A/N: I know this idea isn't very original, but I wanted to explore it a little anyway. I would love to hear any comments or criticism in a review. Hope you enjoy my story :)

Disclaimer: I do not own FFX-2, or any of its characters. Rei is the only character I claim ownership to.

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The sun filtered in through the door of my home, shining brightly onto my face. I squinted as I slowly opened my eyes, adjusting to the light.

I really should move my bed to a different place.

Yawning, I tried to obtain enough energy to crawl out of bed. After a couple more yawns, I decide that it wouldn't hurt to lay there for just a little bit longer. I really shouldn't have been that tired, but raising a hyper two year old takes its toll, even on me.

I just began to enjoy the bliss of my warm bed again when I heard a voice call from my door.

"Come on Rikku, get up! You can't just lay there all day!" Yuna's cheerful voice flooded the room. I make a grumbling noise and shove my face into my pillow. Sweet, sweet pillow.

"Go away, Yunie." I mumbled.

"What was that? I couldn't understand you," she laughed, and started to grab my arm to pull me up. "It's such a gorgeous day, Rikku!"

I slowly complied, although I grumbled my protest. "Yunie," I yawned, " you really shouldn't be lifting anything heavy. You know that."

Yuna only smiled. She is expecting her first child in only two months. "You sound like Tidus, you know that? You worry too much."

"I'm just watching out for my favorite cousin." We both laughed, and I stood up and hugged her the best I could. "So, what are your plans for today?"

"I was going to visit Wakka and Lulu for a while, then I was thinking about walking to the beach. You should come with me. We can bring Vidina along, and give Lulu a break for a while. I'm sure Rei would be bored out of her mind without him."

It was true. My little Rei was nearly three years younger than Vidina, but they were the best of friends. They were both wild, energetic, and adventurous. You couldn't separate those two if you tried. "Sounds great," I replied, "just give me a few minutes to get ready."

"All right!" Yuna smiled and walked happily outside of my house. Well, it actually resembled more of a tent, but it was my little version of home on Besaid. It was enough for me and my daughter, and that's all that mattered.

You know, if someone would have told me three years ago that I would end up living here I would probably have died of laughter. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore some of the people here. It's just... it never really seemed like my type of place. I never could tell you why. I mean, it's so beautiful here... so peaceful and quiet. So not me. It just never really seemed like home, you know?

I crossed over to a mirror on the other side of the room and straightened out my hair. It was still long, although not nearly as much as two years before. I still wore braids in my hair sometimes, though. It was kind of knotty and tangled from sleeping, so I grabbed the brush and ran it through my hair a few times. After I finished, I sat it down on a table and sighed.

For some reason, I just sat there and stared at my reflection for a while. I looked so much different than I used to. It had been about four years since Vegnagun, and I had aged so much. My boundless energy just didn't seem to be there anymore, and I didn't smile as much.

I didn't understand what was wrong with me. I mean, my life in Besaid was more than I could ask for. I had wonderful friends, a wonderful home, and a beautiful daughter. Don't get me wrong... I love them all so much... it's just, sometimes... I felt like there was something missing.

I bit my lip.

It's been two years, Rikku. You should be over him by now. It's better this way.

I could feel the tears start to well up in my eyes, but I pushed them back. Ugh... why couldn't I forget him?

"Rikku? You OK?" I was broken out of my trance by Yuna's voice, and I quickly wiped my eyes. I hadn't realized that I was taking so long.

"Yeah. I'm done." Sighing quietly, I closed my eyes for a moment so I could recompose myself. When I was done, I walked out into the bright sunshine, where Yuna was waiting for me.

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"I'm soooo bored, daddy. There's nothing to do," five year old Vidina complained.

"Well... I could tell you a story." Wakka replied, sitting back into a chair.

Vidina's bright eyes lit up. "Oh, could you tell us a story about when you defeated Sin?"

Lulu frowned. "I don't think that's a good story for them."

"Oh, come on Lu, lighten up!" Wakka smiled and ruffled Vidina's wild red hair, making him grin. "What harm could it do?"

Lulu gave Wakka an icy look that told him not to press the matter.

Wakka sighed. "I'm sorry, kiddo. Maybe you and Rei can go play."

"Actually, we were taking them to the beach today. You guys want to go now?" Yuna smiled.

"Yeah! Beach!" Rei jumped up and smiled wildly, her short hair bouncing. Vidina grabbed her hand and they ran out the door.

I sighed. "Well, guess that means we better get going."

"Okay. You guys have a good time, ya?"

"Thanks. We will." Yuna smiled gently and we walked outside to meet the sunshine.

Vidina and Rei were far ahead of us, but we weren't worried. They knew their way and there hadn't been any really dangerous fiends on the island in a long time.

I felt the warm sand slide beneath my toes on the path, and I sighed quietly as we walked to the beach in silence. I couldn't figure out what was wrong with me.

"Rikku... there's something I think you should know."

Yuna startled me out of my little trance. She sounded a little apprehensive. It scared me.

"Some men came in yesterday on the last ship. They had news." she looked at me, and smiled in her reassuring sort of way. "Rikku, they're done rebuilding Home."

I stopped in my tracks, my mouth open. They were done... already? They had been telling everyone it would take at least another few months.

"Yuna... that's amazing." I was being overwhelmed with a flood of emotions. Surprise, amazement, happiness... and fear.

I looked up to see Rei and Vidina running and splashing through the shallow water, chasing after an imaginary fiend. Their laughter filled the air.

"Rikku... I know what you're thinking." Yuna almost whispered. "But you should go anyway. You've waited so long for this, and I know you want to see Home again. I know you want Rei to see it, more than anything."

"Yunie... I can't. He'll be there, I know it. I just can't." I stared at the ground, my eyes unmoving.

"Rikku... you need to do this. Not just for yourself, but for Rei." Yuna moved in front of me and grabbed my shoulders. "Look at me, Rikku." My eyes slowly moved up to meet hers, tears threatening to fall. "Don't you think Rei deserves to see Home?"

I looked over to where Rei was playing. She was waving a stick at a pile of dirt like it was a sword, copying Vidina's actions. They were battling another pretend fiend. Her wild blonde hair was blowing in the breeze, her bright green eyes flashing with delight. I never could tame that hair. She was so adventurous and carefree, wild and full of laughter. She was so like him.

I choked back a sob. "Yes." I didn't understand. This was so unlike me.

"Rikku... I think it's time that he knew. You can't hide this forever."

I had always known it would come. The day that I would face Gippal, leader of the Machine Faction, if that's what he even was now. I stopped watching the news a long time ago. No matter what he was, though, it was about time he knew about his daughter. That meant, however, that I would have to face him again. It would be the first time since that day three years ago. The day he broke my heart and the world as I had known it been torn apart.

But even though I knew, it didn't make it hurt any less.

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So there I was two days later, bags packed and ready to leave on the ship that would carry me to the last place I wanted to be. Rei's little hand was clutching tightly to my own, and I could tell she was both nervous and excited. She had never left Besaid before. I think I was more nervous than she was, though. It was pathetic. I had saved the world twice, faced unimaginable danger and here I was shaking like a baby because I was scared. I guess battling great fiends was one thing; facing the family you left behind is another- especially when it's my family. Not only did I have to face Gippal, but my father and brother as well. I had talked to them maybe twice in three years, and I felt really guilty about not seeing them. There's no reason I should have deserted them.

Yuna placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, and I turned around to see her and Tidus, plus Wakka, Lulu, and Vidina. They came to say goodbye, even though I was only going to be gone a few weeks, if everything went liked I hoped it would. I smiled at them. This was my family.

After a few hugs and words of encouragement, Rei and I stepped onto the ship as it got ready to leave. I held Rei in my arms so she could wave to everybody as we left. Before I knew it we were out at sea, and Besaid was only a strip of brown in the distance. Rei played on deck with her stuffed bear Datto, and I smiled as I watched her.

I really had no idea how I was going to tell him. I mean, how do you tell someone that they have a daughter.... and that you've kept it a secret for two years? The more I thought about it, the more terrified I was. I knew Gippal would be absolutely furious, and he had every right to be. I could only hope that he could look past his anger and find it inside of him to show a little bit of kindness towards Rei. He didn't have to pretend to be a father, and I wasn't planning on telling Rei anytime soon. It's not like we were staying, and I couldn't break her little heart like that.

I kept telling myself everything was going to be fine. It's not like I had to spend the entire three weeks with Gippal. I just had to give him the news and let him take it as he wanted. Then, after visiting my family for a while, I could go back to Besaid and hopefully hear as little of Gippal as possible so I could finally move on with my life.

The ocean breeze twirled through my hair, and I realized how much I missed traveling. So much had changed. I had to settle down after Rei was born, which meant no more adventuring. I felt like I was rediscovering a part of myself I hadn't seen in a while.

For the first time that day, I began to feel like everything would be fine. It might actually just work out, and it would probably do me good to get away from Besaid for a little while anyway.

The sun shined on my face, and I tilted my head up and closed my eyes. The sound of the sea filled my ears, and I laughed.

I was going home.