Author's Note: I feel bad about neglecting this story for so long, but I swear I will finish this. I'm bound and determined. There will probably be one more chapter after this, but you can pretty much guarantee a happy ending here.

Chapter IX: You Are Synonymous With Paradise

The next few weeks flew by in a blur, even for Tidus, who was basically at the center of attention. He didn't eat, barely slept, but through it all, he would not release Yuna's hand. Every moment, except for bathroom needs, was spent together; Tidus even slept with Yuna against his chest. No one would dare to try and separate them, not even Lord Braska or Jecht.

Yuna, on her part, remained stony and quiet, even during Seymour's trial. Set in the same atrium where the Crimson Squad had rescued them, it was a bitter recollection. Even though the carpet had been changed, Tidus still could recall the horror of the dead priest, lying beneath the wooden arched. As one of the star witnesses, Yuna took the stand and answered every question posed from the High Lords with iron resolve. Tidus admired her; when he took the stand, he could not keep the ire from creeping into his voice as he recounted the events prior. He did not relax, truly relax, until Commander Paine herself read the guilty sentence and a near-catatonic Maester Seymour was lead away in chains, never to return.

Of course the good people of Bevelle heard nothing of their leaders' transgressions. The High Lords all begged those involved to keep the scandal quiet and maintain the fragile peace, so rumors were spread that Maester Seymour was quietly stepping down from his position, while his engagement to Yuna was broken. It made Tidus angry, but he too only wanted peace.

But even as justice was served, even as they left the mechanic city of Bevelle and reached the familiar shores of Besaid, Yuna spoke not a word. Even as the mysterious Crimson Squad and a tearful Rikku left the island, Yuna stood in silence, Tidus' hands clamped in hers.

For almost two months after her disastrous second wedding, Lady Yuna did not speak to anyone.

Tidus knew this as a fact, as he still spent every waking moment with her. Everyone else, even Lulu, was highly concerned, and Lord Braska paraded several doctors in front of Yuna (and Tidus), but all of them proclaimed that she was in perfect health and could talk at any time. Tidus had known that all along and simply let her do as she liked while he held one-sided conversations with her. Honestly, her eyes were more expressive than anything as crude as words. They managed to communicate just fine.

Two and a half months later, Tidus was helping Yuna decorate her chambers, by hanging new gauzy curtains over her windows.

"Personally, I thought that the violet curtains were a little too dark for your room. I'm glad you went with the green and blue." He clipped the fabric into place and leaned back to admire his handiwork as Yuna's new curtains floated lazily in the afternoon breeze. "My old man expects everyone's house to be a crypt. I'm glad you don't have the same taste in décor, or I might worry about my father replacing me."

Yuna laughed, the sound light as bells, as Tidus clambered back down the ladder.

"And though my father does possess a certain charm with those of the fairer sex, I know from experience that he has all the delicacy of a brick and the aesthetics of a blind dog."

Yuna laughed louder and Tidus became simultaneously tickled and emboldened by her good humor.

He continued climbing down the rungs of the ladder with increased vivacity. "If I ever turn out like my old man, you'll tell me right? The moment I start waking up at five and boarding up the windows, I give you permission to hit me."

He skipped over the last two steps entirely, jumping to the floor. When he turned Yuna was right behind him. She grinned widely; she had only started smiling a few weeks ago, and Tidus was glad to see its' return. She balanced up on her tiptoes so that she could see him eye-to-eye.

"Tidus." She said, and the familiar sound of her voice made him feel golden and warm. "Thank you…for hanging my drapes."

If it had been anyone other than Tidus, they probably would have exclaimed, embraced Yuna, and promptly run through the halls proclaiming the joyous news to everyone in Besaid. But it was Tidus who heard her speak, and he had been communicating with her for the better part of two months. All she had done was to put her thoughts into words. He grinned.

"You're welcome." He kissed her forehead. "Do you want to go walk on the beach?"

It had become a daily staple for the two of them, and Yuna agreed without a moments' hesitation. She took Tidus' outstretched hand and the two of them walked down the halls, conversing quietly. Servants dropped whatever they were holding when they heard Yuna's soft voice in the halls. No doubt by the time they returned, there would be a crowd waiting for them, ready to hear Lady Yuna's voice.

"Why didn't you speak for so long?" He asked as they walked down the path behind her estate. He rubbed her hand with his thumb. "I wasn't worried or anything, I was just wondering…"

"It's complicated." Yuna began as they stepped on the familiar white sand. "I don't know if I could even explain it…"

Tidus squeezed her hand. "Well…I may not be the smartest guy, but I'll try my best to keep up."

"Oh, Tidus I just wanted to scream." She sighed, an edge to her words. "I wanted to tell everyone how horrible and awful he was. I didn't want to stay quiet about what he'd done, but everyone was telling me that I shouldn't say anything, to preserve the peace." She was in a rant now, two months worth of words spilling from her mouth faster than usual. "'What about my peace?' I thought, 'It's been shattered, ripped apart, and no one will know or care what I've been through, just to keep people quiet'. I felt so alone in that thought, really, even though I smiled and agreed, like usual. Gentle, submissive me…"

Her cheeks were flaming red and Tidus might have been worried at any other point in time, but he let her get it all out. "The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. And I couldn't even place the anger. The people of Bevelle are innocent and Seymour had already received his punishment, so I couldn't direct my anger toward them; nor could I blame you or my father or Wakka and Lulu, Rikku or the Crimson Squad, when all any of you had done was out of love for me. No, I had all this anger I didn't know what to do with it. I'd never been so upset before in all my life. I realized that sooner or later I'd snap at someone and hurt them with all my feelings, so I decided that I wouldn't speak until I came to terms with the past and got my feelings to calm.

When I saw you today, helping me and talking to me when I wasn't giving you anything in return, I realized that you would have been there regardless of whether or not I was angry with you. At least if I had been furious or upset with you, I would have been giving you something. But I didn't. I didn't give you anything and yet you continued to shower me with more affection than I ever deserved. I'm only sorry it took me so long to realize how much I do…love having you with me."

He let her compose herself before he launched into what he wanted to say. "You don't have to be perfect in front of me. We've been friends for years now, and I know you're not a perfect little lady. As I recall, you had a penchant for throwing mud." She laughed. "None of this is anyone's fault…except for his, and it's natural that you'd be upset. You don't have to hold back for me. I want to see you. Every emotion, even the bad ones. I…"

She looked at him at just about the perfect moment. The setting sun glistened in her eyes, turning them from the normal blue and green to orangey-pink with blue-green flashes, and her smile was warm and thankful. Now. It had to happen now.

Tidus felt his heartbeat thrumming in every part of his body, from his teeth to his fingertips and feet. He had to take several breaths and swallow before he could even think of beginning to speak. His hands trembled as they took Yuna's in his own. She looked panicked, but he calmed her with a nervous smile.

"I also…have something else to tell you. You know a few days before we left Bevelle, the High Priests came to me to buy my silence as well. Like you said, they didn't want the citizens of Bevelle to know what Seymour had done to you…to everyone, really. And while you were guilted into secrecy by the court, I wasn't, and the priests felt that even though I was a common guardian and my voice was small…I could still sway some people and create unrest. So I swore to silence in return for payment." Tidus grinned cheekily. "I am now currently the third richest person in Besaid, aside from you and your father of course."

It took Yuna a moment to process this, and she looked confused. "Wh-why would you take the money Tidus?"

He breathed deeply again. Heart on the line now. "To be honest, I never would have spoken of these events again. I would have given them my word to never tell a soul, unless you asked me to speak. I took the money because…I wanted to stand on equal footing with you." He scuffed his boots in the sand. "I know I don't have…any fancy titles or land or even a good personality, but…I love you."

He almost couldn't bear to look at her reaction.

"You…love me?" She asked, and he saw her bare feet move closer to him.

"I do." He choked. "And…" His shuddering legs were more than happy to collapse to her feet in the sand, as he pressed each of her beloved hands to his lips. "Would you still be willing to paddle away with me in that little boat? Just the two of us?"

She laughed a watery laugh and her hands began to quiver. Tidus could not bear to look up at her. "Is this your idea of a proposal, Tidus? I should warn you, my last two fiancées met an untimely fate."

"Third time's the charm." He murmured, giving a nervous chuckle of his own. "And unlike the two previous, pompous assholes, I love you. I've loved you forever. And now that I have the means-."

She didn't let him finish whatever justification he had to offer. Her white hands slid up around his cheeks and gently tilted his head up so he was looking at her. His goddess. Tears poured freely down her cheeks and it looked as though she was barely able to keep from collapsing down next to him.

"Oh, oh. I would go with you if you were poor as dirt-."

"I was poor as dirt."

"And I would have gone with you in a heartbeat then!"

"Is this a yes?" He was beginning to feel that his prior nervousness was silly.

She nodded enthusiastically, tears splattering onto his face. "Yes, yes, YES! I'll marry you now! Do you want to marry me now?" Somehow Tidus got to his feet, and before he even realized what he was doing, his body had taken control and he had lifted her into the air so that her eyes were on the same level as his. "I'll marry you this second."

"Let's not this second." He laughed, pressing his forehead up against hers. The sun seemed to be rising in his stomach he was so warm. "For one thing both of our fathers would kill me. Second…I'd like to get some things. Like your ring, and your dress, and our boat, and an…erm, house."

She blinked. "But…Tidus, you'll be lord of Besaid. The minute you marry me, my father's house will belong to you."

He took it in for a second. "Weird…" He could give a damn about the house or the title or the inheritance. He only wanted her.

"You love me…" She whispered happily, pulling him in even closer so that their noses were touching. Her hands rubbed his cheeks. "And I love you."

"I'm glad to hear it." He replied. He set her back down on the sand, even though her arms were still around his neck and her chest was squashed up against his. "I apologize for not purchasing a ring earlier. I wanted to do this with more planning…"

"You're spontaneous." She replied. "I like that about you. Now…let's go back to the house and start planning." She had a hold of his hand and was walking him back to the village, when he stopped short in a cold sweat.

"Ah."

"What?"

"You know how I didn't really plan this? I…never really told you father about this either." Yuna laughed; Tidus was less than thrilled.

….

Thankfully, Lord Braska was beside himself with glee when he heard the news that his cherished, only daughter would be marrying a nouveau-riche commoner who had basically grown up alongside her. Tidus' palms were clammy with sweat by the end of the exchange (as Jecht was glaring at him as well) but Yuna, bless her dear heart, kept a grip on his hand the whole time.

"Excellent!" Braska embraced the two of them and Tidus relaxed. "I wouldn't wish it any other way. The fool I am, I should have done so from the start, picking a boy I know well. You'll treat her right; I know it, Tidus."

"You are…too kind." Tidus said in embarrassment. He had never been praised so lavishly before.

"Jecht! Come over here and give us a hug!" Braska seemed nearly drunk with joy.

"I would rather die." Jecht replied sourly.

"What a grumpy grandfather he'll make." Braska joked and both Yuna and Tidus flushed red at the thought. "But this is marvelous! We'll have to send out invitations quickly and-."

"Daddy," Yuna was still slightly crimson about the cheeks and ears as she spoke. "We only want a few people there. You, Jecht, Uncle Cid, Rikku, Brother, the Crimson Squad, Kimahri, Auron, and Wakka and Lulu." She ticked them off on her fingers; the incongruous wedding party she'd always wanted. "And I'd like to have it on our beach. No huge crowds, no fanfare. Just…us."

She looked shy, as though Braska would be opposed to having such a small affair. On the contrary, he looked absolutely thrilled. "Naturally. Whatever you want, Yuna. It's your decision after all."

She beamed up at him and Braska embraced the two of them again, this time Kimahri, Lulu and Wakka coming down to join in the hug. Auron, meanwhile, seemed insistent on teasing Jecht.

"Despite your best efforts, they managed to end up together." Auron noted, sounding substantially pleased.

Jecht scratched his wild, dark hair scowling as they walked toward the group. "Well…" He noticed Tidus listening in and winked one red eye. "I guess he was tougher than I gave him credit for."

Tidus grinned at his old man before kissing the crown of Yuna's head.