"It might be good practice." Skipper replays Marlene's word and her wink over and over his head. She wasn't seriously considering it... was she? As far as the penguin knew, his wife never exhibited any want for a child. What made her start thinking now? Skipper stares at the empty incubator where Eggy once sat in. Maybe they could adopt an egg or two. Skipper grinned dopily at the thought of a few chicks running around the base- maybe a few little otter pups too.

Then he remembered how well he handled caring for Eggy, and, oh boy, he's glad Marlene didn't see that fiasco. A base full of commando penguins and deadly weapons may not be the best place to raise a child- let alone one that would be his. (The kid would get themself into so much trouble knowing his and Marlene's willpower.) Now he felt silly as he began to glare at the incubator.

At this point, Kowalski, Rico, and Private walked on him after checking up on the Mother Duck and her ducklings. Kowalski sighed, knowing very well what was bothering Skipper. Private cocked his head to the side and looked at Rico for an explanation. The destructive bird shrugged and croaked out something of the lines of "I don't know." Kowalski tapped the commander's shoulders.

"Yes, Kowalski." Skipper said before facing his team. "Is there something of the matter?"

Private glanced around the room and smiled sympathetically- though he didn't know what was wrong exactly. "Are you alright, Skippah? I know saying goodbye to Eggy is difficult, and-"

"I'm going to stop you right there, Private." Skipper says, "It's not about Eggy. I..." It might be good practice. Skipper scolded himself, "Boys, so you think I'd be a good dad?"

Confused, the other penguins looked to each other before reassuring Skipper.

"Well, sure, Skippah!" Private smiled, "Granted, your parenting was a little rough around the edges, but Eggy turned out great and intact!"

Rico elbowed the young bird in the chest for the last part. Private let out a gasp from having the air knocked out of him and tried to cough out an apology.

"No, no, Rico. He's right." Skipper sighs, "What I did today shows I shouldn't be a father."

"Yes, but," Kowalski smiled, "You have raised Private quite well. If I may add, I think parenting would look good on you, sir."

Private nods as he tries to regain his breath- seeming like he wanted to add to the comment, and Rico lets out an enthused "Uh huh."

Skipper involuntarily smirks, "You boys are a bunch of suck-ups."

"That too."

"Absolutely."

"Mmhm."

The four let out a laugh as the thought of an old lady and stealing a tourist bus crosses their minds. The laugh dies down, and Private clears his throat. "Did, um, did Marlene say something, sir?"

Skipper frowns, "Marlene has suggested having kids."

The three blinked in surprise before congratulating their brother. "Well, that's great Skippah!" Private patted his back.

Rico cooed. "Aww."

"I'm going to be an uncle!?" Kowalski squealed giddily.

"Kinda. Not really."

Kowalski frowned, "What do you mean by 'not really?'"

"She implied the idea of having kids." Skipper said as he felt his feathers ruffle.

"So..." Private began just as Kowalski finished for him. "You never actually talked about it?"

Skipper nodded with his shoulders slumped and head low. "She said, and I quote, 'Taking care of him might be good practice.' We never talked about kids before! And after today, well, I'm not so sure I'd make a good parent."

His team mimics his slumped figure as they try to think of a way to comfort him. "Well, maybe some communication is needed." Kowalski hums.

Skipper raised an eyebrow skeptically at the tall penguin, "What are you-" Kowalski, Private, and Rico ran up the hatch before Skipper could finish.

They headed straight to Marlene's habitat- which was easy since she was right across from them, and ignored Julien trying to intrude.

"Operation, er, Egg-Cellent Parenting" (Rico groaned at the awful pun.) "-is a go. Get her and get out." Kowalski commanded, "Easy, quick, painless."

"You make it sound like we're going to kill her." Private whimpered.

Kowalski rolled his eyes, "You know very well, Private, that killing my brother's wife isn't on the to-do list."

"I didn't mean I want to kill her!"

"What are you guys doing?" The two shrieked into Rico's arms as Marlene made her known. The otter leaned against the entrance to her cave with an eyebrow raised and her arms crossed. "And what's this about killing me?"

Kowalski huffed as he let go of Rico's neck and Private's flipper to explain, "I was merely explaining my plan to coerce you to come to HQ to Private when he made a rude comment."

Private gasped, "I did not! We didn't need a whole operation to get her out!"

"It sounds cooler, and I barely get to lead!"

Rico sighed as he dropped Kowalski and Private on the rocky floor. The penguins landed with an audible thud as they complained.

Marlene covered her mouth to control her snicker. "Alright, why do you need me at 'base?'" She gasped, "Is Skipper okay?"

Kowalski reassured her, "Skipper is fine; we just wanted to ask something."

"Well, sure, anything."

"Is the reason you offered us to egg-sit is because you wanted to see how well Skipper does and/or to bring up the idea of parenting to him?"

"What! Pshh, no..." Marlene laughed ungainly, "Why do you ask?"

"Just a theory." Kowalski smiled knowingly. "Listen, Marlene. Skipper is a good penguin, and I know that you know he'd make an even better father."

Marlene nodded with a loving grin before frowning in concern, "Is he... having doubts."

"Self-doubt, but yes. My point is: it would be best to discuss."

"I was planning too, you know." Marlene crosses her arms.

"Great!" Private smiled, "Then let's go see him! I'm sure you and Skippah can figure something out!"

"Yeah!" Rico nodded before saying something that Marlene made out to be 'you always do.'

The otter sighed with a smile as the three penguins practically ushered her to their habitat. "Did he put you up to this?"

"Not at all." Private said, "He seemed like he needed some... um, Kowalski?" Private looked up to the genius bird for a comment.

"Er… Skipper seems rather anxious about having children."

"And he couldn't have told me that himself?" The three penguins seemed to stop in their tracks as they attempted to explain themselves. Marlene rolls her eyes at them. "You know, you guys seem really interested in our love life."

"Sowry." Rico croaks.

"Sorry, Marlene." Private rubs the back of his head. "It's like living in a soap opera, but without all the drama and everything is sugary sweet!"

Marlene smiles softly at Private's enthusiasm and answer. Kowalski and Rico raise an eyebrow at the young Private. Rico shrugs with an "I dunno."

Kowalski sighs and pats Private's head. "We just want what's best for you two. Now, let's hurry up before Julian decides to butt in."

Marlene chuckles and pushes Kowalski ahead, "You're the boss."

"I'm not, but thank you for fueling my self-esteem."

"Any time."

In the meantime, with nothing else to do, Skipper idly searched through his logs. He organized every one; however, his flippers mindlessly searched for one specific tape. The penguin sighs as he places a tape down in the box.

His mind drifts back to his team. What in the mackerel could they be up to? Nothing good, knowing them. He clicks his tongue against the roof of his beak as he hears the hatch open. Skipper quickly shoves the box of logs into the elevator of the safe.

"We're back, Skippah!" He hears Private shout.

Skipper turns around. "Glad to see you boys are back." He shows a lopsided smile as Marlene follows behind. She smiles warmly at him and clasps her paws behind her back. Skipper does the same. "What can I do for you, Marlene?"

Marlene makes her way through the other penguins and faces Skipper. Her nose nearly touches the tip of his beak. "Well, three little birdies told me you need to talk."

Skipper raises an eyebrow at his brothers, "You boys have got to stop doing everything for me."

All he got was three salutes and three "Yes, sir"s.

Marlene giggles and grabs his flipper. "Come on, let's go somewhere private." She began to drag him into Kowalski's lab. She glances at Kowalski, who's reaching for his notebook. "Mind if we borrow this?"

"Not at all; just don't leave a mess." (He smirks, and Skipper glares.)

Marlene quickly slams the laboratory door behind them. She spins around and faces her husband with her arms crossed. Skipper raised an eyebrow, but he still coward at her unamused expression. Given the situation, he would've found her interrogation rather endearing and her stern guise beautiful. (Great Hoover Dam, he found her beautiful in any situation.)

"What happened today?" She asked.

Skipper chuckles as if it was a trick question. "The boys and I took care of Eggy, the egg you gave us, and we heartfeltly returned him to his mother."

"Mmhm. And today was so 'heartfelt' that you're doubting your parenting skills?"

The penguin in front of her seems so hesitant and confused at her words. Skipper blinks, the memory of so-called 'training' a young, impressionable Eggy flashes in his head. Marlene sighs at Skipper's pained expression; her paw reaches his limp flipper, and he complies. Her free paw reaches for his face, and she brushes at the white feathers near his beak. Skipper nearly leans into her touch. The penguin smiles softly as he gazes in his love's brillant, hazel eyes.

After a while of staring and lightly brushes each other's fur and feathers, Marlene speaks again. "Skipper, can you please give me the full story."

So he informs her of all the military drills he made Eggy do and of all the times Private had to step in before the older penguin could hurt the unborn duckling. "In hindsight, Marlene, I don't think parenting is for me. Seeing that I haven't been a good example of a parent, have a military operation to run, not to mention the threat of Blowhole, Hans, and maybe Dan the Octopus- or was it Dave?"

Marlene drops her comforting smile and her eyebrows furrow at the unfamiliar names. Skipper glances back at her with an awkward yet reassuring chuckle. "Doesn't matter… What's important is that I have many enemies, and many of them could potentially hurt or use our kids. I already have to worry about someone hurting you."

"You know I can handle anything, Skipper."

"I know, Dollface. I just… I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Skipper." Marlene scorns. "We'd never let anything happen to us- or them. Besides no one has ever found out about us."

"Almost." Skipper smiles sadly. "Marlene, I nearly slipped up when Dave had me in his clutches, and I'll admit, to only you, I was scared out of my mind." He swipes a flipper from her cheek to her chin.

He looked at her patiently and cautiously, and the otter nodded as if to let him continue. "The octopus mentioned that our destination would be the Big Apple, and I nearly shouted your name for the whole world to hear. Practically blew our cover as Debbie- Dave began to pry. He assumed you were just another penguin, but one that could be an advantage against me. In a blink, I turned into a green, black and white monster with a lobster claw for a flipper-"

"Terrorizing NY." Marlene finished. "I remember, but it won't happen again, Skipper. Dave didn't find me anyways; plus, Private ended his evil doings."

"I know, but-"

Marlene places a finger over his beak before holding both of her husband's flippers. "Don't 'but' me. Skipper, if you're still doubting yourself, then please look in a mirror, because so far all I've seen is a penguin who is capable of protecting and caring for his family and loved ones. You'd make a wonderful father, but if you're not ready, I'll always be here waiting for you."

Skipper smiled tenderly as he pulled the otter into an embrace. Marlene hugs him back, and the penguin rubs his face against Marlene's neck. "I really don't deserve you, Marlene."

Marlene hums softly as she traces her fingers over his black back feathers. "You deserve me plenty, Skipper."