Summer Nights

Disclaimer: I own nothing! Everything belongs to their respective owner which is Square Enix.


The buds of May have bloomed. It is a month before the wedding of the year – well as proclaimed by the groom – and everyone was bustling. The venue has been set thanks to their President, Rufus Shinra. He gave the engaged couple a discount on the resort in Costa Del Sol and they gladly accepted. The raven-haired male couldn't contain his happiness and thanked his superior countless times.

The bridal party consisted of Tifa, Yuffie, Elena, and Cissnei, along with little Marlene. They helped Aerith plan the theme of the wedding, coordinated with the wedding planner, and assisted the bride-to-be with her dress. It took a while for them to find the perfect dress but alas, after a few bridal shops, they were able to find an elegant yet simple wedding dress that caught the eye of their brunette friend. The ladies gave their approval with tears in their eyes. If this is how they felt upon seeing Aerith in her wedding dress, Zack is sure to bawl his eyes out, they assured her.

With one month left until the wedding, there is a strange sense of calm washing upon everyone. Everything was set and all they had to was wait and pray that nothing goes awry on the awaited day.

The men had planned a bachelor party for Zack, which he was hesitant to attend but Aerith assured him that it would be fine. The women had also planned a bachelor party for her and had invited Elena and Cissnei to join as well. Zack glanced back as he watched the love of his life offer him a reassuring smile from his living room and closed the door. He looked at his friend, the Chocobo-haired blond, and sighed.

"Come on, Zack. We didn't plan anything promiscuous; I promise you that." Cloud said as he patted his back.

"I know, it's just that… you know how bachelor party gets! I get drunk easily too," he whined as they walked out of the building. He turned to grab his friend, panic showing in his eyes, "Wh-what if I do something wrong?"

"You won't do anything wrong, I'll take care of you," Cloud said as he placed a hand on his shoulder. This seemed to calm his frantic nerves and he loosened his grip on his best friend.

"Ok-okay. Cool, cool. Thanks man, that's why you're my best man," the raven-haired gave a nervous laugh as he took in the night air. "Sephiroth is picking us up right?"

"Yep, according to Tifa, they're arriving in a minute or two," the blond said and glanced at the desolate street in front of him.

A few seconds later a familiar auto pulled to the curve and two figures stepped out. The silver-haired man brought his hand out to his partner and took her hand in his. The raven-haired female tucked a loose hair behind her ear and smiled at him. They turned to the two awaiting figures and gave a small wave.

"Hey, sorry if we're late. There was a bit of traffic near my home." Tifa said as they stopped in front of them, their fingers interlaced.

"It's no biggie! We're glad you guys got here safe," Zack replied and beamed at the two of them. It had almost been a year since the two started to date and he was glad to see his friends happy. It was still quite a sight to see them together and there were many women in their office that loathed Tifa for stealing the silver-haired ex-general. However, once Sephiroth gave them a stern warning, they left her alone whenever she visited him at the office.

"Yes, well I best hurry upstairs," she said as she rummaged through her purse to make sure everything was intact. She turned to Sephiroth and gave him a quick peck on the cheek which he returned the favor. "You boys have fun, okay? Don't do anything stupid."


"We'll make sure he gets back in one piece Tifa," Cloud jokes as he watched the scene unfold before him. Sephiroth gave a small chuckle and a low –yes dear—before hugging her goodbye.

The three males watched her retreating figure go past the entrance and once she was out of sight, Sephiroth gestured for them to follow him to his car. Zack followed closely with Cloud in tow. Sure, it had been almost a year since his best friend started dating the office-proclaimed, "Ice King", and they have included him in some of their plans, but Cloud still felt tense whenever he was around. Maybe it's his general aura, the one that would stop the room whenever he entered.

"Soo, where we goin'?" Zack asked as he buckled himself on the passenger seat. Cloud sat behind Zack and was intrigued as to where Genesis had decided to hold the bachelor's party.

"Before we continue, Zack. You have every right to not attend if you don't want to," Sephiroth said as he turned the ignition. He glanced at the groom beside him.

"Okay?" Zack said, perplexed at the silver-haired man's confession. Now he's worried as to where it's being held and the Chocobo-haired behind him inched closer in anticipation.

Sephiroth sighed and showed him his phone with a picture of Genesis' selfie in a brightly illuminated room, with a female serving him a drink. Zack's eye almost popped out of his sockets as he immediately knew where they were headed. He passed the phone to Cloud in a daze and the Chocobo-haired male gasped at the photo.

"Honey Bee Inn?" Cloud glanced at Sephiroth as he returned his phone. "Seriously?"

"I tried to talk him out of it, but he was insistent. He did say it was going to be more on drinking and karaoke. So, what's your verdict, Zack?" Sephiroth said as he drove in circles around his block. Trying to delay as much time as possible.

"I… I mean if it's just drinking, then it should be fine right? Aerith told me to have fun and I don't really want to ruin their plans for the evening," he said as he looked out the window, the tall tale signs of his apartment building coming into view. "Besides, you guys will help me, right?"

Sephiroth gave a small chuckle, a smirk gracing his lips. "Agreed."

The car drove out of sight of the complex and into the night. The men prayed it wouldn't be as bad as they hoped.


Aerith brought glasses of champagne to her friends and her soon-to-be husband's colleagues. Tifa held the bottles in glee as she marched her way over after the bride. Yuffie played with the cellphone, looking at the newest trends to do during the wedding while Elena and Cissnei sat comfortably on the couch.

"Question, isn't it a bit early for a bachelor and bachelorette's party?" the youngest asked as she held up her hand and brought it down to cradle her glass of champagne.

"Well, the men are quite busy the next few days with Genesis' project coming to an end and this is the only weekend that they're free before the wedding," Aerith replied as she recounted what Zack told her a month ago.

"Isn't it better this way? At least no screw-ups at the last minute," Tifa remarked while taking a sip of her drink. "Not that he will of course."

"Indeed, the boss and his colleagues are quite jam-packed with reports for the next few weeks. Especially since they're planning to take the week off before the wedding and after the wedding." Cissnei reported as she checked the schedule on her phone.

"That must be great for you, Cissnei. You don't have to report to Sephiroth for two weeks." Elena commented as she remembered her office job alongside Reno and Rude. "Meanwhile, the rest of us have to go back to work after the wedding."

"Oh yeah, I've been meaning to ask. What's it like being Sephiroth's secretary?" Tifa asked, crossing her legs, and taking another swig of her champagne. Yuffie refilled it out of habit. Tifa can hold her liquor as far as she remembers.

"Oh, at first it was like hell. I didn't know what I was getting into. He was so meticulous; I was sure I would be fired after a week. I managed though and after a while, it was okay working with him. He was definitely a workaholic, that I can say for sure." Cissnei commented as she recalled her first few days working with Sephiroth. She felt like a lamb out for slaughter. Tifa laughed at that revelation, he was exactly as how he imagined him whenever Cloud complained a few years ago.

"He has gotten softer though, that's one thing for sure," Elena added, giving the raven-haired female a wink, and holding up her glass.

"Zack has had his fair share of stories regarding Sephiroth," Aerith commented with a soft sigh. A small smile graced her lips, "However, one thing's for sure. He said that he was a really considerate person. He even gave Zack permission for a few days off when I visited back when we first started dating. I'm so happy for you Tifa."

"Hear, hear! The next wedding might be theirs too!" Yuffie let out a huge cheer and in turn, Tifa's cheeks turned bright red.

"E-enough about me and Sephiroth, why don't we watch a movie?" She said as she tried to divert the topic. The others let out a few laughs in response and nodded in agreement. Yuffie took the remote and searched for ranchy movies on Netflix. Aerith was horrified at the fact but her interests were quite peaked as well.

The movie went on as promised and Tifa had to make a few sandwiches for their snacks. Yuffie made a few bowls of popcorn while the others made different types of cocktails. It was an eventful night filled with movies, gossip, and overall bonding. It was nothing less than what Aerith had hoped for and she was happy. She only prayed that Zack was having fun as well on his special night.


He was not indeed having fun on his special night. He was promised liquor, and karaoke to say the least but all he sees are scantily clad women romping left and right. If only he could steal the keys to Sephiroth's car and drive somewhere other than Honey Bee Inn, he would.

"To Zack! Our little puppy who is about to be tied down in a month," Genesis toasted, an arm wrapped around a waitress. His face was a few shades darker from the alcohol.

"To Zack!" Everyone toasted.

"Hey, you alright?" Cloud asked as he took a swig from his beer. He was concerned for his friend, sure there was alcohol and karaoke that Reno and Rude were hogging for the past fifteen minutes, but the groom-to-be seemed a bit uncomfortable. In turn, it made him feel bad.

"I guess, it's just… I miss Aerith," he commented as he a sip from his beer. The bitter taste gliding down his throat. He was starting to feel the intoxication, his cheeks were warm, his eyes heavy. "I wan' to go hooomeee."

"Really?" Genesis said as he swung an arm over the man of the hour, "but the fun is only beginning! Come on!"

The redhead dragged him towards the center stage and held him upright. He took the microphone from the Turk Duo and shoved it towards Zack. The raven-haired man fumbled with the microphone and stared at the people in front of him. Angeal, Sephiroth, and what seems to be Genesis' seat were on the right-hand side, and Cloud, Reno, Rude, and his seat were on the left-hand side. The waitresses were no longer in sight.

"Come on, sing something, Zack!" Reno hollered as he clumsily sat down, the alcohol taking over his system. A few cheers can be heard from the crowd, and he slowly brought up the microphone near his mouth. Just like that, all inhibitions were gone as he belted out songs. The others joined in, Cloud joined him on stage which was followed by Reno and the others.

They all sang to their hearts' content and Sephiroth clapped and encouraged them on from his seat. He was urged by the others to join which he politely declined but soon was yanked by Angeal and joined in on the fray.

It was truly a night to remember.


The drive home was quiet. Sephiroth glanced at the slumbering bodies of Zack and Cloud in his backseat. He made sure not to drink as he usually does seeing as he's the designated driver of the two. He gave a small smile as he recalled the events at Honey Bee Inn. He was glad that Genesis didn't force Zack to indulge in other forms of entertainment that night and stuck true to his words. Although some of the women stuck around like flies, trying to gain his attention during the night. Genesis surely was generous with his, but it did irk him to no end when they wouldn't take his no for an answer.

He wondered what Tifa and the others were up to. They were all probably asleep on Zack's couch. He sent a message a few minutes ago informing her of their return but she hadn't checked her phone yet, or that's what the lack of checkmark told him.

He parked at the curb of the apartment and mused whether he should bring Zack upstairs or wait for Aerith to pick him up. He turned off the ignition and decided on the former. He opened the door on Zack's side and nudged him awake.

"W-wwwa?" he responded incoherently.

"Zack, you're home. Should I bring you upstairs?" Sephiroth said calmly as he watched the drunken man in front of him regain his bearings.

"N-naaa. S'okay. I can do'it," he said as he clumsily stepped out of the car and into the cold night. He took a step on the pavement and stumbled which caused Sephiroth to catch him before he could make a bigger fool of himself. Sighing in defeat, the silver-haired man glanced inside and saw Cloud stirring.

"I'll be back with Tifa shortly, Cloud. Keep watch while I'm gone," he didn't wait to hear the grumbled response from the blond and immediately supported Zack's with his own. The walk towards the raven-haired man's apartment was brutal, especially with Zack being in awe over little things.

Finally, they arrived at their destination and he raised a hand to knock. It took a couple of minutes before the door opened revealing a very groggy Aerith stifling a yawn. She gave a small smile after seeing Sephiroth with her fiancé. Zack returned her smile with a goofy smile of his own before holding her face and giving her a big kiss.

"Zack—The others are still here." She replied as she playfully pulled him off of her. "You reek! Go to your room, I will be with you shortly." She said as she pushed him in the direction. He gave a small pout and waved goodbye to Sephiroth.

"Thanks for bringing him home safely," Aerith said as she gestured for him to follow. "Cissnei and Elena left earlier and Yuffie was set on staying with Tifa until you arrived. I'll go wake them up,"

"No need, I think he needs your help. I will wake Tifa and Yuffie." He said as the glanced at the bedroom door with the echoes of Zack hurling whatever's left in his stomach in his bathroom.

"Right! Thanks again, and drive home safe," she said as she bowed and retreated to the bedroom door. Sephiroth sauntered towards their sleeping forms on the sofa and gently placed a hand on Tifa's shoulder, giving a small shake.

"Tifa, let's go home." He said as he watched her stir from her slumber. Her eyes blinked slowly as she registered who woke her up. She gave a small smile and sat up, the remnants of sleep still lingering as she tried to wake Yuffie up. The young woman grumbled, five more minutes mom before rolling to a different side. Sephiroth chuckled at the scene before standing up.

"Come on Yuffie, time to wake up. Sephiroth's here," Tifa said as she gently nudged her awake. Yuffie rubbed her eyes and glanced at the source of the sound and saw Tifa kneeling beside her. "Oh, heyyy Tifa, hey Sephiroth." She yawned, stretching her arms as she did so.

The group bade farewell to Aerith, thanking her for her hospitality, and walked towards the car. Cloud was already awake as he leaned on Sephiroth's car waiting for the others to arrive. He waved his hand as they approached him and tucked his hands back into the pockets of his jacket.

"Hey Cloud, did you guys have fun?" Yuffie asked as she skipped her way over. The blond nodded his head in response.

"Yep, did you?" He asked as they waited for the pair.

"Mhhm! We watched this really weird raunchy movie called 365 days, ever heard of it?" she asked, peering at him. He coughed in response, and she laughed at his reaction. "Should we leave the lovebirds alone?"

"Let's." He responded. His hands were still placed in his pockets as she playfully linked her arm around his. Cloud always considered her as a younger sister and vice versa. With the huge age differences their group has, it was nice to have an older brother around for Yuffie.

"Hey guys, you go on ahead. Cloud and I are getting some hangover food," she exclaimed as she waved her hand goodbye.

Tifa and Sephiroth didn't know they were taking their time until they saw the younger woman dragging the blond along with her. With Tifa's hand intertwined with his, she used her free hand to wave goodbye.

"Be careful!" she exclaimed as she saw them wave a final goodbye before turning the corner. "Geez, they could have invited us or something."

"Indeed, I could have gone for some hangover food." Sephiroth mused as he took his keys out of his pocket.

"Mmmm, speaking of hangover food. Let's go get some burgers or pizza!" Tifa beamed at him causing him to smile in response. The idea of pizza does sound great. He gave her a small kiss on the head and nodded his head in agreement.

"Let's go get Pizza."

They drove into the night, seeking a pizza parlor that was open in the wee hours of the morning. They were able to find one and bought a pepperoni pie that they planned on eating inside the car. Sephiroth drove to the canyon, in hopes of seeing the clear sky with the one he loves. Tifa took a picture of her and Sephiroth eating a slice, with the mozzarella strings stretching as far as they could. With a devious smile, she sent the selfie to Cloud and Yuffie. Their response was instantaneous. Tifa couldn't help but laugh.


Author's Note: Hey guys! Finally the next chapter is here! I am finally done with my thesis and now I am waiting for results. The last chapter will be the next chapter which you already what it's going to be about. It will be lengthier than this one, I promise. I hope you enjoyed the story so far and have a great day!