You Don't Know The Real Me – Chapter 12

Second Chances


Paine arrived in Besaid, and Yuna embraced her warmly when she reached the village. "It's so good to finally see you Paine! You remember Tidus right?" she asked as her husband walked up.

"I do. How's it going Tidus?"

He smiled back at Paine and put a hand on Yuna's shoulder. "It's been peaceful for once in our lives."

Yuna smiled, and turned to look at her friend. "You said that you needed a favor from me, and I have a feeling it isn't a place to stay."

Paine shifted nervously, looking at the ground. Yuna was mildly surprised, Paine was never nervous or uncomfortable… at least she didn't show it. "Yuna… I was wondering if you could help me actually."

"With what?" Yuna prodded further, hoping to get the answer out of here sometime today.

"I was wondering… if you could make me into a proper Yevonite lady. You know, someone that could actually… you know… be eligible to marry a Yevonite man of a high status…" Paine rambled, still looking at the ground.

Yuna's eyes crinkled with amusement. "I never thought I would fulfill a request like that. Well Paine, you've come to the right person. I'll get you fixed up in something from the temple. Plus, you just signed yourself up for etiquette lessons."


Two weeks later, Paine was riding the Celsius to Bevelle. She was standing on the deck, her skirts flying around her legs. Yes, she was wearing a dress.

It was a simple black one that reached her knees, but it extended down in the back. With simple silver heels, and her hair down, she looked serene.

"Paine, we're here!" Brother announced over the PA system. She took a deep breath, and went down toward the engine room, trying to restrain herself from breaking out into a run. Yevonite ladies don't do that, Yuna made a point of that. But as soon as her feet touched the Highbridge, she forgot everything that Yuna had taught her. She sprinted toward the double doors of the temple.

Once there, she questioned an acolyte. The acolyte saw that she was in a hurry, and decided against the fact that the praetor was not to be disturbed. She took Paine to the meeting room, and showed her inside.

Paine saw Baralai with a pen in his hand, about to sign a piece of paper.

"Don't sign anything!" she said loudly and clearly, walking slowly into the room. Baralai lifted his head, and his jaw dropped.


((Baralai's POV))

"Don't sign anything!" A woman's voice said. I tried not to roll my eyes. Everyone knows that I'm signing these, and I was not to be disturbed-

Oh no. No way… that just can't be Paine… can it? Well, she's in a dress for one… a really stunning dress…

"Do not sign those papers." She said; her chin held high.

"Why not?" The priests asked, annoying that we were intrupted. "Why should he not? He's made his decision fairly clear. Give him a reason to not sign them."

Paine looked at me out of the corner of her eye, "I, Paine of the Gullwings, ask if it is possible for me to become the praetor's wife." Not once did she break our gaze. My heart leapt. I don't see her for two months, and her she is saying she's agreeing to be my wife? When did this happen? I'm suspicious and a little hurt, but I really don't care at this point.

The priests chuckled, and handed Paine a document and pen. "Hurry, sign this before he protests."

"Oh, I'm not protesting." I said happily, eyes still looked on Paine's. She blushed, and broke it. She grabbed the pen, and signed her name on the document.

"Praetor Baralai, your fiancé, Lady Paine." The head priest said, gesturing to Paine. I smiled, and held out my hand to her. She walked over and took it, and I raised it to my lips, kissing her knuckles.

"My Lady." I whisper, not really believing what's going on.

She saw something in my face, and smiled. "Do you think you can spare the time to take a walk with me?"

I grinned, and offered her my arm, "I would never need to spare the time for you."

As we walked out, I realized what she had seen. She lifted her pale hand to wipe away the tears in my eyes.

((End POV))

As the couple walked through the gardens, Baralai stopped. Paine looked at him curiously.

"Paine… why?" Baralai asked, looking into her eyes.

"Why the sudden appearance?"

"No, why agree to marry me when I haven't seen you in two months?"

Paine hung her head. "I've done stupid things in my life Baralai, but this is the biggest thing that I'll ever do. I was confused for the first month, but then it dawned on my how idiotic I had been by the time last month rolled around. I wanted to set everything right… but I didn't know how. Then I heard that you had to get married in a month. I completely freaked, I knew that I didn't have long to set things right. I know that bursting in here after not talking to you for two months is a bad way to fix things, but I really am sorry… this doesn't fix it, but I hope it's a start."

Baralai shook his head. "I know Paine, but you honestly don't know what kind of life you've signed yourself up for."

"Look," She said, glaring at him. "I know that I'm not the best candidate to be your wife, but I can and I will learn. I know nothing about being a part of New Yevon, but I'm willing to learn! Why? Because some things are worth it!"

"Promise me one thing. You won't change who you are, no matter what anyone else says. Nothing is worth that." Baralai whispered, standing in front of Paine. He lifted his hand to rest it gently on her cheek. "I thought you were never coming back."

Paine blushed, and shuffled awkwardly. "I did say that I would give you a second chance. Sorry it took me this long to follow through."

"It's fine… I'm just happy that you're back, honestly." Baralai said, smiling. "But, I do have to say that I thought I would never see you in a dress."

"Baralai! I'm pouring my heart out and you tease me about wearing a dress?"

"I'm not teasing you! You look amazing… really amazing. Don't be mad… this is just going to take a while to sink in…"

"Which one? The fact that I'm your fiancé, or that I'm wearing a dress?" Paine asked, smirking.

Baralai opened his mouth to answer, then looked down at her with a grin. "That's a trick question."

Paine gave him a genuine smile, and Baralai's heart melted. He kissed her hand again, and they continued to walk among the plants of the Gardens of Bevelle.

For a while, they just walked in a comfortable silence, and it gave both of them the perfect time to think.

((Paine's Thoughts))

This is certainly a lot better than I thought it would end up… seriously. The priests didn't seem to mind, which was what Yuna was most afraid of. It's easy to tell that I know nothing about the inside of New Yevon, and it would have been simpler to just turn away. But, I think that the priests were about to pull out their hair in frustration, and would do just about anything to keep Baralai as the praetor. Yuna thinks, and I agree, that he's the glue of New Yevon. He leaves, and this group is going to fall through the cracks in a matter of months.

Even though I may not know the teachings very well, Yuna made sure that I understood courtly matter. You know, dances, how to address certain people, that kind of thing. And, the best way to get rid of a man who is just determined to get you to dance with him along with what a man is really saying by his actions. I promise myself I wouldn't analyze was Baralai was doing, I did it anyway.

When the priests proclaimed me his fiancé, he kissed my hand… 'I adore you' is what he said. That's why I blushed. I mean, really, how many times a day does a woman hear that?

((Baralai's Thoughts))

Whoa… and I thought today was going to be a sad day, the day I left Bevelle with no place to go. Instead, Paine whisks in and becomes my fiancé. It's sinking in… very slowly. But she's mine… she's really mine. Man, just the thought of it makes me want to grin like an idiot.

When she came into the room, and spoke to the priests, wearing a dress, I knew she was being serious. But how she actually talked to them was mystifying. She addressed them accordingly as her superiors, and made sure that her purpose for barging in was clear. Who taught her to talk like that… oh, Yuna. I love that woman now. Then it hit me, if she knew how to act in front of the priests and address them… how much did she know? So, I tested her ever so slightly.

"My Lady." I whispered, kissing her hand. 'I adore you…' The silent message I sent to her. She blushed. Yes, she knows that kind of stuff too. Well, that's certainly a load off. Thank Yevon she doesn't have to learn etiquette. Not only willit be easier on her, but that means I get her to myself for an hour for a change...

((End Thoughts))

Baralai led Paine to the top of a hill, and stood behind her. He made a move to put his arms around her waist, but he hesitated. What if she just pushed him away? Paine saw him move, and smiled. Her smile turned into a frown when his arms fell back at his sides. Well, where did this gentleman come from? Paine smiled to herself, 'Guess it falls upon me, doesn't it?' she laughed to herself, and stepped back closer to Baralai. She leaned against his chest, and closed her eyes. He chuckled, and wrapped his arms around her. She looked up into his smiling face.

For the first time in two months, his chocolate brown eyes showed emotion. They were filled with happiness and amazement. His snow white hair fell into his eyes, but he ignored it. Paine now realized just how fit he was. Muscled arms were holding her tightly, and she broke away from his gaze, blushing. 'What's wrong with me?' she asked herself, 'You were fine with him on the tour… I guess now that we're getting married… whoa. Okay, that's something I thought I would never say.'

She closed her eyes as the reality of what she had done hit her. 'I'm getting married… and not once has he said he loved me…'

Baralai looked down, only to see a tear fall from one of her eyes. He turned her around quickly, searching her face for an explanation. "Paine… what's wrong?"

Paine growled at herself, wiping her tears away furiously. "Nothing… everything's fine."

"I don't believe that." He said, and she looked up at him in shock. "You never cry Paine. What's wrong?"

She looked down, and didn't say anything, letting his question hang in the air. The situation became uncomfortable, and Paine wanted to bolt. Baralai's thumb ran over her cheek, and Paine had to refrain from bursting out in tears. 'He can show me, but he just can't say it…'

"Paine… was it something I said?" Baralai asked softly.

She looked up at him. "It's what you haven't said." She told him, and walked back toward the temple without a backwards glance.

Baralai stood there for a few seconds, trying to figure out what she meant. 'What haven't I said that she wants to- oh no.' He raced off after her as fast as his feet would carry him


Paine heard the crashing of plants behind her, and turned to see who it was. To her dismay, it was Baralai who jumped over the hedge. He came to a halt before her, and grabbed her hands.

"Paine… okay, wait, let me learn how to breathe again… whew, I didn't know someone could walk so fast." He panted, and she couldn't help but smile at him.

"You ran the entire way?"

"Of course! Why, do you think that I don't care?" Baralai asked, his breath slowly returning.

"I never said that you didn't…" Paine said slowly, wondering where this was going.

"I do… I really do care, and I can prove it."

She raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Do you know exactly why I wasn't going to marry anyone else?"

"Because… you couldn't find someone?"

Baralai shook his head. "No. There were plenty of woman for me to marry, I just chose not to."

"Why? You could have kept your position-"

"My position isn't my life, far from. My life is the one who I love. I refused to marry someone else because I am all ready in love with someone. Now, I don't know if she loves me yet, but I don't care. I wasn't going to marry someone else."

Paine's throat tightened, and she looked away. "Someone means that much?"

Baralai hesitated, but pulled her in close, startling her a bit. "Yes, you mean that much to me."

"Wha- me?"

"Yes you." Baralai said softly, and leaned down to whisper in her ear. "Paine… I-I love you."


A/N: If anyone is curious to what her dress actually looks like, here it is:

www . alldresses . com / store/ item/ D5520 ((remove spaces))

I hope that this made you guys a little happier... hehe! Rikku and Gippal jump into the picture next chapter, so hang in there! They haven't disappered! Also, I'm planning two fics to follow this one, so yay! I mean, come on, Paine can't adapt THAT fast to a new life! Plus, for Rikku and Gippal, you forgot about Cid... ((evil laugh))

I would like to thank the following peeps for reviewing...

for always x
Kitsu Kurasei
marajade963
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Flame of Bevelle
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Read and review! Thankies! ((Please don't flame me...))

-Vincent's Angel of Chaos-

Disclaimer: Nothing... yet... MWAHAHAHAHA! ((cough)) Ahem, sorry about that ladies and gentleman. I do not know what came over me.