"Demi, c'mon! We're going to be late!"

Demeter strolled into the living area of the den (the back of an up-turned van) she shared with her sister Bombalurina, her eyebrows raised.

"Excuse me, I have been ready for ages, you're the one who's been grooming herself in front of that mirror for the best part of the day!" She rolled her eyes and flopped down into a tatty armchair, "Anyway, it's not like it's the ball or anything, just a party, what's the fuss?"

Bomba shrugged as she continued to smooth down her already pristine scarlet fur.

"No reason, I just felt like making a bit of an effort. Plus Rumpleteazer's gone to a lot of trouble for Mungo's birthday."

Demeter laughed, "Suurrre! That's the only reason! It couldn't possibly have anything to do with a certain tom whose name begins with T, ends with R, middle letters U-G-G-E?"

Bomba smiled mischievously at her sister in the mirror, "I'm sure I have no idea what you mean!" She stopped preening in the mirror and sat down carefully on a footstool next to Demi. "Hey you're looking pretty good yourself! Munkustrap will be falling over himself to get near you, not that he isn't already. You're so lucky, he clearly adores you."

Demeter smiled dreamily. Munkustrap hadn't made a move on her yet, but he couldn't take his eyes of Demi whenever she was around, and she clearly felt the same way about him. Bomba was sure he would say something to her tonight at the party.

"I know. I hope something happens tonight! He's just so shy, which I'm not saying is a bad thing just…

"You wish he would hurry up and make a move? Tell me about it!" Bombalurina smiled knowingly, "Don't worry I have a pretty strong feeling something'll happen tonight."

"Y'think?"

"Trust me, I know! Anyway who wouldn't want a gorgeous queen like yourself?" Bomba laughed, but she meant it.

"I hope you're right!" Demeter smiled wistfully, "But more importantly, what's the situation with you and Tugger? And don't try to deny it, you have more than just a crush on him right?"

Bombalurina sighed heavily, the smile fading from her face, "I don't where I stand with that stupid tom. I've spent a few nights with him, and we're always flirting, but that's the way he is with every queen, everybody wants him, nobody can have him."

Demeter rolled her eyes, "Well I certainly don't! I can't personally see the attraction with Tugger, he's so arrogant and self-centred!"

"I know you don't like him, but I've seen another side to him. He can be so sweet and romantic and sensitive. I just miss having him hold me and kiss me like I meant something to him, he made me feel so special. The things he said to me made me think maybe me and him were…."

Her words tailed off and she looked down at her knees. Demeter sat forward in her armchair and spoke softly.

"Bomba, have you gone, em, the whole way? With him?"

Bombalurina looked up slowly, a tear trickled down her face, she nodded, "Twice."

Demi felt a strong feeling of anger welling up inside, how could Tugger use her sister like that? She could just about stand his meaningless flirting, but to do that and then pretend nothing happened? She managed to restrain her anger.

"Do you…do you love him?"

Another tear fell from Bombalurina's eyes, "Yes," she whispered.

"Oh Bomba." Demeter sat down on the footstool with her sister and wrapped her arms around her.

"It's obvious that it meant a lot more to me than it did to him, he clearly couldn't give a damn about me," Bomba whispered through her tears, "I'm just another stupid queen on his long list. God, I am stupid," she said, trying to stifle a sob.

"No, no you're not!" Demi knelt down on the floor so she could see Bombalurina, "You're one of the smartest queens in the entire junkyard, not to mention the most beautiful. You've got everything going for you, don't waste your feelings on him!"

Bombalurina looked so sad and fed up, she looked so different to her usual smiling, fun self.

"You know we don't have to go tonight, I can say I felt sick or something. I don't mind missing the party, I fancy a night in anyway."

Bomba shook her head, breathing in deeply, "No, no! You go, you don't want to disappoint Munkus do you? I think I'll call it a night though. Thanks for offering Demi."

Demeter bit her lip. She wanted to go but there was no way she was leaving Bombalurina alone. Suddenly a horrible thought struck her, Bomba couldn't possibly be…. could she?

"Bomba you're not…you're not…" her voice became a whisper, "You're not pregnant are you? With Tugger?"

Bombalurina smiled sadly, "No. Tugger makes extra sure that he doesn't get anyone pregnant, too many strings attached."

She got up and headed for the back of the den where her bed, a large fluffy red cushion was.

"Oh and Bomba-" Demeter started,

"Hmm?"

"Well if it helps, I don't think Tugger's ever gone, y'know, the whole way with any other queen, apart from you."

Bombalurina came back over to the golden queen and hugged her. "Thanks. For listening and the sympathy. You're the best sister, so have a great night and I'm sorry for well, raining on your parade. Forget my stupid problems, who doesn't want Tugger anyway?" she made a half-hearted attempt at laughing.

Demeter hated seeing her sister so miserable, but she hated Tugger even more for messing her about.

"We are going to have a great night! C'mon don't let that stupid tom ruin it for you! You've been getting ready for so long and you look gorgeous, let's go out and dance all night!"

Bombalurina looked doubtful, "Oh I don't think I'm really up for it…"

"No, you are! A great night out is just what you need! Go out and dance with every tom there, just promise me one thing?"

"What?"

"Don't go running back to Tugger, he'll only ruin your night and break your heart. Even if you do love him, he's not worth all this heart-ache he's causing you."

"You're right, as usual. It's just…I love him so." Bombalurina sighed wearily.

"Well forget about him for tonight at least. Let's party!"

Bomba laughed, looking like her old self again.

"Now let's get going before we pass being fashionably late and are just rudely late."

Bomba looked like she might be being won over. "You're right!" she said smiling again, "I'm not to mope about over that idiot, let's go have some fun!"

Whilst that had been going on over in another part of the junkyard, Tugger was over at Munkustrap's den also getting ready for the party.

Tugger was standing in front of Munkustrap's mirror, swaying his hips about and winking at himself. He was completely oblivious to the fact that Munkus had just entered the room and was now trying to suppress his laughter.

"Em, Tugger?"

Tugger continued pointing at his reflection saying "You ARE the man!"

"Tugger!" Munkus said sharply, a wide grin on his face. Tugger jumped.

"Wow man! Don't creep up on me like that, you scared the crap outta me!" he said looking embarrassed.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself!" Munkus laughed, "I just wanted to tell you…hey, you know what? You ARE the man!" he collapsed onto a small sofa, laughing his head off.

"Hey shut up! Is there a problem with a tom wanting to feel good about himself?"

"No, no! I'm sorry, sorry," Munkus stood up, suddenly serious, "I actually wanted to ask, do I…do I look ok? It's just-"

"You gonna finally make a move on Demeter?" Tugger raised an eyebrow, smiling.

"Um, yes. Hopefully. I'm just, well, ok so I'm petrified." He said sitting back down on the sofa.

"Hey that's a first! Munkustrap the brave, suddenly scared?" Tugger grinned, joining his brother on the sofa.

"Seriously, I really, really like her. She's just so…well you've seen her. She's beautiful and kind and funny and generous and-"

"Hold up a minute, if you actually want to talk all serious and soppy, I don't know if I'm the right tom for the job!" Tugger laughed, sitting back.

"I know, it's just I needed to talk to someone, I'm going crazy. I realise you probably don't really understand what I mean but, I think I might…I think I might have fallen in love with her."

Tugger shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He hated this sort of conversation.

"Um, right well good luck there. Anyway shouldn't we get going? So many queens, so little time, right?" he laughed, trying to lighten the atmosphere.

Munkustrap sighed frustratedly, he hated the way he could never really have a proper conversation with the Rum Tum Tugger. He knew his attitude to queens was completely different than his own and he was really tired of it.

"Tugger, don't you ever want to settle down with a queen? Soon enough all those silly kittens that worship you now, will have mates and kittens of their own, and you're going to be left alone. It's not like you actually have feelings for them."

Tugger ran his claws through his head-fur, looking confused.

"Hey, queens want some fun and I give it to them. I can't help it if the kits all adore me!" he laughed, but it was more nervous laughter.

He knew his brother was right, but he didn't like to think about the time when the kittens all had their own mates. The silver tabby read his thoughts.

"You know I'm right. I just think it's weird that you still want to hang about with the kittens. Maybe you should try growing up, then perhaps you would understand what it's like to have a proper relationship! To have actual feeling!" Munkustrap realised he had started to raise his voice, but it was hard not to, he just wanted to get through to Tugger. He breathed in deeply.

"What about…."

"What?" Tugger asked, knowing what was coming.

"What about Bombalurina?"

"What about Bombalurina?" Tugger asked defensively.

"Don't get all wound up, I know you've spent nights with her. And I know you too well to know that she means nothing to you. You just tease the kits but you've never done anything with them. I just think its horrible that you can go that far with Bombalurina and then just pretend it never happened! I don't know how you can do something that should mean so much and then just…toss her aside."

Munkustrap admitted he was angry and, annoyingly, slightly jealous of his brother. But he could never do that to a queen.

"Shut up Munkus." Tugger said in a low voice.

"No, I won't!" he said. Tugger needed someone to open his eyes, "How do you think Bombalurina feels? Clearly you're the only tom she-"

"I said shut up!" Tugger yelled, standing up furiously, causing a vase to smash to the floor, "Don't start lecturing me! She's just as much of a flirt as I am and she didn't have to do anything she didn't want to! Just because you're all 'Ooo no sex before mateship' doesn't mean I am! I am sick of you acting like you think you have me all worked out, when you have no idea how I feel. What I do with Bombalurina is my business so keep your nose out of it!"

Tugger stormed out of the room, slamming the wooden door behind him, and kicking over a small table on his way. He began to make his way to the centre of the junkyard to Mungojerry's party, still fuming. He hated the way Munkustrap insisted on lecturing him and preaching constantly. What did he know about queens?

He stopped suddenly as he remembered the times he had been alone with her. With Bombalurina. He didn't want to let the memories return, didn't want to let all the emotions he felt when he thought of her return. When he thought of her he felt the one emotion he had never wanted to feel for any queen. Love.

Tugger sank slowly to the ground, nobody was about, they were all at the party, it was just him and his thoughts. He remembered how nervous he'd been before he had gone to meet her; he'd spent so long fixing his mane so it sat perfectly and rehearsing what he was going to say. He remembered standing waiting for her at a deserted part of the junkyard. The silver half-moon had shone down on him in the darkness, the stars twinkling like tiny diamonds. He had worried she wouldn't come, but when he first saw her come out of the shadows, he felt an over-powering rush of want, desire and of love-

"No," he said to himself, "you don't…love her." He shook his head and stood up, "This is all just because of Munkustrap raving on about him being in love, it doesn't mean you are, you don't even like Bombalurina, she's just a queen!" he told himself. But deep down Tugger knew only too well that he was just lying to himself, to Munkustrap and to Bombalurina. Angry with himself, he shut his feelings away and walked off in the direction of the centre of the junkyard where Mungojerry's party was in full swing.