Emma hopped into Marlene's habitat, and saw that she was cleaning up. She turned around and grinned when she saw her friend.

"Hey Emma, how are you?" Marlene asked, putting a broom away.

"I'm good Marlene." Emma lied. "How are you?" She asked.

"I'm good today, but a little tired, I've been cleaning all day." Marlene explained sitting down and nodding to the seat next to her, which Emma st down in. Emma was relieved that Marlene didn't notice she lied, even though she usually did.

"So why are you cleaning everything today?" Emma asked curiously.

"Well because my long lost cousin Rodrick is coming to visit in 2 days." Marlene answered, excitedly. "Heck I didn't even know I had a cousin, but he sent me a letter explaining everything." Marlene added beaming. Alarm bells went off in Emma's head as Marlene told her this.

Wait she didn't even think she had a cousin, but because she got a letter from someone, with no proof that it is her cousin, she believes him? She thought. It seems a little naive of her. She added, feeling worried. She didn't want Marlene to worry, so she smiled at her.

"That's awesome!" Emma exclaimed. "I'm sure he'll be really nice."

"I know right?" Marlene remarked, beaming from ear to ear. The two of them sat there chatting for a while, and Emma tried to reassure herself about this Rodrick business.

He might be telling the truth, but just didn't have a picture, or a way to prove it. She thought hopefully. Even if it he isn't, Marlene's smart, and a good fighter, so she could beat him easily, or she could call for us if she needed help. She added. I'm sure she'll be fine.

Around 6:45, Emma headed back. It was still light outside, one of the things Emma loved about Spring. She didn't like the bugs though, luckily there weren't any out. She checked the time.

I don't have to be back for another 15 mins, I'm gonna have a quick look at the park. She decided. She climbed the zoo wall, and sat on it, watching the rabbits hopping around, and the squirrels scurrying up the trees. She thought of the pups that she and Private visited sometimes. Izzy should be 3 years old now. Jack should be 2 and, and Poppy should be a year and a half old now. She thought, a small smile on her face. I haven't seen them in a while, I'll ask Private if we can see them soon.

Emma sat there for about 10 minutes, and then got back to the HQ. The team were playing a game of cards, and Skipper seemed to be winning.

"Aw come on!" Private whined, looking at Skipper disbelievingly. "Are you sure your not cheating?"

"I'm sure Private." Skipper answered, rolling his eyes. Kowalski looked at the fishbowl, and smiled at Emma."

"Hey Em, how was Marlene's?" He asked, forgetting about the card game, and not noticing Rico looking at his cards.

"It was fun we talked for a bit and- Rico stop cheating!" Emma said suddenly, turning his head around with her mind. Kowalski, Skipper and Private looked at Rico angrily, and he looked at the floor.

"Hehe oops." He mumbled, giving Emma a dark look and turning back to his cards. Emma gave him an evil look back, and turned the Tv on. The Simpsons was on so she sat down and relaxed for a bit. After the others finished the card game, (which Skipper won) they sat down next to Emma and watched it with her. Private wrapped his flipper around Emma and she leaned her head on his shoulder. Kowalski tried to ignore this, and focus on the show, but his eyes kept falling on them, and he watched with sadness, wishing it was him there instead of Private. As the night went on he started to focus more on the Tv, but still wishing that things were different. As bed time came near Emma started feeling queasy. She ignored the feeling and kept telling herself that this night would be different She really hoped that was true. She glanced at the clock, which now read 11:30pm.

"Ok, time for bed." Skipper announced, as the last episode of The Simpsons finished. Emma's stomach felt even worse, and she felt afraid. Private took her flipper and looked directly into her eyes.

"Remember, it's not real." He reminded her, giving her a little kiss, and hopping into his bed. Emma nodded, and forced a smile. The team called out their goodnights and settled in their bunks. Emma's bunk was a little bigger than the others, so she had a little space to put up a few pictures. In her bunk, there was a painting of her with the team, a photo of her and Private, a drawing of her watching the stars in a clearing with a waterfall and a clear river forming from it, and lots of tree's around her, a willow tree, in the middle of the clearing. And there was a small picture of her family, and a photo of her and Kowalski. They were all stuck up by blue tack, or on a little hook. There was also a small hole, where she put her drawstring bag that held all her possessions in. It was protected by an invisible forcefield that she put up, and only she could get into. The right hand, bottom corner was empty, and she didn't know what to put over there, she wanted to put another picture there but she also felt like there should be something different. She closed her eyes, trying to focus on something that made her relax. She thought of her friends, and her favourite singers and smiled. She decided to try to go to sleep listening to one of their songs. She pulled her phone and headphones out, and she put them in. Emma scanned the list of songs, trying to find one that would calm her down her. Eventually she chose Love Can Build a Bridge, and she relaxed, as she heard the familiar voices and lyrics fill her earholes. Love can build a bridge, between your heart and mine. She thought along with it, feeling drowsy. A few minutes later she fell asleep, hoping that this would help her nightmares.

It didn't.