Life With You

Part 14: The Birth

Spring brought another festival to Gyu-Mao's village. The event brought another day of food, fun and games for the citizens living under Gyu-Mao's kind rule. While ChiChi was an active participant in the Fall Festival with Goku, for the Spring Festival, ChiChi spent most of it in the castle resting. Her due date passed and she was patiently waiting the birth of her first child.

ChiChi and Goku moved to Gyu-Mao's castle a week after Dr. Barkley toured the room that was met with all her specifications for ChiChi to give birth. ChiChi was aware of the doctor's disapproval for a home birth but was pleased she wanted to stay on board. Despite issues with Dr. Barkley's desire to continue testing Goku and Gohan, ChiChi did think she was the best doctor for them.

This morning, ChiChi sat in her chair rubbing her stomach and fighting off a little insomnia. She looked out her window concern at roof debris, several branches and flipped over lawn furniture and statues in the courtyard. If this happened to her father's castle, ChiChi worried for the homes of the people in this village. Last night, a nasty storm passed over the kingdom. The loud taps of hail on the roof, the windows and roars of thunder woke her up while Goku slept through the storm. After the festival, Goku was part of the cleanup crew that helped take down the booths and rides. When he returned to their room, Goku was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

A knock rapped her door followed by Gyu-Mao's voice. "ChiChi? Are you awake?"

"Come in, Dad."

Gyu-Mao entered the room. "Where's Goku?"

"Taking a shower."

"Are you and Goku all right?" He looked at the ceiling. "No leaks? No broken windows?"

ChiChi shook her head. "No. We're fine. Storm woke me up and Goku slept through it."

Seeing how hard Goku worked to take down booth and rides, Gyu-Mao understood why Goku slept through the storm. He was exhausted. "The roof over the South Hall was hit hard. Staff reported some leaks and broken windows. Your room for the delivery is fine. Mrs. Niver called Kaifun. He'll be here with a few men to assess the damage and start repairs."

ChiChi winced slightly at the pain in her lower back. False contractions she assumed. "If the castle was hit badly, how are the homes of our people?"

"Information is trickling in. Homes are damaged but salvageable. Phone lines are down in some areas and most of the roads are blocked by fallen trees."

Goku stepped out of the bathroom drying his hair and wearing nothing else. "Mornin', Gyu-Mao!"

ChiChi rolled her eyes at Goku's nudity. She would scold him but this was their room and they were in front of her father. He's seen Goku walk around naked in their own home more times than she liked.

"Goku, I need your assistance." As Goku dressed, Gyu-Mao explained, "That storm last night brought a lot of damage to the village. Roads are blocked, phones and power lines are down, and homes are damaged. We need all the men we have to take care of this."

"Sure." Goku was ready to help but he was concerned leaving ChiChi. "Should I leave you? You've been having those pains since yesterday."

"Pains?" Gyu-Mao inquired.

"False contractions," ChiChi told her father. "I've been having them all month. That's all they are. Go ahead, Goku. I'll be fine."

****

After breakfast, ChiChi spent most of the morning in bed, reading and resting. She felt pains off and on but since it didn't stay long and wasn't strong figured it was false contractions. Near lunchtime, ChiChi joined her father outside. They took a walk in the courtyards of the castle, speaking with the field workers as they cleared the storm debris. High above them, men were on the roof of the South Hall working.