Is There Life?

Chapter 12: A New Problem

The next morning, 18 lay in her bed, awake, unable to sleep. She looked at Krillin lying next to her. She sighed as she laid her head back on her pillow. She didn't deserve him, but, somehow, he loved her. Even when she and 17 were trying to destroy the Z Fighters, Krillin had cared about her, and he had stayed by her side after Cell had spat her out. He was the first one to accept her as she was.

18 thought about the past two days, so much had happened. They hadn't been in battle, but her life had drastically changed. She smiled as she heard 17 snoring softly in the next room. Master Roshi had been a little weary of letting 17 stay with them, but 18 had promised he would not cause any problems. If he did cause any problems, she was stronger than him and she knew Goku, Gohan, and Vegeta could be there in an instant if need to be, but she doubted that they would. She was glad to have her brother back.

As she thought about 17, 18 felt tears begin to well up in her eyes. She reached up and wiped them from her eyes. So many emotions had come to her since she became human that she had cried often in the past two days. As an android she had been able to feel, but since she became human, her senses and emotions seemed to be heightened. And now, one feeling was bothering her the most. 18 sat up and got out of bed, being careful not to wake her husband. After dressing, she went downstairs. She looked out the opened window and saw the sun just beginning to rise on the horizon. 18 looked back toward the staircase before flying off through the window toward the sunrise.

A few hours later, Master Roshi, Krillin, and Marion sat around the table while Oolong cooked breakfast. 17 casually walked down the stairs, his stomach growling at the smell of food. He laughed. As an android he hadn't needed to eat; he wasn't used to his stomach reacting to the smell of food. He walked over to the table and tasseled Marion's hair as he sat down. "Is 18 still in bed?" he asked as he looked around but could not find her.

"No, she was gone when I got up. We've looked all over the island but she is no where to be found," Krillin replied casually.

"Then why are you sitting around here? We should go and look for her. She could be hurt," 17 said franticly as he jumped out of his seat.

"Sit back down, 17; 18 will be back," Master Roshi replied calmly, "Sometimes she'll disappear for a while but she always comes back; the longest she has ever been gone is two days. As far as being hurt, I doubt that. The only ones on this planet stronger than her are Piccolo, Vegeta, Goku, Gohan, and Videl, so no one would be able to harm her."

17 sat back down. He knew Master Roshi was right, but 17 still worried about his sister. Just then, the door opened and 18 walked in. "Morning, honey," Krillin said sweetly.

"Mommy!" Marion said as she ran to 18, but 18 replied to neither her husband nor her daughter. She just stared at her family.

"Um, 18, is something wrong?" Master Roshi asked cautiously.

"No, I'm fine," 18 replied calmly, still ignoring her daughter at her side; she didn't feel like talking right then.

"18..." 17 began; he knew something was bothering his sister.

"Did you not hear me! I said I'm fine!" 18 said rudely. Then she brushed past Marion and went up stairs.

"Let her be," Krillin said as 17 got up to follow his sister. 17 glared at Krillin. "I know you want to help her, but she doesn't want to talk. If you go up there now, she'll just hurt you. She's raised her power level since you last saw her; she's as strong as Cell was when he fought to absorb you. We'll give her some time alone and then I'll go up there to check on her in a little while. Look, I know she's your sister and you think you can handle her, but trust me, we know. We've learned how to handle her different moods, quite often the hard way. I'm just trying to save you some pain and her grief."

"We have no way of stopping you from going upstairs, 17; you are too strong for us. All we can do is try to persuade you not to," Master Roshi added. He and Krillin knew 18's temper all too well and they tried to avoid making her mad.

17 looked at Krillin and Master Roshi and then to the staircase. He said nothing but walked over to the open window and sat on the sill, waiting for news from 18. Krillin and Master Roshi breathed a collective sigh as Marion walked over to her dad. "Daddy, what's wrong with mommy?" Marion asked as Krillin picked her up.

"She just needs a little time by herself. Now, why don't we go eat the breakfast Oolong made for us," Krillin replied as he carried Marion to the table. 18 hadn't lost her temper since Marion was born and Krillin hoped she wouldn't loose it now. 17 joined Krillin, Marion, Master Roshi, and Oolong at the table where they ate breakfast in silence.

After breakfast, they settled down and watched some TV, mostly cartoons Marion chose. After a couple of hours, Krillin got up and went to check on 18. He carefully opened the door to their room, being ready to defend himself if need to be. When he didn't hear a reaction, he walked in. 18 was lying on the bed with her back to the door. He quietly walked up to the bed and as he got closer he could tell she was asleep. He smiled, she hadn't slept the past two nights and she needed the rest. Krillin gently took the blanket off the end of the bed and covered his wife with it. He leaned down and kissed her cheek, careful not to wake her. "Sleep well, my love," Krillin said softly and then left the room.

"How is she?" 17 asked as Krillin walked back in the living room.

"She's asleep. I figured she was exhausted; she hasn't slept the past two nights," Krillin replied as he sat down and Marion crawled into his lap, "I'll check on her again in a little bit, but I'm not going to wake her up." 17 and Master Roshi nodded in agreement as they settled back down to watch the TV again.

Krillin checked on 18 throughout the day as she slept peacefully upstairs. Now he went up to see if she wanted to come down for dinner. When Krillin closed the door back down after he entered the room, 18 stirred at the noise. She rolled over on her back and opened her eyes, shielding them from the light until she could see clearly. Krillin stood at her bedside and waited for her to realize her surroundings. 18 looked at Krillin when she realized he was standing there. "Hey," Krillin said, smiling at her, "Feel better?"

"A little," 18 said sleepily. She was still tired and was now upset by what she had been sensing.

"Well, it's dinner time. I was wondering if you wanted something to eat. You're welcome to join us downstairs or I can bring you some food. And Marion wants to see you," Krillin said gently, trying not to upset 18.

"I'm not hungry," 18 said and then rolled back on her side with her back to Krillin. She just wanted to sleep; it was the only way she could escape and be at peace.

Krillin carefully sat down on the bed next to 18 and gently put his hand on her back. "18, I know something's bothering you, but I'm not going to ask you to tell me. You know I'm here when you want to talk. Now, why don't you let me help you under the covers and then I'll leave you alone so you can sleep," Krillin said softly. 18 allowed him to help her underneath the covers. Then Krillin leaned down and gently kissed her. As Krillin walked out of the room, he didn't see the tears which rolled down 18's cheeks.

18 slept the rest of the night and when Krillin got up the next morning, he was careful not to wake her. At breakfast, lunch, and dinnertime, Krillin went upstairs and asked if she wanted to eat. Each time he received the same answer, she wasn't hungry. And when 17 or Marion would try to check on her, she just got mad at them. She would only talk to Krillin and even then she barely talked to him. She just wanted to sleep; no one knew the pain she felt. Sleeping was the only way she could escape the overwhelming emotion she felt, but her sudden change in attitude was worrying the others.

The following morning, Krillin awoke to find 18 still sleeping in the same position as she had been in two nights ago. He looked at her carefully; he was really worried about her, but he didn't know what to do. He wasn't strong enough to challenge her into telling him what was wrong and he had a feeling it was too personal of an issue to ask Goku, Gohan, or Vegeta to help. Krillin sighed as he carefully got out of bed and dressed; hopefully she was just tired from missing sleep and the excitement of the past few days. He looked back at his wife before closing the door and walking downstairs. "Morning, Krillin," 17 said from where he sat on the windowsill.

"Morning, where is everyone?" Krillin looked around but could neither see nor sense Master Roshi, Turtle, Oolong, or Marion.

"They went into town. Marion wanted to go with them, and since you and 18 weren't up, Master Roshi asked what I thought. I figured she would be safe with them. Master Roshi said they'd be gone all day," 17 replied as Krillin sat next to him, "How is 18?"

Krillin looked out the window; he really didn't want to answer that question. "She's still sleeping. I'm used to her shutting us out for a day or two, but I'm worried this time. She hasn't eaten, she's pale, and I think she has a fever. I've never seen her like this before. At first I thought she was just exhausted and a little overwhelmed by the events of the past few days, but now..." Krillin's voice trailed off as tears began to from in his eyes. 17 put his hand on Krillin's shoulder; they were all worried about 18. "I would ask Bulma to come check on her, but with 18 barely talking to even me; I know she wouldn't be happy with that. I don't want to put Bulma's life, or that of her unborn child, in danger."

"I understand, Krillin, I'm worried about her, too. Hopefully, she is just overwhelmed by the past few days. We're used to dealing with stress as androids, not as humans. It's taking some adjusting. I've been having a bit of trouble handling things the past few days, too," 17 replied.

Krillin and 17 spent the morning softly talking, all the while keeping locked on 18's ki signal to watch for sudden changes. At lunchtime, Krillin went upstairs to see if 18 wanted to join them, but when he found her asleep, he decided not to wake her. About an hour later, Krillin and 17 were watching TV when 18 came down the stairs. No one said anything as Krillin and 17 watched 18 walk through the living room and into the kitchen. The two men glanced worriedly at each other; 18 had used the furniture to support herself across the room and she was very pale. Suddenly, Krillin and 17 felt 18's ki drop which was quickly followed by a clatter of sound from the kitchen. They quickly raced to the kitchen and knelt next to 18 who was already coming to.

"18, are you alright?" Krillin asked as he carefully helped her sit up. 18 began crying as she fell into Krillin's arms; she just couldn't tell him or anyone her secret. 17 placed one hand on his sister's back and the other on her knee; what was bothering her?

"18, please, tell us. You can trust us. We're your brother and your husband, if you can't trust us, who can you trust?" 17 said. Krillin glared at him, that was too harsh; couldn't he see 18 was hurting?

18 knew her brother was right. She sat up but didn't try to wipe the tears from her eyes; instead, she kept her hands in her lap. "It's just...I'm...I'm six months pregnant," she said as she moved her hands to show she was already showing slightly. Krillin and 17 both gasped, now they knew what was wrong. 18 had been in the World Martial Arts Tournament a week ago and had nearly been killed by Buu; she was worried if the child was okay or not.

17 didn't know what to say. His sister was the only family he had left. He hated seeing her upset. He wished he could do something to help her. Krillin was shocked. Why hadn't she told him they were going to have another child? He began to cry, not just for their child, but for her as well. She was truly hurting; he hated this was her first experience as a human. 17 carefully lifted 18 into his arms and carried her back upstairs, laying her on her bed. Krillin followed and sat on the bed next to his upset wife. 17 then left and returned a couple of minutes later with a glass of water and a sandwich. "Here, 18, try to calm down a little and eat. Then you can talk to us." 17 said as he gave the glass and sandwich to her. He knew he sounded rough, but he also knew she needed to gain her strength back. As 18 took the sandwich, 17 sat down on the bed across from Krillin. While 18 ate, Krillin kept his hand on her knee, just to let her know he was not leaving her alone.

18 finished her sandwich then leaned her head back against the headboard and closed her eyes. Her energy was drained and now that she had shared her secret with Krillin and 17, she could no longer deny it. It was true; she was going to have a child and after nearly losing her own life against Majin Buu, there was no guarantee the baby would even still be alive. "18..." Krillin said softly. He had so many questions, but he didn't know where to begin and he didn't want to upset her more.

18 opened her eyes and looked at Krillin. Then she sat up and pulled her knees to her chest. She didn't know where or even how to begin and as Krillin and 17 put their hands on her back. She began to cry again. She buried her hand in her arms. "I'm so sorry, Krillin. I didn't know how to tell you. I just found out," she said and then looked at him, "I had been sensing something odd since I became human. It finally struck me two days ago what it could be. Where I was that morning was the hospital. They just confirmed it and said I was due in three months. They didn't check to see if the baby was okay. They couldn't. I wouldn't let them. If there was something wrong, I didn't know how I was going to get back home. I'm not even quite sure how I did."

18 began crying again as Krillin gently pulled her into his arms. 17 placed his hand on her back as he and Krillin exchanged glances; what were they going to do now? "18, why don't I call Bulma. I'm sure she would be willing to check everything. But I won't call her if you don't want me to," Krillin said as he stroked 18's hair. He wanted to know as much as she did if they would indeed have a second child or not.

18 clung to Krillin; she felt safe in his arms. "Call her," she said softly, her head still buried in Krillin's chest.

17 handed the phone to Krillin, who, while still holding 18, called Bulma. After a few minutes, he hung up. "Bulma said Vegeta would be here shortly to take us to Capsule Corp.," Krillin said.

Soon, Vegeta appeared in the room. He walked over to Krillin and 18. "It will be easiest for me to transport her if I am carrying her," Vegeta said. 18 sat up and wiped the tears from her eyes. Vegeta gently picked her up and Krillin and 17 stood next to Vegeta, placing their hands on his shoulders. Vegeta then transported them to Capsule Corp.

Vegeta gently laid 18 on the bed Bulma and Mirai Trunks had prepared. Shortly, Bulma and Mirai Trunks walked in the room. Bulma walked over to 18 and promptly gave 18 a shot in her arm. 18 soon felt drowsiness overtake her as she began to calm down. "What did you give her?" Krillin asked anxiously. He didn't want 18 to be hurt anymore than she already was.

"It's okay, Krillin. I just gave her a tranquilizer. It won't hurt her or the child. I didn't even give her enough to put her to sleep, just enough to calm her down. Now, please go wait in the living room while I check on her," Bulma said as she ushered Vegeta, Mirai Trunks, Krillin, and 17 out of the room and shut the door. The four men walked quietly to the living room where Krillin and 17 sat down on the couch while Vegeta and Mirai Trunks walked into the kitchen, returning with some drinks.

After about 30 minutes, Bulma came into the living room followed by 18, who looked much better. "Well?" Krillin asked anxiously as he and 17 walked to Bulma and 18.

Bulma and 18 smiled as they looked at each other. Bulma turned back to Krillin and said, "She's going to be just fine. I told her to take it easy for the next few days and in three months, she'll have a healthy baby boy." Krillin jumped for joy as he twirled 18 around. Bulma and Vegeta smiled at each other; they knew exactly how Krillin and 18 felt.