The next morning Etcetera was woken by knocking on the door. She groaned and rubbed her eyes. She tried to fall back asleep but the knocking continued. She got up and looked over at Admetus. At the moment he was waking up too. He crinkled his eyebrows and opened his eyes. He looked around the room, then looked up at Etcetera, Then yawned. Etcetera pulled the blankets off her and sat up in bed. Admetus grabbed her hand.
"No, I'll get it." Admetus said throwing the blankets aside. He got out of bed and placed his hands on his back and began to stretch. When a loud crack escaped from his back Admetus sighed and walked over to the door and opened it. He was not sure who to expect. He was relieved to find out it was only his little brother. Plato stood in the doorway smiling. Admetus smiled back.
"Hey Addie." Plato beamed.
Admetus chuckled. "Hello little brother." He said, he extended his arm out and placed his hand on top of his brother's head and ruffled his head fur. Plato's smiled turned into an embarrassed frown. He jumped back and patted his head fur.
"I hate when you do that." Plato pouted.
Admetus laughed again and playfully elbowed his brother. Plato smiled again and slapped Admetus on his shoulder. Admetus backed away from the door allowing Plato to enter. Plato walked in with a goofy smile on his face. Etcetera wonder if he always smiled like that. This was probably her first time seeing Plato smile. He seemed rather happy. Which Etcetera would understand. Ever since he and Victoria became mates for life, his mood became more uplifting. Admetus closed the door. He offered his brother something to drink. But Plato denied his offer and thanked him politely. Plato noticed Etcetera sitting on the bed. He smiled at her and greeted her politely.
"Hello Etcetera." Plato greeted.
Etcetera smiled back at him. "Hey Plato." She greeted back.
Plato noticed her stomach and his smiled disappeared. His mouth opened slightly. Due to shock probably. He stared at Etcetera. feeling somewhat uncomfortable, Etcetera folded her hands on her lap trying somewhat to hide her stomach. Plato's shocked expression turned into a huge grin. He turned to Admetus and ran to him. He laughed and slapped Admetus on the shoulder.
"Admetus you old man!" He laughed. "Your already going to be a father. I can't believe it. Congratulations."
Admetus sighed. "Well, I wasn't really planning it." He said.
Etcetera felt somewhat hurt from his remark. He sounded like he didn't want to be a father. Like he had to be there for her just because she was pregnant. She wondered what he said that one night was true. Was he really happy about them having a kitten. She didn't know. Plato walked over to Etcetera and kneeled down. He lifted his hand up towards her stomach. He lifted his head to look at Etcetera.
"May I?" He asked.
Etcetera sighed. Admetus was the only one to touch her stomach so far. But Plato was going to be the kitten's uncle, so she agreed and removed her hands from her lap and leaned back. Plato lifted his hand up and laid it gently on her stomach. Etcetera expected the kitten to wake up and kick. But it didn't. Plato was somewhat disappointed by that. He leaned in and snuggled his face against her stomach.
"Hi! I'm your uncle." He muffled against her stomach.
Etcetera couldn't help but laugh. Plato reminded her so much of her brother. She still had to tell her brother. She would see if she could write him a letter or something. Until now she wanted her pregnancy to be a secret. Which was very hard since her stomach was getting quite big. Plato brought his head back, disappointment was clear on his face. He turned to Admetus.
"I think it's a heavy sleeper." Plato said pouting. Admetus laughed at his brother and walked over and sat down next to Etcetera.
"It will sometimes move when it hears my voice." Admetus said. He got off the bed and knelt like Plato did. He pressed his face against Etcetera's stomach and began to talk. Everyone waited patiently for the kitten to stir. A couple of minutes later Etcetera felt the kitten wake up. It stretched out inside of Etcetera. Pressing against her. Etcetera gasped in pain and held the side of her stomach. The pain faded away as the kitten relaxed. Admetus noticed and brought his head back and gently rubbed her stomach.
"I don't think it was happy you woke it up." Etcetera said laughing gently.
Admetus smiled. "I hope it knows I'm sorry." He said gently.
Plato smiled. Admetus got up and all of them talked for a couple of hours. Soon it was time for Plato to go. He just wanted to check and see how Admetus and Etcetera was doing. Admetus followed Plato to the door. Plato turned around and waved goodbye to Etcetera. Etcetera smiled and waved goodbye back. Plato looked to Admetus.
"I'll see you later. Tell me when the kitten or kittens arrive. I can't wait to see them." Plato said.
Admetus ruffled Plato's head fur again. "Alright Plato." Admetus agreed.
Plato exited the door and left. When he was gone Admetus looked at Etcetera.
"Ready to go to Tantomiles?" Admetus asked.
Etcetera nodded. "I guess. Can you help me up?" Etcetera asked holding out her hand. Admetus walked over to her and took her hand gently and pulled her off the bed. Etcetera found it more difficult to get up from sitting or laying down. Admetus and Etcetera left the den. Admetus still held her hand. About a couple of minutes later they arrived at Tantomiles den. Admetus knocked on the door. The door open. Tantomile smiled and lead them inside. They followed her into the same room where Etcetera found out she was pregnant. Etcetera sat down on the little couch like she did before and crossed her legs. Admetus sat down in a wooden chair in a corner by the couch while Tantomile took Etcetera's blood pressure. Tantomile finished and felt her belly. Etcetera looked up at Tantomile.
"Do you know how many there are?" Etcetera asked curiously.
Tantomile shook her head. "I'm not quite sure. I think there's only one. But I could be wrong. I guess we will find out when the due day comes." She said.
Etcetera felt nervous. She was scared of the pain that went with birthing a kitten. But it had to happen. She tried her best not to think about it. Tantomile continued her check up on Etcetera. About an hour later Etcetera's check up was done. Tantomile helped Etcetera get up out of the chair and helped her outside. Etcetera and Admetus said goodbye to Tantomile and left. Within a couple of feet of Tantomiles den, Etcetera's feet began to feel sore.
"My feet." Etcetera whimpered.
Admetus gently scooped her up and carried her down the path on the way home. Etcetera rested her head on his shoulder. She could feel him breathing on her face. She laid her hand on his chest.
"Admetus?" She said softly.
"Yes." Admetus answered.
"Are... You happy that I'm pregnant?" She asked quietly.
Admetus looked down at her and crinkled his eyebrows. "Of course I am, why wouldn't I be?" He said sounding offended.
Etcetera buried her face in his chest. She didn't want to see him upset. "Well, when you said that my pregnancy wasn't planned. You sounded upset." She said beginning to feel her heart become heavy with sadness.
Admetus gently kissed her on the top of her head. He leaned down so that he could whisper in her ear. "Etcetera, words will never describe how happy I am. I love you. And the thought of you bringing my kitten into this world makes me even more happier." He said, he lifted his hand up letting his fingers run down her head fur. Etcetera clung to Admetus. His words made her feel like she was melting. She had never met anyone like him. So passionate, So kind, So gentle, and so loving. His horrible past left him with no faults. Usually when people suffered from a horrible childhood they had certain issues. But not him. He was perfect.
A couple of minutes later they arrived at their den. Only to find Jellylorum standing outside their den. Her eyes were filled with anger and her arms crossed. Admetus set Etcetera back down on her feet. Jellylorum rushed over and grabbed Etcetera's arm.
"Etcetera! Are you ok! What has he done to you!" She yelled bitterly in Etcetera's face. Etcetera cringed at her mother. She had never seen her mother so angry with her before.
"Mother what are you talking about? I'm fine." Etcetera said.
Jellylorum grabbed Etcetera's shoulders and began to shake her. "Etcetera! Look at you! Your pregnant! And you think that's fine?" Jellylorum Screamed.
Her voice grew louder with rage. She shook Etcetera even harder. Admetus walked up from behind Etcetera and placed his hands on the back of her shoulders pulling Etcetera towards him so that Jellylorum would stop shaking her. Jellylorum shot Admetus an icy look. She looked like she was about to kill him.
"You! You did this to my daughter! My daughter could die and it would be your fault! All you do is put her in pain! You risk her life everyday! Whenever she gets hurt it's because of something you did!" Jellylorum screamed.
Admetus said nothing. He looked down at Etcetera who at that moment was beginning to shed tears. Etcetera could feel the anger building up in her.
"Mother, how did you find out?" Etcetera said trying to calm down.
Jellylorum tried to calm down too. "I went to Tantomiles and I saw the pregnancy test on her desk and I asked who she just had an appointment with. And she said it was you. I didn't want to believe it then I came here and saw you." Jellylorum spat. Without thinkig about what she was about to do, Jellylorum lifted her hand and slapped Etcetera on the cheek. Jellylorum jumped back in shock after what she did to her daughter. She brought her hands up to her face and covered her mouth. She started at Etcetera with shock. Etcetera's tears poured down her face. At this point her rage was boiling.
"I hate you." Croaked Etcetera. "You never understood me! You never cared about what I wanted! You never let me do anything! You always were strict with me! You never gave Admetus a change! He takes good care of me! Unlike you! I don't want you in my life or my kittens life!" Etcetera ran inside the den leaving Jellylorum and Admetus outside. She collapsed on the bed crying out in sorrow. She held her cheek as all her emotions spill out before her. She wanted to be positive and think that he mother would have been happy about her having a kitten. But that was not the case anymore. Now she didn't have a mother. And her kitten wouldn't have a grandmother. Etcetera's sobbing was interrupted by Admetus gently rubbing her back.
"Etcetera?" Admetus asked calmly.
She didn't answer. She never understood why Admetus put up with her and her mother. There were several other queens that were beautiful. If he choose one of them they probably wouldn't be in the same issue that her and Admetus were in. He probably would be more happy with another queen instead of her. Thinking of that only made Etcetera cry even more. She began to choke on her tears and started coughing.
"Etcetera, please answer me. Your scaring me." Admetus pleaded.
Etcetera sat up on the bed and looked up at Admetus. "I just lost my mother. Now our kitten wont have a grandmother. Since your mother died and I told my mother to stay away." Etcetera said. Upon realizing that she mentioned Admetus's mother she covered her mouth. Admetus stared at her.
"How did you know my mother died?" He asked quietly.
Etcetera tilted her head down trying to hide her face. "I read your journal." She said quietly. She began to sniffle again. "I'm so sorry." She layed down on the bed and covered her head with her hands. She was sure that Admetus would never trust her again. She felt like she was about to lose everything. She already lost her mother, and now she was going to lose Admetus. The only thing she would have left of him was his kitten. Unless he took it away from her. Etcetera could feel the pain in her heart from all these thoughts. She didn't realize that Admetus was still there until she felt him lay down next to her. She felt his arm over her back. He leaned in closely to her ear.
"Etcetera. Everything is going to be ok." He said trying to calm her.
Etcetera shook her head. "No, How can you say that? I ruined everything. Everything is my fault. I lost my mother! I ruined our relationship. When I have this kitten I will probably ruin it's life too. Like I do with everyone else life!" She cried.
She felt Admetus grab both of her arms pulling her up. He turned her around so she was face him. He held onto her shoulders tightly. He looked her sternly in the eyes. Like when a mother disciplines a kitten.
"Stop. You did nothing. Nothing is your fault. You take blame for everything because you feel your to blame for everyone's sorrow even though you are not. This is life Etcetera. You will lose people in your lifetime. And there will be nothing you can do about it. And it's no reason to blame yourself for that person being gone. You must accept that. I know it's hard but you have to. You have no choice." Admetus demanded calmly.
Etcetera never heard Admetus this serious before. His words cut through her. He was right. And she knew it. Admetus was very wise. And she didn't doubt him one bit. She leaned in. Her eyes were fixed onto his serious eyes. He seemed a little tense. Etcetera brought her hand and gently laid it on the back of his neck. She closed her eyes and leaned in stealing a kiss. Admetus relaxed and began stroke her cheek as they shared a moment of passion. She felt her heart racing. She pressed herself closer to Admetus. She could feel him tensing up. He held her closely so she would feel safe. Etcetera, now pressed closely against Admetus's chest could feel his heart race. She almost jumped when Admetus slapped his hands onto her lowered back. They kissed some more as Admetus rubbed her back somewhat rough. Feeling a sudden urge of domination Admetus pinned Etcetera down on her back. He nuzzled his face into his neck. Etcetera was starting to become somewhat afraid. She wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled him back. It encouraged Admetus and he ran his hands along Etcetera's hips. She shivered a bit under his hands. Admetus suddenly arched his back and crawled off her.
"No." He said scooting away from Etcetera.
Etcetera sat up. "What's wrong?" She asked puzzled.
Admetus shook his head. "I don't think it would be safe for the kitten." He said.
Etcetera sighed in disappointment. Admetus scooted closer and stoked her cheek. "Don't be mad Cettie, I just want our kitten to be safe." He said warmly. Etcetera nodded. She agreed with him.
"Admetus." Etcetera said softly. "We need to tell Pouncival." She said looking up at Admetus.
Admetus looked down to her. "Do you know how he will react to this?" Admetus asked.
Etcetera shook her head. "I have no idea what he will think. Either he will be happy. Or, disappointed." She said softly. "I will tell him tomorrow.
"Are you sure you want to tell him so soon?" Admetus asked.
"Yes, He needs to know. Our kitten needs him." Etcetera said quietly. Admetus sighed and layed down on his back. Etcetera layed down on top of his chest. She listened to his steady heartbeat. A couple of beats later she was sound asleep.