Tidus returned on his own an hour later. He looked tired. He sat down on the sofa and stretched, a little squeak coming out of his mouth as he yawned.

"I'm beat!"

"You ought not to be," Yuna said. "All you've done is walk round Kilika a few times. Hey. I hope you and Wakka didn't sneak a game of Blitzball in!"

"Nah! I just hurried it up so that I could come back home and snuggle up with you!" he said, grinning. "It was pointless anyway."

"Tidus, you're such a romantic! And what do you mean, it was pointless? You mean that what Vista said wasn't true?"

"Is anything Vista says true?"

"Well…" Yuna began and stopped herself.

"Yuna, what's wrong?"

"Vista was able to predict Sin's attack," Yuna told him, solemnly.

"That's just what Wakka said. You know what he's like. And besides, even if she did it was probably just coincidence."

"But what if it wasn't?"

"Yuna, listen to me, okay?" He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her on the nose. "The Sin attack was the worst thing to happen to Kilika. Whatever happens now is going to be nothing compared to that. If things start to happen, me and Wakka and all the other men will be able to put things right. Fiends have got nothing on us."

"But I'm scared. I don't want anything to jeopardise our child's future."

"With a dad like me and a grandfather like Jecht, I'm pretty sure he can look after himself."

"I guess you're right. But still, keep us safe, Tidus."

"I will," he replied, an air of confidence in his voice. It calmed her a little, but nothing could prevent the fear and dread that was welling up inside her. The welfare of her new family wasn't the only thing on her mind. The Sending was emotional and draining and she knew everybody here. Sending strangers was a feat in itself, but sending the little children whose playful laughter could be heard throughout the village, and the old women who sold trinkets in front of their houses, and young families and villagers that had started afresh after Sin's attack would be devastating. She didn't think she'd be able to do it.

Vista, for once in your life, please be wrong.

They spent their evening curled up together on the sofa and watching the impending storm clouds loom overhead.

"We're in for a big one," said Yuna, pointing at the blackening sky.

The clouds were silky smooth and almost black in appearance. They seemed to meld into one solid sheet. The sea in the far horizon was dark and Yuna could see streaks of precipitation hanging from the clouds.

Anything could be lurking in the darkness out there, she thought.

A bolt of lightning rippled through the air in the distance and turned the horizon neon purple for a split second.

"One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten," chanted Yuna, speaking like a little girl.

The thunder reverberated through the air, a pleasant yet frightening sound that made the hairs on Yuna's neck stand up on end.

"Ten miles away," said Tidus. "Another half an hour or so and it will be right on us."

Perhaps the storm was what Vista had predicted. It could definitely be seen as fiendish and it was easy to see that a mind like Vista's could intertwine such things as fiends and storms. It was coming from the sea, just like she had predicted. It was dark, gloomy and had every chance to be deadly if you were out in it. She looked up at Tidus' warm, solid facial features and felt her heart loosen. He looked back at her and said, "I'll make sure you're safe, Yuna."

Forty minutes later and the storm was well upon them. Wakka and Lulu had arrived without notice ten minutes earlier which perked Yuna up considerably.

"We never get to see each other just lately, Yuna," Lulu said, as she took a small sip of Kilika Rum. "So Wakka told me 'Why don't we go over now then?' It's not very often that I listen to his advice, is it? But it was sound advice."

"Finally, you got something right, Lu. Two things actually. No, you don't listen to me and yeah, it was sound advice!"

Lulu turned to Wakka and raised her eyebrows.

"Wakka, dear. If you say one more word, I'm going to cast a blizzard spell on you. Understood?"

"Understood, my little scary munchkin!"

Yuna giggled. Wakka and Lulu were always play-fighting with each other. Their company made Yuna forget about her worries and how her child would fare in the big, harsh world and its harsher fiends. It didn't matter how dangerous Spira was. As long as there were people who cared about each other, the world would still be a joyous planet to live on.

"I'm glad you could both make it," Yuna said to them. "It will be nice to watch the storm with friends."

Tidus, Wakka and Lulu passed a bottle of Kilika Rum between each other, while Yuna sipped on sparkling water. The house shook as winds blew between the rafters in the ceiling. The sky flashed blue and purple and bright white as lightning penetrated the air. Thunder rattled and boomed and the rain came down in sheets, hitting the decking with such force that each droplet rose a metre into the air.

"This is so exciting!" Yuna exclaimed.

"You're easily pleased," said Lulu as she swirled the remaining rum around in her tumbler. "I like that about you."

"You should take a couple leafs outta her book, Lu," said Wakka with an unmistakeable slur. "Lighten up a bit, ya?"

"I'll lighten you up if you don't shut up," hissed Lulu. "I think you've had enough to drink, Wakka."

"But this is only my fourth grass!" he protested.

"Grass?" enquired Lulu with one eyebrow raised. "I think you meant glass, did you not?"

"That's what I said!"

Lulu didn't answer him this time. Instead, she moved towards him, took the glass out of his hands and downed the rest of the rum that was floating at the bottom of it.

"There," she told him satisfyingly. "All gone." She turned to Yuna and Tidus. "I'm so sorry about Wakka's antics. I can drink all day. He, on the other hand, cannot handle much at all. We ought to get going now. I need to put Wakka to bed."

"But what about the storm?" asked Yuna.

"Our house is just five minutes walk. We'll be fine. Besides, I've got Nulshock under my belt if… I mean, when Wakka makes us a little slow on our feet." She glared at him. "Come on!"

"Alright already!" he yelled back. He groaned and held his head. "The room's spinning…"

Yuna and Tidus watched them as they trundled through the rain. Lulu had grasped Wakka's arm and was literally pulling him across the floor. As soon as they disappeared around the corner, Tidus turned to Yuna and hugged her.

"Shall we go to bed?" he asked, his eyes lustful. "I'll be gentle with you."

Yuna sighed and looked into his eyes.

"Not tonight, Tidus. I just want to fall asleep in your arms and listen to the rain and the thunder. I want to feel safe."

"Okay. I understand. We'll just cuddle up. I hope my snoring doesn't keep you awake though!"

"It won't. It'll make me feel safe." She smiled.

It was early morning. The darkness was all around them, the full moon obscured by the thunder clouds. Yuna was wide awake. Tidus was snoring softly. She withdrew her hand from the thin blanket that was draped across her and placed her palm on Tidus' smooth chest which was rising and falling softly.

Suddenly there was a hissing noise coming from the back garden. A thud. Another hiss and then another. Soon, the hissing sounds were hitting Yuna's ears in quick succession.

The sounds that Vista could hear…

"Oh no! Fiends!" she gasped and tapped Tidus hard on the shoulder.

"Tidus, wake up!" she screamed.