After all the nonstop action, the Cooper Gang headed back to their main Safehouse in Paris and Ben almost immediately crashed on the bed and fell asleep.
"Awww, he's like a little angel." Murray cooed as Neyla chuckled and draped some blankets over her beloved before kissing him on the cheek.
"Get some rest, love. You've earned it."
A few days after, Ben was playing video games by himself since Neyla, Sly, Bentley, Murray, and Dimitri had to run some errands while Panda King made some calls to his daughter. The Guru was in the room provided for him meditating and Penelope was tinkering with a new Cooper Vault she and Bentley were working on.
As Ben turned off the game console, he perked up and noticed Penelope looking at him shyly.
"Hey, Ben? Can we talk in private, please?"
"Sure, what's going on?"
"W-Well..." Penelope nervously held out a pregnancy test and Ben's eyes widened when he saw it read positive. This could only mean one thing:
"OH MY GOD, I AM SO SORRY!"
"What? No!" Penelope couldn't help but laugh. "It's Bentley's kid!"
"Oh...congratulations!" Ben said, getting over his brief confused panic and hugging the Mouse Beastkin, which she returned.
"I already told Guru and Panda King about it. I know they can both keep a secret. I want to surprise Bentley at the wedding."
"If you need a dress, I'm sure I can steal one for you." Ben smiled.
"Don't worry, I have a wedding dress back in Holland. I'm just going to ask Bentley if we can have our bachelorette party there while the guys have their bachelor party somewhere else."
"I'm sure Dimitri will figure something out. That man knows how to set a party."
After getting everything set up for the weddings, Dimitri set up the most awesome bachelor party around. Carmelita, Neyla, and Penelope headed to Holland to enjoy their own little bachelorette party, joined by a few of Carmelita's female friends on the force. Of course, she managed to clear things up with her comrades, even though she still didn't fully forgive Neyla for betraying her back during the Klaww Gang Incident.
Soon, the preparations had all been set and the wedding was in full swing. Ben and Sly were in the best wedding tuxedos they could find, Sly's own tuxedo being what his own father wore when he married his mother. Ben wore all white and even a white top hat tilted to the side and his signature mask over his eyes.
The only one who couldn't attend the wedding was Panda King, and that was only because he needed to check back up with Jing King now that his debt had been repaid. The gang understood and bid him the best of wishes and promised to keep in touch.
When the clock struck midnight, the gang snuck into the local church with Carmelita already there waiting for them, and surprisingly, her boss, the Chief of Police, Director James Barkley, was the priest.
"Huh, not gonna arrest us?"
"This is a private affair. Besides, my grandpa was a priest in his day. Need to keep up the old family traditions somehow." The Dog Beastkin said. "And besides, even though you all are criminals, I can't overlook the fact that you've also stopped many dangerous threats to national security."
Dimitri was the organist and managed to amaze everyone by playing an organ version of his signature theme. Ben couldn't help but give the Iguana Beastkin a thumbs-up for his greasy sweet rhythms.
"Alright, let's get this show on the road!" Barkley said as he opened the book. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here tonight for the eternal union between Carmelita Fox and Sly Cooper, and Benjamin Shigura and Neyla Lopez,"
Neyla blushed as she and Ben smiled at each other. "Carmelita Fox, do you take Sly Cooper as your lawfully wedded husband? In times of good and times of bad. In sickness and in health. For as long as you two shall live?"
Carmelita smiled and nodded. "I do."
"Sly Cooper, do you accept Carmelita as your lawfully wedded bride? In times of good and times of bad. In sickness and in health. For as long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
"Benjamin Shigura, do you take Neyla Lopez to be your lawfully wedded wife? In times of good and times of bad. In sickness and in health. For as long as you three shall live?"
"Of course I do."
"Neyla Lopez, do you take Benjamin Shigura to be your lawfully wedded wife? In times of good and times of bad. In sickness and in health. For as long as you both shall live?"
"Yes, I do."
"If there is any among you that objects to these marriages, please speak now or forever hold your peace," Barkley said. And then Penelope appeared from the doors with a smile on her face and her in a wedding dress.
"I object!" Penelope said, Carmelita and Neyla gasped while Ben smirked. "No way you guys are gonna get married...unless I get to marry Bentley!"
Bentley gasped as Murray cheered and slapped his friend on the back of his shell. Sly smirked and gave his pal a knowing wink as Carmelita and Neyla couldn't help but laugh while Dimitri gave a double thumbs-up and Guru just chuckled to himself.
"Penelope? Marry me?" Bentley asked, completely dumbfounded and unable to find words. Penelope just giggled as she nuzzled her nose to his before holding up her pregnancy test, causing the Turtle Beastkin's jaw to drop in shock before he smiled widely.
"Well, this is a surprising turn of events, I must say. Do you two have surnames?" Barkley asked as Penelope and Bentley turned to him, both holding hands now.
"Dharma."
"Wiseturtle."
"Alright, that's all I needed to know. Penelope Dharma, do you take Bentley Wiseturtle to be your lawfully wedded husband? In good times and in bad. In sickness and in health. For as long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
"Bentley Wiseturtle, do you take Penelope Dharma as your lawfully wedded wife? In good times and in bad. In sickness and in health. For as long as you both shall live?"
"Affirmative."
"I pronounce every single one of you happily married. You may now kiss the brides." Barkley said as Ben, Sly, and Bentley turned to their significant others and kissed them at the same time. Murray cheered as he popped open a huge bottle of cider while Guru waved his staff, creating a beautiful display in the air. Dimitri began playing his tune on the organ to celebrate and Barkley laughed as he walked over to Murray so he could pour him a cup of cider to get the celebration underway.
As everyone was having a good time, Sly was looking at the night sky outside the church before Carmelita came up behind him. Instinctively, the Raccoon Beastkin turned around with his hands held up but Carmelita smirked as she fixed his tie.
"I couldn't help but notice your tie got a little loose, Ringtail."
Sly chuckled as Carmelita leaned her head to his chest. "Well, in all the times you were chasing me, trying to bust me and my gang...did you ever consider this happening?"
"Maybe. A small part of my brain kept telling me that you weren't just another low-life criminal. I guess that part finally won out, huh?"
"You could say that again, darling."
Ben and Neyla smiled as they watched Carmelita and Sly simply enjoying each other's company under the moonlit skies of Paris. Despite this peaceful moment, Sly and Ben both couldn't help but feel like this was only the beginning of an even greater adventure.
Next Time: Thieves in Time!
The time has come for the final adventure to begin!
Also, does anybody feel like Director Barkley would be voiced by JK Simmons or is it just me?
