Rikku rung out the cloth in the sink and then rushed out of the bathroom with it in her hands. She went over and gave it to Paine, who then put it on Tidus's head. The young man sat there, in a chair, with his head back and wide eyes, staring at the ceiling. He gripped the arms and was looking straight above with terror. With him, Yuna, who had gotten dressed, sat on the arm of the chair while her arms were around his neck and her head on his shoulder, but he didn't seem to notice her presence.

"Oh, boy," Rikku mumbled, putting a hand to her forehead. "Are you sure he's okay? He doesn't look that well."

The warrior gave her a look. "Yuna just dropped a bomb on him, no kidding he's like this," she said."He did almost faint."

"No, I'm fine," the blond man suddenly blurted out, shaking his head. He didn't look at them. "I'm just fine. Really, I'm okay. I, I'm okay, I'm great, I... I yi yi..."

The two exchanged a doubtful look. "Sure he's alright..." Rikku agreed with a whisper, leaning over to Paine. "Should we, I don't know, leave?" she asked her cousin. "This is kinda a personal matter."

Yuna looked up. "Go ahead," she said apologetically. "I hope I can calm him down. He's never been like this."

Without a pause, the two tiptoed out of the room and Rikku closed the door with a wince, so it wouldn't make noise. "I never expected him to act like that," she admitted. "He's always laid back."

"The guy was told he'll be a father," Paine said, as they started down the hallway. "No offense, but that's major—especially when he wasn't expecting it."

"Who knew she's was so far along," Rikku went on. "I mean, almost three months already?"

"What, they've been married, five, six months?" her friend asked.

"Let's just hope for the best." With a sigh, she headed down the steps. "You want me to get you a room for tonight?" she asked, changing the subject. "Or would you rather bunk with me? I don't mind."

"Either," she said. "I don't care, honestly."

They were quiet for a moment, but then Rikku thought of something and looked at her friend deviously. "So, Mrs. Praetor-to-be," she started. "Since when has Baralai been marrying material?"

She looked at her from the corner of her eye and raised an eyebrow. "You make it sound like he's some kind of inanimate object," she stated.

Rikku wrinkled her nose with a smile. "Oh, come on, you have to admit that it's a little bit..."

"Shocking?"

"Yeah. Truthfully, I don't care who you marry—it's honestly up to you. But still, it seems a little odd that this came out of nowhere. You two never acted the least familiar when we were there."

Her friend said nothing, only rolled her eyes and started walking again. Rikku followed with a devious smile, her old self poking out a little. "Oh, come on, Dr. P," she said, with a melody in her voice. "You know you want to tell me."

She continued to follow her. Then abruptly, she stopped. Paine looked around, as though she was making sure there was no one around. Then she looked at her friend straight in the eye. "No matter what I tell you, you have to swear not to say a word to anybody."

She closed an invisible zipper on her lips. "Not a word out of me to anyone," she said with a salute and a small wink.

Paine then sighed and crossed her arms. She took a deep breath before speaking, "I..." That was when she started mumbling and Rikku couldn't understand what she was saying.

She blinked. None of that she understood. "Huh?" she asked bluntly.

Again, she looked around and then brought her closer and whispered something in her ear. She stepped back and then Rikku smiled. "Oh," she said with a laugh. "You slept with him." Then it hit her and her eyes widened. "You did WHAT!"

Instantly, her friend covered her mouth. "You tell anyone, it'll be the last thing you say, " she warned, her red eyes flaring. "Especially don't tell Yuna."

Rikku shook her head vigorously, prying her hand away. "You think I have a death wish? I still have to kill Pops."

For a moment Paine didn't say anything. When Rikku didn't explain, she finally asked, "Why?"

She sighed and looked around as she did. "You remember what I thought he wanted me to do?" she asked.

"Yeah," she said dryly. "Of course."

"It's...true."

At this, she almost seemed shocked, then a grin cracked on her lips. "Oh, can't wait 'til Gippal finds out."

Her eyes widened and she grasped her arm. "You won't say anything will you?"

"Not if you don't."

"Deal."

Rikku sighed in relief. For a moment, Paine stopped with thought. "At least now we have something to blackmail each other with."

Her friend giggled. "How wonderful," she snorted. "Now, what do we do about Tidus?" she asked, switching the subject back to the original one. "I mean, we still gotta get Yuna to come with us to Luca today."

Paine looked up with thought.

"Why are we taking him with us to go dress shopping?" Yuna asked, as they led a still dazed Tidus into the Celsius.

Rikku sighed as they made their way up the steps in the cabin to the upper level. Yuna wasn't helping, since she had an excuse with her 'condition', so it was just Paine and Rikku. The blitzball player wasn't heavy, nor did they have to drag him, but he wouldn't exactly walk straight. So, the two had to lead him over to a bed so he could sit down.

"He's not," her cousin replied, standing up straight. "First of all, we're going to pick up Lulu, Wakka and Vidina at the dock in Luca before we girls are gonna take you to the doctor," she said, pointing to Yuna, making her sit down. "That baby needs to be taken care of," she said, while shaking her finger like a disobedient child.

"Yes, Mom," Paine stated with a smile.

"Paine..." she complained. "Could you please stop?" Yuna giggled and the two looked at her. "What's funny?" Rikku asked with confusion.

"You seem so different from when you're in your office and when you're here," she said. "It's like you're two different people."

Paine nodded and crossed her arms. "She's right."

She blinked. "I do?" She laughed a little. "I guess I do."

Yuna smiled, but then her brow wrinkled. "What you said still doesn't explain what Tidus will do while we're gone."

Rikku grinned again and held up a finger as though she thought of something. "We've thought of that. Tidus is going with Wakka to play blitzball."

"Blitzball?" They looked over and Tidus finally snapped out of it, acting normal. He looked almost as confused as his wife. "That's where I'm going?"

"Yeah," Paine said. "You haven't played for months, have you?"

He blinked and thought. "Not professionally, no."

"Exactly," Rikku replied. "Hopefully, the familiar atmosphere will make you a little calmer," she said, her nose wrinkling with a smile. "That way, we solve two problems will be solved at once, since we'll be off doing other things."

"Okay," Yuna started. "But, I do want to see Tidus play."

"That won't be a problem."

A chill went down the princess's spine as she heard it. She knew that voice – the one of that she'd been avoiding for a few hours. They turned when they heard a new voice. None other than the machine leader stood there, while leaning against the railing on the stairs, arms crossed.

Rikku raised an eyebrow in annoyance instead of fright. She'd come up with the plan to just play cool with him. She'd done everything else and only Yevon knew where that got her. Hopefully this would get him off her tail. So, she talked to him like usual, before the incidents, "What are you doing in here?" she asked, agitated. "Didn't Brother try to hurt you?"

He grinned. "Well, yeah, but he really couldn't hurt me..." She rolled her eyes and looked away.

"Who cares?" Paine asked. Rikku reminded herself to thank Paine later. "What are you talking about?"

"There's a tournament today," he replied simply.

That made her raise an eyebrow. "There is?"

"Yeah. That's why I'm coming. Everyone is, including all of your guardians," he said to Yuna. "And leaders from the Youth League and New Yevon."

"Let me guess, it's supposed to symbolize peace or something?" Paine asked dryly.

"Yep," he said. "I was personally invited – along with all of you and the Gullwings. You didn't know?"

Rikku thought a minute before hitting herself on the head. "Oh yeah, I got a letter the other day and forgot," she said. "I wonder why I didn't put it in my date book."

"Oh well, the tournament shouldn't start for a while," Yuna said. "It's still morning. They wait until afternoon. We'll show up then. We do have to make a guest appearance, right?"

"Before then, Tidus here can practice with Wakka and the other Aurochs," Rikku said with a smile. "That gives us plenty of time."

"Hopefully," Paine commented.