Quaxo slept peacefully curled up on the tire. It had been a hard task to get him to sleep but Skimble had gotten the tom to sleep. Quaxo wasn’t a kitten, but nearly an adult. He wasn’t used to taking care of cats at this age, but he didn’t mind.

“Finally got him to sleep huh?” Jelly smiled softly sitting up on the cars trunk.

Skimble nodded at her. She had left before Skimble had been speaking to Quaxo about t nightmare and Skimble didn’t know if Quaxo wanted him speaking about it, so he didn’t mention it. “It was difficult but,” Skimble looked over at the sleeping tom, “I managed.”

“Glad to hear it.” Jelly slid down next to Skimble. “Munkustrap’s watching Plato right now. They’ve got him in a cage.”

Skimble wrinkled his brow. A cage? “Why is that?”

“He tried to run. They didn’t want him taking off.” Jelly sat on the steps.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Skimble began.

She looked at him curiously as he spoke. “Isn’t what obvious?”

“Quaxo hasn’t done anything. He didn’t try to run, he didn’t blame Plato at the first chance he got. Plato has always been in trouble around here. You know that.”

“Cats change Skimble.” Jelly frowned, “We can’t just blame him for what he’s done before.”

“But Quaxo hasn’t ever done anything.” Skimble argued, “Why should we even consider the possibility that now the tables have turned?”

“We have to approach this cautiously.” Jelly replied calmly, “Victoria is dead. Do you really want to risk another life because of us making a mistake?”

“Of course not.”

”Then wait till Tantomile arrives. She’ll know more about this then either of us.” Jelly knew Tantomile knew best in this matter. After all, she was Quaxo’s mother.

“Is he big now?” Tantomile asked, “I haven’t actually seen him since birth.” She hated to admit such a thing but it wasn’t her fault. Not really.

Jenny smiled, “He takes after his father nicely.”

Tanto smiled in return. That really gave her hope. She was so thrilled to be seeing him again. Her heart was pounding in her chest.

“He’s a fantastic dancer.” Alonzo added. “You should have seen him and Tumblebrutus dancing a few days ago. It was quite a sight.”

That defiantly made Tantomile proud. It sure sounded like the son of Mistoffelees. Now she was growing nervous again. If Mistoffelees gave him his looks and dancing, would he blame her for his current problems?  It was amazing how quickly she could turn good news into bad news. “He sounds like an angel.”

“He is. He’s so kind and loving.” Jenny pictured Quaxo in her mind playing with the other toms. Quaxo would refuse to wrestle with them no matter how much they provoked him. That’s when Jenny realized how stupid it would be to suggest Quaxo was the killer.

“You’ll be very proud.” Alonzo reassured Tantomile feeling the tension in Tantomile’s sudden silence.

The three walked across the pavement quietly. It wasn’t an awkward silence. All three of them were thinking of what was going to happen. A mother and her kit meeting for the first time since birth. It was a promising moment for them. That’s what they all hoped for at least.

“Quaxo doesn’t even play-fight.” Skimble continued to argue with Jellylorum. He couldn’t understand why she was speaking so strongly about the events. She was still young herself. A bit older then Bombalurina but not by much.

“Keep you’re voice down.” Jellylorum whispered loudly. “We don’t know what’s going on with him. Maybe he does have powers. Maybe they’re over powering him. Who knows? We need to wait.”

”The boy didn’t do it. I can feel it in my gut.” Skimble held his hand to his stomach. Skimble knew that gut feelings were always something to go by. That was what he was taught growing up.

Jelly sighed, “I know he didn’t do it, but it’s possible his powers did it for him.”

“You’re making no sense.” Skimble couldn’t help but glare at her, more from frustration then anger, “Speak sane.”

“It’s hard to explain.” Jelly growled, “Just wait for Tanto.”

”What do you mean powers?” Quaxo asked.

Jelly and Skimble turned to him. Neither of them looked shocked. They both had a hint of anger and annoyance, but the expression wasn’t towards Quaxo directly.

“Your father was a mystic. It’s possible you inherited some of his powers.” Jelly explained as simply as she could.

“So… I’m magical?” Quaxo looked shocked. He had no idea that was even possible.

“But it’s also possible you get them from your mother.” Skimble added, “Which is why we have to wait for her.”

Quaxo bit his lip and help back emotion so he could speak clearly to them, “My mother’s dead.”

Skimble looked down at the ground and exhaled knowing how confusing and complicated this day was about to become. “No Quaxo,” He looked back at the tom with a straight face, “She’s not.”

“How do I tell him?” Tanto asked even more nervous as the three walked through the Junkyard. It was so familiar to her, even though she hadn’t been there in years. “I can’t just say ‘Hey there Quaxo I’m your mother” that just wouldn’t seem right.”

Alonzo didn’t reply. He had no idea how she should go about telling him. He’d never actually had to deal with this sort of situation and frankly, it was stressing him.

“Just let it come to you.” Jenny smiled.

Alonzo and Jenny caught sight of Skimble and Jelly at the tire and headed straight for them. Tantomile stayed behind them like a small child meeting someone new. Cowering behind their parents acting shy.

Skimble moved aside looking at Jenny, “Did you find her?”

Jenny nodded, “Of course. We wouldn’t have come back if he hadn’t.” She pulled Tantomile forward in front of Quaxo. Everyone froze.

Somehow, she looked familiar to Quaxo. Someone familiar, someone he had met before. He couldn’t quite picture where and when it was that he had seen her but it was sure he had.

Tantomile blinked. “So, it’s true then…”

Quaxo waited a moment for her to go on, curious to what she was talking about.

“You do have my powers.” Tantomile couldn’t exactly describe how she knew he had powers. He gave off some kind of aura that told her. What she didn’t mention was that there was something very different about him that she could quite understand- something inside him, something strange.

 “I… I don’t understand.” Quaxo frowned.

Everyone felt the silence awkward, the long pauses and strange words. However, Quaxo and Tantomile felt the silence was nice and needed to be there. Quaxo felt himself changing. His feeling of emptiness was vanishing while he felt whole again. Tantomile felt relieved, as is a great weight ad been lifted off her shoulders.

“You were just a week thing when you were a baby.” Tantomile smiled, “barley the size of a human hand.”

Quaxo flung himself at her holding her tightly in his embrace. “I love you mum.”

“I love you too Quaxo.” Tantomile smiled bringing her fingers through the fur on his head.

“Not to be ruse or nothing… and ruin this happy moment…” Alonzo heartlessly interrupted, “But it would be helpful if you were to determine whether or not he killed Victoria.”

Quaxo frowned and shut his eyes tightly at the sound of her name. “I didn’t kill Victoria!” Quaxo yelled stepping back.

“I know you didn’t.” Tantomile replied softly, “But you need to tell me what happened, before and after.”

Quaxo nodded. After explaining in exact detail what had happened Tantomile had come to a conclusion.

“He saw the future before it happened.” She spoke in a soft voice. “And he tried to change it.”

“So he could have saved Victoria?” Alonzo asked as he and Jenny walked with Tantomile back over to where Munkustrap was.

Tantomile wanted to speak with Plato no matter how much she didn’t want to. She knew the past would be brought up but she had to clear Quaxo.

“He probably could have.” Tanto replied still thinking.

“That’s awful.” Alonzo frowned, “Had he tried harder, he could have prevented this, could have saved her.”

“But it’s a damn good thing he didn’t.” Tantomile firmly stated. “It’s dangerous to tamper with the future or change anything that should happen, no matter how heartbreaking it may seem.”

Alonzo paused and dumbly replied, “What?”

”You just don’t change the future if you know what’s good for you.” Tanto replied in a growl as the three were still walking.

“She’s right you know.” Jenny added softly realizing they were touching on a delicate subject. “We’ve done it before, and are now paying the price.”

“What are you talking about?” Alonzo questioned curiously.

Jenny sighed and stopped in her place, “Plato wasn’t always unstable. He was actually quite normal.”

”Unstable?” Alonzo’s eyes widened in confusion, “What do you mean unstable?”

“Victoria was supposed to die, before all this. A few years ago, Johnathan had similar dreams to Quaxo, except Victoria was to be killed by Macavity.” Jenny frowned and went quiet.

“What happened?” Alonzo was anxious to know what had occurred.

Jenny went on, “Johnathan didn’t believe what he was dreaming and hadn’t told anyone. When Macavity captured Victoria, John went after them. Victoria came back, soaked in blood. But John didn’t. The blood wasn’t even hers.”

Alonzo didn’t move. He didn’t exactly understand what she was talking about. “I don’t understand. Who’s Johnathan?”

“My other twin brother.” Tantomile added so Jenny didn’t have to.

“But what does this have to do with Plato?” Alonzo looked back at Jenny.

“Plato is Macavity’s son.” Tantomile replied softly, “And I’m his mother…”

“Whoa, wait, Quaxo and Plato are brothers!” Alonzo exclaimed.

Tantomile smiled and nodded, seeming ashamed of it.

“Did they know?” Alonzo looked form Tantomile to Jenny then back to Tantomile.

“It’s unclear how much Plato knew but Quaxo defiantly didn’t know.” Tanto replied.

“That still doesn’t explain why you assume Plato is unstable.” Alonzo pointed out.

“Plato witnessed Johnathan’s death. He was with Macavity at the time.” Jenny stepped in for Tantomile who by now looked disgusted and sick.

“How could you have been mates with Macavity?” Alonzo asked in pure shock.

“He raped me!” Tantomile snapped at him, “You think I wanted that bastards kit inside me!”

Alonzo went quite.

“Macavity couldn’t stand the thought of Mistoffelees and I together. He figured two mystics having a kit would make a kit twice as powerful.” Tantomile yelled.

Jenny wrapped her arm around Tantomile and patted her back, “So Macavity desired a mystic kit of his own, incase someone thought it would be a good idea to use their kit as a weapon.”

“That’s disgusting.” Alonzo spat, “What kind of animal could want a kit through rape? Why didn’t he just find himself a mate?”

”How many queens do you know around here who are mystic?” Jenny questioned.

“So now what?” Alonzo questioned back.

“What do you mean ‘now what?’” Jenny released Tantomile.

“Plato knows Macavity is his father and he’s probably told him his mother is Tantomile.” Alonzo paused then stared at Tantomile, “Wait, is that why you went missing? Why you were at the vet so long? Because Macavity attacked you?”

Tantomile nodded, “It was because of Macavity that I couldn’t see my kit. I couldn’t be with Mistoffelees.”