DON'T OWN DON'T SUE

FOR THE LOVE OF A DAUGHTER PART 4

"Your mother." Mr. Satan started "was much like you. She had a fiery temper, loved to fight, and was beautiful. She had a trusting nature and was loyal."

	"What did she look like?" Videl asked interrupting, "sorry."

"No it's all right, she had brown eyes, about your size and height, long black hair, I wish I had some pictures for you to look at. But we didn't own a camera for the time we were married. What else should I tell you?"

"I don't know, how about everything." Videl said smiling.

Mr. Satan looked out towards the horizon, trying to think of where to start. The suns making the whole world turn a pink-ish hue to welcome the oncoming sunset.

"Your mother and I got married in a small church, on a beautiful spring day."

FLASHBACK TO 16 YEARS AGO

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here together in the sight of god, to join these two in Holy matrimony. If there are any objections to why these two shall not wed, speak now or forever hold your peace." The priest paused before continuing. "Than Mr. Satan," the priest said his name rather disdainfully "repeat after me. I Hercule take thee Natas in sickness and in health, for richer and poorer as long for as you both shall live."

Mr. Satan repeated all that the priest had told him, and looked into Natas eyes as he said, "I do."

With that he slipped the golden band unto her finger. She smiled back up at him. And she too repeated the solemn words, with an added "I do." And slipped the ring onto his finger also.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife." The priest said as Mr. Satan lifted her veil.

And they kissed for the first time as a married couple.

They had the honeymoon in Hawaii where they...

"Whoa stop there dad," Videl yelled ending the flashback. "I wanted to know about you and mom but we can really skip the honeymoon part okay." She laughed.

"Oh sorry angel," Mr. Satan said a little embarrassed of what he almost told his daughter. "Okay I don't want to traumatize you. Back to the story."

Start Flashback

The happy couple was married two years, before they yearned for something more. They wanted a child, and after trying for three months they finally succeeded.

"Hercule? Honey are you home?" Natas asked as she walked in the door. Little did she know someone was hiding waiting for her.

"HAHH," the man screamed as he grabbed her from behind and swirled her about.

"AHH what?!? Hercule you jerk you scared me," Natas said while laughing, she looked at her attacker that had a grin that reached from ear to ear.

"So what did the gynecologists say huh, no wait don't tell me I know it's a boy right, I know it's a boy I can feel it man's intuition." He said excitedly as he placed his wife back down.

"Nope it's a girl, and thank god I didn't really want to name our baby, if it was a boy, Devil."

"Girl, hmmn I just remembered guys don't have intuition. A girl wow either way I can't wait, I'll love our child no matter what he or she is." He said as he pressed her belly feeling the swell that was developing. "Can we still name her Devil?"

"No," she said while laughing, she could imagine how people would react to that.

"Well how Demon, or Harpe or maybe Videl." He said joining in her laughter; he was joking about those names.

"Wait where did you get Videl from?"

" Oh I switched the letters in DEVIL around why do you ask?"

"Well I think that name would be acceptable," she said looking at him.

"Really? Cool."

So that was that. For the next few months Hercule and Natas prepared anxiously for the baby. Buying clothes, toys, and many pounds of ice cream. Eight months had come and gone, and they were sitting watching TV enjoying the last of the quiet they would have until the baby comes.

"Y'know honey I have a thought," Natas said as she watched the screen. Where a school shooting had just occurred.

"What's that love?"

"I want to know if it's okay with if I teach our daughter how to fight. It's so dangerous in the city I want to make sure she's safe."

"Of course love anything you want shall be." He said as he kissed her forehead, "Are you sure you'll be okay tomorrow? I really don't want to leave you alone."

"I'm fine besides he's only a rookie fighter you won't be gone longer than an few hours. And believe me this baby is not looking for the perfect opportunity to screw us over."

The next day Mr. Satan faced against a small time fighter named Nimrod. (A Norse god of strength). Just as the bell rang, Mr. Satan's manager ran up to him.

"Hercule your wife is having her baby."

"What?! Great throw in the towel I have to go meet her now." He called from the ring as Nimrod continued his dancing and jabs.

"Please Mr. Satan just one punch than you can leave."

"Fine." He said hurriedly as he punched Nimrod in the face and knocked him out.

"I'm coming Natas," he called as he jumped in his car and floored it.

"Natas where are you, are you okay?" Mr. Satan yelled as he ran into the house.

"Of course I'm not all right I have a person stuck in me," She said as she grabbed the bags, and waddled to the door.

"Here I'll take those," he said grabbing the bags, while ushering his wife to the car.

When they finally got to the hospital, Natas had experienced two contractions already. They quickly got her into the gown and set her up.

"I don't get it the contractions are too close, to early." Mr. Satan said while he worriedly paced the room, waiting for the doctor.

"Don't worry honey people give birth, at different times, and speeds. It's perfectly norma ALHHHH." Natas screamed as the pain racked her body, with another contraction. Hercule quickly ran to her side and grabbed her hand. Which she nearly crushed through the ordeal. When the contraction stopped Natas panted trying to regain her composure a cold sweat now covered her brow, If that was a contraction was like that what's the actual birthing process going to feel like she thought.

When she started to give birth a team of doctors huddled around her bedside. Natas's scream could be heard throughout the whole hospital. And during this all Mr. Satan kept by her bedside holding her hand and reassured her.

"C'mon honey breath,"

"You breath DAMN IT I WANT DRUGS." She screamed as she felt another wave of pain shoot through her body. She squeezed his hand tighter, which now he could swear he heard something snap.

"Should we give her more medicine?" One doctor asked.

"No it will hurt the baby now." Another said.

"Sir check these readings, something's wrong," The third one said.

"Okay everybody stay alert," The one that checked the monitors said. "Mr. Satan I'm sorry but I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

"What? Why? What's wrong."

"Just please step outside for good of the child." The doctor pushed him passed the swinging doors then went back to his work.

"For the good of the child?" he said numbly. "Oh god let my baby be all right." He prayed. As he sat down, then got back up, then sat down then got back up and paced. He couldn't sit still, he was too nervous. He listened to Natas's screams as they rang throughout the corridor. "Hold on love," He said as he sat back down, nervously watching the doors to the hospital room.

"Mr. Satan?" a doctor called quietly, as he stepped passed the doors.

"Doctor Matthew's, is the baby okay?" Mr. Satan asked anxiously.

"Yes we managed to save the baby," The doctor said.

"Oh thank god I was so worried and.manage to save? Doctor what about my wife?"

The doctor gave him a regretful look, and gestured towards the door. "I suggest you go talk to her, her body's in shock with kidney failure and I'm afraid there's nothing we can do." He sighed and broke the gaze with the stunned man. This was the part of the job he hated.

Mr. Satan broke out of his trance, and with a knowing air ran into the hospital room, where he found a very tired but very happy Natas who was smiling weakly as he walked up to her.

"Oh Herccy Bear did you see her? She's such a little miracle, and so strong she came into this world wailing like a banshee. That's a very good sign, especially for someone born so early." She feebly looked up at him, and saw a look of apprehension on his face. " I guess you know that I'm slipping away eh love?"

Mr. Satan nodded holding back tears as he leaned in closer, " I love you, Hercule," she said as she put something in his hand and closed his fist. " And I know you'll raise this child with all the love we both would have given her." She smiled at him and kissed his forehead, "But don't spoil her." She added with a weak laugh

"I promise," he said as they hugged, "I will always love you," He whispered in her ear, they looked at each other and kissed for the last time. When it was over Natas smiled, and laid back on her pillow. She slowly closed her eyes, and fell asleep. Then just as peacefully as she slept, she drifted away. Mr. Satan felt tears well up in his eyes, as he ran his hand through her black hair and kissed her forehead. He then drew back mournfully, as he watched the nursed check her signs, and covered his love with the sheets. The nurse gave him an empathetic glance, before she wheeled her away.

Mr. Satan sat down outside the room. In order to gather his thoughts, a life without Natas seemed impossible, unthinkable even. He opened his fist to see what Natas had placed there before she passed away. The gold locket gleamed in his palm as he stared down at the bittersweet memoir. And before he knew it he broke down crying, His strong man disguise that he showed to the world was shattered as he sobbed, in remembrance to his beloved. A while later a nurse interrupted his reveries.

"Mr. Satan" she said softly as she sat next to him, handing him a handkerchief.

"Yes what is it," He said moodily, he truly wanted to be left alone now.

"I am very sorry for your loss, but would you like to see your child?" She asked hoping it would it help him feel better.

My child? He thought, I almost forget about her. "Yes please let me see her." He said as he quickly stood up and wiped his eyes.

"Right this way," she said directing him down the hall to the nursery, and showed him through the doors. Nearly all the babies were crying when he entered. Except for one who was sleeping peacefully, the nurse picked up the child who was swathed in pink blankets and laid her in Mr. Satan's arms. He smiled as he studied the perfect bundle, subconsciously counting all her fingers and toes.

"Hi little one," he said softly as he held her closer.

The child liking the new feeling of safety as strong arms held her opened her sapphire eyes to look at the new character. "Heh what do you know, you have my blue eyes." He said while rocking her back and forth. The baby cooed her delight, and snuggled back into her blanket. So she could fall asleep again.

"So what is the child's name?" asked the nurse, as she held her clipboard.

"Videl Satan," he answered. As he stopped rocking her. " May she come home tonight?"

"Well she is perfectly healthy, amazingly enough. You may take her home as soon as you please."

"Thank you," he looked down at Videl as she drowsily opened and closed her eyes again. " I do after all have a promise to keep."

Every night for a week Mr. Satan stayed up, thinking about Natas. Holding the locket, and staring at the picture of both of them which showed a time he would never experience again. He was still mourning, but the depression feeling subsided. He knew he had to focus his full attention on the baby, since he was the only one there to take care of her. But he couldn't help his sleepless nights, so many thoughts ran through his head, so many that they were impossible to ignore. But on occasion Videl cried, snapping him back to reality. All of his friends who are parents would kill him for saying this, but he rather liked it when Videl cried for him. It kept him from thinking too much, and he enjoyed the way she depended on him. He knew that one day she would become independent and stop needing him as much, so he made sure to enjoy every moment with his growing child.

"WAHHHH," came Videl's cry from the baby room.

Heh speak of the devil he thought as he tucked the locket back into the bedside table drawer, and walked through the darkened hallway to Videl's room. He turned on the light to reveal cloud cover walls, with rainbows spreading wall to wall.

"What's wrong Viddy Bear," he asked as he picked her up, she stopped crying, but retained a small pouty face. He checked her diaper, found it dry and deduced she was probably hungry. He went into the kitchen and heated up a small bottle. And fed her. "There all gone," Hercule said smiling as he placed the empty bottle in the sink. He rocked Videl back and forth trying to make her sleep again. Her big blue eyes looked up at her dad, as he held her protectively. She gurgled in delight as she nuzzled her nose into his nightshirt. Later he placed her back into her crib, and with a happy grin headed back to his room.

Many years pass and he still kept his promises. He watched Videl as she learned to walk without him, learn to read, and became a strong fighter. Just as her mother wanted. He watched with a father's pride as she became the hero of West Capital City (original name of Satan City) and developed her own values and beliefs. But just as he predicted Videl didn't need him as much as she grew into a young woman.

End Flashback

"I regret I was the reason that we never talked at all for so many years," Mr. Satan said as he looked at his daughter. "I promise to be there, Videl. Whenever you need me."

"Oh daddy," Videl said as tears came to her eyes, and she hugged him.

"What, you're crying again what did I do wrong now." Mr. Satan asked puzzled

"Nothing daddy I'm so happy now, thank you." She said as she drew back away from the hug. "I've been waiting so long to know all this. I never asked you about mom, for fear it would make you sad again."

"Your welcome Viddy Bear," he said as he looked up at the night sky, "Wow look how late it became, we better head home."

Videl nodded, and as they stood up and walked home, neither saying a word, but this time not because they didn't know what to say, but because all that needed to be was said.

The next morning Videl awoke with a blissful yawn, a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders and for once she felt she had a perfect night sleep. She lay back down to rest, when she felt something under her head. She got up and found a small package had been placed on her pillow. Curious she removed the ribbon and opened to find a note, and something wrapped in tissue. She first read the note that said,

Dear Viddy Bear,

Someone once told me that there were something's that only a parent can answer. And I hope last night I did do just that. I know I can't be the only one in your life anymore, you after all is growing up to be a fine woman. And I know you'll make someone very happy one day. But I ask for you to please never forget who your parents are. And I wanted to thank you for helping me remember who I once was. And helping me overcome my sadness I felt about Natas.

PS,

I have a happy belated birthday gift for you I you like it.

Lovingly,

You father.

Videl smiled at the note, and placed it carefully in her memory box she kept by her bed. She then unwrapped the tissue to find a gold locket, that although was just cleaned, it had the old smooth feeling of many years of tired hands holding it. On the back was a date that went back seventeen years ago and the inscription I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU. And on the inside you could see a picture of a young and happy Mr. Satan with an equally happy, beautiful woman who had Chestnut eyes, and long flowing black hair. To the other side was a newer photo of Gohan and Videl smiling in a sweet embrace of their own true love. Videl closed the locket, and with a tear placed it around her neck.

She always knew that her father loved her but now he had proven exactly how much he did. For the love of a daughter he expressed his soul. And had gained back the respect he had almost lost. But no matter how angry, or how far they drift apart. The love between a child and his parent can never be broken, for it is the strongest bond the world shall ever know.

Wow that was long but I'm really proud of this, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed a new outlook on Mr. Satan a character who although is rather annoying does care for his daughter.