This next chapter may seem a little boring at first, but I thought it'd be a little heartwarming. This is a little short, but I can promise you'll love it.

"Brother?" Rikku asked. "You're taking me to Luca?"

When approaching the docking bay, the Al Bhed princess was surprised to come across her brother's (and her own) ship parked, and ready for take off, the Celsius. Her older sibling hadn't changed a bit, still in his suspenders and Mohawk hairdo. He was repairing something near the entrance when she approached, Gippal not far behind.

He jumped when she spoke, burning himself with a blow torch. He started cursing loudly, while waving his burnt fingers, practically running around for water. Gippal gave her an amused look. "You can handle this one," he said, heading up the ramp. "I'll settle in the cabin."

She nodded and went over to the water, where the bay was next to. Picking up a bucket, she filled it, and then went over to Brother before throwing it over his head. Instantly he stopped and turned, eyes flared with anger.

"Fryd ec ouin bnupmas!" he almost growled at her. (what is your problem?)

With an eyebrow raised, she gave him a look. "Me? What's with you? You're jumpier than a coyote." She crossed her arms. "And you did ask for water."

"On my burn, not my head," he replied, holding up his hand and shaking it.

She rolled her eyes. "I'm so sorry, I'm used to aiming for that part because it gets lit so often," she said with a little bit of sarcasm. There was that one time when he set his hair on fire, and he started running around idiotically before she put him out. Afterwards, all that was left was the hair he had at that moment.

Brother blinked, obviously not completely understanding the full extent of her words, since he was still a little rusty with Sprian. "What?

She sighed a growl. "Nothing," she said. "Get in the ship. We need to get moving."

Rikku turned and went inside, then up the stairs to the elevator. When she reached the deck, she noticed how there was no one inside. "Where's Buddy?" she asked her brother as he went over to the captain's chair.

"He's on a date," he replied, grumbling.

She blinked. "With who?"

He laughed. "Who else? Nhadala," he replied.

Stopping to think, she did recall a time she and Gippal caught the two making out, back when she was about thirteen. Actually, they'd been doing more than that, but she didn't want to go there. It made sense that they were seeing each other. She laughed at the thought, but then noted that her brother was still upset. He wasn't his usual angry, just upset. Seeing his face, she came around to her old station back when they were the Gullwings.

She looked down sadly. Here Brother was all alone, without she, Yuna or Paine (not that he missed Paine) or even Shinra or Buddy. They all left one by one, and now all he had was the ship, even if Buddy was coming back. Brother must have been one of the loneliest people in Spira. She sighed. No wonder he was mad.

She did fight with him, but he still was her brother. He made sure she was alright, in a weird way when she was upset. He made sure she was safe when they were in danger. He even agreed with her sometimes. She couldn't leave him like this, she knew that Cid cared about him enough, but that wasn't enough sometimes.

Brother needed a girl.

Rikku came up and put a hand on his shoulder. He looked up. "What's wrong with you?"

She smiled. "Nothing, really," she replied. "You need a vacation. Ever think of taking some time off?"

He shrugged. "I have nothing else to do."

Her brow wrinkled. Yup, he needed a girl.

She bit her lip. "I'll be in the cabin, okay? I'm gonna say hi to Barkeep and Darling."

He nodded and she made her way up the steps, down the hall and to the elevator. When it opened, she walked into the cabin. Gippal was at the bar—having a beer again. He liked those, seeing as that he did keep them in their room as well. Like most Al Bhed, he was still sober after two. Usually she could take a few shots and keep a level head too, but then again, she was an Al Bhed as well.

She took a seat next to him. Gippal looked over with a grin. "Cool him down?" he asked, taking a sip.

Rikku ordered herself a beer as well, though a light one. "Yeah," she sighed, taking off the cap. "Literally, I threw water over him."

He was taken aback a little, one of his eyebrows going up. "Well, that's strange."

She gave him a look, her eyes narrowed and brow wrinkled. "What is?" she asked, a little bit offensively.

"Well," he started with a shrug. "You usually have a grin on your face after encounters with him."

She bit her lip and looked at him. How would she put this in a way that he'd understand? Glancing over at the hypello, she noted that she didn't want them listening and carrying on the conversation, so switched tongues.

"Ra haatc du kad myet," she stated bluntly. (he needs to get laid.) In mid-swallow, Gippal laughed out loud, almost choking. He put a hand on his chest, the other slapping down on the counter with chuckles. With her eyes narrowed, her lips were in almost in a frown when she pouted. "E's caneuic." (I'm serious.)

He held out his hand, gesturing for her to wait a moment. "Oui fyhd du veht res e kenm?" he asked her, completely amused. (You want to find him a girl?)

Her brow wrinkled. "You know, sometimes you can really be a telgnayt," she said with venom. At that, she grabbed her purse, his expression changing from amused to apologetic. She stood, marching up the steps to the upper part of the cabin, going over to her old bed.

She heard footsteps following her when she threw her bag down. "Don't go off mad like that," Gippal said, coming over with a sorry look. His voice was low, his sorry voice.

Rikku gave him a look. "You just insulted me and Brother, and you expect me not to get angry?" she asked, arms crossed.

His eyebrows raised with almost a fake surprise. "Before, you used to laugh when I did," he replied. "Insult Brother that is."

She sighed out of her nose, it coming out with a small growl in her throat. "Yeah, back when we were kids," she replied. "Now it's different."

Gippal seemed seriously surprised this time, and a little confused with his wrinkled forehead. "Why?" he just asked.

Again, she sighed, this time with her mouth. She put a hand to her temple before looking up at him. "You should have seen him, Gippal," she said. "He's so lonely. I felt almost sorry for him."

"Lonely?" he was almost unbelieving.

"Notice why Buddy isn't around?" she asked, almost with a little bit of superior edge. "He's on a date today."

He raised an eyebrow. "A date?" She nodded. "With who?"

She smiled, nose wrinkling when she did. "Just guess."

For a moment he was silent, then he looked at her with raised eyebrows.

"No..."

"Yes."

"My sister?"

"Ah-huh."

"With Buddy?" She nodded. He sighed. "Well, about time. Guess I'll have some nieces and nephews soon."

Her eyes widened with shock and she blinked several times to register his words. "You're not even stunned?"

He shook his head. "Nope. Don't you remember that time—?"

She covered her ears, eyes closed almost to block out his words. "Don't remind me," she said. "Yes I remember when we walked in on them in the oasis."

Gippal held back his laugh. "I couldn't look at Nhadala for a week."

Rikku rolled her eyes. "I couldn't go in or near the oasis for a month." He laughed again. She pouted with a little anger. "I'm happy that you find things so amusing."

He shook his head. "No, just you."

She wasn't sure if she was honestly angry, or just too into the game they were playing to do anything else. But she did know that almost instantly after she opened her mouth it was covered with another. Her eyes widened and her scream was muffled. His hands were on the side of her neck, holding her close to him. She couldn't pull away. Not again.

Yes, yes I'm evil. Go ahead and yell at me in your reviews, but don't worry, you'll love the next chapter.