Disclaimer: I like cheese. I don't own Zim. I don't own Kleenexes.

A/n: wow...took a while to finally update. I've been so busy and tired. Anyhoo, here is your...uhm...fifth chapter. Enjoy!! By the way, this chapter is told in Zim's POV...it needed to be. And I'm compressing two chapters together (both zim POV) because I'm lazy...x__X

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I had tried to avoid Dib for the rest of the day, but he seemed to be around every corner, looking at me from the side of his eyes.

I still felt a little unsure whether he wanted to rip me open or get inside my head. Either way, it was working. He was definitely in my head.

And though Gir had only made it inside the house ten seconds before me, I came in to a train wreck.

Gir had half her mask and wig on, but her bodysuit was crumpled in the corner, and she was dancing around the trashed living room.

Disgusted and disappointed, I waded through piles of pizza boxes and chocolate milk cartoons with faces drawn on them to Gir; who was dancing like a ''monkey.''

''Gir!'' I barked.

The small robot looked up at me and waved cheerfully. ''Hi!''

Then she ignored me and went back to...whatever it was she was doing.

''What did you do?...In such a short amount of time, too.''

Gir stopped and looked up at me, rubbing her metallic chin thoughtfully. ''I...''

I nodded, waiting.

''...Don't...know!'' She screamed with glee and threw a couple pizza boxes in the air.

''Who's going to clean this mess?'' I was trying not to yell. She hated it and would resort to making...weird noises.

Gir opened her mouth to speak, but I held up a hand quickly.

''Wait, let me guess...you don't know.''

Gir clapped her hands together and nodded. ''Yay! Master! Let's play that game again...what am I thinking now?'' Gir stared into my eyes as if she were trying to send me a message, but she only looked stupid.

''Pigs...pizza...something equally as disgusting.'' I grumbled and hit myself on the forehead as the doorbell rang as soon as Gir began to squeal happily and dance around screaming.

I made way for the door but Gir ran to the door, and opened it, smiling widely. ''Why hello, lover boy! I wanna love you!'' Gir jumped on the unsuspecting visitor, throwing them to the ground.

I groaned loudly and crossed to the door to see Gir licking Dib's face.

''Hi...Zim. Can I come in?''

I tried to ignore a sudden flush of embarrassment and nodded.

''That is,'' I said, finding a hint of my old cockiness. ''If I'm not interrupting anything.''

Gir smiled up at me and licked Dib's face again before hopping off and running away.

Dib came in and managed to compose himself and I gave him a Kleenex to wash the Gir slobber off his face.

He wanted to go somewhere quiet to talk, so that immediately ruled out my base.

As Gir waved goodbye to us and closed the door with an immediate party inside, Dib and I headed to the park.

It was warm out, and not a cloud in the sky.

Perfectly sunny.

Perfect.

I frowned.

Perfect?

I've never known that. In fact, has anyone?

What a disgusting word.

Before I knew it we were somewhere on a trail in the park, secluded by trees, no one in sight.

Dib and I sat down on a park bench and stared at our surroundings, quietly.

I was still pondering some things when Dib asked me what was wrong.

It was obvious, wasn't it?

My own planet disowned me, Earth disowned me...life disowned me.

''Zim,'' Dib said firmly, dragging me out of my thoughts. ''What. Is. Wrong?''

He exaggerated every word, but I guess he was just trying to get through to me.

''I...''

He stared back at me, his amber eyes expecting me to pour out my entire life to him.

I refused to.

''I...''

There was a long silence and neither of us blinked.

''...At least I'm breathing.''

He blinked finally, confused, and then lost.

I smiled softly and looked off as well.

''I'm breathing, Dib.''

My smile grew even more, until I felt like getting up and screaming it to the world.

''I'm alive.''

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*squeals* yay! ^____^ please feedback...I'll....love you...;.; and to all the people who did review...I LOVE YOU XD Anyway, expect more a little later. I've been kinda busy lately, but I always find time. Yes, yes I do.