Author's Notes: After Gippal and Rikku realized they've slept together, they've gone to breakfast to sort things out. However, someone shows up and interrupts...

Disclamer: I do not own FFX-2 or any of it's characters. I do however, own this story. DO NOT distribute without my permission.

To rikku-chan: Glad you were satisfied!

To maerah: Glad you're still here ^.^ I only wanted to put the lemon in the first chapter because I didn't intend to continue it. However, after writing the ending it kind of seemed like a cut-off so that's why I asked my readers if I should continue it.

To Anonymous (isn't that annoying?): *hands you a water bottle*

To Boggart: I intended it to be cute, well not really, but thanks!

To punky gal: Thank you very much!

To Sora no Kami: Thanks for reviewing!

To Christine: Thanks for reviewing, I'm glad you like it. I havn't read "Rikku's turn at love", so I'll probably go check that out.

To ShellePrincess: Thanks for reviewing again! I seriously think you're a genius ^.^ Thanks a lot for that help, by the way. I owe ya'

Hullabaloo

Ch. 3: The whole truth and nottin' but the truth!

"Fancy you meeting you two here. We've been looking for you everywhere."

"Huh?" said Rikku, breaking her gaze from Gippal's.

Gippal saw his friends face drifting above his own, and he started to stammer for a reply. "Uh, hey Baralai!" he said with a nervous laugh, rubbing the back of his head. He looked up at the Praetor, trying to look innocent.

"Now where were you two all night, hmm?" Baralai asked, pulling up a chair to their table and sitting in it with a somewhat triumphant 'hmph'.

"Uh, well you know," sputtered Rikku. After not being able to come up with a good enough response she said desperately, "It's not what it looks like, I swear!"

Baralai ran a hand through his fine hair and laughed, looking to the distraught couple in front of him. They certainly looked as if they'd rode through the depths of Farplane and back. There was circles under both their eyes, Gippal being the one with the least. His eye patch covered most of his right eye, preventing anyone from seeing the dark circles looming under his green orbs. Rikku's hair had been hastily pulled back, Gippal's was simply sticking out everywhere. Baralai chuckled inwardly as he noticed they were wearing the same things they had been the previous night. "Don't worry, Rikku. I won't tell anyone," he finally said.

Rikku sighed and her head fell onto the table with a clunk, her arms bringing themselves up to hide her blonde locks. At least he could keep a secret.

"Does anyone else know, Baralai?" asked Gippal nervously. He prayed to even Yevon himself that no one else did. Especially Cid. He did not need him to know. It was the last thing he needed right now.

Baralai laughed and when his laughter had died, he looked at Gippal with a bemused look. Gippal looked very frustrated. "Paine knows too."

Rikku groaned, her head still placed on the table. Wait a minute, if Paine knew..."Yunie doesn't know does she?!" she cried, her head popping up from where it had laid. She hoped, prayed that Yuna didn't know. She would never hear the end of it if she did.

Baralai laughed again, his eyes twinling with amusement. "No Rikku, she doesn't know. She pulled a disappearing act with Tidus last night, too. I have the feeling Wakka knows about you though. He was running around the Celsius this morning yelling 'What was Rikku thinking, ya?!'" he said, trying to give a good Besaidian accent.

Gippal covered his mouth and stiffled a laugh, glancing in Rikku's direction. Her face was red and she looked as if she was going to scream. Gippal was surprised when she softly started to speak, "Please don't tell anyone else, please Baralai? At least not yet. Especially do not tell Brother or Cid."

Gippal's thoughts trailed back to Cid. What on Spira was he going to do if Cid found out? He'd be better off dead or eaten by a Couerl. Gippal looked to Rikku and kind of felt sorry for her. She'd have to deal with Yuna and Paine, two of the worst for teasing and constant nagging. Then again, Gippal was like that alot, too. Oh well, he thought.

"Well we should get going back to the Celsius, soon. I'm sure you'll want to get there before, Yuna," said Baralai, looking to Rikku for an answer.

Rikku nodded in reply and stood slowly, turning for the cafe door.

* * *

Rikku hesitated before heading up the landing plank. She couldn't help but be nervous about what had happened, and she wished desperately that no one knew. Baralai, Paine, and apparently Wakka already knew, and that was a few too many. Rikku wished that no one knew at all. It would have made things a heck of a lot easier. The only person aboard the Celsius that couldn't ever find out was Brother, because knowing him, he'd go rat her out to Cid. She didn't need that, not at all. Not only would she never hear the end of it, Gippal's life would be on the line. Literally. In her father's eyes, Rikku was still his little girl, and no one would touch or hurt her. If only he knew, his opinion of her would change greatly. Not that she was a slut or anything, she was far from it. But she had had her fair share of guys. Not to mention her side dish of partying.

She sighed and slugged up the landing plank, Baralai and Gippal far ahead of her. Gippal and Baralai headed to the bridge, Gippal stopping and silently saying bye to her, that they'd talk later. He had to return to Djose. Rikku nodded and headed to the cabin. She almost wished Yuna wasn't there yet. However, luck seemed to be against her today. There was Yuna, giggling as she had obviously told Paine, who was standing next to her, something funny. "Rikku!" she yelled excitedly, running over to her friend, who was standing in the doorway of the cabin awkwardly.

"Hi Yuna!" Rikku exclaimed, forcing a smile to come to her face.

Yuna grasped Rikku's hands with twinkling eyes. "Guess what, Rikku!"

Rikku paused for a second, loosening one hand from Yuna's and bringing it to rub her chin thoughtfully. She looked the ex-summoner in the eye and shrugged, waiting her for the answer.

"You have to guess," reported Paine with a smirk, looking at Rikku from behind Yuna.

Rikku groaned and rolled her eyes. "You saw a polka-dotted chocobo?"

"Of course not! Well, time's up," said Yuna. She held out her left hand, a diamond ring sparkling on her ring finger. "Tidus proposed to me!" she cried.

Rikku's eyes widened and her mouth dropped. She grabbed Yuna's hand and brought it to her face, inspecting the ring that was glittering so much she could have needed sunglasses. "Congrats, Yunie!" she cried, clasping Yuna's hand and jumping around excitedly. "But, don't you think it's kinda, well you know, soon?"

Paine stepped forward and smirked, pointing a finger into Rikku's chest. "You're one to talk."

Rikku's face went red and her eyes nearly popped out of her head. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Paine," she said through clenched teeth. She couldn't, not in front of Yuna like this. She didn't want Yuna to know!

"Huh?" asked Yuna confusedly. She looked from Rikku, to Paine, then settled on Rikku. Her eyes held an air of question, and she wanted to know what was going on.

"Nothing too important, Yuna. Rikku was just getting her freak on with Gi-"

"PAINE!!" screamed Rikku desperately, her hands flying in the air around her.

Yuna raised a brow. What was going on? She got her freak on with...who? Her eyes opened wide when she learned the partial truth, "You got laid last night didn't you! Who was it? You have to tell me!"

Rikku groaned and hid her face in her hands. She was doomed.

"Well? Rikku!" cried Yuna with frustration. She turned to Paine, who only gave her a shrug and a grin in reply. She turned back to Rikku, and her mouth dropped as she saw a certain machine Faction leader standing in the doorway, his face as red as an apple. It was...no! It couldn't be! "Oh my Yevon, Rikku! How could you! Gippal?! Of all people, GIPPAL?!"

Rikku's eyes opened wide and she turned to look at the male behind her, cringing at the tone of her cousins voice.

He had really picked a bad time to show up. Not only that, but his arrival and appearance had somehow clued Yuna in. Gippal looked to Rikku in apology, rubbing the back of his messy-haired head. He took a punch form Rikku in the chest, and rubbed the sore spot annoyingly.

Rikku turned back to Yuna, tears threatening to come to her eyes. "Please, Yunie," she whimpered, tugging at Yuna's arm, "You can't tell Brother! He'll tell Father, and - "

"I don't want to hear it, Rikku! Gippal? That's low," Yuna replied angrily. She didn't entirely have the right to be angry, the situation was almost amusing. But, Gippal? Of all people...

"Hey!" defended Gippal, "I'd like to see you do better."

Yuna's face went red and she stormed past the two standing in the doorway, giving Rikku an 'I don't' believe you' look and Gippal the cold shoulder.

Rikku turned, watching Yuna leave with tears threatening to pour over her eyelids. She looked up at Gippal sourly. "Now look what you've done!" Rikku ran from the room, chasing after Yuna and leaving Paine and Gippal alone in the cabin.

"Hey! What did I do?" Gippal shouted after her.

Paine walked past him also, giving him a smirk. "Do you really have to ask?"

Well there's chapter 3! Hope you liked it ^.^ Let me know what you think, mkay?