Jackie: Well I have a 3 page history paper due, another 5-10 page paper due. Both of them due Thursday, and have I started them? Absolutely… NOT! I guess I was too busy writing C programs, designing two databases, raising kids, taking care of this little hobby farm I have, and… okay, okay, procrastinating by writing fanfiction. In my defense I also had a test to take and 250 pages worth of assigned reading.

I just did my taxes too; literally, I finished them about five minutes ago. Also, I cleaned most of the house… I don't think I get paid enough… Oh wait, I don't get paid at all. Man that sucks.

Hope: I am going to pester you until you UPDATE. 'Assumes a menacing posture and reminds hope of her impressive sword collection' And CHECK THIS OUT! 'Lets the audience 'oo' and 'ah' over her 38 cal lady's smith' Custom black with custom grip designed to fit my hand. I'm thinking of having it engraved, but that costs thousands of dollars… Man that sucks… But it should be pretty, since I'll probably never use it. 'Puts the trigger lock on, the safety lock on, and into the lockable gun safe it goes' Where's the ammo? 'Points to a second combination locked safe' Safety first people… Of course I've timed myself and it takes me less than a minute to get it out and loaded, HOPE. 'Menacing glare'.

Hehehe, I have to be the only pacifist that likes swords and guns.

DISCLAIMER: 'checking again' nope, still don't own it.

THIS IS YOUR WARNING! VASH X MERYL FLUFF AND LEMON TO FOLLOW! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

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Chapter 36;

Vash and Meryl drove with Millie and Wolfwood to pick up the twins. The babysitter met them at the door. She was a wrinkled old woman, with more than a slight case of lordosis (hunch back caused be degeneration, usually accompanying old age). She squinted at them and said, "Just put them t'bed. If ya want t'pick em up in the mornin' ya can. No need wakin 'em."

"Oh, that would be great!" Millie chirped, "Have they been any bother?"

"Nope," The old woman smiled, "So strange though, seems these youngins grow up faster every day. Must just be these ol'eyes."

"Yeah," Vash said nervously, "That's it."

He was not about to try to tell the old woman why they seemed to be growing so fast. The group loaded back up, Millie and Wolfwood were dropped off, and Meryl and Vash headed out of town to Mira's place.

Meryl picked at her skirt lightly. This was it. Both of them knew where they were going and what they were going to do when they got there. She was excited and uneasy at the same time. She'd waited for this for so long, she was married to him for goodness sakes, and this was her right. This was what she wanted. So why was she now so afraid?

Vash stared out into the night. Having five moons meant some light was always available at night. On this night the biggest moon, the fifth moon, was full. He could see for miles. He glanced up and the crater he was responsible for. He was 130+ years old, he had faced unspeakable horror, and unparalleled danger. Yet, he had never been more terrified. After spending 130+ years as a virgin, it was a little hard to wrap his mind around NOT being a virgin anymore.

"I'm really looking forward to a nice hot shower," Meryl said, trying to make small talk to get her mind of… other things.

"Yeah," Vash said absently.

"Something wrong?" Meryl asked, noting the far-off expression in his eyes.

"Huh?" Vash asked, "No, it's nothing. We're here."

"Well," Meryl breathed, "Let's go dow- I mean in."

"What was that?" Vash asked lifting an eyebrow.

"I said, let's go in," Meryl said defensively, "It's getting cold out here."

Meryl reached for her doorknob, but Vash was lightening quick as usual. He was already around to her door, and he opened it for her. He smiled a goofy smile and said, "After you, short girl."

THWACK!

"OWWWWW!" Vash whined, "What was that for?"

"For calling me short girl," Meryl snapped, "We're married now for goodness sakes!"

"Okay, okay, I get it," Vash whined and then added, "Meryl."

"That's better," Meryl said and stood up.

They walked inside and Vash took Meryl's cape. He was still in his wedding day tux. It was quite ruined by the ordeal but he took that jacket off gently and hung it next to Meryl's cape. Vash blushed and said, "Uh, we forgot something."

"What is that?" Meryl said, stretching slightly as she walked toward the bathroom.

"Clean clothes," Vash said, "We're not going to get cleaned up just to jump back into these dusty clothes are we?"

Meryl froze. Crap! He was right. They didn't grab any new clothes while they were at the other house. She was sure Vash could wear some of Knives' clothing, but Mira was a good deal taller than her. Still, Mira had to have SOMETHING Meryl could wear.

"Let's raid the closets," Meryl sighed, "I hope Knives and Mira won't mind."

Knives… Sharing… Sharing Knives' clothes. It would be the first time since they were very small. Vash shrugged and said, "Well, I guess we don't have much of a choice."

With that they raided the closets for clothes. Vash grabbed some of the older looking pieces of clothing. Knives couldn't be mad if Vash borrowed his oldest, rattiest items of clothing. Meryl was having considerably more troubled.

"Does she own ANYTHING that doesn't show off EVERYTHING?" Meryl barked.

Vash watched Meryl rooting through Mira's clothes and found himself imagining his short girl in some of the more tantalizing outfits. As low cut shirts, half shirts, mini skirts, and SUPER mini skirts went blowing past, his mind got progressively more dirty. A rush of heat poured into him and he blushed wildly at his sudden and intense arousal.

"I mean really," Meryl continued to complain, "How do you even wear something like THIS?"

She held up and shirt that was a collection of cloth straps and strings. If not for the hanger, he couldn't have told which side was up. She threw it back in the closet and said, "And it couldn't have possibly covered anything! Why not just walk around nude?"

"Good idea," Vash said in a low, husky voice.

Meryl looked up slightly, "Did you say something, Vash?"

"I said, um, no idea," Vash started, "No idea how you would wear something like that. Since you're still looking, I'm going to go take my shower." A COLD shower.

"Okay," Meryl grumbled, "Take your time. This will be a while."

Vash left her grumbling at the clothing and went into the main bathroom. He undressed and discarded the rest of his tux on the floor of the bathroom, placing his clean clothes in a neat, folded pile on the counter. He turned on the cold water and let it pour over him.

Meryl in revealing clothing… There was a thought. She had complained all night about the dress Mira had helped him pick out for her on the night he proposed. He chuckled as he remembered her tugging at the hem, and growling that she couldn't so much as bend at the waist without giving him a show. Saying that he wouldn't mind had earned him yet another lump on the head. God I love that woman.

He wanted so badly to make this another night that she would remember forever. He wasn't a bad cook, maybe he could make her dinner. Knives had mentioned the fireplace too. That wasn't a half bad idea.

Meryl listened to the running water. Now was her chance. Vash had worked so hard to make the proposal one she would remember. Tonight she would return the favor. She picked out the most revealing nighty in Mira's closet and a silk robe. She wrapped them in a towel so that Vash wouldn't notice what she was taking into the bathroom. Then she rooted through Mira's vanity drawers for some good cosmetics and hair styling equipment. What are girlfriends for anyway? She gave an inward thanks to Mira and tried to stuff the many items into the towel as well.

"I'm done shor- I mean Meryl!" Vash yelled, "I'm going to start a fire while you get cleaned up. It's pretty chilly out here!"

"Okay, sounds great!" Meryl shouted back at him.

When she was sure he'd had enough time to leave the bathroom area completely she made a mad dash for it, hoping he wouldn't notice the sleeping bag sized towel she was clutching to her body to keep things from falling out of it. She closed the door behind herself and unrolled the towel on the countertop. She picked out some sugar and baby oil shower scrub, lavender shampoo and conditioner, and intimate perfume.

Vash had it all set up… About 30 minutes ago. What was taking her so long? He'd heard the shower turn off a while ago. Making a decent dinner from preserves had proven difficult. He couldn't find anything in the kitchen that was fresh and hadn't rotten while they were all away. After much creative scrounging and careful prep, his masterful creation was getting cold. He whined in spite of himself. Then he heard the bathroom door open.

"Hey," Vash said with a smile, "I was beginning to think the bathroom ate you."

"N-no," Meryl stuttered.

Vash noted that Meryl had not yet emerged from the bathroom. He blinked and asked, "Is something wrong? You didn't hurt yourself in there, did you?"

Meryl hid half behind the door like a scared five year old. She was a grown woman, and she had worked hard to make herself beautiful for this. Fresh shaved legs, a slight wave curled into her hair with a large curling iron, lotion, and perfume, and lace. She was ready! Now if only she could make herself move.

"Meryl?" Vash asked, now getting truly worried.

"I'm okay," Meryl said with a tremble in her voice, "I just -."

She trailed off. Now Vash was really worried, he got up and started for the bathroom. He was just about to turn the corner into the bathroom as he said, "Meryl, what is wrong? Are your all -."

Just then she stepped out in front of him and they both took a reflexive step back to avoid a collision. Vash froze and shivered as his eyes worked slowly up and down Meryl's dolled up body. Meryl blushed wildly and her hands defensively covered her chest. She started to turn away when Vash grabbed both of her wrists and pulled her back towards him.

"Don't," He choked out, "You look… Incredible."

"I," Meryl started, "I couldn't find anything that wasn't revealing, and-"

"Liar," Vash purred, "Come out into the living room. I have something for you too."

Meryl walked out with Vash into the living room and her breath caught at the sight. Plush blankets padded the floor and the whole room picked up the firelight. There were two plates of food and one of finger foods, next to two glasses of red wine.

"And that's not all!" Vash chimed in his best commercial voice.

He turned on a record player with a record called "Romantic Classic Piano", which filled the room with soft sweet music. He took her into his arms and began to dance. Meryl couldn't help but let herself be lead around, spun, and dipped, and cradled in his arms.

She was so light in his arms. She was so easy to hold, and in that outfit… Well, he was feeling less apprehensive by the moment. When the first song ended they sat down together, and fed each other. When they first started feeding each other it was more of a caring, loving gesture. However, after a few glasses of wine and once they reached the finger foods…

…..LAST WARNING! HERE COMES THE LEMON….

Meryl started it. When Vash was gently offering her a slice of preserved peach in cream syrup, Meryl snatched his hand to keep him from drawing it away from her. She slowly savored the slice of fruit and then savored every last drop of syrup on his fingers. He shivered visibly and gave her a dark hungry look.

So the battle began. Each partner tried to outdo the other with each sliver of fruit. When Meryl decided suckling on his fingers had gotten boring. She slid her lips down the palm of his hand and flicked her tongue across the inside of his wrist. Vash growled and pushed the plate of food out of the way.

"Hey," Meryl complained, "I was enjoying that!"

"Well," Vash said as he closed in on her, slowly pushing her to the ground beneath him, "I'm about to enjoy you."

Meryl's heart skipped a beat. Here it was again; that dark sexy side of Vash that surfaced only once before, the night he'd asked her to marry him. It was hard to believe such a goofy, shy person by day, could turn into a 'pinch me I'm dreaming' Romeo at night. She had to stop herself from giggling when she remembered the drawer filled with romance novels. She guessed she shouldn't be surprised; he had been 'studying'.

He looked down at her and smiled softly as he let the finger of his good hand slide along the neckline of the silk robe. His hand found the robe's tie and he said, "Beautiful, I can't wait to see what's under it."

Meryl reached up and captured his lower lip, nibbling it slightly as she whispered, "Then what's keeping you?"

"God, Meryl," Vash moaned, "You're killing me. I'm trying to make this slow and special."

"It will be special no matter how it happens, Vash," Meryl cooed, "Please, I've waited so long for this. Don't make me wait even longer."

Vash moaned with utter abandon and kissed her feverishly. Clothes were shed with typical Vash speediness between utterances of love, and fiery kisses in intimate locations. Finally Vash lay on top of her with nothing between them but the night air. He stopped, looking down at her, and took her in from head to toe. She's so perfect…

Meryl looked up at him in a daze. Why had he stopped? Just as the question was poised to escape her lips, he halted it with another bone-melting kiss. She moaned and arched up into him. As he kissed her lips and his hands blindly explored her body, she found herself falling more and more into an absolutely primal need. It was driving her absolutely mad.

Before she knew what she was doing she had pushed him over, and followed on top of him. There was no such thing as thinking anymore. Her body was operating on pure instinct. She positioned herself over him and slid down. She realized the brazen nature of her actions for just a moment before Vash's hands gripped her hips and he moaned, "Yes! Oh, Meryl!"

And she was lost again. They made love for hours, rolling over each other. Somehow they went from the floor, to the sofa, to a chair and back to the floor without skipping a beat. When the end came, they arrived together and collapsed in a tangled cocoon of blankets, sweat, and tussled hair. Vash breathed heavily, "I - never - knew - I -never- Oh Meryl. I love you."

"I love you too, Vash the Stampede," Meryl purred.

And they fell asleep like that, in each other's arms.

……………………………

Jackie: I hope it was worth waiting for. Don't forget that I promised you a surprise ending though, and that's coming up!