In the garden, evil lurks

(Thanks to all who reviewed! Veggie gives you all a big slobbery kiss! Keep reviewing and he'll give you a cookie!)

Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ! I will someday but not today!

(WARNING: This chapter may make you throw up a little from fluffiness)

Sherona walked around the palace, humming happily. She has been queen for nearly six months, everyday more wonderful than the last. The king was a lot more affectionate than she had imagined he'd be. They spent almost all day with each other, except when he was dealing with Lord Freeza's business. Even when they were both tired from their royal duties, they would find the time for romance. But even though Sherona was happy in her new life, she often found it boring in the palace. Because she had yet to conceive an heir for the king, she was forbidden to fight or even train! So when she wasn't with the king she didn't have anything to do.

Today King Vegeta was assigning missions to the purging teams. Sherona decided she'd explore the palace, she had yet to see all of it. She was walking down a corridor she had never seen before. It was dark and the walls were bare. This place seemed so bleak when compared to the rest of the palace. As she passed a door she peered inside. Lucrin was sitting on a bed, his chest was bare and he was sweating and panting, as if he'd been running. Sherona noticed that he had shaved and his hair was down, he seemed much younger than his actual age of forty, now that his beard was gone. She entered warily, " Lucrin are you ok?" Lucrin jumped, startled, and shot to his feet, "What are you doing in here!?" he asked, shouting. Sherona stepped back, surprised by his ferocity, "What's wrong with you? Are you sick or something?" Lucrin's eyes narrowed, "I'm fine. Now, GET OUT!" he pointed at the door. Sherona was beginning to get annoyed, "Fine!" she turned to leave, but turned back around when she heard a noise coming from the bed. Her eyes widened, there on the bed was a raven-haired beauty, wrapped up in the crisp white sheet. The girl sighed and twisted in the bed. Sherona shot a surprised glance at Lucrin, "Lucrin are you having an affair?" she asked. Lucrin sighed and rubbed some sweat off his face with his hand, "You have to be married to have an affair", he whispered sadly. Sherona was shocked. Lucrin, a handsome forty-year-old had yet to find a wife! "Oh Lucrin, I- I'm sorry. I thought you were married. Vegeta said you had a mate." Lucrin gazed at her with empty eyes, "I- I used to. A long time ago." He stared at the beautiful woman in his bed, "Believe me this was not planed at all. I was just so lonely! I needed someone to be with. She offered herself to me and I accepted. It's nothing more than that. There are no feelings behind my actions." Sherona glared at him, "In other words this poor girl is nothing but a booty call!" Lucrin started to twiddle his thumbs, "I wouldn't call it that. It's more of a hook up." He said, blushing wildly. Just then the girl awoke and shot up in bed, "Lucrin?" she looked up at him, her dark eyes warm and cheerful. Then she saw the elegant woman standing beside him! She pulled the covers around herself and got to her feet. She dropped to the floor on her knees, "Y-your highness!" It was then that Sherona recognized the girl, she was the servant girl who was in charge of the wine! Sherona smiled as kindly as she could, "what's your name child?" The girl lifted herself from the floor, "I'm Ruby, I work here in the palace." Sherona continued to smile, though her anger was starting to get to her, "I know I remember you." Ruby smiled. Sherona grabbed a hold of Lucrin's ear and pulled him out into the hallway. "OW, OW, OW," Lucrin whined. "Lucrin, do you know how old that girl is!" Lucrin stared at her blankly, "She told me she was twenty one. Why?" Lucrin rubbed her temples, "She lied! She's only sixteen! She was only working for us for the summer! You Idiot!" Lucrin wanted to crawl in a corner and die, "Y-you mean I just had sex with a minor!" Sherona wanted to slap the snot out of him, "Yes! You did! You dirty old man!" Ruby came into the hallway fully dressed in her jeans and a rock and roll tee shirt from some rock band Sherona had never heard of. She kissed him lightly on the cheek, "See you later, lover," she winked at him as she passed him by. When Ruby was out of sight Sherona punched Lucrin in the arm, "How does it feel to take the innocence of a little girl! You pervert!" Lucrin rubbed his sore arm, "Believe me, Ruby's innocence wasn't an issue. I know at least twelve guards that will vouch for that."

Later on, Sherona sat in her room reading a book about expectant mother-hood that Vegeta had given her. She was speed reading an article about breast-feeding when the king entered the room. She threw down the book and ran into his strong embrace. He kissed her and held her tight. When they pulled away, she looked up into his eyes and saw that they were filled with joy and excitement. Vegeta, I've only been married to you for six months and already I can read you like a book! "What did you do?" she asked coyly.

He smiled, "How do you do that?" She pressed her body against his seductively and ran her hand down his chest, "I'm your wife. I know you better than anyone." He held her hand and kissed it. "I have a surprise for you. Come with me." He dragged her down a bunch of hallways towards the back of the palace. Finally they came to a beautifully crafted door. He handed her a key, "Go ahead open it up and go inside." She smiled as she turned the key and opened the door. When she saw it her eyes filled with tears. She felt tears cascade down her face for the first time in years. The room was a garden, filled wall to wall with flowers, trees, grass, and plants of every shape and size. She could feel the warmth of the sun and looked up. The sealing was opened up, letting sunlight and fresh air in, so it was just like being outside. He stepped up behind her and put his arms around her waste, "I've noticed that you miss the outdoors, so I brought the outdoors to you. I had plants imported from all across the universe. It's been a real pain hiding this from you for the past six months." Sherona couldn't take it anymore! This was the most romantic thing the king had ever done! She threw herself into his arms and kissed him ravenously, like if they ever stopped they would cease to breathe. She pulled him to the ground and they made love right there under the beautiful Cherrie- blossom trees.

They lied under the trees wrapped in each other's arms. King Vegeta was staring into the open sky while Sherona was lost in her own thoughts. I feel sort of strange. Something's different this time. I've never felt this way before. I feel so warm inside. Suddenly a voice came on the intercom on the far wall. "Sir, Lord Freeza has just arrived. He wishes to have an audience with you." Stated a guard. Sherona and Vegeta leaped to their feet and rushed to get dressed. They hurriedly ran down the halls to the thrown room to meet Freeza. They walked through the door as comely as possible. As they entered, Sherona caught sight of Freeza, he was sitting in King Vegeta's thrown, like it was his own. His goons, Zarbon and Quadoria were standing by his side. Freeza motioned for Vegeta to come before him. King Vegeta stood before the thrown. Freeza nodded towards Zarbon, and Zarbon gave the king a kick in the stomach sending him flying down the red carpet. Sherona ran over to her husband and helped him to his feet. After checking to make sure he was all right she marched up to Zarbon and slapped him hard across the face. Freeza's beady little eyes grew huge at the raven beauty's bold move. "How dare you lay a hand on the king of all Saiyans, you pansy ass freak!" Sherona yelled at Zarbon, who was rubbing his reddening face. Then Sherona turned her rage against Freeza himself, "AND YOU! Show some respect to the king! We may work for you but that gives you no right to treat him like a dog!" Freeza glared towards the king, "King Vegeta, you better learn to control your woman, before she gets into trouble." King Vegeta's eyes filled with fear. He ran to Sherona and pulled her away from Freeza. King Vegeta whispered in her ear, "Don't talk that way towards Freeza, Sherona." "Someone needs to tell that ugly lizard off! He's pushed us around long enough if you ask me." She whispered back. King Vegeta looked at her, his fear evident, "Please, Sherona, I don't want to lose you." Sherona sighed, there was no use arguing. She knew that he was only thinking of her safety. He led her towards the door and told her to go to their quarters to wait for him. She left, just as he said, happy to be out of the presence of that horrible creature named Freeza.

Hours later, Sherona laid in bed, alone, holding her stomach. What the hell is wrong with me! It's like my insides are on fire! She twisted and groaned in agony at the burning pain in her lower abdomen. She felt the urge to vomit and ran to the adjoining bathroom. She vomited in the toilet three or four times, before she felt better. She went to the sink and splashed her face with warm water. She heard a noise that sounded like someone entering her room. She looked into the room to see a very worried looking King standing by the bed. "Are you alright love?" She smiled weakly at him, "I'm fine. I'm still recovering from the sight of that thing we call Lord Freeza." He smiled but there was no joy behind it. Sherona frowned, "What's the matter with you?" King Vegeta took her by the hand, "Sherona I have some bad news. "Freeza is sending me on a high-risk mission. To planet Personia." Sherona gasped, "How long will you be gone?" The king sighed, sadly, " That's the worst part about the whole thing. It'll take me up to a year round trip." Sherona felt her anger consuming her, the burning in her stomach was getting more intense, " What! He can't do that! We've never been apart one day in the whole time we've been together! I can't go without you that long!" Vegeta pulled his wife close to him and held her close to his body, "I don't have a choice, love, he said that if I didn't he would kill you! I'm doing this for you!" Sherona began to weep uncontrollably. How did I go from having no one at all to having someone like you!

Freeza gave Vegeta one month before he was to leave for his mission. Since they had such little time to be together, they made the best of it, spending every waking moment together. Sherona didn't want to miss a minute of their quality time, so she ignored the pain. But eventually it became too much to bare. As they were walking along in the garden, talking about their plans for the future, Sherona suddenly collapsed. King Vegeta nearly had a heart attack! He scooped her up in his arms and raced her to the infirmary. He paced back and forth outside the infirmary for what seemed like years as he waited for the diagnosis. Finally the doctor brought him in for the diagnosis. The old man smiled cheerfully at the king, "The queen is pregnant, your majesty." Vegeta's jaw hit the floor! "But what about her illness? I've never seen a pregnant woman that ill!" The doctor nodded, "She has the worst case of morning sickness I've ever seen. But it will pass, I assure you. You should be happy. They say the worse the morning sickness is the more powerful the child will be." Vegeta smiled inwardly. "What about the burning sensation in her stomach? Is that normal?" The doctor nodded again, "Yes, it happens when the child starts to draw energy from the mother. The more severe the pain, the more power he absorbs. She probably started feeling the pain the moment the child was conceived. You have nothing to worry about sir, You're going to have a very powerful heir, I suspect." A big smirk came to the king's face, despite his worried heart. "Can I go see her?" "Yes, of course." The doctor replied happily. King Vegeta ran into the room where Sherona laid. He hugged her tenderly, not wanting to hurt her or his child. Sherona had tears running down her face. "I'm so happy Vegeta! We're going to have a baby! Thank the gods! I thought I was dying!" He stared at her lovingly, "I'm so glad you're alright!" he kissed her on the forehead. Sherona placed her hand on her stomach and rubbed it lightly, she wasn't concerned with the pain anymore. The pain only meant that her baby was alive and well. "Vegeta, I'm worried about how I'm going to cope with all of this while your gone." He stroked her silky black hair and stared into her eyes, "No matter where I am. We are connected. You have a part of me in you. I don't want you to worry about me. Just focus on our child. Keep him safe. Help him grow stronger. I'll be back before you know it." Sherona smiled slightly, "Promise me you'll make it back before the birth of our child." Vegeta was unsure what to say, but as he gazed into the lovely depths of her obsidian eyes, he found the words. "I promise you my love. I wouldn't miss it for the world." She hugged him happily and kissed him on the cheek. Lucrin stood outside the infirmary room, staring at the happy parents to be. He smirked. Congratulation Sherona, you finally have the family you've always wanted. He walked away and faded into the shadows.

A week later, the day came when Vegeta was to leave for planet Personia. He hugged and kissed his wife goodbye. She kissed him passionately, not wanting to let him go. When she finally released him he made his way to his ship. Just as he was about to climb in he turned around and waved. Sherona waved at him and smiled, even though on the inside her heart was breaking. The king climbed into his ship and blasted off. Sherona watched her husband disappear into the distance. When he was completely out of view she broke down and wept, throwing herself into Lucrin's arms. He comforted her as best he could. He hated to see her so heartbroken. "It's ok Sherona. The king will keep his promise to you. He wouldn't miss the birth of his heir for anything. Until he returns, I vow to protect you with my life."

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Next on Sherona: A mother's origins

Sherona's dark past is revealed. What will happen when she finds out she's really not alone in the world?

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