A/N: Shorter chapter than the others. Hope you like!

Chapter 3 - Yuna

Tap tap tap.

I stood at the stove, waiting on the water in the kettle to get hot. It was taking longer than usual and I was just a tad bit impatient at the moment, what with all the stress with my cousin and best friend lately.

I tapped my fingers against the counter again, wishing the water would hurry up. Finally the kettle sang and I removed it, flicking the stove off in the process.

I poured a cup of hot steaming tea into Rikku's favorite mug, adding just the right amount of milk to it. I knew she'd want a cup when she woke up, it usually helped calm her. Not that she'd be hysterical, but she'd had a rough week. Paine said she'd taken to napping constantly, probably trying to forget all her troubles by sleeping away the time. But she was also having dreams. Not all were bad, Paine reported, but they were enough to make the once tough warrior worry. And a worried Paine was worrisome, indeed.

Speaking of which...I looked at the clock. Paine had gone out earlier, saying that she had some errands to run, but that was hours ago. Surely she would have been back by now. I had enough on my shoulders as it was, I didn't need to be wondering about her as well.

I sighed, pouring my own cup of tea as I waited on my friends, trying to forget all of this for just a moment if I could. I didn't wait long. The door into the kitchen swung open, revealing a sleepy-eyed Rikku in cactuar pajamas.

"Well good evening, sleepy head. I made us some tea, just the way you like it." I smiled, gesturing towards her cup that sat across the table from me. She mumbled a greeting and sat, wrapping her hands around the warm mug. Two mugs of tea and ten minutes later, she finally looked up and acknowledged my presence.

"Yuna. What are you doing here?" She blinked a few times, trying to focus in on me. I held back a giggle. Rikku always took forever to really wake up and notice what was going on around her and today was no exception.

"I just came over to visit. Paine's out running some errands at the moment, but I'm sure she'll be back soon. I thought it would be nice if you and I could share a pot of tea together, like we used to." I smiled. She frowned.

"You're here to keep an eye on me, aren't you?"

Just keep smiling. "No, I just haven't been over in awhile. I thought we could all spend some time together."

Rikku gave me a Look. "Yuna. Please. I know you, we're related for Ixion's sake. You're here to check up on me. It's ok, really. I'm not mad about it or anything." She gave me a half-hearted smile and I smiled wider in return, glad that she was even making the effort to do so. I know she still felt bad, but it would pass. Time heals all wounds, or at least I like to think it does. The first step would be seeing Auron and knowing that she could see him, maybe even talk to him, and not fall apart while doing so. After that, she would be fine.

But ever since she learned of his being back in Luca, she hadn't left the apartment. It wasn't healthy at all. I could only hope that she wouldn't be like this much longer. If not, who knows what Paine or I would be able to do...

The front door slammed and Yuna heard her absent friend yelling for her and Rikku. Paine pushed her way into the kitchen and stopped, her eyes glued to the Al Bhed. She stared for a moment before raking her eyes to me, a look of desperation on her face.

"Yuna. I need to speak to you. Now." She turned tail and walked into the living room, the kitchen door swinging freely.

I sighed and patted Rikku's hand, saying "I'll be right back" before following Miss Bossy Pants into the next room. I almost laughed at the nick name I'd given her, but I sobered quickly. She looked serious and I instantly worried that something was wrong.

Paine stood for a moment then started pacing back and forth between the couch and the TV. I sat, watching, waiting for her to tell me whatever it was that was bothering her.

She finally came to a standstill and looked at me, her red eyes boring holes into my forehead.

"Yuna, there's been a bit of a development..."

I waited. She wasn't forthcoming. "Yes, about what?" I finally asked, my impatience coming back.

"Umm, well, you see..." And so she told me about her 'mission' that afternoon, her meeting with Auron, and the conversation that they had after she had calmed down. I stared at her, my mouth hanging open.

"But...but, he said. Oh my goodness!" I hissed, careful not alert Rikku as to what I had just found out. Paine had been whispering as well.

"What do we do? Do we just tell her? She said she still loves him, and now...you know." She gestured wildly with her head. Yeah, I knew.

"Is it our place to tell her? I don't think it is."

Paine rolled her eyes. "Gods, this is just like some stupid angst-ridden story you hear about on the TV. Miscommunication and assumptions that lead to nothing but more heartbreak before it ever gets any better. This is not some fictional story, Yuna. These are two people who love each other." It was quite funny to see her trying to yell while whispering. But she did have a point.

"Ok, let's just...tell her. I mean, she can only react so many ways. I'm betting that it'll be good." I smiled, hoping that finally – finally! - Rikku would get the happy ending that she'd been wanting for so long.

We both stood as one, about to enter the kitchen when there was an urgent knock on the door. I looked at Paine, who seemed surprised. I took it she wasn't expecting any company.

"Rikku...," a muffled voice on the other side called, clearly male and clearly in pain. In the kitchen a chair scraped across the floor as if someone had gotten up in a hurry. Rikku came barreling out of the kitchen door not two seconds later, a look of panic on her face.

"Rikku?" I said softly, trying to calm her. She looked at me and shook her head.

"No, I can't," she mumbled, before taking off for her bedroom at a sprint and slamming the door.

Paine sighed and went to let in her guest. Looks like we wouldn't have to tell her ourselves after all.