Love knows all paths, where even gods and cats are blind.

F.T. McKinstry, Water Dark

When Tinker Bell decided to use fairy dust to find love for herself, she wasn't exactly expecting what it led her to.

For starters it was a cat.

Not even a pretty cat. It was mangy and scrawny and seemed to be sneering at her- but that was okay. There was more than one type of love after all. Still, she had been expecting someone…taller. Preferably with opposable thumbs and you know, skin. Skin would've been nice. The cat was a mess of matted fur and glowing with fairy dust and well, seemed rather unimpressed by the blonde's mere presence.

Still, if the dust said the cat needed her love, Tinker Bell would happily give it. As she bent at the knee, the fairy smiled warmly at the creature. Extending a hand, she puckered her lips and kissed at the air. "Tk, tk, tk, here kitty."

The animal's luminous hazel eyes leered at her. A long, high pitched yowl echoed from the ginger forest cat's throat as Tinker Bell stepped a bit closer. It shuffled back toward the dumpster. Its' tuft ears flat against its head, it hissed.

"It's alright, you're alright…" The fairy cooed, slowly creeping closer to it. When she noticed the sticks and twigs caught in its long fur, Tinker Bell felt a pang of pity. "Here, just let me-"

Swiping at her with a set of very sharp claws, the cat hissed once more.

"Ouch!" Tinker Bell frowned. Cradling her cut hand, she pouted as the little monster darted behind an overripe dumpster. "I was just trying to help!"

The cat merely warbled with distaste.

Maybe the dust had been wrong, or maybe she had used it wrong- Tinker Bell shook that thought from her head. The cat had glowed, glistened and sparkled with fairy dust magic. It couldn't have been wrong. The cat needed love, her love, and the fairy couldn't ignore that. Tinker Bell was going to make it the happiest, fattest cat in all the Enchanted Forest. Whether the little beast wanted to be or not.

Stomping her foot, she ordered, "Get back here!"

Only the faintest, most disinterested and slightly condescending, meow answered her.

"Come on!" Tinker Bell whined. "I'll get you something to eat? A nice warm place to sleep?" She dropped her voice a touch, "Maybe even a bath…" The fairy lifted a brow. "Doesn't that sound just lovely?"

Curious hazel eyes peeked out from behind the can. The woman beamed and bent down. Extending her hands, she waited patiently as the cat slowly crept forward. Smile warm and bright, Tinker Bell lifted the irked feline into her arms.

Blinking in surprise, the blonde let out a rather unladylike grunt. The cat was larger than she had expected; its scraggly fur was matted with mud and stunk of garbage water and dirt. Hefting it awkwardly, she complained, "Oh, you're heavier than you look!"

The cat growled, but didn't put up a fuss as the fairy carried it off. Tinker Bell had considered simply shrinking it down and flying off with it, but after the initial cold reception decided it was best not to spook the little beast. Her hand still stung where it had lashed out at her and she didn't dare chance another attack, much less when it was so close to her jugular.

The trip was a short one. The Veil of the Fairies was invisible to humans. To fairies, it was a gleaming orb of golden fairy dust that encompassed flowers of various sizes. They made their homes in them, behind the petals, safe from prying eyes.

"Welcome home…" Tinker Bell looked down at the ginger cat. She supposed she would have to name it. It didn't notice her staring and didn't move, just glared ahead of them with all the spite and hate that a cat could manage to convey. As the fairy moved closer to the Veil, it began to squirm in her hold. Tinker Bell pulled it closer, ignoring the smell of mildew and rotten vegetation. "Oh, stop being such a scaredy cat. Once we're in, we'll get you nice and warm. Won't you like that? Hm?"

The cat grunted with distaste as they crossed the border. Tinker Bell gave its head a rub. It ignored her and scowled at the mass of tulips and daffodils before them. The little beast's body had gone completely limp, as if it had completely resigned itself to whatever the blonde was going to do to it… but it didn't have to like it.

"Let's get you something to eat, hm?" Green eyes on the lookout for anyone who might disapprove (mostly Blue), Tinker Bell crept further into the flowers.

The Veil was still and warm compared to the frigid night air outside. The smell of pollen and the fragrance of the flowers that surrounded their home hung heavily in it. It sweetened the Veil, making it all the more alluring and enchanting. The cat paid it's beauty no mind. It merely let the fairy carry it to the entrance of the tunnel that led to her chambers. There was no way the animal would fit in its current size, Tinker Bell realized and she reluctantly set it down.

To her surprise, the cat didn't move. It stood there tentatively, as if the ground under its feet could disappear at any moment.

"Just wait here, I'll be right back." Tinker Bell slowly backed away from the animal. When it merely narrowed its eyes in response, she told it, "Good kitty. Stay."

The moment she was out of sight, the cat moved. Mostly because of the stay comment; honestly, what did the fairy think she was doing? Addressing a dog? So, the cat moved. Only two feet to the left, but it liked to think that was enough to get its point across.

The fairy, who was little more than a soft voice and pleasant smell, with a mess of pretty greens and wild yellows hanging around it to the cat, returned with a bundle under her arm. She beamed at the sight of the ginger mongrel. "Come on, then. Let's get you fed, yeah?"

The animal mewed and followed the fairy over to a line of large tulips. Settling down under a pink one, she patted the spot beside her. When it merely stared at her, she opened the wrap of cloth; the cat's tail swished at the scent of its contents.

"I know you're hungry," Tinker Bell told it gently. Opening the bundle further, she laid the meal out beside her. A few pieces of ham laid inside, along with some blueberries for herself. Popping one into her mouth, Tink settled back against the giant stem. "Come here. It's alright. I won't hurt you."

The cat hesitated a moment before taking a few steps closer. Tail high and tuft ears twitching, it stalked toward her. Eyes narrow on her face, the little beast quickly sunk its teeth into the corner of the handkerchief and dragged it away.

The fairy gaped at it. The sheer nerve! "Hey! Those are my blueberries, I'll have you know!"

The cat ignored her, too focused on its feast to care about her complaints.

Resigned, Tinker Bell sighed and crossed her arms. She eyed the little beast with interest. It was bigger than the average cat, albeit not by much. About the size of some of the foxes that lurked about the forest. Its fur was long and knotted, filled with everything from dirt to to twigs to dried blood. A bite was missing from its left ear and the fairy felt a twinge of pity for the poor thing.

Then she remembered it was feasting happily on her dinner and the feeling quickly dissipated. Pulling the thin vial of shampoo out of her side purse, the fairy grinned. She stood soundlessly and crept over to it. As the cat delicately licked its paws, she cleared her throat. It tossed her a wary glance. With a wicked smile, she held up the vial for it to see. "Bath time."

The cat's ears flattened against its head, but it put up no fight as the fairy picked it up. Just growled, low and for an impressively long time as it was carried toward the creek. It was small, but the water was clean and slow-moving, and absolutely perfect for bathing in (which is what it was used for anyway, so Tinker Bell saw no reason for anyone to complain). Uncorking the vial with her teeth, the fairy dumped the sweet smelling liquid all over the little mongrel.

As she rubbed it all over the cat's matted fur (and ignored its displeased growls and chirps), Tinker Bell supposed she could've just used magic… but someone might've seen and then Blue would've found out. For now, the cat was best kept a secret until she could figure out how to break the news of their new arrival gently. Cupping her hand, she poured a bit of water on its head and winced as it shook it off with a low snarl. Its tail swung threateningly, but it otherwise put up no fight as the fairy gently rubbed at its knotted fur.

The civility between them didn't last as the blonde tried to gently ease a bur from the animal's mane. Tinker Bell flinched as the cat snapped its jaws at her and barely managed to hold on as it began to squirm.

"Easy now," the fairy soothed, "It'll feel better once it's out."

The cat let out a grunt, but otherwise reserved itself. It barely moved as Tinker Bell pulled out twigs and burs and picked out the odd flea. The blonde frowned, a bit disturbed by the sheer amount of mass the already thin cat lost when the water saturated its fur. Tinker Bell could count every rib, could feel it shiver with anxiety as she scrubbed the dirt from its pelt.

The process was long and trying for the both of them, but eventually the cat was clean. Or at least as clean as possible without the help of magic and maybe a prayer. As they reached the shore, the cat leapt out of the fairy's arms. It gave itself a shake and quickly began grooming itself, hardly sparing a glance toward the fairy beside it.

The woman stretched out. Crossing her ankles, she smirked as the prissy little feline's fur began to stand on end. It puffed out and frizzed up, something the cat seemed to find completely unacceptable. It slicked its fur down with its tongue, trying to tame it as best it could. Well, as best she could. Since it had no visible genitals to speak of, the fairy supposed it was safe to assume it was female.

"So…I guess you're a she-cat, huh?" Tinker Bell smirked. She reached over to give the cat's head a pat. "You clean up nice, don't you…"

The cat batted her hand away. Since she didn't use her claws, the blonde liked to think they were making progress. Although, the little beast still had no name. Propping herself up on her elbow, she watched as the cat eased a paw over its ear. It really was a nice looking cat- what she had thought was grey fur was actually white. It lined the cat's stomach and chest and blended in well with the long ginger colored fur that covered its- her- entire body. The only thing that wasn't a vibrant shade was the color of its hind legs, which were a dark brown color. It looked like she was wearing little boots, Tinker Bell decided with a smile. Such a common, cutesy name for such a strange, unhappy cat.

"Boots it is, then," The fairy chirped. She reached over to give its- her- ears a rub, but the animal merely tilted out of the woman's reach. Tinker Bell glared at her. "Priss."

The cat ignored her.

A/N: Huge shout out to my wonderful Beta, Allison, without whom this fic would have been absolutely terrible. Okay so the new season is starting and just in case they add a cat character, I wanted my fic up first. I had originally planned to finish my Jefferson fic before posting this, but eh. This one is actually mostly done, so depending on feedback, I'll be updating it when I have time between my jobs.