It was almost exactly a month to the day since the last cast changeover. In the Tugger regalia of the absent Norman, Andy was standing on the half-pipe beside the tyre, his thumbs stuck into his spangly belt.

Singing his verse of 'Old Deuteronomy' with Robbie, his eyes flicked to one of the kitten's on the stage and a cocky half-grin edged onto his lips. A look of complete panic crossed Blue's face. If anything, he mused, she would learn not to make bets with the only man to ever audition for Grizabella.

Her eyes still half-lingering on him, she hesitantly turned, allowing Georgina to pull her along to greet Benjamin. Andy couldn't help smirking when she glanced at him, smoothing his mane with one hand.

Apparently no one else had noticed Etcetera's hyperventilating.

Struggling up the ramp, weighed down by his coat, Benjamin smiled widely around at his 'tribe', then turned towards Andy, expecting the familiar bow or salute.

He was, however, a little surprised by the squeal of 'daddy!'. Even more so, when all six foot plus of Tugger landed inelegantly in his arms. Andy batted his eyelashes and planted a firm kiss on the older actor's nose.

Despite this – and the choked laughter of many of the cast members – the song was finished without further ado. Although, if it had been audible, the mumbled swearing of Etcetera would have been enough to turn the air as blue as her hair.

Sliding to the edge of the stage, Blue smacked Andy on the leg as he strutted past her, during 'The Pekes and The Pollicles', grinning widely at her. Georgina nudged her, raising a questioning eyebrow.

"The bugger did it." Blue hissed, scowling behind her Peke mask.

Aware that there was probably a long story behind both the Tugger-Deuteronomy thing and Blue's agitation, Georgina seemed to decide it would be wiser to wait until the Intermission for an explanation.

And to hold Blue back, in case she went for Andy in a none-to-pleasant way.

For the remainder of the first act, though, Blue contented herself with either glaring bitterly at the figure of Tugger, or dancing like there was no tomorrow. The Jellicle Ball passed in a blur, the smallest dancer of the cast speeding off-stage as soon as she could.

Following the sound of the stage manager's voice yelling at someone, Blue was jerked to a halt when a hand snagged her tail. "What was that about, little sister?" Tommy asked, not relinquishing her hold.

"Enough to say I'm going to kill him." The tiny girl spat, jerking her tail free.

Chuckling, the taller dancer patted Blue's wig with clear amusement. "Never make bets with our swing-man." She advised, turning and sauntering off to get herself a cigarette and something to drink, the confused Blue staring in her wake.

"Got time to spill, Blue?" Mungojerrie's face popped into her line of vision, as she started on her way down the hall towards the spot where the stage manager was apparently lecturing the tall figure of Andy as Tugger. "What's Andy done to get you so pissed off?"

"You saw." He could see the uneasiness in her pale eyes. It was almost a fearful apprehension, an expression he really didn't like to see on her elfin face. She stopped out of arm's reach of Andy, as the stage manager stalked away, his expression dark.

A watery grin on his face, Andy turned to the pair nearby. "Um, apparently that little surprise didn't go down too well." He looked down at Blue, who was staring at the floor, her hands folded behind her. "Shorty?"

"You won." Her voice was a monotone, head down. "Name a time and place."

Andy squatted to look up at her bowed face. "Don't need to sound so enthusiastic, short stuff." He frowned as she turned her eyes away from his face. "If you wanna make it easier, why don't you choose where and we take other people with us?"

"I'll go." Jonny offered, swigging some water from a bottle. "Dunno what the hells going on, but I'll bring Monique. Its been a while since you've seen her, eh, Blue? She's dying to see you again…has been since I mentioned the new colouring."

The petite dancer looked over at him. "A double-date it is then." Jonny visibly jolted in surprise. Andy had managed to get her to go out with him? Andy rose, Blue's face slowly lifting to look at him. "You're going to love Monique." Her faint smile was hidden as she swallowed some water from Jonny's bottle.

"And Monique is…?"

"My girl." Blue snorted and Jonny tried his best to look hurt. "Hey, even Tommy thought Ramon was a femme fatale when she met him in his Monique get-up." He chuckled. "Poor Tommy…flirting with a five-star drag Princess." He threw up his hands in a wicked imitation of Tommy. "'Eeeew! I touched him! And he had bits! Ewww! I hate you Jonny!' – Funniest thing I ever saw."

Andy waved his hands frantically, to get their attention. "Whoa! Whoa! Let me get this straight! I finally convince shorty to go out with me and I end up hooking up with a fellow pussy and his drag-Princess? Can this get any freakier?"

"Well," Blue couldn't hide a faintly smug smile. "Moni is as tall as you and she's my sidekick for laser-questing…and guess where we're going to go." Andy's face fell. "Plus you made a tit of yourself on stage."

Slapping him smartly on the rump, she bounced off the find Georgina, looking reassured by what Andy had suggested. "It was worth it, shorty." He murmured to himself, smiling slightly. "Definitely worth it."

***

"And you are actually going?" Both Tommy and Georgina were staring at Blue as if she were crazy.

Sitting in the dressing room, pulling her sock on, the smallest of the trio looked from one face to the other. "Um…Jonny said he'd bring Moni and they'd both go along with me." She mumbled, bending over her foot.

"But its Andy!" Georgina protested, shaking her head. "You know…Mister Only-Cast-member-I'm-afraid-of?"

"I'm not afraid of him." Pale blue eyes rose, a faint smile crossing Blue's lips. Tommy raised a sceptical eyebrow. The younger dancer lowered her head again, fiddling with her bootlace. "Um…not much…"

Tommy rounded the make-up desk and wrapped her arms around Blue from behind with a sigh. "You're a nut case, sweetie." She pressed her cheek against the younger girl's temple. "Are you sure about this?"

"Jonny's going to be with me." She raised her eyes to her friend and roommate with a tired smile. "I'm going to show Andy just how stupid he was to challenge me. I'll be okay with both of them and Moni there."

The oriental-looking woman smiled slightly. "So you're testing the poor guy by throwing everything you can at him?"

"I thought that letting him meet Moni was being gentle!" Blue protested with mock-innocence, squeezing Tommy's forearms and rubbing her head against the older dancer's jaw with a half-smile.

"Uh huh. That poor boy isn't going to know which way is left or right at the rate you're going, Blue." Georgina fastened up her belt of her jeans, shaking her head. "Moni'll be all over him like a rash."

The smallest of the trio chuckled. "Why do you think I'm letting her come?"

Tommy burst out laughing. "I love the way you think, kid!" She chuckled, kissing Blue on the brow. "Never change it, okay?"

"Only learned from the best, Tommy." Blue grinned, hugging her friend back. "Now, what do you think I should wear – jeans…or jeans?"

***

Manipulating his way over, under, around and between the many obstacles that littered his stepbrother's hallway, Andy wrestled his way towards the door. Several dusty skis clattered over, taking a small crate of books with them.

Looking around the hall sheepishly, Andy couldn't help laughing. It didn't look the least bit different.

If anyone ever asked him how he kept in shape, he mused, he could honestly tell them that it was the daily exiting and entering the flat. Even the army couldn't come up with an assault course to rival the narrow, junk-littered hallway.

"Andy! Move your bloody 'arris! We're double-parked!"

Navigating the door open six inches, he started to wriggle his way between the door and the frame, almost falling on top of the Jonny. "Ow…sorry…" He glanced around, raising a brow, tugging a booted foot through the gap. "Um…where's shorty?"

"At the car with Moni." Jonny grinned, clearly looking forward to introducing his partner to his unwitting workmate. "You got everything? Loads of cash?" Andy's brow rose a millimetre higher. "Hey, you…er…I mean we have a duty to spoil the ladies."

"If you say so, Jonny-boy." Closing the door behind him, Andy didn't bother locking it behind him. "So, lead on, McDuff." The shorter dancer happily bounced down the lobby and out to the roadside, where his beat-up mini waited. "Th-that's Monique?"

A stunning brunette was sitting glamorously on the low bonnet, long legs clad in tight-fitting jeans. Lustrous waves of dark hair fell to a slender waist, an F.C.U.K. t-shirt with the words 'Fondle Constantly Until Knackered' scrawled across the chest. A perfectly made-up face turned to them.

"Hello."

"Andy, Moni," Jonny was grinning mischievously. "Moni, Andy."

Monique slid gracefully to her feet, offering a manicured hand to the gob-smacked dancer. "Nice to finally meet you." Andy shook the outstretched hand and managed to nod. "Little Blue told me about your bet."

"She should have known better." Jonny slid his arm around Monique's waist, barely reaching her shoulder in height. "Blue stuck her tongue out. "He's the guy who auditioned for Griz, Blue. You shoulda known he'd do anything."

"A drag artist?" Moniue drawled. "A man after my own heart!"

"I did it cos I knew it would have a good result."

"And I didn't think he was that desperate for a date." Blue added, staring resolutely at the car. "Can we go already? I wanna kick some bahonky."

***

"Where the heck did you spring from?" Hands raised, Andy could feel the tip of his date's blaster pressing hard against the sensor panel on his back.

There was a merry laugh. "I was here all the time, big guy." Came her cryptic reply. "So, are you actually gonna get into this any time soon and leave with some semblance of dignity or are we just gonna make sure your name is at the top of the highest number of hits board?"

"What difference does it make? I never come here anyway!"

"You don't." He could visualise the wicked grin on her face. "But the rest of the cast all do." A pause. "Well, except Kashka..."

He groaned. "What do I have to do?"

"Play!" She slapped his rear, his sensor on his pack squealing, then she was gone. He spun, but the tiny, blue-haired dancer had disappeared among the mad, multi-level labyrinth of metal and grids. He could still hear her laughter.

His sensor registered another hit and a squeal of giggles not unlike that of Rumpleteaser rang loud and clear over the whoops and shrills of the panels.

"You asked for it, tiny!" Diving behind the nearest of the oblong obstacles, he peered around and saw no one. His sensor wailed again. He couldn't have been hit! He was sheltered on all sides, so how...?

A shrill whistle sounded from the metal footwalk five feet above his head. Blue waved cockily, then darted off along the path and into the maze of the upper levels. A devilish look came into Andy's eyes and he raced for the metal staircase to follow. Reaching the top unscathed, he laughed loudly.

"All right! I'm gonna get..."

Beepbeepbeep!

"Ah, crud!"

The laughter of Blue, Jonny and Monique reached him and he mentally whapped himself across the head for being so stupid and running into a trap. It wasn't as if it was the first time they had pulled this stunt since they arrived.

"How did you all get to be in the same team?" He wailed plaintively, ducking behind one of the nearest steel barriers.

"Bribed the doorman." Jonny's yell reached him a second before a blue-haired blur sped past him, firing rapidly, followed by a laughing brunette. His sensor went wild and he groaned again, sinking down out of range.

"That wasn't fair!"

Monique's head poked around the barrier. "Aww! The cutie-pie can't take it! Welcome to the world of Blue and Moni and the lazer guns, wuss!"

Andy half-snarled in annoyance and barreled towards her, with a howl of "Kamikaze!", only for his back sensor to come under attack from Blue and Jonny, leaving him beeping and wailing in a heap on the floor.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaargh!" Breaking into a sprint, he fled, three racing after him in laughing pursuit, brandishing their weapons to uncannily accurate effect.

***

"Admit it." Tugger looked down at Etcetera.

"Admit what?"

"That you had fun."

He glared at her. "I would rather swallow rusty nails."

"Liar." She smirked wickedly up at him. "You enjoyed having your arse kicked in lazer quest and you really liked to be flirted with by a big old drag queen." She paused, her smirk widening a fraction. "And you just loooooooved having Moni rubbing her foot against your crotch."

"I thought that was your foot!"

Blue grinned impishly at him. "I know." She lifted her leg up parallel with her body to show her tiny, size-two foot to him. Wiggling it, she inquired. "Didn't you wonder my foot was suddenly almost as long as my leg?"

"Er..."

"Hoi, Blue, chuck!" Taking the distraction from the warm ups gratefully, Andy looked over in the same direction as Blue. Jonny had burst into the room and in a blink had swung his tiny friend off her feet. "Hiya Andy! Have fun?"

Blue nudged Jonny. "He loved it. Really."

"Shaddup."

Jonny sniggered. "I got someone who wants to meet you, Andy." He remarked, gesturing to a figure in the doorway. A tall, lean man entered, flashing a broad grin down at Blue who winked back at him.

"I'm sure I've seen you somewhere." Andy stared at the tawny face. The man was boy-band-good-looking, with a dark mane slicked back in a ponytail, designer stubble scattered over his chin. He chuckled.

"I'm Ramon." He explained. He bent forward and murmured close to Andy's ear. "And I know what you hide down the front of those trousers of yours...Blue is a lucky gal. Are you absolutely sure I can't make you join the dark side?"

A pair of wam lips brushed Andy's ear and he uttered a girlie squeal. "Moni!"

"Whaddya know! He recognised me!" Ramon chuckled.

Grabbing Blue, Andy jerked her in front of him. "Back! Back I tell ya!"

"Anyone would think you didn't like me." The dark-haired man would have pouted, but his smirk overrode it. He ran the tip of his tongue along lips that had been dep crimson the previous night. "Blue, you sure you won't trade?"

Giggling dementedly, Blue shook her head. "You can have any other cast member, but since our boy suffered the humiliation of last night so well, he's getting a reward..." Tugger gaped at Etcetera, who shyly looked up at him. "You free next Sunday night?"

"Y-you're asking me out?"

"No, I'm setting you up with Moni." She bit her lip, smothering a grin. "What does it sound like, big person? Fancy going to the cinema with me and no transvestite?" Andy was still staring at her, agog. "Um...Andy?"

A wide, brilliant grin spread across the Tugger's face. "You're serious?"

"Um...yeah..."

"Everyone!" Andy clapped his hands loudly, commanding the attention of everyone present. "I have an announcement! Blue just asked me to go out with her! Everybody say 'Oooooh! You're a stud, Andy!'"

Jon Marquez in his Gus garb chuckled. "That only comes when you've got laid, Andy. When you've boffed little Blue, we'll call you a stud."

"Not funny, John." Tommy snapped, standing up. He opened his mouth to make some kind of teasing retort, but the expression on her face made him clap his mouth shut, his brow furrowing in clear confusion.

Andy raised an eyebrow. "What was that about?"

"Nothing!" Blue's voice was a strangled croak. "Scuse me..." Darting off, she skidded through the door of the toilets. Georgina glanced at Tommy, who nodded, then quickly hurried after her, shooting a glare in the direction of John.

Rubbing his neck in confusion, Andy looked at Jonny and Ramon. While they had been laughing moments earlier, both of them were looking in the direction of the toilets with clear concern on their faces.

"Shorty's been feeling a bit sick, since yesterday." Tommy appeared by his side, running a hand distractingly over his rear. "I'm thinkin' she and the burger she massacred had a bit of an argument..."

"Tommy, I'm not stupid."

"You mean you don't believe she has fist fights with chunks of inanimate beef?" The tone in the dancer's voice warned him not to push her any further.

Two small figures emerged from the toilet, Electra's arm around Etcetera's shoulder, the paler of the two's arm around Electra's waist. "I need a drink of water." Blue mumbled. Georgina nodded and hurried away, leaving Blue to make her way to Tommy's side.

"You okay, shrimpy?"

"Just gave up my breakfast." She smiled faintly, promptly having a red arm pulling her close to a curvaceous red body. "Georgie went to get me some water."

Touching her shoulder, Andy was startled when she pulled back from his hand. "Blue, you sure you're okay?"

"Me? Yeah...uh huh...Tommy?" The red cat's eyes met the tiny dancer's and a mutual understanding seemed to be reached. Tommy nodded, squeezing her shoulders. "Andy, do you...um...do you still want to go to the cinema?"

"Only if you're sure you want to, shorty."

Blue reached over and squeezed his hand. "I do." She nodded.

***

The first time that Andy found Blue on stage was during the 'Jelicle Songs for Jellicle Cats' up on the ledge high above the main body of the audience. He flashed a broad grin at her, offering his hand to her.

Batting at him playfully, she ducked her head, spinning up onto her toes to be fastened onto the trapeze wire.

Moving behind her, holding the swing in place, he put a hand quickly on her hip to stabilise her. Pale blue darted to his face in surprise. Apparently Norman didn't bother to do such a thing, he thought, giving her a reassuring smile.

Clipping the hooks of the security cable that attached her to the swing onto her belt, she shifted the belt until it was comfortable. Flexing her hands, she stood on her toes and grasped the bar tightly.

"Ready, sweetie?" He whispered, pulling her back by the belt at her waist. She nodded, a shiver of pleasure passing through her as his fingers skimmed over a sensitive spot at the base of her back.

Giving her a firm push, he watched her swing, almost smacking Antoine on the head. In his Skimbleshanks guise, Antoine clutched his heart and dropped onto his knees on the mattress, wagging a finger up at them.

Andy heard a giggle escape Blue as he caught her hips for the second swing. "Kick him in the head this time." He hissed in her ear, before giving her another push off. He didn't think she had heard, but one of her feet dipped a little lower than usual.

Catching her as she swung back in, they exchanged glances, then looked down at the pouting Antoine. He rubbed his head, as if gravely offended, making them both laugh. Re-hanging the trapeze up, Andy nuzzled her shoulder.

"See you down there." He whispered, squeezing her shoulder, then darted away, leaving Blue to undo the security cable.

Unfastening herself, she raced down the stairs, unbuckling the heavy belt she wore for the trapeze and depositing with one of the stage-hands, before darting onto the stage for the final part of the song and dance routine, receiving a broad grin from both Tommy and Andy.

***

Stretched out in the half-pipe again, his legs dangling over one side, Andy felt a finger tap in the centre of his head. Tipping his head back over the other side of the pipe, an upside-down Etcetera swam into his line of sight.

Flashing a wide grin at her, he sniffed in her direction. Leaning forward, Blue delicately sniffed closer to him, then pulled a face. Andy mocked indignation, sitting up and sniffing at himself with a frown.

Beckoning her forward, he sniffed at her, then pretended to faint from the smell. Blue stifled a giggle, leaning over him. She yelped in surprise when he sat up and nudged his nose against hers.

Behind Andy, Malcolm rolled his eyes, looking down at the audience he could see, seated on the edge of the moving platform. Nodding in the direction of Tugger, he made a gesture of 'He stinks!' in the taller actor's direction.

Unfortunately for Malcolm, Andy noticed and looked indignant, swatting at him. Mistoffelees looked contrite, but as soon as he looked away, Tugger sniffed at himself again, then pretended to spray himself with some kind of deodorant.

Blue had scrambled back and was sitting directly behind Old Deuteronomy, chewing on her knuckles to try and stop herself laughing out loud. Casting a sidelong glance at her, Andy winked. The tiny girl hid her face behind her warmer, a wide grin on her face.

Benjamin – Deuteronomy – looked over to see what the fuss was about, receiving an innocent look from Andy, a helpless expression from Malcolm and almost yelled when two little arms wrapped around him from behind.

Reaching up behind him, he ruffled the kitten's wig and laughed as she bounced around to sit beside him. Hoisting his tail up, she wrapped it around her shoulders as if it were a feather boa and preened.

Tugger nudged Mistoffelees, who fell back in the pipe, laughing. It was only made worse, when Etcetera blew a kiss in their direction, exaggerating a pout and fanning herself with the end of the immense tail.

On the mattress, Rumpleteaser seemed to have noticed the game and held up an imaginary piece of paper and pen to the preening Etcetera, who looked smug and signed an imaginary autograph for the tiger tabby.

Rumpleteaser hugged it to her chest, keeling over in a dead faint on the mattress, her legs sticking straight up in the air.

Old Deuteronomy covered a snigger with a cough, biting on his lower lip. He gestured for the kittens to behave and listen while Gus was telling his story. Fortunately for them, they realised that they were about to be cued to run off to get ready for Growltiger.

Blue hastily untied the tail from her neck and bent down to poke Rumpleteaser in the ribs, unaware that Jenni, who played that cat, was horrifically ticklish. A shriek of laughter from Jenni ruined the first bar of Gus' soliloquy and reduced Etcetera and Rumpleteaser to giggles again.

Joining Blue on the tyre beside Deuteronomy, the pair of them huddled together, Blue shoving her tail in Rumpleteaser's mouth to keep her quiet. Rumpleteaser blinked at her, looking completely bewildered by why she couldn't speak, which only made them both giggle more.

Shaking his head, Andy couldn't help being relieved when he was allowed to hurl himself over the back of the set and release the laugh he had been holding in, receiving a broad, impish grin from Blue as she darted around to retrieve her Siamese costume. If she actually acted like this around him outwith the theatre, he could see their date being a very interesting one indeed.

***

"I can't believe you made me sit through that!"

"What?"

"It was a bleedin' Disney film! A kid's film!"

"It was a choice of that or the slasher film..."

"That's no excuse!"

"Tell me you didn't enjoy it."

"Well..."

"Well?"

Blue glared at him. "All right." She raised her hands. "I agree! I had fun." She grinned ruefully up at the tall dancer. "Pelting the usher with smarties was more fun than I expected." Pausing to zip up her coat, she looked around. "Wanna walk me back to Tommy's?"

"Those were my orders from her royal Bossiness. She seemed to think you were very likely to get lost." Andy drawled, snatching the girl's hat from her hand and squashing it down over her head, flattening her spiky blue hair until her fringe was pressed over her eyes.

"Hoi!" Swatting his hands away, she adjusted the hat until it was at a position she could see out from beneath. "Don't touch my hat." He poked it and raised a brow with a cocky grin. "Are you just trying to make me whap you?"

He bent and tapped her on the nose. "Would I do such a thing, Blue?"

"Yes!" Dainty fists on her hips, she leaned back to pout up at him. "I'm gonna tell Tommy you were bullying me!"

"If I was bullying you..." He advanced towards her, his hands outstretched. "I would do this..."

"Andy!" The girl shrieked in surprise as she was swung off the ground and over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Pummeling his back as he started to walk along the street, she yelled in indignation. "Put me down!"

Pausing her to bring her back over his shoulder to his face level, he cocked his head. "You don't like having a free ride home?"

"Not when all I can see is your arse!" She coloured rapidly, one hand resting on his shoulder, the other clapped to her face in embarrassment. "Er...that came out wrong..."

"My arse came out?" Peering behind him, Andy couldn't help smiling at her giggle. "Want me to put you down?" She nodded, still a bright shade of pink. "Well, we'll have to make some kind of deal..."

"D-Deal?"

"Uh huh..." Pondering, he grinned. "Here's an idea. I put you down and you repay me by..."

"By?" She tilted her head uncertainly.

"Holding my hand?"

Visibly relieved, she nodded and he deposited her carefully on the pavement. Straightening her jacket, she adjusted her hat over her ears, then looked up at him, holding out one small, child-like hand.

Laying his own large hand palm to palm with hers, her tiny fingers interlaced between his and he couldn't hide a happy grin. "Now, which way do you want to go? The quick one passed the skips or the scenic route?"

"Where does this scenic route take us?" She was staring at their joined hands, as if she couldn't believe that she had actually taken his hand by choice.

Andy chuckled. "How about out over the river? We'd get to see that freaky great big wheely thing and the houses of Parliament and all kinds of well interesting cultural stuff...or so I've been told, at least."

"And the sewage and stuff in the water?"

He looked down at her, saw the mischievous glint in her blue eyes and couldn't help smiling slightly. "Well, we can always hope, can't we, you little romantic?"

"I try." She replied, smiling shyly up at him.

Returning the smile, he gave her small hand a squeeze, as they started to walk down the long road away from the cinema.

***

Ascending the long staircase, the two dancers came to a halt in front of the elaborate door of Tommy's flat, Blue one step further up the flight than Andy was. They were still holding each other's hands.

"Well...um...here we are..." Turning to him, she squeezed his hand and gave him a small smile, as if uncertain what action to proceed with. "I..." One hand went to her pocket, fumbling for her keys. "I had a good time."

Raising his free hand, he touched her cheek lightly. "I did too, shorty." He murmured, his mismatched eyes finding hers. Wetting her lips, she stared up at him. "But then, any time with you is...and God! I sound like I should be acting in a cheesy sit-com!" He gave her a lop-sided grin. "But it's true."

Unconsciously, the distance between them was reduced as he bent, his forehead softly brushing against hers.

"You sappy git." She whispered, rising on her toes to kiss him lightly on the cheek. There was a momentary pause as her hand slid over his shoulder, running through his loose hair. Then, she pulled him down to her height and brought their lips together.

Both of them shivered at the contact, his arms moving to her waist, pulling her closer. Her fingers wove through his dark mane, her body stretched to the limit. Sliding his arms under her rear, Andy felt her giggle against his lips when he lifted her off her feet to his level, their lips never separating.

A loud 'Ahem?' from behind them made their eyes pop open and they broke contact, both panting and pink-cheeked, but looking very pleased about it. Blue, still hoisted a foot off the ground in Andy's arms, looked around. Tommy raised a brow.

"Um...what?" The smallest of the triad inquired.

"Little sister, what have I told you about bringing strange men home with you?" She gave Blue a reproving look. The blue-haired girl tried to look contrite, but in her current position, she didn't look anything but ridiculous and happy.

Andy jiggled her. "What has she told you, shorty?"

"No men..." Resting her head against his shoulder, her arms still around his neck, she yawned softly. "Strange, attractive women...any time...clad in skimpy undies as a rule..." Her eyes were drifting closed, as she murmured. "S'not fair."

Tommy looked from the young woman to the man cradling her gently against his chest and whistled under her breath.

"Give her here, big guy." She held out her arms, making a 'give me' gesture with her fingertips. Andy looked bewildered. "It's past little sister's bed time and trust me when I say she wouldn't want you in her bedroom, let alone putting her to bed."

"But you can't carry her..."

"And why not? It's easier than waking her." Sliding one arm against the back of Blue's knees, her other around the girl's ribs, she grinned as Andy gently laid the sleeping Blue back carefully in her embrace. "Thanks, Andy." She said. "For a penis-endowee, you're not so bad."

He nodded absently, bending to touch his lips to Blue's brow. "Tell her I said goodnight, Tommy." He said softly.

"Will do." Tommy flashed a genuine smile at him, shifting Blue's head to rest against her shoulder. "I think she would say good night too...if she was conscious, that is." Pushing the door behind her open with her foot, she stepped across the thresh hold. "See you at work, mate."

Andy nodded. "You too." Tommy nudged the door shut with her foot and Andy spun around in a giddy circle and practically bounced his way down the stairs, a painfully wide grin on his face.

Inside the flat, the oriental-looking dancer easily carried her tiny friend to her own little bedroom and carefully deposited her on the vivid scarlet and blue bedclothes. Sitting on the edge of the younger girl's mattress, she removed the hefty boots and methodically stripped Blue's clothing off, folding it neatly.

"Hmm?" The girl stirred, snagging one of the pillows and hugging it under her head. "Tommy... m'I nekkid?"

"You are short stuff." Pulling an extra large CATS shirt out from beneath Blue's pillow, she steered the half-asleep Blue into a semi-sitting position and tugged the shirt easily over the girl's hand, smoothing it down her body.

Laid back down amid the duvet and pillows, Blus smacked her lips and inquired sleepily. "Did 'e go 'way?"

"Uh-huh?"

"Where'd 'e go?" Blue curled up into a ball on the duvet, oblivious to Tommy struggling to pull her arms through the sleeves of the t-shirt that served as a nightshirt.

"He went home, little sister." Tommy half-smiled, reaching over to brush a blue lock back from the girl's forehead. "Didn't want to see what your scrawny arse looked like, sans clothing. He said good night, though."

Blue yawned. "G'ni' back..." A moment later, one eye slitted open. "D'I kiss 'im?" Tommy nodded with another small smile. Blue smiled dopily, closing her eye again. "T'was nice...do it 'gain, soon..."

"A word of advice, little sister."

Blue's eye cracked open again. "Hmm?"

"Next time, use a ladder."

"Righto." Her eye closed again and she burrowed into the pillow. Tommy chuckled, rolling the younger girl under the blankets and tucking her in. Bending, she pressed a kiss to Blue's brow, smoothing the mussed blue mane.

"Sleep well, little sister." She murmured, tracing Blue's cheek fondly with her fingertips. Rising, she smiled once more down at the girl, then left the room, switching the light off and closing the door quietly behind her.

***

"Andy!" A voice hissed in his ear. A finger poked him sharply between two ribs. Grumbling, the dancer swatted at the offending hand, snuggling deeper into the mass of covers that were piled over him. "Andy!" The poke was repeated, hard enough to make him squeal. "There's some daft cow on the phone for you."

"Uh...?" Peering out hazily at the blurry face above, he squinted in the direction of his alarm clock. "Whu...what time?"

His stepbrother glared at him, scratching at his belly with one hand. "It's three thirty in the bloody morning." The phone was shoved into Andy's hand and he registered the sound of his door slamming as said stepbrother stormed out.

"'Lo?" Rubbing his eyes, he was mid-yawn when the voice rang in his ear and he jerked upright, suddenly wide-awake.

"Sorry to wake you, big guy."

"Blue?!?" She chuckled faintly. "No! Not a problem! I was awake...er...am awake, kinda." He pushed his hair back from his face. "So...uh...shorty, got a reason for waking me from my beauty sleep?"

He could visualise the cheeky grin that had become so familiar. "Just wanted to see how much worse you looked without it, Biggin." There was a long pause and he wondered if she had hung up. Then she sighed. "Andy..."

"Uh huh?"

"What we did at the front door..."

"The kiss?"

She exhaled another short breath. "Yeah...the kiss..."

"Was there something wrong?"

"No!" Her voice was quickly hushed, probably to avoid waking Tommy. "No...nothing was wrong. I...I just wanted to...to...to thank you, I s'pose." A wrinkle of puzzlement crossed his brow. "And..."

He waited for a moment. "And?"

"And why?"

"Why what? Why did I kiss you back?"

"Uh huh."

He scratched his jaw with a frown, staring up at the ceiling. "Um...because I wanted to?" She was silent. "Look, Blue, love, what's wrong? I really like you, you know, and I was hoping that maybe you liked me too. If the kiss felt wrong...if it was too soon or whatever...just tell me, okay?"

"It's not that." She sounded like she was on the verge of tears. "P-please Andy, bear with me...I've never done this before...I don't know how is meant to work..." He heard a muffled sniffle and felt a surge of guilt. "Wh-what I want to know is...are-are we a couple?"

His eyes widened. "That's what you were so worried about?"

"Andy, please...just tell me...I'm confused enough already."

"So you call me when I'm unconscious?" He teased, faltering off as he heard another stifled sniffle. "Blue, shorty...sorry. I'll behave." He rolled onto his side and reached over to switch the bedside lamp on. It lit up the group photo of him, her, Moni and Jonny at the Laser Questing. His fingers traced the outline of her face and he smiled. "We can be a couple if you want me. I know I'd be chuffed to bits." There was a long silence. "Um...shorty? Your move..."

There was a pause that was shattered by a giggle. That giggle became shriller and developed into a demented Etcetera-squeal. "Omigosh! I have a boyfriend! EEEEEEEEEh!!!" She was probably bouncing on her bed, Andy mused, fighting to hide a grin. "Really? You wanna be my boyfriend? Are you serious? If you're joking, Tommy'll pummel ya! You're not joking, are ya? You're my boyfriend? Honest? Totally absolutely positively? You like me like me? Not just like me? EEEEEEEh! This is so cool!"

"Calm down, shorty!" He laughed. "Yes, I like you like you. Didn't the dates and the letting myself be publicly humiliated by Jonny's transvestite boyfriend just so you felt comfortable drop a hint or two? Heck, even the kiss?"

"I'm a bit slow!" She giggled madly, then choked off. "Uh-oh! Tommy's comin'! See you tomorrow, Andy-who-is-my-boyfriend!" The phone clicked off and he sank back with a broad grin, his eyes drifting to the photo again.

Monique was swooning in his arms, Jonney hugging his leg and Blue hanging over his shoulder, grinning from ear to ear. Even though it was only a photograph, he could see the mischief and laughter in her blue eyes.

"Oh God…" He groaned, still grinning. "Little Miss Hyperactive is my girlfriend...I must have some kinda death wish..."

***

Running through the warm-ups the next day, Andy had been rather concerned to note a distinct absence of a blue-haired participant.

"Tommy...?"

"She'll be here, Andy." The dancer chuckled. "Don't worry so much."

Andy frowned. "But she missed warm-ups..." He started to say, but Tommy had disappeared, leaving him to go and get his make-up on. Norman was finally back, so he had been dragged in, in place of Tony, as Admetus, while Tony was on holiday.

"Why so concerned?" Jordan inquired, cocking his head to paint the white pattern up his cheek. With the pattern of a black tattoo decorating much of his face, it still impressed Andy that Jordan could actually hide it with white grease paint.

"I was kinda hoping to see shorty today." The centre of his face whited up, Andy snatched the reddish paint and dabbed it around the edged of his face. "We kinda had a date last night and it went well...I wanted to see her."

Jordan raised a pierced eyebrow, then seemed to realise that CATS didn't have eyebrow rings and hurriedly unfastened it, removing it. "Did Tommy say if she was off today?"

"She said she'd be in, but then she did that annoying disappearing act…" He paused to add his black nose carefully. "I know Blue's missed the warm-ups once or twice before, but she wasn't even in, in time to do her make up."

Beyond Jordan, Raymond peered around at Andy. "Hon, don't be so worried. She'll be in, as usual."

But the tiny dancer was nowhere to be seen as the cast gathered in the lounge area, waiting to go on. Straightening and re-straightening his warmers, Andy's brow wrinkled in a frown.

He was on his way over to Tommy, when the door swung inwards with a crash. A little form carrying something large and flat, wrapped in a black bin liner, tottered in, a bright red hat pulled down on her head.

"Hi guys!" Blue squealed happily, half-dragging the bundle that was almost the same height as her.

Andy gaped at her. "Blue? Why aren't you in costume?"

"No hurry, big guy!" She grinned, hurrying in his direction, the package she was dragging thumping against people's legs and feet as she passed. "Stand aside people! Midget with a thing coming through!"

Coming to a halt in front of him, she started to unwrap the shiny, black bin bag from the object she had been carrying. Suddenly feeling very suspicious, Andy started to back away from her.

"Ah-ah!" She wagged a finger at him. "Stay put!"

"What are you…" He trailed off as she unfolded a small step-ladder and set it up in front of him. There was a loud guffaw from Tommy and Blue's grin widened as she hopped up the steps until she was standing level with him. "This…uh…this looks kinda ridiculous, shorty."

She nodded. "I know." She said brightly, before pulling his face to hers, by his wig and kissing him.

Wolf-whistles and cheers abounded, as the startled Andy wrapped his arms around the tiny dancer's waist. Finally pulling away from him, Blue's grin was blinding as she mussed his wig.

"Your make-up's a mess." She noted.

"Your fault." He replied, still staring at her. "Why a ladder?"

Blue looked down at the structure she was standing on, then grinned over at Tommy. "I took a friend's advice." She replied, dropping another kiss on his lips. "I gotta go change…see you onstage?"

"Uh…"

With one last hug, she bounced down the ladder. "I'll take that as a yes." She grinned impishly and darted off.

Tommy approached and clapped him on the back. "Well done, Andy."

"A ladder?"

"You might want to tidy your make-up up…"

"You told her to use a frickin' ladder?"

"Well, yeah." Bombalurina winked at him. "Wasn't it cute? To think you're gonna have to probably deal with that every day…"

Andy muttered an insult at her under his breath, tottering off in the direction of the dressing rooms. "I hate you, Tommy!"

"You too, sweetie! You too…" Chuckling she started off in the direction of the dressing room that Blue had disappeared into. Things were certainly going to be interesting, she mused, shaking her head with a laugh.