Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ Ticket to the Future ❯ Accepting the Circumstances ( Chapter 3 )

STANDARD DISCLAIMER: You all know it by now. Trigun doesn't belong to me <sigh>. That privilege belongs to another fortunate individual. Suing me won't do you any good, as I am making nothing from this story.

Ticket to the Future: Part III

Accepting the Circumstances

Milly was in the examining room with the doctor and his nurse. I had asked if she wanted me to accompany her, but she shook her head, blushing a brilliant shade of crimson. I smiled to reassure her and after giving her a quick hug, sat back down in my chair and waited for the outcome.

I tried looking at an old magazine, but my thoughts kept returning to Vash. I had made a huge mistake this morning when we were talking about Milly and the possibility of her being pregnant. I wish Vash could see it's not his fault Mr. Wolfwood had been killed. He was perhaps the only person who could have possibly out drawn Vash in a gunfight. Mr. Wolfwood was good at taking care of himself. But, I was quick to place the blame on his brother. I supposed it was wrong of me, but it was the truth. Whether or not Vash wanted to admit it, Knives was to blame.

Sighing tiredly, I kept hearing parts of that conversation floating in my mind. "How can Milly raise their child alone… It's my fault…No, it's not… It's that creature down the hall… I'm the same…." I closed my eyes and tried to focus on something else, it was no good. When Milly and I left a short time ago, Vash was sitting beside Knives, changing the bandages on his wounds. I stopped in the doorway and called his name, but the only response I received was a slight pause in his movements and a tightening of his posture.

The soft click of a door made me pause in my reflections and look toward the sound. The doctor approached me with an air of cheerfulness. "Milly has told me that you are her close friend, Miss Stryfe."

I nodded, "Yes, I am. How is she, Doctor? I am worried about her condition." I added the last part with a rush.

"Oh, my Miss Stryfe, nothing at all to be worried about. I have never seen a mother-to-be more fit…" "Milly really is pregnant…what will she do…what will I do…how can we get through this?" My mind raced with thoughts on the doctor's confirmation of her condition. I must have had a blank look on my face, I realized, as I heard the doctor call my name again. "Miss Stryfe? Miss Stryfe, are you all right?"

"What, oh yes, of course, I'm sorry…what were you saying?"

"Mrs. Wolfwood is in excellent health, but I do have some specific instructions that I'd like to go over, that is if you don't mind?"

"Mrs. Wolfwood…?" I repeat hesitantly.

"My yes," the doctor began again. He paused a moment and gave me a sad smile. "She tells me that her husband was tragically killed a couple of months ago in a shoot out, these are such dangerous times we live in…"

"Yes, it was a tragic occurrence the day Mr. Wolfwood died," I added in agreement. "What exactly had Milly told this man," I thought to myself. "It was very hard on her at first, but she has tried to move forward and keep a brave outlook on life."

"Yes, I should imagine it must be hard for her, but she has another concern right now. I have gone over these instructions with her, but I want you to make sure that she follows my directions." I nodded to let him know I understood and was willing to help Milly. He smiled again readily and continued with a flourish. "I realize that Mrs. Wolfwood helped to dig the new well, but she must exercise more care. It will not hurt her to continue working a few hours per day for the next couple of months, but she must not be allowed to overdo."

'I'll try to see Milly gets more rest and doesn't push herself too hard," I assured him. "Then again," I thought. "How in the world do you slow down Milly?" I continued to listen with half an ear until he began with something about keeping her thoughts positive. "…realize that she must not be allowed to dwell on the fact she will be raising her child without the benefit of a husband. I am a firm believer that a good outlook on the part of the mother will increase her chances of having a healthy baby."

I reassured him once again that Milly would be looked after as she made her way from the exam room. I walked up to her quietly and waited for her to speak. "Meryl, I'm really pregnant," she whispered softly as tears flowed down her cheeks. Gathering her hands in mine, I thanked the doctor and his nurse for their help and gently led Milly from the building.

*****

A short time later, Milly sat in silence at the table in the kitchen. I bustled around the small room making ridiculous cheerful comments on what fun a baby would be and how much fun it would be to shop for new clothes and baby items. Milly broke her silence with one short sentence; "I don't want to be pregnant."

I stopped my dashing about and looked at her closely. She was red-eyed from weeping and shadows clouded the depths of her eyes. "Milly," I began hesitantly. "You can… we could find someone to perform an abor…"

"Don't you dare suggest such a terrible thing to me. How could I face my Nicholas in paradise if I deliberately killed our child?" Anger gave a new spark to her eyes. "I should have gone into the street to help him that day, but I promised to stay there until he returned. If only I had ignored my promise, I may have been able to change the outcome. It's my fault he's dead; mine and no one else's." I stood there with my mouth agape. I had never heard her speak with such a cold determination.

"Milly, " I began again, "I'm sure you're just nervous about being pregnant. But please, don't blame yourself for Mr. Wolfwood's death. If you had gone out into the street, you'd probably be dead too."

"At least, I wouldn't be alone and pregnant," she snapped viciously.

"I think you are just scared. I forced a bright smile at her. "Just give it a couple of days and you'll see that things will work out for the best. And more importantly…"

"Stop it, Meryl. You're just as scared as me, only you don't want to admit it."

I abruptly stopped and sat next to her. It was at times like these that Milly displayed a steel determination in her that made me wonder if any of that clueless air was simply an act put on to avoid situations she didn't want to deal with. "Ok, I'm scared. There I've admitted it. I'm afraid for you and of the future. Even though Vash and I are here, it's still going to be difficult for you to raise a child alone."

"I know that…I wish I wasn't pregnant, but my wishing it doesn't change the fact that I am. You are right on one point though, I have to deal with this situation as best as I can." Milly smiled a small smile at me and raked her fingers through her hair. "I wonder if the baby will look like Nicholas?"

I felt a huge weight lift from my chest. Milly would make it. She wasn't as helpless as she seemed. I grinned widely at her. Together we would get through this mess. I began to think that maybe a baby would be a lot of fun to have around.

"Is this a private conversation or can anyone join in?" I turned to find Vash standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame. "Mr. Vash, come in and have some pudding with us. Meryl was just about to fix us a snack."

"I was?"

Milly nodded her head vigorously. "I think pudding is just what we all need."

Vash sat down at the table and reached out to clasp her hands in his. "I'll be here for you too, Milly. Wolfwood was my friend. I let him down when he needed me most. I will not fail his child."

"Please, Mr. Vash. Don't blame yourself. I knew what was coming. I should have been the one to help him that day."

"Milly, if I had dealt with Knives sooner, none of this would have happened." I could hear the catch in his voice as he spoke. My heart tightened in my chest. The two people I loved most were each blaming themselves for a death neither was responsible for.

Vash sat back in his chair, and looked briefly at me. I shook my head, trying to convey to him not to dwell on the subject. He nodded and as I placed a small dish of pudding beside him, he caught my hand and placed a swift kiss there.

Milly caught the small play and looked at us with delighted eyes. "See, Meryl! I told you we should have followed Mr. Vash. You were meant for each other."

Vash looked at me with those gorgeous aqua eyes. I suddenly felt warm all over and knew in my heart that this morning was past and he had forgiven me. "It will not bother you that we are together, will it? Vash asked her quickly.

Milly shook her head "no". "It makes me glad to see those people I care about most happy," she replied.

"To tell you the truth, I'm glad you don't mind. You are a good person, Milly. If anyone deserves to be happy it is you." Vash smiled at her as she gobbled up her pudding. "If you need anything, Milly, please don't hesitate to ask. I'll help in any way I can. Although, I don't know much about babies." He added with a sheepish grin.

Milly smiled in his direction again and then added with a serious tone, "Mr. Vash, there is one thing you can do for me."

Vash looked at her expectantly as he waited for her to speak. I glanced between the two of them for a moment. "I wonder what Milly wants from Vash?" I wondered silently.

Silence filled the room for a tense few moments before she started to speak. She raised her brilliant blue eyes to meet his gaze and began in a firm tone, "I want you to go back into the desert, find Nicholas's Cross Punisher, and bring it back to me."

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To be continued…

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Thanks for taking the time for reading. This story is twisting its way slowly through my mind and I am working on it as much as possible during the Thanksgiving break.

I hope you have enjoyed the latest chapter…Please take a minute to leave me a review and let me know what you think about the direction the story is going!

Love & Peace,

Blackhat (^_~)

On to Part IV or Back to Part II