Part Two: Fumbling Towards Ecstasy

After The Jellicle Ball

Chapter Sixteen: World is on Fire

I watch the heavens and I find a calling
Something I can do to change this moment
Stay close to me while the sky is falling
Don't wanna be left alone, don't wanna be alone…

He had yelled at them, screamed and begged for them to just go. And they did, scared and bewildered, but one moment would forever remain with them all… Slowly she had approached the scene, limping and shaking, her bloodied paw slowly coming to rest on Macavity's shoulder before he shrugged it off and told her to be gone or she could die as well.

They ran down the corridors, back the way they came, Munkustrap though severely wounded carried the weakened and battered Demeter, while Bombalurina helped her frightened niece along.

Soon they came across the other four: Tugger, Alonzo, Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer, all who had a thousand questions burning deep in their eyes, but a silent answer was given, that all would be explained when they had returned to the Junkyard safely.

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At the Junkyard everyone was a buzz, for the rescue party it seemed had taken longer than anyone thought they should have taken, especially Deuteronomy, he seemed the most nervous of all, and he had good reason for his three sons… the three he claimed anyways were in Macavity's lair, and even though the ginger cat was also his son, the Jellicle leader held little love for the tom at all, and feared for the lives of his tribe members.

" They're coming!" Mistoffelees quickly announced as he peered over the vicarage wall and down onto the street, " They're coming! They have Demeter and Jemima!" He announced relieved to the Jellicles below him.

Old Deuteronomy exhaled and chuckled for he hadn't even realized he had been holding his breath, and for so long as well, " Hurry help them, for I am sure they are wounded." He motioned towards the gates as the group came in, all of them worn and tired looking.

Munkustrap hailed his father, Demeter holding to him for comfort and safety, her claws digging deeper into his fur if anyone tried to pry her from the silver tom and even though he liked this sudden trust she had in him, both of them needed Jenny's doctoring, " Let them take you Deme, I'll be with you even if I'm not holding you." He told her softly and slowly she allowed Skimbleshanks and Gus Jr. to take her into Jenny's tub, her eyes always looking too see if Munkustrap was behind her, which of course he was.

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Two days had passed, and Munkustrap knew he had to report the entire ordeal to his father. Slowly he made his way to the elder cat's lair and stepped inside, giving the old coon a deep respectful bow.

" Rise my son and tell me what you have come to say." Deuteronomy motioned for his son and heir to sit beside him, " Start at the beginning."

Taking a deep calming breath, Munkustrap launched into his horrorific tale, leaving nothing out except the things which he didn't know. He told the graying tom about the state in which Demeter had been found and was sure that Macavity had done the worse he could without killing the queen. He unraveled how Jemima had been forced to see everything and how in the end the Persian queen had saved them all, " I don't even know who she was Father." The Sentinel added solemnly and sadly.

The aged Leader sat back in silence, his mind going over all which the Tabby had told him, it was a terrible tale, and it sickened his stomach and he doubted he would eat at all for the rest of the day," She was a martyr. That is all that matters." It wasn't very often that Old Deuteronomy showed his sons any physical love, especially Munkustrap and none of them had ever come to expect it much either, but for some reason the old coon found himself embracing his eldest and telling him all would be okay as if he was a child who had skinned the fur from his knee.

Slowly the father and son parted, and the father encouraged the son to give him some time alone now, which the Tabby was eager to do, " I need to check on Deme anyways, I fear Macavity has really done it this time. She hardly speaks and seems to shake all over. Luckily no kit will come of her trial this time and thank the Everlasting Cat for I fear it would kill her."

Deuteronomy nodded seemingly in agreeance with his the silver sentinel and watched as he turned and left, a few bandages still about his form, " Just love her my son. For it is all she needs. And protect her."

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Slowly he entered the tub which Jennyanydots used as an infirmary for the Jellicles who occasionally became injured or ill. He smile as the newly mated couple of Bomba and Tugger left, and his smile grew a bit more at the motherly glow that was beginning to grow in his queen-in-law's eyes.

He waited until Jenny had changed her bandages before he entered the area she had been in since her return to the junkyard. Flowers, cards even various magical objects lay around her giving the overly white area life and viberence. He softly returned her smile as he settled himself on the cot beside her and gently took her bandaged paw in his and kissed her cheek, " How do you feel today?"

" Better. " She sighed and looked away, he looked so in love… and still she couldn't seem to move beyond the past. It still haunted her so as if Macavity had made it so it always would.

" That's good. I heard Jenny say she'll let you go in a few days." He stroked her paw, getting a whisper of a purr from her.

" That's nice but… I have no where to go… and I … I don't feel right intruding on Bomba and Tugs. They don't need to be fussing and worrying over me." She sounded lost, even dejected and misplaced, " And Jelly's got a full house as it is with Plato and Jemi there." She closed her eyes for a moment, her emotions so tender that basically anything could make her tear up.

Slowly and carefully he took her in his arms, his paws caressing her back lightly, " It'll be okay beloved. It will be okay, I promise." For a moment he felt her stiffen, but then she broke into sobs and collapsed against him, and he held her as she cried until she could do so no more, " I have room you know." He offered, his breath coming to a stop as he waited for her to say something… anything.

" I… I… don't know." She did her best to push away and she knew he let her go, both of them knowing she was barely strong enough to hold her own weight up let alone push against the strength of a tom twice her size.

" Please. I asked you once and I'm asking again." He shifted his weight from the cot, going to one knee as the humans often did in romantic moving pictures, " Let me take care of you, let me love you. You don't even have to love me back… but you need me to take care of you. I want to take care of you." He waited his eyes trying to capture hers desperately, and when he became fed up with her gaze avoiding his, he softly took her chin and forced her to look at him, her green and brown eyes glazed with tears, " I love you… I always have."

She sighed, " I know. I've always known. I'm… I'm just scared. Not of you but of this feeling you bring out in me… because I felt it once before and look where it landed me."

He nodded, understanding more than she realize he did, " I'm not him and I'll prove this to you everyday if I need too. Every minute, every hour, every second."

Slowly Demeter found herself leaning forward, her eyes fluttering closed as she timidly brushed her lips across his and opened her eyes, " Love me. That's all I ask I of you. Just love me and keep me safe. Keep the nightmares at bay."

He felt as if he could die there as she kissed him and her words… well he felt as if he was flying. All the pain of his heart faded and he slowly took her in his arms once more and kissed her with all the bent-up passion he had help within for so long.

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He had buried her, just outside a park she always talked about. Of course he had done in the cloak of night, and he thought he had felt himself shed tears as he performed the act.

But that was hours ago, now he stood in the shadows and watched them embrace. How it hurt to see their love manifest so powerfully… but for now he would let them be. He would let them build their happiness and live in their dreamland of love. For now.

The End

Author's End Note: I hope you all enjoyed the story, especially those of you who had first began to read it under it's old title. There is a link to another song on my profile which is sort of like the ending song if this had a soundtrack... which I guess it kind of does.