Lilly brought her borrowed motorcycle to a stop at the edge of the woods by her house. She felt like growling as she looked over the sea of tents that covered the grounds around her home. Looked like Zack had managed to get most of Midgar to live on her mountain. Closing her eyes she sighed, dropping her head back, she had hoped she would be alone.

"Kinda figured you would be here today." Opening here eyes Lilly smiled up at Zack stretched out on the tree branch above her like a cat basking in the sun.

"Did you really?" She asked leaning back on her hands on the back of the bike.

"Cloud told me what happened. He was really worried about you." He said pinning her with his bright blue eyes. She just smiled up at him trying to hide the pain crushing her heart.

"You look exhausted." He said jumping down from the tree.

"Just a little." She sighed remaining reclined on the bike.

"Go around the back. Most of the guys are out in the clearing out front beating the hell out of each other." He said crossing his arms over his chest.

Lilly snorted "Men."

Zack watched as Lilly leaned forward and rested her arms on the handlebars of the motorcycle. Taking a step forward he was not surprised when she closed her eyes and began to fall from the bike. Grabbing her before she slipped off the bike completely, he swung his leg over the back and drove it to the back of her home. Lifting her, he carried her to the bedroom and laid her down. Looking down at her, he felt a little anger over the pain he was sure was all Vincent's fault. When Cloud had called and told him what had happened, Zack had been ready to hunt the raven-haired bastard down and slit his throat, but when he had talked to Sephiroth, his anger had dulled a little. Sephiroth had told him that Vincent seemed to be in shock over his actions, and that he truly believed the man really cared for the woman lying on the bed. Turning Zack walked away, hoping Vincent would come to his senses as Sephiroth said he would and admit his feelings for Lilly.

Lilly jerked awake when she felt something hit her in the stomach, snapping her eyes open she met pure blue eyes as a cat stared her down.

"And who are you?" She asked sitting up. The cats apricot ears twitched at the sound of her voice as it continued to watch her almost like it expected her to know what it wanted. Reaching out to touch its fur, Lilly stopped when its ears flattened against its head. Dropping her hand she said, "Got it no touching."

Sitting up further the white cat moved off her to crawl up behind her and lay down on her pillow.

Softly laughing, Lilly shook her head, looked like she had been sleeping where the cat believed its bed was located. Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she looked around her room not sure how she had gotten there. Forcing her body to move, Lilly rose from the bed and headed towards the bathroom. Striping her cloths off Lilly stepped into her shower and turned on the water, allowing it to sooth her sore body. She knew she had needed to take it easy on the trip here, but she had been in so much emotional pain that she had drove nonstop.

Stepping out of the bathroom, she looked over at her bed and smiled. The cat had rolled to its back on her pillow and was now purring contently as the warm sun bathed its body. Turning she walked from the room and headed towards the kitchen where the wonderful aroma of coffee was lightening her mood. Filling a cup, she stepped out the door onto the porch.

"Morning." Zack said, leaning against the rail.

"Good morning." Lilly answered as she brought the cup to her mouth and took a sip. Groaning with pleasure she said, "Damn this is good."

Zack smiled at her. "Ya it's Sephiroth's favorite brand."

"I'll have to get some," she said looking over the tent city that had taken up residence. Some of the men were wondering around preparing breakfast. "How long was I out?"

"Just from yesterday morning." Zack answered, putting his empty cup down on the rail.

Sighing with relief she was grateful she had only been out for a day. Taking another sip of coffee, she remembered the white surprise in her room. "Who does the cat belong to?"

Zack snickered, "That would be Sephiroth's cat, Nicodemus. I'm sorry but for some reason he decided your room was his bedroom."

"Its okay" She said smiling into her cup. She wasn't surprised the cat had chosen her room; it was the only one that faced the rising sun.

"You're not planning on running off anytime soon, right?" Zack asked with a lopsided grin.

"Of course not." Lilly answered.

"Good, cuz some of the guys want to throw you a welcome home party."

Lilly laughed, "Do as you please."

"Will do." Zack answered looking out over the sea of tents.

Lilly smiled as she watched the sun lightening the night sky, a cup of that excellent coffee resting in her hands. Zack's welcome home party had lasted the whole night and well into the next day before everyone crawled off to bed. How they had managed to bring that much alcohol up to her place still surprised her.

"Good morning sis." Zack said as he came out of the house yawning.

"Good morning." She answered taking another sip of coffee.

"You feeling like a friendly fight?" He asked with his ever-present smile on his face.

Arching an eyebrow she asked, "Just who is going to be in this fight?"

"Just you and me. Got to make sure the scientists didn't make you weak." He said mischievously.

A tinge of anger hit her. "Weak huh. I could still pound your ass into the ground or did you forget."

"Prove it." Zack said grinning wickedly.

Sitting her empty cup on the porch rail she stood, grabbing her swords, Zack picked up his buster sword and jumped from the porch. They passed the open area surrounded by tents were others were beginning their morning constitutionals. Entering the woods Lilly knew the clearing they were headed to. It was the place where she had last fought Vincent. The place where he had first denied her, clutching her hand above the pain in her chest she almost told Zack that she had changed her mind when he had turned swinging his massive sword at her head. Ducking she glared up at him.

"Ready." He said smirking at the glare he was receiving. He knew what he did was a little underhanded but he had felt such a strong sense of sorrow radiating from Lilly in that moment. When he had looked at her over his shoulder and saw the raw pain on her face, he had acted on impulse, knowing her temper often got the better of her. He had not been disappointed; she pulled her swords free, tossing the sheaths towards the edge of the clearing, she launched herself at him.

Vincent had left the group behind hours ago so he could apologize to Lilly for his behavior without them around. The last thing he needed was an audience when he stuttered out the words that rarely crossed his lips. Walking into the house, he was not surprised to find it empty with it being late morning she was probably off sparing with someone. Chaos growled at that stray thought. Seeing a couple of men lounging by a tent, Vincent had questioned them on Lilly's whereabouts. Both had said they saw her heading off in the direction of the waterfall. As he approached the clearing near the waterfall, he heard the sharp noise of metal meeting metal. Jumping into the trees, he found the tallest one and looked down into the clearing in time to see Lilly sliding across the ground. Rolling to her feet, she laughed as she jumped back into the fight with Zack. He jumped high into the air to avoid her, sliding to a stop she dug her feet into the ground and launched into the air. Grabbing his ankle, she spun, throwing him at high speed into the ground. Rocks and dirt exploded into the air from the force of the impact as she fell to the ground, completely obscured by the cloud. Vincent heard her land lightly then run in the direction Zack had landed. There was a sound of skin meeting skin, and then Lilly squeaked, followed by a giggle. Vincent felt Chaos move inside him.

"I didn't hurt you did I?" Lilly asked.

"A little," Zack said, "you could kiss it better."

Chaos hissed. Lilly giggled then there was the sound of a quick kiss. "Better?"

"Yep." Zack laughed.

Another growl from chaos. The wind chose that moment to blow through the area, clearing the dirt cloud. Two bodies came into focus, Lilly on the ground under Zack. That was the last thing Vincent saw as Chaos roared, ripping gout of the darkness to take over completely.

One moment Zack had her pinned to the ground the next he was flying through across the clearing. A roar pierced the air as a winged demon launched at the fallen Zack. Reacting on instinct Lilly jumped between the monster and Zack the she gasped.

"Vincent?" She had only heard him talk about the beast that dwelled within him but now that she was facing him she felt a little frightened. He had told her that he could control the demon but in this moment, it looked like Chaos was in complete control.

Chaos growled at Zack as he rose from the ground, his blue eyes never leaving the demon before him. Those golden eyes unnerved him with the blood lust shining within their depths.

"Zack would you please leave. I think there may have been a misunderstanding." Lilly said not turning to look at her friend for fear Chaos would attack.

"Hell no. This monster will kill you." Zack said raising his sword. Chaos lunged forward only to stop when Lilly wrapped her hand gently around his wrist. Zack was momentarily stunned at how easily she had stopped him, then the beasts eyes met hers, softening slightly before returning to glare at him.

"Leave Zack." Lilly barked, twisting to look at him, she softened her voice. "I'll be fine."

"As you wish." He said reluctantly as he turned to leave. He didn't really want to leave her but he knew that Vincent would not let the demon hurt Lilly.

She said, looking up into his golden eyes as they watched Zack's retreating back. "Vincent?"

His eyes focused on her a moment before he grabbed her and jerked her into a hard kiss. What the hell? Lilly thought gasping at the demon's roughness. Chaos nipped her bottom lip causing her to gasp. Taking advantage, he thrust his tongue into her mouth as she moaned into his mouth. She knew she shouldn't be doing this; Vincent would be so pissed she had taken advantage of the situation, but she couldn't stop herself.

(Sexually explicit content deleted. If you wish to view please go to or and serch for my name: whitetiger)

Lilly's vision slowly cleared up as her breathing began to slow. Wrapping her arms around Vincent, she stroked his back, waiting for his quaking body to calm. Leaning up he looked into her eyes with a questioning look. When she smiled, she saw relief in the red gazing back at her.

"I had come here to apologize for my actions…" Vincent said looking away, not knowing where to go from there.

Lilly giggled, "Apology accepted."

He looked back at her smiling face, his heart melting at the sight of her happiness. Just then, Zack burst through the trees and came skidding to a halt. His face turning a bright shade of red he turned around and stammered, "I'm so sorry but Sephiroth has arrived and an um Shin-Ra chopper is circling the area."

Lilly felt her heart stop as her and Vincent began dressing in a hurry. Bolting past an embarrassed Zack, Lilly ran for her house with Vincent and Zack behind her.