Author's Notes: Wow, two chapters in one day . What an accomplishment. Hope you guys enjoyed the last chapter, I think you'll enjoy this one just as equally. There's a bit of a shocker in this one, but it'll make a lot of sense. Oh, and thank you for all the reviews, guys! 50 reviews! That's the most I've ever gotten! Thanks so much for the feedback. =:]

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.

Hullabaloo

Ch.7: The Ripened Apple

Rikku tossed and turned once again the next morning, unable to stay asleep. The past few nights had been restless for her, but now that she had nothing left to stress over, Rikku was starting to wonder if there was something else keeping her awake at night. Even when she did fall asleep, it wouldn't be for very long, and she would always wake up covered in sweat.

Seeing it pointless to even try sleeping, Rikku brushed off her covers and slipped on her robe. Rubbing her eyes wearily, she trudged down the stairs of the sleeping quarters in the cabin.

Seeing that Barkeep was not around, Rikku slipped behind the bar and opened the rather large fridge. Looking at it's contents, and seeing that none of the food it contained piqued an interest, she simply reached out for an apple. Biting into the red piece of fruit gingerly, she savoured it's juices.

Halfway through eating her apple, a small wave of nausea hit her and Rikku suddenly felt dizzy. Brushing it off, she leant against the counter and continued to eat. However, before she knew it, she felt her apple coming back up and Rikku's eyes widened in surprise.

Dropping the almost finished apple at her feet, Rikku raced around the bar, a hand clamped over her mouth as she made a mad dash for the bathroom under the sleeping quarters.

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"So, what's new in your life, Rikku?" asked Tidus eagerly from across the table on which they were eating lunch at. Next to Rikku sat Gippal, and across from him sat Yuna.

"Oh not too much Ti..." replied Rikku with a weak smile. She pushed the food around on her plate with her fork, not feeling up to eating it.

Gippal looked at Rikku's plate with some discomfort. "Not hungry, babe?" he asked her.

Rikku shook her head absent-mindedly. Ever since that very morning, many thoughts had been plaguing her mind. For instance, her vomiting. The more she tried to put it aside as something like food poisoning, the more the realization of the truth hit her.

"...Rikku?"

The petite Al Bhed looked up from her plate, realizing she had been lost in her own thoughts. "Uhh...yeah Yunie?"

Gippal let his hand rub the small of her back to try and comfort whatever was wrong, "Are you alright babe? You don't look so hot."

"Oh, geese, thanks Gippal," replied Rikku with a roll of her emerald eyes.

"No, really Rikku, you're kind of pale," chipped in Tidus.

Rikku brought a hand to her face, "Am I?" Considering that her face was indeed pale like Tidus noted, it felt very flushed and warm.

"Yeah. Rikku, why don't you come to the lady's room with me?" asked Yuna quietly, standing up, offering her hand to her cousin.

Rikku nodded and got up on her own, ignoring the hand that was offered to her. Following the summoner to the bathroom, she paused to look at herself in the mirror by the sinks. She was pale. Really pale.

Looking under all the stalls of the washroom and checking that the door was secure, Yuna walked over to her cousin with a look of concern. "Something's wrong Rikku, I can read you like a book. Now please tell me what it is?"

Rikku let out a shaky sigh and looked to Yuna with the corner of her eye. Turning back to the mirror, she took in a deep breath. "Yunie...I...I think I'm pregnant."

Yuna stood in shock at the news that Rikku had given her.

"I got sick this morning when I tried to eat breakfast, I have no appetite, I can't sleep at night..."

"Well that would explain why you're so moody, too," replied Yuna with a small nod. Placing a hand on her cousin's shoulder, she forced her to turn and look Yuna in the eye. "Are you ready to have children, Rikku?"

Rikku opened her mouth to reply, but found that she didn't have an answer. Honestly, she wasn't quite sure. She wasn't going to have an abortion though, that was for sure. "I don't know, Yunie. I really don't. But...it's my child, and...and I don't want to have an abortion or give it up."

Yuna gave her best friend and cousin a gentle smile. "There's lots of good things about having children, you know."

"Yeah...it's not that, Yunie. It's just that, I'm not even 18 yet. I'm still young, I have so much ahead of me. I'm...scared. Scared that Gippal might not want it." Rikku looked back up into Yuna's bi-coloured eyes.

Yuna let out a small gasp and shook Rikku by the shoulders. "Don't even think that he'd be angry with you! He'd be shocked yes, just as anyone would, but he wouldn't want to give it away or anything! He loves you I can tell he does."

Rikku nodded and gave her first smile of the day. "Thanks, Yunie. You're right. But...do you mind if we leave now? I really need to lay down."

"Of course! While we're back on the Celsius, we'll get Shinra to test you," replied Yuna. The two girls started to leave the bathroom, but Yuna held her back for one more second. "Oh and Rikku?"

Rikku turned and looked to Yuna quizzically. "Yea?"

"Let Gippal on lightly, he probably almost had a stroke due to Cid."

Rikku let out a small chuckle and left the bathroom, Yuna right behind her. As they approached their table where Tidus and Gippal were conversing amongst themselves, Yuna cleared her throat to get her attention.

Gippal looked up from their conversation and saw Rikku standing next to Yuna, some colour restored to her face. He stood up immediately and went to her side, taking his hand in hers. "Are you alright?"

Rikku nodded in reply and leaned into Gippal's chest. "I'll be just fine. I think I'm coming down with something, though."

Gippal nodded and smoothed out her hair, which she had left down for the day.

"We're going to go back to the Celsius so Rikku can lay down. Do you two mind staying here?" asked Yuna with a pleading look to Tidus.

"Yeah sure," replied the blue-eyed blitzer with a nod, "You get some rest, aight Rik?"

Rikku nodded and turned back to Gippal, placing a small kiss upon his cheek, "I'll see you later, okay?"

Gippal nodded and motioned towards Yuna, "Take good care of her."

The two girls nodded and left the restaurant slowly, heading back to the Celsius.

"Well, that was kind of wierd, eh Gippal?" asked Tidus after they were out of earshot.

"Yeah...it was. I don't remember Rikku ever being sick a day in her life," contemplated Gippal thoughtfully, rubbing his chin.

Tidus looked to Gippal from the corner of his eye and leant across the table. "You don't think she's..."

Gippal looked up at Tidus' waggling eyebrow and rolled his eyes. "It's a possibiblity, but not probable..." he replied. 'I hope...'

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"The results are positive," came the muffled voice of Shinra behind his mask.

Rikku groaned and sat down on the steps with slight anguish. This wasn't happening...but well, it was. And there was nothing that Rikku was going to do to stop it. But how on Spira was she going to tell Gippal?

"The father is Gippal, isn't it," came the deep voice of Paine. She had decided to standby, she was one of Rikku's best friends after all.

Rikuk nodded glumly, and rest her head in her hands.

"He'll understand Rikku, don't worry about it. He's a good guy under that cocky ego," Paine said with a pat to Rikku's back.

"That's what I said!" replied Yuna with a smile.

The three girls chuckled and Rikku smiled slightly, "You guys are right. I don't have to worry."

"But you are going to need to worry about your diet, exercise and such. I'll fill you in on it later," noted the genius child.

Rikku nodded. She didn't have to worry at all. Gippal would understand, he'd stand by her side the whole way through. Rikku giggled to herself quietly. He'd make a great father.

Well, what a shocker that was, eh? Hope you liked. More chapters to come soon!