Disclaimer: I don't own Trigun…no, that belongs to Nightow-sama. Yes. Anyway, this is Meryl angst, so if you don't like Meryl or Meryl/Vash couplings, get outta here. I might make it a coupling later on, but…I don't know. You guys need to tell me what you think. If I just don't get any reviews or anything, I'll take it down since I know a lot of people hate Meryl, which I think is sad since she's one of my favorites. Enjoy and I hope you like it! Oh, one more thing…I'm very aware that the name of the village they stayed in after the LR incident had no name, so…I'll call it March Town to wipe away all confusion and so I don't have to write, "And so, they lived in the little town 200 iles from LR. And in that little town 200 iles from LR…" and so on and so forth.

An Angel's Chains

The air was always crisp in the morning, a sharp slap in the face that cleared the sleep from groggy orbs and brought the world into a sharp focus. The light cut through the darkness and cast a blanket of warmth across the glittering sands, sparkling as if diamonds had been cast into a soft bed of grains that made a fine mist in the air as the wind stirred it with a clap of its merciless hands.

A figure stood and watched the first sun begin to rise; her nightgown ruffling gently in the breeze that brushed past the small dwelling of March Town, one of the remaining cities not to be demolished at the hands of the Humanoid Typhoon, Vash the Stampede. The world seemed so peaceful, though a storm raged inside the hardened blue eyes that belonged to the insurance girl, Meryl Stryfe.

A storm caused by that of Vash the Stampede.

The short woman shivered, goosebumps breaking out across her fair skin. The cold didn't bother her much, though. She always felt it chilling her heart inside. It ate at the very existence at her and nipped at the trimming of her soul, threatening to one day shatter the happy stern image she had painted on her features to fool those around her. Milly was going through enough, as it is…she didn't need to worry about her. She was supposed to be taking care of Milly, not the other way around…right?

But even the strongest fall…

A noise from behind distracted Meryl from her bitter thoughts. She looked up only to find a tall blonde standing behind her with a cheerful smile. Something wrenched deep within Meryl, sending a bittersweet warmth seeping into her heart. A smile crept across her face unforced for the first time that morning.

"Morning Meryl!" the man chimed happily. "Milly made breakfast. Why don't you come in before it gets cold?"

Meryl slowly nodded, a few locks of onyx hair falling out of place. "Alright, Vash-san."

The kitchen smelled of home Meryl noted as she stepped in from the brisk cold. Ah, how she longed to be home…she'd want to show Vash how peaceful it was. That he could stay with her forever there in peace, a life built around love and protection for each other. It sounded so blissful. But reality always came back to jerk Meryl back to her senses, bringing her down into despair again. She'd have to don the smiling mask and fool everybody that she was perfectly okay, like a jester.

But Vash saw through it…masks don't lie to each other.

Vash watched her from the table idly as he began to chow down on a box of donuts Milly had picked up from the market yesterday. Something was boiling over in the woman's mind and it was evident to him. But what could possibly be disturbing her? Everything was normal again…Knives had been taken care of and then mysteriously disappeared, they were living peacefully, what could be wrong?

The three had nestled down in the small town when Vash came back from his duel with Knives, his brother in horrible condition. Slowly they nourished him back to health and Vash began a drawn out war with him over the humans residing in the town. Knives wanted to kill them; Vash wanted to protect them. It was none too pretty, but Vash eventually won the argument when Knives upped and left mysteriously without a word one day two months ago. They hadn't seen him since and continued to reside in the town, at peace at last.

Meryl's feelings had continued to grow for Vash as he got a job and worked among the people happily, finally being able to live without the pain of losing others or violence. He kept preaching about love and peace and gorging himself with donuts whenever he could. He kept wearing the ridiculous outfit and gelled his hair up, just the way Rem liked it. He still missed his dear Rem. Meryl tried to help him focus on happier thoughts, though, but could do nothing but wince as Vash cried himself to sleep when the moons were full in the velvet sky. Nothing or nobody could erase the mark Rem had left in Vash's heart, not even Meryl's unconditional love. And that made it's own mark in Meryl's own heart. And it hurt. Badly.

A few incidents had occurred after Vash the Stampede settled down in the town and it was automatically pegged on him and his mysterious "disappearance", so the Bernardelli Insurance Agency informed Meryl Stryfe and Milly Thompson they were to keep tabs on Vash, as usual. The two accepted the job quickly and still worked there like they had before Vash had set out to settle the score with Knives. The town was apprehensive when Vash came back, but they calmed a few weeks after when Vash proved to be a gentle hearted man, willing to atone for all the pain he had accidentally caused in the past. They slowly accepted him, but did not embrace him as warmly as they might have if he had just been "the mysterious man with bullet wounds." As long as he had the insurance girls to keep him company, however, the Humanoid Typhoon was perfectly okay with that.

Meryl sat down across from Vash as usual, avoiding his eyes as she shoved the eggs around her toast. Milly happily poured her a cup of coffee and wiped some of the brown droplets onto her pink apron she had become so fond of – a gift from Meryl, no less.

"I hope you like it strong, sempai!" Milly chimed as she poured herself a glass after Vash politely declined. Meryl wrinkled her nose.

"Don't we have any sugar?" she inquired.

Milly stuck out her bottom lip with thought. She furrowed her brow and looked at Meryl with an apologetic expression, saying timidly, "I used it all up making Vash-san some donuts the other day."

This won a sheepish grin from Vash and a sour look from Meryl.

"So, what's on the agenda for today?" Vash asked with a mouthful of donut. He washed it down with a small glass of milk as Meryl watched with a disgusted look smeared across her petite features.

"Milly has the day off, but I have to head over to the bar to pull in some extra hours so I can pay the bills," Meryl said sternly as she shoveled a small piece of scrambled eggs into her mouth. "Really, I don't understand why we got that ridiculous stereo system," Meryl scorned.

Vash rubbed the back of his neck nervously and commented in a pout, "It was because I got lonely when you girls were both at work on my days off, so we got it so I could listen to music and keep me occupied."

"And you haven't listened to it once since we got it!" Meryl hissed. Vash flinched and slumped with a hurt look, eyes focused on the half-eaten donut he was holding for some kind of comfort. Meryl tore her gaze away from him. He could be so immature at times! And yet every time he got that little boy look, her heart wanted to rip out of her chest.

Milly laughed nervously and defended the blonde, "Well, every time he's had a day off, it's usually been with one of us since then!"

Meryl huffed quietly and finished off the plate of food. "Well, in any case, you two have the day off and I have to work, so what happens today is up to you two."

Vash grinned broadly. "Maybe me and Milly can do the grocery shopping for you today so you won't have to do it late tonight after work!" he offered generously.

"Yeah! How about that, sempai?" Milly agreed.

A smile couldn't help but crack across Meryl's grumpy features at the idiotic grin beaming from Vash's full lips. She wanted to just jump up and embrace him right then and there, to hold him and that smile of his forever so nothing could ever put a dent in that happy expression. But she of course refrained herself like she had a million times before and just nodded stiffly.

"That would be very helpful," she smiled. Meryl pushed back her chair and stood up, leaving the remaining scraps on the table. It was Vash's chore to clean up the kitchen today, anyway. "Well, I better get ready for work. If I'm late again I won't get paid for two days," she noted grimly.

A few short minutes later, Meryl had donned the rather revealing uniform the bar had given her. A frilly white apron and short black skirt made her look nothing short of a French maid from the early romance movies. The short insurance girl wasn't too pleased with the attire, but she was in no position to argue. At least they were kind enough to let her keep her job after the first incident they encountered when they found out that the quiet blonde they were holding with them was the one and only Humanoid Typhoon. So, Meryl said nothing as usual.

When Meryl walked out in the uniform, Vash as always eyed her like she was a slab of meat. Meryl shot him a venomous glance and the same course of actions repeated right on time. It was so monotonous, Milly stood there and could quote them word for word.

"And just what are you looking at?!"

"Uh, nothing! Just, eh…you have a run in your tights!"

"I'll have you know, I check my pantyhose every morning and there is nothing wrong with them, you promiscuous Neanderthal!"

"Hey, hey, time out!"

"What are you doing looking down my blouse?!"

"I, uh…uh…I can explain, Meryl, please - !"

A loud clattering of chairs, a skittering of feet, a shrill scream, and then silence. Milly laughed nervously as Meryl yet again threatened to give him a mortal beating, but was cut short by the fact she was going to be late if she kept this up. Meryl went running out in a stampede of muffled swear words and rapid footfalls and then more silence after the ringing slam of a door. Vash looked up at Milly from his curled position on the floor and grinned timidly.

"Well…uh…how about those groceries now?" the gunman offered hopefully. Milly took the hint and acted as if nothing had happened.

Another normal morning.

* * * * *

Notes: I swear there's a plot…^^; I promise! Just hold tight, cause it will get interesting. I have a great storyline worked out. I hope I have them all pretty much in character o_o; I really tried…^^; Anyway, thanks for reading so far. Reviews…are wonderful things. O.o