My first kiss? Well, I've kissed so many queens it's hard to recall .. Fine. It was Bombalurina. But who forgets their first kiss? It sounds flouncy and stupid, but I wouldn't have wanted to do it with anyone else. I used to get stomach cramps when I thought about it because it made me nervous, I don't think 'sparks flew' when it happened though, that's what Munkustrap said when him and Demeter kissed, but then again, he always does talk shi- whatever Straps. It was pretty cool though. Very cool.

* * *

'Bomba, wake up!'

'Nyergh.'

Demeter frowned at her sister, 'Bomby, please, you're hurting me!' she whined. Struggling to free her arm which was trapped underneath her sister's back.

Bombalurina grumbled and rolled over, freeing Demeter's numb arm, she rubbed it briskly, attempting to force the blood flow back into it.

'Are you coming outside?' Demeter asked politely, grimacing at her dead arm.

Rumpleteazer pounced on top of Bombalurina playfully, 'Oi, wake up sleepy 'ead! Come and make mud pies wiv me and Demmie!'

Bombalurina scowled, but could not hold the stiff expression in her face for long when Rumpleteazer began to tickle her, or 'give 'er a fit of the ticklies' as she called it. She shoved Rumpleteazer off of her and began to tickle her back. Rumpleteazer's high pitched giggle was contagious and Bombalurina and Demeter found themselves laughing like loons too.

Rumpleteazer's laughter began to fade in abrupt snorts as she gasped for breath, 'Roight, let's go make us some mud pies!' she panted.

Bombalurina and Demeter squealed in delight and the three of them chased each other out of the den, the infectious giggling setting in.

* * *

'Jenny can I have a mousecake?'

'No, Tugger.' she sighed, bustling around her cushions with a cloth. It had been weeks after the breakfast throwing incident but she still managed to find stains of food around her den.

'Why?'

'Because you've just had you're breakfast.' she sighed irritably.

'So?'

'So, you'll look like Mr Jones if you continue eating like that!'

'But I'm huuuungry!' he whined.

'Tugger, just go outside and play!'

'I don't want to.' he growled, crossing his arms and pouting.

'Tugger, NOW.' she shrieked, pointing to the door.

Tugger frowned and sauntered out of the den, he would not risk the wrath of Jenny for a mousecake he decided, but she had not won this time. He glared at her from the doorway and collapsed in a state of tremendous boredom in a deserted place of the junkyard, resting his head in his paws as he watched Alonzo and Munkustrap play 'patrolling', the most uninteresting and boring game in existence - in his opinion, anyway.

'Munkustrap, Alonzo, could you come here a minute please?' Jenny called.

Tugger raised his head attentively, why had he not been asked to come? He frowned as he watched Munkustrap and Alonzo stride into Jenny's den. 'Bitches. Think they're so perfect ..' he muttered. What was so interesting anyway? Tugger didn't care of course, he was just curious ...

He padded to the den and edged his head near the door so he could hear what they were saying. He could hear his father's deep voice, 'Munkustrap, Alonzo; Jenny and I think it's time that you learn how to patrol.'

Tugger grimaced as he heard the two toms high five each other and whisper an excited 'yessss!'

'When do we start?' asked Munkustrap.

'Well, today if that's okay with you?' Deuotoronomy chuckled.

'That's fine by me!' chirpled Alonzo. 'But what about Tugger?'

Tugger's ears twitched, finally - the good stuff!

'Rum isn't much of an intellectual, dear ..' Jenny trailed off.

Tugger's face dropped sullenly. What did that mean?! Had he heard too much? He rushed to his feet and raced into a pipe, cursing Jenny and telling himself that he wouldn't cry.

* * *

'I don't think that's very fair to say Jenny.' Deuteronomy said.

'I don't mean it like that Deutoronomy, he has charisma and he's a funny little tom, but he's just a tad too young still, I think we should wait a few weeks. And I just assumed he wouldn't be into patrolling and becoming leader.'

'Yes I see, but his time will come.'

* * *

Tugger curled into a ball and closed his eyes, wishing he hadn't eavesdropped on the little family gathering. What is wrong with me?He sniffed and wrapped his arms around his body for comfort. He opened his eyes slowly and stared blankly at the dark metal before him. He lifted his head slowly and paused when he heard someone singing, and stared out of the pipe. He glanced around the junkyard to see where it was coming from, and he stopped when he saw Bombalurina sitting peacefully in her own little world, playing with broken necklace that she had found in the junkyard.

'Because Jellicles can and Jellicles do ..' Bombalurina sang under her breath, fiddling with the chain of the necklace to fix it. Tugger stared at her and smiled lopsidedly.

'Jellicle songs for Jellicle cats ..' Tugger joined in with her. Bombalurina shot her head up in surprise and gazed around her, her eyes wide. She glanced upto the pipe and smirked as she noticed Tugger lying in it, his elbows propping the top of his body up and his paws dangling out of the side.

'Hey.'

'Hey.'

'What's that?' he asked, jumping down from the pipe and padding towards her.

'A necklace.' she beamed, admiring the sparkly gems on the chain.

Tugger nodded, pretending to be interested. 'I've always wanted one .. it's the closest I can get to a collar. But no one throws them away do they? I don't know why anyone would want to throw away a collar ..'

Tugger caught a glimpse of her staring sadly into her lap and his stomach wrenched. 'Sure they do.' he said, handing her his spiked collar.

Bombalurina's mouth fell open, 'Tugger you can't give me your collar!'

'Why not?'

'Because it's yours and what if the catchers get you?' she gasped in concern.

'Wouldn't matter.'

'What do you mean?'

'I mean no one would care if I got caught.'

'Sure they would .. what's wrong?'

'Nothing.' he said blankly, distancing himself away from her.

'Tugs, tell me.' she sat next to him and placed her paw on his.

'I'm not an interlectural Bomba.' he whispered.

'What's an interlectural?'

'I dunno .. but whatever it is, it doesn't sound good.'

Bombalurina stared at him sadly, unsure of what to say.

'Why does no one like me Bomby?' he whispered, beginning to shiver.

'I like you.' she said softly. Tugger smiled at her gently, but said nothing, and returned to staring into his lap. Bombalurina shuffled round to face him; she cocked her head to the side planted a small kiss on his lips. Tugger's eyes widened, but he did not refuse her.

Bombalurina pulled away and the two stared at each other, unsure of what had just happened. She blushed and smiled at him shyly. His cheeks were also blazing and he was staring at her with his mouth agape in surprise.

'Ew, queen germs!' he squirmed, wiping his lips in disgust. Bombalurina giggled sweetly and scampered out of the clearing, leaving Tugger sitting himself to recollect his thoughts. He watched her pounce on top of Demeter, and although he was not entirely fond of the black and gold queen, he couldn't help but wish he were her at that moment. He smiled to himself and touched his lips with his paw. All the germs in the world wouldn't destroy that moment.

* * *

'What're you so happy about?' Demeter asked, suspicious of the accomplished grin plastered on her sister's face.

'I'm always happy!' Bombalurina cried, appauled that her sister asked such a thing.

Demeter raised her eyebrow, 'What about yesterday when Alonzo threw you in the mud and you called him a bad word, or when you cried because Admetus broke your comb, or-'

'I'm just happy today.' she hissed. Demeter shrugged it off, her sister was renowned for having a bit of a tempermental nature. Jenny said it was something to do about coming of age.

'Oi, princesses! Ya comin' to play 'ide and seek?!' Rumpleteazer asked, popping up from a cardboard box, which made Demeter and Bombalurina scream and cling onto each other in fear. They sighed in relief when the tabby princess hopped in front of them and giggled sweetly.

'Teazer!' they cried, glaring at her.

'Give it a rest bum sniffa'z! Let's play!' the little princess giggled, bouncing up and down, sticking her tongue out at them.

Demeter and Bombalurina scowled at Rumpleteazer with their mouth's hanging open in outrage - for such an adorable little princess, she had a mouth like a sailor.

'What're we playing?!' Admetus asked chipperly, bounding over to the three princesses, closely followed by Plato and a reluctant Tugger.

'Ow abouuuut .. 'ide and seek ?!'

The group of kittens nodded excitedly and placed their paws on top of one another in a group huddle. Tugger placed his on top of Bombalurina's and the two stared at each other awkwardly, turning away quickly with burning cheeks and embarrassed smiles.

'Roite .. would ya do the honours Plato?' Rumpleteazer asked, sticking her tongue out at the brown and white tom.

'Sky-blue-sky-blue-all-out-ex-cept-from-YOU!'

The kittens all stared up to Demeter attentively, who gazed around them all and sighed before traipsing over to the TSE1 to count. She hated being 'it'. 'ONE ..' The kittens squealed excitedly and dashed into their hiding places. Rumpleteazer scrambled into the drum of a nearby washing machine, Admetus scurried underneath a chest of drawers and Plato dived underneath an old newspaper, covering it over himself like a blanket.

Bombalurina scanned the junkyard to find her own hiding place, 'EIGHT ..', she glanced around hastily and opted for an old cardboard box, not the best spot, but the only one left after the others had taken the good ones and time was running out. The box was pitch black and smelled musty, and she could near nothing outside. Maybe this was a better hiding place than she thought. She sat patiently in the corner of the box and held her breath when she heard rustling, and the sound of padding footsteps inside the box with her. Oh bast, she's found me.

'Who's that?' she asked anxiously. No reply. She narrowed her eyes and placed her paws out in the air to feel who it was, but she could still not see. She felt a tail dart against her leg and she flinched in surprise. 'Okay, you found me Dem, quit acting like a creep!' she hissed. A paw rested on hers, but she pulled it away hastily. She whimpered in fear, trying to edge her way out of the box, but she was trapped in the corner. The body approached her and she could feel their breath on her neck, she sniffed suddenly, it wasn't Demeter's scent. It was a tom's. 'What're you doing?!' she cried, her body stiffening as she felt their nose tickle hers.

'This.' a voice said softly. Bombalurina raised her eyebrow and paused, before jumping as she felt a pair of lips touch hers. The kiss was tender and sweet, but slightly slevvery, which the tom noticed, and pulled away, ending the moment with one small peck on the lips. Bombalurina opened her eyes, despite not being able to see, and sat in complete disbelief. She felt the body tear away from her and sit next to her.

'By the way Bomby ..' the voice whispered.

'Yeah?'

He paused. 'I like you too.'