Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ And We Were Angels ❯ Recklessness ( Chapter 20 )

And We Were Angels

By: AMCM74

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Chapter 20 - Recklessness

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"I am sorry old man." Yamcha shrugged and put his hands out at his sides. "I have to agree with Bulma on this one."

"You're not serious?!" Dr. Briefs paled. He glanced around at the people who supposedly loved him and then at Bellona. The need for a quick drink overwhelmed him. Not that he was going to get one, especially with his Amazon guard standing close by. It was making him rethink about living in the hospital. He had thought coming home would get him off his numb ass and back into the lab. "Can't you see she is trying to torture me?"

"Perfectly. I think Bellona is doing an excellent job here," said the dark haired man as he watched the nurse fluff a pillow for Dr. Briefs.

"Thank you Yamcha." Bellona tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ear and showed Dr. Briefs the pillow. "Now be a dear man and lean forward."

Yamcha shifted nervously and looked around the room. Briefs was glaring at his nurse while Bulma arranged some flowers in a vase. Vegeta stood not far from her staring out the window. A deep sigh escaped Yamcha. Now was as good a time as any. "Actually, I have another reason for coming over here besides seeing how well you are settling in."

The tone in his voice caught Bulma's attention immediately. She looked at him as her hand held one fragile stem. The apprehension coming from Yamcha's words began ringing that familiar bell in her head.

Although he had not been paying any attention to the other man, Vegeta noticed the change in Bulma. Instead he had been brooding over how to break the news to his charge that his service to her was over. He looked at Bulma and followed her stare to Yamcha. The man looked a bit pale.

Briefs looked up as the pillow was being placed behind him. "And what reason could that be my boy?"

"Dr. Briefs, you and Bulma are the closest thing to a family that I have, so I wanted you to be the first to know." He clenched his fists and raised his chin. "I have asked Tea to marry me and she has accepted."

Bulma's gasp was the only sound in the room. She shook her head slowly, but her father spoke up before she had the chance to utter a word.

"What the hell are you thinking son?!" Briefs choked as he put up one hand to wave Bellona away. "You hardly know the girl. In fact, you just started seeing her a few weeks ago, and you didn't even know that she existed a few days before that!"

Vegeta moved forward and put his hand on Bulma's shoulder to remind her that he was there for her. She silently raised her hand to his and gave him a quick glance. There was no anger in her eyes, proving that she was truly over the other man. What did bother him was the worried look that danced over her brow.

"I know what you are saying and normally I would agree with you." Yamcha looked at Bulma to see her reaction to his news. The expression on his face was pleading for them to understand his position. "I am no longer a young man. Also, I am sure that the both of you know how much I desire to have a wife and a family. It has been my life's dream. Tea feels the same way, and has been waiting for someone to come along with the same ideals. We are both certain we don't want to wait. Add that to the fact we are both adults, and well," Yamcha shrugged. "I really want support from both of you."

Briefs opened his mouth to speak, but this time Bulma cut him off. "Then you have it Yamcha." She smiled at him with large tears in her eyes. "It's the least we can do after all you have done for us over the years. Isn't that right Poppa?"

Dr. Briefs begrudgingly nodded in agreement. "Of course you do. I am not going to toss you out on your ear for falling in love with someone other than my daughter. After all, you have been like a son to me the entire time I have known you, a wayward stupid son without a speck of sense in your head, but a son none the less."

"I am glad you feel that way, because Tea and I wish to be married as soon as possible."

"How soon?" Vegeta growled.

Yamcha looked away and muttered something.

"What was that?" Bulma leaned closer.

"I said," Yamcha flinched, "Next weekend."

This time only Bellona's whispered "Oh my" was heard.

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Bulma walked out the front door with Yamcha behind her. They strolled silently side by side toward his car.

She summoned her courage before speaking bluntly without looking at him. "Are you sure you are ready to take such a giant step as marriage?"

"Yes I am." The reply came with complete certainty. Yamcha stopped and looked at the blue haired woman. "Tea and I have already talked to the minister that will be performing the service. He has known Tea since she was a small child. Everyone is concerned about the rush, but we are very determined."

"I can see that." Bulma nodded. "I just don't want you regretting it later on Yamcha."

"Thank you for worrying about me, Bulma." Yamcha reached out and brushed her smooth cheek with his hand. "It means a lot to me coming from you, specially after what we have just been through together."

"How could I not care?" her blue eyes shimmered with tears. "You are like a part of my family, a part of my heart. I would hate for you to get hurt and I never said anything about it."

"I feel the same way." Yamcha opened his arms and Bulma rested her head against his chest. "You were right you know. Things between us would never have worked out on a permanent basis."

"It is much better this way, isn't it?" She felt him nod. "Take care Yamcha. Give me a call with the details when you have them."

"Will you be returning to Capsule this week?"

Bulma thought about it for a moment and nodded. "Yes. I am working on that huge project at the lab and I can't abandon it now."

"I'll know where to get a hold of you then." He released her and brushed a kiss over her forehead. "Take care baby."

"I will." Bulma watched him walk to his car and open the door. "You do the same."

He pulled out of the driveway and drove off. Bulma clasped her hands in front of her and stretched.

"So, are you really ok with all of this?"

She jumped and turned to face her angel. The first thing Bulma noticed was his somber appearance. He seemed to be brooding all day, and that had her a bit concerned. After all, it was his job to look after her welfare, and a face like the one he was wearing didn't go over very well.

"Of course I am." Bulma laughed lightly. "It's odd, but things between him and I have never been better than they are now. We have found a new realm of peace with this situation that was never there in our relationship as lovers."

"Some things are never meant to be." Vegeta reached up and ran a hand through his hair. He wondered if Bulma would take his departure with as much grace as she had Yamcha's impending marriage.

"So you knew all along that Yamcha and I would never stay together didn't you?" Bulma moved forward and looped her arm around his. "Or was it just a fervent wish on your behalf?"

"Now, I never went that far."

Bulma pouted and basked in the feeling of having him so close to her as they walked toward the house. "Don't pop my bubble. I am having a good day."

"The first of many or so I hear," Vegeta muttered sullenly.

"You make that sound like it's a bad thing! Come on Vegeta, it just means less work for you." Bulma stopped on the steps and crossed her arms. She allowed one finger to slowly tap her ruby red lips as she pondered. "So what are you going to do with all your free time, my ardent little angel?"

"First off, I am not all that ardent. I resent being called little and if you must know, lately I think being an angel sucks." Vegeta snapped back.

To his surprise she laughed at his heated declaration. "I would have to assume so! I think you are right. Being an angel does suck, because if you weren't I can guarantee you that we would not be standing on my porch, while I try to figure out what to do with you."

"Having trouble fitting me into your busy schedule?"

Bulma leaned forward and whispered "I wouldn't have any trouble trying to fit you in anywhere."

He caught the implied meaning and trembled. It was amazing that they were on her porch in board daylight and she could still get such a reaction from him. He swallowed hard and knew now was the time to tell her. He could not let Bulma go on thinking that this would continue. As much as he wished it to be so, he had to let her go and move on. "Bulma, I have something I have to tell you."

"Let me go first." Bulma touched his lips with her fingers to stop him. "Considering that my very recent ex-boyfriend is about to get married and I am more than obligated to attend, I can't think of a better date than my very own supportive guardian angel."

Vegeta arched one eyebrow at her as if she had just asked him to hand her the Holy Grail. "Excuse me?"

"I would have preferred you say yes." Bulma rocked back on her heels. "You can't honestly believe that I want to go to this thing alone and face every single person Yamcha and I ever knew?"

"Your point being?"

"It would be terribly embarrassing and I would prefer to have you by my side to save me yet again."

He opened his mouth to reply as Dr. Briefs' voice cut through the air. "What the hell do you think you are doing? Give me back my chocolate bar!"

Bulma rolled her eyes. "Let me go save Bellona."

A sudden snort from Vegeta caught her attention as he scowled, "The old man is right. She is trying to kill him."

Bulma paled, "Seriously?"

"No." Vegeta smiled realizing that she had taken him in earnest. It was very amusing to see he had that kind of power over her, since normally she was the one pushing all of his buttons, most of the time all at once.

"Don't scare me like that!" Bulma raised her hand to her heart and gaped at him.

"Then let me make up for it." Vegeta leaned in and touched her lips with his. It was a soft and swift motion that caught her completely by surprise. He stepped up next to her and added softly, "Today was meant to be our last day together Bulma. That is what I came here to tell you." The look of horror on her face was fleeting as he added "But you have convinced me that accompanying you to the wedding is important. So I will be there with you."

Bulma felt a bittersweet sword stab her heart. "And after that?"

"After that it will be goodbye." Vegeta turned from her and walked down the path.

Bulma opened the door and whispered, "Not if I have anything to say about it." Vegeta disappeared from sight as he stepped onto the sidewalk.

"What do you think you are doing Vegeta?" Goku appeared beside him and matched the smaller angel's stride.

"Exactly what I want to for a change." He picked up his pace as Goku stopped, rooted to where he stood in complete shock.