Sorry for the long wait! Enjoy…
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Knight in Shining Armor
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Upon their arrival at Nibelheim, the weather seemed to be against them. The mountains were generally cold, but the temperature seemed to have dropped since the last time she had been there. There were also dark clouds gathering above the village, and Tifa could almost sense that rain that would soon fall over them. Well, at least they had gotten to her home town before the downpour.
Nibelheim was decidedly bigger than Gongaga, but not by much. There were various houses with white picket fences, and chimneys. Towards the center of town, the stores were located and right in the middle of town, there was a water tower which looked like it could be climbed. The roads were made of dirt, and there were various trails that led to various parts of the mountains and surrounding forest. Tifa smiled at the memories of growing up climbing the mountains, and she just hoped that it didn't rain tomorrow morning so that she could show Zack some of the sights. She was shivering in her jacket and Zack was attempting to rub her arms for more warmth as they stood by the front door of her home.
Zack was in the process of trying to kiss her cold lips when the door suddenly came open and a man a few inches taller than Tifa brandished a shotgun at them. Zack's eyes were wide as he stared at eyes that were his favorite feature on Tifa, but had obviously come from none other than her father. Those eyes were giving him a suspicious look as the shotgun shifted. "You know, I'm not sure what my feelings are when concerning having a shotgun wedding," he whispered behind Tifa.
Tifa grinned. "Papa!" she nearly squealed.
The man looked at her from behind round spectacled glasses and then lowered his gun before engulfing her into a bear hug. "Tifa, sweetie, what are you doing here? Why didn't you call?" he asked her, voice filled with surprise and delight.
"I wanted it to be a surprise. Where's mom?" Tifa asked, giving Zack an apologetic look when her father kept hugging her tightly.
"In the kitchen, washing the dishes. You know me, I asked to help but she wouldn't have it," he said, eyes sparkling down at the girl that he still thought of as his little princess.
"Right," Tifa said with a chuckle. She pulled away from her father and then turned to Zack. "Papa, I brought someone that I want you to meet."
Zack swallowed when he saw the man's eyes snap to his and the grip on the shotgun shift. The nice, unassuming looking man was gone, and it felt as if he were staring down a dragon of sorts. Well, he and Tifa had already settled that he was her knight, might as well face the dragon headfirst. "Uh… sir, it's nice to finally meet you. I'm Zack Fair," he said extending his hand.
Mr. Lockhart eyed his hand for a few tense seconds and finally took it when Tifa cleared her throat and gave him a warning look. Zack was only thankful that the man hadn't decided to challenge his strength by squeezing his hand. "You and my daughter… are…?"
"He's my boyfriend, papa. Are you going to let us in or should we freeze to death out here while you size him up?" Tifa asked with a grin.
Mr. Lockhart let them through, still giving Zack probing looks. It didn't really matter if she had brought a new boy home, what mattered was that content look in her eyes. Still, that didn't mean that he would go easy on the boy standing behind her. This… Zack?… He'd have to prove himself worthy of his daughter. His gaze softened when he looked at Tifa though, and so far he hadn't really said anything rude to Zack, nor had he been entirely unpleasant; his wife would be proud. "I'll go get your mother," he said to Tifa after shutting the door and beginning to walk off.
"Was that good or bad?" Zack asked Tifa urgently.
Tifa nodded and smiled excitedly. "I think it was good. The first time he met Cloud, he wouldn't even shake his hand," she said, nearly bouncing in place out of happiness.
Despite the fact that he didn't know if he had passed her father's test, Zack let out a small sigh of relief and nodded as they began to walk towards the kitchen. Her mother was standing at the sink, rinsing the dishes of soap and placing them on a rack to dry. Tifa's father was approaching her from behind, quickly reaching up to cover up her eyes. "I've got a surprise for you, love."
Tifa felt her heart warm at the sound of her father's endearment towards her mother. She had missed being home so much that it all seemed like a dream to be standing in the kitchen where she had learned how to cook.
"A surprise?" her mother asked pleasantly. "What kind of surprise?"
"One that I am sure will make you the happiest woman on this planet."
"Oh?" she asked in a curious voice, allowing him to turn her around, suds still hanging off of her slim fingers.
Zack inspected Tifa's parents silently. Tifa's looks had come from her mother, while she had only inherited her father's eyes. Maybe she had his smile as well, but the man really hadn't given him any sign that showed Zack that he was happy to know that he was dating his daughter. Tifa's mother though, was maybe about a few inches shorter than Tifa, but Tifa was essentially a younger image of her mother. When the hands fell away from her mother's eyes, a series of loud shrieks resonated in the space of the kitchen, making his ears ring a little.
Despite the smile on her father's face, there was also a grimace there because of the volume. The man, with a heavy mustache and with gray already growing in his beard, gave him a hard look as Zack smiled at the two women before them. "Oh, my dear sweet Tifa," her mother said happily. "I was beginning to think that I would never have you here in my arms again," she said, hugging Tifa tightly once more.
Tifa drew back with a few tears trailing from the corner of her eyes. "I'm sorry, mama. I just… I didn't have the chance to come back before. I'm here now because Zack wanted to meet you," she said a bit shyly, motioning towards him. "Mama, this is Zack Fair."
"Oh, he's a handsome one," Tifa's mother said with a bright, welcoming smile. A smile that held promises of warm baked cookies and a nice homemade breakfast. Zack smiled at the last one. "Welcome to our humble home, Mr. Fair."
"Just call me Zack please, and the pleasure is all mine. I've heard so much about the both of you and this town. It's as wonderful as imagined it all in my mind by the time Tifa was done with her stories," he said honestly.
"Meeting the parents of your… girlfriend… is a big step, is it not? Why then, do I not see a ring on my daughter's finger?" asked Tifa's father sternly.
"Papa, please. Zack and I are enjoying dating. We're not considering marriage right at this moment," Tifa stressed, giving Zack a chagrined look.
"Uh… sir, that's not to say that I don't want to marry her," Zack said quickly, noticing the darkening look on the older man's face. "We're both just aware that it's too soon. But sometime in the future I will ask her to be my wife," he assured Tifa's mother and father.
Tifa's mother clapped her hands together and pulled Zack into a tight hug, ruffling his spikes affectionately, as if she had known him for many years now. "I can see why my daughter picked you. Now, have you two had anything to eat yet?"
"No, we're actually starving!" Tifa exclaimed.
"Well, while I fix you two something quick, why don't you set up the sofa bed for Zack?" Tifa's mother turned to him and smiled kindly. "I'm afraid that my dear husband turned our spare room into his manly playroom," she said, rolling her eyes.
Tifa's father scoffed and shook his head. "It's called a den, dear."
Her father's hard gaze settled on Zack again and Tifa took his hand before quickly ushering him out of the kitchen. Zack sat on the armchair of the loveseat and watched as Tifa walk towards a closet in the first floor hallway, where he imagined the linens were. She returned with two pillows, a regular sheet, and a heavy quilt. "It'll get cold when the fire in the hearth dies down. You don't want to get frostbite."
"I guess we won't be having any hanky-panky here either, huh?" Zack asked, a little sullen. "I was kinda thinking of you keeping me warm at night."
Tifa set the things in her arms down on the unfolded sofa and smiled as she brushed back the single lock of hair falling over his left eye. "Not unless you're willing to sneak into my room, which happens to be right across from my parents' room," she said, rubbing his shoulders in a soothing motion.
"Your dad hates me," Zack whined in a whisper.
"Trust me; he doesn't. He's actually acknowledging that you're standing there and he's speaking to you. Do I seriously have to explain how he despised Cloud? It was pretty sad," Tifa said with a far off look. She shrugged. "In any case, if it doesn't rain tomorrow, I can take you down to that waterfall I told you about," she said, rubbing circles with a single finger over his chest.
Zack's face brightened at the mention of a secluded spot where no one else would see them. Well, at least he hoped no one else would be able to see them. "I'll hold you to that. Maybe we can even go skinny-dipping."
Tifa let out a delighted laugh and shook her head as she slipped her arms around his neck and kissed him, still laughing a little into his mouth. Zack slipped his hands around her waist—somewhere safe in case her father walked in on them—and sighed lightly against her in bliss. Kissing Tifa was like eating his favorite cake. Tasty and he couldn't get enough of her. Another corny thought, which at least he managed to keep to himself thanks to they current embrace.
A few minutes later, they were still locked together when a throat cleared from behind them. Tifa drew away and blushed at the look her mother was sending her as she set two plates of warmed up roast beef complete with mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables on the dining room table. "I had only just set the food in the refrigerator when you arrived, so it's still fresh from dinner."
"It smells fantastic," Zack complimented as he took a seat with Tifa and felt his mouth water at the scent invading his nose. He loved his mother's cooking, but she did tend to have a strange penchant for bizarre types of foods. It was good to have a good old fashioned dinner once in a while. "Thank you!" he said before digging in.
"Don't you worry dear. I live in the kitchen. Where do you think Tifa got her cooking skills? Because I'm sure you've tasted her cooking, haven't you?" she asked pointedly. Zack didn't know if she was asking him a question with hidden meaning, but he nodded and kept chewing instead of responding. Tifa's mother smiled and turned to her daughter. "Tifa, darling, I'm going to leave the two of you to eat while I convince your father to get to sleep so that you and I can talk in peace about boys."
"Okay, mama. Thank you. I'm so happy to see you again," Tifa said as she hugged her mother tightly.
"Me too sweetheart. I felt like a piece of me was missing while you were gone, but I'm glad you were in good hands," her mother said, rubbing Tifa's hair gently. "Tomorrow we'll plan out what we can do the time you will be staying here."
"I'll meet you in my room later, then," Tifa said with a nod. Her mother pressed a kiss to her forehead and then patted Zack on the shoulder. "Hang in there. He'll give you a hard time for a few days, but he'll eventually give up. I think he likes you already," she said before walking off towards the stairs.
"You see?" Tifa asked smugly.
"Fine," Zack conceded. "But you did hear that she said in a few days," he stressed. "It's not like we have months to get to know each other. I have to make him like me in a matter of days."
Tifa just smiled and they finished their meal in peace, the silence a lighthearted one. When they were done, Zack offered to wash the dishes, while Tifa fixed him the sofa bed for him to sleep in. When he stepped out of the kitchen, everything was set for him to get some much needed rest. Tifa hugged him tightly again and Zack nuzzled her neck as he brushed her hair back by sliding his fingers through the heavy silk. "Get some rest and stop worrying. Things won't be so bad," she said before kissing him lightly. "I'll see you tomorrow?"
Zack nodded and gave her a look full of longing and affection as she began to walk away. "Hey," he called, stopping her at the base of the steps. Tifa turned to give him a questioning look. "I love you."
Her smile was like the sweetest candy. "I love you too," Tifa replied before walking up a few steps. She paused and turned back to look at him one last time. "Sweet dreams, Zack."
"Only because I'll be dreaming of you," he said before watching her go, a happy grin on her face. He let out his own sigh of contentment and pulled out a pair of sleeping pants and a t-shirt. He really did hope things went as planned. He had a feeling he would have to jump through hoops in order to get Tifa's father to accept him. Well, he'd never backed down from anything yet and this wouldn't be the exception.
………
By the time the sun was rising, Zack awoke to the wonderful smell of bacon, eggs, and… steak? His stomach rumbled happily, letting him know that he should get up for breakfast, even when half of him wanted another hour of sleep. He slowly sat up and scratched his head sleepily, yawning. The rustling of a newspaper alerted him that someone was close by and more than likely watching his every move.
Tifa's father gave him a bland look and motioned towards the hallway. "The shower is there. Help yourself to any necessities," he said before going back to his paper and leaving Zack to wonder if that had been the man's idea of a good morning greeting.
"Thank you, sir," he said before he stood and began to fold the sheets he had used. Once the couch was back to normal, he grabbed his duffel bag and walked off towards the bathroom instead of attempting to get breakfast. It was best to follow orders from Tifa's father and not make any comments about it. Tifa and her mother had told him that the man liked him, in his own twisted way. So he would trust them and hope that they were right.
By the time he exited the bathroom, fresh and with clean clothes on, Tifa and her mother where done cooking breakfast, already setting plates at the table. Tifa motioned towards the chair next to hers and give him a peck on the cheek as a morning greeting. "We're going to meet at my aunt's house today. You'll be able to meet both of my mother's sisters," she said with a half-smile, her eyes a little worried.
"I'm sure it'll be fine," Zack replied with a wink.
"I was thinking that maybe Zack would like to help me fix the roof today. I've needed a hand to work on it for some time now," said Tifa's father, eyeing them both.
"Papa, no!" Tifa nearly whined. "We're on vacation and I really want my aunts to meet him. Besides, Zack hasn't been on a vacation in nearly ten years!"
Her mother gasped at that bit of information, but her father wasn't budging. Zack was the one who spoke up then. "Don't worry about it, sweetheart. I'd be glad to help out."
"But… but we've only got a few days here!" Tifa protested, giving her mother a pleading look.
"Hon," her mother started, looking at her father. "Let the children go out and have fun."
"The man already said that he would help me. How would it look if he went back on his word now?" Tifa's father asked pointedly, turning to pin Zack with an intimidating look.
"It'll be fine. With both of us working on the roof, we'll be done in no time," Zack said, trying to placate Tifa.
"Fine," she said, giving her father a half-glare. "But I'm coming to get him by lunch time and then I'm taking him off to see the sights. Besides, it still looks as if it's going to rain," she said stubbornly.
"Then we shall work as fast and as efficiently as possible, won't we boy?" asked Tifa's father.
Zack just nodded and squeezed Tifa's hand under the table, trying to let her know that he was okay with what her father was doing. Tifa sighed and finally conceded. She supposed that it really was her father's twisted way of getting to know the man that she was in love with. She just hoped that Zack didn't end up with some sort of bodily injury.
……
"Shit," he hissed for the fifth time in under thirty minutes. His thumb was red, almost bleeding, and the nail sitting over the roof shingle seemed to be mocking him.
"What was that?" asked Tifa's father from a distance away.
"Uh… nothing sir. I was just talking to myself," Zack replied, trying to angle the hammer in a way that would not smash his finger again. Though he was savvy in more than ten fighting techniques and could wield a sword almost as tall as Tifa, he had never been good at fixing or building things. His stepfather had attempted to show him how to repair a few loose boards in his tree house, and well… things hadn't gone as planned and he had ended up at the emergency room with stitches on his hairline.
Tifa's father watched him with veiled amusement as Tifa's boyfriend worked on the same nail he had been attempting to hit for the last thirty minutes. When he had made his daughter leave the young man behind, it had been more to keep an eye on him than to actually get him to fix the roof. It was true that he had needed to fix the roof, but things weren't as bad as he had made it out to be when Tifa had attempted to negotiate once more before she had left with her mother.
It was quite amusing to see that the young man perched on the roof across from him was having trouble with basic construction. He bit back a chuckle and remained with his impassive face. "Are you having trouble there, son?"
"No… no," Zack said evasively. He finally let the hammer go and jumped to his feet as he let out a loud 'whoop' when the nail went right in. "I mean… uh, is there anything else I can help with?" Zack asked, rubbing his thumb behind his back, a grin on his face.
Tifa's father let out an amused laugh and then nodded. "I'm starting to think that Tifa finally found the perfect man to take care of her. Though it does worry me that you wouldn't know the basics of construction," he said sternly, his dark maroon eyes glinting in the sun.
Zack let out a laugh and shrugged his shoulders once. "I really have tried, but I guess construction tools and I just don't get along."
"Fine," said the older man, tipping his hat up a little, to better look at him. "What is it that you do, Zack Fair?"
"I'm a SOLDIER," Zack replied. "First class."
"Really?" asked Mr. Lockhart in surprise. "You're certainly more impressive than the last idiot she brought home."
Zack hadn't ever thought he would, but he found himself pitying Cloud in that moment. It was quite obvious that Tifa's father had a strong dislike for the other man. Instead he smirked. "Thank you, sir."
"If there is something of truth about a SOLDIER's strength, I'd like you to help me move some bricks from the shed in the back to the garage. I wanted to build a barbeque myself, but the ladies were right when they said that it looked like it would rain. Afterwards, there are some logs in the back in need of getting chopped. I reckon you would know how to do that without the danger of cutting off your fingers?"
"Consider it done," Zack said, thankful to get away and to do something that he at least knew he could handle. He'd be chopping wood with an axe, and though a more primitive weapon compared to his buster sword, it still had a blade that he knew how to work with. He jumped clean off the roof and realized that he must've given the old man a scare, since they had been standing on the roof of the two story home.
Mr. Lockhart raced to the edge and peered down at him. "Are you showing off or attempting to give me a heart attack?" he yelled.
"Sorry!" Zack called in embarrassment. "It just seemed faster to get down here that way," he said before waving and walking off towards the shed in the backyard.
By the time Tifa and her mother left her aunt's home, it was already past midday. They walked slowly back towards the home she had grown up in. Her town had grown since the last time she had been there, Tifa mused. She and her mother stopped by a few shops on the way and Tifa bought a few bracelets for Aerith, and a new headband for Yuffie. She also bought a few other trinkets for Vincent, Barret, Shera and Cid. She even bought a handmade blanket for little Troy.
As they came upon her old home, Tifa and her mother walked towards the backyard to see if her father and Zack were done with the roof. She faltered in her steps as they turned the corner of the house and both her and her mother caught sight of Zack chopping wood, shirtless, and sweaty.
"Wow," her mother murmured.
"Yeah," Tifa replied absently, watching as beads of moisture trailed down Zack's toned abs and pecs. Her fingers twitched with the need to touch said muscles, to feel the smooth silk over hard steel. Zack was truly a beautiful man to look at and touch—and often to taste—but those thoughts were inappropriate when her parents were so close by. Tifa realized that her mother hadn't stopped staring either. "Mama!" she exclaimed.
Her mother cleared her throat and look flustered. "Sorry dear. It's just that… well… do I even have to elaborate?" she asked, waving a slim hand towards Zack.
"You have dad," Tifa muttered with a smirk.
"Yes, well… it's been years since your father looked like that," her mother said, mirroring her devious look. At the look on Tifa's face she shook her head. "Don't you dare tell your father I said that!"
"Of course," Tifa said with a chortle.
"You know, my dear, sweet Tifa, I think you and I need to have that talk," said her mother calmly.
"I know all about that talk and what it entails, mom," Tifa said offhandedly. At her mother's inquisitive glance Tifa blushed and fumbled with her rushed excuse. "Of course I've heard it before mom."
"Honey," said her mother, smiling at her. "I think you should know that I shouldn't have been wearing a white wedding gown when I married your father either," she said smugly.
Tifa gasped out a laugh. "Did you get a taste of the cake before the wedding?" she asked, too amused to be mortified by her mother's admission.
Her mother just smiled and tapped a finger to her own lips in a signal of silence. "I'll still expect you to wear white to your own wedding," she said.
"Of course," Tifa said happily, hugging her mother warmly before they stepped fully into the backyard and made their presence known. "I'm here to take my boyfriend back from your clutches," she said, walking over to where her father was sitting, under a patio umbrella, sipping a lemonade, and reading a book. "That's called 'boyfriend exploit,' you know."
"What is?" her father asked innocently, raising his eyebrows at her as she wrapped him in a hug too.
"You sitting here, while he works away under the hot sun," Tifa said, her eyes lingering on Zack's ass as he bent over to retrieve another log. "I'm off with him to see the sights," she said before prancing off to tap Zack's shoulder and kiss his cheek.
"She looks happy, doesn't she?"
Lockhart looked at his wife and nodded. "She does," he admitted, watching with a bemused smile as Zack grabbed her around the waist and twirled her in his arms as Tifa laughed brightly. He could tell that it wasn't a show that the young man was attempting to put on for their sakes. They were both in love. "My little girl has grown up," he said with a sad smile.
"She has," said Mrs. Lockhart. "The best we can do is be happy with her and give her our support. Besides, I'm just itching for a couple of grandbabies," she said with a smile, wrapping his hand in hers.
"Hmm… in any case, I like him better than that little scrawny punk who used to live next door," he muttered.
…
"So… you and my dad bonded a little?" Tifa asked as they hiked up a trail, deeper into the woods together.
Zack shrugged and gave her a roguish grin. "Kinda. I think he got a kick out of the fact that I spent fifteen minutes trying to hammer a nail."
Tifa laughed. "You're serious," she said. He showed her his thumb for proof. "Oh, poor baby," she said, kissing his thumb lightly.
"I have a few other aches that need kissing," Zack said, blue eyes mischievous as he wrapped an arm around her waist and they walked up a slope of dirt.
"I'll think about kissing those once we're at our destination," Tifa said, enjoying the fresh, afternoon air. Even though the dark clouds hadn't left, they had parted for the moment to allow some sunlight through. The air around them was cool, but that wouldn't be a problem unless they decided to go higher and towards the mountains.
Zack's eyes took in all the wilderness and he smiled. It was a touch different from Gongaga, but he felt right at home. He had always loved nature. He enjoyed breathing in clean air and watching wild animals scatter about as they passed by. Though the ground was a rough trail, it hadn't been a problem for the both of them yet.
Tifa seemed to know exactly where she was going and Zack had to admire that after some time of being gone from her town, she still knew her way around. Though what he found more interesting was her choice of attire. She was in a pair of hiking boots, a tiny skirt with suspenders, and a white tank top that showed some very appealing skin around her stomach and waist.
When he'd asked her why she'd opted for those clothes, she'd replied that they were easier to remove. The way she said it, the nonchalant expression on her face, had made him giddy in anticipation. Personally, he thought that the suspenders were a very sexy touch and he'd found himself attempting to control the urge to just have his way with her up against a tree.
The finally reached the end of the lines of surrounding trees and came to a clearing that overlooked a small chasm where there was a lake with a waterfall opposite from where they were. Zack then realized that right below them—at about twenty, maybe thirty feet— was the clear blue water. The trail continued downwards to where it turned into a rocky ground and it made for a perfect place to sit and dip their feet into the water. "It's beautiful," he said quietly.
Tifa smiled in appreciation, but her smile quickly turned teasing. "What? The view or me?"
Zack let out a deep, content chuckle and looked at her shining eyes. "Both of you." his gaze strayed off to make sure that there were no wild animals about, or that there wouldn't be any place for peeping toms to spy on them. He looked up curiously at the sound of rustling clothing and he blinked in shock when he realized that Tifa was pulling off her clothes. "You-you're seriously going skinny dipping?" he asked, his eyes wandering as she pulled off her top.
Tifa continued until she was bare of all clothing and nodded, shaking out her hair. "What's the problem? Wasn't this your idea?" she asked before walking up towards the very edge of the cliff.
"What are you doing?!" he asked in alarm when he realized her intentions.
"Grab my clothes and meet me at the bottom, won't you?" she asked before diving right off.
Zack's heart nearly stopped—realizing what the old man had probably felt when Zack had jumped off of the roof—and he ran to the edge to see Tifa rise up from the water, swimming on her back. "I'm waiting!" she called, her voice echoing off of the rock walls.
He didn't need to be told twice. Grabbing her clothes and boots, he set off at a quick and easy run down the dirt path, kicking up the small rocks under his feet in his haste. He was at the edge of the lagoon within a minute, already pulling off his clothes. He nearly fell headfirst when he got tangled in his pants, and Tifa's sweet laughter reverberated around them once more.
Zack swam out to her side quickly and pulled her into his arms. "Do you have any idea how incredibly sexy that was?" he asked as kept them both afloat once she wrapped her shapely legs around his waist.
Tifa smiled and leaned forward to take his lower lip between her teeth, using her hands to pour water over his head and over their faces. With his spikes flattened, he looked undeniably cute and she wrapped her arms around his neck for a kiss. "How do you like this place so far?" she asked him once they pulled back a little.
"I've only been here one day but I already love it. Your mother and I need to have more time to talk, but I think your father and I have come to some silent understanding. He kept asking me random questions while I worked on chopping wood," Zack said in amusement. "I think he's a closeted Sephiroth fan."
Tifa laughed at that. "I always knew that dad read the sections about SOLDIERs in the newspaper before I did," she said, trailing her hands across his smooth, broad shoulders. "Thank you for humoring him."
"Hey, I can understand that all he wants is for you to be happy. At least we share that in common," Zack said lightly, brushing his lips across the moisture on her own shoulder, skimming lightly with his teeth. Her hair floated around her shoulders and he took a handful to bring her back up to his lips.
Tifa smiled to herself at his words and closed her eyes to savor his lips. Kissing Zack could possibly be one of her most favorite things in the world. She was incredibly happy to be back home, that her father had warmed up even a little towards Zack, and that her mother approved of him too. It made her entire world complete.
Zack started when he felt something wet roll down his cheek. He frowned and pulled away, wondering what had brought Tifa to tears. To his relief, she wasn't crying. Instead, she was gazing at him with a look of so much love and happiness that it almost made his heart stop. The water around them was cool, but the surface that wasn't being broken by their floating bodies was rippling gently around them with the soft falls of raindrops. He hadn't even realized that the sunlight was gone and the clouds had moved in so blanket Nibelheim with a light drizzle.
"I guess the sun doesn't want us to play today," Tifa said with a little smile, brushing a kiss to his cheek.
"It doesn't matter if it's raining," Zack whispered against her ear, delighting in her shiver. "Besides, who knows when we'll be allowed to be alone again. I get the feeling that your dad will be keeping a close eye on us."
Tifa had to smile at his words. "You mean you want to…" she trailed off and Zack nodded. "…here in the rain?"
"Here in the lake while it rains," Zack whispered, beginning to press hot, open mouthed kisses against her jaw and neck.
There was no way she would give him a negative response, especially not with the way his hot lips were beginning to work her body as they moved back towards shore. Zack forgot all about peeping toms, or wild animals, he knew that he would protect Tifa with his life from whatever threatened her. He would gladly give his life for the woman he already considered the other half of his soul.
He knew that there were many things left for Tifa to do while they stayed in Nibelheim, but he was glad to be there with her, sharing it all. He still had yet to see the inside of her room, or listen to embarrassing stories about her. For now though, he would worry about the way her body was beginning to tremble against him, of how she tasted of rain and smelled like nature, trees.
There would be time enough to worry about the rest of the world later, after he had satisfied his craving to taste the raindrops on her lips.
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It took me forever to write something and it wasn't because of a lack of what to write, it was just that I was going through another slump when all I wanted to do was read fiction. I hope this chapter was good, since I really did enjoy writing it myself. All I hope is that it isn't too disjointed or rambly. Now, for the next chapter, Zack will cause a bit of mischief before they return back home, there will be a bit more from our other pairings, and we'll see if Zack really does get along with Tifa's dad. There's roughly about two or three more chapters left to this story, since it wasn't supposed to be so long to begin with, but it's almost over. I'll wrap up with a nice little ending that I've thought out since the beginning, and this story will officially end.
Always, thank you so much to everyone who reads and reviews this story. It makes me happy to see that this story has been enjoyed so far. If ever I don't get a chance to reply, know that it isn't because I don't want to, but because I haven't gotten the chance to. Also, please ignore the errors, I will try to get to them tomorrow. Either way, thank you for reading my story. I hope everyone enjoyed and that you're having a good week. I'll try my best to update soon!
Joey
