Shadows of the Heart: A Love Reborn

The Unexplained Growth

Karia sat on the edge of her bed, her legs stretched out before her, her hand resting gently on her swollen belly. It was a quiet moment, one she often sought to calm her thoughts, but the peace never lasted long.

The baby had been moving more frequently lately, its kicks becoming harder and more insistent, but this time, as her fingers lightly brushed over her abdomen, something was different. Three distinct, sharp jabs hit her all at once, making her wince in surprise. The force was intense, almost like the baby was trying to push its way out already.

She blinked, feeling the lingering sensations in her stomach. "What the-?" Karia whispered, her voice laced with confusion. "Why three kicks all at once?"

Her hand hovered over her belly, unsure of what was happening. Was this normal? She couldn't remember a time when the baby had been so active all at once. Usually, she felt one kick here, then another there, but this-this felt different. More intense. And the fact that it happened three times at once left her unsettled.

The baby had always been active, sure, but it felt as though they were growing at an alarming rate. Was it possible the child had some kind of power she wasn't aware of? Her mind immediately drifted to thoughts of Broly. Could this be the result of his power inside her? After all, the bond between them wasn't just physical-it had been an explosion of raw, untamed energy, and maybe that energy was coursing through the child as well.

Karia's brow furrowed. She placed her hand firmly on her stomach, hoping to calm the baby's constant movement. The kicks slowed, but the sensation of power she felt radiating from her belly made her uneasy. Was the child drawing on her own? Was it normal for a Saiyan baby to be so... active?

She leaned back against the headboard, rubbing her stomach in slow, comforting circles. She couldn't help but wonder if this unusual growth was just part of being a Saiyan-or if it was something else entirely. She felt like she was losing control of her own body, and that thought terrified her. She'd never felt so disconnected from herself, as though her very being was being stretched beyond its natural limits.

The strange series of movements had only amplified her uncertainty.

Before she could even try to make sense of it, another series of rapid, powerful kicks sent a shock of discomfort through her body, causing her to gasp involuntarily. Three more rapid hits in quick succession.

"That's... not normal," she whispered, glancing down at her stomach. Her mind raced as she wondered if something was wrong. Was there something in her child's biology making them grow this fast? Could it be the Saiyan blood mixed with Broly's immense energy that was making this happen?

As the baby shifted again, this time more gently, Karia's hands trembled slightly. Her thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion and doubt. Every time she thought she had a handle on her situation, something new came to throw her off balance.

And in the back of her mind, she knew that Broly's presence, even though he was nowhere near her right now, lingered in her thoughts. She couldn't escape it. The connection between them wasn't just physical-it was undeniable, undeniable in a way that she hadn't fully understood until now.

The baby's movements were a reminder of that bond. Every push, every kick, felt like an echo of what she and Broly had shared. And as much as she wanted to avoid it, the more she tried to push him out of her mind, the harder it became to ignore the magnetic pull between them.

She stood up slowly, walking toward the window. The sun was setting outside, casting an orange glow over the landscape, but the warmth of the moment did little to settle her racing thoughts. She placed her hand on the cool glass, watching the colour shift in the sky as her mind drifted back to the moment Broly had marked her.

What would he say when he found out about the baby? The thought made her stomach twist. She hadn't told him yet, and she wasn't sure if she was ready to. The intensity of their last encounter had left her reeling. She didn't want to face him-not yet, at least. She wasn't ready for what he might say, how he might react, and what it might mean for their future.

But as the baby moved again, this time with a soft, slow roll, Karia couldn't help but smile. Despite everything-the confusion, the fear, the uncertainty-there was still something warm inside her, something that told her everything would be okay. The baby was a part of her, a part of Broly. And no matter how difficult this journey might be, it was her path to walk, and hers alone.

"I'll figure this out," Karia whispered to her reflection in the window. "I'll figure it out for you."

The baby kicked once more, a reassuring sign of life and strength. And as Karia placed a hand over her belly, she let herself believe that, somehow, everything would come together. She just had to be strong-for herself, for the baby, and for the future that lay ahead of them.

Still, the nagging thought in the back of her mind remained: Why did it feel like she was running out of time?