Disclaimer: I haven't stuck one of these in for awhile, so.. I don't own these characters, or locations, just the idea.

Thanks to those of you who keep reading and reviewing! Means a lot to me, you guys rock. Hope you like it.

Rikku's POV

I looked towards the voice calling me Cid's girl. Even before I saw him I knew who it had to be. Only one arrogant person called me Cid's girl, and the thought of him made my skin crawl. And to think I used to date him.

Gippal continued walking towards me until he stopped directly in front of me. He was staring at me as if he had never seen me before.

I merely glared up at him, too dizzy and a bit too confused to say anything.

"You look sick. What's wrong?" He asked, with really no actual care showing in his voice.

"Nothing, just leave me alone Gippal." I stood up and was about to walk away when the world seemed to spin, I lost balance, and fell into Gippal. His arms seemed to instinctively wrap around me and while I felt disgusted, I also felt comfortable. It didn't make sense. I didn't want to be held my Gippal, I wanted to be held by Paine. I only felt comfortable because I was finally being held.

"I knew you'd fall for me again," came Gippal's 'witty' remark.

I just rolled my eyes. "Gippal, ssstop. Lissten, you and I we can- we can nevour be togezzer again." I was struggling to speak.

"Jeeze kid, are you drunk?" He asked me, his voice full of mockery.

I just stared into his face, still leaning against him.

"Why can't we be together, Rikku?" He said my name for once when asking this, and he actually sounded a bit worried.

"I'm in love with someone else." I said simply, not saying who.

"Who, who do you love?" He now looked murderous.

"I'm not telling you!" I didn't trust telling him.

The next thing I knew I was being kissed very roughly and forcefully. I tried to pull away, but couldn't. All it did was make us move a bit.

Then I found myself leaning into the kiss. It just felt so good to be held, and so good to be kissed. I kept thinking about Paine, wondering if she'd ever have me.

And thinking about Paine is what gave me the strength to finally push Gippal off.

"Gip.. Gippal. Get- get off."

I stumbled and fell right back against him. I was silently cursing myself for drinking so much.

In a flash I found myself leaning on a completely different person. It was Paine. I realized this and blushed, but it was dark and hopefully she didn't notice.

Gippal was laying on the ground supporting a bloody nose. The sight of that made me strangely happy. Paine was yelling at him and calling him a dirty pig. I felt safe and cared about next to Paine.

Then Paine wrapped her arm around me and we began to walk away. Gippal was saying something, but I couldn't concentrate enough to listen.

Then I felt guilty. Earlier I had yelled at Paine for what she did, yet here she was saving me from that scoundrel. I had to apologize to her.

"Paine," I began, unsure of myself, "Paine, I'm sorry."

She just told me not to talk. It made me kind of mad. I was trying to apologize and she was shushing me.

We entered a small inn and I leaned against the wall as Paine paid. Then she took a hold of me again and took me into the room.

She was setting me on the bed when I tried again. "Paine, listen, I'm sorry I got mad at you."

She told me to stop, saying I had to reason to say sorry. She was on the floor undoing my boots. I still wanted to say sorry, but I figured she wouldn't listen anyways. Now I was preoccupied with the fact that Paine was taking care of me, which had to mean she cared about me, it just had to.

Then she asked me what I wanted to do being I had nothing to wear to bed, and before I knew it I asked if she would mind if I slept nude. I instantly mentally slapped myself and turned a slight shade of pink, but luckily Paine ducked her head at that moment and didn't see. She said she wouldn't mind.

Now I had no choice but to take my clothes off. In truth, I had always liked to sleep nude, but hadn't been able to in a very long time. It's a lot more comfortable to sleep that way.

I took off my clothes, piece my piece, struggling a bit as I still couldn't concentrate very well. I didn't look at Paine once the whole time. Finally I was done. I looked at Paine who was staring at a painting, looking determined not to look at me.

She looked so cute and frustrated. The mischievous part of me, which is pretty much all of me, wanted to frustrate her more.

"Now it's your turn, Paine," I said in the sexiest voice I could muster.

I stood up and walked towards her, smirking mischievously. I found myself not only wanting to frustrate Paine, but really wanting her. She had been there for me that night, and I cared about her, and oddly enough, her frustrated look got to me a bit, in a way nobody had ever really gotten to me.

I reached out and started unbuckling her outfit. It hadn't originally been part of my plan, but I still found myself doing it anyways. I just wasn't thinking anymore. I just wanted Paine.

"I said it's your turn," I said, slurring a bit again.

Then she told me to stop, telling me I was drunk. She looked away from me.

For a small moment I did nothing. And then, as if my heart were speaking instead of me, I said, "But Paine, I love you."

Paine looked back at me and stared into my eyes. I stared back. I saw confusion in those crimson spheres, and unless I was mistaken, I saw love as well.

Suddenly the room was spinning and I fell against Paine. The room went black.

I woke up the next morning to the muffled sound of Luca's usual roar of people. A small ray of light was shining through the curtains on the window. I sat up and looked around, wondering where I was. My head was pounding painfully.

In a chair by the wall I saw Paine sleeping, not at all looking comfortable. Suddenly the events of the previous night flooded back to me.

"Vilg!" I said out loud. Tears were coming to my eyes. I figured now that I did that, and now that I told Paine I loved her she'd probably hate me. Then I wondered if I could have just lied and said it was only because I was drunk that I said that.

I couldn't help myself and soon tears were spilling down my cheeks as I cried softly. Even though I was being that loud, Paine stirred from her sleep.

"Rikku," said her voice softly, making me cry more. "Are you okay? What's wrong?"

I merely sobbed in response, burying my head in my knees.

"Rikku," I felt her sit next to me on the bed. "Rikku, what is wrong?" She sounded genuinely concerned.

I looked up at her and saw her staring at me with a caring look upon her face. "I'm s-sorry," I sobbed.

"For what?" She asked, looking confused.

"I didn't me-mean to s-say those things last-last night. I don't know wh-why I said th-them."

I may have been imagining things, but Paine looked a little saddened.

"Okay." Was all she said, and for what seemed like hours, but was probably only a few minutes we sat there in silence, except for me crying.

"So you didn't mean it?" She said quietly.

"N-..N-n-no," I stuttered, finding it hard to lie like that.

"Oh." She was silent again. Then suddenly she stood up off the bed and walked out the door, grabbing her sword on the way.

"P-paine...?"

There you go, hope you liked it! Don't worry, they'll be together soon, maybe. grin