ZADR Orange Chapter 144

Warnings: Extreme OOCness

Rating: M for later chapters

Disclaimer: We do not own Invader Zim, nor any of the characters from it. We do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Zim: Notgonnadie

Dib: Me

Enjoy. =3

Too far lost to be calmed by Zim's words in that moment, Dib sent the Irken an all too doubtful look before breathing out shakily. "Then why is this so hard...?" he returned his face to his arms, huddling in on himself in the bed.

"I wouldn't imagine it being easy, Dib..."

"But at least you've imagined it. You've imagined them and what you'd plan on doing with them someday. But me...I CAN'T seem to imagine it, ANYTHING about all this. I don't even know what I'd do with three smeets when they get here."

"Then you won't be disappointed if they can't do what you imagined!"

"But I could never be disappointed in them! Never! I want them to do whatever will make them happiest!"

Zim kissed him suddenly to shut him up before pulling away slowly. "And that's why you're perfect...Most parents want their kids to do what they imagined they would do…You won't." he said with a small reassuring smile to the other.

"Most parents...want what's best for their kids...But I...I don't even know what would be best for them..."

"You'll love them though…and keep them fed and clothed…That's all they really need."

"But what they deserve is so much more than what I can give them...I don't know what would be best for them...I don't even know what's best for myself..."

Zim sighed. "Stop worrying so much, Dib. It'll be okay." he tried to assure the other of that, knowing Dib was just getting worked up over nothing now.

"Easy for you to say...The way you treat them...How you plan to spoil them so much...Of course they'll love you...They'll love you a whole lot..."

Zim sighed again. "Dib..." he said with a small whine.

Dib pulled away from Zim however. "No, Zim! You just don't get it, do you?! You have no idea how much harder this is for me! I'm not ready for ANY of this! I'm 16 for crying out loud! I'm still just a kid! And I didn't ask for any of this! I'm not even out of high school yet! There's a reason why most people wait until they're adults to have kids!" he exploded on the other before he could stop himself, certain that nobody could understand any of what he was going through.

Zim looked hurt. "I-I'm sorry…I-I didn't mean for this to happen..." he said, suddenly feeling guilty all over again for everything.

"...Neither did I..." Dib pulled his knees up to his chest to cry into.

Zim looked at the hybrid terribly hurt now. "I-I'm sorry..." he pulled away a bit more and rolled over onto his other side. "W-We should sleep…" he then said, not wanting to stay awake to discuss this any further.

Crying for a while longer, Dib just remained sitting where he was before finally curling up in his spot and crying himself to sleep.

Waiting until Dib was fast asleep, Zim then rolled back over and cuddled up to him from behind, holding him close as a small comfort to both himself and the hybrid.

One of his wet cheeks finding Zim's chest to rest on, Dib sniffled wetly in his sleep before eventually calming into an undisturbed slumber.

It wasn't until at least a few hours later that Dib awoke yet again to find Zim curled around him protectively, fast asleep. Sitting up in the bed and staring down at him for a moment, Dib then gently moved his arm away from him to get up and use the bathroom before pulling on some pants and heading on back upstairs alone, not wanting to wake Zim up.

Mumbling at the loss of Dib, Zim merely balled back up and fell into a deep sleep after failing to locate Dib in the bed with him.

Dib took the elevator up to the kitchen, surprised to see Jack and Rose sitting at the table with Purple when the doors finally opened back up. "What? What are you guys doing here?" he asked upon exiting the elevator.

Rose looked up from the cup of coffee she was drinking to Dib. "Oh, Dib, we didn't even hear you coming up." she stood up to make her way over to him and take him by the arm, leading him to the table to take a seat down next to her. "We were just waiting for either you or Zim to come on up. We bought you a few things while we were out." she then said, gesturing to some groceries on the counter.

"B-But how long have you been here?"

"Oh, just a few minutes really. We got a little side-tracked and took a bit longer than we meant to shopping."

"O-Oh...Th-Thank you..."

"So, where is Zim?"

"Zim...? H-He's sleeping...downstairs..." Dib's antennae drooped. "I yelled at him again…"he then sighed, feeling horrible about everything he'd said earlier.

Rose sighed herself and hugged Dib lightly. "Oh Dib, I'm sure it's okay." she said in an attempt to make him feel better.

Jack nodded in agreement. "What happened to make you yell?" he asked, thinking perhaps it was something they could help the two with.

Dib whined, tugging at his antennas. "Ooooh...Nothing, really...I was just being an asshole again..." he said, hating himself for always getting so mad at Zim when he knew the other was only trying to help.

Jack laughed a little at that response. "I doubt that. You're not an 'asshole' kind of person." he said, having never seen such a side to Dib himself.

"I am when Zim and I are alone. I practically blamed him for this entire situation even though I know it's not his fault."

Rose smiled. "That's perfectly natural, Dib. Why, when I was pregnant the first time, EVERYTHING was Jack's fault." she said in an amusing tone of voice.

Jack laughed again. "It still is." he said before returning back to his own coffee.

"As it should be." Rose shoved him a little playfully.

"But I said it in the worst possible way. You should have just seen the look on his face, and all because I'm just not ready for this. He told me, down there, that a long time ago, he used to think about what he'd do if he ever had smeets, where he'd take them and stuff. But me...I don't even know how we're going to raise them."

Rose sighed and shook her head at those words. "It will all work out, Dib. Don't worry. We're all here to support you, Zim especially." she reminded him, wanting him to know he wasn't alone in all this.

"I just...I just wish everything would go back to the way it was before all of this happened..." Dib hugged his knees to his chest. "I cause you all so much trouble and then I get so mad about it..." he then sighed, feeling pretty useless right then.

"It's just a hormone imbalance, Dib. None of us will take it personally. I know what you're going through."

"But it's still not right!" Dib slammed his hands down on the table, his eyes wet. "I shouldn't be acting in this way! Hormonal imbalance or not! You're pregnant too, but I never see you lose it! Not even a little! So what's wrong with me?! Why can't I control my emotions any better?! Even when I want to, I can't! And I'm constantly hurting Zim because of it!" his hands began to shake unsteadily. "I can't even do the simplest of things without blowing up on him for something..." his voice then began to shake, unable to help himself in that moment.

A/N: And there you have it for Chapter 144. =3 Until next time~