Rated 'T' for suggestive themes.

Disclaimer: I will only say it once, I do not own Trigun (sadly) nor anything else.

Have fun! -Jay

Forbidden Love

Chapter 1 - Lovers & Broken Hearts

"I have to go, Meryl." The outlaw was walking toward the door. In just a few short seconds he would walk out of her life forever. Her heart beat painfully in her chest. She had to stop him.

"Vash!" Meryl gasped, catching his coat. The gunman turned and looked down at her with melancholy aqua eyes.

"Please." She begged. "Please, Vash."

Vash the Stampede stared at her sadly, his own heart drumming out a painful rhythm within him. He felt torn and brokenhearted, but in the end he knew this was best, even though it ripped him to pieces. He knew that no matter what, he and Meryl could never be. He cursed himself for staying with her and Millie this long; he had convinced himself that it was only his heart that he was risking. But he realized that Meryl loved him as he loved her: helplessly.

The outlaw faltered, his emotions getting the best of him. Before he could regain himself, or even think of what he was doing, he leaned down toward Meryl... and kissed her. Realizing what he had just done, he snapped back up. He had just kissed Meryl. He shut his eyes tight and braced himself for the blow from the short insurance girl he was sure to receive. But it didn't come. The seconds that passed felt like hours. He jumped slightly when he felt a gentle had caress his cheek. Slowly he opened his eyes, and starred down at the hand. Meryl smiled sheepishly, blushing a brilliant red. She let the hand fall limply at her side, and averted her eyes from the outlaw's shocked gaze. She started to turn away.

On impulse, Vash caught her hand, and she slowly twisted back to face him. Something sparkled in the outlaw's eyes that she had never seen before as Vash gently drew her closer to him, so close she could smell the gunpowder that lingered on his coat. They locked gazes, and Vash gingerly took her face in his hands, and kissed her again.

Meryl closed her eyes, and her heart fluttered spasmodically with pleasure as she felt his warm lips on hers. She didn't know how long they stayed that way, but all too soon the gunman released her and stepped back. They both panted for breath, and looked at each other. The sparkling, unidentifiable look still lingered in his eyes, and Meryl finally understood what it was: Vash needed her as much as she needed him.

She moved to him, and embraced him again, tracing his jawbone with her slender fingers. The outlaw closed his eyes in pleasure, and smiled slightly. His heart was beating rapidly out of sync, but he didn't care. All he could think about was Meryl's hands touching his face.

She pulled him into another kiss, but this one was more pronounced, more vigorous. Vash never wanted it to end, but Meryl's hands snaked down his chest, and fumbled with the black buttons. He froze, his eyes wide. Then he pulled away, his heart skipping beats. This was wrong. He couldn't do this. Shouldn't do this.

Meryl looked shocked and hurt, but Vash was walking quickly for the door. Meryl caught his arm and he halted. He couldn't bear to look at her. But she wrapped her arms around his middle and hugged him. Vash didn't know what made him turn, but he did. Before he could even think he kissed her again... and again...

They needed each other, and if they could only have each other for a while, then that would be enough.

Sunlight filtered cheerfully into the room, sunbeams falling across the bed. Meryl smiled; the warmth felt good on her bare flesh. She pulled the covers tighter around her, and reached out an expectant hand. As the hand fell on air, she opened her eyes. She hadn't expected Vash to be there, but she had hoped nonetheless. By the feel of the cold space he had once laid, he had been gone for a while. She sighed and sat up, blushing as she pulled the covers up around her. She scanned the room for her clothes, and gathered them up. She toted them along with her as she made her way to the bathroom, then threw them onto the floor and stepped into the shower.

The hot water flowed over her bare back, soothing her. Steam filled the room, and she breathed in the humid, aromatic air. She shut off the water and grabbed a towel, drying herself off. She dressed, and stepped back into her bedroom.

On a sudden impulse, she threw her arms up in the air and whirled around her room, as if she were a child. But she didn't care, and continued to spin until she collapsed onto the bed in a dizzy heap. Rolling over on her stomach, she flung her arms around the sheets and breathed in the smell of gunpowder that still lingered on them. She stayed that way for a while as she slowly realized what had happened.

The saddest part of it all, was that Vash the Stampede would probably never come back. And yet she could cry no tears. She loved Vash, and she understood why he had to go on. Though she could cry no tears, her heart felt like someone had driven a dagger through it. Knowing Vash did the right thing did not make the pain any less, and she wondered sadly if he was feeling the same way right now. She cursed. She was a fool.

Collecting herself, Meryl trekked downstairs and made herself a cup of coffee. Coffee always soothed her nerves and calmed her down. She fingered the warm cup in her hands, and breathed in the delicious scent. She sipped it happily and looked at the clock. It was past noon; Millie had been long since gone, off to her job of digging the new well. They had struck water, but there was still loads to be done. She admired Millie for her determination and strength.

Meryl's thoughts slowly shifted to all that had happened last evening, and she blushed slightly. She knew she would probably never see that goofy, pacifistic outlaw she had come to love so deeply ever again. She saw his happy, halcyon face in her mind, and smiled. At least she still had her memories of him, of all the precious moments they had spent together. At least those would never fade.

Meryl jumped slightly as Millie opened the front door and called her name. Meryl looked at the clock curiously; Millie usually didn't get off work until hours from now.

"I'm in the kitchen, Millie." Merl called, sipping her coffee.

Millie burst into the room, a gleeful smile plastered on her face. She embraced Meryl in a bone-crunching hug, nearly upsetting her coffee. She was obviously exited about something.

"Millie..." Meryl chocked out. "Can't... breathe..."

"Oh, sorry, Sempai!" Millie apologized, releasing her short partner. "But Meryl, guess what!"

"What is it, Millie? Did you make any progress with the well today?"

"Yes, but that's not it!"

Meryl gave her a quizzical look. "Well then, what is it?"

Millie seemed to tremble with excitement. "I'm going to have a baby!"

Meryl fell out of her chair.

Many weeks passed. Millie quit her job working on the well and moved to a more sedentary job at a department store. Meryl still worked at the bar, and thought of her best friend often. She was happy for Millie, and Millie was just ecstatic about having a child. She would be a wonderful mother.

Meryl was surprised to find herself a bit envious. Millie's child would be Wolfwood's child, and Millie would have some one to remind her of her precious Priest. Meryl, on the other hand, would only have Vash's wanted posters as any sort of semblance.

But one morning Meryl woke and felt very ill. She wondered if she had contracted a cold, but that was unlikely. In all her life, she'd never been sick more than once. And that was when she had gotten pneumonia from riding her thomas in the freezing desert at night. She went to the doctor a few days later out of annoyance, and expected to be prescribed some antibiotics. But the doctor didn't gave her any antibiotics. She wasn't ill.

She was with child.

What do you think?!? I was at skool when the idea came to me... I've done a couple of Trigun stories so far, but I lacked a good Meryl x Vash one, so Ta-da! Anywayz, please review!

Also, I know this chapter is sort of short, but I anticipate longer chapters in the future. :)