Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ Trigun: Welcome to Eden ❯ Welcome to Eden ( Chapter 6 )

Part VI: Welcome to Eden

Born to Milly `Wolfwood' Thompson was strapping baby boy of nine pounds and eleven ounces. He had a fluff of black hair on his head, a serious expression and blue-gray eyes that looked at the world curiously. He was downright adorable and everyone in Eden loved him. Milly dubbed him David Nicholas Wolfwood. That was when Meryl and Vash first found out what the `D' in Wolfwood stood for. Milly said he had told him the night they were together. Father Jim confirmed it. The poor priest had burst into tears the first time he saw the baby.

He said, "Oh, Holy Jesus! He looks just like his father! Bless him Lord and give him strength. Let him be the kind of man his father would be proud of!"

During the next few weeks after his birth, little Dave became quite popular in town. The children, who had been expecting his arrival for the last month, would always want to play with him. The women thought he was absolutely adorable and the best-behaved baby in Eden. The men said he would become a fine young man when he grew up, and the elderly swore they saw wisdom behind those big gray-blue eyes.

Everyone was willing to look after the baby, but the one that benefited most, because he was one of baby David's favorite uncles… was Knives. He was never alone with the child, but he seemed almost in awe of it. With David around, Knives forgot about lecturing Meryl and Vash because of their relationship. They did not really care, they were just glad he was talking again. Little Dave played and giggled in Knives' arms, seeming to enjoy every moment with his Uncle Knives. Vash couldn't help but watch in awe at his brother's face when he held the baby in his arms. Knives seemed…gentled…at peace…

Maybe little Dave just had that affect on people.

* * *

Wolfwood knew that he was on the right track. He had to be. He'd been traveling for months, heading for December, going on what Mrs. Appleberry had told him. After the first month he had started to lose a bit of hope… But then the good Lord smiled down at him.

Wolfwood had been in a town called Darrel Town for a couple of weeks, making some money, getting ready for the next half of his trip to December, losing some faith… When out of nowhere the bookstore had a book up for sale. Number one bestseller in a weekend. When Wolfwood saw the title, he knew why.

Vash the Stampede: Searching for Paradise.

"What the-?"

Wolfwood went in immediately and bought the damn expensive book. The author was someone called M.S. Trife. Wolfwood knew by the first page that it was Meryl that had written the book. Wolfwood had practically danced in the street. They were nearby, he could feel it. And this book was his proof. He just had to keep going to December.

"Thank you, Lord!" he had shouted when he had gotten on the bus to December. Forget the bike. He'd get another one there. He just had to get there fast.

Wolfwood had been reading the book the entire trip. And so had pretty much everyone else on the bus. Wolfwood only smiled when he heard people talking about it during the pit stop.

"What chapter are you on?" a young man asked his girlfriend.

"I'm still at the beginning. When the author found out that the goofy nice guy was really Vash the Stampede and he saved Inepril City from the Nebraska family and then kept the Plant from blowing up."

"Do you believe that?" he asked.

"I'm not sure. Sounds true, and the book is a biography. It's supposed to be true."

"Maybe this chick is just trying to get some money by telling really good lies. I can't believe that the Vash the Stampede is a goody-goody goof."

Wolfwood was about to say something, when someone else interjected.

"Hey, check this out everyone. On the radio," shouted the driver.

Wolfwood got up and headed over there along with everyone else. The radio crackled with the static, but it was still audible.

"We're here…bzzzt…at Inepril City were one of the scenes of the new bestseller, Vash the Stampede: Searching for Paradise is located. Rumors have stated-bzzzt-that the book itself could be nothing more than a hoax to disillusion readers of the truth about the Humanoid Typhoon. But I'm-bzzzt-with the mayor of Inepril City now and he says everything that is stated in Searching for Paradise is true. Is-bzzzt-right, Mayor?"

"Yup. Vash is a hero in this town and anyone who says otherwise only says it-bzzzt-they don't know any better."

"Do you know the-bzzzt-M.S. Trife?"

"I have a good idea who she is-bzzzt-I'll not be telling. I don't think anyone who knows them will."

"Why is that-bzzzt-Mayor?"

"Because I'm sure that they all-bzzzt-their privacy and they got that right. She changed her name for a reason. I'm going to honor that."

"Well-bzzzt-it from here, folks. This is Susan live from-"

The bus driver turned off the radio. Wolfwood grinned. "And there you have it. It's about time someone got down and cleared up all the cobwebs about that man."

Some people agreed with Wolfwood, but some others still needed to be convinced. Wolfwood looked down at the book in his hand. If anyone could convince them. It would be Meryl.

Wolfwood stretched as he got out of the bus and into the streets of December. He doubted anyone here would recognize him, but that was perfectly all right. Now to get a bike and head to Danville. Figured while he was here looking for info on Vash and the girls he might as well visit the old cocker. As well as the kids.

He bought a motorcycle for a good price, only because the guy was too engrossed in Searching for Paradise to really care how much he got for the bike. Ah, the small pleasures. Thanks for writing book, Meryl. I can't wait to see all of you.

Wolfwood headed for the inn. It was already getting dark. Tomorrow morning he'd head out to Danville, visit Father Jim and the kids and then head back to dig up info on everyone. Hopefully he'd finally get a solid clue.

When he walked into the inn the girl behind the desk was sniffling. She was reading Searching for Paradise and was past where he was. She was crying.

"Hey, are you all right?"

Sniff. Sniff. "Yeah, I guess. It's just so sad." She still hadn't lowered the book. "His best friend. Lily's boyfriend. It's just so sad. Why'd he have to die?" Sniffle. "Why?" The girl promptly began to bawl. She dropped the book and lowered her head, weeping onto the counter.

"There. There," Wolfwood said. "Don't worry about it so much."

"But now, Vash will feel like he deserted his best friend! Because he couldn't save him!" the girl sobbed.

Wolfwood blinked. "Vash's best friend…?"

The girl sniffled. "Yeah, what part are you on? Haven't you met the preacher David Wood? Or maybe you don't have the book…?" she said lifting her head.

Wolfwood blinked at her. David Wood? That's what Meryl had renamed him in her book, right? Change the names to protect the innocent kind of thing. This was the part when he… died? Oh, this was a riot!

"EEEEK!!!" the girl suddenly shrieked.

"What?! What?!" Wolfwood shouted whirling around.

The girl pointed a trembling finger at him. "Y-y-y-you lo-lo-look like Preacher Wood! Exactly like how I picture him and how he's described." Her eyes widened at the sight of his cross. "Down to the giant cross that's full of mercy, right?"

Wolfwood shook his head. This girl had been weeping over his death. "But then again," she continued, "Preacher Wood died. You couldn't be him… Unless you were a ghost!!"

Wolfwood rolled his eyes. "Look. I just want a room. Tomorrow I'm heading up to Danville on my bike and I just want a room for the night."

"Danville…? Oh! Oh. Well, you should have just said so."

Wolfwood dropped his face into his hands.

"There you go," she said, dropping the key on the counter. "Room 5." She picked up the book again and promptly began to sniffle. But before Wolfwood left, he heard her shout after him. "You sure do look exactly how M.S. describes him. Maybe you're a double!"

Wolfwood sighed.

Nicholas D. Wolfwood dragged himself into the bar. Damn, stupid motorcycle dealer hadn't been paying attention, `cause he was reading the stupid book and had sold him a shitty dead motorcycle. It had been forever since he'd had to walk fifty iles. It was midday, the sun was scorching. And all he wanted right now was a drink.

A very, very cold drink.

He flopped onto a chair by a table in the corner, where there was the most shade. There was no one else in the bar, but the bartender and a guy at the bar. But Wolfwood had not paid attention to either of them. A girl came around the corner.

"Anything you'd like?"

"Anything that's ice cold and cheap."

"Water it is!"

The girl left but quickly brought back the glass of water. Mother of Mercy, at least someone was still looking out for him. After Wolfwood gulped down that water he let out a sigh of satisfaction. "Ha! I'm alive!"

He shook his head and told the girl when she passed by again. "Thanks so much, girlie, you were a lifesaver. Why don't you get me a whisky now?"

"Will do!" she said and left.

Wolfwood relaxed and sighed. After a little recuperation, he'd head to the orphanage and say hello to everyone. He closed his eyes.

"Will you just stop complaining to the baby about it and just ask her to marry you already," the bartender said. "You've been here sulking about it for the last two days. Don't you have a job to do?"

"My brother is working on it right now. Gives him something to do," was the reply from the dejected person at the bar.

"Is he up for it?"

"Mentally, I think he's a bit more stable than he used to be. Physically, he could recoup in no time if he really put in the effort."

"Well, that's good news. Lots of the girls in town have their eye on him, you know," the bartender said.

"I don't know if he's interested right now."

"That's a shame. All men should be interested in women."

"Well, I am and now I'm in this mess!" the man yelled.

Wolfwood opened his eyes. He knew that voice. That high-pitched yell…

"Keep it down. You'll wake Dave," the bartender whispered.

"Sorry," was the soft reply. Wolfwood straightened and turned around. Blond spiky hair, kind of sagging at the moment, white shirt, blue jeans, boots. "It's just I'm not sure if I can. What if…what if she says no? Or thinks that it isn't a good idea?"

"You're afraid of rejection?" the bartender said. "That girl's crazy in love with you. Everyone in town knows it, that's why the other girls haven't tried to nab you."

"I love her too. But marriage…? I want to make some of her dreams come true, but how can I give her a hope that'll probably be dashed?" the blond man said. Wolfwood stood up. That pathetic whining. It had to be. It just had to be.

"I don't know what the details are, but the one you should talk to about it is her. I know Father Jim will be happy to marry you. And the kids would love a wedding. Just stop bitchin' about it, Vash."

If Wolfwood had any doubt (which he didn't) it would have disappeared then.

Vash turned to the basket on the bar beside him. "What should I do, Davie? What should I do? I want to make Meryl happy, but we're happy now, right? Oh… Davie, what should I do?"

The bartender shook his head. "Stop complaining to the baby, Vash." Wolfwood saw the bartender turn to him. "What can I do for you, sir?"

Wolfwood slid into the seat two away from Vash. He smiled at the bartender. He couldn't help it. "I'd like a whisky." The bartender nodded. Wolfwood turned to Vash. He had stiffened slightly and then shook his head. Wolfwood grinned. Was Vash denying that he'd heard my voice, Wolfwood thought.

"Vash, I didn't think I'd ever see you stoop so low as to complain to a baby about marrying Meryl or not. If it's about your life span and hers, just live for the day. And if the day says, get married. Dammit get married."

Vash stiffened. Wolfwood felt himself grinning like an idiot as Vash slowly looked up at him. Vash's bug eyes were worth every ordeal Wolfwood had gone through since they had left him for dead.

"AAAAAAACCCKKKK!!!! IT'S A GGGHOOOOOSSSTTT!!!" Vash screamed and leapt of his seat. Needless to say the baby was startled awake and Wolfwood nearly jumped out of his skin.

"Dammit, Vash! Do you have scream so loud?! Even if I was dead, I'm not deaf!" Wolfwood cursed and shook his head, trying to clear out the ringing in his ears.

Suddenly he felt a poke on his arm. Wolfwood blinked. Then there was another poke. And then another. And another. A poke on his arm, on his chest, on his cheek, on his forehead. Poke, poke, poke. A vein snapped. "Vash! Will you quit that already you stupid needle noggin'!"

Vash blinked at him. "You seem…solid enough. You yelled at me, called me `needle noggin', look like Wolfwood, talk like him and you even got his cross which I lost after fighting Knives…" Vash grabbed Wolfwood's cheeks. Wolfwood punched him clear across the room. The baby gurgled happily. Vash only sprung back up. "Dear god, it REALLY IS YOU!!!" Tears streamed out of Vash's eyes as he made a dive for Wolfwood. "YOU'RE ALIVE!!!!"

Wolfwood dodged him and Vash hit the floor. "You idiot. Of course, I'm alive. You'd really think I'd let you off the hook so easily?" Wolfwood grabbed Vash off the floor. He grinned at him. "Besides I've been chasing you and girls' butts all over Gunsmoke. Do you think a ghost would do that for any reason?!"

Vash sniffled. "If I'm dreaming, I never want to wake up." Vash and Wolfwood clasped arms and pulled each other for a brief hug. Vash pulled back with a grin. "I don't believe, but I'm going to, because this is one of those things you really want to believe in."

"Do you have any idea what a pain it's been to track you guys down. And I still thought you guys were in December, not here in Danville-"

"Eden."

Wolfwood blinked. "Huh?"

Vash smiled. "Town isn't called Danville anymore. It's called Eden. I'll show you in a bit."

Wolfwood shook his head sat down. "So you guys are here, with Knives too?"

"Yeah, I'm taking care of him, just I was supposed to."

"Then who's this?" Wolfwood asked, motioning to the baby with nod of his head.

Vash blinked at Wolfwood and then turned to Dave. The baby giggled and clapped his hands. Vash grinned. "Oh, sorry, let me introduce you." Vash took little Dave out of the basket and put him into Wolfwood's hands.

"Hey, Vash! Wait… I'm not so good with babies as I am with kids," he said.

Vash grinned. "You will be. You got no choice."

"Huh?"

"Nicholas D. Wolfwood, I am honored to present, little David N. Wolfwood." Vash turned to Dave. "Dave?" The baby gurgled. "This is your daddy."

"What?!"

Vash grinned. "You know that night you spent with Milly before you decided up and die on us? Well, he's the result."

Wolfwood stared down into big gray-blue eyes and those eyes just stared right back. Then David just clapped his hands happily.

"I think Dave didn't need to be introduced to you. I think he already knew who his dad was. Right, Dave?"

"Aaaa…" the baby drooled.

Wolfwood looked up at Vash. "My…and Milly's… This is…our …son?"

Vash nodded.

Wolfwood held the baby more gently and his heart swelled. Oh, yes… Everything he had endured to get here was well worth it. Wolfwood looked up at Vash and his vision blurred. "I wish I could have been here to see her while she was pregnant…I always wanted to see my big girl pregnant with my baby…"

Vash clapped Wolfwood's shoulder. "You'll still get the chance, my friend."

Wolfwood smiled. "Vash, take me to her. I want…to see her."

"You got it." Vash turned and paid the bartender. The man was all broken up and crying. Wolfwood just gave him a nod and followed Vash out.

Wolfwood looked around the town in awe. It had changed so much since he was gone. Too much. There were patches of-grass?-in different areas. People had flowers on their windows and around their porches. Though most was desert and rock… These little bits of green stood out. But when Wolfwood saw the trees looming ahead where the orphanage was, his heart constricted.

The entire orphanage was covered in ivy. There were trees everywhere, flower growing, grass covered all of the ground. Nicholas couldn't believe his eyes. The kids where playing in the trees and were playing tag and other games. He saw Father Jim on the threshold of the church, smiling as he looked at the kids… And then Wolfwood spotted her.

Milly was glowing as she pushed the kids on the swings; her laughter ringing.

Vash suddenly turned around and gave Wolfwood a grin. "Welcome to Eden, Wolfwood. It's been a rough journey. But you made it."

"My God…"

"Exactly."

"Hey!" Rudy shouted from a swing. "It's Nick!"

Milly suddenly stopped pushing. Every child that new the name suddenly stopped what they were doing and turned. Vash waved at them, but their eyes were all on the man beside him.

"It is Nick! It is!"

"Big brother Nick! You came home!" Sally shouted and she was the first to start running toward him. Vash moved out of the way and let the hordes of kids by. Father Jim was among them.

"Nicholas D. Wolfwood!"

Wolfwood looked up from the kids on the floor. He saw the old black priest and his heart swelled. God, he'd missed the old cocker. "Jim."

Wolfwood saw the tears glisten in Father Jim's eyes. "Damn, you boy. I thought you were dead!" Father Jim made his way through and grabbed Nicholas in a bearhug. He made sure not to crush Davie who was still in Wolfwood's arms. He pulled back from Nicholas for a moment and looked at him again. "Everyone thought you were dead… But here you are! Alive, breathing, and damn well scarin' the life out of me, boy! I swear I thought I was looking at a ghost!"

"Well, everyone thinks your dead and no one sticks around to see you do the Lazarus! I've been following Vash and the girls for months," Wolfwood said.

"Do the Lazarus? What do you mean, boy?"

Wolfwood smiled and turned to Vash. "An angel. Said she was doing you a favor. She gave me back the life I lost. Don't know the specifics, but I think you do. She sang your song, Vash. She sang your song."

Vash nodded. Wolfwood turned back to Father Jim who was openly crying. "Father Jim?"

Sniffle. "Nicholas, my boy… you've finally learned the way. I think I have Vash, Meryl and Milly to thank for that, don't I? You glow, boy. You glow with the light. This old priest is so happy!" Father Jim sobbed. The kids tried to comfort him.

It was then that Wolfwood saw her. She was a little ways away, standing so still. Her face was pale, her fingers twisting in front of her. Milly… my big-girl… Nicholas stepped away from the kids, from Father Jim and from Vash and began to make his way toward her. Milly just stood there and waited.

When Wolfwood got to her he drank her appearance with his eyes, like a starving man. The baby giggled in his arms. "Oh, God, Milly…" Milly gasped and lifted her hands to her mouth. Nicholas could only stand there and see the tears slide down. "Oh, no, baby, don't cry. I'm real. I've been looking for you, for so long… God, I've wanted to see you so badly…"

Milly reached out and touched the baby's hair. Davie gurgled and clapped his hands. Then she reached behind David and touched Wolfwood's chest. She gasped. She looked up at him and Wolfwood found himself drowning in her beautiful blue eyes. "Y-you are real…"

Wolfwood smiled. "Let me show you, Milly." Wolfwood cradled the baby in one arm and pulled Milly into his embrace with the other. He met her lips like a man dying a thirst being given an oasis. Milly only wrapped his arms around him and cried as she kissed him back. After the kiss, Wolfwood stared at her face and his heart wrenched. God, she was so beautiful…

"NICHOLAS!" she cried and hugged him close. Milly sobbed against him, letting out all her fear, her loneliness, her heartbreak.

"Shhh…big-girl. I'm here, and I'm here to stay." Wolfwood looked at the trees around him and his heart felt at peace. "This really is Eden."

"Yes, it is," was Milly's reply. Wolfwood looked at her and kissed her again.