Although Fox was trying to get some last minute rest in on the plane ride, Mark couldn't be more excited. He sat by the window as their destination that had been long awaited by him at least came into view. A single island surrounded by a vast ocean all around it, he saw so many sites and wonders both on and off the island he couldn't wrap his mind around just how big it was. He saw things from roller coasters and other fun rides from people laying out on the sand and playing in the warm ocean water. They were on the other side of Corneria and although they experienced Winter where they normally lived, here it was all sand, shorts, and fun.

The only thing that would have made this mini-vacation better Mark thought is if had Auntie Katt came to spend it with them. He asked his father many times before they actually left if she could come, however Fox had told him that his aunt had other things to do during this time, and she kissed both the boys goodbye before they departed. As his boy looked out the window in amazement, Fox gave up on trying to get any last minute rest and decided to try and caffeinate himself awake. Fox wished Katt could have come with them, but whether Mark wanted to believe it or not Katt couldn't get the few days off in time before their vacation came up since it was so last minute. Although perhaps it was for the best, Fox needed to think long and hard if his relationship with Katt was to stay where it is, or perhaps try and advance the bond between the two. And that would be quite the challenge if she was with them every second of every minute of every day while they were here.

The two got off the plane and was right in the dead center of all the fun, many beings and some with their entire families of parents and kids got off all at once. Fox and Mark got to see the view from the ground and it was breathtaking. The sparkling blue ocean water was so clear, and so many people inhabited the beaches and local shops around. The island was huge but for it being so big there was only one resort that was also an airport and main hub for entertainment and dining. It was surrounded by all kinds of other local shops, but there was only one way on or off the island and that was by air. People rented boats to explore other parts of the island but not to travel off of it.

"Now Mark you have to be patient and be a good boy while we check in alright?"

"Okay." Mark simply gave his father as Fox picked him up and took their single bag of luggage into his other hand. They checked into their hotel room as it was just a single, figuring since Katt did not come along with them to need more space. After they checked in and unpacked the few things in their bags that they would need on a daily basis did Fox sit on the bed and look to his son.

"So what do you want to do Mark? We're going to be here for a few days and spend your birthday here. What do you want to do first?"

"I want to go swimming!" He sounded so excited as he bounced up and down with glee and joy.

"Alright then, get ready and we'll go. Maybe we'll have a snack if you're getting hungry." The two agreed on what they would do, and got prepared doing so. Mark wore the cutest lime green and yellow swimming trunks with a matching green shirt, as Fox were black and blue trunks and a blue sleeveless shirt over to cover him up. He grabbed the two towels and threw them over his shoulder, making sure to have the keys to the room, his wallet, and the like incase he needed them. Fox grabbed his shades and threw them on, wanting to keep his identity concealed if he could. Mark never understood why people could recognize his father even though he had never met them, as Fox had yet to explain to his son the deeds he had done in the war. Both the saving, and the killing aspect of what he took part in for the war on Lylat.

The two left as Mark his father's hand tightly, not wanting to lose his father in such a crowded place filled with people and strangers he didn't know. After a moment it was a bit too slow to weave through, and so Fox picked up his boy and placed him in his arms easily. Many of Fox's acquaintances told Fox that he needed to stop carrying his child as he was already five, but Fox liked the kind of closeness it gave with his son.

The single daddy and son weaved in and out of people and made their way to the sandy shores, the sand already baked from the heat of Sol as it warmed their feet. Mark wiggled his toes as he liked the mix of sand and fur, and they walked up and down the shores for now. Mark wanted to play in the water but Fox felt it he was a bit too young to do so safely. Instead the two got some buckets from the lifeguard station, and collected wet sand to build a sand castle. As Mark collected some of the wet sand did Fox start to build a base, creating the walls and the towers that stood out from the four corners and the two played. Fox thought it was so relaxing, the sun on his back, the ocean breeze in his nostrils, and the peace of mind that was brought with this isolation from the snow and the noise of the city.

That's when Mark slipped and fell face first into the wet sandy shore, the sand stung his eyes as he began to cry out loud.

"Hey it's okay buddy." Fox picked up his still crying son as he tried to calm him down, and was making progress as he bounced him up and down. "Do you want to take a break? Maybe get a treat?" Mark didn't reply with words, he only gave a quick nod of the head as he tried to wipe away the tears. Fox noticed as he picked up his son that he left a cut on his legs, probably from the roughness of the wet sand as Fox recollected the buckets with one hand and held his son in the other. Fox took off his shirt with one hand and threw it in the buckets, as he carried everything completely hands full and headed for the lifeguard station.

It's a good thing he still had his shades on because if he didn't the people around him would be even more of a nuisance. Fox took off his shirt as it was getting a bit warm but now wished he had the third arm to put it back on, as many female beachgoers started looking and eyeing his physical form. It was something that always bothered him, that's another reason why he always had the shades. As they reached the lifeguard station did he put the buckets back down, and tried to find a lifeguard close by.

"Excuse me." Fox caught the attention of a female poodle as she turned around, giving him a wondering yet friendly expression. "Do you happen to have a ban-daid? My son fell in the sand."

"Sure thing." The lifeguard only dressed in a single red colored swimsuit dug through the medical kit they always had nearby incase of small scuffles like the poor boy suffered. As she looked at the size of his cut did she grab one of appropriate size and handed it to the vulpine father.

"Thank you." He turned toward his son giving him a comforting smile. "What do you say Mark?"

"Thank you." The kit let out quietly, he was always a bit shy to strangers, especially women for whatever reason. It didn't hurt that he was a bit hurt and trying to get over his sniffles as well. She thought it was cute as she tried to look at the kit in the eyes, but he shyly looked away in a rather cute way.

"You're welcome honey." With no other words did Fox give a nod to the lifeguard and walk away, heading toward the edge of the pier to sit his son down on a bench or so. "Miyu come over here." The poodle called over her linx friend and fellow lifeguard to peer over where their eyes met, the same vulpine dad.

"He's cute isn't he?" She asked as her friend gave an approving nod.

"He is but he has a kid already, I'm looking for someone who I can mingle with before settling down."

"Kids aren't that bad, ask Krystal her sister might as well be her kid."

"Maybe for a day but for a lifetime? I'll pass, suit yourself Fay." Miyu gave back before attending at other matters. "He is cute don't get me wrong, the kid is cute too. But not my thing." Fay only went back to what she was doing as they simply forgot about the vulpine and his son. Fox had Mark sit down as he put the band-aid on, and gently pressed it to keep it in place.

"Feel better Mark?"

"Yea." His son gave back quietly, as he got up and started walking on his own again taking his daddy's hand.

"Maybe you'll feel better with a snack." The two walked over to one of the local shops as Fox picked up his son again, and they looked at all the goodies they sold. Fox was explaining that they had everything from frozen fruits to sugary delights. In the end Mark went with.

"Banana!" Mark shouted rather excitedly making his father laughed. The store chocolate dipped frozen bananas as the fruit was one of Mark's favorite foods to eat. They both had one as they were served on a stick, and bit into it as Fox simply walked down the pier with his son.

"So what do you want to do now Mark? Do you want to head back to the room?"

"I have to go to the bathroom." He simply gave back as Fox walked over to what seemed like a joint-gender facility, with men going to the left and women going to the right.

"Do you need me to come with you Mark?"

"No!" Mark gave his dad with an annoyed look, the young boy was rather proud that he could go to the bathroom all by himself now and wanted to keep it that way.

"Okay I'll be waiting right out here for you."

"Okay." Mark walked into the bathroom by himself as he headed for the nearest stall that wasn't occupied. After doing his business and washing his hands what Mark didn't know is that he actually went out the bathroom's second entrance or exit as you see it, and went out on the opposite side of the building he originally entered in. As Mark took a few more steps outside he didn't see his father anywhere, and began to panic a little.

"Dad?" He called out only for Fox not to hear him. The vulpine dad was on the other end of the facility and was making sure to look out for his son, however it was quite hard as many beings were passing and walking by one another that crowded the street. The sound around them was filled with all sorts of chatter and sounds from the amusement park so close to them on the island.

"Dad!?" Mark continued to walk around by himself and unattended as he began to get scared. He held his banana with one hand as he started to make his way onto the beach, not realizing exactly where he was walking as he was just wandering around aimlessly. He walked onto the beach hoping to see his father but it didn't happen. He walked to the opposite end of the pier of where Fox was as he started to get tears in his eyes.

Mark was lost and confused, as well as in a vulnerable position with a little fear. He had been told about the danger of strangers and people he didn't know, and wanted to find his father as soon as possible. But this was a place he had no idea who anyone was or where anything is. And so panic began to run through the usually brave kit.

"Hey!" Mark turned toward the calling as he saw a blue furred kit playing in the sand. "What are you crying about?" She asked him in her high pitch voice, however her appearance rather scared the kit and made him uncomfortable. Although the young girl didn't know it, Mark had never seen a blue furred fox before. She had dark blue hair and purple eyes as she gave him a questioned look.

"Did you lose your dad?" She asked Mark as he only gave her a quick nod. "I'll take you to my sister! She can help you come on!" The girl merely got up and wiped the sand off of her white swim suit, and took Mark's hand as he didn't know what to do. He knew this girl was a stranger, but she looked rather nice and friendly. He just followed along still tears in his eyes as they walked toward the lifeguard station only about fifty feet away.

By this time Fox wondered what was taking Mark so long, and decided to go inside to make sure he was alright. There were a few times the kit had been constipated and thought something was seriously wrong with his body, only for Fox to laugh and be a parent and take care of it.

"Mark are you okay?" He called out in the bathroom only to hear no answer. He quickly noticed that the bathroom was completely empty as panic and realization began to sweep over him.

"Shit." Fox said to himself as he realized that his son was now gone, and he headed out the second entrance he could only assume Mark had taken by mistake. Fox swept the streets and park with his eyes to not see his son, as he quickly ran in the same direction Mark had went, but scanned the streets and not the beach.

At this point the two little kids reached the lifeguard station, and the blue kit yelled out. "Krystal!"

A moment later did Fay come back to see who was yelling, to see it was the blue vixen's little sister. "Hold on Garnette I'll get her." Fay ran downstairs to fetch the kit's older sister. A moment later an older blue furred vixen with red shorts and a red sleeveless tee came up to greet her sister and the little boy she was leading.

"Hey Garnette, what do you need?" Krystal asked as she took quick note of the little boy her sister was dragging.

"He's lost his dad." She gave the simple answer as Krystal kneeled down to their height and try and get the boy to be more comfortable and open up. He was wiping away the last of his tears as his frozen banana treat was melting all over his hand.

Krystal looked at the little boy in his green eyes, and tried to speak slowly and friendly like to the boy. "Hey sweetie, you lost your dad?"

"You're pretty." Is all Mark said as he got the vixen and her lifeguard friends to all give small smirks and chuckles. Fay and Miyu heard the young boy as Krystal smiled.

"Well thank you!" Gave the little boy as she smiled. "Can you tell me your name?"

"Mark."

"Alright Mark, I'll call for your dad over the megaphone. Would you please tell me your dad's name?"

"Fox." Is all he said, rather shy and blushing talking to the pretty older vixen.

"Fox? That's your dad's name?" Krystal questioned, just to double check that the kit actually knew.

"Yea. His last name is Cloud." Mark gave back, although didn't quite get the grasp as to where there was a 'Mc' in front of their last name.

"Okay." Krystal coed. "I'll call for your daddy and while we wait why don't you take a seat, would you like some water or some juice?"

"Yea!" Mark was over enthused to get something to drink as he was rather thirsty. As Garnette and Mark walked up to the lifeguard station did Krystal pick up the receiver and clear her throat.

She spoke clearly. "Attention Fox Cloud, attention. Your son Mark has reported at the lifeguard station. Please come by and pick him up, thank you." Krystal left it at that as she tried to clean up the boy kit, his banana treat now melted and gooey throwing it away for him. He didn't seem so interested in it anymore as he wanted the orange juice as his new treat.

Fox heard the megaphone from the other side of the pier as he ran that direction. He didn't know how he could be so stupid as Mark probably would have went to the beach since its their only familiar landmark. It took him a good five minutes of speed jogging in sandals to make it to the sandy shore, and walk up to the lifeguard station trying to catch his minor breath.

"Mark there you are!" Fox greeted his son as Mark ran down the pathway into his father's arms. Fox scooped him up and hugged him tightly, kissing his forehead. "You should be more careful Mark, I'm sorry that I lost you."

"It's okay, the pretty lady helped me." Fox smiled as his son was so brutally honest with his feelings. He looked up to the lifeguard station to see not only the other two lifeguards there, but a new third lifeguard. She was a blue furred fox, and was quite beautiful Fox thought as he could only assume she was the one he was talking about. She was happy to see father and son reunited, and Fox walked up to the three ladies and the other blue furred kit. He peeled back his glasses and gave them thankful eyes.

"Thank you Miss, sorry for the trouble."

"It's no trouble at all." Krystal gave back kindly, trying not to stare at his chiseled chest as it heaved up and down. "So you're Fox McCloud." She put together as they continued to talk.

"Yea." He simply gave back to her. "This is my son." He turned toward his kit where he noticed he now held juice instead of a banana. "Mark did you say thank you?"

"Thank you." He gave back in a cute high-pitched tone, but now turned back to being shy as he hid his face in his father's shoulder.

"Awwww." Fay commented at the cute scene.

"May I ask your name Miss?" Fox asked the blue furred vixen.

"I'm Krystal." She gave back kindly. "Krystal Cerin, and this is my sister Garnette. She found your son on the beach."

"Well thank you Garnette." Fox bent down to thank the young girl for her kindness. "That was very nice of you to help Mark."

"You're welcome!" She gave back as she went to return to her seat, still sipping from the juice box.

"What brings you to the island?' Krystal tried to break the ice as Fox bounced his son lightly, trying to keep him calm and happy and not so reserved to those who helped him.

"Vacation." Fox gave, not really in the mood to chat. "Needed to get away from the cold and the city, and some time away with my son."

"Well make sure you visit the amusement park while you're here." Krystal gave the advice with a friendly smile. "I take my sister and I there all the time she loves it."

"I will." Fox nodded as he smiled, the young woman in front of him. "Thank you again."

"Can I have your autograph!?" Miyu busted from the lifeguard station with pen and paper in her hand. If she had known that it was Fox McCloud who approached her station she would have tried to get him to stay longer than for just a band-aid. Fox didn't really want to, as this was something he always hated. But they helped him find Mark and therefore he felt a bit obligated to do so.

"Sure thing." He gave back quickly, hoping to mask his annoyance in his tone. Fox took the pen and paper in his hands as he signed and dated it. He handed it back to the linx with a sheepish smile. "There you go."

"Thank you. Take care now!"

"Thanks again." Fox and Mark headed back to the resort as the three ladies watched him go. They all looked toward one another with impish smiles as Garnette was still occupied with her juice box.

"To bad. I didn't know Fox McCloud had a kid." Miyu said aloud as Fay gave her an astonished look.

"What do you mean to bad!? Kids are never a burden."

"Yea but he's not old at all, he's only like 27 he could have mingled for a bit longer before settling down."

"He isn't really settled down anymore." Krystal finally spoke as she took a seat on the railing, and watched him go. "His wife died in childbirth I read a while back, and as far I'm certain he doesn't have a permanent dating partner right now."

"I can fix that." Miyu said in her overconfident tone of voice, giving her friends a look of lust then turned to look at the father. "Maybe we'll see him again."

"Maybe he'll only be here for a day." Fay shot her friend's dream down as it gave her some amusement seeing the look on the linx's face. Krystal said nothing as she only looked toward the man getting farther and farther away. She could still see the two rather clearly as Fox turned toward his son and kissed him on the forehead before continuing on. Krystal really admired that kind of courage the vulpine had, to face the world as a single father alone with no one but his son. Fox caught on to the way Krystal stared at him with pensive eyes, as she started to have a little fun.

"Maybe Krystal should marry him." She snapped the blue vixen out of her trance and looked to her with heavy blush. "He can be the dad and you can be the mom, and you will be your only little happy family." Fay over exaggerated as she hugged herself making kissing noises to the vixen's annoyance.

"Come on Krystal." Miyu gained her friend's attention as she looked worried. "Don't tell me you're still seeing that creep Panther."

"Oh god no." Krystal only looked in disgust. "I'm not but he keeps bothering me, he's starting to get to a stalker level and I need to tell somebody before long."

"Tell it to Fox McCloud. I heard that Panther actually worked for his rival back during wartime. Now that the war is over they never see each other but if you told him you're having trouble with one of his old rivals he may actually help you."

"He hasn't done anything yet, I doubt it will escalate that far." The three merely dropped the conversation and went back to their lifeguard duties. However everything might turn out the way they all planned during the father and his son's trip to the island.

Author's Notes

Ah, lots of fluff. Just the way I like it.