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

Chapter 61: Knives' POV
When morning comes, there is a knock at the door, followed by it opening the slightest bit to admit temper, who is carrying a coffee. She takes one look at him and raises an eyebrow in a manner similar to when he does so. He can just about hear the question even without telepathy.

What? he inquires as he gets to his feet stretching.

Why are you in here instead of your room? She queries in response.

He shrugs as he answers her, She could not sleep, she is too used to having someone with her, and the fact that there was no one was making it difficult for her. Since I was not going to be sleeping anyways I told her I would stay in here, and so I did.

Temper gives him a odd look as if she is trying to determine something, but shakes it off without actually asking. Well scram, it's time for her to get up.

Are we staying one more day? He asks as he walks towards the door. She nods so he leaves his bag where he had set it the night before. I am going to visit the plant, have Vash call for me if you need me for some reason.

If you wait a few minutes that's why we're getting up right now is for a visit to the plant. Plus eat breakfast before there are a lot of people about. She tells him then suggests, why don't you join Vash in the great hall? We'll be down shortly.

He nods again, changing his plans and heading to the great hall. As he is walking he considers the little female, she is so very curious, wanting to know everything that she can even before she is born. She will probably be physically weak from what he can tell, but she makes up for it with her innate gifts. Some time just before dawn he had felt something brushing against his mind and was shocked when he realized it was her trying to figure out where he went. She had awoken when he had stopped singing and was trying to figure out how to get him to sing again. In the dark he had smiled because here was someone who seemed to want to connect with him, and she wasn't even born yet. Of course, there was a problem with that too, when she was born she would probably discover that she did not wish to deal with him. Well at least he had Vash again, even if he did have to share him with temper.

When he reaches the great hall, Vash is sitting at a table talking with the old man and two others. Sighing to himself he prepares himself for another day surround by idiotic spiders before he approaches.

Vash's POV
"Morning Knives," he greets his brother as he approaches. From what he can feel, Knives is in a pretty good mood though his mood becomes subdued as he takes a seat next to him. The two plant techs that had joined him and Doc at the table just about radiate fear.

Knives inclines his head politely to Doc, then replies, Morning. Temper said that we were visiting the plant?

He nods, not answering aloud. Turning his attention back to the two plant techs, he smiles at them reassuringly, trying to calm their nerves. "When would be a good time for you? The girls should be down shortly, so once they are here we can go at any time."

The two workers lean close, talking softly for a moment, he could listen if he chose to but decides against it. It hurts no one for them to have a moment of privacy. When they are done, the older of the two hesitantly asks, "Does he have to come? No offense, but up until yesterday, as far as we knew he was trying to kill everyone." His emotions spike, the amount of fear doubling at the question.

"Our sisters do like to see him," he replies to the man, using the softest, most soothing voice he can.

Before he has a chance to say anything else the girls come up, tall girl settling into her seat next to Knives, while his short girl takes a spot next to him. The look his brother gives tall girl is curious, and he can feel the energy flow between them, making him certain that he is speaking with her. For some reason, the tech guys relax as they watch the two of them even though not a word is said aloud between them.

"Um, okay," he mutters eating his toast. "When we're done with breakfast will work."

He nods, again, replying, "Alright," before turning his attention to tall girl who seems to be vastly enjoying her breakfast and coffee. "Sleep well?" he inquires, asking since she is the only one in their group he had not spoken to yet this morning.

She nods, a light blush covering her cheeks as she continues to eat.

Shifting his focus to his brother he inquires, Do you know why she is blushing?

She could not sleep last night so I visited with her until she finally did in her room. Her problem is she is used to having someone in the room with her, so when there is no one in there she has a hard time sleeping. His twin gives a mental shrug accepting a glass of juice that he drinks. Since I could not sleep it was not a hardship to sit in the chair while she slept, actually I enjoyed visiting with her daughter. She is a rather intelligent little one for someone who is not fully formed yet.

Oh, he replies, not sure what else to say. He could see how that would embarrass the tall girl, he also understands. When he realizes what that means in regards to him, he blushes because it is inadvertently his fault.

A chuckle reaches his mind, along with a heavy dose of amusement from his brother. Don't worry about it. I do not sleep a lot anyways. Knives tells him, his tone full of laughter.

Not long after they finish their conversation, the plant techs finish their breakfast and stand, inquiring if they are ready to go. He glances at the girls who both get to their feet without commenting. Tall girl makes sure to thank the kid who seems to be working before the six of them leave to head to the plant. Since there are not a lot of people out and about yet, they are able to move about without hardly any difficulties.

When they get to the plant they make their way to the control room for Vash to redo some of the programming. While he does so, he is aware of tall girl looking around full of curiosity and his short girl keeping an eye on her. Surprisingly enough, Knives seems to be relaxing against the door frame, waiting patiently. It takes him a few minutes but once he is done their small group of four make their way to the bulb area where each takes a turn greeting the girls.

He is almost surprised when he learns that the others had been here the day before, but at the same time he is not surprised at all. Particularly when Ayako mentions how tired Milly had been when they came. For a few minutes they visit before Ayako insists that she wishes to check Milly over and proceeds to do so.

As he watches he is amazed at the various colors her body glows as she is carefully checked over by his sister. When she is done, Ayako seems to direct her attention to Knives. Make sure that her little one is not trying to hold the link herself, she is not nearly strong enough yet. I am amazed that she is able to even make one however. It does explain why she seems to be behind in growing she keeps trying to use the energy she needs for growth to connect. Perhaps you can teach Milly blue-eyes how to use low level telepathy with her, that would help. Ironically enough, her twin seems to be more of an empath, I have not yet caught any telepathy from him.

His twin nods, a rather serious expression on his face.

"What does she mean by that?" Milly asks, her voice a bit higher pitch than normal as her emotions spike towards worry.

Meryl touches her friends arm and he watches in interest as she gives her a look, commenting, "It means your little girl likes to talk more than sleep. Now calm down."

She nods and shakes her head before smiling again, "Alright Meryl."

The rest of the visit goes smoothly, but he has something new to consider when he has a free moment.

Milly's POV
How embarrassing, she thinks to herself, not only can she not sleep without someone in the room but apparently her unborn daughter is a bit of a chatterbox. However concern for her daughter over rides her embarrassment as she listens to Lady Ayako. Could she really learn to use a telepathic connection like the one that Mr. Knives uses? She talks as if it is, but how could it she's a plain human not a plant? She thinks to herself but something nags at the back of her mind for a moment before she remembers what Lady Kikyo had said about her changing due to the pregnancy and the gifts that would come with, she had just figured it meant she would have a longer life span. Telepathy could be fun, particularly if she can do so with Meryl as well as the children.

Shaking her head, she glances at Mr. Knives, wondering if she was even smart enough to use telepathy.

Of course, anyone who can use a creative partial language using body motions only is smart enough to learn telepathy if the paths to do so are there. He tells her, clearly over hearing her thoughts, which has her blushing again. Since you can hear me just fine, I am sure you will have no problems with it.

A quick glance towards him again shows he looks as serious as always, yet when his voice had touched her mind it had been rather amused. So not only were words conveyed but so were emotions. Thinking about it, she tries to recall if she could feel the emotions when he first came to stay with them. She had, but they had always been negative, darker. Since the first incident with the ladies his emotions had shifted from the dark end of the spectrum to a more neutral tone. Perhaps that is why she never really noticed it in his mind voice as much before.

For the rest of the visit with the ladies her mind wanders over the subject and she barely pays any attention to what is going on around her.