I do not own Trigun / Vash or Rem: they belong to the incredible Mr. Yasuhiro Nightow.
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Third Anniversary Night
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Year 0935 month 4 day 23
Vash's thoughts remained focused on the day, three years ago, when he and Shyla wed.
He lay on their bed, waiting for Rem and Shyla to finish getting the children tucked in, and he found himself focusing on his own memories of that day.
At the small gathering after the wedding, Rem announced that she would immediately take a two-month nap. After that, she meant to wake up and stay up... provided he planned to stick around. The look she gave him as she said that would likely have convinced him, even if he'd ever had any other plans.
As it so happened, staying with Shyla was exactly what he wanted to do.
Both newlyweds hugged and kissed Rem goodnight, and then they went home together.
Vash closed his eyes to begin experiencing Shyla's perspective on the rest of that day, and found it missing. He sat up, blinking and feeling mildly disappointed.
However, when he thought about it, he wasn't displeased. Truth to tell, he wasn't sure he'd want to share his exact memories of their first physically intimate moments either.
Well, at least he'd not want to share those moments with her in any way other than how they had already shared them, by living through them together.
He remembered that he had not appreciated the shivaree the Seeds village folk had surprised them with. He did appreciate that it was their way of wishing the newlyweds well. He was also glad that said interruption came early, before either of them was in a condition to be too badly embarrassed.
Both he and Shyla were new enough to certain things that it had been going slowly.
They figured it out together, though, after the shivaree. He remembered that, in detail, with a wide grin spread over his face.
He also remembered that the following three weeks had been insanely busy because of an explosion at a neighboring town's factory. So between being busy or separated or exhausted, they'd not had another opportunity to be together in that way until after those three weeks had passed.
Because of those circumstances, the doctors had no difficulty identifying when the first twins, Rem and Naomi, were conceived. It must have been during their wedding day or night.
Shyla entered the room, and flopped down on the bed beside him. She moved closer, until her head rested on his right shoulder. He kissed her hair as she hugged him, and both smiled.
"They're finally all tucked in," she said wearily.
"Good," he said. "Thank you."
"You'd better help more actively tomorrow," she said, poking him in the ribs.
He laughed, and caught her fingers with his left hand. "I'll do better, I promise."
He pulled her hand to his mouth, and gently kissed her fingertips. He somewhat reluctantly released his hold on her hand, but continued hugging her body against his side.
She smiled contentedly, both inside and out. "I know you will," she said.
"Have you visited any of my memories yet?" he wondered.
"Only a very little," she said. "It's been a busy day. I was debating between doing that or..." she unbuttoned his pajama top enough to rest her fingertips against his skin just below his collarbones.
He smiled, enjoying that sensation and the accompanying suggestion. "I'm good with either," he said.
She sighed. "I think I'm too tired to properly participate in anything active right now," she said sadly.
He hugged her and kissed her again, as they lay side by side on their bed. "It's all right," he said. "We have many tomorrows ahead of us to enjoy that activity… and others."
He felt her smile. "Yes," she said. She snuggled against his side, her fingertips gently caressing his skin. "I guess it's a good time for remembering, now."
He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her fingertips again. "Anything that happens with you is good," he whispered softly as he put her hand back into its former position.
"As long as you're a part of it," she said.
He felt from her emotional echoes that she was beginning to delve into his memories. He gently hugged her against his side and kissed her hair again.
Then he focused part of his attention on memories, too.
He skipped ahead to when Rem awoke from her final cryo sleep.
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Year 0932 month 6 day 23
"Good morning, Rem," Shyla said when she opened her eyes.
Rem smiled. "Good morning," she replied. "I hope Vash is still here?"
"We're back, yes," Shyla said. "There was a factory explosion in a nearby town, so we both went to assist. He also had to wrestle some paperwork, to establish this place as his home, and persuade them to give him work nearby."
"Married life seems to agree with you," Rem observed. "You're positively glowing!"
Shyla had smiled, and blushed, and hugged her slightly distended stomach.
Rem caught the significance of that action. "Already?" she said, delighted.
Shyla nodded. "They think it may be twins," she said.
Rem was on her feet, hugging Shyla. "Congratulations!" She laughed. "I'm going to be a grandma!"
Shyla laughed too, returning Rem's hug. She was glad of Rem's delight, especially since she felt so delighted herself.
Suddenly Rem sobered. "He is good to you, I hope?" she said.
Shyla blinked in surprise at a question she'd never thought to hear Rem ask.
"Yes, of course he is!" she said, both surprised and a little defensive. Then she looked down, blushing again. "Better than I deserve. He's always so thoughtful and gentle."
Rem hugged her again. "I'm sure you're at least as good for him," she said.
Shyla could hear the smile in Rem's voice, and the sincerity. She relaxed. "I hope so. Thank you for saying so," she said. Then she laughed at herself. "Sometimes I still fear I'll wake up, and learn this was all only a dream. If it is, I'd rather not wake up."
Rem released her from the hug. "Sweet girl," she said, caressing her cheek, "it's real. You can hold on to that."
Shyla smiled. "I need to finish my shift here, but he's at home waiting for you."
"Is there anything I should know, besides that your family is growing?"
"Vash has been reassigned, at his own request," she said. "He's now an instructor at the Academy, to teach recruits how to become a good sheriff, deputy or marshal. He won't be called out of town unless there are some highly unusual circumstances where his skills are essential."
"That's good news," Rem agreed.
"I've also been sworn in," Shyla said. "After the children are grown, we may go out and work together sometimes."
"I think you'd both enjoy that," Rem said. She hugged her again. "I'm so glad that you two finally figured things out," she said softly. "There were times when I wondered if you ever would."
"I'll have to do some research," Shyla said. "With children coming, I want to understand how and why independent Plants don't complete adolescence at a certain age. I wonder if part of the reason for the delay is that orb-Plants are entirely asexual?" she shrugged. "Something else besides age must set off ... certain instincts. I'll be a better parent if I can learn what that is."
Rem nodded. "That could be an interesting study. Let me know if there's anything I can do to assist."
"I will," Shyla promised. "Now you'd best go see Vash before he wanders in here because he's concerned something's amiss. He'd have all the patients excited."
Rem laughed, and hugged her again. "All right, I'll go see him."
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Year 0935 month 4 day 23
He remembered when Rem came to him, and the long talk they'd had about life, marriage, and so many other things. Rem seemed almost as happy as he and Shyla about their marriage and their coming child or children.
He looked toward Shyla, still lying beside him with her head on his shoulder. Her fingers on his skin were still, and her breathing had grown deep and even. He smiled and kissed her hair again. He slowly took a deep breath, to inhale and enjoy her scent.
"Pleasant dreams, sweet Mayfly," he whispered.
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Vash may or may not ever tell Shyla why he calls her "Mayfly" ... it comes from his quote early in Trigun when asked who he was. "I'm a hunter of peace, looking for that elusive mayfly known as love," was his answer.
The sequel to this tale is "Disquieting Days"
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Author's note: Much to my surprise, several stories sprang from the idea of this OC young Plant girl who becomes Vash's friend and grows up in the Seeds village.
Every story involving Shyla should be able to stand alone (at least, I really tried my best to make each one readable all by itself… and still work). However, if the "VQL" stories are read in chronological sequence, they also form a larger story.
There is a chronological list of titles in my profile, with links to the few that were written by another author.
Enjoy! :)
