Thunder Kittens
Chapter 1.1
"Is that another shipment? We have 5 already…" Tygra's eyes widened as more big boxes were pushed into the housing unit that he and Cheetara were now sharing.
She had moved back in with him a few days ago. It had been easy merging their belongings as they had done it before.
This was different.
They were trying to get everything ready for the kittens to arrive.
"Tygra? Who is at the door… I think I finally figured out the cribs. They mirrored the pieces wrong.." Cheetara called from one of the rooms, she comes out stretching. She looked as tired as he did. "…more?"
She watches as he meets the delivery guy at the door signing for it all. "Thank you… just uh leave them here." He gives her a nervous smile as the guy leaves then leans over them. "High Chairs and other kitchen items…"
"Tygra, I'm getting a little overwhelmed." She admits wringing her hands. "Every time we get one box finished another comes."
"I agree.. we can't do this entirely on our own." The tiger grunts as he pushes the big boxes into the kitchen before lifting the second one on top of the first. "I don't want to go to Jaga so quickly for assistance.. we did say we could handle it after all."
"But Tygra, we're full. We can't even walk in here without tripping on something."
He looks around the unit, it wasn't small by any means. They were nobles and had nobility housing. It was more than big enough to house a family of four. They just had to get it all unpacked and organized.
"I may have an idea.."
~*
"You two did what?!"
They glanced at each other sheepishly smiling at their friend. "…well… Jaga asked if we would adopt two cubs who lost their parents."
"Twin cubs." Cheetara adds.
"You two are adopting cubs?"
"You act like this isn't something we would do, Panthro."
The panther crossed his arms, "It's not. You two just had big break up if I recall not 2 months ago and now you want to raise two kids?"
Cheetara blushes lowering her gaze, she rubs her arm embarrassed. She knew he was directing that to her. "…look, we really want this to work." She finally says before looking up at him. "Jaga thinks we can do it.."
"I know we can." Tygra stepped in. He reached down holding her hand. "We've been living together for a month so far …we've been fine. We're going to make it work. We need your help though."
"…with what? I don't babysit." Their friend says bluntly. "I don't change diapers. Kids don't like me and I don't prefer them."
Tygra pushes the door to their housing unit open revealing the giant mess. "…this."
"By Thundera… how much stuff you two buy?"
"It was shipped to us from Claudis, according to Jaga. We need help. A third hand would help us out a lot and we could knock this out." The tiger explained. "You're good at putting stuff together… I thought I was but even I'm a little defeated with some of this furniture."
"We'll feed you!" Cheetara adds hopeful.
Panthro silently walks into the housing unit looking down at all of the boxes and what had been unpacked. He pushed on the highchair, it wasn't stable, then he walked around looking over the boxes and what they were, he peeks his head into the nursey seeing a half put together crib and another waiting to be assembled.
He turns back to look at his friends, they looked exhausted and overwhelmed. Normally Tygra could handle this by himself but even he looked pushed to his limit.
He sighs shaking his head before smiling towards them, "Alright .. if we're going to do this and I'm going to help, we're going in some sort of order. Where are the cubs?"
"We don't have them yet. Jaga is keeping them until we're ready." Cheetara explains. "And we were pretty organized. Tygra made a list and a diagram."
"Every time we got started another shipment came in and we could never finish anything." The tiger was embarrassed at how bad he'd let this get. He was usually the one who ran this sort of thing and kept everything in order.. right now, he was happily handing over that responsilbity.
"Ok, from now on new shipments stay outside by the door until we're ready for them." Panthro starts before walking to the kitchen tripping over a few boxes as he does, "So 5 boxes for the kitchen and dining room? Is that right?" He glances over to Tygra knowing his friend at the very least kept an inventory.
"Yes. 3 are in the dining room. These two are the others. The ones in the hallway go into the nursery. The others, I'm not quite sure."
"Cheetara, you're going to stay in the kitchen and get the small stuff unpacked. Don't worry about the highchairs or any of that. Just the food, bottles, etc…" Panthro nods to her. "Can you do that?"
"Yes, of course." She smiles relieved at having someone else figure it all out. She lets go of Tygra's hand and starts to pull a box open.
"Tygra, you and I are going to get those cribs finished. From there we can find the rest of the furniture… that highchair is going to kill a baby.."
They both glanced over at it as it wavered before the top fell off. Tygra glances over smirking, "I thought you didn't care for children."
"I don't but I don't want to kill one either." The panther reaches out grabbing his friend by the arm pushing him into the nursery. "Let's go "Dad" … we have cribs to put together."
Tygra lets out a surprised growl as he pulled down the hallway and pushed into the nursery. Cheetara looks up laughing as he was man handled. The tension was gone and the heaviness was being lifted now that someone was helping them.
Maybe, just maybe, this would work out.
~*
Cheetara finishes unloading her third box. She steps back looking around the kitchen. They had received a lot of things the kittens wouldn't need for a few years yet. She wondered why he sent all of this stuff, especially if they were going to be only temporary parents.
She sighs shaking her head not wanting to think too hard on it. She pulls out a stack of bibs, a smile crossing her features at the cute sayings. She turns and puts them in the basket on the counter.
She was getting excited again going through all of the things they received. In a few days they would have kittens in the house.
She could hear Tygra and Panthro working on something in the hallway. Once she was done here, she wanted to check on them.
~*
Tygra gets to his feet and with Panthro's help they bolt the crib frame together. He holds the ends as Panthro gets underneath it finishing it.
"There. That does it. Shake it. How stable is it?"
The tiger shakes it a few times before he nods, "It seems stable. What does it look like on your end?"
"Looks good to me." He grins up at his friend through the middle of the crib. "Not bad. We got the changing table and both cribs put together." He crawls out picking up the last piece of this one, together they get it put in place so a small mattress could sit in it.
"Thank you, Panthro." Tygra sighs relieved at seeing things get put together and taken care of. "I honestly was afraid we weren't going to get caught up."
"Hey what are friends for?" Panthro watches as his friend sits on the ground leaning against the wall. He walks over sitting beside him. "Nervous?"
The other just chuckles, "Terrified."
"You know I always thought you'd make a great father…" Panthro smirks crossing his arms.
"And what of Cheetara?"
"Honestly, I never could see it. I don't blame her for this but she doesn't want to settle down. Every time you two got together she could come up and say she needed space and break it off."
Tygra sighs nodding, "..I know."
"How do you know this time will be different? If she leaves you and the kids, then what?"
"Then I raise them by myself, Panthro." The tiger states seriously.
"Tygra, you can't raise two kittens by yourself."
"I'll do what I have to."
"You don't sound too worried about any of this."
The tiger smiles looking over at his friend, "I'm not… something changed when Cheetara held one of the cubs. For the first time ever, she relaxed and slowed down. She was hurling insults at me and suddenly it stopped. She was quiet as she cradled the cub close to her. I won't lie, I fell in love all over again. She looked up at me and we both made the decision then and there that we were going to do this."
Panthro blinked sitting up. He glanced over and saw Tygra wasn't joking about any of it. He sighs a soft smile taking over, "I think you two are going to make great parents."
"Well, maybe. It's temporary. Jaga is looking for a permanment couple"
"Tygra, Jaga wouldn't send all of this if you two werent' going to raise them."
Tygra sighs smiling as he looks down nervously, "I hope so.. it would be an honor. Panthro, I can't wait for you to meet them. They look like a mix of a wild cat and a tiger.. a little girl and a little boy.."
"Were they given names?"
"Cheetara and I decided on Wily Kit and Wily Kat. Kit for the girl and Kat for the boy." He explained his eyes lightening up as he talks about them. "Kit has fire red hair already and her brother.. Kat's hair is red but not as bright…both have beautiful red eyes.."
He had never heard Tygra talk like this before or for this long. The tiger was usually quiet and reserved only saying what needed to be said. After that, he would let others take over. He just sits back nodding letting the other go on.
He never cared for children but hearing the way Tygra spoke of them even he wanted to meet them and was getting excited for them.
~*
Cheetara steps back out of the now organized kitchen grinning happily. "Now THAT is a kitchen…" She glances over at the empty boxes she had broken down. She knew they would wind up re-organizing everything but right now it would do.
She turned her head listening, the rustling and working had died down. Curiously she stepped out of the kitchen walking down the hallway. As she gets closer she hears Tygra talking to Panthro.. she stops and listens.
He was gushing over the twins and her.. he sounded so happy and proud.
She leaned against the wall taking a deep breath. She just hoped she would be as good of a mother as he thinks she would.
She shivers remembering the smile he gave her while holding Wily Kit. The butterflies she had gotten afterwards, she had smiled back… the silent answer they gave each other that they wanted to do this together.
She loved him so much and wanted to make it work. She loved the kittens even more. She had never wanted kittens of her own, she didn't want to be bogged down and forced to stay in one spot and now she couldn't wait for it.
She clears her throat pushing herself to walk further into the hallway, "Don't tell me you two are just laying around!"
"Cheetara.. do you need help?" Tygra got to his feet unsure how to take her tone and nervous smile.
"I got the kitchen unpacked! Have you two finished your duties?"
"Well, do two cribs, a changing table, two rocking chairs, and several shelves count?" Panthro asks getting to his feet. He pulls the crib out of the doorway leading her in.
Tygra follows them, "We thought the changing table should be over here.. the two cribs can be side by side, they are on wheels – so they can be moved, the shelves we can stack however we feel like.. and this closet can be for their diapers and things?"
She nods smiling, "I love it."
"What time is it?"
"It's almost 7pm. Panthro do you need to get back?" She asks curiously. "Or can we make you dinner at least?"
"I have a shift in the control room at the Lair or I would. I'll be back in a few days and we can finish, is that alright?" He could already tell that him helping had helped a lot. They both looked a lot less stressed.
They both nodded. Tygra leads them out of the nursery back into the hallway. "Of course, Panthro. We can take it from here."
As soon as he's out, Panthro pushes one crib in before the other one joins it. "You two can arrange them later." He then turns to them, "Look, I can't imagine the amount of stress you're under – both of you – but do me a favor, take it one step at a time. Alright? Tygra, it's like designing a building.. you have to work from the bottom up. You know how to do that, use that same logic here and above all else ask me for anything and I'll do my best to help out." He eyes both his friends making sure they understood before smiling. "Proud of you two. Let me know when you get the kids."
Tygra glances to Cheetara pulling her to his side. She hugs him taking a deep breath before she nods to him and Panthro. "We will.. as soon as we know, we'll let you know."
~*
"No Mother, I didn't just "jump" into this.. Tygra and I discussed it." Cheetara explains as she paces the living room. Her steps are quick but feathery as she tries not to wear a hole in the carpet with her speed. "Yes, they are mixed.. I think that's why we were chosen."
"Cheetara, you told me not three months ago that you and Tygra weren't going to be together again. The cubs will need a stable home. Can you provide that to them?" A woman's voice was heard on the other end. "This isn't something you can just drop when you're done."
She sighs heavily running her hand through her blonde hair as she sits on the couch, "I-I know…I know I've caused a lot of …mess with he and I."
"Yes you have. You are like your father and I, I'm afraid. Settling down is hard for us. That's why I want to ask again, are you ready for this? Is he ready for this?"
She smiles, "Actually, I've never seen him so confident before.. his eyes lit up at seeing the kittens… I-I've always loved how he smiles …but this time.. something was different.. it was softer…he looked at me and the world skidded to stop.. it hit me hard and I couldn't breathe.."
"You trust him and believe in what's about to happen. Confidence in oneself comes from within and having the trust of your partner and his support only helps it grow." The voice sounded warmer on the phone as she said this, almost sounding relieved at hearing it all.
"With everything moving so slowly, I was able to look down at the cub in my arms…he looked up at me a-and …I almost cried. He couldn't pull away and I couldn't break it either. I've never had anything like that happen before."
"The maternal instinct, Cheetara. Every woman has it, its just a matter of when it makes itself known."
"And what of Tygra? He had the same experience with the girl.. I saw it. I fell in love with him all over again..he looked different, like a-"
"Father." The woman finished sighing happily. "Well, I must say, you had me scared when you first called but Cheetara, I'm no longer worried. Do his parents know?"
This time Cheetara sighed, "No. They haven't spoken in years. I don't think he wants to get in the middle of all of the politics."
"Probably for the best, I'm afraid. He's a better man for pulling out of that insanity when he did." She hears her daughter start to pace again and sighs trying to change the subject. "Have the kids been given names yet?"
"Wily Kit for the girl. Wily Kat for the boy."
"And they are a mix you say?"
"Yes, Tygra said he thinks a Wild Cat and a Tiger. Jaga confirmed it…" She smiles leaning back into the couch.
"When do you pick them up?"
"Tomorrow."
"Cheetara, I'm so proud of you both. Remember that it's ok to be nervous and you both will mess up a lot but its going to be alright. Any time you need us, just call."
"Thank you, mother.." She trails off taking a deep breath. "I just wish I was confident like Tygra is."
"My dear, he's just as nervous as you are, I assure you. Remember that people show their nervousness in different ways. You show yours more externally… he's probably a mess inside."
"This is true." She smiles nervously. She looks up as she hears the door open. "Oh. Tygra is back."
"Go on, you two have a good night! And good luck tomorrow."
"Thank you, we'll keep you updated!"
~*
"So?" A male cheetah asked leaning against the door frame. "Is she doing alright?"
"Would you believe our daughter is adopting twins?"
"…what?"
"She and Tygra are adopting children. Lord Jaga asked it of them." She says proudly as she stands placing the communicator on the table beside the chair.
"Wait. They are back together? Since when? And now they are adopting kids?" The questions came out in quick succession as her husband follows her around. "Is she sure about this!? Is HE sure about this? Can they handle two cubs?!"
His wife turned around smiling up at him, "Our daughter is so excited she could burst. I think the two of them fell back in love when they held the twins. To hear her talking about it, it was like seeing each other for the first time. I'm not worried _. I'm excited for them."
"That makes one of us… what if she backs down?"
"She won't. I heard no nervousness in her voice, she wasn't second guessing this time."
"You did say a few years back that she and Tygra would wind up together.. I just never thought it would be so soon."
"A cheetah needs someone to slow them down. We moved so fast that we forget to enjoy life. She outright told me that Tygra slows the world around her.."
"Then they are meant to be." He nods a smile crossing his features. "Can they really do it?"
"I think so. I think it's the right time, they both want to settle down and now they have an excuse to do so."
~*
"Who were you on the phone with?" Tygra asked as he walks into the living room setting his things on the floor by the couch.
"My mother.. I was just telling her about the twins."
"And?" He asks nervously.
"She's excited for us."
He sighs relieved smiling, "Do you feel better?"
"Yes actually…" She walks over and kisses him. "This will be our last night to ourselves… what should we do?"
"Lay awake second guessing everything we volunteered for?" He only half jokes not pulling away from her, he kisses her back.
"No before that." She laughs before pulling her arms down from around his neck. "I have a few ideas, Tygra.."
He cleared his throat blushing as she raises her eyebrows at him. "A-Are you sure.. I mean.. we have a lot t-to plan for and.." He let out a surprised growl as he's pushed to the couch and held there as she climbs ontop of him.
She leans over him kissing him again. He pulls away panting as he looks up at her, a grin crossing his features, "O-Or we could do this!" One of his hands slides down her back, down her sides sitting on her hips.
Her hand reaches out behind her as they kiss again, this time more passionately as they get more into it, she knocks the lamp off of the table trying to turn it off.. the light flickers before it goes out leaving them in the dark.
~*
"What time will Tygra and Cheetara be here to pick up the twins?" Jaga asks as he enters the nursery. It was empty except for the twins who were sleeping in their beds. His hand drops to one of their backs.
"Early tomorrow morning."
"Good.." He smiles relieved. "They will be good parents."
"Until we can find a permanent couple at least." The nurse says smiling down at the cubs. "Though with how they cute are it won't take long."
"I do want to vet the parents closely." Jaga sighs turning to her. "With society as is it currently, I don't want them going to a bad home." He didn't want to voice it out loud because it wasn't fair of him to push them, but he internally hoped that Tygra and Cheetara would decide to adopt the kittens permanently. "Just because they are mixed doesn't mean they don't deserve a good home and kind parents."
Before the nurse can respond, they hear a child's voice down the hallway then a second voice was heard. "Shh. Don't be so loud or we'll be sent back."
"But Snarf… you said we could see him." Came the nervous response.
A smile crosses the older cats features as he hears their voices, "You will keep me updated on these two?"
"Of course." She tilts her head wondering who was speaking. She didn't know of any other cubs in the Lair or Nobility circles that sounded like that. She walks to the door watching, her eyes widening.
A small lion cub, no more than 4 or 5 years old, with flaming red hair was dancing around Jaga happily. "See?! I told you we'd find him!"
A snarf was shaking his head trying to calm him down but made no move to stop him.
"You certainly did find me.. come, it's time for bed."
Was this the heir she had heard about?
She watched him kneel and pick up the cub hugging him close. The cub hugged him happily curling up in his arms resting his head on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Jaga.. I tried to get him down, but he insisted on seeing you, snarf snarf."
"It's alright Snarf."
The cub looked like Claudis… it had to be his son. She had heard rumors of a cub being born before his wife had passed… she smiles watching Jaga carry him down the hallway before going back into the two in her care.
~*
The lights were still off in the living room as two figures laid on the floor out of breath. They were both wide awake unable to sleep even though their bodies were begging for it.
"What now?"
"We stay awake second guessing everything?" He responded attempting to laugh.
Silently she reached out taking his hand squeezing it nervously. He returned the squeeze. Realization was hitting them both, it was really happening.
She crawls closer curling up against his side resting her head on his chest. She takes a deep breath hearing him do the same. "…I'm not second guessing…"
He looks down surprised to hear that. He sighs smiling, "Then we should get some rest. We have a big day tomorrow." He pushes her to sit up so they can go into their room.
She turns and hugs him tightly, "No matter what happens from now on… let's do it together. Can you promise me that?"
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
She pulls back smiling as she gets to her feet. She tugs him towards their room both of them were starting to get tired now that they've relaxed.
~*
"Tygra. Cheetara. I'm happy to see you both." Jaga moves from the door of the nursery letting them in. "I've heard you have your housing unit ready?"
"Yes, we had some help but got it taken care of." Tygra met Jaga's eyes for a few seconds before looking past him hoping to see the twins.
The older cat just laughs, "They will be out very soon. The nurse is getting a few other things ready." He smiles watching Cheetara move closer to Tygra. "You are both excited?"
She looks up before she sighs nodding, "…nervous and excited, I think is the best way to put that."
"But a good nervous.." Tygra trails off as the Nurse comes in with the twins in her arms. He and Cheetara go to meet her each taking a twin.
"They've just eaten and will be asleep for a few hours." She informs them smiling gently at the new parents as she hands them off. "They are small but healthy."
Cheetara holds the kitten in her arms close being careful not to hurt him. Her arms were no longer shaking, she wasn't nervous this time. Wily Kat was comfortable in his blankets as he curled up on her shoulder. She lifts her head smiling at Tygra as he does the same with the other kitten. Wily Kit was fast asleep and comfortable as well. "I think it's time we get them home."
They turn around to look at Jaga. He only nods with approval picking up the basket with the kitten's things in them. "I'll walk you out… remember to call if you need anything."
"I don't think we'll need to do that, do you Wily Kit?" The tiger asked the cub in his arms as he walked down the hallway.
"Well if you do, please call."
"We will." Cheetara answered for him. "Won't we, Wily Kat?"
Jaga stopped at the entrance as one of the guards took the basket of items from him. He watched the couple make their way down the stairs to the waiting cab.
~*
Cheetara pushes the door open with her hip after Tygra unlocks it before walking into their home. She turns and looks at him nervously. "Well…we did it."
"We did…" Tygra stops short as Wily Kit wakes up opening her eyes. She looks up at him trying to decide if she were going to cry or not. As he smiled down at her, she gives a tiny smile back quieting down. "Welcome home, Wily Kit.."
Cheetara sits Wily Kat up keeping him steady in her arms as he wakes up as well. He smiles up at her relaxing back not making a noise at all. She sighs smiling warmly down at him, "Welcome home, Wily Kat…"
The two adults move so they are shoulder to shoulder and look down at the babies in their arms happily. In their excitement they forgot it was possibly temporary, Cheetara looks to Tygra. "Well, we're a family now.. all four of us."
"I wouldn't have it any other way." He responded smiling over at her.
"Good.. me neither."