Disclaimer: Still applies. It ain't changing anytime soon, folks.

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A/N: I want to thank everyone who's reviewed and encouraged me in this little project. I don't know if I would have made it this far without the support. And just to set this straight, no, I don't plan on making Milly suffer. She's got something big coming up that will, hopefully, make her happy. Don't worry. And she's pregnant cause that's the impression I got from the anime. I might be wrong, but oh well. That's why this is fiction. Wow, didn't mean to write so much. Sorry bout that. On with the story!

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Desert Sands

By: Batbabe

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Chapter 3

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He had never seen anything so beautiful in his life. And he had certainly seen a lot of beautiful things in his 130 years.

She stood in front of him, eyes wide, mouth wide open, her body frozen in place. And she still clutched the spoon. He had obviously shocked her, and they just stood there, staring at each other.

"Umm....so.... how's everything been?" Vash asked in a cheerful voice, trying to fill the awkward silence. She simply continued to stare back at him.

"Meryl, why is there a man lying on our couch?" Came Milly's voice from the front room. Vash turned into the other room, suddenly remembering the traveling companion he had left on the sofa. Meryl still hadn't moved.

Milly was staring down at Knives with confusion written all over her face when Vash walked in. At the sound of his footsteps, her head turned slowly. As soon as she saw him, a bright smile spread across her face. She then rushed over to him, enveloping him in a bear hug that picked him up off of the ground.

"Mr. Vash! Mr. Vash! You're back! This is wonderful!" All the air in Vash's lungs left in a rush from the crushing embrace.
"Need......air......" was all he managed to get out.

"Oh, sorry Mr. Vash. I'm just so excited to see you is all." She said as she let go of him. "Meryl, isn't this great? Mr. Vash is back! And he brought along a friend!"

Vash turned his head to see Meryl standing in the doorway to the kitchen. She was still in a state of disbelief, that he could tell, but she had some control over it. Her mouth wasn't gaping open anymore, at least. /Hey, that's progress..../ he thought to himself.

"Yeah, I can see that." She replied, never taking her eyes off of Vash.

"So, who's your friend Mr. Vash? Is that your brother?" Milly asked, some of her excitement leaving her voice during the second question. She and Meryl knew all too well what Vash's brother was capable of, and neither was jumping for joy at having the killer plant in their house.

"Uh, yeah. Insurance girls, meet my brother Knives." Vash announced cheerfully. Both women looked uncertain. "He's quite harmless now, I promise. I'm going to take care of him now and he's not going to get into any trouble. Don't worry."

"Famous last words." Meryl mumbled, acquiring the annoyed expression she was so famous for. "And let me guess, you assumed that it'd be alright with us if you brought him home with you? You also assumed that we'd just let you stay here with a cold blooded killer laying unconscious on the couch?" The tone of her voice shot up in her accusation, making Vash shrink back slightly at the abrupt change in her demeanor. "You are such a moron!"

"Uh......yes? Is that bad?"

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Ok, I need some more feedback from you guys. Do you guys want sooner updates (which means shorter chapters), or would you guys rather have maybe one update a week (which means bigger chapters). Let me know so that I can decide what to do from now on.

Thanks for reading and please review! :)