Zack is in his apartment, lying around lazily on his couch, watching some kids show about a card game that involves monsters, when his phone rings. "Hello?"

"Hey, it's Carina." He sits up on his couch.

"Why are you calling me?"

"Listen, a few SOLDIER and Turk guys decided that they were going to have a party to celebrate the news."

"What news?" He hears Carina sigh on the other end of the phone.

"The glorious end of the Wutai War."

"Oh, that. What about the party?"

"We were told to ask anyone and everyone we know to come. It's gonna be pure insanity."

"How will it be pure insanity?"

"Let's see, Rude somehow got a whole club exclusively for the party, Kunsel got a couple live bands booked, and we have a free open bar. No limits."

"Nice.."

"They're trying to get some of the army boys to come too."

"Reno?"

"Reno and Cissnei. Both of them want to meet their soulmate before it's too late or whatever." Zack could almost see her rolling her eyes and he smiled.

"What time is it? The party, I mean?"

"20 sharp. We're gonna meet at the complex entrance, then we're gonna go together. Don't be late, you'll never find out where the club is. I don't know, and I go to clubs ALL THE TIME when I'm on liberty."

"All right, I'll be there extra early."

"Thank you. See you later."

"See you. Bye." He closes his phone and heads to his closet. "Hmm, what to wear..."

At the entrance...

Carina is standing near the front of the small group of people assembled by the entrance. She is wearing a red tank top and black skinny jeans with stiletto heels. "Where are these guys?" She pulls out her phone and starts to write a text to Reno and Rude, but someone closes her phone from behind.

"Don't worry, they're already here," Zack says against her neck. Carina pushes him off and turns around.

"You really shouldn't do that. It's just so random, and I just went through a breakup." She looks him over as she says this. He has a black button-up shirt with a dragon-like print on it, black jeans, and black-and-white skate shoes.

"They're in the back of the squadron. By the way, looking good."

"Thanks, you too. All black, I see."

"Embracing the simple splash of color?"

"To some extent. The bottom of the shoe and one side of the heel are red."

"Interesting. So, I made good on my promise, didn't I?"

"Yeah. It's 10 to 20. Rude! Come on, let's get going!" Rude makes his way through the crowd, and looks like a bouncer. "I told you not to wear the bouncer outfit! Why don't you listen to me?"

"I was contemplating it, but I didn't have anything appropriate for clubwear." Carina starts to laugh.

"Oh dear god, Rude, never say that again. Ever. Got it? You don't want to sound like a 30-year-old, do you?"

"Nope. I just feel so professional when I act old."

"Just don't do it again."

"Hey Carina, can I ask you a question?" Zack asks.

"Just did," she replies. "Ask away."

"Why do you say god instead of goddess?"

"If a woman was controlling the world, men would be the ones in severe pain, and women wouldn't go through half the shit we go through. So I am hell-bent on proving that God is a man."

"You have a very...interesting philosophy."

"Hey, that's how I roll." She turns to Rude. "Are we ready to go?"

"Yeah." Rude gathers the crowd and the migration to the party begins.

At the club...

As soon as Carina walks through the door, she heads for the bar, and Zack follows. "I need a Jack and Coke," Carina says as she sits down.

"I'll have what she's having," Zack says as the bartender gives Carina her drink. "You're the only girl I've met that doesn't get one of those fruity things. They don't deserve to be called alcoholic drinks."

"Cosmos, margaritas, daiquiris, pina coladas, mojitos and that shit are only for the days I don't want to get drunk. I usually get some hard liquor mixed with some soda, beer, or straight up alcohol. But that's just me." She takes a sip, and promptly spits it out. "Not enough Jack," she says to the bartender, who nods, takes her glass and returns it after putting the liquor in. She takes a sip and sighs. "I just don't get why those things are so expensive. I understand that paopus are hard to come by because of the tourists in Costa Del Sol, but pineapples, berries and limes pretty much grow in Midgar." She shrugs. "Marketing ploy?"

"Conspiracy theory?" Zack retorts, and they laugh. "You know, we might just end up being good friends. Don't you think so?"

"It could happen," she says nonchalantly. "But we might screw it up one day." She takes a few more sips, and notices Zack's glass is empty. Seems like a keeper...No, that's the alcohol talking...

"How? People don't screw up friendships that easily."

"We might end up together, and when we break up, we might not speak to each other. I don't want that to happen again."

"Is that what happened with your ex?"

"I'd rather not talk about it." She downs the rest of her drink, and they both motion for another.

"I get it. I recently went through a breakup myself."

"What happened?" The bartender places their drinks on the table and Zack takes a sip of his.

"We slept together once, and that was all she wanted to do afterwards. I was sick of it, because I thought that she would want a real relationship, but it turns out, all she wanted was a sex buddy." He didn't push the matter any further. "After this round, wanna take some shots?" Carina grins.

"I'm the best drinker out of any of the Shinra guys, believe me."

"You've never drank with me, so I can understand your overconfidence. But at the end, we'll both be somewhat drunk, but you'll be the one who's more so."

"Wanna bet?"

"The winner gives the loser the date from hell. Including what happens after the date." Carina rolls her eyes.

"Whatever. Let's just do this shit. Unless you're backing out," she says.

"I don't back out when I fight girls."

"I'm not a girl. I'm a woman."

"I highly doubt that being 18 makes you a woman." Carina ignores him and speaks to the bartender.

"Two shot glasses and the strongest shit you have."

"Bottle of Wutaian vodka coming up." Carina grins at Zack, who makes a little groan.

"What, can't stomach Wutaian vodka?"

"I've never tried it, actually. We usually go with tequila or something."

"When you're with me, you need to get used to it. Strongest shit is from Wutai. The first time I had it, I was 14 and had just gotten back from my stint in Gongaga."

"You had a mission there when you were 14?" Carina shakes her head.

"I was in school there. The President gave me a test to see what school would be right for me, and he chose Gongaga. I was shipped out after I turned 7. I could read, write, add, subtract, multiply, divide, simplify fractions, solve equations, hell, Sephiroth was teaching me algebra! But they wanted me to have a formal education, something Sephiroth never had."

"So they shipped you to my town. I remember there was a girl in my grade that I'd never seen before. She started third grade with me, and she was...different. By the time I was 13, my friends kept telling me to ask her out, because they found her very attractive, and apparently she had a crush on me. She was an amazing fighter."

"How did you know she was a good fighter?"

"I fought her when I was 14, in one of my stupidest moments. My stupid friends asked me to wrestle her, and I agreed. She pinned me in two minutes, told me that she wasn't an ordinary girl, and I kissed her. I don't know why. Something came over me, and I just...went with it. She pulled away, got up, helped me up, and punched me in the stomach. Later, I called her, but there was no answer. The next day, she was gone, and they were holding the Shinra registrations, so I signed up. I figured that I would never see her again, so it wouldn't matter if she came back or not. I'd be gone." The bartender puts the vodka and the shot glasses on the table, and Zack gives Carina that cocky I'm-gonna-win look. Carina failed to meet his eyes. "Carina? You okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." Zack fills the glasses, and notices her face still hasn't changed.

"Something's definitely wrong. Was it something I said or-"

"What you said...brought back memories. Memories of things I wanted to forget." Zack slides a glass over to her.

"Tell me. I've bared my soul to you, and it would be proper for you to do the same." Carina takes her glass and drinks the vodka.

"But you already know the story. Hell, you just told it right there!" Zack's eyes widen.

"So that means I kissed you when we were 14? Why'd you leave?"

"The draft was starting, and my dad already signed me up. I was going to tell everyone that I was emancipated, but my guardians just picked up and left. Sephiroth was waiting for me at the house. He told me that I had to go ASAP. So I went with him. I had no choice. I'm sorry I hurt you like that."

"Since you were the girl that I kissed all those years ago, were you into me?"

"Your friends were right. I liked you when you kissed me, but I thought you wouldn't be able to handle the truth, about me being your idol's daughter."

"If I had a secret like that, I wouldn't tell either."

"Can we start the contest now? I don't want to talk anymore. I need something to drink." Zack lets out a laugh. "What's wrong with saying, 'Shut up and give me a drink?'"

"Usually girls say, 'Shut up and kiss me,' not 'Shut up, I'm trying to get drunk.'"

"Because when you go to a bar, you're looking to get laid?" Carina tilts her head, and Zack laughs.

"Nah, they do that because I'm hot," he says.

"Overconfidence killed the cat, sweetheart."

"Sweetheart? Now we're getting somewhere." Carina rolls her eyes.

"Big deal. I call everyone sweetheart. Let us be silent, and let us get drunk."

"And let us wake up tomorrow hung over and in bed together."

"Cheers," Carina says while passing a shot glass over to Zack. They link arms and take the first shot.

About thirty shots later...

Zack and Carina are practically passed out on the bar. "I think...you win," Carina says. "When is the date from hell?"

"You deserve better than a date from hell...Is now good?"

"Yeah, sure."

"How about we skip the date and do the afterwards-stuff?"

"Why..not?" Anyone could tell that they were absolutely hammered, and that they had no control over anything they're doing, so that made it seem less awkward.

"Let's go then," Zack slurs, and they get up from the bar and make their way to the apartments in the Shinra Building.

In Zack's apartment..

They entered Zack's apartment, took off their shoes [not without difficulty], and went to the couch. They made out for a bit, until Carina pulled away.

"Zack, I need to tell you something," Carina says normally.

"What is it?" he half-slurs.

"I'm not drunk. I lied."

"Good. I was sick of playing with you like that. It's hard to fake being drunk, you know," he says, also normally.

"It is. So are we going to go through with it or not?"

"Yes. We are. Whether you like it or not."

"Isn't that rape?" Carina asks, raising an eyebrow.

"It's not rape if you enjoy it," Zack says, and winks at the girl underneath him.

"Fine. But let's go somewhere slightly more comfortable. I've done it on couches way too much."

"Bed okay?"

"You know I've only done it on a bed twice?"

"Really? Damn. Well, we better get there quick." He picks her up bridal-style and carries her to his room. He shuts the door, and falls on top of her on the bed.

"You know, Zack, I think I could spend the rest of my life with someone like you."

"Really?"

"Yeah. You're funny, kinda sweet, and really nice to be around. Angeal used to say that your aura was infectious. People around you were happy when you were and sad when you were. You had a very charismatic aura," she said with a laugh. Zack's mouth meets hers for a few seconds, and then he pulls away to whisper in her ear.

"You're the only person who I've ever been with that has ever told me something like that. Thanks."

"Well, it's the truth." Carina kisses Zack and rolls on top of him, unbuttoning his shirt as he slips hers over her head. They work on each other's pants and Zack's lips move to her neck. She pulls away for a moment. "Let's not go too fast. I want to enjoy this while it lasts."

"I can make it last all night if you want it to," Zack says with a grin, and Carina laughs.

"This is what I meant. You're hilarious."

"Why thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Time for me to say everything I like about you. You can be a bitch at times, but other times, you light up a room. You're really smart. You're a damn good fighter. I'm actually afraid of getting you mad, which is normal, if you're married."

"It could happen," she says.

"I like your eyes," he said, and she hits his arm.

"We have the same eyes. Remember?"

"That's why. Just kidding, your eyes have more green in them. I like green. Last but not least, you're amazingly hot. You've got guys lining up from Midgar to Kalm to Wutai and back a million times, and you chose me, one of the stupidest, most egotistical guys in the world, instead of a smart guy who would put your needs in front of his own. How come?"

"You're nice. And all guys are egotistical. Sephiroth's the worst. He has a pocket mirror that he uses to fix his hair. If one four-foot long strand gets out of place, the world as we know it will end. You're not stupid. Okay, maybe you are at times, but that makes you you. Smart is overrated. I went blonde for three months, and everyone thought they had to teach me everything again."

"You? Blonde? You have to show me pictures."

"Nah, I lost them. I think Reno has one, but you have to sleep with him to get it."

"Anything to see you blonde. So, if I have to do him to get it, can I practice with you now?"

"Wasn't that what we were doing before?"

"I got sidetracked." Carina smiles.

"Let's continue." They take each other's pants off, and Zack takes off Carina's bra and throws it into the living room. He kisses her lips, and then moves lower. She moans almost inaudibly, and he continues his descent. She moves his head away, and goes down to his level. She kisses him again, and then takes his boxers off. "Can we go a little faster?"

"I thought you wanted to make this last," Zack said, smiling.

"I did, but now I'm getting antsy. I want it now," she said with a pleading tone.

"Fine then. Let's go, love." He takes off her underwear and looks down. "I think we have a problem."

"What is it?"

"Look down." Carina looks down, and notices the exact opposite of what happened on the helicopter. That gives her an idea.

"Hey. What were you thinking of when we were on our way to Banora?"

"You and Reno arguing about sex."

"Oh, yes, before I dropped my pants, which showed everyone my dick at its long, hard, goodness."

"Can I see it again before I die?" Zack gives her a wounded look. "I'm kidding, babe. Just remember the argument."

"How could I forget? The 'virgin ears' part got me, though. I have to say that."

"My poor little Zacky, his virgin ears and virgin-ness taken away by me."

"It's better you than Reno."

"Don't insult him! From what I hear, he's actually pretty good, with girls AND guys."

"But, once you go Zack, you never go back."

"Once you leave Carina, you're gonna need a wheelchair." Zack laughs, and his bottom half feels tingly. He peeks down, and silently cheers.

It took me this long to get hard? She's pretty damn good at this, he thinks. "Let's do this, Rina." She grins, and lets him get on top of her. He positions himself at her entrance, and enters her slowly. He repeats it a few more times, Carina's moans getting louder and louder.

After a few hours of going at it intensely, Carina leans back against the headboard, Zack resting his stomach on hers.

"I love you so much right now, Carina."

"My love for you is way more intense right now."

"Good night, love."

"Good night, Zack." With that, Carina settles herself on a pillow and falls asleep.

/\/\/\/\/\/\

OH MY GOD I AM SO SORRY!

I spent most of the time on this hiatus trying to decide whether to go through with writing the lemon or not, and the rest struggling to write it.

Looking at the quality, I'm really disappointed in the quality, but I've never written one before, so bear with me, kay?

R&R, and don't flame unless necessary. :)

From KaityDante/TWTS