Disclaimer: Same as always! All these many years later and I still don't own anything...sigh

A/N: Hey all! It's been a while! For those of you who have read and/or reviewed, thanks for your continued support! It's because of you I'm back and better than ever (hopefully)! Enjoy!

Cloud was pleased that his little rendevouz with Zack hadn't taken long. It afforded him more time to spend with Aeris on their day together. When he walked in the door at her house he found her napping on the couch. Kneeling beside her, he kissed her gently on the forehead to wake her.

"Oh Cloud, you're back! What time is it?"

"Still early. I was only gone for about an hour."
"Is that...Zack's shirt?"

The silver foil Black Mages logo gave him away.

"Yeah. He loaned me his shirt. I spilled my drink all over mine."
"You went out for drinks?"

"Well, not exactly."

Aeris noticed how Cloud started to fidget nervously.

"What did he want?"
"It was about what happened earlier at the restaurant."
"Oh..."

"He just wanted to make sure my head's in the right place with you and me...and that I wasn't being mean to Tifa on purpose. That's all."

Color flared into Aeris' cheeks and her eyes narrowed at the accusation.

"Did he really say that? He accused you of trying to make Tifa jealous on purpose?"

"What? No. I just meant he wanted to make sure that I know how Tifa feels and that I'm not just being insensitive."

"And what did you say?"

"I told him the truth. I know how Tifa feels and I'm not trying to be a jerk. I'm just...happy to have you."

Aeris' expression softened as she wrapped her arms around his waist. Almost a little too wistfully, she mentioned how Cloud smelled like Zack. Biting back the pang of jealousy he felt, he responded playfully.

"Wanna keep his shirt? I'm sure he won't miss it."
"Only if it gives you a reason to take it off..."
Cloud smiled into her hair and hugged her tighter.

It was only evening by the time Zack finished the deliveries and headed back to 7th Heaven. Tifa was just about to start dinner so that she could eat and open shop for the nighttime crowd when she heard the truck pull up. She opened the door before Zack could even knock.

"How're you doing?"

"Good. How were the deliveries?"

"Not bad at all. If you're ever hiring for an extra driver..." He let his sentence trail off, remembering exactly why he had been making the deliveries today.

"Oh right! The delivery fees." He pulled out a wad of gil and handed it to her.

"Thanks. Hey, I was just getting dinner started. You're welcome to join me if you have the time."

"I'd love to. What's for dinner?"

"Spaghetti."

"Italian. Your favorite."

"Delicious. Your favorite."

He grinned at her and followed her into the house.

"Where are the kids?"

"Staying over at Barret's. He called to let me know they'll be back tomorrow morning."

"With Marlene gone for the night, I'll bet you're short a bartender then, aren't you?"

Zack had taken a seat at the kitchen table while casually watching Tifa prepare dinner.

"What are you getting at?"

"Hire me for the night." Realizing how odd his proposition sounded, he reworded the suggestion. "As a bartender, I mean."

"Do you even know how?"

"Sure. I did a little work as a bartender at the Golden Saucer while I was still doing mercenary jobs."
"There's just one other little problem then. I don't pay Marlene."

Trying hard to conceal his impish smile, he shot a feigned look of seriousness back at the brunette.

"Well you don't have to pay me either. I'm not asking for money."

"What do you want then?"

He remembered his words from earlier, when he told Cloud he wasn't trying to make time with Tifa. It caused him to hesitate, but not silence his request altogether.

"A date. Just one."

Tifa's back was towards Zack, and she was glad for it. She knew there was a weird expression on her face. It's not that she didn't want to go on a date with him – who wouldn't? He was cute, charming, funny...and judging by today's interactions, thoughtful...but she was still reeling from all that had happened with Cloud, and wasn't sure of what she wanted. She wasn't sure if she really liked Zack, or if he would end up just being the "Rebound Guy".

...But when she turned turned that thought over in her head, it didn't sound right. He wouldn't be the "Rebound Guy" and she knew it.

Zack was waiting anxiously on her response. There was a knot in the pit of his stomach screaming at him that he'd just screwed up.

Damn!

"Too soon?"

Forgetting that he was waiting for an answer, she was startled out of her thoughts by the question.

"I was actually trying to decide that myself."

"And what did yourself decide?"

"No, it's not too soon. You've got a deal."

Zack beamed and pumped a fist in the air victoriously.

"Yes!"

She grinned at him while plating the noodles.

"Eat up, we close late tonight."