Dear Faithful Readers,

I'm currently writing two Paralai fics and a host of incomplete oneshots. My other one, "Operation Paralai" is more light-hearted, while this, I'm sad to say, is quite depressing :P But don't worry, I'm a sucker for happy endings.

Luv y'all!

Xx-Bex-xX

-

Paine's P.O.V.

Two weeks until the wedding. Yuna's frantic. Rikku's baby is due in six months. Her wedding isn't for another year. Do you ever feel… that you're missing out on something? Because I think this is fate. I'm sitting here, watching the Gullwings split up and settle down, starting families all their own… Even Brother's found himself a girlfriend. Me? I was never made for romance.

My heart is broken.

And I'm doomed to spend the rest of my life alone.

Because he doesn't love me back.

-

Rikku's P.O.V.

"Does she look sad to you, Riks?"

I looked at Gippal over my pink-tinted sunglasses and shrugged, "doesn't Paine always look like that?"

"Especially lately," he persisted. "Ever since she left Bevelle."

"Well it is her home," I said, "maybe she misses it."

"Did she tell you why she left?"

"No… you?"

"Nope, and Baralai didn't say anything either."

"Well, what'd he know anyway," I said, looking out over the horizon.

"They're pretty close, Riks," said Gippal, raising an eyebrow.

"Since when?"

"You didn't notice?"

"No! Why didn't you say! Do you think she likes him?! This is perfect! Painey so needs a guy!"

Gippal shook his head sadly.

"No?"

"I think they had a fight," said Gippal and my heart sank.

"Aww… about what?!"

"I dunno," he said, "it was just speculation…"

"You think she came here to get away from him?" I asked and he nodded. I sighed, "baby… she's gotta face him some day."

"Speaking of babies…" said Gippal, grinning, and I smiled, touching a hand to my slightly rounded belly.

"Yup! What're we gonna call her?"

"You mean him."

"I meant what I said," I said cheekily and we laughed.

I took a deep, calming breathe and lay back on the sand, "I just hope Painey's okay."

Gippal's laughter faded and he nodded solemnly, tickling me lightly- almost absently, "me too, Riks," he said, "me too…"

-

Narrative P.O.V.

"Hey, 'Lai… wait- hey? What? What's the matter?"

Nooj froze as he walked into Baralai's study, a bottle of wine in hand, and found his friend hunched over his desk, a hand to his head.

"Huh? Nooj? Oh, I'm sorry- I forgot you were coming. Sit down," he waved a hand tiredly, "umm… somewhere." He stood and clear a pile of paperwork from the chair opposite his desk and Nooj sat down.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Nothing… I'm just having a rough time lately," Baralai sat back down, "how's Le Blanc?" he asked politely.

"Just who I wanted to talk to you about!" said Nooj, brightening slightly, "I'm going to be a father!"

"Hence the wine," said Baralai, nodding, "congratulations."

"Thanks man! You seen Gippal?"

"I think he's on Besaid with Rikku," said Baralai vaguely.

"How 'bout Dr P? I wanna tell her the good news too!"

Baralai looked up sharply but shook his head, "I don't know."

"Huh? You mean she isn't here somewhere?"

"She left, two days ago," said Baralai, "I haven't heard from her since."

"Man, 'Lai, what happened?"

"I… found a sphere of hers…"

"You didn't look at it, did you? Dude! That's totally spying!"

"You've been spending too much time with Gippal," said Baralai tiredly, observing his tone.

"Whatever, man… Soooooooo what was in the sphere?"

"It had my name on it, Nooj- naturally I was curious!"

"Again: whatever. Just tell me what you saw."

"Here, look."

-

(Paine's Sphere)

(Paine is sitting in her room on the Celsius, chewing her lip. Yuna is sitting, giggling in the background.)

Paine: (turns around) Yuna, I don't think this is going to work…

Yuna: Trust me, already!

Paine: (Sighs heavily)

Lulu: I'm still filming, girls.

Paine: Fine…

Yuna: (moves over to Paine's side) Don't worry, Painey. Why don't you take the sphere and do it yourself and we'll wait outside. You don't have to give it to him, you know- not unless you want to. It'll help, I promise- just to get things off your chest.

Paine: (Takes the sphere from Lulu) If either of you tell anyone about this, I'll kill you.

Yuna and Lulu: (nod)

Yuna: See ya, Painey!

Paine: Bye… and thanks…

Lulu: No problem.

Yuna and Lulu: (leave)

Paine: Sorry about that, Baralai. I guess I'm a little nervous… Ha! Me- nervous! Anyway… I have something to tell you. And… since I can't bring myself to say it to your face… Yuna suggested that I make a sphere of it… You're probably sitting there wondering what the Hell I'm talking about, and once I've said it, you'll probably hate me… well, more than you already do. Right. Well listen good because I'm only going to say this once. For now. Or possibly forever. It depends what you think, really. I love you, Baralai. There. There, I've said it. (Takes a deep breath) Okay… good… yeah. Bye. (to Yuna and Lulu) You can come in now.

Yuna: (Walks in) Lulu had to go check on Vidina. How'd it go?

Paine: Well… oh! (throws arms around Yuna's neck, sobbing)

Yuna: (clearly shocked) Uhm… Paine?

Paine: (draws back a little and wipes eyes) Oh, Yuna! I can't show this to him.

Yuna: Hey, Paine- it's okay- don't cry!

Rikku: (bounds in) Omigosh! Paine's crying! What's wrong.

Paine: Get out before I hurt you.

Rikku: Hey! Don' take it out on me!

Paine: (stands up suddenly)

Rikku: (squeals and runs away)

(The sphere goes black).

-

"Wow," said Nooj, blinking, 'just… wow."

"Yeah."

"And she knows you saw it?"

"She came in while I was watching it," said Baralai tiredly.

"And…?" Nooj prompted.

"She took one look at my face and ran off. I was… in shock."

"Well, how do you feel about her, man?"

Baralai shook his head, "I don't know."

"Well you'd better figure it out quick, 'Lai," said Nooj, shaking his head, "because if you don't, Paine'll never speak to you again, I guarantee."

Baralai nodded sadly, "I know."