I thought of this idea when Asmith137 made a comment about Grace's parents and that got me wondering... How much does Grace know about her parents? Well, I wrote this to clarify some things.

The city was alive, the honking horns and screaming sirens never ceased to add to the alure that is New York City. But the Central Park Zoo was uncomparingly quiet, no late night wanderers, or adventures. Just silence.

A small shadow raced across the path between the penguin and otter habitats. The figured stops in the shadows and looks around. Then, jumps into the habitat the runs next to Marlene's.

The light flipped on, and Private had to shake Grace awake.

"What the- Private!" Grace quickly changed her mind about using adult language.

"Grace. I had a bad dream." the small peguin quickly explained.

"Alright?" she blinked, trying to adjust her eyes to the light.

"Can I stay here?"

Grace sighed, "Won't Skipper freak out when he wakes up in-" she looked at the clock on the wall, "6 hours? How long were you sleeping?"

"Yeah, but I'd rather him be mad at me for leaving then mad at me for waking him up."

"What about Kowalski? Why didn't you go to him?" Grace was adjusting to the light, and knew she couldn't turn Private away. No matter how tired and mad she was.

"I don't know. He'd want to run tests or something."

Grace sighed and stood up, "Alright, What was your dream about?"

"My parents tried to kill you."

"Why would they do that?"

"Because you tried to eat me."

"Private. I'm a vegitarian. And you are my friend. Why would I eat you?"

"You were a zombie."

"How did I die then?"

"You killed yourself."

Grace laid back down on the edge of her bed. "I'm going to sleep Private. You are welcome to stay here, if-"

Private dove under the blanket next to Grace, "Oh thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You won't even know I'm here!"

Grace was almost back asleep when Private spoke up again. "Grace?"

"Yes. Private?"

"Did you ever know your parents?"

"I don't remember them if I did."

"Does that bother you?"

Grace thought for a moment before rolling over to look at Private. "No." she shook her head.

"Why not?"

"Because, I've been trained not to let little things bother me."

"Like Skipper trains us not to mess up?"

"Perfection and inconsideration are two totally different subjects." Grace sighed and closed her eyes, fighting for sleep.

"Do you know where your parents are?"

"Private. Why the sudden intrest in my past?"

"Skipper said that Hawk raised you. and that you never knew them. At all."

"Alright. I'll tell you what I know. If you will be quiet and let me get some sleep."

"Yay."

"My mothers name was Jorinde. My father was the alpha of a pack and fell in love with a dog on a farm. 2 months later I came along. a few weeks passed and they gave me to Hawk. The end. good night."

"Didn't you ever go look for them?"

"No, Private. I didn't-."

"Wh-"

"Some questions are better left unasked." Grace snapped.

Private sighed, and didn't say anything. Grace felt like he was sleeping, so she allowed herself to drift off to sleep.

"Do you know where your parents are Grace?"

"Yes, Private. That's why I'm sleeping in a zoo."

"Hawk said they owned an orphanage."

"Oh my gosh. Private. Will you stop asking questions that I don't know the answer to?"

"It was a yes or no question."

"No, I don't know. If I did, I wouldn't go find them."

Private laid back down. "I'm sorry Grace."

"Mmmm." Grace rolled back over turning her back to Private. She waited for sleep. It never came.

"Damn it." she muttered, realizing that her instincts were stepping in again. She stood and moved towards the door, waiting for Private to say something.

The small penguin sat up and watched Grace walk out slowly, she paused at the door and sighed, before bounding outside.

The night was the warmest she had felt in a while. Grace sat down and waited for Private.

"You know more than you let on don't you?" Private asked.

"Yes." was all Grace could bring herself to say.

"There was an accident." She finished.

Aatu pricked his ears. "Jorinde, wake up."

The smaller cream colored dog moved slightly. The wolf gently touched her with his nose. "Jorinde, up."

Jorinde lifted her head. "What is it? Is he here?"

"I don't know. Grab Kvela and go towards the exit." Aatu whispered.

"No, Aatu wait!" Jorinde pushed herself off the dirt, causing a small light brown puppy to tumble to the ground. She growled slightly.

"Aatu, don't you hide your eyes from me." Jorinde trtted to catch up with him. "What's gotten into you?"

Aatu looked at his mate and blinked his bright blue eyes. "Jorinde, I can't explain it."

"Try." Jorinde stepped in front of him and planted her feet.

"It's not safe for Kvela here anymore." he stated plainly.

"Then we'll leave. Go live with your Beta. He can protect us." Jorinde said hopefully.

"Hawk cannot keep us safe. He's getting old."

"So are we." Jorinde nuzzled against her mate.

"No. He can't take care of us to. We have to stay here. Send Kvela, change her name, sign her rights over."

"Aatu..I'M NOT SENDING MY DAUGHTER AWAY!" Jorinde started crying instantly.

"Jorinde. She'll be safer with Hawk, and ACIS." Aatu tried to calm her down.

"NO! SHE'S OUR DAUGHTER! NOT HAWK'S!" Jorinde tackled Aatu.

"Jorinde calm down. You'll hurt yourself."

"NO! KVELAULV IS MY DAUGHTER! OURS!"

Aatu gently shoved Jorinde off of him and to the ground. "It's for the best."

Jorinde laid on the ground sobbing uncontrollibly as Aatu picked the brown puppy up off the floor and walked towards the door.

Hawk met Jorinde and Aatu on the beach,

"I promise you that she will be safe." Hawk said.

When Hawk took Kvela, he changed her name. And molded her into the perfect agent. She was smart, fast, strong, the perfect daughter. She never let anyone in, and that was part of her downfall. The select few she allowed to get close, knew that she just wanted someone to say they were proud of her, not that she could do better.

Private looked at Grace, "but-"

"No more questions." Grace demanded, laying down.

"Ok." he sighed, and laid down too.

Grace stole a glance at Private, he was already asleep. Sighing, she followed his example.

Pronunciations(my versions)

Jorinde: J-oar-in-D

Aatu: like tattoo but without the 't'

Kvela: Vel-uh (k is silent)