Videl stretched then turned over in the bed to find Kashu next to her. She ran her fingers through his hair and smiled for a moment. It would've been nice to meet my daughter but I don't know what would've happened to the child I'm carrying. Her smile slightly receded. I never knew her and yet it hurts a bit knowing that my daughter has died. Videl placed her left hand upon her belly. It's a different reality and for right now she's safe within me…but it still saddens me nonetheless. She bent a bit and kissed Kashu on the forehead. I'm glad you and your siblings made it though.
Videl got out of bed then smelled the air. Toast, eggs, bacon, hash browns, sausage, biscuits and pancakes? She shook her head then went into her drawer. Pulling out small underclothes and a washcloth Videl grabbed a towel then set about her usual morning routine. Afterward she left the room and headed into the kitchen. Gohan turned and noticed her. After lying what had to of been the twentieth pancake down onto a plate before he turned off the stove. He smiled.
"Good morning. How are you feeling?" Videl shrugged.
"Well, now that morning sickness is out of the way I know I'm pregnant, but I don't how that should feel. I know what to expect and to be honest it scares me." Gohan walked over to her then knelt. He opened her robe to find her naked underneath as he rested his head next to her belly.
"Tell me, what is it that you're scared of?" Videl felt her body heat rise as she wanted to do something else. She shook her head. Kashu is in the other room.
"You know first-hand what's going to happen to me. I'm going to balloon in size and go slightly crazy. The pain is something I'm not all that worried about. Your mom tried to talk me into doing a natural birth like she did. Bulma on the other hand suggested drugs." Gohan stood then looked into her eyes.
"I won't be going anywhere. I've seen crazy and I doubt you could reach my mother's level of that when she carried Goten. She had Grandpa and me running in circles to please her every whim. It wasn't until then that I learned that my mom has a taste for dinosaur flesh and peanut butter when she's pregnant. Besides…" His hand drifted beneath her robe as he slowly inserted two fingers into her sex.
Videl suppressed a moan as he continued. "I don't care how big you get. I'll still want you and I'll be happy to prove it whenever you ask." Gohan cut off another moan as he kissed her fiercely then cupped her buttocks with a possessiveness that was foreign and new. Gohan gently lifted then placed her onto the counter. "I know what you want. Do you think you have it in you not to wake up Kashu?" Overtaken by the sensation that ran through her body like electricity all she could do was pant. Gohan grinned as he opened up her robe.
He placed his right hand lightly under her chin and found want in her eyes. Starting with her lips he worked his way down to the nape of her neck. She started to giggle then moan as his left hand drifted down to her sex once more. His fingering caused her to choke down a moan. In that moment he mildly pushed Videl onto her back. What's going on? He's never done this before. From out the corner of her eye she noticed that Gohan had a long blue feather in his hand. He stared at it for a bit before he returned his attention back to her.
"I'm sorry if I've been inattentive to your wants and desires lately. When I went to get the morning paper I found this feather and remembered some things. Like…" He ran the feather down her perspiring chest, then down the inside of her thighs as he began to tickle her. Videl tried to hold in her laughter and it hurt. "…this."
When Videl stopped trying to do so she was surprised to find odd sounding sighs escaping her. An odd mixture of laughter and soft elongated mews reverberated around the room. What is he talking about? In the time we've been together he's never done this before. Let alone with a feather. Videl tried to frown but couldn't. Gohan has never neglected me, so how could he feel as if he's been inattentive?
Videl forced herself to pay attention and look at Gohan. She noticed that he looked the same but something was off. Gohan raised her legs then knelt as she felt his tongue enter her. Videl gripped the counter so hard she feared that it would break under her strength. Again, this is different. Usually he's gentler and more precise with this. Now he's so rough and fast with his tongue! I can hardly think…Videl felt her body tingle and grow weak as she wriggled fiercely around the pelvis. Whether he'd done that for a few seconds or minutes she didn't know or care. It feels as if I'm coasting. I'm- Videl threw her head back.
"Gohan…!" Somewhere deep within her Videl let out a bestial moan the likes of which she had never heard before. It was so loud and long it disturbed her. That was me? She felt paralyzed as if lightning had struck her. Barely conscious, she was aware that Gohan had closed up her robe then carried her over to the couch in the Living Room. Videl heard little feet run into the Kitchen and then the Living Room as her eyes met the concerned ones of Kashu. The little boy looked up at Gohan.
"Father, are we under attack? I heard some beastly growl a moment ago. This woman looks exhausted. Did she fight the creature?" Videl still felt weak as she lay nearly motionless in Gohan's arms. She felt her husband laugh as he patted his son on the head.
"Everything is alright Kashu. We're not under attack. I made us all breakfast. I've already eaten a bit so feel free to start without me. Videl will be just fine in a few minutes. We'll be with you in a moment." The boy looked down at her for a moment then nodded as he took off towards the kitchen. Gohan stroked her hair. "I'm sorry for the confusion earlier. I haven't been myself lately. I've been meaning to tell this to you sooner. I think my alternate's memories and persona is slowly starting bleed into my own.
When I apologized about being inattentive it came from a memory of his. You see, when he had a harem he would try to give the other women equal attention. You were his favorite. The other women had sensed this and for a while you had earned their scorn. To balance this he learned to spend time with each of them equally.
Schedules were nonsensical unless he was willing to put any of you in danger. He wasn't though. He was surprised that he'd found four women that would eventually bear him progeny. That was worth protecting only as long as Frost allowed it. Until then he would do everything in his power to keep every woman in his harem happy. To tell you the truth, what happened just now felt like déjà vu. Your alternate nearly said the same thing regarding her pregnancy.
If I had truly concentrated you wouldn't have been in your robe. You would've been in your diaphanous white gown. If I had truly tried I would've experienced all of what we did in a room on Frost's Mother Ship. Speaking of her, I've had some dreams." He turned away from her. "Videl, I have a feeling that it's only a matter of time before I see Frost again. I don't know when and I don't know what's happening to me. However, I still know who I am…I think.
As pathetic as this will sound I beg you. Please, never let me forget who I truly am." Videl felt her heart racing. I knew something was slightly off. Still feeling a little weak she sat up regardless and faced him. His head was still turned away from her. She gently put her hands upon the sides of his face and made him look her in the eye.
"I will do everything I can to help you. Though I wonder, how much of your alternate's persona could have changed you? What else is going on in your mind?" Gohan seemed uncomfortable with the question but continued to look her in the eye.
"Other than dreaming of Frost…I've found myself thinking of Lime, Erasa and 18 lately. Only a week has passed since I've rescued my alternate's family but it seems as if I've gained his urges as well. When I went to visit Eri I saw Erasa in a light I'd never seen her in before. Nothing had changed but I wanted to bend Erasa over the table in that room and ravish her on it. It was quite difficult trying to get that thought out of my head.
I remembered all the things my alternate had said to seduce her. How and where she likes to be touched. I've never felt that way about her before now. It was a powerful feeling mixed with melancholy and false nostalgia.
I think my mind is somehow merging with my alternate. I don't know why though. Originally I only just remembered how he thought. Now I'm doing things he would have done without even thinking about it. Yesterday morning I woke up in the middle of the night. I flew over to my parent's house just to see if my mom was still alive. I was sure that she was dead." No…Videl struggled to get off the couch and on to her feet. She unsteadily walked over to the cabinet which held Of Prime & Echoes. Videl flipped through the pages and found the entry she was looking for as she read aloud.
"In the Prime world two of the same person can exist at the same time with no problems. Outside of this we can only send our egos and fight for dominance. Why can we only send the ego and not our body if we exist on an alternate plane of existence when Trunks can exist twice on all alternate planes? The answer is simple. The Trunks that came from the future started a new branching point of realities just by going back in time. He in many ways is infinite and is an exception. It is amazing if you take the time to think about it.
In the Prime world a person can go back in time and meet themselves with no problem. In alternate realities it means death. We send the ego because it's the only thing we can send. We can fight for dominance over our alternate's body but even if we win the hold is tenuous at best. Let's say you won that fight and gained your alternate's memories.
They never leave you and those memories stay in the background unless you want information. It's as simple as turning a faucet on or off. Though here's something to consider. If for whatever reason your alternate's reality is destroyed what happens? Do those memories leave you because that alternate reality doesn't exist anymore?
The answer is no. Everything that made your alternate who he or she was will slowly merge with you. The merge happens slowly or fast depending on the links you have to that alternate reality. If all you have is the alternate's memories then the merging will be slow.
If you somehow managed to take something out of that alternate reality that you shouldn't have like ANYTHING then the merge will happen rather fast. We've already covered it in a previous chapter but I'll mention it again. NEVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES TAKE ANYTHING OUT OF AN ALTERNATE REALITY! You'll endanger your own reality by doing so.
When it comes to the merging at hand the person in question will share all the characteristics of their counterpart. What if your counterpart loved ketchup while you yourself hated it? The merged person will be indifferent towards it. That is just one aspect of a much longer discussion however and simple when it comes to just the matter of taste. More on this can be found in Chapter 53 – A Forced Common Ground." Videl leaned up against the wall, feeling wearier than she had a few minutes ago. "I don't know what to take from all this.
I'm sure that if we go through this book we'll find out something. After we have breakfast let's go down to Red Ribbon's Headquarters. I think our reality had fifty-three years left if I remembered correctly. I don't know why but I have a feeling that our reality may be in danger. I want to check how our reality is doing." I'm certain that bringing over his alternate's family here isn't helping much. Though if that's the case, what can I do? Gohan nodded as he turned his head to look outside.
"I'm worried that at one point I might end up being unfaithful to you. I truly believe that I can stave off my urges with enough will power. I'm going to have to go over that book more thoroughly but I think I can understand one of the points they were getting at. I had no particular feelings for 18, Lime or Erasa. So at best while I may feel a strong want…need for them I think I can still be myself around them." Videl smiled at this until she noticed Gohan shaking his head as he continued.
"However, I really do believe that at one point and time I will see Frost again. Not the one from my alternate's reality either. Even before she altered my memories I didn't necessarily hate her. You may find this hard to believe but I had some grudging respect for her. Couple that with the fact that after she altered my persona any kind of enmity I had for her solely came from what she had done to you. Not what she had done to me. After it was over every now and then I would dream of her. Not often, just sporadic.
In those dreams she would only smile at me lovingly. Her eyes seemed to hold something in them. I often wished to know what it was. Lately those dreams have become a bit more vivid but I've realized the difference in them. My dreams now focus on the alternate Frost. I can tell simply because of the way they carry themselves. So with my mind in three pieces I don't think a simple bout of willpower is going to work." Videl walked over to Gohan then draped her arms around him.
"Don't worry about Frost. I'll kill her if she does show up." Gohan lightly raised her left hand and kissed it before he turned around to face her. He seemed to search her eyes before he rested his hand on her belly. He smiled then shook his head.
"No." He kissed her there. "I want both of you to be safe. I know that you want the same thing. Otherwise you'd still have your morpher on you. Between the life of our child and myself I'm not that important. I shouldn't be important enough to risk another loss." Videl felt herself frown at that. You are important to me. I'd honestly throw everything to the wind to keep you safe and by my side. You're right though, I want to be able to give birth to our child safely.
"Fine, I understand and agree with you." Videl kissed him. "After all, it's not as if-" The sound of knocks on the door cut her off as they looked at each other with a silent question in their eyes. Videl preemptively shook her head as if to answer that question. "Were we expecting someone?" Gohan shrugged as he stood and walked over to the door opening it. Gohan grinned.
"Sharpner! It's been a long time since we've seen you. What brings you here?" Videl walked over to Gohan's side in time to see the uncomfortable look on Sharpner's face as he stepped to the side to reveal Frost who stood behind him. Videl's left hand reflexively went over her right wrist to find it bare. It's her! Why is she here?! And what is she holding? Frost smiled widely as she pulled back some of the swaddling to reveal a light blue baby.
"Gohan, my dear beloved. I've wanted to see you for so long and introduce you to your son. Say hello to Saiai." Gohan stood speechless as he looked from Frost to his son. Videl looked the baby over and noticed many of Gohan features. The resemblance is uncanny. She looked to Sharpner.
"Why is she here? Did you find her and if you did how come you didn't you kill her?" Sharpner sighed.
"She found me. I was thinking of trying to do something along those lines before I noticed the baby. Frost told me that she wouldn't be here for long and I believe her. Besides, I'm not sure if you've noticed but I brought her here of my own free will. I don't think she has her mind control abilities anymore." Frost nodded.
"That's right. I'm not here to cause anyone any kind of harm." She threw an icy glare towards Videl. "Especially to those I feel deserve it. I'll be here for nearly an hour a best." She slowly raised her right arm in the air as the metallic bracelet caught the light of the sun. "Let that be the proof of it. Besides, I wouldn't be here if the matter wasn't important." Gohan looked concerned.
"What's wrong?" Frost smiled.
"Up till now our child has been at best dribbling gibberish but I think he's about to start talking soon. I read several of your Earthling books and have heard that a child's first words are important. So I thought you should be there to experience this with me since you're his father." Videl groaned while Sharpner rested his palm on his face. Gohan looked at his son for a moment then Frost.
"Thank you." The words were stiff and sounded pained. He turned to face Videl. "Should we invite her in?" Videl watched Gohan as his body seemed rigid. His facial expressions went from horror to joy and back in quick succession. It sent a chill down her spine. Videl exhaled slowly and nodded as Gohan gestured her in. As Frost walked past her she once more reached for the morpher that wasn't there anymore. I will kill you Frost. The woman paused then turned back to face her. Frost cradled her baby lovingly then smirked.
"No, you won't." She looked down at her baby. "Saiai, remember that woman I told you about who took your father away from me? That's her." The baby slowly raised his left arm and seemed to point at Videl.
"Wi inct…wen tch…wench." The room froze for only a moment before Frost raised her baby in the air then kissed him on the forehead.
"A baby's first words really are precious."
Author's Note - Sorry that I'm late with this one. There's nothing more annoying than having a program not allow you to copy and paste when a trial is up. So while finding a way to deal with that I've made this Episode longer than usual to make up for that. The next Episode belongs to Silver.
For Those Of You Who Left Reviews
LegendOfTomorrow - I might have a POV for Frost, though not any time soon. The climax to this story is a long ways off. This will without a doubt be three to four times longer than the previous one. When this is over I'll finally put some of the notes I've made for different novels to good use and get started on those. Thanks for the review.
Until next time, peace everyone.