//------------------------------//
// The Discussion 
// Story: Dressed to Steal 
// by Tatsurou 
//------------------------------//

After dinner, Huey, Dewey, and Louie invited me to explore the manor with them.  While on the surface that was a perfectly reasonable thing for children to do after dinner while the grownups talked, it was plain to me they were hoping I would teach them a few thieving tricks I knew so they could get up to even more mischief.  After hearing some of their tales, I'd decided I would - though nothing secret from the Thievius Raccoonus, just the basic stuff - in exchange for a glimpse at the things in that 'Junior Woodchuck Guidebook' they'd talked so much about.  Seriously, with all the things they said they'd pulled off based on what it taught them, I half expected it to have been written by Macgyver!  Seriously, what kind of scout handbook teaches you how to melt gold down into plates to repair a ship and make it seaworthy, among other things?  Heck, what kind of book could possibly say 'among other things' after boasting that?

While we were indulging in our mischief, Uncle Scrooge - how did he know it would make me so happy to call him that? - invited Mom and Dad to the study to talk.  The fact that it was the very room I 'didn't' steal the dime from made me a little embarrassed...especially after the boys started making a fuss over it...





Scrooge smiled to himself as he stared at the Cooper calling card inside the display case holding his Number One Dime.  He'd decided to leave it there, much as he'd left the calling cards alongside every other item past Coopers had stolen only to return, as reminders of good friends now gone.  He looked forward to many confused glances and knowing chuckles regarding this one, followed by an absence of explanations.  With that smile, he turned back to his guests.

Sly and Carmelita were sitting together on the loveseat, the first use it had gotten since Scrooge himself was young enough to be interested in courting.  Normally when he had guests in here, they sat on the sofa.  When it was the boys, they generally clambered over his seat as he read them stories of his past.  Mrs. Beakley and Webby preferred the rocking chair near the fireplace.  But now, Sly and Carmelita were snuggled up on the loveseat nursing glasses of Scrooge's best brandy, both looking torn between comfortable and awkward...leading to a knowing chuckle from Scrooge.  "Ah knew ye were mother and father ta the lass, but ah'm glad ta see somethin' more between ya.  The Coopers, the Foxes...both lines deserve bein' continued.  And yer fathers would be happy ta see ya together."  He lifted his own glass of brandy as though toasting them.

Carmelita turned her glass over in her hand, staring into her drink as though the contents could provide answers.  "You're...you're sure Dad would be...happy about this?" she asked worriedly.

Scrooge frowned as he sat down.  "Somethin' tells me things aren't completely as they seem.  Tell me."

As Carmelita continued to stare into her glass, Sly looked Scrooge in the eye.  "It was Coco who brought us together," he explained.  "Specifically, her asking if we were her Mommy and Daddy...and me saying yes because at the time keeping her from screaming about 'strangers' was paramount."

"I'm definitely in agreement with you about Seft now," Carmelita spoke up softly, her hands clenching around the glass.  "I'll pull the trigger myself if I get him in my sights."

"Ah, that howlin' jobby," Scrooge muttered, startling a chuckle out of Sly.  "The only reason it's still up fer debate whether he or Clockwerk was worse is because he hasn't been around as long!"  He spat his contempt into the fireplace.  "Aye, he's on me 'better dead' list too.  World'd be a much better place if boobs like that did'na exist."

Sly nodded.  "Anyway...trying to balance being her parents, being ourselves, and being 'cops and robbers'...has been awkward at times."

"Necessary, because having one of us on each side of the law meant Coco was that much safer...but awkward," Carmelita confirmed.  "We're past the worst of it, and Megraw's instructions have made things a lot smoother, but..."  She returned to staring into her glass.

Scrooge scooted forward, resting his chin on his cane.  "Go on, lass.  Ah won't judge."

Carmelita took a deep breath.  "When Neyla's actions discredited me as an Interpol Agent, I thought that the best way to continue to protect Coco...was to join the Cooper Gang completely, since my career as a cop was over.  As much as I hated losing that career...I didn't regret the decision.  And being a full fledged member of the Gang...it was fun.  And while we were racing around, I was...content for the first time in a long time.  As much as I'm glad to have my job back...part of me wonders if I still want it.  And...I'm terrified of what Father will say if I tell him that."

"He'll say he's been there," Scrooge stated bluntly.  "He saw the appeal o' Conner's lifestyle, and how much easier it was ta deal with the baddies when he did'na have ta be law abidin...but he made the choice ta stay a cop, cause without good cops, no amount o' good criminals can protect civilians."  He shook his head with a chuckle.  "He won't judge ya fer bein' tempted...and ye've got a lot more than he did encouragin' ya ta sway.  Yer gonna stay a cop, ain't ya?"

"Of course," Carmelita confirmed insistently.  "Not only has Coco's situation - and our reasons for the original arrangement - unchanged...I still love being a cop."  Smiling shyly, she slipped her hand into Sly's.  "As long as I'm never forced to arrest this one again..."

As Scrooge grinned, a figure in the shadows slowly stood up.  "Glad to hear it," the shadowed figure said, his voice so soft it was almost a purr.

Sly started to leap out of the seat at the sight of the massive silhouette he somehow missed...and nearly leapt out of his fur when Carmelita gasped out, "D-Dad?"

Conrad Fox slowly stepped out of the shadows, his massive musculature easily dwarfing Carmelita's own size, silver only just beginning to tinge his copper-bronze fur, his old uniform still fitting tightly to his frame.  "Scrooge was right, Lita," he said softly.  "Conner would be so happy to see you two together."  He blinked away a few tears.  "But I am here...and I can be happy for both of us."  Reaching forward, he pulled Sly and Carmelita to their feet and into a tight bear hug.

As he watched the family reunion, Scrooge opened an old photo album.  Inside were several pictures of varying ages, each containing three figures.  Though the figures differed greatly in each image, in each picture they were a raccoon, himself, and a fox.  Chuckling to himself, he raised a toast, both to the happy faces in the pictures and those before him before downing his shot, feeling mighty pleased with himself.