Chapter one: Away

Dib stared up at the bright, star covered sky. This planet had a weird atmosphere, you could see the stars, but instead of a black backdrop, the sky was orangey pink. It reminded Dib of earth sunsets. The sand beneath him felt like velvet on his bare back. The water his legs were submerged in was warm and soothing. And the best part, this kind of water didn't hurt Zim. So he had his legs in it too, his head on Dib's chest, snoozing softly.

This had to be the best vacation Dib ever had. Until some jerk spilled his drink all over Dib's chest, waking up Zim. He shot up angrily and yelled some things in Irken. It did not sound too nice. The poor guy who spilled his drink scurried away quickly, obviously regretting being clumsy. "Was that really necessary?" Dib asked, laughing at Zim's hostile expression.

"Of course, how will people know they're idiots if no one tells them?" Zim asked innocently. Dib laughed and grabbed Zim around the shoulders. Zim laughed and clung to him, anger forgotten. "You're all sticky," Zim pointed out.

"Well, let's fix that," Dib said playfully, knocking Zim into the warm water, jumping in after him. Zim didn't get mad, but he splashed Dib in the face. Both of them erupted into a splash fight. Eventually though they got tired and went back to their hotel room. They walked the whole way holding hands, people stared with confusion and even hatred, but Zim just grinned and did what Dib guessed was the equivalent of flipping them off.

Dib would've scolded Zim for being mean to people he didn't know, but Zim's defense against the stares only warmed his heart. Zim really did care. When they got back Zim lounged on the couch opposite of the windows. "I'm gonna go get dinner," Dib said, knowing there was food here that they could both eat.

"Kay," Zim sighed, starting to snooze on the couch. Dib watched Zim breathing for a minute before heading out. Dib was walking down the hall happily when a thought struck him, was Dib the girl in this relationship? He literally stopped in the middle of the hall to think about that. Zim was sleeping a lot because he was a little bored being here, and Dib was doing most of the shopping and cooking. And Zim's personality was very male…Dib shrugged it off. He wasn't a girl, no…no he wasn't. Dib twitched, he would keep denying this to the grave.

Dib got several sorts of foods, not knowing what to make, and too lazy to decide right there. On his way back he saw something that gave him an idea, something that would so make him not the girl. It was always the male that bought flowers, right? Yeah, guys in movies always get the girls flowers. Zim probably wouldn't care about flowers, but it would ease Dib's paranoia.

The shop had all sort of foreign flowers. They all looked amazing to Dib, but he quickly realized he had no idea what one Zim would like or what ones were the romantic ones. He went to the front desk where a tall man was reading some space magazine. "Um, hey," Dib said, unsure this guy knew anything about flowers.

"Hmm, hey, cutie. My name's Jack Harkness, there something I can help you with?" Jack asked in a low voice. He was trying to come on to Dib. It reminded of when he was a kid and people made them watch tapes of kids being lured by sick adults, and then warn them not to talk to these people. He shivered. If Zim knew there was a man here coming on to Dib…all hell would break loose.

"Uh, yeah. I'm not from around here…so what kind of flowers," Dib gestured to the gigantic range of flowers the shop had, "are the romantic type?"

"Why? Is there a little lady you wanna impress?" Jack asked, a little dejectedly.

"Sort of…" Dib sighed, almost correcting him, but figured it'd be a waste anyway.

"Hey! Someone needs help up here!" Jack called to someone in the back. He went back to the magazine, seeing that Dib was taken.

"Yeah?" A cute, British, blonde girl said. Dib recognized her immediately.

"Hey, Rose!" Dib said, causing Jack to look up.

"You know each other?" Jack asked.

"Yeah, we met once," Rose told him, leading Dib away from Jack, who shrugged and kept reading. "Hey, so you're getting flowers?"

"Yeah," Dib said, blushing a bit.

"What kind do you need? For your mum, for a girl…" Rose trailed off.

"I need some…romantic kind…See he knows these other planets and I don't, so I need help finding the right ones," Dib said quickly, looking away.

"He? Who is it?" Rose asked, getting giddy.

"Well…you've met him…" Dib said.

Rose gasped loudly. "The little green guy?" She asked.

"Zim," Dib corrected. Rose giggled. "What?"

"I knew it," Rose giggled.

"You did not," Dib denied.

"I did so, when we met. I so called it," Rose said happily.

"Whatever," Dib said, his face completely red.

"Here," Rose said, still giddy about the whole thing, as she handed Dib a bouquet of something that looked like lilies. Dib knew they weren't lilies, because these had huge thorns.

"They look…pokey…" Dib said, unable to describe the flowers.

"Yeah, thought a guy coming from a species who likes to destroy things would find it romantic," Rose reasoned. She had a good point. "So…it's pretty fun to date an alien, huh?"

"Yeah…" Dib smiled, thinking over the past week they'd shared on the vacation planet. He would never forget it.

"You're parents handling the whole 'my son is dating a gay alien' thing well?" Rose asked. Dib's eyes went dark, revealing a spot he hadn't thought of since coming here.

"Well…I already didn't have a mom, being biologically engineered by my dad. And my dad…passed away a few months ago," Dib confessed.

"Oh…I'm sorry…" Rose said, lowering her head, "My mum hates the Doctor…most of the time. I think she trusts him now."

"Yeah…before my dad passed away…he sort of accepted us. He saved our lives and apologized for the things he did to Zim…" Dib said. "I think even Zim has respect for him now."

"Well, that's good," Rose said, smiling again.

"Hey, why don't you guys come over for dinner?" Dib suggested. He liked talking to Rose, and they hadn't had anyone over yet. Sure, the solitude together was nice, but Dib missed being around other people.

"Sure!" Rose beamed, "I'll bring the Doctor and Jack. It'll be loads of fun! Is Zim going to cook? The Doctor told me Irkens make really good food, especially the Invaders."

"Really? I didn't know that. Sure, he'll be cooking," Dib said. He'd have to kick Zim in the butt for not telling him he could actually cook.

"Alright, see ya then," Rose said with a wink. Dib gave her their room number and left, feeling proud for being a good boyfriend and getting flowers…even if they were scary flowers. Maybe the flowers would make up for Dib inviting people over, Zim hated people, especially people like the Doctor. Dib hoped they could have a peaceful dinner with good terms from both of them. And he also hoped Jack didn't flirt…then there'd be a body to clean…and Dib would have to do it because Zim doesn't like germs…then the bleaching…and then they'd probably have to leave the vacation planet, and Dib wasn't ready to leave yet. So Jack had better be polite.

Zim was so adorable; Dib almost didn't want to kick him off the couch. He was reclined with his arms behind his head and his legs spread far apart, still wearing the swim trunks from earlier. Dib wanted to jump him. But instead, he lightly crawled on the couch, careful not to wake him. He slowly placed his hands under Zim, and uplifted him into the floor.

"HEY!" Zim yelled, then caught Dib snickering on the couch. "Oh…uhm…sex now?" Zim asked, confused.

"N-no…Zim…not now. I got you something though," Dib said mysteriously. Zim looked suspicious until Dib pulled a bouquet out from behind the couch, then Zim seemed overwhelmed.

"Dib…that's…those are…those are Smoo'sch's!" Zim exclaimed.

"Yeah? You know them?" Dib asked, feeling very proud of himself.

"Uh-huh," Zim said, taking the flowers in his hands and playing with the thorns, "On most planets, Smoo'sch's are a gift of devotion from the female to the male." Zim left to the kitchen while Dib cursed in his head. Rose did that on purpose…she was evil, that one. Zim didn't seem to take the flowers as any sort of sign, and he seemed rather impressed by them.

"Hey, space boy!" Dib yelled, picking up the groceries. "You didn't tell me you can cook."

"What…?" Zim asked confusedly, coming back to see Dib standing with bags in his arms.

"Someone told me that Invaders know how to cook," Dib accused. Zim turned a darker shade of green.

"Uh…yeah…" Zim stuttered. Dib shoved the bags in Zim's arms.

"Get to cooking," Dib ordered with a grin. Zim seemed to get angry for a minute, which didn't surprise Dib in the least.

"Fine, I will. And you'll eat it too. It'll be the best meal you've ever had the FORTUNE to put in that gaping hole on your face!" Zim yelled, pointing at Dib's face.

"It better be….we have guests coming over," Dib announced. Zim seemed startled by that.

"Wha…who?" He asked. "Where did you meet them?"

Dib answered before Zim could get even more paranoid. "Calm down, it was just Rose…you know the blonde British girl who helped get you away from my dad that time. Her and the Doctor…and some Jack guy they know," Dib explained.

"Rose…?" Zim echoed. Dib looked at the clock.

"Look, space boy, we spent all day at the beach. Go get started on dinner!" Dib said, panicky.

"Pfff. Fine. But only because ZIM wants to!" He yelled and stormed off to the kitchen. Dib fell back on the couch, happy that finally he didn't have to do anything.

…

"No…I'm not going to eat with a Tradis-stealer!" The Doctor said firmly.

"Oh come on, he's not so bad. Besides, we're going for Dib anyway, you know, the human boy," Rose reminded him. "I knew they'd get together you know."

"Yeah yeah. I still don't wanna," He said. Then he thought about it. "Which one is the girly one, though?" He asked, peering at Rose.

"Who said there is one?" She asked back. "They can both be manly you know."

"Yeah…but…if you had to choose one…?" He asked.

"I'd have to say, Dib," Rose said, nodding.

"No way," Doctor said slowly. "Zim has to be the girl."

"You're only saying that because you don't like 'em," Rose pointed out.

"Hey, hey, hey," Jack intervened. "I'll be the judge of all this."

"Jack Harkness, don't you dare," Doctor said, pointed at him threateningly.

"What?" He asked innocently.

"So are you going?" Rose asked hopefully.

"I guess…" Doctor said sadly, "But if I win, I get to choose our next destination."

"Not the Meekrob planet again…" Rose groaned.

"Yes. And if you win, you can choose," Doctor reasoned.

"Italy," Rose said excitedly.

"It's a deal then," Doctor said and they all shook hands. The Doctor and Rose not knowing why they shook hands with Jack, or even why Jack was there.

…

"That smells good," Dib sighed from outside the kitchen. He knew if he stuck his head in again that Zim would just throw something at him. So he stayed in the living room, waiting impatiently. The smell of the food was driving him crazy, it smelled way better than anything he could cook.

Dib looked over at the makeshift dinning table. Zim had gotten them one of the nicer rooms, so there were a couple of card tables there. Dib simply pushed them together and draped a cloth over it. The tables were large enough that Dib was sure it could accommodate them all. "Hey, Dib-stink! Come get the food," Zim called. Dib rushed in, anxious to see what smelled so good. On the counter was a huge roast-type meat with yellow and orange sauce dripping all over it. There were several side-dishes, but it was the roast that made Dib's mouth water.

"On Irk, if we ever make our own food we just eat it right when we make it…but I suppose you want to enforce some earth tradition?" Zim asked, crossing his arms at Dib.

"Um, yeah. I'll set the table," Dib said, not taking his eyes off the food. He set the table as Zim watched him.

"You're not allowed to eat it until our 'guests' get here, right?" Zim asked with a smirk.

"Um," Dib thought about lying about that, but just as he was considering it, the door rang. "I'll get it." Zim rolled his eyes and sat on the couch.

"Hey," Rose said happily. "Something smells good."

"Yeah, Zim made…a roast…thingy," Dib said, noticing the grumpy look on the Doctor's face. Jack winked at him as he passed. Dib got shivers, this was going to be a long night.

"So, the Irken made dinner?" The Doctor asked, grinning at Rose.

"Yeah," Dib said, closing the door and wondering why Rose looked so miffed. Dib led them all to their crappy table and they sat down. Zim came in and joined them, looking completely bored with the whole ordeal.

"So, you're here on vacation?" Rose asked politely.

"Yeah, Earth's kind of hectic right now," Dib said.

"What do you mean?" The Doctor asked.

"Well, it's been sort of overtaken," Dib told him, he looked worried, "But it's just my sister, so it's okay. The people of Earth actually like her being their leader, I think."

"Oh, well…" The Doctor said awkwardly. He looked at the food and eyed Zim suspiciously, who didn't even notice. Rose and Dib chatted about random things, mostly having to do with Earth. Zim just ate and seemed bored, not even listening to them talking. The Doctor didn't eat, and Dib wondered if he did eat, he just stared at Zim. And Jack…well, Jack was alternating between staring at Zim and Dib, seemingly planning something. Dib ignored him, Zim ignored everyone.

Finally all the food was gone and Rose and Dib were contemplating on how good it was compared with Earth food. Zim was taking plates to the kitchen as Jack leaned toward Dib and started whispering to him in a low, sexy voice. Zim stopped for a minute to watch.

"Hey there human boy, you know you don't have to stick with an alien. How 'bout me? I'm human," Jack said seductively. He leaned in and kissed Dib with both hands on either side of his face. Dib's face grew hot and red as he heard the crashing of broken glass. He looked over at Zim who hadn't moved, but dropped all the plates on the ground.

"Oh, now you've done it, Jack," The Doctor sighed irritably. Zim glared at Jack with hatred and pulled a laser gun from his pak.

"He's MINE!" Zim yelled, aiming straight for Jack.

"Oh, what are you gonna do? Shoot me?" Jack asked sarcastically. "Go ahead." And Jack kissed Dib again. Dib heard a huge fire sound and jack fell to the floor with a huge wound in his chest.

"ZIM!" Dib yelled, staring at the body at his feet. "Zim! You can't do that!" He turned to Zim who was staring at Dib with confusion. The Doctor rolled his eyes and looked away. Rose was turning red and had her hands over her mouth.

"Ow! That really hurt," Jack said, getting up.

"Jack!" Dib said in surprise, about to pass out from all the drama. "How?" He looked to Zim who was shocked and returned to aiming at Jack.

"Well, the thing? I'm immortal," Jack announced, taking a step towards Zim. "Come here you little green psychopath, it's your turn." Jack opened his arms and stepped towards Zim. Zim panicked and shot Jack again, who just got back up and kept walking. Zim kept shooting and backing away as Jack kept coming towards him.

"Wow…" Dib said in fascination.

"At least we know he really loves you," Rose pointed out, blushing deeply.

"Yeah…I know," Dib said, thinking back on their past week.

"Yup, Zim's the girl," The Doctor said with conviction.

"No way, sorry 'bout this Dib, but Dib's the girl," Rose said pointedly.

"I'm not a girl," Dib said strongly.

Rose blushed. "No no, that's not what I'm sayin' at all," She said hurridly.

"But don't you think Zim's the girl?" The Doctor asked, still watching Jack get shot multiple times.

"Well…uh…" Dib stalled. He didn't think Zim was girly in any way possible. If either of them were girly, it'd be Dib. But he wasn't about to admit that. Suddenly the gun blasts stopped and Dib turned around to see Jack's face nearly eating Zim's. Zim had a look of utter fear, Dib could see a slight bit of content in his expression. Dib couldn't breath for a minute, quickly in his mind he saw Zim and Jack running away together and Dib left alone on an alien planet with no one. But just as soon as the thought reached him, Zim shoved Jack off and ran under the table.

"Hmm, hard to tell," Jack contemplated, licking his mouth. "Irkens taste good…"

"STAY AWAY YOU FLESH EATING CANNIBAL!" Zim yelled from under the table. Rose started to laugh, The Doctor shook his head and Jack was still thinking about something. Dib leaned under the table to see Zim.

"You never called me a flesh eating cannibal," Dib observed. Zim looked at Dib like he was crazy.

"That's because you're not," Zim told him. Dib smiled, he might never understand what Zim did, but he had all of forever to figure it out. Dib straightened to see The Doctor on a cell phone.

"And you believed them?" He asked. "Well, don't you remember what I told you? Oh come on, Rickey, you're not that dense…well, maybe you are…no, just…Hey, don't use that language with me!"

"Doctor?" Rose echoed, listening to his ranting. He hung up and turned to her.

"We've got to get to Venus, right now," The Doctor told her.

"Wait, who wins?" She asked.

"Jack?" The Doctor asked irritably, in a rush to go to Venus. Dib wondered if they were having a bet on something.

"Well, based on reactions, I'd have to say Dib," Jack reasoned, patting Dib on the back.

"I win," Rose squealed, "Italy here I come!"

"If there still is an Italy," The Doctor said gruffly. "Sorry, but we have to cut this short." The Doctor took Jack by the arm and dragged him out.

"It was really nice seeing you again," Rose said warm heartedly, "And I think your father'd be proud." Dib smiled at her as she left.

"You're mine…you know?" Zim said as he put his head between Dib's legs and looked up at him. Dib unconsciously toyed with Zim's antenna.

"I know," He said happily, "And I own you too." Zim looked up in a confused manner. "I own you, and you own me. We own each other." Zim grinned.

"I don't understand…but…I know I own you. So if you own me too, that's fine," Zim said, lighting Dib's heart on fire. Zim gripped Dib's legs and leaned his head on Dib, closing his eyes. "Do we have to go back to earth?" He asked quietly.

"What do you mean? We're just here on vacation, Zim," Dib said. Zim moaned.

"Yeah but…I have no ties there. And neither do you, so I don't see why we don't just live on a better planet…" Zim said, for once making sense.

"I…I don't know…" Dib said, looking out the window. "I can't just leave Gaz there…"

"She's the ruler of the planet, Dib. She can handle herself. And she has Gir," Zim pointed out.

"Yeah…" Dib whispered. "But where would we live?"

"Someplace better…a planet like this but bigger," Zim said.

"Yeah," Dib agreed. "But I wanna go back, at least once…"

"Okay," Zim said, starting to fall asleep on Dib. Dib grabbed Zim's hands and lifted him up onto him.

"Come on, space boy," Dib said, ignoring the broken plates, he took Zim to their bed, thankful that they had this peaceful quiet now.

…

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That was shorter than intended. :P And I didn't include the Meekrob/war/prophesy junk, but I'll get to it! You have to make due with fluffy for now. Fluffy is a good kitty, even Zim likes fluffy :). Anyway, thanks so much for reading! Sorry it took so long to post, I'm evil that way, and lazy haha. But I digress, the next one will be out a whole bunches sooner, and it will be longer and better! Love you all lots, please review!