Wow! So many reviews! And yes, I am alive! A big thanks to:

Elf3748- Don't worry. You'll have all your answers in this chapter. I'm glad you're finding this chapter interesting. Thanks for reviewing!

Ropa- This story is about Meryl's last year of high school because her parents wanted her to go to a public high school instead of being tutored before she went to college. I hope that was a better explanation!

Balletanimerose- Here's your update!

Dragon of Sesshomaru- Hehehehehehe…I was being evil! I was possessed by some demon!

WolfsSora- Don't worry; you'll know exactly what will happen! Thanks for reading my story!

Kawaiibabe14- Yeah, no love scene. There will be one in the future chapters. I haven't decided when to bust it out. It'll come soon though. Goody! You're computer's fixed!

Kit-Pudding- Yikes! Don't worry! Thanks for reviewing. Here's your update!

vashluver1- O.O Are you psychic or something? All I must say is that you have very good intuition.

Demon Eyes- Yes. What Knives will do to get what he wants…pathetic bastard…(sweatdrop) aheheheheh…I didn't say that!

Psychobunnygrl13- Yay! More plushies! And wait! MORE CUP O' NOODLES!!! I love the seductive Knives. (giggles insanely) That's so sexy it gave me shivers…Poor Wolfwood and Legato. We can't just leave them on their own. Who knows what they'll do…(gags) Okay, I get first dibs on the Priest! Hehehehehe.

Candie- Thank you very much. I'm glad you like the story. I've been writing a lot of cliffhangers lately. Not on purpose though. It just kinda works out that way.

crossfire- (panting) I'm going…as fast…as…I can…(passes out)

kawaiirock86- (squeals) I love that! That was so funny! I could just imagine the look on their faces. Good for Knives; he was making a mess with the crumbs…he needs some punishment…

Pyro- OoO' Whoa……..that was a scary image. I hate Vicious too…that bastard…killed my Spike… I think Legato needs some serious psychiatric treatment.

KeNsHiNs GuRl- Well I'm glad you didn't jump off yet. You still have to read the rest of my story!

To make it short…

Disclaimer: I do not own Trigun or any of its characters

Chapter 17: The After Math

Meryl opened her closed eyes. She had her arms wrapped around Vash and looked up at him apprehensively. He glanced down at her with worried eyes. Meryl felt no pain so she knew she hadn't been shot. Who fired that shot? thought Meryl. She heard a painful groan and turned around. Knives was holding his wounded arm.

"But who-"

"You didn't think I was going to let you kill him now did you?" said Wolfwood who had interrupted Meryl. They all glanced at Wolfwood. He had his gun aimed at Knives just in case he would try to shoot Vash again. Beside Wolfwood was his cross. The white cloth, buckles, and straps was strewn across the ground. What had looked like 'part of his gospel' was actually a weapon. Three other guns were sticking out of the cross, ready to be used.

"What the hell is that?" growled Knives.

"This is my invention I've been working on for a very long time. Not only does it hold my guns but it serves as a machine gun and rocket launcher," said Wolfwood. "I call this beauty my cross punisher. Suits its name well." The sounds of police sirens blared nearby.

"Oh shit! Let's get outta here!" shouted Knives. He and his gang left the spot in a blink of an eye.

"We better do the same thing too," said Wolfwood. Meryl tried helping Vash up when Milly came over and picked Vash up to his feet.

"Easy there," said Vash, wincing from the pain.

"Sorry about that Mr. Vash! Sometimes I just forget my own strength," said Milly. Meryl rolled her eyes.

"We better get you to a hospital and get that checked out," said Meryl.

"No. It's better if we don't. I won't draw any suspicion," said Vash.

"We're going to get that checked," said Meryl sternly. In the next hour, the four of them went to a nearby hospital and Vash's wound was cleansed and bandaged. Instead of telling the doctors the whole truth, they said that Vash had accidentally shot himself when he had been cleaning the gun. It was a lame excuse, but to the quartet's relief, they believed it.

"Wasn't today exciting?" said Wolfwood as he plopped down on the couch. Meryl let out an indignant gasp and punched him. Holy crap that hurt, thought Wolfwood. "Why did you hit so hard?"

"I can't believe you! You're so insensitive! Vash could've been killed and- ERGH!!!" Meryl stormed outside onto the back porch. Milly smacked Wolfwood on the head.

"What was that for?" whined Wolfwood. "Is today 'Wolfwood Bashing' day or something?" Vash shook his head and chuckled.

"I'm going to check on Meryl," said Vash and left the parlor. When he found her, Meryl was staring emptily at the garden. "Are you alright Meryl?" asked Vash quietly. Meryl turned her head sharply towards him.

"How can you ask me such a question? Of course I'm not okay!" said Meryl hysterically. "If Wolfwood hadn't brought his crazed machine, you would've…would've-" Meryl covered her face with her hands. Vash wrapped his good arm around her.

"I'm alive Meryl and that's all that matters," said Vash softly. He winced as he forced himself to wrap his other arm around her small frame. "I kept my promise." Meryl tightened her arms around his thin waist.

"But you almost broke it," she softly replied back. Vash couldn't deny that part. If it hadn't been for Wolfwood, he would've been dead. Killed by my own brother… That thought still hurt for Vash. He loved Knives dearly. It was sad that he couldn't receive that same emotion back.

"I know," sighed Vash. They held each other for a while just to be close together. Meryl closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. She could never define Vash's scent. It was a mixture of his cologne, of course, and something else. Perhaps it was just Vash's unique scent. Yes, that's it.

"Love you Vash," whispered Meryl. She began nipping at his collarbone. Vash slightly shivered and smiled.

"I love you too Meryl," said Vash. He felt her lips travel up his jaw and down his neck. She suckled hard and Vash bit his lip. Simple actions such as the one Meryl was doing now was arousing. He closed his eyes and let his mind drift. After a few minutes Meryl glanced up at him innocently. She tiptoed to reach his lips. Once her lips came into contact with his, Vash opened his eyes and deepened the kiss. When they let go for breath, Meryl took a step back and smirked. Vash looked at her questioningly.

"Something wrong Vash?" said Meryl. Vash narrowed his eyes. She's up to something, I know it, thought Vash.

"Nothing," said Vash. He followed Meryl back inside the house. Wolfwood was lounged across the sofa smoking a cigarette when he glanced up at the two. His eyes widened and nearly dropped the cigarette hanging from his mouth.

"Holy shit! What happened to your neck?" exclaimed Wolfwood.

"What's going on?" Milly asked, stepping out of the kitchen. "What's all the commo-" Milly stared at Vash for one second and giggled. Meryl sat down on a chair and grinned.

"Why? What's wrong with my neck?" asked Vash.

"Go look in the mirror," said Wolfwood. Vash glanced at his reflection in a nearby mirror and gaped. His neck was covered with lovebites. He had three on each side of his neck. How the hell did she do that? Vash returned his gaze back towards Meryl who stared back angelically. He got down onto his hands and knees and as sleek as a panther, he crawled his way back to her. Meryl looked down at him curiously. When Vash reached her, he stood on his knees and gently pulled her legs around his waist.

"What are y-" Before Meryl had a chance to finish her sentence, Vash yanked her forward. With a shriek, Meryl flew out of her chair and landed on top of Vash. He rolled her under him and started tickling her. Meryl was extremely ticklish and started squirming around. "V-V-Va-Va-" Heck, she couldn't even say his name properly without gasping and giggling.

"I love it when you say my name like that," said Vash seductively. He covered her mouth and she moaned softly. Very slowly, Vash let his weight rest fully on her. Meryl's legs convulsed around his waist, bringing him tightly against her. Vash pulled back slightly so that his lips barely brushed against hers. Meryl let out a restless sigh and tried to bring his lips back to hers.

"Tease," she growled. Vash flicked his tongue against her lips. Meryl strained her neck to reach him but to no avail. She gave up and rested her head against the floor. Meryl licked her lips to find the taste of Vash still fresh on her mouth. She then unwrapped one of her legs from his waist and slid it in between his legs. Meryl seductively let her leg slide back and forth against him. Vash let out a grunt and buried his head against her shoulder. In moments, she had Vash reciprocating his hips against her leg.

"Oh jeez! Can someone gouge my eyes out?" whined Wolfwood. Meryl and Vash froze. They had completely forgotten that they were in the middle of the parlor where Wolfwood had a good view on the couch. Vash let up and Meryl sat up.

"I'm sorry Nicky," Meryl cooed. Wolfwood looked at her suspiciously. "Would you like to join us?" Vash and Wolfwood's jaws dropped. Meryl tugged at Wolfwood's leg and he squeaked and recoiled.

"Who are you and what have you done to Meryl?" said Wolfwood. Meryl let out a hearty laugh.

"I'm just fooling with ya!" said Meryl. Vash and Wolfwood crossed their arms.

"That wasn't funny," they both pouted. Later on that evening after Meryl and Milly made dinner, the four of them hung out in Wolfwood's room.

"What do you wanna do now?" asked Wolfwood, not talking to anyone in particular. Meryl glanced at her watch.

"It's getting late and we have school tomorrow," said Meryl.

"Let's skip school tomorrow," said Vash.

"What?" Meryl said incredulously.

"Oh c'mon Meryl! Don't be so uptight all the time," said Milly.

"Milly!" Meryl whined. This was terrible. No one was on her side this time. Meryl grabbed a pillow and brought it to her chest. "I'm not uptight all the time," she mumbled.

"Fine then. Prove it by skipping school tomorrow with us," said Vash. Meryl sighed. I guess I won't be missing out on anything. Grades aren't in jeopardy, no crap to deal with…

"All right, I'll do it," she mumbled and fell on her back. Heck, why not? I'm so dead beat tired, thought Meryl. She could already feel her eyes drooping close… Vash decided to strike up a conversation.

"Everyone knows what next Saturday is right?" said Vash. He received no answer. "Right?" He turned around to see Milly, Wolfwood, and Meryl fast asleep. Wolfwood had both girls curled up against him. Vash was slightly amused by the sight. He crawled up next to Meryl and as if she were awake, she turned her back to Wolfwood and snuggled up against Vash.

"Should we wake them up?" whispered Meryl to Milly. Milly had to smother her giggles with her hand.

"No. Let's take a picture quickly." Meryl took out her cell phone and took many pictures of Vash and Wolfwood.

"This is so hilarious," snickered Meryl. A quiet murmur came from the bed. "Milly, be still for a moment." They both froze. The scene that lay before them was cute yet wrong. Both girls had slipped out of bed early in the morning and by some unnamable force, Vash and Wolfwood were cuddled up close together, each mistaking the other for their girlfriends.

"Mmmm….I love you," murmured Vash. He slowly stroked Wolfwood's waist.

"And I love you too." Wolfwood rolled on top of Vash. Milly and Meryl let out soft snorts of laughter.

"Too bad we don't have a video camera or something," said Meryl. This was totally priceless.

"Why do you smell like cigarettes?" muttered Vash. By now, both boys were half awake. A second later, Vash and Wolfwood's eyes snapped opened.

"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!" screamed both Vash and Wolfwood. They scrambled to each side of the bed and fell off.

"I…know…you're perverted…and all…but that," Wolfwood had to gasp for breath, "was…going…too far."

"I wasn't being perverted! I thought you were Meryl!" said Vash, trying to defend himself. Meryl decided to play along.

"I see how it is Vash," said Meryl and Milly followed her out the door. Vash looked like he wanted to cry.

"Meryl!" Vash whined.

"Suck it up perv. She was just playing," growled Wolfwood.

This has got to be my shortest chapter ever. I'm terribly sorry for the long wait. My homework load is humongous. I haven't had time to write anything and I feel horrible for keeping you guys waiting. I know this chapter has got to be one of the crappiest ever (due to a slight case of writer's block). Hopefully I can make it up in the next chapter. Thanks for being very patient!