My Note: OK, I came up with this story randomly within my mind. Now, I usually just let my characters tell their own story and I just write it down for them, but this time it's a little different. This time, it's planned. All of it...The characters still tell me what needs to happen and I listen, but keep it within the boundaries of the story's outline. Hope you enjoy! Do review please...

"OK, little guy, here's your new home. I'm sure our otter will love you and 'blah-blah-blah all that other stuff I'm supposed to say.'" Alice uncaringly dropped the box she held into Marlene's habitat.

Marlene came out to inspect the box with excitement. "Ooh! Yes! Finally...a roommate my size! We can brush each other's fur, gossip about boys and-oh! I just can't wait!" Marlene knocked on the crate, and heard a faint whimper. "Hold on a little longer in there, OK? I'll be right back to get you out of there."

With a wide smile, Marlene ran into her habitat to grab a crowbar. She rushed back, glad that the penguins weren't going to be there to 'interrogate' her new roommate.

"Ugh! This is..unh...harder than it...agh...looks! AH!-" Marlene fell back, unable to open the crate. "Huh...Greeeaat."

She leaned on the crowbar lightly, thinking up a way to open the crate. "Ah!" Marlene fell down as the crate opened. She put on an aggravated look. "Oh come on! That was all it took?" Marlene dusted herself off as she stood up.

"Sorry, about that. Hi! My name's-" Marlene was cut off as she looked around for the animal inside. "Um...Hello?" Marlene took one step forward and her foot was met with the softest fur she had ever felt.

As she looked down, she found how little she could see. Marlene bent down and scooped up what she felt near her foot.

"Let's get in the sunlight so I can see..uh...whatever you are..better." Marlene carefully receded from the crate; Excited, nervous, and a little frightened as to what she might find.

She had to blink as her eyes adjusted to the brightness of the day, but when she looked down at her paws, she gasped loudly. "Oh my gosh! You're...you're a..a...AAAAWWWWW!"

The tiny ball of fur in her paws was, adorably, an otter pup. It couldn't have weighed more than a few ounces. It had a small tuft of white fur on top of it's head and it's eyes were still closed. 'Only a week or two...how sad...' Thought Marlene, fighting a tear.

"You're so cute! Aww...Well, it's a good thing I stayed with my mother those last 6 years to help raise my brothers and sisters." She turned it over in her paws to determine it's gender.

"So, Looks like I'll be raising a...girl." The look on her face was one of complete adoration at the tiny pup. "Now, to name you. Hmm..." The little pup yawned wide. In the daylight, her fur shined a dark auburn color.

Marlene smiled and held the pup closer, her motherly instincts starting to grow. "I know. I'll call you Auburn. My little Aubi." Marlene snuggled the pup carefully and sat down.

"I wonder what the guys will think of you. Haha...You know what? Let's go find out, Aubi." Marlene slowly got up and wondered how exactly she was going to jump the wall that surrounds her habitat. "Oh great...This is gonna be fun."

Marlene placed the cub on her belly, and swam towards the wall. "Well, this isn't so bad after all! Hang on now Auburn. It may get a little uncomfortable."

Carefully, gradually, but eventually, Marlene managed to mount the great wall and land on her feet safely at the bottom.

"Whoo! That was a work-out! I think I'll just have the guys make me a tunnel or two." She took Auburn off her belly and held her in her paws, ever so gently.

Luckily for Marlene, the penguins were outside and had seen her walk by. Soon, she could hear Skipper order the penguins over.

"Hey there, Marlene- What is it you're hiding there?" Skipper pointed to her cupped paws. Marlene put on a brilliant smile.

"I'm not hiding anything. You simply don't see it, Skipper. OK, before I show you, you have to promise me you won't freak out. OK?" Skipper seemed hesitant.

"Sorry, Marlene. We don't make promises we may not be able to keep." Marlene sighed. "Skipper. Please." She gave him big, cutesy, pleading eyes. "Please promise?" Skipper tried to look away, but it was no use.

"Alright fine, Marlene. We give you our word." Marlene sighed with relief.

"Great. OK. I was in my habitat and well...Alice left me a little...surprise."

Gradually, Marlene uncovered the pup in her hands. Skipper jumped back with a shout, and the rest of the team followed suit. Marlene just rolled her eyes. 'So much for 'tough commando's.'

"Fried Salmon, Marlene! What is that and where did you get it from?" Marlene smirked. "Skipper. It's an otter pup. Come on, say it with me, o-t-t-e-r p-u-p. Seriously, it's like you guys have never seen a baby before!" The penguins looked around at each other and shrugged.

"You're kidding right? Sure you guys have seen a-" Her laughing quieted. "You're not kidding. Wow. OK. Um, well. Um...This little girl is an otter baby. She's just a few days old and she needs me." The penguins just stared at the tiny fur ball in Marlene's paws.

Suddenly, like a light bulb went off, the team came back from their reverie. Kowalski began making notes, Private stared in utter adoration, Rico 'awwed', and Skipper. Well, Skipper was still a little mesmerized.

Marlene's smile brightened a little. "Hey, Skipper? Can I talk to you for a minute?" Skipper blinked. "Huh? Oh. Sure thing, Marlene." His eyes stayed glued to the pup the entire time.

Marlene led Skipper a small distance away from the other penguins for privacy. "Skipper, listen. Raising an otter pup, especially one as young as this, is a lot of work and I'm going to need some help-"

"-Marlene. Save it, you know we'll help you in every possible way. This isn't yours...right?"

Marlene stomped on Skipper's foot.

"OW! I probably deserve that."

"Yes, you do! And no, she most certainly is not mine!" Looking at the pup for a brief moment calmed Marlene down a little.

"But, I'm going to take care of her like she was." Skipper smiled proudly at her statement.

"Well, I certainly do respect that, Marlene. If you ever need me, I mean us, for anything, anything at all...feel free to let me, us, know." He smiled nervously.

Marlene looked up at him and smiled softly; Her eyes gleaming with gratitude.

"Thank you." She leaned in and gave him a sweet peck on the cheek.

She walked back over to the others, leaving a stunned Skipper to figure out what just happened.

My Note: Soooo...What do you think of my new story? I'm loving it so far...Review please!