Practice had gone well, after all the teasing about Yuna's new look and the affectionate display Tidus put on with her. Wakka was definitely mad at him for that and pushed him hard. He knew it was worth it though. He just felt sorry for Yuna when she got back to the village. Lulu was going to lecture her harder than Wakka would lecture him.
Heading back to the village he lagged behind a little. Yuna had left earlier mostly to get away from Wakka and to change out of her dress sphere. He really wanted to see her again, without the audience. The Aurochs got a kick out of seeing them together. The guys were not overly protective of Yuna like Wakka and Lulu were. In fact they tried their best to help those two escape the watchful eye of her guardians, though they teased like nobodies business. They did the same thing to Wakka and Lulu when they first got married according to Yuna.
He stopped at the prayer spot and looked out towards the ocean. He was still playing over the events of the night before.
He wasn't exactly Mr. Virtuous back in Zanarkand. He had lots of girls coming on to him before. Dream or not, it was his past. For all he knew, being a dream, it never happened. He smiled at the thought that this was definitely his first "real" time with a woman.
He didn't notice that he wasn't alone for long. Wakka had come back to stand by him. "Hey, Whacha doin'?"
"Thinking," was all Tidus could say but Wakka looked at him like he knew where Tidus' thoughts were heading.
"Listen brudda, I know you are in love with Yuna. Be careful, ya? " Wakka patted him on the back.
"I am careful with her. I wouldn't do anything she doesn't want to do."
"That's the problem. She's not the same anymore. I told you this before. She is not going to be careful" he rubbed the back of his head. "Knowing her as well as I do. She is going to be more forward than before."
"Wakka, man. Come on. This is Yuna. She is allowed to make her own choices, don't you think?" Tidus tried to keep the frustration out of his voice. He couldn't say anything to defend the accusations. He couldn't deny it without lying. He also couldn't tell Wakka the truth.
"I know, I know… It's just. god, why is this so hard to talk 'bout?"
"Because you're worried. I get it." He looked at his shoes and scuffed them into the dirt. "Wakka don't worry about her. She's not stupid. She makes her own choice. I'm not saying I will fight her off… I won't."
"Hey!" Wakka's voice got really serious. "You should. If you love her.."
"I do love her. That's why i won't. Don't you get it, Wakka. If I disappear again and she is left alone, don't you think she will regret not being with me while I'm here. I know it sounds stupid and selfish. She waited to be with me again. Two years is a long time to wait. What would you do in my situation? Push her away? Say no, I don't want to be with you because those are the rules."
"I'm not saying you don't get to be together. I lecture you too much. I don't want to do to you guys what I did to Chappu. I'm not trying to control you. I just.. gyahhh… forget it, ya? Just be careful."
"I can't guarantee that we will." Tidus said with a not so sorry shrug.
"Damn your honesty." He said as he walked away back to the village.
Turning back to the water he mentally kicked himself. He should have lied. Said something like 'sure Wakka. I will keep my hands off her.' It wouldn't help to lie. Poor Yuna, sacrifice seems to be her life. He wasn't going to let her sacrifice this time. As soon as Blitz season was over he was going to marry her. Screw image, she doesn't need a political marriage. Hell, it didn't even need to be public. It would piss off a lot of people but he will take her away if it came to that.
'To where you stupid. She lives in Spira, its not like you can take her to Zanarkand. It doesn't exist anymore.' He looked at his hands. "Yuna.." he whispered. "I'm gonna do this right for you"
He scuffed his foot one more time in the sand and he turned back to the village.
"Yuna, what were you thinking?" Lulu, hearing from Wakka what transpired at the beach, was beside her self. She stood in the doorway of Yuna's home, holding Vindina. "Think, please, that could have been dangerous. Don't run off like that again without telling us."
"Lulu, I'm not a child" The peace she had while at home since returning from the beach was over. So was her mental recreation of the nights activities. She changed as soon as she got back to her home and checked herself for any potential tell tale signs of their activities. She was thankful for that stupid garment grid. It finally had some use.
She figured it was a good idea to bring more of those out there just in case something like that happened again. Or at least carry one with her from now on. Journey or not she wasn't going to get caught in a situation like that again.
"I know you're not." The older woman cradled her son in her arms.
"Then why are you guys so worried. Do we really have to be married before we can be alone?" She was sitting on her bed dressed in her normal gunner outfit.
"Marriage is important in your situation." Lulu came in to sit near her. "I don't want to lecture you again. Wakka and I are sick of it. You two deserve to love each other but please, don't do anything rash."
Too late. she thought. "I don't want to be a symbol anymore. I just want to be me. I want to be with him, no more waiting."
"What will you tell the people of Spira?"
"It's my turn. You have your happiness. I want mine. No political marriage, no more using me. I'm done"
"Will you say that?"
Yuna looked down and closed her eyes trying to imagine saying 'no' to millions of people. It hurt her inside to see disappointment on other peoples faces. It hurt her more to say 'no' to herself. "I want to."
"When you two are ready to get married we must tell the world. They expect that political marriage. They will keep planning it unless we tell them no."
Yuna laughed. "Do they still want me to marry the old Praetor's son or do they want me to marry the new Praetor?"
"Don't laugh, this is serious."
"Baralai is not going to marry me. Never. He knows already where my heart lies and I think he has a thing for Paine. Besides, if I marry, its gonna be Tidus. You don't wait two years and search for a guy just to give up on him" Yuna laid back ward on her bed, she flinched a little due to the pain between her thighs. Lulu looked at her with concern.
"Sore from practice," was all she said to her friend.
"Hmm.. come over later, well give you a potion to clear that up." Lulu got up, her child sleeping soundly. "I think the boy in question wants to talk to you." She indicated to the door where Tidus stood.
"I'm sorry." He said to Lulu as she walked out. She smiled at him.
He heard the last part of the conversation. He didn't know that the people were already planning a wedding for her. It triggered a possessiveness inside of him that made him think to hell with Blitz. He might not even wait till the season was over.
He did smile at the part where she blamed her soreness on Blitz. He was really surprised that Lulu bought it, or did she. He didn't really know, who could really tell with that woman. Even Wakka didn't really understand her and he was married to the woman.
When she finally left them alone, He made his way over to Yuna.
"Sorry, about that," he said referring to the pain she was feeling.
"Its ok. It was worth it."
"Listen, I know this is hard… dealing with Wakka and Lu and all… do you think maybe we should be careful? I mean, last night was great and all. The best night of my life actually but those two are really..." He sat down on the bed next to her and she pushed herself up to sit closer to him. "I don't want to do anything that will hurt you in the end."
"Why are you saying this now?"
"I was up by the prayer area and I got to thinking. You deserve to marry. No, you are going to marry." He grabbed her hand and kissed it. "You will marry me."
"Wait, what?" She stood up and looked at him. "Why now? We were just… the people will… all that attention."
He stood and walked behind her. Wrapping his arms around her, he whispered in her ear. "I won't leave you. If they think they can marry you off to some 'praetor', they got another thing coming. Why didn't you tell me?"
"It wasn't important." She leaned back into his arms. "Besides, we don't have to marry just yet. I like our privacy… sorta privacy. As long as it is just Wakka and Lulu on our case I can live with it."
"You know, if I am not a dream.. or even if I am… there could be a chance that we can end up like those two." His hands sliding down to her stomach.
Grasping his meaning she smiled and let her hands fall down to lay on top of his. "I hope so."
"Then we should hold up a bit. We can still kiss and play around. Maybe steam things up a bit without going to far… again." He kissed her cheek. "Besides the memory of that night will keep me going for a little while."
"Not me." she laughed a little and turned around in his arms. She placed her arms around his neck and kissed him. "I want you even now."
"Yuna." He looked from her lips to her eyes and back down. "Wakka was right about you."
"What did he say now?"
"Oh nothing," he smirked.
"No fair!" She swatted him again. "Tell."
He tickled her sides a little, making her squirm. He kissed her forehead and said "No."
"Oooo, you are so not nice"
"And you are gonna make me do something I don't want to do" He reached down and grabbed her backside again. Pressing her against him. She felt him, firm and very much ready. She blushed but continued to stare at him.
"You can take back what you said and we can try that again."
"Yeah, he was definitely right." He kissed her before she could say anything and as much as he hated to he let her go and took her by the hand, leading her out of the hut.
Lulu was about to walk back in when she saw the two walking out holding hands. She smiled. I guess they really are gonna try. I didn't have to chase them out.
"Yuna" she said, no longer holding the baby.
"Aww common, Lu. We came out" Tidus complained.
"That's not why I'm here." She turned to Yuna. "There is a letter for you. I think it's another mission."
"Oh?" Yuna took it and read it.
"Oh cool, can I go?" He came up behind her and tried to read the letter.
"It seems like it's just for me." She turned to him. She swatting his shoulder and said "You need to train for blitz. I'm gonna go alone."
"Awww" Tidus said and waited till Lulu walked away before adding "We could have used it as a reason to get away from them."
"I'm using it as a reason to get away from you. I can't control myself with you around" Yuna kissed him. "You want to wait. We will wait. I will go on the mission, you stay and practice."
He groaned, "Damn. Alright, we will play by the rules. For now."
"How long should we wait?"
"After blitz season?" He suggested.
"Perfect. I will be back before it starts." She walked back into her hut and prepared herself for her next mission.
A/N: pause the story and go watch the Last Mission on youtube. There is a whole story there to watch. Reuniting Yuna, Rikku and Paine.
