XMaster: Thank you so much for reviewing. And thank you for taking pity on me. I'm sorry about the spelling mistakes, I must admit it's one of the few times I miss microsoft word, appleworks and open office just don't catch as much of my silly mistakes. I tried especially hard on this chapter.

Chapter Three
Insomnia

Auron had, sneakily snuck around holding Rikku in his arms, ignoring how good that felt. And snuck up to where she was staying. It wasn't that hard, everyone was asleep except for the night shift on the bridge, it wasn't often that they got an uninterrupted night of sleep. So he tucked Rikku in, but she refused to let him go so he ended up leaving his coat covering her, even though she had more than enough blankets. Luckily she had her own room. He didn't feel like explaining that to Lulu in the morning. Lulu already looked like she suspected something. Funny how easy it was to see others situations and not your own.

Auron chuckled to himself and headed back to his cabin for a nap. Having been trained for night guard duty too long. He never slept more than a couple of hours. The night shift on the ship was getting to know him, since he was always prowling about. Rin seemed to a chronic insomniac as well and greeted him as he walked past.

Up late again, Sir Auron

It seems too quiet

You worry too much, but such is the worry of age. Would you like to buy something tonight?

I don't know so Rin I think I have everything I need.

Ah, but is there anything you want?

What do you mean.

Anything for a pretty lady perhaps.

I don't know what you are talking about Rin.

Of course not Sir, but you aren't the only one up late tonight. Good night.

That was certainly an odd exchange Auron thought. But he put all thoughts aside as he fell to sleep. Waking again, missing her.

All too soon, they found there way to the supposed home of Anima. It was gorgeous in a desolate way, the way death was gorgeous, the way Zanarkand was gorgeous. Auron didn't like it because it was too quiet and there was so much water. Auron was no blitzer like Tidus or Wakka. So he hated not being able to fight when they were underwater. He hated watching those three, Tidus, Wakka, and his Rikku hurt themselves while he couldn't help. He had his pride, if nothing else. And if he couldn't help fight. He felt worthless.

And so he watched in growing horror as Wakka, Tidus and Rikku fought that horrible monster and almost died. Rikku was barely breathing by the time they got to the underwater temple. And he watched as Yuna healed her, but she just seemed so weak and fragile. He paced around. Kimhari stared at him.

Walking not helping, worry others. Be still

Oh how Auron felt like such a child then. Auron the unmoveable rock, Auron the one who stood still as Jecht killed Braska. Auron was pacing, but he stopped himself. Kimhari was right, his pacing would help anything. Yuna was hovering about TIdus and Lulu kept nervously glancing at Wakka, so Auron decided to try to do something useful.

We rest here tonight. Those three aren't in any condition to travel, or traverse any trials.

Mutely he and Kimhari set up camp. Yuna had made Tidus comfortable and was fussing with him, as Lulu was doing with Wakka. Kimhari followed his gaze.

Take care Rikku, I watch first watch

Auron hurried over to Rikku and tried to make her comfortable. She was still weak but thrashing about.

Hush, little one. Hush now He tried to soothe her. And found that rubbing the back the way he did that other night on the observation deck helped. Soon she was settled in, but she was shivering from the cold.

Her teeth chattered as she said, cold...so cold. Without a thought he pulled his coat off and tucked it around her. He looked at her she was still cold, so he pulled her to his chest at rocked her gently as she she dried off and warmed up from the cold. Her shivering slowed and then stopped all together soon. And someone had lit a fire so the area was warming up a bit. He stroked her hair a bit to calm her and she soon fell into a deep slumber.

Auron began to calm down and then realized what he had done. He wondered if anyone besides Kimhari had noticed his attachment to the little Al Bhed. He didn't think that anyone else would have seen him hold her in his arms, but then again a fire was lit, and although Kimhari was beginning to learn black magic(A/N: yep I totally screwed the sphere gird and took him that way) it was probably Lulu who made that fire tonight. He didn't want to worry anyone else about his attachment, or more precisely he didn't know what they would do if they found out. He was old. He was dead. She was young. She was alive. They just shouldn't mix and he was afraid that whatever he had with his little sprite, they would tear it away. And he didn't know if he could take that, not right now. Not ever.

So he gently set her back down, still tucked in his coat and went to stand night watch with Kimhari, fearful of what the day would bring. If they could tell when it was day down in this pit.

Auron didn't sleep at all that night. Kimhari went to rest, and Lulu came to watch. But they didn't talk, both too wrapped up in their thoughts. Both too worried about what could have happened that day. Both too worried about others. Auron sent Yuna back to sleep when she came to try to take Tidus' place on night watch. She needed her sleep, she had to go through another cloister of trials tomorrow.

Some hours later, after both Tidus and Wakka woke up still tired and sore, but moving, breathing and a little better than before. Since time seemed so suspended down in the abandoned temple they decided it must be close to morning and decided it was time to wake Rikku up. Lulu volunteered, which surprised Auron, but secretly made him glad. He didn't know how Tidus or Wakka, who both regarded Rikku as their little sister would say when they saw his coat wrapped around her. Although perhaps he was just worrying too much.

A very sleepy but well and breathing Rikku woke up rather disoriented, Auron wasn't trying to eavesdrop, but he did happen to be in the vicinity when Lulu went to wake up his little Rikku and overheard something interesting.

were the first words out of Rikku's mouth. That shocked him, she couldn't possibly wake with his name on her lips could she? It just couldn't be true. He heard Lulu chuckle.

No it's just me, Lulu. We are setting out again soon. You might want to get ready to go. Lulu started walking out of the tent, as Auron made himself as inconspicuous as possible. But as she was leaving she quietly said, Oh, and someone might want your blanket back.

After breaking camp they journeyed into temple and met Anima. Seymour's mother. Who would have guessed. Although as to why anyone would become an Aeon to help their son as opposed to staying around to help their son grow up was beyond Auron. If he was still alive and had children, he would leave them. He saw what Jecht leaving did to Tidus. What Braska leaving did to Yuna. Both of them had to leave, but it tore him up. At least they found each other. I should be stopping their love, but now there really seems no point. They might as well enjoy it while it lasts.

They swam back up to the surface and then back up to the ship. When everyone stepped on the ship I think they all breathed a sigh of relief. Instead of heading back to the Calm Lands to try to get the Magus Sisters, they decided to head back to Besaid. A calm island where the fiends where easy, and they could take it easy to recover, besides they needed to collect that Moon Crest for Yuna.

After making sure that everyone was all right. Tidus and Wakka got to go straight to sleep, but Rikku was spending the night with the healers on board the ship. And everyone else was in bed. Auron took a nice relaxing warm bath. But as opposed to feeling sleepy, he knew he should sleep he hadn't slept last night at all, he was awake again and so he started his nocturnal wanderings again.

He saw an Al Bhed ahead, but he expected it to be Rin so he paid no attention. He stopped to say hello when he realized that it wasn't Rin, it was Cid. Now he was nervous. Rikku was his baby girl. And as much as Auron wanted to protect her, Cid wanted to protect her more. He was surprised that Cid hadn't pulled her away from guarding Yuna long ago.

Surprisingly Cid just looked at him, looked at him as if they were equals.

You take care of my little girl. I don't know what you guys fight and what goes on down there, but I want you to take care of her...I know you take care of them all, except maybe Kimhari, that Ronso doesn't miss a thing. But I see the way you look at her. It's the same way I looked at her mother. I don't approve of it exactly, but I couldn't ask for anyone better to take care of her. Just remember, family is important to us Al Bhed...so you hurt her we hurt you.

With that Cid clasped Auron's' shoulder briefly and then walked away. Leaving an thoroughly confused Auron in his wake.

A/N: I know Auron seems out of character, but remember A. He thought he lost her, (I hated that stupid monster, since I never played with Rikku, Wakka and Tidus it took me longer to beat that monster than it took to defeat Yunalesca, and B. A lot of this is internal monologue, not external. He is still the same solid Auron, except on this inside he worries about her and is in turmoil.