A/N: Ah God! I accidentally deleted the story, and later saw in my mail two reviews! SO SORRY you guys, I didn't mean to do that! –freaks out-

But-yea. I hope it's going –kind of- to your likings so far-I don't want to make this too long or anything though—I'm weird that way. I hate sequels, but I couldn't leave this couple alone. So I'm making a SHORT sequel.

Anyway, now that that's clear-carry on!

That Old Wrecked Piece of Machina Used Against Sin

Gippal sighed as he finally closed his eyes. Lying on his back and watching the stars constantly fascinated him-but they always made him so dizzy he could barely stand it.

Even though he and Rikku had been in a sitting position, the young girl had curled into a small ball, her head on his shoulder her arms wrapped tightly around her knees. Her eyes were squeezed shut-no, it didn't look like she was having a peaceful sleep like those princess' the fairy tales constantly bored him with. He wiped at a stray strand of her newly let down blonde hair away from her eyes. He couldn't help but let out a comforted sigh. Being with her always felt so-so right. He closed his eye for a moment, trying to remember what had happened earlier that day.

He couldn't believe what that Vhanat bastard had done-why had he gone all over Rikku? Everyone knew him and her were together. After inflicting a great amount of damage on that sick Al Bhed, Gippal had unwillingly brought to the white mage of Djose Temple-only for Rikku, of course. After he had been healed, Gippal had sent him on his way. Not fired him, but to go find a lawyer. If he remembered his words correctly, they were:

"Go get yourself some decent alibi for what you did to Rikku! (Even though there probably isn't even one), AND, if you lose in court, you're never showing your face in-no, AROUND this temple again, you hear? You HEAR that, you—"

But Rikku had cut him off. Poor girl had been through so much pain—he couldn't believe why any guy would do that to her. Yes, she was beautiful, desirable, happy-everything he loved about her. But that was the thing.

Everything HE loved about her.

And that stupid Al Bhed-he had gotten in the way of some important plans of Gippal's...ones that he would probably never get the courage to bring about again. He had nearly died with queasiness just THIS time...he didn't think he could do it again...not for a long time.

And yes, he knew she was young, and probably wanted to go out around Spira and live life to the fullest-and he would willingly let her go. But he just wanted a promise between them that would show they would be together forever, even if she DID leave for a while, she would have that to remind her of him...

He was kicked out of his thoughts when Rikku stirred. "What time?" She asked in a slurred voice, stifling a yawn and rubbing at her eyes. Gippal grinned and kicked at a small dent in the machine.

"Who cares?" He answered. Rikku replied with a semi-drowsy smile.

"Well, I don't anymore." She stated with a purr in her voice. Gippal just smiled at her.

"Glad to hear it."

There was more peaceful silence. "How was it in Bikanel?" She finally asked, sitting back down beside him again. The oceans lapping waves were the only sound for a while.

"Okay." In fact, it hadn't been okay. Not at all. None of the projects were ready, half of the teams were disorganized or being ruined by sand storms, and that crazy, hounding Nhadala had flirted with him until he nearly went insane. So no-it had been terrible.

He could tell Rikku didn't buy it. With a shrug she looked back down at the ocean, twirling a piece of hair around her finger absent-mindedly.

"How was it when I was gone?"

"Eh. There were a lot of complaints...everyone always came to me, which I wish they wouldn't! I mean, when you add up all the people-holy COW it's a lot of work!" She looked up at Gippal, a hint of jealousy in her eyes. "How do you do it?"

"Years of practice, my Lady." He replied with a cocky grin. "You get used to complaining babies who can't even handle a bit of work...now you know the stress I go through."

Rikku gave him a quick hug and kiss on the cheek. "I'm sorry for ever doubting your skill, Sir."

"You're forgiven."

He grinned as Rikku punched at his shoulder lightly. Would she never learn?

If only...if only he had been able to do what he had had in mind earlier...but no...what had happened to her was more important. But still...

As if she were reading his thoughts, Rikku poked at each one of his fingers. "I forgot to thank you for saving me earlier."

Gippal tensed slightly.He hated talking about when he did things like that-his temper getting out of hand and nearly killing someone.

"Really-it was nothing-I just got so riled up when I came running down the path..." He looked down and kept silent for a while. A small hiccup from his left forced him to look over at Rikku, and his brow furrowed as he saw tears falling silently down her cheeks. He reached out and wiped one away.

"Fryd'c fnuhk?" (What's wrong?) He asked in soothing Al Bhed. Rikku hurriedly wiped at her tears.

"Er-nothing. I was just remembering earlier-and-well-it's a bit emotional." She admitted with an awkward grin.

"Doesn't sound like 'nothin'' to me." Gippal answered seriously. "If you wanna talk about it, we can...I'm just a little bad at these things."

Rikku grinned. "It's alright. Since I'm with you I can forget about it." She gave him a reassuring smile, and he smiled back.

"Good then."

The two settled back into comfortable silence. Some owl hooted off in the background, and thunder rolled in the distance. Gippal felt Rikku give a small shiver, but after giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze, she stopped tensing up so much.

Finally, Rikku had fallen back into sleep. Though Gippal's whole body was nearly asleep and buzzing, he felt his eyelid droop, and decided not to fight the sleep-it was too powerful.

But he still had some thoughts whirring around his head before he zonked out. What IF he had gone through with his earlier plan? Would he and Rikku be together-forever, right now? Would she have said yes? Or would she be mad at him for asking at such a young age?

(You know what I'm talking about...)

That's right. Marriage. For nearly 8 months the word had rolled around in his head day and night, and for weeks he had planned the picture perfect way of asking her. They would be riding the Shoopuf out late at night, but the effects from the Moonflow wouldn't affect them so high up. The beauty of it all would send Rikku into astonishment, and she would thank Gippal a million times for bringing her here. And just as they got near the middle of the river, A large lily pad would float to the surface, and on the top, shaped out by lilacs (her favorite flower), it would read

"Marry me, Rikku." Uknowingly Gippal had muttered these words in half sleep, still thinking he was in his own little dream world. Of course, Rikku was still awake. She could never truly fall asleep with Gippal right there, when they had so much to talk about.

She froze. "What?"

Gippal moved a bit to stretch his limbs. He too looked around to see what her bizarre expression was for. "What what?" He asked. Rikku shook her head, nearly bursting with emotion.

"You said-you said-for me to marry you."

He froze, and his eye widened slightly. Now calm down. His inner voice said. Act like she's insane, and that you didn't actually say it, because THIS was not the way to go!

But when he saw her green eyes looking up at him, he swore he saw a glint of hope. And, heck, why not now? It didn't HAVE to be perfect-it'd be a story to tell the kids, for sure.

"Darn right's I did." Gippal said with a cocky grin. He awkwardly bent onto one knee (hey the think is rounded!), and fishing through his pocket, he found the little golden ring he had discovered in Bikanel. After a little polishing he had found three little diamonds encrusted in it, and now it looked as good as new.

"Rikku-you've been the light of my life ever since we were little kids. I mean, we had our arguments, and our difference's—and your overpowering glare-" Rikku smiled shyly, "but even after all of that, I realized that-as corny as this sounds-my life would be pretty empty without you. I mean, no one to tease, or ruffle their hair—or no one to hug and to say "I love you" to...but you came into my life so I could do all those things-and that's why I love you Rikku." He grinned sheepishly, blushing as if he were a young ten year old.

"So, Rikku, will you do me the honor of...marrying me?"

THERE! All done! Good job! Bravo! ...Now for the answer...

He could see Rikku blushing, and sometimes that wasn't a very good sign. His arm was starting to get rather sore, and he nearly winced when his leg practically buckled underneath him. He gave a not-so-subtle-cough for her answer.

"Oh Gippal!" She finally cried, tears in her eyes.

Uh oh...wrong move, buddy...

"I've NEVER heard anything so sentimental from you!" She gushed. Gippal almost rolled his eyes, before remembering the situation they were in.

"And it was-it was nice to hear that you care so much for me, and of COURSE I love you! But—"

Oh Yevon, NO!

"But I don't know if it would be much of an honor for you to marry me. I'm a big slob." She cried, smiling. Gippal just chuckled.

"I love slobs-they're the best kind of people in Spira."

Rikku laughed and leapt for him, wrapping her arms around his neck. He could feel her hot tears on his skin as she cried:

"Of course I'll marry you, Gippal!"

A/N: Aw...how sweet. AGAIN, didn't turn out exactly how I wanted it to, but all well. That's the end of THIS sequel. I personally liked the first story better, but-hey! A sequel's a sequel, right? R&R please!