Gippal scratched the back of his head. Something was definitely up. He had been argui- discussing with Paine what was the best way to take down a Bomb (he was all for artic winds, but she insisted that it was a waste of items and opted for using an Ice Brand attack). They'd been hanging around the courtyard in front of 'Lai's private living quarters when he showed up. He had looked, well, worse than usual, and he hadn't been looking that great lately anyway. Gippal knew that look well, from his own experience of long hours and sleepless nights. It was strange though; Baralai hadn't looked this tired until a few days ago. Surely it wasn't just work? He had joined in the conversation, saying that you couldn't go wrong with casting Waterga. They'd shouted and laughed a bit, and Baralai looked better, happier. And then the Princess of Happy came along. Gippal had expected everything to be even funner, now that Rikku came.

"Well, it's Cid's Girl! How do you take care of a Bomb?" he laughed.

She hit him on the head, but it didn't really hurt. She wasn't actually mad at him… for once.

"Same way I take care of losers who don't remember my name."

He grinned at her and patted her head. She pouted, but he knew she liked it; Cid and Brother used to do it to her back at Home. It was only something she let her family and him do.

"So I guess you've never actually defeated a Bomb before, huh?"

"For your information," she said haughtily, turning her nose in the air. "I've taken down too many to count. But if I take care of you like I do them, I wouldn't have anyone to bully for machina parts anymore."

Paine rolled her eyes and laughed.

"You guys are such idiots."

Rikku pointed at Gippal. "You mean him, right?"

"Both of you! You're both so… silly. Right 'Lai?"

They all turned to him. Gippal was worried and confused. He looked so... sad, and wearier than ever. Baralai smiled weakly.

"That's Gippal for you," he shrugged.

Gippal looked awkwardly from Paine to Rikku, who glanced back. It wasn't just him who knew something was wrong. Baralai ran a hand through his hair.

"Sorry guys, I have, I've got some stuff to take care of. I'll see you around, ok?"

He turned and headed back to the palace.

"Hey, wait!" called Rikku as she ran forward.

"I'll see you later," he said with a forced smile and closed the door.

Rikku looked uneasily back at Gippal, silently asking 'what's wrong?'.But he wasn't sure either. They'd been laughing about Bombs, and then two minutes later, 'Lai was like this.

"You guys actually don't know what's wrong?" said Paine.

He looked to Rikku, but she shook her head. Paine stared at them in disbelief, then stalked off after Baralai.

"Maybe we should just let Paine talk to him," said Rikku, touching the tips of her forefingers together. She gave him one last look of I guess it's the right thing to do and left to another part of the gardens.

Which left Gippal standing in the empty courtyard. Maybe they should just let Paine talk to him.

Gippal scratched the back of his head. Something was definitely up.

Baralai hurried back to his office. Slamming the door shut, he leaned against it and sighed.

There were only two days of meeting left, and then the first Annual Spiran Alliance Summit would be over. Baralai was torn between relief and dread. He wouldn't have to sit in another stifling, hot room with a bunch of stuffy, arguing politicians for at least a week. And he wouldn't have to try avoiding Rikku anymore. It's not that he didn't like her, which was the whole problem. He couldn't trust himself to keep away from Gippal's girl, and he couldn't stand seeing them flirt with each other. It drove him mad and resulted in long sleepless nights, only to wake to the hard task of keeping away from her. But as much as he looked forward to the end of the conference, it meant Rikku would leave Bevelle.

"This is insane!" he yelled.

It was killing him, trying to stay away, but he knew that he'd be an emotional wreck once she left. He didn't know what to do.

His thoughts always trailed back to Rikku, though he cursed himself when they did. He couldn't help it. He was crazy about her. He'd never met anyone like her before. Her beautiful blonde hair, swept up in that wild, but cool hairstyle. Her golden laugh that he heard so often, yet felt like a rare treasure. Her smile that would melt anyone's heart, and those soft, red lips that he found himself fantasizing about…

A loud bang as a black heeled boot kicked the door open startled him out of his daydream.

"What is wrong with you?" said Paine quietly, leaning in the doorway.

"What, what do you mean?"

"Why are you avoiding Rikku?"

He looked at her, surprised at the look of knowing in her crimson eyes.

"What are you talking about? I'm not avoiding Rikku," he denied hastily.

She shut the door and sat in front of his desk.

"Do you think I'm that stupid, 'Lai?"

He sighed and ran his hand down his face.

"Ok, I'm, I'm avoiding Rikku."

She shook her head in disbelief. "You're the last person I'd think was such an idiot."

Baralai couldn't take this, not with an aching heart and lack of sleep.

"It'll be fine, Paine! There's only two days until Rikku leaves Bevelle, and then..."

"And then what, 'Lai? You're a wreck now, what will you be like then?"

"It doesn't matter. So what if I'm an idiot for being a wreck? It's better in the end for everyone else!" he yelled, finally losing his temper.

She leaned back in her chair in frustration.

"You're not an idiot for being a wreck, it's for why!"

He paused.

"What?"

Paine closed her eyes and slowed her breathing.

"I said, you're not an idiot for being a wreck, it's, it's just stupid why!"

Baralai slowly sunk back into his chair.

"What do you mean?"

"She doesn't like Gippal. And I'm pretty sure he doesn't like her, not that way."

Baralai sat up hopefully, but he had to be sure.

"Wait, are you sure?"

She narrowed her eyes at him. Yep, she was sure. He almost laughed with relief.

"You can be a wreck if you want," she said, opening the door. "But if it's for a dumb reason that doesn't even exist, I will hurt you. It'd be for your own good."

She left, leaving the tanned praetor smiling to himself.

He knew exactly what to do now.

Rikku, Baralai, Gippal and Paine all sat together on the sunny balcony overlooking Bevelle, enjoying breakfast. They'd almost dragged him out with them, but then the meyvn hastily locked himself in his room when Leblanc came into sight. They too fled at the sound of 'Noojie Woojie!'. Baralai seemed much happier today, so Rikku figured that Paine had cleared up whatever what was wrong. Who knew she could be so caring? It made Rikku feel so much better, now that Baralai was cheerful again.

"Man, if I have to sit through another one of those damn meetings…" Gippal leaned back in his chair and whistled long and low. "I'm so freakin' tired of them"

Rikku sipped her vanilla and honey iced tea. Suddenly there was a loud beep, which made her jump. Baralai stood up and went inside.

"Commsphere for you Gippal," said Baralai. He leaned against the balcony, his hair catching the blazing sunlight. "I think there's some trouble at Djose."

"'Bout time something went wrong. Unlike New Yevon and the Youth League, my guys can hold up pretty well without their leader around. They're independent," he said proudly.

"Or maybe they're just so used to doing their leader's work because he does nothing when he's around," smiled Paine. Baralai and Rikku laughed.

"Whatever." Gippal shrugged and left.

"I'm going to go to the bathroom," said Paine, standing up. She straightened the silver buckles on her shawl and left. Rikku saw Baralai watching her leave and quickly looked down and drank her. She wasn't sure why, but she felt disappointed. She stood next to him and tilted her head to look him in the eye.

"So…" she began nonchalantly, though, much to her surprise, her heart was pounding. "Do you like Paine, Baralai?"

"No. Not the way you mean," he said quietly, turning to her.

Rikku hadn't expected this. She was sure he would stammer a bit, trying to avoid answering.

"Really?"

"There might have been a little something, I suppose, but there was never really anything like that, not now anyway. We're good friends, but not like that. It's sort of like you and Gippal," he said.

"Me and Gippal?"

"Yeah, you know. I mean, you guys have had a history, but now, you're just really close friends, right? You don't like each other like that," explained Baralai.

"No, we don't," replied Rikku. She gazed out onto the city below, with its tall, colourful buildings and busy streets. The people looked like ants from here and she wondered where the man with the chocobo was. She looked sideways at her companion, who held his face up into the sun, smiling. It was nice, standing on the sunny balcony next to Baralai. He made her feel safe and sort of… golden on the inside. It was hard to describe, but she'd never really felt that way with anyone else.

He cleared his throat, waking her from her daydreamy state.

"It's not like you and me, is it?"

"It isn't?" she asked, feeling her heart beat faster in anticipation.

"Well, Paine and I, we don't have feelings for each other, and neither do you and Gippal. But I, I…"

He leaned towards her slowly, but just as he was about to close the gap, he paused. Rikku saw he wasn't sure if this was the right thing to do. So she quickly pecked him on the lips.

Normally, she would have been amused by the shock on his face, but right now, she was mentally kicking herself in the head for being so impulsive. What was she expecting to happen next? Of course, she was not expecting him to pick her up and kiss her back passionately. His lips were warm and gentle against hers, and after her initial surprise she responded completely. She laced her hands around his neck, resting her arms on his strong shoulders. He was everything she wanted, his tender hands holding her close enough to feel his heartbeat. She felt complete, golden on the inside and the outside.

"I leave you guys for five minutes, and this happens?" said Gippal, reappearing in the doorway with a wide grin on his face. They sprung apart, and Rikku saw that 'Lai looked just as embarrassed as she was.

"Well, um, you see…" stammered Baralai.

Paine appeared next to Gippal and flicked his eye patch elastic.

"Gippal, you jackass, do you have to interrupt everything?"

He rubbed his face and turned to her.

"What do you mean? Here we were having breakfast, and then bam! They're all over each other!" He turned back to Rikku and Gippal. "Not that you guys aren't great together, but…"

Paine rolled her eyes.

"Minus ten."

Gippal stared at her in disbelief. "What for? Man, Dr. P, this is so unfair! I'm already so low on respect points!"

"What's unfair? You've caused so much trouble for 'Lai and Rikku and-"

"You know what I reckon, 'Lai?" said Rikku loudly, grinning. Gippal and Paine shut up and turned to her.

"Actually, I think I do," he grinned back at her, wrapping his arm around her waist. She rested her head to his chest and looked up at him.

"Don't you reckon these two would be great together?"

He laughed.

"That's exactly what I was thinking. They would be."

"Absolutely," agreed Rikku. Ignoring the protests from Gippal and Paine, she leaned up and kissed him again. She still couldn't believe Pops talked her into coming, but boy, was she glad he did.

Phew, we're done! I hope you liked the ending. I'm not sure if I'm that fond of it, but I guess it fits! Thanks for reading this.

Also, sorry Miesie-chan, but this was rikkuxbaralai. I hope you liked it anyway!