A/N: This chapter is dedicated to Iamtwilight, stiffkittens101 and ParallelWonderland for all their lovely reviews. I love you guys. ;)

Forever Until Now

Chapter 9;; Unstable Savior

"Don't be sorry," he said flatly. "I don't need anyone's pity… I don't deserve it."

Etcetera found it hard to believe, but she was actually worried. She didn't quite know why, but a stirring sensation in her stomach told her that she was definitely troubled. And the strangest thing was, she was worried about Victoria.

As far as she knew, nobody else was concerned. Victoria often took long naps. But Etcetera had checked her den, and it was empty. I bet she's just out with Plato, she conceded with a sigh.

Thinking about Victoria reminded her of Alyana. Aside from the fact that the white queen got on Etcetera's nerves, she was intrigued by the unfamiliar cat. It wasn't often that she met someone new, what with the strictness of the older Jellicles. They barely allowed the younger cats to wander the city. It was, after all, a dangerous world out there, with no Munkustrap or Alonzo to constantly protect them. Yet, sometimes, Etcetera did tire of the Junkyard, as comfortable as a home it was. Sometimes, Etcetera longed to meet other cats – cats that weren't completely familiar to her like all the Jellicles were. Alyana was unusual to her, because she was new. In some ways, she reminded Etcetera of Bombalurina, yet, she didn't avoid Macavity the way Bombalurina did. Why doesn't she avoid him? she wondered.

Macavity… Etcetera didn't quite know what to think of the red cat. One the one hand, he had promised to help her… yet, so far, she hadn't seen any evidence that he had done anything for her. Besides, he didn't even seem to have a reason for helping her, which mystified her. He wouldn't go out of his way to help a Jellicle, and Etcetera didn't seem anything special. She seemed the type a cat like him would avoid, in fact. But not knowing him was the key thing. He barely spoke a word to his own tribe, and he was a very rare sight in the Junkyard. No one even knew why he stuck around to be a part of them. He was like a piece of a jigsaw – a piece that had gotten mixed up in the wrong box. The piece that was left out when the rest of the jigsaw was completed. Etcetera didn't know whether to sympathize with him or be frightened. Both, she told herself. Pity him, because no one else will…but fear him, because he's dangerous.

Once she'd made her little promise to herself, Etcetera's confusion cleared somewhat. Just trust him to help you…he doesn't seem the type to lie.

"Why do you say that?" Macavity was suddenly right next to her, smirking slyly.

"Shit!" Etcetera yelled, then clapped a paw over her mouth. "Oops…" A couple of cats glanced suspiciously her way, and smoothly, Macavity retreated into the shadows. No one seemed to notice him, surprisingly, and after receiving a few chastising looks, the cats looked away again. "Look," Etcetera told the red tom, feeling flustered. "Let's go somewhere a little less public, okay?"

"Whatever you say," Macavity shrugged. Etcetera noticed that, for whatever reason, Macavity seemed to be in a very good mood. Casting him a wary look, she led him to a more secluded area behind the Junkyard.

"How did you read my thoughts?" Etcetera asked him straightaway, turning on him with her hands on her hips. Then, looking into his yellow eyes, she remembered who he was and assumed a less defiant position. He regarded her with amusement.

"It's just one of the many quirks in my life," he shrugged nonchalantly as if the ability to read minds was insignificant. Etcetera just gaped at him.

"Can you read everyone's mind?" she asked him eagerly. "Like… Victoria's? Or Plato's?"

Macavity's face hardened, and Etcetera backed down quickly, not wanting to push him. "Not everyone's," he stated guardedly. "It takes a certain sort of… contact to be in place," he added, just as carefully.

"We have contact?" Etcetera's face was distraught, and Macavity couldn't help but chuckle at her wide-eyed expression.

"You could say that, yes, in a way, we do," he said, his tone almost warm. Etcetera inspected his expressions apprehensively.

"Is that a bad thing?" she asked finally, not really knowing.

"Well, that's all your opinion," Macavity said cheerfully. "I don't particularly care, but you might be appalled…or…" He smiled seductively, and Etcetera suddenly realized that the red tom was quite good-looking, at least, when he wasn't glaring. Which he was most of the time. She felt a faint flush creeping into her cheeks. "Or, you may think of it as… paradise." The yellow of his eyes was like liquid gold. Fully blushing now, Etcetera turned away.

"What's got you into such a good mood?" she snapped, trying to distract him from his strange antics. She didn't feel frightened to speak to him in such a tone, but she was on her guard. She'd seen his anger, and she knew how it felt to quiver before him.

"Oh! I almost forgot," he said flippantly, waving his paw as if what he was about to tell her was no big deal. But Etcetera didn't miss the glow of excitement in his eyes, and she wondered what on earth could bring the terrible red cat to smile so. "I think your sweet Plato will be coming for you very soon, little Etcetera. Isn't that what you wanted?" An almost malicious smile of joy lit up his features.

"Wh-what?" Etcetera was in shock; she couldn't fully register what he was saying. "Plato…? You mean he's not with Victoria?"

"That's what you wanted, right?" Macavity grinned.

"Oh… my… Everlasting… Cat," Etcetera breathed. "I can't believe this… you're not lying are you?"

"No. Weren't you thinking earlier about how I'm not the type?" he asked slyly. Etcetera nodded reluctantly.

"But…this is surreal. How? How did you do it?" she demanded.

"I have my ways," he said smugly.

"Tell me!"

"Don't push me." That dangerous edge was suddenly back in his still-friendly eyes, warning her to stand down. She sighed in frustration.

"You're pleased, aren't you?" Macavity's voice was pleasant, but his eyes narrowed. "I did this all to please you…"

"I don't believe that," Etcetera said suddenly. Macavity looked shocked, which made Etcetera feel a little proud of herself. It was hard to get such a reaction from him, and yet, she had succeeded. Mere, 'little' Etcetera. Of course, the expression only lingered for the briefest of moments, yet it confirmed her suspicions. "You have your own motives, don't you?"

"No, it was all for you. Who could resist that sweet, heartbroken face?" The fact that there was a scornful tone to his voice didn't really help Etcetera to believe him.

"You have no reason to help me," she repeated firmly. "So there must be something else."

Macavity paused, frowning. "I underestimated you. You're smarter than we all thought," he sighed. Etcetera perked up, a little smile of satisfaction creeping onto her face. "But what are you going to do? Interrogate me?"

"Well, I was wondering what exactly your reason was…" Etcetera began tentatively.

"It's my business," Macavity spat, interrupting her. She cringed a little.

"I was just going to say…you've helped me, just like you promised. I have no reason to probe into your private matters," she murmured. "I'll always want to know, but I have no business asking, like you said. You owe me nothing. In fact… I think I'm indebted to you." She hung her head, a little frightened at the prospect. Macavity's face softened.

"Yeah, we all underestimated you, little Etcetera. You have good morals… and you can be intelligent when it comes down to it. You owe me nothing. What you wanted gave me a good excuse to do what I did… I won't feel guilty." He lowered his eyes. "Well, not as guilty," he sighed, and Etcetera felt her heart going out to him.

"I don't know what you did… I know you don't want to tell me. But I'm sorry anyway," she said, reaching out a paw to him. He blatantly ignored it, and after a few seconds, she pulled back, embarrassed.

"Don't be sorry," he said flatly. "I don't need anyone's pity… I don't deserve it." And with a last, wry smile, he left her.

Etcetera stared after him sadly. "Yes you do," she whispered. "Yes you do."

Etcetera stayed in that spot for a long time. She was preparing herself, in all honesty. Despite her misgivings about Macavity, she knew that he was telling the truth about Plato. She knew that the next time she would see him, he wouldn't want Victoria anymore. Perhaps instead… he would want Etcetera. She shivered gleefully at the prospect. But still, it was a big change. And her worry for Victoria all came rushing back to her – she was afraid that her sister would despise her now. Truthfully, Etcetera saw that there was no need to hate Victoria, not anymore.

"Watcha sitting here by yourself for, kitten?" The voice was familiar to Etcetera. Sighing, she turned to face Alyana.

"I'm not a kitten," she said irritably.

"That doesn't answer my question… kitten." Alyana grinned devilishly, and Etcetera stifled the urge to slap her.

"I dunno. I'm just, you know… relaxing. Thinking about life and such." She held herself back from babbling, like she always did when she was nervous. Despite herself, she wanted to make a good impression on the white queen. She wanted to seem prim and lovely, because Alyana was an outsider and didn't know of Etcetera's bubbly personality. Etcetera wanted to impress her, just because she couldn't really impress anyone else.

But Alyana saw right through the 'prim and lovely' façade. "Oh come on," she said teasingly. "I can smell Macavity all over." Suddenly, she was glaring, and Etcetera dropped the queenly look she was trying to achieve. It was replaced by nervousness – Alyana was almost as intimidating as Macavity. Her face reminded Etcetera of the time Victoria had scratched her. She cringed to remember the cold way her sister had spoken to her.

"Okay, okay. I was just talking to him a little while ago."

"What's the deal with you and him?" Alyana asked suddenly. Etcetera tilted her head to one side questioningly. "Are you like, involved or something?"

"WHAT?" Etcetera shrieked.

"Okay…I take it that maybe you're not." Alyana laughed one of her lovely melodic laughs.

"No, definitely not," Etcetera shuddered. "I mean like, he's older than me! By a lot!"

"Not really. Besides, isn't Tugger his age?"

Etcetera froze. "How do you know Tugger? And… you know that I really liked him?"

"I have my ways," Alyana shrugged, reminding Etcetera of how Macavity had said the exact same thing earlier. She regarded the white cat apprehensively, not bothering at all to impress her anymore. Chances were, if she knew about Tugger and her crazy obsession, she'd know all about Etcetera. Slowing her breathing, she tried to ask her next question calmly and nonchalantly.

"But why did you ask if we were involved?"

"Oh, I don't really know myself," Alyana replied wearily. "It's just that when we were together before, he seemed like he was really enjoying himself… and then when you came," she continued, jabbing her paw into Etcetera's face, "He was completely willing to push me away to speak to you. It made me wonder if you were in some secret relationship that I didn't know about, unlikely as it seems."

"Do you stalk me or something?" Etcetera burst out. Alyana looked genuinely surprised.

"No," she laughed. "Not you," she added, heavily emphasizing the 'you'.

If not me…then who? Etcetera thought, stunned and completely bewildered. She didn't know what to think. The thought that the white queen was stalking someone was strange, to say the least.

"Anyway… like I was saying before you interrupted me, I went looking for Macavity like I told him I would. I followed his scent for a while, but he was always on the move. It made me wonder if he thought that I was a mistake or something," she sniffed. "And here I find you again, and you're right where his scent lingers."

"You're looking for him? Why?"

Alyana rolled her eyes scornfully. "Because I think he's sexy," she said.

"None of the other Jellicles think that," Etcetera warned, trying to contain her surprise. "We avoid him, and he avoids us. It works."

Alyana's eyes softened. "I know. I think he's just looking to be accepted…but something's preventing him. He's lovely really… right?"

"Yeah, sure," Etcetera said sarcastically. "If you think getting threatened and glared at is lovely."

"Kitten… there's more to him than that." Alyana's tone was surprisingly gentle. "I'm sure that, since you seem to be spending more time with him than anyone else, you've noticed."

Etcetera glanced up at her reluctantly. "I guess. It's weird, though. He's so… unpredictable."

"Unstable, even?" Alyana suggested. Etcetera nodded. "I know what you mean. There's something about him… that's begging me to save him." Etcetera looked at the white queen in surprise.

"Save him?" she whispered. "Save him from what?"

Alyana shook her head resignedly. "I don't know, kitten. I don't know."