Once again, This might not be historically accurate. Despite looking things up and stories from relatives that have served in ww2. Please forgive me for any flaws.

I cried

never gonna hold the hand of another guy

too young for him they told her

waiting for the love of a traveling soldier

our love will never end

waiting for the soldier to come back again

never more to be alone

when the letter said you soldier's coming home

Dixie chicks. i thought it fit.

{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}

The wind blew gently, sending the scent of newly bloomed flowers in the air and coal. The skirt of Tak's blue dress with white polkadots moved with breeze as she stood on the train dock. Noticing Dib's scythe like cowlick in his face, she combed his hair back with her fingers and starightening his army outfit. She didn't want to say goodbye. But she had to. She tried comforting herself by saying Earth wasn't like Irk's army stragedy, send as many invaders out as possible and hope a few survive the takeover. Most of Earth's lands took care of their armies.

Dib leaned his forehead against her's and asked, "Where's Mimi? She didn't want to say bye?"

"I sent her to play with Gir." Tak answered, her breath slightly fogging up his glasses.

"I thought you didn't want her to play with him. You said he was too defected."

"True. But she's been so depressed. I didn't want her to be here, it would be too hard for her. And she's happy with Gir." Tak explained, her throat getting tight. Tak's reaction alone was bad, but she did not expect her SIR unit to take it so hard. When they told her he had been drafted, the robot began to plead for him to take her with him. She cried and begged, saying she was designed for war. It nearly crushed her when Dib said no.

"Do you know where you're stationed?"

Dib pulled away a bit, "I think it's just training for now."

Tak scoffed, "Foolish humans! Thinking they can train a soldier in weeks when it takes irkens to be trained at birth..."

"Don't worry, Tak. Earth may not be as harsh as Irk but we know how to fight." Dib smiled weakly.

"Yeah. Just promise me you'll fight the hardest?" Tak said, holding back tears.

"I will. I'll write as much as I can. You will write, promise?" He asked softly, stroking her cheek.

"I'll write everyday..." She nodded in a hoarse voice.

Dib smiled and looked over her shoulder at Gaz, Zim's arm around her for comfort. He hugged Tak tight and kissed her cheek. Whispering softly in her (fake) ear, he said, "i need to to look after Gaz for me."

"Dib..." Tak began to protest.

"Please. I know you two don't get along well."

"She's tough, Dib. She can look after herself."

Dib laughed sadly, "That's the problem. She's tough and she thinks she's invincible. She doesn't think she'll be weak enough to get hurt... She's a lot like you were when we first met. You've matured, learned for yourself that's bad to do. Please, she needs a strong female to guide her. She needs you, whether she wants it or not."

Like a dam bursting, tears poured out and Tak surpressed a sob. She didn't want Dib to see her like this. His words struck her. He wanted her to be strong. He needed her to be strong for him. She nodded. She would keep his place for him. She would make sure his home was the same when he came back. She would be sure to have everything he loved there to come home to.

Dib smiled and kissed her forehead, pulling back and walked to Gaz. His sister just looked at her feet, not wanting to meet his eyes.

"Try not to do anything too evil while I'm gone." Dib joked.

Gaz, not moving her eyes, whispered, "Don't go."

"I have to. You know that."

"No you don't!" She hissed, looking at him, "You could go to Canada or Mexico. We could all go, and just live there..."

"I can't do that, Gaz. Besides, you know how I'm always going on about saving the world? Now's my chance to prove it." He said, watching a tear slide down her face.

"Dib..." Gaz whispered, quietly, "I don't hate you. At least not as much as I say I do."

Dib laughed softly, "I love you too, sis."

This said, he turned to Zim. He glared at him. Zim returned his glare, "Dib-stink."

"If you hurt my sister..."

"Zim won't."

Dib looked at him skeptically, "I will be coming back, so don't get too comfortable without me."

"Sadly, I know you will be back. You are a tough warrior, Dib-monkey. If you can beat Zim up a few times, you can handle a few humans." Zim said stoicly.

"A few times? I kicked your ass over a hundred times!" He smiled.

Zim rolled his contacted eyes, "Right... just come home or Zim will find you and revive your corpse to kill you myself."

Dib nodded and held out his hand. Zim had a point. If it wasn't for all their fights, he might not be as able as he is to fight now, "Truce? At least until I come back."

Zim looked as his hand and shook it, "I look forward to shoving your large head in the dirt like a worm eating a groundhog."

Dib laughed. He can always count on Zim not making sense. Letting go of his gloved hand, he turned his attention back to Tak. He took her in his arms in a deep embrace.

"All aboard!" The conductor shouted.

Dib sniffled, holding back tears, "I love you."

Tak shook, trying to control her sobs and replied in a quite, shaky voice, "Not as much as I love you... Damn it all!"

Dib was taken aback by her sudden burst of anger. He looked at her with watering eyes as she cried, "I was happy, Dib! I was safe being alone! Why did you have to come into my life and make me so weak? Why do you make me feel so weak?"

"The same reason you make me feel weak." He whispered, "We're joined at the souls. I feel what you feel. You feel what I feel. I kow one thing. Despite feeling weak around you, you made me stronger. You are my strength, Tak. And my weakness. You are the reason I'll be coming home."

Tak nodded, wiping tears off her face, smearing mascara over her cheeks, "And you are my strength."

The conductor, being impatient as the train was ready to leave, yelled once more, "ALL ABOARD!"

Tak whispered, "I love you..."

Dib nodded and picked up his bag. As he stepped on the train, he gave one last glance back at the three, "I love you more."

Tak and Gaz flinched as the train started, the noise of hit moving like a gunshot to their hearts. They watched as the train left until it was out of sight. Gaz watched the sunset, wishing to see her brother walk out of it. But she knows this won't happen.

Zim rubbed her shoulder for support. He didn't know what this feeling was... this sorrow. Was it Dib's departure? Was it the idea that he may never get to tease him about his head or his insanity? Will he miss their fights, the painful yet harmless brawls they engage in. Or was it that one of the few people to truely know him was gone?

He looked at Tak. His hatred for her turned to pity. And though he knew it was an insult to pity another irken, he couldn't help but feel her sadness as she watched her mate leave. He looked to Gaz. Her face was tearstained as well and she was trying to swallow the lump in her throat choking her, demanding her to shed more tears. Perhaps this is what was hurting him. Gaz never had a look other than boredom on her face. He felt something strike him knowing she wasn't content. Why? Why did he care if she was unhappy? Maybe it was the same reason he cared if Gir was unhappy. But he knew it was deeper than that. It was then Zim realised why he understood Dib's speech to Tak. He felt the same for Gaz. Gaz was part of his soul, something he didn't think he had. A bit of hope entered his mind. She may not feel the same for him, but there was time. Their farce created the perfect opportunity for him to win her.

He squeezed her shoulder a bit, soothing the young woman and said in a soft voice, "We should go. It isn't healthy for your emotional state to stay in the filthy hole you call a train station."

Gaz nodded, swallowing back tears, trying to think of something else, "You're right. I-I need to do the laundry. And make dinner. Tak? Would you like anything special? it wouldn't be too much of a burden if you do."

"No, I'm not really hungry." Tak sighed and started to walk away.

"Where are you going?"

She looked back at Dib's little sister and smiled sadly, "I just need to be alone for a bit."

"But.."

"Please, Gaz. Let me cry with dignitiy."

Gaz nodded, "Do you want me to feed Mimi when she gets home?"

"Yes, please. I'll see you in a bit." Tak said finally leaving.

{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}

Zim looked out the window of the siblings' house to see Gaz hanging clothes on the clothesline. He came home with her, saying that he believed Gir would come back with Mimi but he really just wanted to make sure Gaz was okay. She seemed to be fine. It was once more he focused on her, the sunset silhouetting her small frame. Her white blouse and black skirt moved in the gently breeze, showing some of her stocking. He cursed himself for thinking of her like this at this time when she needed support.

He watched Gaz hang a blue sweatervest with an eyeball patch on it. She froze before crying, nearly falling to her knees. Seeing this, Zim raced out the door. Reaching her, he pulled her up and helf her to his chest and let her cry into his shirt, surprised that her tears weren't stinging him as he feard they would, "It's going to be okay. He'll come back, Zim promises."

Gaz sobbed, "But I was so mean to him! Why did I have to be such a bitch? What's wrong with me? He was the only one who ever gave a damn about me and I treated him like shit!"

"Hey, he wasn't an angel either and Zim has the scars to prove it. He loves getting you riled up and loves you retailiating. he counts on you being a bitch."

Gaz laughed through a sob, "Yeah. He can be a jerk... It's just now I have nobody."

"You have Zim." he whispered with meaning.

She looked up at him with red eyes as he continued, "It might not seem like much to you, but when Zim gives himself to something, he means it. Last time I invested myslef like this was for Irk. Your my mission now. And I don't care if you're only pretending to like me, it's enough for Zim."

Gaz opened her mouth, but could not say anything. So she did what felt was right. She grabbed the back of his nech and stood on her toes, pressing her lips against his. Zim, though surprised, wrapped his arm around her waist, deepening the kiss. When they broke apart for air, she looked at him, inhaling his scent and the scent of fresh linen from the laundry blowing in the wind, "You're so stupid."

"Stupid? Why is Zim stupid? I thought this was the most amazing moment of all time!"

She smiled a bit, "Because. You're either crazy or stupid to try to love me knowing how i treat people I love. And I already established that you're stupid."

Zim laughed, "Then Zim is stupid. But he is still amazing!"

Gaz laughed and buried her face in his chest. As she let him hold her she contemplated on how the worst day of her life could also be so happy.

{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}

Ugh, so gushy! I'm disgusted with myself. i wanted this chap to be sad not mushy. Oh well. I'm going to play the sims now!