Disclaimer: Nope, still got nothing…still want Tugger…but we can't all have everything we want now can we?

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Macavity walked solemnly around the base, trying to take in everything Demeter said.

"Try, I want you to try, eh?" He repeated, "Well how do I begin to try?" He asked himself aloud, "I mean, I barely even know the girl. The only thing I do know about her is her name's Makkenzie and it's my fault she's alive."

But Macavity stopped pacing when he heard something from behind him. He turned around and was staring at Makkenzie.

"You're good at that."

"Thanks."

Macavity sighed, "So, Makkenzie…"He started, "I want to show you something."

Macavity began to walk off in a different direction with Makkenzie following close behind. She hardly knew the base at all.

Macavity led her to a messy room that was very dark. You could barely see your hand (er…paw) in front of your face. Makkenzie walked close behind her father, seeing how she couldn't see a thing. But then Macavity stopped and a light clicked on.

The bright light slowly exposed the room. It wasn't much, just a big, dark, plain room. There were a few chairs and tables but other than that it was mainly empty. But then Makkenzie's eyes wandered up to a large table with all sorts of gems and jewels: all stolen.

Macavity turned and stood in front of her, "Makkenzie, you probably already know this from your stay at the junkyard but I am a thief. I steal things from others without any regard what so ever. I want you to know that because there will be many time where I will not be able to take care of you. I can not have any distractions."

Makkenzie looked at him gratuitously, "I don't mind."

Macavity sighed, "Makkenzie, this is not the life you deserve. It's not the life you will enjoy and I want to tell you that you should go back to the junkyard with Demeter. You will have a much better time if you stay there. You could get hurt if you stay with me."

"I don't care. I don't want to go back to the junkyard, I want to stay with you."

Macavity looked to the ground.

..::at the junkyard::..

Demeter watched in amusement as a very happy Excetera chased Rum Tum Tugger around the junkyard.

He ran over and hid behind Demeter, "Stay away from me, cretin!" He hissed, not taking his eyes off the cheerful cat.

Excetera looked up at him with her big, kitten eyes, "Aww…you like me. You know you do!" She leaned over to Demeter, "He does, really!"

"Get her away get her away get her away!" Tugger breathed.

Demeter smirked, "Oh yeah, he likes you Excetera."

"I do NOT!"

"Yes you do," Demeter said firmly, "Now go play."

Munkustrap walked into the scene with a look of confusion on his face. He looked at Excetera,

Tugger and Demeter then sighed, "What are you doing?"

The three looked at each other, "Uh…" They said in unison.

Munkustrap shook his head lightly, "Never mind, I don't want to know." He looked at Demeter, "Can I speak with you?"

"Sure," She said, laughing at Tugger.

Demeter and Munkustrap walked off as Excetera, once again, proceeded to chase Rum Tum Tugger around the junkyard.

Munkustrap led Demeter over to the pipe, unaware of the small black cat hiding inside, "Demeter, I just had a chat with Old Deuteronomy and he said that Makkenzie hasn't been in the junkyard for a few days. What's going on?"

A small ray of light shown the black cat's face as his ear perked up. It was Mistoffelees.

"Um, well, she's at home, she's not feeling well."

Munkustrap eyed her, "Really?"

Demeter looked at him in concern and then sighed, "No, no I'm sorry Munkustrap."

"What?"

"I need to tell you something."

"I'll say you do…"

"Munkustrap," Demeter looked up into his eyes, 'You remember when Macavity…"

"Yes."

"So he…"

"Go on."

"And I got pregnant. Well, the timing was more than just coincidence, Munku."

Mistoffelees listened closely. He usually wasn't much of an eavesdropper but he had noticed Makkenzie's sudden disappearing act as well.

Munkustrap starred at Demeter in confusion, "What?"

"I'm sorry, I should have told you sooner but you thought that it was you who…and I didn't want you to know, for all I knew Old Deuteronomy would surely kick her out, so…"

"Demeter, what are you saying? Where is Makkenzie?"

Demeter bit her lip, "Makenzie's with Macavity. Because he is her father."

Mistoffelees froze and with a puff of smoke he was gone.

Munkustrap stared at Demeter.

"I'm sorry, I should have tol…"

"Demeter, are you saying Macavity's her father?"

She nodded slowly and turned her face to the ground.

"Why did you lie to me?"

"Munku, I wanted so much to tell you but…"

"Why did you lie to me?" Munkustrap's voice was getting choked.

Demeter couldn't look at him, "I'm so sorry Munku. I didn't tell you because I was afraid. I was afraid for you and for her. God only knows what would have happened if anybody here knew about this. I didn't tell you because I didn't want to hurt you." Demeter tried to fight back her tears.

All Munkustrap could do was stare, "So you lied to me?"

"Yes, I did and I'm sorry. I know what I say probably isn't helping but I'm sorry. I really am."

Munkustrap looked hard at Demeter and walked away.

Demeter watched him go and sighed.

However, Mistoffelees had his own matters to take care of.

..::at the base::..

Makkenzie waited patently in a large room mostly made up of old boxes and crates (home to many mice and rats), watching a few of them dart across the room and back. She had been waiting for over two hours for her father, Macavity, to return. He had said that he was just going out to take care of a few things, even though he neglected to say what they were. But Makkenzie wasn't stupid. She knew exactly what was going on. He was trying to cover up his thievery operations. It wasn't working well.

Makkenzie sighed, 'I don't care if you're a thief. Everyone already knows that.' She said quietly to herself, batting around an empty can she found with her paw, 'I'd rather you not lie to me. If anything you could just tell me what you were stealing this time.' But when Makkenzie turned around, she saw Macavity's red, glowing eyes looming over her.

"It was a diamond."

Makkenzie gave a weak smile and got out of his way.

Macavity passed the red cat and pulled something out of a bag he was carrying. He turned it to the light and threw it to Makkenzie. She caught it, but barely, and looked at it. It was beautiful: a large shard of diamond. It looked like glass and sparkled even in the darkness, reflecting a ray of color and light on the ground, "It's beautiful." She gasped.

Macavity shrugged, "I thought you might like it."

Makkenzie drew her gaze away from the diamond and looked at her father, "Did you steal this?"

"Does it matter?" Macavity said, not looking at her, still rummaging through his bag.

"I want to come with you next time."

"What?"

"I want you to teach me how to be like you."

Macavity eyed her, "I don't think your mother will be too thrilled if I send her back a thief."

Makkenzie tossed the diamond up into the air lightly and caught it, "I don't care." She said without compunction.

Macavity sighed, "I don't know if I can do that."

"Try."

With that one word Macavity's thoughts went back to the talk with Demeter. He couldn't say no.

"All right." He said, setting the bag down, "Follow me."

Macavity led Makkenzie out of the room and started walking down a long hallway. Macavity reached the end of the hallway were a window sat and looked back to make sure Makkenzie was following. With a swift leap Macavity jumped up on the ledge of the window and jumped down onto the soft grass. The window was short, only on the first floor, so Makkenzie followed without complication. They walked through a bunch of trees and stopped at a tall gate in-between the base and another building. It was a rusty old gate and the paint was chipping off. There were a few spikes at the top but most of them had worn away.

Makkenzie looked up at the gate, scanning it carefully, "What is it?"

"It's a gate."

Makkenzie glared at Macavity, "Duh, but why'd you bring me to it?"

He looked at her, "I want you to climb it and get on the other side."

"What?" Makkenzie looked at him quizzically, "But, I can't do that."

"Well, I want you to try."

Makkenzie looked at him and then walked up to the gate. It seemed to loom over her like a vulture. She sighed and began to climb. She placed one paw in-between a gap in the fence and hiked her way up. But not soon after, her paws began to ache and her legs hurt but she continued up the fence. She didn't get very high, only about two fifths of the way before she slipped on a broken piece of the wire and fell to the ground. She twisted her body around quickly and landed on all fours.

Macavity looked back at her, "When you're done, you will be able to jump that fence."

Makkenzie looked back at the fence and opened her mouth as if to say something. But she noticed Macavity had already began walking back inside the base so Makkenzie followed silently.

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Roman de la Croix: I really like Macavity too and I don't see him like what you said either. I think there's a lot more to him than most people can see. That's why I like writing about him.

Oooooooo…Munku's pissed. Kool. J Not much to say. The next chapter will be up shortly. Please please please review!