Epilogue

Epilogue:

“It wasn’t your fault, Electra,” Mistoffelees insisted softly for the second time.

“She was trying to comfort me ,” Electra reminded him. “And I didn’t even warn her about the glass!” She wanted to cry, but whenever she tried, it made her feel like throwing up, something which would definitely not cheer her up right now.

“You couldn’t have known.”

Electra heaved a long, shuddering sigh. Though part of her would never quite accept it wasn’t her fault, the reasonable part had already registered it, if with difficulty. “It was just so unfair that she had to die trying to help someone. She saved my life, and lost hers.” She watched as Munkustrap bent over the body, confirming its lifelessness to Alonzo and- Bast knew why- Pouncival.

“She saved your life?” Mistoffelees looked confused, and, Electra was pleased, if surprised (not to mention mad at herself for saying that) to note; concerned.

“Well- she found me when I was thinking about-" She stopped and cleared her throat. "About to kill myself.”

Mistoffelees stared at her in shocked silence for a moment. Then he burst out, “Why?!”

“Why not?” Electra almost shouted. She was quiet for a moment, startled at her own outburst. “Well- Jemi and Etcetera, they used to be my best friends, but now they just liked Victoria. And- I, uh- found out the Rum Tum Tugger doesn’t like me like- that,” She didn’t include exactly how she’d found out. Now that the reasons were out, they sounded as kittenish as her question to the Rum Tum Tugger. Only 2 reasons for taking away your whole life? She could do better than that.

Mistoffelees’ response was the same as hers: “Those are both things that could change any day! They aren’t reasons to take away your whole life.”

“Well, I know that now. But sometimes I just think that it will be that way my whole life.”

“What?”

“That I’ll die without a mate, and without friends, and without kittens.”

Mistoffelees’ face turned red under his white fur. “I- I don’t think you’d die without a mate.”

Electra stared at Munkustrap and Alonzo as they carried Grizabella out of the Junkyard with Pouncival turning flips in front of them, barely comprehending the scene because of the other, more interesting scene she was trying to comprehend. Mistoffelees- cute tom she was slowly beginning to realize she thought even more of than she had of the Rum Tum Tugger- Bast knew exactly how she’d been able to ignore that little fact- blushing and stammering at the words ‘Electra’ and ‘mate’ used in the same sentence. And why hadn’t she noticed how sweet it was of him to come sit with her when Munkustrap had pronounced him too small to help carry Grizabella? And hadn’t she noticed a greedy, gleeful kind of look on his face when he had been hurrying towards Electra? She liked a tom who knew what he wanted, she decided.

“Really? Why not?” Electra asked slyly, moving a little closer.

Mistoffelees surprised her by taking a deep breath and looking right into her eyes. “Because I would like to be your mate.”

After this bold statement, he looked a little surprised himself.

Electra laughed, but this time it was a genuine laugh that came from her belly, not just her throat. “Well, I think it would be a good idea if we got to know eachother a little more first-” She looked squarely into his brown eyes (yes they’re BROWN! Not BLUE!) “-But otherwise, it sounds good to me.”

And as Mistoffelees’ arm went around her shoulder for the first of many times, Electra gave Grizabella one last look and whispered, “Thanks. You were right, too.”

THE OTHER END Fanfiction