Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ Forever Mine ❯ Life’s Journeys… Partings ( Chapter 34 )

 

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 34: Life's Journeys… Partings

 

 

 

Ten days.

 

Ten long, painfully horrible days had passed since the insurance girls wired the addendum report to Bernardelli HQ and still no word. The atmosphere on the ship became very tense as the wait progressed, especially since they were trying to keep their pending departure a secret. As a matter of fact, the only people who knew where McKenna, the Doc, and Knives. And the only reason Knives knew was because he entered Meryl's head while she and Milly where talking about the bus schedule.

 

Both ladies didn't expect a wire back the next day. And with how long it took to for mail to be delivered, a response would most likely be received within eight to nine days. It was just that waiting for Bernardelli's answer was becoming unbearable, particularly for Meryl. Fortunately, she was very capable of hiding behind her business like front. But, at the same time, she was tired of having to put on her mask to make people think that she wasn't fazed by Vash's engagement to Jessica.

 

When it came to the `lovebirds,' she would simply avoid them as much as possible, by either feigning an excuse to finish a report or by simply leaving the room, without a sideways glance at either of them. On the outside, proving that she was strong. However, on the inside, she was weak and just wanted it to be over, so, she could try to heal her broken heart. Meryl wasn't so sure it was going to be possible, though. For the days had been very straining for the petite beauty, especially while trying not to fold under the relentless pressure that Vash was putting her under.

 

Every morning before work, Vash would knock on her door (pass code thankfully changed) trying to get Meryl to talk to him. Then he would repeat the process in the evening, since she adamantly refused to even utter one word to him. Sometimes, he would beg and other times, he would yell or cry. At first, he tried too talk to her mentally, until she told him to stay out, because he was invading her privacy. Fortunately, he did honor her wishes. After it first happened, he even tried to get Milly on his side, until she asked him if he was still engaged to Jessica. He sadly whispered a `yes,' which made the big-girl exclaim that she would do no such thing because she didn't want to make Meryl cry.

 

Several times, she was very tempted to give in and throw herself into the outlaw's arms. And then tell him that she didn't care if she was his mistress, just as long as they were together. Meryl knew that she couldn't, though, even with her heart telling her otherwise. In the long run, it wouldn't be enough and she knew that it would break her. So, she decided to remain firm in her resolve and made sure that she was in a secure place, when the golden blonde was nearby. She didn't want to find herself alone with him. If she did, she would cave.

 

Finally, on the eleventh day, it came.

 

Milly was so surprised to see the mail carrier walking toward her that she, at first, thought that he was an illusion. Until he laughed over her sill notions and simply said that he knew she was waiting for the letter and decided to bring it to her directly instead of delivering it to the ship. So, she quickly thanked him with a hug and took off running back to spacecraft. Knowing that Meryl would be in the infirmary, she rushed through the ship with the unopened envelope in her hand. A few minutes later, she ran through the double doors, startling the two women before calling out excitedly, “It came Sempai! Finally it came!”

 

“It's about time,” Meryl complained as she stood from the stool and walked over to her partner. “Well, go ahead and open it Milly.”

 

“I…I don't wanna. You do it,” the big-girl nervously replied as she handed the envelope to Meryl.

 

“Okay,” Meryl whispered as she accepted the letter. Closing her eyes, she breathed in deeply to prepare herself. A moment later, she opened her eyes and gently slipped her finger under the fold to open the casing. Still holding her breath, she quickly pulled the missive out, unfolded it, and read the response. It was short, to the point, and only took a second to read. Finally finished, she closed her eyes again, letting a tear drop fall as she freed the trapped air in her lungs.

 

“Meryl?” Milly questioned, fearing the worst.

 

When no answer came from Milly's query, McKenna stepped up to friends before cautiously asking, “Meryl, what does it say?”

 

“Well…” she started, finally opened her eyes and looking to her friends with a watery smile. “It says that we should be commended on a job well done and…” she added before trailing off as the tears fell in earnest.

 

“And?” Milly prodded, placing a hand on her partner's shoulder as her own eyes started to glisten.

 

“And that we are to return home,” she whispered right before Milly pulled her into a hug, where McKenna soon joined in, offering her support.

 

Once the tears lessened, Meryl pulled away from her friends and thanked them before wiping her eyes and mentally preparing herself to head back to December. With her confidence back in place, she smiled again before adding, “Well… if I remember correctly, the next bus that heads directly to December is leaving Friday afternoon. We will need to get tickets and find a way to the bus stop, so, we won't have to walk through the construction site.”

 

“Gee… Sempai,” started statuesque beauty, while scratching her head. “Why don't we just take the truck? That way we could leave whenever we're ready and we wouldn't have to be on the bus for five days.”

 

“No, Milly.”

 

“Why not? I mean, technically, you did pay for it when you bartered your earrings with Mr. Whittaker, remember?”

 

“What earrings?” McKenna asked, not knowing how they purchased the truck.

 

“Well, Miss Mac, Sempai traded her earrings for the truck we used to get here, because it cost a lot more money than what we had at the time,” Milly elaborated. “And they where definitely worth a whole heck of a lot more than what you got out of them,” she then added directing the last part of her explanation to the short-girl.

 

“I know,” Meryl sighed before adding, “But, it contains too many memories, so, I would rather not take it. I…I mean I did it for VVV… him and it's his now…”

 

“Are you sure, Meryl?” Milly asked, while trying to convince her that taking the truck would be more beneficial. “You wouldn't have to see Mr. Vash and Jessica together any more.”

 

“Yes, I'm sure,” she quietly replied right before the infirmary doors opened.

 

“What are you sure about?” the newcomer asked as he walked up to the three women, receiving their complete attention. Well, except for McKenna's, who decided to move back to her seat in front of the monitor on the center island, while completely ignoring the tall blonde.

 

“Hello Knives,” Meryl murmured in greeting before Milly interjected that they finally received the letter that they were waiting for.

 

“So, does that mean you will be leaving soon?” he asked indifferently.

 

“Yes and please don't tell your brother,” Meryl pleaded as she looked into his ice-blue eyes.

 

“Meryl, unlike my brother, I keep my word,” he advised, meeting her silvery gaze, to prove that he would stay true to his word. With a tiny smile and a nod, she thanked him before she asked Milly if she would like to start preparing for their up and coming trip to December.

 

“Sure thing Sempai, though, I should probably head back to the well really quick and tell foreman Kevin that we are leaving Friday. Oh yeah and I did kinda leave without telling anybody,” she rattled off before starting to head out of the ward. Stopping at the doorway, she turned around and added, “Sempai, would you like to walk with me?”

 

“Ummm… yeah, it should be safe,” she replied before looking at the redhead, wanting to make sure that she would be okay without her, especially since Knives was there. “McKenna, would you like for me to stay?”

 

“No everything should be fine here,” she said, looking up to the raven-haired woman and giving her a small smile. Not bothering to even glance at the handsome Plant who stood next to her, she added, “I'll come down and see you later, though.”

 

“I would like that,” Meryl replied before she and Milly said their temporary farewells. The very next instant, the insurance girls strode out of the medical ward.

 

Knives observed the auburn-headed woman the entire time he was in the ward. Technically even before, since he felt her sudden distress over the arrival of the letter, which triggered his `impromptu' appearance in the medical ward. He noticed that she was, yet again, trying to ignore his presence and internally smiled because he knew that she couldn't do it. He could feel her pulse jump and her sudden nervousness upon his arrival and couldn't wait for the insurance girls leave. He wanted to prove that her attempted snubbing was futile. So, in the mean time, he decided to play along and pretended to ignore her as well.

 

Then Meryl and Milly left…

 

After watching Vash's ex-pets leave, Knives turned to look at the fiery woman before him and couldn't help but laugh internally. He could practically see the tension rolling off of her well rounded form in waves as her anxiousness increased tenfold.

 

“So, woman, why are you trying to ignore me?” he asked telepathically, watching her stiffen momentarily at the sudden invasion before continuing to type away while not bothering to answer. Her lack of response, made the Plant chuckle out loud before he stepped over to stand directly behind her. Leisurely, he placed his hands on the counter, capturing her within his strong arms while automatically leaning into her frame. With a wicked smile on his handsome face, Knives brought his lips to her left ear and breathed out slowly before repeating his question out loud, “Woman, why are you trying to ignore me?”

 

Immediately stopping her typing, McKenna shuddered in response to his attentions as the heat from his close proximity was making her blood sing. He was so intoxicating that she was tempted to turn her head and kiss him, completely ignoring the consequences. However, a faint reminder of what happened less than two weeks ago and the fact that he hadn't been around since then reaffirmed her resolve. Breathing out shakily, she finally whispered, “Please don't.”

 

“Don't what?” Knives asked, bringing his nose to her hair and inhaling deeply.

 

“Don't play with my emotions,” she breathed as a tear slipped down her cheek. “I…I don't think I can handle being hurt… again.”

 

“I am not like my brother who can throw away his possessions on a whim,” the platinum blonde replied into her hair. “Once I decide to claim something, it is mine… forever.”

 

“What?” she exclaimed as she stood and tried to slip out of his arms, but to no avail. “I am not or ever will be your possession, Knives!” she seethed once figuring out that she was trapped within his embrace.

 

“That's where you are wrong, McKenna! And when I'm ready… I will prove it to you,” he replied haughtily, straightening himself while letting her go.

 

“Of all of the egotistical, arrogant, things to say… God you are such a male!” Mac angrily declared as she quickly placed the center island between her and the conceited Plant. “I'm surprised that you're actually honoring Meryl's request and not telling Vash about her leaving. Just so he wouldn't lose one of his possessions,” she snidely added, while bringing her hands up to symbolize quotations when saying the word `possessions.'

 

“Why would I do something like that,” he replied defensively as he crossed his arms over his chest. “He's the idiot, who got himself into this mess and it serves him right to lose his favorite pet over his own self-righteousness!”

 

“What do you mean by that?” the redhead asked, forgoing her anger in order to get a straight answer from Knives.

 

“It's quite simple really. Somehow that simpering twit tricked my brother into this farce of an engagement and he's too much of a saint to get out of it.”

 

“Are you sure?”

 

“Of course, I'm sure, woman,” he indignantly replied, lowering his left hand to his hip and raising the right one to rub the bridge of his nose. Then with a sigh, he added, “I can feel it. Though, he won't open up enough for me to find out exactly what happened. His misery keeps stifling my attempts.”

 

“So what are you going to do?”

 

“I'm not quite certain,” Knives mumbled with a hint of frustration in his tone, while moving his hand from his nose to run it through his hair. He then looked back to McKenna and simply stated that he needed to head back to the main control room to finish tweaking the Doc's plans to relieve the burden on his sisters. Then without another word, he strode out the double doors.

 

 

 

*~*~*

 

 

 

Vash sat, hunched over, in the middle of the couch with legs spread and forearms resting in his solid thighs. He was doing exact the same thing he had done for the past two weeks… brood. It had become a ritual, waking (if he slept at all) before the planet's suns would even think about making an appearance and coming out to sit on the couch. He was trying to figure a way out of his current predicament, or more to the point, a way to become un-engaged to one girl so he could be with the other.

 

So far, he had only come up with two ideas that would solve his dilemma. One plan being that he would run away with Meryl and go to some remote place. So, they could live together happily, without letting anyone know where they were. Of course, Vash knew that Milly would want to come along and Knives coming had been a fore gone conclusion. He, also, had a sneaking suspicion that the certain redhead would probably end up joining their little group, but that would be it. If too many people knew, then Jessica would find out where they were. And when she caught up with them, she would probably castrate him or worse… bury him next to Brad.

 

Even with the shuddering thought of death or dismemberment, in all, it wasn't a bad idea. Well, except for the fact that Meryl wouldn't let him get close enough to take in her alluring scent, let alone talk to her. Then he considered changing his plan to where he would just throw her in the back of the truck and take off, effectively kidnapping her. But, he could see several kinks in doing that, from a very pissed off short-girl too trying to get everybody else in the truck at moments notice, and without Jessica finding out. That would be very difficult, especially with how good his short-girl's lungs were.

 

Even with the down sides, it still had merit. Technically, he would still be engaged Jessica. He just wouldn't be around for the wedding. However, the whole idea of running away and leaving Jessica without a word already made him feel guilty and he was only thinking about doing it. If it actually happened, Vash knew that the guilt would be agonizing. Besides, it would be the cowardly way out and he did, after all, agree to replace Brad.

 

So, that left only one option and that was to find a replacement for him. Unfortunately, that was proving to be quite daunting. Every time he would mention that there were so many better people out there for her, she would just laugh and say that he was just being modest and that he was the best. He even introduced her to some of guys at the construction site with the hopes that one of them would spark her interest. The plan was simple enough and every single one of them seemed plenty interested in her, too. Until she would ecstatically exclaim that she was Vash's fiancée. Then they would slap him on the back and tell him how lucky he was.

 

Actually, Vash did have another option, something that had been floating in the back of his mind ever since the conversation with Wolfwood exactly two weeks ago. He could simply ignore his very fiber and take back his promise. All he would need to do is sit Jessica down and tell her that he couldn't marry her. It was becoming very tempting too! Even more so, now that he had been able to rationally think about the whole thing.

 

Maybe, she did have other offers of marriage and created the `situation' to get him. He was beginning to think that was the case, especially now that he had seen how other men reacted around Jessica. The blonde man had always known about her crush and childhood fantasy of marrying him. Then the child-like woman decided to confess that she had always loved Brad, before admitting that she blamed the outlaw for his untimely death. Of course, immediately doing so after Vash publicly revealed that he had feelings for Meryl. It all seemed just a little too coincidental for his liking. He only wished he had proof.

 

“Do I really need proof, though?” Vash asked himself as he ran his prosthetic hand through his hair.

 

“Proof of what?” Knives asked, walking through the main living area and over to the kitchen to brew some tea.

 

“Proof if Jessica lied about the whole thing,” he replied before sitting straight up and raising his hands over his head to stretch. “I brewed some tea for you.”

 

“Thank you, brother,” the platinum blonde muttered before pouring some into a cup and joining Vash in the living area. Once situated on the overstuffed chair, he casually took a sip of his tea before setting the cup on the glass end table. “Of course, the little twit lied to you. It's rather obvious,” he added disdainfully while wondering how his brother could be so stupid sometimes. “You have to remember, dearest brother that it's in their nature to lie and cheat.”

 

“Oh come on… let's not go there, please Knives,” Vash pleaded as rubbed his face in his hands. “I just need to find a way to fix this problem so everybody is happy.”

 

“A very unlikely prospect, Vash.”

 

“I know,” the golden blonde sighed as he leaned back against the couch and stared up at the ceiling. “I just wish I could, at very least, find a way to get Meryl back,” he then muttered sadly.

 

“Too bad you decided to forgo your powers,” Knives said indifferently after lifting his tea cup and sipping on the brew.

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Well… if you knew how to use them. You could brainwash the halfwit into forgetting about this little deception, then just as easily mentally command your ex-pet into listening to you.”

 

“I couldn't do that!” Vash incredulously cried. “I could never force someone to do something against their will! Nor could I erase someone's memories. You forget, I've had my memories wiped clean and I hated it.”

 

“Ahhh… more to pity, I suppose,” Knives said with a sigh right before he eyes took on a devilish glint. After his little rendezvous with McKenna in the lab three days before, a disturbing thought crossed his mind and knew that theoretically it could happen. Life could be created amongst the two species, but it had never been proven. Nor what the consequences would be, if any. So, he decided to dangle that little piece of information out in front of his brother to see what his reaction would be, “So, just how long has it been since you were with your ex-pet, Vash?”

 

“I haven't really talked to her since that Friday,” the outlaw whispered.

 

“That's not what I mean,” Knives stated before clarifying, “How long since you have… copulated with her?”

 

“Why?”

 

“Well, I was wondering if there were any chances that she may be breeding, now.”

 

“What did you say?” Vash breathed, wide-eyed as his face blanched.

 

“I said that…” Knives started again until Vash cut him off.

 

“I heard what you said, Knives,” Vash interjected before hopefully asking, “Do you really think it's possible?”

 

“I wouldn't be the one to ask,” he point out, while internally applauding himself for finding a valid excuse for Vash to talk to Meryl and, hopefully, keep her from leaving. (Though, he just couldn't understand why Vash didn't command Meryl to stay.) Besides, if a child were involved, then Vash would have a valid excuse for `dumping' Jessica.

 

“You're right,” Vash said as he rose from the couch and rushed to the door. Once the door opened, he looked back to his twin and gave him a smile before thanking him. He then stepped across to the girls' door and promptly knocked.

 

“Mr. Vash, you know Meryl doesn't want to talk to you,” Milly sleepily muttered, a few minutes later and through the door's two way intercom.

 

“Please Milly; I need to talk to her! It's really important,” he exclaimed, placing his palms on the door, as if willing it to open.

 

“Well gee… isn't that what you say every time you knock, Mr. Vash?”

 

“Yeah but… this time it really is important big-girl!” the gunman pleaded before resting his head on the door as well. “Please Milly, I'm begging you! Let me in.”

 

“I…I can't… I'm sorry,” she replied sadly.

 

“But… she may have to talk to me,” he cried, eyes starting to glisten from lack of sleep and his never ending frustration.

 

“Why?”

 

“She could be pregnant,” Vash desperately answered, while hoping that would trigger the opening of the door. Unfortunately, he got nothing, but silence. “Milly are you there?” he added after a few tense moments.

 

“I'm here Mr. Vash…” Milly quietly replied. “Is that the only reason why you're asking to come in?”

 

“NNN…No…” he stuttered sadly after another moment as the tears started to fall in earnest.

 

“Why else?”

 

“Because… I love her,” Vash whispered sincerely, finally realizing that he had never actually told her before. Though, technically he still wasn't, since he said it through a steel door and to Milly.

 

“I'm sorry Mr. Vash, I still can't let you in,” the big-girl murmured, while sniffling.

 

“I understand Milly,” he said in defeat before adding, “If she hasn't already, will you please make sure red checks her out today? And I'll be around after work, okay?”

 

“Ummm… ooo…okay, Mr. Vash.”

 

“And Meryl if you can hear me… I love you… God… I really do,” he exclaimed, in earnest, a final attempt to reach his short-girl. When to door still didn't open, the outlaw finally turned with his head hung low and headed down the corridor, intending to take a walk before going to the construction site.

 

Little did he know, but Meryl was standing in the kitchen and heard the entire conversation. Vash's admission of love left her heart aching, for she figured that he was only using it as a last resort to get her to talk to him. Though, before she could discern the sincerity in his voice, her mind recalled what else he said. Her eyes widen and the empty cup, that she was once holding, fell to the floor, instantly shattering. Only one word came out of her mouth as the potentially life altering revelation sunk in…

 

“Pregnant…”

 

 

 

*~*~*

 

 

 

“So… what was the first day of your last period?” McKenna asked as she handed a little plastic cup to the very anxious short-girl.

 

“Well… ummm….” Meryl stuttered with a blush as she looked down to the floor. “It was the third of July and…

 

“And?” McKenna prodded.

 

“I'm late…” she whispered before looking up to the red head, adding, “I'm never late.”

 

“Okay Meryl, lets not worry yet. I mean you have been under quite a bit of stress. Hmmm… have your breasts been sore? Or have you been feeling tired or even just not quite right?”

 

“No… well, I mean I've been tired, but I haven't really slept,” Meryl replied as she glanced over to Milly who was sitting on one of the stools by the center island. When she returned her gaze back to McKenna, she added, “I haven't been sick or anything either.”

 

“Morning sickness doesn't always come right away nor is it always in the morning,” Mac supplied. “And, in some cases, women don't get morning sickness at all.”

 

“That's true Sempai!” Milly agreed as she scratched the front of her head. “As a matter of fact, mama told me that she wasn't sick at all with big, big brother and I made her sick all of the time! That's kinda funny, actually, since he always made her sick with worry when he got bigger.”

 

“Great,” Meryl sarcastically mumbled.

 

“Why don't you get me a urine sample and we will find out in a couple of minutes, okay,” the lady doctor interjected before ushering Meryl off to the bathroom in the same room where Knives stayed for a few days.

 

A couple of minutes later, Meryl came through the door and handed the cup back the McKenna where she proceeded to distribute some of the sample into a test tube before she dipped a thin strip of cardboard into the smaller container while informing the two, “Now if the little strip turns pink or red then it's positive and if it remains white then you aren't pregnant.”

 

It turned blue.

 

“What the…” McKenna muttered in obvious surprise before she tried the test again by filling another test tube, while calmly stating that the other one must have been contaminated. After repeating the process, she still got the same results. “Very strange,” she then said while removing her gloves and scratching the side of her head in thought. “Maybe there's something wrong with the test strips,” she wondered out loud before telling Meryl that they could find out just as easily with a blood sample.

 

Meryl immediately agreed to the test and sat in the white chair while rolling up her white uniform sleeve. Once ready, McKenna proceeded to fill three small vials of the crimson liquid, while simply advising the smaller woman that she wanted to make sure that if there were any more issues, then she wouldn't have to draw any more blood. After finishing, she used a sterile syringe to take a small sample out a container before pushing the down stop, squeezing some of the sample on to a slide. She then stepped over to the keyboard and hit a key, causing a little panel to open on the island prior to slipping the sample inside.

 

“Okay, let's see…” Mac said mostly to herself as she sat on the stool in front of the monitor. The insurance girls quickly filed in behind her, each picking a shoulder to look over. A moment later, a message popped up on the screen stating that the scan was complete, prompting McKenna to hit another key. “Here we go,” she added as the information appeared on the screen, where she started to look over the data.

 

With her brow furrowed in concentration, the doctor started to enter commands. She saw something very unusual in the shorter insurance girl's blood sample, something that she had only seen in two others. “Now that's peculiar,” Mac mumbled, making the raven-haired woman clutch her shoulder as she asked if she was pregnant. McKenna immediately apologized before refocusing her concentration to the task at hand, while stating that she just thought she saw something. She then told Meryl not to worry because it was nothing and entered a command to scan for human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG).

 

“Well do you see anything yet?” Meryl nervously asked.

 

“No,” the redhead replied as she released a deep breath. “I see nothing, Meryl.”

 

“So does that mean…” the short-girl started before trailing off. Not certain if she was happy or sad.

 

“Yep, it's negative. You are not pregnant,” Mac confirmed as she turned around on the stool and gave her friend a reassuring smile.

 

“Isn't that wonderful, Meryl!” Milly chirped, wrapping an arm around her partner.

 

“Ummm… yeah,” she muttered as she looked down to the floor, not wanting to show the mixed emotions swirling in her eyes.

 

“Are you okay?” the big-girl asked as she looked down at her friend's bowed head.

 

“Yeah… I will be,” Meryl replied, looking up at Milly and giving her a small smile. “It's just that there is noting left to tie us here. And I guess it saddens me. I don't know…” she then said with a sigh as pulled away from Milly's offered comfort before adding. “I…I mean we're leaving friends that I'll miss and I know I'm going to miss him…”

 

“Well… we don't have to go, Sempai.”

 

“Milly's right, I know I don't want you two to leave,” McKenna added sadly.

 

“I know and it's hard, too. But…” Meryl whispered before trailing off as the tears threatened to fall again.

 

“But what?” both the brunette and the redhead asked at the same time.

 

“But… I have to let him go. If I don't then he won't have a chance at being happy. I know him too well and if I stay, it will constantly remind him of what happened between us and he will think that the fault was all… his,” she answered as the trail of tears slid down her cheeks. “AAA…And once I'm gone, VVV… he will bbb…be free to lll...love her…” she added brokenly before turning to hug Milly as McKenna quickly came up and hugged her, again, as well.

 

“It's gonna be okay, Sempai,” Milly whispered after a few minutes, letting the petite woman's sobs die down. “Why don't we head back and grab our things. If we want to make the bus stop by one, we had better get moving.”

 

“Yeah, you're right, Milly,” Meryl agreed as she pulled away so she could wipe her eyes. Then with deep breath, she closed her eyes for a moment to recollect her thoughts before she looked to the young doctor and wondered, “Are you still gonna drive us, McKenna?”

 

“Yeah, let me get the Doc and I'll meet you at your quarters in about ten minutes,” she replied before they all headed out of the lab in order to finish preparing.

 

 

 

*~*~*

 

 

 

An hour later, one of the two insurance girls, McKenna, and Knives (who insisted on going to the bus stop, as well) were standing outside of the bus, while Milly was helping get the cross punisher stored on the roof. Once everything was in order, she climbed down and moved back over to the mini group to say farewell.

 

“Well we are all loaded, Sempai, and we can get on the bus when you're ready,” Milly advised as she stepped up to stand next to her partner.

 

“Okay, thank you Milly,” Meryl replied downhearted. “Well McKenna…” she then began, turning her attention back to their escorts. “Thank you, for everything.”

 

“Oh Meryl, don't thank me. With all of your help and kindness, I should thank you,” Mac whispered, while trying not to cry. “I've never had girlfriends before.”

 

“Oh McKenna, we will always be your girlfriends,” Meryl exclaimed while Milly adamantly agreed. “Besides I was kinda hoping that you would come and visit us in December sometime. It's only three days away. Well… if you don't travel by bus that is.”

 

“Yeah, and I plan on writing you all of the time Miss Mac!” the big-girl chirped.

 

“Really? I would love to visit and having a pen pal sounds like fun,” the redhead said with a small smile before giving both women a goodbye hug.

 

“Knives…” Meryl then said giving the platinum blonde a small smile. “Could you give this to your brother for me?” she asked as she handed him an envelope.

 

“Of course,” he simply stated as he slipped the envelope in his pocket. “Meryl, I just thought that I would let you know that…” Knives said slowly before trailing off to take a deep breath. Then after a small pause, he continued, “I approve of you.”

 

“I approve of you, too,” she responded warmly before throwing caution to the wind and giving the temperamental twin a hug. “Take care of him, okay…”

 

“I will… I promise,” he whispered, while gently wrapping his arms around her, accepting the hug.

 

“Thank you.”

 

After the hugs were given and the goodbyes said, Milly and Meryl loaded onto the bus, taking a seat toward the back. Meryl leaned against the glass of the window and looked out at the city that she probably would not see for a very long time, if ever.

 

`Stay strong Stryfe, it's almost over,' the insurance girl thought as she felt the engine come to life. Soon after, they were pulling out, heading back to the Second City of December. However, something was immediately amiss the petite beauty noticed. They were heading south instead of east. “Ummm… excuse me,” she called out to the bus driver. “Shouldn't we be heading northeast?”

 

“Don't worry, Missy. We will be just as soon as we are through the city limits,” the driver answer back. “Yup, once we're through the construction. It's faster this way, ya' know.”

 

“Great,” she muttered sarcastically, while hoping that nothing happened and the bus somehow didn't get stuck in the middle of the site.

 

“Don't worry, Sempai,” Milly said before she started talking about what she was going to do first once they made it back home. However, her bubbly chatter fell on deaf ears as Meryl decided to look out the window. Watching intently as they quickly made their way to the neat rows of the newly built houses.

 

About half way through the site, she saw the crews working diligently on the partially built forms. Tears started to prick her silvery orbs as she realized that she was probably driving by an unsuspecting outlaw. It pained her deeply, knowing that she was leaving him with out saying goodbye. But, at the same time, Meryl knew that she wouldn't have been able to do so otherwise. As the tears fell, she brought her hand up to the warm glass and held it there, while whispering, “Good bye… Vash.”

 

“Meryl?”

 

She heard her name as clear as day in her mind, knowing that Vash had sent it to her in a panic. An instant later, the petite beauty felt his presence enveloping her entire being. Instinctively, her gaze reached out to the roof of one of the newly constructed homes seeking him. Then just as the bus drove by, he emerged. Not only did Meryl see his rigid form, but through their connection, she felt his pain, his sorrow, and his desperation. Then she heard him again in her mind pleading…

 

“No Meryl! Please… Don't go…”

 

“Oh God… Milly, he knows,” she cried, turning to her friend immediately getting enveloped in a soothing hug.

 

“MEEERRRYL!”