Tak sighed happily, with her head leaned against Dib's shoulder. They were watching mysterious mysteries which she found so mysterious and facinating. Her skin felt so clean and fresh, it felt like she could breath with it. Dib was also very content, as he shared his theories on the world's mysteries to someone who cared. He smiled, basking in Tak's scent and warmth, and together they fell asleep like that.
Zim was up earlier than usual, that much he knew. He had been tossing and turning all night in fears of never seeing Gaz again. He sighed and went to the livingroom hoping he'll think of something. Zim sighed as he turned the channel to channel. Finally something caught his attention. He turned the volume up and leaned forward.
"Today, at 5:20 am, tragedy struck as Pro. Membrane was killed in a chemical explosion. Sources say that he had not slept in a week over the scandal with his children, and misread the labels on the test tubes..." Zim sat back, with a sinking feeling.
He did not care for the scientist, in fact, if there was anyone he hated more than Dib, it was Membrane. A man who cast out his own children, drove his own son to insanity, then blamed it on the kid. A man who would not notice his daughter for months, unless it was to hit her. Oh, how his beloved Gaz tried to make him proud. Dead or alive, Zim will never forgive him for the treatment of the Membrane siblings. But he knew this did not bode well for him, for what was ahead of his bride was uncertain.
Dib awoke to pounding on the door. Glancing at Tak who was waking up, he stood.
"Go back to sleep, I'll get it." He yawned unlocking the door. A short man, around his father's age stood there, in a labcoat.
"Dib Membrane?"He queried.
"Uh, yes..."
"I'm afraid I have some unfortunate news. Your father has died. In his will he states that you and your sister shall make the funeral arrangements. You have my sincerest apologies." The man bowed his head and left, leaving Dib, dry-mouth and shocked. A hand grasped his shoulder, providing comfort. For the next hour, Dib told Tak of all that he went through and all Gaz went through, over omeletes. For the first time since he can remember, Dib has felt a relief he's never known.
The comfort was short-lived as Gaz hurried in the kitchen, eyes red.
"Is it true?... Is Dad dead?" Her voice trembled.
"Gaz... It was an accident. You know how many times he would spend weeks, even months in his lab? It was bound to happen..." Dib tried.
"No... the TV said it was due to stress... that I caused..." Gaz started to sob between words. "I killed him,Dib... I killed my own father.."
"You know that's not true." He stepped towards her.
"Yes, it is..." Gaz ran back upstairs in hysteria, Dib went to follow her, but was stopped by Tak.
"Let her be, Dib. Just for a little while. Let her have her dignity and cry in peace."
"Yeah... I guesss your right." He sighed. ,"I'm gonna go to the funeral home. Could you stay here and keep an eye on Gaz for me? She tends to get destructive when she's upset."
"Of course... and Dib? I'm sorry, about everything..." Tak said as he opened the backdoor.
"It's ok... it's better now that you're here." He smiled and left. Tak smiled, embracing the butterflies in her stomach. Of course, like every happy moment today it was interupted by a crash in the living room.
Tak went in halfway expecting Gaz to be doing something to cheer herself up, but frowned deeply when she saw Mimi and Spike fighting over the rubber piggy Gir gave Spike.
"Mimi! What are you doing?" Tak asked crossly.
"She has Gir's piggy... and I like Gir, so I should have it. As a token of his love..." Mimi said pointing at poor Spike.
"I don't care, it belongs to her, and we are their guests... and I want you to be especially nice, since they had a loss in the family..." Tak softly demanded.
"... You can have it." Mimi softly muttered.
"Good. And if I ever hear you being uncivil again, You'll be sitting in the corner, you hear me?"
"But..." Mimi started to whine.
"No buts!"
"ok..." Mimi huffed crossing her arms. Spike wanted to enjow the robot's scolding but she was too depressed. She took Gir's piggy and went upstairs to Gaz.
Jumping on the bed she cuddled to her human, and breathed deeply.
"Are you still upset over Gir?" Gaz glanced up.
"Rrrwrrw..." which meant 'What tipped you off?'
"Spike, baby, If you have to fight for someone's affection, then they don't deserve you." Gaz hugged the reptile's neck.
"gggrrrer?"
"Even Gir." But that didn't cheer her up. That's when Gaz had an idea.
"Here, Let's try this.." Gaz looked around for something, finding it, she went back to Spike. She tied a black ribbon around her neck, in a big bow. "There, I bet you can have any guy you want now..."
"Rwrwrw..." Spike cooed happily, which meant something like 'I'm as preety as my human...'
Three days later, Dib, Tak, and Gaz were standing at the cemetary. They had to leave early to catch the moving van. In the will, they inheireted a lighthouse near Tennesee, and Tak decided she'd rather stay on Earth with Dib and Gaz, so they were needing more room. It was also a great chance to start over, for all of them. It was snowing when they headed to the car, and among the strange faces Gaz reconized one. Zim was standing under a tree, staring at them. She ran up to him and before Dib could stop her, Tak grabbed his hand.
"Let her say goodbye." Tak said to him, understanding.
"Zim... It would've meant a lot to him that you came." Gaz shivered agaist the brutal wind.
"Zim did not come for him, I just wanted to see how you were doing..." He confessed.
"Ok... we're moving... but you've probally heard about that."
"Yeah... You don't have to go..." Zim tried.
"I think it'd be best. Everywhere I look I'm reminded of some horrible memory. Besides Dib and even Tak, they're my family." Gaz looked at the ground.
"I understand." Zim nodded sadly. The car horn blared telling her it was time to go.
"That's my ride. I'll miss you Zim. Who knows, maybe we'll see eachother again." Gaz hugged him quickly and as she turned to leave, he grabbed her hand and with his spider legs he pulled hr into another embrace, kissing her.
"Who knows, Little-Gaz. It might be sooner than you think..." He released her and watched her leave.
Zim smiled, knowing exactly when the next time they would meet. He went home to see that the Tallests had tied down everything for the big move. The computer was going to relocate home base in Tennesee. They waited and when they saw a car followed by a moving van, the house, like when Gir was controlling it, uprooted and followed behind.
"Yay, I keep my friends!" Gir clapped.
"Yes, Gir, so you do. So you do." Zim nodded.
"Match in the gas tank, boom boom! WEEEE!" And from Where ever they were from to Tennesee, Gir continued such antics.
After the unpacking, was dinner, followed by baths, and bed. Gaz and Tak shared a bed till they could get the heat turned on as Mimi and Spike, who've made peace, slept on the sofa, smothering Dib. Well, everyone tried to sleep, but the sound of the train crossing wasn't exactly a lullaby.
Dib got up early, and went to the convience/feed store for some fresh milk. Man, this place was a timewarp. As he was paying something caught his ear. A voice. Zim's voice. Dib turned to see Zim trying to pull Gir off a horse outside.
"You have got to be kidding me!" Dib said outloud before looking at the storeclerk waiting for him to say something.
"Kid, I've seen it all. A kid with green skin and a kid with a big head talking to himself don't surprise me."
"...COOL!" Dib shouted hapily before running out.