~ Written in part for the Winterfest Online 2026 Plot Bunny Challenge
and completed for the July 2026 Conzine ~

 * * *

[Some introductory notes:  This story is the 19th in my Beauty and the Beast AU series, which picks up after the Season 2 episode “A Kingdom by the Sea” and then goes in a different direction.  No Hollow Men, no Paracelsus abducting and then masquerading as Father, no mental breakdown for Vincent, and most importantly, Catherine is never abducted by Gabriel (I deal with him in other ways) and therefore DOESN’T DIE! And Elliott Burch doesn’t die EITHER!! 

My previous stories for this AU in chronological order (all are posted under the name Lindariel across both versions of CABB Tunnel Tales and on Archive of Our Own) are The Last Straw …?, Pay It Forward, Arthur’s Gift, The View from Here, Do You Happen to Have the Time?, Happy Umbrella Day!, A Fine and Private Place, His Own Kind of Nobility, Walking Unfamiliar Ground, Songbirds of North America, A Second Harvest, What Cuddly Beast, To Find Your Way Back Home, The Ache for Home, No Way UP!/The INsiders, Blame It on the Mets, A Late Harvest, Sunflowers for Thankfulness, and A Special Surprise (which is a glimpse into the future).

For readers who are jumping in with this story: After being taken Below to save his life after he witnesses a crime, Elliott Burch/Stan Kaczmarek has become a friend and Helper to the Tunnel community, and he has gotten to know, come to terms with, and genuinely like Vincent and accept his relationship with Catherine. Elliott/Stan recently found a great building on Hobart Street for Catherine to buy and turn the top floor into a residence Above that Vincent can much more safely access, the second floor into dormitory space for Tunnel young people going to school Above or adult Tunnel residents with jobs Above, and a free medical clinic and legal aid clinic on the first floor. In this story, Vincent is still recovering from a fall suffered during The Ache for Home. Oh, and you can learn more about Catherine’s rescue kitten Lucky, the intrepid protagonist of this story, in What Cuddly Beast. Enjoy!]

* * * * * * * * *

The sun rose a while ago, yet my food bowl is still empty. 

I have been sitting outside the door of The Water Room, plaintively singing the lamentations of my people to The Pretty Lady. She has been running a great deal of water for an interminable length of time.

I have concluded that She must intend for me to starve today. 

Alas.

Suddenly a great hand scoops me up, up, up, and soon I am staring into the kind eyes of The Great Cat God, my favorite being in the entire world.

“Come, little one,” He says. “Let’s leave Catherine to her shower and go find something for you to eat.”

He blesses me with a position high up on His broad shoulder where I snuggle into His fragrant hair and cling to His bathrobe as we journey to The Food Room. 

It is a short journey. 

The Great Cat God opens The Cupboard of Sustenance where The Pretty Lady keeps a selection of food for me.

“Hmmm . . . you had salmon last night, so I think turkey and giblets sounds good for this morning,” He murmurs. “What do you think?”

Mew. Mew.

“Ah, I thought so.”

Soon, He places me on the floor in front of a bowl of delicious bird-based sustenance of which I heartily approve, and He kindly refills my water dish.

It seems I shall not starve today after all.

At long last, The Pretty Lady emerges from The Water Room wrapped up in a towel and races into The Clothing Room, frantically muttering, “I’m going to be late AGAIN, Vincent, and it’s all your fault!”

“Me!” The Great Cat God objects. “What did I do?”

The Pretty Lady sticks Her head out of The Clothing Room, looks The Great Cat God up and down, and then launches Herself into His arms for a kiss, which turns into several kisses, murmuring, “You are such a temptation! I hadn’t factored Morning Delight into my getting ready schedule.  So, this is all (kiss) your (kiss) fault (kiss)!”

The Great Cat God laughs, pats Her on the bottom, and then sighs, “Scoot, or you really will be late!”

The Pretty Lady disappears back into The Clothing Room, and after much thumping about, She emerges fully dressed and stuffing Her arms into one of Her many jackets.  The Great Cat God hands Her a covered mug of coffee and a napkin with some sort of toasted consumable for Her journey.

“Oh, you are a lifesaver,” She moans, sipping from Her mug while walking to The Desk Room. “What are you planning to do today?” She asks The Great Cat God, collecting Her purse and briefcase off the desk.

“Since Dwayne and Mildred Pearson have moved into their rooms in the dormitory, I thought Lucky and I might pay a visit to the second floor and help Mildred organize the dormitory kitchen,” He replies.

“I’m sure Mildred will be happy to have your company,” She responds. “Or she will be once you’re wearing something besides your bathrobe. Just don’t forget your cane, and don’t overexert yourself! Father still hasn’t cleared you for unassisted walking yet.”

The Great Cat God sighs and glances down at the curved stick in His hand.

“It shouldn’t be much longer,” The Pretty Lady croons, hugging Him without disturbing me from my favored perch on His shoulder.

She’s very considerate about that.

“Hopefully, I’ll get out a bit early if today’s court session goes as I anticipate it should,” The Pretty Lady continues. “I’m hoping Enzo Fanelli will just enter a guilty plea.  We have him dead to rights on these extortion charges.”

The Great Cat God and I follow The Pretty Lady out to The Mysterious-Doors-That-Open-And-Shut-All-By-Themselves in The Entryway. She pushes The Button of Summoning.

“Be safe, My Love,” murmurs The Great Cat God before kissing The Pretty Lady goodbye.

“Always, My Own,” She replies, as The Mysterious Doors open and She steps inside, muttering, “Um! Such a temptation!” to disappear for the rest of the day, as She has on other such occasions.

The Mysterious Doors close, and The Great Cat God, as always, sighs.

“Well, Lucky,” He asks. “Shall we get started with our day?”

Mew!

The Great Cat God blesses me with His permission to lounge upon the large bed in The Room of Repose while He takes His own time in both The Water Room and The Clothing Room. 

I still do not understand the need for cleaning oneself in a great avalanche of water, especially when one is possessed of a perfectly capable tongue, but it is not for me to question the wisdom and desires of The Great Cat God.  He is magnificent and kind and can do no wrong. I tell Him so when He emerges at last from The Clothing Room, His curved stick in His hand.

Mew, Mew! 

There. That should be sufficient.

“All right, little one,” He murmurs in His soft, gravelly voice, as He scoops me up once again to my favorite spot on His shoulder.  “You’ve been very patient. Let’s go see if we can help Mildred with the dormitory kitchen.”

The Great Cat God ambles carefully down The Marble Hallway, using His curved stick to help support his still healing hip.  He is indeed much better than He had been a few weeks ago after His unfortunate fall.  I was quite worried for Him and spent much time curled beside Him or upon His chest, giving Him the full benefit of my loudest healing purrs at every possible opportunity. 

The Pretty Lady and The Grumpy Elder have also fussed over Him most attentively with pillows and creams and blankets and delicious smelling foods and insisting He must rest. Make no mistake, I fully approve of their diligent care for The Great Cat God. It is only right and proper.

Nonetheless, I also understand His impatience to be done with it all and do as He pleases. How it must chafe such a mighty being to be so constrained by injury! I should commiserate with Him.

Mew, mew. Mew!

“My apologies, little one,” The Great Cat God chuffs. “But this is as fast as I can safely manage on this marble floor, and I can’t risk another fall.”

Alas! I do so wish The Great Cat God and The Pretty Lady spoke my language. They often misunderstand me.  Ah, well . . . their intentions are always good.

Soon, we reach The Mysterious-Doors-That-Open-And-Shut-All-By-Themselves in The Entryway, and The Great Cat God pushes The Button of Summoning.  Ah! Are we to travel to the Below place today?  How wonderful!

Mew? Mew, mew?

“We don’t have far to go,” The Great Cat God answers. “Patience.”

And indeed, our journey in The Unsettling-Moving-Room-Behind-The-Mysterious-Doors is far too short to have descended into the bowels of the Earth where the place called Below is. Instead, we emerge into another place with a marble floor, similar but also quite different from our Home in the Sky.

“Hello?” calls a familiar voice, and soon The Cuddly Black Lady, one of my favorite Below friends, emerges from what appears to be yet another Food Room. “Why hello Vincent! And Miss Lucky!  How lovely of you to come visit with me!” she continues in her wonderful, rich, melodious voice.

“We’re here for more than a visit, Mildred,” The Great Cat God replies, as He blesses Her with one of His magnificent hugs. “Lucky and I thought we might give you some help with organizing the dormitory kitchen.”

“Well, your timing is perfect, and I could certainly use some help with unboxing and storing all of the cleaning supplies and nonperishable foods Catherine ordered from Robinson’s Grocery,” The Cuddly Black Lady answers, kindly petting me and giving me a scrumptious scritch beneath my chin. 

Oooh! She does that perfectly every time!

“Come, Vincent, let’s make you comfortable here at this big dining table, and you can start emptying out some of these boxes for me.”

We wander over to one of the large tables, which is half covered with stacks of boxes, and The Great Cat God settles into a big chair with a bit of a sigh, stretching out His sore leg.

“And you, young lady,” The Cuddly Black Lady croons as she gently plucks me up from The Great Cat God’s shoulder. “You come with me for a moment.  I have a special place set up for you.”

Were it a stranger handling me thus, I would be greatly put out and strenuously resist being removed from The Great Cat God’s presence without my permission!  But The Cuddly Black Lady has looked after me on many occasions when we have been in the place called Below, and she and her mate have always been most kind to me.  And so it proves in this instance as well, for The Cuddly Black Lady has set up a Tray of Elimination for me in a small nearby Water Room.  How considerate and helpful!  And she shows me a mat in The Other Food Room with a freshly filled water bowl as well as a small dish into which she places several tasty treats. I am content knowing I will be comfortable during this visit, and I shall tell her so.

Mew! Mew, mew!

“You’re very welcome, Sweetie,” she croons. 

Ha! SOMEONE understands me!

“I also have a bed for you over here if you want to take a nap.” 

She shows me a very nice plush bed just my size over in the corner by The Great Cat God’s table. Since He is quite busy opening and emptying boxes and then somehow magically making them quite flat, I am happy to stretch out on this exceptionally comfortable bed (after it has been appropriately kneaded the requisite 150 times) so that I might observe the goings-on in case my advice is needed. 

Maybe even indulge in a morning nap. Hmmm . . . .

Somehow, time passes without my knowledge.

I hear The Cuddly Black Lady calling softly, “Wake up, li’l Sweetie!  It’s time for some lunch.”

I look up into her kind face, and she chuckles while gently picking me up and carrying me to the mat in The Other Food Room, where a small plate of fish-based sustenance awaits me.  In passing, I can see that all of the boxes have magically disappeared from The Great Cat God’s table (He can do all things!), and He appears to be enjoying a gift of food prepared in His honor by The Cuddly Black Lady, as is right and proper.  I shall thank her.

Mew! Mew, MEW!

“You’re very welcome, Sweetie,” she croons.

I do believe The Cuddly Black Lady must have learned my language.  How delightful!

She collects a plate of food for herself, joins The Great Cat God at His table, and we all commence eating our respective meals. The fish-based sustenance is quite delicious. I am pleased.

“Well, we’ve certainly had a productive morning,” The Cuddly Black Lady says while selecting one of the odd implements humans use to poke food into their mouths.

I do not understand the necessity of this, but it seems to be a matter of tradition, or etiquette, or perhaps even a religious ritual, so I do not presume to question their ways. After all, I am an exceptionally polite and well-mannered kitty. Even The Grumpy Elder says so.

“I’m glad I could help out,” The Great Cat God replies. “Are there any other chores you need assistance with today? I’m entirely at your service until Catherine returns home from work.”

“I don’t believe so,” The Cuddly Black Lady answers after a moment of contemplation. “At least not until we receive another order from Robinson’s Grocery. Dwayne and I took care of the perishables as soon as they arrived. I’m still working on our private rooms. The unpacking is all done, but you know how it is with a new space.  After you’ve put everything away, there’s always little adjustments to make things cozier or more convenient. Dwayne calls it ‘fussing,’ but I think it takes time for things to finally settle in their rightful places.  I try to do the fussing while he’s at work.”

The Great Cat God laughs. “You should have seen Catherine unpacking and organizing her walk-in closet. She’s STILL moving things around in there, and in the master bathroom, and don’t get me started on the books and art pieces in the study and the living room.  Everything looks lovely, but I can tell she’s still not quite satisfied.”

“And you are a wise man, so you’re staying out of her way, right?” says The Cuddly Black Lady rather pointedly.

“For the most part,” The Great Cat God replies. “However, there’s a small framed photo of her Uncle Stuart, a rather unpleasant-looking man, that she’s moved around to almost every surface in the living room and study.  I can tell she doesn’t particularly care for the man, but feels obligated nonetheless to place him somewhere, since her late mother took the trouble of framing the photograph in the first place. I’m waiting for an opportune moment to suggest that she place Uncle Stuart’s photo in an album and choose another photo to put in this frame.”

“But you’re giving her time to come to that conclusion herself,” says The Cuddly Black Lady.

“Oh, yes!” The Great Cat God agrees with a grin. “I do have some sense of self-preservation! I only intend to intervene if she becomes completely frustrated with the whole process. I learned early on in our relationship that Catherine does not appreciate it when men presume to make decisions FOR her.”

The Cuddly Black Lady laughs and laughs.  It is a lovely, melodious sound I have come to treasure.

“Vincent, I don’t know a single intelligent woman in the WORLD who appreciates having her decisions made for her by ANYONE!”

The Great Cat God raises his glass, “A toast to intelligent women everywhere!”

The Cuddly Black Lady raises her glass in return. “To quote your Catherine, ‘I resemble that remark.’” 

They laugh and laugh as they clink their glasses together, thankfully without breaking them.  Humans are sometimes quite strange.

They finish their meal, and The Cuddly Black Lady takes their plates and implements into The Other Food Room to rinse and place them in one of those Loud-Boxes-That-Make-Wet-Swishy-Noises. 

I take this opportunity to quickly relocate myself to The Great Cat God’s shoulder. I do not trust those Boxes. They sound vicious.

“Whoa! Goodness, Lucky,” says The Great Cat God. “Give me at least a bit of a warning before you do that!”

Does He not understand the potential danger posed by The Loud-Box-That-Makes-Wet-Swishy-Noises? There is one in The Food Room in our Home in the Sky as well. I must always remain on my guard to protect Him and The Pretty Lady, if necessary. I shall tell Him so.

Mew, mew. Mew, MEW!

“There, there, it’s all right,” The Great Cat God responds. “You just startled me, that’s all.”

Sigh . . . perhaps one day The Cuddly Black Lady will teach Him my language . . .

“Well, Mildred, thank you so much for a delicious lunch,” The Great Cat God says as He uses His curved stick to push Himself to His feet. “I’m glad I could help you get the kitchen organized and ready for you and Dwayne and Marlon and Jeffrey to use. I’m so thankful to know that Catherine will have such wonderful neighbors here at her new home.”

The Cuddly Black Lady embraces Him and pets me. “I think you meant to say OUR new home,” she replies. “You’ll be living here too, almost as much as Catherine will. And believe me, we’re profoundly grateful for this opportunity. Dwayne can get to his city bus job so much more easily and quickly now, and he no longer needs to worry about someone possibly following him into the Tunnels after work. This place is just BEAUTIFUL, and it will be my pleasure to look after the kitchen and chaperone any young people who might choose to live here while attending school or working Above. I feel like I have finally found my true purpose in the Tunnel community – to be a bridge between Above and Below for our young people and our working folks.”

“You’re right, of course,” The Great Cat God replies. “Kanin thought of you and Dwayne immediately when Catherine asked if there might be working adults Below who might appreciate living in the dormitory at least part-time. I know William will miss having you at his side in the kitchen Below, but I can already tell that you’re relishing the opportunity to take charge of your own kitchen here and be a mentor to young people learning to live on their own.”

“Exactly,” she grins. “I’m the House Mother. Everyone will be expected to cook and clean for themselves, although I will prepare or supervise some communal meals as well. I’ll manage the inventory, make sure cleaning supplies are available, and help our young folks take charge of their own lives. Even that shouldn’t be too difficult, since they’ll have gained so much experience in all of these areas living Below.”

The Cuddly Black Lady walks with us to The Mysterious-Doors-That-Open-And-Shut-All-By-Themselves, and The Great Cat God pushes the top of the two Buttons of Summoning.

“You have a wonderful afternoon and rest that hip,” The Cuddly Black Lady says, giving The Great Cat God a final hug.

He laughs, “And you enjoy some private time ‘fussing’ before Dwayne gets home.”

The Mysterious Doors open as they laugh and laugh. We enter, and The Great Cat God pushes the top Button.

“Bye, Vincent! Bye, Lucky!” The Cuddly Black Lady calls and waves as The Doors close, and to my surprise, The Unsettling-Moving-Room-Behind-The-Mysterious-Doors goes Up instead of Down. Ah, perhaps we are returning to our Home in the Sky.

Before I can even inquire, The Doors open, and I am proven correct (I usually am) as we move into the familiar Entryway and The Mysterious Doors close behind us. The Great Cat God ambles carefully down The Marble Hallway to The Food Room.

“I neglected to clean up the breakfast dishes this morning, such as they are,” The Great Cat God murmurs to me. “It wouldn’t do for Catherine to come home to dirty dishes, now would it?”

Mew!

“I thought not.” 

He places me on the floor and scoops up my empty breakfast dish, rinsing it and placing it in The Loud-Box-That-Makes-Wet-Swishy-Noises.

Oh dear. 

Quite unaware of the awakened danger lurking now in The Food Room, The Great Cat God gathers up another plate, a teacup, and some implements and places them in The Loud Box as well.  I back up all the way to the entrance of The Food Room ready either to pounce upon The Loud Box if it suddenly attacks The Great Cat God or to run away if it comes after us both. Thankfully, it does nothing, and soon The Great Cat God has finished feeding items into its maw. Perhaps I have cowed it with my threatening, commanding presence. I shall inquire if this is so.

Mew? Mew, MEW?

“All done,” The Great Cat God says. “It would be nice to go up to the patio and let you play in the garden, but I suspect your Mama wouldn’t appreciate me attempting those stairs unsupervised. Why don’t we listen to some music in the living room, and I can rest my hip after a long morning unpacking boxes.”

Alas. It appears my valiant and successful efforts to thwart the malign inclinations of The Loud Box have gone unnoticed.  Ah well, The Great Cat God was perhaps distracted by His mysterious tasks.  It is understandable.  I am but a kitty and cannot begin to comprehend the great panoply of concerns that vie for the attention of The Great Cat God. I can but be grateful that He has accepted me as His One True Acolyte.

He scoops me up once more to the favored spot upon His mighty shoulder, and we proceed carefully back down The Marble Hallway to The Sound Room.  The Great Cat God pushes some buttons on one of the many boxes on the shelves beneath The Large Light Box and soon lovely musical sounds come out of The Large-Fabric-Covered-Boxes-I-May-Not-Scratch.

“Ah, Rachmaninoff,” The Great Cat God sighs, as He eases Himself down upon the long leather couch, which I also may not scratch.

Humans have such odd rules, but at least they give me plenty of scratching posts to exercise my claws. I must keep myself in readiness at all times in case The Loud Box ever decides to attack. Why they do not seem to perceive this danger eludes me.

I am blessed with the opportunity to curl myself upon The Great Cat God’s chest, where I can hear the glory of His mighty heart beating, and I thank Him with my loudest and most effective healing purrs.

We seem to float away upon a magical cloud of sound . . . .

Once again, time passes without my knowledge.

I awake to the sound of a chime coming from The Talking Box on the wall beside The Mysterious Doors.  The Great Cat God snuffles a bit and wakes Himself.  Thank goodness, The Loud-Box-That-Makes-Wet-Swishy-Noises did NOT decide to attack us while we were so careless as to fall asleep during the lovely music.  I should have known better and guarded against such an error!  I shall do better in the future!

“Ah ha! That’s your Mama’s chime code,” The Great Cat God declares. “She’s home!” He levers Himself up to a sitting position and places me in my favored spot upon His shoulder.

Soon, we can hear The Mysterious Doors open, and The Pretty Lady’s voice calls out, “Honey, I’m home!”

And The Great Cat God answers, as always, “Welcome home, dear!”

I leap down and run to The Entryway to trill my thanksgiving for The Pretty Lady’s safe return from Her long journey and to reclaim Her as my own by rubbing my scent against Her legs.

At last, we are complete again!