"This is wrong," I heard myself breathe into her headfur.

Victoria was curled into me, her lithe body fitting perfectly into my frame. She had run into my den an hour ago, sobbing her poor heart out. At first, I merely comforted her and gave her my shoulder to cry on. I didn't ask her what was wrong, for I knew she would tell me in time. Though our friendship was under serious strain because of her engagement, at the first sign of crisis she came to me. The other day we had argued our heads of at each other, spitting such venom and anger a snake would have winced. Beneath the superficial argument, both of us knew that we only lashed out at each other in hurt. She chose Plato over me and her mother's will over my love for her. It stung, like a thousand searing claws in my heart it stung. And when she came to apologize for her choice, I threw everything we had meant to each other back into her face. Her apology could not change the fact that she belonged with another, though we were made for each other.

"Is it so wrong when he is with her?" Vicky asked me with a cracked and angered voice.

I sighed and stroked her back. The reason she had dashed into my den so late at night was because she had overheard Plato and Exotica talking in that queen's den. Plato did not seem to care enough about Victoria's feelings to consider he might hurt her. Victoria had advanced further on to see that Plato was getting considerably affectionate and she could not take the pain. The pain of being the good little mate who did what her mother requested and never would expose her mate for the cheat he is. I knew he was not good enough for Victoria and I was waiting for her to come back to me. Not because I'm overly cocky or anything, but because I harbored the hope that she still loved me. I knew she had to because I needed her and I needed to love her. It was one of the deepest things I had ever experienced. I couldn't fight it, couldn't ignore it and couldn't stop it. It was a burning passion of mixed feelings and it often confused me. I never thought myself capable of this feeling.

"Misto? You still awake?" Victoria's gentle voice broke my reverie.

"Yes, I am," I muttered back.

She moved from my chest, to my disappointment, and sat up to face me. I supposed it was to get a better look at my face to read my expressions.

"I'm sorry. For everything. I didn't mean to choose obligation over love. I still love you, you believe me, right?" she looked pleadingly into my face.

"Either that or you feel that Plato is using you and you need love from someone. You came running to me because you know I still have feelings for you," I stated, avoiding her gaze.

She leaned towards me closely, so I had to look her in the eyes. I was hesitant to do so because she was becoming harder to resist. I had been without her for so long; it wasn't fair that this meeting of ours was forbidden according to the Jellicle Code.

"Why do you say such cruel things? Are you trying to push me away?" she asked with a look of hurt.

"If it means keeping you from me and remaining faithful to your future mate, than yes," I answered, feeling my heart begin to break once more.

"Why are you avoiding my eyes?" she asked me with a teasing air.

"Because your proximity is intoxicating," I answered breathlessly, looking into her eyes and those feelings I tried to control rushed to the surface once more.

I was so confused at that moment. I wanted to kiss her and hold her closely, but she was still engaged no matter how unfaithful Plato was. I couldn't put her through the shame of being the unfaithful queen, though technically Exotica was as well. It was such a terrible mess. Why did her psychotic mother have to ruin the relationship Victoria and I shared? Victoria looked away from me as if she was fighting the same feelings I was.

"You mean, I disturb your thought process? Your sober mindedness? Your ever calculating and always efficient brain waves?" she sighed, standing from my bed and walking to a shelf (mismatched boards nailed together.)

"Yes. You make me want things I can't have. Mainly, I can't have you," I answered, walking over to her.

"I never should have chosen him," she said, turning to face me and looking into my eyes, "I wanted to pick you. It never would have hurt him like it's hurt you. I still love you, I always have. I just wanted to- I was afraid- I thought I wasn't-" Vicky tried to explain, but began to cry.

"Hey, its okay," I told her, stroking my fingers down her cheek and brushing away her tears, "I love you too. I could never stay angry with you. You really hurt me, more than I ever thought you could. But, you're more than good enough for me,"

She threw her arms around my neck and sobbed. Though I tried to hold it back, tears began to circle their way down my cheeks as well. Oh, how I had missed her! I embraced her tightly, afraid I would loose her if I ever let go. Somewhere along the lines, she had begun to become a part of me. We complimented each other. Not just in color, but with our personalities. She understood me and I understood her, at least, as much as we could understand the other. Sometimes, she still puzzled me.

"I'm breaking off our engagement," Vicky whispered once she regained her voice, "I don't know why I ever chose a tom that didn't love me,"

"Maybe, because you wanted to please the mother who was never really around?" I suggested.

"I just wanted her to accept me and stay to see me get a mate," she admitted after a pause.

"Were you not afraid of choosing the wrong tom?" I asked, anticipating her answer.

"Well, here lately I was either going to be a runaway bride or I was going to refuse Plato and tell everyone there was a reason we couldn't be together. Because I'm in love with the magical, marvelous Mr. Mistoffelees," she explained, pulling from me in order to see my face and wiping my lingering tears away.

"You mean at the part where he asks if there is any reason why these to should not be bound in holy matrimony?" I asked, when she nodded I continued, "Funny. I've been planning to stand up and profess my enduring love for you. Either that, or I was going to kitnap you,"

"It's not kitnapping if it's voluntary," she grinned at me.

I couldn't stand it any longer! I had to show her how much I still loved her and I had to kiss her in some way. I kissed her on the forehead and then the cheek, taking her a bit by surprise. After she kissed me on my nose, we nuzzled our faces together and embraced closely again.

"Won't it be nice when our love is no longer forbidden?" I whispered into her ear.

"Yes. We are more fortunate than Romeo and Juliet, huh?" Vicky laughed softly.

"Thank Heaviside," I sighed, rubbing my cheek on hers once more.

She stayed longer than I had expected that night. We talked for hours more. During that time I proposed to her. I knew she was already engaged, but she had promised she would break that one. To me, Plato had blown it and rightly so. He was seeing another queen and that held no promise for him and Victoria to have a healthy mate relationship. I was talking to her about the preparations we should make for our Mateship Ceremony when I looked over to her and found she was asleep on my bed. I smiled and gently scooped her up and laid her into a more comfortable position; one that involved placing her head on a pillow. I tucked her in with the covers and placed a kiss on her forehead. I had no desire to fall asleep and would rather stay awake and watch over her sleeping form. The morning was soon to come and brought with it better prospects and an extensive about of explaining to do for Munkustrap. I begged the Everlasting Cat to help me.

Yay! Another chapter! This phrase was given by Jenna the Writer! Thank you for the creativity! It was a pleasure to write! Let's hope that Munk is in an understanding mood! O.O