Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Birth of a Prince ❯ Returns? ( Chapter 25 )

Part 25 Returns?

The rest of Gohan's heat, all two days of it, passed without incident. The most difficult thing that happened was when Vegeta, Bulma and Goku had to explain to Goten and Trunks what was happening to Gohan. To Vegeta's surprise, Kakkarott had handled the questions better than he and Bulma had, acting for all the world like the true Saiyjin he had been born; giving the curious boys the information they needed, and not more than they could handle at their ages.

On the last day of Gohan's heat, Piccolo had emerged from the gravity room, a naked and exhausted Gohan in his arms.

"He's been unconscious for the past six hours, I gathered from what you told me that his heat is over."

Goku had hurried over to his son, stroking his hair softly, and smiling as he realized that Piccolo was indeed correct; Gohan's heat was finished.

"Put him in one of the guest rooms," said Vegeta. "He'll most likely sleep for the better part of a day and night."

Piccolo had complied, and then after a brief conversation with Goku, had taken his leave, promising to come back in a day or so to check up on Gohan.

Goten's fourth birthday was approaching and plans were in the works to have it held at Capsule Corp, regardless of whether or not the Son family had reunited by then. Vegeta was beginning to doubt whether the Sons would ever return to their house in the woods; they seemed to be content living at Capsule Corp. Even Gohan, after awaking from his post-heat sleep; seemed comfortable and at ease with the living arrangements. That made Goku's announcement all the more startling.

Trunks and Goten were playing a noisy game of tag throughout the house, having been prohibited from going outside due to a particularly violent thunderstorm. Gohan had wrapped Sage securely in his tail and was running around the house yelling like a chibi himself that Sage was chasing him. Sage for his part was mock-growling at Gohan and reaching for the teen in between fits of hysterical giggles. Bulma had come out from her lab with a furious look on her face, no doubt ready to lay into the boys for disturbing her, but one look at the chaos, and she had dissolved into a fit of laughter and given up, when Goku entered the room.

Something in his attitude, the expression on his face halted all activity in the room. Sage was _not_ happy with this turn of events. He screeched at Gohan and kicked his legs, and when that didn't get him the attention he felt he deserved, he yelled, "MORE!!!"

Complete and utter silence fell as all the occupants in the room stared at the furious chibi. Even Vegeta looked stunned. Bulma looked as though she might faint, Goku looked startled, even Trunks and Goten were shocked into silence. That hadn't been the reaction Sage had wanted. So he wriggled and repeated himself, louder this time, "MORE!!!"

"S…s….s…Sage just s…spoke," stammered Bulma. "He's two months old Vegeta, Sage just spoke!!!" Her face was chalk white, her blue eyes wide.

"I'd say he did more than speak, Bulma," remarked a wide-eyed Goku. "I'd say he just issued his first royal decree!"

Sage scowled at the room in general. Darn it, this wasn't working! He wanted to play some more, he wanted to chase Gohan more, he…yawned hugely, then spat in frustration.

"Give me the demanding chibi prince," said an amused Vegeta. Gohan obediently passed Sage over to his father, who tucked the bad tempered baby under his chin and began to croon-purr, soothing Sage's rage away as he gave in to a much needed nap.

Goku sighed to himself. Sage's theatrics and surprise speech notwithstanding, he had an announcement to make, that he was pretty sure wasn't going to go over very well. Well, no time like the present…everyone was here, and putting it off wasn't going to make it any easier. He just wished he knew whether or not he was doing the right thing.. He took a deep breath.

"Listen up boys, everyone," he nodded to Vegeta and Bulma. They looked at him, faces curious, Vegeta's…angry? How could Vegeta know, and why would he be angry? Goku pushed the thought out of his mind. Just spit it out Goku, he told himself.

"We're going home tomorrow."

Nothing could have prepared him for the onslaught of sound that his announcement produced. Goten burst into tears shouting that he didn't want to go home and Trunks uttered a string of words Goku hadn't known the four year old even KNEW. Gohan took it better than the two chibi's, he just stared at his father, appraising him, and then nodded once. But it was Sage's reaction that startled the Saiyjin the most. Sage had been asleep, lulled by Vegeta's Saiyjin lullaby, but when Goku had made his announcement, Sage woke up….crying. Had he ever heard Sage actually cry before? Certainly he had screamed, shrieked, screeched and made all kinds of appalling noises and thrown horrible tantrums trying to get what he wanted when he wanted…but Goku didn't think he had ever seen the chibi actually cry. Not even when Vegeta cleaned the burns on his arms from combat creeping, or when he fell flat on his face trying to crawl, hell when he had been so lonely that he climbed out of his crib and slithered down the hall to visit him, he still hadn't cried. And yet here was Sage with tears absolutely streaming down his face, sobbing as though his heart were broken. Vegeta treated Goku to a withering glare, and abruptly left the room.

Everyone could hear Vegeta's footsteps climb the stairs with the bawling chibi; seconds later a door slammed, and the sound was muffled, though not silenced.

Goku came back to himself, and realized that he had been staring after the ouji and completely ignoring the rest of the people in the room. Bulma was trying to get his attention.

"Hello, Son Goku," she said, waving her hands in his face.

"Huh? Oh…Bulma, what?"

"I said, are you sure that is a good idea?"

Goku sighed. "No," he admitted. "But I have been talking to Chichi, and we have agreed to give it another try. She's agreed to do her best to get over the tails, once I made it clear that it wasn't a point that was up for debate." He looked pleadingly at Bulma. "Please understand I can't just give up on my marriage. Chichi and I have been married since I was nineteen…"

"And she tricked you into marrying her, as I recall," replied Bulma archly.

"Yes, but I still wanted to marry her," replied Goku. "And I don't regret it. I have two of the most beautiful sons I could have ever hoped for as a result. Chichi has her problems, but admit it; it's not easy being married to a Saiyjin."

Bulma was silent.

"And boys, don't you want to go back home? Don't you miss your Mom?"

Gohan considered for a moment. "Kind of," he said finally. "But if she acts the way that Vegeta told me she did when she was here for dinner, then I won't stay. I'll go back and stay with Piccolo."

"Fair enough," agreed Goku. "You're fifteen, and old enough to make that decision, but before you do, tell me, ok?"

Gohan nodded.

Goku turned to his youngest son, "Goten, what about…" his voice died away. Goten was white and shaking. "Goten, what's the matter?"

The boy sniffed. "I'm scared of kassan," he whispered. "Before she used to get mad at stupid things, like when I tore my clothes playing with Trunks, or if she thought Gohan didn't study enough; but tails aren't stupid." He held his own tail carefully as he spoke. "My tail is important. What if she gets mad at me and takes my tail away to punish me," he sobbed.

Goku wrapped Goten in his arms and tail and hugged him gently. "She won't do that Goten, I wouldn't let her even if she tried to, I promise. Your kassan loves you, and she wants us to come back home…tails and all." Goten sniffed again.

"Can I still have my party here, tousan?" he asked in a quivering voice.

Goku looked at Bulma.

"Of course you can Goten," replied Bulma cheerfully. "After all, the invitations have already gone out. And don't worry. I'll bring Trunks over to play, day after tomorrow, and you can come over and play here any time, as long as your kassan and tousan approve. It will be just like it was before your tails grew back." She hugged the chibi affectionately. "It will be strange though, with all of you gone. I think it will be TOO quiet." She smiled at Trunks and Goten. Goten attempted a wavery smile back, but Trunks scowled.

"I don't want the Sons to leave," he stated flatly. "And neither does Sage. When he stops being sad, he's going to be very, very, very mad you know."

Goku sighed. "Yes, I know. I'd better go and talk to them, ne?"

"Good luck," said Bulma. "You're going to need it."

"Hai," replied Goku. "I know."

Goku paused outside Vegeta's door, hand raised to knock when Vegeta's voice came from within, "Go away Kakkarott."

"Sorry Vegeta," muttered Goku. "Not going to happen." And he opened the door.

Sage had sobbed himself to sleep, and was curled up in the middle of Vegeta's enormous bed, thumb sucking position engaged, breath still shuddering slightly as he slept. Goku's heart turned over when he noticed the silvery tear tracks on the chibi's face, markedly apparent as a bolt of lightning struck, throwing the room into a flood of white light.

He caught Vegeta's profile by the balcony doors, and walked over to the prince.

Vegeta stared out at the thunderstorm, noting with irony how it matched his insides; violent, unpredictable…there was a tremendous passion in storms. He had always enjoyed them. But today, how could he DO this? How could he return to that…woman? He could hear the younger man approach; he ignored him.

"Vegeta," came the quiet voice.

Vegeta was suddenly tired. "Go away Kakkarott. Go back to the woman who refuses to have sex with you because you are a Saiyjin. Go back to the woman who treats you like one of her children, not her mate. Just….go." He turned away, and then startled as Kakkarott's hands gripped his arms and forced him to look into his eyes.

Oh Kami-sama, those eyes, whispered that idiot traitor voice.

"Vegeta, please understand. I HAVE to give her this chance. She's my wife, the mother of my children." He looked pleadingly at Vegeta. "Please say you understand Vegeta, please?"

Vegeta looked unwillingly into those starry, black eyes, and saw…Kakkarott's unswerving loyalty, his determination to be true to his marriage vows. He saw utter dedication and resolve. He saw, if not love for the onna, affection and appreciation, and oh Kami…he saw all the things he loved (loved?) about the man. Vegeta finally agreed with the idiot, traitor voice in his head. Kakkarott WOULD make a good mate. And he was leaving.

As though from far away, he heard his voice saying, "Hai, Kakkarott, I understand."

The grip on his arms lessened, as Kakkarott relaxed. "Arigato Vegeta. We'll spar in a couple of days, ne?"

Vegeta forced himself to respond. "Hai, Kakkarott. Here? Or at our sparring grounds?"

"Your choice Vegeta. Oh, and don't forget, Saturday is Goten's birthday party….everyone'll be here."

"I haven't forgotten Kakkarott. We'll meet at our sparing grounds in two days time then."

"Ok Vegeta." He turned to go, then paused. "Vegeta?"

"Nani?"

"Thank you….for everything."

And then he left.

And Vegeta stared out into the storm, wishing he had the courage to call him back.

To be continued….