Despite the winter storm still pushing on without any sign of letting up, the day went on like any other. The kittens bounded around, mewing gleefully as they tried to let out their energy within the confines of the den. Like the day before, the queens gave up on trying to stop them from running inside.
Amolia's fever had diminished so Jenny allowed her to get out of bed. However, in combination with being up most of the night before and still fighting her illness, she was too tired to do much more than lay on the sofa with her head in Bombalurina's lap. Jemima was also overtired and spent most of the day sleeping next to them.
Demeter always had a nervous edge to her, but today she was particularly anxious. She had a hard time sitting still and was constantly getting up and pacing about the den until Jenny or Jelly physically put her in a seat. Eventually she sat down on the couch next to her sister and held Jemima while she slept. She had a sinking feeling that whatever Macavity was planning was going to happen sooner than later.
Night fell and after supper, per usual, the kittens were put to bed. However, as the snowstorm grew worse and the entire den trembled as a result of the increasingly strong winds, the kittens became frightened and began running about looking for an adult for comfort. After Jemima ran into Bombalurina and Demeter's room to sleep with her mother, Bomba got up and made her way to the kitten's room to check on Amolia. She peered in from the doorway and saw Jelly sitting on a stool between Electra and Etcetera's beds with either paw tenderly placed on each as she soothed them to sleep. She then looked to Amolia who was already fast asleep.
"She's fine love" Jellyorum said softly.
Bomba nodded "Just thought I'd check on her."
Jelly smiled and nodded and Bomba made her way back to her and her sister's room, where Demeter was slowly but surely getting Jemima down. Bomba had to admit that she was a little disappointed that Amolia didn't need her right then, but she knew that after everything that kitten had been through, a blizzard likely did not phase her.
As Jemima finally fell asleep against Demeter's chest, Demeter looked up at her sister coming through the doorway of their bedroom. Seeing that Amolia wasn't bundled up in Bomba's arms, Demeter cocked her head in confusion.
"She's asleep?" Demeter asked, clearly surprised.
Bomba raised her eyebrows, frowned a bit and nodded. "I'm sure she's seen scarier things than a blizzard" she added.
Demeter nodded in agreement, but she could tell that her sister was trying to hide disappointment.
"I think it's beautiful the way you two have connected so well."
Bomba smiled a little and shrugged. "She's got to have someone. Even if that someone isn't her mother."
Demeter smiled. She had watched her sister help look after Jemima and the other kittens, and knew she was good with them, even when she tried to put on a front of not being the mothering type.
"You know you could be her mother." Demeter said, unsure of how her sister would respond.
Bomba looked at Demeter with wide eyes. Ever since Amolia had called her "mummy" as she fell asleep the night before, she had thought about it, but the idea of actually taking on that role scared her.
"I could never replace her mother."
"Well no of course not but you could at least fill that void. You know do pretty much everything you're doing now except you'd be her adoptive mother and raise her as your own. Like Jenny and Jelly did for us."
"Quaxo and Victoria don't have a mother. Should I adopt them too." Bomba sarcastically responded.
Demeter shrugged "You certainly could. Imagine Mummy Bomba, Jellicle mother of the year." Demeter let out a laugh after she said that.
Bomba rolled her eyes as she tried to stop a smile from forming on her lips. "Good night Dem"
"All I'm saying is it's something to think about. As well cared for as Amelia's been since she's gotten here, I know she could definitely use the kind of solid rock support that only a mother can give".
"I have to think about it Dem."
"Ok well that's not a no so I'll take it."
"Goodnight Demeter" Bomba said slightly annoyed now.
Demeter chuckled "Goodnight Bombalurina" she said playfully, using her sister's full name as she had.
As her sister curled up around her daughter and drifted to sleep, Bomba laid awake thinking about Amolia and how much she had grown to care for the kit. As much as she hated to admit it, Demeter was right. The difference between Quaxo and Victoria and Amolia was that Quaxo and Victoria had each other. Amolia was alone and to even begin to heal from all that she'd been through, she needed the kind of rock-solid mother figure Demeter was talking about. But Bomba wasn't the mothering type. She was happy to help out with the kittens and be a loving auntie to Jemima, but she was sure that she would never be fit to have her own kittens. She was too flirty and promiscuous. She'd probably end up screwing the kitten up. But still, she did love Amolia and wanted a happy life for her. She went back and forth with these thoughts until she too began falling asleep.
She was finally sound asleep when screams rang out from the kitten's room, jolting her awake.