Blood Rose Chapter 3:

A whole week passed and everyone was nervous, anxious, and excited at the same time. Nervous because they didn't know what surprise Knives was planning, anxious because they're afraid he might find the liquor, and excited because he was going to take the kids on a well-deserved vacation. Just then, everyone heard the song, from far away.

NO! Not the song, it means he's here. Wolfwood thought.

Here we go. Meryl said.

Knives, please don't drink too much. Vash thought

Hmmmmmm, I wonder if he has any pudding with him. Milly said.

The car pulled up in front of them. A tall light blonde-haired man stepped out of the car as he was singing, and awfully if I may add.

"Well you can't tell I use my walk I'm woman's man."

He hummed some of the lines, then he hit the octive range.

"Stayin' Alllllllliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiive!" he screeched.

"UNCLE!" Rose shouted excidedly.

Knives turned around as his niece rushed towards to give him a hug.

"My Rose Bud, give your Uncle Knives a nice bear hug!" He said.

They squeezed each other and then let go.

"Hey baby brother!" He said to Vash.

"Hey, how's it goin?" He asked.

"It's goin' great, I'm happy to see you're all okay. Looks like your wife isn't too happy to see me, though." He said

"Yeah about that," Wolfwood said.

"Oh, the New Year's Eve Party, uh, okay I know what to do." He said.

He walked over to Meryl and Milly, Milly hid behind Wolfwood.

"Meryl, I'm sorry for ruining your party, Milly I'm sorry for hitting on you, here I brought you some pudding." He said.

Knives gave Milly the bag of pudding.

"Thank you Mr. Knives! You are forgiven!" She said happily as she was gulping down the pudding.

"Wolfwood, I'm sorry for hitting on your wife." Knives said.

"It's all right, it happens all the time now." Wolfwood replied.

"Hey what about ME!!!" Meryl shouted.

"Oh! I brought you a souvenir, Meryl!" Knives said.

He opened his bag and pulled out a shot glass and gave it to her. She accepted it and the shot glass was very colorful and it read 'New Vegas' on it.

"You went to New Vegas!?" She said, "I hate you!"

Knives grew nervous and just smiled.

"You're very much welcomed." He said

He turned to Wolfwood and Milly's kids, Lenn and Grey.

"How are you two?" He asked.

"Good." Lenn said.

"Fine." Grey said nervously.

Knives pulled Grey aside.

"Did you tell her yet?" He asked quietly.

"I'm afraid to." Grey responded.

"I hate to say this but I think Milly and Meryl are catching on and I know your dad's giving you hell for this. Just tell her, what have you got to lose?" He said.

"Thanks, Knives." Grey said.

"Always glad to help, can I have a cookie?" Knives asked.

Grey gave him a strange look.

"Uh no." Grey replied.

"Just pulling your leg." Knives said.

"Well come on, let's go inside!" Milly said.

Later That Night....

Everyone was sitting at the dinner table laughing and talking, sharing stories and memories. Everyone quieted down as Knives started to speak.

"As you may all know I plan to take the kids on vacation. They're all going to New Vegas, the city of gambling and lights. Now because I wanted to surprise the kids and not tell them til the day, I decided to get all of your permissions first, if that's not too much of a problem." He said.

Wolfwood, Milly, Vash, and Meryl all looked at each other.

"You know we could finally have time to ourselves." Meryl said.

"Yeah, and we don't have to worry about them you know, uh, catching us off gaurd, if you know what I mean." Wolfwood said.

"The last time we had 'time alone' Grey watched us and then hyperventalated." Milly said.

"Then it's settled." Vash said.

They all looked up at Knives.

"Okay, you can take the kids." Meryl said.

The kids cheered as Knives beamed happily at the decision.

"On one condition, there are things that you and the kids cannot do, you can't cheat, steal, have sex, gamble,drink, do drugs, hire a prostitute, fire a gun, pay someone to do something, or sleep around with other people." Meryl said.

Knives, Lenn, Grey, and Rose looked at Meryl like she was a lunatic.

"Other than that, have fun!"

"GREAT!" They all said happily as they crossed thier fingers behind thier backs.