The train needed more assistance stopping in time, but after the brake wheel it was relatively simple. Mistoffelees and Fran went through the vans, checking to see if the emergency brakes were activated, which some weren't. When Mistoffelees saw the train station, the train would only need the buffer stop to avoid going any further, which was perfect.

Mistoffelees was still on the roof of a van when the train stopped at the station. It was a good place to be, too, because he could search for the orange tabby more efficiently. He searched for any sign of Skimbleshanks when the travelers prepared to board the train. At last, after much searching that aggravated Mistoffelees so much he wanted to jump of the roof and plunge to his death—which he really wouldn't have had the courage to do—he finally saw Skimbleshanks walking among the travelers. Mistoffelees tried to catch his eye by waving frantically, knowing it wasn't good to talk in front of the humans. He let that rule slide after doing this for a long time, and cupped his paws around his mouth and yelled, "SKIMBLESHANKS!"

Skimbleshanks visibly jumped, and Mistoffelees burst out laughing. He hadn't seen him jump like that before, and it was really funny. Skimbleshanks looked at the roof of the train where Mistoffelees sat, and smiled broadly. Mistoffelees waved at him with the paw that wasn't trying to stifle his laughs.

The tabby ran through the crowd to the train, and disappeared through a door. Mistoffelees felt nervous but ecstatic as he saw Skimbleshanks run toward him on the roof. That was pretty fast, he thought. Or was it just me?

Skimbleshanks tackled Mistoffelees. He was surprised that he would do this, since he didn't usually do things like this. They rolled in the snow, and Skimbleshanks playfully nipped one of Mistoffelees' long ears. He pushed him off after this, and tugged his brown tail in revenge. They laughed.

"I told you I'd be seein' you!" Skimbleshanks said cheerful grin. "I'd missed you, lad. I'm glad to be back! I see you have my hat. Nice, huh?"

Mistoffelees smiled. "It's an awesome hat."

"What have I been missin' here?"

"Well, I almost died, and—"

"What!" Mistoffelees had known that would get his attention. "Died? As in… you know… death? I don't know, maybe I shouldn't be leavin' again. What happened?"

"The train was going too fast to stop in time for the station, and I had to turn the brake wheel."

"I'm very proud of you, lad. But are you okay? If you're not, we don't have to do anythin', we can just—"

"Honestly, I'm okay! Really, Skimbleshanks. I just did a lot of running."

"Still, if you feel bad at all, just tell me. I'm not an expert, but I have a few tricks up my sleeve. Not that I have any sleeves… You understand."

Mistoffelees muttered, "You should see some of my tricks."

"Huh?" Skimbleshanks said, "didn't catch that. C'mon, Quaxo, again for me."

He cringed at that name. "I need to tell you a few th—"

Skimbleshanks interrupted again. "First, let me get a little comfortable and a bath. I was covered in oil back in Ireland, and still haven't had time to wash the bugger out. Have you had any of the tea yet? I see you have the pin. Like it? It's not much, as I said, but… yeah." He looked insecure.

"It's really cool. Thank you, Skimbleshanks."

"Welcome! Always happy to give a friend a thing or two," Skimbleshanks bowed, and tried removing his hat, but realized he had no hat to take off. "Er… if you're not mindin'… can I… have my hat back? Please?"

Mistoffelees laughed, and took the hat off. His mane was most certainly a mess, but he willingly handed it over anyway. Skimbleshanks looked at the thing lovingly before putting it on over one of his ears.

"Feel at home already. Let's go to my den, Quaxo, and get some tea brewin'."

Skimbleshanks gave him his signature ruffle of Mistoffelees' mane, and took his shoulder so they could walk. Mistoffelees smiled shyly as he felt a paw on his shoulder, not used to Skimbleshanks doing that.

They climbed carefully down the ladder. As they did so, Mistoffelees discovered that he was actually hurt. His knee was bruised from falling onto the vans after jumping across, and it wasn't very good on his knee to walk. Skimbleshanks, of course, came to the rescue and carried him to his den. He blushed the whole way there and didn't say much besides a mumbled "thank you".

Mistoffelees was placed in the bed when they arrived at his den, and Skimbleshanks shook off his vest to clean it. The thing had wrinkles and a few oil stains in it, but he said they could be taken out with this thing called the washer. Mistoffelees just went along with it, busy thinking about what he would say to Skimbleshanks. While he was gone, he concluded that improvisation would be the best thing and waited for someone to mend his hurt knee.

"Ow," Mistoffelees said when he poked his knee to see if it was bruised badly. It was. He poked it, and said, "Ow. That hurts…" he thought, maybe if I hit it really hard the pain will stop. He raised his fist and slammed down. He cried out, feeling pain shooting through his leg. He poked it again, and again, screamed. I must have bruised my brain, too, he thought savagely. Mistoffelees whimpered, and Skimbleshanks rushed into the room carrying a dry vest.

"What's happenin'?" Skimbleshanks said, drawing close to Mistoffelees. He looked down, smiling.

"I'm hurt."

"Where do you hurt?"

"My knee. Remember?"

"Right. I hope it'll be getting' better soon-like."

Mistoffelees panicked. That was not what he had intended him to say. "No… I don't think it will… Will you at least bandage it?"

"Sure thing." He ran off in a hurry, dropping his vest. He quickly got back, breathing hard. He had bandage strips, a dark brown bottle of something, cotton balls, and… candy? Yes, Skimbleshanks was indeed carrying a lollipop. He must have thought Mistoffelees needed special care, which he did… but in a different way. Still, that was nice of him.

"I'll just pour this over the cut… it's bleedin' a bit." Mistoffelees looked down when Skimbleshanks said this, and saw he was true. Blood was running out of a cut on his knee and clotting the fur there. He had thought there was only a bruise. Skimbleshanks took the dark brown bottle and said, "This is hydrogen peroxide. It'll clean the wound and prevent infection causin' things. You seem to have a likin' for getting' hurt, don't you? Seein' how much it happens and all…" Mistoffelees smiled. Ever since Skimbleshanks returned, Mistoffelees had turned into a smile machine.

Skimbleshanks poured the clear liquid onto the cut, and it foamed. Mistoffelees felt a painful sting, and jerked away his leg. Some of the liquid fell onto the bed. Skimbleshanks grabbed his paw. "C'mon, now. Let's get this over as fast as we can… Alright?" Mistoffelees nodded, very aware of their paws touching. He poured some more onto the wound, and it foamed and he felt stinging, but didn't pull away. He didn't want to. He took a cotton ball and soaked up the remaining liquid after waiting a minute. He got another cotton ball and pressed it on the cut, and got out a band-aid.

"Can you be gettin' this for me, Quaxo?" Mistoffelees took it, and ripped open the material containing the band-aid. "Thanks." He placed it on the cotton ball, and pressed the ends into Mistoffelees' knee, making it stick there. "Now for the bandage strips. Where did I put them…"

Looking around, he spied them and grabbed the roll of bandage paper. "Now you just sit still and I'll wrap this 'round your knee." Mistoffelees nodded. Skimbleshanks began wrapping. When he touched the back of his knee, Mistoffelees laughed loudly and tried to pull away.

"Sorry!" he gasped. "I'm just ticklish there."

Skimbleshanks laughed and said, "I'll be careful 'bout that now."

After the next few wraps, the bandage was too thick for Mistoffelees to laugh when Skimbleshanks touched the underside of his knee. And after that, it was enjoyable to feel the occasional touch of Skimbleshanks' fingers. Also, Mistoffelees got a chance just to look at him.

Skimbleshanks was relatively young, but older than Mistoffelees. He had an admirable knowledge in his words and actions that Mistoffelees hadn't acquired yet. He also was a good-looking tom. It surprised him why he didn't have a mate yet. He bet Jennyanydots would like him. But, he was too good for Jennyanydots.

His mane was a pleasant orange with those brown stripes, and Mistoffelees wanted to see if it was as soft as it looked. Skimbleshanks was allowed to ruffle Mistoffelees' mane, but he would feel awkward if he ruffled Skimbleshanks' mane. It was like an unsaid taboo. Skimbleshanks was wearing his vest now. Mistoffelees liked the bell at the top; it was pretty and shiny.

Mistoffelees sat still as Skimbleshanks tied the ends of the strip together and patted his knee. "There. All better. I'll be goin' to make some tea. What kind are you fancyin'?"

He thought, then said, "Darjeeling. The packets you got me. I haven't used any yet… sorry."

"That's okay. I'll go make some of that now, so hold tight while I get the tea goin'." As he got up, he handed Mistoffelees the lollipop. "This will make it sweet." He said. It was strawberry flavored and delicious.

Walking out of the den into another room, probably to the restaurant of the train—which wasn't that far away—Mistoffelees thought about Skimbleshanks again. During these past months from summer to winter, he and the railway cat had become close. He had thought Skimbleshanks didn't want to get close to him because he thought Mistoffelees was going to leave, but after what he said before about not forcing Mistoffelees to leave, he knew it was something else. He couldn't figure out what, though. That seemed like the only probable reason. But then again, Skimbleshanks seemed very friendly when he had returned, and kept getting really close to Mistoffelees. Maybe it was his imagination. Skimbleshanks was Mistoffelees' best friend.

He widened his eyes. Of course Skimbleshanks was! He had never spent some much time with another cat, and he had never felt so sad when he couldn't see a certain cat for a while. Even though Mistoffelees was sometimes boxed on the ears by Skimbleshanks when he did something wrong when seating passengers or something to do with his job, Skimbleshanks was the nicest cat he had ever met. Not just cat, but nicest anything. He felt bad saying this, but he enjoyed Skimbleshanks' company better than Francesca's. It was the truth, though, and Mistoffelees wasn't going to make any more lies like that. But if Skimbleshanks wasn't looking that great and he asked Mistoffelees how he looked, he would lie if Skimbleshanks was having a bad day and say he looked great. Skimbleshanks had never asked that, but if he did, Mistoffelees was prepared. Besides, those lies didn't really hurt anybody. The big ones did.

Wrapped up in his thoughts, he didn't notice when Skimbleshanks entered. He cleared his throat, and Mistoffelees rolled off of the bed onto the floor. He laughed, and Mistoffelees did too. It was really embarrassing, but he laughed.

"Not all there, Quaxo?" Skimbleshanks chuckled. "I have the tea here. We should go outside and enjoy it. It's very lovely out there."

Mistoffelees nodded and walked out to the rear of the train. The train was moving slowly again. It wasn't working to its full potential and someone needed to repair it. It was nice that it was running slow though, since Mistoffelees could be at ease outside and not feel wind chilling him. Despite the cold look, it wasn't very cold outside. His fur kept him warm and when they climbed up the ladder—which was hard, since they tried not to spill the tea—Mistoffelees could sit down without feeling any coldness.

The night sky was cloudy again, and again snow was falling heavily. Fat, fluffy flakes of snow fell onto the cats' heads. He could dimly see the moon, and it said to him that the Jellicle Ball had ended a long time before. This was a reminder for Mistoffelees to not just enjoy himself, but to tell Skimbleshanks the truth.

Once the two got situated comfortably and had their own china tea cup in their paws, Mistoffelees began the conversation. Skimbleshanks was holding the tea tightly with both paws close to his face. He must have been cold.

"Skimble?" Mistoffelees whispered timidly.

"Yes?"

"I have to tell you something."

"Okay, Quaxo. You can tell me."

"Um, I—"

"Wait, sorry. Just to let you know, I put some scotch in our tea. We've had a hard day, and deserve somethin'. Have you had alcohol before?"

Mistoffelees felt annoyed at yet another interruption, and one at such an important time. "No, I have not had alcohol before. Can't I just talk?"

Skimbleshanks looked away. "I'm sorry, lad. I guess I'm not too great at the conversation thing. I've not been havin' many people to talk to…" Mistoffelees felt selfish for saying what he had. He had forgotten about that, and knew he shouldn't be too mean. It wasn't even that big of a deal that he had been interrupted. This was just going to be hard to say.

"It's okay," Mistoffelees said, "It's just that… I've wanted to say this for a long time."

"Right. I get you." Skimbleshanks tuned in. Mistoffelees took a long drink of the tea. It affected him immediately, that scotch did.

"I… I…" Mistoffelees changed subject. "love your tea…?"

"Right."

"I can't get enough of it. I mean, it's so good. Every single kind. I really like that Earl Grey stuff, you know, your favorite? I love all the tea you love, well, besides Jasmine tea—you hate that tea!—but I won't talk about that because we got into a fight last time, and… huh, well, you know what happened with that. And this Darjeeling tea, it's just right, isn't it? A hint of grape, this tiny little… tiny little… smidgeon of grape, and, oh, you know me, I just LOVE TEAand—"

"Er, Mistoffelees? I think you're gettin' a bit sidetracked… wouldn't you say?"

He stopped ranting. Yes, he was getting a little crazy. It wasn't easy. Whatever, he would just do it. Right now. Although, he had never talked this much in front of Skimbleshanks before. It was very exhilarating.

"About that… it has something to do with it. I'm positive. At least a little bit. I mean, it faintly has importance. I think. Anyway, I never told you why I came here, did I?"

Skimbleshanks looked at him. "No, you didn't…"

"Well, I better start off by telling you that I'm actually a magician. A wizard." Skimbleshanks was looking at his tea, stirring it slowly. "I do all sorts of magic. From card tricks to transforming. Anything, pretty much. I was the only magician in my tribe.

"About that, I am a Jellicle—well, not exactly since I was orphaned as a kitten—but there is a tom there, and I got really mad at him and he might be…" Mistoffelees paused. He needed to say this. "He might be dead because of what I did to him. There. My magic went out of my control, and attacked him. I think I have more control now, after staying here.

"And I've been wanting to tell you—but I didn't trust you at the time—that my name is actually Mistoffelees. I came up with the name 'Quaxo' because I thought that if I told you my real name something bad might have happened. I don't know. I'm sorry, Skimbleshanks."

Mistoffelees panted. He had been talking very fast. Everything came out in a rush, but at least he had told Skimbleshanks at all.

Skimbleshanks kept stirring his tea. "So… you came here to become a better magician? Is that it? Is that why you kept on stayin' here? You stayed here not because you liked me, but because you were concerned with yourself…" He looked hopeless.

"No!" Mistoffelees cried, taking Skimbleshanks' shoulders, forcing him to look him in the eyes. "You are my best friend! I never had friends back at the Jellicle junkyard. They only liked me because I could do fancy tricks that amused them. All I ever wanted was to have someone like you be my friend…"

"Is this another lie? Are you lyin' to me right now, havin' fun gainin' my trust and then betrayin' me? I was even gave you my word to let you stay here. I'll reckon it means nothin' to you now. You don't care about anyone."

"Stop it… stop it…" Mistoffelees felt sick. He dropped his paws, and slumped over. It was never going to stop. He wouldn't ever have anyone. "Why…"

"Mistoffelees."

He looked up, gazing at Skimbleshanks with half-lidded eyes. "What?"

"Mistoffelees, I'm sorry. Mistoffelees. Mistoffelees."

He closed his eyes, feeling a weight lift off of his shoulders. "I'm sorry, too."

Skimbleshanks leaned down and pressed his lips to Mistoffelees'. He felt arms circle his waist and he was pressed against the other's chest. Lifting up a paw, he placed it on the back of Skimbleshanks' head and massaged it. His mane was as soft as it looked. Mistoffelees felt wonderful, but he felt as if he could cry. Someone loved him.

He leaned into the kiss, pressing their lips harder together. He ran the other paw down Skimbleshanks' back, and Skimbleshanks slid his paw down Mistoffelees' side. Breaking the kiss, they stared at each other.

"What now?" Mistoffelees whispered. "Is this it?"

"Why?" Skimbleshanks said after kissing him again on the mouth. "It's not all that bad, I'm sure."

"I really do like your tea, though."

He laughed, unable to stop kissing Mistoffelees. "I know. I like it, too."

"That's why I'm staying. Not because of you. I hope you know that." He smiled, letting Skimbleshanks know he was joking.

"Well, I only want you here to try the tea. We both win, I guess." He kissed Mistoffelees on the nose, and then on his cheeks, and then on the top of his head.

"I'm probably luckier, though."

Mistoffelees wrapped his arms around Skimbleshanks, and made him fall back. He rested a paw on Skimbleshanks' thigh, enjoying the moment. Skimbleshanks kissed Mistoffelees firmly, and ran his tongue across his bottom lip. Mistoffelees giggled, but then felt embarrassed afterward. He held onto Skimbleshanks' thigh tightly, and moved the other paw down his arm while Skimbleshanks continued to kiss him. He loved Skimbleshanks, too.

All the new sensations Mistoffelees felt as Skimbleshanks kissed him and touched him was nothing like the feeling he experienced as he realized this wasn't a lie. They loved each other.

Mistoffelees smiled and was happy.