Another idea I've come up with. I promise to get all my stories updated, but for some reason I seem to work better whenever I have a variety of things to update. WARNING: Song quoted in this chapter contains language viewers may find offensive.

MY, PRIVATE HOW YOU'VE CHANGED

BY THE YOUNG AND FREE DRAGON

Doubt cam over me

What kind of father would I be?

I knew the time had come to stand up and be a man

To change the face of my life

With your future in mind

Time to do what was right

A new beginning

-My Child by Disturbed

PROLOGUE: RELATIONS AND REVELATIONS

What's goin' on today?

Why must it be this way?

We're goin' nowhere

And we're still knocking the need to bow down

They think we're all the same

And always we're to blame

For shit I think is lame

It's time to stop the game

I think it's time to pay

For everything you make me say

-Y'all Wanna Single by KoRn

Skipper stared at Private for a moment, debating weather he'd heard correctly or not. The little penguin looked up at him expectantly. The leader's mind raced. Had Private just asked what sex was? No, not that. Had he asked why Skipper didn't have a mate? No. Had he asked when he could strike out on his own? No… No the question had to be repeated. The only thing that Skipper could register was that it was something on level with these questions.

"Uh… Sorry Private… What did you say?" Skipper asked.

"I asked; "Are you my father, Skippah?"" Private said.

So that was it… The question that Skipper had hoped Private would never ask. He thought for a moment. Was he Private's father? He didn't think so. After all these years of treating the lad as a son, it just seemed natural to say yes. But could he lie to the youngster about something this important? The boy had the right to know how his father was after all… but… Fear was clenching Skipper's heart. He didn't like to think of the one who would call Private his son. The man had hardly been a father. Skipper had taken the position whenever it…

No… Never go there again. He thought, blocking the memory from his mind. What harm would it do to tell Private that he was his father? Private was never going to see his real old man anyway.

"Y-… Yes I am, Private." Skipper finally said.

"Really?" Private sounded almost dubious.

"Of course. What would make you think otherwise?"

"Well, you never call me son or anything like that."

"Is there some sort of law that says I have to?" Skipper tried to sound like he was angered at Private's doubting.

"Well… no… you just always refer to us as your brothers, but you act like a brother and a father to me so… I was just wondering…"

"A father can be your best friend. There's nothing wrong with him being like a brother."

"I suppose not…" Private said, thoughtfully. After a pause, he smiled widely at Skipper and hugged him. "Thanks for clearing that up for me, father."

Skipper gave a bittersweet smile and patted Private's back. "No problem… son..."

But there was something strange and new about the hug that Skipper couldn't place his flipper on. Something he wasn't sure he'd ever felt before.

As the little penguin let go and waddled off, he couldn't help but wish the hug could have lasted longer. Something drew him towards the little one. Perhaps a new found, fatherly love? Skipper waddled into Kowalski's lab and tapped the intellect on the shoulder. The tall penguin turned and looked at Skipper before looking back down at the strange gizmo he was tinkering with.

"What is it, Skipper?" He asked.

"Does Private seem… I don't know… a little more grown up to you?" Skipper asked.

"Why do you ask?"

"Just wondering."

"I suppose he is."

"Do you think he's old he enough to train for a higher rank?" Skipper asked.

"Well, he's excelled at everything we've put before him so far. I think he's ready."

"Do you think he could one day be the skipper?" Skipper asked.

Kowalski looked over his shoulder at Skipper for a moment before looking back down at the thing he was toying with.

"Well, I don't know where you plan to go, but I'm next in line for that job."

"Well, he is going to out live you and me."

Kowalski once again looked back at Skipper, with a mixture of looks in his face.

"I suppose so… Yes, I suppose he could be in charge one day."

"When would you suggest we start training him?"

"You're the leader. You tell me."

"You're the strategist."

Kowalski sighed and picked up his clipboard and began calculating. After a minute, he placed the clipboard down.

"My calculations say that next week would be an opportune time."

"Why's that?"

Kowalski heaved an annoyed sigh. "If you're going to question my options, then why did you ask for them?"

"Sorry, just asking."

"Next week will be warm and the zoo will be closed while all the mammals are vaccinated."

"Alright sounds good."

Quick introduction. Please review.