You're The Only Place – Chapter 13

The Memories


((Paine's POV))

I studied myself as I looked in the mirror. I wore a strapless, white ball gown. Yes, I, Paine, am wearing a dress, and a really POOFY dress at that. I can't really believe it. I'm getting married, to the ex-praetor of New Yevon. It was really funny, because a few days ago he got a message from Bevelle saying that his position of praetor was still open, and his wife-to-be was free to come live with him. Baralai gave it to me to read, and when I finished, I looked up at him.

He then removed it from my grasp, ripped it to shreds, and threw it into the fire. Then he proceeded to help me out of my Warrior outfit…

Anyway, today was the big day. I never imagined myself planning a wedding, let alone mine, but that's what I've been doing for the past three months. Nooj stuck his head in.

"Paine? Let's go. Baralai's doing a dance at the altar."

"Is he afraid that I'm not coming?"

"He's just nervous, I know I was. Let's go."


((Baralai's POV))

You know, I bet Paine that she couldn't get me to go speechless at the sight of her in a wedding dress. 50 gil said that she could, and another 50 gil said that she couldn't. So, whoever was right wins 100 gil. And here I am, staring like I'm a fish trap. Well, 100 gil is going into her pocket tonight…


((Paine's POV))

I starred at Baralai the entire service, and surprisingly, I didn't find myself embarrassed. He must have been feeling the same, but because his eyes never left my face. When he kissed me, it was like he was never the praetor of New Yevon. I mean, he would always be quiet and reserved in front of a priest (and one was marrying us) but since then, he hums his own tune. What I mean by that is… well…

He dipped me back, he really did. Except he did it different than Auron. I don't know how he did it differently, seeing as I was on the receiving end of a world-stopping kiss. But, I was going to have my fun too. I straightened up, and leaned into Baralai. It was funny because he wasn't expecting it. He stumbled backwards a bit, but we still stayed kissing. The audience laughed. Hey, it's not everyday that you see someone totally go for it on his or her wedding kiss.


The reception was one of the funniest things I've ever seen in my life. Yuna and Tidus stole the show for a while on the dance floor, and then Baralai dragged me out. It was really funny, because we were going to dance to an oldie, then Gippal changed it. So, we were on the middle of the dance floor when one of Baralai's songs came on. The crowd laughed, and he turned to them.

"Who did it?" he accused, which just made everyone laugh harder. When Gippal slowly raised his hand, laughing is ass off, Baralai pointed at him.

"When I get back from my honeymoon, you're toast." That just made everyone laugh even harder. Even he smiled. Now, that song is one of my favorites. We slow danced, but Baralai got a little adventurous towards the end.

Maybe it's intuition
But some things you just don't question
Like in your eyes
I see my future in an instant
and there it goes
I think I've found my best friend
I know that it might sound more than
a little crazy but I believe

I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life

Here is where I considered appropriate for other couples to intrude on our dance. It turns out that Auron pulled Rikku out, and began to slow dance with her. I gave her a wink, and she blushed. I surmised that Auron doesn't do this kind of thing often. I told Baralai, and he looked at them with a smile. He kissed me on the cheek, "I have a hunch that you're right."

There's just no rhyme or reason
only this sense of completion
and in your eyes
I see the missing pieces
I'm searching for
I think I found my way home
I know that it might sound more than
a little crazy but I believe

I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life

Tidus pulled Yuna onto the dance floor at this point, and everyone clapped. I gave Yuna a thumbs up, and Baralai gave Tidus a wink. Yuna blushed, and Tidus beamed, dipping Yuna back. I sniggered. Yuna said that she wasn't going to steal the show, and Tidus was helping her immensely. I wasn't jealous, I was having a fun time watching her turn redder than my eyes.

A thousand angels dance around you
I am complete now that I found you

I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life

When the last line was sung, Baralai spun me and dipped me back. I laughed, and everyone clapped. When he set me back on my feet, a VERY familiar mantra started up…

"Kiss her! Kiss her! Kiss her!"

I looked over at Baralai and the both of us laughed. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled my close. I met his lips in a passionate lock, and the whole population of our reception started yelling and awing at our performance.


One of my most fond memories is easily when we cut the cake. Baralai fed it to me like a true gentleman. I could tell he was expecting me to be a proper lady and feed it to him properly. Heck no, I was feeling flirtatious…

I picked up the piece delicately, letting him believe that I was going to be a good girl. But when I brought it to his mouth, I didn't necessarily put it there. Instead, I smeared it all over his mouth. The people watching busted out laughing, and Baralai was just starring at me. I was doubled over laughing when he said in a very serious tone;

"Paine…"

I straightened up and looked at him with a straight face (which was really hard to do at the time.) "Yes?"

Then he got an evil glint in his eye. My confidence wavered. What was he going to do to me? At first I was afraid he was going to dive into the cake and do the same to me, but he didn't. He managed to think of something better.

Baralai pulled me into his arms and kissed me, hard. Since his mouth was covered in cake, he managed to get it all over me. My shoulders were shaking with laughter, but I didn't pull away. I was letting himself have his fun. When we pulled away, I licked my lips.

"That's good cake."

Baralai wiped his mouth and busted out laughing.


That was a few years ago. Now, I sit on our porch in Luca, watching our 5-year-old daughter Nicola run around the backyard. Baralai came out from inside, and sat behind me on the stairs. With a sigh, he wrapped his arms around me and put his chin on my head.

"Hey Baralai?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you happy?"

He squeezed me, "What makes you think that I'm not? I'm busting at the seams from happiness right now."

"Can a fourth person share in your happiness?"

"Fourth? Paine, there are only three of us… oh no. Are you…?"

"I am. Is that bad?"

With a yelp of joy, Baralai scooped me up off of the stairs, brought me to the grass, and spun me in the air. I supported myself with my hands on his shoulders, and laughed. This wasn't exactly the reaction I was expecting, but that's okay. He set me down and kissed me.

In our wedding vows, Baralai told me that I was the only woman that ever held his heart, and the only woman that ever would. I smiled at this, and kept it close to my heart. Over the years, I realized how true that was.

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 in the songs were written
But who can choose the destiny
Not me
We had it all right in our hands
We had the room to fly and still the place to land

We ended up with two kids, Nicola and Jeremy. Nicola ended up marrying Yuna and Tidu's youngest son, and they now have a child. Jeremy ended up marrying a wonderful Al Bhed woman. At first she was a little nervous about being related to Baralai. I think he took care of that by sitting her down and talking… then shopping. He's taken me shopping once, and that's a treat. He carries everything… it's so wonderful.

And so I'm calling now, I'm calling now
You're the only one
Who can save us from what we've done
That 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

Baby I'm young and in the ways of love naïve
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 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

Auron went to the Farplane not long ago. He's joining Rikku for a long deserved rest. Lulu and Wakka left a few years ago, and so did Cid. Yuna and Tidus are in their golden years, (mid 60's) and they expect to be going soon.

We spread Auron and Rikku's ashes a few weeks ago. I got a handful of both of their ashes at the Moonflow, and I spread half of Rikku's remaining ashes in a very special place.

And so I'm calling now, I'm calling now
You're the only one
Who can save us from what we've done
That 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

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

Baralai and I are now in our mid 60's now, and we're kicking back after a good life. Baralai retired from "River" when he was 35, a relatively short career, but he went out with a bang. He told me that he wanted to be there for his kid's lives, not singing off somewhere in Spira. But, the last song he sang at his last concert in Luca, was this one… Baralai told me that I was the only woman who could ever have his heart. The crowd cheered when they heard him, and I kissed him onstage! (Something I promised myself I wouldn't do. So much for that.) So, Baralai, my last wish to tell you is this.

You're the only place my heart has ever been, and ever will be.

And you're the only place my heart has ever been


A/N: That's it. I'm done. I love you all for reading, and now it's back to work on Together At Last, so I can work on I'll Be There For You. Yay! Thankies to all of you, and I hope you loved reading this, because I sure had a wonderful time writing it!

-Vincent's Angel of Chaos-

I would like to give the credit for the songs...

I Knew I Loved You - Savage Garden

You're The Only Place - Nick Lachey
If you liked this story, you need to thank Nick Lachey. His song is the reason this fic is even HERE. So, if you liked it, you have Nick Lachey to thank!

Disclaimer: Nothing is mine. Haven't we been through this?