Sahrah: Whew! I finally got it up! Sorry it took so long, guys.

bloodredx: Well, you're justified. You had evil midterms.

Sahrah: Not for two months I didn't... but my good excuse is at the bottem!

bloodredx: You didn't have the good excuse in the raw version. So you lied.

Sahrah: What!? Yes I did. Did you READ the raw?

bloodredx: Yes. I shall check again.

me: ...Well okay then. In the meantime, enjoy chapter 12! Oh, and the song belongs to Howie Day. The characters belong to me!

Lawyers: No they fucking do not.

Sahrah: ehehehe... right.Well. Yuna's point of view.

Chapter 12: Always Together

One Year and Five Months Later

It's funny how time flies, and how things change. A year and five months had passed since the night Tidus had proposed to me. Rikku and Gippal, having blown the musical world away with their performances, were being given contracts for the Broadway tour of 'The Phantom of the Opera'. This sudden income allowed them to get married much earlier. It was actually their six month wedding anniversary.

It was December, and we were all at Paine's winter house in Mt. Gagazet. As it turns out, Raine's house isn't too far from ours, so it makes for an excellent vacation. Rikku and Gippal weren't able to come, though—Broadway is quite demanding. But I know Ri and Gip are having a lot of fun, and are very happy together.

"Yuna!" called Lulu from the other room. "Hurry up with the hot chocolate; the boys look like they're going to freeze. And Raine, although she's a lot drier."

"It's their own fault!" I laughed. "They're the ones who decided to have a snowball fight!"

"I won!" Raine cheered.

"Be that as it may, I'll be pissed if they freeze in my family room," complained Paine with a hint of humor in her tone.

"Fine, fine, I'm on my way," I answered, grabbing the tray of steaming hot cocoa and walking swiftly into the den, with Shuyin, 'Lai, Tidus, Wakka, Squall, and Raine looking like snowmen on the couch, their lips blue and their bodies shivering, despite the thick blankets. Their cheeks were bright red, and they were laughing.

Lulu and Paine were sitting on an adjacent couch, and Lenne and the six-year-old Emma were sitting on the floor playing with Barbie dolls.

"Hot chocolate!" I exclaimed, passing out the mugs, "with extra marshmallows and a candy cane for stirring."

"Yuna, you're spoiling us!" laughed Shuyin, taking his warm drink gratefully. Even Squall cracked a small smile and nodded thankfully as he raised the cup to his lips.

Lenne took one for herself and one for her young daughter. "Be careful, Em," she instructed her child, "it's very hot."

"Don't worry Mommy," Emma assured her, taking a sip and yelping as she burned her tongue. Lenne shook her head.

"I warned you," she sighed and took a drink from her own cup. Raine giggled, and Tidus smiled at his niece.

"I wish it would snow," sighed Paine, putting her mug onto the table and resting her chin on her hands.

"Please, the ground is covered with snow. Just because it hasn't snowed in a week doesn't mean we don't have plenty," Shuyin answered before turning his attention back to his daughter.

"Hey, Emma," Tidus said with a grin, "Do you know what today is?"

"Christmas Eve!" exclaimed the little girl. "Mommy said we can open some presents tonight."

"Awesome!" enthused Raine. Agreeing that this was a good idea, we all slid one gift out from under the mighty evergreen in the corner, with little Emma greedily eyeing the ones that wouldn't be touched until the next morning. Lulu opened hers first; it was a book about black magic from her favorite writer. The gift was from Rikku, who had mailed everyone's presents from Luca where their theatre company was performing "Phantom of the Opera" at that time. She'd also sent Gippal's presents.

Wakka had gotten a new Blitz Ball signed by some famous player; courtesy of Tidus. Paine had received a pretty silver necklace with a cute inscription from Baralai, and Baralai had gotten a gift certificate to his favorite restaurant from Gippal.

The gift opening went on; I opened a gift from Emma, written in her adorable six-year-old handwriting, with the 'a' in my name written backwards and the 'n' written in uppercase. Inside of the box was nothing, so I looked questioningly at Lenne and her daughter.

"I filled it with kisses!" exclaimed the little girl. "So that whenever you want one you just open the box." She beamed, and it was such an adorable gift that I had no choice but to hug her.

"Thank you, Emma. I love it." I planted a kiss at the top of her blonde head and she reached for her own present, Lulu's gift to her. It was a pop-up book of some type.

Before we knew it, it was late and time for sleep. Emma protested, but Shuyin told his daughter that Santa wouldn't come if she was awake, so it didn't take long before the child was in bed. Raine and Squall embarked to the Gagazet native's house in the dark, and everyone else trudged up the stairs to bed.

"Yuna," Tidus whispered as we heard the last door close upstairs.

"Yeah?"

"It's snowing." I turned my attention to the window. It was indeed snowing.

"I love snow!" I exclaimed in an excited whisper, whirling back around to see my fiancée fully dressed in winter gear, holding out my hat, coat, and gloves. Wordlessly, I slipped into the jacket and zipped it up as Tidus pulled the hat gently over my ears. Once I'd assembled my boots, gloves, and scarf, we opened the back door of the house and shut it silently behind us.

There is a certain calm that comes with the silence of snowfall. It's like the entire world has stopped, and the moment becomes a magical one etched into your mind forever. It was a moment like no other. I slipped a gloved hand into Tidus's, and we stood in silence for a minute before stepping off the porch and into the crystal white world.

The snow swirled around silently in the yard, dazzling white flakes whipping around my face. I let go of Tidus's hand and held my arms out as I spun slowly, the soundless opera of the icy winter filling my senses. Tidus came up behind me and rested his chin on my head, his arms around me. It was serenity.

"I love you," he said. I smiled, closed my eyes, a sigh contentedly.

"I love you, too," I answered into the night. Soon, unfortunately, the elements had their way and it was too cold to stay outside without getting sick. With regret in our steps, we went back into the house, left our soggy winter apparel at the door, and tiptoed up the stairs to the room we'd shared at the house since our senior year of high school.

"I want to give you your present now," he whispered in my ear once we'd shut the door. I smiled.

"Okay," I answered. Tidus drew a small box from behind his back and I opened it. It was a small piece of mistletoe, and I smirked as he drew it out of the box and dangled it above my head.

"You're such a sap!" I giggled, throwing my arms around him and kissing him.

"Are you just realizing this now?"

"Hardly."

"As long as we understand each other…" he murmured, delving his tongue into my mouth, dropping the leaf to the floor as he held me with his strong arms. I kissed back fiercely, and pressed myself against him.

And well, I suppose you can guess what happened then.

Tidus's Point of View

I woke up before Yuna. I usually did the morning after sex; she was such a deep sleeper. I smiled as the sunlight from the window washed over her cherubic face.

The dawn is breaking

A light shining through

She had a few strands of hair crossing her face, stuck to her lips. I reached over and brushed the hair away, fingertips lingering on her soft cheek. I wanted to stay like that forever. She was so beautiful, and all I wanted was to stay with her and make her happy.

You're barely waking

And I'm tangled up in you

Yeah

Softly, her eyelids fluttered open and she smiled sleepily. She pressed her hand on top of mine.

"Good morning," she whispered.

"Merry Christmas." I smiled back.

But I'm open, you're closed

Where I follow, you'll go

I worry I won't see your face

Light up again

"Mm… Thanks for the gift," she murmured, leaning over to press her lips to mine.

"That was my gift to me. Where's yours?" I teased.

"…wait…" She sat up a bit, holding the blanket over her breasts. "Christmas morning…? Emma's favorite holiday?"

I caught on. "And we're… naked…" We turned and faced each other quickly.

Even the best fall down sometimes

Even the wrong words seem to rhyme

"Emma!" Scrambling to throw the covers away from our bodies, we groped for out discarded pajamas that littered the floor. Fully clothed, we dove back under the warmth of the covers; just in time for the six-year-old to throw open the door to the bedroom.

"Uncle Tidus! Aunt Yunie! Come on! Aunt Lulu made waffles and she wants to start eating soon!"

Out of the doubt that fills my mind

I somehow find, you and I collide

"Well, we can't keep Lulu waiting. There won't be any breakfast left if we do," Yuna giggled, shoving the blankets away for a second time, slipping bare feet into pale pink slippers and tying a fluffy bathrobe securely around her waist.

"Come on, come onnn!" exclaimed Emma, grabbing Yuna's hand and pulling her urgently towards the door. Yuna laughed and nodded, following as best she could.

I'm quiet, you know

You make a first impression

"Tidus, hurry up!" Yuna exclaimed, mimicking Emma slightly with a grin. I grinned back, standing up and walking around the bed to follow my niece and my fiancée out the door.

Yuna's Point of View

Upon arriving downstairs, three things were obvious. The first was that if no one consumed any waffles soon, Lulu would eat them all and there would be none left. The second was that 'Santa' had come, and the collection of brightly wrapped packages under the tree had tripled. The third was that it was snowing out, and soon it would be insisted upon that everyone go skiing or snowboarding.

I've found I'm scared to know

I'm always on your mind

Emma sat down at the table in the kitchen and urged me to sit next to her. Tidus sat next to me and smiled before leaning over to put some waffles on Emma's plate and my plate.

After eating, everyone hurried upstairs and got dressed. Wakka called Raine's house, but Squall answered and said Raine probably wouldn't be awake for awhile. That girl had a tendency to sleep as late as three in the afternoon if she wasn't woken up. Squall promised to wake her at 11 for some fun on the slopes.

Satisfied, we set off down the road to the ski lift that would bring us to the middle of the mountain. Lulu and Wakka took the first lift, followed by Lenne, Shuyin, and Emma. Paine and 'Lai took the next one.

Even the best fall down sometimes

Even the stars refuse to shine

"Get ready for the next one," yawned the ski lift worker, bored, his eyes half closed in sleepiness. Tidus ran and jumped into the empty seat as it swung around on the cable, and I ran for it too, but I tripped. My fiancée laughed as I hurriedly picked myself up.

"Better hurry," the attendant said in a monotone voice.

Out of the back you fall in time

You somehow find, you and I collide

"Yeah, yeah," I mumbled as I tried again, jumping into the seat just in time for it to take us to the ski ground. Tidus sat next to me and sniggered as I adjusted myself. I rolled my eyes.

Don't stop here

With a sigh, I leaned against him.

"I love you," he said. I smiled, swinging my feet over the vast space below the lift. Man it was a long way down.

"Heights like this kinda make me want to spit over the side," Tidus commented.

"Ew! Don't you dare!" I exclaimed, waving my arms at him.

"Think it'd freeze on the way down?"

"Stop talking about that!"

"Maybe it'd hit someone."

"Shut up!" I laughed, imagining an innocent snowboarder being struck with an icy wad of spit. "That's disgusting, Tidus!"

"Yeah… But you know it would be funny."

"No."

"A little?"

"Maybe." I looked the other way, hiding my smile. It would be a little funny.

I've lost my place

When the lift arrived at the lodge, we rented our boards and skis. Tidus, Lenne, Baralai, and I decided to ski, while Paine, Lulu, and Wakka wanted to snowboard. Shuyin took Emma to the bunny slopes to teach her the basics of skiing.

I was still no good at skiing, of course, so I kept lagging behind Tidus.

"Heeeey, wait for me!" I giggled. He spun around and quickly slid over to me so he could tickle me and distract me from my very tedious task of not falling down.

"Here, let me help," Tidus teased, poking me with his gloved hands, both of us laughing. Eventually, we fell over into a snow drift. Lenne and Baralai came up besides us.

"You guys okay?" Lenne asked with a smirk as she held out her hand to help me up.

I'm close behind

"Physically," I replied, brushing snow away from my coat and hat. Tidus continued to laugh as his best friend pulled him out of the snow.

As promised, a few hours later, Raine and Squall arrived. Raine had her own snowboard, custom made, and Squall had a rental. We skied and boarded all day, and went home as twilight began to set in over the mountains. Emma, as it turned out, is naturally pretty good at skiing.

Even the best fall down sometimes

Even the wrong words seem to rhyme

Out of the doubt that fills your mind

We sat in the den drinking hot chocolate, relaying stories of ski accidents, and laughing. The phone rang, and upon checking the caller I.D., Squall determined that it was Rikku calling from Luca and turned on the speakerphone.

"Hi everyone!" Rikku's voice crooned from the phone. "Merry Christmas!"

"And Hanukah!" exclaimed Raine, leaning forward.

"How's Broadway?" asked Lulu.

"Abso-awesome-tastic!" Gippal replied, apparently with Rikku for the phone call.

You finally find, you and I collide

"It's good to hear everyone's having fun!" Rikku giggled. "I miss you like crazy."

"You're good at crazy," Gippal commented, and then he was heard grunting, so we assumed Rikku had punched him in the gut.

"We went skiing today!" Emma said. "Daddy taught me how. He said I was good at it. It was fun."

"That's so awesome, Emma! I'm glad you're all having fun."

"We miss you guys, too," I said. It was lonely without Rikku. Not that I didn't love all my friends that were with me, but Rikku was also my cousin, and my sister.

"We're always together," Rikku answered. "My mom used to say that. So don't worry, Yunie! …Ow!" A rustling noise was heard, along with a few thumps, and then Gippal spoke.

"We have to go now, but we wanted to say hi."

"Bye, dude," Shuyin said. "Bye, Ri." And with that, the phone was placed back in the cradle.

You finally find

"Well, I think it's bedtime," Lenne said, lifting Emma up in her arms and making for the stairs.

"I'm tired, too," Wakka agreed, followed by Lulu, who yawned loudly before marching upstairs. We all followed, going to our respective bedrooms. After changing and brushing teeth, it was time for slumber. Under the thick, warm covers, I slipped my hand into Tidus's.

"We're always together," I whispered..

Tidus smiled. "Yeah."

"That was a bit unlike Rikku to say… but I'm glad she did." Tidus nodded and kissed my head, pulling up the covers. I smiled too, releasing his hand to turn out the light.

You and I collide.

End of chapter 12

Sahrah: Whew! I made it! Well, I wish a belated "happy holidays" to you all. Happy New Year, too! I hope everyone has been having a good one so far. Now, I have my excuse, and here it is. MIDTERMS. I just finished midterms.

Squall: That doesn't make up for December's lack of update.

Sahrah: I have something for that too! See, as I may or may not have mentioned, I'm in charge of the costume department for my school theatre company. They make me stay after school until six in the evening, and when I get home, it's been a 12-hour day and I'm exhausted. And it isn't even done at that point, ohhh no. I still have homework, chores, and that funny thing people like to do… sleeping… Needless to say, I have very veeeery little time for writing. Which makes me sad. But I'm doing my best!

Squall: On the other hand, Sahrah aced all of her midterms and got the best score in her entire Biology class, thus raising the class average.

Sahrah: Yay! Please forgive me for my lateness. OH, AND AN ANNOUNCEMENT!

Annoucement: I have changed a song I used in 'A Leap of Faith.' It is in chapter 2 (Karaoke Beat) and I am removing the song Tidus sings to Yuna (which was "Story of a Girl") and I changed it to "Yours To Hold". I think this song fits better. You don't really have to look, because nothing else changed except the song, but the lyrics are pretty, so it's worth it to check it out. It's a wonderful song.

Squall: …Review. See that button? The one that says 'Go' on it? Push it.