I don’t own Invader Zim okay? Sorry about the delayed update on this. I have so much going on and I just didn’t get to it. Huge apologies to my fans of this. Anyway I have managed to work a song by the Christian band Petra into this called Judas Kiss. They lyrics seemed to work. Anyway, you can be the judge of that. Enough with the A/N, on with the fic!

Dedicated to my best friend who was there for me for it all and it was he who encouraged me to keep writing. This is for you.

“I noticed you got Penelope to go out with you. Just remember-balance. Like in the case of chemical equations.” Profession Hawstein said.

“Both sides need to be balanced.” T.J. replied.

“Yes. And do you know what you are balancing?” Professor Hawstein asked.

T.J. paused and took a sigh. It was going to be his love of Penelope and his love of science. Deep inside he knew he was going to be a great scientist and make sure of it. Yet he also didn’t want to spend all day in his labs because he didn’t have anyone to go home to. He wanted someone to love him for him and not just his contributions to science. His hair and scientific studies didn’t make him very popular in high school and he couldn’t find a date very easily. His reputation at his private Catholic school seeped into the public schools and he was branded a weirdo for life. Then in college he ruined his chances with Sharee. Penelope was his one last shot. She was something else. She wouldn’t make fun of his hair, as hers was just as unusual. Professor Hawstein is right. I need to balance work and Penny. If you want her, remember that! He thought as he walked back to his apartment placing his books on the kitchen table and sighing. He flopped back on his couch and pondered, “How am I going to impress her?”

He turned and looked at his clock. It read 5 pm. I got to meet her at 7. God this is so confusing. He told himself. He laid back and continued to stare at the wall wondering what she would think of him. He was the one Hawstein fawned over, yet he was always sort of a dork. He was first in line to get the Apple computer sitting on the desk. Now the girl of his dreams wanted to see him. It was a paralyzing thought. “Well I best get ready.”

Meanwhile Penelope was in her dorm room getting ready. She looked in the mirror brushing her long purple hair. Her roommate stared on in confusion. “Why in the world would you like Hawstein’s assistant? He’s weird.”

“Oh he’s nice. Membrane seems like a fairly nice and fairly smart guy.” Penelope said grabbing the hairbrush close to hear heart.

“Whatever, I shall never get your taste in men” Her roommate sighed and went back to her work.

Penelope looked down and picked up her skull necklace. She put it on and her black dress highlighted the skull even more. She was ecstatic. No one ever paid attention to her in high school, coming from her rural area in Pennsylvania. She was made fun of for her naturally purple hair and became somewhat of a loner. However she found her place in her church. The children loved her, leading her to want to become a pediatrician.

“Back later Karin!” Penelope yelled as she shut the door.

“Yeah, whatever Penny.” Karin sighed.

“Don’t call me Penny!” Penelope yelled on her way out. She walked with an excited yet nervous step. This was one of her first ever real dates ever. She couldn’t find any men she thought smart that would pay attention to her in high school back home. Membrane will be perfect for me. She told herself as she walked up to the restaurant. Once she got there, she saw a bench and took a seat. A cool breeze blew in the autumn air as a few leaves blew by. “I hope he didn’t stand me up.”

Oh god, I am so going to be late! He thought as he slipped on his gloves, calculator watch and grabbed his key and ran out the door. However, T.J. was rushing from his apartment to the restaurant, fighting the nightmare called “New York City Traffic”. He drove a fast as he could to get there before 7.

“Membrane!” Penelope yelled. “I knew you wouldn’t stand me up!”

“Miss Kedaver” T.J. smiled. “May I escort you inside?”

“Sure.” Penelope smiled holding out her arm. T.J took it and led her in. They found a table as a waitress from the Diner came over.

“Welcome to the NYC Diner. Can I start you off with something to drink?” She asked.

“Mr. Peppito.” Penelope said.

“Same here.” T.J. said as the waitress wrote down their order and left. “I see you like Mr. Peppito too?”

“Yeah I grew up on it. I was raised in a rural part of central Pennsylvania. Not much to do really growing up. I mostly helped out with the children at church. Sort of the reason I wanted to be a pediatrician. So yeah I am a premed major.” Penelope said sipping her soda. “I really love kids.”

T.J choked a little on his soda but smiled back. Smooth. You always seem to pick the girls that want families. Oh well, Penny and I can work that out eventually. Maybe working in pediatrics will change her mind. “So what do you want to do when you graduate? I mean what do you plan to do with a pediatrics degree?”

“I have seen what childhood disease can do. I have also seen many kids get poor treatment due to their family’s inability to pay or something like that. It’s not fair. They are just little children.” Penelope said. “That happened a lot in my home town of Newport. I mean my cousin’s best friend nearly died from a severe case of Chicken Pox.”

“Wow. “ T.J. said seeing the cultural difference they had from suburban Las Vegas and urban Newport Pennsylvania.

“Yeah. It got to me.” Penelope sighed. “It got to me so bad. You know I was ecstatic when I got my full scholarship from NYU. I feared that I may have to become a stay-at-home mom to some mechanic or something like that.”

“Well you’re going to be a great pediatrician.” T.J. said.

“Anything you want to eat lovebirds?” The waitress asked tapping her notepad annoyed.

“2 pieces of cherry pie a la mode please.” Penelope told her. “Well you know all about me, what about you? Oh what does the T.J stand for?” She looked into his eyes with desire. She loved him so much. It was like a dream come true and she wanted to know more of her Casanova.

“Okay Penny-OW!” He rubbed his nose and traced Penelope’s hand back. He looked at her face in annoyance “What was that for?”

She looked at him with the utmost annoyance. “Do. Not. Call. Me. Penny. That name Penny is an insult to me.”

“Okay, why?” T.J. asked.

“Because what do you use to pay for cheap bubble gum?” Penelope said.

“Pennies” T. J. nodded.

“Right and pennies are only 1 cent. They are tossed aside like nothing. I don’t want to be tossed aside so easily.” Penelope said

“You know the story of the Odyssey right?” Penelope asked.

“Yeah Odysseus’s wife was named Penelope.” T.J said.

“Exactly. My mom named me after her. I always sort of hated the name Penny. It’s too cute and simple. I like something smart and had a lot of thought put into it.” Penelope sighed as the waitress brought over their pie.

“Thank you.” T.J. said as Penelope nodded in agreement.

“I really like cherry pie.” Penelope said. “My mom made the best pie in all of Newport. This Diner doesn’t do too bad a job either.”

“It’s good. I never had the pie here before.” T.J sighed.

They ate their pie in silence for a little bit while T.J. waited to explain his situation. He was not proud of his family. Membrane is a scientific surname; why the hell is my father a pastor then? When the pie was half gone, Penelope repeated her question, “So what is your family like, where are you from?”

“I am not proud of them at all. I was distant from them since I was 7. My father was a pastor and it just annoyed me so much. I am not religious in the least. Anyway I was the oldest of 5 kids. My brother Franklin just became an ordained pastor and is assistant pastor at my father’s church. Then next in line is my sister Martha. She’s very promiscuous. Currently she is working as a waitress and a showgirl behind my father’s back. Then there is Joshua. He is very mature and I can stand him. He was there for Danni after I left and he is religious but he is not annoying about it. Finally there is my baby sister Danni. She is my favorite sibling. She understands and is nice. She is studying paranormal science. I really wish she wouldn’t, Professor Hawstein says it’s full of crock.”

“I don’t think so. I mean all science was thought as ‘full of crock’ until it became accepted.” Penelope said. “I don’t feel like a religion vs. science war right now. Well why does everyone call you T.J.? With names like Franklin and Martha for your siblings, I doubt you were given T.J.”

“I hate my name. It’s Thaddeus Jonas Membrane. I hate it. I have everyone call me T.J.” He ate his last bit of ice cream before finishing the rest of the pie. “I miss Danni so much. She had promise and each letter she sends is sadder and sadder. I want to tear Franklin and Martha limb from limb if I ever decide to set foot in Sin City ever again.”

“Your riff between you and your father is doing a lot of harm.” Penelope said “Have you heard anything from Danni lately?”

“No.” T.J. sighed. He knew he should. Danni needed him and he knew it. He just brushed her off and tossed her aside as he tinkered with his computers and his experiments under Hawstein. His face went from happy to melancholy in a heartbeat causing Penelope to put her hand on his.

“Talk to her. Try to make amends with your father.” Penelope said. “No matter what, I love you. I do wish you could get in good with your parents again.

“I know. I wonder how Danni is doing” T.J sighed.

“You know there is only one way you can find out.” Penelope whispered kissing his cheek.

(Las Vegas)

Danni sat alone in her room as usual when Joshua was at the young journalists club at his school. She had books open all over T.J’s old bed. Each book had a notebook around it that was filled with notes and charts and diagrams about the paranormal. Under her “Religious Theory for Sixth Graders” textbook was a copy of Rocking Rock sent to her from T.J. after she saw the latest “Illinois Jhonen” movie. She was beginning to show her independence and knew it was going to be tough. She took her book bag and went into the living room where she could read and eat Poop Candy Bars her school was selling. She opened her bag and pulled out a WalkDude and played the only thing she like she was allowed, Beethoven.

“Danielle darling!” Her mother called. “Meet me in the kitchen.”

“What is it mom. And you know I like to be called Danni” She moped.

“I know how much you like that rock music. I honestly find some of it okay but your father thinks it’s the tool of the devil. This took much compromise but I managed to get a hold of a cassette of this rock group, all Christian, Petra. I think you’ll like it.” Her mother said ruffling Danni’s claw like hair. “They certainly have a way of praising Him.”

“Mom you know my hair is stuck like this.” Danni griped.

“Danielle, stop being so pouty.” Her mother scolded. “Now run along.”

“Whatever mom.” Danni said putting the cassette into her WalkDude and put the headphones around her neck. She dug through her bag and found the book of Chaos Theory and pulled out her notes on the Loch Ness Monster.

Hmmmmm…. Maybe this does work with Ness. Petra isn’t too bad either. Danni thought writing her notes down in peace until her father barged in.

“DANIELLE JACKOLYN MEMBRANE! How many times have I told you to not read those books like that?” Reverend Membrane said “They are against what God says on creation.”

“Dad, I haven’t read The Origin of Species in the longest time. But consider this one Dad; Darwin himself said the very first life’s origin is undetermined. He doesn’t know where it came from. You yourself are always saying God’s time is different than ours and all 7 days of creation may be God days not human. I did a lot of research on this one. Did you know Darwin studied to be a pastor?” Danni argued. Remember Danni, you are fighting someone who can’t see logic.

“Sometimes you are too smart for your own good.” Reverend Membrane said. As he walked to his study, the words of “Judas Kiss” started to play.

“I wonder how it makes you feel when the prodigal won't come home
I wonder how it makes you feel when he'd rather be on his own
I wonder what it's like for you when a lamb has gone astray
I wonder what it's like for you when your children disobey”

Reverend Membrane paused and turned to look at Danni. “Have you heard from Thaddeus lately?”

“No why?” Danni asked closing her book.

“It must be like another thorn struck in your brow
It must be like another close friend's broken vow
It must be like another nail right through your wrist
It must be just like
Just like Judas' kiss”

“It must be like another thorn struck in your brow
It must be like another close friend's broken vow
It must be like another nail right through your wrist
It must be just like
Just like Judas' kiss” Reverend Membrane repeated to himself. “I wish I could speak to Thaddeus again. Each day is like a nail in my wrist. Like Judas Kiss. The prodigal, my prodigal, won’t come home.” He sat in his chair with his open Bible and cried.

A/N: I hope you liked it. I promise I will update soon. Let me know if you want to see any of my other stories updated soon. If you can check them out. Well wishing you and yours a happy 2009,

Otherrealmwriter aka Realm