A/N: This is actually a pretty old work (I finished this before we met the Alpha kids) so there are going to be some discrepancies between the canon timeline and this story! I hope you guys will like this. C=

Also, I recommend you guys read this over at archiveofourown(dot)org/works/364405/chapters/591803 because every letter is color-coordinated to their writers. It's a lot neater too. C=

Son,

By the time you are reading this note, I am probably gone, and you would have successfully defeated the game. I know that you are a very strong and capable young man, and I am very, very proud of you, John. I'm sorry that I am no longer around to help you, but after all that you have gone through, I have faith that you will be alright.

I know I never told you much about what I had expected of you, but I'm glad that you were able to take on everything as it were. It takes a lot of courage and mangrit to be able to struggle through the game like you and your friends, but you did well.

Things will be difficult for you now, but you must always remember to stay positive and do your best. I wish I could be there for you forever, but life does not work that way. It's true that life doesn't usually work out like it had in your game session, but that's just an example of how you can't always control everything.

However, regardless of everything that has happened, I just wanted to tell you that I'm so proud of you, John, and I love you very much. I'm sorry all this happened on your momentous, thirteenth birthday, but it was meant to happen, and it already has.

Do your best out there, son, and make me proud, just like you always have. I will always be here for you, John.

Love,

Dad

dear dad,

i found your letter. it was on my bed, just waiting for me. to be honest, i didn't really know how to react to it, but here i am writing a letter to you! i know it's super late, trying to respond to you now, but i can't really TELL you, so this will have to do.

i'm sorry that i never really took your notes seriously. when i first read them, they all seemed so silly! i never thought that there would be a day where i would look back at them and feel so much pain in my chest. and even though i'm sitting RIGHT at home, i still feel incredibly homesick. i guess you were the one who really made home "home."

did you know how surprised i was, when i saw you on the battlefield? i didn't expect you to be there! i wish i had gotten the chance to say hi to you again. or, i guess, bye. i'm still kind of upset by that, since that was actually our last time seeing each other, but there's no going back in time now, huh? i still can't help but wonder if you were going to spray aftershave in my face instead of hug me, had i gotten to the other side! hehehe.

...

dad, i really miss you. i miss having to dodge buckets of water every time i open a door, trying to fight with you using pies, and fooling you with all sorts of silly disguises. i even miss the cakes you bake! (okay, maybe i don't miss them THAT much, but i still do! sort of.)

i wish... i wish i had been able to tell you all these things when you were still here, but it's really like how people say it: "you never really know how much you will miss someone until they're gone." i regret this a lot now, but it's too late, and i miss you.

i love you, dad. i love you so much. i'm sorry i wasn't able to tell you that more, before you were gone. i'll do my best to make you proud, so don't worry about me, okay? i'm always, always, ALWAYS going to do my best for you.

love,

john