The tides will come and go
With this bare waking eye
The willows mark the wind
And all we know for sure
Amidst this fading light
We'll not go home again

Through fuzzy sounds and light that appeared to be filtered through layers of wax paper, Gaz found her way back to the blurred threshold of consciousness. Déjà vu was an irritating thing, to be sure.

This didn't happen too long ago, Gaz grimaced inwardly, wondering if her saviors were the same as before. Sure enough, after straining her tired ears, Gaz could hear the voices of Zim and Ana faintly discussing some unknown subject. Gaz attempted to decode what was being said.

"I called her job and explained that she was very sick," Ana whispered. "It took some convincing, but they have enough staff to cover it."

"What would need convincing about that?" Gaz could almost picture the alien sitting in his kitchen chair, legs spread and arms crossed in his usual irate manner. Her heart panged with a sudden, gentle longing and before she could catch herself, she whimpered a rather distinct "Zim". The voices upstairs ceased and—after a moment—scooting chairs and footsteps creaked overhead. Gaz bit her lip in embarrassment, fighting the urge to hit herself. She paused—could she hit herself even if she wanted to? Gaz observed her position. She had been carefully tucked away on what seemed to be a hospital bed in soft blankets and an unfortunate IV needle hooked into her arm. The girl gagged at the sight and scrunched her eyes shut. Needles had never been a strong point for her.

"Gaz, you're awake!" Ana's arms wrapped around Gaz's shoulders gently. "I was worried when you didn't come home last night…." Gaz swallowed to wet her dry throat.

"Sorry about that."

Ana pulled away; a relieved smile graced her lips, "Luckily you got to Zim's house just in time or I would have lost my only friend!" Ana's soft voice cracked and Gaz smiled. Ana was such a good friend, even when Gaz herself was cruel. The knowledge that in three months' time, she was going to lose the unearthly-colored girl and one of the only people who had ever cared for her was a blemish on her peaceful mind. Gaz pushed that thought away, instead turning to Zim who had remained silent until that point. He approached with graceful steps, his rubberized boots hardly making a sound on the cemented floor.

"Zim is sorry he couldn't make it to the door sooner," he spoke as quiet as his personality would allow. "I was working with heavy machinery in the lab." Gaz raised an eyebrow. Something Zim's demeanor lacked conviction, but she couldn't place what might be off. Zim's shaky eyes attempted to avoid the piercing gaze of the human he felt so strange towards. Truth was, he hadn't been working with anything but his own body. Ten minutes before Gaz got caught in the chemical rainstorm, Zim had injected himself with the test sample of his latest genetic modification serum. He hadn't seen Gaz for a couple of months and consequently believed she wouldn't be visiting any time soon. So on that muggy, quiet day in mid-July, he had shot up with what he hoped would be a major advancement in super soldier technology. However, instead of adding strength and nothing more, his vision had clouded over almost completely, his hearing began to reverb sounds, and an awful burning sensation spread throughout his body. It incapacitated his ability to move entirely. "A minor oversight," he had told himself. He sat there, immobilized in that black chair in the depths of his lab, hoping to whatever powers that be that these effects weren't permanent. Then, Gaz had knocked on the door. The sound barely managed to make itself heard so many floors down and when it did, it echoed in Zim's head horribly. HE couldn't tell what direction it was coming from.

"You have an urgent visitor," Computer had said, showing him the view of the front step. But the alien couldn't see and couldn't hear well enough to comprehend despite his best efforts. Of course, the effects had subsided in time for him to save the girl, but the call was too close. He made a note to never try that again without taking proper precautions, especially knowing the whereabouts of the young human woman who lay before him now. A small breath of tension passed between his zipper teeth. Gaz looked up at him with clear, honest eyes.

"Thank you for saving me again, Zim. I've been far too lucky with you, I think." The smallest of chuckles was hinted in her voice and Zim pushed away all sour memories for the moment. Gaz was safe, his prototype had worn off, and he still had few months' time for preparation before the battle truly began. He brushed his hand over the girl's forehead, pushing aside her bangs and hoping his intent made its way through her stubborn skull.

"It's been my pleasure, Gaz-human."

"Zim," Gaz looked down and smiled uncharacteristically wide, "you know it's just 'Gaz'."

"Wow, okay," Ana spoke up, red-faced, "this situation just got really awkward. I'll see you at home, Gaz. Try to be safe." She fled from the room. Zim cleared his throat.

"How about I get that IV off of you…." It wasn't really a question; he reached across Gaz to undo the medical tape. She watched his slender, experienced fingers work quickly and gracefully. Somehow his motions seemed so mature. Gaz wondered how a motion could be mature. She turned her focus towards the side of his torso that leaned across her, an inch or two in front of her face. Zim's refreshing scent moved over her face in wispy waves, filling her lungs with its sweetness.

Clear your head, idiot, she berated herself and tried to fill her mind with something else. Unfortunately, the only distraction her mind settled on was the fluid movement of Zim's tunic as his arms moved. It was so truly alien and oddly beautiful. Gaz blinked.

"There… that should be all," Zim pulled away, gripping a ball of crumpled tape in his fist. You could try sitting up—slowly, of course." Gaz tensed and sat forward. Blood rushed to her head.

"Easy," Zim drew close, holding her shoulders with a feather-light touch. His face…. It was so close. Gaz's breath caught in her throat and she gulped profusely to gain some air. Was Zim always so beautiful? His smooth green skin that had the texture of butterfly wings, the way his emerald blood flowed just under that translucent skin, particularly prominent in his cheeks and across the bridge of his nearly-flat nose. His strange, feathery lashes brushed across those flushed cheeks as he looked her over, making sure she was fully healed. Gaz felt a sudden surge of the last few months' repressed emotion and she grabbed Zim's shirt before she could stop herself. She pulled the Irken's face to hers. Zim squeaked at the sudden contact of their lips before letting his eyes close, losing himself. This kiss wasn't as intense as the first, but Zim thought it was just as lovely. He had missed this human and now here she was, her warm breath washing around him and her small hands weaving under his wig and keeping a vice grip on his uniform. Zim sighed.

Gaz's mind was racing: what was she doing? At a time like this? God, she must seem so desperate… but she couldn't help herself. The stress, the loneliness-everything was getting to her. Right now she didn't have the strength to resist her bizarre attraction to the alien's extraterrestrial charm. If she tried, she would lose her mind. So she let her lips form with his; she let her tongue sweep just along his lower lip to see if he taste like he smelled (he did) and she let all of her feelings swell around them like a barrier from reality.

Maybe, in a parallel universe, she could confess that she had always felt that way… and maybe Zim would reciprocate those feelings. There wouldn't be an invasion, just her and this alien, exploring everything together. Dib wouldn't be an idiot and Ana would live.

"Zim," Gaz gasped out against his lips. A tear dripped from her eyelashes and trailed down her cheek. She felt Zim's thumb brush across her face, taking the tear with it. She opened her eyes. Zim's crystal blue lenses hovered in front of her, heavy-lidded with emotion. He breathed quietly. Gaz inhaled with a wet sound, "I'm sorry: I did it again."

Zim grinned as he pulled away, "You know… I don't mind as much as you seemed to think I do…." She didn't seem to hear as she pushed off the woven white blankets, swinging her legs free.

"I should probably get out of your hair, er—antennae. I need to get back to work soon so Ana and I can afford rent, not to mention prepare for the well… you know." Zim opened his mouth to say something—anything—to make her stay, but something about the rosy flush of her cheeks and the way she seemed so darn determined made him stop.

Another time, perhaps, he reassured himself, and escorted her to the door.

"Happy birthday!" Something vaguely cubic and crinkly was shoved into Gaz's face. She growled ferociously, feeling like herself for the first time in ages. Pushing aside the fluffy purple comforter that swaddled her each night, she hissed at the sun that filtered through the lacy curtains Ana had demanded to have in the apartment. The purple-haired teen opened one eye groggily. Ana kneeled at the edge of her bed, grinning with that usual airy manner she had. She held a silver-wrapped package in Gaz's face—it glinted rainbow in the sun. Gaz sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes before taking the package and staring at her companion in wonder.

"Why… why did you do this?"

"It's the last birthday I get to spend with you, so I wanted to get you something special. Let's forget about the future today and just have some fun, okay?" She tilted her head toward the parcel that Gaz grasped, a silent plea for it to be opened. Gaz nodded in compliance. Soft cracklings and rustlings: the paper fell away leaving a simple wooden box with a metal clasp at the front. It was strange… a wafting, spicy odor trailed out from it. Gaz sniffed cautiously. Why was it familiar?

"Just open it, Gazlene."

Gaz sneered and flipped the clasp, yanking open the lid.

She froze. Inside the box was a small but memorable collection of the many objects Gaz and Ana had gathered from their adventures in the Underworld. The crystallized cyclops eye as shiny and smooth as a marble, the necklace of zombie teeth, the griffin feathers... so many memories contained n a simple box that held no interest itself.

It was perfect.

"I know you don't really cry so much," Ana said, "so I'll just take that quivering lip as a good alternative."

"Thank you," Gaz murmured, unable to express her full gratitude in words. She bit said trembling lip. Ana smiled pleasantly and stood, patting her friend on the shoulder.

"Well, now that presents are out of the way, what say we go to Bloaty's and spend our spare money on arcade games? I'll even buy your favorite pizza." Ana straightened with a spark of energy, smiling wide. "Get ready, okay?" Gaz nodded with a compliant expression and Ana closed the door behind her. Gaz slipped out of bed with feline grace, heading for the small closet next to her bed. She picked the first thing that interested her and yanked it on. Birthdays were not a day to be extra fancy to Gaz; they were to be comfortable and try to be happy for once. Feeling satisfied with her appearance in the mirror, she pulled open the door and went to the kitchen for a quick breakfast.

The doorbell rang.

"Who on Earth is that?" Ana groaned without looking up form her magazine (filled with articles about new video games and developers). Gaz shrugged and passed by the kitchen to open the door. A flicker of something akin to hope reared in the back of her mind that maybe Zim had visited to giver her a present. Would he do something like that? Did he even know what birthdays were? Excitement tugged her stomach and she turned the doorknob as fast as she could manage.

Numbness.

"Hey... Gaz..."

"What are you doing here, Dib?!" Ana threw her magazine down and stalked over in two long strides. She fumed, "Why would you pick today of all days to drag your sorry carcass over here? Are you that dense?" Her violet eyes flashed murderously. Dib's own sunken eyes flickered around, observing the small apartment. Gaz was speechless. Dib pulled at loose threads on his coat sleeves before speaking up.

"I...wanted to wish Gaz a happy birthday... and to apologize." He caught his sister's gaze and held it, hope in his face. "Gaz, I'm sorry for what I did to you. It was wrong and you didn't deserve to have that happen, especially right now." His voice cracked and he looked at his feet in shame. Ana rolled her eyes. Gaz bit her lip. On one hand, she wanted to believe Dib. She missed the bizarre relationship they had before and she missed having one family member who cared about her. Yet... she had already moved on and proverbially burned her past. She had moved out with her best friend and—through odd circumstances—thought she might be developing some sort of thing with Zim. Why would she look back now? She had blocked out her mother leaving, after all...

"Don't look at me like that," Dib pleaded. His voice dropped, "Don't look at me like I'm Mom." Gaz's eyes shot open, a fierce expression stealing over her as though she was possessed. Dib flinched.

"Get out of here, Dib. You haven't spoken to me for months, so don't expect me to forgive you instantly." It seemed like there were flames howling behind her and Dib had experienced enough of his baby sister's wrath to know when to run. He simply nodded and turned tail, taking the stairs in twos. Gaz sighed, wilting. Ana draped an arm across her shoulders.

"That idiot always ruins my plans..." she mused. The mood had darkened considerably and, though it was summer, fluffy grey clouds rolled in to mirror the girls' feelings. Gaz hissed under her breath and retreated into the apartment. She flipped the TV on, picking up and console controller. Ana slumped at the sight, following her friend into the room.

"Does this mean you want to order in?"

Gaz grunted in reply.

Ana placed fingers to her temples and moaned. I wanted this birthday to be good for her... I wanted to see her smile before... Wait. An idea! Ana snapped her fingers and grinned deviously. Maybe she couldn't cheer Gaz up, but she had a fairly good idea of someone who could. She slinked away to her bedroom, closing the door and pulling her cell phone out.

A number for emergencies.

"Please don't yell at me," she prayed.

Dial tone. Click.

"Greetings, human pig-smell."

Gaz drummed her varnished nails against the couch arm. Why Ana had cackled madly and forced her into her glitziest clothes... she was desperately curious for the answer. Her black, knee-length dress glittered like crystal in the sunset light that came through the window. The slit side revealed sheer black tights and the boots that Gaz refused to part with.

Well, she thought, I do look nice.

A knock crackled at the door and Gaz reluctantly dragged herself over to answer. Her jaw dropped when it swung open to reveal a particular Irken in a slim black outfit that was decidedly not his uniform. He held up a white rose.

"Happy birthday."