Meryl had never thought of herself as the least bit claustrophobic…that is, until she found her self trapped with no possible way to escape if there were an emergency. Now looking at the icy wall before her, she realized that she was indeed trapped. As the snow melted slightly, the water brushing against her bare feet on the floor, she felt like the world were caving in, and claustrophobia kicked in.

She closed the door as the icy water shook her from her dazed pondering, bringing her back to the situation at hand. Walking over to the table she dropped her self at the closest seat, never blinking as she sighed deeply and tiredly.

"Hey what's for bre-" Vash stopped himself, realizing that something was wrong. His attention dropped to the water next to the door, deciding to see what lurked outside. As he discovered the snowy barrier behind the door, he simply stated "Oh." Walking to the chair next to Meryl, he dropped himself into it, sighing as well.

"We're trapped." Meryl said, stating the obvious conclusion. At Vash's silence she stated "What are we going to do?"

Vash stood up, raising his head. "There's nothing we CAN do. We'll just have to wait it out." He smiled back at his dark-haired insurance girl. "Until the snow melts we're stuck here."

"There has to be some way we can get out of here." Meryl thought for a second. "Can't you dig out of it?"

Vash contemplated for a moment, then said "Two problems with that, one, my shovel is a few feet from the house where I threw it down. Two, where would I put the snow?"

"Damn." Meryl walked over to the kitchen cabinets, opening them and peering in. "I'd say we have the provisions to last us three days at most. And with that amount of snow, I think it may take longer than that for it all to melt."

"Well not really, once it melts enough for me to get outside at all, I will start shoveling a path way to at least a place where we can get food, bandages and the other essentials." Vash looked back at the door, finishing his plan. "And by the looks of things, three days should be just enough. It's the time it will take me to shovel that I will be worried about."

"And with Knives unconscious there is only one person that can help you dig." Someone stated behind them.

The two of them turned, seeing Milly in her old work uniform. "Ready when you are." She grinned.

Vash laughed at Milly's enthusiasm. "It's going to be at least a couple of days, big-girl."

Milly smiled brightly. "I'll be ready."

"I'm sure you will." Meryl smiled, laughing lightly. "Well looks like there is a small crew to dig for us."

Vash smiled back. "I guess so."

Milly set her helmet down, happy with the smiles she put on the couple's face. Sitting back down in the chair next to Knives' bed, she held his hand lightly, kissing it. "Sleep well." Though by the sweat dripping off of him she could tell that he wasn't.

Knives' fingers twitched and his pupils were moving under his eyelids, signaling a bad dream or perhaps something more. His hair was lightening every hour, little by little, and was now a dull grey. Milly hoped to see his platinum blonde locks back to their natural color soon, and took the changing shades as a form of regenerating. Though still, she wondered what was so horrible in his dream, knowing that in dreams you feel no pain.

Looking at his closed eyes, the brunette imagined the bright blue orbs underneath, and the passion that he had encaged in them. It was the same amount of energy that she saw the day he woke up, back in that little house a few iles from L.R. but not for the same reason. He hadn't become a new person, but his morals had changed in many ways.

The white window brought back the memories of the times that she just gazed at him as he sat out in the snow, watching the flakes fall from the sky. He looked so calm, his legs crossed, his head tilted back, gazing up at the sky as if it had all of the answers in which he searched. Finally Knives would fall backwards, letting the snow melt beneath him and soak his clothes, only concerned with his own thoughts and nothing more.

Milly smiled as she remembered his ever pondering expression. He seemed so intelligent, and so beautiful to her, his eyes flaring with so much energy, his hair in short spikes, unlike Vash's long ones, and his body so calm and unmoving. The vision…or memory of days like that, would never leave her mind.

The one memory, however, that always lingered in her mind, was the day he cried. The tears of kempt emotions he'd held for 130 years finally poured from his eyes, soaking her shirt, telling her that he did have feelings too. He did feel guilt for his actions in the past, and like many men, he tried to hide them with anger, and aggression. It was times like that, when Milly was happy that Knives could sit in the snow and ponder to himself without a care in the world. But then again, it was nice knowing she could help.

That was the day her broken heart replenished.

She'd seen Wolfwood like that many times, thinking about what his morals truly were. Especially after the unspeakable incident with Zazie. Thoughts of his relationship with Vash were ever so obvious to everyone, but at the same time, he would wonder if he was doubting his reason for befriending Vash…for the children. Since he had killed a child, he had indeed went against his own rules, but he had done it for the assignment of keeping Vash alive, so what was the right choice?

That night in Wolfwoods hotel room, he had looked up at her, locking eyes, as if searching for every answer to every question and doubt in his mind. Tomorrow, he'd said to her, I want you to stay here. And whatever you do, don't come outside. Stay here for me. Promise me.

That was how her heart was broken in the first place.

Now seeing Knives in bed, in emotional pain, without any way to help him, she was reminded of the uselessness that she had felt when Wolfwood died. Even though in no way was it her fault, she still felt as though she could have done something to have prevented his death. And although time and time again she has told herself not to cry, tears are always present when she thinks of her first love.

A single tear fell from her cheek to her hand, surprising her at first, because she didn't even know she was crying. Then she looked at Knives, who had somewhat calmed down from his earlier state. Now he looked so calm. As if he were thinking once again.

The strands of his hair lightened once again, turning into a light grey. His fists clenched, as did his eyelids, as blue met blue once again.

Note: You may be a little bit confused, but then again, you may not be. I am very happy with how this chapter turned out, and don't worry, more fluffy will come. I PROMISE! Well since I can't tell you guys how much I love you and that I want to thank each and every one of you and that Claen'tor needs to get online more often, I guess I will go. C-ya love ya bye!

DPA(Pyro)