Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ And We Were Angels ❯ Perseverance ( Chapter 15 )

I wanted to take a moment to let all of you know I am having a wonderful time working on this story. My Muses Bardockgurl and TG are wonderful to work with. My Beta Reader happens to be one of the sweetest women in the world. Sue, I cant thank you enough for your dedication.

And We Were Angels

By: AMCM74

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Chapter 15 - Perseverance

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Bulma set the coffee cup in the tray and put the sugar and creamer packets next to it. Of all the nerve. She could not believe that one of the hospital's own staff had sold her family up the river for cash. The stupid bitch should have just blackmailed Bulma herself. She would have probably paid the woman enough to retire just to keep her mouth shut.

The heiress would have been better off than in her current predicament. Hell and damnation, anything was preferable to what she was going through now. Bulma had four more days before she had to go the beach house and comply with Hikari's demands. The only good thing was that she did have time to think.

She gasped as large hands reached out and took the tray from her. Bulma looked up to see a very somber Vegeta looking down at her. "I thought I told you to leave."

"Yes, you did, but you're not the one in charge of making those kinds of decisions." Vegeta leaned in and whispered in her ear, "So I guess you're stuck with me."

Removing the tray from his hands with a vicious jerk, she snapped back, "I don't need you watching over me, and reminding me about the mistake I am about to make. I get enough of that from my own conscience, thank you very much. Now take your holier-than-thou attitude and be gone!"

Vegeta flinched at her words. Holier-than-thou was not the best way he would describe his current situation. "Bulma, you're wrong. I, more than anyone, know that you are a good and decent person. I am just here to support and guide you through these temporary trials."

"Great, now you're going to try and give me advice?" She put the tray on the counter and looked around to make sure no one was within earshot. She sighed deeply and looked directly into his eyes. "Listen Vegeta, I don't care how old you are, or how much you have seen during your service in heaven. Have you ever been blackmailed?"

"What does that have to do with the price of eggs?" Vegeta scowled.

"Answer my question." Bulma glared at him while crossing her arms over her chest.

"No, I have never been blackmailed." He was not about to admit he had just used the same tactic on a fellow angel to help her. That information was best left unsaid.

"There you go!" She opened her arms to him as if exposing the obvious. "Vegeta, you have no clue what it's like to be in my position. You have also said you are denied sex as well. So you have no idea what Hikari is asking for, and what I am about to relinquish to him."

Vegeta winced as the visions of Bulma played into his mind, courtesy of Radditz. He decided not comment on that either. He just stood silently before her.

"In fact, you can not possibly understand what it is like being a disappointment to your own father! He has always provided for me. This is my chance to do something for him, and I am not going to let him down."

Vegeta closed his eyes, trying to hold back the pain. He never had mortal parents, this was true, but he still had a father. "Bulma, if I fail you, I also fail my Father. I fail him in a way more painful than losing a mere company. I can't let you go."

Bulma went numb with his words. They seemed to reach out and latch on to her, like a drowning man holding on to a life raft. "Vegeta."

He raised his hand to her lips to silence her. "Don't say anything. All I am asking is to allow me to stay with you."

"Alright" Bulma nodded. "I need to return to my father. Besides, the coffee is getting cold now."

Vegeta reached out and took the tray. "I will carry it for you and I can promise that in my care it will be warm. I would also like to meet your father." He watched the stunned look on her face. "Any mortal that can hold so much respect from his offspring in this day and age, is truly a man worth meeting."

Bulma lead the way to her father's room with her heart racing a million miles an hour. She wished it would stop beating so. She reminded herself that it wasn't as if she was bringing her new boyfriend to meet her father. That's not what Vegeta was to her. Swallowing hard, she felt the emotion stinging her eyes. He was so much more.

A gentle cough behind her was a quick reminder that he could read her mind. Bulma blushed and lowered her head, "Sorry, I can't help it."

"I understand."

Bulma opened the door. "Poppa?" She looked around at the smiling group of people. It certainly didn't appear as if they were discussing life or death, disease and surgery. "I am back."

"It took you long enough, Bulma. I was starting to think you had been trying to escape the lecture I just had to sit through." Dr. Briefs gazed from his daughter to the dark man behind her. A slight look of surprise preceded his greeting.

Bulma turned and motioned to Vegeta. "Poppa, this is Vegeta", the man Yamcha told you about."

"Oh." Dr. Briefs extended his hand. "I understand now why it took you so long to get the coffee." Vegeta walked into the room and set the tray on the table next to the bed. Taking the man's hand in a firm shake, Dr. Briefs nodded "So, was Bulma expecting you?"

"I don't believe so sir, but I did come here just for her." Vegeta answered making eye contact with her father.

Bulma choked back and glanced out the window to her father's amusement. "I think that is a good thing to hear."

"We are done here Briefs. Dr. Whitley and I will leave you to your guests." Dr. Ogata nodded taking the chart from Dr. Whitley as they exited the room.

Silence reigned for a long moment before Dr. Briefs finally asked, "So how did you meet my daughter, umm Vegeta was it?"

Vegeta shrugged and handed Briefs the coffee cup. "She was walking down the street in a dangerous part of town. I tried to tell her it was not safe and she beat me up."

"Vegeta!" Bulma turned quickly in stunned horror. She saw the light of amusement twinkle in her father's eyes.

"Is this true, baby?" The old man looked at his daughter, his heart swelling with pride.

"Well," She shrugged and rocked back on her heels. "Yes it is, but he could have lied." Vegeta shot her a glance that reminded her who he was. Yes, it would be impossible for him to lie. "Ok, but you could have embellished it a little."

Bulma's eyes narrowed as Vegeta and her father burst into loud, mocking laughter. She sighed and shook her head. "It's not like I hurt him!" She pointed out, and then remembered Vegeta sprawled on the wet pavement as she stormed past him. "Ok, it's not like I hurt him much." At this point it became impossible for her to hold back her own laughter.

After spending a few minutes with her father, Bulma hugged him and pulled the blanket up over his shoulders. "I will be back to see you after work, Poppa."

"You are not going to try and work today are you, Bulma?" Dr Briefs frowned as he leaned back on the freshly fluffed pillows.

"I have to. I am very close to a solving a problem I have been having with a device I'm working on. It's very important to Capsule that we have another huge breakthrough." She walked to the door. "Besides, I will be here for you all day tomorrow. Nothing can tear me away from your side."

Dr. Briefs looked at Vegeta, "Surely you can talk some sense into her?"

Vegeta snorted and shook his head. "I have not known your daughter for very long, but I can assure you that once she has made up her mind no one will be changing it. Although, I will promise to see that she returns home at a decent hour tonight."

Vegeta followed Bulma out of the room; she turned and arched an eyebrow at him. "You're picking me up from work?"

"Correction, I am not leaving your side."

A gasp of annoyance was her first reaction. "I can not have you hovering over my shoulder all day!"

Vegeta lead the way to the elevator and smirked at her in a roguish manner. "Why not? How else do you think I spend my days?"

"You can rethink your plans then!" Bulma rolled her eyes and stepped into the elevator.

The people that were standing there looked at her as if she was crazy. She blinked a bit and looked around. A blush rose to her face when she realized they thought she had been talking to herself. Moving to the back of the elevator she muttered "Sneaky bastard."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Vegeta looked at his exhausted charge sprawled face down on her couch. "Weren't you the one who said you just wanted five minutes at the lab?"

"If I had gotten past you, I would probably still be in the lab." Bulma's voice was muffled by the large pillows that decorated her couch.

Sitting on the floor, Vegeta reached out to brush the strands of blue hair from her tired face. "Then it is a good thing I didn't allow it."

Bulma groaned and sat up. "You don't understand. It's not like I am going to sleep tonight anyway." She looked down at the vision before her. This dark angel was kneeling at her feet, and his eyes were focused on her alone. A shiver of pleasure ran through her. Forcing her mind back to her original train of thought she sighed deeply, "I am far too worried about my father to sleep. If I had stayed at work, I might have passed out eventually."

"You will sleep here." Vegeta informed her in a gentle command. "I insist."

"Insist all you want. I can't help it."

Vegeta frowned. "Is there anything I can do to make you fall asleep?" He regretted asking her that question the instant the words left his mouth. The images in her mind were like a fiery torch burning in his gut. "You're a wicked woman, Bulma Briefs."

"That was not my fault!" she leaned closer. "You asked, and that is what came to my mind." She sat on the floor, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Vegeta swallowed hard. "I am forbidden."

"I understand that, but we won't let things get that far," she whispered while trailing soft kisses along his neck. "I can see the longing in your eyes and it's eating away at my soul, Vegeta. I want to touch you. You want to touch me."

Vegeta trembled as she pulled back to meet his eyes. "Bulma, don't do this to me."

"I already told you that I am going to sell my soul this weekend. Shouldn't I get a taste of heaven while I still can?"

There was a sound of reasoning in her words. Vegeta pulled her into a passionate kiss. This was what she wanted. She had said so herself, of her own free will without cohersion from anyone. How could he deny her the only thing she had asked of him?

Vegeta intensified the kiss by pressing her backwards against the couch. Although this was a small treasured moment, he would not lose control. He slowly lifted his hand toward her face with only one purpose. A sudden firm, yet gentle grip on his wrist caused him to break contact with her lips.

Bulma fought to control her racing heartbeat and her heavy breathing. She held his hand beside her face. "Please," she whispered, "Don't take this memory away from me."

Vegeta was shaken when he realized that she knew of his intentions. He found he could not look at her as she continued to speak. "Just let me have that one kiss, clear and pure, remain in my mind."

"Will you go to sleep now?" he asked while trying to regain his composure. He didn't know if he was relieved or disappointed when she slowly nodded in reply.