Milly blinked twice, opening her eyes to make sure that her visions were true. Her eyes synced back with the icy blue orbs of a relieved plant. She was in shock, unable to speak or think coherent thoughts.

Panting heavily, Knives winced slightly trying to speak for the first time in four days. " Wa-" he coughed lightly, trying to regain his voice. "Water." He whispered finally.

Milly quickly complied, getting water out of the kitchen, Meryl and Vash looking at her curiously as she dashed back into the bedroom, with now only half a glass of water in her hand, which was soaking wet.

Knives smirked lightly at her clumsiness, but drank the water graciously. "How long have I been asleep?" He stated, his voice still slightly raspy.

"Four days." Milly said. "But your hair…it is…grey. I thought it would lighten back to its original shade of blonde." She said, running her hand through his light grey hair."

Knives nodded, clearing his throat before explaining. "Most likely from the use of excessive energy when I healed you and my brother and his pet three days ago. Speaking of which, what happened to Harmony?"

"To tell you the truth," Vash started, walking in the room in front of Meryl, "I'm not quite sure. She was laying face down in the snow, blood pouring from her ears as if she was killed from the inside out." Vash sighed, dropping his head. "I don't think I even want to know what happened."

Beside him Meryl's eyes widened slightly. Why…don't I remember… She though, referring to how she woke herself up. She died when I woke up but…what happened…I remember the dream about Vash but after that… Visions of her derringers appearing in her hand came to mind, along with others, but the pieces of memories didn't fit.

Knives nodded lightly. "So…when are we leaving this town."

Vash scratched the back of his head nervously, laughing lightly. "Well ya see, there's kind of a problem with that." He said, pointing towards the window with his artificial arm.

Knives turned, sitting up and opening the golden colored shades to reveal a pale white wall. "So we're trapped here."

"Yup."

"And we're digging out tomorrow."

"If by we, you mean Milly and I, yes. But it will take some-"

"Wait. So I sit around on my ass while you two do the work." Knives interrupted, raising his hand in the air.

Meryl retorted, sharply. "No. You are just healing, so you have to help me try to keep the house tidy and the food warm with the little rations that we have."

Knives attempted to stand up in order to stretch his limbs, "Well then, maybe we can have some decent cooking for a change. With a hundred and fifty years on my side I think I can prepare a little variety whether Vash likes it or not." He laughed lightly before his knees wobbled under him and Milly helped him sit back down steadily.

"I cook variety." Meryl said smugly.

"Name four different dinner foods."

"Spaghetti, salmon, cord-on bleu, ham, ste-"

"That you can cook." He interrupted.

"Spaghetti, salmon, and…"

"Exactly."

Knives opened his eyes, looking around the oh so familiar room. It was the room he was in as he was healing. He took a deep breath, that was quickly pushed out of him as an oh so familiar pain struck him. It was as Staccato had said. "Power by day," Knives said aloud, shortening the younger Bluesummers' words. "Payment by night."

His arms were being pulled tighter and tighter as they did before. Then Knives realized, that was the fate of his dreams for the rest of his life.

Three days later the four finally decided that they weren't getting out so soon. Even with Vash's new plan of drying a plank he'd found under a pile of snow on the ground, and using it was a torch to melt the ice, he knew it would take at least another week to get out of the town.

"But I did make it to the house next door." Milly said happily.

"So is there any food?" Meryl looked at her partner curiously.

"No." the long haired girl chirped innocently.

"Provisions?"

"No."

"Then why does it matter?"

Milly shrugged. "Just thought I'd let you know." She chuckled.

Knives rubbed his temples at her ignorance, wondering how he could have developed feelings for such an annoying woman. As she looked at him smiling at her, he then remembered.

Meryl groaned at Milly's comment, a muscular arm wrapped around her shoulders. Falling onto Vash's chest next to her she mumbled. "I'm in a house of insanity."

"And you fit in so well." Vash said, petting Meryl's hair.

"That's what depresses me." She groaned again.

Milly laughed at the two. "Oh and I also found a store."

Meryl brightened up. "And?"

"They are almost out of food, but at least there is something."

Meryl smiled, then looked at Vash. "How come you aren't finding anything?"

"I do." He said. "Just not anything worth mentioning. An empty jewelry store, houses, shoe store, bar."

"And a bar wasn't anything worth mentioning?" Meryl eyed him suspiciously.

"No. I have someone to look after now. Twenty-four hour surveillance." He smiled at her. "And I can't do my job if I'm drunk."

"So I'm just a job to you?" Meryl laughed.

"Ugh." Knives groaned. "I wish you two wouldn't woo each other in public. It disgusts me more than you can possibly imagine." He said. "Either that, or move so I can leave the room."

The other three people laughed as he left, utterly disgusted.

Vash soon kissed Meryl on the cheek before leaving to go to bed.

Once the two girls were alone in the kitchen, Milly asked, "Meryl, do you have any scissors?"

Quizzically, Meryl responded, "Yeah, but why?"

Milly laughed, smiling at the image in her head as she replied. "I think it's time I got a hair cut."

At this statement, Meryl's mouth dropped.

Note: I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry! I don't have a computer at home so the only time I ever get to update is when I'm at my uncle's house during the week, and between his work hours and my band practice it has been hard to find time to update. But some news! I have a challenge!

Okay…

CHALLENGE Meryl, pregnant, Vash's child, sick, Vash has to choose, Meryl, or the baby. Who will live! Okay have fun…or don't…I hope you don't have fun writing such an angsty type of fic. Well I am anxious to hear what you's guys come up with. C-ya love ya bye!

DPA(Pyro)