Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy or anything like that. This disclaimer counts across the whole of the stroy, because I'm not writing it out again.

Again, I apologise for characters acting out of character. And for the short chapter lengths. On the other hand, I do tend to upload eleven chapters in one go, so...

REVIEWS ROCK! (Oh, and please tell me when I spelt 'Calm' as 'Clam' - my stupid spell checker doesn't pick up on it).

Dedicated to Auron's fan for helping me come up with the names, Ariescelestial for being so nice, SummonerShion3and Shadrayfor loving this story and Tidus04 because i like him just the way he is. Don't ever change you guys (though if you want to, i completely support your desicion in every way).

Also, ironically dedicated to Ryancola, without whose constant arguing against the basic idea this story would never have been written. Heheh.Thanks.

Chapter 1

It was sunny in Besaid, as it always was. Rikku grinned up at the sky as she stepped off the SS. Winno. She was twenty-four now, and a lot had happened in those seven years since she, Yuna and Paine had defeated Vegnagun. She herself had started working at the dig site in the Bikanel desert. She'd been there since she'd turned twenty, when Brother had unceremoniously kicked her off the airship. No, that wasn't true. When Brother had gotten married he had simply lost interest in trailing the sky, especially with a child on the way. Buddy had also lost interest, finding it much more preferable to work as a diplomat. His time spent bargaining with people during that time they were the 'friendly neighbourhood Gullwings' had been so much fun that he now did that for a living, arguing with people to get the deal he wanted.

The airship herself had been worn out anyway. Though Rikku had wanted it, even she had agreed to leave it to Shinra, so he could work out how it was put together. And, of course, how to improve it. Shinra was a young man of nineteen now. He was based in the Mi'ihen highroad, tinkering with Machina all day long. Rin sponsored him, so he'd never had to earn money in any other way. It was probably Rin who got the best of the deal. Shinra's Comm Spheres were now a worldwide means of communication, and the garment grid was in daily use.

Paine now lived in Luca. She'd bought that Café in the square, where Tidus had run into Auron again. Rikku had been there on a number of occasions. In fact, she ate there at least once a month. Travel was a little harder now, without the Celsius, but the Machine Faction had the best transport in Spira.

Yuna and Tidus had gotten married, very shortly after Vegnagun. It was right here, on Besaid beach in fact, that they had tied the knot. Looking at the white sands, Rikku couldn't help thinking back to that day. She'd been a bridesmaid, along with Paine, who, when it came right down to it, didn't hate it that much. She'd flatly refused to wear pink though. Yuna had looked so happy and beautiful. Tidus too. Well, handsome rather than beautiful. Happy though. Shortly after that, their daughter, Lenne, had been born. In the five years since, she had grown into a cute little girl, with her mother's features and hair colour, but, her father maintained, her grandfathers nose. And of course her dad's blitzballing skills. Tidus and Yuna's other daughter, Aura, was born two years after Lenne, and so was three years old now. She was shyer than Lenne, and preferred her mother's calm and comforting nature to her father's playfulness. Aura had Jecht's dark hair, but Yuna's bi-coloured eyes. Rikku remembered Shinra being a little surprised at this. He had been studying genetics at the time, and he'd claimed it wasn't possible. Then Tidus pointed out that he, Tidus, was dream of the fayth, and Shinra went away to look at astrological charts instead.

Looking over the sands, Rikku saw Lenne running towards her, holding on to Tidus's hand, little Vidina running after them. Tidus, when it came right down to it, had been a good father. Better than her own, at least. Tidus absolutely doted on Lenne, and couldn't deny her anything. And she in turn, adored him. She was a real daddy's girl.

"Aunty!" She called as she ran. "Aunty Kiku!" Rikku couldn't help but smile at that. When Lenne had first learned to talk she couldn't pronounce the 'R' in Rikku, and as she'd got older she hadn't even tried. Tidus released Lenne's hand, and the small girl threw herself at Rikku, hugging her, and almost knocking her over.

"Hi Lenne!" Said Rikku to the small girl wrapped around her waist.

"Hi Rikku," said Tidus as he got closer. Lenne released Rikku's waist and instead grabbed her hand.

"Hey Tidus. How's Yuna? And Aura? Hello Vidina!"

"Hello,"

Vidina was a little shy. He had Wakka's hair and mouth, but as he grew older his eyes had darkened until they matched Lulu's. He was a serious boy, quiet and calm.

"They're fine," said Tidus, smiling. Lenne, Rikku, Vidina and Tidus began walking up towards Besaid village.

In Besaid, Yuna, Aura, Wakka and Lulu were waiting for her. The whole afternoon was spent in playing with the kids, eating, and generally having a good time. It wasn't until that evening that Rikku and Yuna managed some quiet time to themselves. They decided to go for a walk along the waterfall way. As Yuna tried to leave, Aura grabbed onto her skirt and wouldn't let go, but Lenne eventually managed to distract her.

Finally the cousins managed to leave. They chatted as they walked away from the village, Yuna talking about Aura and Lenne, and Rikku listening. She loved Yuna's children, really she did, but she still didn't quite understand how mothers could find every single little thing their offspring did fascinating. Lulu had been the same.

Then they talked about their time together as Gullwings. Yuna asked after Brother and his wife. It had surprised everyone when Brother got together with Calli, the girl who loved Chocobos, but they did work well together. Their daughter, Muja, was four years old now, and could already ride a chocobo as well as any adult.

They had just reached the beach and were discussing Gippal - Rikku maintained she didn't like him, and Yuna thought she did – when it happened.

There was a noise that started softly and got louder. Yuna and Rikku looked up, puzzled. There was something…falling? Something metallic, rolling over and over as it came down towards them. Yuna and Rikku both dived out of the way as it hit.

Eventually, Rikku looked up. The metal thing was around seven foot square, and it had a door in the side of it. The door was open and a woman was lying halfway through it. Both Yuna and Rikku stood up to help her.

The woman looked to be around thirty, and was dressed simply in dark colours. Her eyes were closed.

"Hello? Can you hear me?" asked Yuna.

The woman's eyes opened a little, and she nodded.

"We'll get you out of there," said Rikku.

"My…my son…." Gasped the older woman.

"Your son?" Asked Rikku. She looked into the metal room. Inside she saw a baby, strapped into a special seat. While Yuna gently pulled the woman out of the metal thing, Rikku stepped inside and unstrapped the baby. He had dark hair, and enormous dark eyes. He chuckled happily as she picked him up, and grabbed for a fistful of her hair. Rikku disentangled his hand, and carried him out, onto the beach. She laid him down next to his mother. Yuna, facing her across the woman's body gasped at something behind her. Turning Rikku saw the metal thing crumble to dust, dust that was soon scattered by the wind.

Both Rikku and Yuna turned to ask the woman a question, but she had slipped into unconsciousness. Instead, they carried her and the baby between them, all the back to Besaid village. They installed her in Yuna's spare room, and then filled in Tidus, Lulu and Wakka. They agreed to wait until morning.

That night, tossing and turning on a hastily made up sofa bed, Rikku had to wonder. What was happening to Spira now?