AN: sorry this took so long, went through a lot of emotional stuff but I'm back, so here you go.

A week later

It was around 10:00 and the sun had already set, the day was over. But for two nocturnal officers of the law, the day was just getting started.

Sly was the first to wake, he always was. Sly is one of those guys who doesn't fall asleep easily, and if he is asleep he's usually the first one up. One of the perks of life on the run. He turns his head to the side to face his lover. His heart melts how peaceful she looks.

He raises a hand to move a strand of hair that had fallen on her face. He takes a moment to truly appreciate how beautiful Carmelita is. Her beautiful blue hair that still keeps its lush volume no matter how wet it got. Her cute little ears that poked out at the top and twitched whenever she was annoyed. Her full lips that have spewed so many curses but oh so kissable. And when they were open to beautiful brown eyes filled with such fiery passion it could kill a man. Sly admired his partner like one would with artwork. Coming to the same conclusion every time. He was totally in love with the sleeping vixen next to him.

Sure, sometime she says or does something that grinds him a bit. But they all drift away in the quiet moments like this.

Sly thought then he would do something nice, make breakfast in bed for Carmelita. The last time he did that was on Valentine's day so this will be a good surprise. The raccoon carefully got out of bed and got dressed as to not wake the fox too soon. Sly made his way to the kitchen and got the supplies to make Carmelita's favorite, sunny side up eggs with bacon and black coffee with one teaspoon of sugar. The raccoon was almost done when Carmelita walked in wearing nothing but a bathrobe and a towel on her head. Looks like no breakfast in bed today.

"Morning sweetie."

"coffee." She barely mumbles out as she plops down at the kitchen table.

"Hot and waiting for you", Sly hands her a novelty mug that he bought her on one of their first dates. as Sly places their breakfast on the table he can't help but think to himself, 'Man, when was the last time Carm and I went out? It feels like forever ago, we should really find some free time.'

"I was called up to Barkly's office the other day" The vixen started out of the blue.

"Oh, what for?" Sly didn't hear about her going up to see the commissioner, and they share an office space.

"He started on this big speech about test of metal and how much I've grown since my rookie cop days, how much he sees himself in me and how I was much like him when he was younger."

"I highly doubt that, I've seen his old pictures and you have a way better figure."

Carmelita gave him a flat look and continued like he didn't say anything.

"Then he drops this bombshell on me saying he's planning to retire and he wants me to take over as commissioner."

Sly was stunned silent, of course he was happy for her but he also had some concerns.

"Are you...? I don't know, a little young for that job. You're only 27 and you've been on the force for like what 8 years? Don't you think he's being a little too hasty here?"

Sly thought she would dispute that but she didn't even blink.

"He says I got what it takes and I believe him. Besides it's not like he's retiring tomorrow. He's still got a few more years, maybe another decade before he's ready to sit on his ass all day. More than he already does." Punctuating her statement by finishing the rest of her coffee.

"Well I guess that's all right. I'm really happy for you carm you, certainly work for it."

Carmelita places her mug down and has a somber look on her face.

"Yes, I have. I work my whole career to get this kind of opportunity and I can't do anything to jeopardize it."

Her expression becomes blank and she looks Sly right in the eye.

"Which is why I asked Barkly for a transfer."

Sly stops mid bite in surprise.

"After we close the art smuggle case, I'll be heading over to the states and you'll be assigned a new partner." The vixen continued on with her breakfast as if she had been talking about the weather.

The raccoon however continued to stare in disbelief, and when it had faded all that was left was anger. Sly has had it.

Again

"WHAT THE F* CARMELITA!"

She was still as blank as a board, she had anticipated this kind of reaction.

"This was bound to happen eventually and you know it. If Interpol finds out what we've been doing on our 'off time', not only will I lose my shot as commissioner but will both lose our jobs. If we get new partners we can still be together and keep our jobs."

Sly takes in a deep breath, trying to regain his composure.

"Carmelita, I can understand wanting a new partner, I can see the logic behind that. What I don't understand is why you need to move to another continent to do so!"

Her gaze drifts off to the side.

"To throw off any kind of suspicion they might have. It was bad enough that they found out we were living together. With the distance it will solidify that there is nothing between us."

Sly knew that was a weak excuse, there was more going on than the vixen was telling.

Carmelita could tell by the look on his face that the excuse didn't land the way she wanted to. "Barkley already agreed to the transfer, and I'm not changing my mind on this ringtail."

Carmelita hasn't called Sly ringtail in a long time and the way she said it almost sounded like a threat. Sly let out a heavy sigh suddenly wishing he never got out of bed.

Carmelita finishes the rest of her breakfast and stands up. "Hurry up and get dressed we're going to be late for work." Abruptly ending the conversation there.

Sly has this neutral almost sad expression. "I think I'll sit this one out today."

"You can't just skip out on work just because you're upset."

"I'm sick, I'm taking a sick day."Sly stared right at her, daring to call him out on this. She glared back fiercely.

"Fine." She went storming in their bedroom.

Sly was left at the table finishing a now cold half eaten breakfast. The vixen stomped out fully dressed and in her combat boots. "I'll be back by morning." She grabs her keys and storms out without another word.

"Bye sweetie." He says in a dry tone to the air.

Sly picks up the dishes and leaves them in the sink for later. He walks into the bedroom and opens the closet. He moves around some shirts to get to an old shoe box in the corner. He takes the shoe box out and walks out onto the balcony.

It was a beautiful night out sparse clouds, little wind, big bright moon, perfect.

Sly opened the box and pulled out a few items. An ashtray, a carton of cigarettes that's almost empty, and a lighter. The other contaminants of the box was binoculars, a small notebook, and a picture of him and his brothers on one of their capers.

Cooper pulls one of the cigarettes out and lights it, once lit he places it in the ashtray and let it burn like incense.

Sly hasn't done this in years. He used to buy them off of an older kid back in the orphanage. Hell he even tried one once, it wasn't to his liking. Although Sly didn't enjoy the taste, he loved the smell. The scent of burning tobacco never failed to bring him a sense of comfort and familiarity.

It was his father's sent.

Bentley used to hate it, he would get into these real bad coughing fits if he so much as got a whiff.

Sly stares off into the distance pondering that last thought.'God I miss the gang.'

He reaches down and picks up the binoculars, he looks around for a bit until he stops at La Paradox's museum. He catches some workers moving in cargo from a truck.

'Probably some new security equipment being installed, I wonder if it's is any good.'

He puts down the binoculars and picks up the notebook, writing down possible entry points and weak security to exploit. He's about halfway through when he stops and really think about what he's doing.

Planning out a heist was his whole life at one point, so much so it was pretty much second nature at this point. It was a little hobby to him, a little piece of the old days. Just writing stuff down and never acting on it.

But that's when Sly realizes that he wants to, he really wants to.

He misses the heist and all the disguises and the quick getaways. He misses his brothers and the van. He misses his old life.

But it's not like he can just go back to it. It would be destroying everything he has worked so hard to get. A normal life with Carmelita. He would be breaking the promise he made to himself on that damn island. But then he reflects on the 3 years since then, and he can't help but think to himself.

'Was it really worth it, did I make a mistake?'

No, Sly loves Carmelita with all his heart and he knows this. And just when the inner turmoil was getting too much for Sly.

Bentley showed up.