A/N: So I'm back after a 4 month break. Lol. I'm sad I know. But you can read up on my apologies on my profile update. ONWARD!

D: Same old same old. I own no part of SquareEnix or their characters. Only my own ideas. :)

Different times, Different worlds

Chapter 4 - A state of undress

Yuna yawned and stretched her arms over her head. She smiled lazily and rolled over onto her side, hugging the blankets closer to her. She dozed for awhile before yawning again and sprawling out, her body covering the bed, corner to corner. The bed was empty except for her.

Tidus.

Memories of the night before came flooding back. Why? Why did he say those things to her? He should understand. He should know exactly how it feels to live under someone else's shadow. He was forever reminded of Jecht as she was of her father. Yuna sighed. She didn't realize how angry she still was. A good night sleep should have fixed it. She should have be fine. Calm. Over it.

Damn it, she cursed to herself. Damn it, damn it, damn it. "Damn it!" she yelled, yanking open the bedroom door, ready for a fight, ready for all hell to break loose. She yelped and jumped back as a sleeping Tidus fell backward into the room. He had been sitting up against the door sleeping when Yuna had yanked it open. Now he was laying on his back, staring up at her.

He cleared his throat. "Yuna?"

She crossed her arms and stared down at him. "No. It's Wakka."

Tidus sighed. "You're still angry," he stated.

"Is it that obvious?"

Tidus rubbed his face. "Look," he started saying, the frustration clear in his voice. "I'm sorry. I had no right to say the things I said. I know how I felt about always being compared to Jecht. I didn't like it. I felt like my self-worth was based on him. I should have been more considerate about your feelings towards your father."

Yuna scanned Tidus' sorrow filled face. His words still stung, but maybe he truly was sorry. If he wasn't really sorry, then he was a very good actor. Yuna sighed again, knowing she needed to be honest with herself. She had come to know him on her pilgrimage. Tidus wasn't fake. When he said things, he meant them. She crouched down and laid her hand against his cheek. "Oh Tidus. It's all right. Sometimes we say things that we never really meant."

"You mean everything to me Yuna. I'm only here because you came for me. I was a dream, but now I'm real. This is real. WE are real. Without you, where would I be? Would I even exist?" Tidus shook the unease from his mind. "You are my life, my reason for existing."

"But how can you put so much faith in me? How can you unconditionally put all your love and trust and worth in me? I don't even know how I feel!" Yuna immediately covered her mouth, shocked that she had let out her true feelings.

Tidus sat up. "What? You don't know how you feel? About what? About me, about us, about our life?" He was completely taken aback. He came back for her. He came back because of her. She was all he ever wanted, and now that she was in his grasp, she wasn't sure.

"I just … I don't …know. I don't know how I feel. I feel love for you. But it's not where it should be. I feel uncomfortable with me, with you, with us. I was okay in the beginning. Blissfully happy. Life has just seemed to go down hill. It's all so … monotonous." She covered her face with her hands as she burst into tears.

Tidus pulled her to him and held her close as she sobbed. His mind was racing with questions and doubts. Is this how it would be? Would she always feel this way? Or was this the time for him to convince her that they could have so much happiness together? Tidus clung to his hope and to her, holding onto the one thing he felt for sure. Love. He pulled back from her. She looked up at him and noticed the sheepish look on his face. "I don't mean to be extremely off topic, but …"

Yuna wiped the tears from her face. "Yes?"

"Don't you normally have a few more clothes on?"

Yuna laughed at his abrupt change of topic. It was his way of cheering her up. Then she looked down, and the smile fell away as she realized what she was wearing. She wore lace boy-short underwear and a camisole top that dipped low. Both accentuated her trim waist and curves. Her face grew flushed and hot. It had always been a goal of hers to dress a bit more conservatively. No use in tempting the devil.

"I need to dress." She tried to turn and run, but Tidus held on tight.

"Nuh-uh. No use now. You've already embarrassed yourself." He laughed at her horror stricken face. "I'm just teasing you. Trying to make you feel better. I can't stand to see you sad. Though, there really is no use in dressing. I've already see you."

"But-"

"Come on Yuna." Tidus stared her down. "We are together. We live together, we eat together, we sleep together. Yet, you hide yourself from me, avoiding intimacy like the plague. I understand you have confusing feelings, but I'm so in love with you and it hurts to be cut off from you. We can't ignore this completely. Intimacy is something every relationship has, and if we want to make it work, we have to get through this. Together."

Yuna stared up at the ceiling for a moment. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For … everything. For all the hurt feelings I've caused, and avoiding … the issue." She hesitated, unsure how to explain her feelings toward him.

Tidus didn't give her the time. "It's okay. Just don't run scared. Let's figure it out together." He held out a hand to her. "Why don't we make some breakfast and move on with the day?"

Yuna nodded and then smiled. If Tidus could look past this for the time being, then so could she. They would move on and deal with the issue next time it arose. She took his hand. "So what'll it be?"

Tidus pondered for a moment. "I don't know. Surprise me."

Yuna laughed and bounced into the kitchen, reminding Tidus of Rikku. The pair of them were very similar. He laughed aloud. What a funny kid, that Rikku. Tidus could vividly remember her clinging to his leg in the Thunder Plains, and begging to stay at the Travel Agency. Suddenly, he was pulled out of his memories when someone knocked on the door. He opened it, then jumped back, exclaiming "Whoa!"

"Hi Tidus! Long time no see!" Rikku grinned up at him, looking just as innocent and young as he remembered.

Tidus rubbed the back of his head. "Are you like magic or something?"

"Huh?"

"I was just thinking about you and then - BAM! - here you are."

Gippal stepped up behind Rikku. "You thinking about my girl?"

Tidus laughed nervously and waved his hands in front of him, as if he was warding off any bad notions. "No, no, no. I was just thinking about how Rikku freaked in the Thunder Plains."

Rikku shivered. "Let's not talk about that."

The guys grinned. Tidus stepped back and allowed Gippal and Rikku room to come in. "Well Gippal, it sure is nice to have another man around."

"Where's Wakka?"

"Out on a trip with Lulu," He said as he checked on the couple's sleeping baby.

"Tidus? Who are you talking to?" Yuna came out of the kitchen, licking a batter-ridden spoon. Her eyes widened as they landed on Gippal.

The spoon clattered to the floor.

A/N: Yes? No? Please read and review. Would be much appreciated. Ideas are welcome. Until next time. Ta-ta. Bwahahahahahahah!