Mungojerrie rolled over in his cat bed, throwing his arm over to land on Rumpelteazer. He felt in hit into the soft cushion that lined the basket instead of Rumpel's waist. He opened his eyes, looking straight at the other side of the bed, and he checked behind him. Rumpelteazer wasn't in the bed. He sat up, immediately worried; neither of them left the bed without the other – it was an unwritten rule. They would just sleep or wait for the other to wake. 'Maybe she really had to use the litter box,' he thought, climbing out. He walked past the door, heading towards the hallway when he heard Rumpel's laugh. He walked towards the door to outside and pressed an ear to it – the laughter was coming from the other side. 'Leaving the bed was one thing, but the house too; what's come over her?' He poked his head out and saw her sitting on the balcony's railing with Macavity, the two of them laughing.

"Morning Jerrie," Rumpelteazer chimed, seeing him climb out the door.

"Yeah, morning Jerrie," Macavity smiled.

"Morning Rumpel, Macavity," he greeted as pleasantly as he could, "I was wondering where you went to Tea."

"Sorry," she apologized, "Macavity came over and we were talking in the kitchen but we were so worried that we were going to wake you up with our laughter and if the humans caught another cat in the house... So we decided that the best bet was to step outside."

"It was all my idea Jerrie," Macavity vouched, "You just looked so content in the bed and all."

'I was content because I was with Rumpel.' "It's okay; I was just wondering what she got herself into," Mungo replied, trying to be nice as he promised. "So what were you talking about?"

"Macavity was saying what I used to be like when I was small and what Roquefort was like and what they did; everything that I forgot. So, you came around the corner..." She propped.

"Oh yes, I came around the corner and there was your brother; waiting for me like nothing happened." The two of them laughed, Mungo felt left out- hearing the punch line but missing the joke. "It was all that I could do to keep from laughing."

"Macavity, can I ask you something?" He gave her a nod, "Did my brother ever tell you about his friend?"

"His friend?" Macavity cocked his head to a side, "What kind of friend?"

"Not a very good one. I don't remember much about it – I never met the guy - but he always got hurt whenever he was around him."

"Can't say that I ever met the guy," Macavity said, shaking his head, "I do have to be going though, I shall see you all after." He jumped into the shrub and walked out, turning around, "We are still on for tonight, right Rumpel?"

"Yep," she grinned, nodding her head vigorously.

"I'll see you then..." He smiled, leaving the property. Mungo looked up and saw Rumpel watching him leave, a smile still on her face. She jumped off the railing and landed gently beside him. She nuzzled her head under his chin and pulled back when he didn't do the same.

"What's wrong Jerrie," she asked, sitting down across form him.

"You have a date with Macavity," he stated, climbing back down the stairs of the porch.

"He's bringing me to meet some of his friends," she said, "Honest. It's not like some lovey-dovey courting date; it's a friend one. He told me earlier that you could come too if you wanted."

"Ah yes, the third wheel," Mungojerrie nodded, heading off in the direction of the Junkyard with Rumpel running to catch up with him, "it's what makes the date alright." Rumpelteazer gave an aggravated sigh, the two of the arguing about the 'date' the whole walk to the Junkyard, "...If you want to date him just say so Teazer."

"I don't," she yelled, "Why can't you grasp that?"

"Troubled lovers?" The two looked up and saw the Rum Tum Tugger looking down at them, "I do believe that this is my area of expertise. So what's the fight about?"

"Teazer's new friend is taking her out on a date," Mungo spat.

"It's not a date," she said as she stomped down with her back paw, "He's bringing me to meet some of his friends. He used to know my brother Tugger, he knew me when I was born. We met up again just week."

"So you and this friend," Tugger said, analyzing the problem, "Who's a tom," he asked as Mungo nodded, "Are going on a date to meet some of his 'friends'."

"Mungo's invited too," Rumpel pointed out.

"If there are three then I deem it 'not a date'," Tugger said, nodding.

"It'll be a date without me – no third wheel on their bicycle," Mungo said, "It'll be like an extra shadow."

"A tricycle can't work with only two wheels," Mungo gave Tugger an odd look, "Do you want Teazer to be with this tom?"

"No."

"Then go with them – be a tricycle, don't let him get close to her. Let me though," Tugger said giving Rumpelteazer a playful wink.

"Alright, if you seehim between now and then, tell him I'll go," Mungojerrie said, slightly deflated.

"What is your friend's name anyways Rumpel," Tugger asked. Rumpel was about to answer him back when Etcetera screamed, catching sight of the Main Coon tom. She bounded over to him, hugging him around the waist, "Tell me later..."


"This is where he said he'd meet us," Rumpelteazer said sitting on a pile of old tires, "Tire pile, near the center of the Junkyard, just before sunset."

Mungo looked up at the darkening sky, "I have a bad feeling about this Teazer. There's just something about it that feels, well, off."

"Relax Jerrie," she said softly, "It's just Macavity; nothing bad is going to happen."

"How do you know," Mungo asked, sliding next to her.

"I just do," she whispered, nuzzling his cheek. "Last time I went with my gut instinct it ended up with me meeting you – and I couldn't be happier about the outcome. I just figure that something good will come out of this too."

"I'm glad that you did go with your gut that time," Mungo said, nuzzling her back, "Sorry about earlier."

"Me too," she smiled as Macavity came around the corner.

"Ah, good you're both here," he said with a grin, "I trust that you found the place fine."

"It's the center of the Junkyard," Mungo said as he stood and helped Rumpel to her paws, "It wasn't hard at all to find." Mungo grabbed Rumpelteazer's paw in his own and told Macavity to lead the way.

"I told them that I was having some guest over and they're all excited to see who it is. I wouldn't tell them that it was you two that I was bringing over – I wanted it to be a surprise." Macavity brought them around a corner where a dozen street cats were huddled up in a group, "Hello!"

They all looked up, breaking out of the group. "Hello Macavity," one of them greeted as he walked up. He grabbed Rumpel free paw and pulled her away from Mungojerrie slightly, "Who have we got here?"

"Rumpelteazer," Macavity said as the tom cat smiled, "Roquefort's sister."

The tom's expression changed a great deal while the last two words were said. The smile left his face to reveal utter shock, followed by confusion, then recognition, and finally the smile returned, "You mean this is the infamous 'Tiny Teazer'?"

"You've heard of me," Rumpel asked, mildly surprised.

"Heard of you? My good queen your brother simply raved about you! Didn't he fellas?" The rest of the group cheered in agreement, "You are all he would talk about, day in and day out. Whenever we saw him he would have a new tale to tell about you." The tom lead her away form Mungojerrie and towards the group, some of whom were claiming that they remembered stories from Roquefort. Mungojerrie looked on as Rumpelteazer turned from tom to tom, absorbing every word that they said. He felt Macavity clamp him on his shoulder.

"May I talk with you Mungojerrie," Macavity asked, "Just over near the freezer there?"

"Sure," Mungo agreed, after seeing that Rumpel would still be in plain view. Macavity gave him a smile and steered him towards the large appliance.

"I noticed that you seemed to have friendlier towards me. I was wondering what had brought that on."

Mungojerrie shifted, slightly uncomfortable, "Rumpelteazer asked me to."

"She did," he nodded, "So you would do anything that she would ask you to?"

"Within reason; why," Macavity's smile grew creepily big as he was about to answer, only to be cut off.

"Macavity," Griddlebone walked over towards him, "We have a situation near the cupboards – you better get on it. Who's this?"

"This is Mungojerrie," he turned to him before running off, "We'll talk about this later."

"You new here kit," she asked, once Macavity was out of sight.

"New?"

"Yeah, are you one of his latest lackeys?"

"I'm just here with Teazer," he said as he pointed to the queen who was talking animatedly with the tom.

"Rumpelteazer; is she related to Roquefort," the white queen grabbed his shoulders.

"Yes... does everyone here know her?"

"Listen to me," she said, seriousness stressing every word, "Get her out of here. Do not let Macavity near her. Do you hear me? She isn't safe here – serious harm could happen to her. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Mungojerrie nodded; the same uneasy feeling he had back on the tire pile returning. He quickly walked over to the group and grabbed Rumpel's wrist, "We have to go Teazer."

"Jerrie, what's wrong," she asked looking at him curiously.

"That queen over there said that it wasn't safe here for you," he hissed.

"The white one," one of the toms asked, "You mean Griddlebone? Don't pay any attention to her. She gets worried every time another queen shows up. She gets nervous that Macavity'll spend less time with her. She ends up threatening or making up some story to get the queens out. Just wants to make sure that she has him for herself."

"Did you say Griddlebone," Rumpelteazer asked. The toms nodded and she fell silent, loosing herself in thought. "Then Griddlebone gave a screech for she was badly skeered... Is she the same one that loved Growltiger?"

"Couldn't tell you, she's pretty private about her past," a dark tom said. "Who knows..."


A/N: Well, I got this up earlier then the last time. And from what we can tell (for the play) I'm going to be the Narrator after Opening night which Mike gets... so I get to die twice as much now! And I'm going to see "Oliver" at the UCCB this Wednesday! And Uncle Bernie is in it! BahDay! And I get to see Brad and Char – and their Magical Mister Mistofelees cat. Tux – what a sensible everyday name...

Chimmy-Lava – I had to get the Fluff out of my system... Everyone wants Demeter. And I put up those pictures and you best find out what/who you are soon Missy

Mima-Love – And I love you glomp we must really do this much more. I didn't think that that last chapter was as good as that... but hey – if you say so I won't argue with you. I'll just say that there's one coming up that you should love if you thought that chap. 3 was as stupendous as that. Just a few more chapters...

lozzypop – Oh, just you wait he gets worse... to my recollection. And I think that I'd pick sleepy over achy... Enjoy your sleep and crumpets/scones...

I was told that your truck has two airbags
And he brought one of them in – eh, Aunt Jo