Chapter Forty- Ten Months

It's been a month since a bouncing baby boy was brought into this world. It's been a month since the gang's last heist. "Scotty" James Cooper dozes off in his warming mother's arms as she rocks softy in a rocking chair. Accompanied in the room is the rest of the gang, and already the house is adjusted to cute baby standards. Everything is about the baby now, but no one seems to notice as if this was a normal thing. Even the house decorated it's insides with blue, round and glassy balloons exclaiming, "It's a Boy" and "Congratulations!" Even cards from Carmelita's work stand proud and tall on her new dressers and end tables in the living room. Flowers like lilies (orange ones, Carmelita's favorites) and daisies make the living room and kitchen smile. Even though the temperature outside is gradually decreasing, it still feels like a comfortable summer in the house. Today's celebrity has just turned a month old. Nothing could get any more tiring. Nothing could get any better.

Sly and Carmelita worry no more; all their worries and stress before the baby are now in the past. Now, their one goal is the baby: wake up at early morning several times every day, feed the baby every two hours, come to him when he cries, make sure the baby has enough diapers, occupy him with baby toys, and continuously carry him and his little pudginess upstairs to rest several times during the day. This seems like the last time before the baby goes back to sleep for the night; until he bothers his parents in the next two hours of course.

Sly's baggy eyes want to sleep with his son's to the light humming of Carmelita. Her voice used in a calming, light, and serene way circulates in the air and seems to put a trance on both Sly and her son. It's hard to tell whether her voice is really her voice or it's one of Bentley's sleep darts. Having two hours of consecutive sleep can do that to someone. He could sleep to almost anything; Carmelita's humming, Murray's conversation with Rachel, chess-piece clunking between Bentley and Isabella, or even gagging shrieks of race cars. The gang decided to come over for the twentieth time this month. It can be very lonely without Sly at the hideout, with his cunning personality and teasing remarks. Isabella misses his brother the most and sneaks over every night to see Sly and his family, no matter how tired she is.

Carmelita isn't anywhere as close to exhaustion as Sly, for she did bribe (well, more on the intimidation side) him out of the bed almost every night they have been home. It would go similarly like:

"Ugh, it's your turn."

"But it was my turn last time! And three times before that too!"

"Did you go through excruciating agony to have this baby? Oops, it looks like you haven't. I'll take care of the kid tomorrow night."

"...Fine."

It would be too late (or extremely early) to argue, so Sly would normally just let it be. He did believe she was right; he couldn't imagine what she went through. Plus, seeing his son made it up most of the time... when he wasn't gagging over stinky diapers.

"I think this little one needs some sleep." Carmelita spoke with glee. Isabella moves closer to her nephew to observe the bundle of peace.

"Yeah," Sly croaks on his favorite leather couch. "I can't wait to have another two hours of sleep again." The raccoon finishes with a weak smile and Isabella and Rachel giggle back. Carmelita just grins and looks down on her baby's drained eyes. "Awe, are you making Daddy cranky?"

Rachel chortles nasally. "Ha-ha! Serves him right! Great job little guy!"

Quiet laughter enters the living room area, trying hard not to make the baby cranky too. Sly was the only one who rolled his eyes; but still smiled. "Hey, I actually appreciate seeing my little creation late at night and early morning... most times."

"He's not that bad," Carmelita whispers playfully. "During the day he's a total angel. Always so quiet and observing."

"Ah," Bentley lifts his chin. "Quiet and observing! He's already a thinker! Signs of early intelligence that is!" The turtle squeals like the typical fanboy. "A developing brain too! The first five years of life are so vital in education and knowledge! If we start now-"

"Cool it turtle!" Rachel hisses with a hushed voice. "Scott is only one month old!"

Carmelita grins as Sly's eyelids meet. "Besides, Scott may be good during the day but at night he is one heck of an owl..."

"I would know," Sly adds.

"Perhaps Scott is afraid of the dark," Isabella glances at the tiny raccoon, almost full with pity. The fox next to her rocks delicately in her seat as her eyes cannot leave her baby. Orange fingers run through the fur on top of his head; he has grown so much fur already! Not only that but his fur is darker with that new hint of rusty red. Small breathing from the boy's tiny nostrils does not change as his mother feels his extra head of hair. He does not recoil for he is already close to a deep sleep.

Carmelita whispers again. "I think it's time for Scotty to rest in his crib." The baby smells like baby powder, cocoa butter, and a hint of tulips. Perchance the bath made him so tired so early this night.

"Scotty..." Isabella repeats curiously and the parents look at her. "Scott James Cooper... I never thought about asking this but where did you guys come up with that name?"

Sly smirks and Carmelita looks at him. "Well, I came up with the first name. It was simply the first name I thought of." Her brown eyes glide down, and then back to Isabella. "It's a fox thing," Carmelita answers her quizzed look. After an assuring nod, Sly catches his sister looking at him. "And what about you? What made you pick the middle name?"

"Yeah!" Carmelita blurts. "Why James?"

All eyes were on him now. So he must share the real reason, that it was his father's middle name. Nah, he always kept that to himself. He grins a certain way that Carmelita knows he will not say the honest or non-sarcastic reason. "It's a raccoon thing."

All the girls looked at him with the are-you-kidding guise, and now he knows they will keep bothering him about it. He looks at the gang; maybe they should know. It's not a big deal anyway. These people have been with him the majority of his life. They should have the honor in knowing. And Isabella; now she should definitely know! This is her father too! She should know that James is Connor's middle name. Then there's Rachel and Carmelita; well, more of Carmelita. This is indeed her son, and she should know the true definition of her son's name. Now it seems foolish to keep it from them. A heavy inhale, and... "I picked that as his middle name because... because that's my father's middle name." Now he looks directly at Isabella. "Our father's middle name."

Murray and Rachel give him a blank look but as for the other three (not including the baby), it's different.

"I didn't know that!" Carmelita and Isabella say in unison.

"Yup," Sly smirks with slight anxiety. "Conner James Cooper. When I looked at my son at that very moment, I imagined my father seeing him. It's a way to honor him, to me. I would've done the same with my mother if I had a daughter."

The girl raccoon simply smiles back at her brother. She found out something new about her father. Though she never met him, deep down she felt like her inner child just entered a candy store. Carmelita grins at him too and holds her son tighter in her arms. Smiles can say over a thousand words. Bentley was the only one to say something back. "That's great Sly! Also very touching. It's better than my guess, the guess was that it was just a common name to use and it went well for the full name overall. Very noble."

As Rachel nods, Carmelita hesitates to stand up. "I agree. I'm putting him to bed now. Maybe, just maybe he will sleep for longer than three hours tonight..."

Sly gets up to gently kiss his son's forehead, study every detail in his face and kisses him again. "Goodnight Scott, Daddy loves you." He could've sworn he saw the foxcoon's lips twitch to a flash of a smile before the fox walks up the stairs. That would've been his first smile. Once the tranquil fox disappears from sight, Sly sits in the rocking chair and sighed blissfully. Now, the only thought that runs in his head is what his son's first words will be. Last time he recalled, his mother told him years and years ago that Sly's first word was "cane," as in his father's cane. Not really an adorable word to say, but according to his mom, she felt that was the cutest thing ever; probably because of his high voice and stubby fingers pointing at his father's cane.

The raccoon smiles silently to himself, and he starts hearing a music box upstairs. Of course, Isabella notices his independent smile. "What does it feel like to be a father? What do you plan on doing with Scott in the future?"

Whoa, two totally different yet long questions. It might take him a year to sort every feeling and every plan he's willing to do with his son. He might as well depress some of it. "Well, first question, I feel really grown up. More mature and-"

BANG! BANG! BANG!

What the hell was- was that the door? What in forty thieves' name is someone doing at Sly's front door, pounding it at a time like this? It's almost nine o'clock! It's not that late but still!

The pounds startle Bentley and Isabella, while Rachel and Sly shoot up from their seats. Murray just looks at the front door, which is just a few steps down in the hallway. The raccoon grabs his cane that was leaning against the wall and grasps on it tightly. Murray finally looks at Sly and Rachel. "Is that the front door?"

"No kidding," Sly puts on a novelty expression. By the time he walks down the stairs, Sly froze up again. Bentley whimpers.

COOPER GANG? OPEN PLEASE! DANGER!

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The door shook like the rest of them, and that muffled voice was familiar; strangely familiar. Something tells Sly he does not want to open that door. But the voice mentioned the Cooper gang. Who knows of them? What is this? Are they found? It's not Barkley's voice. It's not anyone Rachel knows well, for she would be dealing with the situation already. Instead she clings by his side, pointing her gun at the door. What could this mean when it brings the entire gang to their feet? Sly couldn't bear... danger? In his own house?

...Where his child is...

He felt even queasier when Carmelita stormed down the stairs. "Get to that damn door before I break this person's knuckles-"

CARMELITA? OPEN PLEASE!

She nearly jumps out of her clothes. He knew her name. The voice on the other side sounds more clear than before and the entire gang moves in closer; especially Isabella. Bentley gasps, now they aren't defensive but more stunned. "Could it be...?"

Sly unlocks the door and opens it to a badger about the same height as Sly. An audience gasps behind Sly and the young badger. He's all shaken up, as if he was jumped not even moments ago. It's raining outside and a faint sound of a helicopter whips the air above them. "Aaron?"

The badger is hyperventilating and gives Sly his strained eyes. He looks as if he packed an extra twenty years on him. What happened to him? "Sly," he gulps, shivering to the bone. Rachel, Carmelita, and Sly's eyebrows furrow at him. Bentley carefully observes with Murray but as for Isabella, it was as if part of her heart died from what is unknown. Could it be extreme hurt, or happiness to see him? Or maybe both. Suddenly, Sly lashes his cane to Aaron's neck; holding it hard against his Adam's apple. Aaron's eyes backfired, and focused on Isabella's, whose eyes were just as watery as his. "Isabella..."

"Shut up!" Sly yells, now choking the badger with his cane. Isabella couldn't do anything… but that voice... He used her real name, not the fake one she always used around him. Sly growls savagely. "Don't call her that! What are you doing here, BANGING on my front door like that?! Was it to see her?! You nearly scared us all half to death! Look, I thank you for helping us back at your precious father's lair, really, but don't you dare think-"

"T-That's it!" Aaron crashes to the ground, gasping for air. "That's t-the problem!"

Sly's eyes narrowed at him. "What are you talking abou-"

"My father..." Aaron looks up at him with his submissive eyes and his lips trembling. His British accent was still hard to detect. "M-My father... h-he's still alive..."

Another round of gasps pierce the air behind Sly. Sly even gasps himself. "W-What? What do you mean-"

"He's alive!" rasped Aaron. "He survived t-the big downfall... He's alive! He'll be here any minute! You need to get everyone out of here and to safety!" Aaron glances at Isabella with his tender stare. Now he starts with a whisper, a weak whisper. "He... has... an army..."

Something changed in Sly; a gross sinking from his chest compressed on his stomach and intestines. He felt sick- he was sure he finished that badger. Could this just be a joke? What does Vex have planned for him and the gang? He knew that badger was serious with his treasures, because there would be no other reason to kidnapping Isabella months ago. This man is mentally insane, so the real question is:

What does he not have planned for them?

The raccoon slowly backs away, trembling as his heart pounds loud enough for the gang to hear. By the look in Aaron's eyes, he's telling the truth. Is he working for his father? Perhaps he knows the plan? He could ask him so many questions, like what is his father going to do, why Vex has an army, and when will he be at the house. How does Vex know where he lives? Who will be in danger? What should he expect? Aaron obviously went out of his father's way to tell the gang this.

But before Sly can verbally ask any questions, all the blood starts to sink from his face and join that gross feeling in his body. The worst thoughts rammed in his head as he heard a window shatter with ireful fortitude right upstairs. Of course… Just what Vex did before; he stole what meant most to Sly. He already stole Isabella once, but now that badger found something else. Something just as valuable. Following the sounds of demolished glass cried the master thief's most valuable treasure. This cannot be happening. All Sly wishes right now for anything to happen but that, but what he is assuming. But no, this is real. This is happening. It's happened before and history is repeating itself. Vex has the child, the defenseless baby, the offspring of a master thief and inspector is now in his hands. Sly could almost puke, but instead his adrenaline forced him to turn and scurry upstairs with his fiancé.

"SCOTT!"

*So... Yup. Last chapter. Did I do good? How do you feel? Second book is done (my heart was pounding while making it) and honestly I feel proud of myself. However it's not 100% done. I still need to edit the entire book before I officially make it completed. No huge changes in the stories, just some typos and all that hoopla. I hope you enjoyed the book, and that you will like the next (and final) one in this series! Sly Cooper 7 is on its way! Thank you all who stayed this entire time and reviewed, followed book/me, favorited book/me, and messaged me. I shall make the last book count, for you guys. Check my profile for any updates.*