Author's Note: Just a little bonus sexcapade chapter for my own…Zack's benefit, mostly because I love the dynamics between Zack and Aerith. And also because I feel that, after finding Kadaj, Loz, and Yazoo, that the two of them would never have a quiet minute alone.

Part 6: The Scent of Sunlight

Zack marveled in the feeling of his skin cooking under the hot sun of the Costa del Sol. After being in cool forests and crowded cities for so long, being on the lush beach was paradise. It also helped that Aerith was lying next to him. In a pink bikini. He had spent most of his time just staring at her.

The two of them were taking a long, all-expense-paid trip, courtesy of the Shinra Corporation (but mostly Tseng) out of thanks for rescuing the last Cetra from the silver triplets. The triplets in question, had also been employed by Shinra to help Genesis run recon on the Ruins of Midgar because of their ghost-like ability to get from place to place. They were a near-constant thorn in Zack's side; the biggest of the three, intimidating Loz, was actually the least annoying, although he refused to leave Aerith's side when she came to visit them. Tall and beautiful Yazoo was the definition of polite and poised, but even he regarded Zack icily, tolerating him only because Aerith loved him so much. The final one, and the biggest pain in the ass, was Kadaj; like a crazed child he was extremely possessive of his 'mother' and he made it clear to Zack with every breath in his skinny body that his jealousy ran deep. He took every instance to make Zack's life a living hell.

Zack was glad for a break from all of them. Cloud and Tifa had also chosen taken a holiday somewhere in the south, in an undisclosed location. This was because Kadaj, Loz, and Yazoo had also taken a wicked liking to Cloud, calling him 'brother', following him around, and generally just pestering him within an inch of his already frayed sanity. It would not have surprised Zack in the least if they had followed Cloud.

Zack dug his feet in the white sand, marveling at the feeling as he wiggled his toes.

The last time he had been to the Costa Del Sol, he had practically been a prisoner and had been bored out of his mind. But now, Aerith was with him, also taking in the sun, her skin getting darker and less pink.

"Should we get watermelon later?" He asked, feeling more excited by the second.

Aerith smiled up at him, opening only one of her green eyes. "No matter how old you get, you still act like a little boy sometimes. I love it. It reminds me of when we were teenagers."

Invigorated by her praise, Zack got to his feet. "Watermelon tastes best on the beach! We have to steal it too!" Aerith outright laughed at both the statement and the insane glee in his blue eyes. He slid up on his knees so that his nose was nearly touching hers. "It's more fun that way."

"It's wrong to steal." She chastised, but the mischievous glint in her eyes was impossible to ignore. Zack grinned broadly and kissed the corner of her mouth.

"You don't have to." He said kissing her nose. "I'll do all the work. You just have to come along. And help me eat it." She shook her head in disbelief, but the smile was still there.

"Fine."

"All right!" Zack bounced up into the air before hoisting Aerith up. "Let's go swimming!" Hand in had with Aerith, he sprinted to the teal surf, yelping as the salty water slammed up against him. Part of him, at that moment, never wanted to go back to Edge.

….

It was nighttime when Zack and Aerith stole their watermelon.

Zack knew of a fruit farm not far from the village by the coast, so he and Aerith had run barefoot along the dirt road, guided by the light of an almost full moon. Aerith stood watch by the fence as Zack vaulted over it easily, yelping as his foot went through one of the watermelons, shattering it completely. He heard Aerith trying very hard to muffle her laughter.

Fast as he could, Zack began to sift through the endless field of fruit, finally choosing one and yanking it out of the ground. So excited was he to get his prize back to Aerith that he nearly tripped, doing a demented dance to regain his balance and not smash anything else.

"Go, go!" He hissed, leaping back onto the path and Aerith jumped, a smile on her face as the two of them took off down the road with the fire of hell at their heels. They hadn't been heard, but it was just more fun to pretend as if they were being chased. By the time they made it back to the beach, Aerith and Zack were both sweating and panting, Zack dropping the green globe in the sand, creating a small crater.

He slid his shirt up over his head, throwing it atop the watermelon. "Let's cool off and then eat."

Aerith smiled. "What about sharks?"

Zack looked at the sea; during the day it was the most dazzling shade of teal, but at night it flashed indigo, cool and soft. It looked so harmless and serene. "After all I've been through, sharks are the least of my worries. Come on!"

Aerith did not bother to remove her light pink sundress as she raced neck-in-neck with Zack. The surf hit the two of them softly, lifting them completely off the sandy bottom and, out of force of habit, Zack pulled Aerith to his chest. Her skirt swirled around her stomach and her dark hair fanned out in the water like tentacles.

They swam out until only Zack could still touch and when they looked to the horizon well…it never ended. It was as if they were floating on the edge of the world.

Zack wetted his hand and slicked his hair back. "This I can deal with…so beautiful…"

"It's hard to believe sometimes that something so pretty can be in a world that's so desolate." Aerith murmured, continuing to slick back Zack's hair.

"Well, you're here aren't you?" Zack said grinning devilishly. "You're more beautiful than this place. And any place I've ever been. Any place I will be…I'll always look around and say 'Hm. This place is gorgeous. But compared to wherever Aerith is, it just doesn't hold a candle'. That should make you feel better when I have to go on those stupid missions again, right?"

He looked at Aerith expecting a smile. She was smiling, her shoulders shaking in silent laughter. But much to Zack's shock, as she was smiling, Aerith began to tear up until she was all-out crying. Zack, frozen in horror, wondered what exactly he had said wrong.

"I-I'm sorry!" Aerith sobbed covering her face with her hands. "It just…I always feel like you and I cheated death…! Every time you go…I don't want you to! I…I feel like you won't come back…! Why? Why are you always leaving? Don't leave m-me anymore…! I feel so s-scared!"

"Don't be scared!" Zack pleaded, attempting to pry her hands away. "Everyone is working so hard to protect you. Aerith…"

"Yes, Cloud and Barrett and Vincent and Shinra and those three can p-protect me…but I only want you t-to!"

Zack felt his eyes go wide and his temples hurt, as he wanted to cry at her sorrow. Finally, he pulled her forehead up against his and closed his eyes.

"Do you know why I leave?" He whispered softly. "It's because I want to stay with you forever." His breath hit her lips. "I never want to be away from you Aerith Gainsborough. Every day, I want to see you first thing and know that you'll be safe. But I have to go on these missions. I want there to be nothing on this Planet that could ever hurt you." He kissed her trembling fingers. "I love you…"

She dropped her hands and the tears had not stopped. But she was more at peace. "I love you too."

Zack smiled, wiping the tears away with his thumbs. "Do you really not want me to go on more missions? Tell me honestly."

Aerith blushed and shook her head. "I…I don't. Don't go."

Zack grinned even wider. "Then I won't." Aerith gave a small gasp, confusion on her face. "I won't go anymore. I won't go. I'll tell Tseng. I'll go to Rufus." He kissed her so softly. "I won't go anymore…" It was a load off of his shoulders, honestly.

"You won't go?" Aerith repeated shocked out of crying and Zack nodded. "You won't…even if Rufus begs? Or Tseng? Or Cloud?" Zack shook his head, very nearly laughing at the feeling of lightness in his chest. Aerith started giggling, her features lighting up with happiness. "You won't go back! Even if we get evicted or run out of money?"

Zack laughed in shock. "That would suck, but yeah!" She continued to cry but it seemed like they were joyous tears and Zack spun her around, reveling in her happiness. "Ask me anything, and I'll do it for you."

Aerith tilted her head just so the moonlight highlighted her features just right, her wet hair cascading over her shoulder. She put her arms around his neck and (though it was probably the most inopportune time for noticing such things) Zack noticed that he could see completely through her wet dress. He forced himself to look into her eyes. God they were so green…

"Will you…kiss me?"

Zack practically slammed his head into hers he was so willing. It was one of those wet, sloppy puppy kisses he gave when he was too excited, but at least it made her laugh. "You don't even have to ask!" He replied after pulling away.

Aerith shrugged. "Ok." Before she dove back in, sucking his tongue into her mouth and biting it softly so that he could not get it out again. Zack began to whine as he could not breathe and only then did she release him.

"Beach." They both said at the exact same time.

Unfortunately, Zack could not run vary fast in the water and as he got Aerith to shore, a small wave broke on his head, causing him to rise sputtering as his black hair obscured his face. Aerith laughed like bells and Zack simply shook his head like a dog, send salt water flying every which way. When his vision was cleared, he continued to clamber onto the beach and looked for Aerith.

It was the next of many mistakes he had made throughout the night.

Despite the fact that Zack's imaginings of a mermaid would have sun-kissed skin and thick blonde hair, Aerith could have given the creature a run for her money.

Her long legs were still half in the tide, pale against the color of the sea but dark in comparison to the sand. Her wet dress clung like a second skin to the tops of her thighs and slid down around her shoulders, while at the same time it was entirely see-through. Zack's heart dropped to his pelvic region as he noted that she had not seen fit to wear underwear or a bathing suit that evening. Even though he had seen her dressed and undressed, watched her body at every angle, he never got tired of seeing it.

Her long hair was everywhere: dripping over her shoulders in wavy coils, moving gently like strands of silk in the tide, and sticking to her face. She looked at him from under her eyelashes and Zack groaned.

"Like I said," He pushed himself out of the water, sliding up next to her. "I'll do anything you want." Aerith smiled as he kissed her.

Wet clothes were highly annoying, Zack found as he attempted to slide her dress up over her head. It wouldn't move much above her ribs. And Aerith cried out in laughter as he took the seam between his hands.

He sounded crazy. "If I can't get this off, I'm going to have to rip it."

Aerith giggled and helped him relieve her of the torturous garment. He wasted no time. Pushing her solidly into the sand using only his hips, Zack tried to get good footing, which was hard in the moving ground. Aerith also tried to find purchase, her slender feet sinking into the wet sand.

Zack ran his tongue along her cheeks, Aerith's sweet taste mixing with the salt from the sea and her tears, and she gave long shuddering gasps as he did so. Her lips tasted salty too and Zack ran his tongue up and down her lips, inside her mouth, down her neck.

It was warm out, so the water had not chilled her skin, and her pores exuded heat from hours of soaking in the sun. Zack ran his nose and lips around her breasts as she began to return the favor by licking and kissing his forehead, running her fingers through his hair. He liked being petted…just like a dog.

"Choose, tongue or hands?" He asked breathily, resting his head on her trembling sternum.

"Surprise me."

Zack smiled, his blue eyes glistening with excitement, as he began running the very edges of his lips around her breasts; if the water hadn't made her get goosebumps, the feeling of his touch certainly did. Meanwhile, he pulled her hips to his with one hand, using the other to trace her legs and hips with the lightest touch he could manage. She convulsed.

"Don't tease me!" She gasped, trying to get closer to his hands. When he laughed before kissing her, Aerith made the cutest face of determination and grasped Zack between the legs.

He howled. "No…fair!"

"Zack…Fair…" She gasped with pleasure and laughter. Zack was having a hard time concentrating. She owned him; he was literally almost putty in the palms of her hands, and the fact that his shorts were wet and, therefore, tight was not helping in the least.

"Yell…when you want me…to stop…" She breathed, nipping his earlobe and Zack groaned. He did not want to be the first to give in, but it was so hot out.

"I…give…up!" He finally gasped, pushing his hips hard into her hands and she yelped as she sank deeper into the sand. In one motion, Zack pulled her from the sand and slid out of his bathing suit shorts without a care as to whether or not they would be swept away by the ocean. "Ready?"

"Don't…ask!" She exclaimed and Zack pushed up as Aerith accepted him, body and soul. He sighed in relief at the feeling, warm and wet and smooth, pulsing with her heartbeat and her breath. She squeezed him and he throbbed almost painfully, crying out as he pushed in deeper. Aerith wrapped her legs around him, perhaps to keep from sinking deeper into the sand as he pushed harder and harder.

It was almost painful it felt so good. Every thrust deeper had Zack moaning, whether from pain or pleasure, he did not know. Aerith clawed and kissed his shoulders.

"Zack?"

"Yeah?"

"We'll…always be…together. Right?"

He saw the Lifestream in her eyes. Maybe one day his (real) babies would have those brilliant green irises. Maybe they would have his violent blue ones. But either way, Zack Fair and Aerith Gainsborough were filled with power from the Earth, so much so that nothing, not even death could keep them from each other. He knew that beyond a shadow of a doubt.

"Always." He kissed her sweaty forehead and the two of them continued their passionate dance, intertwined like the strands of the Lifestream. Beauty…sheer and utter beauty was all it was.

Aerith gave a gurgled cry as she came, the tide cooling her heated insides as it slapped up against them. Zack followed, gripping fistfuls of her beautiful soft hair, before just staring at her. She was so gorgeous, flushed pink, sweating and heaving, her eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings.

When they finally recovered their strength, they didn't even bother with their clothes, but simply climbed up to their watermelon, and Zack smashed it in half with his fist. Aerith took a chunk and sat on his lap, watermelon juice dripping down her chin, her chest, in between her legs and Zacks', cooling what fire remained. Zack licked some of the juice from her chin.

"You were right." Aerith sighed, licking the green rind. "This is the most delicious watermelon ever."

"This is my first time ever…" Zack murmured, curling her hair behind her ears.

"Eating watermelon?"

"Eating watermelon naked. I like it a lot better." He grinned wide, like a child and licked the pink juice from her neck. Aerith pushed him playfully before getting her second slice.

"Silly…"

….

"I heard you quit." Cloud said softly, his blue eyes curious as he sat on the bar. They had only been back from vacation for three days and already so much had changed. Cloud seemed much more at ease, for starters.

Zack smiled at his friend as he set boxes of liquor on the counter. "I did. I'm done working for Shinra. Even if I lived ten lifetimes, they couldn't pay me back for all I've given them. You should quit too."

"I like this idea!" Tifa piped up from the kitchen, where she was fetching pitchers. "I'll quit if you do Cloud. I can stay here and work the bar all day with Aerith. Who knows, maybe we could expand…" Tifa and Aerith grinned at each other, just at the idea. Zack was reinvigorated by their good humor. He was so excited for the future. There was so much that the four of them could accomplish.

"And what about us?" Cloud asked honestly. "What would we do Zack?" Cloud was a restless soul and being in a bar all day long would not suit him.

Zack had given it a lot of thought. "How about we start a delivery service? On our bikes. I'll be in charge of customer service and you can handle the technical stuff. It will be fun. And we won't be away for too long." He winked at Aerith as he spoke. She smiled and blushed.

"Yeah…That sounds good." Cloud said in excitement. "What should we call it?"

"Strife Delivery Service." Tifa said with a huge laugh. "Cause heaven knows you guys will cause chaos throughout all of the Planet!" Aerith also joined in the giggling. Zack smiled. Strife Delivery Service. It sounded good…catchy…

"Vote!" Aerith called. Four hands shot into the air in unanimous vote.

Zack meandered over to Aerith. "So. We're gonna have 'normal' lives now?" Aerith stood up on her tiptoes to kiss him on the lips…

…But at that moment, the door was nearly blasted off its' hinges and people began to pile into the bar. "MOTHER!"

Zack made a noise of discontentment in his chest and Aerith giggled, still planting a kiss on his lips and scar. "Of course not."

The End…For now…