Hello... Wow. Guess who's back! Me~

Yeahhh... it's been a while. If anyone cares, I've been working on my own stories and all that jazz. So I've haven't had time to work on this. Also, I kinda fell out of this story for a while.

The reason; I had had this chapter already written up – but it had been completely different and had not had an ending yet – but then my document hadn't saved and I lost ALL the work. I had been so frustrated that I just put the story down and decided to take a break.

That break turned into a very long absence where I was pretty much giving up on the story. I was in the mind frame where I wanted to stop working on fanfiction all together and just work on my own stuff.

But you beautiful people brought me back~ Mostly because you all keep adding me and the story to your favorites/watch list and that inspires me to keep going. So here you go! Have a new chapter! Navia and I will finish this story for you all.

"And now, back to Mysterious Mysteries of Strange Mystery..." the TV droned as Zim sat curled around a large stuffed bear. One his mother had gotten him when he was younger. It had few holes, from all the years Zim took good care of the very much adored stuffed animal.

Zim, sitting on his carpeted floor, in front of his twin-sized bed, was intently watching his favorite show, which came on every Sunday night. He wore only his boxers and an old, oversized, tee. His wig had been discarded across the room, on his dresser, and his contacts were in their rightful place. Without these obtrusive objects, the teen was able to full relax as he watched his show.

Eyes glued to the screen, he didn't hear the rain that pitter pattered just outside his window, the sound muffling his parents who were downstairs packing away boxes after boxes of their belongings.

They'd been packing all weekend. It was taking them longer than it had Zim, who was able to get all of his belongings packed within a day. He still wasn't excited about the aspect of moving, but it gave him the tiniest bit of hope. Hope that maybe things would be different somewhere else. Maybe he could finally make friends.

Everything in Zim's room had fit into about three boxes, not including his furniture. That he'd be loading into a truck within a couple of days. And that wouldn't be too hard, since he only had a TV, dresser, and bed to load. He was small, but surprisingly strong for his age. He'd be able to load it up in no time at all.

So now he was able to sit back and relax. Well, if he hadn't been on the edge of his seat this the new episode of Mysterious Mysteries. Tonight's episode was about a chocolate stealing vampire.

"And now, we're going to call in a specialist, to determine whether this footage is real or fake." the anchor said, his eyebrows curved downward over his glasses in what looked like a determined expression. He had a voice much like some who announced trailers of old movies. "We're going to be video calling a very special person tonight. You might have heard of him from his best selling paranormal novel, which was released during the summer. Let's get on the line with Dib Membrane."

Zim froze where he sat, his mouth going slack. Dib? Wasn't that the name of the guy he'd met a few days ago? It wasn't like Zim would have forgotten, but he had never assumed the guy had been famous...

He seemed like a blithering idiot. So it was right that Zim would assume he'd be a nobody.

Though, now thinking about it, he was a Membrane. They were all famous for one thing or another. Gaz with her video gaming (highest gamer scores of the year, for three years straight now), and Professor Membrane for his science.

The show went to another screen, which showed the familiar face of Dib, sitting in a computer chair with a bunch of machines around him. He was in a button up black shirt and his hair was combed perfectly. He held a serious expression, almost as if concentrating on something entirely else.

"Dib, you've viewed the footage we've sent you, correct?"

Zim wasn't listening to the anchor, only staring at the face of the Dib. His beautiful face, now unshielded by glasses. He was probably wearing contacts...

His eyes were a stunning shade of brown - no... hazel. Soft like desert sands and grass meeting. Zim found himself scooting closer to the TV, until he was sitting mere inches from his, Dib's face taking up the whole screen.

Yeah... the dude had hurt his hand - which was still wrapped up - but he had also been really nice and apologetic about it afterward. Something Zim had never experienced before.

Dib spoke, now looking directing at the viewer - or his camera. Who knew. Either way he had a great presence. He even sat up straight. Something Zim would have forgotten to do. "Yes, I received the video and report. And to be honest, there were a lot of holes and bugs in the story and footage itself. For one; you can clearly see the vampire's 'fang' fall out about one minute and seventy seconds into the video. If this was a really vampire, that would not have happened. Second; there's also several eye witnesses reports about seeing the neighbor dressing up as the vampire. Which... his reasoning for this should be the real question - not the question on whether or not this footage is fake."

Zim was shocked; all of the awkwardness that he had seen Dib show before, was now completely gone. He'd become a completely different person. Holding himself as his father would.

It was amazing and made the younger boy feel a little self conscious. He wished he could seem that confident around people. Maybe they'd stop beating him up if that were the case.

A knock on his bedroom door had Zim's head whipping to the side. "C-come in." he called, hugging the stuffed bear tighter to his chest.

His mom opened the door and smiled to him when she saw where he was. "Mysterious Mysteries?" she asked, slipping in and closing the door behind her.

He nodded, watching his mother as she moved to sit down on the floor next to him.

They sat there awkwardly for a moment, before Ellen cocked her head, watching the TV. "That young man is really handsome."

Zim only nodded, cheeks blushing.

"Sooo... I came in here to see how you're doing... you haven't left your room much this weekend." she told him, leaning back on her hands, legs crossed in front of her.

He shrugged, squeezing the bear to his chest, wishing it'd make him disappear. He didn't want to tell her the reason for why. That he'd been avoided Harry.

Ellen reached out and touched Zim's shoulder, giving him a reassuring look. "Sweetie... I've told you before, and I'll tell you a million times again... you can let me in on what's going on inside your head."

Zim couldn't make eye contact with her. Oh how he wanted to tell her. She'd been prying so much lately. Everyday... Almost as if she knew he was keeping a huge secret from her.

"I know it's not the kids at school... That's part of it. But there's something else. And I need you to tell me. You know I will protect you at all costs, right? I will make whatever is happening stop. I promise." she pulled him against her, kissing the top of his bald head, running a hand softly along the antennae that rest there. "You're my beautiful baby boy and I just want to protect you... but I can't if you don't tell me what's wrong."

Zim closed his eyes, feeling hot liquid at the brims. He released the bear and let his mother hold him, feeling the warmth of her and missing how simple things had been when he was younger. Before everything started...

"You'll hate me if I tell you..." he whispered, his voice just loud enough to be heard over the TV.

Ellen shook her head, cheek brushing against his temple. "Sweetie... I would never hate you. Ever." she took a deep breath and gave him a small squeeze. "There's nothing you could tell me that would make me upset with you."

He bit into his bottom lip, the feel of his heart beat quickening in his chest becoming more and more unbearable. How easy it would be for him to just pass out from it. He wanted to cry and scream, but knew it'd do no good.

"He... did things to me, mommy..." Zim hadn't called her that in years, and it was a foreign comfort.

His mother stiffened only slightly, arms tightening around her son. "What kind of things, baby? And who?"

"Horrible things. He touched me and made me do things I don't want to do. He... He hurt me in a way no one else has." his voice was becoming more and more clouded with fear and his eyes were leaking unwanted tears. He felt weak.
Ellen's own heart picked up, her eyes filling with her own tears. "Zimothy... who did this to you?"

Zim buried his face into her chest, wishing he'd never said anything. His heart felt like it was breaking.

So did Ellen's. She held him close and attempted to stifle small sobs as realization hit her. "Oh... oh dear god... No... My precious baby... no..." she laid her cheek atop his head and let out a quiet sob.

"I'm so sorry mom... I didn't want to tell you. I was so scared and I knew you'd hate me." Zim tried to pull away from her, but Ellen held quick.

She lifted her face and shook her head quickly. "No, sweetie. No. I don't hate you. I'm not mad at you either." she sniffed and reached up to wipe her eyes. "I just... I can't believe I hadn't known. I should have known. My poor baby." she pulled him closer again and he lay his head against her chest.

"Why don't you hate me? I'm disgusting... I let it happen over and over." Zim cried quietly, clutching to his mother.

"Because it's not your fault. You are not in the wrong." she kissed the top of his head. "Now... mommy has to go do something, okay? Just... stay here."

"What are you going to do?" Zim demanded, fear clouding his voice as his body stiffened.

"I'm going to make things right."

"But I didn't tell you who..."

"You don't have to, sweetie... It's Harry, isn't it?" she asked, her voice quiet.

Zim was silent for a moment, heart racing faster than he knew possible. "How'd you know?"

"From the way you told me...I already know." she said, taking a deep breath. "Harry is a disturbed man... but I was hoping it'd never be a side you children would have to see... I'm sorry that I hadn't noticed sooner, baby."

"What are you going to do?" Zim asked again, his voice losing strength.

"I'm going to send Keef down to distract your father... then I'm making a phone call." she whispered, nodding to herself.

Zim shook. "What's going to happen?"

"He's going to go away. And we're going to move. And get you the help you need. Everything is going to get better." she told him, cupping his face in her hands before kissing his forehead. "Now put on your wig and contacts. Get dressed. I'll be right back."

With that, she stood, wiped her eyes, and headed out of the room.

Now that the secret was out, Zim felt even more terrified than he had before. He wasn't sure what was going to happen, exactly. And that scared him.

What if Harry denied it all? What if... what if he convinced Ellen that Zim was lying? Then what?

Zim shook as he stood and moved to the box that held his clothes. He pulled out pants and a long sleeved flannel, his body vibrating as he slipped them on. Terrified. Achingly so. He couldn't breathe.

This is for the better. He tried to convince himself. For the better. For the better.

He slipped his wig on and then slid in his contacts.

Moment later, his mother came back into the room, locking the door behind her, cellphone in hand. She dialed quickly and put it to her ear.

This was it, Zim thought, heart racing. This was going to be the end of everything.

He'd ruined everything.

"Hello, I just found out my son has been raped by my husband... can you please send an officer over to my house... yes the address is..." Ellen whispered frantically into the phone.

Hearing those words aloud sent jolts like lightening through Zim.

He'd been raped. It wasn't just something he'd made up. Or made himself believe. He'd really been raped.

And for some reason, having it clarified seemed all the worse.

Zim felt like the world was swimming around him, all in neon colors and dimmed effects. He felt like his feet could no longer hold him.

Everything... everything was going to be ruined. And he was the one doing it.

He hit the floor before he fully understood that he was falling. Darkness took him seconds after.