We begin with the grim reaper taking Baxtor across the rainbow bridge. Baxtor’s kittens were devastated, as was Majora and the rest of the family.

Baxtor had had a full kitty life and was a happy cat. He was adopted as an elder into a forever home, met a wonderful mate and had babies with her, and even got to watch his family grow up over time. He had been non-destructive, neat, clueless, and adventurous. Cid was the saddest, as he was her kitty to begin with.

Minzi went into labor soon after and Cid drove her to the hospital.

She gave birth to quadruplets!

Three boys and a girl. She named them (from left to right) Perseus, Ren, Isabelle, and Arthur. They were the most needy toddlers. When one of them was crying for attention, another would follow suit. When one was being played with, another would get jealous and scream their head off. They were much more than a handful, and having only Minzi and Cid there to care for them for a few years was exhausting.

Minzi still had no idea when Elazul would be back from jail. She wasn’t even given a court date and was not allowed to come visit. The whole situation was ridiculous, all because someone in the system happened to be friends with the victim. In any real court of law, Minzi assumed Elazul would be set free.

When the toddlers were two, Elazul came walking into the house one day… except he looked awfully different.

Before reintroducing himself to the family, he went towards a room that was filled with screaming children.

He looked at them carefully. Perseus had his hair color, and two of the boys had Minzi’s. The little girl looked to be the same age as the rest of them, so Elazul’s deduction was that they were quadruplets.

His quadruplets.

He felt his stomach churn. He had kids?! Four of them?!

This was unreal!

He wandered around, searching for Minzi.

“Elazul?” she said once he finally found her back in the toddlers’ room. “You’re back!”

She leaned over to hug him but he shoved her away. “What’s this about having four kids?”

“What do you mean? I was pregnant when you got arrested. You were in jail for two years, they aged up without you.” She cocked her head. “You look… different… and are those tattoos? Elazul, what happened in there?”

“Nothing, okay? Nothing. No one came to see me. I was left there alone with nothing but my thoughts. I was tortured by them; tortured by the idea I had ended someone’s life!” He paused to take a breath. Then Elazul continued, “I was wrongfully kept away from the world without so much as a trial.”

“No one was allowed to visit you,” Minzi cried. “Your mother and I were so worried about you. We would have come to see you if we could!”

“You don’t understand. No one does.” Elazul put his hands on his head. “I didn’t do anything wrong! Or… maybe I did, I don’t know!” He shrank to the floor. “I needed you guys, I needed someone to show up and tell me if what I did was wrong!”

“I’m sorr-”

“Don’t! Don’t even, Minzi!”

The conversation was clearly going nowhere, so Minzi ended it by turning her back to him. “I don’t know what’s going on here exactly, but I’m done. I have the kids to take care of.”

Elazul left the room and Minzi took to caring for her kids.

Cid’s birthday came and went and she became an elder.

She did her best with continuing to help out with the quadruplets since Elazul seemingly wanted nothing to do with them.

Some of the cats had learned the hunting skill and were bringing critters and bugs in from outside.

The toddlers aged up into children so the cat room and the workout room were renovated back into bedrooms.

They were all still as unruly as they were when they were younger. They often skipped school and were frequently grounded as a result. Minzi had hoped their behaviors were just phases they would get through, but she learned over time that was not the case.

One day, Elazul approached Cid with tears in his eyes. “Mother,” he said, “I can’t take this anymore. I can’t stop thinking about Ernest or the time I spent waiting in jail.”

Cid nodded carefully, listening closely to his words. She pulled out her wallet and showed him pictures of his children. He was taken aback. “See these pictures?” she started, “These are your children. You have four of them and they each want a relationship with you. Maybe you should focus your thoughts on them instead of the past.”

“I just can’t!” Elazul’s inner turmoils started bubbling over. “It’s like I’m obsessed with what I did, and I don’t think I’ll be able to focus on anything else until my mind makes peace with it.”

Cid thought for a moment.

“If it bothers you so much so that you can no longer live your life, maybe you should ask forgiveness for what you’ve done.”

Elazul shook his head. “Forgiveness? I don’t know how, or who to even ask!”

“Ernest Wong was originally from China, right?” Cid smiled. “Well we happen to have a house in China, remember? Why don’t we take a little visit, seek out Ernest’s family, and you can ask them for forgiveness. I think that will ease the pain within your soul.”

Elazul inhaled sharply. “There is simply no way they will forgive me.”

“It doesn’t hurt to try, does it?” Cid asked.