Sahrah: Woo-hoo! Valentine's Day special! Just so you know, I'm aware that any lemon I write is crap, so you don't have to tell me ((rolls eyes)) and this is dedicated to the multiple readers who asked me to attempt another lemon. Again, I apologize for the suckishness. And I'm sorry it's short.
Editor: Stop apologizing and get on with it!
Sahrah: Oh my Yevon, this chapter is my death sentence. FLUFF FOR ALL! Well, okay then. Yuna's point of view.
Chapter 4: Love And Romance
They let Tidus come back to the apartment building two weeks later. He managed to recall a few details of what I had told him, but most things were still missing from his memory. And the memories didn't even come back in order, so it was sometimes hard to me to tell whether he was talking about two months ago or two years ago.
However, we've made a lot of progress. I've been sleeping on the couch, though; I mean, he doesn't even remember our first Valentine's Day, or that him and I normally share a bed. I worried that still sharing the room would be uncomfortable for him, but Tidus, regardless of his state of mind, is always sweet enough to tell me that he doesn't mind.
On the bright side, I learned something new about our room; the couch is a pullout bed. Learning can be fun. Which is where we begin this chapter.
"Happy Valentine's Day!" sang Rikku as she burst in from next door with two boxes of chocolates and a vibrant red sweater with pink hearts in it.
Tidus looked up from his place on the couch (I was making pancakes) and put his book down.
"Hey, Rikku," he greeted.
"Hey, T! Didja remember anything new about me?"
"I vaguely remember shopping for candles with you… Why was I shopping for candles with you? Huh. I'm sure there was a good reason."
I dropped the spoon with an embarrassed clatter, and Rikku clapped her hands over her mouth with a squeak.
"What? What'd I say!?" Tidus demanded.
"Um… well, if you've made it this far, I'm sure you'll remember the rest of it in no time. Riiiiight, Yunie?"
I fidgeted with my hands as I watched the pancakes sizzle. Get out of the room, Rikku!
"Pancakes are done," I answered stiffly. "Go get Gippal and Paine." My cousin nodded and scampered off giggling, and Tidus looked at me.
"I'm willing to say it has something to do with Valentine's Day," he noted.
"Do you want me to tell you the rest of it?"
"Nah. It's way more fun to figure it out on my own. I'll bet you I remember by the end of the day."
"You're on," I replied with half smile.
The betting was quieted as my cousin reentered with Gippal and Paine. Lulu and Wakka were still sleeping, and then they had their own plans.
Lenne and Shuyin had dropped Emma off at a nearby friend's house and gone out for breakfast. Baralai couldn't come see Paine until Sunday (it was Friday; we had no classes because of some foreign holiday or something like that), so she was even quieter than normal.
"Pancaaaaaakes!" sang Rikku cheerfully. "Let's eat!"
Tidus's Point of View
Soon after the other three left, I cleared the table while Yuna put away the pancake ingredients. She was facing the pantry, her arms full of bags containing flour, sugar, and other stuff. Yes, I'm aware I'm somewhat illiterate. "Stuff" is a terrible word.
"Gotcha," I murmured in her ear as I wrapped my arms around her waist. She laughed, put away the last of the stuff she was holding (now I'm using the word on purpose)
"You're lucky I didn't drop anything," she commented as I kissed her neck. Yuna slid her hands over mind and sighed. "Never listening to reason… yes, you're certainly my Tidus, for sure."
"Ooh, I like the way that sounded. Your Tidus," I said. She laughed again, a light sound like small bells being rung.
"Hopefully it will always sound that way," Yuna answered.
"It will."
"Promise?"
"I promise, Yuna."
"I'll remember that promise," she warned.
"I'll be waiting," I replied.
Paine's Point of View
I've always hated Valentine's Day. When I was little, all it had ever been was an excuse for my parents to leave me home with a bitchy babysitter. When I was in highschool, it was just an excuse for more people to make out between classes, and now it was just an excuse for everyone but me to go on a date.
Long distance relationships were difficult. It was true, of course, that I saw 'Lai every weekend, and it was true that he was only two and a half hours away (that's far enough!) but it was still long distance.
However, I trust him. Knowing him, any girl who would hit on him probably would be turned down because of me, but also because he had a lot of studying to do. Heh. I still believe that I'm the only girl who he will ever put before studying.
"This sucks," I sighed as I opened the door to my lonely apartment. However, when I opened it, I was in for a surprise. The door opened before my fingertips and there sat a red envelope, which said my name in Baralai's cursive handwriting.
"A mushy poem," I commented to nobody in particular. "Very cliché, but it's sweet." I slid a finger under the seal, pulled out a piece of plain paper, and read the poem.
Dear Paine,
Happy Valentine's Day. I know that I'm unable to be there with you, but I swear I'll make it up to you this weekend. For now, though, I just wanted to tell you how much you mean to me. Every weekend, since you and everyone else transferred to Zanarkand, I have made a trip, alone, in a car for two and a half hours by myself. I stay with you on Saturday, and then I leave after dinner on Sunday. Then I drive two and a half hours back home.
Our senior year in highschool we were pushed through way too much drama; most of it belonging to our friends, of course. Regardless, countless people have asked me on dates since then. I always turn them down, because there's no one for me except you. I want to make you a promise, Paine. No matter who asks me, no matter what, I will always say no. No matter how often we're apart, this is where I'll be: wishing I were with you. And when I am with you, I'm the happiest man in Spira. I love you forever.
Love,
Baralai
"What mush," I said as a smile spread across my face. I laughed softly and held the letter close to my heart.
Lulu's Point of View
"Waffles," I sighed happily as I took a bite. I had woken up that morning to the smell of waffles, bacon, and eggs. It was a good day, and another tradition of ours. Wakka woke up slightly earlier, made waffles, eggs, and bacon, and then brought them on a tray to my room where we would eat on my bed and watch a movie of his choice.
I want to explain the layout of the apartment quickly. There are two small bedrooms, one mine and one his, a small kitchen, and a sitting room/ living room. Of course there are two bathrooms.
"Good job, Wakka," I smiled softly. "What movie is it this time?"
"Pan's Labyrinth." (A/N: I don't own that movie. I just saw it a few days ago, and it's the only non-chick-flick movie I can think of right now.)
I may mention now that the movies Wakka and I like to watch are not romantic, and sometimes have no romance at all. Action movies, sci-fi, and fantasy are much more entertaining to us. Apologies if that seems unusual, but that's just how we've always done it.
"Isn't that movie entirely in Spanish?"
"I didn't know it the first time I saw it, ya? But, yeah, it's in Spanish. There're subtitles."
"Good; I took French in highschool."
"I know. You used to talk in French when you didn't want me to understand you," he said as he sat back onto a pillow and picked up a fork.
We sat watching the movie, sometimes making comments about a scene or a line, both of us closing our eyes when it got very gruesome, pausing occasionally for bathroom breaks and popcorn re-fills. When Pan's Labyrinth was over, Wakka popped the DVD out and stood up.
"Hey, Lu?"
"Mm?"
"I have a question for you."
"So? Ask it."
"It's… well…" He pulled out a box from his back pocket. My breath halted in my throat. A proposition? From Wakka? Tears of surprise and happiness sprung to the corners of my eyes.
"A promise ring, Lu. When we're through with college, I'm going to buy you a house. It will be a small one at first, but when I'm more stable, I'll buy you a bigger one. And when I've saved enough to buy you that house, that's when I'm gonna propose to you, ya? So, until then… wear this one!"
I nodded fervently, almost numb with excitement as he removed the silver ring from the black velvet box and slipped it onto my right ring finger. I held it our to admire it. The diamond sparkled in the light, winking its happiness into the air.
"I love you, Lu," Wakka said quietly.
I smiled and answered, "I love you, too."
Lenne's Point of View
"We're lucky that Raine has no love life," commented Shuyin from across the table at the restaurant. I love to eat out.
"Why's that?" I asked suspiciously.
"Well, it's a surprise for the most part, but since she's got nothing to do today, she agreed to pick up Em from Calli's house and watch her overnight, leaving me the whole day—and night—to treat you."
"Well that is good fortune," I said with a sly grin. "Of course… I'm hoping you didn't mention her lack of a love life while asking her for this favor?"
"I haven't been that heartless since our junior year in highschool."
"It's so vivid in my mind," I teased, "I guess it got mixed up."
He rolled his eyes and stole a piece of bacon from my plate. I sent my husband a look that said 'get your own, jerk' but he just laughed. Some things never change—like stealing food from each other's plate, for example.
"Are you planning something secret and romantic?" That would be something he would do.
"Aren't I always?" That smug way of talking is also something he would definitely do.
"I guess." I stole a piece of toast from his plate and laughed.
We spent the rest of the day talking and laughing, and I kept waiting for something interesting to happen. Later, closer to dinner time, he told me to dress up formally. I did as I was told, and reappeared in a slim dark green dress. Shuyin was wearing a nice suit.
He drove us to this glitzy restaurant.
"I had to book this table six months ago," he said.
"How did you know to book it so far in advanced?"
"Because last year," Shu explained, "I tried to get a spot booking a week in advanced and they told me they had filled up six months previously!"
I laughed at that. Shuyin grinned and looked at the menu.
We ate some food that I can't pronounce (it was delicious, though) and returned home. I looked at Emma room, dark in her absence, and then looked at my own room.
I have a family of my own. Even now, almost four years later, I still feel giddy about my life with Shuyin. It's a wonderful thing.
"Happy Valentine's Day," I whispered as he flicked off the light and we drifted off to sleep.
Tidus's Point of View
Of course, I remembered what the candles were for. The whole memory just kind of struck me at about one in the afternoon. Yuna had gone to grab some coffee and study with her old roommate, Shelinda (obviously, Yuna had moved to our apartment once everyone had transferred)
I looked at the clock. It was four. Yuna would be back at six… two hours was just enough time to do what I needed to do. I reached for the phone.
"Hello?" answered the girl on the other end.
"Hey, Raine? I need your help with something… are you busy tonight?"
"Nope. Except Emma is sleeping over my room, but my roommate is helping me keep an eye on her."
"Good. I need to ask a favor of you…"
Rikku's Point of View
After breakfast at Yunie's, Gippal and I went downtown to see 'Wicked', which was totally awesome. (A/N: it is an awesome show. Go see it.)
The car ride was so fun. At every stoplight, we'd jump out of the car, run around it twice, and then jump back in before the light turned green again. He called it a Chinese Fire drill. I called it awesome.
After the show, we got dinner at a little café, and then we came home.
"Thanks for today," I said.
"It's what I do," Gippal said. "Nothing like a story about misfits who get hated and exiled for trying to be good to watch on Valentine's Day
"It was also a love story! You saw how it ended!"
He laughed, and I laughed, too. It was a good show, and he knew it.
"Kiss me too fiercely, hold me too tight…" he started to sing a song from the musical very softly in my ear, "I need help believing you're here tonight…"
I picked up the next line and hugged him back. "My wildest dreaming could not foresee lying beside you, with you wanting me…"
"Hell yes I do," Gippal whispered.
"And just for this moment, as long as you're mine…"
"I'm always yours, Ri."
Yuna's Point of View
"Bye, Shelinda," I waved goodbye to my friend as she returned the dorms where I had lived for part of freshman year. With a shake of my head I sighed. I remembered everything Tidus didn't.
"About five years with him" I muttered into the air. "Nearly five years of this bliss." I turned and walked towards the on-campus apartments where I lived when I saw Tidus running towards me.
"Yuna! Let's go out to dinner!" he exclaimed. "I have a surprise for you!"
"Okay, but where are we going?" I asked.
"Italian restaurant! Come on!"
And so he grabbed my hand and ran towards the parking garage where his deathtrap was kept on campus and off we flew.
"Why the rush?" I called above the roar of the engine as the machine beneath me sped across the road.
"No reason."
"Okay," I said, more to myself than anyone.
Dinner was nice. It didn't seem like anything particularly special, but a nice Valentine's Day dinner. And then we drove home. Tidus pulled me across the courtyard.
"What is going on!?" I exclaimed, breathless from his excited running.
"You'll see, Yuna, you'll see!" He was like a kid in a candy store. I didn't understand until he opened the door to our apartment.
"That's weird… I thought I left all the lights on," I muttered, removing my scarf and boots.
I walked into the kitchen area, distributed my coat and hat onto the small counter and stools. I turned around.
"Hey, Tidus, pass me your… huh?" His outside gear had been tossed onto the couch hurriedly. "Tidus…?"
I walked cautiously, glancing around, before I reached the bedroom.
"Yevon," I breathed. The room was coated in small candles, all small and lit, transforming the room into a glowing, warm wonderland. The flames all winked at me and suddenly went out. With a gasp, I spun. Tidus was standing with a cocky grin, having switched on the fan and blowing all the candles out.
"You remembered?" I whispered.
"Yeah," he murmured back. "I win the bet."
"That's okay."
For a moment, the only thing audible was the quiet spinning of the fan from above our heads. I stepped forward hesitantly and wrapped my arms around his neck, pressing my lips against his. The kissing quickly became hungry, more fervent. Tidus held me tightly. Then, his grip loosened and his hands slid down to the small of my back, gripping at the end of my shirt.
He pulled it off quickly, and I slid a hand up his shirt. His chest was muscular and firm, and he shuddered ever so slightly as my fingertips grazed his skin.
I worked the shirt off of him carefully and it was discarded onto the carpet beside my own abandoned sweater.
We somehow moved back towards the bed, our lips never parting. I couldn't breathe; I didn't care.
Tidus broke the kiss and moved his mouth up towards my ear, scraped his teeth against my earlobe, earning a soft moan from me, and then left a wet trail of kisses down to my collarbone, where he left a mark.
"Tidus," I murmured feverishly. I lifted a hand and reached for his waist, brushing against the growing bulge in his pants. He moaned against my neck.
We practically ripped his pants off, adding to our growing pile of clothing that littered the floor. He moved back up to my mouth and ran his tongue passionately across my lips, which I parted.
He tasted the inside of my mouth and I pressed my palms against his back. I felt him run his hands down my sides and Tidus unhooked the button on my jeans.
He slipped his hand under the waistline, pulling the garment off and rubbing the outside of my thigh, making me moan into his mouth.
Underwear followed soon after. I arched my back as he dove his tongue into my bellybutton, rubbing the inside of my upper leg with a feather touch.
I ran my fingers over his chest, enjoying the groans I got in response. He glanced up at me.
"Ready?" I heard him say. I nodded vehemently. He readied himself at my entrance and thrusted. I screamed. He went again, slowly.
"Tidus!" I cried. I ran my fingers through his hair, wishing deeply that I had something to grab onto. He went again, harder this time, hitting the core. I screamed again, reaching my climax, and then falling back onto the bed. Tidus was not done yet, though. He went again, and at this point I was numb with pleasure. He called my name as he reached his own peak, and then he collapsed on top of me.
"I love you," he whispered. "No matter what happens."
"Promise?" I muttered.
"Definitely."
Sahrah: OKAY, THAT'S DONE; YOU ALL GOT WHAT YOU WANTED! NO MORE TALKING, I'M TOO ASHAMED.
Editor: Or retarded.
Sahrah: ((refusing to speak))
Editor: ((sigh)) Okay, then, fine. Your mature and sophisticated Authoress would be very happy if you were to tell her that this did not, in fact, suck eggs as she is convinced it does. And she wants to thank you for reading. See you all next month!