This is my first Cats fanfiction and the first time I've written a story in English (if you find any mistakes in my language, please let me know).

For the purpose of this story, I assume that among jellicles, the most common form of relationship is an open relationship, so while the cats might have mates, they are free to sleep with cats other than their mate – some opt to be exclusive anyway, some make ample use of that freedom. Watching the DVD this was my impression about the relationships portrayed there.

And btw, the jellicles have basically antropomorph forms but are seen as ordinary cats by humans (not that it is really important, I just wanted to point that out).

Chapter 1

Misto was relaxing on top of a pile of tyres, watching Tugger enjoy the attentions of Bombalurina and Electra. A longing smile played around his lips, which vanished as soon as Victoria jumped up next to him. She looked in the same direction.

"Please tell me you are not watching him again, Misto."

"I'm not. He's an idiot."

"Yes, I noticed. So why have you been watching him all day?"

"Have not."

"Have too." Victoria paused. "If you are not busy watching him, do you want to come for a walk with Plato and me?"

Misto cast one look in Tugger's direction, a bit torn. But it really did not do to be caught watching his ex-mate. Especially because Tugger had seen them now and was nodding in their direction. He hurried to follow Victoria.

Tugger had Misto had been lovemates for close to three months – Misto would like to say they were the happiest three months of his life, but that would have been a lie. The first month had been okay. Tugger was not exactly giving Misto more attention than before, when they had just been friends. The least Misto expected from his mate was daily conversation beyond "Hello" and "Bye" but some days Tugger really just greeted him along with everyone else when he arrived and acknowledged him when he left. The second month had been better; actually Misto was quite happy that month fuelled by the hope that things might work out and they would be happy together. Tugger had started to spend more time with him; cats had started to notice that there was something between them. The third month had been miserable, Tugger had complained half of the time that Misto was too clingy and the rest of the time Misto had complained that Tugger didn't pay him any attention. In the end, it had been Misto who dumped Tugger but at that point they hadn't really been together anymore. The rest of the jellicles believed that Tugger had ditched Misto which excited reaction ranging from pity, especially from the younger cats, and condescension – most of the conversations after the break-up with Skimble, Jenny, Jellyorum, Demeter and Admetus could be easily summed up with "I could have told you so, it was stupid to expect he would settle down."

Misto hadn't expected Tugger to settle down. He would have liked to have some kittens by a queen later on and raise them with Tugger, as most gay cats did at some point, or adopt some kittens whose parents had passed away or were overwhelmed. But he would have been willing to forget that idea or do it on his own, if Tugger would have decided not to take that responsibility. He had expected him, however, to pay a bit more attention to him than to, say, Etcetera, and he had expected some show of respect and affection. He could accept, grudgingly, that Tugger didn't like cuddles and sometime in the first month he had stopped looking for them. But he had missed reassurance that Tugger was in love with him. The whole three months the words "in love" let alone "love" had never fallen.

"Seriously, it's been two months now. That is nearly as long as you have ever been 'together'".

Misto sighed. "Yes, Victoria. I know. I got over it."

Why couldn't his sister leave it alone? No, while they were looking for her bloody mate – her affectionate, respectful, handsome mate – she kept pestering him with his own failed relationship. Unfortunately, her preaching delayed them and when they finally found Plato, he had already been found by Tugger. Plato's one minor fault was his hero-worship for Tugger although even there Misto had to credit him with being very polite and sensitive, never mentioning Tugger when Misto was near and after Victoria had started avoiding him, he had been hesitantly doing the same. So why was he talking to him now? Plato looked apologetically at Victoria who scowled. Tugger ignored the irritation of the two younger cats and just smiled at them.

"Hey Victoria. Hey Misto."

"Hi," they both forced out.

"Anyway …" Plato said, obviously a bit nervous. "Vicky, Misto and I were just going for a walk, looking at what the humans are doing at that new building site …"

"Good idea. Do you mind if I join you?"

Plato was too dumbfounded to say anything, and unfortunately Victoria and Mistoffelees had been brought up to be very polite, so they found themselves nodding while their faces plainly spelt the message that they minded very much. But while they walked, Victoria stuck next to Misto ignoring all Tugger's attempt to separate them. It must have looked funny to any humans watching, two tiny cats walking so close they were nearly touching, a Main Coone whose fur made him look nearly twice the size attempting to casually walk beside them, constantly forced to stop when they walked close to an edge, while another large cat was desperately trying to catch the Main Coon's attention. When they were nearly back at the yard, Tugger seemed have reached the end of his patience.

"Look, Misto, could you give me 5 minutes of your precious time? I want to talk to you."

He looked hesitantly to his sister, who was nearly hissing with indignation and Plato who appeared to be extremely uncomfortable. Against his better judgement, he nodded, fearing the explosion if he let Tugger and Victoria remain in close proximity any longer.

Tugger led him away a bit – sensitive as he always was, to the spot where they had first mated. Misto nearly turned around right then and there, but Tugger grabbed his arm.

"Misto, please, listen to me."

"What do you want Tugger?"

"Why have you been avoiding me?" Tugger asked instead. "I have been trying to catch you alone for bloody days."

"You could have asked to speak to me any time, couldn't you?"

"Yes. Well. Have you been avoiding me on purpose?"

"No." It wasn't even a lie; he hadn't noticed that Tugger wanted to talk to him.

"Misto, listen, I have been thinking, about all that happened and how it ended and … I believe, it could actually work if we try again."

Misto was speechless for some moments. "You want us to be mates again?" He asked, incredulity tingeing every syllable.

"Yes. I want you back, Misto."

"Back for what." He scoffed. "Is your pride hurt because it was me who broke up? Do you want me to give you the chance to do it yourself?"

"No! Nobody believes you dumped me anyway, not even your precious sister, right?"

Trust Tugger to find the sore spot in Misto's dignity. It was miserable to think that no jellicle thought him capable of ditching the great Rum Tum Tugger. No, they all preferred to think he was a weak-willed little wimp who was hopelessly devoted to his (ex-)mate. He just grumbled in response.

"Misto, believe me, I didn't pretend I dumped you. I even told Munkustrap the truth."

"How generous of you."

Now Tugger scowled. "What did you expect me to do, Misto? Run around telling everyone you left me and let everyone see how much it hurt?"

"It hurt?" Misto laughed in derision. "Don't tell me you haven't been close to leaving me, if you didn't consider us to be split already anyway."

"I wasn't and I didn't." Tugger's voice went oddly quiet. "Why would I have left you?"

"Because it wasn't working? If I remember correctly, you thought it too much to lay beside me for 5 minutes at a time without feeling on the edge. And in the last two weeks, you spend more nights with Bombalurina than with me, if my count is correct. Or maybe it was Electra; she was quite a favourite then, wasn't she. Bombalurina had become too easy. Like me."

He thought he heard Tugger wince, but that must be his imagination. "Yes, I know my behaviour was a bit less than perfect, but I can do better. I promise."

"No, Tugger, you can't. I don't expect much from a mate, but more than you can give."

Tugger was quiet for a bit, but unfortunately he still held on to Misto's arm.

"And if I prove I can?"

"How would you do that?"

Tugger looked at him intently, silence descending on them again, then he pulled Misto closer.

"Misto, is there someone else you'd rather have as a mate, than me?"

Misto tried looking away, but Tugger used his other hand to force him to look at him. Someone had to tell Tugger that using force had not been an accepted way to woo for several generations. He cast his eyes down, unwilling to tell a lie.

"Not at the moment. But I am happy without mate too."

"You still have feelings for me, haven't you? I know you are still watching me."

Misto refused to answer, feeling increasingly uncomfortable at being restrained by his ex-mate. Tugger waited a moment, then he pulled Misto even closer. He tensed and started to get ready to fight Tugger, with magic if need be.

"Calm down Misto. I only want to know what I can do to get you back."

"I …" Misto thought quickly. He had to find something outrageously hard, to discourage Tugger. "Okay. No sleeping with any cat for one month. And no flirting. That's all I can think of for now. If I can think of something else, I may add to the rules at any time. If you succeed, I'll be your mate again."

Tugger took a moment to digest that. "Okay. But – agree to be my mate for at least three month again before you dump me. No leaving me again after one day just because you had to become my mate."

Misto gulped, but nodded. "Okay, you won't have any sexual contact with any cat nor flirt with any cat for a month, rules might be added, and if you win, I'll be your mate for at least three months."

"Or forever." Tugger smiled and pulled one of Misto's paws to his mouth. "In a month."

Tugger left swinging his hips. Misto sat himself down on an old table, a bit dazed. Tugger wanted him back! That smile he gave him when he said 'forever' – it reminded him of the way Tugger had smiled at him when they first got together. He remembered the time when Tugger had sought a nickname for Misto, coming up with ridiculous names like "Sparkly", "Sparkles", "Little angel", "Twinkle star" … Misto had giggled at all of them, making his rejection of them a bit less than convincing and Tugger occasionally used them to get that annoyed but happy reaction out of Misto. Could it work again? The thought of being back in Tugger's arms was enticing. He was still in a happy mood when he walked back to the yard himself.