Author's Note- I realize that in Loving Life, Wolfwood and Millie have two children, but I made the decision to take them out of this story. I hope it doesn't cause confusion. Thank you for reading.

Chapter 6: An Evil Introduction

Meryl sat at her new typewriter, gently setting her fingertips on the shiny new keys. A strand of her short black hair slipped down her cheek. She didn't bother pushing it away, captivated with her birthday gift. Her recently lilac eyes gazed at the silver letters. The gold knobs glittered in the scarce blue light of the moon.

A black-gloved hand rested on Meryl's shoulder. She turned back and up into the face of her companion, her lips curved up into a small smile. "Thank you, Vash. It's the most beautiful gift I've ever received." And the only gift she'd ever received… She pushed back her chair to stand and wrapped her arms around Vash's neck in a loving hug. He leaned forward so Meryl didn't have to stand on her tiptoes. Slipping his arms around her waist, he held her close for a moment.

"Meryl? Meryl!" A childlike voice crashed through the walls. "Meryl?" The door opened to reveal a tall woman with long brown hair and a friendly smile. "Good evening Vash and Meryl! I just came to tell you dinner's ready!"

Meryl pulled away from Vash reluctantly. "Thank you, Millie. We're just about finished here." She looked back at Vash. "Come on!" she prodded with a grin.

"I'll be right there. Just give me a moment…" said Vash.

Meryl nodded and left the tall man in the room. Vash turned to gaze out of the moonlit window. Meryl had grown so much in the past year. Her eyes were no longer a deep brown. Her childhood naivety had fled with the passage of time. Their relationship grew stronger, but sadly Vash thought, in a non-romantic way. Meryl looked up to him as a superior, as something like a dad or uncle. She looked 24 but she was still just a child in theory.

More than anything, Vash wanted her to be happy. Partly because she would go on a killing spree if she got too pissed, but mostly because he loved her with all his heart. No question about it. Millie and Wolfwood had returned to Vash, Knives, and Meryl quickly. They easily realized Vash's dilemma maybe even before Vash did. Not saying anything about it, life went on as it did.

"Happy Birthday, Meryl!" exclaimed Millie and Wolfwood. Even Knives, usually isolated from the group, was out of his corner and smiling.

"Thank you, guys!" Meryl beamed. "Though it's strange… I'm only two years old!" She laughed.

"But so hot!" Wolfwood smirked, as he looked her up and down playfully.

Millie smiled and chided her husband with tug of his hair. Meryl blushed. "Stop, Wolfwood before I accuse you of pedophilia!" Wolfwood chuckled at this.

Vash appeared behind Meryl. "Cake!" His eyes were puppy dog big, staring into the chocolaty goodness that was Meryl's birthday cake. "Can't we just skip dinner and get to the sugar?"

Millie placed her hands on her hips. "No, Mr. Vash. We have to finish our dinner before we have dessert." She winked at Meryl

Vash pouted. "But why do you even put the cake on the table if we have to wait for it?" he whined.

"Oh shut up, Vash," said Meryl with a teasing hit to his chest. "Just eat the food. Millie cooked a big meal for us. You might as well enjoy it."

The family sat down together at the table in the center of the kitchen. Conversations grew and died and grew again throughout the delicious dinner of chicken, rice, and carrots.

"Oh Meryl!" Wolfwood piped up. "I almost forgot. Vash already gave you your gift from him but you have yet to open our gift to you." He pulled out a flat rectangular box wrapped in shiny purple wrapping paper with a green ribbon tied around it.

"Thank you Wolfwood, Millie." Meryl placed the package in her lap and began to unwrap it. The white box looked bare without the wrapping. She tied the ribbon around Mary's wrist and chucked the balled up wrapping paper at Vash. Meryl lifted the lid from the box. She pulled out her old traveling cloak along with the old outfit she used to wear.

"We thought it might go well with the boots you bought last week," said Millie, her blue eyes twinkling.

"Thank you guys so much! This is great. I can't wait to try it on!" Meryl grinned.

"Oh!" Millie clapped her hands together excitedly. "You could model for us after dinner!"

Vash gaped. "What? We have to wait longer for dessert?"

Everyone laughed. "Oh Vash. I can wear it after dessert for the sake of your sanity, ok?"

Vash gave her a lung-crushing hug. "You're so generous and understanding Meryl!"

Meryl gasped for breath. "You… could be… generous too if… you'd let me have… some air…" Vash released her.

"And last but certainly not least," Knives interrupted, "is my gift to you." The less sociable twin handed a dark red jewelry box to Meryl.

She accepted it with a kind smile in his direction. When she opened it however, the smile melted from her features. Her eyes clouded over in confused thought.

"Do you not like them?" Knives asked, disappointed.

Meryl did not answer him. In the jewelry box was a pair of gold dangling earrings. She sat in her chair, memories flitting through her mind, memories she did not remember obtaining. Memories of an older woman with shoulder length black hair and blue eyes. Meryl felt a maternal feeling emanating from this woman, who wore the very earrings Meryl held in her hands.

Vash waved his hand wildly in front of Meryl's face. She blinked and looked up. "Oh Knives! They're beautiful!" She showed no signs of her momentary mood, almost like a dip in the roller coaster. Vash stared at her a moment longer before returning to his food in deep thought.

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. Did you not see her? Did you not feel her? She's here, in this shit ass town. I had the fortune of seeing her fury just last year. It was beautiful, turning water into blood; a show no one is likely to forget."

"What are we going to do with her?"

"I don't know yet. I'll need some time to sort things out back home. But until then, she must not leave your sight. Is that understood?" Yellow cat eyes lit up the darkness of the desert at night.

"Yes sir."

"Good. Finally, a minion who actually listens to me. What a relief. Well, I'm off. And remember, one mistake… and you're gone."