Vincent looked around as he made his way to Seventh Heaven. Children were running around laughing, smiles on their faces. It was hard to believe that these were the children that were sick with the Geostigma not to long ago. He felt a small smile form when he saw one of the smaller children run into the open arms of a woman standing on her front steps.
As far as he knew all the orphans from Seventh Heaven had been taken in by loving families, thus explaining all the smiling faces around him. Tifa had adopted the young boy Denzel, whom had become good friends with Marlene.
Two children raced towards him, laughing happily. The little girl in front was looking over her shoulder at the boy chasing her and wasn't watching where she was going when she crashed into Vincent.
She landed on her rear and looked up at him with wide eyes. Vincent knelt down and helped the child to her feet. "You should be more careful." He told her gently as he straightened up. "Where do you live little one?"
The little girl smiled. "With my new mommy. She's over there." She pointed t where a woman was watching them intently. Vincent nodded a greeting to the woman which was returned warmly as the woman obviously recognized him as one of the heroes from AVALANCHE.
"I'm Abigail Turner. What's your name?" the girl asked him.
"Vincent Valentine." Vincent replied, his cloak hiding his smile.
"That's a nice name. you're named after a holiday." Abigail said, laughing.
"Abigail." Her adopted mother called. "Time to come home. It's getting dark out and a storm's coming." Vincent looked up and sure enough storm clouds were rolling in fast.
"Coming mama! Bye Mister Valentine!" Abigail said, waving to him as she ran towards her mother.
He watched as the woman ushered Abigail inside and as others did the same till all the children were safely indoors then continued on his way to his original destination.
Rain drops started to fall and he quickened his pace. Pretty soon it was a downpour. He put his cloak over his head and took off at a jog. He jogged past a dark alley way and his heightened hearing picked up a small whimper. He stopped abruptly and stood at the alley entrance. "Is someone there?" he called and was answered with another whimper.
He walked down the dead end ally and found a little girl huddled up in a dark corner behind some trash cans, clutching a stuffed Chocobo. She was filthy, covered in mud and her clothes were ripped and torn. She looked no more than four or five years old.
He knelt in front of her and reached out with his human hand. She flinched in fear and pressed herself into the corner as far as she could go, trying to put as much distance between herself and Vincent as possible.
"It is alright little one. I will not harm you. I want to help you." She stared at him with eyes filled with mistrust. He put his hand closer and she whimpered again. "I can take you somewhere where you can get clean clothes and something warm to eat." The prospect of food overcame the girl's fear and she shuffled warily over to him.
He picked her up and cradled her soaked form against him, wrapping his cloak around her shivering figure.
He walked out of the alley and to the next street where the Seventh Heaven was located.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Kiara." She answered weakly.
He arrived at the bar and pushed open the door. Tifa, Cloud and the gang looked up from their drinks as he entered.
"Hiya Vince. Whatcha got there?" Yuffie asked, looking at the covered bundle in his arms.
He uncovered Kiara and Tifa rushed over. "Oh the poor thing. She must be one they missed on the street." She reached out a hand and Kiara gave a small cry, burrowing further into Vincent's arms and burying her face in his chest.
"It's ok sweety I won't hurt you. Why don't we get you cleaned up and into some dry clothes then I'll make you something to eat." Kiara looked at her for a minute before climbing from Vincent's arms and into her open ones.
Tifa carried her upstairs and Kiara's eyes never left Vincent.
"Hey Vince. Come have a drink with us, looks like you could use one." Yuffie said from the bar counter.
Vincent hung up his now soaking cloak and raised an eyebrow as he walked over. "Are you even old enough to drink?" he asked as he sat next to her.
She shook her head. "Nope. But that's why it's good to have a friend who owns a bar." She said, downing the last of her drink in one swallow.
"So where'd you find the kid?" Cid asked over his cigarette as Cloud passed a drink to Vincent.
"In an alley not far from here."
"What's her name?" Yuffie asked.
"She said her name was Kiara."
They sat in silence then ten minutes later the stairs creaked and Tifa came into view. "I cleaned her up and gave her some of Marlene's clothes. She has a small fever and she's malnourished. My guess is that she's been on her own for a while." She said as she put a pot on the stove. "Marlene and Denzel are looking out for her while I make her some soup." She smiled at Vincent. "You want some Vince? You look like you could use it."
Vincent shook his head. "No thank you Tifa. I'll be fine."
Lightning flashed and there was a crash of thunder then the lights went out. Since night had fallen no light came through the windows. "Great! Now I can't see!" Yuffie exclaimed. Vincent saw here outline stand up and walk across the room. There was a crash as she tripped and let out a string of curses as Cid and Barrett laughed.
"Tifa!" Marlene shouted down the stairs. "Something's wrong with Kiara!" Tifa ran up the stairs and Vincent followed.
They opened the door to see Kiara sobbing and shivering in a corner of the room, holding her stuffed Chocobo tightly.
"Kiara! What is it? What's wrong?" Tifa asked, hurrying over and kneeling in front of her. "Marlene. You and Denzel go downstairs." The children nodded and left the room.
Thunder crashed again and Kiara sobbed harder into the Chocobo.
It's the thunder. Vincent thought as he knelt next to the trembling child. "The thunder won't hurt you Kiara. You are safe in here." Upon hearing his voice she threw her arms around his neck. He picked her up and sat down on the bed.
"You go ahead and head back down Tifa. I'll take care of her." He said. She nodded. "I'll bring up some soup when it's done." Then she left, closing the door softly behind her.
He took a blanket that was folded up at the end of the bed and wrapped it around Kiara. He brushed her black bangs away with a gloveless hand and felt her forehead; it was uncomfortably warm. "You need to lie down. You have a fever and we need to get rid of it."
Kiara shook her head, tightening her hold around him as she gave a small cough.
Vincent sighed. "What if I laid with you? Will you lay down then?" she nodded and he stood up, pulling back the covers so she could climb in. he pulled the covers back over her and sat down on top, leaning back against the head board.
Kiara's sobbing had stopped but tears still flowed slowly down her cheeks as she clutched his arm.
He pulled his arm gently from her grasp and handed her the Chocobo instead. As she clutched it to her he noticed a scar going down her left arm like a blade slash. He ran his still gloveless finger over it and she shivered.
"What happened Kiara?"
"Fawther." Was all she said and he was surprised she didn't say daddy like most children her age did.
"What did he do?"
"He throwed a knife at me." Vincent's eyes widened. How could anyone do something like that to a child? "Why did he throw it at you?" he asked gently. "Mommy says he was dwunk."
Vincent controlled the rage boiling inside him and made sure not to let it show on his face.
"What happened to your parents?"
"Mommy took me away from fawther. But mommy got sick. She fell asleep and didn't get up anymore."
"Do you know what happened to you father?"
She shook her head.
The door opened and Tifa walked in with a bowl of soup in her hands. Yuffie came in behind her.
"Aww. Gee Vince didn't know you were such a softy." Yuffie commented on the sight before her, grinning. Vincent glared at her.
Tifa handed the bowl to Kiara who took it gratefully and began scarffing it down. "Wow. You know Yuffie I'm beginning to think she's somehow related to you. She eats just like you." Tifa said and Yuffie gave an indignant cry. "I do not eat like that!"
"Slow down Kiara. The food isn't going anywhere." Vincent said, a small smile on his face. "Are you even tasting the soup?"
Kiara stopped, her mouth still full of soup and nodded. "Yep. It's good." She said as she swallowed.
"Oh gods. Did Vincent just smile? Wow, where's a camera when I need one?" Yuffie laughed.
"Come on Yuffie. Stop bugging him. We'll be downstairs if you need us Vince." Tifa said, dragging Yuffie out.
Vincent looked back down at Kiara and saw she was finishing her last spoonful of soup. "Do you realize you ate that in under two minutes? That's faster than Yuffie."
She smiled.
Vincent took the bowl and pushed her back into a laying position, covering her up. "Now you get some sleep." He stood up and walked towards the door but stopped when a small hand grabbed his arm.
He turned back. "Will you stay with me till I fall asleep?" she asked and he nodded, sitting back down next to her.
He sat with her for a while but she showed no signs of sleepiness so he decided to try something his mother had done to him.
He listened intently for sounds of footsteps on the stairs because he knew Cid and Yuffie would tease him mercilessly if they found out.
When he heard nothing he stroked Kiara's hair and started to sing a lullaby his mother had sung to him long ago.
When daytime turns to night
And the moon is shining bright
When you're tucked in tight
And everything's alright
Kiara looked up at him and snuggled closer.
Slip softly to that place
Where secret thoughts run free
There come face to face
With who you want to be
Her eyelids drooped and she blinked a few times to keep them open.
So swim across the ocean blue
Fly a rocket to the moon
You can change you life
You can change the world
Her eyelids drifted shut.
So don't be afraid
Life is yours to live
Take a chance because the best is yet to come
Make a wish
It's up to you
Find a dream inside
And make that dream come true
You don't need a shooting star
The magic's right there in you heart
So close your eyes
Believe
And make a wish
The rest of the song was in Wutaian and he would have continued but had no need to since she was sound asleep.
He stood up, bowl in hand, and walked quietly out the door. He closed it quietly and turned to see Yuffie leaning against the wall, a small smile on her face. Vincent sighed, waiting for the teasing to begin.
"That was a Wutaian song. Where did you learn it?" she asked. Surprised Vincent answered. "My mother was from Wutai. She taught me."
She nodded in understanding. "My mother used to sing the same song. Reminds me of home, how it used to be." She said softly. "You think I'm gonna tease you about your singing don't you?"
He nodded.
"I won't. I think it's sweet what you did for her." She smiled. "People think you're a cold person but in side you're kind, that's what matters." Her smile became a grin. "Ok. After that completely un-Yuffie-like moment, has anyone ever told you that you have a nice singing voice?"
He shook his head.
"Well you do. Anyway, Tifa's waiting for you downstairs. Come on." She walked down the stairs and Vincent followed.
Me: Here to say the Disclaimer is everyones favorite ninja.
Yuffie: Hiya everyone. MakoStorm owns nothing Final Fantasy and does not own the song in this chap.
Me: Very good. I think Cid's at Seventh Heaven if you wanna go bug him.
Yuffie: I think I will go bug him. I'll steal those cancer sticks he sucks on day and night. See ya everyone.
A/N: Happy Thanksgiving everyone. So how was the chap? The whole Vincent singing thing popped in my head and wouldn't go away so i just wrote it down and i'm satisfied with how it turned out. What do you guys think? It'll probably be a few days before i can get the next chapter up. R&R please. Also try and go easy on me will ya? This is my first story that's gonna be over two chapters long and i'm very nervous about what you all will think about it.
