Disclaimer: Trigun is sadly enough not mine, or there would have been way more episodes!

So would anyone be interested in a short story about the group of memousi coming to build their underground aqueduct? Anyways, reviews are always appreciated

Chapter46: Milly's POV
When she went downstairs she had asked the bartender what the highest point within five miles was. He had chuckled and told her that the tallest point was a small cliff about three miles away, according to him you could see for miles from that point. After getting a canteen of water she had followed the directions he had given her, though once she got past the western border of the town it was easy to see.

As she climbed the back side of the hill, she cannot help but think of how very similar this was to when Meryl had done the same going after Mr. Vash when he had sat on the top of that hill in emotional pain. Upon reaching the top of it, she doesn't say a word, just sits down next to him and looks out. For a few minutes the two of them sit there in silence, both observing the surrounding area. She's not even sure he knows that she is there, except he eventually turns towards her, bright blue eyes questioning.

"Hi," she bashfully comments.

He turns back towards the desert, looking out again. "Why did you climb up here?"

Giving a small smile, she responds, "Your hurting, and ummm, its not good." Pausing, she blushes as she tries to figure out what to say, she had never had this much trouble finding the right thing before so why now? "Meryl suggested that you would over think things, I think she's right. It's just…" she trails off.

Again he glances over at her, something unspoken dancing in those beautiful eyes. Go away blue-eyes, I don't wish to deal with any spiders right now.

His tone is harsh, but something tells her it is at himself, not her. After all, he called her by his nickname for her, not spider. Scooting next to him she carefully wraps an arm around his broad shoulders, mind taking the details in even as she turns her attention to the problem at hand. "Nope, not doing it, you'll just sit up here and feel guilty. You might even deserve to feel guilty for some things, but something says you'd feel guilty about way more than is actually your fault. In that regard, Meryl is completely right and you two are alike." She pauses a moment, smiling at him and tilting her head to the side, "you know, you don't have to bottle it up any more. Talk to Mr. Vash, talk to Meryl, talk to Lady Kikyo, talk to someone, just get it out of your system so it can't poison you again." Her voice is soft as she suggests that he talk to someone, she doubts that he would talk to her, she's not as quick to understand things as some of the others, but she still thinks he needs to talk to someone before it makes him sad again.

Why didn't you include yourself? He inquires, curiosity coloring his mind voice.

She shrugs, "Meryl's the only one who ever talks to me about problems. Everyone else thinks I am too slow or innocent." Smiling sadly she remembers that Nick would talk to her about his problems, even if he kept it in the most general of terms, he still would tell her about what he was thinking. Shaking her head, she tries to clear her thoughts since they are not helping her at this point.

For a minute he says nothing, he does not remark on the suggestion or the thought that she had afterwards. Nor does he comment on her reply to his question. Why do you forgive me? he eventually demands. And why are you touching me?

Despite the curtness of his tone, she is pretty certain that he is enjoying being touched. Grinning she replies, "Well my grandfather used to tell all of us kids that it is better to forgive then to become that which you are angry at and my mom always said a hug can help make anybodies day better." Nodding, she falls silent for a minute before continuing, "besides why shouldn't I forgive you? Your Mr. Vash's brother who is going to be living with us, past that, and this is really important, Meryl accepts you."

What? he seems confused by the idea, as if he is not sure how to take it. What do you mean temper accepts me?

Her grin grows as she turns to face him a bit more, "Meryl accepts you as is. She trusts you, she doesn't really trust anyone. I mean, she trust me after years of working with me, and she trusts Mr. Vash, but everyone else? No. It's just not like Meryl to trust people easily despite the way she acts sometimes."

He sighs, looking back out at the desert. For a very long while neither says anything, then slowly he begins to speak, still using the telepathy and telling her about what had been bothering him when they had come into the bedroom. His mind voice remains soft and calm, but she can hear the pain in it, and the anger directed at himself.

When he is done speaking she tilts her head just the slightest, a soft smile curving her lips. Not really thinking about it, she pulls him into a full hug, gently resting her head against his shoulder as she does so. She is mildly surprised when he slowly wraps an arm around her and hugs her back.

After a bit, she gets too warm and lets go, but doesn't move too far. However when she goes to drink some water she is annoyed to see that the canteen is empty. Sighing, she drops it on the ground below them.

We should return to town, he tells her, in your state you need extra water and there is none here.

She nods, slowly getting to her feet. As he stands, she watches, enjoying the fact that he seems to move with his own type of grace. "I really am not looking forward to walking back down that hill, did you have to pick somewhere so high to sit?" she grumbles, half joking, half not.

He smiles, stepping by the edge of the cliff and looking out. Do you trust me? he inquires, something she doesn't recognize coloring his tone.

She nods once slowly, "Of course," is her quiet reply. Besides the fact that Meryl trusts him, she has her own reasons as well. He might have made mistakes, but then who didn't?

His smile turns to a smirk, one that she is startled to think is rather attractive before she bats that thought away. Curious, she watches as he reaches behind him and she hears the soft sound of a snap unhooking. A moment later, his arm drops to his side. His eyes never leave her as a soft glow surrounds him, two large white-blonde wings unfolding from behind him.

Shocked, she edges closer to where he is standing, her eyes locked on him as she tries to process. She had seen that the girls had wings, but she had not realized that he had wings as well. They were beautiful, the same white blonde color as his hair. Curious, she starts to reach a hand out to touch them but stops when she realizes what she was doing. Blushing, she steps backwards, almost tripping herself.

He reacts as fast as she nearly falls, catching her arm before anything can happen.

"Your beautiful," she breaths, unsure what else there is to say.

Letting go of her arm, he holds out a hand and waits for her to decide. She is not sure what it is she is deciding but is pretty sure it has to do with trust. Her trust in him, his trust in her, trust that things will work out.

Nodding once slowly, she accepts his hand and is stunned when he scoops her up as if she weighs nothing at all. Wrapping one arm around his neck, she keeps her eyes on his face as he steps backwards, thrusting his wings out as they go over the cliff. She almost screams, but stops herself, reminding herself that he was not going to let her fall.

Laying her head against his shoulder, she enjoys being close to someone again. Taking in the view, she wonders if she will ever see something so amazing as flying again. Beneath her ear she can hear his heart beat and it lulls her into sleep despite her deepest wish to enjoy the flight back.