Chapter 50
Three weeks later
Wakka cuddled closer to Lulu under the covers, his large hands settling on her midsection.
"Ya?" He could feel Lulu nod slowly, her soft hair brushing the side of his face. Wakka's arms tightened around her body pulling her as close as possible. He chuckled a little at how she'd acted beforehand. Was it really that big a deal? He let his hand caress her midsection where it lay. Lulu turned around in his embrace. "Was that it?" he asked, a smile playing at his lips. He just couldn't help himself anymore.
"Wakka, this-"
"This…is what I wanted, Lu," he said quietly.
Lulu searched his eyes, once she found what she was looking for she leaned forward and lovingly kissed him. She wasn't quite sure what it all meant but he was with her, which made it so much better.
The Next Day
"How is she?" Yuna asked a very sleepy looking black mage as she exited Rikku's hut.
"I'm not sure how all this happened so suddenly. You say she was fine this morning?" Lulu asked as she and Yuna began to walk toward the village exit. Wakka wanted to meet Lulu for lunch on the beach after practice and Tidus and Yuna were going back to check on Rikku and start dinner.
"Yes, she was quite excited for Sir Auron's arrival tonight. Then just like that, she fell ill."
"Hmm…"
"You think it has to do with her diet? It was bound to catch up to her at sometime," Yuna smiled a little.
Lulu was quiet. "We will see how she feels once Sir Auron arrives, that should perk her up, no?"
Yuna smiled and almost started to giggle. Ever since their return from Bevelle Lulu seemed to be in a blissful mood. Which was saying a lot since their wedding preparations were starting to rival with Yuna's. "That's a good test. So…what do you and Wakka have planned for the honeymoon?" Yuna asked as she nudged Lulu a little, blushing at her question more than Lulu. She would never be able to erase the image of the two lovers in her head.
Lulu thought for a minute, Yuna took secret note of her confused expression. "I'm letting Wakka decide."
"Oh, Luca then?"
Lulu chuckled quietly. "With that exception." The two women continued down the worn path leading to Besaid beach talking amongst themselves and enjoying the weather.
Tidus was first to spot the two walking along the beach.
"Hey Cap'n, we got company!" Tidus yelled out to the water where Wakka had swam as far as he could. He needed to clear his head for a while. He began to swim to shore when he saw Lulu carrying something. He nearly tripped out of the water. And sighed when Tidus greedily took the basket of food from her. He slowed his pace and walked up to her and placed a small murmured kiss on her cheek. He sent Yuna a smile and yanked the basket of food away from Tidus all within the same movement.
"Geez what are you, feeding an army?"
Wakka ignored him. "Alright, let's hit the showers, boys!" Wakka yelled to all the other Aurochs practicing on the sand.
"See ya!" Tidus waved as he and Yuna walked off hand in hand. The Aurochs followed. Wakka took Lulu's hand and escorted her to a blanket sitting under a palm tree. They sat in silence and began to eat.
"So what else do we need to do?" Wakka asked, confusing himself a little. "…About the wedding I mean."
"The Temple will suffice, the moon comes early on our day, so indoors would be best, the tide would ruin everything." Wakka looked a little sad, he wanted to get married under the stars, but the Temple was the next best thing. The Elders agreed upon taking down most Yevon tributes, though they'd kept the statues of their saviors. Things were defiantly starting to change.
"Dat's good ya?"
"It is…and…" Lulu gave Wakka a look that signaled they were switching subjects. "We must go into Kilika at some point." Wakka nodded; Besaid was too small. He began to smile and reached over and touched Lulu's right ear.
"Mine are no good ya? These are better."
Lulu blushed a little and smiled. They continued to eat their lunch, the sea breezes slowly growing stronger as the day wore on. Once they finished up their lunch, Wakka tucked away the basket and laid out in the hot sand, a little way from where Lulu sat with a spell book. He got lost in his thoughts and started snoring softly.
"Wakka…"
Wakka opened his eyes and looked to Lulu's tree. The sky was getting noticeably grey. Wakka wondered how long he had been asleep. Once Lulu noticed he was awake she stood.
"We should be going now, I have to check on Rikku."
Wakka oafishly stumbled to his feet and walked over to Lulu. He yawned. "Why you let me sleep so late, ya?"
"It's only been an hour, Wakka." Lulu turned signaling it was time for them to go. Wakka quickly grabbed the basket and walked along side Lulu. They seldom talked on their walks, so the silence was normal enough for the both of them.
"You gonna go see Rikku?" Wakka asked as they finally made it to town. Lulu nodded. "For trainin' at this hour?" Wakka asked.
"She's ill Wakka. You should do well to straighten up a little for tonight." Wakka nodded they had stopped once they reached the entrance of their hut. "And get some rest….and shave…and-"
"Ah I got it ya?" Wakka chuckled and gave Lulu a teasing look. It made her laugh a little. Wakka smiled, she had been down for the past few days, he was happy to see her smile.
"Ok then."
"I'll see you soon ya?" Wakka smiled as he watched Lulu wave her hand in the air a little signaling that he would. He sighed contently and stepped into their hut.
Rikku
"Lulu?" Rikku's squeaky voice called as she heard someone enter the hut.
"Yes its me. How are you feeling?" Lulu sat on a small chair near the full size bed in Rikku's room.
Rikku shrugged a little. "I don't really know."
"Auron should arrive shortly…how are you feeling now?" Lulu played her card and was happy to see the little Al-Bhed brighten up just a tad bit.
"A little better, but my head hurts and its really cold in here."
"Rikku, it's 76 degrees in here."
"How do you know that?" Rikku sat up a little challengingly.
"The temperature also plays a role in how strong your casting is, you would do well to remember that."
Rikku slumped back down into her chair and sighed. "So, how come Yunie cant just heal me or something?"
"It's not that simple, Yu-"
"Why not?"
"I was just about to explain that, Rikku, calm down." Lulu was beginning to notice the change in Rikku's attitude, she was choppy and direct, nothing like the Rikku they knew.
Rikku sat back in her bed and moved around a little as if to get comfortable. "Sorry."
"It's fine, like I was saying, Yuna's kind of white magic heals external wounds, cuts, burns, gashes. Wakka got a headache that she could not heal remember?"
"Yea, poor guy looked like he wanted to die."
"Right, you might just have a day illness, and it will probably go away by tomorrow." Lulu stood up. "At dinner tonight eat everything on your plate." Rikku had a tendency to leave the vegetables behind.
"Yes ma'am."
----
While Lulu was out and about Wakka tried to do some cleaning and decorating for dinner. Lulu always had nice little touches to dinners that Wakka had no idea about until they moved in with one another. He kinda felt bad he hadn't noticed them before because she went out of her way to do them.
He was currently looking at table cloths. They were very silky and original, definitely from Besaid fabrics.
"So dat's what's been in here," he said in acute amazement as he opened a closet. After a while Wakka settled on a blue and purple tablecloth and then walked into the kitchen to check on the food that had been on simmer all day. He loved Lulu's stews, they had been his only nourishment for the past couple of years, you would think he would get tired of them, but he didn't. Next to the pot on the counter was a plastic bowl with a lid on top that said "Wakka". Wakka picked up the little note wondering when Lulu had time to do this.
Wakka,
This dough is already made for the bread, it should have set completely while you were at blitz, roll them for the pan please.
Lulu
P.S Dinner wont be done for a while, there is some steak from last night that you may have 3 hours before dinner or earlier, I don't want you ruining your appetite.
Wakka chuckled a little to himself, Lulu was always looking out for him, he supposed it was his turn now. He floured his hands and began to make the bread.
----
Auron sat back and watched the sea as the boat neared Besaid with every passing second. It was a homecoming of sorts, his duty was complete for the first term and he was on his way to see his friends. Bevelle had changed, he thought while crossing his arms. He wasn't quiet sure about the New Yevon Praetor and his reasoning but the kid was just that, a kid. He had a glow about him, he wanted to change the old ways and bring in some new. Auron respected that greatly. Only time would tell however.
The Warrior monks thoughts changed completely from foreign affairs to his own relationship.
----
Lulu tiredly walked home after some reading with Rikku on the scrolls. She noted with a disdainful sigh that she was always tired nowadays. She couldn't blame it on old age, she wasn't even in the mid twenties yet. Maybe it was just stress.
Stress? Must I be so naïve?
Lulu shook her head at her thoughts and entered her hut, she was taken aback with the aroma of freshly baked bread and a delicious beef stew.
"That you, Lu?" Wakka called as he came into view clad only in some blue workout shorts. Lulu smiled a little at his appearance his hair was a little messy though, she noted that he would have to get it cut before the wedding.
"I see you got my note."
Wakka smiled and took the two spell books from her arms. "You put it where I can find it ya?"
"Of course, the kitchen was the first and only sure place I knew you would go."
Wakka chuckled and disappeared with her books. Lulu stepped into the kitchen and began to clean the little mess of flour Wakka made. She then poured them each a tall glass of her very own iced tea. The hut was a little hot with all the cooking and baking going on.
Lulu found Wakka sitting on the couch with his head in his hands; she had come to know that this was his thinking pose.
"Wakka?" she spoke softly and he lifted his head quickly.
"Ay, Lu."
"Not another headache I hope." She handed him his cup and sat beside him.
"Nah, Lu."
"Then what?"
"Jus' thinkin' 'bout ya."
"Are you nervous now?" she asked. The wedding was only one and a half weeks away and really they had no time for anything.
"Maybe just a little, but that don't matter ya? I'm gonna marry you, Lu, I am." Wakka nodded to make it that more meaningful.
"I know," was all she said.
Soon enough dinnertime was upon them and Tidus and Wakka were sent out to wait for Sir Auron once again.
"Mmm. Lulu, is that what I think it is?" Yuna smiled as she entered the hut with a basket of cookies that she and Tidus baked. Rikku followed behind with enough pep to seem normal, yet there was a noticeable difference in the way she acted.
"It depends on what you think it is."
"Stew?!" Rikku questioned in her usual tone, this brought smiles on everyone's face.
"You would think we would get tired of it," Yuna stated as she sat at the table with a empty seat next to her and Rikku across from her.
"It amazes me how you don't," Lulu said while sitting at the foot of the table. Wakka was to sit across from her at the head.
"So, Lulu, the wedding is only a couple of days away," Yuna stated. "I-"
"Couple of days? Yuna, you mustn't."
Yuna always loved making the time feel like it was only a day away and that they had not time to relax. Rikku giggled a little and Yuna smiled. "Are you getting cold feet, Lulu?" she teased.
"Not as cold as I should be feeling honestly."
"What do you mean?" Yuna asked.
Lulu hesitated a little which Yuna noted as well. "It doesn't seem like such a big deal anymore," she lied. It was a hell of a big deal, she was getting married for Yevon's sake.
"You guys already act like you're already married," Rikku spoke up.
"So you are no longer looking forward to it?" Yuna asked a little surprised.
"No, Yuna, trust me I am. I do love him dearly and marrying him would make that most evident now wouldn't it?"
"Yes I suppose."
"Now however, since it is nearing I'm more passive and calm about it, I am no longer worrying if he is what I want, because he is."
Yuna nodded, she understood now. "I understand, but it seems as though something or other is on your mind, I've noticed." Yuna really didn't want to bring it up in front of Rikku who by now was soaking up the conversation for further dissection later.
"No, merely musing." Just then Rikku started coughing. She put her hand to her mouth and tried to hide the small beads of blood but Lulu had already noticed and was standing in a second.
---
Wakka regretted not putting on a shirt like Lulu had instructed,, he was freezing standing by the waters edge waiting with Tidus for Sir Auron to arrive.
"So, big day coming up huh?" Tidus elbowed Wakka and Wakka laughed a little. It was indeed a big day coming up.
"Yeah, sure is ya? I'm kinda nervous."
"Are you writing vows?"
"Yup, we gotta go into Kilika one day to get the rings too. Lu wont let me see mine."
Tidus chuckled. "It probably looks really cool that's why."
"Did I tell you about the cufflinks, brudda?"
"Heh, I kinda found out when I picked your jacket off the floor when you guys were ah…busy?" Tidus grinned and Wakka blushed heavily.
"Still wit' dat ya?" He scratched the back of his head. Tidus teased him every chance he got.
Tidus only laughed at his friends discomfort. "Yup, wow if I knew what I know now on the pilgrimage, you two would never hear the end of it." He laughed even more then tried to calm down. He patted Wakka's shoulder. "I'm happy for you though man, Lulu is one-"
"Ay brudda watch it ya? She's the mo-"
"Wha'?"
"Just watch it ok?" Wakka didn't even know where that outburst came from. He played it off by making another joke. Tidus happily played along. A little while later Auron got off the ship and greeted the two men, one freezing and the other wrapped in layers.
"I see someone listened," Auron mused as he approached the two.
"Gramps, how's it going?" Tidus hollered as he awkwardly hugged Auron.
"Fine, I see you are both well?"
"Sir," Wakka nodded. "We better get going ya? Lu gonna let me have it if we're late again." The two men heeded his warning and they all set out for the village.
AN: Kinda short yes I know, but I hope you liked it! Its building up quite nicely I think. Rikku is in for some shockers :) I wanted to know if you guys wanted little chapters like this more frequently or long chapters less often? IDK just a thought. Ooh and im actually able to put my fanart up soon so look out for that around the next update or somewhere in between. Review, it'll make me one happy camper.
KathleenDee
