Ronan grinned as he was immediately pulled into a crushing hug by Jennyanydots the moment he entered her den.

"Oh look at you!" She gushed as she held him tightly. "You've gotten so big!"

"Hi, Jenny," Ronan smiled at her. Jenny let Ronan go and went to hug Munkustrap. Ronan looked around the den and saw the other kittens standing off to the side, staring at him. Ronan looked away.

"Ah, so ya must be Ronan," Ronan blinked and looked at the marmalade Tom.

"Yes, I am, sir," Ronan answered. The Tom smiled broadly.

"Manners too…of course, Munkus is your dad, so I'd expect nothing less," There was a laugh from Munkustrap at that.

"Ro, this is Skimbleshanks," Munkus introduced as he placed his paw on Ronan's shoulder. Skimble smiled at Ronan.

"Pleased to meet ya at last, lad," Skimble said, offering his paw. Ronan eyed it for a moment before taking it.

"This is Jellylorum and Asparagus," Skimble introduced as he let go of Ronan's paw. Ronan murmured a shy hello to the two older cats. They just smiled at him.

"These are the kittens, Ro…but I've heard you've already met," Munkustrap added, his voice sounding forced at the last part. The kittens' faces fell when they heard Munkustrap's tone.

"This is Pouncival, Tumblebrutus, Jemima, Electra, Etcetera and Victoria," Munkustrap introduced each in turn.

"Hi," Ronan said cautiously.

"Hi," A small calico said back shyly. Ronan blinked. He didn't remember seeing her amongst the other kittens when they had been saying things to him.

"Jemima, right?" Ronan asked. Jemima smiled and nodded.

"Now…don't the rest of you have something to say to Ronan?" Jenny asked sternly.

"Sorry,"

"…I shouldn't have said that,"

"It was wrong,"

"Sorry,"

"We can be friends, right?" Ronan nodded and gave a smile as Pouncival questioned that weakly.

"Sure." Ronan grinned.

Jenny called them for dinner then. After dinner, the kittens got up and left the table. Munkustrap watched, smiling, as Ronan sat down with the other kittens, talking to them. Munkustrap started a conversation with the adults.

"I can't wait for the ball!" Etcetera squealed.

"I know, it's so close!"

"I'm so gonna get Bomba this year!"

"Don't give your hopes up, Pounce,"

"Misto's getting another solo this year," Victoria sighed, pouting slightly. "I didn't get any this year!"

"Why not?"

"Deuteronomy said he still hasn't decided who…but he told me that I had one not too long ago, so it's someone else's turn."

"Well…that's fair," Jemima supplied gently.

"Coming from the queen-kit who gets all the solo singing parts,"

"I didn't ask for them."

"…What do you do at the ball?" Ronan asked. The kittens stopped talking and looked at him. Victoria gave a snort.

"Um…dance?" She said in disbelief…grimacing at the younger kitten.

"I know that…but, like, what type and how do you know when to do your part?"

"It's a bunch of songs and dances," Tumblebrutus told him. "Mum…Jenny has her own song, so does Dad and Tugger and Mistoffelees…"

"And we get taught them as we get older."

"Who taught you how to dance though?" Ronan asked, curious.

"We're Jellicles, we know how to dance." Etcetera supplied.

"Oh…w-what would I do though?" Ronan asked hesitantly.

"Well…you're not a Jellicle."

"Vicky!" Tumble and Jemima hissed. Ronan's face fell.

"Well, he's not!" Victoria said snootily before she turned her attention back to Ronan. "If you are allowed to be in the ball –"

"Of course he's going to be in the ball," Pounce glared at her.

"Then, you'd only get a very tiny part…no solo lines, no solo dancing…minimal dancing," Victoria told him.

"Oh." Ronan murmured.

"Don't listen to the Snow Queen," Jemima smiled at Ronan. "She's just up herself."

"Hey!"

"It's true…you were so much nicer when you were younger," Jemima shot back. Victoria pouted and went silent.

"You'll get a bit to do, don't worry," Jemima reassured him.

"Hey, Dad?" Ronan questioned as Munkustrap settled down beside him later that night.

"Mm?" Munkustrap mumbled as he got settled onto the nest.

"…do I get to anything during the ball?" Munkustrap's eyes widened in disbelief at that question.

"Of course you do!" Munkus told him. "You'll be dancing and singing with the rest of us!"

"Victoria told me I'd get to do little."

"Don't listen to her, Jelly told me she's become a bit of a liar and a troublemaker…you'll get to do the same as the rest of us," Munkustrap smiled, as he pulled Ronan close. Ronan smiled and snuggled against his dad.

"Night, Dad,"

"Night, Ronan."

Over the next few days, Ronan watched the occupants of the yard getting ready for the ball, while he tried to fit in. He sighed sadly as he sat on the tyre, watching different groups practise.

"What's troubling you, my boy?" Ronan looked up as someone sat beside him.

"Hi, Grandpa," Ronan mumbled. "And nothing…just watching."

"And?" Deuteronomy pressed. "Why aren't you joining in?"

"I-I'm not a Jellicle, I don't know how to dance…I don't belong here,"

"You're very wrong there," Deuteronomy told him as he wrapped his arm around Ronan's shoulder.

"You do know how to dance, I know you do,"

"How?"

"Because you are a Jellicle, you have that beat, that rhythm and love for music inside of you."

"I'm not a Jellicle though." Ronan mumbled.

"Yes, you are!" Deuteronomy told him firmly. "Not only do you have your dad's blood, and therefore my blood running in your veins, you also have a heart of a Jellicle." Deuteronomy placed his paw on Ronan's chest, above his heart.

"A heart of the Jellicle is pure, wise and kind…filled with hope and love for others…and that is you, Ronan," Ronan grinned and hugged his grandpa tightly.

"Do not be sad, Ronan, you belong here…more than you know it," Deuteronomy whispered in his ear. Ronan smiled, looking out over the yard. Munkustrap was practising a part of a dance alongside Alonzo, Admetus and Plato. Munkustrap smiled and waved at Ronan as they stopped dancing, the others going to join another group, who were practising tap movements.

"Hey, Ro," Munkustrap said breathlessly as he walked up.

"Heya, Dad," Ronan smiled, eyes straying back to the tapping group. Munkustrap noticed the movement.

"You know, that's a dance you have to know," Munkustrap told him.

"He's right," Deuteronomy murmured.

"Can you teach me, Dad?" Ronan asked. "I-I don't wanna go over with them…I've never danced before and I don't want to make an idiot of myself," Munkustrap smiled, taking Ronan's paw.

"I don't actually dance in this one, well, not that part anyway…I sing that song," Munkustrap told him.

"Oh."

"Come on, we'll go find someone you can dance with," Munkustrap smiled, lifting Ronan off the tyre.

"See ya, Grandpa." Ronan waved. Deuteronomy smiled, waving back. Munkus and Ronan walked through the yard.

"Hey, Dad?"

"Yeah, buddy?"

"Who do you think Grandpa will choose to open the ball?" Ronan questioned. Munkustrap glanced at him, head tilted.

"How did you hear about that?"

"The other kittens."

"Oh."

"So…?"

"I'm not sure, Ronan," Munkustrap answered truthfully.

"Oh."

"Why, who do you think?" Munkustrap questioned. Ronan thought for a moment before looking up at his dad.

"Cori." He answered. Munkustrap smiled.

"And why do you think that?"

"T-The kittens told me Cori wasn't allowed to come back to the yard for a while…that no one was nice to him," Munkustrap sighed heavily.

"I don't get it…he's nice, he's caring…why did one mistake make him hated by everyone else?" Ronan questioned. "It's just not…reasonable." Ronan frowned.

"Everyone makes mistakes…it's natural," Ronan murmured.

"Did the kittens tell you the reason Cori was banished and treated like that?"

"No."

"Good…"

"Why?"

"Because Cori was blamed for something that wasn't his fault," Munkustrap told him. Ronan nodded. They came across Misto, Cori and Tantomile in a secluded clearing.

"Hey, guys," Munkustrap called. The three stopped and turned as Munk and Ronan approached.

"Hey, Munk, Ronan." The three greeted cheerfully.

"Guys, I was wondering if you could teach Ronan the Gumbie Cat tap…I have no idea how to do it all, and have to go help Lonz set up…"

"That's fine," Misto smiled. "We can go over the other dances with him as well,"

"It's no problem at all," Cori interjected quietly as Munkustrap went to say something. Munkustrap smiled.

"Alright…take care of him,"

"Of course," Tantomile smiled. Munkustrap rubbed Ronan's ears.

"I'll see you back at the den when these three are done with you," Munkustrap told him. Ronan nodded.

"Sure," Ronan watched as his dad walked away.

"So, Ronan…how much dancing have you done?" Mistoffelees asked.

"None," Ronan answered as he turned back to face them. Misto's face went blank for a moment.

"Well, if you're like Munk, you'll pick it up easily,"

"Besides, you're a Jellicle," Cori inputted. Ronan gave a smile at the encouraging faces.

"Alright…now, let's see…" Misto hummed, looking Ronan up and down. Misto smiled.

"Alright…ready to dance?" Ronan nodded, grinning.

Macavity watched from a junk pile as Misto, Cori and Tantomile taught his son the steps for Gumbie Cat. He watched as they gently picked him up, giving encouraging words every time he lost his footing or made a mistake. Macavity gave a small smile when he heard Ronan laugh happily, grinning as he managed to make it through the number without a mistake.

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Well, hopefully I didn't make you wait too long…it would've been up sooner, but anxiety and family members being admitted to hospital is no fun at all…

Thanks to those who reviewed!

Please read and review!

Luv HGP!