Her Moment of Happiness
A CATS fanfiction
By: Something Dysfunctional
Chapter Three: Something Only She Can Do
Disclaimer: T.S. Elliot owns the book and characters that "CATS" is based off of and Andrew Lloyd Webber owns the Broadway masterpiece. I only am a slave to all of his works. I've been slightly irked that when the movie was made for "CATS", they never released a CD for it. Ggrrr... I liked the 1981 original soundtrack from the show cast, but the movie cast was AMAZING. That, and I adored the person who dubbed over Jemima's singing voice. However, I did hear Jemima's actor sing in Dutch for the their Broadway show of "CATS". Moving along, I know some of you are probably mumbling and grumbling that Jemmi and Mistoffelees are NOT a couple. I just felt like it was a cute idea from reading some fanfiction. Rawr.
-NOTE: Please, please, PLEASE understand that how I'm going about in this story is from inspiration from some fanfiction I've read and adored. The pairing seems not possible, but I think it could. Remember: IT'S A FANFICTION UNIVERSE. You can do whatever you want!
--

Munkustrap was a very proud cat. He believed he ran the tribe very well, kept order, had a splendid and gorgeous mate, and poured of his attention and knowledge towards the kittens. MaCavity never came near the Junkyard that often all of a sudden (which made him a bit edgy, but nonetheless wary) and the Jellicle Ball was soon.

But there was one thing he didn't understand, was his daughter.

Six months had passed since Tugger's departure and it was nearing October. Deuteronomy was coming soon in secret to talk about the Ball and who recieved which part by a private vote. There was to be a solo dancer to begin the Ball, a cat for each nomination to go to the Heaviside Layer to be reborn for a new Jellicle life that needed to be presented, and several dancers to lead during the large and grand Jellicle Ball dance. Bombalurina and Cassandra were hard at work with the kittens, male and female.

And Munkustrap was at a dead-end with Jemima.

She hardly spoke unless spoken too and took her meals within her tiny room she made. He missed their small talks, the cuddling, and play-time they had shared. Now, she spent her time alone and concentrating on her dancing, as if it was her outlet to what she felt inside. No kitten ever paid her any mind except for Victoria, who was now her only compainion and best friend. Munkustrap would stay up late with Demeter, who would look away sadly, knowing her daughter was suffering from a broken heart. Mistofelees had took it up to court Victoria around, rumors and whispers flying around the Junkyard that soon, after the Ball, he would perform the Mating Dance with the white kitten. When Ecetera blabbed this to Jemima, her facae didn't change, but her eyes took a hard, glassy look and her lips turned white, as if suffering a sudden blow. Now, the once close friends barely spoke to each other. Demeter sighed deeply and told her mate she said it was a phase their child was going through and that it would pass.

The silver and black tomcat thought differently. One night, they were speaking before sleeping. "No, I think it goes deeper, love. She's the one that's going to have to pull herself up," he said lowly, hoping that Jemima wouldn't hear him. The gold and black Queen laid beside him and rested her head on his shoulder. "I hope so..."
--

"One, two, three. One, two, three- oh, for goodness sake's, Jemmi!!! Please pay attention and lift that leg higher!," Victoria snapped, stopping their lesson. The kitten paused and lowered her black and white leg down, keeping her eyes on the ground. "I'm sorry, Victoria... I... I'm just not feeling so well," she mumbled, grasping her paws together. Victoria sighed and rubbed her face irritably, smoothing back her soft fur. "Okay, okay... it's fine. Let's take a break, then, yeah?," she offered, sitting down prettily. Jemima nodded, following in suit. "What's been wrong with you lately? Is it still Rum Tum Tugger?"

"Oh. No... just... this whole Jellicle Ball stuff. I don't understand it."

"What's there not to understand?"

Jemima's dark eyes bored into Victoria's blue ones, making the white kitten shudder at the intense gaze. "Why must I dance? What do I gain from this? I'm just going to be overlooked. We all know you are going to get all the leads to the dancing. There's no point."

Silence.

"Jemmi... there's always a reason to try. I can't always dance," Victoria said softly, hurt by her friend's harsh words. The small kitten scoffed, making a angry noise in her throat. Her lips curled and her claws dug into the earth, causing Victoria to jump at the action, fear etching over her features. "Oh, surely the princess much be joking! The whole clan would simply loose their minds if their star didn't dance all the time for the Jellicle Ball! I'm going home for awhile," she huffed, getting up and stomping off, her fur standing on end. Victoria sat in silence, tears swimming in her eyes. 'Where did my best friend go? That was not her at all... where is our Jemima?'
--

Jemima tore inside the make-shift home, startling her mother and father and the guest they had inside. "Jemima!," Demeter spoke in surprisement, eyes wide. Munkustrap frowned at his daughter's outburst. "What is wrong?" She shook her head, ignoring them entirely.

"Ah... this must be the one I've heard so much about."

Blinking, Jemima stopped and faced the deep and kind voice. It came from a large cat that had long hair and deep lines in his old face. But his eyes were bright, a symbol of the youth he still obtained. His colors were dark gray, brown, white, and other shades of tan. There seemed to be an aura of years of wisdom and gentelness about him that made Jemima calm down and sit down slowly, her eyes locked with his. "Old Deuteronomy...," she whispered, amazed and in awe. He smiled warmly and nodded. "Young Jemima. Your father has told me much about you. Your mother has done nothing but brag. I'm glad you came home so I can see upon the kitten who's going to surprise everyone," he smiled, obviously knowing something she didn't. Curious, she cocked her head to the side. "Whatever do you mean, sir?," she asked polietly.

He chuckled, clapping his rather big paws together. "Oh, something I have a feeling about. Now, tell me, little Jemima, I heard that you sing. That's going to be a major part of the Jellicle Ball. I hope you can do this for me. I need to see you and Victoria dance, though. I'm having a tought decision on who to perform the solo dance." Jemima looked away, ashamed. "You might as well have her do it. She was born to dance, sir," she said sourly, but a bit enviously. "Hmm... come here, young one," Deuteronomy commanded, patting the patch of floor beside him. Cautiously, she got up and went to his side as they stared within each other's eyes. Demeter glanced over at her mate, anxious. Munkustrap didn't know exactly what his father was doing either but hoped that Jemima would be happy with whatever was given to her.

After two minutes, she blinked, breaking from the reverie. A rosy color grew on her face as she reached for her tail and twisted it in her paws. "I... I get to dance along side her? At the Ball? I'm not going to be forgotten?!," she squeaked. Demeter broke out into laughter, covering her face. "Oh, my darling! You sound so silly, but I am glad! Oh dear!," she exclaimed, going to her daughter and embracing her. "She's good, my son. But... I do believe something else will happen that only Jemima can do," Deuteronomy said, rather mystical-like. Munkustrap raised a brow. "Well, you always did know outcomes better than anyone, Father," he said, smiling some.

Jemima was excited at hearing that line. "I get to do something that only I can? I wonder what it is!," she gushed, holding on to her mother. "When the time comes, you'll know. Then, the Junkyard will know what you can do," Deuteronomy said kindly, his eyes twinkling. "And... so will someone else."

Jemima stilled, her heartbeat quickening.

'Someone else? Is he meaning...?'
--

The nighttime was settling in as Jemima raced to Victoria's home. It was near the middle and not so cluttered, very clean and girly with the things that the kittens had found about the Junkyard. She stopped by the door and scratched at it. "Victoria? Darling, please, open the door...," she asked timidly. She could hear shuffling on the other side and a paw opened the wooden blockage away, a pale blue eye staring up at Jemima. "What do you want?," she asked. "To apologize," Jemima said in a small voice.

The door opened wider. "Go on."

Jemima took a deep breath and clasped her paws together. "I wanted to say I was sorry for the things I said today. It was... very unbecoming of me and not lady-like. Sometimes, it's hard to not be jealous of you because you are so gifted with dancing. But then, I realized, it's only something you can do because you were born to do it. And as a friend, I have to do the right thing and stand beside you, not against you. I'm so, so sorry, Victoria," Jemima finished quietly, her ears flat against her head. Nothing was said until Victoria came outside fully, staring at the kitten before her. "It's not true, you know. There are some spins and kicks that you can do so beautifully that I can't perform. Quite sad, really... that we both are jealous of each other," the white kitten said bitterly, but with a small smile on her face. Jemima mirrored Victoria's smile and with a rush, embraced the white feline. They stood there like that, hugging each other until they broke apart, laughing softly.

"We're a bunch of dolts, you know," Victoria giggled. Jemima shrugged her shoulders, grinning. "What else would we be? But I do have great news for you," the kitten teased, wriggling her claws at Victoria. "What?! What is it?," she demanded, stomping her little foot.

"Guess who will be performing the solo dance to begin the Jellicle Ball...?"

"... me...?"

"Who else, dummy? Of course it is you!"

A large shriek rang through the Junkyard as the two kittens tumbled to the ground, laughing so loudly that the other cats grumbled only slightly when realizing that after awhile, their Jemima was in good and happy spirits again.
--

The crescent moon hung low in the sky as Jemima stared at it wistfully, sitting prettily and sighing often. Her thoughts would travel to Tugger, hopeful that her uncle was okay until his return back to the Junkyard. Then, her heart would stray her thoughts to a certain black-and-white tomcat that still held it in his paws. Groaning, she ran her own irritably through her fluffy mane and leaned down on the hood of the car, gloomy. "Why me?," she moaned to the moon, wishing for a answer. Victoria had yet to say anything to her about a Mating Dance with Mistoffelees. Perhaps she was embarassed to say it? She knew Jemima had her heart set on the tom for a good while... perhaps it was nothing. Jemima rolled over on her back and stretched out, laying a arm over her stomach. "Maybe the moon will let me know something," she murmured, eyelids fluttering down as sleep crept over her. The silvery light of the moon gleamed on her child faintly, a small glow washing over Jemima's sleeping form. From the angle where he was, Mistoffelees was taken back at the slumbering kitten that was growing into a young cat before his eyes.

"You're a fool, you know."

Surprised, Mistoffelees jumped at the voice, whirling around to face the golden Queen herself; Demeter.

'Ah... confronted at last by the mother.'

She was leaning against a large tire stack, her face blank and a brow raised, her arms crossed over her chest. "D-Demeter! Ma'am, I was, uh... just-" She held up a elegant paw at him. "No explaining yourself. It's kind of obvious from a distance, you know." Mistoffelees's ears lowered in shame, and his eyes implored on Jemima's mother. "Is it?," he asked softly. She nodded, approaching him slowly. "You know, she hasn't stopped thinking about you. Not after your little... ahem... stunt with courting Victoria around. That nearly killed her. Misto-, no... Quaxo, I've known you since you were a small kitten. You two were inseperable and just because Tugger decided to come and be flashy, doesn't necessarily mean for you to hurt Jemima the way you did. Intentionally or unintentionally, darling," she said firmly, but gently.

"I didn't think I'd go that far either, Demeter. I didn't mean to. But... perhaps it's for the best for us to not, you know... be together," Mistoffelees murmured, turning away from her.

"I can't believe you. I refuse to. Now you listen to me, mister." Demeter stalked over and grabbed the tom by the shoulders and violently turned him around, her pale green eyes flared with anger. "You are going to prove to yourself at the Ball to this kitten. I know Bombalurina has already told you this. Now, act like the cat you are supossed to be and go claim what you know rightfully belongs at your side!," she hissed, claws digging into the fur and flesh. Mistoffelees cringed, but stood his ground, knowing better than to make Demeter mad even more.

Sighing in defeat, he hung his head. "Yes, ma'am."

"Don't said it just to please me. Mean it to me, Mistoffelees. Mean it to Jemima. Something is going to happen this year at the Jellicle Ball. Everyone in this Junkyard can feel it. Maybe what you'll see is just enough to ask Jemima to be yours," Demeter said in a gentle voice, her paws now cupping his head, forcing him to look at her. "How do you know?," he pouted. The Queen smiled secretly to herself and winked. "I have my ways. Now, I'll leave you now. Tomorrow, Munkustrap will let everyone know what they are doing for the Ball. Make sure you get some rest," she said in a matter-of-fact tone, slinking away in the darkness, leaving Mistoffelees behind, questioning himself even more.

Turning towards the broken down car, the sleeping Jemima was still there and Mistoffelees suddenly got... brave. Straightening his posture, he advanced towards the car and leapt up on the surface, so quietly and stealth-like. He circled around her, staring at the creature that stole every inch of him when they first met. She was getting more lovelier with each passing day, her face round and sweet. The markings on her face stood out now with the high arch of her brows, the red highlighting around her eyes and the quick little dash of black and white underneath her large eyes. Her nose was small and cute, the white around her mouth contrasting off the dark tan that she got from her mother. Her fur around her head was black, deep auburn and white-cream. He knew those colors were Demeter's as well. Her body was scarlet and black like of Bombalurina, but grew out the same like that of Munkustrap's. The spiked collar that Bombalurina found for her glinted in the dim light, a symbol of her mother and aunt.

Mistoffelees smiled in memory when she proudly showed off that collar, flitting around like a prima donna and laughing. How could he have not seen how beautiful she had gotten? Nor how she was different from the others, not with her eyes, but with her entire being? "You are a fool," he told himself, using Demeter's words while shaking his head.

"Yes, you are."

"... why is that you are like your mother?"

"I just am. But I don't go off and sneak behind her daughter's back. I'm more like Father- I like to confront the person," came the cool reply from the kitten playing possum with the magic cat. She slowly opened her eyes to the tom in front of her. Her heart beat flew off from nothing to ninety at the close proximity between the two. "I guess Demeter was loud, then?," he asked stupidly, drowning in the gaze that Jemima had him in. "More than likely she did it on purpose for me to hear as well," she said in a small voice, not moving to get up. Mistoffelees sucked in a quiet breath and leaned down towards her head, their breaths mingling together. "Did she do a good job then?," he pressed, his body hunched over the tiny frame under him. "Maybe... not sure... you see, I love my best friend and I would do anything in the world for her. But... if it came to, oh I don't know..., hearing a rumor about a mating dance with her, then I get concerned. If I should fight or hide in the shadows like I'm good at," Jemima said flatly, almost bitterly.

"Me and Victoria? A Mating Dance?"

"Yes."

"Why is it that you don't pay attention anymore? You silly girl, she's going to do it with Plato during the Jellicle Ball sequence like all cats do to claim a mate each year!" Jemima's eyes widened and she sat up fast, mouth opened. "No one told me! Instead, I went around like a idiot- oh, God! I am horrible!," she howled, hiding her face in her paws. Mistoffelees laughed heartily, bringing down her paws. "No, you're not. Just thick-headed and stubborn. That's from Bombalurina." Blinking rapidly, Jemima then lowered her eyes to the hood, looking at the entwining paws together and blushed. "Then... who are you going to mate with?"

"Oh, that's a secret," he said lightly.

Jemima felt ice run through her veins and angrily, she stood up, flinging down his paws. "You are just terrible! That's it- don't look at me, don't speak to me, and don't even BREATHE my name or SO help me, I'll hunt you down and... and... oh, I don't know! But it will be something gruesome, mark my words!," she cried out and jumped off the hood of the car. Before she could run off, something strong held her back and whirled her around into a strong chest that was fluffy and white. Arms held her as she tried to beat them off. "Geroff me! You animal, oh, stop it!," Jemima shrieked into the chest. "No... because I won't stop looking at you or talking to you. And I'll breathe your name if I please," Mistoffelees said airly, looking down at her as she glared at him.

"You do that and I 'will' get my father on you."

"Hmm... don't think so."

Jemima couldn't say anything else. She didn't have a word to speak or a jibe or an insult to the Magical Mister Mistoffelees. He wasn't called that for no reason. His magics were amazing and daring, just as the sudden silent treatment he placed on Jemima.

Of course, with their mouths together in a lip lock, how can one speak?
--

BOO-YA.
I rule, yes. No one will upset my Jemima, not even me!
I know it was weird to have Old Deuteronomy there early before the Ball, but I mean, who else BETTER than to give the roles so Munkustrap can tell the tribe?
-sniff-
I thought it was quite brilliant of me. So, Mistoffelees and Jemmi are left kissing... how is SHE going to feel about that? Tune in later!
---the moonlight carries the message of Love.---

Later Days!
SD