Chapter 24: End of the Thieving Life
"No! Chase!" Her voice was drowned out by the self destruction explosion, sending smoke into her vision making her unable to see Chase. No… no! tears then begin to fall from her eyes and her heart felt so heavy. Why? You jerk, I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye.
During that time Chase then felt like he was as light as a feather, falling with no real regrets as his life flashed before his eyes. Chris and Alexa are safe. That's what matters although I would've loved to have more time with both of them. At least I know Alexa loved me back.
But then his body stopped. He looked up and realized he had been caught by Sly attached to a rope. "Kid, I admire your dedication to keeping a promise. But you know, Alexa would've probably been devastated with you gone."
Chase let out a shaky laugh, "I suppose but better for her to be alive."
"Well, since your still here, don't make her wait."
Chase nodded and shouted out, "Alexa!"
Alexa lifted up her head with a gasp and screamed, "Chase?" as the helicopter began to rise up out of the smoke she then saw Chase being held by her father covered in soot but smiling.
"Haha, I guess we owe your dad, huh?"
Tears still fell from her face but she smiled back, "Yeah, I guess we do! Thanks Dad!"
Sly only laughed as the helicopter headed away from the destruction.
…
Alexa ran over to her dad and Chase hugging them both tightly as soon as the helicopter hit the ground. "Are both of you okay?"
"A little choke up by smoke but fine," Sly replied putting down the oxygen mask that was given to him by the fire department. They had set the two guys to the side to get checked out since they were near the center of the big explosion.
"Yeah, that and seeing my life pass before my eyes but still fine," Chase stated smiling with relief as he breathed in more oxygen.
Alexa kissed her dad on the cheek, "Thanks, dad."
"Well, I couldn't let him fall, right?"
"I would hope not." Then she punched Chase in the shoulder grumbling, "Don't you dare scare me like that again!"
Chase laughed putting away the oxygen mask, "I'll keep that in mind when I'm saving you, as Ken would put it." That only made Alexa fume more.
"Alexa, Sly!" Carmelita shouted running over, having arrive an hour or so ago.
"Mom!" Alexa then got attack-hugged by her mom but smiled hugging her back. Her dad then hugged the both of them while they were together. Their family was finally put back together. "I've missed you," Alexa muttered.
"You have no idea how much I've missed you," that's when Carm released her and Sly got out of the way and she stated, "You do realize that you're also grounded for a very long time."
"How long is long?"
"Do you really want me to set a time?"
"Nope, I think I'll be fine," and she hugged her mom again.
Carm hugged her back whispering, "Just don't do something like that again, okay. We were so worried."
Alexa chuckled, "Yes, ma'am."
That's when Carm looked past her daughter to see Chase looking over to the group smiling until he saw her glare, "Is that him?"
Chase's smile disappeared and he became more worried as Alexa replied, "Um, yeah."
She released Alexa and walked over to stand in front of Chase with her hands on her hips, "I don't know whether to slap you or kiss you. I understand that you're the one who in a way started this whole mess but also saved my daughter's life, so I'm not sure what to do."
"Honestly, I probably deserve the slap in the face," he stated rubbing the back of his head.
That's when the vixen laughed, "I like your honesty. I suppose you'll be good for her then."
"Mom…" Alexa mumbled turning a little red.
"I'd like to think so as well," Chase grinned winking at Alexa.
"Well, then welcome to the family," Carm extended her hand to him, "anyone my daughter approves of is fine by me."
Chase shook her hand with a nod while Alexa gave him a small smile.
"Carm, the fire chief needs us to sign off on some things," Sly said grabbing his partner's shoulder.
"Right, you kids stay put and out of trouble, alright?" when both nodded, she when off with Sly in the crowd of people running around.
When they were gone Alexa then punched Chase in the shoulder again.
"Ouch, really?" Chase questioned only to shut up when Alexa kissed him on the cheek.
"Thanks for saving me again," she said getting a little teary eyed remembering the heaviness on her heart.
He gave her a warm smile, bringing her into his arms so he could put his forehead to hers, "You should understand by now. I will always want to save you."
Alexa let out a small laugh, "You're so corny, but I guess I like that about you." That made Chase chuckle a little when she followed with, "But I think Chris will be glad to know you survived saving me."
"Me too."
"Alexa!"
She moved out Chase's grasp to see Senaka and Akuma running over to them. "What are you guys doing here?"
"We got a distress signal from you guys and then we saw the smoke as we reached this location," Akuma said looking around. "What happened?"
"But we didn't send you guys a distress signal, though that might've been a good idea…"
"Impossible," Senaka replied. "That device we gave you was activated."
"Oh," Chase realized, "someone going through Alexa's things might've activated it."
"So we came all this way for nothing?" Senaka growled.
"Seems that way," Akuma sighed. "But I'm glad you're all okay."
With a bit of a frown Senaka agreed with her sister but then Marsh caught her eye and lit up. "Oh, maybe it wasn't a waste," and she skipped off to go talk to him.
"Sister, wait!" but her sister was already off, "Darn it. She doesn't even think about the fact that most of the people around here are cops."
"And she did pick one," Alexa noted, thinking of the coincidence. Akuma sighed again but Alexa gave her a reassuring smile, "Don't worry about it too much. I know him, he's a childhood friend and he doesn't know that you two are wanted. I think she'd be good for him. He's needs someone to chase after now that I'm done with the thieving business." He needs someone other than me…
The sister chuckled, "Funny, if she thought she had a chance to be with someone who loved her, she'd give the thieving business up in a second."
"And you'd join her?" Chase questioned.
Akuma laughed, "Most likely. Sisters have to stick together you know. So what happened here?" she motioned to the remnants from the explosion.
"We just settled a little problem with his adopted folks. No big deal really," Alexa grinned.
"Haha, I see. You probably did the world a favor. From the rumors I've been hearing, this duo was bad news. Where are you two going from here?"
"Normal life, I'd like to think," Chase replied.
Alexa took his hand, "yep. As fun as being a thief can be, I'm kinda ready for a normal life."
"True. I hope we'll have normal lives eventually. But until then, I'm going to go grab Senaka before she reveals too much about herself to that guy." And Akuma was off to drag her sister away from Marsh.
Alexa chuckled, "I hope things go well for them."
"Me too," Chase agreed taking Alexa into his arms again and leaning his head on top of hers. "So, what's next?"
"Well there's probably going to be some trouble ahead but we'll be able to face it head on."
"I think so," he smiled.
…
Alexa climbed to the roof her house to find Chase there. It was already night time after all of the traveling and Chase was staying at Alexa's house for now. He was nervous because tomorrow would be the hearing for him and Ryu to get custody of Chris. She sat next to him and said, "You know, you should probably go to sleep. You need to look well rested for tomorrow."
"I wish I could sleep," he stated, his legs folded up against this chest. "I finally got my brother back only to have this happen."
"Don't worry about it. My mom has the best lawyer in Paris representing you guys for an awesome price since he owned her a favor. It will all work out."
"What if the judge takes one look at Ryu and me and realizes that we were thieves at one point. There's no way he'd give me Chris, even if I was the one who protected him all this time."
Alexa sighed and asked, "Is there anything that would calm you down, at least to help you sleep?"
"Besides you staying with me, I don't think—" that's when the sound of a guitar playing interrupted the quiet night. Chase began to laugh, "That guy… geez."
"What?" Alexa looked over the side of the roof where the music and saw Ryu sitting there in the tree next to her room playing a guitar. "I didn't know he could play guitar."
"You still have a lot to learn about us, you know."
She went back to sit next to him listening to the music and realized, "I know this song."
"Really? It's the song my mom, my real mom, would sing to Chris and me when we had a hard time with something. She loved that song and so we grew to love it too. It's one of the few things I have to remember her by."
"What if I sing with you then, will that help you get to sleep?"
Chase laughed again and shouted out to Ryu, "You planned this!" but then he looked to Alexa and said, "Sure. It might help. You start us off."
"Um, alright." So she waited for the guitar to get to a certain point and began to sing:
"Another day has almost come and gone.
Can't imagine what else could go wrong.
Sometimes I'd like to hide away somewhere and lock the door
A single battle lost but not the war
Cause tomorrow's another day and I'm thirsty anyway
So bring on the rain."
She then urged Chase to starting singing with her though he would much rather just listen to her.
"It's almost like the hard times circle round
A couple drops and they all start coming down
Yeah I might feel defeated and I might hang my head
I might be barely breathing but I'm not dead
No cause tomorrow's another day and I'm thirsty anyway
So bring on the rain
No I'm not gonna let it get me down; I'm not gonna cry
And I'm not gonna lose any sleep tonight."
The two of them chuckled a little at that last line since that was the situation but Alexa then lead them into the last verse:
"Cause tomorrow's another day and I am not afraid
So bring on the rain."
Chase wrapped his arms around Alexa and leaned his head against her shoulder, whispering:
"Tomorrow's another day and I'm thirsty anyway
So bring on the rain."
That's when Alexa realized how much she liked his voice and shouted to Ryu, "Thanks for planning this!"
Then Chase moaned, "Don't encourage him." He could hear Ryu laughing down below and knew things would work out tomorrow. He had someone Alexa on his side so he could believe it.
...
Epilogue
The hearing went well. Chris went under Ryu's custody and Chase was so relieved. I thought he was going to explode but luckily whenever he took my hand he calmed down almost instantly. It was kinda strange having someone like this in my life but it's nice. First thing we did to celebrate their new found freedom was teaching the brothers how to ride a bike. That was probably the funniest things I ever saw but it was also very fun.
Ryu's teachers were present at the hearing and it was afterward that we found out that they'd be moving to Paris to keep an eye on their pupil. Nero decided to open a dojo and expected Chase to come regularly and invited me and the gang to come if we'd like. We'd see how often cuz according to Chase he's very much a pusher in training. Iris was going to open a clinic using her cheaper but effective health methods to help those in Paris who couldn't afford big hospitals get by. Still don't know exactly what Zhi plans on doing but he said whatever he'd do it'd be big and he'd let us know. Until he could get through some college classes, Ryu's working at a music shop, teaching guitar while helping Nero at his dojo on the side.
Mom and Dad did get a little hounded cuz of me and the gang but it didn't get too bad since we gave back the stuff we had. My parents had a lot to deal with for a while after Jezebel's body was supposedly found. Right now, the remains are being study by Bentley and other police scientists. They're still trying to figure out the parts but also keeping a close eye on everything. They really don't want a repeat of what happened with the Clockwerk parts. The old Cooper gang went about their less thieving ways but came to visit often to keep an eye on me and Chase (they were still getting used to the fact that we were dating and wanted to make sure we weren't going off to be thieves again). Marsh has been having an interesting experience as well. Ever since he met Senaka, he's been getting assigned to a lot her cases and has had to chase after her and her sister. Senaka's been super happy about it and Marsh is still trying to figure out how he feels but I'm sure they'll become the next Sly and Carmelita but who knows.
As for the me and the gang, we all got grounded for life according to our parents though they still let us all see each other. I think they were just extremely happy we were back so they went easy on us. My mom would even push me out the door some nights to go out with Chase on double-dates with Jamie and Ken. But I'm sure if I didn't get through my summer assignments she would kill me.
Well, the rest of the summer was pretty boring. So Dad decided to give me and Chase a job to help test out security systems. Granted it was interesting but it would kill us sometimes to try and keep up with these systems (especially the fancy ones made by Uncle Bentley). With Chase it also got a little busier than he'd thought it would be. He had to study extra hard to get into our high school and Chris joined him trying to get into middle school as well. But after the gang helped them out, both were able to pass with flying colors. So Chase is now in my class this fall and Chris is starting the sixth grade so that will make going school interesting.
"Alexa!" the teen heard, looking up from her note book, "You'll be late!"
"Coming! One second." She continued to write the last sentence: Speaking of which, that starts today which will be a whole new adventure.
"Still writing in that thing?" Chase asked from Alexa's open window.
Alexa jumped closing the book, "Gah! Do you ever want to use the door?"
"That would be too easy and you leave the window open. You know that's an invitation," Chase laughed as Alexa shook her head. He gave her a loving smile, while she got up to put up her notebook in her bedside table, "Good morning."
She returned the smile and walked over to him pecking him on the lips, "Good morning." She then leaned against the window sill looking out, "You really should really go back down, Romeo. Your brother's waiting for us and you know how much my parent's hate you coming in through my window."
"But your folks love me."
"They do but they still don't like you doing it," she pushed his shoulder playfully making him have to correct his balance. "Go down stairs. I'll be right there," she grinned grabbing her backpack and slipping on her flip-flops and headed out the door. She ran over to the stairs and did a rail side down and jumped into the kitchen just avoiding her mom.
Carm gasped a little but recovered quickly since her daughter had done such things all summer, "There you are. Chase is here."
"Yep," she replied grabbing her lunch from the fridge. "Love you Mom and Dad. See you later!" she shouted behind her running to the door.
"Stay out of trouble!" her father called after her.
She grinned, "Always!" she headed outside to see Chase and Chris waiting for her.
"Alexa!" Chris called hugging her. "Morning."
"Good morning," Alexa chuckled hugging him back.
She released him and Chris grabbed her hand and Chase's hand and he screamed, "Let's go! It's the first day of school!" pulling the teens along.
They both smiled and decided to swing Chris in between them while they walked for some of the way. Soon they approached the middle school of the now ten year old. Chris gave them both a hug before he ran off among the other students.
Immediately after Chris left, Chase grabbed Alexa's hand and she twined her fingers in his as they walked over to the high school. It seemed so natural for the two of them to hold hands that neither was embarrassed by it anymore. They liked to have this together. But as they reached the high school Alexa got a little nervous.
"Maybe I should go by myself first… you know, deal with the guys who claimed to get me this semester," she stated.
"Or they'll get the idea when they see me holding your hand?" he questioned holding up their hands.
"I guess so…" Alexa agreed still a little unsure.
Chase then sighed, letting go of her hand and pushed her forward, "Go. I'll come and join you if they get rowdy and in your face."
Alexa was a little thrown off but smiled, "Alright, see you soon then," and she crossed the street to the front lawn of the school.
Chase gave a warm smile and followed after her. He was close to her until he got stopped by none other than Margot the white French poodle dressed in pink. "Hello, are you the new student that we've been hearing about?"
"Um, I guess. I didn't realize there would be rumors," he stated, looking past her to keep an eye on Alexa.
"Oh nothing like that. The school is pretty small so it's easy to find things out. Well, my name's Margot," she put her hand out to him.
He glanced at her and shook her hand saying, "I see, my name is Chase," and he quickly looked back to Alexa. She was starting to get approached by many guys.
"Chase, huh? So then where are you from Chase?" she asked, obviously flirting as she took her hand back.
"Around. Just got convinced to go to school," he ignored her flirting, seeing Alexa get so crowded that he could barely see her.
"Oh well, that's cool. Then do you—"
"Excuse me," Chase interrupted thinking it would be best for him to help her now, "I need to go help my girlfriend." No matter how many times he said it, his heart still leaped in his chest and a smile went across his face. So he walked away from a shocked Margot and weaved his way through the crowd. When he finally reached Alexa, he surprised her by picking her up and cradling her in his arms. From there he then got her out of the crowd and got them to the top of the steps going into the high school. "You alright?"
"Um, yeah, thanks Chase but you can put me down now…" her face went a little pink as he put her down. She looked to the questioning guys below and stated, "Sorry boys, but he's the boyfriend I was trying to tell ya about so, yeah, see ya." She grabbed Chase's hand and he followed her inside.
"I feel like that would've been easier if we went with my plan," Chase laughed and Alexa grew a little red. "I also wouldn't have been bothered by a flirtatious girl."
"Really? Who?"
"I believe her name was Margot but I kinda ignored her while looking after you."
Alexa laughed getting closer to him, "Then you just made my day. She'd always tell me that I'd never get a real guy before her. You just proved her wrong."
"We did too," Jamie appeared next to Alexa while holding onto Ken's hand. "She'd always tell me Ken would be her boyfriend."
"She's definitely not my type," Ken replied making them all laugh. "But not a lot of people were shocked to see us together when we came in like this."
"Well I could've told ya that," Alexa teased, sticking out her tongue when her two friends rolled their eyes.
"So, everyone feel ready for the new year?" Chase questioned.
"After what we've been through, I think we're ready for anything," Jamie stated.
"Amen," Alexa grinned and everyone gave another laugh as they walked off to their homerooms, starting a new adventure with each other.
...
*sigh* I can't believe it. It's done. Wow. So crazy to think so.
Well, thanks to all of my faithful readers who stuck it out with me during my hiatuses cuz that was painful I'm sure. Thanks to all of my readers to come for making it to the ending. Thanks to the writers/reviewers who gave me ideas and allowed me to use their characters. It's been a blast writing this story and I hope to write more for you guys. Maybe go back and work on those Kingdom Hearts FF's cuz they haven't been touched in years ^^;
And thanks everyone so much for reading, and please review! I know it's done and I don't have a new chapter to persuade you but please still review so I can still hear your thoughts. Thanks so much! God bless and I'll see you in the next story! :)
***PS. I might have another chapter for ya'll. I've been thinking about possibly doing an extra mini chapter, maybe 2, on Alexa's summer adventures and the gang's first day of school. But I don't know how many of ya'll would be interested, so please review so I can know if me writing an extra chapter would be nice. I just kinda want to do one last hooray kinda chapters before really calling the story finished. So yeah, REVIEW!~
Also, I just checked my poll to see what character ya'll like the best from my story, and the tie is finally broken! Alexa has taken the lead! :D so, I've totally forgotten what I said I would do when one of the characters looked like they've won the poll, and I also haven't really decided on when to close the poll... so, yeah, just thought I'd let you know that random fact ^^; For now the polls will stay open so if anybody still wants to vote, go for it! :)