A/N: Hey, it's been a long time since I wrote anything. Thank Resident Alien, which I just finished and inspired me to come back to the IZ fandom.. I always meant to come back to this story but either got distracted with another fandom or was too depressed and dealing with writer's block. I had this particular chapter outlined from the beginning of this fic years ago but never could put it in words. And then suddenly, in the past two hours it was done just like that. I apologize for grammar errors before hand, my spellcheck isn't working at the moment.

Air humming awoke Gaz as the ventilation kicked on, causing chills to run down her body as fresh cold air hit her nude form. The base was always so cold. She pulled the sheets over her and moved to snuggle up to Zim for warmth only to find an empty space where he had been. Her hand brushed against his pillow and stayed there for a bit as she stared at the ring on her normally unadorned hand. A content sigh escaped her. So it wasn't a dream. She frowned. Neither was the fight she had with Tak.

Gaz didn't feel guilty. No, that sick feeling in the pit of her stomach had to be something she ate. Okay, maybe she did go a little too far. She wasn't sure what it was about Tak that rubbed her the wrong way. Maybe it was she still didn't trust her. Or maybe it was a territory thing. Tak seemed to sweep in and insert herself in her home and her family.

Of course, justify it like you always did when you would hurt Dib.

Gaz shut her eyes tight, trying to ignore her inner voice.

And I'm just so sure Dib will be so proud on how you treated his wife. Especially with how hard she's been working to keep trying to help our men overseas and keeping home just like he left it. Just face it, you deserve to be alone, not happy and married. You're not good for anyone.

"Enough!" Gaz hissed at herself. She sat up and huffed.

Fine. Her conscience was right. She needed to apologize. For Dib's sake at least. This was her family. But what if... it's too late? What if Tak or Dib won't hear what she has to say? She may have just pushed herself out of her place in her own family.

She looked at her ring again and remembered what Zim said.

"Your place is with Zim."

Even if worst comes to worse at home, Gaz still has a home and a future to start planning. The tension inside her started to unwind. She got up and threw her robe on and left the room to find Zim. Maybe he can give her advice on what to get an irken as an apology. She shivered as she turned a few corners, trying to remember her way around.

"Zim needs to start turning the temperature up a couple degrees now that a human's going to be living here." Gaz muttered under her breath.

She heard Zim's voice before she could see him and thought he had heard her and was replying before another voice cut in.

"So the preparations have been made and the final details are being...finalized?"

"Yes, my tallest."

'My tallest? Wasn't he exiled?' Gaz thought leaned against the wall and listened.

"So who's going to win this "world war" anyway?" Purple asked shoving some sort of snack in his mouth.

"Zim hasn't decided yet. Both the American and Russian generals have agreed to discussion. But seeing as America has already given Zim, er I mean us, full control of their top secret military bases shows they're the most agreeable candidate for our plans."

Gaz's eyes widened. She couldn't be hearing correctly. What does Zim have to do with the war?

"And the Not-sees? How are they succeeding?" Red asked.

"Better than Zim anticipated. But observing their own quest for domination, I do not feel they'll be completely compliant to handing complete control over their government to us. They've outlived their usefulness anyway."

"And that other country that attacked?"

"Pearl Harbor was a surprise to even myself, sirs. But with the technology I've offered and America finally fixing a few bugs in their Nuclear capabilities I'm sure that conflict will resolve in a few years. And with a bang." Zim cackled and Gaz felt sick.

Red looked at Zim and nodded in approval, "You've done well. You succeeded in the turning the planet's inhabitants against each other. You've offered them help by letting them have some of our technology to study."

"Mere trinkets, really. They'll probably end up using it to make items for entertainment and better cooking appliances." Zim chuckled.

"Hey," Purple interrupted, "I want to check out this "Earth" entertainment!"

"Don't worry, we'll check it all out when we get there," Red assured his partner.

Zim cleared his throat, "Um, when can I expect your arrival, my tallests?"

"It may take us a few years. Just make sure everything is ready."

"I've already started the preparations for you at a place called Roswell. It should be well secured and I will see it is fitted for your comfort." Zim promised.

"Good..." Red smiled, "You know, we're pleasantly surprised with how well carried out your mission. Even when there was no mission to carry out."

Purple spoke with a full mouth, crumbs flying everywhere, "And you're taller too!"

Zim only bowed his head, "I am flattered. But I cannot take all the credit. I had an ally that helped me get all the information I needed. Without her, this might not be possible."

Without her? Gaz wondered who she could be but then realized. Tak.

"Well she may have given you the information but you made it useful. We'll see you soon. Till then, Invader Zim."

The screen went black with only the irken symbol present on it. Zim stood there for a bit before he let out a relieved laugh. Invader Zim. Hearing his title again filled him with elation. The future looked bright. For everything was going his way. At least that's what he thought until he turned around.

Gaz had come out of her hiding spot and stood there with an unreadable expression. He could see blood dripping from her hand where her fist was clenched.

"How much did you hear?" Zim asked blankly.

"Enough." Gaz spat, "You.. you are responsible for the war?"

"Nonsense, your species was already killing each other off. Zim is just... helping speed things along." He sighed and started to approach her, "It was time you knew anyway."

Gaz took a step back, "Knew what, that you're going to wipe out my species and take over my planet?"

"No, not wipe out. Just make it easier for the.. integration.. of my people to begin. With your people busy fighting and your government's need to end this war, we can blend in while the world's attention is elsewhere. And Earth's governments are going to help with that."

He took more steps toward her and Gaz continued to move away from him, "And what, they're just going to hand over control to a bunch of aliens?"

"They already have. It's done Gaz. Why are you so upset? Weren't you tired of humanity constantly screwing up? Those are your own words."

"Why am I upset? Oh no reason, I just found my soon to be ex-fiancé has been lying to me this whole time. Oh and in cahoots with my sister-in-law whom my brother trusted wasn't invading anymore." Gaz tried to take another step back but ended up against the wall.

Damn. She had thought that was the door.

Zim gave her a puzzled look, "What are you talking about? Have you the brainworms? Why would I work with Tak? She's been brainwashed by this planet, Zim couldn't trust her and Zim just doesn't like her."

"Than who is your "she"? This ally you got all this information on?" Gaz's voice raised as he got closer.

Then he was right infront of her. He gave a laugh and shook his head. She flinched when Zim cupped her cheek and spoke in what sounded like a tender voice, "Oh Little Gaz. That ally is you. You gave me everything I needed to know about this planet. You helped me understand the geography and politics of this war."

He was holding her face now as she took the words in, "Zim is an invader again. And it's all thanks to you."

Gaz tried to shake her head but couldn't with him holding her. Tears stung her eyes as she asked through gritted teeth, "And us... was that just a ruse too?"

Zim brushed a tear with his thumb, "No. At first, perhaps, I'm not sure. But Zim cares very much about you. You are my perfect match. Beautiful, dangerous and intelligent. You compliment Zim's greatness even more. I am Zim again and it's all thanks to you."

"All this chaos, this destruction. You added fuel to the fire. The world is upside down. Can you stop it, Zim. Whatever this is that's happening?" She croaked out, her throat feeling tight.

Zim shook his head, "It's done. The invasion is here."

"You won't even notice, Gaz. Zim swears. You and the rest of the humans will go on with their lives. This will be the least complicated invasion in irken history. And no one will be the wiser. Think of the technology! Better than radio or those crappy televisions sets. Wait till you see video games. You're going to love it."

Feeling her relax a bit, he leaned his forehead against hers, "The world will be ours."

"Just one thing I don't understand, Zim." Gaz asked quietly, "If this is so good for humanity, what are irkens going to get out of this. I know enough about irkens to know what has happened to other planets. So what do your people want with Earth?"

"That's... not important. You know now and I am relieved." Zim tried to hug her but she shoved him away.

"Tell me, Zim! What do your people want?" Gaz gave him the most intense glare she's ever given, hoping to make him break like many others had before.

While he did not break or cry, Zim did sigh and give in, "It's not a big deal. Just a few experimentation rights."

"What?! You're going to experiment on us? What in the hell could you learn from us inferior species?"

"Not you specifically.. just a few humans. They won't even remember," Zim waved his hand dismissively before placing his hands behind his back in his 'let me educate you with a dramatic monologue' stance she's witnessed many times, "Irkens have mainly relied on cloning for centuries. But it's starting to have some side-effects. Namely that of the lack of height in our people. As a race that thrives on height for social structure, that's a problem. Many of our people cannot even reproduce naturally. Thus irkens needing to rely on cloning even more. All of our best scientists have been working on a solution with little success. Then I, Zim, landed here on this ball of dirt. Literally a ball of dirt and water. It's in the name Earth.

That said, after a few years of my so called "mission" I noticed something. I was getting taller. It seemed something in your planet's atmosphere had sent Zim into a type of puberty. Now with height and as you now know, certain reproductive capabilities, " Zim stopped to laugh at his on innuendo before continuing, "With this new important information, any feelings about my banishment was put aside. There aren't that many taller species with such similar reproductive systems out there, Gaz."

"Wait... we just..I can't get.." Panic hit Gaz as she had just remembered what they had just done a few hours before.

"Pregnant? Not without genetic engineering, but we can discuss offspring later." Zim shrugged and Gaz looked at him incredulously.

"So my government"

"And most of the European and a few Eastern governments." Zim added.

"Just handed it's own people over to be violated by alien scientists... All for some technology and a way to win a war against eachother that you were exploiting."

"Correct. Zim met with each countries top officials and threatened to take my technology to their perceived enemies." Zim confirmed.

Gaz leaned against the wall again, "I feel sick. Can you tell me where the door is?"

"Oh yeah. Computer, elevator."

The wall next to her opened and she rushed in. Zim called out as it was shutting, "You'll see Zim did the right thing. I did it for you."

After it was shut Gaz growled under her breath, "No, you did it for yourself."

How could she be so stupid. She knew what he was. Her brother and Tak had told her many times. Her father and brother devoted every waking moment of their lives into saving the world and making it a better place. And it only took her a few months in a relationship to destroy it. How could Zim just be so nonchalant about this. She never really thought about humanity before. She never really cared what happened to other people. But could she let this happen? Gaz didn't know what to do, what she could do. But one thing was clear. Fight or not, she needed to talk to Tak and they needed to find Dib.

Zim sighed and sat down at the console. He couldn't understand why Gaz looked so hurt. It was everything he ever wanted, best thing for them both. Maybe he could have let her in on it earlier. Perhaps it was just the feeling of secrecy that had her upset. But she was already having a hard time dealing with Dib's absence, Zim wasn't sure she was ready to learn that he had a hand in prolonging the war Dib was currently fighting in. Oh well. She'll be fine. She just needs a little time to adjust to the idea. It isn't like she can run and tell Did, is it?

A memory struck Zim and he froze. Escape pods. When Gaz gets lost in his bases she always asks how to leave. Surely she didn't just do it again. Did she?

"Computer. Show me Gaz." He demanded.

"I can't do that." His computer's voice said in a bored tone.

"Why not?" Zim hissed, already suspecting the answer.

"Because she left the premises."

Shit. Zim rushed out of his chair, ordering for his ship to be ready to take off. He knew where Gaz was heading. And he wasn't going to let Gaz risk his mission.

A/N: Okay, people just for the record. I do not encourage writing angry letters to your government accusing them of working with aliens. Whatever you send will be shared around the watercooler before they send it to the aliens and then you'll be watched for the rest of your life.

Honestly, this isn't anything political or with a "you can't trust the man" message. This is just entertainment written by someone who needs to brush up on her world war 2 history. How many of you were hoping Roswell was going to come into play?