can read thoughts, have visions of the future…stuff like that."

"Oh…Father says I'm a mystic too!" Ronan grinned, happy to have met cats like him.

"Oh?" Cori asked, tilting his head.

"I-I had a vision," Ronan said before going quiet.

"Of what?" Tantomile pressed softly.

"Daddy being pushed down the stairs by that tom." Ronan whispered. He looked up when his paws were held. Cori and Tanto held one each. Ronan smiled.

"What is it?"

"You really are twins," He laughed. The two smiled. Ronan settled down in between the two on the tyre, purring loudly. Tantomile and Cori settled down as well, letting the kitten cuddle against them.

"Come on, we should get you back to your dad and grandpa," Cori said a while later, as the sun began to set. Ronan nodded, stretching out before leaping off the tyre. Cori and Tanto slid gracefully off it before they joined him and walked him back to Deuteronomy's den.

"Ah, Ronan, just in time!" Deuteronomy smiled. Munkustrap smiled at his son before going back to grooming his fur.

"We're having tea with Jennyanydots and her mate and Jellylorum and her mate, you will be able to meet the other kittens, they're a bit older than you…"

"I don't want to," Ronan whispered, hiding slightly behind Cori. Munkustrap looked up, concerned.

"Ro, what's wrong?" Munku asked. Ronan hid behind Cori, giving a small shake of his head.

"The kittens were…saying things to him," Tantomile said sadly as she gently pulled Ronan out from behind her brother. She gently stroked his cheek.

"Such as?" Munkustrap said, a small growl lacing his voice.

"They…they said Father was crazy, and he-he didn't love anyone and…and…and that he-he only l-let m-me come here so I could hurt Grandpa!" Ronan whimpered. Munkustrap gently gathered Ronan into his arms.

"Ronan, I know you're smart enough and old enough not to let lies hurt you," Munkustrap said softly.

"Yes, your father has done…things in the past, but he loves you so very much and he would never ever make you hurt anyone," Ronan gave a small nod, looking at Munkustrap. Munkustrap gently stroked Ronan's cheeks, smiling at him.

"Y-You love Father, right, Dad?" Ronan questioned. Munkustrap remained silent for a moment.

"Of course I do," He answered softly. Ronan purred as Cori, Tanto and Deuteronomy exchanged looks. Munkustrap noticed them and gave a small shake of his head. Cori gave a nod and whispered something into Deuteronomy's ear. Deuteronomy's face turned into one of understanding as Cori whispered Munkustrap's thought to him.

Not like that.

"If you excuse me for a moment…I want to have a chat with Jenny," Deuteronomy said.

"I'll come with you, sir," Tantomile said, accompanying the leader from the den. Cori knelt down on the floor, watching dad and son embrace. Cori gave a sad smile. They let each other go after a while, and after a few more reassuring words from Munkustrap. Munkustrap sat beside Cori with Ronan following close behind him. Munkustrap winked at Ronan as he wandered to Cori, who opened his arms and let the kitten snuggle against him. Cori held him close. Ronan purred softly, happy he had a friend. Munkustrap looked at the two of them as they both purred softly. They weren't that much apart in age…and they were similar in many ways, they could fit in and understand one another, while Cori and Tanto had been outcasts most of their lives, Ronan accepted them without a second glance.

"Helloooo?" Munkus smiled as Cori laughed softly.

"Hey, Misto, in here!" Munkus called as Ronan sat up, nervously holding onto Cori. Cori smiled at him reassuringly. The small Tux wandered in, grinning, before diving onto Munkustrap, hugging him tightly.

"Hey, Mist!" Munkustrap gasped as he was knocked over. Misto purred.

"I've missed you!" Misto said, nuzzling Munkus. Munkustrap sat up, hugging the young conjurer.

"I've missed you too, Misto!" Munkustrap told him sincerely. Mistoffelees was one of the younger ones that he loved the most…mostly because he pretty much helped raise the young Tux, and was his best friend and mentor. Misto blinked as he suddenly realised they weren't alone. He turned his head and saw Cori smirking at him, with a confused kitten on his lap.

"Oh…hi," Misto grinned sheepishly.

"Don't worry…we're just sitting here," Cori laughed. Ronan blinked. Misto focused on him, tilting his head.

"Who's this?" Misto asked as he sat beside Munkus.

"This is my son, Ronan," Misto's eyes widened and he grinned.

"So I finally get to meet one of your kittens!" Misto exclaimed happily as he crawled over. Ronan tilted his head, unsure of the happy tuxedo.

"I remember when your dad was carrying you…inside him…and it was either you or your brother that kept moving and kicking my paw," Misto told Ronan. Ronan smiled at him.

"Your grandpa hasn't stopped talking about you and your brother either!" Misto continued. "He told us how smart you were…and what you were like."

"Was it good?"

"Definitely!" Misto laughed, green eyes sparkling. Misto focused on Ronan for a moment seriously though.

"You're very wise and smart for your age, aren't you?" Ronan blinked in surprise.

"He is," Munkustrap answered fondly. Ronan purred at that. Cori's ears pricked.

"Tantomile says that Old Deuteronomy wants us to go to Jenny's…he's sorted things out," Cori added softly as he noted Ronan's anxiousness. Ronan nodded.

"You're brave, show them that," Misto murmured softly. Ronan smiled at the three in the room with him, feeling lucky.

"Come now…let's go."

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Sorry it's taken me a while to update but unfortunately RL has a thing for kicking me when I'm down…

Thanks to those who reviewed!
Please read and review!

Luv HGP!