Kyrstyn: Stop it, you are making me blush by adding me to your favorites. I hope you won't be dissapointed with how I end it(don't worry it's not this chapter). I think I might stop this story right before they head to fight Sin. It reaches a good resolution point, for my story at least and then there is the possibility of a sequel, and gives me more time to decide whether or not I should go AU or end it angsty.

Empress-Eerian-Sadow: I'm glad you liked their scene, their kiss. Hope you like where it goes.

Chapter Eight
The Happy Family Constellation

The sun started to rise and Auron wasn't there to see it, he was sound asleep. But as the early morning sun rays spilled into the cave under the rock they were in, he awakened. And was disoriented. Sometime during the night Auron and Rikku had shifted to a more comfortable position, and so he awoke lying on the floor with Rikku's arms wrapped around him. The fire had gone out, but the cold and rain from last night was gone so they were both warm.

Morning sleepyhead, Rikku said to Auron as she looked up from his chest smiling.



Well at least you are back to normal.

We should go soon. Rikku looked pained.

Can't we stay here? Auron was now throughly confused, Rikku who was terrified of lightning had just suggested never leaving the thunder plains? He raised his eyebrow in disbelief.

It's just things are so simple right now. I don't want to... Rikku's voice trailed off as she glanced away from Auron.

Don't want to what? Was she going to leave him? Now that she was warm, unafraid and awake, would she no longer want him.

Don't want to lose you Auron was puzzled. Did that mean she wanted him.

You are mine. Of course that came out a little more possessive than Auron intended. Oops.

Again the happiness of Rikku surprised him. Hmpf. Well good, cause your mine too.

Still we should leave the others will be worried.

Yunie must be so worried, you're right we should hurry.

It didn't take long for them to prepare to leave, since all they had started was a fire. And soon they were walking on the plains. Auron glanced over to see if Rikku was all right. They kept having to dodge thunder and after a bolt came pretty close to her, he was worried. Rikku just looked up at him. But instead of running to him scared. She just slipped her hand into his. Auron couldn't help but smile.

The rest of the trip across the thunder plains was rather uneventfully, the fiends they encountered were quickly dispatched and all too soon for Auron's thoughts they were climbing up the embankment that marked the end of the Thunder Plains.

Rikku looked up at him, I suppose this is where we let go. She released his hand. I know you don't want to worry everyone and I know being demonstrative isn't your forte. But I can't wait to watch the clouds with you tonight.

We will always watch the clouds, little one. Just you, me and the clouds. After that Auron felt like banging his head against a large heavy object. What was he thinking. Grrr...Luckily Rikku only smiled up at him. And so, one last time before they were back with the group, he leaned down and kissed her ever so softly, nothing like the raw passion that was channeled into the previous night's kiss this kiss was full of longing and love.

As Auron and Rikku entered the travel agency Auron was surprised to see the group all asleep in the entry way. Auron glanced over at Rikku.

You think we should wake them

I think we should put them to bed.

And so ever so quietly and quickly they escorted the sleeping summoner and her guardians to bed. Auron thought it rather sweet, silly but sweet none the less that they had waited up for Rikku and him. After the group was all soundly asleep, Rikku and Auron sat down to eat. And that was how Kimhari found them. Sitting in peaceable silence, smiling at each other.

You live.

You shouldn' t have waited up Kimhari. Auron mock scolded the Ronso.

Yuna no sleep. Kimhari no sleep

Slowly the group wandered out to find them. Yuna was the next out and she ran over to Rikku and hugged her, and then hugged Auron. She also insisted on casting her strongest healing spell on both of them, even though they were doing just fine. Auron caught himself thinking that maybe attachments weren't such a bad thing, maybe attachments were nice. It certainly felt nice to be welcomed home.

Lulu and Wakka were the next up, Wakka ran up to Rikku apologizing and swung her in the air.

We shouldn't have left you, ya . We're sorry. I'm glad you're all right, ya.

Indeed, perhaps Sir Auron you would like to tell us what happened after you left the agency last night Lulu queried with seeming innocence.

So Auron and Rikku took turns explaining what happened after both of them left the group, and how Auron found her. They both, of course, left out what happened after he found her. However neither had noticed that they were speaking in sync, that they seemed to have an additional awareness of the other. Lulu and Yuna exchanged glances though. Lulu decided to be brave.

So what happened after you found Rikku, Sir Auron? Auron now knew that Lulu wasn't as innocent as she was trying to seem. Rikku blushed.

It was dark, cold and rainy. Both Rikku and myself were hurt, we couldn't leave that night not if we wanted to see you again. I started a fire and we rested. Auron told them. Rikku had by this point stopped blushing, although she still avoided looking at anyone in the eyes.

Well it's good you found her, ya.

Yuna then spoke up...Well Lulu and Kimhari still have things to do in the Thunder Plains today, how are the conditions?

The plains seemed fine. There are no big storms, I think it would be safe to spilt into two groups. Auron said.

Although perhaps first we should wake the original bed slug, Tidus Rikku impishly said. Auron chuckled to himself...he must have told her that. Since she usually slept later than Tidus did.

But Tidus stumbled out into the travel agency lobby just a little bit later. And a long while later, after lunch in fact they left the agency to achieve their goals. Auron wanted Yuna to stay back in the agency but she vetoed that suggestion almost immediately. Lulu, Wakka and Auron headed out to dodge lightning bolts. Between Wakka's speed and air accuracy and Auron's strength they could defeat most fiends leaving Lulu free to dodge lighting bolts. Tidus, Yuna and Rikku went with Kimhari to activate the cactuar stones. And amazingly they made it back to the agency before too long. Rikku came out to stand with Auron as they waited for Lulu to dodge just 43, no 42, more lightning bolts. Wakka was looking rather peaked. So Auron sent him back to the agency.

Rikku and Auron didn't speak for fear of distracting Lulu who was a few feet away, but Auron slipped his arms around Rikku's waist and felt her lean back into him. Life should always be like this he thought. Life should always be this simple.

How many more bolts? Lulu yelled over to Auron from her spot without looking back, or at least it seemed.



Lulu sounded, but she kept dodging.

Too soon, in his opinion, Auron whispered into Rikku's ear.

She only has 2 left.

hmpf, I wish we could stay-



with this Rikku pulled away. Auron tried to school his features back to dark and intimidating but felt he was failing miserably.

Lulu walked over. Auron thought she looked a little tired from dodging.

Finally that's done. A stop at Guadosalam and I am set. Oh and you two are about as inconspicuous as magenta shoopuf. Lulu chuckled as she walked away, leaving a surprised Auron and Rikku to follow.

Since it was still early afternoon, Yuna decided that the group should start their trek over to Guadosalam. By now the group has a decided pattern. Auron and Rikku on rear guard, Yuna, Tidus and Kimhari in the front, Lulu and Wakka vacillating somewhere between the two groups. Today Rikku and Auron were left to themselves in the back. And had a chance to chat of many things as well as gather food for supper.

As the sun began to set the group set up camp. And Auron now knew that everyone knew because he and Rikku had night guard together again. Perhaps he wasn't as discreet as he hoped. Oh well. In his happy state of denial of the future, or more precisely ignoring the future any time spent with his Rikku made him happy.

Later that night he and Rikku started their shift after a perimeter search, sending a grateful Wakka and Tidus to bed.

Old man, you are too worried. It's been quiet all night and still you insist on a full perimeter check. Tidus yawned as he departed.



The clouds are pretty tonight, don't you agree Auron

What do you see Rikku?

I see flowers and shoopufs. And the stars are shining so bright.

They are indeed.

Tell me a story about the stars Auron, tell me about that constellation. And Rikku's voice was so compelling he agreed to and began.

Long ago, before Sin, before Spira was locked in it's cycle, there lived a girl. This girl had a family but through strife with the neighboring nation she had lost them, so she was alone...but she was a strong girl and although she was scared she searched far and wide for her family, for she knew that they were still alive for she could still feel them in her heart. And she knew that the heart did not lie. So she searched from the bottom of the ocean to the tops of the mountains. The gods, impressed by her fortitude, took pity on the girl. Her family had perished when her homeland had been conquered, but since she loved them so much they remained in her heart. So the gods reunited them in the stars and left them as a reminder to all of us that no matter what happens our loved ones live on. That is why when we look up at the sky we see the happy family constellation, reunited once again.

When Auron finished this story he saw Rikku was crying. Perhaps the happy family story wasn' t the best of stories to tell. So he reached over a pulled her into a hug. Treasuring the moments like this that they had.

As her tears slowed. They were replaced on guard duty by Lulu and Kimhari. Lulu rolled her eyes, but Auron made sure that they did a perimeter sweep before Auron and Rikku went off duty. Auron escorted his darling girl back to her tent and was about to leave when she pulled him down to the ground.

Stay with me until I fall asleep?

he rubbed her back until she was fast asleep and then prepared himself for another sleepless night,

A/N: It wanders a bit, I know. Sorry. And I was going to try to write a fluffy scene to end this chapter, but I just don't see Auron being big into PDAs, although once they are back on the ship expect another fluffy scene, if I can mange it. And I'm not trying to make Rikku a wimp. I don't think she is. It's just she's beginning to see that there may not be a future for them.