Disclaimer: I do not own FFX-2!

"…" character's speech

'…' character's thoughts

(…) my rambling

Special Thanks to...

oO0DancingQueenoOo: Thank you for reviewing! Yep, there is Rikku and Gippal romance in this chapter and the last chapter also! So check it out. Hope you enjoy it :)

Cutekitty: Sorry for the delay! I hope you enjoy this chapter and thank you for reviewing!

Flametongue: Thank you for your compliment! I'm really glad that you like this fic! More fluff is coming up and Happy Holidays to you too :)

Master Thief: Thank you for reviewing, glad that you enjoyed the last chapter :) Happy Holidays to you too!

Jamie: Don't worry, I like to hear opinions! About Rikku's other friends, I'm not sure if they will appear again! I'm sorry but I'm only focusing on Rikku and Gippal, so there won't be any other further explanation about the other friends. But I still hope you enjoy this fic and continue reading it! Thank you for your review :)

CrYstalBLUe91: Thank you for reviewing! Here is the next chapter :)

Amethyststargirl: Don't worry, here is the update! Thank you for your review!

F-chan1: Thank you for the review! Hope you enjoy this chapter!

Little note: This chapter and the next chapter up ahead will only contain fluff, so if your not so much into romance I suggest you stop right here! Thank you for all the support and reviews you readers have left me! I really appreciate all the kindness! I WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY NEW YEAR! MAY 2005 BE A SUCCESS :)

Enjoy your reading...

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Gippal woke up the next day from a great night sleep. He hadn't slept this well in years, thanks to the last day events that had occurred yesterday. Gippal then wondered if Rikku still recalled everything. With hope, the young man quickly got up from his bed. He would have to pay her a little visit and make sure she was still his.

...Chapter 4...

Rikku smiled in satisfaction as she managed to fix the machina she was given to work with. Since her father did not allow her to go digging this morning, because he was afraid that she would get hurt by a fiend, Cid decided to leave her to repair some of the old machinas. Now here she was, inside the tent, fixing the old junkies. Although wishing she was outside digging, Rikku did not oppose, she was good at repairing anything, so there was nothing to complain of.

Checking the machina over, Rikku decided to take a break before moving on with the other machinas. Putting her tools down onto the table, she was about to walk out of the tent when someone stepped inside.

Shocked, Rikku stared at the person with extreme surprise. What was he doing here? Wasn't he suppose to be away, far away from her by now? It had been months since the day he sailed away, leaving her alone in Bikanel desert. When did he come back?

"Hey there Cid's girl. How are you doing?" Gippal spoke, confused at the way she was reacting.

Without warning, Rikku had flung her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. Gippal smiled and hugged the lady back into his strong arms. He then felt tears dropping onto his neck, and realized that something was wrong. Why was she crying? Worried he held her closer, wanting to comfort her.

"You're back." Rikku whispered into his ears.

Back? From where? Suddenly he realized what she was talking about. They were 16 years old when Gippal left Home to join the Crimson Squad. He remembered the day clearly. Gippal had told her a week before he had left, and all Rikku did was get angry and ignore him for the whole week. He was mad also for being misunderstood by her, but he hadn't considered what she really felt back then. They departed from one another without a exchange of word, and so that was the last time he saw her, with those sad emerald eyes.

"Hey , Cid's girl, don't cry." Gippal whispered, trying to soothe her. "I'm here."

Rikku pushed back and gazed at him with her eyes filled with tears. Her sad expression did not suite her right. Gippal hated to see her crying, she was always the cheerful girl. With his fingers, he softly wiped away her tears and then kissed her nose, which surprised Rikku for such a tender action.

"I'm sorry." Rikku started. "I'm sorry I ignored you."

"That was the past Cid's girl, you don't have to worry now." Gippal replied back as he picked up her hands within his.

"No Gippal, it's not ok. I should have ran after you, to say that I wanted you to stay." Rikku explained as tears fell from her eyes. "But I was too hurt to beg you to remain close to me Gippal. It was my fault you went."

"Don't put the blame onto you, Cid's girl. It was my choice that I entered Crimson Squad. I had to do something with my life." Gippal spoke.

"But Gippal, I was a big meanie! I ignored you when you told me about the news. I ignored you when I knew you needed me the most! I should have instead spent the few days we had left with each other, to stay with you and beg you to have remained here with me." Rikku cried in pain.

"Cid's girl..." Gippal tried to explain but she interrupted him.

"Would you. Would you have stayed if I asked you to. Would you have remained here with me if I asked or even begged? Gippal, would my words have made a difference?" Rikku asked seriously, as tears wouldn't cease from falling her eyes.

Gippal gazed away. Her words would have meant the whole world to him. If he told her that, Rikku might get even hurt by putting more blame onto herself, but if he didn't she wouldn't understand how he really felt about the whole situation. Back then Gippal got angry at her for ignoring him, but all he really wanted was her comforting words and her beautiful smile. Gippal wanted her to stay with him for the last time before he joined the Crimson Squad.

"No. I think I would have left Bikanel desert anyway." Gippal lied with difficulty.

She felt his words stab inside her heart, but Gippal couldn't help but to squeeze her hands softly, as if speaking otherwise.

"Even if I had said, I love you Gippal. Would you still have left?" Rikku asked with tears.

He looked up to gaze into her eyes, and saw to his surprise that she was still in love with him, and he never knew. Gippal losing control quickly brought her into his arms as he kissed her lips passionately. Rikku surprised, gave herself into his wishes, and kissed him back lovingly.

Gippal held her against him tenderly, as he moved his lips adoringly against her lips. He showed her what he truly felt. Gippal poured his feeling into his actions, wanting to make everything clear. Rikku understanding, moaned to that wonderful sensation, making Gippal press his lips even closer.

Breaking up for air, Gippal leaned his forehead against Rikku's own forehead. They gazed at each other lovingly, as he smirked to see her smile. She was beautiful. Rikku was everything he needed now.

"Would that be a yes?" Rikku asked although knowing the answer to the question already.

Gippal chuckled and kissed her nose. "You might say that Cid's girl."

Rikku smiled. "I never knew you were in love, ya know. I always thought that our relationship was a big joke to you." She confessed.

Gippal kissed her lips fervently. "Never a joke Cid's girl. You were never a joke to me. By the contrary, you were my everything." He emphasized.

Tears of joy flowed down her checks. Gippal had never acted so in love with her like he was now. When they were 16 years old, she had the impression that Gippal was only with her for fun. Although Rikku wanted to break apart from him, she couldn't, because she cared and loved him too much to let go. Now suddenly things had changed. Gippal was showing her his true colors.

"Why are you back Gippal? I thought you were still in Crimson Squad, ya know."

"I'm back for only one reason. It's because I want you back in my arms." Gippal whispered. Rikku smiled to hear those words.

"Welcome back my love."

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Gippal stroked Rikku's silky hair, as she laid her head upon his lap. Both of them sat peacefully onto the coach, in Rikku's house, where they had ended up going to. Feeling drowsy, Rikku's eyelids were slowly closing down. It really had been an exhausting day, but extremely wonderful. Gippal noticing that she was sleepy couldn't help but to shake her softly awake.

"Not yet Cid's girl." Gippal whispered kindly. "I don't want you to forget me."

Rikku lazily smiled up to him. "I won't forget you." She answered sleepily.

He knew otherwise. Once she falls asleep everything would be forgotten. Rikku would change her age and she would forget this moment once again. Gippal couldn't help but to feel helpless that he couldn't make this toxic effect stop, so that she would recall everything. Why did fate had to play such games on him?

Suddenly the front door opened and Cid walked in. He at first seeing the sight before him was taken aback, but Cid quickly then composed himself. Clearing his throat, he called the attention of both teenagers. Cid motioned his hand to Gippal, calling him to follow him into the kitchen.

Gippal bent his head forward and gave Rikku a kiss before she sat up, allowing him to leave. Walking toward the kitchen, he found Cid sitting on one of the chairs. Gippal took a seat before the old man and wondered what he had to tell him.

"Kid you have been a great help." Cid started. "But tomorrow you must leave."

"I'm being sent away?" Gippal spoke in confusion. "What do you mean by that." He then demanded.

"Tell me Gippal, how old is Rikku now?" Cid spoke.

"16. But what does that have to do with anything?" Gippal replied back not understanding the point clearly.

"Right, she's 16 years old. Now, have you realized that she changes her age every day?" Cid proceeded to explain.

"Yes. I've noticed."

"So then, if she is 16 now, tomorrow she will be..."

"17 years old." Gippal finished Cid's sentence. "She will return to her age and her original life."

Cid nodded his head. "Everything goes back to what it was. Rikku here in Bikanel desert working with the machinas, and you Gippal, back in Djose Temple."

Gippal sighed in comprehension, he didn't know why, but this was the moment he feared the most. In leaving, like nothing had happened in the past few days he had stayed.

"Tomorrow Gippal you must go." Cid spoke as he lift up from his seat. "She won't remember anything, and there is no reason why she must."

Gippal nodded his head. Cid was right. What did he really meant for the 17 years old Rikku. He was nothing. All those feelings she professed to him in the last couple of days were really the feelings of her younger self. Now she was 17 years old, her real past hasn't changed. In her real past, Gippal hadn't comforted Rikku when she cried over her mother's death, he hadn't kissed her passionately in the alleyway, he hadn't come back from Crimson Squad, but most importantly, Gippal hadn't told her that he truly loved her.

Feeling gloomy and angered by the same time, Gippal picked himself up from the seat and entered the living room. There he gazed toward his angel, who had finally fallen asleep peacefully, without knowing anything and gradually slipping away from his grasp. There was nothing left for him here. Rikku would never accept him back. The 17 years old Rikku never really needed him, she was big enough to save Spira all over again. Rikku was better off without him, in the real time, they were only old comrades who meet each other during Vegnagun after a long time apart.

"This is it." Gippal sighed heavily as he picked up his jacket and lingered for a moment as he saw Rikku asleep.

With a last glance, and a soft goodbye, Gippal left.