AN: I know this chapter is waaay past Christmas but who cares! It's my story and I do whatever I damn well please with it. Thank you for the reviews and support through this. I kinda needed it or these chapters wouldn't be going out. (:

It's been about a few months now where all the leaves were gone and were replaced with the covering of white frost. It was around that time where from children to adults will be wearing heavy coats to keep their bodies warm, sitting next to a warm open fire to roast chestnuts and drink hot chocolate. Not only that, but there would be a green tree, from real to fake or to tall to small, it would be decorated with shining red, blue, green and yellow lights, - unless you prefer the traditional yellow lights streamers and ornaments of your choice. On the top would be the shining angel or even a golden star, shining brightly to watch over the house and the presents underneath the tree with shiny red wrapping paper and bows.

Every family celebrates this tradition called Christmas. But that's not the case for the Membrane family. As the father, Professor Membrane, has never celebrated Christmas with his kids and Gaz was still waiting for the dog to give Gaz's Bitey the Vampires' head back. That was long 8 years ago.

Now there was Dib. Although he wasn't the most cheery person on Christmas, he still likes to celebrate it since it's the only Holiday that he enjoys. Setting up the tree by himself and presents filling up below from mostly Gaz and Dib's father, he waits on Christmas Eve on the couch, curled up in a blanket with hot cocoa in his mug and watched Mysterious Mysterious on the big TV in the living room.

Ironically, it was Christmas Eve in the afternoon as Gaz was in the backyard waiting for the dog to get her doll's head back and Professor Membrane was at work, inside the Membranes household was Dib, sitting on the couch with the same blanket he used last year wrapped up around him as he watched the news.

The night a long time ago where he was stargazing from his tall sycamore tree, he had started to do something that most people do when they fall into depression.. hurting himself.. He wanted to run from the pain that he knew about Zim's real reason why he was on Earth in the first place. He didn't want to tell him. So he hurts himself to forget about it. So far its been affective but now he has scars near his wrists – besides the one from Zim's fighting - that can be visible with his trench coat off. Nobody knows about it, except you reader, and now he still dreads about Zim's banishment.

Dib slowly turned his head to look outside the window to see that there was a rack of a snow storm already here. At least the News was actually accurate this time unlike the other times where it rain and he had to help Zim home, which he wouldn't even get a Thank you, Dib. He was an Irken. And an Irken doesn't say thank you. It would only make them look weak, although that's what Zim said one time. Dib shook his head, looking back at the TV and then closed his eyes.

Thinking about him will only make another run to the bathroom... He thought. He hated this feeling. This... twisting of knots and pain in his chest and his stomach. It makes him want to hurl. He wish that the pain he inflicted on himself would make everything disappear with a snap of his fingers.

Just then, there was a knock on the door, making Dib immediately jerk his head to the door. There was a snowstorm, who could possibly be out at this time? The teenager stood up from the couch with the blanket falling off his well built frame, lazy feet moving towards the door as he slowly opened it.

"Finally y-you open the d-door s-stupid human..." A stuttering, slightly smaller boy said, pushing him aside and ran to the couch and wrap himself up with the blanket on the couch.

Dib frowned and closed the door, "You should at least say tha-" He stopped himself.. He shook his head, turning into the kitchen to get hot cocoa. This always happened every Christmas Eve as well. Zim would turn up at his house randomly and invite himself in with warmth and hot cocoa as much as he'd like before he would leave once more. Dib even took the time to buy the little jerk a present. It wouldn't be expensive but something that the Irken could use like a scarf or a jacket which he would see him wearing the next day. It makes him feel satisfied that someone appreciates the gifts he gives.

Despite all that, he's glad that he gets the company. He's alone on Christmas and Christmas Eve, which sounds quite depressing, even if it's Zim. He doesn't care if it's anyone as long as he gets to have some human or even an alien next to him. Walking out of the kitchen with 2 mugs filled with hot cocoa, he handed one over to the trembling, cold Irken which he took immediately with a big gulp, coughing loudly afterwords.

"That's hot!" he yelled at the mug, his serpent-like tongue being poked out to cool down his hot mouth. Dib couldn't help but make a snort and sat next to the Irken,

"That's why you wait for it to cool down space-boy." He retorted, making a comfortable sigh as he turned his head to the TV to listen to the news reporter talking about a possible snow in for the next few days. He kept the mug in his hands as his mind worked again. Buzz buzz buzz, it went, his eyes half-lidded with this clouded deep look in his eyes. This is what he would look like when he was in very deep thought but it broke as soon as he heard Zim's obnoxious voice,

"This show is boring!" He pouted, grabbing the remote and quickly scrolls through the channels. Dib turned his head to look at Zim and back towards the TV again, "Hey Zim? Can I ask you something?" He started, taking a small sip from his mug to taste the delicious chocolate.

The Irken turned his head with these fake blue contacts, lifting an non-existing eyebrow. Dib knew that those glowing red orbs were behind them and he'll see them soon. After around midnight after they open their presents, Zim would sleep over and use Dib's shirt and sleep in his bed without his disguise on as if he trusted him. Dib honestly didn't mind as he took a sleeping bag and slept on the floor. Although the next day, Zim would be gone, most likely at his house with new planning for domination on Earth that were very likely to fail.

"Well? Get on with it. Zim don't got all day." He spatted rudely towards his host, taking another gulp of his hot cocoa which was now cooled down.

Dib turned his head back towards the teenager with the skin condition, his thoughts running through again as he made sure the things he said weren't offensive because of his race or even his height. "Why... do you come here every Christmas Eve? Wouldn't you be with Gir or even Keef?" He said rather slowly and quietly, hazel eyes behind his round glasses seeming to be full of emotion but his heart was broken, filled with the blackness of loneliness and not feeling loved. He wanted someone to be there when he needed someone the most and that one person who can do that... was the person sitting right next to him, drinking hot cocoa.

Zim stared into Dib's eyes, something that he rarely do, turning his head back towards a random commercial about butt cream and sighs heavily, "You're slow Dib-stink.." He mutters under his breath, "I take a break every Christmas Eve since you humans don't work and have silly vacations too. So I don't have to worry about being caught or being behind my work." He simply placed it at.

"Yeah but why are you in my house?" He said, getting annoyed. He knew Zim was thickheaded but not this thickheaded.

This time, Zim didn't say anything. He just waited until the clocked ticked faster and faster until it hit 12:00 and he'd be able to open his present and leave which was also depressing.

. . . . . .

After opening presents downstairs, Zim ran upstairs with his new gift – which was a red scarf – and got ready for the night. Dib on the other hand was cleaning up the wrapping paper along with the empty cocoa mugs in the kitchen. His thoughts were blank at the moment. He wanted to go to the bathroom to do his business but he restrained from it. Why was he stopping? Was it because a guest was here? He shook it off, shutting off the water faucet and look towards the stairs which he walked up.

Dib opened the door and see Zim already curled up on his bed without his disguise on, his back turned to him to see the back of his antennas but not his glowing red orbs. He resisted the urge to gulp, discarding his shirt and pants and quickly pulled on some pajama pants and a clean shirt to hide his scars.

Then, there was a small voice from behind him, making his eyes slightly widen a bit. He turned his body around to look at the voice coming from the Irken. Zim was sitting up right with these deep red orbs staring directly into his hazel ones, wearing Dib's shirt which was too big for him, the collar falling off one side of his shoulder. He looked... cute..

"Dib. Here." He said, slowly taking out a box from his PAK which was wrapped in shining blue wrapping paper and black ribbon to keep it shut.

Dib was shocked.. Not by the present but Zim actually saying his name without the use of silly nicknames. Also, he was never given a present. He always bought them for himself. He reached over slowly and took it gently into the palm of his hands, looking at it and back at Zim. There, he made a movement that he hadn't done for the last few months; smile, "Thank you.. Zim.." He whispered softly, his breath warm and his heart seeming to seal a little with this paste of goo.

Zim waved him off, "You should be honored!" He shouted, bringing his hand up and pointing at him with this smirk. "Now go to bed Dib-smell." He laid back down with his back turned to him once more.

Great.. Here comes the nicknames again... But Dib didn't mind this time. He was actually happy after so many years. He didn't even know why he was happy but he knew he was happy. He looked at the box in his hands with the smile goofingly still on his face. He took the sleeping bag out and sat in it as he slowly and very carefully removed the ribbon. There, he slowly opened the box, making Dib's eyes blink a few times to make sure he was seeing the item correctly.

He reached his hand into the box and pulled out the silver chain out and attached at the bottom was a silver ring. Inside the ring in black font was Irken words that Dib could easily read which said, Dib. He was confused but was smiling still. He slowly wrapped the necklace around his neck and looked at Zim who seemed to be sleeping. Without another word, he laid down, taking off his glasses, laying them on the floor next to him and closed his eyes to slowly fall asleep.

An: Give a review to ask how good this chapter was. Although it was a few months, I hope this was okay. See you in the next chapter. (: