A Different Time and Place - A Collection of WoSo one shots.

Cat Lady (Naeher/Sauerbrunn)

Alyssa Naeher paces around the hotel room she is sharing with her twin sister Amanda and their Maine Coon cat, named Max.

"Relax, Lys, Max looks perfect. He's been bathed, brushed, massaged, the damn cat is treated better than either you or I!"

Alyssa laughs at her sister, "It's true, but look at him, he's so handsome, it's hard not to treat him like the King he is."

"Sis, I love you, but you really need to get out more and get back into the game."

"I'm not ready Mandy, we both know how badly my last relationship turned out."

"Yeah, let's not talk about that. I still can't believe you had to go to court to prove a cat's paternity."

"The judge thought it was a joke until he realized how much money is up for grabs in the search for the perfect example of the breed. Max is extremely well known, I've turned down stud offers for him in the past. Julie took advantage of me and him in order to impregnate Violet, such an ugly name for a cat."

"Well, it's over and done with now, we have Merlin at home and he is the second coming of his father."

"I think he's better than Max, Mandy."

"Shh! We don't need Max hearing that before the show!"

Alyssa laughs, "And now who's the one being extra?'

"Come on, it's time to load up and head to the Conference Centre."

Arriving at the show with Max, the sisters, check-in and make their way to the staging area. Once Max is set up in his cage, they relax for a bit.

"I'm going to take a walk around and scope out the competition, make sure if you leave Max that you put the padlock on his cage ok?"

"Yep, all good. Can you see if you can scope out some coffee while you're out please?"

"Sure, I could use a tea myself."

Alyssa walks the length of the Centre and looks at the various entries. Spotting the open concession stand she takes her place in line. Behind her, a couple of her fellow competitors are talking and she can't help but eavesdrop. "Did you hear that David Frank is no longer judging today? Apparently, his boyfriend had some health issue and he had to fly back to New York to be with him."

"Have they announced the replacement judge yet?"

"Yes, it's Becky Sauerbrunn."

Alyssa coughs when she hears the name of the judge that has more often than once filled her thoughts as night.

"Are you okay?" One of the women asks her, "Yes, thank you."

Alyssa gets the drinks for her and Amanda and makes her way back towards their station at a quick rate wanting to share the news of the judging change with her sister. So lost in her thoughts she doesn't notice the woman with the ponytail in front of her, who stops for a moment and Alyssa walks into her, dropping both of the drinks.

"Damn it!" She bends down to collect the cups and looks for a way to clean up the pool of liquid now on the floor.

"Do you need some help?" Alyssa looks up and sees who it is, she tries to remain calm as she speaks, "Would it possible for you to get some serviettes from the concession stand, so I can clean this up?"

"Of course, I'll be right back." Alyssa stands and guards the spot until Becky returns with the napkins to clean up the mess.

She bends over to help Alyssa clean it up and when they are finished, they dispose of everything in a nearby garbage can.