Zim decided to visit the slave barracks to take a look around the next day. Obviously the humans were angry and some were miserable to the point of crying. He ignored the angry and the crying. He wanted to focus on the reports here, and look for someone per, Gaz's request. He honestly didn't want to, but he felt he had to for her. Passing by one cell he was recognized by, Iggins who started whispering to the others whom he recognized from school. They kept squinting their eyes to see if that could help them focus better, but they gave up and called him crazy like they used to call, Dib. Smiling and satisfied that the Bret-smelly wasn't in that cell, because quite honestly he wanted Iggins to remain cast as a crazy person, he walked to the end of the hall to the last holding cell and found him in a not so full prison. Indicating he wished to speak to this one alone, he wandered off to a private interrogation area they set up.

Standing on the far side of the wall, he watched as he was escorted inside. Making a gesture to not secure the slave he ordered them to leave him be. For several minutes they just stared at one another. The smelly one was the first to speak.

"Where is Gaz? What have you done to her?"

Glaring down at him, he noted the tone of his voice. "She is fine, I assure you. She is safe at my base."

"If you harm her..." He began, but was forcibly stopped when Zim put him roughly up against the wall.

"If I harm her? I would never harm, Gaz in a million years."

Arm hard against his chest, his breath was a little short from that sudden jolt from him. "Really? Like you didn't hurt her when you suddenly left without a word?" Feeling him loosen up his grip, Bret struggled to get his breathing back as he eyed the arm that held him. "She cried you know. She tried to hide it, but she did."

Straightening up slowly, he just eyed this worm as he soaked in those words. "But it didn't stop you from being with her, didn't it?"

"Of course not. I like her. She's cool and so different." Bret replied then added. "Look at you, even an alien wants her, so you understand."

Frowning and hating him more, Zim took a step back. "I came here at her request to see about you."

"What are you gonna do to her anyhow?!" He demanded.

Stepping forward, Zim sneered. "She will remain safe with me as if it is any of your fracking business." Stepping back, he yelled. "Guards! Take the slave back where he belongs." Watching both guards come in a rush and grab the smell, he smiled at the satisfaction of at least physically harming him.

At the base, Gaz was waiting a little impatiently for him to come back. She already played with, Gir, at his insistence. Then ran off back to her room to hide out in the meantime. She needed to know about her friend and they needed to at least talk to her family. Growling at what was around her currently in her room, she decided to snoop around his room.

Stepping out into the hallway, there was no one, so she made her way quickly to his room and closed the door behind her. The decorative scheme was basically the same as the cul de sac base, but with some pictures of her next to his bed. Lifting up the photo she noticed it was one that Gir surprised them by taking in the park. No huge shocked expressions on either of them because Zim immediately deleted that one from the camera, but this was the one after with them sitting side by side looking content. Placing it down where she found it, she started to go through his drawers which was nothing out of the ordinary except for clothes items. The last drawer had his pants and something else. Hesitant at first, she gave way to that hesitancy and lifted what looked like a journal. She knew she was wrong to do this, but still feeling a bit hurt by him being gone she felt he owed her this. Then again she couldn't do what he did by spying.

"I can't stoop to his level." Journal on her lap. "Can I?" Fingering the cover she slowly started to lift up the cover.

Hours later, Zim finally blinked back home. Slave encampment, then talking to his troops, then fighting one on one himself with humans in the Earth's military forces. He was tired. He was a bit frustrated. Gir gave him the quickest of hugs before running off talking about winning against Gaz in a game. Wishing to see her, he inquired where she was to the computer, and when the answer was his room he went there quickly. Opening the door, he found her passed out on her bed with what looked to be his journal next to her. Displeased by that, he crossed the room and lifted the book away from her.

"What right do you have coming in here and reading my journal?" He demanded.

Eyes shooting open and sitting straight up, she stared at him at first then looked around the room to re-oriented herself. She forgot she was in his room. She forgot about the journal that now was in his hands. "I didn't read your journal. I was going to like how you were spying on me the entire time you were gone, but after so many minutes of contemplating... I fell asleep." Rubbing her eyes to hopefully ease the tiredness away it only aided in helping her see he was still skeptical about her saying she didn't read that. "I'm serious, Zim. I didn't read that."

Lowering the book down, he knew she was telling the truth, so he just sat down next to her, and handed it to her. "Go ahead and read it. You have a right to."

"No, Zim." Giving it back to him.

"Fine then..." Taking the journal, he opened it up and began turning the pages where some words were written in Irken, but some were written in English. He stopped at one page, handed it to her, stood up from the bed, and said. "Please read this entry then. This is important."

10-14-11

I've watched her so many times before from far off. Dib-stink is always around her so it prevents me from talking to her as much as I would like to. Since becoming friends, it doesn't make the sneaking around any easier, but we try. When she catches me looking at her I feel funny inside. I can never describe it. They don't teach feelings as an Invader, they teach destruction and how to achieve destruction. So I am unsure what goes on with me. When she whispered close to me the other day, I felt weak.

I've asked the computer so many times about human emotions that I feel like even it will explode. It won't doom me like she can. No one can doom me like her. I remember when she put her arms around me. I thought that it was my doom from her, but when it lasted more then a minute and I felt how nice it was to have this close to me, I realized I never wanted her to let me go.

If I ever rule this planet or not, I don't care, because all that matters to me is having her look at me as the way I look at her. Someone so special that you want to spend every moment with. To ever screw this up, would be my downfall, and not hers.

She is my queen.

Closing the journal, she put the book on the bed, stood up, and before walking out the door she took his hand gently into hers. "I don't know what to say."

"I want you to be mines so badly. Always have." He practically pleaded as he looked into her glistening eyes. "I promise to make you happy. I know I can make you happy."

He did sound sincere without the slightest Zimness ego attached, but she just didn't know. "How can this work, Zim? How do I know you won't leave me again like last time?"

Gently placing his hand on the side of her face, with his other hand still in hers, he moved closer to her. "I regretted that so much, and even though I can't turn the clock back to reverse that. You have my word that it won't happen again."

Confusing feelings mounted inside of her, but she needed to focus. "Right now we are still friends. Yes that kiss down there was nice and had an effect on my brother, but we need to wait there until I feel I can trust you again."

Nodding his head, he wished she would of just wanted to be with him then and now so he can put her on that bed with him, but he didn't wish to see her leave him. "Perhaps we should go and talk to your family now." Removing his hand away from his face and gesturing to the door. "I will regain your trust again, Gaz."

Smiling, she walked out the door with him.

Still holding his hand. He noted.