'Tugger?'

'Hey gorgeous.' he purred at her, gazing at her in those haunting, achingly beautiful blue eyes & grinned at her with that million dollar smile she adored. She could not let herself be taken under by his charming spell, she knew he'd just dump her again like he always did, besides, she was happy with Mungojerrie .. wasn't she?

'What're you doing here?'

'What, can't a handsome young tom come & visit his beautiful, lady kit now & then?' He put his arm against the doorway & leaned on it, looking at her seductively. 'Long time no see Bombs ..' he said.

'Yeah well i've been busy ..'

'Busy doing what?'

'Things that don't concern big rat-bag cats like you.' she hissed.

Tugger laughed & walked slowly towards her.

'I've missed you Bombs.' he put her arms round her waist, drawing her closer to him.

'& you choose to tell me this now?! well it's too late Tugger, i've found someone who's a million times over better than you!'

'What that goofball Mungojerrie?' he snorted.

'He's not a goofball! He's sweet & caring .. he's everything you'll never be!' she cried. '& he loves me .. something you'll never do ..' she whispered, her eyes filling with tears.

'What?' Tugger looked at her, stunned.

'Leave me alone Tugger! I'm finished, i'm fed up with your twisted head games! Look at me, have you not hurt me enough?! I'm done Tugger, I never want to see you again!' She ran into her bedroom & threw herself on her bed, in a fit of hysterical crying. Their relationship was strange. They flirted like mad & they longed for eachother, but both were too proud to do anything about it in fear of rejection. They had this on-off thing for a while & had been with other cats, but there was something that always brought them back together.

She felt a comforting stroke on her head.

'Look at me Bomba ..'

She tried, but she couldn't bare to look at him.

Tugger hated to see Bombalurina hurt, although he was completely oblivious to the fact that it was always him that caused it. Seeing her cry like this felt like he had been stabbed through the heart. 'Maybe she's better off with Mungojerrie ..' he thought. 'She's far too beautiful, witty, caring .. she's too good for me.'

Tugger kneeled on the floor to the same level as her ear. 'Bomba, i'm sorry for any hurt or pain i've caused you, ever. I know you're too good for me, you deserve someone better, but i'll always love you Bomba, even if you don't love me. I'll leave ..' As Tugger got up, Bombalurina turned & looked at him.

'Don't..' she whispered.

Tugger slowly turned round & she ran at him, wrapping her arms around his neck. They kissed passionately, Bombalurina ran her paws through his thick mane & Tugger held her close, never wanting to let her go. Bombalurina fell back on the bed, pulling Tugger with her. Tugger was lying on top of her, both of them gazing into eachother eyes, gasping for breath. She pulled his head to hers and kissed him & they made passionate love.

* * *

They lay awake most of the night, cuddling & reminiscing of old times.

'Remember we hid that dead frog in Cassandra's bed?' They both laughed hysterically.

'We were a terrible pair!' said Bombalurina.

'We still are sunshine!' chuckled Tugger & nibbled Bombalurina's neck playfully.

The laughter died down & they lay gazing adoringly into eachothers eyes.

'I love you Bombalurina.'

'I know you do.' Bombalurina winked cheekily at him.

'I'm being serious Bombs.'

'Oh my ..' Bombalurina pretended to have a heart attack & giggled.

'C'mon!'

'Ok, ok, i was only joking Tugsy.'

'You've not called me that since we were kittens! .. Bom-Bom!' They both laughed at one another.

'What were you going to say?'

'Ohh, what was I going to say?' Tugger sat up & stroked his chin, pretending not to forget, teasing her.

'C'mon Tugs! Tell me!' Bombalurina leaped onto his back & put her arms around his neck, resting her hands on his soft mane.

Tugger turned to look at her. 'What I was going to say was ..'

Their flirty, kitten-like behaviour stopped & they were serious with eachother.

'I love you Bomby, will you be my mate?'

Both cats stopped for a minute to take in what had just been said. Tugger couldn't believe it & neither could Bombalurina.

Bombalurina turned him round & held his face in her hands.

'I'd love to Tugger!' she said & kissed him.

They were ecstatic. They had felt these emotions since they were kittens & neither of them knew how to express it, Jenny & Old D had always said they'd be together & they finally were. Tugger could not wipe the grin from his face & Bombalurina's heart was beating so fast it felt like it was going to explode.

There was only one problem .. Mungojerrie. Bombalurina remembered he'd asked her to the dance & her heart sank.

'Can you believe it Bombs, Thee Rum Tum Tugger has the most beautiful queen in the whole world ..'

'I ..'

'.. & the lucky queen has the most beautiful king!' he winked.

'Tug ..'

'Wait till i tell Munks, I think he'd have a fit!'

'Tugger?'

'What's up Bombs?' he asked, putting his arm round her comfortingly.

'I've done something bad ..'

'Oh?'

'Well .. Mungojerrie asked me to the ball & I said yes ..'

Tugger looked at her & didn't move.