Hey, just a warning, there are a few swears. Nothing bad, just a warning though. Enjoy!

Next Day

Today I had to tell her I wanted to marry her before her birthday. I wanted to do it in a romantic way, but obviously that wasn't going to happen.

I went to a small shop with a bunch of flowers. I choose her favorite flowers, the ones that you can find at the Moonflow, hoping they would make up for the freedom I was going to take away from her.

I took a deep breath when I got up to the door and enjoyed what was probably going to be my last breath. Here goes nothing.

I knocked three times before putting both of my hands behind y back, hiding the flowers. I heard rustling from behind the door, the noise getting closer and closer to the door until finally she emerged.

A very red eyed confused Rikku was staring blankly at me. All of the lights were off in her apartment too…Great, she's hung-over… "Hey, Gippal. Whatcha doing here?"

"Are you okay? Was that your first night drinking?" Yevon, I couldn't ask her to marry me if she had a hangover. How the hell was I supposed to ask her now?

"Yeah, I just have a headache though. It's no biggy." Rikku moved out of the way so I could walk into the apartment. "So, what's behind your back?" The way her tired eyes were shinning, you could tell that she already knew what it was.

Yevon, she is the only girl who could make me smile at 7 in the morning…She was hung-over and she was still the same, jumping with joy like a kid in the candy store. I smiled and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Happy Birthday!" I pulled the flowers out from behind my back and handed them to her.

"Oh, Gippal! They're so pretty!" She grabbed her head. "Not a good idea to yell." She smiled sheepishly at me and walked over to the kitchen to put the flowers in water. "You remembered that these were my favorite. That's so sweet. Thanks." She went up onto her tiptoes and gave me a kiss on my cheek. That put a smile on my face.

"So, how was your night?"

"Ha! It was so much fun! I didn't know it could be so much fun! They wouldn't let me drink till after midnight though…" Her nose crinkled at the thought.

"I wouldn't blame them, knowing your father. So, you got any plans for today?" Yevon, I hoped not.

She nodded her head. "Yep. Yuna, Paine, and I are going shopping at Luca today to get a dress to wear tonight. Vydran told you about it right?"

"Yeah."

"Well, yeah. That's about it." She smiled brightly at me.

"Seems like you have a full day…" There was no way I could ask her before her birthday bash. I swear this girl has terrible timing…

She looked over at the small clock in her kitchen and frowned. "Well, Gippal I need to shower…So if you don't mind do you think-"

"I could join you? Sure! But don't you think it's a little early in the morning for birthday sex?" I bent down and captured her lips. "Even so, I would love to"

Rikku pushed me away. "Gippal! You big meanie! Get out!" She pushed me towards the door with a faint blush on her face. She was smiling though, so I knew she was only playing, but it still hurt she was making me leave.

"Fine, I'll leave and you'll just have to fantasize what I look like naked." I smirked down at her 5'4" frame, very tiny compared to my larger 6 foot plus frame, but I wasn't complaining.

She hit me playfully on the shoulder. "You're so gross! Who would ever picture you naked?" Her face was pink before, but now it was full red. I had to say, she looked good in it.

"Well, I'll see you tonight." I smiled and waved over my back as I turned towards the door.

Once I was sure she was gone from the door I exploded.

"Shit! Crap! Damnit! Mother…fudge…"

Many people walked out of their apartments looking confused and offended by my sudden outburst. "Uh…Sorry!" I ran out of there as fast as possible.

That was rather embarrassing.

When I got back to my apartment I got the ring I had stored in my pocket and put in on the table. I had to come up with one damn good way to ask her to marry me, or if Cid got to her first, on good sure fire plan for some major ass kissing.

I had a long day in front of me. Why did Cid have to do this? Couldn't it have been Brother he's marrying off? I know he's got problems and all, but he is older than Rikku…

My plans so far to do this equaled…Lets see… A total of zero. Nothing. Zilch.

There was only 40 minutes before the party began and she still wasn't back. She thought she was the only one who could pick a lock, she was wrong. I had been sitting in her apartment for nearly 20 minutes waiting for her to come in, so maybe I could confess my love to her.

Maybe she's in Paine's room…maybe Yuna's?

I grabbed my portable CommSpear; credit to Shinra the Al Bhed prodigy. I dialed up Paine's number hoping that she'd answer right away. She didn't.

I called her three times and still no answer. I moved on to Yuna, no such luck. "I guess I could call Rikku…"

I punched in the numbers and sure enough she answered right away. "Hello?" There was slight confusion in her voice signaling that she hadn't looked at who had been calling her.

"Hey Rikku. Where you at? There's 30 minutes before your party starts."

"I'm gonna make a fashionably late entrance. Duh! Come on Gippal, how long have you known me for? Don't you think you could have figured that one out yourself?" She asked with a giggle.

"Please don't. I told you this morning I need to talk to you."

"One, no you didn't. You really didn't say much, you did look like you had to say something though. And two can't it wait till after the party?" She had a smug look on her face. Great.

"No." I took a deep breath. There was no way I was going to ask her over the CommSpear.

"Well, just tell me during. Or better yet, tell me now. Come on, Gippy! It's my birthday. Aren't you supposed to do what the birthday girl wants?" You could tell just by her voice that she was pouting.

I refused to open my eye and look at her. I would for sure tell her I wanted to marry her if I saw her face. Maybe if I find Cid, I can tell him I want to propose to her. So that way he'd have to wait to announce that we were getting married…Right? "Yeah, that's a good plan." I smiled at my thoughts.

"What's a good plan?" Rikku asked raising an eyebrow. Yevon, that sexy eyebrow trick she does. No! Now is not the time.

"Sorry, just thinking. I have to go. Bye!" I canceled the connection before she even had time to process what I had sed. Now time to find Cid.

I was running around New Home trying to find Cid. I still couldn't find him! I looked at my watch. "Crap!" The party started nearly an hour ago. No wonder I couldn't find him.

I ran into the party through the back entrance. Cid was giving a speech to Rikku, who looked like she had just walked in herself. Crap, I'm late.

I made eye contact with Rikku and my whole world stopped. She looked beautiful. Her hair was up in the messy style she liked to wear now a days, but it wasn't messy anymore. At least I thought so. She wore a dark green silk dress that went down about mid thigh. Yevon, did that do things to my imagination. Her legs appeared longer than usual, causing my lips to turn up into a small smile. She looked like a true goddess.

"-my boy." Cid interrupted my thoughts. Crap! He said something to me. "I was begging to get worried you weren't going to make it to your own fiancée's party."

The whole room stopped.

Rikku's slim fingers dropped the thin flute of champagne she had in her hands. That was something that she would only do if she was in shock…

I'm in trouble…Her face was red with anger and embarrassment. This was not something she wanted for her birthday and I feel terrible, but then again I tried numerous times to ask her…Yevon, I can't blame this on her at all. It's all my fault.

No one said anything. No one moved. Everything had stopped.

There was such an awkward atmosphere. Cid, of course, made it worse. "Gipp, my boy, get up here and give a speech."

I swallowed the stuff that had gotten clogged in my throat walking up there. All eyes were on me. Everyone except for Rikku. She was pissed. If looks could kill I would have been dead the moment I walked into the room.

What the hell. I'm gonna die anyways, might as well go out with a bang.

I smirked. "Surprise!" I walked out of the party with what was left of my dignity.

I finished this part. I hoped you enjoyed it. Probably not what you expected, and I know it is short. I'm sorry. The next one I'm going to try and make it longer. But before I upload the next chapter I would like at least 2 reviews to know what you guys think. Good and bad comments are welcomed. Tell me you hate it or love it, one way or the other I can inprove my writing.

Sorry for any spelling or grammer problems. Once again, I do not have an person to review my writing, but if you are interested you can e-mail me. :)