A Thief At Heart

by Venquine1990

Carmelita is in a pickle. Her boss is a jerk, her intended target has become the love of her life and she hasn't been together with her family for years. So when she decides to confront both her enemy/crush and her family through a new friend, what consequences will this have. A new job, more family and lessons from the other side of the law that she never imagined. THAT'S WHAT!

3. The Hide-out And The Party - Part 01

Hey everyone,
Okay, so in this chapter, the gang arrives at the Hideout, Sly continues taking pleasure out of the fact that Carmelita is actually a willing birthday gift to him and the Fox family gets together for a surprise attack against Barkley to make sure he realizes how badly his little schemes against Carmelita back-fired.
Also, for those of you following Cannon – Yes, I know that in the end of Sly 2 the Van vanished and that it wasn't found until the team went for Panda King, but in this story, they won't head for China and there is a 2-year time span between Sly 2 and 3. And sorry, peeps, but you can't tell me such a van can't be found in 2 years.
Also, I have a few plans for this story and while they will involve the whole gang getting to the Vault, will they not involve the giant monster that was crushing Sly in Cannon or what is actually inside the Vault itself. For that you need to check one of my other stories, where I proved myself a real history geek, so to say.
Hope you enjoy,

Venquine1990
PS. Credits for this story's existence go to Kitty Pedro

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Sly's POV

The van we drove to the Salon in is quite busily full now that the whole Fox Family has decided to join us and while I happily enjoy the sound of all their mumbling, their tones letting me know they are planning something, is it the amazing vixen seated on my lap at the front passenger seat that makes me enjoy this ride immensely.
Carmelita happily has her arms around my neck and her face buried in the curve between my neck and shoulder, her soft hair emitting a deliriously nice smelling perfume that smells like a mix of warm, fresh-baked, nature-made honey and the incredible scent hyacinths give off during the first few days that they actually bloom.
I now have both my hands firmly around her tender waist, my left again softly moving up and down over her skin and shirt-covered fur and the peaceful smile that has been on her face since we decided to really become one big team makes me feel as if I just saved the world from the Fiendish Five and Clock-La a good dozen times over.

To see the woman that I love looking so content while in the arms of the criminal she has been trying to pursue for all these years was something I had, before, only seen in my dreams and that I sometimes told myself I wouldn't see anywhere else, yet the way her eyes are closed as she leans against me makes her look downright angelic.
I then untangle one of my hands from her waist and softly, with the utmost gentlest of touches, let one of my fingers slide from the part of her brow covered by a single blue-blackish dread of hair down to her nose, the way she cringes it and giggles as I remove my finger there with a hurried move making her look downright adorable.
Still, just by the one arm I still have around her waist can I tell that this day has not been easy on her as she must have been worried over a ton of things the entire time leading up to where she could offer me her proposition and while her idea still makes me shudder in disgust for how it won't change her lifestyle, do I ignore this.
Instead of that do I wait for her to lock gazes with me and whisper at her: "You're still due one massage to unleash too painfully tight muscles, remember my darling? From when you were willingly keeping your arms in that very trying position behind your back the entire time." At this Carmelita smiles and nods at me.

Then Murray shocks me as gazing at Carmelita had made me completely lose sight of where we were going and suddenly the big hippo asks: "You coming out, Sly?" Before I realize that we have actually halted the van and are back in the garage that is build into the far north-eastern part of the rectangular hotel we reside in.
Amazed that just being around the one I love can distract me so thoroughly, do I happily move my empty hand back under my beloved's slender knees and lift her up, my nimble muscles making it easy for me to open the door with my shoulder and then turn myself so that I can almost flawlessly slide out of the seat.
Carmelita herself looks around at the metal and iron boarded garage that has a single table against the far left wall that is overloaded with all kinds of tools Murray uses once a week to once a fortnight in order to keep our van mobile and in proper shape before I move her over to the simple wooden door leading further.

Murray opens the door for me and I smile at him as I can tell that Bentley – being the prune turtle that he is – must have closed the door behind himself on instinct after guiding the rest of Carmelita's family through and while I take the rickety staircase up, do I whisper: "We do have a little detour to take, so there won't be much to see yet."
Carmelita nods and when we reach the top of the staircase, does the vixen look at the room around her in shock as there are glass pieces lying on the wooden floor, of which parts are actually either turned and bent due to old age or busted and broken as if someone tried to break them in pieces and the ceiling is half gone as well.
Despite this is there a very old and dusty looking couch that has a few springs sticking out, some picture frames hanging from the wall – some looking old, others new, some of them hanging to one side, others hanging perfectly straight – and is there a stone grate with pieces missing from the stone and the grate itself smoldering.

"Anyone coming here would think we live as chums and that this is our reason for having the profession that we have. Yet if you look closely, you can tell that all this is just a ruse, a way to make sure you don't really see what we – being who we are – have to offer to the world. Care to see our real home, Cheri?"

I mutter as I look around, smiling as Murray and I always make sure to keep the room looking half-tidy half a complete mess and Carmelita nods before getting shocked as Murray suddenly thumps his foot down onto the floor harshly, causing for a large set of floorboards to rise up with I catch with my foot before they fall back.
Keeping my hold on Carmelita as firm as possible, do I move my leg up and let the set of floorboards fall back, revealing a hidden staircase that moves further down than the staircase to the garage moved up, is made of stone and has a red gleaming handrail besides it and is actually spiral shaped making you dizzy if you look too far down.
Reapplying my firm hold on my beloved to make sure I can keep my balance, do I smile at her lovingly before moving downwards, the way that Carmelita's face lights up with intrigue and excitement making me kind of nervous for how she will react when she actually sees our living room for the first time.

We enter the room in question and while nervous for my beloved's response, can I not help the feeling that always washes over me when I look around. A warm brown rug covering the entire floor, windows that have electronics set by Bentley to portray the outside skies, darkish red and purple couches and a few chairs.
There is, naturally, another stone grate in the room, this one gleaming and making it seem as if the thing is made of diamonds instead of pure rock and above this is a portrait of myself, Bentley and Murray, while a 1 foot high glass coffee table with soft iron legs is set in front of it, the table itself a bit of a mess to look at.
Carmelita's parents are already inside and while her mother seems fascinated by the portrait hanging on the wall, does Carmelita's sister seem intrigued with the unfinished chess match that is stalled out on a small table in the right back corner and have her dad and brother moved over to simple bookcase against the far left wall.
Carmelita herself looks around in intrigue and shock and I say: "It may not appear much, but after a few visits of coming here, just passing through that secret door makes you feel right at home. At least that's how I feel it." Bentley and Murray then nod in agreement and Carmelita sends me another dazzling smile as she says:

"It does feel like home, that portrait definitely helps." To this Bentley sniggers and says: "That portrait is an invention of mine. One I plan on selling once Sly, Murray and I decide we've had enough of stealing and that Sly has proven himself worthy to his family name." This makes Carmelita's mother look intrigued and I say:
"Show her, old chap." Bentley nodding at me and taking a simple remote control from the coffee table, aiming it for the portrait and pressing the left top button, which actually causes for the portrait to roll itself up and for a gigantic screen to show itself, shocking everyone in the room that hasn't seen this happen before.
Bentley then presses the button under it and the rectangular shape of the picture frame moves itself with a turn of a quarter of a circle, making the long sides lie at the top and bottom of the wall instead of the sides and then presses the top right button, making the actual TV that is placed behind the portrait be turned on.

The whole Fox family looks in shock and I say: "Fancy TV. That's at least what Bentley calls it. A Television that can hide itself behind any kind of wall ornament and of which the ornament can be changed to fit the frame of the TV itself, making it so you can always chose between a fancy ornament or a good TV show."
This makes Cheren look at the TV in great wonder and I can almost already see just by the look in the slightly elder fox's eyes that he and Bentley will make a good pair of friends as the excitement and intrigue with which the fox is admiring not the show, but rather the picture frame makes me know we have another genius on board.

I then focus onto what I had been planning since we moved here and seat Carmelita down on the lush dark purple chair on the left of the coffee table, one I had been able to acquire after a year of living here and that actually has a recliner function to it, yet one that had been old and rusted until Bentley had been able to fix it.
The turtle himself looks shocked that I seat Carmelita in here as I had always made sure not to even let Murray do so, no matter how much the Hippo loved letting his feet rest, but then I again move myself behind the vixen and continue where I had left off before, my hands quickly finding her shoulders and working on the knots in her muscles.
Carmelita sighs in pure utter relief as she feels this and I say: "You were really putting too much strain on those muscles when holding your arms in that faux-captive position, my darling. Here, let me help you fix that." And while I slowly move my hands down from her shoulders, does Carmelita humor me as she asks:
"I thought this was your birthday, Ringtail." To which I smile as she still obviously wants to care for me like she had been wanting to do when she offered me her plans and I retort lovingly: "And I thought you told me that I could lavish you once you had your say. You had it and I want to lavish my birthday gift, so hush."

At this Cheren laughs and says: "Now I get why you said he has a silver tongue, hermanita, that was too good." But Carmelita seems not to care for her brother as she instead looks at me with the question of are you sure shining in her bright brown eyes and I lean down to kiss her luscious lips in order to convince her of my desires.
Carmelita's lips turn in a happy smile as she kisses me back and I whisper: "I want my birthday gift to feel special, so sit back and enjoy. You've done enough, la mia splendida, now let your carissimo amante take care of the rest, sì?" And just when I ask her that, does my left hand notice a whole set of muscles tied up tightly.
I move both of my hands to this one single spot just between her back and her arm pit and start to, gently, apply pressure through the lower palms of my hand, Carmelita actually moaning in delight as she leans forward with her arms crossed over her legs, her hair cascading over nearly her entire face as she leans down like that.
Feeling beyond touched that this incredible vixen trusts me enough to let her guard down like she is, blocking her view with her own hair and doing so in a location she has entered for the first time ever, do I feel my very heart soar with pride and the strong need to prove to my beloved that her trust in me will not go unproven.

For a little longer do I work like this, actually activating the recliner ability of the seat and making Carmelita lie on her front as I work further down her back, feeling shocked at how many knots and frayed up nerves I actually find in the muscles on her gorgeous back and when I am done massaging them all, do I turn her around again.
By now Carmelita seems complete mush as she lies on the chair, yet I attempt to get her attention by leaning a single hand on the backrest and looking down at her, Carmelita sending me a confused raised eyebrow as I softly lie a finger under her sweet chin and say: "From now on, inamorato, you come to me when feeling this tense, capish?"
Carmelita nods and I smile, kissing her once again as I whisper: "You really were putting too much responsibility on yourself, my Carmen. Your whole back was one frayed up set of nerves and tensed up muscles. You almost had a back of steel, you were that tense. You know that's not healthy or good for you, right?"
At this the woman turns slightly red and says: "It was probably because there were so many things I feared could go wrong with my plan, Sly and – and because I feared that – that Barkley, one way or another, found out what I was planning. If he – if he heard I – that I was giving myself to you as a birthday gift, I – I would never –."

But while just the thought of that lowlife mongrel makes me want to storm into Bentley's newly developed Hazard Room and tear the whole place apart, do I feel my place is here with my love and while adjusting her seat so that we are cuddling up on the recliner, do I pull her close and whisper: "I understand, mio amore. I understand."
Like this do Carmelita and I stay for a few more minutes, her mother having taken a seat on the large couch stationed on our right and smiling at the both of us, before Carmelita suddenly surprises me as she giggles and says: "You know, there was one thing that happened today that surprised and confuses me, now that I think about it."
I look down at her, feeling glad to see her smiling like that as I have no doubt that, in the last few minutes, she was attempting to pull her mind away from Barkley and I ask: "What is that, Carmelita?" And the gorgeous vixen giggles again behind her hand before she suddenly asks me: "What was with you and combing my hair like that?"

At this I feel both like an absolute fool and like the luckiest man on the planet and I laugh shortly myself before I give her a sweet, loving glance and say: "Call me a sappy old goof, but I always dreamed of how, if we were to be together, I could tend to your hair when we woke or went to bed, you know. Things like that."
At this, while her parents look at me with small signs of shock, does Carmelita just stare at me with her stunning brown eyes shining with curiosity and she asks: "You want to take care of me and my hair like that when we're together? As in, an item, together?" To which I nod and smile goofily at her as I say:
"I guess so, I mean – heh, it's just – I always cause you so much trouble and frustration when you're hunting me, I always envisioned how, if we were still cop and robber, I could make you feel better upon returning home, you know. And – and now that your family's resigning as cops, well, I just didn't see reason to stop that dream."
To this her mother smiles at me with adoration and love while Carmelita happily cuddles up to me just like she did when we were seated in the van and whispers softly: "Can you be anymore the perfect partner I have always wished for, Sly? Cause if you can, I can't wait to find out." To which I can't help but smile widely.

Like this we stay just a little bit longer, the others coming to join us on other seats at the coffee table and starting conversations with one another, but while I love the very feeling of having Carmelita's luscious body in my arms, her head on my shoulder and her hands against my chest, is the moment ruined by a loud sound.
A ringing tune that sounds eerie due to the fact that we are actually underground and while Bentley plugs his ears with his fingers and Murray winces with one eye closed, do I realize that the sound is coming from my beloved due to how she cringes herself, yet not out of pain for the sound, but more as if fearing the sound itself.
Letting one hand roam gently over where her suit has pockets, do I find her cell phone and the name on the touch screen makes new rage boil within me; Barkley. I look from the screeching cell phone to my gulping girlfriend and then press two buttons, one to answer the call and the other to put the call on speaker.

Then, I regret doing so, as instantly Barkley's voice starts shouting even before I can so much as utter a single syllable and the Badger shouts: "FOX! Where the heck are you? You're three hours late and the Cooper Gang has been spotted at C'est Magnifique! You better be chasing that no good scoundrel, you harlot, or you –."
But that second to last word is the last thing I can take and I shout back: "YOU CALL THAT AMAZING WOMAN A HARLOT! YOU HAVE NO RIGHTS WHATSOEVER TO CALL HER ANYTHING BUT INCREDIBLE! SHE PUT INTERPOL ON THE MAP AND YOU BETTER REMEMBER THAT!"
The voice on the other side of the call turns silent while everyone around me looks at me with eyes almost falling out of their sockets and while Carmelita trembles in my arms, do I turn my voice down to the lowest hissing tune I can make it and while filling it with all the anger I have within me since hearing Carmelita speak, do I say:
"That woman is responsible for the capture of the Fiendish Five, the Claw Gang, the destruction of Clock-La, the purification of the Venetian rivers and many other things that make your office the best in the business. She is everything you should ever want your officers to be and if you can't see that, I feel sorry for you."

And with that do I press the button to end the call, throwing the phone in such a way, Bentley has no trouble catching it before pulling Carmelita closer, attempting with my entire form to protect her from her own inner turmoil and whispering in Italian: "Calmi, il mio amore. Egli non può farti del male. Calma ora."
But Carmelita keeps trembling and while I feel my heart shattering at how scared and small she now looks while cradled in my arms, do I ask: "Oh my sweetest of dearhearts. I didn't scare you, did I?" But Carmelita calms some of my worries as she shakes her head and mutters: "No, just – just startled me, is all."
At this I pull her even closer and whisper: "My anger is not aimed at you, Carmelita. You know that, right? That bastard just reminded me of what you told me about that one day a few days before Rajan's party. I just remembered that when he called you that awful word and I lost it. I just couldn't keep my anger in anymore, you see?"
To this Carmelita finally stops shivering, her body relaxing against my own and taking away the last of my worries before a dazzling and loving smile appears on her face as she looks up at me, her eyes slightly misty with tears as she says: "I do and thank you, Sly. I – I forgot what it was like to have someone so angry at my behalf."

This alone breaks my heart even further and while trying to hold back tears of my own, do I pull Carmelita's face against my neck, lying the side of my face to the top of her head and moving it up and down in a loving pattern, my fur rustling through her hair as I say: "No more of that, sfarzoso, you have family, so no more of that."
Causing for Carmelita's family to give me large and loving smiles before her father motions Bentley to give him his daughter's phone. At this I lie a protective hand over Carmelita's head, wanting to shield her from whatever Barkley tries next and her father nods in appreciation before pressing a few buttons on the phone.

Again the phone gets turned on, this time dialing a number instead of ringing for a call and when the phone is picked up, do I instinctively pull Carmelita even closer, the voice of Barkley alone bringing out my strongest needs to protect her as he roughly asks: "Got your phone back, did you? Good, now listen up –."
But that is as far as the man, who sounds more like a brothel boss than a police officer, can get before the angry voice of Carmelita's father interrupts him and says: "No you listen, Barkley, because I only have two words to say, but they are a sentiment I share with my entire family; the same family you tried to drive apart, you tirón."
No sound comes from the other end of the line as Carmelita's father takes a single breath, proving that the man on the other side of the phone hadn't been expecting to hear the father of his agent instead of his employee and then, while feeling like crooning in pride for the people in front of me, do I hear him and his family chorus:

"We QUIT!" Before the man that is my beloved's father presses the button to end the call and throws the cell phone back to Bentley, saying: "Make sure it can't get to us anymore today, you got that chum?" Bentley nods and moves his wheelchair out of the room, his eyes not on where he rides but on the device in his hand.
Carmelita's father then sighs in relief and says: "Not the way we had planned, but it sure felt damn good telling that bastard just where we stood, it did." But then Cheren laughs and says: "Maybe so, but I still need to file my resignation with Barkley's superiors, so our plans to get back at that mongrel aren't out of the loop yet, papa."
And the same smirk that I often see on my beloved's face when she becomes certain she has me cornered appears on her dad's face as well as he leans back on the couch with his arms behind his head and says: "Gracias a Dios por eso, hijo. Gracias a dios." And with that does Carmelita finally show a relieved smile at her family.

Murray then lifts the mood as he starts talking with Helena, the conversation the two share an easy one for all of us to get into and while I keep at least one arm around my beloved, holding her body close to mine while talking, does Bentley come back to the room a little under half an hour later and say: "Guys, lunch time."
To which we all smile at the turtle and move over to the open door in the right wall, entering a hallway that runs parallel with the wall and that has another open door right in front of the one we just passed, allowing us to move into a kitchen that has a brownish red-tiled floor, white tiled-walls and white painted ceiling.
A table that we long ago purchased and actually adapted because all of us had always had dreams of getting families of our own stands in the left front of the room, Bentley having already clapped open the few extra table tops we had installed onto the table itself upon purchase and a whole array of meals is spread out over the table.
We all take our seat and I feel my face lighting up as I see that all of the meals on the table have to do with eggs; scrambled eggs, waffles with eggs, hard boiled and soft boiled eggs, baked eggs, omelets, pastries and egg-bread. "Your Egg Fiesta. You made it?" I ask the turtle and he retorts: "It's your birthday, no?"

Making me give the turtle a warm and grateful hug before we all take a little bit of everything – Murray more than a little – and start eating, me deciding after a few bites that I will get back to a topic that had startled me earlier on the day and after gulping down my bite, do I ask: "So, are you all sure you want this new profession?"
The whole family nods and I share a look with Bentley, mentally telling him about the family and what they can do for our big plans revolving around Kaine Island and the turtle nods, telling me without words that he agrees on my worries for how long we might have to set those plans back if we train these people first.
Still, the confident look in the turtle's eyes as he nods at me makes me know that the little fellow has no problems with this and when I look at Murray and Guru, do I see that they agree with our joined little shell-armored buddy and I say: "Good, but if you really want to join our team, you'll have a lot of training ahead of you."

The family smiles at me and I say: "Trust me, being a Master Thief is no easy job. You have to constantly watch out for cops, make sure you're not seen by those you wish to avoid, make sure you have at least two back-up plans before taking a heist and have to always do some long and close-distance recon before going in."
By now all of them are looking at me shocked and I lean back with my arms crossed and say: "And then I'm not even talking about your form, how to use it in certain situations and how to always be aware of where you can use what skill to your advantage. In here, you're safe. Out there, you're constantly on watch."
The family nods and I say: "Of course we do have our techwizz constantly keeping an eye out through our trusty Binocucoms – oh Bentley, make sure you make a few extra for the Foxes, okay?" The turtle nods and I go on: "And if you do get in some kind of pickle, you always have the Murray to march you right out of it.
And Guru, of course, who will from now on be able to control the more weak minded guards away from you in case your position gets in trouble of being jeopardized or hide you through his own transformation skills, right?" The Koala nods and I say: "So it may not be as safe as being a cop, but you've always got back-up."

This makes everyone smile, except Carmelita who sighs in forlorn and I really can't blame her there as the way that the Mercenary Apes had abandoned her after the Mask of Dark Earth had been destroyed had been the perfect example of how much – or better said how little – the fox had been able to count on back-up before today.
I wrap my arm around her shoulder as she eats and pull her closer, whispering caringly in her ear: "You're part of the team now, querido, and that means you're family. And this family sticks together, siempre." Making the fox smile at me in gratitude before we continue eating, all of us at ease and comfortable once again.

Then, when lunch is over, do I wait for everyone to have moved their dishes over to the sink and want to start the hot water in the sink, when Bentley moves his wheelchair over to stand in front of me and asks humorously: "And what do you think you're doing, birthday boy? Get in there and leave those to me. You know our deal."
This makes me smile and I move back into the living room, Carmelita having taken place in the same seat as before and Murray looking at this with slight discomfort, but I tap the Hippo on the shoulder and whisper: "More chance for me to cuddle with her. Just let her." Making the Hippo smile at me widely before I move over.
Carmelita then entrances me as she pats a part of the seat next to her and I happily move myself back into the position we were in before, with the gorgeous fox in my arms and her body closely laying against mine before I look over to the entire team, the family of foxes, my Hippo friend and his mentor making me feel very happy.

Yet, upon another sweep around the room with my eyes do I feel a strange thought or memory twitching in the back of my mind and while feeling curious as to why, do I allow for this thought to lead me, getting back out of the chair and kissing Carmelita on her nose before I lovingly mutter: "Be right back."
I then move back into the hallway and to the left, up a staircase that looks similar to the first we took, but then in better state and with brown metal handrail and once I reach the upper floor, do I move over to the third door on the right – the entire hallway actually made out of several sets of doors – and enter my own bedroom.
Looking around in curiosity as to why this strangely nagging thought led me here do I feel my gaze landing on the hard wooden pedestal in the left front corner of the room, where a circle of bright green light made out of lasers is surrounding the pedestal, upon which an ancient looking tome with golden and blue lettering is rested.

I walk over to the Thievius Raccoonus and pull off my glove, pressing the palm of my hand against the wall of laser light and feeling the laser itself scanning the fur on my hand and my fingerprints before the whole thing turns bright white and recedes down into the floor, where a single ring of light remains glowing.
I open the book that my ancestors have – throughout the centuries – left for me and my family and page through it, my eyes raking over the pages in lightning speed as I rely only on the instincts within me driven by that thought and then, without really understanding why, do I stop leafing through the book at Sir Galleth Cooper's section.
Wondering why my Medieval Ancestor chose now to call me from the world beyond, do I intensively read his section, trying to find a link between the – sometimes – over-dramatic Raccoon and my newly expanded team, before suddenly the whole thing makes sense and I start browsing again, moving further down Galleth's section.

Finding what I am looking for three pages further down the section, do I read what Galleth did two years after founding the Cooper Order and think: "Of course, Sir Galleth was the first Cooper to have a team consisting out of more than three people and since then, Coopers have been allowed to make canes for their extended teammates."
At this I can't help but imagine what Carmelita would look like if she were to use a cane instead of her trusted shock-pistol before a new shock runs through me and think: "That Shock-Pistol is Interpol Property. If Carmelita resigns her job, she will be forced to hand that and her badge in. She and her family will need new weaponry."
And with that do I happily close the book, step back and pull a long red silk lever that is dangling from the top of the pedestal, making the laser shield reactivate itself before, with a very proud and accomplished smile on my face, I move back down, entering the living room and happily cuddling up with my beloved.

"You okay, Sly?" I nod at Murray, who seems as confused as to my temporary departure as the rest and I say: "Yeah, I just thought of something that could pose as a problem if we were to indeed start training our new teammates." The Hippo tilts his head in confusion and while Bentley rolls into the room, do I say:
"Their lack of weaponry." The two look shocked and then Helena hits herself on the head as she says: "He's right. If we resign – which we will – we'll have to hand in our badge and pistols and then where will we be." At this Bentley and Murray send each other worried glances, Murray even having his teeth showing in worry as I say:
"Well luckily, my ancestry came with a solution for that which is why I had to be away from you lovely people for a few minutes. My ancestors were calling me from the world beyond and had me check out one of the sections of our family manual in which I found exactly the right Cooper Law that can help us solve this little issue."
Everyone looks at me interested and while keeping on arm around my beloved Carmelita do I use the other to reach behind me and grab my cane, swirling the weapon in fast spinning circles in my hand before slamming the bottom part on the floor next to my seat and I happily say: "I'll be making canes – for all of us."

Everyone looks at me shocked and I say: "Sir Galleth Cooper, an ancestor of mine that lived around 1300, founded a large group of thieves that he called the Cooper Order and with that became the First Cooper to not just use a team of three. Since then, if there are more than three teammates, are Cooper canes allowed for all members."
The shock remains and I say: "Hey, I offered Bentley and Murray to make canes for them before we left to hunt down the Fiendish Five, but they somehow already knew this was against my Family laws and told me to wait until I had the Thievius Raccoonus restored. The thought has been coming back to me since Guru joined us."
At this does Carmelita lie a single hand on my chest, her eyes both longing as well as unsure and she asks: "And you really think you can make canes for all of us, Sly?" Before Bentley suddenly gasps and shouts: "SO THAT'S WHY?" Shocking and confusing even me as he takes a deep breath to calm down and tells us all:

"When we were in Canada and had taken care of Jean Bison and his ridiculous fight against Nature, did Sly convince Murray and me to not just take the Clockwerk Parts with us, but several packages of different kinds of chopped wood as well. Even he never got why, but now it all makes sense. Those pieces of wood are to make Canes."
This makes me smile as I remember how confused Bentley and Murray had been while doing this, having done it shortly after making sure that all three of the strongest trains Jean Bison was using were out of order and having secured the Clockwerk stomach and lunges, yet before we had noticed how Carmelita again needed our help.
I nod at my friend and say: "I may not have realized then that I would ever get the chance to expand my team, but I'm still glad that we had used some local contacts of ours in America to ship the whole thing to one of our emergency safe houses before following the trail of the Northern Lights to the Lumberjack Camp of the Bison."

"You have emergency safe houses?" Carmelita asks in shock and Bentley nods as he says: "Of course, the first thing we always do when arriving somewhere is setting up a safe house. That's why our van is as large as it is, it needs to be able to store provisions and outfits that we can use for an entire month to longer if needed."
The fox nods and her brother whistles as he says: "This whole Master Thief business is sure a lot more complex than I ever thought it to be. Pretty cool, though, I'm excited to learn it all." Which makes me smile at the slightly older fox before I share another glance with my three teammates and when they all nod, do I say:
"That's good, because we have a mayor heist planned and were actually gathering team members for exactly that heist. So if you're in for the business and the training, you're in for the heist. Which will definitely be hard, but it will also make you all ready for the biggest heist my team has ever pulled in all its illustrious career."

The foxes now all look amazed and excited and Bentley pulls the old map out of his wheelchair, where he had stowed it away to make sure we always had it on hand while traveling and while he lays it open, does he point to one of the smaller islands shown on the large map and says: "This is Kaine Island, just southwest of Miami.
It is home to the Cooper Vault, a vault that is said to hold all of the loot and treasure all of Sly's ancestors have ever stolen before him. We want to get in there, but the island itself is currently in hands of some guy named Dr. M. and the guy has fortified the place so thoroughly, it makes Fort Knox look like a Child's playpen."
The Foxes look at the map in shock and I say: "It's the whole reason I broke into Heathrow Prison, the Italian Museum and Carmelita's office a few months ago. It's also the reason we now have Guru on our team and that we have Murray back from his Dreamtime Training course. That vault – is my rightful inheritance."
And while I don't say it out loud, can I easily see on the expressions of those around me that they understand exactly the words I do not pronounce: "And I got to get in there." I then look at the map again, Carmelita's eyes wide as she looks at it from besides me and she whispers: "No wonder you broke into my office."

I smile at my lady love and then Helena asks: "So once you finish training us we will head for this island here?" To which Bentley answers: "Yes, unless we feel that there are still skills missing. We know you are capable, the divisions in which you worked having proven that, but getting Sly in there is top priority."
The female Fox smiles at my friend and I look from them to a small bit of floor near the large bookcase and say: "Better get started." But Bentley interrupts me and says: "Oh no, you're not. Discussing this for the sake of them understanding what's at stake is one thing, but you're a birthday boy, not a full-time worker."
I smile at my friend and Carmelita pulls me back from where we are all leaning over the map as she says: "It's still your birthday, señor guapo, please just try and enjoy it." To which I can't help but smile at her and say: "I always enjoy whatever time I get to spend with you, mia signora amore, so that I can indeed do."

Then Murray stands up and says: "I'll go prepare the birthday cake. Oh and hey, Sly? Do you think we could do our once a month thing? You know, for your birthday and all?" At this I brighten up like the sun itself and Bentley says: "That's a great idea, Murray. Want to use our new recruits as topic for the night, perhaps?"
Murray and I nod, my face lit with excitement and Carmelita's mother asks: "What's your Once a Month Thing?" To which Bentley answers: "Once a month Sly, Murray and I hold this little contest to see who has improved most in our more artistic talents. Sly's leading with 5 points, but Murray's only 1 point ahead of me now."
Now Carmelita looks at me shocked and I say: "Bentley uses the pictures I take for Recon to portray a certain theme of a song he plays off on his computer, Murray either presents a sculpture or a painting and I sing. So far the guys constantly think I should win several contests because my songs come closest to the chosen subject."
The brown eyes of my beloved look at me curiously and with wonder and just by looking at her, do I know she will be the main topic of my song, making me smile widely as a good 40 songs already rush through my head just at all the thoughts I have ever thought about her and how to express them in spoken words – or better, words of song.

"So what topics have you used so far?" Carmelita's father asks me and I say: "We've used strength, we've used certain countries, we used past, present, future, we've used friendship, we've used – damn, what haven't we used, Bentley?" The turtle laughs and says: "Hundreds and hundreds of topics, Sly. Seriously, hundreds and hundreds."
I nod, while the man himself looks highly intrigued and then I finally get the courage to ask what has been on my mind this entire time and ask: "Sir, what are the names of you and your wife? I kind of forgot to ask when you and your family overwhelmed us all with your acceptance to join our team, you see?"
The man looks shocked and then slaps himself on the head and says: "Madre y Dios, he's right. We were all so into Carmelita's suffering and finding a suitable plan out of it, not to mention Sly's birthday party, we completely forgot to introduce ourselves." He then smiles at me with kind sorrow and says:
"Forgive me, Senor Cooper, my name is Marcus and this is my wife, Sophia. You've already met my youngest daughters, Carmelita, years ago." At this I can only laugh before the man says: "The lad here who brought up our actual plan is my son, Cheren and the girl who gave you the ultimatum of taking all of us in, is my daughter, Helena."

To this I can't help but smile as all the names sound very special, Spanish and very much like the kind of names you would expect from a family that holds such powerful, yet caring and greatly lovable people and then Bentley slaps his hands together and asks: "So, what kind of abilities do you think we can use for the Cooper Vault job?"
This makes me look at the family of foxes in excitement and Sophia smiles as she says: "Well, I would like to admit that I am a very dedicated and highly skilled healer, having the reputation of having saved a congressman working for the United Nations about four years ago now." This alone makes me whistle and Marcus says:
"My specialty is really my speed. I have legs that are sometimes said to be made of steel bars instead of actual muscle and if I were to really put my focus to it, I can outrun most of the best cars used for professional racing." At this I whistle again, while my mind wonders in how many ways and methods we can use speed like that.
Helena is next and says: "I'm kind of one of those special cases in the Fox line, where I have inherited the ability to use any and every weapon known to men. I can use canes, swords, longbows, short bows, knives, lances, shields and anything else that could be made to fight with." At this my eyes turn wide and I think: "Hot damn, what a skill."

I then turn to Cheren, who has actually turned quite red and he says: "I – well, I'm not sure you can really make use of my skill, but – well, I can – ehm, how do I put this?" At this I raise my eyebrow, not believing that someone who had been so confident and caring earlier now looks so shy and insecure of himself.
"Oh hush, you, hermano mayor. Sly, if you ever get in a pickle or somewhere you actually get caught where you don't want to get caught, Cheren is the guy for you. He can actually analyze an opponent's attack in the blink of an eye and then turn his entire form in such a way, the attack is redirected back at the attacker himself."
This shocks the living daylights out of me, making my eyes wide as saucers as I look at the slightly bulkier fox before me, who now looks like someone much younger than me and who's as shy as Bentley was before the end of our Fiendish Five caper and the boy mutters: "I – I guess I can help, you know, like that."
And the smile that is now gracing his face makes me feel very proud of the elder raccoon and I say: "You'll make a great addition to the team, no doubt about it. Now, I do have a few questions and the first one is for you, Marcus." The man nods, while Bentley seems a little cross that I am again talking business and I say:

"You say you can run with the speed of a professional race car. My question to you, how well – while running – can you turn and move out of the way of, say, enemy fire?" The man cringes and says: "I mostly use my skill to actually catch getaway cars long after the suspect has been disarmed. Never really needed to do so, you see?"
I nod and mutter: "Guess that's something we'll have to work on then." To which Bentley groans and I ask: "Now for you, Sophia. How much medication do you usually need to heal someone and out of how much natural environment can you make the equipment needed to perform medical attention to someone badly injured?"
The Fox shrugs and says: "I once had to make an actual stethoscope out of nothing more than some very small bamboo twigs and a few Chestnuts." This again makes my eyes widen and makes me turn to Bentley as he says: "If that's not the kind of medic we need for out in the field operations, then you can call me a tortoise."

And while I turn my eyes skyward as Bentley's had a personal vendetta against tortoises since he was twelve years old, do I ignore this little jibe and ask: "Last one for you, Helena. You say you can use any weapon ever known to men, but have you ever tried fighting in the Yukon with just an icicle spear you pulled off some frozen roof?"
The female fox looks shocked and shakes her head as she says: "I – I didn't find my talent until joining Interpol and there you always get equipped exactly the kind of weapon you will need for whatever mission you get placed on. I always make sure to have handmade holsters, but else – I never needed such natural weapons."
"Another thing to work on then. Remember, a Master Thief is always prepared for anything. How else can we constantly make sure to avoid both the law-defending cops and the law-offending criminals we chase after?" The Foxes nod and Bentley says: "Okay, so we've established powers and things we need to work on.

Now can we please get back to your birthday party?" The Turtle asks exasperated and while I want to laugh at this, is the laughter caught short as suddenly I feel Carmelita's hands slowly move themselves up from the downside of my stomach and back, one on each side, while the fox herself purrs and whispers into my ear:
"I quite agree. I don't believe I've been a good birthday gift so far, after all. Constantly making it so you feel like talking about things you shouldn't even have to worry about on a day like this." And while her hands keep running in circles over my chest and upper back, can I barely contain how avidly my tail is flapping behind me.
Taking a deep breath to get back my self-control as I have never before had the chance to experience having this amazing woman this close to me, let alone her being so very willing to be this close in my presence, do I try to regain as much of my nerve and smooth self-confidence as I can grasp onto before her words sink into my mind.
Instantly the suave, ever fluent gentlemen that I have groomed myself to be since meeting this gorgeous vixen flares back up and Carmelita lets out a shocked squeal as I grab her around the waist, pull us both out of my chair and move her to lean over my crouched leg, her eyes locking with my own as I mutter back:

"Oh, I think you're wrong, my Carmen. I think you are being a most amazing birthday present. Being in my presence, allowing me to charm and woo you, flattering me and showing me that all the times I have flirted and complimented you have actually made you fall for me. Oh yes, I think you are being a terrific birthday present, quite indeed."
The vixen in my arms giggles at my words and says: "And there's that ever charming, ever handsome raccoon that I fell for long before I could even realize it." This makes me send her a smoldering look of love, causing for her cheeks to tinge red as I whisper huskily: "Only for you, mi zorra, ever and always only for you."
I then pull her back so that we are again standing up right, but then make sure to have her close to my form, my arms wrapped around her waist and my face in her hair, making me softly sniff in that delicious perfume of hers before I mutter: "Is that delicious scent coming from your hair a perfume or is it your own, mi dulce flor?"

Carmelita turns red at hearing this and says: "I – I borrowed some of Urmilla's shampoo and took one last quick shower before getting dressed in my new outfit. I – I wanted to be absolutely certain I was everything you ever wanted for a birthday gift." This alone touches my heartstrings beyond anything and I move us both.
Move us so that I am now again locking gazes with her and when Carmelita seems the fiery love that I can feel burning within my eyes and heart, do I huskily mutter: "The only thing I ever wanted for a birthday gift, Carmelita mi siempre preciosa, is you. You and you alone. You need nothing to add to the perfection that is you."
This makes all of the fur on Carmelita's face turn from orange to red and then, while tears start to shimmer in her beautiful eyes, does she move herself so that her face again lies against my chest and she whispers: "Why? Why didn't I listen to those sweet words before now? Why did I wait this long to be with you?"

And while part of me feels angry over one of the reasons I believe she did so, do I not let this anger fuel me and do I instead hold her tightly, whispering in her ear: "Because you are the incredible Carmelita Montoya Fox, who has always been strong, independent and ever caring for others, even if they themselves don't know it."
"Including yours truly." I want to add, but don't and instead of that, do I just move back to again sit on my favorite chair and ask: "Anyone up for some TV while we wait for Murray and the cake?" To which Bentley instantly grabs the remote, obviously wanting to keep up my need to celebrate my birthday and asks:
"What channel, Sly?" To this I shrug and say: "Just start flipping, Bentley. We'll see where we can end up." The turtle nods and starts slowly flipping through the channels, telling the others with his eyes not to make a comment and making me raise my eyes skyward as this is obviously another privilege I get for my birthday.

---

And here I end this part.
Why do I end it here? Because this chapter is already ten pages long and there are still five pages already written, plus who knows how many more that will be written about this special day of Sly's. Now I know that so far this entire story has been surrounding Sly's birthday, but the rest of the story will come soon.
I just need some time and this story isn't always easy as sometimes I find myself having a hard time letting the storyline move on and at the same time implementing the need for Carmelita and Sly to grow ever closer and this whole 'On your birthday I'm yours' plan of Carmelita's is the whole reason I even made this story.
Hope you understand,

Venquine1990

Translations again:
la mia splendida is Italian for My Gorgeous
carissimo amante is Italian for Dearest Lover
sì is Italian for Yes
innamorato is Italian for Lover
mio amore is Italian for My Love.
calmi, il mio amore. egli non può farti del male. calma ora. Is Italian for Calm, my love. He cannot hurt you. Calm now.
Sfarzoso is Italian for Gorgeous
Tirón is Spanish for Jerk
gracias a Dios por eso, hijo. Gracias a dios is Spanish for Thank God for that, son. Thank God.
Querido is Spanish for Darling
Siempre is Spanish for always.
señor guapo is Spanish for Mr. Handsome
mia signora amore is Italian for My Lady Love
hermano mayor is Spanish for Big Brother
mi zorra is Spanish for My Vixen
mi dulce flor is Spanish for My Sweet Flower