Chapter 2: The morning after.

When Zack awoke the following morning, he was stunned to find himself lying next to Tifa, his arms cradling her sleeping form. They were in the bar's back room, snuggled together on her small twin bed. He silently cursed the alcohol for fogging up his mind. A wry smile crept across his face as he noted that they were both fully dressed.

/Still, I don't remember how we ended up here... well, maybe I've a little idea...

But as he shifted to untangle himself from her, she wrapped one arm around him in her sleep.

He lay back down, slowly. At length he gingerly took hold of her hand that was resting on his chest. A small, delicate hand, marred by a callus at the thumb base. His own, much larger thumb slowly grazed across her knuckles as he listened to her slow, rhythmic breathing.

/I bet only a few people have ever seen these--they're always hiding under those darn gloves of yours...

He lay still until she stirred awake--her eyes widening into saucers when she realized that she was in bed with him. In an unconsciously modest gesture, she pulled the sheet higher up her chest, although she was still wearing her work clothes.

"Zack! What...?"

"Uh...well... heh... I guess we sort of fell asleep together," he replied sheepishly, struggling to suppress an impish grin.

"Did we...? I mean..." she stammered, blushing profoundly.

"Did we have hot, passionate sex, you mean?" He drawled, grinning roguishly at her. "Nah, I'd remember _that_..."

She laughed, at first weakly, then more heartily. "Are you... disappointed?" she finally asked him, leveling her gaze with him momentarily.

"I wouldn't have _minded_," he admitted.

"..."

"I'm sorry, Tifa. I know you're hurting over Cloud, but... you're so beautiful," his lips pulled into a smile that failed to convey any regret.

"It's ok, Zack," she said after a long pause, not looking at him. "I... I thought it wouldn't hurt to forget for a while."

"But _nothing happened_," he protested seriously.

She looked at the carpet, and swallowed hard before mouthing softly. "Something can... now. If... you want."

He was surprised to find himself momentarily speechless.

"What? Huh? Tifa..."

She drew him close, and closed her eyes. It was his turn to tremble fiercely as she hesitantly pressed her lips to his. But something, an alien emotion, suddenly overwhelmed him.

/Damn it, not now. Not like this!

He pushed her away, and stormed out of the bar, knocking over a table as he left.

***************************************

As he strode confidently across Kalm, eyes squinted against the morning sun, Zack was waylaid by a couple of questions.

/What the hell just happened there?

/Hey, I wouldn't normally turn down a lay... especially with her...

/But...

/Goddamn it, I'm nobody's second choice. Not second to Cloud!

/What the _hell_ is she thinking?

He practiced his swordplay with unusual vigor later that night.