Author's Note: Thanks to MIKO gurl, ChunckyMonkey421 (x2!), Ametenshi, and Larania. I really appreciate them. Just a remind, this story was a one shot, and then I added on. So it's all just ploop! I think of it as I write.  Forgive me, I did not mean to hop around the timeline. Hehe. On with the show – er – fic!

After breakfast the Weeds are very excited. "You have to see what we've done Dad!" Demi says.

"Yeah, its cool!" Connor says and they tug me along, through the kitchen door, out to the back.

I stop dead in my tracks. It's a garden. A little garden.

"Don't you like it?" Connor says smiling from ear to ear.

It doesn't cover much ground, but it's impressive that they even got that much. A patch of grass with flowers; daisies and petunias really. Simple to grow, if it the conditions we ideal. But Gunsmoke wasn't an ideal planet. I couldn't see how they'd done that much in my month's absence.

"We started this along time ago," Demi said. "It's been a surprise for you. That's why we haven't let you back here."

I realized that I hadn't been back here in while. I look down at them. My Weeds. "Th-thank you." I gather both of them into my arms. I feel tears in my eyes.

When Meryl and I got married we didn't expect to have any children because I was a plant. Then she was pregnant right away. We didn't expect Demi (and later Connor) to have any of my, er, genetics. When Demi was one she looked about three. Same for Connor. It seems to me now that they've tapped into their plant "heritage".

"How do you keep it up?" I ask them.

"We water them with water we gather while we are taking a shower," Demi explains.

I stand up. "Well, this calls for a celebration! Who wants to go to the general store?" I ask.

"Me! Me!" Connor says and jumps up and down.

"Ok, then lets go."

You know, its some what easy to live in a town where everyone knows who Vash the Stampede is, but isn't to sure about what he looks like. I haven't changed. I haven't change in 140 plus years. I think it helps though that I'm not wearing my red coat.

The kids looked at the candies. I could catch their mental insults they were giving each other. They were "discussing" which candy was better. The Weeds also thought to loud. I was sure that even Knives could hear them.

'Going to visits Andrew,' I thought to them. 'Come and get me when you've decided.' They paused for a moment the thought back to me with acknowledgements.

Right next door to the general store is the bakery. Where the best thing in the world is sold – donuts.

An older man was behind the counter, putting some bread out.

"Hello!" I greet him with smile and wave. "Is Andrew Wolfwood in?"

"Oh, he just we to deliver something. Is there something important you wanted to tell him?"

"Nah. Its ok. Just tell him is uncle stopped in." I walk back out and look up and down the street.

*~*~*~*

Andrew strolled back from the house, jingling the tip from the customer in his pocket. He all ready knew what he was going to do with it. Since he'd already help out with the bills he'd send it to orphanage his father used to run. His mom would like that. She always encouraged him to do the charitable things his father did.

There were times though when she, Meryl, or Vash let it slip that he wasn't the best man, as they projected him to be. Vash had stated countless times that his father, a priest, didn't always follow the commandment "Thou shall no kill".

Then he smiled. He could also save it for the gun he was trying to by. He slipped on his sunglasses. It was a nice day.

"You've grown," a voice said, from the shadows.

Andrew hadn't even noticed where he was going. He was still a few blocks from the bakery. He looked to his right to find a man leaning against a building. "Hey, haven't I seen you before?" he asked.

The man stood up. "I suppose. Not sure how many years ago though. I believe I gave you those sunglasses."

He lifted them up to get a better look at the man. "Yeah. You're Nick."

Nick smiled. "So you do remember me. Glad to hear it. How have you been?"

Andrew gave him a look. He remembered him, but he also looked like . . . "Oh, you asked me something. I'm good. Being that haven't seen you since I was five I'm surprise that you're back."

"And how old are you now?" the stranger asked. He really hadn't changed all that much. Still wore the same outfit.

"Sixteen," Andrew replied.

"Sixteen! Geez! Has it really been that long?" Nick asked. He could still see him as that little guy all those years ago.

Andrew smiled and laughed. "Yeah. I've changed, but you don't seem to have."

Nick smiled. "Yes, I have. Don't smoke anymore."

"Bad for the baby?" Andrew asked, remember what Nick had said at their first meeting.

"Something like that. So tell me, how are your mother, her 'Sempai', and Vash all doing?"

"Mom's ok working a lot. Wait, hey! How do you know all them?" Andrew said.

Nick gave a nervous laugh. "Old friends. Haven't seen them in probably seventeen years."

"Then why aren't you asking them these questions? I know my mom would welcome an old friend."

"I can't. It's complicated, but take my word."

Andrew eyed Nick. "They're all fine. Vash and Meryl have two kids, boy and a girl, and my mom is doing great.

Nick rolls his eyes. "Don't loose trust in me. I promise I'm not a 'bad guy'. Honest!" He held up his hands. "You seemed to be good judge of character last time."

"Last time I was five. Of course I was going to trust you. Plus I thought you were homeless!"

Nick put down his hands. "Are you telling me that if this was the first time we met you wouldn't trust me?"

"Yes! I mean, no. I mean. Ugh! Leave me alone!" Andrew said and started to walk off, putting his sunglasses back down. 'Weird homeless freak,' he thought.

"Hey! Don't walk away from your – from me! Come back here!" Nick ran after him. He stopped in front of Andrew. He actually had to tilt his head to look the boy in the eyes. "Damn. You're tall. When did you get so tall? Never mind. I'm not done with you yet."

Andrew rolled his eyes. "Look, mister. I haven't got any time. I have a job that I need to get back to. So please, just leave me alone." He went to walk past him, but Nick stepped in front of him again.

"Ok, I leave you alone when I give you what I came here for."

Andrew sighed. He was getting tired of this. "Fine, as long as you promise to go. I need to get back to work." He crossed his arms and waited.

"You don't smoke right?" Nick asked.

"C'mon!" Andrew growled.

"Ok, fine." Nick went back to the building he was leaning against. He came back with a rather large cross, wrapped in a cloth. "Now, I don't think you want to be a priest, but I couldn't think of anyone better than you having this." With one hand he handed it to Andrew.

Andrew took it and felt the weight settle in his hand. He surprised it didn't feel heavy. It was like it was made for him.

"Not to heavy is it?" Nick asked.

Andrew shook his head as he slung the thing over his back. "What I am supposed to do with it."

He shrugged. "Dunno. Put it on a wall in your house, or in the backyard. Use it when you have to." He turned to leave.

"Hey!" Andrew called out to him. Nick stopped and turned around. 'Whoa, déjà vu,' he thought. "Is that it? I haven't seen you in eleven years, of course its not like I know you really, but you could stop by my house. I'm sure my mom and her friends would be really happy to have you over."

Nick shook his head. "No. Its ok. I think I'd just freak them out." He turned and walked away again. Andrew called after, but when he looked down between the two buildings he was gone.

'Weird dude,' he thought. He slung the cross over his back and continued to his walk back to the bakery.