The bus ride seemed to take years, and they weren't even halfway to June. The bus stopped at about 1:00 in the afternoon to let everyone off to stretch their legs, and to let the engine have a rest. When everyone loaded back on, they all got worried at the sound of a struggling engine, and a bus that wouldn't start.

~¤~On the road through Sinai~¤~

The air conditioner wouldn't blow cold air without the engine running, and the engine wouldn't run without a good battery. The driver didn't know what to do. The spare battery was a spare dead one, so they were stuck out there with no battery and no cold air. Everyone stayed outside of the bus to at least get some relief from the heat. As they all tried to find a bit of shade to sit in, the temperature inside the bus reached a sweltering 140 degrees. Meryl was reduced to wearing nothing but her skirt and an undershirt, much to her dismay. Millie was reduced to laying under the bus (the coolest spot there) in the dress that goes under her jacket and over- shirt. After a few hours, Meryl could hear Millie struggling for breath.

"Millie, are you alright under there?" She turned around to check on her. She was red all over, and sweating buckets.

"I don't feel so good, Meryl." She slid out from under the car and leaned against the car, hugging her knees.

"You look terrible." Meryl put her hand to Millie's forehead. "And you're burning up!" She quickly got out the bus' first aid kit, and put a thermometer in Millie's mouth.

The thermometer read 106.5. Meryl began to panic. By all means, that baby should be boiling inside her. She found some alcohol and soaked a rag with it, then put it on Millie's face. But Millie passed out before her temperature went down any more. Meryl propped her head up and began to panic. "Vash! Vash, Millie passed out! She needs to get to someplace cool!" Vash knew what could happen if Millie wasn't cooled down. Her brain could swell from the head and she could begin getting cranial hemorrhages and go into seizures. He acted quickly and took her shirt off, then poured alcohol all over her. The driver phoned for help, and got a spare bus to make a detour and pick up Millie, Meryl and Vash.

The whole time, one thought kept nagging at Meryl. Vash was wearing all that spandex, or whatever he calls it, and wasn't breaking a sweat. Vash quickly undid the rest of Millie's clothes, and poured alcohol over her legs. It was at that moment Meryl realized something. Millie wears thongs. That was a little unexpected. You'd think she'd wear regular underwear or silk lace at most. Her bra was a little skimpy as well. But Meryl had more important things to worry about right now.

"Sir! Bus driver man, what direction is the other bus coming from?" Vash had Millie her his arms now, supporting her carefully.

"From the south, going north." The bus driver sighed a little, and rubbed his head. "I've got two coming out. One to fix the bus, the other to pick up your friend, so go on ahead if you want."

"Thank you!" Vash took off to the south. Meryl stayed behind and got their things down from the top of the bus.

When Millie woke up, she was cool again, and wearing a change of clothes. She slowly sat up and rubbed her head. "Meryl? Vash?" She looked across the row, and saw Vash sitting there eating.

"Oh! You're awake! How are you feeling?" Vash put his food away.

"I'm a lot better than I was before. Where's Meryl?" She adjusted her dress and sat up straight.

"She's in the back." Almost as if on cue, Meryl came out of the back and sat down in the seat next to Vash.

"Millie, you're looking much better!" Meryl smiled at her.

"I'm feeling much better as well. I want to thank both of you for helping me, I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't been there." She smiled that sweet loving smile she always had. Vash just smiled back and got comfortable in his seat. It was late already. They would be in June soon, hopefully. Home sweet home for Meryl.

Meryl started to think about what she would do once she got back to her home. Would Millie keep her job at the insurance agency? She was certain Millie was quit to take care of the baby after she realized Wolfwood wasn't coming back. At least the baby would be cute. A mix between Wolfwood and Millie, Millie's beautiful blue eyes and Wolfwood's handsome face; he'd be a lady-killer. And with Wolfwood's eyes and Millie's looks, if it were a girl, she'd be drop dead gorgeous. What would a cross between Vash and Meryl look like? Meryl actually started to think about it. Her eyes, his silky hair, and her attitude, that would be the perfect human being. She looked over to Vash, and saw him looking out the window, humming his song. She smiled sweetly, and hummed along. Vash glanced back at her and smiled back. For a moment, she really felt connected with him.

But then he turned back around and fell asleep. She stopped, and leaned back in her seat, content to let the day end while she slept.