Ok last chapter here...
While I was writing this chapter and this story in general actually i had a lot of Lene Marlin playing and the song "Here we are now" kind of influenced me.. even if you think the chapter isn't so great, give the song a listen... its tuneful! hehe

Disclaimer: I dont own the character's or places, etc or anything that is the property of Square Enix... Same for chapter 4!
x

Chapter 5

The ship had been docked for about twenty minutes and already a crowd had formed outside. Paine could hear the chatter and excitement of the people on the ground below, but her mood still felt sour. She was no star, no hero and yet she knew she would be received as one – treated as one over the coming days and she knew she was not worthy of it. It stung her deep inside to think of how bad it was for her to not want to be here, but even on this brand new morning, even after sleeping on it, Paine's feelings had not changed.

Staring out of the cabin window at the blue sky above, Paine adjusted the dress that Yuna had found for her. Fiddling with the hem, Paine made sure it was fitting securely in the right places; she didn't want to be worrying about her clothes when she walked off of the airship. Then footsteps approached from behind and Paine had no doubt who they belonged to.

"How are you this morning? Happy for the big day?" asked Gippal.

"It's not the big day yet, and can't you tell?" Paine turned from the window to give Gippal a sarcastic look.

"Ah, ecstatic I see." The Al Bhed confirmed her expression with an equally sarcastic comment.

Sighing, as if she was admitting defeat, Paine looked back out of the window, "You know i never saw any of this coming."

"Saw what coming?" asked Gippal moving to stand next to her and peer up at the cloudless sky. It was a bright day – the sunlight made him squint, yet it felt so dark.

"I wasn't paying attention to the situation. I never realised you were there."

"You never realised i was there? Well, gee, thanks Paine." Shrugged the sturdy Faction leader.

"I never realised my feelings for you. By the time I noticed how strong they were it was too late." Looking up to the swirl of green, Paine stated seriously, "I'm sorry I let it get too late." Gippal turned away at that, he didn't like what he was hearing although he knew it was probably the best he'd ever get from her. "Can you forgive me?" she asked.

Swallowing his pain he glanced quickly at her, "It's not me you should be seeking forgiveness from."

"Not just you, but you are definitely in there." She stated.

"No. You just know I'm the only one who will forgive you; I'll accept anything from you won't I?" he turned back away quickly.

"Why did everything happen so fast? I never know how I'm supposed to stay on track of this friendship when you keep sending me all these different vibes."

"Well that makes two of us." Quipped Gippal.

"I shouldn't trust you should I?" Paine asked, moving in closer to the Al Bhed as if to test him.

"I didn't think you trusted anyone anyway, what difference does it make?"

At that Paine furrowed her brows, then she turned and stomped to the edge of the platform before turning back to the man once more, "I've never been able to believe your words Gippal, that doesn't change the fact I used to trust you with my life."

"Not able to believe my words?" he quoted her in confusion.

"You used to tell me how special i was to you, but i always thought you were just lying. It wasn't until we got older i realised you probably said that to every girl you wanted to go to bed with." Paine swallowed hard, looking away from the man at the window to reconsider her need to get off the ship. "Guess it was a good thing i never believed it, right?"

At her comments, Gippal fell silent for a moment in thought. Then, taking offence he stormed past her, his lips were tight as he uttered, "Yeah, it was a great move of yours Paine. Nicely done – now nobody gets hurt." She could feel the sarcasm of his reply tear through her; maybe if she'd ever believed he liked her then no one really would be hurt – or about to get hurt. But she wasn't going to cry over Gippal, she'd only ever really cried over him once; when she thought he was dead. Now though, he was not dead he was perfectly well and he would get over whatever he claimed would upset him.

"How can you act like all this is just my fault?" she queried in disbelief.

"I never said it was-"

Paine cut into Gippals response, "No you're just treating me as if it is."

Gippal looked back at her from his place at the top of the stairs, he swallowed as he thought of how to answer her. "You're the one who made the ultimate choice Paine, I couldn't have stopped it if I'd tried."

"Yes you could have; if you'd tried hard enough, my ultimate decision may have been very different from this." Paine couldn't look at him anymore. How could she ever admit that to him? It was wrong, so wrong! If she could have been swayed so easily, then she should not be going through with this.

"What could I have done? You wouldn't have wanted my affection." Stated Gippal desperately as he walked back towards her.

"Don't!" Paine quickly stepped back, now angry at herself more than anything. "You can't just come along after all this time and start being physically affectionate with me, filling my head with all these stupid ideas I never really believed in the first place. It's not fair and it's not right. I'm sorry, i guess i never really thought we could have that kind of relationship anyway; and in a way i was right to think that because if it was possible then we wouldn't be here now would we?" Gippal couldn't think of anything to say to counter her accusations before she started speaking again. "I think it's best if I just go now, I can't leave it forever to get off this ship.

"So that's it then? You're just leaving?" asked Gippal as he watched Paine get her things and head towards the door.

Briefly she paused before turning up to the Al Bhed, "I'm sorry if i ever deceived you." With that Paine turned and left the cabin.

Paine stepped out of the shade from the airship, she was greeted with cheers from all directions and she hated it. She hated the limelight, but now nothing in her life would be private, why had she not considered this more seriously before? Nothing would be hers' anymore – it would be Bevelles' and that meant it would be Yevons. That prospect terrified her, she didn't know what to do about it now though; she was here walking through the crowds towards this new life she'd not even actually signed herself up for yet. She knew she should be happy, so she forced a smile from her cheeks, hoping to pull her lips up in more than a grimace. This was not right, she was not supposed to be feeling this. In stories they never mentioned the feeling of dread being so prominent and then it hit her, why in the name of all that was good and holy was she doing this? If it didn't look impolite she would have spun 180 and legged it in the other direction. But it was too late now, she couldn't ever explain herself if she did, so she took in a deep breath and ascended the stairs at the end of the crowd of people all still yelling excited and merry. When she reached the top she looked to see the man waiting there to receive her, that's when she realised she was definitely in the wrong place – there was no reasoning possible for her instincts being so against this moment.

"Hello Baralai." Paine tried to smile at him as he stood before her grinning from ear to ear.

"Hello wife-to-be," he responded before catching her in an embrace. Paine could only gulp as she moved her arms around his neck and tried to believe that this was where she belonged; because she knew it most certainly wasn't.

Bonjourno, Guten Tag, etc...and now Goodbye as this story is done! =D
Hope you found it enjoyable, but if you did not feel free to tell me so by reviewing! =)
Thank you for reading xx