Disclaimer- I don't own Trigun.
WAAAAAAAHHH!!! I'm so upset. Sephiroth1Ripley8 didn't review. But when this person does, I will answer. Thank you so much to all other reviewers! I love you all! And I apologize to those who do not celebrate Christmas. I do not know the traditions and ways of the other holidays you have, for I don't celebrate them. Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukah! Happy Kwanzaa! Happy Holidays, everybody!
Chapter 4 Christmas
Vash, Wolfwood, Meryl, and Millie slowly trudged across the scorching desert, dragging their feet in the yellow sand.
"Gah! Insurance Girl! It's so hot!" Vash exclaimed, pulling at the collar of his neck trying to let in some cool air, but to no avail.
"Yes, Meryl!" Millie agreed. "It's really, really hot out here."
"How can you stand this heat, shortie?" the black clad priest asked, while dumping already warm water on his head.
Meryl sharply turned around. "You!" she pointed at Vash. "You are hot because you have a skin tight, black, desert suit on along with a cotton coat on. And you, Millie. You have on long pants, a long sleeved shirt, and a coat to top it all off. Mr. Wolfwood? You should have thought about the heat when you put on a black suit! You three should be ashamed of complaining to me when in actuality, it's your fault you're burning up." Meryl ended her tirade with a huff. Her traveling companions all hung their heads in shame. Meryl realized how lucky she was to be wearing white.
They had walked 50 isles to get to the city of December. The quartet stopped at the city's gate. At their arrival, the gates opened and a huge gust of cold wind and snow blew out.
Vash blinked. "I just felt a cool wind." He clapped his hands together and exclaimed, "IT MUST HAVE BEEN GOD! IT'S THE ONLY EXPLANATION!"
"Now where have I heard that before?" Wolfwood laughed.
Meryl stood stiffly and began to shiver. She pulled her white cloak tight around her and rubbed her arms trying desperately to get warm. "I-I sh-should h-h-have kn-known," she muttered. Meryl turned to face Vash who was standing right behind her. "Well! I hope you're happy!"
Before she had time to react, Vash had taken his coat off and slipped it over her head. "I don't want you to catch a cold." Meryl opened her mouth to protest. "It's way to cold in this city. I insist."
Meryl sighed in resignation. "Thanks," she said. Vash just smiled.
"Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!" a jolly voice greeted them from inside the city. A large figure stepped out. "I am the mayor of this city! My name is Santa Claus! But you can call me Santa. Come in! Come in! Welcome to this fine city!"
The travelers followed a man in a white beard who was clad in a red coat and hat. The gate closed behind them. "Welcome to December! If you need anything ask me! Have a very Merry Christmas!" The mayor then proceeded in leaving them.
After a moment of silence, Meryl spoke up. "I already rented out a bar for our party. I have to go over and finalize the deal."
"How much did it cost?" Vash asked suspiciously, knowing it was expensive. Wolfwood and Millie looked and Meryl.
Meryl blushed. "Around $$700," she replied. Wolfwood and Millie looked at Vash.
"Who is paying for it?" he asked. They looked at Meryl
"I am," she answered. Wolfwood and Millie backed off, leaving the couple alone. Obviously, they sensed a bicker coming on.
Vash and Meryl didn't notice their companions take leave. "I'll pay for it," said Vash.
"No, Mr. Vash. I've got it covered."
"I'm serious. You've already spent too much."
"That's ok. It's for Christmas."
"Why do you have to be so stubborn?!"
"And why do you have to be so… so… annoyingly and… persistently… good?!" Meryl sighed. "If you aren't going to shut up, I guess we'll split it. I'll pay $$350 and you pay $$350. Deal?"
Vash grinned. "Deal." They shook hands.
Together they walked to the bar Meryl mentioned using the directions she had written on paper. They opened the double doors and walked to the counter. Both male and female patrons turned to look at the two oncoming beauties.
"What can I get you, sir and ma'am?" the bartender asked.
"Hello, my name is Meryl Stryfe. I'm here to pay for renting this place for a party tonight. I've already called to set the date."
"You can go give the money to the manager over in that room right here." The man pointed to the door behind him.
"Thank you, sir," said Meryl and she, followed by Vash, walked behind the counter and stepped into the room. Meryl and Vash each paid their share of the rent and quickly left. Once they got back into the bar room, Vash stopped and looked at Meryl with puppy eyes.
"Insurance Girl?" he smiled sweetly.
She knew what he was thinking. "No, Mr. Vash. I will not allow you to get drunk before the party starts. Ok? Maybe during, but not now." She pushed him out the building. Before she could step out, too…
"How 'bout me buying you a drink, miss?" a voice asked from behind.
Meryl turned around to see a big, burly man with a long, dirty, scraggly beard and stained clothes. His eyes were drooping and he slurred when he spoke. "No, thank you, sir."
"Come on… please?" He stepped closer to her, put his hands on her hips, and pulled her closer. The man leaned down and his sickly, hot breath made Meryl gag.
"Stop it, you pig," Meryl demanded.
"What if I don't wanna?"
"I think she told you to stop." Vash was back inside. He grabbed Meryl's hand and started to pull her out. But the man had already taken her other hand and was keeping her in. It was like tug of war and Meryl was the rope.
She tensed. Vash felt an explosion. "Let go of me!" she ordered. She turned to the drunken man. "I believe I told you no! What part of NO don't you understand?! Leave. Me. Alone." She huffed and walked outside.
Vash followed her. "That went well."
"Shut up, Mr. Vash."
They met up with Millie and Wolfwood at around 6:00 in the evening. Meryl and Vash had bought decorations for the bar and they had bought a gift for everyone that was coming.
Vash changed back into his coat, but he added a Santa hat to the ensemble. Meryl was dressed in a red, strapless, mini dress with white fluff at the hem and the neckline. She wore knee high, black boots. Millie wore the same except her mini dress was green instead of red. Wolfwood topped his usual clothes off with a Santa hat identical to Vash's.
They walked to the now empty bar and decorated the place. The group had strung lights up, scattered tinsel and holly, and threw fake snow everywhere. They put red tablecloths on the tables, lit candles, and turned on holiday music. Vash put up the Christmas tree and placed the angel on top. Wolfwood put the gifts under it. Millie slyly hung mistletoe in random places on the ceiling. She and Wolfwood had a plan. At about 9:00pm, Meryl began cooking food and the guests started arriving.
There was a knock on the door. Wolfwood opened it to greet 15 people standing outside. They filed inside.
Vash spotted a happier looking Lina. He pulled her into a corner. "You said that you needed to tell me something."
"Oh yeah. I just wanted to tell you that grandma passed away about a week before Thanksgiving."
"I'm so sorry, Lina. That must've been rough." Vash hugged her tightly.
"It was but I'm ok now. I'm staying with a friend so I'm fine."
"Well! I'm here to cheer you up!" He put on a fake beard. "Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas!" Lina laughed at sat down at a nearby table. Vash took off the beard and walked over to where Meryl was cooking.
Before he could ask, she said, "It'll be done in about 30 minutes, Mr. Vash."
'How does she do that?!' The outlaw picked up a microphone and began to talk. "I'm glad you all could make it!"
Everyone laughed. "Mr. Vash?" Millie took the microphone from his hand. "You're holding it backwards."
He blushed. "Oh yeah! I knew that." He held it the right way. "Welcome to our annual Christmas party!"
"Mr. Vash. It isn't annual," Meryl informed.
"Gah! I can't do anything right. Here, Insurance Girl." He handed the microphone to Meryl. "You do it."
"Welcome, everybody. I'm glad you could come. I hope you have a great time, here. We're going to have so much fun! There's going to be dancing, karaoke, and for those whose life's blood is alcohol," she looked at Vash. "We have that, too. Have fun! And dinner will be ready in half an hour. Enjoy!" She went back to her cooking.
Soon, the food was done and it was served. Before beginning the meal, Meryl led them all in a prayer. "Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen."
Then they began to eat. Everyone complimented Meryl on the fine meal. When they were done, Wolfwood took away the plates and put them in the sink.
Vash put on his fake beard and sat down in an armchair next to the Christmas tree. "We have presents for all of you! Merry Christmas!" He began calling names and giving each guest a gift. "Lina!" Lina came up and was given a box wrapped with Santa Claus wrapping paper.
She opened it. "The new Josh Murray CD! Gosh, he is so hot! Thank you!"
"Karen!" Karen walked up and was given two gifts. One was addressed to Heather. She shook Heather's and heard clinking and jingling.
"It's probably more earrings to add to her collection." She opened her own gift and squealed. "It's the dress that I've always wanted! Thanks!"
Vash then proceeded in giving out the rest of the gifts. Frank, Max, Doc, Stephanie, Maryanne, Moore, Julius, Neil, Sarah, Kaite, Aaron, Jessica, and Knives. When they finished opening their presents, Wolfwood opened his. It was a life's supply of cigarettes. He jumped for joy. Millie's was a life's supply of pudding. Vash's was a life's supply of doughnuts.
Last but not least, was Meryl. Millie, Wolfwood, and Vash had put their money together to pay for this gift. She slowly opened it. There were two small velvet boxes. The first one contained a bracelet studded with rubies and emeralds, which was from Millie and Wolfwood. The second box contained the gift from Vash. The box held a beautiful, silver chain with red flower charms on it. The petals were actually small rubies. The flowers looked suspiciously like geraniums.
Meryl smiled at her friends and gave them all a hug. Wolfwood was kind of startled but returned the hug. Millie returned the hug with enthusiasm. Vash rested his head on hers while stroking her back. To give you a mental picture, Meryl was in the middle while her three friends grouped around her and hugged her. So it was a group hug. The guests awed.
"KARAOKE TIME!!!" Millie exclaimed happily. "We have something to show you all first and then you people can sing whenever and whatever Christmas carol you want." She started playing the piano. Wolfwood picked up his guitar thinking, 'Where is Midvalley when you need him?'
Meryl looked at Vash. "What are they planning?" she asked him quietly.
"I don't know," he replied as he took of the ridiculous beard.
"Mr. Vash and Meryl are going to sing This Christmas for you. Enjoy!"
"Here we go," Meryl mumbled.
"Hang all the mistletoe
I'm gonna get to know you better, yeah
This Christmas
And as we trim the tree
How much fun it's gonna be together, yeah ha
This Christmas"
Vash began singing.
"Fireside is blazing bright
We're caroling through the night
And this Christmas, will be yeah
A very special Christmas, for me yeah"
Meryl took her turn.
"Presents and cards are here
My world is filled with cheer and you, ohh yeah
This Christmas
And as I look around
Your eyes outshine the town, they do
This Christmas
Fireside is blazing bright
We're caroling through the night"
They sung together.
"And this Christmas, will be
A very special Christmas, for me yeah"
"Alright, break it down, ha ha ha," Meryl laughed. Then they started singing together again.
"Ooh yeah, yeah yeah, alright
Yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah
Alright now, right now, now
Fireside, oh, is blazing bright
We're caroling through the night, yeah
And this Christmas, will be, oh
A very special Christmas, for me yeah
And this Christmas, will be
A very special Christmas, for me oh oh"
They started dancing. Vash spun her around. Millie smiled at Wolfwood. They winked.
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Merry Christmas, ooh yeah
Gonna have a merry Christmas, ohh yeah, oh oh
Merry Christmas, oh it will be
Oh, a very very very special Christmas
A very special Christmas (this Christmas)
Alright now, right now, yeah oh
It will be now, oh (this Christmas)
Oh, this will be, this will be, baby
A very special
Have a merry merry Christmas (hey yeah)
And a happy New Year
Oh hey, alright, yeah yeah yeah
Merry Christmas
This Christmas
Oh this will be, this will be, baby."
And they ended the song together. Everyone applauded. Meryl and Vash bowed. "Thank you! Thank you!" they said and high fived each other. Then they sat down to catch a breath.
"Wow! That was fantastic!" Millie cheered. "So! Who wants to go next?" Maryanne and Stephanie both raised their hands. The got up and started singing a duet to Millie's piano playing.
"Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
From now on your troubles will be out of sight, yeah
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the Yuletide gay
From now on your troubles will be miles away, oh ooh
Here we are as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore, ah
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us, once more, ooh
Through the years we all will be together
If the fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bow, ohh
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now
Oooh...
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us, once more, ohh."
Applause came again. Millie asked if anyone else wanted to sing. Frank and Meryl volunteered to do a duet. Frank sat at the piano and began to play while Meryl stood next to him. She started to sing.
"Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
In days of auld lang syne
Oh ooh
Merry Christmas baby
You sure did treat me nice, oh ooh yeah yeah
Said uh, merry Christmas baby
You sure did treat me nice, oh ooh
You gave me a diamond ring for Christmas
Now I'm living in paradise, oh oh
I'm, I'm feeling mighty fine
Got good music on my radio"
"Yes you do child," said Frank.
"Well I'm feeling mighty fine
Got good music, music on my radio, oh
Well I, I wanna kiss you baby
While we're standing underneath the mistletoe
Santa came down the chimney
About a half past three
Left all these pretty presents
That you, that you see before me, ohh"
Frank began to sing after a huge piano solo.
"St. Nick came down the chimney
About a half past three
He left all these pretty presents
That you see before me
Merry Christmas baby
You sure been good to me
Haven't had a taste this morning
But I'm all lit up like a Christmas tree"'
Meryl finished up the song.
"Sure been good, to, to, to...me
Hey...ooh oh hey"
The singers were welcomed with more applause. "We only have time for one more song and then…" Millie started to laugh. "Santa will ask you all what you want for Christmas. So… Who wants to finish this up?" No one volunteered, but they started chanting.
"Meryl! Meryl! Meryl!" The small woman blushed.
"Ok! Ok!" Meryl plunged into her last song.
"Do you remember me?
I sat upon your knee
I wrote to you with childhood fantasies
Well I'm all grown up now
Can you still help somehow?
I'm not a child but my heart still can dream."
Vash smiled. He imagined a mini Meryl sitting in some fat guy's lap and asking for a pretty, pink pony.
"So here's my life long wish
My grown up Christmas List
Not for myself
But for a world in need
No more lives torn apart
That wars will never start
And time will heal our hearts
Every man will have a friend
That right will always win
And love will never end
This is my grown up Christmas List"
'Wow… that's deep,' Vash thought to himself. 'I want a friend!'
"May kindness rules our lives
Not just the strong survive
Sweet tears for all the thousand years on mind
This is the world I pray
We will all share some way
Help me begin by reaching out my hand
Why does this illusion call the innocence of you?
Maybe when the time believe we can find the truth
No...
This is the prayer that I will keep
This is my grown up Christmas list
Christmas list"
And she closed the last song. "That concludes the karaoke part of our party! Who wants to tell Santa what they want for Christmas? Even grown ups can have a Christmas list." Millie smiled at Meryl.
The guests lined up in front of the armchair that Vash was sitting at before got up to sing. He advanced to the chair while Meryl walked away from it. They stopped in front of each other.
"That was great, Meryl," Vash praised.
"Than- Wait… You just said my name," Meryl pointed out.
"I did?" Vash questioned. Meryl nodded. "What do you know…?"
Millie and Wolfwood came up to them. "Would you look at that?" Wolfwood pointed at the ceiling above them. Mistletoe was hanging there. Vash and Meryl simultaneously stepped back away from the demon plant. Wolfwood and Millie pushed them back together again. Meryl quickly switched spots with Wolfwood, who was standing behind her, and Vash switched with Millie who was standing behind him. The new couple under the plant of love paused for a second. After a moment, they leaned towards each other and kissed. The guests cheered.
"It's your turn, love birds," said Wolfwood smoothly. He pushed Vash and Meryl back together.
Meryl bit her lip. She looked at Vash. He was redder than she was. He opened his mouth to speak. "Meryl? What would you like for Christmas?" he asked.
"I… I would like…" Vash hesitantly moved closer to her lips. Meryl continued. "I would like… to… ki-"
"Phew! Wow! I made it! It's ok, people! The party… has come to you!" Everyone turned to see a very unexpected brunette standing at the door. Heather looked at them. They stared back. "What?! What did I do?" She glanced at Vash and Meryl who were about three inches apart. Heather blinked. Then she looked about four feet above Vash's head. "Oh! Mistletoe. I should have known. That was smooth, Millie. Very smooth. Oh! Whoops! I kind of interrupted… didn't I? Sorry!" she nervously scratched the back of her head.
Karen pulled her into the crowd and shushed her.
Heather stepped away from her. "Do not tell me to shut up!" The annoying girl strutted over to where Millie and Wolfwood were standing next to Meryl and Vash. "Millie, my friend? You are going at this the wrong way. Watch and learn." She whispered something in Wolfwood's ear.
Vash shuddered because whatever Heather had said, it made Wolfwood grin very mischievously. The evil priest took his place behind Vash and Heather behind Meryl. Heather mouthed: 1, 2, and 3 and the malignant priest and clever, little sister proceeded in pushing Meryl and Vash into each other and, in doing so, making their lips connect in a surprising kiss. Heather and Wolfwood high fived.
Meryl pulled away from Vash. "I want you for Christmas, Vash. I… I love you," the woman admitted.
Vash let out a relieved sigh. "Really? That's great because I love you, too!" Cheers and applause followed the declarations.
"Score! One for me!" Heather did a little ho down.
"Finally!" Wolfwood and Millie exclaimed in exasperation and kissed in celebration.
Meryl and Vash kissed again. "Aw! That's so romantic!" Karen and Heather sighed.
"Well, this calls for a huge celebration!" Frank declared. He sat at the piano, cracked his knuckles, and began to play as Stephanie sang to his tune.
Kaite came up to Heather and asked for a dance, which she gladly accepted. Vash and Meryl danced along with Wolfwood and Millie. Max danced with Neil's mom. Jessica and Aaron danced together. Knives danced with Karen. Neil asked Lina to dance. Moore and Julius danced. Maryanne and Doc were laughing as they watched everyone try to dance in such a small area.
Of course Moore didn't know how to dance well anyway. So that was a laugh for everyone, including her. Vash tripped over his coat. Millie and Meryl were having trouble with their heels so they just kicked off their annoying shoes. That wasn't a good idea because Wolfwood and Vash kept stepping on their feet. Heather, being her klutzy and very flirty self, kept purposely falling into Kaite's arms. They were also kind of series of accidents.
The whole dance scene ended with a very painful yet hilarious chain reaction. Heather tripped into Kaite after tripping over Millie's discarded boots. Kaite caught her right before she hit the floor. The place that she was about to hit, however, was where Max was dancing with Sarah. Max accidentally stepped on Heather's hair, which caused her to scream, which made Kaite jump, which made him drop Heather, which made Max trip over her bringing down Sarah. Sarah, trying to catch herself, stepped on Millie's bare foot. Millie fell and knocked down Wolfwood, who fell and tripped Vash, who stepped on Meryl's foot.
She fell and knocked into the piano chair. Frank fell. Stephanie stopped singing and started giggling at the sight. Julius and Moore had long since been on the floor after Moore has missed a step in the dance and stumbled over her own feet. Julius tried to stop her from hitting the ground but fell himself. Knives tripped over Julius, and Karen fell with him. Neil and Lina laughed at all of them. Kaite grabbed Neil's ankle and pulled him down. Lina fell with him. Vash grinned and pulled Jessica down, who didn't want to fall alone so she grabbed Aaron's hand and brought him down with her. Stephanie fell over laughing. Doc and Maryanne were gasping for air they were laughing so hard.
Heather sat up and looked around. She bit her lip and tried to stifle a laugh. "I-I-I-I'm s-s-sorry!" She broke out in hilarious laughter. "I-I-I'm s-so s-sorry!" She collapsed on top of Kaite. This caused another chain reaction. I've heard about contagious yawns and coughs. But laughter? Soon the whole room was filled with it that couldn't be stopped. No one could hold it in. Not even Knives.
After everyone calmed down, it was about time to go. The guests grabbed their gifts, said their good byes, and walked out, giggling.
"Hee hee…" Millie laughed. "That was fun. I'm glad we did that."
"All thanks to Heather, we all got what we wanted for Christmas: a joyful night, and love," said Vash as he put an arm around Meryl's waist. They smiled at each other.
"Let's go back to the hotel," Wolfwood suggested. His companions agreed.
They arrived by their rooms and stopped. "Uh… Meryl?" Vash glanced at Meryl and gave her the eyes. The eyes she couldn't resist. He just grinned as Meryl dragged him by the collar into her room.
"Well! It's about time!" Wolfwood threw his hands up. "I didn't think they would ever do it!"
"Nick?" Millie gave him the eyes he could never say no to. He winked and took her by the hand into his room…
"You know what happens next! Ho! Ho! Ho!" A man in a red suit and hat flew in a sled pulled by reindeer above the roof of the hotel. "Those naughty, naughty children!" He shook his head sadly. "You all have very naughty minds! They're just going to sleep in the same bed! Nothing more! Ho! Ho! Ho! What did you think they were going to do? I should put you on the naughty list." The fat man waved his finger at the computer screen then put on a jolly smile. "Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!" He rode off into the horizon. But you could still see the red glow of Rudolph's nose in the night…
FINALLY! I'M DONE!!! Thank you so much for your reviews! Sorry this one took long. At least it didn't take as long as the Thanksgiving chapter. Sorry 'bout that one… I'm going to be late with the New Years chapter. I have to watch kids for $$$!!! I hope you all had great holidays. I did! Please review! And have a fantastic New Year!