So after much time I have finally updated. Last few years…not great for me and writing. Things aren't much better, but I figure if I work, I can't worry about it.

A Thief's Tale

Chapter 36: A Big Event

The gang had stared setting up their few possessions. Sly had stated he needed to leave. What he didn't tell anyone, was he was looking for the church his father mentioned in his out of body experience. He wandered along the Paris, rooftops, wishing he had more to go on. Eventually, he found his way to the Clockwerk crash site, now completely cleared away of the ancient, rapidly aged metal.

"Come on dad, give me a push." Sly said to no one, "I just need a small hint. A pointer in the right direction." As if it was in fact guided by something, the sound of bells filled the air. Church bells. Could that be the one he mentioned? "Worth a shot." Sly said before looking up, "Thanks."

Sly followed the sound of the church bells. Not all that far from the Clockwerk crash site, was a church, an old one. Looked fairly run down. It had clearly stood in this same spot for a long time. Taking a deep breath, Sly walked into the holy building.

Inside, it was just as old. Some stone had been worn down, and some places clearly had been repainted not too long ago. "Hello?" Sly called out seeing no one. This was an open church, so why was no one around? Maybe trying this one was a worthless try. A wild goose chase.

These fears however where quickly put to rest as an old pigeon came forward. The pigeon froze upon seeing the Cooper. The color drained from his face as if he had just seen a ghost.

"Hey you okay?" Sly asked, instantly the pigeon seemed to recover from his shock.

"Forgive me, you looked like a man I once knew who passed on." He said, "You are a Cooper I'm assuming?"

"Yeah that's right." Sly responded.

"Must be a son." He said almost thinking aloud, "Your father, he was Conner Cooper?"

"Yeah that's my old man."

"Ah no wonder you look so much like him then." The pigeon said, "My name is Father Riley, I've been the priest for this church for more years then I can remember. Met your father many years ago, he was looking for a church that would wed him and his love without turning him in."

"And…you did that for him?"

"Of course. Much like St. Valentine in days of old, we believe that marriage should happen when two souls truly love each other. Circumstances of their lives shouldn't weigh them down."

"But correct me if I'm wrong, don't you guys say stealing is wrong?"

The pigeon let out a chuckle. "Yes, well we made an exception for him. Long ago in the middle ages one of the priests of this church was nearly killed while in England. A Cooper thief of that time saved his life. So we overlook their traits knowing they are good souls underneath."

"So then, these marriages you perform, they're legal?"

"A thief wondering about what's legal? Has the world gone mad?" Father Riley joked, "But yes, we issue the marriage license ourselves and file it when you have gotten the ability to flee. Unless we aided you in the commission of a crime, it is not illegal."

"So…I could marry Carmelita, a true legal wedding, this is…this is perfect!" He shouted in joy.

"I take it you have a special woman in mind?"

"Of course Father, I'm going to ask her right now! Thank you father, thank you so much!" Sly didn't even wait for the holy bird to respond before he rushed out the door. While he was careful to alert as few people as possible, he rushed as fast as he could to the safe house.

In the safe house, the gang was still in the middle of setting up any needed gear they might need. Sly was actually quite nervous about what was going to happen. Even with all that's happened between them, especially now a days, he still couldn't shake these nerves.

"Hey guys, mind if I talk to Carmelita alone for a minute?" Sly asked.

"Yeah, I suppose." Bentley said, "I mean, we were in the middle of planning."

"Bentley please."

"Yeah, let's leave them alone. It feels important." Penelope said helping scoot her turtle boyfriend out of the room.

"What is it Sly?" Carmelita asked.

"Well, there was something I wanted to ask you." He said getting down on a single knee. Carmelita's eyes widened and her heart began to race. "Carmelita, I come to you not as a master thief, but as an ordinary person. I almost lost you, and I can't even imagine about living another day without you in my life. So I ask you, from the deepest depths of my heart, will you marry me?"

Carmelita gasped and held her hands to her mouth. It really was happening. "Yes." She said quietly. "Yes of course I will!"

Sly shot up and embraced the vixen. It was happening! He and her where getting married, to have and to hold each other for the remainder of their lives. Yes, they'd only been together for a short time, but they already knew each other so much. For years they chased after each other. But now, the chasing will stop.

"Hey guys, you can come back now." He said down the hall way just before the gang began to return. "I have great news. I just asked Carmelita to marry me."

"And I agreed."

"This is great news Cooper." Panda King said amongst the cheers of the others, "I have been married before. There is no better feeling than beginning a life with the woman you love. That feeling is quite comforting, even if she is no longer with us."

"Thanks." Sly said.

"Wait, how can you two tie the knot. We thieves yo. You step into courthouse and you get busted big time!" Dimitri said in his own unique style.

"Well, hopefully you guys don't hate me for this. But I found a way. A small church. I met with them. Apparently they've been holding marriages for the Cooper family since Medieval times. So, they have a few tricks to keep us from being turned in."

"That's amazing." Bentley said, "So, do you two have any idea when the marriage will happen?"

"Well, if at all possible. I say we do it tonight. I mean, if it's okay with you my love." Sly said.

"Given how quickly things have happened in our lives. I think that sounds just perfect. Lead the way my honorable thief."

Whoo. Long ass wait for not a lot of pay off huh? Sorry folks. Life has been kicking me in the balls a lot. And now I have a new job that takes up a lot of my time. But I have been working on my fanfics. A whole bunch of them. Anyway, hope you enjoy this, we're getting close to the end here.