Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ Forever Mine ❯ No Place Like Home ( Chapter 7 )

 

Disclaimer: Hmmm... I own my kids (Because I made them) I own my husband, (Because the Marriage License says so) and I own a REALLY big mortgage. (Because I'm stupid and signed on the dotted line.) However I don't own Trigun. (Because if I did, I wouldn't have said mortgage.)

“blah blah” : talking

`blah blah' : thinking

“blah blah” : telepathic talking

blah blah : other misc. stuff.

 

*~*~*

 

Forever Mine

 

 

Chapter 7: No Place Like Home

 

 

 

Vash quickly made his way to the post office. With luck, (something he didn't always have enough of) he would be able to have the wire reach its destination today, if it was possible. It was pretty late in the day, after all. Fortunately, when he arrived and entered the sandstone structure only, one customer was in front of him, a lovely young lady with cascading blonde hair and stunning doe like eyes. Normally, he would have jumped at the opportunity to openly flirt with the vivacious beauty, especially with the way she ogled him as he entered the cramped space. But today, he was on a mission and had no time for such trivialities. So, he just gave her a simple, but non-interested, smile and a nod prior to picking up the form to have the wire issued.

 

`Now what to send,' the incognito outlaw pondered as he filled in where he would like to have message sent. After contemplating the message for a moment, he wrote…

 

Dear Max:

 

I will be returning home soon with family and, hopefully, some very close friends. Please tell the Doc for me.

 

Love and Peace,

 

VTS

 

With the completed form in hand, he strode up to the waiting clerk behind the counter and handed him the missive.

 

“So, you would like to have this sent to a Mr. Maxwell Simon at the satellite compound in New Oregon. Is that correct sir?” the little man behind a glass partition verified as he adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses.

 

“Yep, you got it!” Vash confirmed with a bright smile. “Oh and I would like for it to arrive to him today, if possible.”

 

“Well… it's kinda late, but I'm sure that the messenger in New Oregon could be persuaded to make sure that it does get there.”

 

Understanding the man's meaning, Vash pulled twenty a double-dollar bill out of his pocket to pay for the wire and another ten to `persuade' the messenger for the prompt delivery. Once the wire hand been sent and the retrieval confirmed at the New Oregon post office, Vash said his thanks and left, quickly making his way over to the bus station in order to check departure times to New Oregon. Upon reaching the shabby terminal, he noted that the most recent bus going directly to the city had left that very morning and, unfortunately, the next one wouldn't be heading in that direction for another two weeks.

 

“Well crap,” the gunman muttered as looked over the schedule for another possibility. “I guess we could take the bus to LR Town and hop on a sand steamer, but even that one won't leave for another five days and who knows how long we will wait there…” With a sigh escaping, Vash left the bus station and started walking back, while he thought dejectedly, `Man… why can't something go right for once?!'

 

Vash continued the short hike back, walking past many of the shops open for business on such a glorious afternoon. But, he was too depressed to pay any attention to them. That was, until he walked past the saloon where Meryl temporarily worked. He stopped for a second, debating if he should enter and have a drink or just head home. `Why not… I could use a little nip of something' he thought, turning on his heel to head toward the double doors. That's when he noticed the sign in the window…

 

Flat bed truck for sale… excellent condition… willing to negotiate.

 

“Now that would work!” the blonde yelled excitedly as he rushed in to talk to the bartender. After briefly discussing the matter with the man behind the bar, he quickly found out that the owner of the bar was who he needed to talk too, but he wouldn't be back until morning. However, the truck was around the back and Vash was more that welcome to take a look, which he did directly.

 

“Wow! It even has a cover for the bed and it looks like it's been protected to keep cargo safe from sand and stuff,” the tall blonde exclaimed as he noticed the sturdy encasement surrounding the truck's bed and the canvas top. “Now, if it runs we'll be in business!”

 

After inspecting the vehicle, he deemed it worthy and proceeded to head back to the insurance girls to tell them what his plans were. He only hoped that they would have enough money to buy the truck from Meryl's temporary employer. `I suppose I could have my short-girl do the negotiating. Knowing her, she could get it and have money to spare,' Vash thought as he looked up and saw their front porch.

 

Now, all he had to do was make sure that the girls would want to go with him and help out with his, hopefully, non-homicidal twin. Actually, he knew that they would both be more that willing to help, but he still had to ask. Besides, really wanted to Meryl admit that she would join him for more than just because her `job' said she had too. Climbing the steps, a smile appeared across his handsome face as he entered the tiny structure and called, “Honey, I'm home!”

 

 

 

*~*~*

 

 

 

“Gosh… that smells good Meryl!” Milly said, inhaling deeply as she took in the succulent scent of the baked toma that circulated throughout the kitchen and into the surrounding rooms. Looking across the table, which was already set for their meal, to the smaller woman sitting with her, she added, “I can't wait until Mr. Vash gets back and we can dig in!”

 

“Hmm… I know what you mean, Milly. I'm getting pretty hungry myself,” the short-haired woman replied before she took a sip from the coffee cup in her hands. “He's been gone for over two hours now. Just how…” Meryl started, but before she could finish the sentence, the sound of the front door opening interrupted her. Then the very same man that they were waiting for called out, `Honey, I'm home.'

 

“What a goof,” Meryl said to her partner with a smile before calling out, “We're in the kitchen, Vash.”

 

Both women looked expectantly to the doorway and watched their `assignment' sauntered in and walk directly up to the table. “Man… I'm so hungry I could eat a whole heard of thomases!” the blonde man proclaimed as his stomach decided to prove his point by growling loudly.

 

“I'm surprised that you didn't eat anything while you were gone for over two hours,” Meryl muttered, her tone slightly biting.

 

“Well… I didn't want to ruin my appetite,” Vash declared prior to looking directly into Meryl's stormy eyes and suggestively adding, “Especially, since I knew that I was gonna have you for dessert, short-girl!”

 

The bold statement caused the raven-haired beauty to blush profusely, immediately looking down to the cup in her hands, while the taller woman just laughed and said, “Mr. Vash, you're so funny! Don't you mean, because Meryl made dessert especially for you!”

 

“Yeah, that's it…” Vash laughed goofily as he sat in an unoccupied seat at the table. “So… is dinner done?” added the blonde as he looked back and forth between the two women.

 

“Yeah, it is,” Meryl whispered as both women got up from the table and began to place the food on the table.

 

As Milly placed the steamed carrots in front of Vash, she asked him if he was able to complete his errands. He simply replied with a `yep' before asking if he could dig in. The question provoked Meryl to call him a `pea-brained idiot' as she smacked him up side the head before returning to her seat.

 

“Not yet Mr. Vash, we have to say grace, remember,” Milly reminded him with a reserved expression on her face. The blonde yelped at the smack, but immediately realized his faux pas as he watched the big-girl sit. He remembered that Milly would always give a prayer before the evening meal, just like Wolfwood used too.

 

`I am an idiot,' the outlaw thought as he rubbed head and said that he was sorry to the woman who lost her love so tragically.

 

After Milly had completed saying the blessing, everyone dug into the food with reckless abandon. Before they knew it, the dishes were cleared and coffee was being served along with the apple dumplings Meryl had made to celebrate Vash's homecoming. Milly was the first to compliment the shorter woman on the delicious dessert as Vash inhaled three of the apples that were covered in a delicate pastry shell and glazed with a honey and brown sugar. He then too exclaimed that the honey-baked goodness was almost as good as doughnuts and coming from Vash that was a big compliment!

 

“Well thanks guys… I really appreciate that,” Meryl happily replied as she took a bite of the dessert.

 

The polite conversation went on for a few more minutes as the three talked about the well, how much it had already improved the village's well being, and how it was such a lovely day. Vash even asked if there had been any changes with his brother who was still sleeping soundly on the cot before them.

 

“Still nothing,” Meryl answered as she looked anxiously over to her partner across the table. She knew that it was only a matter of time before Vash told them what he was planning. Even with his amorous advances, the petite beauty was still worried that he was going to tell them that he and his twin were leaving and that he didn't want them to follow. Then suddenly questioning began…

 

“So… Mr. Vash?”

 

“Yeah, Milly?”

 

“Why did you have to send a wire?”

 

“Well…” the gunman started as he looked over to his brother's unconscious form. “I needed to contact an old friend of mine in New Oregon.”

 

“Why Vash?” Meryl questioned, daring to look at the man sitting next to her.

 

Vash turned his attention from his brother to briefly look at Milly before turning his intense gaze to Meryl. “I want to take my brother home…” he started before pausing a moment as a sigh escaped. After taking another deep breath, he finally spoke again…

 

“And I don't want you as insurance girls to go with me.”