Oh ye gads! I thought this would never be updated! Aren't you all glad I'm usually always wrong? Thank you to everyone who reviewed. You guys have been so great. Even those of you who prefer Wakka/Lulu pairings. I'm glad you decided to stay with it and read this one out. It's a great compliment to me. Now I would take the time and thank all of you individually (which I will do in the next chapter) but right now it's 3:30 in the a.m. and I'm tired as hell. So read on and enjoy and thank you all again. You are the biggest group of sweethearts!!

Disclaimer: I own nothing of FFX. The only thing in this story that belongs to me is Kenzi and Letty's oh so cute daughter Sierra.

Babysitters

Standing on the dock next to the S.S. Leaky that bobbed lazily in the crystal clear water, waiting patiently to be boarded, Kenzi frowned as she rested her head on Wakka's strong shoulder. Her fingers played over the tone muscles of his bicep. "So...the whole week then?"

"Yup. You gonna be okay?"

Kenzi leaned back in the protective circle of his arms. "Without you?" She released an over exaggerated gasp. "I don't think I can! I can hardly go a day, let alone an entire week! What ever am I going to do? How shall I possibly go on?!"

Wakka chuckled, shaking his head as he pulled her back against him. "Smart ass."

Her reply was a tired laugh that managed to slightly shake her slender shoulders. They had woken up early, before the sun had even begun to inch its way into the dusky sky. Untangling themselves from each other they had left their cocoon of warmth to join the remaining members of the Besaid Aurochs on the docks. After a week of enjoying one another's company, Wakka was leaving with the rest of the team to help Letty and his wife make the move back to Besaid.

Wakka wasn't exactly thrilled about it. Letty was his friend and he wanted to help him out but the past week with Kenzi had been incredible. So incredible that he regretted having to leave her. She had opened his eyes to so much and shown him so many things that he had never taken the time to notice before. She made life more interesting then he thought it could be.

One morning she had pulled him from bed and dragged him outside just as dawn's bright hues had started to streak across the waning night skies. Hand in hand they had waded through the gentle surf, watching the sunrise in serene silence.

"I'm actually going to miss you."

Her soft admission interrupted his thoughts. He placed a tender kiss on her head, inhaling the exotic scent of her flaxen hair and knowing it was going to be one of the many things occupying his thoughts while he was away from her. "I'm gonna miss you too Kenz," he murmured, using the name Jassu had given her earlier that week. Jassu would abbreviate everything if he could just to avoid having to say more then he felt necessary. "The week will go by fast though, ya?"

She lifted her eyes to his, smoldering amber clashing with stormy gray. "Hopefully. I've really gotten used to sleeping next to you. I'm not sure how I'm going to handle sleeping alone now."

A shout from the captain of the ship signaled that they were ready to board and Kenzi tightened her arms around Wakka. "I wish you didn't have to go," she whispered.

"I know. I'll be back before you know it."

She sighed. "Alright." Reluctantly, she started to move out of his embrace.

"Whoa, hey...where you goin'?"

"Huh?"

Wakka pulled her back into his arms, lifting a hand and brushing his thumb over her high cheekbone. "I'm not leavin' without a good kiss woman."

Unable to keep the pleased grin off her face, the leggy Al Bhed eagerly raised up on her tip toes, sliding her hands up his chest. "Well then, by all means Captain."

He laughed softly as he lowered his head to claim her mouth in a passionate kiss, branding her lips with his own. Kenzi moaned and pressed against him. Her hands brushed the nape of his neck, fingers sliding through the thick hair that had escaped his headband.

Finally the kiss came to an end, both of them backing away from each other as they took several ragged breaths. "Yeah...defiantly going to miss you," Kenzi murmured shakily.

Wakka chuckled and rubbed his nose against hers. Again the captain of the ship called for the straggling passengers on the dock to board. Botta, Datto and Keepa rushed by Kenzi and Wakka, calling out a goodbye to their newest team member before disappearing onto the gently swaying ship. Down the dock Jassu was swinging Rikku around, hugging her tiny body tightly while she threw her head back and laughed. Regretfully he placed her back on her own two feet, gave her a long, deep kiss and then joined his team mates on deck.

Tidus was next to board. He said a quick good bye to Yuna, having already said most of it back at their hut, and turned, tossing his bag over the ship's railing. "Come on Wakka," he called over his shoulder on his way up the ramp to the S.S. Leaky.

"I'm waitin' on Letty," he shouted back, "Be there in a bit."

"You Capn'!" Letty came trotting down to the dock, a large duffle bag slung over one shoulder and Sierra safely tucked away in his muscular arms. He approached his former captain and Kenzi wearing a nervous smile. "Okay, so I left all her stuff back at your place with a list and...pretty much everything you need to know is there." He lifted Sierra up, holding her in the air and nuzzling her tiny nose with his own. "Daddy's gonna miss you baby girl. Behave yourself." He handed Sierra to Kenzi. "Thanks again for watchin' her while we're packin' things up Kenz. I owe you one."

Kenzi shook her head. "Don't worry about it Letty. Just give us a ring so we know you all make it there okay. Yuna, Rikku and I will take good care of her." As if to agree with her, Sierra released a delighted giggle and snuggled back into the crook of Kenzi's arm.

Letty laughed softly, reaching over and running his fingers over the patch of downy hair on Sierra's head. "Alright. Let's get outta here before I get all soft and start tearin' up." He slapped Wakka lightly on the shoulder and made his way to the ship.

"Okay hun, I'll be seein' you when I get back." Wakka leaned over for one last kiss.

Kenzi nodded once and adjusted her hold on Sierra, propping the child on her hip. "Have a safe trip. I'll be waiting for you."

He started to walk away, then for some unknown reason he turned back, pulled around by unseen hands to face Kenzi once more. He drank in the sight of her, trying to remember if there was ever a time that he thought she had looked more beautiful then she did right now.

She stood smiling at him, her gorgeous gray eyes sparkling. The ocean breeze tugged at her hair, causing the tiny feathers entwined at the ends of six thin braids to wave at him enticingly. Sierra sat perched on her hip with a tiny fist curled into the fabric of Kenzi's tank top. For one wild second he imagined it was their daughter she was holding. "Kenzi-."

"What is it Wakka?"

Good question. He didn't even know exactly why he had called out to her. A lump of unfamiliar emotion rose in his throat. "I.." His voice came out horse and her smile faltered.

"Wakka." She took a step forward. "What's wrong?"

Quickly coming around, the red headed captain shook his head with a dismissive grin. "Nothin' Kenzi. I'll miss you." Then, with a cheerful wave, he was gone.

Kenzi watched his retreating back and sighed. "I love you," she whispered, knowing the only person who could hear her was Sierra. She looked down at the small child who was grinning impishly back at her. "You're not going to go telling anyone my little secret are you sweetie?"

Sierra waved chubby baby hands in her face and Kenzi laughed. Nope. She wasn't telling a soul.

"Hey Kenz!"

Looking up at the sound of Rikku's voice, Kenzi smiled. "Hey Rikku."

"Miss him already, don't you?"

"I missed him the moment he took more then one step away from me," she admitted shyly, watching the ship sail off on the pristine blue waters. The team of Aurochs stood at the back of the ship, waving to the two women on the beach. They waved back, both laughing when they saw Jassu try to pitch Botta over the side. "What about you?" Kenzi asked turning to Rikku once the ship was only a large dot on the horizon.

Rikku sighed, her pink lips curving in a secretive smile. "I've never missed anyone before. Well..not like this. I've missed my family before but missing someone you love...it's really different, you know?"

"Yes Rikku. I know."

The smaller Al Bhed tilted her head to the side, studying Kenzi's thoughtful profile. "Since you and Wakka got together..that thing you were telling us about hasn't been bothering you has it?"

"No," the gray-eyed Al Bhed answered softly. In fact it hadn't been bothering her at all. From the very night Wakka had stepped into his hut after his fight with Lulu the voice, the thing that had haunted her for so long, had just stopped. She wasn't even sure it existed anymore. She hoped it didn't. "Maybe it just gave up."

"You think so?"

Kenzi shrugged. "I'm not sure. It feels like it though." She adjusted her hold on Sierra and smiled down at the tiny girl. "It would be nice if I never had to deal with it again."

Rikku put her hands behind her head and rocked up on her tiptoes. "Oh, I'm sure you wont. You and Wakka are doing really good. And he looks so happy. He never looked like that with Lulu."

The older Al Bhed smiled at that. Warm pleasure filled her being. She loved knowing that she made Wakka happier then he had been when he was with the black mage. It was a horrible thing to think, and she knew it, but she couldn't help it.

Yuna joined them, standing beside Rikku and clasping her hands behind her back as her multi colored eyes gazed of in the direction of the S.S. Leaky. "So this child is ours to take care of for the week?" she asked.

Rikku laughed softly. "Yup. Don't know what the heck Letty was thinking."

"Oh come on Rikku. We'll be fine," Kenzi said, rolling her eyes. "She's just a baby. How hard can it be?"

"I don't know. How many of us have actually taken care of a baby before?"

The three women looked back and forth between each other, each of them wearing a slightly clueless expression. "Oh yeah," Rikku drawled archly. "This is going to be fun."

By midweek the girls respect for Letty had tripled. Taking care of a child was defiantly no easy task. Once sweet little Sierra had figured out here daddy was no longer around she had gone from an adorable little angle to an unappeasable terror. They had to practically force-feed her just to get her to eat and even then she would often spit it back up and glare at them as if to say "you're not my daddy!" Getting her to sleep was nothing short of a nightmare. All of the kicking and fussy crying Sierra would dish out usually left them all beyond exhausted and they would usually end up falling asleep shortly after the child did, only to be awoken at ungodly hours by that same wailing.

Finally, late in the week, Sierra had started to calm and grudgingly accept her temporary guardians, which was a huge relief to the three women. The terrorizing stopped and Sierra was once again an angelic baby.

"It's like she did a complete 180 and likes us again," Kenzi said the night before Letty, Wakka and the rest of the boys were due to return. She walked around the hut, pacing in a small circle while methodically patting Sierra's back.

Rikku looked up at her from her spot on the "guest bed" where she sat reading an old Blitz magazine and smiled sardonically. "Right. You say that now, but wait until we have to put her to sleep."

"You have no faith Rikku! She might actually get to sleep at a decent time tonight!" Kenzi smiled with satisfaction as Sierra finally released a tiny burp. She settled the tiny girl in her arms and gently caressed her soft cheek. "She looks pretty tired."

Rikku got up and walked to Kenzi's side, staring down at the baby in her friend's arms. "It's and act."

Looking up from her own book, Yuna sighed softly and shook her head. "Rikku, you have to stop thinking the child is against us."

"It sure seems like it Yuna."

"Well, she wont be tonight," Kenzi proclaimed determinably.

"Yeah? How are you going to assure that?"

Kenzi gave Rikku a smug smile. "I think a little Hymn is in order, don't you?"

Rikku stared at her for a long moment, entirely surprised that she would suggest such a thing. Practically no one sang the Hymn anymore, not since the death of Sin and the teachings of Yevon. To be quite honest, Rikku missed hearing it. She would hum it to herself at night back when she didn't have someone so strong and safe to hold her, but it just wasn't the same. "Sure," she all but breathed, unable to deny her own need to hear the Hymn sang once again.

Walking over to the bedside light and dimming it enough so that Yuna could still read, Kenzi cleared her throat. A moment of silent stretched, anticipation slowly sifting through the spacious room. Then Kenzi began to sing. Each note was sung with aching clarity. She gave justice to the bittersweet tune, brining it back to life and filling it with such deep emotion. When the last note drifted off into the peaceful evening, Rikku and Yuna both sat transfixed, unshed tears glistening in their eyes. "Oh my Kenzi, that was beautiful," Yuna murmured.

Kenzi smiled. "Thank you. And it worked like a charm." She nodded down the Sierra who was sleeping peacefully in her embrace. "She's out."

Rikku dashed a hand across the tears that managed to escape and run in small trails over her cheeks. "That's amazing. Hopefully she'll stay out so that we can get some sleep tonight."

Silently agreeing with the younger Al Bhed, Kenzi tucked Sierra away in her crib. "Well, I'm exhausted. How about you two?"

"Soooo tired!" Rikku exclaimed.

Yuna nodded. "I haven't felt this weary since the last time I called upon the Aeons."

The girls quietly changed and slipped into their beds, anticipating a night of uninterrupted slumber.

It was almost three in the morning when Rikku was awakened from that slumber but this time it wasn't from Sierra's angry crying. She jerked up in bed, wide-eyed and alert. Next to her Yuna continued to breath deeply, unbothered by the sudden danger that had penetrated the air around them. But Rikku had grown up around this kind of thing. She had learned long ago how to be constantly aware of a threat, even in sleep.

Outside she heard a rustling noise followed by an animalistic snort. Her heart leapt into her throat. It had to be a fiend. She pushed the blankets off and swung her legs over the side of the bed, shivering as her feet touched the chilly sand. She had to do something, she had to protect. Whatever it was, it was too close to Sierra for her to be comfortable. It was too close to any of them!

Without even a scant though of her weapon she silently stood and left the hut, creeping along its edge. Her green eyes scanned the area, searching for the fiend she knew was there. And then she found it. She swallowed hard, her heart beating a frantic tattoo against her ribs. A Valaha. But how? They were native to Besaid! How could it have possibly gotten there?

The huge creature snuffled around the bushes nearby with its dog like snout. On his shoulders four thick, spike shaped tentacles waved ominously. Its powerful haunches shifted, the movement noticeable in the bright blue light of the moon. He pawed at the ground, fire flickering on its tongue as its tail waved lazily behind him. "It's like an over grown dog. Nothing to be afraid of," Rikku whispered to herself, trying to bolster her confidence.

Suddenly its head turned in one fluid motion and its beady blood red eyes focused on her. A growl broke the silence of the night and Rikku stiffened, staring in horror at the foamy drool dripping from the fiend's jaws. There she stood, alone with a fiend..weaponless. "Oh no-."

Inside Kenzi's eyes slowly drifted open. She had heard something. A glance over at the soundly sleeping Sierra confirmed that it hadn't been a baby noise. But she had defiantly heard something. She rolled on to her back and draped her arm over her forehead, listening. She didn't have to wait long. A low, menacing growl sounded from outside not far from Wakka's hut. She sat up in bed, her blankets pooling around her waist. Frantically she did a double check to assure herself that Sierra was still there and then she looked over at Yuna and Rikku. Next to Yuna the blankets had been thrown down and an impression of a small head was still noticeable but there was no Rikku.

Kenzi reacted at once, reaching under her bed and into her bag for the katana her brother had given her years before his death. It lay buried in her bag, easily concealed because it had been made specifically for her. Small and lightweight, but deadly nonetheless. Unsheathing it from its ornate case, she ran out after her young friend. When she saw her she came to a dead stop, her jaw dropping at the sight before her. Rikku stood only mere yards from a deadly looking Valaha. The creature's eyes shifted in Kenzi's direction, but his body remained facing Rikku, poised for attack.

"Kenzi," Rikku whispered in a wavering voice. "Go get Yuna and Sierra to a safe place."

Shocked by the appearance of the native beast and the fact that it was far more then she was used to dealing with, Kenzi took a step back, then another, quickly retreating to warn Yuna of the fiends presence. She started to turn when the fiend sprang, it's huge claws aimed for Rikku.

A fierce protective feeling came over Kenzi and she ran towards the fiend, drawing her weapon over her head. As the fiend came down on Rikku, knocking the small woman to the ground, Kenzi brought the blade down into its side. It sliced easily through the skin and the creature screamed in pain, the bellow of rage echoing around them. It retreated several steps and Kenzi grabbed Rikku, yanking the younger woman to her feet. "Come on," she said, breathing heavily.

"Kenzi." The younger woman sagged against her and Kenzi looked down. A horrified gasp left her mouth when her eyes settled on the deep gash running the length of Rikku's arm. No time. They didn't have any time. She moved her arm around Rikku's waist, taking on most of her weight and the two ran for the safety of the temple.

As they ran, Rikku dug in her pocket, praying to find something of use. Her fingers closed around something cold and metallic. Knowing what it was by touch alone, Rikku yanked it out of her pocket and tossed it behind them at the fiend. The explosion rocked the earth and the two women stumbled, hearing the angry howl of the monster behind them as it was engulfed in smoke. Rikku had bought them some time. Kenzi pulled her up and again started running with her in the direction of the temple. Their lives depended on what lay beyond those thick doors.

Yuna awoke to the sound of a throaty, animal cry. The icy chill of fear seeped into her bones and she looked around, her alarm only growing when she realized that she was alone with Sierra in Wakka's hut. "Kenzi..Rikku.." she called softly, trying to remain calm. Nothing. On trembling legs she got out of bed and walked to the entrance of the hut. She pulled back the door and peered outside, terrified that she might find her two friends dead. What she found was nothing but a billowing cloud of smoke. She listened hard, trying to figure out what had made such a terrible noise when she heard her two friends crying for help.

Quickly retreating inside the hut, Yuna picked Sierra up and carried her to the far corner of the room, pulling blankets onto the floor and settling the young baby among them. "You'll be safe here darling," she murmured, casting Protect on her and reinforcing it with Shell. Grabbing her staff from under the bed she had been sleeping in, Yuna ran outside, hoping she was in time to save her friends.

Kenzi lopped up the stairs to the temple, pulling Rikku with her. Blood dripped from the young woman's arm, splattering on the pavement in gruesome red splotches. "Come on Rikku, just a little further," she tried to encourage her friend.

They made it to the doors and Kenzi yanked hard on the handling. She sighed as the doors gave with a rusty groan and started to open. "Now get in there and stay in there," she demanded, shoving Rikku in before her and closing the door on her weak protests. She couldn't endanger Rikku's life any further. She had already lost too much blood. Besides, there was no way she had enough time to get both of them inside and the snarl behind her only confirmed that.

She took her hand off the cool door handle and swung around to face her enemy, holding her katana up in front of her. It caught the moonlight, reflecting the pale light off of its blood stained hilt. Her mind screamed at her, telling her she was no match for such a thing. But she knew she had to try. She had friends to protect.

The beast started to prowl towards her, keeping its body low to the ground and in a ready position to pounce. Its red eyes flickered and flaming tendrils escaped its mouth, curling up over it's snarling lips. Its throaty growl sent a shiver of apprehension down Kenzi's spine and she widened her stance, preparing for what she knew was about to come.

The fiend's haunches twitched. It licked its lips with a flaming tongue. For all Kenzi knew it could have been laughing at her, or possibly imagining how good she would taste. "Well why don't you find out?" she asked in a low voice, using much more effort then she had wanted to keep her voice steady.

The fiend lunged and Kenzi braced herself for the weight of it to slam into her, but it never happened. A indignant screech rang out and the sky opened in a brilliant flash of red and orange, releasing a magnificent creature. It plummeted to the earth and the wings encasing it folded out, revealing Valefore in all his glory. Head high, claws outstretched, it came for the Valaha, trapping it in a vice like grip and shredding it without a trace of mercy. The Valaha roared in denial, fighting back with all it had. Fire encased the fighting creatures. Kenzi watched on in amazement, unsure of what the outcome of the battle would be.

Smoke surrounding the two animals was blown away by a sudden gust of balmy island air, taking with it a guttural cry of death. Valefore stood above the Valaha, staring down at its lifeless body with dark, unforgiving eyes. Yuna appeared next to it. She raised a hand, running it over the massive birds feathers as she praised it in her soft voice. Dismissing it, she turned to Kenzi. "Are you okay?"

Kenzi dropped her hand to her side, loosening her death grip on her katana. "Yes. But Rikku's not." She went to the door of the temple and pulled it open. On the other side Rikku waited. Her face was pale and the blood from her arm had not stopped running. She looked up at Kenzi with pleading green eyes. "It's okay Rikku," she said, moving to Rikku's side and kneeling beside her. "Yuna's here. She'll help you."

The Summoner entered the temple and went straight to Rikku. She held out her hands above the young woman's arm, chanting in a low voice. White light poured from her fingertips, cascading like a tiny waterfall over Rikku's arm and when it disappeared so did the ugly gash and the crimson blood.

Rikku lifted her arm, bending it experimentally. "Thanks cuz. What would I do without you?"

"Bleed all over the temple floor," Yuna joked tiredly, helping Kenzi pull Rikku up. The group trudged back to their hut, feeling exhaustion to their very cores. They checked on Sierra, removing the spells and settling her back in her crib, and then they crawled into their own beds and were out within seconds. All accept one.

Kenzi remained awake. She didn't mind though and wouldn't be able to sleep even if she wanted to. The attack was still fresh in her mind and it frightened her to think that it had come so close to the little baby they had been watching. Over the last week all three women had grown so close to each other and the little addition to their group of females, Letty's Sierra. In fact, now that she thought about it, the little girl fit right in, adding her own unique personality to the group of very distinct and independent women.

She sat back against the wall and allowed her mind to wander dangerously about her feelings on starting her own family. Would she have her own little girl or maybe a little boy that looked exactly like....She shook her head. There was that little nagging voice in her mind telling her that she better watch herself. But how she longed to have a family like Letty's.

He would come back for her tomorrow after they finished the moving and would go back to the way it was before their little charge had come along. She was already anticipating the silence that would fill the camp without the gurgling of the little one they had all come to love. No longer would they hear a child's laughter or the smell the nasty presents she would leave them after meals, or even hear her disgruntled cries.

Fighting back tears, she crept over to where the little girl was sleeping and picked her up gently, rocking her in her arms. She was too emotional right now. She tried to tell herself it was because of the fight. But she knew it was a lie. She was going to miss taking care of Sierra. Sierra had made her realize just how badly she wanted to spend her life with Wakka. She wanted to get married, have his kids, and grow old with him. But the evil...something told her it was still there, lurking in the corners of her mind and waiting for it's chance to strike. She sighed; resting her head on top of Sierra's and inhaling the sweet baby sent that surrounded the tiny child.

Across the room Yuna's eyes fluttered open and saw the touching scene. Deciding not to say anything about it she went back to sleep. Kenzi looked like she needed that moment and Yuna was more then happy to let her have it. An hour drifted by and finally everyone in the hut was asleep, Yuna and Rikku in one bed and Kenzi in the other, Sierra cuddled up next to her with her fist twisted in the fabric of the woman's shirt.

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