A/N: I've decided to make this year a simple, short chapter for the sake of hopeless romantics everywhere. If you're reading the holiday updates, A Cooper Christmas and Sly Cupid consistently, in order by year... then you'll remember that last February, our characters decided to take things to the next level and romance ensued. We leave off after several months of them dating...

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2011

December 25th, 2011

"What is it?" Her eyes lifted and a coy grin tugged at the corner of the vixen's lips. Rose-painted petals of scarlet broadened into a Cheshire smile. "The box is awfully large."

Sly Cooper sat on the sofa, wearing Sony Playstation pajama pants. "C'mon, I'm not gunna' tell you before opening it up. Go on."

She offered him a dubious grin then tore at the wrapping paper. Beneath was another layer of different colored wrapping paper, shiny and covered with silver snowflake pictures. She used her claws to create a rip in that layer then tore it open, creating a large mess on the carpet around her. The vixen, sitting in front of the coffee table, turned the object over and tore the paper from the ends then grinned and stood it upright. Sounds of shifting objects came from within. "A jewelry box, huh?" She pursed her lips together then smirked. "Are you trying to appeal to my effeminate side?"

She rid the front end of any remaining wrap then opened the top drawer only to find more small presents within, wrapped carefully. She opened the second drawer. Two more small presents were within. "I take it these are jewelry pieces to add to my new collection? I only own earrings at this point."

"I didn't get you any earrings since you have plenty. Well... okay, one pair." He offered a toothy grin of his own. "Keep going."

"Which one should I open first?"

"Up to you, but you've got to open them all," he said with a look of victory.

"Okay, okay." She opened the third, fourth and fifth drawer but stopped when coming to a box that was wrapped in a completely different wrapping paper than the rest of the items. "Okay, now I'm curious... and you know how I am when I get curious... what's with the box wrapped in gold?"

"That one is special."

She eyed him for a moment then asked, "Can I open it first?"

A delighted laugh was her reply. "Carmelita, I saved the best for last. But if you insist."

She nodded with a sparkle in her eyes then leaned in, brushing her face against the side of his. She batted her lashes, offering butterfly kisses against his cheek. "Please?"

"You know I can't believe how much you've opened up to me in this past year." He placed his paws on either side of her face then lowered his nose a bit, brushing it against hers. The two met in a soft kiss, a display of their affection for one another.

"You've grown up a lot," she returned. "You've always had potential but it's about time you've decided to be a man. So I'm proud of you. I thought about getting you some coal for your stocking as a joke this year but... are you happy with your gift?"

"I admit, I'm still in shock but it's the best gift I could have ever received." He kissed her forehead then reached to the coffee table and picked up the pregnancy test with the little pink "PLUS" on it. "You know I've always wanted to be a dad. I've always wanted to have kids so I could give them a fulfilling childhood and..." he paused, finding a finger against his lips.

"I'm still in shock, too." She offered him a lame sort of grin then opened the gold box. Her heart was beating rapidly in anticipation of what it might be. Her feminine 'intuition' was on full alert at the back of her brain. "I'm going to open it." Her grin returned, adding, "You can't stop me, Criminal." She quickly began tearing off the wrapping paper until coming to a velvet-covered box. Her heart rate doubled, practically beating out of her chest. This was it. She knew what was inside... it had to be.

All at once, Carmelita narrowed her eyes. She glanced up at him and said, "This is a necklace or earrings or a tennis bracelet isn't it? You're trying to play with my emotions, aren't you?"

"Nope. None of the things you mentioned are inside that box." He looked a little too pleased with himself.

She kept her eyes squinted as if scrutinizing him. "It's a piece of paper with a clue on it, telling me you hid it somewhere around the house or... even worse... somewhere around Paris."

"Could be." His head tilted. "But you won't know until you open it."

She sighed and rolled her eyes, letting her guard down. "Fine, fine. Let's see the first clue, then, Cooper." She thumbed open the box. Nestled within was a piece of mistletoe with a single berry left on it and, encircling the small leafy object, was a platinum band. The vixen grew quiet and reverently lifted the mistletoe from its resting place. Careful not to knock the berry from the plant, she eased it from the ring. Her paws trembled with excitement. She carefully turned it over until her eyes reflected the opulent diamond perched upon the decorative mount.

Sly licked his lips then told her, "I recited a speech but after opening your present, I'm unable to hold a candle so allow me to ad-lib. You've given me something that will last a lifetime. And if I take extra special care, it will outlive me physically and figuratively. It's the greatest gift a man could ever ask for... fatherhood. And I'm the luckiest man ever. The least I could ever hope to do is give you my paw in marriage. It's the next best thing I can offer... because it's the only thing I can offer that will equally last a lifetime. So, please, Carmelita Montoya Fox, accept this symbol of my love and my affection... and please accept my paw in marriage.

She licked her lips the way he had done a moment prior then handed him the ring. She saw the worried look in his eyes then she lifted her left paw to him and spread her fingers apart. She perceived the look of relief on his brow and smiled as he slid it along her ring finger. Then he took her paw and kissed her knuckles adjacent to the ring.

Carmelita launched herself up from the floor and tackled him on the sofa. She placed kisses all over his face until he couldn't help but laugh then she kissed him upon the lips in a way that was guaranteed to curl his toes and fluff his tail. "Yes, I would love to be the wife of a reformed criminal, so long as you promise never to backslide. Be true to me and I'll give you all of me. And you'd better behave your very best or you'll never see me in a wedding gown."

Sly wrapped his arms around her and grinned. "How about we seal the deal on Valentine's Day?"

She laughed and nodded emphatically. "Fine, fine... you've got seven weeks to do whatever you need to do to make it happen. But I'm a Latin Lady, so you KNOW I expect to be married in a church with all the pomp and circumstance associated with a fancy wedding."

Sly grinned and said, "You're just saying that because you know I'm the world's unofficially richest man. You know you're going to have the best wedding Paris has ever seen."

She nuzzled the side of his face. "I was just teasing you anyhow." She kissed his nose. "I've won. I've tamed the world's most notorious criminal."

"I've won," he replied. "I've transformed the world's foxiest cop into Carmelita Cooper."

"We could always just change your name to Sly Fox. It is the twenty-first century."

"I think Carmelita Cooper has a nice ring to it. Now that Clockwerk is gone for good, my surname is safe to have. I fought hard to make sure it would be for our children and now... it's time to make that a reality."

"Okay, shut up. You just gave me an engagement ring." She lifted the mistletoe above his head. "We've only got one berry so you'd better make this kiss last." Then, without further warning, she mashed her lips to his and threw her arms around his neck.

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A/N: Merry Christmas everyone. Thanks for reading! I'm sorry it's so short but I knew this is all I wanted to do for this year... and you KNOW what to expect this February for Sly Cupid. Rawr!