WARNING: Spoilers ahead! Probably a few pretty major ones by the time this is finished too! ^_^x

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Well, so I own a few stuffed animals from my early childhood days, but other than that, I own nothing.

A/N: Ummmmm, yeah. This has been bugging me to write it for over two months now, so I did.

**Flashback** is pretty self-explanatory

as is **End Flashback**

However, ~~~*~~~ means a scene change without coming out of/going into a flashback

On with the fic…

Of Pudding And A Bounty Hunter

**Chapter 6**

Previously:

"Well it's about time…" she muttered heading back to the kitchen to devour more pudding before checking on Mr. Knives.

~~~*~~~

By the time either of the two invalids woke up, the day had passed and it was once again pitch black outside, with only a few stars and the moon to offer any light in the small room where they lay. Crickets chirped happily, as if they were celebrating something that hadn't even occurred to Vash and Meryl yet, and the wind blew soft and warm across the desert, gently beginning to nudge them awake. Millie had long since gone to bed, after checking on Knives throughout the day to make sure he was still as comatose as ever. She really hoped he wouldn't wake up for awhile to give Vash and Meryl time to adjust to the changes Millie was sure would take place before he entered back into their lives and created havoc once again.

For the first time since, well, since she couldn't remember when, Meryl woke up feeling rested, happy, warm, and, most importantly, safe. She had never really felt safe when she woke up before. Granted, she had never felt paranoid either, but se had never had that wonderful feeling that told you if you closed your eyes and just stayed in that position you'd never have to worry about another thing as long as you lived. That is what Meryl felt as she began to awaken, and for the life of her she couldn't figure out why. Well, let's see… is anything different? she wondered before opening her eyes. Hmm, I'm in my own bed, I've got my pillow, no one's trying to wake me up, there's a warm pair of arms wrapped around me, WAIT! I know! I must've used an extra blanket! Meryl smiled, safe in her conclusion, and snuggled deeper into her bed so she could go back to sleep. Just as she was about to nod off again…

WHAT THE HELL??? Her eyes snapped open, suddenly remembering what she had overlooked in her previous tally of what was making her feel so wonderful this… night? As her eyes quickly adjusted to her surroundings, she let out a small, very surprised gasp. Vash was still slumbering happily next to her, his arms wrapped securely around her, while she had been sleeping almost on top of the infamous outlaw, her hands braced against his still bare chest. For a fleeting moment, Meryl wondered what it would be like to wake up like this everyday, but she quickly dismissed the notion, knowing that if Vash woke up with the two of them in this position he'd be disgusted. God, please don't let him wake up yet! she prayed, hoping for the time she needed to extract herself from his grasp.

Just then, she had a thought, why did he have his arms around her anyway? Shaking her head, she realized that he must have been asleep, dreaming of some woman he deeply cared for. Rem, knowing Meryl's luck. Sighing, she continued her silent prayer that Vash not awaken, and she began to remove herself from his gentle grip.

Apparently, whatever deity was watching decided to completely ignore Meryl's pleas, for just then Vash woke up, only to find Meryl trying to escape from his embrace. His first thought was that Meryl must have woken up just a moment before him, and finding herself in such a position, had been repelled by him and decided that she wanted to get as far away from him as possible. Blushing furiously at his own stupidity, he released her as fast as he could. "Sorry," he muttered weakly, wishing she cared for him as much as he did for her, "I must've been dreaming or something I guess…" he offered lamely.

Meryl was shocked, partially by the fact that he had actually woken up right when she most needed him to be asleep, but mostly be the sad and dejected look on his face. It was almost as though he wished he hadn't woken up to find her pulling away from him. Shaking her head to dismiss the thought and reinforce her words, Meryl decided to tell him the truth, for once. "I don't mind…"

Vash's eyes widened at the small voice coming from he woman he loved, she doesn't mind?? But then why was she…

"Why?" was all he managed to say, stunned and surprised by her earlier confession.

Meryl turned her gaze towards the floor, eyes downcast, no longer able to look at him as she decided that now was the time for her to tell him everything, just as she had promised Millie after he left. "I thought you must have been dreaming, and if you woke up to find me like this you'd…"

Vash shook his head, not finding quite the right words to tell her what he'd been wanting to say all this time.

Meryl, seeing this, thought that he was dismissing her excuse, she shouldn't have been there in the first place. She turned her gaze further away, deciding that not matter what he thought of her, she had to tell him. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean…" she sighed, this was getting her nowhere, and fast. Biting her lip, she decided to just have out with it. Turning to face him once more, though keeping her eyes closed, she began to say what her heart had been screaming all this time. "Vash, there's something I have to tell you. I know you could never possibly… but, you should know that I… I… I…"

She tried to say it, she really did. She wanted nothing better than to say it out loud and be done with it, done with the way the words tried to break free anytime he was around. The only problem was, Meryl was finding it exceedingly difficult to speak at the moment. Giving up altogether, Meryl decided that if Vash was going to kiss her while she tried to tell him something important she'd just have to go along with it.

Vash still wasn't quite sure why he'd chosen that particular moment to kiss her, especially since he had the feeling that she had been trying to tell him something important, but he decided he'd deal with that later. Right now, he was going to kiss the girl of his dreams and may god help anyone who tried to tell him otherwise. Fortunately, nothing bothered to interrupt the two at that moment, and subsequently Vash was pleasantly surprised a second later when Meryl circled her arms around his neck and began to kiss him back.

After a bit Meryl pulled back, needing to breathe, and somehow managed an expression that was somewhere between a pout and a smile.

Vash smirked, he knew what she was thinking, and he also had another thought completely his own. God she's cute when she does that…

"You didn't let me finish," Meryl said, fully intending to finish what she had been trying to say before Vash had, er… 'interrupted' her. "I was going to say that I- mph!"

He did it again. At this rate she was never going to tell him. Slightly annoyed, but in the best way imaginable, Meryl pushed him away. "Stop that!" she said, punctuating the words with a gentle poke to his shoulder while she tried to muster up a glare through the smile that was currently gracing her face.

Vash just laughed at her attempted ferocity. "Fine" he smirked, deciding he'd just have to try something else to distract her this time. Not that he didn't want to hear what she was trying to tell him, it's just that he thought it was lots of fun to distract her in such 'interesting' ways, as it seemed to produce such irresistible reactions from her.

She glared at him, having seen that happy 'I-don't-know-what-you're-talking-about' look in his eyes, and decided she'd just have to do something to exact her revenge. "Alright then, I won't tell you," she said mockingly. With that, she began to get up, but was once again impaired by a pair of strong hands pulling her back down under the covers.

"And where are you going this time?" My, but he was enjoying this.

"To see if Millie's back yet" she lied. Actually, she had other plans…

Vash snorted, "Sure, so does that mean you didn't hear her come and check on us before when you were so obviously awake?" To tell the truth, he was bluffing. While Vash had been awake to see Millie come in, he hadn't thought at the time that Meryl was awake, but he had figured out by now that every time he thought she was asleep, she wasn't.

Meryl's jaw dropped, "You knew I was awake?? How? And why didn't you say something then?"

Vash smiled, "Actually, I was just guessing." Oh, she was mad now, and I thought she was cute before…

Meryl growled, "Moron."

"Hey… now that wasn't very nice!" He pouted, "Is name calling really necessary?"

Meryl smiled, "Oh but it is. Because, you, Vash the Stampede, are a moron for not seeing through me sooner. Everyone else noticed you know."

Vash looked at her quizzically, now he was confused. "What exactly was I supposed to notice?" he questioned cautiously, not knowing what the fiery woman would do next.

Meryl yawned, she had him now. "Isn't it obvious? I mean, you are a famous outlaw… I'm sure you could've figured it out easily enough on your own. Or do I have to tell you…"

"Meryl…" he warned, she was mocking him and as enticing as it was…

"…that I'm in love with you, Vash the Stampede" she finished triumphantly. There, she had said it without him being able to stop her.

Vash's jaw hit the floor, while he had figured out by now that Meryl had some sort of feelings for him, that last kiss was proof of that, it still hadn't quite registered that she may in fact love him, just as he loved her. "You do?" he said, his voice almost a whisper now, afraid that he had misheard that last statement.

Meryl smiled, "Yes," she repeated. "I love you Vash."

Vash grinned a smile so big that it would have stunned Wolfwood with the sheer truthful happiness that it contained. "You know, for a while there I thought you hated me…" he began.

Meryl just shook her head, "You see? You are a moro-"

He kissed her again, wanting her silenced so he could finish what he had started. Pulling back just enough to break the kiss, but close enough so that he could feel her breath on his lips, "…but now I know better. And… I love you too, Meryl Stryfe."

Meryl smiled, hearing the words she had never though Vash would utter. Still, she couldn't help but take one last shot at him. "I bet you say that to all the Insurance Girls sent to follow you around 24 hours a day."

Vash laughed, "You're right. Every time I meet a new Insurance Girl I say 'I love you Meryl Stryfe'. Must be why they kept running away… I've never met one actually named Meryl before."

Meryl couldn't help but laugh along with him, but still… "Moron."

Vash grinned just before he kissed her again, but this time was different than the last. This time he let all of the love he had felt for her for so long be expressed by this one simple kiss. He had thought for so long that he'd never get this chance, and now that he had it, he wasn't about to let go.

Meryl could feel the difference, and kissed him back with equal passion, and for the first time they realized that they had been suffering from the same pain and longing all this time. After an eternity, they broke, needing to breathe once more, and Meryl took the opportunity to snuggle back into his arms, resting her head on his chest, content with going back to sleep, as it was still dark out.

Vash smiled, "So does this mean you're not going to check up on Millie?" The only answer he got was a small shake of her head as she tightened her arms around him, never wanting to have to get out of bed again. Vash grinned once more and wrapped his arms around her small form just as tightly, deciding that if he never had to let go of his Insurance Girl it'd be too soon. He yawned, sleep finally catching back up to him now that he was happy and content with her in his arms, "I love you Meryl" he whispered just as he was drifting off into peaceful slumber.

"I love you too Vash" was her only reply…

THE END

A/N: I'm so happy! It's finally finished!! Rejoice! For there shall be no more!! ::does happy dance with Vash:: Well, I might eventually add an epilogue for when they finally decide to wake up in the morning, but only if people really seem to want me to. ^_^x Either way…. It's over!!! YAY! Still, please please PLEASE review! I would be ever so grateful if you did!