The next time she woke up she was lying alone in the dark and she felt her heart break all over again. These dreams were the worst. When she dreamed he was back. It seemed so real. She felt her eyes well up again and the tears began flowing in their familiar tracks down her cheeks. She shivered and pulled herself into a ball. A soft voice startled her.

"Hey." She rolled over so fast she cracked her elbow but she ignored it. This wasn't her habitat. She was in the penguins' HQ. And there, not three feet away, was Skipper. Tears continued to flow down her face and she hardly dared breathe in case he drifted away like smoke. Finally she whispered his name.

"Skipper." He looked heart broken at her breaking voice.

"I'm so sorry Marlene. If I'd known…" he trailed off but Marlene was hardly listening.

"You're back. You're really here?" She hesitated, still not sure it was a dream. He moved closer.

"I'm back," he murmured. She reached out and clutched his feathers.

"Promise me," she gasped. "Promise me you won't go away again." He stared into her wide eyes.

"I promise." Nodding quietly she lay back and simply stared at him until once more she fell asleep.

*

She woke up feeling strangely rested and peaceful. There was a moment while her mind was a complete blank. Then everything flooded back. As the memories collided in her head she remained frozen. Staring at a solid wall. Was it real? Could she face finding out it was really only a dream or an elaborate hoax? A throbbing in her elbow distracted her. How had she done that?

And then she remembered Skipper's voice… spinning round… hitting her elbow…

So… it was real..?

Cautiously she turned over. A view of the penguins' HQ, now somewhat cluttered, met her eyes. Hesitantly she pulled herself up. The sound of people echoed in from the outside but in here nothing stirred. She sat staring at the room, sensing the difference. This place was lived in. It was a home again.

She'd just made to pull herself upright when the sound of the fishbowl scraping the ground above startled her and she fell back onto the bed.

"Oh," Skipper sounded as surprised as she'd been. "You're awake." He stood awkwardly watching her. She tried to think of what she wanted to say but only came out with,

"What's that?" He jumped as he remembered why he'd come down.

"I brought you some lunch." He raised the fish for her to see.

"Oh." He turned and headed to their kitchen area. She watched silently as he drew out some knives and expertly diced the fish. After flicking the pieces into a bowl he headed back over. She accepted the bowl silently from him and waited as he backed away to sit at the table.

"Aren't you eating?" she asked.

"Me and the boys ate topside. The people like to see us chow down for some reason." Marlene nodded vaguely and looked back to the bowl.

Now her initial joy at their return had faded and she felt awkward and shy. Not to mention guilty. She'd listened to his private tapes. She knew he loved her. Or at least used to. Her eyes glanced over to him. He was still watching her carefully. She picked up a piece of fish.

But he still didn't know how she felt. She wanted to tell him of course. Confess everything. But how could she? She'd have to explain how she'd not told him before because she was scared to lose his friendship… how she'd tried to hurt him because she was angry he was leaving… how she'd listened to his journals…

Her stomach twisted and she dropped the fish. She looked at her feet.

"I'm really not that hungry." Skipper didn't say anything but seconds later she felt him sit next to her.

"Please Marlene. You have to eat." She risked looking up at him again. His blue eyes were filled with concern. "Try. For me."

She couldn't refuse. Quietly she picked up her biteful again and with an effort put it in her mouth. Skipper smiled as she deliberately chewed and swallowed.

"That's my girl."