Ch.13: Return of a Friend pt.2

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Bentley's POV

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For a moment everything was black. My eyes were closed and my body refused to move a single inch. I could hear voices speaking outside my semi-conious mind. Sly's voice along with many others were spread out around me, waiting for me to wake up.

Forcing my eyes to open I got to see the wonderful sight that had been denied to me ever since I was forced to join with the Clockwerk Frame. Sly and Murray were sitting by my side along with the Guru. I guess the Guru had been called in from the outback to heal me of my wounds.

The Panda King was there too standing beside Penelope and Dimitri. Carmiltia was lying on the couch observing all that was happening in the room right now. Despite her presence I felt my beak curl into a smile. The Cooper gang was reunited after nearly two years of seperation and all because of Luna's gang.

My mind was still fuzzy on the details of what Sly had done to set me free from Clockwerk and what I myself had done while imprisoned in his body. Mabye it was a good thing I didn't remember any of it cause I wasn't going to let anything spoil this reunion.

The real quiet one in all this was Carmilitia. Here we were, criminals she had been trying to catch nearly all her life, it was the perfect opurntunity to turn us in, but she didn't.

"Glad to have you back Bentley," said Sly.

"Me too," said Murray.

I nodded and then saw Penelope approach me. Her arms instantly wrapped my body and I could feel her tears of joy hit my skin as we hugged. Carmilitia, I saw, stared at us during the whole process, and somehow I felt she had something to say.

My hunch was proven correct when Carmilitia asked me to step outside with her...alone. Once me and Carmilitia were outside I waited patiently for whatever she had to say. Two minutes passed before she finally said it.

"I'm glad to see you back as much as your friends do, but as an officer of the law it's still my job to turn you all in," said Carmiltia.

"So" I guessed "you're taking us to jail?"

Carmiltia shook her head and continued "Risking their lives to save you proved that even for a group of thieves that you guys are brave, noble, and honorable. Besides there's a shortage of cells at the police station to hold both Luna's gang and yours,"

Carmilitia stuck out her hand and continued "But next time your gang won't get off so easy,"

Shaking her hand I grinned and said "Deal,"

Suddenly something clicked in my mind about something important that I forgot to do. While Carmilitia headed back to restrian Luna's gang I headed back inside the safehouse and approached Penelope.

"Penelope?" I said.

"Yes," she siad back.

"Remember that component I said I needed to finish the job?"

She nodded and I pulled out I tiny black box that I had hidden behind me. A gasp died in her throat as I lifted the lid of the box to reveal a gleaming gold, daimond ring. A gulp traveled down my throat as I prepared myself to say the most difficult four words a guy is supposed to say when in love.

"Will you marry me?"

She nodded accepting the ring as I put in on her finger. A few weeks later a ceremony was concocted to celebrate the ocassion and it wasn't long until me and Penelope were bonded together forever.

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Sly's POV

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I was glad to see that Bentley and Penelope had finally gotten married that I almost didn't hear a silent whisper coming from behind me. Turning around I could see Carmilitia hiding in the trees watching the special ocassion. She stared in my direction for a bit and we both felt each others gaze.

Smiling slyly she walked away. A grin spread out on my face as I watched her go. Clockwerk's threat had finally been removed from my life and now I felt myself wondering how long my own life would last. Taking one last look at my gang I dropped my cane to the ground, leaving my pouch and calling card on top of it.

Looking at Bentley and Penelope it's true what life is about and now I know how to start. With that thought in mind I took off after Carmilitia to start leaving the Cooper gang in Bentley's hands.

THE END