Disclaimer: The SWAT Kats are owed by Hanna Barbera and the Tremblay Brothers. I own the OCs.
Even though Felina doesn't want to be like her mother, she's more like her than she realizes.
"Ferals take care of their own beyond all else." Oh Iris, if Felina takes you in, you're going to have eight brothers or uncles, plus two grandparents, who will all be there for you. Whether you want them to or not.
A few days passed and Felina was getting ready to be discharged. She was wearing a pair of dark blue sweatpants and a long sleeved un-tucked flannel shirt as not to put any pressure on her incision.
As she was packing up her toiletries, there was a soft knock on her door. She looked over her right shoulder to see Iris, standing there looking completely forlorn and her tail hanging low. However, she did physically look better since she has gained some tone to her and has been letting her hair grow out. "Hey Iris, come to see me off?" She asked, fully knowing why she was there, and her situation with her mother.
"May I come in?" Iris sheepishly asked in return, not quite looking Felina in the eye.
"Of course," Felina responded. She pushed her bag aside and sat down on the bed's edge.
Iris entered the room and sat down on Felina's left. She placed both of her paws in her lap, then said, "I'm scared that my mother will follow through with her threat of throwing me out of the house, if I don't stop seeing Roy. Why is she insisting I date a tom of pedigree? Is it only to make her happy? Can't she see how much I love Roy and how he makes me happy? I don't want to break up with Roy. I want to attend the same school he's attending; I want to be there when he needs me, and I want to be able to live my own life."
Felina put her left arm around Iris' shoulders and gently pulled her to her, letting Iris rest her head on her shoulder. "I don't know what is going through your mother's head. However, when I was a teenager, much like yourself, I wasn't the daughter my mother wanted either. She only thought of me as a Kitten Making machine, destined to be a Housewife, like her. My father and uncle had military backgrounds, and my brothers were expected to follow along in their footsteps. I felt left out, which is why I rebelled against my family. I was what you would call the Wild Child. I had more tom friends than I could count, and I always did things, my own way which really ground my mother's gears. However, she and I are repairing our relationship. She's seeing me in a new light, since I became a mother myself. I wish we had the type of relationship we have now, instead of her cutting me to shreds every time we talked." Felina paused for a few seconds, then said, "If your mother follows through on her threat, call me anytime, day or night, and I'll come running. I'll make sure you're not without a roof over your head. Either you will be able to stay with me and my husband, or with one of my closest friends. That, I promise."
Iris lifted her head from Felina's shoulder, looked into her eyes, and asked, "Why? You barely know me. Your husband has offered to pay for my new leg, and now you are offering me to let me stay with you?"
"That's an easy answer, Iris. I see a lot of myself in you. If my mother wasn't too busy giving birth to toms, she might have given me a little sister, just like you," Felina answered.
Iris started to tear up again after listening to Felina's answer.
Felina embraced her, tightly, and said, "I've got you, let it all out."
Jake and Beatrice who was carrying Alex her arms walked into the room to see Iris in Felina's arms. She handed her grandson to Jake and made her way over to the bed. She embraced both she-cats in her arms, and said, "My daughter has told me your tale, Iris. And I'm so sorry you are having to go through this. One thing us Ferals do is take care of our own beyond all else. I know we aren't related, but if it makes you feel better, feel free to call me grandma or mom. Hey, I'm not that old despite pushing out a litter of kittens the size of a Basketball Team."
Iris lifted her head from Felina's shoulder to look into Beatrice's eyes, and asked, "You really mean that?"
Beatrice smiled back at her, and said, "Having Felina as a daughter was quite a challenging experience, so having you as a daughter or granddaughter would be a piece of cake." Even though she has changed, she still couldn't help but to take a stab at Felina.
Felina shot her mother a glance. But she returned a smile to her daughter, telling her she was trying to lighten Iris' mood.
Jake approached the trio with his son. Alex looked at his mother, who he missed. "Mommy!" He said in excitement.
Felina let go of Iris and reached out for her son, with a large smile on her face.
Jake handed Alex to to his wife and watched as she brought him to her chest, kissing him between his ears.
"Mommy missed you too, Alex," Felina said.
Alex looked up and saw another she-cat he didn't know. "Mommy, who is she?"
Felina looked over to Iris for a brief moment, then back to her son, and answered, "Alex, this is Iris. She might be staying with us."
Alex looked to Iris, and asked, "Be my friend?"
Iris shifted her gaze between Alex and Felina, then asked, "May I hold him?"
Felina handed Alex to Iris who placed him in her lap, her paws on his waist. "Of course, I'll be your friend," she answered the young kitten.
Alex brought his tiny arms around Iris' neck and rested his head on her chest.
Iris supported his weight by placing her arms under his thighs. Holding little Alex felt so right. She felt like she was holding her little brother, if she had one. "Want to go play, while your father and grandmother finish getting your mother ready to leave?"
"Yes!" Alex said.
Iris turned to Felina, and asked, "May I go play with your son?"
"Of course. Alex would be bored with us anyway," Felina answered.
Iris stood, still holding Alex in her arms and started walking as best as she could with her leg. She walked out of the room, she turned around, and said, "I wish I really was your sister, Felina. My life would have been so much different. We'll be in the Kitten's Play Area, two floors down. Can't miss it."
After Iris left with Alex, Beatrice helped Felina finish packing her bag, and said, "She's such a nice girl. Even though you were a pawful growing up, I would never have placed you in the same predicament she's in now."
"Thanks, mother. I think" Felina responded. "Iris shouldn't have to be worried; her mother is going to thrown her out, just because she is in love with Roy, or wants better for her life."
"No, she doesn't!" Beatrice said. "If I ever meet her mother, I'm going to give her a piece of my mind. And if that doesn't work, I'll take a page from your book and get a little more persuasive."
"Mother, I don't think that will be necessary. Daniella already tried to talk to her. To say, she's quite stubborn is an understatement," Felina said.
"I agree with my wife," Jake said. "Iris' mother is a force to be reckoned with. I only assume she's used to getting her way. If she does follow through on her threat, Felina and I will take her in, or Chance and Callie will." He looked at his watch, then said, "There is a Design Meeting at work I need to attend in two hours. We need to get going so I can be back in the city."
"Isn't Felina's comfort more important than your meeting, Jake?" Beatrice asked.
"Of course it is! That is why I have arranged for a Nurse, to help her whenever she needs it," Jake answered.
"Who's this nurse, Jake?" Felina asked.
"You remember, Nurse Khan? Well, while you are healing, Nancy will be there, and Alex will have a Playmate with Sergio."
"I remember her, she's one of Felicia's students. Wonder if she can teach me some Martial Arts?" Felina asked.
"Only after you have healed 100%," Jake said.
Once Felina was situated in a Wheelchair, which she hated. The three of them left the room with Jake pushing Felina and Beatrice walking on her right. They arrived at the Kitten's Play Area to see Alex toddling along after a group of kittens. They walked further into the room to see Iris with a little girl in her lap, she was reading her a story from a book, while Roy was playing basketball with a group of older kittens in the back corner.
Roy took a shot from the Free Throw line, made the shot, and as his team was getting ready, he spotted Jake, Felina, and a she-cat he didn't know. "Excuse me, I got to talk to those cats over there. I'll be right back." He made his way over to Jake and said, "I don't know how to even thank you for all you are doing for me and Iris."
"You don't have to thank me, Roy," Jake stated.
"Are you kidding? You offered to give us new prosthetics that are advanced far beyond the ones we have, pay for the surgeries and recoveries, and from what Iris told me, you offered to take her in! You're right, I shouldn't be thanking you, I should be indebted to you for all you are doing for us," Roy said.
"Roy, you don't have to do anything. We want you and Iris to be the best you can be, and not be held back by a piece of machinery. Iris mentioned she wants to attend the same college you are, which school are you attending?" Jake asked.
"West Abyssinian University. I was planning on majoring in education with an emphasis on coaching. But now since I have this," he flexed the prosthetic limb where his left arm once was, and continued, "I'm not sure of my Scholarship status since it was tied to me playing ball for them."
"What about your Academics? Can't they redo your scholarship based on your grades?" Jake asked.
Roy's tail slightly fell, then answered, "My grades aren't the best. I was focused on getting a Sports Scholarship, then while I was at college, hitting the books hard to bring my grades up. Now, I'm not even sure I can afford to go. I'm going to have to get a job, and maybe attend Community College at night."
"Have you applied for the grant from C. C. Enterprises?" Jake asked.
"I have never heard of them, or they had a grant program," Roy answered.
"They do, and I have a contact over there, with quite the pull with the board. But even with her influence, the are highly selective as to whom the grants go to. You're going to have to pull your grades up as high as you can get them and be a Positive Member of Society to even be considered for the grant," Jake said.
"I guess I can apply and hope for the best," Roy said, then looked over at Iris' happy face as she was reading. He focused back on Jake, and said, "Iris can't know about any of this. She's already gotten her scholarships lined up and her Acceptance Letter from school. It would drive her nuts, that I won't be attending with her, if I don't get the grant. She and I are already planning out first real date, outside of the hospital, which I want to go on desperately. I can't disappoint her; I love her too much."
"Then don't," Jake said. "Work your tail off to get the grant. You might have to forgo a few dates with her, but I believe she should know what is going on. Be honest with her. Tell her everything. That's how relationships are built. Don't keep her in the dark, that's when distrust begins."
"You're right, Jake. She should know everything," Roy said. He looked over to Iris again, and asked, "Iris, can I talk to you?"
Iris put the book down, then the kitten, and said, "I'll be right back." She rose from her seat and walked over to Roy her limp was quite visible to all. She stopped in front of him, and asked, "What's up?"
He looked at her beautiful face, and answered, "My Scholarship might be at risk, since I can't play anymore. If I don't get the grant, Jake just told me about. You will have to go to college without me."
"What do you mean, go to school without you, Roy? I thought your Scholarship was all lined up. What changed?" She asked.
He held up his prosthesis, and said, "This happened! If I didn't get my arm crushed, I would have been still able to play ball and still attend college on a semi-full ride! I had to be a hero and pull a fellow teammate from under all that heavy gear and look where it got me!"
Iris scrunched up her face, and replied, "Where did it get you?! You might have lost your arm, but if you didn't, we wouldn't have fallen in love with each other! If you weren't there, encouraging me to push myself, I wouldn't be able to walk at all! You and I are a team, and teams stick together through thick and thin! Face it, Roy. You're going to get that grant, and I'm going to make sure you do! We are going to work, every minute of every day to make sure you do not fail!" She jabbed his chest with the index finger on her left paw and said, "Do you understand?!"
Roy felt the sting of her claw penetrating the fur and skin on his chest and winced. "I understand, Iris and will do what I have to, to get that grant. May I kiss you now, cause when you are mad, you look hotter than the sun?" He asked.
Iris grabbed the back of his neck with her right paw, pulled him to her, and kissed him, very deeply.
He kissed her back, feeling her tongue in his mouth. He closed his eyes and let out a very deep purr.
She pulled back from the intense kiss, rested her forehead against his, and said, "I love you, Roy. You and I will make sure you get that grant. I'm not leaving without you."
His arms were around her waist, holding her tight. He quickly kissed her again, and said, I love you too, Iris.I hope you are planning for some late nights studying? I'm going to need them."
"I'll do what I have to. And if its too late, you can stay the night," Iris said.
Roy's eyes went wide with that. He gulped in nervousness, then asked, "Iris, I'm not sure about what you are saying."
She looked into his eyes, and said, "If it gets too late for you to head home. You can stay, with me, in my bed. I'll sleep on the couch."
"I could never let you do that," Roy said. "I'll take the couch; you keep your bed."
"Are we really going to have our first argument, over something that is as trivial as sleeping arrangements, which may or not be needed?" Iris asked.
Roy cinched his arms tighter around her waist, and said, "No. Arguing with you is not something I want to do. I'd rather be doing this." He then kissed her.
She withdrew from the kiss, then said, "I'd rather be doing that, as well. Go finish your game. I've got a kitten to finish reading to." She slunk out of his arms and walked back to the awaiting kitten, with her tail high and hips swaying, drawing Roy's eyes to her lower half.
He smirked, then said, "I'm beginning to think my goddess is more of a devil. But what a she-cat!"
Jake shook his head, then said, "See, being honest with her worked out."
"It did," Roy answered. "I never want to see her upset at me." He looked over to Iris and her happy face as she read to the girl, and said, "Shes going to be a wonderful mother to our kittens, after we graduate college and get married."
"Let me tell you something, Roy. I got Felina pregnant right after we got engaged to marry. I don't regret having Alex, but I do wish the timing was a little better. I wanted more time being a couple before having kittens," Jake said.
Roy looked back to Jake, and said, "I want the same thing, Jake. However, when I'm with her or when I'm thinking about her, I keep seeing Iris' belly rounded with our kitten. I know we are too young to be thinking about having a family. But those visions feel so good and right."
Jake placed his left paw on Roy's right shoulder, and said, "I know they do. I felt the same way when Felina was pregnant with Alex. Be careful, is all I'm saying." He glanced at his watch, then said, "We really need to go. We'll be talking, soon."
A few minutes later, Jake was pushing Felina out of the hospital with Alex in her lap and Beatrice right behind them. He set the brakes on the chair, looked around, and asked, "Where is our ride?"
As on cue, a shiny black minivan pulled up to the curb in front of them. The Driver's door opened followed by the Passenger's door, revealing Chance and Callie.
Callie sprinted to Felina, lowered herself, and hugged her tightly. "Jake told us what happened in during your surgery, and I almost passed out. I'm glad you're alright, Lina. I love you," she said.
"I love you too, Callie," Felina replied. "Before we get all mushy, can we get out of here and back home? We've been here, way too many times for my liking."
"Before you go, we need to schedule your treatments, Mrs. Clawson," Daniella said.
They all turned around to see Daniella, now wearing a pair of tight jeans, a red t-shirt, and a pair of brown boots with a moderate heel with the legs of the jeans tucked into them.
Alex looked over to Daniella, and said, "So pretty."
Daniella laughed as she walked over towards Alex. She bent forward, kissed him between the ears, and said as she stood back up, "You're not the first youngster to say I'm pretty. Guess I should be flattered," she said. She focused on Felina, and said, "Those Hormones will need to be given by IV infusion. The procedure takes about an hour. Given your adversity to needles, we can insert a Catheter and leave it in. But it will have to be replaced, every few months. However, I don't recommend it. Sclerosis of the vein is quite common and can be quite painful."
"What are my options, Daniella?" Felina asked.
"Grin and bear getting a new Catheter, every session. The needle is much smaller than the ones used for Surgical Patients. So, it shouldn't cause too much discomfort," Daniella answered.
As she was speaking. Max pulled up behind the minivan, riding a very old motorcycle with a Side Car attached to the right. He was wearing an old brown leather jacket, a grey shirt underneath, and a pair of jeans tucked into a matching set of brown boots. He removed his helmet, turned to his wife, and said, "Daniella, we need to leave. The group won't wait for us."
"Be right there, Max," Daniella said. "Come by my office in two weeks. We'll go over your options and get you scheduled." She turned on her left foot and started walking towards her husband, which drew both Chance's and Jake's eyes to her tail section, encased in the tight denim.
Daniella kissed her husband, grabbed her helmet from the Side Car, slipped it on, and got into the Side Car.
However, as she sank down, Max slapped her butt with his right paw, causing her to jump to stand in the Side Car. She turned to her left, and asked, "Why did you do that?"
Max was already smirking at his wife. And as he placed his right paw on his helmet, he said, "Being youthful and playful, my dear. You used to like it, when I surprised you, like that."
Daniella sunk into the Side Car and put her helmet on. Not answering her husband.
Max put his own helmet back on, placed his paws on the grips, and said, "Sorry I slapped you, Daniella."
She softened her expression and said, "Apology accepted, Max."
"I have to remind you to wear those jeans more often. They do wonders for showing off those long and shapely legs, and great butt, Daniella," Max said.
End of Chapter