It's me again…yes, me! Another story. This idea came to me one day out of the blue. There are a lot of awww…. how sweet Sly Cooper fics but I think this one will make you cry. Well hope ya like! Oh yeah, this DOES NOT FOLLOW THE SLY 3 STORYLINE, well completely anyway!

Update (4/16/13): OKAY... I am currently posting the prequel to this story. It has basically rendered this version of this story obsolete... at least until finish the prequel and come back to update this one. So, please note that this story will change in the future and I ask that you just be patient with me as I try to catch up.

Thanks,

Wolfkeeper989

Disclaimer: Sly Cooper and other related characters are the property of Sucker Punch, inc. except for Desiree, Nautica, Aubrey, and Sister Ann belong to me, and whoever came up with idea of Carmen Fox, she belongs to them.

Strangers Like Us

Chapter 1

Isn't it amazing what we can do with genetics these days? I mean, a woman who couldn't conceive a child was out of luck in the old days. But now she can adopt or try to get pregnant with in vitro fertilization. But with precious cargo such as life there comes large amounts of responsibility, some will take on the responsibility, but then there are those who won't. Then with the advances we have made in the field of medicine there are those who use them responsibly and then there are those who will use it for the wrong reasons. That's why the Macavity Medical Research Center in France was closed. They were abusing the advances. They were planning to use in vitro fertilization to make a ton of money by allowing people to have children with other people without having to have an affair. Can someone say chaos? But Interpol got wind of the situation and sent the Foxs to take care of it. Joseph Macavity was known as the boss of the Macavity Medical enterprises and a multibillionaire. But to Carmelita Montoya Fox and her older sister Carmen Fox, he was the boss of the Macavity Mafia, an underground Mafia group that was quickly rising in the French underground. They were happy to shut part of his cash crops down. Carmelita was even more pleased because she was able to throw one of her oldest and most fearsome rivals, Nautica Macavity behind bars for a little while…

"I'll get you Carmelita! I'll get you back!" screamed Nautica. Carmelita just laughed. She dared Nautica to try. That was years ago and Nautica would get her back later but the price that she would have to pay for it would be paid by the pain and suffering of many and almost cost the life of a loving father and his daughter…

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Sister Ann gazed fondly at the young sleeping vixen. Her curly red hair fell across her cherubic face accenting the freckles that lined the bridge of her nose. She sighed; the girl had been at Happy Camper's Orphanage for almost fives years now. Her mother dropped her off there when she was barely three weeks old. Her name was Desiree Veronica Vanderbelt while her mother's name was still unknown. She found out the child's name through the information given by blood test and fingerprints. But despite the young nun's efforts the child's mother could not be located because the mother was listed as an anonymous. The middle aged nun, now in deep thought, walked over to the window and looked out at the moon, which gleamed like a flawless pearl in the cobalt sky. The moon was believed to be a wise and caring mother to her children of the night. She was always willing to shed her light wherever it was needed. Right then it was shinning on a certain well-known thief as he glided down to the earth.

Sly Cooper landed with a soft thud in a small bed of grass across from the Eiffel Tower. He began to start the long trek home as he chuckled to himself. He could just imagine Carmelita's face when she walked into her office and saw that bottle of wine on her desk.

"Hey, Bent…Bentley!" called Sly into the microphone.

"Yeah Sly?" said a soft voice. Guilt instantly gripped him.

"I am heading through the satellites and I might be out of touch for a little while." said Sly.

"10-4." said Bentley. Sly felt extremely guilt-ridden. Most of the pain his friends were feeling was because of him. Murray had lost his van, which was practically his life. Bentley had lost his ability to walk. The pain in Sly's chest became overwhelming as he thought of poor Bentley. He continued to walk with his head bowed. He continued walking through the rows of satellite dishes that surrounded their underground hideout.

"Why the long face, Cooper?"

"Huh?" said Sly snapping out of his gaze. "Oh. Hi Beatrice," Sitting in the dome of one of the satellite dishes was a fruit bat with blonde hair. She was an accomplice, aid, and friend to the Cooper Gang. She grew up in the same orphanage. She was a techno genius like Bentley and just as slick as Sly. "Nothing, just heading home," She smiled sweetly.

"Liar! I know you. You are a thief but you're an honest one and a gentleman. Now, tell me what's up." She said. Sly couldn't help but smile,

"Finally got rid of Clockwerk but Bentley and Murray had to pay some high prices for my problem."

"Did they? How big?" she asked.

"Murray lost his van and Bentley…lost his ability to walk. But me? I come out scott free!" Sly said bitterly.

"Did you? Tell me, can Murray get another van, I mean there are other vans, right?" she asked. Sly cocked his head not quite understanding where she was going with this logic.

"Yeah, but that van was his van. He put his heart into that van," said Sly. She nodded sympathetically.

"Right. He took the time to make that van his. He can make another one his as well. But nothing will replace his first one but now he now has something to work towards in the future. As far as Bentley is concerned, who knows, the paralysis might not even be permanent. But even if it is with Bentley's mind, he could probably find a cure for it. If his back is broken then it can be mended, just not right now and it will take time," said Beatrice. She always was the wise one of the bunch.

"Maybe but I still feel bad about it," whispered Sly, "maybe I should let them go; I mean they have their own lives. They vowed to stick with me during this Clockwerk business and now it's over."

"They will always be your friends, Sly and so will I," said Beatrice looking at Sly lovingly like a sister would look at a brother. "But what would you do?"

"I don't know… I'll find something. What about you?" He asked.

"I'm getting married." She said half boasting.

"Really? That's great. Bryan finally got you a ring. You're lucky he is a good guy," said Sly. She smiled and said,

"I know. But, still, what about you?"

"I'll find something." he said shrugging his shoulders. He had no idea what he was going to do with himself the main focus of his training and scheming was for revenge. He had gotten that now what was he going to do?

"Wow, you gave up your future." said Beatrice sadly.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Don't you see?" she asked incredulously as she hopped down from her perch, "You gave up your life, Sly. The past you could have had with your father was taken by Clockwerk then in order to get revenge you gave up your future. I mean that's all your life was ruled by. I mean you completed your main goals in life: you got your family's book back, you became a Master thief, and you finally got rid of Clockwerk. Is there nothing else you want to accomplish or did you let your need for revenge throw your life to the breeze?" she asked her voice edged with a serious tone.

Sly was at a loss for words, she was telling the truth. When he thought about it, she was right. All he had was his roots and his destiny to fulfill. But now that he had accomplished that, there was nothing left. He began to stare at the cane that had been in his family for generations. For a moment it looked that cane had lost its shine. Beatrice's voice jarred him from his trance.

"Don't start second guessing yourself, Sly, I'm just saying you should stop thinking and living like Sly Cooper that last of the Cooper line and start thinking like Sly. Just relax a little and live my friend. The thief's life maybe over but what about the man?" asked Beatrice, "That's Carmelita's problem too, she cannot distinguish the fifth generation Fox in the family from plain old Carmelita Fox. This leaves her blind and her future in darkness when it comes to life and the social aspects of it. She will be remembered as one of Interpol's finest but nothing more. You will be too, if you don't make an impact on just one life Sly. Just one, Sly, that's all it takes. You will leave a part of yourself with that person and then that person will leave apart of themselves and you with another person and so on and so forth." said Beatrice. Sly nodded, he understood completely now. Her words were inspiring; he looked up at her and smiled.

"Thanks Beatrice! Good luck with your marriage!" he yelled as he ran for home…

Two months later…

When he got home that night two months ago, Sly announce to the guys that he was wanting to go on a trip to try and sort through his life and figure out what he was going to do with what was left of it. He also gave them the choice of leaving Paris to pursue their own dreams. Bentley headed to Florida in the US to work for NASA and Murray went to California and started a Car Customizing business. He missed them but was glad they were doing well. Sly traveled around the world and actually noticed the world through daylight. He had seen the major landmarks around the world but only by night. He had spent two months just finding out about himself. He had come back to Paris when Bentley called asking how they were going to tie up the loose ends of their financial estate.

He agreed to take the rest of the money in the active accounts out and give them to the orphanage, to take of any outstanding markers that Interpol could use to trace them. Sly walked up the hill towards Happy Camper's Orphanage with a smile on his face as he remembered the fun times he and guys had here despite their title of orphans. He reached the yard area that was a rich green like it always was and stopped to watch the children play. They were all just playing and loving life as if nothing was wrong. He smiled, if only the world were nothing but this. But the world was tough and days like these were only illusions. He continued up to the front door and dropped the check in the mailbox on the door before turning and leaving. Then he was almost halfway down the hill when he heard someone call out his name. He turned around and saw the young nun that ran orphanage rushing towards him. As soon as she reached him she threw her arms around him in an embrace.

"Hello, Annie. How are you?" He asked as she released him. Ann was the younger sister of the nun that used to run the orphanage. They: Sly, Bentley, Murray, Ann, Bryan, and Beatrice all were about the same age. So they "grew up" together so to speak.

"I am well but there is something I need to discuss with you." she said her voice serious. She led him back to the orphanage and out into the backyard. There were a few children were playing together here too. "See that vixen over there?" She pointed to a redheaded little fox that was currently swinging on one of the swings of the swing set. He nodded. "She came here when she was barely three weeks old. That was five years ago today. She is very bright, crafty, and has a sweet tongue. But she is as sweet as honey and witty, too much for just a five year old. But that's not the point, do you notice anything different about her?" asked Ann. Sly studied the little vixen for a moment. She had freckles across the bridge of her nose and bright green eyes that were shielded by a pair of small glasses. She seemed pretty ordinary…then he noticed it. There were two black bands around those liquid green eyes. Then her tail had three rings around it just like his. He looked at Ann with disbelief written all over his face. "She reminds me of a certain raccoon I once knew. I learned her name from a blood test. I could not find her mother, because she was listed as anonymous; but I did discover who her father was. I was shocked to say the least, and I still can't believe it."

"Believe what?" asked Sly, fearing he already knew the answer.

"You're the father." said Ann looking at him expectantly. He watched the young vixen as she hopped out of the swing, and started bouncing a blue ball. Then she tried to shoot it into the hoop, but missed. She didn't get upset, though. She just went and picked up the ball and tried again. She kept missing but never gave up. Then at one point, the ball rolled behind her and she turned around to pick it up. At that moment, she happened to look up at Sly and Ann, her eyes ablaze with that unmistakable Cooper determination. Her eyes met his and they locked. He began to see some of himself in her. Then something in both of them clicked. She was his daughter… but how? He had never been with a woman in his entire life! So how could have she been made? Besides, he wasn't even sure he could be a father! He had no real experience with raising children…

"Something in me says she is my daughter but I have never been with a woman in my life! How-" he started, not able to take his eyes away from the young kit.

"I figured you had no idea she existed or how she came to be here. But I think it might have been before they shut down Macavity Medical, and a crazy fantic could have conceived her through their illegal vitro fertilization program. They could steal the genetic material needed for conception and implant it for a fee… but that couldn't be it, because the organization admitted that they had only completed one successful experimental birth, and then got "rid" of the evidence." said Ann.

"What if getting "rid" of the "evidence" was dumping "it" here?" suggested Sly. Ann nodded.

"That's just what I was thinking." said Ann.

"What's her name?" asked Sly as he watched her turn and try to make a basket again and missed.

"Desiree." Ann answered. The vixen went and picked up ball and studied it. Then she looked at the basket. It stood towering above her. Every time she shot the ball either missed completely or came up a little short. She looked at the ball then at the hoop and basket. Then she pulled at the collar of her t-shirt and stuck the ball in her shirt. Then to Sly and Anne's amusement the vixen started towards the basket and began to climb it! Then when she reached the top of the pole and the start of the backboard she stopped, and using one hand: maneuvered the ball out of her shirt and stuck it in the basket.

"She is defiantly your daughter." commented Ann with a laugh. Sly laughed with her. The young vixen then shimmied down the pole and ran back to the swings. Sly couldn't help the rush of pride he felt in his daughter. His daughter. The significance of this phrase hit Sly. He was a father and he was responsible for her. He made a vow to himself that as long as he could breathe he would take care of her and do anything to protect her. "Do you want to meet her?" asked Ann.

"Yes, but how long would it take me to have daughter home with me?" asked Sly with a smile.

"Just as quick as you can sign your name." Ann said. He nodded. Ann cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled, "Desiree!"

That's it! Please review!