A/N: Here's another story to make up for some lost time, and to kinda take a break from my other one. It's a bit dark, more along the lines of Soulless, but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless! Please Review!

Warnings: Char. Death, Skivate Pairing, Language

Guardian Angel

Private's POV:

I don't know it happened. How everything could have just gone wrong all at the same time. The memory of him...dieing, it's somewhat a blur, but it's like I remember every single thing that day, like I knew it was going to happen. But I didn't, I didn't think it could have happened, how much it hurts. I guess I should just try to think about the horrible events of that day. It was a sunny morning at the zoo...

Skipper had awoken, as usual, before any of us. The first thing I remember is waking up in a cold sweat, screaming as loud as I could. Another nightmare. Another nightmare of Skipper leaving. I don't know why I dreamed like that then, it just happened. Rico was impossible to wake in the morning, so I didn't wake him up in the least, and Kowalski had passed out in his lab, his sound-proof lab, for the hundredth time, so there was Skipper, running to my side. It was just like him...

I felt his flippers on my chest and shoulder, and heard his soothing voice overcome my ears.

"Hey, hey... It's okay, soldier. Just a nightmare." He said, more calm than the usual Skipper sounded. I looked at him, eyes weary, and smiled. He was always there for me, that's what I loved about him. No matter what happened, he was always by my side.

I saw his beak curve into a smile, making mine grow even more. I look down at his flippers, still caressing my body. He notices, too, and quickly looks down, letting his flippers go back to his sides. But that didn't take his smile away, or the redness flushing into his face as I left the bunk, turning a hint of red myself.

"So, what are we doing today, Skippa?" I asked, my voice cheerily ringing through the base as I hopped onto the couch. I remember that voice, the one I used to speak in. The one that's long gone now. So much is changed...

Skipper sat beside me, making sure to scoot in just a little more, before nonchalantly sipping his coffee and saying,

"Not sure..." He said, his voice trailing off. After a while, he looks at me, the same smile I've come to love more than life itself on his face.

"How about we take the day off, soldier?" He said, his voice still soothingly soft, almost a whisper. My face lights up as his offer.

"Really, Skippa? Whats the occasion?" I ask, my face still glowing with excitement. It was a miracle whenever Skipper granted us a day off. Usually someone would have had to make him extremely happy for him to even consider it. He puts his flipper on my shoulder, I can still almost feel it. The electricity I felt inside when his flipper landed on me, our feathers brushing up together.

"Let's just say, you made my day.." He said smoothly. I instantly look down, trying to hide my blush. Those words, it's like they melted my inner being. It was so pleasant. I always loved the way he could make me feel inside.,

I guess I always knew I loved Skipper. From the first day I met him, I don't know, I just felt... a connection between us. Something that no two other people could have, just us, together. And over the years of getting to know him, the love I felt inside grew and grew, and soon I realized that I wanted him to be more in my life, the most two people can ever be. I had no idea of his feelings for me, If I did, I would have told him I loved him so long ago. But he kept it hidden, most likely from fear of rejection or humiliation from the zoo. I don't blame him for any of that. I did it, too. I was scared that if he said no, there would just be a void between us, the amazing friendship and bond we had would have been broken. So I kept quiet, only when we were alone did I ever feel like I could truly be myself around him.

I looked up at him, my face still red, but I was determined to find out why Skipper granted us a day off, even though it was enough to know that I alone made his day. A thought that would've brought a smile to my face and a blush to my cheeks for weeks.

"How could I have done that, Skippa?" I asked, innocent as ever. He turned in his seat, now facing me, the smile on him growing.

"Well.." He started, It seemed difficult for him to say, but after a brief second, he cleared his throat and began again.

"Let's just say... that your face, your smile, everything about you, even the mere thought, is enough to make my day.."

I couldn't have been any more red. Those were the sweetest, most beautiful words I had ever heard from him. The most perfect sentence. Even the way he said it, his voice crisp, but calming, as if the most beautiful melodic tune could part from his beak. He was red too, but he kept his composure as I sat there, completely melted, smiling as wide as ever.

"You.. you really think that, Skippa?" I asked, hope beaming from my voice. I thought at that moment: Could this be it? Could this really be happening? He slowly nodded, not taking his eyes off of mine. Those beautiful cobalt eyes, just like ice..

He left his seat, but moved closer to me, bending down slightly. He pressed his beak on my forehead, and placed his flippers around me. I was frozen from the shock. This is one of the things that I thought Skipper wouldn't do in a million years. Even now, I just can't believe he did something like that.

He moved his face away slowly, leaving probably the most surprised look on mine. He smiled once again, grabbed his coffee mug, and headed for the ladder.

"I'm gonna go out for a swim." He said, still watching me sit there, completely frozen. "Could you wake up the team?"

At first, I just there, barely even hearing what he said. But I soon snapped out of it.

"Oh!- Uh, sure, Skippa." I said, voice shaky and face blood red. He chuckled and went topside, leaving me sitting on the couch, the smile on my face larger than ever, and as happy as I could have ever been..

sorry if the ending seems a bit abrupt, but I promise it'll make sense when I'm finished with the next chapter. I hope you like it so far!