Author's rambles: This chapter is for Wolferz, who was so eager to read Chapter eight, she watched me write it. XD By the way, if anyone wants to see a piccie of Lavender and Airies, email me. Wolferz screamed so I sketched. I would post it somewhere, but I cannot be bothered. :3

Disclaimer(Yes, this is a real disclaimer.): I do not own Trigun. Period. But I do own Lavz and Airz. :0

Chapter nine: Girls

Meryl sighed deeply, exhausted and sore, mixed emotions and questions coursing through her. 'Where the hell is Vash at time like this?' she wondered dejectedly. Partially curled up in a hospital bed, yet again, Meryl was perceiving how completely different this morning from yesterday morning. She laid a hand over her stomach and underwent a strange sensation. After the events of last night, it felt as though she had lost half her bodyweight. But despite lingering pain, Meryl smiled broadly and experienced pride at the realization that she was now a mother. The thought elated her and she felt her eyes begin to water.

"I just can't believe it, Meryl!" Milly exclaimed, appearing at the entrance to the ward. Her own eyes were glistening.

"Twins! I can't believe it!" she reiterated. Meryl looked up at her and beamed. Milly sniffed then scurried over to Meryl and hugged her tightly. "Oh, Meryl!" she squealed. Meryl gave strangled titter and patted her friend on the back. Milly sniveled before giving Meryl a very atypical grin.

"I'm an auntie!" she laughed. Meryl snorted weakly.

"Umm…Milly…you're not my sister," she pointed out. Milly gave her a defiant stare.

"I'm close enough," she growled then giggled. Meryl chuckled with her.

"Augh…Where is Vash?" Meryl sighed to herself.

"Don't worry, Meryl! I'm sure he'll be here soon," Milly soothed, sitting herself down next to her friend. She smoothed out the thighs of her trousers and smiled.

"Gee, Meryl, I'm so happy for you!" she squeaked. Meryl's cheeks glowed.

"Thank you, Milly," she said, shifting carefully into a sitting position.

"How are you feeling?" Milly asked thoughtfully.

"Dreadful," Meryl said. "Hard work, you know." Milly blushed, feeling slightly embarrassed that she had no inkling as to how hard it actually was for Meryl.

"Umm…" she began slightly uncomfortably. "I-is there anything I can get you, Meryl? Are you hungry?" she chirped.

"Oh, no," Meryl groaned with consternation. "No. I really don't think I'd be able to eat even if I was hungry."

"Oh, well, let me know if you do want something later on."

"I will."

There was a small silence before either of them spoke again. It was a somewhat awkward situation Milly had been put in. She knew absolutely nothing about the effects childbirth; only that it hurt. It really hurt. It hurt even for Milly as Meryl had been squeezing her hand to the point of discoloring. When color did return, it happened to be a nasty shade of purple. Milly brushed her fingers over the swelling of her other hand and a funny expression crept up her face.

"So…uh…have you thought of names?" she asked finally.

"What?" Meryl mumbled. Her eyes were now shut and her head fallen against the giant pillow behind her.

"Have you thought of names for your children?" Milly repeated. Meryl stirred and opened her eyes.

"Well…" she gazed at Milly. "Well, no, actually. I never really gave it a thought." She quickly decided not to say: 'I guess I was focusing on Vash too much to think about it.'

"But," she added as Milly gave her an oddly sad visage. "I think…Yes, I always really liked the name Airies," she said. "It's a bit weird, I know. But I like it." Meryl flushed.

"I don't think it's weird at all! I think it's sweet!" Milly cheeped. A broad smile appeared on Meryl's face but slunk away the moment she and Milly heard familiar footsteps coming down the hallway. Vash materialized at the threshold, his face screwed up as if he was steeling himself not to burst out and cry. Meryl frowned as he strode stiffly over to her. A long hush fell on the room before Vash broke it with an uncontrollable wave of blubbering.

"Meryyyyyyyl!" he bleated, flinging his arms around her. Meryl blushed.

"Get off me, you!" Meryl growled but accompanied it with a snigger.

"I'm sorry," Vash said, sniveling and mopping the sides of his eyes with his sleeve. Meryl gazed into his optics and felt all previous anger and thoughts of malcontent towards him wash away.

"It's okay," she said soothingly. "Now tell me where you've been!" she groused, a small ghost of annoyance returning. "Or I will envision hitting you, since I don't have the strength to actually hit you." Vash stifled a laugh before rooting around in his pocket. He pulled out a small velvet box and retrieved from it a silver chain with an ornate locket. He gulped and handed it gently to Meryl. She gawped at it.

"Vash…?" she posed.

"For her. For our daughter," he verified. Meryl smiled and ran her fingers over the etch-work of the pendant. It reminded her of that on her ring.

"It's beautiful," she said. "But, I'm afraid…" she trailed off. Vash cocked his head to the side a little.

"Hm?"

"I'm afraid you're a father of twins," Meryl announced. Vash's mouth dropped open and came in danger of hitting the floor. Milly giggled.

"You're kidding?" Vash said weakly, staring at Meryl in utter disbelief. Meryl smirked at him as he began to resemble a gawping goldfish. She shook her head at him and leaned closer. Sniggering, she pinched Vash's nose, flicked his mouth shut and gave him a light kiss. Vash made no response and continued to stare, a thousand thoughts struggling against one another at the doorway to conscious thought.

"Be happy," Meryl said after her little sequence of actions. Emotion finally crossed Vash's face.

"Oh Meryl!" he whimpered, throwing his arms tightly around her again. "I am happy! I'm so happy! God, I'm so happy I think I'm gonna cry!" he added.

"You are crying, you dolt!" Meryl exclaimed with a laugh. Milly beamed at the two, subliminally drawing little hearts in the air around them.

"I'm so glad you two worked everything out!" she said happily. Meryl gave Milly a nod and an awkward smile. Vash seemed not to have heard her and continued bawling in between asphyxiated mutterings of how happy he was.

"Congratulations, Miss Meryl," said Knives' simpering voice from the doorway. Meryl jumped slightly as she had not heard him pad down the corridor to the maternity ward. Vash released Meryl and turned to Knives.

"Th-thank you," said Meryl shyly. Vash grinned at his sibling and held up his own trademark peace sign.

"Twins!" he said.

"Is that a fact?" Knives replied, his attention sparked. A delicious thought struck him. "Well, isn't that wonderful!"

"It is!" Vash exclaimed, barely controlling his glee. Meryl stared fixedly at Knives. Something was off about the way he had said 'wonderful.' It was, to Meryl, almost as if he had meant it but in a completely different way. Before she could pursue this train of thought, Milly grasped Meryl's hand and smiled warmly at her.

"Meryl, would you like to go and see them?" she asked as though trying to convince her. Meryl paused, suddenly apprehending that she had not actually glimpsed her children.

"Yes, I think I would," she replied.

"Me too!" Vash chirruped and grinned. Knives shrugged and offered a small smile as if to say he would tag along. Meryl dangled her feet over the edge of her bed and got slowly to her feet. Vash put his arm around her to steady her slightly and they made their way into the lobby. Milly and Knives followed, exchanging smiles of different emotions. Vash clasped Meryl's hand and beamed down at her as they passed the different wards.

"Here we are," said Milly as they came upon a tiny ward with broad look-in-windows. She and Meryl stepped forward and pressed their hands up against the cool glass. Meryl scanned the few inhabitants of the ward until her eyes came to two domed cribs, side by side, and bearing two tiny children. Her heart jumped and her cheeks began to blaze.

"Oh my goodness, look at them," she breathed. She felt Vash's arm coil around her again as he advanced to survey also. "They're beautiful," Meryl said. "Two beautiful little girls." Knives felt his thoughts snap. 'Girls?' he gasped mentally. 'GIRLS?'

"They are," Vash whispered, pulling Meryl closer to him. Knives let a silent curse escape his lips and gnashed his teeth, a flash of fury and malice meeting his icy optics. 'No…' He glowered at his new nieces from behind his brother's back. It wasn't supposed to be like this, he angered. He heard himself snarling and promptly stopped as Vash turned his head. Knives plastered a convincingly warm smile on his face. Vash perused him for a moment then smiled back. Knives inclined his head and began to hurry away. He had to get away before he lost control of himself and did something rash.

"Knives? Where are you going?" Vash asked.

"I'm…" Knives paused, desperately thinking up an alibi. "I'm just going to get something to drink." Lame, he conceded, but believable. Vash watched Knives scoot away down the hall and could not help sensing something strange. He shrugged it off and turned back to Meryl. Milly examined the content look and Meryl's face made to follow Knives.

"I'm a little peckish," she stated. "I'll see you two later, okay?" She waved and strode happily down the hall after Knives, wondering what kind of pudding she might find at the hospital cafeteria. Meryl waved after her.

"Always hungry…" she mumbled. Vash chuckled.

"I'm sure we both know what she's really thinking," he said. Meryl smirked and leaned back against her lover's chest.

"Sometimes it worries me how smart Milly actually is," she replied.

"You too?" They both laughed. Meryl sighed contentedly and clung to Vash's arm, her eyes beginning to glisten. Vash cuddled her and ran his fingers though her hair.

"You kinda scared me last night," he said. "I mean…A month early."

"Yeah…It was a little shocking for me, too," said Meryl. "But, oh Vash, just look at them!" she cried. Vash smiled and held Meryl more closely.

"They're really beautiful," Meryl repeated. "And they're so different for twins," she added, observing the differences in the colour of their eyes and hair.

"Mm," Vash murmured in response, continuing to beam at his children.

"What do you think of the name Airies?" Meryl asked. Vash looked down at her with warm eyes.

"I think it's a beautiful name," he replied.

"For her," Meryl said, pointing to the older, blonde, of the two. Vash nodded.

"What shall her name be?" he asked, gesturing to the other.

"You decide," said Meryl, snuggling up to Vash. He gazed intently at his daughter, names streaming through his mind. None of them seemed to suit her. Vash turned his eyes on Meryl's soft features, and then it came to him.

"…Lavender," Vash said finally. "The colour of your eyes." Meryl smiled up at him and embraced him.

"Lovely," she whispered. "That's a lovely name." All resentment was gone. All ill feelings had faded. There were no longer reservations. Doubt had no place for consideration. Meryl leant closer. Vash kissed her deeply and she knew there would be no more lies. Meryl could not have had greater faith in the man standing before her.

"Vash…" she spoke quietly.

"Mm?"

Meryl took up Vash's soft hands and entwined her fingers through his. They both glanced down at the silver ring on Meryl's left hand.

"I accept," she said and they exchanged another long kiss.

Knives clenched his fists as he hurried down the stairs. He was barely containing his anger. 'It's all wrong!' he bayed mentally. 'They weren't supposed to be girls!'

He stomped through the hospital with great alacrity and cursed at the insight that his plans were in tatters.

"DAMNATIONS!" he shouted, striking the nearest drywall hard with the butt of his fist. "Ow," Knives snarled, pulling back his hand and seeing a few bloodied fragments of plaster crumble away to the floor. He turned and slumped back against the wall, continuing to curse under his breath. 'Why must things continue to defy me!' Knives hissed in thought. He clenched his fists tighter, his knuckles beginning to pale. His scheme was ruined and it was entirely his brother's fault! He could have screamed until his throat became raw. Then he paused for moment, contemplating. All of a sudden his eyes took on a sadistic, rancorous glee and he cupped his chin between his thumb and index. 'Perhaps,' he thought, 'I could make this situation work to my advantage.'

"Mister Knives?"

Knives flinched and quickly adhered a soothing smile as he turned to face Milly.

"Are you alright, mister Knives?" Milly asked. "I heard you shout."

"I'm fine now," Knives replied pleasantly. "I tripped and fell down the stairs, is all."

"Oh, I see. Well would you like to come and get some pudding with me? I feel like celebrating, don't you?" Milly asked cheerfully.

"Oh yes," said Knives. "Definitely."

La la, you know what to do. :3