It was 3 am when Zim woke. He didn't want to leave his bed. He didn't wish to leave Gaz. He loved waking up with her in his arms. Normally he would lay there all night with his eyes open either looking at nothing or at her lovely sleeping face, but there was much to be done. So with all the ease he can muster he slipped out of bed and exited his chamber to head one place before proceeding with his experiment, with what Gaz kept referring to as a "thing" and not her mom. He understood there, so he didn't bother correcting her.

Heading into the dungeon, he walked in very quickly and knocked Red out. Standing up in front of an awestruck Purple he just stared down at him quietly seething away.

Purple just felt a dangerous aura about Zim right now that wasn't helped by the shadow falling over his face. He barely made out the mad glint in his eyes, but the way his fists remained at his hips, he couldn't tell if he was poised for attack or just trying to reign himself in. Really, he just always knew Zim to be unstable before. When Zim took a step forward, he thought he was going to attack him, but he ended up taking the step back. Still the stare down from him was really making him uncomfortable, so he said something rather reckless.

"Why are you being so creepy, Zim?" That earned him a audible sneer from him.

Zim wanted to torture him. Red was an idiot, but Purple did something he wasn't fond of.

"I knew you were unstable, but why do you keep persisting in showing me how much so?" Purple egged him on.

Zim remained quiet. He just studied him. Studied his prey.

"I thought Tak was getting a little nuts, but you always out shined her there." Purple wanted to see when he would crack. It was foolish of him, but being down here for this long was driving him crazy, and then seeing Gaz face to face, he really needed out of here.

Zim quirked his eyebrow ridge up at that one. Not like he could see that, but he wondered how many pokes he would try until he couldn't take no more? He had to congratulate himself because he knew how he would fly off the handle the before without the slightest provocation.

"I did love Dai. I thought I wanted to be with her for a long time, but when she left here that day, I knew I was wrong. I was just infatuated with her. Deeply really." Purple spoke honestly. "I should of told her and I will next time to her face. I would of told her daughter, but it is her mom that needs to know."

Zim didn't move, but he sensed a bit of truth there.

Purple knew he was capable of doing something for hours on end, but this standing like so, was just scary. Not creepy. Just scary. "Will Gaz be safe with you?" He queried in such a way that he saw the slightest movement from him. "Will you attack her one day? Will you destroy her?"

Stepping out of the shadows there, Zim leveled him with such a look that even he should of shut up, but he didn't.

"So many years we have been watching your broadcasts and with some broadcasts the ones with her have been the most entertaining and often the most enlightening ever." He went on. "Will you destroy her one day out of jealousy?"

During the middle of the night, Gaz woke up and wasn't too surprised to not see him in bed. Knowing she should get more sleep, she still asked the Computer where Zim was. When she was informed where he was, she asked for a private link down there. Standing over Purple was Zim looking tense and obviously unhappy.

"Computer? Did Zim see me down there earlier?"

"Yes."

Issuing a small thanks, she just continued to watch.

"Her brother is a pain. Brilliant, but a pain. Her father is also brilliant as humans go, but her I just felt she was unparalleled in so many ways. Intelligent in so many ways. Ruthless when she can be. Mature. Levelheaded. Beautiful." Purple didn't realize he actually said the last word, but Zim and Gaz caught the word.

"What do you want with her?" Zim finally spoke.

"So many things, Zim, but right now I can't do a single thing at all because I'm down here not knowing if you want to kill me or send me away."

Zim wasn't going to kill them, but he might kill someone else. "Far be it for me to expose something to you, Purple, but I gave myself to her and I will never betray her." Lowering his voice, he added with a sneer. "But I know with your past record, you will."

"I won't betray her."

"Tell that to her mother." Zim retorted as he turned his back to him and stormed out. He had much to do before the sun came up.

Gaz had turned the Computer turn off the feed, and ran out of bed. She had a feeling he was going to fiddle with that experiment again. With only her robe over her, she anxiously waited to get to that level, and unboarded the lift. Running into the lab, Zim turned to look at her in surprise, and was even more surprised by the hug she gave him.

"Gaz? Why are you up? You should be sleeping." He murmured gently.

Separating from him, she replied. "You weren't in bed so I asked the Computer to show me where you were and I saw Zim. Why did you go down there?"

"I wasn't upset with you going down there to speak to him. I understood that, but I saw something from him that I needed to know, and I saw it in front of me."

"Oh please tell me you weren't jealous of him. He disgusts me, Zim. I'm all yours and I trust you." Taking his hand, she placed it on her chest. "I'm all yours, Zim."

Zim heard her, but was distracted by her robe since it was no longer tied and he was getting a good view. "I hope so because you are giving me a lot to look at sweets."

Looking down casually and taking in that little wolfish grin of his, she smiled at him, but didn't cover up. "Well you already touched a lot of this in the dark anyhow."

Glancing up at the fake Dai then back at her, he sat down heavily on his chair. "I know I can do this, Gaz. All of this, but there is so much, and there is more that keeps getting added that is making me stressed."

There is the Zim that was hiding from her. He was trying to cover so much away from her. Trying to remain confident, but she felt it. Walking over to him, she sat on his lap to place her head against his chest.

"Then what happened to you at your home. I know this is to drive me insane. This is to destroy me." Holding his practically naked girl in his arms he kissed her head. "I'm so happy you are here with me. I know you will beside me."

"Zim, you are one of a kind to me, and I know you will never hurt me."

Smiling at her admission, he was worried in telling her something. He always loved seeing her demoness shine through. It always thrilled him, but he was unsure of it this time. Was he correct in this assumption? He had no clue. But he couldn't keep his line of thinking away from her.

"Gaz that escaped slave has been gone before that incident at your house." He started off. "Pressner can also shape shift into anything he wants to be."

Gaz lifted her face to examine his face. "Who was the slave that escaped, Zim?"

"Someone whom I want to rip his head off again if it turns out to be him... Your ex."

Laying her head heavily back on his chest, she groaned out. "I want this whole thing over with because I'm fed up with all this b.s."

"As a Tallest and an Elder, you know there will be new things." Zim reminded her.

"Yes, but I at least want this part over with."