Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ Trigun: Welcome to Eden ❯ Finding Eden ( Chapter 4 )

Part IV: Finding Eden

3 months later…

"What do you think, Millie?"

Meryl watched her friend turn from the window of the bus to look at her. Millie grinned. "I'm excited, Meryl! We're finally going to see the place where…where Nicholas was happiest! I can barely contain myself, I'm so happy!"

Meryl shook her head. "That's not what I mean, Millie." Meryl sighed and looked about the bus. There were very few people going to this little town 300 iles from December, and all of the people here were actually from the town. Meryl remembered a conversation Vash had with one of the other passengers just as they were getting on the bus.

"Why are you folks getting on the bus for? I never seen you before?"

Vash smiled. "We're moving to the town the bus takes us to. I'm still not sure of the name, mind telling us?"

The man shook his head. "How can you people move to a town without even knowing the name of it? What kind of weirdoes are ya? Or are you just gonna make trouble?"

Vash quickly shook his head. "No! You don't understand. One of my friends used to live in that town, but he died about seven months back. So we decided we were going to live in the town where our friend was the happiest. Now, if you don't mind, my brother's injured and we'd like to get on the bus before it leaves without us."

The man started as he saw Knives sleeping in the wheelchair and moved out of the way.

Meryl turned to where Vash sat beside the still sleeping Knives. After Vash had said that to Knives, he had gotten a lot quieter. He didn't talk as much and when he did it was usually in monosyllables. Within the last three months Vash had even taken Knives to the Plant so that way he could speak to it himself and see that Vash was telling the truth. Since that day, Knives had been mute. He wouldn't say a word, just sat in silence, almost as if he were endlessly thinking. That scared Meryl more than Knives threats.

"Well, then, what do you mean, Meryl?"

Meryl was brought out of her thoughts by Millie's voice. She blinked and turned away from Vash and Knives back to Millie. "Hmm? Oh! I meant what do you think about the way Knives has been acting lately? I'm not sure what scares me more. His threats or this quietness that has happened to him."

Millie shook her head and rubbed her protruding belly (which had become a habit). "I think the reason he's so quiet is because he's in shock and he's thinking about it. Mr. Vash showed him the truth. And I think it spooked him."

Meryl nodded and bit her lip. She turned her gaze back to Vash and Knives. Vash was making Knives more comfortable in his chair. He suddenly looked up and Meryl flushed as she met his eyes. He smiled at her and Meryl couldn't help but smile back. It was so strange. You would have figured since there was less problems Vash would be goofier and livelier, but taking care of his brother made Vash much more worried and conservative than normal. Meryl had watched Vash the last three months and had seen him grow more and more worried over his brother. He had also grown quiet over the last few months.

Vash gave her a little salute and then leaned back for a nap. Meryl smiled. Rest Vash. You've worn yourself out taking care of Knives. Meryl's gaze moved from Vash to Knives and her heart stopped for a moment.

Knives' eyes were open and they were watching her.

Meryl felt as if those piercing blue eyes were dissecting her soul and then just as quickly as the sensation had come, Knives closed his eyes and went back to sleep.

Meryl was uncomfortable the rest of the trip.

"Meryl, wake up! We're here!"

Meryl slowly opened her eyes to look into Millie's excited ones. Meryl blinked. "We're here? Already?"

Millie rolled her eyes. "Meryl, you've been asleep all night and day! You missed dinner and breakfast! You must have been more tired than you looked!"

Meryl nodded and stood up to stretch. The bus had already stopped and people were exiting. Meryl turned to Vash who was standing up and grinning. "Why are you smiling like a buffoon, Vash?"

Vash shrugged. "Guess it's the name of the town. It's just perfect."

Meryl blinked. "Huh?"

Millie popped her face in front of Meryl, her eyes glowing. "Mr. Vash is right! The name of the town is perfect! It's Eden!"

Meryl blinked again and then looked out the window. Just outside there was a sign that said, "Welcome to Eden".

* * *

Millie had told Vash and Meryl that she was going on ahead. She wanted to find them a place to live quickly so they could settle Mr. Knives down for the night. But she also wanted to see the town that Nicholas had loved so much.

The night they were together he had told her that he wanted to take her here. That to him this town was his own private Eden. Where he could be with the children he loved and doing the thing he loved best, which was taking care of them. If only he had stayed around long enough to meet his own child.

Millie stopped someone on the streets. "Excuse me, sir?"

The old man looked up at her from behind his glasses and smiled. "Well, hello there, lassie. I've never seen your face before. What are you doing in Eden? Visiting?"

Millie shook her head. "Actually, my friends and I came to live here. My…my…my husband… used to live in this town and when he died we decided to come here to live."

The old man blinked and shifted his glasses. "Really, lassie? So sorry. But I don't remember much about the young folk who leave town."

Millie shook her head. "That's all right. I just wanted to know where the orphanage was."

The old man smiled. "Well, all righty then, if that's all ya need. Just keep going down the main road, lassie. The orphanage is a big building that'll be on your right. You can't miss it. Them wee ones are always playing outside."

"Thank you so much, sir!" Millie said before moving off again.

The old man smiled and called after her. "Don't call me sir, lassie. Just call me Old Mac. Everyone in town does. Oh! And welcome to Eden!"

"Thank you!"

Millie smiled turning back around and placed a hand on her swollen belly, walking to the orphanage. What a nice old man. Old Mac. He probably knew everyone in this town since they were little. She wondered if he knew Wolfwood too… There was just one thing she thought strange. If he had thought this place was his own Eden, then why was the town called that? She didn't think any town could be called…that…

Millie's thoughts trailed off as she looked at the building before her. The desert had abruptly ended. The last time she had seen one of these was when they were helping the old folks with the deed to their land. It was a geo-plant. Or…at least an offshoot of one. There were trees everywhere and grass…the orphanage was covered in vines. Millie could feel tears stinging her eyes as she saw the kids playing in the grass and in the trees.

She wandered into the gates in a daze.

"This really is Eden…"

Millie heard a chuckle behind her and she turned. An old priest stood there. His hair gray, his black skin glistening in the sun. He had small glasses and the kindest eyes. "Yes. It really is Eden, isn't it? Course, it wasn't always Eden. This town used to be called Danville till this happened. Don't even know what caused it. There isn't a geo-plant for iles. December doesn't even have one and they're 300 iles away and the closest town to us. People in this town saw this as a miracle." The priest walked up to her and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Not too many strangers come to this town, and the people that come and go don't tell anyone about it. Call us selfish, but because we don't know where it came from we don't want to see it ruined. We're a quiet town and prefer being left alone. I ain't never seen you around before, daughter. You're new here."

Millie nodded, tears sliding down her cheeks. "That means when he was here this place wasn't Eden yet!"

"Beg your pardon?"

Millie shook her head. "Let me explain." Millie wiped her tears with her sleeve. "I'm…I'm Millie…Wolfwood. My friends and I came to live here-"

"Child, did you just say your name was Millie Wolfwood?"

Millie looked up at the priest's astonished face and she nodded, tears welling up in her eyes again. "Uh-huh. I was wondering if anyone would remember him." She placed a hand over her belly. "I'm pregnant too."

The priest suddenly burst into a grin and wrapped Millie in his burly arms. Millie blinked in surprise. Under those robes, you'd never guess this priest was so big!

"Oh! Praise be the Lord! That boy is back! I prayed for him every day! Hoping he'd understand, hoping he'd come back to the light, come back to the children who missed him so! And he has! And with a wife and baby to boot! I knew he wasn't suited to be a man of the cloth completely, but there ain't any rules about celibacy anymore so…"

The priest stopped when he saw Millie's tears. Millie watched his shoulders slump. "Nicholas…isn't with you, is he?"

Millie burst out crying and threw herself against the priest. "I…I…I…I…wanted to be… to be…to be…in the place where he was happy… in the place… that was Eden to him… He… he…would be so…happy to know that…it really is Eden now…!" Millie wept against the priest silently. She hadn't wanted to cry. She was stronger than that! But…but…but…

She felt comforting arms around her back. "It's all right. The Lord just took back his own that's all. I'm sure Nicholas died without regrets." The priest pulled her away and Millie just stared into his gentle eyes. "Now why don't you tell me about him and about yourself. You can call me Father Jim. That's what he used to call me and that's what the kids call me."

Millie nodded. "Okay, Father Jim." She sniffled and wiped her tears away. "I'm sorry for crying all over you…" She sniffed again and smiled. "After he…after… Well, we decided to come live here where he said he was happiest. So it took us a while but we came. His best friend came with his brother who's injured. We need a place to stay. So…I'd like to stay here. I want to take care of the children just like he used to. I'm sure it would make him happy."

Father Jim nodded. "I understand, child. Millie, you said your name was?" Millie nodded. "Well, I'd love to know more about him and I can't wait to meet his other friends…" Father Jim looked up and Millie turned. She saw Vash, Knives and Meryl waving in the distance.

Millie turned to the priest. "That's them, Father. Vash Saverem and his brother Knives and my best friend Meryl Stryfe. Vash was his best friend and it hurt him as much as it hurt me, because we couldn't save him."

Millie looked up at the father and saw tears sliding down his cheeks. Millie bit her lip briefly and then smiled. At least now everyone who ever loved him surrounded her. She took a deep breath. She would be happy here. She would make him proud. I never told you… Never got the chance… I love you, Nicholas…

* * *

"DEAR GOD, WHY ME?!?!?"

Nicholas kicked his broken bike and stubbed his toe. Kuroneko-sama jumped out of the passenger seat with a "Nyao!" Wolfwood cursed as he hopped on one foot. Old Victoria II had to up and die now! Right in the middle of the desert! Couldn't she have waited until after he had reached the town before giving out on him?! Wolfwood rolled his eyes and pulled out his bag. Well, at least the town wasn't that far off.

He began to walk as he pulled out his map. North, huh? For three months he had stopped at every town on the way north and found not hide nor hair of them. Not even a bloody clue. After this town there were only about two farther north. Then he'd have to head east for about 4,000 iles before hitting another town in the 'north'. Wolfwood cursed.

The town he was headed for was Windling. Hmmm… Windling… Didn't he get some information on that town before he headed up there? Oh, yeah. Named that because of the really strong winds that are in this area. Had a lot of windmills, of course. Small town, real quiet. Has one large family that pretty much runs everything in town, but they're real generous and giving people. Wolfwood rolled his eyes. Well, let's just hope the rumors were right for a change.

He folded up the map and put it back in his bag. Kuroneko-sama meowed from his perch on top of Wolfwood's cross. Wolfwood narrowed his eyes. Why couldn't his life be as easy?

By the time he got into the town he was damn exhausted. He spotted a fountain just a little ways away and it was decorated with an angel statue. The fountain also had an inscription on it. "Welcome to Windling, where angels come in with the wind." Wolfwood didn't give it a second thought. He ran to the fountain, tossing his bag and cross aside, and began to drink. Dear heaven! This was the freshest and cleanest water he'd ever tasted in his life! Or maybe it just seemed that way cause he was so damn thirsty.

"Looks like you traveled a long way."

Wolfwood stiffened and then turned around with a sheepish smile. But his smile suddenly vanished when he looked at the woman. She looked…like…Millie… Sure there were some differences, but she definitely looked like an older version of Millie. Wolfwood shook his head. Nah, he just missed his big-girl so much that any lady that looked a little like her would probably look a lot like her to his mind. He smiled at the woman.

"Yeah! My bike died about an ile out of town, so I had to walk the rest of the way. Took me a couple of days to get this far up and I've already run out of food and water."

The woman smiled and Wolfwood thought he was hallucinating again. She really looked like Millie. She even had a glow around her, just like Millie…

"Then why don't you come to my store? I'll set you up with some food and water and I'll send my husband out to get your bike." She turned to his cross. "Are you a preacher?"

Wolfwood nodded. "Uh, yeah. I'm a traveling preacher. But right now I'm looking for a few friends of mine. They thought I was dead and left me in an abandoned village. When I came to I was by myself so I went out looking for them. Been chasing them for months now!"

The woman nodded. "Well, my name is Ally Appleberry and you're welcome to stay in this town as long as you like. We really haven't had any visitors recently in this town though."

Wolfwood sighed. "Thought as much." He picked up his bag and his cross and looked up at the fountain. "Hey, I was wondering…"

"Yes?"

Wolfwood turned to her and saw that glow…the same glow that surrounded Vash, Meryl and Millie. "Is it true? Do angels really come here from the wind? Or is everyone in this town an angel already?"

Ally smiled at him and began to walk toward one of the buildings. "Let me just say this. Any one looking at you will know its true."

Wolfwood blinked and followed her. "What do you mean by that? I'm no angel. Not even close. Just a preacher trying to live as best I can and trying to help people."

Ally nodded. "Yes, definitely an angel."

Wolfwood shook his head. "But you're the one that's glowing. The only other people I've seen glow is my best friend, his girl and my girl." Wolfwood shook his head. "I wonder where they are now. Blasted needle-noggin'! Where the hell are you?!"

Ally stopped and stared at him. Wolfwood met her gaze. Damn…she even had the same color eyes that Millie did! Or maybe I'm just hallucinating. That's probably it…Way too much heat. Way too much heat. "What?"

She suddenly burst out laughing. It was a tinkling gentle laugh that reminded him of an angel for sure. She nodded. "Oh, I'm certain of it now. You are definitely an angel." She turned and continued walking toward her store. "I don't know what's going on Mr. Preacher, but whether you're a ghost, an angel or a real person doesn't matter. I just hope you find the people you're looking for."

Ghost, angel or a real person? What did she mean by that? Wolfwood said nothing. He just followed her wondering what kind of weird town he was in and if he was going to find a clue to his friends there.

Wolfwood couldn't believe that rumors were actually true. Everyone in this town was just so kind and helpful. Appleberry went out with a few of his brother-in-laws to get his bike, Ally put him up in the guest room and washed his clothes, set up a bath for him and that night, he had a big dinner with her, her husband and their children.

The next day he was ready to move on. He met Ally on his way out.

"Leaving already, Mr. Priest?"

Wolfwood turned to her with a smile. That 'Mr. Priest' sounded like Millie's. In fact, everything about this person and her family reminded him of her. "Yeah. I have my friends to find and I won't stop until I find them. Boy, will they be surprised when they find out I'm alive!"

Ally smiled at him. "Could you at least tell me your name before you go, Mr. Priest?"

Wolfwood smiled. "It's Wolfwood. Nicholas D. Wolfwood."

Ally's smile turned into a grin. "I knew it."

Wolfwood blinked. "Knew what?" His eyes narrowed. "Wait a minute-"

"You are an angel!"

Wolfwood stared at the grinning woman. This lady knows…something… Is it possible that she does know Vash, Meryl and Millie…?

"You said that no strangers passed through town during the last three months?" he asked.

She shook her head. "No strangers, but some of my family passed through here."

"Three people. A man and two women?"

"Nope. Two men and two women."

Wolfwood shook his head. "Damn. And here I thought for a moment that…" He sighed.

"Say, Mr. Wolfwood."

He looked up at her gentle smile…again the lady reminded him eerily of Millie. "Yeah?"

"Why don't you head to December? Maybe you can find some information on your friends there. It's a long shot, but I've got a good feeling."

Wolfwood took out his map and put it on the counter. He pointed to Windling and then pointed clear across the map to December. "It'll take me easy, two more months to get there! That's a hell of side trip!"

Ally only shrugged. "Just a hunch." She turned around and took something from the shelf. It was pudding. She handed it to him. Wolfwood only stared at the pudding in his hand for a moment before turning back to her. She smiled. "I packed you enough of those and plenty of salmon sandwiches for your journey. I wish you the best of luck. You're in Windling, Mr. Wolfwood. Town where angels come in from the wind. Maybe should follow where the wind takes you. And right now it's heading northeast."

"Pudding… Salmon…sandwiches…?" Wolfwood shook his head and then grinned. He looked up at Ally. "I'm no angel. You are Mrs. Appleberry. I'll take your advice." Wolfwood gave her wave and opened the pudding she gave him. He grabbed a spoon and left with a grin.

Now to December.

"Ally? What was that all about? Why did you send him all the way to December?" Luke asked as he peeked out from the storeroom.

Ally just grinned. "Weren't you paying attention, Luke? That's our brother-in-law."

Luke blinked. "That preacher? But who- Ah!"

Ally giggled. "I hope you find Millie and the others soon, Nicholas D. Wolfwood."