Disclaimer: Trigun is sadly enough not mine, or there would have been way more episodes!
Chapter 12: Meryl's POV
When she had awoken she was laying on her bed, under the blankets, with her coat and shoes gone. Startled, she had jerked upright as the previous night had come flooding back to her. She wanted to hate Knives, to hold on to the anger that came from all the pain he had put Vash through, but after last night and the revelations it held that was no longer a choice. Both brothers were in a hell of one type or another.
She didn't even realize that she was crying until Milly sat down on the bed next to her to give her a one armed hug, murmuring, "I am sure whatever is making you sad will pass. It will be alright."
Using the palm of her hand to wipe her face she gave a shaky smile to her dependable friend. Milly had gone through a great deal in the last few months, yet she still remained as cheerful as ever, her sadness only peaking through once and a while.
"Thanks Milly," she replies as gives herself a mental shake.
Milly nods, "Its okay Miss Meryl, that's what friends and family do, they take care of each other. It why we were helping Mr. Knives despite his history with Mr. Vash, its why you help me and I help you. That's just the way it works." Pausing she looks around before looking back at her, "do you think that those plants knew what they were talking about last night?"
Nodding, she responds, "I do, why do you ask Milly? What was your conversation with them like? Mine was about the guys histories…" her voice trails off as the images re-assault her mind again, almost overwhelming it.
For a minute Milly fidgets before answering, "The one I talked to, Yali, she said I was pregnant Miss Meryl. If I am I can't go back to work for the insurance company, it's not safe enough."
Meryl thinks about it for a moment, shocked at the information, she had suspected that the two had shared the bed that night but had never asked. Milly had carried herself like a widow, someone who had lost her love and Meryl had thought it better to allow her to work through it in her way. Now, several months later she had discovered that it had a longer term effect then she had realized.
"What do I do Miss Meryl? I don't know anything about babies," her friends voice is soft, almost scared.
Meryl turns to her, smiling, "First you see the doctor to see how healthy you are, you have to stay healthy. Then we figure out if we want to stay here or go somewhere else, and if so where. After that we make a home, send letters to the company saying we're sorry we cannot come back at this time when our vacation time runs out, and we start a new life. I'll be there for you Milly, just like you have been there for me."
Milly's eyes get wide as she stares at her, "Are you sure Miss Meryl? Really, really sure?"
Nodding, she answers, "Yeah, I am. I want to try and clear their names, both of them, then they can live normal lives. Legato caused the majority of the problems by egging Knives on and going after Vash, with him being dead, and the known cause in several communities of different problems I should be able to get it recorded that he was framing Vash. Then the reward for his capture goes away, which gets rid of the bounty hunters."
Grinning, Milly throws her arms around Meryl in a tight hug, causing her to gasp, "I need to breathe."
"Oh!" she exclaims letting go, "Sorry Miss Meryl."
Giving herself a shake, she smiles, "It's okay Milly, but can you do me a favor?"
"What is it Miss Meryl?"
"Stop calling me Miss Meryl, I am just Meryl and I am soon enough not going to be the higher ranked one between us so it feels odd."
Milly looks at her thoughtfully for a minute before nodding, "I can try." Pausing and looking around she inquires, "can we get breakfast now? I'm starving."
Bursting out laughing, she stands up, "Yeah, I can make breakfast, think the guys will be hungry?"
"Oh yes, Mr. Knives was almost completely healed when I put in his bed last night, he passed out much like you did. Mr. Vash carried you, and he looked happy to do so, so I did not suggest we trade." Milly babbles as she grabs the brush for her hair. "He looked really worried about you."
Meryl pauses in her changing of clothes to look down at her hands. She had felt so alive when connected with the plant, Vash's sister that made him a plant too. Merra had been very open with her, wanting her to understand not just one of her brothers but both of them. She had gotten the impression that while the plants were not happy with Knives actions they had still cared for him because he was family.
"I think I am going to talk with him tonight, I need to talk to him tonight." She replies eventually before heading to the door. "Come on, let's go get you some coffee before you realize your awake without it, and get breakfast going, I am sure the guys would appreciate that."
As the two girls walk out of their bedroom and down the hall they can hear the water running in the shower, but that does not mask the sound of crying that they can also hear. Both girls glance at each other, it does not sound like Vash, so it must be Knives. Meryl is considering checking on him, when she sees Vash exit there room and go into the bathroom with his sweats on.
Nodding to each other, they continue on their way to the kitchen where Milly warms what is left of yesterdays coffee while Meryl sets about to making breakfast.