Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Birth of a Prince ❯ The Campsite ( Chapter 5 )

Part 5 The Campsite

The next evening, Vegeta waited impatiently, Sage bouncing in the carry-pouch, and Trunks all but dancing beside him, for Kakkarott and his sons to arrive. He was starting to wonder why he had agreed to bring all the boys. Upon reflection, it was a completely insane idea. He sighed. Kakkarott was late, as usual.

"Is it time yet Papa?" Trunks asked for the fifth time in about a minute.

Vegeta suppressed a small growl. "They'll be here soon," he reassured his small son yet again.

Trunks reached up to tickle Sage's cheek. "Hey Sage," he sang out. "We're going camping with the Sons!" Sage squealed in excitement, landing a hard kick between two of Vegeta's ribs, and causing the man to let out his breath in surprise. That had almost…hurt. The thought was banished from his head as the air flickered in front of them and the three Sons appeared out of thin air. Goten and Trunks shrieked at the same time and grabbed each other's arms, jumping up and down in excitement. Gohan grinned, as he respectfully greeted Vegeta, and ruffled Sage's hair. The baby caught Gohan's hand and chewed on it intently. Goku laughed out loud at the shocked look on his eldest son's face as he looked at his slobbery hand, and even Vegeta grinned.

"Well," said Goku cheerfully, clapping his hands together. "Are we ready to go then?"

"YES YES YES YES," shouted Trunks and Goten in one voice, still jumping up and down. Goku laughed. "Ok then, everybody hold hands." The two little boys settled down, clasping their hands tightly together, Goten wrapping his other hand around his father's leg. Gohan held Trunks' other hand, and placed his free hand on his father's shoulder. Goku put one hand on Vegeta's shoulder, and placed two fingers from his other hand to his forehead, and *blink* they were at their campsite.

They stood for a moment, looking around. The clearing was quiet, surrounded by trees with a stunning display of mountains for a backdrop. Off to the left, the gurgle of water falling over rocks could be heard. Vegeta glanced at Kakkarott, who was smiling in obvious delight. The early evening sunlight caught the soft angles of his face, highlighting that which was so noticeably Saiyjin. For an instant, all Vegeta could see was the stunning masculinity of his rival's face. Beautiful, flitted across his brain before he could stop it. The moment was broken by the squeals of delight coming from the carry-pouch as Sage watched Trunks chase Goten towards the hidden stream, Gohan following them both to make sure they didn't get into trouble, shrieking with laughter as he tried to climb out.

"Oh no you don't, little man," said Vegeta as he pulled Sage's legs out from under him, plopping the infant back down onto his backside in the carry-pouch. Sage pouted for a moment, lower lip sticking out and refused to meet his father's gaze.

"Pout all you want to, chibi," said Vegeta calmly. "It won't change the fact that you can't even crawl yet." He ruffled his son's hair affectionately. "But have patience. Your big brother crawled by the time he was four months old, and was walking by 6 months. You won't have long to wait." He rubbed Sage's cheek with an absent forefinger as he looked around for a good spot to set up the capsule house. He startled slightly as Sage, turning his head, began to chew on his finger. He tried to take it away, only to notice that Sage's tail had snaked around his wrist, trapping his hand in place as the baby gnawed away. As Vegeta tried to gently unwind his son's tail, he felt something sharp pierce his training glove. Jerking his hand free, he yanked off his glove and noticed a drop of crimson welling from his fingertip.

"Kakkarott, hold Sage a minute, will you?" The taller Saiyjin complied, holding the baby so that Vegeta could look into his mouth.

"C'mon Sage, open up."

Sage looked murderously at his father. Goku giggled.

"Sorry, Vegeta," he said apologetically to the prince who was looking murderous in his own right. "But he looks just like you when he does that."

"Open your mouth Sage," said Vegeta, less than patiently.

Sage glared at his father, who, having had enough, pried his son's mouth open.

"Just as I thought. He's getting his first teeth." Sure enough, Goku could see what looked like a sharp, gleaming pearl poking out of the red bottom gum. He noted the position of the tooth, lower right canine.

"Vegeta, do all Saiyjin babies get their teeth in the same order? I remember that Gohan and Goten both got that tooth first."

"According to my nurse when I was small, yes. They all come in a deliberate order, on a strict time schedule so that the child is ready to be weaned completely at one year. Enough of this baby talk, Kakkarott. Let's set up the house. It will be dark soon."

Vegeta strode over to a spot some twenty yards away from where Goku stood, still holding Sage. He watched Vegeta activate the capsule house, marveling at the lithe grace with which the royal Saiyjin moved, and was distracted by a coo from the baby he held in his arms. A tiny black and blue tail caressed his cheek softly, as the baby giggled. Goku shifted him in his arms so that he could watch his father.

"Well, what are you waiting for, baka?" came Vegeta's irritated voice "We need to get these brats fed and inside before dark."

To be continued….