"You're what?"

"Shopping for new clothes," Yuna replied happily. "Can you believe that I only have four more months to wait?"

Standing on the deck, Rikku looked out around her as she held her communicator to her ear. She tried to sound a little bit cheerful, because she was happy for Yuna, but she was still a little confused and worried about before...with the whole Gippal thing.

She blinked at what her cousin told her. "You're five months pregnant?"

"Yup, can you believe that I didn't know until a few days ago? I so completely missed all the signs. Maybe that was one of the symptoms, you know? I wasn't expecting it, so I really didn't check. You know?"

Rikku sucked in breath to answer yes, but decided not to. She had no idea what she was talking about. "No," she replied.

"I'm showing. I was getting a little bit of a belly these last few weeks and I couldn't figure out why. I was eating all kinds of those...Tidus calls them 'interesting' things. I can't fit into my Gunner shorts anymore."

Rikku laughed. "Yevon forbid."

"Ha ha," she said. "It's horrible to have to hide it from everyone. But once everyone knows, I'll never be left alone. All I want for it is the normal life I had."

"You never had a normal life, Yunie," Rikku stated. "And how are you keeping it a secret if you're shopping for maternity clothes."

"I'm not."

Stopping for a moment, Rikku took a seat on the ground as she looked to the sky with a confused gaze. "You're...not?" she questioned.

"Nope," her cousin replied with a laugh. "I'm just buying lots of empire waist lined stuff. It works you know, considering that I only have to hide it until I really show, around eight or nine months."

"If you're so concerned about keeping it quiet, then why are you saying things out loud?"

"Oh, even if they suspect anything, they can't prove it. Trust me, kay?"

Rikku sighed. "Alright."

Her cousin's tone turned maternal. "What's wrong? You seem down."

"Nothing, nothing," she replied. "This is just a really long trip."

"It's faster than everything else."

"True."

"Look, I have to go. I gotta pay and then get Tidus into a tux. He's not very fond of them. See you tonight?"

"Sure."

"You know the address?"

"Yes Mom."

She heard Yuna growl. "I'm not yet."

"Just go," Rikku laughed. "I don't want to hold you up."

"See ya!"

Hearing the other side blank off, Rikku pulled the communicator away and turned it off. She put it back into her purse and sighed. She bent her legs under her, before pulling her skirt down and sat down, right on the deck. With another sigh, she rested back, putting her weight against her hands. There was still some time until they reached Luca, and until then, she didn't want to go back down to the lower levels.

She didn't want to talk to Gippal so soon after what happened. She sat up, and hugged her arms with a shiver that traveled down her spine. What they did, that kiss—no kisses, were so passionate, so hot. Just thinking about it made her shiver.

Why he did it in the first place was questioning enough. The fact that she liked it was another. She could barely believe she actually let him do all of that. If anyone else had done that, she'd have slapped them upside the head. Her brow wrinkled with thought. Why did she let him do that?

The questions kept coming. What would have happened had Brother not interrupted? What would his reaction be the next time he saw her? How was she going to come up with answers to his questions when he bugged her about her reason for returning it? Would she have let it go that far?

Sitting up with a groan, she rubbed her temples. "I am in so much trouble," she whispered, hugging her knees to her chest.

The only thing she could think of to do was wait up there. She had to avoid Gippal at all costs. Wait—what if he came to her? Then what would she do?

Quickly, she glanced over her shoulder. Nope, nothing. She sighed—she hoped it stayed that way. Avoid at all costs, she told herself, avoid. Right now, she didn't know what to do. It was best to stay away until she thought of something.

With a package in one hand and a covered hanger over the other shoulder, Rikku made her way down the shopping district of Luca. She wasn't exactly as merry as usual, without the spring in her step and no hum in her voice. All she did was walk, looking amongst the various shops and parlors.

Since she did have all day and she wanted to look nice, she thought it would be okay if she went to get her hair and nails done. It wasn't something she often did, for she did her own hair and she didn't have time to fiddle with her nails, they were long anyway. But, for dinner, it would probably be appropriate, since she wasn't wearing gloves to the thing.

Finding a place to get things done was he hard part. Either nothing was open, or they didn't accept people without an appointment. For some reason they were all full that day. But, as she walked along, she found a small one on the end of the block that seemed a little ignored. It looked pretty, but wasn't as extravagant as the other salons. Still, in the window was a sign that read; walk-in's allowed.

With a smile, she went over and inside. There was a bit of music playing, a sphere screen on with the news and the sweet smell of a woman's perfume in the air. There was a small desk right as you walked in and three chairs attached to the floor with sinks neck to them on the far wall. Near the windows were two stations, one for manicures and one for pedicures.

Sitting at the manicure station was a woman a little older than her. Her blond hair was plain, down with a few braids about. Though her skin was nicely kept, her nails long and elegant. Rikku couldn't see her face well, for her nose was stuck in a book.

Her clothes were expected. The shirt she had on went off the shoulders, and in the front it was gapped and held together with criss-crossing string over it. And it was pretty tight, since all things considering, she was well...endowed. Her skirt was short, coming out with a flare, and she wore high-heeled sandals. All and all, she wasn't that bad looking.

Rikku came over and draped her covered hanger over the back of the chair, before sitting. "Are you free?" she asked.

When she looked up, she saw a nice looking face. It was painted nicely, with dark eyelashes that stood out. But what surprised her was that she saw green spirals in her eyes. She blinked up at Rikku, and smiled widely. "Hi, another Al Bhed. Glad I'm not the only one who likes looking nice." She held out her hand and Rikku shook it.

Al Bhed women usually didn't have time for hair and nails. This was why she was so surprised to see another sitting in a manicurist chair. Not to mention usually you'd find a woman either covered with grease or spitting at someone, in a not very feminine way. Rikku had been one of a kind back at Bikanel.

Rikku took off her gloves, but was silent as the woman started to work. She didn't know how old she was, maybe about twenty-two. Her name tag read, Astrah. Well, it was an Al Bhed name.

Astrah broke the silence when she nodded to her things. "Big date?" she asked, putting a cream on her hands.

She laughed out, and it almost sounded like a honk. "No," she replied, looking at what she was doing with a grin. "At least, not in the way you're thinking."

"Well, what, then?"

"Well, it's a dinner party I guess. At least, that's what I'm calling it," she replied, nose wrinkled. "It's just a few friends gathering for a meal."

The woman raised an eyebrow when she started on her cuticles. She sighed deeply and shook her head. "Can't remember the last time I saw my friends. Girlfriends, right?"

"Well, yeah," she said, looking up with thought. "My cousin's husband's there too, plus my best friend and her fiancé. He came up with the idea. Plus another old friend of mine. Nothing special, except the tuxes."

Astrah nodded and started filing her nails so they were even. She turned her hand over, seeing the small calluses on her hand, a result from her writing so much. She looked at it with almost disgust, but Rikku knew she was trying to be funny. "What do you do?"

At this, she laughed. "I've got a desk job."

She closed in and whispered. "You not any good at machina either?"

Again, she laughed. "Oh, no, I'm pretty good," she said. "But, with promotions, you get less field work and more desk jobs. At least I'm in charge and have the biggest paycheck."

This made the older woman laugh too. "What do you do? Anything interesting?"

With a sigh, she looked out to space. "I'm head of the construction in Zanarkand."

Astrah paused and looked up. "Really?" she asked, in a confused kind of way. "That's really weird, because the only one I know with that job is the princess..." Rikku smiled shyly as it finally hit her. "You are? Oh, I'm so sorry I didn't recognize you. I should get out more."

She was about to bow her head, but Rikku held up her hands in defense. "It's fine, really. Not many know what I look like."

She seemed to want to punish herself. "I know, but still, you're Cid's daughter and the next leader of our people. I should at least know who you are when you walk into a room."

"Really, I don't care. Honestly, I like that you didn't treat me differently." At this, she seemed a little surprised, but then Rikku sighed. "Being treated like royalty, when you're not, is kinda a drag. Everyone wants to talk to you, get into your personal life, plus you're on the news if you do something," She paused to raise her fingers, bending the peace signs she held up, "'different'," she finished with an almost growl. "And everyone calls you lady all the time. It's annoying."

"You did save Spira twice."

"Helped save Spira," she corrected. "I did nothing special."

"Still, you did what everyone else was afraid to. You stood up to Yevon. If it wasn't for you, Al Bhed would still be in hiding right now. I'd love to go to Zanarkand or Bikanel, just to be with my own people. I've lived in Luca all my life."

Rikku's eyebrows went up. "You've never left?" She shook her head. "Why not?"

With a sigh, Astrah started on her base coat. "My boyfriend was a sailor," she said, her voice going lower with disgust. "Told me not to leave so we could get married. Said both of us traveling would cause disaster." She rolled her eyes. "Four years later, he leaves with a tot from Kilika and I haven't heard from him since." She sighed and picked up a picture and looked at it sadly. "Left me with the house and my virginity."

She cringed. Living with a guy, namely a boyfriend, and not sleeping with him was made out that there was something wrong with you, with Al Bhed standards. If a guy didn't want to sleep with you, you were made fun of. Al Bhed women were proud of there control on men. If you didn't have that kind of control well...you were considered a wimp.

"Riban left me we all that debt, haven't heard from him since." She showed Rikku the picture. She tried not to look appalled at the sight of the guy. He was covered with tattoos, piercings and tacky clothes. Not only that, he was bald. "Spent most of my early days baking and cooking for him. What did I find? Him and the pedlr in my bed, and her wearing my clothes. Guess how old she is? Not even sixteen yet. Said he liked her because she traveled with him."

Rikku bit her lip. "Ouch. How long ago was that?"

She shrugged. "Few weeks ago." She looked over to the colors of polish. "What color did you want?"

"Natural. I'm wearing black."

Astrah nodded. "I've been trying to get back to my old self, even sold the house." She grinned at a thought. "I burned all of his clothes and threw out all this alcohol, not to mention I sold his tools." Oh that was evil, giving away a man's tools. But he did deserve it. "I just wish I hadn't spent so much time thinking he'd come around. Part of me is kinda glad I didn't sleep with him. He never really even did the one thing I wanted him to do for me."

Her brow wrinkled. "What?"

"I wanted a trip in an airship," she replied. She sighed. "But a girl can only dream."

Bitting her lip, Rikku had just come up with the most brilliant plan. "I have an airship."

Astrah looked up. "You do?" She rolled her eyes and hit her head. "Of course you do, you're Cid's daughter."

Rikku smiled evilly. "Yes, but I also have it parked in Luca bay."

The older woman just gave her a confused look.

You can probably guess why I've introduced Astrah. Go ahead, try. I'd like some feedback.