Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer walked into the junkyard later that afternoon. Rumpelteazer had been unusually quiet the past hour, since they woke up. In fact Jerrie wasn’t sure if she even said a word, she just mumbled answers half heartedly and he was beginning to worry. He asked her what was wrong a few times but all he got out of her was ‘stomach’. Several cats were out in the central area, lazing around after last nights events. The two passed the tire, as Rumpelteazer stopped. She looked at it and got on, Mungo continued to walk.
“Everybody” Rumpel said as the cats slowly turned towards her. “I... I need to tell you all something. A confession really. It’s about what Bombalurina said last night about Mungojerrie working for Macavity. He doesn’t. Trust me, I know; I... I would have seen him there if he did.”
“Did Macavity capture you too,” Demeter asked as she looked up at her.
“No, he didn’t” Rumpel said as she licked her dry lips. “He employed me. I was one of his workers...”
“You work for Macavity!” Pouncival yelled.
“That’s how he knew the ball was tonight!” Another cat yelled.
“You gave him the information!”
“Helped him steal Old Deuteronomy!” Cassandra declared.
“No, no! You guys don’t get it...” Rumpelteazer yelled, tears brimming her eyes, and trying to fight off the accusations.
“We get it perfectly fine Rumpelteazer!” Tumblebrutus hissed. “Tried to buddy up to us so you can kidnap Demeter and Old Deuteronomy again! Well it won’t work again!” The crowd of cats; except the three bewildered toms from Victoria grove and the kittens cheered.
“What’s going on here,” Old Deuteronomy asked as he stepped up onto the tire with the queen. Munkustrap and Alonzo quickly jumped up to shield the leader from Rumpelteazer as they pushed her down; hissing and claws out.
“Stay away from her Deuteronomy,” Munkustrap cautioned as he tried to cover the large cat as good as he could. Deuteronomy looked down at the struggling queen, who was trying to stand again but seemed to have lost the will to.
“I tried to tell them...” She croaked as she looked up to him with shining eyes. Old Deuteronomy parted the two toms and helped the small queen to her paws.
“It seems like you didn’t get the whole story out.” He told her. “Try again.”
“They won’t listen to me though,” She said as she cast a sideways glance at the sea of unhappy faces.
“They’ll listen to me though,” He comforted before turning to his tribe. “You all seemed to have jumped to conclusions. I have heard all of her story and have nothing against her, and by the looks of it you haven’t even heard half of it. She told me this before she became Jellicle; and was still accepted. After all, she no longer works for him.
“She told me that she was once a worker for Macavity; in fact the day she joined the tribe is the same day she was released from his employ. She was an escort; thief, and still is one from what I heard; and a guard; but never did she harm anyone. From what I heard, she wouldn’t even kill a bug. She was released because of a deal she made with Macavity; a prisoner’s freedom for her. It was accepted and then she was freed a week later so she could see everything she missed out on as a kitten. She was so concerned about the hostages’ well being she would give them her food; or in the case I was told about, give up her innocence to ensure that they wouldn’t be emotionally scared by him.” The Jellicles were silent and looking at the tablico queen, who was looking off with a few tears rolling down her face. Demeter slowly stood up and came up to the tire.
“Sing me a song,” she said softly as Rumpelteazer looked at her. “Sing me Jellybean’s lullaby.”
“You’ll owe me,” Teazer said with a small smile. “You’ll have to sing the first line to it.”
“Valjean,” Demeter asked as tears welled up in her eyes.
“That’s not the first line” Rumpel told her as Demeter ran and hugged her. Munkustrap and Bombalurina stood in shock at the queen, terrified of Macavity, who was graciously hugging one of his workers.
“I wanted to find you for so long to thank you,” Demeter said, louder then expected. “When I was led off the grounds, I asked the tom with me why I was free. All he told me is that it was because of Valjean. Thank you so much. Don’t tell me that you gave yourself to him for me though.”
“I won’t say it then,” she said simply as Bombalurina stepped up. Demeter parted from Rumpel as the tall queen took her place.
“Thank you for saving my little sister,” She said into her shoulder. “Thank you so much. I don’t know how we can ever repay you.”
“Forgiveness,” Rumpel said softly. “That’s all I want.”
“Forgiveness for what? Comfort, caring, friendship?” Demeter asked as if the request was preposterous.
“Then acceptance,” she decided.
“Does anybody here see why we should not accept her?” Old Deuteronomy asked the tribe. Everybody looked around but nobody raise their paw in protest, they merely apologized for the indictments as they left. Munkustrap and Alonzo apologize for pushing her down before Alonzo was dragged away by Cassandra, who shot death glares as they left. Mungojerrie slowly walked over to her, face showing utter disbelief.
“I can’t believe it.” He said slowly.
“I’m sorry Mungo,” She said as she hung her head.
“I can’t believe that you actually had the guts to go up there and confess. I would have been sick to my stomach.”
“Oh I was, trust me.” Rumpel told him as she turned towards Jellylorum. “I’m sorry that I’m not the kind of cat you thought I was.”
“No, you are. You’re truthful, and that’s what I saw in you,” she said before bending down to her level. “And I see that you love my son too.” Rumpel flushed under her face fur and turned back to her other-half who was smiling profoundly.
“I love you Teazer,” he said as he put his hands on either side of her face and pulled her up into a rather loving kiss. (I mean a kiss, not a lick. Licks aren’t romantic!) They pulled apart and noticed the small crowd of cats watching them. The two turned red as Rumpel whispered ‘I love you too’ back to him.
“Teazer, this isn’t how I expected it to be like,” Mungo said as paused for a moment. “But I figure that if you have the guts to confess all of that, I figure I should have enough guts to ask you this; will you be my mate.”
“What do you think” she asked as she saw his face drop. Rumpel looked at him for a moment, before sighing “of course I will.” She threw her arms around his neck and the crowd ‘aww’ed.
“If you wish,” Deuteronomy said as the notorious duo looked at him. “We may perform the ceremony now.”
The cats looked at each other for approval before nodding. Deuteronomy was about to start when Etcetera told them to wait. She ran off to the kitten’s area and came back with the floral crown she wove; she tenderly placed it on Rumpel’s head, smiling brightly. Mistofelees changed Mungojerrie’s blue collar to black, for a more formal look. After a nod from the crowd; consisting of Jellylorum, Demeter, Bombalurina, the kittens, Rum Tum Tugger, Mistofelees and a rather apologetic looking Munkustrap; signaling that they were ready, the ceremony started.
“We are gathered here this beautiful afternoon” Deuteronomy began, “to join Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer as mates in the eyes of the Everlasting Cat. Every now and then we are blessed to find someone like us emotionally; and in this case, physically, that we want to share our life with. They are lucky enough to find love as young as they did, and feel such a bond between them” The two tablicos hung on to every word that was spoken from the wise tom, smiling greatly. “Mungojerrie, do you wish to have Rumpelteazer as your mate?”
“Yes, Deuteronomy” Mungojerrie said through a smile, making Rumpelteazer giggle.
“Rumpelteazer, do you wish to have Mungojerrie as your mate?”
“Of course I do,” She giggled but said it with great honesty.
“If anybody has an objection to why these two shouldn’t be mated, speak now or forever hold your peace.” Deuteronomy paused for a moment of silence as the crowd remained silent.
“Then with all the power vested in me by the Everlasting Cat and the Jellicle Junkyard; I now pronounce you, mates.” Old Deuteronomy leaned in towards Mungojerrie and whispered;
“You may kiss her again if you wish.”
Mungojerrie took Old Deuteronomy’s suggestion to heart and did so. The cats clapped and cheered, causing the mates to turn red once more.
“What is going on?” Tantomile asked as she and Coricopat sauntered in.
“Deuteronomy just mated Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer” Bombalurina explained as the two were getting congratulated.
“That’s wonderful,” Coricopat smiled. “We were just saying how we felt great happiness from the two of them; although there was always a darkness with Rumpelteazer.”
“Did you just get here,” Bombalurina asked as the Dark Twins nodded. “Rumpelteazer used to work for Macavity; she’s the one who freed Demeter.”
“That would explain it,” Tantomile nodded as if that was what she expected to hear.
“Tell them ‘congratulations’ for us.”
“I will,” the red queen said as the twins continued to walk through the junkyard. The crowd stayed together for the rest of the day, huddled up around the tire, just talking. Every now and then; a cat would walk by and apologize to Rumpel and congratulate the duo. Late afternoon began to turn into the evening and the four from Victoria Grove were getting ready to leave. They were about to go around the corner when a tall, thin red tom stepped into view. The toms nearby made a wall with themselves so the menace could not get through and Jellylorum began to usher the kittens to the fall out shelter. Demeter and Bombalurina began to lead Rumpelteazer towards it as well.
“Relax Jellicles,” Macavity hissed. “I’m not here for your precious leader again, I’m here on business. I need to see Rumpelteazer.”
“Fat chance,” Mungojerrie hissed. “There’s no way I’m going to let you see her.”
“I came here alone, trust me. You may all stay and watch if you want, I just need to speak with her.” Macavity claimed as Rumpel broke from the two queen’s grasp and walked through the wall of toms.
“What is it Macavity?” She asked calmly.
“I came to give you this; I thought that you may want it,” He said as he gave her a flat rectangular box and turned to leave. “It was Aconite’s.”
“Wait,” Rumpel said her voice full with fear. “What happened?”
“I know nothing more then what Marius told me.” He said solemnly.
“Then what did he tell you?” Rumpel pressed. Macavity sighed as he looked at the queen. “They were returning from a heist last night and figured to go through Victoria Grove, they were taking the shortcut. They sworn they saw you and asked two toms nearby; the toms said that it was Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer. Aconite knew your real name. They began talking more and Aconite asked if you and Mungo were friends. The toms claimed that you were practically mates. Marius said that Aconite got this look in his eyes like his heart broke and his world stopped all at the same time. He took off and ran in to a road. The car couldn’t stop in time; I’m sorry. We buried him earlier today; he’s out back with the others if you wish to visit. According to Mitcha, he truly did love you.” Macavity whispered as he left the junkyard. Rumpelteazer looked at the box and walked through the toms, as if she didn’t even notice them. She climbed onto the roof of the car and sat down. She carefully removed her crown and opened the box. Mungojerrie, Tugger and Mistofelees slowly approached her.
“Are you okay love?” Mungo asked as he sat beside her. “Stupid Pollicle...” She cried. “Why did he have to go and do that?”
“I feel awful,” Mistofelees said as he sat, ears pressed to his head. “It was Tugger and me that were talking to him.”
“If we knew that Teazer we wouldn’t have said that you might have well have been mates.” Tugger agreed as the area cleared, leaving the four of them alone.
“Why did he have to run into the streets? Why couldn’t he have just continued the shortcut to the base? Then he would have been safe!” Rumpel spat as she threw the black cloak she pick up out of the box. “He’d still be here.” Mungojerrie wrapped his arms around the weeping queen as she picked up a group of folded up pieces of paper.
“What’s that,” Tugger asked as he looked at them curiously.
“It’s our letters; we would always write down our feelings down. We’d rarely send them though.” She unfolded one and laughed. “He still has the one I gave him. ‘I ought to strangle you! I was terrified that Macavity got the Death Threat I wrote to him. You better run next time I see you Ac, because if I catch you...’ Here’s one that he wrote; ‘My Dear Valjean, I was talking to Mitcha and she made me realize something. She made me realize that I love you. Not the kind of love we have for Jellybean, but true love. I’m not sure if you feel the same way, or if you ever will, but my feelings will never change. I’m not sure what I’ll do if you ever fall in love with somebody; but I know that he’ll be lucky enough to have you.’ You’ll throw yourself in front of a car; that’s what you’ll do.” She put everything back in and closed the box up. “Let’s get home.”
Mungojerrie rolled over and fell out of the doll bed, dragging the blankets off with him and waking up Rumpelteazer in the process. She grumbled and tried to steal the blankets back from him but Mungo had a death grip on them. She tried to swipe at him but was too tired and her arm ended up just hanging down an inch away from his face. Olivia strolled over and scooped up the queen in her arms. Rumpel purred lightly as she felt herself drifting off, the hallway phone rang, bringing her back to life. Olivia put her on the ground to tend to the phone and Rumpel flopped down on to Mungojerrie, waking him up. The two slowly stood up and nuzzled each other; they grew more together, if possible, over the two weeks since they became mates. They crawled into the kitchen, and slowly ate their breakfast before heading back outside.
“Etcetera better like her birthday present we got her,” Mungojerrie yawned. “We’ll give it to her tomorrow and then we can sleep. I can’t believe it took us all night to do it.” He complained as they made their way towards the junkyard.
“Let’s just hope that it was worth it.” Rumpelteazer reminded him. Her nose began to twitch as she picked up a rather pungent smell. She looked at Mungojerrie and he looked as if he smelt it too. The mates took off down the road; trying to get to the junkyard in time to warn the others but they were blocked off, two feet in front of the junkyard entrance. Pollicles, five of them, looked at the two cats with sick smiles on their faces. The cats turned around but were cut off by one of the Pollicles, who was easily three times bigger then them.
“Well, well, well... what do we have here?” The Pollicle asked as he barred his teeth. “It looks like Jellicles, smells like Jellicles, so it must be Jellicles.”
“Wait,” a Bloodhound Pollicle said as he approached Rumpelteazer as sniffed. “Well I’ll be, it’s one of Macavity’s workers. I didn’t have one of you in a while.”
“Stay away from her” Mungojerrie hissed, arching his back and extracting his claws. He looked at the Pollicles, sending them death glares as the Pollicles glared back at them. A Pollicle leapt towards them and Mungojerrie scratched him across the face. Then the other Pollicles jumped at once, going to aid their comrade. Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer began swiping at and biting anything that moved. A rather large Pollicle back- pawed Mungojerrie and sent him flying into a telephone pole with a rather sick thud. Rumpel turned and saw him lying lifelessly on the ground. While her guard was down she was thrown into the chain-link fence separating them from the junkyard. She propped herself up and lunged at the nearest Pollicle who shoved her into the ground, hit her head on the pavement, and slipped out of consciousness. A black cat stepped out of the junkyard, eyes blazing with anger. He slowly advanced on the Pollicles, unleashing his claws and sending every last one of them scattering like sheep. He looked at the two felines, carried them a few feet in to the junkyard, and ran off to find help.
“Oh my head” Rumpel grumbled. Every part of her body ached beyond belief. She could vaguely remember what happened before she passed out. All that she could really remember was pain and Mungo slamming into the telephone pole. She slowly opened her eyes and found herself inside Jennyanydots’ fridge, lying on a soft bed. She looked to the other side of her and saw Jerrie, still out, and covered by a blanket much like she was.
“Oh, good you came through,” Jennyanydots said as she saw Rumpel’s opened eyes.
“What happened Jenny,” She asked, head starting to spin.
“Pollicles dear,” Jenny said; jumpstarting Rumpel’s memory. “They attacked you and Mungojerrie.”
“How did we get here then,” She asked, struggling to remember.
“Rumpus Cat. He found the two of you knocked out on the road, drove them off, brought you two back inside and came to find me.” Jenny explained as she handed Rumpel some medicine.
“So, what’s the damage?” Rumpel asked as she closed her eyes and took the medication.
“You two are both going to be fine, just a little dazed for a day or so. Mungo’s going to have to take some medicine for his head and you’re pregnant.” Jenny said simply as she looked over a sheet. Rumpel felt her eyes shoot opened. “I’m what?”
“Pregnant dear,” Jenny smiled. “And as far as I can tell your kittens are going to be fine. You should have them within a month or so.” ‘
I’m pregnant...’ Teazer thought to herself. ‘I’m going to be a mom. Mungo’s going to be a dad.... I suddenly feel sick.’
“I feel like I was just hit with a ton of bricks...” Mungo complained as he began to come back to life.
“Are you ready for another blow?” Rumpel asked, feeling sicker by the minute. “I’m pregnant.”
“Teazer, please don’t joke about stuff like that.” Mungojerrie begged.
“I’m not joking Jerrie, Jenny just told me. We’re going to be parents in a month.” She breathed as she looked over at him. His face, much like how she was feeling.
“Parents,” he whispered, only loud enough for her to hear. He grabbed her paw and said;
“That’s wonderful” before they both went to sleep. Jennyanydots stood beside the door, smiling at the two cats as she felt someone tap her gently on the shoulder. She turned and saw Munkustrap standing behind her.
“How are they,” He asked quietly, not wanting to wake them up.
“Fine” Jenny nodded. “They just fell asleep. Mungojerrie’s going to be a bit more dazed then usual for a little bit and Rumpelteazer’s expecting.”
“Expecting?” Munkustrap gasped. “Kittens!”
“What else would it be? I must say that it came at a good time too, the kittens are growing up; it wouldn’t have felt the same here without little ones around.” She sighed deeply. “Why don’t you go back outside and tell their friends the news. I know that they’re still out there.”
Munkustrap nodded, casting one last look at the tablicos, peacefully sleeping and with slight smiles on their faces.
“Happy Birthday Etcetera” Mungojerrie said as he hugged his little sister. Rumpel smiled at her as she tried to conceal the box with the kitten’s present inside. She got off rather easy, all she had to do was say that her kittens were bothering her and she wouldn’t have to move. So she simply sat on the box and nuzzled her queen-in-law. Etcetera was ecstatic; she was showing them everything that she got for her birthday and claimed that she got to spend a whole hour with Rum Tum Tugger who gave her a lick on the cheek before he left. Jerrie’s face went rather sour as Teazer giggled at the clashing personalities of the siblings.
“I bet it’s nothing compared to what we got you though,” Teazer giggled as she stood up and picked up the box. “Close your eyes.” Etcetera did so as Jerrie picked up a piece of a mirror as Rumpel went behind her. She opened the box and pulled out a simple pearl bracelet and attached it around the queen’s neck.
“Alright, open your eyes,” Jerrie said as his sister did so. Her eyes widened in amazement as she looked at her reflection.
“It’s beautiful,” She gasped as she touched them, almost as if to see if they were real. “I love them.”
“I’m glad,” Rumpelteazer smiled. “We tried to find one that would compliment your fur and I think this one does the trick.” Rumpel leaned in and whispered. “And Rum Tum Tugger loves how pearls look on a queen. Why don’t you go show him?”
Etcetera nodded as she bounded off and Jerrie shot Teazer a glare.