Home

by Nikki of Spira

After being separated from Tidus for over two years, Yuna finally learns what it means to be home when he returns. (Yuna POV) TxY

Home

When I was little, I used to think that home was a physical structure of sorts or a town you dwelled in—a place that provided some sense of comfort and security. And while I hadn't been wrong in my analysis, I learned as I grew older it was so much more than what I'd initially thought.

Ever since I was seven, I'd called Besaid my home. And I remember how I'd felt when Kimahri had first brought me there. I'd been in complete awe of the island's peaceful beauty. But as captivated as I'd been by its crystalline waters and lush palm trees, I was still confused and drowning in my grief, having just lost my father then from defeating Sin.

That all changed when I'd met Wakka and Lulu though. They were quick to adopt me as they're little sister, turning those initial melancholy days into ones filled with such joy and laughter. They'd been a blessing in so many ways, and still were.

The island's white sands, warm tropical breezes, and cheerful denizens had brought me comfort in the years that'd followed, even when I chose to become a summoner and follow in my father's footsteps. Though I suppose history had a cruel way of repeating itself.

Falling in love on my pilgrimage was not something I'd expected to happen. Unfortunately, I'd been powerless to its whim and Tidus' charm. I fell in love with him so deeply, so completely that it hurt inside. So to lose him right after bringing the Eternal Calm…well, it was devastating.

I'd come full circle, and not in a good way. I'd become consumed by grief once more, drowning in its merciless depths, unable to find my way back to the surface—unable to find my way home.

For two years, home had become a lost concept for me because home was in his eyes, his arms…his kiss. I was lost, empty, only a shadow of myself roaming that island. And its sweet comforts had grown stale as a result.

Every night I returned to my room at the temple in the same despondent state, longing for the one man, who could make me feel whole again. I'd hope and pray that by some miracle I'd wake to find him standing in the middle of that village, arms open, ready to wrap me in their warmth.

But instead, I was greeted every morning with the same terrible ache in my chest, finding many smiles among that village except for the one I loved most.

Those days slowly turned into months then years, eradicating any hope I had left to where I'd become an empty vessel, engaging in the same mundane activities, just waiting for an end.

It wasn't until Rikku had arrived with that sphere of what I'd thought had been my lost love that life had finally been breathed back into my lungs. Hope replaced despair, only to be squashed months later when we discovered it wasn't Tidus at all. But as always, I'd continued on with a smile, not once allowing my companions to discover how truly deflated and heartbroken I'd actually been to learn it wasn't him.

We had a job to do though. I'd found purpose once more. And so, I'd set out to rescue Spira from a terrible fate as I'd done before. It'd been a wonderful feeling—one I wish I could've shared with the man I loved. But I supposed that'd be something I'd have to get used to—experiencing life without Tidus.

Just as I'd prepared to accept that fate and finally move on, the fayth had unexpectedly appeared to me in the Farplane, offering me the hope I'd lost. I'd been hesitant at first, opening that door again. I'd been disappointed so many times already. But I couldn't just walk away. Not from the greatest love I'd ever known. Not if there was still a small chance to be reunited with him.

Honestly, I had no idea what to expect then. The fayth hadn't been able to promise me anything either. So, I'd defaulted to my initial plan. I had to start living for myself. Tidus would've wanted that. And I'd intended to finally honor his sacrifice as best I could.

Bahamut's words hadn't been lost to me though. They'd remained in the far corners of my mind, threatening to surface with every fond memory of my beloved. I knew then I had an uphill battle ahead of me. But I couldn't allow myself to give into false hope any longer.

Things never quite go the way we plan though.

That afternoon, everything changed. Turns out that hope I'd been fighting to suppress had been anything but false.

When I'd spotted that familiar mob of blond hair emerge out of those blue, tropical waters, my heart soared. I could hardly believe my own eyes. Tidus was back! He was home. And so was I for the first time in years.

To be held in his arms again, to feel his pulse tapping against his chest, and to peer into those smiling eyes… It was all so wonderful—a wonderful miracle I hadn't expected to receive upon returning to that island.

As much as I'd enjoyed the warm welcome from everyone and the festivities that'd followed, I'd wanted nothing more than to be alone with the man I loved more than anything, and who I'd thought had been forever lost to me.

That, of course, didn't happen until later that evening though. There'd been too many people to count vying for our attention throughout the day. But once we'd finally gotten that privacy we'd been eagerly awaiting, it'd set us on a path that changed everything…

The celebratory bonfires that'd lined the beach, crackled and popped as the last of the dying embers floated up into the starry, night sky.

Everyone had gone back to the village to turn in for the night, except for Rikku and Paine, who'd left earlier that evening with the rest of the Gullwings. Tidus and I, however, stayed behind to finally spend some much needed time alone together, discussing everything that'd happened in his absence, and well...just enjoying each other's company.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" I quietly remarked, sitting cross-legged in the sand next to my beloved, watching the waves roll and crash in the distance under the silvery glow of the full-moon. "The way the sea shimmers against the moonlight."

"Yeah, it's real pretty." Tidus glanced my way, flashing me that winning grin I absolutely adored. "But it has nothing on you."

A familiar flush warmed my cheeks, and I looked away, feeling a little bashful all of a sudden. "I really missed you."

"I missed you too. I know that sounds kinda weird, considering what happened and all but… I can feel that lapse in time and…that longing to be with you."

"What was it like?" I asked with a sweet tilt of my head. "Do you remember anything at all?"

"Like I told everyone else—it's all still kinda foggy for me. But I do half-remember this grumpy, warrior guy and his annoying faerie companion. So, I'm not sure if I was in the Farplane. But I know I wasn't just…gone either. I dunno." He shrugged. "Maybe it'll all come back to me eventually. I'm not too worried about it though."

His answer was vague, yet intriguing, offering a tangible piece to a puzzle just begging to be solved, leaving me to ponder if he really had only been a dream, or if something had happened during the pilgrimage to change all that. It would make sense as to how the fayth were able to bring him back without sacrificing the rest they'd wanted for so long. But I didn't want to push the matter either. I was just grateful he was there.

Even though he'd been back for several hours now, I was still trying to process it all. I could only imagine how he'd felt.

"I'm sorry. You've had a lot to take in today. You must be so overwhelmed and…exhausted."

"Nah, not really. I'm just happy to be here." He paused to moisten his bottom lip then gazed over at me with a longing adoration. "And to have you by my side."

"I've… I've wanted that for so long."

Inhaling deeply, Tidus rubbed the back of his neck, seeming a bit anxious all of a sudden. "Sounds like you had quite the adventure while I was gone."

"You were the only reason I went on it to begin with."

"Yeah, I heard." He heaved a troubled sigh then pitched me a regretful smile. "I'm sorry I couldn't be there. I never wanted to leave you, y'know?"

"I know…" Dropping my gaze to the sand, I swallowed my feelings and released a trembling breath. "I, um… I almost gave up…on you ever returning."

He then reached out to give my hand a gentle squeeze. "Well, I'm glad you didn't."

Sucking back a sniffle, I wiped a stray tear off my cheek and exhaled heavily. "It's just… I was so…lonely without you. It hurt… It hurt so much. To love you then to have you-disappear..." I gave my head a shake, ridding myself of the painful memory. "I'm sorry. I know you couldn't help what happened. And I'm sorry for being so… emotional. We're supposed to be celebrating."

His face pinched in remorse. "Hey, if anyone should be apologizing here it's me. I caused you all this pain. I… I should've told you that I was—ughh! I should've just listened to Wakka."

"Listened to Wakka?" I echoed, confused.

"I shouldn't have made a move on you. And I shouldn't have allowed you to fall for me."

My stomach plummeted, mouth slightly agape at the words that'd left his lips. "You… You regret what we shared?"

"Wha—uh… No, that's not what—ughh…" Squeezing his eyes shut, Tidus rubbed his brow and dared a glance in my direction. "That's not what I meant. I regret hurting you, Yuna. I never wanted that. Maybe if I'd done things differently, then you wouldn't have fallen in love with me."

"You can't stop someone from falling in love with you," I refuted. "You don't even know the moment it happened. But I… I never once regretted it." Hugging my arms, I trained my gaze out to sea as a heaviness filled my chest, now a little uncertain if he reciprocated my feelings in the same way. "I… I suppose you do though."

"That's not true," his voice was strained, laden with guilt. "I don't regret what we shared. I just regret the pain it caused you in the end. And I wish I could make it all go away."

Feeling a little silly for believing otherwise, I met his troubled gaze with an understanding smile. "Just you being here has eased most of it."

The corners of his eyes crinkled in delight. "Guess that's a start." Scooting closer, Tidus snaked an arm around me and cupped my cheek in his gloved hand, sending my pulse into a rapid flutter. "Now that I'm back, I'm gonna work hard on taking away all that pain—no matter how long it takes. I promise, I'll make things right. I love you, Yuna. And I'm sorry I never got to tell you before…well, y'know."

My heart stilled, tears springing to my eyes once more. "I've waited so long to hear you say that."

"I mean it. You've got me feeling all sorts of things I've never felt before."

"It's a little frightening, isn't it?"

"Yeah but in a good way, right?"

That infectious grin had me beaming, pulse bounding… "I… I suppose."

"You suppose?"

"I… I mean, yes." I momentarily shut my eyes and huffed, feeling the blood rush straight to my face.

"Y'know…" His grin widened, thumb softly stroking my cheek. "You look real cute when you're embarrassed."

"Mmm…" I groaned. "You enjoy teasing me, don't you?"

"What guy doesn't enjoy teasing his girl? It's how we show our love. Well, one of the ways." Eyelids drooping with desire, Tidus moistened his lips then leaned in to smother mine in a sweet, tender kiss that we hadn't shared since that night at Macalania.

My body was tingling all over. I'd almost forgotten how magnificent his lips felt, slowly gliding over mine. They were so warm, so soft, so…deliciously sinful. Our kiss deepened just then, erupting into a firestorm of passion I'd never experienced before.

When we'd last shared a kiss, it had been gentle and sweet. But now, the depth of our emotions had taken over, unleashing a carnal hunger in us that I'd only fantasized about. He was real. He was home. And we were wrapped in each other's arms underneath the stars, lips locked in a fervid embrace.

The heat in my belly began to spread, eclipsing any rational thought I could have at that moment. All I could do was feel…his tongue gliding against mine, his hands sliding up my back to hold me tight, and all the sensations building inside. I'd waited so long to feel his touch. And I couldn't get enough of it. I wanted more.

Arms now securely locked around the back of his neck, I climbed onto his lap, our lips parting momentarily to hitch a breath from the pleasurable friction. I never experienced anything so thrilling, so…erotic.

Between his hands caressing the exposed skin on my back and the massaging of our lips, a certain appendage of his stiffened against my groin, and I absently squirmed at the foreign sensation, earning a surprised gasp that severed our kiss.

"Whoa, hang on a sec." Tidus drew back, a bit winded, eyes now full of concern. "Dontcha think we should slow down here? I mean, I just got back."

Blinking in surprise, I blew out a long breath, finally realizing all I'd been doing. My desires had taken over, clouding any coherent thought. I'd never done anything like this before. And before Tidus, I'd never even considered being intimate with anyone. This was all new to me. Even I was a little surprised by how eager I'd been.

"I... I'm sorry." With an uncertain bit to my lower lip, I looked away, my bashfulness returning. "I got caught up in the moment."

"You're not the only one." He gave a nervous chuckle then scratched the back of his head. "And I'm kinda the one that instigated this so…"

"I love how it felt. How you were making me feel."

Those gorgeous cerulean eyes adhered to mine, gleaming with love and desire. "Believe me—I was enjoying it too. It's just…" Releasing a sharp puff of air, Tidus brought a loving hand to my cheek, softly stroking it with his thumb. "I just didn't expect that from you—not that it's a bad thing—it's just… I don't want this to be some desperate tryst in the sand, y'know? I'm not going anywhere, Yuna. Don't ask how I know—I just do."

His hands drifted back down to my hips to gently slide me off, and he must've caught the disappointment in my eyes from how his expression eased into one of regret.

"Look, I'm playing the long-game here. I want things to last between us, y'know? And not just for a few months or years either."

Stunned by his bold confession, I held a hand against my chest as my stomach fluttered. He really wanted to be with me always. "You…really feel that way?"

"I do. I love you more than anything. I kinda proved that over two years ago, dontcha think?"

"Mm…" I agreed with a nod and sweet smile, still rather stunned by his desire to share a life with me.

"We should probably head back to the village."

"Already!?"

"It's late, Yuna. Aren't you tired? You've had a long day."

I was anything but tired. I didn't want the night to end. Most of all, I didn't want him to leave my side.

"Well, where will you sleep?"

"The crusaders lodge, I guess." He then gazed over at me expectantly. "Why?"

"My… My room at the temple has a much larger bed." Had I really just suggested that?

An astonished cackle sputtered out of him. "Wow… You really have changed."

"I want you comfortable and by my side, nothing more."

"Uh-huh…" His smile slowly receded. "And what will all the locals think in the morning? Can you imagine what Wakka and Lulu will say?"

"Wakka already suggested for us to get a room," I reminded him. "We'll just tell them we took his advice."

Another incredulous cackle left his lips. "You're serious about this, huh?"

"Is that…so bad?"

"First night back and already an invite into Lady Yuna's bed—how scandalous," he teased, climbing to his feet and offering me a hand.

Accepting the gesture, I stood and threw him a long look. "We're just going to sleep."

"Right… Try telling that to everyone in the morning."

"Are you really that worried about what everyone will think?"

"Me? Nah, not really. I'm more worried about how this will affect you and your reputation."

"You don't need to," I assured with a slow sweep of my head. "I don't care what anyone thinks. Not anymore. I've done my service to Spira and then some. I want to live my own life. They owe me that much."

"Well…if you're sure."

"I am but… Are you okay with it?"

Tidus gave a terse laugh. "You're asking now?"

Ashamed for my lack of consideration, I dipped my head and fidgeted with the hem of my gunner top. "If… If you really don't want to…"

"It's not that, Yuna. The temptation to continue where we left off here would be hard to resist, y'know?"

My heart sank. "I suppose…"

With a resigned sigh, Tidus cast an empathetic glance my way, seeming rather conflicted all of a sudden. "But… I can behave myself if it means that much to you."

"Really!?"

"C'mon, trouble." Taking me by the hand, Tidus steered us down the beach toward the path leading into the village. "I got the feeling you're gonna live up to that name now that I'm back."

"Me? Trouble?"

"Yeah, and you know it." He then threw me a playful leer and smiled. "But I can get used to it and this bold new you."

Bold new me? I suppose I had changed quite a bit in the past couple years. For one, I would've never been so forward on my pilgrimage. And I certainly wouldn't have climbed onto his lap back then. But inviting him into my room? Into my bed? Even I was surprised at my behavior.

Having Tidus back had awakened all those desires I'd pushed away during that time, knowing then what I had to do. They were intense and eroding any critical thought I'd normally have in a situation like this. It was a little concerning—frightening even—but exciting no less.

Our trek to the village had been peaceful and clear of any fiends, providing us the opportunity to chat more about all the changes in Spira since his absence. Though I would've preferred to focus more on how he felt about all the changes in me, since I got the impression he was struggling with some of them.

Upon reaching our destination, Tidus cast a nervous glance around the empty, torch-lit village, obviously still worried about being spotted accompanying me into the temple.

"As you can see, no one is up at this hour."

"What about inside?" he asked with caution. "None of the priests are roaming around?"

"They need to sleep too, you know." I then proceeded to lead the way up the stairs of the darkened temple and pulled open its doors with a loud creak that made me cringe.

To be honest, I really hadn't been sure if any of the acolytes had still been awake or not. But when we stepped inside, the foyer was completely abandoned, relieving the tension that'd formed in my neck from my uncertainty.

The doors shut behind with a thunderous clunk, startling us to where we both balked at the sound.

Pitching me a nervous glance, Tidus rubbed the back of his neck and cautiously scanned our surroundings for any movement.

"It's okay," I whispered, taking him by the hand once more to lead him over to my room. "No one's awake."

Considering how his eyes kept darting around the dimly-lit area, he hadn't been entirely convinced on the matter.

We stopped just outside the door where I retrieved my set of keys from the pouch around my waist. It'd been quite some time since I'd last been inside, so it took a couple minutes for me to figure out which of them was the right one, much to Tidus' dismay.

"I don't think this is such a good idea anymore," he leaned in to whisper, just as one of the keys finally turned the lock.

"You can relax now." I then pushed open the door and flipped on the lights. "No one spotted us."

Having been gone for several months, I'd expected the room to be a bit dusty and stale. But I was delighted to find that Lulu had made good use of that spare key I'd given to her. Not only had she'd kept it fresh, but she'd also had the walls repainted a soft, gray color, upgraded my small dining-table into a round bistro one with a set of chairs on each side, and replaced my simple, old bedding with a fuzzy, duvet set in a nice, deep shade of blue. It was stunning and a remarkable change, feeling more like home than it ever had.

"Omigosh!" I hurried over to the bed and flopped down onto the mattress, spreading my arms across the duvet, reveling in my new, fluffy refuge. "It's all so amazing! I can't believe she did all this. Thank you, Lulu."

"Lulu!?" After locking the door, Tidus cast an uneasy glance my way. "Does she have a key or something?"

"I gave her a spare one when I'd left with Rikku a few months ago."

"Yeeaahh… Think I'd better stay at the lodge tonight."

I shot up at his suggestion, afraid he might make a move to leave. "It was only to keep it tidy while I was gone. You don't have to worry. She wouldn't just barge in while I'm here."

"If Wakka doesn't find me at the lodge in the morning she might," he warned. "Have you forgotten what she can be like?"

"She's calmed down over the years. Besides, I'm a grown woman and no longer a summoner. She wouldn't intrude or meddle in my affairs."

Tidus raised a skeptical brow. "You sure about that?"

"Mm…" I confirmed with a nod then glanced over at the bathroom, feeling a bit grimy from being out in the sun all day. "It's… It's been a long day. I'm going to take a shower." Bounding off the bed, I stopped short of my destination and peered over at my beloved with moderate concern. "You'll…still be here when I get back, right?"

Tidus finally stepped away from the door, still seeming a bit hesitant from how he glanced back at it, and issued me a tense smile. "I won't leave—promise."

Now more at ease as he wandered over to the dining-table, I headed into the bathroom and prepared to freshen up for the night.

The warm water was a welcome relief to my sore, achy muscles and helped to relax the knots that'd formed between my shoulder blades. My thoughts, however, were a jumbled mess.

Just last night, I'd gone to sleep with a heavy heart, believing the man I loved would be forever lost to me. And now, he was back, in my room no less, about to spend the night in my bed.

A flood of questions entered my mind at that moment. When we were alone on the beach earlier, all rational thought had escaped me. My body was responding in ways I'd never imagined. Was I really prepared to advance our relationship in that way? Was I ready to become intimate with him? And had I been so eager just because I thought he might…disappear again?

The answer was a resounding 'yes' to all of them.

Even when I eliminated the fear of Tidus leaving again, I still came to the same conclusion. I wanted to be with him. I wanted to make love to him. I'd wanted to for so long now. But he was hesitant. And I understood why...I suppose.

Then, I had to wonder if inviting him into my room had really been as innocent as I'd claimed. Had some part of me done so in hopes he'd reconsider? As much as I hated to admit it—I suppose I had. And had he suspected as much? There were so many things I wasn't sure of as of yet. It was all so…complicated.

The last thing I wanted was to make Tidus uncomfortable though. I planned to respect his wishes. But I had my suspicions that Tidus wasn't as inexperienced with this sort of thing like I was, which made me a little jealous to be honest. And I'm not sure why, since that part of his life had been over for a very long time. If it even counted at all really because of…well, him having been a dream and all back then.

When I finally emerged from the shower, I released a groan, realizing in my haste that I'd forgotten to bring a set of pajamas to change into. I quickly dried my hair and secured the towel wrapped around me before venturing outside—a bit worried at how Tidus would react.

My beloved, however, seemed rather engaged in reading one of my magazines at the dining-table to notice. That is, until he caught sight of me sneaking over to my dresser to retrieve a pair of shorts and a tank-top.

"Forgot something?" He chuckled at my blunder, abandoning the magazine to toss me an amused grin.

A warm tingling spread across my cheeks as I clutched the pajama set against my chest, unsure what to say. "I, um… Shower's free if you want to use it."

"Think I'll take you up on that." He then stood and breezed past me with a smirk. "Don't worry, I won't peek."

My blush deepened at his remark. What was I thinking? One minute I was sure of what I wanted and in the next I was conflicted. Everything had happened so fast—Vegnagun, reuniting Shuyin and Lenne, my unexpected meeting with Bahamut, and Tidus' subsequent return. It all felt so…surreal.

Having Tidus by my side again was a dream come true. I wanted nothing more than to be close to him. Those physical desires of mine were hard to ignore though. It was exciting and frightening all at the same time. And I didn't know how to deal with it all.

Once I heard the water from the shower start, I took the opportunity to change into my pajamas, turn on the oil lamp situated atop the nightstand, then proceeded to switch off the main lights before climbing into bed.

A wave of anxiety washed over me just then. What was I so nervous about? Tidus had already made it clear that he wanted to wait. And it's not like I was planning to seduce him. Not that I even knew where to start to be honest. I was confused by my turbulent thoughts and emotions. They were constantly warring with one another, thwarting me into a chaotic spiral.

The water from the showerhead had stopped, and my pulse almost along with it.

Just then, Tidus emerged from the bathroom, clad in his boxer shorts, drying his hair with a towel.

My stomach swooped at the sight of him. I'd seen the upper part of his chest poke through the opening of his hoodie all the time, but it was different seeing it completely bare. His tanned, athletic form was practically on full display, showcasing all his taut muscles and chiseled abs.

"Man that water pressure sure beats all the ones at the inns we'd stayed at during your pilgrimage." Tossing the towel into the hamper, Tidus made his way over to the bed and threw the covers back to get inside. "Is it just the temple that's like this or all of Besaid?"

"I, um… I can't remember."

Settling onto his side, he lifted a quizzical brow, almost as though he'd sensed my trepidation. "You okay?"

"Oh, uh… Mhm…" That didn't sound very convincing. I was still a tad anxious, but mostly overwhelmed by everything. Reality had begun to set in. This was all real. Tidus was really there with me. And he was all but naked, lying beside me in my bed.

Rolling onto my side to face him, I offered him a tiny smile and reached out to affectionately touch the side of his face. "I… I've waited so long to see your smile again. To hear your laugh… To feel your touch… I can hardly believe this is real."

His brow knit with worry, suggesting he sensed something deeper behind my words. "You're afraid I'm gonna disappear again, aren't ya?"

And I couldn't deny it. "Maybe just a little."

"Look, I wantcha to stop worrying about this, okay?" He then took my hand in his and pressed a firm kiss on the back of it, before steadying it against his chest. "I'm not gonna fade away on you this time. I have these…foggy memories of…some other world. And if I really had ceased to exist, I wouldn't have any memories at all, y'know? I just wish I could remember more…"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—"

"Nah, it's fine," he calmly interjected. "I get why you're worried. But you weren't there, Yuna. It's… It's hard to explain. I get these feelings. And I just know in my gut, I'm here to stay."

"I… I don't think the fayth would be that cruel either."

"Nah, they're resting now, which makes me real, okay? And I got the feeling whatever they did to bring me back—it had nothing to do with dream magic."

Maybe I had been overthinking all of this. Tidus' strange memories alone were enough to cast some serious doubt on the matter. Perhaps there was more to his story than met the eye, and he'd somehow found a way to become real on his own.

"So, we can focus on us now," he continued with certainty, drawing me away from my troubled thoughts, "and…enjoying life for once. Not having to worry about running around saving Spira anymore."

"I suppose you're right."

"And I'll be right here when you wake up, preparing to face Lulu's wrath."

"Stop!" I giggled. "Lulu isn't going to fry you with a flare."

"Yeah, we'll see." Draping an arm over my waist, Tidus bumped his nose against mine and grinned. "Good-night kiss?"

"I…suppose."

"You don't sound so sure."

"Oh, I… I am. I just wasn't certain if… Well, if you wanted to because of earlier."

"It's just a kiss, Yuna."

"Right… Just a kiss."

Our lips brushed in a soft, slow manner that had me tingling all over. It felt so wonderful being in his arms and having his body so close to mine. Resisting the urge to deepen the kiss was a painstaking task though. But I held back, allowing him to dictate how it progressed.

His lips lingered on mine, holding me captive as though he couldn't pull away. And I honestly didn't want him to. Then, like earlier at the beach, he inhaled deeply, our lips slightly parting, only to melt into a smouldering heap of passion, setting us ablaze.

Suddenly, my hand was everywhere, roaming over his shoulder, his back, in a desperate need to pull him close. I was frightfully eager, wanting nothing more than to feel every inch of his body flush against mine.

Unlike earlier, Tidus didn't pull away, instead his hand surged over my waist, underneath the thin, cotton fabric of my top, and up my back as well.

That hardened resolve of his had crumbled just as easily as mine had on that beach, unable to withstand the weight of our love, and the separation that we'd had to endure for two long years. Those raging hormones had taken over, turning us into a couple of feral beasts, clawing at the other's flesh, desperately seeking that closeness we'd been denied for so long.

I rolled onto my back, and Tidus followed, his lips leaving mine to claim that sensitive spot at the nape of my neck, sending a pleasurable jolt down my spine.

A soft moan escaped my lips right then. It was exhilarating—all I was feeling, all he was doing to me. But I wanted more. I wanted to make him feel good as well.

Hands now drifting down his back, I slid one underneath the band of his boxers to grip his rear in a firm squeeze.

Just then, Tidus froze, and my stomach clenched, afraid I'd done something wrong.

Peeling his body off me with a groan, he dragged a hand down his guilt-ridden face and huffed. "Sorry, I uh… I got carried away again."

I momentarily shut my eyes and released a dejected sigh, trying to make sense of all this. We were in love. We loved each other. And it felt…wonderful and right. His reluctance was confusing me. And I needed better clarification on the matter than what he'd give me on that beach.

"I… I don't understand. Why are we fighting this?"

Face marred in conflict, Tidus raked a hand through his flaxen wisps, searching for an answer. "I told you—I don't wanna rush this. You mean everything to me, Yuna. I don't want things to become…awkward in the morning."

I furrowed my brow, even more confused. "Why would it be awkward?"

Pressing his lips into a thin, troubled line, Tidus rolled onto his back, and stared up at the ceiling with a long breath. "I've…never been in a sexual relationship that…had feelings present. I've never made love to anyone before. I've never been in love before. And I just don't wanna screw things up, especially if you're not…ready for something like this."

Well, my assumptions had been correct. Tidus had in fact been intimate with other girls in his Zanarkand. Learning they were just flings had me feeling a little less jealous though. At least I had what none of them could obtain—his heart. As for me being ready to explore this type of intimacy… Well, that was another matter. One I needed to clarify.

"I have a confession to make."

He glanced over at me, curious as to what I was about to reveal. "Shoot."

"I, um… I've thought about it for a long time—you and me…like this."

Rolling onto his side again, he lifted a brow of intrigue. "How long?"

"Since the pilgrimage. But…it's not like I could do anything about it back then. I thought I was marching to my death. It wasn't until after we learned the truth about the final summoning and abandoned it that… That I grew hopeful that once we defeated Sin, we could finally…explore this type of relationship." I then winced, throat tightening at the painful memory that followed. "I hadn't expected for you to… To not be there afterward."

"Yuna…"

"I'm not finished," I calmly interrupted. "For two years, I wandered around this island—lost and empty inside, turning down multiple suitors, who never stood a chance at winning my heart. It belonged to you. And only you. When Rikku brought me that sphere, I finally found some hope in being reunited with you. Then to learn it wasn't you after several months… Well, that nearly broke me.

"I can't fight what I feel for you. How you make me feel. I've longed for this day. And it's still surreal to me that you're even here. I know what I want—what my heart wants. That won't change in the morning or any time after. You're all I want. All I've ever wanted."

Tears sprang to my eyes, and from how Tidus' glossed over, I knew he was fighting them as well.

"You really love me that much, huh?"

"More than anything."

"Well, since we're being honest here, I have a confession as well."

"You do?"

"Yeah. Earlier today, when I first got back, seeing how much you'd changed—it bothered me a little. Well, actually, a lot," he sheepishly admitted. "I didn't catch the symbol on your top at first. All I'd noticed was how…sexy your outfit was, which was a huge change from what you'd worn on the pilgrimage. That and seeing how playful and flirtatious you'd become…well, I began to suspect that another guy had influenced all that."

My mouth slightly parted, surprised by his confession. "You thought I'd been with someone else?"

"The thought crossed my mind—that's for sure. Trust me, I wish it hadn't. That's the last thing I wanted to think about when I just got back. But I hadn't been in your life for over two years. So, to think that you hadn't moved on in all that time… I just couldn't be sure, y'know? And…" He inhaled deeply, seeming hesitant to continue. "This is gonna sound real selfish but… I was so relieved to learn you hadn't. The thought of another guy kissing you… His hands on your body…"

Eyes swirling with an undercurrent of disdain, he pulled his lips into a thin vexed line as though he were witnessing all he'd mentioned. "It drives me insane! And I know that's not fair. I just… Ughh… I'm just a stupid, jealous guy that doesn't know how to deal with all he's feeling right now!"

Something I could definitely relate to, having felt the same when I'd found that sphere of what I'd thought had been him, fondly speaking about Lenne.

"You never had any competition these past two years—I can assure you that. As for the wardrobe change—that was Rikku's idea. The rest, well… It was my way of feeling close to you. So, if anyone had an influence in some of these changes in me, it was you."

His face suddenly lit up. "Really?"

"Mm…"

Hand now settling onto my waist, Tidus began to draw slow circles on the exposed flesh, leaving pleasurable goosebumps in its wake. "I really love you, y'know?"

"And all these changes in me—now that you know they're mainly because of you?"

A light-hearted chuckle bubbled out of him. "I love them too, not that I didn't before. And they didn't have to be because of me."

"Well they're not all because of you."

"Yeah, I get that. Time and life will do that too." His smile slowly waned. "I just wanted ya to still be my girl, y'know? I was a jerk earlier today for thinking the way I did. Forgive me."

"You're forgiven."

A playful grin slowly etched across his face. "Think you can handle having a jealous boyfriend?"

"Only if you can handle having a jealous girlfriend."

"You have no one to be jealous of—trust me."

"I bet that'll change once you start playing blitzball for the Aurochs. I heard them trying to recruit you this afternoon. All those adoring fan-girls will be swooning over you."

Tidus released another chuckle, sliding his hand down to my hip to give it an affectionate squeeze. "Yeah well, I heard you're quite the songstress now. So, I'm sure you'll have plenty of fans drooling over you as well."

"I have no intention of turning that into a career, you know."

"Still… You're famous here—that kinda attention won't just go away."

"Well, you don't have to worry. I only want your attention."

Those gorgeous cerulean eyes darkened with desire. "Oh, you've got that—all of it."

And I supposed the ball was in my court to do something about it as well. But I was rather enjoying the flirtation between us and didn't want it to end just yet. "Did you know I played blitzball for a while?"

"Yeah, Rikku told me. For the Gullwings, right?"

"Mhm…" A mischievous smile tugged on my lips. "You can learn a lot from that game."

The corners of his mouth twitched upward, eyes sparkling with mirth. "Yeah, like what?"

This was getting exciting! "Well…if you want to score a goal, sometimes you need to pass the ball to your teammate...in order to make it happen."

Tidus barked a laugh. "Wow! Never thought of using blitzball as a come-on before. Sorry, I wasn't expecting that," he admitted with a chuckle. "It's good though."

Unsure how to feel, I dropped my gaze and worried my bottom lip. "I…didn't think you'd react that way."

His expression sobered at my sudden deflation, lips now pulled into a tight smile. "You just caught me off guard with it, that's all. Still getting used to this new you, y'know?" Inching closer, Tidus glided his hand up the curve of my waist once more. "So, I got the ball now, huh?"

"Mm…" And I was hoping he wouldn't fumble.

Gaze briefly dropping to my lips, he searched my eyes and whispered, "You're sure about this?"

"I've never been more certain."

"Then I have another confession to make."

I arched a brow in response, curious what he would divulge at such a pivotal moment.

"I…had a feeling this would happen if I came back to your room. And I…" He winced, seeming reluctant to continue. "I almost left a couple times because of it…when you were in the shower."

Unsettled by what he revealed, I hitched a breath and inquired in a stunned whisper, "But... Why?"

"I, uh… Well, I was sorta…afraid," he admitted with a slight blush. "And still kinda am. This could bring us closer together or…tear us apart if one of us isn't ready. I just wanted ya to be sure about it, y'know? That it's not an impulsive decision based on my return and your fear of me...disappearing again."

"It's not," I assured. "I've wanted this for a long time. I want to be close to you—as close as I possibly can get. I'm not even sure if this will be close enough for me to be honest. I've never felt this way before."

Tidus dipped his head and breathed a laugh. "Believe me, I know the feeling."

"What I feel for you—it won't change after. Of that I'm certain."

Judging from his vibrant grin, I must've finally convinced him on the matter. "How'd I get so lucky to find a girl like you?"

"I'm the lucky one," I insisted. "You saved my life. You gave up everything for me."

"And I'd do it all over again," he breathed. "I really, really love you, Yuna. More than I ever thought possible." Eyelids drooping into a smouldering look, Tidus inched his face even closer to whisper, "And I've never wanted anyone so much…"

Those moist lips finally claimed mine in a long, luscious kiss that had my blood sailing through my veins at breakneck speed.

This was really going to happen. We were finally going to express our love for one another in the most intimate way possible. In a way I'd dreamed about for so long. I was excited—giddy even—eager to experience everything all at once.

Our deep, meaningful kiss had me so enthralled that I barely noticed him sliding one of the thin straps of my pajama-top off my shoulder. But it felt so sensual that it had me throbbing at my centre.

His lips suddenly left mine to adhere to the skin he'd freed from the cotton obstacle, peppering it in a series of gentle kisses.

My breaths grew heavy, his touch sending pleasurable sparks throughout my body, resulting in two erect peaks to form in the cotton material on my chest.

Just as those soft lips found the top of my cleavage, Tidus' hand claimed one of my breasts through the thin fabric in a gentle squeeze, shifting the fleshy mound closer to his mouth to worship in a seductive open-mouthed kiss.

I released a breathy moan and arched my back, enraptured by his touch and the way his moist lips felt on my skin.

"Oh man, do I ever love you," he whispered, drifting lower down my torso.

The love I felt for this man and all these sensations… I never thought anything could feel so good. If it weren't for all that'd happened earlier, I would've sworn I was dreaming.

Tidus' talented mouth assured me I wasn't though from how it fastened onto the exposed flesh just above my navel, lavishing it in a line of hungry kisses all the way up to my mid-drift, his hands bunching the cotton material up along the way.

Pausing to glance up at me in silent permission, I gave him a sure nod to continue, earning a loving smile in return.

Tidus carefully helped me to wiggle out of my pajama-top, resulting in an eruption of giggles from how it'd posed more of a challenge than we'd anticipated.

Once I was finally freed from those cotton threads, that bashfulness I'd been trying to overcome suddenly made an appearance. Being so exposed to him felt a little strange. I'd never revealed so much of myself to anyone before.

But the loving look in his eyes and his cute, boyish smile had me thawing at my centre. This man loved me more than anything. And I loved him. This was our moment—our moment to show each other just how much.

Hands skimming over my breasts, Tidus gazed up at me with the most adoring expression I'd ever seen, and whispered, "You're so damn beautiful, Yuna."

A shy smile formed on my lips at his compliment, having never experienced anyone look at me with such love and desire. Not that I would want anyone else to. I belonged to him. I always had.

Continuing to hold my gaze, Tidus lowered his mouth over one of those erect nubs to give it a long, gentle suck.

I gasped at the titillating sensation and buried a hand into his wispy hair. "Mmm…"

Never had anything ever felt so good. Fantasizing about his hands and lips on my body paled in comparison to the real thing. Whatever reservations I'd been having were completely obliterated by his mouth… his tongue. All I could think about was how wonderful everything felt. How he was making me feel in that moment.

Feasting on my other breast, Tidus slid a hand down my tummy and slipped it underneath the band of my shorts.

Another gasp escaped my lips just then. Those talented fingers had found the centre of my desire and began to rub pleasurable circles into those pulsating nerves.

"Ohh… Mmm…"

Abandoning my breast with an aggressive suck, Tidus peered up at me, an irrepressible grin now plastered on his face. "That feel good?"

"Mmm… Mm-hmm…"

"I bet you taste amazing…"

My whole body flushed at his comment. I hadn't expected him to say something like that. And I knew what he'd meant by it, just from how often Rikku had elaborated on sexual acts with me on our travels, offering tips from her trysts with Gippal in the past. I suppose she'd wanted to prepare me for this moment—for when we'd be reunited.

Having Tidus voice his desires for me in that way had caught me by surprise though, and brought that bashfulness I thought I'd vanquished to the surface once more.

Judging from how he paused, concern mounting on his face, my lover must've sensed my unease. "You okay?"

"Y-yes, I… I just didn't expect to hear you say that."

Expression dropping into a look of uncertainty, Tidus removed his hand from my shorts then asked in a quiet tone, "Do you wanna stop?"

I vehemently shook my head. "No, no, not at all. I was just surprised by it."

"We can slow down if you want. We don't have to… I mean, if you don't want me to…"

"No, I do. It's just…this is all still very new to me. I want to experience everything with you. I…" Heaving a troubled sigh, I looked away, feeling slightly embarrassed. "I didn't mean to ruin things."

"Trust me, it's gonna take a lot more than that. I've waited a long time for this too, y'know? I love you, Yuna."

Relived by his sentiment, I offered him a tiny smile and decided to be a little more playful with him, since that was something more familiar to the both of us. "Then show me how much."

His eyes slightly widened in surprise, a wolfish grin now etching across his lips. "Think you can handle it?"

"Every last bit." I giggled.

"We'll see about that." Tugging the cotton material off my hips, Tidus tossed it somewhere behind then carefully wedged my legs apart, easing himself between them onto his stomach. "I fantasized a lot about this on your pilgrimage, y'know?"

"You did!?"

"Mm-hmm…" His head dipped between my thighs, leaving a soft kiss on the inside of one, causing me to shudder in delight. "Way more than you wanna know."

Then, his lips fastened onto the most intimate part of me in an erotic kiss that had me moaning for more.

The way his tongue glided over me… And the gentle suction from his lips… It was absolutely amazing!

Growing more aggressive in his technique, Tidus slid his hands underneath my thighs to grip my hips, holding me captive as he feasted on me with a ravenous hunger.

Those talented lips… And his tongue… They were doing phenomenal things to me that I never thought possible, thrusting me closer to that blissful edge I'd only heard about.

"Nrh… Nuh… Tidus…"

They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. But in Tidus' case, it'd left an insatiable appetite for me to where I thought he was going to devour me whole. And I loved every blissful moment of it.

One of his hands slid off my hip just then. But before I could wonder why, I felt a finger dip inside me and apply pressure to…something…something that felt so wonderful I thought I'd burst.

I gasped from the intense pleasure, grabbing two fistfuls of the duvet in the process.

That deep tingling spread like wildfire, engulfing every inch of my body. It was warm… So very warm in that room all of a sudden to where my breaths had grown ragged as a result.

I could hardly believe this was happening. All he was doing to me and how amazing it felt. But most of all, how much he was enjoying it from the way he hummed against me with every forceful suck.

Just when I thought I couldn't possibly feel any better, a pleasurable sensation erupted at my centre, stealing my breath and leaving me quaking in its wake.

Tidus, however, didn't relent, now gripping both of my hips, and sucking punishingly hard on those swollen nerves to where I was left helplessly squirming in his grasp.

Feeling light-headed, I began to pant—afraid I might lose consciousness at any moment. Never had I experienced anything so intense and so…wonderful. Ecstasy… It was pure ecstasy. That was the only way I could describe it. A word I knew nothing about before—its definition ringing hollow until now.

I was powerless to this man and all he was doing to me. Even more so to what'd followed.

With another gasp, my body trembled from a release even more powerful than the one I'd had moments before.

"Ohh… Omi—ahh!"

Wet lines slid down to my backside, spurring my lover to further gorge himself by cramming his face into me. I felt as though I were literally melting into a puddle of bliss. And if he continued, I'd almost certainly black-out.

Finally releasing my hips, Tidus surfaced with a triumphant grin, gasping for air. I couldn't help being amused at his savage appearance though. Those flaxen strands were sticking up at every angle, eyes alight, and lips glistening. He looked like a fiend that'd just devoured its prey. And I suppose he had in a way.

Tidus wiped his mouth then climbed up to settle next to me, sporting a loopy grin. "You okay?"

All I could do was hum my appreciation with an indulgent smile, breath stolen from the intensity of it all.

Beaming as though he'd just won the Crystal Cup, my lover affectionately stroked my cheek and chuckled softly. "Guess you were right."

I blinked several times, unsure what he was referring to.

"That you could handle it," he clarified. "Showing ya how much I love you."

"Oh…" I snorted a laugh and met his gaze, bottom lip now caught between my teeth. "That was amazing! You must love me an awful lot."

"Sure do."

Feeling something stiff against my thigh, I glanced down and spotted the bulge in his boxers, straining against my flesh. I suppose it was my turn to show him how much I loved him. And as much as I wanted to, I was still a little nervous in doing so, since I'd never practiced on anything before.

I shifted onto my side and reached out to grip the solid muscle pressing against my thigh, resulting in it poking through the opening of his boxers, tip glistening with a bead of moisture.

Groaning against my neck, Tidus hissed my name, renewing those lustful desires that'd simmered after having such a powerful release.

I'd never seen the male anatomy in anything but textbooks. Yevon's rules never permitted anything else. Unless you were in an intimate relationship, or had a rare, erotic sphere, there was no way of observing such a thing in Spira…at least not since Sin. Those diagrams, and Rikku's descriptions, hadn't done it justice though. It was so…big and sexy.

"You…okay?"

"Oh—I, um…" The blood rushed straight to my cheeks, embarrassed from how he'd caught me gawking at his erection. "I just… I've never seen one in person before."

"I kinda figured. Yevon's rules?"

"Mm…"

"Look, you don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with. You know that, right?"

"But…" Resolve unwavering, I met his concerned gaze with a sultry smile. "What if I want to?"

Tidus gave a nervous laugh. "Believe me, I'd love that. But…maybe we should leave this for another time. Truth is; I dunno how I'm gonna get through the next part of this without it…ending too quickly, y'know?"

With a giggle, I tightened my grip on his member, convinced he was just giving me a way out. But when I thrust my fist down his shaft, I quickly learned otherwise.

My lover sucked in a sharp breath, hand launching out to grip my forearm. "I'm serious, Yuna. I've never been this aroused before."

"Oh…" I blinked in surprise, releasing my grip on him. "I… I'm sorry. I only thought you'd said that so I wouldn't feel—"

"Nah, I'm dead serious here." Relinquishing his hold on my arm, Tidus expelled a shaky sigh, clearly struggling to contain his desires from bubbling over.

"Then how are we going to…?"

"I dunno. I'll think of something, trust me. But if you do anything like that right now, I won't survive."

I couldn't help but laugh at our interesting conundrum. Unfortunately, Tidus didn't share in my humor, now seeming uncertain and slightly embarrassed. "I'm so sorry. I wasn't laughing at you, just the situation. I…really make you feel this way?"

"You drive me crazy, Yuna. These feelings are all still kinda new for me, yknow?"

Feeling awful for embarrassing him, I went to touch the side of his face and offered him an apologetic smile. "I would never laugh at you. Not like that. You mean everything to me."

"I just don't wanna disappoint you."

"You could never disappoint me with this," I affirmed. "You've already made me feel things I never even dreamed of—physically and emotionally. I love you so much, Tidus. So much I could burst inside."

His trademark grin slowly returned. "Then let's work on making that happen, huh?"

"Oh, uh… Are… Are you sure you don't need more time to…?

"Nah, I got this," he assured with a slight chuckle.

Sliding his boxers down, he kicked them off then shifted over my frame, lowering his lips to mine in a breathtaking kiss.

Rikku had warned me on our travels what to expect my first time. That it might not feel so good at first. But that it would gradually get better as time went on. Honestly, I wasn't sure about the level of discomfort I'd experience. There was no way of knowing beforehand. I was certain of one thing though. Tidus would be patient and gentle. So, I knew I was in good hands.

Lips leaving mine, he guided my legs around his hips then dipped his fingers inside me, carefully studying my reaction. "You okay?"

"Mhm…" It felt a little awkward at first, accompanied by a slight pinch. But the more he pumped them inside, the better it felt to where I released a soft moan.

"That feel good?"

"Mmm…" I purred. "Really good."

Satisfied with my response, Tidus removed his fingers then leaned down so his face was close to mine. "You ready?"

My pulse quickened. I was nervous and excited all at the same time. But it was the best feeling ever!

Hands gliding over his arms to grip his shoulders, I finally confirmed with a nod. "Mm-hmm…"

"You're sure?"

Even at this point, in our compromising position, he wanted me to be certain about what we were about to do. He was so thoughtful and loving. I couldn't imagine loving this man any more than I did right then.

"I'm sure."

That pinch I'd felt earlier grew more pronounced, now having something much larger in its place. And as much I tried to fight it, I couldn't help the painful wince and grunt that'd followed.

Tidus paused, eyes narrowing in concern. "You okay?"

"I'm… I'm fine."

"If you're not, I wantcha to tell me, okay?"

"It's…just a little uncomfortable is all."

Face easing into a look of regret, he swallowed hard and searched my eyes. "Do you…want to continue or…"

"I'm fine—promise."

"Here, lemme try something." Carefully adjusting my hips at a better angle, he repositioned himself then leaned down to give me a tender kiss. "How's that feel?"

The adjustment had actually helped, alleviating some of my discomfort. "Much better actually."

"Good." His smile returned. "If you need a break at all lemme know, alright?"

"Okay."

Thrusting his hips at a slow and steady pace, Tidus carefully mapped my facial expressions, using them as a guide to set the rhythm of his thrusts, and every-so-often capturing my lips in a delicate kiss.

It wasn't pure bliss like you'd read about in books or watch on a movie sphere. Not at first anyway. There was a lot of pausing and repositioning before I became acclimated to him. But once I did, it was worth all the effort.

That awkward pressure slowly turned pleasurable. The more he moved the better it felt. And he must've noticed as much from how his thrusts gradually increased in depth and pace.

The sensations were slightly different than what I'd experienced earlier. It was a deeper tingling that grew much more powerful as time went on. I never imagined it would feel this good though. I was truly in awe of it all.

Feeling a little more emboldened, I began to match his thrusts, savoring every inch of him and every sexy groan he made.

I was panting now, both of us were, our breaths mingling in the throes of passion. Sloppy kisses replaced sweet, tender ones, hands now desperately gripping the other's flesh as though we'd disappear at any moment.

So this was what it was like. The love, the patience, the closeness, the insatiable need to pleasure one another… It was such a wonderful feeling—the most wonderful feeling in the world.

Those tingling sensations intensified. He felt so good. I never thought anything could feel so good.

Our soft moans were like a sensual orchestra, every note perfectly timed, rising and falling in tune with one another. Then, I felt it—that pleasurable pressure expand to where I thought I'd just burst.

"Omigosh!" I gasped, riding that blissful wave as it prepared to crest. "Oh… Mmm... Ahh!"

That wave hit like a tsunami, drowning me in a sea of ecstasy, and sending my lover plunging into its depths immediately after.

"Omigah… Yuna!" With his eyes squeezed shut, Tidus thrust his hips into me hard, grunting savagely as he did so. "Ah… Ahh… Arghh!"

His feral groan had me grinning from ear-to-ear. I'd never heard anything sound so sexy. And knowing it'd been because of me… Well, I couldn't be more gratified.

Slumping into my arms, Tidus released a contented sigh, breathing heavily into the crook of my neck.

A dizzying haze of euphoria followed. There was nothing quite like it.

We laid there for a few moments in silence, catching our breath and basking in the afterglow. And what a feeling it'd been. I'd never felt so complete and content in my life.

"I'm not crushing you, am I?"

I giggled and shook my head. "No, I'm okay."

Shifting onto his side, Tidus peered into my eyes, face split into a wide grin. "Just okay?"

"Amazing actually."

"Yeah, that was pretty amazing, huh?"

"You were so wonderful. Everything you did… I'm just in awe of it all."

Tidus draped an arm over my waist then leaned in to give me a soft peck on the lips. "You were pretty amazing too, y'know?"

A warm tingling spread across my cheeks. "Oh… I, um… I wish I had a chance to do more."

His smile faltered some. "That's on me. I kinda stopped you, remember?"

"I know, but… I wanted to."

"Well, if you're still up for it, you can have your way with me tomorrow. I won't stop you then." That brilliant grin of his made a quick return. "That's if Lulu doesn't barbecue me with a flare in the morning."

I burst out laughing at that moment. "You're really that worried about Lulu?"

"Just be ready to cast shell on me when we leave here."

"Lulu only wants me to be happy. I'm willing to bet she won't even mention anything."

"Okay, I'm game. What's the wager?"

Was he serious, right now? "You actually want to bet gil on this?"

"Nah, I was thinking of something much better." He then waggled his brow to clarify.

"You're serious?"

"Why not—it'll be fun. Why—you afraid you'll lose?"

Now that was a challenge I couldn't resist. "Fine. If I'm right…I get to do whatever I want to you tomorrow night."

"Ha! Sounds like I win no matter what!"

"I'm not finished yet," I warned. "And you have to do whatever I want you to do to me for however long I want."

"Ooo… Now we're talkin'."

"Your turn." I giggled.

Kinking his lips to the side, he tapped a finger to his chin in thought before breaking out into a huge grin. "Okay… If I'm right, then you gotta sing for me in front of the whole village."

Now, that I wasn't expecting. "I... I thought we were using something else as a wager?"

"Well, you kinda got the other stuff covered. I thought I'd try for something else I wanted. Why?" His brow creased in mild offence. "Am I not good enough to hear you sing?"

"It's not that, at all. It's just... That wasn't really me singing—it was Lenne," I clarified. "She was a part of the dressphere I used to do that concert. And now, she's gone."

Tidus cast me a doubtful look. "C'mon Yuna, everyone said it was your voice. You don't need one of those dresspheres to sing any more than you need one to cast a spell."

"I don't know… I haven't tried since. What if I sound awful?"

"Tell ya what—if you're that worried then you can sing for me here inside your room. I won't judge you."

He seemed really insistent on this. "Um… Okay."

A yawn crept up on me just then that was apparently contagious.

"Yeah, I'm beat. You ready to crash for the night?"

With a sleepy nod, I reached over to switch off the oil lamp then returned to his arms as he pulled the covers securely over us.

"Mmm… I'm almost afraid to go to sleep," I mumbled. "Afraid I'll wake to find this was only a dream."

"I'll be right here, Yuna. I swear. This wasn't a dream, okay?"

"Mmm…" And I supposed that slight ache between my thighs would be a good reminder in the morning. "I love you."

Tightening his arm around me, Tidus kissed the top of my head and murmured, "I love you more. G'nite."

---

The melodic chirping of birds roused me from my peaceful slumber—a wide smile blooming on my lips as I recalled everything Tidus and I had shared the night before. We'd made love. It really happened. And I was still a little sore as a result.

Rolling onto my side, I was met by the bright rays of the morning sun, peeking in through the small gap in the curtains, stinging my eyes. I groaned, blinking away the blinding dots and reached out for my sleeping lover, only to find a warm, empty spot in his place.

Dread slowly crept inside my chest. No… It couldn't have been just for one night. Not after all we'd shared and all the reassurances...

Launching up in bed with my pulse racing, I scanned the room, frantically searching for any sign of my lover. But he was nowhere to be found.

A tight lump formed in my throat. "No…" I breathed in anguish, fearing the worst. "Tidus!"

Throwing off the covers, I scrambled out of bed and rushed over to the bathroom to investigate the last viable spot, nearly colliding into him when he came out.

"Whoa!" Tidus dropped the towel he'd been using to dry his hair and caught me by the shoulders, steadying me. "You okay?"

An overwhelming sense of relief washed over my body, bringing tears to my eyes. "I... I thought…"

His brow dipped low in concern. "You thought I disappeared?"

I responded with a slow nod then wrapped my arms around him in a crushing hug.

"Hey, I'm right here," he cooed, rubbing a soothing hand over my back. "I told ya I wasn't goin' anywhere."

"You just came back yesterday. And when I woke to find you gone..."

"Yeah, I get it. I just wanted to take a shower." Drawing back, he traced the outline of my jaw with his finger then pressed a loving kiss to my lips. "I'm here to stay, okay? I dunno how many times I gotta tell ya that for you to believe me."

"I… I suppose it's going to take some time."

"Speaking of which, ya better hurry and get cleaned up. The whole village is probably wondering where we are."

"What time is it?"

"Almost noon."

"We slept that long!?" I gasped.

"Well, we were up pretty late last night," he reminded me with a chuckle. "I'm sure the rumors are pretty juicy by now. Only they're actually true."

Finally realizing we were both standing there completely naked, I hugged my arms and looked away, still not completely used to that kind of exposure.

Tidus, however, seemed rather amused by my reaction from how he bit back a smirk. "Y'know… I've seen every inch of that body last night. And trust me, I got it memorized well."

"It's…just going to take some getting used to."

"I know. I wantcha to be comfortable around me though."

"Oh, I am. I just…never walked around in the nude before…with anyone."

"We'll work on that." Planting another soft kiss on my lips, he playfully swatted my backside, causing me to yelp in surprise. "Better hurry." He chuckled. "I got a bet to win."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that," I warned, heading into the bathroom.

"Hey! Toss me my clothes, will ya? I left them inside last night."

Peeking out at him through the doorway, I gave an innocent shrug as a faint smile tugged on my lips. "What if I don't want to?"

"Then I guess I'm gonna have to…" A wicked grin slowly stretched across his face. "Do this!"

Just then, Tidus gave chase, both of us erupting into a fit of giggles as he did so. But my lover was much faster than me and managed to nab me by the waist from behind before I could reach the shower door.

"Gotcha!"

I let out a squeal as he pulled me close, arms locking around me in a tight embrace.

"C'mon, we need to get ready." I continued to giggle.

"Hey, you're the one who refused to get me my clothes."

"I suppose that wasn't very nice of me."

"S'okay," he breathed into my ear, sending a pleasurable shiver down my spine. "I'll give ya a proper spankin' later."

Still not used to the sexual banter, I hitched a breath, face tingling in a deep blush that he'd obviously caught from the way he was chuckling.

"But that's only if I win our bet," he added, releasing his grip on me to swipe his blitz uniform off the floor. "And you're pretty confident I'm gonna lose, so…"

Throwing me a cheeky grin over his shoulder, Tidus left the room, and shut the door behind, leaving me to ponder what I may have gotten myself into.

Once I'd finished my daily, hygienic routine, I changed into my gunner outfit and stepped outside to find Tidus sitting at the table, dressed in his blitz uniform with a pensive look on his face.

"Is something wrong?"

His gaze met mine in a quiet disturbance that made my stomach clench. "I know this gonna sound weird after all I'd said last night but…What if they run me off the island?"

"What!? Who?"

"I dunno…everyone! They're all gonna know what we did, Yuna. They're not stupid. I remember the first time I came here and all the dirty looks I got from just being near you. Can you imagine how they'll react now?"

So it wasn't just Lulu's reaction he'd been worried about. "Did you receive anything but a warm reception yesterday?"

"I think that was mainly for you, not me," he emphasized, before burying his face into his hands with a groan. "I just don't want things to get complicated. I want us to be able to…I dunno," he looked up at me and shrugged, "start a life together or something without anything gettin' in the way."

Heaving an exasperated sigh, I came over to the table, grabbed him by the arm and pulled him to his feet. "I won't allow anyone to come between us. And no one is going to run you off this island! Not while I'm around. And if they try, I'll leave with you."

"Yuna…this is your home."

"No…" I disagreed with an ardent shake of my head. "My home is with you. Now, c'mon…" Dragging him over to the door, I unlocked the latch and swung it wide open. "If we're going to be together always, then everyone needs to accept that now."

"Whoa, wait a sec!" He stumbled forward, trying to keep up. "Where's my shell? That flare is gonna hurt, y'know?"

Groaning at his constant fretting, I threw him a playful glower. "I suggest giving that mouth of yours a rest. It's going to be quite busy later."

An astonished cackle bubbled out of him, eyes huge at what'd I'd suggested. "Wow…" he breathed. "I'm starting to rub off on you, huh?"

"Maybe." I giggled.

The temple foyer was surprisingly empty for that time of day, which led me to believe everyone had gathered at the village for some strange reason. And I was really hoping it was for a special lunch in honor of our return. I was absolutely starving!

When we stepped outside the temple, I quickly noticed an odd sense of gloom among some of the locals, while others seemed to be in urgent search of something.

"Whaddaya think happened?" Tidus quietly asked, sharing in my confusion.

"I'm not sure."

Just then, Wakka rounded the corner of the temple, looking quite preoccupied and tad anxious, not even noticing us standing on the steps as he rushed by.

"Hey!" Tidus called out to him. "What's going on?"

The jovial islander stopped dead in his tracks and whirled around in shock—a huge sense of relief sweeping over his face when he confirmed the voice's origin.

"Eh, you really gave us a scare, ya?" he admonished my lover with a slight frown that faded just as quickly as it'd appeared. "Been searchin' the whole island for ya since dawn! Got the whole village thinkin' the worst, ya?"

"Uhh…" Scratching his head, Tidus cast an uneasy glance my way then shifted his gaze back to his friend, releasing a nervous laugh. "Sorry?"

"It's alright, ya?" Wakka made his way over to us and gave my lover a friendly clap on the back. "Yuna found ya and that's all that matters." He then peered over at me with a painful wince. "I didn't wanna have to tell ya he was gone, ya?"

"He's not going anywhere, Wakka," I assured. "He's real this time."

"Hey everyone!" Wakka turned to address the whole village, gesturing over to us with a broad grin. "Yuna found him!"

Cheers and whistles erupted among the locals, transforming the village's somber mood into something much more upbeat.

Returning his attention back to my lover, Wakka lifted a quizzical brow. "Where'd you been hidin', anyway? The guys at the lodge said they hadn't seen you all night."

"Uhh… Well…" Tidus rubbed the back of his neck, looking to me for an answer.

But I wasn't about to offer the kind he'd been hoping for.

"He was with me."

Eyes slipping shut, Tidus cringed and dragged a hand down his face.

"Whaa…" Wakka's brow shot up in surprise. "In the temple? In your room!?"

"Well, you did kinda tell us to get one yesterday," Tidus indicated with a nervous chuckle.

"Oye…" Shoulders slumping, Wakka held a hand against his head, giving it a shake in disbelief. "I just said that, ya? I didn't think you'd actually—ughh…"

"Wakka!" Lulu's stern voice came from somewhere behind, resulting in his eyes growing wide.

"Don't say anythin' to Lu 'bout you two spendin' the night together," Wakka warned us. "She'll go berserk, ya?" He then turned to greet his wife, who was fast approaching, cradling their infant son in her arms. "Hey, look who we found!" He gushed, throwing an arm around Tidus to give him a noogie.

Clawing at the islander's broad arms, my lover grunted, trying to wiggle out of his friend's grasp. "Hey, cut it out!"

"Let him go," the black mage ordered, to which Wakka obediently complied.

Raking a hand through his disheveled hair, Tidus shot me a panicked glance, and urgently whispered, "Shell, Yuna, shell!"

I couldn't help but giggle at his reaction. It was rather cute to be honest. He looked like a little boy who was about to be scolded by his parents for misbehaving. But I knew he had nothing to worry about.

"Good afternoon, you two." Lulu greeted us at the base of the steps with a rare smile. "I see the search is over." She then skewered her husband with a glance. "I told you there was nothing to worry about. The fayth wouldn't be that cruel to Yuna."

"Hey, I just wanted to be sure, ya?" he returned with a sheepish rub to the back of his neck.

"I take it you two slept well?"

Blinking in surprise, I traded a conspiratorial glance with my lover then answered her question with a simple nod. "The room—it's beautiful. Thank you so much. You…really shouldn't have though."

"It's the least I could do for all you've sacrificed for us." She then trained her stoic gaze on Tidus, who began to shift nervously at my side. "And what about you—was the bed to your liking?"

Eyes wide, he began to stammer, "Ah—I, uh… How would I know?"

An amused smirk touched her lips. "I thought you'd appreciate a deep shade of blue rather than a bright pink. I made sure to keep you both in mind when I chose the bedding."

Well, that was…unexpected. And considering how both Wakka and Tidus' jaws slackened at the same time, they too, were quite stunned by what Lulu had revealed.

"Don't look so surprised, Wakka." She turned to address her husband. "Did you really think nothing would happen between them when Tidus returned?"

"Wha-uh… So you're tellin' me, you knew where he was the whole time?" He chopped the air with his arm, brow dipped low into an unforgiving frown.

"I had my suspicions. I told you not to worry. If Yuna would've emerged without him, then I would've been concerned."

"Oye!"

"You can relax now," she assured my lover in a soothing tone. "I won't be zapping you with a thunder spell."

"Ha! I kinda wagered on flare."

"Then you're a terrible gambler."

"Tell me about it," Tidus muttered, daring a glance at me and my triumphant grin.

"As long as you keep Yuna happy, you won't need to worry about any of my spells."

His face brightened. "Roger!"

"Lunch is just about ready. I'm sure you two must be quite hungry by now."

"Yes!" we both cried in unison.

"Come along then." Lulu began to lead the way over to their tent, and Wakka dutifully followed.

Tidus and I, however, purposely lagged behind to engage in a private conversation that I sensed coming from the playful leer I'd gotten earlier.

"Okay, you were right," Tidus admitted, guiding me down the steps with a protective hand at the small of my back. "She didn't fry me with a flare."

"Don't worry, I'll go easy on you." I giggled.

"Well… You did bet on her not saying anything at all. And well, she kinda did."

Groaning at his accurate observation, I glanced up at him then released a conceding sigh. "Okay. I'll sing for you tonight. But only in my room."

"Uh-huh…" A smug grin crept over his lips. "S'okay, I'll still let you have your way with me later. But I'm not about to have my jaw fall off."

"Aww… You're no fun."

"Yeah? We'll see about that. Someone's gettin' a spankin' tonight, or didya forget?"

Oh… That was part of the bet, wasn't it?

Just then, Vidina let out a wail in his mother's arms, startling us both and interrupting our playful banter.

"Sounds like someone else is hungry," Tidus observed with a chuckle as the small family entered the tent.

"He's really cute, isn't he?"

"Sure is."

"Have you ever…"

"Thought about having kids?" he guessed.

"Mmm…"

"Nah, not really. I never even considered settling down until… Well, until I met you."

I felt the heat rise in my cheeks and gave a shy bite to my lower lip, still amazed at how Tidus had been so candid on his desires to build a life with me.

"Buuut…." Leaning down closer to my ear, he whispered, "I'm willing to make a whole blitzball team with you."

My blush deepened. "That's an awful lot."

"Well, maybe just a couple of star players then." He chuckled.

"Are you…serious?"

Stopping just outside our friend's tent, Tidus took my hand in his and held my questioning gaze—a profound certainty reflecting in his eyes. "You want serious?"

He then got down on one knee and left a lingering kiss on the back of my hand.

"What… What're you doing?"

"Asking you to marry me."

My stomach did a flip. "What…?" I breathed in shock.

"You want serious. I'm being serious."

"Tidus, get up."

His face pinched in offence. "Hey, I'm really trying here."

Stunned, I blinked a few times, feeling like all the oxygen had emptied from my lungs. "You're…really asking me?"

"I told ya, I'm playing the long game. Always is forever, Yuna. You waited over two years for me. And you already know I'd give my life—give up my whole existence for you. I don't think there's anyone else for us. You're it for me. There's no one else I wanna spend the rest of my life with. And there never will be."

I could hardly believe this was happening. Tidus was really asking me to marry him. So, why was I taking so long to answer?

"Say yes, Yuna."

"Are you certain this is what you want? You haven't even been back a full twenty-four hours yet. What if—"

"There's no what if's here, okay?" he interrupted with a firm shake of his head. "This isn't something that popped into my head just now. Rikku never told you that I thought about asking you on your pilgrimage, did she?"

My heart stilled. "No," I breathed. "She didn't."

"It was kinda her idea in the first place, but… I was already head-over-heels in love with you. So, if the circumstances were different, I probably would've asked back then. You had a job to do though. And I didn't wanna complicate things. But when I learned I was gonna… Well, I knew it wasn't possible anymore.

"That's all changed though. I'm not gonna feel any different twenty-four hours from now, twenty-four months—hell, not even twenty-four years! I wantcha to be my wife, Yuna. Whatever challenges we face, I know we'll get through them together."

This all seemed rather impulsive. But so was everything else about us, even if Tidus insisted otherwise. From how quickly we fell in love, to our first kiss, his sacrifice, my rushing off to find him, and everything that happened last night. Impulsive was what we did best. And he was right—we'd never settle for anyone else. So, why delay the inevitable?

"Yes!" I gushed through joyful tears. "Yes, I'll marry you!"

Launching to his feet, Tidus gathered me into his arms, face absolutely beaming, and sealed our lips in a long, meaningful kiss that held a sacred promise we intended to keep for the rest of our lives.

Maybe Besaid wouldn't be where we'd end up building our life together. And maybe we'd only have one or two star players running around. But I was certain of one thing—no matter what we decided, or where we went, as long we were together, we'd be home.