"What is it?" Tumblebrutus asked, shocked, that Munkustrap might be able to help him.

"Have you ever heard of the theory of soul-mates?" Munkustrap asked him. Tumblebrutus shook his head.

"I don't know how to put it," Munkustrap laughed softly. "Well, the theory of soul-mates is that there is one person/cat out there for you," Munkustrap started.

"The scent of them is apparently what shows us to our true soul mate," Munkustrap tried to explain. "To others your scent would be ordinary, but to your soul-mate, it's the most intoxicating and wonderful scent there is," Tumble gave a small smile.

"The soul-mate is there for life, they will never be attracted to another because they are totally infatuated with their soul-mate,"

"But, there's…there's a down-side to having a soul-mate," Munkustrap sighed. Tumble frowned.

"The more time you spend away from them, the more it will hurt…and it will eventually kill you,"

"No!" Tumble cried weakly. Munkustrap looked at him softly. Tumble quickly regained his composure, looking at Munkustrap.

"Munkus…i-is this theory true though?" Tumble asked, praying it wasn't so the death part he didn't have to worry about. Munkustrap gave a nod.

"H-How do you know?" Tumble asked weakly.

"Because what happened to you, well, it is how I met my soul-mate," Munkustrap smiled at him.

"D-Demeter,"

"Ah…no," Munkustrap frowned. "I was with her…but then the soul-mate thing hit me and I had to break up with her," Tumblebrutus frowned.

He hadn't seen Munkus with another Queen though.

"Who is it?" Munkustrap smiled at him, but his blue eyes were focused to the den exit.

"Me," Tumblebrutus turned and saw Coricopat leaning against the doorway, smiling. Tumble's eyes widened in disbelief. Cori smiled as he walked in further, settling in beside Munkustrap. Tumble stared at them, shocked, as they nuzzled at each other lovingly.

"B-But…wait, why did you only realise you were soul-mates now if you've known each other since you were kittens?" Tumble asked, confused. Munkustrap looked at Cori.

"It didn't affect us until we were older," Munkustrap answered, looking back at Tumblebrutus.

"One day I was just walking past Cori and caught his scent…and found I couldn't let him go," Munkustrap smiled. Cori laughed softly.

"Munk,"

"Mm?" Munkustrap asked, nuzzling at Cori's neck softly.

"Stop," Cori growled, swatting at Munkustrap's nose. "Tumble's is trying to have a conversation with you," Munkustrap rubbed his nose and looked back at Tumble.

"Yes?"

"W-With the scent thing,"

"Yeah?"

"You said that the scent smells ordinary to other cats…so why do I smell weird to the Queen-kits?" Munkustrap hummed.

"I'm not sure..." Munkustrap answered softly. Tumble sighed. Cori tilted his head, looking at Tumblebrutus curiously.

"You are hurting, aren't you?" Cori asked him softly. Tumble slowly lifted his paw, placing it on his chest, over his heart.

"Yes," Tumble whispered. Cori looked at him sympathetically.

"Tumble…who is your soul-mate…if you don't mind me asking?" Cori asked curiously.

"I-It's not important," Tumble mumbled. Munkustrap looked at Cori curiously. Cori moved his head slightly.

"Tell you later," He whispered in Munkustrap's ear. Munkus nodded.

"I-I should go,"

"Tumble," Munkustrap said as Tumble got to his feet. Munkustrap looked at Cori, unsure. Cori smiled, gently stroking Munkustrap's cheek.

"Though we don't really care what the others think about Munkus and I being together…at the moment, we don't really want anyone to know…just so we can spend some time together before we're scrutinized by everyone," Tumble nodded.

"I won't tell anyone…but…can you not tell anyone what we spoke about?"

"What is said in this den, remains in this den," Munkustrap smiled.

"Thanks," Tumble smiled weakly before he left the den.

"What were you going to say, Cori?" Munkustrap asked softly.

"He's worried,"

"I know that,"

"No, Munk…I think with who his soul-mate is," Cori told him gently. "He won't tell us…he's afraid to tell us,"

"Why?"

"Because it's someone he shouldn't be with…well, that he's afraid that we'll turn against him for who he is with," Munkustrap looked at Cori curiously.

"What?" Cori asked, looking at him.

"How did you get all that?"

"Mystic, Munkus," Cori sighed. Munkustrap gave a small chuckle, nuzzling Cori's shoulder, kissing his shoulder gently.

"Oh…yeah," Munkustrap murmured as he kissed Cori's collar bone. Cori purred, resting his head against Munkustrap's as Munkustrap continued to kiss his shoulder and collarbone.

Griddlebone trudged back to the lair, her heart heavy.

It was what she had feared.

Macavity had found his soul-mate and now that Brutus was taken away from him, he was slowly beginning to die. Griddlebone's eyes hardened.

She would get those two back together, it was what needed to happen…to keep her friend alive.

She walked into Macavity's room, finding the ginger Tom sprawled out on his back on the mattress, his chest rising and falling shakily.

"Mac?" Macavity's dark red eyes opened and looked at her.

"Griddle," He murmured, sitting up. Griddlebone sat beside him on the mattress, crossing her legs.

"W-What did you find?" Griddlebone sighed at his question.

"You've heard the theory of soul-mates, haven't you, Mac?" Macavity gave a small nod, his dark red eyes widening.

"You and Brutus are soul mates…but this separation is killing you both,"

"No…"

"Yes, Mac…and unless you two can get together soon and just spend time in each others presence, you will both die." Griddlebone lowered her head at the sound of Macavity's quiet broken cry.

She hated seeing him like this…it was the first time she had seen him like this…but she couldn't see him like this, it just wasn't her old friend.

"I'll make sure you two will be united again, Mac…I promise," Griddlebone sighed as Macavity leaned forward, resting his head against her shoulder. Griddlebone wrapped her arms around him, holding him close.

"I need him, Grids,"

"I know, darling," Griddlebone murmured.

She hated seeing Macavity like this, she loved Macavity like he was her younger brother…she couldn't bear to see him like that.

Tumble lay on the tyre, staring out blankly over the yard.

There had to be a way to stop this ache…to stop this pain.

"Hey, Tumbles," Tumble slowly lifted his head, looking at Electra.

"Um, hi," Tumble said, sitting up and looking at the Queen-kit, who was trying to smile, but had her nose wrinkled. Electra sat beside him, smiling widely at him…but the smile didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Is there something you were after, Electra?" Tumblebrutus asked quietly. Electra giggled as she got closer to him. Tumble edged away slightly.

"Oh, you're so cute!" Electra giggled. Tumble held back a shudder at that.

"And so brave!" Tumble looked at Electra, his green-blue eyes questioning. Electra smiled sickly sweet at him.

Tumble felt sick.

She moved closer to him, wrapping her arms around him.

"You are so brave…you fought against Macavity,"

"Who said that?" Tumble asked, trying not to hiss. Electra just smiled at him. She stroked his chest and Tumble turned his head away.

"You are so brave,"

"Really?" Tumble questioned coolly.

"Yes…if you weren't…Macavity would have killed you," Tumble pushed the Queen-kit away from him. She looked at him in shock.

"Stay the hell away from me!" Tumble snarled at her. She glared at him.

"Geez, all I was trying to do was be nice to you," Tumble scoffed at her.

"You were trying to flirt with me…only because I'm alive!"

"Guess I was wrong about you being interesting…you're still a freak!" Electra snarled at him. Tumble turned and walked away, tail bristling.

Coricopat tilted his head, watching Tumble as he stalked away angrily…usually that type of attack would have depressed Tumble, but now he was just angry…but it wasn't about the freak thing.

What was going on with this young Tom?

"Something's changed about Tumblebrutus," Coricopat glanced down from where he was lounging on top of the oven, to look down at Demeter and Bomba who were lounging on the ground.

"There's something in his eyes that has just changed," Demeter continued.

"He doesn't seem so…innocent anymore," Bomba agreed. Cori frowned.

"Innocent…what do you mean, Bombs?"

"Um…he doesn't have that innocence about him anymore," Bomba said, heavily implying that word.

"You mean…ohh…but who would he have lost it to?" Demeter questioned. "I doubt he would have let Macavity take advantage of him," Cori quickly scrambled to his paws and fell off the oven in his haste. Demeter and Bomba looked at him, amused.

"Something shock you, Cori?" Demeter asked coldly, knowing he was the reason Munkustrap had left her…though she hadn't told anyone, how could she tell anyone she had lost the Tom, who everyone thought would be her mate, to another Tom?

"Uh…no," Cori lied before quickly hurrying off.

Tumblebrutus sighed and settled down on his nest.

Why was his heart aching like this?

Tumble shivered in fear as he felt pain in his chest.

Was he dying?

Tumblebrutus looked over at his brother as Pouncival came in. Pouncival still hadn't spoken to him…even after he had been 'rescued' from Macavity.

"Pounce,"

"Just shut up," Pouncival snapped as he got onto his own nest. Tumblebrutus sat up, looking at Pouncival's back.

"Pounce…why do you hate me?"

"Because you never tell me anything!"

"What am I meant to tell you?" Tumble cried.

"What happened with Macavity?" Pouncival asked, turning over and looking at him.

"Nothing," Tumble lied. "His hench-cats beat me up…I rarely saw him," Pouncival sighed and lay back down, turning his back to Tumblebrutus. Tumble sighed sadly and lay back down.

"Liar," Tumble winced when he heard Pouncival's quiet hiss. Tumble just closed his eyes, smiling slightly as he thought about being in Macavity's arms.

Tumble dreamed of Macavity, of being in his arms.

There were loving murmurs as Macavity gently ran his paws down Tumble's sides, making the young Tom purr loudly. Tumblebrutus looked at the ginger Tom, whose dark red eyes were sparkling slightly as he nuzzled Tumble lovingly.

Tumble gave a small laugh as he was rolled onto his back with Macavity perched above him, gently kissing him repeatedly.

"Macavity," Tumble whispered, running his paws through Macavity's head fur as Macavity kissed his chest repeatedly. Macavity looked up at him, smiling, before he continued on kissing Tumble, his paws gently rubbing at Tumble's sides and down the sides of his legs.

"Macavity," Tumble moaned as the older Tom moved slightly. Macavity rose up, so he was hovering above Tumble's face, so he could see him. Tumble purred softly.

"Bast, I love you," Macavity whispered huskily in his ear. Tumble moaned once more as Macavity gently rubbed his sides.

Tumble gave a gasp as emotions bubbled inside of him, his tail curling up and then uncurling as excitement built.

"Excited, Brutus?" Macavity panted, licking the side of Tumble's face lovingly.

"M-Macavity," Tumble moaned. "M-Macavity," Macavity laughed softly above him, leaning down and nuzzling at Tumble's neck.

"Tumble, wake up!" Tumble looked at Macavity questioningly as he spoke that.

"Tumblebrutus, wake up, right now!"

Tumble's eyes snapped open and he breathed heavily, his nerves tingling from that dream. He sat up and looked around. His parents and his brother was staring down at him, his mum holding Pouncival back as they looked at him, angry and shocked. Tumble bit his lip as he quickly drew a blanket over himself, embarrassed.

"W-What's wrong?" Tumble stammered, still trying to catch his breath.

"Your brother came to get us…" Jenny started softly before Skimble cut him off.

"You were…dreaming," Skimble spat, glaring at him angrily.

"A-And?"

"You were…moaning Macavity's name!" Skimble yelled. Tumble's eyes widened.

No.

"D-Dad…please," Tumble whispered. Skimble just glared at him.

"Get out of my den!" Skimble snarled.

"WHY?" Tumble cried.

"I won't have a Macavity loving cat in my home!" Skimble roared.

"D-Dad, please, please!" Skimble just glared darkly at him.

"M-Mum, don't let him do this, please!"

"M-Maybe it's for the best, dear," Jenny said, not looking at her son as she gently rubbed Pouncival's back.

"Get out of my home and do not come back!" Skimble turned and stalked out of his and Pounce's room part of the den. Pouncival looked at Tumblebrutus, before shaking his head and following his dad.

"M-Mum, please don't let Dad do this!" Tumble sobbed, tears falling from his eyes.

"It's just until…until you stop thinking about Macavity," Jenny said, still looking at the floor.

"But until then, it's probably best you leave," Tumble struggled to his feet before staggering from the den, going past his brother and father, as he sobbed loudly.

How could they kick their own son out?

Tumblebrutus stumbled across the yard, finally collapsing on top of the tyre and crying his heart out.

"Tumble?" Tumblebrutus sobbed as paws gently rested on his shoulders.

"Tumble, buddy, look at me," Tumblebrutus slowly looked up at the worried Munkustrap.

"What happened?" Munkustrap asked softly, rubbing the tears from Tumble's cheeks.

"M-My parents kicked me out," Tumble sobbed. Munkustrap quickly helped the young Tom back to his den.

"You took your sweet time, Munkus," A voice purred, sultry. "Oh, Tumbles!" Tumblebrutus looked up to see a reclining Cori sitting up quickly.

"Oh my, what's wrong?" Cori asked, quickly crawling over as Munkustrap sat Tumble down.

"My parents kicked me out," Tumble sobbed. Cori gently took Tumble's paw in his own as Munkustrap rubbed his back.

"Why, Tumble?"

"I-I was dreaming and…and I moaned a name," Munkustrap and Cori exchanged glances.

"Whose name?"

"Macavity's." Tumblebrutus admitted, his ears immediately flattening as he expected to be yelled out by Munkus and Cori, both had gone silent.

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Seriously, were any of you surprised by my second slash couple...like seriously...?

Poor Tumbles...what will happen to him now?
Thanks to those who reviewed!

Please read and review!

Luv HGP!