Chapter Eight: Night Follies, Pt.1

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Vash stared blankly out the open window, watching particles of dust floating in on the morning sunbeams. Suddenly a mayfly darted in, buzzing a dizzying loop around his head before landing on his bionic arm. Startled, he barely examined it for a moment when just as quickly it zipped back out the window into the vast desert, leaving him to smile wryly after it. Vash closed his eyes and took a deep breath, taking in all the sounds and scents of carefree activity from the world outside before letting it out slowly. It was finally the day. After nine long months, today would be the day their new baby would arrive…

So why was he strapped to a gurney?

"Oh, honey…!"

Vash turned to see Meryl's tear-streaked face shining down at him. He was unnerved to notice that the petite agent looked fit and trim – remarkably so for an imminently expectant mother. He stared uncertainly at her for a moment when a surge of fear rushed through him.

"Meryl, wha… what happened?! Why are you – " he gasped out as he struggled to rise.

Meryl shook her head at him sympathetically as she squeezed his hand, gently pushing him back down.

"Silly man, I'm fine. Perfectly fine." She wiped her eyes and to Vash's surprise smiled cheerfully at him. "In fact, I've never felt better. I'm just so glad that this happened! How about you?"

He was stunned. Why was she so… so… happy? His heart gave a dull thud. Was it possible? Had she really not wanted the baby after all? Their baby?

Vash felt a hollow coldness settling in his chest. Her hand felt oddly dead within his and he numbly let it go. Shock gave way to incredulity, and unable to bear looking at her another moment he quietly turned his face away. But Meryl did not seem to notice as she continued to prattle on.

"You remember how I was so worried at the start, Vash, when we first found out all those months ago. And after all the visits with Doctor and learning more about your Plant physiology – I admit I was really scared. I didn't know if I could go through with it. I kept wondering to myself would this even be natural?"

"I see," he interjected woodenly.

"But then this incredible miracle happened and it was like a giant weight fell off my shoulders –"

"Oh."

" – since you're an alien, I don't have to be the one who gives birth!"

Vash whipped his head back around. "… Come again?"

"Isn't it wonderful, Mr. Vash?" Milly added as she suddenly appeared over Meryl's shoulder, clasping her hands excitedly. "You're going to be the mommy!"

He nearly broke free of the restraints. "EXCUSE ME??? I don't think that's the way it works –!"

"Ah, quit your bellyaching, Needle Noggin." Vash twisted around to see Wolfwood standing nearby, smirking infuriatingly as he lit up a cigarette. "You finally get the guts to do the decent thing and now you want to chicken out?"

"Wolfwood!" Vash sputtered. "Wolfwood, why are you –?"

"Smoking's bad for the baby, Nick," Milly admonished as she leaned over to pull out the cigarette.

"Oh, right, honey," he grinned apologetically. "Guess old habits are hard to break. Sorry!"

They all began laughing. The room took on a surreal hue as Vash cast furtively about, wondering if he could somehow make a break for it. He was starting to feel queasy again – a bathroom run sounded very good just then. Better yet, a one-way ticket to New Oregon. Hell, December even.

Suddenly the door opened and a doctor in a long white coat entered the room, followed by a male nurse carrying an oddly shaped case. The room fell silent as everyone turned expectantly towards the doctor who, completely disregarding the others, walked towards Vash and stopped by his side.

Vash felt a chill race along his spine.

Legato Bluesummers loomed over him, smiling mirthlessly as he addressed his companion. "Nurse Midvalley, I believe the patient is ready."

"Duh – duh – d-doctor?!?" sputtered Vash, looking beseechingly around the room.

"Well, he is certifiable," Milly explained.

"Certified, sweetheart," murmured Wolfwood.

"Your brother recommended him," added Meryl helpfully.

"AND YOU LISTENED TO HIM???"

Vash turned back and yelped; Legato was now leaning in closer and staring him dead in the eyes. Suddenly he began to croon in strangely tuneless voice:

"I smell something cooking in the… oven."

A horrible sound like an animal in torment escaped Vash and several arms reached out to grab him. He struggled helplessly as Legato calmly moved to the foot of the bed and lifted the sheet covering his waist. Dropping it, he emerged with a brown paper sack. Mesmerized, Vash fell still as he watched Legato opening the bag.

Reaching in, the morose doctor pulled out a doughnut. Briefly examining it, he took a bite, chewing quietly as he stared back at Vash with impassive eyes.

"Jelly filled. Not bad." He held the bag out to the petrified gunman. "Want one?"

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"What do you think that was?" Meryl whispered, peering into the blackness as she stuck her head out the window, noting the lights going on in several rooms along their floor.

"Hnn…?" Milly yawned sleepily from her bed. "What was wha…?"

"You didn't hear that? It sounded like someone was having a heart attack!" Meryl shifted her position at the window, straining to detect anything. "You know, I think we should probably go investigate."

To this Milly raised herself blearily off the pillow, momentarily blinking at Meryl's silhouette before gravity reclaimed her. "Go back to sleep, Meryl. It's only a few hours until dawn." She rolled over, turning her back to the shorter woman. "You need your beauty sleep, you know," she mumbled softly.

"It's only one in the morning, Milly." Meryl swiveled back around to face her fellow agent. "And what has that got to do with –"

She sighed: Milly had already drifted off. Meryl leaned back outside once more, but hearing no further disturbance and seeing that lights were already going out again, she shrugged. Reluctantly she turned away and crawled back into her bed.

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It had been a long, hard night full of trials, and she had readily fallen into a blissful slumber when it was finally over. She awoke a scant few hours later to a refreshing breeze playing across her cheeks as the first rays of dawn stole into her room. Feeling a wet rag removed from her forehead, Meryl opened her eyes to find Milly standing over her, smiling gently.

"Ah, you're finally awake! How do you feel? Up to any visitors?"

"V-visitors?" Meryl gazed blankly back, absently running a hand along her side. And then she remembered.

"Milly, my baby! How is my baby?" Her voice cracked with worry.

Milly grinned widely. "Just perfect! She's a healthy little one, Ma'am."

A little girl. Meryl smiled as her anxiety melted away in the wake of the warm feeling spreading throughout her. That's perfect. She glanced towards the closed door.

"And what about Vash, Milly? Where is he?"

"He's been waiting just outside." Milly began to giggle. "And you should have seen him last night. I never saw anyone as excited! Wait, I'll go get him."

Milly disappeared through the door, and a scant few moments later Vash came bounding in cradling a basket with a large pink bow tied around it. He split into an ear-to-ear grin when he saw Meryl.

"HONEY!!!"

Meryl blushed, but with pleasure: it seemed she could never quite get over Vash calling her that. She watched him gently set the basket down on the foot of the bed and then quickly grasped her hands. She could tell he was straining not to pick her up and crush her to himself. Instead he began to anxiously pepper her with questions:

"How are you feeling? Are you all right? Does it hurt anywhere? Are you hungry? Thirsty? Tired? Do you need anything? Should I – "

She laughed. "Fine, fine, I'm fine Vash! Really," Meryl added, noticing the earnest look he was probing her with, as if he would go shooting out the door to get the doctor at the slightest provocation. She looked away from him to the basket.

"Oh, how is she? Let me see her please."

Meryl reached out for the basket, but was stopped by Vash gently pushing her back onto the pillows. She looked at him askance.

"What is it? Can't I see her?" Her anxiety level quickly shot up. "Vash, is something wrong with the baby?!"

"WHAT?" Vash looked momentarily unsettled. "Oh, no, no, no – it's not that! She's perfect! Beautiful! Cute as a button! Exactly everything a parent could want in a baby!"

Meryl let out a sigh of relief. She attributed her excitability to new parent nerves, and moved forward again.

"Well, then – let me see her."

She was stopped again by Vash grabbing her shoulders, turning her to face him.

"Listen, before that… I've been thinking. I know we've talked about this, but what about a name?"

"A name? But we already agreed months ago that we would name the baby after someone we loved regardless of its sex." She gave him a puzzled look. "Why? Have you changed your mind?"

"Well, no, not exactly… It's just that I was thinking maybe we should try something a little more… individualistic. After all, a name is very important. It could mark her for life!"

"When you put it that way…" She regarded him with a mixture of exasperation and curiosity, and finally acquiesced. "All right, go ahead."

Vash appeared gratified. "Okay, now – and don't be afraid to be honest – tell me what you think about… Princess?"

"Princess?" Meryl giggled at Vash's sincere expression. "Er, that's a little too… precious, don't you think?"

"No good?" Vash seemed momentarily perturbed. But only just. "Then how about Goldie?"

Meryl looked at him oddly. "Um, I guess that's not too bad, but I don't really…"

"Velvet?"

"Er…"

"Moon Beam?"

"…"

"Puddin?"

"You can't be – "

"Blackie?"

"No!"

"Then how about – "

"ENOUGH!" Honestly, did the man have no taste whatsoever? "Vash, let's not worry about her name just yet. We can figure that out later. Please just let me look at her now."

"All right, honey." Vash leaned over the basket and to Meryl's horror reached in with one hand, holding up their baby by the scruff of its neck. He held the dangling infant out to her.

"Look, Meryl! She has your hair – and my eyes!"

Meryl stared deeply into large, unblinking, lamp-like orbs.

"Meow."

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Vash sat bolt upright in bed, listening intently to the darkness. Something about that high-pitched screech sounded very familiar; his entire body had unconsciously tensed the moment he'd heard it. He waited expectantly, ready to spring at a moment's notice. But nothing seemed to be moving…

Sighing, Vash collapsed backwards. Maybe he had just imagined it. He'd already woken himself up once screaming, and though he had been immeasurably relieved to discover that he'd been dreaming, now he couldn't get back to sleep. The reflected light filtering in from the inn's neon sign was bothering him. He needed to cover his eyes. If he could just find some small piece of cloth, like a rag or a scarf or even that silk gag tie he kept for special occasions…

Groggily hauling himself up, Vash fumbled his way through the dark, hoping to find his duffel bag without having to turn on the lights. Instead he succeeded in smashing into a chair and falling onto the dresser, knocking everything over. Wincing as he thrashed about the floor, he felt blindly through the various articles of clothing that had spilled free of the bag. After a few fruitless minutes, his hand finally landed on the satiny piece of fabric. Feels strange, Vash thought, running his callused fingers along the soft spongy material. No, wait, this is it… Grateful, he wrapped it around his eyes like a blindfold and dragged himself back into bed, where he promptly fell asleep.

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Meryl couldn't get back to sleep. She lay on the hard mattress listening to Milly gently sawing logs as she pressed a hand to her stomach. It was churning again, though whether due to nerves or lingering illness she couldn't tell. A memory flitted across her mind of the sensation of gentle stroking and once again she found herself wrestling with a growing sense of frustration.

And the real kicker, Meryl scowled in righteous indignation, is that none of what happened is even my fault!If only that idiot Vash hadn't completely lost his mind just because he wanted to see the doctor so badly….

She frowned, rethinking a few points.

Okay, so he went a little mad because he was sicker than a dog – which he wouldn't have been if he hadn't gotten so blasted the night before! And all just because of that stupid bet… that I made… to save my…. Anyway, the point is that none of this is directly my fault, damn it!

Oh, crap.

Meryl realized that she was caressing her stomach idly and froze at the activity. Forcing her hand to lie flat against the bed, she pursued other thoughts, wondering again if she had let Milly down. It wasn't her fear of Milly's censure – did Milly ever really find fault with her? – but how the whole situation had been handled between them. After sharing all her worries about Vash and the unwavering encouragement Milly had given her, even the arguably minor deception she'd unwillingly committed seemed so disloyal … so terribly unkind….

Turning her head to look at her sleeping partner, Meryl sighed. Milly had said nothing, yet Meryl was sure she had injured her friend deeply. And although Milly wasn't the type to hide her feelings, Meryl knew that she was capable of restraint when she thought it prudent. After all, Meryl had experienced first hand that tough inner core that held Milly together through heartbreak.

Nicholas D. Wolfwood. Meryl realized early on that he seemed to enjoy teasing her partner a little more than in just a purely friendly manner. Yet that whole day had come as a complete shock. She had thought, in her own naïve way, that Milly hadn't really seemed the type. In retrospect, she realized that Milly was so much more worldly and mature than her in certain respects. She wondered what might have happened next had Fate not chosen that moment to step in.

Somberly, Meryl recalled the visage of the shady priest: the unkempt hair, those insouciant eyes, that cocksure grin – strange how she never found it as infuriating as Vash's – and wondered how long it would be until even these bits passed out of her memory. She felt a sharp pang in her heart: undoubtedly it would be sooner than in either Vash's or Milly's. He was still too freshly gone out of their lives to be recalled often or with comfort, but she knew that each one in their own private way honored him. She herself would always remember his death not for her own sorrow at the loss of a friend but more for the great hole it had left in the lives of her friends.

No fair to hit and run, Wolfwood.

I wonder if Vash…?

NO. Don't even think about that.

Feeling heartsick, Meryl averted her eyes. She wanted to make amends, to set the record straight – she knew she owed it to Milly. She'd have to find a way to delicately explain the circumstances leading up to Vash's declaration that morning; that things between Vash and her really weren't quite what they seemed, appearances to the contrary. One thing working in her favor was that Milly hadn't seen anything too outrageously suspicious so far –

In an instant she was wide awake.

Her room keys. And… her clothes.

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