I uploaded the bit of writing on my original fic in the files section of the yahoo group, if anyone wants to read what kept me away from this over the past couple weeks.

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Vash, Meryl, and Alex entered the apartment a little after ten at night. The tumblers in the lock clicked, betraying their entrance even as Vash turned the knob as silently as he could. But for all that their entrance was no surprise, the residents of the apartment didn't shift an inch, since none of them were doing anything incriminating. They were greeted by the sight of Anne and Knives cuddling on the couch. His arm rested on her back, and her head rested on his shoulder. Anne's left hand rested possessively on Knives' knee and her entire body arched close to his, taking as much comfort in his closeness as clothes and an audience would allow.

Knives looked at the returning posse calmly as they quietly filed into the apartment, but Anne's eyes stayed closed. She looked to be drowsing and the three stayed silent to keep from waking her, Vash half-waving at his brother in greeting. But she welcomed them home softly as Alex closed the door behind him, dispelling the myth of her repose.

Mark was sitting with his back against the wall, legs drawn up before him with elbows perched on knees. He looked up at the family, back from wherever they had felt the need to be, but aside from a glance he made no motion to greet them. Instead, he returned to the fruitless task that had been occupying him. In his left hand he held the remainder of a deck of cards that he was trying to fling into a hat resting a foot in front of his feet. More were on the floor than in the hat, but not too many extra. He was pleased with his progress over the course of the night, since at the beginning he was only making about one card in three.

"Where's Ace?" asked Vash as his gaze darted about the apartment. Meryl stepped forward and slipped her fingers in her husband's left hand as she peered about, but she said nothing, her gaze merely resting calmly on Anne and Knives.

"Still out," Knives replied, unconcern suffusing his voice.

"Out? This late at night? Are you sure she's okay?"

"She's asleep somewhere, and warm." He relayed the news as if it made up for the fact that she was no longer around.

"Asleep?" Realization dawned in Vash's eyes as he pieced together what his brother wasn't quite saying. "So you finally made up your mind."

"My mind has been made up for a very long time now. I just finally let her know what her place was and wasn't in my life."

Anne snorted. "I don't remember you saying all that much," she commented, though her head still remained on his shoulder and her eyes remained shut. "I think I did most of the talking. And apologizing, if you'll remember."

Knives sighed then stroked her hair.

"So is she not coming back tonight?" asked Alex.

"I don't believe so," said Knives. "She seems to need time to think things over."

"Which is a polite way of saying that the girl is throwing a spoiled little snit fit," added Mark, looking up for a moment as he tossed a card. When he looked back down, he was surprised to see that the card had been flung neatly into the center of the hat..

"Figures," Alex commented. He passed everyone by, going into the kitchen for a glass of water. "Anyone else want some?" he offered as he was in there. Mark took him up on the offer, thanking him as the boy sat down next to him, mirroring his pose.

While Alex had been in the kitchen, Meryl tugged on Vash's arm, leading him to the wall by the couch. She pulled him down to the floor and arranged it so that they were posed identically to the other couple. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she rested her head, and Vash moved his arm so that his hand nestled her head against him.

Alex just rolled his eyes as he walked out of the kitchen, two full glasses of water in his hands. He passed one to Mark and sat down by him, not entirely willing to sit by himself and certainly not sitting next two people who were exuding the aura of couple-ness so strongly. Mark offered the cards still in his hand as he took his glass and the boy accepted. Mark nudged the hat closer to Alex and then watched as the boy attempted the trick. It didn't take him long to figure it out, and before many minutes had passed more cards were going in the hat than on the floor. Alex paused for a moment to take a swig out of his glass, then shot a smug grim Mark's way. Then his look became a bit more wry, and it didn't take much deduction for Mark to figure out that he was apologizing. Mark wasn't a plant to pick things up quickly and Alex didn't want to make him feel bad.

Mark sighed at the silent apology and the superiority complex it represented, then put his hand out for the cards back. Alex slapped them on his palm with a smile, then looked around the room. The two cute couples seemed to dominate the room. With a sidelong glance and a smile teasing the corners of his mouth, he shifted his seat and held his arms out to Mark. Eyes grew pleading, and he shrugged his shoulder in invitation.

Mark chuckled as he batted the arms away. "Yes, they're cute. Hell no, we aren't cuddling." Alex mock pouted, lip protruding with a slight quiver, eyes full of sadness as he laced his fingers together instead. The effect was ruined by the glance he shot at Mark to see if his pose was working. The two started to chuckle, one slowing only to start again by a look at the other.

The two couples sighed in unison at their antics.