Dissclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy X or Final Fantasy X-2, those two games belongs to their creators!

A/N: UPDATED VERSION! I changed their ages (Brother's, Yuna's and Rikku's) so it fits to the storyline and the game. Phew.
I'm going to be honest right away! I am a bit nervous about posting this.
I don't know if anyone still is writing fanfictions for Final Fanasty X/X-2 but I've read some really good Gippal/Rikku ones this month and I just wanted to write something of my own!
I had my ex-boyfriend be my beta reader for the first half of this and he gave me some good feedback but I'm still not sure if this is good enough... I have written fanfictions before but never in english like this, so excuse me for being shy _
I have put down my heart and soul in writing this though! I really love writing and I want to improve and become exellent at doing this, so, I guess this is my practise ^^
This story is set in somewhat AU yet still the same(?). I don't know that much about Spira so... But I hope this is good enough! I'd be really happy if you would read this and leave a review for me so I know what I need to improve on and stuff like that. :3

So uh... Read on!~ xoxo Sid

Prologue

The Al Bhed were highly despised by the yevonites and guados of Spira.

They were given bad reputation and mean nicknames based upon their beliefs, genetics and their choice of work, amongst other things. When the Al Bhed people had both been attacked and had their homes destroyed on Bikanel they were forced to flee to end up at all different kinds of places. Shattered from each other. Wherever they went they were unwanted, pushed away as if they all carried the plague.

When Cid arrived to Luca to settle down with his wife and son they were treated very badly by the yevonites. They weren't allowed to neither rent or buy a house, which forced them to find a place far from the large city to build their own house. Being used to the desert lands it came as a shock for the family when they found out that the only place available (meaning that no one wanted to put their foot there) was out in the woods, somewhere along the east coast of the Mi'ihen Highroad.

Determent to both take damn good care of and protect his family, Cid did his best to keep up the good mood and the good old Al Bhed-spirit that they all shared in their hearts. Cut off from the yevonite society, they didn't to pay any bills what so ever- and being Al Bhed they could construct and create anything. Soon Cid together with his wife, had built a massive house - all made of both old as new and broken machina - with electricity and everything they needed to live a decent life; Steampunky and perfect for the Al Bhed family.

And so, far away from their previous home and with no contact with the outer world, the family began their new life in the woods.

As the years passed Cid came to enjoy his new life.

Although he didn't forget and often thought of having his revenge on the yevonites, his wife Darla said to him that it wasn't the right way to chose revenge. Cid got so upset hearing this he nearly exploded with anger. Darla quickly calmed him down, said that what they needed was to prove themselves better than the yevonites. She said that anger and hate would take them nowhere but straight to hell. The right way was the way of kindness and love.

This put Cid in deep thoughts for many days. How was he supposed to show kindness and love to the yevonites? Had his people not yet done that with all their power through services and help? Had they not already given them that and more? Yes they had. he thought to himself. Whatever the circumstances the Al Bhed had been there for the yevonites and what had they been given in return? Bloody nothing except for hatred, bad reputation and an unfair trauma that would probably haunt them all for as long as they'd live.

They had given their all and the yevonites had gladly taken everything, only to throw it away as if was nothing but garbage. How was he supposed to show any kindness toward people like that?

Days passed and turned into weeks which turned into months. Thus another year had passed. The deep troublesome thoughts seemed to have left Cid's mind, for one day his wife found him in the backyard with a machina she never had seen before.

It was new.

Cid was constructing machina again!

Being passionate about machina herself, Darla offered her help with building it. Glad she had asked Cid gave her as much freedom to speak her mind about the construction as he himself had. She was, after-all, excellent with machina.

Each and everyday they worked together, sharing ideas, sweat and laughter- not to forget they had arguments too, as all kinds of partners has. Even though their arguments weren't harsh they were about serious things. When it comes to creating and constructing machina one must be precise and careful, one tiny mistake could lead to a bad result, a very bad result.

Cid knew this better than anyone.

Though neither Cid or his wife feared disaster and with the help they received from their son, the machina ended up to be just right.

Another six months passed. Cid was just about to finish another machina, one very much like the one he had co-created with his wife (and later their son) only that this one was slightly different. An updated version, so to speak.

Cid was just about to put the final touch to it when there was a loud scream coming from the front yard. A woman's scream.

Cid dropped his tools and ran to the front of the house.

There was a woman on her knees, her face downwards the ground. Cid didn't have to see her face to know who she was. He knew anyway.

"Clem!"

Cid ran up to her and sat down beside her. He could see that she wasn't in a good shape. She was shaking uncontrollably much, her breathing very quick and short. Cid wondered what could have happened. What had caused all this? he asked himself.

"Ed'c res ech'd?" Cid gasped. "Tet ra rid oa, Clem? Ev ra rid oa E cfayn, E femm-!"

"He has not hurt me, Cid! Not yet..." her voice silent like a whisper, Cid could barely hear what she said. "I... I heard him speak to someone. E ys cu clynt... What if he finds out that I've gone?" she burst out in tears, covering her face in her hands.

Cid grabbed her by her shoulders, forcing her to meet his eyes. "Who, Clem- who was he speaking to?"
"I don't know", she said repeatedly and shook her head. "I was in the bedroom. But he know- oh, he knowws!" she gasped and shrunk to the ground, silently shrieking and howling as she cried in despair.

Cid tried his hardest to work out what had happened. Clementine's husband knew something... but what?

He began searching through his memory. He had never known Clem to be a bad person nor someone that kept secrets. She had always been so kind-hearted, so naive- always seeing the absolute good in people. That had always been her finest and most adored trait. But it was also her biggest weakness. Cid knew she had been used and unworthily treated by so many before. He couldn't bare to know that it had happen again, that he had failed to protect her once more.

This was of course why he'd had such a hard time to trust the man Clem had chosen for herself all those years ago. He just could not understand why she would want to spend her whole life with someone like him. She had spent hours and days reassuring him that this was different- this was going to be different. And even though he had been against it- the love had been shining upon her face, sparkling through her swirling green eyes; she had even been eating better and been a lot happier the last couple of months- Cid could not hold her back from that kind of love which made her become so alive.

So of course he had accepted her choice in man.

This had made her oh, so happy. Dra rybbeacd kenm eh Spira!

Yes, she had become the happiest girl in Spira. It didn't even matter that he had called her a fool, Clem had still been the happiest of happiest.

Now she wasn't.

Now she was on her way to Breaking Down Completely.

Cid was furious with this situation, on the edge of boiling with anger. How could the one man who was supposed to care for her and treat her like the goddess she was, hurt her like this- how could the man she had married cause her to be this?

Cid looked Clem straight in her eyes. "Did anyone follow ye here? Does anyone know ye ran away?"

She didn't dare to blink and only stuttered that she wasn't sure, she didn't know. Cid then grabbed her arm and pulled her up from the ground. He said that she would go inside with him so they could talk in private once she had calmed down a little. It wasn't be safe for either of them to stay out there, despite the fact that their property nowadays was on long forgotten lands.

When both of them were inside, Cid led Clem to a room on the left side of the hallway.

It was so big and beautifully built it caused Clem to hold her breath for a few seconds. The furniture and all the decorations were put and placed with such harmony it could have been done by a professional! Clem figured the house was built from scratch by Cid and that his wife had taken care of the inside, room by room until it was just right. Darla had always been good with decorating.

He monitored for her to take a seat in the sofa placed in the middle of the room. It shrunk quite a bit when she sat down. Cid saw that she had gained a few kilos over the past years but thought not much of it- except that the thought of food quickly crossed his mind.

"Ye must be hungry", he said before leaving the room.

Shortly thereafter, Clem heard strange sounds along with grunts and cursing. Soon Cid was back with a plate full of all different kinds of sandwiches. He placed the plate on the table before the sofa. When Clem didn't attempt to take a sandwich he sighed loudly, then watched as she approached the plate, her hand slightly trembling. She hesitated a bit before taking a bite.

He smiled widely when her eyes grew larger in sensation.

"Cid this is incredible! When did you get so good at this?" she spoke with her mouth full of sandwich. Cid only chuckled and sat down on the table, watching her as she ate. "Surprisingly good!" she said as she reached over for another one.

"Have as many as ye like."

Clem ate another two sandwiches in complete silence, enjoying every bit of the food Cid had prepared for her.

She gazed through the room. It was so different from what she was used to, so full of spirit. So full of ... Al Bhedness. Nothing like where she lived now, well... where she used to live. She wondered if she could stay here, if Cid would allow her to be his family again.

"Vaamehk paddan nuf?" Cid spoke, pulling her away from her thinking. She nodded slightly and replied that she felt a bit better. Of course, she had to feel better now after getting her stomach full with three sandwiches with cheese, salad and salami.

He looked at her. The colour to her cheeks had returned thanks to the food but still she didn't look well. Her face was pale as moonlight, glittering drops of sweat ran down her forehead. It looked like she was having a quite high fever. Cid feared she would not be able to talk anymore today, therefore he told her she was to spend the night there and get some rest.

"Ruhacdmy?" she gasped. When Cid nodded she threw herself on him, hugging him tightly. "Thank you so much!"

"Will ye talk to me tomorrow, about what happened?" he asked her after gently pulling her off him.

"I will tell you everything", she nodded. "Everything."

"Right. Let me take ye to yer room."

Together they left the front room, Cid took the plate back to the kitchen as they walked passed it on their way to a staircase.

Clem had so much to look at, constantly pointing in different directions commenting about this and that. Cid only shook his head at her.
"You have a child", she said quietly, approaching the photography on the wall. Cid stood behind her, arms crossed over his chest.

"A son", he said shortly. "Come on, it's getting late. I will show you the rest of the house tomorrow", he took her by the hand and walked up the stairs.

He didn't know why he suddenly felt strange having her knowing he had a family of his own- a child. It wasn't as if he didn't want to share that with her. He never had figured she would come to know about it like this, with the given circumstances and all. As they walked he couldn't help but wonder if she had missed him as much as he had missed her. He wondered if she ever regretted leaving their home, if she had had any thoughts of going back at all.

"Here we are."

Cid opened the door to a sunlit room with sky-blue walls. Clem was speechless as she entered. It was quite big with a lot of free space. A bed and a desk had been placed. There were a few wardrobes and closets too with place for both tools (typical Al Bhed) and clothing. Clem stood in the middle of the room and turned around to look at Cid.

"This is wonderful, thank you Cid."

"As long as yer happy with it", he grinned and embraced her with a hug. "Now get yerself some rest okay? And call on me if ye need anything, allright kid?" he stepped back to leave the room.

"I will", she nodded with a little smile. Hearing her old nickname again cheered her up. It had been too many years since he called her that. Childhood memories that had been long forgotten was now coming back to her. How different she thought her life would turn out to be back then. Now if was the opposite of what she wanted. She suddenly felt bad for being there in that room, knowing that Cid had been forced to take her in and let her stay, all because of her stupid mistake. her stupid choice in man. Her stupid taste. Her. Stupid.

"Yer okay?" Cid asked.

He had stayed between the hallway and the room, watching Clem as she seemed to be in deep thoughts. He didn't like to see her like that, wearing the mask of guilt. Cid approached her. Clem hid her face in her hands, quietly sniffing.

"Will you ever forgive me Cid? I must be honest... I never had any regrets regarding my choice, but... n-now I do. I wish I hadn't left. I wish I hadn't laid eyes on him!" Clem spoke into her hands, her shoulders shaking as she cried loudly. Her heart was broken into pieces and she didn't how she would put it back together again. So far the glue she had found was not working. It seemed nothing could stop all these feelings.

They overwhelmed her.

Cid took her to his embrace. He held her close to his chest, softly stroking her hair as she cried against his shoulder. He felt her heart beating, fast just like a rabbit being chased by wolfs. She was weak now, so he would be strong for her.

There was nothing chasing her now. The chase was over.

She had run away and now she was in safety. Cid was going to make sure that she would remain safe.

"There's no need to apologies, of course I forgive ye", he whispered softly. "The one who needs to beg for my forgiveness is that bastard to man of yers. E femm syga res byo pek desa vyn fyd ra tet du oa."

Clem looked up at him too see Cid fire off his most assuring grin which made her smile a little.

"Kick his butt, Cid."

There was a sudden knock on the door. Cid and Clem turned their heads to see Cid's wife and son standing in the doorway.

"We heard cries and mr-mr got worried."

"It's allright. Come here son", Cid monitored for the little boy to come forward into the room.

He took Cid's hand and dared not to look at the woman. He had never met her before so he was being shy. He spoke softly, as if he was suppose to whisper something that only Cid was allowed to hear: "Daa, who ish shee?"
Cid looked from his son to Clem, meeting her gaze. "This... this is my sister. Clementine."

Clem smiled at her older brother before reaching out her hand to her niece. "But you can call me Clem, everyone does."

The little boy hesitated before shaking hands with her. Then he stepped back to hide behind Cid, causing a giggle out of Clem. "He looks just like you", she said. "I bet you are just like him too, aren't you?" she smiled mischievously and the little boy nodded quickly.

"Broota work wish de maachinas just like daa!" he exclaimed happily, forgetting about his shyness as he got to express how good he was with machina- his favourite hobby!

"Oh! You have a brother?"

Cid laughed and replied that 'brother' was his name.

"So you are planning to get another one?" Clem raised an eyebrow at her brother, who shook his head.

"One little devil is enough as it is."

"What does the lady of the house have to say about this- Darla?"

Cid's wife had remained in the doorway to watch the reunion of Cid and his sister, and the first meeting of Brother and his aunt. She knew about the past that they shared and even though she had been more accepting of it, she had long missed her sister in law. They used to be very close friends before... before Clem had decided to leave with her husband.

Now she stood there with a happy smile shining upon her face, chuckling at the sudden question. More kids?

"I sure wouldn't mind having another baby", she said softly, looking at Cid who met her gaze. Darla knew that Cid wanted to have another baby as much as she did.

"Well you know what they say- never say never, right?" Clem said as she noticed how the energy in the room suddenly had shifted.

Darla only forced a smile and Cid mumbled something unbearable before clearing his throat. "Anyways. Clem will be staying with us for a while."

"I-it's very kind of you Cid but I know that I shouldn't be welcome here after everyth-"

"Oh shush!.. That's nonsense. You are my darling sister in law, you are family. Of course you are welcome", Darla walked up to Clem and embraced her with a hug that lasted several minutes. Darla then smiled at her. "We are very glad to have you here with us, Clem. But now... we must return to bed. We will talk more tomorrow, okay? Come along, Brother. Good night Clementine. Brother, cyo kuut hekrd du ouin yihd."

The little boy nodded wrapped his arms around Clementine's legs and hugged her! "Goo night auntie Clem", he sang softly.

"Aww how cute! Good night Brother, I'll see you tomorrow." Clem patted his little head and giggled.

Darla hugged her one more time before she left with Brother. Cid scratched his beard trying to hide a yawn but failed. Clem giggled at his yawn and yawned loudly herself. She felt so much lighter now. Maybe this could be the right glue for healing her broken heart? Cid and his family had been so welcoming and understanding despite she had not told them why she had left her husband yet and so suddenly. She knew they would speak about it soon though.

And maybe that's for the best, she thought. They have to know. They deserved to know.

"We should also hit the beds, ye especially. And don't worry. No one will find ye here. I'll keep ye safe, allright?" Cid looked at her straight in those swirly green eyes, his face very serious. Clem nodded and he kissed her forehead before leaving for the door. "See ye tomorrow kid."

Clementine had stayed with her brother and his family for a week.

She hadn't told them yet about what had happened, no one had asked her to do so either. Mainly because Cid did not want to put any pressure on her. He first and most wanted her to have some rest, a break from everything around her. He knew she often thought about what other people would say if they knew she had ran away from her husband, one of the most powerful men of all in Spira. Although they did not speak much of it, he knew that Clem had thoughts about going back to him and leave her brother again, only to spare her from going through the humiliation from other spirans. Every time. Cid told her that he wouldn't allow her to return to someone who harmed her and caused her so much pain as that bastard had.

E mucd oa uhla yht E fuhd tu ed ykyeh.

Clem didn't want to see her brother suffer because of what she was going through. It was painful for her to see the effect it had on him. The constant worry, always being on his guard- at the same time so calm and strong. Determent to protect her he never left the land he had claimed for his family. Clem appreciated all that he and his family did for her. Well, she assumed that they were all one big family now but it was still so new she didn't dare to speak her mind about it.

She hadn't always been as careful like she now was.

Being apart from her brother and living a completely different life in Luca for six years had effected her quite a bit, more than she thought it would have. She was not quite herself yet either but day by day she relaxed and allowed her old self to come back bit by bit.

She really enjoyed dining with these people, cooking especially. Cid was actually a very good chef as Clem had come to learn during her first day there. Not only did he make delicious sandwiches, he made the most delicious meals ever. It didn't matter what they were cooking, somehow Cid just knew how things should be done.

While Cid took care of the cooking, Darla would whistle a beautiful melody and help Brother to practise his Al Bhed and the common language of Spira. He was a smart kid and surprisingly good with machina for his age, but lacked when it came to communication- he seemed to have some kind of speaking disability disorder. His parents did not worry too much about it, eventually he would learn to speak properly. And if not it would not be the end of the world either. They understood him and that was all that was needed.

Today they were to have their dinner out in the backyard. The sun was warm and shining down upon them and there were some fluffy white clouds in the sky. It wasn't as warm as it would have been in the desert lands but it was very warm. Summer had come like an explosion just after spring had begun. But no one complained.
Cid had prepared chicken and salad, very simple but he had decorated everything so beautifully it looked magical. It made Clem's stomach grumble when she looked at it. Darla was setting the table where Brother was practicing his Al Bhed grammar.

"Am I gettin any bettar auntie Clem?" he questioned as she put plates on the table. "E ys... Oui ec. Ra ec. Cra yna. Ed ec. Fa... yna. Drao yna. Did Broota get dem all?"

"You mixed up a few but that's allright. You'll get there, don't worry sweetie."

After dinner was over Brother went to play with his new set of tools Cid had given him a few days ago. A present for being so helpful and respectful of Clementine. Being the only child and not very used to other people than his parents, Cid and Darla wasn't sure how he would be around Clem. But to their surprise (and luck) Brother treated her well and behaved properly around her. Not to forget though, boys are boys and they like to play pranks. Brother especially liked to play pranks on his fellow folks.

"I suppose I have to tell you why... I mean... about what happened and all", Clem started. Both Cid and Darla agreed that it would be a good idea if she did.

"We can't help you properly if we don't know what's going on", Darla said drinking her red wine. Cid nodded.

Clem took a deep breath, biting her lip. She was nervous. Now she was going to tell them- everything- and then they'd know. Cid would know.

"Just take it easy honey, we're all here for you", Darla reassured her.

Clem nodded, breathing heavily. "Okay... I... I..."

"Ye said something 'bout that he knows something", said Cid to help her. "Where ye hiding anything from him, Clem. A lover perhaps?" Cid received a slap on his shoulder from Darla, mumbling sorry in al bhed.

"That girl would never betray anymore, Cid! You know that better than anyone! You know Clementine! Cdibet syh..."
"Uugh now I feel very bad..." Clem said, trying to hold back the tears but couldn't stop them. Crying she took Cid's hand. She couldn't really see him through the tears but she didn't look away from him. She had to face this.

"I know you forgave me before, but this- what I've done is unforgiveable. I... I lied to Braska about...Ohhh Fayth...I never told him I am Al Bhed."

Cid was in shock. And he was freaking full of anger.

What his sister just had confessed put a thick silence between the three of them. So thick you could almost touch it. Cid was disgusted. Her weakness disgusted him. That Braska-man disgusted him. But most of all, all the spirans disgusted him. That damn Yevon disgusted him to the core. How he wished for it all to end- the hate against the Al Bhed all over the world. It had made a weakling out of his sister.

HIS SISTER.

His freaking little sister had turned into a pussy all because of stupid, greedy people that fed on other people's fears. OH FAYTH how he wished for it all to end! His sister shouldn't have had to lie about her true self to be worthy of someone else's love and affection. That was just wrong and sick!
"How did he find out?" Darla asked slowly.
"H... He wanted us to have a family", Clem said quietly. "He wanted to have a baby."
Darla looked confused. "Why would that be a bad thing?"
Cid cleared his throat, repositioning himself in his chair. "It'd be half al bhed."
"Yeah?"
Cid and Darla peered at her with raised eyebrows.
"Ohh!..."
"Now yer getting it."
"The eyes!"
"Yes, precisely! The eyes!" Darla said nearly yelling, gesturing with her arm.
There was silence between them again. Cid lit a cigarette and took a drag. This was almost too much to handle. Unbelievable drama... Once again he blamed the yevonites for ruining his life. His sisters' life. His whole family's life.
"Then you didn't...?" Darla peered at Clem who blushed, mumbling something about protective sex being allright. After all, they were married. The two women giggled and started speaking about other things about that subject. Darla was just about to tell her sister in law about her first time with Cid when he irrupted her.
"Then why are ye here? If ye were protecting yerself from gettin' knocked-up. How did he find out, eh?"
Clem gasped and suddenly whimpered loudly, biting her bottom lip to silence herself. Tears where filling her eyes, making it impossible for her to see anything. Darla grabbed her hand and squeezed it, trying to comfort her. Cid just sat there looking right at her, smoking his cigarette. He had been a bit hard on her, yes, but needed to. She wouldn't speak up to them if he didn't, and he needed her to tell him why she was here. Why had Clementine left her darling husband?

"It's allright..." Darla spoke slowly with her kindest voice to comfort the crying woman beside her.
And Fayth, was she crying. Clem cried hysterically, causing Brother to come running towards them. She spoke between her loud sobs but it was impossible to understand what she said.
"E dneat du... kad ret uv... e... ed..."
"What did she say?" asked a confused Brother, there was worry in his voice. "And why is she crying? Why are you crying, Clemmie?"
"E'S YS BNAKHYHD!"

Six years later

They were nothing like cousins. More like sisters.

Rikku refused to listen to anybody but Yuna, and Cid of course. They had a special bond those two. It didn't matter what they where doing as long as they where doing it together. So they did everything together, even going to potty. If it was Yuna who had to her business Rikku would sit on the round circle mat on the floor, playing with her toys (the old and broken machina parts that Cid had thrown away) and vice versa.

Cid didn't understand why the girls had to spend every single moment with each other, didn't they ever wish for some space?

They did, of course.

Rikku could be a real little devil some times, irritating her whole family with ugly words and mean teasing. She was a real teaser, that girl. And bossy too. Some days she'd even try to boss her dad around, just like she did with Brother and Yuna when they played together. Because that's what it was, a play. Rikku was no real boss, that was only her character in a game the three kids had come up with. She'd be the bossy leader while Brother would be the hard working worker and Yuna the hero.

Some hero she was too. Very extraordinary and unique. Not like the heroes you read about in history books and tales. No, Yuna was a completely different type of hero. Clem would always encourage her to go her own way, to follow her heart. There was nothing wrong with a calm and quite hero. She didn't want Yuna to grow up and think that there was certain ways you had to follow. And it wasn't as if Brother and Rikku teased and mocked her for being who she was in that pretend-play. They encouraged her too, and a lot at that.

Clem smiled, enjoying watching them all play. It reminded her of her own childhood in some way. Cid and her had been close as siblings could be.

He had been the best brother a sister could ask for. Stupid, fun, caring and protective. But he was smart too. Maybe too smart for his own good, always tinkering with new ideas, always creating something new in his mind. Clem chuckled to herself, thinking back so, so far. It had been too many times that Cid's brilliant ideas turned out to get him into really big troubles. Once he had come up with the super brilliant idea to make a Super Electronic Magnet that would be of grave help for the Al Bhed. Unfortunately it caused more disaster than he could have foreseen.

Although the idea wasn't entirely his own. He'd read about it in an old book, full of dust and spider web that he found behind a bookshelf in the library. It was called Never Finished Experiments and it had sent shivers down little Cid's spine. That had been better than receiving presents on his birthday! When he had been going through all the pages and his swirling eyes landed on the project something happened inside him. It was as if someone had pressed a button or yelled "Ready... Set... GO!".

Cid had been on fire, burning with desire to finish that experiment. The idea was to charge a needle by rubbing it against a normal magnet. The magnetic energy that had been transported to the needle would be weak. but enough to attract a small amount of iron flings, said the book. Then you'd wrap a copper wire around the needle and attach it to the cord ends at the poles of a dry battery. According to the book the magnetism would increase due to the electricity and therefore you'd be able to lift a bigger amount of iron flings. Cid didn't want to lift some silly little flings, no. Cid wanted to lift railway carriages, motorcycles- maybe even transport planes. Cid wanted to impress on Spira and show how great an Al Bhed could be.

Cid's new version of the model didn't include the dry battery. In fact, it looked a lot different. And he wouldn't be fulfilling this on his own. Clem was there by his side, ready to face the new future for their people.

Both of them had their respective tasks in this little (big) project. Cid would be the constructer and Clem the one to test it. That way he could always blame her for it if it would be a total fiasco. Not that he did it though. No one would believe him if he did. Little Clementine would never do something so mischievous.

But this time she did. And it went totally wacko.

Cid cut the cord on an old lamp which he'd found out on the street, tore off the cover all down to the contact and then wrapped the charged needle in the bare electrical wiring. He had Clem were sat in the kitchen in their apartment, currently living in the large and loud city Luca. Their mother worked in the tavern down the road and their father was a mechanic. Cid passed over his Super Electronic Magnet to Clem, asking her to fulfil her part of the deal and plug in the contact.

Clem hesitated but eventually found it impossible to resist against Cid's manic enthusiasm. She put the plug into the wall socket. No magnetism was noticeable but Cid's constructed apparatus slapped every light and every electrical gadget in their apartment, every light and electrical gadget in the whole apartment house and in the hose next door. Something broke in the electrical transformer out on the street and soon there where some policemen gathering around it.

Cid and Clem spent a terrifying hour by the window in their parents bedroom, the only room with view towards the street. Soon the policemen left and a van from the Luca Electric Company drove forth. A man with weird looking shoes climbed up the post between the apartment houses to investigate the electrical transformer. Cid and Clem were both troll bound and shaking with horror. Would they be killed for this? They knew how the Al Bhed was treated. If you weren't on your guard you'd be killed for anything, sometimes for nothing. Fayth, they silently prayed not to be punished for what had happened. Eventually the light returned and the van from Luca's Electric Company drove off. Cid and Clem were never caught and continued living their little Al Bhed lives.

Cid laughed hard at the memory when his sister told him about it. They were sat in the kitchen drinking coffee as they watched the kids play about. "I hope they never do something stupid like that!" he laughed again shaking his head. "It was so stupid, really freakin' stupid. I dunno what I was thinking."

Clem smiled. It was so good to see him laugh, hearing his laugh raspy and cough-like from smoking too many cigarettes. It must be first the first time since the accident, she thought gazing over the kitchen into the front room. Their play was different now. Yuna was sending spirits of dead spirans to something she called "the Moonsha", performing a dance of slow movements on the large circle carpet. Something she had to do, she told her mother when Clem asked her why she was dancing like that. She was a calm and centered child, very mature for her age at six and that worried Clementine even though she encouraged her daughter to be herself at all times. It worried her that Yuna was always so serious even during a play. It worried her because the pretend-play Yuna was in was so much like the work of a Summoner.

Today Yuna played pretend that there had been a terrible accident. A large wave had rolled in from the sea, taking the lives of at least 50 spirans and she had to send all their spirits to the Moonsha to prevent them from turning into fiends that would hunt the people of Spira down.

Rikku was in the other end of the room, yelling about at her brother. She had built an Al Bhed aircraft with pillows, blankets, stools and chairs from the kitchen, Cid's toolbox and jewellery from Clem's room along with shoes from the hallway and a couple of paintings from the wall in Brother's room. Brother was in the back of her little ship, tinkering away like a professional to fix up the engine.

"Allright, allright I'm on it, pnyd!" Brother cried and took up the pace, tinkering as fast as he possible could with the pretend engine with the forms and looks of a pillow. Rikku just laughed and kept yelling at him, uglier and uglier words leaving her mouth as rain came down from the clouds.

Clem raised an eyebrow at Cid, who cleared his throat and called her to him.

"Coming pops!" Rikku sang and quickly crawled out from her ship to run to the kitchen. She smiled her widest and sweetest smile to her dad as she grabbed her by her tiny waist and put her down on the table. "Whadcha wan'?''

He sighed a little, looking at her. He hated doing this. "Ye know what we've talked about, hm? The little thing that ye do."

"What pops?" Rikku tilted her head to the side looking so innocent, her blond bangs covering her eyes.

Cid sighed again. "Yer language, kid. Yer being all sweet and cute now but out there with Brother yer all..." he paused, looking for the right words he say. He really didn't enjoy schooling Rikku, he didn't enjoy schooling any of the kids as a matter of fact. She was so sweet and innocent, when she wanted to.

And now she really wanted to. She knew what was coming and she didn't like it any more than Cid did.

"What about my language, pops?" Rikku said sweetly, beginning to rock from side to side on the table.

"Yer language is terrible. Ye say awful things, too awful for a five year old to even know about!" Cid blurted.

Rikku stiffened and pouted. "Cunno..."

"Ye don't hear yer cousin Yuna use those ugly words, do ye?"

"No pops..."

"Why don't ye erase those words from yer pretty lil' mind, eh? Use another word."

Rikku tilted her head to the right, biting her bottom lip as she thought for a moment. ''You mean like... meanie?''

Cid chuckled and nodded. ''Exactly'', he then grabbed her taking her into his arms, wagging her from side to side as he embraced her. ''E's ys bnuit uv oa.''

''Daaad!'' the little girl waved her both arms up and down widely in protest. ''Lemme go! I can't breathe!''

''Ok, ok! Just no more of those ugly-nasty words, ey?'' Cid put her on arms length from him, looking at her and she nodded quickly not looking him in the eyes, still struggling to free herself from her father's grip. ''Rikku...''

''Fine I'll stop, just lemme go'', she whined. ''Pleease.''

''Ok, off ye go.''

Rikku jumped down to the floor, shrieking with happiness to be free as she ran back into the front room yelling at Brother to go back to his spot, the ship was hers.

''Do you think she will ever learn?'' Clem said with a sigh.

''No'', Cid sat back down on his chair chuckling. ''Not anytime soon anyway.''

''She takes after you, you know. Between Brother and Rikku she is the one who is most like you. Too much like you.''

Cid groaned inwardly and drank his coffee. It tasted as bitter as he felt being schooled about by his sister. ''Ye know that's not true. Brother is just like me. Just as impulsive and close to anger as I am.''

Clem shook her head, not wanting to listen to her brother's comment. So she kept pushing her argument, pointing with her whole arm towards the front room. ''Look at her Cid- she has no manners bossing her big brother around like that. I know you say they're just playing but her language! It is vulgar, Cid!'' her voice rose higher as she spoke, cheeks flushing of crimson.

Cid hid behind his mug, very aware of that he unconsciously had thought his daughter to speak like that. But was it really vulgar? Sure, she used words that could shock you- she was five years old after all- but Cid had seen it as her being cute and funny trying to be a lot tougher than she really was. Didn't Clementine know that? Cid was sure that she did, maybe he was wrong. What was wrong with some ugly words here and there anyway, it wasn't as if Rikku used that kind of language all the time, every day.

''What about Yuna then?'' Cid spat, suddenly found himself getting rather angry. His sister had been complaining a lot regarding his kids recently, and that wasn't just about how they spoke either- no it was about everything. How they behaved during dinner, how they played, how they took care of their chores and how they didn't take care of their chores... Clem raised an eyebrow at his question. ''Ye heard me. Ye go complainin' about my kids, yer kid ain't any better. Ye haven't seen what she does, have ye? ... Thought as much. She's doin' what them Summoner's does, Clem! Freakin' Summoners!''

''I'm moving to Bevelle.'' Clem stated, ignoring what Cid said.

He almost choked on his coffee and had to spit it back into his mug. ''Are ye out of yer mind?!''

Clem shook her head. ''I think you should come too. They have good schools in Bevelle. They even take in Al Bheds at one of them. I think it'd be good for Yuna to go to school.''

''I can't believe this'', Cid scoffed leaving the table. He grabbed his packaged of cigarettes and walked to the front door. He heard the chair moving against the floor and Clem's quick feet running after him.

''Where you goin' dad?'' cried Rikku loudly.

''Out smokin, princess!'' Cid yelled back before he disappeared through the door with Clem right behind, closing the door after them. Cid walked around in circles, kicking the small rocks laying on the ground. Stopping just to lit a cigarette and took up his circle-walking again as he took a long drag, filling up his lunges with the toxic smoke.

''Will you listen to me? Bevelle is good-'', Clem started, her eyes following Cid's every movement, every turn he made.

''Bullshit!'' he scoffed full of anger, shaking his head roughly in disbelief. How could she do this to him? ''Bevelle is just like every other damn place on this damned earth. Whole of Spira is full of shitheads hatin' about! Ye'd be runnin' right towards yer death!'' spit sprouted from his mouth as he yelled his lunges out at her.

Clem flinched for a second, only to yell back at him with full force. ''So living like this is better?! Hiding away from the world, with no contact with anyone! Is this the kind of life you want for your children?!''

Cid hissed, sucking hard on his cigarette.

''Don't you know what you're teaching them about the world? That wherever they go they'll be unwanted, everywhere there's danger! You teach them to be afraid, Cid!''

The world stopped, a high pitched tune ringing inside his head. He had to stop and stand still suddenly feeling defeated. The cigarette hung from his lips and arms hanging limp from his sides. How could he let himself be defeated and run over? He was a grown man in his late twenties, and a good man at that. He was the one that had seen to it that every one had been able to leave safely after the attack. He had taken his family to safety, built their home by his own hands! As if that wasn't enough he had start building his own airship as soon as the house was finished! Then when she came to them, torn apart as she was, he took her in with wide open arms. And when she had told him about her marriage that had been based on a lie he had done his very best to accept it. He had forgiven her, taken care of her- he had kept her and Yuna safe all these years. Was this the 'thank you' he was getting? His eyes darkened, hands into fists, pulse beating hard and loud in his ears.

He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came. He didn't know what to say or yell to her. There were no words coming, no words left. He closed his mouth, lips pressed together to a firm line. A bird sang cheerfully in a tree in the forest that surrounded them. Clem approached him slowly, carefully reaching out for his hand and grabbed it. He could feel her squeezing his hand reassuringly, for comfort he guessed. That's when he realised he was crying. No hysterical, loud crying. Nor was his eyes filled up with tears. But he cried. Small, tiny single water drops of salt ran down his cheek.

''What a damn rollercoaster...''

Clementine nodded and smiled a little, squeezed his hand and walked over to the wooden couch by the house-wall, motoring for him to sit down. When he sat down she gently wiped his tears away, removed the little cigarette end from his dry lips, dropping it to the ground. Cid's eyes narrowed a little. He took out a new cigarette from the package and lit it. Clem bit her lip. ''Look... I... Is this about Darla?'' He looked at her right in her eyes, giving her a look that said more than words. She let out a sigh taking his right hand, squeezed it warmly. Cid flinched and pulled his hand from her. ''Y ys cunno...''

''It's just not only about Darla'', Cid said looking out over the rocky road leading away from their house towards the long road that led to the crossroads from the Mi'ihen Highroad to either Luca or the Mushroom Rock Road. ''It's about every Al Bhed. My kids- yer kid. I've kept us safe for years and ye suddenly decide to- to move! It-it doesn't make any sense to me, allright? How do ye plan to move to Bevelle anyway? It's really far from here.''

''Same way as always? Travelling.''

''Travelling isn't always safe with all the fiends learkin' about.''

''No, really?'' Clem said sarcastically. ''It was just as dangerous when you left Bikanel, you know, and Brother was only three then. Yuna is six.''

''They grow up too fast'', Cid said as he puffed on his cigarette, smoke beaming from his mouth. He turned to look at his sister. ''How would ye do it? Which paths would ye take?''

Clem laughed. ''Are you worried for me?''

Cid smirked. ''Ye bet I am! Who knows what might be lurkin' about out there, besides fiends! I can't let ye go away unless I know yer safe and all.''

She sighed, moved closer to her brother and tilted her head so it would rest against his shoulder. The move to Bevelle would be easy, she had been working on it for a couple of weeks. First they would take the route upwards the Mi'ihen Highroad to the Travel Agency where they'd stay for the night, then continue through the sea reef cliff environment Mushroom Rock Road only to pass by Djose later...

Clem smiled to herself. It would be an adventure, just like it had been when she ran away all those years ago. Although that had been a whole different journey and a whole lot scarier too. She had been on the run for weeks when she arrived outside Cid's house. She didn't remember much of that day, except for falling down onto her knees when she had seen the house. She had been so exhausted, silently praying to Yevon that the family who lived there would be kind to her.

She had been somewhat lucky on her travels as she got to spend the night in some homes here and there, maybe because they pitied her. Most of the time she had been yelled at and people had spit on her and telling her that it was her own fault if she was tired and hungry. Not many wanted to look after a pregnant Al Bhed woman.

''We could take the ship, you know'', Cid said, pulling her back from the old memories. She sat up gasping, looked at him and smiled happily.

''Do you really mean that? And would you move with me?''

Cid nodded. Clem squealed, clapped her hands together before grabbing him and pulling him in for a hug. ''Thank you, thank you, thank you!''

End of Prologue

A/N: ~HUGE THANK YOU FOR READING THE WHOLE PROLOGUE!~
Soooo? What do you think? Hmmm? Worth continueing on or just... crap? I wanted to do a prolouge because I really needed the warm-up haha! And it felt like a good first practise.
Was it really confusing with the conversations in Al Bhed? I haven't put in any translations in the text, mainly because it gives the mysitcal feeling when you don't understand everything completely- and I really like to guess what they are saying, it is really fun. Although, I know what they are saying. Would you like to have translations in the text from now on? Please let me know!
And, how was the characters? If anything I am mostly nervous about them beeing awkward or not... in character.
I also wonder how my writing is in general. Can you see things in your mind when you read this or are there too few details about the environment and such? Maybe I'll learn how to write good soon enough. Hopefully I will.
Aaaa I'll stop whining now.
Please review and have a wonderful day! xoxo Sid