When Marron woke up he smiled. Any other morning he would have been annoyed with the light shining through to wake him but not today. He was finally getting the chance to go home. The War may not be over and he didn't know how long he was going to get to stay, but he was happy. It had been two and a half long years without going home to see his mom and dad, along with his only daughter whose mother had left him soon after birth. He flew out of bed feeling ecstatic and changed into his clothes and then headed towards the helipad. When he got there, there was already a couple of other guys there already waiting for him. Trevor was an old guy with a full beard who you could tell had seen a lot in his time. He was missing half of his left ear from who knows what. Alexander was standing next to him, looking his short, muscular usual self.

“Glad you could join the party,” said Alexander, “feels good to finally get to go home.”

“Sure does,” replied Marron, “It's been a long two and a half years.”

“You think two and half years is long but I’ve been in the business for over 17 years.”

“Yea which is why we’re so much better looking,” Alexander joked.

“I can’t believe that it’s been two and half long years I wonder how much has changed,” said Marron.

“Yeah whatever, but let's hurry up because it's starting to feel like three.”

Even though the helicopter trip wouldn't be their direct way home, since they needed to fly over the ocean, it led to their plane ride home. They were finally off the ground in 15 minutes, they were riding along with two other people. One went by Icebox, the other was called Tabletop, and how people in the military got those crazy nicknames, Marron would never know.

The flight had seemed to have lasted forever when Marron finally pulled out a picture of his parents, with his daughter, that they had sent him while he was staying overseas. Only he and Icebox were awake at the time while the others slept with huge high-quality earmuffs removing the sound from the helicopter. He stared at it for a time while flipping it through his fingers.

“I'm going to assume that's your kid.” Icebox spoke out, “I also know what it feels like to have to leave a little one behind.” Marron wasn't really sure how to reply to that so he just looked up and nodded. Icebox continued, “She loved to do everything with me, if I was going to eat something, she wanted a piece of mine, not because she liked the taste but because when I would share it with her she knew she was loved and accepted.”

“That's nice. I’m a little nervous about returning because so much might have changed while I was away. What if she barely even recognizes me I mean I missed the best part of her life in her childhood. What if I only get to experience the misery of her being a teenager?” He sighed “Here I am rambling on and we aren’t even introduced. I'm Marron, I don't think we've been formally introduced even though I know you go by Icebox.”

“Eh, that’s what they call me even though I don’t really enjoy it. It was what the training sergeant called me and has stuck ever since so Icebox should suffice.”
“Another crazy name,” thought Marron “I swear that they get these names from playing I-spy in an everyday house.”

“I know what you’re talking about though, I grew up in a big family that was made up of love right from the start. My parents were always there for me when I was little. I remember when I was around fifteen years old my family watched all the old tapes of when me and my siblings were little and got to see how much love was put into us even when we weren’t going to remember that time since we were so little. That’s when it matters the most though since they are developing though. I remember when I watched it that there was nothing more in the world that I wanted then to be able to provide that for my child.” Marron would never have guessed so much emotion would have been inside of him but at the same time the knowledge was just as great. “Even though you missed some that’s where picking a loving wife comes in handy but just be sure you make the most of your time while you can. Little kids love you because they don’t know any better so make sure you give her a reason to keep loving you even through the terrible teens.”

“Thanks, it’s good to know that I might be able to make up for the lost time,” replied Marron. Tabletop looked over newly awaken but not making a difference either way as he rarely spoke. He wallowed in silence while glaring over at them.

“Don’t mind him he barely”- he was abruptly cut off by a violent shaking of the helicopter. It woke everyone else up and Marron began to worry. He wasn’t sure if this was usual or how likely it was for them to crash and die. He just closed his eyes and waited he wasn’t sure how long he waited. At times it felt like it was going to die down it would start back up again. After a little it started to get calmer and calmer until the ride finally smoothed out. The constriction in Marron’s chest released as he realized he was going to be fine. “I'm going to take that as an omen that maybe my talking isn't needed,” Icebox finished. A little disappointed by the abrupt end to their conversation Marron frowned but he knew he needed some rest and sort of wanted a little time of his own to think. The rest of the flight went smoothly, even though it lasted for three hours. Marron felt that the sound off the blades of the helicopter almost made him deaf. He wasn’t sure what it was going to be like when he finally got home but at least like Icebox said his little girl will still love him even if she didn’t know any better. When Marron stepped off of the helipad, he felt as if something had come over him. He felt as if the hardest part was over, for some reason. Sure, he had a fifteen hour flight back to the States, but it was nice knowing he wasn't alone even if it was just in the yearning of a dad wanting to see his little girl.