"Hey, Zack there is an item for you down at the entrance. I would go see what it is." Zack looked up and saw his friend, Kunsel, signaling the other to go a see what the item was. "Do you know what it is?" Zack asked. "No, but Lazard said it was important." Kunsel shrugged. "Okay I'll go check it out." Zack wondered what it was as he went downstairs. 'Maybe its a new Materia, a new sword, or even some of Aerith's cooking!' He really hoped it was Aerith's cooking at that point. When Zack got downstairs there was nothing there. Zack then started to wonder if this was one of Kunsel's weird jokes, until Zack started to hear whimpering. He looked around and found the source of the whimpering, but all that was there was a basket covered with a blanket. "This must be it" he said to himself, "Oh it must be a puppy! The guys have been calling me puppy; they must have finally got one for me!" That is when Zack's life would change forever… He uncovered the weird basket to reveal a baby boy of about 3 months of age. Zack came out with an astonished, "huh, where did you come from?" He looked at the baby; so innocent, it was clear that the baby was abandoned. In the basket there was a letter addressed to him. Zack took the letter and started to read it. Zack, I'm sorry but I can't take care of our baby anymore. I'm too poor to support the both of us, please forgive me. Take care of him; he doesn't have a name yet. I thought it would be best for his father to name him. "She didn't even leave her name…" He then looked down at the little boy he couldn't leave the boy alone. He felt such warmth when he looked into the boys eyes. The baby looked at Zack and started to smile and giggle, it brought a smile to the SOLDIER's face. "Of course, I'll take care of you little one. You're my baby boy, right?" The baby then cooed in agreement which made Zack smile even more. After Zack brought the baby up to the upper levels of Shinra building he decided to see if Lazard knew anything about the baby. He looked down at the baby again and took notice to his features. The baby had soft black spiky hair like his own but messier, creamy tan skin, and the most beautiful Hazel eye's he had ever see,. Just like his used to be before they were Mako infused. As he looked the baby over, he noticed that the little boy looked just like him when he was a baby it did not surprise him though. When he got to Lazard's office he gently knocked, "come in." Once Zack entered the room Lazard saw the basket in his hands. "Ah I see you got your item Zack?" "Yeah I did." "Just so you know we did test on him to see if he really is your son." Lazard paused and looked down. "Though he obviously is in every shape and form." Zack looked down at the baby and thought to himself 'yep he is diffidently mine, in looks anyway.' Lazard then chuckled, "since you now are taking care of him you will need to get some supplies. With that I will have the company provided you with a bassinet for him to sleep in alright?" "Okay" replied Zack."I guess I have some shopping to do." "Yes you do and one more thing Zack." "Yeah?" "You have a couple of weeks off to adjust with the boy, then you're going back to normal schedule alright?" "Of course, sir! Thank you." With that, Zack left with a spring in his step. While walking away from Lazard's office Zack wondered where he would get the supplies he needed. Then it clicked "The Shinra department store, Of course." Zack said triumphantly. "Off we go my son!" He cried aloud as they both walked out of the building. XXXXX As Zack walked into the department store he took a quick survey of the place. Being in SOLDIER made you suspicious of most things. He walked over to the carts and placed the basket on the cart and buckled it and went on his little shopping spree. Once he arrived to the baby section of the department store he went and got the first thing on his list, baby clothes. Zack made sure to get clothes in different sizes because he knows the baby will grow quickly. Next came the diapers, he took two large packs and moved along. Last was baby formula, except he didn't know a thing about formula. Scratching his head he couldn't decide to ask if Nutramil was a good brand. "Excuse me is this a good brand?" Zack asked. "Oh yes, that is definitely a good brand!" the female clerk answered. Zack looked at it and replied, "Okay thank you" and was off with the formula. "Wait!" Zack looked back, "What?" "You're going to need a lot more than just one canister!" 'You have to be kidding me. Am I going to have enough for all of this?' he thought. The baby then started to cry. "Do you want to be held?" Zack said gently as he took the baby out of the basket and held him the crook of his arm making sure to support his head. He looked at the clerk who had a look of concern toward the SOLDIER operative. He smiled, "how many will I need?" She then handed him about six canisters, 7 bottles, a bottle and brush. With a thank you Zack went on his way to the checkout with the baby still in the crook of his arm looking around. Zack looked down to see the baby and saw how curious of a child he was. "Yep you're diffidently mine." After picking up what he need for the baby Zack headed back to his apartment. He was placing the stuff he got away when his PHS that was on his bed started to ring. "Hello, Zack speaking." "Hello Zack." replied the feminine voice. "Oh, hey Aerith" replied Zack. "Zack could you come over and see the flowers?" she asked. "Sure I can. I also have a surprise." "Really, could I know what it is?" "No, then it would not be a surprise silly!" "Okay" replied Aerith. "Okay well see you in a few." "Bye Zack." "Bye" he hung up and placed his PHS in his pants pocket. "Well guess what little one? You get to meet my girlfriend." He chuckled at himself and continued to walk on but turning his direction to the slums. XXXX As Zack walked along the slums with baby in one arm and basket of supplies in the other Zack was starting to feel tired. He looked around and saw a couple of girls running toward him. "Hello Mr. SOLDIER," the girls said in their sweetest voices. "Hi, please call me Zack." "Okay," one of the three said. "Zack whose baby is that?" one of the girl's asked. "Mine" replied Zack. "Does he have a name?" another girl asked. "No not at the moment…" "Will he ever get a name?" another girl said. "Well yes when I can think of one at least." "Can we help?" The three said in unison. He looked at the three and said "of course" and let the names come at him. He got Adam to Zebidia, the girls went through the whole alphabet, and he didn't like any one of the names. As he looked away from the girls he saw Aerith. She looked to see a beautiful baby boy in her boyfriends arm, "Zack is this surprise?" She asked. "In matter of fact, yes it is" he said looking down and smiling at his baby. She smiled "Does he have a name?" Aerith asked. "No…" replied Zack. "Well Zack" she said "what do you see when you look at him?" He looked down to see his son and when he looked he only saw himself. Aerith looked at him and said "well?" "All I see is myself Aerith…" "Well Zack he is a spitting image of you." Aerith explained. "I know but I just don't think it would be right to name him after me. Plus it would be confusing for him when he gets older." Zack shook his head. "Zack just take your time it will come eventually." "Okay thank you Aerith, and girls thank you for the help, but I have to go okay." "Okay and your welcome Zack." The girls replied in unison. The girls ran off to the park as the couple walked into the church. "Zack would you like some dinner?" "Yes thank you." Zack looked down at the baby for the seventh time now trying to find a name for him but no luck. "Zack…" "Yeah Aerith?" "Stop fussing over a name." Aerith scolded, "it will come to you don't worry." "Fine..." After dinner Aerith came to sit next to him "how is he?" "Awake as ever" he replied. "I can fix that" she then got up and made a bottle for the baby. "Thanks." "No problem" she said sweetly. He looked down and smiled at the baby boy when Zack suddenly felt very warm inside. That's when the name finally came to him! "Jayden" he said softly. "What?" Aerith asked. "Jayden, that's his first name Jayden." He said it louder this time. Aerith smiled "does he have a middle name?" "Of course! It will be Zackary." "Jayden Zackary Fair?" Aerith repeated the baby's full name. "That sounds perfect for him!" "Of course it is. I named him!" "Zack I really hope he doesn't inherit your cockiness." she teased. "If you say that then he will!" She smiled, and let out a breath "may I hold Jayden?" "Of course" he said with a smile. His chest grew warm at the sight of his girlfriend holding his baby boy, Jayden. XXXXX Sometime later Zack decided it was time to take his baby boy home for a bath and bed. As he walked through the halls of Shinra building to his apartment he couldn't help but look down at his baby who was again looking around with curious little eye's. As Zack was doing this, he did not notice where he was going and bumped into his mentor Angeal. "What are you doing puppy?" Then he looked down and saw the baby. "Zack, what are you doing with a baby?" "Well Angeal… He's my baby." "What! He's yours?" Angeal was surprised by the news, Zack was still too young to be a father. "How? When? Do I even want to know?" "No, you don't Angeal" as Zack said that he saw the look on Angeal's face, which was the look Zack, got when something embarrassing was happening to him, which happened often. He saw that Angeal was looking down at his chest, so Zack looked and saw his baby was on his chest! Zack then pulled Jayden away from his body, Angeal then started to laugh. "Zack he must be hungry." Zack felt embarrassed, and started to blush. "Don't worry Zack no one else saw but me." Angeal added. A breath then escaped his body. He was still embarrassed that his mentor saw that. "Zack may I hold him?" Angeal asked. "Yes, of course you can Angeal." Zack then passed the baby over Angeal who gingerly brought the baby close. He then noticed how much he looked like Zack and acted like him too. "Ever the restless puppy." He muttered to himself. Zack looked at his baby and just thought "he's definitely the cutest baby I have ever seen and he's mine too." Angeal then passed the baby back too Zack who started to put Jayden back in the basket until he started crying. He looked at Jayden and said "okay fine, Angeal could you hold Jayden while I carry in the supplies?" "Of course Zack," replied Angeal. "I also like his name, it fits him very well." "Thanks Angeal." As they walked to his apartment Zack wondered if it would need to be baby proofed, he made a mental checklist of what to go over when he did such task. "Here we are," Angeal interrupted Zack's train of thought. Both SOLDIERs entered Zack's apartment. Once Zack placed everything for Jayden in his room he returned to the living room where Angeal sat on the couch with Jayden. "Thank you" replied Zack. "Any time Zack" Angeal passed Jayden back to Zack. He turned around and left the apartment, leaving Zack alone with Jayden. Zack then took a quick scan of the place and decided to worry about baby proofing later when Jayden could crawl, he set the supplies out and quickly made Jayden a bottle so that incident would not happen again. As Jayden happily ate the bottle Zack happily held him. "Okay buddy let's get ready for bed", Jayden cooed and Zack chuckled "I'll take that as a yes!" He went into the room and decided to change Jayden's diaper, which was not bad at all, Zack then remarked "Mister, I have seen worse than that, you will need to throw me a better challenge than that!" which made the baby laugh, Zack smiled and started to put the onesy on Jayden "okay you're all set. Now it's time for Daddy to get ready for bed." Jayden cooed in reply. Zack gently sat him down in the basket, but Jayden started to cry. "Jayden I'll only be gone for a minute." Jayden started at Zack before the man started to undress until he was his boxers. "Okay Jayden time for bed." Zack then wondered if he should have Jayden sleep in his bed or in the basket. He looked at him and saw that it looked uncomfortable, he then picked up Jayden and brought him in his bed, and he laid the baby down and turned the light off. Jayden began to coo at Zack he smiled and looked Jayden in the eyes and said "my boy, you are the most beautiful baby I have ever seen." Zack drew Jayden close to his body and said "I love you" to the baby and kissed him on the forehead as father and son both drifted off to sleep.