For all of you who've been dear readers, here's an extra long chapter. Someone has been kind enought to inform me that they wanted something longer (and yes, I'm serious about the kindness thing). This is over 3000 words! Yay!

Holding her mug to her lips, Rikku inhaled the delicious scent of her coffee. With a sigh of content, she swallowed and moaned. She just loved a good cup of coffee, especially after a heck of a night. She didn't even remember what happened, and yet she was tired from it.

She leaned back into her chair, enjoying the heaven she was in, even if it was only temporary. As soon as she was content, she sat up and looked at the work around her. Most of everything for that day was already done. All she needed to do was sign everything.

Elhana was really working harder than usual. But then again, she had been acting strangely that morning. Rikku noted that after what happened the previous afternoon, no one would slack off at work the next morning. She wasn't even sure if she had left her desk all morning.

Rikku leaned over to look out the window on the door, but was surprised by the buzzing coming from her purse. She nearly jumped out of her skin, grabbing a hold of her communicator before answering it and putting it to her ear.

"Hello?" she asked.

"Rikku!" shouted a voice. Though it was a little hushed. "You have got to get me off this island!"

For a moment, she blinked. "Yunie?"

"Yes, it's me," her cousin replied. "Can you please get me out of here?"

She blinked again. "Why?" she asked bluntly.

"I am dying here," she whined. "Tidus won't let me do anything. I can't clean, I can't go for a walk, I can't make dinner, and I can't dress or shower. I can't even use my legs!" The blonde held the earpiece away, knowing that Yuna was going to give her an earful. "Get me out of HERE!"

Again, she jumped. "Yunie, please, calm down," she said, concern in her eyes as she tried to sound reasonable. "Take a deep breath and listen to my voice, alright?"

There was an almost growl from the other side. "I'm not in labor yet, Rikku."

"Are you sitting?"

"Yes!" she exclaimed. "I'm sitting in the living room. Lulu left and I'm alone now. Wakka has Vidina for the day. I don't even care where that husband of mine is! Just help me—Paine said no."

Rikku scratched her head. "Okay, Yunie, just take it easy. Who isn't letting you do anything?"

"Tidus, Wakka, Lulu, and almost everyone on the island," she replied. "Everyone just keeps coming to do things for me. They even have some of the children doing things."

Her eyebrows wrinkled. "What are you doing, exactly?"

"Moving," she said. "We're putting our stuff from the hut into the new house."

Her eyes lit up and she stood. "It's done already? Oh, I can't wait to see it."

Instantly, her cousin was cheerful. "I know!" she exclaimed, giggling. "It's so big, and there's all kinds of room. There's one for the baby, plus, an extra. I cannot wait to find out what the gender is. I only have a few more weeks to wait and we can decorate."

"What do you want it to be?" Rikku asked. She was really curious about it too.

For a moment, her cousin was quiet. "I don't think I'll care…" she started. "I mean I'll love it no matter what. It's my baby, my flesh and blood. It will come out of me, and it's already spent all of its life so far inside of me." She paused, not really with anything. "If there's anything I really want for it to be, is for it to be healthy and well."

Rikku sighed confidently. "Well, then why are you complaining about everyone helping you?" she asked.

"What?" It was like Yuna forgot the first reason she was talking to her cousin.

"They only want the best for you and for that little critter in you."

"Critter?"

She put her hand on her hip. "Critter," Rikku confirmed boldly. "What else do you want to call it? 'It'?"

"Well…"
"Okay, Yuna, I listened to your piece and this is what I have to say," Rikku replied. "Just relax. Their intentions are in your best interest. Now, just to make you feel better, why don't you find something to do with your hands?"

"Something like what?"

She bit her lip, but then smiled. "You could knit a blanket for it!" she exclaimed. "And make it something that you put your heart into, so it'll always have you near it."

"Hm," she said. "You think I could do that? It sounds wonderful, but I don't know if I could get a handle on it."

"You have a few months with nothing else to do. I'm sure you could take the time to learn," she offered. "How 'bout this? You take some time to do it, and if you hate it, you could just stop and try to do something else."

"Okay…" she asked. "How do I get anyone to come when I want something?"

"Yell."

"Alright. I'll call you later."

"Sure, I'll see you at the wedding."

"Oh—and Rikku?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

Gippal was reclined in his chair, his hand propping up the back of his neck as his feet sat on top of his desk. With his eye open only slightly, he glared at the space in front of him, not really concentrating on anything in particular. There was work on his desk, but he made no motion that he actually wanted to do it, or that he would, for that matter.

The expression on his face was a mix of confusion, and also sadness. He just hated himself. One reason was for what he almost did. He'd almost slept with Rikku, and he was really close to it. But then the only reason she had wanted to, was because she wasn't thinking straight. He never wanted that at all. As much as he felt about her, he would never do that to her.

And yet his heart was clenched in his chest, beating wildly just at the texture of her skin. He didn't remember the last time that he had ever been that excited. It was almost scary what she did to him. Knowing that she had that kind of control over him, even subconsciously, gave him a chill down his spine. When she did that, he didn't know what he'd do.

He groaned and placed his feet on the ground, leaning on his desk with his elbows, and buried his head in his hands. He didn't even look up when Sanron walked in the door.

His assistant had a cup of coffee in his hand, as well as a few papers, files and other folders. He came over, a slight smile on his face as he was reading something. There was also a hum in his voice, and a quickness in his step. At the sight of his boss, he raised an eyebrow. He leaned over slightly and was almost hesitant.

"Uh…boss?" he asked.

Gippal didn't move. "I'm fine," he answered, his voice muffled. "Just put everything down."

The younger man did as he was told, as Gippal sat up and took a sip from his coffee. He raised an eyebrow—it was exactly the way he liked it, just like his assistant knew. For a moment, Sanron paused, putting the materials in his hand down. With a sigh, he raised an eyebrow.

"Do you need me to get anything else?" he asked, almost concerned. "Before I leave, that is."

He looked up. "Leave?" he asked, utterly confused.

Sanron blinked. "Leave as in go to my desk." He gestured to the door. His brow wrinkled. "Are you all right, boss?"

Holding his hand, he shook his head. "No, but I'll be fine." He shooed him away with a wave of his hand. "Just go."

His assistant turned to leave, but then Gippal thought of something. "Hold on," he said. "Just wait a minute. Come back."

With another sigh, Sanron came over, putting his hands on the desk. "Yes?"

Gippal looked around, and then pointed to the chairs in front of him. "Just take a seat," he replied.

Raising an eyebrow, he listened accordingly and took a seat. For a minute, there was silence between them. Gippal needed advise from another male, especially one that had a relationship. His assistant just happened to fill all those requirements.

Leaning forward on his arms, he thought a little bit with a wrinkled brow before he spoke. "You and Elhana are…together, am I right?"

Sanron looked around as though searching for a hidden camera. "Yes…" he replied. Then he became serious and looked a little nervous. "Am I in trouble for yesterday? Because I am sorry for that."

Gippal blinked, and then shook his head. "No, no!" he replied. "No, you're not in trouble." At this, he seemed to relax. "I wanted to make sure before I asked you my next question."

"Oh, okay. Well, go ahead."

He took a deep breath, before looking straight at him and speaking. "Has she, Elhana, ever made you crazy?" he asked. "Without trying?"

The younger man looked up with thought. "Yes," he replied bluntly, and nodding.

"How often?"

"All the time."

Gippal seemed a bit taken back. "All the time?"

Sanron nodded. "Yup."

For a moment, he didn't say anything. "Why?"

He looked to the side, out into space as he thought. "You know, there really isn't a reason, I guess," he replied with a laugh. "She's just always on my mind. She's very innocent, and proper, and trying to please, yet there's something enticing about her." He shook her head. "When you really need her, she's there for you. And she cares so much about my well being."

"That makes you crazy?" Gippal asked, a little confused.

He shook his head and leaned forward. "No, those are just her really good qualities. When I'm with her, she makes me feel better about myself, and who I am. I'm always happy, and I want to make her feel the same way." He chuckled. "And when we're apart, there's always something, even if it's small, that makes you think of her. I don't think there is a reason."

For a moment, the older man looked down. "Love?"

Sanron was almost startled. Then he laughed again. "Yeah," He looked up. "I guess it is love."

"And because you love her, you want to…" He cleared his throat and waved his hand a little, giving him a look.

Sanron's eyes widened. "Oh! Yeah, well, I suppose," he said quietly. "It's a way of showing that emotion, do you know what I mean? I did it because of that. That's why they call it that, don't they?"

For a moment he thought about it. Making love. It made sense, now that he had it all lain out in front of him. Then another thought struck him. "Usually, while someone's drunk, they tend to do and say things that they want, but normally wouldn't right?" he asked, changing the subject.

His assistant was startled, and looked around again. "Yes…" he replied. "Alcohol makes people…loose."

Gippal raised an eyebrow. "Loose?"

"Yes," he replied. "Loose on their emotions, words, actions. Everything they do is truly what they want and their brain on alcohol is saying 'What the heck?'," he explained, with another laugh.

"So, you're saying, that someone drunk, might do something they really want to, but when sober would deny wanting it, right?"

"…. Sure," he replied. "Why not?"
He nodded in thought before looking away. "Thanks," he said. "You can, uh, go back to work now. I'm not taking that time from your pay."

Sanron stood, looking to his boss with concern. But then, he got up and left, turning to see Gippal getting back to work, rather quickly, and closed the door behind him. Then recalling the conversation they had just had, a thought struck him, and he did the same as his boss.

As Rikku came out of her office, she found that Elhana was sitting at her desk, and not really doing anything. She had been on her way to lunch, and was going to invite her. Her pen was tapping against the desktop, and she was in a daze as she looked out into space, her chin against her hand. Her elbow was on the desk as well, and she had a silly smile on her face.

When the door closed, she looked up and her eyes widened. "Oh, Lady Rikku!" she exclaimed, standing up immediately. "I'm sorry, I'll get right to work." And with that she ran over to a cabinet.

Rikku almost laughed, and adjusted her purse as she came over. She put a hand on her assistant's shoulder. "Elhana," The girl jumped and turned. Rikku only smiled. "It's all right. You're not in trouble for yesterday."

She blinked. "I'm not?" She instantly relaxed, letting out a sigh. Then, the younger girl looked to the ground. "I feel so ashamed for what I did."

Rikku shook her head and took her by the hand, leading her over to the chairs sitting in front of her desk. She pulled her to a sit, and looked her in the eye. "Why?" she asked.

Elhana shrugged. "I don't know," she replied. "I missed work, and I acted like a …slut."

Her eyebrows went up. "You mean, that you didn't do it because you wanted to?"

She shook her head. "No, no, not at all," she said, seriousness in her eyes. "I did with all my heart, that's why I feel…" She made a face, looking to the ground again. "Dirty."

"That's nothing to feel that way about."

The younger girl seemed surprised. "It's not?"

"Well, you both wanted it, am I right?" Elhana nodded. "And you love each other?"

She paused. "Well, I'm not sure."

Again, she looked confused. "Not sure?"

She almost hit her legs with frustration. "I'm so happy with him," she replied. "And I want to be with him all the time. I'm always thinking of what we can do together, what I can do to make him happy, just to be nice." She shook her head. "But we've never really said it to each other. I don't know."

Rikku just looked her in the eye. "That sounds like love to me."

Slowly, Elhana looked up and smiled. "I do love him. I've never said it to him, but I do," she replied. "That's why…well, we were…"

Her eyes widened. "Oh, yeah, okay," she said, holding her hands up. Both of them were blushing and looked uncomfortable. "I get it."

Again, she sighed. "That's not why I'm upset."

Her head cocked to the side. "Well, what else is wrong?"

She looked down. "I've been…seeing him for a while," she replied, wringing her hands together. "And sometimes, well, we weren't careful."

Rikku almost choked. "And?"

Elhana looked to the side, biting her lip. "I'm late."

Closing her eyes, the older woman sighed. "Only one month?"

She nodded. So, Rikku stood confidently. "Well, it could be anything, but come on." She held out her hand. "Let's go."

The younger girl blinked. "Where?"

"We're taking you to the doctor," she said, confidently. Then she smiled. "That's what friends do for each other. They help them when they need it."

Almost tearing, she took her hand and stood with a smile. "Thank you, Rikku."

Rikku nodded, and lead her out the door.

"Hello…?"

Gippal knocked on the door to his roommate's office. It was open, yet he knocked before heading inside and looking around. There was no one inside. That was kind of stupid to leave the door open, when no one was inside. There were a lot of papers and files that could have been stolen or tampered with.

When he came in, he closed the door in the very least, but walked over to the desk. There was still work on her assistant's desk. He raised an eyebrow, but then noted that it was lunchtime, so they were probably eating in the dining hall.

He sighed. And he did come to tell Rikku the truth about what happened last night. He'd gotten up the wit and courage to tell her, and now she wasn't there. Slowly, he walked over to the other door, opening it and walking into Rikku's office. It looked clean, and put away—like it would be before leaving.

Again, he sighed and turned to leave. But then he heard a buzzing. He stopped, and turned, looking at the desk. The desk was buzzing. He raised an eyebrow, but then took another step forward and saw a familiar small, black devise. He picked it up.

He remembered what it was, Rikku's communicator. How or why she forgot it was beyond him, but leaving it unanswered might be a little rude. So, looking at it, he found the button to answer.

"Hello?"

"What did you do to my wife?"

For a moment, he was taken aback. That sounded like… "Tidus?" he asked.

There was a pause. "Gippal? Sorry man thought you were Rikku. What are you doing on her communicator?"

"She left it in her office…what's wrong with Yuna?"

On the other line, there was a sigh. "She's knitting."

His eyebrows went up. "Knitting?"

"Well, she's supposed to take it easy, and no one will really let her stand or do anything that involves walking. So…she had to find something to do with her hands. Rikku suggested knitting."

"What is she knitting?" he asked, going around to behind the desk.

"A blanket for the 'critter'."

"Critter?" He sat down on the chair.

"Rikku called it that, and now Yuna won't stop calling the baby a 'critter'!" he exclaimed. "I want my old wife back."

Gippal made a face. "No offense, buddy, but she's pregnant," he replied, rubbing his temple. "She's gonna be…wacky until the thing's born. The hormones make her weird."

He sighed. "I know," he replied. "Guess that's what happens. She's just acting so different. I liked the way she used to act. Now she's waking me in the middle of the night for fresh fruit from Kilika."

His friend winced. "I feel for you."

"Why are you in Rikku's office anyway?"

"Long story. She's not here, and I came to talk to her, that's all." He shook his head. "I have to get back to work anyway."

"Okay, I'll see you later."

He pressed the button again, and put it on the desk. But then he heard a noise and jumped up, accidentally hitting the desk with his knee. It had only been the wind slamming the door closed, but when he hit the desk, something fell to the floor from under the desk.

He leaned down and picked up the small book. It was plain, with nothing special about it, but there was a leather clasp at the side, that hooked like a belt. It looked kind of old, and very worn out. It was familiar though.

But then, he remembered where he'd seen it before.

"What's this?"

A ten-year-old Rikku looked up from tinkering with something on her bedroom floor. The room was larger, with a nice bed and few pieces of furniture. The only light source came from the windows, and the mid-day sun.

Gippal held up a book, that he'd found on her dresser, and Rikku seemed to stiffen. "It's nothing," she said, getting to her feet. She almost ran over and grabbed it from his hands. "Just a book."

He seemed unimpressed with her explanation, looking at her disbelievingly. "If it was just a book, you'd tell me," he said.

Almost angrily, she went over and opened the door. "If you don't respect my things, leave," she said, brow wrinkled, and a frown on her face. She didn't look him in the eye.

He was taken aback. "I didn't—."

"Just leave."

Sighing, he nodded, before walking past her and out the door. He looked at the door as it was closed, hearing the lock turn. He was going to find out what was in that book.

"Gippal?"

He looked up, putting the book behind his back. Rikku stood in the doorway, a little surprised and a little concerned. He cleared his throat. "Oh, you're back."

She nodded and came over. "What are you doing in here?" she asked.

Shaking his head, he held up her communicator. "Your door was open and this was buzzing," he replied.

"Okay," she said, holding out her hand. "Thanks."

He gave it to her with a trembling hand and then excused himself. "I…should get back to work," he said, still hiding the book as he left. "See you."

As fast as he could, he left and turned the corner. He exhaled—thank goodness she didn't see what he found.

I bet you're all wondering, is Elhana pregnant or not? Well, guess what, I'm not saying anything.

Ha ha ha! -P