Grizabella was true to her word.

She woke before the other cats, hunting early in the morning and bringing food to the pregnant Queen in secret. Astyanax didn't know of Grizabella's betrayal, and welcomed her and the food gratefully.

"I almost don't want the kit…" Astyanax murmured softly one morning.

The beautiful red and white queen had started in Macavity's lair – his own personal slave, until she had fallen pregnant and moved to the birthing den, despite not being due any time soon. It was a nice room, Grizabella had to say, nicer than the others – with several blankets and scratching posts, and a shred of light that came in from an open window. Astyanax was the only cat in there though, and was grateful for the hour or so that Grizabella spent with her.

"Don't say that…" Grizabella urged, her voice dropping to an anxious whisper, "Remember what I told you? We're going to get you, and the little one, and Demeter out of here…"

Astyanax's ears perked at the mention of her daughter, sighing softly, "I know…" she breathed. "I'm just… worried."

"Don't be. It's probably bad for the kitten…" Grizabella scolded, making sure Astyanax had eaten at least half of the food she had brought.

"I appreciate your concern, Bella…" Astyanax sighed, rolling onto her back and stretching out, "How did you manage to even get this stuff? I try and leave the den and one of the toms is at my side in seconds, herding me back…"

Grizabella shrugged, "I don't have restrictions because I'm not a tribe member, maybe?" she suggested, calling on every acting skill she knew to make the lie seem as natural as possible,

Asytanax nodded, sighing, "I guess," she breathed, "Does he… hurt you?"

Grizabella shook her head, "I won't let him touch me…"

"That's what I thought…" she chuckled dryly, "But he's got…" her tail twitched with the memory, "He can…" her ears flattened and she let out a suffering sigh, "His mind control is too hard to fight…"

Grizabella stared at the queen with shock, "He…?"

"Yeah," she whispered, head on her paws, "And the worst part about it was that he convinced me to like it."

"What?" Grizabella's eyes widened, mouth dropping, "What do you mean?"

Asytanax closed her eyes, curling into a ball. Grizabella circled her, curling around her back and nuzzling at her neck.

"I'm so torn between what was me and what was him," she whispered in the darkness, "What I wanted and what he made me want. And if I think about it, I hate him, and I know I didn't want that…" she hissed, her fur standing on edge even as she spoke, "But…sometimes when I'm relaxed and it's quiet… I remember laughing, and… enjoying it…" she let out a quiet sob, her body shaking with the force of it, "And he loved it, Bella, and I couldn't stop him. I didn't want to stop him at the time, and I-"

"Shhh…" Grizabella soothed, her own fur bristling, her tail twitching restlessly. She was furious all over again, outraged, "You didn't do anything wrong," she whispered back, holding her close, "He's an evil bastard, and there is no way that you should have to justify yourself, Astya…this is not your fault."

"But-"

"His magic is… too strong for one Jellicle to have. It's made him stupid. He was already stupid, and he has too much power. And one day someone is going to hurt him, and kill him, and we'll never have to fear him again…"

Asytanax shivered, nodding into her arms and turning, cuddling closer into Grizabella,

"How am I supposed to love his kit?" she whispered, "How am I supposed to watch it grow when I know it's carrying the genes of the devil? How am I supposed to resist the urge to smother it in its sleep?"

The words gave Grizabella shivers, and she shushed her again, "Don't think of it like that. The kit is a miracle. Because you are going to raise it to be kind and pure…and nothing like its father…"

Asytanax went quiet, and Grizabella sighed quietly, gently grooming the queen, licking behind her ears and cleaning the dust from her coat.

"Thank you, Bella…" the queen finally uttered, moving from Grizabella's clutches and padding to the small shaft of sunlight, "But…I think I'd like to be alone. Can you… take some food to Demeter?"

"Of course, if you need me, summon one of the toms. I'll come and keep you company…"

The queen nodded, curling into a ball in the sun and tucking her face between her paws.

Grizabella watched her for a long moment, wondering if she should stay or not. In the end, she decided it better to leave, and she made her way back down to Demeter's room.

As she rounded the corner, she spotted the young kitten in the middle of the room, dozing peacefully. Grizabella smiled slightly at the lanky thing. A spitting image of her mother, apart from her colours. She was growing up rapidly – not just in height and weight but she went from a playful kitten to an almost-adolescent in a few short weeks.

"Demeter…" Grizabella called softly.

"What do you want?" Ayamico asked, raising an eyebrow, moving forward to stand over the kitten protectively.

"Do you have a quarrel with me, Ayamico?" the grey queen asked coolly, raising an eyebrow.

"I heard what happened to her family," Ayamico hissed, "Heard that it was your fault."

Grizabella's fur bristled. Beylandella…

"So you think I'm here to gut her?" Grizabella tried to remain above it all, "I've come to give her food. Everlasting Cat knows she needs it."

"And then what, Griz? Going to fatten her up and feed her to Macavity when she's good and ready?"

Grizabella couldn't help the hiss that escaped her throat, "Ayamico," she growled, "Have some sense. Do I look like a killer? You've been under Macavity's control. You know what he can do…"

Ayamico hissed back. She was in this den because Macavity had had his fun with her. Now she was scraps for the other Henchtoms.

Demeter slowly woke at the sound of the two adults speaking over her, stretching. When she saw Grizabella, her eyes lit up and she pounced on the queen excitedly, winding herself around her legs.

"Grizabella!" she exclaimed, "I wondered where you had gone…"

Grizabella smiled indulgently down at the kitten. She wasn't that bad, if Grizabella was going to be perfect honest. The older queen glanced at Ayamico, who had shot her a glare and padded back to her minimal bedding.

"Come, Demeter…" Grizabella said softly, taking her off to a more secluded area, away from the other queens. She pulled out the little food she had, offering it to the kitten, who stared up at her with wide eyes.

"For me?" she asked softly, cocking her head.

"For you," Grizabella nodded, "I'll keep you safe, Demeter. I'll bring you food and help you become strong. I promise…" she purred, nuzzling her.

Surprised and pleased with the attention, Demeter let out a soft purr, nuzzling the older queen and digging into her food.

After a moment, Demeter gazed up at Grizabella with a shy smile.

"Thank you."