Jackie: 'gently caresses a sword from her collection of exotic weapons and smiles at hope' Hmmmm, flat tire huh? Writer's block? Maybe I can inspire you? 'splits a hair on the razor sharp blade' hehehehe, just kiddin, hurry up would ya?

Okay, so I got three votes for plot twist, one non-vote, and no votes against. At least, that was the tally when last I looked, so plot twist it is!... After the wedding. For now, a dose of mild fluff.

A big hello to my new reviewer, Robert!

Chapter 24;

Meryl and Millie sat beside each other in front of a large mirror as a team of cosmetologists worked on their hair, nails, and makeup. Millie was picking at her dress nervously. It was the first time Meryl had seen Millie look nervous.

"Something wrong?" Meryl asked.

"No," Millie answered simply, "Everything is perfect. I'm just getting a little impatient."

Meryl chuckled. That made more sense. Millie was impatient, not nervous. As for Meryl, she couldn't wait. This was it. He can't leave me behind any more…

Mira had long since been ready. She was the matron of honor for both weddings, and Vash and Wolfwood would stand as each other's best man since Knives had refused the duty. They understood why. He wanted to be free to care for his kids if need be.

Millie's gown was simple, but pretty in that 'just enough' sort of way. Nick had tried to make her buy a fancy dress but she had insisted on that one, and it suited her. Meryl's dress was a large step up. It was tight through the body, flaring at the hips, with a long train and princess sleeves. It was sprinkled with pearls and decked out with embroidery and lace.

Mira had originally wanted to dress a step plainer than both Meryl and Millie. When she saw what Millie picked she had said, "Well, I guess I'll settle for between the two dresses."

Mira hadn't wanted to distract the audience from the brides, but finding a colored dress that didn't look somewhat sharper than Millie's dress had proven too difficult. However, Mira had to admit that the dress looked a lot better on Millie than it had on the hanger. Some dresses were just that way. On the hanger 'who would wear that', and on the person 'oh…' Mira wondered what the boys were doing about now.

…………….

"Triston!" Vash called, holding the soaked infant as far away from himself as he could, "Triston, your daughter needs, uh, cleaning."

"So change her!" Knives answered, "I'm busy with Gabriel!"

"She's not my kid!" Vash whined.

"Oh give her here!" Nick said snatching the baby from Vash, "Geeze you're hopeless. I hope Meryl doesn't want kids."

Vash went pale. Knives finish changing Gabriel and turned to Vash. Knives smirked and bounced Gabriel lightly on his knee. He looked up at Vash and asked, "Don't tell me you haven't thought about kids? If you haven't you had better start. It has been my experience that it is VERY easy for our kind to impregnate our mates. It wouldn't surprise me if Meryl is pregnant already."

"She can't be," Vash said defensively, "We haven't… I mean… You know."

"You mean you haven't?" Nick started.

"Not even once?" Knives asked just as breathlessly.

"I wouldn't before I married her," Vash said, "It's not right."

"Well, aren't you mister honorable," Nick laughed and finished changing Angela.

"How did you do it?" Knives asked, still sounding quite astonished, "I couldn't have possibly kept my hands off Mira that long."

Wolfwood laughed and said, "I think the better question is how you kept Meryl off of you that long."

Knives and Nick both laughed, which got both babies laughing as well. Vash blushed wildly and then snapped, "Hey, at least I have some morals!"

"Yes, yes, very noble of you," Knives said trying to keep from laughing more.

"It is quite the feet of moral stamina, I'll give you that," Nick added.

"It's about that time," Vash said, "Isn't it?"

"It is," Nick said, handing Angela to Knives, "Let's go get our insurance girls."

…………………………..

Vash had wanted Nick to be the priest that married him to Meryl, but having him as best man was good enough. They stood at the head of the isle, looking over the enormous crowd. Most of the town and most of the out of town construction crew had come to the wedding. Vash wondered if they had contracted enough meals for the reception. Vash's ponderings were halted as the bridal procession song started.

It wasn't going to be much, just Mira followed by the girls walking each other down the isle. Millie's entire family had arrived two days ago, but Meryl's father had refused to come. It had sent Meryl into tears, and Millie, dear Millie, asked her father if it would be okay for her to walk with Meryl down the isle and have him stand to give them both away. He was delighted by the idea and Millie's sweet gesture. Her father stood to the right of the makeshift stage Vash and Nick stood upon, awaiting his line.

Mira was gorgeous as usual, in a deep green satin dress that was tight through the chest and flared down in two layers to her ankles. The sleeves were short and ruffled, and she was wearing her hair over one shoulder with little white flowers in her hair.

'Damn…' Knives said across the link

'Hey, I don't need to hear that right now, and I REALLY didn't need the visual you gave me either'

'OH! Oops, sorry. I'll try to control myself'

A few seconds later…

'Damn, damn, DAMN, we are so leaving the reception early' Knives said with another attached visual

'Enough visuals Knives! She's my SISTER-in-law. I am not supposed to see her that way.'

'Oops… Sorry again.'

Vash would have given him a quick lecture but his train of thought derailed at the sight that walked down the isle. Meryl was stunning in her beautiful dress and silky white vale. Like a goddess, descendant from heaven, she radiated an unearthly glow as she flowed down the isle. She was so beautiful, so perfect, so… so… Vash began to cry a little, and Nick quickly jabbed him in the ribs.

"Keep it together, needle-noggin," Nick whispered, "The girls are supposed to be the ones who cry at these things."

"I can't help it," Vash sniffled, "I mean… LOOK at her…"

Nick smiled as girls finally reached them. The priest behind them began his sermon.

"Who gives these women away?" The priest asked.

"My wife and I do," Millie's father said and then took his place in the crowd.

Vash found it hard to think as the priest went through the vows. He was thankful the vows were broken into small one-line repeaters. He was not in a mental state to repeat anymore than one line at a time. Meryl couldn't help smiling up at her teary-eyed typhoon. He really was hopeless.

Millie was sobbing almost uncontrollably as she and Nick went through the vows. Nick kept patting her hands lightly, trying to calm her down. Well, at least enough that her vows could be understood between sobs.

Then the moment they were waiting for.

"You may now kiss your brides…"

'Damn'

'Enough with the visuals, Vash!'

…………………..

Jackie: Plot twist coming in the next chapter. Are you ready for it??? ;)