The next chapter is posted! WARNING: Mentions of past child abuse, trauma, and drug abuse in this chapter. Enjoy :)

The months continued to float by for the unusual pair. As Mia grew bigger, she became more fidgety and restless. Frieza has noticed this too. He can also tell she is getting more anxious. At first, she was anxious the first few months, worrying she'd miscarry. Now, he sees there are other things on her mind that are making her worry. Though he has yet to ask what it is.

Mia was currently seven and a half months along now. Her stomach more pronounced as the child continues to grow bigger and stronger each day. Frieza could also sense their growing power. It truly amazed him that this child was already displaying quite an usually high energy signature before they are even born. He would've thought that being half human that they wouldn't be all that strong. But for once, he was wrong in his assumptions and the human side of this child doesn't seem to be doing much in diluting their power. It made him feel proud.

In the very beginning, Frieza didn't know what to think of all this. He was shocked to say the least and wasn't sure he was all too thrilled of the idea of having a child. Seeing he wasn't fond of kids at all and thought they were nothing but a nuisance. But within this last year, he became increasingly fond of the young human woman that he kept in his company.

All the time spent with her has cracked away at his cold black heart. And seeing her smile, laugh, and watching how everything progressed these past months once her pregnancy was revealed filled him with an array indescribable feelings. Frieza will never admit it out loud, but it scared him. Because after all this time, he's still unsure on how to gage these strange emotions.

It was a bright sunny day today, with a light warm breeze in the air. They were currently out for a walk outside around the base. Mia insisted on it, wanting to stretch her legs. And this is just one of many walks they have been on. Not that Frieza minded that in the least. His only concern that she doesn't over exert herself and tries to keep these walks short.

But Mia knew how to pace herself and Dr. Bananan informed them that going for walks wasn't harmful. If anything, they were good for her. It's good to move about and not be so sedentary during pregnancy. The doctor just joked with her and told her not to start training for a marathon run anytime soon. Something she got a good chuckle out of.

Mia had come to like Dr. Bananan in these past months during her checkups and ultrasounds. He was very informative, had good bedside manners, and was pretty humorous. He always put her mind at ease and reassured her of any concerns or worries she had in regard to the baby's health. And even though he hasn't said it, she knew Frieza was just as relieved when the doctor would mention during each visit that the child's development was still going smoothly.

Seeing the baby on the ultrasound and hearing their strong heartbeat was all the assurance the anxious couple needed. Mia was especially blown away by the ultrasound images. It was a pretty crystal-clear image of the baby within her. Especially now when the baby is bigger, and you can clearly make out the features and details.

The child looked human with their five toed feet and ears. There was also no tail present. Yet, they could clearly make out dark colored nails and dark rimmed eyes. And the ultrasound there was so advanced that they knew the gender by the time Mia was only nine weeks along.

Back to the present, they were currently talking about a couple topics about themselves, as they walked down one of the pathways. Frieza was in the middle of telling her a rather comical story about something he did in his youth. It was pretty surprising to Mia when she learned that he was quite the mischievous child who got himself into a lot of trouble at times.

"Something tells me your mom was pretty pissed at you for using her good makeup like that." Mia said, with some laughter in her voice.

Frieza smirked, "But it was worth seeing the hilarious look on my brother's face when he awoke to his lovely little makeover. I think since then he learned how to sleep with one eye open. I know he tried to pummel me for it for being humiliated the way he was. When he didn't know he was wearing makeup at first and went to go flirt with a female he fancied at a Banquet our father was hosting later that evening.

The young woman was laughing so hard, I thought she'd soil herself at the impromptu makeup job I gave him while he was sleeping on the lounge in the palace library. Her friends were laughing as well, and Cooler couldn't figure out what it was that was so amusing to them. He became incredibly embarrassed that the woman he intended to court started laughing in his face when he approached her and addressed her.

Father was also beside himself with embarrassment when he noticed Cooler with makeup cake on his face. Probably, because he looked rather similar to a clown because I over did it. I recall father reaming him out afterwards because he thought it was my brother's idea of a joke and did it on purpose. And mother was mortified when she saw his face as well during the banquet.

Thought she was going to slap him for using her best makeup. Especially, since the kind she used and favored were not easy to come by and were imported from another world."

Mia started laughing again, imagining what his poor brother must've looked like with all that makeup on. Because Frieza like any other seven-year-old at the time, most likely made him look like a living nightmare.

"I don't blame your brother. It makes me want to sleep with one eye open around you too now!" She said, between laughs.

He rolls his eyes with a smirk and shakes his head.

"You have nothing to worry about. Besides, I never pull the same joke twice. Because then they would know what's coming. It's always better to stay creative and think of something new to catch them off guard." Frieza said.

"Either way, I'm sure it didn't stop your brother from trying to kick your ass each time you pulled a stunt on him." Mia replied.

"What can I say, Cooler had it coming each time. And he deserved it each time as well." He stated.

"It's just a shame you two didn't get along. Being an only child, I always imagined what it would be like having a sibling. And it made me envy friends that had them. I feel like some people underestimate just how lonely it can be when it's just you." She says, with a sad smile.

While Mia didn't have the perfect home life she's always wanted growing up. But it still never stopped her from imagining what it would be like to share a childhood with a sister or a brother. To have someone to share your deepest secrets with or depend on. Someone to lean on when your feeling sad or wanting someone to play with.

She feels a hand on her back and turns her attention to Frieza. His smile slowly melted away and turned into a mask of hesitance.

"I must say, it's strange that within all this time, you still never really talked about your past. The only hint I gathered was that your parents weren't good people. I know it's hard, but...you think you can tell me a little more about your childhood?" Frieza asks.

Mia closes her eyes with a sigh. She notices a bench up ahead on the right. As they draw closer, she gestures to it. Not only does she feel like this story may take a little while to explain, she was also getting a little tired and wanted to sit for a while.

They stopped in front of the bench, and she took a seat. Frieza followed and sat next to her. He knew there was a chance that what she was about to tell him would open old wounds. But he wanted to know more about where she came from.

They sat in silence for nearly a minute. Frieza could tell it wasn't going to be an easy start and was about to open his mouth and tell her she didn't have to talk about it if she truly didn't want to. But that silence was broken by the sound of her voice.

"I was born to teen parents. Obviously, I wasn't planned and was a complete accident. Something they clearly regretted going through with and reminded me of that each time they were pissed and told me they wished I was aborted." She paused; a lump formed in her throat at those memories.

"Dad was a loner and mom's parents kicked her out when they found out she was pregnant. But I also heard that was something that was a long time coming because she was also a great embarrassment and disappointment to them. Always in and out of trouble and collared three times for drugs before the age of sixteen. Dad was no better with a rap sheet of his own with the local police.

Mom moved in with him when she was kicked out. He lived in a very old, beat-up house that was left to him by his parents when they died. He was eighteen at the time and mom seventeen. And to this day, I consider it a goddamn miracle mom was off the drugs while pregnant with me, so I was lucky enough to be born healthy.

But that's where the luck ends. Because not long after I was born the neglect started. There were many times they'd forget to feed me, change me, and bathe me. They also barely kept up with appointments with the pediatrician. And the few times they did bring me in, the doctor would express his concern about me being underweight and undernourished. That was when social services were called in and started making routine visits to the house.

Surprisingly, it didn't do me any good or help me. Because when my parents learned they would make these visits, they decided they would put on a show, and lie. They would pretend that everything was going well and that they were doing better." She stopped and let out a short bitter laugh.

"Of course, they didn't do it for my sake and wanted to do better. They only did it because they knew if they got in trouble this time, they would be facing some pretty serious jail time. So, to avoid that they would put on the loving doting parents act for the social worker. And for years, they were able to pull it off. Even when I was old enough to talk, I was too afraid to say anything. Because I knew if I did, they would hurt me. They...even went as far to threaten to kill me. And at least once...they almost did." Mia paused again.

She pursed her lips and squeezed her eyes shut trying to hold the tears in. Her mind going back to the time her mother once held a pillow over her face. Then to the time her father almost stabbed her with a very large kitchen knife. It made her heart clench. And she couldn't stop the hot tears from escaping her eyes and rolling down her cheeks. Mia covered her mouth trying to stifle a small sob that tried to escape.

That was when she felt a hand firmly grasps hers. And she turned her watery gaze to Frieza.

"I was their trash. And they never let me forget it." She sobbed.

A wide range of emotions flashed behind those crimson orbs, before he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his chest. Mia lightly draped her arms around his waist and pressed her face into his shoulder. Frieza tightened his embrace as she silently cried.

Anger took ahold of him. It was hard hearing that the woman he has come to care about has literally lived through Hell on Earth. A hell that was brought upon her by the very ones that were supposed to love and protect her. And yet, he felt a tremendous amount of guilt because he didn't treat her any different. When she first came to him, he used her whenever he felt like it and beat her when she pissed him off.

"I'm sorry, Mia." He said, barely above a whisper.

His apologies went both ways. He was sorry for what she endured as a child, and he was sorry for how he had treated her while aboard his ship. Now, all he wanted to do was figure out how to make it better for her. And not just her, but for their child.

There was silence for the next few minutes as he continued to hold her while she cried. The sobs gradually died down after a few minutes.

"I'm scared. I don't want to mess up with her." Mia says.

Frieza brushes a few locks of hair over her shoulder.

"You won't. Because you're nothing like them. I know you, Mia. I know you care about our child. I've seen it. Look at all your doing to make sure she is healthy. You have gone above and beyond to make sure these months go as smoothly as possible leading up to her birth." He assured her.

"And you're not alone in this. It will be a learning process for us both. But we will be fine." He added.

Mia believed him. She always thought in the beginning that she'd be left alone to care for this baby. Only for Frieza to make it clear a few months prior that that will not be the case at all. She is still unaware just how much work and training he plans to drop once their child arrives. That is how serious he is taking this whole thing.

A small smile makes its way to her face. Which turns into a light grimace when the baby kicks her side. Frieza's eyes widen slightly because he felt it too. It quite a strong kick too. He turns his face slightly and kisses her forehead. While she continues to lean into his embrace.

They sat here for a while in each other's company. All while silently planning ahead and anticipating what to expect next. Whatever it will be; they will face it together.

Until Next Time ;)