Macavity looked around the yard as he arrived; he had made it so he appeared right near Coricopat. Coricopat froze as Macavity appeared suddenly; he had just been walking, worrying about Tantomile when he had just appeared. Cori's face suddenly contorted into anger and he rushed at Macavity.
"Where's my sister?!" He snarled. Macavity grabbed Cori's wrists before he could hit him.
"She's fine…but she's gone into labour." Cori stopped, shocked, at Macavity's words. "She's asking for you and Jenny, so I came to get you." Cori nodded. Macavity let go of the mystic before grabbing his forearm and pulling him along into the main clearing. Alonzo saw Macavity towing Cori into the clearing, snarled and rushed to fight Macavity, calling for the other Toms to join him. Cori wrenched his arm out of Macavity's grip, leaping in front of Macavity and stretching his arms out, protecting Macavity from the on-coming Jellicle Toms. The Jellicles stopped in their tracks when Cori leapt in front of Macavity.
"Cori…get out of the way." Alonzo breathed. Cori shook his head, glaring at the splotched tom.
"He's here to get Jenny and I for Tanti."
"What?" Jenny pushed out of the crowd at that.
"Tanti's in labour, her kitten's coming." Macavity explained. "She begged for you, said you promised you'd be by her side." Jenny's eyes widened.
"I-I need to get some things." She stammered. Macavity nodded before swiftly following her into the infirmary, the Jellicles watching, dumbfounded and unsure of what just happened.
Macavity stopped, looking at his still son. Jenny caught his look.
"He's holding on, Macavity." She told him softly. Jelly nodded in agreement from where she had been sitting in the corner, keeping an eye on Regan.
"H-He hasn't improved or…declined?" Macavity swallowed. Jelly and Jenny exchanged looks.
"He actually woke up for a few minutes." Jenny told him, smiling encouragingly. Macavity frowned.
"W-What happened? And what does that mean?" Macavity asked.
"He woke up, looked around…he saw me and recognized me." Jenny explained to him softly. "He asked what had happened and then he faded out again." Macavity bit his lip, looking at his youngest son.
"It's a good sign." Jelly inputted. Macavity sighed.
"Jelly, will you watch him for me?" Jenny asked as she finished packing some things. Jelly frowned.
"Yes, but where are you going?"
"Tantomile's in labour, she asked for me and Cori." Jelly's eyes widened and she nodded.
"Of course, go! Go!" Jelly told her. Jenny nodded and left the den, Macavity close behind her. Jenny looked at Macavity as Cori walked up to them, surrounded by Jellicles.
"How do we get there?" Jenny asked him. Macavity smirked.
"Grab my paw." Macavity told her. Jenny frowned, but did so with her free paw. Cori hesitantly did the same with Macavity's other paw. Macavity breathed in before teleporting them back to his lair.
Munkustrap turned from where he was standing beside Tantomile, squeezing her paw, when they appeared.
"Cori!" Tantomile cried in relief when she saw her twin. Cori rushed to her side, taking Munkustrap's place. Ronan was sitting beside Tantomile on the bed, holding her close and letting her squeeze his paw as the contractions hit. Cori nuzzled his twin comfortingly. Tantomile purred softly as Cori straightened up, looking at Stein, who was conversing with Jenny about the upcoming birth. Cori looked back to Tanti, smiling as he saw her resting her head in the crook of Ronan's neck, tired.
"Munkustrap, Macavity, you go wait outside." Jenny ordered suddenly. The two fathers began to protest until she glared at them, paws on hips.
"Only Cori and Ronan can stay with her," Jenny told them. "Stein is going to assist me with the birth…now go!" Macavity and Munkustrap left Stein's lab, the door slamming shut behind them.
"Is she always that bossy?" Macavity asked grudgingly as he stared at the closed door. Munkustrap nodded as he settled down on the floor, leaning against the wall opposite the door. Macavity sighed and settled down beside Munkustrap.
"Apparently Regan woke up," Macavity murmured. Munkustrap stared at him, shocked.
"I-Is he okay?" Munkustrap stammered. Macavity gave a slight shrug.
"He's unconscious again…but Jellylorum said it was a good sign." Macavity explained softly. Munkustrap nodded. They both winced at the sound of a ragged cry from Tantomile. Munkustrap sighed, tired.
Macavity looked at Munkustrap when he sighed. He slowly wrapped his arm around Munkustrap's waist, pulling the weary, worried Tom into his side. Munkustrap purred thankfully as he rested his head against Macavity's shoulder. Munkustrap calmed as Macavity held him close.
"I-I'm sorry we left." Macavity looked at Munkustrap when he voiced that timidly.
"I know." Macavity murmured.
"Eva's missed you…she's missed you a lot." Munkustrap murmured.
"She wouldn't have if you had left her here." Macavity muttered coldly. He regretted saying it instantly though as Munkustrap lowered his head, looking at the floor.
"I had to make sure Ronan was alright…and I couldn't leave Eva here without either of her dads." Macavity sighed, cautiously reaching out to grasp Munkustrap's paw. Munkustrap frowned, unsure, before looking up at Macavity.
"I know." Macavity murmured. Macavity pulled Munkustrap closer. Munkustrap looked at him, hazel eyes calculating as he tried to figure out why Macavity was acting this way.
"Are we forgiven?" Munkustrap murmured as he rested his head back on Macavity's shoulder.
"Mostly." Macavity answered simply. "You were taking care of our kittens…I wasn't here to take Eva, and no one knew the situation of why Ronan's vision was taking place…what had happened to make that occur." He sighed.
"I know what a pain visions can be." Macavity murmured.
They both winced at the sound of loud cry, bordering on a scream.
"Ronan, I'm going to kill you!" Munkustrap gave a low laugh at Tantomile's yell. Macavity looked at him, surprised.
"Why are you laughing at that?" He asked.
"Because I know what she's going through." Munkustrap explained, smiling. "When I was giving birth, there were so many times I wanted to strangle you for doing that to me."
"Oh…"
"Of course, it'll be slightly worse for Tanto seeing as she's giving birth naturally and when that kitten's ready, it's going to…"
"Alright, alright, alright, I get the picture!" Macavity interrupted, grimacing. Munkustrap laughed at the look on Macavity's face.
"So, did you think about killing me when you were giving birth?"
"Oh…in a number of ways." Munkustrap laughed. Macavity raised his eyebrow, smirking.
"Oh?"
"Yep…one was surgically implanting a watermelon in your stomach so you would know how it feels to have all of your organs squished." Munkustrap began. "Another was hanging you by your ankles from the top of this building and letting the birds peck out your eyes…plus castrating you, strangling you…"
"Jeez." Macavity muttered, looking at Munkustrap in shock. "You were in that much pain?"
"Oh yeah…but once it was done, it was done." Munkustrap told him. "And I had gorgeous kittens at the end of it, it made it worth it." Macavity nodded. Griddlebone came bouncing along the hallway, but froze when she saw Munkustrap and Macavity sitting on the floor, curled close.
"Did I miss something?" She asked, frowning as she indicated to them. "Last I heard you were marching your henchies towards the Jellicles."
"We've sorted things out." Macavity answered smoothly. Griddlebone glanced towards Stein's door when she heard a strangled cry.
"Um?"
"Tantomile's giving birth." Munkustrap explained. Griddle grinned and went to open the door.
"I wouldn't if I were you." Macavity smirked. Griddle turned to look at him, frowning.
"And why not?"
"Because Jenny will have your head." Munkustrap grinned. Griddlebone pouted, crossing her arms as she fell back to lean against the wall. She eyed the two carefully, focusing on Macavity's arm around Munkustrap's waist, plus their paws.
"So, Maccy…" Macavity groaned, he knew that tone of voice.
"Yes, Griddle?" Macavity sighed.
"I'm curious."
"About?"
"Have you told Munkus the reasons you chose him?"
"Most of them, yes."
"Most of them…which ones haven't you told him?"
"What you told me." Griddlebone grinned as she looked at the confused Munkustrap. Munkustrap looked at Macavity.
"What is she on about now?" Macavity looked slightly uncomfortable.
"Mac, come on…it's time for you to actually admit it to yourself, I mean, look at you." Griddlebone said softly, indicating to the two. Macavity hesitated.
Damn her knowing everything about him!
"Mac?" Munkustrap questioned softly. Macavity opened his mouth and was about to tell him when the door to Stein's lab opened. Stein smiled at them, looking relieved.
"We have a queen-kit." Stein laughed tiredly. "Jenny says you're allowed to come in now."
"Saved." Macavity murmured under his breath as he and Munkus got to his feet. Griddlebone raised an eyebrow at him.
"I'm not going to let you forget it." She warned him as she stood in the door, blocking his way. Macavity rolled his eyes.
"Can we go see my grand-kitten now, Griddle?" He sighed, annoyed. Griddlebone stepped out of the way, letting the two into the lab. Munkustrap smiled when he saw Ronan and Cori close to Tantomile, both looking at the kitten in her arms. Ronan looked up and grinned widely at his dad, tears in his eyes.
"I have a daughter!" Ronan laughed as his fathers hugged him tightly. Macavity let go and shifted towards Tantomile, desperately wanting to see his grand-daughter. Tantomile smiled tiredly at Macavity as he came closer. Cori glanced up at him before resuming fixing Tantomile's sweaty, ragged head-fur back into place. Macavity looked at his grand-kitten, his face softening at the sight of her.
She was tiny in her mother's arms, her tiny paws reaching into the air blindly. Tantomile gently stroked the freshly groomed kitten. Her kitten was mostly white with a few gold splashes across her body. There was a silver patch leading from her hips down to the tip of right back foot. There were small bronze flecks on her sides and stomach, leading to her tail, which had a silver tip. Macavity gently reached out and stroked the black patching down the left side of her face.
This kitten was gorgeous.
Munkustrap cooed softly as he came over, gently rubbing the kitten's tiny ears. The kitten mewled squeakily. Ronan's ears pricked up at the sound of it.
"She's adorable!" Munkustrap smiled. "Have you decided on a name for her?" Tantomile and Ronan exchanged smiles as they nodded. Ronan looked at his father, who looked back at him.
"We've named her Viola, after Grandmother." Ronan said. Macavity blinked before looking away, his eyes watering slightly.
They had named her after his mother.
A paw rested on his and he looked up, seeing Munkustrap smiling at him. Macavity gave a small smile back. Macavity took Tantomile's paw with his free one. He squeezed it gently.
"Rest, when Jenny and Stein deem you strong enough, and it's safe for you, we shall go back to the Jellicle Junkyard." Macavity told her gently. Tantomile smiled tiredly.
"Thank you…Father." Macavity smiled, leaning down to gently kiss her forehead. Munkustrap leaned down to nuzzle her.
"Can we move her to somewhere comfortable and quiet?" Jenny asked. Macavity nodded.
"We'll move her to Ronan's room; there is space there if you wish to keep an eye on her, Jenny." Jenny nodded. Macavity looked to Tantomile, who passed Viola to Ronan. Ronan purred as he cradled his daughter close. Viola purred, mewling slightly as she nuzzled her face into Ronan's neck. Macavity gently scooped Tantomile into his arms, before carrying the tired Queen from the room, being followed by the others.
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Hopefully I didn't make you wait too long!
My next update might be a little while away…I'm back at uni tomorrow and I have two assessments coming up that I have to work on
Thanks to those who reviewed!
Please read and review!
Luv HGP
