Hi guys. Just a little warning for some emotion possibly. Thanks for reading so far. :)

Misto, Jemima and Victoria waited outside whilst their mother looked at their father. They were all very sleepy and were nearly falling asleep because of it. Misto was trying to listen in what they were saying, Victoria was frowning because she was being kept up so late and Jemima was twiddling her thumbs trying to find trouble.

"How long are they going to be?" Jemima sighed.

"Give them time Jem." Misto sighed back.

"It's not like dad's going anywhere. We're going to see him in a few hours." Victoria said, not understanding the situation as per usual.

"You don't get it do you Vic!" Jemima shouted.

"Leave her." Misto tried.

"She needs to know!"

"Not right now."

"When then?"

"Not right now." Misto persisted.

Jemima gave a heavy sigh. Even watching the policles and the peekes fight was more interesting than this. Her father hated when she did this as she might get involved in the fight. She just wished Victoria would understand something for once in her life!

"Jem…" Misto finally said.

"What?" Jemima replied.

"I… I…. I…" Misto stuttered.

"Misto?"

"I don't know how to deal with all this." Misto said, keeping back the tears.

"Misto…" Jemima said, her eyes also filling up with tears.

"I don't know what to say to him… I mean if I go in there."

"Just let him talk then."

Misto looked at his sister. After everything they had been through these moments really counted. He gave a little smile to her and she tried to give a smile back. It was hard for her to smile with everything going on however. Misto looked back at the den opening.

0000

Demeter had just entered the room. Her husband was lying there breathing heavily. She had left the kittens outside until they were finished so they could have some time alone. She walked towards the bed. The bed Munkustrap was lying on was right by the window so at least he had a view. She cautiously walked over to him so not to frighten him.

"Munkus?" Demeter asked quietly.

She didn't have to say anything else. Munkustrap turned round and smiled when he saw his mate. She beckoned with his paw for her to sit down on his bed. She sat down on his bed with his paw around her. It was a little weak and limp but it was just nice to have a hug from him again.

"I'm so sorry Dem." Munkustrap whispered to her.

"Don't worry about a thing." Demeter replied.

"I shouldn't have let Macavity get the kittens in the first place." Munkustrap sighed.

"You did the best you could."

"Not hard enough though."

"Stop being so down on yourself."

"And what if something had happened to Carbucketty?!"

"He can take care of himself."

"But what if something had happened?"

"Then you could have saved him. You save everyone."

"No I don't."

"Yes you do and don't you ever think differently."

"I wish I had your confidence, love."

"If only I could give it to you."

Munkustrap winced once she said this. Demeter looked away trying to hide her tears.

"Crying sweetheart?" Munkustrap chuckled a little.

"Maybe a little." Demeter smiled back.

Munkustrap put his paw up to Demeter's face. Demeter put her paw to his.

"I'm not ready to go just yet."

"You'd better not."

"I'll try. I don;t want to leave you and the kittens."

"You won't ever leave us. I love you."

"I love you too."

"Maybe I should get the kittens in here." Demeter said going to leave.

Munkustrap grabbed her paw as she was about to leave. Demeter looked back.

"Don't tell them. About me I mean." Munkustrap tried to say.

Demeter just nodded and smiled at Munkustrap as she left to get her kids. Misto, Jemima and Victoria all stood to attention when their mother came in the room.

"Can we see him?" Misto asked his mother.

"He's asking for you." Demeter smiled.

"I'm scared." Victoria said staying close to Jemima and Misto.

Jemima and Misto sighed. They knew they had to go in there without Victoria or not. They almost carried her into the room where Munkustrap was so she could see he was almost okay.

Munkustrap was getting weaker and weaker when the kittens came in. He could barely lift his head as they came in but he still managed his big smile when they came in. they all smiled back at him with Victoria's smile being the biggest.

"Daddy!" Victoria shouted as she ran over to him.

Munkustrap groaned from the impact of Victoria's hug but still had a smile on his face. His youngest was always the one to make him smile the most, whether he was in pain or not.

"Be careful darling." Munkustrap chuckled.

"I thought you were gone." Victoria started to sob.

Munkustrap looked over Victoria's shoulder to Victoria and Jemima. Both of them knew what this look meant.

"Daddy's not going anywhere." Munkustrap carried on talking.

"Yeah and we're staying with him." Misto said sitting next to Munkustrap on the bed. Jemima joined him with Victoria nearly falling asleep cuddled against Munkustrap.

"See nothing is going to happen." Munkustrap told Victoria.

Victoria snuggled into Munkustraps chest and fell asleep. Jemima looked over at Misto with her eyes nearly shut. Misto nodded and Jemima snuggled into Victoria and fell asleep too. Munkustrap looked over at his only awake kitten.

"Only us then." Munkustrap smiled.

"Looks like it."

"At least it's quiet."

"Shame we can't see the stars though."

"Yeah it is. Oh well we can imagine them can't we?"

"Dad?"

"Yes Misto."

"You're not going to leave us are you?"

Munkustrap took a deep breath in. Misto already knew the answer but he didn't want it to be true.

"Jenny's not right is she? You're going to stay with us."

Munkustrap looked at the door. Demeter was standing listening in to the whole conversation.

"Dad?" Misto carried on.

"I'm not going anywhere Misto, not for the moment anyway."

"I thought so. Jenny can be wrong sometimes can't she?"

"Not always."

"I know."

"What are you doing tomorrow then?"

"Nothing."

"Sounds boring."

"There's nothing to do."

"Why don't you go to Victoria's dance class?"

"It's boring!"

"Then how come your sister goes?"

"Because she likes boring."

"Now who sounds like a kitten!"

"Yes dad." Misto rolled his eyes.

Misto was nearly falling asleep himself. Munkustrap put his chin on the top of Mistos head.

"Dad?"

"Yes Misto."

"Promise you'll be here when I wake up."

"Course. Why wouldn't I be?"

Misto smiled and then fell asleep next to his favourite cat in the world. Munkustrap followed him into the land of nod with everyone surrounding him.