Chapter 2

"Well, what do you think?" Paine said smiling as she turned around.

"It makes you look fat." Gippal said laughing as Paine threw him an evil glare.

She sat down next Baralai and began to eat breakfast. Barkeep (the hypello) was looking nervously at Nooj who was quiet, to quiet. She looked at Baralai and he seemed reserved as well, she knew something was wrong.

"Nooj, what's the matter?" She asked carefully. Looking at her captain with an intense gaze.

"We have received word of the death." Nooj started after a gulp of coffee. "of our commander. The Crimson squad is no longer of use to Spira. In fact a lot of guards are out to kill us. We have to separate." Nooj set down his mug got up and limped from the room leaving the other three.

Paine sat shocked in silence while Gippal lost his normal boyish brigade. Baralai put a comforting hand on her shoulder as he too got up and walked from the room. Paine and Gippal were now alone in the dining room but soon Paine got up and left as well, tears threatening to come to the surface. She knew were she wanted to go and she climbed the stairs until she came to the room. Lying down on the bed she began to cry. Tears of anger and sadness fell from her eyes until she felt someone enter the room. Sitting bolt up right she saw Baralai standing in the door way looking shocked.

"Paine?" He asked cautiously. "What are –"

"Leave me alone Baralai." Paine said, lying down and rolling onto her side; away from Baralai.

"Um, Paine? Can I point out that you're in my room on my bed?" He replied trying to sound cheerful. "Besides, why are you in my room on my bed."

Tears sprung the girl's eyes and Baralai wished he could make them stop, seeing her in pain was to much. He walked over to the bed and sat down beside her. He held her hand and she looked up at him. Her eyes were a dark red now from crying.

"This is the only place I feel safe." She sobbed.

(AFTER VEGNAGUN IS DEAD! IN BESAID.)

Paine looked up at the dusk sky thinking about Baralai's speech the day before. It seems that everyone was finding there better half. Yuna had recently found the long lost Tidus. Rikku had begun spending more time with Gippal, which seemed fair they were both annoying. Even Leblanc had found Nooj, how those two matched up she didn't know. She let out a long sigh and looked down at her hands thinking of that morning on the ship when she was embarrassed to even let her stomach be seen. Looking at her warrior dressphere she sighed knowing how different she was. She had cut her silver hair and now wore it differently instead of her old long braid. Her hands however were still gloved. She removed the gloves and saw that she still wore the silver bracelet Baralai had given her for her birthday two years ago. She felt a pang of sadness; two years ago the Squad was still together. Two years ago Nooj hadn't betrayed them. She shook off her thinking and went down to her cabin. She walked inside and put on her Pajamas. She went to sleep thinking about Baralai, about how he must hate her now because of what she did.

(Near the ocean with Gippal and Rikku)

"Well what do think? About Yuna and Tidus I mean?" Gippal asked the blonde who was now in her bikini and walking into the water. "Hey Cid's girl be careful you never know what might try and hurt you!" He called laughing as she stuck her tongue out at him and continued wadeing.

Gippal stripped down to his swim trunks and he slowly waded into the water going under as he got close to Rikku. He grabbed her ankle making her scream and jump out of the water. HE got up laughing as she was now completely wet and shivering.

"NEVER DO THAT AGAIN GIPPAL!" She screamed, however she was laughing too.

"Beside who cares about Yunie and Blondie any ways? That's old news! What about Paine and that praetor dude, Baralai, is it? You can tell they have the hots for each other!" she said laughing at the thought of serious Paine ever having a crush on someone.

Gippal looked up surprised that she was asking his advise. "Well um I dunno' he's liked her back when the Squad was still around actually since she became our recorder. He gave her a bracelet he made in Bevelle." Gippal sighed thinking about his own feeling for the blonde sitting across from him in the water. "I guess you could say that there old news too." He chuckled.

"Oh well I didn't know her back then!" She said punching him in the shoulder. "Besides they would be so cute together!" She said in her "girl" voice.

"Yeah" Gippal said smiling they're both no fun AND they take things way too seriously!" He laughed as Rikku looked shocked.

"Hey you big meanie!" She scolded "You couldn't get a girlfriend even if you tried!"

He grabbed her waist and pulled her close to his face."Oh really? Well then I guess I wont tell you what I was about to." He let her go knowing that she would want to know.

"OH POOPIE! Hey um Gippal, I didn't mean it, please tell me!" She said wanting to know.

"Promise to be nice Cid's girl?" He asked with a smirk.

"Cross my heart and hope to die!" Rikku said laughing. But she stopped when his face got serious.

"Well since we were on the subject of crushes I was thinking of telling you mine since well –" He leaned in and kissed her full on the lips. Shocked Rikku didn't know what to do at first but then she realized that for the first time in her life she felt right, even if she was clumsy.

(A/N Okay I wasn't going to add this in but it's for a friend who is obsessed with Rikku and Gippal.)

(THE NEXT MORNING)

Baralai saw that Paine was walking towards the beach so he decided to catch up with her, today was the day he was going to tell her, no matter what.

"Hey Paine look I've been meaning to tell you this for a long time but, I love you." He practiced in his head. No that wouldn't work, she didn't even like him.

By the time he reached the beach he saw that Paine was there already and not to mention that but she was locking lips with none other then that blonde haired guy lady Yuna was supposed to be with.

"TIDUS!" He yelled and raised his staff.

(A/n A HAHAHHA that is it for now review s'il vous plais!)