Snake had returned home from days of work and running. Soon he found himself sitting on the couch with a stiff drink. Even when things were quiet he drank. It had become a habit more then a need after all the years. The days away were getting harder and Plissken found the desire inside to just stay still for a few weeks, months maybe even a year.
"Dad"
The voice brought a smile and dispelled any ill thoughts that had been plaguing him.
"There's my little munchkin!" Plissken put his drink aside to pull his daughter into his arms. She had the charcoal hair of her mother but it rolled in waves like Snake's own. To Plissken he saw the best of both of them in her round cheery face. It had been almost three weeks since he'd been home and he'd missed his wife and children more then he had imagined possible.
"Found Lollowen costumes."
Snake smiled. She had remembered the last thing they had talked about before he left for the west.
"What are you going to be?" Snake picked up his drink to take a sip.
His daughter triumphantly produced something he only caught a glimpse of. Her hand went to the right side of her face and there he saw his spare patch. He watched her smile turned to confusion and then she suddenly moved it to the left side and giggled.
"You going to be a pirate?" Snake started to take another drink watching his daughter shake her head.
"No! Going to be Numbers One Wanted Man in Nited Snates Naked Plissken!"
Snake nearly choked as he started to laugh with a mouth full of scotch. She'd said it just like they did on the Military Channel with the twist only a child could add. He coughed choking and spitting scotch in his hand.
"Daddy?" She patted his back to help him.
Snake regained his breath and composure. "You going as me?"
She nodded with a big smile as she let go of the patch she had to touch his. The extra patch fell to hang around her neck and she pulled it back up over her left eye.
"We're going to have to get you some guns, munchkin." Snake patted his own revolvers on his hip and she grinned.
"Don't you think she's young for guns?"
His wife was standing in the doorway and who knew how long she had been watching. He felt just a pang of embarrassment thinking about choking on his drink.
"For her costume, baby."
"She decided?" His wife had that look that said "Don't play games. I know you're up to something Mr. Plissken." Snake shook his head.
"Gonna be dad!" His daughter's excitement was both funny and hopelessly cute. "Numbers One Bad Man."
He watched his wife smile, the flush in her cheeks and then she turned away laughing.
"Think she thinks we're too much alike already, munchkin." Plissken stood with his daughter in his arms. "Your sister decide too while I was gone?"
He watched the charcoal waves bob. "Yes."
"You going to come with me to ask her?" His daughter clung to him and he felt the melancholy again. He knew his children missed him and it hurt but things needed to be done. Plissken would rather pine for their company and come home when things were calm. The other option was to have them in the open where they could be found. That wasn't an option.
"No sad" His daughter patted his cheek. "Tell mom yous sad."
Snake chuckled and rubbed his face against his daughter's neck. She squealed and tried to push him away.
"Nots tell mom. Nots!"
Snake stopped and smirked. "Good. Now let's go find your big sister."