My Note: Here you go, my loyal viewers and reviewers! Operation: Update is ago!

Now, could you please make Operation: Review your new mission?

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING EXCEPT THIS STORY (IDEA), AND MY OC'S: ARNINA, AUBURN, ALASTER, IRINA, MARCOS, SAGE, AMII (AKA ROOKIE), DAMON, AND SLADE. THE CHARACTERS OF THE PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS AND NOT ME.

Oh, and don't forget that Eliza belongs to CalliverMarieDiAngelo.

Enjoy and Review please!

Meanwhile, Back at the Otter Habitat...

Amii walked back inside with Damon. They held paws and laughed softly at their own little, private jokes.

Arnina smiled at the sight. She sighed and looked at her husband, who was standing near the entrance of the habitat. He kept his gaze to the outside, not really looking at anything. His mind was too busy thinking and worrying to pay attention to anything else.

Arnina stood up and walked over to him. She opened her mouth, but didn't say a word. Instead, she placed a paw on his shoulder in hopes of bringing him out of his reverie.

Alaster moved his head away from her and didn't say anything. Arnina looked to the ground with a sorrowful sigh and let her paw fall from his shoulder, only to wrap it around herself. Ever since Marlene had gone into her coma-like state, things between them had been a little rough.

Alaster had made himself increasingly distant; unable to control the roaring emotions inside. He tried to hold her. He tried to be many things. But, he stopped shortly after Marlene was given to the humans.

Arnina was worried. Not only for her daughter, but also for her husband. He had never been like this before. Well, except for when they were expecting their first litter.

Arnina turned away from him and hid her face as she cried silently.

Alaster sighed. He knew exactly what she was doing, despite her silence. He knew that what he was doing was hurting her and that she was going through enough to have to deal with his distance, as well.

But, he couldn't risk closeness right now. He couldn't risk an outburst of emotion that was very likely to happen should he engage in close proximity.

He had to remain strong. For his daughter, for his wife, even for the penguin who loved his daughter.

His wife and his family was his only, true, known weakness. And if he got close to her, his walls would go down and his strength would be gone with the tears.

Yet, Alaster did love the otter woman and couldn't bear seeing her in tears. "Arnina, my dear..", Alaster said quietly. "Don't cry, love..Don't cry. You know what that does to me."

Hearing him say this only made Arnina cry harder as she replied, "And you know what your distance is doing to me."

Alaster sighed and risked turning his head to look at her. "Yes, I know, my dear. But, you know why. You know I have to be distant in times such as these."

Arnina rolled her eyes and turned to face him as she replied, "Yes, yes, because you can't control yourself with great emotions like these. Feeling is too much a hazard for you to handle. I am too much a hazard."

Alaster put a paw to her chin and gently forced her to look up at him. "Arnina, love. You have always been a a hazard to me. Being near you has always made me run the risk of.. falling in love."

Arnina stared into his eyes, her tears drying up quickly.

Alaster got closer to her and continued, "I do love you so, dear. And that's why I have to be strong. I have to the boulder for this family. Just as I always have."

Arnina put her paws on his chest and replied, "You don't have to be. We're all scared for her. We're all hurting. But we're doing it together. That, my love, is what's making us strong. Think of how much stronger we'd all be, if you shared your strength with us. After all, two is stronger than one."

Alaster looked to the ground and dropped his paw from her chin. Arnina almost lost hope, until she noticed his arms winding around her. "As usual, my dear..", Alaster said with a smile as he looked in her eyes. "... You are right. And far wiser than I."

Arnina smiled and leaned in, replying with, "But, of course, my dear. Whatever would you do without me?"

Alaster leaned in as well and said, "Let's hope I never have to find out." Then, finally, they shared a kiss. A kiss so sweet, so meaningful, and so full of passion.. It was more than their hearts could handle. But, as Arnina said, two is stronger than one.

Then, the sound of someone clearing their throat made the couple stop. "Um, ma'am?", the animal said.

Arnina looked at the animal in relief and said, "Yes, Skipper? How is she? How is my daughter?"

Skipper replied quickly, "The Doc says she's fine. He's going to test her some more tomorrow and he now has an assistant to help him out. I'll talk with Kowalski and get back to you."

Arnina sighed with relief and said, "Oh, thank goodness. Thank you, Skipper." Skipper just nodded and replied, "All in a day's work, Ma'am." Without another word, he slid away to the penguin's habitat.

Arnina turned to her husband with a small smile. Alaster returned the smile and hugged her tightly. Arnina hugged him back and said, "No more distance, OK?"

Alaster rolled his eyes and said playfully, "If I mustn't, dear."

Arnina kissed him sweetly and they shared a much-needed laugh. Alaster sighed, this time in happiness and said, "Hey, why don't we go on a date tonight?"

Arnina's eyes widened. "What?!"

Alaster pulled back to look at her and said, "A date. You know. You. Me. Anything you want. Anywhere you want."

Arnina smiled and said, "Oh, I'd love to! But, would it be selfish of us, you think? To be out having fun while our daughter's in the hospital?"

Alaster shook his head and replied, "Honey, we need some time to rid us of this grief we've been feeling. I'm sure the others will understand that we need a night to ourselves to deal with this situation together."

Arnina looked down in thought.

Alaster leaned in and said, "So, what do you say?"

Arnina looked up at him and said, "I say..." She smiled at the anxiousness in her husband's eyes. "..Yes."

Alaster picked her up and twirled her around. "Splendid!", he replied. Arnina laughed when he put her down.

Arnina kissed the tip of his nose and said, "I'll see you tonight. But, I can also see you today. So, let's go inside for now."

Alaster put an arm around her wast as they headed inside and said, "Of course, dear."

My Note: So, here's some Alaster/Arnina sweetness! Hope you guys enjoyed! I've noticed that I don't always give my OC's a lot of time in the spotlight so, there! Review please!