(Author's Note: The song is Farewell and Goodnight by the Smashing Pumpkins. And yes, it's unbearably saccharine. That's sort of the point. ;) )

There was a click as the key turned in the side door of the bar, and Cloud walked in, dropping his messenger bag on the floor with a tired thud. He'd just returned from a delivery run to the Chocobo Ranch, and was exhausted. He suddenly realized that he probably shouldn't have dropped his bag like that. It was close to midnight, and he didn't want to wake the kids.

Cloud quietly crept upstairs, not making a sound. He heard voices from the kids' room, and smiled. Tifa'd headed out early that morning on WRO business, and Vincent was holding down the fort at the bar.

The door was slightly ajar, and Cloud peeked inside to see Denzel already passed out, and Vincent sitting in a chair next to Marlene's bed. The little girl was tucked in tightly, and Vincent was putting a small book away in the nightstand.

"Sing me to sleep?" Marlene asked sleepily, rubbing her little eyes. Vincent blinked in surprise.

"I…pardon me?"

"Please?" she whimpered. "Tifa always sings me to sleep." Large brown eyes stared at him. Cloud covered his mouth with one hand, trying to hold back the quiet laughter that would give him away. Weapons, Jenova, mako freaks, monsters and shinentai…he'd fought them all and won, but Cloud knew there was no winning against those eyes. Vincent half-smiled and patted her brow, left with no choice but to concede defeat.

"Alright." Vincent glanced up at the ceiling, almost as if he were wondering what on earth he should do. Finally, he hummed softly, trying to find a key of a sort—and finding one, forged ahead.

"Goodnight, to every little hour that you sleep tight…may it hold you through the winter of a long night…and keep you from the loneliness of yourself…

"Heart strung, is your heart frayed and empty…cause it's hard luck, when no one understands your love…it's unsung, and I say…

"Goodnight, my love, to every hour in every day…goodnight, always, to all that's pure that's in your heart…

"Goodnight, may your dreams be so happy and your head light with the wishes of a sandman and a night light…be careful not to let the bedbugs sleep tight nestled in the covers…

"The sun shines but I don't…a silver rain will wash away…and you can't tell, it's just as well…

"Goodnight, my love, to every hour in every day…goodnight, always, to all that's pure that's in your heart."

Cloud looked on in quiet astonishment as Vincent's lush, quiet baritone faded into silence. Gods, his voice was…beautiful. Soothing. It appeared to have the intended effect as well. Marlene's eyes were shut in blissful repose, and she slumbered peacefully. Vincent smiled down at her one last time, kissing her brow and making sure she was tucked in, then rose to his feet and started for the door. He stopped suddenly, startled as he finally noticed Cloud, frozen much like the proverbial deer in the headlights.

"You…?" Vincent whispered, his eyes slightly wild. His expression grew flushed, and he turned a deep shade of crimson.

"Yeah," Cloud whispered back, with a slow nod and a smile. "You were great."

Vincent shut the door behind him, still flustered, and started for the stairs. However, Cloud gently took hold of his arm, stopping him.

"Sing me to sleep, too?" Cloud grinned. Vincent smiled, ruffling his blond spikes, and proceeded to steal a lingering kiss.

"If you insist."