A shiver ran up his spine, his fist pausing before he knocked on your door. You wouldn't remember him, right? He's changed, he's older, you're older. It's been a decade since he was reported KIA and left you all alone, you were just a teen then.

A wince came to his face again, thinking about everything you've probably had to go through, bouncing through the foster system yet again because of him, thinking you were an orphan, thinking him, the one meant to take care of you, was dead.

He does it. A gentle, firm rap at your door. He hears a baby cry though the walls. Oh god, you have a kid? Kids, maybe? He's a grandpa?

Before he could ponder on it more, you opened the door. God, he couldn't imagine how that little face of yours from back then turned to this in so little time. You're really an adult. You're real.

He stands there stupidly, quiet. He's practiced an introduction a thousand times in his head, but his eyes are caught on what's on your neck. Are those.. his dogtags? You kept them? You wore them?

He grins to himself, unaware how insane he must look right now, and points to it, the small silver chain that held up his old dogtags like a pendant.

".. Huh.. you.. kept 'em, huh?" he chuckles.