Disclaimer: I do not own anything from Final Fantasy x-2.

A/N: Alrighty people, hello again and welcome to another chappie of this fanfic. It might seem that this particular chappie might seem a tiny bit rushed in many scenes. The reason? Well, I wanted everything to hurry along and that Rikku and Gippal could become betrothed and then all the interesting things happen! Oh the joy!

(coughs) now, on with the story…

Chapter Five

Marriage has many pains, but celibacy has no pleasures

"Put the ring back on, Rikku."

The heavy ring bounced and slid across the table. Rikku made no move to retrieve it. Its weight was unconscionable on her finger.

"No." she said. "I don't wanna, Pops."

Cid prepared to give her the full blast of his temper, when Rielle and Sister burst into the work room.

"I don't believe this!" Rielle stamped her feet. Oh Rielle, Rikku wanted to yell at her sister, you're still such a little girl. Gippal would make you abso-posi-luetly miserable.

"What'd you do, Rikku?" Sister demanded. "What'd you promise him? Father told us that Gippal has chosen you, but that's impossible! You look awful, you look—

"That's enough!" Cid shouted over the female din.

"I agree." Said Rikku, eyeing her two very furious sisters. "Listen, you two, I don't wish to marry Gippal any more than he wishes to marry me."

"Then why?" Sister asked. "He could barely bring himself to look at you, just as you planned."

"I have a tiny little feeling that I know why." Rikku said, keeping an eye firmly on her father's face. "Gippal selected me because I'm a dowd, a sorry excuse for a female. He selected me because he didn't think he would have to change his life. He probably plans to dump me somewhere, and continue with his life as if nothing has happened!"

Cid couldn't help it. His eyes widened and his fingers clutched the table edge until his knuckles were white. How could she have guessed so quickly?

"So." Rikku said, expelling a deep breath. "I'm right, aren't I Pops?"

Cid didn't say anything. He had nothing to say.

"I don't understand." Wailed Rielle.

Rikku turned to face her sister. "Alrighty, I'll explain it a bit more." She said. "You, Rielle, and you Sister, are exactly what Gippal likes in ladies. You are both very pretty, charming, happy. However, Gippal doesn't want a wife. A wife, in his mind, will change everything! And he doesn't want anything to change. Do you understand now?"

"He's evil, a selfish person." Said Sister.

"That's exactly what I thought when I first met him." Agreed Rikku.

"I still want him." Said Rielle. "I could change him, make him happy, content—

"Don't be silly, Rielle." Rikku interrupted. "The man is selfish, ruthless, and unworthy. But of course." She added, giving her father a furious look. "He'll supply us with money. Well…his dad will."

"Rikku, you won't criticize him just cause he's endeavoring to…"

"To what, Pops?" Rikku asked furiously when her father faltered. "Hello? I'm being sacrificed here!"

"Sacrifice, ha!" Rielle yelled. "You'll be filthy rich, all the clothes you ever want and more! What does it matter if your husband goes his own way? You know nothing about how ladies and gentlemen conduct their marriages. It is a marriage of convenience. You, Rikku, should be thrown into the Bevelle dungeons, into Via Infin—

"Enough." Said Cid briskly. "Now that all the drama is over and everyone has vented his spleen, you'll come with me, Rikku. We have three days to do something about the marriage ceremony. There's so much to be done."

"You're bloody sacrificing Rikku." Sister said clearly.

"Sacrificing!" Cid yelled. "You're a silly ninny! And you, Rikku, you should be jumping for joy at your success."

"Pops…" Rikku said very quietly.

"One day, you will thank me, my girl." Cid said.

"We'll all be long dead before that day comes, Pops." Rikku turned, defeated. She walked out of the work room and stalked to her own bedroom. Gippal had to leave with Grunyon to check up on something someplace else, so she knew she wouldn't see him until they were to marry.

It smells like him.

She started to viciously rip the sheets off the bed. She was standing in the middle of the room, the sheets in a white pool at her feet, when Cid slipped through the open doorway.

"Jeez Rikku." Cid said. "Look at the chaos you've created."

"I know."

"It's for the best, Rikku."

"Yeah, I guess it is. Least I'm saving Rielle and Sister from misery."

It's hard to be noble, so hard.

"A husband's a husband, my girl, and in my mind Gippal shows more promise than most. He's placed in a most uncomfortable position. If he selected you for all the wrong reasons, well, he'll see the error soon enough."

Rikku looked much struck. "I hadn't thought of that, Pops! What do I do?"

Cid patted his daughter arm. "For starters, you'll pick up these sheets, my girl, then I imagine you'll give quite a bit of thought of your choices."

Rikku did give furious, endless thought to her very limited number of options. She spent many hours imagining the look on Gippal's face were she to appear lovely, charming and demand that he take her to Djose. That made her smile, but she wondered if he would beat her for her earlier deception.

She didn't come to her decision until the evening before her wedding. She was standing in front of her bedroom window, staring out into the impenetrable darkness.

"Rikku?"

"Yes? Sister, come in."

Her older sister was wearing a silk dressing gown and her lovely hair was long and loose down her back. "Sit down, Rikku. There are things I want to speak to you about. A sister-to-sister chat."

"What things?" Rikku walked to her bed and climbed to the center to sit cross-legged.

"Your responsibility as a wife." Said Sister.

"I promise you, Sister." Rikku said, her voice a bit nasty. "That I'll be able to have Gippal's meals on the table when he wants them."

"No, Rikku, I'm speaking of your intimate duties as a wife."

"Oh!" Rikku stared at her blankly, then cursed herself silently for eight kinds of a fool. She hadn't realized, hadn't thought that Gippal, that stranger, would touch her and…She swallowed.

"Yes." Said Sister. "Do you understand what husbands and wives do together? In bed?"

Rikku knew enough and she was horribly embarrassed. She kept her head lowered and merely nodded.

"Father believed, as I do, that Gippal will be sensitive to your feelings."

"What does that mean, Sister?"

"It means that he won't embarrass you, he'll treat you with respect due a wife. Of course, when he sees what you really look like, he will doubtless be quite pleased and more…attentive, despite his…well, I'm not certain exactly…" Her voice trailed off.

Rikku gulped. "I see."

Sister felt a stab of concern for her sister. She said very gently: "He will, of course, want an heir, Rikku. That is your main duty as his wife."

"An heir." Rikku repeated.

Sister sought for some reassuring words, and was surprised when Rikku raised her face and said quite calmly: "Thanks a million for telling me, Sister. I understand, I really do. How stupid of me not to have realized…well, now I know."

After Sister had left, Rikku huddled under her covers, drawing her knees to her chest. She pictured him naked, striding out of the Oasis. She knew well enough that his male appendage swelled to a horrible size and was shoved between her legs. It was a horrible thought, disgusting and embarrassing. So utterly sordid. But he could, would do it, because he had the right to.

Rikku hadn't realized until that moment that she was crying. Angry with herself, she dashed the silly tears with the back of her hand and sat up. She'd made up her mind and decided she would be as plain, timid and stupid as could be until he left her, which she was certain he would do as quickly as he could honorably manage it. She wanted him to leave her, preferably without laying a hand on her. No, a hand she could manage; it was that…other thing she couldn't bear to think of.

It won't be bad, Rikku. It won't be. I'll live in my own house and do whatever I want. He can go to Luca and enjoy all the charming, lively ladies he wants.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Rikku, damn you girl, I won't allow this!"

Cid reached for the offensive spectacles, but Rikku ducked out of the way. "No, Pops, leave then alone. I'm marrying you precious Gippal, and that's all you can ask me to do."

"You look like a bloody hag."

"Pops, you won't say anything to Gippal will you?"

"No, I won't."

When her Pops had left, Rikku turned to the maid. "Is it time?"

"Yes it is my lady."

She wasn't really a maid, just a helper for Rikku on her big day with her supposed loving husband. Nearly all the Al Bheds had gathered here after they'd been scattered to the four corners of Spira and felt so grateful towards Cid for building Home that they'd offered to assist him in any way.

Rikku merely nodded, beyond words. "I'll be right there in two shakes."

When she was finally alone, Rikku walked to the window and gazed out. The day was gray, cold and it had begun to drizzle.

If I was a romantic person, I'd keep a journal. And I'd write in it that I am beginning a new life and that I am deliriously happy.

She meant to snigger at her foolishness, but instead, it was a sob that broke from her throat.

A dear old friend of Cid's, resided over the ceremony. The two men had spent many satisfying hours arguing the qualities of Home versus Bevelle. He thought Gippal was polite, handsome, and a well-bred young gentleman. When Rikku finally entered the drawing room, he saw Gippal's expression change. His eyes went to Rikku, and widened.

Yevon. She looks like a nightmare, and miserable to boot. What in Spira was going on here? What had happened to his bright, laughing Rikku?

The words were spoken and he blessed the couple.

The wedding breakfast was less cheerful than a funeral.

Cid's lifelong friend, who had held Rikku on his knees when she was two years old, managed to catch her alone after she'd changed into traveling clothes. She looked sullen and pale. Where had she gotten those damned glasses? What was he to say to her?

"Goodbye, dear Rikku." He said, and lightly kissed her forehead. "I'll pray for you and your new husband."

"I'd like that, sir." Rikku said, squinting up at him. "Actually, a bolt of well placed scary lightning at this very moment would also be very welcome."

"You are marrying against your will, Rikku?"

"Nope." she said, seeing clearly that he was worried for her. She saw Cid frowning at her from the corner of her eye. She saw her husband impatiently slapping his gloves against his thigh.

"Goodbye sir." she said, and stepping to her tiptoes, kissed him on the cheek.

Rikku was thankful for the spectacles. They hid her brimming eyes. Rielle and Sister each hugged her. She reached her dad.

"Rikku." He said very quietly. "Trust me, my girl. And trust yourself. You're strong."

"Yes Pops." She took one last look around the hall. A woman was silently dabbing her eyes with a napkin, leaning against her husband. Rikku wondered silently if she'd ever see Bikanel Island again. She followed her husband out of Home. She eyed the airship for a moment with dread. Then she turned and waved toward all the Al Bheds she'd lived with for twenty years.

"Rikku." Gippal said sharply, his hand on the open door. "We must be on our way now."

TO BE CONTINUED…

A/N: (cries) they are married! (cries even harder) now Gippal isn't free anymore.

But it's weird. It Rikku actually pretty? Or is she beautiful? Or is she cute? Or is she all three? Strange, cause I don't really kow how to describe her! 'Rikku is a beautiful creature…' 'Rikku is very pretty' 'Rikku's really cute.' Gah! What the hell?