A.N. Thanks to YouTube I had gotten into the show Invisible Network of Kids. I also have become a big supporter of the VinXZero pairing, so this is my version of how they'll end up together. However, this story will have a major difference from the series: no Macbeth song. I hate villain songs and have always skipped her song when I watch an episode, so I don't have any idea on how to do it anyway.

Well, not too much had changed at Pinkerton apart from the characters growing older. However, one day Vin decided to do something that would lead to many changes.

It was recess time, and Zero was practicing her punches out on the field on a nearby tackle dummy. Vin walked up to her.

"Hi Zero." He smiled.

"Hey Vin, what's up?" Zero asked, still punching the dummy.

"Nothing much, I was just wondering if you could meet me on the roof later tonight after everyone's asleep. I need to tell you something." Vin said.

"Why can't you just tell me now?" Zero looked at him suspiciously.

"Trust me, I think you'd prefer me telling you where no one can overhear us." Vin rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.

Zero studied him for a moment.

"Okay." She said. "Macbeth is still a little weak from the cold she had a couple days ago so I don't think we'll be doing any work tonight anyway."

"Right."

The bell rang, meaning it was time for Mr. Soper's class, so Vin and Zero headed back inside.

Late that night, Vin nervously waited on the roof for Zero. She arrived much like a ninja would.

"So, what did you want to tell me?" She asked.

"Hang on, I think to ensure privacy we should sneak off into the woods." Vin whispered. "You know how Macbeth sometimes has those spy cameras and such..."

"Good point." Zero nodded.

They got back onto the ground and snuck into the woods until they reached a clearing out of sight of the school.

"Okay, I think here's good." Vin stopped.

"Now, what did you want to tell me?" Zero asked.

"That...that I love you." Vin admitted.

Zero stared at him.

"Is this true?" She asked unemotionally.

"Yes, I've loved you for a long time but I wanted to wait until I was ready for an official girlfriend before telling you." Vin explained.

"Then what was that around a year ago about Trixie and I not being 'real girls'?" Zero frowned.

Vin was upset that he had hurt Zero that much.

"Oh, I'm sorry about hurting your feelings, it's just..." Vin sighed. "Trixie didn't count because she's more like a sister to me. In your case I wasn't ready back then so I lied. I figured I would just pretend to like other girls until I was ready, and then tell you the truth. Sort of like 'saving the best for last'."

Zero relaxed.

"Look, Vin, I don't want to hurt you but you know how I..."

"I know, you don't have to decide right away." Vin cut in; then he started to look really upset, as if he was hiding pain. "Just...if you do end up rejecting me please do it gently. My heart already hurts about my parents and I don't think it could handle any more pain."

Vin looked as if he was about to cry; Zero looked at him sympathetically.

"I don't know who they are or why they gave me away or...or even if they love me." Vin tried hard not to cry.

Zero really softened, and decided to tell him one of her secrets.

"At least if they turn out to be abusive you wouldn't have had to endure it for a year like me." She looked away.

Vin looked at her with shock.

"You mean your parents...?" Vin gasped.

"No, just my dad." Tears formed in Zero's eyes, but one blink and they were gone. "You see about three years before I entered Pinkerton my mom and I were out running errands. While we were driving to one of the stores a drunk driver lost control of his car and crashed, hard, into our car, especially mom's side. I survived, but mom...mom died instantly. I was devastated, and dad was heartbroken. Since the drunk guy died during the crash dad couldn't take out his pain on him so he took it out on me. He blamed me for mom's death and kept beating me up and yelling at me a lot."

"But it wasn't your fault, so why would your dad blame you?" Vin asked, alarmed.

"Because most of the errands mom and I ran were for school." Zero explained. "I guess dad figured if we hadn't been out school shopping for me then the accident wouldn't have happened. I still don't know if that is true or not. Anyway, I put up with his abuse for around a year because I knew that dad was only acting out of pain, that deep down he still loved me. But later on I realized that he was getting worse. Not wanting him to do something permanent to me that he would regret, I decided to run away from home. I packed up all that I could and left. To avoid pain I also decided to shut down most of my emotions. I traveled to the next town and lived by my wits, doing odd jobs for random people and sleeping in protected areas. Then I traveled to the next town, and was almost mugged. Fortunately, a martial arts master from a nearby school saw what was going on and saved me. Wanting to learn how to protect myself, I asked him to teach me. He agreed and even let me stay with him, but after finding out that I wouldn't be able to pay for lessons I had to run errands and do chores for him to earn my keep. Then when I had learned all that I could he told me that it was time for me to move on and find my destiny. I continued traveling, also realizing that I actually missed going to school. I knew that I couldn't go back to school though, as they would ask me for my address and such. I then heard of this school, and gave it a try. You know the rest."

"So that's why you ran away." Vin realized. "But then what about that phone call from your dad last year?"

"My running away snapped dad out of his violent state and made him realize his mistake. Even so it took him a while to discover that I had taken my cellphone with me and even longer to work up the courage to call me. When he did he apologized big time and I forgave him, and we ended up talking as if nothing had changed. It felt so good to hear that he was back to his old self." Zero smiled slightly. "He then offered to take me back home, but I told him that Pinkerton was my home now. I also told him that he was welcome to visit anytime he wanted but it's a long journey to Pinkerton from my old hometown and he rarely gets a long enough break from work so..."

Zero shrugged, not needing to go any farther.

"Now I get why you never told anyone, you didn't want the authorities to take you away from him." Vin understood. "You wanted to be in contact with him again once he had recovered."

"Exactly." Zero nodded. "And because of my past it takes a long time and a lot of work for me to get close to anyone as a friend, and three times the amount of work when it comes to a boyfriend. If I ever end up with someone, I don't want it to be a one time thing. I want him to be the one for me, the one I spend the rest of my life with."

"I understand." Vin smiled a little. "Listen, if there's anything I could do to prove my love - even save your life - I'll do it."

"Hey, whoa, do not risk your life for me okay? I wouldn't want any of my friends to do that." Zero raised a hand warningly.

"Okay, okay, easy." Vin chuckled. "Eh, we'd better head back before we get caught."

"Yeah, you're right, I'd hate to think what would happen..."

"If I caught you two out here?"

"*GAH!*" Vin and Zero jumped around, startled.

Mr. Soper was in front of them, smiling knowingly. Vin and Zero were relieved that it wasn't Macbeth, but were also nervous since Mr. Soper was strict about curfew.

"Uh, Mr. Soper, um, you're probably wondering why we're..." Vin said awkwardly.

"I know, I overheard everything." Mr. Soper smiled. "I happen to have been collecting mushrooms nearby when you two showed up."

Vin facepalmed; he forgot about that hobby of Mr. Soper's.

"It's okay, I understand why you wanted to be out here this late to admit your feelings to Zero, considering how she is about emotions." Mr. Soper was still smiling. "I'll let it go again."

Vin was relieved, but Zero was still tense.

"Uh, about my dad..." She said nervously.

"I also understand why you never told me about him, and don't worry I won't call the authorities." Mr. Soper said; Zero relaxed. "But I do want his phone number tomorrow."

"Of course." Zero nodded.

"Now come on, it's way past your bedtime." Mr. Soper gestured towards the school.

They followed him back.

"Uh, Mr. Soper, about Miss Macbeth...you won't tell her will you?" Vin asked.

"No, I know how she is about kids falling in love." Mr. Soper frowned. "I can't understand why either. It is natural after all, and if the love is real then all the better."

"Maybe she's just jealous because she never had a guy." Zero guessed.

"Huh, I never thought of that. You know I think you're right." Mr. Soper nodded. "Don't worry, if she does see you two out here I'll just tell her that you were helping me gather mushrooms."

"Thanks." Vin and Zero smiled.

"Jinx, you owe me a soda." Zero smiled.

"*Doh!*" Vin facepalmed again.

Mr. Soper chuckled.

They headed back inside and Zero and Vin went upstairs.

"I'll be up later, I want to put these mushrooms in the kitchen." Mr. Soper said, holding up his bag. "Now, straight to bed you two."

"We will." Vin replied. "Uh Zero, about Trixie and Newton...?"

"Oh, we can tell them." Zero smiled a little. "After all they can keep a secret and they are our best friends."

"Great." Vin smiled. "I wanted to get Trixie's insight on the matter."

Zero nodded understandingly.

They went to their bedrooms and got into bed, but didn't fall asleep right away. Vin lay awake for a while wondering how he was going to win Zero's love, while Zero wrote in her diary:

Dear Diary,

Tonight Vin actually admitted his love for me! I wanted to return his love, as I do love him back, but after the whole thing with dad...I did make a deal with myself to not date just anybody. Whoever it was would first have to prove that he's the one before I could tell him my feelings. I hope Vin is the one, I couldn't have fallen in love with him without a good reason. Well, I'd better turn in. Good-night.

Zero