Ha-ha! Had some free time this week and so here is another chapter for you guys. And thanks to everyone's comments. I'm actually a rookie writer and these stories that I make here are just to test out my skills at coming up with different plots and fantasies. And what better way to test out my skills then having Sly Cooper live them for me. ^_^

Enjoy.

I don't own Cooper!

Chapter 3: Goodnight Ringtail

Carmelita was the first to wake up and had gone into her kitchen to make some more coffee. She was still dressed in her work clothes from yesterday minus the boots. She and Sly stayed up most of the night just….talking. Actually talking without a shock pistol or cane in hand.

She lifted her arms up over her head, laced her fingers together and stretched out and then let out a relaxing sigh.

"Ugh! What a night." She looked at the clock. "Wow. Nine a.m.? I would have been given a strike at work if I was to show up at this time." She smiled. "But I don't. Ha!"

~Flashback from last night~

Both Sly and Carmelita were in her kitchen laughing and drinking coffee. Sly had some cream in his hand that Carmelita had given him. He was telling about the time he called her and how Katrina had ripped some of his hair out.

"I'm so sorry about that. When her mind is set on something she really gets out of control."

"Don't worry about it. It's not like that is the first time I had some of my fur ripped out. But man did it hurt." He rubbed the cream on his face.

"So what did Subaru say when you got there?" Carmelita placed her head in her hand and leaned her elbow on the table.

"She at first was yelling on the [hone with someone, most likely you." She laughed. "And then when she saw me she went from red back to her white self and hung up the phone. She then called Katrina and then took off, not without leaving that note."

"I'm even surprised that you left your number down." Carmelita laughed as she took a sip of her coffee.

"Well what else was I supposed to do? You might have called a search party on me for suspected kidnapping." They just both laughed at that.

"So what did you both do while I was on the hunt?"

"Well, just the ice cream polar…."

"Polar?" Her ears perk up.

"Yeah, she fought me on that and said polar bears live in icy places and so I just went with it. Then when we were leaving some girls called out to us saying what a nice scene, a father and daughter date."

"Piff…" Carmelita almost spit out her drink. "really?! What did you say?" She looked at him with intent in her eyes.

"I told them that she wasn't my daughter, that I was watching her for a friend. That I was a raccoon and she was a fox." This made Carmelita's ears droop a little. "But the they pressed on saying why is she the same color as me but then Katrina jumped in and said that I wasn't her daddy, I was your…..boyfriend." His cheeks went a little red. Carmelita caught that and smiled a little.

"And then you said?"

"Nothing, I just picked Katrina up around her waist and ran out of there." Carmelita started to laugh uncontrollably. "What?! I panicked."

She couldn't stop laughing but when she started to run out of breath she finally settled down. She leaned back in her chair and sly spoke up again.

"So, how did this whole vacation thing come about?" Sly now leaning on his forearms that he placed on the table.

"Oh, well, I went into work and asked about how many PTO days I had. Thinking I only had like a month or so…"

"A year and a half?!" Carmelita yelled out.

"I'm telling you. You have been working constantly and you never went on a vacation or asked for paid time off. You always just requested time off. So why do you finally ask about it now?"

"Well, I was hoping to get some PTO and…" she was interrupted.

"Great! How long do you want to be gone?"

"Uh, I was thinking maybe a month or so. I want to take Katrina out and so…" again she was interrupted.

"Perfect! How about three months? Starting now?"

Carmelita's jaw dropped open. "Really, so soon? Wouldn't you need to find a replacement for me for the time being and…"

"All ready taken care of. Well, sort of. Hang on a second." He grabbed his phone and started to dial a number. He then leaned back in his chair and waited. "Steven! Perfect, remember how you wanted the morning shift? Well you now got it starting tomorrow. And you will have that shift for about three months."

Carmelita could hear Steven on the other end yelling in excitement. She shook her head knowing why he was like that.

"Why? Oh well Carmelita is going to be gone for the next three months on a vacation and so I will need you…."

"WHAT?!" Barkley dropped the phone. He then started to rub his ears at the sudden scream.

"You trying to make me deaf?! You heard me, you start tomorrow. No, you can't take a vacation, not when you finally got the shift you have been wanting." He looked at Carmelita and smiled. He then hung up the phone on a still talking or more like yelling Steven.

"That was interesting to watch sir." She went up to him and gave him a hug. "Thank you." He wasn't surprised at the hug and just gave it back.

"You enjoy yourself and tell Katrina that I said hi, maybe even stop by one day and have dinner with me and Becky."

"I would do that sir."

Carmelita then turned to leave and gave a small wave over her shoulder. She entered the main work place of Interpol and her only other friend, Stella a Calico cat, asked her what she was doing there.

"I thought today was your other day off?"

"It was supposed to be but I still had to come in but now I'm going home."

"Why?" She laughed as she grabbed some folders.

"Well, I'm going on a paid vacation." Suddenly she dropped her folders and fell on the floor. Everyone else either skidded to a stop, tripped, crashed into something or someone, or choked on their drinks. Her friend looked up at her from the floor. "A vacation?!"

"Why is that so hard to believe?" Carmelita laughed.

"Because you never ask for PTO. You always just take a day off and then come back."

"Well, times are changing. I will see you all in three months." She started to walk away and everyone behind her yelled.

"Three months?!" She just giggled.

She hoped that she would make it out of the building without hearing or even seeing Steven but as luck was mostly not on her side, she came running up the steps of Interpol. She stopped him before he could even say anything.

"I have nothing to talk to you about, good day to you Steven." She walked by him and left him in a daze. He was about to call out to her when Barkley called out to him from his window.

"Great! You came in on your only day off. Good we need you to stay since Carmelita is gone for the next three months."

Carmelita just laughed as he could hear them arguing behind her.

"A year and a half?! That is a lot of paid time off." Sly said.

"Well, now it's going to be used and I'm going to enjoy it. Enjoy it with my sister and…" she looked at Sly. "maybe enjoy it with…with you if you are not too busy."

Sly smiled and his ears perked up. "I'm touched that you would think of me at a time like this." She was going to grabbed his hands when he pulled them back suddenly. "But sorry, I have plans of my own." He looked away from her and her mouth dropped and hit the table. He looked at her and couldn't help but laugh. "Ha-ha! I'm kidding! Of course I would love to plan something with you."

He stood up and grabbed her face in his hands and kissed her deeply. He pulled back and saw that her eyes were closed. He sat back down.

"You know Cooper, that wasn't funny at all." She looked at him but couldn't keep her giggles to herself.

"Then why are you laughing?"

They just laughed into the night and when Sly wasn't looking she kicked his chair from underneath the table and sent him falling backwards.

~End Flashback~

She laughed at herself and then as the coffee finished she grabbed to cups. Three spoons of sugar for her, one and a half for Sly. She then grabbed the milk, poured some in each cup and then headed towards the living room. As she entered through the arch way she stopped and gasped at the sight before her.

There on the couch was Sly leaning back with his head tilted back and Katrina curled up by his neck in a ball. Her grey tail wrapping around his neck. Just as she was going to place his cup on the table next to him his head swayed and fell onto Katrina's head and she just snuggled closer to him. She involuntarily placed her small hand on his chin and grabbed some of his facial hair.

Carmelita just smiled and for a second almost shed a tear. But her moment was interrupted by the sound of Sky's phone ringing. It was vibrating on the mantle and Carmelita walked up to it and answered it.

"Hello?" She asked.

"Uh…is, is Sly there?" She recognized this voice.

"Bentley?"

"Umm….maybe."

"Relax Bentley." She laughed. "If you wish to speak to Sly he is actually asleep still."

"Oh, well I'm not surprised. He never gets up until around noon. I was just worried because he didn't come home last night but I had a feeling I knew where he was but I'm just checking in."

"If you like I can wake him…"

"No that's fine. Just have him give me a call when he gets up."

"I will let him know Bentley. Thanks for calling." She was about to hang up when Bentley called out to her."

"Um…Ms. Fox?"

"Yes?"

"Uh, Murray just asked me, to ask you on how Katrina is doing. I just asked her right now Murray hold on." Carmelita laughed as she could her the hippo in the background.

"She is doing fine actually. I was about to snap a picture of the two right now. They are sleeping together on my couch and they look….they look so perfect together."

"You know when Sly told us about your daughter, something in him changed."

Carmelita felt a tug at her heart. "How?"

"He seemed really depressed before, but then a few days later he started to go to the daycare center during the day and wouldn't come home until around six o'clock." Carmelita thought for a second and realized that is around the time she would pick up Katrina. "He would then come home and be all smiles and would talk about playing with a little fox girl. When we asked who is was and we found out that it was you we just had to see her for ourselves."

Carmelita gasped. "What?! You didn't think I would never have a child?" She held back a laugh. Some people at work thought and still think she won't ever have kids.

"No no. Anyways, when we first met her, we, or I figured out the reason why he was always there. She looks just like you, minus the grey coloring. Heh. I sort of have a theory that he is only there playing with her, talking with her, so he can get to know you more. He said he doesn't know how to do that with the fact that you are a cop and him a thief. I really don't want to say anything but, I know for a fact that he loves you Carmelita. And he loves that little girl of yours. He hasn't said it but, I can see it in his face when I see him playing with her."

This was bring Carmelita to tears. "Thanks for that Bentley. It means a lot to her that. I always thought Sly was there for the kids. But my friend and now you say that he was there mostly for Katrina makes my heart warm up. I couldn't be there at all for her because of work and she would always be alone for at least three hours out of every day. But to know that he was there with her during that time, it just makes me feel so very happy that I have the pleasure of knowing him. I don't know what is to become of our future but, I do care for this ringtail."

"It is nice to hear you say that Ms. Fox. Just, be gentle with him, please."

"Don't worry Bentley." She laughed.

"Well, this was nice. I guess I will see Sly sometime today." They were going to hang up when Bentley called out again. "Oh, just before I forget, you might like to know that I found Sly's dairy only because he found mine and read it out to Murray so this is revenge."

"Um, that's okay Bentley I don't think that is.."

"He wrote that he wishes that maybe one day you and him could become a family and that Katrina could become his actual daughter too. Bye."

The phone went silent. And Carmelita's mouth hung open. She couldn't believe what Bentley just said. She looked at Sly's phone and then at Sly himself. His head was back leaning on the backside of the couch. She walked over to him as if she was being pulled towards him and stopped right behind him. She grabbed the sides of his face and kissed him. She pushed harder into him just thinking about how Sly would like to adopt Katrina. This made a tear come out of her eye and it landed right on Sly's cheek.

"Mmmgh…" Sly's eyes scrunched together and then opened them slowly. His eyes then went wide when he saw Carmelita's eyes closed and was kissing him. She finally released him and pulled back but had her hands still on his face. "That's one way to wake someone up." He saw that her eyes were watery and saw some tears leaking out of them. "Carmelita, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. It's just, I can't believe that you're in my house. That you spent the night. That I just kissed you."

She laughed at his confusion. He slowly got up and moved the now waking Katrina off of him. He walked up to her who placed his phone on the mantle next to her fire place. He saw that she had it and then asked why.

"Did someone call?"

"Yeah, Bentley was just checking in."

"Oh, okay…" his ears then went up and his eyes narrowed. "Did he say anything to you about anything at all?" She laughed.

"Why do you ask? And what about?"

"Well, nothing in particular really. Wait…he did say something didn't he?!" She couldn't help but laugh.

"Calm down Sly," she grabbed his face. "it wasn't anything bad. I swear." She then pulled him in for a small peck on the lips.

He was still suspicious of her. "It's hard to believe you right now." She just laughed.

"Anyways, I have to get Katrina up and we are going to start planning our vacation." She walked over to her still sleepy sister who was now rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

''And maybe I could come over and maybe we could plan our vacation as well?" Sly said.

"That sounds wonderful Sly."

He just gave her a kiss on the cheek and headed towards the door. He looked back at her and saw that she now had Katrina in her arms and was walking up the stairs to the second floor of her home. He waved and then closed the door and headed back towards his gangs hideout.

"That doesn't go there Murray. It won't fit." Bentley said as he watched his friend try and put a circle block into the Square hole.

"Anything is possible Bentley. Let the Murray show you that he defies all odds. And that I can get this to go into this hole." He then jammed the block into the hole but it didn't budge.

"Agh." Bentley just sighed. He then heard the balcony window open. "Sly?"

"Right here my friend. Sorry I didn't come home last night."

"Heh. Don't worry about it Sly. You are a grown raccoon, with the mind of a child, but you have your own curfew and don't need to check in with me. I just wanted to make sure that you weren't in jail is all." He laughed. "So how did it go last night?"

"Well, I found out something wonderful last night and it was the reason why I stayed." He smiled as he placed his cane on the table and his backpack up on a wall hook.

"And that is?" Bentley said while still watching Murray struggle to put block A into hole B.

"Katrina isn't her daughter at all," Bentley looked at him. "She is her sister." This caused both Bentley and Murray's jaw drop.

"What?!" Both said in unison.

"Yeah, surprised me too. That she was born just a few months before her parents died. That was a shocker but that wasn't the reason I stayed. I stayed because, I kissed her and she kissed me back. Plus she is off for the next three months so we just talked and had coffee."

"Whoa, back up. You kissed her? And she didn't shoot you?!"

"Yeah, last time you kissed her she almost shot you out of the sky." Murray said as he still worked on his puzzle.

"That was only one time she shot at me. Last time she just stared at me when I flew away on the rope line. I still miss that golden watch." Sly said as he seemed to reminisced.

"We could have had it if you didn't give it to her." Bentley said.

"Hey, what can I say, she makes my heart soar and I am just a victim to her charm."

"Yeah, great. So what are you going to do now?"

"Well, she was planning on going on some vacation and she was kind of hoping that I would go with her."

"That sounds fine with me, but I was kind of talking about what we do for a living. Are you giving up on it?"

"On thieving? Not a chance Bentley. It is in my blood, it is in my family, it is my history. I guess I will just have to not get caught. But what the fun is that not getting caught and having that wonderful chase?"

"But then she might not like that and probably not want you around her sister.?" Murray said as he still, worked on his puzzle. The two look at him in his time of smartness. He looked back at them. "What? I can be smart too you know. At times." He finally smashed the piece into the hole and yelled. "I am triumphant!"

They just laughed. Then they talked about a job that they could do that was very simple. Just steal a few priceless gems from a black-market seller. They were worth millions and they would sell them for more than they are worth.

Sly just said they would have to be done by a certain time so he could meet up with Carmelita to see what she was planning for her vacation.

"Oooo-oooo. Can I go with? I want to see Katrina and I want to show her my new toy." He pulled out a toy from his new favorite TV show, 'The legend of Korra.' Holding the main character in his hand he moved the brown snow cat and was giving it a voice.

"Uh, sure Murray. I'm sure she would want to see you too."

"Perfect. Then I suggest we head out to be back in time for dinner." Bentley said as he started to gear up.

"Awesome!" Murray jumped up and grabbed his favorite mask and his fighting gloves.

"Let's get going guys." Sly said as he headed out of the room, cane in tow. Bentley looked on as he still couldn't figure out how he manages to change into his thief outfit so quickly.

"I want to go to Disneyland. I want to see the princesses and ride the rides." Katrina said as she held her mom's laptop in her hands. "See, there are many places to go." She pointed to the screen and she had a map of the park on it.

"Okay, just calm down. I need to use the computer to look up hotels and times that the park opens. So just hold on and then I will look at the park map." Carmelita grabbed the computer and started to do what she does best. Research.

After about a few hours she finally found a decent hotel and some ticket prices. Since they have never been there Katrina more than likely would want to stay until she did everything. And since they had to parks that was going to be at least a week. Four or five days for Disneyland and two or three for California Adventure. She closed the laptop and then placed her head down on one of her arms while the other was snug close to her head with her hand covering the backside of her head. She then turned and looked over at Katrina who was sound asleep and was wearing her blue hat.

Carmelita smiled as she watched from her arms. She then was about to get up when suddenly she heard the doorbell. Her head shot up and then soon regretted making that move so quickly for her head started to spin. She held her head and waited for the room to stop spinning. She looked at the clock and it read four o'clock.

She finally got up and walked over to the door. She looked through the peephole and smiled. There on the other side of her door she saw that stupid grin that at first frustrated her but then soon became endearing to her. she opened the door and Sly was the first to make a move. When he saw her he smiled wider and then grabbed her face in his hands and then kissed her softly.

"Hello again beautiful." He said as her placed his forehead on hers.

"Hey right back at you." She was about to say that she missed him in just the few hours that they were apart when she saw two other creatures behind Sly. "Bentley?! Murray?!" She backed away from Sly and blushed feverishly.

"Calm down Carmelita." Sly laughed. "They came because they wanted to see Katrina."

"Well, she just fell asleep and…"

"Ahh! My Avatar master has returned to me!" they all turn to see Katrina was in fact, not asleep.

"Ah, my little grasshopper. Have you been practicing your TV watching skills?" Murray bent over to pick up Katrina.

"Of course Murray-san." She giggled. Carmelita couldn't help but laugh at the sight.

"Awesome! And for being a good student," he pulled out another stuffed animal. "Here is your reward."

"Ah, it's Naga!" She grabbed the polar bear-dog and squeezed it.

"And here is her trusted friend, Pabu." Bentley pulled out another stuffed animal and handed it to her.

"Wow Bentley, I didn't know you watched that show." Murray said amazed.

"Hey, you hogged all the storage on the DVR, I had nothing to watch so I watched that one."

Carmelita looked at Sly. "Naga and Pabu?"

"It's a show that they all watch. It is very interesting. You should come over and watch it with us."

"Okay, how about we all go inside I was just about to order some pizza.."

"PIZZA!" Both Murray and Katrina yelled in joy. "Pepperoni and sausage with jalapeños and extra cheese!"

"You said the magic words." Bentley laughed. "Could you get one with double pepperoni?"

"I like stuffed crust with a garlic flavoring on the crust." Sly said.

"I love that kind of crust." Carmelita smiled as well as Sly.

"How about I buy dinner today?"

"Oh, I can't do let you do that, you bought last time."

"But I brought my friends, it is the least I can do since you let them into your house."

She just smiled and then handed him the phone.

It was already going to be midnight. Everyone was asleep except Carmelita and Sly. They were on the couch watching practically nothing. Carmelita who was leaning on Sly sat up straight, just realizing something.

"I totally forgot to make reservations."

"For what?"

"For the hotel that I finally found."

"Oh, well that's already taken care of."

"Huh?"

"Yeah, I saw that you were looking at this one place that seemed really far away from the park and so I called up a friend of mine that has a hotel right across from the entrance. And he owns me for something he side and so you can have the best room for the week." Sly smiled.

"Huh?!" Carmelita could only look at him.

"Yeah, some time ago he had something stolen from him and he asked if I could get it back for him. You remember that one jewel thief that stole this one prized family heirloom? Down in Italy that one year?"

It took Carmelita a while to think of it. "Ah, the cat eyes."

"Bingo. Marcus is the owner of that famous trinket and when the police couldn't find it he knew me by chance and asked if I could get it back for him. When I called to see if he remembered me he immediately said when and what kind of room did I need."

"You saying that us cops can't do our job?" Her ears flattened and she squinted her eyes.

"No, no. It took even us a while to find him, but when we did we took back what he had and returned what was stolen. And possibly kept what was really his and what we couldn't return." Sly smiled while looking away from her.

"And so what, he just gave you the rooms?" He was surprised that she didn't question him about the other items he stole. She had her eyes closed as if she was trying to over look it but she did twitch a bit.

"Yes, and he also gave me a code that I used to get the ticket prices cheaper than what I saw you looking at. For both parks and for the whole week. As they call them, park hopper tickets." He smiled brightly at her.

"Wait?!" She placed her hand in front of Sly. "You mean to tell me you already bought the tickets?"

Trying to be cute he made a peephole between her fingers and said yes. "Was I not supposed too?"

"Sly, come on. I can't have you buying things for us like that."

"Oh, no worries. We plan to go ourselves. We just….have a small job to.."

"Don't say it." Carmelita closed her fingers together again. "I don't want to know. Anything."

"But…"

"Ah!"

Sly just smiled at this and grabbed her hand. She still had her eyes closed and was breathing slowly. As if she was trying not to freak out. He grabbed her other hand and she then looked at him. He brought her hands towards his face and he kissed them. He kissed her knuckles and then held them to his face. He then looked up at her and smiled.

"I…we, should really be going." He was about to get up and was about to let her hands go when she tightened her grip on his.

"You…you guys don't have to go. They are already asleep and Katrina looks so comfortable….as Murray's hat. Piff." She couldn't hold in her laughter as she saw her sister laying on top of Murray's head like if she was a hat. Carmelita then caught herself. "That is kind of a bad joke. Fox hat." She looked at Sly who was also holding in his laughter.

"Hey, you said it not me. Well, I wonder where I'm going to sleep. Bentley has the chair and both Murray and Katrina have the couch." He looked at Carmelita. "You wouldn't happen to have some extra blankets would you? Maybe a pillow too?"

"Well, I do have an extra bed. It is only have a bed for it is my own." She looked at him suggestively. "Unless you would like to sleep in Katrina's bed of course? Your feet might be hanging off then end but it could work." She smiled.

"Oooo. I have always…wanted to sleep in a kids bed again." Carmelita's jaw dropped. "To relive my childhood by sleeping in a car bed once more. But I guess a girls bed will do." He looked at Carmelita and couldn't help but laugh. "I'm kidding."

"On second thought, extra blankets are in the closet down the hall second door on the right." Carmelita started to walk up stairs. He tail wagging in frustration.

Sly continued to laugh as he followed her. She went inside her room and closed her door. Locking it behind her. Sly knocked on it but she didn't answer. He then started to talk about how he is an expert locksmith. When he didn't hear a response from her he got to work on the door.

Five seconds later the door swung open slowly revealing a fox who was already dressed for bed. Sly walked in and looked at her.

"You wear sweats and an oversized shirt to bed?" He sounded surprised.

"What? Did you expect lingerie or some kind of night-y?" She chuckled.

"No, I just…you looked good in these kinds of clothes." This caused her to stop laughing. Her tail then wrapped around her body as if trying to shield herself from his eyes.

"Your just saying that." She turned from him and went to close her balcony window doors.

"No, I'm telling you the truth. I mean you look stunning in your work uniform and street clothes, but seeing you in casual home wear clothes…I don't know, you just have this glow around you."

She turned around to face him and then walked over to him. He involuntary took a step back. Thinking she might do something to him but she just stood right in front of him.

"You know. You are very sneaky whenever I am on your tail. But you are very loud when it comes to your feeling for me." She looked up at him and smiled. She then gave a small laugh. "Wow. The master thief Sly Cooper, blushing at the sound of a few words."

In truth his face was blushing like mad. "Well, I can't help it. You make me nervous." She laughed some more, she then went and got into her huge bed. "And I have always wondered something," she looks at him. "Why would a woman such as yourself have such a big bed?"

"Well, what can I say. I'm not the best sleeper and I tend to move around. A lot. Who do I know? I've woken up more than a few times on the floor." Her orange fur on her face went red.

Sly didn't say anything. He just went to the other side of her bed and got on it. She got under the covers and he was on top. She questioned him but he just said he was still a little hot from before and she just laughed. She turned towards her window and he got up next to her and placed his arms around her waist and pulled her towards him.

"Goodnight Carmelita." He said as he nuzzled her cobalt hair.

"Goodnight Ringtail." She smiled as she closed her eyes.

And done! Finished this chapter in a snap. Sort of. Ha! I lost my notes on this part of the story and so I had to make up some parts. Might go back and fix it though if I find my notes. Was going to make this longer but couldn't really tie in the next chapter with this one so this is one chapter by itself. Next one should and might be out next week sometime. Hope you all enjoyed this reading.