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

Chapter 59: Vash's POV
That night as they get ready for bed in the room that was provided for them, he watches as Meryl moves around the room. Prior to them sharing a room he had never guessed how much she moved around when getting ready at night. As she sets her clothes for the next day out on the small chair, he steps behind her, wrapping his arms around her in a hug. She turns in his embrace, hugging him back.

"Ready for bed?" he murmurs questioningly.

She smiles, nodding against his chest, "Yes, you?"

He nods and the two of lay down together, with her curled against his side and head resting on his shoulder. For a little bit they stay like that, just enjoying the cuddling, eventually though he asks, "So what happened today? I felt the emotional spike outside."

Kissing his shoulder she answers, "Brandon and two of his friends decided to attempt to pick a fight with Knives while he was checking on Milly. I gave them a reason not to. A slightly painful reason but a reason none the less. I fully expect that they will approach you in the next few days to ask if I was lying when I said revenge was the reason Knives acted the way he did."

He chuckles, shaking his head, "Gezz Meryl," but he is smiling as he says it, "your something else aren't you?"

She smiles at him, kissing his jaw as she stretches a little. After that he finds himself easily distracted as other things take priority, however he is determined to consider it later when he is on his own.

Milly's POV
Late that night after everyone else is sleeping, she quietly leaves her room to go outside and enjoy the fresh air. Sitting down on the steps to the building, she stares out and thinks about the day. It had been a long day between the arriving, the conversations with the different people, and those kids. This morning had been decent, the conversations had been decent. But those kids, those kids were something else.

The look in Mr. Knives eyes reminded her that he had just as much temper as Meryl when annoyed. It had been rather scary actually because he has a lot of abilities that could be deadly when his ire was raised. Despite that he held his temper, even when it was very evident that really was not what he wanted to do. She's even pretty sure he would have continued to hold his temper even if Meryl had not appeared behind those idiot boys. Right before Meryl had appeared she had heard a clicking noise that was familiar but couldn't place it, now though, she realizes that it was the clips on his armor unfastening. How? She wonders for a moment before realizing that it was probably the same ability as when he had lifted Amber's bulb out of the acid. That was definitely a nifty ability to have.

Mr. Knives. What a contradiction he is. Those electric blue eyes of his send shivers down her spine when she considers the look in his eyes when she was drifting in and out of sleep in his arms. On one hand he hates most humans, and yet he seems to like her. It's difficult for her to understand. There has to be a reason, she just doesn't know what it is. Despite her uncertainty, she knows one thing for sure about him, he's interesting.

You need to rest. I can feel your tiredness even if you cannot. She hears his soft voice whisper through her mind.

Turning a little, she spots him leaning against the door frame of the building, bright eyes watching her. How had she not noticed him? She wonders, as she looks back out at the desert.

I am a quiet mover and you seem to be distracted. He replies to her unspoken question, reminding her again that it is not just speech that he does. Sitting down on the steps next to her, he looks out before inquiring, What do you find so interesting about the desert? It is a barren wasteland.

She smiles at him, responding, "I like the colors, and the fact it is ever changing. I imagine that if there was an ocean it would be like the sand, ever changing and moving. I read in a book that oceans were blue, so I just picture the sand blue. I also like star gazing, though it is hard to see the stars when we are in a town."

He just shakes his head, looking back out at the sand. Why are you out here instead of resting? He eventually inquires, his tone curious but underlain with concern.

She looks at the ground blushing. She finds it embarrassing to admit she is not used to sleeping in a room alone. When Meryl and her had travelled they always shared a room. When she was at home, she shared a room with Marie and Elisi, or at least she had. So now she had to adjust to being on her own at night and it was plain odd. The comforting sound of someone breathing was gone, as was all the little noises that people make in their sleep. It made it hard for her to fall asleep.

Ah. I had not considered the changes those two taking to sleeping together would cause you. He comments after a bit. Standing, he offers her a hand up which she accepts sighing. Come on, you can sleep in my room. I will not be sleeping while we are here anyways.

Startled, she stares at him, eyes wide as she tries to figure out why he will not be sleeping. That cannot be healthy for him. He needs his rest too. She really hopes it's not because of her, because if it is then she is going to feel horrible about it. Her mind starts buzzing a thousand miles an hour as she tries to figure it out. Sleep was a natural part of life so why was he avoiding it?

Reason one, I distrust these people. Reason two, I like to be aware. Reason three, I actually prefer to sleep in a bulb than I do on a bed, he pauses shrugging, before continuing to say, within a bulb there are no dangers for me. Outside of the bulb is not as kind. It tends to make me a light sleeper.

"Oh," she answers, unsure what else to say. Hesitantly smiling at him, she nods towards the door and waits for him to turn towards it. Thinking about what he has said, she enters as he holds it for her, muttering, "Thank you," as she passes him. Once inside the building she follows him to his room, slightly shocked when she discovers that it is actually half the size of hers. He must pick up on that, because he easily lifts his bag, and motions to the door. Slightly confused, she follows him again, surprised when they stop at her room instead.

Pushing open her door, she invites him in, and is slightly shocked when the first thing he does is check the window before sitting down at the table after closing the door. Rest now blue-eyes, both you and your children require sleep. While his voice is gentle for him, she can still hear the order in his tone.

Biting her lip, she stops next to him in the chair and gives him a confused look. He merely raises an eyebrow in response. "Thank you," she eventually mutters, kissing his cheek before turning and fleeing to the bed. Curling up under the blankets she wonders why she had done that, and what type of reaction he was going to have in the morning.