CHAPTER 14: Homecoming

Sorry I haven't updated in a while. I've had lots of things going on, some of which I wish weren't. But through it all, like the light brigade riding gallantly into the face of the enemy, I've forged ahead and finished the fic. That's right, this is the last chapter of the story you've all come to love (or hate). So, enjoy, and send me your thoughts. Those of you who have read this so far, and not sent a review, now is the time to tell me what you thought. Please? Pretty please? If you don't, I'll get Coldstream Guard on your arses. Just kidding. I don't own any Invader Zim characters.

"Doc, please come out of your office." Ana pleaded from outside the locked door of my office/self-made prison cell. "Please?"

"I have important work to do." I snapped coldly.

"You've been locked in your office for the last 36 hours Doc." Ana said. "We're worried about you." I slammed my notebook down on my desk.

"Damnit all to bloody Hell, Ana!" I shouted. "We're scientists. We have work to do. Can't you just…" My voice broke. "Leave me alone to work?"

"Damn it Drake!" Ana scolded. "You're killing yourself! You haven't eaten or slept since we came back. You think this'll help?! I know this is about Tak, and you're not gonna pull some hari-kari, whiskey lullaby shit on me!" Wow. When Ana decided to take computer technology, I think grief counseling grieved for its loss. I groaned and stood, walking to the door. Opening it, I sighed and looked at Ana.

"What would you have me do?" I asked. "Go on with my life? Find another to love? Be happy as a fuckin' clam about every god-given bloody breath I take?" I nodded 'no'. "She's gone, Ana. Do you understand that? The best damn thing to ever come into my wretched excuse for a fucking life is gone." I felt tears rise behind my eyes, and fought to keep them down. You're English, Drake. Stiff upper lip. "I have…nothing."

"Yes you do." Ana said softly, tears forming in her eyes. "You have a job others would kill for. You have me. You have Ashton. And you can say that you had the most awesome girlfriend in the universe."

"Had." I whispered. "Past tense." I sighed. "Honestly, Ana…the job, bollocks to it. I'd give everything. I'd give my last sodding breath, my last drop of claret to see her face again."

"I know." Ana whispered. "I know."

"I think I'll take your prescription, Ana." I said. "I'm going to go try to get some sleep, maybe have a few nightmares, hopefully suffer from a rare quarter-centennial-delayed SIDS or something."

"Doc…" Ana said in a 'That's nowhere near funny' tone. I placed a hand on her shoulder and mustered a small smile.

"How's Ashton getting on?" I asked before a yawn. Ana smiled.

"He's good. Still a little shell-shocked. He won't even look at a cartoon."

"That's Ashton." I said with a little residual humor.

"Yeahhhh…" Ana added. "We have a date tonight."

"It was only a matter of time." I stated. "I wish the best for you two." With that, I gave Ana a friendly hug, as if to say 'thanks for caring', and made my way to my quarters.

In my bedroom, I took off my lab coat and flung it onto a chair, considering never wearing it again professionally. I pulled my already loose black tie over my head, and dropped it onto the tan carpet, and shed my black shirt. I picked up my black TAPS teeshirt from the bed and slid it on, pausing to take in Tak's faint smell that still lingered on it. I kicked off my shoes, and crawled into bed.

I was almost asleep, when I heard a knock at the door. I groaned in utter hopelessness and half-rolled, half-slithered out of bed. I walked across the room and opened the door to see Ana standing there.

"Ashton and I are going out." She said. "Do you want me to bring you back anything?"

"Thanks Ana, I'm good." I said groggily.

"Alright." She said with a friendly smile. "Take care of yourself. You need anything, call my cell."

"Have fun." I said, and closed the door. I staggered back to the bed, and fell face-first onto the mattress, my face in a pillow, and making some strange gurgling sounds before I rolled onto my back and got comfortable. I was out in a matter of seconds.

I awoke to a staccato cracking sound, like someone pouring out a jar full of marbles onto a wooden floor.

"Bloody road crews and their bloody jackhammers." I muttered. "Interrupting a perfectly good sleep." I groaned into the pillow and raised my head slightly. "Keep it down." I slurred sleepily. "Tossers." I presumed to fall asleep yet again. I don't know how much longer I was able to sleep before my rest was awakened yet again by a knocking at the door.

"Suddenly there came a tapping, as of someone gently rapping…rapping at my chamber door." I muttered half asleep, half angry. True to the famous poem, I once again heard knocking at the wooden door of my bedroom. "Keep your hair on, Lenore." I said angrily, and walked to the door, silently cursing the third interruption of my sad attempt to sleep away my sorrows. I opened the door, and nearly slapped myself to see if I was dreaming. There stood Tak.

"Drake?" Tak said with a voice full of love, sadness and joy commingled.

"Tak…" I whispered in disbelief. "Is it…really you?" She answered by leaping into my arms, and throwing her arms around me happily. We kissed passionately, our love, happiness and tears mixing. "But…how?"

"Not without you." She said emotionally. "I couldn't…"

"Tak." I sobbed happily, holding her tightly against me, never wanting to let go.

"I begged Membrane to send me back. He said he'd send me through, but I couldn't come back. I don't care, Drake. I love you."

"I love you." I replied.

"Besides," Tak said, lowering herself to her feet. "After you left, Dib suddenly decided to get all…you know, boyfriend with me. So I hit him." She rolled her eyes. I smiled. "Hard. Gaz thought it was hilarious." I laughed. So my animal instincts had been right.

"Tak," I said. "I couldn't have survived without you by my side. I was miserable without you."

"I can't call you weak." Tak said. "Because I was lost without you."

"Love?" I asked.

"Yes"

"Will you do something for me? For us?"

"I would do anything." Tak replied.

"Can you create another disguise? One to make you appear older?"

"Of course. I designed this one myself. Why?

"Because I want you to marry me." I said. Tak wrapped her arms around my waist and hugged me, sobbing lightly.

"Why in the name of Irk did you wait so long?" She cried. "I will."

"First things first." I said with a smile, hugging her back. She looked up questioningly. "Let's get some sleep." She smiled.

"Deal."

"I love you." I said, looking into her beautiful eyes.

"I love you, Drake."

"Forever, Tak?"

"Forever."

Well, that's it, ladies and germs. The last chapter of ATOTD 2. Did you enjoy it? Now it's 4:30 in the bloody morning, and I'm simplified, so I leave you with the promise that I'll start my next fic soon. Till then, cheerio.