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Winter in Scotland held the kind of beauty that crept in quietly, as if the world itself needed to get ready to settle in for a nap. The crisp air bit at your nose and fingers, but not in a cruel way—instead, it just asked for you to wrap up in a blanket with something warm. Everything felt still and soft, thick flakes falling lazily from the sky to join the rest of the snow coating the ground.
It looked perfect.
Sparrow pressed her face to the window, the cool glass kissing her cheeks as she stared out into the yard. Every little breath fogged up the glass, little puffs of mist that disappeared almost as quickly as they came. Her fingers twitched impatiently against the sill, the cold almost begging her to retreat into the warmth of the rest of the house, but there was no way she would give up. Not when the snow outside just begged to be played in.
So what if it meant cold? They weren't on a mission right now, no heavy gear to slow her down. This snow could be enjoyed, watched and maybe even made into something fun. The thought made her chest tighten with excitement—she needed to share it. Needed her boys to know that it was snowing so they could do something about it.
Sparrow whirled around and scrambled across the room in a rush of fluttery energy. In seconds, she'd managed to launch herself at Price—all cozy in his chair—and landed in his arms with a loud chirp. Her cold fingers immediately pressed into his beard, forcing his face to move and his eyes to meet hers so he could see how serious she was about this whole thing.
"Daddy!" She giggled, smushing his cheeks and failing every attempt to sit still. How could she? Outside looked perfect and she needed to be there right now! "S'nowin'!" The words barely escaped before she squished his face a little harder, desperate for his attention. "Wanna go outside!"
Price chuckled, warm and amused as he glanced over her head and out the window. "So it is, sweetheart."
"Wanna go play!" Sparrow bounced, releasing his cheeks and grabbing at his shirt instead, the words tumbling out in a burst. How could he not get it? She needed to be out there in the snow right now! Wanted to build a snowman who would be her friend forever and ever! The possibilities were endless and she needed to try all of them right now.
She didn't wait for him to say anything else—she couldn't. Sparrow jumped off his lap, charging straight for the hooks their jackets and gloves were on and attempting to shove all her limbs into them at once. The snow was out there and she needed to be with it!
"Alright, wee one," Soap laughed, adjusting her jacket and setting her hat on the proper way around. "Easy there. We'll go outside and play—"
"Wanna make a snowman, Da!" Sparrow grinned from ear to ear as she announced her grand plan, vibrating in place while she waited for him to get his own boots on. The moment he stood, she flung the door open, barely taking the time to put one foot in front of the other as she launched herself outside.
The cold air hit her like a wall, but she didn't flinch. Didn't even notice it, really, because the moment she could be, she was on her knees in the snow and watching the flakes catch in her hair. Her hands plunged into the snow, scooping up the biggest handful she possibly could and smashing it together in a lumpy, half-formed ball. All of this would be her snowman! Her friend needed to be built, and he would be perfect, and they'd be best friends forever!
"Da!" Sparrow yelled, voice high with excitement as he trudged out to meet her. "Come on, come on, help me! Gotta build my snowman!"
Soap's deep chuckle rumbled from behind her, and Sparrow's heart swelled as he got close. Da would help her, because he was the best at building stuff and she loved him so much! He knelt beside her in the snow, grinning at her half-buried form as she mashed more snowy lumps together, frantically working on the base of their snowman.
"How big, sweetheart?" He asked, packing more and more snow on top. Sparrow's eyes sparkled as she shoved another massive handful of snow into the growing mound, packing it down and smoothing it out.
"Big as possible!" Sparrow grinned, snowflakes clinging to her cheeks and eyelashes. "It's gotta be huge! He's gonna be the best snowman in the world!"
Soap chuckled again, reaching out to brush some snow from her shoulder before grabbing another pile. "Aye, alright then. Let's see how big we can make this lad." He leaned in, working with her to pack the snow tight, their efforts a blend of speed and excitement as Sparrow's new friend began to form. Her hands were starting to go numb, but she didn't care—she could see her snowman's body, where his head would go, and she would love him forever!
As they worked, Sparrow bounced on her knees, constantly glancing at Soap and hanging onto his every word as he talked her through each move. "We gotta give him a name! He's gonna be my best friend, so he needs a name!" Sparrow stared at him, eyes wide and voice urgent—after all, that would be the most important decision of all!
Soap grinned, pausing for a second to consider as Sparrow continued fluttering around him. "Alright, sweetheart, what about… Snowy?"
Sparrow squealed in delight, nodding vigorously. "Yeah! Yeah! Snowy the snowman! He's gonna be the best ever!"
Soap snorted, shaking his head affectionately. "Aye, that's the spirit. Now, let's finish this lad before it gets too late. Gonna need eyes, a nose, a mouth, and arms—"
Before he even finished speaking, Sparrow darted away, bee-lining for the shrubs in the garden. Soap's heart melted a little at her earnestness, watching as she tugged a few branches and gathered rocks and a lone pine cone for his nose before rushing back. "Like this?"
"That'll work," he leaned in to kiss her forehead, making Sparrow smile and giggle even more. Together, they worked in harmony, each movement a balance of playfulness and urgency as they finished putting her new friend together. The moment Snowy's head was in place, Sparrow threw her arms around Soap and squished herself close, hugging him as tight as she could.
"He's perfect, Da! I love him!" Sparrow squealed, staring at him with nothing but pure adoration. "He's gonna be my best friend forever!"
"Best friend in the snow," Soap agreed, squeezing her back. "Now, how about ye go stand with him, sweetie, and I'll get a picture?"
"Yeah! Yeah!" Sparrow fluttered back to her friend, standing beside him and hugging him as best she could. The snowman almost seemed to sparkle back at her, standing tall in the frosty yard as the shutter clicked, sealing the moment forever.
— & —
Or… at least until warmer weather came.
Snowy stood proudly in the yard for days, never failing to make Sparrow smile each time she saw him. She'd leave him little offerings of twigs and sticks and berries she found in the snow—even going as far as to wrap a scarf around his neck so he wouldn't be too cold.
Days passed, however, and the air began to change. What had once been crisp, biting winter air started to soften as the sun lingered longer in the sky. The days grew warmer for a little while, and with that came a gentle thaw that crept into the ground and melted the snow.
And one morning, when Sparrow peered out the window to greet Snowy…
He wasn't there.
Sparrow's heart stuttered and stopped. The yard, once covered in a fluffy white sheet, now looked more brown and muddy. She blinked, tears welling in her eyes as she stared at the spot her best friend was in, frantically looking around to see if maybe he'd just decided to play hide and seek.
"Snowy?" Her voice cracked. "Snowy?! Snowy!" At once, Sparrow dissolved into proper tears, sobbing in earnest as she ran from the window and back to where her daddies slept on. "Daddy! Papa! Aba! Da! Snowy's gone!" She wailed.
Before she could reach the bedroom, footsteps thumped across the floor, closing in fast. Two strong hands wrapped around her wrists and tugged her close. She turned to face whoever stood behind her, peering up at Ghost with a confused, heartbroken look. "Papa? W-where'd Snowy go?" She couldn't see past the tears streaming down her cheeks, hiccuping and shaking as she clung to him in a fit of desperation. What if Papa and Aba and Da and Daddy went away?! What if—
"Hey, hey, easy," he rumbled, crouching down until he'd settled on his knees and could tug her into a proper hug. "Easy, sweet'eart, breathe… that's it. Breathe for me."
"What happened?" Price's voice came from behind her, worry sharpening his usually fearless tone. "Simon, what—"
"Her snowman melted," he explained, voice softer than usual. Silence hung in the air for a beat, only broken with Sparrow's hiccuping breaths and the faint creak of the house settling.
Price sighed, low and deep, and Sparrow sobbed harder because now she was actively making them frustrated and it all felt like too much! A warm hand pressed to the back of her head, stroking through her hair.
"Oh, sweetheart…" he murmured, soft and touched with the same kind of gentleness he almost always had with her. Enough to make her forget all about being worried that she'd frustrated them, because he always used that same kind tone when she felt scared, like after a bad dream. "I know it hurts."
Sparrow whined unhappily, pressing further into Ghost's chest as if it could shield her. "B-But he was my friend," she whimpered, voice cracking and hitching on every syllable. "He promised he'd stay forever, Daddy! Pinky promised!"
Ghost's grip shifted until he could haul her into his arms properly. He stood, letting her legs dangle until she instinctively wrapped them around his waist, sniffling and whimpering into his shoulder while he held her tight and swayed softly. "Snow melts, angel," he explained calmly, rubbing slow, firm circles between her shoulders. "Just means it's time for him to change for a bit."
Sparrow shook her head, fingers flexing against his back as if she could claw her way into him, into safety. "I d-didn't get to say goodbye," she managed, tiny and heartbroken.
The next time she looked up, she saw Soap and Gaz stumble out of the bedroom. Both were groggy for a few moments, pausing to take in the scene before their faces fell and they rushed forward.
"Snowy's melted," Price explained, nodding towards Sparrow's crumpled form. Gaz's brows knit together, a frown forming over his lips as he stepped forward to rub a hand over her back.
"Oh, babe…" he murmured mournfully. "That's no good."
Soap, meanwhile, stepped behind Ghost, tapping on Sparrow's head until she looked at him properly. Her watery eyes lifted up to him, red-rimmed and puffy as she sniffled. "Hey, lass, listen t'me a sec, aye?" He waited until she nodded before continuing, barely resisting Ghost setting her back down on her feet so Soap could gather her close instead. "He didn't really leave. Just changed a bit, that's all."
Sparrow burrowed into Soap's chest, clutching at him like he was the last solid thing in her world. "But… but he's not there!" She protested, choking on another sob as she trembled in his arms. "I woke up and he left!"
Soap made a quiet, thoughtful noise as he rubbed a hand down her back. "He's still here, wee hen. Just changed." Sparrow peered up at him at that, wide eyed and sniffling like the very concept of Snowy being anything but Snowy personally betrayed her. "Snow turns into water when it gets warm, an' that water goes up into the sky, makes clouds, and then—"
"It rains and snows and comes back," Gaz finished, tipping his head and smiling gently.
Sparrow hiccuped, still unconvinced. "But—but that's not Snowy. That's just rain."
Ghost shook his head, a low chuckle rumbling through his form. "It is Snowy, sweet'eart," he explained. "He's just a shapeshifter, that's all. Right now, he wants to be clouds. Might change his mind and be rain later. When it gets cold again, he'll come back as snow, and you can help him find a new spot. That's just how snowmen work."
Price hummed, nodding. "Every time it rains, that's just him sayin' hi while he's on vacation."
Sparrow blinked up at them, still confused. He… went on vacation? But he didn't tell her! He didn't have to go on vacation, not without saying goodbye… but the more she thought about it, the more it made sense. Sometimes the clouds looked like cats and dogs and ducks and other things… "He's… a shapeshifter? On vacation?"
"Aye," Soap nodded, kissing her forehead. "Off checkin' out the rest of the world so he can come back an' tell ye all sorts of stories."
"Promise?" Her lower lip wobbled as she asked. She needed them to be sure, needed to know he would come back and they could play again.
"Pinky promise."
— & —
The next snowfall came weeks later, thick and heavy while Sparrow slept on soundly. She didn't stir, tucked up in bed between Price and Gaz, not even when Soap and Ghost snuck away late in the night.
Outside, the snow buried every trace of muddy ground, as if spring never even tried rearing its head. The yard looked as pristine and untouched as it had when they'd made Snowy the first time—and with any luck, the continuing storm would cover their tracks.
Ghost rolled his shoulders, flexing his fingers in his gloves. "Right. Let's get to it."
Soap cracked his knuckles, grinning at the tallest of his partners. "Aye. Operation Snowy Two is a go."
It didn't matter to either that it took hours, that the wind bit at their faces and cold nipped at their fingers. The two men worked tirelessly, rolling and piling snow together until they'd created three well-sized mounds. Sure, he wasn't the exact same, but they'd gotten as close to the original as they could—complete with pebble eyes and pebbles for a mouth, a little pine cone nose, and a well-worn scarf.
And, most importantly, his stick arms were arranged just so, one angled high in a friendly wave.
When they finally stepped back, exhausted yet satisfied, the predawn light started to creep over the horizon. Soap let out a breathless chuckle, smoothing down one final edge of their frozen friend. "Aye, Snowy," he chuckled. "Lookin' good, mate."
"Bird's gonna lose her damn mind." Ghost huffed, shaking his head before trudging back towards the door. Even through the exhaustion had long since settled into their bones, neither could contain the small, satisfied smiles tugging at their lips.
"Success?" Price murmured as they crept back into the bedroom. Soap flashed him a thumbs up as he and Ghost got themselves situated back in bed.
"Success," Ghost hummed.
"Good. Get some shut-eye, boys. She's still out cold. Did good, you two." Price yawned, reaching over to squeeze Ghost's shoulder and Soap's hand in turn.
"Don't gotta tell me twice," Soap chuckled, already feeling his eyes slip shut.
Even though it had to have been at least an hour, barely any time felt like it passed when he felt Sparrow wriggle out from her usual spot. He feigned sleep, cracking an eye open to watch her shuffle across the floor in that dreamy way she always moved when tired. So what if he couldn't contain his smile? He didn't need to turn his head to see Ghost wearing the same expression.
Sparrow padded by the window, rubbing at her eyes with a soft yawn—
—and froze.
For a long moment, the world held its breath as Sparrow stared, her entire body stock still. Her breathing hitched. A soft, startled noise left her throat, and then—
Jackpot.
"SNOWY!"
Soap bit back a laugh as she bolted for the closet, nearly stumbling into the space in her need to get her boots. Ghost, still half-buried beside Soap, exhaled a slow, knowing sigh—one filled with fond exasperation and endless love for a certain little feather-tornado.
"Alright, pet," he mumbled, voice rough with sleep as he rolled over. "Get your skates on and tell him hello."
She didn't need to be told twice. Or once, really. Before he'd even finished speaking, her boots were on and Sparrow rushed out the door, excited chirps following her down the hall and all the way into the frosty morning.
Soap let his head fall back onto the pillow, still grinning to himself. "Told ya it'd be alright, wee hen," he hummed to himself, earning a soft snort from Ghost. In the moments before the pair drifted off to sleep, the sound of pure joy radiated through the air as Sparrow greeted her old friend—the perfect backdrop to a morning where all was right in their little world.