I know, not much of a cliffhanger on the last one, BUT it was so this next twist in the tale doesn't knock you guys off your feet! :O This was so difficult to write because I personally felt it was too mean, but it had to be done! For the sake of good story writingness!
Okay, instead of going on about how bad this is (like I have been) I'll just let you read it now...
Gaz looped the magenta cloth through the hole, helping Zim do his tie. He wore his black sleeveless shirt that covered his baby bump. With this, he was forced to wear a crisp white shirt, a pair of black formal pants and a matching vest with the short boots Gaz had gotten him to help with his feet. Gaz finished his tie and took a step back so he could see himself in the full length mirror in the cupboard. He gave a look, "God, you humans have weird taste when it comes to fashion."
"My, don't you look handsome tonight," Gaz smirked, fixing her necklace while in front of the mirror with him.
Zim scoffed and went to sit on the bed with his daughter who was playing with her short hair that Gaz had tried to curl for the event. They were in Gaz's room tonight, getting ready to head out. Dib and Tak were currently at the conference, doing their presentations to the board of directors for a new case they had been working on.
Zim sighed as his elbows rested on his knees, "How long do we have to be there for?"
"As long as we need to be. So, basically a couple of hours," she said putting in her earrings.
Hope scooted over to her dad, shoving his arm out of the way to get closer to his torso, giving him a hug. Zim looked down and cuddled her closer, still listening to Gaz. He was getting used to Hope's constant hugging, and at times even found it comforting. "Will we see Dib at all tonight? Or Tak? Because if I have to sit at the table with them, I will be getting up and spending the night in the car," He grumbled.
Gaz looked at him, grinning, "I'll be sure to join you, then. Look, we're all sitting at the head table tonight, but it's a long table, so…Dib will be at the front, Tak sitting next to him. Then me and Hope and you on one side. The other side will be all his head researchers and investigators."
Zim stuck his tongue out, "Is it too late to kill myself?"
Gaz gave him a glare.
Zim held onto Hope as Gaz and he walked into the hall. Hope was holding onto him tightly, seeing as her toy had to be left in the car tonight. The hall was packed with scientists, investigators dressed in black overcoats and crowds of people in general. It annoyed Zim. People walked up to them, greeting them. Gaz tried her best to give most of them a smile, but it was very difficult. They waved at Hope and called her very cute and all gave Zim a bewildered look every now and then. He simply sneered at them to leave him alone, not letting go of his daughter.
Gaz and he eventually sat down, Hope sitting on his lap for the time being, lying against his flat stomach, bored. Zim looked very unimpressed and wanted to go home already. It hadn't even been 20 minutes yet.
Dib eventually came to sit down as other people began taking their seats at their separate round tables. It almost reminded Gaz of a wedding venue. Tak glared at Zim as Dib greeting them both, "How are you guys enjoying the event so far?" He smiled. The meeting obviously went well.
Gaz and Zim simply shrugged indifferently, not really caring. Dib reached down and picked up Hope so she could sit with him and Tak. She looked sad, "Why can't I sit with Zim?" she said.
Dib hadn't really yet realized that Hope knew Zim was her father, so Zim told her one evening to make sure he didn't find out.
Dib gave her an odd look, and then looked back at Zim with a suspicious look, "Why don't you want to sit with us?"
Hope looked at her dad, "I know you'll have to get up a lot, daddy. I don't want you to pick me up and down all the time."
He gave a sigh of relief. He smiled at her, "Then you can sit with Tak. She won't be standing much."
Zim could see the horror in Hope's eyes as she was handed to her mommy. From what Hope had told Zim, she called Tak mommy to make her father happy. Zim was frustrated with Dib and angered with the fear Tak was instilling in Hope. But he couldn't do anything about it just yet. He didn't have a leg to stand on at the moment. But soon enough, he would say something to both of them.
The evening progressed slowly. Dinner was served to everyone and quiet chattering pursued. Zim didn't bother trying any of the food; just taking small sips of the coke he was offered. His gaze, more often than not, was on Hope and how unhappy she was. He wanted to snatch his child out of that viper's hands. Gaz looked up at Zim as she took a sip of wine, her empty plate and Zim's still full plate being taken away, "You okay, Zim? You look pale again."
He looked over at Gaz and sighed, "Fine. Just wanting this evening to end."
She scoffed, "You and me both."
The orchestra started to play heavenly music and couples stood up to dance. Dib and Tak stood, Tak still holding onto Hope as they walked over to the hall, dancing together slowly, Hope trying to enjoy it.
Zim looked bored. Gaz gave a sigh and stood, whipping out her hand towards Zim. He jumped up, thinking she was about to hit him…but she wasn't. She was just…offering him her hand. "Wanna dance?" she sighed.
Zim looked at her hand, giving her a look, "Dance? Me?"
"Well, I figured the almighty Zim could at least dance," she said, shaking her head as she looked up. He glared at her, sticking his tongue out at her. He stood, taking her hand. And they made their way to the dance floor.
They stood together, arms on one another's shoulders as they shuffled back and forth in a circle. Gaz and Zim looked incredibly bored.
After five minutes of this, they gave up and went back to sit down. Hope, however saw her daddy was up and broke away from Tak and Dib and went running up to him. He gave her a warm smile as she grabbed a hold of his hands, "Zim, dance with me!" she said happily.
Zim sighed and walked off with her.
Hope was still quite short and Zim danced with her quite awkwardly. He was hunched over and she was standing on his shoes but she enjoyed it nonetheless. Eventually annoyed of hunching over with his pregnant tummy (still feeling the pains even with his stomach covered) he picked Hope up and held onto her as they danced around in a circle. She held him tightly, smiling away and they danced together, hoping they would never stop.
Dib and Tak danced together with one another, Dib annoyed at how much Hope was enjoying herself with Zim.
When the music stopped and everyone clapped, they made their way back to their seats, Hope giving Zim a huge smile.
As the evening went on, speeches and toasts by various members started. Zim and Gaz tried looking as awake as possible, but it was getting to become very boring and annoying after the fifth five minute speech.
Dib eventually stood, Zim's attention returning as he and Gaz looked up to him. He held up his glass filled with champagne and began a toast.
Even though Zim's attention was perked, he wasn't really paying attention to each individual word. Dib was blabbing on about how proud he was of his team, for how much research they managed to get done this year. He congratulated various members for their promotions and to some who had gotten married or who have had a child.
He then began blushing, his glass lowering slightly as he continued with an announcement of his own, "My team often thank me for my work and dedication. I just would like to say that without the dedication of my family, my input wouldn't be of the high standards that I have tried to achieve. You see, the saying goes "behind every successful man, there is a successful woman." So, it only makes sense that my success is because I have a loving and caring woman behind me all the way," He looked down at Tak who was smiling. "She has been my guide, my second-in-command, a mother for my child. She has been there through it all…and so…"
He pulled her up. She put Hope on the table as her smile grew. He pulled out a small black box. Zim jolted back in his chair. Gaz reached over and held his hand as a stunned look hit his face. Dib opened the box, the audience before them gasping and whispering in excitement. He put the stunning diamond ring on her finger and blushed at her, "Tak, I want you to there for as long as possible. I want to make you mine. Would you do me the honour…of marrying me?"
Tak smiled at him, and nodded, hugging him as the audience cheered.
Gaz covered her face, sighing as she mumbled, "Oh, God no."
Zim wanted to scream, he wanted to activate his spider-legs and get into a huge fight with Tak now. He wanted to throw Dib clear across the table for being an idiot for daring to trust someone like Tak.
He simply stood, and walked away from the table. Gaz looked up at him, "Zim?"
"I just…I need a moment," he grunted as he headed off to one of the spare rooms. Gaz gave a sigh as she watched people go up to congratulate the new couple.
Sigh, what an idiot /:L BUT WAIT! IT GETS BETTER!...or rather worse :o Stay tuned as more developes
3(
Thanks for the awesomeness reviews guys! Keep thems coming.
See you tomorrow :)
