Rating: R

Genre: Romance, Drama, Angst, some Humor, Sap

Warnings: Slash, Het, mention of sex, some blood, swearing, incest (they're cats, there's nothing unnatural about it)

Pairings: Misto/Munku, Tugger/Bomba, mention of Munku/Dem, some Cass/Munku, past Bomba/Munku,

Timeline: two weeks from the Jellicle ball in the movie.

Description: Love cannot exist for a magical cat; in fact, it's fatal if it does.

Disclaimer: I do not own CATS, or any portions thereof. None of the following events took place in the original CATS plotline, and I do not claim that they do.

Songs to Read With: (not mandatory) Take on Me (Ah-Ha), If You Could See What I See (Geoff Moore and the Distance), I Must Be Dreaming (Frou-Frou)

Between Death and Love

Chapter Six

By Edenrising

(recap from Chapter Five)

'Oh, if you only knew…' he thought, 'How much you have my heart.'

Jenny was up late, crocheting a blanket for Bomba's kittens when she spotted the flash of silver and black, caused by the moon. Looking closer, she faintly saw Munkustrap holding Mistoffelees in his arms, heading to his den. At first clear sight, she thought that maybe the magician had hurt himself again, but looking longer she saw the way the two were holding each other and watched as they passed the entrance to the fridge and made their way to the freezer.

Gasping, partially in delight- partially in surprise, she dropped her half-knit blanket and went to rouse Jelly.

"Jelly!" she shook the striped and patched queen, "Jelly move your lazy ass!"

The queen slowly blinked, and raised herself onto her forearms. "W-wha?... What do you want? I was having the nicest dream of Deuteronomy..."

Jenny gave her a 'look'.

Jelly sputtered, "When he was young, you dolt!" she stood up, looking Jenny in the eyes, "Well, what do you want? Why did you wake me up?"

"Oh, it's a good reason, trust me dear." Jenny said knowingly.

Jelly glared, "It better be good. Sometimes I hate you, you know?" she was not happy.

Jenny waved a hand, "I know, I love you too… Anyway, you'll never guess what I just saw while knitting." At Jelly's expectant eyebrow, she continued, "Munkustrap was carrying someone to his freezer."

Jelly's eyes lit up, "Oh, oh! Who dear? Who was it?"

"Someone we both know very well," she paused for dramatic effect, "The very Mr. Mistoffelees, black, small and clever as a fox."

Jelly sat down suddenly, "Really?" she questioned, Jenny nodded, "That's wonderful! Our little Misto's been aching for some love for ages, but I never took Munku for a tom's man too… But…" She stared at a spot on the ground, speechless.

"… But?" Jenny asked, and they both looked at each other. Then a strange thing happened, Jenny and Jelly shrugged looking amused, smirking all the while, and then;

"It's so romantic!" they both cried simultaneously.

The next morning came quickly for Mistoffelees, who was quietly dozing on Munkustrap's chest. He allowed a small smile to appear on his face, and sighed in content. He felt so much better now… Not that he didn't before, but now he was settled and not restless, his magic had found home in his and Munkustrap's bond. He was happy and satisfied, and pressing his face into the striped fur the protector he allowed a once forbidden word to flit across his thoughts.

'Lover…'

With a stretch and a yawn, he extracted himself from the purring tabby, and half crawled half limped over to an empty place in the freezer, slowly cleaning himself with care. He wanted to look good for his partner when he awoke; after all, he had an appearance to keep up since he was the Jellicle protector's mate now. He wanted the tribe to respect Munkustrap's choice. He also wanted Munkustrap to still want him when he woke.

He was plagued with worries, not being able to fall asleep since the last night's events. He knew he probably wouldn't completely trust Munkustrap to keep his word until after a few weeks at best, he still wanted Cassie as his mate too. What if he wanted them both at the same time? What if he wasn't good enough and Munkustrap wanted a queen in his bed instead? What if…

What if, he didn't remember last night at all?

Mistoffelees knew the affects of cat nip; he'd used it enough when treating the ill. Many cats didn't remember the events that took place when high, it was a complete black out, or blur to them- some even hallucinated. There had even been cases in the tribe where toms and queens had taken mates when nipped only to wake up in surprise the next morning, rejecting the other from their beds. For instance, the affair of Rumpleteezer and Mungojerrie, granted they were both barely grown at the time.

The siblings had gotten nipped, and ended up sleeping together. Mungojerrie had woken up immediately in the morning and freaked out when he'd realized what had happened, making Rumpleteezer leave. Rumpleteezer had been in love with her older brother for a very long time, and was heartbroken. Of course, years later, their romance had rekindled -this time mutually and now they were talking about the possibility of kittens, leaving the world of crime.

'I'll have to help them out with that,' the magician thought. There was possibility of deformation, but it was unlikely in the feline world; Mistoffelees was more concerned with their family history. They were from a clan that usually produced large litters of around six or seven, and unfortunately, Teezer was a little on the small side for a full grown queen; the birth would be very difficult for her if the litter was that large. He'd have to watch it carefully, and monitor the birthing process as well to ensure safety.

He carefully smoothed the hair on his head with one paw, and then turned back to his mate on the covers. Munkustrap was breathing softly, one hand resting on his stomach, the other in an odd position above him. Mistoffelees allowed his eyes to travel down the body of his mate, unwillingly coming to rest on a part he really shouldn't be looking at, but at the same time really couldn't help himself. Who knew the Deuteronomy line could be so… well, packed. It was surprising, in the least.

Oh, yes. Mistoffelees blushed, his magic certainly knew how to pick the most appropriate mates for its host, at least in the physical department… or should he say the sex department. He wondered if Tugger-

'Once again,' Mistoffelees thought with sarcasm, 'I find myself turning into a queen.'

He was startled when the sound of covers shifting entered his senses, and turned to face the silver tabby, who was pulling himself out of the bed with a groan. He watched Munkustrap rub his face tiredly, and then Mistoffelees agitatedly (which seemed to make everything run horribly slow) watched as his mate turned to face him, face unreadable.

There was silence for a moment, and then Munkustrap stood, striding over to Mistoffelees, reaching out a hand to take the magicians smaller hand in his, and drew the other to his body. Munkustrap breathed in the smell of his mate, and for the first time in a long while, felt content in his choice of partner. He smiled slightly at the trembling that came from Mistoffelees, who timidly returned the embrace, and gently kissed the other's neck once. He, with some confusion, sensed the other's fear of rejection, and nuzzled Mistoffelees head with his, trying to reassure.

"Why are you afraid?" he asked softly, into the other's ear. The magician shivered into the warmth of the tabby, and laid his head on the other's shoulder. All of his fear began to melt away, and calm entered his being from Munkustrap's embrace. Nothing could go wrong if he was here, was Mistoffelees inner belief, his mate would protect him, never hurt him- it was impossible to be harmed in his embrace. But, Mistoffelees had never been stupid enough to believe everything that instinct told him and was wary.

"I thought you wouldn't want me," he answered with truth. He didn't want to seem that he was seeking attention, but he wanted to start their relationship off the relationship with truth… especially since he was already keeping so much from his lover.

Munkustrap drew back to look into the other's eyes, he chuckled, "How could I ever not want you?" he kissed the nose of the magician, "Your perfect, my mate."

'Mate.'

The word sent shivers down Mistoffelees' spine. It insinuated so much; lover, beloved, destiny, desire, heat, tenderness, want, need and most of all was a word of devotion. Every living thing wishes to be referred to with a word that is so ridden with emotion that it brings tears to their eyes, for Mistoffelees, he couldn't have felt any better at that moment, than if Munkustrap had told him that he would never mate with anyone else.

"I'm hardly perfect, Munku." Mistoffelees laughed.

"Your pretty damn close," the tabby protested, "Anyway, what are you doing out of bed, dear Bast it's not even light out-"

"It's noon."

"-It's far too early to be out of bed, come on." he pulled Mistoffelees back to the covers and pulled him down on top of himself, then rolling over he proceeded to kiss the other tom until the only thought Mistoffelees could process was something along the lines of;

'Oh…My…"