A/n: First off I want to apologize for the tardiness of this chapter. I knew what I wanted to do, but just could not seem to get it out. My muse had another idea for a fic. (I was uninspired for this one.) But I won't be posting that until AFTER this is done. And we are almost there too.

Word of warning, this is not up to par, at least I don't think so. So please excuse the crappyness of it all. I tried to force my muse to work before you all forgot about me.

Auron woke up the next day to see Rikku lying next to him. Her legs were tangled in the sheets as her head lay on his chest. She had fallen asleep the night before by crying herself to sleep. Slowly he removed himself from under her, careful not to wake the sleeping beauty. He grabbed his robe and wrapped it around him tying it around his waist. Was last night all a dream? He knew they didn't do anything; he was a man of his word. Cid had warned him not to do anything inappropriate with his daughter, and he hadn't. Not that he knew of. A little kissing and fondling, but was that too far? Would Rikku regret it when she awoke?

He shook his head to get the thoughts out. He picked up some clean clothes and left her to get a shower. He stripped off what little he wore and waited until the water was hot enough. As he stepped in it felt like tiny pinpricks on his skin. He washed his hair and body before standing under the stream just letting his thoughts wash down the drain with the water.

Then something hit him. What if he were to ask Rikku for her hand in marriage? Would Cid accept? He quickly turned off the water and dried himself off. He dressed and brushed his hair before leaving the bathroom. He checked on Rikku and left a note saying where he would be. It was time to talk to Cid.

He passed several Al Bhed as he walked. Many of them looked at him with a sort of sympathy as he walked by. One or two gave him a dirty look though. Those must have been the ones who had not heard about what happened at the trial. He ignored them as he knocked on Cid's door. Kyo answered it and opened wide to allow the warrior passage.

"Vydran has been waiting for you. Said he wanted to dim to you."

"Thank you. He is in his office now I suppose?"

Kyo nodded as he walked away to do something else. Auron's black boots made no noise as he stepped across the carpet to the office door. He knocked twice and waited for a response before he entered.

Cid stood looking out his window at the desert expanse. "I've been thinking about you a lot." He said before Auron even said anything.

Auron stood strait as he waited for the invitation to sit. It seemed that whatever Cid had to say was important and he did not want to interrupt for something so trivial.

"My daughter," He continued. "Really seems to like you. Truth is, ya kinda began to grow on me as well." He turned around to look at the black clad warrior. "So what did you want to see me for?" He asked in his rough tone.

"I had a request, but I would rather seek your console first."

"You would like to marry my daughter." Cid guessed.

Auron was taken aback. He did not hide his feelings for Rikku, but for Cid to so quickly be able to tell what he had wanted. He pulled his expression back into a stoic face and answered. "Yes, that is why I have come. I have not talked to her about this yet. I felt it would be best to seek your approval first."

Cid studied him making sure he was serious before throwing his head back and laughing. Auron watched not seeing the humor in the situation. "I fail to see what is so funny." Auron finally said after a moment.

Cid managed to calm himself down enough to speak. "I was wondering when you would come for that reason. Took you longer then I expected though."

"Hmm. I suppose so. You disagree?"

"No! Of coarse not! Not anymore. You have proven yourself as a suitable husband to my daughter. I would be insane to say no now."

"Then I shall prepare myself to tell her." Auron said as he turned to leave.

"There is one more thing." Cid stopped him before he was gone.

"And that is?"

"There is still the matter of Kaleya." He informed.

Auron froze. He had hoped to delay that subject. "When is her trial?"

"In five days. That is when the court will be ready, however we can postpone it if need be." He hinted.

"I will talk to her. We must see how she feels about it first."

Both men agreed as Auron left to talk to his possibly soon to be wife.

Kaleya sat in her cell thinking. That was all she was able to do at this point. The two men she had hired to kidnap Rikku were across from her and she could see them still sniveling. She made a face at how weak they were. She couldn't depend on them. No, if she wanted out, it would have to be by her own means.

Dinner would be brought in another hour. If she were lucky it would be the smaller warden today. It would be then she would make good on her escape. She glanced one more time over at Vini and Zak. Pathetic; they deserved to die. Ratting her out like they did.

Rikku had woken up and seen Auron's note. She wondered what he could possibly have to say to her Vydran. Unless... She shook the thought from her head. Auron was not one to settle down. He was a get up and go type of person. She pocketed the note, for reasons unknown, and left for her apartment.

When she was in, the first thing she did was shower and change. She let out a small chuckle as she thought back to the morning when she found Auron sleeping in his tub. And then the way the water made his boxers stick to him. She sighed; the days were not nearly as gloomy as they were now.

She was still worried about the matter of Kaleya. By Al Bhed law, she would be killed. How would Kyo take that if she were found guilty? She hoped that he would be able to handle it. Would he side with family or love? It was hard to predict.

She turned off the water and wrapped a towel around her body, and another around her head. She then headed to her room for some clothes. Rummaging through her dresser, she found a sheer yellow shirt (worn over her bikini) and a black mini skirt. In her closet she found a pair of black knee-high boots. She quickly brushed her hair, put on some lip-gloss, and left to talk to her father.

She found him just outside of his door, about to leave. He turned and spotted her. He smiled. "There you are daughter. You are just the person I needed to see."

"What is it Vydran?" She asked unsure. He never called her daughter unless he needed something.

"Is that any way to speak to your father? The man who raised you, and loved you."

"Just get on with it." She said exasperated.

He laughed at her boldness before speaking. "You know me too well, Rikku. Your brother and I have to make a trip to Besaid. We need a summoner for Kaleya's trial, and your cousin is the only one I know of."

"Vydran, you can't!" Rikku gasped. "She expecting. It would be too much for her."

"Well I have no choice. That Dona lady seemed cold, and I can't seem to get a hold of that Issaru guy."

"I'll do it. What do you need done?" She asked.

"We will need someone to perform a sending if she is found guilty. And chances are high that she will be."

"I should have seen that coming." She muttered so he would not be able to hear. "Very well. I'm going to go find Auron. Have you seen him?"

"Nah, I haven't seen him all morning." He lied. "Try looking at his place."

"Yeah, I will." She left him standing as she searched.

Auron paced back and forth in his apartment. He wondered what he would say when he next saw Rikku. Would she even want to be with him? Would she turn him down? He shook his head to get that one out. He would not dwell on the negative.

A knock on his door brought him back to reality. It did not surprise him only brought him back. He opened the door and almost gasped when he saw the blond he had been thinking about standing there. He composed himself and invited her in.

She glided past him and made herself at home by sitting on his couch. She shifted as a spring dug into her leg. "We really need to get you a new couch. This on has had it." She attempted making small talk.

"Now I know you did not come here to talk about the couch. What is it you really needed?" Auron encouraged.

She lifted her head to look him in the face. Her eyes caught his and she was unable to speak at first. "I uh, I just wanted to..." She trailed off not remembering what it was she wanted to say in the first place.

"That's okay. I have something I need to speak about to you anyway." He stood up strait and turned away from her. He cleared his throat before turning back to her and saying what was on his mind. "I have been thinking. About you and me."

Rikku thinking she knew what he was going to say nearly panicked. He was going to say he didn't love her anymore. She just knew it!

"I.." He closed his eyes to think about what he had to say. "I have been given a gift of a second chance at life, and I don't plan on letting it go to waste. I love you, Rikku. And I was thinking about how you would feel if I were to ask you to marry me."

"That is the most selfish, self centered, rude thing you have..." She stopped thinking over what he had just said. She blinked a few times to comprehend it.

"I wondered what you would say when I asked. I must admit though, that was not one of the things I had thought of." Auron joked slightly.

She shot up off her seat and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'm sorry. I thought your were going to say something else. Yes, of coarse I will marry you." She kissed him hard on the lips before he could even register what she had done. She let him go long enough to say more. "I never thought you would want to though. It didn't seem like you." She kissed him again, this time giving him a chance to respond.

They were both breathless by the time they were done. Rikku still had her arms wrapped around his neck, and had somehow wrapped her legs around his waist. He held her in place by holding her up by her thighs. He chuckled slightly against her neck as he kissed softly up and down her jaw. "Rikku, I meant what I said. I would not have said it otherwise." He whispered.

"I know, I know." She moaned slightly as he hit a tender spot just under her ear. "Is that what you went to see Vydran for?"

"Hmm. Yeah."

She pushed him back and he found himself missing the warmth of her. "Auron, I'm serious. This isn't a fly by night thing. For the Al Bhed marriage is something to be treasured. There will be no going back once it is done."

He let go of her as she slid down to her feet. "I know what I am getting into. Braska's wife was also Al Bhed, or did you forget? I have learned a lot about your tribe by listening to her."

"I see then. And what did Cid say about it?" She asked.

"Honestly, he wondered what took me so long to ask."

She chuckled a bit. "So when is the big day then?"

"That my dear." He used the tip of his finger to tap the end of her nose playfully. "Will be up to you."

"Then we have some invitations to make out! I want all our friends here for this."

She did not get lucky that day or the next for that matter. Kaleya sat in her cell listening to the cheers coming from above. She wondered what could be going on that so many people would make so much noise for. It was giving her a headache.

She stood from her bed and made her way over to the guards on duty. After her failed escape yesterday, they upped the security.

"Excuse me." She said to get their attention. "What is all that noise about?"

They turned to her before facing front again. "It is a celebration. It's the bonding ceremony."

"Bonding?" She groaned and put a hand to her head. A wedding. Just what she didn't need right now. Did her people have no respect for the condemned? She lay back down on her bed and tried to sleep. There was nothing else to do anyway. She was still two days away from her trial.

Al Bhed and guests alike cheered as Cid read off the list of things that the new couple was supposed to do for each other. One could tell how proud he was at that moment. He watched as the bride and groom walked down the aisle hand in hand.

Kyo had made a special trip to Besaid and Gagazet this morning just for this occasion. He even stopped by Bevelle when they had heard someone else was there. Luzzu was still sore from his trip across the thunder plains, but he was doing better then he was just a week ago.

Rikku had been very happy when the airship landed and all her friends walked off. She had run up and hugged them all. They had only known what Kyo had told them, which wasn't much.

Yuna and Lulu had helped her find a dress quickly. It was easy enough after her father pulled out his wife's old dress she had worn when she went through the bonding ceremony.

It was simple and white, but that was not what was important. It belonged to Rikku's mother, and she was honored to wear it.

They exchanged vows and left to the cheers and catcalls of those at the ceremony. They would be back in the morning to finish the celebration. First they would have to go and consummate the marriage before they would be able to present themselves as a couple.

Auron had already moved his stuff out of his apartment while Rikku searched for a dress. It was better that way anyway. Since hers was bigger and his was only on loan while he 'visited' Home.

It was their first night together, and he wanted it to be special. So once he carried her through the door, he immediately set her on the bed to light the candles he had set up earlier that day. It provided just the right amount of ambiance in the room.

He started by working his lips at her neck again, like he did the day before. He remembered how she had moaned when he found the right spot. It was not long before he heard it again. He smiled to himself at how he was able to please her so easily. He reached up and began to massage her shoulder as his lips found hers.

She hungrily claimed his for her own, that is until he backed off slightly. "Auron, what is it?" Rikku asked him confused.

"Nothing. Just nothing." He answered as he ran a hand over her cheek.

"Auron." She reached up and held his slightly callused hand in her own. "You can tell me. I'm your wife now. If there is anyone you can talk to, it would be me. Now, tell me. What is on your mind?" She comforted.

He took a breath before speaking. "This is real, right? I'm not dreaming?"

"If you are, then I am having the same dream. And it feels quite real to me."

He gave her the rare smile that he only ever used when she was near. "That is just what I needed to hear." He leaned in and kissed her again. This was real, not a dream, he was sure of that now. Rikku was his wife, and he would do all that he could to protect and honor her as such. She would never be taken away from him again. They would have to get through him first.

He took it real slow that night so as not to overwhelm her. She still shuttered at his touch from time to time, and he did not want her to fear him on their first night together. He pulled the strap of her dress off her shoulder before completely removing it altogether. He threw it on the floor at the side of the bed.

She pulled him close to her again before he could get away. Not that he would to begin with, but she needed him there. Their lips met again as they explored one another with their hands.

Rikku woke the next morning wearing only the sheets as cover. She used the back of her hand to rub her eyes. When she opened them Auron was leaning over her.

"Good morning. Sleep well?" He asked her softly before moving closer and giving her a chaste kiss.

She smiled up at him. "Yes, yes I did. Being in your arms, how could I not?"

He let out a low chuckle. "I'm glad, but now it is time we go out and present ourselves to everybody." He tried to get up, but she pulled him back down.

"We will, but first..." She brought his lips down to meet hers as they made love once again.

It was two hours later when they came out. Al Bhed lined the halls and cheered when they saw them. Rikku blushed, but Auron was able to hide it much better then her. He put on a strait face and held her hand as they walked past to the reception. It would last the entire day though most wouldn't even remember it. An Al Bhed marriage was something to be celebrated. Even though it had been two years since they had been accepted, there were still so few of them left.

Rikku walked around the room greeting everyone she could. Friends and family all had a chance to see her as the newest Al Bhed bride. Yuna was the last person she was able to talk to.

"Yunie!" Rikku shouted as she threw her arms around her cousin. She let go to have a good look at her. "You got big. Tidus treating you and that baby right?"

"Are you kidding? I can't even sneeze now without him worrying." She used one hand to hide the giggle that had escaped. He must have heard her for he was right behind her in a second with his arms around her stomach.

"What are you two talking about?" He teased them. "About how cute and handsome I am?"

"Ha, you wish." Rikku said right back. "Besides, I have my own eye candy to look at now." She had a smug look on her face when he scowled.

"So tomorrow is the trial right?" Tidus asked without thinking. "I heard it from Auron."

"Can we talk about something else? I would rather not think about that right now if you don't mind." Rikku crossed her arms over her chest in annoyance.

"I, oh man. I'm sorry, Rikku. I didn't realize." He scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.

"No it's okay. Where is Auron by the way? I haven't seen him for some time." She tried to search the crowd of people. She spotted him talking to her father. "Sorry, guys. I better go. I'll see you later?"

"Go on. We'll be around for a few days. We can hang out then." Yuna assured her.

Rikku thanked her before running off to be with her husband. He was talking to Cid, that much she knew, but he was talking about what was going to happen the next day.

"Can't you men talk about something happy for once? Why does it always have to be depressing topics?"

"Rikku, this concerns you too. I'm glad you have joined us." Cid jumped in. "Kaleya will be brought up, along with those two thugs of hers. Are you sure you will be able to go through with it?"

"Vydran, are you showing concern for me? That is unlike you."

"Now don't get me wrong, girl. I don't want to see you flip out on us." Cid snapped, but not as harsh as usual.

"Don't worry, I won't."

"Come on. Time for you to get up." A guard said as he stood over the blond.

She struggled to get to her feet, but took too long so he was forced to pull her up by her arm. She groaned as her feet supported her. "What is going on? Why are you waking me up at such an ungodly hour?"

"You are to stand trial today. The court is expecting you in an hour. Now get up so we can get you ready." He said as he indicated for her to follow.

She did as she was told without any more argument. It wouldn't get her anywhere anyway.

When she was brought into the main courtroom, she glanced around to see Cid, Rikku, and Kyo standing next to the judge. So they would be here to watch her being condemned.

"Lady Kaleya, you have been accused of one of the highest forms of treason. You are convicted of conspiracy against the daughter of Cid. The kidnapping and attempted murder where of your plans, where they not?"

"Well, yes, but.."

"That is all I asked. Only answer the questions you are given." The judge snapped. "You hired two men to kidnap Lady Rikku, for what reason?"

She stared back and forth between all who stood in front of her. Anything she had to say now would make or break her. "I was only trying to get Kyo to accept his role as future leader of the tribe. If his family was in trouble he would have to take charge."

The four of them leaned in and began to whisper. The judge stood up strait again. "And then you issued an order to have her killed. What was your reasoning behind that?"

"I uh, I" She stumbled over her words. Nothing would save her now. "I have no answer for that. Only that I regret that I said it."

"I see. This court will dismiss until we find out what the court decides."

She was led out to a holding cell as she waited. It wasn't much later when she was brought back in.

"Lady Kaleya, your fate has been decided. You are guilty of kidnapping and attempted murder. As punishment you are to be taken out into the desert to await the fiends. If they do not kill you within a day, then you shall be set free as says the law of the Al Bhed. However, you will not be alone. Your accomplices have already gone to trail and have been found guilty as well. When the sun rises in the morning, your sentence shall be fulfilled. This court is now dismissed." Then he was gone.

Mako-anima: Mako! -glomps her- You were gone for so long. I thought you might have forgeot about us here. And this was much happier for Rikku. I hope you liked it!

Chibi: -glomps chibi as well- thanks for all your help. and I still hate it, but you liked it, so here you go.

And thatnk you for everyone else who,liked how the trial went. I sorta followed the same thing here.