Journal of Etcetera
by Barbalurina

Part 7:

I'd fallen asleep in Mungojerrie's basket with him.  I
felt safe.  

When I woke up, Mungo was still sleeping.  I thought I
should go.

I tried to get out without waking him, but no.....

"Where are you sneakin' off to, Love?"

"I - I didn't want to wake you."  

"You don't 'ave to go.  It's probably still cold out."

"All right."  I lay back down with him.  He started
petting my fur.  Not in a sexy way....in a  calming
way.  I relaxed.

"What's wrong, Et?  I know your box is gone, but we'll
take care o' that.  Don't worry.  If nothin' else, you
could stay 'ere for the winter."

"It's not that.  Not really."  Stay at Victoria Grove
for the winter?  I was gonna get spoiled!  And what
about his Human family?

"What else 'appened?"

"I saw Vicky.  Mama chased me off.  She even hissed at
me.  I don't know how much more of that I can take."

"I'm sorry, Et."  I was glad he said nothing to defend
her, as I was NOT in a mood to hear it.  

"And then..."

"There's more?  You 'ad a busy night!"

"I talked to Jenny.  She told me this whole thing
about Cat relationships that I didn't really
understand......and...OH!  Said I might be pregnant."

His eyes got big.  He was speechless.

"And then...."

"My GAWD, Et, there's MORE?"

"That's when I went back to my box....only it wasn't
there.  There was a big wooden box there.  I thought
you brought it."

"I didn't."  He was starting to get a suspicious look.

"I know that, now!  But I thought you brought it....I
got in it..........but in it was.......Alonzo."

His teeth were starting to bare.  It suddenly occurred
to me that Mungo might think this was my fault!  "Go.
On." 

I told him how Alonzo chased me.....and caught me.
And how Bomba had "rescued" me.  

"I'll kill 'im."  His voice was low, and his whole
attitude like ice.  

I was the idiot who wanted to know what would affect
him?   Make him angry?  This did. 

"Don't kill him.  Nothing happened."  I didn't even
want to THINK about he and Alonzo in a fight.....they
were much more evenly matched than when it had been
Pouncival challenging Mungojerrie.

"'e dared to touch you, when you didn't want 'im
to.  'e 'as to pay."

"All right.  He has to pay.....not die."  I certainly
wanted to get my claws on him, myself!

He got up and paced the basement floor, then came back
to the basket.  He started sniffing me all over. 

"What are you doing?"  

"Makin' sure there is none of 'im left on you."

"He never touched me in a way that would leave
anything.  If anything, I should still smell like
you."  I smiled at that.

His expression softened.  "You really think you might
be.....'avin' Kits?"

"Jenny said her nose rarely played her false, whatever
that means."

"She is knowledgeable about Queen and Kitten things."  

"Yeah."  

I was still stretched out on the nice blanket.  He
looked at my stomach.....and nuzzled it.  "I swear,
that NOTHING will 'appen to you, or to them.  And if
it does, I WILL kill 'im, or die tryin'."  No need to
say who 'him' was.  Macavity.  

"Don't let him ruin this for us," I whispered.  I
wanted him to be happy about this!

His head was still resting on my stomach.  "I'm sorry,
Et."

We needed to lighten UP!  I wasn't going to let Mama,
Alonzo, or Macavity take the joy out our Kittens!

"You know, Mungo, I don't think you can hear them,
yet."  I was trying desperately to get a smile from
him.

He didn't move.  "I know."  He looked up at me and
smiled.  "Get used to it."

Seeing him like this, head on my stomach, looking up
at me.  It was so sweet.  "I love you."  Oh,
Everlasting Cat, did I really say that out loud?  I
felt a moment's panic.  This was totally unplanned!
It just slipped out!

He moved back up next to me, facing me.  "I know you
do.  I still think I don't deserve it, but thank you
for sayin' it again."

"I never said..."

"You did.  Right after your father clawed me."

"Oh."  I couldn't remember exactly what I'd said
then.  Something about how he needed someone to love
him, I thought.

"I love you, too, Et.  Or did you think my callin' you
Love was by accident?"

I shook my head.  I could feel it coming.  I was going
to cry again.  Why couldn't I just be happy without
all the waterworks?  I fought it, keeping my jaws
clamped shut, trying not to blink too much.
Unfortunately, my shoulders started shaking.....then I
broke down.  

He didn't say anything, only stroked my face and ears,
until I could get myself under control again.

"You know, Et, I won't believe you if you say that no
one has said they love you."

"No, it's just the first time YOU said it to me.  I
just can't believe how much I'm crying.  I hardly ever
cry."

"Must be 'cause you're pregnant."

"I hope so.  It's driving me crazy!"

"Think you'll be all right now, Love?"

I let out a sigh. "I think so, Lover."  

"Lover?  Lover.  I think I like that."  He climbed
over me and warmed my back again.  

I fell asleep feeling much better.

Three days later: 

Well, it was confirmed.  I was indeed pregnant.....and
scared.  Vicky lost her Kittens.  Jenny said that part
of it was that she was so young.....I'm younger than
Vicky! (Only by a few minutes, but still younger!)

Jenny wants me to see her every day, it seems like.
She told me already that I wasn't eating enough, and
that I should rest more, since I had more tension than
a young Queen should have.  

It was very important that I not lose these Kittens.
Because Mungo had already lost so much, these Kittens
MUST be born, and live.  I want to give him that. 

I never had a greater sense of responsibility in my
whole life.  I suppose that would make anyone tense.

It gave me a whole new respect for Munkustrap who had
more responsibility than any other Cat.  What did HE
do to relax?  I suppose that's where Demeter came in.  

I wrinkled my nose.  Now it was really difficult to
imagine the serious, responsible Munkustrap lowering
himself to actually MATE with someone.  The thought
made me laugh out loud.

"What's so funny, dear?"  Jenny is knowledgeable, but
nosy, too.

"Oh....just strange thoughts." 

"Anything you care to share?"

How do you say that you're laughing at the thought of
your leader seeking pleasure like the rest of
us?  "Well, it's not very nice, I'm afraid, Jenny.  I
just imagined.....someone.....Mating, and it was
really funny."

She laughed.  "Well, Mating is funny in a lot of
ways.  Your reluctance to say who leads me to think
that it's either : Old Deuteronomy, Munkustrap, or
your father.  It's not unusual to think about Mating a
lot while you're carrying."

"Ugh!  Not Papa!  And Old Deuteronomy is even further
removed than Munkustrap!"  Too late, I realized that
I'd given myself away.

"Ah.....you see, you can feel an attraction for
another Tom, but still have strong feelings for your
Mate."

"But I don't!  It was funny, not sexy!"

"Calm down, dear.  You're too easily excited."  Then
she got this wicked look.  "You want me to tell
Munkustrap you're interested?"

My eyes went wide with horror.  "No!!!  Because I'm
not!  I'm not!  It was just a stupid thought!
Besides, he's got Demeter."  Oh no, now she's gonna
think I AM interested in him!  "Really, I'm not
interested.  It was a fleeting, hilarious thought, but
I'm very happy with Mungojerrie.  I have to go, now."  

I escaped before she could say anything else.  Oh,
PLEASE don't let her go and say anything to
Munkustrap.....I thought I might just DIE if she did.

TBC


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