And here is the final chapter to 'Light in the Darkness'. Enjoy :)
1 1/2 Year Later...
She covered her mouth trying to stifle her giggles. He'd be back any moment and she wanted to catch him by surprise. Big crimson eyes peaked out from behind the couch near the door. All was calm at the moment. Then the tot peered through the thin curtain of one of the windows.
A couple minutes later, he landed in the front yard. She popped her head back down and huddled back behind the couch once more. It wasn't long, before she heard the twist of the doorknob and the door opened.
Frieza came in and closed the door behind him. He was hit with a lovely aroma filling the air. Not long after did he see his Wife turn the corner and entered the living room with a smile. Mia heard him come inside, she briefly checked dinner before going out to greet her Husband.
"Hey, you. How was training today?" Mia asks, as she approaches him.
"Same as any. Nothing new today. Mostly sticked to our base forms for most of the training session." He replies, right before he leans in, lightly wraps his arms around her waist, and leans in for a kiss.
Mia meets him halfway, wrapping her arms around his neck. They share a quick passionate kiss, before pulling back.
"Something smells good." He says.
"That would be homemade chicken soup. Should be done in another five-minutes or so." She stated.
Frieza gives her a devilish smirk.
"Do we get dessert after?" He asks, as he lightly squeezes her ass.
Mia rolls her eyes, but the smile still never leaves her face.
"Sorry, but that kind of dessert will have to wait until after a certain someone goes to bed later." She said.
"Speaking of, where is our Little One?" Frieza asked.
She shrugs, "Probably still playing in her room. I know she missed you and couldn't wait for you to come home."
"Really? I know she gets a little sad sometimes when either of us have to leave. But she usually cheers up very quickly soon after." He says.
"I know, as I said, if she's not in here watching t.v., then she's most likely in her room. And she's not outside, because she was outside playing earlier, and came in a little more than a half hour ago." Mia told him.
Frieza couldn't help but feel something was up. Normally, Liana would be the first one at the door to greet him with a big hug and a kiss. Unless she's playing a game on him again. And he can only wonder where she was hiding this time.
"She's hiding on me again. Isn't she?" He inquires, though he already knew the answer.
Mia bit her lip. She promised Liana she wouldn't say anything because her Mommy knew she sometimes like to jump out on her Daddy.
"Anyways, I got to go and check the soup. It's just about done." She says, before turning around and headed back for the kitchen.
Frieza just chuckles and shakes his head. Figures, she has her mother in on this game now.
"Ok Darling, where are you hiding now?" He asks himself.
He rubs his chin in thought while looking around. Frieza heard a very faint and muffled giggle from his left. He pinpointed it to one certain area. A small smirk made its way to his face, and he quietly makes his way over. The soft carpet was good at muffling his footsteps.
Liana slowly and carefully peaked out from the end of the couch, thinking he was still standing in front of the door with his back to her. Only to be a bit surprised when he was no longer there. She quietly started to crawl out from behind the couch on her hands and knees and stopped right below the armrest. She craned her neck a little, trying to see if she can hear for him.
The tiny tot was completely unaware of a long thin pale appendage quietly slithering down the armrest behind her. Then as quick as a flash, the appendage wrapped around her, making her squeak in surprise. Before she was pulled off of the floor and into her Daddy's waiting arms. It didn't stop there, he then proceeded to tickle the squirmy toddler.
"Well, well, look who I found, a little couch dweller." Frieza said, with some laughter in his voice.
"Daddy...how...did you...know where I...was!?" Liana gasped between peals of laughter, trying to push away his hands.
"Perhaps you're not quite as quiet as you think you are. It's either the couch is haunted and giggles on its own or there was someone taking up space behind it that couldn't stop giggling. Of course, since the first option is unlikely, I went for option number two." He says.
"No, it was the couch! Its alive!" Liana says, being silly.
For someone who only turned two a few months ago, she has quite the extended vocabulary. It certainly surprised Mia with how quickly their daughter was progressing with her speech. But then Frieza informed her that he hit his milestones very early too. Going as far as telling his Wife how his parents set him up with tutors by the time he was Liana's age. And how they were teaching him different subjects by the time he was three.
And early speech was just one of his many early milestones as a child. He excelled in a number of other things from the time he was a toddler up through many of his early childhood years.
Liana was always very observant since day one though. He noticed how she had a tendency to try and mimic a lot of the things he and Mia do. One of those things was talking. So, he started teaching her a variety of words to see how far she'd get. And this was the end result, a remarkable vocabulary, and quite the chatterbox at times. Something he and his Wife got a kick out of.
Mia peered into the living room, a warm smile was present on her face as she watched the cute interaction between father and daughter. This was how it always was with them. If anyone would've told you that this ruthless Galactic Emperor was a doting and playful dad, she doubts anyone would've believed her, less they seen it for themselves.
"Alright you two hooligans, dinner is ready. Come and get it while it's still hot." Mia said.
Liana perked up at hearing this. She'd only been telling her mommy for the better part of the last half hour how hungry she was.
"Lovely, and it's all for me." Frieza teases.
The tot's eyes widen, "No!"
Then she tries to get out of her Daddy's hold. While Frieza just chuckles and hangs onto the squirmy child.
"Why the rush, Darling? I'll be sure to save you a few bites." He says, continuing to tease his little girl.
Liana directs her gaze at him and pouts.
"No, I'm hungry. And mommy always says you have to share." She told him.
Frieza laughs a little at her reply.
"Relax, Love. I was only joking. Let's go eat." He tells her.
Then he sets her back down. Not wanting to take any chances, the tiny girl sprints to the dining room, making both her parents' chuckle. Frieza then places his hand on the small of Mia's back as they walk to the dining room.
The small family chat while they eat. Frieza asks Mia how work was, and she told him about a couple cases she had today. Luckily, both cases ended on a good note for the kids involved. He then tells her that Vegeta told him during training today about another upcoming party that his Wife was having at their house in a couple weeks. That's when Liana chimed in and asked if Aunt Sorcha and Uncle Yamcha were coming with the twins.
The twins in question were none other than Sorcha and Yamcha's kids. The pair gotten very serious in their relationship within the last couple years. It came to a surprise for everyone when Sorcha unexpectedly became pregnant. And gave birth only two months prior to their twins. A boy they named Sota, and a girl they named Aimi. They were quite adorable too. And Liana loved playing peekaboo and making silly faces at them.
Mia was very happy for Sorcha though. She knew that the poor woman been through a lot in her life. Hell, most of her life was spent in servitude to Frieza by helping take care of his home back on the base. That is until Mia asked for her freedom. This is a life that the alien woman deserved. She found love when she came to Earth with them and then had a family of her own.
Mia also has fond memories of her and Frieza's Wedding. It's hard to believe it's been eleven months since they tied the knot. It was nothing big or extravagant. The wedding was a small simple ceremony on the lake. The same lake that he proposed to her on and one that they frequently visit during family outings. Everyone had a great time. Bulma, Videl, ChiChi, and Eighteen had a blast being bride's maids. And Goku, Vegeta, Lord Beerus, and Whis couldn't get enough of the wedding buffet. The kids had fun dancing to the music and playing games too.
She smiles when she thinks that they couldn't have a more perfect wedding day. The pair only had eyes for each other that day. And everyone gushed over the cute little dress baby Liana was in.
After dinner, the three of them retired to the living room, and put on a movie. They settled in on the couch and got comfortable. Liana sat on her Daddy's lap, while Mia sat next to Frieza, leaning up against him with her head on his shoulder. He had one arm draped around his daughter, and the other around Mia's shoulders.
A little more than halfway through the movie, Liana dozed off. Frieza carefully pulled the soft duvet off of the back of the couch and draped it over the three of them. As he did this he looked over and noticed Mia looking up at him with a soft smile, before she craned her neck and pressed a light kiss to his cheek. He in turn, kissed the side of her temple.
"We came so far, haven't we?" She says, softly. So not to wake their daughter.
"Indeed, we have." He replied.
"A part of me never thought I'd have a happy ending like this. Especially, with the hellish upbringing I had. When I was a kid, this was a life I could only dream about." Mia says, as she lightly brushes a lock of hair over Liana's shoulder.
"I understand, it's certainly a life I never thought I'd have either." Frieza said.
"Probably because neither of us ever thought we'd cross paths with one another. And to think, it's because I happened to be in the woods that day looking for a dragon ball." Mia said.
An amused smirk appears on his face.
"I must say, I never came that close to a wish only for a someone to randomly blurt out a wish before I could finish stating mine. It was certainly very unexpected and all seriousness aside, I would've found the whole thing rather amusing, if I weren't miffed over my stolen wish." He stated, with a hint of laughter in his voice.
"Yeah, I was kind of in panic mode at the time. Hence the randomness of it all." Mia exclaimed, her cheeks turning a bit red.
"Well, it was certainly a lasting first impression on your part." He teased.
"And do you...ever look back and wish things...never changed?" She asked, with some hesitance.
Frieza slightly tightens his hold on her.
"No, before you, my life was consumed with darkness. It was filled with malice, hatred, and violence. And with only one sole purpose, continue expanding my Empire no matter the cost. It's how it's always been since the very beginning. And the only life I have ever known. My father made it very clear from the start that everything came with power and weakness was something to frown upon and eradicate.
But once you came along, things started to slowly but surely change. I found myself starting to change. And within that all-consuming darkness came a light. It was you, Mia. You and Liana. You two were the light in the darkness." He admitted.
Mia reached up and cupped his cheek.
"And you were my light. That is why I love you. I may have been through hell during my childhood. But you and Liana are my life now. And I never would've changed the outcome either." She told him.
Frieza couldn't help but lean in and capture her lips in a kiss. One filled with love and promise. They embraced each other, with little Liana tucked into the middle of their embrace.
Hope everyone enjoyed this story. As always, I couldn't help but end it with some adorable Family Fluff. I do apologize to those who wanted to see what their wedding would've been like. But unfortunately, I'm not very good at writing wedding scenes. And if you haven't yet, please check out some of my other stories. Also, be sure to leave Reviews! Until Next Time ;)