Smitten

Genre: Family

Pairings: Greg and Molly

Main characters: Greer, Molly, Greg, Morrie, introducing Missy

Greer sat cross legged in front of the small mound of earth, thinking back on her memories of Toby.

She remembered him just ALWAYS being there. She reflected, and realized she'd never really known life without Toby.

Toby had been there whenever she'd felt dreadfully sick, whenever she'd been happy, whenever she'd been sad, whenever she'd felt playful, whenever she'd felt like simply sitting back with daddy, and a kitty nestled at her side – namely, a soft, silky, purring ginger bundle she'd simply always known to be there.

She knew from the telling of it that Toby had been there long before she had – before even Johnnie and Scott had been there. In fact, Toby had lived at 221 Baker Street third, second being Daddy's old flat with Mummy when her brothers were only babies yet, and before that, Mummy's flat before she'd even fallen in love with Daddy.

Greer knew enough from that that Toby was an old cat, and from care and attention, and loving and dedication, he'd lived well beyond the years normally expected.

Uncle Sherlock had been there to hold her hand, and Scott's, when they'd finally had to say goodbye. For real, this time – not to the cat they'd only THOUGHT was Toby.

Morrie was restless, unsettled. He circled the small mound, meowing, fretting. Uncle John, still holding Johnnie's hand, knelt beside her, saying simply, "Morrie knows. Cats are smarter than we think, Greer. He'll feel a bit lost for a bit, without Toby, but he'll be okay."

Greer thought on all of this, and barely noticed the small calico kitten appear next to her, mewing softly, desperately.

She felt the small, silken head bump against her hand, in an attempt to gain her attention. Absently, Greer returned the caress with her small hand stroking the tiny creature, heedless of who or what it was she was returning affection to.

Morrie appeared to her other side, purring. Bumping her hand, he meowed urgently.

"Oh WHAT is it, Morrie, can't you see I'm…" she trailed off, as the small calico worked her way into her lap. Morrie meowed again, then made his way next to the little visitor, curling up next to her.

"Oh, well isn't this just bloody GREAT," she muttered to the black cat, who now gazed up at her with emerald eyes. "You've brought home a friend, how am I to explain this?"

She took a deep breath, letting it out in a heavy, audible sigh. Greer rolled her eyes as the calico kitten rolled over, surrendering herself to Morrie's mercy. As it happened, the older black cat simply draped a paw over her, still purring. Slowly, he turned his serene gaze up towards Greer, meeting her dark brown eyes with his green.

"Mummy is SO sad yet about Toby, how am I to ask if we can keep… her?" she asked the ebony creature on her lap.

Morrie gave a chirping meow before rising from her lap and seeming to urge her towards the house. He lead on, stopping only long enough to look back towards her, waiting for her to let the small visitor catch up.

"You're not giving me much choice, are you, you little git," Greer huffed. "She IS rather pretty, isn't she… but she's a GIRL. Girls are a pain in the arse to fix, and they're expensive too… I don't know that Mummy and Daddy will agree to her…"

No sooner had Greer argued her way with Morrie - though later, she would admit, she was arguing more with herself than anything else - through the front door when she was confronted by Molly.

Having witnessed the verbal soliloquy in part, Molly was prepared for it. "I see you've a little friend to join us, my girl," she said softly. Greer blushed at this, trying to shrug it off.

"She's been insistent. I've tried not to encourage her Mummy, I promise… but Morrie's been a git. I can't seem to get rid of her, Morrie won't LET me. I'm SO sorry Mummy, I know we don't need another cat."

Molly smiled crookedly at her daughter, whilst snapping a photo to send to Greg.

She's followed Greer home. Shall we keep her? ~M

Does Morrie approve? ~G

Morrie adamantly INSISTS. ~ M

Do YOU approve, Love? ~G

She's rather pretty… and very affectionate. We could use a second mouser here. ~M

I take that as a yes, you approve, Molly Girl? ~G

Yes, but our daughter is worried at the expense of having her spayed. ~M

Does Greer approve otherwise? ~G

She won't admit it, but she's smitten with the kitten. ~M

She's only trying to avoid getting her hopes up. Tell her Daddy approves, and she and the boys are to choose a name then. Seems Baker Street has a new cat. ~GL

Molly reached down, picking up the small kitten. "Greer," she said gently, "you're right. We don't NEED another cat. But sometimes it's nice to have things simply because they make us happy and bring us joy, so whether or not we need her isn't really the question here, is it? The question is… do we WANT another cat?"

Greer furrowed her brows, thinking as she gazed at the small tortoiseshell newcomer. "I miss Toby so, Mummy, and I don't want to replace him… but I think Morrie is lonely without a friend to hunt mice with and curl up in sunbeams with. I think I'd like to keep her then, yes." Molly smiled, noting that Greer still sounded hesitant.

"No worries, sweetheart," Molly said, reassuringly. "Daddy said not to fret about the expense of having her spayed. She's obviously chosen us and approves of us, so I think it's only fair and right that WE approve of HER, don't you think? And of course we're not replacing Toby, we can never replace Toby, but we do have plenty of room in our hearts for this little one too, don't you think?"

Greer nodded as she finally allowed her face to light up with relief. "Oh, mummy, maybe WE don't need her, but I think Morrie does, and she needs US as well... if we're keeping her then, she needs a name," she said, allowing excitement into her voice. "Oh bother… where are Johnnie and Scott? We need to start talking about a name…" she said, as she took off in search of her brothers.

Before the remaining day's hours had passed, Greg and Molly sat cuddling on the couch together, the new family member their children had dubbed "Missy" (short for "Miss Behaving", they explained) curled up on Greg, Molly's hand resting lightly on her silken back. They sat in contented silence, the only sound in the room a raggedy purr, issuing from the tiny, rumbling chest of their newest resident of Baker Street.