Munkustrap was waiting outside the backstage door after one of Bombalurina's matinee performances, a bouquet of flowers in his paw. He had been arguing with himself for the better part of a fortnight about the best time and place for what he was thinking of. Having finally reached a partial conclusion, he had attended that afternoon's performance with the intention of escorting her home.

She came out a while later, blinking at him. "Munkustrap," she greeted, voice warm.

The silver tabby offered her a smile, holding out the bouquet, "For you, my dear. You were wonderful, Bombalurina."

For a moment she blinked at the flowers, before accepting them and pulling them close to her chest. "Thank you," she murmured. "What brings you out here today?"

"I had the day off and wished to see you, and speak with you about some things." He offered her his arm, "May I walk you home?"

"If you would like," she replied, smiling at him and trying not to think about Tugger for the moment.

He returned the smile and, once she'd taken his arm, started toward the flat she and Tugger shared. "How have you been of late?"

"Decent," she said with an incline of her head. "How has life been treating you?"

"Well enough I suppose. Nothing too pressing all told."

"Well," she paused and sighed. "I suppose that's good."

His brow rose slightly at that, "It can be, yes. Is something the matter?"

"No," she said, shaking her head and fluffed her hair with her free paw a moment. "I am just strung out from plays and too much to do."

Munkustrap nodded faintly, considering. They had reached a place away from most other passersby, though a couple of cats wandered past now and again. Pausing, the tabby turned to her, "Bomba?"

"Yes?" she asked, stopping and looking up at him as well.

"I...I had a whole speech at least mostly planned out, but it doesn't seem all that suiting. I suppose what I'm trying to...that is." He drew a breath, "Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

For a moment she just blinked rapidly at him in shock. "The... you..."

His ears flickered slightly, "I mean...we've been seeing one another for some time now, and if I've overstepped in my assumption I beg your pardon."

"No, that is," she shook her head, trying to clear it, "That is. It's just unexpected."

"I supposed it might be a bit," he replied, ears still tilted back uncertainly.

"Are you sure you know what you'd even be getting yourself into?" she asked, voice soft.

"I think I do, but you seem to think I don't. Would you like to explain that doubt?" He answered quietly.

"I'm an actress," she said. "From what could best be described as the slums. I wouldn't know what to do with society if it hit me over the head."

"And I'm a detective, and that only relatively recently. I'm hardly dealing with society on a frequent basis."

"It's still different classes," she returned. "You'd be looked down for it."

"I don't care," he replied, one paw coming up to brush a lock of her hair back.

"Others will," she repeated. "I'm just worried you'll live to regret it."

"I know what others will think, and I honestly don't think I could regret this decision."

"We might not live together very well," she said softly. "I'll drive you crazy."

His ears lay back, "If you want out of this, just say no then."

"That's not it," she said, quickly. "I just... I don't think you've thought this through entirely. I care very deeply about you, and I do not want to mess this up."

"Bomba. I've thought through this for quite some time, and focused on thinking through it for the last two weeks. You can ask Tugger if you don't believe I look at as many eventualities as I can think of before making a decision like this. But if you don't think we can make this work, let me know now. Honestly. Not that you fear we might not make it work, but that we can't."

Looking into his eyes, she felt herself shake slightly. "It... I don't think we can't," she said finally. "It'll be hard some days. It'd take a lot of work."

"Anything worth having is worth working for." Munkustrap shook his head slightly, his paw moving to cup her cheek, blue eyes never leaving her, "Yes it will be hard but I would rather take the risk of difficulties that between us I believe we can overcome, than to not do so and spend the rest of my life wondering if I made the worst mistake of my life letting you go."

She let out a long breath, carefully not moving into or away from the touch. "If you're sure..." she managed finally.

He nodded, his thumb tracing over her cheekbone, "I've not been this certain of something for a very long time."

"Alright," she said, offering him a faint smile. "I'll marry you."

v.v.v.v

Entering the living room, Alonzo looked around and blinked before realizing. "Oh. Tonight's the night your brothers are coming, isn't it?"

Munkustrap looked up from where he was moving some books off of one of the end tables rather than have them possibly used as projectiles. They had a rule about not fighting on that day, but it didn't mean he wasn't going to watch out for that eventuality, "Yes, that's tonight."

Alonzo sighed. "So I should probably find an elsewhere to be."

"Probably, though you're welcome to stay if you like."

"No, I do feel as if there is a somewhere else that really needs me right now," Alonzo said, shaking his head slightly.

Munkustrap chuckled, moving the fire poker and small coal shovel away from the couch and nearer the chair he was planning on using that night, "Might be a good idea. Though there's always a ceasefire today."

"I am not sticking around for the one time the cease fire goes out," Alonzo said, shaking his head.

That earned another quiet laugh, "Oh, Alonzo, I've been meaning to ask you...if I was to leave within the next few months, do you think you'd be able to pay the rent or do you have someone else you'd be able to split it with?"

That got the black and white tom to stop short. "Huh?"

"I," he offered his flatmate a slightly sheepish smile, "I'm engaged. Which means sometime in the not too distant future I'll be finding somewhere to live with my wife."

Alonzo gaped at him a moment. "And when was I going to hear about this? Alright, I'm hearing about it now, but for how long?"

"It just happened a couple of days ago."

"Well that makes me feel a bit better," Alonzo remarked.

"Tugger probably knows, but Mac hasn't even heard yet, if that's any consolation."

"So, that will be exciting tonight then?" Alonzo asked, arching his brow.

"Oh thrilling. Think I could skip out and just let them meet?"

"I think that would cause some problems, not to mention the fact since it's at your house Macavity might be stubborn enough to sit here waiting for you and I do not think you are quite that ready to move out yet."

Munkustrap sighed a bit at that, "I suppose that's true. Well, wish me luck then."

"I wish you luck," the black and white tom deadpanned.

The other shook his head, "They should be here in the next half hour or so, if you're planning to leave before they arrive."

"I'm gone," Alonzo said, moving quickly to find a coat.

The silver tabby laughed quietly, double-checking that the room was clear of most possible weapons.

A while later there was a knock on the door, Macavity leaning against the frame with two bottles of whiskey.

Munkustrap answered the door, offering his elder brother a bit of a smile, "You're early, Mac. Come on in."

"Early only by our other brother's standards," Mac replied.

"I suppose that's quite true," the silver tabby admitted, going to fetch three glasses. "Make yourself comfortable."

Glancing around the room, Macavity chuckled. "I see things moved."

"You mean like the fireplace poker?" Munkus grinned, "Yes, they rather did. I didn't want to risk anything this year."

The taller tabby rolled his eyes, plopping down on the couch. His younger brother moved over to the chair across from the couch, "How have you been, Mac?"

For a moment the older brother didn't reply before shrugging. "This and that," he said, voice neutral. "Work has been harder of late."

Munkustrap's brows rose at that, "Harder? In comparison to the other land sales and marriage contracts you deal with on a daily basis?"

"Pushier clients," he replied. Really, it had been putting through the marriage contract for a certain white queen several months ago that made him feel listless and useless at his job. The days felt longer and drearier.

"That would certainly add to it, I'm sure," Munkustrap nodded, his ears tilting toward the door.

"If you're waiting for Tugger, it's gonna be a while yet," Macavity shrugged. "Anything exciting in your life?"

"Well," he smiled slightly, "I've asked a charming queen to marry me. We'll likely be married in the next few months."

Macavity was suddenly glad he'd put the bottles down earlier. "Where'd you find one of those?"

"At...Actually you may know her. It's Tugger's flatmate, Bombalurina Harris."

"Has anyone told Tugger?" Macavity asked, trying to process. "You're marrying an actress?"

"She may have, I haven't seen him yet. And yes, I am," something shifted in his tone at the second question, turning guarded.

Macavity rolled his shoulders. "Don't let it be for me to judge."

"She's a wonderful queen, regardless of her occupation," Munkustrap murmured.

"Always seemed charming enough. I just never thought her your kind is all," he said with another shrug.

"If you'd asked me I would have said the same. Having gotten to know her and seen her for the last year that opinion has changed."

"It's been that long?" Macavity asked in some surprise.

"Just under I believe. But it was last spring when I met her," the younger tabby nodded, absently running his paw over the upholstery of the chair.

"It's fine, 'Straps, really, I'm happy for you," Macavity said, but there was a shadow to his tone. "Just surprised it was that long is all."

Munkustrap looked his older brother over, "Everything alright, Mac?"

"It's fine," he said with a firm nod as another knock came.

The silver tabby eyed him skeptically, but rose and answered the door, "Hello, Tugger. You're a bit late again."

"Yeah, well," Tugger huffed. "You'd have to excuse me for dealing with your fiancé."

That earned a faint grin, "That I can probably forgive." Stepping aside, Munkus motioned the youngest brother inside.

Tugger stomped inside, rolling his eyes. "I would hope so."

Closing the door, the tabby followed Tugger over, "How have you been, Tug?"

The larger cat shrugged. "Not bad," he said, trying not to think too much about Tumble or any of his latest arguments with Bomba over said noble or her own sudden engagement as they worked on figuring out what belonged to who and why.

Munkustrap nodded very slightly, "Good to hear." He settled into his chair again, "Well, we're all here finally."

"Sure," Tugger said, looking around. "I assume Mac brought the alcohol?"

Rolling his eyes, Macavity waved a paw toward the two bottles.

Munkustrap shook his head, "Does he ever forget to do so?"

"Could be a first time for everything," Tugger said, going to fetch them. "Especially considering how mopey he's been. Two bottles? Is one all for you?"

"No, but I did actually want an equal share this year," the red tabby returned.

"After you drank most of the bottle last year, we do want more than a glass this year, Tugger," the middle brother supplied, though his gaze moved concernedly to his elder sibling.

Tugger muttered something before coming over and setting the bottles down between them, pouring the first round of glasses. "I recall Mac having more than that."

"Not the point, little one," Mac replied.

"I'm taller than you," Tugger shot back, handing him a glass.

"You still drank the majority, and you're always our kit brother, Tug," Munkustrap responded, taking the third glass.

"Can I not be?" he protested before lifting a glass. "To our father then. May he never come back to haunt us."

Munkustrap raised his glass as well, his words holding a double-edged meaning, "To him, may we always remember who he was, though others forget."

For a long moment Macavity considered his glass, unsure what he could possibly say he hadn't in years before. "To him," he said finally. "For not staying."

Nodding once, Munkustrap settled back a bit in his chair and sipped at his drink, "Thank God."

Leaning back, Tugger knocked back the drink he held. "So, 'Straps. I like how you had Bomba tell me the news."

"Oh shush, I didn't hear it until three minutes ago," Mac said.

"I was going to tell you when next I saw you, Tugger. Which was going to be today," the silver tabby replied. "And it's closer to fifteen, Mac."

Macavity shrugged, brushing it off as Tugger shook his head. "You could have come in you know. That day. Mentioned it then."

"I could have, yes. Perhaps I should have," he shrugged. "I didn't though, so I think the point is rather moot."

Tugger scowled at him. Munkustrap sighed softly, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you myself, Tugger. I should have, I just thought you'd hear it better from her."

"You're my brother," Tugger returned.

Munkus' ears tilted back at that, "I know. I should have come to you myself."

"But you didn't."

"Does it bother you that much?" Macavity asked from where he was nursing a drink.

The middle brother glanced at Tugger for an answer to that question.

"Frankly, yes," he replied. "We're supposed to be family. I like the idea of Bomba becoming a part of this family, she has been mine for a long while now, but the very fact you ignored this? Yeah, it bothers me."

Dropping his gaze, Munkustrap nodded slightly, "Fair enough. I am sorry, Tugger."

Shrugging, the larger tom knocked back another glass. "That is why I brought two bottles," Macavity remarked.

v.v.v.v

Coricopat looked over the file and papers spread out over his desk, frowning at them for a long moment. He'd been dealing with the Smiths' business contracts for a year now, but this one set up a couple of warning signs of the sort that might need some damage control run. Unfortunately, Bailey, the man he would normally warn of this eventuality wasn't currently in his office and Lord only knew when he would return.

It was later in the morning when Bailey finally appeared at the door, and he looked like he was nursing some kind of a head ache.

His employee looked up, gathering the offending pieces of paper and rising, "Sir?"

"You're still doing business for Jones' heir, correct?" Bailey demanded, voice quick.

The mottled tom blinked once, but nodded quickly, "Yes, Sir, I am."

"Good," he replied with a nod, considering. "Then you should probably be aware that you will have to work on his engagement."

"His engagement," Coricopat's tone was flat, his expression unreadable even as he could feel his carefully rebuilt emotions tumbling to pieces. His walls, so painfully familiar, go up quickly. "May I ask who the other party is?"

"I believe an Etecetera Hawthorne," Bailey said with a shrug. "His uncle mentioned the arrangement last night."

Coricopat inclined his head, "Very well, I shall see to it. I take that to mean I shall be seeing to the Baron's interests again for the time being?"

"For the time being," Bailey agreed with a nod. "Try not to put anyone off this time."

"I shall do my best, sir. Now, if you have a moment I wanted to discuss Lord Smith's holdings in Southampton." He would treat this as a normal day even if it killed him.

Blinking once, Bailey tried not to snap a reply about curling up and nursing his head, nodding instead. "Alright. What about Lord Smith?"

"I wanted to give you fair warning that he may not be happy with the results of the latest contract he signed. I was planning to go down to Southampton and see what could be done about it myself, but as it appears now he stands to lose a goodly amount in this business deal."

"Can you deal with it?" his employer demanded.

"Of course, sir. I just wished to give you fair warning if he comes to you that I am in fact seeing to it."

"Good," Bailey nodded. "Stay on top of those things and we might actually stay afloat." Coricopat nodded once before he returned to his desk.

Oh look, a shiny new plot point.

VS has to add: I forget how much I adore Alonzo as a muse. I keep loosing track of him in stories, which is sad because he's one of my favorite muses to write. That being said, we really hope you enjoyed this new chapter! This story has been very difficult of late, so a big thank you to every one who left any feedback on it. Reviews and such really do mean a lot to us.