Devotion! Invader Zim style ;)

Tak and Dib arrived at Gaz's apartment building to join her for dinner. As he chatted on endlessly, Tak wondered why she didn't seem to mind compared to anyone else. It was possibly how she felt about him. Something she still wasn't willing to verbally state, but she probably proved it enough by the mark that will remain on his neck for others to see. Something about that was way too satisfying to her especially when that woman was at their labs again while Tak was there. Tak knew she was with his father now, but she still couldn't help act smug. Dib did make a comment of her behavior being childish saying there was no need for her to feel the way she did since he was with her, and only her.

At some point of his chattering, once they stepped out of the elevator, she stopped him to give him a kiss. "You talk to much."

"Want me to stop?" Dib teased her instead of acted insulted.

"No, but I do have other suggestions where you can place that mouth of yours instead of using it against open air."

Leaning down, he nipped her neck enjoying hearing her purr out. "Later. Promise." Nipping her more, he wanted to feel her grow weak against him before he pulled away. If she wanted to be a pain, he could too.

Feeling hypnotized by his actions, she felt like a puddle before he heard his mocking laughter. "Ass." She whispered. "Payback is a bitch."

"Counting on it."

Tak had to admit he really lit a fire within her that no other had before. "I guess we should go and knock on her door then."

Walking to her door, Dib didn't get a chance to knock on it, when Gaz opened it up with a playful smirk. "Your voice carries through walls, Genius." Gaz stated.

"Well what about Tak's voice?" Dib inquired.

"I'll forgive her since she has to talk over your voice." Pausing to get a proper reaction, Gaz smiled before letting them in. "Come on in."

For Dib it was odd to have her chipper sounding. What was going on? He thought as he put his trench to the side along with Tak's coat as Gaz waited for them. Gaz wandered into the living room first followed by them both, but as they turned the corner they saw a pair of legs sitting cross legged before focusing on the entire body. A very familiar one at that.

"Zim." Both Tak and Dib said at the same time. One in hatred and the other in suspicion.

Standing up, Zim smiled at them both as Gaz came to his side. "Greetings."

"What are you doing here?" Tak demanded.

"Are you here to stalk and kidnap my sister again?" Dib demanded himself.

Zim glanced down at Gaz. "I guess I can't blame them for not trusting me. History and all."

"What the hell do you expect after last time? See what happens when you don't reign it in. This shit happens." Gaz pointed out.

"That is why I need my queen to let me know when I get to be such a dumb ass, as you say." Zim told her back before they faced Dib and Tak again. "The Control Brains said yes to having me take Gaz as my wife. It was a long battle, but she was the one I wanted all along."

"How do we know you won't take a mistress while you are with her or something?" Dib asked as he stepped forward. "I will not allow my sister to be hurt again."

"That won't happen. I want her and only her. I am in love with her." Zim answered. "Look if you don't trust me than follow me. I'm sure Tak still has her ship." Focuses on her. "You do know this relationship is off limits. What is your own status now to the Empire?"

Tak didn't hesitate. "Before I would of hated to leave it, but honestly I'd rather leave it than leave him."

Studying them, Zim smiled a very large knowing smile at them both. "I saw the bite mark on the way in. You know about love then. You fell for this human just like I fell in love with, Gaz."

"I still wouldn't mind kicking your ass for all the shit you caused." Dib couldn't forgive him. Looking at Gaz, she looked peeved. "Go ahead and be angry at me, Gaz, but after seeing you miserable, hearing you cry, and suffer I can't support this. I can't. I love you, but I can't."

"You seemed understanding while I was separated from him. Yes, I understand you can't forgive him before, but I kinda hoped." Gaz told him softly.

"I guess you hoped wrong."

Taking a deep breath in, Gaz clenched her jaw. "When were you about to start fixing me up on dates then? Were you waiting for another month to do it?"

"No, I wouldn't do that, but I won't allow him to hurt you again." He replied angrily as he pointed at Zim for emphasis. "What will dad say when he hears you going with him?"

"I don't know, but I will talk to him."

Placing his hand around Tak's waist, he just wanted to get the hell out of there. "Well don't expect me to jump up and down for joy." Dib said glaringly as they both turned to get out of there.

Gaz couldn't cry, she was angry, and hurt. She had a feeling it would go badly, but it almost felt like her own brother called her a horrific name. Stepping away from Zim she didn't want any physical contact at the time and when he tried to comfort her, she stepped away telling him she needed some space.

Dib was clutching his hands to the steering wheel as they sped home. Only at some point he slammed his hand against the wheel exclaming badly. He felt Tak's hand on his own trying to calm him, but he wasn't having it. "He will just hurt her again."

Tak was uncharacteristically quiet when she finally blurted out, "I changed after I met you."

Turning to look at her, he asked, "What?"

"I've known Zim longer than the both of you. He was worse than this before. Yes, he did some things that weren't great, but even I can see the change in him."

She was so soft spoken telling him this, but he refused to believe that change. "I'm afraid for my own sister."

"After talking to your sister several times, I can tell how she isn't stupid at all. Yes, she got hurt before by him, but I see how they both love one another."

Dib almost grabbed her to check if this was really Tak, but couldn't do it. "Let's just get home. My appetite is ruined, but if your hungry I can stop off somewhere..."

"I'm fine, Dib." She interrupted looking away from him.

"I bet you regret being with me now."

His voice sounded so sad making her demand he pull over to the side of the road. When he did that, she placed both hands on either side of his face to force him to look at her. "Funny how I think that sometimes, but I don't regret it. I made my choice. I'm happy with my choice. What about you?" His tiny smile he offered her while reaching out to run a finger down her jawline had her smiling back at her.

Dib examined her human disguise knowing it was pleasant to look at, but he wanted to see her natural self back. "I love your real smile instead of your human smile the best. I hate that we have to hide your identity away."

"Same here, but think of it this way in terms of us seeing one another naked; Only we both get to see the best of one another."

Leaning over, he kissed her. "I really love you, Tak." Dib didn't know what her reaction would be, but to feel her coming at him to bite down on his neck at the pulse point made him both excited and relaxed. "You couldn't of waited till we got home?" He squeaked out.

"I love you too." She whispered pulling back.

Pushing her gently away from him, Dib looked at her with open hunger. He was angry at his sister and now plain turned on by his girlfriend. He almost contemplated his feelings on where to go next, but decided that home would be the best way to continue this tiny adventure of theirs. "Hold that thought until we are home."

Of course home wasn't such a safe haven as Dib thought it would be when they came in to see Zim standing near the couch. Letting go of Tak's hand, he stalked over to him. "Get out of my house." Dib hissed.

"No. Gaz is extremely upset about what happened and whether you believe it or not, she honestly cares for you." Zim said calmly.

"I care for her too, but what you did to her is still unforgivable."

"Fine, be angry at me, and only me. I'm the one who kidnapped her when she was 13 only knowing one thing about her. She wakes up when she is 18 and what happens, she punches me to tell me her name. While I was irritated at that, I had to admire her pure strength." Zim began by telling him. "Then there is this game of tug and war between us with her starting a game of a mating ritual. I know she was innocent in truly not knowing what it meant in the long run, but it happened. I admire your sister's strength and intelligence. Along with her beauty. She is astounding in my opinion where I didn't realize how often I stared at her while she was floating in that containment unit I had her in for so long. My attraction was obviously there, but I became blinded by stupidity. By believing I can't change the rules, so I reached out to Tenn for a future mate."

Tak noticed that Dib's hand was still clenching while she listened calmly to Zim. It was unmistakable now. Purely so making her almost clench hating to be wrong about him after so long.

"It hurt me that I hurt her. I only realized how much I did because of her hiding away in the ship, and snagging my pak off me. I kept trying to get close to her, but she pulled away. I don't blame her for doing that, but I was desperate for her. Obsessive."

"Creepy is more like it." Dib added.

"No, that comes later I guess." Zim said. "I went to trade some goods of mines for supplies and during that course there one of the citizens fell for her in a short amount of time. Not surprising to me. I know she considered, and I went crazy at the thought of losing her." Head down in thought, he looked back up to him. "Hence what you had to witness first hand here. Gaz is amazing in so many ways that while I'm pursuing her, I'm ignoring this other because I didn't want her. I wanted Gaz. I will not get into everything and I know why I kidnapped her in the first place, but when I fell in love with her I didn't want her in the thick of it like before. I placed her mostly on the sidelines because I feared something horrible would happen to her. I couldn't lose her. When we did win and they were bringing me away to turn around to see her leaving it was the worse." Taking a breath, he almost wouldn't mind a punch now. "Each day as I'm doing my duties, I was also fighting to have her by my side. I wanted to change the rules to have her. When I finally was granted permission I came here. Of course locating her was a problem this time around."

"But you did." Tak said chiming in.

"That I did and I proposed to her and she accepted. While I was happy. Both of us were. Now it is dampened."

Dib listened to it all while his fist felt like a rubber band wanting to snap which it did when he punched him square in the chin knocking Zim against the couch. "Boo hoo to you, Zim."

Rubbing his chin, Zim stared at him. "I deserved that."

"No, you deserve more. I think you should stay away from my sister. Leave." Dib informed him as he readied to hit him again.

"Dib, quiet or I'll deck the both of you guys out."

Both Dib and Zim turned their attention at Gaz as she stepped in as her calm deadly demeanor washed over them making them both stand at attention. In both their separate ways, they angered her. "The two guys that mean a lot in my life. Dad is included, but we'll get to that when he arrives. Dib, Zim made some huge mistakes." Holds up her hand to stop Zim from speaking. "You know you have, Zim. But he has done good with me. I see that he loves me just like I love him too. Of course I want to be with him." Looks to her brother, "As for you, Dib. I remember how you annoyed me when we were younger to the point I wanted to strangle you, but I never hated you. I know I annoyed you too. The only reason why I never hated you is because you were always there for me no matter what. Loved me at my worse. Which was 100% of the time."

"You weren't though." Dib told her softly.

"My point is this Dib, you saw past things in me, things I didn't know about to still love me. To keep giving me a chance. I just want another chance in having faith in me." Gaz softened her voice. "Please."

Dib opened his mouth to speak when the door opened up with a burst of flare from their own father. Is that what he looks like at times? He wondered.

"Daughter! What is so important that you have to see me?" Membrane bellowed as he went quickly from Gaz's face to the newest face in the room. "Oh another visitor? Who is this?"

Gaz stepped beside Zim. "Dad, this is Zim. Zim, this is my dad, Professor Alex Membrane."

Want to feel the temperature drop in the room? Everyone gets frozen to the spot because the authority figure in two people's lives with one in particular where Membrane knows Zim kidnapped her and had a relationship with his daughter. As the temperature may drop, it does rise to a boiling heat making even two of the Invaders in the room fearful of what will occur.

"What is he doing here, daughter? Why is he holding you like that?" Membrane demanded.

Gaz and Zim released their hold. "Dad, he came here to ask for my hand in marriage. I accepted. Zim is really a decent guy."

"I refuse to accept this, Gazlene. It is horrible enough he took you away, did awful things to you, you came back upset, takes you away, you come back sadder than before and now this? No. It is best if you forget about him and be with someone else."

"He only did one awful thing to me and yes he went overboard in coming for me the first time, but..." Gaz began.

"No, no, no. I raised you to be a respectful young lady and not throw yourself around at the first guy who paid attention to you. You know what they call women in my day who do that?" Membrane was livid at her.

"Dad, she never threw herself at him. She simply just fell in love with him. Gaz is nothing like that." Dib said chiming in. "Don't assume that Gaz is like that when she has never been the type of girl to never do that. She told me a long time ago that she won't kiss just any guy or be with any guy. She told me that when the time comes, she'll know." Waving his hand over at Zim. "She knew with him and it is obvious he is too inexperienced to know better."

"Son, I find it commendable you would defend your sister, but this Zim should of used common sense." Membrane countered back at him.

Tak didn't think she would get involved like this, but she stepped in. "I've known, Zim the longest here in this room, and although we never got along before I do see what has been said about him as lies. He was born different than the rest of us. He didn't know better, but it obviously took your daughter and your son to help him see more of the light. Zim is the Tallest on my former planet. They exiled him because of fear. The former Tallests were corrupt. They did this to silence him. Zim did something desperate in searching out and finding your daughter, but in doing that he got changed for the better."

Zim felt odd if he decided to speak out loud, but the way Membrane was staring him down, he stepped forward. "No amount of apologies will obviously erase the hurt I've caused you when I took her away, but I'll have you know, Sir, that I cherish your daughter. I love her and I've never been in love before. I fought to have her as a Queen for the Empire because she is so incredibly special to me that the thought of losing her will kill me. Not like you care, but I want to have a family with your daughter. I will treat her so well. I even have something with me that will allow a very clear signal so you can communicate with her whenever she isn't here, because I know she'll want to visit once in a while."

Examining him, Membrane stepped past him to take Gaz and Dib by the arms to escort them downstairs to speak to them leaving a very perplexed Zim with Tak.

"Don't rub it in my face that I talked kindly of you, Zim." Tak said as she went to sit on the couch.

"I wasn't, but thank you."

"Yeah, well. I guess you aren't so bad." Tak grumbled out. "I didn't think their dad was capable of being mad."

Down in the lab, Dib and Gaz just examined how their dad paced in front of them, Gaz shook her head. "I'm marrying him regardless dad." Her voice was soft, but firm. "Go ahead and hate me, but he is good with me."

"I raised you better than this so I'm still firm in my answer, Gazlene."

"With all due respect dad. Until I came back it was Dib who primarily raised me. As much as I wanted to have you around to be with us, it was always just Dib and I alone." Gaz refused to raise her voice. "Don't get me wrong, but I do love you and I'm glad you stuck up for me when I came back, but you have to face the fact that it was always Dib who had to act like my father and brother at the same time."

Dib remained silent for now as he watched how his father's gaze flickered between them both. What she said was truth.

"I don't think I could support this, Gaz, but if you wish to throw your life away than do so." Membrane informed her turning his back to her. "I love you my daughter. I always will."

Dib felt Gaz fall against him making him wrap his arm around her waist. Dib felt the anger within him grow. Felt certainty inside him as he stood there boldly. "You're wrong, dad. Gaz won't be throwing her life away with him. I was scared at first, but I see within her and even within him that they are right for one another. Zim will make my sister happy. Your daughter happy. One day if they have kids I will be proud to be their Uncle. This won't be the last I hear from Gaz and it might be yours if you don't re-think what you are doing right now." Taking her hand, he led her to the stairs. "Come on Gaz."

Pausing at the end of the stairs, Gaz turned to glance back at her father. "Love you too." Turning back, she went back up to the living room to catch sight of an anxious Zim who came over to see her upset face to wrap her up in his arms. "He won't support this." She whimpered.

"But seeing that I have been her surrogate dad all these years, I will." Dib chimed in. "I'll trust her judgement and I better be talking to you soon, sis."

While holding Zim still, she turned her face to look up at Dib. "You will hear from me. Thanks, Dib."

Gaz hated that the one thing that made this a bad experience was knowing how her own dad felt. She didn't regret saying yes to Zim. She loved how Dib was supporting her and even though it was the oddest thing to experience from Tak, she wondered if her hugs to Dib were less vice grip like.

Next chapter will mark the conclusion. Always thankful for the reviews and the readers. :)