Disclaimer: I don't own DragonBallZ.
My sincere thanks to everyone who reviewed! I really am thankful for your supportive feedback, and want to give you the greatest of appreciation! My hat's off to animeprincess1452, Spring Rain of Harusame, Ladii Chocolate, and Trugeta! You guys are awesome!
To animeprincess1452: Thank you very much! I'm so glad that you liked it! And Demi is going through a rough time, as you'll find out. Also, I believe it's only natural for everyone to be excited about the little one, but we'll just see how it really goes...
To Spring Rain of Harusame: Thank you! And in answer to your question, no, I wasn't stalling for time. That I had planned out and worked quite hard on. But I understand that you've been left in suspense, and you're eager to see how everything works out! Thank you for your encouragement!
To Ladii Chocolate: Hello again! That's okay that you couldn't review the last chapter, although I am glad to hear from you again! Congratulations on getting such a good grade in your Honors Algebra, for that is really something to be proud of! Anyway, I'm happy that you're excited to see what the baby's gender is, and I hope you like how it turns out! Thank you!
To Trugeta: Thank you for those compliments, I appreciate them very much! I hope you enjoy this chapter and how everything proceeds, for you know that it is always my intention to please! And as for leaving everything in suspense goes, I do that partly to motivate myself. I find that personally it promotes me to continue with my writing. Thank you!
I hope you all like this chapter, then, for I know I enjoyed working on it!
Trunks remained by Demi's side as she still lay in the hospital bed, glancing every now and then at his wristwatch. It was almost one o'clock in the morning, and the edgy father-to-be was becoming more concerned and weary. Who would have thought that it was even possible to be concerned and weary at the same time...?
Somehow Demi had managed to fall into a sort of half-sleep; her pale, sweaty face displayed a captured expression of frustration, soreness, and exhaustion as well as temporary relief. Arms sitting limply at her sides, mouth slightly open, and breathing softly, she looked as if she was taking a much-needed break.
Trunks was glad that his family and friends had gone home, at least, as they had so been advised. It probably would have only added more stress to his thoughts, knowing they were waiting for something that was not going to happen anytime soon.
He looked up when he saw Demi stir uneasily, obviously troubled by the ever-present sensation inside of her. At the rate things were going, he began to doubt that the baby would even be here by next evening.
A short while after it had turned one in the morning, the doctor returned to check on Demi and see if she was progressing any. As Trunks was soon informed (and much to his dismay, at that), she was not...
It was about half an hour later, and Trunks' still-tired wife 'woke up' from her half-sleeping state, moaning faintly, but enough to cause him to turn worriedly toward her. "What is it?"
She weakly reached a hand out to him, fumbling for his arm, until she snatched his jacket sleeve and clenched it tightly. "Help me up..."
"What?"
"I...have to sit up..." She held onto him securely and positioned herself upright against her pillows, being sure to keep one supportive hand under her rotund stomach.
Trunks did as his wife requested, helping her to sit up as he put a hand on her shoulder and picked her up. She finally seemed to feel somewhat more at ease in her new position, and sighed with a deep, cleansing breath.
"How are you feeling?"
She shook her head weakly before closing her eyes again, hoping to fall asleep...
. . . . . .
Nearly 32 hours later...
Demi lay on her side, head sunk deep into her pillow (which was surprising, as it happened to be one of those shallow hospital pillows) and arms hanging loosely at her sides. Her eyes were now dull, and clearly reflected her drained and enervated mood with half-closed lids and a swollen appearance.
She was going through quite an experience, as well; for one, her back was aching like it never had before in her life, and this she found extremely hard to ignore.
Of course, they had been rather bothered by the endless calls (not to mention visits) from several of their friends...and family. It seemed that Bulma and Bra were very eager to know whether the new addition to the Briefs family had arrived yet, but every time they inquired they received the same, rather upsetting answer: 'No.' Needless to say that this left grandmother- and aunt-to-be downhearted...
As for Trunks, it was...oh...nerve-racking, so to speak, every time he had to go out for something. Both he and Demi still had to eat, hence this required for him to bring back food. Demi had also requested for her anxious husband to retrieve some of her belongings, primarily her nightgown and blanket. Although she would not admit the reason why to him, inwardly she felt she would be more comfortable with her personal belongings nearby, as she was yearning for home.
Trunks kept his eyes closed in tiredness, hoping to let his heavy eyelids have a rest, when suddenly he heard more breathing, and was quickly brought out of his drowsy state.
Demi started to breathe rhythmically through her nose, chest rising and falling with each intake, trying to remain calm. However, she eventually found this to be no easy task as the pain expanded inside of her, and she had to grab her nervous husband by the hand and hold on for dear life.
"Get him...Get...the doctor..." Her breathing pace quickened and she started to shift agitatedly.
"Okay, I'm going to get the doctor! I'm going! I think, I mean, I got to go, I mean, Demi, you got to let my hand go!" He tried to break free from her stiff grip, until finally he managed to jerk away and rush toward the present midwife. "Contractions!"
. . . . . .
1 hour later...
Demi was breathing like crazy now, sweating large beads and by no means feeling better than before. Trunks kept her hand within his, massaging it gently as he endeavored to soothe her.
The doctor continued to closely monitor her while the midwife encouraged her to keep breathing. 'But really,' Trunks thought, 'if she keeps breathing like this, she's going to use up all the oxygen in the room.'
"It looks like the baby's getting ready to come. Start preparing yourselves," the doctor said, and at this remark, Demi straightened and breathed deeper, while Trunks began biting his nails frantically...
. . . . . .
3 hours later...
"Push 'em out! Push 'em out! You can do it! You can do it!" Trunks tried to support Demi as much as possible, though perhaps he was going a little overboard with his cheering... "Push 'em out! Push 'em out! Push! Push!"
Said wife, however, was far too focused on what was currently happening to think that the encouragement might seem a bit ridiculous; quite the opposite, for to her the sound of her husband's voice and the knowledge that he was right there for her eased her conscience greatly, and she tightened her hold on his arm.
The doctor and midwife, too, continued telling her to push as they monitored the writhing woman closer than ever.
Demi, sweating profusely, constricted her rather possessive grip on his arm (which caused Trunks to flinch as he immediately felt a lack of blood-flow to his hand), and moaned loudly.
Finally, after several long and agonizing minutes, Demi grabbed Trunks by the collar of his shirt, yanking him forward, and yelled loudly in his face. "I want this baby cut out of me right now!"
He cringed visibly as his sensitive eardrums started to ring. "Demi...!" He attempted to pry her hands loose from his shirt, when his attention was promptly turned by the one statement he'd been waiting for.
"Alright, here it comes," the doctor spoke up against the horrid groans emanating from the laboring woman's lungs.
And, only a few minutes later, a frail cry was heard, followed by a quick snip, and Trunks thought he was going to faint...
There you have it! Chapter finished, and I truly hope that you all liked it, for I worked very hard on this one in planning everything out and making sure that it worked well. Please review!