Author's Note: Hey people. Ha ha I finally wrote a story that was more than one chapter. I apologise if the characters are out of character but I'm not changing it now.

Disclaimer: I don't own FFX-2 and if I did I wouldn't be here.

Chapter 1: Relationships

The electricity flowed through the walls of the Djose temple, and Gippal could hear the thunder storm raging outside as he lay on his bed. He liked the rain; the rhythm of the drops falling against the ceiling relaxed him and made him forget all the troubles that came with being the leader of the Machine Faction. Today however, he had a different problem on his mind. The recent incidents with Vegnagun had shaken the feeling of peace that Gippal had let settle over him, but what had caused more consternation was the fact that it had brought her back into his life. He hadn't seen her since he had left the Al Bhed Home at 15 to join the Crimson squad. He'd heard that she'd joined Lady Yuna on her pilgrimage and how once the calm had settled, she had become a sphere hunter with Brother and Buddy. Yet Gippal had not expected for them to show up at his faction headquarters. For some reason it had seemed unlikely that they would come there, after all there were no spheres at the Temple.

The incident with the Vegnagun had managed to steal Gippal's attention away from her but now that it had been destroyed, there was nothing left to prevent his thoughts from taking their own wanderings. When he slept, Gippal dreamt of her, always her, either as the girl he had known or the beautiful woman he had met recently. And some how, and Gippal would never know exactly how, they had fallen back into the routine that they had formed years ago. Back when they were both children at home, hiding their friendship from Rikku's over protective family.

Flashback

"Rikku what's up with your pops? He doesn't like me very much, does he?" Gippal asked the blonde girl next to him as he gazed up as the stars. Rikku sighed and shook her head. She was ten at this point and was so happy that Gippal actually wanted to spend time with her as he was a big eleven years of age as he constantly reminded her.

"It's not that he doesn't like you. It's more that he's very protective of me. He doesn't want me to get hurt. That and he doesn't like your pops too much. They're always yellin' at each other and stuff." Rikku was kind of sad that the only time she got to play with her friend was at night when everyone was asleep. The rest of the time they had to pretend they didn't know each other, or at best, pretend that they disliked each other. Rikku shivered. The desert while roasting at night was often incredibly cold at night. It was almost as if there wasn't a medium.

Gippal snuggled closer to her and threw his arm over her shoulder and the two of them sat and watched the sunrise. Even as they said goodbye and ran back to their different houses, neither would have wished to be anywhere else.

End Flashback

Gippal sighed. He couldn't pretend he didn't miss the old days back at home. He was so innocent then and the world seemed to revolve around his midnight meetings with Rikku. Now, everything was more complicated. Rikku was running around being dragged around all of Spira with High summoner Yuna and the rest of the Gullwings, and Gippal had his faction. But somehow Rikku found time to slip away from everything and come visit him in Djose. She always got here after the workers left for the night and she was gone before they arrived, often before even Gippal was awake.

Gippal heard the knock at the temple doors that he had been waiting for and he quickly jumped off his bed. Standing on the doorstep to the temple was Rikku, completely drenched from head to toe. Gippal smiled and he couldn't help but think that the way her hair fell in her eyes when it was wet made her look ever so cute. But the smile was quickly erased as he saw her shiver. He ushered her into the warm temple lobby.

"You shouldn't have come tonight. I would have understood." He said as he looked around for something dry for Rikku to wear, finally spotting a jumper lying around.

"I wanted to come. Yuna is getting kinda clingy. It's almost as if she thinks we're all going to disappear and leave her like Tidus did a while back. It's so annoying that I just had to get away from it." She shrugged as Gippal placed the jacket over her shoulders. "Why can't things just be simple like they used to be?"

"I don't know." Gippal sighed. It was odd how her thoughts could so easily mirrored his own. There was a pause between the pair as neither was sure what to say next. Rikku eventually broke the silence.

"So has anything interesting been happening here at the faction?" She was always curious about the goings on of the faction. All of the new machina or "machines" and the problems that occurred trying to get things to work. There were often nights where the pair of them would spend Rikkus visit fixing a problem machine. Some days Gippal liked to think that she asked because she wanted to know what he was doing, just because she liked him and not because of his machines.

"Just the usual sort of things, you know? I hired half a dozen people to go dig today. Since the Gullwings have stopped working for the faction we need more diggers. You guys were some of the best diggers we ever had." Gippal sighed, "We're having difficulty with one of our more recent experiments and I've decided that I may actually need to set up a proper interview system when hiring engineers. Some of these guys know only the basics and I've had to step in to prevent them from blowing themselves, and everyone else in the room, to pieces."

"I remember your "interview" system. Let me see. We applied, you flirted with Yunie and hired us. I think you asked us if we wanted to do it and then gave us the job." She smiled teasingly, but Gippal thought for a second he saw some other emotion flash in her eyes briefly when she mentioned Yuna.

"Yeah well you were a special case. How often do you get to say to your mates, oh I have the High Summoner working for me. Not to mention the Princess of the Al bhed. It's kind of a boasting thing. That's the reason you got the job so easy." Gippal smirked. It wasn't exactly the truth, but then he wasn't going to tell her that he'd hired them so he could spend more time looking at her legs in those shorts.

"Oh really. So that's why you keep me around then. Let's forget that I'm the best person around when it comes to fixing machina. You hired me originally so that you could get some floozy into bed." Rikku seemed slightly annoyed, and her remarks hit home hard, though she probably hadn't even thought about what she was saying. For some reason the fact that the words had come from her mouth without thought hurt more. It showed she really meant it. No matter how many apologies later, she'd still believe it was true.

Gippal turned away from Rikku to stare out a window. He knew his reputation, he'd helped to create it, yet he had always thought Rikku would be able to see through it. In all of her visits he had never once thought that she believed what she heard. Gippal felt a small hand on his shoulder. He ignored it, intent on his study of the raindrops on the window.

"Gippal, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it." She was really sorry, he knew that. He even knew that she believed what she said. That's why Gippal turned around to face her with a smile on his face.

"Yeah I know, Cid's Girl." He rarely called her that when they were alone. It was another reminder that Cid would never approve of their friendship. Rikku looked at him inquisitively, but Gippal ignored her, lost in his own thoughts. He had always wondered what would have happened if Cid and his dad got along, instead of always arguing. He knew it would never happen but he'd always wondered. He'd wondered right up until the day his father died.

Flashback

Gippal heard raised voices as he woke up one morning. They came from the kitchen and he made his way slowly down the stairs, just far enough so that he could see what was going on. His dad was there with his mum. Cid was standing angrily with his hands on the table, clenching into fists.

"You told me that you were going to fix that mine shaft yesterday. I sent a team down there this morning and they only just got out before the damned thing collapsed. Why didn't you fix it? Where were you?" Cid demanded, his voice filling every room of the house. Gippal shrunk back against the steps. He knew why his father hadn't fixed it and he knew where he'd been yesterday afternoon. He'd been where he always was, down the pub drinking. He'd come home in a foul temper as well. Gippal glanced towards his mother and noted the new bruise forming just under her eye. Gippal wondered if she would pass that off as a bad fall aswell or maybe she'd thought of a new excuse.

"It's none of your business what I do. You think you can boss me around because you've got a loud voice and call yourself the leader of the Al bhed? Well you can't." Gippal noted that his dad still hadn't properly recovered from the night before. His words were still a little slurred and he kept holding his head.

"It became my business when you failed to do your job! You are a disgrace to the Al bhed race. Everyone of us is working our asses off, while you lounge around drinking all day. If any of my people die because of your shoddy work, believe me, there will be no where you can hide from me to save yourself." Cids voice was menacing and Gippal watched as his father's eyes widened in rage. The one thing Gippals dad hated was being threatened and belittled. Gippal watched in horror as his mum tried to intervene only to be pushed aside in anger. She hit her head on the side of the bench as she fell. Gippals dad seemed oblivious as his wife lay bleeding on the floor, though Gippals eyes were glued to the scene in horror. His Dad was still advancing towards Cid, who seemed shocked at the turn of events. No one even saw as Gippal ran down the stairs and kneeled next to his mum's body, tears streaming down his face. Her head was bleeding and her face was pale. Gippal could see that she wasn't breathing. He heard a groan of despair from behind and looked around to see that his Dad had turned around to see what Cid was staring at and had seen the body of his wife.

Two seconds later a gunshot was heard and a second body joined the first upon the floor. Gippal sat there next to his two dead parents for hours. Even when the bodies were removed and he was alone he could still see them. He saw them every time he closed his eyes. He saw his mother fall and his father shoot himself.

End Flashback

Gippal sighed. As long as Rikku was Cids girl, they could never let their friendship become public knowledge. The first time they'd met when she came for the interview was as close as they had ever been in daylight, and even then it was probably the shock of seeing each other after so long. The next time they had fallen into their roles. They teased and annoyed each other, and most considered them to be enemies.

"You know you should probably pay more attention to people when they're talking to you." Rikku said, breaking into Gippals thoughts. He shook his head in an attempt to clear it.

"Huh?"

"I said you should pay more attention. So do you want me to take a look at the machina or not?" It was almost as if Rikku had managed to forget their previous conversation completely.

"Yeah sure why not." Gippal said, and started to head towards the workplace where the factions newest experiment was being housed. "You know Rikku, I don't hang out with 'floozies' really."

For some reason he felt a need to clear his reputation. Rikku just nodded her head. "Yeah I know." But she did move a little closer and he wrapped his arm around her waist as they walked.

"So you coming to that party, tomorrow?" Rikku asked Gippal. It had been a couple of weeks since she had last been able to make it for a visit. Yuna had decided the Gullwings needed a permanent base and that her home town of Besaid was going to be it. Besaid and Djose aren't the closest neighbours, and Rikku was seriously considering investing in her own airship. Not to mention she was bored of the laid back attitude in Besaid. Nothing ever happened there. The best she could hope for was an attack by a small fiend or perhaps a game of blitzball.

Tomorrow, however there was going to be a huge party in Luca. Everyone who was anyone would be attending, which meant that it would be boring and stuffy. All of those snobby rich people who want nothing than to stand around exchanging gossip and drinking expensive wine. Rikku shuddered at the thought. At least with Gippal there, they could entertain each other by swapping insults.

"'Course I'm coming. 'Lai and Nooj told me if I didn't show, they would come get me and drag me there." Gippal chuckled and Rikku smiled. "So who's dragging you there?"

"Yunie, who else? Though if I don't show she'll get help finding me from Pops as well. He said something about wanting to introduce me to someone." Rikku looked at Gippal whose face had gone to that blank, unreadable expression he often got when thinking. She waited expectantly and was soon rewarded as she started to scratch the back of his head. She'd noticed it was a habit of his. It also made him look incredibly cute.

"Well at least we have one thing in common. We both have friends with no sense of fun whatsoever." Gippal said at last and Rikku laughed. She dropped the tool she had been using, which hit the ground with a satisfying clank, and sat down with a yawn.

"You tired already?" Gippal asked as he looked up at her once more from the machina he was working on. He looked down at his watch. Okay, so maybe not "Already". It was four in the morning.

"I'd probably better get going. We need to stop with the all nighters." Sometimes I want to throttle Paine when she wakes me up after only got half an hours sleep. Then I have to have coffee to keep awake. Can you imagine me on a caffeine high?"

Gippal smirked as he pictured Rikku bouncing around in fast forward, and Paine getting incredibly angry at her. "Well I guess you'd better get going then. I wouldn't want to yell at Paine this evening because she's killed you for insane hyperness."

"Yeah. See you later then." Rikku stood and headed towards the doorway. She turned at the edge of the doorway. "G'night Gip." Then she was gone and Gippal was left alone in the workroom.

"G'night Rikku"

Gippal arrived late to the party. His hover had broken down and he'd managed to get oil all over his suit while fixing it. So once he'd managed to fix it and finally get to Luca, he'd had to go shopping (which was on his list of least favourite things to do) before he could go to the party. He hated being late anywhere, even if he didn't want to be there. Gippal was very tempted, as he walked up the steps to the party, just to turn around and head back to Djose. But he had told Rikku he'd be there. Not to mention Nooj and Baralai. So he sighed and entered.

The party was in a huge mansion, belonging to some old Yevon supporter, who wanted to prove to the world that Yevon could be tolerant of other cultures. Gippal couldn't even remember the guy's name. Everyone seemed to be in a big foyer with a large space for dancing, tables around the edge and a band playing classical music in one corner. Gippal grimaced. This was exactly the kind of party where he felt out of place. He looked around for Rikku, quickly spotting her near High Summoner Yuna and Cid. She looked amazing, in a blue floor length dress, that hugged every single one of her curves in just the right places. But with her father standing next to her, Gippal wasn't game enough to go over there yet. So he glanced around for Baralai or Nooj or maybe even Paine. He quickly spotted Nooj but shuddered at the thought of going anywhere near him with that psycho woman in pink hanging off his arm. Gippal could never understand how Nooj could put up with Leblanc, let alone feel anything other than disgust for her. Baralai wasn't anywhere to be seen and neither was Paine. So he grabbed himself a drink and settled on watching Rikku.

Cid was introducing Rikku to some nice handsome Al bhed maybe a year older than Gippal. Gippal watched as Rikku shook the guys hand and blushed as her hand was lifted to the other guys lips. The pair were soon out on the dance floor, and Gippal felt an instant dislike to the other man. He wanted to be the one out there dancing with Rikku. Rikku was the only one who was ever there when he needed someone to lean on or help out. She was there when his parents died. She had helped him to see that it wasn't the end of the world.

Flashback

Gippal lay on the sand staring up at the stars. His eyes were dry but there were tear tracks down his face from where he had been crying earlier. He heard footsteps behind him but didn't turn to see who it was. He didn't really care.

He felt a hand squeeze his own and he looked up to find Rikku staring down at him with a concerned expression on her face. "I heard what happened" That was all she needed to say. Gippal started to cry again and he found Rikku's arms around his shoulders as he cried. Only when he stopped did either of them say a word.

"You know it's alright to cry for them." Rikku whispered. "They were your parents, a part of who you are." Gippal nodded. "When Mum died I remember feeling that I would never get over it. That there would always be this huge gap where she used to be. But I got over it eventually, ya know? You will too, I promise, even though it may not feel like it now"

Gippal had always wondered how she knew the right things to say to cheer him up, how she always knew without being told when he was sad or angry. But that night as they lay there in the sand in silence, Gippal realised that he loved her. And it was that love which helped him move on.

End Flashback

Gippal watched the couple dance, and he gave the impression to those who saw him of being calm, but inside he was anything but calm. His thoughts were tumbling over each other, and his head was starting to ache from the effort of trying to get them in any sort of order. Eventually he stood and walked outside, heading for the fresh air on the Balcony. He stared out at the stars and didn't even notice footsteps approaching him from behind. He didn't even notice when the person leant on the balcony next to him.

"What cha doing?" Rikku asked curiously as she twirled a strand of her hair absentmindedly and gazed out at the stars as well.

"Thinking." Gippal glanced over his shoulder to double check that there was no one else on the balcony. It was a reflex he'd gotten into the habit of whenever he was near Rikku in public.

"Really? I didn't think you had it in you." She was trying to get a response now but Gippal didn't care. He didn't feel like talking. Rikku's voice dropped to a whisper as she continued. "You keep this up I might just abandon you and head back to the boring stuffy party."

"Why don't you then?" Gippal asked bitterly and she looked at him in surprise. He could see confusion all over her face. "What about you're little dancing partner in there. Isn't he waiting for you or something?"

"Who, Noah? That's the guy pops wanted to introduce me to. We had to dance, Pops was literally glaring at me when he suggested it. I don't know what his problem is. Noah's alright I guess. He doesn't talk much though." She was babbling. She stopped talking suddenly and the air was filled with an uncomfortable silence.

"Soo. . . you gonna talk to me or what?" Rikku said finally, leaning backwards against the balcony so she was facing the party. Gippal hesitated and then ran a hand through his hair.

"Yeah why not. Come on lets ditch the boring gig. I know somewhere more fun we can go." Rikku giggled and nodded her head, though her eyes drifted once more towards the party with a guilty expression.

"They won't miss us. It's so crowded in there that they'll probably just think you're in another part of the room, or maybe you just went home early. Who cares?" Gippal whispered in Rikku's ear as he grabbed her hand. She allowed herself to be dragged away from the party and down a flight of steps that led from the balcony down into the garden. They had some difficulty getting over the wall surrounding the edge of the garden, as Rikku couldn't climb it easily in her dress. But they got over eventually and were soon in the dimly lit street outside.

Rikku bent over in the street and undid her shoes. She picked them up and walked over to where Gippal was standing a short distance away.

"They were killing my feet." She said at Gippal's curious glance. He shrugged and linked her arm around his. They walked slowly both enjoying the moment. Rikku let her head fall onto Gippals shoulder and his arm soon let her arm fall and wrapped itself around her waist.

"This is nice" Rikku murmured just loud enough for Gippal to hear. When he didn't hear a reply she turned her head so she was looking up at his face. He seemed to be lost. He seemed to be lost in thought, but at her glance he looked down and his emerald eye met hers. Neither even noticed the movement as their heads bent towards each other and their lips met. Rikku's arms wrapped themselves around Gippals neck and his arms tightened around her waist drawing her closer to him.

They drew back and stared at each other for a second. "Oh..." was all Rikku eventually managed to get out. Gippal chuckled and smiled.

"Yeah." That was all he said. They broke apart and continued walking, hand in hand, their relationship changed forever.

Author's note: Read and Review Please. Next chapters only getting posters after I get some reviews.