This is my first FF12 fic, so please bear with me. This is a VaanXPenelo story. And I was writing this at three in the morning, so if it sounds kinda wierd, there's the reason. But I hope you enjoy it! Chapter two may be soon, or it could be late, but whenever I get the chance, I'll get it submitted.

PENELO

Penelo sighed as she stared out over the streets of Rabanastre from her new apartment. It had been a year after she had returned from her quest. With all of the loot that she and her friends had accumilated, she had taken her share and bought her new apartment, no longer having to living in the back of Migelo's shop. Ashe had taken up residence in the palace, Vaan was traveling with Balthier and Fran, and Basche was busy reaquainting himself with his duties as a captain. And here she was, standing on the balcony overlooking the marketplace, wondering where Vaan was, and how he was doing.

"Penelo! Hey!" Penelo, out of the corner of her eye, saw someone waving their arms, but the voice was recognizable at once. Penelo turned to see Kytes waving his arms down in the marketplace.

"Hey, Kytes."

"Vaan's at Migelo's! He says that he wants to see you!" Penelo smiiled.

"Run on ahead and tell him I'll be there soon!" Penelo walked back inside and pulled on her boots, put her hair up in the braided tails, and walked out the door.

VAAN

Vaan leaned on the front desk while Migelo gave a customer his purchases.

"Ah, Vaan, you have no idea how much it worries me to have you running around with that Balthier fellow." Migelo said, turning away from the desk and turning to Vaan. Vaan had tanned a little more. He wore his usual vest and pants.

"I can handle things if they get too dangerous, Migelo. Besides, I have Balthier and Fran at my back. Balthier's been trying to get me to use a rifle, and then Fran's been teaching me to use Mist more effeciently." Migelo sighed.

"Hey, Vaan!" Kytes ran into the shop and up to the desk.

"Penelo's on her way here!"

"Ok, thanks."

"Ah, Kytes. Why'll you're here, I need you to take this to the bazzar and just sell it off. The vendors there should appreciate it." Kytes took the pakage and walked away. As Kytes left, Penelo walked into the shop, saying hello to Kytes on her way out.

"Hey, Penelo, over here." Penelo looked up from Kytes and smiled.

"Vaan!" Vaan jumped over the desk and caught Penelo in his arms and swung her around.

"And how's my favorite pirate?"

"Doing okay. How's life in the city, now?" Penelo was put down, and she took a few steps back to look Vaan up and down.

"Someone's been busy." she said. Van grinned.

"Hey, Fran's asked me to say hello. Wanna go see her?" Penelo clasped her hands together in front of her, smiling and jumping around like an excited girl.

"Sure!"

PENELO

Penelo and Vaan walked through the marketplace to get to the square.

"So Ashe has been doing ok?"

"Yeah. Though I think there's something going on between her and this guy that works in Archadia."

"Really?" Penelo and Vaan passed through the arch and into the square.

"So what about Fran and Balthier? They dating?"

"They got married in Archadia." Penelo squealed.

"Really?!" Vaan and Penelo walked through the southgate and over to the aerodrome. As they walked past all of the people, they walked into the hangar. The Strahl was being boarded by a group of moggle mechanics, while two people walked off the ship.

"Fran, Balthier!" Vaan waved his arm. Fran and Balthier looked up from a map that they were holding between them.

"Ah, so he's back." Penelo ran up to Balthier and threw her arms around him.

"A little enthusiastic, isn't she?" Vaan shrugged. Fran was smiling gently.

"You've changed in the time we've been gone." Fran said, folding the map up. Penelo moved from Balthier to Fran, but Penelo gave a more of a friendly hug.

"Congrats on you two getting married, Fran."

"Thank you." Vaan leaned against the ship and watched Fran and Balthier trading information with Penelo.

"So, Fran, have you told your sisters yet?" Fran was silent.

"I'll take that as a no." said Balthier.

VAAN

Vaan had found himself looking Penelo up and down a lot ever since she had shown up at the shop. Sure, she was getting rather sexy, but in a cute sort of way. And now, here he was, on a sort of date with her, with Balthier and Fran.

"And so we decide to go to the Ogi-Yensa-Sand Sea to look for some of those fruits the Alraunes always drop. Instead we wind up in the Zertinan Caverns fighting off these giant tortises and these dragon things." Balthier was describing their trip through the Sandsea for fruit and other types of loot. Penelo was staring at Balthier as he spoke, while Fran studied the map. Vaan was busy looking from Balthier to Penelo.

"And Vaan here even managed a fight by himself. Fran and I were seperated by this herd of nightmares and he took on a few of the dragons and won." Penelo turned to Vaan, who was now grinning and looking at Penelo.

"Showoff. But that's just part of what makes you so great, you idiot." Vaan shook his head and smirked.

After the small get-together, Fran and Balthier retired to a room in the Strahl, while Vaan and Penelo walked around the square, talking.

"Hey, Vaan?"

"Yeah?" Penelo stopped in front of the fountain. They were the two out of a few people that were there in the square. It was quiet, peaceful, just like Penelo had always dreamed of when the war was over. Especially in the evenings.

"Don't do stupid stuff out there. I don't know what I would do without you...No on would know what they would do without you..." Vaan stood next to Penelo and looked down at her. She was pretty, the way the moonlight struck her hair, her eyes, and her skin. Vaan's heartbeat sped up a bit.

"I'll try not to." Penelo looked up at him and smiled.

"So...when are you leaving?" Vaan shrugged and sat down on the fountain's wall.

"A few days, maybe. We flew into this flock of dive talons by accident, and they really did some damage after they caught up with us in the Estersand." Penelo sat down next to Vaan.

"I see. So it'll be a while, huh?" Vaan nodded.

PENELO

After walking with Vaan back to the apartment, Vaan left, but not before kissing her gently on the cheek, which made her blush so red that Vaan told her she looked a little like a human nightshade. Penelo sighed and just hugged him before goign back inside. She was still recovering from the kiss, and her heart was beating so fast that it actually hurt a little. As she got ready for bed, Penelo began to admit to herself a few things.

"Ok, so he is cute, and he's got a hot body...And pretty eyes...and a perfect mouth..." Penelo found herself thinking of Vaan in a speedo at the beach. By the time Penelo recovered, she was drooling, looking out over the marketplace. Penelo wiped her mouth and giggled.

"Ok, and I love him..." Penelo smiled, and closed the door to the balcony, then crawled into bed, smiling, and drifted off into sleep.

Like I said, this was mostly done in the morning. But I hope you enjoyed it. Keep an eye out for the next chapter.