Munkustrap sat on the broken rocking chair, sun beating down, watching the kittens run through the yard. His eyes rested on Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer a few moments longer then they did on any other cat. He was just being suspicious though. They gave him no reason to believe that they were the ones who got Demeter captured in the first place. Although something in the back of his mind told him to keep watch.

"I tell you it was them" a Tom's voice rumbled. Alright, maybe the 'something' wasn't in his mind.

"Will you let it go Tugger," Munkustrap asked, exasperatedly. "We brought her here over a week ago and she's done nothing wrong."

"She did teach the kittens how to pounce better and sneak up on us..." Tugger commented. "She's getting Macavity some new recruits."

"She's just becoming friends with them" Munkustrap reasoned.

"And she's rather buddy-buddy with Demeter too."

"Yeah, but it's been helping Demeter. I mean, she's not as paranoid as she used to be. She's been much calmer and relaxed. She's starting to roam around the yard alone and she seems to be happier..."

"She's trying to get her guard down so Macavity can strike."

"Did you ever stop to think that Macavity might target Rumpelteazer instead of Demeter?"

"Only long enough to give her a promotion-"

"What do you have against her" Munkustrap yelled, startling some of the cats below them. Munkustrap felt his face grow warm as the cats looked up at him oddly. They soon carried on with what they were doing as he lowered his voice. "What do you have against Rumpelteazer?"

"There's just something about her..." Tugger said as he surveyed her through his narrowed eyes. "Why are you so keen on proving that she's innocent? Are you seeing something that you like?"

"No" Munkustrap said harshly. "Why would I do that to Demeter? I – It's just that... her eyes."

"Her eyes" Tugger asked, obviously confused.

"Yeah, her eyes; Rumpel's. Did you ever look at them? They're just so... emotional; like she's been through hell and back."

"I think you're reading too far into this; they're just eyes." The Tugger scoffed before turning playful. "What do my eyes tell you?"

"That you're an over-confident, over-zealous Tom who likes Queens and currently thinks that I'm an idiot" Munkustrap sighed jokingly, not even looking at Tugger. "But really Tug, just look at them one day. And did you try talking with her yet?"

"No, there's no point. She's already taken" Tugger said lightheartedly as he turned his attention back to the two calicos. They sat together for a few moments of silence as they watched them play tag with the kittens. "Does Mungojerrie seem different to you?"

"What," Munkustrap asked, snapping out of his trance.

"Mungo, he seems... different to me somehow."

"Well, he did get his mate back from Macavity... That could be it. When he came here he was pressured and tense with knowing that his screw ups could harm his mate, now he doesn't need to worry. She's safe and with him."

"They don't even act like mates" Tugger noted. "It's more like they're... good friends."

"They were before Macavity separated them"

"Yeah..." Tugger mumbled. "Munk, do you suppose that if Mungo could fool us, you know, acting like he didn't work for Macavity. Do you suppose that she could be doing the same? I mean, acting like she was his Queen slave when she really wasn't?"

Munkustrap remained silent as he watched Jemima tag Mungojerrie who tagged Rumpelteazer who was, naturally, right beside him. She giggled as she went after Victoria who began to run as fast as she could. "Honestly Tugger, I don't know."

"So he went through the Pollicle's door and the stupid human couldn't stop in time. We were out on the grass and we heard him slam into the door and fall into the China cabinet." Rumpelteazer giggled as she sat on the Tire. Mungojerrie was curled up beside her, enjoying the sun's afternoon rays as Pouncival and Tumblebrutus looked up to her with shinning eyes.

"That's so cool" Pouncival said as he laughed with the other Tom. "It must have been so much fun."

"It was..." Rumpelteazer sighed. "There were some good times."

"I'd love to do that" Tumblebrutus exclaimed as Pouncival nodded his head. "The action, the excitement, the thrill as you escape the humans..."

Munkustrap and Jennyanydots sighed as they watched from the car's hood with The Rum Tum Tugger. Rumpelteazer was filling the young Tom's heads with glamorous tales of what she and Mungojerrie did while working for Macavity. "Why is she telling them that kind of nonsense?"

"Recruiting..." Tugger said lazily, this time Munkustrap didn't contradict him; it seemed to be that way.

"That's only the good part though" Rumpelteazer said wistfully. "There were some bad ones and the bad defiantly outweighed the good."

"What kind of bad" Pouncival asked curiously as he, Tumble, and the three on the car leaned forward slightly and began to listen.

"Well..." She breathed as she became wrapped up in thought. "There was this one thing, it thankfully didn't happen to me or Jerrie but I saw it happen; just a few months ago really. This one Tom, I'm not going to name names, was brought in to see Macavity. It was one of his agents. He messed up a few times, as we all did, but he did it one time too many. Macavity brought in his family, friends, kittens; basically everyone he loved. Macavity brought the Tom and his youngest daughter to the center of the room. The cutest little Queen you ever did see. Macavity told the Tom that he'd forget the slip up and let them all go if he killed his daughter..."

"Did he" Pouncival asked in a small voice, hugging his knees.

"Would you be able to kill your daughter?" She asked as he shook his head 'No.' "Neither could he. So Macavity killed the daughter and all of the other cats in the room, he killed the Tom last. The Tom took it freely though, after seeing your whole life being killed in front of you, death is a pleasure. Then he took me and some of his other Queens and... 'Celebrated.' He tried it again on another Tom; this one heard what had happened to the other one so he did kill his son. Then he was labeled as a murderer and he was forced to kill other cats for Macavity or he loses all of his family members."

"That's horrible" Tumblebrutus whispered.

"That's Macavity" Rumpel clarified. "It's how he works. It's like...." She raised her paw up and swung it at Tumble, like she was going to punch him and stopped, poking him instead. "Did that hurt?"

"No..." Tumble said, obviously confused. She did it a few more times, Tumble's 'No's becoming more mocking with every poke.

"How about this" she asked again and punched him in the arm.

"Ow... yeah, it did. Kind of"

"Yeah, I tried not to hit you too hard." She said with a small smile. "But that's what he does when you mess up."

"He pokes you" Pouncival asked he looked between her and Tumblebrutus.

"No, that's just for visual. It's like you're so scared that he's going to kill you the first time you mess up but all you get is a warning, that's all you get for a while and all you can think of is that you're going to get punished. Then you start to realize that he's not going to do anything horrible; so the one day you go in expecting a slap on the paw, you get cut, punched, slapped, clawed..." she trailed off as she shuddered and fiddled with her pearls. "Then you have the fear again..."

"What is she doing" Jennyanydots whispered as she saw the Tom's eyes open wide in fear. "They're going to have nightmares."

"She's not a very good recruiter, eh Tugger" Munkustrap sighed as Tugger grunted. Mungojerrie lifter his head up slightly and rubbed if on her stomach.

"What ever you do" Rumpelteazer said as she scratched Mungo behind his ears. "If Macavity, Cat forbid, gets a hold of you don't run away. Not right away at least. Chances are when he takes you in he has something to use against you. Talk with him; lie if you must, just don't agree to anything. He has a strong belief in verbal contracts."

"Something to use against us? You mean, like a whip?"

"No. He doesn't use whips. Imagine the cat that means the most to you in your head; now pretend that Macavity has them. If you leave right away, he will kill them."

"He wouldn't really kill mom" Pouncival said trembling. Jennyanydots smiled sadly, flattered to find out that she's the most special cat to her son. "Would he?"

"He killed countless mothers... Yours wouldn't be an exception."

Tugger sneered at the calico Queen who went down to hug the near tear Tom. "Now they're defiantly going to have nightmares. We shouldn't let her near them; they'll turn out like Demeter... no offence Munk-"

"I know what you meant Tugger, constantly scared" Munkustrap said as he waved his paw. "What do you think Jenny. We need a mother's point of view."

"I think... I'm not sure to think. I'll tell you when I find out how he deals with it. I mean, we kept them so sheltered; when Macavity comes they do what we told them to do and hide. They aren't going to learn about life if we don't let them know about it."

"You think that that's life?" Tugger asked, flabbergasted "Macavity killing mothers?"

"Not that exactly, but I don't honestly think they ever stopped to think that cats can be killed. I know that they heard of it countless times but she made them envision their life without the ones they love. It might be a good way for them to realize how precious life really is."

Jennyanydots was right; the next day the two Toms were much more open about their emotions. Some of the cats were confused at first when they were hugged tightly and told that they care about them, but gladly accepted the knowledge. They were told about the good they did and how much they'd be missed if they left and were asked to promise not to leave on purpose.

"It's creeping me out" Alonzo said as he joined some of the cats behind the tire. "I was just hugged by them. I mean I'm touched an all but couldn't it be done with out the contact?"

"I think it's sweet" Cassandra smiled as Alonzo hastily agreed. "They're growing up."

"It's that darn Rumpelteazer's fault" Tugger hissed. "I don't see why you're all being so open to her. I was talking to Munkustrap about it all week; she shouldn't be trusted."

"Will you shut up Tugger" Demeter spat. "Munkustrap's been telling me what you think and I frankly have had enough. He's with Old Deuteronomy right now talking the situation over with him. If Deuteronomy trusts her you have to back off and trust her too, if not... then we'll get rid of her." She added sadly.

"She's a really sweet cat though. The way she carries herself you'd never know that she was once Macavity's prisoner" Bombalurina commented.

"That's what I'm talking about, how do you know if she even was one" Tugger asked.

"I saw her bruises" Jennyanydots said "When she was first brought here. Reminded me so much of Demeter's it was all I could do to not cry."

"She's been crying too" Asparagus Jr. sighed. "I saw her crying with Mungojerrie a few nights ago. She was trying hard not to, she was singing a cheerful song but half way through she lost it and broke down. And before you say it Tugger, it wasn't fake. I saw my Dad act enough to know when someone's pretending to cry... I personally trust her." There were a few murmurs of agreement as Tugger shook his head.

"I need to get some air" Tugger said as he got up and climbed over the Tire. He slinked over to the car, looking at the ground and mumbling to himself. "I don't see how she got them all..."

Thud

"Ow" Tugger said as he rubbed the sore spot on his head.

"Oh, sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going" a gentle voice excused. Tugger looked up and saw that he ran right into Rumpelteazer who was pulling herself back to her feet. "I'm trying to find Mungojerrie, you wouldn't happen to know where he is would you?"

"No" Tugger mumbled. "Can't keep track of him?"

"I'm out of practice" she said apologetically. "I didn't even have to try before hand."

"Really" Tugger asked.

"Yeah, that was back then though, we'd rarely be apart" she sighed. Tugger looked down at her, taking the chance to do what Munkustrap suggested and looked into her eyes. There was defiantly something in there but he couldn't quite put his paw on it.

"So, I have to-" Tugger was about to excuse himself when an all too familiar yell rang out.

"MACAVITY"

The kittens that were playing immediately stopped and Tumblebrutus and Pouncival stood up and went in front of the young Queens protectively; there was no time to hide. The older cats appeared from behind the Tire and formed a ring around the kittens, putting Demeter in the center with them. Laughter echoed through out the yard, making it seem like the ginger Tom was coming from every direction. He appeared on one of the higher piles looking down on them with a sick smile.

"Hello Jellicles" he purred as some of the younger Queens trembled. "How are you today?"

"Can it Macavity" Skimbleshanks growled. "You aren't leaving here with any of us."

"Oh, I think that you're wrong" he smirked. "I'll be leaving here with her" he declared as he pointed at Rumpelteazer, who became hidden from view as some of the cats moved in front of her.

"No way" Admetus snarled.

"She was wrongfully taken from me" Macavity pointed out. "So, she should still be back at my humble adobe."

"No," Demeter said as she hugged the calico.

"But I brought her a present, well, not all of it. I left most of it at home, here's a little hint for you though. Although I do hate to ruin the surprise..." he teased as he threw something into the circle of felines. Rumpelteazer picked it up and turned it over.

"It's Jerrie's collar" she breathed as held it. The jagged line running through it was an obvious sign that it was torn off of him. She looked up at the Tom and yelled. "What do you want?"

"There's no need to raise our voices child" he said as he waved a claw at her. "You have a simple choice to make, come with me or your dear 'Jerrie' will no longer be in my employment... If you catch my drift" another sick smile played on his lips

"I'm coming" she said as she squeezed through the cats. Some of them tried to hold her back and all began to yell at her. "My Jerrie faced Macavity for me one too many times. It's my turn" she told them, with the air of a true warrior. The Jellicles watched helplessly as she scaled the mountain of rubbish and was lead away by her wrist by Macavity.

"Should we follow her" Cassandra asked. "She might need help."

"I'm not sure" Jellylorum breathed. "She did go willingly..."

"To save her mate..."

"But it's Macavity"

"She could be in cahoots with him and is only trying to lead us to him"

"You're starting to sound like Tugger"

"What would Munkustrap do if he was here?"

"I'm not sure"

"He should be back in ten or twenty minutes"

"That could be too late though"

"We can't just all rush to their rescue..."

"So what should we do?"

"Pray" Jemima said, in barely a whisper but the Yard was quiet enough for it to be heard. They broke into little groups, some praying, some of them planning, some trying to calm down the princesses. Tugger looked at them, the pile of rubbish and set out. Knowing Munkustrap, he would do the nobly stupid thing and follow. 'Say a few prayers for me' Tugger thought as he hid in the shadows, watching the easily recognizable red cat go down the street towards the water.

A/N: I wasn't sure if I should add the last bit after the break line, I was pretty torn. I figured that it's do better as an ending then being in the middle of a chapter. It just makes you love me all the more, eh? I don't blame you if you hate me after this, I'll understand. But you got to love 'cahoots' I just had to put that in there. I love that word....

I really need to work on my Hallowe'en costume, I have the dance on Thursday and I don't have anything completed. Let's hear it for procrastination. Bah-day! I have things -almost- done but not quite... I should get back to it now. And photo re-take day is Friday. I'm getting mine done again because my hair wasn't pink in the first ones I got. I re-dyed it myself and everything... and it came out good!

Chimalmaht – Don't worry they aren't... or are they? No Queen should have to live with him period, no matter how catchy a song is. And it's one of my favorites too. And I say screw Airport signals; he should have taught me how to hook up to the phone.

Mystitat – It's alright that you missed it, what's important is that you're here now. You're going to have to keep waiting because there is still more. And the food there wasn't horrible, just bland. And half the time I didn't get what I ordered... so I didn't eat it anyways.

One song; Glory. One song, before I go. Glory, one song to leave behind...