After some time skipper took the wheel again, he sped once more around the zoo, before coming to a calm stop in front of Marlene's home.

"Thanks again guys that was fun." Carlene cheered happily, hopping out of the stylish car before private could get the door. Marlene followed her lead, jumping from the car before skipper could help her out.

"Yeah, we should hang out again sometime." Marlene smiled, out of the corner of her eye she saw Carlene wave goodbye to Private, and he smiled and waved back. Marlene Smiled again, and waved to skipper. He saluted her, making her giggle lightly, than he smiled and waved back.

Skipper waited till they had gone into there home before he drove off not at top speed this time, but still not slow. He wanted to take his time getting back; he knew what awaited him when he got back to the h.q. Kowalski would be up his neck with questions.

"Did you have fun on the date Skippa?" Skipper tightened when Private said date, Marlene had used the term hangout, not date.

"Date? That was no date." Skipper laughed nervously, his grip tightened on the steering wheel. He pushed on the gas, as he focused on the path.

"But skipper." Private started, But Skipper held up a flipper telling him to be quiet, Private remained Silent the rest of the ride back, the only noise was the engine. Skipper's heart had been in the clouds the whole night time, until Marlene said 'hangout.'

When the reached the penguin habitat, skipper took a deep breath to calm down, and opened the fishbowl entrance.

"How was your date?" Kowalski asked, as private and Skipper came down the ladder. Skipper grimaced trying not to loose his temper.

"Not a date." Skipper snapped back, Private waddled over to Kowalski.

"I wonder what Marlene thought of it." He whispered to the taller penguin, so skipper wouldn't hear. "She said Hangout, maybe that's why Skippers didn't take it as a date." He pointed out, Kowalski nodded and took out his notebook, scribbling quickly and waddled away.

*otters*

"That was fun." Carlene giggled walking into Marlene's cave like home, with her sister at her side.

"Yeah but if I know skipper, that wasn't a date," She started, "just friends hanging out." Marlene sighed sadly. Her sister smiled and nudged her.

"But you wanted it to be a date." She smiled watching Marlene who didn't respond, But inside Marlene was saying, "Yes I wish Skipper thought it was a date." Carlene sighed and frowned at her sister's stubborn ways.

"Can't think of something that's impossible." Marlene mumbled thinking her sister couldn't here her. Carlene drop jawed, Than frowned.

"You really don't give yourself enough credit." Carlene crossed her arms, pouting at her sister, Marlene raised an eye. Carlene sighed and continued "I've seen the way he looks at you Marlene." Marlene gave her sister a doubtful look.

"He's been my friend since I was transferred from Northern California." Marlene pointed out picking up a picture of Marlene and skipper 2 days after her transfer. She was smiling brightly and waving to the camera, and Skipper had his arms crossed over his chest, a small smile on his face, and his eyes were squinted slightly, not angry but more like his suspicious look. Private was in the background, waving happily at the camera.

She had given a copy to skipper, that she occasionally saw in a frame on the table in their h.q. she smiled whenever she saw it.

"At least you had fun." Carlene smiled laying in her bunk, Marlene smiled back at her, and set down the picture.

*penguins*

Skipper set the down a framed picture of him and Marlene, He remembered when they took the picture not long after her transfer. It didn't take long for her to befriend skipper, At first he did the tough routine, but Marlene convinced him otherwise.

Skipper sighed at the picture and set it down on the table, smiling at how happy Marlene was she finally broke through Skippers tough shell. Skipper walked over to his bunk, the rest of his team was asleep.

"I've been to tough on Kowalski," He whispered as he laid in his bunk, thinking of all the times he barked at Kowalski for making a minor comment. He glanced over, through the darkness he could make out the frame of the picture.