"You're not leaving for good, are you?" Murray asked, trying to wipe the tears that keep spilling. I reached up to help him.

"I'm not really sure. I'll see you guys again, I will." I turned around to see Bentley, twiddling his thumbs. He was looking for the right words to say, although he was having a bit of trouble. I knelt down to give him a hug.

"Just be careful, Marie," he whispered. When I let go, I gave him a nod and smile. I reached into my bad and handed to him my binocucom and earpiece. Reluctant, he took them back.

I stood up and turned to get the luggage bag Skylar had gifted me. It was now filled with almost all my belongings. Sly came up to me, rolling it along side him. As I took it from him, our hands brushed for a split second but there was nothing more than that. He was just staring at me, as if I was going to disappear any second and cease to exist.

I guess it kind of was like that. Mariellena would cease to exist for the time being. It would be Cece Mavis for however long Skylar needed me to be. I cringed a bit thinking of the name. It was just a stage name, but when I announced it to the gang, they had their doubts. Nonetheless they had to go with it.

"You think they'll give us VIP passes if we showed up?" Sly tried to crack a joke, but we both know after all that's been going on between us, it would die out quickly and go without a laugh. I shrugged and he took a step closer towards me. We were forced to look at each other, despite the fact we had spent weeks shying away from each other's sights. I think I heard Bentley and Murray step out of the room for a bit to give us some space.

"Let's stop this here, Sly."

"Stop what? It's not like we started anything."

He was right. I looked down from his gaze. We danced around our feelings, and in the end I wasn't forward enough for him to know. The passive aggressive comments we would mention every once in a while didn't make anything better. I didn't know what it was I was feeling for the longest time, but he was waiting the entire time he got sick of waiting. But is his impatience my fault too? The blame seemed equal, but it looks like I was hurting a lot more than he was. How could someone change their mind in a short span of time?

I looked back up at him. He seemed indifferent, but in his eyes I could see that he also wanted to start something. He wanted to start whatever was between us, but with me leaving, we would lose that opportunity. So why try? He can get whatever adventure he wants from Carmelita, and on top of that it seems like the cop might feel the same for him. Me leaving would just be a catalyst for the inevitable.

"True. I'll just leave now." I turned around and made my way to the door, dragging the luggage behind me.

"Marie, I care about you. The kiss really didn't mean anything. I was playing for time, just to add some spice to the chase."

I had already opened the door and saw the car waiting for me down the road.

"Stop wasting your words, Sly. I don't think it'll help any of us right now... take care I guess."

On the ride back to the hotel, I kept on playing that night through my head. I was back home in Paris, and it felt bittersweet gazing at the tops of the buildings from the middle of the road. I didn't really know what the gang was up to anymore. The only things I heard of them was from whatever articles I happened to pass through online or in the newspapers. Their heists were becoming more elaborate, and it seemed as if Murray was taking on more jobs on the field. Somewhere deep inside, I was quite proud of them.

Upon stepping out of the car, I was blinded with a bright light for a couple seconds. I yelped and almost fell back into the car.

"Hey, back up pal. We're in town for business reasons, lay down the light for a good minute." I had gotten used to my bodyguard raising his voice, something that made me jump a lot when I had first started. It took a while to get used to the law protecting me rather than coming after me.

The bull huffed before leaving us. Skylar rushed to my side to see if I was hurt, and I had to reassure him the best that I could that I was not dying due to flashlight exposure.

It didn't take long to check into the hotel and settle into our rooms. The first thing I did was dive into bed, while Skylar spoke with my bodyguard, or rather his childhood friend. Brennan Paine was a good kid according to my brother. As a fox, he was quite good at sports and was his best friend until we were moved to the Orphanage. I didn't know much about him, although I did walk with him a couple times on the way home when my brother was sick or had to go home early for appointments. To me, he fit the bodyguard stereotype pretty well from a young age. He was tall (his bushy fox tail probably added to the size), assertive, quite handsome too. I mean if you look past the mean look he had most days.

"Marie, some of the staff and I wanted to go check out the night club just a couple minutes away. Do you want to come with?" Skylar asked, pausing his conversation with Brennan. I groaned into the pillows, and thankfully they understood my decline to the invite.

"I'll be staying in my room next door. So if you need me, just knock on the wall. Not too hard though, they seem pretty thin." Skylar chuckled at Brennan's joke. I groaned again.

Skylar announced he'll be going ahead before answering a call from his cell phone. Then it was just me and Brennan, as I turned over onto my back. We both just kind of enjoyed the silence of it all, as the past weeks were just filled with show after show, press conferences, photoshoots, and interviews.

"Don't you ever get bored of just sitting their during press conferences?" I asked, not thinking of anything in particular to talk about.

"The only thing I'm concerned about is your safety. So, yes, every damn time." I laughed at his response. I sat up, and patted the bed for him to sit down. He obliged.

I was leaning back on the headboard, and he was sitting at the foot of the bed, more relaxed than he was during the day. We talked about the weather, the show, the fans, the fans that drive us insane. It was nice that Skylar wasn't the only person I could be relaxed around regarding my identity. Although he was quite wary of me when he realized who I was before reuniting with Skylar. I never pull out my daggers anymore, nor do I have a need to really go ham and cheese with practicing self-defence, yet I still do it just in case.

We shared a couple laughs, and time seemed to pass by so quickly. It was already past midnight when I looked at the clock again.

"Didn't you say you were going to be in your room?"

"Oh, am I bothering you? You could have said something-" He rushed getting up, but I grabbed his arm by reflex.

"No no, it's fine. I just thought you wanted to rest. It's past midnight now though."

He looked over at the clock, realizing I was right. He stood there for a second, contemplating whether or not he should stay and continue talking with me or to go and rest up for the coming day.

"I think I should go anyways, plus I'm sure you had a long day too." He ran his fingers through his hair. I don't know if I was attracted to it or jealous that he seemed to have softer hair than me. I mean I had to dye and cut my hair, and continue to do so periodically, but still.

"Okay, that's fine too. Go and rest up, okay?" He smiled. He stepped closer to tousle my hair and say good night before promptly leaving. I laid back down when I heard the door close, smiling. I knew I didn't like him for sure this time, but I think it just felt nice to be around him. If I did like him, it might cause trouble for the company.

I almost shuddered at the thought, when I noticed a shadow pass by my room. I sat up in my bed, but I didn't get up. I was used to stalkers doing extreme things, but scaling the walls of the hotel building is new. After a couple seconds, I saw the shadow move closer to the window. The sihlouette was sharper now and I could see finer details. I saw a hat and cane that I knew oh so well. I jumped up to my feet, stumbling as I pushed away the curtains. I froze in shock. There was Sly, perching on the window sill and with a smile on his face.

I was rushing to open the window, my hands were shaking. When I opened the latch, I immediately felt the midnight breeze and me being tackled to the ground. Before I knew it I was pinned to the ground by my childhood friend and first love. I didn't move and neither did he. We stared at each other for however long. It was then I realized that I never knew before when I'd get to see him again. I missed him a lot more than I showed for it. I launched myself up at him, hugging him tightly, still not believing it was really Sly right in front of me. He hugged me back, pulling us up against the side of the bed.

"I promised you, right?" He whispered into my ear.

"It took you two years though."

I could feel his laughter with my head on his shoulder. He smelled the same, something I had just noticed since I last saw the gang. But he immediately pulled himself away from me when there was knock on the door.

"Hey, is everything okay. I heard a loud thump. Do I need to come in?" Brennan's voice was muffled through the door.

"I'm fine! I just got startled by a bug." I said the first thing I thought of, and Sly gave me an skeptical look. Laughter echoed from the hall.

"Do you want me to kill it?"

"No! I got it! Sorry if I bothered you." I called out again. Soon after we heard the door next door to us close, and the creaking of Brennan's bed. I let out a sigh in relief, and Sly was snickering.

We just sat and stared at each other in silence. I couldn't read him like I used to. I was trying to figure him out. Why was he here? I doubt that he came because he want to keep his promise. He was still smiling, taking it all in. He glanced at my dyed hair, the makeup, the jewellry, the rest of the get-up. I wanted to shy away from his gaze. Part of me didn't like the was admiring an artificial me. Another part was confused about why I cared.

"The colour looks nice on you," he finally said.

"It's not really Marie with dyed hair though."

"Should I call you Cece then like the rest of the world?" he tilted his head as he asked and I shuddered at the thought. It was worst than the thought of me and Brennan dating. He chuckled. "I guess not."

"But what makes you stop by on this fine night, huh?" I asked as I stood up from our spot on the floor. I made my way to the bathroom and Sly decided to make himself comfortable on the bed, leaving his cane on the floor.

"Well on my back to the safe-house, I noticed a sihlouette of a young lady and a middle-aged man in a hotel room-"

"What a pervert." I commented as I was scrubbing the makeup off my face.

"You didn't let me finish. I noticed a young lady and a middle-aged man in a hotel room, and I was worried that something horrific may occur."

"Or maybe they were having a nice conversation?" I said, muffled into the towel I was using to dry my face. When I looked up, I saw he was right behind me through the mirror. I jumped. He chuckled. I elbowed him.

"But as you can see it was all a big coincidence." Sly said, still winded by the hit.

"That not was romantic as I thought it would be." I teased, cleaning the sink before turning to leave. Sly placed his hand on the doorway, leaning against it.

"You say that as if I have to compete for your feelings."

"Maybe you do." I shoved his arm aside and went straight for the bed. I laid down staring at the ceiling, waiting for Sly's response. He quickly followed, but instead of lying down beside me, he sat the edge. He looked over at me, his face hovering over mine.

"What's that supposed to mean?" It was my turn to laugh, as I pushed him away so I could sit up. "You're telling me you have a thing for that old man?"

"Stop acting like he's a million years old. He's not much older than us." He raised his brow, and I nodded. He relaxed. "So why were you out in the first place?"

"Um, just you know... field work." I glared at him for avoiding the question. He fidgeted for a bit before admitting he was out taking recon photos.

"Of what? What's going on?"

"Listen, Bentley can tell you everything if you come back to the hideout. We've missed you."

"You want me to leave my whole team unannounced and go back to my life of crime? Doesn't that ring any alarms for anyone?"

To be honest though, I think this was what I wanted the whole time. Despite the success, I never thought I really fit in the life on the same side of the law. A part of me was waiting for Sly, Bentley, or Murray to come out from out of the shadows of my dressing room whenever I finished a show, to invite me back, or give me some shocking news about corruption in Oda Studios. I was waiting for anything to lead me back to the gang.

At the same time, it meant leaving my brother. Was it okay to disappear without a trace and have him deal with the repercussions? I've been with him long enough to understand it was never his intentions to do that to me. I think we're closer than we ever were before. So can I really just leave him like that? My chest felt heavy when I realized I'd have to make a decision between my brother and the gang.

Sly seemed to realized my conflict, he reach out to take my hand. I was hesitant, but I didn't pull back then. He hurt me in the past, yet it felt so nice. I cursed myself for being so easily swayed. I removed my hand from his, and saw how his expression faltered a bit.

"I can't forget what happened, I'm sorry."

"Marie, please don't let that make you choose not to come with us."

"That's easier said than done, Sly. Give me time. I just need a little bit more time. I need to think about it and talk to Sky."

Sly stood up and walked around the bed. I shifted towards him on the edge of the bed.

"Come to a decision soon okay. I don't think we'll be in Paris for long, but you'll know when we're gone," He turned towards me one last time, reaching for my face. "Something wrong is going one and it involves both of us, so please consider."

In one swift movement and ran for the window and jumped into the dark of the night. I got up and looked out and saw him slowly disappear into the distance, back to our hideout. He was here for a minute and then gone in the next. I didn't move for a while, I wanted to bask in the gentle night breeze. Was it already time to say goodbye to this life that I just got used to? I think so.

More action coming right up -Mirai Akemi