Chapter 4
Family Visit
Least Expected
Carmelita snuggled her head further into Sly's chest still panting for air, while her mate had his arms around her, tightening his hold around her. She felt him nip at her neck affectionately, she closed her eyes from the brief pain which quickly started dulling till it was just a minor sting. She didn't mind this painful love, and after how much she had clawed and nipped him while they mated, she could take it and it felt nice as well. His hand which wasn't around her waist was clawing her back, and she found it soothing and relaxing, and she started to purr loudly. All she wanted to do for the rest of the day was lay in bed with her raccoon. Everything she had been feeling about earlier was fuzzy, and she could care less at the moment.
"How was it?" Carmelita asked still out of breath, while stroking his chest with her hand, digging her claws in periodically. She got a moan or a groan from him which made her smirk.
"It was amazing," he sighed contentedly. He felt a bit silly asking this but he still went with it. "How was it for you?"
"It was intense and passionate," she mused as she ran a finger over a claw mark that she had placed on his chest. "I might be a bit sore later," she looked up at him, with this strange smile.
He blushed underneath this fur and gave a nervous chuckle. "I hope I didn't hurt you?"
"No, it was amazing," she mused for a moment. "Up for another round later?" she teased.
"You're going to ware me out," groaned with a big grin. "I hope I didn't disappoint?" he asked teasingly.
"Mmmmmm," she groaned as she felt his hand trail down the length of her back, with his own claws.
A minute passed by with silence and he broke it. "Sorry," he mumbled.
She picked her head off his chest and looked up at him. "For what?"
"For all the stress I've put on you lately for not remembering about us...and for snapping at you earlier," he murmured.
"Sly," she cupped his cheek with one of her hands, rubbing it gently. "It's alright, and everything's forgiven so just forget about it."
"You didn't deserve me snapping at you, and..."
"Listen raccoon," she said with a bit of harshness in her words. "It happened and now it's done and we made up, so just let it go and stop apologizing for it," her voice softened. "It's nice to know that you care about me but you have to stop beating yourself up, alright?"
"Alright, but you know what?" she just raised an eyebrow not knowing what he was going to say. "Your still as beautiful as ever Gorgeous."
"Always the gentlemen aren't you?"
He chuckled nuzzling into shoulder playfully. "Would you like it if I wasn't."
The vixen giggled from this. "I love you Sylvester."
Sly smiled broadened, kissing her on the lips again. "I love you too Carmelita," he tightened his hold on her, and brought the blankets back around them.
The two fell asleep, grasping onto one another tightly, enjoying the day off they were having. What would have made it better would have been if they hadn't been abruptly woken up by someone knocking on the front door an hour later. Carmelita nearly jumped out of bed, making Sly jump as well, both their eyes in surprise . His arm tightened around her protectively. He growled angrily his ears pressed back, and his hackles rose, he looked fairly annoyed about being woken up like this. She pressed a hand on his chest and nuzzled his neck, and that snapped him back to his otherwise cool-headed, and cocky demeanor.
"It's just my parents Sly, I forgot the time they were coming over. Sorry," she said feeling nervous. He nodded giving her a light kiss on the neck.
"Everything's going to be alright," he gave her his best reassuring smile, but was finding it hard. He was just as nervous as she was. She smiled back, and was just as nervous.
Another assault of knocks came from the front door, snapping them both out of it. Carmelita tried to get out of the bed, but half fell out and half dragged Sly with her. She noticed the handcuffs were back on, having forgotten to take them off before they fell asleep. She was getting frustrated and got back up, and dragged Sly off the side of the bed and he let out a soft groan.
She growled a bit at this as another knock from the door came. "Just a minute!" she yelled loudly, albeit angrily.
"The keys on my cabinet!" Sly groaned as she pulled him again.
"Why the hell is it there!" she snapped. They were both still nude and her parents were at the door, waiting, and she knew how impatient they could get.
"Because, that's where I left it after we fell asleep!" he growled back. She growled and shook her head, why did this have to happen to them, of all days. It had started off so well, now they were both in their bare fur arguing. She stomped over to her mate's raccoon and grabbed the keys and unlocked them.
Once she was free she grabbed her nightdress and pulled it on. She couldn't find any panties or a bra or anything else to cover herself up with properly. Sly who was feeling groggy had rummaged her clothes draw and found some pajamas than handed them to her. She took the offered clothes but was stopped when he grabbed her wrist and pulled her close and their lips met and just as quickly he let her go and started to find stuff to get on himself. She slipped into them, and put on her dressing gown and ran over to the door, leaving behind her mate who was panicking, he didn't know what to do. He smelled of sex still, his fur was all over the place, and he was still naked. He quickly bolted into action trying to find something to wear, and the vixen shook her head, dreading how this was going to go.
Carmelita brushed her hair with her hand, trying to look at least awake as she walked down the corridor. She passed a reflection noticing her orange fur was all ruffled up. She shook her head regretting what was going to happen. Also the dried blood on her fur she could hopefully explain. The young vixen continued down the corridor and made her way to the front door tightening the gown around her. She took a deep breath of air than opened the door, and was instantly hugged by her mother.
"Carme, it's so good to see you again, did you get my phone call?" the older vixen asked looking at the state her daughter was in. She hadn't seen her daughter in almost a year, and she was very glad to see her oldest child.
"Si Mamá , I got the call," she said. She let them into the apartment, smiling, hiding her anxiety for the moment. "I just woke up, late night at the office." she said giving the truth for the most part, late night was true, the office part not really. She let them into the apartment, smiling, hiding her nerves.
"Carme, you're a mess have you seen the state of your fur is in lately?" Mrs. Fox said brushing her daughters blue hair. As she brushed the hair out of her daughters face and saw something that surprised her. "Is this…..." she sniff came closer and sniffed it. "...blood? What happened?"She asked worriedly.
"As I said it was a long night at work, some of the criminals put up a fight," she said trying to make sure her mother didn't get a good look at the mark on her neck. She led them further into the apartment.
"So! Nothing to say to your old man huh," Mr. Fox huffed jokingly, pretending to be annoyed.
"How are you Papá?" she asked hugging her father tightly, making him smile, she gave him a light kiss on the cheek. He noticed the blood his wife had mentioned, but saw that they for he noticed more than one came from small, shallow bite marks. Well, I don't have to be an expert but I know where those came from. He thought to himself mentally chuckling.
"Pretty well Carme, but my knee and my back could be better, getting old isn't fun," he looked at his wife who was looking about the apartment and he smiled. "except with the ones you love."
Carmelita smiled glad her parents were still getting along after all these years. She hugged her father closely again.
"I don't think that your that old," the older vulpine smiled and hugged his daughter just has tightly, glad that she was alright. When she let go he held on for a second longer, and when she could see his face he was smiling proudly, but also sadly.
"Looks like my niña, has grown all up," his eyes were watery but he didn't cry, not often. He looked away from her and saw something near the couch, then looked back at her, raising an eyebrow questioningly.
She looked at the couch noticing all the blankets were gone, and folded neatly next to it. She silently thanked God, for giving Sly manners and a good head. It would really have looked out-of-place if he had just left the blankets everywhere, like he did some mornings when he couldn't be bothered.
"That's where my boyfriend sleeps," she explained quickly. her father cracked a small humored grin and shook his head, and gave her this disbelieving look, already knowing what happened last night. The younger vixen was embarrassed that her father knew what happened so easily.
The Foxes made their way into the kitchen. Carmelita's parents were impressed about how good their daughter was coping by herself. They had brought her up right, the kitchen was clean, and the chairs pulled into the table. The books neatly stacked on the book selves, it looked like everything had been dusted regularly. Ms. Fox didn't just let her mate do it all, she helped him quite a good deal with it, so it wasn't just him. He would offer and tell her that he didn't need help but she never listened.
The only thing out-of-place were the files, and documents on the dinner table which were sprawled all over it. The files were on leads from gangs, or just background info on earlier heists or killings. Her father picked one up carefully and looked at it and noticed that it was a case on Muggshot. He put it back down, not wanting look at it or go into detail. That punk had caused him enough problems in life and that was past him now, he was one of Interpol's Superiors so it wasn't his business now, he dealt with different things now.
Mr. Fox cocked looked back at his daughter who was talking to her mother, and they were getting along well, like they normally did. They had always been close with one another, and that made life easier at home, when the kids were still there. Three sons around the house had been interesting, they were always rough housing, then they got Carmelita involved and she beat them all up, it had been fun raising all of them, and he wished he could relive those days. His daughter turned her head and smiled at him and he walked over to them, seeing that his wife was looking at some pictures that his daughter had given her.
"So, where is your boyfriend?" he asked, confused and somewhat annoyed that the man dating her wasn't out here to greet them, it seemed rude. "And where did he sleep last night?" he asked, seeing if his daughter would be truthful about this.
"My boyfriend, he normally sleeps on the couch. He's just getting dressed and making our bed," she said, then mentally slapped herself. Well there goes that, just saying right in front of them that we sleep...slept together. She thought.
"I'm guessing he sleeps in most days?" he asked looking about the apartment, but his gaze kept returning to her, he was getting interested in who his daughter had seduced. She normally said bad things about the guys at work. And the other guys she had previously dated were either in jail or had gotten something broken, he even pressed charges against her last boyfriend for reasons he wouldn't go into at the moment. Whoever this guy was, must be a real charming and chivalrous man, or acted like that and got her to do things she normally wouldn't do.
"No, he's normally up earlier, and ready, but for the last couple of months he's been doing his own night-time operations. He leaves sometime between ten, or eleven at night. I can hear him sometimes when he gets home, which is always late, either two or three in the morning," she explained looking a bit glum on the matter.
"I thought you weren't allowed to do patrols after you clocked out?" he asked, this was something he wasn't used to. "Unless you're called to come back in for an emergency, or because they're short on people."
"Barkley has given him some privileges he normally doesn't allow other officers. He has even made me start leaving the station between six and eight now."
"He's still the chief? He said he was going to retire when I last saw him, and that was eight months ago," he chuckled remembering his old friend and partner. "How is he anyways?"
"No he's somehow managed to hang about longer at the station and avoid the promotions that the Superiors have given him," she giggled. "And he's still as loud as he was last time, louder I think."
"Same old John," Fidel said amused.
"So, what have you been doing since we last saw you honey?" Mrs. Fox asked trying to change the subject. Once these two got started about their work they would go on it for hours and she wanted to know some other things first.
"Not much really. I have been all over the place to, I have been chasing down a lot of criminals of late. None of them got away, except...well," she rubbed the back of her head, still actually disappointed that she had never caught them. She had made it her life's ambition to arrest them, but it had never really happened. "...the Cooper Gang has always escaped the law. I never can catch them, they always manage to get away. They haven't done anything in six months which is good."
"Don't beat yourself up too much, I could never catch Connor Cooper or his gang when I was on his case. I was surprised that you captured his son for so long after he defeated Clockwerk again. But hang in there you'll get him eventually, law always catches up to criminals," Mr. Fox said. A memory flashed before the fox's eyes of Conner dead in the body bag, and a turned over apartment. That crime scene had always scarred him, and finding his rivals son...he didn't know if it had been a good thing or bad thing that he let him go. That raccoon cub had grown up to do exactly as his father and ancestors did, and to him that was a big disappointment, and also one of the things he was berated about the most from Interpol.
Did he know that Sylvester Cooper would become the worlds next master thief, he had his suspicions, but he was hoping that he would be different. But he was wrong, so terribly wrong. He didn't know what he would have done differently if he could have gone back to that day he found the cub alone, scarred, terrified, and helpless on that attic floor. Taking him to a delinquent juvenile, locked him up for the rest of his life. Those seemed extreme and that seemed wrong to him, he had considered adopting the cub, but he never did. And he had regretted that, he could have given that kid such a better future. But he had run away from his orphanage, started stealing, and had caused Interpol another Cooper problem.
A crash in her bedroom distracted them all and brought Mr. Fox out of his thought. A string of what he presumed was by cursing came from the master bedroom. Mrs. Fox let out a quick giggle hearing this, and Carmelita smiled keeping her amusement inside. Her father was looking amused at this, trying to suppress a chuckle. Well whoever it was seemed to be making his daughter happy, but he still wanted to see the man to know what kind of person he actually was. Looks could be deceiving and things could be different behind doors so to say.
"How long have you been dating this man for?" Mrs. Fox asked curiously.
"I've been with him for six months, but we've known each other for years. And he's the first guy I've let stay with me. He's also the first guy I've dated since I left home," she said her tense muscles lessening. This was part of the truth. Sly had been dating her for at least six years, ever since they defeated Clockwerk in Russia. He would come to the place she was staying at after she finished work and spend the night or a couple of hours with her. They would either go dancing, go to a restaurant, and when their were concerts or gigs with music they liked they went. Or a movie once in a while, or they would drive out of the city and lay in an open field or the woods and lay down together and look at the stars. During these times they could never keep their hands off each other and were always doing something physical, either kissing, holding each other, or just cuddled up to one another. He had always tried to stay the night but couldn't do that all the time. They had somehow kept this secret for six nearly seven years now and even though they weren't married she considered him her mate as did he.
Mr. Fox meanwhile walked over to the weapons rack he had seen earlier, that was near the entrance to the corridor where the bedrooms were. Looking over the assorted gear Mr. Fox let his daughter and wife talk for a couple of minutes. Sly and Carmelita had moved it closer to their bedroom after the first few months together and they agreed that they would start stashing their equipment in their bedroom.
Fidel noticed a dark blue trench jacket, with an Inspector Collar near it like his daughters. The gold metal disk shun lightly, bringing back the old days of his time on the streets. He looked at it anxious to meet this man. He looked at his daughter s gear then the unknown mans. They both wore black combat style boots, both had shock pistols, and then he noticed a cane in its holder, and folded into itself to maximize handling ability, and transporting. He examined it closely, remembering that Interpol had made some copies of Sly Coopers weapons, or as he called it his tool, or his family's inheritance. It was nearly the same, but instead of oak and a bronze alloy, it was one whole material, which had been darkened so it wouldn't catch a gleam of a stray light.
"So what happened to Sly Cooper, did you finally catch him, or did he elude you like his father did with me?" Fidel said bitterly, remembering helping the kid, then getting thanked by him becoming the world's most elusive thief.
Before his daughter could answer the same raccoon walked out of the bedroom with a pair of black pants, also a punk rock t-shit. His head hair was shaggy and some strands ran into his eyes. it was damp in places because he had washed it, but was still a mess when he looked in the mirror. This was his average casual appearance, which his vixen liked seeing him in. He normally tried looking so tidy and polite for her, but she told him after the first couple weeks to just be himself.
Cooper walked up behind Ms. Fox silently, and then placed his arms around her waist. She leaned into him relaxing completely, it was good to know she wasn't alone anymore, being in his arms made her feel safe. She was also scared about what her father would do. He nuzzled her neck affectionately and took a deep breath, he was feeling nervous. He whispered some thing in her ear and she couldn't agree anymore.
"I can see what you mean by, that it would feel tense," she placed a hand over one of his which had left her stomach and she squeezed his hand tightly, as their fingers interlaced.
"Hello, Mrs. and Mr. Fox, Carmelita's parents I suppose, it's good to see you. Did you guys have a safe trip getting here?" he asked casually, messing up. Stupid, absolutely stupid. He scolded himself, burying his head in his mate's neck.
"Yes we did thank you," Mrs. Fox said, looking at the young man holding her daughter. I take it you're Carme's boyfriend?" she added.
"I am the one who has captured this dame's coeur," he said making Carmelita blush, it was embarrassing in front of her parents.
Fidel walked back over seeing this young man holding his daughter in his arms. He smiled offering his hand. Sly took it and shook his hand. "Fidel Fox, it's nice to meet a fellow-man of the law, and what is your name?"
Before he even said it he was regretting it and nearly made up a name but he had made a promise to Carmelita, and for once he was wanting to back out of it. He brought his lips closer to her ear, and he whispered,"Carm, please don't make me do this, I'm begging you," he sounded afraid, and also really tense. The vixen understood how he was feelings, and he was slightly shaking, which she felt through his arms. They had to do this, they couldn't keep this away from her parents forever, and it was only right that they knew. She felt bad for her Ringtail. She rubbed his forearm soothingly with a hand, reassuring him it was going to be okay, he did as she had asked. She didn't she it but felt his breath against her neck and it came out shakily, and she also didn't she him close his eyes and take a deep breath.
"Sylvester Shadow Cooper," it would have been so much better to make up a name. "It's nice to see you again Mr. Fox, and Mrs. Fox," he said with a nervous smile, knowing this wasn't going to be fun.
Mr. Fox froze, his smile had disappeared into a hollow look. He looked at the Raccoon identifying it was none other than the Sly Cooper, the thief that had been shown on the news and papers for the last eight years. It was the same Cooper he had comforted all those years ago, the one who had repaid him by following his ancestors footsteps. Mr. Fox's facial pattern changed to straight down anger. The same raccoon cub who he had considered adopting, the one who had caused him so much crap from the other Superiors at Interpol. The reason that his daughter had had such a rough eight years at Interpol. Right now the first thing he wanted to do was arrest this criminal.
Mrs. Fox had gone silent, a sour look over shadowing her once cheerful manner. Her daughter was dating a criminal, and sharing a bed with him. All those years raising Carmelita now seemed to have vanished, had their daughter seemed to have learned nothing from them. She wasn't going to chew the couple out, but she was plotting her own ways of how to convince Carmelita that she had made a mistake with being with this scumbag. But for now she would watch and see what her husband did. She glanced at him and saw that he wasn't anywhere near angry, he was outraged, and had a murderous look on his muzzle.
Cooper let go of his vixen but was still at her side, holding her hand firmly. He repressed a groan as he felt her nails dig into his palm. This didn't seem possible, Carmelita afraid, he had never heard of such a thing, the same could be said about Sly a few moments ago, and he now, he was still shaking and the vixen could feel it through his hand. The otherwise tension he had felt earlier had changed in the apartment, they knew what was coming but still they clenched each other's hand like a life line. If one were to drop in on them they would hear nothing at this point, a needle clattering on the wood tiled floors would have reverberated like a thunder bolt in the clear night air. Then the silence broke, like the thunder after the lightning. All the emotions Mr. Fox came out and he couldn't control his voice, he had lost it, he had completely lost his calm demeanor he normally had, this was too much to take.
"WHAT THE FUCK! WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON HERE! TELL ME NOW CARMELITA MONTOYA FOX!" he bellowed at his daughter. The young vixen seemed to shrink as her fur tightened around her body, which was a normal reaction when she, or any other animal with fur or feathers got scared, but at the moment she was terrified. She hadn't felt like this since she was a teenager when she came in late from spending time with her friends. Her eyes looked to Sly, he wasn't as affected as her, but his ears had laid back and he had made a small step back, but was still holding her hand and next to her, somewhat.
Surprising himself, the raccoon said something first. "Sir? Can we please talk...talk in a more civilized manner?" he wanted to resolve this peacefully.
"YOU STAY OUT OF THIS YOU SON OF..." the old vulpine's eyes widened as he came to a realization that his wife had already had. It had completely passed him by, but the man in front of him had had sex with his daughter, his daughter. Fidel's outrage changed to a murderous look, and his voice somehow got louder. "YOU..." he pointed at Cooper. "...YOU...I'M GOING TO..." the fox didn't even finish before he charged the ring tailed bastard.
Sly didn't have anytime to react or even know what to do. He did have the sense to pull his arms up and block a punch that would have been to his face. He didn't want to fight Carmelita's father, not at all. It would look bad if he punched his mate's father, and it would also just feel wrong, but if he didn't do something, this vulpine was going to hurt him or kill him. He didn't know what to do so he just did his best to block the next few blows. Carmelita didn't even know what was happening, all she knew was that Sly was in the kitchen against the wall, blocking blows from her father.
"STOP THIS!" Cooper yelled in an attempt to get Mr. Fox to calm down, but this did the opposite, and seemed to make things worse.
Fidel, did a side punch and got one of his arms behind the raccoon's. He pulled forward with his some what trapped arm broke the younger mans block and gave a quick but powerful blow to the raccoon's head, mainly his nose. Sly head snapped back and hit the wall behind him hard, and he saw bright white light, and when he was able to see again, he was slumped on the floor against the same wall, and felt something warm running down his face, and onto his neck and on his chest.
The raccoon wasn't really aware of what was going on around him, or the pain at the moment. He looked down and saw red on his shirt and he thought that was strange. He did't remember that being there, and in fact what was he doing on the floor, he was standing up a moment ago, and was blocking Mr. Fox's barrage, so why was he on the floor. He looked up, his head seeming to be filled with led and taking a lot more effort to bring up his head. He saw that Carmelita was in front of him, pushing her father away from him, and he saw that Carmelita's mother was helping her to pull the male fox away.
He tried getting up, and he somewhat succeeded. He was able to get in a kneeling position, but once he tried to stand up, he toppled over onto his side, so his back was turned and he was looking down the corridor to their bedroom. He found this amusing a bit, that he was so out of it. He knew that he was in a serious situation but he couldn't help but to chuckle mentally. When things started to make sense and catch up he felt tears making their way down his face and muzzle, and couldn't blame himself as the pain started to sky-rocket.
This was the first time he definitely had gotten a broken nose. He groaned and spat out some blood in his mouth, and started to cough up the rest, finding that a good deal had gone down his throat, and that made him feel sick. He couldn't breathe properly with the disgusting stuff running down his throat. As he did this he was able to hear some of the conversation behind him, but him coughing was drowning it out, and so was hit rapid beating heartbeat.
"...couldn't control myself..." Fidel
"You...him...could you?" Carm
"...defending him...raised...better...this." Mrs. Fox
It went on like this for a good five or so minutes, and all Sly did was lay there and personally felt forgotten. He had tried to get up, but he kept failing miserably, and his breathing was ragged. He had definitely swallowed too much blood. He tried getting up again when he heard footsteps come closer, but even though he could tell that they weren't from someone wearing shoes or boots, he still curled into a ball and cowered. Cooper felt stupid for doing such a thing but it was a reaction that he always had after he had gotten wailed on. He was particularly being submissive showing that he gave up, and that was something that made him feel ashamed. He hadn't been this weak for a long time. He refused to move, but he soon felt a soothing hand rest on his shoulder, and a tender voice.
"Sly?"
"Carm," he breathed.
"I am so sorry, I've never seen papá like this," she noticed the blood on the floor, but he had stopped bleeding. But he was a mess, and he looked scared. His eyes were wide open, well eye from what she could see. "Can you get up?" she asked.
"No, I can't," he said pathetically, he wished he could just crawl under the bed or somewhere anywhere he couldn't be seen by his mate. He looked so pitiful and weak, and that was something he didn't want to look in front of his mate. Some mate he was, if he could get his ass kicked so easily, how could he protect her.
"Let me help you up," she started to pick him up but he shrugged her off and she accidentally dropped him, though now she was feeling ticked off from his behavior.
"What was that for?" she growled, and his ears lowered submissively. He shook his head, the best he could from his position. The vixen wasn't having any of this from her raccoon and picked him up roughly and dragged him to their bedroom and got him into their bathroom. Her parents were in the living room and her mother was having a talk to her father. Her mother had made it quite clear she didn't approve her and Sly being together, but she was more shocked and angered about her husband's behavior then anything else.
Carmelita turned on the faucet at the sink, and Sly yet again shrugged her hold off of him and he was supporting himself with his hands now on the edge of the sink. The vixen let out a growl from her throat and was really confused and frustrated from his behavior at the moment.
What is going on with him? She thought to herself. Suspecting that he would just shrug and shirk away from her, again, but was surprised when she wrapped her arms around her mate and he didn't do anything. He had his head bowed in shame and the remaining drops of blood were washed down the sink. Glad that he was somewhat back to his old self, Carmelita rubbed his front tenderly, starting from his lower stomach and going all the way up to his sternum. He purred softly from her soothing touch. She still had a scowl on her lips, but with all that had happened over the last ten minutes, it was no surprise she was in a foul mood.
Cooper didn't return the affection, but got one of their small towels, got it damp, and started washing the blood off his muzzle, and winced and gasped, or groaned every time he got the wet cloth near his nose. Eventually he sucked up the fear of the pain and washed his nose and around that area which was throbbing with pain. When he got it clean, he let out the breath he was holding with a short but high whine. He looked at his shirt and was glad it wasn't his favorite one, but it was still ruined. Blood was impossible to get out of clothes.
When he was done he looked in the mirror and found to his personal relief that his nose was still straight, a bit scrunched up, but it wasn't in a strange position, well much. He still had to do something before he left the bathroom though. He gripped his broken nose with a pincer grip with his thumb and index finger and pulled it back so it didn't have the unnatural flare to it. Their was a loud pop and he yelped loudly in pain. When he had calmed down from that, he found that Carmelita had been unnaturally quiet, he turned around, feeling wobbly but he was able to be on his own feet again. The vixen who was only up to his chin glared at him, and she pressed her hands on his shoulders, but didn't push him, instead she stood up on the balls of her paws and looked him in the eyes.
"I...I," he knew why she was angry, and he couldn't blame her. If she had acted the same way he had when trying to help her he would have had the same reaction. "I'm sorry," he choked out, feeling a tear roll down his cheek. He felt so stupid, ashamed, and bad right now. "I...I should go," he tried to push pass her but she wouldn't get out-of-the-way, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"No, you're not going anywhere," she whispered, her anger leaving her when she got the apology. She knew why he was acting so strange, he had just gotten the shit kicked out of him, and by her father no less. He was going through instinct change, and that was from being dominant to submissive, and in his home, well their home but it was as much his as was hers.
"Carm, you saw what happened out there...I can't stay if it's..."
"I don't care what they think, or how rough it gets with them," she looked at him with pleading, yet demanding eyes, but he saw a lot of love in them, and in her voice. "you're my mate and they're never going to change that mi amor. No one is going to tear us apart," she rested her head into the crook of his neck and kissed him their.
"I'm sorry, again for how I acted."
"I understand," she rubbed the back of his head, and felt a lump there. "How are you feeling, can you still remember everything?"
"Yeah, I'm feeling better," he carefully kissed the side of her cheek.
"Sly," she pulled away from his neck and looked back into his eyes once again. "I am so sorry about how papá reacted, about dragging you into this..."
"It's fine love," he stopped her. "I'm just glad we don't have kids and then you told them," he smiled weakly at her. She smiled back agreeing with his statement, even though he had meant it as a joke. He gave her a more serious look and said, "Not to be rude to you or your parents, or what I hope to call my Mother and Father in law, but I'm going to take a lie down, I don't feel well, anymore," he looked down when he finished, feeling worse than he did, emotionally and physically.
"Okay," she pressed her lips against his and he winced but accepted it and kissed back tenderly. It last a couple of minutes and when they broke they both stared into each others eyes lovingly. "Love you," she whispered, cupping his cheek.
"Love you too," he said. They pulled apart, and when they did he tried heading for the room but he still felt off, he felt extremely light-headed and sick from all the blood he had lost and swallowed. Carmelita walked over to him and wrapped an arm around his middle and guided him to the bed which he got in, and looked up at the ceiling. Sighing she went back out into their living room, and found that her father and mother sitting on the couch,but she didn't join them, she sat down in the single cushion couch, which was to the left of the three cushioned one, and slightly at an angle.
The younger vixen crossed a leg and leaned forward, not sure where to actually start or to begin. She honestly had nothing to say, all she could feel right now was anger at herself, her parents, at everything that had happened today. Nothing to do with Sly, she wouldn't have given up any of that time back even if she was to be paid. Making love to him earlier was worth it, and they were mates so he had every right to, they were each others and no one was going to change that, yes they weren't lawfully wedded mates, but they didn't need rings or the official certificate, or documents. Her parents were just as quiet as her, but neither of them said anything to their daughter. Fidel felt ashamed and still angry about the entire thing and her mother was feeling a mixture of emotions.
"Carme...look," Carmelita's attention snapped up to her father, instead of the floor. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have acted that way," the older fox felt annoyed about apologizing to his daughter. It didn't feel right to mess up with his kids, and to attack someone that he now knew she had a deep connection to didn't help matters. He felt bad about upsetting his daughter than hurting Cooper, but something had flashed in his mind. When Cooper was struggling to get up and was coughing up blood, he felt like it was deja vu. But this time he was the one causing the raccoon pain, and even though it felt so right at the time to do it, he felt guilty for acting so maliciously, he was near his fifties, his sixties, he should have had better control over his emotions then that.
Ms. Fox looked away from her father, not knowing what to say. "I...it's not fine papá, but thank you," she said softly.
Mrs. Fox had a couple of things to say, and she broke the silence this time. "Why do you love him so much? Why him out of all the other men you could possibly choose from?"
"Sly is kind, he's patient, he has a good side of humor, he's always been there for me when I've had a rough day. He never just thinks me as a toy, or just an outlet and not a person, he is also loyal, he defends me, he listens to me when I have a problem, and he always puts his friends and me before himself. And that's why I love him so much and why he's the one I chose out of all the other men around," the younger vixen said.
Both parents dreaded having this question answered but their curiosities got the better of them. "How long have you two been actually seeing each other?" Mr. Fox asked.
"Since he was eighteen and I was twenty-one," she sad simply.
"Does anyone else know about this?" her mother asked. Carmelita shook her head. "Then just keep in that way." her mother said sternly. "He's trouble for you...and if anyone found out about what you two have been doing then you can kiss your career and everything you've worked so hard for goodbye."
"What do you think we always fear happening every night we go to bed?" Ms. Fox said exasperatedly.
"Well you put yourself in that situation when he was able to convince you to take him. Can't you see he's just using you?" Mrs. Fox said frustrated about what her daughter had done and is still doing with a low life. This went on for half an hour, and when it had nearly started into another yelling match, Carmelita changed it, and just explained she wanted to talk about something other than her relationship. Her parents, though they still strongly disagreed with her choice, went with it. They changed topics a couple of times, about work, personal time, family. Even though they had dropped the topic about Sly, the tension from earlier was still heavy in the air. After a while the room fell silent and neither of them knew what to say or to bring up. She had actually been hoping that this visit from her parents would have gone better, but it had gone completely opposite of that.
"I think it's time for us to start heading out, I have a meeting up in Belgium tomorrow," Mr. Fox said, getting up and starting to get ready to go. Mrs. Fox followed suit, and started to get ready herself.
"I'll be right back, I'm just going to check up on Sly," she said. Her parents looked at her and nodded, and would wait till she came back before they left.
As Carmelita checked up on Sly, who had been half awake and half dozing, Mr. Fox fought with himself, inside that is. He wanted to do something to make this feel right. What he had done felt wrong, and very stupid and had clearly upset his daughter. Ms. Fox had been gone for a good five minutes, and he finally decided that he needed to go talk to her, he told his wife where he was going and left for the master bedroom.
Mr. Fox walked into the master bedroom of the apartment, noticing there was light spilling through the windows, giving it a live positive atmosphere but it was not so. On the bed sitting next to Cooper was his daughter. Neither of them seemed to realize he had walked in, so he was able to hear some of their conversation.
"...I'm fine, really," Sly said, taking the hand she had placed on his chest away, but held it tightly still.
The vixen smiled and leaned over and kissed his head softly. "I'm starting to think that banging your head is becoming a habit," she said with a smirk.
"Tell me about it," he groaned, looking up at the ceiling.
Mr. Fox watched as his daughter rubbed the raccoon's neck and could only wonder what his daughter saw in this man. Also it gave him some insight on what their relationship was actually like. Carmelita loved him, and he seemed to love her very much. He grumbled in his head out this wasn't real and this was still a nightmare, but he shook it off, but was still none the less happy about it.
Sly's looked back into his mate's eyes and saw someone behind her, and he nodded behind her, and she caught on quickly and she turned around to see who it was.
"Papá," she said getting up, standing in between her mate and father. She was actually surprised that he was there. The older man scratched his forearm which meant he was confused and or nervous, and didn't really know what to say.
"I'll give you two some privacy," Sly said getting out of the bed, feeling a bit better but still very light-headed. When he was at the door, he gave his vixen a warm smile, before closing it behind him.
"I just wanted to say sorry about what your mother and I said to you," he apologized, walking over to his oldest child, and stopped when their was a foot in between them. " You're my special niña, you always have been," the vixen in front of him sat down on her bed and patted the space next to her, and he accepted it. "You especially, have made me really proud of being your Papá. I love you my little Carme." he wrapped an arm around her and she rested her head on his shoulder, but didn't look at him, but he could see tears in her eyes. Some fell and he rubbed those away.
"I...I don't know what to say Papá," she said. He looked at her confused, and she explained herself. "I'm not sorry about who I've fallen in love with...but...I don't want that to...to come between...the family...and I don't...I can't leave Sly to make that better," she was confused and didn't know what to say, and the father could tell that she was finding hard to be telling him this.
She pressed into him, and rested her head under his chin and he stroked her blue hair slowly like he had when she was a cub to calm her down. He really had messed up, his anger had gotten the better of him. "Sometimes, I think you do this out of spite," he joked, chuckling and he heard her chuckle weakly as well. "We are never going to stop loving you my niña, but sometimes the decisions you make, it's hard for us to accept them" he said with a slight growl in his voice. "Your mother and I, we honestly don't know what to say or think about this at the moment. We both agree that we disagree with your choice...but," he stopped, not finding himself to say what he was going to say, but did it anyways. "...I can see, that he makes you happy, and that you two really do love each other. But don't expect your mother and me to welcome him with open arms. Alright?"
"You would like him if you got to know him Papá. He was a criminal," she choked out. "But he a was still a good man to me, and just is. Please get to know him more. He's changed," she mumbled.
"We'll be coming around Christmas to spend some time with you, I forgot to mention this on the phone. Your brothers Hector and Luis will be coming as well with their family's as well. Videl can't make it, his wife is seven months pregnant next week and they're suspecting their litter will be around then. We were thinking that we could all sit down and have dinner together as a family and catch up. I was wondering if you would like to come?" he asked hopefully and to try to make this up to her. "You can bring Cooper with you, but I don't know how everyone else will react though."
"That sounds nice Papá , I would like that. Thank you." she said with a somewhat happy voice.
She leaned into his shoulder, he held her tighter in his arms, enveloping her in a warm fatherly hug. "Thanks Papá, but please just give him a chance, he's a good man." Carmelita begged again her voice still weak.
"I will try not to kill him next time I see him alright, I can't promise how it will go," he whispered, he didn't want to give his daughter to Cooper, but he didn't want to deny his daughter happiness. If they had been doing this as long as they had said they were, then they must have really loved, and been committed to one another.
"That's a start then, now goodbye Papá, I guess thanks for coming over today."
"Carmelita, before I go, was it true that you have been together longer then you said?" she nodded slightly. "I guess you kept it secret so you wouldn't lose your job?" she again agreed to what he said. "Why?" he asked.
"I don't know why. I thought differently about him when he saved me from Clockwerk all those years ago. I realized that he wasn't such a bad person after all. Some things happened between us and we grew closer and we kept it secret," she took a deep breath, and looked away from her farther. "I love him. He's just always been there for me, always lending me a hand when I needed it, always making sure I was doing alright, always putting my well-being before his. I can't ask anymore out of a man."
Mr. Fox thought about what his daughter said but pushed it to the back of his head. He didn't want to talk about this anymore, he would leave this for another time.
"Goodbye, and I am sorry about what happened today," Carmelita nodded and followed her father back to the front door of the house. She found the blood had been cleaned up, and that Sly was sitting on the couch, his hands on his knees, and his head tucked in between. She also noticed that her mother had a very clear scowl on her lips, and was glaring daggers at the raccoon.
I wonder what they were talking about? The vixen thought worrying.
When she got to the front door, her father opened it and her mother followed him out. She walked over to them, wrapping her arms around both her parents who both returned it happily. When they broke apart, they started saying their goodbyes.
"We'll see you for Christmas Carme," her mother kissed her daughters cheek and hugged her tightly, seeing that she was still upset.
"It was good seeing you two again," Carmelita said, hugging her father once more and gave him a peck to the cheek.
"Keep up the good work and we'll see you soon," her father said, and that was the last thing said before he actually closed the door, and wrapped his arms around his wife.
It had been a hectic day so far, and all the vixen could think about was crawling back underneath the covers of her bed and just sleeping the rest of this day off. It was a thought but there were still a few things to do, and one was going to have to talk to Sly about these plans for Christmas, but first she wanted to take a shower. She wanted to wash this all off of her. She closed her eyes and leaned against the door after locking it, and let out a loud sigh. Family was difficult but at the end of the day they were still her parents and she loved them, but sometimes they made it hard for her to do that. It had been such a peaceful morning, and it had changed. Just goes to show that the least expected always occurs.