CHAPTER THREE- Home At Last

PARIS, FRANCE- 1:06 P.M.

After retrieving Casey's belongings at the airport, our heroes finally arrive back at Sly's hideout.

"What a nice place you have here," Casey said as they stepped inside.

"Why thank you," Sly said, smiling as he turned on some lights.

Casey was clearly just being polite. Sly's home was a mess. There were empty beer cans, food containers and dirty articles of clothing strewn all over the place. The living room table was covered with all kinds of debris and garbage, and the kitchen was filled with unwashed dishes and spoiling food.

"Make yourself at home, Casey," Sly said, flopping down on the couch. The bird sat down next to him.

"How long have I been asking you to clean this place up?!" asked a disgusted Bentley as he picked up one of Sly's dirty socks.

"I'll clean it when I feel like it," the raccoon said, yawning.

As expected, Murray had made his way to the kitchen in search of food. Meanwhile, Veronica kicks off her black boots and then unzips her purple jumpsuit and steps out of it, exposing her shapely body to everyone in the room.

"Have you no decency?!" Bentley said, glaring at the underwear-clad female blue jay.

"Why don't you relax?" she says, kissing the turtle.

Casey couldn't help but stare at the undressed girl. Veronica comes over to the couch and cuddles up with him. "Like what you see, sugar?"

"Uh.....yes....." responded the nervous Casey.

"Well, let's go in the other room so you can have a closer look," Veronica says. The two birds head to Sly's room, go in, and close the door behind them.

Sly sighs and removes his hat and boots. He then places his feet up on the coffee table.

"Keep your grungy socks off that table!" Bentley demanded.

"Why?" Sly responded. "Afraid I might soil last Thursday's newspaper?" he said, glancing at all the clutter on the table. Bentley stares at him briefly before heading for his computer. Sly closes his eyes and soon falls asleep as laughter could be heard from within his bedroom.

Bentley finishes up on the computer and covers Sly with a blanket before retreating to his room. Murray steps out of the kitchen carrying a large bowl of cereal and sits down in the corner to eat it.

Casey and Veronica now lie next to each other in Sly's bed after making love. "That was great," Casey said.

"Yeah," Veronica responded. The two then cuddled up and fell asleep. A sense of calm and peace now came over Sly's home as everyone settled in after their long trip.