Okay so maybe I lied, maybe there isn't enough interaction between the couple in this one either, I don't know. But I'll get to it I promise! In case you haven't noticed that I'm making this up as I go… well, soon you'll know. Nothing except for the last few scenes were planned in the original plot I had imagined. But I simply could not resist it. It was too good of an opportunity to complicate matters just a tiny bit more… mwhahaha.

Enjoy!

0o0o0o0o

We got out of Macalania soon after I confessed to my friend about Auron. Nothing else exciting happened – unless you count Rikku nearly exploding with having to hold in her surprise. I could see how much she wanted to scream, but she did not. And I was very proud of her for that too.

Now, after many minutes of silence at the campsite, we were all back on the airship. I was in the Cabin, enjoying the alone time. In a few minutes though I have to go down and break the news (with Lulu) that I am leaving. That will not be very fun…

"Paine?" I looked towards the stairwell, sitting up on my pillow.

"Yeah, Rikku…" I said, trying to sound annoyed to see her. I was, kind of, it had been so wonderfully quiet.

"Can I… talk to you?" Rikku asked me.

"We've known each other for a year, Rikku, I don't think you have to ask anymore," I replied curtly. She frowned, looking even more nervous than before. "Sit…" I told her, patting my bed. The Al Bhed's smile returned and she bounded over to my bed and plopped down next to my legs. "What is it?"

"Well, Paine… you're Auron's daughter, really?" she asked me. I grinned and nodded.

"I am."

"That's awesome!" she said. "But why didn't you tell us sooner?" I shrugged. "What must it have been like to have him for a dad…" she whispered in awe.

"When you find out, tell me," I said bitterly, "I'd like to know too."

"What do you mean?" she asked me.

"I never met him. Only once, and I was half unconscious," I explained. "I can't remember it at all. I only found out after I was in the Gullwings… I didn't tell you because, back then, I couldn't trust you." Rikku appeared stunned by my blunt remark. My words probably hurt my friend, but it was best to be honest. I don't know why I was suddenly being so open with my heritage... perhaps it was to relieve my guilt for hiding my affair.

"Who… Who told you?"

"Lulu did," I said.

"Oh…" Rikku whispered. "I'm happy that you're finally being honest with me, Paine," she told me. "Is there anything else you want to tell me? I'll tell you whatever you want if you ask." I grinned again.

"I don't know," I said. "Why so interested?"

"Because you're my friend, that's all," said Rikku.

"Okay," I nodded, "I get the feeling that you want to tell me something."

"Yeah," she whispered, nodding furiously. "I-I… Well, Gippal and I… we hadn't um, you know…" I almost laughed out loud.

"Never had sex," I whispered with a smirk. She nodded. "Wow."

"Wow?" she squeaked nervously. "W-What do you mean 'Wow'?" she asked me with big, emerald eyes. Her demeanor was very entertaining, actually. I knew that it was wrong to assume, but I had always assumed that Rikku was not completely 'innocent' when I had met her. I mean, honestly, have people seen what she wears!? And I had spent months on the same boat with Gippal, and his stories about her and him together did not help my assumptions of the princess.

"I mean… nothing, nothing, continue."

"Well we weren't going to, you know? I-I told him that I just… didn't want to, and I wasn't…"

"Ready," I finished for the practically shaking girl.

"Yeah!" she said. "I wasn't ready. I really did want to though, but I knew dad and Brother would kill me…" Well that explained it. "But, then he proposed to me, you know, and I…" I nodded and waved my hand dismissively.

"You two are getting married, Rikku," I told her, taking one of her hands unconsciously. I leaned forward and looked her straight in the eye. "It's going to be okay. It was once, I'm sure you can forgive yourself in time. You did it, and you can't take it back even if you want to..." She shook her head, and I knew she was ready to cry. I could see it in her scrunched up face. "Is that why you didn't want me to beat up that guy for calling you a whore…?" She kept shaking her head, but I knew that I had hit the mark. "Rikku," I reprimanded her as kindly as I could, "don't be stupid, you're not a whore. You're in love, Rikku… no one can blame you for that. This isn't like some thirteen year-old rushing into something… you are an adult now, and you're getting married. It's was a one time thing, I know that you won't do it again, and it didn't destroy your life. You're going to be fine." If anyone is the whore, Rikku, it's me... not you...

"Y-You don't get it…" she sniffed.

"Them make me get it," I told her forcefully. "Tell me what's bothering you so badly." She looked right and left to make sure no one was around, and then she spoke, in Al Bhed just to be extra careful.

"Gippal… fa fanah'd lynavim..." she told me. I am very surprised that I did not faint for a second time that day. My mouth, however, did fall open. Rikku was not encouraged by my stunned face. Actually it caused her to burst into tears at last.

"Rikku," I whispered. "You're not…" She nodded furiously, squeezing her eyes shut. "You're not pregnant…"

"Yes I am!" she cried.

"How long?" I asked her quietly.

"I just found out… not very long… maybe two weeks." I shook my head, leaning against the headboard and covering my mouth. "It's still going to be okay, right? I mean… I should keep it, right?"

"Of course," I whispered, still completely dumbstruck. It was now my eyes that could not meet Rikku's. She leaned her forehead against my shoulder, and I did not say anything. Under any other circumstances I would not have allowed her to do such a thing…

I'm three weeks, and now Rikku's two weeks… What's next?

"You're the only one who knows besides Gippal and me," Rikku told me. Why did she have to tell me that...? That only made me feel worse. Rikku was so upset about what she did... and then look at me.

"Rikku," I said quietly. This was probably not the best time to say it, but it just spilled out of me. "I'm leaving the Gullwings…"

0o0o0o0o

"Leaving!?"

"Why are you leaving?"

"Yeah, what's going on?" I covered my ears quickly and shook my head. I stood in the middle of the Bridge now, in a circle of accusatory stares.

"Everybody just be quiet," Lulu snapped. "If you want the answers you have to give her time to speak." I straightened up and put my hands back down by my side. Everyone fell silent finally. They had been going like that since Rikku had stormed down into the Bridge.

"I'm just taking a break for a while," I explained. "I'm going to Besaid."

"For what!?" asked Brother.

"I'm going to study under Lulu," I told him. "Magic." Brother scoffed at me. "Oh shut up, airhead," I snapped at him. "This isn't your decision. It's mine. You can't keep me here. You let Yuna go. It's only for a few months, and then I'll be back." I was not completely certain that the last part of my statement was true. After the baby came I had no idea what I was going to do.

"Well, that'd work out, wouldn't it," said Yuna. I looked over at her. She turned her attention to her husband and I saw him nod. It was a very encouraging nod… I gulped.

"Why…" Lulu seemed to share my apprehension.

"Because I can keep her company, maybe teach you some white magic too, right? That'd be fine, don't you think?" Wait. Hold on just one freakin' moment!

"I thought you were going to Luca in a couple of days," Rikku said. "Blitzball."

"She was," said Tidus. "I'm still going… unfortunately," he added with a grin to his wife. "You want to tell them?"

"Oh Yevon," Lulu whispered. She and I exchanged looks of absolute horror.

"Tidus and I are having our first baby!" Yuna exclaimed with excitement.

Thump.

"Brother!"

I stayed where I was. Everyone else (sans Brother) was also frozen in place. He had completely passed out. Unconcious. Out like a light. Rikku actually laughed out loud, and soon Gippal joined in. Then the rest, except for Lulu and I, laughed also.

"What's next," said Gippal to his fiancée, "Paine and Lulu?" Rikku found the joke very funny, but others such as Buddy, Yuna, and Wakka fell silent. Tidus, Rikku and Shinra were the only ones still laughing.

"What?" asked Yuna. "Rikku… are you?" Rikku looked at me, and then back at her cousin.

"Yeah…" she whispered timidly, still obviously struggling with her shame.

A second loud thump rang out, mixed with the sound of chain hitting metal. Lulu had suddenly collapsed to the floor, much like Brother had.

"Lulu!" I gasped. Yuna covered her mouth and almost jumped. I looked at Wakka, who quickly knelt by his wife's side and tried desperately to revive the poor woman.

"Wakka, dude, she's not really pregnant too is she? I was just making a dumb joke…" said Gippal with apparent embarrassment.

"Uh…" said Wakka. "Lulu really didn't want anyone to know," he said, scratching the back of his head. "But ya… we are… five weeks." My face must have looked like I had suddenly seen a ghost. I stared at the mage's face, not knowing whether to be happy for her or appalled at her not telling me.

"Paine?" Rikku laughed nervously. "Are you...?"

"Of course not," I lied flat out. "How could I have managed that?" I asked her with a fake chuckle.

"Oh, well I would have thought that…" I glared over at Tidus and he stopped short of finishing his sentence. He gave me a truly frightened look, his hand frozen in the air. He was pointing at someone, and I was curious to find out who. I followed his finger and my crimson eyes landed on Buddy. The man took a step backwards, raising his hands in defense.

"Me and Buddy?" I scoffed. "What made you think that?" The blond shrugged.

"I dunno," he said. "But no?"

"No," Buddy and I both said at the same time. Tidus turned slightly red and took a step behind his wife, placing her in between him and me, like she was his human shield. I turned my attention away from my blond friend, and looked around at each woman standing in the room with me. I actually felt light-headed again myself…

All four of us… The likelihood of it! That we would all be pregnant, exactly one week apart… "Yuna, how far along are you?" I asked her, fixing my gaze on her face.

"A month," she told me. "I'm not exactly sure, though. Why?"

"Just wondering," I told her. "Wow, must be something in the water," I mumbled. "Buddy… how long do you think it'll be until we reach Besaid?"

"At least five minutes," he replied. I nodded, glancing down at Wakka who was fanning his wife's face with absolutely no effect.

"I'm going back upstairs to pack my things until then…" I said, walking up the steps and through the door. It closed behind me and I pressed my back against it, turning my head so that I could do the same with my ear.

"What's Paine so upset about all of a sudden?" Gippal's voice sounded distant but I could still make out what he said.

"I don't know," said Tidus.

"Maybe she's lonely," Rikku suggested.

"Paine? Lonely?" said Yuna. "It's possible… I don't know why she wouldn't let one of us know how she felt though."

"Because she's Paine," said Shinra. His voice was the hardest to ear because he spoke so softly from behind his mask. "If she has to choose between herself and someone else, she always chooses someone else."

"How do you know that?" asked Buddy.

"I'm just a kid. I'm supposed to notice these things." I grinned genuinely.

Then I heard someone groan. It was obviously Lulu and not Brother – the difference between them was too great to get them mixed up. I listened as my good friend inquired where I had gone. Then I heard another thump as someone, probably Rikku and Yuna both, threw their arms around her. Their squeals of delight hurt my ears as they both congratulated her profusely on expecting a second child.

I left the hallway in a calm fashion, and pressed the cabin button once I had entered the lift. Once the doors closed I pounded my fist against the stop button. The lift clamored to a halt. I simply sat down right down in the middle of the floor.

"Yuna, Rikku, and Lulu…" I whispered. "This won't be good… not good at all…" I put my hands on the back of my neck and buried my face in my knees. How were Lulu and I going to make this work…? We could pull it off, I'm sure of it. Except right now, I'm not sure exactly how it can work, and that more than slightly worries me. I had been banking on the fact that Yuna would not be around Besaid during four of the nine months I would be stuck there. Now she was going to be there for all nine. And now, with all the celebration, I knew that Baralai would know about each of them soon. How could I possibly hide something so important from him in the midst of all of this?

Wait. Baralai!

I gulped. I had just remembered. In all the excitement which spawned from our trip to Macalania it had completely slipped my mind. The Honeymoon! Oh just the word made me sick to my stomach.

"Paine!" Buddy's voice rang out on the intercom. "We're landing right now. Meet you in the engine room when you're done. Oh, and Brother's awake and he's not happy with you."

"Whatever," I muttered. I did not care about having to deal with Brother. Just glare at him and he backs off, I knew from experience. It works every time.

He was most certainly the least of my problems.

0o0o0o0o

I stepped off the ship, alone. I waded through the shallow waters with my suitcase in my hand. My friends still remained on the ship, doing other stuff. Me, I was simply trying my best to walk through wet sand in high heels, acting as if I had no care in the world. Acting had become one of my strong suits in the past months. Excuses for why I had to spend the night somewhere… I had gotten good at those. I remember one time when I had gone to Luca for the day, after getting offered a job. "Oh, I'm really too tired… long day… Yes I know, Rikku, but - No, Brother, no I'm not accepting the job as a news recorder and am simply too ashamed to show my face to you, tattoo boy…! Yes, I turned it down, Shinra. Now could I please speak!? I'm too tired after the interview, I'm checking into a hotel, goodbye, talk to you tomorrow!" That was really my all time favorite one. What a coincidence that Shelinda had learned of my recording experience and offered me a job… Yes, and what a coincidence that Baralai had scheduled a meeting in Luca for the very same day I had scheduled my interview.

Luca was such a wonderful place, wasn't it… and much better when you add-

"Baralai!?"

"Paine?"

"Paine?"

"Emi…?!" I dropped my suitcase into the sand. "W-What are you two doing… here…?"

"We're having our honeymoon in Besaid, or course," said Emi with a smile, clinging to her husband's arm like her hands were glued to it. I looked from his wife to Baralai's face. "It's beautiful, isn't it...? I've never been, I've seen pictures, but I've always wanted to see it for my self. So I thought that this was the perfect chance for me to see it. And who better to see it with...?"

"I did not know that," I said accusingly, directing my words at her but looking fixedly at her husband. "What a… wonderful coincidence," I said through gritted teeth and an almost angry smile.

"What are you doing here?" Baralai asked me innocently.

"I," I began. "Well, actually… this is where I live now." Baralai's entire face paled, I swore even his white hair did if that was possible.

"Live?"

"Yes," I said. "I'm moving to Besaid for a few months."

"Oh!" Emi said, surprised. "That's wonderful, isn't it honey?" she asked Baralai. Baralai nodded.

"Yes, wonderful," he replied almost mechanically.

"Well why don't you help the woman with her bag?" she asked him kindly.

"I've got it," I told her.

"Oh no, Paine, it's the least we can do, right? I mean, you did get sick at our wedding." I did not like the way she put emphasis on the word our. Baralai agreed with his wife and picked up my suitcase before I could object again. "I'll go on ahead if you want to wait for everyone else, okay?" He nodded without saying a word. He wanted for her to leave earshot before he rounded on me.

"You're living here?" he hissed. "When was that decided?"

"Today," I snapped back.

"When were you going to tell me!?" I turned away from him and started off. He hurried to catch up to me.

"When were you going to tell me that your honeymoon was moved to Besaid? You told me it was in the Moonflow!"

"Emi wanted it changed to here," he said. "I know its weird…"

"Weird?" I laughed. "Oh, no Baralai, it's far past 'weird'," I told him.

"Paine," he said in a serious voice, lagging behind a bit. "It's times like these, when we're bickering like this…" I stopped ahead of him and turned around. "I wish I could have done something."

"'Lai," I said, forgetting my initial displeasure upon arriving here, "you did all you could."

"No," he said. "I could have done more, I know it! I could have… I want you and I to be together," he told me. His hand was suddenly in its favorite spot, which was behind my head, before I realized it. This was not the time… We were completely exposed. What was he doing!?

"Baralai… people can see us," I whispered, putting a hand on his shoulder to stop him advancing closer.

"Sometimes I wish that they would," he admitted for the first time that I could remember. "Most days I'm sick of hiding it. I want the world to know, Paine… No matter how hard they try, they need to know that nothing can make me stop caring about you." He hugged me instead of kissed me, trying to make it seem completely friendly. "Let them see," he whispered in my ear. "I want them to."

"So do I," I told him, getting unwillingly choked up a bit. He always said what was right. And to anyone who did see us, they had to admit that there was nothing strange about a hug between best friends. We parted and then he continued on, with me close at his heels this time. Emi was too far ahead now, I could not even see her. As for anyone behind us, I had not been paying attention. I wanted to reach out and hold his free hand as we walked, but I did not.

"You look beautiful today," he said, his back to me.

"You're not even looking at me," I laughed. We were about to walk underneath the tall ruins now, so it meant we were almost to the village.

"Don't have to," he said, still not looking over his shoulder. "I have eyes in the back of my head." I hurried past him and cut in front of him now.

"Oh please. Am I also supposed to believe you have x-ray vision?"

"Don't I wish…" he muttered, mostly to himself. I turned very red.

We continued to the village boundaries in silence. I absentmindedly fiddled with the sleeve of Baralai's robe the entire rest of the way, hardly aware of it. I was under the impression that we were, after all, completely alone. So in my mind it did not matter what I did. Then as we entered the small square I stopped and placed both of my hands behind my back, in order to help in resisting the temptations that came with having Baralai less than a full foot away from me. I smirked to myself as I watched him walk ahead again, my bag still in hand.

It really is amazing how much you can love another person. Especially for me. And especially despite all that has and will happen between him and me.

0o0o0o0o

That night all my happiness had pretty much evaporated. It was completely dark now, and everyone that was staying the night in Besaid (which was everyone from the Celsius plus the newlyweds) had retired to bed. I was now lying in one of the two extra rooms in Besaid Temple. Baralai and his wife were, unfortunately, in the other one. That was why I could not sleep. Anxiety was numbing the nerve endings in my hands and feet, as well as tightening the muscles in my arms, as well as my stomach.

I had finally had enough lying around. I was so wide awake that I had not even changed out of warrior yet. Making the decision quickly I got up, and walked silently from my room. I did not pay attention to anything else as I walked on, not even the noise my heels made registered to me.

Out of the building and down the steps I walked very purposefully. I knew exactly where I was headed.

I ended up at the beach faster than I had expected myself to. I remember the last time I snuck out of the village to come down here. Truthfully I almost expected Lulu to show up again… From inside one of my pockets I pulled out a brightly glowing sphere. I spun it a few times on my finger like it was a mini-blitzball. "Dad," I spoke directly to it, now holding it steadily in my hand. "Help me… I want to be a good mother. I don't my child to end up like I did… I don't want to fail my kid the way you thought you failed me!"

Am I really being fair...I asked the sphere in my head. Is there a way out of this, really? Who would know better than you, dad? You've done the impossible… Is it possible for me to follow you? Am I capable of pulling this off? "Tell me what I should do…!"

I felt stupid for talking to a sphere. Sphere's can only tell you so much – I've learned that as a sphere hunter… They are special things, and they can unlock so many doors into a person's past. But some doors need different keys. They can show you what a person needs, but they can not always show how to get it. That is something a person needs to figure out for themselves sometimes. There are no shortcuts. There are no secret cheats to making everything go the way I want it to.

People who want happy endings have to write their own.

Now I wonder who came up with that one…

I grinned.

"That's right," I said, "it was me…" I laughed to myself, feeling slightly better. I clutched the sphere in my hand and held it up to my eyelevel. "Thanks dad," I said to it.

Placing the orb back into my pocket I decided to head back before it got too late. I trudged back towards the forest part of the path between here and the village. When I placed my hand on the ledge to try and pull myself up without much of a strain, I heard something rustling above me. Dropping back down, I pressed against the mossy rocks and listened. The noise grew fainter, but I was still cautious as I took a step away from the wall and looked up. Then I turned and was suddenly thrown back as someone threw their arms around my neck with great force. My back hit the soft, cushioned rock and air was practically forced from my lungs.

"B-Baralai…!?"

0o0o0o0o

Yes I know it's strange that all of them are suddenly having children, but just remember: no one can be sure if everything will turn out okay once the plot progresses, not even me. I haven't decided if Leblanc is going to follow with the whole pregnant thing (I actually completely forgot about her during the writing of this whole thing), but Nooj and she will show up… when I get around to it. What do you guys think? 'Yes' for little Leblanc or Noojy Junior, or 'no'? I really would like to hear your opinion…