Uggghh…so many incomplete stories, too many unwritten ideas…

But, I just had to write—and finish—something for Christmas. My favorite holiday; filled with family, food, gifts, no school, songs, and snow—the most wondrous type of weather.

So…the songs following my fav gang of guys are (the songs I was listening as I made each part, fyi)-

Murray: Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses

Sly: O Holy Night by Avril Lavigne

Bentley: All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey

The stories will start with all three of them in this chapter, but then rotate Murray, then Sly, then Bentley each day until the 23, where they will combine in chapters again...

And so, on with the holiday stories and Merry/Happy Christmas!!! :]

"You can't give her a remote controlled gizmo gadget 3023 for Christmas, Ben!" The raccoon yelled, and then started breaking down laughing. I moved his cup of coffee before he knocked it to the ground or all over himself or me.

"It's a RC jet propeller with hydro-bust and zero lag." I mumbled, as he started to calm down, which just sent him laughing even more.

After a few moments, he lifted his head, tears actually running down his face. "Ben, I cannot let you do that to her."

"Well, I think it's a good idea, Cooper."

"It's Christmas…in Paris! Both of us have to work hard since both of our loves live in the city of lights. We should be kissing the ground they walk on, after placing a rose petal path for them to walk on. You need to be a romantic, not a geek!" He said with a smirk.

"Really? Because it seems you torment you love day in and day out. Not very romantic…"

"That is just how I say 'I love you sweetheart. Please never leave me.'"

"And gizmos and gadgets is how I say it." I said with a smug grin, catching him in a hole.

"And you think Penelope is happy with just that? I mean, what is she wearing today?"

I stopped. "Well, I think it is that green sweater and jeans…."

"You think? Do you even think about the poor girl? Well, what was she wearing when you two lovebirds woke up?"

"Simple: one of my old shirts and a pair of sweatpants." I said with a smug grin.

"WRONG! A correct answer for a healthy relationship is 'absolutely nothing.' The fact your answer includes 'sweatpants' dooms both you and her."

I looked dumbfounded at him, the grin wipped of my face. "You're the relationship guru now?"

"I'm the one married." He said with another signature Cooper Grin. "So, want so help finding something romantic?"

I sighed. It had been a little over four years of us "just dating." I mean, I knew we loved each other, but maybe I should at least try to woo her…

"Fine…just nothing totally ridicul…" I wasn't even finished the sentence when the raccoon jumped up, and hopped on the back of my chair, pushing us through the busy streets of Paris.

I carefully stepped on the ice, making sure not to slip. There were plenty of people on the road that would love to see the hippo fall flat on his ass, but I wasn't going to give them the pleasure. I walked, looking at all the shop windows, filled with all sorts of gifts and Christmas decoration. That's when I saw it: A silver bracelet, with pink-ish diamonds covering it.

I stopped, doing a double take. I placed a gloved hand on the window as I looked at it. Miranda had been wearing one that looked just like it, when we first meet a year ago. I just started, not realizing the man inside the store with a growl on his face for me touching the window or the kids running around throwing snowballs, one barely missing my head.

"Come on, Mur. It will be fun!" Sly yelled, his snowboard in hand. Carmelita was beside him, but with skis.

I shook my head. "No thanks. I think I'll stay in the lodge." The raccoon just rolled his eyes, pulling Carmelita into the snowstorm. Both the turtle and mouse hated cold weather, especially snow, so they refused to go, leaving just me, my brother, and sister-in-law. I was looking forward to snowboarding with them, but it was crazy outside, and I was sure to turn the wrong way or something in the blizzard. Only Sly and Carmelita were crazy enough to do something like that.

"Mind if I sit here?" Someone asked behind me. I turned, seeing a White Bengal tiger. She was dressed in a pair of jeans, snow boots, and a snug white sweater.

"Of course," I said with a smile as she sat down. "I'm Tom Murphy, but people just call me Murray."

She smiled back, "Miranda" as she reached out her hand, a bracelet showing from under the cuff.

"Wow, that is beautiful."

"Oh, thank you." She said with a sheep-ish grin.

I kept thinking about our first conversation, leading to me getting her number. Never seems like the right time to call her though…

"WATCH OUT!!!!!" I looked up, breaking from my thoughts, seeing no other then Sly and Bentley flying down a sharp hill. Bentley's face was of pure horror, his hands trying to grip the slippery wheels of his chair. Sly was on the back, trying to stop while waving at people to get out of the way. I took a stance, making sure I wouldn't slip on the ice on impact.

"Cooper!" I yelled as they flew past. Sly used one hand to grab my outstretched arms, while the other—and his feet—gripped the chair as best as they could. The three of us started spinning, and all of us ended on the ground, Sly stuck on top of me, while Bentley was currently being crushed by his own invention. All of us were breathing heavy, Ben being the first to say anything…well, scream it…

"I TOLD YOU IT WAS TOO SHARP OF AN INCLINE AND WITH THE ICE IT MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GO DOWN THE STREET WITH BOTH OF US ON THE GOD DAMN CHAIR!" He huffed, glaring angrily at Sly.

"Oops…" Sly said with a grin, getting to his feet and helping me up. "Thanks by the way, buddy."

"No problems. So what were you two doing? I wanna do that!"

"No!" Bentley said firmly, as I lifted the chair off of him.

"Of course!" Sly said at the same time. Both me and Sly started laughing. "So, do you think Ben is a romantic?"

"Why?" I asked, looking from the raccoon to the turtle, as the latter situated himself in his chair.

"He believes I am not romantic with Penelope, so I must not love her…" Bentley said sourly. "Now he wants me to get rid of a perfectly good Christmas present and get something romantic."

"What did you get?"

"A RC jet propeller…" he started, clearly proud of his gift. But the only thing that ran through my mind…and out my mouth was:

"You're getting her tech-y for Christmas!?" I looked at Sly, who managed only to nod his head, and we both started cracking up.

"Jackasses," he said sourly, and started down the hill.

I gasped, the cold air finally filling my lungs after our long laugh. "So, what are you going to get him to give to Penn?"

"I don't know. WHAT'S PENELOPE'S FAVORITE COLOR?" He said, turning to yell after a disappearing turtle.

Without even stopping or turning his head, he yelled back, "PINK!" He went a little further before stopping. He turned his head, "WAIT NO, IT'S YELLOW!" He stopped for a few moments, fully turning his chair to look at us. "MAYBE IT'S PINK AND YELLOW?!" I looked at Sly, who looked at me.

"How is she still with the ignorant bastard?"

"I have no clue." Sly replied, and we raced down the hill, hoping to save his "doomed" relationship.

December first, the official start of the holiday festivities, and I had no clue where to start. I had work almost everyday and any free moment would be spending buying presents, finding a tree, putting up the tree, sending Christmas cards, sending replies to cards I get, make sure to call Carm's parents, cooking food, going to Christmas parties, finding outfits to wear, et cetera, et cetera.

Oh, and then I have to make sure Penelope doesn't have to put up with Bentley…again.

He was still slightly mad as we passed windows filled with all sorts of goodies. We bickered between the three of us, wondering if Penelope would like that or how much we would have to pay her to wear that. After about two hours, we gave up, taking a seat at our usual café. Bentley pulled out his computer, and started typing away, making sure to keep his fingers going a mile per second to keep them from freezing. Mur and I started talking about his upcoming racing circuit, when the women of my dreams came over.

"What is he working on?" She asked cautiously. When I proposed to her three years ago, along with telling her amnesia, she agreed as long as I followed her rules:

1. I was an Interpol cop, not a thief. Play by the rules and no more Sly Cooper.
2. Sly Cooper "died" at Kaine Island…so don't even bother thinking about a loophole for rule one.
3. Our children are to grow up knowing the cop side of the story and learn about the thief side, when the time comes…then they can choose their own fate.
4. I can hang with my brothers at anytime, as long as it doesn't revolve constantly around thieving.
5. ABSOLUTLY AT NO TIME DOES SHE WANT TO SEE PLANS, LOOK AT STOLEN ARTIFACTS, OR EVEN HEAR JOKES ABOUT HEISTS THAT OUR FAMILY DOES.

"No worries, Carmelita. He is working on what to get Penelope for Christmas." I explained as she sat down. Immediately, the genius' head picked up, looking at Carm.

"If you were Penelope, would you be happy with a gadget for Christmas?"

"No." Carm said bluntly then turned to me. "Why are you letting you brother give that poor girl some gizmo for a Christmas present?" Bentley hid his head behind his computer again as Murray started laughing.

I put my hands up in defense. "Not me, my sweet vixen. I'm trying to talk the guy out of it." I said, turning to the turtle.

"Try something elegant, like a ball gown for when you two…well…visit a museum or something." She mumbled the last part, not wanting to say "heist" or "gig."

"'Why would I know her size?'" Murray said, mocking Bentley's nasal voice.

"Well, what about some really nice perfume?"

"She's allergic to more things then Ben. Whatever we pick might kill her," I said, knowing we had tried that route about ninety minutes ago.

"Jewelry?"

"'How am I supposed to know what she likes?'" Murray said, mocking the turtle again.

"What about a trip?"

"I think these two should stay in town more, instead of leaving every other day." I said, thinking about how many air miles those two had accumulated.

"Well, what about an engagement ring, Benjamin?" Carm said with a wink at Bentley. He looked up slowly, his eyes huge with shock. He pushed his glasses further up his nose before shaking his head. With a sigh, she turned back to me. "We need to start getting ready for Christmas. My parents are going to be coming for a few days over the holiday."

"Joy." I muttered. Another thing to have to worry about.