Ghosties and Kittens and Fish, Oh My!: Ghosties and Kittens and Fish, Oh My!
by Eljayoh
He walked through the apartment, stopping to fluff a pillow on the couch. Looking critically at the magazines on the coffee table, he stooped to straighten them. Anticipation was the worst part of waiting for her. He needed to find something to do to distract himself.

A quiet mew drew his attention downward. The tiny, sleepy kitten yawned hugely before stretching, then tumbled over the other kittens in the basket in an effort to get out. “Hey little girl, do you need some attention?” he asked, bending over to pick her up. He nuzzled the kitten under his chin while she purred contentedly for a few moments. When she began to squirm, he put her down on the floor.

He stepped to the window, pulling the curtain back. “I swear! That girl is always late” he muttered to himself, staring out the window. He became lost in thought, thinking about her imminent arrival.

Left to its own devices, the kitten ran back over to the basket and bit one of the other kittens’ ears, playfully tugging at it until the kitten retaliated. Soon all of the kittens were awake, rolling and tumbling in play.

There she was! He hurried to the door, throwing it wide open. She stopped in confusion, looking at the man standing in front of her. She felt as though she should know him, but his face wasn’t familiar. “Who are you and what the hell are you doing in my apartment?” she demanded.

“Cordelia, it’s me, Dennis” he replied calmly. She looked at him, puzzled. “Phantom Dennis” he added. She stood at the door, still looking at him with a mixture of confusion and suspicion. “Phantom Dennis? You’re a ghost. I mean, he’s a ghost – as in - can’t be seen? I can see you.” She crossed her arms and stared defiantly at him, daring him to challenge her.

He sighed mentally. “Cordelia, come in and sit down. We need to talk. I promise that I won’t hurt you.” “Well, duh” she replied, rapidly pulling out a can of mace from her purse. “Make any fast moves, and you’re history...well...not history. But blinded! Because...see? Mace!” She waved the can in his face.

He led her to the couch and they sat. “Cordelia – there’s no easy way to tell you this. You’re dead. That’s why you can see me. Ghosts can see other ghosts.” His words triggered something in Cordelia. Memories began cascading through her mind – Angel, visions, demons, Conner, coma and dying. “I died? I died! And...strangely? I’m OK with that.” She looked at Dennis and broke into a lovely smile. “Dennis!”

Unnoticed by the two humans, the little female kitten snuck stealthily over to a low table, upon which was a fish tank. Leaping up, she peered into the tank, fascinated with the fish swimming within. Jumping to the top of the tank, she tentatively reached a paw down to bat at a fish. Startled, it quickly retreated to the other side of the tank. The kitten tried to follow it by walking along the edge of the tank, only to fall in with a splash. She cried in fright, desperately trying to get out of the water.

Alerted by the splash, both Dennis and Cordelia turned to look at the tank. Cordelia jumped up and ran over to the tank, lifting the wet kitten out of the water. “Get me a towel, Dennis!” He quickly brought a towel and together they dried the unfortunate kitten. As they sat back on the couch, the kitten now wrapped in the towel and gazing adoringly up at her rescuer’s face, Cordelia looked up at Dennis with a question on her face. “Can this kitten see me? I mean…us? Can kittens see ghosts?”

“Ghost kittens can. All of these kittens are ghosts, victims of a rather twisted form of demon poker” Dennis replied, reaching out to stroke the tiny kitten’s head. Cordelia looked at him and shuddered. “I don’t want to know. Wait…but, what about the fish? The fish saw the kitten batting at it.” She looked at the tank closely. “Oh my god! I know those fish! They were Willow’s! Angelus killed them. Ghost fish? Are you serious?”

“Welcome to our world, Cordelia” replied Dennis, settling back on the couch with a look of amused happiness on his face.


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