Growing Population
Epic Three
Written by Cartman's Girl and Invader Poe

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Chapter One

Now I'm sure you're all wondering what's happening, or what happened with Zim and Zib? No? Too bad! Here comes stuff about em!

Meanwhile whist all of this is happening, Zib was still in the thralls of a giggle fit as Zim gave him some new clothes, and had been since they left the base, much to Zim's annoyance. Zim scowled as the two walked along, and he glared at Zib.

"What is wrong with you?" Zib giggled, looking up at his Mom,

"Didn't you seee them? They were all mushy-like!" Zim stared at Zib for a while,

"Zib please..." Zim rolled his eyes, "You're being silly."

"Ms. Cten told me she liked Poe a lot," He announced to his mother - well, hey, she had only made him promise not to tell Poe, right? Zib recalled something he saw on TV, and asked innocently,

"Does that mean there'll be kids I can play with soon?" Zim stops walking and stared at Zib blankly, freezed to the spot.

"....she WHAT?! Wh-what do you mean the... KIDS!?"

"Yup!" Zib confirmed, "The TV said that when two people love each other very much, they have kids!" He looked slightly puzzled at Zim, "Does that mean you'n Dad love-ed each other?" Zim stares at Zib for a while, a little too shocked to answer right away.

"Whua ba..... no! No, we did not love each other!" He didn't expect to be asked that question, that's for sure. Zib giggled, amused at his mom's reaction,

"Oh well. I bet they do."

"Bah!" Zim waved a hand through the air, "Love is not a thing we Irkens pride ourselves on. Stupid emotions..." he blinked, then glanced back where they'd came from. "Still it'd explain a lot." Zib looked back as well,

"Like what, Mom?" Zim narrowed one eye,

"Why'd she allow a Reject to live with her... and doing what she did today... friendship is obviously leading somewhere... as you said." Zib grinned widely up at Zim,

"Does that mean I'll finally have someone 'sides Gir to play with?" Zim scowled at Zib, as he continued walking again.

"Most probably…" Zib ran after his mom, his giggles returning as he cheered,

"Yay!" Zim just muttered a blan 'yay' as he continued walking. Never in all his born days he'd think he'd witness a soilder as fine as Cten - who risked her life mind - fall in this 'love' with a Reject, since a Reject is well... a Reject.

"Disgraceful." he muttered more to himself. Zib's coat dragged along the ground as he waited up for his Mom,

"Aw, I think it's cute!" Zim continued walking until they finally arrived at the base, their base, and opened the door.

"Cute has nothing to do with it! Imagine, a soilder reproducing with a Reject! The Tallest would have a Squeedly Spooch attack!"

"It's not all that much weirder than you and Dad, though, is it?" Zib wondered at Zim as he crossed the base's threshold.

"That was an accident, this is on purpose!" Zim closed the door after him, being greeted by Gir.

"Hi!" he squealed at the two of em, "Whatta bring me??"

"Nothing Gir." Zim snapped back,

"Awww!" Meanwhile, Zib blinked up at Zim and frowned,

"I.. I was an accident?" He sounded hurt. Aw! Zim stared at Zib for a while,

"What, do you think I'd actually want to have you around? The cloning was meant to be a thing of beauty! Mini Me's! But Dib intervened and because of HIM, you came to be. And my machine was destoryed the same time." he folded his arms, "There. You know now." Zib stared at Zim in horror,

"But.. but.." He sniffled, then suddenly ran into the house, bawling loudly. Zim watched him go, then looked at Gir blankly.

"What, what'd I say?" Gir shrugged, since he wouldn't really understand cause he was created anyway. Zib had leapt onto the couch and stuffed himself in the crook of the arm and backing, curled up and sobbing loudly. Zim sighed loudly and walked over to the couch, leaning on one of the arms.

"Just stop your leaking already Zib, it's the truth! And the truth hurts." Gir walked up to the sofa along with Zim, and climbed on and nestled and stared at Zib. Zib sniffled raggedly, looking up at them with such pathetic-ness that it might even melt Zim's cold heart - though that's a big maybe.

"B-but..." He sniffle-snerked loudly, "You don't want me?"

"Don't be silly Zib," Zim waved a hand, showing no affect of the ultra-cuteness that is Zib. "Of course I want you now. Tallest knows this base didn't have enough chaos around here before you came to be. At least Gir's got someone to spend time with now."

"Yuh-uh!" Gir nodded quickly.

"And I... admit life would be pretty... urhm, eh, bad if you did leave." Zib sniffed hopefully,

"R-really?" He took off his glasses and rubbed at his eyes with his gloves.

"...yes, really." Zim folded his arms on the arm rest and leaned in, looking at Zib. "Being a fine Invader, I am not prone to show my emotions in fear of having a fault found out; but you can rest assured Zib, I..." he trails off, frowns slightly showing he's having difficulties with saying this. "I.... I really reeeallly care about you." Zib was under no such emotional restraints, sniffling quietly before breaking out into a grin and suddenly latching onto Zim's midsection, hugging him tightly,

"I love you too, Mom," he giggled slightly. The look on Zim's face clearly reads he's about to go into his usual frenzy of 'no huggies' at Zib, but his shoulders slump. He looks around, to make sure, oh I dunno, if anyone's watchimg. Then he hugs Zib back, kinda half-heartidly but hey, it's Zim we're talking about. Zib clings onto his mom happily, not too dissimular to how Zim glomped onto the cold unfeeling robot arm, but he finally let go and dropped back onto the couch, letting Zim breath again. Zim let out a breath, and fixed his antennae back.

"So, Zib... now what?"

"Aw, alright." Zib decided to think of something else to be nosy about, and Zim should thank his lucky stars that he'd narrowly avoided the inevitable 'How are babies made?' question, having given Zib the idea that all reproduction took place in the manner of his creation.

"What was that mess all over Ms. Cten's living room carpet?" Zim bit his lower lip, hrm, he didn't expect that question.

"Uh, you see Zib... Cten was attacked there, and... that was her blood mixed with the petrol that helps our Irken ID Pods to function." he pointed back to his, "So her Pod was wrecked and it leaked, see?" Zib made a face,

"That was blood? Ew.." He squirmed, "I guess she was okay, though, huh?"

"Oh yes, thanks to my spectacular Fixer-Machines aiding hers, she's all right." Gir fell off the couch, snoring. Zib winced when Gir clattered to the ground,

"Doesn't blood have all kinds of icky.. germy.. cootie things in it?" He looked up at Zim, knowing how much Mom hated those. Zim shuddered slightly,

"Yes, exactly... that's why I didn't want you stepping in it and getting germy... germs stuck on your shoes." he glanced at Gir who was snoring loudly.

"Oh.. because there was a bunch of it on the doorway too." Zib looked down at his boots, which were mostly unsoiled, but those bootprints had been a good deal larger than either his or Zim's feet. Zim blinked, then looked aghast at the door way. He snarled, and made his little paniky noises.

"That… that Reject got blood all over my door step!! Erugh!"

"Oh, Poe was here again? I thought I saw him earlier, but I can't remember the last few hours that well.." Zib took off his boots and examined the soles of them curiously, maybe having inherited some of his mom's germ-o-phobia.

"Eh, I'd be surprised if you could remember suckling my finger the way you did." Zim stared at his finger, frowning at first. His expression softened slightly, wrapping his other hand around the finger. "...uh yes, the Reject was here because he had to alert me to Cten's situation."

"I still don't get what happened," Zib grumbled, "I remember.. uh.. being in your lab.." he coughed and glanced downwards, realizing he was going to have to confess to what Zim knew already, "And I saw this X on the floor.."

"And you messed with something I specifically told you not to, and you managed to make my age manipulator laser work on you, thus making you a smaller spawn clone thingie then you already are." Zim scowled at Zib, folding his arms. "It's a good thing you had your cute looks about you Zib, and that I managed to have Cten fill me in on information for rearing a spawn so small. But I hope this teaches you never to mess in my labs again, understood?" he leaned forward, frowning down at Zib. Zib stared at his lap guiltily and crossed his feet together, twiddling his thumbs.

"O-kay," he sighed, antennae-dash-hair drooping, "I promise I won't." Zim nodded sharply, glad to know he'd gotten through to his offspring, well, Zib was kinda his offspring.

"Good!" Zib pondered something, and wondered something in a more Dibbish manner,

"..though, doesn't the fact I could operate advanced alien technology at my age count for something?" Zim's antennae quirked.

"Well... what with my superior intelect going into your genetic make up, I'm not surprised you know how to operate such vast technology." he pointed his finger at Zib again, "But don't ever even try to do it again without me there."

"Aw, alright." Zib pushed his glasses back up into place, "When will I be old 'nuff to mess with stuff on my own?"

"When I tell you you're old enough." Zim snapped back, "That's when." Zib scowled at the floor and swung his feet. That day might come sooner than Zim had anticipated, as Zib was maturing much faster than a 'normal' Irken, being half human and all. Zim seemed to take note of this and just stared at Zib for a while. After a day like this, getting semi-attached to his baby form, he only did now take into consideration Zib's height had increased slightly.

"...just don't grow too quickly."

"It's not like it's something I have control over," Zib said, slightly sarcastic, "I wanna be older! Being a little kid sucks. I can't do anything," He pouted at the floor.

"Ah Zib, you remind me of me... when I was still a trainee there was nothing I wanted to be more then a great Invader," he placed a hand to his chest, "To be able to do what I wanted and not be spoke down to by anybody...." he trailed off,

"Really?" Zim looked up at him in admiration, that Zim could identify with him and all, Zim looked to Zib.

"Bah, let's stop this silly memory fishing thing..." Zib's face took on a wistful look,

"I wonder if I'll get to be what I wanna be.." Zim raied an eyebrow,

"And what do you want to be?"

"Paranormal investigator like Dad!" Zib said eagerly, nearly jumping to his feet.

"...oh." Zim's shoulders slumped slightly, but he snapped back to his normal, er, Zimmy stance. "Bah! Ludirous career."

"Just think, if I managed to figure out all the things just beyond human science, I could, I could.." He trailed off, looking thoughtful, or as thoughtful as a 7 'year' old spawn-thinge could.

"You could what," Zim put on a goofy voice and face, "Rule their silly Paranormal Investigator Secret Agents?"

"Noo, don't be silly!" He turned to the side and clenched his fist, definately resembling his mom as he spoke, "I could rule the world!"

"Awwww...!" Zim lost it for a bit, and pulled Zib into a hug all of a sudden. "That's my boy!" Zib looked surprised, then giggled slightly and squirmed,

"Aw, Mom.."

"I knew I had rubbed off on you somewhere!" Zim held him there, acting a tad more Motherly then he usually did, "And Dib says you're more like him then me, hah!" Zib covered his mouth to restrain his giggling,

"Wouldn't it be neat? I could eat all the junk food I want an' control what was on TV and everything!" Well... Zimmy or not, he was still a little kid. Zim then hefted Zib up into the air, holding him somewhat above him,

"Yes you will! You'll show the pathetic human race who's the better species in the galaxy!"

"Yeah!" Zib grinned and raised his tiny fists, "Horray for conquest!" Hm, maybe living exclusively with Zim was starting to affect the young spawn.

"We'll reign doom down on them all!" Zim declared, lowering Zib back to the ground, hugging him again. "Horray for conquest times ten!" Zib clung onto Zim and giggled to himself, then looked up at him with big eyes,

"You an' me together, right Mom?"

"Of course! We'll make the Tallest proud of us both!" Zim chuckled, "Then I'll show em for those short comments."

"Yeah! I don't get why they're so special anyway," Zib snorted, despite not having a nose.

"Height is everything." Zim said simply, "But we'll show em!" Zim stood tall, er, well as tall as he could anyway.

"Yeah, but," Zib scratched his hair curiously, "That Reject's Taller'en all of us." 'Us' meaning Zib's strange, extended family.

"...ah, well, that doesn't matter. He's a Reject." Zim pointed out simply.

"Oh," A look of confusion crossed Zib's face, not quite grasping that logic but accepting it anyway, "I wonder how tall I'll get!"

"Well let's hope for your sake you got your Father's genetics of height." Zim didn't specifically like the idea of Zib being short and being made fun of how he always had been, but still the idea of his own spawn looming over him wasn't very calming either. Zib nodded slightly, a yawn escaping despite himself. It had been a semi-stressful day, afterall, turning into a baby, being carted around town, and turning back again, and all.

"I think it's time for someone to be in bed." Zim smirked, folding his arms.

"Wah?! Nu-uh, I'm just.. my mouth needed to be stretched. Yeah!" Zib looked around.

"Don't lie to your Mother." Zim smirked, actually kinda enjoying being Zib's Mom all of a sudden, then took his hand. "C'mon, you can skip your bath tonight."

"Aw.." He slid off the couch, though his scythe-hair-antennae perked at the last part, "I can?" He asked hopefully.

"Yes, but only this once." Zim held a finger up to make his point, "Okay?"

"Oh, alright," He grinned slightly, and started towards the elevator that lead to the attic-dash-Zib's room. Soon enough he was in his PJ's and in bed. Zim, despite himself pulled the blankets up to Zib's chest, then his foot hit something. He looked at the floor, then picked up the book Cten had given Zib.

"Eh, what's this?" Zib snuggled into his bed and yawned again, then looked over at the book,

"Oh, Ms. Cten gave that to me last night instead of reading me a story." Zim looked over the book and opened it, it was written in Irken so he could at least read the stories listed in.

"Heh... Big Bad Blorchian and the Three Irkens, I remember that one.." he then blinked, looking at Zib, then the book again. "....want me to read one?" He took off his glasses and blinked at Zim's now blobby, blurry green form. A small smile crept onto Zib's face,

"You would? You said I was getting too big to be read bedtime stories anymore.."

"Ah, why not..." Zim sat down on the bed, hauling the book onto his lap, "Bring back memories of my hathlinghood while having Mother-Spawn moments.." Zib smiled more widely and snuggled up to Zim's side,

"Which one are you gonna read?"

"Well lemme see... Little Red Jacker, Big Bad Blorchian and the Three Irkens, MeekrobThumb..." he decided on the middle one, and began reading to Zib, not being able to help himself but smile as he remembered the Nurses in the Nest, who used to read them to the Hatchling Group he had been in, even going as far as doing the 'voices' of the Blorchian and the Irkens included. Zib listened intently, giggling now and then, but eventually sleep overtook him, and soon enough he was snoring softly against his Mom's side. Aww!

"...the end." Zim closed the book and set it to the side, then looked down at Zib. He glanced around, then laid down besides him, pulling the small spawn closer to him, and eventually fell asleep himself.

Now can't ya just feel your eyes bleed at the cute factor? Zib smiled in his sleep and curled up with his mom. Yup, definately some hemorraging going on.. Mayhaps we should fast-forward to the morning? Good thinking! Fast-Forward to the morning, but which base shall we awaken with first, Zim or Cten's? Behold, Cten's base!

Dawn broke over the nameless town.. city.. thingee that was home to three aliens and one human-alien hybrid spawn. Poe was the first one to wake up, use to waking up early, blinking a few times as he recalled where he was; he was use to sleeping in his tree, or somewhere equally uncivilized. The sleep gone from his eyes, he blinked down at the naked female snuggled up to him, and flushed, but smiled, watching her sleep.

Cten was still fast asleep, her body needing the rest to help fix it's stitching quicker, since Irken anatomy was known for healing quickly. She had brought her knees up near her chest in the night, but her arm was still draped over Poe, as if knowing he was still there comforted her a lot. Her antennae swayed slightly as she breathed gently.

Poe reached over tentatively and started to stroke her antennae, running his hand down its length and sliding it between his knuckles. He leaned down and kissed her temple, hugging her close and rather enjoying her proximity. She sighed in her sleep, feeling his hand run over her antennae, tilting her head to the side.

"Mm..." she murmered in her sleep as he kissed her forehead. She moved over closer to him, her arm tightening slightly, tugging at his shirt.

Poe squeezed Cten with his free arm, glancing over at her antennae slightly before turning his head and bringing the curled tip, wrapped around his finger again, up to his lips and kissing it softly. This caused her body to tingle, and her eyes blinked open and she looked up at him sleepily, then smiled. Not saying anything, she lifted her hand up and twirled her finger around his own antennae's tip, she ran it through her fingers before cheekily kissed it, but held it in her mouth. Poe blinked in surprise, shivering slightly as well and looking down at her,

"Well, good morning," He purred, nuzzling up and down her antennae. She smiled, still holding his antennae in her mouth.

"Mornen." she mumbled, keeping it still in her mouth.

"Hm.." Poe continued to run his lips and the area of his would-be nose down the length of her antennae, until the former parted, and he took the 'joint' of her antennae between his teeth and biting down gently, the pointy tips sparking non-painful pricks of sensation.

"Ooohh," Cten released his antennae as the sensation ran down her spine, never really having that happen to her antennae before it was not only very surprising but very sensual as well. She ran her other arm up around him and held onto him.

Poe grinned at the corner of his mouth and held onto her, his long, pointed tongue sliding forward and winding around it as well. Breathing heavily now, Cten made a slight whimpering noise as Poe's tongue wrapped around her antennae, but kept his teeth on her joint. Her other antennae was somewhat withering and was now laid flat against her head, tingling now and again.

Poe held her shoulders with one arm, reaching up with the other and stroking the back of his claw along the withered antennae, breathing warmly on the other as he slid it along through his teeth and tongue, like a sort of, er, sensual flossing.

The withered antennae, in responce wraps around a few of his fingers. The one currently in his mouth has become very soft and flexible, very different to it's normal stiff-like apperance. Cten's obviously enjoying this as she holds onto him, now and then letting at least a few of her muffled moans escape. Poe closed his eyes tightly and leaned over her as he neared the tip of her antennae, letting it slide out of his mouth and drop. He leaned his head back and grinned down at her slightly teasingly,

"Now, how about I go downstairs and see if I can find Beka to help make breakfast in bed for you?" The thought of Poe being unassisted in the kitchen was probably frightening. Cten sighed in delight as her antennae slipped out of his mouth and she looked up at him sleepily,

"Well... if you really want to... Beka'd appreciate the help..." she snuggled against him. Poe smiled, squeezing her warmly before letting go with some hesitation,

"I'll be right back. Any requests?" "Toast? Well, okay, as long as there's cinnamon.." She shook her head as she laid down on the bed again, pulling the blanket up to her chest.

"Anything you give me is fine, Poe." Poe grinned widely and slid off the bed, "Well, so long as Beka helps me, I don't think you'd appreciate a burnt mess." He started towards the door, pausing by his discarded clothes, but saw no reason to put on his gloves, boots or coat again, so he went out the door.

Cten rolled onto her back, blinked in surprise. She sat up and felt her back, she could feel the scars but no pain. She sighed happily and rolled back onto the bed.

[To be continued!]