Disclaimer: I do not own FFX-2!

"…" character's speech

'…' character's thoughts

(…) my rambling

Note: Hello everyone! School is almost coming to an end! Yeah! That means I'll have much more time to spend in this fic! I don't guarantee that I'll be updating much quicker during the vacations, but at least I'll try!

Thank you all for those wonderful reviews written by:

oOoDancingQueenoOo: Yep they are allperverts! Thankyou for reading my fic since the first chapter! You are wonderful!

Black RoseReina: Thanx for thegreat review!I'm glad that I did transmit theemotion of unityin the last chapter!

Da KeR MysTeRr: Thanx and here is the update! Hope you enjoy this chapter!

green-eyed-blonde: LOL! Yep it would be funny if they would getkicked, but as you said it yourself, it wouldn't fit thechapter. But still it would be nice and I'll try to make something funny in the nextchapters ahead. Thanx for the review!

asga: Thank you for the simplereview! Hope you enjoy this chapter!

Jen:Thank you for wishing me luck in my tests!Here is the update and I hope you'll enjoy it!

Jezzi:Thank you for your review! Hope you enjoy the next chapter!

neko56: I'mglad that you enjoy this cutecouple as well! Thank you for your great review!

yuki: Thank you for the wonderful review! I'm glad that you think Gippal can be a caring and loving person, cause he really is (in my point-of-view of course)!Hopeyou enjoy the next chapter!

DarkednShadow: Thank you for your review! I'm glad to know that you enjoy my fic!

Back of Beyond: LOL! Thank you for the nice review!

What would you know, so I didhave the chance to write each reader an individual message! Thank you so much for reviewing, you are all such wonderful people! So enjoy this chapter and leave me a review in the end! Thank you :)

Chapter 6

The hover's engine roared with life, as Gippal patted the old machina with a satisfied smile. "There you go, Jaxxy, all fixed and ready to run." Gippal announced as he saw the woman approach.

Jaxxy, an Al Bhed woman around Gippal's age, with short wavy blond hair, smiled. She then slowly inspected the hover and found that there was nothing to complain of. Of course there wasn't, Gippal was brilliant with machinas, she didn't know why she even bothered to inspect. With a smile, Jaxxy turned to face the Al Bhed man, who now smirked at her, knowing that she felt foolish to doubt his excellent work.

"Well, what can I say." Jaxxy spoke with a grin. "You did it, again."

Gippal only shrugged his shoulders before smiling. "That was nothing really."

Jaxxy laughed. "Ah, Gippal you're being modest. Since when?" She mocked.

Gippal only chuckled before putting his equipments away into the box. "I've always been modest Jax."

She only laughed at his statement before helping him. "So how much do I owe you?" She asked.

Gippal closed the bag and stood up straight to look at the lady with a smile. "I told you Jax, I'm not charging you."

She sighed before taking her wallet out from behind her pocket. "Come on Gippal, you can cut the act of being a modest man for now. How much do I owe you?"

"Seriously Jax. My service was free of charge." Gippal insisted as he slowly covered her hand, preventing her from opening her wallet. "It's free."

She smiled at his generosity and slowly shock her head. "You must be kidding Gippal. I made you come all the way down here to Mihen Road, to fix seven broken hovers, and you're not charging me for anything?"

Gippal only smirked. "Yeah, that's right." She looked at him in disbelief. He seemed so different, somehow changed.

Jaxxy then smiled. "At least let me offer you a fresh cool drink. You must be thirsty after a long work under this burning sun."

Gippal smiled. "Alright then. That, I will accept."

Both of them walked into the agency, where Jaxxy worked in. She was the assistant manager of the Al Bhed who decided to use hovers as a way of transportation to take people around the Mihen Road. Although being an Al Bhed, she wasn't really skilled in fixing machinas, her real area was in digging the Bikanel Desert for any treasures. Even though she loved machinas, Jaxxy didn't have the ability to fix them, and so she decided to call upon Gippal for his help.

Gippal took his time in looking around the decorated agency, as he found himself interested at some of the pictures that were hanged upon the walls. Jaxxy, who was occupied in the kitchen, reentered later in the room with a tray, carrying a jug of lemonade juice with two cups. She then settled the tray upon the counter, and slowly filled the two cups with the drink. Gippal thanked her when she offered him his cup, and quickly took the drink that refreshed his dry throat.

"So Gippal what have you been doing lately?" Jaxxy questioned curiously.

"The same old thing. Working with machinas in D'jose Temple and commanding the digs in Bikanel Desert. That pretty much sums it all up." Gippal spoke as he took another sip of his drink.

Jaxxy softly laughed before gazing up at Gippal, while he was distracted with his drink. She suddenly couldn't help but to find him irresistible. Was it only her impression or was Gippal really changing to become a different man from what he used to be before. He was always handsome, but now he looked so much more charming and sexy. Jaxxy found herself blushing.

"Do you enjoy your new work Jax?" Gippal asked as he settled his cup upon the counter.

Jaxxy quickly brushed her thoughts away as she smiled. "Yeah, it's fine. Although I prefer digging, I wanted to try something new. Working in the agency isn't that bad, at least I receive a decent pay."

Gippal nodded in understanding. "Any plans for the future?"

Jaxxy shock her head and smiled. "Not really. I think I'll stay around here for a bit longer until I find another vocation." She explained, remembering all her moving around to find something she really enjoyed. "You know Gippal, we should do this more often, catch up with things. It really has been a long time. When was the last time we met? Two years ago, or maybe three?"

Gippal thought before answering. "It has been exactly three years and a half since we last saw each other."

"That long, huh." Jaxxy smiled and recalled the old days. "Do you miss it?" She suddenly asked.

Gippal gazed at her and saw her eyes sparkle suddenly. "Yeah, it was fun being a kid."

Jaxxy only shock her head with a soft smile. "I'm not talking about that Gippal. I'm talking about us." She emphasized. "Do you miss our relationship? Do you miss me?"

Feeling uncomfortable, Gippal slowly stepped back, but was surprised when Jaxxy slowly laid her hands upon his chest and approached. She leaned forward and smiled up at him while her hands crawled upward to his shoulders and around his neck. Jaxxy was now smiling seductively, while her eyes roamed over his mouth, as her tongue licked her lips wet.

"Look Jaxxy, I'm sorry, but I..." Gippal was cut off when Jaxxy shushed him with her finger.

She leaned closerwith a mischief smile. "Do you want to know what I've missed?" She asked with a husky voice.

Not wanting to damage their friendship, Gippal slowly grabbed her hands away from him, as he gently pushed her away. He then seriously gazed at her. "Jaxxy, I'm sorry, but I don't feel the same."

"Don't be shy Gippal." Jaxxy spoke trying to reassure him that it was alright. "I won't bite you. I just want to kiss you." With that she tried to approach again, but he backed away from her.

"Jaxxy, listen to me. I'm sorry if I did something to lead you on, but there is nothing here." Gippal explained. "What we had was lost years ago. We are friends now Jaxxy. Only friends." He emphasized.

She looked at him incredulously. She was offering herself completely to him and all Gippal does was reject her? That was a surprise, and that only proved to her how little she knew of him.

Looking confused, Jaxxy gazed at his eye and tried to see if he was lying or anything, but instead found out that he was only speaking the truth.

Jaxxy then backed away uncomfortably, feeling embarrassed as she avoided Gippal's gaze. "Well, I feel stupid." She silently spoke, while laughing at herself for being an idiot. "How can I be such a big fool!"

"No Jax, you're not a fool." Gippal spoke as he held her shoulders.

"No Gippal, I was stupid to think that you would want me back! Of course you wouldn't!" Jaxxy replied as she shock her head in regret for making a move. "Who would want a girl like me anyways." She silently whispered to herself.

"Hey don't say that Jax. Look at me." Gippal softly demanded, as she slowly brought her gaze up. "Any man in Spira would die to have you in his arms! You are intelligent, beautiful, and a sexy Al Bhed girl." Gippal spoke with a smirk.

Jaxxy laughed. "Any man in Spira, except for you." She spoke with a sad smile.

Gippal nodded his head. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry you prat!" Jaxxy spoke with a light smile. "It's ok, I understand."

Gippal smiled back before he kissed her forehead and backed away. "Well I gotta go. Still have loads of work to do. Are we still friends?"

"Of course we are." She quickly replied. "We will always be friends."

Gippal smiled widely to hear her answer. "So I'll see ya around Jax."

"Yeah Gippal. I'll see you around." She replied back before he waved and left the agency.

Jaxxy looked at the closed door before sighing. She lost her chance with him years ago, and the only thing left now was regret that she ever let him leave. What could she do anyway? Jaxxy somehow knew that she wasn't the one Gippal really wanted, it was another AL Bhed girl, a girl that had stolen his heart away a long time ago.

...o...

Rikku softly sighed, leaning against the doorway, which was the entrance toward D'jose Temple. She watched the heavy rain pour down from the dark sky, as she stood there waiting for his return. Gippal hadn't taken his airship, since the engine wasn't working and he hadn't found a time to fix it, so the only way to transport himself from one place to another was by walking and taking a ride with one of his friends.

"What's taking him so long." Rikku complained to herself silently, while feeling worried for Gippal's safety.

Rikku shifted her position as she continued to look up ahead for any sign of the AL Bhed man. D'jose Temple was already deserted. Everyone who worked in the temple had left for their home, leaving her alone with the machinas in the gloomy temple. She wondered how Gippal could live here all alone in this scary and empty place without anyone for a company. Rikku really felt uncomfortable and lonely in this dark temple, she preferred the temple when it was packed with people during the day.

Suddenly she saw a blurry form appearing from under the heavy rain, and a smile quickly graced her face. Rikku knew exactly who it was. Hurriedly she grabbed an umbrella and headed her way toward the Al Bhed man, greeting him with a warm smile while he headed his way to the temple. Rikku covered the soaked man with her umbrella, as Gippal slowly stopped on his track to gaze up at her.

Surprised, Rikku looked at him worriedly. Although Gippal smiled at her, she could read his sad expression. "What's wrong?" Rikku inquired.

His smile softened. So she could read his expression huh? So much for trying to hide his true emotions with a smile. Well he could tell Rikku the truth, but that would only worry her, besides it wasn't a big deal. Actually it was a bit foolish. He was worried that he might have hurt Jaxxy's feelings, even though they cleared things up, he didn't mean to push her away. Gippal still hoped that they were friends like before.

"Gippal, are you ok?" Rikku tried again as she truly looked worried.

It didn't matter now about feeling guilty. He didn't want to make this beautiful Al Bhed girl in front of him feel worried, when there was really nothing to worry about. He smiled reassuring at her, while brushing away all his worries about Jaxxy. He should be worrying about the future now.

"I'm perfectly fine Cid's girl, except that I'm all wet." Gippal replied with a smirk upon his face.

Rikku's breath caught as she suddenly began to blush hard. There he stood looking so charmingly wet! The raindrops were tracing through his handsome face, while his wet hair fell over his eye. Much of his clothes were almost transparent because of the rain, making it possible for Rikku to see right through his clothes to gaze at his strong body. She gasped to find his smirk forming upon his lips, making Gippal so sexy.

Rikku began to step away, seeing that she couldn't maintain her calm, but was stopped when Gippal held her hand that grabbed the umbrella.

"Wait Cid's girl, you're letting the rain fall back down at me again." He explained while he pulled her back closer to him.

Rikku furiously blushed once again, as she was inches away from him. "We better get inside then." Rikku reasoned, as she began to back away again, not taking the sudden heat swarming inside her body.

Gippal chuckled. "Yeah, you're right, I'm freezing out here."

She then gazed at his trembling body and felt guilty in not noticing that he was really cold. Instead she had been staring at his body like a fool, how inconsiderate of her part. Feeling a bit guilty, Rikku quickly took her jacket off to cover him up. At least that would warm him up for now.

Surprised, he watched as she slowly adjusted her small jacket onto his wet shoulders. He couldn't help but to admire her for her kind gesture. Rikku was one special girl indeed.

"Come on." Rikku spoke smiling. "Lets go back home."

Gippal looked up from her face to the big old temple. He smiled. It was good to be back home. Everything he had fought for over the past few years were now reward. He had D'jose Temple as a house and as a working place for the Al Bhed people and their machinas. He became the leader of the Machine Faction and constructed a respected place for his group in Spira. Yeah, it was good to be home, with this beautiful Al Bhed lady by his side.

No, he wouldn't feel guilty. How could he feel guilty when he had striven for something more. He would not regret in leaving Jaxxy for his real dreams, for what he truly wanted. He would not regret in leaving when he still had a dream to fulfill.

"Home." Gippal whispered. "It's good to be home."