Ah, right, so, People hi! I missed ya'll so much, and for some reason OrangeSugar has inspired me to write once more, she just reminded me of the good old times x] Anywho, long awaited chapter? Well, I hope so, ha, so, here it is, after *cough* some time, I have finally gotten the next chapter written down. And, if you're new to this site, and by that I mean, I haven't met or read about you since I left, then WELCOME! I'm glad new people are in the loop, ask me for anything if need be, I'm Monsy, I love you already and am always willing to help :)

Ha, enough ramble, on with my storryyy!

Joey- "What matters usually though is what isn't said."

Confusion and Resolution

He could feel the hate for Skipper rise, no, explode inside him. And the fire felt it too, his hate, its hate.

He grinds his beak in frustration.

He had to stop Skipper, now, now, NOW!

How could he let him take away Marlene? She was the only one that had been good to him, had come to save him, wasn't, beside fire itself, afraid of him, and now, how dare Skipper-

Kowalski stands up, his eyes glowing with fire, fierce determination in every fiber of him.

"He's not beating me this time."

Fire roars in agreement.

"I can't."

Marlene's voice rings in his ears and sense floods into him, the words liberating him of all the hate he had felt. He practically falls to the floor in shock.

Marlene had said no?

"I'm sorry Skipper, I..."she was looking away, emberrased, "I just can't."

"Oh," Skipper was staring directly at her, trying to figure out what to say.

"Oh."

He couldn't find anything else to say.

She said no.

No..

SHE SAID NO!

Kowalski laughs outloud, unable to contain his excitement. Then, realizing that he was out in the open, he ducks down behind a rock, waiting to see how this would work out.

Skipper still seemed dazed at Marlene's response.

"Oh...well then."

"Yeah..." Marlene finally looks up at him, but only for a quick second before she turns her head, directly at the rock behind which Kowalski was, and for a few moments she searches in the darkness, as if knowing.

Did she?

"May I ask why not?" Skipper states finally, seeming to regain composure. Marlene tears her eyes away, Kowalski realizing he had been holding his breath.

"Well," she begins, deliberating, "It's not anything against you, really. But...I need some...time. Just some time to think about things...and, you know right?" She gives him a weak smile, or was it a promising grin? Kowalski couldn't tell in the dark.

"Time? Oh yes, time, well, you're right yes, I understand."

"So...I'll see you tomorrow? Err, today...later today?"

"Sure, yeah, later..."

"Okay."

"Bye then..."

"Good night."

"Good night Marlene." Skipper waddles away slowly, seeming lost in thought. Kowalski decides to walk out of his hiding spot, figuring Skipper wouldn't notice. Marlene turns to face him, her eyes accusing.

"Where did you go?" she hisses quietly, her eyes going nervously to the still visible Skipper. He wasn't even out of her habitat yet!

"I had to run some errands," Kowalski states casually, following Skipper's outline in the dark as he jumps the fence surrounding Marlene's habitat, "miss me?"

What are you doing Kowalski?

Marlene, a bit taken aback by his bold remark, crosses her arms, deciding to ignore it.

"Well, thanks. A lot. Now Skipper probably hates me..."

Kowalski, unable to tell what her expression was like, quietly lights a small flame at the tip of his fin, holding it up close to her.

There was a worried crease on her brow. She looks up, her eyes orange in the flame's light.

"Does that bother you?" he asks, wether asking about the flame, or Skipper, not even he knew. She sighs.

"No..maybe, I don't know. I..." She looks away, the flame on his flipper suddenly irritating her, so she blows it out. Fire hisses inside Kowalski, demanding justice at her unfair move.

"Please retain from doing that," he states, trying to calm down the fury Fire felt at Marlene, apparantly being blown out was a pet-peeve of Fire's.

"What?" Marlene questions, still irritated, but now also curious.

"Fire hates being put out."

She's silent, for which he wonders if she's afraid.

"It's not really..." Not really what? It was fire, so it was something to be feared, but this fire was tame, so...it was better...because it could think...and be angry...better? "Not..."

"It's alright," Marlene fills in when he can't think of a word, "strange things happen when you have four insane penguins on the lose." She laughs, but it wasn't real.

He joins her, though it wasn't real laughter either.

And then it's quiet again.

"That was amazing what you did. Or rather I guess, what you and Fire can do."

"We did have quite a substancial amount of time to practice," Kowalski smiles quietly, hiding the glee he felt at the comment.

"It was nice."

Nice.

He assumed it was, being here with Marlene also was, and spending a few hours after that talking was also quite nice. And when he finally got back to the HQ later that night the word rang in his ears as he layed down to sleep.

Nice.

Yes she was.

I. will. try. to . udate. sooner. Haven't broken a promise yet have I? So, tata, daloo, I'll see you soon, review, and tell me, what do i need, what should I know, what'd make you happy, and what would be good :)