Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Birth of a Prince ❯ A Tale of two Tails ( Chapter 2 )

Part 2 A Tale of Two Tails

"ABSOLUTLY NOT," roared Vegeta at the cringing doctor.

"Vegeta get a hold of yourself," snapped Bulma. "I was the one who made the arrangements before Sage was even born. I did the same thing with Trunks, and you didn't complain."

"I wasn't THERE when Trunks was born, woman!"

"Precisely," said Bulma. "I remembered all the trouble Goku AND Gohan's tails caused, and decided to take matters into my own hands. Trunks' tail was removed shortly after he was born. And besides, it made diapering a whole lot easier."

Vegeta glared at her. "Kakkarott and his brat were never taught to control the Oozaruu transformation," he informed her in a deceptively calm voice. "I will teach my sons."

"You mean your "son"," stated Bulma. "Trunks doesn't have his tail anymore, remember?"

Vegeta shrugged. "He's young. It's probable that his tail will regenerate. Mine did, and if I recall, Kakkarot's brat's tail has regenerated several times since it was first removed. When it does regenerate, it will NOT be removed. Had I been here when he was born, I would have never permitted it. And I will NOT permit it now." He cradled his small son in his hands, inwardly marveling again at the softness of his son's tail wrapped around his wrist. Sage opened his eyes, flipped his tail off of his father's wrist and wrapped the tip around his hand and forefinger, inserted his thumb in his mouth and began to purr in contentment as his finger rubbed the tip of his tail against and under his nose.

"Would you take that comfort away from your own son," he asked her. When she didn't reply, he said softly, almost to himself, "A tail-less Saiyjin is but a ghost of himself."

"Fine," she snapped irritably. She hated loosing arguments with Vegeta, even when she knew she was wrong. "Fine, he can keep his stupid tail. But I don't want to hear a single word when he comes crying home because the kids at school tease him about it."

Vegeta silenced her with a look. "You have no idea what it meant to me when my tail grew back," he said softly. "It would be like removing an arm or leg for you, only much, oh so much more than that. Tails are very important to Saiyjins, not only as a source of power, but for balance, and sexual pleasure too. A Saiyjin tail has more nerves in it than in any part of YOUR body. It has more nerves in a smaller space than in any part of MY body. That's why it hurts so much when a Saiyjin's tail is handled too roughly. When it's handled properly though, by the right person…." His voice trailed off.

"What do you mean, "handled properly?" asked Bulma, plainly baffled. "You've never let me anywhere NEAR your tail since it regenerated!!"

Vegeta glared at her. "You want my tail woman?" he asked in a dangerous voice. "YOU CAN'T HANDLE MY TAIL." (author covers her eyes and mumbles oh that was bad, that was bad that was bad)

Bulma rolled her eyes expressively. "How would you know if I could or not you cretin, when you have never given me a chance?"

Vegeta glared at her, and said abruptly, "This discussion is over. When can we take Sage home?"

Bulma blinked at the sudden change of subject. She had only given birth a few hours ago. Trunks was back in the waiting room, watching TV and coloring, she was sure that by now some of their friends would be waiting out there with him to see the new baby. She had called the Sons before left; originally she had arranged with Chichi to watch Trunks while she was in the hospital and bring him when the baby was born, but Vegeta said no. Bulma was glad he had refused. It had never occurred to her to let her four year old be present at the birth of his brother, but the experience seemed to have been good for Trunks. She shook her head slightly and turned back to Vegeta.

"We'll be here for at least another day Vegeta," she informed him. "I need to recover. It wasn't exactly an easy birth."

Vegeta was unfazed. "Then you can stay here, and I'll take the boys home. This isn't a good place for a baby to be." He frowned as he sniffed the air. "He needs to be home, where there is lots of fresh air, and no sick people."

"I don't think they will allow that," she said bemusedly.

"Why not? I am his father."

"They have this policy about keeping a mother and baby together after birth Vegeta. Plus they will want to observe him to make sure he is fine. Besides, I need to be with him so I can feed him. You do recall that I breastfed Trunks, don't you?"

Vegeta shrugged. "Yes, I do recall that," he said calmly. "I also recall you discovering that your body simply couldn't keep up with the caloric need of a baby demi-Saiyjin past the first couple of weeks, and that a demi-Saiyjin won't eat human baby formula. Not that I blame him, that stuff is nasty. I seem to recall, that somewhere in that lab of yours, you concocted a formula for Trunks to supplement your breastfeeding. I also seem to recall that you have again stockpiled it and a large supply is already waiting in the refrigerator at home. So," he finished, "there is really no reason that Sage can't go home with me."

"Vegeta, get real, "Bulma said irritably. "You can't take care of a baby, I had to bribe, threaten and be your sex slave to get you to take care of Trunks when he was tiny!"

"This is different," Vegeta replied. "It took me longer to bond with Trunks because I wasn't present at his birth. Also I believe I was slightly pre-occupied by training to defeat those pesky androids at the time. And besides, this is no place for a new baby."

"Vegeta," she said exasperatedly, "this is a HOSPITAL. Woman have babies here every single day!"

"I don't care. I don't like it, and…"

"Papa? Mama?" the door opened and Trunks poked his head in.

"What is it, sweetie," asked Bulma

"Goten and his family are here," he replied grinning. "They wanna know if they can come in and see the baby. And if they can, can I come back in?" he pleaded.

Bulma glanced at Vegeta, as his protests suddenly made sense. She giggled. "Of course, Trunks, tell them they can come in. But to be quiet, Sage is sleeping."

Vegeta hissed in annoyance as he cradled his sleeping son close to his bare chest. Damn, he had hoped to get out of here before…

"Hey, Vegeta, congratulations," came a cheery, but obediently quiet voice. Vegeta groaned silently. "So, can I see the little guy?"

"Of course Kakkarott," he replied, finding it difficult to maintain his annoyance at the taller Saiyjin as he presented his small son.

"Wow," whispered Goku in awe as he peered at the sleeping chibi. "He is a mini-you Vegeta."

Vegeta smirked. "Not unlike your youngest brat, Kakkarott," he pointed out.

Goku grinned. "True, he is the spitting image of his dad." They both looked at Goten, who was deep in conversation with Trunks. Trunks appeared to be telling his best friend all about Sage's birth and his part in it, while Gohan listened in apparently impressed. Chichi and Bulma were talking quietly on the bed, and sneaking looks at their husbands.

Goku looked back at Sage, sleeping in Vegeta's arms. "So," he said quietly, "You are letting him keep his tail Vegeta?"

"Yes Kakkarott, I am."

"And you really know how to control that transformation," he asked.

Vegeta snorted. "Of course I do baka. Why?"

Goku rubbed the back of his head in an embarrassed sort of way. "Well, uh…do you think you could teach me how to?"

"What? You don't need…." Vegeta stopped as the realization hit him. He glanced at Kakkarott's waist for confirmation. There, looped around his waist, looking for all the world like a fuzzy brown belt was Kakkarott's tail.

"Well I'll be Kami-damned," breathed Vegeta.

To be continued….