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NovaChapter 35: Six Months Later.
-Meryl-
It was six months later, and we were almost done with the ship.
I looked up from the plating I was fastening onto the belly of the hull, and wiped the sweat from my forehead.
A lot had happened in the past six months. Milly's stomach had gradually grown bigger, and not long after we had begun work on the ship did she have to give up working and just sit back and watch the progress.
She and Nicholas had also tied the knot. They had their wedding right next to Zeus Lake in the center of the valley.
She had worn a simple teal-green dress that, even with the bulge of her stomach, made her look absolutely beautiful. Her hair had been tied back in a loose braid with little white flowers braided into it. Nicholas had been so speechless that Vash, his best man, had to poke him in the back to get him to say his vows.
I had been the one to catch the bouquet when Milly threw it, and when Vash and I had made eye contact we both had blushed. I smiled at the memory.
While at the Bluesummers place, where we all had taken residence, Milly did few things with all the time she had on her hands, she slept, ate, read, and poor Nicholas suffered through her mood swings, which were an incredible sight to behold.
She also played chess... with Knives. Apparently one day he was bored and challenged her to a game. The first time he played her, he lost. The look on his face when Milly said, "checkmate" was priceless. I wish I'd had a camera.
After that they played every other day. Knives always lost of course, he seemed to be more and more perturbed with every loss. Also with these game either Nicholas or I would sit in with Milly. Neither of us trusted him.
Surprisingly enough he was a perfect gentleman, even after each loss. This worried me even more than if he had gotten irate.
Another thing I noticed was that Knives and Kestrel had been keeping their distance from each other. What little contact they'd had with each other had completely diminished.
Aria had mentioned something about a fight but I didn't get the specifics of it. That obviously didn't stop them from looking at each other.
It wasn't long after we had begun work on the ship, that I noticed the glances. The three of us were outside the ship tearing out part of the hull. She was on one side and he on the other, I was in the middle. I never saw them make eye contact, but the amount of looking that they did made up for it.
Kestrels glances were, well... glances, lasting only a couple seconds or so, Knives' glances were longer; the look in his eye was one of intense study... and planning.
I tried to speak to Vash about it, but he was so overjoyed that his brother was interacting with Milly, and seemed to be getting "better" as he said, that he didn't listen to my words.
I sighed, and shook my head. Whatever it was that was going on in that psychotic head of his I knew it was going to cause trouble. I just knew it.
And poor Kestrel, she looked like a lost soul, and seemed to be searching for an answer in Knives.
Standing, I stretched then ducked under the raised hull of the ship to get to the other side. Milly, the only other person outside the ships, was sitting in a chair reading a book not far away.
"I can't believe we're almost done." I said to her, "It seems like no time at all has passed."
"I know. And when it is done…" Milly let the thought go unfinished.
"Our boys will be getting back into trouble." I said, quietly.
"Oh Meryl." Milly looked down at her belly and put her hand on it, "What if something happens to them up there? What if… what if I lose Nicholas again?"
"Don't worry Milly. They're a resilient bunch. And I don't think that thing up on the Fifth Moon is going to be prepared for them."
She giggled, "You're right."
"What I can't believe is that Vash isn't going to let me come along." I growled. After an argument over it I had finally conceded to staying here. Vash absolutely refused to allow me to go along.
"Oh, he's just concerned for your safety." Milly smiled.
I sat down in the chair next to her and went limp, "I know."
The door that led to the rest of the building opened, and Shane stepped in. He waved, and walked towards us.
"Hello, Shane." I said.
"Hi, I was wondering if Aria was around?"
"Uh, I'm not sure. Last I saw her she was in the cockpit of the ship, " I jerked my thumb in the direction of the nearly completed ship.
"Ah, thanks. I just wanted to let you all know that I'm heading back home with Dr. Kelis."
"Heading home?"
"Yeah. I wish I could stay and help, but Dr. Kelis need to be back home and I have my little sister to take care of."
"Oh. Well I hope we see you again."
"Me too." He smiled once more then left to find Aria.
"I wonder why he need to see Aria?" I said mostly to myself.
"Haven't you noticed, Meryl?" Asked Milly, a little surprised.
"Noticed what?"
"Aria and Shane. They're together."
I looked at her, shocked, "Really? I had no idea. Then again, you were always better at noticing the little details." I laughed.
She giggled, the stopped short and her eyes widened.
I looked at her worried, "Milly? Is something wrong?"
"Meryl! It's time!" She cried, clutching her stomach.
"What?! The babies?"
"Yes!"
"Oh god. Vash! Nicholas! Come quick!" I yelled out.
-Wolfwood-
"Well?" I demanded.
"Well what?" Vash tried to say in an innocent voice.
Vash and I were in the engine room of the ship piecing together a workable engine. I was currently interrogating Vash about his relationship with Meryl.
"Well are you going to asker her or not?!" I cried, "Jeez, how dense can you be?"
"I am not dense." Vash said defensively.
"Don't change the subject. Are you or are you not going to ask Meryl to marry you?"
"I don't know. I got the ring… but I just keep--"
"Hesitating." I supplied.
"Well… yeah."
"The more you hesitate the more time you lose in looking for a tuxedo." I said pertly.
"Ha. Ha. Very funny."
"Now you're just being--" I started when suddenly I heard Meryl yelling for us.
We gave each other a split second glance before shooting out of there faster than Vash's bullets.
We got to where Meryl was and saw her supporting Milly who had a pained look on her face and was holding onto her belly.
"The babies!" I cried.
"Well don't just stand there, idiot!" Meryl yelled, "Help me get her to a Healer!"
"Right!" I got on the other side of Milly and swept her right up into my arms, "It's alright, Big Girl. I got you now."
Vash came along with me opening the doors as we went, Meryl had to stop and explain to the others, who had been attracted by the commotion, what was going on.
I kissed Milly's forehead, and smiled, as she began her breathing exercises.
-End chapter- (Stupid FFN. Keeps taking away my seperators)
Sorry… no Reviewer Responses today.
I'm not feeling very well…