A/N: Hey everybody! So no throwing stones at me for kinda skipping around on update dates, I have decided that every Saturday or Sunday there will be an update. Anyways thanks to my Beta who just recently jumped on board with me, and everybody who has stuck with me so far! So enjoy, review and I don't own the Cat Returns!

Cathie landed with an undignified thud in a humongous cat tail field.

"Ugh that hurt," she said wincing.

"Be glad we didn't land in the lake girlie," Muta retorted.

"Please Muta, I wouldn't dare land Miss Cathie in the lake, " Baron replied as he helped Cathie to her feet.

"Thank you Baron."

Muta rolled his eyes and muttered, "Whatever."

"Wait a sec," Cathie turned to Muta and found herself staring at a rather large fluffball, "Jeez! Muta you're gigantic!"

"No you're just fun-size."

"Hardy har har, Muta. You're like twice everybody's height!" And five times the width she thought to herself.

"Muta is correct Miss Cathie, you are rather small for a cat. However, I find it's not the size of the person but rather the size of her heart," Baron said.

"Thanks Baron."

"Miss Cathie would you care to see your appearance? You can use the lake as a mirror. The lake is on the way to the castle."

"Please Baron."

"Good cuz I'm starved."

"Muta! I'm pretty sure the object of asking for sanctuary is not to eat them out of house and home!" Cathie exclaimed exasperated.

"I once ate all of the fish in the lake; they don't expect much class from me."

"That's disgusting Muta!" replied Cathie as she neared the water's edge.

"Take a look Miss Cathie."

Cathie peered in the water to find a fuzzball snow white cat with blue gray eyes staring back at her.

"Wow..."

"You look like Queen Yuki, girlie," Muta commented.

"I do?"

"Queen Yuki has blue eyes," Baron reminded Muta.

"Just sayin'"

"We should get to the castle," Baron remarked.

"How far is the castle, Baron?"

"We should see it momentarily," Baron replied as the mist lifted and revealed the castle.

Cathie stared at the castle, she had seen some impressive structures in her lifetime, but this was by far the most interesting looking. The castle seemed to overflow; as if the designer had originally had intended to have smaller, and as the kingdom so did the castle. Off to the left of the castle was a formidable tower that spiraled into the sky and never ended. They approached the entrance and waiting for them was a Scottish Fold.

"Welcome! King Lune has been waiting for you Baron," the cat said.

"Thank you Natoru," Baron replied.

They followed Natoru through the entrance hall and veered sharply off to the left. Cathie nearly crashed into Muta as they all stopped for Natoru to knock on the door. A soft 'come in' came through the door. They all entered to find five cats waiting for the company. One of the adult cats cleared his throat, blinked his mismatched eyes and said," Greetings Baron and Muta."

"Good evening King Lune, Queen Yuki," Baron replied while giving a nod to the white cat next to the king.

"Please no formalities Baron, after all we've been friends for years."

"Of course Lune. I have a request of you, I wonder if you could assist my friend Miss Catherine Parker," Baron asked as he beckoned Cathie forward.

"Of course Baron, anything for you. It's a pleasure to meet you Catherine, I am Lune, this is my wife Yuki," he said as he gestured to the white cat, " and these three furballs are Kiki, Chihiro, and Shizuku," he finished as he pointed to two gray kittens with blue eyes and a white kitten with mismatched eyes.

"It's my pleasure to meet you all, and please call me Cathie," she replied.

"Now Baron why do you require my assistance?"

"Miss Cathie is the candidate to become the wife of the right wing bird of the bird king."

"That's terrible!" cried Yuki.

"It is not Duke Pazu's arrangement-rather his daughter's. Now I'm quite certain that the duke will act according to his daughter's plans."

"Why do you say that Baron?"

"From what I have gathered over the years, Duke Pazu will do anything for his daughter."

"Why does the daughter want Cathie to marry her father?"

"The details are vague, however, I have concluded that Cathie has qualities that Ayaka, the daughter, wants in a mother."

Cathie scoffed at the statement, "God knows what she sees in me."

Baron bit back his reply about how with time she would make a wonderful mother.

"It doesn't matter what that birdbrain sees in girlie, what matters is she doesn't want to marry a chicken!" spat Muta.

Cathie smiled at Muta and said, "Thanks."

Cathie turned her gaze to Baron and stared at his warm emerald eyes. Baron noticed but didn't mention anything.

"She could be our nanny," piped one of the kittens, Kiki.

"Please explain Miss Kiki," Baron said kindly.

"Well I've been listening to Cathie's problem And thought she could pose as our nanny. I mean no one would recognize her. She could stay in the castle while Baron sorts This whole problem out," Kiki said shyly.

Baron opened his mouth to differ but Cathie beat him to the chase, "Actually that doesn't sound like a bad idea."

"Are you sure Miss Cathie? It's a large responsibility," asked Baron.

"I am absolutely positive Baron. I've nannied before. These three won't give me too much trouble."

"I recognize defeat Miss Cathie. One one condition; Muta stays."

"WHAT?! Nu-uh! Not fair, you can't leave me as the babysitter!" Muta protested.

"Come on Muta, don't think of this as babysitting but rather an all-expense paid vacation with an open kitchen," Cathie prompted.

"Do you have anything better to do Muta? I can't take you to the Bird Kingdom; you are not the most cordial with birds."

"I plan to organize my sock draw. And your point is?"

"You don't have a sock draw Muta. I need to make a trip to the Bird Kingdom and I can't have you hindering negotiations," Baron said getting irritated.

Muta groaned and Cathie stiffled a giggle.

"Well I guess the plan has been established," Lune commented.

"Yes. Now I must contact Toto and see if he has made arrangements with Duke Pazu. Excuse me," Baron stated.

Cathie excused herself as well and followed Baron outside. She came outside to find the figurine's back turned toward her. In the midday sun the Baron's fur was fire, Cathie's footsteps cause to him to turn around. She stared at his face for longer than she cared to say.

"Cathie what are you doing out here?" Cathie noted that he had dropped the 'Miss' finally.

"To see you off. And to tell you to be careful. We certainly don't need you running into trouble and I have to come rescue you from the birds," Cathie teased.

Baron chuckled, "I suppose that would be a terrible occurrence."

"Yep," Cathie said as she looked out the water front, she then continued, "Baron why are you helping me?"

"I prefer a life of sticking my nose in other people's business. I try to help those who need it and seek it. Especially when it comes to dealing with other kingdoms," Baron explained as Toto came through a portal.

"Hello Toto," Cathie greeted.

"Good morning Cathie. We best be going Baron, the Duke is waiting," Toto said.

Baron wordlessly climbed onto Toto and with a tip of his hat to Cathie, left. Cathie watched them go back through the portal and them silently walked back into the castle.