Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who has been reviewing! It makes me so happy and I love you all! Therefore this chapter is dedicated to everyone who has been sticking with my story!!
Chapter Twelve
Bombalurina stared at Tugger in shock, her mouth forming a slight o, as she slowly began to comprehend what he has just said. All these years of shameless flirting with him, all the times he played with the other queens, all the times she had suspected he was just doing it because he loved the attention, she realised that it was her attention he was trying to grab, her he was trying to impress. No wonder she hadn't seen him after her coming of age ball.
Tugger however was now staring intently at the snow falling outside the den's door as if it were the most interesting thing he had ever seen. Of course, it wasn't the most interesting thing in the world, but he couldn't face looking at Bombalurina, couldn't face the rejection once more.
"I'm sorry." Bombalurina blurted out.
Tugger pried his eyes away from the entrance and blinked at her as his eyes got used to the dark in the den. "Pardon?"
"I said I was sorry." She repeated.
"For what?"
"I had no idea you felt that way." She said softly.
"Well now you know." Tugger growled bitterly and returned to staring at the snow once more. This was hardly they way he wanted to tell her how he felt. He had imagined a nice view of the sparkling lights of the city or, just something else!
Out of the corner of his eye he glanced at her to see that she was staring at him with a rapt intensity, her eyes sparkling in the white light that came from the outside. He tried not to stare at her for too long but somehow was soon finding himself lost in those sparkling eyes, which sent warmth shooting through his body, even on this cold winter's day.
"What?" Bombalurina asked, her voice low and husky.
"Nothing." He said.
They continued to stare into each other's eyes for what seemed to them both like an age. Bombalurina took in the strange colour of Tugger's eyes. The deep brown that filled them, the strange amber that surrounded the pupil, striking like the summer sun and the way his pupil dilated as they got lost in each other's gaze. And then in a very clichéd moment, like those from the human movies, Bombalurina felt herself being drawn towards Tugger, she could feel his warm breath tickling her whiskers, see each individual eyelash, the deep dark holes of his eyes…..
"BOMBALURINA!" A shrill voice resounded through the den.
Tugger and Bombalurina pulled away from each other, noticing now the coldness of the den. A striped head poked through the door flap. Rumpleteazer grinned at the two cats.
"What are you doing here Tugger?" She asked, winking.
"Got caught in the snow." He said nonchalantly.
"Oh." Rumpleteazer said sitting in the doorway.
"Did you want something?" Bombalurina asked.
"Oh right!" Rumpleteazer exclaimed.
"Well?" Bombalurina prompted.
"Yeah, um, what was it?" The tiger striped queen scratched her head. "Oh yeah! Well, I was talking to Bill Bailey, when Mungo told me that Cassandra had told Exotica who told Munkustrap who told Alonzo who told Admetus who told Mungo who told me that Jenny was looking for you."
Looking utterly pleased with herself, Rumpleteazer grinned broadly. Bombalurina blinked at the younger cat perplexed and Jemima, who had woken up, cocked her head.
"Huh?" Jemima said.
"Isn't it obvious?" Rumpleteazer asked.
"Rumple, not even Coricopat and Tantomile could decipher that rubbish." Bombalurina growled.
"It means Jenny is looking for you." Tugger said simply.
Jemima and Bombalurina stared at him, mouths slightly open. Rumple beamed.
"Well, I've got to be going now!" She said brightly, disappearing from the doorway.
Bombalurina shook her head in disbelief. "Why couldn't she just say Jenny was looking for me?"
Tugger shrugged.
"I'm going to find her," Bombalurina resolved, "wait here." She said to both Jemima and Tugger.
Slipping out into the cold Bombalurina half sprinted to Jenny's den and slid in without knocking. Jenny looked up from her conversation with Skimbleshanks and…
"Jelly!" Bombalurina exclaimed.
"Hello!" Jellylorum said, padding forwards and hugging the scarlet queen. "Jenny has just been telling me about your week."
Bombalurina laughed. "So that's why Rumple was sent to find me."
"I thought I sent Cassandra to find you." Jenny said.
"Obviously the message was passed along." Bombalurina grumbled.
"Well anyway, we wanted to share this with you." Jenny began. "We have a hunch that Gus is going to be the top contender to go to the Heaviside Lair this Ball."
Bombalurina raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
Jelly, Jenny and Skimble nodded enthusiastically.
"Why are you telling me?" Bombalurina queried.
"Because! You have proved yourself worthy of taking over from one of us when we retire. This past week has shown you can handle the kits." Jenny said.
"You want me to take over for you when you retire?" Bombalurina asked.
Jenny and Jelly nodded but Bombalurina wasn't convinced.
"I don't know." She said.
"Why?" Jelly asked.
"Well, this week was fun, but I don't think I want to do this permanently."
Jelly, Jenny and Skimble blinked at her.
"I'm sorry you feel that way." Skimble said.
"There are a few things I have to sort out, some, let's say, unfinished business. And I have Jemima to care of now. So if you'll excuse me, I have to go."
Getting on to her feet Bombalurina padded out of Jenny's den and stood in the snow staring at the sky. She inhaled, the cold air stinging her lungs, a slight breeze ruffling her fur. The whole junkyard was blanketed in snow creating unidentifiable shapes, making everything look like mountains. For some reason she found herself smiling and then laughing. Twirling around and around, kicking up the snow into a storm, she span until she was dizzy collapsing on the floor and staring up at the sky again, the snow falling on her face. She closed her eyes, panting slightly listening to the stillness of the junkyard. She lay there for some time just breathing and listening, before opening her eyes. Silver snowflakes clung idly to her eyelashes. Getting up she padded back to her den.
Tugger raised his head from a pillow as Bombalurina reentered the den. Jemima had fallen asleep again.
"You're soaked!" He exclaimed.
Bombalurina just laughed and pulled Tugger towards her, kissing him squarely on the lips. He snaked his arms around her waist pulling her closer. She broke away and smiled up at him, then nestled her head into his mane.
Everything was perfect.