Welcome to Pengotters: The Early Months! First of all, if you haven't read In Our World Books 1-3 or Pengotter Pregnancy, you need to read all those stories first, otherwise this will literally make no sense.

I know that's a lot to read, but this story will really make no sense without all of that, especially with Pengotter Pregnancy unread. So this story starts mere hours after Pengotter Pregnancy ended (in the timeline). So welcome and let's get reading!

CHAPTER 1 – Food and Answers

(P staying with Marlene) I had given birth maybe a few hours ago, but still couldn't believe it. Skipper and I had actually managed to have our own children. Not only that, but they looked completely different from each other. Annabelle had the appearance of an Otter, while Samuel had the appearance of a Penguin.

It made me so glad to know that our children would not be going feral ever, but that they would be able to live here without attracting too much attention. Since our children looked like a normal Penguin and Otter, there was no risk that a lab would use them as a science experiment.

Suddenly, from over in their cribs, both of them started to cry. My motherly instincts immediately kicked in and I walked over to them. "Shh, it's alright. Mommy's here. What would you like? Would you like something to eat?" I asked. Both of their faces lit up and they stopped crying when I mentioned food.

Skipper dropped down, from above, where he had been fooling the guests that nothing had happened today. "Hi Skipper," I said. "Hello honey. What are you up to?" Skipper asked. "Actually, I was about to feed our children," I said.

"Oh. Well, I'll go back up and leave you to that," Skipper said. "You really think I need privacy after what we've been through today?" I asked, curious. "Well, maybe. I'm still trying to fully understand what our lives will be like, now that we have children," Skipper said.

"Me too. Hopefully we'll learn fast," I said happily. We had a quick kiss before Skipper went back up and out the hatch, closing it. "Now how am I supposed to feed you?" I asked the children. They just looked at me in response, waiting for some kind of food.

Suddenly, another motherly instinct kicked in and I knew immediately what to do. I carefully picked up both Annabelle and Samuel and lay down on the table. I placed them on top of me. Let's just say I started producing food. Annabelle was happily eating away, while Samuel just looked at me with the cutest confused face I had ever seen.

"Samuel, do you see what your sister is doing? Try doing the same thing as your sister," I said to him. He looked at me confused for a moment, but then probably understood what I said, as he started copying Annabelle.

Suddenly, he bit my, well, food-making area. "Ouch," I said. He stopped and looked at me, somehow knowing he had bit me. Annabelle stopped eating, too, but actually a moment later. She looked like she was full, as she had a cute smile on her adorable little face.

"Skipper, could you come down here?" I asked. Thanks to his great hearing, he heard me through the hatch and came down. "What is it Marlene? What's the trouble?" he asked. "Well, I was feeding Annabelle and tried to feed Samuel, too, but I don't think it worked," I said. "What do you mean?" Skipper asked.

"Well, he tried to copy Annabelle, but in the process, bit me a bit. It didn't hurt, but I don't think I can feed him like this," I said. "So how are we supposed to feed him?" Skipper asked.

"I think that's your job. Samuel is more Penguin than Otter. After all, Penguins don't usually eat directly from their mothers," I said. "I think I see what you mean," Skipper said. "Do you think we should try and bottle it?" I asked. "Maybe. Um, I'll pass you a bottle, but I still won't watch," Skipper said.

Skipper handed me a bottle and then turned away, giving me privacy. Let's just say I had figured out how to get food out of me and into the bottle. After a few minutes, I figured that we probably had enough.

"I'm done Skipper. Let's try it this way," I said. Skipper turned around and placed Annabelle in her crib while I sat up. I took Samuel from Skipper and showed him the bottle. Samuel again looked confused, but seemed to understand what we meant. He tried to eat from the bottle, but didn't seem to like what he was receiving.

"Now what Skipper?" I asked. "I guess I'll have to feed him the Penguin way," Skipper said. "What is that?" I asked, curious. "Well, I'll have to chew a fish for him," Skipper said. "Oh. I'll hold Samuel for you while you do that," I said. Skipper went through the motion and as he was doing so, Samuel seemed to like the food he was getting for the first time.

After Samuel seemed like he was done, he closed his beak. "I guess we'll each have to feed each child differently," I said, while placing Samuel into his crib. "You can say that again," Skipper agreed.

"I do wonder what their DNA is like. Obviously, more Penguin DNA wound up in Samuel, while more Otter DNA wound up in Annabelle," I said. "Well, I'm sure the DNA analyzer will be done in a few hours," Skipper said. (P to a few hours later)

The zoo was finally closed, meaning both Skipper and I could both finally spend all the time with our children that we wanted to. After feeding them dinner, we started to play with them and they with us. Kowalski was standing from a distance, taking notes on how our children were interacting with each other and us.

For a reason Skipper and I still didn't understand why, Annabelle seemed to be wanting to play with me more and Samuel wanted to play with Skipper more. But Annabelle and Samuel wanted to play with each other equally. Suddenly, we all heard the DNA analyzer beep with its results.

We put Annabelle and Samuel in their cribs, which Rico had given wheels and a brake to. We wheeled them into the lab carefully to find out the results. "So Kowalski, what does the DNA of our children say about them?" I asked him. "Well, first of all, it doesn't say why Annabelle and Samuel are actually possible. I guess that will remain a mystery, just like how Matthew is a Penguin here, but a human in his world," Kowalski said.

Skipper and I chuckled. "Well, that's certainly more fun that actually knowing why, other than that substance from the lab," Skipper said. We all laughed and Annabelle and Samuel tried to copy us, giggling. That sweet sound brought a smile to all of our faces. "What else Kowalski?" Skipper asked.

"Well, it seems for female Pengotters, using the term we made, the genes for appearing like an Otter are more dominant than looking like a Penguin. Likewise, for male Pengotters, the genes for appearing like a Penguin are more dominant," Kowalski explained. "Well, that explains why Annabelle looks like me, but Samuel looks like Skipper," I said. "Do you have anymore questions?" Kowalski asked. Skipper and I both tried to think of some.

"Is there a reason why I can feed Annabelle, but I can't feed Samuel?" I asked. "Well, your children's DNA and feeding patterns seem to indicate that your children feed from you two like normal Otters and Penguins. That's why Annabelle can be fed by you, but why Samuel has to be fed from Skipper," Kowalski answered.

"How long until they can eat solid food?" Skipper asked. "I have no idea, since they are a crossbreed. But normally Otters start to eat solid food after about 14 weeks, so in a little over three months, possibly. * But technically since Penguins eat semi-solid food from the first day, it would be any number of weeks or months less. But it probably won't be less than a month and a half or so," Kowalski answered.

"Would they stay the same appearance like we do in the other world?" I asked. "Their DNA isn't telling me that, I'm sorry. But seeing as we all stay the same, I'm sure they would," Kowalski answered. **

"Thank goodness for that, if it's true," Skipper said. "I agree. I would love to know what the fans would think of our children," I said. "We're still not going there until they are old enough to understand what it all means and are able to travel," Skipper said. "Agreed," I said.

"Kowalski, obviously everyone will want to come see the children, now that they probably know they are born. When will it be safe for Samuel and Annabelle to have visitors?" I asked.

"Well, I'll have to procure vaccines against diseases for both Penguins and Otters for them, just to be on the safe side. If the Zoo doesn't have any, I'll need to order some. But I would say if the Zoo does have vaccines, I think that you should wait a month before allowing visitors, to allow the children to get used to the world," Kowalski answered.

"I think that sounds like a good idea. But we should wait until they are at least a week old until they get their vaccinations. After all, they were only born this morning and have had less than a day being outside of me," I said. "I shall follow your instructions. Do you have anymore questions?" Kowalski asked.

"I think right now I'm lacking more," Skipper said. "I think I've got another one, Kowalski. When will they be able to speak?" I asked. "Well, I would say in around two or three months. Maybe sooner or maybe later," Kowalski explained.

"Would everyone in the other world be able to understand them or would they sound like animals from there?" Skipper asked. "Well, unlike us, there are no counterpart humans for them there. But they probably would be able to be understood," Kowalski answered. *** "Thank you Kowalski," Skipper and I said. "It's no trouble," he replied.

With that, we all left the lab and played with the kids some more. They were so adorable. While we were doing so, Rico made two new bunks for our children for when they were old enough. Of course, I also got my own bunk, which we were all confused by its nonexistence from before now.

Skipper made the guys go and fetch my things, which would have to be here until I could take Annabelle back to my habitat. After a few more hours, the kids were starting to drift off to sleep, so Skipper and I put them to bed. Feeling tired ourselves, especially me, we all went to our bunks as well. We quickly fell asleep. I dreamt of the future, and Skipper probably did as well.

That's it for the first chapter. Hmm, those genes sure played a good factor into their appearance, feeding patterns, and playing patterns. Please rate and review this first new chapter. Time for two quick notes.

* Thanks again to Wikipedia for the information about Asian otters.

** And, as revealed in Book 3, the kids do have the same appearance in our world.

*** Also revealed in Book 3, everyone can understand the kids in our world, as they can of everyone else.