The next chapter is posted! Enjoy :)
They all made it back to the Briefs Residence five minutes later. Frieza found a clearing in their large backyard and landed the cruiser there. The three adults exited the craft. Frieza spotted several people out on the oversized balcony. The same exact one he was transported to with Goku, Lord Beerus, and Whis right before the Tournament of Power started. And then transported back to after it was over.
He felt a small hand on his shoulder and looked over at Mia, who stood beside him with Liana cradled against her chest in her other arm. She had a small reassuring smile on her face. Sorcha was behind them, observing the nice new surroundings with a beaming smile on her face.
Frieza gave her a small smile back, before he carefully picked up the young mother and their child.
"Ready?" He asks.
Amusement glinted in her sky-blue eyes.
"I was actually about to ask you that." She said.
Without another word, Frieza slowly lifted off the grass and headed for the balcony several meters away. He looked over his shoulder and called for Sorcha to follow them. The alien woman who was distracted from her new surroundings, snapped out of it, and followed suit behind the small family. Of course, they didn't have all that far to go and were touching down on the balcony less than a couple minutes later.
They were all met with gasps and stares from all the people who were there. The group consisted of most of the Z-Fighters. Beside Goku and Vegeta, Piccolo, Gohan, and Krillin were here. Trunks and Goten were sitting at one of the tables at the other end of the balcony chatting but paused when they saw three new people show up on the balcony right after their dads. And Yamcha was also there hanging out with the others. He too froze and stared in shock at who just showed up.
An awkward silence filled the balcony. Until someone started to muscle their way through the group surrounding Frieza, Mia, baby Liana, and Sorcha.
"What's going on? Will you all move!" An annoyed feminine voice rang out.
Gohan and Picolo moved aside as the person in question elbowed them and shoved them aside so they can see what everyone was looking at. It was in fact, Bulma. She didn't see them land because she had just come out the sliding glass door to the balcony just a few moments ago. The blue haired woman gasped in surprise when her eyes landed on her long-lost friend.
"Ma...Mia!?" She gasped.
Bulma quickly made her way over to the younger brunette and was about to pull her into a hug, but stopped short when she saw the tiny bundle that was a small infant in Mia's arms. Her eyes ping ponged back and forth between Mia, the baby, and Frieza.
Not being able to stand all the awkwardness anymore, Mia finally spoke up.
"It's great to see you again, Bulma. I really missed you guys. But as you can see...there is an awfully lot of explaining to do." Mia admitted.
"Then you better start explaining." Vegeta bluntly stated.
Bulma turned her attention to her husband with an annoyed look.
"Seriously? We thought the worst has happened to Mia and that's what you have to say!?" She snapped.
Vegeta opened his mouth to send a retort back. But Mia beat him to it.
"And I will explain. Can we please sit down though first? It's not exactly something that can be explained all in a matter of minutes." Mia explained.
"Of course, Sweetie." Bulma said.
The Capsule Corps. Heiress couldn't help it. She closed the last couple feet and gently wrapped an arm around her shorter friend in a one-armed hug so not to disturb the baby in Mia's arms.
"I thought you were dead." Bulma whispered, tears building up in the corner of her eyes.
Mia wrapped her free arm around Bulma and hugged her back.
"I'm sorry. I promise, I will explain everything." She says.
The older woman led Mia to the closest table and pulled out one of the seats for her to sit in. Mia thanked her and sat down. Liana was still looking around in curiosity. The infant gazing at all the new faces surrounding them.
Sorcha eventually followed them the table and sat down next to Mia. But when Frieza tried to follow suit the other Z-Fighters stood before him, blocking him from going any further, and still glaring at him. The former tyrant started to get annoyed and showed it by narrowing his eyes at the group.
"You mind moving out of the way? Or are you all going to continue glowering at me for the rest of the day?" Frieza retorted.
"Just what are you doing back here? And why was Mia with you?" Gohan snapped.
"Were you not paying attention just now? She already told you we will explain everything. Now, kindly move yourself out of the way." The former tyrant said.
"Forget it, just leave!" Krillin growled.
"That's enough guys. Just let him pass. It's best we all sit and listen to what they have to say." Goku said, cutting in.
"But Dad..." Gohan started.
"No buts, Gohan. Just step aside. I'm sure we all want answers. But we won't get them if we all stand here cornering him and not give him a chance to speak." Goku said, cutting him off.
Piccolo narrowed his eyes at the petite tyrant, before turning his dark gaze back to the orange clad saiyan.
"I don't like this, Goku. But fine, have it your way." The namekian said, before backing up.
Frieza casually walked past them once Piccolo moved out of the way. They all still never took their eyes off of him, still not trusting Frieza not to do anything. This went on until he took a seat next to Mia and their infant daughter.
The Z-Fighters then followed them back to the table. Some of them sat down while the others stood by the table. All of them waiting for an explanation from the pair. Ironically, none of them paid no mind to the light blue alien woman in their company. Except for Bulma, who had politely introduced herself to Sorcha right before everyone parked themselves at the large round table.
Even Goten and Trunks made their way over to the group, eager to hear and see what was going on. They too were surprised to see Mia after all this time. And equally curious about the baby in her arms.
"Well, as you know, this all kind of started after you gave me the dragon ball radar and let me use one of your Capsule Power Bikes to go search for a dragon ball that was nearby." Mia started, as she addressed Bulma.
The blue haired scientist knew what she was talking about. She remembered that day like it happened yesterday. She recalls feeling incredible guilt when Mia never returned and she couldn't find or figure out what had happened to her. Bulma does recall that the others did feel Frieza's energy signature around the same time and they tried to pinpoint it and get to that location as fast as they could. But before they could get there, the tyrant had already gone.
Around that same time is when she and the others noticed that Mia mysteriously disappeared. Bulma would've never guessed that the dragon ball Mia set out to find was in the exact vicinity as Frieza's energy signature at the time.
"Yes, I remember." Bulma replied.
"I was able to find the location of the dragon ball. But I wasn't alone. A couple of Frieza's men came along. Apparently, they were searching for the dragon balls too. They found it and not long after, Frieza came." Mia explained.
Vegeta snorted, "Trying to make your wish again? Why am I not surprised?"
Frieza rolled his eyes.
"Well, it's quite obvious I didn't. That was because Mia plundered the wish before I could say anything to the dragon." The Former Galactic Emperor stated.
"Wait, you did?" How did you manage that, Mia?" Goku asked.
"I...kind of blurted out a random yet thoughtful wish while partially hiding behind a tree nearby." She admitted, with a sheepish look on her face.
Goku couldn't help but let out a small chuckle.
"So, I see you pulled the same stunt Oolong did when Bulma, Yamcha, and I were kids." Goku said, with some laughter in his voice as he recalls that funny memory.
Mia and some of the others gave him a questioning look. While Bulma rubbed her hand down her face with a groan, and Yamcha started to laugh a little.
"Uhh, Dad? What are you talking about? And when did Oolong ever make a wish?"" Gohan asked.
"Like I said, we were kids at the time and it happened long ago. We were trapped in this crazy castle with all these weird traps. And we found out it belonged to this weird little blue guy who called himself Emperor Pilaf. He and his goons had just obtained all the dragon balls and were about to make a wish. We were all almost too late to stop him. He was in the middle of making his wish when out of nowhere Oolong blurts out a very strange and random wish for this very comfy pair of underwear." Goku explained.
Some of them gaped at Goku, while the others just shook their heads, and were not all that surprised for that little perverted pig's wish. Surprisingly, Frieza found it to be quite humorous. Even Sorcha started to laugh at the ending to that story. Because nothing could be more random than wishing for a pair of comfy undies.
In the end, Mia couldn't help but laugh too. She kind of knew Oolong long enough to know that it doesn't sound so odd of a wish when it was from the likes of him. He was almost if not just as much a perv as Master Roshi.
"You really do have the strangest friends, Kakarot." Vegeta muttered.
"As amusing as it is, can we get back on track here?" Piccolo cut in, not finding it as amusing as the others.
"Well, as you can imagine, I wasn't very happy that she stole my wish from me. Figuring death was an easy way out, I made the decision to take her back to the ship and teach her a lesson instead." Frieza added into their story.
And as expected, everyone was throwing death glares his way at his heinous confession. If they weren't on the balcony, some may have attempted to give the former Emperor a beat down for it.
"It wasn't always like that though. Things started to slowly shift as the months went on." Mia quickly chimed in.
The pair went back and forth sharing their story. Even Sorcha added to it here and there. And as Mia stated earlier, it took a while to explain the whole story. By the time they got to the birth of their daughter, everyone was stunned to hear about every even that led up to their child being born. But there was still one thing that was harder to explain then the rest of their crazy story.
How exactly does one explain that the one person they all know personally to be a cold-blooded killer: falling in love over time with someone? And not just someone; but a human of all beings? The Z-Fighters knew Frieza. They know he's someone who always despised the weak and thought them as pathetic insects. Yet here he was; keeping close to their human friend. And the craziest twist is the child he had with her. The same child who had dozed off in her mother's arms a few minutest prior while her parents sat back and explained their story.
Most of them remained rather quiet after Mia and Frieza told their story. Probably because they didn't know what to say. Even Trunks and Goten were at a loss for words. The youths clearly remember all the times they went searching for her themselves after they learned she didn't come back to the house that day.
"It is certainly quite a story, as well as a lot to take in. But still, I think we are all just glad that you're alright, Mia. And you're finally back home." Gohan said, breaking the silence.
"Thank you. And believe me when I say, I'm more than glad to be home, and happy to see you all again after all this time. I also know this comes to quite a shock to you all and will be challenging to adjust to. But in the end, it's just as we said. We just want to live normal happy lives here as a family and raise our little girl in a place we know she will be happy and safe." Mia explained.
"And no one has the right to deny you that, Hun. That includes us. As a mom, I understand wanting what's best for your kids. You live your life the way you want to." Bulma told her.
It warmed Mia's heart hearing that from her closest friend. But then she knew if anyone would always stand by her and be supportive of her; it was Bulma. The older woman was one of the very few that knew everything about her, including her horrible past. It's because of that, Bulma wanted nothing more than Mia's happiness.
The Capsule Corps. Heiress could clearly see her friend was truly happy. It showed when Mia would every now and then glance down at her baby girl with a tender smile on her face. And the brief glances she would share with Frieza. In which, it was pretty weird seeing the tyrant glance back at her friend with the same look of love and devotion in his gaze. Especially, when she knew just as much as the rest of them how much of a monster he was.
While everyone was still not happy about the notion of the Evil Emperor living among them here on Earth, they still all knew Bulma had a point. None of them can't tell the pair they can't live here. It was their choice on how they wish to live their lives. No one can interfere with that.
"So, do you have an idea where you want to settle?" Gohan asks.
"We were thinking around this area. Because the more I thought about it, I just don't think back home in Virginia Beach will be a good choice for us. I feel like people there will be more judgmental, and it will be harder on Liana and Frieza. Not to mention I'm sure I have no home there anymore to go home to. Same with a job.
I feel everything we will need will be right here. You guys are here, and you're all the closest to a family I've ever had. And Liana will have friends here that are like her. I also know the company I worked for back in Virginia Beach is huge and well known in several other countries including Japan. As I recall they have a couple locations here in South City.
It's something I can look into once I settle in. Though the settling in will be what's most challenging. It's something we sadly have continually been getting road blocked in when trying to figure something out." Mia admitted.
"How is that challenging? You of all people know I have plenty of capsule homes tucked away in my lab for when and if certain situations arose. And this sounds like one of those situations." Bulma stated.
Mia's eyes widened in surprised. Here she was going to ask if she and her small family could be temporarily set up in one of Bulma's many guestrooms while she found a job and saved up money for a home. Only for Bulma to imply that she would give her a home.
"Bulma are you saying what I think you're saying?" Mia inquired.
The older woman smiled, "Well duh, Silly. You think I was going to let one of my oldest friends live out on the streets and with a newborn no less?"
"That is very generous of you. But I was simply going to ask if we could stay in one of your guestrooms temporarily until I found a job and saved up enough to at least rent an apartment. I can't ask you to lend me one of your capsule homes." Mia informs her.
"You didn't ask. I offered. And I doubt the three of you will be thrilled about living out of a guestroom. No, a family needs a home. Please, just take the offer, Mia." Bulma pushed.
"Yes, please do. Because I rather not have this bastard living under my roof." Vegeta rudely interjected.
"No one asked you Vegeta." Bulma snapped at his rude comment. Before turning back to her friend.
"Ignore him, this is both your choice." She said, looking between her and Frieza.
It was hard. Mia didn't like something huge like that just being handed to her. Especially, since she grown used to working for the things she needed. But at the same time, she knows she can't really refuse the offer either. Bulma was right, it wouldn't be fair if the three of them were living out of a guestroom.
Her attention was drawn to Liana, who was still snoozing away in her arms. This is what helped make her decision easier. She wanted a home for her daughter. A home for all of them. Mia then looked to Frieza, who gave her an encouraging smile. Before she turned her attention back to Bulma.
"Alright, we accept your gracious offer. I truly can't thank you enough for it, Bulma." She said.
"Don't have to thank me. I'm just glad that you're alive after all this time. In a way, I feel like this is the least I could do for you. And don't worry about utility payments. That all can be easily covered. Other expenses will be covered too until you can get a job and start saving. So, you guys are basically all set." The older woman stated.
Mia couldn't help the happy tears that filled her eyes. This woman truly had a big heart and truly looked out for her family and friends. It was her, Goku, and the others that showed her that people can be kind and care. And that not everyone was cruel or uncaring like her parents were.
The rest of that afternoon went quite well. Bulma ordered a ton of food to be brought over for everyone in celebration of Mia's return home. Goku couldn't stuff his face enough with the delicious food once it came. Even Vegeta's mood dampened once he got food in his system. The rest of the Z-Fighters appreciated the meal as well.
At some point, Sorcha started wandering about the balcony talking to others and getting acquainted with them. When Mia tried to see where her friend went, she saw her over near the balcony blushing three different shades of blue as she awkwardly talked to Yamcha. The former fighter too was blushing like a maniac as he conversed with the pretty alien woman.
Mia found it cute and was happy for Sorcha. She hopes something good can come out of it. Yamcha may have been rather fickle. Especially, after he became a popular ball player. But she knew his heart was in the right place.
Her attention turned to Frieza, who still sat close by to her. He currently had Liana in his arms and was lightly running his fingertips through the infant's soft hair. Even after all these months, it was still a little odd seeing him smile as much as he has. Mainly because when he first brought her aboard his ship, he never really smiled at all.
Sure, he'd sneer or have a condescending grin on his face from time to time but never a carefree or genuine smile. Not like he has now. It lifted her heart and spirit watching the two people she loved most interact. And it was something she will always look forward to from here on out.
Until Next Time ;)