Those skilled fingers were a blessing and a curse in the same time, sliding over her body in slow, tantalizing strokes. Those were urgent, but collected moves and they were driving her insane, slipping under her top, blunt nails marking their way up on her strong back.

His own back pressed to the wooden bedhead, head tilted up and their lips parting unwillingly so she could pull that blasted shirt over his head. Her own soon followed to the floor and it was all about heated skin and taut flesh from now on, and soft moans and grunts.

Strong hands gripped at her thighs as she moved, grinding against him sensually, teasingly, threatening all resolve to crumble. He moved under her, pushing himself up when she pressed down , causing more of delicious friction, biting her lip hard and swallowing the hot moan. Hips jerked as his mouth left her, sliding down the neck, leaving a trail that led further down…

His tongue was hot on her skin as he licked and her hands fisted thick hair, bringing his head lower.

"Zack.."

Tifa bolted up, crimson eyes wide as saucers and her breath lost somewhere.

Zack?!

She was sitting now, back still arched, but dear gods were her legs shaking. She tried calming down that shaky feeling inside, and ignoring the sudden damp heat she felt, but when she closed her eyes shut the images of bodies pressed tightly together and mouths trailing over skin flooded her mind.

And she could hear her own whisper perfectly, filled with want and need and pure lust…

Scrambling out of her bed, ignoring the cold of the floor, bare feet carrying her to the bathroom.

She felt weak in the knees as she splashed ice cold water onto her flushed face.

Wide, shimmering eyes stared right back at her when she looked up into the mirror.

Tifa really didn't really like what she saw in the reflection. She looked really messed up right now, with crimson eyes set ablaze and water drops sliding all over her face… just like..

She drowned the urge to hit her forehead lightly against the surface of the mirror.

"Tifa?"

Oh hell no!

Her lids fluttered open ,and sure, there he was, looking not that sleepy at all and dear gods where was his shirt?!

"Everything ok?" blue eyes flashed with worry as he walked up.

"I'm fine, fine.." her voice was slightly raspy and she wanted nothing more than to kick herself for not even trying to sound 'fine'.

"You're awfully flushed"

"I'm ok" she made an attempt to take a step back, and winced as she hit the sink.

One of his brows wandered up as she squirmed under his questioning look, messy locks spilled all over her shoulder, fingers nervously picking at the hem of her shirt, wrinkled cotton brushing almost teasingly against creamy skin. He chose to ignore that little fact, using every little bit of will power he had, even if his eyes were drawn to the rim like a moth to a flame. Hers would dart to his face from time to time and Zack swore she looked like she was trying to hide something. She jerked her head back, hitting the mirror's frame when he tried to touch her forehead.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" he asked after a while, when she stopped hissing and was now carefully touching around the sure to form bump "I'm just being nice and worried here"

"Yeah..well I said I'm fine" she winced and dabbed a damp ball of toilet paper over the sore spot.

"You twitch like someone caught you stealing candy when you're 5!" he rolled his eyes and snatched the paper from her hand "Give me that you… I swear , sometimes I just want to put you across my knee and spank some sense into you!"

Tifa flushed furiously as he pulled her closer, her back bumping against his chest and blunt fingers threaded through the soft strands of her hair, as Zack then blew lightly at the sore spot and pressed the small ball against it. She could swear that his eyes were burning holed in her skin, and her fingertips itched to be placed on the soft, yet hardened skin…

She leaned back on pure instinct, her back fitting neatly against the hard body, and he shifted like it was the most natural thing in the world. It was all warmth and the faint smell of soap, his elbows brushing against shoulders, the soft short hair of his legs tickling her calves. The tips of her fingers brushed against strong thighs and only when his hands came to rest on the curve of her hips, only when her eyes fluttered open, Tifa realized she closed them in the first place.

Her eyes were dark and burning in her face when Zack noticed them reflected in the mirror. However it was the heat that was all bloody red on her cheeks that surprised him, but what shook him deeply was what he saw unmasked, hitting him straight in his face, air gone from his lungs and lips all dry as he knew what it was.

Mumbling something under her breath, Tifa took the opportunity his sudden silence and surprise created and was out of the bathroom in a flash, crossing the small hall and quickly closing the door behind her, sliding to the floor with a long exhale.

She'll deal with it the morning.

If she can get any more sleep that is…

Gods…

Tifa covered her face in her hands. It was only a dream… but somehow she could feel his lips sliding over her skin, her own fingers digging into strong muscles, breaths coming out short and heavy.

A grunt escaped her lips as her hands tangled in the messy brown of hair, fighting the urge to just bang her head against the door. Waking the kids up in the middle of the … she peeked through her fingers at the vibrant blue of her clock… scratch that, at the crack of dawn didn't seem like the best idea.

This was supposed to be a fun day, she made it oh so clear that the bar will be closed, and the kids wanted to go outside of the city if it wasn't raining… And she was really looking forward to it, but not even once did it cross her mind, that this would be how it started..!

Another heavy breath and she scrambled up to her feet.

She would have to talk with him later. His waltzing around the house shirtless had to end! And she really ought to work on her self-control, she thought, gazing down at her tingling fingertips.

Zack shook his head as he heard her door close behind her back, heard the heavy breaths she released. His first thought was to follow her and knock on that damned piece of wood she loved to separate herself with and demand an good explanation for what he saw.

Because try as she might to suppress all of her feelings except angelic patience and occasional outbursts of pure hell, usually directed at him to be completely honest , but that swirl of dark he saw seconds before was nowhere near indifference.

Unabashed lust shimmered in crimson and he had to admit… that look suited her very much.

He sighed, throwing the damp paper into the bin, before flipping the light switch and leaving the bathroom. Man, that room witnessed many strange moments happening lately between them . The bedroom offered no solace all of the sudden and the usually comfortable bed didn't look inviting. His teeth grazed the soft tissue of the lower lip as he considered his choices for the time being, when he heard the gentle rush of water again.

Apparently, Tifa too decided it was pointless to try and get any more sleep. Maybe he'll get some breakfast…? With a sudden, wide grin he once again entered the hallway, leaning on the door leading to his room, arms folded. And he waited with sweet anticipation, in his mind picturing the delicacies Tifa would surely make in just a few moments…

Tifa stepped out from the bathroom, a white tank top in place of the stretched shirt, long legs covered under black cotton of her trousers., wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. Dark hair danced around her shoulders, tied into a high ponytail. One brow wandered up at the sight of him grinning like a mad man at her.

And there was not a trace of that dark feeling from before in her eyes.

She was good, Zack thought with a rather dark amusement, as she stopped half way down the stairs, half turning her head, the tips of hair brushing against her cheek thanks to the fluid motion.

"Coffee?"

That grin stretched even more on his lips, as he followed her happily, humming something under his nose. Soon, they were both in the kitchen, Zack sitting all lazy and relaxed at the dining table, while Tifa was moving around the room, no noise disturbing the comfortable silence of the early morning. The air filled with the strong, pleasant smell of freshly brewed coffee as first rays of sun started creeping inside trough the windows.

He came to appreciate mornings like these, not even knowing that he somehow slipped into Cloud's place – keeping her company in the early hours, be it in silence or having a small conversation. His eyes followed her every move, and for the god knows which time he felt amazed at how fast she could recollect herself. Less than fifteen minutes ago he saw her all wide-eyed and a little bit breathless, now however she acted like nothing ever happened.

"So…?" Zack finally asked, when she slipped into the chair opposite of him, after wiping her hands clean and setting the oven on.

"Hm?" slender fingers curled around the Chocobo shaped mug.

"Where we goin' today?"

"Somewhere near Fort Condor, with a stop at Chocobo's Farm I guess… " claret eyes darted towards the window for a mere second "There used to be a vast field there… It's been a while since I moved from here anyway"

"Except for Nibelheim"

"That was… something different" she threw him an enigmatic smile "So tell me Zack… is there something wrong?"

He blinked with surprise, once and twice, as she rested her elbows on the polished surface of the table, leaning slightly forwards, a curious glint shimmering in the depths of her eyes.

"Zack?"

"What? Why? No! " his hectic answers drew another small smile from her "Of course no!"

"Well..don't think I didn't notice"

Notice what? He wondered, shifting slightly in his seat. The heated looks that surely gave away his not-so-completely-innocent feelings? Or the way his fingers would linger on her skin whenever they would brush against each other?

"It was different in the beginning, when you first came here"

"No it's not…" all of explanations he was about to spill, died on his lips at the slightest brush of skin against skin.

Tifa's hand interwined with his, piano-skilled fingers lacing with his sturdy ones.

"You know you can tell me if there's something troubling you, right?"

The warmth of her gentle touch and the light in her eyes were destructive, catching all of his attention and breaking every single thought he could have, stopping the desperate process of his mind that tried to comprehend what was going on.

But the way her fingers fit so well with his was highly distracting and Zack found himself thinking how good it felt.

"I mean, ever since we came back from Costa, I can't recall even one day when I didn't have to threaten you to get your ass out of bed!"

O…OH!

Red eyes squinted slightly as Tifa leaned back, taking her hand away. Zack groaned with sudden frustration, smoothing his hair back with one long move.

That tricky little witch.

Tifa didn't even try to conceal the oh so satisfied smirk as she sipped her coffee calmly, meeting his gaze over the edge of the mug.

"I hate you" he said lightly after a while, giving in and smiling back at her.

"Of course you do Zack… of course you do"

Zack held her gaze for a longer moment afterwards. She was really good.

Apparently the vast field got even larger than Tifa remembered if the unabashed awe in her eyes was anything to go by. It was probably one of the rare days where no rain fell, and one could literally touch the incoming Spring and breath it with the air. And so Zack found himself neatly seated on a patch of fresh grass, Marlene bouncing happily in his lap, as they both watched Tifa showing Denzel the basic moves of her fighting style. The sandy-haired boy was begging his guardian to teach him ever since they left Edge and had a little run-in with two Hippogriffs. He asked and asked and asked, even during their short stay at the Chocobo farm, and even during riding one and finally the bartender succumbed to the request, making it clear that he shall never ever use any of the moves without any great cause, something life-threatening at least.

"Took him a year" Marlene suddenly said, turning to face Zack fully.

"What?"

"He's been asking Tifa to teach him for a year now" a wide grin broke on the child's face "You know, after he got healed, he was going around Cloud all the time."

Zack could easily imagine that, as the little boy literally worshipped the blonde.

"So why did Denzel ask Tifa to teach him, instead of Cloud? I'd think great swords would appeal more to him than hand to hand combat" his brows wandered up as she burst into a giggle fit "What?"

"Of course he did! But the First Tsurugi was too heavy for him!"

"What about you then?" he glanced at Tifa, her quiet words reaching his ears every now and then as she corrected a stance or the way Denzel would rise his fists.

"Papa forbid me to touch the First Tsurugi" Marlene's face bore that seriousness that didn't suit her age "But…"

"But what?" he was too occupied with observing what was going on in the field to recognize the small pause Marlene did, and failed to notice the watery look she gave him.

"He never said anything about your sword"

Zack nodded, still too caught up in the way Tifa would move in the grassy floor. Then blue eyes widened and he looked down at the girl, meeting the widest pair of eyes ever.

Uh-oh.

"No…Marlene, just no" he protested "There is NO way I'm letting you even near the Buster Sword. Your dad would have my head on a silver plate if I let that happen and believe me when I say that"

"Papa likes you!" she blinked slowly, wrapping her small arms around Zack's neck "He only has a hard time showing feelings! Besides he wouldn't hurt anyone Tifa loves"

"Well I think..wait, what?"

Did she just… 'anyone Tifa loves' was what Marlene just said, right? Zack adjusted the small weight of the girl, placing both of his hands on the small of her shoulders.

"What did you just say?"

"Nothing" she shrugged, obviously not realizing the impact her words had on the older man "If she wouldn't love you, you wouldn't be living with us. I mean, you don't see Mister Reno staying over right?"

Right. Of course. It was that kind of love. Of course she meant that…

"Zack?"

And of course Tifa had to come up right now, and of course she had to breath his name out in that very specific way that made his insides twist and turn. Why was she breathing so heavily anyway?

"Little boy wore you out, Lockhart?" he asked, regaining his composure, as Marlene scrambled out of his lap.

"I was laughing, wise-ass" her hands rested on her hips as she gave him a firm look, when Zack brushed off the remains of grass from his trousers "That could barely make my breath hitch"

"Of course" a small smirk appeared on his lips, as he recognized the lovely chance she was giving to him.

Red eyes flashed briefly, as she listened to Denzel "oh-ing" and "ah-ing" to his foster-sister, his hands flying all over his head, apparently losing all interest in the black haired man that walked away for a few meters. The wind felt nice against warmed skin, as it whistled through the vast fields.

It was not until Tifa heard the small rustle of thick linen behind her that she moved, both hands curled into fists as she turned and the flat of the blade collided with their leather-covered backs. Blue eyes gazed into hers over the steel, and she knew that his lips were twisted in that cocky, almost sardonic way.

And she loved the way her blood boiled in her veins at the sight, loved the adrenaline rush and the tingle in her muscles .

The eyes of the children were wide and filled with awe, as they watched their guardian and 'uncle' fight. While it was not their first spar, this was one surely different and both kids could easily tell that. It wasn't the same way they would fight each other back in Edge, it was not light nor was each move and step carefully planned out.

Few drops of blood trailed down the smooth of Tifa's cheek as the very tip of Buster Sword grazed it's surface just seconds before. The elastic band in her hair snapped ever earlier, dark strands spilled over the strong shoulders.

Zack's chest tightened as she smudged the red trail with one quick move, crimson staining the leather to a copper hue. They were both slightly out of breath, and he could imagine Angeal's scowl of disapproval if his former mentor was watching over him. Still his smirk widened as she removed the leather jacket she was wearing, tossing it carelessly aside, the tiny hair on her bare arms rising in the cold wind.

Maybe it was true, that SOLDIERs lived to fight. Maybe he never stopped loving the feeling of swinging the proud blade and its weight in his steady hands. But he wasn't the only one… Because it took one look, even the shortest one, into the set ablaze eyes to see that Tifa enjoyed this as much as he did.

Even despite the bolt of pain that shot down his left arm after Zack failed to block out one perfectly aimed out high-kick and despite the fact that silky strands of hair were chopped off at one side of her face, it was their moment, their little grasp at life.

The wind carried their breaths and when she lunged forward, the sword fell from his hands. Surprise surfaced in claret eyes, as her fist was easily blocked, his free hand sneaking around the small waist, pulling her close.

He waited for her to break the hold, to jump away and distance herself. But she gave out a breathless laugh, a real one that was accompanied by a dazzling smile.

"Cheater"

Only then Tifa slipped out of his embrace, kneeling and reaching for the hilt of the sword. It's weight seemed nothing for her as she held it up to him, looking straight into his eyes and deeper. Their gloved fingers met on the hilt and until the kids called out, she didn't let go.

Later in the night, Zack could still feel the sweet tingle when he would think about that last moment. She only handed him his sword, but they both knew he reached for something more than his weapon. The late night's air was chilly, but refreshing as he sat on the porch, watching the dark sky over his head.

Marlene's words still would echo in the back of his mind, gaining a completely different meaning than the girl gave them.

Tifa was upstairs, getting the kids to bed, which probably wasn't the hardest task today as they were literally falling off their feet when they finally got home. Whole day spend outside, excitement and fun apparently was able to drain even the those two. The door behind him opened quietly, and light steps were heard. Tifa sat down rather heavily, a sigh escaping her lips as she handed him a chilled beer.

"Sleeping?"

"Yeah… they were really tired" she took a longer swing at her own beer "All the fresh air and everything"

Zack nodded lightly, scratching the damp label off the bottle, before throwing her a look. A thin red line was running across her right cheek, and the short strands of hair were gently brushing against it.

"Sorry for that" he said with a sigh after a while "I should have been more careful"

"Barret once scorched my hair when he was living here, so really… no problem" Tifa let out a small laugh before looking up "So what are you doing here, sitting all alone?"

"Thinking… I guess. What brought you here?"

"The sky" her lips stretched in a soft smile.

It was only a while when she felt his eyes still on her and turned, blinking at the surprised look she met.

"What?"

"You just said that the sky brought you out" Zack's voice was filled with something between surprise and amusement "Sounds … strange"

"Why?" claret eyes widened.

The beer was cool in throat as he thought of what to say, because the thing he hated to do was comparing two completely different people. And Zack caught himself doing just that pretty often in the last days.

"When I was little, after my parents were asleep, I'd sit by the window and wait for the stars to appear. The sky was always clear in Nibelheim, dark and smooth, and they were like those sharp crystals found in the mines"

"Cloud mentioned you had a liking for the stars once or twice" Zack recalled, a blurry memory arising from the depths of his mind.

"Yeah… it's good to see that there is something constant. I used to believe that I could reach for them if I tried hard enough" a low chuckle left her lips as one slender finger traced the bottle's neck "I guess it was silly, but still… later on, looking up and seeing the same stars always made me push myself more and more"

His eyes softened slightly as she talked, and he continued to watch her, taking in every little detail.

"You never felt scared of how vast it was above your head?"

"Scared?" she pondered at the possibility "No…were you scared?"

"Me? Teef darling, looking at the sky is a great way to get a girl!" he clanked their bottles together.

Tifa shook her head lightly at that and took a swing at her beer.

"How's your shoulder?"

"Hurts a bit, but nothing a real man can handle" he bit his lip lightly, before sighing and finally deciding to lay it out straight "What am I?"

"What?" she blinked with surprise, trying to get a connection between the sky-talk and his current question.

"To you"

"Zack…"

"I mean, am I just filling in Cloud's shoes that you let me live here doing nothing at all?"

As soon as that question left his lips, Zack could literally feel the change in her. Her brows knitted slightly, and her fingers curled around the dark green of the bottle.

"Cloud is Cloud" she finally said carefully "You're .. well, you're Zack. And that is all it comes down to in the end"

"In the end your answer is not an answer at all" his smile seemed a little bit forced "Next time, you have to take two days off"

"Why?" she tilted her head lightly, cautiousness marking her words.

"We'll go to Gongaga" blue eyes raised towards the skies for a moment before he turned to look at Tifa again "I'd like to show it to them"

"I greatly appreciate what you're doing for the kids, Zack…" she smiled, but he saw something akin to fear appear in the depths of her eyes "And today was great, really…"

"I'm not doing it for the kids" there was that seriousness in his voice that made her want to back away not so slowly from him " I mean.. not only. I want you to make a wish"

"A wish…?"

"Yeah" the blue of his eyes gave way to the purple "By the dying fire at the Festival"

Tifa felt like fidgeting under his gaze and gods was she grateful for the broken street lamp right now, because she sure could feel the heat rise to her cheeks. Darkness and Zack's proximity were two things that were a serious hazard to her whole being. And it was really dark right now and he was really, really close.

She didn't even notice when he moved so close that their thighs were pressed against each other.

Then again he's been in her personal zone for quite some time now, always making some kind of physical contact … And yet, she would be in denial if she said that she didn't feel a little tingle run down her spine every time that happened.

She was tired of the conflict inside. Of want and need battling with the feeling of duty and responsibility almost every day. Tired of always keeping herself in check. Of the warmth that came and went in waves, and the burning images behind her eye lids.

"It was nice ,wasn't it?" his fingers brushed against her cheek, as they tucked one short tuft behind the small shell of her ear.

"Yeah…" there was that smile again "Not being afraid for one day…." It was said more to herself than for him to hear, but it reached his ears anyway.

And he finally understood.

Zack's eyes softened as she tilted her head up again, arms wrapped around her frame to keep out the slight chill from her arms as the empty bottle stood near her feet. The tip of her nose turned slightly pink and her lips stretched into a comfortable smile.

Tifa's eyes reflected the stars above and he felt an unfamiliar warmth spread all over his body, making his fingers curl and the corners of his lips ached from the wide grin.

And Zack reached out, gathering her in his arms, earning a muffled and surprised squeak from her. He buried his face in the glossy strands, inhaling the smell of the vast grassy field and wind.

She was all warm and soft against him.

"I love you"

Crimson eyes snapped open.