Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who has been reviewing!! I'm glad you like my story!!! And in answer to your question KateWoods I sort of changed my mind with the Misto/Victoria pairing as I liked her better with Plato, it sticks to the story more you know?
Chapter Eleven

As dawn rose over the Junkyard bringing with it a thin layer of snow that coated everything. Bombalurina snuggled further into her blankets and curling tighter around the small bundle in her chest that was Jemima. She was doing her best to ignore the gentle knocking outside her den.

"Bombalurina," A voice called softly from outside, "Bombalurina. Bombalurina!"

Opening her eyes and glancing towards the door Bombalurina yawned, blinking in the dull light of the morning.

"What?" She responded annoyed, Jemima moving grumpily against her stomach.

A brown head poked through the door. "Hurry up! We're going to be late!"

Bombalurina blinked at Admetus. "Late for what?"

"Old Deuteronomy is coming to check out that new cat Duchess." Admetus said.

Bombalurina bolted upright startling Jemima into waking up. "I nearly forgot!"

"That's right," Admetus laughed, "lucky my den is nearby and I came to wake you up huh?"

"Yeah lucky." Bombalurina mumbled, grinning at her friend.

Yawning and stretching she pushed Jemima up and out the door, shivering as her paws hit the snowy floor. Together they followed Admetus into the clearing where half the tribe had gathered, yawning sleepily and shivering in the cool morning air. Old Deuteronomy sat on the tire, his oldest son Munkustrap on his right and his youngest Tugger on his left, looking thoroughly out of place and slightly uncomfortable as this was a whole new meaning to being the centre of attention. Duchess sat nervously on the car boot along with two other cats, a large black tom whose body was littered with scars and a smaller cream queen who was blushing fervently. Bombalurina sidled up to Demeter, rubbing shoulders with her sister and sitting down, Jemima crawling between the two queens to keep warm. It took only minutes for the rest of the tribe to arrive and soon a hush fell over the Junkyard as they all stared up at their leader. Old Deuteronomy cleared his throat.

"As you all know," he began in his slow deep voice, "Duchess, this young queen to my right, has requested to join our tribe."

There was a ripple of muttering amongst the Jellicles and Bombalurina glanced to Tantomile on her other side who was wearing the same look of deep thought as her brother Coricopat next to her.

"Munkustrap kindly let her stay whilst he sought out my approval, however Duchess did not tell you the true story of her desire to join our tribe." Old Deuteronomy continued.

Cassandra let out a loud gasp and glared accusingly at Duchess and the other two cats. Bombalurina heard Coricopat and Tantomile say "intriguing" and Demeter shivered slightly. Victoria, who sat with Plato on the other side of the semi circle in front of the tire, cocked her head confused.

"After telling myself and Munkustrap the full story we have decided to let Duchess, Storm and Marigold here take up residence in the outskirts of the south side of the Junkyard. I ask all of you to show courtesy when visiting this area."

And within a moment there was a roar of everyone asking questions all at once so that their voices mingled and Old Deuteronomy was not able to make out a word. He tried in vain to raise his arms and quieten the Jellicles but to no avail. Instead Mistoffelees sidled up to him and let out a lighting bolt into the middle of the semi circle causing almost everyone to fall backwards. Patting the young tuxedo tom on the head Old Deuteronomy turned back to the tribe.

"Please, let us all not talk at once. Ask your questions one by one." He implored.

Electra put up her paw at once and jumped up and down on the spot. Old Deuteronomy chuckled. "Yes dear?"

"Does this mean that they are Jellicles now?" She asked.

"For the time being no, however, if they prove themselves worthy of the Jellicle name they will of course be invited to the ball and accepted to live in the main Junkyard area." Old Deuteronomy glanced over at the three cats who nodded understandingly.

"What was the full story that you conveniently forgot to tell us?" Skimbleshanks queried their leader.

The aging leader nodded towards the tabby and sighed. "These three young cats have been outcast from wherever they attempt to stay and have run into some trouble along the way, for example with the Strays and the Pollicles. The streets are no longer safe for them any more and I feel that when another cat is in trouble, no matter what tribe they are from, we should all help each other in times of need as we all end up together in the Heaviside Lair."

"But what does that have to do with Macavity?" Demeter asked. "I saw Duchess there when I was there."

"Ah yes, Duchess was there because of the same reason she was here. Looking for a place to stay. Macavity unfortunately found out and kicked her out in a manor of speaking."

"And so they are just going to live on the south side of the Junkyard?" Alonzo said.

"For now yes."

"Are we allowed to talk to them?" Victoria piped up.

"Certainly. I see no reason we should shun them entirely. Of course they have the full understanding that they are to cause no trouble, nor invite any other cats within the vicinity of the Junkyard otherwise we may find a reason to become hostile."

"So they will not be attending the ball?" Exotica said.

"No. Not the next one."

The tribe talked quietly amongst themselves, glancing around at each other to see if there were any more things they could ask. However Old Deuteronomy stopped their chatter once more.

"Now I think we are done here. Munkustrap and I will escort Duchess and her friends to their new home. If there are any more questions do not hesitate to ask Munkustrap or our new friends themselves. I will see you all at the ball."

And with that, Munkustrap and Old Deuteronomy padded out of the clearing, Duchess, Storm and Marigold following sheepishly in their wake. The rest of the tribe scattered in pairs to either talk about the new residents of the Junkyard or go back to their dens to escape the cold.

"Come to my den later." Demeter said to her sister before leaving to seek warmth.

Bombalurina glanced down at Jemima. "Do you want to go and play with your friends? I have some work to do."

"Okay!" Jemima said happily and bounded over to Etcetera and Electra.

Smiling at the young kitten Bombalurina slipped away towards an old chest of drawers. She rapped her knuckles on the outside and a rusty brown and white head poked out.

"Bombalurina!" Plato exclaimed. "What do I owe this pleasure?"

"I wanted to talk to you." She said simply.

The younger tom crawled from his den and sat beside the scarlet queen.

"What can I do for you?" He asked.

"You're interested in Victoria."

Plato blushed slightly. "Yes."

"Are you going to approach her for the mating dance?" Bombalurina's blue eyes bore into the young tom.

"Well, I mean, if she's interested, I don't know."

"Of course she's interested." Bombalurina scoffed.

"Well then I would like to approach her." Plato said, lightening up a little.

Bombalurina smiled. "Good. I assume you know the procedure, this is your third ball is it not?"

"Fourth actually." Plato said with a grin.

"Great. Spend a little more time with her alright. Get to know her a bit better so the ritual won't come as a shock."

Plato nodded and headed back towards his den.

"Oh and Plato one more thing." Bombalurina stopped him.

"What's that?" He asked.

"Mating is for life. I hope you know that."

Plato nodded understandingly and slipped back into his den. Feeling particularly pleased with herself, Bombalurina hurried over to Jenny's den. Skimbleshanks sat outside watching the kittens play in the snow.

"Is Victoria inside?" Bombalurina asked.

"Aye she is." Skimble replied before being hit in the head with a snowball by Pouncival. "Why you little scallywag! Come here!" He growled chasing after the kitten and throwing a snowball at him.

Bombalurina laughed at the antics before slipping inside Jenny and Skimble's den. Jenny was sitting on a pillow grooming her paws and looked up at the scarlet queen.

"Oh hello dear! Are you hungry? Skimble caught some birds." She said indicating to a couple of birds on a makeshift table in the centre of the room.

"No thanks, I'm looking for Victoria." Bombalurina replied.

"In there." Jenny said pointing to a little flap of material.

Bombalurina padded through the flap to find Victoria sitting alone in the den on one of the many pillows that lined the walls. She looked up as the scarlet queen entered and smiled.

"Well Victoria good news." Bombalurina said sitting down next to the young princess.

"What's good news?" She asked, her ears perking up.

"I just talked to Plato…"

"And?" Victoria interrupted eagerly.

"And, he said he is going to approach you at the ball."

Victoria's face broke into a grin and she flopped down on her pillow, staring at the older queen in shock.

"He meant it?"

"Of course he meant it. He really likes you." Bombalurina said.

Victoria giggled and half pounced on Bombalurina. "Oh thank you thank you thank you!!" She exclaimed.

Bombalurina patted her awkwardly on the back. "No problem. It's what I do."

Still giggling Victoria let go of Bombalurina. "I have to tell my brother!"

And with that she scampered out of the den. Bombalurina followed closely behind and gasped at the cold hair which struck her when she left. The kittens were still playing but were the only ones out as some more snow started to drift downwards.

"I think we should get inside." Skimbleshanks called to the kittens.

Jemima hurried over to Bombalurina and followed her back to their den. They had just got inside when the snow started to come down more thickly. Snuggling up inside the warm blankets Jemima quickly fell asleep and Bombalurina continued to watch the snowflakes fall outside the den. Suddenly a tawny face appeared in the doorway.

"Mind if I come in? It's freezing out here!" Tugger said, coming in anyway.

"I might have said no you know." Bombalurina reprimanded.

Tugger shrugged and settled down next to her. "What's up?"

Bombalurina raised an eyebrow. "What do you think is up?"

"Lots of things, the sky, trees, birds, clouds." Tugger grinned.

Bombalurina rolled her eyes and put her head on her paws. "What were you doing out in the snow anyway?"

"Was coming back from visiting Alonzo and Cassandra and got caught in it."

"They're back together?"

"For today at least." Tugger scoffed. "So did you find a mate for Victoria?"

"Plato."

"Good for him."

Bombalurina nodded.

"Jellicle Ball is soon." Tugger stated.

"No kidding."

"I remember my first ball."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. I remember most balls."

"So does everyone else." Bombalurina said bitterly, thinking back to how thrilled she had been to have Macavity approach her. "You weren't at the last two though."

"I lost interest."

"Why?"

"I had a bad experience three balls ago."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"What happened?"

"Do you really want to know?"

"Of course!"

"You'll laugh at me."

"No I won't!"

"Yes you will! You'll think I'm stupid."

"More stupid than you already are?"

"Possibly."

"Tell me! I swear I won't laugh."

"Alright. Promise?"

"I just promised didn't I?"

"Yeah I guess."

"Well?"

"Okay. You see, the most beautiful queen in the entire tribe was coming of age. All the toms were thinking about approaching her. Me, Alonzo, Mungojerrie, everyone! Even Munkustrap was considering it but he also had an eye for someone else so he wasn't really sure. When it came time for her to do the mating dance she slipped into the centre of the other resting cats. None of the other toms made a move so I thought 'now is my chance'. I stepped forward but was pushed aside by another tom who ended up doing the dance with her. And so I high-tailed it out of there and haven't been to one since."

Bombalurina stared at him in shock, her heart was pounding against her rib cage. "Which queen?" She asked slowly and deliberately.

"You."