Author's Note: Hello Fellow Irkens. Welcome to the third and final installment in my INVADER ZIM EPIC. I must remind you that if you have not read "I'll Always Be Yours" and "Between Now and Then", please do so before reading this. I must also press upon you that Red/Erin fluffy-stuff has seeped into the story line. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS TO HEART PEOPLE! (I love the PaR shipping as much as the next person). Also, be aware that the RATING may change from "T" to "M" because of romance stuff in a MUCH LATER chapter. I do not own Invader Zim. If I did, I would hang out with the Tallest all day. YA!
Disclaimer: As Always, Please Be Respectful and NO FLAMING LASERS! Thank You!
Chapter Twenty-One
- -
Erin and Zim's second son, Zane, was born four days earlier than expected. And...he was a humanoid like his mother. Zane was born at home, in the living room. Weighing exactly 7lbs. Zane has light blue eyes and light red whispy curls. The reason Zane was born at home was because they were unsure if Zane would be human or alien. Dib had to deliever the baby because Zim had to keep Erin calm the whole time. Milo and the Tallest witnessed the birth via a transmission from Irk, where Milo was training to become an invader.
- -
"And to think he was conceived on this very couch", Zim replied only hours after Zane's birth.
"Eeewww...", Dib groaned in disgust, having thought about all the times he had sat or laid on it without any second thoughts.
"It's okay because Milo was conceived in the cruiser", Zim exclaimed.
Dib's face when bright red, "Zim, those are the kind I DON'T need to hear".
"Do you know how many times we've fooled around? We lost our virginity at thirteen. That night on Conventia, after the whole war thing happened", Zim said.
"ZIM! I don't care! That's gross! Why are you telling me these things?" Dib asked.
"We have two kids. TWO! Neat huh?" Zim asked, still in a hyper mood.
"You got her pregnant at SIXTEEN! Milo is five years old. He'll be ten when Zane is five. And we'll be...Twenty six years old by then", Dib explained.
"The next two will probably be here by then", Zim replied counting on his fingers.
Erin came into the living room, having walked Zane around. He was asleep in her arms, wrapped in a dark purple blanket.
"Uh...I don't think so", Erin stated standing next to Zim and looking at him, "We have enough to worry about without two more".
"Yeah, you guys are like a sperm bank", Nick exclaimed, he had been sitting on the couch, not really caring about what Zim had said a few minutes ago.
"What's a sperm bank?" Zim asked.
Erin leaned over and whispered to him what it was. Zim's face went a dark green. She just giggled.
"So...I'm guessing you three have NEVER tried a threesome?" Nick asked.
"What's that?" Zim asked.
Yet again, Erin leaned over and whispered to him.
"We can do that?" Zim asked, looking at Erin.
Dib slapped his forehead and Erin rolled her eyes.
- -
Milo missed his parents but was happy that his mother had another child to baby. And this time...it was an actual human baby. Not a super-genius Irken baby but a regular human baby that needed constant mothering to survive. Milo had been on Irk for the past few months. His training was...well it was fun for the most part but he got the feeling these methods were...less destructive and more...bookish. Though, he liked learning, so it wasn't too bad.
Milo found himself sitting in the food hall, eating by himself. Though, he hadn't had any time to make any friends. He was bascially around Tallest Red when he wasn't eating or sleeping. But still...he wished someone would talk to him. As though on command, Tak came over and sat down opposite him. She was basically his only friend since the other older Irkens were always out and about, too busy to really hang out. Well, she wasn't his only friend, he had the Tallest but she was basically his only friend who had time for him.
"Er...hi Tak", Milo replied looking at her, "Curly fry?"
"No thanks. So, how's your training?" Tak asked, folding her arms on the table.
"It's been fun. Mostly", Milo said.
Tak smiled gently, "Glade to hear it. Learned anything interesting?"
"Other then about Planetary Systems? or Being able to identify different star charts? No, not really", Milo replied.
Tak touched Milo's hand gently, "I'm sure Tallest Red has his reasons for training you like he is. You'll probably end up being Tallest one of these days".
"Me? Nah! You think? Really? I don't think so. Maybe", Milo stated, trying to make up his mind.
Tak laughed, "I'm sure you'll do great at whatever you do".
"Thanks", Milo said, smiling at her.
- -
Dib, Nick and Zim finally got back from the store, after three hours. They brought in: twenty five things of diapers, a pack n play, blankets, binkies, bottles, baby food, a diaper bag, a stroller, stuffed toys, teething rings, and several other items.
"Did you get baby clothes?" Erin asked.
"Right here", Zim replied holding up five shopping bags, "All from 0 to 18 months".
"How did you know that?" Erin asked.
"I had to tell him", Dib said, "Oh and four of those outifites are from me".
"You'd never guess which ones he picked out", Nick exclaimed folding his arms.
Erin just laughed. The entire living room looked like a baby work shop.
"We're gonna have to baby proof the base. Human babies can be tricky", Zim explained looking around at all the "POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS" stuff that could harm babies. Which was...the entire base it's self.
"Oh yeah, they're dangerous all right", Dib muttered sarcastically.
"Zane could turn out to be a paranormal investigator you know", Nick pointed out but Zim wasn't paying attention to what he was saying.
"Aren't you supposed to be at work?" Erin asked, looking at Nick.
"Oh, I got Gaz to fill in for me", Nick replied.
"How'd you get my sister to fill in for you?" Dib asked.
"Uh...she got a job there. Pays really well if it's busy", Nick said, "And I gave her half my pay check from last week".
- -
That night, after putting Zane into his play pen, which acted like a cribe because cribes were expensive, Erin and Zim sat on the couch and watched TV. GIR was on Irk with Milo because GIR was now Milo's SIR Unit. So, the house was pretty quiet. And it was an added bonus to have Nick and Dib as neighbors. Dib had moved in with Nick because Gaz had kicked Dib out of the house. And having Dib on hand as a baby-sitter was great. And Dib was a Paranormal Investigator, so he worked nights, mostly.
"I don't know how we manage it", Erin replied.
"Me either. And to think...we were just a couple of young kids when we started this journey together", Zim exclaimed.
"We got through it. I don't know how but we did. We stuck by each other and even during the most uncertain of times, we got through it because we knew we would. And I know it seemed for a while that we wouldn't but...I..I realized that needed you. I've always needed you. I know I've said this before...but I loved you, the very first time I saw you, you made me feel so many different things and I didn't understand it then but I knew you and I would end up together. And when I came to Earth and I found you, I knew it. I couldn't believe it but I knew it. I was scared, if anything had happened to you, I don't know what I'd do but you..you surivived it. You've proven yourself on timeless occasions. And I'm so glade I'm with you. I love you, Zim. I really do love you. And I love our children. Both of them", Erin said smiling.
Zim leaned over and kissed her. He gently laid her back onto the couch and held her close to him. He loved her. He knew he always would. He knew they'd be together, forever. What happened over the past few years, had made them stronger as a couple. Had given them the strength to move forward. Together. They'd always be in love and nothing could ever tear them apart. Nothing.
- -
Author's Note: Alas! The Next Chapter Will Be The Last One. I was going to keep writing but that would seem riddiculous. So, Chapter 22 will be the last chapter! The last chapter will be an EPILOGUE! And there will be SURPRISES!!! So...REVIEW! :D