Macavity stood up quietly, leaving the den and heading to the infirmary. It was nearing dawn now, the others had fallen asleep in the den. He knelt beside Regan, sighing sadly as he looked at his still son. Regan was pale, though his breathing had become less ragged. Macavity gently rested his paw on Regan's middle, on the slightly bloody bandage.
"Regan, you need to wake up." Macavity murmured, stroking Regan's ears with his free paw. "Please." Macavity turned his head slightly when a paw touched his shoulder. Munkustrap was kneeling down beside him, looking at him sadly. Macavity bit his lip, looking back at Regan.
"I want him to wake up, Munkus." Macavity croaked. Munkustrap nuzzled him gently.
"I know, I do too." Munkustrap murmured as he nuzzled Macavity's cheek. Macavity looked at Munkustrap, smiling weakly, before resting his forehead against Munkus's. Munkustrap gave a small smile.
"He'll wake up when he's ready…you know how stubborn he is." Macavity gave a small chuckle as he stared into Munkustrap's hazel eyes. He purred as he leaned forward slightly, his lips connecting with Munkustrap's.
"MUNK!" Munkustrap and Macavity broke apart, looking at the door to find a livid Tugger standing there, glaring at them. Munkustrap looked at him sheepishly.
"Hey, Tugs." Munkustrap greeted. Tugger hissed at his words. Macavity bristled at the way Tugger was acting.
"Don't you dare!" Tugger hissed. "Don't you dare try to push this off!"
"Tugger?" Munkustrap questioned weakly.
"I can't believe you!" Tugger yelled. "You and him?!"
"What of it?" Macavity said coolly, staring at Tugger. Tugger hissed at him.
"Tugger, enough."
"SHUT UP!" Munkustrap flinched back at Tugger's yell. Tugger glared at him, breathing heavily, before turning and stalking from the den. Munkustrap got to his feet, rushing after his older brother.
"Tugger!" Munkustrap cried, pleading with him. Tugger turned on him, shoving him back. Munkustrap stared at Tugger, hazel eyes wide and sad, with his paws on his chest, where Tugger had just shoved him. The Jellicles all stopped and stared, shocked.
"Don't!" Tugger snarled at him. Munkustrap bit his lip as his brother towered over him, staring him down, livid.
"Tugger…please." Munkustrap whispered.
"NO!" Tugger yelled at him, shoving at him again. Munkustrap slipped and fell back at the force of the shove. There was a soft snarl from behind Munkustrap.
"You betrayed me!" Tugger yelled, furious. "I can't believe you!"
"Tugs…"
"He took you away from us…away from me!" Tugger screamed. "And you're together now?!"
"Just…"
"NO! Don't try to explain it, I saw you…kissing…I saw the mark on your neck!"
"Rums…please..." Munkustrap begged weakly.
"Never speak to me again!" Tugger panted. "You're not my brother." Munkustrap lowered his head, sobbing softly as Tugger stalked off, tail in air. Paws rested on his shoulders.
"Munkus." Macavity's voice murmured softly in his ear. Munkustrap gave a sob. Macavity gently helped him to his feet, ignoring the Jellicles.
"Munkustrap?" Munkustrap couldn't raise his eyes to look at his dad. Macavity drew Munkus into his arms, holding the broken Tom close.
"Munkus, what happened?" Deuteronomy asked softly.
"H-He's never gonna speak to me again." Munkus hiccupped. Deuteronomy looked at Macavity, who was nuzzling Munkustrap's ears reassuringly.
"H-He won't even listen to me." Munkustrap looked up at his dad. "Dad, what am I going to do?"
"I'm going to talk to him." Munkustrap and Deuteronomy both looked at Macavity.
"Mac…"
"Munkus, it's alright, go see Eva." Macavity pressed his nose to Munkustrap's before walking away, going to go find Tugger. Munkustrap glanced at his father before quickly looking away. His paw was gently grasped and held.
"Munk, I know about you and Macavity." Deuteronomy told him softly. "I know he cares for you." Munkustrap looked at him, shocked. Deuteronomy gave a low chuckle.
"Munk, I'm your father, I know these things." He laughed softly as he led his son to sit on the tyre with him.
"I don't want him to hate me, Dad." Munkustrap murmured, looking at his paws. Deuteronomy sighed, wrapping his arm around Munkus's shoulders.
Tugger stormed away, furious.
He couldn't believe after all of that, Munkustrap would do that to him! That he would become so close to Macavity.
"Tugger!" Tugger hissed over his shoulder at Macavity.
"Stop, or I'll make you!" Macavity snarled, warning him. Tugger just growled, continuing to stalk away.
He suddenly found himself unable to move.
"I told you to stop." Tugger turned his head to glare at Macavity, who just stared at him coldly.
"Let me go."
"Not until you listen." Macavity told him. Tugger glared at him.
"Now," Macavity started. "Was saying all of that to Munkus really necessary?"
"He…he betrayed me!"
"No, he didn't." Macavity sighed.
"He went with you!"
"And that's a betrayal to you?" Macavity questioned as he walked to stand in front of Tugger.
"Tugger, listen…I know you hate me and yadda yadda yadda, but truth is I care for Munkustrap, I fell for him." Macavity told him sincerely, staring straight into his brown eyes. Tugger stared at him.
"I take care of him, Tugger, I care for him." Macavity continued. "He's the dad of my kittens, and during that time, yes, I did fall for him and I never want to hurt him."
"I don't…"
"Shut up, I'm not finished!" Macavity snapped. Tugger frowned.
"Munkus and I spent a lot of time together, we raised our kittens together…and after we lost Cari, we got a lot closer…we depended on each other to help us overcome her death." Macavity looked at Tugger.
"You do know that to Munkus, losing you is one of the worst things in the world that can happen?" Macavity asked him quietly. Tugger sighed and Macavity relinquished the hold he had over him.
"Well…that's all I wanted to say." Macavity told him. "But seriously, if you hurt your brother even more than you have now, you'll regret it." Macavity left it with that open threat as he turned and walked off. He paused after a few steps, looking over his shoulder.
"Besides, you made a promise to Munkustrap a while ago…that you would never leave him alone." Macavity left it at that, walking away, leaving Tugger frozen in shock.
Deuteronomy looked up as Macavity approached. He tilted his head slightly when he noticed the Jellicles reaction to Macavity walking amongst them. They weren't scared, or hissing at him, yes there were a few weary glances but they seemed almost…accepting.
"W-What did he say?" Munkustrap asked hesitantly as Macavity came to sit beside him.
"Not much." Macavity told him. "But he listened to what I had to say." Munkustrap nuzzled him thankfully.
"Thank you for that." Munkustrap murmured. Macavity just purred, nuzzling him back.
"Hey," Munkustrap pulled back, looking at him, eyebrows raised as Macavity rubbed his thumb against the mark on Munkustrap's neck. Macavity smirked smugly.
"What?" Macavity grinned. Munkustrap shook his head, looking away. Macavity slumped down on the tyre, yawning widely. Deuteronomy watched as Munkustrap stared over the yard, paw idly running through Macavity's head fur. He frowned as he turned attention back to the yard, thinking.
Things had changed…but how far would things have to go? And what would he have to do to make sure his family stayed together now?
Macavity hadn't come near the yard, before two days ago, to attack it. He cared for his kittens, and he cared for Munkustrap. He was technically family to Deuteronomy now.
So much to consider.
Jemima knelt beside Regan, carefully changing the bloody bandages. Jenny had been training her to be a healer, a gumbie cat, and Jemima had volunteered to change Regan's bandages in order to allow Jenny and Jelly time to rest.
"How's his wound looking, dear?" Jenny asked as she settled down in the corner, picking up her knitting. She was knitting a blanket for Viola.
"It's scabbing." Jemima told her. "That's good, right?"
"Yes, dear, it's very good." Jenny smiled.
Regan blinked sluggishly, managing to open his eyes. He had heard voices and he just wanted to wake up. Regan blinked, managing to see clearly. He grinned weakly when he saw a surprised, cute, calico face looking at him.
"Y-You're awake!" She breathed. Regan gave a grin.
"Sure I'm not dead?" He asked weakly. The queen-kit frowned at that. Regan gave a small laugh.
"You're far too gorgeous not be an angel." The Queen-kit blushed heavily.
"Oh, Regan." A voice laughed softly. Regan turned his head.
"Jenny?" Regan blinked, trying to focus on her.
"It's okay, Jemima…would you go get Munkus and Macavity please?" The Queen-kit nodded and moved away.
"Bye, Jemima." Regan purred. Jemima cheeks turned bright red as she hurried from the den. Jenny took her place, shaking her head.
"Awake two minutes and already you're flirting." Jenny laughed. Regan smiled weakly.
"She's pretty." Regan grinned. "Very pretty."
"Regan!" Regan sat up, just in time to be engulfed in a hug by his dads.
"Dad, Father." Regan murmured, nuzzling them both, purring. They both hugged him tightly. Regan was confused about why his father would be willing to be so close to his dad after the betrayal, but he guessed in the time he had been out they had sorted things out.
He didn't care…he had his dads back.
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCC
Almost at the end now guys!
Thanks so so much for sticking with this story!
Thanks to those who reviewed
Please, please read and review!
Luv HGP!
