"N-nick? Is it really you?" He looked deeply into her eyes.
"Yes. It's me Milly. I'm back."
"B-but…I thought you were…" She stepped back and looked at the ground.
"Only hiding."
"From who?"
"Legato. Knives. But I really missed you honey."
"You…..Vash….he…he…buried you."
"No he didn't. He must have thought that if you didn't think I was dead, you would go looking for me. Or that you would be even more upset. But hey, that doesn't matter now." He stepped towards her, holding out his arms, only for her to step away from him. "What's wrong?"
"Nick it does matter." He stopped, dead in his tracks. "You left I thought you died. I prayed to you every night thinking you heard me. I thought you had no choice but to die, die for us. To help Vash. That you couldn't come back to me even if you wanted to. But you hid! You hid for a year! Leaving me all alone! Now your back expecting everything to be alright? I cried for days, for…for a coward! For all you knew I could've killed my self or been pregnant!" Tears poured from her eyes. "You're so damn selfish!"
She ran away. Already tired from haven't eaten anything all day and singing earlier. The screaming running and crying wore her out, causing her to pass out not far from the man she was running away from.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Milly awoke in an unfamiliar bed. An unfamiliar room. She looked around at her new surroundings.
"Milly. Thank the Lord you're alright!" Wolfwood stood up from the chair in the corner of the very empty room.
"Get away from me!" she yelled, trying to stand, but her legs were a little wobbly. "I have to go home." She began heading towards the door.
"Milly please-"
"No. I'm going home." She finished the sentence and walked out the door, unaware of the priest following close behind her. She made her way through the town, ignoring the groceries. Her small house was still empty and there was no sign of Vash and Meryl anywhere. She was about to go into her room when she saw Wolfwood heading in the house. "Go away Nick!" She screamed, running up the stairs.
"Milly please. Listen to me! I-"
He was cut off be her bedroom door slamming in his face.
He pounded his clenched fist against the door and laid his head on it. "Damn it!" He cursed.
"Please just go away. Never talk to me again." Her voice was getting smaller, tears kept falling from eyes, streaming down her chin and hit the cold floor. She stood there, her back against the door.
"Fine I'll leave. But I *will* be back." She stood still, listening as footsteps made their way down stairs. She then slid down to the floor, pushing her knees into her chest.
"She quietly sobbed in the darkness for about half of an hour before Vash and Meryl got home.
"Milly are you alright?" Meryl asked, concerned at the red puffiness in her friends eyes.
"I'm fine Meryl."
"Is is about-" Milly nodded before Meryl finished her sentence, but never said anything about what had happened earlier that day. Nothing about Wolfwood being alive. No one had to know.
Vash put his hand on the young girl's shoulder. "He would have stayed if he could. I'm sure of it." Milly cried harder into Meryl's shoulder.
"Milly get some rest. I will make dinner tonight." Milly silently accepted the offer and went upstairs to retire in her room for the night.
Milly fell asleep quickly after lying down. When she woke up she saw a surprise waiting by her bed.
Lying on her floor, next to her bed, was a one dozen bouquet of white roses. She knew exactly who they were from and she took the card. 'I'm sorry. I know I am a hopeless jerk- Nick.'
She stuffed the card in her pocket and headed to the window for some fresh air. Only then she would be presented with another surprise.
Wolfwood was sitting on a portable stage, surrounded by speakers. 'What is he up to?' She thought.
"Finally you're up! I've been waiting all night!" He yelled, having spotted her in from the window. Vash and Meryl barged in the room, stunned at what was outside. But when they saw the look on their friend's face they stayed perfectly silent. They were also eager to see what he was doing as well. Music came through the window, letting the couple hear as well as the girl standing at it.
Wolfwood began singing, and surprisingly good too.
"I just don't understand,
Why your running from a good man baby,
Why you wanna turn your back on love,
Why you've already given up,"
Milly stood, stock still, by the window. Stunned that anyone would go to such lengths for her.
"See I know you've been hurt before,
But I swear I'll give you so much more,
I swear I'll never let you down,
Cause I swear it's you that I adore,
And I can't help myself babe,
Cause I think about you constantly,
And my heart gets no rest over you…"
By now she was really considering forgiving him. After all, who could resist an apology like that?
"You can call me selfish,
But all I want is your love,
You can call me hopeless, baby,
Cause I'm hopelessly in love,
You can call me unperfect,
But who's perfect?
Tell me what do I gotta do,
To prove that I'm the only one for you,
So what's wrong with being selfish?"
Vash and Meryl silently slipped out of the room, leaving the girl alone, only to ask questions later.
"I'll be taking up your time,
Till the day I make you realize,
That for you there could be no one else,
I've just gotta have you for myself,
Baby, I would take good care of you,
No matter what it is you're going through,
I'll be there for you when you're in need,
Baby, believe in me.
Cause if love is a crime ,(hey, yeah)
Then punish me, I
would die for you,
Cause I don't want to live without you,
What can I do?
You can call me selfish,
But all I want is your love,
You can call me hopeless, baby,
Cause I'm hopelessly in love,
You can call me unperfect,
But who's perfect?
Tell me what do I gotta do,
To prove that I'm the only one for you,
So what's wrong with being selfish?"
Milly had already headed downstairs during the chorus and Vash and Meryl smiled as she left, still unaware of the previous day's events.
"Why do you keep us apart,
Why won't you give up your heart,
You know that we're meant to be together. "
Milly rushed out the door and started to make her way through the crowd that had formed itself around the stage. "Nick!" she yelled, trying to get his attention. But with the sound of the crowd and the music combined, it was to no avail.
"Why do you push me away
When all I want is to give you love
Forever and ever and ever…."
She finally made her way to the front and he was still singing to an empty window.
"You can call me selfish,
But all I want is your love,
You can call me hopeless, baby,
Cause I'm hopelessly in love,
You can call me unperfect,
But who's perfect?
Tell me what do I gotta do,
To prove that I'm the only one for you,
So what's wrong with being selfish?"
She jumped up on the stage with him, sneaking up behind him.
"Selfishly I'm in love with you,
Cause I've searched my soul,
I know that it's you.
"Selfishly I'm in love with you,
Cause I've searched my soul,
I know that it's you.
"Selfishly I'm in love with you,
Cause I've searched my soul,
I know that it's you."
She turned him around and kissed his cheek. He smiled his irresistible sexy smile.
"I'll prove that I'm the only one for you.
So what's wrong with being selfish selfish selfish.
So what's wrong with being selfish….."
She wrapped her arms around his waist tightly and laid her head on his shoulder. "You know all you had to do was apologize."
He looked down at the woman he loved. "Now honey, you know I am too stubborn to apologize. I had to do it the hard way." The two of them laughed as Meryl and Vash walked up to congratulate the couple. But first Vash had to ask.
"Could someone tell me what the heck is going on?" Vash looked really confused.
"Yeah later needle-noggin!"
Meryl tapped her friend on the shoulder. "Don't you think you should tell him Milly?"
"Tell me what?"
"Meryl, will you tell Mr. Vash inside so me and Nick can be alone?"
"Of course."
"What is it?" Milly watched as Vash and Meryl left once again so Milly could have her privacy with Wolfwood.
"Do you remember when I said I could've been pregnant." Wolfwood paled.
"Am I a d-d-daddy?"
"No I lost the baby." Wolfwood got even paler.
"Y-you l-l-lost the baby?" She placed her hand on his mouth so she could finish, feeling the tears stream down his cheeks.
"After we found Mr. Vash, I found out that I was pregnant. I didn't tell Meryl until afterwards but it caused more grief over your death when I found out. Two weeks after, three days after Mr. Vash went to fight Knives, I bled." Wolfwood dropped to his knees on the dusty earth. "I'm so sorry darling. Really I am." Tears streamed down her cheeks as well.
"Why are you sorry? It was all my fault. If I hadn't been so much of a coward then…then-"
"Shh…It's alright. We can start over." She brought his head to her chest to comfort him and her at the same time. "Don't dwell on the past darling."
"Yes. It's me Milly. I'm back."
"B-but…I thought you were…" She stepped back and looked at the ground.
"Only hiding."
"From who?"
"Legato. Knives. But I really missed you honey."
"You…..Vash….he…he…buried you."
"No he didn't. He must have thought that if you didn't think I was dead, you would go looking for me. Or that you would be even more upset. But hey, that doesn't matter now." He stepped towards her, holding out his arms, only for her to step away from him. "What's wrong?"
"Nick it does matter." He stopped, dead in his tracks. "You left I thought you died. I prayed to you every night thinking you heard me. I thought you had no choice but to die, die for us. To help Vash. That you couldn't come back to me even if you wanted to. But you hid! You hid for a year! Leaving me all alone! Now your back expecting everything to be alright? I cried for days, for…for a coward! For all you knew I could've killed my self or been pregnant!" Tears poured from her eyes. "You're so damn selfish!"
She ran away. Already tired from haven't eaten anything all day and singing earlier. The screaming running and crying wore her out, causing her to pass out not far from the man she was running away from.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Milly awoke in an unfamiliar bed. An unfamiliar room. She looked around at her new surroundings.
"Milly. Thank the Lord you're alright!" Wolfwood stood up from the chair in the corner of the very empty room.
"Get away from me!" she yelled, trying to stand, but her legs were a little wobbly. "I have to go home." She began heading towards the door.
"Milly please-"
"No. I'm going home." She finished the sentence and walked out the door, unaware of the priest following close behind her. She made her way through the town, ignoring the groceries. Her small house was still empty and there was no sign of Vash and Meryl anywhere. She was about to go into her room when she saw Wolfwood heading in the house. "Go away Nick!" She screamed, running up the stairs.
"Milly please. Listen to me! I-"
He was cut off be her bedroom door slamming in his face.
He pounded his clenched fist against the door and laid his head on it. "Damn it!" He cursed.
"Please just go away. Never talk to me again." Her voice was getting smaller, tears kept falling from eyes, streaming down her chin and hit the cold floor. She stood there, her back against the door.
"Fine I'll leave. But I *will* be back." She stood still, listening as footsteps made their way down stairs. She then slid down to the floor, pushing her knees into her chest.
"She quietly sobbed in the darkness for about half of an hour before Vash and Meryl got home.
"Milly are you alright?" Meryl asked, concerned at the red puffiness in her friends eyes.
"I'm fine Meryl."
"Is is about-" Milly nodded before Meryl finished her sentence, but never said anything about what had happened earlier that day. Nothing about Wolfwood being alive. No one had to know.
Vash put his hand on the young girl's shoulder. "He would have stayed if he could. I'm sure of it." Milly cried harder into Meryl's shoulder.
"Milly get some rest. I will make dinner tonight." Milly silently accepted the offer and went upstairs to retire in her room for the night.
Milly fell asleep quickly after lying down. When she woke up she saw a surprise waiting by her bed.
Lying on her floor, next to her bed, was a one dozen bouquet of white roses. She knew exactly who they were from and she took the card. 'I'm sorry. I know I am a hopeless jerk- Nick.'
She stuffed the card in her pocket and headed to the window for some fresh air. Only then she would be presented with another surprise.
Wolfwood was sitting on a portable stage, surrounded by speakers. 'What is he up to?' She thought.
"Finally you're up! I've been waiting all night!" He yelled, having spotted her in from the window. Vash and Meryl barged in the room, stunned at what was outside. But when they saw the look on their friend's face they stayed perfectly silent. They were also eager to see what he was doing as well. Music came through the window, letting the couple hear as well as the girl standing at it.
Wolfwood began singing, and surprisingly good too.
"I just don't understand,
Why your running from a good man baby,
Why you wanna turn your back on love,
Why you've already given up,"
Milly stood, stock still, by the window. Stunned that anyone would go to such lengths for her.
"See I know you've been hurt before,
But I swear I'll give you so much more,
I swear I'll never let you down,
Cause I swear it's you that I adore,
And I can't help myself babe,
Cause I think about you constantly,
And my heart gets no rest over you…"
By now she was really considering forgiving him. After all, who could resist an apology like that?
"You can call me selfish,
But all I want is your love,
You can call me hopeless, baby,
Cause I'm hopelessly in love,
You can call me unperfect,
But who's perfect?
Tell me what do I gotta do,
To prove that I'm the only one for you,
So what's wrong with being selfish?"
Vash and Meryl silently slipped out of the room, leaving the girl alone, only to ask questions later.
"I'll be taking up your time,
Till the day I make you realize,
That for you there could be no one else,
I've just gotta have you for myself,
Baby, I would take good care of you,
No matter what it is you're going through,
I'll be there for you when you're in need,
Baby, believe in me.
Cause if love is a crime ,(hey, yeah)
Then punish me, I
would die for you,
Cause I don't want to live without you,
What can I do?
You can call me selfish,
But all I want is your love,
You can call me hopeless, baby,
Cause I'm hopelessly in love,
You can call me unperfect,
But who's perfect?
Tell me what do I gotta do,
To prove that I'm the only one for you,
So what's wrong with being selfish?"
Milly had already headed downstairs during the chorus and Vash and Meryl smiled as she left, still unaware of the previous day's events.
"Why do you keep us apart,
Why won't you give up your heart,
You know that we're meant to be together. "
Milly rushed out the door and started to make her way through the crowd that had formed itself around the stage. "Nick!" she yelled, trying to get his attention. But with the sound of the crowd and the music combined, it was to no avail.
"Why do you push me away
When all I want is to give you love
Forever and ever and ever…."
She finally made her way to the front and he was still singing to an empty window.
"You can call me selfish,
But all I want is your love,
You can call me hopeless, baby,
Cause I'm hopelessly in love,
You can call me unperfect,
But who's perfect?
Tell me what do I gotta do,
To prove that I'm the only one for you,
So what's wrong with being selfish?"
She jumped up on the stage with him, sneaking up behind him.
"Selfishly I'm in love with you,
Cause I've searched my soul,
I know that it's you.
"Selfishly I'm in love with you,
Cause I've searched my soul,
I know that it's you.
"Selfishly I'm in love with you,
Cause I've searched my soul,
I know that it's you."
She turned him around and kissed his cheek. He smiled his irresistible sexy smile.
"I'll prove that I'm the only one for you.
So what's wrong with being selfish selfish selfish.
So what's wrong with being selfish….."
She wrapped her arms around his waist tightly and laid her head on his shoulder. "You know all you had to do was apologize."
He looked down at the woman he loved. "Now honey, you know I am too stubborn to apologize. I had to do it the hard way." The two of them laughed as Meryl and Vash walked up to congratulate the couple. But first Vash had to ask.
"Could someone tell me what the heck is going on?" Vash looked really confused.
"Yeah later needle-noggin!"
Meryl tapped her friend on the shoulder. "Don't you think you should tell him Milly?"
"Tell me what?"
"Meryl, will you tell Mr. Vash inside so me and Nick can be alone?"
"Of course."
"What is it?" Milly watched as Vash and Meryl left once again so Milly could have her privacy with Wolfwood.
"Do you remember when I said I could've been pregnant." Wolfwood paled.
"Am I a d-d-daddy?"
"No I lost the baby." Wolfwood got even paler.
"Y-you l-l-lost the baby?" She placed her hand on his mouth so she could finish, feeling the tears stream down his cheeks.
"After we found Mr. Vash, I found out that I was pregnant. I didn't tell Meryl until afterwards but it caused more grief over your death when I found out. Two weeks after, three days after Mr. Vash went to fight Knives, I bled." Wolfwood dropped to his knees on the dusty earth. "I'm so sorry darling. Really I am." Tears streamed down her cheeks as well.
"Why are you sorry? It was all my fault. If I hadn't been so much of a coward then…then-"
"Shh…It's alright. We can start over." She brought his head to her chest to comfort him and her at the same time. "Don't dwell on the past darling."