"Kill Munkustrap"

Munkustrap backed away as Mungojerrie glared at the ginger Tom. "I'm a thief. You know that I don't kill cats. You have others to do that."

"So are you saying that you won't do it?" Macavity smiled as he pulled the Queen in to his arms and held her close.

Mungo's heart began beating rapidly as he looked at Munkustrap and the calico that was still looking at the ground. "I- I won't kill Munkustrap."

"That's what I thought" Macavity said before kissing the Queen hard on her lips. "You'd think that by now you'd start enjoying yourself a little. I'll be back in a minute" He released her and smacked her butt before exiting through a back door. The Queen watched him leave, rubbing the spot where he hit her.

"You two should probably go" the Queen said, her voice was close to breaking. "He'll be back soon..."

"I'm sorry" Mungojerrie said as he took a step towards her.

"It's alright Jerrie, I would have done the same thing" she said as she gently nodded her head.

"Are you going to be alright?"

"I'll be fine" she said, obviously unsure, voice shaking.

Munkustrap looked between the two calicos one last time and marched up to the female one. He grabbed her wrist, causing her to turn sharply. "You're coming with us." The Queen opened her mouth to protest by Munkustrap cut her off. "I'm not sure who you are or how you and Mungo know each other but it's obvious that you're not supposed to be here. Am I right?" She gave him a feeble nod of her head. "Then let's go before he come back" he said as he pulled the Queen with him.

Munkustrap left the room, still pulling her behind him, at top speed with Mungojerrie behind them. After following the tabby, who ran as if his tail was on fire, for several blocks, they stopped in an abandoned lot to take a breath. Munkustrap sat himself against a wall as the other two were left standing.

"We should be good for now" Munkustrap gasped. "We'll just take a short break and then we'll get to the Junkyard."

"Why didn't I think of doing that" Mungojerrie asked himself although he was looking at the Queen.

"Because you knew what would happen to me if Macavity walked in as we were leaving and you love me too much to let that happen" she explained with a sad smile.

"Right" Mungo agreed sadly as he pulled her into a tight hug. "I didn't think that I'd ever get to hold you again."

"I didn't think I'd get to know what you smelled like again" she said with a slight laugh. "Everything was him and fish... I missed you so much." She breathed as she kissed his cheek.

"I missed you too" Mungojerrie nuzzled her affectionately as a silence fell upon the three.

"Could I have an explanation," Munkustrap asked, breaking the silence. The two sat down, arms still wrapped around each other before starting.

"Sure," Mungojerrie said. "First of all, Munkustrap this here is Rumpelteazer. Second of all, she's my mate."

"Your... what, since when?" Munkustrap asked, flabbergasted. "Start from the top."

"Alright. I work for Macavity, not by choice though. You see; Teazer and I were employed by Macavity back when we were young. He paired us up, my strong points were her weak point and vice versa. He figured that together we'd make the perfect thief. And he was right. So we worked together for a few years, spending pretty much all of our time together. And we got rather close. So one night, I gave her those pearls and proposed to her. She accepted. The next morning, Macavity called us to his room. He said that one of his Queens was taken away from the Jellicles. He separated us, saying that I was supposed to go to the Jellicle Junkyard and join. I was to come back every few days with news and I'd get to see Teazer. The only real way to free her was by working.

"Well, this one day I came back and nothing big really happened. He took me into this hallway and told me to sit down. He went into Teazer room and... I'm sure you can guess what he did to her. So ever since I've been telling him pretty much everything I could think of, hoping that he would let her go or at least not do anything to her. Sometimes he would say that I was ten seconds late and Rumpelteazer was going to have to pay for it... or something like that. To be truthful Munkustrap, when he said that if I killed you he would let her go; I almost did choose to kill you. But I couldn't do it..."

"I'm glad that you couldn't of" Munkustrap said as he allowed the story to sink in. "We'll have to keep you safe now won't we? Why don't you become a Jellicle?"

"Me," Rumpelteazer asked as she pointed to herself. "I suppose..."

"We should get you back to the Junkyard for now and get you looked at by Jennyanydots" Munkustrap said as she looked to Mungojerrie.

"She's fine Teazer; they're all nice back there. You're going to love it." Mungojerrie comforted as he wrapped his arm tighter around her waist. "Lead the way Munkustrap."

The three continued towards the Junkyard, at a much slower pace this time. They walked in as the sun reached it highest spot in the sky. Most of the cats were lazing around the Yard, soaking up the sun as they slept.

"You made it back" Tugger heaved a sigh of relief. "We were starting to get worried that Macavity went off and killed you. Demeter's going to be happy to see you again Munk... What's with the double" Tugger asked as he noticed Rumpelteazer, who was nearly camouflaged by Mungojerrie.

"Um... Mungo, why don't you bring her to Jennyanydots', I'll be there in a minute or so, once I explain everything to Tugger."

"Alright, good luck" Mungo offered as he led his mate away.

"What did he mean by good luck," Tugger as Munkustrap who laughed.

"Never mind him. Alright Tugger, the Queen with Mungojerrie is his mate, Rumpelteazer. They met while working for Macavity. They became mates the same night we got Demeter back. Macavity sent Mungojerrie here as a spy the next day and said that if he brought back information he'd get to see her. If he didn't or if he was late, Macavity would get to have his way with her. We just brought her back now; I couldn't leave her there; that was before I knew all of that though."

Tugger stared blankly at Munkustrap. "Mungojerrie works for Macavity? That's why Demeter was taken. Why aren't you killing him?"

"...Because he was doing it to keep his mate safe. I would have done the same thing. I'm not sure if he's the reason for Demeter's disappearance though."

"Sure, believe what you want to Munkustrap. Just don't blame me if it turns out that you've been played by them." The Main Coon said as he left him.

Munkustrap walked the length of the Yard to Jennyanydots' cupboard where she had the infirmary set up. He plopped himself next to Mungojerrie and looked at him. 'Is he playing me?'

"Any news yet," Munkustrap asked, startling Mungo.

"No, not yet" he said as he resumed looking at the door. "Jenny kicked me out. She wouldn't let me stay with my own mate. We nearly had a fit. She said that if she saw what she had to do then I'd be scared for life..."

"She does that to me too. Frankly, I'd rather not know the details with what she has to do."

"I just want to know-" Mungojerrie was cut off as he found Munkustrap pinned to the ground. The door to the cupboard was open and Rumpelteazer nuzzled her head into Munkustrap's chest.

"Good news Love. There's... Hello" Rumpelteazer greeted, obviously embarrassed. "I didn't expect to see you here. I didn't expect to tackle you either. Honest mistake right?"

"No" Mungojerrie said playfully as he pulled her off of her. "Remember who your mate around here is?"

"No" Rumpel said cheekily as she stuck her tongue out at him. Mungo pinned her to the ground and began to tickle her furiously as she squealed and giggled. "I was joking. I remember, I remember. It's you!"

"Right you are. Now, what's this good news that you couldn't wait to tell me?" Jerrie asked as he towered over her.

"There are no kittens" Rumpel smiled as one came across Mungo's face as well.

"That's wonder Love" Jerrie said as he pulled her into a hug.

"That's wonderful," Munkustrap asked, hardly believing his ears.

"It wouldn't have been my kittens Munkustrap" Mungojerrie reminded. "It would have been Macavity's. Do you want a lot of his little off springs running around here?"

"I see your point" Munkustrap nodded as Rumpel pulled herself off the ground. "I'm going to check up on Demeter, I'll be back later."

Munkustrap wandered around the Junkyard later on that night. He walked past some of the junk piles when he noticed something sitting atop one of them. He crouched down, prepared himself to strike if it was Macavity, but relaxed when he saw Rumpelteazer looking Heavyside wards. She turned towards him and seemed startled.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you" Munkustrap apologized as he came into view.

"It's alright," She smiled sweetly. "I was just looking at the stars..."

"Oh, I see. So, where's Mungojerrie at?"

"He's asleep right now" She said as she nodded her head. Munkustrap found himself nodding with her and joined her in watching the stars. He felt his eyes glaze over for a moment before he shook his head. He looked over at her again and saw tears rolling down her cheeks.

"I didn't see them in almost two years" Rumpelteazer told him, as if she knew what he was going to ask. "It was two years since I saw the sky Munkustrap. I used to always watch it with Jerrie. We'd make up stories of other cats who watched them and what their lives were like... It was one of the things that I missed the most when I was locked up."

"Really" Munkustrap said as he looked up at the sky. "Was it bad there when you were - captured?"

"I didn't think that it would be all that bad actually. I mean, when I was younger and working there, I had so many friends. I was one of his top thieves too. I was treated with such respect. Then I was put on the outside looking in, you know. It was like I was suddenly transformed into a Pollicle. They all turned against me, all at once. But then I became his favorite Queen and I was treated horribly but with respect at the same time... It's really weird."

"Were you scared? I mean – I'm sorry for the questions. It's just that Demeter's the only one who was with him and she breaks down if you mention it, and I was just wondering-"

"It's no problem. Don't worry about it... At first it's scary when it's happening but then afterwards you start to think that it's not all that bad. So after a while when it's happening, it doesn't seem all that bad; but when it's over it's scary. You just start to think about everything that could happen, like you could bear his kittens. Then it's even scarier. That was my biggest fear that that would happen."

"I never thought of it like that. You know with the kittens and all. The way Demeter carries on you'd think that it would be getting killed."

"Different cats think of different things" Rumpelteazer shrugged.

"So what are you thinking of now?" Munkustrap asked as a small smile came on her face.

"I'm thinking about a Tom and a Queen who live in... Paris! They're both looking at the stars right now; wondering if they'll ever find the right cat. A few days later, they'll run into each other on the street and fall in love. Not right away though, they'll take it slow like you're supposed to. If something's right, you don't have to rush it..." She marveled as she looked at the stars. She turned towards her savior and he was suddenly lost in her dark brown eyes. The shimmered with the tears she held back and the stars in the sky were reflected by them. "Well it's late. I- I should probably get back to the box before Jer wakes up... can you point me in the right direction?"

Munkustrap helped her down from the junk pile and told her to take a left at the blue car. He watched her walk away, looking around the yard as she made her way towards the box. She turned at the door and seemed surprised to see him still standing where she left him. She waved to him shyly and slipped past the curtained door. 'Are you playing me too? Is this just a game for the two of you? Or is it all legit?' Munkustrap wondered as he turned back towards the stars and the moon. 'Trust me... I'll find out before too long.'

A/N: Hey there b'y. Sorry that it took me so long to get this up. I was up at the Hospital since Monday and I just got out last night. I'm pretty much all better though. It wasn't over anything real serious – I'm not going to die – so no need to worry. But it sure dose feel good to be breathing fresh air and eating regular sized food again. Peds get the smallest food portions you ever saw, and then again it is for five and six year olds. And the blood work.... shiver I wanted to die.

I finally got to sleep in today, there woke me up at six every morning just to take a pill. And Poet knows how much I hate being woken up early; especially when I barely slept all night. It just wasn't dark enough, it was gray. Then I get home; go to bed, and what happens? The power goes out. Eternal Darkness, how I missed it. And I got an afro from Value Village too. It's nice. Looks' like Andrew's hair... hehehehehe. I need to go work on my CATS costume now though.

Chimalmaht – I know you hate Macavity, but he dose have one catchy song. Sorry this wasn't up soon enough. I'll try to make the waiting period shorter for the next chapter.

Jemima-luvah – I'm sorry that I did that. But I did update, you can't stay mad at me, right? I read your story (it's awesome so far) and thank you for the great reviews.

Samantha Futhart – I wouldn't have called it a good time up in Sydney but I did get to see my cousins from up there so that was good. Thanks for reviewing (and for updating)

Don't you be a naughty baby. Come to papa, come to papa do; My sweet embraceable you