Part Four: The Temptress

Chapter Thirty-two

*Author's Note: Here it is, chickadees--le chapitre final! Big thanks to all who reviewed, much love to those who put my brain-child on their favorites list. I hope you have enjoyed this as much as I have...and don't worry, though this is the end, Bombie will go on to have many more adventures in the not-too-distant future.*

Tugger took me aside as I was leaving. His face wore an odd look of determination that was at once enticing and frightening.

"What's up, Tugsy darling?" I gave a coquettish laugh as he pulled me further away from the others. He whirled around to face me angrily, "Explain yourself!"

I laughed at this, "I don't owe you an explanation for anything."

"Pouncival?" Tugger spoke as if the very name made him sick. I just shrugged, grinning wickedly, "What can I say? I had fun."

He turned away angrily, his golden-brown eyes flashing with fury, "I can't believe you."

"What about you?" I called after him. I found this whole conversation highly amusing. "Jennyanydots? Come on, Tugger—you could do better than that!"

"Yeah, but it drove you nuts, didn't it?" Tugger turned around once more, advancing angrily in my direction. "Didn't it just make your blood boil to see me with her—the one cat you can't stand?"

"Well, I wasn't exactly doing back flips of joy," I responded wryly. Tugger stepped forward, "Now you know how I felt."

I looked at him, truly shocked. I suddenly realized that this wasn't really about me choosing Pounce so much as it was about me not choosing Tugger. I looked at him, my voice loosing its amused tone, "If you wanted to be with me, Tugger, you should have asked."

"Yeah, right," Tugger scoffed. "I could just see it now—the Rum Tum Tugger, begging, on his knees. And the proud, triumphant Bombalurina telling him to bugger off."

"I wouldn't have done that," I said. He gave a sarcastic laugh, "Sure. You wouldn't have. I know you too well, Bomba. You relish the chance to have power over me. You wouldn't even kiss me—"

"Because everyone was watching!" I replied hotly. He stepped forward, "No one's watching now."

"What?" I looked up at him, my eyes blinking in shock at the sudden turn of events. He took on a commanding air—his voice low and serious, "Kiss me."

I took a hesitant breath. I couldn't believe it. I stepped forward, allowing my lips to slowly touch his. I felt the tension leave his strong shoulders. I took his face in my paws, pulling him into me. I finally pulled away, looking up to him with confused eyes. Was this just another game?

"Do you ever wonder if I slept with your brother?" I asked quizzically, cocking my head to the side in curiosity. Tugger dropped his arms from the embrace. He stared at me, his voice tired and flat, "Why would you say something like that?"

"Don't you remember?" I looked at him. "Macavity said something about it the night we went to confront him about Demeter."

"I never believe what Macavity says," Tugger responded. I looked at him, my face telling him that Mac had spoken the truth. Tugger nodded, understanding, "Just once?"

I nodded, "A total lack of judgment on my part."

Tugger shrugged, a coy smile returning to his handsome face, "Can't say that I blame him."

I smiled at this. I still wasn't sure what Tugger was getting at. I took a deep breath, "Give me your paw."

He looked at me curiously, but he dutifully extended his paw. I took it, gently placing it on my abdomen, moving aside the fur so that he could feel the small ridge left by my scar, "Feel that?"

He nodded. I looked up to him, my eyes filled with an odd mix of hope and fear, "I can't have kits anymore. I could never—"

"I don't care," he said, putting both of his paws on my side, his fingers traveling to my back and finding the scars that Macavity had left, "I know all of your scars now. And I'm still here. I'm not going anywhere, Bomba."

I looked up at him uneasily, "How do I know you're not lying?"

He grinned, pulling me into him, "You'll just have to trust me."

We kissed again. I pulled away, "I don't know if I can."

He shrugged, "That's fine. I'll prove it."

I smiled, "Good night, Tugs."

"Night, Bomba," he turned away, striding confidently across the junkyard.

~*~

Munku and Demeter were waiting for me at the junkyard gate. Jemima sat beside them, her little eyes bright with excitement.

"There you are," Demeter commented with a smile. She looked at Munku adoringly, "We were hoping you could take Jemima home. We are going…out."

I nodded with a smile. "No problem. Let's go, Jemmi."

Jemima hopped after me in the bouncy manner of a kitten, "Can I play with my toys when we get home?"

"We'll see," I responded, smiling down at the cute little tortoise shell.

"Let me walk you home," a voice came behind me. I turned to see Alonzo. I gave a small smile. This time, I did not refuse the offer.

~*~

Alonzo and I walked in silence for a while, watching Jemima skip happily ahead of us. He motioned to her, "I think Tugger has a new fan."

I laughed, rolling my eyes, "I'm not surprised."

"So…you and Pounce?" Alonzo looked at me. I laughed again, "A one-time thing, I assure you. I prefer toms who are my own age."

"That's good to know," Alonzo gave a sheepish smile. I suddenly remembered all that had passed between us. I looked at him curiously, "What do you see, Alonzo? What makes me so attractive to you? I mean, I know some toms like me because they think I'm easy; but you're different. I can't quite figure you out."

Alonzo gave a small smile, "I've always liked you, Bomba. Ever since you kissed me." He paused before adding, "The first time. When we were kits."

I smiled at the memory. I looked at him again, "So, all this time…?"

He nodded. He gave a self-conscious laugh, "I know what some cats say about you, but I know that's not the real you. You're a good cat, Bombalurina, even if you don't think so."

"Thanks," I said softly, smiling at the compliment. "I don't think anyone has ever said that."

"It's true," he replied, his face looking towards mine hopefully. He chose his next words carefully, his voice betraying his hopefulness and fear, "You know, if you ever change your mind, Bomba, I'm always here."

"I know," I said quietly, my eyes meeting his. He really had beautiful eyes. We stopped at my front stoop; Jemima went in without a backward glance. I turned to Alonzo, "Thanks again, Alonzo."

He smiled. In a sudden surge of impulse, I kissed him lightly on the mouth, surprising myself with my actions.

"Wow," he smiled again. "You really are a confusing cat."

I laughed, giving a small smile, "Maybe I'm changing my mind."

His smile deepened at this. He took my paw in his, kissing it lightly before slipping into the summer night, "Sweet dreams."

I watched him go, my chest filling with happiness. Tugger and Alonzo. They were both good toms; they could both see past my reputation and see the true Bombie within. I knew that eventually I would have to make a choice—security over seduction or desire over dependability. Someday I would have to choose, but not tonight.

~*~

"What a night!" Demeter exclaimed, flopping onto the couch in a tired heap. Jemima was already curled up in her basket, sound asleep. Dreaming of Tugger, no doubt.

I just smiled, "Tell me about it."

Demeter sat up, "I never thanked you."

"For what?"

"For rescuing me from Macavity." She gave a small smile. Then she chuckled, "For trying to win me in a game of cards."

"Which I lost, by the way," I reminded her. She turned to go to sleep. With a sudden smile, she turned back to me, "Why is it that no matter where I am, I always get you to fight my battles?"

I shrugged, a smile creeping onto my face, "What can I say? The two of us just seem to attract trouble."

"I'll say," she sat back with a grin. I jumped onto the couch beside her. We curled up beside each other, sisters in everything but name, and slowly drifted off to sleep. I don't know what Demeter dreamed of, but I dreamed of my life. Not what I had endured, but what I had become because of those trials.

Despite the hard blows I had received over the years, time had been very kind to me. I had finally settled in to my own skin. I didn't have to try so hard to be seductive. The allure came naturally now. I possessed confidence—the sexiest thing a queen could hold. I even walked differently, long, loose steps, letting my hips lead as my eyes smiled out at the world. Coyness was a second nature to me.

Despite the painful way my relationship with Macavity had ended, I had come to realize that I would not have traded anything for it. Mac and I had shared many beautiful moments before tragedy struck; it was the goodness of those times that kept me from regretting any moment of it—even the bad ones like tonight.

Besides, I had Misto. Wasn't that enough to cancel out all the darkness?

~*~

In the high-stakes card game of life, I had become the Master of the Poker Face. I had always feigned a light-hearted joie de vie when it rained inside my soul; I had feigned adoration and respect for Old Deuteronomy—the cat who'd exiled me for almost 2 years and put a bounty on Macavity's head. But over time, I had learned not to despise Old Deuteronomy for sending me into exile—for if he hadn't, I might not have met Macavity or entered his world.

I had been a temptress on masquerade, hiding my hurt and old wounds better than anyone else I knew. But my charade ended the night I met my past—in the form of Rumpleteaser, who still obstinately spoke with a cockney accent, despite the fact that it wasn't her true voice. I suppose all that time spent with Mungojerrie had finally gotten to her.

I realized that I didn't need hot young things like Pouncival to make me feel complete; that I didn't have to give up my soul just to be with Tugger. I learned that perhaps—maybe, just maybe—I was worthy of Alonzo's affection.

~*~

Gus died that winter; Jellyorum was inconsolable for months on end. Deuteronomy went to the Heaviside Layer that following summer; Munku was installed as the new Jellicle Leader. Alonzo became protector of the tribe, since Tugger didn't want to be burdened with responsibility.

Jemima has grown into a beautiful young queen. Dem and I still hum the Macavity song to ourselves as we walk down the street, exchanging knowing glances.

I am now entering the autumn of my life. The first wrinkles have begun to mar my once-perfect face; time is beginning to win its steady downhill battle. Demeter and I have both begun to feel the creaking in our bones, the slow signs of age.

And so I will leave you now, dear reader. While the beauty is still intact, before I begin to fade and crack. I will leave you with the memory of what I once was—beautiful and young, loved by few, adored by all, tamed by one. The unconquerable. The incomparable. The Red Queen.

~Le Fin.