But it didn't blow over soon. Millie wouldn't talk to Anna, and Anna wouldn't talk to Millie, for two whole days.

It was extremely awkward for the guys, who weren't sure what to do about it. On one hand, Millie had obviously said something that set Anna off. But on the other hand, Anna wasn't helping the situation by not communicating with her twin. So they mostly tried to stay out of it. Even Kowalski only comforted Anna occasionally, not wanting to seem like he was prying.

But on the second day, they sensed a change in Anna. She was tired looking, run down. She sighed loudly that morning, watching Millie swim outside the window of the habitat.

With a determined gait, Anna left the H.Q., and dove into the water.

Sensing a climax, all the other penguins ran up to the windows to watch what happened.

At first, nothing. And then Anna jetted across the scene, coming to a hover when she almost ran into Millie, who turned up her nose, and put her hands on her hips.

Anna twiddled her flippers, and looked down, but it was obvious she was saying something somehow, because her eyes were moving like someone's eyes do when they're talking.

And then Millie shook her head, rolled her eyes, and looked away. This obviously offended Anna, because she ducked her head so that her sister could see her face.

Imagine watching two girls fight without talking (so just watching the body language). This is what the team saw when they watched Anna and Millie begin to rehash the fight from two days before.

Suddenly, Anna had such a wounded look on her face that Kowalski gasped. She was so upset she had forgotten to put on a mask before letting the comment register. Her flippers stop gesturing, and she started sinking slowly. Her eyes reflected such a deep level of hurt that they could almost see her heart breaking.

Instantly, Millie reached for her sister's flipper, trying to apologize. She looked like she was shocked that she had said something so rude/hurtful, and was obviously trying to get her twin to realize that she didn't mean it.

But Anna pulled her flipper away, swimming away so quickly that they could barely see her as anything more than a black line, scarring the water as she raced away.

Millie sat there, suspended, looking apologetic for another few seconds, before she started slowly going up for some air. She looked hurt too, but in a different way.

"What is going on around here?" Skipper asked nobody in particular, but being the intellectual, Kowalski felt obligated to answer.

"I wish I knew, Skipper." He started heading out to find Anna, but suddenly she was in the H.Q., tears crawling down her face.

Without saying a word to anyone, Anna walked over to her bunk, and stuffed her face in her pillow. She didn't make a single sound, but her head didn't leave that spot for almost an hour as Millie dove around outside.

"Ok, I don't think I can stand this anymore!" Skipper said the next morning, when Anna was discovered to be burying her head in her pillow for the second day in a row, without offering an explanation. Millie simply didn't answer anyone's questions with anything but a glare, and she didn't stay in the same room as Anna for more than a few passing seconds.

"You're telling me," Kowalski said, securely shutting the lab door, where all the males were hiding to talk where the emotional girls wouldn't hear. "I just wish I knew what to do."

"Maybe Marlene might?" Private asked, sounding hopeful, glancing from face to face. "She's a female."

"Thanks for your astute observation, Private," Skipper said sarcastically, "But I don't want to bring another female into this equation. Too emotional." He paced a bit, pointing in front of him as he did so. "Maybe if we tried to get one of them to tell us?"

Kowalski suddenly looked uncomfortable, shifting from one leg to the other, staring at the concrete floor. "Don't look at me. I don't want to have to make Anna tell me, and then betray her to disclose the information to you."

Skipper frowned harder. "Could we bring them together into the same room, and perhaps force one of them to speak to get to the other?"

"You mean, back them into a psychological corner?" Kowalski asked, thinking the idea over seriously, glad he didn't have to betray Anna's trust for his team. "It might work."

"Alright, then. Operation: Cat Fight is a go! Here's what I want you to do…"

"Are you sure you want my help?" Anna asked skeptically, trying to keep from tearing up as Kowalski lead her to the lab. "I'm pretty clumsy with glass vials."

"I'm sure you'll be fine…with the glass vials…Anna," he said, stumbling over his pre-planned lie, not looking at her. It was so hard to lie to her. It's for her good, he told himself. "So, just step on in this room…" he gestured like he wanted her to go in the lab, but he seemed forced. Like he was acting.

Something's up, Anna decided, scanning the room as she stepped inside. Nothing seems unusual, at least not so far…

But then Rico led Millie in from the fishbowl, grumbling to her incoherently to the average listener. Millie seemed as wary as Anna had been.

Evidently, with good reason. Anna stiffened. "I don't think I can help you with your project right now, Kowalski." She tried to leave the room, but he gripped her wrist.

"Please, Anna," Kowalski said, "You two need to talk."

Millie stopped walking. "Oh, it's you." She said, starting to back away, but suddenly Rico scooped her up and tossed her in the lab with Anna, and both Kowalski and Rico slammed the laboratory door and locked it from the outside.

"H-hey!" Millie was up off of the floor in seconds, banging on the door. "Let us out!"

Anna simply barricaded herself in the corner, sounding like she was about to either yell or break down crying. "You say 'us' like there is an 'us' anymore."

Of course, with Skipper being Skipper, they had installed a security monitoring system in the lab that all of the men were watching and listening to on the TV in the main room.

Millie stiffened, and turned. "Oh, that's right. I would say something rude, but I'm not talking to you."

"Fine with me," Anna said, crossing her arms and staring at the wall. "I know what the guys are doing. They're trapping us in here in the hopes that we'll crack and become friends again, but I'll stay in here as long as it takes."

"Me too." Millie said, leaning against the cold metal of the door. "But you act like you know everything."

"No, I don't." Anna said, apparently forgetting the fact that she wasn't talking to her twin.

"Then why did you assume you knew what the guys are doing?" Millie asked, trying to pick a fight. She often did so when she needed to let off of some of her anger.

"I don't assume anything," Anna said, facing her sister. "I know what they're doing."

"There you go again." Millie sighed, feigning boredom. She slammed her head repeatedly into the back of the solid steel door, as if trying to kill herself before listening to another minute of Anna's jargon.

"There I go again? Why do you…what are you…just stop it!" Anna cracked, yelling over the empty room. "Stop trying to make me get mad at you!"

"Apparently I'm not trying anything, Anna," Millie said, allowing a look of satisfaction to cross her features. If you knew how, irritating Anna only took a well-placed jab and a snarky comment or two on a touchy subject.

Anna glared at her twin. "You think you're so tough, Jennifer, but let me tell you this: I know five other penguins that could rip all of your limbs off if we wanted to."

"Meaning?" Millie smirked dangerously.

"Meaning that you aren't the only one who can fight around here, so you can stop acting like it, because I'm pretty sure we're all sick of it." Anna said, standing.

"Who's the fifth penguin, Anna? Because the last time I checked, you were too terminal to even learn the basics."

Rico whistled in the main room, as if awaiting the next words, and Kowalski glared at him. Skipper stepped inconspicuously between the two of them, just in case. His men were like brothers, but with love in equation…anything could become a serious argument.

"I know how to fight, Millie." Anna said, sounding sufficiently calmed, somehow.

"Yea, right. Prove it." Millie said, settling into a fighting stance. Her eyes in slits, she crouched for her sister to see that she meant what she said.

"Should we stop this?" Kowalski asked worriedly, not thinking that Anna could fight either. "Getting physical isn't that great of a way to settle a fight."

"Oh, they'll be fine." Skipper dismissed. He wasn't worried; Millie and Anna were twin sisters, after all. They loved each other, no matter how much they fought. I mean, surely?

Anna's brow creased, and she also settled into a rough tae kwon doe stance, opposite her twin. "Alright, then," she said, her voice back in its normal tone. "I will."

Millie smiled with the thrill of the challenge, or lack thereof. "Bring it on."

Kowalski bit his lip nervously, and Rico leaned in closer to the screen.

Anna waited for Millie to come at her, and she managed to block the first two moves. But then she allowed herself to become distracted by Millie's banter and the third hit struck her in the leg. Trying to block her next shot, Anna left her stomach unprotected and Millie kicked her.

Anna fell flat on her back. "Ow." She said, sounding dazed.

Millie looked triumphant for about half a second, and then she shook her head rapidly. "Anna!" she called, sounding upset, as if realizing what she had done. "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine…" Anna said, sitting up holding her head.

"I thought you said you knew how to fight!" Millie said, now sounding deceived.

"Well…I always beat the punch bag back home…" Anna joked weakly, smiling faintly as Millie helped her stand up.

Suddenly, both of them looked uncomfortable again.

"I forgot I wasn't talking to you," Millie said, letting go of Anna's hand and turning away.

"Oh…right…" Anna sounded disappointed, but stoic. "I did…too…"

And then they both sighed, and started talking at the same time. "Look, I have something I need to say. You go first. No, you."

In the main room, the male penguins high-fived triumphantly.

Millie put her flipper over Anna's mouth. "Look, I'm sorry for what I said. I shouldn't have overreacted like that. You were just trying to help."

Anna smiled, and pulled her hand off of her mouth. "And I shouldn't have let myself get so wrapped up in what I thought you were trying to do. I just tried to imagine me letting go of what Kowalski and I have, and I didn't want you to make that possible mistake. I'm sorry; it is your decision. You were just trying to remain the stoic protector."

"And you were just trying to help me out, so really, we were both just doing out jobs as sisters." Millie said, "We just got a little carried away."

Anna chuckled, and glanced around the locked laboratory. "A little…?"

Millie laughed outright, and then they both hugged.

"I'm sorry," they both whispered, at the identical moment.

"Darn twin-talk," Millie grumbled, and Anna giggled as they pulled away.

The door to the lab swung open, and Skipper and the boys were standing in the doorway. "So…are you two…?"

Millie and Anna smiled.

"Of course," Anna said, "We are sisters, after all."

"Yea…but the next time you guys trap us in a locked room, well…" Millie said threateningly, pushing past all of the penguins on her way out the door. "I'm going swimming, wanna come?"

"Maybe in a minute," Anna called, as Millie left. "After I talk to Kowalski about his 'experiment he needed help with'."

Kowalski's eyes got larger and he looked at the ground, shuffling his feet. "I'm sorry, Anna…I was just tryin-"

But Anna was laughing. "I was just kidding, Kowalski."

"Oh…right…" Kowalski said, feeling stupid. But Anna simply breezed past him, and kissed him on the cheek.

"Thank you," she whispered, beaming at him.

Kowalski froze up, like always. "Y-you're welcome, A-Anna,"

But she was out the door before he could turn around to gather his thoughts, which always seemed to desert him whenever Anna kissed him.

Skipper slapped his options guy on the back. "Come on, Kowalski. Pick up what's left of your wits, because it's time for the midday training session."

Kowalski could still hardly think. "O-ok…Oh, wait a second!"

"Come on, Kowalski." Skipper repeated, leading the rest of his team outside.

But Rico seemed reluctant to train when they reached the roof of the H.Q. He kept glancing at Millie, and moaning a little.

"Rico, look sharp!" Skipper corrected his form in the traditional fighting stance.

"Ugh…" Rico sighed, watching Millie swimming around in the water, splashing Anna with her flippers. She was so…wild. So rogue. He couldn't figure her out for the life of him, yet he was inexplicably drawn to her.

"Rico?" Skipper followed his weapons experts eyes, and instantly the last few days clicked into place in the leaders mind. Rico wasn't just being distracted, he was under the ultimate distraction.

Oh NO…not RICO too…Skipper groaned inwardly, but he had almost seen it coming. "Look, Rico…" Skipper was suddenly aware of the fact that Kowalski and Private were watching their exchange. "Exercise postponed," he said, watching Kowalski dive in the water after Anna, and Private stumble on in as well.

"Look, Rico…" Skipper started again. "I can't help but notice you seem to be, well, distracted by Millie. Do you…do you have feelings for her?"

"Yepper-doodle." Rico affirmed, watching Millie over Skipper's shoulder. She shot through the waves like a torpedo, leaving a destructive wake behind her…grinning madly as she dove in and out of the water, like a breaching whale, but much more graceful…

Skipper sighed. "Then…why don't you go talk to her?"

Rico looked surprised. "Me?"

"Yes, you! Go get her, soldier, and that's an order!" Skipper encouraged, gesturing at the water.

"Ok." Rico said, diving down after Millie.

Skipper placed his hands on his hips. I liked it better when my men thought that females had cooties, but I suppose we all have to grow up someday.

Rico swam right in front of Millie, trying to get her to stop swimming so he could talk to her. But unfortunately for him, Millie was used to playing rough-and-tumble games and thought he was barricading her.

Smiling impishly, she dove around him every time he tried to stop her, causing poor Rico to become frustrated.

Rico shook his head, and yelled after her. "Millie!"

She turned slowly, swimming back to the weapons expert. "Yea, Rico? What?"

He pinched his flippers together in front of his chest, seeming nervous. "I…I ahg ugh hhdg?"

Millie, being as fluent in Rico-speak as everyone else after three years, stopped moving. "…What did you say?"

Rico turned away. "Never mine," he said, starting to swim off.

But Millie stopped him again. "No, no, I mean, what did you say? I'm not mad, I was just…making sure I heard correctly."

Rico started smiling psychotically, and regurgitated some flowers. "Here." He said, handing them to her.

Millie took them, looking slightly abashed. "Well…thank you, Rico."

He seemed pleased with himself. "Pfft, was nothin."

She laughed, and swam over and kissed him on the cheek like Anna had kissed Kowalski only a few minutes before. Feeling embarrassed, Millie dove under water to re-set up her tough girl exterior.

Across the pond, Anna was smiling at her sister's exchange with Rico. "Look, Kowalski," Anna said quietly, sounding like she was about to tear up. "I can't believe she's finally opening her eyes."

Kowalski followed Anna's gaze line, and looked down at the half-smiling face of his girlfriend. "You do realize that…you're younger, right?"

Anna's eyes settled, and she put on her fake irritated voice. "Yes, funnily enough, I am aware of that fact."

Kowalski chuckled, wrapping his flipper around Anna's shoulder. "Just checking," he said, "Actually, I was just joking."

Now it was Anna's turn to laugh. "That was so funny! You got so nervous. Like I would be angry at you for something like that."

"I didn't think you would, but I failed to see the humor in your comment until you pointed it out." Kowalski said, as they both watched Millie dive under water with the flowers. "You know, I've never been too good with humor."

"I know," Anna said, starting to swim a slow lap around the pool. "I've never been either, really."

Kowalski followed after her, unable to think of something to say again. She was so graceful, and beautiful, and amazing…she just took his breath away.

That was exactly how Rico felt. He was still trying to recover from Millie's final comment, realizing that his gooey love-mush sensitivity wasn't acting up for the first time in his life.

Millie re-surfaced, looking at him curiously. "You're still up here? Come on, let's go swimming!" she said, pulling his flipper as she tried to make him dive.

Rico objected for a few seconds, and then he dove down, following her to the bottom of the pool. She was swimming around in the sparkling sunlight lines, stopping them before they could reach the bottom. Her head feathers were floating away from her face, her huge green eyes blinking at his blue.

Wow, Rico thought, allowing himself a small smile. Millie did a noiseless laugh at the look on his face, suddenly going so fast Rico could barely see her.

Tag, he realized. She is playing tag. Grinning, he chased after her, the two of them swimming in elaborate shapes beneath the surface of the water.

Anna was right, Millie thought gleefully, dodging Rico. How could I ever let go of this feeling?