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The discovery
The shopping bags dug into Sam Watson's hands as he stepped out onto the driveway, his breath curling into mist in the icy night air. He adjusted his grip, feeling the weight of the supplies Tessa had requested—diapers, baby formula, fresh vegetables, and a few treats for their first Christmas as parents. The thought of getting inside, shaking off the cold, and seeing his newborn son, Jonah, in his crib, made him walk faster toward the front door.
Then he heard it.
A sound that sent a strange shiver down his spine—a mixture of a baby's cry and a cat's meow. It was faint but haunting, drifting through the night like a plea.
Sam froze, his breath catching in his chest. His gaze swept across the dimly lit driveway, searching for the source. The wind rustled through the trees, and the faint glow from the porch light barely reached beyond the front steps. Then he saw it—a small bundle in front of the door.
Heart pounding, Sam dropped the bags—cans and crates clattered onto the sidewalk—and hurried forward. With trembling hands, he pulled back the blanket wrapped around a small figure.
A baby.
But not just any baby.
Sam's heart nearly stopped as he looked at the creature before him—a baby, about the size of Jonah, whose tiny hands instinctively curled in the cold. But this baby had soft, purple tabby fur, delicate cat ears twitching against the winter air, and a fluffy tail wrapped tightly around itself for warmth. Its large, golden, catlike, tear-stained eyes gazed at him pleadingly, and its small mouth opened to let out another cry—half human, half cat, utterly helpless.
Sam's mind raced. What the hell was that? His mind screamed for rationality, for an explanation. But there was none. Only this small, trembling child in front of him.
A sharp gust of wind cut through Sam's jacket, and the baby whimpered louder, curling further into the blanket. That sound, so painfully familiar—Jonah made the same sound when he was cold or hungry—shattered any hesitation in Sam's heart.
Without further thought, he took the strange infant in his arms and held it close to his chest. It was lighter than Jonah and just as fragile. He felt its tiny heart beating rapidly and its fur-covered body pressing against his own in search of warmth. The baby sniffed and instinctively snuggled against him, as if it knew it was safe in Sam's arms.
Sam swallowed hard and turned to the door. Tessa. What would she say? How would he explain this? Would she be scared? Would she tell him to take the baby back outside like it was a stray kitten?
No. He couldn't do that.
With firm determination, he pushed open the front door and stepped inside. The warmth of the house enveloped him, the scent of cinnamon and pine filled the air. From the living room, Jonah's soft breathing sounded in his crib.
Sam looked down at the bundle in his arms, the strange baby blinking sleepily up at him.
A few days ago, a baby had entered her life. Now there were two.
And somehow Sam knew there was no turning back.
 
A mother rushes to the rescue
 
Tessa gasped as Sam walked through the door, carrying not a bag of groceries, but a shivering, crying baby.
Or... something like a baby.
Her eyes widened as she took in the tiny figure—soft, purple tabby fur, small cat ears folded back against the cold, a fluffy tail quivering beneath the folds of the blanket. But what struck her most wasn't the strangeness of his features. It was the despair in the little boy's cry, the way his tiny fingers instinctively wrapped around Sam's coat, the way his oversized eyes shimmered with tears.
"Oh, Sam," she whispered, already holding out her hands.
Without hesitation, she took the strange child from her husband's arms and held him to her chest, just as she had done with Jonah a week ago. The little boy let out a tiny, exhausted sigh, his face buried in the warmth of her sweater. Sam let out a breath he hadn't even realized he'd been holding.
"We can't leave him out there," he murmured, watching his wife hold the unusual baby with the same tenderness as her own son.
"Of course we can't," Tessa said, her motherly instincts in her voice. "He's freezing." She turned to the couch and carefully sat down, holding the baby close. His tail twitched slightly, then wrapped itself around her arm. "He's just a tiny little thing."
Sam nodded, relief flooding his chest—somehow he'd known Tessa wouldn't hesitate to help. But still, his heart ached when he saw the strange baby's condition.
"We should warm him up," said Tessa.
Together, they cared for the strange little boy, just as they had with Jonah on his first night home. Sam hurried to get one of Jonah's softest blankets, while Tessa carefully freed the baby from his damp covering, revealing even more of his soft, fluffy fur. His ears twitched slightly as she gently ran her hand over his tiny body, checking for injuries.
"He's perfect," she murmured.
Sam returned with the blanket and wrapped the baby up snuggly, then Tessa disappeared into the kitchen to warm a bottle. The baby whimpered softly, its little hands clutching the air. Its tail curled restlessly.
When Tessa returned, she gently took the boy in her arms and pressed the bottle to his lips. There was a brief pause, then the baby latched onto it and drank eagerly, his tiny body visibly relaxing with each sip. Sam let out a breathless laugh.
"He was starving," he said quietly.
Tessa glanced at Jonah, still sleeping peacefully in his crib. "Just like our little one," she murmured.
When the bottle was empty, the baby let out a small, contented sigh, his eyelids fluttering with exhaustion, Tessa looked at Sam. "Jonah's crib is big enough for two," she said hesitantly.
Sam hesitated, but only for a moment. Then he nodded. "Let's try it."
They carefully approached the crib where Jonah slept, his small chest rising and falling with deep, steady breaths. Tessa crouched down and placed the furry baby next to him with the same gentleness she had given Jonah on his first night home. The little kitten flinched slightly at the change in surroundings, but then...
Jonah stirred, his tiny face twisting the way newborns do before settling down. His small hands instinctively reached out in his sleep and touched the furry baby's soft arm. And to the amazement of both parents, the kitten let out a small, sleepy chirp and crept closer.
Then, as if they'd always known each other, the two newborns pressed together, skin to fur. Jonah's arm draped over the kitten's tiny body, while its fluffy tail wrapped protectively around Jonah's legs.
Tessa clapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes gleaming. Sam grabbed her free hand and squeezed it tightly.
"They... they just..." Sam broke off and shook his head in amazement.
“They belong together,” whispered Tessa.
And in that moment, the last of their uncertainty melted away. Whatever had brought this strange, beautiful baby to their doorstep, one thing was clear—it was now theirs, just like Jonah.
A family of four.
 
The call for reinforcements
 
Sam took a deep breath before dialing. He had no idea how to explain what had just happened in their lives, but if there was anyone who could help, it was Harry Jones. Their neighbor was a very popular pediatrician in town, and his wife, Sandra, worked for Child Protective Services—two people who, on paper, should know exactly what to do in a situation like this.
If there was even a protocol for this.
"Sam? It's getting late. Is everything okay?" Harry's voice was filled with concern.
"Uh... yeah. Kind of," said Sam, rubbing his face. "Look, Harry, I know this sounds crazy, but can you come over with Sandra? Right now?"
There was a pause. Then: "Is it Jonah? Is he sick?"
"No, Jonah is fine. It's just... We found another baby."
Another pause. This time longer. Then a cautious "Another baby?"
Sam sighed. "Just come over, Harry. Please. And bring Sandra."
Fifteen minutes later, there was a sharp knock at the front door. Sam opened the door and saw Harry and Sandra standing on the porch, wrapped in coats and with confused expressions.
"What exactly do you mean by 'another baby'?" Sandra asked, entering.
Tessa, standing in the living room, pointed to the crib. "I think you should see it for yourself."
The couple followed her gaze and froze.
Harry exhaled sharply. Sandra actually gasped for air, a hand flying to her mouth.
The small, very human kitten lay curled up next to Jonah, its small chest rising and falling with deep, even breaths. Jonah had stirred in his sleep, snuggling up close to the warmth of his unusual bedmate, their tiny bodies pressed together in perfect, instinctive comfort. The kitten's fluffy tail was wrapped snuggly around Jonah's bare legs.
"My God," Harry whispered.
Sandra blinked rapidly, as if expecting the scene to change if she just refocused. "That's... that's not possible."
And yet the evidence was right in front of them.
Harry cautiously approached and looked down at the sleeping infant. He didn't touch him, just watched, his medical mind already processing every detail.
"The face is completely human," he murmured, tilting his head. "And the body, for the most part, too. Same structure, same proportions."
Tessa and Sam watched anxiously as Harry continued his calm assessment.
"Hands and feet are human too," he remarked, narrowing his eyes slightly. "Although..."
He paused as the baby stirred, stretching out a small hand in its sleep. Instead of fingernails, the tiny fingers were covered in short, soft fur. But then—just for a split second—small purple claws protruded from the fingertips before retracting again.
Harry exhaled sharply. "Well, that's new."
Sandra, still staring in disbelief, muttered, "That's an understatement."
Harry turned to Sam and Tessa, his expression somewhere between stunned and fascinated. "He's mostly human," he noted. "With some... cute kitten extras."
Sam blinked. "That's your medical opinion?"
Harry laughed briefly and ran his hand through his hair. "What do you want to hear from me, Sam? Genetically speaking, this shouldn't be possible. And yet here he is, perfectly healthy. Just... different."
Tessa, who had been anxiously wringing her hands, breathed a sigh of relief. "So he's okay? He's not in pain? He's not sick?"
"Not as far as I can tell," Harry assured her. "He looks just as healthy as Jonah. He's warm, he's breathing evenly, and he's clearly already bonded with Jonah." He pointed to the crib, where the kitten's tail was still wrapped tightly around Sam and Tessa's human son. "Whatever he is, he's just a baby. A newborn, a few days old at most."
Sandra finally found her voice. "But where did he come from?" she asked, looking back and forth between them. "Did someone just... leave him outside in the cold?"
Sam and Tessa exchanged an uneasy glance. That was the one question they still didn't have an answer to.
"We don't know," Sam admitted. "I found him on the doorstep."
Sandra pursed her lips, her professional instincts kicking in. "Normally, this would be something the child welfare office would have to deal with," she said slowly. "But... I've never seen anything like this."
Tessa swallowed hard. "You're not going to take him with you, are you?"
Sandra hesitated. "Well... technically, he was abandoned and I should take him into care. But..." She watched the sleeping cubs, clinging to each other naturally, as if they'd never been separated. Then she met Tessa's desperate gaze and softened. "I don't think it would be right to separate them."
Harry crossed his arms and nodded. "They seem like brothers already."
A silence fell over the room as everyone understood what this meant.
Then Sam cleared his throat and stood a little straighter. "Then we'll keep him."
Tessa grabbed his hand and squeezed it tightly. "We're keeping him."
Harry and Sandra exchanged a look – half incredulous, half admiring.
Sandra exhaled and shook her head with a crooked smile. "Well. Looks like your family just got a little bigger."
 
The first challenges
 
As the door closed behind Harry and Sandra, Sam and Tessa exhaled together, but the weight of what lay ahead weighed heavily on their shoulders. They looked at each other, then at the crib, where their two little boys were still sleeping soundly, snuggled together as if they'd always been together.
Sam took a deep breath. "Well... I think we should get her ready for the night."
Tessa nodded and ran her hand through her hair. "Yes. But, uh... I have a feeling this is going to be interesting."
And that's what happened.
Diaper duty for a newborn was already a skill that took some getting used to, but changing a newborn with fur and a tail? That was a whole new challenge.
The first problem arose almost immediately.
"I can't even tell if the diaper is tight enough with all that fur in the way," Sam mumbled, struggling to close the tiny flaps without catching too much of the soft purple fluff.
"And the tail," Tessa sighed, rubbing her temple. "What do we do with the tail?"
As if in response, the kitten's tail twitched and popped out of the diaper as soon as they thought they had him secured. No matter how they tried, he always seemed to find a way to freedom.
"Okay, new strategy," Sam explained. He gently held the fluffy tail to the side while Tessa wrapped the diaper around it, leaving just enough room to avoid pinching it.
"There." She stepped back, hands on her hips. "That should be enough."
The moment she let go, the tail twitched again and slipped out of the diaper.
Sam groaned. "Oh, come on."
Tessa sighed, but then she noticed the mischievous twitch of the little tail and exchanged a glance with Sam.
"This child will cause problems," she murmured, but there was tenderness in her voice.
Sam chuckled. "Yeah. But so does Jonah. We'll survive."
The second challenge came when it came to cleaning the new arrival. Bathing a tiny newborn was always difficult, but this one had fur.
Tessa gently stroked the kitten's arms with a warm washcloth, careful not to scare it. "We need to figure out if he even needs proper baths or if we can just clean him with a soft washcloth."
Sam frowned. "Do cats even like water?"
Tessa snorted. "We'll probably find out soon enough."
The baby made tiny, contented chirps as they cleaned it, and despite the difficulty, the sight made both parents melt.
Finally—finally—both boys were clean, fed, and properly diapered. They laid them next to each other in the crib. Jonah instinctively snuggled back up to his new brother, who in turn purred softly in his sleep and wrapped his tail around Jonah's body.
Sam and Tessa looked down at her, exhaustion spreading, but also something deeper. Something warmer.
Love.
They quietly withdrew, went to the couch, and sank into the pillows with a shared sigh.
For the first time that evening there was peace.
Tessa leaned her head on Sam's shoulder. "So... what now?"
Sam let out a quiet chuckle. "That's the million-dollar question, isn't it?"
Tessa shifted and looked up at him. "I'm serious, Sam. What does this mean for us? For him?" She glanced at the crib where the two little boys lay entwined. "What if... what if someone is looking for him? What if he's not... from around here? What if we can't protect him?"
Sam was silent for a long moment, his fingers grasping his wife's hand.
Then he finally said, "We'll figure it out. Together."
Tessa searched his face for any hesitation, but there was none.
A slow smile played around her lips. "Together."
A small, contented silence spread between them.
Then Tessa nudged Sam. "We need a name."
Sam grumbled and thought. "What about Felix?"
Tessa blinked, then tilted her head.
"Felix. As in 'the lucky one'?"
Sam nodded. "I mean... he showed up on our doorstep, in the middle of a freezing night, all alone. And now he has us." He glanced at the bassinet, a gentle smile playing on his lips. "And Jonah."
Tessa thought about it. Then she nodded.
"Felix," she whispered. She reached out and gently stroked the sleeping boy's soft fur with her fingers. "This suits him."
Sam put his arm around her and kissed her temple. "Then it's a deal."
Felix Watson.
Her son.
Whatever challenges they faced, they would overcome them together.
 
And so it began
 
The following years were like a whirlwind—challenging, chaotic, sometimes frightening, but always full of love. From the moment they decided to keep Felix as their own child, Sam and Tessa knew their lives would never be normal again. But they had underestimated how much things would NOT be normal.
 
The scientists
 
Felix's existence was something the world wasn't yet prepared for. It didn't take long for the news to spread—whether through whispers in the small town or through an anonymous report from someone at the child welfare office. First, scientists came knocking, some polite, some pushy, but all with the same goal: to study Felix.
Some described it as curiosity, a pursuit of knowledge. Others were more direct, treating him more like an anomaly than a child.
"It could be the key to understanding genetic mutations," said one researcher with bright eyes and unbridled ambition. "With a few tests, we could..."
"He's a kid, not a lab rat," Tessa had said before slamming the door in his face.
But they didn't stop. Some sent letters, others tried to contact the law, and once, in a moment of terror, Sam caught a man in a white coat lurking outside her house, watching her through the windows.
They then installed cameras, reinforced the locks, and made it clear that anyone who wanted to kidnap Felix would have to get past them.
And as if that wasn't bad enough, there were more...
 
The religious zealots
 
Not everyone saw Felix as a scientific marvel. Some saw him as something else entirely.
They first appeared when Felix was about two years old, standing in front of their house with signs that read:
"An abomination!"
"A test from God!"
"Demon child!"
A woman had screamed, "They should throw that thing out! It's not a human being! It's a trick of the devil!"
Sam had just managed to stop herself from hitting the man next to her in his drooling mouth.
Tessa, always the calmer of the two, had stood her ground and hugged Felix, who had no idea what was going on. "He's just a little boy," she had said coldly. "And you should be ashamed of yourselves."
The crowd eventually left, but the threats came and went over the years. They had to be careful, always.
But despite the threats, the looks and the whispers, Felix had developed well.
 
The boys start talking
 
Despite all her fears, there was one thing that pleasantly surprised her: Felix had no difficulty learning to speak.
By the time he was three, he was already babbling along with Jonah, keeping up with his brother's rapid toddler babble as if he were born to do it. His voice sounded a little rougher, almost like a soft purr beneath his words, but otherwise, he was no different from any other child.
Well... except for the fact that he could also meow, chirp, and purr.
And what was even funnier? Jonah had picked up on it too.
One day, Sam and Tessa came into the playroom and found their two sons sitting cross-legged, meowing at each other.
At first they thought it was just a playful imitation – until they realized that the conversation was structured.
Jonah meowed. Felix chirped back. Jonah clicked his tongue as if imitating a cat's trill. Felix responded with a series of rapid, high-pitched notes, and Jonah nodded as if he understood.
"Oh my God," Tessa had breathed, putting a hand over her mouth to stop herself from laughing. "They have a secret language."
Sam groaned and rubbed his face. "We're doomed."
Felix, twitching his ears in amusement, turned around and gave them an unmistakably smug cat grin.
From then on, it became their thing. Whenever the boys wanted to talk privately, they switched to meowing, chirping, and purring—right in front of their parents.
Sam kept grumbling, "English, boys. We speak English in this house."
Felix grinned. Jonah giggled. And the moment Sam left the room, they returned to their secret cat talk.
Tessa was highly amused.
Sam had come to terms with the fact that his children now spoke cat.
 
A family, no matter what
 
Although the outside world tried to tear them apart, although scientists, zealots and society did not understand Felix, in their house he was simply Felix.
Jonah's brother. Her son. A little boy who loved warm blankets, who curled up in sunny spots and napped, who followed the light of a laser pointer, and who climbed on anything he thought was suitable.
And Sam and Tessa?
They loved him. Fiercely, completely, without hesitation.
Whatever came next, they knew one thing for sure:
Felix was one of them.
And they would protect him – always.
 
The great school rebellion
 
The day the principal decided to separate Jonah and Felix into different classes was the day he made the biggest mistake of his career.
At first, Sam and Tessa tried to talk to him.
"This is standard procedure," Principal Dawson had said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Twins, siblings—we separate them so they can develop their own identities."
Tessa sighed. "They're not twins, Mr. Dawson. But they're connected in a way that's different from other siblings."
"It will do them good," the principal emphasized. "Children are adaptable."
Sam exchanged a knowing look with his wife. "You don't know our boys."
 
Day One: Chaos Unleashed
 
By the end of the first day, both Felix and Jonah had made their point loud and clear.
Jonah—normally sweet, friendly, and cooperative—had flatly refused to participate in class activities. When his teacher asked him to read aloud, he meowed instead. When asked to answer a math question, he chirped.
Felix, on the other hand, had chosen a more direct approach.
No matter how many times his teachers tried to keep him in his seat, he escaped. Every time someone turned their back on him, Felix disappeared—only to find himself sitting on Jonah's desk in his classroom, purring smugly.
They had removed him from Jonah's classroom.
He came back.
They had tried to lock the classroom doors.
Felix crawled through the ventilation shafts.
They had tried to lock him in the principal's office.
He sat on the director's desk, curled up like a house cat, and took a nap.
At lunch, the brothers did not sit in their assigned seats, but ate together under the table, flicking their food at anyone who tried to separate them.
By the end of the day, three teachers had suffered a nervous breakdown.
The headmaster called an emergency meeting.
 
Day two: The stalemate
 
The teachers tried to separate the two for another day.
They had failed.
Jonah refused to do anything without Felix. Felix turned every class into a tactical mission to find his brother.
By noon, the teachers had given up. The principal threw up his hands and finally gave in.
"You're in the same class from now on," he moaned. "Please, for heaven's sake, let's have a normal school day!"
Felix and Jonah had exchanged a victorious look, and their cocks—well, Felix's cock—had twitched wildly with satisfaction.
From that day on, the two were never separated. Wherever one was, the other was also.
 
Academically unstoppable
 
If the teachers had expected the boys to be troublemakers forever, they were in for a shock.
At the end of first grade, Felix and Jonah were the best in the class. In second grade, they competed for first place.
It quickly became clear that trying to separate the two had been the lesser problem. Now it was all about keeping up with their eagerness to learn!
Jonah had a sharp, logical mind and was an excellent mathematician and problem solver. Felix, on the other hand, had an incredible memory and an almost intuitive understanding of science and patterns. They continually challenged and pushed each other to improve.
By the time they reached third grade, the teachers had stopped grading them separately because every time one of them was chosen as the best student, the other caught up within a few days.
It wasn't a competition between them. It was a synergy.
The only place where Jonah couldn't quite keep up?
 
Sport: The cat outstrips humans
 
No matter how hard Jonah tried, he just couldn't beat Felix in physical activities.
Felix was faster, more agile, and could jump to incredible heights. While Jonah could run well for a human, Felix could run like a panther.
Obstacle course? Felix climbed walls like a pro.
Long jumps? Felix was practically floating above the ground.
Playing catch? Felix was elusive.
At first, Jonah tried to keep up, pushing himself harder to keep up. But the harder he tried, the more he realized something.
Not only had Felix not let him catch up with him, he had still always looked after him.
When Jonah climbed a tree, Felix climbed next to him.
Whenever Jonah ran too fast and stumbled, Felix was immediately there to catch him.
When Jonah tried to jump from too great a height, Felix blocked him and shook his head.
 
"You're not made for this," said Felix, wagging his fluffy tail. "You'll hurt yourself."
"But you do that all the time," Jonah pouted.
Felix grinned. "Yeah, but I'm landing on my feet."
Jonah snorted. "I can land on my feet too!"
Felix gave him a slightly pitying look. "No. You can't."
Jonah tried anyway.
Jonah had fallen.
Felix had caught him.
“See?” Felix had grinned.
Jonah had grumbled, but he couldn't really be angry.
Because no matter how many times he tried to push his limits, Felix never let him down.
By the time they reached fifth grade, the world had stopped questioning their connection.
It was a simple fact: Felix and Jonah were always together.
Two heads, one team.
Two brothers, an inseparable bond.
Two boys, one unstoppable force.
And what if the world couldn't handle it?
Then that was the world's problem.
 
The last attempt to capture Felix Watson
 
They thought it would be easy.
Felix Watson was only ten years old. A child. Small and fast, sure—but still a child. And children? They were easy to catch.
The plan was simple. Grab him after school, throw him in a van, and disappear. Someone out there—a rich freak, an underground collector, a desperate scientist—would pay millions for a boy who was half-cat, half-human.
Felix was valuable.
They never expected that he could be dangerous – and that his brother was in no way inferior to him.
And that? That was her biggest mistake.
 
The attack
 
It happened on a quiet autumn afternoon. Felix and Jonah were walking home from school, side by side as usual.
They didn't notice the van creeping up behind them, but Felix's ears twitched.
Something was wrong.
Before he could warn Jonah, the doors opened.
Three men pounced on her. Quickly. Coordinated.
The hands grabbed Felix's arms and pulled him back. Another man lunged at Jonah and tried to push him aside.
For a second – just a fraction of a second – panic rose in Felix.
Then the instinct.
Felix didn't scream. He didn't lash out uncoordinatedly.
He attacked.
His claws weren't just decoration.
With a wild growl, Felix swung.
His claws – small but razor-sharp – tore through the face of the first attacker like a knife through paper.
One wipe.
A scream.
Blood spurted. The man staggered back, clutching his face. His eyes were gone. Felix had blinded him with a single blow.
The second man hesitated – a mistake.
Felix jumped and spun in the air like a wildcat. His claws dug into the flesh again, tearing deep wounds.
The second attacker fell back, his hands flying to his destroyed face, blood flowing between his fingers.
He too would never be able to see again.
The third man – stunned. As if frozen.
Too slow.
Felix whirled around, lashing his tail. His eyes flashed wildly, deadly. His claws dripped red.
The third man staggered backward. "W-what the hell-"
And Jonah hadn't just been a spectator either.
One of the men had dropped his knife when Felix turned his face into raw meat.
Jonah grabbed it.
No claws? So what?
Jonah plunged the blade into the leg of the last attacker – deep and precise.
The man screamed and collapsed.
Jonah didn't let go. He twisted the knife, striking an artery. Blood gushed.
The attacker screamed even louder.
Felix turned to Jonah with wide eyes. "You..."
Jonah was panting, pale, but steadfast. His hand was covered in blood.
Felix blinked. Then he grinned.
"Good work," he muttered.
Jonah snorted. "You're not the only one who can fight."
That was the end of the fight.
The last two kidnappers?
They saw their companions writhing on the ground in pain – screaming, bleeding, blind.
They saw Felix licking the blood from his claws like a damn jungle predator.
They saw Jonah, still holding the knife, ready to strike again.
And they broke.
They sank to their knees, hands up.
"W...We give up!"
They didn't even try to escape.
Not even when the sheriff's sirens sounded.
 
The result
 
When the sheriff arrived, he was met with a horrific scene.
Four men. Bleeding. Screaming.
Two of them blind for life.
One was just barely saved from bleeding to death by the emergency doctor.
Two others trembling, crying, surrendering without a fight.
And the center of it all?
Two ten-year-old boys.
One was still holding a blood-stained knife in his hand.
The other calmly flicked the blood from his claws.
The sheriff—a tough man, ex-military—looked at the scene and then looked at Felix and Jonah.
Felix blinked up at him and twitched his tail. "They tried to kidnap me."
Jonah crossed his arms. "We stopped them."
The sheriff exhaled slowly. "Yes, guys. You got this."
He looked at the absolute massacre the brothers had left behind.
And he knew: No one would ever repeat that mistake.
Felix Watson was not prey.
He was a predator.
And Jonah? When it came to protecting his brother, he was at least as brave and determined as Jonah.
And this was the last attempt to kidnap Felix.
 
The Aftermath: Fear and Freedom
 
No one ever tried again.
Not after the carnage left behind by Felix and Jonah.
The city whispered about it for weeks. The district attorney never filed charges against the boys—why should he? They were just children acting in self-defense. And the attackers? Criminals. Monsters. Kidnappers.
Justice had been served, wildly and brutally.
But while no one dared to harm the boy anymore, something else changed.
 
The fear of the city
 
People saw them with different eyes.
Adults who had previously smiled at her as she passed now kept their distance.
Parents whispered in hushed tones.
The children were told to “stay away from the Watson boys.”
Even the teachers became hesitant and suspicious.
Felix had always been different. The half-cat boy. The oddball.
Now?
Now he was dangerous.
And Jonah, who was once considered the "normal" one, the bridge between Felix and the rest of the world, was now just as feared.
"He stabbed the man."
"He's just as bad as his brother."
"They're animals, both of them."
Jonah laughed about it.
Felix? He just shrugged.
They never really belonged anyway.
They had each other.
They had their parents.
That was enough.
Other children still talked to them, but always from a distance. No one dared to get too close.
Well, except for a few.
 
Their “loose friends” stayed close, although even they didn’t fully understand the bond between the brothers.
They tried to invite Jonah – without Felix.
They tried to talk to Felix – without Jonah.
It never worked.
Because where one was, the other was too. Always.
They went to school together.
They went out to eat together.
They learned together.
They even slept in the same bed.
Her parents had long since given up separating them at night.
Tessa once asked, "Aren't you two getting a little old for this?"
Jonah just shrugged. "Felix will be cold without me."
Felix flicked his tail and added, "Johna's bed is softer."
Sam had complained about it being the same damn mattress, but in the end, he and Tessa let it go.
The brothers were inseparable. Period.
 
Trouble in the hospital
 
When the brothers were twelve years old, Jonah's appendix burst.
Felix was horrified.
Jonah had never been in such pain. He had never been weak.
Felix had clung to his side the entire ambulance ride, his claws digging into the seat cushions, his tail fluffed up in fear.
As soon as Jonah was out of the operating room, Felix moved into his hospital room.
And when the doctors and nurses tried to get him to walk?
That... didn't go well.
"You can't sleep in his hospital bed, young man," a nurse had grumbled.
Felix had hissed at her.
Jonah, pale but grinning, had muttered, "Just let him stay. It's easier that way."
Felix had curled up next to Jonah, his tail tucked protectively over him, and that was the end of the discussion.
The hospital staff complained to her parents.
Sam sighed. "Do you really want to argue with him about this?"
Tessa just smiled sweetly. "Felix has claws, you know..."
The staff had given up.
The next week, Felix acted as Jona's personal caregiver.
He fetched water before Jonah even asked.
He adjusted the pillows with astonishing precision.
He watched over Jonah like a guard dog. A meowing, purring, and, if necessary, hissing guard dog.
The only time Felix left Jonah's side was when he snapped at the doctors who wanted to check his stitches.
Jonah had laughed through the pain.
"You're like an overprotective cat mom."
Felix flicked his tail in his face. "Shut up and eat your jelly."
By the time Jonah was discharged, the entire hospital staff had learned a valuable lesson:
Never try to separate Felix Watson from his brother.
Brothers, no matter what
The city could fear them.
The world didn't want to understand her.
But they didn't care.
They had each other.
And that was all they needed.
 
A Christmas rescue
 
The night was cold, the fresh snow crunched beneath their boots as Felix and Jonah made their way home from the Christmas market. Their stomachs were full of roasted chestnuts, sweet pastries, and hot chocolate, and their breath curled into clouds of mist as they laughed about how Felix had almost knocked over an entire display of glass ornaments just by flicking his tail too enthusiastically.
"I'm not doing this on purpose," Felix huffed, licking the last bits of a cinnamon roll from his fingers. "They shouldn't put fragile things so close to the edge."
Jonah grinned. "You just have a thing for shiny objects."
Felix didn't disagree. Christmas decorations had always fascinated him—the way the lights sparkled, the baubles reflected the glow from the fireplace, the tinsel shimmered with every little movement. Sam and Tessa had long since cat-proofed their Christmas tree at home by hanging the decorations high up, avoiding anything breakable, and attaching the garland firmly to prevent "climbing accidents."
As the brothers passed the rows of decorated houses, Felix admired the lights, his keen eyes noticing every tiny detail—the flickering candles in the windows, the glowing reindeer on the lawns, the way the snow reflected the colorful bulbs on the roofs.
Then they both froze.
A column of smoke curled from a second-story window of a small but beautifully decorated house.
A second later – frightened screams.
"Help! Help us!"
The brothers looked into each other's eyes and then back to the house.
At the window: two children. A boy, perhaps six years old, clinging to the frame in fear, and a younger girl, no more than four, crying as smoke rose behind them.
And behind the smoke: flames.
The fire was everywhere in the house.
There was no way up.
There was only the facade.
And Felix understood that immediately.
In a flash, Felix dropped his coat, took off his shoes and socks, claws slipped from the tips of his fingers and toes, and Felix threw himself against the wall.
Jonah barely had time to register the movement when Felix climbed the wall of the house with frightening ease.
One moment he was standing on the floor. The next moment he was hanging from the second-story window.
Felix grabbed the little boy first, while his sharp eyes glanced at the girl. She was too small and wouldn't be able to hold on to him—if he took them both at once, he might drop one of them.
One by one.
Felix held the boy tightly in his arms and climbed down quickly but carefully.
The moment he reached the ground, Jonah was already there, stretching out his hands.
Felix placed the boy in Jonah's arms and then immediately turned around to climb back up.
Jonah looked down – and his heart was pounding in his throat.
The little boy wasn't breathing.
 
Jonah's Fight
 
Felix was already halfway back to the window when Jonah laid the boy in the snow with trembling hands.
His mind went on autopilot.
Airways. Breathing. Chest compressions.
He had practiced it. Their mother had taught them both.
Jonah tilted the boy's head, pinched his nose, and breathed into his lungs.
No reaction.
Again.
Still nothing.
Jonah's chest tightened. He pushed down, counted, repeated.
Breathe, boy. Come on.
Then – a tiny, wheezing cough.
Jonah breathed a sigh of relief when the boy suddenly took a shuddering breath and blinked up at him in confusion.
"Everything's fine," Jonah whispered, his voice firm with emotion. "You're safe."
The boy clung to him, crying now, but he was alive.
 
Felix's return
 
Felix landed beside them with feline grace, the little girl in his arms. She was sobbing, her cheeks smeared with soot, but she was safe.
Jonah wrapped his arms around both children, pulling them close and warming them with his body. Felix plopped down in the snow next to him, put his socks and shoes back on, and then curled his tail protectively around the little ones.
The children trembled and clung to their rescuers.
Felix purred softly, a deep, soothing growl. "You're safe now," he murmured before turning to his brother. "You did well."
Jonah wiped the soot from the boy's face. "Your little sister is fine too," he promised.
The siblings cuddled up to her, seeking warmth.
Then: sirens.
When the fire department and ambulance arrived, they found something they hadn't expected.
No screaming, panicking children.
No chaos.
Instead: two calm, focused teenagers hugging the rescued children in the snow, calming them down and protecting them.
The sheriff—the same one who had dealt with Felix's attempted kidnapping years ago—was the first on the scene. He took one look at the situation, sighed, and muttered:
"Of course you are."
Firefighters rushed past and entered the house to contain the fire. Paramedics examined the children, examined the brothers, and wrapped them in blankets.
A paramedic looked at the wall of the house and blinked in shock.
"You—how did you even..."
Jonah just grinned. "Teamwork."
Felix, still purring to comfort the children, just shrugged. "It was the only way up."
The sheriff pinched the bridge of his nose. "You two are going to give me a damn heart attack one day."
Felix grinned. "Not today."
When the fire was extinguished, the brothers lay half-buried in blankets and drank hot chocolate from the paramedics.
The little boy didn't want to let go of Jonah.
The little girl had curled up on Felix's lap and was clutching his tail like a stuffed animal.
Jonah and Felix just looked at each other.
Another Christmas. Another life-changing moment.
They were feared.
They were outcasts.
They had never belonged.
But at that moment none of that mattered.
Because they were exactly as they should be.
Brothers. Protectors. Heroes.
 
The heroes of Christmas
 
For years, the city had whispered about Felix and Jonah Watson. Some with fear, some with curiosity, but few with understanding.
That changed the night they rescued these children.
Even the hardest-hearted people—those who once crossed the street to avoid them, those who warned their children to stay away—had to admit the truth.
The Watson brothers were heroes.
Without them, the city would have woken up to tragedy just before Christmas. Instead, two young children were alive, safe, and securely in the arms of their grateful parents.
The mayor wasted no time.
Just three days later, on Christmas Eve morning, a celebration took place in the market square. Half the town had come despite the icy air. Snow covered the ground, twinkling lights lined the rooftops, and at the center of it all were Felix and Jonah—side by side as always.
The mayor stood before them, and his voice echoed over the assembled crowd.
"Felix and Jonah Watson," he declared, "you showed this city what true courage looks like. Where others would have hesitated, you acted. When there was no way out, you found one. And because of you, two young lives were saved."
The crowd was silent – not out of fear, not out of uncertainty, but out of respect.
The mayor turned to them and held out two small but shiny medals.
"For your bravery, for your selflessness, and for proving that there are many kinds of heroism, it is my honor to make you both honorary citizens."
He placed the medals over their heads, one for Jonah, one for Felix.
The city erupted in cheers.
For the first time in years, people viewed the brothers not with fear or suspicion, but with admiration.
Felix, who usually shrugged off the attention, actually smiled, his tail twitching behind him. Jonah nudged him playfully.
"You're enjoying this," Jonah murmured.
Felix grinned. "Maybe a little."
That wasn't all.
The story spread.
On Christmas morning, national news channels reported on the incident. CCTV footage of Felix climbing the house, Jonah performing CPR in the snow, and the two of them, the rescued children snuggling up to them, was shown on television across the country.
The people were full of awe.
"These are the Watson brothers, the teenagers who saved Christmas."
"Half cat, half boy, but a whole hero."
"These brothers prove that family is more than blood—it's an unbreakable bond."
Felix and Jonah, however, weren't really interested in the news.
Because for them other things were more important.
As Felix and Jonah stood in the crowd at the ceremony, holding their medals in their hands, their eyes fell on two people.
The parents of the children they had saved.
The mother wept, but this time out of joy, not fear. The father had his arm around her and held her tight. Their children stood before them, alive, breathing, healthy.
And that – more than the applause, more than the medals, more than the national attention – was what mattered.
Felix and Jonah didn't need to be heroes. The title didn't matter to them.
Something else was important to them.
A family, complete.
A tragedy, prevented.
Two small children who would surely wake up in their beds on Christmas morning.
And when they turned around, they saw something else that was important.
Their parents.
Sam and Tessa stood nearby, watching them with loving faces and pride.
Felix didn't need a cat's instinct to read her. He could see it in her eyes.
We love you.
We are very, very proud of you.
Felix bumped his shoulder against Jonah's.
"Do you see that?" he murmured.
Jonah smiled. "Yes. I see it."
They never needed anyone else.
Not the city's approval.
Not the acceptance of the world.
They had each other.
They had their parents.
And that?
That was what really mattered.
 
The Summer of Change
 
Puberty struck like lightning.
One moment, Felix and Jonah were just two brothers, inseparable as ever, who spent their days running through the woods, climbing trees, swimming in the lake, and generally being untouchable by the rest of the world.
Then summer came.
And suddenly girls – and a few brave boys – became interested in her.
Not just as friends.
As something more.
It started innocently enough—a girl in her class asked Jonah to go to the movies with her. A boy from the track team told Felix he thought his cat eyes were cool, and then turned bright red when Felix blinked at him.
Then there were those who were braver.
Smiling flirting.
Not-quite-random touches.
Notes put in lockers.
And none of them knew what to do with it.
Date meant... what?
Spend time with someone else?
With an outsider?
Without each other?
That was unthinkable.
 
Her parents' concerns
 
Sam and Tessa had long suspected that this moment would come.
Their boys were closer than any other siblings they had ever seen. Even now, at fourteen, they continued to sleep in the same bed, spoke in half-finished sentences that the other somehow always understood, and had never spent more than a few hours apart.
And now?
Now the world was trying to pull them in different directions.
Tessa had expressed her concerns to Sam late one evening, after the boys had gone to bed.
"Do you think they'll ever find... someone? Someone else, I mean?"
Sam sighed and rubbed his temple. "I don't know. I mean, it's not like they need anyone else."
"That's what worries me," Tessa murmured. "Will they ever want anyone else?"
Sam had no answer.
 
The Lake and the Truth
 
It was Jonah who finally decided they needed to talk about it.
And there was only one place where this was possible: her secret beach by the lake.
The town thought Felix hated water because he was half cat.
They were wrong.
Felix loved splashing and swimming in the water. But only when he wanted to, not on command. He owed that to his cat DNA!
Their little hideaway was a quiet, hidden cove surrounded by trees known only to them. It had been their refuge since they were children.
Now they sat on the bank, their feet in the cool water, while the summer sun made everything appear hazy and golden.
Jonah skipped a rock across the surface. "So... what should we do about this whole dating thing?"
Felix stretched lazily, his tail bobbing in boredom. "I don't know. Ignore it?"
Jonah laughed. "I don't think that'll work. People won't stop caring about us just because we pretend they don't."
Felix frowned. "Why are they even interested? What's the point?"
Jonah looked at him. "You really don't understand?"
Felix raised an eyebrow.
Jonah sighed and threw another stone. "They like us. They really like us."
Felix blinked. "Why?"
Jonah burst out laughing. "You really don't understand?"
Felix scowled. "I understand the concept, genius. I just don't understand why anyone would want to date one of us."
Jonah grinned. "Well, you're kind of cute, you know."
Felix dipped his tail into the water and splashed Jonah. "Shut up."
Jonah sidestepped the question, still grinning. "But seriously. What are we supposed to do? Date someone? Spend time away from each other?"
Felix's ears twitched back. "No."
Jonah nodded. "Exactly. That won't happen."
They sat in companionable silence for a long moment, letting the water splash at their feet, before Jonah suddenly... giggled.
Felix turned around and raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Jonah's giggle turned into laughter.
Felix frowned. "Jonah."
Jonah wiped his eyes, still laughing. "It's just... you're not even my real brother."
Felix froze.
His breath caught, his ears twitched, and something deep and sharp pierced his chest.
Jonah saw his reaction and immediately continued speaking.
"That means," Jonah grinned with shining, mischievous eyes, "that I can do this now."
Then, before Felix could react, Jonah leaned forward.
And kissed him.
 
The first kiss
 
Felix didn't move at first.
His brain had a short circuit.
Jonah's lips were warm, familiar, and yet completely foreign.
For the first time in his entire life, Felix didn't know what to do.
Then instinct kicked in.
He leaned into the kiss.
The kiss wasn't perfect—it was awkward, uncertain, completely new to both of them.
But it felt right.
When they finally separated, both breathless and with flushed faces, they just stared at each other.
Then they both whispered at the same time: "I love you."
Perfectly synchronized.
Jonah grinned. "I guess that solves the dating problem."
Felix blinked. Then he snorted. Then he laughed.
Because of course.
Jonah belonged to him.
It belonged to Jonah.
Nothing and no one could come between them.
And that's exactly how it should be.
 
The last missing piece
 
The sun was low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the lake, turning the water into liquid fire. Felix and Jonah sat close together, their shoulders touching, their hands timidly clasping. It was a quiet kind of magic, the kind they had always known existed between them, but had never fully understood—until now.
They had always belonged together.
This was just... the last bit.
"I guess that makes sense, right?" Jonah murmured, stroking Felix's finger with his thumb.
Felix grinned, his tail twitching lazily behind him. "You mean the part where we're basically soulmates?"
Jonah snorted. "A little dramatic, but yeah."
Felix grumbled and laid his head back, his eyes half-closed and lost in thought. "We've always been like this, haven't we? Just... without the kissing."
Jonah leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss on Felix's shoulder. "Yes. But this feels right."
They had spent their entire lives side by side—as babies, as children, as teenagers. They had fought together, learned together, saved lives together. They had always protected each other and understood each other in a way no one else ever could.
Now, with the gentle pressure of lips, the soft caress of fingers, it felt as if they had finally completed something she hadn't even known was missing.
Jonah pulled Felix into his arms, held him tight, and buried his face in the crook of his neck. Felix purred—deep, quiet, and contented.
Jonah chuckled. "You're happy."
Felix snuggled into Jonah's hair. "I've never been happier."
So they sat there, talking, kissing and cuddling until the sun had almost disappeared behind the trees.
Then reality set in.
Their parents.
They'd always been open with Sam and Tessa. But this? This was new. And they had no idea how their parents would react.
Would they be upset about it?
Would they think it was somehow wrong?
Jonah exhaled slowly. "We'll tell them, right?"
Felix nodded, though his tail twitched restlessly. "We're not hiding."
They had never hidden before. They didn't plan to start now.
 
Homecoming
 
The house was warm and glowing with soft lamplight as they entered. The smell of Tessa's cooking filled the air—a promise of something delicious. Normally, that would relax her.
But not tonight.
Because tonight they were holding hands.
And no matter how inconspicuous they tried to make it, Sam and Tessa noticed it immediately.
They've always had an ear for their sons' feelings. And the way Felix and Jonah stood in the doorway, exchanging nervous glances, shifting slightly...
That was new.
But it was the hands – tightly bound, fingers intertwined, no one making a move to let go – that gave everything away.
Tessa caught her breath.
Sam stiffened slightly and looked back and forth between the two.
Felix and Jonah were both prepared for something—anything.
Then her parents smiled.
Soft. Warm. Understanding.
And at that moment they realized: Sam and Tessa had known.
Maybe not consciously, but deep down they had always felt it.
That her boys were inseparable.
That their connection was more than just brotherly.
That this was not just a phase or a temporary phenomenon.
That was forever.
Jonah and Felix Watson – best friends, brothers, partners, soul mates.
And Sam and Tessa loved her.
No hesitation. No awkward questions. Just love.
Tessa took the first step, stepped forward and took them both in her arms.
Felix sighed softly and fell into the hug. Jonah held her tightly and buried his face in her shoulder.
Sam came over a second later, his strong arms pulling her into a familial hug.
"Whatever happens," he murmured, "you'll always be our boys."
Felix and Jonah both swallowed hard, their emotions running amok.
And at the same time they whispered in perfect unison.
"We love you."
Sam squeezed their shoulders. "We love you too."
Tessa kissed each of them on the forehead. "Always."
And just like that, everything felt right.
Because this was her home.
And they were exactly where they belonged.
 
A night of truths and decisions
 
After the initial wave of hugs, emotions, and reassurances, the Watson family sat down at the dining table for a long conversation.
Sam and Tessa had always been open, always willing to support their sons, but this was new territory for all of them.
Felix and Jonah sat close together, still holding hands under the table, their fingers loosely intertwined. They weren't sure if they were doing it out of habit or for comfort—perhaps both.
Tessa, always the meek one, began. "You know we love you, and that won't change. But we need to talk about what that means... for you. For all of us."
Felix's ears twitched. "You mean how people will react?"
Sam sighed and rubbed his temple. "Yeah. You both know our town is mostly open-minded." He glanced at Jonah. "The sheriff and his man prove it."
Jonah grinned. "I still find it weird that the scariest guy in town is married to the fire chief."
Felix grinned. "A power couple."
Tessa giggled, but her eyes were still serious. "It's true. Most people here won't care that you're a couple. But some will see it differently."
Jonah's fingers closed around his brother's under the table. "Because we're brothers?"
Tessa exhaled slowly. "Yes."
Sam leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table. "Look, we know—and you know too—that blood doesn't make a family, that you're not biologically related. And most people understand that. But there will also be some who... don't."
Felix shrugged. "And?"
Sam raised an eyebrow. "Well, some people will say nasty things. Stupid things. You have to be prepared for questions. For judgments. You have to be prepared for that."
Jonah and Felix exchanged a glance.
They had spent their entire lives as outsiders.
As children they had been feared, Felix had almost been kidnapped, hunted by scientists and mocked by people who never understood them.
This one?
That was nothing.
Jonah grinned. "We've seen worse."
Felix twitched his tail. "Yes. At least we hope we don't have to scratch anyone's face this time."
Sam groaned. "Please don't scratch anyone's face."
Tessa hid a smile behind her hand.
The conversation shifted to something personal – how they wanted to live their truth.
Tessa hesitated before asking, "Do you plan on telling people?"
Jonah raised an eyebrow. "Why shouldn't we?"
Felix tilted his head. "We've never hidden before."
Jonah snorted. "Besides, hopefully, hearing about this will deter people from accepting dating offers."
Felix laughed. "Oh, yes. That's a big plus."
Sam groaned. "You two are impossible."
But there was something in his expression – pride.
Proud that his sons were strong, confident and fearless.
That they would face the world together.
That they wouldn't let anyone tell them who they should be.
Tessa reached out and squeezed both their hands. "Then we will stand by you. No matter what happens."
Jonah and Felix smiled.
They had always belonged together.
They would never let the world tell them otherwise.
 
Jumping out of the Closet
 
On Monday morning, Felix and Jonah walked to school holding hands.
It was courageous. Intentional. A clear statement, without any words.
None of them were afraid.
They'd experienced worse than whispers. Worse than judgment. Worse than the occasional idiot who thought they were too different to belong.
They hadn't hidden.
And they didn't plan to start now.
At first, only a few students noticed. Then more noticed. And by the time they reached their first grade, the whole school seemed to know.
The whispering began in the hallways.
In the morning, people in the class were already stealing glances at her.
By lunchtime the talk was in full swing.
Jonah and Felix felt the eyes on them as they entered the cafeteria, but neither of them hesitated.
Felix's tail twitched in amusement, his ears twitched at the quiet murmuring.
Jonah just rolled his eyes. "You'd think we announced we wanted to take over the country."
Felix grinned. "If we did that, we would do better than the current government."
Jonah snorted. "Without a doubt."
They grabbed their trays, found their usual table, and sat down to eat.
And the whispering continued.
Even the students who usually minded their own business stared at her.
Jonah took a slow sip of his Coke, then put the glass down and sighed.
Felix popped a French fry into his mouth and chewed thoughtfully. "You know..." He glanced at Jonah. "Maybe we should just come clean."
Jonah raised an eyebrow. "You mean a public announcement?"
Felix grinned playfully. "Why not? They're all dying to know."
Jonah's lips curled into a grin.
They stood up – together.
 
A public statement
 
The cafeteria fell silent.
Jonah didn't hesitate. "Okay, let's just get this over with—yes, we're a couple."
Felix grinned cheekily and wagged his tail. "And to all the girls and boys who were hoping for a chance—I'm sorry we have to disappoint you."
A moment of pure, stunned silence.
Then…
Ryan – the sheriff's openly gay, often sarcastic foster son – stood up from his desk and shook his head with a grin.
"Okay, I have a question." He looked around, hands on his hips. "Why is anyone surprised?"
Some students muttered uncomfortably to themselves.
Ryan shook his head. "Seriously? Didn't you see that coming?" He pointed at Felix and Jonah. "Those two have practically been married since they were in diapers."
Felix giggled. "Not really, we only just realized it ourselves."
Ryan rolled his eyes. "Whatever." He turned back to the crowd. "You know why I never tried to hit on either of them? Because I knew they'd never date anyone else. And everyone should have known that."
Jonah raised an eyebrow. "You were thinking about asking us out?"
Ryan grinned. "You're both cute. Of course I considered it. But even I don't have the ego to compete with your strange, psychic connection."
Felix and Jonah exchanged amused glances.
Then Ryan started clapping.
At first it was just him.
Then a student came along.
Then another one.
And another one.
Until, to her complete surprise, most of the cafeteria applauded.
Some students just shrugged and went back to their food. Some still looked awkward, perhaps even a little confused. But no one had a particularly negative reaction.
Felix's cock twitched contentedly. "Hmm. That went better than expected."
Jonah grinned. "I told you people wouldn't care."
Ryan grinned. "Nah, man. We care. We just always knew, or at least suspected. At least those of us who don't just use our eyes for staring at smartphones."
Felix and Jonah sat down again so they could finally eat in peace.
And for the first time since their relationship had changed, they felt something settle in their chests—something warm, something safe, something complete.
They had each other.
And the world?
The world just had to deal with it.
 
Déjà Vu in the driveway
 
The Watson family pulled into the driveway, full stomachs and in good spirits after an evening of epicurean debauchery.
Felix stretched in the passenger seat, twitching his ears lazily, while Jonah groaned in the back seat. "I think I ate too much."
"You both ate too much," Tessa remarked amusedly. "The waitress looked like she wanted to ban you both for life."
Felix grinned, his tail slapping against Jonah's shoulder. "It's not our fault that they underestimated our feeding capacity."
Sam giggled as he parked the car, but then...
A noise.
A quiet, whimpering, meowing sound.
Sam's whole body froze.
Felix's ears spun like radar dishes. Jonah sat up straight.
Sam exhaled and murmured quietly, "Not again."
Then he got out of the car very quickly.
Tessa barely had time to react before Felix and Jonah ran after her father.
There was a cardboard box on the doorstep.
Almost like 15 years ago.
Sam hesitated, staring at the box as if it might explode. His heart pounded. What now? Another Felix? Another strange, abandoned child?
Jonah caught up, panting. "Oh God. Do you think it's...?"
Felix narrowed his eyes, his nose twitched, and stepped closer. "I smell fur."
"Well, that doesn't really help," Sam grumbled. "You have fur yourself.
Felix ignored him and twitched his tail.
Taking a deep breath, Sam squatted down and slowly lifted the lid of the box.
At first he thought his worst suspicions were correct.
Gray tabby fur on a tiny body.
But then he noticed something else.
Too many legs.
Too many small heads.
Too many small dicks.
Felix exhaled sharply. "They're kittens."
Tessa peered over Sam's shoulder and gasped. "Oh God."
Jonah grinned. "This time they're real kittens."
Inside the box, three tiny, shivering gray tabby kittens huddled together, whimpering pitifully. Their fur was damp, their small bodies weakened by the cold.
Sam groaned and rubbed his face. "I swear, this house is like a magnet for abandoned babies."
Felix, peering into the box, chirped softly. The kittens immediately perked up, their little eyes fluttering open.
Jonah nudged him. "Dude, you just spoke their language."
Felix grinned. "Of course I did. I'm a kind of cat, after all."
Tessa had already picked up the box and was holding it tightly. "We're not leaving it out here. Let's bring it inside."
Sam sighed, but didn't argue. He knew how this story would end.
Felix and Jonah exchanged a knowing look.
Happy Birthday.
It looked like they had just received three new siblings as an extra gift.
 
Three and a half cats
 
The Watson family rushed into the house, and Tessa clutched the box of tiny, meowing kittens tightly to her chest. The house was warm and glowed softly in the golden light of the Christmas decorations.
Sam closed the door behind them and sighed. "Okay. Let's see what we have."
Tessa placed the box on the dining table, and for a moment the family just stood there, staring down at the three tiny, shivering kittens. Their fur was damp from the cold, their eyes blinked dully, and their little mouths opened in desperate, pitiful meows.
Felix's ears twitched at the sound, and instinctively he chirped in response. The kittens immediately perked up.
Jonah grinned. "You're their king now."
Felix flicked his tail. "Obviously."
Tessa was the first to reach out and carefully lifted one of the kittens from the box—a tiny one with a barely visible stripe on its nose. "Poor baby," she murmured, taking it in her arms.
Jonah followed her and grabbed another one—the fluffiest one, which immediately buried itself in his hoodie as if it had always belonged there.
Felix hesitated, staring at the last kitten, the smallest of the three. The little thing blinked up at him, let out a tiny meow, and immediately crawled into Felix's hands as if they were the safest place in the world.
Sam, watching this, looked around with mock jealousy.
"Oh, I understand how it is. Everyone gets a kitten, except me?"
Jonah chuckled. "Maybe you still smell too much like a Chinese restaurant, Dad."
Sam crossed his arms. "Unacceptable."
Then he approached Felix with a comically serious expression on his face.
And tried to lift him up.
Felix yelped as Sam dramatically tried to pick up his not-quite-kitten-sized teenage son.
“Let me down, Dad!” Felix protested, fidgeting.
Sam grinned. "No. I want a kitten too."
Jonah burst out laughing. "Dad, he's almost bigger than you."
Felix snorted and wagged his tail. "Besides, I'm not a little kitten."
Tessa stroked the tiny creature in her hands and sighed lovingly. "Boys, concentrate. The babies need us."
Felix grumbled when Sam finally put him down, but when he looked at the kitten in his palm, he softened.
The tiny creature was completely relaxed, trusting, his little paws pressing against Felix's thumb.
"Okay," Felix murmured, gently stroking the shaggy head with a finger. "We should warm her up first."
After a few minutes of gentle caressing and shared warmth, Sam ran his hand through his hair and sighed.
"All right. We need supplies."
Tessa nodded. "Food, kitten food, blankets, a heating pad, a litter box, small bowls..."
Jonah pulled out his phone. "I'm making a list."
Felix, still gently holding his kitten in his arms, raised an eyebrow. "Do you think the pet store is still open?"
Sam looked at the clock.
"I have no idea," he admitted, reaching for his coat. "But I'm trying to figure it out."
Felix grinned. "Try not to bring home another abandoned animal while you're out."
Sam glanced at him. "I can't promise."
Tessa kissed Sam on the cheek before he walked out the door. "Drive carefully!"
 
Time for a cat wash
 
While Sam was doing some last-minute pet supplies, the other three members of the Watson household looked down at the slightly dirty kittens in their hands.
Jonah wrinkled his nose. "They're kind of dirty."
Tessa nodded. "We should clean them up before they get comfortable."
She turned to Felix and gave him a mischievous smile. "You know, since you're half cat and..."
Felix's ears immediately perked up. "No."
Jonah cackled. "Mom. No."
Felix glared at her playfully. "Just because I'm half cat doesn't mean I'm going to lick her clean!"
Tessa laughed. "That was a joke!"
Felix mumbled something to himself, but followed her into the kitchen, where they filled a small bowl with warm water and grabbed soft washcloths.
Together they gently wiped the kittens, rubbed away the dirt and dried them with soft towels.
Jonah's kitten curled up in his hoodie again and purred.
Felix's kitten snuggled contentedly into his palm.
Tessa's kitten sneezed briefly and then snuggled even deeper into her arms.
Felix exhaled and watched the little kitties. "I think we just became parents."
Jonah grinned. "Oh yeah. We're keeping them."
Felix grinned and wagged his tail playfully. "Then we should probably give them names."
Jonah nodded. "Yes. But first..."
They looked at the door.
"Let's see if Dad actually found a pet store that's open this late."
Felix chuckled. "Or if he'll just bring home another stray instead."
Tessa sighed. "If he does that, I'll put him in the cardboard box."
Felix and Jonah laughed themselves half to death.
 
A full house – once again
 
Sam returned half an hour later, his arms full of supplies, and the cold bit into his skin as he entered the house.
He barely had time to slam the door behind him when he noticed the scene in the living room.
Tessa, Jonah, and Felix sat comfortably on the couch, each with a tiny, sleeping kitten on their lap.
For a moment, Sam just stood there and watched.
His wife and sons looked completely at peace, the soft glow of the Christmas lights reflected in their eyes, their expressions gentle and content. The kittens—once cold, shivering, and alone—were now warm, safe, and loved.
Sam let out a long sigh and shook his head. "Well. Looks like I won't even have to ask if we want to keep her."
Felix grinned and twitched his ears. "Did you really think there was a chance we wouldn't do that?"
Jonah chuckled. "Face it, Dad. You knew the moment we spotted her."
Tessa smiled and stroked the tiny kitten in her lap with a soft hand. "They belong here."
Sam grumbled good-naturedly and placed the huge bag of supplies on the floor.
"Luckily, the pet store was still open. The owner looked at me and said, 'New kittens, eh?'"
Felix snorted. "You probably looked like a desperate new cat dad."
Sam rolled his eyes. "Obviously." He began unpacking the supplies. "I have the essentials: cat food, bottles, milk, litter, small bowls, toys, blankets, a scratching post, and three cat beds."
Jonah raised an eyebrow. "Three of them?"
Tessa grumbled. "That could be wishful thinking."
Felix grinned. "We all know how they'll really sleep."
 
Predator feeding
 
The next hour was spent organizing the new supplies and, most importantly, feeding the kittens.
Sam mixed the special formula, filled the small baby bottles and distributed them.
Tessa carefully picked up her kitten and held it gently as it clung to the bottle and began to drink eagerly.
Felix and Jonah followed suit, each stroking their tiny furballs while the kittens suckled their bottles with determination.
Felix chuckled softly and his tail twitched. "They're little food inhalers."
Jonah nodded. "You're definitely a good fit for us."
The kittens finished in record time and licked their little mouths…
And then they demanded more. Loudly.
Jonah blinked. "Uh. I think mine's still hungry."
Felix tilted his head and saw his kitten, which had just drunk, immediately let out a loud, insistent meow.
The third kitten followed suit.
Felix sighed. "Bottomless stomachs."
Sam groaned. "Great. Mini versions of you two."
Tessa just laughed.
 
Where would the kitties sleep (as if that were a question)
 
After the kittens had been fed, cleaned and cuddled enough, the question arose as to where they should sleep.
Tessa glanced at the kitten beds. "We should put them somewhere cozy."
Felix and Jonah exchanged a glance.
Then they spoke at exactly the same time.
"They sleep in our room."
Sam raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You've already decided that?"
Felix crossed his arms. "Of course. You might need help tonight."
Jonah nodded. "And Felix's cat ears will be the first to hear them."
Tessa smiled gently. "That's a good point."
Felix and Jonah took one of the small kitten beds and placed it on top of their own.
Felix placed his kitten in the crib. "Here, try this."
The little ball of fur somehow managed to climb out and curled up on Felix's pillow.
Jonah sighed. "That's what I thought."
Felix chuckled. "I guess they just sleep wherever they want."
Sam sighed dramatically. "I see I've lost control of this household."
Tessa patted his arm. "You were never in control, honey."
That was it. The kittens lay in their new owners' bed, purring softly. Shortly afterward, Tessa and Sam left the room.
A little later, Felix and Jonah were also lying in their bed, the kittens snuggled up to them, tiny and warm.
Jonah whispered, "That was a good birthday."
Felix purred. "Yes. The best yet."
And so the Watsons' house was released into the night—now a little fuller, a little more alive—with the warmth of family, love, and new beginnings enveloping them like a blanket.
 
Getting used to the night
 
Felix and Jonah lay on their bed, warm and comfortable, their tiny, sleeping kittens snuggled up against them. The little furballs were curled up slightly, purring softly, their tummies full and their bodies completely relaxed.
But as much as Jonah and Felix loved them, there was one very important truth about such young kittens:
They didn't know what a litter box was yet.
And waking up in a bed soiled with kitten pee and poop was not on the boys' agenda.
Felix gently nudged the kitten curled up on his pillow. "All right, little troublemaker. Time for your bed."
The kitten stretched sleepily and yawned broadly before snuggling into Felix's hand.
Jonah chuckled. "I don't think they want to move."
Felix grinned. "You have no other choice."
Carefully, the boys picked up each kitten and placed it in the soft, padded kitten bed that now sat right next to their own on the floor. The kittens let out a few sleepy squeaks and twitched their tiny paws... but they didn't protest their relocation. Instead, they simply curled up against each other, their little bodies forming a pile of warmth and fluff.
Felix smiled. "Clever little things."
Jonah gently stroked their little heads and watched their breasts rise and fall with deep, contented breaths. "Yes. They know they're safe."
Felix's ears twitched at the softness in Jonah's voice, and something warm and deep settled in his chest.
 
A restless night – for the boys, not for the kittens
 
When silence fell in the house, Jonah and Felix tried to sleep.
But… every now and then they would wake up.
A small rustle. A tiny noise.
Felix's ears twitched. "Did you hear that?"
Jonah raised his head. "I think there was something."
They both turned to the kitten bed.
The three kittens were still fast asleep, curled up in a small, warm bundle.
Felix exhaled quietly and flopped back onto the mattress. "False alarm."
Jonah chuckled and pressed his face into his pillow. "I guess we're the troublemakers, not them."
Felix turned his head and looked at Jonah in the soft light of the almost full moon outside.
Jonah met his gaze, a small, knowing smile playing around his lips.
The kittens had the right idea.
Felix turned around and pressed his forehead against Jonah's, feeling his warmth, the constant, familiar presence that had been there his entire life.
Jonah exhaled slowly, his fingers finding Felix's and gently stroking them. Felix's cock wrapped gently around Jonah. And so the brothers finally found peace.
No more worries. No more thoughts.
Just the quiet night and the certainty that they were exactly where they belonged.
Felix purred softly. "Let's sleep."
Jonah just grumbled in agreement.
And just like the kittens next to them, they curled up and enjoyed the warmth of their bed – and their love.
 
Morning Chaos, Kitten Edition
 
Felix's ears twitched.
A low, high-pitched meow pierced the air, persistent and insistent, tearing him from the warm haze of sleep.
He groaned and buried his face in the pillow. "Jonah..."
Jonah, equally groggy, mumbled a reply into Felix's shoulder. "Mmm?"
Felix opened one eye wide – and immediately snorted.
The three kittens were awake—very awake—and were trying to escape from their kitten bed in a completely uncoordinated manner.
The smallest one had hooked his front paws over the soft, padded edge and tried to pull himself up – only to be knocked over by a sibling.
The fluffiest kitten rolled onto its back and waved its paws.
The third just meowed loudly, as if demanding: "Help me, you giant, useless humans!"
Jonah groaned and finally raised his head. "Are they okay?"
Felix grinned. "You're okay. Just bad at sleeping in."
Jonah sat up and looked at the wriggling kittens. "Yuck." He took a deep breath. "Okay. Morning toilet. We can do this."
Felix swung his legs off the bed and stretched, twitching his tail lazily. "At least we were smart enough not to let her sleep in our bed."
Jonah nodded sleepily. "Yeah... good decision."
Then the smell hit them.
Both froze.
Felix's nose wrinkled. Jonah's eyes widened.
»Oh.«
"Oh no."
 
The consequences of well-fed kittens
 
The kittens, who had inhaled the contents of their food bottles the night before, had processed it.
And the result came out the other end.
Felix grimaced. "Yuck. This is worse than I thought."
Jonah picked up a kitten by its collar, his eyes filled with horror. "This thing is 80% fluff and 20% poop."
Felix sighed and rubbed his temple. "And before you say it—no, I won't lick her clean."
Jonah chattered despite the situation. "I wasn't going to say that! But now I kind of wish I had."
Felix gave him a mock-angry look. "Shut up and help me."
They exchanged a silent agreement: This would be a team effort.
Jonah lifted the entire kitten bed, still containing the three furballs, and Felix stabilized it as they carefully carried the meowing, wriggling, and slightly smelly creatures downstairs.
As they entered the kitchen, Tessa, who was making coffee, turned around and immediately noticed the smell.
She blinked.
Then she sighed. "I was wondering how long this part would take."
Sam, coming out of the hallway, stopped mid-stride. "Oh my God. That's crazy."
Jonah placed the kitten bed on the kitchen table. "Yes. Good morning, everyone. Our children need help."
Felix crossed his arms. "I'd prefer help that doesn't involve my tongue."
Tessa laughed and rolled up her sleeves. "All right, guys. Let's do this together."
The whole family pitched in—Tessa prepared warm washcloths, Sam grabbed extra towels, and Jonah and Felix carefully lifted each kitten, one by one, to clean them.
The kittens protested, of course. Loudly.
Felix grumbled as he wiped the smallest one. "That thing is screaming like we're murdering it."
Jonah, holding up a wriggling, protesting fluffball, sighed. "Why is it fighting me? I'm literally saving it from its own filth."
Sam chuckled. "Welcome to parenting."
Finally, all three kittens were fresh, warm and fluffy again, wrapped in small towels.
Tessa gently kissed the smallest kitten on the head. "Much better."
Felix let out a tired sigh. "They're lucky they're so cute."
Jonah chuckled. "They really are."
As soon as the kittens were clean, they were overcome by morning hunger.
Jonah laughed. "All right, all right, we hear you!"
Sam shook his head as he heated the special food and poured it into the small bottles.
Felix grinned as he picked one up. "They're so tiny, where do they eat all that? It's like they have bottomless stomachs."
Jonah raised an eyebrow. "Does this sound familiar?"
Felix rolled his eyes, but didn't object.
Tessa, Jonah and Felix each took a kitten, fed it carefully and held it like the little royal child that it obviously was.
And only when the kittens were content, full, and sleepy again did the Watsons finally sit down to their own breakfast.
Tessa smiled as she sipped her coffee and watched her sons cradle the now-dozing kittens on their laps.
"You're such good fathers."
Felix and Jonah froze.
Then they exchanged a glance.
Jonah grinned. "Yeah... I guess we kind of are."
Felix grinned. "Well. We have great role models."
Sam paused mid-bite. He pointed his fork at the boys. "Damn right, you got them."
The family laughed, the house was filled with warmth, love and the soft purring of the three new members.
The Watson family had grown once again.
 
Off to the vet
 
With breakfast over and the kittens happily dozing in a soft pile, the Watsons made plans for the day.
Tessa wiped the table and looked at the still-purring fluff. "Okay, what do we do now?"
Felix wagged his tail. "Vet visit."
Jonah nodded. "We need to make sure they're healthy."
Sam sighed. "Yes. It's time to see if the new vet can handle the chaos in this family."
Dr. Handrick had recently moved to town, succeeding Dr. Winston, who had cared for the animals in the area for the past 45 years before finally retiring to a warmer location.
Rumor had it that Dr. Handrick was young, sharp-witted, and a little too serious—but since the Watsons seemed to be the favorite place for abandoned animals, they would get to know him very quickly.
“This will be fun,” Felix murmured.
Jonah grinned. "For us, yes. I'm not sure about the doctor."
 
Packing the kittens
 
The next task was to put the kittens in a transport box.
Felix raised an eyebrow. "Do you think they'll just walk in?"
Jonah chuckled. "Probably not."
Sam returned with the cat carrier—a sturdy, padded box with a soft, warm interior. He placed it on the table and folded his arms. "Okay, let's get started."
Step one: Line the box with soft towels.
Second step: Carefully place the kittens inside.
Third step?
Immediate, dramatic protest.
The moment the zipper was closed, the meowing began.
Felix flinched. "Wow. That's loud."
Jonah shook his head. "They sound like they're being led to the slaughter."
Sam sighed and picked up the box. "Well, they'll have to survive. Let's go before they make a real fuss."
 
The trip to Dr. Handrick
 
The three Watson men climbed into the car, the transport box lying safely between Felix and Jonah.
The kittens were not pleased.
The meowing echoed through the vehicle and ranged from pitiful squeals to open wailing.
Jonah looked at Felix. "Dude, can't you... communicate with them?"
Felix smiled, then let out a quiet snort – actually a soothing sound.
The kittens paused.
Then one let out an even louder, dramatic scream.
Felix sighed. "Nope. They're making a fuss."
Sam chuckled from the driver's seat. "Great. Mini versions of you two."
Jonah grinned. "We should have expected that."
Felix gently nudged the carrier and spoke softly. "Relax, you little disasters. It's just a check-up."
The kittens continued to grumble and meow, but eventually they calmed down and their little voices became a sleepy murmur.
Jonah shook his head. "I swear, we have the most spoiled adopted children ever."
Felix grinned. "Watson tradition."
As the car pulled into the parking lot of the Handrick Veterinary Clinic, the three Watsons prepared for their next challenge: introducing their new little family members to their new doctor.
Hoping that he was ready for her.
 
A surprise in the waiting room
 
When the Watsons entered Dr. Handrick's clinic with the meowing cat box, they were met with an unexpected sight.
Sitting on one of the chairs in the waiting room was Ryan, the sheriff's often sarcastic and sharp-witted foster son.
But it wasn't just Ryan.
At his feet, with his large head resting on Ryan's lap, sat a young German Shepherd.
The dog's ears pricked up at their arrival, his deep brown eyes alert but friendly. His tail patted the ground, but he didn't get up. Instead, he gave a soft snort and tilted his head to have his ears scratched—which Ryan immediately did.
Felix grinned. "Look, look, look. Look who we have here."
Ryan looked up, a grin playing on his lips. "And look who finally joined the pet owners club."
Jonah chuckled as they approached. "Ryan, this is our father, Sam Watson."
Sam gave the young man a searching look and extended his hand. "So you're Ryan. I've heard a lot about you."
Ryan shook Sam's hand and smiled. "All good things, I hope."
Felix snorted. "Mostly."
Jonah rolled his eyes. "That's a matter of interpretation."
Ryan chuckled before pointing to the large dog at his feet. "Anyway, this is Micco. I got him a few days ago."
Felix crouched down, his golden cat eyes examining the dog. "From the animal shelter?"
Ryan nodded, his expression softening as he ran a hand down Micco's back. "Yeah. I found him at the animal shelter, and we clicked instantly. The sheriff took one look at me when I looked at him and told me to just take the damn dog."
Jonah grinned. "Sounds just like him."
Ryan grinned and scratched Micco behind the ears. "The best decision I ever made." There was pure affection in his voice; his love for his new companion was clearly audible.
Felix and Jonah exchanged a glance.
They knew that look in Ryan's eyes. The same look they had when they first took the kittens out of the cardboard box. The same feeling they had for each other.
Ryan had found his new best friend.
Jonah grinned. "Micco suits you."
Felix flicked his tail. "You have my blessing."
Ryan snorted and giggled. "Oh, thank you, Your Majesty."
Jonah chuckled. "Speaking of pets..." He lifted the carrier, which now vibrated in time with soft, impatient meows.
Ryan blinked. "Oh no. What were you two doing?"
Felix grinned. "We have kittens."
Ryan stared at her. "You? Of all people, you have kittens?"
Jonah grinned. "Well, actually, they have us."
Felix nodded. "They were left in a box in front of our door last night. Tiny, fluffy, loud, and with no concept of privacy."
Ryan giggled. "Sounds good."
Micco, who had been watching silently, suddenly raised his head and twitched his nose.
Then he stood up and took a few cautious steps forward.
Felix and Jonah held the cat box while the large German Shepherd sniffed at the opening in the mesh and slowly wagged his tail.
Inside, the kittens, now fully awake and curious, meowed loudly at the large dog nose that was poking around in their territory.
Micco let out a small, confused whine and pricked up his ears.
Jonah laughed. "I think he likes her."
Felix grinned and watched as Micco gave the box a gentle nudge.
One of the kittens pressed a tiny paw against the viewing window.
Ryan shook his head in amusement. "Micco, buddy, those aren't chew toys."
Micco tilted his head and was visibly fascinated.
Felix grinned. "Looks like we're all pet parents now."
Jonah nudged Ryan. "Hey, I guess that means we need to arrange a play date."
Ryan grinned. "Oh, absolutely. I want to see how your little furry goblins react to a dog whose head is bigger than their entire body."
Felix snorted. "They'll either be scared or declare war."
Jonah grinned. "Either way, it'll be hilarious."
Ryan nodded. "Probably."
 
Things are getting serious
 
Before the conversation could continue, the door to the treatment room opened and a young man in a white coat and glasses entered the waiting area.
His eyes scanned the room and landed on the Watsons and their meowing Chaos Box.
"Felix and Jonah Watson? It's your turn."
Felix grinned and picked up the box. "All right, bundle of fur. Let's see what the doctor says."
Jonah grinned at Ryan. "See you when we've survived this."
Ryan waved his hand and grinned. "Good luck. You'll need it."
And with that, the Watsons and their three little kittens entered the exam room, ready to meet their new veterinarian.
 
The first check-up
 
The examination room was bright and clean, the smell of disinfectant filling the air. The three Watson men stood around the stainless steel examination table, carefully lifting the kittens from their carriers and laying them down one by one.
The tiny creatures fidgeted slightly to adjust to the new surface, their tiny paws curiously padding around as they sniffed the air.
Sam looked at the young veterinarian standing across from them with his arms crossed. "All right, Doc. Here's the short version of how we ended up as cat servants."
The veterinarian, Dr. Handrick, a man in his early thirties with sharp eyes and a professional demeanor, raised an eyebrow but signaled Sam to continue.
Sam sighed. "We came home last night after celebrating the boys' birthdays and found these three in a cardboard box on our doorstep. No note, no idea who left them. Just three tiny, cold, hungry balls of fur meowing their lungs off."
Dr. Handrick nodded, his expression changing slightly—not surprised, but certainly sympathetic. "Unfortunately, this is not uncommon."
Felix frowned, his ears twitching. "Who abandons kittens in the middle of winter?"
Jonah shook his head. "Monster."
The vet sighed. "This happens more often than you think. But..." He rolled up his sleeves and carefully examined the first kitten. "Let's focus on the little ones for now."
Felix and Jonah held their breath as the vet gently stroked each kitten, examining their tiny bodies, ears, and eyes. He carefully picked each one up and examined their bellies, paws, and tails.
The kittens, anything but fearful, playfully swatted at his fingers, their tiny claws catching on his gloves.
Felix grinned. "Well, at least they're fearless."
Dr. Handrick laughed. "That's a good sign."
Jonah, pacing nervously, finally asked what they all wanted to know. "So? Are they okay?"
The vet nodded, and immediately relief spread throughout the room.
"They're about four or five weeks old—still young, but not newborns. They're a little thin, which isn't surprising considering they were abandoned, but overall," he looked at her with a reassuring smile, "they look healthy."
Felix let out a breath he didn't even realize he'd been holding. Jonah visibly relaxed. Sam rubbed his neck. "Good. That's good."
The vet picked up the smallest kitten, which immediately wrapped its paws around his thumb and nibbled. "Looks like you have two boys and a girl."
Jonah grinned. "That explains why she's bossing the other two around."
Felix grinned. "You have to respect the hierarchy."
Dr. Handrick placed the kitten back on the table and watched as the little trio curled up into a tiny, fluffy pile. "Right now, what they need most is warmth, food, and sleep."
Jonah nodded. "We put a heating pad down at home."
Felix crossed his arms. "And we've already learned that they eat like little furry vacuum cleaners."
Dr. Handrick chuckled. "Sounds like you're off to a good start."
Sam sighed. "Yeah. I guess that means we're officially cat people now."
Felix grinned. "You love it."
Sam grumbled. "No comment."
Jonah laughed and reached out to gently stroke the sleepy kittens.
The Watsons now had new rulers.
And they were more than happy with that.
 
Basic course for new cat owners
 
Dr. Handrick, obviously pleased with the kittens' condition, rolled back his chair and began listing some important tips.
"Okay, now that you're officially a cat owner, there are a few things you need to know. First, toilet training. At this age, they'll figure it out naturally, but you should encourage them by putting them in the litter box after meals. Use a shallow litter box with unscented litter that's not too dusty."
Jonah nodded. "Understood. No perfumed stuff."
Dr. Handrick continued. "Vaccinations. We need to start the first round in a few weeks and then continue with booster shots. Plus regular deworming, flea prevention, all those things."
Felix wrinkled his nose. "Fleas. Great."
"Hopefully they don't have any yet," the vet reassured her. "And finally – neutering. Cats should be neutered at around six months of age to prevent unwanted litters and behavioral problems."
That was the moment when Jonah's face lit up mischievously.
He turned to Felix and grinned like a devil.
"Six months, huh? That means we urgently need to schedule an appointment for Felix; he's already overdue."
Felix's ears shot up. His tail puffed up in indignation.
"Forget it! Nobody castrates me!"
Jonah burst into uncontrollable laughter and almost fell to the ground.
Even Dr. Handrick let out a stifled laugh, while Sam just groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Jonah, for God's sake."
With tears of laughter in his eyes, Jonah raised his hands in surrender. "Hey, I'm just saying—veterinary recommendation!"
Felix snorted. "I'll let you feel my claws right now."
Dr. Handrick shook his head, obviously trying to regain his composure. "Well, I can safely say this is the first time I've experienced this reaction in my practice."
Jonah grinned. "They'll get used to us."
 
A curious look
 
When the laughter died down, Sam noticed something—Dr. Handrick was still looking at Felix.
Not in a bad way, not in a judgmental way – just curious.
Sam recognized that look.
And before the doctor could ask anything, he sighed. "I assume you've heard about Felix?"
Dr. Handrick felt caught and looked at him. "I read some old articles after I moved here. I wasn't sure if it was an exaggeration or not."
Sam gave a short, amused snort. "Definitely not an exaggeration."
Dr. Handrick nodded. "And I assume... you don't need veterinary assistance with him?"
Felix raised an eyebrow. "Unless you're secretly an expert on mythical creatures, I guess I'll pass."
Jonah giggled. "Half human, half cat, quite menacing."
Felix pushed him hard, causing Jonah to stumble.
Sam watched attentively and relaxed as Dr. Handrick simply nodded and didn't ask for details.
Instead, the vet simply said, "Good to know. If you ever need advice on cat matters, I'm happy to help."
Felix's tail twitched. "We appreciate that."
Jonah grinned. "Hey, since we're here, let's see if he has fleas?"
Felix groaned. "Jonah."
Sam sighed. "Guys."
Dr. Handrick just chuckled and shook his head. "I think that's enough for today."
And with that, the kittens were officially released for their new life in the Watson household.
 
A successful first visit to the vet
 
Once the kittens were safely back in their warm, towel-lined carrier, the Watsons left the exam room and made room for the next patient.
When they returned to the waiting area, Micco was still fixated on the transport box and staring at the barred window with his big brown eyes.
His tail wagged slowly, his ears pricked curiously.
Ryan sighed dramatically. "Micco, buddy, I love you, but you're embarrassing me. You're supposed to be a big, tough German Shepherd; you shouldn't care about kittens."
Micco ignored him. The kittens were much more interesting.
As the Watsons passed, Felix crouched slightly and let Micco sniff the carrier one last time. Inside, the kittens responded with a soft, squeaky meow and pressed their tiny paws curiously against the fabric.
Micco snorted, and his tail wagged a little faster.
Dr. Handrick, observing the interaction, gave a thoughtful grunt. "You know... maybe I should get a kitten or two for the clinic."
Jonah raised an eyebrow. "For what? To keep you company?"
Dr. Handrick chuckled. "More like a distraction for the dogs. If Micco's reaction is anything to go by, kittens might be better veterinary assistants than half of my staff."
Sam laughed. "Good luck keeping them from taking control."
Dr. Handrick sighed theatrically. "They already control every house they live in. They might as well control the clinic."
Felix grinned. "Smart man."
With a final nod, the Watsons waved goodbye to Ryan and Micco before walking back to the car with the kittens in the crate.
 
Pizza Stop & A Silent Promise
 
Halfway home, Sam made an unscheduled stop.
Felix and Jonah looked up as the car slowed down in front of a small, popular pizzeria.
Sam unbuckled his seatbelt. "I'll get us something to eat. You two stay here."
Jonah grinned. "Extra cheese?"
Sam glanced at him. "As if I'd forget."
Felix leaned back with a grin. "And don't take forever. We have hungry mouths to feed."
Sam sighed. "Including yours?"
Felix grinned. "Especially mine."
Shaking his head and smiling, Sam got out of the car and left the boys alone.
Jonah moved, pressing himself closer to Felix, seeking physical contact. Felix didn't hesitate and put an arm around Jonah's waist.
The cat box lay on their laps.
Felix peered through the barred window, his golden cat eyes catching the tiny bundles of fur inside.
The kittens were sleeping soundly, curled up in a tangle of soft paws and twitching tails, and they probably didn't even know which body part belonged to which kitten.
Jonah's expression softened. "They're so small."
Felix nodded. "And helpless."
Jonah pressed his forehead against Felix's shoulder. "They could have died out there."
Felix's ears twitched at the raw emotion in Jonah's voice. He felt it too—the weight of responsibility.
These three tiny creatures had been abandoned. Left in the cold. Unwanted.
But now?
Now they were safe.
Now they were loved.
Jonah reached through the side opening of the carrier and gently stroked one of the kitten's tiny ears with a finger. "They're part of us now."
Felix exhaled slowly, his tail curling around Jonah's leg. "Yes. To us."
A silent promise went back and forth between them.
They would protect these little lives.
They would love her.
They would never leave her alone again.
Felix leaned his head against Jonah's, enjoying his brother's closeness.
And when the soft purr of a kitten filled the space between them, they both knew.
Everything happened exactly as it should.
 
Life with kittens: pure chaos
 
In the days that followed, everything in the Watson household revolved around the kittens.
Not that it bothered anyone – but the three little furballs quickly made it clear that they were not only cute, but also little agents of chaos.
The problem of finding a name had also been resolved.
It didn't take long for Jonah and Felix to figure out their kittens' personalities.
The wild one? The one who was always running, jumping, and zooming around at full speed? Tim.
The fluffiest? The one who was also the clumsiest, always getting stuck somewhere and needing to be "rescued"? Tom.
The one who clearly dominated the group? The one who could defeat her two brothers in a wrestling match, despite being the smallest? Paula.
"I swear," Felix muttered one morning as he watched Paula headbutt Tom to steal his sleeping place, "she was a queen in another life."
Jonah laughed. "She's still a queen now. We're just her servants."
Sam, who had been watching the whole thing, sighed dramatically. "Great. Even more power players in this house. As if I weren't already outnumbered."
Tessa patted him on the shoulder. "Acceptance is the first step."
 
Victory at the cat litter box… and climbing horror
 
To everyone's relief, the kittens quickly figured out how to use the litter box.
Felix, proudly twitching his tail, grinned. "See? Cat instincts. They just know."
Jonah raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, well, let's just hope those cat instincts don't tempt her to..."
He broke off.
Because at that very moment, Tim – the most fearless and energetic of the three – jumped out of the kitten bed.
Felix blinked. "Oh no."
Jonah groaned. "Oh no."
And like dominoes falling one after the other, Paula followed. Then Tom, who didn't even seem to want to, but did it anyway because his siblings did it first.
Within seconds the kittens had escaped.
 
The Great Kitten Hunt
 
From that moment on, peace was over.
The kittens were tiny, but their energy was endless.
Tim could run faster than physics should allow.
Tom kept getting stuck in the weirdest places.
Paula had no fear and seemed to believe that the whole house belonged to her.
It wasn't long before the boys were constantly on kitten patrol.
"Jonah, grab Tim!" Felix shouted as the little cat scurried under the couch.
Jonah groaned. "Why is he so fast?!"
Meanwhile, Tom had somehow climbed onto a chair, panicked, and began meowing dramatically for help.
Felix picked him up. "Dude, how did you even get up here? You can't even jump that high."
Tom just purred.
And Paula?
She never regretted anything.
At least twice a day she was caught climbing the curtains.
One afternoon, Tessa entered the room and froze.
"Felix. Jonah. Why is Paula on top of the bookshelf?"
Jonah sighed. "Because she believes in herself."
Felix grabbed the little queen and held her up. "Fearless."
Paula just meowed, completely unimpressed.
 
Sleeping Angels (Finally Some Peace)
 
Fortunately, after several hours of chaos, the kittens finally fell into a deep nap and curled up in a cuddly pile.
The Watsons had never appreciated silence more.
Sam leaned back on the couch and rubbed his temples. "I love her, but I'm also rethinking every decision that led us to this moment."
Tessa laughed and sat down next to him. "Oh, come on. You're adorable."
Felix stretched and twitched his tail. "And when they sleep, they're perfect."
Jonah grinned and plopped down on the couch next to Felix. "Yes. But the 'awake' part is a disaster."
The family sat together and watched their tiny rulers sleep, knowing that this was just the beginning of an eventful life with kittens.
 
The second visit to the vet
 
A few weeks had passed, and it was time for Tim, Tom, and Paula to return to Dr. Handrick's clinic for their next checkup and vaccination.
The Watsons arrived, this time with a much larger transport box, as their little terrors had already grown quite a bit.
As they entered the exam room, Dr. Handrick smiled and gestured for them to put down the carrier.
"Let's see how the three of them are doing," he said, unzipping the carrier and carefully placing the kittens on the floor.
They immediately spread out like little explorers on a mission.
Tim rushed straight to the underside of the examination table and sniffed curiously.
Paula strolled through the room as if she wanted to inspect her new kingdom.
And Tom, the fluffiest and most insecure of the three, sat down and looked around with wide eyes.
Dr. Handrick, observing their antics, chuckled. "Well, they seem confident."
Felix grinned. "Too self-confident."
Jonah sighed dramatically. "It's a daily struggle."
While the kittens went on their journey of discovery, the Watsons reported on the little chaos machines.
Jonah gestured to Tim, who was climbing onto Felix's shoe. "Tim has endless energy. He never stops."
Felix nodded. "He's climbing walls now. Literally. That's a problem."
Sam crossed his arms. "Tom is... still Tom. Still fluffy. Still gets stuck in stupid places."
Felix grinned. "He's still screaming for help when he can't move forward or backward."
Jonah grinned. "Still cute."
Dr. Handrick chuckled and then turned to Paula, who was now sitting in the middle of the room, staring at him as if judging his soul.
“And Paula?” he asked.
Felix snorted. "Still a queen. She gets everything she wants."
Jonah nodded. "And she wants a lot."
The vet smiled, obviously pleased with the news. "Sounds like they're all growing well. Let's start the tests."
 
Tom moves forward – and a betrayal he will not forget
 
Dr. Handrick squatted down and carefully lifted Tom, who cooperated wonderfully at first.
The vet examined his tiny body, checked his ears, and then carefully opened his mouth to examine his teeth.
Tom just blinked at him, completely unimpressed.
Felix grinned. "Hey, look at this. Tom's the good guy."
Jonah chuckled. "Yeah, let's see what happens when he gets his first shot."
Dr. Handrick weighed Tom, then nodded. "Healthy weight, good coat, strong little fellow."
Then came the vaccination.
Dr. Handrick carefully prepared the syringe and made sure everything was in order.
Tom, still innocent and trusting, did not suspect anything.
Until the needle entered him.
And suddenly Tom wasn't the good guy anymore.
Tiny kitten, maximum rage.
The moment the injection of the vaccine was given, Tom let out a dramatic scream.
Then his tiny claws came into play.
Dr. Handrick tried to calm him down, but Tom thrashed like a wild animal, lashing out in all directions with his fluffy little paws.
Felix flinched. "Tom. Buddy."
Jonah burst out laughing. "Oh my God, he's fighting for his life."
Sam sighed. "I knew this would happen."
Dr. Handrick, doing his best not to become a human scratching post, quickly finished the vaccination and gently placed Tom back in the carrier as quickly as possible.
Tom stared at him through the bars, his ears flat, his whole body radiating betrayal.
Felix grinned. "He'll never trust you again."
Jonah snorted. "He looks like he's already planning his revenge."
Dr. Handrick exhaled and rubbed his arm, which now bore tiny scratch marks. "That was... intense for such a small kitten."
Sam patted him on the shoulder. "Welcome to life with the Watson pets."
Dr. Handrick sighed and eyed the other two kittens, who had stopped investigating and were now watching him with clear suspicion.
"Well," he muttered, reaching for the next one, "this could be fun."
 
Tim's great escape – and Felix becomes a victim
 
Tom's dramatic betrayal scene had obviously made an impression, because Tim and Paula now watched the vet like the villain in a horror movie.
And Tim?
Tim had a plan.
Dr. Handrick reached for him.
Tim fled.
Not just away, but straight to Felix.
Like a flash of gray and energy, Tim sprinted across the ground and jumped onto Felix's leg.
And immediately started climbing up his overalls. On the inside.
A kitten in your pants: a nightmare scenario.
For a second, Felix was frozen.
Then – pain.
Tiny, razor-sharp kitten claws. In his pants.
Felix yelped.
"GET HIM OUT!"
The claws scratched up his leg.
Felix jumped, spun, and lashed out, but Tim was on a mission.
Jonah burst out laughing.
Dr. Handrick took half a step back, appearing completely unprepared for what was happening.
And Sam?
Sam, who is supposed to be the responsible adult in this room.
He grabbed his phone and started recording.
Felix, who was now dancing around the room like a madman, barely registered it at first.
But then Jonah shouted between laughs: "Dad, are you really filming this?!"
And Sam grinned, completely guiltless. "That's GOLD."
Felix, his fur fluffed up in sheer desperation, tail whipping, voice a mixture of hiss and groan, jumped around.
"STOP FILMING AND HELP ME!"
Jonah, with tears in his eyes from laughing, finally came to the rescue.
"Hold still! I'll get him!"
Easier said than done.
Tim was in Felix's overalls and moved quickly, his tiny claws scratching at every surface they could reach.
Felix turned and hopped on one leg while Jonah tried to grab the little terror.
Meanwhile, Dr. Handrick just watched in amazement and horror.
“That’s new,” murmured the vet.
Finally, after thirty seconds of chaos, Jonah and Felix managed to trap Tim between the fabric and Felix's body.
"I GOT HIM!" Jonah shouted triumphantly.
Felix put his hands in his pants, grabbed Tim and pulled him out.
The tiny kitten thrashed around wildly, still not understanding why his clever attempt to escape had failed.
Felix held him up, breathing heavily, with his fur on end and his ears flattened.
"Never again."
Jonah grabbed Tim before Felix could throw him out the window and handed the still-struggling kitten to Dr. Handrick.
"Here. Good luck."
Dr. Handrick, who had wisely put on a second pair of thick gloves, nodded. "I think I'll need these."
 
Tim vs. Veterinarian
 
In contrast to Tom, who at least cooperated at the beginning, Tim resisted from the beginning and throughout the entire investigation.
Trying to wriggle out of the vet's hands? Check.
Trying to bite the stethoscope? Check.
Meowing so loudly and desperately that it sounded like he was being murdered? Check.
When Tim's vaccination was done, Dr. Handrick looked... tired.
But Tim had lost. He was vaccinated. And like Tom before him, he was promptly put in the transport container, where he sulked and felt betrayed.
Felix, still shaking out his overalls, muttered, "Next time I'll need a full-body protective suit."
Jonah grinned. "Or thermal underwear like me. An extra layer of protection."
Felix glared at him. "Shut up."
Sam, still grinning, put his phone away. "This video is going into the family archive."
Felix groaned.
Dr. Handrick, visibly pulling himself together, turned to Paula, who was still watching, completely unimpressed.
"Well," murmured the vet, adjusting his gloves. "Let's see if the queen makes it easier for me."
 
Paula's last stand
 
If Tom's betrayal was dramatic and Tim's escape attempt was chaotic, then Paula's strategy was nothing short of ingenious.
She didn't just run away.
She didn't scratch (yet).
She just disappeared.
At least she tried.
The moment Tim was locked in the carrier, Paula scurried across the room and found a tiny gap between two cabinets—just big enough to squeeze in, but too small for human hands to easily reach.
And where she was once?
She barricaded herself.
Her rear end was pressed firmly against the wall, her fluffy fur standing on end, making her look twice her actual size.
And the moment anyone even tried to grab her, there was hissing, clawing, and rage.
Hiss. Scratch. Hiss. Scratch. Start over.
"Oh God!" Dr. Handrick yanked his hand back just in time.
Felix whistled softly. "Damn, she's determined."
Jonah crossed his arms. "She saw what happened to her brothers and said to herself, 'Not with me!'"
Sam leaned against the wall, amused. "This is a real siege."
Dr. Handrick sighed and adjusted his gloves. "Let's try again."
 
The Battle of the Barricade
 
The vet tried a different approach by inserting his hand into the narrow gap from a different angle.
Paula had seen it coming.
And this time she hadn't just stung. She had bitten.
Hart.
"Do not!"
Dr. Handrick jerked his hand back, the double-layered gloves proving completely useless against the queen's fury.
Felix flinched. "Ugh. She takes it personally."
Jonah sighed and shook his head. "We should have named her Xena."
Dr. Handrick examined his now slightly torn glove and sighed. "Okay. I admit defeat."
 
Appearance of the Cat Whisperer
 
Felix shrugged and took a step forward.
"Okay. That's it. I've had enough."
Jonah raised an eyebrow. "Do you have a plan?"
Felix grinned. "Sure, I speak cat."
Dr. Handrick, rubbing his bitten hand, murmured, "Please. Enjoy."
Paula, still barricaded, hissed again.
Felix hissed back.
But not just any hiss, but a loud, commanding, I'm-the-boss hiss.
Paula fell silent immediately.
Jonah's eyes widened. "Oh damn."
Sam grinned. "Authority recognized."
Felix crouched down, his ears twitching, his tail twitching, his eyes fixed on Paula.
And then the conversation began.
A deep meow.
A sharp, shrill sound.
A warning hiss.
Paula's ears twitched forward, then back again.
She made a little grumble, but didn't hiss anymore.
Instead, she moved.
Not to attack.
But to allow Felix to grab her.
Felix carefully wrapped his hands around her middle and lifted her up.
Paula gave a final little hiss of protest, but didn't resist.
Jonah whistled, impressed. "Damn, you really are their king."
Dr. Handrick, equally shocked and relieved, blinked. "I've never seen anything like this."
Felix grinned and laid Paula on the examination table. "I told you. I speak cat."
Since Paula was now officially trapped, the vet quickly got to work.
Although she was tense, she didn't lash out as long as Felix was near her and kept her calm.
Dr. Handrick checked her weight, ears, and teeth with careful movements.
The moment he prepared the vaccine, Paula tensed up again.
Felix made a soft, snorting sound, and Paula calmed down—just barely.
The injection was administered.
Paula let out a grumpy meow but did not attack.
And just like that – it was over.
Felix immediately picked her up and put her in the transport box with her brothers.
Paula looked at everyone angrily.
But at least this time no blood was shed.
 
The winner's strategy
 
Dr. Handrick leaned against the table and took a deep breath.
"Well. That was... an experience."
Felix grinned.
Jonah nodded. "You survived. That's an achievement."
Sam giggled. "Just barely."
Dr. Handrick looked at Felix again. "I meant it when I said I'd never seen anything like this before. You really put her at ease."
Felix shrugged. "I just told her what she needed to hear."
Jonah grinned. "And that was?"
Felix grinned. "Behave yourself, or there won't be any extra treats tonight."
Sam laughed. "You bribed her?"
Felix shrugged. "It worked."
Dr. Handrick shook his head, still astonished. "Well, whatever you did saved my hands." He pulled off his slightly torn gloves. "And if you ask me, you got three perfectly healthy kittens."
Jonah grinned. "We already knew that."
Felix grinned. "Now they're officially vaccinated pests."
Sam sighed. "As if they weren't already a threat."
And with that, the Watsons packed up their battle-scarred kittens and left the clinic, knowing that life with Tim, Tom, and Paula would only get more interesting from now on.
 
Battle wounds and mother mode activated
 
At least the visit to the vet had a miraculous effect:
The kittens were tired.
For the first time since moving into the Watson household, Tim, Tom, and Paula were too exhausted from their ordeal to engage in their usual mischief.
Instead, they lay in a fluffy, sulking pile of kittens in front of the fireplace, their tiny bodies pressed together, the warm glow of the flames flickering across their fur.
The house was finally quiet.
Which meant: time for the fight report, Tessa also wanted to know how the visit to the vet had gone.
She turned away from the stove and raised an eyebrow. "So? How did it go?"
Sam leaned against the counter with a grin. "Well, Dr. Handrick survived. Barely."
Jonah grinned. "And Felix was attacked in his own pants."
Tessa blinked. "What?"
Felix groaned and threw himself onto a kitchen chair. "Tim scampered into my overalls and climbed up my leg. With claws."
Jonah giggled. "Felix was dancing. And Dad filmed it."
Tessa stared at her for a moment, then shook her head with a sigh. "Why am I not surprised?"
Sam pulled out his phone and grinned. "Do you want to see the video?"
Felix growled. "Dad. NO."
But Tessa wasn't listening anymore anyway.
She had switched into full mother mode.
 
Damage control
 
Tessa's eyes narrowed.
"Felix. Take off your overalls. Immediately."
Felix's ears flattened. "Mom, I'm fine."
Tessa crossed her arms. "Felix Watson, don't make me take them off."
Jonah grinned. "I'd love to see that."
Felix grumbled to himself, but stood up, undid the straps of his overalls and pulled them down, revealing his scratched leg.
Under the bright kitchen light, all the damage became visible.
Tiny red scratch marks ran up and down his calf and thigh. Some were only superficial scratches, but in a few places his fur was matted with tiny blood spots.
Tessa's sharp intake of breath filled the room. "Felix."
Felix shrugged. "It looks worse than it is."
Das sah Tessa anders.
"Bathroom. Now. Jonah, help him clean up. And use the antibacterial ointment."
Felix groaned. "Mom..."
"No argument."
Felix sighed, but obediently stomped towards the stairs, while Jonah followed him, grinning.
Arriving in the shared bathroom, Jonah took a washcloth, held it under warm water and knelt in front of Felix.
Felix sat on the closed toilet seat and watched as Jonah carefully cleaned the scratches.
"I swear, I think Tim likes you the most," Jonah said ironically, dabbing at a particularly deep scratch.
Felix snorted. "If that's his version of 'liking,' I don't want to see what happens when he doesn't like me anymore."
Jonah laughed. "Stop fidgeting like that."
Felix flicked his tail. "That burns."
"Yeah? Well, that's going to burn even more now."
Felix narrowed his eyes as Jonah reached for the antibacterial ointment.
"Jonah," Felix warned.
Jonah grinned. "Felix."
Felix hissed softly, his ears twitching in discomfort. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
Jonah grinned and pressed a kiss to Felix's knee. "Immense."
Felix sighed dramatically. "You're worse than Tim."
Jonah leaned forward and kissed Felix's thigh, then his hip, and finally his lips.
Felix melted away.
When they finally broke apart, Jonah grinned. "Better?"
Felix purred softly. "Yes. Better."
Tessa called up from downstairs. "I don't hear any movement! I'm afraid you're just making out!"
Felix and Jonah exchanged a glance.
Then Jonah yelled back.
"We refuse to testify!"
Tessa moaned.
Sam laughed.
And downstairs, three little kittens slept peacefully, completely unaware of the chaos they had caused.
 
Late-night reflections
 
It was quiet in the Watsons' house.
The kittens, still exhausted from their vet visit, lay curled up in their now larger cat bed at the foot of Jonah and Felix's bed.
They looked like little angels.
In fact, they were quite the opposite.
Felix and Jonah both knew that the moment the little furballs were recharged, they would return to their usual reign of lovable destruction.
But at the moment?
For now: peace.
The brothers lay cuddled together in their blankets, enjoying each other's warmth and the silence of the night.
Jonah watched the kittens for a moment, then grinned and turned his head to Felix. "You know," he whispered, "this is really your fault."
Felix's ears twitched. "What?"
Jonah grinned. "Well, think about it. You're half-cat. They're cats. That makes them like... your distant cousins. By five or six degrees."
Felix groaned and buried his face in Jonah's shoulder. "No. Absolutely not."
Jonah chuckled. "Too late. You have to deal with your relatives now."
Felix raised his head and gave Jonah a shallow look. "If we find any more stray animals, they'd better be puppies."
Jonah's grin widened. "Oh? Are you sure? Because puppies chase tails."
Felix froze.
Jonah waggled his eyebrows. "And you, my dear, have a very fluffy, very tempting tail."
Felix's tail twitched warningly. "Forget it. No puppies."
Jonah laughed softly and kissed Felix on the cheek. "All right, all right. No puppies. For now."
Felix sighed, but his expression softened as he wrapped his arms around Jonah and pulled him closer.
For a few more minutes they enjoyed each other's warmth and the quiet intimacy of the night.
Then Jonah let out a sleepy sigh. "Felix?"
Felix grumbled. "Hmm?"
Jonah smiled against his shoulder. "I love our little chaotic family."
Felix watched the kittens breathing softly in their sleep, felt Jonah's warmth beside him, and purred softly.
"Yes, me too."
And with that, they followed the kittens into dreamland, enveloped in love, warmth, and the knowledge that their lives—as chaotic as they were—were exactly as they were meant to be.
 
The chaos subsides… Somewhat
 
Six months had passed, and the worst of the kitten madness was over.
Tim, Tom and Paula were no longer tiny balls of fur, but slender, confident young cats, almost fully grown but still full of personality.
Tim? Still a hyperactive pest, but he'd learned to burn off his energy outdoors. He spent hours in the garden, chasing leaves, climbing trees, and terrorizing the squirrels in the area.
Tom? Still clumsy, but he'd learned that most deadlocks could be resolved with a bold leap—even if it sometimes involved dramatic cries of wailing.
And Paula? Still a queen. She still bossed her brothers around, still made sure everyone in the house knew who was in charge.
But she had finally accepted Felix as her king.
Felix liked to joke that he had "tamed" her, but everyone in the Watson household knew the truth—she had simply deemed him worthy.
 
The joys of outdoor cats (and the sorrows with them)
 
Now that they were grown up, the three young cats had claimed the Watsons' garden as their personal domain.
But their rule did not stop at the property boundaries.
They roamed the neighborhood like little feline explorers, enjoying the small-town freedom that came with living in a place where people knew each other and their pets.
But that also meant that they could fully live out their cat instincts.
This led to a constant problem.
The “gifts.”
It actually started out quite harmlessly.
A small leaf here. A feather there—sometimes a bird fluttering in panic would cling to it.
One day Tim proudly trotted into the house with a very live mouse.
Jonah had screamed. Felix had sighed.
Tessa? She had patiently removed the mouse and gently but firmly scolded Tim.
Did it help?
No.
The next day, Paula placed a dead lizard on Felix's pillow.
Felix stared at her in astonishment. "Seriously?"
Paula just winked at him, completely unimpressed.
After that it became routine.
Mice, birds, the occasional unfortunate frog – the kittens brought offerings to their humans and expected praise and gratitude.
Sam was close to giving up. "If I step on a dead animal in my slippers one more time, I'm moving out."
Jonah just grinned. "They just love us, Dad. Feel honored."
Felix rolled his eyes. "They need better ways to show their love."
 
Neutered cats – or a veterinarian with a nervous breakdown?
 
It was an adventure to have the three cats neutered and spayed.
After Dr. Handrick almost lost his fingers the last time, the Watsons weren't taking any chances.
Felix had spoken plainly in cat language before they even left the house and warned his feline subjects very clearly.
"If you cause chaos, I swear—no catnip for a month."
"You like your soft blanket? Away."
"You think you can take me on? Try it, Paula. At your own risk."
The cats had listened.
At least a little.
Dr. Handrick survived the procedure without serious injuries, although he later admitted, "Felix, I don't know what you said to them, but I owe you my life."
It had worked so well, in fact, that Felix had somehow ended up on the vet clinic's emergency contact list—as the official cat whisperer.
It started small.
Dr. Handrick once called when a particularly nasty cat refused to have its nails trimmed.
Felix appeared, hissed once, and the cat immediately behaved.
From then on, Felix's phone rang whenever the clinic had to treat a particularly rebellious cat.
Jonah laughed when Felix returned one evening "from a consultation" and grinned. "So you're a vet now?"
Felix snorted. "More like a hostage negotiator."
Sam rolled his eyes. "Just wait. Next thing you know, a zoo will call and ask you to tame a lion."
Felix grinned. "I could do it."
Jonah leaned against him and chuckled. "Yeah. You probably would."
 
A happy ending (for now…)
 
Life had changed a lot since that fateful winter night when they found the kittens on their doorstep.
But despite the chaos, the fur, the "gifts," and Felix's unexpected career as a cat whisperer, the Watson family wouldn't have changed a thing.
After all, the little fluffy disasters had made her life even better.
Even though Sam still refused to walk barefoot in the house.
 
The Watson Cat Survival Kit
 
Dr. Handrick had learned a lot since moving to the city.
But the most important lesson?
Never underestimate the Watson cats.
It took exactly three incidents before he introduced the “Encounter with the Watson Cat Emergency Kit” in his clinic.
The rescue package included:
– Antiseptic wipes (for minor injuries)
– Plaster (for deeper scratches)
– A small ice pack (for unhappy dog noses)
– A stress ball (for emotional relaxation)
– A sticker with the inscription “I survived the Watson cats” (one of the greatest achievements of his veterinary career)
 
A lesson for the city's dogs
 
At first, some overzealous dogs didn't understand why they should be afraid of the kittens.
After all, they were big. The Watson cats were small.
Of course, that meant the dogs were in charge.
Incorrect.
The first victim? A young Golden Retriever who tried to sniff Paula in a slightly inappropriate manner.
The result? A single punch to the nose.
The dog let out a painful cry and immediately hid behind its owner.
The second victim? A Boxer mix who thought Tim looked like a fun toy.
Tim, always ready to swing his paws, punched back.
And the third victim? A curious beagle who stuck his nose right into Tom's fur.
Tom, although he was the fluffiest and usually the most clueless, reacted instinctively.
A swipe. A hiss.
And suddenly the city's dogs began to learn.
By the third month, most local dogs were giving the Watson cats a wide berth, especially in the veterinary clinic waiting room.
Dr. Handrick, who observed the development of this pattern, simply sighed and held the emergency kit ready.
"Someone should start a support group for cat-damaged dogs," he muttered one day after wrapping a bandage around another dog's nose.
However, there was one dog who was safe: Micco.
He had never felt the claws of the Watson cats.
The large, patient, black-haired German Shepherd was somehow immune to the anger of Tim, Tom and Paula.
While other dogs learned to fear the trio, Micco was fully accepted into their ranks.
It started with strange interactions.
Micco sniffed them, as other dogs had done, but he didn't get any hits.
One day, Micco was found lying in the sun in front of Ryan's house.
And who had curled up on and around him?
All three Watson cats.
After that, it became a regular sight.
Tim climbed onto Micco's back and played with Micco's cock.
Tom sat like a prince on Micco's shoulders.
Paula snuggles up to his warm fur and treats him like her personal warm blanket.
And Micco?
He hadn't barked, growled, or even flinched in anger once.
Jonah, who observed the events one afternoon, just shook his head.
"I swear, that dog is a saint."
Felix grinned. "More like a royal bodyguard."
Ryan added with a grin, "I think he was fully adopted."
And while the other dogs in town remained suspicious of Tim, Tom, and Paula, Micco was officially their big brother.
 
High school graduation – double trouble style
 
The sun was shining, the flags were flying, and half the town had gathered for the high school graduation ceremony.
Two names were called out on the podium instead of one.
Felix Watson.
Jonah Watson.
Because it had been impossible to choose between them.
They had passed every test with flying colors, broken every record, and somehow trained every teacher to deal with their duo chaos.
So instead of arguing about which brother deserved the title of valedictorian more, the school simply gave up and awarded the title to both of them.
Now Felix and Jonah stood side by side on the stage and looked out into the crowd.
None of them had prepared a speech. None even had a notepad with them.
They didn't need one.
 
The speech
 
Jonah stepped forward first and tapped the microphone. "Can everyone hear us?"
Felix grinned. "Someone giggled in the twelfth row, so keep going."
Laughter rang through the crowd.
Jonah grinned. "Okay, so we should give a long, inspiring speech about our journey here. But let's be honest..."
Felix continued, "You've all known us since we were babies."
Jonah: "So let's start with the thanksgivings."
Felix: "The teachers first. We know we gave you hell."
Jonah: "But in our defense, you're all very well-behaved now."
Laughter erupted from the teaching staff.
Felix: "But seriously, thank you. You not only taught us math and science, you also tolerated us."
Jonah: "And that requires a lot of patience."
Felix: "To our friends – yes, to all five of you."
Jonah: "Okay, six, if we count Ryan."
Ryan let out a loud whistle from the audience.
Felix: "You made school bearable. And you also kept us from causing too much trouble."
Jonah: "Or at least helped cover up the trouble."
Felix: “And for that we are eternally grateful.”
Jonah's tone changed slightly, he was now more serious.
“But the biggest thank you goes to two people.”
Felix's cat-gold eyes scanned the crowd until they landed on Sam and Tessa, who were sitting front and center.
Felix continued: "Our parents. Sam. Tessa. The two people who found a strange creature, half human, half cat, abandoned on their doorstep on a freezing winter night."
Jonah: "And instead of freaking out or calling a government lab..."
Felix: "They took it. Without hesitation. Without fear."
Jonah: "They didn't just give him a home. They gave him love. A family."
Felix: "And that's why I got something even more incredible."
Jonah turned to Felix, their eyes met.
Jonah: "Me."
Felix snorted. "Yeah, okay."
The crowd laughed quietly, but the emotions in that moment were real.
Felix turned back to the audience, his voice firm. "Jonah and I—despite all our differences—were always one."
Jonah: "Inseparable."
Felix: "Best friends."
Jonah: “Brothers.”
Felix: "Soulmates."
Jonah: "And we wouldn't be here without the two people who raised us."
Felix and Jonah turned to their parents in unison and bowed.
Sam had put his arm around Tessa, who was clearly crying.
The entire audience clapped and cheered, the love in the air was palpable.
 
The grand finale
 
Jonah turned back to the microphone and grinned.
"So, I think what we're trying to say is..."
Felix grinned.
"We won."
Jonah: "High school? Defeated."
Felix: "The best power couple in town? Confirmed."
Jonah: "Felix is still a threat? Absolutely."
Felix: "Jonah is still hopelessly in love with me? That too."
The audience laughed, cheered and clapped.
Jonah put an arm over Felix's shoulder.
"We're the Watsons. And we're just getting started."
"And that wasn't a threat—just a promise."
With that, they left the stage – together, as always – ready for what was to come next.
 
Luck or prestige?
 
Felix and Jonah Watson were spoiled for choice.
Every elite university in the country—Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Stanford—had knocked on their door, offering full scholarships and promising them fame, fortune, and influence.
They could have become highly paid lawyers, groundbreaking doctors, or world-changing politicians.
But when it came time to decide their future, they rejected everything.
Because what they wanted was not power, prestige or money.
They wanted to teach.
When they announced their decision, people were... confused.
"You're turning down Harvard? For a small-town college?"
"But you could do anything! Why teach?"
"You could be millionaires and still want to correct homework?"
Jonah just grinned. "Yes."
Felix grinned. "We've trained our teachers well. Time to pass it on."
Their parents?
Sam and Tessa just smiled knowingly.
Because they knew better than anyone else: Felix and Jonah had never cared about status, wealth, or recognition.
It was important to them to make a difference.
 
A small college, a big dream
 
Instead of an Ivy League university, the Watson brothers chose a small college in the nearest large city – just 25 miles away.
It wasn't famous. It wasn't elitist.
But it was exactly what they wanted.
A place where they could learn to teach. Where they could learn to shape young minds, just like the teachers who had shaped them. (Or at least, they thought they had.)
It was also a practical decision.
They didn't need a noisy dorm full of annoying classmates.
They didn't want to leave home.
Instead, they pooled their savings—money from part-time jobs, tutoring, and even a small side business helping Dr. Handrick with his feline patients.
And they bought a used SUV—a rugged, reliable vehicle that they could use to get to and from campus every day.
The Watson brothers stayed at home.
And they wouldn't want it any other way.
Of course, the big universities weren't exactly thrilled.
The Harvard admissions officer had called twice and practically begged her to reconsider.
Princeton had sent letters, emails, and even a professor to convince her.
Stanford's acceptance package included a handwritten note from a Nobel laureate.
Jonah and Felix?
They just laughed, politely declined and moved on with their lives.
They had not chosen a path for reasons of prestige.
They chose a path to happiness.
And when they pulled into the driveway of their family home every evening and were greeted by the warmth of their parents and the antics of their three cats, they knew they had made the right choice.
And the cats had agreed.
Tim was still rushing through the house, but now he greeted her at the door as if he wanted to know how her day had gone.
Tom still managed to hang on to ridiculous places, even though he had now discovered a new hobby: climbing into their SUV and refusing to leave.
Paula still ruled the house, but she had officially declared the brothers' schoolbooks and laptop keyboards her personal thrones.
And the brothers?
They were exactly where they belonged.
At home.
Happy.
And ready for the next chapter of their lives – together.
 
A proposal for Christmas – times two
 
The Watson family was full, content and warm.
Another birthday party was over, and as always, their favorite Chinese restaurant had barely survived the brothers' voracious appetite.
Now, at home, they sat lazily in front of the fireplace, whose golden glow cast a soft light into the cozy living room.
Sam sat with one arm around Tessa and drank a cup of coffee.
Tim, Tom and Paula lay curled up on the rug in front of the fireplace, purring in perfect harmony.
Jonah was sitting in his usual spot, Felix had snuggled up to him, their bodies pressed so tightly together that not a single cat hair could have fit between them.
For a while they simply enjoyed the peace and quiet.
Until Felix suddenly moved.
Jonah barely had time to register the movement before Felix slid off the couch and sank to his knees in front of Jonah.
Jonah blinked. "Felix?"
Felix didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he reached into his jeans pocket and fished out a small black box.
Jonah's breath caught.
Felix opened the box and revealed a golden ring, the band smooth and elegant, with a small stone shimmering in the colors of the rainbow.
Tessa let out a little scream.
Sam sat up straighter.
Jonah just stared.
Felix took a deep breath and wanted to say something.
But before a single word passed his lips…
Jonah suddenly jumped up.
Felix blinked in confusion as Jonah also fell to his knees and looked at him.
Then Jonah pulled out a small black box.
Felix's golden eyes widened as Jonah opened them.
There was a ring inside.
A golden ring.
With a stone that shimmered in the colors of the rainbow.
Felix's mouth opened slightly.
Jonah's eyes met his.
And at the same moment, without hesitation, without thinking, they spoke in complete synchronicity.
"Will you marry me?"
Tessa gasped again, but this time she clapped her hands over her mouth because her eyes were already shining with tears.
Sam, staring at his sons, let out a breathless chuckle. "You've got to be kidding us."
Felix and Jonah, still kneeling in front of each other, just stared at each other.
Then Jonah started laughing.
Felix snorted and shook his head.
Jonah grinned. "That was my idea!"
Felix grinned. "That was my idea!"
Jonah let out a breathless laugh. "You beat me to it by about three seconds."
Felix raised an eyebrow. "It still counts."
Jonah rolled his eyes affectionately. "Are we really arguing about this?"
Felix grinned. "What's your answer?"
Jonah snorted. "What's yours?"
Felix giggled, then leaned forward and pressed his forehead against Jonah's.
»Yes.«
Jonah pressed himself against Felix.
»Yes.«
And with that they put the rings on each other’s fingers.
Tessa, now bursting into tears, finally broke her stunned silence.
She rushed forward and hugged both boys tightly.
"My babies are getting married!" she sobbed.
Sam shook his head with a smile and muttered, "I should have seen that coming."
Then he gently and lovingly placed his hands on his sons' shoulders.
"Congratulations, guys."
Felix and Jonah turned to their parents, their rings glittering in the firelight, their smiles brighter than ever.
Jonah squeezed Felix's hand.
Felix pushed back.
They had always been one.
And now?
Now they would make it official.
 
Jonah and Felix, teachers – and more
 
Five years had passed, and life in the Watson household had settled into a rhythm of love, laughter, and controlled chaos.
Felix and Jonah were happily married and still the inseparable duo they had always been.
Both had become popular teachers at the local high school, a decision that shocked the elite universities that had sought them but delighted their small town.
Felix taught physical education and physics—a combination that somehow made sense for a half-cat person who could explain and seemingly defy gravity.
Jonah taught English and algebra—a combination that worked because he could explain both poetry and polynomials with equal passion.
They still lived at home, but things had changed.
Together with Sam and Tessa, they had expanded the house and built a three-bedroom apartment above the garage – their own space, but still close to the family that had always been their foundation.
Her parents had grown older, but they were still strong, still active, and still very much in love.
The Watson cats—Tim, Tom, and Paula—had also aged gracefully, although Paula still ruled the house, Tim still darted around erratically, and Tom... well, Tom still got stuck in ridiculous places.
Life was good.
But Felix and Jonah knew something was missing.
From the beginning they wanted to become parents.
They had taken the required courses, passed the inspections, and were officially licensed as foster parents, hoping to one day provide a home for a child in need.
They had expected to have to wait a long time.
They hadn't expected that their first child would come much earlier than planned.
 
An unexpected cry for help
 
It happened because of an old friend.
The now retired sheriff, one of Ryan's adoptive fathers, had never really stopped protecting people.
And one night he intervened to protect an 11-year-old boy.
Liam.
Liam had spent his entire life in a house full of fear.
His parents had abused him, were cruel and violent.
And that night the sheriff ended it.
The boy's father had gone too far, too harshly.
The sheriff had taken even tougher action.
Liam's parents were the first to end up in the hospital.
Then in prison.
Felix and Jonah knew nothing about it – until there was a knock on their door.
Outside stood Sandra, the former neighbor and current director of the district's youth welfare office.
And next to her was an exhausted, suspicious-looking boy with bruises on his arms and a small backpack on his back.
Felix and Jonah didn't need to ask.
They knew it.
Liam needed a home.
And he had found it.
 
Getting used to the Watson household
 
At first, Liam didn't know what to make of it.
He had expected a different temporary location, a children's home or a traditional foster family.
Instead, he had two fathers.
Someone who loved books, told silly jokes, and could help him with math.
And one that had fur, cat ears, and a tail that constantly tickled him when he least expected it.
When Felix's tail flicked across Liam's arm for the first time, the previously silent boy giggled.
Felix had grinned.
"Did I hear laughter?"
Liam had covered his mouth, but the next time Felix's cock slid under his T-shirt and tickled his stomach, he had to laugh out loud.
After that, the cock became a weapon of pleasure.
And slowly Liam let his protective wall fall.
The Watson house was warm, safe, and full of love.
It was a place where people hugged freely, where laughter was risk-free, and where love didn't have to be earned.
And one evening, weeks after his arrival, Liam was curled up on the couch, squeezed between his two fathers, watching a movie.
Felix's tail wrapped around him as if it belonged there.
Jonah's arm went around his shoulders and gave him support.
And Liam felt safe – for the first time in his life.
He looked up at them, hesitated for a moment, and then whispered the words he had never dared to say before.
"Can I stay?"
Jonah squeezed his shoulder.
Felix ruffled his hair.
Sam and Tessa, sitting nearby, exchanged a knowing smile.
And Felix and Jonah spoke – without hesitation, without doubt – in perfect synchronicity.
"Forever."
 
A Christmas Eve like no other
 
It was late on Christmas Eve and the world was silent.
 
Liam slept upstairs, warm in his bed, dreaming of presents, snowball fights, and a world where there was no fear of Christmas.
His fathers – Felix and Jonah – were standing on the porch, huddled close together, each with an arm around the other and a cup of hot chocolate in their free hand.
The night was silent, the world bathed in the silver glow of moonlight, which was reflected in the thick blanket of snow on the ground.
More flakes fell gently, in addition to the twenty centimeters that already lay soft and untouched on the ground.
They didn't need to speak.
Her love, her happiness, her peace – none of it needed words.
Felix briefly leaned his head against Jonah's. Jonah pressed himself against Felix's waist.
The past few years had been perfect.
They had built a life together, had their dream job, their dream house – and Liam.
Her son.
Felix's tail twitched quietly and contentedly, his cat-like golden eyes scanning the night sky.
Jonah sighed and exhaled steamy breath into the fresh winter air.
Then – a noise.
Weak. Strange. Dull.
Both men froze.
Felix's ears twitched. He heard it first.
Jonah felt the change in his husband's body before he heard it himself.
It wasn't the wind.
It wasn't an animal.
It was...human. Yes, maybe.
Or something else.
The dull noise came from the garden shed.
Felix and Jonah immediately put down their cups.
No words. No hesitation.
Just act.
They ran to the hut.
Their boots crunched in the snow, their breath steamed in the cold as they hurried across the yard.
The hut was small, nothing more than a storage room for tools, firewood, and old furniture. It was unheated.
Jonah reached them first, with Felix right behind him.
He grabbed the door handle and ripped it open so hard that it hit the outside wall.
Felix pressed the light switch.
The single light bulb on the ceiling flickered on.
And what they saw shocked them deeply.
A child.
Not older than Liam.
The boy lay curled up on the cold wooden floor, shaking violently.
He flinched at the sudden light and wrapped his thin arms tighter around himself.
His ears twitched.
No human ears.
Cat ears.
Felix caught his breath.
Jonah staggered back a step.
The boy's fur was damp, his fluffy tail wrapped tightly around his thin body, his clothes worn and ragged.
But it was his eyes that made Felix's stomach turn.
Golden cat eyes.
Just like his own.
Jonah was the first to break the stunned silence.
"Felix..." His voice was quiet, trembling. "He is..."
Felix was already moving.
He sank to his knees and reached out his hand, his voice gentle but insistent.
"Hey, hey, it's okay. You're safe now. Can you hear me?"
The boy's golden eyes blinked lazily, his body still shivering violently from the cold.
Felix could feel it – his limbs were stiff, his fur was damp, his breathing was shallow.
The boy had been out here for hours.
Jonah was already taking off his coat and throwing it over the boy's small body.
Felix didn't hesitate. He gently but firmly took the child in his arms and pressed it to his chest.
The boy did not resist.
He didn't speak.
He just trembled, his fingers weakly grasping Felix's sweater.
Jonah's face was tense, but his voice was calm.
"Let's bring him in."
Felix nodded and hugged the boy closer, trying to protect him as best he could from the winter cold.
As they hurried back to the house, a thought pulsed between them, unspoken but loud and clear.
The boy was no longer alone.
 
The Rescue of the Kitten
 
As Felix and Jonah rushed back into the house, Felix holding the trembling, semi-conscious kitten, Jonah picked up the phone and did the only thing he could think of.
He called Sam and Tessa.
"Mom! Dad! We need you, now!"
He didn't even have to explain it.
There was something in his tone, in the sheer urgency of his voice, that prompted Sam and Tessa to act even before the call ended.
The moment Sam and Tessa entered their sons' apartment, their eyes fell on the small, fragile bundle in Felix's arms.
Tessa gasped. "Oh my God."
Sam's expression darkened, but he didn't waste time asking why or how.
Instead, he turned around and hurried to the bathroom.
"I'm running the tub! He needs warmth now."
Jonah, still breathing heavily from the race, ran his hand through his hair. "What should we do?"
Tessa, who was already in full mother mode, was standing next to Felix in no time.
"Felix, we have to get him out of his wet clothes."
Felix nodded, still kneeling in front of the fireplace, the boy's thin body trembling against him.
He was so small. So cold.
Tessa reached out, her voice soft and soothing. "Honey, can you hear me? We'll help you, okay? Just stay with us."
The boy's golden eyes fluttered weakly.
Carefully, Tessa began to take off his soaked, far too thin clothes, revealing the blue-grey fur underneath, damp and shaggy from the cold.
Felix held him tight and whispered softly, "You're safe now. We have you."
 
Chaos, care and warmth
 
The next hour was one long, controlled chaos.
– Sam filled the bathtub with warm – not hot – water and repeatedly tested the temperature.
– Sam and Felix carefully placed the boy in the bathtub and watched over him while he slowly warmed up, then they carefully dried him off, giving his skin and fur even more warmth.
– Jonah gathered blankets and built a warm nest in front of the fireplace.
– Tessa rushed into the kitchen and quickly warmed up chicken soup and hot cocoa, because warmth also had to come from within.
And slowly – so slowly – the little kitten came back to life.
At first he was very quiet.
Then his ears twitched.
His golden eyes became more alert and observed everything that was happening around him.
He didn't resist when Felix put a thick sweater over him or when Jonah gently wrapped a blanket around his small body.
His hands, once stiff from the cold, wrapped around the warm cup of cocoa that Tessa offered him.
At first he didn't drink, but just held the cup and felt the warmth seeping into his fingers.
Tessa smiled gently. "That's good, honey. Just take your time. You're safe."
Felix, crouching next to him, tilted his head. "Can you speak?"
The boy's ears twitched again.
Jonah, ever patient, leaned forward slightly, his voice gentle but encouraging.
"What's your name, buddy? Can you tell us?"
Nothing for a moment.
Felix and Jonah exchanged a glance.
Then, finally…
A small, hesitant voice.
A single word.
»Gino.«
Jonah exhaled quietly, relief spreading through him.
Felix smiled. "Hey, Gino. Nice to meet you."
Sam leaned against the doorframe and took a deep breath. "Good. That's something."
Tessa gently stroked Gino's damp fur with her fingers and gave him the warmest and friendliest smile she could.
"Welcome home, my love."
And for the first time, Gino blinked up at them—not out of fear, but with a tiny spark of something else.
Hope.
 
 
The worst was over
 
Gino was now warm.
Dry.
Secure.
The fear in his golden cat eyes had given way to exhaustion, his body no longer trembled, his breathing was calm.
Jonah had been ready to call an ambulance when Felix carried Gino into the house, but now...
It wasn't necessary.
No more danger.
No more emergency.
The police and youth welfare office were able to wait until morning.
Right now, Gino didn't need any questions. He didn't need any paperwork. He didn't need any explanations.
He just needed some rest.
Felix, still kneeling next to the couch, watched as Gino's eyelids began to droop more and more often.
The boy fought against it.
He kept trying to blink himself awake, his little fingers clinging to the blanket, his ears twitching as if he were still on high alert.
But warmth and security had their own laws.
And finally, despite all his efforts, sleep had triumphed.
His body relaxed, his small figure sank into the pillows.
Jonah let out a soft sigh of relief. "He's asleep."
Tessa smiled gently. "That's what he needs most right now."
Felix watched Gino's chest rise and fall peacefully and carefully tucked his arms underneath him. He gently lifted him and stood up.
Jonah, Sam, and Tessa followed him as he carried Gino up the stairs, the only light coming from the soft glow of the hallway lamps.
 
Choosing the right bed
 
At the top of the stairs, Felix paused.
He looked toward the guest room.
Then he looked at Liam's bedroom door.
His tail flicked in their direction.
Jonah understood immediately.
Without saying a word, he stepped forward and opened the door.
Liam was sleeping soundly, curled up under his blanket, his hair disheveled on the pillow.
Felix cautiously entered the room and knelt next to the bed.
Jonah stood in the doorway, Tessa and Sam standing right behind him, watching him silently.
In the soft glow of the hallway light, Felix looked down at the two boys – one was already home, the other was just about to find his new home.
Slowly and carefully, Felix lowered Gino onto the mattress and laid him next to Liam.
The moment Gino's body touched the bed, something instinctive happened.
Even in his sleep, he immediately moved closer to Liam, his fluffy tail wrapping around his body.
And Liam reacted – without waking up.
He put his arm around Gino and pulled him close, his fingers sliding through the soft blue tabby fur and holding him tight as if he had always been there.
A few moments later, both boys were fast asleep, smiles on their faces, their bodies pressed together – skin against fur, warmth against warmth.
Felix slowly stood up and stepped back beside Jonah, both watching their son and the boy who had entered their lives this evening. Their second son.
Jonah reached for Felix's hand and squeezed it.
Tessa pressed a hand to her heart, her eyes shining with emotion.
Sam, who has always recognized the patterns of fate, whispered softly, "And so the circle closes—and begins again."
Felix's cock snaked gently around Jonah's hips.
Jonah leaned his head on Felix's shoulder.
Neither of them spoke.
They didn't need that.
Her whole life had led to this moment.
And they were ready.