am i sorry to everyone that has enjoyed reading a Night to Forget that you had to wait so long for this update. i hope you enjoy it ill try to get the next one up ASAP
Naming the kittens was not such an easy task. Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer often argued over which kitten got which name, and it actually took them a few days to figure out which names fit. The youngest was named Cali, because of her calico-like coat. The middle kitten was named Peridot, because her eyes were a very light green, like the stone peridot. The oldest, and only tom, was the hardest to name. Since it was his only son, Mungojerrie had to find a perfect name. Rumple would always tease him and call the kitten "Fido" or "Rex", or some other pollicle names. Mungo would always get angry when she did that.
"No son of mine is going to be named after some dumb dog!" He growled, very serious.
"Oh, Mungo." Rumple giggled. "I'm just kidding!"
Mungo's face would lighten up and he would smile at his mate. "...I knew that... I knew that! I can always tell when you're kidding, Teaz, you know that!"
"Sure, Mungo." She groaned and giggled a bit more.
Mungojerrie decided to name their son Tybalt, after a name he heard from an old story somewhere.
As more time passed, the kittens were finally allowed to venture out of their box. Rumple couldnt have been happier, the mothering thing was starting to drive her insane.
Mungojerrie decided to let his mate take a day off from watching the kits, and decided to take them out to see some other parts of the junkyard. Peridot and Cali were both very excited about going out with their father, and having some fun outside the box. Tybalt, on the other hand, didn't seem to care. He did enjoy the time out though, and every chance he got he tried to run from his father. Mungojerrie was always quicker than his son, and always retrieved him before he got too far.
Mungojerrie met up with Tugger, who was on "father duty" aswell. He was watching his and Bomba's litter of 2 kittens, one tom nicknamed TJ (Tugger Jr.) and the queen which was named Topaz. Mungo and Tugger sat down, talking as they let their kittens play. Cali, Peridot, and Topaz all seemed to get along well, they played tag, away from the young toms. TJ and Tybalt, however, did not seem to bond so well. TJ had his father's arrogance, and Tybalt had a certain anger and impatience, which Mungojerrie had no idea where he got it from. Probably Rumple, he thought. (Of course, Rumple knew the truth about why Tybalt acted so different, but didn't say.) Both of the tom-kittens circled eachother, growling occasionally.
"I don't know, Mungo... that one doesn't seem to fit.. don't you think?" Tugger asked, glancing at the now deep red tabby.
"Of course he does. I mean.. he's striped like me.." Mungo answered, trying to sound sure.
"Well, yeah.. but that red color.. Hm.. just doesn't fit, I don't think. And did you notice he's got more fur than both you and Rumple?" Tugger asked, now looking at Mungo.
Mungo didn't know what to think. He frowned and looked at Tugger. "What exactly are you getting at?"
"Well.." Tugger said, not wanting to stare directly at him. "..Don't get me wrong, Rumple is a nice queen and all, but how faithful do you think she is to you?"
This made Mungo mad. He growled just a bit and looked over at Tugger. "Are you saying MY Rumple cheated on me!"
"Woah, I'm sorry Man, I'm just saying.." Tugger replied, glancing over now at TJ and Tybalt, fighting. He sighed. "I just don't know about that particular kitten.."
Mungo too was watching the kittens fight. He growled, not liking this conversation, and not wanting to suspect his mate. He glared at Tugger then walked over to Tybalt, pulling him off TJ, and calling for his other kittens. Once they came to him, he picked up Cali in his mouth, since she was the smallest, and carried the other two, Tybalt struggled to get away from his "father" again.
Tugger sighed and called his two kits back, and started home himself. He didn't want to say anything, but someone had to. The entire junkyard had been questioning if the kittens had belonged to both Rumpleteazer AND Mungojerrie, it was bound to come up.
"I can't do this, Mom!" Rumple groaned, throwing the knitting needles to the side. Her mother was trying to teach her stuff that might come in handy, now that she is a mother herself.
"Oh, come now, its not THAT hard." JennyAnyDots said, picking the needles up again.
"Yes it is! I was never good at these things, you know that." She replied, sitting down on her bed, in her box. She looked out the window of the box and sighed. "I wish I could go stealing again.."
Jenny looked over to her daughter, while she was cleaning up some stuff. "Well, even though I never liked you doing that sort of stuff, why can't you?"
Rumple paused, not wanting to tell her why she shouldn't go stealing anymore. Actually, Rumple feared going on another burglary mission, but she wouldn't even admit it to herself. She thought quickly and replied with the only answer she knew. "Well... because of the kittens.."
"The kittens?" Jenny laughed. "You know your father and I would watch them for aslong as you and Mungojerrie would like."
"Oh.." Rumple replied. "Ye..ah, I knew that. I guess I'm not big on stealing anymore."
Jenny paused again, looking at Rumple. "But you just said you wished you could go stealing again."
Rumple realized the mistake and made herself look surprised. "Er, oh... nevermind.." She frowned.
"Rumple, dear.. are you feeling all right?" Jenny asked, walking to her daughter. "You know, lately, you just haven't been yourself. Is there something wrong?"
"No! There's nothing wrong." Rumple said, getting nervous. "I just.."
"You just?.."
"I don't know. I guess I'm just not used to the changes is all." She continued, not telling the truth once again.
"I see.." Jenny didn't look too convinced, but if her daughter wasn't going to say what was wrong, she wasn't going to force her. Something else, however, was bugging her. "Rumple, dear.. can I ask you a question?"
"Sure, Mom." She replied, as she lied down on her own bed, starring up at the ceiling.
"Well, I have been wondering.." Jenny paused before continuing, "..about the kittens."
Rumple got a bit more nervous, and looked over to her mother. "What about the kittens?"
Once again, Jenny was at a loss of words for a few moments. "Well.. about their father.."
"Their father!" Rumple shot up, full attention. She tried her best not to lose it. "What about their father.. their father Mungojerrie!"
"Calm down, dear!" Jenny said, walking over to her daughter and sitting beside her on the bed. "It's just.. one of the kittens just doesn't look or act like either you or Mu.."
Rumple didn't give her a chance to finish. "They ALL do. Maybe you don't see it, but I do!" She turned away from her mother and lied down. "Look, Mom, I'm tired.. I think I'm going to take a nap."
Jenny sighed again. Her daughter really was acting odd, and she had no idea why. She nodded to Rumple and got up. "Okay, dear. I'll leave you be." She started to walk out. "I hope you feel better."
"Thanks." Rumple replied nervously. So, people were suspicious now? Does that mean Mungo could be too? She gulped and put the pillow over her face. Her mind raced until it couldn't any more, and she fell asleep.
On her way out, JennyAnyDots happened to come across Mungo with his hands full; Cali was crying, Peridot was squirming to get put down, and Tybalt, as usual, was trying his hardest to run off. Jenny saw this and walked over.
"Do you need some help with those kits, Mungojerrie?" She laughed just a bit.
Mungo looked up to his mother-in-law and nodded slowly. "Yes, please." He quickly handed the crying Cali to Jenny, crying kittens were never his thing, and finally put Peridot down. He kept a firm grip on Tybalt still, who would sprint off the first chance he got. "Phew.." he said breathlessly. "..kittens are hard work. Thanks Jenny."
"No problem, my dear." Jenny replied, holding and cuddling Cali who finally stopped crying. She smiled at the kitten, then slowly frowned, looking over at Mungo. "Mungojerrie..?"
"Yes, Jenny?" he said as he finally started to get Tybalt under control.
"Have you noticed a change in my daughter lately?"
Mungo paused, starting to frown now himself. "...why do you ask?"
"Hm.. well.." She sighed. "I don't know, I guess she just isnt how she used to be. Something is bothering her, but she won't admit it. Something about the kittens I think." she decided to leave it at that. She didn't want to bring up the father matter to Mungo.
Mungo's eyes widened. "..about the kittens?" She didn't have to bring it up, he knew. Did she think that Rumple did something behind his back aswell? Now he had to suspect his mate. Afterall, her own mother suspects something is wrong too.
"Maybe it's just me." she said, cuddling Cali again who purred and cuddled her grandmother back.
He paused a moment, then walked over to Jenny, carrying Tybalt. "Jenny, can you do me a favor? Can you watch the kits for just awhile? I want some time with Rumple alone."
"Of course, deary, of couse. Skimble and I like have kittens running around again. And Etcetera will be over today and will love to help with the kits aswell, I'm sure. You take all the time you need." the Gumbie smiled, picking up Peridot with her free arm.
"Thank you, I appreciate it." he replied back, as he managed to hand her Tybalt as well, who amazingly didn't seem to struggle anymore.
"You're welcome. Maybe you can find out what's bugging her."
"Maybe..." he said, starting to walk to his box.
Jenny smiled at her son-in-law, then started back to her place with the kittens.