A/N: Yes I know I haven't updated this in over a year. I'm sorry and I don't really have an excuse, minus first year of uni being incredibly time consuming and working two jobs. It leaves me very little time to write. I've re-written this chapter 3 times and this is as good as it's getting. So if any of you are still reading this enjoy.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter 6
Rikku opened her mouth to greet the visitor but closed it as she took in Yuna's presence. Yuna stared at her cousin who she'd thought was missing all these years. Rikku had grown into a woman, though she was still as thin and energetic as ever. Rikku's face flashed a multitude of emotions – happiness, fear, anger, regret before finally settling on resignation.
Gippal, who hadn't heard any of the usual sounds of greeting, poked his head out the door to see what the problem was. "Oh shit." he muttered as he caught sight of Yuna before trying to duck back out of sight. Too late, Yuna's eyes had caught sight of the ex-machine faction leader and had widened drastically.
"Yunie." Rikku muttered finally regaining the ability of speech. She held the door wide open reluctantly. "Come in, please."
Rikku led the way to the kitchen where the rest of the family were trying to finish their dinner. Gippal looked slightly subdued but he flashed Yuna a smile. Danae's eyes widened as her teacher entered, though for a slightly different reasons to her parents.
"Miss Yuna!" She squealed. Gippal glanced at his daughter and promptly handed Kai to her.
"Danae, why don't you take your brother upstairs for a bit while Mummy and I talk to Miss Yuna?" Gippal suggested and Danae nodded. She left and Gippal heard the pair cautiously make their way up the stairs, leaving the three adults alone for what was probably going to be a very awkward reunion.
"Much as we delight to have the high summoner at our humble home." Gippal muttered sarcastically and Rikku let out a harsh laugh. "Why are you here Yuna?"
"I need to talk to you about Danae." Yuna said, taking on a topic that was probably the easiest. So many unanswered questions, it'd take forever to decide which to ask. Rikku nodded and indicated that Yuna should take a seat before sitting down next to Gippal. Their hands intertwined underneath the table and Gippal gave Rikku's hand a tight squeeze.
"Danae's not doing so well in her studies. She's distracted and spends a lot of time daydreaming. Her English, though very good is not up to standards and she gets picked on by the other children." Yuna's words were a little harsh but that could probably be put down to the stress that she'd been put through during the course of the evening. Rikku and Gippal looked at each other, identical frowns marring their features.
"I knew we should've home schooled her." They both said at the same time before bursting out laughing. Yuna suddenly felt very out of place. This Rikku was very different to the Rikku she had known before. For a start her and Gippal were getting along. They were living together and Yuna had to assume that Danae was their child and the little boy too. Rikku and Gippal hadn't been able to be in the same room without arguing last time Yuna'd send them together.
"What's going on!" Yuna demanded, her face turning beet-red with anger and confusion. Rikku and Gippal both look at her in surprise. Yuna glares at Gippal as the pieces fall into place. "You kidnapped her! You took her away from her family and friends!"
"What?" Gippal spluttered in angry indignation.
"I LEFT Yuna!" Rikku yelled at her cousin. "No one kidnapped me and especially not Gippal!"
"But why would you leave? You had friends, family and a loving fiancé." Yuna said her anger deflated a little when faced with two extremely ticked off Al Bheds.
"I loved Gippal." Rikku answered very simply. In her mind it didn't matter about any of the other things in her life. She loved Gippal and so she'd left to be with him.
"I think I'll go check on the kids." Gippal muttered, leaving the room in a hurry. Much as he wanted to support Rikku, it would probably be better if he weren't in the room.
"What about Noah? He was going to propose." Yuna said staring at her cousin.
"I know. He even managed to get it out. I didn't love him and he didn't love me. He only wanted to marry me because one day I'd have been the leader of the Al Bheds. Him and Vydran were trying to guilt trip me into agreeing for the good of our people. I faked a call from you and I left."
"How can you say that? You were together for months. He never stopped looking for you, even after all these years. He definitely loves you. Not to mention I saw you when you were with him. You looked like someone who was in love."
"NO! I was NEVER in love with Noah!" Rikku practically spat the words out, her temper raging. "The entire time I was meant to be seeing Noah, I was seeing Gippal."
"I think I would've noticed that!" Yuna stated arrogantly. "Wherever you saw Gippal all you'd do was fight and argue. There was no way you were seeing him."
"We wanted you to think we hated each other! Gippal's been my best friend since we were kids. There's no way we'd hate each other!" Rikku's cheeks were getting redder and she could feel her blood boiling in rage.
"You deserve better Ri. No matter what he's got you believing, Gippal's nothing but a player." Yuna was calm even in the face of her angry cousin. She was in the right. But She'd finally taken one step too far.
"Get out of my house!" Rikku's tone was ice cold as she glared daggers at Yuna. Yuna finally noticed how angry Rikku was and how Rikku's hands were reaching for the daggers at her belt. She did what any smart person would do in that situation and headed for the door as fast as she could. The front door was slammed behind her, leaving Rikku alone to calm down.
With a sigh, Rikku headed up the stairs to the kids bedroom. She smiled as she saw Gippal sprawled on the bed with the kids next to him. Gippal glanced up at her, half asleep. Rikku just smiled, placing one finger to her lips before climbing in beside him. The bed was big enough to fit them all. Closing her eyes, the last thing Rikku thought before she drifted off to sleep was that she wouldn't change her life for anything.
Rikku and Gippal were woken by a very loud crashing noise. They sat up suddenly, disoriented in the dark. Rikku ran to the window that overlooked the street. She was just in time to see that a large number of armed guards were currently entering their house.
"Gippal! We've got to go Now!" She hissed, trying to keep her voice as low as possible. If they didn't know exactly where they were yet, she wasn't going to make it easy for them.
Gippal nodded and shook Danae awake, before grabbing Kai. Rikku had grabbed her daggers and a garment grid from the shelf it came down to a fight. But hopefully it wouldn't. They hadn't done much redecorating over the years, but what they had done was ensure that it was like most Al Bhed structures. They'd built in as many possible escape routes as possible.
Sneaking down a hall, Rikku could hear the bastards tearing apart her workroom. There were still traces of racism with Bevelle's citizens and the majority of it was concentrated within the Bevelle guards. They would destroy everything for the sole reason that it was an Al Bhed home. She let out a harsh sob.
"What ya'll doing? I want you to find my girl, Damn it." Rikku recognised her fathers voice and pushed Gippal on faster. They reached the main bedroom. Gippal yanked open the cupboard door, pulling them shut again as the entire family crowded in. As he felt around for the lever he remembered that he'd laughed at Rikku when she'd suggested the shaft. It acted as a kind of slide. The floor of the cupboard fell through into a chute. Those on top slid their way down to the small shed which they had claimed was for storing their tools. Honestly though, what Al Bhed left his tools outside. The brilliant thing was it left no hint that anything had been used. The floor of the cupboard shifted back into place once they'd gone down it.
Rikku clapped her hand over Danae's mouth as the floor disappeared from beneath their feet. The small family clung to each other and Gippal knew he'd have a couple of new bruises by morning. They fell in a pile on the floor of their shed, thanking the foresight that had told them to place a pile of sacks beneath the opening. Gippal pushed the cover back over the chute, before slowly getting to his feet. Kai had woken up in the fall and was looking around bleary eyed.
"Come on Ri, we've got to go." Gippal said hurriedly, pulling Rikku to her feet. She nodded and picked Kai up. Gippal picked up Danae and grunted a little under her weight.
"Daddy? What's going on?" Danae asked, her voice breaking the silence that had built up.
"Shh Danae, it'll all be alright." Gippal whispered as he cracked open the door out of the shed. The hover was blocked off, surrounded by guards. Rikku drew one of her daggers, but he shook his head. It wasn't worth the risk. The guards were all watching the backdoor as if anyone was stupid enough to just walk out the backdoor.
Gippal crept around to the opposite side of the shed. There was a clear run to the street. He motioned for Ri, to follow as he moved as quietly as he could towards it. If they ran the guards would hear them and there'd be a chase. He wasn't sure they could out run an entire platoon of guards with two children.
After what seemed an age they finally reached the streets. They emerged from the side of their house and started to run in the opposite direction to the main entrance.
"Rikku!" They heard Cid yell from behind them and they sped up. "There is no where you'll be safe from me boy, you hear! I will hunt you down for taking my daughter." Gippal swore under his breath once they'd finally stopped running. Even though he'd known that Cid hated him, hearing the threats out loud made them more real.
"Daddy, what's happening? Why were those men in our house?" Danae's voice piped up, curiously. He looked down at her and tried to force a smile.
"They were looking for us. It's kind of like hide-and-seek, only we're very good and we've been playing for years. Now they found us so we need to think of a new plan." He looks at Rikku who looked worried.
"It'll all be fine." Gippal said placing Danae on the ground and pulling Rikku into a hug.
"What if they do find us Gippal? They think you kidnapped me." Rikku murmured.
"We'll just have to set them straight then. I think I still have friends who can help us." Gippal said and let her go. He picked up Kai this time, as Danae grabbed Rikku's hand. "I haven't seen 'Lai in years, I think it's about time we paid him a visit."
Baralai was woken to the sound of someone banging on his door. He frowned as he noticed it was still dark. He pulled on his praetors robe, before yanking open his door.
"What do you want?" He said blinded by the sudden light. He heard a chuckle and as he blinked he could make out a face, blonde, Al Bhed with a scar running across one eye. "Gippal?"
"Lai." Gippal chuckled. He was about to say something else when the other man roughly embraced him.
"We thought you were dead." Baralai said accusingly as he looked the other man up and down. Gippal had barely aged, though his appearance was helped by the youthful glimmer still held in his eyes. Gippal raised one arm to scratch the back of his head.
"Yeah sorry about that. It's kind of why I'm here though." Gippal said and Baralai looked at him curiously.
"We need your help." Another voice interrupted from a little further down the hall. Rikku emerged from shadows with two small children clutching at her legs.
"Rikku! But you were kidnapped." Baralai looked between the pair confused. "Gippal? You kidnapped Rikku?"
"No. Why do people keep assuming that? I left." Rikku said coming up to stand next to Gippal. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"Ah. You two left to be together?" Baralai surmised. The pair nodded. "But why go into hiding, why not just do it?"
"Because of Pops. He doesn't like Gippal. There was likely to be several threats which knowing Pops he would've gone through on. And then there was the fact that he wanted me to be with Noah. It was a messy situation." Rikku explained sadly.
Danae was watching what was going on in confusion. Her parents were talking to the Praetor of New Yevon. They'd woken him up in the middle of the night and they weren't being arrested. In fact he seemed pleased to see them, like they were old friends. But that was silly, right?
"Daddy." She said tugging on Gippal's pants a little. Gippal looked down. He'd forgotten about the kids. Baralai's attention turned towards the little girl as well.
"And who's this?" He asked raising an eyebrow.
"This is Danae." Gippal introduced, pushing her forward a little. "Danae, this is Baralai, one of my friends."
"Hello." Baralai said with a smile. She smiled shyly back at him.
"Hello."
"And this is Kai." Gippal said hoisting his son into his arms. Kai looked around him in interest at the new environment. Baralai took one look at Gippal with the small child and started laughing.
"I never figured you for the father type, Gippal. Paine has got to see this." Baralai commented between laughs. Gippal glared at him for a moment before laughing himself.
"I suppose your right." Gippal said with a sigh of resignation. He hadn't really wanted to see many people. He just wished they could go back to the way things had been yesterday before Yuna showed up and spoiled it all.
"You have access to the sphere network don't you Baralai?" Rikku asked getting back to the main point of their visit.
"Yes of course I do."
"Can we borrow it? Please. We just need to make an announcement." Rikku said eyes wide. Baralai nodded and turned to lead the way down the hall.
Cid was fuming that Gippal had managed to escape with Rikku. He'd been able to see them in the distance as they ran off but hadn't been able to chase after them fast enough. He had to admit though, he was slightly impressed by their house. Definitely the home of Al Bhed he'd seen several obvious escape routes and he was sure there were a number of others he hadn't seen.
He cursed as he kicked at the ground. They could be anywhere from here to Besaid by now. A flicker of movement caught his attention. It was one of those big screen sphere projectors that Baralai had put up all around Bevelle for important announcements. Cid was about to turn away when he noticed who was on the screen.
That Brat, Gippal was sitting as smug as could be in front of the camera. He had changed back into those ridiculous purple clothes he used to wear and that eye patch was back in place.
"Ah yeah hi people of Bevelle." He said one hand reaching back to scratch his head. "Now as some of you may know I disappeared several years ago. Well I'm safe and sound for those who care, I just needed to get away for a while."
"Gippal… get to the point." Hissed a voice from off to the side of the screen. Cid recognised Rikku's voice easily. Gippal stood for a moment and moved off screen before returning with Rikku.
"Hi." Rikku muttered and waved.
"Ok now there's a rumour going around that I kidnapped Rikku here. And we just wanted to say that it's completely false. She kidnapped me!" Gippal announced a smirk in place.
"Gippal!" Rikku shrieked and pushed him off screen. "There was no kidnapping. I left of my own free will, as did Gippal. We're happily married thankyou all very much. Noah's a liar, I never said I'd marry him and Pops I'm an adult I can make my own decisions."
"So anyway if we could all just move along with our lives and no one gets arrested, we'd be very happy." Gippal said popping his head back on screen briefly before the screen went black.
Cid saw red. He stormed towards the Temple in a blind rage. Baralai must've helped them, he was the only one with access to that network. They must still be at the temple. The guards on the high bridge didn't notice him coming until too late. He'd already marched past them, slamming the temple doors open. Baralai, Gippal and Rikku were just coming into the main hall, with two children tagging along as well.
"Rikku!" Cid roared angrily and Gippal made a move to step in front of her protectively. Cid stormed towards the pair, glaring daggers at Gippal, fully planning on tearing the man to pieces. Rikku had other plans. She stepped around Gippal and stood directly in Cid's path.
"What do you want Pops." Rikku demanded her voice deceptively calm. Cid stopped in his tracks. He'd half expected them to run again. He looked down at Rikku in surprise. She faced him down easily, her eyes flashing angrily. "I'm not leaving him."
"He's a liar and a player and you'll do as your told." Cid roared in a voice that Rikku had almost always given into before.
"I will not. He's none of those things. I'm not a child Vydran." Rikku stated raising her voice slightly as she felt her blood boil at the insults to Gippal. Cid stared at her in astonishment. He reached forward and grabbed her arm, fully intending to pull her to him. He heard the sound of a gun being cocked.
"I wouldn't if I was you." Gippal said pointing the gun at Cid who let Rikku's arm go. Cid was defeated as he looked at the pair.
"Are you happy Rikku?" Cid asked in a quieter tone. Rikku nodded, the anger fading.
"I love him Vydran." She said softly. Cid looked at Gippal who nodded.
"There's no talking to kids these days. You better not hurt her boy or I swear I will hunt you down myself." Cid glared at Gippal for good measure.
"Mummy what's going on?" A voice said near Rikku's feet and Cid tilted his head to look down at the voice. A small girl was tugging on Rikku's arm.
"Huh." Cid said surprised.
"Pops this is Danae. Danae this is your grandfather." Rikku said picking up the little girl. Danae looked at Cid with a curious expression on her face. Baralai stepped forward and passed Kai to Gippal. Cid stared at the other child and Rikku smiled. "And that is your grandson, Kai. Pops."
"Well I'll be." Cid said with a smile as he looked at the pair. He'd always wanted to be a grandfather, but Rikku'd disappeared and Brother was too much of an idiot for any self-respecting woman to put up with. He looked at Gippal and frowned slightly before shrugging.
"Oh well I suppose I should give you a chance to prove yourself, boy." He said and Gippal let out a sigh of relief. Rikku hugged Cid fiercely. Even after all this time she'd still missed her family. Even Brother, and that was saying something.
"Rikku! Thank goodness your safe." Noah said charging into the temple hall. Gippal's gun was instantly pointed at Noah ready to shoot if Noah stirred trouble but Cid had other ideas.
"You lying son of a shoopuff. My daughter never agreed to marry you did she?" Cid roared picking Noah up by the throat and pinning him against the wall. Noah just shook his head. Cid swore violently and Rikku covered her daughters ears though she doubted it'd do much good.
"I'll teach you, you no good lousy Pycdynt. I should take you outside and … and" Cid roared angrily as his rage took away his ability to form coherent sentences. He just shook Noah against the wall a couple of times for effect. Noah looked absolutely terrified.
"That's enough Pops," Rikku said as she moved towards the man who had lied to all her friends. Cid stepped back for a moment and watched as Rikku punched Noah hard.
"That was for all the trouble you caused us." Rikku said, satisfied with the crack she'd heard. She was pretty sure she'd just broken his nose. Noah looked up at her, terror across his face. Gippal was still pointing the gun at him.
"Get out of my sight before I let Gippal shoot you for being a lying gold digger." Rikku said and Noah just nodded as he scampered away as fast as he could. Rikku laughed out loud at the sight and soon everyone in the room was laughing at the sight of Noah fleeing for his life.
Gippal wrapped his arms around Rikku's waist and nuzzled against her neck. She giggled as his warm breath tickled her ear. "Come on princess, lets go home."
"Anything you say, Gippal." She whispered back and kissed him. Gippal kissed her back and wondered to himself when life had become so perfect.
A/N: All right that's it. That was the last chapter. Thanks for reading it and putting up with my utter slackness in updating. Please review, it's the only way I get better.