A/N: Sorry about late update, wouldn't let me update.

Rating: R (M)

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 Eight

By Edenrising

(Recap from chapter seven)

'There was a silence after that.'

Munkustrap walked down the quiet pathways of the Junkyard, breathing in the smells of autumn, a smile gracing his features. His heart was lifted, like it always was when he had a new partner, and there was a noticeable spring in his step. Scratching the back of his head absently, Munkustrap made his way to the rear end of the junkyard, where Alonzo would be on sentry. Or at least he hoped that that the black and white cat would still be on sentry, he hadn't exactly told the other cats in advance about his late absence from duty.

To tell the truth, Munkustrap felt quite guilty. Usually he was very well-thought on all of his decisions, he'd plan for months before making a choice, and that almost always included the choosing of a mate. Mistoffelees was a spur of the moment kind of cat, the tabby decided, he was so quiet that if you didn't catch him when you first saw him, he might disappear without you knowing. Reaching the sentry post, Munkustrap nimbly leapt onto a chair pausing a moment to straighten his fur and clear his throat. Afterall, appearances did count for something.

Giggle

Munkustrap's ear cocked a little; what was that? Pausing a bit longer, he listened further, and a grin reached his cheeks. It seemed Alonzo had company, and it took no stretch of the imagination to figure what out what kind of company it was.

"Oh, Alonzo!" Came the gasp from a distinctly familiar and very female voice.

The tabby's lips stretched in a wide, amused smile. This was too funny; here he was checking on his second-in-command's sentry, expecting to blurt out his entire life's story over Mistoffelees and then be chastised for it, when it seemed he'd be the one doing the chastising after all. Oh, this was ironic. At least, he thought it was… he'd never really fully understood the concept of irony really in the first place.

But who was the black and white cat romancing? Munkustrap couldn't quite place the voice- it vaguely sounded like Demeter, but it was a bit higher and more innocent… like a queen was when she hadn't fully matured... Which meant… Oh dear. The silver tabby was beginning to come to a startling realization, one which he wasn't of how to handle. Alonzo, a respected member of the Jellicle tribe, was romancing an under-aged. A kitten.

squeak!

He knew he had to stop them, Alonzo should be guarding, not fooling around. It was a danger to the tribe and the queen was not yet of age. With a resigned sigh, Munkustrap decided to not be overly upset and rather "go-with-the-flow" instead. There was no point in denying whatever they were currently doing, and Alonzo was responsible- he wouldn't do anything without giving it intense thought beforehand. Besides, who was he to judge? He was their commander, yes, but he was also currently involved and wooing a very small, and very male, black tom with magical powers. This was unacceptable by many, according to the expectations placed upon him.

Pulling himself around the pile to where Alonzo and his date were settled, Munkustrap prepared for the worst.

He wasn't prepared enough.

Jemima and Alonzo turned to his presence in a startled motion, and Munkustrap couldn't do anything but stare. Jemima had both legs wrapped around Alonzo's waist, and he was lying on top of her in a most inappropriate position. Munkustrap was numbed; had been vaguely expecting Electra, perhaps Etcetera, but not his youngest (and the youngest kitten) Jemima. Part of him was ashamed of himself; he'd not even recognized his own daughter's voice. But another part was stunned, how could he have missed this?

'Right,' he reminded himself, 'I've been with Mistoffelees a whole week, haven't I?'

"Daddy!" squeaked Jemima, placing a hand over her mouth in a horrified manner.

Closing his eyes tiredly, Munkustrap allowed a grim smile to dawn upon his lips, "Hello Jemima."

Alonzo, terrified, took one look at Munkustrap's face, and decided that he'd better calm the situation down before he exploded in fatherly rage. "Um… Jem, you should probably go, alright?" he turned her towards him, and whispered in her ear, "I need to talk to your Dad, okay? I'll see you later." He looked her in her eyes, and the young queen's eyebrows slanted worriedly.

In a slight cockney accent she asked, "Are you sure? 'Cause, I could talk to him instead and…" she trailed off at the look her significant other was giving her, "Oh alright, you men just have to show that your made of something don't you?" She gave a joking, annoyed sigh, and rolled her eyes, "Fine, see you around soon though, kay?" she kissed his nose and bounded off, giving one lingering glance at her Father, who seemed to be in near paralysis from shock, and then she giggled again and bounded down from the pile, shrugging her shoulders.

There was silence as Alonzo and Munkustrap, the two top generals of the Jellicle Tribe met gazes. A thousand thoughts were rushing through both minds and it was unclear how the tension would be broken; neither wanted to address the problem at hand.

Munkustrap's main conclusion was that he should have seen it coming. When Jemima had been born, his and Bomba's relationship had already been on the ropes. The two of them had been coherent enough at the time to know that in their current state, taking care of a litter was out of the question, so they'd given Jemima to Jelly and Jenny to watch her grow up with little input from either biological parent until she was independent (about 9 months ago, Jemima was 12 months). Perhaps, that was why she had grown up so differently from the other kittens; more mature and understanding.

She adored him, he knew, he was a good Father when it counted. Jemima enjoyed going mousing with him and discussing defense plans against Macavity, and how to better their chances at becoming a major force in London. But that was just it, Jemima wanted to talk about grown-up subjects, could input at a grown-up level, and frankly that scared him. Where was his darling baby girl? Where had her childhood gone.

He'd spoken to Bomba about it, but she'd assured him it was normal, she'd been like Jemima when she was a year old. Then there was that as well, Jemima was extremely like her mother and Aunt, and nothing like him. It wasn't so much the mentality he was worried about… it was the looks. Jemima, in the month and a bit since the Jellicle ball, had grown extremely beautiful.

She'd been very pretty before, but now it was ridiculous. She was more alluring than both her mother and Demeter. She had the wild, scattered look about her from the skittish queen, and the sheer presence and confidence from Bombalurina.

'And' he smirked, 'My intelligence and interest in Jellicle defenses.'

The truth was, it was his own fault, for not being there in her childhood and not taking an active role in her daily… encounters. She'd grown up far too fast. But maybe it was time he treated her like an adult, she was mature enough, and Bast knows how hard it was to de-mature a kitten. 'After all, look at Mistoffelees.' He thought contemplatively, 'But then, Mistoffelees didn't really turn out as bad as one might have thought.' He couldn't stop the chuckle from escaping his throat.

Alonzo himself was terrified; he'd just been caught romancing his commander's daughter!… his very under-aged and precious daughter… Jemima was the apple in Munkustrap's eye, and he knew that what he'd been doing with her had been very un-ladylike behavior. He knew the consequences of spending time with a queen, he had a son after all, he was no amateur. To be truthful, he'd given romancing Jemima no serious thought, when she'd begun to fancy him he'd simply gone with what felt right instinctively- Munkustrap's momentary disappearance had no play in the matter.

…

Okay, so maybe it did. But who was he to turn down Jemima? She was a perfect match for him, and she liked to talk about things that no other queen but Bomba liked to discuss. And as things stood, Bomba was very much taken and out-of-bounds for a second litter cat like him. (1)

Look apologetic…

Humbling himself, Alonzo allowed his ears to droop and his head to drop, paws placed together and drawn towards himself in an attempt to look apologetic and small. It caught Munkustrap's attention, not for the sheer regret of the posture, but for the formality of it. Huffing slightly Munkustrap rolled his eyes and walked towards the other tom, determined in his stride and expression. Alonzo flinched back, preparing for the upcoming blow.

"Oh, knock it off!" Munkustrap said irritably, plopping himself down beside the black and white tom.

"What?" came the bewildered answer from Alonzo.

"We both know you're not sorry, and I can understand why." The silver tabby glanced at the other tom secretively, "Jemima's quite the catch, isn't she?"

Alonzo nodded without thinking, "Yes, yes she- what? You, you agree with me and Jemima? You're not mad?" his eyes were saucers.

Munkustrap's eyebrow rose, "Oh no, I assure you my friend, I'm furious!" he growled, making to swipe at his second in command, who squealed and made to run away. "But, as it stands, it's alright with me." He sat down pleasantly, with composure, as if he'd never been angry in the first place.

Alonzo breathed a sigh of relief, and rubbed his left arm nervously, "That's good, 'cause I really like her." He spared a look at the silver tabby, and continued his train of thought, "I also really would like to have her as a mate," Munkustrap narrowed his eyes, "When she's older, mind!" Alonzo finished quickly.

"That's good." Said Munkustrap, smiling and slinging his arm over Alonzo's shoulder in a friendly manner, "I'm actually glad that it was you, rather than someone else. I can trust you." He then leaned back, and stared up at the sky.

Alonzo glowed from the compliment, feeling the anticipation in his heart lift at the confession; he could be with her, Munkustrap didn't mind.

"Anyway, I didn't come here to chastise you." The silver tabby said, and Alonzo allowed his attention to be caught, taking in the stiff form of his friend and becoming worried. "I came to see how you were doing in my… absence." He hesitated.

Alonzo used the hesitation to his advantage, "Hey, yeah, where were you last week? No one knew were you'd gone." He looked expectantly at Munkustrap, but the tabby refused to meet his gaze. "What? Is it some big secret, or something?"

That caught the silver cat's attention; a secret?

No, it couldn't be a secret… Everyone would eventually find out. He and Mistoffelees hadn't discussed the matter of making their relationship public, but it was an unspoken agreement they would neither hide it nor flaunt it. Their relationship would be quiet in its existence, choosing rather to slowly come to attention of the other cats than being an extreme shock out-of-the-blue. It couldn't be a secret; he'd told himself it wouldn't be a secret.

But as important as being truthful was, there was so much importance riding on how they presented themselves. If it was too sudden, the other tribes would take action… and if that was the case, which it probably would be, then- well.

And he was being truthful with himself.

He didn't want other people to know, he wanted the magician to be safe from harmful eyes and sharp claws, and he wanted to be respected among the other tribes. He wouldn't be respected if he had a male for a mate, and the Mistoffelees would be taken from him and then eliminated. Without Mistoffelees, and his position being ruined, the Jellicle tribe would be destroyed and vulnerable. He was happy with the magician, but he couldn't put the tribe on the line… He couldn't risk another's life; he just couldn't do it… despite how it hurt his heart to betray his black lover's trust.

And then, after a quiet silence, Munkustrap uttered the answer that would seal his fate as well as Mistoffelees';

"Yes, it is a secret." It was almost in disbelief.

(1) first litter cats like Munkustrap and Rum Tum Tugger have higher social standing than a second litter cat like Alonzo, and therefore have first choice over queens and have special privileges. Hence why Munkustrap will eventually be Jellicle leader, and Alonzo will stay a protector- Tugger would be next in line if Munku died.