I know it's been a while, and I'm sorry. I have no reasons. I don't even have excuses. The only consolation I can give you is that at least it's the right length.

After Yuna agreed to put something on, Rikku's head finally emerged from under Paine's bed sheet. Yuna passed Rikku her own nightdress, and turned her back while Rikku dressed as quickly as she physically could while trying desperately to stay almost completely inside the bed.

Eventually, Rikku had calmed down enough for an actual conversation to take place and as Paine opened the door, did not immediately run over and activate her garment grid. Instead, she calmly selected the White mage sphere, and, once fully covered up, sat down with her friends, both of whom were dressed in similarly conservative clothing.

Yuna was the only one who seemed comfortable starting the conversation; "Rikku, you know what happened last night right? Is there something about it that bothers you?"

"Um..." Rikku looked both nervous and confused, she was struggling more with what she'd done than what Paine and Yuna had done. "I get... well I kinda get what happened with you Yunie, and, well I mean, it's not like there's nothing wrong with it I guess. I just never really thought you would." She finished, rather weakly, not that the start had been particularly strong.

Paine was not convinced; "Rikku, you can't be serious. You just not expecting Yuna to have sex with another girl does not explain why you're still so freaked out about this. Yht oui ryjah'd aqbmyehat fro ouin tnacc fyc cuygat eh lis."

Paine didn't like speaking Al Bhed in front of Yuna, but there were certain things that Yuna didn't need to know just yet. Rikku's suddenly crimson face showed that she understood that as well.

Yuna's look of calm incomprehension was familiar to both the other girls, what they were not expecting was what she said next. "Dryd'c hud vyen." It was hesitant but it was understandable.

"Sorry Yunie. Paine just wanted me to say this bit. Um..." She looked at Paine, hoping in vain for help. Paine just looked back at her calmly, patience etched into her features. Giving up, Rikku sighed and continued; "I... kinda listened to a lot of what you were doing... almost all of it I think..."

Yuna was about to interrupt, but Rikku's expression told her there was more.

"While I was listening... I... Um..." Despite everything, she looked to Paine again, praying silently for a change of heart from the icy warrior. Predictably, she was stared into continuing. "I was sycdinpydehk." She mentally slapped herself for lapsing, and tried to find the courage to tell Yuna in words she would understand. "Sorry Yunie... It means... 'masturbating'. She folded her arms around herself and suddenly her entire body was clearly showing the worry in her mind.

Yuna didn't know what surprised her most; what Rikku'd said, or the fact that she wasn't all that phased by it. "Rikku, why were you doing that if the idea bothered you so much?"

"I never said it bothe..."

She was interrupted by Paine's incredulous "Hmmph"

"Bothered me." She continued, trying to ignore the slightly hurt look on Paine's face. "It was just so sudden, and I didn't have time to think about it."

"You didn't have time?" this time Paine didn't limit herself to a sound, "Rikku, I didn't even mention the word sex and you freaked. You ran away so fast the door could barely open fast enough." The other girls didn't often see Paine exhibit any emotion deeper than anger. To see the depth Rikku's rejection had reached was a shock. Yuna placed her arm around Paine's shoulders, and for once, it wasn't shrugged off. Rikku was still feeling a little awkward about the whole thing, but she could tell that her friend was upset, and ignored her own insecurities, sitting down next to the others, and opened her arms to Paine; "You need a hug."

"Rikku, I..."

Rikku wasn't taking 'no' for an answer, and decided that what the situation needed was a little Rikku-brand humour; "Yesterday you wanted to vilg me, but now you won't even give me a hug? Fine, I'll just have to give you one." She wrapped both arms around Paine's torso, pinning her arms to her sides, and trapping Yuna. No matter how much Paine struggled and complained, she didn't let go until Yuna pointed out that her arm was getting numb.

Rikku was happy to see that, even through the attempt at looking annoyed, Paine was clearly happy.

Paine knew she wasn't very good at making friends and, annoying as she could be, Rikku was one of the best she had. It was a huge relief that they were all still friends; she could imagine what might have happened. If Yuna had had to choose between them, Paine was certain one night of, admittedly pretty damn good, sex wouldn't stand a chance against two years of friendship, and a shared pilgrimage. Throw in the fact that Rikku and Yuna were cousins, and Paine wouldn't even have bothered waiting to find out. Fortunately, it hadn't come down to that.

While Yuna had watched Rikku trying to crush Paine, and almost loosing all the feeling in her arm, she'd been thinking about the rest of the Gullwings, and how they might react to the idea of her and Paine having a relationship. It wasn't that there was one, and Yuna wasn't sure she could; but there was definitely something.

Now, while the topic was in use, seemed the best time to bring it up; "Rikku, how do you think Brother would react to this?"

Paine and Rikku shared a glance; most of the crew knew about Brother's obsession with Yuna, but they'd never actually figured out if Yuna had noticed. It was very obvious, but it was amazing what people missed. "I dunno Yunie. I mean, he freaks out over the tiniest things, but some things just pass right by him. Buddy'll probably just accept it; and Shinra's not interested in anything that doesn't involve machina..." The pause was just long enough to be noticeable, and both Paine's and Yuna's expression changed. Yuna blushed a little, and Paine smirked. "Anyway, Brother might do anything."

Paine looked at Yuna's face, and saw the flush in her cheeks. Smirking slightly more, she asked the obvious question. "So, are we going to tell them? And if so; what are we going to tell them?"

Yuna was, as usual, the one making the decision. Officially, Brother was the Gullwing's leader, but he never made the important decisions; always looking to Yuna for advice. "We probably shouldn't tell Brother just yet, Shinra won't care even if we tell him, but Buddy might be able to help."

Paine almost laughed. "Yuna, how could he help? In case you forgot, guys aren't really..."

"I meant that he could help find out how Brother might deal with it, or not deal with it, which ever." Paine nodded, conceding, and Rikku nodded, glad that she wasn't going to be the only one keeping Brother away from Paine and Yuna when they wanted some 'alone time'. She also found herself feeling happier about it than she expected too. 'It's been too long since Yunie's been this happy.' She thought. Knowing as she did so, that there was more to it than that.

Yuna stood up and switched to her Gunner sphere saying, "Let's go find Buddy." The other two followed her example, feeling more comfortable in their usual attire.

Paine was first to leave, just so she could check the corridor. Rikku found herself looking more carefully at Paine's outfit, admiring how Paine could wear something so closefitting, with so many slits, but no one seemed to notice. As she followed Yuna out of Paine's room, she realized she was subconsciously keeping to where she could see past Yuna, her eyes frequently swinging back to Paine.

I know I forgot to translate the Al Bhed bits in previous chapters, and I'll go back and do that at some point, but they're not actually important. These are, kind of.

Al Bhed bits not in Italics, Italics not in Al Bhed bits.

Paine: "And you haven't explained why your dress was soaked in cum."

Yuna: "That's not fair."

Rikku: "wanted to...fuck...me."

Hope you enjoyed it. I really do enjoy hearing about it (hint hint) and for those of you less able to interprit such subtleties. I want Reviews Damn it! Please, just on tiny review:) I'll be your friend... and that means I'll keep posting it.

PS, if you're embarrassed about reading this kind of fanfic, don't be. Think about it, the only people who'll know you reviewed will be other people who read it.