Disclaimer: I don't own any Sly Cooper characters; they belong to Sucker Punch Productions.

Claimer: I own all of my original characters.

Alright, this is the next to last chapter! I'll post the last one soon and try to wrap this story up ASAP. So, please read and review! And Happy New Year!

Chapter 10: Surprises

Today certainly could have gone better. I learned my safe wasn't at police headquarters and then I was arrested. Although, my brother did get me out it was still a really bad day. Then to top it all off, my brother had gotten Sly to help break me out. I hadn't seen the guy in almost three months and he willing helped me out and I hadn't even apologized yet. I felt like the worlds biggest jerk and I was still doing nothing proactive about it. I'd figure something out in the morning after I'd slept on it. I stepped out onto my balcony and picked up my neighbors cat up off my patio table. He'd gone out of town and I'd agreed to take care of the cat until he got back. Considering the cat only came out at night, it was difficult to make sure he kept himself fed. I carried the cat in my arms as I walked back into my apartment. After I had locked the door and placed the cat down, I wanted to get in the shower and get to sleep early so I could figure out what I wanted to do.

I stepped into the shower and let the hot water run through my fur as I thought. I knew I needed to figure out a way to track Sly down. He obviously had to be in Paris, considering I just saw him a few hours ago, and I thought I should try hid hideout in the morning. And then if I didn't find him there I'd search around. After thinking for a good thirty minutes, I stepped out of my shower and got into my night clothes. I went on the defensive when I heard a very loud and audible thud on my balcony. I slinked out into the living room and cautiously looked at the glass door. Hobo, my neighbor's cat, was also ready to attack. His solid black fur was on end and his claws were out. I looked away from the cat when I heard a very faint tapping sound on the glass. I sighed in relief when I realized it wasn't another goon from Cortex, but a particular thief. I unlocked the door and let him in after calming the cat down.

"W-what are you doing here?" I asked after he was inside. I certainly wasn't expecting him to stop by but I never do expect him so stop by.

"After you're brother drove you out of the police station there was a big uproar because you escaped. I just wanted to stop by and make sure they didn't arrest you again. And seeing that you are safe and sound, I'll let you get back to what you were doing." He gave a quick smile before heading back towards the door.

"Wait, can I talk to you for a minute? Please." I knew that this would be the best chance to apologize.

"Sure, got something on your mind?" he had walked back into my apartment and started to lean against the couch.

"I'm really, really sorry for the way I talked to you that night the bull came in and I know you were just trying to help and I just finally snapped and I took it out on you and I didn't plan for that to happen you just happened to be there and I fell really bad about it and I'm rambling again, aren't I?" I talked quickly as I though of everything I wanted to apologize for and now I was rambling on and on and just felt like an idiot.

"I don't mind your rambling," he said after chuckling, "and you don't need to apologize."

"Yes I do; I completely took my frustration and rage out on you and I shouldn't have. And then I snapped at you today."

"You were just attacked and shaken up. Now that I think about it, wanting to talk about it was probably the last thing you wanted to do. And I know that you had been stressed about losing the safe and getting everything collected. As for today, you were arrested and being taken to jail. So, don't worry about that night or today."

"So, you weren't angry afterward?" I was blown away with his reactions. I figured he would be upset but he wasn't.

"No, did you think I was?" he lifted an eyebrow.

"This is the first time I've seen you in three months. I thought you were avoiding me."

"I've been out of Paris on a job for the past couple of months. And I would have stopped by after you were out of the hospital to check on you but your sister was here and I thought it would have been a little…awkward. I got back two days ago and when your brother told me you were arrested and needed help getting out, I jumped on it. You can't get much done for your mission while sitting in a jail cell." He said before pulling me into a hug.

"Which reminds me," he suddenly released me and went over to sliding glass door. He slid it open and stepped outside momentarily. He came back a minute later with a rather large and heavy looking box. He placed it down in front of me with a thud before standing up fully, "After you were dropped off here I talked with your brother again."

"About?" I asked after eyeing the rather large box resting at my feet.

"I couldn't remember your birthday, so I asked him. Turns out it was six months ago and since there are no holidays coming up since Christmas just passed a month ago, consider this a really early birthday present."

"An early birthday present?" I looked from the box to his face. He nodded and took a look at the box.

"Wait a minute," he mumbled before reaching into his leg pouch, pulled out a large red bow, and slapped it onto the box, "There, now open it."

"What's even in there?" I tried to get him to just tell me. I never like opening gifts in font of other people.

"Open it." he motioned to the box with his snout and I finally caved in. Since I couldn't rip off packing tape with my claws, I searched my kitchen drawers for a knife or a pair of scissors. I eventually found a decently sharpened knife and returned to the living room.

I shot him an uncertain glance and saw that a large smile was plastered across his snout. He motioned to it again and I used the knife on the tape. I placed the kitchen utensil on the end table after the tape was cut and I pulled the flaps of the box open. My gaze was filled with multicolored packing peanuts and I looked up at the smiling raccoon.

"Packing peanuts? This is a box of packing peanuts."

"Take them out and see what's in there." We both crouched next to the box as I started scooping out the small foam pieces. My claws brushed against something cold, hard, and metal after I had scooped out about three pawfulls of peanuts. After most of them were out of the box, my eyes went wide and my jaw dropped when I realized what was inside.

"Is this my safe?" my head snapped to his direction, a smile plastered across my own muzzle now, "How'd you get it?"

"I broke into the Interpol station two days ago to get some files and I heard Carmelita saying that if they couldn't crack it open manually then they'd blow the lock. And I knew how hard you've worked to get everything so, I swiped it from the confiscated items. I didn't know if your ribs had healed and by the sound of it, they were ready to blow the lock right there." I quickly wrapped my arms around his neck and squeezed when he was finished talking. He returned my hug and I quickly kissed his cheek.

"I can't believe you did this!" I practically shouted. I kissed his cheek again before standing. He stood as well while I couldn't deny the fact that I was ecstatic. That explained why the safe wasn't in any of the storage rooms when I went to the Interpol station.

"Thank you, so much." My cheeks were starting to hurt from smiling but I didn't care. I got my safe back and I was overjoyed.

"Not a problem." I pulled him into another hug by wrapping my arms around his chest. He hugged back by wrapping his own arms around my shoulder, due to my height, and we stood there in silence. I was slightly taken back when I felt him press his lips to mine and move his paws to rest on my waist. I didn't protest, but instead placed my paws on his neck and complied. Our kiss was interrupted when I felt cat claws sink into my swaying tail.

"Ouch, stupid cat." I grumbled as I used my foot to push away my neighbors' cat.

"You got yourself a guard cat?" Sly said through a laugh.

"I'm cat sitting." I flicked him in the chest and realized I was still being held by the waist.

"It's late and I should get going. Bentley will have a fit if I'm not back in the next thirty minutes." His paws finally slid away from my waist and he headed for the door.

"You're on a curfew?" I playfully raised an eyebrow.

"It's not a curfew! It's a restricted exploring time period." He 'corrected' me.

"So you're on a curfew?" I said giggling and he sighed.

"Yes it's a curfew!" he laughed with me and placed a paw on the handle, "Hey, do you want to get a cup of coffee tomorrow? I'll buy."

"Alright, I'll meet you there?" we agreed to meet around lunch time and with that, he left through my door.