Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ Forever Mine ❯ Time Flies... ( Chapter 24 )

 

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 24: Time Flies

 

 

 

Routine report, July 18th

 

M. Stryfe reporting

 

There hasn't been any change or major damages that would relate to our assignment, Vash the Stampede, since the last report two weeks ago. For the most part, everything has been relatively quite, except for an incident involving him and one of the newly built homes at the construction site.

 

Eyewitnesses' claim that he had been leaning against one of the sandstone slabs to a partially built domicile and drinking from a canteen of water. Since the wall had not been properly secured, it immediately toppled over taking the other three walls with it, causing the four pieces to be completely destroyed in the matter of seconds. Fortunately, Vash had been the only person near the structure at the time of the occurrence, so, injuries were nonexistent.

 

Also, with the site being so new, none of the buildings were insured. Therefore, a claim will not be filed for this incident. However, Milly and I diligently met with the new homeowners to discuss their insurance options and enclosed with this report are thirty-seven new homeowner policies and another twenty-two for life insurance.

 

`Hmmm… I don't know what else to write…' Meryl thought as she stopped typing and drank the last sip from her coffee cup. Then with a sigh, she grasped for straws and started to type again.

 

Vash hasn't even had anyone after him for the bounty since before we arrived in New Oregon. Of course, it is probably because he no longer looks like `Vash the Stampede' without the red duster and spiky hair. He contently goes to work at the construction site every morning. Then he returns to the ship in the late afternoon and spends the rest of his time with his brother and friends. I believe that he enjoys the normalcy of his current life and being surrounded by friends and family. He truly thrives here.

 

I also feel that his brother is starting to come around to Vash's views, though he would never admit it. Knives has been…

 

“Damn…” she muttered as she pushed away from her desk. With her coffee cup in tow, she rose from the desk and strode out of the room, heading to the kitchen for a refill of her second love. After refreshing her cup with some café Verona, Meryl sat at the kitchen table while continuing to think about Vash and everything that had happened over the past four weeks.

 

True, everything had been quiet and peaceful… almost too quite, too peaceful. And it was really starting to worry her. After all, would she and Milly be called back to Bernardelli HQ if Vash were no longer considered a liability?

 

Would they even go?

 

It seemed as if everything was finally going the way that the blonde gunman had always dreamed. His brother was actually shifting his attitude toward humans and even helped the Doc improve the ships remaining two Plants' efficiency by over twenty percent. Although, he did say that the only reason he helped was because he did it for his sisters' well-being instead of for the `lowly Homo sapiens.'

 

True to McKenna's prediction, Knives was able to move into Vash's chambers three days after their initial arrival and his wounds were completely healed within the week. Also, once he had been steady enough to walk on his own, Vash started to take Knives around to see the city, to see how the humans acted in their normal environment. He was able the blend in and study the masses, especially since the he no longer wore an enviro-suit. There he saw the strength in humanity, their compassion and kindness. He also saw deceit and hatred, but that only confused the Plant more because of how the `honest' ones treated the `dishonest' ones. How justice for the most part was served swiftly and with objectivity.

 

Sure, there were cases that didn't mesh with those observations, Vash's case in particular. Though, having a sixty billion double-dollar bounty on your head was considered extreme. And, most of the time, it was either the dishonest ones or the very desperate that took the extreme and caused the turmoil. Besides, Knives realized that the bounty was his doing and if it wasn't on is brother's head, then Vash wouldn't have to deal with the complications.

 

Normally, Knives kept to himself while remaining in his chambers in order to read excerpts from the ship's archives or even a novel-disc from the vast library. Though, quite often, he would walk across to the girls' rooms or down to the infirmary in hopes of getting into some sort verbal sparring with either Meryl or Mac. (Which he did at least once a day and generally stayed for hours) Then, once Vash would return home from the construction site, they would go out into the rec room to talk and relax.

 

Unfortunately, his superiority complex remained. He still called humans lowly and would only willingly talk to Vash's `pets,' the Doc, or McKenna. Of course, when talking to the young doctor he constantly advised her how unworthy she was, which would always spark a heated debate or, more specifically, a verbal war amongst the two.

 

`Those two fight worse than what Vash and I do…' Meryl realized right before she heard the front door slide open and Milly calling out to her.

 

“Hello Sempai,” the brunette happily greeted as she walked into the kitchen with her hardhat in hand. “Are you finished already?”

 

“No, I'm not,” she sighed.

 

“Well, why not?”

 

“Well… because we really have nothing to report and I am reluctant to finish it, I suppose.”

 

“Are you afraid that they'll call us back, Sempai?”

 

“Yeah…”

 

“Gee… Meryl, if they do you won't wanna go will you?”

 

“Of course not, but…”

 

“But what?” Milly prodded before giving her opinion, “I think that if they do… then there's only one thing for us to do and that's to quit!”

 

“Quit?”

 

“Yeah quit!” she chirped excitedly. “After all, you wanna stay with Mr. Vash and I just love it here. So, that's the only answer. Besides, it's not like we need the money anymore.”

 

“That's true,” Meryl agreed before she thanked Milly for her encouraging words and advised her that if that day came then they would do exactly that. Milly immediately cheered and hugged her before heading off to go clean up from the long day working at the well. The petite beauty watched her retreating form as her ponderings switched over to her best friend and silently declared, “She's amazing.”

 

Milly truly was amazing. Her easygoing, carefree outlook on life was quite refreshing, particularly when she could steer right through any mess and find the simplest way to solve the problem. Even with Wolfwood's passing, she managed the trudge right through with her head held high and with a cheery smile. Albeit, Meryl knew that sometimes her friend's smile was a forced one and that she definitely was not ready to move on, much to the disappointment of many of the eligible bachelors in New Oregon.

 

It was almost comical how the men would flock to the statuesque beauty. If she wanted, Milly could have them eating out of the palm of her hand, but she didn't. She would just amicably tell them that she was still getting over someone very special and she wasn't ready to date. However, that didn't deter some of her more persistent admirers. They would stop by with a pudding cup and a small token on occasion just to see if the tall brunette had changed her mind.

 

Of course, Meryl did have her share of admirers, as well. Even if she was very close to the tall golden blonde twin from the ship, or to the few who did know him, `the Humanoid Typhoon.' But, so far, their relationship had been kept a secret. The only people who knew that it went further than a close friendship were the same ones who knew of it a month ago. Save for one person, Vash's friend Max Simon.

 

The raven-haired woman had met him about three weeks ago, while clothes shopping with Vash for his brother. With a big smile, the outlaw proudly said that he wanted to show her off to an old friend and a few minutes later, they walked up to the satellite's main office. After being escorted to the compound's manager, the gunman received a very warm welcome from the same man whose life he saved several weeks prior. With a smile and a wink to Meryl, Slater Polo personally escorted them to the `old codger.'

 

Meryl instantly liked the older man. Even though Max acted gruff, she could tell that he was nothing but a softie, especially when he fondly spoke of his dearest wife, Sophie. He was a caring man that a person could definitely count on and it seemed as if Vash had for years.

 

Vash…

 

He truly thrived on the fallen vessel. From day one, he seemed like a completely different person, like he had finally awakened from a tortured, never ending nightmare. Having his brother by his side helped immensely. Together, the Plants were learning from their mistakes, their misdeeds, while their bond became as strong as ever, to the point of being unbreakable. Vash needed his brother in his life (and visa versa) and the proof was irrefutable.

 

Once Knives moved into Vash's apartment, they spent every waking moment together, getting reacquainted, playing, talking, and fighting… like brothers should. Vash loved having his brother around, having the opportunity to show him how he had been living. He even took him to the nearby saloon for drinks a few times, which proved to be quite entertaining, since the girls always went with them. Milly and Vash would get smashed while Knives, Meryl, and even McKenna on occasion, would sit by and watch the two and their foolishness.

 

About two weeks after their arrival, Vash had started working at the construction site building the new homes for the survivors of the battle/fall of the final SEEDS ship. Knives actually encouraged his twin's decision, simply because he said that he needed some `alone time.' (Though he spent that `alone time' in the lab…) Then when Vash came home, he would shower and then spend the rest of the time with his brother, except for Thursday evenings. Every Thursday, he had dinner at Jessica's before they would go and visit Brad's grave together.

 

Jessica absolutely loved having Vash back and tried to spend every moment possible with the golden blonde, much to the platinum blonde's opposition (and Meryl's). At first, her idolization of the gunman was quite unnerving, but after awhile everyone (except for Knives) got used to her antics and, for the most part, ignored her hero-worship. Even Vash didn't mind the clingy nature of the child-like woman once he got used to her overzealous attentions.

 

The past month had indeed been very good for the outlaw. When he smiled, which was often, it was genuine and he didn't act like the complete buffoon any longer. He didn't need too, since he rarely had to feign ignorance, his new looked saw to that. Vash's hair now brushed his past shoulders and usually fell haphazardly about his handsome face, while he continued to wear `normal' clothing. Naturally, he was still a shameless flirt. Though, he only hit on other women, because he didn't want to change his ways so abruptly. At least, that's what he told Meryl when they were alone.

 

Unfortunately, that didn't happen very often… actually, not at all.

 

Everything had been coming along nicely, except for the relationship between the wannabe lovebirds. When they decided to keep their relationship under wraps for fear of what it would do to Jessica and Knives, it practically sputtered to a halt. They mostly acted as close friends to the world and sometimes acted like the `insurance girl' and the `assignment.' Although, the only person inside their circle that was oblivious to the charade was Vash's personal groupie.

 

Spiritually, they were as close as ever, especially with Vash `visiting' her mentally on a regular basis, especially at night. He would send her little messages about missing her or they would hold conversations about anything and everything while being separated. The connection they shared was astonishing, the love deeply rooted and insurmountable. Despite the fact, that they had never spoken the words to one another.

 

Now the physical aspect was another matter. The closest the two ever got in consummating their relationship was the attempted lovemaking in the rec room a month ago. No sooner did Vash finish sending the mental message to Meryl, Jessica flew up the hill and into the arms of the frustrated man. She immediately insisted that he go and play with her and the children, thus ending any chances of finishing where they left off that afternoon.

 

Meryl tried to continue that evening by waiting for Vash in his bed. But, he ended up staying with Knives in the infirmary until very, very late. When he finally returned to his quarters, he came upon the sleeping insurance girl and decided to let her sleep. So, he just cuddled up with her and slept soundly. Vash even suggested (more like pleaded) that they go back to her room for a little `quality time' once. However, Meryl simply told him that she didn't feel comfortable doing that with Milly there, knowing that she still wasn't over Wolfwood. Though, another chance did come after Milly started working at the well and before Vash had started his own job...

 

It was about a week and a half after their arrival and Knives decided that he wanted to take a nap. Vash instantly contacted Meryl, telepathically asking her to meet him for a moment at her quarters, hoping for a little action. She immediately agreed and met him with a warm smile at her door. Once they were inside, he quickly picked her up and a carried her into her bedroom where he started to kiss her while unbuttoning her shirt. Unfortunately, she had to stop him. With a sad smile, the petite beauty told him that they couldn't do what he was asking for, because of the `time of the month.' So, they ended up laying in each others arms while taking a nap themselves.

 

Opportunities there after dwindled to nil, especially with Knives leaving the infirmary and their busy schedules. Meryl started assisting McKenna in the ward, since she was so apt at treating wounds and remained there most of the time, while Vash hung out with Knives or worked himself. Some days they only saw each other in the halls or if they were together, for any amount of time, there were others near by. It even got to the point where Vash would walk Meryl to the infirmary every morning before going to work and attack, kissing her lustfully in the elevator until they reached the floor below. Both craving the blessed few minutes of alone time with one another.

 

“I swear if you looked up the meaning for sexually frustrated in the archives, you would find a picture of Vash and me next to the description,” Meryl muttered before getting up from the table and setting her empty cup in the sink. With a sigh, she started to head back to her room until she heard someone knocking at the door. “Its open, come one in,” she called, assuming that it was Mac.

 

It wasn't.

 

The very next instant, a flash of blonde, green, and beige flew through the door and enveloped her in a big hug.

 

It was Vash.

 

“Are you alone, Meryl?” he whispered as he started to nibble on her neck, while she instinctively wrapped her arms around his waist.

 

“No…” she moaned, enjoying the sensations flowing through her body. “Milly's… shower.”

 

“Damn, I was hoping I left early enough,” he groaned against her heated skin as he started to kiss up her cheek before finding her lips with his own. The kiss became urgent and needy, full of pent up yearning for each other. Coming up with a desperate idea, he pulled away and breathed, “We could always go back to my place. I noticed that Knives is down in the infirmary.”

 

“Oh Vash, I wish we could. More that anything, but…” she started before sighing. Then with a small smile, she added, “We are going to town this afternoon, remember?”

 

“Oh yeah,” he replied as he pulled away and led her over to the couch so they could sit together. Then with a big smile, he asked, “So, watcha gonna buy me, short-girl?”

 

“What makes you think I'm shopping for you?”

 

“Gee… let's think about that for a minute,” he said as he brought his right hand up to his face and started to tap his nose with his index finger, as if in thought. “Well… for starters my birthday is in a few days and, of course, because I'm absolutely irresistible. You wanna stay ahead of the competition, after all!”

 

“Competition?”

 

“Sure… my faithful followers,” the outlaw said with a twinkle in his aqua orbs.

 

“Don't you mean follower, Vash?” she smugly corrected as she crossed her arms over her chest.

 

“Hey, I have hoards of women after me, I'll have you know!”

 

“Sure you do!” she sarcastically retorted.

 

“No, really I do,” the blonde said in his own defense. “As a matter of fact, the baker's daughter, two of the waitresses at corner diner, and the one bar maid with really big boobs have already asked if they could receive another form of a tip from me,” he notified her, while wiggling his eyebrows up and down.

 

“Ugh… you really don't know when to shut up do you,” she exclaimed right before pulling away and smacking him upside the head for good measure. Then with her own mischievous gleam, she smirked before saying, “Well you know, I have quite a few admirers myself, Mr. Vash.”

 

“Oh yeah… who?” he asked as his eyes narrowed.

 

“Well… for example, do you remember the Jason, one of the two men who helped us unload the truck?”

 

“Yeah…” he slowly replied with just a hint of jealously.

 

“He's been coming to the infirmary lately and he even asked me out to dinner three days ago.”

 

“And?” he growled.

 

“As a matter of fact, we are going somewhere together on Wednesday.”

 

“No you're not!” Vash angrily ordered.

 

“Yes, we are,” she replied, standing her ground while becoming slightly irritated.

 

“I refuse! You are mine, damn it!” he roared as the jealously took over.

 

“Excuse me?!” Meryl hissed as the anger over Vash's pig-headedness quickly got the best of her. There was absolutely no way that she was going to let him think that it was okay for him to `socialize' with members of the opposite sex and she wasn't! Rising from the couch, she instantly leaned over the rigid gunman before lashing out at him, “You have no say in who I can or cannot see, Mr. Stampede, especially with the way you still act like a lecherous reprobate! I am my own person, not your possession! You have no right… you are not my lord and husband! Technically, you aren't even my… my boyfriend!

 

“Oh hell…” she then snapped as she threw her hands up in the air in frustration and walked around the coffee table to get away from the shell-shocked gunman.

 

“You're right. I have no say,” Vash whispered sadly after a few tense moments. “I…I'm sorry, Meryl.”

 

“No Vash, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have spouted off like that,” she replied as she looked down to the ground while her back still faced him. “I…I guess I'm a little frustrated.”

 

“Yeah me, too,” he softly admitted as he rose from the couch. Walking up behind her, Vash placed his hands on her shoulders before declaring, “Maybe it's about time that we changed what you just stated.”

 

“What?!” she breathed, wide-eyed, as she turned around to look up into the face of the man before her. She desperately needed know which part he meant. Was it the boyfriend or husband part?

 

“I mean… maybe we should officially announce that we are boyfriend and girlfriend.”

 

“Really?” the petite woman hopefully asked. Being Vash the Stampede's official girlfriend was just fine by her.

 

“Yeah, I'm getting tired of hiding my feelings for you,” Vash stated with a smile as he enveloped her in his embrace. “Who knows, maybe we could finally find the time be alone together for longer than five minutes,” he added as he felt her arms slip around his waist. She then replied with an `I doubt it,' which made both of them to chuckle.

 

“When do you want to make this official?” she asked after their chuckles died down.

 

“Well, I guess I only need to tell Jessica, but I would like to wait until after my birthday bash on Wed… oh… hey!” the Plant sputtered, finally realizing what Wednesday was. Pulling way from her embrace, he bit out, “You said that you were going out with Jason on my birthday!”

 

“No, I never said that. I said that we were going somewhere together…” she clarified as she looked up to the blonde's sad face and grinned. “We are both going to your birthday party on Wednesday, you idiot.”

 

“You meant he didn't ask you out?” Vash hopefully asked.

 

“No, he did… I just told him that my assignment kept me to busy for dating.”

 

“I swear short-girl you are going to drive me crazy!”

 

“Yeah… well, for you it would be a short trip,” she laughed as her eyes twinkled with amusement.

 

“Gee… Mr. Vash, where are you going?” Milly asked, clearly confused as she walked into the living area with her hair still damp from her shower. “And right before your birthday.”

 

“Oh… I'm not going anywhere, big-girl,” Vash answered before adding with a chuckle, “Well… actually, I guess I'm going to head down to the infirmary to save red. I'm sure that Knives is probably annoying the hell out of her and she's about ready to inflict some bodily harm. Hmmm… might be kinda fun to watch, would you two like to join me?”

 

“Nah, you two go ahead,” Milly said as she headed over to the monitor in the kitchen. “I wanna fix a snack before we go shopping for your birthday presents, Mr. Vash.”

 

“Well then,” Vash said, looking down to Meryl and grinning prior to pulling away from her so he could hold out his real hand. “Would you care to join me… girlfriend?”

 

“I would love too, boyfriend,” she replied with a matching smile as she took the offered hand. “Milly, we will be back shortly.”

 

“Okie dokie, Sempai,” Milly replied right before the two walked out of their quarters. As the door slid shut, she shook her head and muttered, “It's about time.” Then turning her attention to the monitor, she smiled broadly as she started to key in her order. “Hmmm… let's try strawberry kiwi this time.”