Macavity sat on a cushion in their den, staring at his paws. Munkustrap was three hours late. It wasn't right. Macavity grabbed the box beside him, opening it and smiling at the dark velvet collar with silver and dark red studs. Macavity closed the box and placed it beside him and went back to waiting. He was going to give Munkustrap the collar, to show him just how much he loved him. Macavity sighed and looked back towards the entrance.

Where was he?

Munkustrap sat in his den. It had been week since Deuteronomy had confined him to the yard, and five days since he was last meant to see Macavity, when they were meant to be together once more. Munkustrap let out a sob. He looked away from the den entrance as the block from the entrance was removed.

"Munkustrap,"

"Go away, Jenny, please, just leave me alone," Munkustrap said miserably.

"Enough of this, Munkustrap,"

"Jenny…please," Munkustrap whispered, rubbing his eyes.

"Enough of this, Munkustrap," Jenny told him sternly. "It was of your own doing!" Munkustrap waited until she had left the den again before he looked around. A bowl of mice were resting near him. Munkustrap looked away again, tears falling from his eyes. Munkustrap rubbed his eyes, sniffling.

He missed Macavity…but he knew Macavity would be fuming now. For the first couple of hours, he knew Macavity would be waiting for him, thinking Protector duties would have held him up…but it had now been five days. Munkustrap curled up tightly in his nest, sighing sadly as he closed his eyes.

Griddlebone walked in before leaping out of the way as hench-cats ran past her. Griddlebone looked in, seeing Macavity's heaving back was to her. She sighed and walked into the room, side-stepping the bodies on the floor.

"Mac," Griddlebone sighed. Macavity turned around, his silver eyes glaring angrily at her. Griddlebone winced at the rage and pain in Macavity's eyes.

"I know you're hurt…but this is overkill,"

"I don't give a damn…and don't you dare question my motives!"

"Mac, I know you're upset that Munkus…"

"Don't say his name! Don't ever say his name!"

"Mac," Griddlebone sighed. She walked over to him, putting her paws on his shoulders. Macavity's shoulders instantly slumped.

"I loved him, Griddle," Macavity whispered. "And he didn't even show up,"

"Do you think there's a reason why?" Griddlebone asked him softly. "Maybe his dad forced him to stay in the yard,"

"He would have got a message to me somehow, he always has before," Macavity muttered. Griddlebone sighed. Macavity growled and stalked from the room, snarling under his breath angrily.

Munkustrap slowly lifted his head, the blanket lifting up as he heard someone walk into his den.

"Tugger?" Munkustrap mumbled sleepily, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. Tugger was staring at Munkustrap, his brown eyes disbelieving. Munkustrap stared at his brother, it was the first time Tugger had come to see him since Deuteronomy had confined Munkustrap to the yard, since he had stopped Macavity's and Munkustrap's relationship.

"You're always saying I don't think," Tugger said, his voice slightly bitter.

"What?"

"You're always saying that I don't think, that I do stupid things…you're a hypocrite, Munkus," Tugger growled. Munkustrap sat up straighter, staring at his younger brother. Munkustrap's heart was pounding in his chest, he knew what Tugger was talking about. Munkustrap stared at Tugger coldly.

"I'm surprised you know what hypocrite means," Munkustrap hissed softly. Tugger blinked, staring at Munkustrap.

"How could you, Munk?" Tugger asked him. "Even I'm not that stupid,"

"Stupidity has nothing to do with it," Munkustrap growled. Tugger gave a heavy sigh.

"Munk, even I can see he's playing you,"

"No, he's not,"

"Munkustrap, it's Macavity…why would he love you?" Munkustrap's ears pressed back as the hurtful words hit him.

"He could have any Queen he wants and yet he chooses you, his enemy," Tugger shook his head.

"You say I'm not that bright…but even I can see he's playing you,"

"He's not playing me!"

"Munkustrap, he is…why else would he be with you? Why would he even choose you?"

"He loves me, Tugger!" Munkustrap snapped. "You don't know anything!"

"Bast, Munkus, see straight on this!" Tugger cried out. "You can usually pick up anything and everything, so why the hell can't you see he's playing you like a fool?"

"Get out," Munkustrap growled, authority slipping back into his voice.

"Get the hell out!" Munkustrap yelled when Tugger showed no sign of moving. Tugger sighed, shaking his head.

"You're being an idiot, Munkus,"

"GET OUT!" Munkustrap yelled. Tugger left, sighing. Munkustrap slumped on his nest, wrapping his arms around himself, shaking with anger.

How dare he, how dare he say that?

Munkustrap wiped the angry tears from his eyes, sniffing angrily.

Macavity loved him, he wasn't playing him…and Munkustrap knew it, he knew that Macavity really did love him. Munkustrap curled up on his nest, resting his head on his arms as he stared blankly at the wall, trying to calm himself.

"Munkustrap," Munkustrap's eyes slowly opened and he sat up, looking at Old Deuteronomy.

"Sir," Munkustrap mumbled, looking at his feet.

"I'm doing this for your own good, Munkustrap,"

"No, your not…you're doing this for your pride," Munkustrap said bitterly, looking at him.

"Your son dating the Napoleon of Crime, how embarrassing for you,"

"Enough, Munkustrap," Deuteronomy told him sternly. Munkustrap turned his head away, looking away from Deuteronomy.

"If you're bored, go clean that mess of yours in the next room," Deuteronomy said. "And stop thinking about it and get over it," Deuteronomy said before stalking from the den.

"I would if you didn't just force me to give up the one I love," Munkustrap muttered under his breath. He sighed and glanced towards the second room of his den. He shook his head and lay back down on the nest, curling up tightly.

Macavity sat on the mattress, staring blankly at the wall opposite.

"This isn't right," Griddlebone murmured as she stood in the doorway, staring at the blank Macavity. Gilbert looked at Griddlebone from where he was standing beside her.

"I've never seen him like this before," Gilbert said quietly.

"Of course not…he's never been in love like this before, well besides Lucille, but that ended badly," Griddlebone said. "But he and Munkus had something special…and then Munkus just didn't show,"

"I know Munkustrap, not personally of course," Gilbert said. "He wouldn't just leave him like that…he's too noble and decent for that,"

"I know, Gil, I know," Griddlebone sighed. They both looked back at the silent Macavity, who was still staring blankly at the wall but now his paws were clenched into fists.

Griddlebone sighed.

"Come on," She said quietly and she and Gilbert walked off, leaving Macavity to his own thoughts.

Munkustrap slowly peeked out from his den into the dark and empty yard. He quickly moved from his den, his feet hitting the ground silently as he quickened his pace to a run, as he ran towards his secret exit. He tried to quicken his pace as he caught sight of the pipe that would let him out of the yard, out of the prison he was in. Munkustrap startled as arms wrapped around his middle, yanking back. He yelled out angrily, fighting furiously, trying to get free of the grip around his waist.

"Enough!" Munkustrap still continued to fight in Plato's grip, ignoring Gus's yell.

"Let me go!" Munkustrap yelled. "I'm leaving, I don't care!" Gus came to stand in front of the struggling Munkustrap.

"I'm leaving, I'm not staying here, let me go!" Munkustrap cried out. He went still when a pain flashed across his cheek. It took a second to register that Gus had slapped him. Munkustrap lifted his eyes, looking at Gus in disbelief. The Tom he had idolized, the Tom he had listened to when he was growing up…had just hit him?

"You're acting like a kit," Gus growled at Munkustrap. "And you're not leaving…Old Deuteronomy forbids it,"

"I don't care!" Munkustrap wailed.

"Take him back to his den, Plato…make sure he doesn't leave,"

"Sure," Plato grunted as he began to lug Munkustrap back to his den. Plato pushed Munkustrap into his den when they had gotten there.

"Stop making things difficult for yourself, Munkustrap," Plato said gravely.

"You don't understand," Munkustrap said miserably as he walked into his den, rubbing his sore cheek.

"You're meant to be our Protector, Munk, you're supposed to be mature and grown up…not acting like some love-sick kitten,"

"Shut up, Plato, you have no idea," Munkustrap growled dangerously. Plato went quiet. Munkustrap collapsed onto his nest, rubbing his sore cheek still. He stared at his knees. He couldn't believe Gus had hit him, he thought that Gus would at least try to understand…after all these years, after how close they had been.

"Munkustrap!"

"Oh…great," Munkustrap muttered, crossing his arms angrily across his chest as Deuteronomy walked in.

"What were you thinking?"

"That I needed to get out," Munkustrap snapped. Deuteronomy stared at his son, whose bottom lip was stuck out slightly in an annoyed pout.

"You're staying here," Deuteronomy told Munkustrap firmly. "You will never see or talk to Macavity again," Munkustrap looked at him, his baby blue eyes anguished.

"Why are you doing this to me?" Munkustrap croaked. "You're meant to be my dad, you're meant to support me!"

"Not with this," Deuteronomy said coolly before leaving the den. Munkustrap just fell onto his side on his nest, growling slightly under his breath.

"Now I know why Mum left," Munkustrap muttered.

"Not cool, Munkustrap,"

"Shut it, Plato!" Munkustrap snarled angrily, not in the mood to deal with the brooding Tom. Munkustrap closed his eyes, hoping to sleep this nightmare through.

"Ey, Munkus," Munkustrap slowly opened his eyes. A cheery orange calico face was what he immediately saw. Munkustrap groaned, sitting up and rubbing his eyes tiredly.

"Ow are ya?" Teazer asked as Mungojerrie moved back from Munkustrap. Munkustrap shrugged sadly.

"I want to leave…but he won't let me," Munkustrap mumbled.

"Ya know…" Mungojerrie said slowly, glancing at his sister. "We've, ah, we've always known bout you and Macavity,"

"What?" Munkustrap asked, surprised.

"Well, something was puttin' Mac in a good mood," Teazer smiled. Munkustrap remembered the two worked for Macavity, stealing for him.

"And at the same toime, you were 'appy as well,"

"We put two and two ta-gether," Teazer grinned.

"We're not as dim as the othas think," Jerrie grinned.

"Have you seen him lately?" Munkustrap asked, sounding desperate. Jerrie and Teazer gave small shakes of their heads.

"When we go to the lair, 'e's 'iding," Jerrie said slowly.

"We asked Griddle where 'e was, she told us ta get lost," Teazer sighed.

"C-Could you tell him about this?" Munkustrap asked, indicating to his den. Jerrie and Teazer gave each other looks.

"What?"

"Deuteronomy knew we work for Macavity," Teazer said slowly.

"E told us if we told anyone dat knows Macavity bout you, 'e'd kick us outta da yard," Jerrie said quietly.

"Sorry, Munk," Teazer whispered as she watched Munkustrap's face fall.

"It's alright, Teazer…I don't want you to get banished," Munkustrap murmured. Jerrie and Teazer sighed sadly, looking at each other once more before looking at the sad silver Tom.

"We miss ya, ya know," Jerrie said, trying to cheer Munkustrap up. "S'not the same without ya on the tyre," Munkustrap gave a weak smile and leaned back.

"So, what is everyone saying about me?" Munkustrap asked, his voice somewhat bitter. Teazer looked at him sadly.

"They're angry at ya, Munk,"

"I guessed," Munkustrap sighed.

"Bomba, Deme…they don't understand what would make ya go wit 'im," Teazer said softly. "Misto…I don't know what 'e thinks, 'e just kinda doesn't say anyfing,"

"Tugger's…well…'e, 'e's annoyed, Munk,"

"Yeah, I know, we had an argument about it," Munkustrap murmured.

"Times up you two!" Munkustrap sighed as Alonzo's voice rang out…so much for being best friends. Jerrie and Teazer gave Munkustrap small smiles.

"We'll come see ya soon, 'kay, Munk,"

"Sure," Munkustrap murmured, feeling more and more like a prisoner in his own home. Jerrie and Teazer got up and walked towards the exit.

"We'll bring ya somethin' special next time, Munk," Teazer whispered. Munkustrap gave a small smile. The notorious two left the den, leaving Munkustrap alone once more. Munkustrap sighed and lay back down on his nest.

"Mac, I miss you," Munkustrap whispered, pushing the pads of his paws against his eyes.

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Sorry if Munkus is a little off-character, but he's heartbroken!

Thanks to those who reviewed!

Please read and review!

Luv HGP!