HAT: Now you're suspense is put to an end! What's gonna happen? *evil grin*

Disclaimer: I own C- *tackled to ground by Andrew Lloyd Webber* I-I don't own Cats... only the three little kittens... *weak voice* Help... me... *passes out*

Previously on Unexpected and Unpredictable (Mostly):

"There's the insistent nightmares that don't seem to ever stop, there's this stupid game that I don't want to be a game anymore, and Exotica's advise all spinning in my head all at once."

"Wait... what game?" Skimble asks.

"The game we're playing," Tugger admits, realizing it's too late to go back now. "The way you act like with me when we're in front of others... I want to feel that when we're alone... I want that to be real and not fake..."

It's quiet for a long time and Tugger's sure that Skimble will get up and leave as he stares at his paws... but something happens...

Warm lips press against Tugger's and he freezes at the unexpected action, eyes wide and lips still (unlike with so many others) and his mind is running a million miles a minute in the few seconds that this happens and with all his experience he should've kissed back, but then again... he's never been with a tom and he's almost always been the kisser and even when he wasn't his response was immediate. Then again Skimble is completely different and really, really new to Tugger.

Skimble pulls away and caresses Tugger's face. "I'm willing to give this a try... because admittedly... I've been feeling like a kit with a crush around you recently."

Tugger's in shock. "R-really?"

"Yes," the orange tabby whispers reassuringly, never taking his glass-green eyes off of the Maine Coon's amber ones. "Really."

A grin splits Tugger's face. "So... the game's not a game?"

"No. Not at all," Skimble muses.

"So... does this mean I get to kiss you whenever I want?"

"Almost whenever... after all, there are kittens that we can spare the details around."

Tugger chuckles and shakes his head. "Yeah..." he murmurs before he frowns. "Does this mean I don't get to sleep with you?"

Blush covers his face as he realizes what he said. "Oh? Taking it a bit fast aren't we?"

"N-no that's not what I meant, though I wouldn't mind- later of course- but I was talking about... about the nightmares."

"It doesn't mean you can't," Skimble assures. "Now let's just go to sleep."

Tugger nods and they lay down, Tugger nuzzling Skimble and putting his head under the other tom's chin and their arms wrapped around each other. They stay like this for very little time because sleep quickly comes to take the pair.

The large Maine Coon's tail swishes lazily as he watches the cats around him go about their daily activities. Tumblebrutus seems so nervous and scared he's going to burst as Coricopat talks to him. Tugger smirks, knowing the older brother's threatening his little sister's date and relaxes. Everything is as it should be. Skimble's working for the next... hour, hour and a half, the kittens are playing, Munkustrap and Alonzo are talking about guard duties, Bombalurina's walking in with a new tom.

Tugger stops and his focus is immediately on the pair that's walking into the junkyard. The tom's a sandy color with a dark brown muzzle and left paw. Tugger's amber eyes narrowing and he's glad that Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer are walking past him because he grabs their arms and pulls them to him and moves to the side.

"Oi! What're you yanking us around for?" Mungojerrie demands.

Tugger points to the new tom. "That's Jasper, Bomba's new tomfriend, right?"

They glance at the couple and nod. "Yeah."

"Is there anything bad about him?"

"Not that we've found yet, but we thought we'd be given a week or two more time to dig up more information on him," Rumpelteazer admits.

"Well, nothing besides he's got a temper, but from what we've heard it's only when he goes out with his friends and gets too much drinks from games," Mungojerrie adds.

"Well, true, but I think that's everyone," Rumpelteazer adds.

Tugger rubs his temples. "Just... Try and get this done faster. For now... I'll be interrogating him."

"Good luck!" they say cheerfully, waving goodbye to him before they set off to steal something from humans.

He saunters over, thumbs in belt, to Bombalurina and Jasper in the middle of the clearing and Bombalurina's face pales under her fur at the sight of Rum Tum Tugger. After all, he's overprotective with all of her tomfriends and she knows by the look in his eyes he's going to interrogate the tom.

"Hey Bomba and..."

"Jasper," the tom says, holding out his paw in greeting.

Tugger merely nods his acknowledgement. "Pleasure to meet you. Bomba's talked so much about you."

"Jasper, this is Rum Tum Tugger, Tugger, this is Jasper," Bombalurina says kindly, though her eyes show anger towards her ex-tomfriend.

Jasper's emerald eyes flash with realization. "Bomba's talked about you."

Tugger nods. "I'm sure she has... Bomba, can I steal your tomfriend for a second?"

She shakes her head. "I was going to have him meet Demeter."

"It'll only take a minute," Tugger promises.

"It's alright, it'll be a sec," Jasper assures, flashing a charming smile to her, which seems to dazzle her.

She sighs. "Alright, you have two minutes."

"It'll take less," they assure.

When they get out of sight and hearing distance Tugger grabs the new tom by the scruff and makes him meet his amber eyes. "I swear, if Bomba sheds so much as one tear I swear to the Everlasting Cat that I will murder you, understand?"

Jasper nods. "I understand."

"And if she so much as one hair out of place for the wrong reasons and you don't protect her I will torture you, kill you, wait for you to be reborn and torture and kill you again understand?"

"I do," the sandy tom replies.

Tugger lets go and fixes the tom's fur. "Good. She may be my ex-queenfriend, but she's my best friend and I won't stand for any tom doing anything to her."

"I understand. I'm that way about my little sister and ex-queenfriend and ex-tomfriend."

"Tomfriend?"

"I was experimental, but we stay good friends. I've got nothing against anyone homosexual, I just prefer queens myself."

Tugger nods. "Oh... well, come on. Let's get back before Bomba thinks I killed you and buried your body somewhere."

Both of them chuckle and go back and Bombalurina's eyes check for wounds, but she relaxes when she finds none. Tugger says goodbye and turns to leave when he sees Victoria crying. His amber eyes darken and he immediately wonders what Plato did and has already thought of over one hundred ways to kill him.

"Hey Vicky," Tugger says gently, hugging his younger sibling. "What's wrong?"

"Plato was patrolling and a Pollicle came and attacked him. He's in Jenny's den and Jenny and Jelly are treating him," she answers through tears.

All the plans for the injured cat's death flew out the metaphorical window and he hugs her a little tight. "Shh, shh. Jenny and Jelly are gonna make him better, don't you worry. Get some rest and I'll wake you up when there's news."

She nods mutely and buries her face in his fluffy mane and he holds her sleeping form for who knows how long before Mistoffelees and Munkustrap come and see why Tugger hasn't moved with Victoria for a while and Tugger reluctantly tells them and the brothers immediately move to touch their sister, ready to give her comfort, but Tugger fiercely shakes his head, quietly reminding them that she needs all the rest she can get with no disturbances so Munkustrap goes to see if there's any progress with their brother-in-law. No one was surprised that the Protector didn't come back with any news so they wait. Then Jenny comes out, her fur a bit ruffled and blood on her paws.

"Wake up, Vicky," Tugger mutters, nuzzling her and she wakes up when Mistoffelees shakes her the tiniest bit.

The white she-cat's eyes immediately focus on Jenny's bloody paws. "I-Is he alright?"

Jenny nods, her tired chocolate eyes holding hope. "He's stable. Jelly and I will be taking shifts to keep an eye on him, though. He's been asking for you."

Victoria beams and Tugger lets go of her allowing her to run to her mate and Mistoffelees takes the shift to watch their sister. Exhausted, Tugger leans on his younger brother, the silver tabby not seeming to mind at the moment.

"You're very tired," Munkustrap notes, rubbing his brother's ears.

"Hn," Tugger grunts.

The Protector yawns. "Perhaps a nap would be best for both of us?"

"That's the best idea you've ever come up with," the Maine Coon sighs, falling asleep with his side pressed against his brother after the long day.

HAT: I decided to be nice... this time.

Plato: This time. I bet the next chapter you're not nice.

HAT: Most likely. Anyway, since I'm tired... NIGHT!

Plato: *sighs* Review... wait! That's my bed! Get out!... and don't carry it away either! *runs after HAT*