"No, I didn't know," Yuna said innocently, on the other side of the line. "No one told me anything. I had no clue that Kimahri settled down."
Rikku let out a sigh. "Thank goodness," she said. "I've been so out of the loop lately I thought this was something else that I missed. I'm glad I wasn't the only one."
"I don't really think he's told anyone," Yuna stated. "You know, Lulu just said she was a little surprised when I told her."
"Well, it's not like he shouldn't. I mean, come on, he's a nice guy."
Rikku had decided to call her cousin again. Yuna didn't have much to do, so she had all the latest news on almost everything. She read the news and watched it too. So, there wasn't really anything she missed. Count on Yuna to know what's up. Besides, she thought she might be a little bored.
She was in the middle of the small group, that were traveling back down to Zanarkand. Lian and Ayde were tagging behind her, while Gippal was next to her. The whole dangling from a bridge incident had him a little spooked, so his protective side kicked in. The two Ronso cubs seemed fascinated with him, looking at him, while whispering to each other.
Kimahla was on Rikku's back. She'd converted her bag into a carrier, so she could ride inside. She liked to look over her shoulder and see everything from the height she was at. Still, the males present seemed a little interested in her conversation, so none of them spoke loudly.
"I know, I'm happy for him," Yuna replied. "Is she cute? What's her name?"
"Oh, she's really cute. Her name's Kimahla. I think it suits her, really. A little thing, but she'll be just fine when she's older." She paused, seeing that they'd be in Zanarkand shortly. "Hey, I have to go, see you, okay?"
"Yeah, I'm going on a walk with Lulu in a bit, so I have to get dressed."
"Still in bed?" she asked with a laugh. "Sorry I woke you. That baby needs its sleep."
"No, I'm just not dressed yet. Don't worry about me."
"Okay, now don't go and strain yourself."
"I'll be fine, see you."
"Give Tidus my love."
She hung up and Gippal looked at her. "So she is knocked up," he said.
Rikku gave him a look. "That makes it sound dirty," she said, hitting him on the back of th head. The two Ronso watched with surprise, but interest.
He flinched and held up his hands to his head, in attempt to shield himself. "Hey, I didn't mean it that way!" he retorted. "You never really explained before, so how else was I gonna find out?"
"Uh...ask Tidus?"
"Guys don't do that."
She rolled her eyes. "Whatever, I don't care. And just so you know, yes, Yuna is going to have a baby."
Gippal turned to the two following. "Isn't she violent?"
The two nodded. "Very," Lian agreed.
She crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm being triple teamed," she said, laughing. "So you two, what do you want to do while you're here? I know you'll get bored staying with me. I'm in my office all day."
"Do?" Ayde asked. "While the princess works? We're allowed to wander?"
"Of course," she said. "As long as you don't get into any trouble or break anything."
"Do any of you know anything about machina?" Gippal asked. Rikku raised an eyebrow. What was he up to?
They both shook their heads. "Ronso no need to know about machina, only that they can help keep fiends away," Lian said. "And they do lots of other things."
He nodded. "Should I take them with me?" he asked her. "I'll keep them occupied and out of trouble. The faction could probably use the help."
"What will we do?" Ayde asked, almost eagerly. "Work with them and build them?"
"Well, not right away," he said. "You two are still rookies. I don't want you getting hurt. I'll teach you a few things though."
"That's very nice of you, Gippal," Rikku stated, She gave him a look, eyebrow raised and grin spread deviously. "And let me guess, since you take the big kids, I'm taking the baby?"
He shrugged innocently as they stepped into the construction site. "Well, since I am taking them off your hands and Kimahla is so much smaller than them..."
She rolled her eyes. "Alright, I don't care," she said, turning to go to the housing building. "I'll take care of her. Just make sure you keep them out of trouble."
He grinned. "We both know how great we are at that!" he shouted after her.
She turned and put her hands on her shoulders. "Of course!"
"She's so cute," a female worker commented.
After changing into cooler clothes, Rikku returned to work. She started to make her rounds that afternoon, since Elhana had finished with almost everything else. So, she and her assistant went for a walk around the construction, only to be stopped by every female worker, who decided to coo over Kimahla. She was very cute and easy to entertain. Though, her fascination was with all the pyreflies that were floating around.
In a small semi-circle were a few of her workers, all bent over to get a good look at the baby, who Rikku had on her hip. She smiled. "Isn't she?" she asked. Then she looked up. "Sorry, girls, I have to be the boss. Break time's over."
They all gave Kimahla a wave, speaking in a different voice, before scattering to their work stations. Elhana nodded. "She is very distracting," she commented.
"She's too young to be left by herself," Rikku pointed out, adjusting her on her hip. "I can see why they asked me to watch her."
"It seems she likes you very much," her friend went on. The baby rested her head on her shoulder, perfectly calm and content. "Yet you're so new to her."
Rikku nodded. Then she looked around, noticing that the sun was setting. She glanced to her watch. "Oh, shoot, is it that late?" she asked, rocking her slightly. "No wonder she's tired. I have to get her to bed." She held out some folders to her. "Do you think you could take this to the office, I have to go get the boys before I put her to sleep."
She nodded slowly, before Rikku headed off in the direction of the faction. Well, at least she could hit the hay early.
When getting inside, Rikku was automatically faced with a few workers standing in a semi-line, blocking the door. With Kimahla still on her shoulder, still awake, she couldn't get by.
"Aqlica sa," she said, and they let her by. (Excuse me)
What she was faced with was a little surprising. Not only were Lian and Ayde helping some of the workers, they were doing a few things that not every rookie would attempt. While Lian lifted a heavy part, Ayde put it in place. They were working together and finally the machina (a patrol one, used on roads and such) started to buzz and move. The other workers clapped and muttered things, saying they were impressed, before they went back to work.
Gippal was standing with them, looking like the one who taught them everything. She came up to him. "Well, it looks like you're turning them into mechanics," she laughed, smiling at the two. "That's very nice. I wasn't able to do that for years."
"They're naturals," Gippal commented. "What's up?"
"Just checking on them," she said, nodding in the cubs' direction. "Gotta put Kimahla to sleep."
He nodded and then she noticed something. "Oh, hey, could you hold her for a minute?" she asked him, looking at the machine more than him. She held the baby out to him.
Gippal looked around, trying to find someone else there. "Me?" he asked surprised. "You want me to hold her?"
Rikku gave him a look. "Yeah, you can hold a baby, right?"
Before he could say anything, she gave Kimahla over to him and he was left speechless. He held her under the arms and held her out at a distance, and she looked at him tiredly. He looked around as if looking for a lifeline. "Okay," he started. "Now what do I do with you?"
For a moment it was like that, then Rikku looked up. She had given the cubs a pointer, only to look over to see Gippal looking at the baby like it was a foreign object. She sighed and came over. "You don't hold a baby like that," she instructed. "You have to cradle her in your arms."
He gave her a confused look. "I'm serious," she said.
"Fine," he sighed, moving her a bit.
After a few instructions and movements, Gippal finally held her the traditional way, with her head in the crook of his arm, and his other arm holding her up.
Rikku smiled. "See, that wasn't so hard," she said. Just as she said it, behind her, the machina made a strange noise and fell over. Lian and Ayde looked lost, so Rikku went over to help. "Don't worry, that's normal," she assured, going over.
In the meantime, Gippal still had Kimahla. She wasn't fussing or crying, but he looked a bit out of place. He'd never dealt with kids before, what did he know? He was still one himself, wasn't he? ...Kinda.
He looked down at her and she yawned contently, closing her eyes and relaxing. It was a moment before he noticed that she fell asleep. He almost laughed. The baby fell asleep with him. It wasn't something that he expected.
When he looked up, he saw Rikku there with him. She was smiling down at Kimahla, her finger inside her smaller fist. It was almost precious, seeing her like that. Rikku just had a way with children. He grinned. That gave him another check on his list of her.
Then she looked up and her brow wrinkled. "What are you grinning at?" she asked.
He shrugged. "Nothing."
Before she could say anything else, there was chatter among the workers. They both looked up and over the crowd could be seen two Ronso adults. Kimahri and Minaki both came over to them and Rikku looked up smiling.
"I didn't know you could leave the mountain, Kimahri," she said, almost curious.
"Only for a moment, Kimahri stay," he replied with a nod. "We pick up children."
Lian and Ayde came over obediently, and Gippal went over to hand Minaki her daughter. The older Ronso nodded at her present state, then to Kimahri.
He looked to the both of them. "Kimahri see that his daughter is very comfortable with you," he started. "We would like to make Rikku and Gippal the godparents of Kimahla."
Rikku gasped and Gippal just stood with a wide eye. The princess was almost afraid to speak. "You...want us to be her godparents."
"Even at young age, she trusts you more than some she's known since birth," Minaki stated. "It would be our honor."
"If ever something happen to us, Kimahla would be in your care," Kimahri stated.
Rikku was about to say something, but Gippal put a hand on her shoulder. "We'd be honored to, wouldn't we, princess?"
She gave him a look, but then nodded. "Of course," she said.
The two nodded. "Thank you," Kimahri said. "We will leave now. The mountain needs to be guarded."
With that, the five left the room. Rikku instantly turned to her roommate. "What did you do that for?" she asked crossly. "You didn't even ask me about that before you answered yes."
He gave her a look, eyebrows raised. "You were going to say no?" he asked almost surprised.
She grumbled and looked off to the side. "No...but that still doesn't mean you can do that!" she exclaimed.
"What? Speak for you?"
"Yes, you act like you know me."
"And I don't?" he almost whispered.
At this, she straightened and swallowed. For a moment, she looked around. "Things have changed Gippal," she said. "We're not kids anymore. We're adults, we have to act it." With that, she turned and headed out the door.
The machine leader sighed as he watched her go. "You have no idea how right you are, princess," he mused.