I MISS THIS: Stupid college. I know I haven't been updating as fast as I use to, but have mercy! It ain't summer anymore, and my lazy existence has finally come to an end. The only writing I do lately is mind-numbing essays for my English professor. In fact, I have one I'm supposed to be finishing right now(gag, barf, hurl, and every other synonym for vomiting). I miss the nonsense just for fun stuff like this. Writing what I want, how I want, and with absolutely no regard for correct grammar and/or thought structure. XP on you proper grammar! I enjoy contractions, run-ons, and fragments! Heh, she'd probably die if she had to grade this mess. But on a lighter note, I did have one Trigun related event the other day. While skipping biology yesterday morning(not wise kiddies!), I was browsing the university's bookstore and found(drumroll)...Trigun manga! And InuYasha, and FLCL, and a bunch of others. I'm so easily amused. And Neptune Butterfly, I just gotta say I thought about poor little Kuroneko last night. The coyotes were howling so loud they actually woke me up. Run kitty, run! Oh yeah, and there's some lemon in this chap...but it's discussed mainly after the fact. I don't think it's any big deal but you'll see what I mean.

"I told you I don't know!" He winced as she tightened the bandage. "Do you have to be so aggressive?"

Meryl shot him an ice glare. "You scared the hell out of me, asshole."

Vash blinked, his cheeks reddening. "For the last time, I was taking a freaking shower! It isn't my fault! You act like I meant for you to see that!"

"That isn't what I'm talking about!" He could have really hurt himself. What if she hadn't of been here? Would he have woken up at all? She reached over, tearing another strip from one of the old t-shirts she'd had in her suitcase. "And it is your fault. I know you've drunk well enough in your lifetime to be aware of your limits by now. So I don't have the least bit pity for you when these sort of things happen..."

He sighed, seeing it was near hopeless to try and calm her anger right now. "Okay, so I'm a jerk. You've established that. But can't this wound be punishment enough?"

"I'm not trying to punish you! It just pisses me off when you don't understand why I'm mad in the first place!" She tightened the last strip. "I was really worried about you, idiot."

He watched as she got off the bed and went put the first aid supplies back in her suitcase. Sometimes even he forgot that was Meryl's way of expressing concern over him. The angrier she got, the more she cared. He looked down. "I'm sorry, Meryl."

She stopped, catching on to the sudden maturity in his voice. She looked back over her shoulder at the man on the bed. The man with the sad eyes and more scars than anyone deserved. He looked so miserable with the strips of t-shirt wrapped around his forehead and the damp blonde hair hanging randomly about his face. Her countenance weakened. "That's all you had to say in the first place..."

He smiled as she turned to hide her expression. Now there was that sweeter side he wished would make it self available more often. "It must be hard to baby-sit me all the time..."

She zipped up the suitcase, trying to ignore how soothing he sounded. "Well someone has to look after you." Meryl stood up and went turn off the light before climbing into bed with him.

The Typhoon relaxed, lying down beside her. "Why are we going to bed so early?"

"Early? It's two in the morning. The bus leaves tomorrow, remember?"

"Oh." He'd almost forgotten that's how they'd gotten here in the first place. "You think Milly will be depressed?"

Meryl put her head against his shoulder. "A little, but you know there's only one place she really wants to be nowadays."

He smirked. With Wolfwood of course. "Yeh, preacher man's lucky to have her." Vash rolled onto his side, wrapping his arms around Meryl's waist. "Is my girl that faithful?"

She smiled at being called 'his girl'. "Maybe."

"Aw, now come on. You already follow me everywhere as it is. Even into the showe-"

"Vash."

"Hmm?"

Meryl looked up at him. "You aren't going to tell the others about that are you?"

Yeah that probably would embarrass her, wouldn't it? "Nah, I'll just say I fell..."

She smiled. "Right. That's pretty much the truth anyw-"

He gave her a surprise kiss before she had much chance to finish.

He really was something else sometimes. So restrained until emotion suddenly broke through that facade of his. Really they were both that way. Playing their expected roles all day long, until they were alone and weakened by each other's presence. Only then would the feelings come through...sometimes almost like an opening floodgate.

Vash grinned. "Sorry, I just had to..."

"Quit teasing."

He cocked an eyebrow. "You didn't want me to stop?"

Meryl sighed. "Can't you tell what I want by now?"

"Mmm...demanding."

"Damn you're an idiot. Just come here."

He smiled as she pressed against him. "I don't have much experience, so go easy!"

She laughed a little, pulling out the waistband of his boxers and letting them snap back all the while keeping her eyes on his face. "I think you've traumatized me enough for one night..."

His voice was half joking, half serious. "Seriously, what's the point of keeping them on? You've already seen-"

"Seeing and feeling are two completely different things. And I don't think we're quite to that last one just yet..."

Vash seemed to disagree. "How are you supposed to know that?"

"It's the girl's job to know. Just trust me..."

He grinned as she ran her finger down his chest. "You're the boss short girl."

Meryl laughed, wrapping her arms around him. "You know...if you didn't smell like beer and have a head wound, this would be perfect."

He got that 'I'm fixing to say something randomly wise' look. "Perfection is an unattainable concept invented by those who can't appreciate what they already have..." Vash smiled. "And I am not one of those people."

She cocked an eyebrow. "So what are you trying to tell me?"

The Typhoon blinked, losing his train of thought. "Um, that I'm not too drunk to kiss you again?"

She smiled, feigning disappointment. "You were only planning on one more kiss?"

"Or ten...or twenty."

Meryl smirked. "Then quit wasting time!"

Vash grinned from ear to ear. "Yes mam!"

THE NEXT MORNING

A door slammed from somewhere down the hall and her eyes opened. She was still lying in the exact position she had fallen earlier. On top the sandy covers with Nicholas. Except now sunlight was coming in through the windows. They hadn't even bothered to actually get in the bed when they came in last night, just laid on top of it and fell asleep...sullied clothes and all. Rose tinted her cheeks as she put her head against his chest. The memories of the night before made her feel flushed all over again. It was hard to believe that it had all really happened. Everything had been so completely new to her. But she'd been surprised how naturally things had progressed. Nick hadn't just hurled them immediately into new territory, but started out slow. Kisses and hands moving across bodies long before clothing even came off. He'd been so careful with her. Easing her gradually from one step to the next. But she could tell he'd been hungry, keeping just within his self-control as clothes were eventually discarded piece by piece and his hands and lips began to venture places she'd never allowed before.

And when it did finally came to that moment, she remembered the complete trust...having nothing on but feeling secure, with her arms wrapped over his neck as she lay on her back against her spread out coat. She'd been looking up at the moons as his body entered hers for the first time. The first thrust had been the worst. She'd tensed, burying her face against his neck as the sharp pain shot through her. He'd kissed her tears away, promising in that rough voice of his that it would only get better. And it had gotten better. Amazingly so. She hadn't wanted him to stop. Every move brought more euphoria until it was nearly unbearable. Her body barely knew what to do with itself once all the new sensations had born down on it at once. The warmth inside her, muscles straining and flexing, his labored breathing and rough kisses on any part of her he could access as he somehow found a way to go even deeper each time. But despite all the blush worthy details, the actions had never felt wrong or shameful. It really was like there was no one else in the world but the two of them. They could have stayed out there until the suns rose, but neither of them had wanted a waking town knowing of their deed as they came trudging wearily, yet satisfyingly back all sandy and disheveled. Milly blinked at the feel of rough fingers suddenly tracing through her hair. "Good morning..."

Nick glanced lazily towards the window while still idly playing with her hair. "Is that what this is?"

"Or lunch...or afternoon. I'm not sure."

He chuckled. "In other words, it's something and that's all we care."

"Right."

Wolfwood let go of the soft locks, tightening his grip around her waist as he looked down at her. How could any girl be this amazing? As sweet a lover as she was a person. He'd never felt so satisfied, and he'd definitely never stuck around for pillow talk and cuddles the morning after. He'd wanted last night for so long. But he prayed he hadn't hurt her. She was gonna have marks sure, but hopefully nothing truly pain worthy. He'd done his best to stay gentle, but passion had a nice little way of eating away at a man's self-control and he knew for a fact some of last night had ended up more forceful than he'd intended. "So how ya feel?"

"Sandy."

He cocked an eyebrow. "That's not what I meant..."

Milly smiled. "I know, I'm fine."

And the most crucial question. "But do you regret it?"

She looked up and kissed him under the chin. "I wouldn't take it back for anything."

Wolfwood grinned. "You know that's how this all started..."

"Hmm?"

"You...me, a bed in December. Ring any bells? You kissed me just like that. I told you no and you just kissed me again." He smirked. "And it was all downhill from there..."

"Are you trying to blame me, Mr.Priest? Just because you couldn't keep to your own side of the bus?" She closed her eyes, laying her head back down. That's right, they'd come here by bus and it was probably time to leave. They wouldn't get to relax like this much longer. After a pause she spoke again. "What made you want to sit by me anyway, Nicholas?"

Oh jeez that all seemed like so long ago. He tried to remember his state of mind then. "I don't really know, it was kind of an impulse. I noticed your friend walk off and leave you. I was tired and you looked pretty inviting. I got a feeling you weren't the kind of girl to give me a good slap...so I went for it."

"What about when we woke up later and you put your arm around me? Was that just as harmless?"

"Well..." He smirked. "Not exactly. But in my own defense, I didn't know you too well yet."

Milly blushed, opening her eyes. "Are you saying you were hitting on me?"

"Sort of I guess...but you didn't hit back so I just went to sleep again. Why do you think I asked if you had a guy? I might be low, but I'm not that low. I wasn't about to throw my arm around someone else's girl."

Curiosity got the better of her. "And if I had of stayed awake and flirted back?"

He seemed hesitant to answer. "Aw, now don't put me on the spot like that big girl. I told you I didn't know how pure you were yet..."

She poked him in the chest, determined to get an answer. "You wanted to fool around on the bus, didn't you?"

Nick grinned innocently. "Only if you were willing..."

Milly sighed. "You're such an awful priest!"

Wolfwood gave that disarming smile. "Aw, you know you love it."

4 DAYS LATER

Vash whined for the mere sake of striking up an argument to help distract him from his growling stomach. "Why does he always get to drive?"

The vein in her forehead began to pulse as soon as he opened his mouth. She was much too hungry to deal with this crap right now. "For the last time, Bernardelli wired us the money for this car...so you can not drive it! Wolfwood just gets to because he already volunteered, I don't feel like it, and all Milly knows how to drive is a freaking tractor!"

The tall girl blinked looking back over the seat. "It's like the same thing!"

Meryl stared back at her. "Milly, a tractor and a car are not the same thing!"

"They've both got wheels and a gas pedal don't they?"

"Tractors don't go over 30!"

"Ours did!" She paused thoughtfully. "Yeh, I remember this one time when Jeremy bet me he could ramp the irrigation ditch and..."

Wolfwood glanced over, suddenly entering the conversation. "You did stunts with a tractor?"

"Yeh! It was real fun!" Her smile faded. "Until the accelerator got stuck and it ran into Mr. Johnston's shed..."

Meryl groaned, hanging her head over the top of the backseat. "Are we there yet?"

Vash smiled. "Remember those breathing exercises I was talking about earlier?" He motioned his hands to his chest, knowing full well he was just pissing her off more. "In with the good air..." He moved his arms away again. "Out with the bad..."

She practically growled at him, scooting away. "I know what you're trying to do, so just quit it before I really hurt you..."

"Aw, come on short girl." He outstretched his arms with a moronic grin. "I think someone needs a hug!"

Wolfwood smirked, watching the impending doom unfold in the rearview mirror. "Now kids, am I going to have to pull this car over?"

Milly giggled at Nick's 'father' voice. "Maybe we shouldn't have let them have those sugary snacks earlier, dear..."

He smiled. "Ah well, let them duke it out. Hopefully natural selection will take its course and by the end of this ride we'll have one less mouth to feed."

She laughed and shoved him in the arm. "That's horrible!"

"HUGS!"

"VASH GET OFF! I WILL THROW YOU OUT THE CAR!"

"YOU'RE SO SNUGGLY!"

"DAMMIT!"

Wolfwood turned up the radio to drown them out, and grabbed hold of Milly. "AIN'T FAMILY LIFE GREAT, HONEY?"

She was still giggling as the screams in the backseat became louder. "HEAVENLY, DARLING!"

3 HOURS LATER

"Wow! Is that it?" Milly sat up straight, gawking at the huge walls looming in distance.

Vash leaned to the side to get a better view. "It's gotta be."

She threw her hands up, almost hitting the priest in the face. "Woo! Stores! We can get pudding and sandwiches and soup and tea and coffee and-"

Wolfwood gave an odd glance to the overly excited insurance girl. Sure Milly was tall...and in his opinion, quite well endowed in the chest department, but he'd seen all of her and big girl definitely had a flat stomach and a narrow waist. How the hell she stayed that way with the things she ate, he had no idea. "I take it that means you're hungry..."

Milly blinked but then smiled. "Gee, how'd you guess?"

Nick grinned and lowered his voice to mess with her. "Well I know everything about you honey..."

She blushed, well aware he was thinking about times had on a certain sand dune. "Sorry darling, but sextuplets are out of the question!"

He laughed at the inside joke as it was lost on the two in the backseat.

Vash gave Meryl a curious look and she just shrugged. "Who knows."