Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Birth of a Prince ❯ Bath and Bedtime ( Chapter 10 )

Part 10 Bath and Bedtime

The warm water surrounded Vegeta's sore muscles as he sank slowly into the large tub. Finally, finally they had managed to get Goten and Trunks walking under their own power again, though the boys were still apt to knock things over with their tails as they chased each other. Piccolo and Kakkarott had arrived almost simultaneously, giving Gohan a moment of uncomfortable indecision as he wondered who he should greet first. Vegeta grinned as he recalled the Namek's dry comment as he had observed the group of Saiyjins and demi-Saiyjins all sporting tails of various colors.

"It seems that I am….underdressed," Piccolo had said. "Had I known this was a formal occasion I would have worn my tails." Gohan had stared for a moment at his mentor, and then collapsed on the ground, fist beating the hapless grass as he screeched with laughter, tears streaming down his face. It took a few minutes to get Gohan off the ground, and to explain to Piccolo what was going on. The large Namek took it in stride, stating that of course, Gohan was welcome to stay with him as long as necessary. Goku had talked to the Namek privately for a few minutes as Gohan bid good bye to the chibis, coming back to the group of grownups holding Sage and with the two smaller boys in tow, both tripping occasionally and going down in a tangle of limbs and furry tails.

Vegeta sighed in contentment as he looked over at Sage sitting on a ledge in the bathwater, tail wrapped firmly around a small bar put in place for just that purpose. The chibi chortled and splashed the water at his father, inviting him to play.

"Not now, Sage," he replied. "I just want to relax for a few minutes."

Sage stopped splashing his father, and regarded him with calm eyes.

Vegeta looked back at him. "Honestly," he whispered. "I swear you understand every word I say." Small obsidian eyes fixed on his, and then Sage smirked.

"Iie…you DO understand," he breathed.

Sage appeared not to have heard him as he kicked his chubby legs in the water again, creating ripples across the water in the tub. Vegeta shook his head, spraying the giggling chibi with water as his hair flew wildly around. "Typical Saiyjin….selective hearing," he grumbled. Sage chirped and looked at the door. A second later a knock sounded.

"Vegeta?" came Kakkarott's voice.

"Come in Kakkarott," said Vegeta calmly. "I refuse to shout through the door." Part of him was perfectly calm as he invited the younger Saiyjin in; the other part was fluttery, hot and more than a little excited. He growled as he got a hold of himself. Stupid moon…it's not even completely full tonight, and it's still torturing me.

Goku paused, his hand on the doorknob. He could hear Sage chirping happily as he presumably covered the floor with water. Why was he hesitating? Vegeta had invited him in. Taking a deep breath, Goku pushed the bathroom door open.

Vegeta lounged in the large tub, his back towards Goku, only his spiky-haired head visible above the rim of the tub. Sage sat on the ledge next to his father, blue-black tail wrapped around a bar as he splashed happily. As Goku entered the room, Sage stopped splashing, looked at him and smiled, holding his arms up for Goku to pick him up. Not entirely sure how far he should come into the room, Goku stopped a few feet away from the tub, gazing in wonder at the perfection of the prince's body in the water. The steam from the hot water enveloped the Saiyjin prince, making him seem for a moment, an ethereal creature. Kami, he is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life, thought Goku, hardly daring to breathe, as though with one breath the picture before him would disappear, like so much smoke and vapor.

Vegeta's lazy voice penetrated the fog that had crept into Goku's brain. "What do you want, baka?" the Saiyjin prince asked casually.

What he had come in here for, Goku wondered as he wracked his brain for a plausible explanation. Oh yes, Trunks.

"Trunks wanted you to tuck him in before he fell asleep," Goku informed him. "He said he had something important to tell you."

The prince stretched, cat-like in the water, tail tip twitching above the surface, and replied "All right, Kakkarott. Will you come over here and take Sage for me then? He wants you to pick him up anyway." This was undeniably true, as Sage clucked and chortled at the larger man, stretching chubby arms out and sounding more and more frustrated the longer he took to get the message.

Vegeta was certain that Kakkarott had not heard the nervousness in his voice that the nearness of the man brought out. Kuso, he swore to himself. It HAS to be the moon. It just HAS to be. He thanked half forgotten gods that the chibi gave him the distraction he needed. He couldn't let Kakkarott see him in this state. But you know you want him to, the other part of his mind whispered. You know you want him to see you like this, almost as much as you want to see him in a similar circumstance.

Vegeta didn't hear Kakkarott pick up a towel and approach the tub. Quite suddenly, he was simply there, picking up the elated Sage from his perch in the tub.

"Do you want me to get him ready for bed for you Vegeta?" asked Goku softly.

"If you want to," came the muttered reply.

Goku left the bathroom if possible more confused than he had entered.

A few minutes later, dry, and dressed in loose fitting gi pants, the prince padded down the hallway to the room that Goten and Trunks were sharing. As he passed Goku's room, he glimpsed the younger man cuddling a dressed and diapered Sage as he fed him one of his bedtime bottles. Vegeta's heart had jumped at the scene. It seemed so perfect, so natural that Kakkarott should be so close to his son. The moment passed, as Vegeta passed the doorway and entered the boy's room.

He walked silently over to the bed where Trunks lay, a stray beam of moonlight illuminating his offspring's lavender hair. He thought for a moment that the boy was sleeping, but a second later, crystal blue eyes opened and caught his gaze. Briefly, he considered his eldest son. While it was indisputable that the boy had inherited his mother's eyes and grandfather's hair, Vegeta had never noticed that his facial structures, the shape of his eyes, and very expressions were the images of his own.

Quietly, he pulled the blankets up under the boy's chin, and sat down on the edge of the bed, tail absently caressing the chibi's soft cheek.

"You wanted to tell me something, boy?" he asked softly.

Trunks nodded. "I wanted to tell you Papa, that I am so glad to have my tail. Ever since you got yours back, I've wished and wished to have one too." He looked sad for a moment. "I wondered why I didn't have one and you did." He locked his innocent eyes with his father's. "I can keep my tail, can't I tousan?" His voice was pleading.

Vegeta's heart clenched in his chest. He gently smoothed the silken bangs away from his son's forehead. "Hai, my son. You can keep your tail."

To be continued….