4. You And Me Always, And Forever

"You and me always!"

"And forever!!"

No one had heard Electra and Etcetera sing this loudly or this happily for a long time. In fact, all the queen kits seemed unusually perky. Munkustrap couldn't help but wonder why. They weren't this excited about their first Jellicle Ball, what was so special now? If anything, this Ball was going to be the most sombre the Junkyard had seen since the fever. It had been a little under a year since Quaxo had died, but still no one had recovered. Tugger had scarcely been seen at all, though for some reason he seemed to have got better since that night he had spent alone in the main Junkyard. Munkustrap had found him at dawn, staring at the spot next to him as if someone had been sitting there not long before but whoever it was had gone and left Tugger to silently plead for them to return. But now El and Etcy had been joined by Victoria and Jemima and they were singing so loudly they were on the verge of annoying Jenny.

"What's got you so excited girls?" Munk asked kindly, stepping down from the tyre and coming towards them. They fell silent and looked at each other like guilty pranksters caught in the act.

"You tell him Tori" Etcy said, poking Victoria in the ribs.

"No! You do it Cettie" Victoria exclaimed quickly. El and Jemima giggled.

"Jemmi saw a shooting star last night" El said, her eyes lighting up with hope and dreams.

"A shooting star? And why is that so good?" Munk asked.

"He's coming back Munk!! He's coming home!!" the queens cheered together and they all grabbed each other's paws and spun around. CB overheard the commotion and bounded over.

"You never did Jemmi!" he enthused, bubbling in that way only CB could.

"She did too!" Etcy grinned. CB punched the air excitedly, calling over Admetus and Bill.

"Jemi saw a shooting star guys! We're gonna get him back!!" CB told them eagerly. Bill and CB, who had more than a small crush on Jemima, began flipping and cartwheeling with excitement and also in the hopes of impressing. And as much more jumping ensued, Munk quickly left them be. He didn't know what they were on about but if it was helping 

them deal with something the rest of the tribe were still grappling with then it was alright by him.

--

Electra made her way through the trees carrying her rose. She felt sure this would be the last time she would have to make this journey. A light breeze rustled through the trees and she paused a moment in a patch of sunlight.
"You're coming home tonight Quaxo, I know you are" she whispered, looking upwards. She felt one of the thorns of the rose dig in to her, a reminder that for now he was still gone.
"What makes you so sure kid?" came a smooth voice from behind. She spun around to see Tugger leaning against the trunk of a tree. She smiled at him.
"Jemima saw a shooting star last night Tugger and what with the Jellicle Ball tonight we know it had to be him. He's coming back Tugger, he's coming back tonight."

Tugger raised an eyebrow.
"It's a nice story kid, but we both know there are some promises even Quaxo can't keep."
"How can you say that Tugger? Since when did you become a sceptic?" Electra asked. Tugger sighed, looking away.
"Since I spoke to him today and he didn't listen. He wasn't there...for the first time since I met him he wasn't there when I needed him."
"He didn't even try to stop you..." but the words died on Electra's lips.
"No El, he wasn't there to talk me out of it. He's finally moved on El and there's nothing we can do to bring him back."
"You don't know that Tugger."
"I promise you El, in Jellicle Songs tonight his bar is going to be silent but for music."
"He'll be back Tugger."
"Face it kid, this Ball is going to be empty."
"This ball is what you make it Tugger..."
"What?"
"You're the key Tugger, the connection. When you sing those words, it's not just a sign of hope for our tribe but it's also a signal to Quaxo that it's time he came home. It's time to dance at your side again. This Ball is what you make it Tugger. All you have to do is sing."
"El..."
"Just sing Tugger, and he'll come" El said softly, and she quickly brushed past him, leaving him alone with his thoughts.



--

Alonzo looked out over the Junkyard, his brown eyes resting on a space that took his mind to another place. Munkustrap looked at his friend, taking a heavy sigh. In front of them, the kittens practiced a dance for the Ball. Electra, despite joining in with most of the dance, took a step back when the kittens paired off. CB lifted Jemima high above his head, Bill lifted Etcy, Admetus lifted Victoria but Electra had no one without Quaxo. Munkustrap smiled fondly, Quaxo would have lifted her with strength and tenderness. Their whole dance was perfectly suited to him in fact. They did say it was their tribute to him (though Munk had also heard through the excited giggles, talk of him joining them in their dance) and the dance was indeed ideal for the tux. Clean lines that he would have made with soft precision. Leaps and points, patterns that he would have followed through. His queen to lift and spin. Electra was sitting just in front of Munkustrap now, watching the others dance. She turned to him.

"Quaxo would have loved this dance" she said quietly. Munkustrap looked down at her, and nodded with a kind smile.

"But whether he'll ever see it or not rests on Tugger" she sighed. Munkustrap frowned and she smiled knowingly.

"You'll see…I hope" she grinned mischievously, then she rushed off to talk to her friends as their dance came to an end. Munkustrap looked over at Alonzo again. He missed his brother terribly, Munkustrap saw it in his eyes every day.

"I'm sure Skimble would be happy to keep your post for longer" Munkustrap said gently. Alonzo turned his head slowly.

"I've kept it this long" he murmured.

"Precisely, don't you think the Ball might just……bring back memories."

"Maybe it's for the best that I remember those times though Munk. Because up to now my only memories of him are from when Skimble pulled back that silk and it finally became more than just a nightmare" Alonzo whispered. Munkustrap put a gentle paw on Alonzo's shoulder.

"He would be so proud, seeing what you've become over this past year. Second in command Lonz, I'm sure he knows."

"I only got chosen because of Skimble wanting to step down, and we all know why that was" Alonzo said. And it was true. Everyone knew that Skimble had stepped down from 

his post because the stress of seeing little Quaxo struck down by something that not even he could protect him from was too much. He'd seen enough heartbreak, he couldn't take any more.

"Granted, but Skimble was due to step down soon anyway. No matter what the events of the past year, you would have been destined to get here. Please Lonz, try to remember how much he looked up to you. Try to remember that if he knew how you were killing yourself inside over him he would be devastated."

--

"I heard all Electra's hopes are resting on you Tugger" came a steady voice from somewhere. Tugger looked around, he knew that voice too well. He hadn't seen Munkustrap in months, never mind spoken to him. In fact, he could barely even remember staying in the Junkyard for more than a few minutes over recent times. Munkustrap stood in a patch of sunlight, opposite Tugger who was leaning against the oldest oak. This place had become all too much like a home for him, and he saw it in Munk's eyes; he knew.

"Why is the Rum Tum Tugger lying broken in a graveyard, when the Ball is just tonight?" Munkustrap asked, stepping slightly towards his brother.

"Because there is nothing…the Ball means nothing now."

"You love the dance Tugger, you love the game, the show."

"And you know this how?"

"Because thanks to Quaxo, I actually know you, just a little, what little he had chance to get you to show me. And I know that there is a side of you that's lost without him. But there's also a side of you that knows the only chance you have is if you have a little faith. Maybe Electra's right. Sing Tugger."

"What good can any song I know do?"

"A world of good Tugger. You saw the kittens' eyes light up when you started to sing at his funeral. Even if it doesn't work Tugger, it still does good."

There was a calm here, magical almost. Tugger smiled fondly at a fragmented memory and for a moment his vision wavered and Munkustrap became Mistoffelees. And he stood in 

the sunlight, eyes gleaming. Mischief lingered in the blue eyes at the sight of Tugger's scorched tail.

"Catch me if you can!" the kit laughed and he darted off in to the shadow, occasionally appearing in a patch of dappled light, his fur gleaming as the sunlight crept through the trees and caught the magician as he ran.

He closed his eyes and when he looked back he was back to reality.

"Catch him if I can" he murmured. Munkustrap raised an eyebrow.

"I'm sorry kit, I didn't understand" he whispered to himself, then he looked back at Munkustrap.

"Thank you" he said. The tabby's grey eyes met Tugger's blue ones and for a moment they paused, brother and brother together for once. Then with a quick smile, Tugger darted off like shot.

--

The sound of kittenish laughter was what woke Tugger from his nap.

"Time to go Tugger."

The whisper in his ear was probably still part of his dream, clinging on to reality in the groggy haze of his mind. He stretched, glancing up at the oldest oak above him. He shouldn't have returned here, his memories were mingling with reality and the wind was creating taunting whispers by his ears. He got up. As the shadows danced he could have sworn he saw something flitting about through the dappled patches of light, catching in the sun and shining as it went. But he knew it was just his dreams. Another laugh.

"Catch me if you can."

And the mischievous giggle escaped one last time, before fading away in to the distance.

--



Jemima looked at the stars. Tonight would be special, she could see it in the moon. But where was the music? By now the overture of the Jellicles should be pouring through the Junkyard, wrapping around the junkpiles and filling the air, summoning the Jellicles to the Ball. But instead there was silence but for the distant sound of a train and the occasional scuffles of Jellicles awakening from their naps. But tonight, the moon was waiting for something, someone. Pausing before sending her musical spell in order to provide the opportunity for something truly mystical to take place. No Jellicle had ever returned before, but that would change tonight.

The moon and stars were her guides. Before Quaxo she had not understood them as clearly as she wanted, but now she could understand their music as if it was being read to her like a story. She stood now, looking out across the sky, then glancing around the Junkyard. From her place on top of the highest Junkpile, she could see for miles. Where was the Tugger? The one who everyone's hopes were resting on, the one whose hope had finally left him. Could she reach him? Could she touch some part of him that words could not touch, but the music, the beauty of that ancient song she loved and studied so carefully, could somehow reach out to him and give him the faith he needed. Show him something no Jellicle could show him. She looked up at the moon.

"Moonlight
Turn your face to the moonlight
Let your memory lead you
Open up, enter in
If you find there the meaning of what happiness is
Then a new life will begin."

She sat once more, her eyes closed for a moment, she was lost inside the music.
"There's hope Tugger. There's hope" she whispered, then she curled up and waited for the overture to flood the Junkyard and summon her to the Ball.

--

Tugger was tired of waiting for the music, tired of wondering if he really had the power to bring Misto back to him. He leant his head against the trunk of the oak, letting out a sigh. Then a clear voice broke through the silence. So serene, it could only be Jemima.

"Moonlight
Turn your face to the moonlight
Let your memory lead you
Open up, enter in


If you find there the meaning of what happiness is
Then a new life will begin."

He stood, looking upwards. He turned his face towards the moonlight, all thoughts leaving him but for the one thought that truly mattered: Mistoffelees. The moon shone on his face and he let it wrap around him, for a moment he was lost in the bright white. Mistoffelees' face filled his mind, those words echoing; Catch me if you can. His heart ached at these memories but then he heard the whispering voice go on.

"Try Tugger, try and catch me."
Then the silence returned, Tugger felt consciousness slipping back to him and his strong stance wavered for a moment as he swayed backwards a little. He felt new hope in his heart, everything was fresh to him. The past year was nothing, not if he could get Mistoffelees back to him tonight. He jumped down from the branch and began to walk away. But something made him glance back at the grave, with its single red rose resting there. Except, the red rose was no longer there. Instead a sunflower lay in its place. The sunflower, the sign of the day. The sign of life. The sign of hope. Tugger smiled fondly.
"Show off." And he knew the tux heard him.