A/N: My first story with Zack as the main character begins. Riku's booty nor figure will ever be the same! Wish me luck! Vincent is Riku's grandfather, due to Sephiroth being his father. Read Ch. 7 of "Sora's Flurry of Dancing Flames" to get the full scoop. Vincent Valentine and Zack Fair are from Final Fantasy 7. Originally published 1/09/09. Revised 2/19/09. 2nd Revision 7/23/09.

Fandom: Kingdom Hearts

Summary: Zack's awake and looking for the one who called him back. Riku didn't even know he picked up the phone.

Pairings: Zack/Riku, Cloud/Leon, Cid/Vincent, Past Sephiroth/Zack

Warnings: Shonen-Ai, Zack being Zack, Best Friend Crazy! Cloud, Maternal Leon, Stuck-Up Riku, Protective Vincent, CID! And Cid-inspired cursing, Ref. to Character Death, Mpreg (Blame the Mako)

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this fan fiction.

Chapter 1 - A Fine How-Do-You-Do

XXX

"It's not what it looks like!" Zack Fair shot up in bed automatically waving his hands in a 'Don't hurt me!' gesture.

Leon, who had been softly petting Zack's spiky hair, quickly drew back. "You alright? You took a mighty big fall there."

Zack's deep blue, almost purple, glowing eyes lit up the room. The orbs fastened onto the Lion's kind face.

Smiling sheepishly, Zack scratched the back of his head. "Yeah. I knew I would fall, once someone finally got through. Didn't know it would be that hard. Yeesh. Good thing for enhancements."

Beautiful eyes widening, Zack looked straight down. He breathed a big sigh of relief, when he found himself wearing a pair of borrowed boxers. He then slightly scrunched his nose up.

Borrowed boxers. Ick.

"You were First Class. Weren't you?"

Grinning, Zack quickly held out a hand to be shaken. "Zack Fair, First Class SOLDIER, at your service! And you are?"

"My former name was Squall Leonhart. I'm married now. My name's Leon Strife. I am very glad to finally meet you. Cloud has nothing but good things to say about you."

Zack jumped up from the bed. Seemingly completely healed from his dramatic fall, he whirled around the empty room, as if Cloud would pop out of the wall at any moment. "Spiky? Where the heck is that Chocobo-head?"

Sensing his best friend had finally woken up, Cloud opened the door, entering with a soft smile on his face.

Aerith following right behind.

With the smile that had seduced all of Shinra, Zack welcomed Cloud, enclosing the now sobbing ex-SOLDIER in a much-missed glomp. "Aw, Spiky. Don't cry. Puppy's back and ready to live life! Sorry ya had to wait so long. I was waiting for Seph to call me back. Damned Darkness. He never heard me. Guess someone else did, because here I am!"

"Not like I used to be Zack. I'm messed up in my head. Really messed up."

Zack backed up slightly, with an uncharacteristic frown. Crouching down, he peered into Cloud's troubled, tear-filled eyes. "Yeah, ya got a couple more there than before. Hey! I'm still in there too! Go me!"

Cloud laughed and sobbed at the same time.

Hugging Cloud again, Zack directed his attention back to a beaming Leon. "You'll be okay, Spiky. Got the Missus with ya now! He'll steer you right."

Leon sat on the bed, with a crying Aerith by his side.

Letting Cloud go, after a kiss to the head, Zack walked over to Leon.

Getting down on his knees, Zack gently took a surprised Leon's hands, and kissed them both. He then looked up with a gaze of sorry Puppy eyes. "I tried to stop him. I tried real hard. Even then Seph couldn't hear me. Seph said I was the reason he wanted to die. But when he died, his soul passed me by. He didn't even look at me."

Smiling in thanks, Leon kissed the top of a sad Zack's head. "I don't blame you, Zack. Actually, when he attacked me, you're the reason he backed off. He said your name. I believe he did hear you a little bit. I'm sorry you weren't able to say goodbye to him."

Zack kept his humble head lowered. However, his attention was quickly diverted to a certain green-eyed former flame.

Giggling, a teary-eyed Aerith clapped her hands together.

Springing up, Zack picked Aerith up, and swung her around. "And you! Ms. Naggity-Nag-Leave-Me-High-And-Dry! Am I glad to see you! When you disappeared from the Lifestream, I was scared I'd never see you again!"

"Well, I was surprised as anyone to wake up alive. It's wonderful. Isn't it?"

Gently setting Aerith down, Zack kissed her glowing cheek. He firmly held on to petite shoulders. "Yeah. It's the best. Gotta help me, Beautiful. Haven't been alive for a long time."

"I'll be happy to."

Of course, the Puppy's attention could never hold on to one thing for long.

Once more, Zack's eyes darted around. Sharp nose lifted high, sniffing the air.

Rubbing Leon's lower belly, Cloud asked the question that was on everyone's minds. Including Zack's. "Zack? What are you searching for?"

Zack held up one large hand. At the best of times, he found it hard to keep focused on one thing. This mission would take all the Puppy's slim mental resources. "Someone called me, Spiky. Someone needs me. I need them too."

"Zack? What do you mean?"

With a sly grin, Zack looked back down to Cloud. "You got hitched. I am too. I had a lot of time to think, floating around in the Lifestream. I'm gonna get married and have myself a big litter. Maybe two! Puppy's back, and he's gonna live life to the fullest! Now gangway! I gotta find my Mate!"

Punching one fist into the air, Zack took off running, leaving a stunned group of friends behind him.

"Cloud. You should follow him."

"Okay, Squall. But I have to tell you, I was never good at controlling Zack. It's almost impossible. He wouldn't even listen to Sephiroth when he was in full General mode."

"I understand, Cloud. It's just that he's running around barefoot, with only a pair of my boxers on. I'm afraid he's going to scare the children."

Releasing a deep sigh, Cloud kissed Leon's cheek, before he left to, once again, follow his gleeful best friend into the unknown.

"Hey, Aerith?"

Walking towards the front door, Aerith slightly turned towards Leon.

"Was Zack Fair always this… exuberant?"

Laughing out loud, Aerith hooked her arm through a puzzled Leon's, after he followed her outside. "Oh, Little Brother. Zack's just getting started."

XXX

"Grandfather. I don't understand. I'm focusing my Darkness and shooting it as straight as I can. It's still going the wrong way."

Standing behind his newly found grandson, Vincent Valentine slightly adjusted Riku's sword arm. "You must think of it as a gun instead of a sword. There will always be a recoil. The more power condensed. The stronger the recoil shall be. You must compensate it with your aim. Be patient, My Childe. With much practice, it shall become second nature.

"As you say, Grandfather. I'll try again."

"Patience and practice, Riku. Let the Darkness flow naturally."

Standing in front of the old Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee's Headquarters, Riku focused his Darkness energy, and attempted to shoot true.

With Sora now married to Reno, and Riku now alone again, he had decided to focus on his Darkness training full-time.

With his Grandparents' help, Riku tried to keep his depression down, but he found it harder and harder with each passing day. He was afraid he would be alone forever.

Unbeknownst to Riku, his borrowed-boxer-clad Light was running directly his way.

XXX

Cloud had lost Zack's trail at the Bailey.

Closing his eyes, Cloud used his enhanced hearing to find his wayward best friend.

Ten seconds later, Cloud's eyes popped open.

Alarmed, Cloud ran for the Committee's old meeting house.

When he arrived, Cloud wished to say he had never seen such a scene unfolding before him. Unfortunately, he had. Numerous times in the past.

Each time included a happy Zack Fair.

Clang! Clang!

"Let go of me, you perverted oaf!"

Clang! Clang!

"Put me down!"

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Zack had jubilantly picked up a snarling Riku by the waist and was currently dancing a victory dance. His face beaming like the sun.

Riku, on the other hand, was growling and hitting the top of Zack's oblivious spiky-haired head with the flat side of Way To The Dawn.

Zack's grin became wider, when he spied a weary-faced Chocobo. "Spiky! Look what the Gods gave me! A Mini-Seph! A Baby Angel! Pocket-sized and easy-to-travel with!"

Clang! Clang! Clang!

"Country bumpkin! I said put me down!"

Clang! Clang!

"Aw, Cloud! He even shows the love like Seph used to! Think if I kiss him he'll stab me in the butt too?"

Hearing the familiar chambering of Cerberus's rounds, Cloud's gaze hastily moved over to Vincent. He ran over to the frowning former Turk.

Vincent continued to ready his gun, not bothering to look up at the spectacle taking place before him. "Strife. Give me one good reason why I should not blow this man's head off."

Clang! Clang! Clang!

"Aw! Don't be that way, Baby! You're supposed to be sweet to me when we first meet. Then, after we're married, you can hit me all ya want!"

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

"Like I would marry you! You not wearing any clothes! I bet you don't even have a job! Unemployed bum!"

Clang! Clang!

"Give me time, Baby Angel! Just fell from the sky! I'm good husband material! Honest! Just ask Spiky!"

Clang! Clang! Clang!

"Yeah. Trust that lunatic's word? I'm not hearing anymore! Let go!"

"Strife. Give me a reason, or I shoot to kill."

Clang! Clang!

"Vincent, wait! I'm thinking!"

"OWW! You animal! You bit me!"

"Yum! Tastes just like peppermint!"

Since Zack's doings weren't helping his muddled mind at all, Cloud tried to block the former Turk's view.

Undeterred, Vincent raised Cerberus at Zack's smiling face. "You know, Cloud. I can shoot around you."

"Oh yeah. Forgot about that."

All activity halted, when an irritated bellow erupted from inside the Committee House. "What the fuck's goin' on out there!?! Can't a man drink his fuckin' tea in Goddamn peace!?!"

Cid Highwind stomped out of the House. His ol' Venus Gospel at the ready. Jaw slightly dropping at the sight which met his eyes.

Swearing a blue streak, the Captain pointed the spear at the wide-eyed almost-naked man holding his growling grandson. "Put mah grandson down and back the fuck up, Mister! If yer who ah think you are, ya know better than to treat kinfolk that way! Ah'd ask if you were brought up in a hut. Accordin' to Strife, you were."

Hearing the booming voice of countrified authority, Zack slowly released Riku, and backed away.

Riku wished to be brave-faced, but the guy seemed sort of crazy, so he ran to his Grandfather Vincent.

Hastily pushing Riku behind him, Vincent pointed Cerberus at Zack's head.

Zack quickly held his hands up. "Hey! Don't shoot! Just got done bein' dead."

Zack stared a little longer at Vincent.

Glowing eyes squinting in thought, Zack lowered his hands. "Um. By the way, have you been in a coffin lately?"

Vincent answered the question with a shot at Zack's bare feet.

Dancing in place, Zack hastily put his hands back up. "You're right, Sir! None of my business!"

Walking up to a round-eyed Zack, Cid looked him up and down.

Zack grinned winningly.

Cid snorted. "Don't be shinin' yer sunshine at me. Heard what ya said before. Wanna come a'courtin' mah grandson."

"Uh, Yeah. I mean yes. I mean… uh."

"Son, ya don't even got britches on."

Zack scratched the back of his head with a confused look on his face. He had been so set on finding his Mate. He always forgot the little details. In his defense, he didn't think he would meet the family so soon.

Turning away, Cid gestured his head from Cloud back to Zack. "Take this sad boy back to yer house and get some clothes on 'im."

With a firm nod, Cloud moved towards a now woebegone Zack.

Zack looked towards Riku, who was gazing wide-eyed back at him.

Making soft whimpering noises, Zack whined piteously. "But, Spiky! I want!"

"Later, Zack. You heard Cid. We have to put clothes on you."

"Then can I see my Baby Angel again?"

"Yes, Zack. With Cid and Vincent chaperoning, you can see Riku again."

Zack bounced with joy.

Catching Riku's confused, somewhat scared gaze, Zack's inner Light became blinding. "I'll be back, Honey! Next time I'll be wearing pants!"

Riku shuddered, while Cloud led the crazy man away. "Grandfather?"

Vincent embraced his grandson. "Yes, Riku?"

"Um. Did Grampa Cid court you the same way?"

Coming up behind Riku, Cid clapped him reassuringly on the shoulder.

Over Riku's lowered head, Vincent's loving gaze met Cid's amused one. "Well, My Childe. At the time, the Captain was at least wearing pants."