WOW...this fanfic isn't doing to bad yes, the chapters are kinda short, but once I finish this (and yes, I plan on finishing it and not leaving it half done like SOME odd people...cough slackers..coughcough) I will condence the chapters...or maybe I will when everyone's not looking...um...yeah.
Z.A.G: I'm glad you liked that ending ...you're still in school? that sucks, I got out 2 days ago...and I thought today was thursday too (sweatdrop) so yeah, but thanks
Fox: I love Milly to bits, and I have the same love for pudding that she does
neptunegoddess062: Yeah, I have no idea where the "Meryl, what are you doing in my glass of water?" thing came from, but I figure it's something I would do if I were dead thirsty and began thinking random thoughts as a bunch of people crowded around me. But yeah, like I said, the chapters keep getting longer and longer, because I think of more (and better) plot ideas
Gennie Kag's and Sess's Child: Oh, I hope you like Trigun so far I suggest you get the manga though. They just released the next book in the series in america (and in english because I'm too dumb to learn japanese in 10 minutes) on the 19th, and they have many sexy poses of Vash that you can look at and don't have to rewind over and over again on a VCR!

And thank you to all you silent readers out there who choose to not or can't leave reviews, I still love you! (glomp)

P.S...I'm having trouble figuring out how to put an asterisk on this without it going away when I save it...someone please help me!!!!!!


'Oh, god, what the hell am I going to do?' Meryl thought to herself. 'Vash is back...Vash came back...my Vash came back...' Meryl subconsciously called him 'her' Vash nowadays. She couldn't lie to herself anymore and think of Vash as only her job. But to confront him about her feelings was something she didn't know if she could handle. Last time she tried, the words stopped on her tongue and in turn Vash left anyways. 'What did I expect?' she wondered. 'If I had told him how I felt, would he have stayed? It probably would have been worse on his part. He didn't know if he would come back alive or not....But he did come back, and I have no idea how to go about him. And his brother...I knew it was his brother, they look so alike each other, but the air around each of them is so different. My Vash has a light, warm feeling around him that blocks the horrible past he has had. But Knives, he's so cold I can't help but shiver. Him just being around is going to be extremely difficult, and if my Vash knew how I felt, he might crack...'

Meryl frowned as she hovered over the pot of vegetable soup she was stirring. After she watched Vash close the door behind him in the bathroom, she went down and helped Milly with the bags of pudding and began the pot of soup. The sound of the shower running and of Milly humming while she mixed all the pudding in a giant bowl were drowned out by Meryl's thoughts. She was so occupied with these thoughts that she didn't notice that the shower stopped five minutes ago and that a clean-clothed and totally refreshed Vash was standing right behind her.

"Wow! That smells good!"

"YAAAH!!!" Meryl jumped and nearly knocked over the pot but Vash's super quick reflexes and his prothetic arm saved the soup. Meryl clutched at her chest, gasping for air.

"Nice save, Mr. Vash!" Milly laughed.

"Aw, jeez, it was no-OW!" He grasped his forehead where the unwanted soup ladle had smacked him. "Owww! Hey, what's the big idea! That hurt!"

"You scared the crap out of me, you idiot!" Meryl said, one hand on her hip and the other wagging the soup ladle at his direction as Vash whispered under his breath, "God, how bitchy..."

Five minutes later, the three of them were eating their soup (or in Vash's case, happily slurping) at the small wooden table in the corner of their small apartment. Meryl was shooting disapproving glances toward the spikey-haired man as he slurped away, but she decided to not reprimand him and tried to enjoy her own bowl of soup.

"Ah-hem..."

Vash and Meryl looked up at Milly who cleared her throat and was standing up with that large childlike grin of hers. "Well, I wanted to save this for when Mr. Vash got back and since he is I guess this is as good a time as any to tell you!"

Meryl looked at Vash. Vash looked at Meryl. Meryl looked at Milly. Milly looked like a content little kid who had just eaten the greatest tasting ice cream sundae in the land.

"...I'm pregnant."

Two spoons dropped on the table and clanked onto the floor. Meryl and Vash jumped up and each gave her a gigantic hug. Meryl talked to Milly about making arrangements for their new addition as Vash gazed out the small window at the dark sky. A shooting star passed overhead. "Nick, you sly dog...."


Vash went back to the doctor everyday to check on Knives as Meryl went to her job as a waitress to earn their meager but much needed income. Milly was no longer working because of her pregnancy and Vash was still having trouble finding a job. Even though Meryl had started passing information that Vash's brother was actually the evil one and not Vash, the news spread slowly and many were still wary of him. Jeffrey, Doc, and the bartender across the street from their apartment were the only ones that truly trusted the legendary gunman and agreed to help him with Knives when Vash needed them. However, the only one that really knew about what Vash and Knives really were between those three was Doc. Vash told him a lot of things about his past, and though Doc was skeptical at first, he grew accustomed to the truth.

"Well, Vash," said Doc as he put away his stethoscope, "Knives is well enough to go home with you. He's still out cold, but he should wake up in a few days. But, ah, Vash? There was a, um, complication..."

Vash grew stiff, not knowing what to expect. "What is it, Doc?"

"Well, you see, I was able to fix your brother up like new. Except for the two bullet wounds in his legs. Both bullets shattered the bones to bits, and he can't enter a healing plant now because it's been too long. He...he might not be able to walk again..."

Vash bowed his head, a single tear falling onto the floor. "I understand. But he's alive, and that's all that matters, right?" he said, trying to smile. But his smile faltered.

Doc nodded. "Yes. From what you told me, you had no other choice. Your brother wouldn't have stopped if you were killed. We'd probably all be dead. And not only did you save your life, you saved everyone on Gunsmoke. Maybe...maybe him being crippled will give you more time to help him turn over a new leaf. But give him some time to accept the fact. It'll be a big shock to someone like him..."

Vash gazed at his brother, not knowing how to feel. He was devastated because his brother wouldn't be able to run free ever again, but at the same time he knew his brother might realize that plants and humans are equal and both bleed the same shade of red. Vash gingerly picked up his brother as Doc carried a wheelchair down the flight of stairs. Once outside, Vash gently put Knives in the wheelchair and, with a small wave to Doc, he pushed his brother toward their home.