Disclaimer: Cats belongs to TSE and Andrew Lloyd Webber, Buffy belongs to Joss
Title: A Mother's Gift
Author: Kate R.
Fandoms: Cats/Buffy
Rating: Fan Rated All Ages
Pairings: N/A
Summary: Joyce had a cat that she asks to come back and take care of her family before she dies.
Notes: Just for Grins and Giggles


Joyce was lying on the couch after her surgery resting. She was thinking about all the things she had never done with her daughters, things she had a feeling she wouldn't get a chance to do now. And while she was thinking on that, a thought, a memory, crossed her mind. A cat she'd had when she lived with her grandmother over in England those few years, a special cat, a birthday present. She could still remember when she'd opened the box and sleepy green eyes had met hers.

Quaxo, she named him. But she knew he had another name. She even knew his other name, although humans weren't supposed to: Mistoffelees, Mr. Mistoffelees, he'd been her companion all through her life, her childhood, Quaxo had always been there when she needed him. Him and his clever little magic tricks. And she knew he was magical. Her Quaxo could conjure flowers and silverware, he made so much disappear and then reappear and she was the one who'd figured it out. But she never said anything. And that was why she'd been allowed to know his 'Name'. His real name.

"I wish you were here, Quaxo," she said, "To take care of my girls like you took care of me. They'll need someone to look after them. Someone special and magical, you understands all about the magic of the world. I wish . . ."

"Rowl?" a cat called. *Joyce*

Joyce turned and saw her black cat sitting on the floor, looking up at her with the same sparkling green eyes that she knew so well.

"Quaxo?" she asked, softly. A nod and then a leap that carried him to her lap.

"How are you here?" she asked, "Why . . . ?"

*Because you need me* entered her mind. She remembered this game, his thoughts, her thoughts, at first she thought it was just a flight of fancy that she could hear his thoughts echoing in her mind sometimes. When she really needed to talk to someone, there was Quaxo.

"What about the Heavy-side Layer?" She asked, knowing his turn should have come by now.

*I am Mr. Mistoffelees,* He said, *I am as I ever was when I am needed. And you called for me. You, who were the only human ever to be invited to the Jellicle Ball, You called on me and so I have come. Tell me what you need Joyce Friend, tell me what you need of the Magical Mr. Mistoffelees.*

"I'm dying Misto," she said, stroking his fur, and he nuzzled her, knowing that for humans death was like a scary night, "I'm dying and my little girls will be alone. I know Hank won't come, I know Buffy won't be able to cope; they need a protector, Misto. A Care Taker who can be here all the time and help them."

*I see,* he said, *Very well, Joyce Friend, I will stay here and I will take care of them for you. For as long as I can. I owe you a debt, for saving my life, for taking care of me when I was sick. I will now take care of yours. You can rest now, Joyce Friend, I will be here. Always.*

"I know you will, Quaxo," Joyce breathed, writing a note to her daughters about Quaxo, asking them to take care of him for her, her dear Cat Friend.

"Thank you, Quaxo," she whispered as she saw a light in her eyes, coming for her. She recognized the Ancient Cat who seemed to be leading her to that light.

"Old Deuteronomy?" she asked. She received a graceful nod as he nudged her hand. She looked back once and saw her body, seemingly asleep on the couch but she knew she was dead.

"Thank you, Quaxo," she said as she left, going in to the light. Thank you so much."

*Do not fear for your daughters, Joyce Summers* the Old Cat said, *He will look after them. No fear. All of my children will.*

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

A month later:

"Quaxo!" Dawn yelled, "Come on, I need my calculator! Please? Please give it back to me?"

"I told you, Dawnie," Buffy said, walking past, "I told you not to mock him knowing about that book."

"I didn't know he'd take my calculator and I have a test today!"

"Quaxo," Buffy said, turning and looking at the black cat who lay on the couch, "Give it back, please? You can take Willow's crystal or Xander's Book of Tasteless Jokes if you let Dawn have her calculator back."

The cat sighed, she swore it, and winked at her. Dawn was about to scream when she saw her calculator lying on the table.

"Thank you, Quaxo," Buffy told him.

"Thank you," Dawn yelled running out the door. Buffy sighed and looked at him.

"Do you have a voice?" she asked, "Mom said you did but I've never heard you use it."

*Yes you have,* echoed in her mind, *When I told you what book to look in. You heard my voice. Yes, Buffy, I can talk. I'm a very special Cat. Your mother was a friend to me when she was a little girl. When she called for me again, I came.*

"How old are you?"

*As old or as young as I need to be,* he laughed in her mind, *Come on, your friends will be waiting for you today. Or at least, your watcher will.*

"Do you have any more book knowledge we could use?"

*Plenty,* He laughed again, *Come, I'll show you when we get there, okay?*

She nodded, scooping him up into her arms and leaving the house. They got to the Magic Box in record time and she swore this time it was him.

"How do you do that?"

*Trade Secret,* he said, *Come on, let's go see if the sex maniacs are here yet. It's always fun to torment Anya.*

"Can she hear you?" Buffy asked.

*Of course she can,* Quaxo told her, *I wanted to make a point to her and deliver a warning. Her manners are worse than Tugger's, she treats people like shit, and she's never once been sorry for what her 'human' self chose to do. I just gave her a warning and sometimes I reinforce it.*

"You Cats are odd," Buffy said.

*You humans are odder,* he laughed, *But, ah, well. I like you just fine.*

"Do you think well all live through this?"

*If I can make it happen, Buffy, I will,* He answered as they entered the store.

"Keep your demon cat away from me!" Anya shrieked when she saw Quaxo in Buffy's arms.

"Aw, Anya," Buffy said, hugging Quaxo, "He's not a demon, he's a magician."

"A what?" Giles asked.

"He's a conjurer," Buffy told him, scratching her cat's head, "Come on, Quaxo, show me the book I need."

With a wink and a yawn, his paw pointed at a shelf high in the back of the store and the book fell off of it.

*Silly humans,* he said, *Never remembering where they leave things. And I thought 'Jerrie was bad.*

Buffy laughed as Giles picked up the book.

"Can he give us the page?"

*He's the Watcher, hasn't he read his own books?* Quaxo asked.

"Quaxo," Buffy spoke, and in the tone was a plea.

*Very well,* he yawned, jumping from Buffy's arms to the table where the book was now laying closed, *I could be spiteful and do an elaborate show. But I'll be nice today. Open!*

The book opened at his paw moving near it.

*Show and Tell,* Buffy heard him muttering as he worked. To the others it was only a purring noise, *Give me Glorificus.*

The pages riffled and then the book was open to the correct page.

*Silly watcher. Read your damned books next time,* He muttered before jumping back into Buffy's arms, *Silly, lazy humans. Good night Buffy Friend.*

"Night Quaxo," Buffy said, letting him get settled. Looking up at the others with their mouths hanging open she blinked and looked innocent.

She smiled as she rubbed her cat's ears and tried for nonchalant and serious.

"What?"

The End unless people want more