AND TODAY'S FORECAST: Highly mushy with 99.9999 percent chance of MW makeup and a lemon warning effective until sunrise. Why did this chapter take so long? I have no idea. It's only been a week but I just feel like I've been working on this one forever for some reason. I'm not even going to proofread because I'm tired of looking at it. And I'll be totally honest. Unless you really like MW then this chapter will completely bore you. But it was necessary. These guys had to get back together. And they took all but two sections of this chapter to accomplish that. It's like midnight as I'm typing this. Not that late, but I've had one hell of a day. So tired. MV people have mercy. I know this one is no fun for you. I'll try to brainstorm up some good "moody insurance girl/goofy outlaw" moments to make up for this later on. But right now my brain is fried, need to study...goodnight.

Milly glanced down at the plate the remaining sandwiches were on. "So no one else wants any?"

Meryl looked back from washing the dishes they had used. She knew the chore was pointless, but this had once been someone's home. It just felt wrong not to clean up after themselves. "VASH DON'T YOU DARE TAKE ANOTHER!"

He froze in mid reach with a pathetic face. "But they're so good!"

She faced back towards the sink with that little vein in her forehead beginning to pulse. "You were complaining how full you were not two seconds ago, so don't be a pig just because she's fixing to pick them up!"

The tall girl smiled at the mock devastation on Vash's face as she dumped the leftovers into a tupperware container they'd found in one of the cabinets. "We can always make more Mr.Vash."

He kept up the act, sounding overly pouty. "I suppose."

She smirked as she snapped the lid closed. "I'm sure Mr.Priest's stomach will thank you for your sacrifice."

Meryl remained silent as Milly disappeared momentarily to go fetch her coat and then came back into the kitchen, picking up their can of coffee grounds. Her partner's strong optimism was inspiring but Meryl couldn't help but think she was only setting herself up for more disappointment.

Milly hesitated, scanning the room. "You think that's all I should bring? I'm sure that other house has got to have a coffee maker and mugs, right?"

Vash stood up to get the door for her. He really hoped Wolfwood would accept her kindness. If anyone could figure out what was wrong, it'd be Milly. "It should. You can always come back though."

"Yeh, I guess. Well bye guys...I probably won't be gone too long. I'm just hoping he'll at least eat something."

The Typhoon grinned at her. "Hey, the day preacherman refuses an offer of free food is the day I win an argument with short stuff over there."

Meryl's shoulders tensed noticeably, but she kept her voice neutral. "You are so lucky these aren't our dishes."

He blinked and nervously moved to the other side of Milly, making a peace sign. "Hey, love and peace remember?"

The short girl gave a surprising smirk. "Yeh, yeh I remember..."

Milly cocked an eyebrow, sensing an inside joke then moved around Vash to head for the living room. "Bye Sempai, bye Mr.Vash."

She looked over her shoulder. "Bye Milly, be careful alright?"

"It's just across the street."

Vash called after her. "Sure you don't need help?"

"Nah, I got it."

After they both heard the door click shut, Meryl went back to drying the glasses as he wandered over to lean on the counter beside her. The outlaw released the sigh he'd been holding in. "So what's your opinion of all this? It kind of makes me uncomfortable when you're so quiet."

She shrugged. "You know Wolfwood better than I do."

He crossed his arms, looking more serious. "Maybe...but that doesn't mean I always understand." Vash's eyebrows lowered as he considered whether to tell her something or not.

Meryl glanced up at him with that knowing look. "What?"

He hesitated without looking at her. "Well, it's just...when he first looked at me out there. I don't know, Meryl...it's like he wasn't even the same man."

She was a little disturbed by the tone in his voice, but didn't weigh the statement too heavily. "Look...Nick is a lot of things, but stupid isn't one of them. He knows damn well that he's been an asshole and that that little friendly act of his just isn't going to hold water anymore. He was probably just being his true self for once."

Vash looked down at her. He didn't completely agree that Wolfwood's personality had always been an 'act'...parts of it sure, but not all of it. Really, the thing that caught his attention most about what she'd just said, is that she'd called him Nick. Meryl had always been the most reluctant to trust the preacher, and Vash wasn't sure if he'd ever heard her call him by his first name. "Maybe..."

After no answer came, she opened the door, stepping in. The rising moons did little to ease the dark of what she assumed was a kitchen. It was almost as cold in here as it was outside, and the smell of cigarettes held noticeably to the air. She placed the food on a nearby counter and kept a soft voice as her eyes adjusted. "Nicholas...are you awake?"

God just wasn't on his side today, was he? After a brief hesitation, the priest gave in anyway, knowing she wouldn't be satisfied until he at least spoke to her. "Lost, hun?"

Her muscles tensed as her head instantly turned to the source of the low voice. The silhouette of a man was leaned in a nearby doorway with the embers of a cigarette glowing from between his frowning lips. She swallowed, feeling that fluttering in her stomach. "Don't scare me like that..."

"You're the one who barged in."

Milly looked down at her feet. Why was he acting like this? "I know, but I just thought you'd be hungry."

Nick leaned his head against the doorframe, inwardly sighing. Why couldn't she just treat him the way he deserved for once? This was so much worse. "It's late and it's cold. If I eat...will you promise to go back and curl up in bed like a sensible woman?"

The tall girl's face weakened momentarily as she turned. "Of course, but it takes more than blankets to stay warm on a night like this Mr.Priest."

Wolfwood removed the cigarette from his mouth, staring at her.

She hadn't wanted to say that at all. Really, it was such a stupid thing to say. But it'd just come out before she could stop it. She quickly returned her mind to the food, not wanting to hear any more on the subject. "You like your coffee black, right?"

There were just so many extra factors bearing down on his self-control tonight. How he'd been away, how he'd missed her like crazy, how they needed to make it right again...hell, this might even be his last night on this world, and she had the nerve to say she wanted him in her bed again. Could he really pass up the temptation of being together one last time? He'd give anything to relive that night on the dunes. Nick forced himself back into the bedroom, looking even more frustrated than before. "Yeh, that's...that'll be fine, big girl."

There was no electric lighting in this room, so they had no choice but to dine by moonlight. Milly sipped at her coffee while Nick sat on the bed, silently chewing on his second sandwich. The coffee was good and so was the food, but neither of them were all that interested. She glanced briefly to the side at the ashtray on the small table. It was completely filled with ash and cigarette butts. To make that much excess, he'd have to have gone through more than a whole pack in the time he'd been alone here. Her eyes softened, stealing a glance at him. What could possibly be stressing him this badly? He looked so tired. Maybe it was her imagination but that rough desert skin seemed to have actually taken on a few new lines since their last parting. Even his cunning eyes seemed exhausted tonight. She blinked as he caught her staring.

He sighed, lowering the sandwich. Absolute hell. He couldn't eat anymore, not like this. Not with her sitting on the floor like that, looking like she wanted to cry for him. His eyes narrowed as he finally lost his ability to remain civil. "Dammit, Milly why won't you say anything?"

She looked away, a bit startled by the sudden outburst. "I didn't think you wanted me to."

Wolfwood hung his head with a growl. "Bull! Tell me anything...tell me you hate me. Tell me I murdered that boy. Anything instead of just sitting there looking at me that way. I killed Zazie and I walked out on all of you. I come back with no explanation, treat you all like shit, and still you look at me in pity. How the hell can you do it, Milly?"

Her expression remained gentle regardless of being yelled at. "Because you're suffering."

That look in her eyes...it made his stomach knot. He could feel his own eyes beginning to burn as he glared at her. Tears. His eyebrows lowered as he tried to stop it. But he couldn't. She shouldn't be seeing this. How had he become so fucking weak? He brought his hand over his face, helpless as a couple hot tears edged their way down his rough features. "Godammit."

Her eyes widened as she quickly stood. But it wasn't sympathy or pity that brought her to stand in front of him. Milly honestly wanted to protect him...rescue Nicholas from whatever could be so horrible as to hurt him this greatly. It made her fearful to see someone so strong forced into this much sadness.

Wolfwood felt her arms slide around his neck and laid his face against her chest without hesitation. The beat of her heart seemed to steady his breathing as his muscles actually began to relax to the warmth of her body.

She leaned her head gently down against his, and was a little surprised when his arms ran under her coat in return, wrapping low around her waist. She closed her eyes against that jet black hair with a slight smile. God, all the ways she'd missed this man. "You can trust me, Nicholas. Please...whatever it is you know you can trust me."

If only things could have been different. Damn they would have been so happy together. He had a home with this girl. No matter where they went, it was home as long as she was there. His honey. The only woman that made him want to repent and cleanse every damn sin if only to be closer to her. But there were far too many to ever be atoned. "Nick ain't my name big girl. Not tonight, not tomorrow, not ever again...

Despite the fact of knowing all along, it still made her feel a bit sickened to hear him finally confess. The word escaped her lips in a sad whisper. "Chapel." She felt his body tense, but she just sniffled without removing her arms from him. "Leonof told me. I...I knew a long time ago."

"God." Was all he could manage as he closed his eyes again. That was why. Why she had looked at him so strangely after the fall of the SEEDS ship. Because she'd known. Milly had fucking known he was a demon from that day on and still she'd...God but why? He pulled away just enough to look up at her. "If you knew...then how could you stay? Why? How could you know I wouldn't kill you either?"

She looked down into those steely blue eyes that were still wet with guilt and forced a smile through her own fresh tears, giving him a kiss on the top of the head. "Because I know Chapel isn't the real you, Nicholas. You're only forcing yourself now. You think this path is your only option. But it isn't. It can't be, because there's always another way. I know you can find it if you just try."

His angry expression began to fade as he rested his face back against her. She really didn't care that he'd been lying all this time. That'd he'd done horrible things. Milly was still going to forgive him. She was always forgiving him. "But they sent me here to kill him, big girl. I don't have a choice. It's us or him..."

Vash. He had to mean Vash. But when was Nick going to open his eyes and see their friend wasn't the problem? Deep down the boys were so much alike and they didn't even know it. "I can't tell you what to do, Nick. But if you want to change then you're going to have to take a stand. You can't keep taking orders."

"Even if that puts you and Meryl's lives at risk? They've threatened you two..."

The tall girl didn't look the least bit afraid, and she knew Meryl would agree with her. "That doesn't matter. Everyone has to try their hardest to do what's right. Then even if you fail, it will be with no regrets because you know you did the best you possibly could."

Wolfwood let out a heavy sigh. But would his best really be good enough? Regardless of the path he took, blood was going to be spilt tomorrow. And odds were, his was going to be among it. He looked back up into her clear blue eyes. He never wanted to disappoint her again. Tomorrow would be hell for them both...but right now, the night was young and his heart was still pumping. Quite hard in fact. He'd wasted so much of his life as it was...was he really gonna let this night slip away from him too? He let go of her, suddenly standing up. "If you say so honey..."

Milly was completely confused as he walked past her to the door. "Wait, what are you doing?"

Nick went back into the kitchen, pouring all their cold coffee down the sink and then resealed the sandwich container and put it on the counter. He wiped the last traces of weakness from his eyes, forcing the usual smirk. "Well don't want our breakfast to go stale, do ya babe?"

She blinked, blushing a little. "What?"

His voice became teasing. "Well hey, if you think you can keep warm with blankets alone then by all means head on back over there with Needle Noggin and shortie."

Her blush didn't fade as he came back into the small bedroom, shutting the door behind him. "But I don't have my pajamas, Nick..."

Wolfwood locked the door just in case the before mentioned short girl decided to come angrily searching for her partner in the middle of the night, or God forbid she send Tongari to interrupt them again. He slipped off his shoes, tossing them unceremoniously into the corner before slipping off his socks. "Well actually, I was kinda thinkin' you wouldn't need them."

The tall girl cocked an eyebrow at his sudden change in demeanor. Hard to believe this was the same man that had just been staining her shirt with tears not a moment before.

He let his jacket drop to the floor and took off his shoulder holster, setting it on the table. He smiled, cocking an eyebrow right back at her. "You really gonna sleep in all them clothes big girl?"

The priest's mouth was talking about simple innocent sleep, but his eyes said otherwise. She gave him a skeptical look, but signaled her agreement to stay by taking off her coat and leaving it on the floor. Milly put her holster on the table by his then took off her shoes and socks while still keeping an eye on him.

He sat back down on the edge of the bed now just in his pants and shirt, pretending to be confused. "What?"

She took off her suspenders and cautiously walked over to sit next to him. Milly pulled her feet up on the bed to get them off the cold floor. He was giving too many mixed signals today. "Stop being sneaky..."

Nick smiled, leaning against her. Dang he'd missed these little games of theirs. "You'd prefer I just attack you?"

She stared at him in surprise. "But I thought-"

He kissed her cheek softly. "I never fell out of love...I just didn't want you involved."

Somewhere in the back of her mind, warning flags began to go up like crazy as he slowly kissed her again just to the side of her lips. Her subconscious tried in vain to remind her of how this kind of intimacy had only lead to heartbreak and a bruised self-worth last time. Could she really give him this a second time? Wouldn't he just leave again? There were going to be fights tomorrow weren't there? Serious fights. Maybe that should give them a reason to stop...maybe it should give them an incentive to continue. She didn't know. All she knew was that neither of them had yet to hesitate, and his hand was beginning to wander up her side. Naturally, the more innocent pecks soon gave way to real kisses and her eyes closed as the priest's warm lips opened against hers, filling her mouth with his taste again. Mistake or not...if she was going to resist, they both knew she would have already done so.

He felt guilty and grateful all at the same time. He knew he really didn't deserve this, but she had chosen to comfort him anyway. A sincere "thank you, Milly..." escaped his lips as he placed one hand on her chest, gently pressing her down onto the bed while his other began undoing his belt.

Was it wrong this time? Maybe. But she still wanted to be with him. She wanted to help him, and if this is what he needed...well, then she could offer it without regret.

He curled tighter under the sheets, trying to block the sound out. Ticking and tapping, maddening in its speed. Frenzied and furious, rising and falling in random patterns. His sanity slipped a little with every successive keystroke. Symbols blackened out the paper as her fingers pounded like something possessed. Symbols into words, words into paragraphs, paragraphs into pages. Pages and pages about him. It was one of her worst habits, and a killer to any chance of a peaceful night's sleep for him. Why did she insist on typing when she was frustrated? He'd take a thump on the head any day if it would spare them this madness. But he wasn't the root of her annoyance for once, so that wouldn't work. A groan escaped the bed as he threw the covers back, staring at his moody significant other. "Meryl...can't you do that later? I mean jeez, can you even see what you're typing?"

"The moons are plenty bright enough. Besides, I'm waiting up on Milly."

So that was it. Vash gave a skeptical look, cocking his eyebrow. "She left just after sunset. And it's now..." His tired eyes regarded the clock momentarily. "Well I don't think she's coming back." He fought off a yawn. "So we should be asleep."

The short girl glared at him over her shoulder. "How can you not care if she's alright or not?"

"I trust her, and I know she can handle herself. They probably just got to talking and she decided to stay there. No problem."

She sighed, not knowing whether that would be a good thing or a bad thing. Milly would be the type to take him back, wouldn't she? Even after how much he hurt her. After a few more paragraphs and a lot more of Vash's complaining, Meryl finally came to a stopping point and turned the typewriter off with an annoyed sigh. "Fine. I'll come to bed, alright?"

His face stretched into a yawn before he could answer so he just nodded in agreement.

Meryl gave him a weird look, walking over and climbing into bed. "You're so freaking lazy."

He blinked. "Excuse me? Do you realize what time it is?"

"You ate half the sandwiches and now all you want to do is sleep." She laid back with a smirk. "Lazy."

His eyebrow shot up in question. "Is that a challenge?"

Meryl opened one eye, to look up at him. "What the hell are you talking about?"

He grinned. "Peace and love?"

She closed her eyes again, purposely acting uninterested with the invitation. "I thought it was love and peace."

"Equally important. It doesn't really matter which one comes first."

The short girl yawned and rolled over with a smile. She really was too tired, but she couldn't help but tease. "Right."

Vash blinked. "Quit confusing me!"

She laughed, turning over to face him. "Sorry, you're too full and I'm having trouble keeping my eyes open now that I've laid down."

He yawned again as she put her head on his chest. "Maybe some other night then?"

Meryl smirked. It was so odd to hear Vash say something like that. "Planted the need have I?"

He smiled, refusing to answer.

LATER

A true addict in every sense of the word. Even with the warmth of his angel beside him, he still couldn't completely silence the need to fulfill his vice. He removed her arms slowly from his waist and gave a smile, leaning down to whisper in the sleeping woman's ear. "I'll be right back, save me a spot...okay, hun?" She made a little sound and he smirked, climbing quietly out the bed. A few things popped and snapped as he straightened up, but besides that the room had fallen into a dead silence again. Not that they had been overly loud before, but of course there were always going to be some of those tale tell sounds. All of which still got him a little riled just remembering them. The way his own name had left her in a moan when the pleasure threatened to eat them alive. How the angel had gasped, her body arching as he'd began to press ruthlessly, taking their passion even higher. Wolfwood smirked again at the many memories, scanning the dark floor for his boxers as he walked towards his jacket. Every piece of their clothing except what he was looking for. His boxers must still be in the sheets. He glanced back but decided after some hesitation that sifting around the equally unclothed Milly(no matter how tempting) would be kind of inconsiderate, seeing how the poor girl was finally getting some well earned rest from the previously mentioned excursion. Rest he should probably be getting if he expected to be in any kind of fighting condition. He picked up his pants instead, pulling them on carefully as not to scrape a certain appendage against the steel teeth of the zipper and then grabbed a cigarette and a match from his jacket before stepping over to the moonlit window.

Semi-conscious. A light aching from the waist down. Sore and cold. Her body had gone cold again. That's why she'd been pulled from her dreamless slumber. She slid her hand out across the small mattress only to find its edge. Her eyes opened halfway as her heart sank. Alone again.

The preacher gave a startled glance to the side as she suddenly sat up in bed. The bleak pondering of tomorrow's events once again fled his mind as he regarded her. She was sitting up straight with her bare back to him and the sheet held tightly in front of her. "What's wrong, Mill?"

The tall girl looked over shoulder, surprised but still half asleep. "I...I thought you left again..."

Nick looked hurt by the statement and shoved the cigarette butt into the ashtray, walking back over. He knew he did have to go soon, but there's no way he'd walk out this time without even saying goodbye. "Of course not." He sat down on the edge beside her. "But it is almost dawn. You should go back to sleep, big girl."

Her tired eyes seemed uneasy. "How much longer will you stay, Nicholas?"

He sighed, forcing a weak smile and telling the truth. "God knows I don't want to leave, but I've got to. I started something and now I have to finish it." He slid his pants back off, getting under the covers. "After sunrise I can hang around for a quick breakfast...but then I'll have to go."

She laid back down beside him as he pulled the blanket over them both. "But we didn't really sleep...are you going to be able to-"

The priest gave a genuine grin, wrapping his arms around her waist. "It won't be a problem. All the more reason to win, when I know I have this to come back to."

They were lying on their sides, facing each other and sharing the bed's only pillow. Milly blushed, as he suddenly pulled her closer against him so their hips were touching again. A feel she was still a bit intimidated by. "Now don't be too greedy Mr.Priest..."

Wolfwood smirked with his face half in the pillow. "Nah, you're safe now...just making sure ya stay warm babe."

She cocked an eyebrow and gave him a light kiss on the nose before burying her face as well. "Good. Don't get any ideas while I'm asleep." He gave an overly evil snicker and she pinched his side with a smirk. It was good to know his sense of humor was still alive and well.