Bombalurina missed Tugger, because even thought their friendship was complicated, they were still really good friends. Her and Demeter snuck out behind Munkustrap's back to go get Tugger and Misto.

"This is a stupid idea," said Demeter. "They can come back when they want to."

"But we have to make Mistoffelees feel welcomed," Bomba said, and she really did like Misto, sort of in a younger brother way.

"Well, why can't we just leave Tugger?"

Bomba pouted at her and they ventured onward. They came to the backyard of Janelle's house and crawled in through the cat door silently and steathily. They heard laughter from the back and followed it. They emerged on Janelle's bedroom with Tugger and Misto lying in their bed.

"Tugger, sheesh, you're so..."

"Completely amazing."

"Well, yes, but you're also stupid."

"Am not!"

"Fine, you're pretty smart, but annoying."

"Excuse me? You're the annoying one."

"Oh, go look in a mirror."

Bomba and Demeter exchanged looks, baffled. They had never heard Tugger say such things or act that way. They stepped forward a little more and looked at Tugger and Misto, cuddling up in bed, their backs to them. Bomba's mouth dropped. He never wants to cuddle with me! she thought. Suddenly Misto lept up and Tugger chased him and lept onto him. They tumbled around until they bumped into Bomba and Demeter, just realizing they were there.

Tugger frowned and stood up. "What?" he asked.

Bomba stared, admiring the rugged, careless look Tugger had about his appearance. He normally always tried to keep his main tamed, but now his main was wild and he wasn't wearing some of his accessories. "We came to ask you to come back," Bomba said. "Everyone feels pretty bad."

"Well, frankly, I'm content just staying here," Tugger said.

"Tugger," Misto mumbled. "We've been gone for quite awhile."

"That doesn't matter to me."

"Well it does to me. I wanna go back."

"Why?"

Misto sighed and rolled his eyes. "Because I want to be a part of it all. Ugh, you do this all the time. You take things for granted constantly. Just because you can do what you want doesn't mean you shouldn't do what you have to do."

Tugger looked at Bomba and Demeter. "Can we talk alone?"

Bomba and Demeter exchanged looks and left the room.

"Misto, why do you always forgive people so easily?" Tugger asked.

"Because I want to build relationships with people, Tummy. I want to be friends with people, and no friendship is so bad that forgiveness isn't an option. We've fought before and within an hour we were back to normal."

"But Misty, that's different. We're great friends. You hardly know them."

"But I want to know them."

"Why? They're not that great of people."

"Because they're your family, and I want to be a part of that, too. Don't you want be to be a part of it, too?"

Tugger sighed. "I want you to be happy."

Misto smiled faintly at him. "When I complain that you protect me too much you do know that I'm really grateful for it, don't you?"

Tugger smiled. "Of course I know that." He sighed again. "Well, I guess we can go back now."

"Good." Misto looked at his feet and then back at Tugger. He threw his arms around Tugger and kissed his cheek bravely. "Thanks...Cheeto."

Tugger laughed and swung Misto around. He set him down and got himself decent looking enough to go to the Junkyard. The four of them walked back to the Junkyard and hopped over the fence. There were a few people in the center surrounding something.

"What's going on?" Tugger asked.

"Oh, Bustpher is here," said Munkustrap.

"Bustopher Jones?" Misto asked.

"Yes, how do you know of him?"

"He's my great uncle!" Misto moved through the small crowd and came face to face with his mother's uncle.

"Quaxo!" Bustopher exclaimed, turning Misto'd grin into a frown.

"Uncle, please, I go by Mistoffelees," Misto mumbled, embarrassed.

"Right, right. Now, where have you been?"

"Wait a minute, he's your uncle?" Tugger asked.

"Of course. I didn't know he was a Jellicle!"

Tugger's heart sank. Great, he thought. Bustopher thinks I'm trash. He'll flip when he finds out Misto has been living with me for more than a year.

"Anyway, where have you been?"

"I was adopted by a lady named Janelle, Tugger's owner and I've been living with them for more than a year now."

Tugger closed his eyes and groaned inwardly.

"Oh, I see," Bustopher said, obviously not pleased. "Well, why don't we take a stroll, Mistoffelees. You can tell me all about what's happened with you." The two started to walk away and people stared after them, shocked, and feeling stupid. They knew Vicki was Bustopher's niece, and that Misto and Vicki were siblings, and they never realized Bustopher and Misto were related, too, which made them feel guilty, too. Bustopher is so prestigious, and they were berating one his relatives. If he ever found out, they'd be in for it.

"Tugger, I'd just like to apologize, for the treatment Misto received the other day, and the treatment you received, too," said Jenny, who had a serious crush on Bustopher.

"It's fine," Tugger said. He looked down at her. "Bustopher can't stand me. What do you think he's going to tell Misto?"

Jenny smiled a little at the concerned and worried face Tugger had. He really cares about him, she thought. Maybe it is best for Mistoffelees to be here. "I don't know, but I'll be sure to throw in some good words to Bustopher about you."

"Thanks," he said, but wasn't too sure.

Bustopher and Misto walked along the edge of the Junkyard. "Quaxo," Bustopher sighed. Misto frowned at being called that. Why doesn he always call people by their other name? He didn't complain, though. "Rum Tum Tugger is a...I don't know how to say this nicely so I'll just say it. He's a trashy person who breaks hearts and steals innocence. He's trash, and I don't want him to wrongly influence you. I want you to live with me."

Misto glared at his uncle. "Tugger is my best friend! There's nothing wrong with him! In the Junkyard he acts that way because he's afraid to be himself. No one ever payed attention to him when he was a kitten and so he started acting out. Plus, he's afraid of what people will think of him, too, because everyone judges him so much since he's Old Deuteronomy's son! When he's just with me he's himself. You don't even know him so you can't judge him like that! That's exactly why he acts the wya he does! He's my best friend and the greatest person I know and I love him and I won't ever leave him!" Misto ran from his uncle quickly, who was left baffled at his nephew's outburst.

Misto ran into a a broken microwave and hid inside, crying. How can he say such things? Misto thought. Tugger is amazing! He sat there, crying, for a long while before someone came across him.

"Mistoffelees?"

Misto looked up to see Alonzo standing there and looking down at him. He wiped his eyes. "Oh, hi Alonzo," he said, his voice raw.

Alonzo sat down next to Misto, concerned. "What' wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing," Misto lied. "It's just, my uncle...he said mean things about Tugger and it just really hurt my feelings."

"Oh." Alonzo didn't really like Tugger for multiple reason, but wasn't a jerk about it. "Well, Tugger can be annoying in many ways, but everyone still likes him." Alonzo sighed. "I admit he can be okay - when there aren't any queens around, but still, sometimes he flirts with toms, too."

"He does?" Misto asked, and the way he said it Alonzo knew exactly how Misto felt about Tugger.

"Yeah, like, with Plato sometimes and Cori, but not too often. I mean, it's just fun is all. He's flirted with everyone but it's just in his nature."

"He's flirted with you before?"

"Yeah, but I let him know I wasn't interested at all. He's definitely not my type. He kept flirting with me still but then I kind of told him off and said some things I wish I hadn't."

"Like what?"

"That I like his brother."

Misto's eyes grew wide. "Munkustrap?"

Alonzo sighed. "Yeah."

"But, you're with Cassandra and he's with Demeter."

"I know, but you know how you and Tugger have been friends for a long time?"

"Yeah."

"Well that's the way Munk and I are - were. I was born a week after Munk and we just grew up together. We...were best friends and, well...just had those moments."

"What moments?"

Alonzo furrowed his brow. "You mean, Tugger and you have never, like...had a...sexual moment?"

"What? No! Of course not!"

"But don't you like him like that?"

Misto blushed. "Well...yeah, but I could never say it to him." He bit his lip.

Alonzo felt bad for him, so changed the subject. "Well, anyway, Munk and I just experimented I guess when we were younger and...I dunn. I really loved him, but I don't know if he felt the same way." He frowned, remembering all the nice times him and Munk had before Munk approached him and confessed his undying love for Demeter, which ultimately broke Alonzo's heart. "Look, if you want something to happen then make it happen. You don't have to listen to your uncle, you're not a kitten anymore. Tugger is trashy but he's not trash. You know him best, and, you seem to bring out the good in him. So just tell him how you feel and go on with your happy ways. Don't tell him when it's too late. Better yet, don't do what I did. I never told Munk. Just - do what you want, like Tugger."

Misto smiled. "Thanks Alonzo." He got up and scurried out of the microwave.

Alonzo sighed and climbed out shortly after. He caught sight of Munk and Demeter walking together. Munk looked at him and gave a knowing smile. Alonzo smiled back.

Tugger was sitting glumly in his den, lounging on his bed when Misto came running through the door. He sat up. "Misto!" he said eager to see him, making Misto pause with a flattered feeling. "What did your uncle say?"

"He said horrible things," Misto said, sitting next to Tugger. "He said I should live with him."

Tugger died a little inside.

"But I told him off."

Tugger smiled and hugged Misto. "Good. That fat tool has always hated me."

"Hey, he might be mean but he's still my uncle," Misto said.

"I don't care."

Misto smiled, and then looked at his feet, figuring out how to tell Tugger how he felt, losing his confidence. He didn't want to end up like Alonzo... "Tugger, I-"

"Tugger! Come out here!"

Misto's face fell as Tugger stood up and walked outside. Misto followed behind. His sadness turned to fear as he saw everyone scrambling around, running with terrified faces.

"Misto! Get back inside!" Tugger demanded.

"What is it?" Misto asked.

"Macavity."

Misto looked up as he saw a large cat fly off a pile of junk. Munk and Tugger faced him with Alonzo, Admetus, Plato, Coricopat, and Asparagus following behind. Tumblebrutus and Pouncival were there, too, but still very scared about it, like Misto. Misto didn't want to be there, but he wanted to help, too.

It was mostly the older toms who were fighting him off, mostly Munk really. Misto stood by as they fought and fought, toms getting thrown out and hurt. Tugger lunged at Macavity as he used his magic to make Munk stand there like a robot. Misto was scared, but in awe, too. He had never seen anyone else like him. Macavity threw Tugger aside, landing hard against a pile of junk, some things falling on him. Misto ran to him, but then got distracted as he heard Munk cry out in pain. He turned to see Munk doubled over, holding his torso. Macavity was towering over him, ready to make an impacting move. Misto stood up and sent a lighting bolt right at Macavity.

Macavity dell to his knees, crying out in pain. He turned to see Misto standing there. Macavity opened his mouth to speak, but if Misto knew one thing, it was to never back down. He sent another bolt at Macavity, who fell onto his back. He sat up and glared at Misto. Tugger sat up and grabbed Misto's hand. That's when something in Macavity's eyes changed. He didn't look scary. He looked frightened, and sad. He threw a hand into the air and vanished, just like that.

Tugger got to his feet. He wasn't bleeding but he had pain going all through him. The other toms were slowly rising to their feet, too, all except for Alonzo. Munk walked over to him, blooding coming from his torso. Alonzo was on the ground, blood just pouring from his chest. Plato was the only one who was strong and unhurt enough to pick him up. They carried him to Jenny's where her and Jelly and many of the kittens were hiding. Munk sat by his side the entire time.

All the while, Tugger and Misto sat in their den. Misto tended to his soars by giving Tugger a massage in various places, both of them enjoying it. I suppose I can tell him tomorrow, though Misto. Why ruin a good moment? Of course, telling him could just make this moment so much better. He sighed. If only...