"Lu, you know I gotta say this before we go out there tomorrow," he whispered. Her back was still turned to him. He sighed and clinched his fists. He was more afraid of this moment than of what laid ahead in the morning.

The deck was silent. They were the only two in the hall. Lulu was positioned in front of the long window and she hadn't yet said a word since they had left the main bridge. "I…" Wakka started moving to close the gap between them. He left his arm intending to grab her shoulder. Maybe it would be easier if he could just see her face.

"I…"

"I'm afraid," she said.

He could see the tension in her shoulders. He swallowed his words. Lulu had just admitted fear. Out loud. To him. He opened his mouth, unsure of what to say.

She finally turned to face him. He smiled at her and then worried it was an inappropriate response. She looked down. "But this is the only way. I would do anything for Yuna."

"Of course you would. We all would…"

"I was so upset when she told us she wanted to be a summoner. Upset and afraid," her voice grew lower and she turned and faced toward the window again.

"Lu."

"What will she do?"

"What? You mean after?"

She nodded.

"Well, she could do anything she wants after…"

"Yes," She took a step forward and rested her hand on the railing. "But she never planned for an after."

"Well she won't be alone. She'll have all of us. And… and we'll all be—"

"But what if she doesn't have all of us?" She turned to face him once more. This time she looked him in the eyes. He took an unconscious step forward when he saw her lip tremble. This was the closest he'd ever been to seeing her cry since Chappu. "Is it likely we'll all make it out of this alive?"

"Lu…" Wakka put his arm on her shoulder. "We gotta stay positive. Yuna needs us to be strong more than ever. I can't promise you we are all gonna make it out of this, but I swear Lu, I'll try my hardest for you…" She cocked her head to the side, something akin to recognition sparked in her eyes, "And, and Yuna too! And Rikku and everybody," Wakka shouted removing his arm from her shoulder and putting it on his own. "Uh you know, that's what being a Guardian is all about."

Lulu stood silently, studying his face. "You are right."

"I am?" She smiled and nodded. "Woo-hoo-hoo," Wakka cheered, smiling in return.

"Now, what is it you wanted to tell me?"

"Oh… that."

"Is it important?" She asked putting her hand on her hip.

"Well… yeah. Maybe? Not so much?"

"Wakka?" She raised her eyebrows.

"Ah, I gotta say it before tomorrow. Just- uh just give me a minute, ya?"

"I'm waiting."

"Oh you know!" He stomped his feet and then sighed. He stood straight up and looked her in the eyes. "Here goes nothing, ya?" She returned his gaze. "Lu… Lu, I love you." He tried to smile but his face showed his anxiety. Her expression betrayed none of her feelings and he had to look away. "Yeah… yeah I love you," he repeated quietly, staring out the window and clenching his fists again. He kind of felt like melting into the floor.

"Wakka, I…" she moved to stand beside him, facing the window too.

"It's okay. Don't worry about it. You don't have to say it." Wakka said disheartened.

"It's just…"

"Ya, I know."

Lulu sighed. She turned away from the window. Wakka was sure she was going to walk away. He closed his eyes. Instead she moved behind him, wrapping her arms around him. "Don't think you mean any less to me," he put his arms over hers. "Just because I can't say it this moment."

"I didn't want to… I… I just had to say it before we…"

"I understand," she cut him off. He could tell by her tone that she wanted the conversation to end but she didn't move her arms. He didn't move his either. He continued to stare out the window, savoring the moment and the feel of her arms beneath his own, warm against his chest. "I never planned for an after either," she whispered, slipping her arms away from him. He stayed quietly in his place, letting his arms fall to his side. "I don't want to be alone," she moved beside him once more, softly placing her hand in his.

"I'll try to make sure you won't be," he replied, squeezing her hand. She squeezed back.

Always was my first fan-fic that I published. I get so many people adding it to their update list, but it was a one-shot. I'm replaying FFX-2 and I felt I might be doing more FFX/X-2 oneshots so I will add them as chapters. It's been years since Always was written. I like to think my writing has improved. Anyways, there may or may not be more oneshots added to this. I hope you enjoyed these two. - Silver