(Six months later)

You know, so much has happened it's hard to begin.

As you can clearly see, Rouge did not kill me. In fact, she dropped her gun, we both had a good cry and we left with the money, all six bil of it. Shadow came, too, he'd earned it just as much as we have.

And so, one bright day in March, we all left Angel Island forever. We hired our very own luxury jet to take us, and the whole way we were talking and downing that really good cocktail shrimp.

And so we all got off on the lush, tropical isle of Saint Frobert (that's French, that is). Our first stop was to lose the trench coats and get some half-decent duds. Matter of fact, I'm currently wearing a very comfy shirt that I got then…

Rouge and I bought a cozy little home on the hills in front of the beach. Shadow bought his own place up a ways, also on the beach. You'd think he'd be lonely, but he's gotten very friendly with a gorgeous hedgie from town, name's Juanita. Great figure, luscious brown quills, the lot. I'd be interested, but Rouge is more than enough.

We tried just hanging around the beach, but we needed a bit more than just that. And so, that summer, we opened the Roland Bar & Grill in town, in memory of that classy old mongoose we owe so much. Be sure to try the Sautéed Catfish with Spiced Potato, it's our best.

We took the money and buried what was left of it. It's the simple life from now on. Well, semi-simple. We still have our elegant tastes, right?

By the end of the summer we had developed a circle of close friends on the island. With great food, drink and atmosphere at the Roland, we became the toast of the town fast. But not too high in society. I've seen how that ruins people.

So, here I sit, on the beaches of St. Frobert, comfy and cozy in soft, cotton clothes, lying in my chair-bed on the sand, calmly sipping daiquiri. The tide comes in, and goes out; a melody of its own. A light breeze stirs this cocktail of tranquility, gently pushing my quills over my left eye. I'd move it, but I'm too comfortably situated right now. Rouge will probably see me, and come and join me. Good. I'd like her to be here for this. It's too perfect to share alone.

So what comes next? Kids? Haven't thought about that one, might pop that one to Rouge…later. In a couple hours we're headed to Shadow and Juanita's place for drinks. Just friends with friends.

It's funny to think how this all started. "The case to end it all" was my wording. But it wasn't the end, really. It was the beginning. Of everything. My new life.

I'm sure there's some philosophical quote I could use here, but Rouge has just come out in a very catchy silk gown. Definitely casual, but still wonderful. It'll probably come off in another two minutes, but for now, it's nice.

So there you have it. For what it's worth. A story that could mean something to you, or many not. Meaning something can't really matter, not to me right now. I'm happy, and that's what matters.

I'm happy.

Think I'll mix another daiquiri and think about that.

FIN, MES AMIS