Hey everyone,
I know it won't mean a lot to you guys as this is all going to be posted one chapter after another, but I have not written in a few days and have just been thinking up ideas to push this story forward. And would you believe that I got a storyline planned that will make this story span a good two years in the storyline itself? Okay, maybe more like a year and a half and there will be time jumps, but I still consider it an improvement over the original.
Let's have fun,

Venquine1990

Chapter 11
Discussing Problems And A Dance

23rd of June 2007
Urmila's Boutique
Carmelita's POV

This was the best decision of my life. The way that Sly wraps his body around mine as he stands behind me allows me to feel every muscle in his body, from his torso and arms to his upper legs. And his emotions feel like they are radiating off of his skin as he stands behind me while we cut the cake into pieces. I have no doubt that he and the others might think that I feel embarrassed or angered at seeing the cake shaped like my face, but this isn't the case.
If anything, I feel amazed at Bentley and Murray's baking talents as the shape of the cake is incredibly life-like. I suddenly wonder if this was something they did on purpose, to give Sly a silent hint about Urmila's plan without really hinting at anything, but I don't really care. Instead, as Sly and I hand the others a piece of the cake, I feel my mind wondering over what else my Ringtail might have in mind for me today.

But then I hand mum a piece and as I smile at her, an alarm bell starts to ring. Instantly my mind goes in overdrive to figure out why my instincts are screaming at me and it takes me a second to realize the problem. "Ehm, mum, didn't you say that, unlike the rest of us, you're going to keep your job at the hospital?" I ask while I return to my seat beside Sly. The woman nods and says: "I felt it would benefit the team, to have a nurse on hand."
I definitely want to agree with her, but instead I frown and say: "But mum, that's incredibly dangerous to the team at large. Only one Interpol officer who is like Barkley or one person who has ties to, say, Muggshot or someone like him, needs to realize that you're heading to the hideout and follow you. If they do, it will endanger the hideout and us in it. And that's definitely going to become the case once it becomes known that we've joined the gang, once we pull our first heist."

The woman's eyes are wide and Bentley shouts: "Sweet sassafras! She's absolutely right! The minute it becomes a public fact that Carmelita – or really any of you – were spotted wearing Master Thief gear or pulling a heist, everyone is going to dig into your histories. It will be only a matter of days before they realize that you're living with us and they'll surely follow you once you get home from work. And considering Barkley, it might even be him!"
Instantly all eyes widen and Cheren asks: "So mum needs to quit her job too? What reason could she give that would be considered valid? I mean, no offense, but even when the news on Carmelita and Barkley breaks, the most that will do is –." But I noticed that mum, like me, had started to think as soon as Bentley started exclaiming. And the woman seems to have an idea as she says: "Give me the chance to get that promotion, but get it on my own terms."

We all look at her and she says: "You all know about Eric Edricson, right? That famous stunt double, who also does videos on how to be a Daredevil and whatnot? Well, he actually actively breaks an important rule of not telling his audience to play it safe or anything. He doesn't even jokingly say Don't try this at home, kids, like most responsible daredevils do. So his stunts have, as you've probably guessed, led to a lot of hospitalization.
He's also extremely adamant on having a personal healer instead of getting treated in a hospital. Except he's worked himself through four healers in just three years. Each of them ended up with a Burn Out and needing a long term breaks from their job thanks to his crazy stunts and lack of care for his own health. I've heard some nurses compare him to a newborn infant – and then claim that the newborn infant could take better care of himself."

The group winces and Murray asks: "But what does that have to do with the gang and your job?" Mama smiles at him and says: "The damned idiot has been trying to get me roped into that role for the past year. But no matter what he does, even threaten to have the board suspend me, I just refuse the offer. I did indeed get suspended for a week, but I just returned after as if nothing ever happened. These days, if he shows up injured, I turn my back on him, literally."
"As is your right." Bentley mutters and mama nods as she says: "Yeah, but get this. That crazy idiot once got himself injured during a stunt in Australia and he still demanded to be treated in my hospital. And he almost needed to be put down for surgery, because he kept refusing any treatment from anyone other than me. But, no matter what my manager said, I told him I've got nursery shift. He shouldn't even be here. His injury isn't one we usually even treat.
The man tried to reason with me, but I just told him my family is smarter than this patient. And if you continue to give into his demands, just because of some fame, you prove that my family's smarter than this entire hospital. Tell me sir, if you got yourself bitten by a scorpion, would you stay in Australia, where that is common, or go to France, where that is nothing short of impossible? Needless to say, my boss finally saw the light after that, unlike the Edricson idiot."
"Sorry, still not getting it." Murray shrugs and mum says: "Allow me to keep it simple, Murray. The whole thing with Carmelita might not be enough for me to file for a resignation, but I can put a proper twist on it. Oh my poor little girl. She must be so mentally and emotionally exhausted. And just imagine how physically stressed out she is. Chief, I'll take that promotion, but only if you make my daughter my patient. Otherwise, you might as well suspend me permanently. I refuse to work for a boss who won't let me help my own family."

All of us are gaping at the woman, except for papa. The man is grinning at his wife with extreme pride and glee and he says: "I said it before and I'll say it again. You really sold yourself short when you refused yourself that acting career, love." Bentley, Guru, Murray and Sly all nod, while the four of them are still looking quite awed. But mum doesn't seem to appreciate the statement or the humor in papa's voice. She crosses her arms and grumbles:
"And I told you a thousand times, I do not like famous people. As far as I know, Edricson is a prime example of what they're like and Michael's father and Urmila over here are more like the exception to the rule in that case. I was already excepting Cheren by that point and you know what I told you back then. How I had – and still have – no interest in having my kids grow up in a world like that. Ehem – no offence, Urmila."
But to my relief, the Cobra doesn't seem at all offended. She shakes her head and says: "None taken, Cherie. I have always prided myself on the fact that I didn't become like those stuck-up, holier-than-thou attitude having imbeciles. Though I will also admit, my sheltered upraising, that one horrid experience and my relation with Sly, his team and my lovely little Crystal definitely play a large role in that fact."

I grin at the man besides me at this and Sly grins back before he whispers: "Open up, gorgeous." Instantly I feel my insides melt and I happily bite down on the little bit of cake that he feeds me. I then happily return the gesture and the humor and love in Sly's eyes causes me to shiver in a sense of faint delight. The racoon puts his plate down on his lap and wraps his now free hand around my waist and pulls me even closer against his side.
He buries his muzzle in my hair and another shiver runs down my spine. "So long. So many times. So often that I saw that beautiful hair of yours move about as you chased me and wanted to just turn around and take it into my hands. Play with it and adore it. Cherish it for all its beauty. Your hair truly adds to the beautiful and unique person that is you, my ethereal vixen." And again the fact that this was the best decision of my life rings true.

I melt against the strong form that sits besides me, yet I work hard to keep the strength in my arm. I notice how close my own muzzle is to Sly's neck and, in a burst of instinct; I press my own lips against his furry skin there. Sly moans as I kiss his neck and I feel a sudden urge to press my lips even firmer against the flesh there, to leave a mark that can be seen even through his grey fur. Yet I resist this urge and just return to my cake.
Sly has other plans, however. He presses his muzzle deeper into my hair, right behind my ear, and kisses my head there. The sensation of his lips on my skin and his muzzle going through my hair entice a strong shudder and I work as hard as I can not to let out a moan of need, due to my parents being in the room with me. "Geez guys! I'm as happy to see you guys enjoying yourselves as the next person, but leave that stuff for tonight, will you?"

Bentley groans and I want to turn red as I realize that, while I may not have moaned, the look on my face probably still conveyed the way my body responded to Sly's incredible little act. But then Sly shocks me and says: "Bentley, it would be a dream come true if Carmelita decides to come home to the hide out with us tonight, but I will not push it to that. And what you're insinuating will definitely not be happening anytime soon."
Instantly I need to remind myself of what I felt when I first kissed Sly myself today and of what transpired between us back in the hallway. Sly turns to me and puts both our plates on the coffee table that is set in the center of our group. He turns to me and gently holds my face in his hands as he says: "Don't get me wrong, Carmelita. After all, you know exactlywhat you do to me. But I respect you too much to let myself go like that.

Not to mention that I deeply desire for it to be special when that time comes." For some reason I get the feeling that Sly is telling me something without actually saying it, but I decide that it doesn't really matter. I just give the handsome racoon a gentle smile and loving kiss on the lips before I take back my plate and resume eating my cake. And Sly follows suit. Yet as we eat, I suddenly notice the large speakers that hang around the room.
This reminds me of what happened earlier today, what Sly started this whole event with and the smile on my face widens. I take my last bite and then turn to him as I ask: "Tell me, Ringtail, would you be up for another dance?" Everyone smiles and grins at this and Sly somehow manages to grab me and lift me off my feet while getting up himself. "You, my delightful little birthday gift, just read my mind." This statement makes me giggle.

Sly gently motions me away from the couches and I happily go back to stand where I stood when pretending to be a statue. This fact isn't lost on anyone as a lot of those in the group send me amused grins, including my handsome ringtail. He passes me, but also runs his hand through my hair as he does. The simple motion causes another delightful shiver. And after a moment or so, Sly seems to have picked a song on the tablet.
He presses it and the tunes of an absolutely brilliant Disney song start to play. I grin widely and then realize something. "This song fits our current situation to a T, especially my personal realization that I was meant to be with the Ringtail I am about to dance with." And for a very short second I wish Barkley was here, tied up and forced to watch this take place. Yet this pleasantly unpleasant thought reminds me of something.
For a single short moment I feel like I am much younger, as if I have lost all of the life experience that I have gained the past decade or so, that I am back to being fifteen and about to do something that is supposed to be the start of my career. Yet before the memory can twist itself to the point where it all turned into a living nightmare, I force my mind back to the present. I feel that I am already in Sly's arms and think: "Time to burry that event."

And just in time as the lyrics start – and I sing along. I remember that Sly actually changed bits of the song What makes you beautiful and just the first sentence inspires me to do the same. And so I sing watching from a distance, while grinning at the look of shock on Sly's face. Yet the shock quickly gets replaced with awe and delight. A large portion of the rest of the verse I keep the same, bar the second to last line, where I sing dancing here.
The grin on Sly's face even broadens at this and while I pull out everything I have kept to myself ever since I was fifteen years old, I lovingly sing the chorus for him. Sly even makes me have to suppress a giggle as I sing as he twirls us around when I sing And the world has somehow shifted. Yet there is a look of deep adoration on his face and in his smile as I sing the last two lines. I stare back at him with the desire to hear his incredible singing voice and he doesn't disappoint.
His voice and face take on a worried tone when he sings the third and fourth line and I'm sure he's referring to Barkley and the trouble the mutt has been putting me through. But I just keep smiling at him and then Sly makes the whole song. The three times that the verse sings she's, Sly changes it and sings you're. And the look on his face as he sings the last line fills my heart with joy.
I put this joy into my voice and we happily sing the chorus. Yet Sly winks at the first line and I nod. And so instead of him singing the second line by himself and me singing the fourth, we just sing the whole chorus together. I lay my head on his shoulder as we sing and dance and yet when we sing the last line twice, I pull away again. Sly lies his hand in the back of my neck and we stare at each other as the last line and the music die out.

Yet unlike Eugene in the movie, Sly doesn't let anything distract him. With his hand in the back of my neck, he gently and lovingly pulls me in for a kiss and I happily comply. Sly seems to have been motivated by the fact that I sang a love song with him and seems determined to worship me just through the kiss. And as we kiss, all I can think of is: "This is going to be part of my life from now on." And this thought excites me so much, I almost feel like crying.
Sly suddenly cuts the incredible kiss short and whispers: "Now I'm sure." I open my eyes and stare straight into his. A sense of assurance and confidence is in his eyes that I have rarely to never seen there before, especially with this level of intensity. Sly almost beams at me and then turns to the others. "I finally have my answer, Urmila. I finally feel 110% sure of my feelings." The cobra smiles, yet his words confuse me.

Sly pulls me close against his form and the way he holds me, I almost feel like the emotions that he speaks of are like an aura that surround me. He lays his head close against mine and his breath tickles the fur on my ear as he mutters: "So many times now Urmila would ask me when I would start to be honest with you about how I feel. Up to this point, because I cared for you so deeply, yet loved the way I would challenge you on heists and how excited you made them.
My emotions for you conflicted with my love for our heists so much; I was never able to give her a straight answer, let alone a satisfying one. But now, now that I have you here in my arms, now that we are on the first day of the rest of our lives, I finally realize it. And – I think I would have come to the same realization if we had continued in our former roles." Sly holds silent for a moment and I feel like he is looking at the others or something.
The racoon seems to get what he wants as there is a tone of relieved happiness in his tone while he continues. "Yeah, I'm definitely sure." I have kept my head on his chest this whole time, but now his words just confuse me too much. I pull away and gaze into his eyes once more. And the look of intense love and devotion I see in those hazel brown eyes takes my breath away. "I love you, Carmelita Montoya Fox. I love you more than my heists or my legacy.

You, my love, are my future." Tears of love, relief and gratitude sting my eyes and I respond out of nothing but pure instinct. I grab his face and pull it against mine, my lips sealing his and kissing him with fervor. Sly instantly responds back and I can feel the emotions he just spoke of in both the kiss and the way he continues to hold me. And as we kiss and as I remember what I'm wearing, I can't help but think: "I'm kissing my future husband."
And while I'm sure that papa's been worried on whether or not I would ever find a man while working for Interpol as intensely as I did, I myself had just given up on it all together. It had happened a few years ago, after I made the realization that the majority of my arrests was male and that a lot of them also had a history of harassing women. This realization had left a horrible taste in my mouth and I had been on the verge of swearing off men entirely. In the end, I had simply decided to just put my job before a potential marriage for the rest of my life.
But now that I am being held this lovingly, now that Sly is kissing me so passionately, now that I can practically feel the strength of his emotions in every fiber of his being, I feel as if I can finally put that decision behind me. I feel the dream I had so long ago, after my first prom, being brought back to life and yet I think: "And yet it's not with a fellow officer of the law." Yet then Sly's hand in my hair starts to caress it and I think: "It's even better."

And of course!
Of course my desire to let these two have fun and to give Sly another true moment to shine and express his emotions makes me have to extend the duration of the day to another chapter. But then again, I did say that the 23rd might be covered in two to three chapters, even if my original intent was to have it be this and next chapter. Heh, what can I say, after writing fanfiction for as long as I have, you get used to stories not always going according to plan.
Am I right,

Venquine1990