Author's notes:

I have no regular updating schedule, no beta-reader, and a half-baked idea that Nightow's characters and storyworld wouldn't appreciate. But I'm crazy enough to keep posting my ideas.

If you read this chapter before the update, you probably noticed a ton of mistakes (I know I did when I went back to edit this) and you might have read the author's note at the bottom. What I said- the promise that I'll finish all of my ficlets- still applies, but when...I really haven't a clue. This may turn into Perf

ect Girl Evolution in terms of new chapters, and I'm really unmotivated sometimes. Jusy a warning.

He leaned against the door frame, watching her cook. A genuine smile adorned his face. It was a habit now, and his favorite time of the day- donuts excluded. No doubt she was turning the cheap fare into something delicious (his nose could and would attest to that), but Vash found he had little interest in the food. Actually, he wasn't interested in the food at all.

He was watching her cook.

There was something about the process...The way she hummed softly as she put together the ingredients; the way she swayed her hips in time to the tune (which, for all his hundred thirty-odd years, he could not place) and danced around the counters; how the light seemed to hit her just right. How her lips and cheeks always seemed rosier as she smiled...Yes, the was something about Meryl that he loved watching. Well, when her guard was down anyway. Which had happened more and more often as of late. Or was it that he couldn't remember it happening before? Vash had always had Kni- something to worry about...

She seemed so relaxed despite all the problems they were having. When she cooked, unaware of an audience, she seemed not to care. Not care about their money problems, or how the townsfolk hated them, or Knives recuperating upstairs and how he-

Don't think about it.

Pushing away the maelström of emotions his thoughts brought on, Vash moved from the door and into the kitchen. "What'cha cooking, Insurance Girl?" The empty grin plastered on his face became real when she jumped. Whirling around Meryl opened her mouth to tell him off- only to be stopped as she watched him stiffle his laughter with his hands.

Realizing that Meryl caught him laughing, he gave up his attempt to conceal his mirth, pounding a fist against the counter and holding his stomach as he fought for air. Even though the look on her face was growing murdurous (those walls of hers were back in place now), Vash couldn't help it. Holding that spoon in her hand, sauce dripping down from her nose to her apron, Meryl looked adorable. Especially with that embarassed flush undermining her anger. Staring into her passionate glare, Vash discovered that adorable wasn't the word he was looking for.

Alluring. That's it. Meryl was incredibly alluring.

His ears grew warm as he realized the implications of that observation. And the one that came with his blush. Her hand whacked into his head in time to knock the thought from his brain. Conviently, all of the reasons why Vash shouldn't, no, couldn't feel that way took its place. They were too different. It was too dangerous. She was human, he was a plant. She never spoke of her family, his was actively trying to destroy humankind. And even if that weren't true, they were too different. I'm too old.

Still, watching her eyes soften and tension leave her shoulders as he went about whining and apologizing, Vash found he didn't care. His eyes watched her lips move as she scolded him. "...don't sneak up on me again! Okay, Mr. Vash?" And with that Meryl was turning away from him to clean up the mess. Everything slowed down.

Vash saw her foot step into a small sauce puddle on the ground, saw her eyes widden as she slipped, felt her fall into his arms. And then everything sped up so fast that Vash lost several seconds. The next thing he knew, he was kissing her. The petite woman froze. Only for a moment- a moment long enough for his doubts to return.

He prepared to pull back, to plead for forgivness, beg her to pretend it hadn't happened. But then, she did the unthinkable and kissed him back. It was wonderful. And Vash soon found that it wasn't enough and pressed harder, moved faster. He needed more. And Meryl responded in kind.

He pulled back to let her breathe; he wouldn't need to for at least another minute or two, but she was gulping the air greedily. Perhaps I should have done that sooner, he mused. The thought was slow in coming. A pleasant haze was forming in his brain. He leaned down again, but she put a finger to his lips, gazing at him through half-lidded eyes. And there went all of his thinking capabilities, out the window, as heat formed a pit beneath his stomach. He needed to stop, before the two of them did something they couldn't take back. Vash knew he did.

So why was it that when Meryl murmured, "Dinner..." he found himself saying it could manage on its own for a few minutes? (And while that was true, he didn't really believe it would only be a few minutes. Indeed, he had a feeling he might not be letting her go ever again.) Her other half-hearted protests were similarly brushed away. Then, albeit a tad shyly, she bridged the gap and kissed him. And then Vash had a bit of trouble telling where she stopped and he began. Wait. No, that wasn't true.

He could feel the electricity zip from Meryl's fingers as she traced a few of his scars- when had he lost his shirt?- and the way her tongue danced inside his mouth. It felt so good, and everything was too hot. And when had she wrapped her legs aroung his waist? And oh man, how he wished she could pull closer-but there wasn't any space between them already. And how could-

Vash jerked upright. The blond former gunman was on his chair, in Knives' room. And he was completely alone aside from his comatose brother. What?

His face flushed as it clicked. Vash had been dreaming. About Meryl. And himself. Doing...naughty things. His blush deepened as he looked down, feeling an uncomfortable bulge between his legs. He fidgeted, shaking the crick out of his neck, clentching his hands. What had he been thinking? Some part of his brain stated that he hadn't, as he'd been asleep, but that made it worse; Vash was already too aware of her during the day, during his waking hours. Now he couldn't keep Meryl out of his mind as he slept?

Light began to stream in from behind the curtains. Vash rose, heading to the bathroom for a shower. There was no way he'd get back to sleep now (he shouldn't have been sleeping in the first place), not with that dream still fresh in his head. Besides...He cast a look at his brother, reaching out to see if Knives had stirred. He hadn't. Vash had Knives to look after. The tall plant nodded, leaving the room.

He'd do his stretches more often until the thoughts, feelings of that dream weny away. Until then, he'd limit his contact with Mer- short girl. Hopefully that would help.

Vash doubted they would.

Word Count: 1,147- about two and a half pages...

Alright! Chapter one has been edited...It's still my first kiss scene and I think Vash is probably OOC, but it's a lot better than it was.

Edited on 4-13-14.