Switch on the Night

Rating: PG
Category: AU
Pairing(s): Cid/Vincent.
Warnings: Brief mention of violence.
Summary: Cid finds himself out in the middle of nowhere, working on some experimental blueprints for an airship. While the cottage and surrounding area are beautiful, they are not without drawbacks.
Notes: This is based on the brilliant and beautiful short story of the same name by Ray Bradbury. Premise is borrowed respectfully and humbly, will be treated gently, and returned to its creator afterwards.

Cid Highwind was very proud of his reputation as a man who could do anything. There was no challenge Cid could not face, no obstacle he could not overcome, no task too daunting. He liked that image of himself, and did nothing at all to dispel it. That was why he did not dare refuse the job Rufus Shinra was now handing him.

Even if he would have rather skinned himself alive with his bare hands.

“I’m sure you can appreciate the need for secrecy in this matter,” said Rufus. He was lounging in a black leather chair, clad in his trademark white suit, a drink in his left hand. He was flanked on either side by Turks, more for the purpose of creating an impression than because he thought he had anything to fear from Cid. Rufus Shinra, like Cid Highwind, was all about image.

“Well I do, and it’s an honour for you to have hired me for this,” said Cid. “But I just don’t see why the cottage has to be so isolated. What if I need something?”

“The cottage is fully stocked,” Rufus assured him. “And safe. Anything you are lacking can be flown in.”

“How is it fixed for electricity?”

“It isn’t. But you will have kerosene and there is a shed full of wood for the fire. It will be a little rustic but you should have no…”

“Wait a minute,” said Cid. “There’s no electricity?”

“The cottage is in the middle of nowhere. You can’t honestly expect me to spend tens of thousands of gil running a line out to a cottage in the mountains between Icicle Inn and The Crater.”

“What about a generator?” asked Cid.

Rufus sighed heavily. “Cid if you’re scared to be alone…”

Cid’s voice was so loud that Reno flinched and reached for his electro-rod. If Rude had hair it would have blown in the wind.

“CID HIGHWIND IS NOT AFRAID TO BE ALONE!”

Rufus Shinra raised an eyebrow, but that was the only indication he gave of his opinion of Cid’s outburst.

“Then you’ll take the job?”

Cid nodded. “I’ll take the job.”

“Excellent. Go home, get a good night’s sleep, pack up, and I will have the helicopter sent for you in the morning. Remember – this project is top secret.”

So Cid went home to his small messy house in Rocket Town, packed his bags, then spent the next few hours preparing his home for an extended absence. When all was done, Cid then filled the remaining time, not sleeping, but carefully packing one extra box for his trip – a box full of candles, batteries, flashlights, lamps, lamp oil, matches, lighters, and wicks.

Cid Highwind did not fear being alone. He feared the dark.

He had no idea how he came to fear the night, or when. As far back as his memory went, he recalled having a nameless horror of the night, the darkness, and all the slithering, hideous things that must dwell in it. Growing into a large and competent adult had not changed that in the least, and it was his most intensely guarded secret. And if anyone happened to mention that, night after night, lights blazed in Cid’s house, then he would just shrug.

“I have a lot of shit to do, I can’t be worrying about a few damned lights.”

Cid lived alone, and avoided relationships like the plague. Because the only thing he feared more than the night was the public humiliation he would receive if anyone were to find out he required a night-light to sleep.

Reno arrived in a helicopter just after dawn, and watched as Cid loaded his things in to it. After the third box, Cid paused and glared at the languid redhead.

“You could help, you know.”

Reno shrugged. “Of course I could. I just prefer not to.”

“You’re fucking hilarious.”

The trip was rather long. The helicopter was not fast, but Cid understood Rufus’ reasoning in sending him to the cottage in this as opposed to a faster craft; a slow little helicopter attracted no undue attention from anyone who might become overly-curious about what Rufus was up to. After all, what idiot would fly from Rocket Town to a point near the Northern Crater in a small helicopter? It would take all day!

“My ass is numb,” complained Cid.

“Now it matches your head,” said Reno cheerfully.

“I can fly this bird too, y’know. Don’t make me throw you out the window.”

It was late afternoon when they landed in the middle of a beautiful sunlit meadow. They unloaded Cid’s things from the helicopter, then Reno pointed out a path beneath the dark and imposing cedars that surrounded the meadow; tall guardians for the shadows that lurked beneath them.

“Just follow the path. It will lead down to a cottage. It’ll have a small man-made pond in the yard. Fish gather in it because it collects mosquito larvae. So they eat the bugs and you eat the fish. The circle of life is complete. There are also orchard-trees around. There used to be a mine here once upon a time, and the company planted the trees so the workers would have fresh fruit, but the mine closed when they were unable to stop the ground water from compromising it. The whole region is kinda boggy. Gives me the creeps. Also one of the miners apparently beat his boyfriend to death and stashed his body in the mine, so…”

Cid set a box on the ground and straightened up. “Beat his boyfriend to death? Well did the fucker go to jail?”

Reno shook his head. “Miners are a macho bunch. Pounding your timid, thin lover into pumice doesn’t win you any brownie points, especially not when said timid thin lover makes the best beer anywhere and provides it for only the cost of brewing materials. So they ran the man who killed him through a rock crusher. Sometimes you still find bone pieces.”

Cid was becoming increasingly frantic. “And you couldn’t have told me all this back in Rufus’ office yesterday?”

“Don’t be stupid, you never would have agreed to come.”

“DAMN STRAIGHT!”

Reno fluttered his eyelashes at him. “Don’t strain yourself, handsome. It’s just an old story. That all happened thirty years ago and none of the other people we had working here complained about ghosts.”

“And what do I do if I have to contact you?”

Reno tossed Cid a phone. Cid caught it, then stood back and watched as Reno departed, the small helicopter rising higher and higher and higher…. And then it was gone. Cid was alone in the middle of nowhere without electricity and a haunted mine shaft somewhere in the area.

It was going to be a very long night.

He looked up at the sky. It had taken hours to reach here, and he estimated he had about two hours before the sun set and the night settled to suffocate him with its terror. Time to get moving. He hoisted his boxes and carried them one at a time down the long winding trail from the field in which the helicopter had landed to the tiny stone cottage. It was surrounded by old trees of great age that swayed and sighed in the light breeze. Even at this hour of the day, the area was not as bright as it could have been; enclosed on all sides by gigantic cedars. But of course that was what made it perfect for secret projects for Shinra Industries. It was almost impossible to find if you had no idea it was there.

The cottage was round, made of stone, with a thatch roof, and designed to look like part of the small outcropping of grey forest rock behind it. It had a kitchen and a living/sleeping area, separated from one another with a curtain of leather. There was nothing refined or lovely about it; the cottage was a solid piece of practical stonework, meant to keep out the elements and nothing more. Cid had no idea how old it was, but he could not imagine that Rufus would make something so… basic. The cottage was likely hundreds of years old, and only survived because it served a purpose and Rufus sent people to maintain it.

Great. He was alone in a dark haunted forest in a creepy old stone cottage with no electricity. May as well get the lamps lit and start work. The sooner he finished, the sooner he could leave.

***---***

Cid looked up from his work, brow furrowing. Had he heard voices? No, that was impossible. There was nothing around for miles, Rufus wouldn’t permit it. Yet… he was sure he heard children…

Cid rose from his desk and walked into the kitchen portion of the cottage, carrying a lantern with him to keep the shadows at bay. He paused near the window and listened, and realized that yes, he did indeed hear children.

“Golly someone’s living in the cottage! I hope this person’s nice, all the others were real grouches.”

“Maybe we should ask if it’s okay to fish in the pond, I don’t wanna start any trouble.”

“Aw come on, we have to hurry if we’re going to see the wild fairy!”

Three children; two little girls and a little boy by the sound of it. Where the hell had they come from? Cid glanced at his watch. It was damned near midnight for crying out loud! He opened the shutter and looked out, leaning on the stone window ledge. The children stared back at him, eyes wide. They were holding jars of fireflies, and there were three fishing poles lying on the ground. The little girls were in dresses, but had bare feet. The little boy had bare feet as well, and wore breeches and an untucked plain cotton shirt.

“Gee mister, we’re sorry if we woke you!” said the boy.

“No it’s okay, I was awake. What are you doing out here at this hour?”

The smallest girl held aloft a jar. “We’re catching fireflies! And fish!”

Cid raised an eyebrow. There was something just the smallest bit odd about these kids. They all had hair as black as polished coal, but faces as white as the moon above. They didn’t look like any children he had ever seen. But they seemed nice enough, and Cid was not about to growl at kids.

“Catching fish, huh?”

The boy nodded. “Is that okay?”

“Sure,” said Cid. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a coin, then tossed it to the child. “Here. Catch me a couple for my breakfast while you’re at it.”

The boy caught the coin, smiling widely. “Sure! But… why don’t you come catch them with us? Then after we’re done we can take you to see the wild fairy!”

“No, that’s okay. I’ve… got a lot of work to do. You have fun fishing. You… sure you’re okay out there? It’s pretty late. Where are your parents?”

“Oh we’re okay,” said the smallest child. “Our mother is in the meadow!”

Cid nodded. Good. So they weren’t alone. “Well I’ve got to get back to work. You can fish here whenever you like, I don’t mind.”

The eldest girl hopped with excitement, her tiny hands clutching her jar of fireflies.

“You’re nice! The last man who was here chased us away. He was mean and grouchy.”

“Well not everyone can be a pussycat like me.”

Cid closed the window and went back to his work, listening to the sound of children playing, laughing and splashing. Their mother was gonna have a heck of a time getting them clean before bed if he knew anything about kids.

Why was he so sleepy all of a sudden…?

Cid put his head down on his desk and immediately fell asleep. When he awoke, the sun was shining brightly, the birds were singing, and the children were gone. However they had left two large and beautiful silvery fish in his sink, wrapped in a piece of damp cloth. Well at least they weren’t troublemakers. He wasn’t sure he could deal with this situation if he had a group of nasty obnoxious kids on his hands.

He cleaned and fried the fish, then ate them with some eggs and toast. Afterwards he dressed and left the cottage, wandering up the long path that led through the dark woods to the wide meadow where just yesterday Reno had dropped him off. All around was the sound of birds and insects, the warm smell of grass and flowers, bright blue sky, and the friendly and comforting brilliance of the sun above.

He found the place where the helicopter had landed; the grass all around blown to the ground by the chopper blades, and in the middle were two long tracks where the vehicle itself had landed. But that was the only indication he found that anything at all had been in the meadow in a very long time. At least anything human. He did find a few spots where the grass had been crushed by sleeping deer, and where something had dug into the soft earth. But nothing human. No sign of anything that looked like the work of children. Of course after they caught all the fish they wanted in the small pond by his cottage it was possible they had just wanted to get home. Even in summer time, the woods at night could be very cold.

He found a blackberry bramble and filled a container with ripe berries, then found some wild jungle fowl eggs. Content with his day’s scavenging, he then lay on his back in the sunlight, enjoying the peace and beauty of the day.

***---***

Cid started awake, sitting bolt upright and looking around. The day had turned cold, and the sun had slipped almost completely behind the trees. The shadows had grown very long, and the small creatures of the night were singing a greeting to the hours of darkness.

Feeling as if some monster had its hands around his throat, Cid grabbed up his eggs and berries and fled back for his cottage, running down the long path beneath the trees, which had turned from warm and shielding sentinels to withered and monstrous forms with the coming of the night. He ran into his cottage and shut the door, bolting it to keep out the nightmares and ghouls he knew were chasing him.

He left his eggs and berries by the door, diving for the nearest source of light; an oil lamp. He turned the wick up, but the single flame did not seem to help at all, if anything it just seemed to make the shadows deeper. He used a long slender splinter of wood to light the fire in the fire place, igniting the stick first in the oil lamp. The shadows retreated slightly, but not far enough. His heart pounding, Cid found a flashlight and turned it on, hanging it from a hook in a ceiling beam like some strange sort of light bulb. Still it was not enough. He went through his entire cabin, igniting every single source of illumination he could find, until the place blazed so brightly with light that there was not a shadow to be found. Shaking with fear and feeling deeply ashamed of his childish but overwhelming terror, Cid quietly put his berries and eggs away, then looked through his supplies for something to eat for dinner.

He had finally calmed down enough to do some work when he heard the sound of children laughing in the yard. Rising from his chair, he walked over to the window and opened it, seeing three very dirty and familiar kids, each holding a large jar. He raised an eyebrow.

“And what are you up to?”

The smallest held up a jar. “Catching fireflies to make a fairy lamp! You want to come help?”

“Nah, that’s okay, I’ll leave the fireflies for you. What do you do with fairy lamps?”

“Nuthin’,” said the boy. “They’re just fun. We let the fireflies go when we’re done. Did you want some more fish?”

“Sure,” said Cid. He tossed the boy a coin. “Thanks.”

“Do you want to come see the wild fairy with us later?” asked the elder of the two girls.

“Who is the wild fairy?”

They giggled, but they didn’t answer. Cid just raised an eyebrow, then closed the window on the night and went back to his work, trying to ignore the sound of laughter and play and excitement. Then, at about one in the morning, he heard the children run off. He rose from his workbench to look out the window, and saw three jars sitting neatly on the ground, lids off to allow the fireflies an exit. Beside the jars were three fishing poles, propped against the tree. Clearly the kids were planning on returning. Well that was fine. Cid didn’t mind.

He raised his head and listened as he heard the faint sound of excited shrieks and giggles, but it was far away. They had to be in the meadow by now, looking for the wild fairy, whoever that was. He felt a pang of jealousy that his own childhood, and current adulthood, were spent living in terror of the night. It would be less frustrating if he knew why he was afraid of the dark. But all he had was an irrational fear and a load of work to get done.

Cid locked the shutters, closed the window, and returned to his desk.

***---***

When he awoke in the morning, the jars and poles were gone, and again there were two large fish in his sink. Odd how he never heard the kids return. He wondered about that as he cleaned and fried his fish, cooking them along with the eggs he collected yesterday. There was just something odd about this whole situation. Not bad per se, but not right…

Cid finished his breakfast, then rose to his feet and crossed the stone floor of the cottage to the only door. Opening it, he stepped outside and walked over to the small, stone-rimmed pool that was more like a place to trap and hold live fish than a true pond. Chances were good it had been made by whoever built the cabin itself years ago. It was edged with field stones to keep the sides from collapsing, but the surrounding ground was just black forest earth, which should show the imprint of many little bare feet.

Cid saw nothing but the marks of his own boots. There was no other sign that anyone had been in the yard other than himself. Okay… this was getting creepy…

He returned to the cottage, and spent the day working, trying not to think about the strange nocturnal visitors that gave no indication of being anything other than normal children. The lack of footprints around the pond meant nothing. If there had been rain in the night it would have washed the marks away. There was even a chance the children themselves had erased the marks, thinking it rude to leave tracks all over his yard. Kids did weird shit all the time. Fishing on a summer night was something lots of kids did. At least kids without a morbid fear of the night.

The day ended, and the night came down. Cid caught the noise of children playing and laughing. Then he heard the sound of what could only have been a child slipping and landing on his or her ass. There was a very long pause, then the predictable blood-curdling scream. Cid had never been a parent, but there were enough kids in Rocket Town that he had plenty of experience. Then the front door opened and the little boy peeked in.

“Mr. Highwind, my sister fell and cut her leg.”

Mr. Highwind? Had he told them his name? He didn’t think he had, but he must have. However would they know? He sighed.

“Bring her in, I’ll fix it.”

He went for the first aid kit, then went to the kitchen area of the cottage, where the smallest of the two girls was seated on the counter, blood running down her left leg. She certainly had cut it; her mother was gonna have a fit.

“Well that’s a pretty amazing cut,” said Cid. “You should take a picture and show your friends.”

The child crossed her arms and gave him a scowl. “It hurts!”

“Well trying to cut your leg off with a big rock generally does.” Cid took out a wad of cotton and began carefully cleaning the gash. “So what’s your name? It seems I told you mine, but you never told me yours.”

“I’m Dusk!” said the smallest child.

“I’m Evening,” said the boy.

“I’m Dark!” said the eldest girl.

Cid raised an eyebrow, looking at each of the three children. They stared back innocently. Cid smiled slightly, taking in their ice-white skin, polished-coal hair, and eerie blue-black eyes with flecks of silver in the irises.

“So you three have been playing games with me. You’re not children at all, are you? You’re some kind of little night-sprites.”

“No we are children,” said Evening.

“We’re night-children!” said Dusk.

“And the wild fairy is our mother,” said Dark.

Cid continued to work on Dusk’s injury, cleaning and bandaging the cut. “So is she a night-child too?”

They laughed.

“The wild fairy’s not a lady,” said Evening. “But we’re his children.”

“We are the product of his union with the only thing that gave him solace,” said Dark. “The night. He was so sad and lonely that he willed us into being out of the darkness, and now he is our mother.”

“Would you like to meet him?” asked Dusk.

Cid finished bandaging the child’s leg. “You mean like now?”

“Yeah!” said Evening.

Cid looked past the children and out the window to the profound blackness of the night. Then he looked back at the children.

“I… really don’t like the dark,” he said.

The children stared at him, astounded.

“You don’t like us?” said Dusk, eyes filling with tears. “But I thought we were friends!”

Cid picked her up. “Well we are friends. I like you a lot. I’m just… really not crazy about not being able to see what’s creeping up on me.”

“That’s silly!” said Dark. “There’s nothing out there but us!”

“Come look with us!” said Evening.

“You can meet the wild fairy!” said Dusk. “And you can see the froggies, and the stars, and the fireflies!”

“And the moon!” said Dark. “You can’t see the moon and the stars and the fireflies with all the lights on!”

“The moon is full,” said Evening. “It’s hardly dark at all!”

Cid did not want to go. More than anything he wanted to lock the door and the windows against the horrible, smothering black. But as much as he hated the night, he thought he hated the idea of disappointing and upsetting a group of spirit-children more. Offending spirits could have some dire consequences.

“Are you scared of the dark?” asked Dusk.

“Yes,” said Cid, and was honestly shocked to hear himself admit such a thing. But there seemed no point in lying about the matter. “Yes I am very much afraid of the dark.”

“It’s okay,” said Dark. “We’ll be with you.”

Oh man he so did not want to do this…

He allowed himself to be led outside, away from the safety of his bright little cottage, out into something that was utterly foreign to him; the summer night. His heart was pounding, and his throat was so tight with fear he thought he would strangle. Oh man why was he out here, was he out of his mind? Oh man, oh man, oh man….

He left the yard, following the path, the children walking with him, guiding him silently. He wanted to run, to flee the night and the strange murderous terror it inflicted upon him, but it was as if he had lost the will to do anything but follow the silent children up the path and out into the meadow…

But it was not dark here. It was not dark at all. It was all shades of blue and silver with touches of gold. The moon hung low, cloaked in a halo of gold, illuminating the wide meadow. Fireflies danced and flickered, and stars glittered in a sky of winter-pale blue. And, in the middle of it, stirring up crickets and fireflies, danced a lone figure – the wild fairy.

Cid had no idea if this creature was, or ever had been, mortal. He was thin as a reed, with long black hair that flew like a nightmare’s mane. He had on what may have been a long cloak… or wings. Cid really couldn’t tell. In this light it could have been anything, but if he had to guess, he’d say wings.

“That’s our mommy,” said Dusk.

Cid raised an eyebrow. Mommy was hot.

Cid set Dusk down, and watched as the little girl ran across the meadow to the tall and wild figure dancing in the grass. Cid had no idea why the children would call their mother “the wild fairy” instead of “mother”, but he was not exactly current on what supernatural children called their parents.

“Mommy!” called Dusk.

The creature stopped dancing, then immediately noticed Cid. Red eyes burned through the night at him, and the great black wings spread; wings like tattered black lace, decorated with cobwebs, and the creature stared straight at the interloper.

“I don’t think I’m welcome…” said Cid quietly.

Dark rolled her eyes. “Aw he’s like that with everybody.”

“Y’know if he attacks me that’s not going to improve my opinion of the night and all the things in it.”

“He’s not mean,” said Dark, taking Cid’s hand. “He’s scared. Like you. All he has is us. You’re scared of the dark, and he’s scared of being alone.”

Dark tugged his hand, and Cid allowed himself to be led across the deep grass, under the light of the silver-white moon, over to the strange, winged creature that stood before him. He had no idea what it was; it looked mostly human, but the eyes were red as dragon’s blood, and the skin pale as moonlight. He was tall, and slender, and the wings were transparent save for black lace-like lines throughout. Cid felt his throat grow tight, but not in fear.

“Hi,” he said quietly. “Your… children wanted me to meet you. My name’s Cid.”

The creature blinked. Dusk just rolled her eyes.

“Mommy’s name is Vincent. He doesn’t like to talk.”

“No one as beautiful as you should ever have to say a word,” said Cid. “Why are you out here alone in the darkness?”

“I am a monster,” said Vincent softly. “And so must fear the light. Out here I am safe, wrapped in blessed shadows with my precious children as my only comfort. I cannot abide the light, for there all can see what I am.”

“And to think I always feared what I might find in the dark,” said Cid.

“What is there to fear in the night?” asked Vincent. “The night brings solace and comfort. She wraps you in the protective velvet of her cloak, and all that is painful is wiped away. She shows you the gentle beauty of the meek creatures, and the heart is eased.”

Cid glanced around the meadow, and saw that what Vincent said was true. There was something very peaceful and comforting about the darkness, and the creatures who dwelled in it. There was nothing horrible here at all, only crickets and moths and fireflies and frogs. There was much here that was beautiful, but nothing fearful.

“It is nice out here,” Cid quietly admitted. “But y’know there is a lot about the day that’s nice too. There are flowers and bees and berries, blue skies, and colours.”

“My children cannot go out in the day,” said Vincent softly. “The sun would harm them.”

“Well maybe I could come visit you while they slept.”

Vincent stepped closer. “You… would wish to see me? In the light?”

“If you promise to come see me in the night.”

“I’m tired and my leg hurts,” said Dusk, rubbing at one eye.

Vincent picked the child up, the cobweb-like wings fluttering softly. Holding the little girl close, he backed away slightly.

“Perhaps… tomorrow?”

“I’ll leave the door open,” said Cid.

Vincent gathered his children, and turned to walk away, wings fluttering silently as he and his children moved like a quiet summer breeze through the tall grass, finally vanishing without a sound into the darkness. At last Cid turned away and walked through the meadow, making his way to the path that led down through the dark trees and to his little cottage. All the lights had gone out but one, and the shadows were deep and long, but Cid paid no heed to them. He slowly closed up the small cottage for the night, and went to bed. For once, Cid slept with only the single light on, and did not banish the shadows to the outside. Shadows, it seemed, had lost their power to frighten.

***---***

He waited in the open doorway of his little cottage, watching as the shadows lengthened, and darkness approached. It came shyly with the light of fireflies, and slowly drew near, bringing with it the sound of frogs and crickets, of nightingales and owls, and, at last, the sound of children. Cid straightened up, and watched as small forms came into view. Dusk was first, running up to him and hopping into his arms, her knee healed from the previous evening’s misadventure. Not far behind her was Evening. Then bringing up the rear was Dark. She and her brother were each carrying baskets.

“We’re here to make dinner,” said Evening. “The wild fairy will be along soon.”

“Why do you call him the wild fairy when he’s your mother?” asked Cid.

Evening shrugged. “I ‘unno,” he mumbled in the way of young boys.

“Because that’s what he has become,” said Dark, placing her basket on the counter and taking out vegetables and fruits. “We are all called as we are. Once he was mortal but the night changed him. Evening should know that but he never pays attention.”

“I knew that!” said Dusk. “I’m the smartest because I come first, and see all there is to see and tell my brother and sister. Dark is the wisest because she stays the longest, and studies what I tell her. Evening comes between us. He doesn’t learn anything because I already saw it all, and Dark learns it all. So Evening is a doofus.”

“At least I’m not a smelly girl!” said Evening.

Cid just rolled his eyes, setting Dusk down. Apparently fairy-children were not significantly different from mortal ones.

“So what are you making?” asked Cid.

“Hare!” said Evening. “It’s our favourite.”

Cid let the children do their work, and gazed into the darkness, waiting. When at last dinner was ready, a lone form came down the path, walking silently, trailing moonbeams and cobwebs. He straightened up, feeling his breath catch in his throat as the ethereal creature drew near, bringing the night with him. Cid did not even realize he was about to speak; he simply heard his own words as they escaped.

“You are so beautiful.”

Vincent paused, and blinked at him. “You really do believe that, don’t you?”

“I have no choice, it’s true. You’re beautiful. Who the hell ever told you that you were a monster must have been half-blind and stupid.”

“That’s what I said,” said Dusk.

Cid reached out and gently took Vincent’s hand, stepping back and drawing him into the light. Vincent came reluctantly, drawing the night with him in a dark aura dotted with what seemed to be starlight. His long wild hair seemed to gently swirl, as if he was under water, and the large wings had a faint crystalline sparkle to them as he fanned them slowly, then closed them.

“Perhaps the light is not to be feared,” said Vincent.

“Funny, I was thinking the same thing about the night,” said Cid.

“But what shall I do when you leave? The children said you were only here until your work was compl...”

“I’m not leaving,” said Cid. “I have nothing to go back to. I want to stay here.”

Vincent smiled, raising an eyebrow. “And where will the five of us live?”

“Well where do you live?” asked Cid.

“In a submerged mineshaft,” said Dusk, standing on her tiptoes to watch her sister make gravy for their dinner. Her tone implied she did not think it was such a wonderful place, but at least it explained the way Vincent’s hair and clothing seemed to slowly swirl. Cid’s eyes widened.

“You’re the one who was…”

“Yes,” whispered Vincent. “But I do not like to speak of it.”

Yeah well that was hardly surprising.

“I think we can do a little better than a sunken mineshaft,” said Cid. “What about a house? A nice warm house on the edge of the meadow?”

“Can we have a garden?” asked Dark.

“And a dog?” said Evening.

“And a pony?” said Dusk.

Fairy children were definitely not significantly different from mortal children.

“Ask your mother,” said Cid.

“Would you be happy staying here with us?” asked Vincent.

“Well that depends on whether I’m going to have to do anything painful, illegal or offensive.”

Vincent smiled. He almost laughed. “No. We are not evil. Merely different.”

“In that case, I think I’ll be very happy here.”

“The house will take a long time to build,” said Vincent. “Plenty of time to get to know each other. And should you change your mind, you can always leave to return to your home. I will not force another to endure solitude and sorrow as I have.”

“I don’t think I’ll be leaving,” said Cid. “I can work here as easily as I can in Rocket Town. After all, dogs and ponies and children need to be cared for.”

“Can we have books too?” asked Dusk.

“And toys and real beds?” said Evening.

“I do the best I can,” said Vincent softly, his tone suggesting he was not proud of himself for having so little to offer his children. “I use my powers to call into being such things as we need, but it never seems to be quite enough.”

“Is that why you dance in the meadow night after night?” asked Cid.

Vincent nodded. “As you said, children need to be cared for. I call into being clothing and food and other things. But healing Dusk’s cut took all the strength I had. I could not leave it. It was too deep and would have festered, Fortunately we had some vegetables in our small garden, and two rabbits in the snare.”

“And you let us catch fish here!” said Evening. “That helped a lot.”

“I sense a very long story here,” said Cid.

“Not so long,” said Vincent. “I tried to hide what I was from someone I believed would not understand. Someone I loved. But he learned my secrets, and I learned that one should never have to hide who one is.”

“You will never have to hide from me,” said Cid. “Come on, let’s eat.”

They had dinner together. Then, after the meal was finished and the dishes cleared away, the children were tucked into the cottage’s one bed and the curtain drawn. Once they were asleep, Cid took Vincent’s hand, and they left to walk in the meadow beneath the moon, in the warm and beautiful summer night.