Hey everyone,
So I ended last chapter off a little shortly and on a really weird place, but the whole watching of the show they find is at least three pages long and I didn't – like I said – want to make the chapter be longer than necessary. I really hadn't expected that the chapter would be that long, but I am still proud of what I wrote.
Also, there might be a few familiar names and song titles showing up in this chapter and I just want to say this really quickly: DON'T! OWN! ANYTHING! I have no copyrights, I do not own anything I have written that is considered other people's property and I am in NO way making money out of writing this here chapter.
Capish? Good,

Venquine1990
PS. Credits for this story's existence go to Kitty Pedro


Sly's POV

We search for about twenty channels and then suddenly find one that catches my interest, making me say: "Just a sec, Bentley, take one back, would you pall?" The Turtle seems interested and flips back a single channel, my eyebrow raising itself in interest as I see how a group of people seem to be seated backward to a large stage.
"Ooooh, the voice of France. I didn't know the new season had begun yet." Sophia then giggles and Carmelita nods, lying with her back against my front and having my arms wrapped around her slender, gorgeous waist as she says: "I think I watched the first episode last night, mama, this must be the repetition of that."
"What exactly are we looking at here?" I can't help but ask and Sophia says: "A new talent show. Started big in Holland I heard and has been going on there for the longest time. It starts with several thousands of people being judged only on how well and fluently they can sing and to be sure the judges are thorough on that –."

At this I nod and say: "I see, because of that are they seated backwards. So they can't base their pick on how someone looks, only on the tone of their voice and how well they can take a song. Pretty smart, I like it." To which Bentley mutters: "You would, Mr. I could have been a super star were it not for my heritage."
At this I can't help but laugh hard, but then I hear applause coming from the audience shown on the screen and instead turn an attentive ear and view onto the screen itself, finding myself highly intrigued by the sweet young panther girl that has appeared on stage with a microphone in hand and with khaki jeans showing off her legs.
The panther nods at the orchestra behind her and they start playing, my mind instantly reviewing all of the songs I know and I mutter: "Well, what do you know. That's breakaway from Hillary Duff, isn't it?" The group nods, Carmelita smiling at me, but when the girl ends long before the song is supposed to, do I tilt my head and say:
"Short song, I thought it was longer than that." To which Marcus says: "It is, Sly, but because there are so many contestants did they make it a rule that the song itself has to be shortened to the duration of 90 seconds. That way the judges can make a proper choice and more people a day can participate in time, you understand?"

I nod and listen as a few more contestants show up, the third of them being a wolf with very short muzzle for his kind, who wears a very fancy brown suit with white shirt and who takes on the incredible song of Purest of Pain by Son by Four, but then, halfway through the first chorus do I get shocked by something.
One of the judges suddenly presses a button in front of them and the words I want you appear underneath the chair, while the chair itself actually turns to access the stage, making the wolf smile widely as he sees the snow leopard that poses as the judge having turned around and once the song is over, do I ask:
"Is that good?" The Foxes nod and Carmelita answers: "That means the wolf – I think his name is Jack – can go onto the next round. He's in the race to become France's next big singer." This makes me smile and I ask: "Why didn't they do that for that little warthog girl. She did Because of You pretty darn good too."
The Foxes shrug and say: "I'm guessing she missed a few notes or something. Sometimes the cameras zoom in on the judges when they discuss someone who they didn't pick and sometimes they don't. I think they skipped that with her." This makes me nod in understanding and then, as Jack shakes the leopard's hand, do I watch on.

A few more contestants show up before a sudden commercial break gets announced and I lean back from where I had been leaning my arms onto my knees, feeling highly interested in a contest like this and I can't help but wonder: "You think my police record would be too great for me to give this thing a try sometime?"
Everyone looks shocked, but then Helena smiles and says: "You'd be too late anyway, Sly. They don't show the Blind Auditions or the Battles – which is the next round – until they only need a few more Battles. That way, once the Battles are over, they can instantly move onto the actual live shows, which include the finals."
I nod and Carmelita kisses me softly on the cheek as she says: "Just try next year, okay Ringtail? We'll let you know where to be and when to show up there." To this I smile and turn to her, wrapping both my arms back around her waist as I ask: "And you'll be there too to cheer me on, Carmelita?" The girl's nod making me smile.

Then, just when Murray brings in an amazing platter with large silver top, does the commercial break end and does the opening song for the series appear again, Murray getting slightly shocked at hearing this, but not enough that he drops the plate. He sets it down with haste and asks: "What was that? It shocked me."
"That's a new show, big guy. It's called the Voice of France. And I'm planning to enter it next year." The Hippo tilts his head and Bentley says: "It's a contest for singers where you get picked to be in the competition on nothing but the sound of your voice. That's why the judges are all turned away from the stage, you see?"
The Hippo turns to the TV and then asks: "Hey Sly, isn't that your song?" And just then do my sensitive ears pick up the first tunes to the actual Hoobastank Song called The Reason making me turn back to the screen swiftly and with wide eyes as I can see a large, bulky bull standing on stage with mic in hand.
"What? No way can someone that bulky sing a song like that. It's just not possible for his lunges to generate the right kind of volume or for his –." Bentley wants to continue ranting, but I shush the turtle and snitch the remote from him, turning up the volume as I listen to how the bull actually puts his heart into the song.

Everyone gets shocked at hearing this and I can't help but think: "I always sing that because I can't stand how often I anger and irritate Carmelita, let alone all the trouble I always got her in with my own enemies. What on earth happened to this guy that he can sing this song with such heart? Who on earth could he have lost? And how?"
And just when my thought process ends, does the song end too and Bentley says: "I – I stand corrected. I – I always thought Sly was the only one who could sing that song with – with so – so much –." And I answer for the speechless turtle: "So much heart. So much pain over doing something to someone you really don't want to."
Now Carmelita looks at me and I say: "I was never proud of how angry I got you during our hunts, my darling, or how chasing me got you in constant trouble with those I was hunting down like Clockwerk and the Contessa." The girl nods and smiles at me before I suddenly notice how all four of the judges have their seats turned.

"Humph, only better they all turned. That guy can really make it far if he can continue to sing like that. Sure wonder what happened to him, though." I mutter softly as I listen to how the judges actually vocally harass each other in order to tempt the guy to chose their team and Bentley says: "I'll see if I can look it up."
I nod and while the typing of Bentley on his computer is only slightly distracting, do I listen as to how the bull apparently picks the red mane-colored lion on the far left of the row of judges and Helena nods in agreement as Sophia says: "Oh yes, Chriss Mayer will definitely be able to help this nice fellow get very far, yes indeed."
This makes me smile and then Bentley says: "Aha, found him." This makes us all turn to him and he cringes as he says: "Wow, that's harsh." He then looks up and says: "Looks like our bull-friend here was once a fighter in Vietnam and he even had a girlfriend in his own peloton. They were engaged to be married, but –."
Already we all cringe and I ask: "She got killed?" But Bentley shakes his head and says: "Worse, she got captured by enemy troops and his commanding officer didn't accept any kind of bribes to get her back. He had to break the law and the Army's Code of Law to get her back and that made her actually lose one of her legs."

At this I grab onto Carmelita, feeling both terrified of having this happen to my great love as well as unworthy of believing myself perfect for a song like this in comparison to the man right now on screen and then we all see it. The female cow that had been watching from a side room now rushes at the bull and we can all clearly see her amputated leg.
Tears appear in the eyes of Helena and Sophia as they see this and Murray, being closest to my beloved's sister, sits himself on the arm rest of her chair and pulls her close, Helena happily moving her face into the strong muscles of Murray's chest while Marcus takes a softly crying Sophia in his arms with loving care.
"I know they can use this as some kind of publicity stunt to upraise the chances of him winning the competition, but I don't think I've seen someone as talented as this guy before. Really hope he wins." I then mutter and everyone nods before Helena and Sophia seem to regain themselves and we watch a few more contestants.

Another one that gets chosen – a female cat with long white hair covering almost all of her form – gets two of the four judges to turn their chair with the song Stronger by Britney Spears makes me smile as she definitely has the spunk and fiery attitude needed to put behind songs like that, but I shake my head nonetheless and say:
"She won't get far. Her singing and fiery nature are good, but she misses the ability to really put power behind the right kind of words. It can make her mess up the whole rhythm between her singing and the actual band playing and that will definitely cost her a lot of points." By now Carmelita is smiling and we watch further.
Another guy that gets through is a lean male zebra with stripes that are quite the interesting pattern and that actually intrigue me as much as his tone of voice and while I feel strongly touched by how he sings the song Strong by Robbie Williams, does only one of the four coaches turn their chair and I shrug as I say:
"Not too bad. His tone and the sound of his voice were a little off just before he went for the refrain, but else he did good. He definitely has the right baritone for these kind of songs, though I think with the right kind of help, he might be able to change genres a little easier." Everyone smiles widely and Bentley says:

"I know what we're watching from now on." Making me laugh before another commercial breaks hits the screen and Murray says: "Okay, show's on break. Time for the birthday cake." He then stops for a second and says: "Hey, I rhymed." Making all of us laugh hard before he takes the top off of the platter, making me fall silent in shock.
A triple layered chocolate cake that has white food-painted pictures of Carmelita's face all over the upper layer, with yellow and red colored pictures of her old suit in yellow and new suit in red on the second layer and yellow pictures of her face and bright blue pictures of my own on the bottom, the two of us constantly looking at each other.
"I had already made the chocolate cake a few days ago, but I wanted to wait to add pictures until we had met with Urmilla and when Carmelita joined the team, did I decide to make this a double special occasion and welcome her into the team as well." The Hippo then says as he motions for the cake and Carmelita smiles at him.

"Thank you, Murray, that is incredibly sweet of you." The vixen says and I smile widely at the big Hippo, my eyes conveying how happy I am with him for having done this for my lady love and then Bentley moves over with several candles in his hands, putting them all on the cake and using one of his gadgets to light them up.
"Make a wish, Sly. It is your birthday after all." At this I look from him to my beloved and then ask: "How can I wish for anything when everything I have ever wanted is already here with me?" The turtle sighing and asking: "Are you sure?" To which I nod and say: "I'm content, Bentley, so yes, I'm perfectly sure."
The turtle nods and uses another gadget to blow the candles out before Murray takes over and cuts the cake into several pieces, giving two larger pieces to myself and Carmelita, who smiles and says: "You know, you could have used the birthday wish to wish for good luck on next year's competition." But to this I shrug and ask:
"Why wish for luck, when I feel like the luckiest man on earth just by having you close to my side. No Carmelita, I won't be needing a birthday wish to win that competition. I'll only need you and the gang to cheer me on." The fox giggles and just then does the commercial break end and does the last part of the show restart.

We all watch intensely, me stretching my ears whenever someone with real talent takes the stage and while with some of them – like a very friendly looking antelope who sings the incredible song frozen by Madonna, yet doesn't get any chairs turned – I feel myself wondering what could have been wrong about them, do I enjoy myself.
All in all, do another fifteen singers show up on stage, eight of them getting chairs turned and five out of those eight getting more than one chair turned, before the announcers, a very stunning female scorpion and a very strong yet slim looking panda, report the end of the show and comment on how to tune in again next week on Tuesday.
By this time have we all finished at least two plates of cake and is there only a few more slices left, some of the food-paint actually having smudged down onto the plate itself and while Marcus reaches for the remote, do I suddenly notice something that makes a large, playful grin slowly grow upon my face before I move quickly.

My lips form themselves around a few of the hairs on my darling's cheek and while her eyes turn wide and her cheeks turn pink, do I try my very hardest to hold back the moan of enjoyment as I suck the small crumbs of chocolate cake off her fur before I whisper: "Carmelita Fox and chocolate cake; has there ever been a better mix?"
Making Cheren and Helena laugh hard and making Carmelita turn even worse before I decide to prove her I am only jesting and just as quickly as I wrapped my lips around the fur on her cheek, do I seal her lovely lips with mine, daring myself to lick those divine lips and actually gaining an open-mouthed moan of accepted entrance.
I lick a few of the crumbs that I had sucked from her fur away from my cheek and teeth and then gently move my tongue into her mouth, her own tongue instantly moving to wrap itself around mine and another moan escaping her throat as she tastes the chocolate that is lying on my tongue and that she licks off herself.
I then break the kiss and whisper almost soundlessly: "That good too?" Making Carmelita smile at me before she answers me with yet another kiss, me loving the fact that I am having a birthday party with this incredible fox being my birthday present and after kissing her for a little while longer, do I simply chill with her in my chair.

Bentley and the others, in the mean time, seem to understand that Carmelita and I are no longer interested in the TV and start flipping through the channels again, Helena being the one to point one out and while, with only a single eye, I pay attention to what is on, do I put my full focus on where it really belongs; in my lap.
Here Carmelita is seated, her legs on both sides of mine and her body fitting mine as if she were fitted on my entire body like a furred glove, making me all the more pleased with the clear evidence that she and I are meant for each other and while the shows watched by my friends come and go, do I just enjoy her presence.

Then suddenly, does Bentley tap me on the shoulder and when I look at him with a raised eyebrow, does he ask: "Sly, it's an hour to dinner. Maybe it's best if you start picking a song for our own little contest, huh?" And while really wanting to remain exactly where I am, do I sigh as I give my shell-armored friend right.
Carmelita looks up at me from where she almost fell asleep on my lap and I whisper: "Just mingle with your family, my love. I will see you at dinner, okay?" The Fox nods and while standing up and stretching her gorgeous body for my eyes to behold, does she throw a quick loving smile over her shoulder before joining her mum.
I then take another deep breath, mostly to steel my resolve of leaving the room and preparing myself for our monthly little contest and then follow Bentley into the hallway, my body moving so that I spare one last quick glance around the doorframe before heading up the staircase, Bentley floating in front of me with his hover pack.

"I still can't believe she's here, Bentley." I then whisper softly and Bentley hums as he says: "I know what you mean, Sly. I mean, I always thought that if we wanted Carmelita to even like you, we would have to actually do what Urmilla hinted that she had done. You know, tie her up and everything. To have her here willingly –."
The turtle sighs and shrugs at the same time, his expression shocked confusion and I smile down at the staircase, my heart racing at the mere thought of the vixen that awaits me downstairs and Bentley says: "You sure have a lot wider arrange of songs to chose from now, though, now that we know just what Carmelita feels for you."
Which only causes for my smile to widen and I sigh before I ask: "Did you ever imagine this would happen, Bentley? That Carmelita – my ever lovely Carmelita – would openly admit to loving me back? Have you ever thought that possible other than in your wildest dreams?" But the Turtle smiles and asks:
"Don't you mean your own, lover boy?" Making me playfully glare at him as I had, only once, decided to share one of my wilder fantasies of Carmelita with the turtle and I say: "Hey, now that Carmelita's on the team, that might just happen." Making the turtle turn absolutely tomato red as he shouts back:

"Will you please not remind me of that?" Making me laugh as I pass him into my room and close the door behind me, not moving myself to my rack of cd's, but rather over to my own bed, where I turn, lay myself down on my bed and release a deep breath full of exuberance and all the love I have felt for the fox downstairs for all these years.
"All these years and now I finally have a real chance to show her once and for all just how special, adorable and wonderful she really is to me, not to mention how important I consider her for the sake of the future of the Cooper Line." And with that do I again allow myself to succumb to one of my happier fantasies.
A fantasy of me and Carmelita, living together somewhere warm and sunny, having a house that has at least two stories and has a backyard large enough it flawlessly slips into our front yard and where my beloved and I are sharing a sun lounger on the front porch, while several of our little ones are running around in front of us.
Envisioning there to be four of them, do I happily envision a little Raccoon boy with Carmelita's incredible looks and my eyes, a Raccoon girl that – were it not for her gender – would have been the spitting image of me, a fox girl that is just as beautiful as her mother, but then with my fur and eye color and a male fox with my body strength.

This vision makes the smile on my face almost feel painful in its intensity and then I jump back up from my bed, make an extra summersault to release some of my excitement for the vision I have made within my head and then rush for my rack, my finger racing over the collection and my mind going over the numbers on all CD's.
Then suddenly, in the near middle of my rack do I find a CD I barely ever play, but of which I have always loved one song very much and I think: "Carmelita's now both my girlfriend and my partner. If there were ever a song that will prove to her once and for all how committed I am to keeping those bonds alive, it's definitely that one."
And with that do I smile widely, taking the CD from the rack and quickly checking which number the song is on to make sure I can instantly get to it once it's my turn for the contest and then rush over to my own little laptop, hitting the Net and checking out the lyrics to double-check if the song is indeed as perfect as I envisioned.

My eyes rake over the text and while I can't help but hum and mutter: "I'll have to change shy into proud as Carmelita is anything but shy, but else – yes, this is definitely the one." And with that do I print the text and lay back down on my bed, reading it through a few more times to make sure I have the whole text memorized.
Then suddenly, does Murray shout from downstairs and I realize that my fantasy, searching for the CD, the lyrics and memorizing it all must have taken me a full hour and while tucking the paper underneath my golden belt with blue cooper-symbol attached to the belt buckle, do I rush down, eager to see my beloved.

Carmelita herself has taken a seat next to the one I sat on during lunch and I happily rush into the seat next to her, shocking her into looking my way and stealing a kiss before she can fully recover, feeling my toes curl at pressing my lips against those of the gorgeous vixen before I can't help myself and blurt out: "Miss me, gorgeous?"
Making Carmelita laugh, her happy smile and the way her cheeks turn up as she laughs making my heart sing at the sight before me. The vixen then moves herself so that her head is again lying under my chin and she mutters back: "Mmmm, you bet, but I missed that hot manly warmth you emit even more, Ringtail."
To which, while I wonder how she can say such a thing in front of her own two parents without feeling embarrassed, do I smirk at her playfully and say: "Ah my darling Carmelita, the only reason I am that hot to the touch is because the mere sight of you sets my entire form aflame with the love that burns deep within my heart for you."

"Alright, alright, that's enough already. It's dinner time, you two, so quit the flirting and get yourself a plate, will you? You can cuddle and flirt when we're back in the living room." Marcus then tells us, yet just by the tone of his voice do I realize that the man isn't even angry at what we said as he sounds highly amused with the whole thing.
Feeling glad that I didn't turn the father of my gorgeous girlfriend against me, do I move back to kiss Carmelita on top of her forehead and say: "I just can't get enough of it, you know?" The fox looks inquisitive and I continue: "Actually calling you my girlfriend in my mind. The mere thought makes my heart sing with joy."
"Then I hope Murray's meal with do the same with your stomach because Marcus is right. Enough already!" Bentley tells me and only then do I realize that Murray has made us his famous spaghetti with blue cheese sauce – a recipe the hippo invented and perfected during the final years we lived in the Happy Camper Orphanage.

Lighting up at the sight of the white bluish sauce, do I happily make sure to have a large plate full for both myself and my darling Carmelita, setting the plate where I evenly matched the pasta with the sauce in front of her, before setting the plate that has almost forty percent more sauce than pasta in front of myself.
Carmelita looks at this and I say: "Just take a bite, you'll understand." The fox nods and we all eat, all of the foxes moaning in shocked delight when they take their first bite of Murray's sauce and I myself almost losing sight of my manners as I feel like gorging down every bite, something only the meals of my friends can bring out in me.
This in itself makes me finish the meal quite quickly and while waiting alongside Bentley, do we both happily smile at each other at the clear ways that both the Fox family and our new member Guru are enjoying their dinner as sounds of enjoyment are constantly escaping at least one of their throats after taking or swallowing a bite.

Dinner is therefore, a very fun and enjoyable affair and when we are all done, is there barely even a small bit left off either the pasta or even a crumb of meat from the sauce left on any of the plates. We then all move over to the sink and this time, because of what happened at lunch, do I not even try to help Murray with the dishes.
Instead of that do I quickly take Carmelita back in my arms, my body moving off its own accord and causing for my head to move itself into Carmelita's slim neck, my nose sniffing up the delicious combination of her shampoo and her own natural musk, which makes my tail whack with utter delight at smelling the combo scent.
Carmelita herself seems to be enjoying the attention I lavish upon her very much as she happily relaxes into my arms and my mind instantly reverts back to all the teasing and flirting I used to do when in her presence, making me move my head from her neck up to her black-tipped ear as I playfully mutter:

"Such a sweet and beautiful birthday present Urmilla got me. Smelling absolutely diviner than divine and constantly allowing me my own wish to lavish her however I please. Tell me, my gorgeous little gift, what did this Raccoon thief do that got him lucky enough to have a gorgeous girl like you for an actual birthday gift?"

And while part of me feels ready for a witty comment or smart remark – like I had gotten shot back at me back in Venice – does Carmelita only smile and say: "You, Mr. Raccoon thief, proved yourself strong, worthy of my heart and both highly irresistible in looks and charms as well as capable of handling any of my character traits."
And while I have no doubt she actually means all the times that she let her anger at Barkley and his treatment out on me with that last comment, does my heart still soar at the fact that this here beautiful fox has always trusted me like that, even when she didn't show it, yet I ignore all of these thoughts as I retort to her:
"That good, huh? Well then, allow me to show you how badly I actually want to lavish and cherish you and all that you are for the rest of my life." And while excitement now makes a thrill run up Carmelita's spine, one I can sense due to how closely I am holding her against me, do I ask: "Will the dishes take you long, pall?"
But Bentley seems to be working alongside Murray and says: "Not really, just go set up the special room, take the Foxes and the Guru there and don't forget to lower my beamer, will you Sly?" I nod and then, with one arm still around my beloved, do I motion the group of my newest troupe members to follow me.

Yet, instead of going right in the hallway and up the stairs or taking the door parallel to the kitchen door, do I turn left and move over a little further as I say: "The garage is located in the far north-eastern part of the house we stay in, yet the special room Bentley mentioned is actually stationed right next to it and under our trick room."
The family looks intrigued and while I keep my arm around Carmelita, do I use my other to motion for the staircase behind us and say: "That leads a floor that almost the same height as the trick room and the first part of the hallway is filled with bedrooms. Murray, Bentley and I cleared out a good four of them before we went for the Outback."
This makes the whole family smile, but then I realize something and mutter: "Uh-oh." Everyone looks at me and I say: "We've prepared four rooms, all of them with only a single bed, yet we are currently housing five new members. We're missing out one room." And all the others cringe as well, realizing my problem.

Then suddenly does Marcus ask: "You sure you don't have any double beds around here?" But I shrug and say: "This used to be a Hotel that got abandoned after the first World War. My Ancestor, Otto Van Cooper, who was born in Holland, actually stayed here for a few years before his passing, yet I don't know the entire interior."
The man nods, the eyes of him and his wife showing their intrigue at what I have to share about my ancestor and then he says: "How about we have a quick search for double beds after that little contest of you and your friends. If we can find a bed for two, Sophia and I can share a room and then we'll have the problem solved."
I nod at the man and feel both glad and a little disappointed as the feeling of Carmelita in my arms is one I am very much getting used to and the idea of taking her to my bed had definitely been flitting through my mind after realizing our dilemma, yet while I wish this could happen, do I respect the man enough not to propose the suggestion.
We continue our walk and move over to the second door on the right, entering a large room that has a small, slightly upturned stage in the north western part of the room, while the room itself is almost egg-shaped with the smallest part being where the stage is centered and with a few rows of upraised seats in front of the stage.

"According to what I read, was this once a really popular hotel, but when music started changing drastically, did the hotel management not have the funds needed to supply new instruments and after that the war broke out, making the hotel owners declare bankruptcy in order to keep some of their necessary emergency funds.
My ancestor, however, sought refuge here in the very final year of the war, after he had used his own airplane the year before that to send Christmas presents to both sides of the battle field. He had accidentally led some Germans into this part of Paris and used the hotel to hide both himself and his aircraft until they retreated.
He wrote all about his findings here and I even managed to find the secret little safe where he hid his treasures before returning home. Might show you sometime, but we can also – if you like – use that as an exercise for when you believe yourselves ready as Master Thieves." I explain to the family and then offer my little plan.

The Foxes nod happily and Cheren says: "I'll go for option #2, thanks." And his sisters and parents all nod in agreement with him before Bentley and Murray come in and Bentley asks: "Where's my beamer?" To which I shrug: "Sorry pal, got a little busy giving them a tour of the place and explaining its Cooper history."
The turtle nods with an understanding smile and moves over to where the upraised chairs are, pulling on a lever that makes a very highly advanced beamer come down from the covered up ceiling, which is covered both in several ribbons of purplish-red silk as well as a warm dark purple rug covering the entire ceiling itself.
He then coughs and says: "Ladies and gentlemen, if you would all be so kind as to take your seats, we will begin our little artistic competition. Murray, you asked to go first, so you can. We all agreed that the one to ask gets to go first when we decide to hold one of these. The stage is yours, oh master of the brush and stone."

This makes me smile widely as it had been a terrific day when we discovered just how great Murray could both use his muscles for punching as well as for the finer crafts such as painting and when he had first discovered this, had he made an amazing painting of a single small hummingbird showing itself on a dew covered grass field.
That painting, along with many others, is actually hidden in a basement of which the stairs are hidden under the staircase leading up and while Murray had saved his paintings and statues there, had Bentley also left certain diagrams of pictures with which he had won competitions, as well as recordings of my winning songs.
I then again gaze at my beloved, feeling more than ready to show her that her cunning thief has a wild, loving side to him as well as the song that I chose might be a little outdated, it still has a nice upbeat tempo and the texts are almost completely perfect for how I feel about Carmelita and what will happen now that she has become my girlfriend.

Then Murray, who had left the room to fetch his painting when Bentley gave him permission to go first, comes back into the room, his hands holding onto a canvas covered by old, leftover curtains and he sets it down on the pedestal Bentley had fetched while he had gotten his painting before he turns to all of us and says:
"Well – ehm – that is. You see – eh – this painting, well –." At this Bentley and I share a smile as Murray always turns shy and insecure when starting these contests of ours and I happily ask him: "Come on, pall. Where's the powerful Murray, who can create a whole river sculpture with his own bare hands, huh?"
This seems to intrigue and amaze Sophia, while at the same time it also seems to be exactly what Murray needs to hear as he nods and says: "Thanks, Sly. Anyway – I – eh – I made this painting to – ehm – celebrate what I hope will come out of the new relationship between my dear leader and his beloved girlfriend."

And while the sound of my best friend calling Carmelita my girlfriend makes my toes and tail curl in pleasure, does he lift the curtain off his painting, my eyes widening in amazement at what I see. A large and gorgeous park with lush green fields, while in the center there is a checkered blanket upon which several people are painted.
I myself am actually there along with Carmelita, her parents and siblings and while Marcus and Sophia are painted to be leaning against each other with Marcus' arm around Sophia's shoulder, has Murray painted me so that I am leaning against a nearby tree with Carmelita in my lap and a single flower being used to tickle her nose.
The sky behind all of us painted clear blue, with several small streaks of white indicating airplanes to have sailed across and with some small and some slightly larger clouds covering about a quarter of the rest of the sky and behind Cheren and myself can I see a whole field of the same kind of flower as that is in my painted hand.

Amazed that my best friend can paint something like this in the short amount of time since the Voice ended, do I feel a new sense of pride swell up deep within me and Bentley says: "Now there's a sight I would love to see become reality. Very well done, Murray, especially the way you painted the whole family so accurately."
Murray turns slightly red and says: "Thank pall, so what do you think? Is the grass realistic enough? I didn't really get a chance to work on that, you know? Really wanted to get the whole picture there before starting on the more finer details." And while the Fox family remains amazed at what they see, do I say:
"No worries, Murray. The way you put that field of flowers where it is makes the whole field look very realistic." I then share a look with Bentley and the turtle nods, me sending a quick questioning look to Murray, who nods as well, obviously accepting that we still have to be fair and deduct points, making me sigh as I say:

"Okay, in my opinion, the painting is realistic, very romantic and homey-feeling, yet I still have to deduct points for one very vital reason. If you had added some hidden cops here and there, it would have added to the realistic sense as, let's face it, in what country can any of us, especially me, enjoy such freedoms as depicted here."
Bentley nods and says: "I agree. The painting is amazing, the fact he made it so accurately in such little time very remarkable, but he should have added at least some form of a threat to Sly's freedom to fully envision the reality of such an event taking place. I say – eight out of ten." Making me nod in agreement with my friend.
Murray seems very happy with this and says: "Oh yea, try and beat that, you guys." Making us both laugh before I ask: "Care for the honors?" Bentley nods and says: "Might as well save the best for last, I believe." Making me wonder if the turtle perhaps knows what I am planning or if he's just suspecting and trying to make me spill my secret.

The turtle then rolls over to the stage and uses a second lever to pull down a large white screen before moving off stage and over to where the beamer is located, pulling out the CD player he always takes with him during these events and setting it next to the beamer before he turns off the lights in the room and says:
"I picked this song as my way to prove that – even with everything Sly and his thieving and Barkley and his insults have put our proud inspector through – Carmelita is not someone to be messed with and can only come out on top. I also want to apologize for this as – well, after escaping you, Sly had often had the – well, just watch the slideshow."
This alone makes me turn a little red as I realize what Bentley is planning to show and I think: "She's going to hate me for this. Thanks a ton, Bentley, weren't you trying to make me have a happy birthday all day?" Yet I just let my turtle friend do his thing, knowing it to be against contest rules to try and stop either of my opponents.
Bentley then activates the beamer and Carmelita gasps as the first picture is of her, showing her off while apparently walking away from something and I whistle before muttering: "Didn't know you got that one too, pall." Making her look my way, yet out of feared shame of losing her, do I ignore this and focus on the song:

Oh hey, yeah

Hush, just stop
There's nothing you can do or say, baby
I've had enough
I'm not your property as from today, baby
You might think that I won't make it on my own
But now I'm

Stronger, than yesterday
Now it's nothing but my way
My loneliness ain't killing me no more
I, I'm stronger

Than I ever thought that I could be, baby

I used to go with the flow
Didn't really care 'bout me
You might think that I can't take it, but you're wrong
'Cause now I'm

Stronger, than yesterday
Now it's nothing but my way
My loneliness ain't killing me no more
I, I'm stronger

Come on, now
Oh, yeah

Here I go, on my own
I don't need nobody, better off alone
Here I go, on my own now
I don't need nobody, not anybody
Here I go, here I go, here I go
Alright
Here I go, here I go, here I go

Stronger, than yesterday
It's nothing but my way
My loneliness ain't killing me no more
I'm stronger, than yesterday
Now it's nothing but my way
My loneliness ain't killing me no more
Now I'm stronger, than yesterday
Now it's nothing but my way
My loneliness ain't killing me no more
I'm stronger!

More and more pictures of Carmelita, some of her in battle poses, others actually of her chasing me, which makes me wonder who made those as I never got the chance for that and others of her storming off or arresting whoever we had taken out before she arrived show on the screen and while I admire the song, do I still feel fear.
Fear for the anger that must be growing to boil under Carmelita's skin. Fear for how often I actually took a picture of her while on a mission of some sort. Fear for how I could have lost the only girlfriend I ever wanted on the same day she actually admitted to wanting to be mine. Fear for losing the one my heart loves beyond all else.
Then Bentley ends the projection show and says: "Like I said, Carmelita is the kind of person that grows stronger and better no matter what you throw at her. She has been proving that with every criminal she caught and while a few years ago I considered her an honorary member, do I now wish to officially welcome her to the team."

And while part of me hopes that the turtle can sweet talk my girlfriend out of her angered state, do I keep my face away in shame, until suddenly I feel her hand worriedly touching mine and hear her voice asking: "Sly, are you okay?" And while part of me just wants to hide under my hate, do I turn to her nonetheless.
To then see the worry and care shine in her eyes instead of seeing them burn with the fire of anger I was sure would be steamrolling through her form like a mad bull, can I not help but ask: "Shouldn't I be asking you the same thing? Seeing – well – ehm?" At this Carmelita seems to get my worries and smiles as she says:
"No Sly, I'm not mad." She then shocks me as she lies her head on my chest with one of her hands near it and says: "To be honest, I feel very, very touched that you took so many pictures of me, love. Your pictures are definitely the work of a master and I am very happy that you took so many as they made Bentley's show very worthwhile."

This makes me sigh in relief and I say: "That's good, but I am still deducting points, seeing how his show made me fear I would lose my girlfriend to her anger over me taking all those pictures behind her back." And with that do I send a really angry glare my friend's way, Bentley suddenly gulping as he says:
"Didn't – eh – didn't think of it, well, like that. Sorry Sly, guess I didn't take such chances into account." I nod and say: "Eight out of ten. The picture show was definitely good and you even surprised me with a few of them as I didn't even know they existed, but seeing the actual risk you took, while unknowingly."
The turtle nods and then I untangle myself from my girlfriend and kiss her on her forehead, my nose moving some of the locks of her hair away from her forehead before I move over to the stage and flip Bentley over the back of his head, hissing angrily: "Never again, capish?" Before taking the center of the stage for myself.

I turn to my girl and the way that Carmelita is now leaning forward on her crossed legs, with her arms leaning on them with the elbows and with her eyes gleaming in curious love make me want to turn beat red, but instead of that, do I say: "Carmelita, you chose to be a Master thief and – well, honey, that's for life – and so am I."
The fox giggles at hearing this and I motion for Bentley having also given him my own CD when flipping him over the head and while Bentley switches the CD's, do I pluck an old and slightly dusty microphone from behind one of the curtains of the stage, dusting it off before scraping my throat as the song starts.


Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley. Just replace the words "You're Too Shy" for You're Too Proud"


Here I stop singing, hoping with all that I am that I brought home the message and Bentley whistling makes me have a pretty good feeling as Murray shouts: "Sly wins!" Making me smile, even if I don't fully feel as if I should, but the sight of my beloved and her family nodding in agreement makes any argument die before I utter it.
Carmelita then runs at me, tears actually gleaming in her eyes and she hugs me tightly, her arms feeling like delicacies as they enwrap my neck with loving strength, yet before I can lose myself in the divine feeling that is her lips on mine, does she part from me, her eyes still shining very brightly before she mutters:
"And that is why I love you just so much. Because even when pulling heists you always make sure I feel wanted, respected and loved. You've never given me any reason to doubt what you say to me and yet at the same time have you never given me reason to feel bad about the messages you ever send my way as they were always very loving."
This makes me smile very happily and I encase her face with my hands and whisper: "And that will never change, my angel. It will never change." Before I pull her face to mine again, wanting to feel those divine lips on my own and feeling like sharing a kiss with my beloved is nothing short of a perfect ending to my birthday.


And another chapter done!
One that is like its predecessor way too long to be real, but also has some very romantic and interesting topics and parts written into it. Now I know that the last song I used was a little outdated and that it got cut out for safety reasons, but if you think about how Carmelita and Sly are currently feeling about their new bond, can you not argue with its validity.
Next chapter will be about Carmelita waking in her own room and about how Sly does while making the canes he promised the Fox Family. It will also be about Barkley actually getting his due and trust me, it might sound similar to A Gang And A Family, yet I actually plan to make it alike and different at the same time.
Hope you enjoy,

Venquine1990