Marlene yawned and stretched on her bunk as she sat up. Once she felt a little more awake, she got off to brush her fur, and once that she finished she stepped out to get some breakfast. Outside, she took a look at the blue skies. It seemed to be just the right kind of morning to start off the day. She couldn't help but admire it; it just seemed so perfect today! She already made plans to just lie back and enjoy this all gorgeous weather. With a big smile she took a couple more steps forward.

"Marlene!"

"Ahh!" she screamed.

She whirled around to find Skipper standing there beside her. She quickly tried to catch her breath.

"Don't sneak up on me like that!" she scolded. "Whew…"

"Sorry about that," he began. "But I felt it was urgent we talked over what happened yesterday."

"Huh... Oh!" For a moment there she had almost forgotten (or at least wanted to) about that odd memory. "Well, I guess maybe, uh, I might've gotten on your bad side. And I realize that now, so for that I'm sorry… I guess, but let's just be clear that-"

"Say no more," said Skipper as he shot out his flipper over her muzzle. "Maybe I might've pushed myself a little too hard on you."

"…okay?" She pushed his flipper off.

"Maybe that wasn't the right tactic to pull out on you, so for that I'm sorry. And, I want to make it up to you."

"Well… huh? Really?" This wasn't usual for Skipper to be so nice to her. "You don't have to."

"No, don't sweat it. I really want to. Besides, it'd make me feel better."

"No, really you don't have to."

Suddenly Skipper wrapped his flipper around Marlene, which greatly surprised her, "I insist. Now why don't we start by grabbing some grub, shall we?"

Marlene blinked, this was very unusual. But at the same time… it was about time he started showing a bit more respect to her. She thought this over her head and shrugged.

"Sure why not," she rolled her eyes. "I guess it's the least you can do make up for being such a jerk."

"That's my girl!"

Marlene cocked a brow, why did she have such a bad feeling about this?

* * *

Alice began feeding the elephant with a cart-load of all kinds of food for all the other zoo animals. She heaved out the elephant food and entered through the gates of the exhibit, leaving behind the cart. Soon after, Skipper swiftly swooped in and hopped into the cart. He scanned the contents and began picking at different foods, and only after a few seconds inside, he hopped out and left quickly. He picked up fish, guava berries, and some honey-roasted nuts and had it all stuffed in a popcorn box. Alice didn't notice a thing when she returned.

Marlene was told to stay put by the dolphins' exhibit for Skipper. She couldn't really figure out why he would want to her to stay there, but she did anyway. She sat on a bench that faced the dolphins as they swam and splashed as they pleased. From time to time, she would wave at Doris and her friends and then just left them alone to let them continue romping in the water. The next thing Marlene knew, she saw a tall popcorn box walking towards her! She yelped for a moment there until it turned around and revealed Skipper behind it.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," he apologized.

"Um, that's fine," she smiled. "Actually that was pretty quick."

Skipper hopped up onto the bench and seated himself right next to Marlene and placed the box right between them. Marlene got up and took a peek inside.

"So, you picked up other things?" she asked with wonder.

"Sure, it would've been boring," he explained. "Plus I thought it'd be a special surprise treat, my dear."

"Uh, hehe… that's so sweet," she chuckled nervously and bit down on her fish.

The two pretty much picnicked right there. Even though Marlene really felt she shouldn't really eat the other foods, she felt it also kind of rude to just refuse it and ate several nuts and a couple of berries. She felt herself so stuffed and completely satisfied that she lied back against the wooden bench and stretched herself out.

"That was great," she complimented with a satisfied grin. "This breakfast is actually kinda nice. Thanks Skipper."

"Pleasure's all mine, Marlene," replied Skipper with a warm smile.

Marlene felt herself very comfortable and very relaxed. There was nothing like a wonderful meal to start an already beautiful morning.

"Well, I guess since your apology's accepted," she yawned and sat up. "Wanna get going? I'm sure the others must miss their fearless leader." She chuckled at the last part.

"Nah, they're doing just fine without me," Skipper assured as he rested his back head on his flippers. "Besides this gives them more time to take a break… and more time for us to be together."

"Uh, sure," she shrugged. "Okay… well, what'd you had in mind for us to do?"

Skipper turned his view to the sky and sat there with a thoughtful look on his face, until he looked back at Marlene and smiled.

* * *

Doris splashed out of the water with grace and power. It was obvious she enjoyed these playful times. Then another of her dolphin friends splashed out of the water as well- with Marlene at its back! "Woo hoo!" she screamed with excitement as it leapt out and dove back into the water. Then suddenly a third dolphin splashed out with Skipper riding it! "Whoa!" he yelped as it hit the water. The two were having a great time playing with the dolphins, and the dolphins didn't seem to mind giving the two rides either. Everyone seemed to have a great time. Eventually, Marlene and Skipper decided it was time to leave before Alice or any other zookeeper would find them. Marlene and Skipper waved good-bye at them as they left the exhibit.

The next stop was at the "zoo-venir" shop. There Marlene and Skipper were actually- wait for it- playing dress-up! They put on different hats and accessories and posed in front the mirror, just laughing at all the different ridiculous outfits they put on. Marlene put on a feathery hat and scarf while Skipper put on a fireman helmet and held up an axe. After that, Marlene put on a police cap and twirled a club while Skipper put on a detective's hat and blew on a pipe that made bubbles. Marlene wore a hippo mask while Skipper put on a giraffe mask. Then Marlene put on a wig that conveniently had her matching fur color in a hairstyle with fancy curls, while Skipper put on an Elvis wig! They both laughed and suddenly Marlene pointed to the photo booth.

SNAP, SNAP, SNAP! The camera clicked away as the two posed in their silly outfits and making funny faces. On the last photos to take, Marlene actually wore a bride's veil and Skipper wore a groom's bow tie. Marlene already planned her pose by putting her paws on her hips and having her back against Skipper's… however Skipper had another pose in mind. Skipper actually scooped Marlene up and lifted her in a bridal style! She was shocked by this action and they looked at each other's eyes. Skipper kept his confident smile, while Marlene could herself lightly blushing. "Smile!" he exclaimed happily, but he may have slipped on the plastic seat they stood on because then he lost his footing and they both went crashing down! "Waah!!!" they screamed as the camera took a shot at their misfortune. The two lied there trying to compute what the heck just happened, until they looked at each other and they couldn't help but laugh it off. Eventually the machine popped out their resulting photos like a toaster.

They went pretty much wandered around the zoo. They went to the cafeteria to scarf down on all the sweets and delights the buffet had to offer. Then the two visited the chameleons to pet them and play with them as if they had gone to the petting zoo. Heck, they even went to watch the zookeepers train the colorful birds for the bird show they performed. They secretly hid behind potted plants as they awed at their amazing stunts and performances like flying into hoops or intricate formations. As Marlene looked on, she didn't even notice Skipper just kept smiling at her warmly, not even paying the slightest attention to the spectacle.

Soon the sun began to dip behind the towering city buildings as Skipper and Marlene sat at the ledge of the bell tower just enjoying the view. The two sighed; pretty much exhausted after all that.

"Y'know, that was actually pretty cool," smiled Marlene. "I didn't think you could actually be this much fun."

"Why thank you, Marlene," smiled Skipper. "I owe it all to you."

"Aw, you don't mean that."

"Course I do. You were the one who gave me the advice to loosen up, to relax a little."

"Well I gotta say you were great with that today."

The two looked back at the sunset for a moment, sapping in the warmth of the sun's final rays.

"So," began Marlene. "What made you be so nice like this all of a sudden?"

"What? Is it so wrong of me to be spontaneous?" asked Skipper.

"No, it's just that you never do."

He shrugged, "I guess there's always a first for everything."

"Well, you should keep it that way. I like you like this."

Skipper cocked a brow with a smile, "So you like me this way?"

Marlene nodded, "It's very nice."

Skipper's eyes drooped, "I feel the same way about you."

"Cool… wait what?"

"When we're together like this. You're so much fun than I ever imagined you were. You bring out the best in me. And when I am, I see with the biggest grin on your face since they opened up that piñata."

Marlene blushed, "Th-that's not true…"

Suddenly Skipper wrapped his flipper around Marlene and pulled her into a hug! This shocked her very much; he never gives her a hug! And the thought and action made her blush even more!

"And you look so cute when you do, Marlene, I could just take you back to HQ and keep you all to myself!" he exclaimed as he snuggled his beak into her fur.

Her heart raced and she could feel herself on fire! Boy was it getting hot out here! But the hug just felt so nice, this gesture was so nice, and he never said those things to her before! This all... actually… almost feels like… a dream… This whole day just seems like… a wonderful dream… and if it was, she didn't want to wake up from it anytime soon.