I love Skippy. I always have, from the age of two.

Its such a great show. It's kid friendly, sure, but they don't shy away from things.

On my first rewatch of the show [I hadn't seen it since the age of eight] I realized how much I loved Mark and Clancy. Their little interactions...the little scenes of them teasing each other, just them being so cute! [He even called her a doll when she helps him sneak out to a party ;]]

I just really wanted to write a story where the main focus is their relationship.

Australia-28th October 1968

Sixteen-year-old Clarissa Merrick waited anxiously at the bus station for a car. Sitting there by herself, she had never felt so alone. Her brothers and parents were thousands of miles away. She was pleased for her father, who had presented the idea of moving when he had gotten a job offer as head ranger for a national park up north. Marion, her mother, had wished for Clancy to stay and finish her last two years of high school. That meant staying with a family on a national park run by a ranger friend of her father's, Matt Hammond. Clancy remembered his sons vaguely-the older boy had teased her, and the younger had been a newborn.

Clancy gripped her suitcase tightly as a ranger vehicle pulled up. She tilted her head to see who was driving. He wasn't one of the sons, she was sure of that. Too old, maybe twenty-four. He stepped out, and smiled passively. "You must be Clancy. I'm Jerry King, flight ranger."

"Nice to meet you." Clancy nodded, shaking his hand politely.

The drive was long, but not awkward, as both Clancy and Jerry were perfectly happy not to speak. "Your father must be pleased about getting that job," Jerry glanced over at the younger girl.

Clancy smiled tightly. "Yes, it means a lot to him. But he wouldn't have taken it if…well if Mr Hammond hadn't let me stay with you. Oh…I hope it works out all right."

"Do you miss your folks?"

Clancy nodded slowly. "…How much further until headquarters?"

"Not far."

"Oh, good! My stuff should have arrived by now."

Jerry's eyebrows raised. "You mean; you've got more stuff?"

"Oh, just…" Clancy grinned, finding it funny how he thought one suitcase was a lot of luggage. "Odds and ends…?"

They pulled up at the headquarters. Clancy smiled in excitement as she saw the truck driver unloading her piano. Jerry shook his head in disbelief at how large it was. Clancy hopped out of the car, smoothing down her blonde plaits and light blue skirt. Mat Hammond and his two sons set the piano on the gravel. The elder son was just as Clancy remembered him, ginger-haired, hazel eyed and cheerful. The younger one must have been around eight, and he was dark haired like his father. They even had the same round face.

Clancy held out her hand. "Hello, Mr Hammond."

"Hello Clancy, how are you?" Matt asked, shaking the outstretched hand.

"Fine, thanks."

"Jerry, why don't you get Clancy settled in while we fix this piano?" Matt questioned of the tall pilot who was trying to run away. "Then we can all get together for a talk. We might even get Mark to hustle up a cup of tea!"

The older boy, Mark, smiled begrudgingly, looking at Clancy only briefly.

"This way!" Jerry said from behind the girl, and she followed him towards a separate compartment. Opening the door, Clancy smiled at the fresh flowers on the desk.

"Oh this is lovely!" She exclaimed, letting the blue ribbons out of her hair. "Who usually sleeps here?"

Jerry narrowed his eyes in amusement. "I do."

Still feeling embarrassed, Clancy got undressed from her school clothes and stepped into a short purple dress. Georgie, her best friend, had gave her it as a gift for her fourteenth birthday. She hadn't grown much since then. She pulled some of her hair back, and let the rest fall around her shoulders. Barefoot and curious, Clancy opened the door and stepped onto the steps that led onto the main house. She smiled at Sonny, who was peeking at her through the sitting room window.

"Hello." Mark nodded, setting down his book reluctantly.

"Hi." Clancy looked around. "Is Mr Hammond here?"

"He'll be back; he's just talking to Jerry." Sonny commented, hopping off the sofa and leaving the room with a kangaroo at his heels.

Clancy took a deep breath and grinned nervously at Mark. "How old are you now, if you don't mind me asking?"

Mark glanced at her again. "I turned seventeen in July."

Clancy clutched at the thread of conversation. "My birthday is in April. I'll be seventeen, too. Aren't the examinations this year terrible?"

Mark nodded, smiling for the first time. Matt walked inside and seemed surprised to see her sitting there. "Hello Clancy. I'm sure you remember Mark? You met years ago."

"Oh yes, I remember. It was when Mrs Hammond was, uh-" Clancy swallowed and stopped at the pained expression on Matt's face.

"We want you to feel at home here, Clancy." Matt said quickly. "Look on this as if it is your own house. You go ahead and practice your piano as much as you want! We love music, don't we Mark?"

Mark raised his eyebrows and said unenthusiastically, "Yeah, I love music."

Matt gave him a look, before smiling at Clancy. "You go ahead and settle in. If there is anything you need, let us know."

Clancy wasn't surprised at how quickly Mark excused himself from their game of monopoly. He seemed competitive, and she couldn't help but laugh at his expression every time she moved one step closer to winning, and he landed in jail.

"I'm done with this." Mark grinned, holding his hands up in defeat. He sank back on the couch and yawned. "So, which name do you prefer? Clarissa or Clancy?"

"Clancy, as that's what everyone calls me." Clancy beamed, standing and stretching. "Do you want to play another game?"

"No thanks. As you can tell, everyone always beats me. But, I could show you around outside?"

Clancy nodded, pleased that he had offered. The slightly older boy tilted his head towards the door and they walked outside together. Waving shyly at Jerry, Clancy was thrust into a beautiful scene of nature as Mark escorted her into the bush. She jumped as Sonny and his kangaroo appeared in front of them, possibly not intentionally meaning to scare them.

"Watch it." Mark frowned, folding his arms.

"Skippy wanted to show me something." Sonny protested.

"Is she yours?" Clancy questioned, hoping to keep peace. Sonny nodded, his hazel eyes brightening before he went running off somewhere. Clancy giggled. "He reminds me of all my brothers."

"How many do you have?"

"Five…all younger, and they love to pester me."

Mark's eyes widened at her number of siblings. He quickened his steps as they approached a lake. "Sounds like a nightmare."

Clancy took in the shining waters as Mark sat down on the grass. She dropped beside him, and they sat in silence. Clancy watched the lake, longing to swim in it and to feel the water on her body. She didn't dare enter it, not with Mark being here. As nice as he was, she didn't really know him. Clancy yawned and stretched, letting her long bare legs lift and fall onto the ground. Her blue eyes closed slowly.

After what seemed like hours of sitting awkwardly together, Mark cleared his throat and Clancy's eyes opened. "We could swim, if you want. Or just wade, as I know you don't have a swimsuit with you."

Glad he had offered, Clancy nodded and stood up. After taking of her sandals she made her way down to the water, and cautiously stuck a foot in. Mark laughed, and she noted how much she liked his smile and the way it made his eyes shine.