Snake had come home in a shroud of hopelessness. He supposed it would come to this. Old age was setting in. He wasn't a young man any longer. His kids were grown and that was what life was. That didn't mean he had to like it. He didn't in fact.

Plissken had missed them over the past two weeks but he was glad no one was there to greet him immediately. He needed time to collect himself before he faced anyone, most of all, his wife. She would be the hardest to tell. Snake didn't call to them but sat down on the couch to clear is head. He didn't have long before Hope showed up at the door way.

"Sneaking in still?"

Snake forced a smile as she walked toward him. Maybe Xena wouldn't be the hardest to tell after all. They shared a hug that Plissken was reluctant to relinquish. Things had crashed into perspective over the past few days in a way that left him feeling vulnerable.

"What's wrong daddy?" Hope sat beside him and he couldn't look at her.

"Usual. Just coming down from being away." It hadn't been the usual but maybe she wouldn't notice what he was hiding. "Took longer than I thought."

"Daddy!"

Snake knew that tone. He'd been busted at his lie. "Is your mother around?"

Hope shook her head. "She went to see Gabrielle for a few days."

Snake nodded and sighed heavily. "Do you know when she'll be back?"

"A few days, I think."

The concern in his little girl's expression made it all the worse. He really wanted to forget what had happened. He could go on pretending it never happened and that he was alright. His silence went on if only because he didn't know what to say.

"What happened?"

She knew. Snake knew she knew something off had happened. Snake didn't have the heart to tell her because of what it would mean. Snake wrapped his arm around her. Her head lay on his shoulder.

"Why won't you tell me what happened?"

Snake faltered and looked off in the other direction. Rarely had he kept anything from any of his family. He couldn't say it and realized not saying it was backing him into a corner. The pressure brought another labored sigh as he worked over what he could say.

"I was in the hospital." Snake looked down at her. "No worries, one of the local ones, no government bullshit."

"Why?" Hope sprang up to look at him. "Did you get shot?"

Snake shook his head feeling the weight of years on his shoulders. He still didn't want to tell her even if deep down he thought she deserved to know. Plissken looked up into her eyes. He was searching them for something but all he could see was fear and worry.

"Daddy please."

The way she said those words almost brought tears. He choked back the emotion and pushed her hair back from her face. All the long curls refused to stay behind her ears. Snake gave up and looked down.

"I had a heart attack." Snake finally said it. He didn't feel any better either when he saw the tears start to speckle her pant legs. "Doctor said it wasn't a bad one."

She clung to him. His collar was soon soaked. "You can't die daddy."

The words came choked and Snake hated himself for having to say any of this. "Babydoll. I'm sorry."

Plissken pulled her close and she crawled into his lap like she had as a child. "I'm mortal and I'm getting old babydoll."

"You can't leave me."

The more she cried and the more her words broke the worse Snake felt. "I don't want to but it's not my choice."

"It's not fair." She balled her fist against his chest and he took her hand.

"Life's not fair. We just live what we got babydoll." Snake kissed her cheek. "Shhh."

Snake rested his cheek on her head and rocked her. He didn't know what else to do. He was old. He might die and now death seemed all the more real to him. Snake let out a breath and sang to her quietly. It was all he could do for her.