Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ An Alternate Ending ❯ Peicing The Clues Together ( Chapter 10 )

An Alternate Ending

By Bekka Mouri-Hibiki

Part Ten: Piecing The Clues Together

(Trigun doesn't belong to me. The end continues on.)

Vash was pulling on his shirt when Meryl knocked on the door. " I'm almost finished! " He called to her.

" How close? " Meryl cracked the door a little.

" Just buttoning my shirt, " Vash said.

Meryl came into the room, " Good. Now get out. I need to clean up too before I can fix dinner. "

Vash whined, " I have to wait longer for dinner? I'm hungry now. "

" Tough. I have to get clean first. I have to go to work in the morning, remember? "

Vash sighed, " Oh yeah. "

Meryl went to the cabinet and pulled out a box of packaged donuts, " Normally, I wouldn't let you spoil your dinner but since you seem not to have a bottom to that stomach of yours… "

" Whoo hoo! " Vash snatched the donuts and was out to door in no time flat.

Meryl blinked, realizing Vash was gone. " That bum, " she muttered and started to remove her clothes.

**

Vash leaned against the wall outside of his room, chiding himself for being such an ass to Meryl. Milly was her best friend and she was hurt. The midwife was the closest the village had to a doctor so it was only logical to take her there. Meryl had mentioned that the woman had given them first aid supplies when they arrived in the village over two months ago.

Had it really been that long? It seemed like no time at all but then again, Vash was flat on his back and sleeping for the first ten days. He looked down at the box of donuts and felt bad. Meryl and Milly had done everything they could for him so he could get well enough to stop Knives.

Now, Knives was unconscious in a room that used to be Meryl's and Milly was somewhere… hurt. Vash could have managed on his own if Meryl wanted to go see Milly but something made him stop her. When he realized that he had asked her to stay, he panicked and made up the excuse about not being able to cook. He assumed he was afraid that she would take the remark the way his heart had meant it and had to save himself before she knocked him on his ass.

~I should have just done it when we kissed that night… ~ Vash chewed his lip. She had been ready but he was still not sure. He tried to recall Wolfwood's advice though the priest had told him more of everything NOT to do than what TO do. He covered the basics of being kind and considerate to a woman's 'needs' (as Vash put it) but he never really mentioned how to initiate the contact that would require that kind of consideration.

~Wolfwood said I'd know when the time is right… but how? ~ He kept repeating his friend's words in his head. He made a low moan and walked toward the front door. He would eat the donuts on the porch and wait for Meryl to get him. As he reached for the door, he glanced down at the clothes hampers in the tiny utility room next to the front entrance of the house.

There were two hampers because Meryl wanted the bedclothes and regular clothes kept separate. Someone had pitched a sheet into the regular clothing hamper and Vash decided to move it to where it belonged. He never knew when Meryl would get angry over something although she hadn't been getting angry quite as often as of late. He really liked Meryl when she was angry though… she was really cute when she was angry.

He smirked at the thought, ~Ah hell… everything she does is cute. When did she get that way though? Was I just blind before now? ~

He picked up the sheet and flung it into the other hamper, ice shooting through his veins when a dark patch of crimson caught his eye. It didn't take long for it to register that he was looking at blood, ~Oh no! Where did that come from? ~ He thought, snatching up the sheet and forgetting the donuts as he quickly walked back to his room.

He threw the door to the room open, " Meryl! " He said, making the naked little woman jump and scream.

" Vash! Get the hell out of here! " Meryl shouted as her cheeks turned red. An arm went across her breasts as the other one when to shield her nether regions. " KNOCK FIRST AT LEAST! "

Vash tried to find his voice as he stared at Meryl. He couldn't help but to stare because she looked absolutely gorgeous, the sheet he had clutched in his hands forgotten for a moment. She stared back at him, her eyes wide and she had the look on her face that meant he was going to get hit if he didn't say something. " I… I… Found… This, " He held the sheet out lamely.

Meryl blinked, " A sheet? You walked in on me because of a sheet? "

Vash opened the sheet with trembling hands, " No… this… "

Meryl looked at the sheet and her expression changed from anger to confusion. " Where did that come from? "

" I don't know… " Vash motioned over his shoulder. " I just… found… it… in the clothes hamper. "

Meryl thought for a moment before looking at Vash, " Go check Wolfwood's room. "

" What for? " Vash asked.

" To see if either him or Milly are missing a sheet. I'll throw some clothes on while you do that, " Meryl tightened the arm around her chest. " We have to figure out where that came from. "

" Oh, " Vash nodded. He tossed the sheet towards Meryl. " I promise to knock when I come back. "

" You better! " Meryl called as he shut the door.

He leaned against the wall again but this time it was to steady his shaking knees. She wasn't the first naked woman he had seen but he hadn't been attracted the women he had seen before. He shut his eyes and rubbed them with the heels of his hands, ~Focus… focus… we have to figure out who the blood belongs to and NOT how that cute little body will feel pressed against mine. ~

He let out a whine; the thought causing a stirring in his groin that was not exactly welcome at that moment. He had the same feeling so many times before, he couldn't even begin to count. He could recall the first time it happened though… it was outside of New Oregon. Another moment that feathered across his mind was when she came to him on the hill as he stared at the stars.

He rubbed his eyes harder, ~FOCUS Vash! ~ His inner voice scolded. ~We have to figure this out! ~

He took a deep breath and went to Wolfwood's room. Milly had moved back in there but he was certain that nothing was going on. If it were, he was certain to hear it in the tiny house. He opened the door and he looked around.

Wolfwood's bed had two blankets and pillows on it but Milly's cot was bare. He furrowed his brow, wondering if the priest had been exaggerating about how much of a screamer Milly had been. He told Wolfwood to shut up after he had mentioned that little detail, not wanting to hear any more. ~No… they can't be back together… he said they were just friends now. ~

He walked into the room and looked at Milly's cot. The icy feeling came rushing back as his eyes settled on a copy of the stain from the sheet. He strode out of the room and knocked a little harder than he had intended on his door. Meryl opened the door and narrowed her eyes, " I'm not deaf. "

Vash jerked his thumb over his shoulder, " There's a stain on Milly's cot just like the one on the sheet. "

Meryl opened the door all the way, revealing she had put on her nightshirt. " Then that means one of two things. "

Vash nodded, " Which are? "

Meryl sighed, " Either Milly started her… well, you know. "

" I understand. You don't have to go into detail, " Vash put his hand up. " What's the other thing? "

Meryl chewed her lip, looking at the door to Wolfwood's room. " Vash… I don't want to even say it. "

" You think she was pregnant but she might not be anymore? " Vash said quietly.

Meryl nodded slowly, " Yes. "

Vash put his hands on Meryl's face and tilted it so he could look down at her. " Go. Find out if she's okay. "

" But what about dinner? " Meryl furrowed her brow. " I thought you said you needed me here to fix you dinner. "

Vash sighed, " I was just being an ass and I'm sorry. I should have been more considerate. "

" Are you going to be okay here by yourself? " Meryl asked, worry creeping into her eyes.

Vash kissed her forehead, " I don't think Knives is going to be waking up for a while yet, " He whispered against her.

" I promise I'll come back as soon as I can, " Meryl said, wrapping her arms around Vash's waist.

" Please don't hurry on account of me. Take as much time as you need to, " Vash let his hands go to Meryl's shoulders.

She pressed her face into his chest, " But what do I say when I get there? What if she really was carrying a baby and lost it? "

Vash rested his chin on the top of Meryl's head, " I don't know. Maybe you just being there for her will be enough. "

Meryl pulled away, " You might be right. Let me get dressed. I have to go before it gets too late. "

" I'll be outside, " Vash stepped back and let Meryl shut the door.

**

He was numbly aware of footsteps coming down the hallway but he didn't want to move away from her. She had finally fallen asleep and he was afraid the slightest movement would wake her. She needed her sleep and he didn't want to rob her of that. His selfishness had robbed her of enough things, starting with her innocence and ending with the baby she had lost.

They had spoken very few words after he had apologized to her and he was about to join her in slumber when the footsteps started. ~Maybe it's Deb coming to check on us, ~ He thought then noticed that there was two sets of footfalls, not just one. ~I wonder who's here? ~

He heard the doorknob turn slowly and a shaft of light made a thin streak on the wall. " I think they're asleep, Miss Stryfe. Miss Thompson had a very rough day, " Deb whispered.

" I don't doubt it, ma'am. I just got worried when Mr. Wolfwood didn't come back, " Meryl whispered back.

" He never did tell me his name, " Deb sighed as she shut the door. The next bit of conversation was a little muffled but Wolfwood heard what Deb said next. " They aren't married, are they? "

" No, " Meryl replied quietly.

The footsteps started again and the conversation faded. Wolfwood clenched his jaw as he frowned. He was feeling strange feelings, like something in his heart trying to tell him something. It felt like when he decided to lower his gun and not shoot the man that has raised him like a son for ten years but it was a little different… a little deeper.

Something about the girl in his arms made him feel complete although seven years separated them in age. She was probably just coming into life on this wretched planet when he picked up his first gun and killed his guardian. That didn't bother him even though he thought it should have. He fell asleep as he contemplated the feeling he felt was in his heart and wondered if it could have been love.

**

Vash jumped up from his seat on the porch when Meryl returned. He couldn't make himself go back inside after she left because he was anxious to hear any news there could have been about Milly. He would have sat outside all night if he had to. He rushed down the street to meet Meryl when she was still a good distance from the house.

" How is she? Did you see her? " Vash asked hastily. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that Meryl's second theory was probably the correct one.

Meryl shook her head, " She was sleeping. The midwife didn't want to wake her. "

" What about Wolfwood? Was he still there? " Vash said.

" He was asleep with her, " Meryl sniffled. " It was the saddest thing I had ever seen… "

Vash put an arm around Meryl's shoulders, " He doesn't know what he feels for her. That day we talked he told me and he said he was afraid of hurting her any more than he had. He felt horrible about being so selfish when he thought he was going to die. "

Meryl shook her head, " Vash… "

Vash hugged Meryl to him as he realized she was crying. " It'll be okay. We need to be strong for them. "

" That's what the midwife told me, " Meryl sobbed into his chest. " It just isn't fair… "

" Shhhh, " Vash stroked her back as his own tears became impossible to hold back. It really wasn't fair at all. Wolfwood had vowed to start over once Knives was defeated but losing his own child even before it had a chance at life wasn't the way he had planned to start his new life, of this Vash was sure.