Hey everyone!

Thanks for all the positive reviews. I have decided to continue this story but it'll just be a series of PennySeaweed one shots. This one has a little LinkTracy in it. Enjoy!

--Dru

Thanks again to EmmaMary! Cause she's amazing and makes me laugh.

Cold air from the open window stung his face and jolted Link awake with a start. His hands were clammy and he felt an uncomfortable heat being radiated through him from the girl lying next to him. Penny was fretting fitfully, the dull lavender light from the early morning sky shedding color on fever stricken cheeks. Seaweed had his face buried into the crook of Penny's neck, barely stirring as his girlfriends soft whimpers were muffled into Link's shoulder.

The day had begun with the giddy chatter of Link, Tracy, Seaweed, Penny, and Little Inez as they inhaled Motormouth Maybelle's sweet pecan waffles, preparing for a day out at the new integrated pool. It was just a couple minutes walk from Seaweed, Inez, and Penny's home and everyone was excited to spend another weekend together out in the sun. The walk over was set to the sound of Penny's squeal-y giggles as Seaweed refused to leave her alone.

"Come on baaaaby," he sang. His tone of voice was what always got Penny. It made her melt every time she heard it. She wouldn't ever think to argue with all this affection. Currently his hands were stationed at her waist, thumbs rubbing steady circles on her hips as she squirmed under his touch. Seaweed's voice felt sweet and tangy in his mouth as he sang out into the summer afternoon, stopping frequently to snag quick kisses from Penny who was happily bouncing along next to him.

"I've never been to an integrated pool before," Link stated, his signature black curl fraying a bit in the heat. His hand was clamped tightly on to Tracy's, her head resting against his arm as they walked. Every girl that walked passed them would stop to gawk at a shirtless Link, many of them squealing in delight and running away in giggles. It didn't bother Tracy anymore. Link had already proven his loyalty to her. Even pressing small kisses now and then to the top of her head to remind her he was there. She smiled at his words.

"It shouldn't be any different then a non-integrated one," she assured him, running the pad of her thumb along his palm. "You know…just more people!"

Link shook his head, his blush cleverly hidden in the sunburn still evident from the gang's previous weekend excursions running the town together.

"It's not the people Trace…just…I don't swim too well," his voice grew softer with every word. Penny laughed loudly, Seaweed's arms locked around her waist from behind, head perched comfortably atop her shoulder.

"S-sorry Link," she snorted before erupting into giggles again.

"Come on," he whined, arms crossed. Little Inez made it to the gate of the pool first wasting no time standing on her tiptoes to reach the latch keeping the door shut.

"Be careful!" Seaweed shouted after her as she raced to a group of girls she recognized right away. "Mom'll kill me if something happens to you!"

"I will!" Inez made a wave of her arm that looked like it was meant to usher them inside. They remained outside the gate, waiting for a group of hyperactive teenage girls to pass by Link before going inside. Penny couldn't quite calm down and was practically running circles around Seaweed as he tried his best not to step on her as they walked. He blew into her ear and she yelped in surprise, gripping his arm.

"You really can't swim Link?" Tracy asked, shaking off her flip flops and leading him towards the water.

"Well…PENNY! Would you quit laughing at me?" but a smile was in Link's voice as Penny tried hiding her contagious giggles behind Seaweed.

"Come on Link…I promise I won't let you drown," Tracy grinned as she took his hand and led him towards the water. Not many people were out. About 2 groups of people all with around 6 to 7 kids each. Penny grinned when she saw everyone playing together, all at peace with who they were.

"Ohhh Penny," Seaweed sang. He hadn't loosened his grip around her waist.

"Ohhh what?" she sang back tauntingly, wrestling herself out of his grasp. She faced him, eyes locking for half a second as she snaked her hands up his shirt. Removing the shirt, a normally common process, took around 5 minutes as touches lingered longer then necessary. Seaweed just shook his head and smiled, unable to hide the goosebumps and little twitches of approval as tingles ran down his spine under Penny's gentle touch.

"Ready to go swimming?" he asked, his voice slightly heavy as he pulled Penny towards his chest. She just smiled, seeing the plan in his eyes before he even thought of executing it. Strong arms tightened around her body as he took a few steps backward, falling with a splash into the water. When Penny's head broke the surface, air flooded into her deprived lungs, sputtering as she shook water out of her eyes.

"Seaweed," she half laughed, half choked. "You're no fun."

"No fun?" Seaweed laughed, wading his way over to Penny. She felt his warm hand running its way over her exposed belly before she was actually aware of his presence behind her. She maneuvered around so she was looking into his eyes, deep brown and beautiful. "You know you loved it," he added, his eyelashes clumped together with drops of water. The rest of the afternoon was spent not so much swimming but floating lazily in Seaweed's arms. Every now and then one of them would get a burst of energy that would turn into a tickle fight or passionate attack to the others mouth. As the afternoon light started giving way to sunset Penny and Seaweed rejoined Tracy and Link who were splashing around in the shallow end.

"How'd the swimming lessons go?" Penny grinned, a sun burn now evident upon her cheeks and shoulders but arms perfectly tanned. Tracy smiled.

"Links a pro now," she beamed, obviously proud of her accomplishment.

"Well let's see then!" Penny wrapped her arms around Seaweed's neck, Link looking at her skeptically.

"And by 'pro'," Little Inez stuck her feet into the water, rejoining her home-based gang in the shallow end after saying goodbye to her friends. "Tracy means able to flail his arms enough to get him to the side of the pool if he ever gets stuck away from the shallow end."

"Yeah," Link grinned sheepishly. "We'll have to work on the swimming."

"Oh no Link," Tracy moaned, watching the sun slowly sink behind the horizon.

"What is it Trace?" Penny touched her friends arm before she drug herself out of the pool, water-logged and tired.

"Mom wanted me home before sundown. I have to leave early tomorrow to spend time with my cousins from New York," she groaned. "Distant cousins. And Link isn't even allowed to come." Penny knew this was the only reason her friend was complaining.

"I promise I'll see you as soon as you get home," Link wrapped a towel around Tracy as Seaweed did the same for Penny, pausing again to run hands where they normally didn't go in public but were safe under the cover of Penny's polka dotted towel. She fidgeted like crazy, causing Link to send her odd looks, Tracy only smiling knowingly.

The walk back to Tracy's wasn't too long; the pool seemed to act as the middle ground between her house and Seaweed's. It gave time for Penny's wrinkled fingers to smooth out in the night air. As Link and Tracy said goodbye Seaweed, Penny, and Inez wrestled with one another, aiming hardly damaging kicks at shins and playful tugs to arms and hands.

"I'll see you Sunday Trace!" Penny called, the boys and Inez already racing ahead of her towards home.

"Take care of Link!" Tracy called back, Penny jogging now as to not be left too far behind. She waved back at her.

"He'll be safe with me!"

Penny winced as the mattress Seaweed had laid out on the floor of the living room rubbed against her sun burnt shoulders. Little Inez had fallen asleep shortly after they had returned home. Together, Penny, Seaweed, and Link pulled an old mattress in the living room. Seaweed put on some music and the three of them sat down, talking about the day and how different things were now compared to a year ago when they had met each other. Sometimes Link felt a little out of place with Seaweed and Penny, especially when Tracy wasn't around. It was so obvious how much the two had invested in each other. He knew the bond they shared was strong. But they had always been welcoming to him. Never did he feel unwanted or awkward in their presence. For some reason, after all the fun they had had that day, Link wasn't quite ready to say goodbye.

"I haven't really had a 'sleep over' since I was little. I mean…away from Tracy," Link said, taking a bite out of a cookie Penny had offered him. He sat cross legged on the mattress a few feet from Penny and Seaweed. Penny sucked methodically on an ice cube, her head propped up against Seaweed's knee as he rubbed Noxzema into her shoulders. The gentle feel of his fingers massaging her skin was making her ridiculously sleepy.

"There's always room for one more at our house," Seaweed smiled, the music adding a nice background to their gentle conversations. They kept their voices low so Inez and Maybelle would be able to sleep in peace.

"All right…I have to ask," Link turned his attention to Penny who had accidentally swallowed the rest of her ice cube and was impatiently waiting for it to melt in her throat. "What's up with the ice cube? Where's your lollipop?"

Penny and Seaweed exchanged a glace. Penny surprised Seaweed with her giggles.

"Eating too late causes nightmares," she stated calmly, rubbing Seaweed's leg and thoroughly enjoying the shocked look on Link's face as he stared at the half-eaten cookie in his hand.

The three friends talked into the early morning hours. Finally Seaweed's belly rubbing got to Penny and she succumbed to sleep. Link had only been asleep 20 minutes when he was jolted awake. The window they had left open blew cool morning air into his face. Penny was moaning at his side when he attempted to wake up Seaweed.

"What is it?" Seaweed groaned lifting his head and staring annoyed at Link. Penny answered for herself before Link had a chance to. Thinking she was having another nightmare, Seaweed panicked for a moment before gently shaking her awake.

"Penny…hey…baby. It's okay," he whispered soothingly to her as she awoke and stared into his face, disoriented.

"Seaweed," she croaked softly. It felt like her throat was on fire.

"You're really hot," he swallowed, pressing the back of his hand against her forehead. Penny attempted clearing her throat.

"I'm not feeling so great," she admitted, running her hands through sweat soaked hair.

"I'll go get some juice okay?" Seaweed stood up and made his way into the kitchen, Link instinctively reaching over to comfort his friend.

"It's all the sun. We were out too long today," he said, keeping his voice low as he gently squeezed Penny's hand.

"Yesterday," Penny corrected, seeing the purple glow of morning light filling the windows. She smiled at the flustered look on Link's face.

"Fine…yesterday." He grinned back at her, Seaweed returning with the juice and a slightly dampened wash rag which he laid gently across her forehead. Penny remembered being sick at home. Remembering how her mother would ignore her, dubbing her as a 'great actress' anytime something didn't feel quite right. As Seaweed doted on her and Link continued to rub her hand affectionately she knew she was better off.

"Mom's better at dealing with things like this," Seaweed whispered. "We'll try to get some rest before she wakes up okay?"

Penny took a sip of water before smiling through the sting of pain it caused her throat.

"I'm sleepy," she agreed. Seaweed settled back down next to her while Link stayed sitting.

"Lay doooown white boy," Seaweed groaned eyes closed against Penny's arm. She smiled at the nickname that had grown to become affectionate over the past year. Link did what he was told, keeping a few inches between himself and Penny as he closed his eyes. In a matter of seconds both boys were snoring softly on either side of her. Penny couldn't help but smile.

Gazing at the familiar black curl was the last thing she remembered before drifting off to sleep.