SPEED UPDATES! SCORE!: Look! Almost as fast as they used to be! I have the biggest chem test tomorrow(that I have not studied for in the least). I am such a slacker. This chapter is uh...interesting. lemon/lime alert You're probably thinking...um what? Yeh I know, these moments just pop out of nowhere sometimes. It's kind of difficult though, because you know no one every really hooks up in the show(where we can see anyway) so you've just got to wing it and assume how it would be. Hopefully I stayed within the allowed character parameters. Maybe some of you V/M'ers will have an extra reason to smile today.

She'd wanted to understand him. To know who he truly was. To know why he acted the way he did, and why his eyes always burned with that secret tragedy. Meryl had wanted the truth, and that is what she had been handed. With no sugar coating or anything left unsaid. But it was a double-edged sword. A kind of relief that only brought more uncertainty. He was staring at her now, she wasn't looking at him but she could feel it. Vash was waiting for her to get up and walk out...anything but just sit here in silence like she was. Meryl couldn't for the life of her, find proper words in the face of such a revelation. He and his twin's mysterious birth from the plants on the SEEDS ship. The woman named Rem that took them under her wing. Knives decision and the hell it led to. Vash finally running away from his brother only to meet again in July. How his arm had changed then and again in Augusta. Why they were going to Caracas. All that and everything in between. Everything that had gradually led to the state of his life as it was now. Had her heart ever felt this wounded? But it hurt for him not because of him. What little of her coffee that had yet to be drank, absorbed into the sheets as she let go of the cup, suddenly lunging forward to wrap her arms around his waist.

The force of the embrace almost sent him backwards. He stared at the wall in shock as her grip tightened around his stomach.

Her voice was hardly up to its usual strength as she forced out clumsy words. "I knew...I knew you were better than us."

He released his grip from the empty coffee mug, hugging her small frame to him. "I'm not better."

"It's not because what you are, it's because who you are. You've been through so much on your own already...please let us help now."

Wasn't she missing part of the picture? It wasn't just how these new facts effected them as traveling companions...but what consequences it meant for their relationship in the long term. "But Meryl..."

She lifted her face away from his chest, looking up into his doubtful eyes. Sometimes she could just read this man like a book and she was getting better at it all the time. "You really think anything is going to change the way I feel?"

A warm flutter went through his heart. Like the night she'd first said she loved him. It was the best kind of feeling, and it didn't fade as he lifted his hand gently to the side of her face. Those stormy blue eyes always entranced him. So dark, but still shimmering. Was she really saying there was unconditional love behind them? Could she really be this selfless? He ran his fingertips away from her cheek and into her soft hair. She smiled at the feel of his touch and before he knew it, he was smiling too. "I think you're the one who's better."

Meryl could feel the tears she'd held back throughout the whole story, beginning to edge their way out the corners of her eyes as she smiled up at him. "You make me cry entirely too often, you know that?"

He moved her tears away with his thumb as he leaned down. "Guess all my bad habits are starting to rub off on you, huh?"

She straightened up, meeting him halfway to accept the kiss. Hope began replaced sorrow with each successive one. Neither of them knew how, but somehow they would make this work. Because it had to. No one else could ever make them feel this way. This was real. His mouth opened over hers and after an especially intense exchange, Meryl pulled away with a rare blush.

He glanced to the side looking apologetic. "Sorry...Ijust..." He looked a bit helpless to explain himself.

A hint of true desire from even his pure heart? Meryl was a little surprised, but didn't see anything wrong with it. She didn't care if Vash was some kind of higher being, he was more human than any man she had ever known. There was nothing wrong with this. "It's all right, Vash. There's no reason to hold back anymore..."

He looked back at her, unconsciously taking in her features. Lately, she'd let that raven hair grow out somewhat. It was still short in the back but a few bangs could now reach to her chin or fall enticingly into those grey blue eyes. He'd always thought she was beautiful, but for some reason his attraction to her seemed to get stronger all the time. Small and slender with that tough girl attitude. Good thing he'd stuck around long enough to find out her heart was even bigger than her bite. "But how far is too far?"

"We'll know." She threw her arms over his neck kissing him again. He didn't resist as she shifted her weight, pulling him down onto the bed so he was over her. They needed this. They needed each other. She had no guilt in wherever this might be leading.

Vash's hand seemed to take on a mind of its own as it wandered down her side and across her stomach. It became a team effort as the other soon joined it to assist in the unbuttoning of Meryl's shirt. Her mouth never removed from his to protest, so he didn't even try to stop himself. Once her shirt was open, he paused looking down at her.

Meryl smiled, kissing him again. "Don't look so innocent. I'm sure you've seen a woman's chest before..."

He gave a sheepish grin, moving the kisses down her neck. Maybe so, but that didn't make it any less exciting. Especially if it was her body. Her body was the only one he wanted to see.

She could feel her control weakening as his lips made their way even lower. So even Vash had a slight lustful side. It was good to know.

Sheer instinct covered for his lack of experience. He was letting his body do what it felt was the natural thing to do, while his heart reaped the benefits.

Meryl had been gone a long while, but Milly wasn't all that concerned. She hoped the best for those two. Meryl deserved a good man like Mr.Vash and he needed someone strong willed like Meryl to balance him out. Sure they were bound to get in disagreements every now and then, but in the end they were just what each other needed. She was happy for her friends and didn't really mind being the odd man out now, because she knew what it was like to be in love. She hoped theirs would last as long as it possibly could.

She spit her toothpaste into the sink and wiped the back of her hand across her mouth, before straightening up into a very unlady like yawn. She smiled, catching a brief view of herself in the mirror. Meryl really wasn't kidding about the bed hair. One of her eyes was completely obscured by tan spiky ended tresses so all you could really see was the side of her face with the scar. She brought up her hand, laying her index finger across her cheek on a whim. That's all it took to make the brand from her past completely disappear. Strange how it had never faded. All the other scars had. There was the one from the bullet that should have taken her life. Victor's shot through her chest and out her back. The scar on her shoulder where those rocks had torn through in Jeneora breaking her collar bone. Even the most recent was barely noticeable now, the scar just under her rib cage on her left side. Where that ricochet had gotten her at the mansion. She sighed turning off the light and strolling out the bathroom to fall back onto the bed. She always found it odd that Nicholas didn't have any scars. None except for that one on his leg where Grey The Ninelives' bullet had grazed him. But then again, the worse scars in life were never the ones you could see.

Milly rolled over onto her back and the glint of one of the rubies caught her eye. She looked up at the rosary on the bedpost in contemplation. She was determined to figure out what Nick was trying to tell her. Usually when someone leaves you something like that, it means they'll be coming back for it. But that wasn't it. Not this time. She knew she was supposed to understand though. What part didn't she get?

She closed her eyes, thinking long and hard. His rosary. For the longest time, she hadn't even known he owned one. But one night he'd been too dang lazy to even get out his comfy spot in the bed her Bernardelli check had gotten them. His jacket was on the chair and he'd asked her to get his cigarettes for him as she was walking by. She'd told him they were bad for him, but he'd called her honey and given her that smile she couldn't say no to. Inside his jacket there were two pockets in the chest. Both always containing the same things. On the right you had a cigarette pack and some loose matches. On the left, nothing but his holy chain. And that's what she'd found. Of course she'd immediately become intrigued...it's not like you'd expect to find pretty jewelry in a place like that. Gosh, what had he said? It all seemed like so long ago. The cigarettes had been forgotten as she went sat on the bed with him to be told what it was. He'd been amused by her fascination with it, explaining how it wasn't the kind of necklace you were supposed to wear. You only held it in your hand as you prayed. He'd told her how each ruby represented a different prayer. And there were certain things you were supposed to say before and after each of them. It'd all seemed a bit confusing but he'd laughed and admitted he was never one to follow the rules. He just kept it in his pocket for a little extra protection. Over his heart to remind him not to wander too far from his faith. To keep the faith. Milly's sky blue eyes opened questioningly, cocking an eyebrow towards the necklace. "Have faith?"

The Stampede froze when her hand tightened on the waistband of his boxers. Meryl's shorts and shirt were already on the floor. All the two had on were their underwear now, and the short girl hadn't even been wearing a bra to begin with. Pretty serious turn of events, but should they stop? They both sensed the same question, looking into each other's eyes.

"Vash if you don't want me to..."

He seemed a little embarrassed by the statement. "Want and should are two completely different things insurance girl."

She tugged the boxers down slightly, just to see how he'd react. Meryl teased with a little smile. "But I've already seen remember?"

Vash looked like he might be on the verge of a blush. "You said we weren't ready for this last time."

"That was last time. I'm leaving it up to you now."

He made a face, looking down at the bulge already forming in his shorts. "You're really mean, you know that?"

She knew he was only joking because he was nervous. It was pretty cute. Innocent in the bedroom, despite all his skirt chasing ways. Meryl smiled, tugging them just a little lower. "Vash...I'm not gonna lay here all day."

"But I've only done this twice."

Meryl blinked. For how long he'd been alive? Only twice? And she thought she was the one missing out on life. "Same here."

Vash looked pretty surprised. Meryl could have any guy she wanted, couldn't she? "Seriously?"

Her eyes narrowed a little. "Yes, seriously. What kind of girl do you think I am?"

He smiled. "The best kind."

She sighed. "Well? You still didn't answer..."

The Typhoon knew they both wanted to. It was inevitable, right? He took a breath, trying to control the outrageous way his body temperature was rising. It'd been many years since he'd been this physical. "For love and for peace right?"

Meryl cocked an eyebrow, but looked down as his hand ran up her leg and closed on the side of her underwear. Her heart was probably about to pound right out of her chest. Yes, for love and for peace. But especially for love. He kissed her as they both pulled the last restraints from each other's bodies.

Amazing how time becomes meaningless in times like that. There are no seconds, there are no minutes, and there are no hours. It can't be judged because it's heaven. That's the only way to explain it. Pure heaven. Vash was sweet and restrained as his personality bid him to be, but the insurance girl didn't take too long to loosen him up. His natural style was a slow and rhythmic one that she found undeniably satisfying, but that didn't mean that was the only pace they kept or the only thing they did. Funny to think that in those first few months of knowing each other, neither of them would have ever dreamed they'd eventually be doing something as wonderful as this.

A SIGNIFIGANTLY LONG AMOUNT OF TIME LATER

"Hey."

She rolled away, pulling the covers over herself. "No."

"No?" Meryl blinked and slammed Milly over the head with the pillow. "WAKE UP!"

"AAH!" She flung up, staring at her. "What? You told me I could go back to sleep!"

The short girl smirked and looked towards the window.

Milly followed her gaze then blinked. "Holy crap, it's night already?"

Ugh. She'd definitely picked up that charming phrase from the priest. "Would you just get dressed? We're heading back out."

She hated riding in the backseat at night. That crisp night air suddenly felt like 30 below when you were speeding along at 60. And of course the convertible top had to be broken. "But it's dark. Why don't we just leave in the morning?"

Meryl sighed. She would have loved to have been able to sleep in with him all the way until morning, but it just wasn't so. "We don't have enough money to pay for another night here. We have no other choice."

The tall girl got out of bed reluctantly. "All right all right...point taken." She paused briefly, noticing her partner's odd demeanor. It took Milly a second to place it but then she was sure of it. She had seen that look before. Never on Meryl, but on Nicholas...the same way he'd been on the walk home that night. Exhausted satisfaction. Inexplicably at peace with the world and everything in it. She tried not to grin like an idiot. "Hey, so I'm assuming you and Vash made up, huh?"

She leaned against the wall trying to hide her smugness. "Excuse me? I really think Wolfwood rubbed off on you a little too much Milly."

Milly gave a teasing 'you have no idea' kind of smile before innocently ducking into the bathroom to change.

It took a good four seconds for the horrified Meryl to even understand that insinuation. But once she did, her face went completely white in disbelief. "You didn't! God, Milly tell me you didn't let him do that!"

An immature yell came from behind the bathroom door, but provided no confirmation. "Don't say the Lord's name in vain Sempai!"

She covered her face, almost sliding down the wall. "Milly, he's probably been with every barmaid from here to December!"

The tall girl stumbled while trying to put on her skirt. "Um, what?"

From all the way down the hall, even Vash heard the short girl's resulting groan.

THE NEXT AFTERNOON

It'd been awhile since he'd been here. But not long enough. He put on his sunglasses, clearing all his emotions. Business. This was business. Nothing more, nothing less. Chapel The Evergreen, devil, assassin, and mercenary. The man without a soul. Nicholas found that even through all his time with Milly and the others, this transformation still came easily to him. He lifted his punisher off the motorcycle, walking up to the huge metal doors. They had to know he was here. He kept a casual eye on his surroundings, ready and willing to unleash hell upon any of them that dared to take a cheap shot at him. The doors of the ancient ship screeched and whined as they opened enough to allow him in. He entered and waited in the metallic hallway as his only exit sealed itself once more. So where was his welcoming party?

"Legato isn't here."

Nick's eyes narrowed at the voice. "Well where the fuck does he have to go? Don't tell me he got himself a woman."

Midvalley smiled, walking up. "Hardly. You know you and I are the only ones with any talent in that department."

Why did he always get the drift the Hornfreak was a sadist? Wolfwood gave his own frightening smile. "I don't know, I always thought E.G. was pretty charming..."

He let out a slight laugh that didn't sound quite genuine. "You really know how to keep your edge. I admire that."

"Well enough socializing...where are the other bastards?"

"There are no others. It's only you, I, and Caine now."

"Hmm. And I thought we were supposed to be a team."

"Well you and I killed most of them."

Something was different about Midvalley. He didn't seem as cocky as usual. Almost...afraid? "True. But why let me in if Bluesummers wasn't here?"

"Knives wants to speak with you."

Nick felt his stomach weaken slightly. "He's awake?"

Midvalley nodded, turning away with his hands in his pockets. "In his chambers. You remember the way, right?"

"Yeah." Wolfwood situated his cross again, walking silently past him.

"And Chapel..."

The priest paused, turning his head to the side to listen.

"Watch what you think around him."

Nick frowned and continued walking on.