Bombalurina stopped and glared at Etcetera who gave a look of pure innocence that seemed to insist that she didn't have any idea that they were going to be there. As Bombalurina was led over to the group she could almost swear she herd Etcetera let out a smirk of satisfaction.

"Hey Etcetera, Bombalurina. What are you two doing in my little corner of the junkyard." Jemima said as she greeted the two cats.

"Hey Jem, Tugger." Etcetera said as she smiled at the two of them. "I was just taking Bombalurina here, out for a little walk. She hasn't budged all day. What about you?"

"I was just heading home when Jemima came over and started talking to me…" Tugger said as Jemima quickly cut him off.

"We actually ran into each other and I asked him what was up and we just began to walk and talk as they say." The young queen said grinning at Bombalurina.

"Well that's what Etcetera and I are going to do now. Come on we have places to go." The red queen said trying to hurry the younger queen along.

"Yes of course we do." Etcetera said pulling the queen back towards the spot again. "The fishing pond area is really smelly this time of year. Lots of fish have been caught I presume, we better hurry up if we want to get there when there before the night animals get to them."

Bombalurina felt her fur begin to stand on end. "But I hate fish." Jemima's grin widened behind the older queens back.

"Oh what a shame. Etcetera and I love ever so much going down to that old fish yard. I on the other hand love fish. We can still go if you want." Jemima told Etcetera who quickly agreed.

"But what about Bombalurina here? You don't mind do you?" Before given a chance to answer Jemima butted into the conversation again, making the red queens mind up for her.

"Oh don't worry its just a place of old dried up fish carcases anyway…We will only be gone for a few hours." And we wont come back. "I'm sure Tugger and you can entertain yourselves perfectly well without us."

"What- NO! I'm fine I can go with you if you want I like fish!" Bombalurina yelled after the two cats as they walked away, completely unaware to the eight sets of eyes watching her and the maned tom.

"So you honestly think this is going to work?" Munkustrap asked as he crouched beside Mistoffelees and Demeter who were currently hiding behind an old run down dumpster across from Tristram and Pouncival spying on the two gregarious cats. Demeter smiled at her mate as she watched Tugger desperately try to figure out something to say to her sister.

"It will have to, or he's lost her." Mistoffelees smiled to himself as he seen Tristram's head peaked over a old bicycle tyre with a cloth draped over it.

"So Misto what's the plan?" Munkustrap asked as he watched impatiently as Tugger scratched his head as he continued to try and talk to his queen in law.

"Well I was just thinking that we follow them around and any times it seems like we could interfere…From a distance mind you, we would?"

"Sounds like my type of idea. So in other words we have no plan, no clue what we're doing and just wining it?"

"Pretty much."

"Well then let me be the first to say lets get started." Munkustrap said as they readied their positions.

"So…" Tugger said as he awkwardly fiddled with his mane not attempting to avoid eye contact with the queen. Bombalurina looked around nervously. He loves you. Your afraid. Bombalurina shook her head to try and get those words from repeating again. Why did Demeter and Jemima have to have that conversation with her? What had she done to deserve it? Everything was so awkward now, so different and yet there was something there that she couldn't put her finger on. Something that despite what had happened between the two of them had always seemed to remain. She had experienced it at that club a few nights ago and that Christmas, ever since she had come back and it terrified her.

"Bomb? You want to go for a walk?" Tugger asked as he watched with a hint of amusement as she was brought out of her thoughts in time to realize that he was staring at her.

"Ya- sure." She answered little shakily, still on her guard as the two walked away.

"Come on looks like there headed toward the lake." Demeter said as she slid out of her hiding spot closely followed by the four toms.

As Bombalurina walked through the open field trailing Tugger she noticed something different about him, something that shed never realized before.

"Bomba? Bombalurina? Are you o.k.?" Tugger asked as he noticed her spacing out again.

"Fine, why do you ask?" She said snapping back to reality refusing to let any of her previous thoughts come out. Tugger looked at her with an almost mocking grin.

"No reason." He said as he waited for her to catch up with him grinning broadly. "I was just wondering."

"Oh."

Bombalurina chanced a glance at Tugger who seemed to be actingquite unusual for some reason.

What did Misto say to do again when I'm with her? Tell her- well that's out of the question. Talk to her! There we go! Complement her?

"Nice night isn't it?" Bombalurina nodded in response as they reached the area that had a breathtaking view of the water.

"Its beautiful. Probably the nicest I've ever seen it." She said as she looked across the water that was lit by the billions of stars that were shinning down on it. "The sky is really gorgeous tonight."

Tugger inhaled a breath. Complement her? Complementing her.

"Ya it is, just like you." Bombalurina stiffened. What did he just say! She turned to look at him not making any attempt to keep the shock from showing on her face. Tugger took a step forward.

"The Jellicle ball is three weeks away, do you think your ready for it?" He smiled at her challengingly.

"I'll have you know that I've been practising and I was born ready."

"If you say so…But you know things change…"

"For you maybe but I've still got a pretty good chance of things looking my way."

"I'm always going to look your way."

"What!" Tugger took another step toward her.

Mistoffelees hid behind a tree with Munkustrap and Demeter as Jemima and Etcetera came to get Tristram and Pouncival.

"Well Tugger defiantly isn't holding anything in tonight." Demeter said as she sat down beside the two toms as the light breeze ruffled through her fur.

"Now all we have to do is set the mood." The conjuror grinned as Munkustrap looked at him confused.

"And how are we suppose to do that?"

"Watch and learn my friends watch and learn."

Feeling her face grow hot Bombalurina quickly turned away from the tom trying to change the topic but to no avail. What was happening to her? Why couldn't she bring herself to look him in the eyes anymore? She couldn't even keep a straight face whenever he was within two meters of her.

"Tristram seems to really enjoy the bagpipes, I showed him mine the other day and he insists on me teaching him." Bombalurina let out a smile. It was just like Tugger to teach another cat howto do something like that.

"Well I'm sure you could do that in no time. Your really great with him Tugger he loves you a lot. You really are a good father."

"Thanks but I'm no better then you. Your probably one of the best mothers this tribe has ever seen. I mean how many would have gone through what you've been through for a kitten? Your really awesome yourself Bombalurina." Tugger said as he took another step towards her so that they were only inches apart. Surprisingly she didn't move away like he had thought she would., like she had thought she would.

"Well at least he's trying to be polite." Munkustrap said to Demeter who quickly hushed him.

"Well how many toms would take in a stray queen and a kit that he barely knew?" Bombalurina smiled at the Maine Coon looking into his blue eyes. Those eyes… Feeling something inside of her begin to stir she quickly got out of her trance turning away from the tom and his charms.

"Bom I-" Tugger couldn't finish as he found himself staring into her eyes again as she turned to look at him and not being able to look away. Feeling her heat begin to pick up Bombalurina tried her best to focus on something else.

"Yes?"

"I-" He couldn't finish. He was tongue tied not able to speak another word to the queen and not wanting to either. Who did Mistoffelees and Demeter AND Munkustrap think they were anyway? Saying that he'd have to admit and tell her how he felt to get her back. No. He wouldn't do it, he could win her over without admitting anything and he would.

"I guess I just wanted to say that-"

"AHHHH!" Before Tugger could get another word out Bombalurina lunged at him burring her face in his mane letting out a scream as a large bang was herd in the night sky.

"Whattt-tthhee-" The red queen shrieked as she covered her ears with her hands still shaking violently.

"Misto that was mean!" Demeter hissed at the magician who gave a sheepish grin.

"Oh come on Dem its not like they're getting anywhere with the way he was getting on."

" IT DIDN'T MEAN YOU HAD TO SCARE HER! Bomba hates loud noises they've always scared her!"

"All the more reason for Tugger to be there to comfort her." Munkustrap added.

"Hey its o.k. It was probably some human letting off a firework." Tugger said has he held the trembling queen in his hands.

"Ya…Your um probably right." Bombalurina said prying herself from him awkwardly.

"Now we set the mood." Mistoffelees said as he blew over his hand realising a bunch of glittering gold embers into the air that made there way over to the two cats.

"Come on I want to show you something." Tugger said as he grabbed the queens hand pulling her across the field. As they both began to run through the fields Bombalurina found herself letting out full sounds of laughter something that she'd missed dramatically. Smiling wickedly she let him run ahead of her and grabbed his tail yanking it hard getting loud yelp out of the tom.

"YOUR GOING TO REGRET THAT!" Tugger said as he lunged after the crimson queen who had began to charge off in the opposite direction. As the starlight shone down on the two cats Demeter motioned for the two toms to follow her back to the Junkyard deciding that they had done enough and that it was up to Tugger and Bombalurina to do the rest.

"GOTTCHA!" Tugger said as he lunged at the red queen forcing both to fall down. He let out a muffled laugh as he looked brushed the fur out of his eyes and looked down at her. Radiant. He froze unable to do anything more. What was she staring at? It almost looked…Seductive? Bombalurina felt her heart beats grow faster but she didn't care. She felt his eyes travelling down her body but she didn't want him to look away. Snap out of it Bomba! Her head was telling her, warning her again. But what her head and her heart was telling her seemed to be two completely different things.

"Bombalurina I-" Before he even tried to finish his sentence Tugger presses his lips against hers. Push him off! Push him off! But she couldn't. She didn't want to. Before she knew what was happening her arms were wrapped around the toms neck as his arms wrapped around her waste. Bliss. And it felt good.

Hours later.

"For I only like what I find for myself- NO!" Bombalurina shot up from her position horrified. She had seen it again the ball where Tugger had shoved her to the floor in rejection. He only wanted to hurt her, didn't love her- he would of told her if he did. And now look at her! Bast what did I do! Her eyes widened in horrification as she noticed Tugger sleeping peacefully beside her, arms wrapped around her waste holding her safely. What did I do? I- I slept with him! He seduced me again… Not able to handle what had just happened Bombalurina unwrapped herself from his arms and headed away. She didn't care about what Demeter and Jemima or the rest of the tribe thought. He had used her again and this time she wasn't about to stick around and wait for it to blow up in her face. She had been happy. She had been in love. He took that from her- she couldn't stay. As tears ran down her cheeks Bombalurina snuck into Jemima's den and grabbed the sleeping kitten. They weren't staying, they couldn't , she wouldn't allow it! Without another thought Bombalurina and her son fled the junkyard.