WTF is this, you ask? Well, I thought I was done with this trilogy. But, let's just say…it's been a long boring summer and I got my laptop and began. Will I finish this? Who knows. As you know from my previous stories, I do not own these FFX characters. This is rated M for strong language, violence, and sexual content. You've been warned as usual. I haven't read anything on this site in a few years, so any resemblance to someone else's story is purely coincidental.

FFX: All Bets Are Off IV: For the Love of Tidus

Chapter One: Six Months Later

"Miss Gardner, will there be anything else today?"

Paine sighed deeply. "No. That'll be all."

She watched the maid gather up her cleaning supplies and took a scornful glance around the clean penthouse apartment. Had she known six months ago that her life in Spira would mirror hell; she would never have agreed to move in with Baralai. Of course, deep down, she had known. This was exactly why she hadn't listened to Baralai when he'd insisted that she put her family's farm up for sale. She wanted to keep it. She felt that she would need it. Despite Baralai's assurance that he would never kick her out, she needed to feel independent. She even kept her part time job at Yenke's Burger, though her boyfriend had more than enough gil to keep an orphanage fed and clothed. Her boyfriend.

It was weird, even now, for her to think of Baralai in that way. But, that's exactly what they'd both agreed the correct label of their relationship was. Six months ago, when Baralai had suggested moving in together, she'd assumed they'd just get a decent apartment in central Zanarkand, not too far from the university. She'd been wrong. Baralai, in true form, had demanded that they live at The Ifrit, one of the most expensive hotels in downtown Zanarkand. And not just any hotel room, it had to be the penthouse suite. Of course. Even though she was used to the room service, maids, and dry cleaning, she still felt uncomfortable. It was definitely the life her deceased grandmother Folene had envisioned for her, but that didn't mean she had to be happy about it. It wasn't the same as being at the farm, where she could sit on her front stoop and think, with the peaceful atmosphere surrounding her.

Now, if she wanted the slightest bit of peace, she had to go out on the balcony, which she didn't have any desire to do, unless she were contemplating suicide. The penthouse apartment rested comfortably on the twentieth floor. And there was the ongoing heavy downtown traffic to contend with as well. She took a sip from the fine china coffee cup and almost gagged. Hadn't she told Baralai a million times already that she hated espresso? Why couldn't his lazy ass just use the coffee maker and make regular coffee? He was gone now to an early morning meeting with the Abes. She thought she might have some idea what it was about. There had been something on the previous evening news about a blitzball lockout. Something about the players being unhappy with their salaries.

As far as she was concerned, they should be glad that they were getting paid at all. She didn't exactly consider young boys frolicking in the sphere pool worthy of earning a paycheck. She was glad that it was summer. At least for now, Baralai would quit nagging her about college. He'd thought that she would have changed her mind about it, but she hadn't. She still had no desire to go. She wasn't exactly sure what she wanted out of life. After all, she was only twenty years old. She had plenty of time to sort it all out. She smirked as she walked over to the coffee maker. Twenty years old, and an almost wife. She had been too close to making one of the biggest mistakes of her life. She knew now that she had been willing to marry Clive out of loneliness, rather than love.

She hadn't seen him since the non-wedding. She avoided going to the Mika house, though she still kept in contact with all of the housemates. She could hear the sound of a key card being slid into the door. She turned the coffee maker on, and turned expectantly to face Baralai. He came into the door, and immediately turned the television on. He told her repeatedly that he hated silence. Then he turned to her.

"It's done. Those greedy sons of bitches have screwed us all. Now none of us will play blitz this summer," he declared, plopping down on the plush black sofa.

"What's going on?" she asked, pretending interest.

"Well, it started with the damn Ronso. Somehow it got out that they weren't making as much as the Guado. Then, the owners decided they didn't have to put up with any of our shit, and decided there would be no games this summer. What the hell am I supposed to do now?"

"I thought your father wanted you to work at the company this summer."

"Of course he does. But, I'd told him I'd be too busy with blitz games. Now, I've got to spend my summer shut in some stuffy office."

She didn't say anything. Honestly, it was exactly the kind of job she envisioned him doing. He certainly wouldn't want to get his hands dirty or his manicure chipped. Of course, it wasn't exactly the job he was complaining about. It was work. For reasons unknown to her, Baralai thought that he should have everything handed to him on a silver platter. As far she was concerned, rolling out of a rich lady's crotch didn't exactly qualify him for a life of luxury. She covered her eyes with her hands imagining what her parents would have thought of him. She came from a stock of hard working people. This was why it was so hard for her to envision her parents on vacation. They'd gone on a mini vacation to Mt. Gagazet when they'd disappeared. It had been at Folene's insistence, and she'd never been able to forgive herself.

She poured her coffee. "I'm bored, Baralai."

He scowled immediately. "Not that shit again! How the hell can you be bored? You live in a luxury hotel, with all the entertainment you can stand downstairs. I guess you don't feel alive unless you're shoveling horse shit, huh?"

She took a sip of her coffee calmly. Since they'd moved in together, she'd been trying to keep her temper in check. It wasn't easy when Baralai had an undeniable knack for pissing her off.

"I'm bored with this stuffy living."

"So do something about it. I don't keep you chained here. Go out, go shopping. Here," he said, getting up and reaching for his wallet, "Go to the mall and go crazy. I don't know any women that don't like to shop."

He held the gold card out to her. She refused to take it. He had met his first woman that didn't enjoy going from store to store, spending hours looking at their merchandise. She would have at least thought about it if he'd suggested joining her. Though they were a couple now, she thought he avoided spending time with her in public. They'd only gone out to dinner twice in six months.

"Why don't you come with me? Show me how it's done," she said, testing him.

He immediately shook his head. "I have things to do, Paine. If you need a shopping buddy, call Rikku or Lulu. I think they both could use a break from crying in their beer, don't you?"

She put the cup down hard. "Baralai, just because they don't have a man glued to their sides, does not mean that they are somewhere crying."

"Whatever. I'm going to go see my father. I'll leave the card. Buy whatever you want," he said, dismissing her like a servant.

"I'll do just that," she said defiantly, picking up her phone to call someone.

"Paine, are you sure this is okay? I mean, this is my favorite store. I could buy almost everything in here," Rikku gushed, holding a bright purple tank top against her body.

"Sure. Get whatever you want," Paine assured her, though she frowned slightly at her friend's choice in clothing.

It wasn't that it was a bad color for her. Not exactly. The problem was that in the past six months since Gippal had hit the road with his band again, Rikku had really let herself go. Paine was certain that she was almost twenty pounds overweight. This didn't suit the pretty petite blonde.

"I don't like that shirt, Rikku," Lulu said, trying to go for tact.

She'd unsuccessfully tried to get Rikku to notice that she'd put on some weight, but so far, nothing was working. Not even the fact that her clothing didn't fit the same. She was sure that someone at home would mention it to her. Rikku had been avoiding the townhouse for months. Perhaps she knew that her father and brother wouldn't have kind words for her. Lulu certainly understood why she was depressed. She had said goodbye to Wakka a week ago. He had gone down to Besaid to oversee the construction of a new Tornado restaurant. Auron was too sick to travel right now, and Wakka had been anxious to get started on the project as soon as he'd been given the green light from Auron.

He had impatiently waited for school to end. Though she and Wakka still had yet to talk about it, Lulu felt that their relationship was in serious trouble for the first time in over two years. She knew that Wakka was going to want to be involved with anything involving the new restaurant. When she had asked him how he was going to run the restaurant from Zanarkand, he had become eerily quiet. She knew that he was serious about it. He had even changed his major to restaurant management. If Wakka moved to Besaid, she knew that they would likely have to break up. Long distance relationships didn't usually succeed, and she knew that Majestic would have a fit if she left to follow Wakka.

Her mother needn't worry. She had no intention of doing that. What for? The restaurant was his project. She was intent on finishing college, anyway. Majestic had yet to mention it, but she didn't want to run the bakery, either. She wanted to attend law school and become a lawyer.

"Lulu, did you hear me? How do I look?" Rikku asked, turning in the ultra tight tank top for her inspection.

Lulu tried unsuccessfully not to grimace. "I don't like it. I told you that. Please pick something else."

Just then, the radio announcer on the store's speaker announced that Penance would be in the city for a summer concert in two weeks. Lulu and Paine's eyes met. Penance. Gippal's band. Lulu wasn't sure what had happened between them, but she knew that Rikku hadn't heard a word from Gippal since he'd hit the road this time. The girl had been completely devastated. Lulu had found her often in the Mika house's living room, accompanied by a tub of ice cream, babbling something about Gippal missing a tattoo. She had watched Penance's music video for their number one song, Al Bhed Girl, and hadn't noticed anything particular about Gippal.

Rikku froze as soon as she heard the word Penance. She covered her mouth with her hand and hurriedly ran into the dressing room again. She couldn't believe Gippal's betrayal. She was more than certain he was sleeping with a bunch of girls by now. How else could he explain not calling her or writing her? She checked the mail herself every day after he left, so he couldn't claim some letter had been misplaced again. She had thought that they had a special connection. Hadn't Gippal showed her the utmost devotion by tattooing her name on his neck? She cleared her throat and composed herself. She felt silly breaking down in a clothing store. She put her own clothing on again, and decided that she felt like going to the ice cream shop next door.

She pulled the curtain aside and returned the tank top to the rack. "I'm going next door for a triple scoop of bourbon fudge," she announced.

"Rikku, wait," Lulu called frantically.

"What is it, Lulu?"

"Um, well…"

"I thought we could go to lunch at the Tornado. My treat," Paine said quickly.

Lulu grimaced. Why had Paine chosen that place? They could have gone to a healthier place like a salad buffet. She watched Paine light a cigarette and then wondered why the hell she had looked to her for a picture of health.

"Rikku! Is that you? Geez, what the hell happened, baby?" Gatta laughed, as he stepped off the escalator.

"What are you talking about, Gatta?"

"Don't play stupid. Are you knocked up? You're fat."

"And you're a dick. Why don't you get lost?" Paine demanded.

"If I'm a dick, you're used to it, Paine. I heard you were dating Baralai. But, really, Rikku, you look like hell. Some friends you've got. They let you come out in public."

"Shut up!"

"Rikku, ignore him. Let's go," Lulu said, steering her toward the escalator.

"Look, Zalora, he ain't got it. Some people are born with it. He ain't one of `em," Tidus heard Jecht say from his room.

He leaned against the wall in the hall. He'd been on his way to the kitchen for a snack, and didn't really need this. It had been Jecht's insistence that he come to work with him since the blitzball lockout. He didn't know a damn thing about construction, but Jecht had insisted that it was in his blood and therefore he should have no problem. Wrong.

"Honey, he's trying. You didn't exactly give him an option about it. You knew he didn't want to do it," Zalora said gently.

"I didn't twist his balls, either. I just thought he'd take after me in some way. I love working with my hands, building things. The work's hard, that's all it is. He can't hack it."

"He's got a lot of other things on his mind right now. He can't play blitzball and Yuna's working in Bevelle this summer."

"Blitzball is a hobby at best. Just something to fart around with. I hope he's not wasting my gil in that college. He's smart, like his mother. She was into the books. But he is like me in one way. When it comes to the women."

"Not anymore since Yuna. And better not be for you, either."

"You'd leave me?" Jecht challenged.

Tidus smirked. He knew damn well that Zalora would never leave his dad no matter what he did. He had a way with women. Or so he claimed. Jecht had told Tidus once that he was so successful with women that he had convinced a lesbian to give men another chance. Then, why had he decided to chain himself with marriage? He claimed every man needed a woman in his house. The way he said it made Tidus wonder many times about Jecht's fidelity. He himself hadn't been much better until he'd met Yuna Riley. He smiled to himself, thinking about their rocky beginning. They'd hated each other. Now, he wasn't sure if they could bear to be apart. Yuna had taken an internship at the Bevelle University Hospital, the most important hospital in all of Spira. There had been no question that if she indeed wanted to be a nurse, she should take the opportunity. He continued on to the kitchen.

"Hey," Jecht called.

Tidus paused in the doorway.

"Um, I've been thinking. For liability reasons, maybe you ought to not come to the site again. I mean, you've got your job at that restaurant, anyway, right?"

"Not while Wakka's out of the city. Auron's sick, so he can't come in. Chappu's in charge and I don't like him."

"That's not a reason not to go to work. Before I started this company, I hated my boss so bad I used to pray to Yevon that somebody killed him before work every morning."

"Jecht!"

Jecht shrugged. "I did. But, I went to work."

"Auron said I didn't have to go until Wakka got back. I couldn't promise him that I wouldn't smash his nephew's face in."

"So, what are you going to do then? Lay around here all day?"

"No. I'll find ways to fill my time. I won't even be here most of the time. Mr. Isaaru said we could hang out at the Mika house if we wanted. He finally got a job teaching summer school, so he doesn't really need our rent gil until school starts again."

"Now, why would you want to do that with Yuna gone?" Jecht asked, raising an eyebrow.

He knew his son. He was sure that Tidus loved Yuna enough to die for her, but he was also wise enough to know that when his son had an 'itch', it usually got scratched and not by his own hands, either. The old saying was true: "While the cat's away, the mice will play." And his son had certainly done his fair share of playing. Maybe things were different now. Maybe.

"Because I have friends at the house. And I like being there with people my own age."

Jecht turned to Zalora. "Is he trying to call us old? I ain't old. I still got plenty of miles left."

"Sure, Dad. Anyway, I'm going to head over to the house. I'll see you later."

"Sure."

Tidus left the house. As he drove toward the Mika house, he couldn't help but think about his goodbye to Yuna at the airship station.

"I can't believe you let me do this. I'll miss you," Yuna said, staring up at her blond boyfriend, wishing she had said no to the internship.

"You have to do this. This is a big deal. Didn't you tell me that this hospital gets dozens of internship applicants a year? Besides, I'd feel like crap if you stayed just for me."

"That's because you're a good boyfriend."

"Just good?"

She reluctantly smiled, knowing she would miss him more than she could ever say verbally. Ever since Tidus had gotten his memory back, the two of them had been inseparable. The weird thing about it was that they'd even discovered new things about each other.

"You're the best boyfriend ever. Just make sure you come and visit me."

"Yeah. Just as soon as you have time."

"I'll have to see what my workload is like first. I'm hoping we can plan something after a week."

"Maybe. I'm sure you're going to be very busy the first week. Just don't forget that you have a boyfriend in Zanarkand."

"I won't. Don't you forget it, either."

Tidus broke out of his reverie as the radio announced Penance's upcoming concert. He wasn't a big fan, but he would go just to support Gippal. He took a shortcut through a back alley and parked in front of the Mika house. Mr. Issaru's car wasn't here. Good. He was hoping he could relax and watch television. He unlocked the front door and almost collided with Darcy. She smiled up at him.

"Hi, Ti. What are you doing here?"

He shrugged. "Just hanging out. Who's home?"

"I don't know. I think Rikku is. I'm going down to the Tornado."

"I'm sure Chappu doesn't have time to entertain you."

"Is that your way of saying you want me to stay here and keep you company?" she challenged, her dark eyes staring into his.

"Have fun at the Tornado," he said, moving past her and into the hallway.

She slammed the door shut. Honestly, she didn't know why she didn't just return to Luca. Well, mostly because Chappu was turning out to be a better boyfriend than Tidus had ever been. He actually listened to her, though he gave no real advice about whether he thought she could succeed as an actress or not. That was her dream. To someday be on the big screen, maybe having her head ripped off by a vicious monster as a captivated audience looked on in awe at her screen brilliance. She hadn't really wanted to go to the Tornado, but it was better than listening to Rikku sob in the kitchen. Honestly, the girl should just get a new boyfriend and move on. No doubt Gippal was screwing anybody he could get his hands on. She shuddered. Rikku would have a difficult time seducing Keepa in her current physical condition.

Inside, Tidus slightly grimaced to find Rikku curled up on the couch, a box of Kleenex near as she stared at the television screen.

"Hey, Rikku."

She barely acknowledged his presence. She gave a half-hearted wave and continued watching Penance's video. Tidus moved past her and picked up the remote off the coffee table. He turned the channel. Instantly, she was on her feet.

"What are you doing? I'll miss the ending!" she screamed.

"I'm sure you've seen that video a million times," he said calmly, continuing to channel surf.

"So! It's the only way I can see Gippal. I'm sure he has a lot of fans by now. That's a really great song, don't you think?" she asked, sinking onto the couch again.

"It's okay," he relented. He didn't want to confess that he'd never heard it all the way through. He usually changed the station.

"I spoke to Yuna today. She misses you like crazy. Did you talk to her today?"

"Not yet. I miss her, too."

"Well, at least she's keeping busy. Maybe I should get a job."

"Maybe. It's a good way to keep your mind occupied."

They fell into an uncomfortable silence. Yuna had only been gone for four days. Their link. Sure, they knew each other as well as any housemates could, but she was their real connection. Rikku stared at the back of his tanned legs, noticing how well muscled they were. He was in incredible shape.

"Hey, Tidus, can I ask you something?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Do you think I need to lose weight?"

She took notice of the way his blue eyes darted around before he answered.

"Well…not really…."

"Don't lie. Gatta called me fat today."

"I think you know that you've gained a little bit of weight. But, if you're okay with it, that's all that matters."

"I'm not. I've been thinking about losing it, but I don't have any motivation. I don't feel pretty anymore. That's why I haven't been home. Pops and Brother will really let me have it."

"Well, if you want some help, I'll be glad to help you. I don't have a lot to do since I can't play blitz and I'm not working until Wakka gets back."

"You'd help me?"

"Yeah, if you really want to lose the weight."

"I do. Thanks for not lying to me and saying I looked okay."

"Okay, but keep this in mind, Rikku. If I become your trainer, I'm going to be tough on you and I won't put up with any crap."

"I can't let Gippal see me looking like this."

He cocked his head to the side. "Okay. Let that be your motivation. Let's start now."

"Um…maybe tomorrow?"

"Why not right now? I'll wait until you get changed."

Paine sat up abruptly in the king sized bed. What was that noise? Instantly, she recognized the sounds coming from the living room stereo. She groaned and looked at the clock. It was a little after one in the morning. She could hear several voices, so she knew Baralai wasn't alone. Why on Spira had she agreed to this? She pulled herself from the bed, and slipped on her robe. She opened the bedroom door and walked down the short hallway.

She immediately recognized several Abes as they milled about. Keepa was uncovering a party platter of meat and cheese, Botta was at the mini bar, Letty was smoking and talking loudly on his cell phone, and Jassu was flipping through the channels of the big screen television. Baralai was squatted at the stereo, flipping through his massive Cd collection. She stalked over to him and tapped his shoulder.

He looked up. "What?"

"It's after one in the fucking morning. I'm trying to sleep, that's what. Wasn't there some other place you and your friends could have gone to?"

He gave her a smile that told her he was indulging her by bothering to answer.

"My friends are welcome here as long as I'm footing the bill. You wanted to lay with your body next to mine, so I suggested we live together. But, Paine, honestly you need to start acting your age. Are you twenty or forty?"

"Are you twenty or thirteen? Adults have consideration for other people's rest."

"What the fuck do you need so much rest for? I'm paying someone to do all the work at that rundown farm. Flipping burgers must be more exhausting than I gave it credit for. Is that it?"

She was more than tempted to slap him. However, she wasn't in the mood to put on a show for his idiot friends. She turned to go back into the room.

He grabbed her arm. "Hey, don't try to sleep angry. Have a drink. I insist," he said, handing her his glass.

She glared at him, and took the glass. She took a sip and felt herself begin to relax a bit. He smiled.

"There you go. Stay in here and finish your drink and then I'll kick everybody out and really help you get back to sleep, okay?"

She strolled over and joined Letty on the couch. She immediately noticed that it wasn't a cigarette he was smoking. She shrugged. She didn't care. She knew without a doubt that she would be packing her belongings and heading back to her farm in the morning, no matter how skilled a lover Baralai was. Letty offered her the joint. She hesitated and then took a hit.

The first rays of the bright Zanarkand sun brought Paine out of a slightly restful sleep. She sat up slowly on her elbows and looked around. Who had opened the damn drapes? Baralai was snoring loudly next to her, on his back, a silk black sleeping mask covering his eyes. She sat up and reached for the expensive royal purple silk robe that he had given her. She didn't particularly care for it, but it beat walking around naked in case they weren't alone. She opened the door to the bedroom and her nostrils were immediately filled with the scent of freshly brewed espresso. She frowned. What was going on? Upon turning the corner of the hall, she found her answer.

Seated on the plush black sofa, sat a woman she recognized immediately as Baralai's mother. There was no mistaking the white hair that had obviously seen a salon recently, the well manicured nails whose polish shone brightly, and the expensive looking black silk suit she wore. She delicately placed the china cup down on the glass coffee table. Her dark brown eyes, so like her son's, gave Paine a quick once over. She dabbed her lips delicately on a lace napkin before she spoke.

"So. I gather that your one of my son's playmates. By what name do you call yourself?"

Paine instantly bristled. "My name is Paine. And I'm not one of Baralai's playmates."

A delicately shaped white eyebrow lifted. "Oh? How come I've never heard of you before, dear?"

Paine was at a loss for words. She had no idea why Baralai hadn't mentioned her to his parents. Of course, there were several speculations. The first that came to mind was that he was ashamed of her. Actually, that was the only reason. And why the hell should he be ashamed? If anyone should be ashamed, it should be her. Baralai represented everything that she hated in a man. He was pretty; too pretty, a snob, and…

"Mother, what are you doing here?" she heard before she could finish the argument in her brain. Baralai stood at the corner of the hall.

Primrose Griffin stood up to address her son. "Well, I haven't seen you in a few days, so I decided to drop by and see what you've been doing with your summer. Your father expects that you'll be coming into the office soon."

"Of course he does," Baralai said, walking slowly to the espresso machine. Yevon knows he didn't feel like being bothered with his mother this morning. He had a hangover from the farplane. Why had Paine let her in? He certainly didn't need a lecture about the proper way to handle your "flings". He knew his mother had plenty to say about the fact that Paine was wearing only a robe and no slippers. He smiled into his cup as he thought about his supposedly delicate mother fainting at the idea that he was indeed naked underneath his own silk robe. How indecent.

"Well, what did you expect to do with your summer? Lay in bed all day?" Primrose demanded sarcastically, her hands on her hips.

"Of course not, but I'm not playing blitz and I don't want to be shut up in a stuffy office all summer, either."

Primrose's scowl deepened. "I'm sure your father won't be pleased to hear any of this. He's got some important meetings coming up this summer and he expects you to attend. I'm sure…Paine…can find other ways to entertain herself in your absence."

"That's one thing you can count on for certain, Mrs. Griffin," Paine assured her. She wouldn't bother to tell her that she had indeed made up her mind and was going to move out of the penthouse within a week. She and Baralai could continue to see each other, but she knew if she stayed, someone was going to be spending time at the Zanarkand prison.

End of Chapter One.