Hey everyone,
This chapter is going to be quite important. It is going to cover both little things of Sly's past – as well as some personal head-canon of mine for the sake of this story – as well as plans for the future. And these plans are going to play an important role alongside the whole Preparing For The Cooper Vault story line that was – I just realized – never even part of the original. To be honest, I'm debating on putting in a heist similar to the one in the original.
We'll see,

Venquine1990

Chapter 21
Discussions Of Past And Future – Part 01

25th of June 2007
Cooper Hide Out
Sly's POV

I won't deny that it didn't feel incredibly satisfying to end Barkley's line the way I did. I did feel a short twinge of guilt that I used my father's old cane for something like this, but I kept focused on two things. One, my cane got in closer contact with his pants than the actual appendage. Two, that appendage didn't even deserve to be on him, considering he was planning to force it onto Carmelita, if not for Michael and Urmila and the others.
I had, at first, been amazed, impressed and also slightly confused about the fact that Carmelita didn't break down when she had Barkley under her control or why she didn't let him hear it. At first I thought this was because we were still in the middle of downtown Paris, but as I held her on the way home, I realized that there was a second reason – like a hidden motive – behind it all. And when I realized this motif, my heart soared with utter pride.

By now Carmelita is, again, only wearing a bra, but no shirt and is again lying on her front on the massage table that we left in her room after the previous massage the other day. I am working on her back as there are still spots that are severely tense, yet to my relief these are less in number than they were two days ago. "You've really been sleeping a lot better the past few nights, haven't you?" I can't help but ask. Carmelita gives me an impish grin and she quips:
"Well, considering whose arms I fell asleep in the other night, I believe that that's a given, don't you Ringtail?" I happily grin back at her and softly peck her just on the edge of her lips as I say: "I will happily share the bed with you every night if it means you sleep peacefully and regain your health faster, my love." Carmelita grins at me and I go back to massaging her back at the height of her midriff and lower.

I reach a point just above her tail on the right side of her waist and as I start to gently press and massage several tense muscles there, Carmelita starts to moan. "Oh yeah, that's the spot." She moans and the tone of her voice makes my blood go straight down. I gulp to hold back a moan of my own and suddenly a vision appears before my mind's eye, one that is part of a fantasy that I dream of more often than not.
Carmelita, pregnant of my child, sitting on a rocking chair that is set on the front porch of a house. A house that is entirely our own, where Carmelita and I live without the others, who all live close by. And while she is pregnant, she is rocking herself with her hands on top of her pregnant belly. I stand behind her and we are watching three more kids, two raccoon boys and a fox girl, run around the front yard of our home.

I shake my head to get rid of the image and I turn my focus back to Carmelita. Yet just the sight of her lying in front of me tempts me to think back on that image and it makes me realize, yet again, that I might just make that image a reality, especially with everything being the way it is now. Elation and hesitation rage within me and I think: "This is not just for me to decide. I – I think I should take another shot at letting her understand how important she is to me, to my future."
And while these thoughts and images go through my mind, I continue to work on the rest of her back. My mind goes through various ideas on how I can best broach this subject. Yet as I work, I realize something. "I just need to be honest with her and treat her with the same care as I am doing right now. That's the best way. Plus, I first need to make sure that she's okay with even talking about this right now. After all, we only started dating two days ago."

The fact that I am indeed dating her still amazes me, yet I also draw strength out of the fact that she is okay with living in the hide out with me and that she is okay with sleeping in the same bed with me. I try not to think of the fact that this is because of her new job or because she has been through emotional traumas the past few years. Instead I keep thinking: "She's relying on you. You need to prove that you deserve that trust. It's you she wants."
And while I know that, compared to me and my friends, Barkley really isn't competition and has never been, I also know that Carmelita, being as incredible as she is, can easily get any kind of guy, including great men who can offer her a much more secure kind of life. This thought again reminds me of the fantasy and I think: "I need to find out if she wants that kind of life. I need to find out if she's willing to share that part of her life – with me."

And just as I think this, I finish with working the last knots out of her back. I'm sure that her legs and other parts of her body are also tense, yet I really need to just get this topic off my chest. I pull my hands away and ask Carmelita: "I'll finish later. Can we talk?" The fox looks up and asks: "Is something wrong?" I don't answer and just gently help her off the massage table. And while I slightly hesitate, I guide her over to the bed.
Carmelita lies her head on my shoulder as we lie down and I draw courage and reassurance from this, which helps me bolster my determination and lessen my concerns over how this might just go wrong. Then I get an idea and I mutter: "Carmelita, when you wore that incredible wedding dress just because you wanted us to cut the birthday cake together, you brought to life so many of the fantasies I've had of you over the years."

Carmelita smiles at me over this and she gently says: "You really are the only one who I would do that for, Sly – outside of my parents." I laugh at this and then Carmelita shocks me. She moves and suddenly she is entirely on top of me, with her arms crossed over my chest and her head lying on her arms. Her head is slightly tilted and she asks: "What, are you thinking of making that little scene a reality sometime soon, Cooper?"
I gulp as she is still without a shirt and while I am wearing a shirt, I can actually almost feel her nipples through both her bra and my own shirt. I try to focus on my respect for her and the image in my head, yet suddenly I realize that this really isn't helping me any. I breath in and out deeply and mutter: "Not anytime soon, no. As much as I love you – I want to do this the right way." Carmelita tilts her head the other way and I mutter:
"But – that doesn't mean that I don't dream and fantasize about – about what our future together might look like." I grin at her, yet at the same time I can't help but think: "If I don't entirely screw things up with you before then, that is." But Carmelita seems to, somehow, be able to read my mind. She grins lovingly at me and pulls herself up to my face. And with her hands firmly in the fur on my cheeks, she kisses me with an intense sense of love.

"You're the only one for me, Sly. I don't want anyone other than you. I love you and I can definitely see myself marrying you – one day." I sigh and grin at her as I whisper: "Any ideas of what kind of house you'd want to share with me one day?" Carmelita tilts her head and I grin. "Even my dad had a place of his own when he married my mum, Carmelita. And I really hope to have that same kind of life one day, with you by my side."
Carmelita grins widely and then she lies herself down on my chest and says: "Tell me about it, Sly. Tell me about your dreams, your fantasies. Share them with me." I can't help but grin widely at her as she actually closes her eyes. I wrap one of my arms around her back and while I look up at the canopy, I start to talk. "First of all, I have always dreamed of a three-story house, with the third story being this huge attic that covers the whole upper floor."

Carmelita nods in intrigue and I say: "The ground floor is also entirely open with a single staircase up to the second floor in the center of the room. There is also a bit of a side room to the right of the front door, where we keep our jackets and coats, our shoes and –." But here I falter as I am about to say something of which I'm not sure my beloved is able to hear it right now. I look down at her and she has her head tilted once again.
I gulp and think: "I'm a Master Thief. I live to take risks in life. That's the kind of life I chose for myself when I decided to step into my father's footsteps." And while I really don't want to do anything to risk my relationship with the stunning fox lying on top of me, I state: "And a few of the toys of our kids." Carmelita's eyes widen and I keep quiet as I just want to give her a chance to process this and decide for herself.

And while I know that Carmelita loves me, she shocks me as she starts to grin and boldly states only one word. "Four." Yet this one word is enough to make my own eyes widen as I instantly understand its actual implication. "That's right, Cooper. I always promised myself I would have at least four kids. And I don't care if they're two pairs of twins, one pair of twins and two kids of different ages or all of them being of different ages, I still plan to have four kids."
Carmelita then repeats her earlier actions of pulling herself up to my face and kissing me on the lips before she whispers against my lips: "Just imagine it, Sly. Four little ones to continue the Cooper line." And without really wanting to, I whisper: "I imagine that every time I fantasize about us." Carmelita looks happily startled and I just decide to tell her of my fantasy. I grin at her and pull her so that her face is right underneath my chin as I say:

"I dreamed of it so many times, Carmelita. You pregnant of our fourth little one while we are on the front porch of our home and watching three of our little ones running around the front yard. Or two of them running around while either of us holds the youngest, who is still just a little infant. Those are my fantasies of our future together more often than not." And this statement makes Carmelita grin at me like she has never done before.
She kisses me again and whispers: "You better prepare yourself, Cooper. Because I am definitely going to do everything I can to make that fantasy a reality." But while this statement definitely excites little Sly, I don't grin back at her and whisper: "With all due respect, Carmelita. If we're doing this, I want to do this the right way. I don't want us starting on this – until there is a wedding ring on your finger. And I don't want that until we have been dating for an acceptable amount of time."

Carmelita seems confused about this and I gently run my hand through her hair as I say: "Don't get me wrong, Carmelita. I do consider what we've had before to be something special and I definitely enjoyed it greatly over the years. But it wasn't a relationship, not even a professional one. It was a game of cop and robber with sometimes periods of time where we were able to help each other. And you can call me old-fashioned all you want, I don't consider that acceptable."
Carmelita grins at me, but then she sighs and mutters: "And I suppose that Barkley plays a role in all this too?" I grimace and say: "I wish I could disagree. But it's more the emotional damage his actions have caused you than anything else. Though I won't deny it, I don't want to even so much as give you the impression that I want to speed things up to his level. I don't want to give you any need or reason to compare me to him."

But then Carmelita firmly puts a finger on my lips and while I ignore the need to start licking that lithe appendage or sucking it into my mouth, Carmelita sternly tells me: "Never compare yourself to that arrogant, self-centered little sack of garbage again, Sly Cooper. It is one of the only ways you can actually upset me. Never do that again." I nod, if only because of the ordering tone of her voice, if not for the upset look on her face.
Carmelita smiles and lies back down as she says: "You're nothing like Barkley, Sly. You could never be. You have too much respect for all of this to be like him. You put real value behind a relationship and what it means to work towards a future with someone. That is something that will always put you leagues above Barkley and his sick ideas. Not to mention everything else about you." I smile at her and gently start to run my fingers through her hair.

For a few minutes we just keep lying like this and the calm nature of our situation helps me calm down again. Carmelita's smile shortly turns into a grin for a moment and then returns back into just a smile of contentment. Then suddenly she puts her head back on her arms in such a way she can stare at me again and with an impish grin, she quips: "You know what? You are such a charming, respectful and loveable being, I think you deserve a reward.
Both for how noble you are about all this and for describing our future home to me." I realize that I hardly really described my fantasy and plans for this and yet before I can restart my tale, Carmelita leans up and puts her lips close to my ear. "If you play your cards right, Sly, then on our wedding night, you will get to steal something special. Just like you stole my heart." And while she doesn't say it, I realize what she means. And this fact utterly elates me.

I pull the fox towards me and kiss her square on the lips with my arms firmly wrapped around her waist. Carmelita lovingly returns the kiss and I actually feel her run her hands from my face down my neck and over my shirt. Her lithe fingers and my thin shirt make it so that I can really feel every caress and I can't help but moan as I feel little Sly come alive again. Carmelita seems to feel this as well and the moan that escapes her throat turns me on even more.
I raise one hand up from her waist and into her hair and then I decide to just take this whole thing one step further. I tilt my head and gently lick her lips. And to my delight, Carmelita's tongue slips between her own lips to meet with mine. I wrap my tongue around hers and try to put all of my adoration and love for her in how my tongue moves alongside hers. And all the while I can also feel how Carmelita does the same.

Oxygen, however, becomes a thing and we part again, both of us breathing heavily to get oxygen back into our lunges. Carmelita is also moaning and suddenly I realize something. While my mind was focused on her lips and tongue, my hand gained a mind of its own and moved from her hair to between our bodies. And now, while we are lying here, my left hand is softly kneading and massaging Carmelita's breast through her bra.
My eyes widen and I quickly pull my hand away. But to my shock, Carmelita reaches her own hand out to mine and directs my hand back to her chest. "Don't stop, Ringtail. That felt way too good." Her voice is incredibly sultry as she moans this at me and I feel my own manhood getting even harder between our legs. Carmelita moans as she must feel this as well, but when she suddenly starts to move her hips to grind across mine, I react.

With swift strength, I move us so that Carmelita is now lying underneath me, yet I am also on hands and knees on top of her. And the sight below me is almost my undoing. Carmelita's hair is a right mess, her chocolate brown eyes are dark with lust, there is sweat running down her body and causing certain bits of fur to stick together and her nipples are actually showing through her thin bra. I gulp at the sight before me and think: "What the hell is wrong with me? I want her, yet – I cannot have her. Not yet. It's too soon."
I notice that Carmelita is staring back at me and with a naughty grin on her face, she asks: "What? Was I going too fast for you, Ringtail?" Instantly my mouth is back on hers and I kiss her, just to prove to her how much I want her. Carmelita moans deeply, but before she can raise her arms to wrap them around my neck, I part from her again. "You, Sly Cooper, are one horrible tease." The fox quips and I mutter: "And you are testing every last bit of restraint I have left."

Carmelita smiles at me and softly lets her hand run from my ear down my face and down my neck. "I'm just trying to thank you, Sly. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't even be here. I'd be a mindless slave to Barkley's horrible disturbing plans and desires. You not only gave me the chance to put a stop to that, you also proved me that I do deserve to be loved, that I do indeed matter for the right reasons. You made sure I didn't give up on such a vital aspect of life."
I sigh at this, even though the thought of Barkley getting to have Carmelita like this is definitely enough to get my raging hormones to calm down regardless of the lovable, husky piece of flesh that lies beneath me. Carmelita's hand strokes down my face and neck again and she mutters: "And besides, I know what I said before about our wedding night. I just thought it might help before then if we could learn what does and does not work, you know."

I grin and shake my head at this as I say: "Carmelita, you are one gorgeous and yet clueless vixen, you know that?" Carmelita lies her hands beneath her head as she says: "Maybe so, but I seem to have failed." I notice her gaze looking down my form and mutter: "Yeah, talking about Barkley does that." Carmelita nods and I lower my head again. But instead of another kiss, I softly rub my muzzle against hers before I rise back up again.
"You really don't need to do anything, Carmelita. If it weren't for my restraint and my self-control, I already – well – I'd –." I falter, not really sure how to speak of this and Carmelita giggles as she says: "If not for that, we'd be making love right now?" I grin back at her and mutter: "Exactly. That's just how much I want you. But you have to understand something." Carmelita raises her eyebrow, yet I move once again.

And this time I move so that I am seated on the side of the bed. I wait patiently and a minute later, Carmelita joins me. She lies her head on my shoulder and softly growls: "You really are too much of a gentleman sometimes." And while I want it to come out as a joke, I can't help but growl: "You can blame Barkley for that." Carmelita reels up shocked and looks at me startled. "What is – I thought I told you –."
"I'm not comparing myself this time, Carmelita. I just feel like I need to compensate all the negative affections – if you can even call them that – that Barkley gave you with true romantic affections. Not just make you feel like all I care about is how your incredible looks set me aflame every time I so much as look at you." Carmelita stares at me for a moment and then sighs and lies herself back on the bed. I stare at her over my shoulder and she says:

"I can see where you're coming from, Sly, and I appreciate it. But I'm a Fox and Spanish to boot. Us showing our affection for our significant other the physical way has been part of my family since my grandmother. It's almost as much a part of me as being a Master Thief is a part of you. So as much as I love that self-restraint of yours, I am probably going to have moments where I will want to test it, just because you cause the same intense emotions within me."
I lie down beside her and pull her gorgeous body to lie on top of my own once again as I say: "I guess we're just going to have to give this all a try and see how we can incorporate it into our relationship. But you know what, love. I'm sure we'll manage. We'll find a way. We always do." Carmelita smiles at me and then coyly asks: "And once we're married –."

Instantly I remember Saturday and then envision that to be the day of our wedding. My mind runs away with me and I envision it to be night, with us in the bedroom I always dreamed we would have. And as my mind provides me with all I might do that night, I move us so that I am once again on top of her and growl: "Then all of my restraint will go straight out the window and you will experience a honeymoon where you will see exactly how much I long for you."
And the smile that is on Carmelita's face instantly has me kissing her with fervor once again, this time in an effort to just calm down my raging hormones and convey to her exactly how badly I really, truly want her. The kiss lasts several intense, heated minutes and when we part, Carmelita mutters only three words: "I can't wait." And despite me and my best intentions, these three words make a very satisfied grin appear on my face.

Hey everyone,
Okay, so this chapter really didn't go as planned as I wasn't, at all planning on that little scene between the two of them, but I couldn't help myself. I don't mean to stereotype Carmelita or insult anyone who is Spanish, I just thought I could use her usual feisty temper for something other than Sly continuously escaping her, especially now that they're dating. But, you saw that title, so you know that it's still going to come soon.
Have fun,

Venquine1990