Chapter 25: Final chapter

Sometime later-

"I know pronounce you husband and wife!" Isaaru announced proudly as the two leaned into each other to share their first kiss as a married couple. The guests showered them with cheers and applause as Baralai and Rikku turned and made their way down the carpeted path sandwiched between their friends and family. They couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day in Besaid; it seemed almost as though the trees and flowers somehow made themselves more lush and vibrant just for that day.

They decided to keep the ceremony simple with few in attendance. After all they had been through the two just wanted to be married and get on with their lives as soon as possible. There was sudden media attention after the news had broke that Rin signed everything he owned over to Cid, making him the richest man in Spira, and they knew if they held off any longer their day would be a complete circus. Isaaru, who now spent his days at the helm of New Yevon since Baralai tended to the business aspect of it was more than happy to marry his two closest friends anytime they wanted. He had owed Rikku and Baralai his life after everything he had been through. Isaaru was eventually cleared completely of the tickle bug parasites after only a month and was given the prognosis of a long, healthy life.

As Baralai and Rikku greeted their guests, they found themselves standing before Rikku's now wealthy father. She wrapped her arms around Cid tightly and he grinned from ear to ear.

"Pops, thank you so much for springin' for this super terrific ceremony at such short notice!" She looked radiant in her ivory gown; the beading was minimal on the bust and the fabric light and airy, made to resemble the breeze on the beach. "To get us this spot in Besaid at a busy time of year isn't easy, even for Baralai and he's praetor!" She pointed lovingly to her new husband who smiled in return.

"Well Rikku…" Cid beamed proudly "Ya shouldn't be thankin' me. Thank Rin! If he weren't so damn easy to fool you wouldn't be standin' here but in some small shack filled with stinky people." He laughed so hard his head tilted back and tears came shortly after. "It still makes me laugh thinkin' about how easy it was!"

Rikku laughed along with Cid, leaning onto Baralai to keep herself from falling over. "Yeah, who'd think he'd be tricked by his own game? I admit that was clever keeping your plans secret from me. I don't think it woulda worked so well."

"That's why I only let Isaaru, Baralai and O'aka in on the deal. I'm sorry dear, but you definitely would have flaked…" he paused to choose his words and continued, "…but not intentionally. I've never seen ya do anything that was deliberate, and when you got so angry in front of him I knew I'd done the right thing. You could have never faked such anger if ya had to on the spot."

"He played right into our hands" Baralai added. "We knew he wasn't going to let Isaaru vouch for him at the last minute, so him getting his own witness only proves that we had "nothing" to do with the papers being altered or switched." He put his arms around Rikku and kissed her forehead. "I now see where you got your vast knowledge of alchemy aside from your training. You had the best there was helping you along the entire time!"

Cid placed a hand on his new son in law's shoulder and winked. "Yep. I wasn't best in my class for three years runnin' for nothin! And to think, all it took was a little vial mixture of potion and ink…"

"…Which makes disappearing, reappearing ink wherever you need the ink to change!" Rikku interjected quickly. "You just put the concoction on every part of the paper except for the signatures, and while he thought he had them sealed away safely in the envelope the papers changed with no trace of the stuff! It was brilliant! But what I want to know is, how did you time the writings to change so perfectly? What would have happened if the two sets of writing came up at the same time?"

"Whelp, after we left our first meeting before the paper signing I dug out the ingredients and did several tests, timing each one. When I figured it out, I drew up the papers. Simple as that." Cid shrugged and smiled. "Yep. He'll never be able to prove we did anything. Just what the man deserves after all he's done." He looked to his right and left suddenly. "Where is that man anyway? I thought he'd be around here somewhere…"

"He's over there, Cid" Baralai noted, pointing towards a stand with empty glasses and plates on it. "O'aka's got him working overtime I see!"

The three continued to laugh as they watched O'aka stand in front of Rin with his hands to his sides. They could hear him shouting at Rin in an annoyed voice. "Get ye ass movin' Rin! We've got to make sure everyone has a full glass of the bubbly stuff! I ain't payin' ya six gil an hour to dilly dally! Hurry up before I change me mind and knock the rate down to five!"

Rin snatched a tray of full champagne glasses and made a face at O'aka only to trip and fall over his own two feet. The tray landed on his head along with several glasses, leaving his whole upper half soaked. As Cid and the crowd roared with laughter, Rikku grabbed Baralai's arm and lead him down towards the shoreline. With the wind blowing through their hair and water crashing at their feet, the two shared another kiss and gazed into each other's eyes.

"Well!" Rikku smiled happily. "We finally did it despite all the obstacles put in front of us!!"

"Yeah" Baralai replied, turning them both towards the beach where everyone was waving and clapping in unanimous approval. "We certainly did."

The End

A/N: It's over! It's over! and it only took counts on fingers three and a half years!! Thanks to those that read and put up with me, especially Mandy & Ikon. Thanks for the feedback and help; I couldn't have done it without you guys!!