The lost soldier (re-write)

Atlas

YN: So, sweetheart, how have things been?

Winter: Please don't call me that sir, you haven't exactly been a present figure in my life.

YN: But-

Winter: We are predominantly acquaintances, you being my father is purely incidental.

YN looks down at the floor.

YN: I know I haven't been the ideal father figure to you, or to Weiss for that matter, but I want to try to be now.

Winter: I'm not a little girl any more.

YN: Then you should understand why I wasn't there.

Winter: What the hell do you mean by that?!

YN: You are an officer in the army, if you were ordered to a posting in the northern wastes with no possibility of leave for the foreseeable future, would you abandon your post to go home on the weekends or would you follow orders.

Winter: That's not a fair comparison!

YN: Answer the question.

Winter: Good soldiers follow orders.

YN: So you would stay at your post?

Winter: Yes.

YN: I was ordered to my post, I was not to waiver, I held my position as ordered. I managed to keep some degree of contact though, you did get the gifts on your birthdays?

Winter: Those were from, you?

YN: Of course, I know they weren't much, but I wanted to give you something. Some times I would send something I had made, other times I would send a letter to Willow with some money, and ask her to buy you something nice.

Winter: She always said that they were from "him", I guess you were him.

YN: Jacques is, or at least was a jealous man, I knew it would be in the best interests of all involved if I wrote down as little as possible, I wanted to tell you more, but I couldn't.

Winter: Did you also send gifts to Weiss?

YN: On her birthdays as well.

Winter: Wait, if you are Weiss' father as well, when did you and mother find the time?

YN: The first time she found me, she was lost in the woods and her car had broken down, and it went from there. She occasionally visited once or twice a month after that, usually under the pretense of going hiking. It was when she married Jacques and had you that she stopped coming, but she had a letter sent saying that one day she would see me again. Six years later, she returned, and that night Weiss was conceived. While she was with me though, she gave me something that I have kept ever since.

Winter: What's that?

YN opens his jacket and shows her the double Albert chain on his pocket watch.

Winter: A watch and chain?

YN: Not quite.

YN then pulls out a locket on the end of one of the chains, opens it, and shows it to Winter.

Winter: Is that?

YN: It's you, or more accurately an old picture of you. I have another in my study at home.

Glynda: So that's who that child is, but who are the others?

YN: My favorites.

Glynda: Your favorites?

YN: My favorite children, I have a picture of Michael there as well, but been meaning to get a better one.

Winter: I'm, I'm one of your favorites?!