Disclaimer: Sly Cooper & Carmelita Montoya Fox © Sucker Punch Productions and Sony and Sanzaru Games

Author Information: To begin with I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas. Then I would just point out that I am not used to write in English because I usually write in Swedish... but one of my friends has checked through it. I hope you like it and I'm so sorry if there are some grammatical errors or something like that.

Have a nice evening/night/morning/afternoon/whatever

Published: December 25, 2012
Updated and checked: March 24, 2015

The world is small.

Sly Cooper's P.O.V

I always have this scarf on me during Christmas day, ever since I was seven. I got it from total stranger when I travelled to Paris for the first and last time with my parents. I remember that day when I meet that weird but wonderful girl like if it was yesterday…

Paris, many years before (Christmas eve)

It was the coldest day in December and I remembered how my parents complained about how much they froze. I held my teddy bear, but I was barely thinking about the cold. Because this was the first time I'd celebrate Christmas Day with my parents in Paris, but I had no idea then that it would be my only one with them.

"Sly, it doesn't seem as if the train is coming right now. If you want, you can go and play, but stick around," a middle-aged female raccoon smiled toward the little boy. That beautiful lady was my mother – the best mum in the world. I always felt safe around her, with her warm smile and best of all; she made the best hot chocolate in the world.

"Okay Mum," I smiled silly back to her and stood up with the bear in my hand. Until the day I gave it away to a… friend in need, I always kept it near me.

"Sweetheart, maybe you should leave teddy here, so it doesn't get wet," mum suggested but I remember how I only held it closer to me so I could stop her from taking teddy. I heard my father's familiar laugh. Many people said I looked like him... much more than my mother. As a little kid, I always hoped that!
I wanted to be just like him – the best master thief in whole world. But dad always told me that I was more like mum; a kind soul with a strong but stubborn heart. When I was younger I wasn't happy with his answer; I mean, who wants to be nice and stubborn, when your dad is the best master thief in the world? But now I understand what he means, and I am glad I have something from both dad and mum.

"Honey, let him be; let him be a child as long as he can. Don't force him to grow up when he's not ready," my father replied and smiled a sly smile. Everyone knew that he would win this; and with just that little smile, mum just laughed and gave up. Dad was always on my side no matter what I did, although it was stupid. He always said that it was through my mistakes and memories that I would really grow up and become that skilled thief, which I so much wanted. I started to walk a bit, but I still heard my parents talking to each other in low voices.

"I hope we'll arrive before Christmas day ends. Sly have been talking about this day for ages. He really yearns to celebrate Christmas with us," mum smiled but sounded a little sad. I remember how sad I was when I heard her. I didn't want to miss the best Christmas, not for any price. I was actually going to go but continued to remain to see what daddy said. He would never know that I managed to eavesdrop on him. I smiled my biggest grin when I thought about it.

"Honey, I promise that we will arrive in time. To you and everyone else who is listening, I ensure that Sly Cooper will get a Christmas he'll never forget," dad grinned and I knew then that he knew I was hiding nearby and listened. Um, Dad was always the cleverest, no matter what he did.

I had felt so shocked but continued to walk. I don't know for how long I was walking before I finally noticed that I was all by myself... or it was at least what I thought. I heard a low sound; it sounded like someone was crying. Instead of going back to my parents like any other seven year old, I went in the direction the sound came from. We Coopers aren't known to be cowards and not me either.

I remembered how I came closer and closer to the sound, and finally saw a street lamp and a bench and on the bench sat a little girl. She looked to be older than me, but with tears flowing down at her orange fur and arms close to her body, she looked very weak and fragile out. I remember that I back then thought she was the prettiest girl I've seen, which says a lot because I thought the girls (not mum) had cooties when I was seven until I met her. I hardly went around and thought that strange girls were beautiful when I was seven. If I were superstitious, I would probably have thought she was a beautiful ghost. I remember how I looked a little closer at her and saw that she was a vixen, probably a few years older than me and with dark blue curls. The blue colour really suited her. She wore a red gown that really brightened up her orange fur in the winter darkness. I went up to her and smiled a friendly smile.

"Hi, I'm S-" I began to tell, but was interrupted by her. I remember I got a little scared but mostly angry look from her.

"What do you want?" She asked, and looked away. Hmm, an irate little girl, right?

"I heard someone crying and came here to see who it was and that's when I found you," I explained, and she just needed to see into my eyes to see the truth – they burned with honesty. I would never lie to a girl, although this girl was a real grouch.

"I didn't cry!" She growled madly at me. I remember how mad I was at her and regretted so deeply that I even thought that she was beautiful. For a seven-year boy was it hard to understand why she was so angry that I pointed out the truth.

"Funny because I heard you," I replied the older girl.

"Why aren't you just leaving me alone?" she asked, and looked away again. I sat quietly on the bench left without saying anything. I saw her angry face changed and the tears continued to flow. I remember I was scared to say anything and instead gently gave my teddy bear to her which she gratefully accepted and pressed against her body, probably too feel safe and a little stronger.

"T-thank you-u," she murmured, and I saw that she blushed and became a little redder on her cheeks. Obviously I didn't understand then that she blushed, because I just thought she was cold or something so I just smiled gently but friendly back at her and watched as her smile grew.

"Why are you still here? Most people usually leave me when I'm angry," she murmured, looking down at Teddy. I didn't know how I too respond the right way, but I could always try.
"A real gentleman doesn't leave a lady alone in the dark," I murmured, and found myself sound like my father. "Although she is very angry," I smiled and heard her laugh. Her laughter felt so warm in the cold night. It surprised me that she was even the same person as the girl who screamed at me. I blushed at my own thought and heard her laughter became higher.

"Thanks," she smiled again, but continued "So... uh..." she began, but stopped.
"Sly! My name is Sly," I grinned and held out his hand. She grabbed my hand and shook it as she murmured low
"Carmel… Carmel Fox". Or I think it was Fox, but I didn't want to be rude and ask again.

"So Sly, what are you doing out here so late at night?" Carmel asked and if she was an adult, I would have thought she was a cop. She had that typical tone of voice that all police officers had when they questioned someone who they thought was guilty.

"I'm in travelling through France with my parents and we're going to Paris to celebrate Christmas" I smiled but continued "and you, mademoiselle?" I wondered, and you could really hear that weird French accent that I usually avoid when I speak English.

She giggled and replied, "I just moved here with my parents from Spain, and before that we lived North America… my older brother and sister already lives here".

Well, that explains her Spanish accent, but way she still spoke English so well.
"That explains your funny accent," I answered and joked, but I do not think Carmel understood it.

"What's so funny about it?" She asked and I could hear the anger had come back.

An angry little girl, right?

"Carmel, I was just joking," I sighed, but continued, "I think that you voice is beautiful. A beautiful accent for a lovely girl," I smiled and noticed only afterwards what I said, but it was already too late. I was so afraid she would laugh at me or worse – get angry but nothing was heard. I felt how much redder I was.
"Before you found me, my parents told me that I should stick around and that the train would surely come soon, but I have never been in France before, so become interested and started walking. I went for a while and then noticed that I didn't know where I was" she explained, sounding a little sad.

"And that's why you cried…" I murmured and forgot what happened the last time I said that she was crying. I looked carefully at her, and I saw her only nod quickly –the anger wasn't visible in her face or in her eyes.

"Take it easy, you will surely find them soon," I replied to the girl, and to my surprise it sounded very confident.

"How can you know that?" The question sounded like faint whisper.

"They are your parents and they love you. They are sure looking for you right now," I began, but was shaking because of the cold. She looked carefully at me and then smiled.

"Sly, don't you have a scarf? If you walk around like that, you will surely get sick soon," Carmel smiled, and sounded very adult. She took off the light blue scarf and put it around my neck instead. "I got it from my grandma before we travelled from Spain," she explained, and I immediately felt how warm I was - but it was probably also because I blushed.

"Carmel", we heard both a female voice shouting with a Spanish accent.

"Mamá," Carmel screamed back. She looked at me and then the teddy bear.

"Keep teddy; it's after all Christmas, just remember to have it near you when you get scared," I grinned and took off the scarf.

"Keep the scarf; after all it is Christmas, just remembered to have it on you when it's cold outside… I don't want my friend to get sick" she grinned back before she ran off to two orange shapes that I now noticed was a man and a woman, before I got to say goodbye. That reminded me that probably my own parents was wondering where I was. I went back with the scarf tightly wrapped around my neck.

"Mum, Dad" I cried when I saw them.

"Sly, so good that you are here, the train just came," mum smiled but stared at me when she saw the scarf. "Sly, where is your teddy bear?" She asked.

"A friend of mine got it and I got this for Christmas. She needed it more than I do," I smiled and looked at both of my parents. I told them about Carmel and how I helped her and what she told me.

"So good that you gave teddy to her, but your friend is right, it's really cold out here" dad laughed, but there was something extra in his eyes – pride. I knew dad would have thought I did the right thing when I gave teddy to Carmel.

We all went on the train and even though I tried to be happy that we would arrive for Christmas on time, I couldn't be, because I really missed my teddy bear.

"Sly, because you were so good and give away something that you really liked, we want to give something to you. Close your eyes," mum replied and held her hands in front of my face. I felt something hard on my knee. Mum said when I could open my eyes and I looked down. It was my father's all too familiar cooper cane that was in my lap. I didn't even dare to touch it – almost like it was made of glass and the slightest touch would cause it to crack.

"Sly, it's yours; son, me and your mother have been talking and think that you deserve it. It has helped me for many years and now it's yours," dad smiled and I slowly lifted it up. Ever since that day I have always kept it close to me. But father was right about one thing: that was really a Christmas I would never forget. The only thing I am wondering right now is where the girl lived and what she was doing…

PRESENT TIME (lots of years after their first meeting)

I returned to reality with a big smile on my face and continued move where I was going, to a certain angry yet beautiful inspector. I knew where she lived, so I just jumped from roof to roof, street lamp to street lamp. I landed on all that was possible, until I arrived at the apartment where I knew Inspector Carmelita Fox lived. I jumped up on the balcony, but the sound was way too loud... the next second I saw her standing at the balcony door with her shock pistol in hand, ready to shoot me.

"COOPER" she growled but froze when she saw the scarf around my neck.

"Carm?" I asked, but I couldn't get her back to the reality.

"Cooper, where the hell did you get that scarf?" She asked, but I knew she was the anger inside. "You fucking thief. How can you just go and take something that is not even yours. I don't understand you! One minute you help me to the next second when you are the annoying felon that you are! What are you even doing here?" Carmelita would surely go on if she didn't see my smile grow.

"Are you done now?" I wondered, and saw her actually nod in response. "Actually, Miss Fox, I got this for Christmas many years ago. I was moving to Paris with my parents when I met a girl at the train station. She gave me this" I smiled but continued "Why is it illegal for a master thief to get a legal Christmas present?" I wondered with a playful tone of voice. Carmelita's facial expression was at least serious, as usual. I heard her mumble something but I really don't hear what. I leaned in closer to hear her better, but then she spoke louder.

"Sly, I'll be right back," she smiled before she walked into the apartment again. Did really Carmelita say my first name and smile? I stood still, because I was pretty sure it wasn't for an extra gun that went in for. A few minutes later she came back, but she was something holding something; a teddy bear? Could it really be my old?

"Do you recognize this?" Carm asked and watched me. I just nodded gently, unable to do anything else. "I got this one when I moved to Paris by a stranger; Sly, you're the stranger, right?" Carmelita continued and her smile grew. I nodded back in response. Next thing Carmelita did really surprise me. She quickly pulled me to her and murmured low in my ear. "I never thought I'd see you again. Thanks for the best Christmas ever and that you kept my gift," she whispered before she pressed our lips in a sweet kiss.

What can I say?
The world is really small and life is too short. If anyone ever needs your help – no matter what – help that person!
You never know what it might lead to... promise?

THE END

EDIT (2015-03-24):
I just sat last night and changed the things I noticed was wrong or a little hard to understand. But otherwise this fanfiction is just as usual! I want to thank everyone who has read, commented and added to this story in your favourite list.

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