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Chapter Text

Vegeta leant against a tree off to the side of a large group of namekians and a small group of humans. The scowl on his face could not do justice to the dark feelings that were conveyed in his equally dark eyes.

Moments before he had been laughing, gleeful over the death of both the tyrant Frieza and of the Earth Saiyan, Kakkarot. He supposed that if anyone had noticed the sudden alteration of his behaviour they might find it odd. Not that he felt his ominous presence went unnoticed, that could not be ignored. He simply didn't expect that anyone would care enough to observe his mood change.

He should have felt elated, with both Kakkarot and Frieza destroyed in the explosion of planet Namek he was now the strongest warrior alive. He was finally free of Frieza. Free of his orders, free of his ridicule. Never again would he, Vegeta, Prince of all Saiyans, have to swallow his pride or bide his time as the mockery of his Saiyan race went unchallenged. Never again would he have to lower himself by yielding to the whims of the very being who had destroyed not only his planet but also his birthright.

It was true that Frieza's demise hadn't come about as he expected but that was another matter. Vegeta paused his thoughts and frowned harder. He could hardly believe that 3rd class warrior Kakkarot had reached the legendary status of Super Saiyan and defeated Frieza! How was it possible? He had to know how he did it! But Kakkarot was dead and along with him the secrets of his transformation.

Vegeta observed that the blue-haired earth girl was still patiently explaining the difficulties of restoring Krillin and Kakkarot back to life to the gathering of humans and namekians.

Vegeta had long since grasped the simple concept that reviving them in the void of space was futile. The planet they had died on was no more.

Still, with the dragon able to grant any wish there had to be a way to bring Kakkarot back. Vegeta thought over everything he knew about dragonballs and earth. Yes, of course, he had it! Vegeta leant forward suddenly and interrupted the girl curtly.

**"Fools!" he interjected. "Enough of this ridiculous babble, you want Kakkarot back. So look! The earth has a check in station to the spirit realm. Wish him there, then wish him back to earth."**

He watched as the female's demeanour changed from shocked to pleasure as his succinct explanation took shape in her mind. She didn't hesitate to confirm that the plan would 'work'.

Of course it would, didn't he just say so? He was tempted to tell her so but she forestalled his words by suddenly turning her full gaze upon him and bestowing a brilliant smile. It was impertinently familiar of her and if that were not enough, she than dared offer the observation that she was impressed!

Vegeta snorted but his eyes skittered away from such strange appreciation. Why should he care for her validation? Or any of these beings? It wasn't as if he'd asked to be here among them. He'd been wished back to life incidentally - more honestly accidentally - and then transported against his will to earth with the rest of them.

Vegeta then noticed Kakkarot's kid coming up to him to thank him for coming up with a way to help bring his father back to life. The child extending his hand in the Earth custom. What was it with these humans? Were they so stupid that they'd forgotten that he'd tried to kill them? That he'd worked against them at any convenient moment? He batted Gohan's hand away, realising that the bunch of them had somehow gotten the idea he cared about the death of Kakkarot when really he only cared about reviving him to learn how to become a Super Saiyan.

He slouched further against the tree, his brows furrowed and the darkness in his eyes glowed with ambition, his thoughts centring on his new goals. Obtaining the legend, defeating Kakkarot.

**"What about you? Hey homeboy?"** The female's voice jolted into his thoughts.

** "What? Home what?" ** he repeated dumbfoundedly, his eyebrows bouncing in surprise. He wasn't sure what shocked him more; the fact that the blue-haired girl realised he was still in their vicinity or that she had spoken so casually to him again.

** "Hey, Loosen up, you're gonna need a place to crash too."**

Was the earth woman offering him a place to stay? He had not thought about where he would go or even where he would sleep. He'd never had to consider it under Frieza's dominion. He bristled slightly. He didn't need her kindness or her charity, he could take care of himself. Still, he did want to be around when Kakkarot returned and these people were the ones he would return to. That meant it was in his best interests to accept. Vegeta did not find himself uncertain very often and he found it displeased him.

He turned his head noncommittally, affecting an air of disinterest but the girl was not deterred. She continued to cajole him, telling him to relax among other things and finishing it off with an absurd comment referring to his pleasing physical appearance!

"What? I'm not kind of cute! Shut up," Vegeta was stunned and horrified. No one had ever dared talk to him that way. Certainly, no one had ever called him cute! He tried to silence her with a scowl but she had already turned away back to her friends.

She'd given up getting an answer he supposed or maybe she had decided it was settled but he was Vegeta, mighty Prince of Saiyans, last of a warrior race he would decide where he went not some earth creature.

x x x

Bulma waved excitedly as her father began landing in the nearby clearing. The giant yellow airbus – capsule 339 – touched down and Dr. Briefs climbed out.

Dr. Briefs did not waste time in throwing a capsule, the large puff of smoke revealed a second identical airbus.

"I hope you aren't too tired to fly home Bulma," Dr. Briefs said, "I didn't think we'd all fit in one bus."

"Oh Dad, you know I'm never too tired to fly!" Bulma grinned eagerly. After everything that had happened to her on Namek it was good to be back in familiar territory, one where she felt she had some control and importance. "Okay everyone, onto the two airbuses!" Bulma instructed the large group.

She watched in satisfaction as the Nameks boarded. She noted that Gohan was also getting into the airbus that her dad was flying. Chi-chi followed him having announced publicly that Gohan's studies would be of little benefit to him amongst this rabble, that they might even suffer in such an unsuitable environment and that she would wait until she got him home. Bulma felt a pang of sympathy for the poor kid but no doubt Chi-chi's determination to return to normal activities was a way of coping with all that had happened and all the worries she'd had to bear for her child and her currently dead husband in the past few months.

Bulma had her own thoughts to sort about the events but not now. Not while she had guests to organise. Bulma waited at the air bus for the last group of Nameks to board. Piccolo was following behind them and she noticed that the group were taking a wide circle around a particular tree. Oh my, she thought, seeing at once their concern. She'd almost forgotten about Vegeta!

She looked at the fear on the nameks faces as they passed by. Vegeta however seemed completely indifferent to their reaction, his eyes appeared shut and his arms were folded across his chest.

Who are you Vegeta? Bulma wondered. One moment you're laughing like a maniac, then you are offering us helpful suggestions and now brooding? What are you thinking?

"Yo! Prince, We're leaving!" Bulma called cheerfully.

Vegeta opened his eyes and looked at her seeming surprised. Bulma wasn't sure what had surprised him exactly but decided that she liked shocking him, though she couldn't say for certain why it gave her such a thrill. Perhaps she had developed a taste for danger on Namek - slightly worrying.

The namekians did not seem to share her need for danger, hurrying by Vegeta more quickly now that his eyes had opened, all except Piccolo who glared at Vegeta warningly. Vegeta waited a moment for them to pass before shrugging himself off the tree then slowly walked towards Bulma.

"I have no need of your contraptions to take me anywhere," Vegeta said indicating the airbus.

Bulma looked at him, she had a feeling he wasn't even sure he should go with them. She felt strongly that leaving him to his own devices would be a very bad idea. He had after all caused mass destruction the last time he was here on Earth. It would be better for everyone if they could keep an eye on him until Goku returned. She'd dealt with the ego of fighters before and she had an inkling that she knew just how to get him to comply. "I'll have you know I designed this airbus. They are perfectly safe, there's no need for concern."

"I didn't say I was concerned with the safety of -" Vegeta began.

"Good," Bulma cut him off with a bright smile and climbed into the pilots seat, "then let's go!"

Vegeta scowled, unmoving, unconvinced.

Bulma patted the seat next to her and smiled sweetly. "One seat left."

She knew she'd left Vegeta with no choice. Refusing would make it seem as if he were afraid to get into the airbus and a warrior like him would not want to give off that appearance. Bulma, of course, was well aware that 'the contraption' could blow apart and he would hardly be affected and so she wondered what it was that was truly causing him to hesitate.

At last he climbed in, grumbling under his breath. The door closed and Bulma grabbed the controls and grinned wildly.

"Here we go!" she shouted as the airbus lurched into the sky seemingly defying the solid nature of its exterior with the force of acceleration.

x x x

Authors Narration - That's right they've lurched off to Capsule Corp. but will the airbus be the only thing lurching after Bulma's flying? Does the prince get airsick and what colour do nameks go when they are sick anyway?

Join in to the next chapter to find out, in my version of Dragonball B V!

Chapter Text

"Here we are!" the female announced as they touched down at Capsule corp after what seemed an eternity to Vegeta, and likely the nameks as well judging by the speed at which the group disembarked, some of them looking more green than usual.

Vegeta was the last to exit, purposefully holding back his every instinct to get out of the damn thing. He refused to appear as if he had any objections to the sickly ride but all the same he did not want to remain in case the crazed girl decided unexpectedly to take another spin. What was truly disturbing, however, was that he had allowed himself to go along with this escapade, to be manipulated by this woman and yet, what else was there to do? He knew so little of this planet.

She turned to him and gave him a beaming smile.

"Wasn't that fun?" she spun around.

Vegeta watched her twirling, her eyes shining brightly toward him.

"Sure, fun," he said emotionlessly.

She was oblivious to his tone. "I'm glad you think so, it's so hard to find people that appreciate a good flight."

Out of the corner of his eye, Vegeta could see Dende grinning at his predicament. "I'm certain I heard the little namek say he'd love to learn to fly like that," Vegeta said casually.

"Really?" Bulma squealed turning to Dende. "I'd be happy to give you some lessons."

Dende paled visibly. "I - I . . ."

Vegeta grinned. That will teach that little imp to refuse to heal me! Let him think twice before crossing Vegeta, Prince of all Saiyans.

"I think you better run along Dende," Piccolo's low voice sounded, rescuing Dende from Vegeta's revenge.

The green child ran to join the other namekians with Piccolo following him without looking back.

"I suppose I'll have to start directing people around the compound," Bulma sighed dramatically. "I guess my bath will have to wait."

Vegeta shifted his attention back to the girl. Was she talking to him? Did she expect some kind of answer? Sympathy?

She turned to Vegeta with a thoughtful expression. "I think you better stay with me at my parents in our house. After all the nameks are kind of afraid of you."

Vegeta smirked widely at her last comment. They had every reason to be afraid.

"You know, you look even cuter when you smirk like that." Bulma threw over her shoulder as she turned towards the largest dome-shaped building.

Vegeta stopped smirking. He had expected Bulma to show disapproval or at the very least alarm towards his cavalier attitude, after all, he had killed innocent Nameks, but she had completely disregarded what he'd said. Vegeta's shock registered on his face. Wasn't she scared of him too? And did she say he was cute, again?!

"Are you coming?" Bulma turned back to him smiling.

It was all very puzzling. Was this normal earth behaviour? He followed after her without responding, noticing as he did several namekians backing away. He thought them foolish, as if any distance could save them from his power if he chose to use it. Fortunately for the nameks, Vegeta considered that it would be a waste of his time. Still, at least their reactions were familiar.

He and the eclectic group followed Bulma a short distance from the air strip to an expansive lawn that was surrounded by domed buildings. The female turned around and announced to everyone that this was their new home.

Vegeta looked around appraisingly. He had to admit he was amazed at the size of the place that she evidently called home. When she'd mentioned they had the space to accommodate everyone he'd thought of one or two large residences. This didn't appear to be the case. He was so absorbed with his surroundings he didn't notice another earth woman, blonde, until she came bouncing up to him.

She babbled something about saving her daughter and being a hero.

He was astonished. He couldn't imagine how she'd gotten the idea he was anything such. These humans' were becoming more and more puzzling to him. The more time he spent with them the more he felt they were illogical. Particularly the females, he noted. He was feeling completely overwhelmed when he spotted it.

**"A ship!"** He said aloud.

At last something familiar. Dr. Briefs, the old man that the girl called her father, came up beside him and explained the various pieces of equipment it held. Vegeta went in to look at it more closely. At least now he had a way of getting off this planet when he wanted to. He ran his hands over the controls.

The blonde woman appeared suddenly on a small screen in front of his hand and she chirruped something about drinks she'd made for him.

Vegeta jumped away from the screen in surprise and annoyance before noticing the blue haired woman near the doorway.

"Don't pay attention to Mom, she's just trying to make you feel welcome."

Vegeta noted that the girl looked worried. She probably thought he'd blow her family up! Well, that suited him fine. Maybe she would treat him with a little more caution and respect from now on. "I have no desire to feel welcomed by you people."

"If you say so," She was openly dubious and Vegeta actually found himself questioning his assertion for a moment. "You are stuck here for the next 129 days." Bulma continued, "that is if you want to meet up with Goku again. It might be nice to feel at ease for a bit. How about I show you where your room is? It will be quieter there."

Bulma exited the spacepod and Vegeta followed, walking across a large grass area. They passed more large dome buildings that were connected together with long tube like passages until they came to an even larger yellow dome, they entered the front door and Vegeta saw that it was a huge foyer.

Bulma pointed to the right. "Through that door is a living room, the kitchen leads off that but I'll give you the tour later." She continued to the staircase at the end of the room.

"It will feel so good, to wash the dirt out of my hair."

Vegeta remained silent. She talked too much but she was preferable to that blonde haired woman with the shrill voice.

"Here we are, I hope it's okay." She opened the door and stepped in.

Vegeta walked in after her. A large bed sat against the wall, a few pictures hung on the wall and opposite were two glass doors that appeared to lead to a balcony.

Bulma stood staring at him, blinking. "So what do you think?"

He didn't know what to think, he couldn't remember the last time he had slept in a bed. "It is satisfactory," he said.

"Well don't go out of your way to thank me! Ugh I don't know why I bothered to ask." She huffed and slammed the door.

Vegeta was not sure if he felt relieved or dismayed.

x x x

"Ugh." Bulma stomped down the hallway. She had offered him a place to stay and was he grateful? No! Bulma answered herself. Who did he think he was, a prince or something? Bulma halted her thoughts, well, point of fact, he was a prince; a prince of a long-dead world, the last of his race. It was really rather sad.

She gave a glance back toward the closed door before she straightened her shoulders and continued to her own room. She refused to dwell on any more sadness. She had her fill over the past year with the death of her friends and the hardships on planet Namek. What she needed - what she wanted was a bath, finally, finally a bath after so many months without one. Bulma pulled open the door to her room. Everything was as she left it.

Immediately her mood lifted. She didn't think she had ever seen a sight more beautiful. Her makeup, her bed, running water! She closed her door and pressed the lock. With all these guests who knew who may walk in? She walked to her bathroom and peeled off her space suit, she tried not to look in the mirror knowing it would horrify her but couldn't help it.

Months of neglect! She shook her head with a sigh but ever the optimist (and somewhat vain) she soon affirmed to herself that beneath the space dust she still looked good. She leant forward at her reflection and lifted a strand of her lank hair. Well, she conceded, she looked good for someone who had been through what she'd been through! She turned the taps on hard and poured an entire bottle of strawberry fragrant bubble bath into the bathtub. She disappeared into the suds and lay back, closing her eyes. Bulma sighed happily. Nothing would be able to keep her from enjoying a nice long soak.

x x x

Vegeta sat on his bed. So this was to be his new home? What was he supposed to do here? He growled to himself as it occurred to him that he hadn't thought much about his future beyond exacting his revenge on Frieza. Stupid Kakkarot, this was all his fault! Vegeta furiously shot a beam at the wall and watched as it went through without resistance.

A female scream sounded from beyond.

The hole in the wall smouldered at the edges and appeared to have cut through several rooms. The blue-haired girls face warily appeared along the corridor of destruction.

"You!" she accused furiously.

He heard stomping about, a few doors slammed before she suddenly flung open the door of the room he was in.

"How dare you!" she shouted. "I give you a place to stay and what's the first thing you do? Try to destroy it! Not to mention my bathroom! I have been without running water for weeks, got that? Weeks buster! And the first chance I get to have a bath you destroy it. What's you're deal anyway?"

Vegeta's head snapped up with her final crescendo. She was dripping wet wrapped in some sort of fluffy, baggy garment, her hair was sprinkled with powdery debris and she was pointing her finger at him menacingly. "Don't take it personally." He replied evenly.

The woman's eyes opened wide, then narrowed and flamed. "You blow a hole through three of my walls and send sharp ceramic tiles at my head and I'm not supposed to take it personally?"

"How was I to know you're earth walls were so flimsy?" Vegeta stood clenching his fists. He didn't like the high-pitched sound of her yelling nor the strange surroundings he found himself in.

"Fine. Now you know!" Bulma finished. She calmed a little bit perhaps noticing his angry expression. "I suppose I can't blame you for wanting to take a better look at my gorgeous figure," her tone changed entirely.

"I never - " Vegeta protested shocked but he did find himself watching the way she slid her hands down her figure as if to emphasise the curves.

"But you've had your opportunity and I will be getting that hole fixed immediately so don't try it again." Bulma warned, hands finally returning to her hips.

Vegeta was speechless. Her audacity, her insinuation, the entire situation was so unbelievably outrageous!

Bulma eyed him speculatively then shrugged as if the discussion was all mundane to her. "I'll fetch you when it's time for dinner. My mother just loves to cook and since the nameks don't eat, I figure you might as well eat with us. In the meantime," she threw over her shoulder as she started to exit, "try to relax. You look tense."

Bulma closed the door behind her and Vegeta stared at it in confusion and fury. What had just happened? He tried to go over it in his mind. He hadn't intentionally blasted into the woman's wall. He certainly didn't know she had the room one away utill now and he definitely hadn't been trying to catch a look at her. Yet again, she had dismissed his words and assumed his intentions. For a moment she even dared to yell at him! He should have blasted her for such insolence. . . but it had never even crossed his mind to do so. He guessed dying had made his reflexes a little slow. Well he wasn't going to allow any more lapses in his reaction times or put up with any more innuendo about his behaviour. He found his eyes wandering towards the hole in the wall involuntarily before he forced them away, promptly turning himself in the other direction.

x x x

Authors Narration - With Bulma's bath blasted to bits, the bold blue haired girl plans for a long soak have been put on hold and with the volatile Vegeta in the vicinity just how many holes in walls will she need to fix? Just how will Vegeta cope at a sit down dinner with Bulma and her family? Will they have enough food to feed a hungry Saiyan and what kind of dinner conversation can they expect to have?

Keep reading to find out in my version of Dragonball B V!

Chapter Text

"Knock, Knock!" Bulma tapped on Vegeta's door as she called. "Mom's got dinner ready."

Vegeta wasn't sure about this. He was hungry. Actually very hungry but to eat with these people? It seemed strange. Of course the namekians didn't eat at all, or rather only drank water, and that was even stranger.

Bulma poked her head in the door. "Are you there?"

Vegeta looked up, but said nothing.

"Did you hear me? I said dinners ready." Bulma said.

"I heard you woman."

"Well, aren't you hungry? Gosh, I told my mom she was free to make lots of food. I just assumed you'd eat as much as Goku," she said thoughtfully.

"Of course I'm hungry!" Vegeta felt irritated by the situation. He hadn't eaten since long before the battles with Frieza, it had been days.

"Well then?" Bulma opened the door wider revealing her entire body.

Vegeta was surprised by her appearance. She was dressed in a short pink dress with long sleeves, it hugged her curves and revealed a lot more than the yellow space costume or the baggy robe earlier had done.

Bulma blinked at him and then smiled seeming to notice his attention. "It feels so good to be out of that suit, do you like my dress?"

Vegeta grunted. "I thought we were going to eat!"

"Ugh!" Bulma rolled her eyes. "This way." She led him downstairs.

x x x

Bulma sat across from Vegeta at the dining table anxiously watching him. It had suddenly occurred to her that him eating with her parents might not be such a good idea. If he had not been a Saiyan with presumably an enormous appetite she could have just brought him a tray. She had entertained many strange characters over the years, her friends never being typical but none had been quite as volatile as Vegeta.

She tensed as her mother passed dishes to Vegeta and fussed over him but he seemed more stunned with the attention than annoyed. Bulma began to relax perhaps this would be fine.

"So Vegeta," Mrs Briefs chattered, "are you single?"

Vegeta choked and Bulma felt her anxiety skyrocket towards panic. Her mother was oblivious but her father seemed to understand the precariousness of the situation.

"Why don't you tell us about your adventures on Namek, Bulma." Dr. Briefs suggested.

Bulma nodded. "Well as you know we were looking for the dragonballs and almost as soon as we landed there was trouble." Bulma continued her story and saw that Vegeta had turned his attention back to his food, if he was listening there was no sign of it but at least for the moment he seemed content to eat. Bulma became absorbed by the past events as she told them, her triumphs, her trials and her horror at discovering herself inside a frog's body. The terror of the final moments of fleeing a planet about to implode.

Bulma chattered on, Vegeta sat quietly eating, deciding that the food was adequate, the company - debatable.

He honestly didn't know what to make of the blonde woman but he'd become quite attentive when Bulma had begun talking about Namek. He had made certain to appear disinterested but he felt it was important to gather any information he could about the doings of Gohan, Krillin and the dragonballs in the lead up to their meeting. Her own doings were of less consequence but he had to admit she was actually very surprising. Weak as she was, she'd manage to survive on Namek and stave off two of Frieza's henchmen. He'd found that particularly humorous given his dislike for the individuals. In fact he had stifled a smirk of amusement when Bulma mentioned their fate at the hands of a giant crab.

He thought it really quite remarkable that she, being most likely the weakest being on planet Namek at any give time had manage to outlive most of her friends, all of the nameks, save Piccolo, all of Frieza's henchmen and even Frieza, Kakkarot and himself!

With dinner over, Vegeta returned to his room. It had been a long day. A strange one, full of so many unexpected events including his death and consequent restoration and the transformation of Kakkarot.

He should put aside making sense of it all, deciding his time was better spent in ensuring a good nights sleep. After all there was only 129 days until the return of Kakkarot and he expected to spend those days training, preparing for his destiny of becoming the legendary Super Saiyan.

But once he lay down, sleep didn't come as easy as he thought it would. He hadn't slept since before his fight with Frieza and yet death seemed to have revived him, ironically. He tried to close his eyes but Kakkarot's face haunted him. The golden aura startled him from sleep each time he tried to close his eyes.

"It was my destiny!" Vegeta grumbled. He turned over trying to get comfortable lying down, turned again and again then sat up in agitation. The years of service under Frieza had conditioned him he supposed. Sleeping in space pods, in computer-controlled hibernation didn't develop good sleeping patterns. He growled in frustration, perhaps some fresh air would help.

x x x

Vegeta opened the door of his bedroom that led out to a balcony that encompassed the upper living space of the circular building. He stood at its edge staring out. The night air was still thick with the warmth of the day though the horizon showed no sign of the sun. He looked up at the night sky at the thousands of stars. He hated stars.

"Aren't they beautiful?" Bulma's voice came from behind him.

"Hardly." He responded evenly whilst keeping his back to her. He was chastising himself for not noticing her presence, for not realising this was a communal space. One day on this planet and he was already getting lazy.

"You don't like stars? Who doesn't like stars?" she asked incredulously. She had moved to his side and was giving him a quizzical look.

"I don't." He growled. It wasn't just that they were a reminder to him of all that he had lost; his planet, his heritage, his race. It was also a representation of the billions of worlds just like this one – full of happy peaceful people. They made him sick.

"But they're like diamonds!" Bulma gushed. She clasped her hands to her heart in a dreamlike stance.

"They are simply millions of planets and suns, some which haven't existed for millions of years."

"I'm well aware of that, being a brilliant scientist and all." Bulma retorted rolling her eyes.

She seemed now to be looking at him thoughtfully and Vegeta had a perturbing notion that she was somehow determining why he didn't like stars. He glowered all the more at the antagonistic luminaries.

"You know," Bulma said softly, "most of the stars we see from earth are actually suns. Huge burning balls of energy and when they explode they take entire solar systems with them. I thought Saiyans would appreciate that kind of power."

Vegeta turned from the stars and looked at her anew. The notion did appeal. Somehow it made him feel better about the way they gloated over him.

She smiled easily. "Well, goodnight." Bulma walked to another of the balcony's door then stopped. "If you can't sleep you should try some hot milk." She held up a glass of her own and continued walking inside.

Vegeta stood a few more moments glancing up once more at the stars. Did they look like diamonds? He'd never looked at stars that way before. He tore his gaze from them. Ridiculous woman. At least the fresh air seemed to have relaxed him, he turned back to his room and sunk into bed determined to fall asleep.

x x x

Authors Narration - Bulma has helped Vegeta acclimatise to earth so far but will the next 128 days remain as serene as the slumbering saiyan or will the peace become pulverised by the pernicious prince? Only time will tell as you keep reading Dragonball B V.

Chapter Text

Bulma sat against a tree watching some of the nameks play golf. Several days had passed and the new day seemed to have brought better spirits to the nameks who still grieved for their planet and for Guru. Bulma cast her eyes over Capsule Corp grounds and it seemed that all her guests were happily occupied, she, however, was not. Who would have thought with this many people around that she could actually feel lonely?

She supposed it could be the disappointment of having to wait so many days till she could wish her friends back to life. She sighed. No, it wasn't that. It was something more. Perhaps it was the shock of returning to Earth away from all the excitement and adventure? Maybe. She leant back against the trunk of the tree ignoring the little prickly bits of bark that jutted out here and there. She heard a soft rustling noise and turned her head slightly expecting to see a squirrel or other small creature. She was amazed to see Vegeta, not far away from her standing up against a tree of his own in the shadows.

It seemed not all of her guests were happily occupied after all. He looked bored, perhaps even lonely and as always proud. Even though she couldn't see them she knew his eyes would be intense with thought. What thoughts he was hiding behind those eyes? She could not guess. He was a mystery but Bulma was a genius at solving mysteries amongst other things. It would certainly give her something to do.

x x x

Vegeta stood underneath the shade of a tree in between training sessions. It had become too hot to train comfortably. Ordinarily the heat wouldn't have stopped him but he didn't see the point in exhausting his body at present, after all, with Kakkarot dead, for the moment he was the strongest fighter in the universe.

Not long after he had taken up his position, the nameks had come and set up their game without noticing him. Vegeta saw no reason to move because of them and besides when they had eventually become aware of him he had derived some mild amusement from watching their reaction as he glared menacingly at them.

They of course were in no danger. He had no need to go around killing these Nameks, they had nothing he wanted and killing them would be far too easy to be even remotely enjoyable. Besides the namek named Piccolo was keeping a close eye on him, he would intervene which was somewhere between amusing and annoying. Vegeta felt restless, there appear little to do on this planet - little that would interest him. His eyes swept over the rest of Capsule corps grounds and alighted on the blue-haired woman.

He wasn't sure what to make of her, with her sudden outbursts of indignation and alternate gushes of how great she was. Still, she was the only person who had treated him with neither fear nor mistrust. Whenever she did engage with him she treated him normally, which was oddly pleasing. He laughed inwardly for a moment at that thought. It seemed contradictory that he should find that quality admirable in anyone, being a prince deserving of respect, perhaps even being a Saiyan but he was dissatisfied by the nameks fear of him. He didn't want just to be feared.

Didn't he? He asked himself suddenly.

What did he want then? He wasn't sure he knew, he'd spent his whole life seeking power to defeat Frieza and now that it was over he felt without purpose. Power was important. He had his noble heritage to live up to but wasn't there more to freedom? Just then he noticed he was still staring in the woman's direction. She noticed. She waved. He nodded back at her not even sure why. She got up then and began making her way over to him. What had he done?

"Hey Vegeta! You look bored," she observed.

"Your pathetic planet doesn't hold much interest for me, except to train on and to conquer." He replied attempting to sound sinister but decided he had come off in fact, sounding bored.

"Hey, this planet has lots to offer!" Bulma retorted a hint of offense washing her features.

"Like what?" He couldn't seem to lift his mood.

"Like . . ." Bulma tried to think, "well personally I like shopping but I don't think that would really appeal to you. Maybe extreme sports," she shook her head, "No, I don't think you'd find them that extreme." She bit her lip. "I can't think of anything off the top of my head right now but lots of things." She ended half-heartedly.

"Great endorsement, I'm really glad I picked earth to stay on." He folded his arms tighter against him.

"Like there were so many other choices available." she snipped back.

"What did you come over here for anyway woman?"

"If you must know," Bulma said haughtily, "I thought you looked lonely and I came over to cheer you up!"

"I am not lonely!" Vegeta's voice was low and gritty. "You should speak for yourself, you're the one moping around your own planet."

Bulma stood up straight bristling. "How dare you?"

"Although," he taunted deliberately. "I suppose that's to be expected since most of your friends are currently dead!" Vegeta smirked with a measure of satisfaction.

Bulma drew in her breath and opened her mouth in shock and indignation but recovered quickly. "Thanks in no small part to you! But at least, I, have friends and a planet!"

Vegeta's eyes narrowed furiously and Bulma's hand went to cover her mouth but she pulled it away determinedly and clenched her fists instead in appearance that showed she was unapologetic perhaps given strength by her attachment to those dead friends.

"Do me a favour woman, stop cheering me up!" Vegeta made a movement to go.

Bulma stood in front of him. "You know what your problem is?"

"I don't have any problems," he said pointedly.

"You don't know how to relax, you need to lighten up." She completely disregarded his retort. "Look at the nameks, kicking back, playing games, having fun."

"They are of no interest to me," Vegeta declared, "or their strange little stick game."

"Golf." Bulma supplied. "The Nameks are getting really into it and they seem to have quite a knack."

"Oh really?" At that moment Vegeta's arm shot out level with Bulma's head. His hand outstretched had grabbed the aptly timed golf ball that had come hurtling over to them. He opened his hand slowly in front of Bulma's nose to make the point whilst scouting the area with his eyes to establish the identity of the culprit.

Dende, aha! He threw the ball back at him, hard. Unfortunately Piccolo stepped in caught the ball and handed it to Dende but not before giving Vegeta a long hard stare. Vegeta simply stared back.

"Gosh, thanks Vegeta." Bulma breathed, "I might have been injured."

Her smile had returned soft and alighting on him.

"It was simply reflex," Vegeta dismissed shrugging.

"And what great reflexes they are!" Bulma gave his arm a squeeze and winked at him before her face went serious again, "but don't change the subject. We're finding you something to do."

She changed demeanours so abruptly Vegeta wasn't entirely sure he had heard her correctly not to mention that she'd actually dared touch him.

"C'mon Vegeta, you must have things you like to do when you're not fighting?" Bulma prompted.

"Training," Vegeta said dispassionately.

"Something other than that," she said exasperation starting to show.

"Blowing things up," he felt himself beginning to smirk.

Bulma put her hands on her hips, "C'mon now,"

"Destroying cities, sending innocent people to the next dimension " Vegeta was starting to enjoy this conversation.

"Well if you aren't going to take this seriously!" Bulma exclaimed, the indignation making her skin flush.

"But I thought you didn't want me to take things seriously," he said mockingly. "Lighten up, you said, have fun! Weren't they your words?"

"You're hopeless!" Bulma screamed and stormed off.

Vegeta laughed. It seemed that there was something else he enjoyed other than fighting - annoying the woman. He wasn't sure it would entertain him for the next 124 days but something was better than nothing!

x x x

Authors Narration - Vegeta saved Bulma from being struck by a stray golf ball but it seems she'll now have to contend with colliding with Vegeta's taunts. Better get a move on Bulma and connect him to a new hobby fast. Stay reading for the next chapter of Dragonball B V!

Chapter Text

"Mommmm!" Bulma whined, "For the hundredth time, the Nameks don't eat food!"

"But this is cake," Mrs. Briefs protested. "Oh well, I suspect your right Bulma dear, you usually are. Do you think Vegeta would like some?" Mrs. Briefs began making her way out of the kitchen towards the dining table, cake in hand.

"Definitely not! He's not in a good mood at all today." Bulma replied. She had seen him earlier this morning glaring at anyone that passed him by. "Besides he blasted off somewhere." Probably the lake, she thought. He seemed to like that place. It was actually her brilliant idea to send him swimming. Perhaps he would come back in a better mood. It was strange but he seemed to affect everyone around him when he was brooding, or it seemed so to her. In any case she had no doubts that he would be back, most likely when he got hungry and it would be left to her to deal with him one way or another.

x x x

Vegeta paused his morning training in the large parkland off from a lake near Capsule Corp. and reflected on the last month since his arrival on earth. He had found himself confused and frustrated by his training. He'd tried to develop a routine but it was awkward, Capsule Corp. was so full of Nameks . . . and humans, that it was hard to find a place to train where he could remain uninterrupted. He'd taken to flying around a lot not so much for training but for peace and quiet but flying took valuable energy that could have been better used in other training.

Eventually he'd taken up swimming, well sort of. In fact, surprisingly, it had been the woman's, idea, though he'd been careful to assure she never knew it, sneaking off when she was otherwise engaged and taking alternative routes. Her smug knowing look would have continued for days, as would have her comments about how great she was.

She'd unwittingly given him the idea by remarking about the weather getting hotter. She'd implied there was a lake nearby that would be great for having 'fun' in. He'd always found water a powerful tool and ally for both training and fighting. It improved breath, provided physical resistance to energy attacks and moves and forced him to rely on his senses other than sight. Moreover during fights it was a great advantage to throw enemies off your location and also place them in unfamiliar territory. Whenever possible he used water in battle. But sometimes the lake mocked him; it was so peaceful as opposed to his own inner demons, then at other times it would make him laugh as he reminded himself it would not be peaceful for long.

Even so, his training had lacked grit. Freedom had been waited for so long and he had gone from one challenge to the next his whole life that this 'down time' was unfamiliar. He found himself at loose ends. He decided he hated waiting, but there was nothing for it but to wait for Kakkarot to be resurrected. He blasted the ground. There was something more that bothered him. Vegeta was assuming that once Kakkarot returned, the secret of Super Saiyan would be revealed to himself. Would that even be the case?

Vegeta breathed hard as he came to a stop. He had been at it all morning, blasting, flying, running, jumping and swimming, he'd done it all but still nothing! No Super Saiyan strength, no golden aura, not even a slight rise in power! Nothing at all, aside from intense thirst. He sighed, powered down and slowly returned to Capsule Corp walking. The weather was so stifling that flying would have just added drying winds to his dehydrated condition. He made for the now familiar kitchen of the Briefs, entered the door and found the blue haired woman already standing at the fridge.

"It sure is hot today," Bulma remarked.

"Obviously," Vegeta responded grumpily, he was in no mood for inane observations or small talk.

Bulma didn't respond but handed him a can of grape flavoured drink.

Vegeta swallowed the drink quickly.

"Been training?" Bulma asked leaning against the counter casually, her mood not bothering to match his.

"What gave it away?" Vegeta levelled.

"I don't know? Maybe the way your eyebrows have knit together in frustration or perhaps the damp hair from swimming in the lake," Bulma cocked her head slightly to the side and gave him a coy smile before walking towards the door. "Or it might even be the sweat glistening on your fabulous muscles" She laughed as she continued out of the kitchen.

Vegeta stared after her stoically. He'd come to realize that she enjoyed shocking him and that the challenge was to remain indifferent. Unfortunately she was unpredictable and she did seem to keep coming up with different ways of catching him off guard and often throwing him more than one astonishing comment. He had narrowly escaped this encounter. Not only had he felt his eyebrows quaver when she revealed that she did clearly know about the lake but when she made reference to his appearance he was sure he felt the left corner of his mouth twitch upwards. He frowned deeper, he must improve.

x x x

Bulma, Bulma, what are you doing? Bulma asked herself as she walked away. Were you flirting with Vegeta?

It's just a bit of fun. It's harmless. She continued her internal dialogue.

Is it? Rationalised the other voice. When he's in such a bad mood?

He enjoys it, just as much as I do.

And that doesn't worry you?

Bulma halted in her steps. It hadn't worried her, of course he would enjoy it. She was gorgeous and intelligent and gave him something else to think about but that made her question her own motives. Why did she enjoy it?

Well? Some part of her prompted expectantly but the answer was elusive and nothing she could quite determine. It's fun, she answered lamely unwillingly to probe further. But still it was Vegeta she was flirting with. Dangerous, arrogant, volatile, unpredictable, Vegeta. She wasn't sure that was any kind of argument anymore. It wasn't as if he'd changed, it was just that she knew him now. She wrinkled her brow. What did that even mean? She rolled her shoulders back and tossed her head. She was over thinking this, it was harmless fun they both enjoyed, a little game between two people who were in a shared position of waiting for their lives to restart. Harmless fun and nothing more.

x x x

Authors Narration – Woah! Was that Bulma flirting with Vegeta because it seems to me like she's far more likely to be enticing danger! Will Vegeta find the satisfaction in his training that he's looking for or should he look elsewhere? And what about Mrs. Briefs? Will she ever stop trying to feed the Nameks?

Chapter Text

Bulma sat in the lounge staring out at the rain streaming down the glass doors. It was a horrible morning. She hoped the Nameks were okay over in their area of Capsule Corp. because she didn't feel like traversing over there to check on them. She'd been sitting with her chin on her hand staring out the glass doors for about half an hour. She couldn't believe how quickly 127 days had gone by. Two more days and they would be able to wish Krillin and Goku back and of course after that Yamcha and the others. The wind was picking up she noticed. Soon it would be storming. She sighed loudly.

"Is there a purpose to that noise you continually make?" Vegeta spoke.

Bulma jumped. She'd forgotten he was there. It was sometimes surprisingly easy to do as he always removed himself to the corner of the room.

"No purpose." she replied sighing again gloomily and returned her gaze to the window. "There's a storm on its way."

"Good," replied Vegeta, "I like storms."

She didn't. "I like stars," retorted Bulma grumpily.

She could detect a slight clenching of his jaw but he didn't respond further. Although he was a man always willing to engage in physical battle Bulma had discovered he was not always as keen for a verbal one. Truth be told she wasn't up for one either. Her listlessness didn't need irritation or entertainment.

Bulma sat silently for a few more minutes pondering her lethargy and unable to find a cause. She turned back to look at what Vegeta was doing. He was sitting in the lounge chair reading. She was glad he hadn't left when she came downstairs. Whatever her reasons, she'd felt comforted by company, any company. The fact that it was Vegeta suited her. Over the past few months she'd found Vegeta unexpectedly good company, that was to say when she didn't want conversation but also didn't want to be alone.

Quite often she'd found him sitting in an out of the way spot and she'd join him, respecting his personal space of course. At first she had been convinced that he refused to move purely for image purposes or out of stubbornness but later she'd come to question whether he might just be tired of being alone too. Watching him now, she realised he wasn't turning the pages of the book. He was simply staring at it evidently deep in thought. Well, at least she wasn't the only one feeling pensive.

Vegeta looked up, sensing he was being watched. Bulma forced a slight smile before she let her eyes fall away then shifted to gaze back out the window to the impending storm that was sure to bring destruction and loss.

x x x

Vegeta watched as the woman turned away from him toward the storm. It was impossible not to notice that she was in a strange mood, so unlike herself and far more like his. Brooding, introspective. He could relate. A flash on the horizon drew his eyes. It appeared the storm was closing in on them and it looked to be gaining intensity. Vegeta had thought about training in the weather, after all a little rain and wind and even lightning meant nothing to a Saiyan but he had nothing to prove by getting sopping wet and dodging lightning bolts. His transformation would not occur during such child's play. . . if it happened at all.

The howl of the wind got louder and the rain started. He must be patient, if he could see Kakkarot's transformation from beginning to end perhaps it would give him the answers to his own. It was only two days more. Two more days and he would know. He found himself sighing loudly mimicking the disagreeable sound he had just objected too. At least so far the days had passed quickly and satisfactorily. In a small way he had the woman to thank for that. She kept him from being bothered by the others, suggested the lake and when she was quiet, infrequent though that was, she was actually quite agreeable company. Still he would be glad to put such passive waiting behind him. Monumental change was near, for good or ill.

x x x

It was day 128. The sun was shining absolutely brilliantly, Bulma felt cheerful all over with the anticipation of tomorrow, a far cry from her mood yesterday and why not? She just loved dragonballs. Or was that wishes? A smile stretched forcibly across her face. Wishes were great. Summoning the dragon was great. Having her friends return super great. The older nameks were again playing golf. Dende and the other namek boys were playing cards. It brought back memories of the first few days when they had returned to earth. Bulma agreed that at least that was genuinely cheerful. She looked over to Vegeta's tree, as she called it. Sure enough he was standing up against it arms folded. Something about him looked more grumpy than usual. As she was feeling happy - she absolutely was - she didn't see why anyone else should feel any other way. She walked over to Vegeta's tree and leaned next to him. She was closer than usual but as she was using the tree as a prop she had no choice and felt she might get away with it.

"Leave me alone woman, I warn you I'm not in the mood for any of your inane chatter."

Vegeta's position had tensed slightly at her approach.

"This is my house and if I want to stand against a tree and watch the nameks golf. I can." Bulma stated regally.

"Well stand there if you want, but I'd keep a close eye on those nameks if I were you."

"Nameks?" Bulma swivelled her head side-to-side looking for the ones in question. "Playing golf? They've gotten way better at playing now, I'm sure I will be quite safe."

"Don't bet on it." He grumbled.

"But we're quite out of their way. Their aim would have to be way off to hit us here," Bulma insisted.

Vegeta's arm went up to his own face grabbing a golf ball.

Bulma looked astounded, the ball in question had come from quite a distance and absurdly fast. "Whoa, you were right Vegeta. Their aim is way off."

"On the contrary. I'd say it was right on." Vegeta glared at one of the nameks who Bulma knew had taken a particular dislike to him. Vegeta then made a show of crumbling the golf ball in his hands into dust, barely containing his irritation. A couple of nameks grabbed at their compatriot and pushed him hurriedly to the next hole on the course.

"You sure are grumpy today. I thought you'd be happy that we can wish Goku back tomorrow," Bulma queried.

"I am not grumpy!" Vegeta uncharacteristically shouted drawing the attention of everyone nearby.

Bulma straightened up off the tree and blinked innocently at him a little taken aback.

Vegeta glared at her a few moments and then pushed himself upright from the tree and stormed off.

She stared after him, her hand belatedly reaching out before she withdrew it in confusion.

x x x

Vegeta hadn't cared what direction he took. He simply needed to move to express his agitation. The woman was annoyingly right, he felt grumpy. Angry. Aggravated. . . gloomy. It was day 128, Kakkarot would return tomorrow and Vegeta had still not discovered the secret of the transformation on his own nor seemed to have made any progress that he could tell. How could he the Prince of all Saiyans not attain something that was his birthright? Something he had sought all his life, while Kakkarot, who had been unaware of his heritage and uncaring of it, had attained it? The closer the moment came to confronting the reasons the more frustrated he felt. It was just too irritating, day 129 couldn't come soon enough! He blasted off into the sky.

x x x

Piccolo watched from a distance as the blue flame of Vegeta disappeared on the horizon. He had also witnessed the interaction between Bulma and Vegeta just prior to the Saiyans departure. He had been too far away to hear all of what they said despite his excellent hearing but he had caught Vegeta's shout and the odd word. He'd noticed quite a few exchanges between them, mostly because he made it his business to know what Vegeta was up to and partly because he felt he owed Goku the safety of his friend, Bulma. So far there had been little concern in that regard though Piccolo was certain that Bulma had a death wish or just no sense of self preservation. Not a few times he had been astonished by the strange tolerance Vegeta had for the earth woman. Annoyingly their interactions were becoming more and more frequent and he thought it was a very good thing that Goku was returning tomorrow. Piccolo didn't like being involved in such things especially when he had some concern as to where things between the two were heading. It was a good thing Bulma and Vegeta had no idea.

x x x

Authors Narration - Day 129 is shown in DragonBallZ. Don't forget to watch out for Bulma and Piccolo's reaction when Vegeta blasts off into space!

Chapter Text

Bulma could hardly believe that Day 129 had arrived and was already drawing to an end. She reflected on it with mixed emotions. She sat on her bed in her nightgown writing in a somewhat empty diary. She was rarely organized or motivated enough to write in it. But the events of today had left her confused. She couldn't seem to sort out if she was happy or sad, so her scientific side had decided writing a list of the days positives and negatives that might help to clear her head.

She made two columns one good, one bad. Good: Krillin and Yamcha come back to life. That was two really, she told herself scribbling a line to delineate them. Yamcha, her on again, off again boyfriend returning was naturally a significant point in favour of happiness. She chewed her lip, but it was significantly offset by Goku not returning to Earth as they had all hoped. She dutifully placed Goku's absence in the bad column. Good: Goku alive . . . wherever he was. Bad: Vegeta stealing Dads ship and leaving. Her pen paused over the diary. Now was that two or one? Or, as Piccolo indicated strongly, was Vegeta leaving a good thing? She huffed, remembering the bizarre disapproval that the Namek had expressed towards her at her brief display of shock and dismay at Vegeta's departure. What did the menacing green son of the demon king know about it? She was rightfully concerned. She doubted Vegeta finding Goku would have any bearing on how quickly either of them returned - worse it might mean that one or neither did. She underlined Vegeta's name.

So if she counted Vegeta leaving and stealing the ship as two that made it an even amount of good and bad. Eternally optimistic or determinedly optimistic as it seemed to be lately, she decided she needed something else that was good. Good: Nameks staying an extra 129 days, she wrote. Bad: Piccolo hanging around. She tapped the page with the pen aggressively. This was not working.

Think Bulma think, she told herself. Good: seeing the dragon? Well that would have to do. Good it was. Happiness then. She attempted a large smile at herself in the mirror, it froze there, never meeting her eyes. She should be happy, Yamcha had returned, Krilin was alive, Goku was alive and would surely, some day return and Vegeta, he . . . he would - well she just didn't know. He was Goku's problem, she supposed. Always had been. Therefore everything would be all right and this strange sense of loss was probably just fatigue, adrenalin exhaustion from all the excitement of the day. She sighed placing her chin in her hands, looked at the stars and thought they were rather smug twinkling away in the sky tonight. Nothing like diamonds at all.

x x x

Vegeta sped away from earth in Capsule 3. Damn you, Kakkarot, he growled. You have denied me my birthright once more! All this time the third class saiyan had been alive, likely getting stronger, while Vegeta relaxed! Vegeta angrily pushed the buttons on the navigation screen. He was going to search every known planet from earth to Namek's last location and hunt Kakkarot down, discover the secret of the Super Saiyan and destroy him! Then he would take his rightful place as the strongest warrior in the universe, rise to the status of the legendary. – And then? He questioned himself unexpectedly, finding that anger sputtering out in a manner he'd never before experienced.

His eyes wandered back to the view screen of the diminishing Earth and his fists clenched. Nothing more, strength was all that mattered was all that had ever mattered to him. He turned determinedly away, heading for an area of the ship where he could throw himself back into his training.

x x x

Authors Narration - With the Saiyan in space searching to settle the score with Goku and Yamcha restored to the land of the living and likely to try his luck luring Bulma back into his love life will our two heroes ever cross paths again? I guess so or there would not be more Dragonball B V!

Chapter Text

Bulma woke up feeling all a flutter and smile played about her lips as she recalled she had dreamt of Vegeta. Admittedly, surprising, since he'd been off in a space looking for Goku for months now. She wondered what made her dream of him after all this time? A sudden shiver came over her just before her alarm clock buzzed forcing her to reach for it. She had no more time to speculate about dreams and their causes. She was having a BBQ today and there were things to do before Yamcha, Puar, Krillin and Oolong came over.

She looked at all her clothes in her wardrobe trying to decide what to wear and finally decided on a striped red dress and jacket. She brushed her permed hair and pushed it back with a red headband. She examined her face in the mirror, smoothing moisturiser over its surface and firmly told her image that she was still young, still pretty and confident.

She reached for her lipstick and ran it over her lips. In the dream she had kissed Vegeta with those lips. Imagine that, she laughed to herself, kissing Vegeta. She had certainly flirted with him while he was here but only in a fun kind of harmless way, it was friendly banter, not like the dream. Silly dream with its fantastical ideas that could never have occurred in the waking world. That could never even be considered. Bulma suddenly realised she had applied about 6 coats of lipstick.

x x x

Yamcha, Puar and Oolong had arrived and now they were just waiting for Krillin. They were all sitting out on the balcony chatting meaninglessly. Bulma sat on the edge of the balcony railing. Yamcha was goofing around making up songs, the others laughed, Bulma smiled thinly, he was soooo immature sometimes. She had always appreciated his sense of humour and his jokes, he was funny. Fun too, most of the time, it was just lately that he had been somehow off his game. She decided to change the subject.

In her haste she said the first thing that came to mind; her dream about Vegeta. Bulma inwardly groaned, wondering what she was thinking mentioning it to Yamcha . . . or anyone!

As Yamcha's jealousy raised its head Bulma felt justified. Perhaps subconsciously this had been her motivation all along, sparking some seriousness back into him. She felt a sense of satisfaction at his outrage as she mercilessly offered up the details including the kiss.

Oolong teased Yamcha about his jealousy but to Bulma's surprise Yamcha stretched back in his chair and dismissed it.

It sat uncomfortably with her that Yamcha was not concerned. He had no reason to be concerned of course, she was loyal but still . . .

Mrs. Briefs suddenly giggled from the door, holding a tray of drinks. **"Speaking of Vegeta. Your Dad said he should be running out of fuel soon." **

Bulma was unaware that she had repeated the knowledge as she walked to the edge of the balcony and looked skyward her expression concerned. She didn't see the way Yamcha's eyes followed her, how his frown deepened at the evident apprehension in her words. She didn't realise it was not the first time he'd seen her look sadly skyward. She couldn't have guessed that Yamcha was wondering whether her anxiety was fear of Vegeta returning or fear that he wouldn't.

x x x

Vegeta hurtled through space in capsule 3. It had been a long and fruitless journey. He hadn't found Kakkarot and now his journey was coming to an end as the capsule made its return journey to Capsule Corp.

Dr. Briefs had prudently installed a device that had informed Vegeta when he had neared the point of having less than adequate fuel to return to Capsule Corp. There were of course plenty of planets out there to refuel on but Vegeta knew his luck only too well and since he wasn't sure exactly where the nearest fuel might be or how compatible he'd decided not to risk ending up stuck in the middle of some prehistoric galaxy.

He couldn't believe he had failed to find Kakkarot. He'd been to countless worthless planets of all kinds. No one had seen or heard of any Saiyan. Vegeta's frustration was so high that his power levels prickled his skin and his hair swayed in the current. He should have stayed on Earth and waited! That worthless third class Saiyan had probably returned by now, slipping by him at some point probably with a big stupid grin. Vegeta's mood swung ferociously in the other direction. No, most likely the saiyan had not returned. That would be too easy to find Kakkarot waiting for him. Vegeta's fortunes never played that way, it was more likely Vegeta would never find Kakkarot! Or if he did the idiot would be dead, taking his secret with him. He wiped his hand across his forehead and took a steadying breath. This search had taken its toll.

Feelings of doom had been plaguing him the last few days and had only increased as he got closer to Earth. He was uncertain if some horrible revelation awaited him there or if something was hunting him, driving him to the planet but his thoughts were anxious and troubled as he prepared for re-entry of earths atmosphere.

x x x

Authors Narration - It seems the petulant prince is plummeting towards the planet. Brace yourself Bulma your barbeque is about to be crashed! Literally!

Chapter Text

Vegeta had been right. His feelings of doom had been justified, it was no comfort. He lay in bed knowing it was completely futile that he even try to sleep. How could he after everything he had learned today? The strange kid from the future with all of those predictions had robbed him of the chance to defeat Frieza and avenge his race but that was the least of his concern. It was the predictions that alarmed him most. Not that he was sure he could even trust that kid who'd refused to give his name. But the youth had said that they would all die by the hands of the androids. Vegeta could only assume that meant that he hadn't reached Super Saiyan in the next three years in whatever timeline the kid came from. It troubled him considerably.

Especially as apparently there were two super saiyans now - Goku and the future kid. Yet he, Vegeta, prince of all Saiyans had not acquired it. He must reach it; he must have it. His other self could not have, must not have tried hard enough. Was it because Goku had died in the other timeline? It disgusted him to think that he could be so lacking in motivation as to need someone else - or the threat of death - to spur him on.

Vegeta considered getting up to train. He could hear the old man downstairs working on the capsule. He hoped the gravitron would give him the edge. Kakkarot had trained in one hundred times earth gravity.

He threw the covers from the bed and stood up pacing. Perhaps he should go and properly motivate the old man. Vegeta clenched his fists and then released them. No it was better if he trained tomorrow after a full nights sleep. He looked at the bed knowing it was pointless to try again, he needed something to help him sleep. A glass of hot milk? Wasn't that the usual earth custom?

x x x

Bulma lay with her arm across her eyes and her head back against a chair in the dimly lit downstairs lounge. It had been a turbulent day and her head was pulsing from the strain of it. First Vegeta had returned, then Frieza had arrived bent on revenge, then that guy from the future had turned up and killed Frieza and then Goku had shown up and the whole news about the androids and the earths impending doom had come about. It made her head dizzy and stomach churn.

Yamcha had finally gone home to rest and prepare for the future like the rest of warriors. In honest truth perhaps it was Yamcha's behaviour that had added to the mayhem of her thoughts and feelings finally leading to this awful headache. He had argued with her on and off throughout the day over trivial things and had left her behind on several occasions to fend for herself. Even leaving little Gohan to be the one to have to help her up the mountain. Then he had turned around and begun acting all strange after Goku's bizarre comment about her having a healthy baby. Bulma frowned deeply, the comment was insulting on many levels. She couldn't imagine what Goku was thinking, she hadn't put on any weight and he had no reason to presume anything of the sort. Yamcha's suggestion that Goku meant that they should settle down was ludicrous in light of the future predictions of their deaths! Among other reasons. But Yamcha kept talking about it with nervous energy that convinced her he was entirely uncomfortable by the mere notion. He'd be far better off focusing on the real problem - their deaths!

She rubbed her temples. It was going to be a hard three years. She heard clanking outside and knew it was going to be a hard night for her Dad. He was busy repairing and rebuilding Capsule 3 so that it would be capable of producing gravity suitable for Vegeta's training.

The clanking was irritating, her head pulsed and she tried to summon up enough energy to move from the lounge chair to fetch a painkiller. She managed to get herself upright, switched off the remaining aggravating light in the lounge and sighed at the comfort of near darkness. She walked to the kitchen, feeling her way feebly and pushed open the door. She headed for the light on the kitchen stove to give herself enough to see by. She retrieved the tablet from the nearby top shelf, went to the sink and poured a glass of water. Swallowing the tablet at last she took a deep breath to relax. Water glass in hand, she walked forward and stretched her hand out to the door to push it open when suddenly it swung towards her. A dark shape loomed in the doorway menacingly.

"Aaaaagh!" She threw the glass of water at her assailant and stumbled backwards surprised as it bounced.

The glass shattered on the floor and the light switch came on with blinding fury.

"What are you doing?" The shape asked.

"Ve- geta?" Bulma's foggy head eventually determined. "I thought you were a burglar . . . or an android." Her heart was pounding erratically from the fright.

Vegeta was standing there his pink 'bad man' shirt covered in water.

"In that instance," he stated flatly, "I hope water wasn't your only defence."

Bulma worriedly realised it would have been. She got to her feet, avoiding the broken glass. "I'm sorry, I'll get you a drying cloth er towel." The scare or Vegeta's presence seemed to have put her in an even more incoherrant state. She pulled a clean kitchen towel from the nearby drawer.

Vegeta took it thanklessly and began unbuttoning his shirt.

Bulma wondered why he was still wearing the pink shirt she'd given him earlier. She knew he hated it. It dawned on her that he didn't have any other clothes to wear as she'd washed his saiyan suit and left it wet.

"You weren't wearing those clothes to bed were you?" She looked up meeting his gaze. His chest was bare and so close to her body. She immediately regretted asking anything about what he did or didn't do in bed. It was such an unbidden, unwelcome thought to have just as she met his eyes. Her gaze dropped away, fearful that he would read her mind somehow. "I'll get you something more suitable." She fled the kitchen.

Clothes, clothes, she ordered her self, attempting to shy away from the embarrassment she'd narrowly avoided. She opened the linen closet for guests. She grabbed pajamas that looked appropriate; they were men's and black. She returned to the kitchen and without making eye contact managed to shove them at Vegeta and muttered him a promise of making sure his saiyan outfit was ready by morning.

She caught the slightly puzzled look he shot her before he returned to whatever it was he was intent on fetching from the fridge.

x x x

In the safety of her bedroom Bulma sharply turned the key on her door as if she was somehow locking out her own emotions. She placed her back against the door for extra measure. Her hand clutched against her heart as she tried to slow her breathing. What had just happened? It was that silly dream again! It had put thoughts it her head that just weren't there before. They seemed to be here now, quite vividly, she added as she reflected on her reaction. Well that was that. No more flirting. None. No more. Just to be safe. She'd have to find some other way of dealing with his moods now.

x x x

Authors Narration - Vegeta may have fallen from the sky in space capsule 3 but it seems like Bulma is doing some falling of her own, falling head over heels for Vegeta that is! Will she be able to do anything to stop herself – find out by reading Dragonball B V.

Chapter Text

The morning light streamed into Bulma's bedroom window and glinted on the mirror above her dresser. Bulma stared at herself in the mirror, as she brushed her hair vigorously. She shook her head at her complete silliness last night. The strain of the day, combined with the weird dream and a couple of headache tablets had obviously caused a severe over reaction on her part. It was the most reasonable explanation and the only one she wanted to believe.

Her mind was soon busy with other thoughts as the full impact of yesterday's news began to sink in. Bulma contemplated the entire situation of their impending deaths and was still not entirely convinced she shouldn't go searching for the dragonballs herself despite the others misgivings. It would be difficult on her own but not impossible but at length she decided her time might be better spent on beginning some research on Dr. Gero and the androids.

She could maybe find some clue that would help them avoid the catastrophic future altogether. It would make her useful in this fight.

Yamcha was off training outdoors somewhere on Capsule corp grounds and she had heard the gravity capsule kick in early this morning, which indicated that Vegeta had begun his training as well. She could only assume Vegeta had found his Saiyan suit at his door. She had waited last night until she had heard Vegeta go back to his room before venturing out to get it and dry it. Somehow she hadn't been able to shake the image of his bare chest until she had.

She'd repaired the suit too with Capsule Corp's no sew material repairer and also made some plans to copy the combat suit. She couldn't believe the poor man had been living in that one suit, goodness knows what he'd been wearing to bed for those 129 days.

She wondered why she had never given it any thought before, surely she should have considered getting Vegeta other clothing all that time he was here. She had a suspicion such things had always been provided for him in the past and that it had simply not occurred to Vegeta to ask. She could and should remedy the situation herself and there was no time like the present when it came to shopping. "Men just don't think of these things," Bulma breathily said out aloud before she could halt herself. She was momentarily horrified knowing that she had sounded just like her mother. It was almost enough to put her shopping plans on hold and to send her scavenging for research on Dr. Gero but not quite enough. She hummed happily and skipped out of the house.

Her thoughts were full of images of mens clothes and how they might fit and look on Vegeta when she ran into Yamcha standing near the gravitron.

"Yyyamcha," Bulma stuttered, she felt strangely guilty.

"I just came by to see how things are going, " Yamcha said.

"With what?" Bulma asked genuinely.

"You know," Yamcha took her arm and moved them away from the gravitron. "With him here." He jerked his head towards the gravitron.

"With Vegeta?" Bulma raised her brows.

"I don't like him here. He's bad news." Yamcha complained.

"Not really," Bulma said thoughtfully then strengthened her tone. "I mean Vegeta was here for 129 days without incidence before and besides Vegeta's too busy training to bother me- us- capsule corp." She really shouldn't feel this flustered over a simple conversation.

"I guess." Yamcha conceded. "Where are you off to?"

"I was going to go shopping," Bulma said awkwardly, "but we can do something else if you like." She lifted her eyes hopefully.

"Nah, I better get back to my training." Yamcha said throwing a few punches to the air.

Bulma nodded. "I suppose so." She got into her flying car. She had her own mission, a perfectly reasonable one. No one could fault her for it.

x x x

Vegeta walked up the stairs of Capsule Corp. heading for his room after an exhaustive but productive day of training. He was pleased by the graviton and felt a small measure of hope that it could be the tool to achieving greatness. He neared his bedroom door and heard noises coming from inside. Putting his hand quietly on the doorknob he used his lightning fast speed to surprise the intruder.

"Aaaaaaaaagh!" Bulma fell onto the floor. The clothes she had been stacking on the bed fell in a heap on her lap.

"What are you doing in here? Vegeta angrily demanded.

"You scared me Vegeta," Bulma stood up and dusted herself off.

"I'm waiting for your explanation as to why it is you feel you can enter my room!" Vegeta's voice was raised and threatening. Perhaps it was technically her house and perhaps he'd only recently become accustomed to having a space of his own here (or anywhere) but privacy was something he had come to expect.

"Well, I would think that would be obvious," Bulma gestured towards the piles of men's clothes. "I was putting some clothes away that I bought you. I didn't think you would want to go around wearing your Saiyan suit and that pink shirt all the time." Her eyes darted away from him suddenly and she fussed with the clothes.

"I have no use for anything I can't train or fight in." Vegeta folded his arms uncertain as to how to comprehend such a gesture.

"Well, I considered that," Bulma was undeterred, "and I bought you bits and pieces that I could find but your combat suit seemed like the more practical option and I just didn't find time to begin producing them today."

He straightened, attentive. "Am I hearing this right? You are reproducing Saiyan combat armour?"

"Just the suit for now," she said matter of factly, "material is a lot easier to replicate than the armour, Vegeta, but give me some time and I am sure I'll come up with a suitable copy for that too. I am a brilliant scientist you know." She beamed at him and then bent down to pick up the pile of clothes that she had dropped on the floor. "As for the other clothes, I thought you might want them but go ahead and disintegrate them if that's what you want to do."

Bulma put the last pile of clothes into a nearby drawer and walked to his door. She stopped suddenly and turned back. "Oh, and be careful when you open the wardrobe."

Vegeta watched her leave. He walked over to the dresser and pulled open drawers one at a time. His eyes widened, sure enough they were full of clothes. "How much clothing do these earthlings need?" he muttered.

He went to the wardrobe remembering Bulma's warning he laughed at it. It was a wardrobe, what could it possibly do? Swallow him? He pulled open the door in a reckless show of defiance. It was a mistake, the entire contents of the overstuffed wardrobe fell on him. He stood a few moments with clothing surrounding him with one lone tie hanging from a point of his hair.

x x x

Authors Narration - What's this? Vegeta tie-d down with a wardrobe malfunction? This is no time to be fashionably late. You've got to attain the goal of Super Saiyan and save the earth from the androids! Get a move on Vegeta, we need you for the next chapter of Dragonball B V.

Chapter Text

Bulma sat on the floor of her bedroom and flipped through the pages of Android Science Encyclopaedia frustrated. Six months had passed since the future youth had warned them all of the disastrous future. Six whole months gone and she had found very little factual knowledge about Dr. Gero or indeed any information that might help at all against the androids. She huffed at the book and threw it on the floor, she watched as it landed on a pen that broke and bounced in quick succession spraying ink all over her.

She looked down at herself in total exasperation. She'd just been coming to the conclusion that what she needed was a break. It appeared that the break included a long hot shower. She got up, stretched and made her way to her ensuite. Towels were scrunched up on the racks and the shelf above the vanity was covered with bottles of lotions and perfumes.

Bulma opened the shower screen door and turned the hot tap. Nothing happened. She turned it some more, still no water. "What's going on here?" She wailed. She stomped out of the shower and threw on her robe. "Dad!" She yelled out her bedroom door.

"Yes, Bulma?" he was standing right behind her in the hall.

Bulma jumped and turned. "The waters gone in my shower," she complained irritably.

"Oh no Bulma. The water hasn't gone, I just took one of the pressure valves out of the system that I needed for a new project," her father explained distractedly, he seemed to be removing something from the wall sconce.

"Why didn't you use your shower?" Bulma demanded.

"Well, I'd already used those parts to fix the gravitron. Don't worry, I'll replace it later today."

"What about the downstairs wet room. Is that at least working?"

Her father took a moment to think about it. "It is," he confirmed happily, "but there's no hot water as I need the pipe to divert -."

"Really Dad," Bulma said interrupting crossly. "Are there any fully functional showers in the main house?"

"Well," Dr. Briefs scratched the cat that lived on his shoulder thoughtfully, "Vegeta's is working."

Bulma met her father's gaze coldly. That did her no good but at least her father had some sense not to tempt Vegeta's ire. Just hers!

Her father shrugged, finally pulled out the electrical part he was after from the sconce and turned to go.

"What am I supposed to do? I'm covered in ink!" She whined after him but she was ignored as the inventor was fixated once again on his project. She stood there for a few moments pouting petulantly, arms folded. The answer was obvious - nothing or . . . she placed her index finger to her mouth as she weighed the dangers. She could use Vegeta's shower. He was training. He trained all day, never came in at this time. He'd never know. Okay but if he did find out at some point she'd been in his room again, in his shower . . . well he'd be furious. His privacy was definitely something to respect - but this was her house! He was her guest and it was his fault her shower didn't work any way. Besides how could he find out if she was quick, efficient and careful not to leave a trace.

She went back into her room and peered out the window, looking down, down at the gravitron. Yep he was in there all right. Lights flashed from the windows. This was fine.

She went to her bathroom and grabbed her shampoo, conditioner, soap and a clean towel. There, she wouldn't be tangling with anything in Vegeta's shower that might indicate she had been there. Placing her items in a beach bag she walked to the window once more to check Vegeta was still training. No lights flashed at the moment but the hum was still audible. The caution she felt was overridden as she noticed the ink on her arm starting to change colour. She rubbed at it and saw that it was becoming increasingly difficult to remove. It was all over her face, who knew how long it might take to fade! All this hesitation was going to spoil her looks. Bulma wasted no more time and made her way quickly to his room. She opened the bathroom door and noticed with surprise everything was remarkably neat. Towels on the towel racks were folded and things in the shower on the shelf were nicely lined up.

It was just like him she supposed. All control in some ways and volatility in others.

Come on Bulma, she chided herself suddenly. The sooner you get out of here the better. You wouldn't want Vegeta to catch you here, staring at his things contemplating his personal products. Reasonably her mind insisted to her that Vegeta never broke his training but Bulma felt spurred to action all the same. She went to the bathroom door and locked it. She slipped of her robe and got into the shower and turning the tap and was pleased to see water actually come out.

Bulma hurriedly washed, relieved to see the ink removed after only a little scrubbing of her delicate skin. She had only to wash her hair and then she would be done. She reached up to the shelf and grabbed the black bottle of shampoo. She poured some into her hand and waited for the smell of strawberries to fill the air but instead she smelt pine.

"Huh?" she sniffed the shampoo. Definitely pine. She looked at the shampoo bottle, Pine Shampoo for men. That's right, her shampoo was still in her bag. She opened the shower door and leant out trying not to get cold. She grabbed her shampoo and placed it on the shelf next to Vegeta's. She noticed they were the same brand and the bottles looked exactly the same except for the writing. Hers read, in tiny letters, super shiny lightening shampoo for aqua hair.

She had a sudden fear Vegeta would notice she'd taken a bit of his shampoo. Get a grip Bulma, she argued with herself. What do you think? He's going to measures how much shampoo he's got left? Bulma grabbed the bottle checking for a line that might mark it. None there. She breathed out exaggeratedly. This paranoid behaviour had to stop. She'd never once felt afraid of Vegeta in the 129 days he'd stayed here but ever since he'd returned she'd found herself far quite jumpy. It was quite ridiculous, he was more occupied than ever and she couldn't understand why he suddenly alarmed her. Bulma washed her hair vigorously as she tried to figure it out.

x x x

Vegeta blasted the final training bot to pieces. It was exactly two and a half more years before the androids came and slightly over six months since he had begun gravity training to become a Super Saiyan and still he had not achieved it. He needed a break. He needed to relax. A long hot shower might do the trick. Yes. Then he could begin again, refreshed and maybe today would be the day.

x x x

Bulma replaced the cap of the bottle, she had finished her second condition and was rinsing it off when she heard the door downstairs slam.

Her eyes startled wide in panic. Vegeta! It had to be him no one else slammed the door. . . well, except for her. She turned the water off hurriedly and grabbed for the shampoo and conditioner, throwing them into the bag. She struggled into her robe and grabbed the towel for her hair. She quickly wiped down the mirror and watched in horror as it fogged up again. "Oh no," she gasped. Maybe he wouldn't notice. Yeah right, she argued with her distorted reflection, like he isn't vane or anything. What was she doing? Arguing with her likeness about trivialities when she had to get out of here. Bulma exited Vegeta's room, fumbling with the stupid handle and the door that just wouldn't close properly. She thought she heard someone on the stairs beneath her. She pushed at the door manically.

x x x

Vegeta paused upon the first step, should he eat before he showered? He dismissed the idea. It was more efficient to shower first then return downstairs for eating and training. He continued the flight stepping onto the second floor in time to see the woman skid across the hall in front of him, then disappear hurriedly into her room slamming the door behind her. He felt immediately suspicious of her haste and she seemed to have come from the direction of his room. She had surely not bought him more clothes? He entered his room with a critical eye, on the surface nothing appeared disturbed but he immediately discovered that it smelt strongly of strawberries.

"Woman!" he yelled furiously. He noticed the smell was coming from the ensuite. He walked to it and opened the door. He was greeted by an even stronger smell of strawberries, water all over the floor and mist filling the entire room. Clearly she had been showering in here.

"Woman!" he hollered again.

"What?" Bulma said behind him. Her hands were clutching a robe at her neck but her chin was lifted defiantly. Apparently she had decided to face the situation head on.

"You've been showering in here!" Vegeta pointed out the obvious.

"I know," she admitted, bravado clearly holding.

"Well, start explaining. Is this a regular occurrence?" Vegeta demanded.

"No, don't be ridiculous. I've never done this before," and at his skeptical look she continued hotly. "Look Dad took my shower apart to fix your gravitron, well actually he used his shower to fix that and mine for something else but yours was the only functioning one and I had ink all over me from a broken pen that was staining. It's no biggie. Anyway I didn't use your soap . . .or shampoo or anything, well not much." She had defended herself boldly until now but for some reason it seemed she was losing her nerve. "I brought my own," she added weakly.

"I can smell that!" Vegeta said wrinkling his nose. "The whole room smells of you!"

"And what's wrong with the way I smell?" Bulma challenged, fire back in her eyes.

Vegeta couldn't think of an answer. As he considered it he determined that he liked how Bulma smelt, it was pleasant, almost invigorating perhaps even intoxicating . . . He broke the thought roughly. "Just don't do it again."

She huffed as if she were the inconvenienced party and left with her head high.

Vegeta inspected the bathroom for any further signs of tampering with his things but it seemed everything was in its place as she had maintained. He decided to continue with his plan to have a shower and turned the hot water tap on to make sure the woman hadn't used it all up. Happily, plenty of hot water came out.

He removed his garments and closed the screen. He was surprised to find the shower spray hadn't been altered; he enjoyed a shower that had hard pressure. Perhaps she had just been too afraid to move it in case he noticed. Not afraid enough though to keep her out. The pellets of water massaged the knots out of his back and neck and fell rhythmically against the ground. It was soothing. He reached for the shampoo and poured it into his hand. He could still smell that woman's fragrance, the scent of those strawberries she liked so much. She'd probably spilt the fragrance all over the floor of the shower. Indeed it suddenly seemed stronger as he closed his eyes to avoid the shampoo suds. The fragrance was increasing by the moment, lingering in and encompassing his senses, compelling him to breathe it, savour it . . . and it suited the woman somehow. He was about to query the connection when he felt that the water had begun to loose its warmth, in an instant it became icy cold. The woman had used all the hot water after all!

He growled indignantly and hurriedly finished rinsing the shampoo from his hair. He got out towelling himself roughly, annoyed at having such a simple activity disrupted when he caught sight of himself in the mirror. His hair was blonde!

x x x

Authors Narration – What is this Vegeta with blonde hair? Has Vegeta finally reached the legendary status of Super Saiyan? If he has will he end up thanking Bulma for using up all his hot water in the shower? Or will Bulma find out the true meaning of getting yourself into hot water? Get reading the next chapter of Dragonball B V

Chapter Text

"WOMAN!" Vegeta's voice bellowed.

Bulma heard his door slam and his footsteps approach. She opened her door to find him already there, probably about to blast or knock it down. She surveyed him and instantly noticed his hair was blonde. "You're a s- s- super saiyan!" she gasped. She'd seen that Goku had gold hair when he had become Super Saiyan.

"Hardly, look closer." He growled barely containing his consternation.

"What?" she puzzled looking at him.

"My eyebrows," he instructed.

"They're black," she said.

"Yes, while my hair is blonde!"

"That's kind of strange isn't it? But I suppose -"

"Yes!" he interrupted her, "it would be strange if I were a Super Saiyan but as I'm not."

"What are you saying?" Bulma demanded completely at a loss. "What happened to your hair?"

"I believe this might have something to do with it." Vegeta thrust a bottle of shampoo into Bulma's hand.

"Your shampoo?" She turned it over, super shiny lightening shampoo for aqua hair, she read. "My shampoo!" she gasped, she backed away from Vegeta.

"Undo it," Vegeta's voice was low and menacing as he stepped towards her.

"We'll have to dye it, or you could let it grow out." Bulma suddenly had an image of Vegeta with blonde tips and dark roots. She started to laugh.

Vegeta's hands clenched.

"I'm sorry Vegeta," she stopped laughing, "it's just I suddenly had this image of you looking a bit like a skunk," tears had begun to form in Bulma's eyes as she stifled another giggle.

"What!?" Vegeta looked both furious and distressed.

It was the distress that moved her to sympathy. "Don't worry. We'll fix it, it will be like it never happened." She patted his arm in an effort to both comfort and soothe.

He shrugged away from her disdainfully and folded his arms. "then fix it."

She nodded and hurriedly left to get dye.

x x x

Vegeta had steadfastly refused Bulma's help with the hair dye. The last thing he needed was to have that woman asking questions about his hair, his hairstyle, his Saiyan heritage not to mention actually fussing around with his hair, The very idea of that woman with her hands in his hair . . . well it made him extremely uncomfortable of that much he was sure.

He'd half hoped his hair would return to it's natural colour on it's own but no such luck. He'd followed the directions on the box and wasted an hour of training time and looking in the mirror he could see that it wasn't even the right shade of brown it was darker, almost black. Didn't the woman know what colour his hair was? He felt angry about everything. Six months of training, only two and a half years before his alleged death, the only change in his hair colour was caused by a lousy hair shampoo. He needed to step it up a notch. Kakkarot had not trained nearly this long before transforming. Then Vegeta had an alarming thought. What if he just didn't have what it took? His future self had never accomplished it - what made him think he could. But if Kakkarot could, if some other kid could then he could too. He had to. He had to be missing something? He had to try harder, push himself harder and further than he had. Whatever it took – where was Dr. Briefs? He wanted some more training equipment.

x x x

Authors Narration - When Vegeta discovered Bulma's shampoo had bleached his hair, he could have just dye-d! In fact he had to! Unimpressed with the darker hair colour it appears his mood has become equally black. Fully aware of the gravity of the android situation, the pressure is building and it won't be long before something explodes! Find out what in Dragonball B V

or watch Dragonball Z episode 109 – Z warriors prepare . . . but come back.

Chapter Text

Disclaimer: A reminder that dialogue marked ** is from the funimation dub version of DBZ and not written by me and belongs to them. However all other content, plot and dialogue is my intellectual property and cannot be reproduced without my permission - thanks!

Vegeta opened his eyes and tried to sit up suddenly from the dream. An oxygen mask fell from his face. He ached all over and the memory of the previous day came back to him all at once. His terrible mood. The training bots, the gravity machine, the ear splitting crack followed by the thundering explosion and the rubble, he'd blown the gravitron up with himself inside!

Vegeta noticed groggily that he seemed to be in a different room, perhaps a downstairs room. He turned his head to the side to get his bearings. Shockingly the woman was there, her head laid on a nearby desk and she appeared to be asleep.

Curious.

His next move was to try to get up, he groaned in pain. He was just barely able to lift his head off the pillow. Bulma stirred, she must have heard him, he thought. He wasn't sure why but it he shut his eyes and pretended to be still asleep.

x x x

Bulma lifted her head from the desk waking with the instant remembrance that something awful had happened. Her head snapped toward Vegeta lying injured, that's right Vegeta had almost killed himself. She got up from the desk and looked him over worriedly, was he in pain? She thought perhaps she'd heard him moan. She carefully laid her hand on his forehead.

Vegeta flinched momentarily and Bulma thought that perhaps her hands were cold.

"You may still be unconscious but at least your fevers gone down," she crooned to him. She settled herself on the bed beside him falling silent. They might have lost him, nearly did, still might if he kept on like he had. She stared at the Saiyan Prince, watching his chest rise and fall and noticing the lines between his eyes. He frowned even while asleep. Her hand reached out in reflex to stroke the creases away.

"Bulma?" Yamcha called from somewhere nearby.

Bulma jumped and her hand recoiled instantaneously from its near touch of Vegeta's brow.

x x x

Yamcha opened the door to the sick room, Dr. Briefs had said Bulma was here and sure enough there she was standing straight, smoothing down her clothes. Her hair was untidy and her skin pale. "You are in here," Yamcha said disbelievingly. "You look awful."

"SSShhh!" Bulma indicated Vegeta. "And what do you mean I look awful. You'd look awful too if you slept on a desk all night."

"You slept here all night?" Yamcha's mouth pursed.

"Shh, Keep your voice down Vegeta is still sleeping."

Yamcha was swinging his eyes toward the surly saiyan when said patient began coughing.

Bulma raced over to the bed, "Look what you've done Yamcha! Honestly you have no consideration for other people at all."

"I didn't mean to," Yamcha defended himself as he watched Bulma delicately place the oxygen mask back on Vegeta. She lowered his head back to the pillow with evident care.

"I don't think you woke him." She said relieved. Tenderly she tucked the sheets.

Yamcha's eyes narrowed slightly as he watched her and felt, not for the first time, troubled by Bulma's actions.

Yamcha said nothing and waited until Bulma finished fussing but soon he noticed she was just standing still looking at Vegeta. It almost seemed as if she had forgotten he was there. Her hand was raised to her mouth and she looked concerned.

"How is he?" Yamcha asked at last.

"Huh?" Bulma's voice was low and distant, she turned, her eyes gradually coming back to focus on him. "Sorry Yamcha, I forgot you were there."

Yamcha was dumbfounded.

Bulma did not notice, "what did you say?"

"I said how is he?" Yamcha raised his voice to be clear.

This time she didn't even shush him. "Dad says he should be okay . . ." her voice trailed. She returned to her morose staring at Vegeta.

"Listen Bulma, can we talk to outside?"

"Outside? I don't know Yamcha. I'm not sure I should leave-" Bulma hesitated and she had not taken her eyes from Vegeta's prone form.

"It's important." Yamcha insisted taking her hand firmly.

"Well . . . just for a moment." Bulma agreed.

x x x

Vegeta breathed deeply and finally let his eyes open again. Finally they were gone. What an ordeal. He almost thought he'd given himself away. It was a close enough call when the woman had touched him to check for a fever. Not expecting her touch, he'd almost opened his eyes in surprise and was still not sure why it particularly mattered if he had. Vegeta absent-mindedly wiped his own hand over his forehead where her touch had been. What reason there had been for the initial pretence escaped him but he was glad of it when the weakling had come in. He didn't need to dealing with that idiot but then he'd started coughing involuntarily. None the less they were fooled and eventually had left.

Vegeta lifted his head just a little and listened to make sure that they had definitely gone and weren't still hovering nearby. He lay his head back down again, amazed at the amount of effort it had taken for such a simple movement. He gathered his strength in determination to sit up. His headed lifted once more. That's it. I can do this, he thought. He pressed his hands against the mattress but his arms had no strength at all. Blast! He breathed hard as his head fell back against the pillow. Perhaps another strategy might work, if he rolled himself out of the bed then he would be able to get his feet on the floor. He just had to wait a few more moments for enough energy.

x x x

Yamcha and Bulma moved outside into the grounds of Capsule Corp.

"Okay Yamcha, what's up? Make it quick though – I don't think Vegeta should be left on his own. I wonder if I should have propped him up more? He was coughing." She was turning back looking towards the room where Vegeta was recuperating.

"Bulma!" Yamcha interjected. "Do you know what you're doing?"

"Wha? What I am doing? What do you mean Yamcha?" Her voice was bewildered.

"Listen to yourself Bulma, this is Vegeta we're talking about it. You're being way too concerned about him. The way you're acting it's like . . ." Yamcha fell silent.

"Like?" Bulma blinked.

Yamcha looked relunctant.

"Like what?" Bulma insisted.

"Well like yesterday," Yamcha began. "Yesterday you pushed me out of the way to get to Vegeta."

"Were you there when he was injured?" Bulma asked foggily. She recalled the thunderous shake of the house, the terror of the rubble before her. The hand, Vegeta's hand that reached from beneath.

"Yes, I was there!" Yamcha cried astounded, "I carried him inside."

"Oh yes, I forgot." Bulma nodded giving him her attention for a moment. That's right, Yamcha had carried Vegeta's bleeding body. Bulma had never seen the prince look so pale.

"That's what I mean. It's like I don't even exist when Vegeta's around."

"Of course you exist," Bulma dismissed. "That's just silly." Bulma glanced back at the house. Had he put the mask on too tightly?

"If you say so I believe it." Yamcha said. "So this whole bedside vigil for Vegeta is just pity?"

Pity? Bulma faced Yamcha offended by the word and was even more certain the Vegeta would not approve of any pity coming his way. "Not pity," she said firmly but her voice hushed as she continued, "it's just that Vegeta hasn't got anybody and he needs someone."

"Does that someone have to be you?" Yamcha said grumpily folding his arms.

"Well," Bulma's expression quickly morphed into one of dismay as she thought about the answer. Bulma's hands went sliding down her cheeks then came together again as she began wringing them. "No. I mean no. Oh, no, no, no." She looked up aghast into Yamcha's face then began to pace.

"Don't say it Bulma." Yamcha pleaded. "I know what you're thinking, just don't say it."

Say it? Bulma wasn't sure she even wanted to think it but it came tumbling out none the less. "I think I'm in love with Vegeta."

Yamcha slumped. "You mean it's true? I was right?"

"Oh this is awful. Awful!" Bulma put her hands to her face again.

"You can say that again," Yamcha griped.

"Oh Yamcha, I'm so sorry." She turned her attention back to Yamcha. "How did you know?"

"I didn't." Yamcha said gloomily. "I didn't want to know. I still don't."

"But you have to," Bulma said sombrely.

"Maybe you're wrong, Bulma about your feelings maybe –"

"I'm not wrong. Yamcha," Bulma shook her head.

"So sure already?" Yamcha accused peevishly.

Bulma nodded, although she was stunned by the revelation, she was sure. "I'm sorry."

Yamcha looked dour. "I blame those androids and that kid from the future, if we didn't know about them, none of this would have happened."

Bulma didn't know if that were true. She and Yamcha had grown up and apart, changed as people and if not for the androids they would have seen it sooner or later and possibly broken up in a far more destructive manner. "Maybe." She conceded aloud, "but it's given us a chance. A chance to prepare, a chance for hope, a chance to live."

"I suppose."

The silence lengthened between them.

"Yamcha you are a great guy, the best." Bulma said honestly.

Yamcha just shrugged.

"Oh come on, you know you are. Sure, I know you've got girls throwing themselves at you, when I'm not around. They'd be crazy not to." Bulma tried to cheer him up.

Yamcha's expression was at first thoughtful, then a slight grin slowly spread and his eyes were distantly imagining something . . . or recalling it.

She let it go for another moment. "Earth to Yamcha," Bulma watched with familiar irritation as he focused back in on her. "You're not already thinking about your next date are you?"

Yamcha stood up and put his hand behind his head, "Of course not." He laughed nervously.

Bulma understood suddenly that she had no right to complain if he was. This really was the end. In spite of her feelings for Vegeta she felt sad.

"I better get going." Yamcha walked towards his speeder before turning towards her. "But just promise me you'll be careful Bulma."

"There's nothing to be careful about," Bulma said. After all it wasn't as if she planned on telling Vegeta she was inlove with him or as if Vegeta had any feelings for her. "Never will be." She added, the full awfulness of her situation striking her again.

"It didn't look that way yesterday," Yamcha shrugged, "not for either of you."

She wasn't sure what he meant.

Yamcha buckled his seat belt. "Goodbye Bulma,"

"Don't be a stranger." Bulma called.

Yamcha waved bravely as he drove off.

Bulma watched him go before turning to the house. Her thoughts centred on the strange twists of life and Yamcha's comments about the androids. She wondered about how knowledge of the androids had factored into her break up with Yamcha, how it might be at play in her feelings for Vegeta. Certainly it had affected Vegeta's demeanour and training. That got her thinking about the timeline, she wondered how much more of it had been affected? How much of the future near and far?

Bulma walked inside and down the hall returning to the room where Vegeta was.

She stood at the door hesitating. Now that she had come to the full realisation that she had fallen for Vegeta she wasn't sure she would be able to interact with him without giving herself away. She felt hopeless. She was in a ridiculous situation, she'd given up the only boyfriend she had ever had for what? A man, who didn't care enough about himself sometimes, let alone others. She'd be a nuisance to him or worse an amusement.

But Yamcha had seemed to disagree. "It didn't look that way yesterday." Yamcha's voice came to her memory.

What did he mean yesterday? When Vegeta had his accident? She thought back.

**But I feel fine. I can take a little pain. I'm a Saiyan.** Vegeta's voice echoed in her mind as she relived those horrible moments. There was something about the words Vegeta used, something in his tone, the way he let her hold him that might have indicated that he cared about her opinion and that he didn't object to her closeness but Bulma wondered if she was seeing what she wanted to see.

She started to try to imagine how Vegeta might react to the knowledge of her feelings and failed. Also she had an overpowering fear that if she ever managed to look Vegeta in the eyes he would know everything. Sometimes those eyes of his seemed to stare into her very soul. The explanation for why he unnerved her suddenly on his return clearly lay with her increasing feelings for him. Her hand retracted from the door handle of the sick room and faltered there. What if he were awake and she had to face him now? Suddenly she heard a thud from inside, a loud clattering followed and then moaning. There was no time to be indecisive. She opened the door and immediately saw Vegeta face down on the floor, oxygen canisters beside him.

x x x

From his prone position Vegeta watched as Bulma rushed over to him, much like she had when the accident first occurred and knelt beside him.

"Vegeta!" She assisted him to roll onto his back. "What are you doing? Why aren't you in bed?"

"The bed was too soft." He tried to laugh but instead grimaced in pain.

"I see your sense of humour isn't damaged; too bad about the rest of you. Just look at you!" she scolded. "Only a Saiyan would try to get out of bed the second he woke up after an accident like that."

Actually, Vegeta thought, he had spent the better part of ten minutes trying to summon enough energy to get up before he finally just rolled over and out.

Bulma helped him to his feet and somehow managed, with her very little strength and little help from him, to get him back onto the bed.

"Do you know," she began as she settled the pillows behind him, "not one component so far of the gravitron has been intact or identifiable?" She pulled at the corners of the sheet smoothing them out. "Dad said it was a miracle that you survived. Honestly, you've got to take better care -" Bulma broke off and turned away from Vegeta towards the desk. She was fussing with the water pitcher there for some reason.

She turned back to him fiercely suddenly, her eyes glassy but hard. "I for one have got better things to do than play nursemaid to you, so the sooner you lie down and rest the sooner you'll heal! Sooo . . . this time stay in bed and recover!" She stormed towards the door, opened it and paused. Her voice softened but she didn't look back, "for all our sakes." She closed the door quietly after her.

"Strange earth woman!" muttered Vegeta. Her erratic behaviour was uttery puzzling.

x x x

Authors Narration - Vegeta may have blown up the gravitron but it was Bulma who was hit with the even bigger bombshell in discovering that she has feelings for Vegeta. Vegeta might be able to make a full recovery from his injuries but would he ever be able to recover from the truth that Bulma is inlove with him? And what about the timeline – how much has Trunks prediction changed the course of our heroes? Find out today in Dragonball B V.

Chapter Text

Disclaimer: A reminder that dialogue marked ** is from the funimation dub version of DBZ and not written by me and belongs to them. However all other content, plot and dialogue is my intellectual property and cannot be reproduced without my permission - thanks!

Bulma slammed her fists against the computer keyboard. "Ugh! These numbers just don't make sense! I've had it with these useless out of date android components!" Various robotic parts lay around the workshop. It was pointless, she was never going to understand them. She huffed in frustration, then let out another breath of despair as she rested her chin in her hand. She had to figure this out. She was a genius, this wasn't beyond her and she had to do something to help the future.

She lifted her arms above her head and stretched. She got up and walked over to the coffee machine. She wondered how Vegeta was recovering? Was his arm any better today? It was then that she noticed the hum of the gravity machine. Her eyes narrowed, he was at it again!

x x x

Inside the darkened gravity chamber Vegeta spun his body clockwise in mid air. His head was bandaged along with his left shoulder, wrist, the upper part of his right arm and his leg just below his right knee. He also had various grazes including quite a few on his face. Every muscle and nerve pulsated with the 400 times earth's normal gravity. Vegeta knew his entire concentration was required and was determined to make up for the lost week of training that he had spent in bed. He was just beginning his seventh rotation when he heard the metallic hum of the gravitron's communication monitor. The huge monitor blinked into appearance and Bulma's face appeared large and furious before him.

**"Stop it Vegeta! You are in no condition to be doing this right now! I know you don't want to believe it but you are made of flesh and blood."

**"Stop pestering me woman." Vegeta responded, halting his training mid rotation and giving her a scowl. "Leave me alone."

His training was unfocused, the effort to remain aloft wavered and he felt himself falling, he let out a cry as he crashed to the ground and then a groan escaped him as he hit the floor.

Bulma was unrelenting in her tirade, seeming to barely notice his collapse and only paused long enough for him to growl. Apparently that wasn't sufficient response and she ordered him to bed!

Vegeta was infuriated. He didn't follow orders anymore. He wouldn't be told where to go or what to do. He was finished with that after Frieza. He lifted his head belligerently; intent on getting her to listen very carefully to what he was going to say next but she interrupted somehow getting the idea that he was injured enough to require her help.

His ire increased and finally ignited when she demanded an apology for her treatment.

**"Leave me alone!"** Vegeta roared.

Bulma seemed to physically shrink from the monitor and looked both shocked and hurt.

Vegeta continued staring irritably at the large monitor in the gravitron until it went blank. He was distantly aware that he may have been a little harsh but he was too in pain to feel regret. He pushed himself up into a seated position on the floor and wiped his brow with the bandages on his injured wrist before wincing again. He couldn't believe he had allowed himself to be distracted and lose balance. Worse than that, he'd lost balance in front of her. Giving credence to her argument that he wasn't recovered enough. It was bad enough not being able to train at peak efficiency but to have her popping up in the middle of training and saying so was very . . . disconcerting.

He stubbornly got to his feet and started his training again, "I will get stronger, I'm a Saiyan," he told him self. His destiny awaited him and he would claim it. His Father had told him so long ago. He was a Prince, from a noble family, a long line of elite Saiyan warriors; one of the last and he would reach his goal, no matter the cost to his body. No matter the cost.

x x x

Bulma stared at the blank screen feeling hurt then gradually becoming angry. After all she'd done for that man! Why did she bother? He didn't care. He'll end up undoing what little healing he's done, she thought crossly. Well there was not much more she could do; the more she tried the more he would dig his heels in. He was sooo stubborn. Let him find out she was right the hard way! She decided tossing her head.

But what if he overdid it and couldn't turn the gravity off?

What if he knocked his head and became unconscious?

Come to think of it she hadn't even seen him get up off the floor.

Bulma hurriedly made her way to the lounge. She peered out the window and noticed the flashing lights coming from inside the gravitron. There was at least some sign of life she reassured herself. But for how long? At this rate he'd be dead before the androids got their chance.

She shuddered and grasped her arms to herself. The androids were to blame for Vegeta's current mindset. Her own too. It was an undercurrent always underscoring life's obstacles with an inevitable doom. For Vegeta, his struggle to become Super Saiyan would have been difficult enough under normal circumstances without the added predictions of his impending death should he fail. Bulma's own attempts to understand android components seemed dwarfed by comparison.

If Vegeta wouldn't give up than neither should she. Those android components would not defeat Bulma Briefs. Neither would Vegeta, she'd come up with some way of helping him develop some sense of self preservation.

She could try flirting again. It used to work. It might still, only . . . it was one thing to flirt with someone dangerous enough to kill you and another to flirt with someone who could break your heart.

x x x

Vegeta trained with fierce determination until the pain in his muscles caused him to near passing out. With reluctance he turned the gravity back to normal. He was completely disappointed in him self. "Only three hours of training, what a lousy excuse for a Saiyan." he grumbled at himself. He closed the door of gravitron and walked to the house. Each step was laboured and Vegeta could hardly believe that he was no longer under the effects of above normal gravity. He finally stepped in the door, the muscles in his legs felt as if they were going to explode and he hoped he could make it to the little downstairs room that he still occupied. Then he saw the purple lounge chairs. Perhaps he could recover here before moving on. A little rest here and he would be fine.

"Ew! I don't think so buster," Bulma exclaimed.

He stiffened. He had not seen her on the way in and had been sincerely hoping to avoid her.

"You are all sweaty," she declared, "and there's no way you're sitting on one of my lounge chairs like that!"

"Who wants to sit in your stupid lounge chairs anyway? " He grumbled. He stood there willing his feet to move on but his muscles had already given out. A groan escaped his lips.

"I thought as much. Now what was that I said earlier? Something about you not being in any condition to train. Now look at you, you can't even get back to bed." She sighed dramatically.

"Of course I can." Vegeta said defiantly but again he failed to move.

"Wait here." Bulma said exasperated. She ran upstairs out of sight, then returned with a towel in hand. She draped it over the chair. "Just sit down." She shook her head.

He didn't argue and sunk into the chair, staring ahead sullenly. He heard Bulma go through to the kitchen and return again.

"You do realize you need a body left to fight the androids don't you? Here." She handed him a glass of water.

His gaze never shifted as he took the glass and continued to stare morosely at nothing.

He was distantly aware of her sinking into the adjacent chair. "I missed this."

He lifted a single brow in query.

"Just sitting with you, no knowledge of androids."

Vegeta was surprised at the pang of longing her words evoked. He missed those times too. He turned his head and found her staring at him with a soft smile.

"Helping always makes me feel better," Bulma said cheerfully, "so, now that I've helped you Vegeta, maybe you can help me with something?"

"Help you?" Vegeta asked warily but she had already departed. Sometimes, he'd swear that woman had Saiyan speed; she was always disappearing and reappearing at the oddest times. He sipped his glass of water with a shrug.

She returned from wherever she went with a stack of papers. "Here, I need a fresh perspective. I've been looking over these papers about androids and I just can't seem to get the sequence right of these algorithms."

"Androids?" Vegeta said with a measure of agitation having returned his gaze to his glass. "There's no need to concern yourself with those abominations, I will eradicate every trace of them and their components."

"Hmmm," she seemed to be contemplating this. "You're totally right, Vegeta."

Vegeta smirked in satisfaction, at least she believed that.

"What was I thinking?" She said airily, "you'd never be able to understand these android components." Bulma turned slightly as if to leave.

Vegeta's smirk vanished into a look of determination. "Give me those plans." He snatched them roughly out of her hands.

Bulma smiled sweetly and sat on the arm of his chair, leaning over him she explained some of the detail in a voice affected with helplessness.

He hated that. Hated when she pretended to be less than she was. He gritted his teeth. Focusing on the technical specifics. He'd demonstrated previously to Bulma and her father that he had a pretty good understanding of technical drawings from his years in Frieza service, he was surprised though that she would want his consult. As she came to the fourth page she pointed to the algorithms. "These ones here are the problem. Do you think you can help me at all?"

"These ones?" Vegeta frowned at them.

"I think so," Bulma blinked, fluttering her eyes with faux innocence.

Vegeta put the paper down. "This number here," he pointed, "and this number go together." His tone was flat.

"Wow, you're right. Thanks Vegeta!" Bulma gushed. "I don't know how I missed it."

"Your foolishness astounds me!" Vegeta said irritably.

"Foolishness?" Her eyes were practically crackling with flames. "How dare you! I only -" Bulma choked back her confession but it was too late, he could guess.

"You only what?" he paused and got to his feet, shoving the paper at her. "You only pretended to miss it? I'm not a fool, Bulma and neither are you, so save the bubble headed female act for your idiot friends who don't know better or don't care."

"Bubble headed?" Bulma repeated confusedly.

Vegeta stalked off to the downstairs shower room without looking back.

He peeled off his clothes and set the shower to tepid, promptly rinsing enough to ensure he was fit for sleep. He was still aching all over but he'd recovered enough energy to at least get himself about. He ripped the towel from the rail as he wrenched the taps closed. He dried and headed for the recovery room.

He sagged onto the bed heavily. He fell back his body longed for rest but his mind remained restless and his mood was agitated. Why on earth Bulma sometimes played dumb he could not guess nor could he surmise why it angered him so when she did. But it did, this was not the first time he'd felt bothered by it.

He had on many occasions misrepresented his power levels to confound his enemies but he had never downplayed his intelligence, not even in all his years of service to Frieza, it was unthinkable for him to feign stupidity.

Perhaps the strategy served her well enough in manipulating her idiot friends. Some of them were intimidated by her intelligence and no doubt placated by her pretence but Vegeta would not stand for such falsehood in his presence. He frowned deeper, in his current condition he was not likely to stand at all.

He must put these thoughts out of his head, they were deterring him from rest. The woman already occupied too much of his day without him pondering her motives at night.

x x x

Authors Narration - Bulma's bubble has been burst, broken by the surly Saiyan let's just hope her heart is not next as we continue their story in Dragonball B V.

Chapter Text

The bright morning sun beamed in through the kitchen window as Bulma washed the tumbler she had been drinking from. She happened to glance towards the gravitron and with a small start observed that Vegeta was lying on the ground outside of it. She held back the instinct to run and shook her head at the situation. Who could know if he had fallen down the stairs or collapsed from fatigue or simply decided to lie on the grass?

She hoped it was the latter but seriously doubted it. He'd been pushing himself non-stop the last few days, even more than before the accident. It had been a month now since the terrible day and he had almost healed – at least on the outside. She'd not thought it possible to become more concerned than she been but she feared Vegeta was becoming conversely unstable on the inside. It just wasn't possible to hold all that tension inside, inevitably something had to give and as the gravity machine already had, she hated to think what might be next.

Bulma put the dry glass on the shelf casually and continued to stare out at him worriedly. He remained flat on the grass, motionless. She frowned, he was making no effort to get up, maybe he really was injured or unconscious. She continued watching another moment before deciding she couldn't take the wondering any more.

x x x

Vegeta stared up at the sky brooding. He'd stumbled off the ramp on his last step and found he couldn't be bothered getting up. It wasn't that he didn't have the strength; it was the will he lacked. He knew he was being unreasonable with his body. He wasn't yet healed, his left shoulder was still supported by a heavy bandage. No transformation could take place like that. But he would heal and then? He felt so full of frustration, his training was not where it should be yet and he was disturbed that his recovery was taking this long. Would he ever reach his goal? His destiny, a destiny robbed of him by Kakkarot? Kakkarot, he couldn't wait to blast him into the other world. Deep in thought he didn't hear Bulma's soft footsteps come up beside him.

"Beautiful day for cloud watching," she said.

Her sarcasm was unappreciated. He made no reply and maintained indifference to her presence.

Bulma lay down beside him on her back and persisted. "Look, there's one that looks like a dinosaur."

She was doubling down on the game then. Vegeta tried to snub her but silently found himself agreeing, that cloud did look like a dinosaur.

"Look there," she pointed, wriggling a little closer. "That one looks like a cat. And that other little one looks like -" She stopped herself the tone indicating her regret.

"Kakkarot," Vegeta finished.

"Well yes," she admitted.

He saw her glance his way preparing for some outburst but he felt morose rather than annoyed. Even the clouds mocked him.

Bulma didn't appear to be in a hurry to end the game. "Look, the dinosaur cloud is changing shape."

He recognised that this was a deliberate ploy to engage him in something frivolous. He allowed it.

"It looks like it's opening its mouth," she continued her commentary.

They watched in silence as the clouds slowly, slowly moved.

"Oh no," Bulma placidly intoned. "That cat cloud looks like it's going to be eaten by the dinosaur."

As they watched the dinosaur cloud did indeed catch up to the cat and seemingly swallowed it. The dinosaur continued on.

"Hurry up clouds!" Vegeta grumbled.

Bulma might have shifted his way in confusion but he didn't want to take his eyes off the cloud that resembled Kakkarot. The dinosaur cloud was chasing it.

He heard her laugh nervously, she understood what he was so eager to see. She didn't rebuke him or sound disapproval. Simply laid there with him watching. The dinosaur edged closer, her heard Bulma's breath hitch in anticipation with his own. Finally the dinosaur cloud caught up and the Kakkarot cloud disappeared into its mass.

Vegeta uttered a short, jubilant sound but it was premature. The dinosaur cloud changed shape, unbelievably it began to reform. Wispy trails of white rearranging themselves until it resembled Kakkarot once more, only much larger.

"Stupid cloud watching," Vegeta grumbled sitting up suddenly. Even it couldn't go right.

Bulma sat up too, "Why don't you blast it?"

"What?" Vegeta turned to look at her not bothering to disguise the surprise on his face.

"You heard me, blast it!" Bulma leaned her hand upon his arm and smiled wickedly at him. "You know you want to."

He hesitated but her smile was so devious it evoked feelings of confidence. Vegeta stretched his other arm out and blasted the cloud. The Goku cloud dissipated into fluffy dots, none of which continued to resemble him.

Vegeta laughed and found that Bulma was too. He knew it was absurd to find such satisfaction in defeating a cloud but it was liberating but the moment passed he became aware that the woman's arm still rested lightly upon his. He suddenly felt uneasy, nothing seemed quite so funny. He stood up.

"Hey where are you off too?" Bulma protested getting to her feet, that devious smile still playing on her lips.

"Away from this ridiculous stupidity," He dusted his clothes of the remaining grass and stomped back toward the gravitron ramp.

"Stupidity!" Bulma spat. "I wasn't the one lying on the grass too weak to get up!"

He turned back towards her but she tossed her head away from him defiantly, jutting her chin out in a bluff of carelessness.

He growled momentarily, "I was at rest upon the grass simply because I was contemplating the greatness of my destiny." It wasn't a lie, he thought. "But I admit that my recovery is clearly not complete otherwise I should not have lain so long listening to your inane babble."

"Inane babble?" Bulma shrieked furiously.

"Inane. Frivolous. A waste of my time." Vegeta folded his arms and leaned up against the capsule door looking conceited. "Do you think that anything you can say or do would be of consequence to me?"

Bulma was going to respond he could see that. She had every intention of yelling some insults at him but abruptly the fury in her stance crumpled, she burst into tears and fled back towards Capsule Corp. covering her face.

Vegeta was floored; he physically jolted, standing upright at her actions. In all the time that he had known Bulma he'd never seen her cry so. She whined and yelled and sulked frequently but hardly ever cried and never like that. He took a step down the ramp unconsciously before catching sight of his expression in the shine of the railing. Deep in the pit of his stomach he began to feel uncomfortable. It was just as he said; she was of no consequence and this seeming curiosity he had about her tears was misplaced. He returned to the gravitron and the door slid closed.

x x x

Authors Narration - With Vegeta on the mend all should be returning to normal but it seems strange emotions afflict our heroes. The fight with the androids constantly looms over their heads and yet the real battle seems to rage within. How long can these two go on? Only as long as you do so get reading the next chapter of Dragonball B V.

Chapter Text

Bulma blinked over and over trying to remove all traces of the tears. She splashed water on her face and looked once more in the mirror and saw that she had failed. The puffiness and redness remained. She was totally mortified that she had burst into tears in front of Vegeta. What on earth had come over her? If she was hoping of ever kindling any spark of interest from him, bursting into tears was certainly not the way. But that brought thoughts of the more important question, was he capable of interest? It didn't appear likely given his comments. Hadn't he said explicitly she was of no consequence to him?

Had she been deluding herself all these months and years that he had a small measure of friendship for her? Her heart told her that there was some feeling from him or she would be completely ignored or dead. Yet what she wanted was far more than that. Love, and that really scared her. All those years with Yamcha, the odd crush on some other boy but she had never felt the same sorts of fears. She had a horrible feeling that this was it. This was her chance, her one true and only chance at love. How cruel life was. How cruel her own heart was, to doom her to the misery of eternal, unrequited love.

Was Vegeta's only love his training? Although to be fair she wondered if sometimes he did not hate and resent it. It would not give him what he so earnestly desired. In a strange way it was a kind of unrequited love too. Great, Bulma thought dispiritedly, they could all be miserable.

x x x

The gravitron hummed and Vegeta pushed his weight from the floor furiously with one-handed pushups.

"Stupid cloud watching," he muttered, "waste of time." He got to his feet and began feverishly punching the air over and over. So he'd upset her. Why didn't that woman leave him alone anyway? She was constantly turning up, lately. He supposed it was because she didn't have that fool to fuss over. He'd overheard the woman telling her mother they had broken up. Good, she was better off without that idiot. Vegeta noticed his punching had slowed with his train of thought. He began a series of back flips attempting to refocus. One, two, precision balance is a tool necessary for every warrior, he told himself.

Of course if the woman had turned her fussing to himself it could mean that her affection . . . Vegeta mid flip opened his eyes wide in a sudden realisation. His brief lapse in concentration caused him to misjudge his landing and he fell against the tiled floor with a sickening thud against his left shoulder. He hollered in agony.

x x x

Bulma was sitting in her lab when she heard Vegeta's howl of pain. It echoed through the roundness of Capsule Corps walls and reverberated in continuous anguish. Forgetting her despair and reflections she ran to the intercom switch for the gravitron and flicked it to the on position.

A cold female metalic voice sounded, "The gravitron's view screen has been disabled, manual override is in operation."

"Vegeta," Bulma groaned. He'd evidently disabled the monitors viewing device from inside the gravitron. She had failed to credit him with the ability to do that and guessed that she'd further underestimated the Saiyan's fierce desire for privacy. It meant she had no way now of assessing his physical state but to go and check on him. She made a mental note to disable the manual override at a later point as she left the lab and hurried towards the gravitron.

x x x

Vegeta entered the doorway of the house. His left arm was bent at the elbow and held across his chest by his right arm for support. He'd been unfortunate that when he fell he had dislocated it again, but lucky enough to react in such a way that his painful reaction had popped it back into place. At least he thought so, he was not eager to test that theory. He continued inside.

Bulma came racing from the hall. "What have you done to yourself?"

Her concern was evident and open.

"Nothing. I'm fine." Vegeta's response was terse and he stood as if ready for battle. His newly formed theory was fast solidifying in his mind as fact.

"Nothing? You're shouting almost took the foundations down!" She surveyed him up and down. "You've hurt your shoulder." Her eyebrows curled downwards as her face displayed obvious distress.

"I said I'm fine!" Vegeta shouted and moved away from her.

"Okay, okay!" Bulma said holding her hands up. "Well do you want me to get you an icepack or anything?"

"Don't do me any favours woman, I neither want nor need anything from you." Vegeta glared fiercely.

Bulma's lip wobbled for just a second before setting into a thin line, her hands went on her hips. "Who would want to do you favours? You jerk! I have better things to do with my time, important things and I would be getting a lot more done if I didn't have to keep checking on you!"

"Who asked you to?" He retorted stepping closer. "I don't need your help. I don't need anyone!"

"I guess you don't," Bulma said sharply. "Good luck bandaging your own shoulder." Bulma spun on her heel and returned to the lab.

Vegeta's scowl deepened. She had gone so decisively, so abruptly, had he been mistaken? He should feel relieved but he found himself strangely dissatisfied. He guess he just didn't like to be wrong. At the corner of his eye he spied a smiley cushion thrown carelessly onto the lounge.

"What are you smiling at?" He snapped at it as he simultaneously blasted the cushion. He watched as a few feathers from it puffed into the air before descending onto the floor as ash. He'd completely forgotten about his left shoulder and stood with his hands clenched until a sharp pang reminded him. He welcomed the distraction.

x x x

Authors Narration A realisation has struck Vegeta so hard that he lost his balance and fell to floor! But what was it? Whatever it was Bulma seems to have left the prince with some doubts as to its validity and this left Vegeta vexed. Is there more to his dissatisfaction than a failure to be correct? Read some more dragonball B V to find out.

Chapter Text

Bulma had been up all night, bent over the computer in her lab. The sun had just begun to rise but she had finally finished learning the basic algorithms required for android function and stretched back on her chair with a sense of accomplishment and relief. A nanosecond passed before her thoughts returned to Vegeta and she found herself sighing loudly. She was unable to rid her mind of him although it had been a week since their last encounter, an encounter in which Vegeta had made it abundantly clear that he didn't need or want anyone.

In response Bulma had determined that the best she could do for her own sake was to stay out of his way, try to get over him and remind herself of just how infuriating he was but she couldn't seem to stick to her resolve. A few times she had lingered long enough to catch sight of him and as soon as she saw him her heart betrayed her head and she found her anger melting away. And it wasn't just her heart, her head betrayed her too. When Vegeta wasn't around, her mind slipped into little daydreams. Unfortunately the daydreams never matched with the starkness of reality. She was doomed, she sighed. A lifetime of unrequited love that may or may not be cut short by androids.

All at once she snapped her head up. No! She thought. She was Bulma Briefs. She was a genius, Bulma Briefs didn't just give up! Bulma Briefs took action whether that was against androids or love. What sort of action she could take to get Vegeta to notice her she had to admit she had no idea but it would come to her. She would find a way.

x x x

Vegeta woke and peered out of the upstairs window at the gravitron below. Was today the day? He felt little enthusiasm that it would be. He had been back in his old upstairs bedroom for a few days now. He was fully recovered at last and had already been putting in some full day and occasional late night training sessions. Still nothing had changed.

He dressed and went downstairs intent on breakfast, routine compensated for enthusiasm these days. As he stepped off the stairs he heard singing coming from the kitchen. Not very good singing, it must be Bulma. He had not seen her in days, in fact not since the evening when he'd hurt his shoulder. A week.

His hand hesitated as he reached for the kitchen door. Ridiculous! Why should he avoid the kitchen just because she was in there? It was that ludicrous concept that he'd had about her, that absurd notion that she had feelings for him. Absurd! Yet his hand stubbornly remained inches away from pushing the door. He felt increasingly perturbed, he didn't like that his hand refused to push the door and he didn't like the idea that the woman was somehow affecting his actions. He swung the door open forcefully in retaliation.

The singing had stopped and Vegeta took in the kitchen realising that he had once again been mistaken. Bulma was not here. He felt oddly thwarted, like he did when an opponent temporarily escaped or when the expected thrill of battle ended prematurely. He began to determine how Bulma fit into either category.

"Good morning Vegeta," Bulma appeared suddenly, coming out of the walk in pantry dressed in a silk dressing gown the same colour as her hair.

"G-mor-ig" Vegeta stuttered startled. She was here after all.

"Coffee?" Bulma asked as she filled the percolator.

"Sure." Vegeta responded seemingly unable to utter more than single syllables. He was alarmed to find that he had not yet recovered his composure and his heart seemed still to be beating very fast.

"It seems quite cold today." Bulma said placing the coffee cups on the machine. "An autumn chill is definitely in the air."

It was another sign that time marched on while he failed to reach his goal. "I agreed to coffee, not the weather report." He said grumpily. "Besides it is quite warm."

Bulma rolled her eyes at him. "I suppose the weather means very little to you."

The coffee machine continued percolating and Vegeta stared gloomily out the window. "On the contrary, a Saiyan should be very aware of the environment around him."

"Is that so?" said Bulma.

Her tone caused Vegeta to shift his attention from the weather. He studied the woman a moment and concluded that her mood was wistful. He felt his eyes lock with hers as he found himself contemplating her meaning. Colour rose to her cheeks.

"Coffee's done," she said suddenly breaking her gaze.

Vegeta watched silently as Bulma took the cups and filled them noting that his heart seemed strangely already anticipating the caffeine, already racing. She held it out to him, the smooth silk of Bulma's sleeve fell against the back of his hand and her fingers brushed his as he took the cup. He shivered involuntarily.

"See, I was right. It is cold." Bulma said as she took her own cup in both hands and exited to the lounge.

Vegeta gazed after her. She must be right, but it was a strange thing that he felt uncomfortably warm.

x x x

The late afternoon light weakly poured in through the gravitron's windows. The day's weather had turned nasty and Vegeta could hear rain pouring outside as he trained. Presently he was trying to meditate but the sound on the gravitron's roof was distracting. He preferred to blame the rain, which had already interfered with the gravitron's controls today. The truth was he was finding it progressively more difficult to visualise his goal of becoming Super Saiyan. It was nearly an entire year that had passed by. If all of that was not frustrating enough he continuously found himself preoccupied by thoughts of coffee. It was odd, he reflected, that he should be continuously thinking of coffee, very odd, as he rarely drank it after morning. Meditate, he ordered himself again. The rain outside poured harder and he felt the gravitron shake as the gravity decreased.

"Normal gravity restored," the female metallic voice of the gravitron stated.

"Gravity off!" Vegeta growled using the newly installed voice command. The rain was interfering with the controls again. He was about ready to blast this hunk of junk – from the outside of course. He pressed the button that slid the inside door open and went down the ramp. It was raining hard and he was drenched by the time he got inside.

x x x

The hot steaming shower had begun to mellow Vegeta's mood a little but he was still far from congenial. He carefully and neatly rearranged the shelf in the shower; he always made sure the shampoo bottle's label was facing outwards now. He smiled, a tiny bit, as he thought of strawberries before scowling again and turning the water off with a sharp turn of the taps. He noticed he seemed to have a fixation with food today. He stepped out and vigorously dried himself then wrapped a towel around his waist.

He would get dressed go downstairs and make himself a coffee, maybe some strawberry jam on toast and put an end to these ridiculous food cravings once and for all, then perhaps he could get some training done.

Plan firmly set Vegeta, dressed and made his way downstairs. He took the final step onto the lower floor just as Bulma emerged from the adjoining lounge.

"Hi Vegeta!" she called brightly, "I made you a coffee."

Vegeta was visibly taken aback, "a coffee?"

"Sure, I heard you coming down the stairs." Bulma responded.

Vegeta looked at the steaming coffee extended to him by Bulma's hand. How had she known? "I don't need any of your ridiculous earth stimulants."

"Suit yourself it's not like I went to any trouble." Her voice seemed to indicate otherwise. "If you don't want it tip it down the sink. I'm not going to stand here all day offering it you!"

She forced the coffee cup at him, somehow avoiding spilling it's contents and went upstairs.

Vegeta looked down at the cup in his hand, a pattern of strawberries covered it. There was no use in wasting it but yet he suddenly found that he had no desire to drink it. He did have had an odd compulsion to continue holding the cup however. Something weird was happening to him, he decided. Perhaps he had been overdoing it even with his recovery. Perhaps he had not had enough rest. Perhaps he would drink the earth stimulant after all and see if this unsettling sensation passed.

x x x

Authors Narration – With symptoms such as food cravings, inability to concentrate and his heart racing what strange affliction is pestering Vegeta? Caffeine addiction? Goku's heart virus or could it be another matter of the heart that is troubling him? One way or another we'll find out in Dragonball B V.

Chapter Text

Bulma could not sleep. She had lain awake for hours thinking. She sat up in the dark, turned and punched her pillow. "Stupid love! Why couldn't I have fallen in love with an earthling? Why me?" She whined to herself. She had been thinking and thinking about the whole ridiculous situation. The androids coming to kill them all, her last chance at love, her only chance being with a man who would never love her!

She'd been watching Vegeta these last few days especially for any sign from him but there was nothing. Only his impenetrable gaze of indifference that was quickly broken with obvious dismissal. If anything, she sighed, he seemed more remote, unwilling to even accept a cup of coffee from her, let alone her love! How could she hope to overcome that?

She sat up, she couldn't lie here any longer. She needed fresh air, or a glass of water, or a piece of chocolate. She slipped out of bed and grabbed her robe off the bed and padded down the carpeted hall quietly. She took a step past Vegeta's door and heard his voice mumbling something and halted. Was he awake too?

"Bulma," she thought she heard. She placed her fist on the door to knock but the door was already ajar. "Vegeta?" she whispered as she pushed open the door. He was still in bed.

Vegeta groaned and mumbled something more inaudible.

Bulma, wasn't sure if he was awake. Maybe he was having another nightmare. She wondered what she should do. She crept over to the bed and leant over him, suddenly Vegeta grabbed her arm and sat bolt upright with his other arm pointed at her ready to attack.

"Don't Vegeta!" Bulma yelped.

"What are you doing woman?" Vegeta sat up. "Are you crazy? You are lucky I didn't blast you into a million particles."

"I was walking by, I heard you calling out." Bulma protested. "I thought . . . well I thought you were talking to me."

"I was asleep." Vegeta furrowed his brows in thought. He finally seemed to realise he still gripped her arm and relaxed it almost absent-mindedly. He fell back a little against the pillows behind him. "I was having a dream," he remembered.

Bulma settled herself on the bed beside him gently. "Not a nightmare?"

"I don't think so," Vegeta paused evidently trying to remember the dream. His eyes opened wide and Bulma had the notion he had remembered.

"Anyway it's none of your concern!" he snapped already up and on the opposite side of the bed. "Leave before I lose my temper and I do blast you into a million particles."

Bulma stood up indignantly, how typical of him to ruin the moment, any moment where they seemed to be connecting. "I'd never have come in here if you hadn't called my name!" It was his fault she kept putting herself in these positions.

"Maybe I wouldn't have called your name if you weren't everywhere all of the time," he said angrily.

"Everywhere?" Bulma huffed. "The only place you ever are is in the gravitron or your own head. I could probably be anywhere or everywhere else and you wouldn't even notice."

"I notice," Vegeta came around. "In my shower, outside the gravity chamber, inside the gravity chamber on the monitor, in the kitchen, handing me coffee, in my bedroom standing over me while I sleep! Everywhere I look there you are and now even in my -" he broke off. He looked away.

So he knew something was going on. "I-" Bulma didn't know what to say. She trembled. How could she explain that she was in love with him?

"Just leave." His voice was deadly serious.

She supposed he'd reach the threshold of his patience over her behaviour. She'd mortified herself enough she turned quickly trying to flee out his door but somehow her dressing gown cord had caught the underside of the mattress. She tugged at the cord but it wouldn't come free. She gave it one final tug, certain it was stuck for good and that Vegeta would soon blast either her or it when the chord freed itself unexpectedly. She lost her balance and fell. She was sure she was about to hit the bedside table but Vegeta caught her, his hands gripping her arms as she looked up at him, his chest bare, his skin so close to her own.

She drew her breath in sharply. She had so longed to feel his touch, imagined it so many times and yet it hadn't even come close to preparing her for the shock of it, the pleasure that seemed to extend in a shockwave throughout her body was disorientating. She wanted to pull him closer but she didn't dare move, she just clung to him, waiting but he didn't move.

x x x

Vegeta felt the warmth of her arms as he resettled her on her feet. He had meant to insist to her again that she leave now but the way she clutched his arms as if she might still fall halted him and the slight pressure of her touch seemed to send a dizzying buzz from her fingertips through his body. He noticed Bulma's breasts moving with the quick intakes of her breath as she tried to compose herself from the near fall or so he'd thought until he met her large azure eyes staring at him expectantly. Something else quickened her breath.

He tried again to let go of her arms, intended to, but the plea in her eyes increased at even the slightest loosening of his touch. He'd known he had an affect on her but he had not understood it was so powerful. She didn't move, she just stood there staring, waiting, breathing. Astonishingly, Vegeta found that he was breathing hard too. Breaths just like hers, in and out again, in and out, all other sounds of the night muted by the breath of her lips. Her lips, the colour of strawberries, like the smell of her hair, the fragrance of which was suspended in the air between them. The air the only thing between their bodies, the only force keeping them apart, aside from his will. She seemed to recognise this, her body met his and it was only her lips that remained distant, elusive, challenging him to hunt them, subdue them and claim them for himself. They taunted him, promised him delight. He groaned before his lips chased through the air to hers and in victory he kissed her.

x x x

Authors Narration - Is Vegeta's victory all it seems or will it be Bulma's blunder? With these two nothing goes to plan so don't stop reading now, continue on to the next exciting chapter of Dragonball B V.

Chapter Text

Bulma's eyes fluttered open suddenly. Her mind did not give her the luxury of a second or two of sleepy amnesia instead it hurtled her into the present. She instantly remembered everything that had transpired the evening before and was well aware that not only was she not in her own bed, but she was not alone. She lay very still; she could hear Vegeta breathing as he lay behind her and she could feel the warmth of his arm underneath her neck.

She wondered if he were asleep or awake and tried to keep her own breaths even while she collected her thoughts. She was completely shocked at herself. She could hardly believe she was here, in his bed. How had this happened? All those years with Yamcha she had resisted going all the way and yet now she had given herself to a man who had no relationship with her! What had she been thinking? Wryly she had to confess there had been little thought, only primal instincts and despite everything she didn't, couldn't regret it. No, she had wanted this, wanted it badly but still it was shocking, unexpected. Unplanned!

Vegeta's passion seemed to have come from nowhere engulfing them both and she'd seen a new side to him, a side devoid of his usual emotional self-discipline, full of hunger and desire and total abandon. A side that he kept hidden even from himself, she suspected. It unnerved her thinking about it, in so many ways, but right now primarily because she sensed it was something Vegeta wouldn't have wanted to reveal to her . . . at least not yet. Perhaps not ever.

She wanted to turn over and look at him, hoping to see him smirk but she felt worried about moving and disturbing this moment. She wanted to enjoy this, being here in his arms; she had shared something significant with him. She wanted to take pleasure in the safety of this instant. But that was exactly what was wrong, she didn't feel safe. She wasn't sure about Vegeta's feelings for her at all. She feared that if she turned over she would see him scowling, or worse, coldly indifferent. She calmed her breathing realising that it was getting uneven. She stared at the curtains, daylight streamed in through the windows.

She had no way to know if Vegeta was asleep or awake but she was sure Vegeta would normally be up by now although she had no idea of the time. Perhaps he too was lying behind her silently awake. What would he be thinking about? She could not see his face from her position? Could he see hers? She closed her eyes just in case.

She wondered how long she could stay like this. What if it were hours? Eventually she would have to get up, or Vegeta would and then what? What would his waking bring?

x x x

Vegeta lay there still and silent completely appalled by the situation. It had not been a dream at all, as he had hoped for a few seconds of disturbed waking. She was here and in his bed, lying against the flesh of his arm, her aqua hair filling the room with the treacherous scent that he blamed for his predicament. He closed his eyes hoping against hope that she would disappear but she didn't. This had happened. He was utterly horrified, mortified! How could he have done this? How could he have let himself become so, so . . . his own mind searched for the word, reckless.

His behaviour was unforgivable! Unthinkable. Untenable. Unbelievable! And the consequences were at best problematic and at worst catastrophic. He knew his Saiyan heritage well, had always prided himself on it and now it had turned itself against him!

The woman of course knew nothing about it, about Saiyan customs or the choice that now faced them. What would she choose? It shocked him that he was even factoring the woman into the equation so quickly. He was not used to considering any one else and that in it and of itself made him feel unsettled. This is what he'd brought himself to.

She seemed to be still sleeping; though he thought perhaps her breathing was less regulated than before. He wanted to get up to train, slip away without talking to the woman, until at least he had time to think things through but there was no way of removing his arm without disturbing her. So he lay there silent, feeling agitated.

x x x

Bulma continued to lie quietly feeling more and more anxious by the minute. Just how long was she supposed to lie here pretending? She had almost convinced herself to turn over and risk disturbing the Saiyan Prince, if he even was still asleep, when suddenly a vacuum cleaner sounded in the hall outside.

Bulma sat bolt upright all at once realising that the door of Vegeta's room was still ajar. How could they have been so careless last night? But then there had not been much thought involved, she reminded herself again ruefully. She hurtled herself across the room taking the sheet with her, her hand outstretched ready to slam against the door. Her hand pressed against the surface but instead of the lifeless feel of wood she felt the warmth of flesh. She looked up into the startled eyes of Vegeta; his hand pulled away almost the moment she touched it and his eyes did not linger on her for more than a second before it was replaced by a cool impassiveness.

He turned his back to her and walked to the bed. Wearing only his boxer shorts he had already begun pulling on his boots.

Bulma watched silently and began to feel a terrible awkwardness between them, spurred on by the knowledge that they had obviously both been awake for some time. "I suppose you need to train." Bulma forced a cheerful note into her voice as she broke the silence and clutched the sheets about her.

"Of course." He said without looking up.

"Hows it going anyway? You're training I mean." She chattered nervously.

"Fine." His answer was stilted as he continued pressing his foot into the boot.

Bulma mentally slapped herself for such a stupid question and was surprised it hadn't elicited a more violent response from Vegeta. She reflected that she would have preferred his more typical response; it would have reassured her somehow that everything was okay. "Well that's good, about your training." She just couldn't stop herself from babbling unnecessarily.

Vegeta stood up and made his way over to the balcony door.

"Wait Vegeta!" Bulma called. She wanted to beg him to come back, to tell her that he didn't believe last night was a big mistake, to give her some reassurance, some hope, anything.

He paused at the door but remained facing it and did not respond.

"Good training." Bulma said instead, her pride refused to let any other words be uttered.

He glanced over his shoulder back towards her and studied her for a second.

For a moment Bulma felt sure he was about to say something but then he was gone, having said nothing.

x x x

Bulma lingered in Vegeta's bedroom. She admitted to herself that last night had been a huge mistake. She'd been certain of that the second she'd seen Vegeta's startled eyes staring back at her from the door. As if her touch confirmed to him that it was all very real and not some hypothetical problem he'd been puzzling out.

This had happened too quickly for him. Bulma paced, she did not want to leave his bedroom she felt terrified that she might be leaving not only the room behind. Her mothers vacuuming had died away and still she did not leave. She sat in the bed and sniffed his pillow that smelt of his hair.

There was the chance that he just needed time to adjust. A few hours of thought. Bulma tried to console herself but she didn't buy it. Besides where did that leave her? This had been important to her too. What did he expect her to do, just sit around and wait for him to come to his senses? He should be so lucky. She threw the pillow back down on the bed. Was it too much to ask that he say good morning after what they had shared? She didn't think so! Bulma gathered the remainder of her clothes, what was left of her dignity and flounced out of his room slamming the door. Then stood on the other side shaking terribly.

x x x

Vegeta trained feverishly in the reddened light of the gravitron. He would punish himself for his mistake, his recklessness. He somersaulted, he ran up walls, he punched the air and just when he felt he couldn't take anymore he upped the gravity another 10g. He would not let his determination falter again. To loose such control of his senses was foolish! Inexcusable!

All his life he'd prided himself on his self control, on restraint, he'd survived on it. Keeping his hatred in check whenever he dealt with Frieza, controlling his instincts anytime he transformed into the giant ape. Always keeping a rational and logical thought process at all times. What had happened last night? He'd thrown all of that out the window it one careless moment allowing . . . allowing madness to take control. How could he? To desert logic and display such abandonment was appalling. Yet there was a part of him that had never felt so free.

How unSaiyan, he chastised himself.

Saiyan, never before had the term been so repugnant to him. He hadn't forgotten his cultural responsibility in relation to his ancestry and he knew after his blunder he deserved exactly what he got. His Saiyan heritage may not be known on Earth but he knew it well enough. He knew full well what his failure to exercise restraint should cause him. But there were no Saiyans anymore. No Saiyans to care, no Saiyans to enforce such a thing. The Earth, pitiful though it may be, was now his home. His own culture was nothing more than a shadowy ghost with only himself left to remember, although right now he wished he could forget.

Bulma, however, had no knowledge of what she faced. What kind of choice was it really anyway? A typical Saiyan choice, he thought resignedly. One that made perfect sense on Planet Vegeta but not on Earth. It seemed a terrible dilemma for a temporary lapse of judgement, one that he would ensure would never happen again. He stopped his furious training.

Given the spirit of the Saiyan custom, given the reason for it, neither of the options were really necessary. He had no family to act on his behalf and he would not make a claim against her if she at a future time took another. . . the kind of irritation that came with even such thoughts best be purged before he tried to fool himself into thinking he could maintain that neutrality. But at least he could be certain he would never give her cause to claim against him.

Yet, to ignore the Saiyan rule, even on Earth was it something he could live with . . .live being the operative word. He crossed his arms. He had an entire lunar month to think about it. In the meantime he would train.

x x x

The night sky was bright with stars, those celestial bodies that always seemed to be judging his actions when Vegeta wearily exited the gravitron. He returned to his room via the house. Although he frequently exited by the balcony, the lock on the doors often fell shut of it's own accord making it impossible to return through it without damaging them. It was a pity that was so, particularly now.

He opened and closed the main door as quietly as he could and crept up the stairs and along the hall to his room. He had waited until it was sufficiently late enough to avoid encounters with anybody. With Bulma, he corrected himself.

Lying to himself had lead to last nights fiasco. He could recognise that now and was determined not to delude himself further.

He had watched for Bulma's light to go out after deciding it was best to avoid her. He would not allow such a thing to happen again as had happened and that would have to suffice in pacifying his ancestral customs for now. He had decided all argument would become invalid when he became a Super Saiyan, the obligations to reach that legendary state far outweighed all others. He would be above such things.

He reached his room and closed the door firmly behind him. He would not make the mistake of leaving it open a second time. He showered and walked over to the bed to find it remained in the same tousled condition as he had left it that morning. Except now he was alone, he pushed the thought aside angrily; his mind would not fail him even if his body had. He had decided to put it behind him, to forget it and he would!

She had no hold on him anymore, she never had; one moment of weakness meant nothing but if he were to repeat the mistake he really would have zero options. He pulled the sheets back to their original places as if removing the creases would erase the memory of what had taken place.

He slipped determinedly beneath the covers and lay on his back. He closed his eyes and breathed, easing himself into sleep. His nose twitched, he could smell strawberries! He opened his eyes furiously, immediately he located the pillow next to him as the culprit and flung it from the bed. He lay back down and closed his eyes once more. It was her fault anyway, he thought, hadn't he told her to leave? If she was facing a sentence it was as much her fault as his. She'd been willing . . . so willing. He sat up, he was thinking of her again! He growled and threw the bed clothing from the bed. He could not sleep here. He got up and returned to the gravity room. There he would sleep, he thought, away from these . . . contaminants!

x x x

Authors Narration - Vegeta hopes to evade his obligation to his ancestry by avoiding Bulma and attaining the legendary status of Super Saiyan. Something tells me the Saiyan is going to need more than super strength to sidestep the circumstances set in motion. So set your sights on the next chapter of Dragonball B V.

Chapter Text

It had been two weeks since that night and Bulma had not laid eyes on Vegeta since. She sat crossed legged in the upstairs lounge, in the late hours of the night, with a pale light emanating from a laptop computer.

He was purposefully avoiding her, she knew. He hadn't come out of the gravitron for days afterwards but her father had mentioned speaking to him yesterday. She'd also discovered that even her mother had spoken with him. Bulma on the other hand had not even caught a glimpse. She had moved past feeling angry and now she had embraced enraged.

She'd waited and waited for him to come to her. To acknowledge what they'd shared or even to pretend they hadn't Vegeta hadn't even given her that courtesy. Sometimes, in some quiet moments, she found the rage slipping away replaced by a sort of empty resignation. She preferred the rage.

Originally she'd hoped with time he'd come around but it seemed not. So after the first few days of moping she'd done the only thing she could. She channelled her fury into acquiring more knowledge about androids and their workings. Nothing new had surfaced about Dr. Gero but finally some more information about androids had come her way. Of course she had no way of knowing what sorts of androids Dr. Gero would make but the more she learnt the better. Thinking of all that destruction and the foretelling of the future did however bring more distress. She was furious at Vegeta and thinking of his possible death made her feel guilty and sad and she didn't want to feel that way about him. She refused!

She typed a few more numbers into her algorithms, punching the keys on her laptop unnecessarily hard. She stopped stretched and yawned unexpectantly. She was troubled by how fatigued she had been feeling these last few days. She hoped she wasn't coming down with anything. That was the last thing she needed.

x x x

Vegeta brushed the sweat out of his eyes as he slowly descended to the floor of the gravitron his arms hanging defeatedly at his sides. His training over the last two weeks had been deteriorating. Instead of making progress he could feel himself losing ground, his reflexes had slowed and his mind seemed unable to concentrate on the most basic moves. He closed his eyes resignedly. It was his dilemma constantly distracting him. Damn it.

How could he, the Prince of all Saiyans disobey a sacred law? Yet, how could he fulfil it? How could he have put either of them in this situation? How could he tell her? Of course there was the likelihood that she'd laugh in his face and refuse to go through with the only option really tenable. That left him with the option of killing her, in which case her friends would revive her – that had not been an option on Planet Vegeta. In any case it didn't help him.

He'd come to the conclusion the universe hated him. Well that was fine, he hated the universe! How many times had it promised him glory only to snatch it from him at the moment of attainment? "No more!" he cried, "no more will I be the universe's fool!" He breathed in and out deeply trying to control his rage.

He fell to his knees suddenly aware of the futility of blaming the universe, it did not change a thing. He laughed hysterically at himself before regaining his composure and wondering at his behaviour. He was starting to wonder if he was losing his mind.

He was tired; there was no denying that. Sleeping on the hardened floor of the gravitron was not ideal but he could not bring himself to return to his room. He was confounded by his own ridiculousness it was a room, nothing more. Still every time he entered it he felt shaken.

Rationality couldn't seem to overcome the flood of memories at the mere glance around his room. He must learn to refuse them, refuse to remember. He was a warrior, the Prince of all Saiyans. His transformation was the only thing that mattered right now. It was time to get over it, get some sleep in his own bed. Put all of this behind him . . . by continuously ignoring that anything had happened and ensuring nothing further did.

He really should have just enacted the primary custom if he was going to be so pathetic.

Speaking of pathetic, here he was once again sneaking into Capsule Corp's main house. Vegeta stepped stealthily along the carpeted hall on the second storey towards his room before seeing a faint light coming from the upstairs lounge at its end. Probably the old man, he thought. He should have a word with him now about the gravitron maintenance. He entered the lounge and suddenly halted. It was not the old man.

A faint white light illuminated her face as she sat staring at the keyboard in front of her. Her skin looked pale and soft just as he remembered, evoking memories of the light touch of her caress and the frenzied need of his own – He backed towards the door.

"So what gives me the pleasure of your company at last, your royal highness?" Bulma looked up from the laptop.

Vegeta stiffened momentarily before shifting his stance and folding his arms. "I don't need to explain myself to you."

"FINE! Who asked for explanations?" Bulma ground out. "I don't need explanations! I don't want explanations! Obviously there's nothing to explain!" She slammed her laptop shut and it made a high pitched sound in protest before shutting off. "Besides," her tone switched to a taunt. "It's quite obvious you didn't know I was here or you wouldn't have come in. I'm surprised at you Vegeta, I didn't think evasion was your style."

She knew just what to say to get to him. He clenched his jaw, "I knew you were here. I could smell those infernal strawberries."

"And what's wrong with strawberries?" She snapped.

"Did I say there was something wrong with strawberries?" He demanded.

"Yes!" She was astounded and angry.

"I did not." He said petulantly.

"You did, you said they were infernal!" Bulma accused.

"Well they are." Vegeta shifted his stance again with defiance.

There was a short pause as she stared him down. He'd never felt such a need to drop his eyes and he came dangerously close to giving in before finally she did.

"Fine!" Bulma got up, "then stay away from them and from me!" She pressed her hand against his chest and gave him a shove out of the way as she moved by. She continued out of sight not looking back.

Vegeta stood breathing hard. His hand held against his chest as if wounded. If he told her the custom now he was certain she'd laugh in his face. He knew what she would choose and it served him right.

x x x

Authors Narration - Bulma has shoved Vegeta out the way, has she effectively shoved him out of her life and heart as well? What could possibly bring these two back together? Find out soon. Dragonball B V

Chapter Text

Bulma walked around the busy city streets; the high-rise buildings that stretched up above her seemed distorted and unreal. She envied the people that laughed as they passed by her. They didn't know what she knew. They believed their whole lives were ahead of them. They had none of the cares she had; no thoughts of androids and death.

Be honest Bulma, she reprimanded herself; your worry is far more than that. Far more personal, more near and more real than the dark cloud of the future.

A suspicion had gradually taken hold of her the last few days and now that thought was there she could not shake the growing conviction that she was right. She felt a small bout of nausea at the thought, which only strengthened her belief. She continued her walk back to her car, clutching a chemist's brown paper bag. She quickened her pace anxious to get home and find out if she was right, praying she was wrong.

x x x

Inside her bedroom, Bulma gaped at what was very clearly a positive pregnancy test. When the possibility had first entered her head she had tried to mentally prepare herself for how she might feel if it turned out to be so but she realised now that it was impossible to prepare for such a thing! This was not a distant notion; or a passing thought, an imagined scenario. This was all too real. She was going to have a baby. Her mind was reeling with all the possibilities and difficulties she was facing, some that she had already considered and others that had never entered her wildest thoughts until now.

How was she ever going to tell Vegeta?

Just a second, she thought angrily, why should she tell him? She had closed the door on that. He had closed the door on that! He wasn't interested in speaking with her let alone being with her. It had been a moment of lust for him one he clearly regretted. She pushed the headband back from her face forcefully.

She wouldn't tell him. She would shelter this child from heartbreak and Vegeta's inability to love. She put her hands across her stomach protectively.

But it wasn't like she could hide her pregnancy or the child forever. Could she? She probably could, she argued bitterly. He was so determined to avoid her, so self absorbed that she had any number of options to hide away from moving out of the house to simply going about her day! Some part of her knew that it wouldn't be quite that easy but she was frightened and angry and surely entitled to ignore anything that didn't make her feel better.

But the thought persisted. So, maybe he would have to find out sometime that didn't mean she had to tell him right away. She had every right to keep it from him as long as possible given how he treated her, but, to do that she would have to keep it a secret from everyone as long as she could. If Vegeta should find out from someone else . . . she shivered involuntarily.

It was decided then. She'd keep this a secret. No big deal. No problem.

She flopped backwards onto her bed attempting to prove just how relaxed she was but inadvertently bounced a book that had been left on the covers onto the floor. She bent down, picked it up and turned it over absentmindedly.

'Androids Explained' by Dr. G. Rowland. She stared at it miserably.

Androids again! She wished she had Saiyan powers; she would blast the book to pieces. Instead she threw it. "Urrrrg I hate androids!" she yelled.

Constantly their shadow hung over her, over all of them. How many times had the foreknowledge caused her to rethink her actions? How much had the information already changed the timeline? Would it be enough? Enough to save them? And now she was bringing a child into this doomed world, one in which none of them may survive.

How could she keep the knowledge of their child from Vegeta knowing what lay ahead? She had no basis for believing that he wouldn't care for or at least be proud of his own offspring even if he felt little for her. Yet telling him about their child might instil another burden of responsibility on him, one that may prove too much. Bulma understood the enormous weight upon Vegeta, from the prediction of his death to the desire to fulfil his destiny. At times she wondered how much more he could take.

And her child? Her child had the right to know its father especially if their time was short. Bulma felt her heart clench.

She could not lose hope for the future. So far Goku was alive and Vegeta was getting stronger, doing everything in his power to reach his goal to save them.

Damn those androids! She thought, forcing her hand. She would not have told Vegeta about her pregnancy so early if she hadn't known about the destruction and death they were supposed to cause. She had to tell him and the sooner the better.

x x x

Bulma walked into Vegeta's room. It was the best place to find and discuss it with him. She'd come to the conclusion that if she wasn't going to hide it from him then it was best to get it over with. He would just as likely go back to ignoring her anyway.

She noticed the bed was not made. An unusual thing for Vegeta, he was always so neat and ordered. She could see a pillow on the floor as well that looked decidedly like it had been flung and another one was missing. It made her wonder about her smiley face cushion. She just couldn't understand where that had gone. She loved that cushion, she loved punching it when she felt angry somehow it made her feel better. She wished she had it right now.

She sat on the bed, got comfortable and gazed out of the window. Vegeta would have to return here eventually for sleep and when he did, she would be waiting. There would be no ignoring her now. The gravitron hummed, it had become kind of soothing she decided as she closed her eyes and waited.

x x x

Bulma stretched out lazily and felt the morning sun pouring through the window onto her skin. She sat up abruptly, morning sun! She must have fallen asleep on Vegeta's bed. Had he come into his room seen her and left again? Where did he sleep? She was furious, she needed to talk to him and she was determined to, he wasn't going to be able to avoid her anymore!

Bulma went downstairs.

"Hi Bulma darling, do you want some breakfast? I made fresh coffee." Mrs Briefs hummed cheerfully.

"No thanks Mom, have you seen Vegeta?" Bulma said.

"No," her mother sighed wistfully, "you must talk with him Bulma, the poor man isn't eating enough."

The thought of Vegeta failing to eat was very worrisome but Bulma had learnt not to always take her mother's statement at face value. "What do you mean?"

"I made twelve stacks of pancakes for breakfast but he only ate one."

Bulma frowned, that seemed unlikely. "You made twelve? Now there's eleven?"

"Yes," Panchy Briefs clasped her hands together anxiously.

"But you never saw Vegeta come in?"

"No."

Bulma could easily hypothesise what had happened. Her father had probably discovered breakfast all laid out and taken a plate back to his lab. Vegeta had clearly never come in for breakfast at all. "Well Mom, I think you're right. I need to talk to Vegeta. I'll see if I can't find him."

"Good," Panchy was all relief and joy.

Bulma didn't feel anything close to joy. The obvious place to look next was the gravitron. She exited the house and made her way to it. The machine was quiet, no thrum, no lights. Bulma went up the ramp and knocked anyway.

"Vegeta!" She called.

There was no response. He could be in the lab but she didn't feel the need to traipse down there. She'd be better off just waiting here.
She sat down on the ramp and stretched out her legs. He might be able to avoid his bedroom but he was not going to avoid the gravitron and he was not going to avoid her!

x x x

Vegeta was sore and cranky. He rolled his shoulders uncomfortably. He'd spent another night on the floor of the gravitron and not only was it inhibiting his rest but also his sense of time and routine. However, he'd given up for good the idea of sleeping in his bed the other night. Besides, he was getting too soft as a warrior if he couldn't go without a cushy mattress for a week or two. Maybe he should take to sleeping in the night air, staring at stars. He shoved the pillow to the side of the machine to keep it out of the way of training bot blasts and his movements. He had allowed himself to retrieve a pillow to avoid a stiff neck, that would do his training no good. He'd been sure not to take the strawberry pillow by mistake even if the temptation had whispered. He ground his teeth, time to start training if he had opportunity for such meanderings.

x x x

Bulma jumped as the sound of the gravitron vibrated through her body.

He was in there after all! She realised furiously. How dare he make her wait for nothing?

She got up and banged on the door. "Vegeta!" she hollered. "Open up this door!"

She continued banging over and over

"Go away woman, I'm training." He shouted back.

"Open up! I'm not going away until you let me in." She beat the door some more and then waited expecting to hear the gravitron power down. It didn't.

"VEGETA!" She yelled ferociously. "I promise you I will bang all day, everyday unless you let me in!" She thumped the door before stopping and looking around for something else to barrage the door with. Finally, she heard the gravitron power down and the door slid open.

"Well what is it? Be quick and stop wasting my time!" Vegeta said blocking the door way.

"Why didn't you wake me last night?" She asked him.

"Why should I?" He said baffled.

"Surely you realised I wanted to talk to you," Bulma, shook her head.

"What are you babbling about woman?" He frowned. "I am not a mind reader, how should I know you wanted to talk to me?"

Bulma looked at him and suddenly noticed the huge bags under his eyes. "You look awful. Where did you sleep last night?"

"That's none of your concern!" Vegeta snapped back.

"Well it's your own fault, you should have woken me. I was only in your room because I wanted to talk to you." Bulma said.

"You were in my room? Again!" Vegeta's surprise was evident.

Bulma was confused at his reaction. "Of course I was. I told you, I wanted to talk to you."

"Well, talk." Vegeta grunted.

Bulma felt herself begin to panic. How should she tell him? "Can I at least come in where it's a little more private."

He looked reluctant but conceded, entering and removing himself about as far as he could.

That suited her.

He waited expectantly.

She moistened her lips, "It's about that night – "

"I suggest you put it behind you." Vegeta cut her off; he turned away slightly from her, appearing to examine one of the gravitron panels. "I will not deny what happened." His tone was stilted as if he felt revolted to admit even that much. "What occurred, what transpired, was. I can offer only that it will never happen again"

Never, her heart plummeted, her brain rallied - presumptuous jerk as if she'd let it happen again either.

"It is the past," he continued unconcernedly. "I can care only for the future."

The future! Bulma felt she could scream if she heard that word one more time. "What about the present? That doesn't matter to you?"

"The only thing that matters is my transformation," he levelled.

"I see." Bulma nodded stoically, rage and offense were hard to hold onto in the face of such conviction. She was determined not to cry. "I guess that's all I needed to hear." He'd made his choice and she would make hers, she didn't need him. Her child didn't need him. "I'll leave you to your glorious future."

She turned to walk out the still open door when she spied a pillow against the walls edge. So this is where he slept last night, she thought anger returning. In his precious gravitron, with his precious dreams of his transformation and the future! She should inform him that he could go on sleeping in here, kick him out of the house. The rage that had had fuelled her thoughts so far gave way to dangerously sad logic, even a lifetime of uncomfortable sleep would in no way pay for what he had done to her heart. Even as she imagined him turning upon the cold, hard, tiled floor, she knew it was no consolation, no retribution even supposing she took back the pillow. . . the pillow that she had noted yesterday was missing from Vegeta's bed. Her lightning quick intellect determined that he had robbed her of even the small solace of imagined vengence. The masochist obviously frequently slept in the gravitron rather than the bed they had shared. She just bet he would do anything to avoid the memory of that night and had apparently been doing so for some time judging by the circles under his eyes. Her right foot crossed the exit.

x x x

Authors Narration - Vegeta maintains that his transformation is the only thing that matters. Who is he kidding? And speaking of kids, will Bulma really be able to keep her pregnancy from the Saiyan secret? The surprises keep coming next chapter Dragonball B V

Chapter Text

Vegeta watched as Bulma reached the threshold of the gravitron. He felt as if a huge ball of something unpleasant had made a home in his gut. It would dissipate in another step, he convinced himself. It would all be over, his decision finalised, unable to be reversed, it would be just another demon of the past.

Her left foot lifted then returned to its original position, she was at a standstill.

"Vegeta?" She turned around at the door and on her face was an unfathomable expression. "Do you really believe what you said?" She reached for the nearby controls and pushed the button, closing the door of the capsule with a swish.

Something about the way she held herself and spoke struck Vegeta as alarming and the closed door gave him the odd sensation of being trapped. "What are you doing woman?" His voice sounded strained and he resisted the overwhelming need to demand that she open the door again immediately. That would be ridiculous, what did it matter if she enclosed them in the tiny space of the gravitron? She had something more to say, that was all. She would say it and she would leave.

But Bulma didn't say anything. She didn't answer instead she came walking towards him slowly, closing the space between them. Closer, closer.

Vegeta glared at Bulma hoping to intimidate her, suddenly unwilling to trust his voice to insist that she ask whatever it was she had to ask and go but her eyes locked with his so intent with purpose that his glare faltered and he felt compelled to look elsewhere as she edged nearer. Finally she stopped just out of reach as if taunting his ability to touch her.

"I just want to know," she said softly, giving power to her proximity, "do you really believe it?"

Vegeta felt foggy, had there been a question? "Believe what?" He managed to rasp out.

"Believe that what happened between us can never happen again? Never?" Her voice seemed somehow to linger on the word.

"Of course I believe it," Vegeta tried to sound convinced, tried to convince himself but he breathed hard, was she going to put him to the test? "You have no reason to think otherwise."

"Really?" She arched a brow all composure.

He could see it he'd failed to assure her. In fact she was more than just unconvinced, she was utterly skeptical.

"Why did you sleep here last night Vegeta?" Bulma whispered leaning close to his ear, "Why not in your room? In your bed?" She said the words seductively.

"Bulma," he protested and stepped backward unconsciously. The wall was behind him and he bumped into it. He glanced back at it in bewilderment before returning to her eyes. She was so close, like before. He tried to reign in the uncontrollable urge to kiss her again, tried to refuse the memory of that night.

"Just how many nights have you avoided it? Avoided me?"

What could he say to that? There was no denying it. No explaining it except with the truth.

"Never," she said the word provocatively, "can be a long time Vegeta."

His choice of word was evidently grossly imprudent. Never could be a long time, a very long time and it seemed suddenly associated with endless temptation, difficult nights and an oppressing struggle.

He watched as Bulma removed her headband from her hair letting it fall loose and pulling at it with her fingers. Such a simple act, such an insignificant article of clothing to remove but to Vegeta it seemed to hint at so much more.

"D- Don't Bulma," he stammered but already he knew he was losing his resolve as a shiver ran down his body.

How could this happen to him again? He could explain away that once, she had caught him off guard, she had startled him out of sleep and yet now he could feel himself loosing control of his senses again. Somehow his own body, his own mind was opposing him. No matter how hard he fought he felt overcome. He hated not being in control. He hated her for doing this to him! He'd thought after that one temporary and explainable lapse he would be beyond this. He expected it to be out of his system but in fact he had begun to find it even harder to resist falling into her trap again. Her voice, her smell, her very breath brought images of that evening that he couldn't escape . . . and did not want to escape.

"Don't you ever stop fighting yourself Vegeta?" Bulma broke the spell momentarily.

"Myself?" His voice cracked slightly.

"I get it, you're a warrior," she reached out and touched his face. "You're fighting the world but your biggest enemy is you."

He was mystified. What did she mean?

"You wanted me that night and I think you still do and I-" she hesitated, " I want you! I'm not your enemy and yet here you are fighting still." She pulled back from him desolately. "Did you ever think it might be what holds you back? All that control? All that self discipline? Don't you ever just want to give in? Let it all go? Take what you want?" Her voice had risen in pitch and she waited, pleading for some kind of answer with her arms clasping herself.

"I – " Vegeta started, helplessly. She was right wasn't she? He was always fighting himself. It was all those years of holding back. The very thing he'd been so sure of, the only thing he'd had pride in, his control. And now? "I don't know anything else." He said resignedly.

Bulma's expression softened. "Kiss me, Vegeta. It's so simple, it's all you have to do. Don't hold yourself back." Bulma leant forward her lips inviting.

Could he do it? Could he just let go? Let the chips fall where they may? Stop fighting his feelings and let them overcome him? He was the Prince of all Saiyans, of course he could.

He reached for her, brought her to him and pressed his lips to hers feeling a strange sense of freedom.

x x x

Authors Narration - It seems as if our two heroes have finally managed to admit their feelings for each other at last but will Bulma's baby bulletin snap the Saiyan's sanity? And what about the Saiyan's secret, how will his ancestral customs come into play?

Authors Note - never is a long time - look out for the reference in the anime. (never is a long time android)

Chapter Text

Vegeta was amazed at the turn of events as he looked down at Bulma nestled in his arms. They lay together on the floor of the gravitron. She was incredible, he decided. Not only was she beautiful and intelligent, as she fondly reminded everyone but she had given him new hope, a new chance at becoming Super Saiyan, a new way to channel his powers, his feelings.

Somehow he just knew that she was right. His self control had been holding him back from obtaining his goal. With that knowledge he would be able to be go forward. There was nothing to stand in his way.

There was the little matter of Saiyan custom to discuss with Bulma but that could be dealt with later. Not too much later, he reminded himself because the lunar month was close to its end. He frowned wondering how to broach the subject.

"I suppose that frown is your way of saying you need to train," Bulma sighed, tracing his face with her fingers.

Let her think that for now. "Unless you want to die by the hands of the androids," Vegeta responded off-hand.

"Androids! You're impossible!" Bulma exploded. "After what we've just shared why can't you just say yes?" She got to her feet. "Why would you even bring them up? I don't know how you treat Saiyan women but on Earth after a couple are intimate –"

"A Saiyan woman would be dead." It was not perhaps the best way to tell her about his customs he reproached himself but he stood up defiantly.

"What? Dead?" She paused before recovering her senses. "Typical." She disregarded the comment as having no threat to her. "So are you supposed to kill all the women you sleep with?"

"Yes - No." He responded grumpily.

Her interest peaked along with her fury. "Well? Which is it?" She demanded.

"Both." He said cryptically, delaying the inevitable explanation for another moment. He had not until this moment made a decision in regards to the Saiyan custom. Ignoring, delaying or evading the custom was cowardly, dishonourable and unworthy of a prince, surely doing so would make him unfit to ever become a Super Saiyan and if that had escaped him earlier it was evidently because he had been trying to punish himself for his failings.

"Both? What does that mean?" Bulma was exasperated.

He began hesitantly, he could put it off no longer. "Saiyans are warriors -"

"I see," she interrupted, "no place for feelings in war, is that it?"

"No! Why don't you be quiet for once woman, so I can tell you?" He snapped.

She closed her mouth and listened.

"A planet with all powerful warriors needs rules – customs." He continued awkwardly. "You can't have people running around just . . . couples who . . . Saiyans who have . . . people doing . . ." He indicated the area they had just occupied in explanation.

Bulma waited expectantly her eyes concentrating on his, listening carefully but failing to draw the conclusion.

"People who've had sex, damn it!" He said aggravated before hurrying on. "You'd have all sorts of disorder, angry fathers, mothers, brothers. The Saiyans would be too busy fighting and killing themselves instead of becoming the greatest warriors in the universe. So pairings are strictly prearranged."

"I see." Bulma said, "and when the pairing is not prearranged the woman is killed!" She was indignant. "Why is it always the women that pay?"

"The two of them pay, you fool!" He'd lost patience with this awkward conversation and looked away from her.

"Fool!" She bristled but her expression quickly changed. "The two of them?" She pieced it together. "You mean you as well?"

"Yes. You, me, death. Do you understand it now?" He folded his arms and hardened his expression.

"Gosh, so . . . gosh. Death, that's final." She paused obviously thinking it over. "Because we weren't pre-arranged. But there's no Saiyan's here to enact that judgement, except for Goku and he wouldn't do that, or Gohan and you wouldn't -." She broke off as she made the next logical deduction and gasped. "You would, wouldn't you? You've been thinking about killing us?" She was aghast.

"I may have considered it." Vegeta conceded. There was no point holding out on her now he might as well come out with it all. "There is another choice, provided no other interested party objects."

"Well that's good to hear." Bulma's reply was sardonic, "and what is that?"

Vegeta was silent a long moment then looked skyward as he uttered the answer. "They either die or bond."

"Bond?" Bulma raised an inquisitive eyebrow at Vegeta.

"Yes bond." Vegeta repeated making eye contact. "That's what I said are you deaf woman? Bond! Formalise their union. Under pain of death, till death do they part!"

"Marriage? You're talking about marriage!" She said amazed. "Saiyans marry?"

"What do you think they do? Procreate by throwing oranges at each other!"

"I'm sorry Vegeta, it's just a bit of a shock."

"I suppose so." He relented. He felt a strange sort of calm having got it all out.

For a moment Bulma was thoughtful but Vegeta watched as her expression changed, her eyes narrowing in sudden fury. "You've been thinking about it all these weeks. Debating whether to die or marry me! You have, haven't you? What a nerve! It's why you were avoiding me, wasn't it? You couldn't make up your mind! Or you were looking for a loophole out of the whole thing. Perhaps thinking of how to put off our deaths off to a more convenient time, letting the androids do the job."

Vegeta frowned at the truth laid bare so bluntly.

Bulma took it for answer. "Well, you can forget it!" She jutted out her chin and turned her head. "You can kill yourself if you like and keep me out of your stupid Saiyan traditions. I'm not bonding with you. Where do you get off with threatening me with death or marriage anyway?"

Vegeta clenched his teeth and tried to remain calm. "That is why I didn't it up in the first place and I am not threatening you with death. If you are not willing to bond, then that, as you earthlings say, will be that." He would have to accept her choice and he'd live with it.

"Indeed Vegeta, you sound like you were very invested in our bonding."

"I would not have told you about bonding at all if I were not willing to go through with it!

"You see! Willing to go through with it? " Bulma accused. "You don't want to marry me you feel obligated to."

"You should know by now woman that if I did not want to, I would not and I certainly would not be enduring this ridiculous conversation!"

Bulma pouted. "Now, I'm ridiculous."

"Ugh, Is that what I said?" Vegeta found his patience was reaching its limit.

"you know what's ridiculous?" Bulma continued, "you haven't even asked me?"

"What!" He huffed. "Have we not been talking about it all this time? What do you want from me Bulma, a proposal on bended knee?" He knew it was mistake to say that as soon as the words escaped his lips.

Her eyes looked at his hopefully.

"Forget I ever mentioned the entire thing." Vegeta regretted ever beginning this discussion. He turned away arms folded.

Bulma sniffed loudly.

He stiffened. No. He refused to turn around. She was being unreasonable. Vegeta heard her sniff again followed by a few short intakes of breaths.

He glanced over his shoulder, her lip was quivering and her eyes had tears pooling but she still watched him. He wasn't going to let her get to him. If she didn't accept what did it matter to him? It mattered and he began to discover that his saiyan custom was not the only reason.

"Fine!" He stomped over to her, bent down on one knee and grabbed her hand. "Bulma, will you marry me? And don't think your weak female tears had any effect. I merely took the fastest route to getting some training time." He was on his feet again already.

Bulma threw her arms around his neck and kissed him her tears forgotten. "I'll let you know when I've come to a decision," she said teasingly.

He smiled smugly, "Well don't think too long, the deal literally expires by the end of the week."

"What exactly do you mean by that?" Bulma raised her eyebrows.

"As you know the moon is quite an important feature in Saiyan society so since at the end of the week a lunar cycle would have completed since our first . . . union, that is the dead line. So to speak." Vegeta said.

"I have till the end of the week to say yes or no?" Bulma said lightly.

"No. We have till the end of the week to formalise our union." Vegeta enjoyed shocking her. "Or I may have no choice but to kill us both."

"But the earth doesn't have a moon," Bulma said slyly.

Vegeta had not thought of that in all this time. "Doesn't matter. The custom stands," he said firmly.

"But that's not enough time to plan a wedding," she protested.

"That's too bad." Vegeta said with mock sadness. "I imagine it will be ample time for us to formalise it however."

Bulma shrugged, "I'm sure I'll manage something."

Vegeta wasn't sure he liked the sound of that at all.

Her eyes were distant, dreamy.

He would give her this moment. He'd given enough pain and with his temperament and tendencies would like bring her more. That had been some factor in his hesitation of a bonding.

"Just as well to be quick," Bulma said unexpectedly. Her eyes snapped to his, startled, as if she'd revealed something she didn't want to or had suddenly remembered something. She bit her lip, "Vegeta, while we are confessing things." She halted put her hand against his chest. "maybe I should wait. Tell you after training . . . when are you least likely to get upset?"

"What have you done woman?" He said tiredly. Her confession could not be anything as exhausting as his.

"It's not so much what I've done as we." She said laughing nervously.

He raised his eyebrows. "We?" He had no idea where she was taking this.

"You mentioned pineapples – oranges- I mean procre- no." She shook her head.

"Whatever it is woman, it can not be that bad." Vegeta rolled his eyes.

"Bulma!" she yelled suddenly stamping her foot, "Bulma! Bulma. Bulma. I can't believe we're talking marriage and I'm carrying your child and you still call me woman!"

"What!?" Vegeta shouted his eyebrows almost bouncing clear off his forehead, he stumbled back away from her, staring at her physical form.

Bulma had covered her ears from the volume of Vegeta's voice, she brought them down to her to her sides and gestured helplessly. "I'm pregnant."

"Pregnant." He repeated. "Carrying my child?" He repeated that as well. "You - you - you planned this." He stammered, pointed his finger at her before grabbing her forearms and looking wildly into her eyes. "You did this on purpose!"

"I did not!" She said shaking him free. "Don't be a jerk. It was as much a surprise to me. Do you think I had some elaborate scheme all cooked up that involved blowing up the gravitron and you ignoring me for weeks on end?"

He eyed her somewhat suspiciously as he considered it.

"Ugh! You conceited, arrogant, selfish . . ." She responded. "I wasn't planning on telling you at all except for the androids!" She folded her arms determinedly.

"It would have been very foolish to conceal it from me," Vegeta said angrily.

"Would it?" Bulma's voice was suddenly soft and wistful.

Vegeta sighed at her tone and felt his anger dissipate. "Yes," he relented. He wasn't sure at all about this new circumstance but as these unexpected things did keep happening to him he was becoming somewhat accustomed to going with the flow.

She stood there hesitating.

"What?"

"Nothing."

He stared expectantly.

"Are you okay with this?"

It was a lot to take in. He didn't want to lie to her. "I will become okay with it."

She smiled and threw her arms around him as he stood somewhat stiffly.

"You will make a great father. I know it." Bulma kissed him repeatedly preventing any response.

Finally she pulled back. "Well, get on with your training" she gestured at the equipment. "I've got a wedding to plan," she winked then skipped to the exit button panel and out of the door.

His eyes, his brows may have been scowling but his heart it felt otherwise.

x x x

Authors Narration – Bulma and Vegeta have finally confessed their secrets to each other and plan on formalising their union. What kind of ceremony will it be? Keep reading to find out for Dragonball B V.

Chapter Text

After some compromise, a warning to the minister over seeing the ceremony not to deviate from the instructions and a wild and furious shopping trip. Bulma found herself walking towards Vegeta in one of Capsule Corps large upstairs living rooms. Flowers transformed the room and Bulma's mother stood on one side sniffing tearfully. Her father was by her side about to give her away. There was no photographer and Bulma hoped that the video cameras she had covertly installed were filming. Bulma was relieved to see that Vegeta stood at the end, his clothing regal and his face serious. The minister did not look harassed and so far all seemed well.

She reached Vegeta and smiled. The minister was brief and direct as asked and Bulma relaxed.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss your bride." The minister smiled.

Bulma gasped, she looked at Vegeta with concern.

The minister blanched. He'd forgotten the specification that the line, you may kiss the bride, be missed out. Of course Bulma had argued with Vegeta about it but he was adamant about public displays of affection.

Vegeta glared at the minister.

"Or not," gulped the minister obviously realising the depth of his mistake.

Vegeta returned his gaze to Bulma then surprisingly leant in and kissed her.

As they parted from the kiss Bulma saw him blush briefly.

The minister spoke quickly. "Congratulations, I wish you every happiness. Bye bye now!" He was already running out the door.

x x x

Author's narration : and so Prince Vegeta and brilliant scientist Bulma Briefs have married and are expecting a child but with the androids deadline coming closer and closer and Vegeta still not Super Saiyan there will be many more obstacles to overcome. Many lessons to learn and many secrets to unlock. Join us in the next chapter for an Epilogue or two and continue to the story via the animes/manga to keep up with the doings of Dragonball BV!

Chapter Text

Bulma looked down at the perfect baby with lavender hair as she rocked his crib. She could hardly believe he was ten months old. Time had gone by so quickly. The androids were coming soon, she thought fretfully. But there was no need to worry. Goku was still alive and training hard, as were the others and then of course there was Vegeta. She looked out at the empty grounds of the Capsule Corp. The indentation of dead grass clearly indicated where the gravitron, space capsule, had previously sat.

Vegeta had left for who knew where yesterday. A part of her understood, here, she and Trunks were a constant distraction to his training and she felt too that Trunks birth had placed a new burden upon the mighty Saiyan. One that made his drive to defeat the androids and become Super Saiyan more pressing than ever before. She did understand but that didn't mean she wasn't furious, he'd left her without a word. No explanation, nothing just taken off in that little pod, whoosh. He could have a least left her a note, she thought sadly.

x x x

Vegeta sat in the capsule pod having a brief rest from training as it hurtled through space. He supposed by now Bulma might have calmed down. He did not feel guilty about not having said goodbye in person since it would have only ended in argument and distress for them both. Instead he had left her a note, a note that had started with Dear Bulma in the traditional Earth custom. It was less an explanation of his departure and more an instruction of his wishes. Specifically that she and his son were not go anywhere near the androids should he not return until May twelfth. He would be very angry with her if she turned up with or without their son anywhere near southwest city. Without a doubt she had put herself in similar situations before out of her confounded curiosity and need to help. The last thing he needed was to worry about his families safety while he fought . . . nor any unnecessary, awkward questions about the child.

His child. A son. He may not have entirely grappled with the concept yet but he knew his duty and that was why he'd felt it so necessary to go now. Leave Earth, concentrate on his task, obtain his goal, become the legendary Super Saiyan and claim his birthright. Not just to save himself or the Earth but to prove his worthiness and retain that legacy for his son.

He, Vegeta Prince of all Saiyans would do it. He would not return to Earth undeserving.

x x x

Back at Capsule Corp. a plain white envelope with the word 'Bulma' neatly written on it sat bereft between the wall and the dresser, unknown and unfound . . . until the next epilogue of Dragonball BV.

A/N This will however take you right back to DBZ episode where the androids come and I hope the epilogue even goes someway to explaining the antagonism between Bulma and Vegeta on their reunion in the show. The next epilogue is set just after Perfect Cell announces the games.

Chapter Text

Perfect Cell had announced the cell games and Bulma, Trunks' young mother, had insisted on cutting his hair before he and his Father returned to Kami's lookout to train once more in the hyperbolic time chamber.

She had lead the way to her bedroom and then ensuite and Trunks now sat on a plastic chair while Bulma snipped at the ends of hair, trimming it to a more suitable length.

Vegeta had followed them from the lounge without a word of protest at the delay and had positioned himself slouched outside the ensuite against the wall in a seemingly thoughtless fashion that was belied by his evidently impatient gaze.

Trunks had been surprised that his Father had waited for him at all. He had given up trying to predict Vegeta's actions but he could not seem to help himself puzzling over the Saiyan's motives.

Also, Trunks found himself particularly fascinated in how his young parents interacted. He had not seen much and at first, on his return to this timeline, he had witnessed what seemed mostly indifference with a hint of hostility. Future Bulma, his mother in his own timeline, had always seemed reluctant to speak of his father, once describing him as a man 'hard to know'. Trunks had agreed with that assessment when he'd met Vegeta briefly the first time, three years ago to warn everyone of the android attack but Trunks, on his return to this timeline he'd begun to fear that 'hard to know' had been his mother's way of avoiding telling him that Vegeta had cared nothing for either her or his infant self. It seemed self evident when Vegeta had done nothing to rescue the pair and left it to a stranger to pluck them from disaster. That stranger being him, his future son.

Trunks had presumed his mother had either wanted to avoid burdening him with the knowledge or had been too pained to admit it but Trunks had not doubted his assumption that Vegeta did not care not until the past few hours.

It was the small things that had begun to raise doubts for him. The way Vegeta had answered Bulma on the Lookout about Saiyan hair for one. He hadn't seen Vegeta be so forthcoming about anything to anyone as he had been with her, although comments about Saiyan heritage certainly might be the exception. He knew the man was proud of his heritage. Trunks had wondered right then if Vegeta might, just a tiny bit, care for Bulma, particularly given that his young mother seemed utterly comfortable speaking to him and had provided combat suits. However Vegeta had promptly dispelled that notion in the next moment by snapping at Bulma and then leaving without further acknowledgement of her or his infant self.

Trunks had decided to do away with such wishful and childish thinking at that point and determined he should feel content enough that his father had enough respect to acknowledge him as his future offspring and as Saiyan. Trunks had not intended to deviate from that view but moments ago he had witnessed another unusual interaction.

Vegeta had calmly and dispassionately informed Bulma of his plans to return to Kami's Lookout and the hyperbolic chamber. There had been no warmth that he could detect but Trunks had seen no evidence that Vegeta told anyone of his intentions to do anything.

It was just odd.

Sitting as he was now between them, one cutting his hair, the other leaning by the door, he sensed a weird tension in the room. It was definitely between his two young parents. Why or what it was about, he could not say.

Vegeta did seem to be glaring at Bulma and she was doing her best to pretend it wasn't unnerving her. While Trunks didn't know Vegeta well, he certainly knew his mother.

"All done!" she said brightly, too brightly. She took a mirror and held it up so he could inspect his hair.

"Thanks, that will be much better," Trunks said.

"You're welcome," Bulma said normally enough but she was definitely displaying signs of anxiety. Trunks was not willing to believe it was just concern for the cell games and the future that weighed on her.

"Why don't you uh say goodbye to your grandparents Trunks," Bulma added, "I'm sure Vegeta will wait for you."

Future Trunks smiled thinly back at Bulma in attempt to disguise his concern, "sure thing." Trunks glanced over at Vegeta who made no move to leave Bulma's company although he was now standing straight beside the door with his arms crossed. Vegeta may have been completely unreadable to most but Trunks had learned to read some of his moods during their year in the time chamber, and he had the distinct impression that Vegeta was furious.

It made him apprehensive about leaving the room. This timeline was already so different from his own perhaps the relationship between his parents was worse than he had thought. Perhaps the odd behaviour from Vegeta was not love nor even indifference but hate. Was Bulma in danger? Trunks knew her well enough to know that she would despise interference but still he could not just completely leave. She was his mother, even if it was a different timeline.

Bulma raised her eyebrows quizzically at his hesitation. "Gosh, I never thought—do you not . . . like your grandparents? Or maybe you just don't know them?"

"That's not it." Trunks said hurriedly. "Sorry, I'll go, I just . . . goodbye mother."

"Oh," Bulma's face was full of remorse. "Oh goodbye Trunks." Bulma threw her arms around him in a motherly hug. "I forgot that what to me is a day or two to you it is a whole year for you."

Trunks nodded realising that his refusal to leave had been interpreted as needing motherly affection. He was not bothered if she thought so.

Trunks pulled away with a final smile and made for the door. There was nothing for it but to go a little a way from the area, down the hall perhaps where he could hear if there was trouble. He could and would step in if so, and deal with the consequences after.

He felt reassured by this plan. As he passed the exit Vegeta stepped into the room with Bulma and surprisingly closed the door.

Trunks panicked for a nanosecond before realising that Vegeta had actually improved the situation. The door had not closed all the way; a tiny crack remained. Not only could Trunks remain closer to any potential trouble, instead of hiding down the hall, he could also witness the events.

He peered through the door jam.

He could see Vegeta quite well but Bulma remained out of sight.

"I am going to train to beat cell," Vegeta said flatly.

"Is that all you have to say?" Bulma demanded and it was clear from her tone that she expected more.

"I don't have time for this," Vegeta turned toward the door and Trunks thought he might need to make a quick escape but Bulma's furious tone halted both Saiyans.

"You fly off into space, you don't come back until the very last moment of the androids attack and that's all you are going to say?" Bulma came into view her eyes flashing furiously.

"No. I have one more thing to say before I go." Vegeta said forcefully. "You are not to go any where near Cell. You are to stay here and if things go bad I trust you will immediately take yourself and the child out of harms way."

"That's more than one thing." Bulma retorted.

"I mean it Bulma. If I find that you have taken yourself or our son out in that flying contraption again whilst Cell is on the loose –"

Future Trunks opened his eyes in wonder and confusion. Did Vegeta care about their safety after all?

"Why do you care?" Bulma said interrupting Vegeta angrily.

"What?" Vegeta said, evidently stunned.

"You left us to crash," Bulma sounded teary. "If it wasn't for Trunks, future Trunks we'd have died. You didn't save us."

"You were not meant to be there!" Vegeta's tone had become irritated. "And it would not have happened if you had obeyed my instructions and stayed away from the fight and those androids."

"You never told me to stay away from the androids!" Bulma stated angrily. "You never said anything, just took off into space, whoosh!"

Vegeta's voice was cool though he clenched his fists. "I may not have said it but I was very clear in the note I left you and even after Trunks saved you the first time you still continued to fly around in that – "

"What note?" interrupted Bulma suddenly.

"I was still speaking woman, the note I left you when I left to train of course!"

"You never left me a note, you didn't even say goodbye!" Bulma pouted.

"I did leave you a note and apart from saying goodbye I told you to stay away from the androids!" Vegeta shouted.

"Well I never got it." Bulma insisted.

"That's ridiculous. I put it right here on the dresser!"

"You didn't." Bulma said stubbornly. "I never got any note." She punctuated each word and folded her arms across herself in finality.

Vegeta was silent for a moment and then moved decidedly from Trunks view but Trunks heard the sound of furniture moving.

Vegeta appeared again and pointed a piece of paper at Bulma.

She took it, read it and looked up at Vegeta with misty eyes for just a moment and her mouth moved with an inaudible oh before her eyes narrowed and she shoved the note back at Vegeta. "So because I didn't obey your instructions you thought what? That you'd teach me a lesson by letting me and our son die?" Bulma accused.

"Don't be absurd!" Vegeta was surprisingly aghast.

"Then why didn't you save us?"

Vegeta paused uncomfortably, "Trunks saved you didn't he?"

Bulma shot Vegeta and incredulous look. "And if he hadn't?"

"For goodness sake woman, why do you think I lost sight of Dr. Gero?" Vegeta huffed.

Trunks quickly stifled a gasp as he began to understand.

"It was because I was too busy watching Trunks to make sure you were saved that I lost Dr. Gero!" Vegeta pointed his finger at Bulma. "And a distraction like that could have cost us all. That's why I told you not to go anywhere near the androids. So perhaps you have learnt your lesson and now you'll do as I say." Vegeta now folded his arms and turned his head from her.

"Your note gets lost and I get the blame," Bulma had lowered her voice and seemed tearful.

Trunks knew that ploy and didn't buy it apparently neither did Vegeta who had now turned to look at her without hint of sympathy.

Bulma was silent a long moment before she came forward placing her hand gently on Vegeta's arm. "You're right. I'm sorry. I won't go flying around. I'll stay here with baby Trunks."

"Good," Vegeta said.

"But there is one condition before you go," Bulma added slyly.

Vegeta scowled in annoyance ready to retort but Bulma had leant closer and whispered something in his ear.

Vegeta reacted first with shock then smirked. He leant closer and began to -

Look away, look away! Look away! Future Trunks mind suddenly screamed. His eyes averted from the far too personal moment quite a bit too late.

Trunks tried to be sanguine about it. There was no doubt now that his parents, at least in this timeline had some sort of relationship but was that how they communicated all the time?

Trunks didn't think he should ponder over it further. His curiosity about them was sufficiently quelled . . . maybe even disturbed.

Future Trunks frowned harder, realising he might have to relive some of it to tell his mother about it when he returned to his own timeline. In the meantime it would be a much better idea to fly to Kami's lookout without waiting for Vegeta. He could not face that awkward flight together now, silence, awkward, awkward silence. Trunks hurried off to say goodbye to his Grandparents.

The End