A/N: All that I own is Som-Ri, Radu, Ri, this computer I'm typing on, and this fanfic. I don't own Invader Zim, I'm not claiming I do own it. So sit back and relax :3

Section 4:

"Now dad, I'm just asking because Zim and I…we really like each other," she tried to explain as calmly as she could and keep Radu calm too, but her father was not in the comforting mood at the moment.

"You two? Mate? No! I won't let either of you get that far!" the glass Radu had been holding shattered in his hands, the Hish flowing all over the table and his own bleeding hand.

Zim was already bracing himself for the imminent beating he was sure to receive for this. But Ri was already putting herself between her enraged father and the Irken she'd grown fond of. Radu, on the other hand, was growing steadily angrier. Ri wasn't even paying attention to half the things he was yelling anymore. His voice was getting louder as he was getting angrier, he was trembling with rage, and he even made a move to push Ri aside to get at Zim. Ri just pushed against his chest.

"DAD SHUT UP!" Ri screamed at him.

That got his attention. Everything went quiet, and even Zim, cowering behind her, flinched.

"Dad, Zim isn't going to hurt me. He's just trying to be happy, like you and mom were," Ri dropped her voice so then Radu had to concentrate on her words, "He didn't force me into this either. I'm not carrying his smeet, and I'm not picking Zim because he's convenient either. I really do like him."

Radu remained quiet for a little while, staring at his daughter that, for a brief moment, didn't look like his daughter anymore. For the briefest of moments, all he could see was her mother standing before him, scolding him for being careless while on a mission. It lasted all of a second before it was little, fragile Ri, trying to calm him down and convince him that she and Zim belonged together. Taking a few deep breaths to calm himself down, he dropped into the chair and looked up at her.

"Alright Ri, If you really want to be with Zim, who am I to tell you no?" Radu looked into her eyes, eyes that were so much like her mothers, but so much not like hers.

"Do you…do you really mean it dad?" Ri looked at her father in shock.

He had backed down without throwing one punch. He hadn't even threatened to take out his claws to attack Zim. Maybe she had acted quickly enough that she had prevented the catastrophe from happening. But that look on his face, it wasn't from her yelling at him; it was because there were memories attached. While she was deep in thought, Zim had stood, and slipped his hand into hers, and stood beside her.

"I won't let anything happen to her, Radu. No Worm-baby or what-have-you will take her away from me. I'll use everything you've taught me to keep her safe," Zim said, looking at the older Irken honestly.

Seeing Zim and Ri standing side by side like that made him think of what he and Som-Ri must have looked like when they had first started being together. But he had been so much taller than Zim at the time. He was different than most Irken males. He was taller, faster, stronger and smarter than most Irken males, especially their leaders. Zim probably wouldn't get a whole heck of a lot taller than he already was, but if he listened and trained hard enough, he just might overpower him one of these days.

Ri held Zim's hand a second longer before hugging her dad. She could tell by the sad smile on his face that he was remembering, or thinking very deeply. That same sad smile had been present her entire life, and it wasn't until she was much older did it actually mean anything to her. When she was just starting to come into puberty that's when she understood what that sad smile meant. It was the smile he used to hide his pain. This was hard for him, even if he wasn't saying it anymore. She had been his whole life ever since her mother died, and now, he was losing her too.

"I promise, I'll stay here a little while longer. Then, after a while, I'll move in with Zim and I'll still come and see you as often as I can," she said it as happily as she could, even after he started doing the shaking she'd seen him do when he cried.

He didn't make any sound when he cried. He just cried silently. It wasn't just that his only child was finding herself a mate and moving out, but it was the years of sadness and depression and memories that had built up to the bursting point. Now he could let it all out, and he did. It was almost overwhelming to Radu just how much he cried. It was years of things he'd been repressing, and now that he had started, he couldn't stop. He was even expecting Zim to pipe up with a witty joke and mock his weakness, but it never came. Zim stood by silently and let his mentor show his weakness.

After a while, Radu's tears dried and he pulled Ri from himself, holding her out to smile at her and stroke her cheek, smiling genuinely for the first time in ages. He sighed heavily and stood.

"I guess it was bound to happen sooner or later. I can't baby you forever, Ri. After all, you are just as spirited as your mother," he rests a hand on her shoulder, being careful not to use his injured hand.

"Thank you dad. Now let's fix your hand before it gets infected. Sit please," she eased him back into the chair he'd vacated and took out some of her medical equipment to clean his wounded hand.

"You really scared the living Tallest out of me when you broke the glass. I never knew you were so strong Radu," Zim, feeling a little useless, started cleaning up the broken glass on the table and wiping up the Hish that had spilled all over the place.

"Yes, well, it was rather a shock to learn that my daughter was courting a young Irken invader," Radu chuckled a little, which turned to an angry hiss as Ri pulled some glass from the wound.

"Relax dad. It's only some glass. If we leave it in there, your hand will never heal properly," she chided as she pulled out some more glass and handed it to Zim.

"I know, I know. You forget who taught you everything you know, once you're done fixing your foolish father, I'll start making dinner while you two do your homework. It's safe to assume that after all this time, you haven't done it for the day yet," Radu smirked as Zim groaned loudly at the thought of Geometry.

Once Ri had finished bandaging up his hand, Radu started dinner, their ordeal already over for the day. But Radu couldn't shake the feeling that Dib was nearby. He remained calm. If Dib was nearby, he'd have to have a pretty good plant to attack while he was home. And if he dared to hurt Ri or Zim, he better be ready for the consequences.

Once they had finished eating, Radu sent the two younglings down to the lab to train for a little while. While they were going down, Radu slipped off to confront Dib. Sure enough, Dib had hidden himself in a nearby tree, watching the house through binoculars. Radu donned his disguise, and walked out of the house.

"Dib! Come down from there! Do you want to fall and break your neck or something?" Radu called, startling Dib.

"How'd you know I was up here?" Dib asked, almost losing balance.

"Because you look nothing like a bird," Radu smiled and waited for him to come down.

Dib walked over like a dog waiting for the whipping that was sure to come. Radu just ruffled his hair. The poor lad had had a hard life so far, and it wasn't going to be any easier for him if he kept acting like an idiot. The death of his mother had been hard on him, just like it had been hard on Radu to lose Som-Ri.

"Come on inside, Dib. Don't touch anything," Radu warned, opening the door for the child.