#kittens!au

“Don’t tell your mother,” he muttered, toeing aside the stack of books Belle had placed in front of the flap.  “Or else she’ll have all of our hides.”  The second the way was clear, the kittens flew at the door.  Kiki streaked through, and it was Mimi and Jasper who followed after her.  Yet they both got stuck in the tight space.  Rumplestiltskin heard their indignant meows and chuckled.  “Oh, enough.” 

He knelt down on his good knee and gently tugged on Jasper’s tail and hind legs so that he popped out of the flap.  Mimi, sandy fur and all, was set free.  Her brother scampered after her, nearly tripping flat on his face in his effort to catch up.  The boy hated to be left behind by his sisters. 

Laughing, Rumplestiltskin opened the door and stepped out into the backyard to see Kiki and Mimi prance through the yard.  They were fearless; they rolled around and pounced in an effort to make an imprint in the snow.  But Jasper was a different story.  He studied the steps leading down the back porch.  He paced back and forth, then watched his sisters.  When he finally reached out to touch the step below him, his tiny paw met ice, and he was sent sprawling down the remaining steps. 

The poor thing landed in a puff of snow, and sneezed.  His sister paused in their mischief to stare at him, and Rumplestiltskin swore they’d be laughing at their brother if they were not presently cursed as kittens.  “Play nice,” he told them, grinning as he shooed Jasper their way.