Chapter 17

A month or two went by, and Carmelita's broken foot had now nearly mended. She was standing beside Sly, favoring her foot, but then looked over adoringly at him, remembering something. "Oh! Say, Sly, have you had a discussion with Murray and Bentley yet? I mean, about the two of us?" she inquired, just a bit hesitantly.

Sly shrugged, considering, then took Carmelita's hand and kissed the back of it, which caused her to smile, and shiver with delight. "Hmm. You know, that's a pretty good idea, actually. Hang on a minute," he told her. As Carmelita looked on in curiosity, he took a deep breath. "Yo, Bentley! Hey, Murray! Come over here!" he boomed.

Carmelita startled at his shout, frowning as she was uneasy about being present when he told his long-time friends about their new relationship. "Sly!" she protested, her unease threatening to bloom into near panic. "I shouldn't be here when you talk with them!" Her cheeks and ears reddened, and she stammered a bit, "I mean...w-what if they don't like the idea?" That thought bothered her a bit more than she ever thought it would.

Sly merely smiled a reassuring smile at her. "Don't you worry, querera...everything will be okay, just you watch," he assured her.

Bentley appeared first, looking curious, yet still a bit irked as well. "You bellowed, Sly?" he said cleverly, crossing his arms before himself.

Murray trailed in on Bentley's heels, a small open grin on his face as he saw Sly and Carmelita. "Hey, what's up, Sly? Hope it won't take too long…the Murray needs his breakfast!"

Sly noticed Carmelita trying to distance herself from the three old friends, and smiled, pulling the most uneasy looking Carmelita to him, putting a familiar arm about her waist. "Guys, I got some news," he informed his two friends.

Bentley quirked up an eyebrow, curious despite himself…though, he did look a bit startled that Carmelita didn't seem to show any offense to Sly having his arm about her waist. "Oh, really?" he replied, peering over his trademark glasses.

Murray frowned, coming to the conclusion that his hunger was going to have to wait. But, that frown was soon replaced with a grin, wanting to know what the news was. "C'mon, Sly...you can tell us," he coaxed the smiling raccoon.

Sly looked over fondly at Carmelita, who smiled and returned his gaze with an adoring one of her own. "Well, fellas, you'll never guess...never in a million years!" Sly proclaimed mysteriously, grinning.

Bentley now found himself really, really curious...but despite that, he hated it when Sly got like this. "Grr! Out with it already, Sly! I hate it when you play these games," Bentley growled, annoyed by the smarmy grin on Sly's face.

Sly grinned ever more, knowing he was jerking their chains a little bit...but, then again, this was Sly! (;P) "All right, keep your pants on, Bent! Okay, you both know how I feel about Carmelita, right?" he began.

Murray and Bentley both nodded, which made Carmelita smile and shake her head. Bentley then rolled his eyes...hoping Sly was coming to the point sometime soon.

Sly began to rub Carmelita's back, both because he knew she liked the attention, and, well, because he loved the feel of her smooth back under his fingers. "Well then, you'd better sit down, boys...cuz, guess what? She loves me too!" he crowed, his smile contagious for some reason. He couldn't help himself, and leaned over to plant a quick kiss on her cheek in his enthusiasm, which made Carmelita both smile and blush a little.

Bentley snorted a moment, then narrowed his eyes clearly thinking. After a bit, he addressed Carmelita directly. "So...let me get this straight then…you really love this guy, right? You know, after all those years of chasing after him, cursing his name, doggedly plaguing his every footstep? Is that right?"

Carmelita had difficulty answering the turtle's query at first, as she had to suppress a shiver of pleasure as Sly continues to softly rub her back. But, she recovered quickly and nodded vigorously. "Si! I mean, yes, Bentley. It took me a long time to see it...but, I guess I've always been attracted to him. After all we've both been through together, it just kinda opened my eyes to the fact that I do love him. More than I ever thought possible, really," she explained, eyeing Sly's partners a bit warily. "Um, er, are you two all right with that? I mean, I know I've tried to catch and arrest you two any number of times in my career...and well…" She gulped, hoping that all would work out for the best.

Bentley thought to himself a moment, shaking his head. Carmelita fretted a moment, before he gave in and showed her a wry grin. "Ah, what the heck! Shoot, it'll be kind of nice having someone else intelligent around the place for a change," he remarked, looking cleverly over at Sly, who blinked at his friend's comment.

Sly frowned at first, then laughed, gently punching Bentley on the shoulder. "Hey, everyone's got their specialty, Bent...you're the smarts, Murray's the muscle and I'm the leader," he told the smirking turtle. "But, I'd watch out if I were you, Bent ol' boy…because my Carmelita's pretty sharp too...and she's way way better looking than you are, pal."

Bentley grinned, knowing Sly could give as good as he get. "No arguments from me, Sly. Hey, it works for me. I was getting tired of playing chess all by myself anyway." Bentley then moved up to Carmelita, and reached over to shake her hand. "Glad to have you with us, Carmelita. You know...instead of against us, that is." He grinned.

Murray, as was often the case, reacted more emotionally than his analytical friend, though he was all smiles too. Carmelita was startled indeed when the burly hippo plucked her out of Sly's grasp, only to pull her gently into his arms to give her a hug. "The Murray is so happy!" he told her happily. "I've know all along that Sly needed you, Carmelita...and, well, that you needed him too," the big guy told her very openly and honestly, nodding his head as if that said everything.

Carmelita grinned at his happy acceptance, yet couldn't stop from grunting as Murray squeezed her. She was absurdly glad to be accepted by Sly's oldest friends…just why, she couldn't even fathom. She put her arms up about Murray's thick neck and hugged him back briefly, kissing him on his cheek. "Thanks, Murray. You might be the muscle on this team...but that doesn't mean you aren't a pretty sharp fella all on your own right," she told him. She sighed in relief as the big hippo finally put her down, allowing her to move back beside Sly, wrapping an arm about his waist.

Murray put a hand up to the cheek Carmelita had kissed, grinning a happy, foolish grin. Bentley closed his eyes, sighing. He turned to Carmelita. "Nice going, Carmelita," Bentley remarked, though he did grin. "Now I'm never going to hear the end of this…"

Carmelita chuckled, then did the unexpected. "Well, we can't have that now, can we, Bentley?" she surmised, then leaned over to place a quick kiss on the shocked turtle's cheek. She laughed softly as his cheeks went bright red, and his mouth moved though not a sound came out.

Murray took pity on his friend and pulled him over, putting a companionable arm about the now stuttering turtle.

Carmelita grinned as Sly laughed at the spectacle. "Well…" she then remarked, "I suppose now, all that's left for me to do is to head down to Interpol headquarters and turn in my shock gun and badge…" she stated with forced ease. But, suddenly the import of what she was about to do hit her...and hit her very hard. "My badge...and my gun," she repeated, rapidly losing her composure. Her beautiful brown eyes blinked then began to brim. Carmelita struggled for a moment, but with a soft sob, she turned and hugged Sly hard, burying her face into his chest, softly crying.

Sly put his arms about her to comfort her, indicating for Bentley and Murray to move along with a small jerk of his head. The two understood, and nodded their understanding, making themselves scarce.

That left now Sly alone with Carmelita. "Shh, c'mon, Carmelita...everything will be okay," he soothed, softly rubbing her back. "It'll be okay, honey...really."

Carmelita recovered quickly, sniffing and wiping at her eyes. "I'm s-sorry. I guess, I guess my job is more important to me than I thought," she tried to explain. She saw Sly's eyes widen in concern then, and she quickly added, "No, no! I'm still so outta there, Sly. Don't worry about that." She leaned back from him to caress his face. "It's just...well," she began again, then looked into his eyes. "Oh, Sly! How am I going to break the news to my family?" she groaned.

Sly kissed on her forehead gently while he thought about her plight. "I guess I don't really know, sweetheart," he replied truthfully. He shrugged. "You know I've been an orphan for most of my life…so I've not had much experience with families, per se." He watched Carmelita nod, acknowledging the truth of his statement. "But, this much I do know though...your sister, your mother, and your father…they all love you very much, Carmelita. Okay, in a different way than I do, mind you, but they do love you," he observed, giving her a squeeze to comfort her. He then grinned, "Hey, I can't blame them…I love you too, girl!" he told her, knowing she needed to know how much he cared for her. "Now, I might be way off base here, but...it's been my experience that people who love one another accept the decisions that those they love make. Now, they might not always like them, or not agree with them...but that doesn't change the love they feel for you. Yes?"

Carmelita laughed softly, then kissed his cheek. "For an orphan, you're better than you think at understanding families, mister," she observed herself, smiling when she saw Sly blush. "Thanks, Sly...you're right. Whatever I decide...my family will still love me." She looked into his eyes, her own brown eyes twinkling, feeling more confident now. "Sure, they'll love me, no question of that. It's getting them to love you that might prove a problem, buster," she added cleverly.

Sly grinned at her, proud of her. He then went along with her. "Nah, that'll be easy, sweetie. I'll just lay on the ol' Cooper charm, and they'll be putty in my hands!" He grinned, but then faltered...though, only a little. "Um, well, at least I'm pretty sure about Carmen and your mother. Now, as to your father...er, well...that might just pose a bit of a problem, querera."

Carmelita laid her head against Sly's shoulder again, smiling. "You just leave Daddy to me. Am I not his baby daughter? His little girl, after all?" she informed him, her expression full of confidence.

Sly was relieved, and chuckled at her. "That you are, Carmelita...I'll leave him to you then, hmm?" he asked.

Carmelita nodded, then reached her hands up to take his face in her hands, pulling him toward her to kiss him soundly on the lips. After that delightful kiss, she could only grin cleverly at the silly look on Sly's face. Now, she thought to herself, that's a look I could never get enough of… "Now, let me get dressed, and ready to go, and we'll head out, okay?" she said, looking to him.

Sly nodded, "Yeah, we'd better," he agreed. Then he gave her a pretend leer, adding, "Need any help getting dressed, dear heart?" He waggled an eyebrow at her, grinning.

Carmelita trembled briefly at that thought! But, delightful as that offer might of made her feel, she shook her head, laughing. "No, I'm pretty certain I get dressed a whole lot faster if I do it by myself, Sly," she informed him with a smile. She then eyed his trim form rather boldly, enjoying the look of surprise on his face. "Though, the offer is a tempting one, my love," she teased.

Sly shivered himself then, grinning. "Whew! What a woman!" he cried softly, shaking his head.

Carmelita laughed then, and nodded her head in agreement. "Don't you ever forget it, mister!" she responded, proud that she had that effect on her handsome raccoon.

The two dressed for their trip to Interpol's Parisian headquarters. Carmelita wore her standard attire, form-fitting blue jeans, her black halter top, her tall boots and last but not least, her favorite leather jacket. Sly, on the other hand, was forced to disguise himself...as he must…at least for the time being. He slicked back his hair, removed his mask, and dressed himself in a natty charcoal grey suit, over a white shirt with red and black diagonally striped tie. The last thing he did was to put a wide brimmed matching grey fedora on his head, and he was ready to go.

Carmelita came down the stairs slowly, then grinned appreciatively as she spotted Sly. "Hmm, I like," she remarked, liking his new look very much indeed! "You know, you clean up very nicely, Mr. Cooper," she told him, bussing him on the cheek.

Sly bowed his head, fingering the brim of his fedora dramatically. "Thanks, beautiful," he thanked her, then gazed over at her. "You look absolutely delicious, gorgeous…as always."

Carmelita's cheeks pinkened briefly at that. "Stop that, Ringtail!" she chided him, reaching up to caress his cheek again. "Save that sort of talk for later, hmm?"

Sly grinned at that. "I'm gonna hold you to that, you know," he advised her, giving her a charming smile.

Carmelita moved up and slipped her arm through his own. "You know something? I'm rather counting on that, actually..."

Sly blinked in surprise at that, then laughed. "What. A. Woman!" he remarked, singing her praises. Carmelita simply grinned, then nodded in agreement of his assessment.

A fifteen minute drive saw the two of them before the entrance to Interpol's Paris headquarters. Sly smiled and turned to Carmelita, as she slipped out of her Peugeot. "Ah, here we are, Inspector," Sly announced.

Carmelita steeled herself for what she was about to do. This was gonna be hard, she knew...but it would be definitely worth it. "All right, follow me..." she replied, indicating the front entrance with a toss of her head.

Before too long, Sly had more than just an inkling of what his poor Carmelita had endured for so long on a daily basis. Even before she had made it to her office, two male constables had made a show of ogling her from behind, whistling lewdly as she passed by. Then, further inside, in the main corridor, she was accosted by some preening zebra constable, who---most unwisely---blocked her path with an arm.

Sly stepped forward, his eyes hard and flinty. "Excuse me, Constable," he prompted, hoping to see this jerk off. But, that was unfortunately not to be. The zebra guy blantantly ignored Sly, choosing to smile a fake toothy smile at the already weary Carmelita. "Well well! Hello there, beautiful!" he crooned, ignoring Carmelita's dangerous glare. "Ah, Carmelita, it's so good to have you back again," he finished, reaching out a hand in an attempt to stroke her hair. Carmelita leaned her head out of his way. "Say, girl…I know, why don't we celebrate that news...just you and I, hmm? Say, my place...at lunchtime, yes?"

Sly grinded his teeth together at the nerve of this preening bastard! Much as it might have been practical to just ignore the situation, Sly just can't just let it lie, and put on an act...just to teach this fathead a lesson, at the very least! The dapper raccoon thumbed his hat back, and eyed the guy with an air of confident authority, looking him over as if he were some sort of repulsive bug. "Constable? Is this the way you normally greet your female contemporaries then?" he demanded in a cool, yet commanding voice. The tone of Sly's voice, as well as his sophisticated dress, made the zebra constable finally pay attention to his prescense.

"Er, excuse me, but you are...?" the constable, who was irritated because Sly was interfering with his attempt to woo the beautiful vixen.

Sly said nothing at first, reaching into the breast pocket of his suit jacket to pull out a false set of credentials, which he flashed quickly for the constable. "I beg your pardon, then. I'm Captain LeStrange, Interpol CID," he said by way of frank introduction. "And, you are…?" Sly put on a bored look...like he did this sort of thing, day in and day out.

The zebra's eyes went wide at the mere mention of CID---Criminal Investigative Division---Interpol's own internal investigative service, which looked out for---and punished!---officers who's conduct reflected badly upon Interpol. The zebra constable gulped, realizing he hadn't exactly painted himself in a very positive light just now, being seen propositioning poor Carmelita. "Er, um, I'm Constable Gaines, Captain," he meekly said, bowing his head in a blatant show of respect. "Er, could you please excuse me, sir? I just remembered a meeting I've got to get to ASAP. Sorry."

Sly looked the guy over, his brown eyes wary and suspicious…but finally nodded curtly at him. "Oh, of course. I wouldn't want to keep you from your actual duties, Constable. If I need you, I'll be in touch. You can count on that."

The constable blinked, his face paling, as he dashed away as if his very tail was on fire.

"Jerk," Sly grumbled, his dark eyes dangerous.

Carmelita had to work very hard at not laughing out loud. Constable Gaines was one of the worst at constantly hounding her. "Um, you handled that very nicely, Captain LeStrange," she complimented him, the trace of a smile ghosting on her lips.

Sly nodded politely to her, his expression still serious, but his brown eyes laughing. "Think nothing of it, Ms. Fox. Just doing my job, Inspector."

Carmelita snorted softly at that, amused, and shaking her head. "Yeah, right. Now, I'm going in to see the Chief," she informed him, before she lowered her voice, stepping close to him so as to not be overheard. "Do try not to start a witch hunt while I'm gone, okay? I don't want to come back only to find you grilling some poor sap. Or worse yet, you in handcuffs, all right?" she added, concerned.

Sly crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes while glaring daggers at the two canine constables that seem to be constantly eyeing Carmelita. "I'll do my best, Carm---er, Inspector. But, I ain't making any promises. No way," he replied, his face hard.

Carmelita's concern grew larger, but she finally shrugged, knowing she wasn't going to get any better out of him just then. "Be nice. I'll just be five minutes. Okay?" she pleaded in a soft voice.

Sly thought about her request, then grudgingly nodded, giving her a smile. "I'll be fine. Go," he told her.

Carmelita was worried as she headed for her Chief's office...leaving Sly Cooper inside of Interpol headquarters was sort of like leaving a big pile of franc notes on display at a thieves' convention. But, as there wasn't much she could do about it now, she squared her shoulders, and stepped up to her chief's office door, knocking once. "Chief, it's Inspector Fox!" she called out.

Her chief, a middle-aged German Shepherd barked (Ha!), "Come in!"

Carmelita opened the door, and walk slowly in. "Good morning, Chief," she greeted him.

Her chief smiled back wearily, beckoning her forward. "Ah, Inspector Fox! Do come in. How nice of you to join us again. Your sister informed us that you had broken your foot. How's that doing, Carmelita?" he asked, though he was a bit distracted.

Carmelita was relieved to know that her sister had kept her word, and had told her gruff, but fair, Chief nothing about Sly. "Pretty good, really, Chief. Thanks for asking," she replied. "Now, when I was off...I had a chance to think about a lot of things."

The chief was under enormous pressure, but was trying to be polite. "Oh really? Do tell, Inspector. But, kindly make it quick if you can. We all have lots of work to do...you most of all, Inspector," he informed her.

Carmelita moved forward then, and tossed her badge as well as her shock pistol on to his desk, where they clattered noisily. Hey, she thought to herself, I must have been hanging around Sly too long. That was a little dramatic, she critiqued herself. "Look, Chief, while I was off, I realized a few things. Things I should of realized before now," she began. She leaned her hand on his desk before she continued. "I've been a good Inspector...one of the best, really. Even you would have to admit to that. But, has that gotten me anywhere within Interpol?" she questioned.

Before the Chief could say a thing, she continued. "No. My co-workers seem to universally despise me...oh, except for the male ones that are constantly trying to get me to sleep with them, that is," she said matter-of-factly.

The Chief frowned upon hearing this, not liking the sound of what she was saying. "But, Carmelita...!" he began to reply, only to have Carmelita brusquely cut him off.

"Oh, I could put up with that, Chief...though I would of most likely eventually gelded a few of the more persistent ones." She grinned savagely, which caused the Chief gulp, knowing she could and would do just that! "But, I've got a ninety-nine percent arrest rate...the best in the whole office, and what does that get me, hmm?" she then barked at him, which made him blink and gaze back at her in surprise.

"I'll tell you what! You constantly threaten my job...or my Inspector's position, because you can't handle the pressure," she growled, leaning over more, fixing him with her glare. "Well, fine! I'm here to fix that, Chief…here's my badge, and my gun...I quit!"

The Chief was, needless to say, flabbergasted! He gaped at her like a fish out of water. "You quit? B-But, you can't! Who would take your place?" he thundered, panicking.

Carmelita limped to the door, and opened it before turning her face back to him. "You know what...I don't care," she informed him with a serene sort of calmness. "Oh, but Chief...?" she then added.

Her chief had gotten to his feet, his face pale as he realized he was losing his best detective. "What?" he asked, bewildered.

Carmelita tossed her dark maned head, and laughed. "Have a nice day!" she quipped as she shut the door, making her way over to where Sly stood. She frowned slightly then, noticing several of her most persistent would-be suitors were…well, oddly quiet. In fact, they seemed to go out of there way to ignore her...which was bloody odd indeed! "Okay," Carmelita remarked to him as she stood beside him once more. "I'm done here, Captain." She gave him a questioning gaze. "Okay, what have you done? This office is as quiet as a church."

While Sly's expression was absolutely neutral, his eyes were dangerous...very dangerous. "Oh, not much, Inspector. Several of your male colleauges had the poor taste to comment, rather indecently I might add, about some of your more salient physical characteristics. I, as I'm duly sworn to do, of course...chose to…er, set them straight on that matter," he remarked cooly. He then eyed her sympathically. "I had no idea of what you had to put up with," he added compassionately. He then turned back to the silent constables, his nose wrinkling in distaste. "If we're done here, I suggest we leave. This place nauseates me," he told her loudly, so that her tormentors could hear.

Carmelita's Chief chose that particular moment to burst forth from his office, where he ran over to Carmelita, his expression a bit wild. "Inspector Fox!" he cried. "Carmelita! Please, you can't quit! I'll offer you a raise! How about another week of vacation? Please! Don't leave me like this!" Suddenly, the busy-sounding office was suddenly quiet as a tomb…well, except for the sound of unanswered phones, of course. Then, there came a voice from the entrance of to the office. A very familiar voice in fact!

Carmen, her arms crossed, glared at the nearly hyperventilating Chief.
What's this I'm hearing? Inspector Carmelita Fox quitting her job? Pff! Yeah, right...what's next? Snow in July?" she inquired scathingly. She then spotted her sister standing beside a very nattily dressed raccoon officer. She moved quickly over to her sister's side. "Carmelita? Is this true, then?"

Carmelita moved in front of Sly, trying to keep him from her all-too-clever sister's view. "As a matter of fact...it is," she told her very surprised sister. Carmen gasped as if someone's just knocked the wind out of her. However, she recovered quickly enough. "Dios!" she exclaimed softly, before adding, "But, Carme...why? Why are you quitting, mi hermana?" She blinked rapidly, very surprised to say the least!

Carmelita said nothing, but linked arms with her sister, and guided her down the stairs outside. "Not here, Carmen. Come with me, I'll try to explain." She looked over her shoulder briefly, indicating Sly should follow them with a jerk of her chin.

Carmen eyed her sister, not sure what to make of what's just happened. She allowed herself to be escorted out of the building, and toward a nearby, yet out of the way, wooden bench. "Now, Carmelita Montoya Fox...you had better explain yourself, pronto!" she demanded.

Carmelita sat down beside her sister, quickly spotting Sly, who leaned nonchalantly against a lamp post, his back to them…but well within earshot. "Okay. To begin with, yes, I have quit. I just turned in my badge and my shock pistol," she explained. She then turned to her sister and took her hand. "Look, Carmen...before you start in on me with how 'there have been Foxes at Interpol for four generations' and 'how I'm going to let down Momma and Papa'...you listen to me for a change!"

Carmen hadn't seen her sister this way in ages, so she simply nodded her head and listened.

"I've been proud of serving with Interpol all these years. I'm proud of making you and our parents proud of me. As well as my achieving the highest arrest and conviction rate Interpol's ever seen," she rattled off to her sister. "But, over the years…things have changed, hermana. Don't your remember a couple of years back when that bitch, Neyla had me suspended, and nearly run out of Interpol with her lies?" she continued, her face alive with her emotions. "How do you think that made me feel, huh?"

Carmen could only nod, grimacing at how an upstart Constable had nearly ruined her sister's most illustrious career. "Si, si...I remember. That was a dark day at Interpol...especially for me, Carmelita. But..." she agreed, then tried to talk her sister out of her decision, but she never got the chance.

Carmelita put her hand on her sister's cheek, cutting her off. "Wait, Carmen...let me finish. I beg of you, yes?"

Carmen nodded her agreement. "Go ahead, Carmelita," she coaxed.

Carmelita continued, noticing Sly watching, keeping guard over them. She nearly choked a moment later when he boldly waved a lieutenant away from them, and...much to her delight, the sap actually fell for it! "Carmen, you're married…so you don't get harrassed like I do. Every day, those guys at the office---Gaines, Jeroche, Carrington, Schmidt, and that's just the most persistent ones!---try to pick me up, whistle at me, pat my behind, call me 'baby', 'sweetheart', 'love', 'liebchen'...whatever! They go out of their way to brush up against me, 'accidently' bump into my chest, all sorts of things like that. And, oh, I get email from them---and you don't even want to see some of the stuff they send me, Carmen!---as well as phone calls, letters…all the time, hermana."

Carmen bristled upon hearing that, her teeth showing. "You point out those creeps to me, dear...and I'll handle them!" she told her baby sister. Carmen swore under her breath in Spanish, her hazel eyes aflame with rage at those that would disrespect her sister…a Fox!

Carmelita smiled with love at her bristling sister, but shook her head in negation. "No, Carmen...I don't want you jeopardizing your career for me, sister dear," she explained, then started again. "But…"

Carmen started, then sighed, closing her eyes. "Dios! You mean there's more?" she asked wearily.

Carmelita could only nod, rubbing her poor sister's hand. "That was only the guys, Carmen. The other female officers---well, with the exception of Trish, of course---" she told her.

Carmen grinned, nodding as she interrupted. "That's Trish Connelly, right? She's a fine officer...a real good girl too. Her?" she questioned.

Carmelita nodded again. "Yes! She's really a good detective, Carmen! She should get my job!" Carmelita said, playing up her friend.

Carmen nodded, after thinking a moment. "Okay, I'll let Chief Rob know. He really is a good guy, Carmelita. If he knew the crap you were putting up with, he'd of---"

Carmelita put a finger over Carmen's mouth to stop her. "I know. I know...but, I'm not going back and beg for my job back, Carmen. I'm done!" she told her sister emphatically. She then smiled a special smile at her, adding, "Besides...I got a better offer anyway." She flicked her eyes over to where Sly stood.

Carmen's eyebrows went up slightly, and she grinned, knowing that particular look well…she used it often enough when she thought of her husband, Carlos. "Oh, really?" she asked, happy for her sister…if indeed she had found that special fellow. "What…some security firm, no doubt, huh?" she teased.

Carmelita thought about that, thinking 'I'll have to suggest that one to Sly! "Eh, maybe. Maybe not. All I know is that I'm finally getting a chance to be happy for once...and I'm taking it, Carmen. I'll miss working with you, sister dear, but..." she truthfully told her sister. Then she grinned, leaning close to her. "I can´t very well be in the police when I'm in love with a thief now, can I?" She laughed softly, then jerked her chin to where Sly stood, pretending to be an Interpol officer.

"Eh?" Carmen frowned, then followed the jerk of Carmelita's chin. Her lovely hazel eyes stared for a moment, then went wide, both from what Carmelita has just said as well as from her finally recognizing just who that dapper looking raccoon really was! "Madre y Dios!" she gasped, putting a slender hand over her mouth in surprise. "Carmelita, is that really---?" Then two and two finally come together, and Carmen gasped again. "No! You, Carmelita? And him? HIM?"

Carmelita looked at Carmen, then nodded, her eyes shining. "Uh-huh! I love him, hermana!" she professed softly, but truthfully to her only sister.

Carmen blinked at that, shaking her head. "Carmelita Fox and Sly Cooper...in love?" she questioned, her mind whirling. "You're sure then?" she asked to confirm what she'd just heard.

Carmelita hugged her sister to her. "Oh, si, Carmen! More than I've been of anything else in my life! I mean it!" she replied.

Carmen eyed Sly where he stood, then grinned over at her glowing sister. "Heh...well, he is one handsome rascal, is he not?" she observed, nearly laughing when Carmelita nodded emphatically. "And, this one, he loves you too, yes?"

Carmelita giggled then, giving her sister a quick kiss on the cheek. "Oh, yes! Say, you're the clever one, Carmen...why don't you ask him yourself?" She beckoned Sly over to them. "You have met my sister before, yes?" she asked him.

Sly nodded then bowed, taking up Carmen's slender hand, kissing her knuckles very formally. "Oh my yes. It is a pleasure to be in the prescense of the famous Capitan Carmen Fox" he said, grinning roguishly at her "I'm Captain---er," he quickly shut up as Carmelita convulsed with quiet laughter. "Eh?" he added, not understanding just what was going on yet.

Carmen can't help but be charmed by Cooper. "Hush, you!" Carmen groused lightly, saying this to Carmelita. Then, she turned back to Sly Cooper. "Oh, I know precisely who you are, mister. None other than infamous Sly Cooper, in the flesh," she informed him. She then eyed him warily. "All right, Cooper…give me one reason...even one reason, why I shouldn't stun your sorry butt, slap the cuffs on you, and haul you off to jail? What have you to say to that, Senor Cooper?"

Sly saw Carmelita only grin, and then noticed Carmen's dark pink lips struggling not to smile. Seeing how things were finally, he decided to go all out, and hold nothing back in charming his potential new "sister-in-law". "Most gracious lady. Most lovely and compassionate Carmen. Second only in loveliness to my own stunning Carmelita," he smooth-talked. He then dropped to one knee, taking her hand in his own again, before he placed her hand over his heart. "I have nothing to offer you, muy bonita Senora, to dissuade you from doing your duly appointed duty," he proclaimed, his tone martyr-like. "Nothing, that is, Capitan, other than the fact that I am madly and passionately in love with your sister, this beautiful woman here." He then grinned at the lovely Carmen, canting his head slightly, giving her his most devastating and charming of smiles. He waited a long moment, then lifted his wrists to her. "So...are you going to cuff me, Senora Fox?" he asked plaintively, his eyes dancing.

Carmen eyed her sister, who was gazing adoringly and with amusement at Sly, then directed her gaze to that damnable charming raccoon, before she gently pushed him away. "Fagh!" she growled, but laughed. "What? And have to endure the displeasure---and most likely the river of tears---of my sister for years to come? Hmm, I think not!" She grinned again, looking up at him. "All right, you," she added, thumping him in the chest with a finger. "You're free to go…and with my blessing too, you rascal." She then sighed, then hugged Carmelita who nearly squealed in thanks. "You'll never have to worry about me, amigo…" she began, and when she saw Sly smile his thanks to her, she added, "unless you hurt my sister, that is. Then, then, my most clever friend, the very Gates of Hell will not keep you from my wrath. Comprende?"

"Si!" Sly laughed softly, then threw his arms around Carmen, and hugged her...much to her dismay! "Aw, Carmen! Loveliest of sisters I never had! Most Beneficent of Ladies! I love ya, Sis!" he crowed, ending up ruffling her dark hair in his enthusiasm, before wrapping her in yet another hug.

Carmen could't help herself and laughed a moment at him, before making a face, pushing Sly away again. "Gracious!" she exclaimed, then looked to Carmelita. "Sister dear, kindly get this off of me!"

Carmelita grinned and pulled Sly away, making him sit beside her...on the other side of her, away from Carmen who brushed her hair back into place. "So, you won't turn him in then, Carmen?" she asked, seeking reassurance. "And, you'll tell Momma and Papa?" She gives her sister the 'Eyes' treatment, lowering her face, making her big soulful brown eyes even larger, begging. "Please?" she pleaded.

Carmen rolled her eyes, sighed heavily, but then smiled, nodding her head. "All right. I'll tell Mom and Dad. Now, both of you...get going! Go…before someone other than me puts two and two together."

Carmelita smiled and hugged her sister thankfully. "Don't worry, Carmen. I'll be around. Until then…see you around, Sis!"

Sly turned to Carmen, blew her a kiss, and remarked, "Don't be a stranger, sister dear. Dinner is at seven every Sunday, you know…"

Carmelita clapped her hand over her beau's big mouth, chuckling at Carmen's expression of surprise.

"Is that true, Carmelita?" Carmen called back, unsure.

"Si, mi grande hermana!" Carmelita replied. "You and Carlos are always welcome. You know…you're family… Bye!"

And, with that, Carmelita and Sly moved away from the bench, and began their future---together!

HUGE AN: OK almost finnished whit To catch a cop. I still have the epiloge (don´t know if i spelled that correct) to make before it´s finnished. I´d like to thank all of you who have given me rewievs. You guys rock!