"Can you still make it?" The two irkens were hurrying over to the elevator. The taller one was shown aiding him worriedly.

"Ugh, I think so," Zim said trying to act calm while clutching his stomach, "I think the pain is starting to die down, but I don't know when it'll actually start."

"Ok, we're almost there," Skoodge looks up at the ceiling, "Computer, please take us to the observatory."

There was no response.

Zim narrowed.

"COMPUTER!"

"What?"

"Take us to the observatory! Quickly!"

"Yes, sir."

The elevator started to go down. Skoodge sighed stressfully,

"You really need to get this computer to listen to our commands."

"OUR commands?!" Zim glared at him, "May I remind you that I'M in charge of this base?!"

"But if you were to get hurt, who would take you over to the observatory?" He narrowed back.

"Please, I got my head nearly squashed, I almost blew up, I got burned by the water of this planet AND meat SEVERAL times! Not to mention I've gotten eaten alive by an alien creature when I was cleaning a toilet in Foodcourtia! I can walk home with all those injuries-!"

The elevator suddenly halted, causing Zim and Skoodge to stop arguing and look about.

"Stop arguing! You both are acting like children!"

"Computer!" Zim shouted, "this is not time for group therapy junk! Take us to the observatory before it becomes a mess here!"

The computer groaned,

"Fine. But you're wasting time-"

"We're NOT wasting time! The smeet HAS to be coming right now! Now go!"

The computer didn't say anything else and the elevator continued lowering until it got to its destination. The computer has already put up the medical bed in the middle of the observatory before it's master would ever command it to do so.

"Here," Skoodge said, "it's not safe to walk to the medical bed. Let me carry you-"

"I don't need to be carried," he told him, " I can do it myself!"

His spider legs came out of his PAK and he used them to crawl over to the medical bed and set himself down.

"Alright, Computer," Zim told it as Skoodge approached beside the bed, "how long will it be till the egg comes out?"

"Estimation few days through one week."

"No, there has to be a misunderstanding. I felt the smeet kick so hard it felt like it was gonna burst out of me. And you don't know how much that hurt! I HAVE to be having the smeet now!"

The computer made a long deep sigh.

"For...the THIRD time...the smeet's development isn't complete yet."

Skoodge let out a sigh of relief when he announced this.

"There has to be a mistake though. YOU said the smeet would arrive within two months. Today IS two months. How much more do I have to wait until my body dies from exhaustion?!"

"Well," the Computer responded, "No irken has ever had a smeet growing inside them for thousands of years and there are no exact recordings as to how long the gestation last. The best I can do is to give the estimation of when the smeet will be born and make recordings of the progress so that these things can be more prepared."

"But the tallest can't wait longer than a week! She needs to come out NOW! You! Smeet!"

He pokes his swollen belly angrily.

"You have an important purpose to do right now and this is NO time for sleeping around in there! Get out of my body before...!"

He tries to think of the punishment.

"...before...before I leave you outside of the backyard for two hours!"

The smeet didn't really respond except calmly shifting to a comfortable position and resting again. He continued to glare at it.

"SMEET! I ORDER YOU TO COME OUT!"

"I don't think she wants to come out, Zim. You heard what the computer says. She's not ready."

"How can she not be ready?" He crossed his arms.

"I mean," he shrugs, "some smeets like to rush and some decide to wait a little more. Take me for example, I was considered fully developed a week after the expected date I would be born. Say now thinking about it...didn't you ever said you were born late?"

"I was several weeks late," Zim muttered, crossing his arms, "though I should have gotten out of that incubation capsule earlier than that so I can show my worth faster."

"So you understand her now, right?"

"Eh, maybe. Still. The tallest better not call me before she's born."

"I'm sure they can wait," he made a soft smile and looked down at the bump.

"It's fine, little smeet. You can come out when you're ready."

"Don't encourage her to stay in there longer," he squinted.

He shrugs and gave an awkward innocent smile,

"I just don't want her to feel pressured."

"Whatever," he grunts when he sits up and goes to the edge of the table.

"Can you help me out here? My back aches every time I have to use the spider legs."

Skoodge went over to him and gently held him so he can be carefully slipped out of the bed and placed on the ground.

Zim sighs in relief and rest his hand on his bump, looking at Skoodge,

"Thanks. Now pretend that never happened."

"Yes sir," he dipped his head.

Just then, beeping sounds were heard.

"Vortian babies in hunger."

Zim groans,

"Alright Alright."

Zim waddles over to the controls and pulls a handle. The medical bed sinks away and is replaced with a capsule containing the Vortian babies. They were wailing, tears streaming down their cheeks. Zim then presses another button to open up a small storage containing three milk bottle already filled up, fresh and warm. The only difference with this "milk" is that it has a color of dark blue. He takes them, walks over to the capsule and presses the "erase children" button.

Skoodge's eyes went huge in horror.

"WAIT WHAT ARE YOU-?!"

The capsule opens. Skoodge watches still completely stiffened as Zim takes out one Vortian baby, finds the nearest chair to sit down in, and tries to cradle it, making it a bit difficult since the smeet bump is taking too much space to place the baby on his lap.

"Alright alright, shut up," he told the baby, "drink it already so I can keep track on the smeet's progress."

The baby kept crying.

"NOW!"

The baby stopped crying and gazed at Zim almost as if its suppose to be terrified of him. It instead giggled and wiggled its legs about.

"Good. NOW DRINK IT!"

He forced the bottle into its mouth, taking the child by surprise. After a moment, it's eyes half closed as it started suckling and let the side of its head rest against Zim's chest.

Skoodge still stared with a stunned expression until he was able to process what he just saw.

"Wait...so...that button was actually just something to open the capsule?"

Yep," Zim easily answered while he kept focusing on the baby and patting its back in a gentle manner.

"But...why did it say it would 'erase children'?"

"You got a problem with that?" He looked up at the other irken narrowing.

"N-no no no!" He quickly gestures, "it's just...why would your put that?"

Zim silently stared at him unamused.

"Listen," he pointed out, "this is just between you and me. If 777 calls, don't tell him ANYTHING about this. I'm making great use of him because I am holding these babies hostage and if he sees what the button really does, he'll just cut ties with me. Note that he's the one who helped me create minimoose, so they wouldn't have existed if I didn't decide to-"

He cringes,

"-'rescue' these ugly little creatures. I gotta keep them alive somehow, so this is one of the only ways to do it."

Zim continues focusing on the infant. Skoodge gazed at him for a while.

"Uh...I see."

His antennae suddenly twitch from sudden loud wailing sounds and turned to see that it was coming from the two other baby aliens in the capsule.

"Silence, Vortian babies!" Zim shouted at them, "you'll get your turn when your sibling is done."

The babies kept crying and yet even so, Zim just looked away, trying to ignore it this time. The pudgy irken stared at the crying babies, feeling pity for them.

Something came into his mind and he looks at the exhausted irken.

"Hey, Zim? Is it ok if I help take care of the other babies?"

"What?" Zim looked at him as if he was speaking nonsense, "Dont be ridiculous. It took me a long time until I can master it. And the next thing I need is for the babies to barf all over the capsule."

The baby began nibbling at the bottle's tip, indicating it's done. Zim pulls the bottle away, put it down and started patting it's back.

"Well..." Skoodge shrugged, "then maybe you can teach me how to take care of them? After all, with the smeet on the way, there's no telling if she needs attention and given you work a lot here, it'll be busier once she's here."

Zim thought about it while the baby let out a burp. He rolled his eyes,

"Alright fine. Come over here."

Skoodge nodded, with Zim grunting from sitting up and waddled back to the capsule. The first baby was almost asleep by the time he put it in the capsule.

"You grab the baby on the left. I'll grab the one on the right."

"Right," Skoodge immediately accepted and grabbed the crying baby on the left while Zim grabs the other one.

"Computer," Zim told it, "bring in a chair next to the nearest one."

"Right away, sir."

A chair rose up from the floor next to the chair Zim was previously sitting in. Zim and Skoodge both walked over, taking each of them.

"Alright" Zim took one bottle and gave it to Skoodge, "now pay VERY close attention. And you need to be very careful when doing this. First, get the baby in a cradled position. Like I'm doing right now."

Zim shows the baby being cradled on his arms and close to his chest.

"Like this?" Skoodge cradled the baby close to the top of his chest.

"That's too high. Let the baby be close between your stomach and chest."

The official invader lowered the baby to the exact spot he told him.

"Good. Now find a way to make it stop crying."

"How?"

"I don't know. What I would do though is tell them to and if not, yell at them."

The short one sharply turns to them and quickly shouts,

"HEY STOP CRYING!"

The baby got startled, but was able to stop crying. Zim goes ahead and put the bottle tip in the baby's mouth. The pudgy alien looks frowning.

"Isn't that...a little harsh?"

"I don't care, Atleast it works."

"But...I would never yell at anyone. Not even a baby."

"Do you have any other suggestion?" Zim challenged him.

"N-no. But-"

"Then yell at it."

Skoodge stared nervously at Zim for a short while. He looks back at the crying baby in his arms. He took a deep breath and hesitated for a moment.

"Uh...hey...you...baby...b-be...quiet and...Uh..."

"Come on Skoodge, your invader blood should still be in your veins, just let it out," Zim looked at him narrowing.

Skoodge made another hesitation, frowning more. He cleared his throat.

"B-baby...I-if..." he tried to force the shouting out but was instead quieter, "if you...don't stop...I.."

He finally nervously spoke so softly it can just be heard as inaudible whispering. Zim was starting to grow impatient.

"I can take that creature from here, you know."

"No no no no!" Skoodge said a little panicky, "I can do it just...let me try something else!"

"Like what?"

"I don't know just...whatever it takes."

Zim looked at him for a beat.

"Fine," he continued feeding the baby in his arms, "you're on your own then."

Skoodge looked at Zim for a moment and back at the baby, who was still crying. He gently held it up trying to think of the best way to make it stop crying.

"Uh...h-hi," he spoke nervously but kindly, "please don't cry. It's ok."

It kept wailing, tears kept streaming down its cheeks. Skoodge tried to think of something else he can do.

He set the baby down on his laps. He was very hesitant about it, but he lifted up his finger. He shakily drew it closer and closer to the crying baby. The closerit got, the more nervous he became. The finger drew close...and poked its belly,

"Boop?" Skoodge squeaked nervously

The baby immediately stop crying. They glanced down at the finger that poked its belly. It then looked up at the irken.

"Boop?" The baby spoke the word questionably. He blinked in surprise that the baby actually spoke. But he shook the thought off. He looked down and pulled his finger away from its belly. He pokes them again

"Boop."

The baby blinked few times to process it. They giggled,

"Boop!"

Zim pulled the milk away and was helping the baby burp when he heard sounds and turn to see what it was, recognizing that the baby Skoodge was holding was actually smiling.

Skoodge chuckled, smiling at the little fella, and pokes them again,

"Boop."

"Boop!"

"Boop!"

"Boop!"

"Boop Boop Boop Boop Boop!" He pokes their belly repeatedly in a playful manner, causing the baby to howl in laughter. Zim was impressed, and at the same time, annoyed with all the bopping sounds. It was like the show Gir watches but more annoying.

"Alright alright ALRIGHT! I think that baby had ENOUGH boppings!"

Both Skoodge and the baby blankly gazed at Zim. The former took a deep breath and sighs.

"Ok...now that the baby stopped crying, you can now give it the bottle."

"Oh yes," Skoodge remembered, "right!"

He picks up the bottle again,

"Ok, baby Vortian," he smiles at them, "time for your feeding."

The baby got distracted by copying what Skoodge did to them and started poking the irken's belly like it was some sort of marshmallow.

"Boop! Boop! Boop!"

"Oh how nice," Zim softly narrows, "you gave it the 'boop' virus."

Skoodge wanted to softly laughed when he said this, but decided to focus more on getting the baby to drink.

"Now now," he pulled their finger away from his stomach, "we can play the Boop Boop game later."

"Boop boop game?" Zim asked unamused, but the other irken continued.

"You need to focus on filling your tummy. Now say 'ahhh'."

The baby looked confused on why they should say that.

"Aah-?"

The bottle tip when inside their mouth, taken by surprise at first, but falling into a trance when they began sucking it. Skoodge smiles and started lifting the bottle up-

"No no no no no, don't do that!" Zim stops him.

"Huh?" He immediately stops.

"There's a GOOD reason why they kept on throwing up in the capsule. It took me thirty-six tries to realize that I should not do that. And within those attempts came thirty-six times I had to clean that freaking capsule because the computer refused to clean it! Those babies' stomachs can't handle drinking that fast!"

"Oh..." Skoodge looked down at the infant, who was reaching for the bottle.

"Here," Zim let the baby he was holding rest on his bump, letting one arm wrap around them so they won't fall, and letting himself use his other hand to help Skoodge position the bottle correctly.

"First," he insert the bottle tip back into the child's mouth, "let it latch onto the bottle. And don't move the bottle too high or low. It needs to be at the correct position where it can drink at a steady pace. Like this."

Zim position the bottle at a mid direction where the baby can suckle the bottle easily.

"See? It helps it suckle at its own pace."

Skoodge stared in awe at the baby looking so peaceful as they was being fed. They were making quick suckling sounds, their eyes calmly closed shut. For a moment, he felt a flutter of that strange new emotion that he could have sworn he felt few times already and yet couldn't understand what it was

"Yes...I do."

"Good. And when you're done with it, put it back in the capsule with the rest of its siblings," he grunted when sitting up, "I'm putting this one away."

Zim waddled off to put the sleeping child away.

Skoodge took a moment to look at Zim for a moment, making sure he doesn't loose balance or any of the short due to how the smeet has grown to the point where he is now walking awkwardly. But once he knew he can take care of himself, he looked back at the baby now nibbling on the tip. He pulls it out. Skoodge then recalled he needed to do something next with how uncomfortable the infant looked, turning back to Zim.

"Uh, Zim? Somethings wrong with the baby."

"It needs to burp, idiot," he settle the baby down next to their sibling, "just give it a pat on the back and it'll do so."

"Ah! Right," he held the baby up and gave them nice gentle pattings. It took a minute for the baby to let out a loud burp. Smiling, he pulled away from the smeet and the baby softly giggled. Somehow it took him this long to take notice of the eyelashes on their eyes. He blinked in surprise and turned back to Zim.

"Hey, Do you know what genders they are?"

"Never bothered to ask. But 777 would always say words like 'sons' and 'daughter'."

"Huh," Skoodge looked back at her with a fond smile, "so you must be the daughter."

She giggled again and reached out, "Boop Boop."

"Alright," he chuckled, "we can play the game again."

He let her be close to his body.

"But just remember that it can't last-"

He felt the tiny arms wrap around his body as much as she could, causing him to stiffen and process what was happening.

He looked down to see her nestling against and hugging him like he's a big teddy bear. She yawns and falls asleep. He processed a little more and his antennae raised in happiness.

"Zim," he turns to him, "Zim come here! I think she likes me!"

"Who?"

"The baby! Look, she fell asleep on me."

Zim waddled over to see what he was talking about. He looked down at the infant. He looked surprised but then bothered about something.

Skoodge noticed.

"Am I doing something wrong?"

"...no." He squinted and went over to the computer, sitting down on the chair.

Knowing his friend since they were smeets , it took him a short while to realize the face he made.

"Are you jealous?"

"Why would I be jealous?" He spoke out in an angrier tone, "I'm still better at taking care of babies than you."

He opened his mouth to say something else but closed it. It was possibly best not to upset him more if he tried to give evidence that he was. Instead he said,

"I know you'll be a good parent to the smeet, Zim."

Zim hesitated for a moment. But let out a frustrated growl.

"IM NOT HER-Oh look, Gir dropped his pig," he pointed out to the toy on the ground, "can you go give it to him?"

Skoodge glanced at the pig, finding it strange he changed the subject so suddenly. Was he just asking him this just to break that subject? He can't get angry at him though. He likely just needs to cool off.

"Right! Hold on."

Skoodge first walked over and gently put the baby inside the capsule. Then he went over to pick up the pig and looked at the other irken.

"Do you know where he is?"

"Possibly in the living room. He tends to watch the tv almost 24/7. If not, check the kitchen. He likes to have tea time with random animals every once in a while. Or snack on something."

He nodded,

"I'll be right back then. Shouldn't be long."

He went over to the elevator and it rose him to the top floor.

Zim meanwhile sighed, but pulled himself together and cracked his fingers.

"Ok computer, scan me so I can get a good look at the smeet."

"Right, sir!"

The device came down and scanned him. The ultrasound came up and it kept zooming until the smeet was seen. It was very obvious that there was really an infant irken inside him, looking fully developed. Her eyes, antennae, arms, legs, especially a small buck tooth, all of it look like they have finished developing. Her eyes were very slightly opened, but it was impossible to tell what colors they were because the ultrasound was in black in white. But judging by the lightings, she has an eye color that is lighter than her own skin.

She closed them, shifted a lot to which the irken can feel the movements and settled again. She made a quick yawn and put her fingers in her mouth. He looked closely at her appearance, almost at awe.

"You look...a lot like me."

"Are you talking to the smeet?"

"What's wrong with that?" Zim narrowed at the ceiling.

"...nothing."

He rolled his eyes and looked back at the screen.

"Computer, bring up the development chart."

The ultrasound was replaced with list of infos, including the heart rate, the completion percentage, and the brainwave. Zim looked very closely at the brainwave.

"That's...unusual."

He took a moment to process it all. He looked back at the screen.

"Computer. Is it possible you can show me the smeet's skeleton?"

"Can do."

"Show it to me."

The screen showed the skeletal view of the smeet. The spines were alot developed and hardened than it should be. Inserting the PAK unto the back will be highly risky. He processed again.

"Tell me, computer. What are the percentage that the PAK will be successfully inserted unto the smeet's back."

A whirring sound was heard.

"00000000.00001% chance of success. If successful, 100% chance of a permanent brain damage."

Zim made another pause.

"And what is the percentage that a smeet with such a strong brain function can live without a PAK?"

Whirring sounds were heard again. But this this time it took a very long time for it to stop.

"Result unknown."

He stared blankly at the screen , not knowing what to think of this. This is a natural irken after all, right? That means natural irkens can live without a PAK. Yet he wondered if there was anything else they used to keep their body alive. Something not technologically related. If so, what is it? Even if he asked, it's not like the computer would find any answers to this. He gently placed his hand on his belly as he kept staring. He was now starting to feel a sense of worry.

—-

"Gir?"

Skoodge came into the living room looking about, but couldn't find the robot anywhere. He did however saw Minimoose on the couch texting. They noticed him and squeaked a greeting.

"Hey Minimoose," Skoodge greeted back and walked up to them.

"Say, do you know where Gir is?"

"Nyah!"

"Good," he smiles, "thanks!"

He left the living room and entered the kitchen. Just as Minimoose told him, the SIR unit was there having tea time with a small blue pony on the other side of the chair.

"Hey Gir," Skoodge greeted the robot.

Gir blinked and turned to him before smiling.

"Ooo! Hi, Chipz!"

"It's Skoodge," the irken corrected him patiently.

"Chipz was my SIR unit."

"Can he join teatime?!" Gir chirped.

But he ignored that question and walked next to him, letting his hands out to show what he was carrying.

"Here. You dropped this about a week ago in the observatory. Zim has a feeling you would feel sad without it.

Gir looked closely at it.

"Oh yeeeeeah. I did dropped it. And I do need it."

He made another pause. He looked up at him smiling.

"I don't need it!"

"Huh?"

"I don't need it anymore. It belongs to baby now!"

Skoodge grew more confused.

"I...I don't understand what you're saying."

"Yeah don't you remember, Ted? I went over to give baby the pig!"

"Wait," Skoodge took a moment to think about it, "Are you saying you came over to Zim a week ago after his call with the tallest...just to give the smeet a toy?"

"Uh-Huh! I felt she must feel lonesome without a pig to hold. So I gave her pig!"

The irken look at him in awe.

"...you gave up your only pig...just to make your unborn sister happy?"

"Nahhhh, I have plenty of pigs to play with! ...Wait, I have a sister?"

He realized what he said and blushed.

"N-never mind what I said. But..."

He made a soft smile.

"That's...very sweet of you to do. I'll make sure I give it to her."

"Let me meet her!" The robot smiles.

"She's not ready. She'll be here when she feels like it," he informed.

"Ooohhhh."

Gir paused.

"OKAY BACK TO TEA TIME!"

He pours the coffee onto his head and then uses a teapot to have a refill, sipping on it this time. Skoodge decided not to question his actions and decided to go back to the observatory so he can check up on Zim. He did looked bothered from the whole jealousy thing, so he wants to make sure he was cooling off.

He decided to stuff the pig underneath his uniform to make it easier to carry.

—

As soon as the elevator halts at the observatory, the pudgy irken invader stepped out. He was heading to where he last saw Zim when he noticed he wasn't sitting on the chair anymore. He looked about.

"Zim? Zim, are you here?"

There was no answers but the sound of the Vortian babies snoring in the capsule. He however didn't want to panic yet and decides to check in the tunnel just in case. He walked inside it and decided to take the turn to his bedroom.

"Zim-"

He finally finds him once he entered, relieved that he was ok. He however was confused when he saw him laying on his bed. His eyes was calmly staring down at his swollen belly as both of his hands rest on it and one of them caressing it.

"Zim," Skoodge looked at him confused, "what are you doing on my bed?"

"Stealing it. That's what," he grumbled, never taking his eyes off his stomach.

Skoodge blinked,

"Are you still upset with me? You know that I didn't expect the baby to like me."

"Ofcourse you didn't, you were just lucky. Besides, I can't be bothered about that part anymore."

"What does that mean?"

"Nothing."

But the taller irken knew something was off. His face was giving off the hint that he wasn't jealous anymore, but a soft mixture of stress and concern.

Skoodge decides to go over and sit on the edge of the bed, letting him have a bit of space in order to not make Zim uncomfortable.

"You know you can talk to me about anything. After all," he tries to make a teased smile, "I remember how you would tend to speak out your feelings to random people whenever you were bothered about something. And when I discovered this, I would let you come and blurt out your feelings any time. Remember how you came into the middle of my elite test just so you can complain about an irken stepping through your routine path?"

He laughed and sighs,

"Oh those were the days. You use to do that a lot-"

"I still do it," Zim said still not looking at him.

"Oh you. Well...that's fine! You can let out your feelings any time you like. If you don't want to right now then uh...i understand-"

"The PAK can't be inserted on her back."

Skoodge took a pause and looked at him.

"Huh?"

"Th spine has hardened too much and the brain is too highly functional. She can die or get permanently damaged if I tried to insert a PAK on her. The computer can't even be certain if she can live without it'."

"...oh."

The chubby irken glanced away for a moment.

"Well...that's ok!" He looks back with a smile, "having a high functional brain is great news! If other aliens can rely on such a thing, than maybe a natural irken can!"

"I knoooooooow!" He groans in frustration and leans his head back, "I've been thinking of many excuses. But what if it doesn't work for irkens? What if...I don't know...there's something other aliens have that makes the body stable? And even if she DOES survive the delivery..."

He looks straight at him in soft panic.

"HOW can she be part of the Irken military?! It's not like the control brains can assign her a role if she doesn't have a PAK! AND HOW WILL SHE ABLE TO GET SNACK OUT OF THE VENDING MACHINE?! NO IRKEN CAN GO ABOUT WITHOUT GETTING SNACK OUT OF A VENDIGN MACHINE!"

"But..." Skoodge looked in confusion, "were not on Irk."

"Not right now, but SOON. It won't be long until the Urth is conquered and we can finally go home."

"But would it change anything if the Tallest already expects the child to be a natural irken? I saw they were proud of you the last you called them."

He took a moment of pause and calmed.

"Oh yeah, I guess you're right."

His body fully relaxed and he continued to caress his bump, yet his eyes still showed the expression of concern.

"Though they won't be happy if anything happens to her."

Right. Claiming he only worries about the smeet because the tallest would get upset about his failure. Skoodge however did not show grudge for him over this. After all, it's not like any irken when they were born were meant to exist just to be wanted and loved. They've always been seen as spawns. Their purpose was being part of expanding the empire. And if a short or defective irken were to come into the world, they would be treated as an outcast.

Skoodge has never been so fond of the system, which is it's likely he's a defective. Yet even so, he feels the need to act like he belongs there as part of survival and being wanted. And it's likely Zim feels the same thing.

"I'm sure she'll be fine Zim," Skoodge attempts to reassure his childhood friend. "If this smeet have survived this far and has shown a stabled health, then I'm sure she'll be ok."

Zim just shrugged,

"Eh. I guess."

The chubbier alien just softly nodded, knowing that no matter what he says, the anxiety won't leave the shorter irken any time soon. He glanced about, wondering if he should leave so he can have sometime alone. Zim was silent for a short while.

"...She looks just like me, you know."

The thought suddenly cut off and he looked back at Zim, who was staring at the bulge. Somehow the tone he made sounded gentle, which is unusual for someone who is always loud and shouting.

"I was checking the ultrasound today while you were giving that obnoxious pig back to Gir. She has the same head shape, the same body proportion. It's likely she even has the shape and size of my eyes."

Skoodge looked surprise.

"How is that possible?"

"Possibly just like how humans reproduce. Their offsprings will always have the DNA of their parents. Why that is, is possibly complicated."

"I see," he said still in awe at this new information. Then he realized something.

"Did you ever try and see if she has an appearance of her other parent. Maybe we can try and see if we can identify who that parent is."

"Like I said before," he rolled his eyes a bit, "I don't care who the other parent is. But if I can say what part of her that doesn't look like me, it would be the eyelashes, the buck tooth, the curly atennae, and some sort of tiny spots on her cheeks."

"Tiny spots?"

"Yeah, not sure what that is when the ultrasound is in black and white. Though it may be just freckles."

"Freckles?" Skoodge's eyes widened more, showing interest at learning more information on what the smeet looks like.

"Or birth marks," he added. "Like I said, it's just a guess. I can't even see if she has color of my eyes or not. The only way to get her clear appearance is when she's out."

"And...you still haven't thought of a name for her?"

"Nope. I have been planning though on doing so when she arrives."

Skoodge smirks,

"I guess it's the best idea we got."

Zim however didn't respond to it. His arms wrapped around his stomach a bit more as if he was slightly hugging the smeet. Skoodge's smiles fade.

"Zim?"

It took him a short moment before he asked,

"What will she be like?"

Skoodge blinked again,

"What do you mean?"

"Something tells me that this smeet will have a personality of her own, right? And if the tallest get here by the time she's grown, what will she be like? How will she react to living on this planet or how she will cope with it? Will she...still want to be around me?"

Skoodge's antennae rose a bit by those questions. He never expected Zim to start showing thoughts towards the smeet. Was he really starting to have second thoughts of how he views the smeet?

"What makes you worry that she wouldn't want to be around you?"

Zim took a moment to realize on the last question he spoke of and the usual short-tempered expression came back.

"It's NOT like I'm fond of her or anything! She's just...a..."

It faded again, trying his best to think of the best way to finish that sentence. Skoodge waited for him to answer. Then few moments later, his eyes narrowed again and pointed out,

"Well she OBVIOUSLY my servant!"

His face softened for the third time and he glanced away with his arms crossed.

"But even so, it's hard to describe it. I mean. She's part of me. This isn't just a smeet."

His antennae lowered a bit.

"I'm creating a smeet that has my blood, my appearances. Sure yeah, I was hoping for a male but...Urrgh! It's so hard to describe it. It has been bugging my heart lately and I don't like it!"

Skoodge obviously wanted to tell him what he was feeling but knew that even if he did answer all of his questions, he deny it. At this point though, it was becoming clear that it is up to Zim to discover this for himself, no matter how long it takes.

Skoodge reaches out and rest his hand on his shoulder.

"It's ok."

Zim eyes traced back at him, looking stress from everything he was thinking and feeling.

"You don't need worry too much about it," the invader continued with a warm gentle smile, "I'm sure the answers to all of your questions will come about eventually. You just need to focus giving her all care and attention she needs."

The small irken did not show a change of expression, but he remained quiet, his eyes still gazing at him.

"...And I know you will do whatever it takes to make her happy. If you can show her that, then I'm certain she always stay beside you."

Still, Zim remained looking at him, his expression now unreadable. He softly looked away from him and back at his bump, making no response towards him whatsoever. Skoodge's smile vanished and he grew concerned. Did he made him more stressed? Is he angry at him for bringing that answer up?

Even so, he can understand that maybe the former invader is still not comfortable with these kinds of stuff. Maybe it is better he should be left alone and just hope he can recover from these thoughts. Saddened, Skoodge was about to get out of the bed and leave when Zim's hand suddenly grabbed his wrist. He hesitated for a moment and looked back, noticing he did this without not breaking eye contact on his bump.

He couldn't understand why he was holding unto his wrist so suddenly. But unexpectedly, when the few seconds of freezing in their same positions were up, Zim moved Skoodge's hand close him until he let the the other irken's hand rest on his bump. It took him a short while to process what is happening, having hard time believing it, but it finally crept into him. His small ruby eyes glistened from this realization, looking away from the bump to meet his beloved friend's face.

"Zim-?"

"Be quiet and just feel."

He closed his mouth shut when he told him this, willing to obey his orders. His eyes trailed back at the swollen stomach, taking a moment to feel it. It was strangely very warm, given this part of his body is trying to keep the growing life nice and warm. The bulge was obviously hard, but there was still softness in the flesh that if he were to press his fingers down on it a bit, it would have almost a cushiony feeling.

Even when he wasn't feeling anything yet, just the moment Zim let Skoodge rest his hand there, a wave of thought and feeling that something so fragile and small, yet so full life and innocence was inside there, caved into his body. He stiffens in surprise when he felt what was like something made little leaps, followed by it shifting about, trying to find a new different comfortable position. For a moment, he could have sworn that he saw tiny bumps pass down his friend's stomach like tiny gentle waves.

Once the movements within relaxed, he at first didn't know what to say. But he finally looked at Zim, his eyes still reflecting in awe at what he just felt.

"Was that...her?"

"Who else would it be, genius?" He looked at him as if it was obvious.

"B-but...I thought she was asleep."

"Pssh!" He rolled his eyes again, "as if it was that simple. There have been moments where she falls asleep for At least an hour or two. The rest would be her messing around in there 24/7. Sometimes, if I'm lucky, she would get in a hyper mood to the point where she will painfully kick my squeedlyspooch. Might have nearly thrown up At least twice because of her. She won't listen to a word I say when I scold her."

"Heh..." Skoodge made a weak teasing smile, "I can't imagine. Though maybe she's not good at hearing what's going on outside."

Despite this theory he made up, looked back down at the unborn smeet within.

"Hey now, little one," he spoke in a nurturing tone, his finger petting the bump, "I know you're uncomfortable in there. But try being a little more gentle for your master, ok? After all, he's working so hard to bring you into this world."

The small being within his belly hesitated, making the taller one think that talking to her actually helped. But she leapt again, making the smaller irken stiffen in response. He noticed this and used his other hand to rub his shoulder.

"You ok?"

"I'm FINE," he answered clearly and comforted his stomach, "but nice try."

Skoodge made a soft laugh,

"Ofcourse."

But the laughed faded slowly the more he kept feeling the smeet continue to move about. And the more he continued to do so, the emotional feeling started to become overwhelming. It was the same thing he was feeling when holding one of the Vortian babies and was the sort of feeling that felt like a bond. He can tell now that it was something Zim was also starting to feel. But he feels that having these feelings were wrong. He actually wanted to see this little smeet as part of his own. But given the child doesn't have blood running through the official invader's veins...

The sensitive side of him finally escaped, his lips quivering more until he broke into a sob. Zim noticed this in a bit of surprise.

"Woah woah woah, what's with your waterworks all of a sudden? There's no need to go crying over a smeet moving inside me."

"I know," his voice cracked as he tried to wipe tears out of his eyes.

"It's just," he stopped wiping his tears and made a broken smile, "she's yours. She's yours and yet, I always..."

He stopped and he looked away blushing.

"You always what?" Zim raised his eyebrow raised.

"I...I kind of started to see her as my offspring too."

Zim took a moment to process what he just said.

"This better not be what I think it is-"

"N-n-n-n-no no it's not!" Skoodge blushes harshly, "I mean...I don't mind how you think of it. It's just...I was hoping," he twiddled his fingers anxiously, "since I've always looked up and supported you that...b-but it's not anything like that, it just...I don't know how to put it."

Zim still looked in confusion, yet a thought came to him.

"You wanna be the other parent just so she won't ever question it."

Ofcourse, this was not the exact reason why Skoodge wanted to be the other parent.

"I mean...one of the main reason is because she's your own child and I always wonder what it would like to be a parent but...I guess you can say that."

The pregnant alien kept looking at him in silence. Then he turned away with a short sigh.

"Fine, you can play the other parent."

Skoodge's eyes glistened, "r-really?"

"Yes, but ONLY to avoid her questioning her origin. And for you to stop your waterworks. But don't expect anything else."

His eyes glistened more and he smiled again.

"Th...Thank you."

"Yeah, sure."

Zim suddenly yawns and let himself rest on his childhood friend's side, something that he didn't expect him to do. But it gave his heart a nice fluttery sensation when he did this.

"W-what are you doing?"

"Going to sleep, duh."

"...oh. Heh," he smiles fondly at him again, "ofcourse".

Zim however ignored his reaction. He yawned a bit and his eyes peacefully closed shut. Once he was asleep, he looked down at the bump, feeling nothing but the warmth of the happiness he was feeling. He caressed the bump, still feeling the smeet shifting about underneath his palm.

"I'll make sure I'll take care and protect you the same way I do to your father," he spoke softly to her, "I promise."

The child ofcourse did not have any change of response to what he just said and just continued to move about naturally.

He chuckled despite this. He then remembered something.

"Oh right," he dug underneath his uniform and pulled out a pig plush toy.

"Gir wanted you to have this. He thought you might want it in case you ever feel down."

He went ahead and place the pig against Zim's smeet bump. Feeling the urge to sleep as well, Skoodge yawned and gently let his friend get comfortable against him, letting his friend's wamrth sink into him and both the irkens' hands still resting on the bump, before dozing off with a soft smile on his face.

Just a minute after Skoodge gave her the pig toy, the unborn smeet stopped, showing that she finally fell asleep.