Disclaimer: Yeah, rub it in Andrew! Just rub in the fact that CATS is not mine and that these awesome characters can never belong to me! Thanks a lot!

Here is chapter two! I hope you all enjoy this more than the first chapter. The previous chapter is like an epilogue, I guess. Anywho, read and review! (I seriously recommend doing both!)

Two months later, all seemed well within the junkyard deep in London. The periphery of the junkyard had already been patrolled any dangers by the tribe's protector Munkustrap. He was a silver tabby tom and was the future leader to the tribe. He snuggled into his gold and black mate, Demeter, as sleep overtook him. His young daughters slept in the room adjacent to their parents.

It seemed that all was well in the junkyard. Every cat was safe and sound asleep, or so it appeared. But appearances are often deceiving, for a certain pair was most certainly awake and all was certainly not well. Not in the slightest.

"Misto, just consider doing less shows. Please. It's wearing on me," Victoria sighed from her place on the bed in their den.

Mr. Mistoffelees was the greatest cat magician, known as the Original Conjuring Cat. He performed at one of the prestigious clubs owned by Bustopher Jones, the cat about town. Bustopher was Misto's uncle and when he offered him the job, Mistoffelees had not even hesitated. He went from two shows a week, to three shows everyday and one on Saturday. Victoria was his lovely assistant on stage. At first, she enjoyed performing, the flashy costumes and working with her mate. Later, she began to feel otherwise. Mistoffelees, however, did not realize this and wanted to press for as much stage time as possible. The more other cats saw him, the more the likelihood of him getting other performance offers. He felt he was finally doing what he was meant to do and would not give it up for the world. He did not take too kindly to his mate's opinion of his shows or how many shows he did.

"Wearing on you? I'm the one who does everything! You merely stand there and look pretty!" her mate quipped back.

"First of all, that's the job you gave me! Secondly, I help you do your tricks! Without me the show would never work!" she replied, beginning to get hot.

"Without you? Ha! I've done countless shows without you!" he exclaimed, folding his arms across his chest and glaring down at her from his standing position across from her.

"Then, maybe you should again!" Victoria shouted, surprised at how quickly this conversation was turning sour.

"Maybe I will! You're just jealous that I have more stage time! You always did want to be in center stage!" Mistoffelees sneered, beginning to pace the den.

"That's utter nonsense! I only want to be center in your stage! With you! I don't care about the stage time of these magic shows of yours!" Victoria answered him, quite taken aback.

An idea suddenly dawned upon Mistoffelees. He stopped his pacing and slowly turned around to look at Victoria. She did not even try to meet his eyes. One question came to his mind and he knew he needed it answered. Just the thought of it hurt him deeply.

"You hate them, don't you?" he asked her slowly.

She fell silent, knowing he would not enjoy hearing the truth. Her lack of speech was an answer enough for him. His hurt quickly turned to hostility and he demanded an answer.

"You hate doing them don't you? You want to go back to your dancing!"

"Only because you don't really need me! I'm just a distraction to the audience! You pick flirtier and finer stage members over me now, anyhow," she huffed, turning her head away from him.

"That's not true!" he exclaimed, stunned she would that that to be so.

"You eye quite a few attractive queens in the audience," Victoria answered, crossing her arms.

"That's not true! I merely want the audience involved, that's all! You just want an excuse to stop being in my performances!" he yelled, trying to turn the argument back on her, though secretly wishing the subject had never been breeched.

"It's always about your stupid magic shows, isn't it? It's all about you! It always was!" Victoria shouted bitterly, turning to look at Mistoffelees.

"How ungrateful that comment is! Those magic shows pay for everything we own! Those magic shows are who I am! You accepted that when we became mates! Before then, even! And now, you have the audacity to say they are all about me? After all I've given you? Shelter, food, a name? A rank?" he demanded, getting quite miffed at her attitude.

"I need no help in social ranking. My mother is a gentlewoman, no matter her choices. I only wish you would go back to a show a week!" Victoria said, wanting to get to the core of the subject.

"We need the exposure! And the money!" Mistoffelees said, excusing his actions.

"But we never see each other!" Victoria moaned, wishing her mate would understand.

"We work together!" Misto shot back, feeling her argument was falling flat.

"But we never spend quality time alone with each other!" Victoria reasoned, searching his face to see if he felt the same way.

"We do that on weekends!" he said, waving her comment off.

"You sleep all weekend long!" she answered, reminding him.

"Well, I'm tired from the effort I put into these shows!" he answered, trying to hide his slip of thought.

"Can't you scale back just a little? I'm worried for your health!" she begged, beginning to grow desperate.

"My health is fine! You just want to stop working with me! You're trying to find an excuse so you can stop working with your husband!" he assumed, trying to come up with some form of argument.

"You're stretching yourself out far to thin! You can't have such an illustrious career without sacrifice!" Victoria reminded him sternly.

"I know that! You just don't want to pay that price!" Mistoffelees quipped back haughtily.

"I don't want to lose you! Please, go back to a couple of shows a week, please!" she pleaded, hoping he would relent.

"You won't lose me! That's ridiculous! Stage is what I do and where I put my effort. I'm not giving this up! I love this job!" he explained, firm in his opinion of being right.

"More than you ever have loved me," Victoria stated simply and bitterly, the truth of it leaving a foul taste in her mouth.

Mistoffelees plunked onto the couch, rubbing his temples. The argument had left him. He just wanted to sleep.

"Victoria, we will discuss this in the morning,"

"But, I have to tell you something else-"

"In the morning,"

He stood, walked to his side of the bed and settled in. He gave her a curt goodnight and turned from her, almost immediately falling asleep. Victoria, tears streaming down her face, could not go to sleep. Somehow, she felt as though she had already lost Mistoffelees. Most queens worried about another stealing their tom. She had not realized that a job could possibly replace her on Misto's list of priorities or on his list of affection. He devoted so much time and effort to being a stage magician; he never spent any time with her. She longed for his arms and nearly had to beg him for affection, everyday. The last time they had spent quality time together was two weeks previous. He had been given the day off and they had a wonderful night of romance and loving. That was then. It seemed as though he had not even recalled that night not so long ago. The situation of his lacking affection towards her was growing to a point of hopeless acceptance of circumstances that it was the way it was. Things were not going to change. She saw that in the air Misto had had during their argument. Instead of wooing her, he solely spent his time devoted to his career, but not to her.

The more she thought about it, the more she realized how much she was getting in the way of his career. She was only discouraging his dreams and dragging him down from where he wanted to be. It was too much for him to undertake. He could not have a new mate and a full fledged career all at once. Perhaps, she was the only thing standing in the way of his illustrious fame. After all, he had been a magician before she had ever been his primary focus. Maybe, if he had not become her mate, he would already have obtained the title he was so desirous to have. He could have already been the world's greatest cat magician had she not become his mate!

He was so defensive of his actions and of his gifts. How had their conversation slipped into a full fledged argument, though? She shook her head, not quite knowing the answer. She had only wanted to share with him her great news. Now that she considered it, perhaps it was best he still didn't know. In the end, he would not have been very receptive. He was so concerned with the sacrifice for his career. She placed a paw tenderly on her stomach. How could he ever be a father and still have the marvelous name he sought? She rubbed the paw over her tummy. To think all she had been trying to tell him was that she was carrying kits, their kits. She was pregnant and her husband didn't even know. She thought deeply about this. A young pregnant mate would only be in his way and kill his dreams of being the most well known cat magician. He wanted to perform all over the world. Having kits this soon would only stop the dream before it took flight.

The more she thought over it, the more her mind was made up. She and the kits would only ruin his life. She gently rose from the bed and cautiously began to pack her possessions. Tears began to stream violently down her face, but she knew she had to do this. She had to leave him. It was for both of their sakes. It was for the best, she kept telling herself. She looked over a silver heart locket, their engagement present. She decided to leave that, and her mateship photo. If Mistoffelees wanted to keep those, he could have them. She did not want to be constantly reminded of the mateship she had had, before things became to hard to bear. She took her stage costumes, seeing as she had bought them and they were tailored to fit her exactly. No assistant would ever wear her things, especially since Misto needed to find a new one, considering the circumstances. With everything she ever owned packed in a big pullout suitcase, she began to roll out of the den. She stopped beside the edge of the bed to admire Misto's sleeping form. She smiled sadly as more tears began to fall. She knelt down, cupped a paw around his face and kissed him gently on the lips. It was their last kiss, she decided. It only made her more upset to think the only way she could kiss her mate was when he was asleep. She knew deep down that no matter what, she would always love him. She just hoped that one day, he would realize the same. That one day he would realize how much he needed her, more than his work. She left the den and slunk deep into the night, heading toward her uncle and aunt's house (via her mateship) Bombalurina and the Rum Tum Tugger. She only hoped that they would be willing to help her separate from Misto and would give her temporary shelter.

Just a few quick comments. First of all, "my health is fine" are famous last words. My older brother made that comment when I read this to him. Also, please let me know if that argument seemed legitimate or lame. I don't quite enjoy the whole "conflict" thing. Who does, right? Who do you think is right? Mistoffelees or Victoria? Let me know!

So, please review! I am working very diligently on this and I need feedback! It really makes my day :D