Okey-day, this is just a little one-shot Trigun fic I wrote one day after school. Nothing life-changing, it's just cute. This takes place several months after the end of the series.

Disclaimer: I do not own Vash the Stampede, Meryl Stryfe, Millie Thompson, Nicholas D. Wolfwood, or any other Trigun characters. I would like to own Vash. Ain't gonna happen. Ever. Sob! Ahem. Anyhoo, don't own Trigun characters. That leaves me with one original character. Whoopdy freaking doo.

Warnings: Um. Sappiness? What else? Uhhhh... spoiler for Ep. 23: Paradise? Maybe? Not like it's some big surprise or anything. Whatever.

Beautiful

Vash sat on the bus, gazing out across the stark desert landscape. He smiled. Home. He was finally going home.
He'd been away too long. Too many months. But he'd had to go. It was his duty, his... penance. It was *his* fault the ship had fallen, *his* fault.... He'd had to go, to try and make things right. To help them build a life on this planet. They were family, after all.
He glanced down at the small, white slip of paper he held, folded, in his left hand. He unfolded it carefully and read it, as he had many times over the past month.
"BABY BORN STRONG AND HEALTHY NOON TUESDAY STOP ITS A BOY STOP LOOKS JUST LIKE FATHER STOP WE MISS YOU STOP LOVE M AND M STOP"
That was all. He smiled, the joy welling up inside of him as he carefully refolded the telegram. Finally, he was going home. He'd really missed the girls. He'd missed them so much.... Especially Meryl.
Finally the bus creaked to a stop and the doors swung open. Grabbing his bag, Vash jumped off the bus and began the trip across town. He tried to make himself walk, but halfway there he gave it up and began to run.
It was a small white house with a little garden in the front of it. It looked very cozy. He stood on the front doorstep and panted a little, catching his breath. Then, with a trembling hand, he rang the bell.
He could hear noises issuing dimly from within the house, then, loudly, "I'LL GET IT!" The door swung open.
Meryl stared up at him, her eyes wide. Then a huge smile split her features as she exclaimed, "Vash!" She leapt forward and hugged him tightly. He held her close, tears in his eyes. Oh, how he'd missed her!
"Oh, Vash, welcome home!" she exclaimed, and then kissed him on the cheek, releasing him. She held the door open and ushered him inside.
"Where - where is he? Can I see him?" asked Vash.
She smiled. "He's sleeping. Come look. He's beautiful." She grabbed his hand and led him down a short hallway to a closed door. Opening the door quietly, she pulled him inside.
Vash stopped and stared, his eyes wide with wonder. Millie was sitting in a rocking chair next to a crib, bouncing a baby on her knee. He was cooing happily, making little burbling noises. Millie glanced up and smiled brightly.
"Oh, hello Mr. Vash! You really do have wonderful timing. He just woke up!"
The baby turned and stared at the tall stranger. Vash gazed back, amazed. He's got Wolfwood's nose. Vash laughed aloud. "He really *does* look like his father," he said.
"Uh-huh!" said Millie. "Isn't he handsome?"
Vash stepped closer, entranced. He's got his eyes, too. And... and... his smile... beautiful smile....
Vash began to cry.

* * *

Notes: Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!! Why did Wolfwood have to die? Why? Why cruel world?! WHY?!