Disclaimer: I do not own FFX-2!

"…" character's speech

'…' character's thoughts

(…) my rambling

Note: Hello everyone! How are you doing! Wanna thank you all for the lovely reviews you readers left me! Special thanx to:

oOoDancingQueenoOo: Thank you for the review! You're such a lovely person! Oh and yep, I've always seen Gippal as a sweet Al Bhed guy, so expect him to be a nice boy from here on :)

Back of Beyond: LOL! I don't know if you're going to be disappointed with my fic from here on, because you may expect some more cheesiness in the chapters ahead! So I'm warning you now, in cause you want to stop reading. But I thank you for all the reviews you left me! Thank you for being a wonderful reader and I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter, despite the cheesiness :)

green-eyed-blonde: I could have made Gippal like Jaxxy, but that wouldn't fit the fic right? It's suppose to be a Rikku and Gippal story and I intend to keep it that way. So don't worry, there wont be a love triangle in this fic! Thank you for the review!

LilChibiLai: Thank you for reviewing my fic and I'm glad you enjoy Rikku and Gippal as a couple! Oh, and yes we all love it when Gippal gets protective around Rikku, besides she deserves his attention, doesn't she? About the suggestions you made, I may take it into consideration. But since I have already written chapter 7, I may use your ideas later on.

Jezzi: Thank you for the lovely review! I'm glad you liked that jacket thing. I didn't plan it to be like that, it just came out as I typed down the fic. I'm glad that the idea worked out and that you enjoyed it!

FufuChan: Thank you for reading and leaving me a review!So here is chapter 7, sorry for making you wait that long! Hope you enjoy it :)

neko56: Thank you for reading my fic! Yep, Jaxxy isn't really a bad person, wish I could have put her in another situation in the fic.

Thank you once again for leaving me a review! Here is chapter 7 and I am so sorry for the long delay! Oh, and please don't forget to leave me a review in the end, thank you! Have a nice reading :)

Chapter 7

Rikku woke up to the sound of bustling and rumbling coming from outside of the bedroom door. Groaning she covered her head with the pillow, but now that she was awake she couldn't fall back asleep. She should be used to it by now. Everyday Rikku woke up because of the crowd outside that came to D'jose Temple to work on the machinas. It was hard to sleep with all the commotion and noise. Seriously, who needed a alarm clock when you had all this noise! Giving up, Rikku thrust her blanket away and sat up.

Stretching her arms wide open while yawning, Rikku's gaze roamed around the room until it settled upon Gippal' bed, that strangely had a big bump occupied on it. Curious, Rikku slowly got up from her bed, to tiptoe her way toward the other side of the room. She carefully made her way quietly toward Gippal's bed, and slowly began to peel away the blanket that covered the bump.

To her surprise it was Gippal sleeping. That was strange, he was usually the first one to wake up and the last one to sleep. What was he doing here still sleeping in his bed? Gippal suddenly groaned, as if he was in pain, and slowly shifted his position until his face was facing up. Rikku then noticed that he was red, she took her hand and gently put it on top of his forehead to discover that he was burning.

"Poor boy." Rikku whispered silently to herself. "He must have gotten ill because of the rain." She reasoned.

Hurriedly, Rikku changed into her clothes silently, and quickly headed toward the kitchen. She had to prepare him something so that he would get better, it was the least she could do. As Rikku reemerged from the kitchen she looked at the crowd and sighed. They were making too much noise.

"Everyone!" Rikku called out while calling the attention of the crowd. "Please keep it down. Gippal is sick and he needs to rest! So if you could maintain the noise level down I would greatly appreciate it!"

Everyone nodded their heads and corporate by whispering while talking or by avoiding making loud noises when fixing the machinas. Rikku smiled. They were all sweethearts! Not wasting any more time, Rikku carried the tray into the bedroom, and slowly closed the door behind her silently. She then settled the things on top of a table.

Rikku then gently shock Gippal's shoulder. His eyes slowly opened to gaze at her weakly. He smiled, even though she stared at him with a worried face.

"Good morning Cid's girl." He greeted, feeling really tired.

"Morning Gippal." Rikku replied back before bringing a bowl of soup to his side. "Drink this, it'll make you feel better."

Gippal stared at the transparent soup and looked back up at her. "Breakfast in bed. That's a pleasant surprise." Gippal spoke with a smirk.

Rikku rolled her eyes. Even though he was ill he could still joke and smirk at her. Unbelievable! Wasn't there ever a time when he would just take a break?

Gippal slowly sat up on his bed, while Rikku handed him the bowl of soup. "Careful there. It's hot." Rikku warned as she gave him the spoon.

Gippal smiled at her worrisome. He didn't know this motherly part existed in Rikku. Although he hated to be treated like a kid, he was actually enjoying all the attention she was giving him. Rikku then adjusted his pillow, so that Gippal would be comfortable while he sat.

Slowly, Gippal stirred the soup, before taking a sip. It did taste good, even though it looked a bit strange. He had the feeling that he had already tasted this soup before. Then Gippal remembered, it was the same soup Rikku's mother had prepared when he was invited for dinner. That was a long time ago, when he was only 7 years old, and the same year when Rikku lost her dear mother to an accident. Gippal knew that Rikku loved her mother dearly, and this soup was one of the ways she kept her mother inside of her heart.

After he finished the soup, Rikku took the bowl away and demanded that he drank her special remedy. She then handed him a cup, and inside there was a thick green liquid, which did not look or smell pleasant at all.

"I'm not drinking it." Gippal stated as he handed the cup back.

Rikku frowned as she pushed the cup back right at him. "It's going to help you." She explained.

"The soup was fine Cid's girl, but this! Look at it! It even smells like a fiend!" Gippal complained, feeling disgusted by the thing in his hand.

Rikku laughed. "Don't be such a whiny baby Gippal. It'll make you feel better."

"I doubt that." Gippal replied, as his stomach churned.

"Come on Gippal. It won't hurt you, besides it's an old family remedy, made by my mother. I know it looks horrible but impressively, it actually works." Rikku explained while giving him a assuring smile. "Besides you don't wanna be ill, right?"

Gippal groaned, knowing that Rikku was right. He hated being sick, it made him feel so vulnerable. Well he had no other choice but to drink this damn thing that she called a remedy. Besides it couldn't be that bad, could it? Gippal gazed at Rikku who gave him an encouraging smile, while doubting if this thing would actually work.

Giving up, Gippal slowly clamped his nose with his fingers, while closing his eyes tightly. He brought his lips to the cup and quickly drained the thick liquid down his throat. He gulped hard to feel the sickening taste travel down his body, as he pulled the cup away once it was empty. He handed the cup back to Rikku, who inspected the cup and smiled to know that all the liquid was gone.

"This thing tastes terrible! How can you even drink it!" Gippal complained as he wiped his mouth.

"I didn't." Was her simple reply.

"What!" Gippal asked in disbelief as he stared at the Al Bhed girl.

"I didn't." Rikku replied with a smile. "I would usually throw the drink away into a nearby vase, while my mother was distracted with something else."

Gippal stared at her with a frown. "You tricked me into drinking this stuff, telling me it works, when you actually don't know if it's true!"

Rikku laughed. "Yep."

He groaned at his foolishness, but smiled anyways to hear Rikku laughing. Her laughs were music to his ears, and besides he couldn't get angry at her even if he wanted, it was just the way she was. The way he liked and enjoyed Rikku to be, the cheerful Al Bhed girl everyone knew. With a sigh, he felt tired, and slowly laid back down onto his bed.

Rikku slowly stopped her laughing to assist him with his pillow and blanket. She then grabbed a dry towel and soaked it into the water before carefully putting it on top of Gippal's forehead. Rikku smiled at him before grabbing a nearby chair and sitting beside his bed, while she tenderly watched him fall asleep.

...o...

Gippal woke up to feel that his pain was gone. He then looked around the lit room to find Rikku asleep on the chair beside his bed, while her hand was linked to his own hand that laid on top of his stomach. She had stayed here close by to watch over him? He couldn't believe her, but yet he smiled widely in happiness. Gippal then carefully sat up, while trying his best in not waking the Al Bhed girl up. He slowly brought his free hand toward his forehead and found out that his fever was gone. What would you know, that remedy did work after all!

Gippal smiled. Thanks to Rikku he was feeling much better. Slowly then he kissed her hand in gratitude before getting up from his bed. He gently picked Rikku up from the chair and settled her into her own bed, while he covered her up with a blanket. Gippal gazed at the angel that peacefully slept. His hands absently caressed her face, as he smiled down at her. She was indeed an amazing girl.

"Well lets see how everyone else is doing outside." Gippal whispered to himself before turning around.

Gippal was about to step forward when he felt something holding him back. He looked down toward his shirt to find that Rikku's hand was holding it tightly. Gippal smirked.

"Don't want me to leave huh, Cid's girl?" He questioned in surprise.

Although she didn't respond back since she was sleeping, Gippal carefully sat onto the little space available on Rikku's bed. He then gently pulled her bangs away from her eyes, and softly planted a kiss upon her forehead. Suddenly a small smile formed upon her beautiful lips, making Gippal blush but smile anyways.