Epilogue
Two weeks later…
"Hey, guys! Yuri and Bentley are back!" Kitty bellowed, so loudly that she could be heard through seemingly the entire hotel. Her friends quickly left their seats, or whatever they had been doing, to move quickly for the front door, where Kitty nearly bounced up and down in her anticipatory excitement.
The red Ferrari purred smoothly up the hotel's driveway, and came to a smooth halt. A minute later, the two gull wing doors levered open and a weary, yet grinning Yuri Sing stepped one gorgeous leg out of her car. She never got the opportunity to get the other down and out, as an enthusiastic Kitty and Svetlana nearly heaved the surprised snow leopard woman bodily out of her car and into their waiting embraces. "Ooh, Madame…we missed you so!" Svetlana squealed in delight, beaming at her friend. "Oh, pardonnez moi…how was your honeymoon, mon ami?" she then added, with a sheepish, but heartfelt grin.
"Forget that!" Kitty demanded with a laugh. "What did you two get me? Hmm? Hmm?"
Yuri, a bit breathless as you might guess, laughed. "Mon Dieu!" she told her enthusiastic friends, even as Sly helped Bentley out the car, then the two of them began to remove the two's luggage from the car. "I had not realized, cheris, that I had been gone so long as to warrant such a welcome!" She then turned to Kitty, and laughed again, pausing only to ruffle the grinning little vixen's hair. "What did I get you?" Yuri questioned, her expression dubious. "What makes you think I bought anything for you, you little scamp?"
"Huh? N-Nothing? Not even a t-shirt?" Kitty whined, her big blue eyes on the verge of crocodile tears.
Yuri grinned, then looped an arm about Kitty, the other about Svetlana, and began to walk the two toward the door. "Perhaps I did, perhaps I did not. We shall see, Kitty," she laughed, "we shall see…"
"Aww!" Kitty complained, yet grinned.
"Now," Yuri then commanded as she---and her two dears---neared where the rest of her friends stood. "Bon jour! Now…where are my darling dears? Where are my precious children?" she asked of Sly, Bentley, Jack, and Murray, who blinked at her demand.
Naomi, Carmelita, Maria and Sean then appeared---most fortuitous---a moment later, each of them holding one of Yuri's children in their arms. "Heya, married lady," Carmelita greeted the enthusiastic Yuri, who grinned from ear to ear at the very sight of her kids. "How was the trip, sweetie?"
"I shall tell you later, cheri," Yuri replied, then moved up to Naomi, who held little Philipe in her arms. "How was Maman's precious boy?" Yuri asked in a sweet high voice. Philipe, right on cue, gurgled and cooed at the sight—and evidently, sound---of his famous mother. "Oh, cher…have you missed me?" Yuri purred, then grinned as Philipe reached out with his chubby little arms, smiling and laughing, leaning eagerly toward his mother.
Yuri took Philippe from the grinning Naomi, and flashed her friend a thankful smile. "Mmm," she murmured as she snuggled her cheek to his soft head fur. "Did my sons and daughters behave themselves, Naomi?" Yuri asked.
"Oh, oui! They were little angels, Yuri," Naomi replied, even as Bentley took little Belinda in his arms, rubbing noses with the little girl, who giggled at her silly Papa. "They had some rough moments at first…but, they were soon over. Though, with so many willing adults to look after them, I am afraid they have gotten so very spoiled…" Naomi grinned.
Yuri grinned, knowing that Naomi would allow no such thing. "Eh, what's a mother to do, non?" Yuri teased right back, causing Naomi to laugh too. "So, is everyone ready to go, cheri?" Yuri added, noticing the Gang's panel truck's side doors were open, and the four Sing child seats were already belted in.
"Oui, just as soon as we can pry Celeste and Austin from Svetlana and Kitty's greedy little hands," Naomi teased, seeing the little tigress and Kitty still cooing and fussing over the two Sing children. Naomi whistled softly, and once she got the two's attention, they moved toward the waiting panel truck.
"We're coming, we're coming," Kitty groused, softly stroking Austin's smooth head, which the boy seemed to like very much. "What a bunch of tyrants…" she groused.
Yuri grinned at her rascally friend, even as all her 'nursemaids' moved over to secure their charges into their appropriate car seats for the ride back to the chateau and home…
A month later, at Le Hotel Champlain…
Sly Cooper fussed and fretted…wanting everything to be just so. After all, it wasn't every day he got the chance to surprise his Carmelita. And, that was exactly what he planned…a surprise party! For, it had been---exactly on this very day, in fact!---two years since Carmelita first joined the Gang. It had taken Sly nearly a week to encourage/cajole/extort/strong-arm/what-have-you everyone he wanted to be in attendance for his gala. But, much like the Master Thief he was, whatever he wanted, he usually got. Better yet, Sly mused as he took a moment to rest, it was one day closer to when he and his Carmelita were to finally be wed! Man, he couldn't believe it…he and Carmelita, blissfully married? Aw, man, it just couldn't get any better than that!
The day of the party, Sly had to work very hard to keep his expression as normal as he could manage…for, if Carmelita suspected what he was up to, he'd ruin everything. Sly felt up to the challenge however, which would be considerable, considering that---at that very moment---Svetlana and Maria were cloistering friends and family for the party in the hotel's many guestrooms, waiting for the signal. Sly looked at his watch clandestinely, noticing that it was only three minutes to five o'clock---H-Hour, as it were. Sly was most pleased with the degree of stealth the two Russian beauties were accomplishing their work. He'd have to do something nice for those two to repay them, he told himself, creating a mental task list.
Carmelita was sitting right beside her Sly, reading an adventure novel she had been meaning to read, but had never gotten to. She grinned a moment later, as she got 'that' feeling again…knowing it only came when her Sly gazed adoringly at her. She couldn't help the smile that came from knowing he found her so alluring and attractive…that feeling was something that never ceased to make her feel so tingly and excited. Every so often, she would flick her beautiful brown eyes up to catch him at his game, grinning broadly as the flirty raccoon would at first look away, then stare boldly back into her eyes until she couldn't stand it and had to look away, knowing full well she was blushing. It was a silly---yet wonderful---little game the two of them enjoyed when they were feeling content and sort of domestic. Their little scene of domestic bliss was ended a moment later…when the door bell to the hotel's rear door sounded.
Sly grinned, and then turned to his lady love nonchalantly. "Um, querera?" he asked, "do you think you could get that?"
Carmelita put down her book, looked over at her beau with a grin and a shake of her sable-haired head. "Yeah, sure, I can do that," she answered, then grinned even more. "I can see just how busy you seem to be, Ringtail." She laughed and made her way back to the back door.
Sly watched---almost hypnotized, he'd be the first to admit!---the sexy swaying of his Carmelita's hips and behind before she disappeared from view. He had to shake his head to clear it, but then quickly slipped his cell phone out and dialed Svetlana's number, letting it ring three times before he hung up. That had been their arranged upon signal. Two moments later, Svetlana and Maria began leading all the guests silently and surely into the hotel's large living room to congregate.
Meanwhile, the rear entrance of Le Hotel Champlain…
"Carmelita!" Carmen exclaimed as the door opened, and her sister came into view. "Buenos Noches, mi hermana!" Carmen held little Enrico in her arms, and the little boy cooed upon seeing his Auntie Carmelita, holding out his little arms to her.
"Carmen?" Carmelita answered, surprised. But, she didn't linger on that, as she quickly took little Enrico from his mother and hugged him to herself, smiling as Enrico gave her a great sloppy kiss. "Oh! Come in, come in!" Carmelita added in embarrassment, realizing she had left her poor sister on the doorstep. "Buenos Noches, Carlos," she then added as Carmen's handsome husband came inside bearing a much bigger Maria in his arms. "How have you all been?"
"We have all been fine, Carmelita," Carlos assured her with his handsome grin. "Well, except that my Maria has become such a big girl now, has she not?" He smiled a doting smile at the little dark-haired charmer in his arms. Maria giggled at her silly Daddy, and kissed his cheek…which she often liked to do.
"What brings you all here?" Carmelita asked as she ushered the four Foxes into the hotel's kitchen. "Not that I'm not thrilled to see you all, you understand," she hastened to add.
"Do I have to have a reason to see my only sister?" Carmen demanded with a smile, looping an affectionate arm about her sister's waist.
"Well, no," Carmelita answered, smiling a bit sheepishly. "Come…I left Sly in the living room, and I'm sure he'll be glad to see you all."
"Ah, the famous Senor Cooper," Carmen murmured, just a hint of doubt on her lovely, freckled face.
"Carmen, you still don't trust him yet?" Carmelita challenged her sister. "After all he's done for me?"
Carmen had the good grace to blush humbly. "I do apologize, hermana," she explained. "He has been so very good to you, I know. Still, I guess my old policewoman's instincts are hard to control at times."
Carmelita shook her head, but grinned over at her sister to let her know she understood. Just before she led them all into the living room, she called out, "Sly! Honey? Carmen and Carlos are here!"
A thunderous "SURPRISE!" was her answer, and it stopped her dead in her tracks. Enrico blinked in surprise at the noise…but then, instead of crying, he giggled and called out in happy childish gibberish.
"Happy Anniversary, mi muy bonita querera!" Sly announced as he drew his Carmelita to him, and carefully hugged her around little Enrico, somehow managing to kiss her tenderly around the little boy in her arms.
"Huh? Anniversary?" Carmelita said, blinking her big brown eyes. "What the heck is---?" Carmelita blurted, but cut herself off as Svetlana moved toward her, a smile on her exquisite face.
Svetlana, dressed in her favorite purple dress, moved forward to kiss Carmelita smartly upon her cheek. "Oui, mon ami!" she explained. "Today, Sly Cooper informs us all, is the two year anniversary of your induction into the famous Cooper Gang. Congratulations!" Svetlana smiled brightly, then looked into little Enrico's innocent eyes, and her big brown eyes melted, a most maternal smile appearing on her little face. "Um, Carmelita…may I?" she asked, holding out her arms tentatively.
"Enrico?" Carmelita answered, looking at the little boy. "Would you like to see your Auntie Svetlana?" she asked him. The little boy gurgled happily and leaned over toward the waiting Svetlana, who positively beamed. Carmelita laughed, and handed him over to her, saying, "I would take that as an unqualified 'yes', I think."
The smile that blossomed on Svetlana's pretty face made Carmelita's heart swell a moment. The little Ukrainian woman held the cute little fox fellow and cooed over him, making him giggle. "Ah, how is my little zaichik?" Svetlana asked with a grin---'zaichik' meaning 'bunny' in her native Russian. She then hugged the laughing little boy in her arms, snuggling her cheek to his a moment. "I shall see that he is content, Carmelita," she then said, "after all…you do have guests, nyet?" She grinned.
"Da," Carmelita answered, thanking Svetlana with her eyes. "Spasiba, tovarisch," Carmelita added in the only Russian she knew. The little Ukrainian tigress noted the fond look, and with a happy smile, moved into the crowd, allowing everyone to fuss over the darling little child she held in her protective arms.
"Carmelita!" Yuri Sing then exclaimed, moving toward Carmelita, her lovely green-gold eyes alight with her pleasure. "Cheri, it so good to see you!" she fussed. "I have been busy…else I would see you far more, mon belle ami." Yuri shrugged apologetically, holding her youngest boy, a snow leopard, upon her smooth hip.
"So, Yuri," Carmelita said, after exchanging kisses on the cheek with the beautiful snow leopard woman. "Who's this charming little man you have here?"
Yuri, as mothers are wont to do, smiled with pleasure as Carmelita complimented her son. "This, cheri, is mon petite Philipe," she answered, snugging her cheek to his once in sheer delight. "He is my baby, you know…my youngest."
Carmelita felt her hands itching to hold the oh-so-cute little Philipe. "Um, do you think I could---?" she ventured hopefully.
"Please do!" Yuri answered with a laugh. "My hip is killing me, cheri." She handed Philipe over, and the agreeable little boy snuggled pleasantly in his Auntie Carmelita's arms. Yuri smiled as she softly rubbed her aching hip.
"Mmm," Carmelita murmured, softly ruffling the soft fur atop Philipe's head. "He's so soft and cuddly."
"Oui, he is," Yuri agreed. "Children are adorable at this age…so I take every opportunity, cheri, to hold him. Far too soon, he shall become too heavy for me to hold." She gave little Philipe a look of soft regret.
"I've missed you and Bentley, Yuri," Carmelita told her friend as they moved over to where a fussy Bentley was looking over his other three children. "But, after the wedding---which, by the way, was just heavenly!---well, Sly and I figured you two lovebirds needed some time alone…you know?"
"Oui," Yuri replied, smiling over at Carmelita. "And, I thank you both for your courtesy, cheri." She patted Carmelita's cheek in fondness once. "I now find myself deluged with children and a husband," she pretended to moan, then smiled, adding, "and I could not be happier, cheri!"
"That's great, Yuri," Carmelita replied, pressing her cheek to Philipe's small warm head, then grinned when she saw that he was sound asleep…despite all the hullabaloo. "Aww, he's asleep." Carmelita felt a swell of maternal feelings within herself, and softly kissed the sleeping boy's head.
Yuri smiled an adoring smile at her sleeping child. "Hmm, I am not surprised, he has had a busy day, my Philipe," she explained.
"Celeste!" Bentley could be heard chiding his oldest girl, as he saw her heading for the nearby curio cabinet. "Come back here right now, young lady." He reached out a thick-fingered hand to corral the inquisitive snow leopard girl. He then turned his attention to the newly developed tug of war going on between the two middle children. "Austin! Belinda! That's enough!" he snapped softly. "Austin, give your sister her doll back."
Carmelita grinned to see Bentley instructing his charges. "So…how's it goin', Pops?" she quipped. "Hey, it's great to see you again, Bentley."
Bentley gave Carmelita a quick welcoming smile, and then gave her a look. "I think you can see precisely how things are going, Carmelita," he professed, then grinned. "Not that I mind really. They're all pretty good kids, for the most part." His indulgent grin was very amusing and touching to Carmelita.
Yuri moved over to take the sleeping Philipe from Carmelita. "Go, cheri," she gently instructed. "Go say hello to your nieces and nephews, hmm?" Carmelita grinned thankfully at Yuri, and moved over beside Bentley.
"This is my little Celeste," Bentley said by way of introduction, indicating the just adorable little snow leopard girl he held by the hand. "Celeste, this pretty lady is your Aunt Carmelita," Bentley introduced the two.
Carmelita knelt down to bring her eyes down to little Celeste's level. "My…aren't you just a very pretty little girl?" she said sweetly. "Do you think your Auntie Carmelita could get a hug?" She held her arms out in invitation.
Celeste giggled warmly before she toddled her way into Carmelita's waiting arms, cooing as her new Aunt lifted her up and squeezed her. Celeste took an immediate liking to her Aunt's thick soft hair. It was fascinating to touch, so soft and smooth…and it smelled good too. Celeste then looked into her Aunt's big rich brown eyes, saw the love there, and then giggled anew, throwing her little arms around Carmelita's neck.
"Oh," was all Carmelita could say, a lump forming in her throat. She softly hugged little Celeste back, rocking the little girl in her arms. She then drew her back, and gently brushed one cheek with a finger, making the little girl giggle at what must of tickled her. "So…you're ticklish, are you?" she asked in a clever voice, then began gently tickling Celeste's neck and cheeks. Celeste loved it, and her giggles and laughter could be heard quite well. Carmelita could not get over just how much Celeste resembled her lovely mother…she could quite imagine Yuri looking just this way as a child.
Bentley smiled to watch Carmelita with his eldest child…he still couldn't seem to get over the fact that he was a father. That fact amazed and terrified him each and every day…but, he couldn't really be happier if he tried. Once Celeste tired of her Auntie's tickling, Carmelita put her down, where she toddled back to her father. "Now, this dapper young man would be our Austin," Bentley continued the introductions.
Austin blinked, then looked up into the smiling face of his pretty Aunt. He then did what came naturally to him…he smiled back, then bowed his head just a bit clumsily though most cordially to Carmelita.
"Buenos Noches, Senor Austin," Carmelita replied in her native Spanish, being sure to smile encouragingly at the small turtle lad, before she bowed her own head in response to his courtesy.
"And, finally, this is cutie-pie is our little Belinda," Bentley announced, his face beaming with pride and love for the little blond-haired turtle girl. He then grinned and turned to Naomi, who was gaily chatting with her Murray. "Say, Naomi…I think I may have some upcoming talent for you to consider at C'est Sing."
Naomi and Murray moved over to where Bentley, Carmelita, Yuri, and the Sing children stood. "What's this, Bentley?" Naomi replied, curious. "Who did you have in mind, eh ami?"
"My Belinda here," Bentley replied, puffing up his chest in pride. "You should see her room back home. All of her dolls sport the height of fashion…don't ask me how. It's a gift she has, I think…probably comes from her mother, no doubt." Yuri smiled thankfully at her husband's observation.
"Belinda cheri? May I see your doll?" Naomi politely asked as she squatted down to ask little Belinda. Belinda stopped to consider her request, her eyes staring up a moment as she did so. She then nodded, making her blond locks sway, and handed her prized doll over to the tall cheetah lady.
"Merci, cheri," Naomi told the little girl, eyeing her doll inquisitively. The little plastic doll was attired neat and tidily, and in a very fashionable ensemble of white shirt, midnight blue vest, and long black skirt. "Your doll, she is tres belle…I mean she is very pretty, Belinda. Thank you for letting me see her." She handed the doll back, turning to Yuri and Bentley. "She dressed her doll then…all on her own, oui?"
Yuri nodded the affirmative. "Oui, of course," she affirmed. "It is somewhat uncanny, Naomi. She also quite regularily puts together fabric samples all on her own…many of which, I must admit, I am planning to use in next year's collection." Yuri beamed with pride at her daughter's unlooked-for skills…even at this young age.
"Amazing," Naomi opined, looking closer at the little turtle girl with the seemingly innate fashion sense. She then spotted the last member of the Sing's in his mother's arms. "This then, most likely, is your Philipe, oui, Madame?"
Yuri smiled warmly and softly kissed her sleeping child's head. "Oui, it is he," she answered. "Mon Philipe."
"Is it true, Madame," Naomi asked, grinning, "that he already can spell his name in full?"
"Oui, he can, cheri! Is that not remarkable?" Yuri responded, immensely proud of her little Philipe. "You see…one morning I had given him applesauce. Nothing unusual about that, non? However, that morning I had spilled my coffee, and had to take the time to clean up the mess, oui? Well, let me tell you, amis…when I turned back to my little boy, I was stunned! For on the tray of his high chair he had---quite clearly!---spelled out his own name! Is that not the most amazing thing?" Yuri gave her little boy a look only a mother could give, full of her love for him.
"Yeah," Bentley then added, fishing in his vest pocket a moment. He brandished a small snapshot to them all. "If you don't believe us…here's your proof, folks…" They all dipped their heads down, and sure enough…there was a picture of a grinning little Philipe, his applesauce neatly arranged to spell out his own name…plain as day!
"Wow," Murray replied just a little awed. "Say, Bent…he must be a chip off the old block, huh?" He playfully nudged his small friend, who had to step back to reclaim his balance after his friend's little 'tap'.
"Well, maybe," Bentley admitted with a grin.
Carmelita watched little Maria playing nicely with Yuri's Celeste, while Svetlana sat cooing over Carmen's Enrico, playing peekaboo with the delighted little fox boy. Yuri continued to hold her still sleeping Philipe, while Naomi knelt down to softly speak with a most curious Belinda. Sly had Austin seated on his lap, and both were having themselves a spirited softly spoken conversation about who knew what.
"Hey, hermana!"
Carmelita looked over, then grinned at the sight of her elder sister moving toward her with her arms open wide. "Carmen!" Carmelita got out, then grunted as her sister engulfed her in a perhaps overenthusiastic embrace. "Hey, I missed you too, Carmen…"
"Oh…I know," Carmen said slyly, kissing her younger sister's cheek loudly. "But I did not want my baby sister to think I love her any less…" Carmen turned her head away slightly and grinned, her hazel eyes merry.
"Oh, you!" Carmelita answered with a laugh, kissing Carmen back. "C'mon, Carmen…it's time to catch up on things, sister dear."
The two Fox beauties found a set of empty seats, and sat down and began to catch each other up on the other had missed. "So, Carmelita," Carmen finally asked, "you must let me thank Madame Sing for inviting me to her wedding!" Carmen sighed, smiling happily. "Ah, what a beautiful ceremony…ah, and what a beautiful dress! Que lastima…Yuri looked so muy bonita in her finest, eh Carmelita?"
"Si, muy bonita," Carmelita agreed readily enough. "I'll have to tell you about that dress of hers sometime, Carmen." Carmelita then switched gears, as just what her sister had said finally registered. "You were invited to the wedding? Carmen? But, sister…I did not see you there!" Carmelita felt a pang of embarrassment.
Carmen smiled, then reached out a hand to pat her sister's. "That was because you were very busy, hermana," Carmen assured her. "Yes, Carlos and I did attend…and I was so grateful for the invitation." Carmen then looked away, a look of mild regret clouding her face a moment. "Ah, but I wish we could of stayed for the reception! I heard it was truly spectacular." Carmen then grinned mischievously. "Especially the dancing…which, I heard a certain lovely Spanish vixen I know was involved in tripping the light fantastic, as it were…"
Carmelita laughed at her sister's description. "Carmen, you should have been fiction writer sometimes," she teased. "But, yes, Sly and I danced…and often, I'm proud to say. Oh, but that was such a magical night…" Carmelita's eyes glazed slightly, and a fond smile appeared on her lips.
Carmen shook her head. "You and Sly Cooper," she stated, then smiled. "I still cannot believe it…but, I am not complaining, hermana." She reached over to fondly caress her sister's cheek. "For…he makes you happy, I can tell. And, if he can manage that, he is not such a bad fellow."
Carmelita grinned, then waggled a finger in her ear, pretending she must of misheard. "There must be something wrong with my hearing," Carmelita teased. "Or, did I just hear my sister say my fiancé isn't such a bad guy?"
"Hush, you," Carmen replied, a bit shame-faced. "This is not easy for me, Carmelita Fox!" She then held her beautiful head high, crossing her arms before her chest. "Be happy you have such an understanding---and beautiful!---elder sister, eh?"
"Don't you fret, dearie," Carmelita responded with a laugh, then hugged her sister warmly. "I do appreciate my older, yet still stunningly beautiful sister very much indeed!"
"Older?" Carmen protested. "You make me sound positively ancient, Carmelita!"
"Aren't you?" Carmelita teased, then pressed her cheek to her sister's and hugged her once again. "Beautiful, I mean, sister dear." Carmelita's eyes twinkled at her sister.
Carmen couldn't help but shake her head and laugh.
Carmelita looked around then, and could see Svetlana now talking softly with little Maria Fox, who smiled at her pretty Aunt as she was held against Svetlana's hip. Yuri now held little Enrico in one arm, as well as her own Philipe in her other. Even as she gently rocked the two little boys, Kitty came over and relieved her of Enrico…wanting her turn with the charming little boy. Carmelita then saw Naomi move over to talk softly with her dearest friend and her son.
Carmen and Carmelita then lapsed back into the comfort of their own company and chatted animatedly about many a thing. Fifteen minutes past by, when Carmelita caught movement out of the corner of her eye. She frowned, and saw both Yuri and Naomi slowly walking her way. Her interest became concern when they approached closer…as Carmelita could see that both beautiful women had been obviously crying. "Excuse me, Carmen," Carmelita apologized, getting to her feet. "I'll be right back."
Carmen noticed the two red-eyed lovely ladies, and mimicked her sister's actions. "No need, hermana," Carmen said. "I'm right beside you…"
Carmelita moved toward her friends, and nodded as Naomi beckoned for her to take the sleeping Philipe from Yuri's arms. Carmelita rocked the sleeping little boy softly, listening.
"Papa and I have now reconciled," Yuri sniffled, but smiled. "Why, he was even civil to my Bentley. Maman was so shocked, but she then began to cry too…as she was so proud of mon Pere. She wants to see her grandchildren, Naomi…can you believe that?" Yuri's green-gold eyes shone with happiness as well as tears.
"That is how things should be, Yuri," Naomi replied with a nod.
"Oui," Yuri agreed. "Ah, mon ami…I am so happy." She sighed, then wiped her eyes with a lacy kerchief from her handbag. "Oh, would you look at me? All teary eyed at what is supposed to be a happy occasion. Where are my manners, eh cheri?" She smiled.
Naomi grinned and kissed Yuri's brow fondly. "But, Yuri…it is a happy occasion, ami…even happier now that your family is as it should be, non?" Naomi reasoned, then glanced over at Carmelita and Carmen, who both smiled warmly, their eyes glistening just then. "I think our Carmelita will be willing to turn a blind eye to you this one time, oui?"
"Yuri? I don't mean to pry, but…" a concerned Carmelita asked, even as she reached over to take the silent, yet smiling snow leopard beauty's hand.
Yuri smiled at her friend's obvious concern. "Please, do not worry yourself, cheri," she informed Carmelita, squeezing the vixen's hand warmly. "These---" she indicated the drying traces of tears on her cheeks, "---are happy tears of joy,
Carmelita."
Carmelita frowned, confused. "You don't say?" she queried, pausing to gaze over at Carmen, who could only shrug.
Yuri laughed softly, taking Carmelita's elbow. "Ah, I see you are confused. That is to be expected. Now, please, allow me to explain, non?"
"Go ahead, Yuri. I'm listening," Carmelita assured her with a smile, as well as a concerned look.
"I have already relayed this to my Naomi," Yuri began, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. "Very well…you see, just yesterday in fact, my father and mother paid me a most unexpected visit."
"Yeah, I don't doubt that!" Carmelita opined, releasing Yuri's hold on her, slipping her now freed arm around Yuri's slender waist to comfort her. She knew how strained Yuri's relationship with her too proud father had been. "Madre y Dios, amiga," she soothed. "Oh, I bet that was a pretty tense situation. Wasn't it, sweetie?" Carmelita remarked, concerned once more for Yuri.
"Carmelita, your concern touches me," Yuri told her, leaning her head on to Carmelita's shoulder a moment. "But, it is mostly wasted, as you shall see, cheri." Yuri then paused, and smiled over at Carmelita. "As for your assertion…oh my, oui…you have no idea, Carmelita!" Yuri then laughed, and hugged Carmelita carefully a moment…after all, Philipe still slept against her. "However, after we both had made our respective points, cheri…my father, well, he went and surprised me very much."
"Oh? How so, Yuri?" Carmelita asked, feeling a bit better, still rocking the small boy.
"I will tell you," Yuri told her with a smile. "I expected yet another command that I annul my marriage and leave Bentley. However, much to my much surprised joy, my father, the aristocratic and oh-so-proud Paul Sing, actually apologized for all he had done, for the pain he had caused me, his only daughter." Yuri's expression writhed a moment, and tears re-appeared to spill down her cheeks. "He hugged me, kissed me, telling me what a fool he had been. Why, then he surprised me even further by saying that he loved me. Cheri, I thought my heart would break!" Yuri sniffled, her heart in her glorious eyes that moment.
Carmelita reached up to softly brush Yuri's tears away, then hugged the now smiling snow leopardess warmly, having given Philipe over to her sister for the moment. "That's so great, Yuri," Carmelita exclaimed with a beautific grin, "Congratulations, sweetie! Hey, now I can see why you've been crying, you poor dear," Carmelita added as she continued to hug Yuri to herself.
"Ah, merci beaucoup, cheri," Yuri replied, returning Carmelita's hug best as she could. "But, aside from my happy set of circumstances, allow me to point out that we are not all here today to celebrate my good fortune, hmm? Non! No, we are here for you, mon belle cheri!"
Carmelita could only softly blush, and smile at the beautiful Yuri Sing.
"Such an accomplishment, eh Carmelita?" Naomi observed with a crafty soft smile. "You have been a Master Thief for what is it now…two years, eh cheri?"
Carmen heard this observation, and sighed. "Aiee, such a thing to celebrate…" Carmen pouted, shaking her dark brown haired head, handing over Philipe to Yuri…now that she had composed herself once more.
Carmelita grinned. "Just you hush, Carmen Sofia Fox," Carmelita chided her sister. "From what I can see no one else here seems to be having a problem with me being a Master Thief, hermana."
"Perhaps, Carmelita dear," Carmen returned, reaching out to poke Carmelita softly with an index finger against her flat belly, making her grin. "But, that would probably be because no one else here---except for me---is with the Polizia, eh?" Carmen then heard Kitty laugh, and hurried to amend her statement. "Oh, with the possible exception of Kitty too, I suppose. But, she does not count…I know of her sweeping disregard for proper protocols…" Carmen frowned…but only for a moment.
"Wrong-O, sister dear," Carmelita corrected her sister. "Perhaps you might recognize those two pretty ladies over there, hmm?" Carmelita, with a jerk of her beautiful head, indicated the direction Carmen should look.
Carmen gave her sister a pained look, but still did as she bade her to. She directed her gaze that way, where she promptly blinked then gasped in surprise…as she spied none other than Uma Metzer and Trish Connelly standing together, conversing. Carmen blinked again. "Carmelita Montoya Fox…just when did you tell those two your secret?" she murmured in utter disbelief.
Carmelita put a comradely arm about her shocked sister's shoulders. "Well…Trish pretty much knew from the start, Carmen. You know by now just how not much ever seems to get past her," Carmelita answered. She then jerked her chin Uma's way. "Now, with Uma, well…she didn't know until she came to Yuri and Bentley's reception…where, unfortunately, she recognized Bentley straight off."
"Aiee! But what of---?" Carmen wailed softly, only to be cut off as Carmelita put her finger over her sister's lips.
"Shh, everything's fine, Carmen," Carmelita hastily assured her sister, who sighed in relief. "Let's just say that it's a very good thing that Uma's taken a shining to our Kitty. Because when Uma confronted Kitty, she begged her not to tell, and much to our surprise, Uma agreed to keep silent."
"Will wonders never cease?" Carmen wondered aloud. "That's all well and fine now…but, will Uma's pledge stand?"
Carmelita then grinned triumphantly, which frankly surprised her sister. "Oh, I'm pretty sure it will, Carmen. You see that hunky leonine fella standing over there by our Uma?" Carmelita observed to her sister.
"Oh, you mean that tall, dangerous-looking fellow with the long reddish hair?" Carmen posed, as she spied the quiet, yet lethal-looking lion gent. "Him?"
"Si! That's him," Carmelita assured her. "Well, first off, you do know how Kitty is sometimes nearly as sneaky as Sly himself, right?"
"Si, I know this, that rascal," Carmen retorted with a snort and a smile.
"Well," Carmelita continued. "First off, Uma sort of has a…er, 'thing', for Mr. Jaeger there."
"She does?" Carmen exclaimed, her hazel eyes eyeing her sister intently. "I did not know that Uma…er, I mean, well…she doesn't exactly date a lot, if you know what I mean." Carmen blushed guiltily.
"Oh, that's because she's never found the right fella before is all…until now, it seems," Carmelita returned, grimacing at poor Uma's plight, which was much like her own had been. If you didn't go out with some of the jerks at work, then the rumors flew how you must not like the opposite sex. What a crock!
"It was happy coincidence that Uma should know about us then," Carmelita explained. "Kitty's pretty sharp, so he told Uma that if she blabbed---her word, not mine---that she wouldn't help Uma with her bid to win Mr. Jaeger's heart…plain and simple."
"A cruel choice. Poor Uma," Carmen replied, feeling for the lovestruck QRF commander.
"True, but it works out pretty darn well for all of us," Carmelita countered with a nod and a frown, then a shrug and a smile.
"I find it so hard to imagine Uma Metzer in love," Carmen admitted, then blushed again. "But…then again, I suppose I really shouldn't. She is kind of cute in her own way…"
"Which, incidentally, our aforementioned Mr. Jaeger seems to agree wholeheartedly with you, sister dear," Carmelita informed her sister with a grin.
"No!" Carmen exclaimed with a silly smile. "Kitty asked him, didn't she?"
"Well, as Kitty put it…a deal's a deal," Carmelita elaborated. "So, armed and dangerous---so to speak---Kitty told Uma and---" She stopped, grinning over to where Uma now stood beside Aslan Jaeger, who glanced around a moment before quickly leaning over to plant the quickest of kisses on Uma's startled cheek. The muscular bobcat woman blinked repeatedly, but then broke out in a happy bright smile.
"Case closed, it would appear, eh cheri?" Yuri observed with a laugh. She then turned to Carmelita. "Ah, and what of our delightful Ms. Connelly? Is she the only of us to remain uninvolved, hmm?"
"Well, I promised Trish I wouldn't say anything, but---"Carmelita began sheepishly, but stopped to laugh as a tall handsome wolf fellow with pleasant cream-colored fur, dressed in an odd dark olive green uniform, complete with a flat-rimmed Stetson hat moved over to talk intimately with Trish a moment, but only a moment, as she laughed softly, then looped an arm around his neck, drawing his face down to hers to kiss him.
"So, our Kitty strikes again, nes pas?" Yuri posed with a smile, shaking her blonde-haired head, and smiling broader now.
"With those two? Uh-uh. Hey, I'm good…but, I'm not that good," Kitty avowed, surprising them all by sneaking up behind the four chatting women. "Uma now, I'll admit I had a part in that romance…but, hey, she did ask me! Honest!" Kitty held her hand up as if taking an oath.
"So you say, Kitty," Naomi disagreed, her eyes growing a cooler amber now. "I know what you are capable of, you scamp."
"Naomi, c'mon…I'm not lying!" Kitty protested. "Heck, I didn't even know Trish had herself a fella! Really! Go ahead, ask her! She'll tell you!" Kitty's look of concern grew at Naomi's long silence.
"Hmm, perhaps," Naomi groused finally, but could see that there was something between the pretty Irish vixen and her very tall wolf gentleman. "Um, perhaps you are telling me the truth this time, Kitty. Who knows…perhaps some of our training has finally been ingrained in her, hmm Yuri?" Naomi grinned.
"What?" Kitty protested again. "Er, oh, you mean about the matchmaking, right?" That was when they all noticed Kitty was wearing pants instead of a dress.
"Ah, I see the results of all of Madame's and my hard work," Naomi complained, indicating Kitty's pants with a frown and a sigh. "Mon Dieu…"
"Alas, Naomi," Yuri pointed out gently. "We did make an agreement with her, did we not?" Yuri gently stroked Naomi's shoulder in sympathy.
"Oui, I know, Yuri," Naomi grumbled, but nodded. "I guess I had just hoped…" Naomi turned to Kitty. "Ah, cheri…I had hoped those amorous looks your Ling directed at your pretty legs might keep you in dresses," Naomi observed with a look of forlorn hope. "In which you looked tres manufique, cheri."
"Thanks. I did like his looking at my legs. Yeah, I'll admit that," Kitty affirmed, reaching out to stroke Naomi's arm once too. "Hey, look…instead of dresses, I decided to wear shorts instead." Kitty grinned conspiratorially then. "That way I get to wear pants sort of, and still get Ling's attention with my legs. It's a win-win situation." She grinned mischievously.
Yuri giggled, and even Naomi grinned. "What a rogue you are, cheri," Yuri laughed.
"Hey, look…skirts and dresses are just too girly for me to wear comfortably, okay?" Kitty grinned at Naomi's long, drawn-out sigh. "Aw, c'mon, Naomi…if it's any consolation to you, buddy, you'll be happy to notice that I'm still have my posture…you know, the one you drilled into me, day and night." Kitty grinned roguishly at her friend. "Night and day…"
"So…all my work was but a Pyrrhic victory at best, eh?" Naomi muttered, shaking her platinum blond head in defeat.
Kitty then turned toward Carmelita, then moved over and pried her away from Carmen. "Okay, Carmen, you've been hogging all of Carmelita's time. Not anymore, sport…she's mine." Kitty then grinned, and Carmen laughed, shooing the two on their way. "Okay, Carmelita, where can we have ourselves a private chat, champ?"
"Ooh, how mysterious," Carmelita teased with a grin, but then nodded, motioning for Kitty to follow her around the corner, which Kitty did with an answering grin. Carmelita waved at Carmen to let her know she'd be back as soon as she could manage it.
"Okay, we're alone…like you asked, sport," Carmelita observed a moment or two later with a smile. "Now, my dear dear Kitty…what exactly is so important for you to talk to me about?" Carmelita gazed pointedly over her apparently suddenly shy adoptive sister.
"Heh, heh," Kitty began with a nervous little laugh, her cheeks coloring unexpectedly. "Well Carmelita, um…that is, I…oh, man…this is so hard," Kitty stammered, stuttering all the while.
Carmelita had seldom seen Kitty in such a state. "C'mon, relax, Kitty! Now, l'il Sis…you know that you can tell me anything. Right?" Carmelita assured her disconcerted friend, giving her a confident smile.
"Well, yeah," Kitty allowed, smiling but still not able to meet Carmelita's gaze that moment.
"So..what's up? What's got you so tongue-tied, kiddo?" Carmelita wanted to know, reaching out to take Kitty's surprisingly cold, clammy hand.
Kitty coughed softly once, then screwed up her courage, and finally managed to look Carmelita in the eye. Then, she found herself blushing again, but soldiered on, giving her sister a smile, then blurted out in a soft, yet succinct, "Okay, but remember…you asked!" Kitty then inhaled deeply, held it a moment, then exhaled loudly, finally saying, "Carmelita…I'm pregnant!"
"Madre y Dios," Carmelita exclaimed, her medium brown eyes wide in stunned surprise. The vixen hurriedly crossed herself, muttering a prayer. It was only after that action, that Carmelita's emotions kicked in, and she grinned broadly, in absolute joy, as she pulled Kitty to her, and enfolded her in a bear hug. "Ooh, you're pregnant? Que lastima! Oh, Kitty…I'm so happy for you!" she squealed, then began to cry in her happiness as she hugged and rocked the now beaming Kitty.
"Hey, stop the waterworks already, sport!" Kitty complained, but gently rubbed Carmelita's back. "…or you'll have me bawling too!" Kitty's bright blue eyes shone with her unshed tears, and her face twitched as she fought not to cry.
"I'm sorry, Kitty. Ooh, but have you told Ling the news yet?" Carmelita gushed softly, still holding Kitty's hands.
Kitty nodded, grinning at the memory. "Yeah, I did," she said, then laughed. "Boy, Carmelita…you should of seen his face! He's such a goof…" Kitty observed, pretending to complain, but honestly was so thrilled that her Ling was so ecstatic.
"Yeah, I can only imagine what Sly's going to be like," Carmelita then stated, mostly to herself, but then blushed when she realized she had said that last bit aloud. "Oop. I probably shouldn't of said that…" she added, covering her mouth in her embarrassment.
Kitty frowned, then gasped in stunned surprise. "No! No way!" Kitty blurted out, grinning more and more each second. "Get out! You mean…er, I mean, that is what I'm saying is----"
"Si, Kitty…I am pregnant too," Carmelita admitted with a blush and a happy smile.
"But, if that's the case…well, Sly should be---urk!" Kitty exclaimed in obvious confusion, then the reality dawned on her. "Okay, wait just one minute…you mean you haven't told him yet?" Kitty demanded softly, not believing her ears.
"Actually, no…I haven't, Kitty," Carmelita replied, grinning. "I just got back from my doctor's appointment earlier today, and well…" Carmelita shrugged, indicating that things had happened to skew her schedule.
"Oh, man!" Kitty squealed, then threw her arms around her sister, and hugged Carmelita hard, finally crying happy tears of her own. "Oh, Carmelita…I'm so glad you told me. I'm so happy for you! Hey, I was worried a bit before…but now that we're both in this together, I feel so much better."
"Oh, you do, do you? Figures. Misery does love company, huh?" Carmelita joked, then seeing Kitty's embarrassment, added, "I'm just teasing, Kitty. I'm so thrilled, really…though, I really would of liked to have been married first, mind you." Carmelita fretted a moment, then shrugged. "Oh well…I guess Sly's going to get his wish then…"
"Huh?" Kitty wondered aloud. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Sly's been bugging me lately," Carmelita admitted with a smile. "He's been after me to marry him sooner…to---in his words---'make an honest woman out of me'." She grinned fondly…delighting privately in the fact that the man she so deeply loved was so enamored with her. Her!
Kitty laughed. "That'd be pretty cool," Kitty opined, throwing her lot in with Sly. "Hey, if you two goofy kids get hitched quick like, no one will be the wiser, y'know?" Kitty grinned and arched an expressive eyebrow.
Carmelita grinned, nodding. "I like the way you think, sport," Carmelita opined. "But, that's for later. Come on," Carmelita told her little sis. "Let's have some fun and see all the shocked looks our friends give us during our dual announcement, Kitty dear!"
"Deal!" Kitty hooted softly, taking Carmelita's hand before the two grinning vixens made their way back into the party proper.
Kitty and Carmelita stepped back into the living room, where the party continued on. Kitty then whistled shrilly…and loudly. "Sorry, folks! But, could we get everyone's attention a moment, please?"
The room quieted---with the exception of the Sing and Fox children who giggled and gibbered softly unaware---and everyone turned expectantly toward the two vixens, one petite and blond, the other tall and dark. "Thank you everyone. Like Kitty said, she and I have an announcement," Carmelita told everyone, her smile contagious.
Kitty grinned mischievously, shouldering Carmelita aside to step forward. "Yep! And that announcement is: Carmelita and I are both pregnant!" Kitty announced to all and sundry.
Silence reigned…well, except for a couple of glasses that apparently slipped from the nerveless fingers of a couple guests to clomp on to the floor. Kitty looked nervously over to Carmelita, then back out to the people. "Look, you guys…I'm not joking! Really! We're both pregnant! Honest and truly!" Kitty insisted.
Then Sly Cooper moved out before the crowd, and moved silently up to Carmelita, his eyes incredulous, the barest of hints of a magnificent smile threatening to appear. "So…are you, querera?" Sly asked her, taking both of her lovely hands between his own, and holding them. "Are you pregnant, mi bonita corazon?"
Carmelita looked into Sly's eyes a long moment, then beamed at him, and nodded, her eyes shining. "Si! You had better get ready to be a father, Sly Cooper," she warned him, then laughed, as her fella whooped and then wrapped his arms around her and whirled her around once, then held her off the ground, gazing rapturously into her shining brown eyes. "Are you happy, Sly?" she questioned as he finally put her back down on her own two feet.
"Happy?" Sly replied, grinning. "Make that ecstatic, Carmelita!" he corrected, leaning over to give her a kiss. "Er," Sly then added, suddenly a bit uncomfortable. "Oh, man…I am gonna be on your father's crap list for the rest of my life, querera." Sly sagged, closing his eyes.
Carmelita felt for Sly at that moment, then reached over to chuck him softly under his chin. "Not necessarily, Ringtail," Carmelita posed in reply. "If we hurry up our wedding plans, we could…well, square things up…if you get what I'm alluding to."
Sly's eyes darted back to lock on hers. "You mean it, Carmelita?" Sly asked, his heart pounding now. "Because I hope you know I'd marry you tomorrow, sweetheart. You'd make me the happiest man on Earth, Carmelita! You know I---"
Carmelita laughed a soft warm laugh, putting a finger over Sly's mouth to silence him. "I know, Sly…I know," she assured him, running her hand through his cheek ruffs fondly. "And, I love you that much too, honey."
Sly blinked, tears springing into his eyes, his smile bright as he softly laughed. "Then, you'll be my wife…that much sooner then? Really? Truly?" he asked, half expecting her to shake her head at him.
"Yes, Sly Cooper," she finally told him, pulling him into her arms happily. "Yes, I'll marry you…just as soon as I can, you dear man."
The crowd must of heard this interchange, for after Carmelita said her piece, they all cheered and applauded loudly, then moved in to begin congratulating the happy couple.
Sly and Carmelita accepted the congratulations---in its many varied forms. Murray nearly floored Sly in his exuberant congratulatory clap on the back. Bentley simply told Sly he was in for the ride of a lifetime. Yuri wept happy tears against Carmelita's neck in her joy, causing Carmelita to burst into tears too. It was but a matter of moments before Naomi hugged them both, weeping as well. Svetlana---the ever emotional Svetlana---looped her arms about Carmelita's waist from behind, hugged her, and wept into her back.
That was just too much, and Kitty decided to put the brakes to this weep-fest! "Okay, that's enough…all of you!" Kitty decried just then, pulling Svetlana insistently yet gently away. "Geez, can the waterfalls, ladies!" the vixen chided them all. "Because quite frankly…I didn't bring my galoshes."
Yuri blinked, then snorted, and then giggled, moving away from Carmelita to shake her head at the rascally Kitty. Naomi wiped at her eyes and grinned. Maria moved over to rub Svetlana's back…only a moment before she gently guided her happy yet very emotional little friend into the arms of a very comforting Sean Mallory. "Merci, cheri…I suppose we all needed that, eh?" Yuri teased.
Sly now stood with Ling, who looked like he both wanted to run far far away, as well as simply explode with his happiness and pride in Kitty. "So, Ling…what's up with you and Kitty?" Sly asked, then softly dug an elbow into Ling's ribs. "You've been a busy fella, apparently, eh?"
Ling blushed a bright crimson. "Er…why, I---I don't know what you mean, Sly," Ling insisted. Then, he chuckled, and shook his head. "I still can't believe it, my friend…in under a year, I will be a father…"
"Yep," Sly confirmed, clapping Ling familiarly on the shoulder. "And, from what I've seen a pretty darn fine one too, pal."
"Do you think? Really?" Ling asked, pleased by Sly´s compliment.
"Hey, if you can handle Kitty like you do," Sly reasoned with a laugh, "taking care of some kids shouldn't prove that great a challenge."
Ling looked over to where Kitty stood beaming, shaking hands with folks who were congratulating her. He then grinned, looking over to Sly, his eyes clever. "Hmm, I had not thought of it that way before," he conceded. "Perhaps you are right, Sly."
"Darn straight!" Sly said then, then thrust something into Ling's hand.
"What's this?" Ling asked, gazing down at the shiny foil-wrapped vaguely cylindrical object in his hand.
"A cigar, my boy," Sly told him, laughing again softly. "Though, to protect our lungs, it's made of chocolate, Ling."
Ling grinned, tucking the candy cigar into his breast pocket. "I had heard of this custom…but thought it was for when the children were born," Ling pointed out.
"Eh, can't hurt now, can it?" Sly replied, grinning at Ling.
"No, I suppose not," Ling conceded with a laugh himself. "Oh, congratulations by the way, Sly." Ling shook Sly's hand then. "Carmelita is a lovely woman…I'm sure your children will be equally lovely."
"Thanks, pal," Sly accepted, then hugged Ling about the shoulder a moment. "Hey, your Kitty's no slouch in the looks department either, fella. If you have any girl children…trust me, you'll be beating off suitors with a stick when they grow up."
"Grow up?" Ling observed in stunned disbelief, then groaned. "Oh, man…"
Sly could only hug the snow leaopard gent again, softly laughing and shaking his head.
Nine months later…
"Push, Carmelita!" Sly urged, cradling Carmelita's head against his chest, his eyes patient yet on the fringe of panic at times. "Come on, querera…you can do it!"
"Sly," Carmelita growled, panting, her sable hair plastered against her sweaty face.
"Si, my love?" Sly teased, his eyes dancing above his mask.
"Just shut up, and hold me," Carmelita groused, gasping loudly then groaning with pain as she grew nearer to the birth of her first child. "Aiee!"
Sly bit his lip under his surgical mask, doing whatever he could to be helpful to his laboring wife and absolute love of his life…he brushed her long hair from out of her face, dabbed her forehead with a damp cloth, held her hands---and boy, could she ever squeeze hard, fella!---as well as just being there for her. He felt himself almost adopting the same breathing exercises Carmelita now employed, his heart racing with his concern for her.
"Aiee, unh!" Carmelita squealed, nearly crushing Sly's hands in the process as she pushed for all she was worth. Thankfully, that push did it, and in a few moments, a soft mewling crying could be heard at Carmelita's feet. The nurse assisting the doctor that day was Nurse LeBeau. "Sophie? Is it a boy or a girl?" Carmelita panted but asked.
"Congratulations, Carmelita," Sophie LeBeau replied with a smile beneath her mask. "You are the mother of a beautiful little vixen."
Carmelita smiled brilliantly, then cast her warm brown eyes up to her Sly, who gazed down at her as if she were some sort of angel in vixen form. "Did you hear that? We have ourselves a little girl, honey!" she thrilled.
"So I heard," Sly assured his weary lady love. "You did great, Carmelita. I'm so proud of you, corazon." Sly gently stroked her face, then leaned down, pulled his mask down then softly kissed her lips once.
"Okay, you two," a determined Dr. Rochateau reminded them. She sat down once more, looking straight ahead into Carmelita's eyes. "That's the first one. Only three more to go! Doesn't that sound like fun?" Dr. Rochateau, a middle-aged puma woman, looked at them both, her soft olive-green eyes twinkling.
"Oh, hey, that's terrific," Carmelita lamented, then groaned as the now familiar and insistent tightening of her abdomen began again. "Only three more? Aiee," Carmelita complained, then sagged in Sly's arms.
"I know, sweetheart. I know," Sly soothed, rubbing Carmelita's shoulders and head. "I'll be here the whole time. Whatever you need, you tell me, okay?" Sly gazed down, Carmelita's face upside down as he looked at her. Sly's deep brown eyes shone with love and concern for her.
Carmelita saw the love in her husband's eyes, and smiled. She, at first, didn't want him to see her in labor. Boy, she told herself, am I ever glad that I changed my mind! Sly had been her rock the whole time, never shirking away from even the most menial of tasks. He never complained when Carmelita squeezed his hands to near breaking, he kept her cool and as comfortable as he could manage…all without bothering the medical staff overmuch. She looked up into her love's eyes, then whispered to him. "I'm so glad you're here with me, amigo," she told him with a grateful smile. "I love you."
"I love you too," Sly told her, kissing her one last time he figured before the 'fun' began again. "You are so amazing, Carmelita."
"All right, Mrs. Cooper," Dr. Rochateau proclaimed in a commanding voice. "Now…push!"
"Here we go again," Carmelita replied wearily, but with a smile, as she grit her teeth, took Sly's hands in her own once more…and pushed. "Gah!"
Four and one half hours later…
"Nicely done, you two," Dr. Rochateau congratulated the tired Coopers. "That was one of the easiest deliveries I've had in some time…"
Carmelita, who was allowing Sly and Nurse LeBeau to clean her up after her birthing experience, goggled at the smiling now-unmasked doctor. "Easy?" she questioned, iron tingeing her voice. "You call that easy?"
Dr. Rochateau smiled easily…she'd heard all this before, understand. "Oui, Mrs. Cooper. I stand by my original assessment," she affirmed. "Trust me, your six hours was nothing! I and Sophie here…just last week…worked on a woman who was in labor for more then three days!"
Carmelita was stunned, and laid herself back down, sighing with relief as Sly laved her forehead with a soothing cool cloth. "Three days?" Carmelita asked. "Madre y Dios..."
"Of course, Madame Heroux was a giraffe woman," Sophie pointed out with a grin. "So, that could be part of it, I suppose." Sophie then pulled the sheet back over Carmelita, and gazed down at her. "Are you comfortable, Carmelita?"
Carmelita though a moment, then nodded. "Si, I am," she conceded, smiling as she felt Sly gently rubbing her shoulders and arms.
"So I can see," Sophie teased, shaking her head. "Orderly! Come, I need help in getting these two very weary folks back to their room."
"Oui, Nurse LeBeau," the male orderly replied, and moved forward. The two, with Sly close by for his Carmelita, then transported them all to Carmelita's hospital room.
Six hours later…
"Heya, sport!" Kitty Petro greeted her adoptive sister with a grin, waddling slowly forward, her abdomen swelled large so late in her own pregnancy. "I hear you and Smiley over there did good. Real good!" She grinned over at Sly, then looked around, as if the children were being hidden from her. "So…where's my nieces and nephews anyway?" Kitty pouted, her lower lip outthrust.
"Kitty," Ling cautioned his ever impulsive lady love. "I think the babies are resting now is all."
"Don't worry, Kitty," Carmelita informed her friend with a smile. "The nurse told me that they'll be here any minute. I've got to feed them, and well…I like to have them near me often as they'll let me."
"My Carmelita," Sly said wonderingly. "What a mother…"
Carmelita smiled and blushed, looking away from Sly a moment. "Hush, Sly," she warned him with a grin. "I think it's important to bond with them is all."
"Ha!" Sly returned with a grin, moving over to take Carmelita's hand. "That's only an excuse so you can be greedy and hold them all to yourself."
"Do not," Carmelita shot back, then considered a moment, then grinned. "Okay, maybe a little…just a teeny tiny bit." Carmelita giggled.
"Ah, you have guests, eh?" Nurse LeBeau observed as she and another nurse rolled the mobile basinets into the room, each containing one of the Cooper children. "Tres bien, that is good, non?" Sophie gently scooped out Sly Jr. and proceeded to lay him into Kitty's itching, yet eagerly waiting arms. "Here you are, Kitty…meet your nephew, Slyvester Junior."
Kitty looked down into the eyes of the little raccoon child in her arms and felt a surge of maternal feelings within herself. "Oh my goodness," she gushed, smiling brightly. "Carmelita…he's just the cutest little thing…" Kitty gooed, which was rather surprising to Sly and Carmelita, who looked immediately over at Ling.
"She's been like this for the last month," Ling told them with a grin. "I suspect it's her hormones…you understand, as she is close to her due date herself."
"No, it doesn't, fella," Kitty countered, grinning a silly grin as Sly Jr. reached out a questing little hand to grip Kitty's finger, pulling it down toward his mouth. "It's just he's cute…c'mon, admit it…he is." Kitty looked over at her Ling and her friends, then grimaced as Sly Jr. began to suck on her fingertip. "Um, I think this little guy is hungry, Carmelita…" Kitty moved over beside Carmelita, who then began to unfasten the front of her hospital gown.
Sly blushed and grabbed Ling by the elbow. "C'mon, Ling," he urged, tugging the surprised snow leopard man along. "Let the ladies have their time with the kids…" Sly and Ling stepped outside the room.
Carmelita looked after her Sly with an affectionate smile. "He gets so embarrassed when I have to feed the children," she told Kitty with a smile. "I think it so cute."
"Well, maybe so…but I think it's an absolute hoot," Kitty remarked with a laugh. Kitty watched with interest as Carmelita proceeded to feed her hungry little boy.
Carmelita chuckled, then looked up to Kitty. "Kitty? Could you please bring Silvera over here? I might as well feed her too," she asked.
"Silvera?" Kitty questioned, then grinned, deciding she rather liked that name. "Oh, that'd be this silvery-furred little angel right here, right?" Kitty leaned over the little girl, tickling her with the tip of her index finger, making the little vixen giggle and coo. She then carefully picked the squiggling little girl up and moved her over to place her in Carmelita's other arm, so she too could nurse. "So, what are the other one's names then, sport?"
"Well," Carmelita stated, then thought it over. "Silvera was born first," she informed Kitty. "Then, Sly Junior, of course. Hmm, after that came James…he's that little fox boy there. Then, last but not least, my little Cecilia."
Kitty moved over to gaze down fondly at the other two children…quiet James, and the ever alert little Cecilia. Cecilia melted Kitty's heart, the little raccoon girl with the big eyes and adorable little smile. "Carmelita? Do you think I could---?" She looked at her sister pleadingly.
"Sure, sport," Carmelita answered with a laugh. "Just don't drop her," she teased.
Kitty gave Carmelita an indignant look. "Yeah, ooh…there's something to worry about," Kitty groused, then leaned over and gently scooped Cecilia up into her arms, gazing all the while into the little girl's eyes intently. "Wow…this one sure has a gaze, Carmelita…why, I swear I can almost see the little wheels just spinning like mad in her little head."
"Yeah, she does have a way of looking at you, Cecilia does," Carmelita agreed. "It's a bit uncanny really sometimes. Makes me wonder what it is she's thinking about."
"Well, it'll be a while before we know that, I think, sport," Kitty proclaimed, even as she gently rocked little Cecilia in her arms, resting the child against the top of her protruding abdomen. Kitty then groaned, stating, "God, I wish I'd just go and have these things already! My back is just killing me. Oy…"
Carmelita giggled at Kitty, who frowned initially, then grinned. "I know that feeling, Kitty. Trust me," Carmelita told her knowingly. "However, before you complain too loudly…let me tell you that before it's over…those back pains won't feel nearly so bad."
"So…was labor bad then?" Kitty questioned, feeling a knot of unease inside herself.
"Oh, it wasn't whole lot of fun," Carmelita told her, pulling no punches. "But, it was endurable, sport. I got through it…so will you, Kitty. However, one word of advice, li'l Sis."
"Yeah?" Kitty asked, rocking Cecilia, deciding it was sort of pleasant to be doing this.
"Make sure Ling's there with you," Carmelita instructed. "He might think it'd be easier on you if he weren't…but, don't let him. Trust me, you're going to want him there."
"Got it," Kitty replied with a grin. "Just so you know…I told Ling the very same thing just last night."
"And?" Carmelita asked, even as she began to gently burp her Silvera over her shoulder.
"Well, after ten minutes of totally freaking out," Kitty reiterated with a soft laugh, "he agreed…and he meant it. Well, er, at least I think he did."
"Oh, I'm sure he did," Carmelita assured her nervous 'little sister'. "Ling's a real stand-up sort of guy. He'll do just fine….trust me."
"We'll see," Kitty remarked then, gently laying the now sleeping Cecilia back in her basinet, then moved over to reclaim the drowsy Silvera from Carmelita. "We'll see…"
One month later…
Kitty smiled---happy yet wearily---as she lay upon her hospital bed, gazing over to the pair of cribs on each side of her room. "Man, I still can hardly believe that I'm really truly a mother now," she observed, smiling and shaking her dampened blonde-haired head in wonder.
Ling moved over to her side, then smiled as he took and held her soft little hand, as he had done the entire time she had given birth to their four wonderful children. "Ah, so you think that's amazing, my love? Then you can only imagine the wonder I feel when I realize that I'm actually a father! Can you imagine that? Me, a father?" he wondered aloud, smiling in his joy.
Kitty just smiled again, at least until her sensitive ears heard the snick of the door opening into her room. Kitty scooched up in her hospital bed as she noticed her dear 'sister' Carmelita---with Sly right behind her---move into the room. They were just the forefront of the entire gang it seemed, and soon the room was rather crowded. "Hey, it's about time you clowns showed up," Kitty pretended to grouse, smiling, though her voice was soft and weary. "I was beginning to think you all had forgotten about me!"
"Yeah, like you'd ever let that happen, sport!" Carmelita countered, moving over to hug her rascally 'little sister'. "Hey, we have charges of our own to take care of, you know, sister dear," Carmelita observed, holding one of each of her children in her arms.
"Yeah, true…but ain't they just adorable?" Sly quipped, holding little James and Sly Junior in his own arms, beaming down at his 'boys'.
Kitty grinned a huge smile. "Man, I can't believe you beat me in deliving by four whole weeks, Sis. No fair!" Kitty pretended to grumble, but then laughed and smiled. Kitty grinned again as she watched an eager Svetlana and Maria look down into the cribs and cooed at each of the crib's occupants.
"Oh, Kitty! Your children are so darling, and adorable! All four of them, cheri," Svetlana opined, grinning fondly at the beaming, yet still disheveled looking Kitty.
"Hey, thanks, sweetie," Kitty replied, taking Svetlana's hand and giving it a thankful squeeze. She then observed her children and then their pretty Auntie Svetlana. "You know…it won't be too long now and they'll be able to open their eyes, kiddo," Kitty pointed out, then grinned like the rascal she was. "Then…why then, I bet they'll all smile at seeing their very pretty Auntie Svetlana. Anybody wanna bet?" Kitty grinned at Svetlana, then mischievously looked at each of the others, who grinned in return, most of them shaking their heads.
Svetlana blushed, but smiled thankfully at her friend, then laughed and leaned over to kiss Kitty atop her head. "That is very sweet of you to say," Svetlana told her, grinning, "even if it was most untrue, Kitty Petro."
"Oh, really? Is that so?" Kitty charged right back, grinning wider still. "So, Svetlana…how much, girl?"
"Pardonnez moi?" Svetlana replied, having become almost proficient with her French of late. "I don't know what you mean, Kitty…"
"You doubt what I said, right?" Kitty replied, then nodded at Svetlana's confused nod. "So…what I was asking is how much are you willing to bet I'm wrong, kid?"
"Kitty!" Svetlana exclaimed, then shook her head. "Cheri…I do not bet." Svetlana held her pretty head high.
"Rats," Kitty then replied, grinning mischievously. "And, here I was…that close to raking in the big bucks finally, Ms. Supermodel…"
"I am no supermodel, Kitty Petro!" Svetlana corrected, looking away, blushing quite fetchingly again.
"Ah, but you are, cheri," Yuri argued, smiling conspiratorially at Kitty, who laughed.
"Yeah, sure you're not, 'Lana," Kitty replied. "Yo, Ling! Grab one of fashion magazines off the wall there, would you?"
Ling frowned initially, but---as always---did as his lady love bid him to. Ling picked a publication at random, lifted it, and carried it back to Kitty. "Here you are, sweetheart," he told her with a smile.
"Isn't he such a sweet man?" Kitty gushed, her eyes playful as Ling blushed. She reached out to take the magazine from him, then stopped and kissed the back of Ling's hand once happily. "Okay, now…" she flipped the magazine page-by-page. "Ooh, what's this…who's this I ask you, hmm?" Kitty opened the pages and lo and behold if it wasn't Svetlana's exquisite visage gracing the page.
"Svetlana!" the gang hooted softly, enjoying this game between the rascally Kitty and the humble yet beautiful Svetlana.
"And this?" Kitty said, after flicking through a dozen more pages. It was Svetlana again, of course.
"Svetlana!" the gang echoed, followed by warm laughter and some giggling.
"Oh, very well," Svetlana grumbled, but smiled fetchingly. "I will concede that I am becoming somewhat known in the fashion industry…"
"Doesn't she sound just like Yuri, folks?" Kitty posed, then laughed, taking Svetlana's hand and kissing it. "I'm sorry, Svetlana…but I just couldn't help myself."
"Well, I think she sounds nothing at all like me," Yuri opined, then giggled, elicting a smile out of Svetlana…as well as many of the others.
Svetlana grinned and shook her pretty head. "Ce n'est pas grave, cheri," Svetlana said quite urbanely in French. "That is no problem…though, to make it up to me, may I hold one of your most adorable children? Please?" Svetlana gave Kitty an adorable little pout and a smile.
"How could I say 'no' to that face?" Kitty remarked, rolling her eyes, then laughing. She turned to Ling. "Ling honey? Let her hold our Timothy, would you?" Kitty asked, then turned to the others, as Ling complied with her wishes. "Tim is my oldest boy, and I just love his green eyes." Kitty then grinned over to where Ling now stood up, his oldest boy in his arms. "They're nearly as beautiful as his Daddy's…"
Ling grinned, turning and heading over to where Svetlana nearly bounced on her feet in anticipation.
"Ah, mon cher," Svetlana said breathlessly to the little boy even as Ling settled little Tim into her arms. Svetlana looked down into the little fox's big green eyes and sighed in adoration. "Oh, Kitty cheri…he is tres manufique!"
"Yeah, we kinda like him too, sweetie," Kitty teased. "Okay…who's next?" Kitty grinned, enjoying being the center of attention as always. "Wait, let me…" Kitty then said, sitting up, then standing with a groan. She moved slowly over to the first crib, and lifted it's occupant out.
Kitty smiled and then moved over to Carmelita, --who had given her babies to Sean and Jack-- and deposited her child in her sister's arms. "Okay, this cutie-pie is our Amelia. She's my oldest, by the way," she explained, grinning.
Carmelita smiled looking down at the little sweet vixen. Amelia had freckles like Kitty, as well as having Kitty's big intent blue eyes. However, she had somehow inheriated her father's gleaming sable hair. "Buenos Dias, Senorita Amelia," Carmelita said by way of greeting to the small girl, who blinked and gazed at her pretty Aunt the way babies oft-times do.
Svetlana, who held little Timothy, was by now gently rocking the little fox boy, softly singing to him a sweet French lullaby.
"Maria, come here," Kitty then instructed, and Maria jetted over to stand beside her friend, her blue eyes very eager. "Now, Maria…this little charmer here is our Mulan, my third child," Kitty introduced her to the Arctic vixen, holding up her snow leopard daughter for her to see, then handing her over to the jubiliant Maria, who smiled and gazed fondly down at the beautiful little girl. She had long slightly curly black hair, with the same sprinkling of freckles across her nose and cheeks as her mother, while having her father's bright green eyes. Maria smiled brightly. "Oh, tovarish! She is simply darling, Kitty…what a little angel she is, da?"
"Da, Maria," Kitty answered cleverly. "Da!"
"Oui, so I can see, Kitty," Yuri stated, as she moved beside Maria to gaze fondly down at the pretty little snow leopard girl. "She and my Celeste will be difficult to tell apart, I think…"
"Will not," Kitty said with a pretty blush, thanking Yuri for her sweet compliment on her daughter. "Celeste will have a French accent, and Mulan won't…so there!"
Yuri grinned, then giggled. She then ignored Kitty and reached out a hand to tenderly stroke Mulan's cheek with the back of one of her slender fingers.
Maria could only laugh, then snuggle the little Mulan to her chest, humming a soft lilting Russian tune to the smiling little snow leopardess, even as her Auntie Yuri softly caressed the little girl's tiny hands.
"Naomi? Hey, I've saved the best for last, my friend," Kitty observed, waving Naomi over, which surprised the cheetah woman very much. "C'mon…I won't bite," Kitty teased.
Naomi approached, her eyes blinking in her surprise at being chosen. "Merci, cheri," Naomi whispered once she stood beside Kitty. "Merci beaucoup."
Kitty grinned at Naomi's thankfulness…which, needless to say, touched her very much. "Ahem, er…um, you're welcome," Kitty began, lifting the last of her children from his crib. "This here is my youngest boy," Kitty explained, showing Naomi her snow leopard son. "Ling and I have decided to call him Ling Chang, or…just Chang for short." She gave her last child over for Naomi to hold, and the elegant cheetah woman took the boy, and smiled down in surprise at the child's mismatched eyes---one blue, one green---which only gave him an even more exotic flair. "Kitty? Your son…er, why he has one blue eye and one green eye."
"Don't worry, Naomi…I know," Kitty said smiling. "Hey, I know it's a bit odd…but I think it makes him so adorable!" She looked over to where Carmelita stood with Amelia in her arms. "Hey, how's it goin', Sis?" Kitty asked of Carmelita.
Carmelita nodded, grinning. "Pretty good, little Sis…a little tired now and again, but hey…otherwise I'm doing just fine, sport," Carmelita informed her 'sis'.
"Hey, that's great. Just perfect," Kitty replied. "So…what's been going on, peeps? I've been away for awhile now."
"Well," Svetlana began, moving over beside Kitty with little Tim in her arms, his green eyes gazing intently at his Auntie's exquisite face. "Maria and I have moved out of Madame's chateau, you know…" Svetlana began.
Kitty's eye goggled. "You did?" she questioned, blinking. "But, I thought you two were happy there…"
"Oui, we were, Kitty," Svetlana hurried to assure her. "Madame was tres manufique as usual…" Svetlana gazed fondly over at Yuri, who returned a look of affection with a smile, "…but, she and Bentley were very busy caring for their children, and…" Svetlana blushed softly, then shrugged, saying no more.
Yuri supplied the rest of what Svetlana was too nice to say aloud. "Svetlana, you are---as always---far too kind to me," Yuri said, smiling. She turned to Kitty. "Cheri…Svetlana and Maria were getting no sleep. Celeste developed a an ear infection, and cried each night---all night!---for an entire week. Those two dears endured that, and still went to work each day without a single complaint. If it hadn't of been for poor Svetlana falling asleep at the dinner table one evening, well…" Yuri grinned as she dropped that bombshell.
"I did not!" Svetlana protested…though weakly. "I may of dozed off a moment or two…but I did not fall asleep at the dinner table. Please, Yuri!"
"Very well, cheri," Yuri replied with a nod and grin. "As you say." She then thought a moment, and continued. "So, I told them both that they were now successful enough to take places of their own…and get the sleep they so desperately needed."
"It is not like we will stay away forever," Svetlana replied, looking over at Yuri once more. "Just until things…er, well, settle down…until the children learn to sleep the entire night. I should not prove that long of a separation, I hope."
"Da, as my Svetlana says," Maria added her two cents worth. "Though, I do sort of like having a place of my own."
"Oui, as does your Vanya, eh Maria?" Yuri teased.
Maria blushed, but said nothing…only giving them all a most telling grin.
"What about you, Naomi?" Kitty wanted to know, then grinned a rascally grin. "So…did you and Murray shack up yet?"
Naomi gasped, then gave Kitty a frown of displeasure, one that eventually turned into a fond smile. "Ooh, what a rogue you are, cheri!" Naomi chided Kitty. "Non, I did not move in with my Murray! We are not married…yet." Naomi gave Murray a questioning look, which made the poor guy wither a bit but smile.
"Soon, Naomi," Murray told his lady love. "I mean, what with Carmelita first having kids, then now Kitty…well, I didn't think the time was right yet, okay?"
Naomi relented with a smile. "Oui, cher…I know," she told her beau. "I have waited this long, I think I can wait a while longer."
"Isn't she just the greatest gal, guys?" Murray gushed, looking with adoration at the tall svelte cheetah woman he loved.
The nurse---one Nurse Aquitaine—cleared her throat to gain everyone's attention. "I am sorry one and all…but, I am afraid that I must ask everyone but mother and father to leave at this time. I know, I know…I do apologize, everyone…but, alas I must to show them both how to feed their babies." Kitty smiled as her friends---one and all---groaned softly at the news.
"Okay, folks, you heard the lady," Sly reminded them, as whomever had been holding one of Kitty's children put their charges back in their cribs. "We'll see you soon Kitty…same time tomorrow, right?" Carmelita now had Silvera in her arms, while Svetlana somehow managed to now hold little Cecilia. Surprisingly it was Sean that held little Sly Junior, while Sly himself was handled little James.
"See you tomorrow, sport!" Carmelita promised on her way out, waving to Kitty.
"Adieu, cheri!" Yuri bade her, blowing Kitty a kiss on her way out.
"Dasfindanya, you rascal!" Maria added, grinning.
"Adieu, Kitty…your children are tres belle!" Svetlana called out over her shoulder, even as she took Cecilia's little hand and waved good-bye to Kitty, who was charmed by the display.
"Good-bye, Kitty…and thank you for sharing your marvelous children with us all," Naomi told Kitty, stopping to kiss her once softly on each cheek as Murray stood waiting.
Soon, everyone had left, and Kitty turned to Ling. "I know they just left," Kitty observed with a longing expression. "But, I already miss them."
"I know, Kitty," Ling told her, agreeing. "But, Nurse Aquitaine needs you and I now…for our babies, my love."
"Okay," Kitty said, allowing Ling to guide her back to her bed. "Eh, tomorrow's yet another day, right?"
"Right!" Ling agreed, and the two then turned to the waiting Nurse Aquitaine.
For, tomorrow was indeed another day…
End