The young girl sits on the shoulders of her mother as they walk over the expanse of concrete. Aircraft dot the airfield while families and enthusiasts fill the spaces between. "Mommy, what's that one?!" She asks as she excitedly points to a large fighter, its rectangular intakes and angular wings dominating the space it takes up.

"That's an F-15, Reina," her mother replied with a soft chuckle.

"Wow! That's so cool!" Reina exclaimed, "Is that what you and daddy used to fly?" She asks, bouncing from excitement.

"No sweetheart, we used to fly F-14's, but your grandpa flew one," her mother said as they approached the aircraft.

Reina leaned down looking upside down into her mother's brown eyes, "I didn't know grandpa Haru flew too?" She asked slightly confused.

Her mother smiled and her eyes met Reina's, "Not you grandpa Haru, your other grandpa, daddy's father."

Reina sat back up and looked at the plane, her mouth forming a small "O" of understanding as she took in the dominating profile of the plane before her. After a moment her eyes scrunched in slight frustration, "Why doesn't daddy talk about grandpa like you do?" She asked innocently.

Her mother stopped and looked up at Reina as much as she could without dropping her, "It's hard for daddy to talk about certain things, you'll understand more when you're older. Now do you want a funnel cake? I think I see one at that stand over there with your name on it," her mother's five years of raising Reina making her excel at distracting her daughter.

Empty bottles fill the small, dark apartment, while the trashcan sits overflowing with emptied take out boxes. In the sink stands a pile of dishes that reach high enough to impress some architects. On the old couch lies a man in his late twenties though appearing several years older, an empty bottle is knocked over on the floor beneath him a soft snoring fills the air of the decrepit space.

The door to the apartment opens filling the space with a rectangle of light. A young man with brown hair in his early twenties walks in closing the door behind him with a sigh, "Get up James," he orders sternly as he turns the light on. Earning a groan from James.

The young man begins gathering a few of the emptied bottles scattered across the apartment. "Come on you old drunk I said get up, do you even know what day it is?" He asks.

The only response is James rolling over, burying his face in the cushions of the couch. Standing above James with his arms crossed the brown-haired man gazed at the blonde-headed drunk before him. "If that's how you greet your best friend it's no wonder Kei left you."

Three short mumbles emerge from the couch accompanied by a hand lifting up with a distinctive middle finger on display. The man laughs and walks into the kitchen reaching under the sink to pull out a trash bag. He begins throwing several of the bottles into it, loud clangs fill the space, each is met with a groan from James' body on the couch.

Eventually a raspy voice emerges "What do you want Hans?" James asks.

"I want you to tell me what day it is." Hans says as he continues to pick up his friend's home.

James slowly stirs and begins sitting up, "It's the same day it has been for the last two years, a bad one." He grumbles.

Hans rolls his eyes, "That doesn't even make sense James." He turns to face his friend taking in the short beard covering his face, "Since you clearly forgot. It's August thirtieth."

James rubs his face tiredly, before letting out a groan and falling backwards against the couch cushions, "It's Reina's birthday."

Hans stops and looks at James, "Good job, looks like you aren't a total lost cause."

James clenched fist, "Fuck you Hans, I'm a fine father!" he yells.

Hans points at James accusing, "Don't you start yelling at me. I've stood by you for six years, through a war, courts-martial, and divorce. You did this to yourself and I'm the only friend you have left so don't you dare treat me like the enemy." Hans snaps.

James sits back up rubbing his temples, "Yeah," is his only reply.

Hans grabs more bottles as he continues, "Get yourself cleaned up. Alice is waiting outside, she isn't happy we're late and Jonah is excited for the airshow. We both know how he gets."

Kei and Reina walk through the rows of old propeller driven aircraft. Kei does her best to answer all of Reina's numerous questions about each of them. Reina glances over and sees her bearded father walking towards them with Hans, Alice and Jonah in tow. "Daddy!" She shouts in excitement sprinting into James' arms.

James laughs happily as he grabs her and picks her up into a fatherly embrace. After the brief moment of excitement Reina looks into her father's blue eyes and frowns dramatically, "You're late." She scolds.

"Uh, yeah... we had some trouble with the car, is all, I had to help uncle Hans out." James lies with a nervous laugh.

Reina frowned and poked his cheek, "You still owe me." She says, crossing her arms.

James smiles and sits her down grabbing her hand as he looks at her. "You're right kiddo, daddy owes you this time."

After a while Reina is up front dragging her uncle along to different planes while James walks awkwardly beside Kei. "I didn't expect you to make it." She says harshly.

James begins wringing his hands nervously as soon as Kei speaks, "I uh, wasn't going to, Hans saved me... again," he admits sheepishly.

Kei sighs as she watches their daughter, "She is so like you do you realize that? Constantly obsessed with the sky. It's hard for me to see her and remember-"

"What I used to be like?" James interrupts with a hint of venom in his voice.

Kei looks up at James and nods, "Yes..." she admits sadly looking at her once husband. "I-"

James interrupts again, "You did what was best for our daughter, Kei. There's nothing wrong with that, I just wish I had been enough."

Kei's gaze saddens before breaking from James, "You know that isn't how I feel. You needed help. You still need help."

James growls stubbornly, "If this is another attempt at trying to get me to go to those stupid alcoholism classes it's not going to happen, Kei."

"That damned pride has always been your downfall James, that's why you lost your wings." She sighs in exasperation.

James looks away, "It's all I have left Kei." He mutters.

The sun had begun to set as the two parties split. James gives Reina one last hug and the two exchange a set of I love you's before he helps strap her into her seat in Kei's car. The two parents exchange an uncomfortable goodbye before parting ways.

The ride home James is silent, days like this always uncomfortable for him. As the pull up to his building Hans sees a sleek black sedan parked beside James' beat up 1970's sports car. "Hey is that Marcus' car?" He asks, grabbing James' attention.

James looks out the window as he begins to get out, stopping momentarily when he sees the sedan, "Shit," he mutters, only to be met with a stern, "Language!" From Alice as the door closes.

James crests the stairs to his second floor apartment to be greeted by a tall dark-skinned man with graying hair standing with his arms crossed. "How was the airshow James?" Marcus greets with his deep voice.

James chuckles, "I didn't know the Osean military spied on its disgraced pilots."

Marcus rolls his eyes, "Don't be absurd, Kei told me where you were."

James shakes his head, "What do you want Marcus?" He asks curtly.

Marcus' gaze hardened, "Estovakia just invaded Emmeria." He says quietly.

"Yeah, well. War is known to happen from time to time. Just send a bunch of pilots over if it makes you feel better." James replies dismissively as he pulls out his keys and slides the appropriate one into the lock.

"Can't, it's only been five years since the last one. People don't want to Osea to get involved."

James enters his apartment with Marcus close behind. He makes a beeline for the fridge, opening it and pulling out a beer. "There you go, nothing you can do about it."

James reaches for the cap on the beer as Marcus continues, "They're asking for volunteers, people with combat experience... pilots, with combat experience."

James freezes for a split second, barely noticeable to Marcus, "It's not my problem Marcus."

"For God's sake James, come on. You're a brilliant pilot, stopped the destruction of an entire city, foiled a plot to ruin two countries, turned the tide of a war and more than that, no current ties to the Osean armed forces. You're a perfect candidate, the perfect candidate. They need you the way you need flying."

James scoffs, "Yeah? My need to fly didn't mean much when you forced me into an early retirement!" He shouts.

Marcus stands resolute, his eyes narrowing at the broken man, "Really, that's what this is about? I fought as hard as I could for you but there's only so much I can do for someone who assaults their commanding officer."

James takes a large drink, "It wasn't the first time, I don't see what made it so much worse the second time."

"Probably the fact he wasn't under the influence of spies for starters," Marcus quips, earning a glare from James.

A moment of silence fills the apartment. "I have a family." He replies.

"And you'll see them when you come back." Marcus says confidently.

Another scoff escapes James, "Don't be stupid. It's war, people die."

Marcus shakes his head pinching the bridge of his nose, "There's nothing I can say to make you go?"

"Nothing."

Marcus nods and turns, grabbing the door handle, stopping for a moment before proceeding through the threshold. James turns from the door, his eyes focusing on the old photograph of Wardog squadron hanging on his fridge, narrowing in on the old friend who left their world years ago.

It's dark outside as the cool breeze blows through the lonely gravestones. James stands in front of a simply rectangular stone, beer in hand. A soft set of footsteps break the silence as they approach him, "Out for a late night stroll?" Kei asks quietly.

James doesn't react, his eyes staring at the words engraved in the marble. "Something like that," he whispers.

"I'm sure you've heard about the war." She says as she stops beside him.

"Yep."

"They're asking for volunteers," she mutters carefully.

James takes a drink from the nearly empty bottle. "That's what they say, I doubt it would make much difference."

Kei stares down at the gravestone reading the words with James, "It could you know...if they got the right person."

"You think I should go?" James asks surprised before finishing the drink.

Kei sighs, "I think you should do a lot of things James, besides it isn't the worst idea you've ever had."

"I could die Kei, how would Reina handle that."

"Reina already asked if you were going to go save the day again. You filled her head with too many stories." Kei sighs.

James can't help but smile slightly, "if only she knew the dangers... she'd be begging me to stay."

The two stand silently for a moment before James tenderly places the bottle beside the marble stone.

"James, listen... I- Reina and I will be fine. We will make due with whatever happens, you're drinking yourself into an early grave, at least let her remember you as a hero."

James clenches his fists at Kei's words, "So you want me to go off and die in some war so she doesn't have to live with the shame of having an alcoholic for a father? You might as well put the bullet in my head yourself."

"That's not what I said," Kei responds quickly.

"But it's what you meant." James scolds, "You're so ashamed you married me you'd prefer I went off and disappeared forever."

Kei's eyes moistened as she shakes her head and looks up at James, "The man I married disappeared years ago. And I'm selfish enough..." she takes a short breath, "I'm selfish enough to know that you going to war might be the only chance I have at getting him back."