(ZIM'S POV, 4 hours ago)

Zim took himself through the empty store and was pondering the idea of Christmas. He thought back to when he had tried to take over the planet by using a Santa disguise. That plan however, ended up in a horrid resolution and Dib succeeding.

The Irken had remembered how gifts and presents were situated with 'X-mas' and how overjoyed all the humans were when people woke in the mornings, a stash of wrapped presents and an assortment of colorful bows lying under a Christmas tree. Zim let his mind wander back to Gaz, and wondered how Zim could surprise her with a special gift of his own.

The green teenager wandered over to the jewelry area of the store and looked into the glass case which was holding hostage a variety of rings, diamonds, necklaces and tennis bracelets. His disguised blue eyes scanned the sparkling gems in awe at the beauty. His black antennas perked under his shaggy wig when he found a set of studs which seemed vaguely familiar. The perfectly cut diamonds took the shape of skulls, and a pair of dark black dots were carved into the stone, creating eyes.

It reminded Zim of Gaz; her skull pendant that always hung off of her neck.


(GAZ'S POV; PRESENT)

The hot water that burned her skin was cold now as she stood from the porcelain tub. Forgetting the plug, she squatted back into the water and pulled the plug loose. The girl stood back up, and looked at her naked image in the mirror.

Her torso was dangerously thin and the indentations of her ribs showed through. A small bit of eyeliner was leftover, somewhat smeared across her face. Gaz's dark, almost black hair was stuck to her cheekbones and her skin was a sick shade of white.

Gaz never liked admitting to herself that she had once been anorexic. Yes, she had recently been gorging on Bloatie's pizza and Mac Meatie's burgers, but that never changed the fact that she was once in her young childhood, under sickness and malnutrition. Due to the mourning and longing for her dead mother, she had starved herself, fighting against her own conscience.

That was, until Zim had first met her. Something changed in Gaz.

No, she wasn't in love with him back in her younger years, but a small friendship had bloomed between the two. They never really talked, but they were civil to each other, almost neighborly. Only then, when she had reached fifth grade and had gotten her period, was when she started to see the disguised alien differently; almost found him (shudder) attractive. Not long after that, their friendship flickered into a stronger, more secure friendship. This gave Gaz a taste of sanity and had started eating again. Of course, the green kid never knew.

Zim was her cure.

The teen peeled her eyes off of her bare body and found a grey towel, wrapping it around her chest and waist and stepped onto the cold tiles, a shiver running up her back. Gaz quickly brushed her teeth, and unlocked the door and walked out into the hallway, letting the hot steam roll out of the bathroom. Hurrying to her room across from the steps, she glanced down to see movement at the bottom of the steps, but quickly pushed the thought away, determined to get to her room before anyone saw her.

Closing the door behind her, Gaz locked the doorknob and shuffled to her dark wooden dresser. She dug through the clothes until she found some underwear, a pair of red sweatpants that read 'X-mas' at the bottom of her left leg, and found a crimson and black striped long sleeved, v-neck shirt. Adding a bra, Gaz threw the pile onto her bed and began to dress herself.

After getting situated with the clothes, she added her skull pendant to her attire, letting the quick memory of her mother flash in her head before pushing it away. Gaz went back to the bathroom to hang her towel up, get a new pad, and gather her dirty clothes off of the floor. She gathered the clothes into a ball and put them under her arm and retreated out of the humid room. She flicked the hair out of her face and headed downstairs, heading through another hall and dropping her clothes off in the laundry room. Closing the door behind her Gaz strolled back into the Living Room and started upstairs, but stopped, and took in the sight of the room once again. The lights on the Christmas tree stood out in the corner beside the TV while the garland specked with white lights hung from the doorways leading into the room. A stereo was plugged in the corner, playing Carol of the Bells by The Calling.

The room was empty however, leaving Gaz alone. Quickly, she glanced at the clock over the fireplace that was on the cornering wall of the TV, and saw it was almost 8 P.M. Her hunger had eased now; almost twenty-four hours without food.

The song had changed to another Christmas song called River by Sarah McLachlan. Although Gaz didn't really care much for the soft music, it set the mood of the room into a peaceful and beautiful sadness. Before the girl could turn around and flee upstairs, she heard someone walking up from one side of her. Turning back around, she found Zim, who was changed back into Dib's pajamas, but still had his disguise on. He held his hands behind his back and walked up to Gaz with a warm look drawn on his green face. Gaz, not expecting the alien to have stuck around, blushed in surprise. "I thought that I might stick around a little bit longer." The alien's voice was dropped down to a whisper as he looked at his feet which were covered by the long red plaid pants that Gaz had let him borrow. "Well, you're welcome any time here… and, Zim, take off the disguise. You're not fooling anyone, and besides, I like the real you." Gaz felt a genuine smile crawl across her face, actually happy that Zim had stayed. Confused, but not reluctant, the alien took off his disguise and stuck them back into his PAK before turning to face the beautiful teenager standing in front of him.

"So, erm… I heard that it's Christmas Eve," Zim looked into the room and stared at the Christmas tree before continuing "uhh… I know I'm probably not supposed to do this tonight… but… Screw it, Merry Christmas."

He took his arm from behind his back and held out a small, black, velvet box covered in a red bow. A look of shock, surprise, love, and happiness came to Gaz all at once, making her speechless and gather tears into her eyes. She took the box, unraveled the ribbon and opened it slowly, catching her breath. A gorgeous pair of skull studs sat in the box. The priceless diamonds sparkled and Gaz covered her mouth, a river of tears flowing onto her face. They were wonderful… amazing… beautiful… perfect.

"Why is Gaz crying?" Zim had a concerned look on his face as he wiped away a tear off of the girl's face. There was a stinging sensation upon his thumb, but he ignored this, keeping his attention on Gaz.

Gaz just shook her head and looked up, trying to push away the tears that were falling onto her face. Taking away the hand from her mouth, she wiped the remaining tears and looked up, eyeing the mistletoe above her.

Damn.

The girl sniffed, smiled and continued to stare at the decoration above the two.

Zim finally decided to look at what the girl was staring at and his confusion was wiped from his face, remembering what his computer had told to him so many years ago. He remembered the meaning for mistletoe.

A dark emerald shaded the alien's face as he looked down; Gaz just gazed at Zim in wonder and amazement.

"Damn. Zim, I-I… I don't know what to say. I… erm…. Hell, this is amazing Zim. Thank you, so much. But, I didn't get you anything though." A disappointed look fell onto Gaz's face and she looked down, her cheeks turning warm of embarrassment, and she closed the box.

The Irken looked at her in disgust. He needed no gift. He already had one. Zim cupped her chin and looked into Gaz's shiny, ember eyes.

"Zim needs no gift," he said, shaking his green head, "You're my gift." The alien took Gaz's face in his hands and leaned down, pressing his warm lips to hers.

Another tear rolled down Gaz's face and she returned the kiss, circling her thin arms across his neck. Absentmindedly, the Irken snaked his hands down to her waist and held her close to his body.

The song had changed to Wintersong by Sarah McLachlan… and the couple continued to kiss in the glow of Christmas lights and under the mistletoe. "Merry Christmas Zim…"

The lake is frozen over
The trees are white with snow
And all around
Reminders of you
Are everywhere I go

It's late and morning's in no hurry
But sleep won't set me free
I lie awake and try to recall
How your body felt beside me
When silence gets too hard to handle
And the night too long

And this is how I see you
In the snow on Christmas morning
Love and happiness surround you
As you throw your arms up to the sky
I keep this moment by and by

Oh I miss you now, my love
Merry Christmas, merry Christmas,
Merry Christmas, my love

Sense of joy fills the air
And I daydream and I stare
Up at the tree and I see
Your star up there

And this is how I see you
In the snow on Christmas morning
Love and happiness surround you
As you throw your arms up to the sky
I keep this moment by and by…

(Wintersong – Sarah McLachlan)


(Author's Note)

I know, the character's are a little OC, but I hope this chapter helped you with your ZAGR needs. the anorexia... ehh... again, that's another plot in the story i decided to add, and it helped show how some of the friendship between Gaz and Zim back in their childhood helped them. the songs... I know, slow, blehh... but it's supposed to be romantic and Christmassy or whatever.

why a christmas story when its late spring?

BECAUSE I NEEDED A NICE, FUZZY, WARM, AND LOVEY-ISH ZAGR story! :D

Review, rate me, hate me, message me, flame me, tell me how I'm doing! Every Review means something to me!