Here's the next one!
Chapter 10 A Date to Remember
It was finally Saturday, the day Sly had been anticipating all week. He had everything planned just the way he wanted it.
Penelope and Bentley went out to spend the evening together in a much different way, and were headed to a sci-fi convention. It was the last day it was being held, so they decided to catch as much nerdy excitement as they possibly could soak up in one evening.
Murray spent the day outside, washing and working on his beloved van.
And while Sly was out making preparations, Carmelita was upstairs, getting ready.
After zipping the back up on her new crimson dress, she stepped into her matching strappy heels, and slipped a gold bracelet on each wrist. She finger styled her bouncy blue ringlets, spraying them to keep them in place. After applying a fine shade of rosy lipstick, and dabbing blush on, she assessed her reflection in the mirror with a glum expression.
Her flawless figure was looking quite flawed lately, blemished by her protruding stomach. She placed her hands on her hips and looked down at it. "You're not helping Mommy feel very beautiful, right now," she joked with a smirk. Her smirk turned into a smile when she felt the kit kick softly as if to say, "Well, excuse me!"
"Aww. It's ok. Mommy still loves you though."
After spritzing some perfume across her chest, she heard a knock at the door.
That's weird, she thought. The only ones who know about this place would never knock before entering.
Slowly, but warily, she walked up to the door and carefully opened it. She gasped at what she saw.
Sly stood before her, wearing a quite stylish suit, complete with tie. He grinned suavely as he extended a bouquet of roses to his lady.
"Good evening, Miss. I'll be accompanying you on your outing tonight. My, don't you look stunning? As always."
She smiled and took the bouquet of fragrant flowers, looking at him from beneath her long eyelashes. "You clean up nicely yourself, Mr. Cooper."
He took her by the hand and led the vixen to the door of a sleek black limo. The slinky weasel chauffeur tipped his hat, opening their door.
Sly slid in first, and Carmelita thanked the weasel as she sat down next to him.
"You did all this?" she asked.
He shrugged. "I like to go all out."
"Apparently," Carmelita said in an impressed tone. "If I didn't know any better I'd say I was dreaming."
"Oh if this is a dream, I hope neither of us ever wake up, my beauty." He kissed her hand warmly, and she blushed.
When the limo stopped, Carmelita looked out the window in shock. "Wha-no way! Seriously?"
She was staring at the base of the most recognized structure in all of France. "We're eating here?"
Sly grinned. "I thought it fitting to treat you to dinner in the most romantic place in Paris."
Carmelita covered her mouth with both hands, then looked over to Sly as the chauffeur helped her out. "How did you afford this?" she whispered.
"Ah my dear Carmelita," Sly said, taking her hands once more and leading her to the entrance at the base of the Eiffel Tower. "A thief never reveals his secrets."
"That's a magician's philosophy," she quipped.
"We share the same qualities. We're both charismatic and full of surprises. And we both must have a fierce but lovely woman by our side at all times." He wiggled his eyebrows.
"Of course," she answered.
Later, when they were seated, their waiter greeted them. "Bonjour," the marten said, handing them some very elegant looking menus.
"Shall I start you off with our specialty red wine tonight?" His accent was richly fluent. "Cabernet sauvignon?"
"Sounds perfect," Sly told him.
"And one for the lady as well?"
Sly grew nervous, thinking it would upset Carmelita to have to be reminded that she wasn't supposed to drink, but to his relief, she smiled up to the waiter and said, "Just a glass of water for me."
"Very good, Miss," and he darted around the corner.
He soon returned with their requests and they both ordered dinner, and the sophisticated marten was gone in a flash again.
When he left, Sly reached over to take her hands. "Thank you for agreeing to go out with me, tonight."
She chuckled lightly. "Anytime, Ringtail. And, thank you for inviting me." She sipped water from her crystal glass. "This is incredible. I still can't believe you arranged all this. The limo, the dinner. You are quite the romantic, you know that?"
"You ain't seen nothin' yet!" he said, flashing his signature grin.
After dinner, Sly led his date out onto the restaurant balcony, at the tip top of the Eiffel Tower.
Carmelita admired the view from over the small railing, her curly locks blowing in the breeze. "Whoa! We're so high up!"
"Yea, well, don't get any ideas about jumping to those electrical lines below, my young apprentice," Sly teased.
She giggled as he held her from the side. "As you wish, master."
They regarded the gorgeous sunset in the distance in peaceful silence, their bushy tails intertwined affectionately. The sky seemed to have been stroked with mesmerizing hues of reds purples and oranges, from a skilled paintbrush used by an artist in the sky.
Gathering all his courage, his heart beginning to speed up slightly, he cleared his throat and spoke up. "Carmelita?"
She turned to face him, a small but dazzling smile on her closed lips. "Yes?"
He scratched his somewhat spiky head fur. Then he grasped her smooth hands as he did so often. "I really don't know where to begin. This whole night was wonderful."
She grinned. "It really was. I've had such an amazing time with you, Sly."
He smiled warmly. "And I with you. And…I wanna spend so many more nights like this with you Carmelita." He stared into her gorgeous chocolate brown eyes. "You are one in a million, and I hope you know that. I know I tease and pick a lot, but you truly are the most stunning woman I've ever met, and carrying our baby has only made you that much more beautiful to me."
Her breathing began to grow shallow as she stared on, listening.
"Not only all of this, but you are quick-witted, caring, and have a real feisty side when you want, which I adore." She laughed at this. "And after I foolishly went back to my thieving ways, which I am deeply sorry for doing behind your back and hurting you, you did something I never imagined, and have now given up your whole life and changed who you are. For me. And that pretty much sealed the deal."
"Deal?" she asked breathlessly.
"Yes." He pulled something small from his coat pocket and dropped down on one knee.
The vixen gasped audibly, cupping her hands over her mouth, as tears formed in her eyes.
He opened the box to reveal the ring. "Carmelita Montoya Fox, will you please do me the great honor of becoming my bride?"
She was speechless at first, as the tears flooded her misty eyes, her hands still over her muzzle. Then she slowly dropped them and beamed, nodding. "Mhm," was all she could manage to say.
She extended her shaking left hand out to him. "Yes Sly Cooper," she sniffled happily. "Nothing would make me more content than to become your wife."
Victoriously, his heart soaring, the raccoon slid the ring on to the fox's ring finger, and swept her up into a long, meaningful kiss. Their lips parted and met again and again in perfect harmony, sometimes meshing together earnestly, other times touching softly, as they held one another, reveling in this glorious moment.
Afterward they continued to embrace for a long time.
"Thank you, Carmelita," he whispered as he hugged her. "You've made me the happiest raccoon in the world."
She sniffed, more tears threatening to the fall. Resting her head on his shoulder, she said, "It's the least I can do."
"For what?" he asked.
"For making my life complete."
Woo! Star wars reference! Did you spot it?
Were you expecting a beach proposal? If so, I'm glad I can still surprise you at this point. See, I have some original ideas here! Some.
By the way, I apologize for the large amount of romantic content. The villain will be introduced in the next chapter. Then there'll be some action, as promised. Stay tuned!