Part Two – Creating the Recto

Chapter Fourteen

2 Years 4 Weeks E.C.

"And to think I'm going to miss out on you acting like a pompous ass in front of thousands of people."

He leaned over her where she stood, back against the cold wall at the far edge of the dock where everyone was meeting to say their farewells in a few minutes. She smiled up at him and he couldn't resist stroking her arms with light fingers.

"You could always stay."

Worry clouded her eyes and she shook her head. "No. We really need to get Yuna home. She may not look it, but not finding him at the end of our search has left her a little raw."

He sighed. "Poor girl. She's had it a bit rough."

"Yeah. Imagine not ever being able to see the one you love again."

He looked down at her, stricken at the thought. Without warning, he leaned down and captured her lips in a searing kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her body into him. It was an instant flare of the passion they normally kept under such tight control. Nothing mattered but how she felt pressed against him, the way she tasted and the sweet things her mouth was doing to his senses. It might have gone on for hours if they hadn't heard someone clearing their throat pointedly. They broke apart to find Paine straight at them, amusement alight in her eyes.

"You may want to stop that before Brother sees you."

"Screw him," Rikku replied breathlessly.

"So…there something you two want to tell me?" Paine asked, not bothering to hide the humor in her voice.

He looked down at Rikku, unable to say that he still wasn't quite ready for what Paine was implying. Not while Paine stared at them expectantly. He opened his mouth to say something, if not the right thing, when Cid's girl spoke first.

"Nope! Nothing to say at all!"

He grinned, tugging on her scarf a bit. "Maybe later, Dr. P."

Paine rolled here eyes at both of them and turned away, muttering something about denial. When he looked back at Rikku, he saw some of the laughter had left her eyes.

"Rikku...."

"I know, Gippal. Just don't make me wait a thousand years, huh?"

"Never intended to."

I do not own these characters.

AN: And that's it! That is the end of part two! Finally! Woohoo!

More tomorrow. I totally forgot to write the interlude chapter. Went straight to part three. Ah well.