--Thinking--: Means peoples' thoughts. (Talking): Means the twins are talking in their minds.
Disclaimer: See last chapter(s)
Chapter 16.
Two days later, they all left through the back door. Cotcher was relieved he didn't have to face the people again. Eventually, they noticed the wackos were gone so everyone returned and occupied the hospital once more.
"Say, this place ain't too shabby," Cotcher pulled out another toothpick. He always kept a few on hand.
"You either like it or you can leave." Meryl stated flatly.
"Hey, we just got home, so let's try not to fight, okay?" Vash held up his hands as a treaty between the two who were glaring at each other now.
Cotcher shrugged his agreement and Meryl went to the table to start on more work. Vash held his prized possession he had found—a box of powdered donuts. Cotcher had protested against it, but Vash had already downed a few. He knew he had nothing to worry about anyway.
Knives sat in the attic. Vash had harshly insisted he stay with them and he cooperated in the end. –I have grown soft. Vash's attitude has changed as well though. He still acts a little angry towards me, but it makes me happy to see him different for once. –
Vash couldn't stay that mad, however. He'd gone so long without running from people. He smiled a genuine smile more often then not and it spread to Meryl and Cotcher. Milly was thrilled to see everyone else smiling too.
The next night, Knives heard a sound coming from across the room. Vash was tossing and turning violently in his sleep. It disturbed his sleep, so Knives went to snap him out of it.
"Cut it out, I'm trying to sleep." Vash's hand gripped Knives' wrist. "What the heck's wrong with you? Let go of me!" He tried unsuccessfully to free himself from the vice-like grip.
Vash jolted in a sitting position. His heart beat ninety to nothing and he just had another nightmare about shooting his brother. "Knives, I didn't want to do it, you know. I tried not to, but I had to stop you. I'm so sorry!" He balled.
"Quit acting like a baby! I'm still alive, aren't I? I'm not sorry for doing what I did, so you shouldn't be either."
"I'm still sorry." Vash got out of bed and grabbed Knives in a hug. He was scared to let go as if he were in a dream right now and would wake up to find him long gone.
Knives didn't do anything but stand there and have his eye twitch. Sincerely, he hoped no one walked in and saw them like this. Otherwise, he might beam Vash over the head, or whoever saw them, or both. Vash's shoulders shook up and down as he sobbed. Knives began to feel the water soak into his clothes so he shoved him on his bed and pulled the covers over him.
"I'm fine, Vash. I'm still alive and I'm not going anywhere. You barely hurt me the second fight, remember? You were in worse shape then I was, so get over it. Forget about both fights and get on with your life." He went back to bed.
"So you forgive me?" Vash asked, clinging to his sheets. He felt like a child at the moment that needed his family just to assure him.
"Yes, now drop it!"
With that, Vash closed his eyes and began to hum the song Rem had taught him. It sometimes helped him when he couldn't get to sleep and tonight it worked again. Knives didn't have as fond a memory of that song as Vash, but he recognized it. He turned over and fell asleep as well.
"You finally decided to get up, did you? Staying up late isn't healthy, you know." Cotcher glanced over his shoulder from the stove at Meryl, who sat at the table checking her work and sipping coffee.
"Don't start with me." She shot him a wry look.
"Good morning, Meryl!" Milly skipped into the room. "Are you almost done with the eggs, Mr. Cotcher?"
He made a face. "You don't need to call me that. Cotcher works just a well."
"Okay, Mr. Cotcher." She smiled and went to the cabinet to retrieve some pudding.
Vash dragged his feet downstairs. As the smells of cooking eggs and sausage drifted ever so slowly to him, his face lit up and he ran the rest of the way down. "Is there any food left for me?" His eyes wandered back and forth across the kitchen.
"Keep it down, I'm trying to concentrate. Things sure are getting back to normal quickly." Meryl observed.
Vash peered over Cotcher's shoulders at the food. "Back off, would you? You wanna' make me burn myself? This sausage is hot and when it's close to being done cooking, it starts popping."
"What was your name again?" Vash asked the grumpy man. With the toothpick in his mouth, he looked similar to the priest.
Cotcher let his shoulders rest. "Thaddeus-Cotcher-call-me-Cotcher." He said it like he was reading it.
Vash blinked. "So, when's breakfast going to be ready?"
Meryl threw down her pencil and asked Vash to come outside with her. The more he bothered the cook, the more likely the food would be burnt. As they went out, she reached up and knocked him over the side of his head.
Vash fell to his knees and clutched his suddenly aching head. It was exactly what he needed to fill in all the gaps of what had happened.
When he didn't stand up, Meryl got concerned. "Quit teasing me. I didn't hit you that hard." She said half-heartedly.
Vash looked up at her. He stood to his feet and whispered something so low she couldn't make it out. "What did you say?"
He jumped up and down and scooped her in a hug. "Thanks, Meryl, I remember everything now! I thought I'd have to go through the rest of my life knowing something was missing and now I don't have to."
Meryl blushed in his shirt, but she stuck her arms around him and gave him a small squeeze. "That's nice, Vash, but I think breakfast is ready, so we can go back in now."
He released her lighting fast and scurried to the table where Knives, Milly, and Cotcher were already seated.
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Ok, I'm cutting this short right here because it's longer than I thought it was! So, there's still one more chapter!
Shayken Destiny: Alrighty, here you are! I should have the last chapter up soon.
Lunis: Yay, glad you're back! Hope your vacation was good.