Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Birth of a Prince ❯ The Talk ( Chapter 31 )

Part 31 The Talk

Vegeta settled a sleeping Sage into his bed next to his brother. Trunks had come into his room asking to sleep here for the night; he was lonely without Goten and Vegeta had given in without a struggle. He would already have Sage in with him, he wanted to keep an eye on the chibi, and after all, Saiyjins were a pack people. You didn't often find a Saiyjin that chose to be alone, even in sleep. Why else had he put up with that cretin Nappa for so long? Radditz he could deal with, oh hell, he had enjoyed the maned Saiyjin's company immensely. He still missed him at times, though he didn't blame Kakkarott for killing him.

Sure, he relished the occasional night of sleep he got alone, but it was much more satisfying to wake up with warm bodies nestled close to you in a sweet smelling and trusting pile. He thought briefly what it would be like to wake up curled up next to Kakkarott, then pushed the thought out of his head. He watched as Trunks' tail snaked its way around his younger brother's waist in a protective gesture. Pulling the covers up closer to their chins, Vegeta sighed and readied himself for the task ahead.

Bulma was in her lab, drinking lukewarm coffee and staring absently at the monitor in front of her. She was thinking hard about all of the things lately that didn't quite add up correctly regarding Vegeta and Goku. That Sage fit in at almost every equation wasn't a coincidence that was lost on her. She took another gulp, made a face and was about to pour it out when there was a light knock at her door. Before she could respond, it opened and Vegeta walked in.

Well, at least he knocked, she thought wryly.

"We need to talk onna," said Vegeta.

"What a coincidence Vegeta, I was just thinking the same thing," replied Bulma archly. She gestured for him to pull up a chair. He surprised her by doing so, flipping it around so that he was straddling the seat, leaning his arms on the back.

"So, what is it that you want to talk to me about Vegeta?"

"Our relationship, for a start." Kami this was going to be difficult, thought Vegeta.

"Yes?"

"Damnit Bulma, we need to figure out exactly what kind of relationship we have. And what kind we want. Things just can't go on like they are."

"You seemed pretty happy with the arrangement before Sage was born Vegeta."

He caught her eye. "Are you telling me you are happy with the way things are between us?"

She bit her lip. Maybe this wasn't the best time to get confrontational with Vegeta. To tell the truth, the current arrangement suited her fairly well. Sure she could use some more attention from Vegeta, but he was wrapped up with Sage…and…it suddenly occurred to her that their roles had made a violent switch. She had been so busy resenting Vegeta's and Sage's attachment to each other that she had neglected to notice how much freedom it really gave her. She didn't have to rely on her parents to take care of Sage, or really cut into her time at the office or in the lab. And let's face it, she loved her children with a deep devotion and tremendous affection but she loved her work too. Vegeta taking a more parental role had actually helped her…a lot. She was ungrateful, that's what she was. An ungrateful harpy bitch…like Chichi.

"I…I don't know Vegeta," she admitted honestly. "I thought I was, but we never really did outline what our relationship was going to be beyond having children together. What do you want?"

Vegeta rubbed his forehead distractedly. "What I want right now isn't important. I want to know what you want. Then we'll discuss me." He held up a hand as Bulma began a protest. "Woman, I give you my word that what I want is not going to change based on your answer. The thing is, I know what I want, I'm not entirely sure that you know what you want."

Bulma nodded. She could see the truth in that statement. Abruptly she was reminded of something she had been wanting to ask Vegeta. "Vegeta, what is it with Sage and Goku? I mean, I can see there is something between them…after all he got to 18 way ahead of you…I can almost understand when you know what is going on with the chibi's, why does Goku?"

"Let's not change the subject just yet onna. Stick to the matter at hand. We can discuss the children after we have resolved the first problem."

That was Vegeta…methodical and deliberate. Well she could play that game; Dende knows that was how she ran Capsule Corporation. "Very well Vegeta. Am I happy with the current arrangement? Yes, very much so in a way. I see now that your bond with Sage allows me to continue my work unhindered, and that you make every effort to encourage Sage to bond with me instead of turning him away from me. You have taken a markedly increased interest in Trunks, and it shows. He is strong, bright, loyal and every inch a chibi ouji. As far as our relationship goes in regards to the children, I am very happy. In regards to our relationship as what? Partners? Co-parents? I guess I'm a little confused. I never expected to marry you Vegeta, and I don't think that I would want to…but I do love you. And Kami knows I love what you can do to me in bed." She grinned a hentai grin at him, and noted with not a little pleasure the lash of his tail behind him before it settled again, tip twitching slightly, curled up just enough so that it barely brushed the floor. She sighed. "That doesn't help very much, does it?"

"No," agreed Vegeta, wryly.

"I guess…I don't know," admitted Bulma. "On the one hand, I want to keep you with me, for me. But on the other hand…" her voice trailed off, not certain how to verbalize what she was thinking…feeling.

"You don't feel that way about me," supplied Vegeta. "You thought you were in love with me once, but you don't feel that way anymore."

Bulma blinked at him. Yes…that was it. He continued.

"You have affection for me, lust, even love, but it is not the love of a life's partner, ne?"

She nodded slowly. "Vegeta…I…"he held up a hand again, silencing her.

"I confess I feel much the same way. In the beginning, you intrigued me, infatuated me…Dende knows you were the only person on this mud ball who actually stood up to me, besides Kakkarott. And when you came to me…that night…I never thought to actually have that with someone." His own voice trailed off, as he stared at something behind Bulma. She turned and followed his gaze, a framed picture of the four of them, smiling Bulma holding a grinning Trunks, smirking Vegeta holding a scowling Sage.

She reached over and touched his arm. "Hey," she said softly. "No matter what happens, what we decide, I want you to stay here…at Capsule Corp. Regardless of our personal lives, we are a family, and I want us to be under one roof. Promise me Vegeta."

He looked at her, surprised, then nodded. "Hai Bulma, I promise."

"I think, Vegeta that we make better friends than partners…or lovers. But, I think we make pretty terrific parents together. After all, we have two beautiful, strong intelligent sons."

He smirked at her. "So, have you decided what you want?"

Bulma was surprised to discover that she had. She wanted Vegeta, yes. But as a friend. A close friend. And she wanted him here, no matter what for Trunks and Sage. Though if she was honest with herself, if Vegeta left there was no way he'd leave alone. She loved the man, but not romantically…not any more. She was stunned to discover that she hadn't loved him that way for a long time. She had been holding on to the idea of the man rather than the man himself, and it had clouded her judgment.

She smiled. "I have. I want you to stay here and parent the boys with me, but I want to be able to have relationships with other men without having to worry about you blasting them into atoms." She paused, then continued. "And I don't want to have any more children, unless it's with you. Period. Now that I've decided, are you going to tell me what you want?"

He met her direct gaze. "Perhaps you had better re-phrase your question."

"Nani?"

"I have no problem with your desires," he said, choosing his words carefully. "I only ask that you be discreet with the men you choose to bring home…for the sake of the boys." She nodded, he continued. "And I will stay here, and parent the boys with you. But I expect this to work both ways. I expect to be able to have a relationship without any negative feedback from you or your parents. So, you need to rephrase your question, onna…it's not what I want…in that my wishes are identical to yours…the question you should be asking is who do I want."

Bulma sweatdropped. "You already have someone in mind?"

Vegeta looked at her, one ebon eyebrow lifted in mock surprise. "And you don't?"

Bulma blushed to the V in her shirt. It was true, she had been thinking about Yamcha…again.

"I won't lie to you onna, I have had someone in mind for a while now. But very little has happened between us."

Bulma gaped at him.

Vegeta was enjoying himself immensely now that the tense part of this discussion was over. He stretched luxuriously, arms over his head, then folded them again across the back of the chair, watching Bulma get control of herself.

"So," and her voice wavered only the slightest little bit. She knew it was stupid of her since she had done nearly the same thing in regards to Yamcha, but nothing had happened between them except some flirting and a good-bye hug. "So," she repeated. "Who do you want then?"

*Heartbeat*

Bulma braced herself.

"Kakkarott."

Bulma stared him, then burst out laughing. "Come on Vegeta, be serious!! Really, who do you want?"

"Kakkarott."

Bulma wiped laugh tears from her eyes and looked at him. Kami, he was serious!

And then, quite suddenly, everything clicked into place for Bulma.

"Vegeta," she said slowly. "What happened between Sage and Goku?"

Vegeta frowned. "That has nothing to do with this onna."

"Of course it doesn't," she murmured almost to herself. "Sage was just the final straw, the icing on the cake…"

"What the fuck are you mumbling about, onna?" asked Vegeta irritably.

She looked at him, amusement glinting in her azure eyes. "I don't know why I didn't see it before…but tell me, please Vegeta, what did happen between Sage and Goku?

Vegeta glowered at her. "Very well. Last night, Sage bit Kakkarott when I went to get the medicine from you. He was still sharing Kakkarott's blood when I returned. Kakkarott was panicked, he couldn't get Sage off, and he had no idea the significance of what Sage had done."

"And what was that?" asked Bulma breathlessly.

"Sage claimed him as his bond-father. He formed a blood bond between himself and Kakkarott. It is as though Kakkarott is now one of his actual birth parents…on the same level as you or I."

"That doesn't make sense Vegeta," she said irritably. "You're telling me that Goku knew that Sage was being hurt because he bit him?"

"Basically, yes."

"Well not only has he bitten me, but I gave birth to him!! Does that count for nothing? And I had no idea that anything at all had happened to him! Why is it that I am always the last to know whenever something's going on with our son? Even Trunks seems more in the loop than I am." She paused, eyes narrowed. "For that matter, why is it that you are never surprised when Trunks comes home sporting some new and colorful kind of bruise or wound?"

"I am blood-bonded to my sons," said Vegeta simply. "As Kakkarott is to his sons and now Sage as well. The blood-bond is begun at birth…before actually, and is made stronger, deepened by the blood-rite." His tone of voice softened. "You…you lack the mental ability to bond with your children as a Saiyjin." His voice sounded, almost apologetic.

"You mean, I can't bond with my sons because I am human?" Bulma's voice was incredulous. "But they are half human…."

"And you are completely human Bulma. You can only bond with them as far as a human's limited psychic abilities will allow you to. As a human mother, you are bonded completely with your children. But as Saiyjin children, they are bonded with you on a deeper, telepathic level. It is frustrating to them because it is a one-sided bond. With Trunks it wasn't much of a problem because his human half and his Saiyjin half seem to…mesh well together. And because I wasn't around to complicate things." This amazing proclamation from the Saiyjin prince was made without apology or self-deprecation…a simple statement.

"But Sage," began Bulma.

"Sage is very Saiyjin. And its one reason he is not as close to you as you might like. You can't return his bond. It…rubs…up here" and Vegeta tapped his head. "And I think that's one reason he claimed Kakkarott. He felt he needed another parent to complete his idea of family. And to be perfectly honest, besides the fact that he has always liked that baka, he probably picked up on my attraction to him."

Bulma stared at the man who was her children's father. "I've been replaced," she said dully. "I've been replaced by Goku!?!"

"You have NOT been replaced," said Vegeta sharply. "Stop feeling sorry for yourself and think for a minute about how your son must feel…ALL the time. You think he doesn't love you, that he's never reached out to you? What exactly do you think he was trying to do when he bit you?"

Bulma looked at him in surprise. "You said it was the blood-thirst coming early!"

"And so it was. But he was also trying to create a blood-bond with you. It took awhile before it became clear to me. That was the reason afterwards he was so hostile towards you. Because he thought you didn't reciprocate his bond.."

She paled. "Oh Dende….he thought I didn't love him?"

"Something like that. He understands better now, but onna, you are going to have to accept this. Like it or not, Kakkarott is now one of Sage's parents. He has the same feelings and rights towards him as we do."

Something moved in Bulma's brain. "Wait a minute. Goku is still married to Chichi! Have you two been having an affair behind her back?"

"Baka onna, do you think he would have gone back there if we were?" Vegeta's voice was a mixture of amusement and irritation. "We have done nothing except make our…feelings clear to one and other. I have made my intentions plain to him; I would claim him as my bonded mate."

"But he is still married…"

"And I have given him until that banshee he married fucks up and reveals her true colors to make up his mind. I will not interfere woman." He looked her in the eye. "Make no mistake, I want Kakkarott. But he must come to me now that I have made the first move."

Bulma collapsed back in her chair, her brain a whirlwind of confused, colorful thoughts. "Well," she said finally. "At least I won't have to worry about getting along with your lover."

Vegeta chuckled, then said "You don't seem all that shocked in the end about Kakkarott."

She shrugged. "When I thought about it, it made sense. I must have been blind all these years not to have seen the unresolved sexual tension the two of you put out. And you fit together…well. And I know enough about Saiyjin biology and customs to not be terribly shocked at the whole male/male thing." She smiled, a genuine smile this time. "I hope you will both be very happy Vegeta."

He rose and kissed her softly. "Thank you onna." He drew back and smirked at her. "If he hurts you though, I will have to kill him. You do realize that."

"Nani? Who are you talking about Vegeta?"

"Yamcha." He turned and left the room, his russet tail twitching behind him amusedly.

Bulma stared after him. Now how the HELL had he figured that out?

To be continued….