Jackie: And now the Vash x Meryl fluff you've all been waiting for! FLUFF WARNING! FLUFF WARNING.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Trigun.
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Meryl watched Vash talk with Knives and the construction manager. To start a new life, both Vash and Knives had dyed their hair brown and grown it out. They both sported beards and mustaches as well, which were a real pain to dye she'd heard. She liked the new look, and she would have told Vash so if he would talk to her.
It had been five months. The plant was under construction, and Vash had moved in with Knives and Mira. He said he had 'special' work to do, and that he would move back in with her when he was finished, but she was beginning to doubt that. Meryl growled as she watched a pretty young saloon girl park her car and walk up to the group of men. She had visited the first time saying that she could hear the noise for the construction all the way in town, ten iles away. Since then she came almost every day to talk to Vash and Knives.
Meryl ground her teeth, turned and ripped open her lunch box, mercilessly tearing into the food. She knew what was happening behind her anyway. The girl was flirting with both men rather shamelessly. Meryl had no doubt that Knives was sickened by her, but Vash seemed to absolutely love the attention.
"Damn that man!" Meryl growled.
"He only has eyes for you," Mira said across from her, "Don't be so hard on him."
"Yeah?" Meryl snapped, "Then why has he been avoiding me for the past FIVE MONTHS?!"
"Oh, sempai," Millie chirped, "Don't worry, Mira told me all about it! Vash is--"
Mira clamped a hand over Millie's mouth and shushed her.
"Don't tell her!" Mira growled.
"Tell me what?" Meryl asked.
"Look it's supposed to be a surprise," Mira answered, "So just have a little faith okay?"
"I," Meryl started, "I supposed, but just how long am I going to have to wait? All I get told all the time is, wait for him, follow him, wait for him."
"It will pay off soon," Mira said and leaned back in her special chair.
Knives had bought the chair for her a month ago when her legs started to swell. In normal pregnancies it was a bad sign, but Knives said it was normal. He bought her a big comfy chair and insisted on her sitting in it most of the day with her feet up. He had also had a refrigerator truck paid for to carry a stock of Mira's favorite frozen treats to snack on it all day, and if she wanted anything that they didn't have on hand… The whole project stopped so that Knives himself could fetch it for her. Knives was devoted to her. It made Meryl insanely jealous. Why couldn't Vash dote like that?
The baby was due any day. They had made up a story about Mira not being one of those people who show early to account for the lost four months of gestation. Everyone thought her large swollen belly was perfectly normal. Mira put her plate of food on the top of her belly like it was a table and said, "I mean it, Meryl, it will pay off soon, so please go easy on him. He is working very hard for you."
Meryl nodded numbly and went back to eating her lunch.
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Later that day….
Meryl, Millie, and Wolfwood were getting out of the car by their house when Vash, Knives, and Mira pulled up. Vash tossed Meryl a large heavy garment bag and said, "I'll be back in two hours. Get ready for me, short girl."
To further his point he slid his new sunglasses down to the point of his nose and gave her a look that made her knees feel weak. He waved as they sped of and yelled, "Two hours! Don't disappoint me!"
Meryl growled, "Who does he think he IS! Five months without a word, and now I need to be ready for HIM in two hours!"
Meryl growled and muttered all the way up to the shower. Millie wiped her brow and said, "Whew! For a minute there I thought she wasn't going to do it!"
"As mad as she seems I'll bet she is quite relieved to be going out with Vash tonight," Wolfwood said and turned to Millie with a cattish smile, "'Course you know this means we will have the house all to ourselves."
Millie blushed and played coy, "Why, Mr. Priest! Whatever do you mean?"
"Come here and I'll show ya!" Wolfwood said and snatched the big girl into his arms…
………….
Meryl gave herself one last approving glance. The shimmering lavender satin worked well with the color of her eyes. The dress was short, barely covering the top of her best pair of silk thigh-highs and the garters that held them up. Meryl found herself tugging at the hem to make sure she was properly covered. Spaghetti straps held the dress up, which was good because an inch lower and… Well, it fit well, besides the fact that it looked more like a 'little silk nightie' than a dress.
Meryl wrapped herself in the large satin and silk shawl that came with it. That seemed to cover everything. It looked like she was trying to cover up with a sheet after a risqué encounter. Meryl shook her head and put on her earrings as she stepped into a pair of matching 4 inch pumps. Meryl wobbled a bit on them. She hadn't worn this kind of clothing in quite some time, and had gotten used to her comfortable boots. One final touch up to her makeup and she headed out into the hallway.
Meryl was surprised to see that Vash was already there. Millie and Wolfwood were no where in sight. Vash looked up and her and said, "w-w-w-wWOWIE!"
He nearly jumped up the entire flight of stairs, giving her that famous lecherous look with his tongue hanging out as he panted heavily. Before he could wrap his arms around her, his head met with a swift left hook. KAPOW!
"If you think it is going to be THAT easy after giving me the cold shoulder for FIVE MONTHS, you've got another thing commin', bub!" Meryl snapped as she walked past him.
For emphasis she added a sway to her hips to both tease him and tell him what SHE was going to withhold for once. Vash smirked behind her, when she cast him a glance over her shoulder, he was still at the top of the stairs. For the first time she saw something in his eyes that looked fierce and hungry. Vash looks… fierce? He looked like a starving man who was watching a fine, FINE, meal wave in front of his nose. Vash flipped back a stray lock of his growing hair and walked down the stair case, deliberately slow.
He got closer, and closer, reflexively Meryl found herself stepping back as her heart pounded in her chest. Where was all this sudden confidence coming from in her usually goofy, shy Vash? She eeped slightly as she found herself backed up against the living room wall. Vash smiled down at her, and his eyes flashed like a thunderstorm. In contrast to his eyes he gently took her hand in his, placing a kiss on her knuckles.
"As you wish," He said in a rich silky voice that made her shiver.
He released her and walked to the door. Instantly, his goofy smirk returned as he said, "Your carriage awaits!"
He opened the door for her and she walked over to it. She looked out the door and gaped. A fancy, velvet seated carriage for two was sitting there. The driver smiled and waved to them just as the sky thundered. Rain was not common on this planet, but when it rained… IT POURED.
Vash shook his fist at the sky and yelled, "OH MAN! WHY CAN'T ANYTHING GO MY WAY?"
"It's okay Mr. Saverem," The driver said pulling a poncho out from under his seat.
He threw it on and started unlatching a black, u-shaped box attached to the back of the carriage. He unfolded a large canvass top supported by three bars which flipped up from the side of the seats. He finished just in time for the downpour to start.
"There!" He said, "The satellite called for rain so I came prepared!"
Vash and Meryl dove in, and Vash handed the driver a large lump of money. Vash smiled and said, "For being so well prepared! You really saved my bacon. I'm going to recommend you to everyone!"
"Thanks, Mr. Saverem!" The driver said as he stuffed the wad of money beneath his poncho and into his pocket, "You call me for a ride anytime, sir!"
"I will," Vash said, "You got the map I dropped off at your office, right?"
"It's all right here!" The man said and tapped his head.
With that they were off. It wasn't going to be the scenic ride Vash had hoped for, but this would do. Besides, he was not about to try to get Meryl to wait until tomorrow. He rubbed his head. I don't think I could take another left hook!
Meryl looked at Vash. He was simply stunning tonight in his jet black tux. It laid open, showing off an aqua vest and bowtie. Gold buttons shimmered with the flash of lightening up the front of his vest, and he had on a matching pair of gold cufflinks. Richard Saverem…
Both Knives and Vash had taken Saverem as a last name. Knives Millions was now Tristan Saverem, and Vash the Stampede was now Richard Saverem. It had taken her a while to get used to calling them that when she was talking with the construction workers. Luckily, in the process, she hadn't let it slip who they really were. Something flashed outside that caught her attention. Was that a tree?
The lightening flashed again and she gasped. They were surrounded by trees! Vash smiled and said, "I've been working with Knives. The first tree was, um, unsuccessful, but, as you can see, I got it eventually."
"THIS, is what you've been doing for the past five months?" Meryl asked breathlessly.
"Yeah," Vash said, grateful to the darkness for hiding his blush, "And there is more."
"M-more?" Meryl stuttered.
The driver came to a halt under a large tree and said, "We're here, you sure you want out here in the rain?"
"Yes, I'm sure," Vash said with a smile as he got out.
"But, Vash," Meryl said, "There is nothing here."
"Looks can be deceiving," Vash said with a smirk, "Come on."
Meryl got out and smiled weakly at the driver. The driver shrugged and said, "You know, I had no idea this forest was out here, and you two own it?"
"Yep, sure do!" Vash chimed.
"Lucky dogs," The man whistled and snapped the reigns. When the carriage disappeared into the night Vash turned on his heal and motioned for Meryl to follow.
"The tree coverage should keep us mostly dry while we walk," Vash said, "It's not far."
"You want me to go walking through the underbrush in spiked heals and silk stockings???" Meryl asked.
Vash looked her up and down. He smiled and said, "SILK stockings, eh? You are absolutely right."
Without another word he scooped her up into his arms and walked into the forest. Meryl was too stunned to say anything. Vash set her down at the side of a cliff at the entrance to a cave. Vash smirked and said, "It's a good thing and carved this under an overhang or it would be flooded by now."
"So now you expect me to go spelunking in heals?" Meryl asked arching a brow.
"I formed it, remember?" Vash asked, "It has a nice even walking path."
Meryl walked in and said, "Well, you should have added lights, I can't see a--"
Meryl heard a click and a flashlight light turned on behind her. Vash smirked and said, "Some lost technology I keep around. I'm Vash the Stampede after all, I think of EVERYTHING!"
Vash started laughing triumphantly… KAPOW.
"OOOooowwwieee," Vash whined.
Her right hook was harder than her left…
Meryl laughed lightly and hooked Vash's free arm. He led her into the cave. They traveled along the path, which leaned slightly upward. The sound of rain faded behind them as the came to a left turn. Before turning it Vash smiled and said, "Close your eyes."
"What?" Meryl asked.
"Just do it," Vash sighed.
Meryl closed her eyes and she heard the flashlight click off. Vash lead her around the corner. Positioned her and said, "Now open them."
Meryl opened her eyes a gasped. As best she could describe it, it was the inside a giant geode. Billions of purple amethyst crystals lined the walls, twinkling in the soft candle light. A table for two sat in the middle of the room and a second path could be seen on the other end of the room. Vash bowed lightly and asked, "Milady, may I get your chair for you?"
"S-sure," Meryl stuttered.
Vash slid the chair out for her and slid it under her as she sat. He sat down across from her and suddenly looked nervous. She heard a drawer slide out and he glanced down, franticly reading something. He put on his lusty look from before as he started to say, "Meryl, you look--"
"What did you just read?" Meryl asked with a smile, trying to hide her amusement.
"What?" Vash asked nervously, "N-nothing, I--"
"Bull," She said.
She got up and ran around the table pulling on the drawer. He clamped his fingers over hers, trying to fend her off.
"AH!" Vash eeped, "No, no, REALLY, it's nothing."
"Did you take notes or something?" Meryl laughed, "Let me see!"
Vash sighed and whined, "Okay, but don't laugh."
Meryl slid open the drawer which was filled with dime novels. On top of them was a list. Meryl skipped the list and picked up one of the novels waving it in front of him. She snickered as she asked, "You read ROMANCE NOVELS???"
"It was Mira's idea!" Vash whined, "She said the best way to know what a woman wants is to read those things."
Meryl flipped open a page and started reading, "He crushed his lips against hers, robbing her of breath. Her heart pounded between her ample…"
Meryl started laughing again, and Vash tried to grab the list and hide it. For once, Meryl was quicker than the Humanoid Typhoon. She snatched it up and started reading, " 1) drop off the dress, 2) pick up tux and get ready, 3) go to carriage rental and ride to her house to pick her up…"
The list drug on, "15) ask her to close her eyes so you can surprise her, 16) get chair for her and say something charming, 17) tell her how beautiful she is, 18) make small talk periodically telling her all of the many ways she is special, 19) when dinner is done ask her to…"
Meryl stopped. Her jaw dropped and her eyes went wide. She stuttered, "Ask her t-to…"
"Marry me," Vash finished, and pulled out a little black box from his jacket, "I guess it was kinda stupid to write a list… I just wanted…"
"You wanted it to be special…" Meryl breathed, "Oh, Vash… You did all this, uh, 'research', for me, and planned this whole evening for months."
"Yeah," Vash said, still thumbing the little black box.
Meryl dropped the list and threw herself into his lap. She planted a bone melting kiss on him as she started to cry. He broke the kiss and looked at her questioningly. He opened the box and asked, "Is that a yes?"
"Yes," Meryl breathed and held her hand out where he could slip the ring on her finger.
Now Vash was starting to cry. He was shaking so badly Meryl practically had to put the ring on herself.
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Jackie: TA-DA, longest chapter yet, I think. Hope you enjoyed! 'gets back to her chickens'