AN: The first of the one shots.

Disclaimer: Penguins of Madagascar do not belong to me, duh!

–She was swimming. Up and down, left and right. She loved to swim. Another form joined her, mirrored her every move. No matter how she twisted and undulated, the other easily kept pace.

He, some part of her just knew the other was a he, darted ahead in a flash of black and white. He, Skipper, twisted his head and gave her a challenging grin before arching upward and breaching the surface. Never one to turn down a swimming challenge, Marlene followed. Bright light engulfed her as she sailed and somersaulted before splashing down. He was waiting for her in the cool depths, just floating there. As soon as she met his eye, he darted toward her at full speed. She braced for an impact that never came. Time slowed and her paw reached out. Her fingers caressed the feathers of his back as he angled his body and passed. She savoured the sensation of his feathers. Time resumed and he spiraled around her to the surface again. She leapt out and onto the ice. All around was a frozen tundra of ice and snow.

She wasn't cold though. How could she be when strong, black flippers were wrapping around her around her waist and pressing her against a warm, soft ivory chest. Returning the embrace she rested her head on his shoulder and felt his beak begin to nuzzle her neck. Everything was so perfect, she couldn't remember the last time she'd felt so safe.

"Oh Skipper ..." She purred contently into the solid muscle of his shoulder.--

"Gah!" Marlene jerked upright, panting, eyes wide and wild. It took a minute before she fully came to her senses and when she did she buried her face in her paws. "I'm in over my head." She muttered mournfully before she sighed and got out of bed. "Of all things, why is it him? Why couldn't it have been that perfectly nice otter back in California?" She asked the walls as she pulled a canvas out and set it on the easel.

'The guy was nice, really nice, so nice he was a total bore.' A small part of her mind answered. 'Skipper. He's exciting, there's always something new. He has such gorgeous eyes, when was the last time you saw that shade of blue outside your paints? He's different ...'

"Exactly! He's too different! Skipper's a penguin! And a psychotic one at that!" She grumbled sourly. That was the rub, there was this perfect guy and he was wrapped in penguin feathers!

'Species is such a minor superficiality. That psychosis of his is cute, in it's own way. It's part of what makes him, him.' Her mind scolded.

"And how sad is this? He's driving me so nuts I'm arguing with myself and losing!"

'There is that ...'

Marlene groaned in exasperation before she actually looked at what she'd been painting during her argument. She squeaked as Skipper's eyes bored into her soul from the canvas. Hurriedly she covered the painting with a cloth and resolved to find a much better hiding spot for it later.

Marlene stepped from her cave and into the pre-light of dawn; knowing she'd never be able to get back to sleep no. Unconsciously her eyes drifted to the penguin habitat where Skipper was just emerging from the water. Suddenly he exploded into action, leaping into the air and with a deft twist and several flips sailed over the fences separating them. He landed in front of her in an attack stance before relaxing.

"An unusual hour for you to be awake Marlene. Is everything alright?"

She blinked. "Don't you ever knock?" Came her habitual question at the sudden intrusion. Marlene gathered her wits and crossed her arms in front of her chest defensively while doing her level best to look irritated. Within her chest, her heart fluttered at his show of concern. It took almost everything she had to smother it, it was just a stupid crush! So long as she didn't acknowledge it, it would pass and not threaten her friendship!

"So what if I'm up at and 'unusual hour'? It's not really any of your business, is it? No. It's not. But since it was nice of you to ask about my health, I'm perfectly fine."

Skipper raised an eyebrow, Marlene got the feeling he wasn't convince. He looke around her into her cave, as though he expected to see someone with a knife to her back.

"Well. Everything looks satisfactory here. Have a good day." And just like that, he was gone. She sighed in relief and leaned against a boulder.