Whaddawhaddawhoo! Finally updated! Thanks, mangaqueen13, for remaining a regular to my story, and giving me ideas! ((hands a plate of brownies)) if you want, you can borrow one of my collection of Trigun males! ((wink-wink-nudge))

Here it is, at looonng laast! I know you've been waiting for this! So read it and enjoy!
((Disclaimer: Knives is still my god, Legato is still my loverboy!))
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"You won't tell anyone, will you?" she asked. "Especially Vash and Wolfwood. People will learn eventually, but I wanna delay it the best I can."

The two women exchanged a look, then Meryl said, "Let us talk about it," dragging Milly outside the door.

.start.-

"We should tell, she's been lying for so long," Meryl said quietly.

"But shouldn't we let her take responsibility and inform her friends? It'll be worse if we just let it slip and her friends learn that way," Milly replied. "Let's leave it up to her."

"Okay, fine," Meryl said resignedly. Milly was right; and although she felt sympathy for the girl, hiding out as a boy for so long, and she wanted to let the men know, she understood Milly's reasoning.

.end.-

"We won't tell," Milly said, "as long as you tell them later."

"I will, I promise," Alex answered, making sure to emphasize the sincereness in her voice. She really didn't want to have to tell Eamon and Vann and the others, already picturing the shocked looks on their faces, then their anger that she had lied to them, then them casting her out of the gang. Where would she go? Back to Warren? No, that was a joke. Well, she could just branch out on her own career now, as an outlaw. But at that thought, a strange feeling in her heart arose, an ache of some sort, and she found herself staring down at Eamon's unconscious face. What was that feeling? She thought of this man as extremely handsome, and she had had a crush on him for a while, but now he was more like a brother to her. She didn't truly care for him, the way two lovers cared for another. But why did she feel that way for him?
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Vann shifted in the bed, and then slowly opened his eyes, taking a moment to put his unfocused eyes back into use from sleep. He smiled, and raised his hands to rub at his eyes, wincing at the pull on his shoulder. "Damn, I feel like I got the shit kicked outta me."

"Not just kicked, but shot," Alex said, appearing before his confused eyes. Vann grinned.

"'Ello, m'lad," he said, then forced himself into a sitting position. When his eyes crossed to Eamon, a string of curses poured from his mouth, and he was immediately next to his bed, checking him over.

"He's a'right," she said, drawing him back. "He was shot in the chest, but it missed his lungs and heart."

"Y'know, boy, what we gotta go do now," Vann said. He turned his face from Eamon back to Alex. "We gotta go kill off the Snakes."

"I know," she replied coolly. "When you and Eamon have recovered, we'll go round up the gang and flatten the Snakes."

Vann nodded and yawned, then his stomach growled loudly. "Uh, is there anythin' to eat?"

Alex grinned. "I think so." She went out the door, and Vann followed, slightly unsteady. Vash and Meryl were in some argument, from what Alex could hear over some stupid thing Vash had done. She could never have guessed how dorkish her idol was, though he was even more heroic to her for it. Milly, who was talking to Wolfwood over something, saw Vann and smiled, coming over to him.

"Hello," she said, a huge kind smile on her face. "I'm Milly Thompson. That's Meryl Strife."

"And them" Vann began, nodding towards Vash and Wolfwood, but his stomach growled loudly again, and with another big smile Milly bustled into the kitchen, soon bringing out two platefuls of food. Vann devoured it all in only a few minutes.

Afterwards, while the others bustled about around the house, Vann sat on the couch, staring at the ceiling, his hands clasped over his head. Alex had never seen him look so thoughtful, so she waited until he said something. Finally he looked at her and said, "We're gonna have to strike the Snakes soon."

"I know," she said quietly. "We'll get Lucius and the gang together after Eamon gets better. Then"

"No, lad, we gotta strike now," he said. They stared at each other for a long time, until she nodded slowly.

"I s'pose you got more experience in this than me," she said. "You make the plans."

He nodded. "Like y'said, we'll head over t' Red Ice, gather ev'ryone again. Then we'll spread 'em out in groups all over Blackwater territory, an' then we'll end 'em all."

"Y'think th' Sandstorms or anyone else could join in? Ev'ryone hates the Snakes 'cause they steal territory all the time."

"No," he said softly, shaking his head. "This is between us and them."

She nodded, then glanced up suddenly, looking around. Vash leaned against the wall, watching her in interest, though there was a touch of sadness to his features. Vann didn't notice; he was busy in his thoughts. She did, and she stared at him back. Her conversation with him a while back came to her, and she remembered the "Mister Love and Peace" side of him.

"Will you stop us?" she said quietly. Vash blinked, and sighed slightly, but appeared unable to give her a straight answer. Her mind debated with her for a long time, looking over all the things Vash had said, and her own loyalties and vengeances. Finally, she decided. She had to fight for Eamon, for Vann; the Snakes had to be punished. She would personally put the bullet between the eyes of the Snakes' leader.

She heard a groan, faint but still there. Immediately she was in the bedroom, next to Eamon's bed. He had finally awoken, and was struggling to sit up. She placed her hand on his shoulder and gently but firmly held him down. His green eyes, just as brilliant as the first day she had seen them, were filled with grogginess and confusion.

"Where am I? Alex, lad, is tha' you?"

"Yeah, mate," she said, giving him a big grin. "Y'got yourself shot up pretty bad. Right in th' chest. The gangs'll be talkin' 'bout you forever."

He smiled pleasantly, then his eyes closed. A panic jolted through her, and she checked his pulse quickly to make sure his heart was still beating. He was okay, and she breathed a sigh of relief, then left the room to let him sleep.

When she came out, Vann was tugging on his coat.

"Where y'goin'?" she asked, alarmed.

"I'm gonna go round up the gang," he replied gruffly. "Right away, 'member?" He headed for the door and yanked it open. Before going out, he paused, then turned and looked at her. "Comin', lad?"

Alex hesitated, the first time in her life she did concerning her gang. She turned, and immediately caught sight of Vash again. Wolfwood stood next to him, smoking his cigarette casually. Both watched them, the priest emotionless and the Stampede with an expression of sadness. But her mind decided in that instant. She grabbed her coat, and turned to Vann.

"Let's go."
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I'll try to update quicker, now that I know that there is more than just two of you reading this!
By the way, I'm thinking about developing a new Trigun religion based on the teachings of Knives. As you might have guessed,Knives would be the god, and Legato his "archangel", I guess, and we'll all worship him and study histeachings and understand why we are beneath his Holiest Master Knives! How many are willing to join?
((greeted by the sound of silence))

Cheers, me mateys!
-Wolf