The next chapter is up! Enjoy :)

Aimee awoke to hearing someone chattering next to her. At first she couldn't make out words, it was muffled like she was listening from underwater. Several moments later, the words finally became clearer. She recognized the voices belonging to Frieza and Geeta.

"So, when do you plan on telling her then?" Geeta asked.

"In time, I want to wait for her to get better and regain more of her strength first." Frieza replied.

It was then, Aimee opened her eyes.

"Tell me what?" She asked, in a groggy voice.

Both of them ceased their chatter and stared at her. Geeta was the first one to speak.

"Hey! How are you feeling?" She asked with a smile.

Aimee went to sit up a little, before answering.

"I feel fine. Nothing hurts. Just still feel a bit tired. What happened?" The human woman asked.

Geeta looked to Frieza to answer her. He was silent at first, then he let out a drawn out sigh. Before he turned back to face Aimee.

"As you recall, you were gravely injured. I rushed you back to the ship as quickly as I could. I brought you down here to the Med Bay and we placed you in one of the healing tanks." The tyrant paused for a moment, before speaking again.

"Your wounds were severe and you lost a lot of blood. Your condition at first was critical. But eventually, you were stabilized. The tank did it's job and healed your injuries. But you're blood count was still quite low. So...the doctors decided on giving you a blood transfusion to replenish the blood you lost." He explained.

That's when Aimee noticed an intravenous tube sticking out from his arm. She followed it up to an I.V. bag and saw another tube leading down towards her. Then she finally noticed another intravenous tube in her own arm. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise. 'He's donating his blood to me?!' She thought incredulously. Then her gaze shot back to him.

"But...your not human. Is this really safe?" She questioned.

Her voice was tinted with worry as she asked him. Frieza nodded, and grasped her hand in reassurance.

"Yes, don't worry. It's safe. Despite us being from different races, our blood is compatible. The doctors wouldn't have suggested it otherwise. You will be fine." Frieza assured her.

It still weirded her out. But Aimee figured she'd take his word for it. They came this far and she doubts they would try something that could jeopardize her health and her life. She then turned her attention to Geeta and gave her a soft smile.

"You're here. I'm glad they came back for you. Are the others here too?" Aimee asks.

Geeta's smile widened as she nodded.

"Yeah, they are all here. We were situated in one of the dorm rooms upstairs. Then they gave us food and clothes." She replied.

Aimee noticed that the teen was no longer wearing something that barely covered anything. Now she was in a soft spandex dress and appeared much happier and chipper since she last saw the young girl. She was a bit surprised that Frieza abided by her request to send someone to get the girls. But nonetheless, grateful for it. She turned her attention back to the tyrant.

"Thank you, for listening to my request. They certainly didn't deserve to be left behind in that hell. Because of that, I couldn't leave them behind." Aimee said.

Frieza gave her a slight smile back, "Your Welcome."

An awkward silence started to develop between the two. Geeta noticed it, and figures it's time for her to go and give them some time to themselves.

"Well, I'm going to go to bed. I'm feeling pretty tired." She said, while feigning a yawn.

Geeta stood up from her seat, "I'm really glad you're ok, Aimee. I'll visit you again later."

Then she approached the older woman and wrapped her arms around her and whispered another heartfelt; 'Thank You' to her. Before she stood back up and turned around to leave. Aimee and Frieza were alone briefly, before Anuk came over.

"Well, we weren't expecting you to awaken this soon. How are you feeling?" He asked.

"I feel fine. Just still a little out of it." She replied.

Anuk nodded and inspected the I.V. bag. Then he asked her a couple more questions. The head doctor was quite satisfied with her answers. And then he turned his attention towards Frieza.

"It appears the blood is working more effectively and efficiently than we originally thought. I believe it's safe enough now to remove the I.V.s. Then you have two options: Have her stay here and continue her observation. Or you may bring her back to your quarters and just keep us updated on her condition. The choices are for the two of you to decide." Anuk stated.

Frieza looked to Aimee, "Well, what do you think? You want to stay here or come back to our quarters?" He asks her.

Aimee thought about it. In truth, she wanted some more privacy, and didn't want to be in with so many others. It be more quieter in his quarters too.

"I rather go back to you're room, please." She replies.

The tyrant gives her a brief nod and turns back to the head doctor. Anuk nods in understanding and proceeds to carefully remove their I.V.s It only took a few moments. Aimee flinches when he pulls the needle from her arm. Of course, Frieza barely notices or feels it.

"I still think it best he carries you. You may still be too weak stand, let alone walk." Anuk says.

But being the stubborn one that she is, Aimee shifts her legs over the side of the bed, and tries to pish off to stand. Frieza had an idea she would try this and was ready for when and if she falls. True enough, her legs give out from underneath her, and Frieza leaned in to grab her. Aimee places her arms on his shoulders for stability.

"I'll be fine. Just give me a moment. I should be able to walk just fine." She pressed.

He just shakes his head at her stubbornness. And before she could object, he scoops her up, and has her in his arms. Aimee levels him with a look, but he brushes it off. The tyrant thanks the head doctor for his services, before he proceeds to carry her out of the Med Bay.

It was a quiet walk, with hardly any words passed between them during the trip up to his room.

Once they made it into his quarters, he pulled the covers back with his tail, and then placed Aimee on the bed. She went to unfurl the thick blanket from her body, but stopped short when she realized she was topless. Frieza noticed something sitting on the end of the bed. When he got closer he noticed it was clothing. Looks like Berryblue went ahead and brought in some fresh clothes for her.

He brought the clothes over to Aimee. She thanked him and slipped the comfortable soft dress onto herself. Afterwards she pushed the medical blanket aside and pulled the covers back up. She laid back down and made herself comfortable. She looked over and saw Frieza was still standing some ways down next to the bed. He was staring down at the floor and appeared deep in thought.

"Hey, everything ok?" She asks, breaking him out of his stupor.

The tyrant looked back up and gave her a brief nod. Then Frieza approached her and was a bit hesitant as he sat down on the edge of the bed next to wear she laid. Aimee didn't take her eyes off of him. Something was wrong. She could tell something was deeply troubling him. Hopefully, he will tell her what is bothering him.

"Clearly something is bothering you." She says.

He eventually drags his crimson gaze towards her. Aimee laid there patiently, waiting for him to speak. Frieza closes his eyes with a sigh.

"It's just...we came very close to losing you. Had I been just a few minutes too late, you wouldn't be here." He said.

There was more he wanted to add. but he didn't know how. Aimee continued to study his face, never taking her eyes off of him.

"You know, I was...almost convinced you weren't going to come. In fact, I wasn't sure you would come at all. I didn't think you really had a reason to do so. It all comes down to one question I've been wanting to ask since I awoke back there. And that is; Why? Why did you come?" She asked.

Frieza was a bit taken aback at first by that question. Why? If anything, why would he not? Surely, she must know by now how important she has become to him. After all this time, did Aimee truly still think herself a plaything to him? Because that was far from ever being the case at this point.

"And tell me, why would I not, Aimee? Do you truly believe that after all this time, I still see you as something so worthless?" He replies.

He didn't mean for it to come out that way. But then, Frieza really wasn't so great at figuring a way to tackle this topic. Already, he was dreading the challenge of trying to tell her how he really feels about her.

Aimee flinches slightly when he mentions 'worthless'. But then, she knew if she in fact truly were worthless to him than he wouldn't have gone through all the trouble of getting her back. Not when he could've easily just replaced her when she went missing. It all came down to one statement.

"I just want the truth." She finally says.

"The truth...is something I have never been really good with." He confesses.

"Just try." Aimee says, barely above a whisper.

Frieza takes a breath, trying to swallow down the nerves.

"The truth is..." He stops momentarily. Her blue eyes were focused on his own, awaiting his answer.

It was there, on the tip of his tongue. But instead of getting out what he was trying to say. It took a quick one-eighty turn on him and he ended up uttering the last thing he wanted to say.

"The truth is, I realized from this whole ordeal how truly unsafe it is for you to remain here. Because of this, I think it maybe best...to bring you back to Earth." He said.

A mix of emotions were clearly written all over her face at the news. Happiness and relief were ever present. But then so was hurt and sadness. She was happy to hear that after all this time she maybe finally going home. Yet at the same time, she was feeling rather crushed.

Aimee knew there was much more to what Frieza wanted to tell her. And she can't understand why he's so hesitant or even afraid to tell her. He may have treated her poorly for the first few months while aboard his ship. But as time went on, she started noticing a change in him. Not only that, but it started bringing on a change within herself too. She started to feel something towards him.

"So, what now then?" She asked, though she is unsure she wants the answer to that question.

He swallows down the lump forming in his throat.

"It's...as I said. I think it's best to send you back to Earth. Because at least there you will be safe again." Frieza says.

She didn't say anything for several moments. It somewhat surprised Frieza when he saw tears in her now glassy eyes. Tears she was trying so hard to fight back.

"I am happy to hear I will be going back. But..." She hesitates to finish.

He tilts his head slightly, "But what?"

Aimee closes her eyes and lets out a shaky exhale.

"I also may never see you again." She finally draws out.

Frieza looks away, a bitter smile creeps up onto his face.

"And here I thought that was a good thing. Surely, you wouldn't want to see the likes of me again." He says.

Though as he says it, it makes his heart lurch. Yet, he knows it's true. After all, he took her from her life on Earth, and tried to mold her into the perfect toy. Frieza is unsure why it would matter to her if she did never see him again.

"If that is what you truly believe then I guess you don't see how far from the truth that really is." Aimee replied.

"Perhaps, but it doesn't change the situation at hand. Your no longer safe here. And next time...you may not be so lucky. Right now, you're safety is what matters most." He said.

She knows he's right. Still, it didn't stop the hole in her heart from getting bigger. A part of him knows it too. Because he can feel it as well.

"Can you at least do one more thing for me?" She asked.

Frieza slowly reaches over and lightly grasps her hand.

"Name it." He says.

"Please, send Geeta and the other girls back home. After the hell they have been through, they deserve to be back home with their families." She requests.

He gives her a small smile. Of course, she'd still be thinking about them, and would want the best. Because that is the kind of person Aimee is. It's funny, how his twisted soul could become drawn to the kind hearted soul that she is. But then irony is fickle that way.

"You have my word." Frieza said.

Since this conversation started, a smile finally makes it's way to her face.

"Thank you." She says.

"Your Welcome." He replies.

Several more moments of silence ensue. Before Frieza decides to speak again.

"Well, I think I should leave you to rest." He says.

As Frieza tries to pull his hand from hers, Aimee grabs it.

"Please stay." She lightly pleads.

He shouldn't, it's hard as it is knowing that he must let her go. And because of this, he wanted to be anywhere but here at the moment. But the pleading look on her face is too much. So he gives her a reluctant nod. The smile she gave him is worth the inner torment he was currently feeling.

Frieza lifts the covers and Aimee moves over just enough for him to slide in beside her. He pulls the covers back up and lays next to her. She shifts onto her side and moves closer. She drapes her arm across his lower abdomen and rests her cheek on his chest. While he slowly wraps his arms around her and holds her close.

There are no more words. Just silence and the comfort of their embrace. As he lied awake, staring up at the ceiling, he suddenly felt something wet hit his chest. Frieza didn't have to guess what it was, he just tightened his hold on Aimee ever so slightly. After struggling to keep her tears at bay, she finally just let them fall, and held onto him.

Oh no, Frieza choked. And because of this, it looks like he may have lost the opportunity to finally tell her how he feels. Not to mention it hurts him even more that Aimee may in fact feel the same. Still, he was right when he mentioned it was no longer safe for her in space. He knew when it came to her life, this isn't the time to be selfish. Can only hope they can find a way to work something out. Until Next Time ;)