A Short Ficklet, entitled...
"... And they all lived happily ever after."

Vash was finishing reading a story to the children who had gathered around him. The tall blond man was like a magnet for them, Wolfwood thought, something he could never explain with any logic. By all reason, they should be running in terror from the Humanoid Typhoon - but so should anyone else with reason. There was a scatter of youthfull giggles, and Vash laughed along with them.

"Children, time for dinner!" The call of their mother came from the next room over of the family run inn. The children, as a whole, groaned, and rolled their eyes.

"Now now," Vash said, his tone mockly serious, "You shouldn't ever disrespect your elders." Still reluctant, the children scampered off to eat, except for one little girl, who stayed close to Vash's knee.

"Mr. Vash, sir, I have a question." She looked up with very large, blue eyes.

"What, oh most dear child?" His smile was infectious.

"Did they really live happily ever after? Forever?"

"Yes, absolutely. That's what happily ever after means." Vash's smile was sweet, open, and, in Wolfwood's eyes, completely empty of real emotion. He tries so hard, he thought to himself, am I the only one who sees it? The little girl scampered away to join her brothers and sisters at dinner, pleased at the happy ending confirmed.

With all the children gone from the room, Wolfwood pulled out a crumpled cigarette and lit it, sighing.

"You know lying is a sin," he said around it, "Especially lying to children." He exhailed a slow stream of hazy smoke. "There's no such thing as happily ever after."

Vash visually crumpled within his red leather trench coat, as though all the false happiness which had suddenly drained from him had deflaited him as well.

"I know. But its nice to believe in something, even if it doesn't exist."