A/N: I'm so sorry the story's been on hold like this. I still haven't completed chapter 5 yet. Writer's block combined with an increasing intensity in my everyday life has caused production of the story to be dramatically slowed. I'm working on something else, however, simultaneously. No worries, Troubles Of Our Own will continue as planned. So, instead of the new chapter, what I have is a snippet not taken from, but connected to, the new story. Hope a little bit of suspense will tide over anyone who was reading.

My deepest apologies again. Anyway, here it is.

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She went to the door, filled with dread. The bastard would be here soon. She didn't honestly know what she could do. It made her queasy now to think about his face, knowing how he had been lying to her all his time. How could he hide something like that? Her disbelief turned to anger. He and his people were making the town, and the lives of so many people, a wreck, completely miserable! How could somebody who was always so sweet do something so horrible? Sure, he was a little arrogant, maybe a bit of a jerk sometimes, but something like that? It just didn't seem real.

She checked her clothes to make sure that in her irritation she had not somehow forgotten anything important. Everything seemed in order. She looked ready to meet with her boyfriend in her apartment, just like any other night. But she knew what she had to do tonight. To bring him to justice. At long last, the ring she had feared came, piercing her senses, just as he would most likely do. He was the only one who could make her feel that way. Like the whole world was filling her at any given moment, propelling her forward through life, ever forward. He was so enthralling, yet...

She answered by opening the door, and, like always, there he stood in his smug confidence, his physique radiantly illuminating the surrounding hallway. His bright blue feathers shone in the light, and his sky blue eyes seemed to look through her rather than at her, as if he may have instantly detected her accusations. He adorned himself in a white sleeveless tank top and blue jeans, making his muscular arms visible. A soft smile grazed her, making her feel even more uneasy. But despite that, she managed to make a convincingly sweet smile as she gazed and greeted him.

"Falco! What are you doing here?" She asked, beckoning him in. He smiled at her.

"Just visiting my favorite little Kitty." He replied, nudging his face up against hers affectionately. As he did, a firm hand came into contact with her midriff. It was an ordinary gesture, but just his touch now made her cringe. This feeling she usually thrived in, of the euphoria whenever he touched her, the warmth and comfort, now made her tense and apprehensive. She took a seat on the couch, where he soon followed suit.

"Where have you been all day, mister bird man?" She asked him, knowing what the answer really was, no matter what he said.

"Ah, nowhere. Just doing some heavy lifting for a friend out in the boonies. How about you?" He replied smoothly, not entirely lying. She felt extreme irritation now. He stayed so cool, knowing full well how much suffering he was responsible for.

"Hm. I went to the office, checked on some things, then went shopping." She calmly answered. He seemed to buy it, moving in closer while whispering exciting words in her ear.

Before a few minutes had passed, the two of them were in the middle of the room, half-dressed, locked together passionately, like two genuine lovers. She ran a delicate finger along his pectorals. Every minute she let the ruse go on, it seemed more and more like she would lose sight of it altogether. The more they touched, the weaker she felt. Already, it seemed her knees would collapse, and instead of falling into his arms, nothing would be there. He would stand over her and know she tried to turn on him. And then he would be gone, forever.

Suddenly, her resolve became absolute. What she did seemed almost subconscious, like she took a backseat while her conscience acted through her body. As she looked once more at his piercing eyes, her knee drove straight into his gut. The avian winced, but only momentarily. He pushed her to the far side of the room and reeled in surprise. He looked up at her as she frantically reached around the counter, trying to find something to use.

"Katt? What are you-" He didn't finish as she rushed him, fists flying. But she underestimated the avian's physical strength. He grabbed her and threw her to the ground, anger now filling his visage. Nearby, a golf club found it's way into his hand. He thrust at the half-naked feline with the object, not wishing to severely harm her, but subdue her nonetheless. He raised and came down once, but she rolled out of the way. The second strike met a similar fate. Falco raised the club to strike again, but Katt saw her opportunity. As he stood, her toned leg extended, a foot meeting with his privates. The masculine avian doubled over in pain and groaned.

Seizing the moment, Katt wrapped both bare legs around his neck and brought him down to the ground. When she finally managed to pin him down on his frontside, she reached for a pair of handcuffs and clamped them on his wrists. She stood, tears streaming down her face. As she watched him struggle, she lost her temper completely.

"I loved you, Falco! How the hell could you do this? The town's being destroyed by you!" Her claws were fully extended from her hands and feet now as she screamed.

"Katt, I-"

"Bastard!" She yelled, accenting her words with a swift kick to the bird's side. She then sank down and they both sat in silence for several minutes, before he spoke in a soft voice, his girlfriend now lacking the energy to berate him more.

"Kitty, listen to me."

"Don't call me Kitty."

"Katherine! I don't want to be a part of this. It wasn't my choice, I got born into this lifestyle."

"Do you really think that's an excuse? I got born into one of the families just like you, Falco, and I'm a cop. I'm sorry about your parents and for everything else, but you've made a choice, and for that choice, I've got to call this in. To turn you in. You have to learn that lesson, Falco." She said calmly. Falco turned his head to look as far around toward her as he could.

"I'm not that strong, Katt. But I'm going to get out of here, out of this. Just please give me some time." He pleaded. The pink-furred cat looked up at him once more, confusion and inner conflict wringing her expression. After another silence of what seemed like hours, she walked over to the man, the traitor before her, who had twisted her for his own pleasure, who had betrayed her and made many people suffer, the man who she still loved, and she undid his handcuffs. She freed him.

Falco stood and tried to look toward Katt, but avoided her eyes and quickly turned his gaze elsewhere. As he left, she looked after him, hoping sincerely that what he said was true. Above all, she was afraid that she would never see him again.