Tumblebrutus gave a sleepy smile as Macavity moved beside him, sitting up.

"Hey, Mac…oh, who is this?" Tumble rolled over, sitting up to look tiredly at the door.

"Hello, Griddlebone," Macavity yawned, rubbing his eyes as the white Persian Queen walked towards the mattress.

"And this is Tumblebrutus," Macavity introduced. "Brutus, this is Griddlebone,"

"Oooh, so this is Tumblebrutus," Griddlebone smiled, looking at the young Tom, who stared at her. Griddlebone examined Tumblebrutus closely. He was tall, and gangly, but looked strong and acrobatic. There was a dark brown patch over his right eye and over his nose and there were dark brown markings down his sides. Griddlebone focused on his eyes, they were blue-green…but they were full of light and innocence.

"Hmm," Griddlebone hummed.

"What?" Macavity snapped.

"I like him…" Griddlebone smiled. "Is he one you're going to keep?" Tumblebrutus looked at Macavity curiously.

"Yes, Griddlebone…I plan to stay with this one," Macavity smiled at Tumblebrutus. Tumblebrutus purred, the purr rumbling through his chest. Griddlebone gave a giggle as Macavity pulled Tumblebrutus into his arms, holding him close.

"Naw, you two are so cute!"

"Griddle…you're drooling," Macavity teased, grinning at Griddlebone. Griddlebone rolled her eyes but smiled.

"Alright…I'll leave you two alone," She winked before swaying from the room.

"Um…"

"That's normal Griddlebone behaviour," Macavity murmured to Tumble, running his paw down Tumble's back. "Well…actually, she's in a happier mood," Macavity laughed softly. Tumble smiled, nodding against Macavity's shoulder. Macavity nuzzled at Tumble's neck, inhaling his scent and shivering. He ran his paws down Tumble's body, gently tugging and brushing at the soft fur. He pulled Tumblebrutus close, gently nuzzling his cheek.

Tumble purred as Macavity's paws drifted across his body, gently rubbing and brushing against him.

Later, Macavity sat by Tumble's side, watching him sleep on the mattress. Macavity gave a small smile as he looked at the content and peaceful look on Tumblebrutus's face, his paws curled up near his face. Macavity looked at the young Tom closely, memorising every stripe, every flicker of colour, every patch of brown, every rise and fall of Tumble's sides as he breathed deeply.

Tumblebrutus was beautiful in his own way…Macavity tilted his head as he examined Tumblebrutus's build. He was tall and gangly, yet there was some strength in him. There were developing muscles in his arms and legs…he looked acrobatic. Macavity lay down beside him, pulling him over so Tumble was partly lying on Macavity's chest. Tumble looked at him sleepily as Macavity ran his paw through Tumblebrutus's head fur.

"I'm curious, Brutus,"

"About what?" Tumblebrutus yawned.

"Why you were thinking about Munkustrap and Tugger," Macavity answered, looking at him.

"Tugger and Munkustrap…they're the only ones who stood up for me, who befriended me," Tumblebrutus murmured, idly brushing out some fur on Macavity's chest.

"What do you mean?"

"Munkustrap was the only one who was there for me when the others deserted me, he took me under his wing and took me on his patrols, teaching me how to fight,"

"And Tugger?"

"My mum and dad didn't like it that I was spending time with Munkustrap, they said he was too old,"

"It's not like you were dating or anything," Macavity muttered annoyed. Tumble gave a nod in agreement.

"But they still didn't like it and tried to tell Munkustrap to put a stop to our friendship…Tugger stood up for it, saying that if they took away mine and Munkus's friendship, then I'd be more alone then ever, that I'd be miserable,"

"Huh…looks like my brothers still have some brains and decency left in them," Macavity murmured. He was surprised when Tumble looked at him suddenly, shocked.

"Brothers?"

"Y-You didn't know?" Macavity asked softly. Tumblebrutus shook his head.

"M-Munkus and Tugger a-a-are…"

"My younger brothers, yes," Macavity answered, giving a small smile. Macavity stroked the back of Tumble's head until the young Tom fell asleep against him.

"Boss!" Macavity glared at the hench-cat that cried out. The hench-cat beckoned Macavity frantically. Griddlebone appeared, pushing the hench-cat out of the way and beckoning Macavity to her. Macavity got up carefully, trying not to wake his new love before he headed over to Griddlebone.

"What is it?" Macavity hissed, glaring at them both.

"The Jellicles are coming for him, Mac," Griddlebone said softly. Macavity looked back at Tumblebrutus, his heart skipping a beat in his chest.

"They're almost here, boss," The hench-cat whispered.

"Mac, what are you going to do?"

"I'll…just go hold them off," Macavity murmured, looking at Tumblebrutus, who had stirred and was slowly sitting up, rubbing his eyes. Griddlebone and the hench-cat quickly disappeared. Macavity looked at Tumblebrutus for a moment longer, thinking deeply, before he strode over to Tumble, taking his paw and pulling him up from the mattress and dragging him towards the door.

"M-Macavity, what are you doing?" Tumble breathed as Macavity pulled him quickly through the hallways and back towards his cell.

"Macavity, what's going on?" Tumble cried out as Macavity opened the door to the cell that Tumblebrutus had been in. Macavity pulled Tumblebrutus close, holding him close to him.

"Macavity…?" Tumble whispered, his tone pleading.

"Y-You'll understand soon," Macavity whispered, kissing Tumble strongly. He broke the kiss and rested his head against Tumblebrutus's, inhaling his scent.

"I-I don't…"

"You'll see soon," Macavity whispered, giving Tumble one last fleeting kiss before turning and walking towards the door.

"Macavity, please!"

"Brutus, I'm doing this because I care for you," Macavity told him, his voice weak, before he left the room, closing the door behind him. Tumble stared at the door, shocked.

What was happening?

"Macavity?" Griddlebone asked softly as she walked up to him. "What did you do to him?"

"I put him in the cells…that way when the Jellicles come and get him, they won't find him in my room, waiting for me and they will not shun him for being in love with me," Macavity murmured, staring out the window and watching as the Jellicles stormed his lair. Griddlebone rested her paw on his shoulder briefly before she took it away, looking towards the door.

"Shall we meet those worthless Jellicles then?" Griddlebone asked lightly. Macavity nodded and they both left the room.

Tumblebrutus wandered around his cell, trying to think of reasons why Macavity would have put him back in there. He turned when the door burst open and his blue-green eyes widened.

"Alonzo?" The black and white splotched Tom ran forward, scooping Tumble into his arms and running out of the cell.

"W-What…?"

"You're safe now, Tumbles, you're safe," Alonzo panted as he ran through the hallways. Tumble looked over Alonzo's shoulder as they ran through a large room, where most of the fighting was taking place. He spotted Macavity fighting Munkustrap. Macavity's dark red eyes fell on him and looked sad. It was then Tumble understood.

Macavity had put him back in the cell, so the Jellicles would never know what had happened between them…never know that they loved each other.

"Love you," Tumble mouthed. Macavity gave a small smile and nod.

'Love you too, Brutus…always,' Tumble smiled at the voice in his head. He sighed though when Alonzo ran out of the building…and he could no longer see Macavity.

Macavity stepped back when he saw Tumble had been carried from the building.

"Get out," Macavity growled, glaring at the ground.

"What?"

"GET OUT!" Macavity yelled. "Hench-cats stand down!" The Jellicles and his hench-cats all stared at him in shock.

"Jellicles…leave, now," Munkustrap ordered, staring at Macavity, mystified. The Jellicles quickly backed away, leaving the building as the hench-cats hissed and glared at them. Macavity looked at Munkustrap, who remained.

"What are you still doing here?" Macavity spat. Munkustrap stared at him.

"I don't get you, Macavity,"

"And you're risking your life staying here to tell me that?"

"What's wrong with you?"

"What do you mean?"

"You looked sad…"

"OUT!" Macavity interrupted Munkustrap. Munkustrap stared at him for a moment longer before darting from the warehouse. Macavity groaned and collapsed to his knees on the floor. He ignored the mutterings of his hench-cats.

"Out, all of you, out!" He heard Griddlebone snap. She knelt beside him, putting her paw on his back.

"Mac, what's wrong?" Macavity remained quiet.

"They're all gone…it's just me and you, Mac,"

"He's gone," Macavity murmured. "And it's hurting already," Griddlebone sighed at the pain in Macavity's dark red eyes as he turned to look at her.

"Griddlebone…what is this?" He asked before burying his face against her shoulder.

"Love, Mac…its called love," She murmured, rubbing the back of his head soothingly.

Tumble stared around the yard as they arrived back. Alonzo gently set him to his feet as Tumble looked around wearily.

Something just didn't feel right. He didn't feel…home.

"Welcome home, Tumbles," Tumblebrutus looked at Munkustrap, who was supporting some scratches and bruises from the fight.

"T-Thanks," Tumblebrutus whispered, looking around the yard, unsure. He flinched at a paw on his shoulder. Munkustrap looked at him worriedly.

"Let's get you to your mum," Munkustrap said before leading him off. Tumble was hugged tightly as soon as he stepped into his family's den.

"Hi, Mum," Tumblebrutus murmured as Jenny held him tightly, sobbing against his shoulder.

"Oh, my boy, I was so worried!" Jenny cried. "I thought I would never see you again!" Tumble slowly wrapped his arms around his mum, hugging her. Jenny came to her senses and quickly pulled Tumble further inside, pushing him down onto a cushion so she could examine him for any injuries. Tumblebrutus looked around the den and the other Jellicles as Jenny examined his yellowing bruises and scabbing wounds. Tumblebrutus looked at Munkustrap and Tugger and stared at them.

He couldn't believe that Macavity was their older brother.

"Y-You'll be okay," Jenny sighed, relieved. Tumble gave a nod.

He didn't agree with her about that.

Tumblebrutus sat on the tyre a few days later, feeling…empty.

"Tumbles?" Tumblebrutus just twitched in his ears to show he was listening.

"Are you okay?"

"Don't know," Tumble murmured. Tugger looked at Tumblebrutus worriedly.

"Kid, what's wrong?"

"I don't know," Tumblebrutus sighed, looking up to the sky, watching the clouds. Tugger stared at the young Tom, worried at his offish behaviour.

"You know if you ever want to talk, that I'm here and so is Munkustrap,"

"Yeah…thanks," Tumble said, finally looking at Tugger. Tugger nodded and wandered off to entertain his fan club. Tumblebrutus just sighed and went back to watching the clouds.

"There's something different about your boy, Jenny," Jellylorum said as they watched Tumblebrutus lie back on the tyre, staring up at the clouds. Jenny looked at Tumblebrutus and frowned.

"I know…but I don't know what," Jenny sighed.

"What has he said about him being kidnapped?"

"He hasn't really said much," Jenny answered, frowning. "He's been really quiet about it."

"Maybe he's still terrified about what happened to him?" Jelly suggested. Jenny sighed.

"Maybe…but…maybe," Jenny sighed.

Macavity rubbed his eyes tiredly and leaned against the stone wall.

Four days his Brutus had been gone…but it felt like it had been forever.

"Mac…" Griddlebone murmured.

"What's happening to me?" Macavity asked weakly. Griddlebone frowned, walking over to him and taking his paws in her own.

"Mac, look at me," Macavity lifted his head tiredly. Griddlebone was shocked at the pain in Macavity's dark red eyes.

"A-Are you in pain?" Griddlebone asked. Macavity gave a tired nod.

"Since when?"

"A day after Brutus was taken…it started then," Macavity murmured. He looked at Griddlebone.

"Griddle, what's happening?" Macavity asked, his voice almost pleading.

"I don't know, Mac…but…I might have some idea, I need to check it out," Macavity gave a small nod. He allowed Griddlebone to lead him back to his room before the worried white Persian Queen quickly hurried from the building, hoping she was wrong.

Tumblebrutus rubbed at his chest as a low ache ran through his chest…mostly around his heart. Tumble was still confused about why he and Macavity were suddenly attracted to one another.

He decided to talk to the one he trusted.

Tumblebrutus slowly walked into Munkustrap's den.

"Um, Munkus?" The silver Tabby turned around, looking at Tumblebrutus, surprised.

"Tumbles, what brings you here?"

"I-I wanted to talk to you about something," Munkustrap nodded.

"Of course…come sit down," Munkustrap smiled, leading him into a more private part of his large den, which was a large overturned cupboard with a hole leading into a drawer part of it.

Tumblebrutus sat down on a blue cushion and looked at Munkustrap, who sat opposite him.

"So, what's up?"

"I-I wanted to ask y-your opinion…well, not really opinion, I'm not sure," Tumble stammered, unsure of what exactly he was asking.

"Okay…just tell me and I'll see what it is," Munkustrap told him softly.

"W-Well, you know how the Queen-kits make fun of me and tell me I smell,"

"Yes,"

"Um, well…s-someone I met, they don't think I smell, they think my scent is intoxicating…" Tumble stammered, blushing furiously. Munkustrap gave a small smile.

"Anyway, um…I found out that his, theirs," Tumble quickly corrected himself. "That their scent is nice as well…and…and well, even though we only just met each other…we were attracted to each other…and I haven't seen them for…a while and it's starting to hurt, Munkus," Munkustrap frowned and sighed, looking towards the den exit which was behind Tumblebrutus.

"I don't get what's happening!" Tumble cried, confused.

"I think I know what it is," Munkustrap murmured.

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Hmm...I wonder what it is :P

Sorry I haven't updated in...two days, but I've been distracted and I had a job interview today which I thought went well, so wish me luck that I get it :)

Thanks to those who reviewed!

Please read and review!

Luv HGP!