Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Zim snuggled the newborn smeet close.

He was all cleaned up, and Zim had been taking care of him. Even if he was absolutely exhausted.

He was just happy to finally be able to hold his smeet in his arms.

He gently gave him a tiny kiss on his forehead, before pulling him close to his chest.

The smeet let out content purrs, Zim felt his heart melt a little at the sound of that.

He just snuggled him tight. He wanted to cherish every little moment he had with him, not sure what was going to happen next.

He wasn't sure if he was even going to be able to keep him, so he just wanted to spend as much time with him as possible.

He gently nuzzled the smeet's face, purring sweetly.

He wasn't sure if Dib would be happy about it.

Dib could barely take care of himself goodness sake, Zim wasn't sure if he was even in the right place to care for a baby.

Probably not… Zim figured. Not only had he not told Dib, but he wasn't even sure how to explain the smeet's existence to him. Dib shouldn't have been able to knock him up in the first place.

He could just lie and say that the smeet was a clone, but he had lied to Dib enough already. He didn't want to keep doing that.

It hurt so bad everytime.

He had to keep hiding everything from him, and he didn't like that.

Zim let out a deep sigh.

He cuddled his smeet, and closed his eyes. He was ready for a nap. And it seemed like his smeet was too.

Dib just sat on the couch, confused. Concerned. A tad frustrated perhaps.

Gaz noticed.

"Dib. You've been staring off into space for like, 30 minutes now. What's wrong?" Gaz questioned, taking a seat on the couch.

"Zim's been being weird." He said.

"Zim's always weird?" Gaz retorted.

"No, really. He's been being really weird lately.. it's a bit concerning." Dib began, Gaz just gave him a intrigued yet puzzled expression.

"He keeps eating weird shit. I noticed that he was eating… pickles and ice cream. The other day. He doesn't even like pickles! And he flinches when I try to touch his stomach for some reason… which is weird. He usually likes it when I do that." Dib rambled.

Gaz just looked even more puzzled, "I swear that I've heard him vomiting sometimes but anytime I ask him about it he just denies it." Dib went on.

"He also keeps wearing really baggy clothes for some reason… instead of skin-tight ones." Dib mentioned.

Gaz just started shaking her head, "Dib. Are you sure you didn't somehow get him-"

He knew exactly what Gaz was about to ask him.

"No! You know I can't do that!" Dib denied, "Well. Aliens do work in strange ways." Gaz pointed out.

Dib just sighed, ruffling his hand through his black hair.

"How about you go check on him." Gaz suggested, "Alright, I will." Dib replied, before he left.

Dib made his way to Zim's base.

He walked inside, Gir was asleep on the couch.

Minimoose was floating around.

It didn't look like anything out of the ordinary was happening.

Dib continued down the the hall, until he made it to Zim's bedroom.

Dib noticed that Zim was fast asleep.

Dib took his coat, and shoes off. But he kept on his black jeans.

He climbed into bed, laying beside Zim.

But then, he noticed something unusual.

Zim was… cuddling something?

Dib took a closer look.

He couldn't believe his eyes.

A newborn smeet?

The smeet looked a lot like Zim, but he had a cute tuft of Dib's black hair on the top of his head.

He completely melted.

The smeet looked so precious, just snoozing away without a care in the world.

Dib almost wanted to cuddle and hold the smeet close, but he decided against it.

I don't want to take the smeet away from him.. He decided.

He then took his shirt and binder off, before cuddling close to the two of them.

Dib took a soft doze, but he was awakened by the sound of the crying smeet.

He jolted up, carefully scooping up the crying smeet. (Fatherly instinct, at its finest.)

Dib glanced down at the smeet with an uneased frown. He didn't like seeing the poor smeet cry. Oh… maybe he's hungry? He wondered, before throwing a blanket over himself and the smeet.

He gently held the smeet, hopefully Zim has something for him to eat…

Dib looked around Zim's room, until he spotted a bag of stuff on the floor.

He looked inside, before he grabbed the bottles and formula.

He then went to the bathroom, and prepared a bottle for the smeet.

Dib went back to the bed, climbing inside of it.

He then began to feed him.

Zim had been watching the whole time.

He likes him? He's taking care of him? He thought in surprise.

Maybe he had nothing to worry about after all?

"There." Dib smiled, gently kissing the smeet's forehead.

Zim decided to sit up, cuddling up to Dib's side.

Dib turned to face him.

The two just looked at each other.

Dib then gently handed the smeet to Zim.

Zim began to cuddle the smeet close.

"Thank you." He said so softly it was almost a whisper.

Dib just softly smiled at him, "you’re welcome."

"Can we talk about him? Zim asked, Dib nodded.

"Well… he's your smeet.. our smeet.." Zim revealed, nervously looking away from Dib with flattened antennae.

Dib couldn't believe his ears, "But how? You know I don't-" He questioned, "I don't know for sure.." Zim answered.

"Alright. We'll figure that out later." Dib said, Zim nodded sweetly.

Zim gently handed the smeet back to Dib.

"Does he have a name?" Dib asked as he cuddled the smeet close, "No…" Zim frowned.

Dib glanced down at the smeet, "Hi, I'm your Dad." He smiled softly, he then gestured toward Zim. "He's your Dad too."

"He looks like a little bug." Dib said, soft and sweet. "How about we name him Bug?"

"Aw.. that's cute. I like that." Zim smiled, "Me too."

Dib wrapped his other arm around Zim, who was now laying on his chest.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you.." Zim apologized, beginning to tear up.

Dib frowned.

"Hey, it's okay-"

Zim then began to cry, smashing his face into Dib's bare chest.

Dib held him close.

"I didn't tell you because i wasn't sure how and i didn't like talking about it… I was also scared that you would be mad at me.. or even leaving me.. I had a lot of nightmares about that.." he confessed, sniffling and crying.

"Is that the real reason why you were crying the other night?" Dib asked, Zim answered with a nod.

Dib frowned, saddened. He pulled Zim even closer, allowing Zim to rest his chin on his shoulder.

"I promise I'm not mad at you." Dib assured, "I'm not leaving you either." He reassured.

Zim just happily and tearfully thanked him, showering him in kisses.

"You're welcome, Spaceboy." Dib whispered sweetly, kissing the top of his head.

Zim and Dib snuggled, cuddling Bug close.

Dib glanced at Zim.

"You're favorite person, and now I have another to add to my list." He grinned, receiving a nod from Zim in agreement.

The two just cuddled with Bug after they exchanged a kiss, ready to perhaps drift off into a deep sleep once again.

Chapter Text

Zim laid in bed, Dib was still at work.

He rubbed his stomach. He was glad he didn't have to hide it right now.

He smiled sweetly, before telling his unborn smeet how much he loved them.

He glanced up at the clock, Dib would be home in a about an hour.

He decided to go change into something baggy.

He then laid back down.

Zim grabbed a pillow, and snuggled it.

He felt bad.

He wanted to Dib about the smeet so bad. But he was afraid of what might happen if he told him.

Maybe he really should tell Dib.

He wasn't sure how to explain it without feeling awkward, though.

Maybe I should just write a note or something?

Well, that was certainly the only way he could explain it without feeling awkward.

He went to the kitchen table, and began to write the note.

He scribbled down the note, feeling awkward about it the entire time.

Once he had finished scribbling down the note, he also grabbed the positive test as proof.

He then scrambled back to him and Dib's bedroom.

He could hear the sound of the front door opening. Dib was home. He could hear Dib shout his name happily.

After about 10 minutes, he heard the sound of the bedroom door opening.

"Hey Zim, can we talk for a second?" Dib questioned.

"Yeah." Zim replied quietly.

Dib sat on the bed. Zim sat up.

"So.. how did I get you pregnant? You know I don't have a-" Dib said, before being cut off by Zim.

"Fluid swallowing.. i didn't think it could happen because we're two different species but I was wrong…" Zim answered with a frown.

"Oh. Okay, that makes sense." Dib replied.

Zim frowned, "I'm sorry for not telling you sooner.." He apologized.

Dib just kicked his boots off, and pulled him close. Zim was now lying in his lap.

"It's okay." He insisted, gently rubbing Zim's stomach, he then pulled Zim's shirt up a little and kissed his stomach.

Zim's antennae flattened, he had completely melted.

Dib just looked down at him sweetly. "You're going to be such a good Dad." He smiled, gently stroking Zim's face.

"You too." Zim smiled back, poking Dib's nose.

The two let out some chuckles after that, before Dib gently kissed Zim again.

Dib then gently held Zim in his arms as they now snuggled in bed, Zim let out soft little purrs.

Dib continued to rub Zim's stomach, the two giving each other loads of kisses.

Chapter Text

Dib didn't know where Zim had gone. It was strange.

He had mysteriously disappeared about a week ago, and Dib's life was now in shambles.

What did I do to him? He questioned as he stared down at his bowl of honey ghosts in confusion.

He lethargically ate them.

He had looked everywhere for Zim, but he was never there.

Dib just hoped Zim was okay.

Zim crawled on the side of Dib's house, to the window.

Tears rolled down his face. He was going to miss his smeet so much…

But he knew this was for the best.

He wasn't in a good enough mental state to care for the smeet on his own. So it was best to leave him with someone who maybe could take care of him.

He had written a note and everything.

Zim gently kissed the top of his smeet's head.

"I can't take care you right now, my sweet. I promise I'll come back as soon as I can, okay? Your other Dad will hopefully take good care of you.." He cried, before he gently placed the basket on the table. His smeet looked at him with a sad and confused expression, Zim had the same expression.

He waved a tearful goodbye, before disappearing into the abyss of the night.

Dib lethargically stood up, still half asleep. He just wished he could go back to sleep.

He wandered to the table and noticed something. But everything was a blur, as he wasn't wearing his glasses.

He put on his glasses and soon as he did that he noticed what was laying in the basket.

There was a tiny smeet in the basket.

"Oh yeah, just a sleeping baby. Nothing unusual." He yawned, before realizing what he had just said. "WAIT WHAT-"

There he was. He was sound asleep, but he seemed a tad distressed. Full of unease in regards to his new environment.

Dib blinked in confusion, before he noticed a note tucked into one of the blankets.

He carefully opened it.

Hi Dib… I'm sorry for leaving with out any explanation… I promise that I don't hate you. I love you in fact, but I was afraid to tell you about the smeet. I'm not sure if I'm mentally well enough to care for a smeet. So I gave him to you. I need to get some help. I promise I didn't leave him with you out of hatred.. I wanted you to know him, you know? You're his Dad too.

He doesn't have a name… I wanted you to name him. I'm bad with names. Just please for the love of Irk don't chose something stupid.

I understand if you don't want him or anything… but if you do end up giving him to someone else, please make sure they'll be able to give him lots of love and care.

Zim then explained how the smeet even existed, which was due to strange Irken biology.

I promise I'll come back when I'm well enough.

Dib felt his heart break into little pieces after he read the note. I wish he was here… I'd help him..

He then gently placed the note on his nightstand, before scooping up the newborn smeet in his arms.

I guess I'm a Dad now?

He just looked down sweetly at his smeet, he could feel himself tear up a little but he quickly let out a sniffle and stopped himself.

"Hi. I'm your other Dad. I'll take care of you." He vowed softly, pulling the smeet close to his chest.

I'm gonna keep him.

Dib had just finished cleaning his room and a area of his closet.

He had given the smeet a name, Bug.

He wanted Bug to have a clean space.

He let out a series of pants, but he was relieved at the sight of a clean room.

He had made a small area in his closet, where he could just spend time with Bug. Plus, it was an easy place to hide him.

Bug was still asleep, bundled up on Dib's bed snoozing.

Dib gently nudged Bug awake, he looked cute and sleepy.

Dib gently scooped him up, "Good morning, did you sleep good?" He asked, Bug let out a cute squeak. "I'll take that as a yes."

Dib cuddled him close, but poor Bug seemed sad.

"You miss Zim, don't you?" Dib guessed with a frown, Bug let out a small, sad whine.

"It's okay, I miss him too. I wish we could all be here together too." Dib assured, but he quickly thought of something. "Let me go you get something." He said, before gently placing Bug on his bed. He went to the closet.

Dib came back with one of Zim's shirts he had left behind at his house once. It was a My Chemical Romance

He glanced down at Bug, "This was your Dad's." He smiled, before handing the shirt to Bug. Bug looked quite happy.

"Smells like him, doesn't it?" Dib smiled, before putting the shirt on Bug.

Now Bug would have a little piece of his other Dad.

It had been a week later, Zim had started getting some therapy. He was getting better.

But he still felt a bit empty inside, with out Dib and Bug.

It was late at night, he was going to go see what Dib was doing.

He frowned. He probably gave him away… Zim figured. Why would Dib want anything to do with a baby? Let alone a strange alien-human hybrid?

He teared up. He had a feeling that was the case.

He crawled up the side of Dib's house with his pak-legs, before he reached Dib's window.

He was expecting to see Dib staying up all night on his computer doing paranormal research or something, and to not see Bug at all. He was expecting to over-hear Dib talking smack about him.

But to his surprise, he was Dib… snuggling with the smeet?

"Get some sleep Bug." He heard Dib say, Zim was even more surprised.

He even named him?

He watched Bug fall asleep in Dib's arms and watched Dib fall asleep too.

Zim smiled softly, tearing up in joy. Leaving Bug with Dib for the time being had been a good idea.

Sure, he had a feeling Dib probably hated him, but he was happy knowing that his smeet was in good hands.

He continued to watch them, feeling a sense of sadness come over him.

I should be there with them…

He began to feel tears dribble down his cheeks. With that, he then ran off, disappearing into the bushes.

It had been two weeks since Zim had left Bug on Dib's desk.

Zim missed them both dearly, he wanted to be there with them.

I should go back…

It was night. Dib had returned home from work a few hours ago.

Dib was now cuddling Bug skin-to-skin, and had just fed him a bottle. He also had a small blanket over Bug and his chest.

Zim anxiously watched them.

He had a feeling Dib would turn him away, cuss him out and tell him to "never come back."

He sighed and he nervously knocked on Dib's window.

Dib looked confused before he noticed him.

He looked surprised, and opened the window.

He held out his arms, allowing Zim to hop into them.

"Zim! You're here! We missed you so much!" Dib grinned, tearing up tearfully. He was too happy to stop himself from crying. He gave Zim kisses all over his face.

Zim was surprised by the warm welcome.

He let out soft purrs as Dib held him, "Do you want to see the baby?" He asked, Zim nodded.

Dib gently placed Zim on the bed, placing Bug on his chest.

Bug's eyes lit up, he let out happy purrs. "I missed you too!" Zim gushed happily, holding him close.

Dib cuddled up beside the two of them.

Sure, him and Zim had things to talk about later but for now, they just wanted to have their happy family reunion.