Sweet Melody

By: Sailorjj07

A/n: I'm back with another crack pairing~! Let me just say upfront that I actually don't like Cheria. Throughout Tales of Graces F, she realllllllly got on my nerves. But in all honesty, I think she'd make a great queen for Richard. Let's see if I can pull this off. It's pretty short.

Summary: Based off of a quote from Richard during the game - "Will you sing me a sweet lullaby until I fall asleep, Cheria?"

Disclaimer: I do not own!

The stillness that fell on their makeshift camp echoed in Cheria's ears. As Asbel's soft breathing filled her ears, accompanied by the occasional snore from Captain Malik, Cheria once again wondered why she wasn't knocked out cold like the rest of them.

Maybe it was the brightness of the stars overhead.

It was Hubert's turn to keep watch over everyone, though Pascal had decided it was her turn to make sure "Little Brother" stayed awake. Cheria could see the ethustanic girl whispering to him in excited notes, but she couldn't make out what they were saying. Perhaps that was for the best.

"Can't sleep either, huh?"

Cheria's magenta-colored head turned in the direction of Richard. He was leaned back against a rock, staring up into the clear, dark night. Cheria thought he had already fallen asleep.

"No," she replied, with a sigh.

A soft smile spread across his face and he beckoned her closer, away from the sleeping beauties of their group. Cheria stood up, treading lightly across the sand until she was sitting primly beside him.

Richard's smile gave way to a grin when as she sat down, and without so much as a by-your-leave, the King of Windor laid his head in her lap. Cheria fought the urge to gasp in surprise, and instead focused on fighting the blush off of her face.

"Will you sing me a sweet lullaby until I fall asleep, Cheria?"

Despite her self-control, a blush finally did bloom on her cheeks, making them a rosy color that matched her hair, "R-Richard, I don't know if that-"

"Cheria, if I don't sleep, I'm not sure I'll be able to rule the Kingdom properly. What will happen if a king cannot rule?" He knew just the words to say to convince Cheria. After all, she had an amazing sense of duty to the people around her.

"Well, if it will help…" Cheria tried not to grimace as she said the words, but she realized that there was really no way for her to deny him.

Richard watched silently as Cheria took a deep, calming breath and began singing a slow, melodious song. The song spoke of sailors at sea, whose hearts were heavy because they had to leave their families. Women weeped as their husbands said farewell, but vowed to remain strong to raise the children they were leaving behind. Children, who worshipped their sailing fathers, prayed for their health and their swift return.

By the time she was finished, both Hubert and Pascal had turned to listen to the sound of her voice. Asbel, Sophie, and Malik slept on, however.

As the lingering notes blew away with the breeze, Cheria finally opened her eyes. She looked down to find Richard staring at her, a look of awe on his face.

"That was…" Richard's eyes glittered in the light of the fire as he spoke, and Cheria watched as a genuine smile made its way across his face. Cheria's heart skipped a beat, against her will. "It was really beautiful, Cheria. Thank you."

Cheria nodded mutely, feeling her cheeks grow warm once again.

Richard sat up suddenly, breaking contact. For some reason, he too, had a line of pink staining his cheeks.

"I ummm… I'm sure I'll be able to sleep now." He said, struggling for words for the first time in his life. He hadn't expected her voice to sound so soothing to his ears.

"I'm glad." Cheria said with a kind smile, as Richard stood up to resume his position on the other side of the rock she had leaned against. Cheria gave him a small wave as she walked back to her blanket and laid back down. Soon, she was fast asleep.

"...goodnight Cheria…" Richard whispered in the night, as he too, drifted off into dreamland.

The End!