„Let's go for vacation!!"

It was Aerith's bright and cheery voice that started all the mayhem, Tifa convinced herself, standing in the middle of her usually neat and clean room, a bag on her bed and probably all of her summer clothes sprawled all over the furniture.

Or maybe it was her fault, giving out a loud sigh on one late evening when she closed the bar and slumped into the chair, her limbs heavy like lead, and usually sparkling eyes bloodshot. Aerith was sleeping over on that day, and the flower girl fussed over her like a hen over her chicks for what seemed like an eternity. It made Tifa feel somewhat warm inside, to have someone do that to her for once…

That is, until Aerith came up with the idea of going for a week to Costa. And she wouldn't have a 'no' for an answer.

Zack, the charming and gifted with the perfectly wrong timing Zack, supported Aerith's idea with a passion she rarely saw. Cloud, after a longer moment of stunned silence, just sighed and shrugged his shoulders and said he could use a break.

The former SOLDIER and the Cetra then turned their eyes to her and it was that moment she knew they were going. With Zack giving her that beaten puppy look (gods prevent the kids learning THAT one!) and Aerith's emerald eyes literally shining, she knew how wrong it would be of her to say no. By a miracle they were sent back to Gaia, and the current season in Edge wasn't the most welcoming one. They both were trying to get out of their gift as much as possible, enjoying the small things they didn't manage to get when they were previously alive, and how could she even think of say 'no' to them?

Long story made short, it all ended with Tifa now looking absolutely panic-stricken, with heaps of clothes around the room, said flower girl rushing up the stairs ,without a doubt with new pieces of clothing in her arms, to help the barmaid pack for the coast.

Aerith's idea, not hers.

The doom slammed open, making the brunette flinch as her eyes immediately snapped to the wall to see if the knob didn't puncture it in any way.

"You got so many gorgeous clothes, Tifa, and I not once saw them on you!" Aerith grinned, her cheeks pink with excitement "Oh I am so excited that we're going!"

"We're going for a week, and yet you brought at least a year supply of cloth!"

"That's the best part!" she let out a small giggle, rummaging through various tank tops and shorts "You'll need this…" she tossed a few shirts and a skirt.

Tifa raised a brow as she caught the soft, orange attire.

"No" she said flatly "I wore that when I was sixteen, and that's enough of that"

Zack would tease her till she would bury herself in the nearby sand of the Golden Saucer if he saw THAT one. How the hell did Aerith find it anyway? Tifa was sure she had it stacked away in some dark and unreachable place…

"But it's so sunny and summery…oooh, ok to that one, but this little darling is a must!" Aerith's smile widened as she pulled out another skirt, perfectly white and even shorter than the previous one "It's a killer!"

"Aerith I…" Tifa really regretted her former fashion sense as her friend pulled out exactly those skirts that didn't really cover all that much. Revealed would be much a better word.

She doubted she would feel as comfortable as she used to wearing those. Does a substitute mother wear miniskirts anyway?

"Nu-uh!" Aerith neatly folded the skirt and placed it in the bag, obviously not going to listen to any complaints on Tifa's behalf.

And so it went, with the Cetra picking out clothes and promptly ignoring Tifa's protests, the bartender abandoning all thoughts of running away with a heavy heart. The bag gradually filled with colorful, delicate pieces of clothing, all skirts and tops…

"Ok, where do you keep your suits?" Aerith then grinned, making Tifa snap out of her stunned silence.

"Excuse me?" the younger one blinked.

"Bathing suits…? Bikinis? Swimming ones?" the gentle voice was filled with endless patience.

"Uh… the top drawer"

Aerith quickly made her way to the linen cupboard, a face splitting grin still present on her face. She was so thrilled by the idea of going to Costa del Sol, for the short time when they were there for the one and last time, she fell in love with the sunny beaches and lucid green trees. It was a moment where everything else faded away along with the hum of the sea.

"Tifa, you only got this in here" she pulled out a wine red tankini.

"And that it is" the brunette nodded, smiling at the astounded look on Aerith's face as the flower girl turned slowly.

"… you mean you only got THIS?" green eyes widened slightly.

"There's a penalty of some sort for having just one bathing suit?" one brow rose up.

Those sparkly eyes looked her up and down, and Tifa suddenly had the impression that Aerith had to be a seamstress in the previous lifetime… or the one before the previous one actually. She folded her arms over her chest without even realizing it, as she almost could feel measurements taken off of her form. She came to a conclusion that her friend could be a little bit frightening.

"You look like THAT and have ONE bathing suit" Aerith repeated slowly, the tank top of the suit in one hand, the other resting on her hip.

"It's not like I get too many chances to actually wear it… Please Aerith, you are slightly freaking me out here…"

"We'll go shopping in Costa then" Aerith nodded to herself, not noticing the slight roll of red eyes, and then opened the double doors of the tall wardrobe "Oh gods…" she picked up a flowly cobalt blue dress that rested neatly on a hanger, in the dark corner of the wooden case "This is beautiful Tifa…"

Merlot eyes softened slightly as the Cetra admired the dress. Cloud brought her that one from Nibelheim on one sunny day, saying something about how it reminded him of the one she wore as a child. Its deep hue being the same one as the night's sky in the long wintery months in their home village, when the clouds would scatter away and the stars would shine upon them. Like the color the heavens took when they parted. The material used was soft and silky, and it would teasingly hug every soft curve that her lithe body offered. The portrait neckline taking a gentle plunge, the material there slightly folded by the maker, a deliberate trick to focus one's attention on the wearer's bosom.

Then her eyes sharpened, hard as mountain crystals around the edges.

She wore it once. And never again.

"I'm not taking that" her voice was suddenly harsh and she regretted it the very moment Aerith flinched.

"What? Why?" green eyes widened, slim fingers brushing the soft material "Tifa, it's perfect…"

"Put it back. Please"

"No" the Cetra had a very stubborn expression on her face and there was a glint in her eyes that told Tifa this will not be an easy argument to win.

Friends or no friends, Aerith or not, miracles forgotten, Tifa was NOT taking that dress!

It was going to be bad enough, Aerith already questioning why all of her tops and shirts had the same boat neckline. And Tifa knew that if she let herself be talked into even packing that blue dress, she would hear no end to the flower girl's gentle ,or sometimes not all that subtle, teasing until she actually wore that certain piece of garment.

And she couldn't allow herself to do so.

"Aerith, I'm not taking that dress and that's FINAL!" she stomped her foot.

Those large green eyes turned watery all of the sudden.

Uh-oh…

"WOOOOHOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!"

All heads turned at the sudden, loud and filled with joy yell that managed to get through even the loud sound of the waves crashing onto the shore. Countless pair of eyes blinked with utter surprise as a young man sprinted towards the turquoise see, his long black hair flying in every direction as he happily jumped over resting people, obviously not having a care in the world. He took a dive into the great blue as soon as the water was up to his knees. He reappeared on the surface seconds later, shaking the water off his face and throwing his arms happily into the air.

He was soon followed by a dainty looking girl, who made her way towards the water with no less enthusiasm, but much more care about the people resting on the sand. She giggled as she finally reached the lukewarm waves, splashing happily around before she immersed her body still with an enormous smile on her face.

Two figures watched them from the top of white stone steps that led to the beach. A stunned light in two pair of eyes in the colors of rich wine and a cloudless sky.

"They sure are enjoying this…." Cloud sighed, rubbing the back of his head slightly "You think it will be like this for the whole week?"

Tifa only shook her head with amusement, her eyes still on the happily splashing pair in the sea. She rolled her eyes as Zack dunked Aerith's head under the surface of the water.

"Gods, he's like a little child…" she said finally, as she took careful steps down the stony formation "A miracle he didn't run over anyone during his gallopade"

"Puppy"

"What?"

"I remember Zack talking about his mentor… who called him puppy" Cloud grinned lightly "Suitable nickname, won't you agree?"

The man in question was now defending himself from the large waves Aerith sent his way, her little revenge for getting dunked and choking on the salty waters. Their laughter was still pretty loud, and their friends heard them with no problems at all.

Tifa and Cloud finally made their way towards a few empty sun beds, the white and blue umbrella casting shadows over two of them. She sat down, stretching her legs with a soft sigh that was really close to pure bliss. The hum of the sea, and their friends' laughter above it, and the warmth that came from the burning sun, the warmth she missed so much she barely realized it anymore.

Her eyes closed, she only gave out a lazy nod when Cloud said he'd join their friends in the sea, enjoying turning focus onto senses other than sight. She could smell the salt in the air, combined with the lulling scent of hibiscus flowers that grew near the proud palm trees. The warm breeze was like a lover's touch to her pale skin, gentle brushes over each birth mark and tender kisses on every little scar. The soft sounds of the sea and the soft wind lulled her into a dream like state in a matter of minutes, her body comfortably stretched on the white bed…

Cold droplets of water hitting her already heated skin were like little ice needles pricking. She gave a sharp yelp, her eyes shooting wide open just to meet a sparkly blue gaze.

"Zack!" she laughed as she saw him shake his head so fiercely that the water from his soaked hair would rain onto her.

He really was like a puppy, a thought crossed Tifa's mind as she smudged the small drops on her skin.

"Sorry for waking you up" he sat down onto the sand next to her bed, a wide grin on his face "But I just couldn't resist myself…"

"How's the water?"

"Perfect" Zack almost purred the word with that child like glee she became so fond of over the time "You should go and give it a try yourself…"

"I'm sure I will have many occasions to do so!" she gave out a short laugh, turning to her side to look at him.

Zack looked like he was in the very place he always belonged in. With last drops of water sliding down his face and neck, rays of sun dancing on the broad shoulders. With eyes gleaming with not restrained mirth and that wide smile of his, clad in navy blue trunks and sand sticking to his calves, he was really happy. Really, really happy.

"You suddenly look all thoughtful " he poked her stomach lightly making her squirm a little "What's on your mind?" he made an attempt to poke her again but she smacked his hand away gently this time.

"You" Tifa couldn't help but smile as he raised one fist into the air.

"Score!" if it was possible Zack would give himself a pat on the back "Come on babe, spill it!"

"You call me that one more time…"

"Sure honey sure, now let's hear some of the dirty stuff!"

"Who said they're dirty?

"Well… it's about me so it has to be spicy!" he wiggled his brows a bit at her.

"Keep on wishing Adonis, keep on wishing…!"

Maybe this wouldn't be such a bad week, Tifa thought as she gave out a hearty laugh when Zack poked her side again, his fingers cool against her skin. Maybe all she needed lately was a vacation anyway…

It was later on that evening, and the two men and Aerith were walking towards the entry hall of the hotel, the carpets soft and comforting under her bare feet, as she held her sandals in her hand, one arm linked through Cloud's, making the blonde walk slightly stiff.

"Where's Tifa?" she asked suddenly "Wasn't she supposed to join us for a drink?"

Zack scratched the back of his head, a thoughtful expression on his face. He hadn't seen the bartender from the moment they came back from the beach, all tired and with reddened skin covered with dried up salt from the sea.

"Training" Cloud said flatly, his back achingly straight.

"What?" eyes green and bright blue blinked, as both voices were laced with evident surprise.

"There's a little secluded balcony at the west wing… When I talked to her, she said she'll do some training and then join us" he explained.

"You let her train on vacation??" Aerith raised her brows "Cloud, we are here to enjoy ourselves and relax…"

"Ok ok, I'll go get her and you two get us all a table" Zack offered before Cloud managed to stutter on his words ,which happened quite often today.

Apparently the Cetra had a rather destructive influence on the blonde, as only today she managed to make him choke on sea water and talk him into getting covered with sand from neck to toes. And this was only day one… Zack almost could feel sorry for his younger friend, knowing that his shy nature would be a hell of a problem when confronted with Aerith's outgoing and flirty attitude. Then again, Zack smiled to himself watching Cloud's eyes soften gently, maybe not.

"Hurry up then!" the girl gave him a gentle push on the already tanned shoulder "We'll order already!"

And there she went, dragging the blonde away, who obediently followed, the back of his neck gaining a red color causing Zack to grin widely.

Those two were amusing, he came to a conclusion as he took a turn and made his way towards the western wing. He had no idea about the balcony where Tifa was supposed to be, according to Cloud's words, but it couldn't be that hard to find, right? And if everything failed, he always could just wait at her door. The sun was already setting, and its rays filled the corridors with an intense orange light, making the place look warmer and cozier than it already was. He took turns and turns, wondering how it was possible to make so many little passages in just one wing.

Then he noticed a grand door, its wings made of glass. The exit to a small balcony. Well, he found it! Zack grinned to himself and jogged towards the gate, reaching towards the polished knob., seeing Tifa's form in a slight blur. With no hesitation he pushed one wing open, ready to call out her name.

And he stopped, his mouth slightly ajar, but his voice lost somewhere in an instant as he took in the sight before his eyes.

Drenched in the dying sun, that tinted her usually pearl skin to a delightful golden hue, Tifa was indeed training, but not in the way she used to back in Edge, when she would be accompanied by him and Cloud. Dressed in a bare whisper of clothes he managed to decide, as the tank top which clung to her body, that ended just beneath her breasts and shorts hugging her hips left very little to one's imagination made his brain switch off.

There was not even a glimpse of hurry in her moves. Whether she moved her leg or arm, it would be slow, fluent to an extent he never imagined before. He could see how her muscles moved rapidly under the skin that glistened with little beads of perspiration, as she fought with an imaginative enemy.

She would turn around in the same unhurried manner, and Zack saw her half closed eyes. Deep red orbs lit with a fire as the sunrays hit it at just the right angle, shiny drops of sweat clinging onto the charcoal lashes. He saw one of those slid down the lean neck, down to the exposed collarbone, and felt a strange shiver run down his spine as his eyes followed that lone droplet until it disappeared under the rim of the damp top. With a soft wave of hair that looked like liquid amber which followed her every movement, she stretched for the last time, her head tilted to one side and Zack knew she saw him from the corner of her eye.

He swallowed hard.

All golden and lean, from the tips of her toes of slender bare feet, through the strong lines of long legs, the soft curves of waist, to the very top of sleek hair, suddenly Tifa seemed the most erotic sight he saw in months.

"Zack" she called out, voice all hot and heavy, and oh dear gods it should be prohibited to say his name like that.

Offering to look for her suddenly seemed a very bad idea as he felt all of his blood boil and his knees weaken. Zack wiped his suddenly sweaty hands into his shorts, cursing inwardly about how suddenly they became surprisingly tight and uncomfortable.

"Zack are you alright?" her hand pressed to his forehead and he jerked back, his back hitting the round knob.

He hissed at the sudden pain that flashed along his entire spine and saw the worry creeping into Tifa's eyes.

"It's nothing…" he mumbled, feeling all of his body reacting to the uncomfortable pain he inflicted unintentionally upon himself… and only to that, heavens be thanked "I was looking for you"

"I told Cloud that I will catch up with you guys. Let me see that" she motioned for him to turn around, fingers already lifting his shirt.

"I'm alright Tifa" he protested, but damned be that body of his for turning on its own accord "Aerith …" he swallowed hard again as her fingers brushed gently about the forming bruise "Ok let's go, she'll be mad" not giving her one look he grabbed that bloody hand and pulled her out of the balcony.

Ignoring the weak mewl she gave out and protests moments later, his hold not once faltered until they got to their rooms, all the way Zack trying his very best to think of something else than how her skin seemed to burn under his touch.

"I'll take a quick shower and be right there" Tifa smiled lightly, apparently completely oblivious to what was going on with her friend.

"I'll wait for you" Zack offered, his voice carefree and light.

She threw him an amused look over one slender shoulder and nodded, opening the door to her room and entering. The soft click of the lock falling into place made him turn around rapidly and pull out his own key and fumble with it, before he managed to place it in the lock of his door.

Oh he needed a shower as well. A cold one. Very cold.

Ten minutes later he was back in the hall, all ready to go and get that drink that surely had to be gone by now. He felt a ice cold drop of water run down from his neck down his spine just to sink into the soft material of his shorts.

"Sorry it took so long" Tifa stepped out of her room, breaking his thoughts that circled around various alcoholic beverages.

She liked the proud feeling that suddenly washed over her when his eyes looked her up and down, blue eyes darening to more of a lilac hue. From every words that could used to describe Tifa, stupid wasn't one of them. She was used to attention that was thrown her way, used to men ogling her in not exactly discreet manner.

The way Zack looked at her now however, was slightly different. Perhaps she felt so good about it because he lived with her on daily basis, and to make someone like that acknowledge small things that included how you looked like was probably one of the hardest tasks in the whole world.

Zack on the other hand wanted nothing more than to smack his face.

Did that woman NOT realize how short that skirt was? And how it made her look? Or how it looked like, clinging to that soft curve… Zack bit his tongue, already planning out the amount of alcohol he will devour tonight.

"Let's go" Tifa moved pass him, a small smile tugging at her lips "I heard they got some great drinks here…"

She took small steps due to her choice of clothes. One foot placed directly in front of the other, slightly wet hair flowing down her back in a gentle cascade, hips swaying in a sensual way.

Tifa grinned to herself as she heard the unmistakable sound of a hand smacking a face.

This was fun.

Author's Note:

Well whaddya know? I have to split this chapter into two parts O_o

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this! I had quite a lot fun writing this chapter.

And, just to remind everyone, come on, be fair with me and hit the Review button :)