Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Munkustrap remembered the moment Macavity left. He had attacked Tugger, thrown the tom kitten across the Junkyard. Munkustrap had crouched beside his baby brother defensively, hissing at anyone who tried to come closer. Macavity had cackled, a high, cruel laugh that sent chills down Munkustrap’s spine, but the silver tabby didn’t budge, remaining at Tugger’s side. Old Deuteronomy had banished his eldest son with a heavy heart, and Macavity had held out his paw towards Demeter and Bombalurina. Without question, the two queens went to his side as Jennyanydots cried out for her daughters, held back by Jellylorum and a teary-eyed Skimbleshanks.

After that day, Munkustrap had taken to spending at least two hours outside the Junkyard, searching for any sign of Macavity and the sisters.

He needed to find Demeter and Bombalurina.

The tribe needed them. He needed Demeter.

Soon enough, however, Munkustrap realized that his search was futile, and that nothing would come of it.

The day he called off his personal search, Munkustrap stumbled into his father’s den, collapsing beside the older tom and curling into him.

“They’re gone.” He whispered, struggling to hold back tears.

Old Deuteronomy wrapped an arm around his son. “It was their choice, my boy. They’ve all made their own choices.”

Munkustrap pressed against his father, curling up in his arms like a kitten, shoulders shaking with silent sobs. Old Deuteronomy simply held him close, rocking the silver tabby gently, looking away from him only when he heard his youngest son enter the den.

“Munku?” Tugger asked in a quiet voice. Munkustrap didn’t look up. He simply reached out behind him, and Tugger rushed forward, grabbing his brother’s paw and holding it tightly, hugging Munkustrap tightly. “This isn’t your fault, Munku. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Neither of you did anything wrong.” Old Deuteronomy said firmly, hugging his sons. “We cannot change the past. If the Everlasting Cat wills it, Demeter and Bombalurina will return to us. Until then, you cannot focus on what could have been.” Both toms nodded, making no move to leave their father’s embrace. Old Deuteronomy simply tightened his arms around them, and the small family spent the night curled up with each other.

It took quite a while for the Junkyard to return to normal.

Jennyanydots and Skimbleshanks were slowly recovering from losing their daughters to Macavity, but there were still nights when Jennyanydots’ cries could be heard from her den. The arrival of Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer had helped the two older Jellicles, however, the troublemaking twins giving them a purpose.

Tugger was healing after the betrayal of his oldest brother, his role model, and his closest friend. Bombalurina had been like a sister to him, and she had turned her back on him. However, he had Mistoffelees, the nephew of Bustopher Jones, and the two had become attached at the hip since the moment they met.

Munkustrap was also beginning to recover, and that was because of another queen.

He had been walking down the street one evening when he met her. She was lounging on a windowsill in one of the wealthier homes in Victoria Grove, and her smooth voice called out to him as he walked past.

“You seem lost.” She remarked, and Munkustrap stopped, looking up at the Birman queen. She gave him a warm smile, something coy in her eyes that made the silver tabby feel a flutter in his heart.

“Just wandering around, miss.” Munkustrap replied, sitting down below the window. He bowed his head. “My name is Munkustrap. I apologize if I disturbed you.”

The queen laughed softly. “You didn’t disturb me, dear. My humans happen to be gone for the evening, so I’m simply dying of boredom.” The dramatic lilt in her voice made Munkustrap smile in amusement. “My name is Anastasia.”

“A pleasure, miss.” Munkustrap said.

“Where are you from, Munkustrap? That’s a rather interesting name.” Anastasia asked, cocking her head.

Munkustrap felt his cheeks burn slightly, and he found himself jumping up onto the windowsill to sit beside Anastasia. “The Junkyard.”

Anastasia’s smile became curious. “So, you’re a Jellicle?” Munkustrap nodded. “I’ve always wondered about you all. I believe two of yours live a few houses down from here.”

“Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer.” Munkustrap laughed. “They’re troublemakers, but they mean well.”

“Oh, I don’t doubt that. The interactions I’ve had with them have only been pleasant.” Anastasia replied, her eyes glittering with amusement. “It seems that all you Jellicles are quite polite and friendly.”

Munkustrap’s face burned once more. “We do try.”

When Munkustrap returned to the Junkyard, the entire tribe could tell that something was different about their Protector.

He held himself higher, his eyes were shining brightly, and there was a small smile on his face.

“Who is she?” Tugger asked his brother as soon as they were alone in their father’s den. Munkustrap tensed, and Tugger grinned. “Where does she live? Do we know her? Do I know her?”

Old Deuteronomy chuckled, patting his youngest son’s arm. “Tugger, leave your brother alone.” The older tom looked at Munkustrap warmly. “Whoever she is, Munkustrap, I can see that she is already good for you.”

Munkustrap gave his father a shy smile before he yelped at Tugger suddenly tackled him across the den to pester about more information on his “lovely lady friend”.

Over the next few months, Munkustrap continued to visit Anastasia, and it wasn’t long before the fondness he felt for the Birman queen to morph into something more, something stronger that scared him.

He didn’t tell Anastasia everything, just that he had once loved a queen only to have her abandon him for another, leaving him with a broken heart.

“I would never do that to you, darling.” Anastasia said with eyes filled with tears for the silver tabby’s sake. She pressed against him, nuzzling beneath his chin comfortingly. Munkustrap held back his own tears as he licked her cheek in thanks, his heart swelling with love for his queen.

One morning, Munkustrap walked into the backyard of Anastasia’s home, and he spotted the queen laying beneath the shade of her favorite tree. He approached her with a happy smile. “Good morning, Ana.”

Anastasia looked up at him, and there was something in her gaze that made the tom’s heart sink. “Munkustrap. I need to tell you something.” Munkustrap immediately went to her side, worry in his eyes. “I have not been acting like myself lately, and my humans took me to be checked over. I am not sick.” Munkustrap relaxed slightly, but Anastasia slowly sat up, not taking her eyes off the ground. “I am pregnant, Munkustrap. With a kitten. Your kitten.”

“You’re pregnant?” Munkustrap asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Anastasia nodded, and Munkustrap pressed his forehead against hers, nuzzling her lovingly. “Ana, please, don’t be sad. I will be here for you. I’m not going to let you go through this alone.”

“You’re going to stay?” Anastasia breathed, and Munkustrap nodded.

“This kitten is ours.” He said firmly. “I love them, and I love you.” Anastasia’s eyes brightened, and she curled up against Munkustrap happily, and the two sat together in the shade. “My father and brother will most likely want to meet you. Tugger has been hounding me since the day I met you to introduce him to you, and Dad will be ecstatic to learn that he’s going to be a grandfather.”

Anastasia laughed softly. “When the kitten is born, darling, we’ll take them to your family. Perhaps I’ll leave these humans and go to the Junkyard with you.”

Munkustrap looked at her in surprise. “Ana, you don’t have to do that. I can easily split my time between here and the Junkyard. I can talk to my father about splitting the duties between myself, Tugger, and Alonzo.”

“I’ve been thinking about this for a while, darling.” Anastasia said soothingly, her tail brushing Munkustrap’s gently. “These humans… they’ve taken care of me, but they don’t see me as part of their family. Simply an accessory to show off to their family and companions. And once our little one comes along… I hate to think of what they might do.” Munkustrap sighed, nodding. “I’ve been waiting to leave this place, and now I can. I can be with you and our kitten.”

The silver tabby sighed happily, resting his head against Anastasia’s stomach. “Our kitten.”

Tugger watched as his older brother walked around the Junkyard with a skip in his step, and a smile on his face. “You’re in an especially chipper mood.”

“Something great is going to happen next week, Tugger.” Munkustrap replied happily, and Tugger couldn’t help but return the grin. His brother was finally recovered from what had happened nearly two years before, and it made Tugger’s heart soar.

“MUNKUSTRAP!”

The shout of the calico twins made the brothers turn to see Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer racing towards them with wide eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Munkustrap asked, any laughter and lightness gone from his expression.

Mungojerrie grabbed the tabby’s arm. “It’s Anastasia!”

“Her humans are leaving!” Rumpleteazer continued.

“She’s had the kitten!” the twins finished in unison.

Munkustrap was gone as soon as the twins stopped talking, Tugger following close behind.

She couldn’t be leaving.

Not Ana.

Please, not again.

Munkustrap reached Anastasia’s home in record time, finding the windows closed and locked, and the humans climbing into cars outside. “Ana? Ana, where are you?”

“Darling!’ Anastasia cried, her voice coming from within a carrier one of the humans held. “Darling, I’m here!”

“Ana, don’t leave!” Munkustrap cried, running forward at the human, scratching at the carrier angrily.

“Get that disgusting stray away from Anastasia!” one of the humans ordered.

Anastasia was clawing at the lock, desperation in her eyes. “Under the tree! Check under the tree, darling!”

Tears filled Munkustrap eyes as Anastasia’s tail brushed his paw just before the human holding the carrier kicked him back.

“Munk!” Tugger exclaimed, rushing to his brother’s side.

Munkustrap shook him off and watched, helpless, as his queen was put into the car. “I love you, Ana!”

Anastasia looked at him with heartbroken eyes. “I love you, my darling!”

The car door slammed, and the humans drove away, leaving Munkustrap behind in the dust, staring after them with eyes that slowly dimmed of any life.

“What did she mean, ‘under the tree’?” Tugger asked softly. Munkustrap sighed, beginning to shake his head, until a sharp realization suddenly hit him. He scrambled to his feet, running around the house to the backyard, going straight to the tree. Beneath the shade was a blanket, a small, moving, something underneath.

Munkustrap desperately grabbed the blanket, pulling it away. “Please, please, please.” His voice broke as he looked down at the tiny kitten, red and black fur.

A little queen.

She was squirming, whimpering, and she was utter perfection.

Munkustrap immediately pulled her close and began to groom her, soothing her whimpers.

“Munk… I’m so sorry.” Tugger whispered, sitting down behind his brother.

“This is our daughter.” Munkustrap said quietly, keeping his eyes on his kitten. “Your niece, Tugs.”

Tugger smiled slightly, and he stepped forward, bending down to nose the tiny kitten. “She’s pretty cute.” Munkustrap couldn’t help the small smile that appeared on his face as he continued to groom his daughter, the kitten now mewing, searching for warmth. “If she’s just been born, we need to get her to Jenny.”

“Can you get Dad while I take her to Jenny’s?” Munkustrap asked, picking up the kitten gently by her scruff.

“Of course.” Tugger replied with an easy smile. The silver tabby gave his brother a thankful smile, and the two toms left Victoria Grove, walking back towards the Junkyard, Tugger splitting off just before to head towards the vicarage.

Mungojerrie was sitting outside of the orange tabby queen’s den, and he perked up when he heard the Jellicle Protector approaching.

“Where’s Jenny?” Munkustrap asked, shifting to hold the kitten in his arms.

“Inside.” Mungojerrie said, standing. “Is that… is she yours?”

Munkustrap nodded, walking into Jennyanydots’ den. He spotted the older queen humming, knitting away in her chair. “Jenny?”

“Hello, my dear!” Jennyanydots said with a warm smile, looking up from her knitting. Her eyes widened when she saw that the silver tabby was not alone, and Munkustrap looked down at his daughter. “Munk, dear…”

Munkustrap stepped forward and sat down beside Jennyanydots, and the queen immediately began to look her over. “She’s my daughter, Jenny. Ana, her mother, lived in Victoria Grove, but her humans took her away today. I was able to see her before they took her.”

Jennyanydots touched Munkustrap’s shoulder, eyes filled with sympathy. “Oh, Munkustrap. I’m so sorry, dear. Were you there for the birth?” Munkustrap shook his head.

“No. She was supposed to have the kitten next week. We were planning for her to leave her humans and come to the Junkyard within the next few days.” He explained quietly. “She was going to stay here. Her humans aren’t the warmest, and really just see her as an accessory. But now she’s gone.”

“But you have this little one.” Jennyanydots said in a soft voice, pity in her eyes. Munkustrap nodded, and Jennyanydots stood, bustling about her den. “I’m positive I have formula for kittens around here somewhere. Of course, since none of the girls are expecting, I’m not terribly sure what I have, but we’ll manage for the little angel.” Jennyanydots did find a few bottles for the kitten, and handed one to Munkustrap before poking her head out of the den, calling to Mungojerrie and giving him the instruction to keep a look out with Rumpleteazer for any kind of milk or formula for the kitten. Once giving him his duty, Jennyanydots looked back at Munkustrap questioningly. “Dear, are you in the mood for guests? You’ve got quite a few out here.”

Munkustrap chuckled quietly, gently rocking his daughter in his arms. “That’s fine, Jenny.”

Tugger and Old Deuteronomy were the first two to walk in, the Jellicle Leader immediately going to his son’s side and sitting down, wrapping an arm around Munkustrap’s shoulders as he looked at the small kitten.

Mistoffelees, Alonzo, and Cassandra followed, greeting Jennyanydots with smiles and quiet words, not wanting to wake the now-sleeping kitten.

“Munkustrap, she’s beautiful.” Mistoffelees said softly.

Cassandra leaned over the tuxedo tom’s shoulder, a rare, affectionate smile on her face. “She’s so little.”

“I hoped that Ana would be here with us.” Munkustrap told his family and friends, looking at them with a bitter smile. “She wanted to meet you all so much.”

Old Deuteronomy sighed, sadness filling him for his son. “I know, my boy. But this little kitten is yours, and she will be well-loved by all of us, as her mother would want.” Munkustrap nodded, leaning against his father.

“I’m going to be the best uncle to this kid.” Tugger said with a proud grin, making the silver tabby laugh slightly.

Alonzo shoved the maine coon with an amused grin. “I’ll have to fight you for that title, Tugger.” Munkustrap laughed again, and the black and white tom looked at his friend. “Have you thought of a name for her?”

A name.

Munkustrap thought back to the day he and Anastasia sat beneath the tree, his head on her stomach as she talked about their kitten. They talked about who would compete for the role of favorite relative, about the songs they’d teach their kitten, and about the things they’d tell their kitten when their kitten was born.

Most importantly, they had talked about names, names for queens and toms, laughing over some of the more ridiculous ones.

One name, however, stuck out to Munkustrap, and that was the one he had imagined the moment he set eyes on his daughter.

“Jemima.” He said. “Her name is Jemima.”