Donkey was bawling at Puss's feet. He had used up four handkerchiefs, two boxes of tissues, and Wolfie's nightgown

"So, did you ever see her again?" Shrek asked. Exceedingly interested in Puss's story.

"She came back next year didn't she? DIDN'T SHE!" Donkey climbed onto the chair with Puss.

"Donkey!" Puss said raising his paw in the air. That was the code that they had made for when the other needed personal space.

"Oh. I'm sorry. It's just such a good story." Donkey said.

"And if your good, I'll tell you the rest." Puss tempted him.

"Kay I'll be quiet." Donkey used his hoof to make a gesture of zipping his mouth closed.

"Now, Joli did come back the next year. though her memory was locked away in my mind. It was quite a chance second meeting...

A teenage Puss stalked through the dark Spanish streets. He was stalking a chubby mouse. He had bee stalking it for the past half hour. Not caring if he got to dine on it or not. he merely loved the hunt. He was so focused on stalking the mouse that he didn't realize that he had walked into the street, and that a white carriage was coming his way.

"Excuse me." A strange accent came to Puss's ears. As the mouse scampered away, he looked up to find an impatient-looking short man with a stubby mustache. "You are in my way." He spoke.

"Oh, excuse me." Puss said without meaning it. Puss scoffed and rolled his eyes, but got back on the sidewalk. The driver grumbled as he snapped the whip and the horses trotted along. Puss was very annoyed, not just because of the mouse, but because that a large carriage meant more snobby tourist to look down on him. He decided to check out who was in the carriage.

There was a man and a young girl. They had pale skin and the girl had fiery red hair while the man had blonde. There were cats in the carriage too. Two adults and three younger ones. they all had tabby fur and wore ridiculous clothing. Except one. Staring out the window was a female cat about his age. She had a plain, tight, white dress with purple trimmings. She caught him looking at her and smiled at him. Making her look even prettier. Something about her looked familiar. The eyes. yes, it was the eyes. He had seen those eyes somewhere before. He had stared into them and they had stared back. If only he could match a name with the eyes. hating the feeling of not being able to remember anything, he followed the carriage to the Bilton I. The small girl got out first, the man behind her followed by the adult felines. The female cat got out first and took a moment to stretch her legs. Pus walked up to her.

"Excuse me, Senora?" The girl turned around. Her wide, copper eyes were so hauntingly familiar.

"Oui? I mean, yes?" He remembered the accent. He couldn't remember the place it had come from, but he remembered it.

"I'm sorry but you look, familiar." He said awkwardly.

"Oui, you look familiar too." they only needed to see each other up close for a few seconds before it clicked in there minds.

"Joli?" He said. He didn't need to ask, he was sure it was her.

"Puss? She said at the same time. She squealed and hugged him tightly until he could barely breathe. "Oh, it has been too long, 'ow 'ave you been?"

"Getting by." He shrugged. He was okay. Living with his family in poverty. He had been taught not to complain, he was certainly was "getting by" and living wasn't he?

"Is our secret tree still there?" Joli asked excitedly.

"Si."

"You 'ave not been sharing it with any other girls?" She asked. More as a joke, than a question.

"No, actually." She hadn't expected that answer. She smiled up at him, and he smiled back. Enjoying eachother's presence.

"Joli? Are you still out there?" He remembered that shrill voice.

"Oui Mama I'll be right up." Joli called up. She looked like she was thinking up a plan and turned excitedly toward Puss. "Then meet me there in fifteen minutes."

"Can you remember the way?" He asked surprised.

"Memory like an elephant." She said proudly. "You better go, Mama doesn't let me be around boys." Puss took her advice and left. He hadn't been in the tree for a while truthfully. He felt he was to old to have such a fantasy of a fighting ogres and a secret tree he had shared with a girl that pretended to be a princess with him. He surprised himself with knowing the way. the path had become overgrown with ivy, and the brook had become filled with mud. but he went to the old tree. It was still the tallest tree in the entire forest, and it stood still and strong. Puss waited at the bottom of the tree. He only had to wait five minutes in silence before Joli found her way through the bushes.

"Boo!" She said giggling.

"Hola." He replied. She pouted playfully. "I assume you still need help climbing?" He said bending over.

"Aww, you remembered." She jumped on his back and wrapped her legs around his legs.

"You hanging on tight?"

"Oui."

"You are too cute. You know that?" Puss joked.

"I know."

Once the two reached the top, Joli excitedly pushed the leaves out of the way and looked down at the full moon casting it's light over the Spanish nightlife.

"It is so pretty here. All the natural light." Joli "Paris just 'as so much people, and noise and false light." She sighed.

"And that does not please you?" Paris sounded interesting to him.

"I prefer the moonlight much." Joli confessed.

"You look pretty good in it." He complimented.

"Merci. Of course, I look amazing in any light." She replied coyly.

"That you do." He responded.

Joli's smile faded. "Maybe we shouldn't do this." She sighed.

"Why?"

"I'll 'ave to leave again."

"But you'll come back."

Just a little chappie for Valentines day 3 Thanks Pricat and MNRose for reviewing.