Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ Forever Mine ❯ Nothing Like Girlfriends ( Chapter 20 )

 

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 20: Nothing Like Girlfriends

 

 

 

“Why hello, Sempai, Miss Mac!” Milly happily greeted as both women walked through the entrance of the insurance girls' apartment. “Gee… I wasn't expecting you back so early, is everything okay?”

 

“Everything is fine, Milly. We just got invited to dinner tonight and we are bringing the dessert,” Meryl advised as she walked over to the big-girl, who was sitting on the couch, cleaning her stungun. “So, we came back to get started.”

 

“Ooooh… we have to go town and get supplies. Sounds like fun! I haven't really seen New Oregon without it being all boarded up!” the brunette excitedly chirped as she set her weapon aside and stood, assuming that they were going to leave the ship.

 

“Actually, no, we don't have to go anywhere,” McKenna said as she looked up at the taller woman. “The ship will have everything we need. All we have to do is request the ingredients through the replicator.

 

“A repli…what?” she asked as her brow furrowed in confusion. “Well… gee… what's that?”

 

“Well… to put it simply, it's lost technology that was designed to create food.”

 

“Really Miss Mac? Can it make pudding?”

 

“It sure can, Milly,” the redhead affirmed with a big smile.

 

“Even banana flavored?”

 

“Yes, even banana flavored.”

 

“YAAAY!!!” the big-girl cheered as she clapped her hands together. “Can we make some now?”

 

“If you want too, pudding only takes a few minutes to create,” she smiled before motioning the insurance girls to follow her to the kitchen. Once they walked up to the monitor on the counter, Mac showed Milly how to request the pudding using the system, like how she showed Meryl earlier.

 

A few minutes later the system's automated voice indicated that the treat was completed and Mac showed Milly how to open the panel on the wall. The door slid open Milly quickly grabbed the container and smiled while breathing in the intoxicating scent. “Ummm… this smells delicious,” she breathed before pulling out a spoon in the drawer next to her.

 

“Ummm… Milly?”

 

“Yes Sempai?”

 

“How did you know that the spoons were in that drawer?”

 

“Oh… well… I kinda looked around earlier,” she answered before taking a big bite of the banana-flavored snack. “Ooooh this is yummy! Would either of you like to try some?”

 

Both women declined the offer and decided to go ahead and make some honey glazed doughnuts, since they were Vash's favorite and a chocolate cake, because it would be simple enough to make. Besides, all three woman thought that something loaded with chocolate sounded really, really good!

 

Once the ingredients were requested and the proper utensils lay out on the counter, Meryl said she would make the doughnuts, while Milly and Mac agreed to make the cake together, one making the batter and the other the icing. Twenty minutes later, the ingredients had been mixed together, the cake batter poured into pans, the rich chocolate icing set aside as well as the dough for the doughnuts, since it could not be fried until it had time to rise.

 

Since the ladies now had time on their hands before they could finish what promised to be two decadent desserts, Meryl decided that she should ask the doctor where she could wash their meager supply of clothing. Especially since they didn't have anything clean left, under garments included. “McKenna is there someplace where we can do laundry?” she asked has she set a dishcloth over the doughnut batter. “I was thinking that if it was near by, I could start a load while waiting for the dough to rise.”

 

“Actually, you have a laundering unit in one of the bedrooms. The room should have something that looks similar to a small utility room attached to it,” she replied, as she placed two circular cake pans in the oven. “I would say that it's probably in the room left of the bathroom. Well, at least that is where mine is.”

 

“Oh… that's my room,” Milly chirped as she placed the cake's mixing bowl in the sink. “I was wondering what the strange little room was for.”

 

“Well, since we have some time right now, I could show you how it works,” the redhead said as she set the timer on the oven. The insurance girls said that would be great and all three ladies headed to the bedrooms.

 

*~*~*

 

 

 

Two hours later, the savory scents of honey and chocolate filled the air from the cake and recently glazed doughnuts that were sitting on the counter, waiting to be consumed for the evening's feast. While the lovely ladies sat in the quarter's living room, drinking coffee (Milly Ceylon tea) and talking amicably about how the insurance girls ended up being assigned to the `dreaded' Humanoid Typhoon and their many adventures together.

 

McKenna watched the two women intently, noticing how well they complimented each other, even though they were opposites in every sense of the word. Both being the very best of friends and she was a little envious of their relationship. She never had a best friend, someone to laugh with, cry with, someone to confide in. And up until that very moment, while watching the two insurance girls, she never realized how much she needed that type of companionship.

 

“Miss Mac, are you okay?” Milly asked as she noticed the far away look in her eyes.

 

“Hmmm…oh… I'm sorry Milly,” she started before adding with a light laugh, “I was just thinking about how I'm a little envious of the friendship that you two share.”

 

“Why? Haven't you ever had a girlfriend before?” Milly then asked before taking a sip of her tea.

 

“Well… no, not really,” the redhead murmured.

 

“Why not?” Meryl wondered.

 

“I guess I was too busy studying,” she answered as a blush stained her cheeks pink. “Of course, I wasn't like the other girls at home. They were all really thin and pretty and well… I'm not. Besides, I would rather hang out in the infirmary back home instead of at the local hot spots where all the young Calvary officers and occasional Federal Marshal would go.”

 

“Calvary and Federal Marshals?!” both insurance girls screeched.

 

“Uhhh… yeah. I grew up in New DC near the military compound.”

 

“Ummm… McKenna,” the short-girl nervously stuttered. “You're not here for Vash are you?”

 

“Oh no, Meryl, not at all!” she exclaimed, trying to set the petite woman's mind at ease. “I would never… especially after everything you have told me.”

 

“I…I'm sorry. It's just that he has had so many people after him,” Meryl whispered sadly. “I guess I'm still a little over protective.”

 

“Its okay, I understand,” McKenna smiled warmly.

 

“So, Miss Mac, how did you end up here?” Milly wondered.

 

“Well…” McKenna began as her smile turned sad. “My father and I never really saw eye to eye on much of anything, even more so, after my mom died. You see… to him image is very important and having a daughter who was more interested in science and medicine instead of what normal girls, my age, liked was quite disconcerting, especially with his position in the Federal Government.”

 

“Who's your father?” Meryl curiously asked.

 

“Promise you won't hate me?” she answered quietly before looking down to the clasped hands in her lap. Both insurance girls immediately assured her that they would never hate her no matter who her father was. With the girl's encouraging words, McKenna cautiously looked up to them and saw the sincerity in their eyes. She gave them a small smile and simply stated…

 

“My father is Attorney General, Theodore S. Madsen III.”

 

“Really?” Milly questioned as a look of confusion crossed her lovely features, while Meryl continued to stare, opened mouthed, at the redhead. “Sempai, why would a General need an attorney?” Milly added after looking over to the petite woman and saw her astonished expression.

 

“Are you kidding, Milly? Not a lawyer for a General, but the Attorney General!” she corrected after snapping out of her daze and turned her attention to her partner. “McKenna's father is the director of the Justice Department. You know, the branch of government that basically over sees all of Gunsmoke's Law enforcement departments, including the Sheriffs and Federal Marshals!”

 

“Ohhh… Wow that's really neat!” the big-girl chirped.

 

“Well, you wouldn't think so if you were me…” she sighed dejectedly. “Especially when you're expected to act a certain way, but didn't, and because of that people thought I was a weirdo.”

 

“Is that why you left, McKenna?” Meryl asked after taking a sip of her coffee.

 

“Not entirely…” she sadly murmured as her hazel eyes glimmered with unshed tears. “I… I'm sorry I really shouldn't bother you two with this.”

 

“Nonsense!” the short-girl declared as Milly nodded her head in agreement. “McKenna you're our friend now and this is what friends do, after all!”

 

“That's right, Sempai!” the brunette instantly agreed. “So, you go on tell us and even if we don't have the answers… well… at least we can be here for support!”

 

“Gee… I don't know what to say…” Mac whispered as the tears started to fall down her cheeks.

 

“Well, how about you just tell us what happened and then we will go from there,” Meryl suggested as she reached over and grabbed McKenna's right hand, giving it a comforting squeeze.

 

“Okay…” she breathed as she wiped her eyes with her left hand before starting, “Well about two years ago I met someone. His name was Michael Ward, Captain Michael Ward…”

 

“Well go on, Miss Mac,” Milly urged.

 

With a sigh, the redhead let go of Meryl's hand and took her glasses off, so, she could clean off the spots from her tears. Once she placed the spectacles back on her face, she set her gaze back on her new friends and continued. She told the story of how she met Michael when he came in to the compound's medical ward after being injured in the line of duty. How they started to see each other and that she had fallen in love with him. The redhead also told them that few months after their initial meeting, the young captain asked her to marry him, which she happily agreed and celebrated their engagement by giving herself to him.

 

Two months before the nuptials were to take place, she decided to surprise him by going over to his apartment one night with a bottle of wine, anticipating a very romantic evening. However, once she arrived and opened the door, she heard that he had company. Female company and by the lusty moans and giggles coming from his bedroom, she was there for more than just a friendly chat.

 

The young doctor then told them how she angrily strode to the bedroom, intending to confront the bastard. Unfortunately, just as she reached the open door, she heard Michael tell the trollop that he was only marrying the `fat and ugly four-eyed freak' because of what it would do for his career and that they could still see each other. Once McKenna heard the repulsive statement, she gasped and fled the apartment before her `fiancé' could fully realize what had happened.

 

McKenna sighed again as she finished her story by saying that once she told her father, he advised her to look past the indiscretion and marry Michael. It was a good match and she probably wouldn't have any other offers. Besides, it was high-time she stopped the foolish hobby of hers and settled down. Since she adamantly disagreed, he commanded that she had to marry him and that it was final. So, two days after the argument, she packed some necessities and left.

 

“That was about eleven months ago,” she finished as she looked to the insurance girls and gave them a reassuring smile before adding, “Ya' know… now that I think about it, I don't think I really loved him. I think I was in love with the idea of doing something that my father was proud of.”

 

“Oh McKenna… that's horrible! Wasn't it hard to leave like that?” Meryl breathed while Milly instantly agreed as she wiped the tears from her baby blues.

 

“Yeah, it was really hard at first, especially since I left my father.”

 

“Isn't your father looking for you and doesn't he want you home?” Milly sadly asked.

 

“He was… until I sent him a letter telling him that I was here and very happy,” she replied as her smile brightened. “So, he said that I was old enough to make my own decisions and if I wanted to stay I could. But, I do have to write him regularly. That way he knows everything's okay.”

 

“Gee… that wasn't so hard to tell us now was it Miss Mac?”

 

“No Milly, it wasn't… as a matter of fact, I feel much better about the whole thing. Thank you,” the red head replied warmly before asking if anyone would like some more coffee or, in Milly's case, tea. Both women eagerly agreed and Mac proceeded to fill their cups. Once she had the aromatic drinks poured and the pots securely set back on the settee in the middle of the coffee table, she looked back up to Meryl and smiled sheepishly before asking, “Meryl, can I ask you something? It's kind of personal.”

 

“Ummm… sure,” she muttered before taking a sip from her cup.

 

“Are you and Mr. Vash a couple?” she blurted out, which made the petite woman sitting next to her almost spit out her coffee.

 

“I…I… well… ” Meryl stuttered as she started to blush from embarrassment. She looked down to the cup in her hands and was about to reply that she wasn't sure until Milly spoke.

 

“Mr. Vash and Sempai are in love, Miss Mac!”

 

“Milly!” the short-girl gasped as her head shot up and she immediately set her bright eyes on her partner. “I don't know if he does for sure or not!”

 

“Oh Meryl… I think it's rather obvious how Mr. Vash feels about you. You can tell just by watching him when he's around you.”

 

“You think so, Milly?” she skeptically asked before adding, “I mean I know that he said that he's crazy about me, but love?!”

 

“Yep… sure do Sempai!” she chirped as her eyes started to twinkle in amusement.

 

“I would have to agree with Milly, Meryl,” McKenna interjected. “Even though we just met, I could immediately tell that you two were very close. I guess that's why I asked. I'm sorry… I didn't mean to pry, but I thought that if you were then I should probably warn you about Jessica and her feelings for Mr. Vash.”

 

“Gee… who's Jessica, Miss Mac?” Milly curiously asked.

 

“Isn't that the young woman that I met earlier?”

 

“The one squealing Mr. Vash's name in front of the infirmary earlier, yes, that's her all right,” Mac sighed as she rolled her eyes.

 

“Why… what's wrong with her? Do you not like her very much?” Meryl questioned.

 

“Oh no, I do like her… it's just that she is very naïve, especially for how old she is. I'm sure that it's just because of growing up here on the ship and not being able experience life in the real world,” the redhead supplied before taking a sip from her coffee cup. “Believe it or not, she's older than me and I just turned 25 in May.”

 

“Really?” Meryl asked as shock enveloped her features.

 

“Yeah… When the Doc told me that Mr. Vash was coming, Jessica was in the infirmary with me. So, we started talking about him. And one thing I recall her saying, was that she remembered when he came back after the July incident. That was almost 25 years ago now. So, I would say that she has to be, at least, 27 years old.”

 

“Really… Wow! When I met her today, I could have sworn that she couldn't have been older then seventeen or eighteen,” the raven-haired woman muttered in disbelief before wondering why McKenna had to warn her about Jessica. “So, what exactly did you want to warn me about?”

 

“I'm sure that you noticed, but… she has this obsession with Mr. Vash and she believes that they are going to get married someday. Now that I know about him and his relationship to ship, she's allowed talk to me about him. Boy… and has done so ever since… I mean non-stop! Also, the Doc said that she has turned down several suitors because of the childhood fantasy.”

 

“Gee… Sempai, what are you going to do?”

 

“I don't know…” she quietly murmured as she ran her right hand through her cropped locks. “I suppose I'll have to talk to Vash about her and see what he says.”

 

“I would suggest doing just that,” McKenna agreed before she realized the time. “Well, it's almost six o'clock and I would imagine that Mr. Vash will be here shortly. So, I suppose that we should clean up our drinks,” she muttered before standing and picking up the settee.

 

“You're right and I bet that our last load of laundry is done, too,” Meryl added, standing also. “I'll go and fold it really quick.”

 

Milly said that she would help McKenna clean up the kitchen and the three women headed in the respective directions. So, they could finish their last minute chores before heading to Jessica's for dinner.

 

 

 

*~*~*

 

 

 

Meryl stood in front of the small folding table in the laundry room with a pair of panties in her hand. However, instead of placing the sheer white bikinis on the table and grabbing the next item to fold, she just stood there while contemplating what should be done in regards to her relationship with Vash and the next hurdle, Jessica. Sure, she could handle a psychotic twin and, the fact, that the love of her life was the most wanted outlaw on the planet. But, could she handle an innocent child-like woman who had pined for the man for over 25 years?

 

“Ya' know… I think I would prefer to see you in those little panties instead of just holding them,” the voice from the doorway said, instantly bringing the petite woman out of her thoughts as she jumped in surprise and dropped the panties.

 

“Well… I guess I wouldn't mind if you were holding them, if you just took them off and were in front of me naked, insurance girl.” he added seductively before walking up behind her and wrapping his arms around her tiny waist.

 

“Vash…” she breathlessly whispered as she turned in his arms and faced him, placing her delicate hands on his chest. “Where are Milly and McKenna?”

 

“Oh… I told them to go on without us, because I wanted to talk to you for a minute,” the blonde replied as he lowered his head and kissed her. The kiss was soft and sweet and after a moment, he pulled away smiling while looking into her radiant eyes.

 

“What did you want to talk about, Vash?” she asked, returning the smile and blushing a little.

 

“Ummm… is this your room?”

 

“No…”

 

“Oh… hold on a sec,” he requested, while picking her up and flinging her over his shoulder, causing the short-girl to squeak in protest. With a light chuckle, he strode out of the room and into her bedroom just down the short hallway. Once there, he plopped her down on the bed and fell onto the mattress next to her.

 

“Ahhh… your bed is comfy. I think I just might have too start sleeping with you!” he exclaimed before pulling her over so that her upper body lay on top of his while her hands rested on his broad chest. He then wrapped his prosthetic arm around her tiny waist and brought his other one up, lovingly cupping her cheek with his hand. “Yes… much more comfy,” he whispered right before his lips met hers in a searing kiss.

 

“Vash…” Meryl moaned as he tore his lips from hers and started to nibble on her neck. Vash… we… ahhh… can't.”

 

“Why not?”

 

“Because… ddd…dinner,” she answered breathlessly, managing only two words, because her brain decided to shut down momentarily. She did, however, hear him say that dinner could wait as he kissed his way back up her neck and laid his mouth upon hers again, kissing her intensely.

 

“Please… Vash,” she started again as she pulled faintly away from the consuming embrace. “You're the guest of honor…”

 

Laying his head back down on the mattress, he closed his eyes for a moment while trying to control his breathing. He also tried to regain some semblance of order and reign in the raging desire that the beauty, laying practically on top of him, always seemed to bring out by just being in the same room as him, especially lately. When he walked into the bedroom, he had absolutely no intention of trying anything. He just wanted to talk to her. However, when he saw her standing with her lovely backside in plan view, logic disappeared and all he could think of was getting her naked and thoroughly making love to her all night long.

 

`God… she's killing me,' he thought before sighing and opening his eyes to look upon her kiss swollen red lips. `Ugh… really killing me,' he added internally as he took in her disheveled state. Fortunately, his logic finally kicked in and it simply told him that she was right and they had better get going before Jessica came looking for him. With a sigh, he released his insurance girl and told her that they had better go.

 

“So, Vash… what did you want to talk about?” Meryl asked as she got off the bed and righted herself.

 

“Oh that,” he laughed as he rose from the bed as well. “Ummm… I actually wanted to talk to you about Jessica. You see, she kinda has a … well… you know…”

 

“A big crush?”

 

Ahhh… yeah and well… ummm… I don't know if it would be such a good idea if we… ahhh…” he trailed off again.

 

“If we make it obvious that we have a relationship?”

 

“Ahhh… yeah, but…”

 

“How did I know?” she started as she cut of the blonde. “Well, McKenna has already told me about Jessica's obsession.”

 

“Oh…” he replied as he brought his real hand up to the back of his head and scratched nervously. “Ummm… you aren't mad are you?”

 

“No… its fine, Vash. Actually, I was thinking about the situation myself and thought that it probably would be a good idea not show too much affection for one another around her right now,” she said before a sigh escaped. “Well, we should probably watch ourselves around your brother, too. He is the top priority, after all.”

 

“Yeah, you're right, short-girl,” Vash agreed as he grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the bedroom. “Are you ready to go?”

 

“Yeah… I'm starving,” she replied with a smile.

 

“Oh man… me too,” he groaned as they walked out the apartment. However, he was not starving for food at that particular moment.

 

 

 

 

*~*~*

 

A/N: So, I bet that some of you are scratching your heads going `Huh, Jessica's how old?'

 

Let me explain.

I know in the Manga she's about 18, but in the anime they never divulge her age. Then I noticed in episode 26 she's standing by Vash when he find's Rem's last living relative right before he goes to July. She looked about 2 then and at the end of the series, 25 years had pasted since the destruction of the city… Whamo… 27 years! (Gee… I wonder if she uses Oil of Olay?) See there actually is method to my madness; though I'm not sure they realized they made her so old when they drew that series of cells. Oh' well, it works for my story! ^_^