"Well come on!" Victoria stomped her foot "Charlie, we're never going to get to the party on time if you keep lagging off like that!"

Charlie huffed in her blue dress "It's not my fault we're running late! That seamstress took too long on your dress!" she ran down the street with her cousin as Victoria grinned lively "I demand perfection my dear cousin." They both ran to the river front, sliding down a rope on the wooden dock. They quickly ran down the cobblestone until they reached a secret wooden door. Charlie opened it up quickly and ran with Victoria down the endless amount of dark pipes. Victoria chirped "So what did you get Ellie?"

Charlie giggled "She's one years old! What could I possibly get her that my mom will approve and won't possibly maim her?" she looked back at Victoria "Tori, I got her something special, you just have to wait like anyone else.."

"Well. I made her a Mobil." Victoria said, her nose pointed in the air in a snooty fashion. The white mouse shook her head "I never know why you're so secretive." They took a sharp left at the next pipe. Charlie's brown eyes were bright "It's not being secretive, it's just keeping certain things to myself." She giggled and lifted the gate, allowing her cousin to go through first. The entire lair was bustling with mice of all kind scurrying around and talking among eachother. Charlie laughed "Mom and Dad's friends…"

Victoria laughed with her "Well, they have to be here somewhere… Let's look around." They walked along the many guests in the lair, many more surrounding the barrel. Richard, a plump tan mouse greeted the girls "Ah! Ladies! Where have you been?!"

"We were sidetracked! A little shopping to do!" Victoria said.

Ginger, a white mouse appeared beside him and tapped her foot "There you are!" her blue eyes looked down on the short girls "Your father was wondering where you were Charlie, and Victoria, the cake is never going to be frosted-"

"The cake!" Victoria shouted and ran off, to the kitchen. Charlie looked up at Ginger "Where is my mother?"

"Getting Ellie ready." She winked "Now come on and greet some guests."

Rosalie held Ellie close to her and carefully fixed her little yellow dress. The little mouseling in her arms had golden tan fur and bright green eyes just like her mother. She also had curly auburn locks, that were pinned back by a little yellow bow. Ellie giggled and grabbed her mothers strand of pearls around her neck. Rosalie gently pulled them away and giggled "No Ellie! That's mommies!" she gave her a kiss and blew into her cheek, making her giggle loudly.

Ratigan looked himself in the mirror and smiled "Who knew?"

"Who knew what?"

"You know… all of this.." he adjusted his cravat "This life still seems strange to me.." She walked behind him, her reflection appearing beside him "You're doing a pretty adequate job." He laughed and wrapped a hand around her and Ellie. Ellie giggled "Da-Da! Da-Da!" she reached her little arms to him and he picked her up "Can you believe it's already been one year Rosalie?" he said happily, looking at the little baby with a smile.

"Are you kidding? I had to hold her in my stomach for nine months!" she snorted as Ratigan shivered fearfully "That night in the delivery room will haunt me for ages…" Rosalie shook her head "Yeah, I do recall you fainting and making me do all the work.." she fixed his cravat again "But yes. It's really been a year."

"Are you ready to face the wolves my love?" he said, holding Ellie in his arms. They looked at the door of their bedroom, on the other side was the constant chatter of guests. Rosalie brushed a hand through her very short hair and sighed "We're in this together… let's just hope this first birthday goes well.." she said uneasily. Ratigan patted her on the back "Oh, come come my dear! We're Ratigan's of course! What could go wrong?"

They entered into the main hall of the barrel to constant cheering. Charlie's ears perked up and she looked through the crowd of cheering guests. Ratigan and Rosalie walked to the throne in the main barrel, next to it was a decorated cradle, where Rosalie placed Ellie gently in. Ratigan raised his hands, as if to silence everyone "Now please! Everyone! On behalf of Rosalie and I, I would like to thank you for all the extravagant gifts and such for our daughter's first birthday!" They all clapped as Charlie pushed her way through the group "Excuse me… please I need to be up there.."

Rosalie smiled "We know that we are truly blessed to have such bonds and friendship made with all of you… and Ellie will grow up with such a wonderful and very large family!" she laughed happily. Charlie continued to push her way through the groups and crowds of people hoping to make it to the front. In her hands she held a small box with a blue bow on top. Ratigan clapped his hands "Now, if you all will allow, we can present some gifts to Ellie!"

Fidget, Bill and Nicolas rushed to the small stage first "Us first!" Fidget said. The three had a large box with them as Ratigan rubbed his temples. He growled as Rosalie patted his shoulder. She smiled with sympathy at them "Go ahead boys…"

They unwrapped the large box to reveal a rather nice looking red tricycle with beautiful handlebars and white wheels. Ratigan's eyes widened in amazement "Wow. Boys. This is very nice!"

Fidget giggled with delight, "Thanks boss! Just look at the best part!" he pushed a small button on the side to push out small rockets on the side of the bike. The front of the bike flipped to reveal a large headlight, with small skulls painted on. Ratigan's lip twitched as Rosalie rolled her eyes "You got a motor bike for a one year old?!"

"Well, she's gonna grow into it! Don't be silly!" Bill said happily. Rosalie huffed "Who helped you with this?!"

"Bayne helped us with the rockets of course!" the green lizard said. Ratigan looked over at Bayne, who sipped on his drink "Oh come on.. I thought it was for the bat, don't look at me like that!" Ratigan slapped his head in frustration "Alright.. well.. it's not a very practical-"

Rosalie nudged him, giving him a look like a mother would to an ungrateful child. The tall rat rolled his eyes "Thank you."

Nicolas clapped his hands "Glad you like it sir!" Rosalie looked around through the crowd "Anyone else? Anyone at all…" she muttered underneath her breath "Before my husband has a heart attack…"

Victoria walked up and held a small box, with P.J walking beside her "P.J and I made something!" they opened the medium sized box and Victoria quickly pulled the string inside the box and lifted a beautiful Mobil, with hanging charms like a small little Cat to represent Felicia, a small little clock to represent Big Ben, a small miniature magnifying glass, and a small little snake with its non-threatening tongue sticking out. The white mouse hung it above Ellie's crib, smiling as the little mouse giggled and reached for the stuffed little objects. Rosalie gasped with delight "Oh that's beautiful Victoria, filled with all kinds of memories of all of us!" She touched the little snake and squeezed it, hearing a small squeaking noise come from it and laughed "Thank you Victoria, she loves it!"

Ratigan touched his neice's shoulder "Thank you Victoria." He then quickly looked around "Now we missed one very important gift! Where is our Charlie?"

"Right here!" she pushed her way through the groups and appeared at the steps with the box close in her hands. She took a large sigh to herself and smiled "I have a gift for her! Right here!" She was about to open the box when suddenly all the lights went out in the main hall. The candles were quickly blown out as the entire party guests split into two to reveal a dark shadow "Well, Well, Well… What a fantastic celebration.." The voice echoed to the sound of guests gasping. A glass fell quickly on the floor as the figure stepped over it. Rosalie gasped for air, her breaths growing shorter as Ratigan held her "Elijah….."

The figure stepped into the only source of light in the room and chuckled darkly "Oh goodness me… You really thought I was my own brother? Common misconception my dear.. Not recently since he died of course." He was a tall tan mouse, but with dark black eyes unlike his doppelganger. He carried himself in a graceful manner and his black spats crushed anything underneath him. He was dressed in a dark suit, covered by a long cloak behind him. His dark figure marched up to Rosalie and gently kissed her hand "Now, I can see why my brother fell for you.. rich and beautiful." He looked next to him at Ratigan and gently shook his hand. The professor was taken aback by his calm demennor. Ratigan stumbled over his words "Wh-Who are you? What do you want?"

"Look who we've got here…" he looked down at all the guests "You're weak links.." he looked at Ratigan's thugs "Personally I like to work alone." He then looked to the children "The youngsters I suppose.." his eyes then widened "Oh I almost forgot about the guest of honor.." he looked to the cradle, then was pushed away by Rosalie herself, guarding her daughter. The mysterious man smiled bitterly "I was very saddened to not have received an invitation.." he turned to the couple "I am Phelous J. Lockson." At the name Rosalie gasped along with the guests. He smiled in delight "Just think, I was traveling the world for years, living on my own stable income… when I receive a telegram that my brother was tragically killed in Louisiana.. on special business." He continued to look up at them, the smile still strewn across his face "I searched within all my connections and lo, I find out it is the one person my late brother hated the most."

"You're not welcome here." Ratigan said. "Whatever you want to settle, you can be assured that your brother had many of crimes against our family and the queen herself.."

"Oh but… that's the rub. My brother was very special to me-"

"We understand.. but what would you possibly want with us? We did nothing to you." Ratigan said again, blocking his wife and children. Phelous shrugged his shoulders "I have nothing of yours that I want. I simply want one thing.." he sighed and said the very words that would make anyone scared stiff "I want to get even." He snapped his fingers "I've employed some help to do the deed of course.." From the top of the barrel, a long rope plummeted down with a white rat with half-moon glasses resting on his pink nose. He wore a long white doctors coat, and long black gloves. Phelous gestured to him "Dr. Nellman.. retired from Bedlam asylum.. retired for his extraordinary and rather dangerous work on his patients.." Dr. Nellman quickly jumped up to the cradle, grabbing the baby from the cradle and holding her up like a specimen. His wild crazy yellow eyes scanned the baby. The baby giggled, obviously not knowing the dangerous man currently holding her. Rosalie shouted "No! Not Ellie!"

The doctor laughed happily "What a lovely specimen!" he was about to inject the child when Phelous grabbed her from his grasp "Uh, uh, uh… not yet my friend."

"Let my sister go!"

The man looked down at her and quirked a brow "Ah.. Ratigan, don't you teach your children to hold your tougne when in the presence of a stranger."

Charlie scoffed "I'm not afraid of you.. and neither is my daddy." She stood proudly as he tilted his head "Such courage for such a little stature… But this has nothing to do with you." He then snapped his fingers again and a very familiar figure entered the room "Now time to meet an old friend Ratigan my friend…"

Damion, a white and black badger entered the room in a dark prison uniform along with Lestor a small green frog that was chained to his leg. Phelous rolled his eyes as Damion huffed along, dragging Lestor with him "I'm sure you recall Damion Salazar and Lestor is it?.. so sorry.. I just bailed him out of his prison sentence this morning.. one good deed leads to another eh?" he chuckled. Rosalie held onto Ratigan tightly as Damion looked up "Just unchain me right now and I'll rip whatever you need me to-"

"Now, Now my friend.. we wouldn't want to make a mess now would we?"

Richard pleaded "Please… we'll give you anything! Just please don't harm my granddaughter!"

"Harm is such a plain word.. and don't worry, I wouldn't harm an innocent one.." he cooed at the baby. Meanwhile, Rosalie grabbed a knife off her tall boot and slowly made her way to the wall that held the long champagne bottle entering the fountain. She maneuvered her way slowly as Ratigan spoke "Stop this instant! I'll have you know that we are in close relations to the queen and will stop you from any illegal act! Hand over my daughter or-"

"Or what Padriac?" Damion chuckled and looked over at Phelous "He's a weakling… doesn't even remember how to fight, let alone threaten someone." He looked over at the baby "What a pity that she won't know what a coward he is!" Phelous nodded "This is why I've employed such resources. So dependable and chock full of information I can use." He grabbed the syringe from the doctor and held it over the child "Besides, this is a party isn't it? And I haven't even given my gift-"

At that moment, Rosalie cut the rope and the bottle swung right into the three, knocking them over. Ellie flew in the air as Ratigan dove down quickly and grabbed her in his arms right on time. Phelous rose up, and dusted himself off of the wall's debris "Now I'm upset."

"Leave now!"

"I'll leave… fine…" He saw Damion and Dr. Nellman get up and nearly gasp at the thought. Phelous smiled quickly and faced the couple, Rosalie who held her child faced him with a fearful look. Ratigan wrapped his large arms around them and faced the mysterious man " I swear I'll be back someday… but I won't tell you where… when… how…. I'll find you." He pointed to them, his breath heavy with hate "I will find your precious little girl.. and when I do…" he chuckled darkly "I won't get into the details just yet…"

"Someone get him! Get him!" Richard shouted quickly. Some men and even women crowded them as Dr. Nellman quickly reached into his pocket and threw a small smoke bomb. The words echoed in the air "I'll find your little girl!" and his cackling laugh. They disappeard in the large cloud. As the smoke cleared out, the guests started to chatter among themselves, then the lights appeared back on. Ratigan faced all of them "Everyone! Please do not panic! Um…"

Rosalie cut in "Please go home! For your safety, all of our safety, please leave in an orderly fashion."

As the party cleared out, about an hour later Richard, Rosalie and Ratigan all sat down in the kitchen:

Rosalie huffed "I had no idea he had a brother… all these years and…" she shook her head "This is all my fault.. if I never would have met him or fell in love with him or even tried to marry him-"

Ratigan took her hand and squeezed it "You never would have met me." Rosalie looked up into his yellow eyes "If he's anything like Elijah-" she stopped herself and started to tear up. Richard patted her back "Now Rosalie… we have no time to have weak hearts." she nodded as Richard walked around the kitchen "Now, we have to be rational.. we have to think of something-"

"How did he ever get Damion out… and that doctor for that matter." Ratigan's eyes wandered "He was placed in jail for life… how could he-"

The door opened and Bill peered his head in "Everything alright?"

"Bill. What do you need?" Ratigan said simply to him. Bill shook and held a small letter in his hand. The letter had a small stamp on the front as Ratigan scanned it "It is a summonce from the queen."

AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE

Rosalie and Ratigan marched down the hall of the palace. They reached a tall white door and the guard allowed them in. The queen sat at her throne, preparing some paperwork in her hands "Mr. and Mrs. Ratigan… I am sorry for the situation."

Rosalie and Ratigan both bowed to her "It is…" Rosalie stopped. The queen walked down to her and lifted her chin "My dear, it is strong of you to remain a calm façade…" the queen shook her head "Even with all my power, I can not stop them. Damion was released under Mr. Lockson.. the parliament carried the decision, although I have refused the motion… it was carried over my consent.. he has great power. There was nothing I can do. And Dr. Nellman… although released from Bedlam… he has escaped our soldiers many of times and we have not been able to catch him for years. I have guards scouting the entire city at the moment, but no luck so far.. I am truly sorry for this tragedy.. your daughter is not to blame.. and I am again, very sorry for your fear."

Ratigan rose from the ground "We understand your majesty, thank you for your efforts."

"I am not done Professor." A small hopeful smile appeared on her face. "I have discovered a special resource for your problem." She sighed "I just hope you are both agreeable to the proposition."

Rosalie grabbed her husbands arm desperately "Oh please your highness… please, well do anything."

"For years, I have organized a relocation program for those who are facing endangerment of any kind. The person or family are relocated, given a new pseudonym, and placed under the care of an agent, who is under constant supervision. Your location would be hidden from everyone, even I will not know of your whereabouts. In order to protect your daughter's safety, we will have to hide all of you somewhere.. across the sea."

"And we would just go on with our lives? Knowing he could possibly find us? Or find her?" Rosalie asked quickly. The queen raised her hand "It would be better to know 'possibly' than easier than ever. America is not under my jurisdiction.." she joked "Not anymore anyway.." she cleared her throat "But it is the best chance of success." The queen smiled gently, taking her hand "For your sake.. and your little ones… take this offer." Rosalie nodded and Ratigan placed a hand on her shoulder. Rosalie looked up at the queen, her green eyes filled with stress "We'll have to think about it."

Ratigan said simply "We'll do it."

"James-"

He took her hands "I would go across the world, if it meant keeping you and them safe." He combed a hand through her short hair as the queen clapped her hands together "Excellent. I will prepare immediately.."

Rosalie's eyes began to well up with tears "Thank you your majesty, Thank you so much."

The entire lair was packed up, everything possible. Plates and clothes and eveyry possible object packed into little boxes and placed on Felicia's and Freddie's back. The two cats meowed as every box was placed on their backs. Rosalie touched one barrel that sat on the left side of the lair "It seems like yesterday when we first met here."

Ratigan stayed silent, but smiled up at her. He took a look around, at the empty barrel and the dusty spot where his harp once sat. His thoughts were ended by Charlie tugging on his cape "Daddy?"

"Yes Charlie, my dear what is it?"

"Why are we moving away?"

Rosalie heard the question and approached them quickly. Ratigan patted her head "Well. We have to leave London for a while."

"For Ellie?"

"That's right." She noticed a box in her hands and knelt down to her "What have you got there sweetie?"

"It's Ellie's gift." She opened the box "It's a detective kit for Ellie.. See, I got her a magnifying glass, a pencil, a notebook.. I'm thinking when we're older we can go on mysteries together, just like you and daddy!" she said happily

Ratigan looked over at Rosalie and hesitated "Charlotte… we have to leave you see.. everything."

Charlie tilted her head "You mean everything?" Rosalie stroked her face gently "Well.. yes.. You see Ellie can't know why we left, why we're here… and even how me and daddy met."

"We're gonna lie?"

"No!" Rosalie said "We're not lying, we are protecting her."

"She'll never know?" her curious brown eyes looked up at her parents. Ratigan nodded "Yes Charlotte, you must keep it a secret.. it will keep her and all of us safe, hopefully as long as we can." He looked down at her "I know it's hard.. But we need you to be our strong little girl.. and stay strong for everyone.. even Ellie."

Charlotte nodded "Okay." She then hugged both of them "I can do that."

The entire group boarded the large boat on the dock of the river front at dawn. The cats boarded secretly and Ratigan and the others used another entrance on the port side. They walked up the boat and met a tall and rather scrawny mouse. The mosue had dark grey fur and bright amber eyes that looked up at them with wide brimmed glasses "Mr. Ratigan I presume?"

He didn't answer as the mouse looked down at his clipboard "I am Walter. Just Walter. And I am your designated agent for your relocation. I will be overlooking everything and making sure you are secured.. during your time I will be staying with you in America in a comfortable distance of course. You are located in New York.. Lexington to be precise. I won't be staying with you but rather making sure you stay within the guidelines of your relocation. Here is the consent form, and your new last name that you must abide by. I am not a rule breaker and I only stick by the rules.. I know of your behavior and hope you take me seriously.. welcome aboard." The mouse walked off and Rosalie scoffed "Well, he's a bucket of laughs…" she joked as she touched his shoulder "James… you alright?"

He nodded as Rosalie looked over across the sea on the boat that was now moving. Rosalie looked over at her husband, gently stroking his face "We will always and forever be a Ratigan.. You know that?"

"Yes Mrs. Ratigan." He took her hand and kissed it gently. She laughed "Come on.. find a silver lining… how bad is it?" she looked at the paper and sighed "Well, let's get to our room… Mr. Carter." She bitterly said, joking again as he looked out at the now rising sun.. Headed to their new life.

A NEW STORY! YES! NOW LET'S GET INTO SOME DETAILS, THE STORY WILL BE SEPARATED INTO I'M THINKING 3 PARTS, BUT ALL ON THIS ONE STORY, I HOPE YOU ENJOY!

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