The next chapter is up! Enjoy :)
Frieza doesn't know how long he was holding Hanna. When Goku placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I can take her to the Lookout. They have a place they can preserve her until we can wish her back." He told the former tyrant.
Frieza didn't say anything for a moment.
"How soon can we find the dragon balls?" He asked in a flat tone.
Goku was a bit hesitant to answer at first. But he had to tell him.
"We can't use them right this moment. Unfortunately, not for another nine months. But I'll talk with Dende, maybe we can use the Namekian Dragon Balls to wish her back. When I take her there, I'll ask him." He informed him.
At first, Frieza didn't want to let her go. But there was nothing he could do for her now. He gently laid her down and could barely look at her pale; bloody form. A good portion of the floor was covered with her blood. He stood up and stared out one of the side windows with a far away look on his face. Goku knelt down by the dead woman's side and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Goku, when you come back here can you take us back? Trunks is home, so take us back to the house. So I can take the baby to the hospital to make sure she is alright." Bulma told him.
"Sure, no problem. Hang tight, I'll be back in a moment." He said.
Soon after, Goku disappeared with Hanna's body. Bulma turned to her Husband.
"You don't have to fly this all the way back home. When you reach the nearest bit of land, just land there. Then turn it back into a capsule and fly the rest of the way home." She told him.
Vegeta eyed the former emperor, who hasn't moved from his spot near the window. Frieza has barely acknowledged anyone since Goku took Hanna. Still, he didn't trust him one bit. Before he could say something to his Wife, Goku had already come back. Though he appeared to have a look of disappointment on his face as he approached them.
"Looks like we may have to wait longer than we thought. Dende told me the Namekians had to use their dragon balls for something important a little while back. So if we want to use them, we may have to wait another four months before we can." Goku said.
"Have fun telling Frieza that, Kakarot. In the meantime, take Bulma and the baby back to our home. That way she can get the child medical attention." Vegeta told him.
"And what about him?" Bulma asked, gesturing to Frieza in the back.
Goku told her to hold on a sec. Then he walked to the back.
"Frieza, let's go. I'm taking Bulma back home with the baby. That way Bulma can take her to the hospital to get checked out and make sure she's ok." The orange clad saiyan said.
The former emperor didn't say anything. Just gave him a slight nod and followed him to the front. Bulma put her hand on his shoulder. While Goku put a hand on Frieza's shoulder. Then they were gone.
Brief's Residence, South City, Japan
They reappeared on the large balcony of the home. Bulma wasted no time in going down to the first floor. She let out a very brief greeting to Trunks and Goten, as she made a B-Line to the back door. She used Bulla's car seat to buckle baby Hope in. Then she left for the hospital. Which was only a ten minute drive from their house.
As soon as she left, Frieza took off in the complete opposite direction.
"Frieza!" Goku called after him.
But the tyrant ignored him and continued flying due West to the forest outside of city limits. Goku was struggling with either leaving him be or following him to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid. Then there was a third reason, and that was the reason that made him decide to follow him. So he tailed Frieza at a distance. Of course, the tyrant knew this and tried to shake him a few times.
This kept up for several minutes. Before Frieza took a sharp drop down to land. Goku found him sitting on a rocky overhang that overlooked a large lake. He was looking down at the water with his knees bent up to his chest, elbows resting on his knees, and his hands resting on his temples.
"I wish to be left alone." He said, sounding completely defeated.
"I understand. But no one should be left alone like this either." Goku said.
"Why does it matter to you anyway? We are enemies after all. What viable advice could you possibly give me for this?" Frieza asks.
"You still never told us who she was to you." Goku said, ignoring his questions.
Frieza never looked his way. Just continued to stare out into the water.
"Again, why does that matter to you?" He repeated.
"Because no one has ever seen you like this before. Because you proved over and over in the past that no one else matters but you. But most of all, because we always knew you were someone who would never change for anything or anyone. All your years in hell are a testament to that. Things obviously seem to be different now. And we all know it had to do with her. We want to know why that is." The saiyan stated.
There was silence for a moment. Before Frieza finally answered him.
"What is it you want to hear? That I have clearly changed? That she has taught me humanity? That power and control isn't everything?" He asks.
Goku just shrugs his shoulders.
"It seems like you told me all the answers to that already; then and there." He says.
Frieza turned his gaze from the water to the sky above.
"It should've been me." He said, barely above a whisper.
Goku plopped down on the rock a couple feet away from him.
"What do you mean?" The saiyan asks, clearly confused.
"That died. I'm the one that deserves it, anyone will testify to that. But her, she deserved a better life. Hanna was someone. She accomplished so much in her life and could've gone on to accomplish more. A good person with a good head on her shoulders. She did it with the support of her family and friends and lived in a good home. That is why she wanted to raise our child here. That and I knew it be cruel to keep Hanna away from her home forever. It's why I was alright with them living here. Because, even I knew they'd be better off here. Instead of being dragged around space." Frieza confessed.
Goku was hesitant about what he wanted to ask him next. But he needed to know.
"So...what are you going to do now?" He asks.
Frieza sighs, "I don't know. It maybe better I leave."
Goku gasped, "But what about the baby?"
The former tyrant swallows the lump in his throat.
"She's better off without me. At least here, she will be among good people." He said, though each word stung.
The orange clad saiyan was shocked and quite appalled at his foe's answer.
"What?! Frieza, you can't! That little girl needs you! She's already lost one parent! You leave her, and she's all alone! What you just said is pure cowardice on your part!" The saiyan partly shouted.
That's when Frieza finally turned his crimson gaze to his oldest enemy.
"Really? Would you like to know how she even came about? I beat her Mother and I raped her, which caused her pregnancy. And you want someone like me around an innocent child? I knew you were daft, Monkey. But I didn't think you were that idiotic." He spat.
Goku clenched his fists and jaw in anger at Frieza's heinous confession. But the fact that Hanna's last words were she forgave him and to take care of their child, means there was much more to it than that. If she forgave him, than that must mean he has changed. The cheery saiyan saw it for himself, when the former tyrant broke down in front of all of them when she died.
"And are you still like that now? Because from where I'm sitting, it doesn't look like it." Goku told him.
Frieza sharply turned away. His scowl slowly faded back into a mask of grief.
"I don't know how to be a parent. I was hoping Hanna would show me how. But even then, it was a longshot. I don't deserve that child, and she deserves so much better." He said, in a broken voice.
It hurt his heart to say it, but he knew it to be true.
"You have others here that can help you. But please, don't leave that child behind. What about what Hanna said? It was her dying wish that you take care of your daughter. Are you really going to go against her last request?" Goku asked.
Frieza closed his eyes and slowly shook his head.
"No," He whispered.
"Do you really wish to leave your child behind?" Goku asks.
Frieza flinched at the question.
"No," He gasped.
"Then come back with me. You don't have to do this alone. As I said, we can help you. Plus, within four months or so, we will be able to wish Hanna back to life. You will see her again. Until then, just do as she asked. Take care of Hope." Goku told him.
"What if I lose her too? What if she dies in the hospital due to complications from the birth?" Frieza asks, his eyes glassy with unshed tears.
"You won't, she's strong. She survived the birth. So she's already beaten the odds. She will be fine, that girl is a tough little cookie. Wonder where she gets that from." Goku says, with a playful smirk.
Frieza couldn't help the small smile that crept onto his face.
"Not from me, that's for sure. Must've been her Mother." He said.
Goku stood up.
"You ready to go then? We can head straight to the hospital from here. Shouldn't take us too long." He said, to his old foe.
Frieza's palms began to sweat. Was he really ready to face his child? He was truly nervous about it. Which was ironic since he hardly ever gets nervous. But he had to go. He had to be there for her, and he wanted to make sure she is ok. So he stood up and gave a brief nod to Goku. Then they were off, racing as fast as they could to the hospital.
At South City Memorial Hospital...
"So far we haven't found anything seriously wrong with her. We took her vitals and some blood samples. Her vitals so far appear strong. But still, in cases like this we may keep her a little longer than the usual stay for newborns. As a precaution." The doctor said, to Bulma.
"That's understandable. What's her length and weight? Is she alert to her surroundings?" She asks.
"5lbs. 10 Ounces. 17in. long. So she's a peanut. And yes, she's very alert and active. Which are very good signs." He told her.
They had baby Hope in the NICU. Which is where they keep all babies who had complicated births, Standard Procedure there. Though so far, the baby wasn't showing any signs of distress in any way. Fingers crossed it remains that way. She stayed by the observation window since she brought the baby in. Bulma been there for a little over an hour now.
"Bulma," Came Goku's voice.
She turned and saw Goku making his way over, and he wasn't alone. Frieza was with him. It was odd seeing the usually over confident and arrogant warrior so anxious.
"Hey, everything is good so far." She told them when they got to her.
Frieza's gaze shifted to the large observation window. There was a small handful of babies in there. His attention was drawn to a tiny incubator to the left and near the center. A nurse was tending to his baby, taking down her vitals.
"May I...see her?" He asks.
The same doctor Bulma was just talking to, exited the room.
"Excuse me, but can he go in? His daughter is the one who came in with Bulma here." Goku asked.
Bulma gave him a look, wondering if this was a good idea. She still didn't fully trust the tyrant. Less so around a tiny, helpless newborn.
"Yes, though only he can go in. The rest of you would have to wait out here." The doctor informed him.
Frieza took a hesitant step through the entrance, and with a deep shaky breath; walked in. He slowly approached the incubator his newborn daughter occupied. The nurse in charge did a slight double take on seeing the strange alien man.
"Can I help you, Sir?" She asks.
He nods, "This is my daughter. I was told I could come in and see her."
The woman would've had a hard time believing it. But on observing him, she saw one similar physical trait. The baby's eyes, they were the same as his eyes. For she doesn't recall ever seeing any other baby having deep crimson colored eyes before. She nods in confirmation.
"Sure, they give you the latest on her?" She asked.
Frieza shook his head.
"No, I only just got here." He paused for a moment. "Is she ok?" He asked, worry evident in his voice.
The nurse gave him a warm smile.
"So far; Yes. She is fine. Very alert and active. She weighs in at 5lbs. 10 Ounces. And is approximately 17in. long. Her vitals appear very strong and steady." The nurse stated.
He sighed in relief. Then moved closer to get a better look at her. He couldn't believe how tiny she was. Like the size of a child's baby doll. His heart clenched, she looked just like her Mother. If it weren't for her very high energy signature, she could've easily passed off for an ordinary human child. When the baby turned her attention to him his breath hitched. He saw his own crimson eyes, staring right back at him. He was broken from his thoughts when the nurse spoke up again.
"You can stick your hand through the holes for contact if you'd like." She said.
Frieza reached a shaky hand in and placed two fingers on her cheek. She never took her eyes off him the entire time. The nurse excused herself to tend to one of the other infants in the room, to give him some alone time with her. Hope wiggled her tiny arms up and down a few times, drawing a soft smile on her Father's face. His vision started to blur a little.
"I'm so sorry, My Love. I've been so selfish. I was too preoccupied thinking about my own thoughts about you these past several months. That I didn't stop and think about what is best for you. And for that, I could never forgive myself. When I look back on it...how could I not want you? Your my child. I should've been busy thinking about how I could help take care of you and protect you. But instead...I was thinking about dumping you and your Mother here. Than run away like the cowardly bastard I was." He confessed.
That's when a couple stray tears rolled down his pale cheeks. For once, he was not ashamed to let the tears come. How could he? How could he even think about leaving this beautiful child he helped create? How would Hanna feel if he abandoned their little girl? After she pleaded with him to take care of her, before she drew last breath.
He gently caressed her little cheek, and she turned her head into the warmth of his hand.
"I now know more than ever. That I will Never leave you. I will always be here for you. If there is one thing that can guide me through the darkness that is grief it is you, Hope. And I Love You So Much." He said, softly.
Hope reached up with one tiny hand and wrapped it around one of his fingers. Then gave him a wide toothless smile that made his heart melt. He smiled lovingly back at her. Frieza decided then and there whatever it takes, he will do everything in his power to take care of her. It was his duty as her Father to do so. As well as an unbreakable vow to her Mother; Hanna. He will not let her down.
Hope everyone enjoyed all the cuteness and fluff in this chapter. Looks like Frieza finally accepted his responsibilities and feelings for his daughter. Soon he will learn everything it takes about being a Dad. It may not be easy at first. But his determination is setting him on the right path. Until Next Time ;)