This is where the melancholy really begins. Warning: dying character. Am I not mean? Please, read and tell me what you think. Thank you to C. Lennox, Gaaraluva15 and Cettie the Mary-Sue Slayer (although a lazy slayer :P) for reviewing. Also, forgot to thank Gaara for Alerting this story in the first place.
Please, be on the alert for errors! They creep up on me….
I own: The two beautiful adorable kits, the nicknames and the concept in general.
I do not own: In any way shape or form (Except for in doodles and drawings) the characters of the musical CATS. Satisfied? Me neither…
A week had passed since Victoria's and Mistoffelees' argument. Misto had taken the week off of work because he was having a very hard time shaking off his tender feelings for Victoria and his regret. He thought that he could have forgotten these feelings by now, but it only seemed that seeing Victoria again had made him miss her more! Perhaps, absence really does make the heart grow fonder, he thought to himself.
He was lying in his wooden doll's bed with its navy silk canopy and sheets, comforter and pillows to match. All of these lavish items seemed empty without his mate lying beside him. He sighed and fought back his tears. Why had he ever argued with her? Why had he acted out of his hurt and argued with her again? Why hadn't she slapped him, like he had deserved? If only she had knocked some sense into him! Suddenly, Tugger knocked on his pipe. He knew it was Tugger because the Maine coon had come to visit him everyday since Victoria had come that night at the grocery store. Mistoffelees told the rock star tom to come in. The Maine coon was the only cat Misto could suffer as company, given the circumstances. He was the only one he could look into the face and not be overwhelmed with guilt. Even Bombalurina made him feel guilty!
"Coming to see if I'm emotionally well enough to work again?" Misto asked, failing to give the joke jovial sincerity once Tug was inside the pipe.
Tugger did not answer him, but stood there wringing his tail. He had terrible news to give to Mistoffelees, where could he begin? He had just received how serious this item of discussion was and it caused him so much grief. How could Mistoffelees bear it if he couldn't? This state of silence troubled Misto immediately. He propped himself up with an elbow, his brow furrowed in concern.
"What's wrong, Tugger?" Misto asked, his voice froth with worry.
"I-I have some really bad news," Tugger answered, his face contorting in grief.
The Conjuring cat did not like his tone in the slightest. It was a very ominous tone. Nothing good could possibly have come from it. Tugger's answer had doubly increased his worry.
"What's going on?" Mistoffelees asked with urgency, sitting up fully.
Tugger fought with himself trying to give his friend an answer. Should he be gentle and hint or frankly come out with it? Not only was that the issue, but he was also fighting to control his grief. This was about someone they dearly loved.
"It's about someone you and I really care about. Someone has fallen very ill," The spotted cat answered with a voice filled with agony, looking at the ground.
Mistoffelees heart skipped a beat. Who was it? Why wasn't Tugger telling him anything? His mind flitted through the log of all the cats he knew. One particular cat stuck in mind. He felt cold shivers run down his spine at the thought.
"Who?" the little tuxedo asked hesitantly.
"I-I-It's Victoria," Tugger answered, wringing his tail further, a tear slipping down his cheek.
Mistoffelees heart fell and his stomach twisted into knots of dread. Just how ill was very ill? This revelation's gravity slowly developed its impact on him.
"No, no. What's wrong with her?" Misto asked, his voice barely above a whisper as tears threatened to flood his eyes.
"It's her kidneys, Misto. The doctors say she's dying," Tugger explained hoarsely, a tear falling down his other cheek.
"D-dying?" the magician asked, stunned as tears finally began to fall down his cheeks.
"Yeah. One of her kidneys has failed and the other is declining rapidly. They can't find a match to replace them. They've given her only a couple of days to live," the Maine coon said, wiping at his eyes.
Misto looked to the ground and rested his head in a paw, overwhelmed by grief. She was dying and he had treated her so horribly the other evening. No matter what, he always took advantage of her! Hope vanished from him as he realized there was no being together now. He had pushed his mate from him, forever. A great flow of tears escaped his eyes and his breathing became labored. He had to see her, it was vital. He needed to spend her last moments with her and right their situation. It was essential she knew how much he really loved her.
"Take me to her," Mistoffelees whispered and stood, looking to see if Tugger would comply.
The Rum Tum Tugger only nodded, sadly, and led Misto out of the den. Unbeknownst to humans, cats have their own city within every human city. Their technology is almost as great, but with some flaws. In their hospital's, they rarely had donors for anything and matching the blood types only made things trickier for them. Mistoffelees knew this could be his last chance to ever see her again and the thought nearly crushed him.
They walked to the cat hospital in an old abandoned building (which had been refurbished to fit the needs of the cats) and up the stairs into the ICU. The nurses did not question the Maine coon bringing visitors, he had brought so many. Tugger stopped outside of a hospital room and asked Misto to wait outside while he checked to see if Victoria was awake and up to having a visitor. Misto complied and sat on a bench outside the room, burying his face in his paws. Tugger opened the door and walked in. Victoria was sitting up in a cat-made hospital bed, hooked up to an IV, oxygen and a pulse-ox. She looked at Tugger and smiled, though she looked beyond exhausted. She could barley move her arms and body. She had lost the strength to walk; her condition had become so horrible. She looked ghostly pale and gaunt. The sight of her always shocked him. She had been such a vibrant, vivacious young queen. Yet, her life was currently draining from her rapidly.
"Hey," Tugger said, pushing his sadness aside and tried to be cheerful, "How you feelin'?"
"Not so well," Vicky answered, her voice low and very weak.
"I brought ya somethin', somethin' I think you'll like," Tugger said with a small smile.
She smiled back with great effort. How his heart contorted to see her in this state!
"Tugger, you know the doctors said I can't have any treats," Victoria laughed wearily.
"It's not to eat. Just hang on, I'll go get him," Tugger grinned, walking out.
"Get who?" Victoria asked, but he was already gone.
She had to content to waiting, though her curiosity had gotten the better of her, even in the state she was in.
She coughed and no sooner had Tugger left, then Mistoffelees appeared. His eyes met hers and a sad smile graced his lips. He was glad to see her, but not under these conditions. The look of her had stunned him greatly. What had happened to his beautiful and strong Victoria? It took a great deal of resolve on his part to resist running out of the room, his grief was so immense. He sat down in the chair beside her hospital bed and sat a small gift bag in his lap. He then took her paw in his and she did not resist. He stroked it gently and pressed it to a cheek. It took him a great deal of energy just too keep a brave face. Internally, his heart was shattering in thousands of pieces. This was hurting him far more than her leaving him ever could have.
"Hi, Vicky. H-how are you feeling?" he asked her hesitantly, daring to look into her eyes.
His heart writhed once he looked into her eyes. There was so much pain and agony contained in them. They were also very dull and lacked the light that had once made them so attractive.
"Not at all well," she answered wearily, looking him over, as if to read his intentions.
"Yeah, I guess not," he sighed and stood from the chair, gently releasing her paw and walking about the room.
The reason for this action was he could not bear to look into her eyes and see how much she suffered. If only he could put his paws on her and heal her! He soon noticed all of the gifts other Jellicles had given her. It seemed as though the entire junkyard had sent her something. Their gifts looked so meager compared to the gifts he brought. He looked them over, noticing angrily that Plato had sent her a giant bouquet of flowers, and his eyes rested on two crayon colored cards. He carefully fingered one of them.
"Those are from my kits," Victoria said hoarsely, her gaze had not left him.
"They are wonderful, those two," Misto sighed, "Did you love their father?"
"Very much, and I still do," she answered gently, closing her eyes.
Mistoffelees decided he might as well ask about this unknown tom, seeing as the subject had been breached. He had to know how that tom was better than him and how he had captured Victoria's heart, the heart that should have belonged to Mistoffelees!
"Oh," Misto sighed, feeling replaced, "Has he been to visit you?"
"Just today," Victoria answered, eyes still closed.
What was he trying to get at? Couldn't he have stuck with the conversation every Jellicle that day had had with her? How are you feeling? How long have you been hospitalized? What have the doctors said? A thought crept slowly into her mind. Mistoffelees never handled grief without tears, especially with someone he dearly loved. Was he trying to avoid conversation on her health and distract himself from facing the truth? Did he still harbor feelings for her? Perhaps, she would play along with this "unknown tom" game. She would much rather be in the presence of a curious Misto than a heartbroken one. She could not bear to see him cry, even for her sake. She loved him too dearly to cause him any more pain than she had previously. That's exactly why you're in the hospital, she thought to herself sarcastically.
"He should have been the one to take you to the hospital," Misto muttered darkly, feeling highly jealous of whoever this tom may be.
"He didn't know I was sick," Victoria answered, beginning to feel very tired.
"He should have known," Misto stated, haughtily.
"How could he, I left him," Victoria sighed drearily.
Misto turned to face her in surprise. The other day, he had spat that comment at her, that she had a habit of leaving toms. Apparently, that comment had hit home. Guilt overwhelmed him. Could he be responsible for her illness? Had he caused her body to grieve so much that she was dying. He shook of the thought. That was just guilt talking. Perhaps, there was a legitimate reason for her leaving this other tom. Maybe, she still loved Mistoffelees?
"Was he cruel to you?" Misto asked, his brow furrowing.
"No, we just argued often, that's all," she answered evasively.
He took her answer into logical consideration. Her answer seemed reasonable. After all, they had argued and that lead them apart. Another thought came to him. He knew he was playing with fire now, but he did not care. If the truth burned, at least he would face it like a tom. Though, it was not going to flatter his ego in the slightest.
"Is he handsome?" he groaned.
"Very," was her only reply.
Misto's jealousy rose even further and glittered dangerously in his eyes. So far, it seemed he was losing in her good graces to this unknown tom. It appeared as though he was far better than Misto ever could have tried to be. Very handsome? If he had simply been a regular handsome it could have been easier to bear. He walked back to the chair and took her paw once more.
"Did he try to find you after you left?" he asked desperately, letting his curiosity overtake him.
"I hardly know, Misto," Victoria sighed, exhausted from these questions.
She was beginning to tire of this game, though she knew she had egged him on. It was not very considerate of her to puncture his pride in such a way. To have him guessing when he was the answer all along.
"Do I know him?" he asked, wondering which tom in the junkyard he had to track down, and if it was Plato…
"Perhaps," Victoria answered simply, her eyes still closed.
Her guarded answer did not satiate his inquisitiveness in the slightest. He had to know who this tom was and why Victoria loved him. He had to know who had bested him in the fight for her love. Her answers were not solving this riddle.
"Does he know about your kits?" he asked her, feeling he was getting nowhere with this game of twenty questions.
"He just might, but he probably doesn't know they are his," she answered, hoping she wasn't going to fall asleep because it would have been horribly rude.
"Lucky dog," Misto mumbled and began to rub a cheek over her paw longingly, soaking in her long awaited presence.
Victoria was fully awake now and tried to control the pleasant shiver that ran along her spine as his cheek pressed to her paw. She just hoped that Mistoffelees would not notice how his presence was affecting her. She wanted to invite him to be by her side and to coddle him and tell him all of their worries were over. That was a lie though, because she knew she was dying. She could feel her body filling with sickness and knew that death was coming. She did not want to die, for she wanted to care for her kits and have Mistoffelees in her life once more. If only she had never left him. They could have been united a while longer before this would have happened. She decided to distract herself from these thoughts, just as Misto was doing.
"What's in the bag, Misto?" She asked, opening her eyes once more, remembering the small gift bag.
He picked it up from the seat. He had quite forgotten about his gifts for her. He did not know what affect they would have on her, but he hoped for the best.
"You forgot these when you left. They were the only things I had to remind me of you," He said, smiling sadly as he handed her the bag.
She slowly took out her silver heart locket and their mateship photograph. Her brows knitted together in utter amazement. She thought she had left these items long behind and would never see them again. Why had she left such dear treasures behind?
"You kept these?" She asked faintly, looking at him in surprise.
"I kept them with me everyday at work and every night beside me," he nodded.
She looked over these objects sadly. Maybe she had left them for him, as a mark to remember her by. She felt so foolish for ever doubting his sincerity for her. Apparently, Misto had always missed her, the entire time. He gave her a lick over her paw.
"Does that tom still love you?" he asked, sounding somewhat miffed that he couldn't drop the subject.
"I-I think he does," Victoria answered, smiling and closing her eyes once more, holding her new gifts to her.
"Lucky, lucky tom," Misto muttered in jealousy as he kissed and nuzzled Victoria's paw with desire.
Victoria wished she could purr and let Misto know that his attempts to be affectionate were not in vain. She ached for his long absent touch and wanted him to know that. Only a cough proceeded to come out. He gave her a deeply concerned look and Mistoffelees kissed her paw a few times more and rested his cheek against it.
"You know," he began, trying to fight the emotions that were welling up in him as he finally came to terms with everything.
"Yes?" Vicky asked, curious as to what he would say and assumed it was something about this "other tom."
"We- we should have had kits," he said and began to choke out a sob, "I should have been a better mate to you! I never should have pushed you away from me, to some other tom for affection! I was so stupid, chasing after a dream when my true dream was right in front of me! How could I have been so blind! We should have stayed together! We should have had a family! We should have had kits!"
He put his head down on her bed and let his sobbing overtake him. In all of the five months that she had been gone, he had never cried as hard as he did then. Victoria laid a gentle paw on his back and rubbed it up and down. Tears were rushing down her cheeks as well. She never should have left him, she was certain. They should have worked their petty argument out. It had hurt them more than she ever could have realized.
"Shh, shh. It's alright, Misto," Vicky cooed gently.
He raised his head to meet her eyes. The tears still kept coming.
"I'm so sorry," he whispered.
"I know. I never should have left you. I never should have said any of the things I had said. I'm sorry too," she answered, smiling tenderly.
"But your arguments were right. I was so tired that night and so easily agitated, but I never meant to hurt you! I never meant to argue with you! It was just a stupid disagreement. Had I known- had I known-"
She cupped his face with her paw wearily and he held it close to his cheek with a paw. It was time he knew the truth. Never in a million moons had she guessed he would ever apologize to her. She knew she was at fault as well, but she was still happily surprised.
"Misto, I have to tell you this, before we go on any further," She interrupted him, sounding urgent.
"What is it?" he asked, in worry, his eyes searching hers for an answer.
She withdrew her paw and pointed over to the cards that her kittens had made and asked Misto to read one. He walked over to them, wiping his eyes, and did as he was told. It was a simple get well card asking Victoria to come home, with cute little crayon drawings of Band-Aids around the waist of a picture of Victoria. At the bottom it read "P.S. Bring Daddy home with you." This perplexed him greatly.
"Bring Daddy home with you? They know who their father is?" Misto asked, confused.
She nodded softly.
"Yes, I told them the day after you watched them," she explained.
"Why?" he asked, even more puzzled.
"Because they met you, their father," Victoria coughed.
He dropped the card in astonishment and turned his gaze to her, his eyes wide. Had she said what he thought she said? He sat next to her bed in the chair once more, speechless for an instant. He soon regained his ability of speech.
"What?" Misto asked, stunned.
"You're their father, Misto," she answered him lovingly, cupping his face with a paw once more, which he immediately leaned into.
"How?" he asked, dumbfounded.
"You don't exactly need a bachelor's degree to figure that out. It was your idea, remember? Or have you forgotten that night?" she questioned, coyly.
"How could I ever forget it? It was only one night, though, our first and only," he answered breathlessly.
"That's all a queen needs when she's in season," she answered, giving him the full insight.
"Ah, that explains everything. But, are you sure I'm their father?" he asked, so overwhelmed by joy and confusion.
"Did you never figure that out by their names?" she asked teasingly, removing her paw from his cheek to poke his nose.
"I never knew their names," he answered, wiggling his nose in mock discomfort, then asked, "What are their names?"
"The girl is named Mistearia, the boy Mistoffelis. Mr. Mistoffelis if you use his full name," she answered.
Mistoffelees let all the information sink into him. Why had he not asked the kits for their names before? It was all transparently clear now. A smirk grew on his face when he realized that there was not competition between him and Victoria. No tom to be jealous of.
"What are you smirking at?" Victoria asked, smiling as well.
"There is no other tom, then. It's me," Misto stated, knowing he was right.
"Yes, you are the only one there ever was. And on more thing," Vicky said, suddenly remembering something.
"And what would it be?" Misto asked playfully.
"I never got a Separation of Mates. I just couldn't bring myself to do it, to fully leave you," she whispered, putting her paw to his face once more.
His elation shot through the roof with that news. They were still mates! His mischievous side decided to take over at this point. An impish smile spread across his face and a playful glint flashed in his eyes. His paws tingled with the thought of what he was going to do next.
"Then that means I can do this!" Misto exclaimed, leaning into her and kissing her fully and intensely on the lips.
A delighted, albeit weary, sigh escaped Victoria. She had only dreamed this kiss would come. And come it did! As soon as their kiss began, his paws sparked with small bursts of tingly (and harmless) electricity. Mistoffelees did not even hesitate from climbing onto the hospital bed, delicately straddling her. He brought Vicky's other paw to his face and gently placed his paws on her hips, without moving his mouth from hers. He slowly moved a paw up to her chest and ran it down her side. His affectionate caresses did not cease and tears of joy began to swirl down each of their cheeks as their lips caught repeatedly. Every emotion they had ever felt since their time apart went into that kiss. Victoria eventually pulled away from the kiss, physically unable to go on any further.
"I'm too tired, Misto. I can't anymore," she whispered breathlessly.
"Alright," he nodded, nuzzling his nose to hers, carefully dismounting her and laying next to her side.
She laid her head upon his chest and weakly nuzzled into him to the best of her ability. He kissed the top of her head and sighed deeply, taking in her scent and her warmth.
"Ruffles?" Victoria asked suddenly.
"Yes, Twinkle?" Mistoffelees replied lazily.
"Could you lie the bed down? The remote is on your side," she mumbled, curling into his neck.
"Certainly," he answered, fumbling around with a paw until he found the bed remote.
He opened on eye lethargically and pressed the proper button. The bed returned to its flat state and he gently placed the remote behind him. He used his powers to turn off the lights and cuddled closely into his mate. She smiled knowingly, eyes closed, when the lights went out. It was a habit he always had, turning lights off without using switches.
She quickly fell asleep next to him. He began to dose, but was too troubled by the condition of his lost-but-found mate to fully sleep. There had to be a way to save her! He wouldn't let her die; he was just too selfish and loved her too greatly. He needed her more than ever and he knew she needed him, especially during her life threatening illness.
He opened his eyes to look at her sleeping form and kissed her forehead gently. She looked so very sick, it distressed him greatly. The only thing she needed was an organ donor, someone who matched her blood type. If only Mistoffelees knew what his blood type was. A crazy and wonderful thought entered his head. It was so crazy, it could work. He resolved to talk to Victoria's doctor about her illness. Right after his quick nap, of course.
Presto! The Fifth installment to our series! Next chapter should bring in more characters. Characters that I know you all have dearly missed! Warning: Major Bomba/Tugger, Munk/Dem and brotherly fluff up next. Plus, a TON of Vicky/Misto cuteness!
Please review if you read! You have no idea how many hours I slave away writing these chapters for you all. I feed on reviews, NOM NOM NOM!