Song-fic. Al/Rache Rachel and Jenks are recording a gift for Ceri and the baby when Al comes to check on his student. I do not own these characters, just enjoy playing with them.

RPOV

"All right, Jenks, let's get this over with," Rachel said with a laugh. Why the pixy was so hard up about doing this song with her, but he seemed to really think that Ceri would enjoy it. With a sigh, Rachel had relented and figured if it made the poor, hugely pregnant elf woman happy, it was worth the humility. Rachel's green eyes watched Jenks zip over Ivy's computer and clicked the mouse to start the recording. Then he promptly zipped back and settled in with his tiny guitar across his lap. He locked eyes with Rachel and started tapping his foot in the air slowly.

APOV

Grumbling, Al stepped out of the ley line, figuring now was a perfect time to take a break from the ever-after and check in on his favourite student. Dali and Newt were getting to persistent about her progress and it was plainly pissing him off. How dare they try and check up on him?

Then a sound jerked him to a halt, both mentally and physically. A soft voice singing sweetly with just that hint of harmony that made his toes curl. It was coming from Rachel's kitchen. Itchy witch?

"Hush-a-by, don't you cry, go to sleep my little baby," it sang so gently. "When you wake, you shall have all the pretty little horses. Dapples and greys, pintos and bays, all the pretty little horses." Al felt tears forming in his red goat-slitted eyes as he moved closer, preying for that wonderfully angelic voice to continue.

"Way down yonder in the meadows, poor little baby crying momma. Birds and the butterflies flutter round his eyes. Poor little baby crying momma."

By then, Al stood in the living room, having closed the door to the garden without a sound, afraid he'd disrupt the perfect singers. He could clearly see his itchy witch sitting with her legs crossed at the ankle wearing a pair of tight blue jeans and a deep green t-shirt, her red curls falling in tangled waves around her shoulders and her eyes closed as her voice rang out. She had a peaceful look on her face as she moved slowly to the music that the little pixy made with his guitar and all the world dropped away. It was only Al, Rachel and the beautiful voice that came from such a small body.

"Hush-a-by, don't you cry. Go to sleep my little baby. When you wake you shall have all the pretty little horses. Dapples and greys, pintos and bays, all the pretty little horses." Slowly, she began to hum and her green eyes opened. Al watched in rapt fascination as a tear slid down her pale cheek and then the music stopped. The pixy flew to the computer and clicked a button and the tension eased visibly from Rachel's shoulders.

"Jesus and fairy farts, Al!" cried the pixy, just noticing him standing in the living room. "When the hell did you get here?"

Rachel spun and stood, almost like the force of her movement made her fall off her stool. She was shocked and it showed, her thick lips making that perfect "O" of surprise, her eyes wide and those tears still falling down her cheeks. Al said not a word, just pushed himself into motion, striding across what was left of the living room and into the kitchen, stopping when the line of his body met hers. She suddenly seemed as breathless as he felt as he wrapped her up in one arm, pulling her close. His other hand reached up to cup her jaw, his thick thumb feathering away the tears on her cheek.

"Hush-a-by, my angel," he whispered as he leaned down and captured her mouth with his. Rachel gave no fight, just melted into him and he felt her sob in his arms. The kiss deepened when he pushed his tongue into her mouth, tasting her and all that burning passion, all that heartache, all that loneliness and he swept it away with one thorough kiss. Then, he was pulling them into a ley line and leaving the screeching four-inch man in the dust.