Dlbn: Greetings and salutations. Has it really been three months?

Nbld: With so much going on, there hasn't been any time to write, update, or even breathe properly.

Dlbn: But now I'm back and ready to go . I hate that I left this story (and a couple other WIP projects) go for so long, knowing I had more of it written (about 200 pages worth), but time just sort of slipped away.

Nbld: Sprained my knee and ankle on the fourth, so other than work, taking care of my son, and other miscellaneous things, I'm gonna be sitting down and getting to work on my fics and trying to keep up with regular updates. For now, let's move onto the Review Corner! Thank you to Invader Johnny and Zim'sMostLoyalServant for reviewing! Apology cake for you both!

Invader Johnny: In more ways than one. If I had a friend like that and they stopped being friends with me, I think I'd be relieved.

Zim'sMostLoyalServant: They figure Gaz won't blab anything to anyone, and it's a lot easier than having to answer any questions. They don't really think it through much, honestly.

Disclaimer: I own several OCs and the plot. Everything canon to Invader Zim belongs to Jhonen C. Vasquez. I make NO money off writing this.

Dedication: For my readers and reviewers. Sorry for abandoning things, but I'm back, finally! Also, as a side note, they're having a panel at San Diego Comic Con about the movie. How exciting!

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Keef ended up inviting Ense over to the welcoming party the following day. He claimed that since Zim and Lahna were his childhood companions that his parents wouldn't say anything about it. Still, Zim felt a little nervous when Ense gave them a ride and pulled up to the house just as Keef's parents were heading out.

"Hello, dear." Keef's mother greeted, giving Zim a kiss on the top of the head. "I haven't seen you in a while."

"All due respect, ma'am, I was here two weekends ago." Zim offered.

She giggled. "So, you were."

"Who's are your friends, son?" His father asked.

"That's coach Haven and Lahna." Zim stated. "We all grew up on the same block."

"Oh, wonderful." Mrs. Edgar grinned. "How nice you were able to meet up even after you moved."

"A happy coincidence." Mr. Edgar nodded. "We're going out of town for the weekend, but we can trust you kids won't do anything stupid?" He looked at his son.

Keef flushed. "We won't. I promise!"

"I'll be keeping an eye on them." Ense stated. "Childhood friends or not, I'm their coach first."

"That's wonderful." Mrs. Edgar smiled. "Well, we best be going. Meef, come on!"

"I wanna stay here with Keef and his friends!" A young boy in the doorway shouted.

"Oh no, you're not!" Keef complained.

Mr. Edgar walked towards him. "Come on. We talked about this."

The green haired boy pouted but let his father help him into the car.

"Good to see you again, Zim. And nice to meet you two, as well. Don't be strangers!"

"We won't." Lahna and Ense stated as one.

Zim shut the door after Keef's mother got situated. They watched the car drive off.

"Are we the only ones here?"

"Gretchen is picking up Todd. Screamy and Melvin are inside." Keef stated. "I don't know where Gaz and Iggins are."

"Probably having a Death Match Partners 5 tournament." Zim rolled his eyes.

"She said she'd be here for the free food…"

Zim shrugged. "Let's not dwell on it. I'll shoot her a text."

Keef led them inside. While his siblings were getting a tour courtesy of Keef, Zim pulled out his cell and called Gaz. She picked up on the first ring.

"Yes?"

"Party tonight. Did you forget?"

"Dib and the Asshole Brigade are downstairs."

"And?"

"Not letting me past them. I've kicked Torque in the nuts already."

"Great work. Should I come get you?"

"No, give me a minute. I'll call if I need to."

"Okay."

She hung up. Keef came back with the other Haven siblings by the time Gaz called back.

"Hey." She greeted. "Might need a bit more help than I thought."

"What's going on?"

"Dee's here now with the girls and they keep trying to get into my room. I locked it but…"

"They're persistent. Say no more. You in your room?"

"Upstairs bathroom."

"I'll come around. Hop out onto the roof and I'll catch you."

"Are you crazy?"

"Just let me help, a'right? I won't drop you."

"Do and it will be the last thing you do."

She hung up.

"What's going on?" Screamy shouted.

"Dib's friends are there causing trouble." Zim stated. "I'm gonna go help her out."

"Need a ride?"

"And risk them getting the wrong idea and costing you your job? Yeah, no. I can get there quickly enough on my own. We'll be back in half an hour."

"Alright…"

"Be careful." Keef bit his nails.

"I'll be fine. I've handled worse."

Like walking right into a trap he thought Caleb was too stupid to set up on his own and getting jumped by four idiots. That was the second time he dislocated Caleb's jaw.

"Yeah, I know." Ense nodded.

Zim left without another word. Gretchen's mother's van pulled up.

"Zim! Where are you off to?" Her mother wondered.

"Hey, Mrs. Grey." He greeted. "Ran into a little beverage problem so I'm gonna go get some."

"Want a ride, hon?"

"Uh…"

"Come on, hop in." She ordered. "Gretch, Todd, go ahead and go inside."

"Okay." Gretchen nodded.

They both got out.

"See you soon, Zim."

"Yup."

Todd nodded at him once before following. Zim got into the front seat.

"I wanted to talk to you." Mrs. Grey stated.

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Linda, please." She laughed. "Ma'am makes me feel old."

"Coach says the same thing about the word sir."

She giggled. "Anyway, what's going on? This whole Dib thing…I can't believe he'd turn on you like that…Gretchen is devastated."

"She really liked him." Zim shrugged. "I don't know, really. He got a girl, fell into her crowd, and they just…I don't know, something in him changed. Or maybe something came out that was there all along and we didn't see it…"

"She's afraid."

"Of what?"

"What happened in gym class?"

"So?"

"She's worried they're going to try something more."

"I can handle myself."

"I know. But it shouldn't come down to that. You and Dib were best friends."

"And it's killing me that it's come to this. But he's made his choice, and now I have to accept it."

"Sounds to me like Dee made his choice for him."

"Maybe that's right." Zim nodded. "Can you take me to the Membranes?"

"The drinks are there?"

"I…didn't want Gretch to worry…"

"So, you lied."

"Yeah…"

"What's going on?"

"Dib's new friends are causing Gaz trouble and she can't get out of the house. I offered to go sneak her out."

"You're still friends with Gaz, then?"

"She's just as mad at him as the rest of us, if not more so. She's got to live with him and see him and Dee together all the time. Just reminds her what he did and how he betrayed his friends."

"I can see why she'd be upset…do you think his friends are threatening her?"

"No one's stupid enough to threaten Gaz."

Just like back home where only Caleb was stupid enough to threaten Zim or Sila. Mostly Sila since he thought she was the weaker target. What a moron.

"You never know. Look at what they've been doing."

"I can't argue that."

They rode in silence until the van pulled up in front of Gaz and Dib's place. Gaz was on the front step, waiting. She cocked an eyebrow at the van before realizing who it was.

"Thought you couldn't get out?" Zim greeted.

"Dad came home to get some shit for the labs. About damn time." Gaz shrugged, getting into the car. "Hey, Mrs. G."

"Hello, Gaz. How are you?"

"Annoyed."

"What else is new, dear?"

Zim laughed as she drove back towards Keef's. "So, he showed up and they left you alone?"

"They know he's rich and famous and don't want to piss him off." Gaz snorted. "Wonder if Dib realizes they only want him around cuz dad's rich and famous."

"Of course, he doesn't. He thinks they want him around for him and nothing else." Zim rolled his eyes, slinking down in the seat. "It's pathetic."

"As coach said."

"Your coach agrees with you?" Mrs. Grey asked.

"He and I grew up together until I moved here." Zim informed. "So we get along enough he can complain about problem students."

"I see."

"He's at the party, right?"

"Yeah."

"That's good." Mrs. Grey nodded. "I hope you kids have fun tonight, even with the drama with Dib and his friends hanging over your heads."

"It only hangs over our heads if we let it." Gaz snorted. "He'll come around eventually."

"And it will be too late." Zim commented.

"He'll regret it."

"Never do anything you can't live with." Zim muttered. "First rule of the streets…"

"Huh?"

He repeated the first part. "It's a saying back home."

"A smart one." Mrs. Grey nodded. "But you can't predict the future, Zim. Sometimes what seems like a good idea can turn into a colossal mistake."

Like being friends with Dib Membrane.