Chapter 12

It's Part of the Job

'I am going to the Christmas ball with Yuna' Tidus thought, trying to make sense of it all.

'I am going to see Yuna in a dress...' Okay, so far it made sense. 'I need a tux,' that made sense too.

However what didn't make sense was a bunch of reporters crowding around the mall, camera's at the ready and a bunch of fans with autograph books.

"Oh SHIT" Yuna and Tidus said together.

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"What is it?" Rikku asked, startled.

Yuna pointed at the hoard of screaming fans, all of whom were now running towards them.

"RUN!" Tidus Yelled, grabbing Yuna's hand and making for the car.

"I'll try to distract them!" Rikku shouted, running towards the hoard of fans.

Yuna didn't even have time to think "what next?" as Tidus pulled her along, running at top speed towards the car.

And then they were there, hurling themselves into the mustang, and Tidus was slamming on the gas pedal, and Yuna was lying in a crumpled heap in the back seat, breathing heavily, still in a state of shock.

"Oh my God." Yuna said, looking out of the back window at Rikku who was now shouting something at the crowd, although more than half was still running, trying to catch up with the car. "Oh my God."

Tidus didn't answer, keeping his eyes fixed on the road ahead. His brow was furrowed, and his face flushed.

"You think I'd be used to it by now," Yuna laughed. "Apparently not."

Tidus didn't reply, but a small smile was forming on his lips, and Yuna's heart started working again. He wasn't upset with her in any way.

"Well," Tidus said finally. "It looks like THAT idea was ruined. Do you think Rikku will be all right?"

"Yeah. She'd call me other wise. And her not calling me now means that she'd having the time of her life."

Tidus grinned. "I can already see her auctioning bits of pavement."

Yuna laughed. "Come on ladies and gents, you can do better than that! Do we have a bidder? One hundred dollars from that charming gentleman in the superman t-shirt! No wait! Two hundred from the lady with the rather ugly pigtails!

Tidus laughed along. "So, it looks like it's just us two again."

Yuna raised her eyebrows playfully, and Tidus smiled at her through the review mirror. "Do you want to grab a movie or something?"

Yuna laughed. "Oh yeah, and me falling asleep again?"

Tidus raised an eyebrow. "Hm. No, I was more thinking something along the lines of a rather "normal" movie. Have you seen when Harry met Sally?'

"Uh, nope sounds fun."

Tidus smiled. "Thought so. Your place or mine?"

"Mine, I don't want to be a hindrance or anything...

Tidus frowned. Where'd you get THAT one from? Everybody loves you. Especially the kids.

Yuna blushed.

"Although, with them around, we won't get anywhere," Tidus added thoughtfully.

Yuna went scarlet, and Tidus realised what he had just said.

"I meant in the movie! I wasn't talking about... you know... us. Not that I don't want to. Unless you don't... Stop embarrassing me!"

Yuna laughed. "You're cute when you're embarrassed."

"I suppose that's okay then," Tidus said smiling, and kissing her briefly on the lips, since the stop lights were red anyways.

Yuna smiled softly at him. "Come to think of it, you're cute most of the time."

Tidus grinned. "Sorry, the lights are green."

Yuna put on a puppy eyes expression and pouted.

"Honestly love, stop now or I might kill us both."

Yuna grinned and looked peered out of the window, watching as they neared the apartment.

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"Bloody Mary Poppins," Tidus swore as they panted up the stairs. "Why can't they get the stupid elevator fixed already? Or REPLACE it or something. How do you get the kids up here!"

Yuna smirked at him and dashed up the stairs. "Candy usually does the trick. I thought you'd be in tiptop condition, being a blitz ball player and all."

Tidus glared at her. "Yeah, well, gimme a break, I'm supposed to be on vacation."

"Yeah," Yuna said, suddenly serious. "When does it end?"

"In about 5 days or so." He grimaced. "Promised to stay in touch?"

Yuna nodded sadly, and Tidus hopped up the stairs to comfort her. "I'm gonna miss you loads," she sniffed, as he pulled her into a hug.

"I'm gonna miss you more, I bet."

Yuna laughed into his shirt, and wrapped her arms around him more tightly. "Don't ever let go," she whispered, and Tidus grinned.

"Wrong scene. That would be when they are in the water and he is dying."

Yuna laughed and wiped a tear away.

"Come on then," he said, taking his hand in hers and leading them up the cement stair case, "or we might never be able to finish that movie."

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It turned out that neither Tidus or Yuna wanted to watch the movie after all, so instead they offered their services to Mrs. Wertterz, helping Tommy and Lilac bake chocolate chip cookies.

"When are they yummmeyyyy?" Tommy wailed, watching the oven expectantly with big blue eyes.

"Soon, come on Tommy, don't you want to play with your cars until the cookies are finished?"

But instead of answering Tommy hit Tidus over the head with a wooden spoon, shaking his head furiously and plunking himself down on the ground, his arms crossed over his tiny chest.

"That's it!" Tidus cried in mock outrage. "Your going DOWN!"

Yuna laughed as she watched Tidus chase Tommy around the kitchen, finally catching him, and swinging him around, as Tommy squealed in delight.

When both kids were safely watching the cat in the hat, it was Yuna and Tidus' turn for "fun". Or rather, it would have been, if the kitchen wasn't covered in egg shells and flour.

"Why didn't we think of this?" Tidus whined as he picked up egg shell. "Its not as if we didn't know that this was going to happen."

Yuna shrugged, laughing. "It's part of the job I suppose. It'll be worth it later when the cookies are done... I hope."

Tidus' face wrinkled up. "It better be. I am not spending the 20 minutes I could have been spending with you, cleaning up a kitchen so I can pretend that hairy play dough is "very tasty."

Yuna grinned. "As I said, it's part of the Job. You're not doing anything on Saturday are you?"

"Not that I know of," Tidus answered, trying to dust flour off his clothes. "Why?"

"There's a Christmas ball at my school. I was wondering if you wanted to come."

Tidus grinned. "Don't worry, I'll be there. I think I have a tux somewhere so we don't have that whole shopping fiasco again."

Yuna smiled. "And I guess I can just get mine off the internet."

"Looks like the kitchen is all done."

Yuna cocked her head up at Tidus, snaking her arms around his waist. "Now, I wonder, what could you be suggesting?"

Tidus smiled, his lips were inches from hers.

"Tiiiiduuuuussssss! Cookies are Yummey!"

"Don't." Tidus told Yuna firmly, as she opened her mouth to say something.

Yuna shrugged innocently. "Why? What was I going to say?"

Tidus gritted his teeth. "Stupid part of the sodding job. We should just have watched that wretched movie, you do know that right?"

Yuna grinned. "If it makes you feel any better, the cookies actually taste quite good."

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