That's it then, isn't it? Freddie's never known how it feels to love someone and be loved back, regardless of whether or not you could be together. Once upon a time, he'd thought that Sir loved him even if they'd had to keep it secret. Looking back, of course, he can see how stupid he'd been and it only makes him feel worse.

"So what's the problem?" he asks, his voice more brusque as he suddenly sets his bottle aside and pushes off the counter and swoops down to pull the cat in this arms.

She immediately starts wriggling, batting her little arms out and mewling pitifully as Freddie tries to cradle her.