"Bomba we're never going to find him!" Etcetera said to the red queen as they ran through the never ending streets. It seemed when they got to where they thought the young tom would be, there would be another curve in the road or a dead end. The cobblestones seemed to be unending and the streetlamps didn't help much either. "This is impossible!"

"Etcetera what did I say about negative thinking?"

"What?"

"Don't do it."

As the two queens ran around another corner Bombalurina caught hold of an all to familiar scent.

"Stop Etcetera!" She said grabbing the queen by the tail and holding her close, putting a hand over her mouth to silence any remark of objection. Crouching down she pointed to a sleeping pup lying in a corner outside someone's house.

"What are we going to do?" Etcetera asked as she loosened the queens hold on her. "What if Pounce came this way? He could be killed!" She said starting to panic, only to get another hand drawn across her mouth.

"We're going to get killed if you don't keep quite! Now hush up and follow me." Bombalurina whispered into the queens ear as she led the way. As they crept quietly past the dog another scent reached the red queens nose. "Etcetera, we are going to have to run this one o.k.? On the count of three run as fast as you can and try and make it onto the wall over there." The little queen nodded in response as she crouched down waiting.

"One, two, THREE!" Without hesitation the two cats darted across the pavement as fast as they could over onto the top of a brick wall.

"Well you almost had me worried there. I actually thought that the dog might wake up." Etcetera said arching an eyebrow as Bombalurina grinned in response.

"Ya so did I." As they made their way down the wall the scent that Bombalurina had smelled earlier became stronger. "Etcy you smell that?" Etcetera's eyes widened in realization as a grin spread over her face.

"Pouncival!" Bombalurina smiled down at the queen.

"Now all we have to do is follow the scent and everything should be o.k." She said as Etcetera's steps began to get more urgent. He had said he loved her, actually loved her and she was certain that she loved him, now all she needed to do was tell him.

"Exited?" Bombalurina asked interrupting her thoughts. Letting out a girlish chuckle she nodded her head yes.

"Bomba, what if he doesn't come home? What if he doesn't want to stay with me?"

"Etcetera he'd be a fool not to." The young queen smiled again as she looked out over her surroundings. The smell was stronger here, Pouncival was close.

'He's around here, I know he is." Etcetera said tilting her head to smell the air.

"You know, after this you two will be considered life mates."

"I know and I cant wait! I never thought that well, you know, well Pouncival and me would…" Bombalurina smiled in understanding. "End up together…Fall in love?"

Etcetera nodded smiling. "Ya. I thought that once Tugger refused me that it was the end of the world as I knew it, but it wasn't. It took some time but I finally realized that what I felt toward him wasn't love and that in the long run, if I did end up with him his heart would never be with me."

"Tugger's never been one for commitment." Bombalurina said smiling, only to get a smirk out of the younger queen.

"Only when it comes to queens that he doesn't like. But when he actually cares for a queen he's quite a charming tom." Etcetera said raising an eyebrow once again. "And I suspect that you should know all about that, don't you?"

Bombalurina looked down at the ground suddenly getting that feeling that she had experienced at the club back again. Etcetera was just about to say something else when her eyes caught site of something down the lane. "POUNCE!" She screamed as she ran toward the tom closely followed by Bombalurina.

The young tom looked up as he heard his name called. At first his expression was that of one shocked cat when he seen who it was but his face soon changed.

"What in the Heavyside are you doing here?" He hissed at Etcetera when she got to close.

"I…I…Came to get you to come back home." She said, her voice beginning to tremble again.

"Why? You got what you wanted."

"But Pounce its NOT what I wanted!"

"Oh for crying out loud Etcetera your beginning to sound just like Tugger! So now that you cant have something you want it right? You know what I think me leaving is a good thing, it might actually teach you something." Pouncival spat again as he seen tears well up in the little queens eyes.

"But Pounce…" Etcetera stammered. She never was good at keeping her feelings bottled up when it came to love. "I…I…"

"Look I don't want to hear it! You got your chance to hear what really happened but you wouldn't listen!"

Bombalurina took a step forward toward the tom.

"Pouncival, Etcetera realizes what happened didn't mean anything. She was just hurt and upset as I imagine you would be if you seen her kissing another tom." She said laying a hand on his shoulder, just to get a snort out of him. "Pouncival listen to me. You both made some mistakes and said things you didn't mean but when it comes down to it you still love her. Am I right?"

Pouncival looked down embarrassed. She was right, as usual. Bombalurina motioned for Etcetera to come forward.

"Before you left, you, you said that you loved me." She took a breath. "Is it true? Because I never meant to chase you out and if what you said is true I really would like you to come back home…With me."

Pouncival's ears perked up as he looked over at the queen. Taking a deep breath he turned around to look her in the eyes.

"Ya its true, I love you." A smile crept across Etcetera's face. Pouncival's eyes widened in shock as he was caught of guard in a hug by the little queen.

"I love you too Pounce." She said as she nuzzled his neck. "And I would really like nothing better then for you to come back home and become my mate."

"Become your… What?" Pouncival said as the words sunk in. "Its not going to be easy." He said changing his tone, smiling coyly at her.

"Then we're just going to have to make it work aren't we then?" Etcetera said in the same manner, playing along with the little facade.

"Good!" He said catching her off guard as he wrapped his arms around her waste and spun her around. Bombalurina found herself smiling as Etcetera's laughter filled the air.


"There they are!" Electra shouted as she spotted Bombalurina coming in the front gate followed by Etcetera and Pouncival who were holding hands and smiling broadly. As the cats rushed over to the newly mated couple Bombalurina made her way off unnoticed.

What was the matter with her lately? Why couldn't she just be happy for the new couple and stay to wish them well? It couldn't be the fact that she was still alone without a mate, could it? The red queen was brought out of her thoughts by a smug voice coming from behind her.

"What you doing all the way over here alone? I would of thought that you'd be over with everyone else celebrating Etcetera and Pounces matrimony." Tugger asked as he sat down beside the scarlet queen.

"I just needed to think a while. Why?"

"No reason I just thought that you'd want to be over there since you're the one who practically got them together." This comment caused Bombalurina to let out a chuckle.

"No that was them, I just brought them together, it was them who took the steps in making it happen, I just sort of watched." Tugger smiled. She always was a little matchmaker whether or not she would admit to it.

"Its weird when you think about it."

"What is?" Bombalurina asked the maned tom. He had asked her why she was up there but hadn't given her a reason to why he was. As best as she tried to push the conversation with Jenny and Jelly she had out of her head the more the thoughts kept echoing in her mind. As she watched the tom now, it couldn't be true! He had almost this kittenish likeway about him. Not a killer. Never a killer. It was a stupid accident nothing more.

Then again, if everyone had known, if he had known about Griddlebone's death why hadn't anyone come after her? Didn't anyone care enough about her to let her know that she could of came home? As much as she tried to process what she had been told one thought kept replaying in her mind. He loves you! Jennyanydots and Jellylorum had told her and had also saidthat everyone except herself knew that Tugger was in love with her just didn't know how to say it. Liars. All of them! He didn't care for her, Tugger didn't care about anyone, well except for Tristram, she told herself. But those eyes, those memorizing blue eyes seemed to prove otherwise…

"Bomb? Did you hear me?" Tugger asked as he waved a hand in front of the queens face who swatted it away when she came back to reality. "I said the Etcetera/Pouncival thing."

"Oh,- wait what about it?" Bombalurina asked still coming out of her daze. Tugger smiled amused, it wasn't usually like her to space out like that.

"Its odd. I mean, Etcetera was my number one fan and Pouncival was yours, if you catch my drift."

Bombalurina smiled nervously. "Ya weird that they'd end up together." She said still barely out of her daze. Snap out of it Bomba! Toms don't hold power over you! You hold it over them! You don't care about any tom, so stop acting so paranoid. The red queen shook her head trying to get back to normal as Tugger let out a smirk.

"What?"

"Nothing." He said grinning even broader.

"Tugger…"

"I was just thinking of the time when Demeter and you first came to the tribe. Your sister would always stare into space for no apparent reason and you, me and Misto would always have to try and see what was going on with her."

Bombalurina arched an eyebrow. He remembered that?

"SO…" Tugger said breaking the awkward silence that had come between the two. "Nice night isn't it?"

"Yes the stars are beautiful, they are all so bright." Bombalurina said sifting her gaze to the sky. Feeling Tugger's eyes still on her, she looked at him hoping that he'd look away, something that he normally did when she found him staring at her, but not this time.

What was it that Mistoffelees had told him to do? Ahh this wasn't getting anywhere.

"Tugger are you o.k.?" He let a smile cross his lips. Bombalurina felt her heart begin to race again.

Heavyside what was the matter with her? Standing up Tugger offered her his hand, which earned him a look of confusion.

"You want to dance?" This caused Bombalurina to look at him even more baffled. Is he crazy?

"What? Tugger are you feeling o.k.?"

"I feel fine, why do you ask?" He answered still holding out his hand.

"Well uh-"

"You said you don't know how to dance anymore am I right?" She nodded. "Well then you might as well learn."

"Oh."

" Scared Bomba?" Tugger said with a mocking grin that always got her frazzled. Bombalurina never refused a challenge and he knew it. Flattening her ears a bit she stubbornly accepted. He always managed to do something that made her do whatever he had wanted her to do.

Smiling wickedly down at her he spun her out and then brought her back into him putting his arms around her waste, causing her to bite her lip. Bombalurina turned around to look at the tom suspiciously.

"What?" He asked with a kitten like innocence, still smiling.

"I'm begging to think you asked me to dance just to dance with me, rather then teach me anything." Bombalurina said smirking, trying to study his facial expressions.

"Would that be so wrong if I did?" This statement caused the queen to freeze. What did he just say?

"Aw what's the matter Bomb? Cat got your tongue?"

"What- TUGGER!" Bombalurina laughed as she slapped him playfully on the shoulder. "Your terrible!"

"Only the best babe." He said as he began to circle her slyly. " I doonly have your best interest at heart."

"Is that so?"

"Of course, of course I do! I mean, what would you do at the Jellicle ball when the toms begin to swarm over you?"

"Well Tugger thanks so much for you concern, your soooo sincere." Bombalurina said sarcastically as Tugger took a step toward her.

"Well you cant blame me for trying to protect you now can you? I mean you know how you get on at Jellicle balls Bom."

"Ya almost as bad as you."

"Ouch Bomba that hurt! I'm only looking out for you I mean you had no right to do that- personally I'm appalled." He said clasping his hand over his heart, receiving a pitying look from the red queen.

"Tristram even acts more mature then you, hard to believe your related." Tugger let a playful growl escape his mouth as he bolted toward the queen who screamed in response.

"Hey- Tugger give it back! Tugger come back here!" Bombalurina yelled as Tugger ran off across the top of the piles of junk with her collar. I'll teach you a thing or two. She thought as she raced after him.

Tugger smiled to himself as he looked down at the collar. Bombalurina was so far no where in site. Hearing a rustle of trash from behind him, he tried his best to try and ignore it. Bombalurina deserved to sneak up on him, besides he had always been a better hunter then her anyway.

"GOTTCHA!" Bombalurina said as she dove out from behind a box and grabbed the tom around his neck. Without realizing what was happening Tugger lost his balance and fell, pulling Bombalurina down with him. The trash that the two landed on proved not to be strong enough to hold them and gave way forcing the two cats to tumble down the pile.

"Ow!" Tugger yelled as he landed with a thud at the bottom of the hill Bombalurina on top of him. "Well that was fun." He remarked sarcastically to Bombalurina who was looking down at him trying not to laugh but failing miserably. Not able to hold it in anymoreshe burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?" Tugger asked not understanding as Bombalurina rolled off of him still laughing.

"That was about the most stupidest thing I have ever done but also about the most fun! Ha! And did you see the look on your face? HAHA now who's the scaredy cat!" Bombalurina remarked as she turned over to look at the tom who found himself grinning along with her.

"Oh fine you win! Here's your collar and just to let you know I wasn't scared." Tugger said puffing out his mane.

"Sure you weren't." Bombalurina said taking her collar from him trying to get it on.

"Here I'll help you." Tugger said taking the collar again and fastening it around her neck, causing her to shiver. This reminded her all to much of Christmas time. Noticing the queens sudden change in attitude Tugger attempted to change the subject.

"Demeter has been giving you dance lessons right? I mean for the Gumbie cat dance right?"

"Ya she has. I swear that cat has more energy then I'll ever have and she's having a kitten!" Bombalurina answered smiling. It felt weird being with him alone again but it didn't drive her away, if anything it felt like she was being drawn to him more then ever and it was beginning to scare her.

"Tugger?"

"Ya?"

"Have the dances changed at all… Um I mean will I still have a part in the ball?"

"Of course you will! What are you talking about, no one could replace your spots in the ball and so far no one has tried."

"Really?" Bombalurina asked a little nervous. It had been so long since she had last been to a Jellicle ball, she wasn't sure if she could still pull it all off.

"They haven't done the Macavity dance ever since you left and the songs didn't seem the same anymore, to me anyway." Bombalurina smiled, even though he could be extremely cocky and a show off at times he was always a sweetheart deep down.

"And besides now that your back the balls probably going to be better then ever , especially the mating dance." He said cheekily. "Like I said all those toms will be swarming you."

"TUGGER! You…You BEAST!" She said swatting him with her hand again getting a muffled laugh out of the tom.

" Its curious beast and don't you forget it. Not that you ever could."

"Its always about the mating dance isn't it? I swear you toms are all…"

"Consumed by it? Well come on Bomba who could blame them? I mean you do start it."

"Why you little flirt!"

"Glad you noticed but seriously I meant what I said." Tugger said suddenly turning very serious. Bombalurina looked away desperately trying to think of someway to change the topic, feeling her heart beating against her chest. "Tugger I don't know what your talking about…"

"Bomb what I'm saying is that its been a long time and well, we've both done things that we regret and didn't mean. And its changed our relationship a lot…"

"Tugger I'm sorry I don't get what you mean." Bombalurina said panic in her voice as she desperately now was looking for somewhere else to be or something else to talk about.

"Bombalurina what I'm trying to say is that." Tugger turned her face to his and found himself gazing into her eyes once again. He could sense the tension in the air but ignored it. Bombalurina's heart had began to race but she couldn't take her eyes away from his. Hypnotizing.

"Tugger I…" Before she could let out a full sentence Tugger's face was moving closers to hers. A crash from above them caused both to look up.

"Watch out!" Tugger said lunging at the red queen, moving her out of the way as a large piece of landed in front of them. What the heck? That was just to typical.

"Are you o.k.?" Tugger asked Bombalurina who's eyes were still widening.

"Ya… I think so."

"Come on lets go back."