Next chapter is Up! Just when you think everything is going smoothly a new threat looms on the horizon. One that will put our favorite couple through their biggest challenge yet. Enjoy :)
The rest of the Summer breezed by into Fall. It was now early October, and Waverly looks like she is about to pop. The baby was more active than ever and the parents were anxiously awaiting the baby's arrival. Which could be anywhere between now and early December. Waverly's hoping for the former and the baby comes soon. She was starting to feel uncomfortably large and when she slept at night she needed a full body pillow when she slept on her side. Because the extra pressure and wait was uncomfortable when she shifts onto her sides at night. She just took a break from her job doing social work about a month ago. She'd completed her courses, now she was waiting for her degree. Now she was waiting for her degree to come in early November. The place where she worked said they would hold her position for her until she came back. A tempt was working there now. But once she was able to return to work she'd be right where she started. That was very reassuring for her to hear, since she worked hard to get to that position. Around the same time she left her job on Maternity Leave, Frieza started limiting his training and spending more time with her to keep an eye on Waverly as she got into the last months of pregnancy. She found herself getting antsy and pacing or more like waddling around the apartment. She was tired of sitting down so much and always felt the need to stretch her legs. Every now and then she would feel braxton hicks or false contractions. The doctors told her she'd start feeling them the last couple months and inform her it meant she was getting closer. Frieza would try to keep her occupied as best as he could. Even Bulma and Videl would visit her and keep her company or they would take her out for a bit so she wouldn't get stir crazy. Her emotions were still up and down and she was just plain tired of being pregnant and cranky all the time. She often found herself looking into the now complete nursery. Frieza had finished putting the rest of the furniture together months ago. The top of the dresser, the toy chest, and the crib had toys and other little knick knacks she got from the baby shower. Last month they had a very small ceremony officially declaring themselves Husband and Wife. A lot seemed to be happening all at once and so fast. That could be why she has been still feeling nervous and a bit overwhelmed. But Frieza was always there to support her and calm her down, which she was always grateful for. It was now Wednesday, October twelfth. It rained earlier that morning but cleared up into clear sunny skies by early afternoon. Waverly and Frieza were lazing around on the couch at the time. Since Waverly has been feeling more exhausted than usual these last few days. For some reason Frieza was feeling a little on edge that day. He thought he sensed something earlier. But this mystery energy disappeared as quickly as it came. What didn't help his at times he even felt like they were being watched. There was a knock on their door around 12:30 and he got up to answer it. He knew who it was before he opened the door. He was met with the serious face of Goku, "Have you been feeling a strange elusive energy lately?" If Goku felt it too, then this only confirms that he wasn't being paranoid after all. "Yes, it would be there one moment but gone the next. At a time I even felt like we were being watched." Goku frowned, "Vegeta and I have been trying to track it. It lead him outside of the city and into the woods. He went ahead to scope it out and I decided to come here and get you. Can you come with us to try and locate this energy? At this point we can't even tell if it's friendly or a threat. Just in case it's the latter it be good to have you there as well." Frieza was hesitant at first. He looked over his shoulder to Waverly who was now sitting up and watching them from the couch. He turned back to face Goku, "I'm not sure I.." "It's okay, you should go with him to check it out," Waverly said cutting into their conversation. He turned to her with a look of uncertainty. But she gives him a reassuring smile and nods, "It will be alright, I'll be here waiting for you."
Goku than added, "Bulma is actually heading over here. She's coming to pick up Waverly and bring her over to her house." Frieza sighs and glances back at Waverly one last time. She waddles up to him and puts a hand on his shoulder, "There see, I won't be alone. She will be here soon." He turns his red gaze back to Goku, "Fine, the sooner we get this over with, the better." Goku nods then heads to the roof. Frieza turns around and pulls his Wife in for a hug, "Don't over exert yourself. And please do not leave until she get's here." She pulls back and gives him a kiss which he quickly returns. "You better get going. That way you will get back sooner," she replies. He gives her a half smile and turns around to follow the stairs up to the roof. He meets Goku up there and they take off to the south out of the city limits. They traveled at top speed for about fifteen minutes and quickly spotted Vegeta waiting just up ahead. "Hey, did you find anything?" asked Goku. Vegeta grunts, "I thought I saw a familiar smaller craft take off from this position right before I got here." He turned his steely gaze to Frieza, "It was similar to one of your crafts, but there were minute differences to it. Whoever was piloting the craft had a rather small insignificant power level. Probably why they were challenging to detect. But it wasn't so much them or the ship that has me concerned. But the insignia I saw on the side of the smaller cruiser. I recognize it as Cooler's, your brother." Frieza's stomach sank, why would his elder brother be here? In the past, Cooler told Frieza he would never trouble himself with such a small pitiful planet like earth. So why would he come unless...could he be here because he found out Frieza was here and came to investigate? Not good, that could only mean he sent his men to spy on him. His eyes widened, 'No, Waverly'. If his men were in fact watching him than surely they had seen her with him as well. Which could only mean one thing. This was a distraction, to lead them away from the city and away from her. Without an explanation, Frieza powered up, quickly turned, and took off the way they came leaving the two baffled saiyans behind. They powered up and took off right behind him. "Frieza, wait! What's going on!?" shouted Goku. Frieza looked over his shoulder, "Isn't it obvious, monkey? That small craft was a distraction to lead us away from the city. We need to get back there now!" Goku gives him a puzzled look, "But why would they do that for? What was the point?" Frieza picks up the speed, "They were watching me. That means they know about Waverly and she's in danger!" Vegeta looked on stunned, 'Why would his brother go through the trouble of luring Frieza out here? Why would Cooler target Waverly?' Vegeta knew Frieza and Cooler had some serious sibling rivalry between them and were always competing with each other on who was the better successor. Was this some kind of manipulation tactic? If so then he's right and Waverly's not safe. But not only that, it meant Bulma and his family wasn't safe either. The three of them pushed to go faster. About halfway there they saw a familiar yellow cruiser approaching. It was Bulma and she appeared to be distressed and really worried. They stopped right in front of the cruiser when they were close enough. "Bulma what's going on? Why are you out here?" shouted Goku. "You guys need to come back quick! Waverly is gone! I went to her apartment to get her. Only when I went in it looked like someone broke in. The windows were broken like someone came through them. Some of the furniture was flipped over and there was some broken glass, showing there was a struggle. I looked around the whole place but I couldn't find a trace of her anywhere!" Frieza's worst fears were confirmed. Someone broke in and kidnapped Waverly. In a panic and anger he looked around, trying to get a lock on to his brother's battle power. Or at least try to locate those of his men. He picked up something a few miles due east and bolted for the location. Goku and Vegeta were behind him and in a matter of minutes they spotted another small cruiser just ahead of them. Frieza wasted no time charging up some energy and firing it at the small ship. He hit it and it would've went down had Vegeta not caught it. Frieza shot his hand through the glass window and pulled out one of the two soldiers manning the ship. He put his hand in front of the soldier's face and charged up a small red ball of energy and held it there. "You have precisely five seconds to tell me where they have taken her. Otherwise I will start killing you very slowly and painfully." The former tyrant said in a low deadly voice. The soldier remained unaffected by his threat though and sneered at him, "Your human whore was flown straight to the main ship right after you left her alone. The ship was hovering just right above the earth's atmosphere over the city. But My Lord Cooler says if you want to see the woman alive again. Then you will meet him twenty miles south of this position. You may want to hurry. The men who captured her said during the scuffle she hit labor. The clock is ticking...Frieza."
His heart sank at the news. In a rage he pulled back his arm and was about to dealt the soldier a fatal blow when a hand on his arm stopped him. He turned to see Goku holding his arm back. "Get off of me monkey," he gritted out. "We don't have time for this. We should be on our way to save Waverly." He knew the saiyan was right, the energy ball dissipated and he quickly turned and delivered a harsh kick to the soldier. Sending him flying into the rubble below. Bulma made her way over in the cruiser. "Woman, you need to get back home, now. It's no longer safe to follow us." Frieza then spoke up, "No we will need her to come. If Waverly really is in labor then she will require assistance." Bulma was taken aback, "Did you just say she's in labor!? Forget it, Vegeta. Your not keeping me out of this one. I'm coming too. Unless your deciding to deliver the kid yourself." Vegeta's eyes widen and he gasped, "No way in hell am I doing that. Fine, come then. Just stay far enough away from the battle zone." He then turns and takes off in the direction the soldier said for them to go. Frieza and Goku follow after him, leaving Bulma trailing behind. Frieza flew the fastest he has ever flown. It's a wonder how the saiyans were able to keep up with him. Not even halfway there and they sensed Cooler's massive power coming in. They saw his main ship break through the clouds several miles ahead of them. It touched down in a clearing ahead. When they got there, the main doors to the ship opened and Cooler came walking out. He wasn't alone, several of his elite warriors were with him. He looked up, spotted Frieza, and grinned. "Nice to see you got my message and came, little brother." Frieza landed a few feet in front of his older brother. "Enough with the small talk. Where is she?" The two saiyans landed a little behind him. Cooler looked over his shoulder back at the ship, "She's inside, don't worry she's still alive...for now." Frieza growled, "Why are you here, brother?" He spat out brother like a curse. Cooler's smile turned into a frown. "I've been gone for quite some time. To think, how surprised I was to find out you were alive. I wanted to see how business was going. I know after you fell your force deteriorated throughout the years. I knew you'd take over again and try to restore your failing empire. I finally located your main ship a couple months ago. But your men told me you left nearly a year ago and haven't been seen since. You never even told them where you were headed. I continued on with my search and sent a few men out to scour known places you've been to in the past. Then I remembered, your last fight was on earth. So I decided to sent some men here. Not only were you alive and well but in the company of some human woman. Even more shocking to find out she was pregnant. I've been meaning to ask, is it yours? And if so I'm rather disappointed. Why would you choose to fornicate with such a weak and lowly race? Has being dead addled your brain?" Frieza narrowed his eyes, "What I do with personal affairs is none of your business. But then again you always did have a bad habit of sticking your nose where it didn't belong, Cooler. Now you will produce the woman and leave this planet. Or there will be a massive problem here very soon." His brother smirked, "You want the girl so bad. Then come and try to retrieve her yourself." Cooler made a gesture with his hand and his elite soldiers rushed forward to attack the three men. Goku and Vegeta powered up and began fighting the soldiers. While Frieza went for his brother. Cooler powered up and met him halfway. They began trading rapid blows with each other. "Why are we even fighting brother? You and I can conquer this world together. Obviously there is more profit with earth than I initially was lead to believe. Forget that slip of a girl and the half breed brat. Their not important, and you will come to realize it soon enough," replied Cooler between hits. Apparently it was the wrong thing to say because Frieza drew back and slammed his fist into the side of his brother's face. Sending him crashing into the side of a cliff. Cooler bounced back and wiped some blood from the corner of his mouth and scowled. "You dare choose some weakling over your own family? How far you truly fallen, little brother."
Frieza went back down into a fighting stance and commenced with the fight. While Goku and Vegeta dispersed with the last of the soldiers they headed for the ship and entered it. They knocked more soldiers aside as they ran down the hall's in search of Waverly. Goku pulled aside a wayward soldier and forced him to tell Goku where the woman was. He shakily pointed down the hall to the very last room on the right. They dropped him and sprinted further down the hall to the room. They entered and found a few soldiers in their way and Waverly laying on a cot in the back. They knocked the group of soldiers out of the way. But the last one standing pulled a gun and aimed it at the girl on the cot. "Don't come any closer or I'll shoot her," said the last panicky soldier. The saiyans looked at each other and Vegeta moved so fast the soldier didn't realize the saiyan prince was upon him until it was too late. He sent the last soldier sailing through the air and into the metal wall. He made a huge dent in the wall before crashing to the ground. Goku ran over to Waverly's side. "Waverly, it's going to be okay. We're going to get you out and take you somewhere safe." Waverly was sweating a little and her breathing was rough, "You need to hurry. My water broke a while back when they took me from the apartment." Goku gently picks her up and they all head out the door and down the hall. "Where's Frieza?" she asks. Goku shot her a quick glance, "He's outside fighting his brother." She wanted to say something but they came upon more soldiers blocking their exit. Vegeta wasted no time knocking the weaker soldiers about. Clearing a path for Goku and Waverly. They made it to the exit without further problems. They noticed Frieza was still engaged in a fight with Cooler. Vegeta noticed Bulma arrived and landed atop of a cliff a couple miles out away from the fight. "Kakarot, Bulma is over there on that over hang. Take Waverly to her and then come back here afterwards." He nods and quickly flies Waverly over to Bulma. Vegeta turns back to the fight between Frieza and his older brother. They were both in their final forms and despite Frieza's training. He and Cooler seemed to be evenly matched in this fight. It's either Frieza is holding back or his brother is hiding something up his sleeve. Vegeta found it odd Frieza didn't just go straight to his gold form and be done with this fight. It didn't take long before Goku made it back to Bulma in her cruiser. She opened the door, quickly letting them in. She told him where to set her down. She had a couple pillows in the back and he sat Waverly against them. Then unfolded a blanket sitting on the floor by her and wrapped it around the young woman. Then Goku told Bulma he had to get back out to the fight. He took off and left the two women behind. Bulma approached Waverly to see how she was. It didn't look good, she was clutching her stomach with each contraction and trying to take slow steady breaths. Bulma knelt down to access her condition, "How far apart would you say the contractions were?" At first they were far apart and pretty mild. Within the last ten minutes they steadily started coming together and getting worse. They're really starting to hurt like hell," she said through gritted teeth. The blue haired woman tried to calculate the distance between here and the nearest hospital. They were about forty miles away from South City. If she left now and floored it all the way back. She should make it there in time. After all, it could take hours before she's ready to deliver. That left her with plenty of time to get Waverly there. "Okay Waves, we're going to leave now. It shouldn't take all that long to get to a hospital, probably about a half hour to forty-five minutes." Waverly shakes her head, "No, I'm not leaving without him. He said he'd be here with me. Please don't take us out of here yet. Just wait a little longer, please Bulma." The blue haired scientist is reluctant to listen to her request. It's not safe for her to remain here. But she knows Waverly will fight her all the way back. It was important to her that Frieza be there with her when she gives birth. But who knows how long this fight will last. She sighs, "Waverly this could be dangerous. Do you really think he'd want you to remain here in a battle zone in your condition?" Tears start building up in Waverly's eyes, "I can't do this without him, I'm afraid. We're far enough from the fight. If you want to move a little further away from it then that's fine. But I don't want to leave. This is a time I need him more than ever. I'm glad Vegeta and Goku are with him. I'm worried if he confronted his brother alone there was a chance he'd lose his life. But please, Bulma. Don't take off." Bulma pinches the bridge of her nose but nods.
This turned into quite the harrowing chapter. Can't imagine where it may go next. There are many possibilities to choose from. Until Next Time ;)