Lost and Found

“Lost and Found”
Chapter 5: Redemption
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(Warning: Possible spoilers for all FF7 game/movie titles)
*Disclaimer: Final Fantasy and all related characters belong to Square-Enix. This fiction piece is strictly a non-profit exercise of creativity and entertainment for people (like me) who can’t get enough of this world and the characters.*
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“So how is he?” Cloud asked when Aerith re-joined them in the living room.

She’d come out earlier and hurried to the bathroom, only to return to the little office holding a washcloth in one hand. She was in there for almost another ten minutes before she came out again and quietly walked into the living room to take a seat on one of the armchairs.

“He’s sleeping, now,” Aerith responded in a tired voice. “I’ve formed a sort of blanket around his spirit, to keep him tranquil until I’ve finished my work.”

“That doesn’t sound like a simple thing to do,” Tifa remarked with a concerned look at her friend. “I don’t think it’s going to be easy on you.”

Aerith shrugged. “I can’t trust him to stay put as he is now. He’s too strong for regular restraints to hold him for long and I’m not going to feed him drugs to keep him under control.”

Tifa winced. While she wouldn’t have suggested it out loud, she couldn’t deny that for a moment she’d considered the possibility of keeping him drugged. How could she even think to do such a thing to a friend? Perhaps his uncharacteristic behavior since they found him made it easier for her to contemplate such a thing.

“You need anything?” Barret asked. He didn’t understand what the hell all this spirit business was about, but he could see the exhaustion lining her eyes.

Aerith shook her head and gave a little smile to all of them in turn. “Just be supportive. That’s all I need from my friends.”

“What’s wrong with him?” Marlene asked with innocent confusion.

Aerith explained it to her and Denzel as best she could, with Cloud and Tifa adding their input here and there. Both children had a hard time understanding but they’d been through and seen so much in their young lives already, they took it all in stride. They’d heard about Zack many times before from both Cloud and Tifa, so both of the kids felt somewhat familiar with him already.

They ordered some pizza after that and when they were finished eating, Marlene packed some bags and went home with Barret. Aerith was going to get the couch ready to sleep on but Tifa and Cloud insisted on her sleeping in Marlene’s bed while the little girl stayed with her adopted father.

“Marlene won’t mind,” Tifa told her. “In fact knowing her, she’d demand it.”

Aerith looked uncertain and she turned to Denzel. “Do you mind? It’s your room too, after all.”

Denzel shook his head rapidly. “No,” he began. His voice squeaked humiliatingly and he cleared his throat and went on, “You should take Marlene’s bed so you can sleep better.”

“It won’t make you uncomfortable?” Aerith persisted with a soft smile.

Cloud lowered his head to hide the tiny smirk on his lips when Denzel shook his head again. He could imagine Denzel fighting the urge to brag to all of his friends that he had a pretty lady sleeping in his room with him. The boy’s little crush on Aerith wasn’t lost on him and if the sly look in Tifa’s eye was any indication, she’d caught onto it as well.

“He doesn’t mind,” Cloud said to Aerith with confidence.

“I can take the couch if you’d feel better,” Denzel offered with chivalrous sincerity. “You need all the sleep you can get, Ms. Gainsborough.”

Touched and a little amused by the gesture, Aerith chuckled. “There’s no need for that. You don’t snore, do you?”

“If I do, nobody’s ever told me.” Denzel shrugged.

~********************************~

Several days passed and Aerith was wearing herself out trying to heal Zack. Tifa advised her to take a break, insisting that the corruption wouldn’t spread significantly over one day. Reluctantly, the Cetra took her advice and played video games with Denzel to keep her mind off of it.

“I feel for her,” Tifa said as Cloud slipped into bed with her later that night. “Him, too. It’s not Zack’s fault that this happened but I’m worried about the way Aerith’s wearing herself out.”

Cloud paused in his action of turning the bedside lamp out and he considered her for a moment. “I don’t think Zack will let her…wear herself out, that is.” He shut off the lamp and lay down, pulling Tifa into his embrace. “He’s still in there. The Zack I know would notice if she was hurting herself and he’d fight for her sake, at least.”

Tifa nodded, remembering Zack’s determined spirit and chivalrous nature. It did seem logical that he wouldn’t stand for seeing Aerith suffering. Even choked off as he was from his true self, Zack had already demonstrated a soft spot for the Cetra that even Sephiroth couldn’t harden. With any luck, he’d remember that he loved her and he’d cooperate, if only for Aerith’s sake. Trying not to worry about it, Tifa closed her eyes and rubbed Cloud’s back. She wanted to initiate intimacy but she was tired from their ordeal and she knew Cloud was as well.

Cloud lowered his mouth to Tifa’s and kissed her, softly at first. She responded immediately, forgetting how tired she was when his firm, silken lips pressed against hers. He pulled away briefly, only to return and kiss her with gentle urgency. His tongue swiped her lips and delved in when she parted them. Tifa slid one leg along his, brushing her inner thigh against his outer one. He rolled her slowly onto her back and looked into her eyes for a moment before kissing her again. His mouth was persuasive and tender at once, testing her reactions in that way Cloud usually did before initiating sex.

Tifa combed her fingers through the soft spikes of his hair and parted her thighs invitingly as his weight settled on top of her. While Cloud’s bashful nature could get slightly annoying to her at times, she loved the way he initiated lovemaking. He wasn’t presumptuous or crudely demanding, yet he was confident and expressive with his desire. He always seemed to ask without asking, before moving on to the next stage. Always waiting for some signal of permission from her, Cloud was a thoughtful lover and Tifa knew that if she told him she wasn’t in the mood, he’d stop without argument, kiss her and go to sleep.

It made her want to have a baby with him even more. She knew it was arrogant for her to presume but Tifa was sure that they would make the most beautiful children on Gaia if they had the chance. Strange, how she’d never even thought much on having children of her own one day, just a couple of years ago. Now every time she looked in the mirror she imagined herself with a rounded, pregnant belly. It wasn’t that she thought a pregnant belly would be particularly sexy on her and she suffered no delusions about morning sickness, stretch marks and hours of labor. It was just the thought that her rounded belly would be a result of her and Cloud creating new life together that made the idea so appealing.

Tifa’s urgency increased as she thought of what it would be like to carry Cloud’s baby. She slid her hand over his bare chest and down his stomach, caressing his tongue with hers as she explored his body. He was rocking gently over her, unconsciously rubbing against her as his hand sought out one of her breasts and cupped it through her nightshirt. He stroked the outer curve of it with his palm before seeking her nipple through the material and pinching delicately. Tifa sighed in response as a tingle raced through her breast to her spine. She dragged her hand lower and slipped it under the elastic of his boxers, curling her fingers around his rigid warmth.

Cloud’s breath caught as Tifa began to pet his erection. He lifted her nightshirt up to bare her chest and stomach and he pulled his mouth away from hers to kiss other places. She squeezed his cock a little tighter as he closed his lips around one of her nipples and sucked on it. Cloud groaned softly and licked the taut bud with gentle, sweeping motions of his tongue, unconsciously pumping into Tifa’s gripping hand as she stroked him. Determined to have a bit of foreplay before jumping her, Cloud reached down and caught hold of her wrist, pulling her hand away from his erection with a silent shake of his head. Too much more of that and he’d either come too soon or get too impatient.

Tifa didn’t always comply when Cloud tried to stop her from playing but since they were trying to conceive, she chose not to risk fondling him to the point of early orgasm. She smiled up at him and allowed him to guide her hand away. When he released her wrist, she stroked his back instead and cupped the back of his head with her free hand to draw him to her mouth for a kiss. He responded willingly, releasing her nipple to plunder her mouth with his lips and tongue. Predictably, his increasing passion emboldened him. After kissing her hotly for a few moments, he pulled his mouth away and his lips traveled down her neck to her chest, pausing in the valley between her breasts to lick there before moving on.

Tifa combed her fingers through his hair again and moistened her lips with her tongue as his exploration took him closer to her pelvis. She guessed what was coming and she braced herself with anticipation, eager to feel his mouth on her most sensitive parts again. The recent upheaval in their lives hadn’t left much time for leisurely sex. She lifted her hips as he tugged her panties down, helping him get them off. With that obstacle out of the way, Cloud urged her to part her thighs and Tifa obeyed. His hands slid up and down her inner thighs in a sensual caress as his warm mouth sought out the source of her need.

Tifa’s eyes fluttered shut and she sighed his name breathlessly as his tongue began to trace, stroke and thrust. Cloud had improved a lot in their time together and Tifa smiled blissfully and stroked his hair, enjoying every moment of it. The first time he tried to give her oral, he’d been awkward, uncertain and embarrassed. He’d almost given up on it but she’d swallowed her own embarrassment and encouraged him, communicating her needs and letting him know when he was doing something right.

Now, as his tongue lapped firmly against the sensitive nub of her clit, Tifa appreciated his willingness to learn even more. She squirmed restlessly, her breath catching as his strokes made jolts of sensation pulse through her pelvis, spine and legs. Her thighs tensed involuntarily each time he sucked or licked the tender button and when she called his name shakily, he eased up and focused on the surrounding area to give her a breather. Tifa’s breath came harder and faster as his attentions gave her more and more pleasure. His tongue pushed between the folds of her flesh and stroked inside rhythmically, while he rubbed her clit in gentle circles with the pads of his fingers.

“Close,” Tifa gasped, trying her best to keep the volume of her voice down. She shuddered as his lips closed around the nub and sucked on it lightly. He eased two fingers into her slippery passage and thrust them gently, making her bite her lip. Her climax began in the next moment and she tossed her head and groaned his name as her inner muscles contracted rhythmically around his fingers. She couldn’t stop the moan of pleasure that escaped her lips but by now, she hardly cared.

Cloud licked the hard little nub gently as Tifa’s orgasm played out and he waited until the clenching slowed and stopped before withdrawing his fingers and kissing his way back up her body. Her breasts heaved with her gasps of release and he paused and cupped them, pushing them together and lavishing some attention on the tightened nipples before settling on top of her and kissing her. She returned the kiss enthusiastically and put her arms around him, spreading her thighs further as his hips settled between them.

Taking his cue, Cloud reached down to grasp his erection and he lined up the tip of his cock with her moist entrance. He stopped kissing her and looked into her eyes as he slid home with one smooth, slow thrust.

“Tifa,” he murmured unevenly. He held still for a moment and caught his breath. Sometimes that first thrust was a little too heavenly for him and he was always afraid of peaking too soon. Her legs wrapped around his waist demandingly and she lifted her head off the pillows to kiss his throat and chest.

“More,” she demanded huskily as she cupped his ass and squeezed it.

There was nothing to do except obey. Cloud started to move; slowly at first and gradually picking up force and speed as he adjusted. Tifa called his name breathlessly and shifted her pelvis to match his thrusts.

“Harder, Cloud,” pleaded the barmaid. “Don’t hold back!”

He clenched his teeth and groaned, again complying with her demands. He withdrew to the tip and drove his cock back in with enough force to make her slide up in the bed. The bed itself thumped against the wall but Cloud paid no attention to it as he began to buck hard and deep repeatedly. He covered Tifa’s mouth with his own and pushed his tongue roughly in to explore, stifling her excited, sharp moans. He propelled his hips with increasing force but he didn’t cut loose. Tifa seemed to forget during lovemaking that his Mako enhanced strength could put her in the hospital if he didn’t keep it under reign.

“Oh god,” Tifa cried, her face tense with a combination of pleasure and pain as Cloud pounded into her as she’d asked. His hot, quick breaths puffed against her lips as he broke the kiss and moaned her name. There were some days when she just needed it rough…needed to feel his hard flesh slamming into her until it hurt. It wasn’t the sort of hurt she associated with actual pain…it was a good hurt. She unconsciously clawed at his back as he demonstrated that he could fuck as well as he could make love. The hip action had always been his strong point.

Cloud heard a peculiar sound as Tifa’s short nails dug into his back and he was mortified to realize it was coming from him. He made himself stop growling and he pressed a gasping kiss against her lips. He bucked sharply into her and when she moaned his name encouragingly, he kept doing it. Her face was flushing with carnal delight and he admired the sight as he pulled his mouth away from hers to watch her expressions.

He maintained the hard, sharp rhythm for another five minutes before it proved too much for him. With a final groan, he shoved firmly and deeply into her and held steady, trembling as he unloaded inside of her. He panted an exclamation of pleasure and when he stopped coming, he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her with sated relief.

“I didn’t hurt you, did I?” Cloud murmured between gasps.

“Only in a good way,” Tifa answered teasingly, drawing his head down to lay against her chest.

Cloud sighed with satisfaction and took the invitation, resting his cheek against her bosom as he recovered. Her fingers combed through his hair and it felt good. Before long, the couple fell asleep, with Cloud still intimately sheathed inside of her.

~*********************************~

Zack was in a daze. He woke up sometime the next morning when his captor brought him a plate of food and a glass of juice for breakfast. He blinked groggily at her, shaking his head in a vain attempt to clear it as Aerith set the food on the desk and helped him sit up in bed.

“What…the hell did you do to me?” Zack mumbled. His eyes were heavy lidded and try as he might, he couldn’t muster the energy to feel more than slight annoyance. “I feel…stoned.”

“I’m sorry,” Aerith said, her pretty features sincere and regretful. “I’m keeping you sedated with spirit energy, until I finish healing you. If I thought you’d cooperate I wouldn’t have to do this, Zack.” She got up and retrieved the plate of bacon, eggs and toast from the desk. Zack gave her a peculiar look when she held the plate out for him to take.

“Aren’t you afraid…I’ll use that against you?” He asked with a pointed, heavy-lidded look at the fork. He realized that the cuffs were gone and his hands and ankles were free. “For that matter, aren’t you worried about leaving me un-cuffed?” He struggled to keep the slur out of his voice and speak clearly. His muscles were relaxed and in truth, he didn’t think he could muster the energy to attack her even if he wanted to.

~And why don’t I want to? She’s so familiar to me but I don’t believe in love at first sight…do I? She beamed me over the head and now she’s holding me prisoner and doing weird rituals on me…I ought to be furious.~

“You won’t hurt me, Zack,” Aerith said with confidence as he carefully took the plate from her and started to eat with sluggish motions. “I don’t need the handcuffs anymore and they’d just make you uncomfortable. Besides, I know a part of you knows I’ve been telling you the truth.” She looked into his eyes, willing him to understand. “You feel it, don’t you?”

Zack stared at her for a moment, trying to focus his vision. Finally, he snorted and forked up a bite of bacon. “I feel drugged, that’s what I feel,” he muttered. He put the food in his mouth and chewed mechanically. It was good but he hardly tasted it. He couldn’t describe the feeling. He’d never been a recreational drug user but he’d been hurt a few times and given tranquilizers and painkillers in the hospital. The difference between his remembered drug buzzes and the sedation he felt now was that there were no ill side effects. He didn’t feel nauseous or dizzy…just ridiculously relaxed and slow-witted as if he’d just woken up from a hard sleep.

“You better hope you don’t lose your hold on me,” Zack warned with a cold, sidelong glance at the girl as he swallowed his food. The devastated look on her face made him want to kick himself. Before he knew what he was doing, he blurted: “Ah, don’t look like that…I’m sorry.” He reached up with his free hand and dragged his fingers through his disheveled hair, closing his eyes as he tried to work out his thoughts and feelings.

Aerith said nothing. She knew there was a war going on inside of him and she’d seen his eyes flash emerald green for a moment when he’d made his threat against her. She stood up and walked out without saying a word, leaving him to finish his breakfast in peace. When she shut the door behind her she leaned against it and the tears came swiftly, blurring her vision. She covered her mouth with her hands as a broken-hearted sob tried to escape.

Cloud came down the hallway to get something from his and Tifa’s bedroom and he saw her standing there like that. He approached her with a frown and Aerith quickly tried to appear under control. Her hands were trembling as she dropped them to her sides and Cloud’s eyes followed the motion and deepened his frown.

“What did he do?” Cloud asked her softly as he stopped before her.

“Nothing,” Aerith insisted. “It was only words.”

Cloud’s mouth pressed into a hard line. “What kind of words?”

Aerith shook her head. “He didn’t mean it. I saw his eyes change just as he said it. It was Sephiroth, not Zack.”

Having witnessed the same phenomenon before himself, Cloud believed her. “Did he threaten you?”

“What difference does it make whether he threatened me, called me fat or made a pass at me?” Aerith asked the question almost angrily. “Zack wasn’t in control when he said it.”

“Okay, calm down,” Cloud said hastily. “I’m just trying to protect you.”

“Everybody’s always trying to protect me,” she huffed. “Do I really come off that helpless?”

“No,” Cloud answered uncomfortably, “It’s just…you’re nice, and gentle…I don’t like you being in danger, even if you can take care of yourself.” He was blushing, certain that he was only digging himself deeper into the hole. He averted his eyes and waited to get smacked.

Aerith sighed. Cloud had always been like this with her…she should be used to it by now. Oddly, he wasn’t as protective of Tifa, though she was his wife. Aerith could only assume it was because the barmaid had demonstrated her fighting skills enough times to earn Cloud’s respect insofar as taking care of herself.

“Who do I have to clunk for you to see I can handle myself?” Aerith muttered. He winced and she found herself smiling, despite her irritation. Like Zack, Cloud had the ability to pull off a “scolded puppy” expression that made it impossible to stay angry with him. Aerith reached out and ruffled his soft golden spikes. “It’s okay, Cloud. It’s kind of sweet, really. I guess I’ve only got myself to blame for the way people see me.”

“So how’s it coming along?” Cloud asked, glad to change the subject.

Aerith shook her head and sighed. “I keep driving the corruption back, but it replenishes itself between sessions, just like normal spirit energy. At this rate it’s going to take a long, long time to heal him. I’m really not doing much more than keeping it from getting worse, Cloud.”

Cloud frowned and scratched his head. “Sounds like you need to be able to get it all in one hit.”

She nodded. “That would be the best way to drive it completely out of him, but I don’t have the stamina to do it. In the old days the Cetra would have pooled their powers to heal him completely in one session, but I don’t have that option.”

“Do you just need spirit energy?” Cloud persisted with a thoughtful look on his face.

“Yes. I just don’t have enough by myself.”

A random thought occurred to him. “What if you could borrow some from someone else? Does it have to be another Ancient or would a regular person do?”

Aerith stared at him with wide eyes. “Cloud, you’re a genius.”

“Huh?” He blinked. “I am?”

“Yes!” She hugged him impulsively. “Why didn’t I think of that? Would you and Tifa be willing to link with me when I go in after he finishes breakfast?”

He shrugged. “Sure, if it will help you cure him. I’ll go talk to Tifa about it.”

Aerith pulled away and nodded enthusiastically. Both of her friends had strong spirits and she felt certain that with their help, she could finally rid Zack of Sephiroth’s corrupted influence.

~*************************~

Zack had just finished putting his empty plate and glass on the desk when the door opened to admit Aerith and her two friends. He sat down on the bed and raised his eyebrows at her as she approached, flanked on either side by Cloud and Tifa.

“What, you want an audience now?” Zack inquired dryly. “You’re a really naughty girl, you know that?”

Aerith’s cheeks rapidly colored and her two friends regarded her curiously. “I didn’t do that on purpose,” she murmured.

“What is he talking about?” Tifa asked. “Do what on purpose?”

“Nothing,” Aerith said hastily. She took another step towards Zack and prepared to urge his spirit to sleep.

“Tell ‘em, Aerith,” Zack prompted with a leer. “Tell your buddies what you did to me last night. If they’re getting into the action too, they might as well know.”

Aerith sighed and lowered her head as her friends looked at her questioningly. “It was just a fluke,” she explained softly. “I tried adjusting my tactics because I didn’t want to hurt him anymore when I heal him. It kind of had the opposite effect, is all.”

“Opposite effect?” Cloud repeated, not quite getting it.

“She means she sexed me up good and proper,” Zack clarified with a rogue-ish wink at the Cetra. “I guess that wasn’t enough for her, though.”

“Oh, shut up,” Aerith snapped, finally losing her temper with him. “Consider it payback, you jerk. We’re not doing it that way this time, so you can stop worrying about it. Now hold still so I can put you to sleep.”

Zack pulled away as her hands reached for him. “What if I don’t want to be asleep? My head’s starting to clear up and I like being able to speak in full sentences again, toots.”

Aerith put her hands on her hips and glared at him. “You know, it would serve you right for me to do this while you’re awake. The only trouble is, I’d be hurting the real Zack in the process and he doesn’t deserve that.”

His dark brows furrowed. “The ‘real’ Zack? Honey, you just keep getting weirder. I’m the only Zack…there…is…” He yawned as she reached out abruptly and put her hands flat against either side of his head. He tried to pull away but she’d already gotten a hold of his spirit and her potent powers immediately crippled his body’s ability to obey his mind’s commands. His eyes drifted shut and he felt himself fall backwards onto the mattress before the darkness of sleep overcame him.

“Okay guys, he’s down,” Aerith said with a sigh of relief. “I need you to link hands and one of you take my hand to close the circuit.” She didn’t know any other way to describe what they were doing. Referring to it as a circuit seemed logical to her. Cloud took one of Tifa’s hands in his and reached out to take Aerith’s hand with his free one. His grip was firm and reassuring and Aerith could feel the strength of his and Tifa’s spirits flowing into her as she began to concentrate.

“With any luck, this will be the last time we have to do this,” Aerith murmured as she began. Zack thrashed and moaned in his sleep and she bit her lip and tried making smaller adjustments. Maybe she could combine her tactics from last night with the usual one, to lessen his pain without going overboard? She tried it and his groans of distress faded a little. She stroked his dark hair soothingly and pressed on, devouring the darkness in some places and driving it out in others.

Tifa silently willed her friend to be strong and complete the healing. She felt her energy slowly draining but it wasn’t painful or uncomfortable. She lost track of time as Aerith worked. She thought at least an hour had passed but she couldn’t be sure her perception was right. Her strength began to fail her and she gasped as she struggled to stay on her feet. Beside her, Cloud was enduring better than she was and he squeezed her hand supportively.

“I don’t know how much longer I can do this,” Tifa warned as dizziness struck her. She sank carefully to her knees so that if she passed out, she wouldn’t have a long fall to the floor.

“Just a little longer,” Aerith begged faintly. Her skin was shiny with perspiration. There was only a little of the spirit corruption left. If her friends could endure for just a few more minutes, she’d have Zack free of it.

The three of them were so absorbed in what they were doing that they didn’t notice the door open. Denzel opened his mouth to speak but when he saw what they were doing he shut it again and stared curiously at the adults. He’d come to tell them he was leaving for school but now he didn’t want to go anywhere. His young mind quickly guessed what was happening as he watched his foster parents strain with Aerith over the unconscious man on the bed.

He knew she had special powers and he knew she was trying to fix something that was wrong with him. Since they were all holding hands, he guessed Cloud and Tifa were helping her somehow, but it looked like Tifa was on the verge of fainting. Without fully understanding why he was doing it, Denzel quietly approached his foster mother’s side and took her other hand.

Aerith didn’t know where the sudden boost of energy came from but she was grateful for it. “That’s it,” she panted, “Keep it up, guys! I’m almost finished.”

The last wisp of Black Lifestream stubbornly clung to Zack’s spirit, fighting against Aerith’s attempts to banish it. The young Cetra mentally cursed in a way that she’d never do aloud.

~Get OUT of him, you bastard!~

With a last, desperate surge that made Cloud’s legs buckle and knocked Tifa unconscious, Aerith focused the combined spirit energy into a forceful burst. The corruption was driven out completely and she almost sobbed with relief and dropped her head on Zack’s chest.

“Done,” Aerith panted. “He’s healed. I couldn’t have done it without you guys.” She opened her eyes and smiled tiredly at her friends. When she saw Denzel there, holding Tifa’s hand, she understood where the extra energy had come from. Tifa was lying on the floor and Aerith frowned in concern as Cloud gathered her into his arms.

“Oh, Tifa! Is she okay?” Aerith tried to rise but her muscles felt like jelly.

“She’ll be all right,” Cloud grunted as he lifted the barmaid with effort. “I think we all just need some rest.” He held his wife carefully and he was thankful that his Mako enhancements provided abnormal reserves of strength; otherwise he might be passed out on the floor with her.

He smiled thankfully at Denzel when he noticed him and understood what happened. “I think we’ve got you to thank, kid. Why don’t you stay home from school today? I’ll call and tell them you’re sick.”

Denzel’s smile took to his ears. “Cool! Thanks, Cloud.”

“Don’t get used to it,” the blonde said with a rare wink. “You get to play hooky because you helped us, that’s all.” With that said, he carried Tifa out of the room and down the hall to their bedroom.

Denzel watched him go before turning to face Aerith. The lovely Cetra was already fast asleep on top of Zack. With a little sigh of jealousy, Denzel shrugged and took it in stride. He was too young for her, anyway. Like Cloud and Tifa, Aerith and Zack just fit together. As long as the brunet man didn’t hurt her, Denzel could live with that. He grabbed the folded quilt at the foot of the bed and covered Aerith and Zack with it before leaving the room.

~*******************************~

Zack awoke in a state of confusion. He remembered everything that had happened, unfortunately. The remorse he felt was only slightly greater than the bewilderment. He remembered hearing Sephiroth’s voice on the edge of his consciousness and more importantly, he remembered coercing Aerith into sleeping with him. He felt her weight on his body and he looked down at her sleeping face as he lifted a hand and stroked her hair gently.

~She was a virgin, too. Dammit, that wasn’t how it was supposed to go! I wanted it to be special…wanted it to be an experience we’d both cherish for the rest of our lives. Instead I practically raped her.~

He caressed her face and swallowed a lump in his throat. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. God I’m a loser.” He whispered the apology and began to frantically think up ways he could make it up to her. He couldn’t be the man she deserved in his present state. He had no job, no home and nothing but the shirt on his back to offer her. He owed Cloud and the others some major apologies, too.

Aerith stirred and her eyes fluttered open. They focused on his face as she lifted her head and she gave him one of those sweet, gentle little smiles he loved. “Hey, you. How do you feel?”

“Like an ass,” Zack murmured truthfully, averting his gaze. “Aerith, the things I did…”

“That wasn’t your fault,” she insisted as she combed her fingers through his hair. “Sephiroth hit you with Black Lifestream just as we were leaving. You’ve been under his influence ever since, until our friends helped me heal you this morning.”

“But I remember all of it,” he argued. “I knew what I was doing but I couldn’t stop myself. I’m at least partly responsible for the way I acted, babe.”

She shook her head and gave him a light kiss on the mouth. “It wasn’t you. None of that matters now, anyway. The important thing is you’re healed and here with us, now.”

Zack sighed and glanced up at the digital clock on the nearby desk. It was mid-afternoon. His stomach growled and he grimaced as Aerith chuckled. “I guess my first step in making it up to everyone’s going to be to cook dinner,” Zack muttered. “I hope it’s not too early in the day for everyone else. I’m starving.”

“I don’t think anyone will complain,” Aerith said happily.

~*********************************~

Tifa was still asleep when the aroma of food woke Cloud. He nuzzled her cheek softly before pulling his side of the covers down and getting out of bed. He yawned and stretched for a moment before leaving the bedroom and making his way to the kitchen curiously. When he saw Zack and Aerith standing by the stove talking, he smiled a little.

“Don’t let him burn it,” Cloud advised Aerith as he went to the fridge to get some juice.

Zack jumped a little as the sudden comment startled him and he turned around to face him. The brunet wore a sheepish expression of guilt on his face as he regarded Cloud. “Uh, hey Spike. Spaghetti’s okay, isn’t it? It’s one of the only things I can cook decently.”

“Spaghetti sounds good,” Cloud assured him with a nod. He grabbed the bottle of orange juice from the fridge and set it on the counter before searching the cabinet for a glass. “How are you feeling?”

Zack shrugged. “Embarrassed. Hungry. A little warm.” He wiped his brow with the dishtowel he had draped around his neck.

Cloud checked a grin. “That’s what the AC is for. Don’t tell me you don’t know how to turn it on…you haven’t been out of commission for that long.”

“I didn’t want to run your electric bill up,” Zack said. “I figured I’d leave it up to you or Tifa to decide when you want it on.”

Cloud shook his head and looked at Aerith. “You should have known better. We’ve already told you half a dozen times to make yourself at home.”

She gave him a sheepish look as well. “I feel the same as Zack. Until we can pitch in on the bills I don’t want to go running them up on you.”

Cloud poured his juice and shook his head with a smirk. “Well stop it…both of you. You’re our guests and I know if the shoe was on the other foot, you’d do the same for me and Tifa.” He put the juice back in the fridge and took a few swallows from his glass before exiting the kitchen to turn on the air conditioner. He was a little surprised that Denzel hadn’t turned it on but as he passed by the living room, he saw that the boy was absorbed in a console game. No wonder.

~******************************~

Tifa was awake again by the time Zack finished cooking the meal and began to serve it. She rubbed her eyes and gave him a smile as she took a seat at the table. “I didn’t know you could cook.”

Zack set a plate in front of her and chuckled. “I can do a reasonable imitation of cooking if it’s the right meal. You’re lucky you guys had the ingredients for the spaghetti, kiddo. Otherwise it would have been instant mac and cheese or sandwiches.”

Tifa grinned and reached for the parmesan cheese. “Good thing I’m not picky.”

Aerith came in with some stemmed glasses and a bottle of wine. While Zack put the food on the table, she began to pour four glasses of wine for the adults. Tifa considered the drink and held her hand out to stall her friend. “I don’t think I should drink that, but thanks.”

Aerith paused and looked at her with concern. “You aren’t feeling sick, are you?”

“No.” Tifa shook her head and waited for Zack to go back to the kitchen before explaining further. “Cloud and I are trying for a baby,” she whispered to her friend. “I know it’s early for me to assume, but I need to get into the habit of watching what I do.”

Aerith nodded and smiled at her. “Of course. I don’t think I would want to risk it, either. How about iced tea?”

“Tea would be good,” agreed the barmaid. “Thanks, Aerith.”

Cloud took his seat beside Tifa and hollered for Denzel to tear himself away from his game to have dinner. The preteen grumbled a little as he joined them but since spaghetti and meatballs happened to be a favorite of his, he quickly settled and was soon absorbed in eating. Zack and Aerith returned and joined them at the table. Cloud noticed his friend holding the newspaper in one hand as he sat down and he gave him a puzzled frown as he read through it while eating.

“Can’t that wait?” Cloud said, pointing at the paper with his fork.

“Sorry man,” answered Zack with a quick glance at him. “I know it’s kind of rude but I’m going through the want ads. Gotta find a job, you know?”

“The job ads aren’t going to vanish in the time it takes you to eat,” Tifa sighed. “Come on, Zack…this is the first chance we’ve had to really spend time with you.”

He grimaced and folded the paper up, setting it in the center of the table when he finished. “Okay, you’re right. Sorry, guys.”

“You both worry too much about pitching in,” Cloud said after having a swallow of his wine. He grimaced faintly. He really didn’t like wine very much and the only reason they kept bottles of it in the house was for Tifa. He noticed that she was drinking tea instead of wine and he smiled subtly with relief. It didn’t even occur to him that it might be a bad idea for her to have a glass of wine with dinner and he was glad she’d thought of it.

“So, what kind of work do you think you want to do?” Tifa questioned after swallowing a bite of food. Zack’s spaghetti was actually pretty good and she thought if he made the effort to learn more recipes, he cold make a pretty decent chef.

“I don’t know,” Zack answered truthfully. “I mean, I spent my life in the military as soon as I was old enough. I guess I could take up mercenary work until—“

“No,” interrupted Aerith firmly.

Zack blinked at her. “Huh? Why not?”

“Because I expended a lot of time and effort bringing us both back to life, that’s why,” she explained sternly. “I don’t want you taking up a job that’s going to send you right back into the Lifestream.”

Cloud and Tifa busied themselves with their meal to hide their amused smiles as Zack ogled Aerith.

“Oh,” the brunet said when his love interest’s jade eyes didn’t waver. “Yes ma’am. I guess you’re the boss, huh?”

“Darn straight,” agreed Aerith with a nod. “You’ll just have to find some other line of work. I don’t care if that means you don’t find a job for a year…I don’t want you wandering Gaia, getting into who knows what kind of trouble.”

Zack chuckled. “Hey, I could get hit by a car tomorrow, sweetheart. There aren’t any guarantees.”

“That doesn’t mean you’ve got to flirt with death every chance you get,” she sniffed.

Zack’s grin remained. “You’re cute when you’re all protective of me, you know that?”

Aerith blushed and cleared her throat, spearing a meatball with her fork and bringing it to her lips. “I’m just protecting my investment.”

“Oooh, burn!” Denzel blurted spontaneously, making the adults laugh.

“So…so I’m an investment, now?” Zack said between chuckles. “Wonder what my market value is.”

“Oh, be quiet,” Aerith muttered. Her face felt like it was on fire. She was a little pacified when Zack’s arm went around her and he kissed her on the cheek.

~************************************~

Later that night, Aerith and Zack squeezed into the narrow, single bed in Cloud’s office together. They didn’t mind the close contact required for both of them to fit, however. Zack was pressed against the wall and he had his arms around the Cetra, who laid her cheek against his chest and held him in return. He nuzzled her fragrant hair and shut his eyes, reveling in the feel of her soft curves pressed so intimately against his body. He wanted her and he was sure she was aware of the fact, since his crotch was pressed against her hip and he was in an obvious state of arousal. The jogging pants that Cloud lent him to sleep in were a little too short but otherwise comfortable. The blonde told him he’d take him shopping for a wardrobe tomorrow, but Zack felt terribly guilty about accepting his money.

“Aerith?” Zack whispered.

“Hmm?”

“Thanks.” He rubbed her back and struggled for words. “You know, for bringing me back and not giving up on me. I really owe you.”

She smiled against his bare skin and kissed his chest. She was quite fond of that part of his anatomy. It was toned and hard, but the skin was soft. “You don’t owe me anything. All I want is to be with you.”

Zack frowned. As much as he wanted to grant that wish, he had a lot of work to do before he was decent husband material. ~I want to be with you too, honey. You deserve better than a jobless loser, though.~

Aerith sensed his disquiet and she tilted her head back to look at his handsome, shadowed features. “Did I say something wrong?” She felt his arousal pressing against her hip through the layers of her nightgown and his track pants, but for some reason he wasn’t initiating anything. She felt the same odd urgency she’d felt that night when he took her virginity, only this time there was no reason to feel guilty about acting on it.

“No,” Zack assured her. “I’m just thinking. I saw an ad for construction workers in the paper and I think I might put in an application tomorrow. Or are you going to nix that idea, too?” He grinned at her teasingly.

“Hmm, construction can be kind of dangerous,” Aerith said thoughtfully. When his face fell, she smiled. “Oh, all right. As long as you promise to be careful on the job if you get it, I guess it’ll be okay.”

“You’re strict,” Zack smirked. He lowered his mouth to hers and murmured, “I think I like that,” before giving her a lingering kiss. Her fingers pushed through his hair as she cupped the back of his head urgently and parted her lips. Zack took the invitation and slid his tongue into her mouth to caress hers. He groaned softly as she shifted restlessly against him, her hip rubbing against his aching groin.

~Keep it cool, man. You’re not doing that again ‘till you can afford to put a ring on her finger.~

Aerith felt acute disappointment when Zack pulled away after a few moments. It was on the tip of her tongue to ask him if he just didn’t want her anymore but her common sense reminded her that if that were true, he wouldn’t have a prominent hard on. When his blue-violet eyes stared into hers in the moonlit darkness and he gave her a tender smile, she thought she understood.

~He’s just trying to be a gentleman. Funny, for a guy that flirts as much as Zack does, he’s got an appalling amount of honor. Him and his stupid chivalry…doesn’t he know I want it too?~

“Goodnight, babe.” Zack gave her one last, lingering kiss before holding her tighter against him and shutting his eyes.

Aerith stared blankly into the darkness while her mind conjured up all kinds of scenarios to get the ball rolling. Unfortunately for her, groping his crotch to give him the message loud and clear was too bold a move for her to conduct. Sex was still new to her and she hadn’t shed her virginal shyness with the one encounter they’d had. Aerith sighed in disappointment and contented herself with just holding him.

~******************************~

Sometime after midnight, Zack woke up and with great care, he disengaged from Aerith’s embrace and got out of the bed. He tucked her in and looked at her for a while before lowering his mouth to her cheek and planting a soft kiss on it.

“I’ll come back for you when I’ve earned the right,” he whispered faintly. He straightened up and moved with a Soldier’s stealth as he gathered his few possessions and packed them in a duffle bag he’d found by the desk. With that done, he sat down at the desk and wrote a letter to Aerith and his friends. He hoped the explanation was satisfactory but knowing them, they were still going to be pissed off when they read it. He didn’t need to turn on the lamp to see—the moonlight was sufficient for his Mako-tinted eyes to make out what he was writing.

When he was finished with the goodbye letter, he put it on the bed next to Aerith and allowed himself one gentle caress of her face before going. It was hard to walk out of that room and sneak out of the house. He was leaving behind the woman he loved and his dearest living friends and some part of him called himself a coward even as he locked the front door before shutting it behind him.

~I’m not running away. I’m just trying to make something of myself so I’ve got something to offer her.~

The thought sounded like a lie in his head. His guilt was what drove him to do this and he knew it.

~********************************~

The first thing Aerith noticed when she woke up the next morning was the absence of Zack’s warmth against her. Thinking he’d just woken up before she did and she’d find him in the kitchen or living room, she sat up with a yawn and rubbed her eyes to clear the sleep from them. When she opened them again, she spotted the slip of paper bearing Zack’s handwriting and she frowned as she picked it up and started to read.

“Aerith,

I can’t give you the things you deserve right now, so I’m going to change that before I try to call you more than my friend. When I have a steady job and a place of my own, I’ll come back for you. I love you and I want to be the kind of guy you should have in your life…not some mooch that leeches off his friends. If you’ll let me, I’ll spend the rest of my life making up for what I did to you. I’ve just got to pull myself together first so I can do that.

Cloud and Tifa, thanks for taking us in. Watch over my girl for me, will you? I’ll be in touch.

Love,
Zack”

Aerith slowly lowered the letter and her vision blurred with tears. “You big dummy,” she whispered brokenly. “Thinking you’ve got to prove yourself to me…ugh! Zackary Fair, when I see you again I’m going to give you a smack that’ll turn your head around on your shoulders!”

She started crying wretchedly and she dropped the letter and put her face in her hands as she attempted to quell her tears.

~***********************************~

-To be continued