Lookie! I'm on time for once ^_^ And with a good, long chappie too. Well, this should be normal for me from now on, I'll post every other Tuesday, kay? I might start posting something else (not Trigun, sorry), but it shouldn't interfere with this. So keep those reviews coming! I am also accepting deeds of ownership to this show, bishounen, enough money to buy this show or said bishounen . . .

**

Wolfwood stood and paced to the window, drawing a cigarette into his mouth. He smiled as he looked at the moons and turned back to Millie, still curled up in bed. She frowned at him. "Is something wrong?"

"I was just thinking. We should have another get together with everyone. Maybe for dinner this weekend? I have an announcement, but I want everyone to hear it at the same time."

Millie sat up, beaming. "That sounds wonderful! I can make spaghetti! And maybe steaks or something and–"

"No, Big Girl. I don't want you to lift a finger, let me make it all. I'll get the other guys to help me, but you should just relax and enjoy yourself." Wolfwood strode back to the bed and kissed his beloved. "You'll love my surprise, trust me."

**

"I don't cook, why am I helping you?"

"Well, Hornfreak, I believe you agreed to help me in hopes of earning a good deed."

"Besides, it sounds very important to Nicholas."

Midvalley glared at Legato. "You're supposed to be on my side. And it doesn't change the fact that I don't cook."

"That mush is quite evident. Your noodles are boiling over." Midvalley yelped and quickly removed the pot from the heat, burning his fingers in the process.

Vash poked his head through the door. "Everything's about ready out here, dinner almost done?"

Wolfwood glanced around the hurricane-wrecked kitchen. "Looks like. Is Knives joining us?"

Vash couldn't help but notice Legato stiffen. "No, he was quite forceful about staying in his room tonight. Could he know what you're planning?"

"Wouldn't surprise me. That sociopath would certainly avoid something like this."

"And when, exactly, are you going to tell us what this is about?" demanded Midvalley, only to be ignored.

Dinner went along well enough, everyone laughing and enjoying themselves and asking what Wolfwood's surprise was every few minutes. Finally, when the dessert had been brought out, Wolfwood stood and turned to Millie before dropping to one knee. She immediately smiled, tearing up as she realized what was happening. "Millie, I love you. You know that. I don't know what my future holds or if I will live. But if I do, I want to live with you." He reached into his pocket, pulling out a shining silver cross and chain. "I can't afford a ring, but if you accept this, I'd truly love to marry you."

Millie glomped her priest, bringing them both to the floor. She didn't respond verbally, but that had a lot to do with her lips seeming to become glued to his.

"Did you see that?"

Wolfwood managed to look up at Zazie's outburst. "See what?"

The blonde reached down, pulling up Wolfwood's wrist. "Your band changed!"

Millie stood, pulling Wolfwood to his feet as well. "That's because marriage is a sacred union for anyone. Especially when more than one life is caught in the balance." Millie laughed and pulled Wolfwood after her up the stairs.

Without them, dinner continued with laughter and speculation. Through the din, Legato managed to slip away, sneaking upstairs himself and hiding in an empty room. He was shocked, some ten minutes later, when the door opened again to reveal Knives. Legato's breath caught as he stared at the blonde. "What are you doing here?"

Knives closed the door securely and leaned against the wall. "Avoiding the festivities. My room happens to be right next to 'the happy couple'," He sneered with obvious distaste. "What are you doing here?"

"Leaving." Legato stood, but didn't move as Knives lay one hand on the doorknob.

The blonde laughed. "Are you really so afraid of me?"

Legato looked away, slowly lowering himself back onto the edge of the bed. "I pity you. Because you can't see humans for what they are, just as the villains you've made of them." Legato shivered as Knives's cold laughter rolled through the room.

"Well, I must say this new outlook of yours is amusing. You used to understand so clearly, and now you're back among the spiders."

"I'd rather be with them than with you."

"I will be sure to send you with them, then."

Legato looked up, startled. "What are you talking about?"

"Ask yourself this: would I willingly surround myself with spiders not under my control? No? Then why would I possibly allow myself to be kept here amongst them?" Legato stood, determination written across his face, but didn't move. Knives laughed again, the sound barely audible. "I could just stand here and keep you in this room all night, couldn't I?"

Legato looked around, blinking rapidly as he searched for an escape. Knives took a step forward and Legato tensed. It took all his control not to back away as Knives approached. "You say I am no longer my master, I no longer have power over you. Yet you make it so easy to control you."

He was less than a foot away now and Legato felt he could barely breath. "You don't control me. I won't let you."

Knives leaned forward and Legato shrank away. "Is that right?" Legato didn't reply, fighting not to shake under the blonde's stare. Knives dropped his voice to a whisper as his smile grew. "Run."

Legato's knees buckled and he stumbled to get out of the room. He rushed down the stairs, cursing himself for allowing Knives so much power over him. When he got to the bottom of the stairs, Vash spotted him with a laugh. "Legato, where'd you disappear to?" Legato ignored him, shuffling out the door and into the chilling night.

**

Midvalley gritted his teeth in the dust, gripping the deep gash in his forearm. Frantically he kicked against the ground to get behind a crate for protection. He breathed shallowly, trying to gather his senses. Grabbing his gun, he shoved himself up and fired back across the street.

There was a bout of cursing and Midvalley's partner appeared in the dirt beside him. "Man, this is bad. We gotta get outta here!"

"What about the money?"

"Forget that! We can sell this to someone who doesn't want to have our heads too. I'm just worried about myself right now."

Midvalley nodded, again rising to provide cover fire as the other boy scampered away. Taking a moment to ready himself, Midvalley launched himself down a side street into the cooling dusk. He ran until he was certain he'd gotten away.

Pausing for breath, Midvalley's hand dipped into his pocket. The money felt cold, like a lead weight against his fingertips. He should take it to Alex and get his share from her. Then again, the drop was a failure and she'd still have the goods to sell again, no one knew he'd actually managed to grab the pay. And he did need the extra cash. It was to help his friends, not just himself. He continued to rationalize the theft all the way down the darkening road.

He reached the house much later and quietly slipped through the front door. He found dinner waiting warm on the stove and Legato apparently dozing on the couch. "Huh, wonder why he's not in his own bed."

"I got tired of listening to the others fight over the second bed. It's easier to let them both sleep in there." Right, not asleep then. Legato sat up and eyed the other boy, eyes locking on the dark case he was carrying. "You got a sax?"

"Uh, yeah, it's a, um, job perk." Midvalley smiled nervously, handling the case like a protective mother.

Legato frowned. "Are you in trouble, Midvalley? What is this new job of yours?"

"It's nothing important. Just a job."

"But, your arm."

"It's nothing! Just a scratch," but Midvalley flinched as his bloodstained sleeve pulled across the fresh wound.

"Midvalley-"

"I'm fine!" he snapped, then continued in a softer tone so as not to wake the others. "I'm fine. Don't get involved, you have your own problems to deal with."

Midvalley watched as Legato's face fell. The blue-haired boy readjusted a small stack of books, hiding the titles from view. Suddenly he laughed. "We're doing quite well, aren't we? We're both lying, keeping secrets . . . We're both going to die and burn for our actions."

Midvalley stared at his black wristband and silently agreed.

**

Wolfwood came in looking miserable. He'd spent the morning at Vash's and usually came home happy after spending time with his new fiancée, so his strange mood attracted a lot of attention from the two boys in the house. Midvalley offered his arm, helping Wolfwood to the couch. "This is horrible!" he moaned.

Zazie rushed to grab a glass of cool water before returning to the priest's side. "What's wrong?"

"Millie's pregnant!" A light went on in Midvalley's head. He had always feared those words in the past. "Two months."

Zazie frowned. "Two months? But that would mean-"

"She had to have conceived the night before I died."

"But, Chapel, this is great news!"

Wolfwood shook his head, not even twitching at the name, and threw himself back onto the couch. "No, this is horrible. I can't let that baby grow up without a father and I still have to do another deed."

Midvalley scowled, feeling very alienated from the strange 'family love' thing going on. "So talk to Angel or pray or something. I'm sure you can work something out." Wolfwood shook his head again and Midvalley suddenly understood. He'd already gotten his leeway for being a father; Midvalley had wondered what the priest's first deed had been.

Legato pushed his way through the door then and sent a confused look towards the group. "Um, is something wrong?"

"Millie's pregnant," Midvalley offered immediately.

"And Chapel's afraid he won't be there for them," Zazie added.

Legato looked at Wolfwood with a little frown. "Is that true?"

"How? How am I supposed to do good if all of my time is spent either at work or trying to figure out how to help Millie?" There was true misery in the priest's words as he fell deeper into the soft cushions of the couch.

Legato frowned harder and grabbed Zazie's wrist, pulling him aside. "Well, now may not be the best time to bother him, but I've gotten a job at the plant. When he's calmed down a little, tell him. I also met a friend of yours, says her name is Isabel? I think she may know you from the past. Perhaps from the orphanage?"

Zazie nodded slightly, "She helped me out once before. I think I kinda remember her. It was bugging me that she knew my name, but I suppose that makes sense. Where is she?"

Legato smiled, sensing the little blonde's excitement despite his efforts at hiding it. "I set up a meeting for you tomorrow. It was my good deed for the day."

Zazie paused at the phrase, eyes immediately focusing on Legato's wrist and the sparkling blue strip of material there. "Legato!"

The older boy hushed him immediately. "This is not something to bring up in front of Nicholas right now." His smile faded as he looked at the band. "It probably won't last anyway. Well, I have to run, get back to work. I'll see you guys later."

Midvalley came up behind Zazie, placing a hand on his shoulder. ""What was that all about?"

Zazie frowned, shaking his head as more of Wolfwood's moans drifted from behind them. "I'm not sure, but I'm worried. I think I'm going to go see what's up with him." Zazie slipped out the door, leaving Midvalley to comfort the sulking priest, much to the musician's regret.

**

Hee^_^ Well, compared to most chapters, this one is composed of a bunch of really small, unrelated, and propably confusing scenes, huh? But I promise, it's *very* important plot development. And I finaly told you guys Wolfwood's first deed! Cool, huh? I've decided it's hard keeping track of Wolfwood's names. I mean, Legato calls him Nicholas most of the time, Zazie and Midvalley still call him Chapel, everyone else calls him Wolfwood, and Millie sometimes calls him Nick or some other cute name. And then there's the whole issue of spelling Millie's name, I think I change from chapter to chapter. *sigh* Confusing for poor little autoresses like me, no da! And where on Earth are my reveiws!? Riin! Sharem! Raditz! Where are you guys? *begins crying* Oh, well, I'm over it now. Just, more reveiws this time, kay? Pleeaaaaaseeee??????

Oh, I almost forgot. IMPORTANT!!! Not really, unless you're trying to keep track of my timeline (I actually do have one, no da) Days left: This chapter ends on day 18, so since I'm going off of a 31 day month, they have 13 days left to do their good deeds. And a deed count! Wolfwood's doing well with two deeds down and Zazie's not too bad off with only one. Midvalley's having a heck of a time, no deeds for him yet, and Legato's already done all three of his! But I assure you, it won't be *that* easy for my favorite tortured character in this series.

Legato pops up. "Kalanoa, I am going to have to get you for this!"

Eep! Sorry, I, uh, gotta go now. Ja na!!