A/N: A bit of a supernatural feel in this one, I suppose. I, for one, believe that the soul can hang around for a bit after death, hence this chapter. This is the first of five songfics that make up the rest of the chapters. Words in bold indicate the song lyrics. Usual disclaimer. And away we go...

Chapter 46- Lullaby (Goodnight my Angel)

It was almost ten o'clock before everyone left Sara and Greg's house that night after the funeral. As the final car drove away, a lone figure leaned against the tree in the front yard, watching the house. The moonlight streaming through the tree leaves seemed to pass straight through the man, as if he was nothing more than shadow and light.

Greg sighed and stepped away from the tree, hands in pockets, and walked toward the house. The light in the bedroom had long since turned off, and Greg knew Sara was asleep. He drifted through the quiet house toward their bedroom, pausing for a moment before turning the doorknob and entering the darkened room.

Sara lay on the bed, brown hair spread over the pillow, which was still wet from her tears. Greg sat down on the edge of the bed, barely making an indentation in the mattress, and he reached out and brushed a few errant hairs off her forehead before laying a gently kiss on her temple.

"Goodnight my angel, time to close your eyes
And save these questions for another day
I think I know what you've been asking me
I think you know what I've been trying to say"

Greg cleared his throat and whispered aloud, "Sara…I miss you. I wish I could still be here with you. He went to grab her hand, but hesitated. "God, I miss you."

"I promised I would never leave you
And you should always know
Wherever you may go
No matter where you are
I never will be far away"

Greg touched his wedding band, twisting the translucent gold ring. "I will always be a part of you," he told her, shadowy tears beginning to fill his brown eyes "And I always will be with you, for the rest of your life. I love you so much, and I will never stop."

He stood and bent over her once more, kissing her softly on the cheek. "Sleep well, my love," he whispered before crossing out of the room. He went to Nicola's room and watched her as she slept, one arm curled around the teddy bear Greg had gotten her.

"Goodnight my angel, now it's time to sleep
And still so many things I want to say"

"Nicola, I'm sorry," he said, walking to her bed. "I'm sorry that I made you lose another father. I'm sorry that I can't be with you." He looked down sadly at her. "There're so many things I wanted to tell you, so many things I wanted to teach you. I'll never get a chance to now."

"Remember all the songs you sang for me
When we went sailing on an emerald bay"

Greg smiled at the memory of the trip they had taken to California at the end of August. All four of them together, as a family. Even Shadow had come along. They had visited Stanford (Greg had told Freya that Stanford was the college to go to—Screw Harvard!). They had gone sailing together, and Greg had gotten to surf one last time. He had wanted to teach Nicola to surf, but Sara had forbidden it. He and Sara had just spent their nights on the beach, lying together under the stars and listening to the ocean. It had been one of the best times of his life.

"And like a boat out on the ocean
I'm rocking you to sleep
The water's dark and deep
Inside this ancient heart
You'll always be a part of me"

Greg stooped over and kissed her gently on the forehead. "I love you, sweetheart," he whispered, smiling gently down at her. "You will always be my daughter, biological or not. Never be afraid to love someone with all your heart, regardless of whether or not you'll get hurt. I'll tell your mom when I see her that you say hi. Take care of Sara. She'll need you."

He continued on to Freya's room, crossing over to the crib and watching his daughter as he slept. He reached down and stroked her chubby cheek, smiling as one of her fists closed around his finger. "Hey," he whispered.

"Goodnight my angel, now it's time to dream
And dream how wonderful your life will be"

"My biggest regret is that I won't get to see you grow up," he told her, smile fading. "I won't be there for your first Christmas, your first birthday, your first tooth, your first word…that's an awful lot of firsts that I'm going to miss. I won't be able to corrupt you into loving chemistry as much as I do…" he added wistfully, then he smirked, "Though I'm sure Mommy will do a fine job turning you onto physics." He turned serious again. "Hell, I won't be there for your first crush, your first break-up…I won't be there to walk you down the aisle and give you away…"

"Someday your child may cry
And if you sing this lullaby
Then in your heart
There will always be a part or me"

He paused, then said quietly, "There's so much of your life that I'll miss. So much of it. And you won't even remember me. That's the worst part. You'll have to grow up without a daddy." He paused again, then smiled. "Hey, at least you'll have Uncle Nicky and Uncle 'Rick and Aunt Catherine to look after you. Oh, and Grandpa Gil." He whispered conspiratorially, "You have to make sure to call him 'grandpa', just to piss him off. Tell him it's from me."

He looked down at her still-sleeping form and couldn't help the tears welling in his eyes. Clearing his throat loudly, he said, "Well, I feel like a freakin' Fairy Godfather being here like this, so I might as well grant you something. Now, since I'm not a fairy, I can only wish things for you, so here goes.

"Firstly, I wish you happiness. The most important thing you can have is happiness.

"Secondly, love. Believe me, it took long enough for me to get Sara to go out with me, but it was totally worth it. Once you find the one that you love, hold onto him. Never let go without a fight. Remember your middle name and what it means.

"Thirdly, my sense of humor. I just don't think it's possible to lead a healthy, productive life without an adequate sarcastic nature. Give everyone hell for me, alright?

"Since I'm pretending to be a fairy, those are the only three gifts or wishes I can leave you. I don't need to wish you beauty because, after all, you are my daughter. But seriously, live your life to the fullest, the best you can." He smiled down at her and kissed her lightly on the head. "I love you," he told her. "Never, ever forget that."

He left her then, going back to Sara's room, just leaning casually against the wall, watching her again. "God, Sara," he whispered, dark eyes filled with infinite sadness. "I miss you so much. I don't want to leave you, but I know I have to." He crossed over to her bed and kissed her softly on the cheek, taking time to simply stroke her hair gently with one hand. "I love you, Sara," he whispered in her ear. "Forever and always and until the apocalypse and for all eternity." He pressed a light kiss to her temple and walked to the door, lingering for only a moment more to look back at her before turning to the door. He stepped out into the hall and was gone.

A/N: Song is "Lullaby (Goodnight My Angel)" by Billy Joel.