A/N: You know, Roz can't really get your cookies. I was kidding, honest. So... yeah, you could have reviewed. I swear. You still can, I mean, I love your reviews, and it's because of your reviews that we have our current Next Chapter Announcers! So, in conclusion, and without a moment to spare, I'd like to thank Ponytail30527, Knockknocktimerico, and Kowalskiluva11 for reviewing! You guys rock so gosh darn hard! ... NEXT CHAPTER!

Chapter 5: Two Sort-of Kind-of Dates... ish.

When they poked their heads back out, waiting for them were their parents... but they didn't seem to notice the pair. They were too involved in their own little world. Roz smiled, and sneaked up on them, as quietly as she could to listen. Marshal wasn't far behind her. "... maybe. But you know what I mean. So then... sundown?" Skipper said. Both children felt their hearts skip a beat. Could this actually be... a date!?

Marlene nodded. "I like sundown. Sundown should work. And don't worry about it so much, Skipper. It'll be fine, I know it." Marshal barely contained a gasp. Sundown? Liking stuff? That could ONLY be a date. He looked over to Roz, who gave him a quick thumbs up. She was just as excited as him.

"So it's set then. Go ahead and let everyone know, okay?" Something about that was strange. Why did Skipper want everyone to know about their date? "And we'll try to have this meeting with as little headache as possible. It should be--"

"MEETING!?" Roz and Marshal burst out at the same time, forgetting that they were spying. Their parents visibly jumped, Skipper even got into a defensive stance before realizing it was just those two.

Just as they were about to be berated for eavesdropping, they got on their parents first. "That was all about a meeting? Seriously!?" Marshal yelled. He couldn't help but feel a little betrayed. It wasn't like they specifically said they were going on a date, but still.

Skipper raised an eyebrow and looked over to Marlene. She looked just as confused as he felt. "Well, yeah. What did you think it was?" Neither wanted to actually SAY, and their stuttering didn't help. "No matter, did you guys work things out?"

They both nodded, and Roz finally made her brain catch up with her mouth. "Yeah, but don't change the subject. We thought..." She paused, looking over to Marshal for help. He was speechless, and therefore... no help. Taking a deep breath, she said it, and hoped for the best. "We thought you two were making date plans."

The reaction wasn't what she expected, as both adults laughed out loud. Doubled over with laughter, actually. Leaving Roz, the poor thing, just as mute as Marshal. "No! What would give you that idea? Come on, Roz." She continued to snicker as she walked to leave the penguin habitat and go let everyone know about the meeting, a little skip in her step. When she realized her daughter wasn't following, she turned back, the girl's face was screwed up in frustration. "Rozzy... what's the matter, sweetie?" She was still giggling.

After a couple of deep breaths, she was able to speak again. "I thought it WOULD be a date." Marlene raised an eyebrow, and looked over to Skipper, who had his own little one to tend to. She just shrugged, and said that it wasn't like that. "Whull... what about a little date? Like... what if... what if Skipper just walks you to the meeting?" Her eyes looked so sad that Marlene couldn't just say no.

She walked over to Skipper slowly, not really sure what she was doing, and asked him if he'd like to walk her to the meeting that night. ("For Roz and Marshal's sake," she whispered when Skipper threw her a surprised look.) He agreed, looking like he didn't care one way or another. In reality, he couldn't be more pleased, but he couldn't let them know that. She looked back at Roz, who was now comforting Marshal, before leaving to let some of the animals know about the meeting. Skipper went to get the rest.

After they were sure their parents were gone, a giant smirk crossed the animal's faces. "I can't believe they bought that." Marshal said. The otter holding him pushed him away from her gently, laughing. "I thought you were gonna start crying!"

They were both laughing now, with increased hilarity. "That, Marshal, is how you act. Improv. You know. Actually be awesome in a moment of high stress." He frowned. No, they were never going to be the bestie best of friends... She patted him on the back and winked as she dove into the pool and slid under the fence to go back home. But they were okay. And that was fine by him.

It took forever for her mom to get back, but once she did, Marlene was bombarded with questions. Several of which concerned what she was wearing for the walk. Making sure her daughter wasn't sick, she shrugged. "Same thing I... always do?" Roz looked at her as if she was kidding, then realized something very important. Animals usually DIDN'T wear clothes... did they? She sighed and sat back, twiddling her thumbs and mumbling how nervous she was. "Roz. Stop that. It's not you going, it's me." As realization hit that Marlene was actually going on a sort-of date with Skipper, she started to feel... funny. Like... closed in, funny. "I'm going to get some air. Be right back, okay?" Before her daughter could answer, she dove outside, as if escaping some giant boulder that was chasing her. Rozalin blinked, thinking that was probably the weirdest thing she'd ever seen.

More than half an hour later...

Roz paced nervously, back and forth. But why was she so nervous? Skipper was just picking her mom up for a meeting. It's not like this was a date or something. Unless... "Could 'meeting' have been code for date?" She asked her brother, who was busy cleaning out a camera he found. His eyes, hidden behind big goggles, lifted to meet hers, and before he could answer they heard the soft sound of splashing in the pond outside their door. "Skipper..." She whispered, before rushing outside into the darkness.

Her eyes, not even getting used to the darkness, found a dark figure pulling itself out of the water. She blinked, and threw herself at it, hugging him and making him stumble a little bit.

All at once she felt something strange. Something wasn't right.

She felt her own fingers around his body. And, she sniffed, what was that strange smell? Fruit? And why did his feathers feel all.. furry? I'll take things that do not describe Skipper for five hundred please. Her head leaned back, allowing herself to see, as her eyes had finally adjusted to the light. Brown. Not black and white... "Well, hello dere. Aren't you affectionate?" Prince J.J.!? He held her close to him, and for a small fraction of a second, she hesitated—before throwing him back into the water.

"J.J.!? What are you doing here? Where's Skipper!?" She demanded, the poor lemur barely holding onto the edge of the fake rock. He gasped and panted, the poor thing worn out and tired. Roz rolled her eyes and pulled him up, not knowing how light he was. The boy flew out of the water, and landed right on top of her.

When he opened his eyes, he smiled cheekily. "Hellooo Nurse." She scrunched up her face and shoved him, hard, to get off of her. Roz repeated her question with the same sternness and venom in her voice. "Hmmm.... I do not know, pretty, silly otter. But I am here." He laid his head in her lap and she felt a growl form deep in her throat. "We could hang out." He suggested, but was pushed off almost as soon as the words left him.

Brown eyes stared hard at him. Roz was starting to get more and more annoyed with this little... botheration. "Mention the hug to ANYONE, EVER," She stood up and glared at his smiling, cute, innocent face. "And I'll break both your arms. AND your legs." Was added as an after thought. Actually... "AND make sure you NEVER see straight again!"

J.J giggled, and faster than she knew how, he was on her again. "Oh, my cute little otter girl, you don't have to impress me." His cheek rubbed against hers, and this time, no matter how hard she pushed, she couldn't get him off."You had me at hello."

In that instant, his grip loosened, and she was able to finally throw him off. Roz doubted what he said, as she never remembered saying hello to him once. Shaking her head, she decided to leave the delusional prince alone, and turned around... only to come face to beak with Skipper. "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" Suddenly, Roz's world felt very warm, and only got hotter as J.J threw his arm around her shoulder.

"Well, not yet, bigger pesky penguin." Roz lifted his arm off of her, as Skipper just smirked at the pair. J.J was good for the girl, Skipper thought. Sometimes, she was just way too serious for her age. Then again, he had been hanging out with Marshal and Marlene a lot, so maybe he was being too... not serious?

Roz rolled her eyes for what felt like the millionth time. "Never mind him, Skipper. He's just an idiot." She remarked. The penguin hid a chuckle as the little ring tail looked slightly offended. He'd get over it in no time, though. "Why aren't you with mom?" So accusing were her eyes that Skipper wasn't sure what to say at first.

Oh yeah, then he remembered. "We already walked to the meeting. It's over." Roz looked around. Sure enough, her mom was approaching, talking to the other elder penguins. She blinked, very confused.

"So wait, what are YOU doing HERE then?" She asked, and Skipper just laughed.

Looking over at J.J, Roz tilted her head in a questioning manner, but the prince shrugged, just as confused as she was. "You're forgetting who's father I am." Roz knew that was meant to be taken lightly, but that didn't stop a painful twang in her heart. Maybe she was forgetting that, but she knew whose father she would have liked him to be. Even though he wasn't. Probably never would be... in that instant, she never felt smaller and more alone in her whole life. She smiled in spite of herself, and Skipper was none the wiser, thankfully. As he slid home toward his only son and trouble maker, she was left alone again with J.J, who wasn't bad when he was quiet.

The lemur watched her, staring carefully. Roz was sad, but why? And what could be done to cheer her up? "Roz?" He tried tentatively, and to his surprise, she looked up at him. "You know, I have a 'you owe me' from the Sky Spirits." The premise was small, but it was something, and since it made a small smile appear on her face, it was very much better than nothing. Not seeing any reason to stop, he kept going. "Maybe they can call Marshal away. Far, far away." He emphasized this by nudging her, and she let out a short, sweet giggle. For a good ten minutes, he continued to tell her jokes and stories until her eyes watered and she couldn't laugh anymore.

Rozalin was appreciative of everything he was doing, she really was... and for the first time, she thought he was actually... not annoying. "Thanks, J.J. That really cheered me up." She said, giving him a little hug, which he happily returned. Just as she was thinking he could be a good friend, he decided now was a good time to suggest a good night kiss. Roz sighed. Never mind. She pushed him away and crossed her arms. "Yeah, I don't think so. Good night." She said, rushing over to where her mom was still talking to the other penguins.

J.J just sighed. "I think I'm in love!" He said, but then realized he was too tired to swim back to the other side. How was he supposed to get home!? "Um... Roz... A little help? ...ROZ!"

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Next Time On Geeze Doumani!

Athena and Cube get closer!
Elli! You aren't supposed to say anything!
Sorry, but that's what happens in the next chapter, and I have to say what happens in the next chapter! If I don't do it, then the readers won't get their fix, and it'll be all my fault, and then-- (A loud smacking noise is heard.) Ow!
Feeling better?
No! You hit me! (Sniffles...) Why would you hit me like that, Athena?
I... I didn't... I... Oh, come on! (Runs off to get an ice pack)
I get her EVERY time with that. Now, where was I? Oh yeah! Cube and Athena get closer, and we finally get to go back to school! I love school, I get to see all of my friends! I wonder what will happen at school when Roz and Cube show up?

Please review, and I'll make sure there's some Buttons/Athena in the chapter after next, okay?

A/N: Elli and Athena, everyone! Thanks again to Ponytail30527 and Knockknocktimerico for their contribution of ideas. Next chapters announcer(s) is/are up to you guys. I also accept critiques, so... seriously, don't be afraid. Last thing, it's going to take me a while to get this next chapter up for a couple of reasons. 1: I'm not as far ahead as I'd like to be, so I need to work on future chapters right now so they don't look terrible when I post them. 2: I have homework due, that I should be doing right now, but I'm not. See the problem? Do the homework. I'll either post in... about 5-7 days, or I'll wait till I get... 4 or more reviews. Shiny?