Grinning from ear to ear, Milly had the picture of Meryl passing out in the hotel lobby vividly in her head. Her little friend came to soon enough, but the memory would last her a lifetime. The sputtering, the incoherent babbling, and the repeated, "Are you really going to do this?" More than made up for the grief Meryl had put her through these last few days. But even though Milly had been ready to forgive Meryl right then and there and tell her it was all a joke… Vash guided her out of the hotel and into the street following Lynn the maid to her aunt's dress shop.
Meryl followed behind with the bemused priest, she kept tugging at his sleeve saying things like, "This can't be happening right? It's all a joke isn't it?" But every time Meryl turned to look at them again, Milly clung ever tighter to Vash's arm, acting just like all of her sisters did with their fiancés. Milly paid special attention to every little detail that struck a new chord with Meryl, the panic in her face was unmistakable.
"I think she's falling for it, wouldn't you?" Vash whispered into her ear, pretending to say sweet nothings while Milly waved a hand in front of her face.
"Oh yes," Milly said in return. She looked over her shoulder, "Vash had a terrific idea!" Milly stopped, this game was even more fun than the one she played the first day, especially since she knew it was all fake. Meryl came up to her, stopping a few feet away, Wolfwood keeping his distance, but close enough to hear. "Would you be my maid of honor?"
The little insurance girl started sputtering again and with a nudge from the priest finally managed to nod. "Of… Of course Milly… I'd be happy to stand… Stand up for you and… Mr. Vash…"
"Aw, don't call me Mister!" Vash said with a grin and came to put his hand on Meryl's shoulder. She blushed red as he said; "We're going to be family now!"
"But I'm not…"
"You're just like a sister to me," Milly chirped. She looked at Vash, "Do you think Mr. Wolfwood should be in the wedding too?"
Vash nodded, "Yes, but should he marry us or be my best man?" He mocked scratching his chin and held up a finger, "I think best man. What do you say Nicholas D. Wolfwood?"
The priest blinked, "Uh, I guess so."
"Then it's settled!" Milly said clapping her hands. "Now I just need the dress, find ourselves a priest and a chapel and we'll be all set!" She turned on her heel and pointed to a church spire down the street, "Okay Dear, you go see if you can find a priest, and I'll go with Lynn to Betty's Bridal. It's not good luck to see the bride on the day of the wedding but I think as long as you don't see the dress we should be okay…"
"Wait a second!"
Everyone turned to look at Meryl, her face was beet red as she stammered. Finally the incoherent babbling stopped and she looked at Milly and Vash, "You're getting married today?"
"Of course!" Vash replied, "No time like the present!" He reached over and kissed Milly on the cheek, "Okay Beautiful, I'll come find you at the dress shop when I'm finished. Hey Wolfwood, you coming with me while we let the ladies get gussied up?" The priest shrugged and Meryl cast him daggers as if he were a traitor. Nicholas shrugged it off and followed Vash to the church, leaving the three girls behind.
"It's just so romantic!" Lynn was gushing. She had stood a little way away memorizing every little thing in hopes her own wedding would be as exciting. "And your fiancé is just so handsome, Miss Thompson!" She clasped her hands together and waved, "My aunt Betty will have just the dress for you, I'm sure! If she doesn't we'll do something special right away!" The little maid disappeared down the street and Milly started after her, only to find Meryl clinging to her arm.
"What is it, Meryl?"
"You… This is a joke right? You're just getting me back for yesterday aren't you?"
Milly willed herself not to spoil the game. It wouldn't be fair to Vash if she did this early in. Instead she smiled a very genuinely happy smile and said, "Why would it be? Vash and I have so much in common and well, he saved me yesterday and when he asked me to marry him I just couldn't help but say yes! Once we're married you won't have to worry about firing me, I know it would break your heart anyway and of course you'll still be able to follow us around, just now you'll have two of us to keep an eye out for." She grinned and held out her hand down the sidewalk, "Shall we go see the dresses?"
Meryl tried not to faint again. She looked at Milly's eyes and could not for the life of her, figure out if Milly was lying or not. It really seemed like she was telling the honest truth and it scared the dickens out of her! But if this was what Milly really wanted… "I'm sorry I said I'd fire you," she said finally. "I wouldn't really do that. And I'm sorry I hired the bounty hunters. We're still friends right? You'd tell me if you were angry at me, wouldn't you?"
"Of course I'm not angry!" Milly rolled her eyes and grabbed Meryl into a hug. "Why else would I have no other person in the world as my maid of honor? You're my first, last and only bestest friend in the whole world! I couldn't imagine having anyone else there when I get married this afternoon! And it's all thanks to you because you brought me along on your assignment!"
Dislodging herself from Milly, Meryl stumbled backwards. "It's really true then, isn't it? You really are getting married, aren't you?" Milly nodded. Meryl shook her head, then put the best smile on her face she could muster, "Well, I guess we ought to find you a dress and get you out of those smelly clothes."
"Smelly?" Milly sniffed herself and grimaced, "Oh… I guess you're right… Oh no, I forgot, I've been wearing these same clothes for three days now!" She made a face, "We'd better hurry!" She grabbed Meryl by the hand and dragged her down the street to Betty's and in the front door.
Betty and Lynn were right there ready for them, "Okay!" The older lady was coifed and pressed, her makeup meticulously done and every inch of her was sparkling as she held out a dress to Milly. "Let's get you out of those rags and turn you into Princess Cinderella!"
Meryl rolled her eyes as Milly was ushered into a changing room. Betty disappeared with her and Lynn turned to Meryl. "We need to find you a dress too if you're going to be her maid of honor."
"I'll be fine…" Meryl said slowly, but Lynn wasn't convinced. She started fishing through the dresses on the racks, found a beautiful light violet one and held it up into the light. Meryl bit her lip… It was a mighty pretty dress… And it would give her an excuse to buy a new purse to match… "Well… Okay, maybe we can try a couple on."
Author's Note: Will Vash and Milly really get married? Will Meryl and Wolfwood find a way to stop the wedding or will they give way to their happiness? Find out next week as… Okay that's really cheesy! Heh heh, but I couldn't help it, this story is just so much fun to work on! Thanks to all of my readers! Thanks Aine of Knockaine! It's a real honor to know you're reading my story – everyone – if you haven't read Aine's story "Forever Mine" – go, go now, read it! Wait… If there's more chapters of this story – read those first, then hers… Thanks to all of my other readers!