Sorry this chapter's short but I don't have much time to write this week and next week I'm on holiday. Hopefully, it's better than nothing!

Big thanks to my brother, who has helped a lot with this chapter.

"No, Tugger loves me more!"

"Na ah, he loves me and I have proof – a lock of his mane!"

"Where is it?"

"At home...in a secret place..."

"Sorry, guys, he's mine," smiled Bomba as she moved through the mob of kittens and eased herself onto the car bumper.

Jennyanydots and Jellylorum, who were the kittens' usual carers, were currently too involved with the ball to care for the kittens so a kitten-sitting rota had been devised. Every day for the next three months (there was a lot to prepare for this year) the kittens would be looked after by one of the other responsible adults (e.g. anyone but Tugger).

Today was Bomba's turn. She didn't mind looking after the kittens; it was a waste of time but all the sunbathing was giving her fur a nice sun streaked look and the kittens were amusing enough. She could even cope with their Tugger related boasts; some of them were lies and the ones that were true...well, she was just as bad.

No, what was truly annoying her was that Tugger, in one of his sweeter moods, had promised he'd keep her company and it was now late in the afternoon and he was nowhere to be seen. She should have known better than to rely on him. Playing with her and teasing her was one thing but letting her down was completely different. Next time she saw him she'd punish him for being such a naughty boy. She'd show him she wasn't some kitten he could drop as he pleased (she still had bruises from last year's ball).

Bomba began plotting and silently developing more and more ingenious plans to teach the careless cat a lesson. Now and again she'd be distracted by kittens mischievously pouncing on her, moaning to her or asking her to tell them a story about a princess named Electra, who could talk to dragons and rescue handsome princes and never have to help tidy her den.

One kitten who wasn't currently trying to grab Bomba's attention was Pouncival. He lay, with his head resting on his head resting on his paws, slightly further away from the other kittens. Right at the beginning of the day he'd been over her like the rest, vying for her attention with somersaults and handstands. Now, all he wanted to do was watch her, take in her glory...she was like a goddess... no, goddesses were like her...she was something more than a goddess. Was there something more than a goddess? A super goddess or a mega goddess? Or even a super-ultra-mega goddess? Anyway, she deserved to be elegantly draped over a cloud, not a rusted car. It just wasn't right...

One day she'd see how brilliant they were together. He could teach her how to do all sorts of great things like how to do a triple backwards flip and somersault with your eyes closed, and the best way to scare someone (it worked – Plato would never looked at shoes the same way again) and how to find Etcetera's secret cat-nip stash. Plus, she could teach him stuff like...um...he didn't really know what she could teach him but he was sure it would be mind-blowing and very grown-up.

Tumblebrutus walked over to Pounce and nudged him with his paw. "It's time, bud. She's in a right mood with Tugger so make your move now!"

"Cool, thanks."

"Good luck."

Pounce sauntered, in a Tugger like fashion, over to the queen of his dreams.

"You look like you're constipated," tittered Etcetera.

"Well, you look like the BUM of a rat I ate yesterday," he retaliated.

"What?"

"Exactly. Stupid queen-kittens," he muttered under his breath.

Still undeterred Pounce made his way to Bomba and leaned casually against the car.

"Hi, sex bomb."

Damn, that had sounded better in his head.

"Those are naughty words for a little kitten," said Bomba, her breath tickling his ear.

"Well, I'm a naughty CAT," he smugly replied.

She reached over and, for a moment, he thought she was going to play with his fur like she did with Tugger's mane but she just playfully ruffled the fur on the top of his head. Still, it was only a small step between ruffling and playing.

"So, Bomba, I was thinking, are you free tonight? Cause there's this new restaurant near my human den and it has a huge open bin outside. So, are you free? It's really, uh...romantic."

"Sorry, hon, I'm busy," said Bomba apologetically.

"Oh, that's cool, "He said nonchalantly, hiding his disappointment.

They watched the other kittens playing. Tumble had just jumped upon Electra and Etcetera, and bashed their heads together. Not about to let him get away with it, the two queen-kittens pounced and, with the help of Jemima, pummelled him to a pulp.

"They're really immature," Pounce sighed, shaking his head.

"I think it's cute," Bomba said with a wink.

"Oh."

He flashed her a quick grin before taking out all three queen-kittens in one foul swoop. What followed was a faceoff between the tom-kittens and the queen kittens.

"I can't believe they'll be coming of age soon," chuckled Misto as he passed by.

"Not so long ago you were just like them."

"Hey! You're not that much older than me."

"Of course not."

"So where's is Tugger? I thought he was going to help you?"

"Yes, so did I," she scowled.

"Do you want me to turn his fur pink again?"

"No, I've got the perfect punishment in mind."

"Don't go easy on him," Misto grinned as he jumped away."

The queen-kittens were just about winning the fight when Victoria came dashing out towards them.

"Vicky!" Etcetera squealed.

The queen-kittens ran towards their friend. As soon as they reached each other they all began talking at once. Tumble and Pounce rolled their eyes.

"How do they understand each other?"

"Beats me."

Victoria had been busy practising her second Mating Dance. If a couple want to be officially recognised as True-Mates they must dance in the 'Engagement Mating Dance'. After that the couple live as mates for a year and then on the next ball, if they feel ready, they perform the 'True-Mates Dance'. Afterwards, they exchange collars and, as a sign of trust, inform each other of their third names. They are then officially recognised as mates for the rest of eternity. As this is permanent, many wait year or two more before making such a big decision.

Now days, if you did not need to go through the ceremony to be recognised as mates. The dance was now just a romantic gesture. Indeed, in Bomba's generation only a few had undergone the ritual dance. However, it was an integral part of the ball and it was vital that each year one couple went through one of the Mating Dances. Usually, this role was just left to Jenny and Skimbleshanks to repeat their original dance.

Luckily for them a new generation had become infatuated with the idea.

"It's more wonderful than last year," Victoria gushed. "Rumpleteazer has given me this beautiful collar – It has diamonds!"

"It's probably stolen," Pouncival huffed.

The others ignored him.

"It's just like a fairytale, Vic," Jemima smiled.

"When I do the Mating Dance it'll be more amazing than anything anyone has ever seen in the world, ever – there'll be fireworks!" Etcetera declared, staring off into the distance.

Actually, no, on closer inspection, Pounce saw she was staring in the direction of Tugger's den. Bomba, who had also noticed, threw a pebble at her. Etcetera whizzed around and gave her 'rival' a deathly stare. Bomba just smiled.

"Hehehe, when I, heh, get, hahaha," Electra began. "It's going to be so, hehahahe, I mean, it's, ha-"

"I'm never going to have a mate," interrupted an impatient Tumble.

"Why not?" gasped Victoria.

"Because it's icky and soppy and girly, duh."

He only escaped another beating by the timely arrival of Plato. The True-Mates to-be nuzzled each other. Their greeting was met by a chorus of 'aahs' from the queen-kittens, and the tom-kittens pretending to throw up.

Before Plato could say a word Admetus had come crashing down from the sky...well, a nearby junk pile. He grinned sheepishly before turning the junkyard upside down with his frantic searching.

"What are you looking?" said a slightly exasperated Plato.

"Misto."

"I don't think you'll find him in a teacup."

"It's worth a try."

"I'll help you learn your lines," Etcetera helpfully volunteered.

"No!" he cried. "No offence, Cetty, it's just no one does it like him."

Plato shot his brother a curious look.

"What do you think of mating...I...I...I mean, the, hehe, Mating Dance, Tugger," Etcetera giggled breathlessly.

"I'll tell you when you're older," he winked slyly at Etcetera causing her to burst into mad, uncontrollable laughter.

Bomba's jaw tightened. How long had he been there? He better have a damn-good excuse for letting her down.

"Ow!"

Admetus had, yet again, fallen flat on his face.

"If you're looking for Misto he's cowering behind my den," Tugger informed him.

Admetus was off like a light. After a silent pause there was a thump and a short, rude exclamatory.

"Ooh," all the kittens chimed in unison.

"What does that mean, Bomba," questioned Jemima innocently.

"It means don't tell your Mummy or she'll tan my hide for not covering your ears."

Whilst the kittens were distracted with their new favourite word, Tugger pulled Bomba close.

"Sorry, I'm late, kitten. Ready for tonight?"

Bomba stretched and yawned, breaking Tugger's grasp.

"Can't talk now, Tugs; I'm a very busy queen. Pounce has just promised to show me some very stylish new delicacies and well...how could I refuse."

And taking an ecstatic Pounce by the arm she left the junkyard, leaving a slack jawed Tugger in her wake.

"I said I was sorry! Wait, come back...Please don't leave me holding the kittens, Bomba!"

He had only a moment to recall Misto's warning about Pouncival before he was swamped by his eager fan club.