A/N: So...honestly I really hated writing this chapter, but I feel like it needs to go up. Quaxo needs some time in the spotlight before I can move on with the plot. So here it is :).

Quaxo lounged in silence on the TSE-1, trying not to look at Jemima and Tumblebrutus but unable not to. It was like that morbid fascination he had had as a kit when Victoria had broken her arm. He didn't want to look; yet he did. He was unable to not see. Well, comparing a young couple and a bloody mess of bones and flesh might be a long-shot comparison, but it felt the same. They were walking around the Yard together in wide loops, chatting and laughing. In their own little world. Every so often they'd pass right in front of him and he'd force himself to look away. No other cat had joined him on the car hood to sunbathe, which didn't come as a surprise. The cats usually left him alone. Which, in all honesty, was the way he liked it. Although a distraction from the couple would be nice.

A white cat appeared from the shadows, as if answering his plea. "Quaxo!"

He turned at the voice, recognizing it instantly and smiling. "Vicky," he answered her, not as loud as she had called him, but just as enthusiastic. She made a perfect companion. The queen jumped up onto the hood and gave him a nuzzle, settling down beside him.

"Nice day, isn't it?" Victoria smiled, stretching out. Quaxo nodded and they lapsed into silence, side by side on their stomachs, heads facing towards the Yard. "Do you want to come hunting with me later?" she asked after a while, voice lazy and luxurious in the sun. He opened his mouth to answer, but just then Jemima and Tumblebrutus walked past, hand-in-hand with only eyes for each other. His sister's question was instantly forgotten. He felt his eyes slide away and then back towards the two, drawn like magnets. Victoria waited patiently, then followed his gaze and gave a knowing little gasp. "Quaxo?"

"Oh, sorry," he said quickly, and laughed nervously. "Yeah, yeah, hunting. We could…" he paused, seeing his sister's face, "…do that."

The queen studied him silently, her blue eyes filled with inquisition. Sometimes Quaxo could not believe they were siblings. All black and dark-eyed, he could not look more different from his bright eye-catching sister. But nevertheless, she knew him better than anyone and he could tell from the look on her face that she knew exactly what he was thinking. When she asked the inevitable question, her voice was dry with a thin layer of calm, just barely containing excitement. "You like her?"

Quaxo shrugged. He made a futile attempt at playing it off. "Sure. She's nice."

Victoria rolled her eyes and sighed. Somehow she managed to make it sound like a giggle. "Quaxo, you know what I mean." When he didn't answer, she wrapped her tail reassuringly about his shoulders. She leaned in conspiratorially. "I thought you were kidding when you told me last time."

Last time. When had been the last time he had come even remotely close to explaining his feelings for the calico? It had probably been when they were still very young kits. Jemima had been his childhood crush for a long while. He might've mentioned it to his sister once or twice. At that time though, it had been nothing but playful. However, as he had developed into maturity, Quaxo found himself more and more shy when Jemima was around. He had always been shy and socially awkward. His sister was the same, only slightly better than he. It helped, of course, that she didn't shoot lightning bolts out of her paws…

Victoria was still watching him quietly, that look in her eyes that had always meant trouble to him. "You really do, don't you?"

Again, he shrugged, non-committal. That was answer enough for her, however.

"Quaxo, why didn't you tell me! This is kind of a big deal, you know. She's my best friend! I could've said something! I will say something."

He took his time before answering, contemplating what to say. Her tail dropped slowly from his shoulder, trickling down his arm. "I didn't tell you because I knew you were going to say something," Quaxo finally said. His voice was quiet. He began to edge towards the edge of the TSE-1, suddenly wanting to get away. Victoria was still looking at him. He couldn't see her; he was facing away, but he knew all the same. "And don't you dare tell her."

"That doesn't make any sense," she said. Her voice was a mixture of disbelief and confusion. Perhaps there was a hint of amusement in there too. Quaxo slid down from the car hood in silence, not answering. He heard her call his name half-heartedly, but by then he was already far away.

It was so weird seeing Jemima with someone else. He had always liked her in that amazed fan-loves-superstar sort of way. He liked her, but had never thought about a relationship. It didn't seem possible. Not only them having a relationship, but the impossible-ness extended to her having a relationship with anyone else. They were in that weird stage of life where kittens were slowly transforming into toms and queens, and nobody was quite sure what they were. They were children, and it had been a childhood crush. That was all it had ever been. A crush.

Except it was so much more than that. And in the last week that Tumblebrutus had been holding hands with Jemima, Quaxo had begun to realize this. The way she had reacted when he had asked her about him, her cheeks colouring slightly and her ears perking up-it had been so sweet. She was gentle in a way that no one else had ever been to him, except maybe Coricopat when he had first guided kit-Quaxo around the Yard. And, to put it frankly, he found it impossible to want anyone else.

Would it have made a difference if Jemima had known his feelings? Probably not. Even now, he wasn't entirely sure what he was feeling. But in any case, a part of him had suspected that Tumblebrutus would ask her eventually. Not so soon, of course. A couple weeks ago the thought of a queenfriend had still seemed light-years away. But a part of him had always expected it. He might've even been disappointed if it hadn't happened. And besides, Tumble was a nice guy. So…Quaxo should just move on, right? She had a tomfriend and was happy. That should make him happy too, if he really cared about her.

"Ugh," Quaxo said out loud, and slunk his way towards his den, wanting a nap. He moved forwards and suddenly her presence was there, like a breath on light airy wings. She surrounded his thoughts, clouded his vision, and although it seemed new, she had always been there. A part of his subconscious realized this, and it also realized that she would never, ever leave.

Another A/N: A bit of a weird note to leave it on. Anywhoo, please review and thanks for reading! :)