A/N: Howdy y'all! Finally, I bet you're thinkin', chapter five has arrived! And arrived it has! The reason why this took so long was NOT writer's block, but because of the fact I had two ideas for this chapter, wrote both of them out, and decided which one I liked more. And, naturally, I chose the more angst-y one… Though, it's not really, if you think 'bout it. I usually stay in Zim's POV for this one.

Why? I have NO idea! I just like writing in Third Person limited…All right, enough of my drivel, go read! Oh, BTW, this is the ::sigh:: last chapter to A Strange Twist of Fate. Consider me finishing it as a Christmas present to you all!

A Strange Twist of Fate: Chapter Five

"Dib, are you awake?" Membrane asked as he knocked on the door lightly. He had forgotten to tell his son something important.

"What is it?" Dib asked as he opened the door, rubbing his eyes tiredly as he opened the door.

"I forgot to tell you…Gaz's funeral is…" Membrane trailed off as he noticed how Dib's face fell. Membrane was surprised, though, when Dib motioned him to follow as he walked back into his room.

"Already?"

Membrane didn't know what to say to that. Dib looked up at his father. "I know it seems too soon to…." He couldn't bring himself to complete his sentence, not when Dib looked at him like that, anyway.

"When is it?" Dib asked. "Are we putting her in the ground or cremating her?" Dib continued quietly.

"She's been cremated," Membrane replied, being just as quiet.

"Been?"

Membrane nodded. "Her funeral is tomorrow…I was going to tell you this earlier, but…"

"That's okay, Dad. Thanks for letting me know. I'll call Zim and tell him I won't be in skool tomorrow," Dib stated.

"You're going to go?" Membrane asked as Dib picked up the phone.

"Why wouldn't I?" Dib countered as he began to dial Zim's number. He signaled his father to be quiet. Membrane did as he was told.

"Hey Zim… No, nothing's wrong…. I just called to say that I won't be in skool tomorrow…" Dib smiled, then looked over at a photo. "My sister's funeral is…tomorrow…. Yeah, Dad just—oh, yeah, I'm not mad at him anymore… So, anyway, Gaz's funeral is tomorrow… Hold on, I'll ask," Dib placed a hand over the mouthpiece.

"Yes, he can come," Membrane answered the foreseen question.

"How'd you know that I…?"

"Could tell."

Dib nodded, then removed his hand. "You're allowed, Zim. Get some sleep. I'll come over tomorrow and help get you ready…. I highly doubt that you would know how to dress appropriately for something like this… Whatever, Zim, just trust me on this, okay? …" Dib suddenly blushed slightly, turned away from his father, whispered something to the phone, then hung up.

"What? Can't say certain things in front of your father?" Membrane asked when Dib turned around.

Suddenly, Dib found the carpet very interesting as he shuffled his feet slightly. "Maybe…. So, when is the funeral?" Dib asked, getting off the subject.

"Around twelve. You and Zim can still sleep in. Why did he want to go, anyway?"

"Why are you suddenly taking so much interest in my life, Membrane?" Dib inquired.

Membrane sighed; he knew his son was going to ask him that. "You know why, Dib. I was a horrible father to you and Gaz. I don't want you to hate me; though, I'll admit I'd completely understand if you did. I don't want the same thing that happened to Gaz to happen to you," he explained.

"Thanks, Dad…" Dib said, then yawned. "I should get some sleep. 'Night, Dad."

"Night, son," Membrane replied as he walked out of his son's room, turning off the light as he did so.

It was the next day; Zim was unusually well dressed for the occasion, much to the shock of Dib. Zim noticed the solemn looks on Dib and Membrane's faces. Of course, Zim knew why. A human funeral was much like one on Irk.

A funeral to a human differed in one way, however. The difference was that, on Irk, a funeral could only be visited when the Tallest themselves gave you permission. On Earth, you could go as long as you were either related or close to the one whom died. Although Zim might not have fitted either category, something told him that he should go. That maybe by going, Dib would have the support he needed.

Zim never really liked being in human affairs like this. When he saw how much happier Dib seemed to be just when he walked out of his bas, however, his resolve to go hardened. He would go and take this as a learning experience. Zim could study human nature so he could fit in better with the world, since something told him he wasn't going to be leaving the planet any time soon, not that it mattered. Zim had Dib now, and he would be fine as long as he had him.

"Professor Membrane, may we speak to you?" a voice called out from behind them.

Dib's slight smiled faded, Zim noticed, when the person had spoken up.

"Ignore them, Dad. They're only going to give you more grief," Dib ordered.

"Right, Dib. I'm already getting enough stress from reporters. I just want to be left alone right now, anyway," Membrane said as he nodded.

Zim listened to the exchange attentively. He had to fight the urge to call out to the person to just leave the Membrane family alone, especially when Dib gave him one of his looks. For some reason, Zim couldn't wait for this to be over. Dib was being unusually quiet, much to Zim's dismay. When they finally made it to the funeral service, Zim suddenly understood why.

There were more people present than he had expected. Zim remained quiet as every one greeted Membrane and Dib. One boy sat off by himself, his messy black hair sticking out more than usual. Zim watched as Dib approached the boy.

"Rick?" Dib called out softly.

The boy lifted his head. "Is…he here?" Rick asked, searching the room with his eyes.

Zim noticed the amount of animosity the boy held in his voice as he spoke. It was the same hatred Dib used to posses in his voice whenever he had mentioned his father.

Apparently, Dib knew whom Rick was talking about. "Of course Membrane's here. My father regrets what he's done," Dib stated.

"Fat chance," Rick mumbled. "He never said so on the news."
"Rick, he doesn't say much about anything on the news because he just wants to grieve over his loss. He loved my sister, Rick—"

"If he loved her, he wouldn't have hit her."

Zim saw Dib flinch at the tone of Rick's voice. He couldn't take it anymore; Zim walked up to Dib and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Zim…?" Dib asked, giving him a confused look. "What is it?"

"If you could…maybe explain what kind of relationship Rick had with Gaz to me, I could help you get him to understand."

"I don't need to understand anything, Green-boy. All I need to know is that Membrane hit his own daughter, who happened to be my girlfriend!" Rick hissed.

Zim suddenly understood. He quickly thought about how he would feel if he were in Rick's place for a moment. "I know it's hard to lose the one you've obviously grown so attached to," Zim began, "but…Gaz wouldn't want you to hate her father. He didn't mean to hit her. Hell, he's probably feeling worse than you! How would you feel if you had accidentally hit your daughter with a car, and ended her life?" Zim asked.

Rick glanced up at Zim. "He should have been paying more attention to the road," Rick stated.

"I agree, Rick, but it does not change things," Dib stated, being careful not to let his father hear him. "The shock of killing his own daughter has changed him. Membrane has been a way better father to me than he ever has his whole life. He learned from his biggest mistake, and he regrets it, but he can't take it back. Trust me, if Dad could, Gaz would be back here with us in a heartbeat."

"Then why doesn't he do that?! Your father is a world-famous scientist, Dib!"

"It would be hard for him to even concentrate on working the TV now, let alone one of his inventions. Plus, he still has yet to find a way to bring people back to life," Dib said.

"It is impossible to bring people back to life—no time machine or invention can change that," Zim added.

"How would you know?" Rick asked.

"Confidential," Zim replied. He would have further explained, but a weary-looking gentleman had begun to speak.

Zim and Dib stood next to each other as the man went through what Zim guessed as the funeral sermon. He didn't really pay attention to anything; he was too distracted by everyone else. The people around him were crying, wailing, or listening to the man with the utmost respect. This unnerved Zim a bit, and he felt more and more out of place the longer he was there.

Dib was silently crying to himself, and Zim wanted to do nothing more than to put an arm around his shoulders and tell him that it would be okay. He couldn't do that, though. Dib wouldn't want him to. So Zim stood, patiently waiting for it to be over so that he wouldn't have to see Dib like that anymore.

Much to Zim's relief, the man finally stopped talking and went somewhere. Dib tried to smile at Zim, but he couldn't do it. Dib threw himself into Zim's arms once more and cried.

"It's okay, Dib…" Zim heard himself whisper.

"I know, Zim…" Dib replied with a sniff. "I'm still going to miss her."

Zim really didn't know how to begin on reacting to this. He had never been surrounded by sadness like this in his entire life. So Zim did as his instincts told him and help Dib in his arms until he moved, and he didn't care who saw them like this. When Dib did move, it was a little while later, when he went to get a tissue. He said only one thing when he came back:

"Thank you, Zim, for coming back into my life."

Zim just nodded, knowing that it would be best if he were to keep his mouth shut. He would spoil the moment if he spoke. Dib smiled at Zim before turning to his father.

"Dib, over here," Membrane called out quietly. "Son, where do you want to…?"

Dib blinked, sighed, then glanced at Zim. "Dad, don't as me to decide where…" he didn't continue. Zim quietly watched as Dib sat down in a chair.

"Dib, she was obviously closer to you than she was to me. I want you to decide," Membrane ordered softly, kneeling next to his son.

"Dad…I can't. Can't we just…?"

"I know where you could spread her ashes," Rick said suddenly, walking over to them.

"You do?" Membrane and Dib asked at the same time.

Zim blinked as he glanced at his boyfriend, then Rick. He had been wondering what Membrane and Dib were talking about; on Irk, cremating wasn't really an option, let alone spreading the ashes. Zim understood why Dib felt the way he did.

"Yes. She would have liked having her ashes spread around her mother's grave. Whenever Gaz and I would talk to each other, she would always something about how she was wondering what her mother would be doing right now if she were still alive," Rick elaborated, tearing up slightly.

Dib nodded. "That's right…she did say things like that whenever we were acting civil to each other."

Zim watched as Dib sighed once more and looked down at the ground. "I bet she can see Mom now, where she's at. She got her wish, huh, Rick?" Dib asked quietly, his words cracking just slightly as he spoke.

"Yeah. That's how fate works, doesn't it?" Rick joked weakly. "Well, I better get going. My parents don't even know I decided to skip skool and come here…."

"Bye, Rick," Dib murmured as the other boy left. "So what do you say, Dad? Do you think we should?" Dib asked as he turned to his father.

Membrane nodded. "Rick seemed to have been really close to your sister. I say that's where we should spread her ashes. Besides, Gazette Membrane was much like her mother, she deserves to be near her."

Zim was unsure if he should really say anything at all. He felt as if he wasn't really there, like he was just another piece of furniture and not another being. But he didn't mind it at all, considering that he was learning much more about humans now than he ever did when he tried to ignore them. Sometimes being banished was a blessing in disguise, Zim noted, just like how Gaz's untimely death could have been one too.

Soon enough, Membrane picked up the box that held Gaz's ashes, mumbling, "She was supposed to be in a vase," to himself. That caused a slight stare from his son, but Membrane seemed not to notice. Zim just shook his head and told himself that he was over analyzing things again. Though, he could not shake his thoughts away like he had hoped. He would tell Dib about them once they were alone.

Zim allowed himself to smile slightly at that thought. He was no longer at the funeral service and Dib and Membrane weren't paying him much attention by this point, do he didn't feel as if it was inappropriate for him to smile. It wasn't that large of a smile; it was more of a slight curse of the lips, lips that were suddenly kissed when Zim wasn't really paying attention to anything.

Blinking slightly, Zim kissed back softly as his arms found their way around Dib's waist. "What was that for?" Zim asked once Dib let go.

Dib smirked. "You seemed so wrapped up in your thoughts that I figured you should have a little wake-up call," he said. "That, and I couldn't resist."

Zim's smile widened slightly. "I'm irresistible, am I?" he asked. "That's new… Usually people can't stand me…"

"True… C'mon," Dib said as he grabbed Zim's hand to drag him up to where his father was.

"There you two are," Membrane stated with a slight hint of concern. "Let's go…. The lab is expecting me to be back today, but sometime…"

"Dad, do you have to go?" Dib asked.

"Dib, it's go back or lose my job. It's just not fair. Me, a scientist who's famous, can still get fired. It's unbelievable," Membrane said as they got into the car.

"That is unfair," Dib muttered. "Sometimes, Dad, I wish you weren't famous."

"Me too, son, me too…"

When they did make it back to the Membrane residence, Dib and Membrane had cheered up considerably, much to Zim's relief. Dib and Zim waved Membrane good bye before walking into the house. Suddenly, as soon as the door was closed, Dib wrapped his arms around Zim and kissed him once more.

"Dib…" Zim murmured quietly once the other boy let him use his lips for something other than kissing.

"Yes, Zim?" Dib asked as he kept his arms wrapped around Zim's neck.

"Do you think it's strange that…it took us five years to realize how much we cared for each other?" Zim asked.

"No. I don't think it's strange. And I really just realize it, I knew that I loved you. It just took me five long years to admit it," Dib explained.

Zim smiled again. "You know, I never would have admitted it myself if you hadn't done so first," he stated.

"We got lucky, then. I wouldn't have let it slip if I hadn't been so distressed. It's really just a strange twist of fate, I guess," Dib said, remembering his conversation he believed he really had with his sister.

"You know, I think you're right, Dib. I just wish you didn't have to go through the pain of losing your sister…"

"I'm okay, Zim. I'll miss her, but it's not…too painful. This is going to sound strange, even from me, but I think her death gave our relationship a chance," Dib admitted.

"You mean, her death was like a blessing in disguise?" Zim asked, his eyes widening slightly,

"Not a blessing, no… More like a…" Dib couldn't find words to describe what he was trying to say. "Well, not quite a blessing," he said finally.

"Okay, so not quite a blessing," Zim agreed as he walked towards the couch, Dib following close behind. "But me being banished was…" he whispered.

"How so?"

"Well, I won't have to worry about being caught 'making out' with you since the Tallest won't be contacting me…. And I don't have to take over the Earth now…" Zim said.

"What about Jazz?"

Zim winces just slightly, but Dib noticed it all the same. Sighing, Zim decided to tell Dib. "Jazz will have more trouble from not being able to contact me than the other way around. You see, I found out last night that Jazz…that Jazz was in love with me," Zim said, glancing down at the floor.

"Are you serious?" Dib asked.

Nodding, Zim looked up at Dib. "He was able to tell me because he had received permission to contact me. He seems to have felt that way towards me for a while…"

"He could have kept you for himself," Dib said quietly.

"Huh?" Zim asked as he blinked. He had expected Dib to growl protectively or something of that nature. Though, he had to admit, this was way better than Dib being super protective.

"Anyone who was willing to give up the one they loved like Jazz did because the one they loved was in love with someone ELSE is a very unique person. Jazz could have had you for himself when you returned to Irk, but he was the one who convinced you to come back to Earth, didn't he?" Dib asked.

"Yeah, he did… I'm going to miss him, though. He was like a brother to me," Zim said.

Dib smiled softly. "We'll both have someone to miss… But I don't mind it too much, as long as…as long as I don't lose you, Zim," Dib stated.

"Dib…Humans don't live as long as Irkens do…" Zim said sadly, suddenly realizing that he wouldn't have Dib with him for the rest of his life. "You won't lose me," and it was the truth, too. Most likely, it would be the other way around.

"How old are you now?" Dib asked, his curiosity as plain as day. He didn't even think of Zim being much older than he was. Suddenly, Dib remembered that Zim had said he'd been flying ships since before he was born.

"Let's just say that the oldest human being is younger than I am, but when I translate my age to a human's, I'm as old as you are," Zim explained.

Dib nodded in understanding. "Could we find a way to keep me alive as long as you?" he asked. He had to ask; there was no way he wouldn't.

"Maybe… No Irken for years has had to deal with this kind of thing… There must be a way…" Zim answered.

"We'll worry about that later," Dib said as he grinned mischievously. "Right now we could be doing something else." Dib positioned himself on Zim's lap and kissed the alien.

Zim gave Dib the look that looks like he was raising an eyebrow, but since Zim doesn't have any, the effect wasn't the same. "Dib…"

"Shut up," Dib ordered softly as he continued to kiss Zim. Zim did as he was told like any well-trained soldier and allowed Dib to do what he wanted, though it may not have seemed as though Dib had complete control. Zim had never felt anything like it in his life, and once it was over, he could understand why Dib had wanted to do it in the first place.

They had done what humans called "making love."* The two were exhausted when they were finished. At least Dib had the sense to move the festivities from the couch to his room before any clothes were removed, so that Membrane wouldn't suspect too much. If he hadn't, there would have been a chance that Membrane would have walked in on them. And that was something Dib did not want to live to see.

They relaxed for a while, holding each other in their arms as they did so. Zim could not have been happier, but he soon realized that he would have to leave soon. Gir would have very well destroyed half of his base by now if Zim were extremely unlucky. Sighing, Dib let go of Zim and watched his lover get dressed before getting dressed himself.

"I love you, Zim," Dib said before he kissed Zim good-bye.

"I love you too, Dib," Zim replied once they broke apart. "You're going to be in skool tomorrow, right?"

"How could I, Zim? Tomorrow's a Saturday. No skool," Dib pointed out with a grin.

"Oh yeah, that's right. Can you come over, then?" Zim asked as he began to walk out of the door.

"I'll have to ask my dad. Bye, Zim," Dib said as he let Zim leave.

It's been a strange week, Dib thought to himself. So many surprises, so many strange twists of fate had taken place that week. But, Dib continued to muse as he watched Zim walk down the street, life's not so bad. It's not so bad after all.

*Sorry there was no graphic lemon. Though, if I hadn't promised myself NOT to let this fic go above the PG-13 rating, there sure as hell would have been one. I STILL have to write a lemon with a happy ending. It's on my Fanfics To Do list…

What did you guys think? I don't really know my own personal opinion on it… I have this large thing called modesty, and I think everything I write isn't as good as it could be. So, flamers, this is your chance! Though, I doubt any of you flamers are smart enough to actually give me a flame that doesn't make me feel horribly more intelligent than you. If you have been an avid reader of this fanfic, and haven't reviewed AT ALL, I suggest you do so now. Please?? It'll make me a VERY happy author. ^_^;;;