My apologies….that wait was extremely long! I'm super busy, but I'll try not to ever make you wait that long again! Also, I'm in the process of writing another story if you'd care to read! it's a Macavity/Demeter, and it's rated M. Take a look if you so wish(:

Quaxo kicked and fussed in his sleep. It was a fitful sleep, unable to keep from waking. Something….bothered him, and he couldn't quite tell what. But it bit at his nerves, making him feel edgier by the second. Was it his mean actions towards Alonzo? What if Tugger thought that was uncalled for….

Did I just loose my chances with him?

It was quite the far conclusion to come to, but Quaxo couldn't help himself. He was so close to hearing those words….the words that showed Tugger's true feelings. Or maybe they were to go a different direction. Maybe Tugger would tell him how much he didn't care for him, and preferred Bombalurina.

He has no feelings for me. I'm nothing compared to him…why would he want me?

The leopard-print bandana was wrapped tightly, nestled in the white palms of his hands. Quaxo pulled it closer to his chest, closing his eyes and releasing a heavy sigh.

"This is all I will ever have of him." He said to himself, pulling it closer and burying it in his fur.

With his eyes still closed, Mistoffelees rolled over onto his side, curling himself into a small ball. He kept the bandana in his hands, holding it next to his heart.

"At least I can be with him in my dreams…but that just sounds so corny.."

His breath began to slow and ease as sleep came back upon him. Now he looked forward to drifting off. This time, he wouldn't let the fitful sleep come. He would think of Tugger…think of Tugger loving him.

….and he slept soundly, thinking of what brought him the most happiness…

The sky had turned a beautiful light blue, scattered with thin, wispy summer clouds and dotted with cheery flocks of small-sized birds such as finches and wrens. Tugger watched them, carelessly reclined upon the length of a thick oak's tree branch. The bark was rough and slightly uncomfortable against his skin. It dug harshly into his soft underbelly, so Tugger flipped himself over lazily, raising an arm to tuck behind his head as he lay there. The other hand dropped off the side of the branch and swung in rhythm with his tail. The thick brown mass of fur twitched as it dangled aside the limb, due to Tugger's state. Though he watched the birds flying in the beautiful midsummer sky, he had no real interest. His mind was buzzing with worry on whether or not he would get his bandana back. It seemed like such a small thing to dwell his entirety on, but that simple piece of leopard cloth meant more to him then most material item did.

…Except condoms. Tugger particularly fancied those and their existence.

However, the bandana of The Rum Tum Tugger had been given to him by their father when both Munkustrap and Tugger reached maturity. Munkustrap had received, instead of a bandana or some form of object, a respectful place among the Jellicles. It suited him well and pleased him deeply. Tugger enjoyed his gift just as much; the bandana signaled his father's respect and love and, at the same time, boosted Tugger's sex appeal, or so he thought.

So Tugger fretted over and over, playing back the previous day in his head just to try and find it mentally. But each time he tried to recall, he reached a difficulty and was slowly but surely sidetracked. He couldn't focus on the where-abouts of what he wanted back so badly, for, at the same time, he wanted something else. Something else that raced into his head the minute he closed his eyes. Somebody who stole his breath, and made him forget Bombalurina or Casandra or any other cat. They were nothing…absolutely nothing to Tugger. Not ever sine he had met Mistoffelees.

I have to see him…

Rolling back over onto his stomach, Tugger gazed down from the limb he perched upon and, starring downward, judged the distance from the branch to the ground. He could jump it easily, he decided, and the soft grassy ground below would make for a good cushion should he land improperly. But, Tugger knew he was perfect. He could land it easily without a single slip-up.

With a heaving shove, Tugger propelled himself from the branch. He soared towards the ground, and, within seconds, had landed perfectly on all four of his heavily muscled paws. He tipped his muzzle up cockily and rose back onto his hind paws, gazing around to see if anyone had seen him show off. To his dismay, no Jellicles were close at all. Most were probably out in twos or threes, moving quickly and quietly as they killed off the over-populating mice with swift, outstretched claws for their lunches. It wasn't a bad idea…and Tugger hadn't eaten today. He decided it was time to retrieve a quick meal, to get his mind of the worries he had for his bandana.

Then, a thought so perfect flowed into his head. It made his heart skip a few beats in pure excitement and his eyes open wide eagerly.

Maybe Mistoffelees would eat with me...I just have to catch something big enough for the two of us. But after yesterday…maybe he got annoyed with me. Maybe he thinks I'm too cocky and doesn't want me like I need him.

But he rose and eyebrow and snorted to himself.

Nahh. Ha! I'm Tugger! I'm irresistible. He'll totally want to eat with me. I know that little cat too well…and I saw him eyeing me up while we swam. He wants me. And I bet being a virgin for so long must be bugging the hell out of him…I could give him it…

That thought pleased him twice as much.

"So, dinner and some entertainment to cap it all off? I'll eat lunch with Bombalurina, then, and plan it perfectly so that hopefully Misto will see…I'd like to get him a bit agitated, make him think I don't want him. Then dinner will be twice as surprising for him, and offering him the fun stuff later at night will be worth seeing his reaction. But he won't refuse, I'm sure." Tugger chuckled heartily to himself, smiling inwardly and twisting up his lips on the left side in a satisfied grin. "I'm The Rum Tum Tugger, after all. Nobody ever says no."

With an overly sexy, signature hip sway that drove the kittens mad, Tugger walked along the dirt path that lead straight through the growing weeds and tall, untouched trees, back to the junkyard. He knew that in order to get Bombalurina to have lunch on such short notice, he'd have to up how appealing he looked, so she'd think their was something in it for her later. Which, as much as it shocked himself to say, there wasn't. Bombalurina would be extremely pissed about that when she found out, he was sure of it, but it didn't matter. Tugger knew how badly he wanted Misto and only Misto. Maybe…maybe they could have more then sex. Maybe they'd have a…a relationship.

Hm. Tugger pondered over the word in his head as he strut forward closer to his home. He could smell the scents of over ten cats, wandering about and doing their duties inside the junkyard. I've never thought of myself to ever be in a relationship…or anyone to ever be in a relationship with me.

As he entered the junkyard, his hips still moving in a rhythmic side-to-side sway with his strut, Tugger identified the cats that scampered about in the yard. On top of Old Deuteronomy's tire was Old Deuteronomy himself, alongside Munkustrap. They were carefully observing the cats below them, commenting here and there on things that needed to be fixed or changed or guarded, as well as things that seemed to be going along well. Tugger noticed Alonzo, that agitating brute, propelling himself up the steep mound of random junk that lead to the tire. He was calling to Munkustrap as he went. Tugger caught bits and pieces from his shouting; something about Coricopat and Tantomile, the twin siblings who looked identical, and how they had seen something or had a feeling. He swore he heard the mention of the evil tom, Tugger's disgustful brother, Macavity in the midst, but it was of no matter to him, so he turned his gaze towards the left. He noticed the elderly she-cat Jellylorum caught in the midst of the four, overly playful kittens Victoria, who was pure-white in color, Jemima, Ectectera, and Electra. Tugger watched as Ectectera got down on all four of her paws, shaking her rump in the air as she prepared to pounce straight at Electra, who was in the same stance. At the very same time, the two leaped for each other, Ectectera taking the top as the two tussled, giggling in a mass of fur and excitement. Victoria sat quietly watching the two at a close spot. She seemed as though all her hopes were on that she herself would not be taking into the play-fight. As for Jemima, the young and quite female sat a good distance off atop a rusted old white stove. She was gazing up in pure silence at the sky, occasionally casting glances towards the trees that surrounded the yard.

"She's looking for Grizabella again…" Tugger mumbled to himself distastefully. Jemima was the only cat that seemed to like that flea-bitten trader. After all, she was just a kitten. She wasn't around when Grizabella was a Jellicle, and left the group for fame and fortune. "Serves the old hag right for being hated. She doesn't belong here."

Jemima turned attention away from the sky once again, scanning the tree line again slowly. There was nothing, no trace of Grizabella, and Jemima could tell. She was close to turning back up towards the sky when Tugger's black fur caught her eye. Her face lit up in excitement, her eyes opening wide and her jaw dropping in a faint squeal. Victoria had heard this faint noise, and she too turned to see what had gotten Jemima in such a fuss.

There Tugger stood, leaning with his hands placed comfortably in his studded belt, staring directly towards the kittens. Playfully, he gave Jemima a wink, and motioned with a flick of his head for the kittens to come to him.

They couldn't move their paws fast enough! Jemima sprang down in a eager stumble from the stove, pushing herself past Victoria, who was also already up and at full leap towards Tugger. Electra and Ectectera stopped their 'battle' to see what the commotion was. Following where the two ran, they spotted exactly what made their hearts beat like mad.

"Tuggerrrrrr!" Ectectera cried in a high-pitch voice. She flailed her paws in excitement and tumbled over Electra, who hissed as she was squashed beneath Ectectera's body weight. Determined, she too sprinted after Ectectera towards where Tugger stood with an amused smile.

"Kittens, kittens," Tugger mewed sexily as they approached him in their excited stumble. "It's only me, calm yourselves,"

The four took their own seats, fighting over who got the spot closest to Tugger, around the curious cat. Ectectera bounced on her hind paws as she sat, he tongue lolled out of her mouth has she looked up to him. She held her grabby hands out towards his belt, wishing desperately to lay a paw on him.

"Can't keep your paws to yourself, Ectectera?" Tugger said teasingly, raising an intrigued eyebrow at the young she-cat. Ectectera, so thrilled by his attention, nearly melted as he looked down at her. Her white fur along her back stood on-end and he ears were held perkily atop her head. With all her joy and thrill, she could merely only manage to respond with, "Hi Tugger!" But a wide, toothy smile spread from cheek to cheek on her face.

Electra, eagerly watching from his left, piped up directly after Ectectera spoke. It was the same question she always asked the curious cat. But, after all, who could resist his dancing? He was truly one of the sexiest toms out there, especially when he shook his hips and swayed to the music they sang. "Will you dance for us?" She squeaked, allowing her tail to swish back and forth eagerly behind her.

Tugger leaned forward, brushing Victoria's cheek with the fur on the back of his paw. It was soft and well-groomed, and sent shivers down the white she-cats spine. "Wish I could, kittens, but I have to go." Ectectera immediately vocalized her displeasure with a heavy sigh and several whimpers. "Do any of you know where Bombalurina is?"

They all shook there head 'no', except for Jemima, who, earlier, had been examining the entirety of the junkyard. She pointed with her nose towards a small cave-like den area that was formed from several pieces of miscellaneous junk stacked one on top of another in an oddly-shaped pile. Tugger nodded, able to see the bright red fur of the attractive female, who lay on her side, half asleep.

"Thanks, kitten. You're too sweet," He said in a soothing, tempting voice. Jemima giggled to herself, tucking her tail beneath her paws and turning away from Tugger's seeking eyes. He, too, chuckled, pleased by her response to him, and rose off the tree he leaned on.

"See ya later, girls," He called behind himself as he began towards the shady den.

Bombalurina turned her head up slightly towards him as he arrived. She didn't open her closed, tired eyes, but spoke instead with them closed.

"You want something. I know you do," She said keenly, opening one eye mid-sentence. Then, grumpily she added, "Spit it out. What is it?"

"Have lunch with me," He told the red queen, keeping his voice smooth and sexy.

"Don't you have something better to do then disturb a sleeping cat? Like…bang Cassandra or something?"

"..Orrr I could have lunch with you. Get off you're lazy ass, Bombalurina! You have to eat at sometime!"

She snorted; closing both her eyes again and laying her head back down. "I prefer not to eat so I can keep my figure."

Tugger grinned, "That horrible influence for the young she-kittens," He teased.

Both her eyes flew open. Rolling over onto her stomach, propping her chin on top of both her palms, she hissed unpleasantly, "Shut up and fuck off, Tugger. I'm trying to sleep."

"Have lunch with me, then you can sleep all you want,"

She smirked, "I don't buy that, knowing your usual intentions, but since you won't leave, whatever. I guess I have to go…did I ever mention how horrible annoying you are?"

Tugger chuckled at her insults and brushed them off as though she was saying nothing.

The two managed to gather up two mice and a rat to split between themselves. They ate in the clear open, which bother Bombalurina. She felt exposed, and was unsure why they were eating in such open spaces. She had no clue of Tugger's plan

And, as if on clue, Quaxo appeared from behind Old Deuteronomy's tire. He had a plump grey mouse trapped, dead, in his jaws. It fell from his mouth to the dusty floor with a soft thud when Mistoffelees watched Tugger, who he was growing steadily in love with, laying on the ground, fur touching, with Bombalurina. His heart wrenched in pain and sorrow, and tears threatened at his eyes as they flooded his eyes. Tugger turned, noticing Quaxo there for the first time. As their eyes met, Quaxo felt his heart sting once more. He ducked from Tugger's gaze swiftly, hiding the hurt that burned deep within his chestnut eyes. With his mouse still lying on the ground, Quaxo began back towards the tire in a rush, his face buried in the palms of his paws. Then, slowly, the tears began to wet his cheek fur as he now ran towards a secluded place. He found a dark corner behind the tire there, and fell to his knees with his hand still in his paws.

"And…" He wailed to himself quietly in the darkness, letting the tears run wild down his cheeks. "And…I was stupid enough to love The Rum Tum Tugger…"