A/N: Hi everyone!! Thank you so much for the kind reviews!! It made me very happy! :) Here's chapter 2! Hope I don't disappoint..

--

"Hey you invited blond spiky!" Barret bumped fists with Zack as he came out from the kitchen to greet them.

"Yeah... he came with the house, so no option there." Zack grinned, Barret laughed.

"Ha. Ha." Cloud sarcastically said, giving them one of his many glares. Barret was the security force in Shinra. He commanded all the guards the place had in every floor and he spent most of the day in the security cameras video room looking at all the movement inside and out the building. He took his job very seriously and he was good friends with Zack because the latter had recently helped him with a few anger cases Barret had in hands. Barret didn't waste an opportunity to mess with Cloud with whom he had developed a healthy rivalry.

"Hey Zack!" Tifa greeted him as the birthday boy approached her. She half hugged him and handed him the champagne bottle and his present. "It's from both of us." She tilted her head towards Cloud who blinked but went along Tifa's excuse, nodding. At least she was there to save him.

"Aww you didn't have to." Zack said, Cloud rolled his eyes. Deep down he knew that if he ever forgot to get him something he wouldn't hear the end of it. He had to thank Tifa later for that one. Zack eagerly opened the bag and took out a brand new leather wallet from inside. "Hey, wow! Thank you so much! You know mine is all ragged from the use of it! Nailed it you guys!"

People started coming in in groups after that, so they just left the door open. For someone who enjoyed the quietness and solitude of his life, Zack's birthday party was probably the most dreaded day in Cloud's calendar. He had to lock up his bedroom so no one would get any ideas of going in there and basically sit in a corner just drinking and watching the hours go by in hope that the party would be over soon. Tifa sometimes joined him, tried to make him dance with her but he would just shake his head, half laughing at her for trying to make him dance.

There were people he kind of knew, like Cissnei, Zack's intern, responsible for his schedule and the booking of his appointments. She was nice enough and Cloud often felt sorry for her for having to put up with Zack, scheduling his dates as well. She also ran his errands, picked up his clothes from laundry, took his phone calls, got him coffee, sent flowers to his girl friends, the usual stuff in Zack's life.

Vincent was there, he was Zack's senior lawyer colleague, he was older than them and Cloud couldn't help wonder what he was doing there, he seemed a bit out of place but in the end, Cloud reached to the conclusion that everybody there was there for their buddy Zack.

Like when Angeal and Kunsel came through the door and the party's energy levels shot up. These were his buddies from law school and they immediately sandwiched Zack as soon as they laid eyes on him, rubbing his hair and patting his shoulders happily telling him he was getting old and he should finally settle down with some mature girl. Cloud snickered as he heard them, as if Zack would ever settle.

Speaking of Zack, as soon as he got rid of the enthusiastic duo, he found Cloud leaning against the wall, away from the commotion of people talking and drinking, listening to the music bursting from the stereo speakers. He wrapped his arm around the blond's shoulder, cheeks red, eyes glazed, a wide grin on his lips, he was already hammered.

"Having fun?" He handed Cloud a new glass of a drink.

"Sure." Cloud grimaced at the weight of his friend leaning on him.

"Hey guys!" Cissnei was casually passing by and stopped to talk to them. "Great party Zack. It's my first one but I mean, I heard about it from people that already been to your birthday parties and man were they right!"

"Thank you. I'm glad someone is having fun." Zack tightened his arm around Cloud's neck, the blond gasped. "Right buddy?"

"I said I was having fun!" Cloud complaint breaking lose from his grip.

"You guys are funny." Cissnei laughed. "Anyway Zack, I've replaced your chips bowls with new ones."

"Thanks Cissnei, you're a life saver." Zack winked at the girl who winked back and left to talk to someone else.

"You know she's not your maid." Cloud shot him a judgemental look.

"Nah, Cissnei is the best." Zack waved a hand. "She doesn't mind doing these things. I'll make it up to her later, buy her dinner or something like that. She's cool."

Zack looked around their place with a proud smile on his lips. He loved seeing his friends there having fun, especially Cloud. He knew his blond friend wasn't really social and he did these kinds of parties so others could meet a different side of Cloud he so much cherished. He was still looking around when suddenly his eyes landed on someone who had just walked in through the door.

"Aww man, I think I'm in love." Cloud turned at his raven haired friend who slightly straightened up and ran a free hand through his hair looking straight ahead. Zack pronounced those words about five times a year when some girl really hit him hard so he wasn't surprised. Cloud followed his gaze to meet his friend's next target and immediately saw her at the door.

Hair tied up in a pink ribbon this time, pink short sleeved dress with a denim jacket over her shoulders, and a big bouquet of yellow flowers in her hands. She stood there at the door in the middle of the bustle of people around her. She looked around trying to find someone she knew when Cissnei reached her first.

"Ribbons!!!!" They heard the younger girl call her and taking her hand to go to the kitchen and get her a drink.

"Well buddy, see you around. Have fun ok? Lots of..." He hiccuped. "People here to talk to." He patted Cloud's shoulder and went ahead towards the kitchen.

"Yeah..." Cloud rolled his eyes and downed the drink his friend had given him. He needed a lot of that to survive through the night. Especially now that he saw her. His frown deepened.

"Wow you look like you're having lots of fun." Tifa sarcastically said, reaching up to him from behind. Bumped his shoulder.

"Thank you. You know how I love these things." He replied back in a monotone.

"You could lighten up a bit though." She ruffled his hair with a hand and he immediately slanted away from her. "Hey I have a question, how come your neighbors don't complain about the noise?"

"Because they're here too?" Cloud pointed with a finger of the hand that held his glass, in the direction of a group of older people who were slightly bending and straightening their knees in an attempt to dance at the sound of the music.

"Really?" Tifa's eyes widened in surprise. "That's priceless, only Zack could pull this off."

"He's so nice to everyone, everybody just goes along."

"Okay everyone!" They were interrupted by Zack who stood on top of the coffee table, stretched arms in the air to make an announcement. "Shots round and then cake!" He called out and everyone cheered in unison. Kunsel and Angeal came from the kitchen carrying two trays of shot glasses to spread around while Barret struggled with a match in the counter separating the kitchen from the living room where the birthday cake was displayed, to light its candles.

"I better go help Barret." Tifa left him.

Cloud downed his shot and grimaced at its bitter taste. His vision was blurry by this time around so when he looked up as everyone started singing Zack his birthday song, he saw the pen girl walking in his direction, softly pushing people on her way there so she wouldn't get squished. A soft smile on her lips, those deep green eyes of hers looking directly at him and carrying one yellow flower from the bouquet she brought with her, in her hand. He rubbed his eyes and opened them wide, trying to focus his sight, then looked back to check if there was someone behind him or she was really coming to meet him. Why?

"Hiya!" she reached him. Unfortunately for Cloud he swayed forward a little off balance. She pressed a hand against his chest as his forehead got a bit too close to hers and helped him straighten up. She giggled and he groaned.

"Sorry." He whispered as his voice caught up in his throat and shook his head to get a hold of himself.

"That's ok." She smiled. "I imagine it takes a lot of this..." she pointed at the empty glass shot in his hand. "To get through this." Her hands lifted up gesturing at their surroundings. The noise raised as everyone started clapping and cheering as Zack blew his candles.

"Yeah..." Cloud breathed. "Something like that."

"I hope I can help. This is for you." She chuckled and placed the yellow flower she carried in his t-shirt pocket.

"Stop giving me things." He scoffed and looked to the side, away from her gaze.

"Can't help it." She lifted a hand to his chin, made him softly turn his head at her again. "You look like someone who needs the things I give you." He frowned, she smiled.

"How is this going to help?" He blinked as he glimpsed at the yellow foreign object in his pocket. Couldn't help feeling his neck hot with her eyes studying him so intently.

"Well, it can brighten your night." She cheerfully said. Her hands clasped together at her back, her feet tip toed a bit towards him. Cloud felt a sudden twist in the pit of his stomach at her cheerfulness. She was too lively, too sweet, too kind, too much. He exhaled hopelessly.

Suddenly they heard someone near them pop a bottle of champagne open, sending its foam all around almost landing on them if Cloud's reflexes didn't immediately activate and he didn't pull her slightly away from the white splash. Still, he couldn't prevent some of the foam from landing on his arm as he covered her away.

"Oh!" She exclaimed. "Wait, let me just..." she looked around and reached for some napkins carefully placed at the top of the nearest cabinet. She cleaned the bubbly liquid from his arm, holding it still with her free hand, her bangles bumped lightly on her wrists. He slightly cringed at her touch. "It's ok. I don't bite." She stuck her tongue out, smiling mischievously. "Much." His gaze darted up and their eyes met, she grinned, he looked away with a sigh.

"Hey Aerith!" Zack approached them from the horde of people inside their apartment, placed one arm around Cloud for balance. "You look beautiful tonight."

"He really does doesn't he?" Aerith laughed glancing at Cloud, it could be the alcohol in his blood but Cloud noticed a tinge of nervousness in her laugh as she avoided Zack's remark.

"Ha! You got me there. Though my friend here is a handsome one, I was actually talking about you miss." Zack took her hand which she patted with her other one. "I'm glad you're here tonight." Zack turned to Cloud. "She's so funny."

"I'm really glad you invited me!" She smiled, she was always smiling, Cloud thought. Someone called Zack, he turned and waved a hand gesturing he would be there in a second.

"Next time I won't invite so many people, it's too crowded in here." He said. "Anyway, love you guys." And he waved them goodbye to go meet the ones calling him.

"He says that every year and every year it seems there's more and more people here." Cloud rolled his eyes. He was about to move to a different spot when he contorted slightly feeling nauseous. "Excuse me." He dashed towards the bathroom of the corridor to the bedrooms. Aerith followed behind. Since he left the door open, she entered the bathroom to find him sitting on the bathtub's edge, head down, elbows on his knees. The noise coming from the living room died down a bit as she closed the door behind her.

"You okay?" She asked and reached for a towel. She soaked the towel with fresh water from the washbasin tap and lifted his head up to softly brush the towel on his forehead.

"I'm fine." He wrapped a hand around her wrist, stopping her. He wasn't comfortable with the situation of her being so close. "You don't have to do this."

"Want me to leave?" She asked, her green eyes inquisitive as she looked at his.

"Didn't say that..." He shrugged, let go of her wrist and turned his face away. He wasn't going to admit the freshness of the towel was making him feel better.

"You don't say much." She giggled while continuing to refresh his forehead with the wet towel.

"I'm not Zack." He grunted under his breath.

"Thank goodness you're not." She said. "We couldn't handle two of them now could we?"

He paused, his brain processing her remark. His eyes flickered and his lips curved the slightest tiny bit up.

"Is that an attempt at smiling?" She stopped brushing his forehead to look at his face that immediately he felt burning.

"Let's just..." He stood up and reached for the door. "..go back to the party." He wasn't liking where that talk was going. She was starting to make him nervous, the flutter in his stomach was warning enough for him to step back. He didn't like things to get out of his control, and she was starting to make him feel things he really couldn't quite understand. He didn't let anyone get close, wasn't about to start now.

"Okay." She nodded taking the hint, placed the towel back where it belonged and left the bathroom after him. "I'm going to find Zack and maybe call it a night." She gave him a small smile. "See you around."

As he watched her leave into the crowded living room, his chest tightened. He ran a hand through his hair and breathed out, only noticing then he had been holding his breath in.

"Yo blond spikey!" Barret came out of nowhere. "Thought I saw you come in here. Have a piece of cake." He handed him a piece of Zack's birthday cake in a napkin, patted him on the shoulders. "You're ok sometimes." And as quickly as he appeared, he was gone into the room. Cloud shrugged at the weird moment and took a bite at the cake, his stomach could use some food anyway.

"Prize draw time!" He suddenly heard Kunsel shout enthusiastically above the music noise. Ah, that's right, it was time for the prize draw. Every year Zack did a prize draw for his guests. Upon entering the apartment every guest took a piece of paper with a number on it from a bowl. Later in the evening, Zack would draw a number from another bowl and whomever had the number he had drawn won a prize Zack would then say what it was.

"And the number is..." Cloud heard Zack's voice from all the way to the back of the living room where he stood. "Seven!"

Cloud found it strange no one shouted in surprise. Usually the winner would make himself noticed by yelping and jumping but nobody made a sound as people looked and whispered all around the room. Finding it so strange, Cloud took his number from his jeans pocket, number seven.

Shit.

"Is that you buddy? Cloud?" Zack shouted at him while pointing at the blond from the top of the chair where he stood.

Cloud was about to say no when Cissnei peeked at his hand over his shoulder.

"YES!" She shrieked piercing his ear drum. "It's Cloud! Cloud is number seven!" She continued yelling as she jumped up and down next to him.

"Alright!" Zack cheerfully jumped out of the chair to meet his friend. "And the prize this year is... two tickets to Gold Saucer!" Zack enthusiastically patted Cloud on his shoulder, happily grinning at his friend. "My prizes are getting better each year huh?"

"..." Cloud found himself at a loss for words with all of that. Zack laughed at the dumbfounded expression in the blond's face and stuffed the tickets down his jeans pocket before winking and going back to the party.

Cloud's eyes scanned the place until he saw Tifa talking to Reno and Rude, two of Zack's lawyers from his team, Cloud knew from having had some lunches with them in Shinra's cafeteria while they worked at the same time.

"Sorry guys, kinda need her." He reached for her hand and pulled her away, she only had time to half wave at the two.

"What is wrong with you?" She asked surprised at his sudden need to drag her away. He stopped on his feet and took the drink she had on her other hand, drinking it in one gulp.

"I'm just... tired." He said.

"Can't you just go to your room, shut the door close?" She asked, brushing away a lock of his hair from his eyes.

"That actually sounds nice." He said, his brain processing her words slowly. Sleep is all he needed.

"Want me to come with?" Tifa asked, her eyes wide, her cheeks flustered. She was drunk as well and when they got drunk together sometimes it took them places Cloud really didn't want to go right now.

"No that's ok." He said, he couldn't keep giving her reasons not to find someone else. They had talked about it many times, there wasn't anything there between them but sometimes when loneliness tightened, they would give in to their needs and regret it the day after. Sometimes he thought that she was still single because she was too attached to him to find someone else, he didn't want that for her.

"Hey wait a minute." Her eyes drifted over the flower in his pocket. He looked down at it too, it was still tucked inside his pocket, its velvety yellow petals hanging from its opening. "What is this?" She asked, a placid smile on her lips. "A girl brought these!" She exclaimed remembering she had seen those before in the kitchen. She looked around trying to find the girl. And her eyes landed at her in a pink dress, talking absentmindedly with Zack who was nodding interestedly at her words and smiling widely, Cloud knew only too well that look in his friend's face.

"Did you talk to her?" Tifa asked, snapping him out of his stare.

"What? No, not really." He replied. "Maybe a little."

"Okay. I think I might go there and meet her then." She said and walked their way.

"What, wait. Wait!" He tried to grab her by the arm but as she noticed him following her she hastened her steps towards Zack and Cloud ended up stumbling after her.

"Hi!" Tifa greeted. Cloud was too late, he lightly bumped into Tifa's back and she yelped in surprise.

"Hi!" Zack greeted back laughing at the two. "What are you guys up to?"

"Nothing." Cloud grunted and shot Tifa a glare.

"I don't think we have been introduced, I'm Tifa!" She stretched her hand at Aerith.

"Aerith." She cheerfully replied taking her hand.

"You brought these right?" Tifa asked pointing at the flower in Cloud's pocket.

"Oh you kept it?" She looked over at Cloud, her smile grew bigger. "Yes I brought them."

"Cloud was just telling me about you." Tifa smiled at her.

"Was he?" Aerith raised an eyebrow at the blond.

"Excuse us." Cloud pulled Tifa to the side. "What are you doing?" He half whispered in her ear.

"Nothing, I just wanted to meet her. Is there a problem?" Tifa crossed her arms to her chest, lifted an eyebrow at him.

"No." He sighed. "Just, I don't see the point you would."

"You don't talk to that many people besides us. I was curious."

"She's not, she's just..." Cloud shook his head, pressed two fingers to his temple. "Whatever."

"Now you made them leave." Tifa disappointedly looked over Cloud's shoulder as Zack and Aerith were no longer in the same place they had left them. Turning back, Cloud was just in time to see Zack going into his bedroom, Aerith followed behind him holding his hand.

His heart sank. And he didn't know why that upset him so much but it did.

He passed by Tifa, eyes dark, straight into the kitchen to grab a bottle of anything he could drink.

A/N: Sorry about the cliff... the chapter was so long already, all will be okay next chapter, dear Cloud!