Not The Usual Jemima stretched out in the morning sun. The junkyard was empty, as everyone had run off somewhere - probably home - with a friend or "significant other." But not Jemima. She felt like staying while her sister Electra and her significant other, Tumblebrutus were off babysitting - or trying to - Cassandra and Alonzo's kittens. Electra and Jemima were no longer the youngest now, having been - more recently than the others - born (to Munkustrap and Demeter). All the kittens were older now. It was their turn to do the babysitting like Mistoffelees once had. He was now a handsome adult and Jemima and her three friends were now in that in between stage he had been in when they were kittens. She liked Misto very much but everyone assumed he was with Victoria. Jemima had once supposed that was true. The two of them were always being a little affectionate. But it turned out that was only to please Vikki's parents - Jenny and Skimble - since they didn't exactly approve of Vikki's many secret rendez-vous with Plato. Jemima knew about these encounters because once when she was passing by Misto in the drainpipe, she'd caught them grooming each other. Misto was supposed to be guarding the drainpipe, but he was so smitten with Jemima that he let her through without thinking. Jemima, of course, didn't know this. But that was back when they were all younger. Jemima had assumed that Misto had moved on to other queens now. Maybe Electra? No...she was certainly with Tumblebrutus. Misto was definitely intelligent enough to see that. Of course, Misto had been with her at the jellicle ball a couple years back, but again, they had been silly young things. Maybe Misto liked an older queen? Rumours went around about Cassandra once. But the age difference was too great and Alonzo definitely put a stop to those rumours. Who else was there? Etcetera? No. Misto was too shy and got a little annoyed when the out going - but well meaning - Etcetera tried to force him to do new tricks in front of everyone. Jemima didn't know. Maybe Misto didn't like anyone...

"Hey there, kid," came a voice from behind her. It was Mungojerrie. Jemima smiled. She and Jerrie had become good friends recently. When Rumpelteazer wasn't around, they often chatted about their love lives. Jerrie had admitted to liking a queen in the junkyard. But he'd never confessed who. He said he'd told Teazer and she'd laughed at him for it. Typical sister behaviour.

"So where's Teazer?" Jemima asked as Jerrie approached and sat down.

"Ah, she's off looking for ol' Tugger again," he scoffed.

Jemima laughed. "I see."

"I saw your lover earlier," he joked.

Jemima rolled her eyes playfully. "Really? Where?"

"He was off practicing tricks. Me and Teazer came by and he got all embarrassed that we saw him using his magical powers."

"Oh...yeah...he's...like that," she stammered.

"And we saw The Pairs relaxing." The Pairs was their nickname for all the older cat couples like Demeter and Munkustrap - her parents - Jenny and Skimble, Jellylorum and Asparagus, even Alonzo and Cassandra. "Then o' course, Teazer found Tugger. He was all curled up with Etcetera. That kid's really grown up." He smiled. "Kinda like you. Pretty soon you'll be 'avin' Misto's kits!"

"Oh shut up, Jerrie!" Jemima wacked his arm in a playful way. Jerrie laughed.

"Sorry. Anyway, then I saw Bomby talking with Pouncival. Pounce is jealous of Tugger being all...well into his 'love.'"

"Tugger likes Cetty? What a switch! I thought he and..."

"No, Bomby broke it off. Probably to spend some time with Pounce - her new play toy."

"You're so bad, Jerrie."

"That's my job, Jem!" He grinned slyly.

"Did you happen to run into her?" Jemima asked the same sly grin. Jerrie turned bright red.

"No..."

"Ah. Ok. You'll tell me eventually. I know it."

"Yeah yeah yeah. Alright kiddo, I'm off to find my sister."

"Okay." Jerrie ruffled the fur on her head and scampered off.

Jemima continued her stretching as a familiar face appeared from behind the tire.

"Psst! Jem! Come here!" Jemima turned around to see the face of Tugger. She laughed. His expression looked like fear. But a funny kind of fear, like he was avoiding someone. Jemima ran over and pounced on the tire.

"Yes, Tug?" She looked him in the eyes and laughed to herself. What had she ever seen in him? Sure he was handsome but he wasn't as wonderful as...

"Is Teazer gone?" he asked.

"Um...she was never here."

"Oh. I saw Mungo and assumed she was around...they're always together."

"Well why are you asking? Did she..."

"TUGGA!!!" Teazer's voice called from a distance. "I was only kidding! I won't tell anyone about how YOU LOVE ETCY!!!!" She screamed the last bit extra loud and Tugger hid his face in his paws. Jemima began to laugh. Tugger lifted his head and glared at her.

"Repeat that to NO ONE," he ordered and he angrily chased the voice of Teazer as she chanted,

"Tugger and Cetty sitting in a tree...K-I-S-S-I-N-G!..."

Jemima kept laughing until she turned around and came face to face with Mistoffelees,

"AH!" she cried. "Where did you come from?"

Misto smiled. "I was here the whole time."

"SPYING ON ME?" Jemima shrieked. "I hate that you can become invisible!"

"Relax," he said, putting a paw on he shoulder. "I was in the drainpipe, like always. I thought you'd seen me."

"No..." OH NO! What if he'd heard she and Jerrie talking?! "You weren't listening to me and Jerrie were you?"

"No," he answered, shyly. "I was trying to catch a mouse."

"Oh..." she looked a bit skeptical. "Okay. Anyway, Mungo said he and Teazer ran into you earlier."

Misto scoffed. "Yeah, more like he and Teazer were spying on me while I was mastering my trick! I was about to light up one of the burned out lamps and then they came out and shouted 'boo!' I ended up zapping Teazer's burglaring sack."

Jemima laughed a little. Then she realized Misto's paw was still on her shoulder.

"So...um...Jerrie still won't tell me the queen he likes," she said, trying to get into a certain topic. "Do you know?"

"No," Misto answered. "I thought he liked you. And vice versa."

"What? Of course not! He's just my friend. Besides, I like...someone...else. I'm not into the cheeky types..."

"Oh?" Misto looked hopeful. "Then who..."

"TEAZER!!!" Tugger's voice boomed. Seconds later, the giggling calico zoomed past Misto and Jemima and leapt onto the drainpipe.

"You can't hide it foreva!" she teased. Tugger emerged, panting, from where the energetic queen had just entered.

"Can't hide what?" Bomby asked, coming from the opposite direction. Teazer giggled and Tugger glared at her.

"Teazer, if you say I word I'll..." Then Etcetera entered right behind Tugger. She smiled up at him. He grinned uncontrolably. She had grown into such a gorgeous queen. Bomby laughed. Teazer didn't need to say anything to her, she'd figured it out for herself.

"Haha," she teased. "I guess you're squealing for her now."

Tugger blushed and raced back out. Etcetera rolled her eyes.

"Shoo Bomby and Teazer. You guys have caused enough trouble today," she ordered. The two queens obeyed. Cetty looked over at the two black-esque cats on the tire.

"Well hello there!" she greeted, jumping up between them.

"Umm...hey Cetty," Misto said nervously. Jemima laughed a little.

"Hi Etcy. How's...um...Tugger?"

"Ha-ha," Etcy replied sarcastically. "He's fine. I just don't think poor Pouncival is taking it too well. He's still stuck in our kitten days. But I think Bomby is swaaaaaying him over to her side." she giggled at herself a little. "So! Who are you two into these days?"

"No one," the two cats chorused. Etcy giggled. Even though she acted a bit more grown up now, she still couldn't resist a little love gossip.

"Oh," she said faceciously. "I see. Well, better be off!" She winked at Jemima, blew a kiss to Misto and left.

"She's so ridiculous," Misto said. Jem's heart sank a little. Then Electra raced in followed by four black, brown and white kittens, Tumble, Coricopat and Tantomile.

"Careful!" Tanto ordered to Electra. "Don't go too fast!"

"Hey! Cass asked ME anmd TUMBLE to baby sit! Not YOU!" Electra retorted. As she said this, Tumble panted and flopped down.

"She's right, El. We'd better give it a rest."

Electra laughed a bit and then stopped running.

"Ok, ok." She planted a small kiss on Tumble and he blushed. The four little kittens giggled.

"Sh!" Cori told them. Tanto smiled at him.

"Ooh...you're such a father!" she said. "Practicing for Rumpelteazer?"

Jemima's eyes grew wide. Since when did Cori like Teazer? Well, no one ever knew. Cori and Tanto were always together. Typical twins.

"No! Practicing for Mungojerrie?" he shot back, blushing slightly. Tanto turned red. How funny! Though Jem. The twins like...the twins! But did this mean Jerrie liked TANTO? How sweet! Electra motioned for the seven cats behind her to "come." They left the junkyard. Jemima hoped that she and Misto would no longer be interrupted.

"Well I nkow who Jerrie likes!" she announced with a giggle. Misto laughed. Jem's heart skipped a beat. She made him LAUGH! Misto rarely laughed. He smiled on occasion when he was with Victoria but he never laughed.

"So, I um...I kinda lied to Cetty about liking someone..." Jem admitted.

"Me too," Misto said softly.

"Who's your fancied queen?" Jemima persisted, scooting closer to him.

"You'll laugh," he told her.

"No I won't. I promise! Kitty Scout's honour!"

Misto smiled. "Well...I like you, Jem..." Jemima's eyes widened. So he hadn't moved on!

"Really? You mean it? I thought you'd moved on from our kitten days like Etcy!"

"No..." Misto blushed a litle.

"Well...I still like you..."she confessed. Misto turned redder. But then he was brave. He kissed her and then vanished in a cloud of sparkles. Jemima smiled and relaxed on the tire.

"Told ya!" came Jerrie's voice from behind her. "So! When are you expecting?" he climbed onto the tire next to her.

"Shut UP, Jerrie!" she wacked him on the same arm that she had wacked a minute ago. "Besides, you shouldn't be teasing me! I found out who you like and she likes you!"

Jerrie's face grew serious and turned pink. "Who?" he asked.

"Tantomile!"

Jerrie turned scarlet. "She likes me?"

"Uh huh. She and Cori came through here a minute ago. And guess who likes Teazer!"

"Oh Everlasting Cat! Are you serious? Cori likes Teazer???"
Jemima nodded. "This is great! I have to find Teazer...and the twins!" And off he went.

**************************************************************************************************************************

Misto returned later with all the jellicles behind him. He went up to Jemima as everyone watched in awe.

"Jem," he said sweetly. "Will you be my mate?"
Jemima leapt into his arms. He spun her around and suddenly, someone started clapping. When Misto put her down, they turned to see Mungojerrie standing on a chair and applauding. Soon everyone joined in, smiling and laughing and clapping. Jemima and Mistoffelees smiled at each other. Today was the best day. No more stretching out alone. Misto would be with her forever.


The End


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