The next few weeks are a bit of a blur. All I remember is spending quite a bit of time in my den with Bombi.I must say we both did improve considerably in that time. She learned from some of the older queens that you could use your mouth while mating and it certainly did make things much more interesting. Frankly I'm surprised we managed to not make kittens of our own with the sheer amount of mating we did.

Eventually the novelty wore off and we stopped going at it every chance we could. My fan club was certainly happy to have more time with me and it was nice to have some time away from her. Don't get me wrong I still was feeling it, but at the same time I felt like all we had anymore was mating. We didn't really talk all that much, and when we did it was mostly about something one of us had heard might be fun to try.

I found myself with quite a burning desire to go see Quaxo – At this point in time he was still only Quaxo. He won't become Mr. Mistoffelees until further down. I found him in the same clearing that I'd seen him in the night after the Ball. Once again I found him practicing his magic, this time he wasn't just levitating the can; he was moving it all around. I stretched myself out on a rather comfy fender, and watched for a few minutes.

"My, my. You've certainly improved." Quaxo once again leapt up in surprise and again sent the can careening at me, thankfully his aim hadn't improved.

"Dammit Tugger! Stop startling me like that." He seemed awfully embarrassed and even went a bit red. "Next time I'll actually aim for your head."

"Oh deary me! Not only is the little kitten using foul language but he's threatening me too!" I said, grinning ear to ear.

"Save it Tugger. You know well as I do I'm no kit anymore."

"Do I? I feel like I haven't seen you in days," I slid down off the fender as I spoke and walked over to him.

"That's because you haven't seen me in days."

"Look Quax I'm sorry I-"

"Save it Tug. I know where you've been. Whole junkyard can hear the two of you most of the time."

It was my turn to flush this time. "Well then… So you seem to be doing quite well with the magic. When are you going to let everyone else in on it?"

"When I'm ready I'll tell the others."

"And when will that be? You've been saying that forever."

"I don't know. I just… I just want to have more control over it. You saw what just happened. One little distraction and look what happened," he said defeatedly.

"Well maybe it's a good thing your aim hasn't improved then," I said with a grin, which earned me a rather quick smack from Quaxo. "Ow! I'm joking, I'm joking!" As he smirked back at me is saw a twinkle in his eye I'd never seen before. "So have you thought about what you're going to call yourself? Every great performer has to have a stage name."

"Guess that explains why you haven't taken one," he said cheekily while quickly ducking to avoid my hand.

"I have! I'm no longer just Rum Tug Tugger; I'm THE Rum Tum Tugger."

"How very original," he replied. "I was thinking I'd call myself Mr. Mistoffelees."

"Where'd that come from Quax?"

"It just sorta came to me."

"I kinda like it. Have to find you a new nickname though…"

"It's not like I'm not going to be Quaxo anymore. Mistoffelees is just a part of me."

"Maybe I could call you Misto… or maybe Misty…" He gave me a rather disapproving look. "It's only fair – I'm the first to see this hidden side of you." In hindsight his reaction makes far more sense, but at the time I felt it a little odd that he'd turn away me at this point. "Something wrong Misty?"

"No. And don't call me that," he said, back still turned.

I pulled him around to face me. "Somehow I don't believe you. Talk to me."

"No, really Tugger, I'm fine. It's just that I'm nervous about letting people see this." As he replied he flopped down to the ground, and I could see the distress in his eyes. "No one else here is like this and I don't know how they're going to react to this."

"Listen. If anyone has a problem with who you are you tell them to come see me," I said, dropping down next to him. "You know I've always got your back."

"Thanks Tug."

"Seriously though the entire junkyard?"

"Yes Tugger," he said exasperatedly, "the entire junkyard."