Chapter 3-Confessions

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Meryl awoke with a start at the sounds of clashing metal pans. She clenched her teeth together in annoyance. She could faintly hear Millie humming to herself on top of it. She groaned as she brought her hands to her eyes to rub them sleepily. She was too comfortable to get up, but the smell of food cooking in the other room beckoned her to rise from her slumber. She felt her stomach growl painfully. She rubbed it as if to quell its hungry protest.

Suddenly, she remembered who she was sharing her bed with as she napped. She couldn't believe she had forgotten. She had grown so used to being alone these past few weeks. Vash was completely sprawled out over the bed. He nearly took up the whole thing as he lay there, snoring noticeably loud. She stepped out of bed lightly as to not disturb the sleeping blonde. She snuck down the hallway, yawning loudly as she stretched some more. Meryl couldn't remember the last time she had a nap that good.

She entered the kitchen to find Millie busily stirring a hug pot of stew. Meryl suddenly felt famished. She cleared her throat softly so she wouldn't startle Millie with her sudden presence. Millie took notice to her friend and smiled.

"Hey there, sleepy head!" She said happily. "It's not like you to nap all day like that."

Meryl shrugged and pulled up a chair from the dining room table.

"I haven't had a good night's sleep all week." Meryl replied; pouring herself a glass of water from the pitcher Millie had prepared.

"Come to think of it, I haven't had a good night's sleep in weeks." She continued. Millie turned off the stove and placed a lid on her pot of stew.

"It's because you've been worried, Meryl. I know you've been worried about Vash. I'm not that dimwitted."Millie laughed.

Meryl felt her cheeks warm at the mere mention of his name. Meryl decided she wouldn't respond to her friend's conclusion. They both knew she was right. Millie offered her sleepy friend a bowl and a spoon.

Meryl jumped in surprise when she noticed Vash standing in the kitchen doorway, still shirtless, stretching his arms up high.

"Mornin' ladies!" He yawned.

"You're both just in time for dinner!" Millie smiled warmly at her companions.

Meryl met eyes with Vash, for a moment, she saw something she hadn't seen before. Maybe that look meant that he had missed her as much as she missed him. Maybe that look meant he was grateful to be back with the girls once again. Either way, it made Meryl's heart jump and flutter about in her chest.

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"I've got a real treat for us tonight." Millie said between mouthfuls of food. Meryl quirked an eyebrow questioningly as Vash slurped down his last bit.

"And what might that be?" Vash asked, slamming his empty bowl down to the table.

Millie rose from her seat and retrieved a large brown paper bag from the top cabinet above the sink. She sat back down in her chair and smiled.

"Well?" Vash and Meryl demanded in unison.
Millie giggled mischievously as she revealed the contents of the brown bag; a giant bottle of Jim Beam Whiskey.
"Awesome!" Vash cheered. "Drinkin' time! Brand name too!"
Meryl laughed and rolled her eyes.
"That was very nice of you Millie." She said. "You didn't have to support this broom head's drinking habits." She teased, thrusting a thumb in the blonde man's direction. He scowled at her mockingly.
"How can you call me a drunk? I haven't drunk in weeks!"
"I don't think we've all drank together since…Since Wolfwood was around." Millie corrected, creating a sudden awkward silence between the trio.
"I just thought it was a good time to celebrate good friends." Millie said, attempting to lighten the mood she had just darkened at the mention of their fallen friend.
"He would have wanted us to, right?" She turned to Vash and winked.
Vash smiled widely. "Yeah. He would have wanted it this way."
Vash dramatically stood on top of the table, the bottle of whiskey rose up high in one hand.
"Wolfwood, if you're up there looking down on us, just know we are still partying it up and drinking like we may die tomorrow. Because we all know our time is limited here. So of course, in your honor, we shall drink!"
Vash sat back down in the chair, his stupid grin taking up nearly his whole face.
Meryl and Millie giggled.
"I think he heard you, Broom head."
"Yeah, it's hard NOT to hear your incessant ramblings."
The girls went off on another fit of laughter, as Vash tried to contain his.
"Alright then, if you're done making fun of me, let's drink shall we?"

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The night went on as it usually did when they drank together. They talked of whatever subject came to mind. Rambled and ranted a bit when it turned into a slight argument. Of course, all hard feelings were forgotten when they had the bright idea of playing a drinking game or two. As always, Millie was the first one out of the game on account of losing her basic motor skills. Meryl and Vash found themselves alone suddenly. Millie had passed out over the dining room table.
"Millie?" Meryl leaned in over her drunken friend and gently shook her.
Millie only groaned and mumbled something incoherent.
"Millie, it's time to go to bed now."
Millie slapped her friend's hand away and continued snoring quite loudly.
Meryl laughed and shrugged at Vash, who was looking on in amusement.
"Here, lemme help." He said as he stood up from his chair. He lifted Millie up and over his shoulder with ease and carried her to her bedroom. Meryl helped her under her blankets.
Millie uttered a few more drunken slurs before Meryl and Vash left her to sleep it off.
Suddenly, Meryl and Vash were alone there in the hallway. Vash looked down at his small female companion and smiled.
"You still up for another game?"

Meryl giggled and turned to walk down the hall to her bedroom.
"No thanks! A few more drinks, and I'll be sick!"
Vash followed suit, like a lost puppy.
"Aww, c'mon Mer'! You two are such lightweights"
Meryl stopped at her door and whirled around to face Vash.
"Well, we don't drink. And we're just a couple of working girls after all!" She stuck her tongue out at the blonde, who pouted mockingly.
"You going to bed? Already?"
Meryl opened her door, stumbling inside slowly. She didn't realize how drunk she was until she began moving her legs more. They felt like limp noodles.
"Well, it's only three o'clock in the morning Vash!" She chided. "You should be getting some more sleep yourself."
She rummaged through one of her drawers for her pajamas. She turned to the blonde, who lingered in her doorway. His eyes locked on her as if he had nowhere to go. His gaze looked almost as if he were pleading.
"I imagine you're pretty tired after all of this…traveling." She continued. But what did she know? Vash had been gone for weeks. What did she know of the troubles he had been through?
"Yeah." Vash answered vaguely. "It's been a while. I guess I'm just really happy to be back." He smiled at the raven haired woman in front of him.
A long silence ensued. Meryl was unsure of what to say.
"I gotta get dressed ya know." Meryl said, shooing the man away with her hand.
Vash pouted again and turned to walk down the hallway. Meryl waited until the sound of his boots faded before undressing.
Once she was done slipping on her pajama bottoms, she turned to go close her door and call it a night. To her utter horror, Vash had been standing there the whole time. He only acted like he had walked away.
"Why you little-!" Meryl shouted, taking off on foot after Vash down the hallway, which proved to be a big mistake. Vash dashed away, laughing manically the whole time.

"You can't get meee!" he teased.
"You little pervert! How dare you—AGH!"
Meryl turned a corner and fell to the floor with a loud smack. Her wobbly legs were no good for running at the time being.
"Ow!" She cried, shaking her fist angrily in the air. "I'm gonna get you for this Vash the Stampede!"
Her fury and pain was suddenly quelled at the feeling of Vash's arms suddenly scoop her up. She suddenly found herself being cradled against his chest; her face was right next to his. He smiled mischievously.
"I'm sorry Meryl." He chuckled. "Let's just call it a night, huh?"
Meryl only nodded as she found herself entranced by the man's touch and presence. He walked her down the hallway and back into her bedroom. He stood next to her bed, about to lay her down to sleep.
"Goodnight, Meryl."
"…Vash?"
"Yes?"
"I-I missed you."
The man's expression changed as he sat the woman down. He took a seat next to her on her bed.
"I missed you too, Meryl." He said back, his eyebrows furrowed together. "Is there…Something wrong?"
He noticed Meryl's sudden change in mood. Her eyes became glazed and sparkled under the moonlight in the window. He saw tears gathering in the corners of her eyes. He frowned, wondering what was going on.

"I was worried about you. I honestly thought you'd never come back."
Vash felt taken aback. He scooted closer to Meryl, and wrapped his good arm around her waist. He rested his lips upon her forehead and sighed heavily. Meryl's whole world was spinning out of control. She wasn't sure if it was the alcohol, or Vash's presence. Perhaps it was both. Meryl buried herself more in his warm embrace.
"I always meant to come back." Vash said. "I wouldn't let you live your life wondering what happened to me. I don't think I could live with myself knowing that I hurt you that much."
Meryl felt liked she was melting. Damnit, alcohol was nature's truth serum!

"Vash? I think…"Did she dare say it? She broke their embrace to look him in his aqua gaze. She placed a hand on his cheek.
"I think I'm in love with you."
She thrust her lips upon his, without thinking. Their lips crashed together in a drunken haze. Meryl dreaded for a second that he'd pull away, disgusted. But to her amusement, he kissed back, and with great enthusiasm.
Meryl wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him on top of her.
Their lips parted, and Vash looked down at Meryl, taking a moment to marvel at the woman beneath him. He thought maybe he was dreaming. He questioned whether or not this was actually happening.
"Meryl." He said quietly. He leaned in and met Meryl's lips once again, to confirm to himself that he wasn't dreaming after all.

"I think I've fallen for you as well."

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Early that morning, Millie found herself awake unusually early. Despite having drank fifteen shots, she felt quite refreshed. No hangover this time. Millie credited it to the delicious food she ate before drinking. She didn't have to work until later that day. Even though she knew she could just sleep in, she decided to get up and make the house a big pancake breakfast. Served with tea and orange juice! She really enjoyed having a full house again.

She decided to check on her friend Meryl to make sure she made it to her own bed safely. When she opened the door, however, she got quite the eyeful. Meryl and Vash were both unclothed and partially covered with blankets. Vash laid there next to Meryl with an arm draped over her hip. They both were out-cold, snoring loudly.

Millie shut the door quietly, and blushed. She giggled out loud to herself, and went back to the kitchen to prepare their breakfast.

She passed the guest bedroom, where Vash was supposed to sleep, and heard an unusual sound. It sounded like a muffled voice coming from inside. Millie panicked for a second. As far as she knew, there was no one else in the house.

She ran to retrieve her stun gun from under her bed. She hoisted it on her shoulder, and prepared to unload it on the intruder as she dashed down the hallway.

"If someone is in there, I should have you know we have GUNS, and we aren't afraid to use them!"

She yelled through the door. The heard the muffled voice again, except louder.

"Alright that's it!"

Millie kicked the door open, and aimed for the intruder.

She gasped in surprise to see a man tied up and unable to move laying on the bed. He looked at her in sheer horror.

"Please...don't kill me!"

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(A/N)-
(YAY! Finally finished this chappie! Thank you for all the favs and follows! 3)