Tristram looked around him startled. They were back again and he didn't like it. What was his mother so afraid of anyway? Didn't she know that this place wasn't suitable to live in? He hated it, he was happy in the junkyard, he was loved. Getting up from his position in the old room that him and Bombalurina shared he went out in search from the red queen.
Bombalurina flinched as she glared down at the collar she had been staring at for hours, Tugger had given it to her as a gift, was it really right to throw it out? Its not like she had asked for it or anything. A loud purr caused the queen to look up.
"So honey you came back? What brought that up?" Malinxa said creeping out from a shadowed corner. The red queen looked down, not wanting to talk about it. "Bombalurina, no one comes back here without a reason and judging by the place you've been living in, yours sweetie otta be a real good one." Seeing that the queen wasn't going to answer her question any time soon she sat down beside her waiting for the other two queens to join them and talk things over with the scarlet queen.
Bombalurina looked up from her position as she noticed Marlenea and Scarlet approach her with sad smiles on their faces. Sitting down in front of the queen Marlenea was the first one to speak.
"What brings a pretty thing like you after living in a place like that, back to this dump?" Bombalurina snorted.
"Bomby dear, I think out of all the queens who 'ave actually gotten out of this place your about the only one that's ever came back." The calico continued in her half gone Scottish accent while she took the collar from the queens hand. "Looks like you got on really well over there." She said examining the pendant that seemed to glow in the early morning light. "He gave this to you didn't he?"
Bombalurina nodded, it surprised her how well Marlenea could pick up on the story even without being there to witness it. "What brought you back?"
"I couldn't stay. Marl I just couldn't! He used me!" Scarlet arched an eyebrow.
"And how did he do 'at?"
"He, he seduced me again! It was an accident I didn't mean for it to happen! He was just so different! He's been so different since I got back! I thought he wanted to be a father to Tristram- he was really great at it! But if I stayed I know it wouldn't work out! He used me! And he would only end up leaving me! An-"
"How do ya know he used ya?" Scarlet asked not impressed by the queens story. "How do ya know he doesn't actually care about ya? Bombalurina he might-"
"I DON'T CARE! He wasn't there before! He always turned me down! He would just end up doing it again! And - And if he DID care about me, don't you think he would of at least told me?"
"Might you think for one second that he was scared?" Marlenea asked jumping into the conversation.
"No I don't."
"How would you know! You don't know anything! And your to blind to see what's right in front of you! And if you do know then your just to stubborn to admit it!" Tristram yelled at his mother with force no one had ever known the kitten to have. Bombalurina's eyes widened.
"Tristram don't you ever speak to me that way again, I'm your mother I know what's best for you! Even though you may not realize it now- coming back home here was right!"
"This place isn't my home mom! The junkyard is! And aunty Demeter and Uncle Munkustrap AND dad are my family! And there yours too! Whether or not you'll admit it, you belong there and you know you do!" Tristram had been quite offended by his mothers lack in thought about how he might feel about this. She was stubborn- too much for his or anyone's liking. It had to be stopped, she needed to know.
"Tristram listen to me-"
"No you listen to me! All my life I've done what I'm told and I'm sick of it! I may be young but at least I know what's right!" Bombalurina let a hiss escape her mouth. How dare this little imp of a cat tell her what she would do. He was her son! And he was not the ruler of her.
"Now you listen to me. I knew going back there was a bad idea! Now look you've picked up on the Tugger's attitude!"
"Don't call him that! He's not THE Tugger, he's Tugger. THE Tugger is a title not the cat and coming from you its an insult. Its Tugger just Tugger. And I love him and I know you do too." The kittens eyes filled with tears as he watched his mother turn her back on him. Refusing to let anyone see him cry he walked away.
"Well well well. Look who's actually decided to come back. What's the matter Tristram the top quality life not good enough for you?" A teenage black cat with green eyes said as he walked toward the kitten with the other tom kits behind him. "You know you made a real bad choice coming back here. You do know that you're a murderer don't you? And us alley cats don't take much joy to learning that you killed one of us!" Tristram shook his head backing away from the approaching toms.
"I, I, don't know what your talking about."
"Oh think back reallllly hard Trist. I'm sure you remember. Something to do with a dog in the alley way- the day you and your sultry mother left for the "junkyard society". We don't like being reminded that a little goodie two shoes got that after he so terribly committed a crime. We don't take that lightly!" He said slamming the struggling kitten against the wall.
"Please Arrow stop it! I didn't mean it! There was a dog! And it got him!"
"YOU LEFT HIM IN AN ALLEY WAY TO DIE! You turned your back on us and let him be the sacrifice! You didn't care! You killed my brother!"
"Clay told me that it was a cool place I didn't think that-"
"That's a lie I'm going to teach you a thing or two my boy!" He said forcing his hands around the kittens throat. "Your paying Tristram! And as you know our rules are simple." Arrow said as he closed the distance between the two so that there noses were almost touching. "A life, for a life."
"Misto! Have you seen Bom?" Tugger asked as he approached the tom concerned. Bombalurina hadn't been there when he woke up this morning and he hadn't seen Tristram anywhere, nor had any of the other cats.
"Sorry Tug, cant say that I have. So how did last night go?" Mistoffelees asked the tom smiling suggestively. Tugger smiled embarrassed.
"Lets just say, my goal was met." The conjurer smiled and through his arms around the tom laughing.
"Congratulations Tugger, you deserved it. You actually have a family now." The Maine Coon was about to respond when a panic stricken voice interrupted them.
"Tugger what exactly happened last night?" Demeter shrieked at the tom as a worried Munkustrap followed at her heals.
"Well we talked. Flirted. I kissed her. She kissed me. After about an hour of that she fell asleep and I carried her back to the den and curled up around her…"
"You mean you didn't sleep with her?"
"NO! What? Why? Does she think I did!"
"She's left the tribe with Tristram! She thinks you used her- again!" Demeter said shaking her head in disbelief. "You didn't tell her did you? After all this time you didn't even mention it! DID YOU?"
Tugger's face turned pale.
"Tugger how could you? You drove her out!" Demeter yelled tears begging to form in her eyes once again.
"Wait how do you know that she left? How do you know that she thinks I used her!" He hissed back at the queen. Demeter sighed and took out a note that was carved into a piece of wood and left in Jemima's den. Taking the plank Tugger read the words that had been engraved into it.
Demeter, Jemima and rest of tribe.
I'm sorry I cant stay, its to hard now. I thought it would be easy! I thought that I could of done everything and acted like nothing was the matter and that nothing hurt anymore! I cant handle it anymore! He used me again, all those times you've said Tugger cared has been a lie- I know it has. He would of told me if he actually cared. I'm leaving Dem. And I'm sorry.
Bom.
Tugger's eyes stayed fixed on the carved letters, he remembered the day that Jellylorum had taught them all to right and read, she had been listening to her humans education videos that were to help their daughter and had thought that the kittens should learn it. She left. She actually left again. Demeter looked at the tom concerned, seeing how hurt he had been.
"Tugger, she may not come back." Shaking his head in disagreement he backed away from the group.
"She's coming back, I'm making her!"
'Tugger where are you going!" Munkustrap shouted after the tom.
'Where do you think! I've lost both of them once I don't plan to lose them again." With that said the tom ran out of the junkyard.
"That was a bit harsh Bombalurina, don't you think that he's been through enough. Tristram's right! You deserve better then this! Both of you! And your one of the lucky ones who's actually gotten that chance! You have a home and a family and someone that loves you!"
"He doesn't love me Marlenea!"
"How do you know that!" The queen spat back.
'I just know o.k."
"No Bombalurina you know nothing." Sighing to herself the calico and the other two queens walked away from the brooding cat. He left me. Used me. I cant go with him. He cant care. I'm a strong queen I don't need a tom to support me and don't plan on having one. I can have anyone I want, who says I want him?
Turning her attention back to the collar, she felt her eyes welling up with tears again.
Tugger looked around horrified at his surroundings. What kind of a animal never mind cat lives in a place like this? Not even Macavity's lair had been like this. Why would Bombalurina ever think of returning? He mentally slapped himself. Everything Mistoffelees, Demeter and Munkustrap had told him about just telling her had been true. He should of told her. Told her he loved her with all his heart and had never stopped. Told her that he wanted her as a mate and wanted to raise Tristram with her. The tom looked around desperately for any clue to the red queens location when he noticed a tiny crack in the side of an old isolated building that he guessed was used for a door. Cautiously entering and surveying the new surroundings he realized exactly where he was. The tavern.
"I honestly don't know what where going to do with her. Why would she ever come back to a dump like this! She knows deep in her heart that he loves her! And even I know that she loves him! We should of told her about him coming hear a few months after she had left!" Marlenea snapped at the two younger queens who were seated beside her.
"We know kit we knows all about it." Malinxa said placing a hand on the queens fluffy shoulder. Rising from her position she looked down at the other two queens and sighed as she walked away.
"Looks like I'm not getting anywhere so I might as well see if I can 'ave any customers. Might as well make a little extra."
Tugger held his breath barely able to stand the stench of the place never mind the sight of it. How can anyone lower themselves to such standards of selling themselves for food? There was easier ways, wasn't there? Tugger jumped startled as he felt another body rub up against his.
"Hey there handsome. We don't get the likes of a tom like you in these places to often." The husky voice purred as the queen smiled seductively up at him. "If you want I could show you how much I appreciate your presence in this place…" Tugger was just about to give a rude remark to the queen when another sound and sight interrupted them.
"Tristram-"Tugger said rushing away from the queen responding to his sons pleas for help. Seeing Tristram lying on the floor bleeding badly while an older tom was on top of him struggling to hurt him more caused the maned tom to lose it. Lunging toward the black tom Tugger dug his nails into his sides and yanked him of his son.
"If you ever lay one hand on my son again." The tom said as he stepped in front of the terrified kitten facing the green eyed one. Without hesitation the younger tom quickly got the message and left not wanting to risk his life to defend his reputation.
"Dad?" Tristram struggled to say as Tugger knelt over his body lifting him in his arms.
"Shhh, Its o.k. your safe now."
"You came after us…"
"Of course I did! Your coming home with me for good." Tugger said as he walked toward the entrance by passing the queen that had came onto him. Marlenea let out a gasp of disbelief when she realized who it was. As she watched the tom carry his son away to safety she quickly went back to tell Malinxa and Scarlet.
As Tugger made his way back into the junkyard he was met by a group of cats who quickly rushed toward him when they seen the condition of his kitten.
"Tugger what happened?" Demeter yelled as she took the kitten from him, immediately begging to clean his wounds.
"I don't know, some green eyed freak was fighting him!" Munkustrap looked at his brother shocked.
"What about Bombalurina?"
"I'm going back to get her. I'm not losing her Munkustrap I've fought to hard to get her to lose her at this point!" Tugger said as he stroked his sons for head who gave a tiny whimper.
"Then you better do it fast, Tugger she isn't going to wait, not anymore." Demeter said as she looked at the tom concerned for him.
"I should of told her you were right all along. I was stupid not to listen and now I'm paying for it."
"Tugger go to her- tell her and bring her home." Demeter said as she put Tristram in the care of the other cats turning to her tom in law. Tugger gave a smile to the queen and headed out of the entrance again.
"Good luck." The golden queen whispered as he left.
"Where's Tristram?" Bombalurina hissed as she ran into the three vixens. She had heard about the fight, news travels fast, especially when it wasn't good. " Answer me damn it!"
The queens looked up at her with fearful eyes, the red queen wasn't going to be happy, no not happy at all.
"He's back at the junkyard." Scarlet finally spoke up.
"What! How!" Bombalurina shrieked at the three queens horrified.
"Tugger came back. He stopped the fight, he would of killed Arrow if it weren't for Tristram's condition!"
"Tristram's condition?"
"He was badly beat up! Tugger saved his life! He came back to get Tristram and you! To bring you two back home!" Bombalurina backed away horrified. It wasn't true. It couldn't be.
Walking out into the back area behind the tavern the red queen sat on top of a old drain pipe trying to process everything. Why had she yelled at him? Why had she chased him away? She owed her sons life to Tugger, Tristram was right he didn't belong here.
"Tristram why on earth did you go!"
"He went back home, where you should be too." A chillingly familiar voice said that caused the queen to freeze.
"What are you doing here Tugger?" She hissed threateningly at the tom, not welcoming his presence at all.
"What do you think? Bring you back home where you belong." He said taking a step toward her, forcing her to back up.
" I am home where I belong maybe its time you got back to yours." Tugger's facial expression changed at the last remark. Trying to keep his voice from trembling he came closer to the queen trying to read her thoughts.
"Bom- why? Why'd you leave? Didn't this last year matter to you at all!"
"Of course it mattered to me what do you think? The question is didn't it matter to you!" She hissed back not keeping any of the rage she felt toward the tom in. " I cant believe you! You never care about anyone but yourself! Your such an egotistical jerk!" Tugger looked at the queen not keeping any of the hurt from showing in his eyes. How could she even say that?
"Don't tell me that its been that hard for you to realize that I've taken care of you for a reason." Tugger shook his head hurt. " Bom I never used you!"
"Then what about last night? I know you! The next morning if I would of stayed you would of just left like you've done every time before! You've never cared Tugger, not for anyone but yourself! I tried all my life to give you what you wanted! I'm tried waiting! But you drove me out all those years ago and never once did you think of my feelings! You didn't even care!"
"But I did care! I do care! I've always cared! I was stupid Bombalurina, so stupid! I was scared, I'd never felt that way about anyone in my life and I didn't know how to act! I'm sorry! If I had once chance to do one thing in my life over again it would be how I treated you! Bomba you were the only thing that mattered to me! You still are! I was so scared, you were so much like me, so many toms liked you, I was jealous! If you could have any tom I wanted to be able to have any queen but the truth was the only one that I wanted was you!"
"Just like you said we we're so much alike and you know what everyone says opposites attract." She snarled at him, not showing any sigh of forgiveness toward the Maine Coon.
"But I've realized something in the last few years. I realized that it's the fact that we are so much alike that's made us depend on each other. Bom we're so much alike that we need each other!" Bombalurina faced her back to him. This was killing her.
"Tugger I don't understand what you want from me!"
"Bom don't you get it? I don't want anything from you, I want you! I want you to come back home with me and help me raise our son! Bombalurina I want you as my mate!" Tugger was now pleading with the red queen, his heart breaking more with every word he said. " Bom I'd die for you-"
"Get out of here Tugger before someone gets hurt." She said as she turned around to face him, face as cold as ice. Tugger looked at her not believing anything he was hearing.
"Bombalurina I know you don't mean that! I know for a fact that I need you and I know no matter what you say that you need me just as much…"
"Get out of here Tugger!" She hissed at the tom baring her claws forcing him to back up.
"Bombal-"
"Don't you get it! GET OUT! I hate you! And I don't want to see your face again! You took my son isn't that enough for you? Get out Tugger! And go now!"
"But Bom- I love you." Those three little words caused the queen to freeze. As she looked into the toms eyes she could literally see his heart break. Tugger looked at her and backed away slowly allowing a single tear to fall from his eye. Shaking his head in denial he turned away from the queen and fled the area. Bombalurina watched as the tom ran out of the area back to where he came from and collapsed on the ground sobbing. Marlenea ran to the queen and wrapped her arms around her. What had she done?
Tugger's face was pale and his body grew limp as he approached the entering to the junkyard. She had said no. He shook his head a few times not able to process the thought. Gone. She was gone. Demeter was the first one to spy him as he walked in through the gate and rushed up to greet him but realized what had happened when she seen the state he was in.
"Oh Tugger I'm so sorry." She said feeling tears well in her eyes and hugging the tom in a embrace as Mistoffelees and Munkustrap gathered around the two. Not able to hold it in anymore Tugger broke down in front of the cats. For the first time in his life he let them see him cry and for the first time in his life he didn't care.
"She said no Misto. She actually said no." The tom choked as the magician looked at him with sympathetic eyes. The cats had never in all their lives seen the Rum Tum Tugger cry. As the tried there best to comfort him the broken hearted tom just shook his head not wanting to believe that he was on his own. He needed her.
"Bombalurina I don't understand! How could you of done that to him? He's been nothing but kind to you! He just poured out his soul to you! If any tom, no matter who it was did that to me I would of gone with them! He loves you! He wanted to share his life with you!" Marlenea said to the red queen who had completely broken down.
"I…I…"
"I should of told you this years ago but about a month after you left he came here, looking for you." Bombalurina looked up at the queen with pain filled eyes.
"W-what!"
"We told him we didn't know who he was talking about, we thought that it would be what you wanted. We were wrong to do that. Bombalurina when you have a chance like that you don't refuse it! No matter what's happened in the past with him, with you, all that matter is what you two feel! I would of thought you'd have realized that by now! Bombalurina- I…" The calico didn't know what to think or say. She was so confused.
"Bombalurina, don't you love him?"
K I changed my mind there is still one more chapter left. It will be posted by the end of this week.
