Aetiyu

[Tifa Lockhart]

Zack sighed and nodded, releasing Aerith from his arms to turn off the water.
"It wouldn't do for us to drown in a shower after everything." Once the water was off he hopped out and grabbed a towel, urging Aerith over.

[The Painted Lady]

Aerith gave a quiet laugh, moving over to Zack, being careful not to slip in her weary state.
"And just after we promised Yuffie and Kunsel they could go home..."

[Tifa Lockhart]

Zack chuckled as he dried Aerith off gently, moving to dry himself only after Aerith was completely dry herself.
"I am looking forward to sleeping in a bed again." He said was he put his pants back on and gathered up the rest of his things.

[The Painted Lady]

Aerith smiled.
"Mm, me too..." she said, stealing the towel to wrap around herself and picking up her clothes.
She kissed him again quickly.
"After you," she smiled.

[Tifa Lockhart]

Zack opened the bathroom door, but then instead of exiting ahead of Aerith, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her back with him into their room, sitting her down on the bed before taking her clothes and moving to hang them up somewhere.
He then fetched her nightgown for her.

[The Painted Lady]

Aerith stifled a squeal and a giggle as Zack picked her up. She touched his face tenderly as he placed her down on the bed, then kissed him as he returned with her nightgown.
"How kind of you," she teased, dropping her towel and changing into her nightgown.

[Tifa Lockhart]

"You're welcome." Zack said as he dropped onto the bed and sighed heavily. "Finally time to relax for a while." He sat up and pet the bed beside him, "Come get comfy right here." He winked.

[The Painted Lady]

Aerith smiled, climbing into bed beside Zack. She kissed him gently, nestling in close to his body. She was just starting to get warm and comfortable, when...

"Mummy...?"

Aerith looked to the doorway, sitting up a little to look at the small silhouette in the doorway.
"What's wrong Ashie?" she asked gently.

There was a pause.
"Can Yn and me sleep with you tonight?" she asked.

Aerith smiled, looking to Zack.
"I don't know... What do you think Daddy?"

[Tifa Lockhart]

Zack sat up too when he heard the little voice in the doorway, he propped himself up on his elbow and gave a tired chuckle.
"Come on treasure, just one night." He opened the covers for her.

Ynyr stood just behind his sister and gave an excited woop when his father agreed and scurried into the room to hurry in and snuggled between his mother and father.

It touched Zack, to know that his children had missed him so much. It was a nice feeling to have more people to care for and protect, people that didn't argue that they didn't need it. XD

[The Painted Lady]

Aerith smiled, leaning over to kiss Zack gently as Ashlynn followed Ynyr, clambering up onto the bed and climbing over bodies to nestle between her brother and her mother.
"All comfortable?" Aerith asked gently as she pulled the covers back up and laid back down, wrapping an arm around both of her children to come to a rest on Zack's chest.
She felt Ashlynn nod in response as she curled in against her stomach.

[Tifa Lockhart]

Ynyr gave a mumbled response to his mother as he curled up between his sister and his father, but there was no reply from his father, who was already fast asleep XD

[The Painted Lady]

Aerith gave a quiet laugh, stretching to kiss Ynyr gently. She closed her eyes, finally drifting into a heavy and much-needed sleep.

((Next day?))

[Tifa Lockhart]

Zack was woken by a pressure on his chest. He was worried at first, but when he opened his eyes he realised he had nothing to fear. He was safely tucked up in his own bed, lying beside his partner with his little boy sprawled over his chest fixing him directly in the face with bright green eyes.
"Hullo daddy." The little boy chirruped, "Waking up time now?" He tilted his head cutely and giggled.
"Ugh... that depends Ynyr, is the sun up yet?" Zack laughed.
"Yes daddy." Ynyr replied with a smile.
"Is your mother up yet?" He asked with a yawn.
Ynyr glanced over at his sister and his mother and then shook his head, "Nope, not yet."
"Maybe we should make mummy breakfast in bed, whaddaya think?" He ruffled his boy's hair as he slowly slipped from bed, carrying the little boy with him into the kitchen and sitting him on the counter, 'Stay there and keep watch while Daddy cooks OK? Let me know if Mummy comes."
"Ok daddy!" Ynyr announced with his own cute rendition of the SOLDIER salute.

[The Painted Lady]

Aerith woke reluctantly to tugging on her elbow.
"Mm... Ashie?" she murmured tiredly, recognising the tiny fingers that stirred her.
"Mummy's trying to sleep..."

"But Daddy and Ynnie are gone," Ashlynn whispered.

Aerith's eyes flew open, instantly registering panic. But then she remembered she was home, where it was safe, where they didn't have to be aware of the constant threat of attack. She eased.
"Where did they go?" she asked gently.

"Breakfast," the little girl replied simply as she came into focus.

Aerith smiled.
"Should we join them?"

Ashlynn reflected her mother's smile with a nod, wrapping her limbs around Aerith as she picked her up and headed to the kitchen.

[Tifa Lockhart]

"Daddy!" Ynyr called in a child's attempt at a loud whisper. "Mummy and Ashie are awake."
Zack muffled a laugh behind his hand as he flipped the pancake he was making. "Distract them for me!" He called back in the same loud whisper.

Ynyr sidled his way carefully off the counter and ran down the hall to meet his mother and sister.
"Morning!" He said, making in cutely obvious that he was trying to block the hallway by stretching out his arms XD