Millie closed her eyes as she snuggled closer into her blankets. She wasn't really cold but they gave her comfort.

The very same comfort they gave when she was a child and thought monsters were under the bed. It was silly really, what did covering your head with blankets do. They couldn't save you from anything and they were poor protection…but still it felt good.

Blankets were warmth, and blankets were comfort and safty.

That's all really mattered.

And besides comfort was the one thing Millie really needed right now.

She just couldn't stop thinking about what had happened eariler. What had happened between her and Knives. It was surreal, like a dream. Almost like it never happened. She was even beginning to believe that she had dreamt it up.

But she knew better.

With a heavy sigh Millie sat up in her bed. The springs of her bed squecked in protest as she moved. Putting her head under the covers didn't solve problems when she was a child and it wasn't solving anything now.

Pulling her legs up Millie rested her head on her knee's.

What happened out there? Why did Knives kiss me, and why did I like it so much.

She stared at the lone door that stood between her and Knives bed.

No doubt he was already asleep.

Or is he still awake…thinking just like I am. Wondering just like I am.

It had only happened a few hours ago yet already Millie was going crazy from it. She had so many questions. Her head felt like it was going to explode from the pressure.

She felt curious and embarressed at the same time.

I had asked him to kiss me again and he did. It was so wonderful…like I was on a cloud.

Millie knew she should know better. Knives just wasn't the kind of man a woman like her fell for. Hell Knives wasn't even a man really, he was a type of plant.

Yet no matter what she said to herself she couldn't convince her heart otherwise.

When he kissed me. It felt like I was in heaven. It was that moment all the strange feelings I have been having became clear. It became like crystal and I knew then that I felt for him.

Really…if one thought about it it was easy to see how she had fallen for him.

After all Knives was an extremly handsome man…err…plant…whatever. He was tall, even taller than her and that was extremly refreshing to her. So many men in her life had been uncomfortable, or even turned away from her just because of that.

Millie also had to admit that she loved his eyes. They were such a wonderful color of blue. They were so bold and dark, filled with so many emotions.

Although he hadn't done it often his smile was also a thing that could melt hearts.

He was also extremly smart and talented.

With a little bit of training she would actually have a challenge in a Chest game, and that was something special.

But on the other hand, he was moody and dangerous.

He had already tried to slit her throat once. Who was to say he wouldn't someday try it again?

I'm just making excuses. I believe with all my heart that Knives wouldn't hurt me now. I saw it in his eyes when he had taken that knife away. He finally saw me that day. Before it was like I was there…but I wasn't something to look at. I was just there. But he saw me then. He see's me now. And for some reason that makes my heart race.

Millie sighed again and got out of bed. She went over to the small window that faced the endless desert.

Leaning forward she rested her elbows on the window ledge and stared out into the moonlight night.

What should I do?

She was so confused.

Millie trusted Knives not to kill her. But could she trust him with her heart?

She was scared. Scared to give her heart away to a man that might never return it.

What if he hurt her. Millie knew she was a fagile soul. She was too open and when she gave love she gave it all.

If she fell in love with Knives and he hurt her…she would be done.

She hurt to much already from Wolfwoods death.

If it happened again she wasn't sure if she could come back from that.

"I'm being silly. What do you think Big Big sister?"

Millie smiled as she reached over to her dresser and picked up a picture of her sister.

"You would probably laugh at me and say the answers obvious…but then you wouldn't tell me. You've been like that always. Pushing me along helping me but never giving me the answers."

Millie frowned as she put the picture back.

She hadn't seen her sister since she had left to work with Meryl. She hadn't seen any of her family.

I miss them all. Momma and Pappa…every brother and sister, every nephew. I wonder what you are thinking now. I haven't had time to write you this last month. You know nothing about Wolfwoods death or Vash and Meryl finally hooking up.

You don't know anything about Knives.

Millie frowned deeper.

Letters…what did that remind her of. Something important that she had forgotten but told herself she wouldn't.

Millie suddenly gasped as she remembered.

Big big Sister's letter! I got it umm was it three…no four days ago. I put it up since I was so busy taking care of Knives. I totally forgot about it! Oh I feel terrible.

Going over to her desk Millie shuffled through the paperwork and other things piled on the desk.

She smiled as she picked up the unopened letter.

Probably going to yell at me for not writing.

Millie ripped the envelope open and quickly started reading.

I wonder if Little big Sister had the baby yet? I wonder if Cousin Lizy has told that boy yet that she likes him? Did Nephew John propose yet to his girlfriend.

Dear Millie:

I don't really know how to tell you this. I guess the easiest way is the most blunt way. Papa is sick. The doctors don't really know what's wrong with him. But they do know it isn't good.

Little Baby sister I want you to come home for a while please. I know you have your job looking after that gunman and all, but I really think you need to come see Dad before, well you know.

Love you today and forever

Big Big Sister Tanya.

Millie read the letter again…then a third time not believing what she was reading.

What? Papa sick? How is that possible?

Millie sat down her eyes filling with tears.

Her father was never sick. He was such a strong man. He was going to live forever and ever. He wouldn't leave her and the family. He wasn't that kind of man.

He just wasn't…

I have to go see him!

But…

Millie glanced behind her at the door.

What about Knives? He wasn't really well enough yet to take care of himself. She couldn't just leave him here.

Millie frowned as she squared her shoulders. The answer was simple. In a situation like this there was no easy answer…only the simple one.

There really was only one thing she could do.

I'll just have to take him with me.

Standing up Millie told herself over and over again that this wasn't a bad idea. That everything would be ok. Knives would heal and get better never hurting anyone, and her father would get better and never die.

"Everything will be fine."

With a grim look on her face she turned on the lights and started packing.

If they left right now they could be home by noon in two days.

Quickly she dressed putting on her old duster and pants. She wished she had something nicer to wear but really when traveling the desert these kind of cloths were the best.

Millie nodded to herself as she went through the list of things she needed.

Luckily Meryl had felt the need to provide her with a car incase Knives had gone nuts on her and tried to kill her. So she had transportation.

Food was no problem, she had some leftovers in the kitchen.

Cloths no problems…

Water would be fine as well.

Well that was that, she was ready to leave once Knives was.

Millie opened her door prepared to wake Knives up.

She was thus mildly surprised to see Knives already sitting up in bed staring at her.

"Where are you going?"

He asked his voice tight.

Millie frowned as something in his voice set alarms in her head. They weren't alarms of danger but of something else.

She suddenly felt like she was hurting his feelings as stupid as that sounded.

She hadn't done anything…why would Knives be hurt?

"Mr. Knives? What's wrong?"

Knives snorted and turned away as he refused to look at her.

Now Millie felt the first pricks of emotional pain. She wondered if this was because of the kiss. Did he hate her now that they had done that? Vash had said that Knives hated humans and she had gathered that much herself from his talks of Butterflies and spiders.

Did he hate her? She had thought not. But perhaps she was only fooling herself. Fooling herself that she could help him and maybe even show him that humans were good as well.

With a huff Millie allowed her more tough nature to surface. She wouldn't find out anything if Knives refused to answer her. She didn't have time for these childish games…no matter how much it hurt inside.

"Mr. Knives my father is ill. I got a letter from my sister the other day."

Millie held up the letter still gripped tightly in her hand as proof.

"I have to go see him."

"So are you trust me enough to leave me here until my crybaby of a brother shows up?"

Knives snorted nastily his distaste clear.

"What if I decide to destory the town before he gets here?"

His words were extremly bitter and Millie suspected he didn't mean them. The words seemed hollow.

Millie sat on the bed beside him. When he didn't look at her or speak Millie leaned over until her head rested on his shoulder.

She didn't know why Knives was attacking her verbally. Perhaps it had something to do with what she supsected was hurt feelings. Millie didn't exsactly know what was going on but she did know that she had to comfort him. If only to reassure him…and herself.

So she leaned agaisnt Knives.

She felt his mucles through her cheek tense.

"Knives…I didn't plan on leaving you here. I was going to ask if you would come with me. But you don't have to…if you would rather stay I'll understand."

As she spoke she felt the muscles under her start to relax. It seemed that she had said the right thing. She could almost hear the bitterness he had been feeling drain away.

Suddenly Knives surprised her as he snaked his arm around her and drew her closer.

"I will come."

He said simply.

(one day and 5 hours later)

Somewhere in the desert an old and worn out car drove by itself through the burning desert. In the distance the twin suns of the hellhole planet they lived on were almost totally gone from the sky. The coolness of evening has already set in giving the air a particular chill.

The car all alone in the desert chugged twice then came to a stop by a large moutain of rock. In the car a woman studied the rock and the various overhangs that would offer shielter for the night.

She nodded to herself and drove over to one, one that was large enough for her, Knives and even the car.

Knives didn't say anything as she stopped and got out. He stayed in knowing it was best to conserve his strenght. He was still injured and the soreness of his body was more than enough to keep him right where he was.

"This looks like a good place to stay. I'll start a fire so we can have some hot dinner."

With that said Millie went about doing just that.

Knives bored but unable to help just sat and watched her as she set up camp.

She was really good at it, doing what needed done without pauses to suggest she didn't kow what she was doing.

That in itself suggested she had done this quite a few times.

Knives just did't understand it. The more he studied the woman the more she baffled him.

She was nieve to the point of stupidy, yet she was a Chest player like he had never seen.

She was tall and strong yet oddly still like a woman.

She had rough edges smoothed over with honey.

She wasn't a spider. But not a butterfly.

Knives closed his eyes as his mind drifted back to the night before.

He remembered the feel of her body pressed agaisnt his. He remembered the taste of her mouth and the textures within.

Just thinking about it made him feel warm inside, and wanting more.

He wanted to kiss her again. He wanted to feel her shiver as he ravaged her mouth again.

Wanted to…yet was disgusted with himself for wanting that.

He had thought last night that he had found the answer. He had scratched the ich so to speak and he believed it was over.

He couldn't have been more wrong. If anything the feels had intensified. He was wanting to touch her and be close so much it bordered on pain.

It was so bad he was hard pressed to keep the silent brooding he had been doing since last night.

God what is wrong with me! Why has my body betrayed me like this. I don't want to be closer to that human! She's only a human!

Behind his closed lids Knives saw the light as Millie started a fire. It was small and carefully hidden inside the rock structure.

Smart

Unexpectedly smart that Millie would know to make it so that others wouldn't be able to see the fire. One never knew what dangerous people walked the desert at night.

Having an open flame was like asking to be robbed or even killed.

With a grunt of pain Knives opened the door and got to his feet.

His legs felt a lot better but were still very sore and weak. Just walking a little ways wore him out.

Using the rock wall as a crutch he made it to the camp area.

It wasn't bad, the natural formation of the rock had made a little cave inside the overhang. It was small, going only about 12 feet back into the rock, and Knive had to duck a little but it was still nice. It was well protected and sheltered.

He watched as Millie spread a blanket out on the sand.

"He you go Knives sit on this. We don't want to get sand in your wounds."

Knives rolled his eyes. Considering how far they had traveled today, sand was in more places than just his wounds.

God he hated this planet.

However Knives didn't say this. Instead he just sat down where Millie had indicated and tried to get comfortable.

Millie sat down beside the fire she had made and stirred something in a large pot.

"Even though I'm worried sick about my Father, I still can't wait to see the rest of my family."

Knives just continued to stare ahead at the flames.

"I haven't seen any of them since I got this job. Its been over a year now. I miss them."

Millie glanced over at Knives, then sighed sadly as she noticed he wasn't even listening.

The night was fast approuching, already the shadows had become longer and deeper. The sky was a dusky dark blue grey color with only the smallest bit of light from the double suns coming in.

"Mr. Knives…I just wanted to say thank you."

That got Knives attention, his eyes flickered toward her.

"Thank you for coming with me and not causing problems."

Millie smiled but it was a forced one.

Knives in turned frowned at that.

She's really upset. Strange how the sickness can do that when me nearly killing her didn't.

He had pressed a knife to her throat and had actually cut her. Yet she had bared it easily enough, not even bothering to cover the small but deep cut.

But the fact that her father was sick made her…it made her scared.

Knives could almost see the cloud of fear that radiated off her. It was thick and gave him a foul taste in his mouth.

He didn't like Millie being afraid. He didn't like the way she was staring into the fire her eyes far away and haunted.

"Why did you ask me to kiss you again?"

Knives suddenly blurted out. He couldn't stand it anymore. Couldn't stand the subtle yet heavy tension that hung above them.

He had to ask.

Millie seemed surprised by the question.

"Why did you kiss me in the first place?"

"I…"

Knives stopped not knowing what to say.

Millie stood up and slowly walked toward him. She then sat down besides him.

Her hand came up and then gently she touched his face with her finger tips. The touch was feathery light and made his shiver slightly.

Millie smiled.

"Not such an easy question is it?"

Knives swallowed hard. He was very aware of the strange new feeling surrounding them. It was untolerable yet exciting. He wanted it to end yet wanted to stay this way forever.

Knives took a deep breath trying to still his suddenly racing heart.

He really shouldn't be feeling this way. Millie was a human. He should feel nothing but disgust when she touched him.

He should…well…he should…

"Ah fuck…"

He muttered in defeat before leaning forward and capturing Millie's lips in his own.

After a moment of surprise at the unexpected movement. Millie instantly responded as she wrapped her arms around his neck again. This time though Knives didn't tense up at the touch.

Nothing mattered to him more than the woman in his arms.

Knives wrapped both of his arms around her forcing her closer to him even as he pressed harder agaisnt her mouth.

He felt so heavy, dizzy and unbalanced. Unable to keep straight Knives leaned to the side slightly.

Millie leaned with him and before either one was aware of it Millie was on her back with Knives over her still locked in the kiss.

Knives trailed his tongue across Millie's lips. He was intriged by how different she tasted today. She still tasted like her, but without the aftertaste of icecream.

Millie opened her mouth allowing Knives to plung his tongue into her mouth.

Knives closed his eyes as the world whirled around him in a dizzing frenzy.

He broke the kiss suddenly as he took in huge gulps of air.

He stared wide eyed down at an out of breath Millie.

She smiled as one of her hands left his neck and combed through his hair. The touch felt extremly good to his scalp and he found himself pressing agaisnt her hand without knowing it.

"I like your hair. Its so soft."

She said shyly as she continued to play with it.

He didn't answer but a strange moan grunt sound did escape his throat.

"So Knives, why did you kiss me this time?"

Knives was taken aback by the question, but something in her smiling face kept him from becoming defensive. Maybe it was her smile, or maybe it was the light teasing tone of her voice, he wasn't sure.

Whatever the reason it made him smile.

"Because I wanted to."

He said truthfully.

Millies hand left his hair and trailed across the side of his face to gently caress his lower lip. He felt chills run through his body and a heated trail that burned him where she had touched.

"I know what you are. I know what kind of man you are."

Millie said slowly her eyes searching as she looked up at him.

"And I know that I'm probably going to get my heart broken. But…I don't want this feeling to stop. I never want this to end."

Knives was speechless. His mind took in what she said but didn't understand it.

Feelings? She has feeling for me?

Knives swallowed trying to get focus on something and think.

Nothing came to mind. He could do nothing but look at her. His mind refused to answer his calls for thought.

What did she mean? He didn't know. He knew it was important though. It was extremly important, to him and to Millie.

"You're very handsome Knives."

Knives blinked in surprise.

Millie smirked as her hand trailed down across his shoulder and lower to his chest. He could feel her gently following the conturs of his muscles through his cloths.

"Hasn't anyone ever said that to you before?"

"No."

Millie's eyes softened a little and she chuckled softly.

"Well you are."

Millie leaned up a little and placed a chaste kiss on the side of his mouth then on his cheek. Knives eyes closed as his head feeling light from her soft kisses.

"I love to color of your eyes."

She muttered before kissing his chin and then trailing that kiss down his throat.

Knives felt his muscle twitch and congeal. He just couldn't stay still with her kissing and touching him like that.

Millie smiled agaisnt Knives throat.

She just loved the way he reacted to her. He was so open in his emotions and actions. She actually could see what every little kiss did to him through his face.

It was refreshing in a way. To find someone so open, as open as she was herself.

Kissing her way back up Millie delicately exhaled pointedly agaisnt his ear.

His reaction was interesting. Knives face turned a bright red as if embarressed by something.

Millie shrugged it off since he didn't say anything and kissed his ear. That seemed to be a sensitive area for the plant.

I never thought I'd feel like this toward anyone. I'm so happy I could explode.

Millie shivered as Knives copied her actions and started to kiss and nuzzle her neck.

I don't care what happens I just want to enjoy Knives. He's so full of hate and now he's like this because of me. It makes me feel good.

Millie sighed as Knives found her mouth again and they became intangled in a firey kiss. She felt her face heat up and her body react to him like never before.

Knives was in Eden, or at least that's what he thought.

All his senses were tuned in on the woman under him. Sight, taste, smell, touch and all were sharply focused on Millie.

He felt good. Better than he could ever remember.

Knive shifted slighlty trying to relieve a strange pressure building up in his lower stomach.

It had only gotten worse, almost bordering on pain when Millie had blowed against his ear.

Of course he knew what was happening there. He wasn't that clueless about what he was doing and what his body was doing. However he couldn't help but blush as he felt himself start to harden.

Start?

Maybe that was the wrong word. It was more like he became harder and painfully so.

His blood was rushing through his viens blocking out every sound but the sweet moans that Millie made.

His heart was pounding so loud he was surprised that it didn't burst through his chest.

He understood now. At least a little bit.

So this is lust?

Knives blantly ignored an inner voice that screamed at him that this was more than that. What he was feeling was more than an animals instinct to breed.

Knives however did feel better as he came to understand a little the strange feelings that had been plagueing him.

It was phyical attration.

He had never experienced that before. He had never let any humans, other than Legato stay alive long enough for him to delvope feelings toward them. And well Legato…

Knives mentaly shuddered. He had been a loyal subject but that was it!

Knives mind was humming happily as he felt Millies hands on his back once again tracing the curves and dipps of his muscles.

Her hands were so gentle, almost theropudic in their touch.

Knives vaguly took notice that Millie's duster wasn't on her anymore. He had somehow taken it off of her without breaking their kisses.

His own shirt had also been opened magically in the front revealing his mucluar chest.

Knives moaned into Millies mouth as he felt her hands travel across its broad surface.

Whether concioulsy or not Millie stayed clear of his sore shoulders not touching or pressing agaisnt them in anyway.

Knives wanted more. But he didn't ask for it.

Something deep down told me not to ask. It would be wrong of him to ask her.

No matter the passion in Millie's kisses and touches.

He could tell, almost on a subconcious level that she wasn't ready.

Of course he thought idelly. He techinically didn't have to have Millie's permission to continue.

He could rip off her clothes have his way with her and she wouldn't be able to stop him.

But something about that was so wrong…just to think it was so wrong that his body reacted violently. Knives likened the sensation to that of a bucket of ice water being suddenly thrown on him. This was going to far! They had to stop now!

With a gasp he jerked up.

Breathing hard he looked down at Millie countless emotions flashing in his own deep blue eyes.

He licked his lips as he tried to find his voice.

Suddenly something in Millie's eyes clicked as if she had just become aware of what was happening.

And without words or explaintions Knives sat up allowing Millie to get up as well.

It was an unspoken agreement to stop while they still had the displine to actually stop.

"Um…good night Knives."

Millie said shyly her face red hot and blushing.

Good night Millie.

Knives whispered mentally as he turned away from her and looked out into the desert.