The wind rustled through the branches as Dib watched the neighboring house for any sign of activity. The tape of reruns had stopped, and he was beginning to nod off when he noticed a figure emerge from the front door.

"ZIM!" he yelled, probably waking his family members for a moment before they drifted back into the sleep that is typical of normal people at 3 in the morning.

Dib, however, showed no signs of wanting to sleep. Instead he threw his trenchcoat on over his pajamas, slipped on his slippers, and ran out the door in pursuit of ZIM. It was doubtless that he was plotting some super-secret weapon or such thing, and maybe this time, Dib could reveal his true identity!

The very thought, though most likely totally incorrect, was exhilarating.

And so, the boy tore out onto the front lawn before stopping himself.

If I run too fast… I'll make too much noise… and ZIM'll hear me. It's best to stay sneaky. Stealthy. And hope I'm not rampaged by a passing dog…

He hid behind trashcans, streetlights, anything he could find, following ZIM's footprints in the snow. ZIM was talking to that dog about a gift.

A gift? Why would ZIM want a gift? A wrapped time-bomb, maybe? No, that's too obvious. Even ZIM isn't that stupid.

"What kinds of things do humans like for a gift, GIR?"

"RUBBER PIGGY!"

"…no. No rubber piggy."

ZIM began to think as he walked, and suddenly a realization hit him.

"Who do you give a gift to? Do you give a gift to a random slime? Do you give a gift to everyone you see?"

He stopped and looked up at the snow swirling about in the sky, falling slowly onto his wig and his hands. He held one gloved hand up and caught one, then looked past it to a billboard not far away.

"Don't forget your friends this Christmas. Be sure to get them something special they'll treasure for a lifetime. Come to the CHRISTMAS SHOPPE OF WONDERS today!" he read, pondering the words.

"GIR," he said, turning to the puppy making snow angels, "Do you know what this means?"

"Uhm…" GIR thought, sitting up, "Master needs a friend to give a gift to!"

ZIM blinked. Could it be true? GIR actually understood something! He shook off the thought as pure coincidence, then echoed. "Yes. It means I must find a 'friend' to give a gift to for this 'Christmas' thing. Where does one find a friend?"

"OOH! OOH! Maybe scary man following us will be our friend!"

ZIM quickly turned around, but he saw nothing. "There's no scary thing behind us, GIR. Come, we must make our way to the Christmas Shoppe of Wonders, to find a gift."

Dib detached himself from the porchlight of the house next to where ZIM had been moments before and let out a small sigh of relief.

That was close. That stupid dog almost caught me.

He let ZIM continue on for a moment and considered what he'd just heard. "ZIM is going to buy a present for a friend. But ZIM doesn't HAVE any friends. And why would he want a present, anyway? I very much doubt that Irkens celebrate Christmas."

He put a finger to his mouth, titled his chin upwards, and thought for a moment. Then he shrugged and began to run to catch up with ZIM.

author's notes:

Short chapter, I know. You'll all forgive me, right? ^^; It's mostly short because I had a story to write for school (it's posted here in originals as 'squee' if you'd like to read it. It's amusing), and of course that's more important than any recreational writing. Another chapter will probably be up next week or so -- I have to figure out what ZIM's going to buy yet.

Reviews, as always, are appreciated, and the reviewers usually get one in return. (hinthintnudgenudge).

-megumi