CHAPTER 21: Issues Resolved – Part II

"She's stolen him from me!" Electra wailed.

"Oh, Ellie, fer once, can't ya jes' shut up?" Rumpelteazer asked in exasperation.

Electra sniffled and looked at her friend sulkily.

"Now, Tatiana 'as not 'stolen' Tumblebrutus. She's in love with Jerrie. She would never betray 'im loike that. Fer goodness' sake, they're gonna be moited!" She sighed. "As fer Tumblebrutus bein' 'stolen' at orll…Oi dunno if 'e 'as bin or not, but Oi know that ya dunno 'oom Tumblebrutus 'as 'is eye on – if anyone at orll."

"I guess…" Electra stared down at the ground.

"There we go. Now –"

"But not everyone is predictable," Electra pointed out.

"But Tatiana is," Rumpelteazer stated firmly.

"Or so you think."

Rumpelteazer sighed.

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"Well, whaddya think of 'im?" Mungojerrie demanded impatiently. He knew she was playing games with him.

Tatiana smiled. "He's very nice. I like him. Teazer was right."

Mungojerrie relaxed and returned her smile. "Good." He took her paw, pulling her closer to him. "Oi love ya."

"I love you, too," Tatiana told him.

Mungojerrie leant down and kissed her.

"'Scusin' me fer interruptin' –"

As usual. Mungojerrie and Tatiana broke apart with a sigh, both partly amused, but somewhat more annoyed.

"– but Oi need ta talk ta Tatiana."

"Okay," Tatiana grumbled, reluctantly pulling away from her mate-to-be and following Rumpelteazer.

"Oi dunno if yer aware of this, but there's a bit of an issue goin' on in the area of romance with the kittens, 'n' Oi think Oi actually need yer 'elp."

"I am aware of it, and I have already formulated a plan, and I need your help to carry it out."

Rumpelteazer glanced at Tatiana curiously. "Ya 'ave?"

"Uh-huh."

"So what's this plan, then?"

"What we have to do is get Electra and Misto together," Tatiana explained. "We start by getting them together – alone – and in conversation."

"'N' 'ow do we do that?" Rumpelteazer questioned.

"You stay with Electra; I'll walk with Misto. I don't care what anyone talks about on the way. What we do is 'run into each other', start our own conversation and then remember we were supposed to meet Jerrie…or something like that, leaving them to their own conversation. First step complete."

"What's the next step, then?"

"That, Teazer, will be decided after we find out what eventuates during their conversation."

"Uh-'uh." Rumpelteazer fell silent for a moment. "D'ya realoize that Electra 'ates ya roight now?"

"She'll love me later," Tatiana replied nonchalantly, not even bothering to ask the reason.

"Even though she won't know what ya did?" Rumpelteazer asked doubtfully.

Tatiana chuckled wryly. "She'd probably hate me even more if she found out. No, she's going to be so happy with Misto that she'll love everything and everyone."

"Oi sure 'ope yer roight. But ya never asked whoiy she 'ates you."

"So I didn't."

"Well, doncha wanna know?"

Tatiana shrugged. "There isn't really much point in asking, is there? If she hates me, it's her business, and there's nothing I can do about it." She may have sounded dispassionate, but beneath her calm exterior, she felt quite upset. She had been getting on quite well with the younger queen after their initial misunderstanding – well, Tatiana's initial misconception – and was disappointed that it all had to change so suddenly.

"Well, Oi'll tell ya," Rumpelteazer pushed on.

Tatiana rolled her eyes.

"Ya need ta know so ya don't go off thinkin' it's yer fault when it ain't," Rumpelteazer argued against her friend's silent protest. "She thinks yer 'stealin'' Tumblebrutus."

Tatiana's head snapped around. "What?"

"She saw ya two sneakin' off inta the forest together."

"Oh!" said Tatiana as the situation dawned on her. "She saw us and…"

Rumpelteazer nodded solemnly.

"She assumed…" Tatiana shook her head. "Most certainly not! I love Jerrie too much. I hope you set her straight on that account."

"That Oi did," the other queen said with indignation for Electra having ever assumed such a thing. "She only 'alf believes me. Accordin' ta 'er, not everyone is predictable."

"Oh, for goodness' sake!" Tatiana cried. "I only wanted to talk to him. Oh, no…" Panic flashed through her eyes.

"What? What?" asked Rumpelteazer. She began dancing from paw to paw, suddenly worried as well.

"I was setting him up with Jemima and enlisting his help with this…"

Rumpelteazer sighed. "Oh, dear…" she said softly.

"She'll never forgive me if she finds out. You won't tell her, will you?" Tatiana searched Rumpelteazer's eyes.

"'Course not!" Rumpelteazer assured her quickly. "What sorta sister-in-law would Oi be if Oi tattled on ya?"

"Thanks, Teaz." Tatiana smiled gratefully.

"Don't mention it."

"I won't, believe me!"

"Hey, Jerrie!"

Mungojerrie turned around. "Hey, Tumble," he greeted.

"Where's your lovely queen?"

Mungojerrie blinked. What would he want with Tatiana? "Uh, she went off somewhere with Teazer. Whoiy?"

"Oh. Well, could you please give her a message?"

"Uh, sure."

"Tell her she's one helluva queen."

"Uh…okoiy…wha–"

"Thanks!" Tumblebrutus called over his shoulder with a wave.

"No problem," Mungojerrie muttered. He frowned. "Whatever that was orll about…" He shook his head.

"Are you okay now?" Tatiana asked sympathetically.

Mistoffelees began to nod, but then shook his head. "Not really. I'm in love with her. I can't help being angry at Tumblebrutus for taking her. But he's my brother. I really shouldn't hold a grudge…"

It was the next day, and the younger generation of the junkyard Jellicles were buzzing with the news that Jemima and Tumblebrutus were now a couple.

Tatiana nodded. "Well, if ever you need to vent…"

"Thanks." Mistoffelees gave a small smile.

"First that Tatiana, and now it's Jemima! My best friend! How could she do this to me?!" Electra wailed.

"Settle down, Ellie," Rumpelteazer groaned. "It ain't 'er fault. Tumble must loike 'er."

Electra looked at Rumpelteazer, aghast. "No!"

"Oi'm sorry, Ellie." Rumpelteazer gave the younger queen a quick side-hug. "Moiybe there'll be someone else."

"Never," declared Electra staunchly.

"Not everyone is predictable."

"So how's your dancing going?"

"Okay, I think. Vicki and Demeter seem to think I'm improving, so I must be," Tatiana replied. "I ho– oh, look, it's Teazer and Electra." She waved to the two approaching queens.

"Oh, great, there she is," Electra growled, scowling at Tatiana. "Latched onto Misto now, eh?"

"Shut it, Ellie," was Rumpelteazer's reply.

Electra sniffed.

"Hi, Ellie, Teazer," Mistoffelees greeted.

"Hello, Misto," the queens chorused, Rumpelteazer in her usual bubbly voice.

"Hey, Teazer, I meant to ask you something," Tatiana said.

"What is it?"

Tatiana drew Rumpelteazer to the side, letting Electra and Mistoffelees start their own conversation. "He's still upset, but he's trying to forgive Tumble," she whispered.

"Wish Oi could soiy the same fer Ellie and Jemoima. She still 'asn't forgiven ya, 'n' now she's got it in fer Jemi." Rumpelteazer sighed.

Tatiana glanced over at the other two felines, who were now talking, albeit not much. "Time to go?"

Rumpelteazer nodded in agreement. "Oi think so."

"Wasn't Jerrie going to meet us soon?" Tatiana said in her normal voice.

"Yeah, 'e was. Better go, eh?"

"Yes, we'd better. Don't want him mad at us now, do we?"

Rumpelteazer laughed. "No woiy. See ya loiter, Ellie, Misto."

Tatiana merely waved.

"Race ya!" Rumpelteazer took off.

"Not fair!" laughed Tatiana, beginning to lope along after her friend.

Electra turned her attention back to Mistoffelees. "How are you taking the news?"

Mistoffelees shrugged, trying to put on a brave face. "I'm disappointed, obviously, but I really can't do anything about it."

"Yeah, I guess." Electra's ears drooped.

"How are you taking it?"

Electra shook her head. For the first time since she found out, tears began to well up in her eyes. "Not good. I love him too much."

"I know what you mean, but I can't go on hating my brother forever." Mistoffelees reached out to wipe a stray tear off Electra's cheek. "Cheer up, Ellie, you'll find someone else."

Electra shook her head again, raising her eyes to look at him. "I don't think I can."

Gee, she has pretty eyes. How did I never notice that before? "Sure, you will. You might not think so now, but in a few weeks you'll forget all about Tumble."

"I don't want to," Electra declared stubbornly.

Mistoffelees sighed. Well, that worked. "That's how I feel about Jemima."

Electra gave a sudden, small laugh. "What a pair we make. Both moping about our lost loves…" A sudden idea came to her. "Say…I have a plan. I mean, if you don't want to participate, it's fine – just tell me – but…why don't we see if we can make them jealous?"

Mistoffelees raised an eyebrow. "How?"

"Well, I mean, it might not work…actually, it probably won't…but what if we were to pretend we were together? Obviously, we'll have to figure out a full plan in order to pull it off, but…we could have something there…"

Mistoffelees shrugged. "Worth a shot, I guess." On impulse, he grabbed her paw and began walking, dragging her behind him.

Electra gave a small yelp of surprise. "Where are we going?"

"Back to my den. If we want to figure something out, we need privacy."

"That was quick," Rumpelteazer commented, frowning.

"Hmmm…" Tatiana murmured thoughtfully. "It can't have happened that fast. There must be another reason for it." She stretched. "But at least it's a start."

"Ah, there ya are! Oi've bin lookin' fer ya everywhere!"

Rumpelteazer eyed Mungojerrie pecking Tatiana on the cheek with mock distaste. "'N' what 'bout me? Ya 'aven't bin lookin' fer me, Oi toike it?"

"Nup." Mungojerrie grinned cheekily. "Well, yeah, since Oi knew Tats would be wif ya."

Rumpelteazer took a playful swipe at her brother's ear. "Typical."

"Anywoiy, Oi 'ave a message fer ya. From Tumblebrutus."

"Oh?" Tatiana raised her eyebrow.

"'E couldn't foind ya, so 'e soid ta soiy…uh….please excuse moiy language…yer 'a helluva queen'." He shrugged. "Oi dunno what 'e meant."

Tatiana smiled. "I do. That was very nice of him."

Mungojerrie looked at her curiously. "Ya know what 'e was talkin' 'bout, then?"

"Uh-huh." Tatiana nodded. "You see, I kind of fixed him up with Jemima."

"You did?"

"Well," Tatiana amended, "not so much 'fixed them up' as 'gave him advice'. It must have worked." She shrugged casually.

"See, Jerrie? She's gettin' ta be a better match-maker than me, even!" Rumpelteazer grinned.

"That's moiy queen," Mungojerrie said proudly.

"Soiy, Tats, what did ya think of Asparagus? Did ya loike 'im?"

Tatiana nodded. "Yes, he's a very nice tom."

"Would ya loike 'im ta 'elp ya two out wif the Moitin' Dance?"

Tatiana looked quickly at Mungojerrie before turning back to Rumpelteazer. "Really? Do you think he would?"

"Oi know 'e would," Rumpelteazer announced. "Oi spoke ta 'im this mornin', 'n' 'e said 'e'd be proud ta. 'E hasn't got any kits of 'is own, ya see," she explained.

"Well, if Jerrie –"

"That would be great. Thanks fer 'elpin', Teazer. Oi knew ya'd come through." Mungojerrie gave his sister a brief hug.

"No worries."

Tatiana flung her arms around her sister-in-law-to-be. "Thankyou, Teazer."

"Moiy pleasure. Jes' be 'appy, roight?" she told the couple sternly.

The young lovers looked at each other and smiled. "What else could we be?" they answered simultaneously.