Trigun is owned by Yasuhiro Nightow.
Jessica
"Well now that everyone is here, lets head on into the house. I'm sure Jessica would want to see you Vash." Doctor turned and led the four towards a two-story home with warm light filtering through the open windows. The smells of lunch could be detected from these windows and it made Vash's nose sniff the air like a dog.
Meryl swatted at Vash a grumble on her lips, being as she was still held tightly in his arms.
"What Meryl, I like the smell."
"You look like a dog doing that." Grumbled Meryl once again holding on to Vash's neck.
Vash grinned and said, "but I thought you think I'm cute when I'm acting like a little puppy?" and he submitted Meryl to his adorable puppy eyes and droopy lip.
Meryl groaned and shook her head. "Just please be…I don't know, less childish?"
Vash grinned once again. "I promise. I'll save it for when we're alone." He winked and entered the house.
Knives and Stella stayed to the back. There were few people out but the few that were sent the two strange looks. They looked so much like Vash and Meryl who they knew that it disturbed them. They finally were able to enter the house and both were silently relieved that they were out of the public eye.
Doctor entered the living room, which was down the hall from the front door and called out, "Jessica, why don't you come over here. We have some visitors." He settled his miniature frame in one of the comfy chairs and held out his hand to the four to take a seat. Vash headed to the love seat so that he could still cradle a drowsy Meryl in his arms. While Knives and Stella sat on the larger couch both stiff and unsure.
Jessica came out of the kitchen, rubbing her hands on a rag and looked to Doctor. "What visitors?" then she took notice of the four occupants of the room. She didn't get a good look at Knives or Stella since their backs were to her but the moment that she laid eyes on Vash she screeched and ran to him. She unceremoniously dumped Meryl to the floor and took her place on Vash's lap. "Oh Vash! I thought I'd never see you again. I've missed you so much. I even made a new coat for you. I though that the old one would have been destroyed because of that nasty Knives, and look I was right!" she giggled and clung tighter to Vash's neck.
Vash on the other hand was trying desperately to unhook Jessica from his neck while trying not to make too much of a fool of himself. He could feel Meryl's anger from being dumped to the floor. "Ah, ha, Jessica, wow some grip you got there. Could you umm please let go now?" then there was giggling, and not from the child on his lap but rather from his Meryl and Knives. He looked over at them disbelief in his eyes. Knives was sitting pretty watching the display with apparent humour in his cold blue eyes. Meryl on the other hand was sitting on the armrest beside Stella giggling.
"Yes oh great Vash the Stampede, what a following you have!" she giggled once again and leaned on Stella for support. Stella simply blinked looked questioningly at Vash.
Vash grinned uncomfortably and finally after pushing Jessica to a safe distance looked her in the eye. She still held that childish adoration for him and if he was to be near his Meryl he would have to tell Jessica the truth. This was going to be one of the hardest things Vash had done in a long time. Vash wanted to please everyone and Jessica (his own personal cheering squad) was one that he wanted to please the most, but looking at Meryl he could not afford that. Meryl was willingly to kill to protect and care for the ones that she loved. Vash couldn't kill but he was capable of disappointment. It was small in comparison to what Meryl was willingly to do but it needed to be done.
"Jessica there is something that I need to tell you." Vash began his heart beating like a drum in is chest.
Jessica looked on with adoration.
"I have chosen a life mate-" but before Vash could get another word out Jessica latched herself to his neck.
"Oh Vashy!" she cried, "I'm ready to be your wife. I can't wait. Are we going to get married here? Or are we going to a big town?" questions continued to spill from her pink lips as she stretched up to Vash to steal a kiss.
Knives clenched his jaw and made a motion to stop the fretting girl when Stella stopped him. She shook her head and rested her hand on his knee. Knives looked over to Meryl, knowing her temper he expected her to be red in the face and wanting to beat the living snot out of this 'Jessica'. Instead Meryl was calmly looking at the two.
Meryl moved from the armrest and stood tall (all four foot nothing of her), and said, "Well I'll leave you two alone then." She turned to leave when Knives' voice forced her to stop.
"What the hell woman. Isn't he your mate? And you're going to walk away and let this lowly spider fondle all over him?"
Meryl smiled ruefully to the floor and glanced over at the two. Vash was looking at her trying to beg her to go save him, and turned away. "If your brother does not have the guts to tell her the truth then I don't want him as a mate." Meryl walked out and headed to the back porch.
Vash watched in fear as his lover walked out on him. Once again his naïve nature was screwing things up. He swallowed his apprehension and pushed Jessica away. He looked at Jessica his green eyes going cold. "Jessica I have chosen a wife, and she just left, excuse me." Vash rose and left Jessica to the love seat. Vash followed Meryl calling her name softly.
Knives smirked at the human and crossed his arms happy that Vash had done something good, for once. Stella sat silent and looking between the old man and the crushed child.
"But…but Vashy…" whined Jessica. Her lower lip trembled and wavered.
Doctor rose from his chair and patted Jessica on the shoulder. "I'm sorry Jessica, but Vash has made his choice. There is nothing you can do." He turned to Knives and Stella, "well how about I find you two a room and you can tell me what brought Vash back here." the three left the room and Jessica turned to look out the window at the two silhouettes on the porch.
Meryl stood a good two heads shorter then Vash, while he wrapped her shoulders with his arm. They stood at the step and spoke in low tones that even Jessica who tried straining her ears could not hear.
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"I'm sorry Meryl. I didn't know what to do. You know how much I hate to upset people. But trust me, I'll never leave you." He held her close and rubbed her shoulder.
Meryl was still and stiff, not knowing how to react to Vash's actions. She finally sighed her defeat and leaned into him. "I know Vash, but seeing how she reacted when you were trying to tell her mad me so angry. To think that she's the only girl that you would choose, it just, ahhh…pissed me off for lack of a better word."
Vash chuckled and grinned down at Meryl. "I fully expected you to toss her off and lay your claim to me. I guess meeting your old lover was far easier then meeting up again with my fan club."
"Yeah, Ben was never one for confrontations. But what are we going to do for now. She'll be sullen and upset the whole time we're here."
Vash shrugged and pulled Meryl into an awkward hug. "She'll just have to deal with it, and you my dear mate will rest. The last few days have been rather hard on you. Come on, I bet Doc is showing Knives and Stella where our rooms are. I want you washed and in bed resting." Vash guided Meryl into the house while he berated her on her health.
"Wait a minute! Why are you Mother Henning me all of a sudden?"
"Well I do want children eventually. And you my love have to be in the best of health to bear them!"
Meryl would have screamed her displeasure but for Vash's lips on hers. This stopped all argument.
Jessica on the other hand watched from the living room, her eyes full of tears.