The next day there was a sharp rap at the door and Milly woke up startled. Meryl was already dressed, her morning cup of coffee in her hand as she went to see who was at the door that early in the morning. Milly rubbed the salt out of her eyes and yawned. The previous day was just like a dream. Maybe it was a dream. She didn't really feel any different and Meryl was her old self as usual, nothing stopped a Stryfe from getting her work done! And as usual Milly was in bed way past sunrise, even on a spring morning when they didn't come up until nearly seven. She liked sleeping in, it was a pleasure of being a field agent.
"What are you doing here?" Meryl's voice cut through the morning air and Milly sat up in bed. Maybe… Maybe yesterday wasn't just a dream…
"I came to take Milly to breakfast," Vash replied. He pushed his way past Meryl and Milly could hear his footsteps outside of her door, "Is she up yet?" There was a softer knocking at the inner door and Milly's mouth dropped open. She glanced around trying to figure out whether she should get dressed right then or just stay in bed…. What to do? She looked at the alarm clock, eight sharp. When he said he'd be there he wasn't kidding! "Milly? Are you awake?"
"Just a minute!" She managed, scrambling out of bed, then suddenly realizing she had to pee and the bathroom was on the other side of the door! She grabbed her clothes, looking around, goodness but she had to go! But she couldn't just go out there looking like this! Vash would see her! "I'll be out in a bit!" Casting about she made up her mind to dress, slid into her clothes from the day before as fast as she could, crossing her legs the entire time which was a feat to put her pants on that way, and then opening the door, she caught her breath. Man was he gorgeous… But no time, pushing past Vash she nearly shoved him out of the way to get to the bathroom. Slamming the door behind her, she finally relieved herself and with a contented sigh, sunk down on the toilet, her fingers brushing the floor as she looked at the tub.
Then yesterday's events hit her and she sat bolt upright. "Oh my goodness."
"Uh, Milly? You okay in there?"
Milly waved her fingers at the door although a moment later she realized Vash wouldn't see that and said, "Oh yes, I'm fine, just had to go… I'll be out in a minute…" Heart pounding, she stood, pulled up her pants and after flushing looked at herself in the mirror. She looked like a wreck, rings under her eyes, needed a shower, and some clean clothes… And Vash was out there waiting for her to go to breakfast, and if memory served, and she knew it did, he'd been up as early as Meryl, if not earlier. He'd probably decided on a later time for her…
Knowing she didn't have enough time for everything, and her familiar mantra running through her head she thought, guess he'll just have to accept me for me… She took her brush from the vanity, ran it through her hair although it was mighty greasy and she sighed, it looked horrible. Then shaking her head she grabbed her toothbrush, put paste on it and at least took care of her awful morning breath. Finally as good as she was going to get, she opened the door to see Vash standing over Meryl looking at her papers. "Leave it alone…"
"You really are a good writer there… I like this part about the ketchup…" He turned and looked at Milly, "Hey beautiful."
Milly blushed and Meryl's scowl returned. "I'm not. I'm a wreck. I haven't had a shower in two days and I look horrible."
"Nah," Vash said, one eye on Meryl almost as if he were about to say the next bit on purpose to anger her, "You look perfect to me." He came over to her and smiled and Milly had to steal her nerves to not look at Meryl because she could already hear an angered growl forming in her little friend's throat. Vash was smiling, looking stunning as usual, shaved, showered, dressed in a freshly dry-cleaned coat, and his aqua eyes sparkling. "Anyway, shall we go to breakfast? I'm starving."
"Oh… Yeah, okay," Milly said, glancing over at her senpai and feeling the heat coming off her glare. "Um, oh, sorry Meryl, I forgot to…"
"Doesn't matter Milly, do what you want. I can handle the paperwork today." She gritted her teeth, "Have fun."
Milly bit her lip, nodded, and allowed Vash to usher her out into the hallway. When the door was closed he said cheerily, "That went well."
"You're kidding, right?"
Vash shrugged, then wrapped his fingers around her hand and started walking them down the hall. "You feeling okay? You look like you haven't slept."
"I did…" Milly fell to sleep immediately and slept straight through, but it was one of those dreamless sleeps. She couldn't remember any of her dreams like she normally could, and it made her feel kind of empty. "But really, I'm a mess, I didn't get a shower or anything."
"You look fine." Vash looked down at her, "Really, I didn't think you worried about your appearance."
"I do, a little," she said with a sigh, before reaching up her free hand to scratch her head, "It itches when it's dirty, that's all. And I do want breakfast so I guess I'll have to ignore it until later."
Vash nodded, "I'll let you use my shower, how about that?"
Milly glanced at him, her eyes wide, "That's not necessary." But he didn't seem to be thinking anything mischievous as he looked down at her. Just that innocent sweet expression like he didn't have a care in the world as they went down the stairs and out into the street.
"Besides, I have the rest of the day planned out for us, so you won't have time to come back here," he said after a little while.
"Planned?"
Vash smiled, "Yup. It'll be fun. I was talking to Neil and the other kids and they had a great idea for somewhere I should take you in town." He squeezed her hand, "Since we can't leave, I thought I'd make the best of what we've got right here. Besides, I want to make the most of today."
"Okay…" Milly trailed off, trying to make herself happy any way she could. She finally nodded to herself and forced a smile, "I'm sure I'll have lots of fun since you seem to know what you're talking about." She thought about all of the fun he had playing with the children, eating donuts and just goofing off all the time, so really, he did know what it was like to have fun, unlike Meryl who worked all the time. In fact, the more she thought about it, the more the smile on her face turned into a genuine one, happy to be with him, at least for one more day.