Chapter 14

Paine stood, turning her back on Yuna, "come on," she said, "lover boy's waiting."

Yuna stood slowly, "I just wanted you to be happy Paine…"

"What the Hell?!" Paine's eyes widened, "you screwed up your wedding just so you could- could-"

"So I could prove to you that it's okay to be scared!" said Yuna, eyes glistening, "I know you're afraid… I'm a little nervous myself, right? But it doesn't mean that I love Tidus any less, and I think that you love Baralai a lot too."

Paine groaned and held a hand to her head, "look, can we just get back?"

Yuna linked arms with Paine and nodded solemnly, "let's go."

-

"Where was she?" asked Baralai as Paine returned with Yuna to their meeting place.

"Around," said Paine elusively, "anyhow, she's ready now. Start the wedding march."

"Uhm… we can't."

"Why not?" Paine's voice had gained an edge.

"The groom has… disappeared."

"What?!" cried Yuna, "where did he go?"

"I think he thinks that you don't want to marry him anymore…" said Baralai.

"Why would be think that?!"

"You did kind of run away first," said Rikku, her voice a little shaky.

"This time you've gone too far, Yuna," Paine hissed. "Look what you've done!"

Baralai, Rikku and Lulu exchanged confused glances.

"I'm sorry, Paine-"

"Shut up. Just, shut up. We're going to find your blitzer and you are never going to mention any of this again, got it?!"

"Yes, Paine…"

"Don't be so hard on her," said Lulu, put an arm around Yuna's slumped shoulders.

"She did this on purpose," said Paine, flipping her hair out of her eyes and smoothing out her dress with shaking hands, "she was trying… trying to tell me that it's okay to be scared- that I love Baralai even more… don't you see this whole thing was just one of her stupid ploys to stick us together! And now she's ruined her wedding and scared away her blitzer."

"Yuna," said Lulu, sighing, "don't cry. What you did was foolish, but it's done now. We'll just find Tidus and set everything back on track."

Paine paced a little and held a hand to her head, "right… Lulu, Baralai- check the Fahrenheit and the Celsius. I'll check the dock. We don't want him to leave the island."

"What about me?" asked Yuna softly.

"Search the island. If we hurry, we might just make it back onto your precious schedule."

"Are you mad, Paine?"

Baralai touched Paine's arm gently and shook his head. Paine sighed again, "no, I'm not mad," she said, "I just wish you hadn't."

Yuna smiled, "okay, thank you."

"Come on, people. Let's move."

-

Paine's P.O.V.

By the time the ceremony had ended and the newlyweds were leading the procession down to the beach, it was getting late. But time wasn't a factor in a Rikku-orientated party. Neither was sound pollution.

Oh for the love of Yevon! My poor abused ears!

This went on for several hours before the stereo turned off and the selection of music videos came on.

First was Le Blanc's concert as Yuna and she was looking very pleased with herself as she danced with Nooj. I stood to the side, watching Vidina while Lulu was dancing with Wakka.

I looked around and saw Baralai dancing with Captain Lucil a little way off and I waved as the dance ended. He grinned and walked towards us.

"Dance with 'Lai," said Vidina.

"Rikku," I muttered, rolling my eyes, used to it by now.

"Actually, I taught him that one," said Baralai, grinning. He took my hand, "so will you?"

I gave him a reproachful look, "I can't," I said, "I'm looking after Vidina."

"Here come the kid's parents."

He was right.

"I'll take him home now," said Lulu, picking him up.

Vidina yawned dutifully.

"I can keep looking after him," I said, but she shook her head.

"It's past his bed time anyway," she said and Wakka agreed.

I sighed as they both left, leaving me alone with Baralai. I wasn't scared, I told myself. Not like Yuna said. I just didn't like dancing.

"Please?" said Baralai and I nodded reluctantly.

"Alright."

-

Baralai's P.O.V.

The music began again and Paine looked over to the screen, tensing. There she was- it was her first concert.

"Ignore it," I whispered in her ear and she bit her lip.

It was a good memory, I know, but I think both of our hearts tweaked a little as that sphere played. It was so long ago. Everything was so perfect. She was "happy huggy Paine"…

I could feel Rikku and Gippal watching us from the side but I tried hard to ignore that too. All I wanted to see- all I wanted to feel- was Paine. Her soft, warm skin.

I buried my face in her hair, breathing in deeply, then kissed her cheek. "You're beautiful," I murmured. Paine shifted uncomfortably and I tilted her face up towards mine gently, "what's wrong?"

-

Paine's P.O.V.

My chest hurt. My breathing quickened. I felt like I was drowning. And I was scared.

Damn it all. I was scared…

'It's okay to be scared!'

Shut up, Yuna…

'I think you love Baralai a lot too.'

I said shut up!

'You're scared too… scared of losing yourself.'

Stupid memories!

I think some of my frustration showed on my face because Baralai seemed concerned. Stupid Baralai… this is all his fault.

"Paine?"

"Nothing. I'm fine."

The closeness… it reminded me of that kiss in Lulu's hut. I was just as scared now but I found that I couldn't move. We'd stopped dancing. We just stood there, frozen in time, and in each other's embrace.

Fayth help me.

All these years of suffering… all those nightmares and waking up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, haunted by images I didn't understand… I couldn't help but wonder if it was enough.

He watched me closely, searchingly, and his anxiety touched me in a way that nothing else could. I leaned my head against his shoulder gently and slid my arms back around his waist. I heard Rikku giggle in the background but refused to acknowledge it. Part of me was thinking 'Fayth! I shouldn't be enjoying his arms around me!' but the other part was thinking 'so what? I do!' Which to listen to…

Could it be that Yuna and Rikku –even Gippal- were right. And Vidina… Oh Fayth… no…

The song ended and Yuna's guests turned towards the sphere to see what was coming on next. But the sphere hadn't finished playing.

Crap… nobody told me that that was on the end of the sphere.

I pulled away from Baralai, embarrassed, as the sphere-Paine threw her arms around sphere-Baralai's neck.

I heard several 'awwwwww's- Yuna's high-pitched squeal among them- and I blushed, not something I was accustomed to.

Turning my head away, I waited for the next song to start and draw attention from Baralai and I… but it didn't. Rikku paused the sphere there.

"Let's take a short break," she said into a microphone, then she dropped it and ran off.

"Looks like love to me," I heard Lulu murmur as she passed, on her way back from settling Vidina into bed.

Thankfully, though, I don't think Baralai heard.

-

Dear Faithful Readers,

Hehe! More of the party ta come, folks! Don't forget to drop a line or two on your way out!

Xx-Bex-xX