Author's Notes: A nice little snippet of Private's time with Nigel. What adventures await the newly united Uncle and Nephew? Let's find out!

Fun Fact: So, I realized as I was writing this chapter that I had set up for Blowhole's lair to be in the "Outback" Which is Australia. Just a fun little fact I thought I'd throw in. Also, I threw in a little easter egg from the Mr. Tux episode and no I will not apologize for it. (you'll see in a bit) sorry it's a bit short but that's just how the chapter ended up.

As always thanks for reading and please review.

Yours Truly, RoxieDivine


(Back with Private)

It was hotter than he remembered, Private huffed as he tried to keep pace with his uncle. The two had arrived at Perth Zoo that morning and the older Penguin wasted no time getting a move on.

For a dainty fellow, Uncle Nigel sure was fast, as usual he was talking 90 miles a minute. He dug through his suitcase and pulled out two putters before he dragged Private out of the penguin habitat and around to the Zoo's east side.

That's when he saw it, a miniature golf course.

"Mini Golf, in a Zoo?" Private asked.

"Yes, gives the older ones something to do." Nigel answered. "Only the smaller humans are really interested in zoo animals."

At the moment several possum children can be seen playing on the course. Which looks more like the desert outback Private remembered trending through in their resent pursuit of Doctor Blowhole. Private wonder what the odds were that his uncle regularly visited a country where a known enemy took up shop. Still, perhaps he was being paranoid, it was possible that the dolphin minus had multiple bases in several countries.

"The human own the court during opening hours." Nigel began to explain, cutting through his thoughts. "However, after closing time it's up for grabs."

Suddenly an older male Possum walks over. "Nigel is that you?" He asked.

"Greg, you're looking well." Nigel said, greeting the Possum.

"You're here early." Greg said, his frown wavers. "Are you doing alright? I know the anniversary of it all hits pretty hard mate."

"Oh no…" Nigel shakes his head. "Well, yes, it does, but I'm here on a happier note than usual." He puts a flipper around Private. "This is Samuel's boy, my nephew."

Private felt his heart pulse, Nigel sounded so proud when he said that, that Private just didn't have the heart to remind him the blood test wasn't back yet.

"My word." Greg takes a good look at him. "Now that you mention it, he does look a lot like Sam." He offers him a hand. "Got a name mate?"

"Oh uh Private." Private answers and gives him a shake. "It's wonderful to be here, thanks for having us."

"Pleasures all ours. You two planning on playing this evening?" Greg asked.

Private looked thoughtful, they had spent a long plane ride getting here, and had arrived just this morning. Where they had taken a small nap while waiting to be picked up from Airport security. Still, he'd love to rest in a real bed.

Nigel looks hopeful after all he did bring the two putters with them, but one look at Private and he knows he jumped the gun. The boy looks far too tired to play at the moment, so he shakes his head. "Probably not tonight." He answered. "I'm sure Private is tired, I just couldn't wait to show him the course. Samuel and I made so many found memories here."

"Yes, you know he met your mother here." Greg revealed to Private.

"My mother lived here?" Private asked. "I always thought she was a wild penguin like Samuel."

"Wild at heart perhaps, but no Samuel and I actually met her during our first Holiday here in Australia. We were always looking for new sports to challenge each other and heard word that this Zoo has a mini golf course. I for one thought it was a child's game, but Samuel wanted to see what all the craze was about. So, we did, and well like I said Samuel was a natural, drew in quiet the crowd. Your mother was among them, and they got to talking. Samuel captivated her with all our stories of travel and your mother could match our competitive spirit like no other had ever done before. In a matter of days, we became inseparable and when it was time to go your mother surprised us both by joining us." Nigel smiled. We traveled all over the world together before they decided to settle down. Nelly fell in love with the natural wilderness of Antarctica, and they joined the local colony. Meanwhile I went back to London."

"Were you born in London?" Private asked.

"No, our parents originated from England but traveled a lot, still we picked up the British accent from them and visited family in London often enough that it kind of stuck." Nigel explained.

"I think it's nice your parents still traveled when you were younger." Private admitted. "I bet you got to see all parts of the world."

"Well don't set yourself short, you went on quite an adventure yourself." Nigel reminded him.

"Yes, well that was never intentional." Private stammered. He almost forgot that his uncle knew about the whole Madagascar mix up.

"Hold up now." Greg looks shocked. "You mean that wild goose chase you went on through Africa and all that was actually where he's been this whole time?"

"Uh yes, there was an unfortunate incident out at sea, and we washed up in Madagascar instead." Private lied. "Them we tried to get back to Africa where we were supposed to go in the first place, then we kind of decided we didn't want to stay there and joined a circus."

"Circus hu?" Greg laughed. "Yeah, your Nelly's kid alright."

Private gave Nigel a weird look.

Nigel shook his head. "Apparently when your mother was younger, she tried to run away with a traveling circus that had rolled into town. I told you she was wild at heart."

"So, what happened?" Private asked.

"Oh, she got caught out of her habitat by the Zookeeper Dan." Greg informed him.

"What about her parents?" Private asked hopefully. Maybe he had grandparents here that Nigel just hadn't mentioned yet.

Nigel frowns. "I'm sorry my boy I was going to wait to tell you, but Nelly was a rescue, some human scientists found her alone as a hatchling and…" He trailed off.

Private didn't need him to finish, it would appear he and his mother had more in common than he could have ever thought. "I know how that feels, but I'm glad she found someone."

"Yes, just as I am glad to have found you." Nigel agreed.

One of the young possum children walked over to him. She was a little thing who wore a red bow with polka dots. "Hi." She greeted him. "I'm Sally."

"Hello Sally, it's very nice to meet you." Private told her.

"Do you want to play?" She asked. She offered Private her putter happily.

Private seems to think it over and shrugs. "Sure, what's one swing?"

Sally's whole face lights up and suddenly Private doesn't feel so tired anymore.

"Well looks like we're playing after all." Nigel says looking giddy.

"So do I just swing and aim for the hole?" Private asked.

"No silly." Sally giggled. "You got to try."

"You'll have to forgive him Sally, he's never played before." Nigel told her. "Here I give you a demonstration." He said to his nephew as they arrived at the first hole.

A possum a little smaller than Sally walked up with a few balls.

"Thank you DJ." Nigel gave him a small pat.

DJ nodded and hid behind Sally.

"That's my brother. "Sally explained to Private. "He's a bit shy."

"Hello DJ." Private greeted him softly.

DJ gave a small wave.

"Alright now you want to line yourself up." Nigel began to demonstrate. "Check the wind direction." He licked his flipper before raising it up in the air. "You line up your putter with the ball, check your angel and-" He hits the ball, and it zooms down the course running through the obstacles and into the hole.

"Oh, nicely done." Private praised.

"Yes, thank you." Nigel seemed to agree, before dropping down another ball. "Now you have a go."

Private looks nervous.

"It's okay." Sally whispered. "I missed a couple of times when I first tried." She explained. "Just try your best and remember to have fun."

Private gave her an appreciated nod and lined up beside the ball just as he had been shown. He checked the wind and his angel before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. He was nervous, so he tried to focus on something else. He tried to imagine his father standing here for the first time and his mother playing here as she grew up. He smiled as the calm came it was like he could feel them there with him now. He swung the putter without even looking and opened his eyes. The ball seemed to glide across the with the grace of a swan. It mastered the obstacles ahead as if it had a mind of its own before rolling into the first hole.

His small audience cheered in amazement so loud that it was almost deafening.

"I did it." Private was elated, he was never good at any sport before, and being able to do it perfectly on the first go gave him such a rush.

"Wow you got it on your first try." Sally looks up at him with wonder. "That was amazing."

Private gives her a smile. "Couldn't have done it without you." He gave her a wink.

"Yep, that's Sam's kid alright." Greg said after a holler.

"Nigel did you see me?" Private asked whirling around, he stops.

Nigel looks like he's just seen a ghost, but even while a bit pale he smiles. "Just like Samuel." He looks up. "If only He could see us now."

And it is in that moment that he no longer has any doubt, Private didn't need a blood test to know that this was real. He had felt it just before he swung the putter, a part of him had returned home True, though his brothers would always be first in his heart, but he could not deny what he felt now.

"He does." Private told him looking up too. "They both can, I can feel it."

"Me too." Nigel said before growing serious. "But don't get cocky Mr." He warned. "Because if you think I'm going easy on you just because we're family, well you better think again."

Private gives a sly smile. "Why is that challenge?" He teases. "I have you know I'm apparently the son of a champion mini golfer and my uncle says he was pretty good."

Greg laughs. "Ha your dad ran circles around Nigel."

Nigel shook his head, Private was so much like him. His smile growing as they made their way to the next hole. 'It's good to have you Sam.' He thought to himself. 'I really missed you.'

"You alright?" Private asked him.

"Oh yes All good, just getting my game face on." Nigel assured him. "I told you competition is in our veins my boy."

Private laughed, at first he had shrugged off those words, but now, that he had gotten a taste for the game. He thought his uncle may be on to something, he could feel it, the rush to not only play well but win. It felt good to have something that he alone could excel out. He couldn't wait to tell his brothers, he hoped they we safe out there. He thought of the dangers they may be facing right now as Nigel prepared for his next swing.

Not knowing that he himself had just stumbled upon his own dangerous journey. One that would end with a double scoop ice cream in the desert sand, along with his broken heart.


-To Be Continued