I got a craving to replay FFX again for the first time in like ten years. To be honest, I forgot a bunch of stuff (not to mention that I never finished it in the first place.)

I'm recently married, and as I was playing this game, my brain kept saying 'how would this scene be different if Yuna and Tidus were married?'

So I decided to write it.

I didn't want to rehash the whole story completely, so it diverts a bit and I skipped some scenes that I felt would have been the same in canon. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter One- Proposal

It felt good to laugh. Right. Like they weren't on a mission to save the world. Like they weren't trying to stop a hellish reincarnation of his father.

Like they were a bunch of friends, having fun on a road trip.

Yuna looked at him, eyes filled with tears from their laughter. Most of her smiles so far had been strained, or just an act. But this was joy. Pure, real joy.

His fake, psychotic laugh had echoed over Luca, and at first she couldn't stand the absurdity of it.

But only a few minutes later, when they both frantically tried to catch their breaths, Yuna realized what she was missing.

Someone who wasn't afraid to be a little silly. Someone who wasn't afraid to be a little rude or wild, even in the face of propriety of Yevon.

It was a good feeling.

She smiled at him. "I like you, Tidus."

The blunt phrase hit him like a bullet, straight to his heart. "I uh uh...like you too?" And he did. Maybe a little too much for the comfort of his fellow guardians. But getting Yuna's approval felt good at least. It was nice to know she liked him, and she wasn't just tolerating him as Wakka's lost duckling.

Well, she had agreed to make him a guardian, hadn't she? That had to count for something.

She nodded once, a determined look on her face. "Wait here a second, okay?"

"Oooookay?"

She walked over to where the others were standing, watching with faces of confusion and mild horror.

"What?" Called Tidus.

"We were just wondering if you two had finally lost it!" Wakka called back.

Tidus didn't get a chance to reply as Yuna beckoned Wakka into a huddle with the others.

She talked too softly for him to hear, back to him, and hands held tightly to her chest. No indication of what this was all about.

But they all gasped together, obviously shocked at something she had to say.

Something about him? What? Did she want to make him super guardian or something? Did he get promoted already?

Each and every guardian took a second to look at him, eyes narrowed in a glare of scrutiny.

Aw crap. What did he do wrong this time?

They all seemed to come to an agreement, as they nodded solemnly.

When Yuna returned, her face was red, and her eyes wouldn't meet his.

"Yuna?"

"I would...like to ask you something."

"Shoot."

"It made be sudden, and a little strange..."

"As has my whole journey been so far. Nothing new for me."

"Well...if it's not too much...I'd like to ask you...to marry me."

"M-m-marry?!" He stuttered, taking a full step back. "Wh-what? How? Why?!"

"You can say no!" She insisted. "It's just that...summoners typically have a family, or a next of kin. My parents are gone, and I have no siblings. Lulu, Wakka, and Kimahri feel like siblings to me, but in the eyes of Yevon, they're only friends. I'd like to...take you as my husband. Officially."

"That...makes sense...but why me?"

Her face turned redder. "I told you I liked you..."

"I didn't know you meant it that way."

Yuna looked ready to cry. "You can still say no. And nothing will change! You can still be my guardian. It's just that...the temples get really touchy about guardians of the opposite sex staying in the same room with the summoner if they aren't related or married. Lulu thinks it would be safer..." she covered her mouth. "I'm sorry! I don't want to pressure you! This is up to you, and I don't want to twist your arm!"

Tidus laughed. Not at her, of course, just the situation in general. It was a hollow laugh, one that betrayed how he felt.

She blushed again, this time in embarrassment. "It's not a joke..."

Tidus took a deep breath. "No, it's not. I'm sorry, I was just...a little shocked. Are you sure? I mean, I'm trying to get back to Zanarkand. If you don't think I will ever get there, and so you're taking a chance on me..."

She shook her head. "I don't know if you'll go back. If you do, I'd like to go with you." She bit her lip and looked away from him. "Truth is...I haven't ever felt this way about someone before. I felt it the day we met, too. And it's only grown stronger every time you made me laugh." She bravely met his eyes. "I don't know what the future holds for us. But this is something I can control. Something that I can choose. And I choose you. If you'll have me."

Tidus scratched his head, torn. Yuna was amazing. Wonderful, beautiful, sweet, and kind. Not to mention wickedly talented as a summoner.

But Sin. His father. Zanarkand. Would she still pick him if she knew?

"This is your decision," said Auron. "It doesn't need to be rushed."

"The next temple is Djose," added Wakka. "It's a ways away. But you have until then to decide. That's the soonest we can get someone to perform the ceremony."

Yuna looked small. Smaller than he had ever seen her before. And it was his fault. "Hey," he said, grasping her shoulder. "My hesitation isn't because of you."

She looked at him, hope in her eyes.

"I do like you. Kind of like you said you liked me. I noticed it a while ago, but didn't think it was...wise to entertain it. Any man would be lucky to take you as a...wife." He struggled with the word. "But, I just need a little time to think. I want to do what's right. I don't want to be a hindrance on your pilgrimage."

"Oh you won't be!" Yuna insisted.

"Yuna," Auron stepped in. "What if...you beat Sin, and he goes back home? Would your marriage matter?"

Yuna was quiet a moment. "I always wanted to be a summoner. Ever since I was a child. Just like my father. Marriage was a pipe dream. I know I won't get that domestic life that everyone dreams about. But if I could entertain it, for a little while, I think it would be worth it."

"Who said you can't have domestic bliss?" Asked Tidus. "Say I agree. You defeat Sin. I don't go home. Then what? We bask in the glory of your success and return to Besaid. Or wherever you want to settle."

Everyone was silent, not making eye contact.

"I mean, I have faith that we can beat Sin. I'm just saying that fantasizing about the future could be fun."

Lulu spoke up. "Perhaps it's best if you thought things over. We understand where Yuna is coming from. If you want to talk things through a little more, just ask."

Auron nodded. "But we can talk on the road. We should get going."

All talk of betrothal behind them for now, the group ascended the stairs and stepped onto the plains.

Everyone moved on, the air a mixture of tense silence and feigned normalcy.

Tidus hung in the back, away from Yuna, feeling like the scum of the earth.

Auron walked beside him, that mysterious quiet following him.

"I messed up, didn't I?"

"She sprung that proposal on all of us. Your reaction was normal."

"What am I supposed to do? You know what's going on better than anyone else. What with...Jecht and Sin. You told me not to tell her. So what's the right thing to do?"

"Yuna cares deeply for you. I knew it the moment I saw you together."

"Oh, like you're some sort of love expert?"

"Not a bit. But Yuna is easy to read."

"Yeah...she is."

"And you didn't notice?"

"It's different when it's you, you know?"

"You're just oblivious."

"Am not!"

"And immature. Definitely not marriage material."

"Now you're just being mean."

"You're just being sensitive."

"Rude."

They fell into silence then, just following Wakka and Lulu's lead.

"Tidus." He spoke softly.

"Hm?"

"Yuna is Lord Braska's daughter."

"Correct."

"The honor of defeating Sin would make her a legend. That honor is something she's willing to share with you."

"I mean, I was planning on helping her anyway. I don't need the glory."

"Then I anticipate you're a lot less selfish then some other men in this world."

"I...don't follow."

Auron exhaled, patiently rewording his explanation. "If you don't wed her, there's a chance someone else would try to do so. And they might not be in it for the right reasons."

"...so, you're saying I should say yes?"

"You wanted guidance. Isn't that why you're walking so far back?"

"I do want guidance. I've only been in Spira for a week, and I've already been proposed to. How's a guy supposed to handle that?"

He sighed. "I don't want to screw things up for Yuna. I want to help, but if everything that I am...if what he is makes everything wrong...and it's too late to back out, I would feel awful."

"Sin's identity won't matter. None of this will matter in the end."

"In the end?"

"Once she calls the Final Aeon. Her pilgrimage is over, and it won't matter. Being married to you, whether you stay on Spira or not, is irrelevant."

"If I do go back in the end, will Yuna be able to marry again? Is that legal here? Dumb question, I know..."

"It's legal. But she probably won't."

"And she's okay with that?"

"Yuna knows all the consequences of her decisions. She may be naïve and hopeful, but she isn't ignorant."

Before the conversation could progress, there was a growl from the tall grass before a wolf fiend leapt from its hiding place, and the guardians fell into battle.

Next on the chopping block was Wakka.

Or rather, he was the chopper, and Tidus the choppee.

He grabbed Tidus by the head, forcing his face into his armpit and nooging his head. "I told you not to go getting any ideas!"

Tidus nearly puked, but broke out of the grapple before he could die. "And I told you no promises!" He wiped his face with his sleeve. "It's not my fault I'm ridiculously charming."

Wakka huffed, "'Ridiculously charming' yeah right. I saw you talking on the boat. You were flirting with her!"

"If being nice and talking to her is flirting here, then I don't want to know what my actual flirting game looks like in your eyes."

Wakka rubbed the back of his head. "I should have seen this coming. Yuna doesn't know a lot of boys her age. It was only a matter of time before she got a crush on you."

"So because I'm her age, and around, she was bound to like me? Is that what you're saying? Really?"

"...you're right. That makes Yuna sound shallow. Still...I wish it hadn't been you."

"Wow, thanks a lot man. Didn't know you had such a poor opinion of me."

Wakka groaned loudly, catching the attention of everyone else. He waved them on, and pulled Tidus back a little further. "You're cool, dude. Honest. I just...do you remember the story of Lady Yunalesca and Lord Zaon?"

"No."

"Well, Lady Yunalesca is the first summoner to ever defeat Sin. And she did it with her guardian, her lover and husband Lord Zaon at her side. It's a love story that everyone fantasizes about having one day. Yuna has the capabilities to be just like Lady Yunalesca. But you...you're no Lord Zaon."

"So? Maybe a Lord Zaon isn't what she needs."

"What she needs is someone to support her. Someone who knows what's going on, who doesn't need her to hold their hand and explain everything to. I'm really not trying to be mean, brother, but that Sin toxin messing with your head is a major point against you."

Tidus understood exactly what he was talking about. He had gotten in plenty of hot water with people when he flubbed up some religious practice. Even simple questions were treated like heresy.

If you couldn't ask questions about your faith, and you just followed what everyone said, was it even your own belief? Or just blind obedience? That was something that was nagging him about Yevon. And maybe that was an indication that he would just be trouble for Yuna.

"Yuna needs a strong, smart, level headed pillar…not a doofus."

"I'm not that big of a doofus." Tidus scuffed his boot against the ground. "But I get it. My ignorance is a boo-boo."

"Other than that, I've got no complaints!" Wakka protested. "You're nice, make some really great jokes, you're a decent fighter and only getting better…"

"What, you put me down only so you can butter me up? Pick a mood, man!"

"Sorry, sorry, I just…was surprised. When she proposed. I understand why, I'm just…"

"I get it. And now I know your opinion on the matter."

"What did Sir Auron say?"

Tidus shrugged. "Danced around the topic. Made some good points, but ultimately decided it didn't matter."

"It doesn't matter?"

"Probably as long as Yuna continues her pilgrimage, he doesn't care about her love life. I'm definitely not going to try to stop her. She has an amazing goal ahead of her."

"Yeah…" Wakka shrugged. "It's a little terrifying too. Exciting to be a part of it, but..."

"Daunting." He finished for him.

"Yeah. That's a good word for it." He rubbed his shoulders. "Anyways, if you do decide to take Yuna up on her offer, there won't be any hard feelings, okay? Yuna makes her decisions, and she's put this one in your hands. I can't stop her or you."

"But if you could?"

"I already told her what I told you."

"You told her I was a doofus?"

"More or less."

"Thanks."

"She still proposed. My guess is she already knew."

"She's at least kind enough not to say it to my face."

Wakka chuckled. "She's too nice for her own good."

"Can I say something and you not get mad at me?"

"No guarantees."

Tidus chuckled. "Remember when we were in Kilika and Dona was there, and saying all that crap, and Yuna very politely but firmly told her to move on?"

"Yeah?"

"It was extremely hot."

Wakka barked a laugh. "Glad to know you like a woman being stern with you."

Tidus shrugged. "Maybe. Back in Zanarkand, I had a lot of girls doing whatever they could to get with me. It got really annoying after a while."

"Oh, Mr. Hotshot blitzball player, star of the Zanarkand Abes! Player and most beloved bachelor, ya? Sounds like a real delusion. You must have inhaled a lot of that toxin."

"Yeah," Tidus scoffed. "About a thousand years worth. I thought you were starting to believe me?"

"I was, but then you started talking about your groupies and now I'm not so sure."

"Look, if you're not going to be helpful, then I might as well go talk to someone else." He spotted the next closest guardian and spoke a little louder. "Hey Kimahri!"

The Ronso glanced at him, eyes narrowed in that stoic way he always was.

"I was wondering, what's your opinion on Yuna's proposal? Should I say yes?"

Kimahri lowered his head in thought, but only for a moment, before raising a large paw and whacking Tidus on the back, like you would a friend.

Then he walked away.

"What was that supposed to mean?"

Wakka chuckled. "I think it's free for interpretation."

They came across many people on the Mi'ihen Highroad. An old scholar with the dustiest voice he'd ever heard, an acolyte of Yevon named Sholanda—Shinda? Shish Kabob—Tidus could never keep these people's names straight. A thousand years is plenty of time for words to evolve.

And then there was Belgemine. A summoner, and a nice one, for once. A breath of fresh air compared to Dona.

Yuna accepted the friendly spar, grateful for the chance to learn and grow. The guardians stepped back, and offered plenty of room for the magic storm that was to unfold.

Belgemine had a new aeon to Tidus. A werewolf on fire, with nasty horns and claws.

This must be the aeon from Kilika, though he didn't hear what name Yuna gave hers.

'Hot Dog' would have to do.

Yuna raised her staff, and drew it back like the bow on a cello. The glyph appeared, and the summoning began.

It was just as awe inspiring as the first time he had seen 'Big Bird' in Besaid, and every time after. Each direction she gave her aeon was lethal to any man or fiend, but Belgemine's aeon took hit after hit.

He wanted to cheer, if he hadn't been too entranced by all the sparking lights.

"Your mouth is open," commented Lulu, dryly.

He snapped it shut. "Oh. Yeah...I just can't get over how cool these summons are. Yuna's so talented."

"Her prayers are strong. The Fayth hears them, and the aeon reflects that strength. The more resolve, the more powerful the aeon."

"So Yuna is really determined to fight Sin, huh?"

"Personally, I believe that she thinks she has no other option. She is her father's daughter. What would anyone else expect of her?"

"Kinda crappy on their part. Yuna has more merit than just who her dad is."

"To you and I, of course. But to the rest of Spira, a bunch of strangers, she's a beacon of hope."

Tidus considered that a moment, hearing the phrase repeated time and time again. He wondered who they were trying to convince.

"Would Yuna taking a husband blot out that beacon?"

It was Lulu's turn to be silent, as Yuna's aeon created a burst of light and Belgemine's dog turned into pyreflies.

"Yuna's journey will not be easy. Yevon demands their summoners to never show sorrow or worry, but she is still young. She could use someone to share the burden with."

"So...is that a yes? I should take Yuna up on the proposal?"

"I'm still trying to rationalize it out." She said honestly. But the coldness in which she usually answered his dumb questions with was absent. "As a woman, who had loved and lost, there is something so simple and innocent as wanting to find your Prince Charming and live happily ever after. Not many do. The uncertainty of life on Spira doesn't allow much for waiting and hoping."

"So this is pretty normal? Knowing someone for a week and then proposing?"

"For some. For Chappu and I, we thought we had plenty of time. We were both accomplished fighters, and we were sensible. There was no reason to rush. I don't like having regrets, or wondering what things would have been different if I had made another choice. The past is the past. But, other people might have the right idea in rushing."

"So...yes?"

"Are you that eager?" She smirked.

"I don't know! I never thought about getting married. I thought, hey, someday, if I meet the right girl...I didn't exactly have a great example of domestic bliss in my own life. But it was something to think about when I was older. Now was for partying, flirting with the cute fans, getting my game right!" He sighed. "At least it was, until I came here. Now it's surviving, and being prepared to take the hit for her. I...don't even want to play blitzball anymore."

"So you've talked to the others?"

"Yeah. Got a hard no, a vague back pat, and a 'it doesn't matter.'"

She scoffed. "Men. Well? What do you want? Yuna gave you the choice."

"But do I choose what I want, or what's right?"

"They aren't the same answer?"

"I...honestly don't know."

They arrived at the Al Bhed inn in the evening when the sun was still high. Tidus found it greatly satisfying to see Auron not putting up with the blatant racism from Wakka, and they took out rooms for the night. One cramped room for the guys, and one for the girls.

How would that work if he and Yuna got married? Would Lulu still stay in the room? Would she get one of her own?

It was crazy that he was even thinking about it. This wasn't the kind of person he was. How many marriage proposals did he get daily from random girls back in Zanarkand? Dozens.

And how often did he entertain the idea of agreeing? Not once. Sure, he soaked in the thrill and flattery of it all, but not one of those girls had made him consider taking a vow.

So what was it with Yuna? He'd known her a little over a week, and most of that week was met with hostile glances from the other guardians.

But she was so easy to want to protect, to want to talk to, and to be around.

And maybe, even easy to lo—

Mm, maybe he wasn't there yet. He definitely liked her though. But marriage!?

Sleep didn't come easy. He was certainly physically tired, after saving Yuna from being kidnapped that morning, playing a game of Blitz, and the fight with all the fiends after…

But his mind was a wreck. For a little bit, he thought he might have had a dream—or rather, a nightmare. His old man, huge and bloated and horrible, writhing like the monster he had seen as Sin. Yuna stood near, her blue eye filled with ice, her green with fire. And she stared right at him, face unreadable with the neutral, emotionless summoner facade she always had to wear.

"You would have your wife kill your father? How could you be so cruel?"

And then he woke up.

Auron was gone, though Wakka and Kimahri were asleep on the other side of the room. After that disturbing vision, he doubted he would be getting any sort of sleep for a while. So he rose, and went outside to see if he could find Auron.

The sun was setting. Auron stood just outside the Inn, watching Yuna who sat in the grass, cliff side.

They hadn't talked since the proposal. Things were too awkward, and he still didn't have an answer for her.

It seemed like Auron didn't care, as he shoved him forward.

Tidus pinwheeled before he could fall on his face, though the sound caught Yuna's attention and she turned to look at him.

"Uh-howdy?"

She smiled at him. "Couldn't sleep either?"

"Nah, not really. Can I join you?"

She patted the grass beside her, and he sat carefully, keeping a little distance between them.

Several moments passed in silence as Yuna stared out at the sunset. "It's so pretty."

"Yeah. Real peaceful."

"I'd love to live in a place like this…someday. Someplace where everything seems calm and beautiful."

"It's much different from back home."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah…my Zanarkand never sleeps…or slept. People coming and going all night long, businesses open all the time, lights replacing the moon and stars. It was a different kind of beauty."

"I'd like to see it. At least once."

"Maybe you will. Who knows?"

"Yeah…who knows?"

They sat in silence, that was not unpleasant, for a few minutes, before Tidus began, awkwardly. "I've been thinking about your proposal. I don't have an answer for you yet. And for that, I'm really sorry."

She shook her head. "Don't be. I sprung it on you. Feel free to think things through."

"Thank you. I was telling Lulu…back home, marriage wasn't even in the realm of possibilities. It was all partying and Blitzball. Since coming here, I've had to reframe my mind."

She suddenly gasped. "I didn't even think to ask you! You don't have a girl waiting for you back in Zanarkand, do you?"

He groaned, but then laughed. "I mean, I guess I did. But I probably would have broken up with her when I got back anyway."

"I'm so sorry! Did you love her?"

He shook his head. "Janni was…a girl I was in school with. She asked me out. Or, she declared that we were now dating. This was before I went pro with Blitzball, when I was just playing with my school. I was shy and nervous, and when she asked me out, I was like, 'yeah sure! I'll date a pretty girl!'" He huffed. "She was a whirlwind of dysfunction. Not that I come from a wholesome family, but…she would always play these mind games with me. When I first went pro, she was excited for me, but then quickly turned around and said I wasn't paying enough attention to her. Then when I would try to do nice things for her, she would claim I was being too clingy."

"She sounds fickle," Yuna said, with her mouth scrunched up.

"There was a phrase where I come from, that goes: 'don't stick your dick in crazy'."

Yuna blushed. "They speak about sex so openly in Zanarkand?"

"Depending on the company you keep. Anyways, I never slept with her, even though I know she wanted to, just because I got this sinking feeling that something bad would happen if I did. So, she would often break up with me, and go see another man. Then when that didn't work out, she came back and demanded that we were together again."

"And you just went with it?"

"Yeah. It's pretty dumb...we were both immature, and I made plenty of mistakes too, but I just felt like I had invested so much time with her already, that refusing her would have made all of that a waste."

Yuna sniffed slightly as her lip trembled. "That's so awful."

"I'm sorry! I shouldn't have brought her up! I know you said you liked me..."

She shook her head. "That's not it. I'm heartbroken that someone would take advantage of you like that. That she just...assumed you'd be waiting for her, so she could fool around! That's cruel!"

He sighed. "I don't know why, but hearing you say that makes me feel a lot better."

"Tidus, you deserve to be loved and cherished." She said it so seriously, he felt it in his chest. It made it hard to swallow.

"Thank you, Yuna. You do too, you know?"

She just gave him a soft smile and returned her gaze to the rapidly disappearing sun.