Munkustrap stared blankly at the wall opposite him, deep in thought. Jenny had come by earlier, making sure he was still in good health…other than the few kilos he had dropped, he was healthy. Munkustrap blinked. He was healthy other than the fact his heart was completely broken and aching. Munkustrap slowly rose to his feet, slowly walking to the next room of his den. It was his private bedroom as well, but he usually just slept in the main part of his den, just so he knew if anyone came in. He looked at a pile of things in the corner and gave a small smile. The pile was everything anyone had given him over the years. Munkustrap slowly fell to his knees beside the pile and started sifting through it. He pulled aside ceramic bowls, a few collars and braided bands, past fluffy pillows and blankets. He sighed, setting everything apart. He grabbed the mirror and looked at it. He just blinked when he saw his bruised silver cheek, bruised from where Gus had struck him. He sighed and placed the mirror aside, going back to digging through all the items in the pile, sorting them out. Munkustrap paused, suddenly spotting something. He slowly reached forward, grabbing the soft object before lifting it up, examining it. A small smile broke out on Munkustrap's lips, his first smile in over two weeks.

In his paws, was a small chocolate brown coloured teddy bear Macavity had given him when they were still kittens.

Munkustrap drew the small bear close, hugging it tightly. He buried his nose into the top of its head, sighing. Munkustrap lifted his head, looking at the neater part of the den before he walked over to his nest. He dragged some of the fluffy, woollen blankets over to the nest and rearranged it before he lay down, holding the bear close. He cuddled the bear close as he fell asleep.

"Well, it's good to see you finally cleaned this pile up," Munkustrap slowly opened his eyes, sitting up. He still had a grip on the bear with one of his paws. Deuteronomy's brown eyes caught it.

"What's that?" Munkustrap pulled the bear into his arms, hugging it tightly.

"Who gave you that, Munkustrap?" Deuteronomy asked, his voice cold. Munkustrap didn't know how to answer.

"Who, Munkustrap?" Deuteronomy's voice was starting get snappy. A slightly scared whimper just escaped Munkustrap's lips as he clutched the bear tighter. He felt like a kitten but still…it was his only connection to Macavity.

"I gave it to him, sir," Munkustrap turned his baby blue eyes to look at Skimbleshanks in surprise. Deuteronomy raised an eyebrow, seeming unconvinced but shrugged it off. Deuteronomy looked at Munkustrap once more, seeing his sad and broken son but shook his head.

"I want you to be on the tyre at eight p.m tonight," Deuteronomy said. "We're having a small…celebration, and you will be there,"

"Yes, sir," Munkustrap mumbled. Deuteronomy nodded and left the den. Skimbleshanks stared at the slightly broken silver Tom, the heart-broken Tom who was clutching the teddy bear close as he stared at the floor. Skimble could see the pain in Munkustrap's eyes. Skimble turned around and went to leave.

"Skimble," Skimble turned around and looked at Munkustrap. Munkustrap stared back at the railway cat.

"Thank you," Munkustrap whispered. Skimble just sighed heavily and walked from the den. Munkustrap curled back up around the small bear, exhaling loudly. His nose nuzzled at the fur on the bear and he smiled. Macavity had given him the bear for his birthday one year.

"Oi, Munkustrap," Munkustrap sighed, pushing his tired and emotionless body off the ground. Munkustrap rubbed his sore and red eyes before he left the den, his tail dragging limply along the ground as he left the den for the first time in days. He slowly walked over to the tyre, sitting beside Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy smiled at his son as the lights to the yard turned on, courtesy of Misto. Deuteronomy wrapped his arm around Munkustrap's shoulders, drawing him closer. Munkustrap rested his head on Deuteronomy's shoulder, too tired to emotionally rebel.

"You need to leave the den more,"

"You confined me to it, remember?"

"Because you tried to run, Munkustrap, I told you that you were to remain in the yard," Deuteronomy murmured, holding his son tightly.

"Dad…you broke my heart, you told me I could never see the one I love again…why do you think I wanted to leave?" Munkustrap asked bitterly, pulling himself out of Deuteronomy's arms. Deuteronomy stared at him.

"In the time me and Macavity were together, he rarely came to the yard…we were happy together and you ruined it," Munkustrap whispered. Deuteronomy's stare hardened.

"I did what was best."

"You did what was best for you, Dad, not for me," Munkustrap hissed bitterly. Deuteronomy stared at him.

"I allowed you to leave your den after you disappointed us all, Munkus," Munkustrap's shoulders slumped. The one thing he hated was disappointment.

"Now, are you going to behave or do you need to be confined back to your den?" Deuteronomy asked. Munkustrap looked at his paws before standing up and walking away, going back to his den.

He didn't want to stay there; he didn't want to be with a family that hated him.

Macavity walked over into the yard, he perched himself onto a junk pile, looking around. He just needed to see Munkustrap. He saw the Jellicles all milling around the well-lit clearing, all laughing and talking happily with one another. Macavity frowned, he couldn't see Munkustrap.

"Demeter, what's wrong?" Macavity heard Bombalurina ask worriedly.

"Macavity!" Demeter cried out. Macavity sighed.

Time for him to go.

He quickly disappeared, but he was mystified. Usually he could spot Munkustrap in an instant during those type of gatherings…but he wasn't there, so where was he?

Munkustrap sat in his den, looking at the bear on his lap.

"Munkus?" Munkustrap lifted his head, seeing Misto hesitating in his doorway.

"Hello, Mistoffelees," Munkustrap murmured. Misto walked further into his den, something clasped in his paws.

"I know your dad is treating you unfairly…confining you to the den and allowing you minimal contact, so I thought this might interest you," Misto said, handing the object to Munkustrap. Munkustrap took it, looking at the book.

"I found it…sorry, it's just a romance book…no happy ending though,"

"Thank you, Misto," Munkustrap murmured.

"Munku, I just want you to know…I don't care that you were with Macavity, I'm actually sorry that Deuteronomy forced you apart," Munkustrap lifted his head to look at Misto. Misto walked over, hugging him tightly before giving a small smile as he let Munkustrap go.

"You're still my friend, Munkus,"

"Thank you, Misto," Misto smiled and left the den. Munkustrap looked down at the book in his paws and looked at the title.

Romeo and Juliet

Munkustrap flicked open the first page and looked at the writing. He slowly began to read it, his eyes flickering over the text. He was one of the few in the yard that could actually read human writing…he, Mistoffelees, Jenny, Jelly, Skimble, Gus, Deuteronomy and Demeter were the only ones who could read fluently. The others could read words here and there, but they couldn't read whole slabs of text. Munkustrap turned the page, reading on.

"Something's not right," Griddlebone lifted her head from where she was dozing, looking at Macavity.

"Huh?" She slurred sleepily.

"I went to the yard; they were having one of their damn celebrations," Macavity growled, stalking over and slumping onto his throne.

"And?" Griddlebone yawned.

"I couldn't see Munkustrap anywhere,"

"What?"

"Usually I can see him in an instant…but this time I didn't see him at all,"

"Maybe he was in his den for something," Griddlebone suggested. Macavity growled under his breath.

"Probably," He growled. Griddlebone sighed, watching as Macavity muttered darkly under his breath, his paws clenching tightly. Griddlebone tilted her head, looking at Macavity closely. He looked more…unkempt than usual, he looked skinny…too skinny. Griddlebone looked worried.

Without Munkustrap, Macavity was destroying himself.

Munkustrap slowly came outside of his den, sitting just outside it. Plato eyed him from where he was standing near the tyre. Munkustrap rolled his eyes. He knew Deuteronomy had assigned Plato to be Munkustrap's personal guard. The others just milled around, occasionally glancing at him before they quickly hurried on. Munkustrap just leaned back against his den, book settled in his lap for later. He stared around the yard, feeling slightly hurt as the others just walked past him, pretending as though he wasn't there. It hurt. It hurt because they were his family, he had protected them from attacks from Pollicles and strays…and yet they had turned against his because he had fallen in love. Munkustrap gave a small smile as Admetus looked at him, giving a grin and a nod before walking on. Munkustrap looked around. Tugger didn't even look at him as he walked past, his fan club following him and imitating him, which included them not looking at Munkustrap.

"Hey," Munkustrap looked around, seeing Cori coming to sit beside him.

"Hi," Munkustrap murmured.

"Are you okay?"

"Barely," Munkustrap answered quietly, staring at the book in his lap. Cori reached over, grabbing the book and looking at it.

"Romeo and Juliet?" Coricopat asked slowly. "Who gave you that?"

"Misto," Munkustrap sighed.

"I know it's a romance novel, Munk…but I know how it ends…and whatever you do, don't do that, ever," Cori told him. Munkustrap tilted his head.

"What are you talking about?" Cori smiled, placing the book back in Munkustrap's lap.

"I'm not going to spoil it for you," Cori laughed. Munkustrap smiled.

"Thanks, Cori,"

"Any time, Munkus," Munkustrap looked at the book on his knee, staring at it, staring at the front cover.

"You really miss him, don't you?" Cori asked softly.

"Yes," Munkustrap whispered, tears springing to his eyes as he thought of Macavity. Cori rubbed Munkustrap's back.

"I'm so sorry, Munk," Cori said quietly. "I'm so sorry," Munkustrap nodded, giving his eyes a slight rub as he managed to control his emotions again. Cori sighed and got to his feet.

"I'll come see you soon, okay?" Cori told him. Munkustrap nodded, remaining quiet. Cori winced as he looked at his friend, seeing how much he had changed…how heart-broken he was. Cori walked away and looked at Tantomile.

Are you sure you really want to do this? Tantomile asked him through their bond.

You may make things worse for Munkus,

I have to, Tantomile, Cori replied, sighing. Tantomile nodded at him and went back to talking to Admetus. Cori glared at Tugger as he walked past. Tugger just stared coldly at him and went back to entertaining his fan-club. Cori continued walking until he came to a certain den. He took in a deep breath and knocked.

"Enter," Coricopat ducked into the den, looking at Old Deuteronomy and Gus.

"I have to speak to you, sir," Cori said respectfully. Deuteronomy smiled and nodded.

"Of course," Gus stood up and left. Cori looked at Old Deuteronomy.

"Sir, you're making a huge mistake in keeping Munkustrap and Macavity apart," Cori watched as the warmth immediately disappeared from Deuteronomy's eyes.

"They love each other, sir, and you're destroying Munkustrap by keeping him away from Macavity, you're making him hate you because you don't trust him and you're keeping him locked away," Cori continued. Deuteronomy sighed heavily, looking at Cori.

"He is my eldest son, Coricopat," Deuteronomy said. "I am keeping him safe,"

"You're not keeping him safe, you're keeping him unhappy,"

"He is my son, Coricopat, I am keeping him away from bad choices…from disappointing everyone,"

"Sir…you can't keep him away from the one he loves just so he lives up to your expectations," Cori said weakly.

"I can, I am his father,"

"Sir!"

"He will find a nice Queen to settle down with, and have kittens with…he will never be with Macavity, I will make sure of that,"

"So you are willing to sacrifice your son's happiness just so you can have a son that meets up with your expectations,"

"Yes," Deuteronomy answered simply. Cori shook his head, outraged.

"Sir, sorry for being disrespectful…but that is crap!" Cori cried out. "Munkustrap is so broken right now, so sad, because you forcibly split him apart from Macavity!" Deuteronomy just reached over, bringing a large book into his paws. Deuteronomy opened the book, looking into it.

"That is all, Coricopat…you may go," Cori gave a hiss.

"And stay away from my son, you're a bad influence on him," Cori growled loudly before he stalked from the den.

He found Tantomile.

"What did he say?" She asked him. Cori told her and Admetus what Deuteronomy had told him. Their eyes widened in shock and rage.

"No, poor Munkus!" Tantomile cried.

"I can't see him, I'm not allowed to see Munkustrap anymore because I'm a bad influence," Admetus growled as Cori added that. Cori looked to Munkustrap, who was now reading the book Misto had given him.

"What are we going to do?" Tantomile asked softly. "I hate seeing him so sad,"

"I don't know, Tantomile," Cori murmured. Admetus shook his head sadly.

What could they do?

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Naww, poor Munkus!

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