"The worst of us is not without innocence, although buried deeply it might be."

-Walter Elias Disney

Chapter 1

The night was quiet, save for the barely audible footsteps of a lone soldier creeping through the darkened streets of a mountain village, carefully scanning every door and window for signs of movement, the barrel of his rifle acting as a third eye.

Despite him having sensitive hearing, the village was quiet as a cemetery, and there wasn't a single light on, making a few of the houses look like skulls in the dim moonlight, which seemed appropriate for the impossible situation the canine soldier had found himself in.

"This is Sgt Max Goof," he whispered into his radio, "I need evac, asap..."

A faint breathing sound made Max stop and turn just enough to his right to see what made it, and as before, he saw nothing that stood out, only a darkened alleyway, but he was sure something was there because he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. He trained his rifle on the direction the breathing came from, putting all of his focus on the dark alley, expecting to see a figure.

His blood ran cold when a pair of glowing yellow eyes opened from the darkness.

Then a hand grabbed his shoulder.

(...)

Max gasped as his eyes shot open. He looked around to find himself seated next to a window on an amtrak racing by a forest. It was night time like in the dream, but at least he was safe in here.

"Bad dream?" asked an older tiger behind him as he lifted his hand from the dog's shoulder.

Allowing himself to relax, Max exhaled a faint "You could say that."

It was the same nightmare he'd had every other night since the actual incident, which ultimately led to his resignation from the armed forces. He vividly recalled glowing eyes, but so much of what happened there defied reality and left him wondering if he'd simply lost his mind, which was why he avoided any discussion of the topic, not wanting to be committed or put on any sort of medication.

"Well they just announced Spoonerville coming up. Didn't know if that was your stop," the man told him.

"Actually it is, so thanks," Max replied gratefully.

This was it, the end of long journey home after his medical discharge. It was the latest in a series of different rides he'd taken to get there, including an airplane, a boat, and even a taxi. He'd had a difficult time getting shuteye throughout the two-day ordeal, but he couldn't complain since it wasn't the worst thing he'd experienced in the time he'd been away from home, and before long it would all be behind him for good.

After a brief exchange of farewells with the old tiger who'd woken him, Max put on his veteran hat depicting the words "Iraq" and "Afghanistan", and stepped out into the frigid winter night and took in the familiar sight. He'd left this place behind for the last time in early 2002, and it was now February of 2010- nearly a decade since his departure. So many memories were coming back to him, and he could recall most of them like they'd happened last week, yet they simultaneously felt like another lifetime.

The first time he'd left this place was when he'd gone off to college in 1999, and never would have guessed he'd be a soldier a few years later, but 9/11 changed everything. Life has a way of messing up plans like that.

Feeling the winter chill penetrating his two-layered outfit better suited for late autumn, Max stepped into the warmer interior of the station, seating himself down near a heating unit since this was the place where his dad had agreed to pick him up when they discussed him coming home over the phone a week prior.

Pulling an envelope from his duffel bag next to him, Max sorted through the contents and took out a photo depicting his father, Garret Goof (aka, "Goofy") next to his new wife Sylvia, both kneeling down, smiling, and waving at the camera. In front of them were two toddlers. One was a girl that looked like Goofy, and the other was a boy who looked like Sylvia, albeit with shorter hair.

That picture was a few years old and the toddlers were almost preteens. Hard to believe since the last time he actually saw his family, Sylvia was pregnant with his half-brother and half-sister.

He'd kept in touch with everyone through phone calls and letters, but he'd never actually met Macy or Ajay, and now they were about the age he was when his dad first brought him to Spoonerville. Perhaps even more startling was the fact that his half sibs looked like distorted reflections of himself and his best friend PJ.

"Maxy...?"

Max was snapped back to reality by the sound of his old man's voice. He did his best to prepare himself for this moment, yet, turning to see his father melting with joy completely disarmed him. He barely noticed the older Goof closing the gap between them before he found his chin resting on his dad's shoulder after being pulled into a tight hug.

"It's really you! You're finally back!" gushed Goofy, struggling to keep himself together, a sob escaping as his hands moved around his son's back.

Max closed his eyes and exhaled deeply as he allowed himself to be pulled back in time to a more innocent part of his life, briefly forgetting everything that happened since then, and held on as he lost himself in his embrace, not caring who was watching. He needed this!

Inhaling again after a moment, he looked up at his old man as he was released, both sets of eyes moist as they took in the sight of each other, trying to come up with the right words until Max finally broke the silence and said, "It's...good to see you again."

Goofy replied, "Not as good as it is to have you back home safe.

Looking around, Max asked, "Where's everyone else?"

Goofy glanced sideways nervously, then replied, "They're, uh, busy."

Max was taken aback; so much hype and anticipation from his family for his return, yet only his father showed up to greet him? Something didn't fit that picture...

Outside, he placed his duffel bag in the backseat before setting himself down in the front next to his dad, and was grateful when the heater kicked in fast. It made the ride home through Spoonerville more pleasant, but did little to make it less surreal. For a moment, Max found himself reliving the night he and his dad first arrived in that same town almost 18 years before.

But that could only take his mind off the big question for so long, and he finally asked, "So what's going on with Sylvia and the kids?"

"Ohh…" Goofy started but trailed off into an uncomfortable silence before he replied, "Sylvia is...out with the kids."

"Doing what?" Max prodded.

After another moment or two, Goofy replied, "...errands."

"This late at night?" Max asked suspiciously.

"Late errands," Goofy added, evasively.

A horrifying possibility entered Max's mind, and he was too afraid to ask about it. He felt his breathing slow to a stop as his head rested against the window, trying to focus on the familiar scenery zooming by, but it all blurred, and the Valentines themed decorations hung up around town felt like cruel mockery to the deflated Goof who was dealing with the very real possibility of being abandoned by the woman he called mother all over again- first his own mom, and now his stepmom. It was all speculation, but between having gone through that once, and the way his father was acting evasive about Sylvia, it wouldn't be much of a stretch.

"Is that what I'm coming home to after 8 years of hell?" Max wondered, his eyes moistening a second time as the hope that kept him going throughout his deployment began to fade- and right as they drew nearer to his old home, no less!

Pulling up to said house, Max noticed an assortment of glowing red hearts decorating it, and the irony wasn't lost on him.

After they parked and got out, Goofy came around to help his son get his bag out when he noticed the tear stains and asked, "Hey is everything alright?"

Max thought for a moment, then placed his hands on his dad's shoulders and told him in a shaky voice, "I'm sorry that it turned out this way, but know that I'll always be here for you, just like you were always there for me!"

Completely bewildered, Goofy said, "Well I'm touched to hear that, but what're ya sorry for?"

Drooping visibly, Max told him, "You said Sylvia left with the kids...I know what really happened."

Looking positively stupefied, Goofy then had to suppress a laugh before replying, "Oh cheer up, Maxy. Things aren't nearly as bad as they seem."

Max was slightly annoyed by his old man's relentlessly cheery demeanor, but shrugged it off and dismissively breathed, "If you say so."

"I know so," Goofy smiled as he strapped the bag over his shoulder and continued, "Now let's begin anew."

Through thick and thin, the only one who stood by him through it all was his dad. Even now, he gave him the help he desperately needed, so it only seemed fair to be helpful in return.

Drying his eyes as best he could, Max braced himself and followed his dad into their old house, thinking to himself, "Looks like this is it, we'll be starting from scratch all over again."

Stepping into the darkened foyer, he noticed Goofy had forgotten to turn the lights on, leaving them in total darkness. Rolling his eyes, Max turned to the switch and flipped it, bathing the room in light once more. He was astonished by how little had changed since he'd left, and wondered if his father had simply reset everything since his would-be stepmom and half-siblings had left?

He set his bag down and followed Goofy into the family room where he noticed some ribbons and banners displaying the phrase "Welcome Home!" and he chuckled sadly. It was a nice gesture but it wasn't the same without the family he'd been hoping to see after so long.

He sighed and said, "Well, it's...good to be bac-"

"SURPRISE!"

"Bahehah!" was all Max could get out, his hands going airborne while his eyes grew to the size of tea saucers.

Aside from Goofy, he now saw the familiar faces of Sylvia, Ajay, and Macy peeking out from behind the furniture.

"Wha...?"

"They're still here?!" Max thought in complete shock.

His confusion dissipated when he heard Goofy let out a hearty laugh behind him, and he knew why: They'd prepared a surprise party for him, and he'd jumped to a wildly inaccurate conclusion.

Ajay and Macy charged at him and latched around his waist like handcuffs. He laughed as he knelt down to embrace them, ecstatic that his greatest fear was completely unfounded. Sylvia joined in and hugged all three of them. Not to be outdone, Goofy put his arms around everyone else, leaving Max sandwiched between both of his parents as he held onto his little brother and sister he'd waited so long to meet.

"Welcome home, Max!" Sylvia cooed.

Tears escaped him. His new family hadn't abandoned him, they were all still here! Everything was going to be okay.

"I told you things weren't as bad as they seemed," Goofy told him.

A while later, they were seated around the table together, enjoying dinner Sylvia had prepared. It was a simple entree of goulash soup and homemade bread, but it was the best thing Max had tasted in a long time.

They'd been making small talk and catching up when Macy took a sharp left turn by asking "So did you blow anything up?"

Max paused mid-bite, not sure of how to reply to something so intrusive.

"Your brother's been through a lot, let him get settled in first," Sylvia told her.

"I'll talk about it when I'm ready," Max assured everyone, "But yes, it's been rough, especially on me."

"Is that why your hand still has a glove on?" asked Ajay.

He was smarter than he looked. Max quickly replied, "My hand got hurt pretty bad, and this winter glove makes a good cast for it."

That was technically true, but he hadn't told them just how bad his hand really was.

"I won't let anyone get you while you heal!" Ajay assured him.

Max chuckled lightly at the boy's naivete, but also out of appreciation for his little brother being defensive of him, and he replied, "I'm still capable of defending myself. As long as I'm here, nobody is going to mess with any of us."

Seeing his father glow with pride, his siblings in awe, and his stepmother inspired all gave Max an inner peace that he hadn't known before. He finally had a real family, one that accepted him and would always have his back. Maybe now he could finally heal…

Some time later, Max retired to his old room and again felt himself being sucked back in time by how nearly identical it was to how he'd left it so many years before, save for it being a bit cleaner now. Even that dumb teddy bear still sat next to his pillow, but that looked a bit more worn, which made Max wonder if Ajay or Macy had ever used it?

Not wanting to risk contact with dried kid slobber, he set the bear on the nightstand, set his bag on the floor, and sat himself down on his bed, dreading what came next.

Bringing up his gloved left hand, he tugged it off to reveal a hand made of metal and plastic- a grim reminder of the night that had haunted his dreams. It also wasn't the only thing he'd lost. Removing his shoes and socks revealed an artificial foot. He'd lost his left forearm and his right lower leg in that attack, and he still wasn't entirely sure what it was that did it. Sometimes he wondered if that "thing" had been real or if he'd gone full Section 8 after nearly 8 years of war?

He sighed and slipped the glove back on, then put on socks over his feet and sweater pajamas over those. Everything he needed to give himself a normal appearance, since he needed healing and didn't want reminders of his traumatic past.

"At least I can feel whole for one more night," he thought as he turned out the light, then slipped under the covers and pulled them up over himself.

All the exhaustion and sleepless nights finally caught up to him, and he felt himself begin to fade. In his last moments of consciousness, Max was comforted by the glow cast by decorative valentine lights outside, which lit up the snowfall outside his window and made the night feel closer to Christmas Eve.

Smiling, he closed his eyes and quietly sang, "All is calm...all is bright…"