I love it how in the reviews, nobody commented on Vail's 'I'm not telling you what side I'm on' attitude. Anyway…
Liebe glanced at Talon then back at Pike and Kroova. It was probably the most confusing sight ever to see. Pike was trembling, though Liebe could tell he was supporting Kroova, whose knees had gone slack. They were both crying. Suddenly, as if someone had turned on a light, Liebe noticed the striking resemblance between the two. She gasped and her paws flew to her mouth.
Kroova pulled away and brushed Pike's long headfur out of his eyes. "You've grown so much," she said. She opened her mouth as if to say more, but she stopped.
"Vail isn't here," Pike said, frowning.
Liebe's mind was racing. Who in Heaviside was Vail? But Kroova obviously knew.
"Do you know where she is?" She asked. "Is she…"
Pike glanced at Liebe and Talon. "Let's go somewhere else and talk," he said quietly.
=^..^=
I watched Pike as he peered around the small space, making sure nobody was near. It felt strange to see him so tall… the last time I'd seen him he was small enough for me to carry. I chuckled to myself; there was no way I would be able to lift him now. Pike sat down and picked up a small stick, twirling it in his paws.
"Vail…" he began, frowning at the stick. "When I was about five months old I came here, trying to remember anything about the barn cats. I almost left when I saw there was already someone here, but then I realized her face was familiar. I didn't hesitate; I just walked right up to her. She knew me; I guess because my face was familiar to her as well, because she just hugged me and started asking me what I was doing in London.
"We decided to keep the meeting a secret, because she told me that her father wouldn't like it if he knew she was meeting with Jellicles. It wasn't until after she left that I realized who she was. I tried to chase after Vail, but she was already gone. We met at least once a week from then on, and she taught me about using my powers," Pike flicked a paw, sending up a shower of pink sparks. "And I taught her how to dance and sing." He looked me in the eye, his eyes grave. "Vail lives with Macavity, and she's never once said anything about leaving. She enjoys it there, and nothing I say can convince her otherwise."
"Is she there now, do you think?" I asked warily.
Pike shook his head. "She said he's sent her on a mission of sorts, and she's not supposed to go back until it's done."
"What kind of mission?" I wondered.
"The kind I'm not allowed to talk about."
I whirled around. Standing in the shadows was a young queen, identical to Pike except for the ginger patch of fur on her left ear. She looked furious.
"Vail, sweetheart—"
"Don't you dare call me that," Vail said venomously. Sparks were crackling around her paws. "You lied to me from the moment I could understand what you were saying. I remember that day," she raised her voice in cruel mockery. " 'I'll be back before you know it,'. That is what you said. Two weeks later, and there was still no word about where you were. My father came, he found me and wanted to take care of me. He promised me he wouldn't let me down."
"Macavity's promises mean nothing." My blood ran cold.
"They're a hell of a lot more meaningful than YOURS!" Vail exploded, slashing at me. She didn't hit me, but it was enough to make me flinch and jump back. "You said you were going on a short walk with Pike, and that you would be right back! It's almost been a year since I've seen you; what do you think that does to someone's trust?!"
I stayed silent; I knew that bottled anger was better out than in.
"You have no idea what I've wanted," Vail shot a bolt of energy at one of the piles of junk, making the stuff fly everywhere. "I've lived with my father, who has given me everything I ask for because he knows that I deserve it. He's been a much better parent than you." Tears were now rolling freely down her face, and she was shaking badly. I could tell she wasn't controlling her words anymore, and they began tumbling out of her mouth like a waterfall held back for so long. "I have wanted nothing more than for someone to love me," her voice broke on the word 'love', "I wished, every night as I went to bed, for someone to sing me to sleep like you did when we lived in the barn. I wanted my brother to play with, for other kittens to grow up with. Instead I grew up among thieves and assassins, and now I'm one of Macavity's top agents! I DIDN'T WANT THAT!!" As Vail screamed, she let the sparks fly off her paws in unchecked directions, and I flinched several times as the small bits caught my fur and burned me.
Vail flung herself at me, and began punching and kicking with all her might. I fought back, but just enough to keep her from doing any real damage. This only seemed to upset her more.
"If you hadn't left, I could have learned to fight like the barn cats! I would be able to win each and every fight without using my powers!" she snarled and tried to pin me, but I decided enough was enough. I flipped her on her back easily, and held her there.
"I admit it was wrong to leave you," I said, raising my voice to match her previous volume. "But Macavity only knew that I was pregnant. He didn't know I had twins. I knew he would come to try and take one of you, and I thought it would be better if he only knew about one of you. Macavity still doesn't know that Pike is your brother, and that is the way it should be. If he knew he had a son, Pike would be gone faster than you could blink."
"But he still got a hold of one of us," Vail hissed. "What did you think you would do? Come back before Macavity could get there?"
"That was my plan, yes," I scowled at her. "But now I see that keeping both of you at the barn would have been much better. I could have protected both of you at the same time, and I would never have had to feel the heartbreak of coming back to the barn only to find you gone. I was torn up that day, and I still wish I could go back and undo all my actions."
Vail opened her mouth, working her jaw against words that wouldn't come. The strained silence was broken by Pike. "Look for the honesty in her eyes, Vail. That is all there is."
Vail closed her mouth, swallowing as she did what Pike said. I evened my breathing, not breaking eye contact with her. Dare I? I slowly sat back, letting Vail's limbs free. She sat up, staring at me. For a long while, we stayed in that position. Then Vail gave a strangled cry and flung her arms around me. I returned the hug with as much enthusiasm as I could muster.
"Don't leave again, momma," Vail whimpered. Just hearing it renewed my tears, and I hugged her tighter.
"I wouldn't dream of it." I felt another pair of arms around me, and I moved to pull one arm around Pike's shoulder. I never wanted to leave them—my kittens—again. "We'll stay together, always."
"As a family," Pike added. Vail nodded, and I smiled at them, knowing I could never leave them again.
[A/N] Ok! So the bit with Misto will have to wait, because it just didn't feel right to put it in this chapter. This story has become my top priority, because I cannot start posting my cross-over until this is done (sure spoilers are inside). Also, beware of Roselna on sugar; Charlie the Unicorn references will be included.