Disclaimer: The SWAT Kats are owned by Hanna Barbera and the Tremblay Brothers. I own the OCs
Without my Beta/Muse Misarae, none of this would have happened. Thank You Misarae!
A very brief reminder:
Chance groaned at the feeling of Callie running her paw through his fur. He let it go on for a few more minutes of blissful torture before closing his paw over hers. "What did I just say?" Chance said, giving her a mock glare.
Callie blinked, then her eyes grew wide as she realized the effect that stroking Chance's fur had on him. "Oh, er, sorry?"
"Just keep it in mind for later, love," Chance said with a grin.
Callie nodded. "Right now, sleep is in order." She snuggled in, closed her eyes, and quickly fell asleep.
Chance looked one last time at his sleeping angel, kissed the top of her head, and then followed her in to dreamland.
The next morning, Chance awakened to the sound of construction from the site next door. He looked down at Callie, who was still sleeping contently. He smiled from ear to ear and thought to himself, "How did I get so lucky? This is how I envision spending the rest of my life."
Chance kissed the top of Callie's head and stroked her back. Not that he wanted to wake her from her slumber. He just loved the feeling of her in his arms.
Callie did wake up, though. She tilted her head up and saw a very happy Chance. She smiled and said, "Good morning, my love. Did you sleep well?"
"With you in my arms, how could I not? " Chance replied before kissing her again, on the forehead this time, as he continued to hold her tight.
Callie looked at her alarm clock and saw that it was after nine in the morning. "Shall we go and see what Jake and Felina are up to? " She said to Chance while playing with his chest fur.
"Knowing Felina, she is probably still asleep. Although, Jake is most likely up and working on something in her apartment. If she did not wear him out last night, that is," Chance said though a purr.
They both kissed each other one last time before deciding to get showered and dressed. Then they were going to wake the other two 'Love birds' by any means necessary and get breakfast.
Chance and Callie left her apartment and walked down the hall to Felina's apartment. Callie took out the key that Felina had given her and opened the door. Instantly, a fresh, clean smell hit her's and Chance's noses. Callie stopped, looked at the number on the door, just to make sure that she was at the right apartment, shrugged her shoulders, and the pair went in.
"What's wrong Callie? You seemed spooked," Chance asked.
"This place looked like a bomb went off in it not that long ago. I know that Felina didn't have time to clean it. I just wanted to make sure that we were in the right place," Callie replied.
As she finished speaking, Jake appeared, already dressed and wearing large yellow gloves. "Morning, you two," Jake said.
"Good morning, Jake. Where is Felina?" Callie asked.
"She went to headquarters first thing this morning. I was actually surprised that she got up before I did," Jake replied.
As Callie looked around the now clean apartment, Chance placed his right arm around Jake's shoulders and asked Jake, "So, what happened after you two left Callie's?" With a grin on his face.
"A gentle tom never tells, Chance. Let's just say we wore ourselves out," Jake replied as he lifted Chance's arm off of him.
Felina arrived back at her apartment not more than five minutes later, opened the door, looked around, and then closed the door. She said, "I must be at the wrong apartment." Felina looked at the number on the door, just to be sure that it was her apartment, and then re-opened it. She entered to find Jake, Callie, and Chance in her apartment awaiting her return.
"Where did the mess go?" Felina asked Jake.
"I could not stand being in this messy, smelly place anymore. Chance will tell you that if he so much as leaves a screwdriver out, he gets his tail handed to him. I just took the liberty of cleaning this place before you got home from headquarters. Luckily, this place is not that big, and I am used to the disasters 'Cyclone Chance' leaves in his wake," Jake said, pointing at Chance while looking at Felina.
Felina and Callie giggled like school girls at that remark. Chance, on the other hand made a face, then said, "Hey! I don't leave that big of a mess lying around," while crossing his arms over his chest.
"No? Every time Callie calls, you drop whatever you are doing and scramble to get to the phone. It doesn't matter what or who is in the way. You move it or throw it just to get there quicker. Or if you are working alone in the garage, there will be a giant mess of stuff just laying around that was not there earlier. Tools, parts, rags, and grease all over the floor. I treat the garage as an extension of our living quarters. You treat it as if it was part of the salvage yard!" Jake said to Chance, looking him dead in the face.
Felina went over to Jake and said as she was walking, "I think that it was sweet of you to clean up after me." She then wrapped her arms around him and kissed him.
"There has to be some sort of medicine I can get her for that. Kissing him that much can't be good," Callie said to Chance.
Felina shot a look at Callie, then said to her, "So, I'm addicted to him. Could be worse." Felina kissed Jake again, just to annoy Callie.
"Just let them be, Callie. They will have to come up for air sometime," Chance said to Callie, while placing an arm around her waist.
"How about we get some breakfast? We could go to the diner on the corner?" Callie asked.
Jake broke the kiss with Felina, but still held her tightly and said, "I know a place that is better. It's called 'Chez Salvage' and it is an outdoor cafe with real interesting, er.. artwork all around."
Chance looked at him questioningly before unwinding his arm from around Callie's waist, then saying to Jake, "Can I talk to you for a second?" The two toms moved over towards the kitchen, out of ear shot of the girls. Then Chance continued, "You plan on taking them to our patio in the salvage yard? Real romantic there, buddy."
"What is more romantic than the two of us cooking for them? Trust me, Chance, they will like it. I have already stocked our fridge with what we need. I'll cook and you serve," Jake said.
"Ok, buddy. I just hope that whatever Burke and Murray dumped there yesterday doesn't smell too bad. I have to make a stop on the way, though. I will meet you there," Chance said.
"Just don't be too long," Jake said to Chance. Then he looked at the girls and said to them, "You two ladies are with me. Chance has a quick errand to run. Then he will meet us there."
The group left the apartment and headed towards the elevator. They got in and headed towards the lobby. At the entrance, Chance kissed Callie, then said to her, "I'll be there shortly. Don't let those two get in trouble while I am gone." He left the group and headed towards the subway. The rest of the group made their way to Felina's patrol car, got in, and headed off, with Jake giving directions.
Chance got out of the subway and found the antique shop that his uncle had told him about. Chance's uncle had told him that this particular shop always had unique items in it that you would not find anywhere else. He went in. The door hit a bell hanging from a handwrought iron bracket. It looked real old. As Chance looked around the shop, he made his way over towards one of the display cases. As he looked down into the case, a ring caught his eye. It had a small diamond in the center and was flanked by emeralds that had the same color and sparkle as Callie's eyes. He envisioned that ring on Callie's finger. It looked as if it belonged there. Chance looked at other rings and bracelets that were in the case, but his eyes were drawn to the ring that he saw earlier, as if by magic. He had to have it.
The shop owner came out of the back of the store when she heard the bell sound. She saw the lone tom walking around and perusing the items that adorned the walls. She saw him stop at the display case and look down. She then made her way over to the case after the tom seemed to find what he was looking for. She asked, "Can I help you find something?"
Chance looked up at the she-cat and saw what appeared to be Callie's identical twin minus the beauty mark on her left cheek and lacking the glasses. He shook his head and thought to himself, "There is no way they are related. It must be just a coincidence." He then said to the owner, "Yes ma'am, what can you tell me about that ring?" Pointing to the one that caught his eye.
"Oh, that ring is centuries old. From what the legends say, it used to be Queen Callista's engagement ring. It was made just for her, and although the diamond in the center is exquisite, the emeralds had been sought out for their color. They matched her eye color and sparkle exactly. It was found in a wooden box buried beneath what is now city hall about sixty years ago," the shop owner told Chance. What Chance did not know was that the shop owner was not being entirely truthful. The ring had not been found beneath city hall. It was her own engagement ring, destined to be placed on her granddaughter's paw. It would not fit any other she-cat, and the ring would reject another owner. She then continued, "Would you like to see it closer? I can take it out of the case so you can examine it."
Chance said to the owner, "Please do."
She opened the case, took the ring out, and handed it to Chance. As Chance took hold of the ring, his paw started to feel warm as well as his heart. He started smiling and his tail started to move on its own. The shop owner noticed this immediately. She thought to herself, "This tom must be the one who is in love with my granddaughter. The ring would have rejected his touch if he wasn't."
"I'll take it. How much does this cost?" Chance asked the shop owner.
"I assume that you must love this she-cat with all your heart. She must be very special to you, and she feels the same towards you?" the owner asked Chance.
"I cannot imagine my life without her. She is everything to me, as I am to her," Chance replied to the owner, unable to keep his eyes off the ring.
"Good, legend has it that this ring can only be worn by someone who is deeply in love with her partner, and not anyone else. Just the fact that you are able to hold it proves that your girlfriend is that special someone who is made for you and you alone. With that said, the ring is yours. I could not sell it to anyone else," she said to Chance. Then she continued, "There is a price, though. It has been said that Queen Callista placed a curse on the ring. The curse states that if the love is not true, great pain and heartache will occur to the she-cat that wears this ring. However, there is a plus side to this curse. It is also stated that if the love between the two is true, this ring will grant love and happiness eternal. Do you understand?"
Chance did not believe what the she-cat was saying. All he knew was that he was drawn to that particular ring, and he was going to give it to Callie. Although, he could not explain why he felt so good while he held it in his paw. He said to her, "Yes, I understand."
"Good, I am going to wrap this up for you. Give me a minute," she said, and took the ring into the back. Before she boxed the ring and wrapped it, she placed a note around it that said, "May you and your future husband always be happy and in love. My love, my beloved Granddaughter. I will see you soon, Grandmother Callista." She kissed the box, cast a spell on it that would not let the box be opened by any other then its intended, then she left the back room and walked back towards Chance. As she gave the wrapped box to Chance, she said with a smile, "Here you go, and good luck. You must bring your future wife back here after you give this to her. I would love to see the ring on her paw."
"I will, and thank you," Chance said. Then he left the shop and headed towards the salvage yard.
As the shop owner saw the tom leave, she walked over to another case that held her amulet. She caressed the case and said, "My dear Granddaughter, this tom is going to love you for all eternity. May your love for him and your kittens last just as long," She wiped her eyes with her paw when she had finished speaking.
Callie, Felina, and Jake arrived at the salvage yard. They parked the car and got out.
"This is the café that we are supposed to be going to, JAKE?" Felina said to Jake, giving him a stern look.
Jake gulped hearing at the tone of Felina's voice and said, "I thought that instead of a stuffy diner, we could dine on our patio in the back. You girls don't have to lift a finger. Just enjoy the warm breeze."
"Ok Jake, but the food had better be good, or your tail will be cropped." Felina said while making a 'snip snip' motion with two of her fingers.
"Oh, don't worry, ladies. You will enjoy your breakfast. Please follow me," Jake said as he bowed to the girls.
Callie and Felina followed Jake. They passed the side of the garage and ended up at a fence. Jake opened the gate and led the girls through. Once inside, the girls saw a garden, as well as a stone patio with a small fountain. There was a table in the center of the patio with four chairs around it. The set looked handmade.
As the group walked over to the table, Callie asked, "You and Chance did all of this?"
"Yes, it is amazing what you can find in the yard. We both are real good with a welder, and we made all of the furniture. The garden took a while to complete, and it still needs some work. Especially the vegetable garden to your right. We needed a place that we could just let the stress of our long, hard days evaporate. This place seems to do the trick. Please have a seat. I will be right out with the first course," Jake said to the girls.
He pulled out a chair and motioned for Felina to have a seat. She did, and Jake pushed her chair in. He did the same for Callie. Then he ran off to the kitchen.
Chance arrived as Jake started cooking the second course. Chance said to Jake, "Are the girls seated and ready?"
"Yep, they were very impressed by the garden, but they have to be real hungry by now. Can you bring the drinks out to them? I'll have the fruit platter done in about three minutes," Jake said to Chance, while slicing up various types of fruit.
Chance placed his box on the counter away from Jake, put an apron on, and picked up a tray with coffee and juice on it, as well as glasses and cups. He made his way out to the garden and the awaiting girls. "May I start you lovely ladies with a beverage?" Chance asked.
Callie and Felina giggled at Chance's behavior. He was acting like a waiter at their beck and call.
"Please do," Callie replied to Chance.
He placed a glass and a cup in front of each of the she-cats, then he poured each some coffee and juice. Then he said to the pair, "I will be right back with your first course." He walked away.
"Oh, we should take advantage of this. I could get used to having those two at our beck and call. What a cute waiter Chance makes. Oh those muscles, and that tail. You must tell me sometime how they feel against you, Callie," Felina said.
"Not on your life Felina. You have your own tom to play with. Keep your eyes and paws off of mine," Callie replied as she shot Felina a stern look.
"Where is the rule that says I can't look? I do have to admit, he is one fine specimen," Felina said back.
"Look all you want, but no touching the merchandise," Callie retorted.
Chance arrived back in the kitchen to find a fruit platter, plates, and silverware stacked neatly on another tray, just waiting for him. He picked the tray up and brought it out to the girls.
Callie and Felina were busy making comments about the two toms when Chance showed up with the fruit platter. He said, "Your first course is served, ladies." He had a glint in his eye, since he overheard their conversation. He placed the platter in the center of the table and passed out the plates and silverware to the girls. He then said to the pair, "Please help yourselves. To the fruit, that is. Not my tail."
The two she-cats blushed at the comment. They did not think that he heard them. Boy were they wrong. After Chance left, Felina leaned over to Callie so she would not have to talk too loudly and said, "I guess we have to watch what we say around those two. It could get us in trouble."
"I thought you liked trouble?" Callie said to Felina, while taking some fruit from the platter.
"I do. I just want to be the one causing it," Felina said back, while winking at Callie.
Jake had the second course that consisted of eggs and salmon almost ready when he saw the box off in the corner. Chance entered the kitchen and accidentally let the door slam behind him.
"How's it going out there?" Jake asked, turning his attention back to the stove.
"Very good. The girls are having fun at our expense again. They keep talking about our tails," Chance said to Jake, while taking a piece of uncooked salmon.
Jake knew that Felina was forward and bold enough to talk like that, but Callie? What a surprise! She seemed so refined. Jake filed it away in the back of his mind, then said to Chance, "Is that what I think it is?" Pointing with a spatula at the small box in the corner.
Chance looked at his partner with a gleam in his eye, then the box, and replied, "Yes, it is."
End of Chapter.
Author's Note:
In order for this story to play out properly, the SWAT Kats never went back in time as told by the "Bride of the Past Master" episode.
Queen Callista is immortal and ages at 1/20th of the rest of the population. So as of this chapter, she appears to be no more than 35 years old.
Bear with me on this. It is going to be a wild ride!