Approval

Malon eyes Vincent as he silently ate dinner. Lifting the fork to her lips and followed the same pattern he took. She pondered on what could've changed Vincent from the optimistic worker she hired to the stoic mute she was housing. Any attempts to prod for the reason were met with total silence. That really annoyed Malon. He simply sat across from her, with his eyes closed and his 'perfect' table manners. Malon stared at him hard, taking note at how he sat straight in his chair and how his elbows were off the table. She had enough.

Malon stood up from the table, "Vincent! Out with it, what the hell is wrong with you!"

Vincent coughed softly. He slowly opened his eyes and let his scarlet orbs bore into her eyes. "There is nothing wrong with me, Malon."

"Then why are you acting like I'm not even here?" Malon yelled.

Vincent couldn't take having Malon so man and sad at the same time. He sighed in defeat and pushed away his plate, "I'm not really sure myself. I know I've been sitting like this for a few days now but… There was the old woman and she revealed to me your 'real' dream."

Malon instantly quieted and sat back down in her seat. She felt the blood rush to her face as it dawned on her the severity of it all.

"I'm hoping you told me the truth. I know we're only in a business relationship but we shouldn't keep anything from each other, right? It would sort of break me if we weren't honest with each other. Maybe I'm being too sentimental and emotional. I seriously don't know what has gotten into me. But… do you really want a knight to sweep you off your feet?" Vincent finally asked.

Malon stayed quiet for a while and simply stared at her food. The idea of Vincent becoming her knight felt foreign yet right to her. She looked up to see the curious Vincent awaiting her answer. From what he says and does, all he wants is to serve her and make her happy. It even hurts him to have her in a negative state. "Vincent," she uttered. Malon looked up and softly smiled, "Your really gullible. Don't believe everything people tell you."

Vincent showed a sign of disappointment before he smiled to her. "Maybe I am. I guess I expect honesty from anyone and everyone. I shouldn't think like that. There are plenty of people who would use that against me. Sorry if I made your life miserable before."

"Why are you always so nice to me, Vincent? Why is it that you continue to apologize for things your not even responsible for?" Malon stared at Vincent, "Don't worry, you didn't. How is your hand?"

Vincent looked down at his injured hand. "Its better. Thanks for asking, Malon." He propped his arm on the table and laid his head on his fist. Vincent smiled and stared at Malon.

Malon giggled and looked away, "What is it Vincent? Why are you looking at me like that?"

He chuckled, "I'm not sure myself. Do you have any idea how stunning you are?"

Malon gave another laugh but she didn't believe it. She knew better. "Well, Vincent Dante Aegis, could you help me with the dishes?" Malon took up her plate and silverware from the table and walked to the sink. She turned back to Vincent and gave him a seductive look, "Coming?"

Vincent took the last bite of his meal and followed her example. At the sink, Vincent handed his plate to Malon and stood by as she washed them. Finishing the first one, Vincent took it from her and dried it. "Hey Malon, do you know why the cucco cross the road?"

Malon rolled her eyes and looked up at Vincent, "Are you honestly trying to breath life into a joke as old as that?"

"Maybe," Vincent smirked.

"Fine, why did it cross the road?"

"Simple, to get to the other side," Vincent said with a serious face on. It slowly started to break as he forced himself to not laugh.

"Oh my…" Malon said. "That was so corny."

"Still worth a laugh," Vincent said. He sighed happily, "Wonderful meal, my sweet valkyrie."

"I sometimes worry about you, Vincent," Malon said, shaking her head. She couldn't help but smile at his silly antics. A drowsy spell hit her suddenly and Malon could not contain the yawn that burst from her.

"What's the matter sweetheart? Tired?" Vincent asked in a soft voice.

"I am not eight years old, Vincent," Malon answered. "But to answer your ridiculous question, yes I am."

Vincent gently pushed Malon out of the way, "Go to bed, I'll finish up here. Go on, I wont burn down the house. Remember, sweet dream!"

Malon yawned again, "You better not. I know where you live." Malon waved a goodbye for her goodnight and went up the staircase to her bedroom. She went inside her bedroom and closed her door. Malon never locked it anymore; she knew that with Vincent downstairs no thief would be a fool enough to try. She undressed herself and then climbed into her pajamas. She crawled to her bed and laid down on it. Malon yawned once more before wrapping herself within the covers like a caterpillar starting to cocoon itself.

Sleep embraced Malon in its dark familiarity. She was tired and welcomed sleep. And within the darkness, Malon found herself in a dream, an almost perfect dream. There Malon stood, in an endless flower field, dancing and singing in the bright sunshine. She was happy and content with her life. Then it came. Dark clouds of dread and trepidation filled the sky and started to take her place of joy away from her. Malon ran away from it, trying to get away from the impending darkness.

But it was catching up to her. Malon turned around fearfully and backed away. The clouds were malicious and destroyed her field. What was left was in back of her. In front of her was nothing but despair. Striking lightning cracked the ground and burned the flora.

"No…" she said as she kept taking more steps backward. Malon then bumped into somebody. She slowly turned around to see Vincent standing tall behind her. He scarlet eyes were fixated on the coming storm. He looked down at Malon with no change of expression on his face. "Vincent? What are you doing here?"

Vincent took her right hand in his and raised his left arm into the sky. He made the signal to stop and the clouds started to disappear from her realm. He looked down from the heavens and smiled down at Malon. "This is only a fake diorama. You envisioned your perfect place to call your own. Darkness intruded, I came to stop it, like I said I would."

It was then Malon noticed the pair of wings on Vincent's back. She looked up to her guardian, "What do you mean like you would, Vincent? What are you talking about?"

His wings unfolded themselves. Malon gazed at their majestic glory and divine stature. The feathered appendages were widely extended and then they slowly wrapped themselves around Malon, pulling her closer to him. Malon found herself bound close to Vincent. Her head lay on his chest where she could here his beating heart. She felt safe and protected. With his wings shielding her and Vincent as her guardian, Malon knew nothing would do her wrong.

"Malon… I told you I will protect you from all evils," Vincent said. "But all I need… is love."

"Love?" Malon mouthed. She found his gaze with hers, "Does that mean…"

Vincent kissed her forehead, "I love-"

Malon sat up in bed. The slam from the door downstairs woke her from her dream. Yawning, Malon stretched and looked down to see Vincent's white jacket on top of her. She wondered how did it get there but then remembered her dream. Her eyes then wandered to her bedroom window to see the sun high above in the sky. For an odd reason, it didn't seem as bright as it usually did. Still, Malon realized she had slept in and quickly made herself presentable.

Cursing herself for sleeping so late, Malon raced downstairs. With his jacket in hand, she found its owner at the table snaking on an apple. At that time, Malon's blood began to boil and stomped her way over to Vincent.

"You pale faced bastard!" Malon shouted.

"Uh, Malon," Vincent quivered. "Um, what happened?"

Malon shoved the jacket into his chest, causing him to grunt. "Why didn't you wake me up? You know perfectly well that only leads to complications with business. And how do I wake up? By someone slamming the door!"

"Oh, I'm sorry about that, honey," came an elder man's voice.

Malon turned around to see her father in his blue overalls standing outside his bedroom. She instantly forgot her trouble with Vincent and ran to her father. Wrapping her arms around his neck and giving him a vice-like hug, Malon was happy to see her father again after his long absence.

"You came back daddy!" Malon said.

"Now I hope your not giving this poor lad too much trouble for my wrongdoing," Talon said.

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that Malon," Vincent said, putting his jacket on. "It looked like you needed to rest so I didn't wake you when you failed to wake yourself. Don't worry about the horses or cuccos, I already took care of that."

"Oh…" Malon said.

"Honey," Talon started. "Do you mind telling me why we have a new ranch hand? Whatever happened to my old friend Ingo?"

"Oh, right," Malon said unenthusiastically. "Well, dad, he sort of got a slick mouth and lazy when you left. So by some twist of fate, Vincent walked in at that very moment and offered his services. I guess from what you just heard, he's rather dependable and hardworking."

"I see," Talon said.

"Oh," Malon turned around to Vincent. "Why was your jacket on me when I woke up?"

"About that," Vincent said. "Well, when I checked up on you, it was near freezing outside. Guess I wasn't thinking straight but I thought my jacket would be suffice."

"Thank you, Vincent," Malon said. "I know you meant well."

"I always do," Vincent said in return. He finished the rest of his apple, "I'd better check on the horses. Nice to meet you, sir." Vincent waved goodbye as he walked out of the house.

"He seems nice," Talon said to her daughter.

"He is," Malon answered. "He's actually very sweet and innocent."

"Quite handsome," he added.

"Very…"

Talon chuckled at his daughter's infatuation.

"What is it?" Malon asked.

Talon brushed his mustache with his hand, "Nothing, honey. I think Vincent is a great boy to marry one day. I just hope he finds his girl one day soon."