Author's Notes:
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.9: Together Forever
Weeks later...
Gippal stood confidently beside Wakka and Tidus, the soft breeze softly tossing around his short blonde hair. His weight shifted form foot to foot, his impatience starting to get the better of him. Why was it taking so long for the ceremony to start?
He quickly adjusted his suit, undoing the top button of his dress shirt to relieve himself of the heat being suppressed on his body by the hot Besaid sun. He turned his head to look at Tidus, who was fidgeting beyond belief, his eyes darting across the beach in an attempt to calm himself.
"Hey Tidus," he started, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder.
Tidus chuckled nervously and nodded, reply, "Yeah?"
A grin spread across Wakka's face as he saw what Gippal was attempting to do. "Just calm down, ya? She'll be here, don't worry!"
Tidus smiled faintly and his body visibly relaxed as his friends continued to make him relax. He did have every good reason to be nervous, though. It was his wedding day! He knew that Yuna would say yes at the alter, he had no doubts whatsoever. The anxiety and adrenaline rushing through his body said otherwise, however.
The soothing music of the Macalanian musicians began, and Gippal chuckled to himself quietly when Tidus' body stiffened and stood straight once again. The boy had every good reason to be nervous. Gippal's hand reached to his pocket where he fingered a small velvet box. He would probably feel the same way within a few hours...
Gippal's breath immediately caught in his throat as the bridesmaids began their entourage down the isle. Lulu came first, her hair done up in it's usual way. Paine came next, clad in the same knee-length gown as the mage. But what caught Gippal's breath was the blonde beauty that followed behind them, the translucent wings on the back of her dress shifting slightly as she walked the isle ahead of Cid, Yuna on his arm.
As Rikku reached the alter, she stood off to the side as to let Yuna stand with Tidus. Gippal couldn't help but stare at her. She looked beautiful. The way her dress flowed around her knees. The way the fragile looking wings - that were very similar to the large ones on the back of Yuna's gown - moved slightly in the breeze. The strapless dress she wore was very similar to the other bridesmaids dresses, only hers was more extravagant. The material was made of a baby blue material with yellow trimmings. The dress ended at her knees, coming out in pattern that resembled flower petals. Underneath the blue material hung pale yellow, translucent material. The longer Gippal stared at her, the more he wanted to sweep her up in his arms and rip the dress right off of her.
Rikku however, had not noticed the Machina Faction leader staring at her from next to Tidus. She stood and listened intently as Nooj cited the ceremony.
She was so...perfect, in almost every way imaginable. Her appearance and the way she held herself made her come off as an innocent little girl, but Gippal knew that was far from the truth. There was so many things he loved about her. 'Wait'...he thought, 'Love?' Gippal looked to his feet and chuckled inaudibly. 'Of course it's love, otherwise...I wouldn't want to...' He once again reached his hand into his pocket, the velvety softness of the small box calming his nerves. 'I'm not about to let her live the rest of her life alone with our child. I'd be perfectly happy to fix that problem...'
Rikku looked away from Nooj; his monotone voice droning on was starting to bore her. As happy as Rikku was for Tidus and Yuna, she couldn't help but feel a little jealous. For what reason, she couldn't place. Maybe her hormones were already starting to get out of whack. She thought over countless reasons in her head, finding a silent way to keep herself occupied, as Nooj had evidently made the ceremony quite boring.
Rikku lifted her eyes from the ground, immediately making eye contact with Gippal. The man who was the father to her child.
Their child.
Warmth was brought to Rikku's cheeks as she realised they were gazing into each others eyes. She quickly glanced away, but looked back to find him smiling at her softly. As they stood admiring each other silently, oblivious to the knowing looks some people gave them, Rikku couldn't help but notice that Gippal kept reaching his hand into his pocket. Giving him a quizzical look, which he ignored, she huffed and turned her attention back to the bride and groom. However, she couldn't help but look back quickly to see him smirking as Tidus and Yuna left the alter. 'Still the same old Gippal,' she thought with a roll of her eyes.
Rikku turned to follow the newlywed couple down the isle, adjusting the wings on the back of her dress. Only Yevon knew why Yuna had chosen to put wings on the back of their dresses. They were damn annoying.
Rikku's attention was brought back to reality instead of on the itchy wings as she heard applauding. A radiant smile was brought to her face as a cloud of flower petals came toppling down upon them as the group of people walked back down the isle behind two very happy people.
Gippal turned to his left, where Rikku was walking down the isle next to him, a smile on her face. Seeing her smile brought a smile to his own face. The flower petals catching in her hair, the way the wind blew up the edges of her dress. She almost looked like a beautiful, fragile flower herself. So...perfect. Had they not been in the middle of a wedding, Gippal would've gotten down on one knee there and then. But now was not the time. Not yet.
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Ting Ting Ting
Gippal tapped his spoon on his glass, gesturing for Rikku to stand up as he did. The two Al bheds stood at the head table confidently, bright smiles plastered on their faces.
"Yunie..." Rikku started.
"Tidus," finished Gippal
"We're so happy for you two! As the Maid of Honour and Best Man, we're making a toast for you guys, you know? We hope you have a great life together!"
"We wish you two a lifetime of happiness together, and it's quite apparent that nothing can keep you two apart, not even death."
Yuna smiled at her friends' gracing and turned to her husband, a beautiful smile spread across her face.
Tidus reached out and tenderly grasped her hand, planting a kiss on the back of it with a smile tugging at his lips. Never had he been so happy in his life.
Gippal saw the small exchange between the two lovers, and looked to the Macalanian musicians, giving them a nod to start playing. As the melodic music started, he raised his champagne glass to the newlyweds. "First dance, right? Go ahead!"
Yuna giggled and grabbed Tidus' hand, dragging him onto the sandy beach, a makeshift dance floor.
Gradually, more and more couples joined them, swaying to and fro to the music. Rikku turned her gaze away from the dancing couples to Gippal, who already had his hand out waiting for her to take it. Letting a smile stretch across her pink lips, she took his hand, letting him guide her to the other dancing couples.
Rikku left her one hand in his, and draped her other across his shoulder as his empty hand occupied her waist. She let out a small sigh of content as he pulled her closer. She rested her head on his chest, and let him sway her around the beach, the stars twinkling above them.
As they swayed back and forth to the relaxing music, Gippal couldn't help but think. This was the perfect moment. He had to, now or never. There was so much about her that he loved, but he had never noticed it up until a month ago. He had been searching all his life for someone to hold and love properly, and she had been right in front of him the whole time, he had just been too blind to see it.
Rikku.
She was all he would ever need.
"Rikku..." he whispered in her ear.
"Mmm..?" she lifted her head of his chest and looked into his good eye, the green that matched her own, just like any other Al Bhed.
"I..." he started, his voice trailing off as his nervousness showed.
"Gippal what is it? Is something wrong?" she asked him, afraid that something may have happened.
"No, it's not that," he whispered, pulling back a stray hair that had fallen in her face. Tucking it behind her ear, he cupped her face with his hand. Rikku blushed at the gesture, but he ignored it. "Everything's perfect."
Lowering her own voice, she tilted her head into his hand, kissing his palm. "Then what is it?"
"You know I love you, right?"
Rikku's brow furrowed in confusion. What was up? Why was he acting so strangely? This was so unlike Gippal.
"And...I want to spend the rest of my life with you Rikku. With you and our baby," By this time they had stopped dancing completely, and they were standing motionless in a crowd full of dancing people.
Rikku looked up at him with shock. She had never heard him speak like this before. The heat that had enveloped her cheeks by now was almost unbearable as he got down on one knee if front of her, holding her delicately with one hand and reaching into his pocket with the other.
"Ur so kucr..." she muttered quietly to herself as she realized what was going on.
"Rikku, will you be by my side forever, as my wife?" he asked, gazing up at her intensely from where he knelt on the ground. Nervousness was starting to get the best of him.
At first, Rikku didn't know what to say. But then it hit her; she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. The man she loved. As conceited as he was, she loved him for every quality he had, the good and the bad. And she could see now that he felt the same.
Pulling him up with her free hand (the other one was occupied by Gippal's), she enveloped him in a passionate kiss, a tear dripping from her cheek. "Uv luinca E femm!" she cried.
Gippal smiled through their kisses. Together....forever.
Ur so kucr... - Oh my gosh...
Uv luinca E femm! - Of course I will!
Well that's the end, folks. Hoped you liked it! I might post an epilogue, I'm still thinking about it. Please let me know what you think! I like feedback. Another note, I will be changing my pen name shortly, probably to xInsanoBananax. Thanks you guys! .