You're The Only Place – Chapter 9
You're The Only Place
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My hands covered my mouth when I saw River removing his mask. I finally get to see who he is! I was jumping up and down on the inside; I couldn't wait to see if he looks like I pictured him.
He didn't look like anything like what I thought he did. He had a tan, which I was considering it to be an Al Bhed one, with snow-white hair, and chocolate brown eyes… wait a minute…
"Baralai?" I whispered.
He hung his head. "Hello Paine."
"It was you all along? For the past few months, it's been you singing across Spria?"
"Yeah. You told me that I could literally make a career out of my voice, so I did." Baralai gave a forced laugh.
"It's been you all along…" I whispered to myself. Suddenly, I didn't care anymore. I just wanted him to take me back, but deep in my heart I knew he wouldn't. Who would take back a woman that ran out on them and broke their heart. No normal man would do that… but Baralai is one of a kind. Would he do it for me?
"Baralai…" I whispered faintly.
"What?" he asked, coming to stand in front of me. "What is it?"
"I'm sorry." I chocked out, tears pouring down my face.
"Paine…" he wiped away my tears. "Please don't cry. It hurts me to the core to see you cry…"
"I'm so… s-s-sorry…"
"Paine…" Baralai put his hands on my shoulders, and lifted my chin up to look at him. "I know that you did what you thought was best, but I resigned because there was no reason for me to remain in Bevelle if you weren't there. Come to think of it, LIFE isn't worth living if you're off somewhere else without me."
"Huh?" I looked up into his eyes, not really understanding. Was he forgiving me?
"Paine… I don't want to be alone anymore… would you come back?"
"But… I left, I broke your heart… you would let me come back again?"
He brushed my new tears away. "Always Paine… always." He told me softly as he leaned down for a kiss.
He kept it chaste, but that was SO not what I was looking for. He smiled against my lips, and then deepened the kiss. I wrapped my arms around his neck, while his encircled my waist. When we pulled away, Baralai kissed my on the forehead.
"Okay, this may sound wrong, but I REALLY missed your kisses." Baralai murmured in my ear.
I giggled, "You're going to have to carry me back to my seat…"
He laughed; "You never change!" he swept me off my feet, and then deposited me in my chair, giving me one final kiss.
The crowd started cheering again.
Baralai's head jerked up. "OH SHIT! I'm supposed to be out there already!"
I just starred at him. "Did you just cuss?"
He smiled sheepishly, "A few months can do some things…"
"Obviously!" I cried, smiling. It was good to see that Baralai had loosened up.
"Wait, I have an idea. Yuna, would you open the drapes when I say so?"
"Sure thing Baralai." Yuna replied, going to stand by the cord that opened the velvet curtains.
He nodded, and she opened them. The crowd was greeted with the sight of River/Baralai with his mask off, kissing a woman. His mask was held in front of their faces so they couldn't see River/Baralai's face. The crowds cheered as they saw River passionately kiss this woman. He turned his back to the crowd and put his mask back on.
"Your song is coming up, Miss Paine." Baralai saluted, then did a back flip out of the top box. I ran to the edge and saw Baralai falling. One of those hovers caught him, and he looked up at me and blew me a kiss. The hover approached the stage, and Baralai flipped off the hover and landed in the center of the stage with unmatched grace. The crowd cheered.
"Hello again, Luca! You managed to catch me in an interesting position…" Baralai rubbed the back of his neck as the crowd busted out laughing. "Yeah, well, MOVING ON!"
"I've got a request from the Gullwings, but I need a request from you guys. What does my wonderful crowd wish to hear?"
"IT'S ALRIGHT!"
"Really? I wanted to sing Fall In Love Again…"
"IT'S ALRIGHT!"
"Okay, okay, okay! I'll sing It's Alright, geez… hold your chocobos…" Baralai looked up at me in the top box, and pointed. "This doesn't apply to you! Just thought I would clear that up before you ratted me out later."
I laughed and shook my head. "Got it!" I screamed, not really sure if he heard me.
"Here, can't hear ya. Use the mic. Actually, the mic is that little orb floating in front of your face."
I looked at the floating sphere, and then smiled. I leaned forward to speak into it. "I got it."
Baralai punched the air, "SWEET! Okay everyone… I'm going to get this over with so I can sing the Gullwings's request."
The music started and Baralai's mic appeared in his left hand. I never heard this song, so settled down in my chair and prepared myself to listen.
It's alright, it's alright
Well I don't even know your name
But I've been watchin' all the same
I hear your voice, I guess you're home from work again
I was the guy across the hall
I smiled at you but that was all
The one day we went at it up against the wall
It's some daily habit, we can't wait to grab it
We both gotta have it, just give me a sign
I'm comin' over tonight
And if you leave on the light
It means you're sayin' come in, it's alright
I'm comin' over tonight
And if you leave on the light
It means you're sayin' come in, it's alright
I finally understood why he told me that this didn't apply to me. I mean, come on, this isn't the Baralai that I knew a few months ago. I'm kinda liking this laid back one… but I'm wondering if the kind gentleman is still in there somewhere.
You're gettin' off, yeah I can tell
If walls could talk, they'd probably yell (it's alright)
Don't know your name, but I should know your body well
Temptation's only steps away
A game of this we like to play
Your light is on, you're tellin' me that it's ok
It's some daily habit, we can't wait to grab it
We both gotta have it, just give me a sign
I'm comin' over tonight
And if you leave on the light
It means you're sayin' come in, it's alright
I'm comin' over tonight
And if you leave on the light
It means you're sayin' come in, it's alright
I guess this KIND OF applies. He kept the light on in his heart, showing me that I was still welcome. I'll have to tell him that sometime.
Come up, come in, I wanna see ya baby (I'm comin' over tonight)
Cause we know how to do it
Come up, come in, I wanna see ya baby (I'm comin' over tonight)
Cause we know how to do it
I saw you in the hall today (nothin' left to say)
But still I know what's in your head
I'll see you later on in bed
I smiled at you but that was all
Then one day we went at it up against the wall
It's some daily habit, we can't wait to grab it
We both gotta have it, just give me a sign
I'm comin' over tonight
Come in, it's alright
I'm comin' over tonight
And if you leave on the light
It means you're sayin' come in, it's alright
I'm comin' over tonight
And if you leave on the light
It means you're sayin' come in, it's alright
I'm comin' over tonight (Come up, come in, I wanna see ya baby)
I'm comin' over tonight
Come in, it's alright
When the music died out, the crowd started cheering. I could see why they liked it. It was upbeat, and… yeah. Baralai stood in the center of the stage once again, and he raised the mic to his mouth.
"Alright guys, you happy now?" Baralai called out to the crowd, and they cheered in response. "Okay, settle down you guys, I have one more, then that's it." When the crowd booed, Baralai threw back his head and groaned, "GUYS! Really, you're going to live! Just relax! I could end it right here, but I'm not going to because I have to sing the request.
"Now, since you all caught me kissing Paine of the Gullwings, you probably want to know how I know her, correct?" The crowd yelled and screamed. "I'll take that as a yes… anyway. I've known Paine for a few years, but she didn't know that it was really ME because I've worn a mask and gone by a different name. You heard me right, River isn't my real name. But, you don't get to hear my real name, at least not yet.
"So, the Gullwings requested the song You're The Only Place."
The crowed screamed their heads off.
Baralai chuckled, "Yeah, for some reason I didn't think you guys would object…"
I leaned forward in my chair as the chords of my favorite song began to play.
Seems like our love is on the road to nowhere fast
All my life I thought a love like this would last
But every road can hide a corner we can't see
I had a vision that I woke up by your side
I felt you're breathing and our souls were intertwined
But who can choose love's destiny
Not me
We had it all right in our hands
We had the room to fly and still the place to land
Baralai jumped on a nearby hover, and traveled around the stadium, continuing to sing.
And so I'm calling now, I'm calling now
You're the only one
Who can say words from what we've done
That don't leave me hanging up
I'm reaching out and praying you'd come back again
It's just darkness I'm living in
And you're the only place my heart has ever been
Maybe I'm young and in the ways of love naive
Maybe I'm desperate for a reason to believe
There wasn't anywhere I thought that we would fall
I've seen perfection in a rainbow in the sky
I've seen a child who make the coldest grown man cry
But loving you I thought was greater than them all
And we had it all, just you and me
And now there is a doorway to me heart without a key
And so I'm calling now, I'm calling now
You're the only one
Who can say words from what we've done
That don't leave me hanging up
I'm reaching out and praying you'd come back again
It's just darkness I'm living in
And you're the only place my heart has ever been
Baralai now redirected the hover to fly to the top box. He held out his hand to me, and I took it. He pulled me onto the hover easily, and he wrapped an arm around my waist as we flew down to the stage.
Wherever you are right now, come back baby show me how you feel
Because I'm lost without you here
I'm calling now, I'm calling now
You're the only one
Now take a look at what I become
And don't leave me hanging on
I'm reaching out and praying you'd come back again
It's just darkness I'm living in
And you're the only place my heart has ever been
As the music faded out, we were standing in the middle of the stage. His right arm was wrapped around me, and I was leaning my head on his shoulder, facing the audience. Baralai pulled away and looked at me in the eyes.
"Paine… oh geez, this is a LOT harder than when I pictured it in my mind…"
I laughed, "What is it?"
"You know, I wrote that song, yes wrote… when I was writing it, I was thinking of you. So, you can say that song was for you. Thinking about what I just sang, it's true. You're the only place that my heart has ever been, and the only place where I WANT it to be. Paine, I know that the past few months have been a SERIOUS roller coaster, and I'm sorry. But, right now, the roller coaster stops, and a nice, smooth road begins. I ask if you'll travel that road with me."
"Huh? Sorry… that was a little wordy…" I laughed again.
Baralai sighed, "Okay, here was what I said, without the meaning hidden." He looked at me in the eyes. I couldn't see them because of his mask, but I can tell that what he was about to say was serious.
"I love you, Paine." Baralai whispered.
I threw my arms around his neck with a cry of joy.
"Whoa, ack, PAINE! I'm not-ack! I'm not done!"
"Oh, sorry!" I said sheepishly as I loosed my hold on his neck.
"Whew… I can breathe now…" Baralai squeezed me around my waist. "Alright, I love you, you know that now. But, I'm not done. Paine, you're someone that I would love to spend the rest of my life with…" Baralai told me as he got down on one knee. "Paine… I know this is sudden… okay, VERY sudden… but will you marry me?"
I screamed, "YES! OH MY GOD! YES!"
Baralai grabbed my hand, "I'm still not done, hold your chocobos."
"Not done? How could this get any better?"
"Oh, it can." Baralai assured me. "I know that all of Spira had been DYING to see what is underneath this mask, but I would never take it off in public. But now, for the first time, Spira gets to see my face."
The crowd started screaming when they heard this.
"Paine." Baralai said, squeezing my hand. "Would you do the honors?"
"Me? Take off your mask?" I squeaked. Baralai nodded. With trembling hands, I reached out and slowly pulled off his mask. When I removed it, his eyes were closed, but when he felt the weight of the mask lift, he opened them. They were twinkling with joy, and he grinned at me. He stood up abruptly, and dipped me in a passionate kiss. I gave a squeak of surprise, but soon wasn't objecting.
The crowd was cheering. They saw River's mask in my hand, but they were disappointed because they hadn't seen his face yet. When we broke apart, I buried my head in his shoulder, and he rested his head on top of my head, his hair covering most of his face.
"Are you ready to see me Spira?" He asked, speaking into his mic. The crowd screamed incoherently in response. Baralai kissed the top of my head, and lifted his head for the cameras to snap.
The crowd gasped when they saw him. "Let me guess, you weren't expecting your past praetor, where you?" Baralai asked, smiling.
To be honest, the crowd wasn't. But, they didn't seem to mind. They just cheered even louder. Baralai laughed and kissed my forehead. "I'll take it that they don't really care."
I mumbled an agreement into his shoulder.
"Sorry Paine didn't catch that."
I laughed, and kissed his jaw. Baralai sighed and closed his eyes. "Oh that's mean. Kindly wait until we are somewhere private…"
"BARALAI!" I exclaimed, starring up into his face. He was smiling, and he kissed me gently.
"I was joking, Paine. That is, unless you didn't want me to be…"
"Where in the hell did that gentleman go?"
Baralai threw back his head and laughed, "He's still in here. That Baralai just hasn't had to show himself for a long time."
"Why is that?"
"Because you haven't been here with me." He whispered into my ear. I sighed and hugged him close. "So, how does dinner sound? Sorry that it'll have to be at my house now that all of Spira knows who I am."
I buried my head into his shoulder. I realized how much I missed being able to do that. "Sounds amazing. Just let me tell Rikku and Yuna."
"All right. Let's go." He said, then lead me over to the hover that we used a few minutes ago. We hopped on, and flew up to the top box. We both got out, and I told them that Baralai invited me to dinner at his place.
"Ooooo! Baralai's place huh?" Rikku said slyly, wiggling her eyebrows.
"Yes, because since I blew my cover, I'll have to lie low for a while."
Yuna put her hands on her hips. "And you expect to lie low here in LUCA?"
Baralai scratched the back of his head, "Yeah… bad idea. Any suggestions?"
"Besaid." Rikku and Yuna chorused together.
I looked up at Baralai, and he nodded his agreement. "Besaid it is."
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A/N: This chapter was dedicated to… for always x… because she has been my only faithful reader and reviewer. So, I hope you liked this girl!
-Vincent's Angel of Chaos-
Songs were all by Nick Lachey in this chappie. Hehe! ((It's Alright and You're The Only Place- hrm… see where I got the title of this story? Hint hint….))
Disclaimer: Zero, zilch, nada.
Oooh... I just realized that I skipped Chapter 8. Well, I didn't SKIP it, I just said that the last chapter was chapter 9, when it should have been chapter 8. My bad! I'll fix it... in a few years... lol :)
