Disclaimer: I own nothing, as usual.

A/N: I'm so ashamed of how I ended the last chapter so badly. Really, I could've done better, but I was in a major hurry to end it. I want to cry. I promise I'll try harder! Anyway, I've been suffering from major writer's block. Also, I've been busy with the opera we put on at school (for chorus), so I haven't had any free time, and the hurricane knocked out our power (Thank goodness for generators!). School's been a real pain in general, actually. But now I'm back!

P. S. If you put this story on your favorites/alert lists, I'll be more inclined to keep going. I mean, either way I'm going to finish it, but without your encouragement, it'll be a very, VERY long time between updates. So if you love it, let me know! Many thanks to those of you who reviewed. I seriously love you guys.

Vincent was curious as to what Tifa was up to. She and Marlene had been running around all day, frequently giggling and whispering behind his back. He was just about to go find to Tifa to ask her what was going on when she came up to him and said, "Vincent, could you come to the living room for a sec?"

"All right," he said, figuring that this probably had something to do with the giggles and whispers. Vincent followed her into the living room. What he found there probably shouldn't have surprised him, but it did.

The room was pitch-black. Thanks to his heightened senses, he could discern several small figures in the darkness, presumably the children. Suddenly, someone turned on the lights and everyone yelled, "Surprise! Happy birthday, Vincent!"

Vincent's eyes widened slightly. "Um, what is this?" he asked.

Marlene laughed. "It's a surprise party, silly!"

"A… surprise party?" Vincent tilted his head slightly.

"Yeah! Haven't you ever been to one?" she asked.

"Hmm, not that I can recall," Vincent pondered.

"Hey, Vincent, wanna cut the cake?" asked Tifa.

"Okay," he answered.

"All right! Everybody, get around the table, we're gonna sing Happy Birthday!" she called. Everyone crowded around the table that had a small cake on it. They all sang an out-of-tune Happy Birthday to Vincent as he stood in the midst of them, watching their cheerful faces. When they finished the song, they cheered and beamed at Vincent. He looked back at them, confused as to why they were staring at him expectantly.

"Vincent," provided Tifa, "aren't you going to blow out the candles?" She gestured to the candles burning quietly on the cake. A short while before, the children had searched the house, but had only been able to find three candles. They'd figured that it was close enough to thirty to be presentable.

Vincent nodded, but just as he was taking a breath, Marlene cried out, "Don't forget to make a wish! Ooh, but don't say it out loud, or it won't come true!"

Vincent thought for a few moments, then took a silent, deep breath and blew all the candles out. The children cheered again.

"Yay!" shouted Marlene. "You did it all in one breath. Now your wish will come true!"

Vincent's usually somber face showed signs of amusement at the young child's mirth.

He looked around the small, yet cozy, room at all the children smiling brightly and laughing with one another. His scarlet eyes rested on one particularly radiant face, seemingly oblivious to his gaze as she searched for the knife to cut the cake with. It was that of Miss Tifa Lockheart's. Against all odds, his heart warmed at the sight.

A/N: Think for putting up with me. Read and review, please!