Author's Note: I don't own Final Fantasy. Wish I did, but I don't.

So...Please take it easy on me. First time back on the site in a while, and I'm trying something new. I never really found myself all that enthralled with the "Auron and Rikku" pairing, in fact, kind of finding it more than a little odd, but considering I've done nothing but read Aurikku fics since I got back, I found myself more in love with the idea. I dunno, age aside, there is some magic in the pair. Anyway. This was supposed to be a oneshot, but I suppose if anyone's interested I can try to keep going. RxR? ^_^ Enjoy!

Chapter 1

Home...Oh, Home...

I couldn't stop crying. The place I'd grown up, the place I'd taken my first steps, my first and only everything was at Home. Now, it was gone, blown up by my own father and brother. I was sick. I wanted to be left alone. I wanted to die.

After storming out of the bridge, nearly putting Wakka through the wall with my anger towards his "fireworks" comment, I was on the deck, listening to the wind whistle around me as I cried my heart out for all my friends, clutching the last remaining bit of one of my best friends I still had.

Keyakku's goggles.

The daylight started to slip by. I didn't notice. I didn't care. My eyes were red, puffy, and sore, and I wasn't even close to done.

"You can't stay out forever, you know."

The deep, gruff voice behind me instantly identified itself as Aur- No, SIR Auron, silly girl. Super-big-time Guardian/meanie.

"I'm not really in the mood right about now for you to be any more of a big meanie." I winced. That came out a little harsher than I thought it would. Oops.

"Well, that's comforting. Nice to know you've still got a little fight in you. After all, what would we do if you just decided to stop being annoying?"

Being turned around, I didn't and couldn't notice the small smile that crept it's way onto his face. Of course, when I did turn around, I wasn't really looking for a smile.

"Do you REALLY have to do this right now?!?! REALLY!?! Why can't you just leave me alone so I can just die in peace!!!"

He grew very serious, more serious than I'd ever seen him (and that was impressive) and moved, coming to a halt no less than three inches from me. His nearness almost made me swoon, and that made me confused. He'd never been anything but mean. But... I could feel the heat coming off his body, even through the wind that was beginning to become very, very cold. I shivered a little, both from the cold and from something I didn't particularly want to admit. I liked him this close.

Wait, what? Rikku girl, you're losing your brains. He's THE Sir Auron, not to mention twenty years older than you. What are you doing to yourself?

And then, what I never expected, he took off his coat, revealing in all his glory a finely-toned chest and pair of arms, covered unfortunately by a skin-tight black breastplate. Wow. Ack! Stop it!

"Here, silly girl. You'll freeze to death before you can cry yourself to death." And with that, he flung his long, beautiful, and delicious smelling red coat over my head. I blinked a few times, sniffed, and shoved my arms through the sleeves. It was, of course, huge-mungous on me, but really, what more could I expect.

Now my body was warm and toasty, but then again, so were my cheeks. Why do I feel like this? He's mean! He's OLD! He's...here.

And that was it. I'd never really noticed before, but Auron...He'd always been close, protected me more times than I could count. He'd always made sure I was close enough to the fire, or had enough to eat, mostly because I never saw him eat, but, hey, it's the thought that counts.

His hand on my arm jolted me awake, and I asked the question forming in my brain before I could really question why it was I was asking it.

"Why?"

His good eye widened a little, the eyebrow perching upwards.

"Why what?"

I swallowed. It was all or nothing now. I'd opened the gate...No choice but to go through it.

"Why are you always nearby? You're...always so close, always there. I never really noticed before now...You're the only one who's always come after me." I sniffed again. "Even though you're a meanie."

I felt him stiffen. Oops.

"I didn't realize it bothered you so. I'll take my leave." His hand came away from my arm, and he turned to leave.

"Wait!" I don't exactly know why or how my feet started moving, but they did, and before I realized it, I had buried myself in his chest. And realized something.

This...Place...Right here, where I was, curled up against the Legendary Guardian, is exactly where I wanted to be. Exactly where I was supposed to be.

I looked up, fresh tears in my big, swirling green eyes. "Please don't leave." I whispered so softly I almost didn't think I said it. "Don't ever leave."

A pained expression came over his face, followed by one I'd never seen before: Tenderness. He wrapped his big, strong arms around me, and I nearly melted when he whispered in my ear.

"Don't worry. I won't."

That was it. All it took. The floodgates opened again, and this time, they stayed open. I cried, and cried, and cried, and cried. I don't know how long I cried. I don't know when I finally passed out from exhaustion, or when Auron carried me to my room, so softly I didn't even think about waking up, or even about how I saw him put me down and sit next to the bed, softly stroking my hair as I fell into a deep, deep sleep.

The next morning, I woke up to find him gone. However, what I found in his place left a smile. He'd left me a note, with a Moonlily on top.

I'm still here.

Picking up the flower, I lifted it to my nose and inhaled deeply, basking in the scent of the flower and faint scent of him still in the room.

What am I doing? You aren't...

But I knew. I didn't have to ask myself twice. In fact, the more I thought about it, the more I realized I'd known all along. Ever since I'd first looked into his eyes and asked, "No good?" I'd known. And it had only gotten bigger.

I was in love with Auron.

Which was crazy, of course, but it didn't change the fact that it was true. Al Bhed are notorious for falling in love quickly, deeply, and indefinitely. That was it. No exceptions.

And I, like the silly little girl I was, had fallen for the Legendary Sir Auron himself. Simply because he didn't want me to die.

Perfect.

Throwing myself out of bed, I spun around, getting angrier and angrier at myself. I stamped my foot, too, for good measure, but only succeeded in, of course, hurting my foot, which only made me more mad.

"Hu hu hu hu hu hu HUUUUUU!!!"

(No no no no no no NOOOOOO!!!)

But I knew better. I knew myself. It was true. And I was stuck.

"Tyssed."

(Dammit.)