The Penguins proceed to split up. They begin walking through the crowd, thoroughly scanning each face. With all of the Penguins having been released to this spot, this was the prime opportunity for them to look for Private's parents.

"Um, excuse me? Is anyone looking for their long-lost son?" Private asks. Honestly, he is hoping that he will recognize them instantly.

He continues walking and finds a couple. "Hi, my name's Private. I –" They immediately turn away. "Oh, okay." He shrinks.

"Anybody get separated from a little baby hatchling before this fiasco all began?" Skipper uses his flippers to estimate how big Private was when they found him. Maybe that will help.

As he walks, he gets no response. "Anybody?"

Kowalski is speaking with a group of penguins. "He's small, round with big sapphire… - no more of azure eyes." Due to the difficulty of this task, he wants to be precise as possible.

"Hello!" Rico eagerly runs up to a group.

However, the abrasive nature of his approach, sends several penguins screaming. It appears his best is scaring, rather than attracting them. This pattern continues, as the sun eventually begins to set. By this time, most of the penguins have scattered. In fact, if one penguin hadn't been startled by Rico, they had already been interrogated by Skipper or thoroughly interviewed by Kowalski.

The oldest three look on, as Private is asking the few remaining penguins. He looks tired, as the golden sun drops down behind him. Tears are beginning to form back in his eyes. Skipper's face drops at the sight. He hates seeing Private so distraught. The poor, little guy looks miserable and exhausted. They had spent the whole afternoon and yet… nothing. If he can't find his parents here, that must mean… they really are gone.

"Private?" Skipper cautiously leads his brothers in approaching Private. He doesn't know how Private will react.

He sadly waddles up to his brothers. His head is held low and filled with disappointment. The other penguins can hear him sniffling, as he rolls up a flipper and rubs on his eyes.

"Are you all right, given the circumstances?" Kowalski asks.

When Private lifts his head to look at his brothers, concern is in their eyes. However, as he looks at them, memories begin to flood in. Suddenly, a montage of memories comes back to him. Just when he needed comfort the most it seems.

One of his first memories was inside a crate. It was the first night they had been captured by the humans. The little penguin had no idea they were headed for New York City. They had no clue where this journey would take them. In fact, they were just focused on getting to the destination. Abroad a carrier ship, they shared a wooden crate. Skipper and his brothers were not much older than him at this point. Moonlight streamed into the tiny box. It illuminated the penguins, as Kowalski and Rico were fast asleep. The two were nestled up in the corner, huddling for warmth.

Skipper, however, had found it hard to sleep. Besides, the newest, little member of their team didn't seem to want any shut eye. At this point, Skipper had been up with the hatchling for quite some time. Although he didn't seem to tire either. Instead, he energetically held out Private in front of him. Now, that his brothers were asleep, he could do a little bit of coddling. With flippers extended above his head, he enthusiastically spoke to Private.

"Can you say Pri-vate?" Skipper asks with a wide smile.

Private giggles. "Pri-bet!"

Skipper chuckles and brings the hatchling in closer. In fact, he's not much older than the chick. "Yeah! Good job, Young Private."

"Yun Pri-bet!" Private happily imitates his big brother.

Skipper chuckles, causing his belly to jiggle. Private snuggles in closer, giggling along with him.

The next memory that comes to Private is their first day at the Central Park Zoo. The four of them stand on their island for the first time. The morning sun nearly blinds them, as they overlook a crowd of humans. These bizarre creatures are like nothing Private has ever seen before. Where are their feathers? The cheering sounds they make are disorienting to him. His little flippers press onto Skipper's back. He is unsure of the strangers. That's when Skipper turns back to Private. His big eyes look up at Skipper. In return, Skipper offers a reassuring nod. Cautiously, Private waddles out from behind Skipper. He watches faces in the crowd light up, as he dares to take trembling steps forward. Still, he doesn't wander too far from Skipper.

"Just smile and wave, boys." Skipper gently orders.

Private starts waving and the crowd guffaws. The cheers increase as they swoon over his adorability. He giggles and begins to dance around. He spins, bounds, skips, and hops. Catching his breath, he looks back at Skipper who winks at him. The little penguin proceeds entertaining the crowd to his heart's content, giggling and smiling the entire time.

Private is a little older in his next memory. It is clear they have been at the zoo for a few months. At this point, they are in the park. Standing at the edge of a pond, ducklings swim by. Private watches them, while Skipper hands him a fishing rod. He is much too distracted to pay attention. Skipper slowly goes through the motions of casting a line into the water. He ensures his pace is appropriate for the young penguin. When he concludes his cast, he looks over to Private.

It appears the inexperienced penguin managed to tangle himself all up in the line. "Heh," Private laughs sheepishly.

"Oh, Private!" Skipper whines before going over to untie him.

The sunny day at the pond soon darkens. It is late in the Penguins' HQ. Wrapped in blankets, the team is gathered together as thunder rocks their habitat. Completely covered and lying flat on the ground, Private hides under his blanket. His tail feathers shake in fear. The next thunder clap causes his whole body to tremble.

He leaps up and clings onto Skipper for protection. Kowalski already has a diagram pulled down. He extends a pointer to a big, gray storm cloud. As he goes on explaining the weather to Private. It doesn't seem so scary now that Kowalski is explaining it. Private looks up to Skipper for reassurance. Is this all true? Is thunder not anything to be scared of? Skipper pats Private on the head.

On a much sunnier day, Skipper and Kowalski are treading in the pool of their habitat. At this point, Private is still young but has now gained his adult feathers. That means it's time for his first swimming lesson.

"C'mon, Private!" Skipper calls, cupping his flippers around his beak.

"You can do this!" Kowalski cheers him on.

The two extend their flippers out. It was a compromise they had made with their younger brother. He would jump in, but only if they promised to catch him.

Private musters up his courage and steps forward. He takes one last glimpse at the water and immediately steps back. He shakes it off and tries again. Oh, but the water is so deep. He's never done this before. What if he goes under? He stands at the water's edge. Little does he know that Rico walking behind him. With shove of his flipper in passing, Rico sends Private into the water with a splash.

"Gahh!" He exclaims as he falls in.

Kowalski frantically dives down for the bird, while Skipper shakes his head at Rico. Rico simply laughs.

In the lair again, Kowalski and Rico are asleep in their bunks. But Private and Skipper are very much awake. He had had quite the nightmare just a few minutes prior. Gripping tightly onto a teddy bear, tears stream down his cheeks. Skipper kneels in front of him to look him in the eyes. He places a flipper on Private's back and smiles at him.

"It's all right, Private. I'm here." Skipper assures him and receives a hug in return. "And, I'm not going anywhere." He vows.

Back at the pond, this time the Penguins are in a rowboat. Then, they are at the lake again, this time on a rowboat. He has aged a lot since his last memory and now stands at the helm of the boat. His flippers move fast, as he reels in one heck of a fish. It puts up a fight, as he leans back but persists. Sure enough, a ginormous fish springs from the water.

The Penguins cheer for him, as they place the now mounted fish on their wall. A plague adorns the bottom, reading "Private's First Prize". Rico is cheering wildly as Private looks at himself in the reflection of his shiny, new plague. Skipper and Kowalski look on proudly.

The next memory is not so fond, as Skipper stands with his flippers crossed. He taps his webbed foot. There is a disgruntled look on his face, as he looks at Private. His flippers are behind his back, while he looks at Kowalski with pleading eyes. Kowalski is holding his now broken invention close to his chest. Surely it was an accident but Kowalski really cares about his inventions. Private proceeds to apologize.

Now on the top of their island, Skipper demonstrates a maneuver. Just as before, he glides his flippers smoothly and slowly through the air. The other penguins begin to copy. Walking around, he inspects their form. Stopping at Private, he readjusts Private's flippers. Private nods, as Skipper steps back, and gives it another go. Skipper smiles at the completion of the move and gives Private a pat on the back before moving on.

Kowalski is standing in the lair, reading an organic chemistry manual. Out of nowhere, Rico runs in and weeps the tall penguin into a hug. Private scurries in to get in the group hug as well. Skipper stands outside of the fray, with a coffee in his flippers. He chuckles and shakes his head skeptically. What a bunch of marshmallows, he muses to himself. That's when Private leans out of the circle and grabs ahold of Skipper's flipper. He drags him in as well. Having been defeated, Skipper sighs and embraces the hug.

Private snaps back into reality.

"Private, are you sure you're feeling all right?" Kowalski inquires. The little penguin seems spacey.

"I mean I am sad that I never really got the chance to meet my parents." Private sighs. That is a fact that he will never escape.

"Take as long as you need to process this." Kowalski encourages Private.

"I will." Private nods. It is bittersweet, but he appreciates Kowalski's empathy.

Private looks up at his brothers and smiles. "I may not have a mom or a dad… but I do have a Skippah." He looks over at Skipper. Turns out, he had always been like a father to him.

Private continues. "And, I have a pretty great family, as it is. I couldn't have asked for a better one." Now, he looks over at Kowalski and Rico who are intently listening.

This merits a smile and sniffle from Skipper. There was even a tear, though he'd deny it no doubt.

"D'awww!" Rico lovingly wraps his younger brother in a headlock and ruffles the feathers on Private's head.

"Then, let's ditch this popsicle stand." Skipper places his flippers on his hips.

"Yes, please!" Private sighs exasperated. The past few days have been eventful. That was an understatement.

While Rico and Private are back at the bungalow, Skipper and Kowalski stand alone at the point. The sun is setting over the ocean. A deserted ship is docked below them. Like many years prior, they stand overlooking the scenery.

"You know," Kowalski turns to Skipper. "it's not too late to sail the world. Fight those radioactive seagulls?"

Skipper laughs. Kowalski knows him well. It doesn't take much convincing. "Well, who am I to deny you boys an adventure?"

That is enough to catch the attention of the other two. Rico and Private come racing up the point. Without much competition, Rico is the first to reach them.

Howling wildly, like an ecstatic wolf, he cheers. "Adventure!"

"Did I hear traveling?" Private reaches them shortly after. He is out of breath but perks up. "I've always wanted to see the pyramids in Giza!"

"Ooh! And study the biodiversity of the Alaskan wilderness!" Kowalski turns to Skipper eagerly begging.

"Detroit!" Rico lifts his flippers.

"All right, not a bad idea." Skipper chuckles.

As they make their way down the point, they are headed back towards the bungalow. Skipper turns to Kowalski with his typical, authoritative demeanor. "How's our vessel looking, Kowalski?"

"She's in tip top shape, Skipper, with refreshments, fishing rods, and a full tank of fuel." Kowalski salutes.

"Excelente!" Skipper muses with his flippers behind his back.

That's when their mother steps out of the bungalow. With flippers on her hips, she watches them. It's like her boys are children again, coming back home from a day of playing at the point. But they aren't children anymore. They've grown so much, and she's so proud to be able to see the results. That also means it's time to let go.

Medika stands next to her and places a flipper on her shoulder.

"Aren't you boys forgetting something?" Gwen smiles.

She outstretches her flippers. As if on cue, they follow suit. Lining up, they all go up to receive a hug from her. Rico is first in line. When he gives her a hug, she tries to smooth down the feathers on his head. As soon as her flipper clears his head, they pop back up. She laughs and gives him a kiss on the forehead. Some things never change.

Skipper is next to go up. She gives him a kiss on the forward and a big, tight hug. "You've done a great job with them." She tells her son.

He smiles with tears in his eyes.

She goes down the line to Kowalski. He is much too tall for her to reach his forehead. He chuckles and bends down. Now giving Kowalski a hug, she tells him. "Your father would be so proud of you."

"He would?" Kowalski pulls back. His eyes are wide in shock.

"Of course." She laughs. "You remind me so much of him." After all, it didn't take her long to realize Kowalski takes after him the most. Skipper is a lot like her, while Rico is truly his own penguin.

"Thanks, Ma." Kowalski is choking back tears.

She makes her way to Private. He anxiously taps his flippers. Will he be accepted as much as his brothers? He isn't one of her sons. How would she respond to him?

"And how could I forget you, Private?" She wraps him up in a big hug.

She even gives him a kiss on the forehead, before releasing him. Then, she goes on to instruct him. "You keep an eye on your brothers for me, okay?"

"Yes, ma'am!" Private' salutes, taking his new duty seriously. He's grateful to be included.

"Call me Ma." She places a flipper on his cheek. "And you let me know if they give you any trouble." She winks.

"Thank you, Ma!" He goes in for one more hug.

"Oh," she is taken off guard. Though, she laughs and accepts the hug.

Private approaches Skipper, as he stares out towards the ocean. In Private's flippers is the family photo Skipper had shown him. It had been just a few days ago since his birthday party. That was when Skipper had told him he was adopted, Private wished to learn more about his parents, and he was given the photo of his family. It might be nice to update it.

"Skippah, do you think we could get a family photo before we leave?" Private asks.

"Ma?" Skipper's game for it, but it's up to her.

"Of course!" Gwen smiles and looks at Medika. As much as she loves the old photo and everyone in it, a new one would be nice too.

Rico is already on it. He hacks up a old-fashioned camera and stand. The group huddles together. As the pose, Gwen wraps her flipper around Medika. Private smiles widely, Skipper tries to capture his good side, and Kowalski poses confidently. The sunsets behind them.

"Ready?" Rico grunts, before running in to join them.

"Ready!" Private exclaims.

"All set!" Kowalski concurs.

The camera flashes. Now, the picture of their family is frozen in time. It has changed since the last photo… actually quite a bit. But it's still family. Their father was gone but certainly not forgotten. He lives on through them. Maybe not in the same stories but different ones. Honest ones that are reflective of his true nature. Perhaps, he's even more so present in the behaviors and mannerisms of his sons. Their family has only expanded since then.

At this point, Skipper has sent Private and Rico out to warm up the ship's engine. They've run ahead. Now, Medika, Gwen, Kowalski, and Skipper are left standing on the point.

Skipper turns to Ma. "So, I guess this is goodbye. For now."

"It looks like it is. We agreed that you boys will come back home for Thanksgiving?" Gwen responds.

"Affirmative. Christmas and New Year's?" Kowalski questions.

"I think we'll join you boys at your place." Medika smiles.

"I'd love to see your home and meet all your friends." Gwen agrees.

"Sounds perfect. We'll see you then." Skipper says turning away.

Kowalski starts heading off, as the ship's horn blares. It's loud enough to get anyone's attention in a five-mile radius. He rolls his eyes and trudges on. Rico blows the horn a couple more times. Certainly, that penguin has never been known for his patience.

Skipper follows but pauses. "But if you ever need anything…"

"I'm sure we'll be able to find you." Gwen calmly reassures her son. As much as she wants them to stay, she needs them to be happy. Their dreams are out beyond Antarctica. Now it's their job to find it.

"C'mon, Skippah!" Private calls from the deck below. Rico's getting antsy and he sure doesn't want to boat to leave without his leader.

"Go on, sail the world." She gives him one last hug, before he runs down the point.

Everything comes to an end, and she's just glad for the time they had together. No matter how brief. Besides, she could always go and visit. Living in memories is not much of a life, but revisiting them can enrich one so much. This is the goodbye she needed. The closure. Though this isn't "goodbye", but rather a "see you soon".

Skipper walks farther out onto the point. But before leaving, he turns back. He gives one last smile and wave to his mom. She and Medika wave back, huddling close together for warmth. Then, Skipper leaps down from the point. He disappears and lands on the deck of the ship below.

"Skipper!" Rico cheers.

"Yay!" Private is happy to see his brother is joining them. He was beginning to wonder.

Skipper waddles past the deck and into the captain's cabin. He finds a gigantic chair, where a human might sit. Instead, it is empty. A skipper's hat dangles on the edge of the backrest. Leaping up onto the chair, he dusts off the hat. Dust clouds roll out into the air. Once it is all clean, he places it atop his head.

Kowalski is hard at work with the gears of the ship, while Rico is shoveling coal. Private is on standing on the other chair. He eagerly looks out the other window. The sunset is quite the sight, as it reflects off the water and floating ice.

Skipper then holds out both photos in front of him. He looks from the original, family photo to the new one. He smiles. Then, he tucks them in behind the steering wheel. The original family photo and new photo are sitting side by side. Now, it is complete.

The sound of Kowalski blowing the horn causes Skipper to break out of his reverie. As the boat starts rolling out onto the water, the penguins run back to the stern of the ship. They begin waving back at Gwen and Medika as they stand on the point. Just smiling and waving.

"All right, men!" Skipper turns to his team. They pause to await his command.

"Commence operation: Adventure Awaits."

With that, the ship sails out towards the sunset. The words "The S.S. Penguin" mark the rear of the ship. Clearly, they have been sloppily painted on by Rico. The team goes sailing on to their next adventure, facing the uncertainty of the future with a smile. But one thing they know for sure is that they have each other, no matter what.

[The End]