The following morning the penguins get to deal with a morning hangover Kowalski. How lovely is that?

But at least he was out of his lab for reasons other than the theft of ice cream or vodka. Kowalski leans his head on the table with a growl.

"And this is why you shouldn't drink." Skipper gives him a look.

Kowalski merely lifts a flipper at him.

Private frowns, looking in the fridge. "Odd, we're out of food."

"Out of food?" Skipper frowns, glancing over. "... I guess someone can tell Freckles, since that's kinda her job."

Private nods and gets the walkie. "Bridget? Over."

However, there wasn't a quick response to the walkie this time.

"Hello? Bridget?"

Another moment passes, but finally, it crackles at him, beeping a bit.

"Hey Kid, Uh sorry. Somethin wrong?" Her voice answers…in a low melancholy tone.

"Um, kind of—"

"Yeah, we have no food." Skipper shouts over him.

"Wha— Whadda mean ya got no food?" Her voice picks up.

"I mean we ain't got no food. Dunno where it went, but it ain't here."

"Shouldn't Alice or someone else fed ya by now? It's almost 10!"

"I guess we can check topside."

Kowalski looks over. "...You're not coming today?"

"I—" The radio pauses.

"…I didn't wanna tell ya but… yeah. Today's not a good day."

"O h." Kowalski nods a little. "Then we'll figure out something and see you tomorrow?"

Skipper motions for Rico to check topside. "If they haven't fed us, we'll just go get something. It's fine."

The walkie falls silent again. Probably a good thing too, since hearing a grown woman muttering and cursing in thought wouldn't be pleasant. But then it crackles again, speaking with a sigh. "I'll pick up somethin for ya fellas. Shipments are probably slow ta arrive. I'll be there soon"

And the radio goes silent for good.

Kowalski looks at the walkie talkie with a frown. "...Something's bothering her."

"She did sound sorta sad," Private frowns. "Did she get sick again?"

"Better not have. Last thing we need is another case of croup," Skipper rolls his eyes

Kowalski gets up. "I'm off to shower." He states before waddling off. He may have to approach Bridget about it later... In the meanwhile, he should take a shower, see if that'll make him feel better. Should be able to keep his mind preoccupied from dwelling about Dor— his hangover.

As the sulking genius disappears into his lab, Rico pokes his head down into the HQ with a sad sigh and shakes his head. "No fish."

Skipper grumbles, shaking his head. "Figures, lazy, good for nothing—"

From the topside, a group of young zookeepers walks by the penguin habitat, chatting away on whatever gossipy topics they can come up with.

"You should've seen him. So hot and rich. He's getting his bachelor's degree, and plans on being a college professor~"

The main chatter was none other than Ciara, who with a small crowd of admiring listeners, boasted on with how glamorous her life seemed.

"But yeah, we're totes gonna be together forever. No doubt."

Skipper huffs. "—Not to mention loud and disrespectful with their interruptions." He crosses his flippers, glaring upwards. How loud can human teenagers be?

Rico however, gets caught up in the drama chatter, seeming intrigued. He can't help but listen in.

"Hey, Ciara, I don't mean to interrupt but like, I haven't seen your sis in awhile." One of the friends (who happens to be the same girl that chatted to Bridget once), perks up.

"Ugh, Ella, I don't wanna chit-chat about her. She's got enough of the spotlight on her anyways." The much younger lady rolls her eyes, putting a hand on her hip.

"But she was all over the news a few weeks ago. Were you not slightly worried about her?" One of the other girls speaks up as well, raising a brow curiously.

This causes the strawberry hair teen to groan, turning to now face her group with annoyance. "Alright alright, yeah I was worried. My sis was on the news and all, almost got killed by some gross old boomer over filthy flightless birds." Her green eyes narrow at the thought, as she then opens up her makeup bag to look in her mirror.

Why a zookeeper would have her makeup bag on her during work hours is beyond the writers' knowledge.

"But apparently she got into a fight with Auntie Mackenzie, so I'm not really like, supposed to talk to her anymore? But I'm guessing she's just recovering…" She looks away. "Or whatever."

"Oh Ciara, that must be hard for you." Ella places her hand on the teen, but then she's shrugged off.

"Rico, why don't you close the dish already and 86 their caterwauling?"

Rico, caught up in the younger zookeepers' gossip, sheepishly chuckles. Before he can get the chance, Ciara continued speaking.

"Oh it's fiiiinnneee. My lil sissy wissy lived. Besides, I think she's really not here today specifically cause it's her birthday," Ciara then snaps the mirror close, and shrugs again. The teen chuckles as her group of friends follow her along. Probably still not doing their jobs.

Rico closes the hatch with a gasp. Oh, those teens and their drama. Juicy.

"It's Bridget's hatch day?!" Private gasps as well. "She forgot to tell us!"

Kowalski pokes his head out from the bathroom. "Did I hear something about Bridget and hatch day?"

Private nods. "It's her hatch day today!"

"And she didn't tell me?" He looks a little sad at this but then shakes his head. "No matter. This just means we need to plan something for her hatch day and plan it quickly."

But as the teen said… Bridget gets quiet on her hatch day… and isn't a partier. Could it be that she purposely… didn't tell them? But why wouldn't she tell them? Who doesn't like having their hatch day celebrated?

It's a day to be spoiled… Or well, spoil your children. And as a new father to her, he must make sure she is good and spoiled on her birthday.

Then she must've forgotten. Trying to recover so much, it slipped her mind. They must celebrate her hatch day.

Kowalski slides to his whiteboard and starts planning. It feels good to be able to put full focus on something again. Something that might make someone happy.

Skipper watches this, sighing with a smile. His lieutenant was back in action.

0000000

Not long before 10:30, Bridget arrives at the zoo again, this time with a bag of food held closely beside her. Muffins for breakfast, pasta for lunch, and enough to last them till tomorrow, since she doesn't trust anyone really to feed them properly. Besides that, everything else like yesterday was about the same.

'K, just in and out. Give them the food. Chat a little, and then leave. Easier said than done but… this should be quick'

As she approaches the hidden garage area, she reaches out to knock—

Skipper opens the door. "Morning, Freckles."

Her hand retracts quickly, giving him a look. How do these penguins get to the door so quickly? Surely he wasn't waiting by the door for her?

"Uh, hey Cap," She nods at him, not really in a mood to call him by his full nickname. The bag of goods is lifted up in a gesture. "Gotcha some food."

"Thanks." He nods, getting the bag from her. "... You going to come in, or is this a door dash delivery?"

Rolling her eyes, Bridget softly skates beside him. "I was gonna come in anyways," she huffs.

"'Kay, just checking." He shrugs, letting her go past him.

And then there was silence. Awkward silence. The redhead was mainly looking at the ground, deep in concentration.

"Rough day?"

"… Ya can say that," And then she shakes her head, trying to get the bad mood to go away temporarily (permanently would be too good to be true). "But uh, I'll feel better soon."

Skipper nods and gets the door for her. Bridget nods at him and then skates into the HQ.

Private smiles at her warmly as she enters. "Hello!"

She shyly waves at him, biting her lip a bit. Private has this excited look about him, like he knows something she doesn't. This only makes the caretaker raise a brow at him.

'He's in a real good mood ain't he?'

"Excited for food?" She tilts her head.

But before the young penguin can answer, Skipper butts in. "Uh, don't mind him. He found something Lunacorn-related."

"… Ah?" Bridget nods, but still gives a weird look at them. Must've been a big season finale for his pony show.

Kowalski pokes his head out from the lab. "Ah! I thought I heard you." Hearing the genius's voice, she turns to him with a small smile. "Hey, Einstein. Ya feelin better?"

"Not really, but it's my own fault." He shrugs a little. "How are you?"

"I'm doin alright," She nods back, feeling a bit better that Kowalski is up and moving more cheerfully… without being tipsy.

Kowalski nods. "Are you busy tonight?"

He asks while in the background, Rico can be seen grabbing some wrapping paper, eagerly wrapping something up. What… Bridget didn't know. Only that it was a bizarre sight… and that it's way too early for Christmas.

"… Uh, N-Not really?"

"Okay, just thought I'd check." He nods.

Bridget bites her lip. "… Why? Cause I was gonna head back ta my apartment after this…"

Kowalski looks at her. "I just was curious. And in case I thought of anything, it's nice to know when you may be available."

"Ah," The redhead then pauses. "I uh… I don't think today is a good day for any plans."

He studies her for a moment. "Today is a…'Bridget wants to be left alone to be sad in peace' day?" He says slowly.

"… If that's the blunt truth… yes." Her black eyes glance away sheepishly, rubbing the back of her neck.

"On a scale of 1 to 5, how bothered would you be if say... tonight ended up as something other than that?"

"Why would that be the case?" She raises a brow at Kowalski.

"Maybe I had an idea I was considering." He shrugs a little. "And I'm vaguely judging its likelihood of exploding in my face."

Why is he so persistent to hangout? Especially today? They can't know that it's… there's no way. She never told them… yet every intuition in her bones tells her they somehow know.

"… K, whadda know, and how the hell did y'all find out?" Bridget squints at the penguins, crossing her arms defensively.

"… We overheard Ciara this morning." He rubs the back of his neck.

'Shit they know'

Cringing, the redhead rubs a hand down her face tiredly, sighing as she now understands what's going on.

They're wanting to celebrate her birthday.

"... I was thinking of a small hatch day tonight, but I'm getting the picture that you don't like your hatch day, so I'm... debating." He sighs.

"But why wouldn't we celebrate her hatch day? Hatch days are fun and exciting!" Private smiles widely. "And they're about spending time with those you care about on their special day!"

'Are… hatch days the equivalent of bird's birthdays? Would make sense considering they… came from eggs'

Bridget bites her lip. Yes, that's how birthdays are supposed to work. Celebrating the day you came into this world, a party full of gifts, cake, and so on, gathered by family and friends to spoil you.

Her prime examples have been Ciara's parties. When they moved in with their Aunt, Mackenzie had always spoiled her with giant ravishing soirées. The same couldn't be said for Bridget.

But that's not the reason why she doesn't celebrate her birthday anymore.

"I… I don't think that's a good idea," She rubs her neck skittishly. "I just… don't really celebrate my birthday."

"But why not?" Private looks shocked.

Skipper huffs. "Maybe she just hasn't tried one penguin style before."

Oh that made her head twist, huffing back at the flathead. "Aye, it's nothin ta do with how it's done. I just don't celebrate. Haven't in 11 years…" Her thick brogue accent dies down.

"…Well, 12 now."

Kowalski sighs and looks away. "Then I guess it would have been rude to kidnap you away for something tonight."

"Well it's rude ta kidnap in general—" She was about to start, but then stopped herself to think, studying his expression.

He really did seem like he wanted to celebrate…the others too. She didn't understand why… is this something friends do? Help celebrate other friends' birthdays? What did they plan for her birthday?

"… Did ya have… a layout?"

Kowalski nods. "It was quickly planned, but yes… For tonight." He looks up at her.

She tilts her head at him. "Do ya fellas even have enough silver for that?"

They blink at her.

"Newton's knickers, I knew I was forgetting something. I'll have to check that." He faced flippers.

'Yeah no, this has bad idea written all over it. We're not riskin it, and I'm not gonna have naked men on my birthday'

With that, the ginger sighs. "I appreciate it, I really do. But my birthday isn't somethin ta celebrate. And I wanna keep it that way."

And with that, she opens the door she entered in, and skates out. The penguins watch her go and then exchange glances.

"... Well I vote Plan B. We're kidnapping her." Skipper nods.

If it was the only way they were going to get her to celebrate, then so be it. And so four penguins slide out after her. What a feeling of deja vu.

Meanwhile, Bridget continues to skate out of their HQ, her mind more on her thoughts.

'It's for the best. I can't hangout with them today… I'll be in a much better and happier mood tomorrow. I'll make it up to them somehow… then again, I really need to put my boundaries up more. I'm gettin too mushy. How am I gonna be able ta leave if I get too attached ta them?…'

She doesn't notice them drawing closer behind her. Four little blurs of black and white are indeed gaining on her. One signal of Skipper's flipper and Rico coughs up a smoke bomb up ahead.

Clanking sounds echo in the hallway, forcing their caretaker to snap out of her thoughts and direct her attention behind her. Only to be greeted by an abrupt swarm of thick fog, not aiding her need to observe her surroundings.

But noticing the boys drawing closer to her, it didn't take long before Bridget pieced together what's going on. With a gasp and cough, her body twisted back forward and began rolling at a faster pace. Four penguins jump into the smoke with her.

'NO NO NO—'

Her black eyes squint forward in efforts of seeing the exit, pushing herself for the door as her arm reaches out. And almost made it.

Almost.

We know how this ends. Can't let her win so easily. If she did then there wouldn't be a birthday. So it's only natural that she somehow conveniently tripped and fell on the hallway floor, only inches away from the exit. And just to make sure for certain she's caught, the four penguins then have her pinned by the back. She lets out a big grunt at the dogpiling. Yep, she's caught.

"Freckles, I get you're freaking out, but come on. Give it a chance?"

"You'd get to meet someone no other human has ever gotten to witness before." Kowalski offers.

"I've already met them, they're pinnin me ta the ground." Her sass is muffled from her face being planted on the ground.

"Besides us." Kowalski smiles sheepishly.

Skipper groans. "You're not thinking of showing her Dode, are you?"

Kowalski grins. "Oh you know she'd love to meet him."

"Who's Dode?" Her face slightly turns up to them.

"A living extinct creature." Kowalski slyly grins more.

Her black eyes shine with curiosity. "… You've piqued my interest."

"Then you'll meet us at the museum tonight after it's closed?"

Bridget then thinks on this again, internally debating on the final offer.

After a moment of struggling with her internal thoughts, she gives out a groan…. and nods with a sigh. "Fine. Yes, I'll be at the museum."

"You won't regret it." Kowalski smiles widely. "I promise I won't go overboard."

"Mm," She nods. "Now please get off."

They get off of her.

Bridget wobbles back up with a groan, rubbing her head while looking away. "Do ya fellas at least have silver? Or need me ta bring clothes?"

"We'll go before the moon and snag some silver at the museum." Skipper shrugs.

She nods at them. "Where exactly is the museum and when?"

"The natural history museum, it's in Central Park." Skipper nods.

Kowalski thinks. "Maybe around 7?"

"Oh, it's that close by?" Her eyes widened a bit. It was hard to remember that she was new to New York. Hasn't seen or experienced a lot of the area's wonders.

"Oh yeah, we go by pretty often ourselves." Skipper nods.

"Both for missions, and to feed Dode." Private adds.

'Damn, all this time I could've been hangin out at the museum on lunch breaks'

Bridget bites her lip, trying to mentally remember and note the plan and schedule. "K…I'll be there at 7."

"If it'd be easier, could meet us at the zoo entrance." Skipper offers.

"That'll be easier for me."

"Then we'll do that." He nods.

Kowalski looks at her. "I'd suggest dressing nicely, but I suppose we can compromise for what you feel comfortable in. I would like to know what flavor pie you like, though."

The ginger bites her lip to think. "I think any flavor will do… " She then ponders on the clothing. "… I do have those flannels."

Kowalski nods. "It might put you a little more in the mood."

Bridget nods one last time. "K, see ya tonight," She sighs and waves at them as she turns to leave the hallway. This time, the boys let her go with a nod.

"Thank you for the food." Private waves.

"Mmhmm," Her voice quietly mutters back, leaving them be.

'Well shit… I got a birthday ta attend to… and it's my own'