Hello! Thank you all for taking the time to read this silly little story of mine! Thank you to all of my extremely faithful reviewers. You don't know how much joy it brings me when I read What you have to say. WOW chapter 15! Glad I've made it this far! Thanks for your patience for Zack and Tifa to begin to build a relationship. I like it to be realistic, however I feel like it's gonna happen soon ;) wink wink

I DO NOT OWN FF VII!

Chapter 15: Jealous

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It had been about two weeks since the Sephiroth incident, the bar was closed until further notice and Zack as Tifa were beginning to get into a routine. Every morning Zack would wake Tifa up, they would have breakfast together, Then Tifa would do her best to get into a swim suit (zack tying of course) and Zack would help her shower. After showering, Zack would dress and rewrap her wounds. Tifa was beginning to feel overwhelmed with all the help he was giving her. In her mind, she struggled with it. What could she do to repay him? How could she show her appreciation? Before she could answer any of these questions for herself, she wanted to know why exactly Zack was doing so much for her.

She rose a few minutes early, before Zack had come in to wake her. She was used to his timing by now, and was ready as expecting him. Like clockwork, Zack knocked on her door right at 7:05, but Tifa didn't answer or reply, she simply flung the door open painfully and stared at him.

"Oh, you're already awake." Zack said with a warm smile as he leaned against the door frame and looked downward at the brunette.

Tifa had been thinking all morning about the conversation she would have with him. She was a bit nervous and when she looked at him, her heart pitter pattered and she couldn't explain why. All this time, he had been selflessly giving and helping her with everything. "Zack." Tifa finally spoke.

"You alright? You look kinda pale. Maybe you should rest for a bit longer huh?" He said as he gently placed a hand to her forehead.

"No, I'm okay. I just... I wanna know why you're helping me so much. You know you don't need to." She said, looking away for a moment.

"I know I don't need to, but did it ever occur to you that maybe I want to do all this?" Zack replied with a curious look on his face.

Tifa looked up at him and stared into his Mako enhanced orbs for a moment. She could tell he was sincere with his reply, but it didn't seem to answer her question. "But Why?" She asked in a half whisper as her eyes glistened with thirst for an answer.

Zack chuckled and shook his head with closed eyes. After a moment, he opened his eyes and looked at her again. "Tifa, if you haven't figured it out by now, I don't know if you ever will." He said putting his hands on his hips.

Tifa crossed her arms, annoyed that he couldn't be straightforward with her. "What are you talking about?" She asked with a sigh.

Zack took a breath and then sighed himself. "Look," he started, "one reason I am helping you out so much is because I know I should have back then when I had the chance instead of leaving you to wait for Cloud who blew it with you in the long run. But..." He paused. "The main reason I'm doing this, is because I have feelings for you, Tifa."

Tifa stared up at him in partial disbelief. She knew Zack liked her when he kissed her and continued insisting that they were on a date, but feelings? Tifa blinked for a moment and as it started to set in, her heart began to pound, her stomach began to tingle and she was almost feeling light headed. She couldn't explain it and words wouldn't come out of her mouth.

Zack smiled down at her considerately. "You don't need to say anything right now, we need to get you showered and change your bandages."

Tifa nodded in response, turned to her dresser and then furrowed her brow in thought. "Would Materia heal my hands?" She asked, looking to Zack.

"Absolutely." He replied. "Damn, I'm surprised neither of us thought of that."

"We can text Yuffie." Tifa said with a smile as she took her phone off her night stand. She then handed the phone to Zack and continued readying her things for her shower. She placed her bikini on her bed next to a clean set of clothes.

"Alright, I sent it. Ready?" Zack asked as he approached Tifa.

Tifa nodded and Zack turned around. She carefully slipped out of her pajama pants and underwear, kicked them away and managed to pull up her bikini bottoms slowly and painfully. "Okay." She said as she looked over her shoulder at Zack. Zack turned around and walked up behind her. Carefully, Zack reached around her waist and grabbed the edges of her pajama shirt and pulled it off of her slowly. As he did this, Tifa's back, arms and shoulders became covered in goosebumps. This time felt different than all the rest of the times he had helped her dress. It was beginning to feel intimate. Once her shirt was off, Zack unhooked her bra with ease and slid the straps off her shoulders. Tifa shivered and Zack gritted his teeth trying his hardest not to look or touch. He was incredibly tempted to kiss the back of her neck and pull her close. Tifa slowly pulled her long, dark tresses up with one hand and positioned the bikini in place wjth the other and Zack tied it for her.

Once Tifa was dressed in her bikini, Zack gently took all of her bandages off and discarded them. He examined the wounds on her body, which seemed to be healing quite well and rapidly. "Shower time." He said with a small smirk. Tifa did her best not to blush as she walked to the bathroom with him. Carefully, Tifa stepped into the shower and sat in a comfortable position. Zack got the water to a warn temperature and flicked the switch and water began to pour onto Tifa. She sighed and began to relax as Zack sat himself down on the outside of the tub. Slowly, he began to lather up her pink lufa with pomegranate soap and then gently started scrubbing her arms and back.

As he did this, Tifa studied him, he had a small smile on his face even though water continually splashed him, and his hair was becoming increasingly flat. He seemed to be so content. This was so different from what she had seen with Cloud. As she thought about the past, she began to realize that maybe because she and Cloud had grown up together, they felt obligated to be together forever as a couple. At least that's how Cloud must have felt. I guess I never really gave him a choice, did I? But Zack is choosing this, right here right now this is his choice. What is my choice? As she contemplated this, she began to realize that if it weren't for Cloud, Tifa easily would've fallen for Zack back then hen she first met him and guided him through Neiblehem. Her heart nearly stopped for a moment and she looked to Zack with an extremely serious look upon her face. Then... Back then... And now.. Here and now... Maybe this... Is what they call 'Fate' Without any more thought, Tifa knew that what was going on inside of her was returned feelings for the man who came to her rescue, and who had been helping her recover without waver or fail. Tifa stopped him as he scrubbed her arm, leaned up and kissed him firmly on the lips. Zack was stunned and his blue eyes widened for a moment. Instinct then took over as he felt the passion Tifa was expressing through her kiss, his arm reached across and leaned against the shower wall and he closed his eyes and intensified the kiss. Tifa carefully turned her body to the side and put an arm around his neck, desperately longing to tug on his hair. As Zack leaned further in, his arm that stabilized him began slipping in the water. Tifa quickly moved out of the way as Zack clumsily fell into the bathtub with Tifa, breaking their embrace. Miraculously, he did not in anyway injure Tifa with his long legs. Tifa let out a giggle as Zack became drenched in the warm shower water.

"Well damn." Zack said with a smirk. "Does this mean I can take you on another date?"

Tifa shrugged her shoulders and smiled with a blush. "We'll see."

"Ah, hard to get." Zack teased as he ran a hand through his dark and soaking tresses.

Tifa again blushed, a little flustered at the new and budding feelings she was experiencing. "Zack.." Tifa whispered.

"Yes?" He replied

Tifa looked at him with a smile. "I appreciate everything you've done for me. I hope somehow I can repay you."

"Ah, Tifa.. Don't even worry about it. This is something I want to do because I care about you. Now come here, let's wash your hair."

With that, Zack turned Tifa away from him and began to lather her hair. She sighed and relaxed as he massaged her head firmly. "Hmmm." She said quietly. Slowly, Zack rinsed her hair and then he conditioned it. Once he was done, he stood.

"Alright." He said as he turned off the water. "Stay here, and let me get changed and I'll bring you your clothes, okay?" He said as he looked down at the beautiful and glistening brunette.

Tifa nodded with a blush and Zack stepped out of the shower and closed the curtain behind him. He then threw off his soaking wet clothes and wrapped himself in a towel from the waist down. Tifa peered out and admired his muscular build as he exited the bathroom.

Zack walked across the hall and as he crossed the opening to the stairs, he noticed movement in the corner of his eye. Immediately he was on the defense and he rushed down the steps. Much to his surprise, Yuffie sat propped up on the back of the couch and Vincent sat next to her. Zack blushed a little embarrassed.

"Woah." Yuffie blurted as she stared wide eyed at Zack's half naked and glistening body. Vincent pouted at the look on Yuffie's face

"Breaking and entering, huh? Shame on you!" Zack teased.

"Yeah, well I have a key so that's not really breaking and entering, now is it" Yuffie said, shaking off the previous gaze.

"Did you use the key?" Zack inquired.

"Now that isn't important. Where is Tifa?" Yuffie said, hopping down from the couch.

"Oh, she's in the shower." Zack said, then realizing what his last statement had indicated.

"Oh!" Yuffie exclaimed. "You two are quite naughty aren't you! Why didn't Tifa tell me?!"

"N..no! It's not like that!" Zack defended with a blush. Vincent merely shook his head and let out a small chuckle.

"Suuuuure." Yuffie said.

"I'm serious. Now give us a minute and we will be down."

"Mmmhmmmmmmm make it a quickly lover boy."

"Yuffie." Vincent reprimanded as Zack went upstairs.

"Sorry, couldn't help it." She said with a mischievous giggle.

A few minutes later, Zack and Tifa emerged from upstairs and Yuffie was giving them quite the look.

Tifa raised her eyebrow and looked at her curiously as she approached. "What?"

"You didn't tell me you and Zack were together." Yuffie said, crossing her arms and pouting.

"Well technically... It's nothing official. You didn't tell me about you and Vincent, now did you?" Tifa replied back.

"How did you know?!" Yuffie said, confused.

"So it's true!" Tifa giggled.

Meanwhile, Zack began making some breakfast in the kitchen and Vincent decided to help, and leave the girls to squeal and giggle.

"You like Zack, don't you Tifa?" Yuffie asked in all seriousness as she began digging through her bag to find a green healing materia.

"Well..." Tifa started as she recalled their kiss earlier. "I think I do. I can't really explain it."

Yuffie only smiled widely in response. She was thrilled to say the least. "Oh!" Yuffie said as she remembered her train of thought. "I texted you to ask you how many I needed to swipe... But I guess you were in the shower..."

Tifa blushed lightly. "It wasn't like that... Zack fell in. I guess I should check my phone though while you're finding the materia." Tifa said. She then made her way upstairs and grabbed her phone off I the dresser where she left it. Much to her surprise, she had six missed calls, and about nine text messages. All from Cloud and one message from Yuffie.

"How are you feeling today?"

"Are you recovering alright?"

"You must be sleeping."

"Plenty of rest is good."

"I hope you're okay."

"Just tried calling, you alright?"

"Tifa..."

"Please text me when you get this."

As Tifa read the last text, the home phone began to ring from downstairs and she began to head that way as she closed her phone. When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she realized Zack had picked up the phone.

"Oh.. Yeah Tifa is okay. We... Uh she was just in the shower that's all...well Let me ask her.. Okay, hang up on me then" Zack said, slamming the phone on the counter.

"Was that Cloud?" Tifa asked.

"Yeah, he said he and Aerith are bringing dinner over again tonight." Zack replied with a shrug and a slightly annoyed look.

"Oh.."

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When dinner time rolled around, Tifa began to feel anxious as she awaited their arrival . She sighed heavily as she stared out the kitchen window. She assumed he would be bringing the kids along, so it eased her nerves knowing she would be seeing Marlene and Denzel. Yuffie had brought enough materia to heal her hands and part of her torso wound and Tifa couldn't be more thrilled about it. She had about 75% more mobility than she had, she still had to be careful not to reopen any wounds, but just the fact that she could use her hands again was enough. Tifa had decided that she was in good enough shape to take the kids back home, so she knew she needed to find out how Zack felt about it before they arrived. If Zack wasn't okay with them being around, then Tifa wouldn't be okay with Zack being around. "Zack?" Tifa asked as she walked up to him. He was sitting on the couch folding some laundry and humming to himself.

"Hm?" Zack said, turning and looking at her.

"Now that I've recovered, I think that I can resume taking care of Marlene and Denzel. How do you feel about that?" She asked, sitting next to him.

"Oh, Tifa, absolutely! I really like Denzel, and Marlene seems so sweet. They are your responsibility, I can't come between you guys. I can leave if you want me to." He said, standing nervously.

"No, Zack, I don't want you to." Tifa said, reaching for his hand.

"Really?" Zack replied, grabbing her hand.

Tifa nodded with blushing blush and then jumped at the sound of the door being pounded on.

"Sounds like they're here." Tifa said, standing also.

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Once everyone had said their 'hello's', and settled around the table, Tifa began to notice Cloud watching her and Zack carefully. Zack was seated right next to Tifa, and Aerith and Cloud say directly across from them, while the kids sat at either end of the table. Cloud could see that Tifa and Zack were acting a but differently around one another, brushing each others hands on accident, smiling softly at one another. Something seemed fishy. "Tifa, you seem to have recovered nicely." Aerith said, breaking Cloud from his thought.

"Thanks to Zack." Tifa smiled. "I don't know what I would've done without him here."

"I'm glad he was able to help you so much. That was kind of you, Zack." Aerith said with a soft smile.

Cloud looked over at Zack who seemed to be beaming with joy as Tifa spoke of him, Zack noticed. "Yeah, that's nice." Cloud mumbled. Tifa looked at Cloud and began to wonder why he seemed so agitated, and why he had texted her so many times earlier in the day.

"Oh, I forgot I put some cookies in the oven, I'm sure they're done by now." Aerith said, standing.

"Oh, let me help you." Tifa said, walking with her to the kitchen.

While the girls went to the kitchen, Cloud turned to Zack and glowered. "What are you trying to pull, Zack!"

Zack quirked an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"With Tifa." Cloud said, retracting into his chair a little.

"How does that concern you, Cloud?" Zack said, curious as to where this conversation was leading.

"Forget it."

As Aerith peered into the oven, checking on the cookies, Tifa couldn't help but notice her downcast demeanor. "You okay, Aerith?" Tifa asked concerned.

"Tifa," Aerith said, looking sadly over at Tifa, "He's going to leave me."

"What? No.. What do you mean?" Tifa asked, walking up to Aeith and placing a hand on her shoulder.

"I think he is still in love with you, Tifa." Aerith replied looking down.

"No way. Don't be silly, Aerith. He's been in love with you for a long time. Let me talk to him, sometimes he just has weird moods that's all."

"Would you?" Aerith said, hope filling her green watery eyes.

"Yeah, I'll go now." Tifa said, reassuring her. With that, Tifa walked to the dining area and looked at Zack and Cloud who seemed to be having an intense stare down. As to not alarm Zack, Tifa worded her statement carefully. "Hey Cloud, could we go outside and talk about the kids' schedule for this week?"

"Hm? Oh yeah I guess." Cloud said, breaking his stare from Zack. Zack nodded at Tifa and gave her a warm smile.

Cloud and Tifa then walked outside and began their conversation. "What the heck is going on with you?" Tifa asked as Cloud sat himself on a bench nearby.

"What do you mean?" Cloud replied in a mumble.

Tifa had grown quite accustomed to this mumble, she understood what he said. "The texts, you calling me and all of a sudden acting like you genuinely care? Dinner? Acting weird toward Aerith? Glaring at Zack?"

"Are you really moving on with him?" Cloud asked, as he looked up at her.

"I can't really say what's going on between he and I right now." Tifa replied. "Why do you care?"

"I don't know..." Cloud said, putting his face in his hands. "I don't know if I'm ready to let you go." Cloud admitted.

Tifa was taken aback by his statement, but as she thought about it, she wasn't surprised. This was a lot like Cloud, he had a tendency to waver with his feelings. Just when Tifa began to be happy, Cloud had to try to complicate things. "That doesn't matter, Cloud. You're not stringing me along anymore, we ended things, I've come to terms with that, and you need to too. Don't you go breaking her heart too. She gave up Zack for you."

"Are you saying that Zack is better than me?" Cloud asked, standing.

"Indirectly." Tifa replied as she crossed her arms. "Don't screw up with this girl, she's probably the only one you have a shot with." Tifa scolded.

"I don't want you with him. It.. Hurts." Cloud said, looking away.

"Good." Tifa spat. "Now maybe you know what it feels like." Tifa said, turning from him to walk back inside.

Cloud wasn't sure what to say, but he knew there was truth to the statement Tifa made about Aerith being his last shot at love, and he didn't want to give that up, wether he was jealous of Tifa and Zack or not.