Author's Note: Chapter Two! Here you go!
"Happy Birthday, Private!" chorused Kowalski and Rico.
"Oh, thank you!" exclaimed Private gleefully, his face all lit up.
The two older penguins set the cake down on their stone table. "Ready to blow out the candles, Private?" asked Kowalski, lighting them up.
"Not until Skipper gets here," replied the young penguin stubbornly.
Kowalski and Rico exchanged a glance. They both knew that Skipper would never miss their birthdays (although he had stated that it was not a very important celebration), especially his most naïve and youngest soldier, but sometimes, he could be late. Once, he arrived at 11 P.M., started and annoyed but happy to see Private waiting for him.
"Why don't you blow them out before they all burn down, and we'll wait for Skipper before we eat the cake?" suggested Kowalski.
"Uh, huh," agreed Rico, nodding vigorously.
Private glared at them. Kowalski managed a weak chuckle. "Or not."
"We're waiting for Skipper," repeated Private firmly.
"We're waiting for Skipper," said the other penguins.
The hatch opened. The penguins looked up, expecting to see Marlene. Instead, Skipper performed a perfect midair flip and presented Private with a little gift. "Good thing you won't have to wait long this time," said Skipper with a smirk.
He was as well aware as the rest of them about his near miss birthday appearances. "Skipper!" Private was grinning. "You made it!"
"I sure did, didn't I?" answered the older penguin, winking at his soldiers. "Happy Birthday, young Private."
Private smiled at his friends. "Thank you!"
He turned back to the cake. "Want some? I think it's chocolate so I guess it wasn't homemade."
Kowalski was wounded. "We make good cakes! Right, Rico?"
Rico shifted uncomfortably. "Uh, yeah?"
"Really, Kowalski? Think about the last cake you made?" Skipper raised a non-existent brow.
"Let's see, the last cake I made was on 'King Julien Day,'" said Kowalski, making quotes around the last part.
They all looked at him. Kowalski hung his head. "Point taken."
Private blew out the candles. "Let's not fight. Anyone want some cake?"
The penguins smiled and nodded. Private began cutting the cake. "So, Skipper, if you don't mind me asking, how was your mission?"
"It was un-informative," replied Skipper, curtly.
Kowalski took a risk. "Is it un-classified now?"
"As a matter of fact, it is, but I'll wait until tomorrow to tell you," said Skipper, surprising his team.
Not knowing what to say, they kept silent.