Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Butterflies & Hurricanes ❯ Chapter 11

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Just my Husband, laptop, my 3 dogs and a very overactive imagination… Dragon Ball Z and any songs mentioned in this fic DO NOT belong to me. I'm just borrowing them for my own twisted amusement.

Butterflies and Hurricanes

Chapter 11

Vegeta grunted as he finished another set of one-armed pushups at 750 time’s normal gravity, trying to put everything out of his mind.


He hated that he had walked out on Bulma this evening. After spending the entire day training and then dealing with his father and council members he returned back to his quarters hoping to just relax for the evening and attempt to spend some time with Bulma and Trunks. However her stress levels over everything were beginning to come to a head the same as his had been and the quiet evening that was so desired by the both of them wasn’t to be.


Flashback


“Is there a way for you to not go?” She finally asked; dinner had been strained and since he had come back for the evening, they had barely spoken more than a few words to each other. “I know you think I’m overreacting, but I seriously think you need to rethink this. Can’t you put it off a few more weeks just to be sure? I know this is something you feel you need to do and something you are looking forward to for whatever reason, I don’t quite understand it but everything within me is telling me that something is wrong. I can’t say what it is, because I don’t know what it is. All I know is that I feel it more and more the closer we get to you leaving.”

“No, I have to do this,” he said firmly. “If I don’t, Cold will come here after me himself and that would be putting you and Trunks further at risk than you already are. Besides, what could possibly happen? I am stronger than ever, I can face just about anything. And as for your belief that my father is simply setting me up, I almost hope he has. It will make this mission more of a challenge and when I return he will have to step aside and respect me.”

“Is that all this is about then?” she asked, trying to keep her tone calm despite her growing sense of anxiety. “Gaining your father’s respect? I understand your desire to want your father’s approval; everyone wants that from their parents, Vegeta, but at what cost? You are putting yourself at great risk and you are potentially putting me and our son at risk. What if something happens to you? Then what?

“I’m not trying to be selfish, but I don’t have just myself to look after, I have a son to worry about. And if something happens to you, I am sure that our safety will no longer be guaranteed. Your father will get rid of us the second he finds out that you aren’t returning, should something happen to you. I’m sure he has a plan already of how he will get rid of me and Trunks should you fail.”

“Woman, you are being irrational again,” he sighed.

“No, I’m not, Vegeta,” she insisted.

“I already told you, should something happen to me, you will be the first to know through the bond. The second that happens, should it happen, you will know and you are to leave.” he said again. “I have made all the arrangements. It is one hundred percent.”

“I don’t want to fight with you on this.” she sighed, trying to keep herself together.

“Then don’t.”

“Then why won’t you listen to me?” she asked. “I am genuinely afraid here and you don’t care!” She cried, choking back a sob that had been threatening to spill over for the past several minutes. Bulma picked up a napkin from the side of the table and wiped her eyes, trying to keep herself from crying, knowing that it would only upset him to see her so emotional.

“I do care,” he replied awkwardly, setting his fork down and getting up. He looked at her a moment, unsure of what to say or do to make her stop crying. She just did not understand and nothing he could say would make her understand what he was going through and why he so desperately needed to leave them behind and destroy Cold. She wasn’t raised here, she didn’t know what it was like for his entire race to have spent decades being slaves to a race that was superior to them. For the first time, they had the means to destroy them and become their own race; make their own decisions and choose their own path. He could not pass this opportunity up. Not for her, not for anything. Now was the time to strike and take back everything the Ice-jin race had taken from him and the rest of his people.

Not wanting to further upset her, he left their suite without further comment, knowing it wasn’t the best move on his part but not knowing what else he could do. Anything he seemed to say lately, seemed to only make things worse between them and he hated that.

Best he leave now rather than say something he would regret.

So here he was, killing himself in the grueling pressure of 750 times the normal gravity of his home planet rather than spending precious time with her and his son. He knew she needed him and that she was trying her best not to be clingy but he just could not stand it when she cried, especially when he knew he was the cause of it. Unfortunately, distancing himself emotionally from her was what he felt he needed to do.


Vegeta stood up after finishing his last set; his shoulders burning from exertion. Perhaps he had over done it for the day by putting himself through two grueling training sessions in one day. He took a quick shower in the training grounds, being that they were completely deserted at this hour and then headed back to his chambers where he knew she'd be sleeping.


Once there, he checked on Trunks briefly, who was sound asleep before crawling into bed next to her and carefully wrapping his arms around her waist, bringing her close to him. He knew he was hurting her but he needed to put some emotional distance between them. Just until this was all over, said and done. When he got back and they got back into a new routine, he would make it all up to her then he told himself.


He inhaled deeply, taking in her scent that was unique to only her; trying to imprint it in his mind. He loved her scent and even though he would never come out and admit it, he would miss it while he was gone. He would miss not having her in his bed; not because of the physical benefits. Yes, he would miss that, but he would miss not having her near, he would miss her presence.


He spent so many sleepless nights stressing out and worrying about this mission and whether or not his family would be safe in his absence; but having her close by and near him was always a relief and sort of comfort to him.


Vegeta scoffed at how weak he had become; how pathetic it was that he craved her closeness, yet would not change it if he could. He knew he should tell her how much he knew it would affect him not having her near him, how much he would be distracted the moment he left, however he could not do that.


A small voice in the back of his mind was nagging at him that he could not tell her. If he told her how much he really needed her, she would use it to her advantage and convince him to stay here and ignore the threat of Cold and his army all together. Truth be told, if it weren’t for his fears of Cold coming here and destroying them all, he would gladly let her talk him into staying.


He could not though. And so it was best for the moment to distance himself from her. She would be angry and possibly despise him for it, but for the time being it was what he needed to do.


"I love you," he murmured quietly to her before he finally dozed off into an exhausted sleep.


-0-0-0-


The next morning they woke up together, much to Bulma’s surprise and delight. Recently Vegeta had taken to leaving long before she woke. They managed to have a very quick breakfast together before he left to go train for the day.


Bulma decided to stop in and visit Chi-Chi since she had gotten the okay from Vegeta that she could go and venture outside the palace if she wanted to.


She quickly fed and change Trunks before hooking Aro up and deciding to take him with her; the lengthy walk would do him some good.


As she was leaving, she ran into Asia who had apparently been on her way to come and find her with regards to making the final arrangements with her concerning caring for Tarble.


“How is training going?” Bulma asked dryly as Asia took her to her rooms. “Vegeta actually let you leave for a bit?”


Asia smirked at her in response. “He doesn’t know I left,” she confessed. “Otherwise, I am sure he would have had a fit.”


Bulma nodded with a chuckle. “How is he?” she asked.


“How do you mean?”


“Like how is he to train with?” Bulma clarified. “I know he’s an amazing warrior and that he knows what he’s doing; I have seen him work out lots. He’s got great focus and drive but how is he to train with? I also know he can be impatient and probably expects everyone to keep up. I hope he’s not too much of a Nazi drill Sargent.”


“I don’t know what a Nazi is, but yes, he is very strict,” Asia confirmed. “He has to be; he does expect everyone to keep up but it is highly important. If they can’t, then we don’t have much use for them. It’s not personal, it’s the way it has to be.”


“So he kicks people out?”


“No, he hasn’t had to. Despite being gone for as long as he was, he chose very well in who is to come and who is to stay; I was surprised by some of the soldiers he didn’t choose, actually.”


“Why?”


“Beca use some of them are close comrades of his; while growing up there were several of them around the same age and they were very nearly inseparable,” she said. “Not that he did not choose some of them because they aren’t decent warriors, they are or they wouldn’t have made it as far as they have; but he has chosen more of the serious, experienced, battle seasoned soldiers to come with him. For example, I was shocked that he did not choose Kakarott to accompany us. Those two have always been together for everything. Growing up if you saw one, if the other wasn’t with him, then he wouldn’t be far behind.”


“Yea, he wants him to stay here and keep an eye on Trunks and myself.” Bulma admitted. “If you still want me to look after your son that will include him as well.”


Asia gave her an almost relieved look at that news. “I trust Kakarott,” she said.


“I know, I do too. And his mate is really nice as well. You can trust her too.” Bulma told her, hoping to give the girl some extra reassurance that her son would be in good hands while she was gone. “But I was surprised too that he was so adamant on Kakarott staying here; I know they are very close. I just hope he’s not hindering himself. He’s told me stories time and again what a great ally Kakarott is and how well they work together.”


Asia nodded in agreement. “I don’t know how he made his choice, but I am under the impression that strategy-wise he isn’t too sure what to expect once we make it over there. Some of the men coming are excellent tacticians and have won their way through some of the direst of circumstances with the odds completely out of their favor.”


Bulma nodded and smiled to herself. That made her feel a little bit better. She thought guiltily about how she had been on his case so much, assuming that he was just blindly jumping into a battle head long with no thought on anything but for winning. She should have known better than to assume he would be so careless. “So you think you guys will be alright?”


“Absolutely,” she answered without hesitation.


“Good.” Bulma said, actually feeling a bit better as she followed the other girl into a different room from the sitting room they were currently in.


There was a petite girl in the nursery, sitting and reading some sort of book while the infant was sleeping. “This is Bulma, she will be dropping by and looking after Tarble in my absence. Your duties will remain the same and you will look after him when she can’t but she has full authority where he is concerned.”


“Yes, your grace,” the girl said, curtseying.


“You may leave but come back within the hour.” Asia said to her.


“Thank you,” she said and promptly left the room quickly.


“That is Neelah,” Asia said, realizing once the girl had exited that she had not actually formally
introduced them. “She watches over Tarble full time. If there is any problem with him, she will notify you. It is her main duties to keep him fed and changed. That’s about it.”


“He’s not still…?” Bulma started to ask. “I mean, you don’t still nurse him?”


“No,” she scoffed. “I quit that after about a month. Don’t tell me you’re still?”


Bulma felt her cheeks redden slightly, “I am, yea. I just recently started gradually weaning him.”


“Huh,” she grunted. “Cultural thing?”


“Yea, some women nursed their babies until they are about a year old; some two years but that wasn’t overly common from what I remember,” she nodded.


“Oh god, I couldn’t imagine nursing him for more than the month that I did. I didn’t even do it the full month; by the time he was a month old, he was on formula and he’s just started on solid food.”


“Yea, Trunks is on both,” Bulma said, looking at the sleeping baby. “I’m still enjoying this stage with him and I kind of wish he would just stay like this for another few months.”


“You’d be the only person I have ever met in my life who would wish for such a thing,” she snorted. “I can’t wait till he’s bigger and actually not helpless.”


“Well, I’m looking forward to that too,” Bulma corrected herself. “It’s different. I just want to cherish the baby stage now before it’s done and I never will get it back again.”


“I never thought of it,” she shrugged. “I, personally never wanted to be pregnant or be dealing with a small baby but here I am.”


“You don’t want any more kids then I take it?”


“Are you kidding me?” she snorted. “I can’t get Him to have even the remotest bit of interest in Tarble. Yea, thanks I’d love to sign up for another.” she said bitterly picking him up carefully from his crib.


“Sorry,” Bulma said awkwardly, not sure why she had asked that without thinking.


“Any more brats in your future?” Asia asked her pointedly. “You seemed to have recovered really well, frankly I am surprised you even survived. My pregnancy was horrible.”


“It wasn’t easy, no, but I was okay. I don’t think we’ll be having any more either.” She answered, hoping she would not ask on the specifics.


“Just as well,” Asia shrugged. “Do you want to hold him?”


“I’d like that!” Bulma nodded. “Can I put Trunks down in his crib?”


“Sure.”


Bulma placed Trunks into the much larger crib. He was awake but not fussing and she hoped he would stay quiet.


Asia handed her the small Saiyan baby carefully; he was still asleep. Bulma smiled as she looked at him. “He sure looks like his father,” she commented and his brother, she added to herself. She could not help but wonder if Vegeta was disappointed that Trunks didn’t look more like him? If he was, he’d never mentioned it or thought on it as far as she knew. “You’re just a little guy, aren’t you?” she said quietly to the small baby.


Asia nodded once and turned to look at Trunks who was looking around quietly. “Can I pick him up?”


“Oh yea, go ahead. He’s fine.”


Asia picked him up and looked at him closely. For a half-Saiyan child, he sure was big, she thought to herself. He weighed much more than Tarble did. Trunks looked at her curiously; he was usually pretty good around strangers, much to Bulma’s relief. “He actually looks a lot like his father as well,” she commented, now having had a really good look at Trunks. “I mean, he has light hair and eyes like you, but I can definitely see Vegeta’s looks there as well.”


“Thank you,” Bulma smiled. “Not a lot of people notice that. Vegeta was quite surprised that he looked more like me than him, but that’s the luck of the draw, hey? Maybe it’s a good thing, we wouldn’t be able to tell these two apart when they get older.” she joked.


“Right,” Asia nodded, noticing that Tarble was waking up.


“Wow, aren’t you quiet,” Bulma commented as Tarble woke up and didn’t fuss, just looked at her curiously. “If you were Trunks, you’d be howling up a storm by now.”


“Really?” Asia smirked, looking at Trunks again, who just seemed content looking at everyone, though had his father’s trademark scowl across his features.


“Oh yea,” Bulma chuckled. “He’s almost never happy when he wakes up.”


“Tarble’s pretty good. He doesn’t fuss too much,” Asia said proudly. “And if he does, that’s what Neelah’s for.”


“I guess,” Bulma shrugged, though she decided that if she could, she would make a point of sending a little more time with the baby. She didn’t have anything else to do, right?


The two women spent almost an hour talking and comparing notes. It was surprising to them both how similar the two boys were. They eventually set them down together in Tarble’s large crib for a moment as Asia went through where to find everything from his baby formula to his clothing and anything else.


Finally they parted ways and Bulma decided to continue on with her original plan to visit Chi-Chi. It took her pretty much the early afternoon to make it to Bardock’s place.


“How's everything?" Chi-Chi asked as soon as they had put the boys down together.


"Alright." She sighed.


"I know that tone, which means it isn't. What's wrong?" Chi-Chi asked.


"Nothing. I'm just stressed and so is Vegeta."


"Is he being an asshole?"


Bulma shrugged, not really wanting to admit to that. "Not intentionally, no. He's got a lot on his plate."


"That doesn't make it alright, Bulma. What about what you're going through?"


"I know." She nodded, not wanting to argue with her. "It's fine. I'm just tired and stressed out and a whole lot over sensitive right now and I know I'm not helping. I'm being just as irritable to him as he is being with me. It's not all him."


"I was going to ask you if you wanted us to look after Trunks for the evening before he leaves." Chi-Chi suggested. "Or did you guys want to spend your last night together as a family?"


"I don't know," she sighed. "We haven't really thought about it to be honest. Let me ask Vegeta what he wants to do. I know this sounds terrible but I almost wish he'd just leave already and get this thing over and done with so that he can come back and we can have a somewhat normal life again."


"Sounds to me like you guys are desperately in need of some alone time, Bulma. Or at least an opportunity to unwind just a little. Don't let him leave with you two on bad terms."


"I know, I don’t want that either. It's just everything is wearing us both down so much. We both get frustrated and..."


"You take it out on each other. I know. I lived with you guys for a while, remember? Sometimes I think you two are just too much alike. You're both explosive."


"Yea, I know."


"I'll tell you what, Kakarott and I will take Trunks for you guys. Ask Vegeta what he wants to do and if he wants to be with both of you then fine but know that it's an option."


"Are you sure? I don't want to impose."


"It's fine. Goten misses him."


"Yea, but they'll be seeing more of each other while Vegeta's gone. I don't want to encroach any more on your life than I already am."


"Nonsense!"


"Alright. I'll let you know. Thank you." She said hugging her friend. "By the way, I still didn't tell you what I did."


What did you do?"


"Well, you're never going to believe this and I still can't myself, but Asia has been selected to go with them and asked me to look after her son while she is away.”

“Well that’s weird,” Chi-Chi agreed. “So, are you going to do it?”

“Yea,” she nodded. “I feel bad for her! Vegeta wasn’t overly amused with my decision but he’s the one leaving me here all on my own with nothing to do. If I need to leave because I think his father is up to something, I told her I would leave with her son and keep him safe with Trunks and I. She agreed and so it’s a done deal.”

“Are you sure you can trust her to no be setting you up for trouble while she’s gone?” Chi-Chi asked cautiously. “Like kidnapping a royal prince or something?”

“I thought of that and so did Vegeta but I think she is truly fearful of something happening to him while she is gone. That was the sense I got.”

“Alright, well, let me know if you need help. It’s a handful with just Trunks and Goten at times.”

Bulma chuckled. “I know, hey?”

“On that note, I have some news to share with you.” Chi-Chi said with a mischievous smile.

“What?”

“I just found out that I’m pregnant again.” she said, just beaming.

“Really! Oh my goodness, Chi! That’s wonderful, I hope?”

“Yea, it is.” she affirmed. “We’re both pretty excited and so are his parents. His mother is just thrilled and looking forward to helping me out and being there for us since she wasn’t when we had Goten. It’s been a little overwhelming, actually but I’m actually glad she’s around. If we were still on Callisto, I don’t think I would be nearly as excited to be going through this again.”

Bulma gave her friend a hug. “I’m happy for you both.”

“Thanks! Now all we need is for you and Vegeta to have another one.”

“Yea, I don’t think so.” she chuckled. “He’s not anywhere near willing to go through any of that again. I don’t know how it was for you, but towards the end it was pretty scary. I don’t remember much but apparently I almost bled to death. Thank goodness we’d gone where we had because Vegeta didn’t think the regen tank would have been enough. One of the first things he’d said to me once I was coherent was ‘Never again.’”

“Yea, but he’s always overreacting,” she rolled her eyes. “Things weren’t easy for me either, but I made it alright. I spent I think half a day in the regen tank? And that was because Kakarott and your father insisted on it. I don’t think I needed it. Though I wasn’t as exhausted I think because of it. It wasn’t so bad that it turned me off completely.”

“Me neither, but we’ll see.” she shrugged. “Maybe when he comes back he’ll have changed his mind. I’m happy with just Trunks for the time being so it’s not a huge issue right now.”

“Well I think it would be so neat if you had a little girl that looks just like you,” Chi-Chi giggled. “I think Vegeta would just melt as well.”

“Wouldn’t that be interesting,” she agreed. “How about you, do you want a girl or another boy this time?”

“I don’t really know,” she shrugged. “A girl would be nice, but then a boy could go out and lay with Goten and they could go amuse themselves. Kakarott could go take them to train, you know. But If I had a girl, then I would probably not have to fight over having her joining the Saiyan army. I’m still not happy that everyone expects that of Goten. There’s lots of men in town here who are builders, butchers and farmers, not warriors. Why can’t my kid be one of those?”

“I don’t know,” she shrugged, understanding her friend’s concern. “Why not let him decide when he’s old enough what he wants to do?”

“And Vegeta will let you do that with Trunks?”

“Probably not, but you’re situation is different from mine. You have that freedom. Trunks will probably not have much of a choice but who knows, Vegeta is so looking forward to training with him, he may just naturally follow in his father’s footsteps and if that’s what he wants, then I’ll have to be okay with it.”

After staying a little longer, Bulma decided it was time to head back to the palace. It was late enough in the day that she made sure a meal would be sent to her and Vegeta’s quarters in the next hour or so. She hoped they could have a nice quiet dinner together and he would agree to take the day off tomorrow to spend with her.

Unfortunately, dinner came and went and it wasn’t until mid-evening before he showed up. He wasn’t in the best of moods and took a quick shower before digging into his now cold meal. She left him alone to eat in peace before deciding on approaching him about what he had in mind for the next day.

"What do you want to do tomorrow before you leave?" She asked, hoping more than anything they could have some meaningful private time together. She so desperately needed him before he left.

Vegeta shrugged and grunted indifferently as he finished his dinner and looked at her. Truthfully he wanted nothing more than to have a day with just her before he left, but he feared if he did just that, he wouldn't be able to leave.


Her heart sunk at his nonchalant response. "Whatever then. If you don't care, then neither do I." She sighed, trying to mask her frustration and hurt from him as she turned to leave and head out onto the balcony to pull herself together and not cry in front of him. She had the other day despite her best efforts not to and all she had gotten from him was a look of contempt before he left to go train himself into exhaustion.


She hadn't been sure how late it was when he finally came to their bed but she woke up with his arms around her, holding her close.


Bulma was stopped by a vice like grip on her upper arm before she made it outside. "Just leave me alone, Vegeta."


"What did you have in mind?" He asked, ignoring her weak struggles to get away from him.


"I don't know," she shrugged. "I just wanted to spend some quality us time before you left or is that breaking some cardinal warrior rule?"


He chuckled at her sarcasm. "No, it is perfectly acceptable for a male to take his fill of his woman before he leaves for battle."


"I see," she nodded, not overly enthused with his choice of words.


"What has you troubled now?" he asked with a frown.


"Nothing, it's just I know you're busy and stressed out but you haven't made any time for Trunks and I-"


"Did I not take a few hours off from everything the other day to make time for you and the boy?" He reminded her.


"Yes, you did and that was nice but you were so distracted and distant that I felt like you'd have rather been someplace else."complained, knowing that picking a fight with him right now was the worst idea but not being able to refrain. "Vegeta, I can't even remember the last time you gave me your undivided attention.


"I know that you're stressed out and have a thousand things going on that you need to see to and I am trying to understand that but I need to feel like Trunks and I are more than just an afterthought to you. I love you and I missyou! And I am terrified of everything and being left here alone and losing you. All I want is for us to spend some real time together before you leave and you act disinterested and then joke about how it's acceptable to simply fuck me senseless before you go because it's a rite of passage for a warrior or some shit?how do you think that makes me feel?"


He quickly removed his hand from her arm and placed it on her shoulder, shoving her against the door frame. Not hard enough to hurt her or inflict any damage but to get her attention.


Aro stood from where he had been sleeping and growled at them.


"Piss off, dog." He snarled at him, staring him down for a moment. While he was angry and definitely not in the mood, he was impressed the dog did not back down. He simply lay a few feet away, watching them both carefully.


"You talk too much." He growled at her.


"And you don't feel enough!" She snapped back fearlessly, not backing down.


"So what is it you want from me because I cannot seem to win here," he said, deadly calm. "You have my undivided attention right now and all you are doing is bitching. You want to be fucked? You don't want to be fucked? What is it you want from me?"


"I just want us to be us again!" She cried. "I want to feel loved, like I matter to you."


He released his hold on her and exhaled heavily in aggravation. “Woman, I do not know what it is you expect of me. Have I not spent just as much time in my absence from you exhausting every outlet possible to ensure yours and the brat’s safety while I am gone and have put into place an escape plan as well if need be? Why would I waste valuable training time with my men and for myself on someone that did not matter to me?" He blew up at her.


"I know we matter but you make me feel-"


"You say I feel too little, maybe you feel too much!" He argued back. "If you know you matter then why are we arguing?"


"Because sometimes it's nice to hear, Vegeta," she said in a hurt tone. "I know you care for us but sometimes knowing isn't enough. You never tell me and you haven't been exactly pleasant to be around. I know you think it's silly but I make the point in telling you every opportunity that I can that I love you because who knows what can happen!"


"Not this ridiculousness again," he growled, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Once again, you doubt my feelings and capability to keep you safe?"


"No!"


"Then what?" He hissed, very close to wanting to blast something nearby.


"You never tell me!"


"I have told it to you time and again," he argued.


"Ya? When, Vegeta? When was the last time you told me you loved me?" She challenged him.She knew she was being a nag, but he hadn’t told her he loved her since long before Trunks was born. He had said it to her when things had finally been resolved between them and that had been it. Sure she knew not to expect him to tell her all of the time, they had the bond, she didn’t need to constantly hear it; but things had been so strained between them since they had arrived here that for him to be distancing himself from her and refusing to acknowledge to her how he felt when she needed it from him hurt her deeply. Especially since he was leaving her in a day and a half. She needed to hear it from him.


He groaned to himself, not seeing the point in having this argument. Hadn't he just told her the other night, he recalled. She'd been sleeping; however that still counted in his book. He shrugged in response.

"Let me show you," he finally said, crashing his lips to hers and pressing himself up against her body so that she was trapped between the door frame to the balcony and himself. While he was still good and pissed off, he was definitely more than a little aroused from their current argument.


"No, I want you to tell me," she sighed as she kissed him back.


"Give me a few hours. Onceam done with you, you will not need foolish words," he whispered into her ear before brushing his lips along her jawline towards her mouth again.


Bulma moved her face to the side, avoiding another searing kiss from him. Knowing she was pushing the envelope with him but past the point of caring at the moment, she placed a hand on his chest, pushing him away lightly. "Vegeta," she said, trying to swallow the lump in her throat


"Hmmmn..?" he replied, ignoring her pushing against him to back off as he brought a thigh up between her legs, parting them as he began to grind his hips into hers and slowly trailed his mouth up along her jaw line and down her neck again, nipping and sucking lightly at the delicate skin. She moaned quietly, wanting to give in to him but she was still upset with him. He was missing the point completely.

"Do you not agree that feeling something is better than hearing something, that actions can speak many volumes over the mumblings of a few meaningless words," he growled seductively into her ear as he trailed a hand down her side and placed it on her hip, just beneath where her top ended, brushing his fingers along the bare flesh of her sides.


"They aren't meaningless to me." She replied breathlessly, trying to not lose focus. Damn him for knowing how to turn her into putty in his hands within seconds!


"I realize that, but we are wasting time with words when we could be taking and giving and feeling for one another," he argued, strategically running both of his hands down the length of her body beneath her shirt now, caressing her the way he knew she loved, waiting for her to give into him. The stalemate and current battle of wills turning him on more than he would have liked to admit. She didn't usually make him work this hard for her. No matter, he did not mind all that much. He would wear her down and make her forget this silliness she was hung up on. If it took him all night, he would make sure that she knew how deeply he felt for her. Then, maybe he would tell her. Truth be told, he did want to tell her before he left, especially after what happened to them last time he had s foolishly avoided verbalizing the ridiculous sentiment. However he wanted it to be on his terms, not hers. Not to mention he could not help but be amused now over her bitchiness over something so trivial that he felt should not be an issue between them after all this time.


"I need you, Woman," he whispered into her ear, slipping a hand down the front of her shorts, but not actually touching her; knowing that would drive her crazy, expecting her to cave to him any time now.
She inhaled sharply as he finally dipped his hand into her flimsy panties, slipping a finger inside of her, slowly playing with her insides almost expertly as he felt her body tremble against him from his touch. As her body began to respond, and her hips voluntarily on their own accord began to move against his hand, she managed to catch herself, reach down and removed his hand from pleasuring her.

He quit his ministrations with his mouth on her neck and grunted questioningly at her, looking at her in confusion.


“I love you,” she said, looking at him; her face dead serious, her eyes searching his pleadingly for a response from him.

“I know,” he nodded as he dipped his head down again, kissing and lightly nipping her neck and pinning her arm that had stopped him from pleasuring her, to her side against the wall.

“Do you,” she whispered, trying to keep her thoughts organized and not let this pass. She needed to hear him say that he loved her before he left. She knew it was silly, but she needed to hear it now, more than ever before.

He quit what he was doing again for a moment, reeling in his growing need and glared at her. Of course he knew! He winced as she suddenly stroked his tail gently with her free hand in the most pleasant form of torture, reserved for her alone. He took that as permission to proceed and began undoing the front of her shorts but she placed a hand on his again; a silent request for him to stop. “Yes,” he hissed finally in response.

“Do you love me?” she asked, her tone insistent this time.

What the hell kind of a ridiculous question is that? He growled at her half in frustration that she was pushing the issue and half in his insane need for her that had built up to a near frenzy at this point. Why now? He did not want to think about anything at the moment.

It isn’t ridiculous. She replied, still stroking his tail gently, almost teasingly, knowing full well the effect that simple ministration had on him.

He rested his forehead against hers, looking at her intensely. “Don’t, Bulma,” he growled at her in frustration at her; for her doing this now while he was so riled up, fondling his tail nonetheless and for her ridiculous neediness right now of all times. You already know the answer to that.

I need to hear it before you leave. She replied, removing her hand from his and wrapping a leg around his waist, drawing him close so that she could move against his groin. He slid his tail from her grasp before she could take further advantage and managed to wrap it around her waist and slip it down the front of her shorts, letting it brush against her clit. He knew how much she loved it when he pleasured her with his tail.

“I am not leaving for another thirty two hours or so.” He reminded her between grunts as she ground her center into his aching groin.   

“I know,” she sighed as her body began to pulse with pleasure even though they were both still fully clothed. However, she still wanted something from him and she was still aware enough to realize that he was using everything in his arsenal to get her to just give into him. Well, two could play at that game, she thought to herself wickedly. “Tell me how-” she moaned, wishing to god he would just let up already and tell her; she didn’t know about his need, but her own so intense that she could barely stand to put him off anymore.

"I can think of many ways to show you exactly how I feel, Woman." He said as he tore the front of her shirt down the front, exposing her breasts to him and taking a nipple into his mouth, pawing her other breast with one hand and placing the one under her bum on the side where her leg was around his hip, pushing her a little further up against the door frame and supporting her weight, anticipating taking her at any moment now.


While he was busy rejoicing in her ample breasts and lavishing them with his mouth, she managed to bring the leg that was now propped up round his hip down, closing her center off from him and was able to take hold of his tail.


He hissed and shuddered in response, almost immediately as she took it with both hands. “If you don’t stop that,” he growled against her breast, nipping the nipple lightly.


She smirked at him deviously, still stroking his tail more boldly, knowing she was being deliberately cruel now in her methods, but not being able to stop. She grinned as his breath hitched harshly again from her fondling the soft, furry appendage. “Come on, Vegeta. Just tell me, and then you can show me,” she almost begged, her own need almost to the point where she was close to just letting him have his way.


Vegeta gasped like a man suffocating as a flash back hit him right then and there of a time he would do anything to forget.


“Come on, Vegeta. Just tell me why you did not do as I asked and then you can go about your day.”
Frieza’s syrupy voice taunted him as he stood over him, bloodied and beaten in his throne room.


He was eleven years old and had just returned from the most difficult mission he had ever been on. Instead of destroying every inhabitant on that planet, he had allowed the planet’s leader, his family and anyone else the leader could round up within a thirty minute time span take one of their ships and go find their own salvation. He wasn’t sure why he had done it, he had known that it would cost him big should anyone find out. He hadn’t even told Kakarott.


He had told Zarbon and Dodoria that he had been attacked and held hostage in order for them to hijack one of their ships. Unfortunately, he hadn’t thought that one through well enough and they had caught on immediately to his fib because he had returned unscathed, without so much as a scratch on his armor or bruise on his person.


In the end it had all been for nothing. Zarbon had gone after the ship by way of sport and once they had caught up to it, had made Vegeta shoot it down himself.


Now, here he was, paying the price for it; Frieza had beaten him nearly senseless in front of all of his superiors and anyone else who was seeking some midafternoon entertainment.


He cried out as the lizard grabbed his tail, more than likely the only thing in his body not broken or damaged. He began stroking in gently; a stark contrast to everything he had inflicted on him so far.


Gods no, not the tail. He hated the damned thing with a passion! If it weren’t for the great shame and ridicule he would be faced with, not to mention his father would most likely disown him, he would sever the thing himself. Yes it would be excruciating, but then it would no longer be a weakness to him. Pain and torment from a beating he could handle; but the embarrassment and shame he would feel as a result made him hate himself completely for being open to such a violation.


Frieza stroked the length of his tail gently a few more times before suddenly pinching one of the delicate vertebra near the tip and crushing it.


Vegeta clenched his teeth, trying to not utter a sound. He would never understand how such a thing could be so much more excruciating than a simple kick to the ribs or a back hand to the jaw. He choked back a moan of agony as Frieza crushed another vertebra.


“Silly, stubborn monkey,” he said almost comfortingly as he went back to stroking his tail gently. “All you have to do is tell me. Tell me why you felt the need to be these people’s savior when my explicit instructions were for everyone on that dump of a planet to be eradicated.”


Vegeta didn’t reply. He didn’t know what his reasons were! Not only had he not given it much thought, but with the amount of misery he was feeling at the moment made it hard for him to think rationally about anything else.


“I suppose we are going to drag this out much longer than that which is necessary, I see.” Frieza sighed. “I hope no one has any other pressing matters to attend to. Vegeta, it would seem, likes to have an audience for his punishments. Does anyone know what manipulating the tail of a Saiyan really does to them?”


There were a few chuckles throughout the throne room from Zarbon and a few of the other generals and soldiers who were all familiar with Frieza’s methods of “dealing” with Vegeta. A few of them didn’t particularly care for him and his cocky attitude so they found it amusing. A few others did feel pity for him and did not agree but would never step in to object to his treatment for fear of becoming the receiving end of a beating for having the nerve of interfering in one of Frieza’s favorite past times. No one wanted to be a spectacle in Frieza’s throne room when he was in one of his moods, which he seemed to be in at the moment.


Vegeta ceased his ministrations almost immediately a second later as he forced the wretched memory from his mind and looked down at her, trying to swallow the wave of disappointment and slight resentment aimed towards her that she would go so far as to try and manipulate him this way. First by denying him of herself; that was something she had never done. But mostly for using his tail in an effort to manipulate him to get him to say or do what she wanted of him at the moment.

That was what hurt him the most. She knew what he had gone through and how the effects of it still were an open wound that he nursed only on his own. She knew that, she was the only one in this universe that knew anything about Frieza and his insidious methods he used to demean him and exploit him. He had never shared explicit details or the full extent of any of it with her and he doubted he would ever be able to either, but he had trusted her enough to fill her in on the bare basics and none of the gory details. He trusted her with that; that she would never exploit that information for her own gain and never had she resorted to such a debased way of getting what she wanted out of him.

She never needed to. There was not much he would deny her.

Bulma gasped as she heard and saw his thoughts ever so briefly for only a split second before he blocked her out from his mind, closing himself off completely from her. “I’m sorry!” she cried out. In her self-seeking need, she had acted only on pure selfishness alone without even thinking before acting out. “I am so sorry, Vegeta, I didn’t mean it.”

For the first time in their union, she felt regret from him and it broke her heart because she never meant to make him feel that way; not now when she really did just need the verbal confirmation, not ever. “I didn’t mean it. Don't leave, Vegeta, please!" She cried, reaching for his hand, but he quickly pulled it out of her grasp.

"I must see to a few things." he growled, stepping away from her, needing to put some distance between them.


"I am so sorry!"


"I know," He snipped at her a little more harshly than he'd intended. He glared at her intensely for a moment, contemplating what to do. He knew he should not be angry at her, she had not meant to upset him and if he was honest with himself, he was essentially trying to do the exact same thing to her only she had been able to turn the tables and gain the upper hand within seconds. That was what was bothering him the most.


"Make whatever arrangements you wish for tomorrow," he said, getting himself more or less in control of his emotions. "I will take the day off to spend with you and Trunks.” With that he left, shutting the door harder than necessary.


When he looked up, he was unnerved to see his father standing there in the hallway, on his way towards his own living quarters for the evening.


"What is it, boy?" He smirked arrogantly at his disheveled appearance. "Trouble in paradise?"


Vegeta snarled at him. "Mind your own business, old man."


He smirked at his son. "Did the bitch kick you out? I recognize the walk of shame when I see it."


"She did not. I voluntarily took my leave before I did something I would regret.” He reluctantly stated.


"Come and have a drink with me." His father said after a long, awkward pause. "I suspect you will be distracted between now and your departure."


Vegeta thought for a moment. He had planned on going to train for a bit to work out his aggravation, however decided a drink with his father may not be such a bad idea. Maybe he had come across some new Intel that could be potentially valuable.


"Alright." He agreed, nodding once.


He followed his father into his living quarters, noting that he could not remember the last time he had been in there. It looked exactly the same as he remembered it to.


"You're mate is not here?" He asked, not wanting to stick around for a drink if she was. It was bad enough that he would be stuck with her on the ship to and from this mission.


"She has her own quarters." His father replied, pouring a drink for himself and his son.


Vegeta grunted in response, accepting his drink.


"Not that I would expect you to follow any advice that I have; you never follow it anyway, however I highly recommend you consider the same."


"I should think not," he snorted. While he was annoyed with Bulma and even himself for the way things had been between them as of late, he could never see himself doing that to her, nor wanting to live that way either.


"Go to her when the mood strikes you or have her stay with you for a night but you should have your own space," his father advised. "And the woman must know her place. She is to act as a reprieve and solace to you in times of difficult stress and a prize to be had on joyous occasions; not something to be doted on as you consistently are doing. It will lead to your ruin, boy."


"Enough." Vegeta sighed. "How I handle things regarding my mate is of no concern to you."


"I suppose," his father sighed. "My advice, take your fill of her now, get her out of your system and forget about her while you are on your mission; you have no room for distractions of any kind."


"I am aware of this."


"Good." His father nodded, watching his son carefully, observing his stiff and clearly agitated body language as he sat there for several moments in silence, enjoying his drink and looking as though he were deep in thought. "If you require me to intervene on your behalf to do something you are unable to do yourself, just say the word, son." He finally added cautiously.


Vegeta put his glass down and glared daggers at his father and the implications behind that statement.


"It can all be taken care of and be made right in your absence. No one would question it or judge you,” he continued on, refilling his son’s near empty glass. “We have all made silly mistakes with a woman in our youth; myself included. However, I did not allow it to go on to the extent you have. I had a bit more sense than that I like to think."


"Enough," Vegeta said in a quiet tone, his anger beginning to boil over the surface.


"I am only trying to help. Even I can see how agitated you are,” he objected. “I realize that I missed a lot in your youth due to my own weaknesses. Had I been more attentive, perhaps you would not have taken this path. Let me help you fix this problem you have created. When you return, there will be not even the smallest trace that she or her brat ever-"


Before he had a chance to finish the sentence or react, Vegeta had him by the throat and hauled up against the wall, despite the dramatic height difference.


His father choked in panic, completely unable to breathe; he had definitely not seen this coming.


"You will listen and you will listen well," he said dangerously to his father through gritted teeth, forcing him down to the floor, as his hand was still tightly gripping his throat. "You are not to touch a single hair on her or my son's head. Do you understand? Do not think you will get away with doing anything to either of them in my absence. If you do, when I return I will destroy you in the most horrifying and prolonged manner that I can conjure up and when you beg for death as a release, I will prolong my efforts to drag your demise out as long as I possibly can. That is what you will have to look forward to upon my return should anything befall either of them or if I find out you even look at her in a way which makes her feel uncomfortable. Do you understand, old man? Or are you too decrepit to make sense of what it is I am telling you?"


His father nodded frantically, still unable to breathe. "Yes," he wheezed.


Vegeta let him go and took a step back from him, looking at him in disgust. "If I wasn't leaving the day after tomorrow, I would destroy you now. However, as it so happens, I am quite looking forward to destroying Cold and I trust your remaining advisors and cabinet members even less than I trust you. I would need to destroy all of them as well and I do not have the time as of now." He said thoughtfully, knocking back the rest of his drink like a shot.


"You cannot do that," his father coughed. "You will throw the entire planet into a state of civil war."


"Like I give a shit." He snorted, pouring himself another drink.


"No one wants to follow a tyrant, Vegeta."


"Says the tyrant." He chuckled darkly. "It is a non-issue so long as you and your band of fools leave my woman alone, any and all uproar can be avoided." He said, quickly finishing his third drink and glancing at his father who was still on the floor, nursing his neck and throat.


"You have my word,"


"Good. I am not to be disturbed for any reason until the scheduled departure time." He said, dumping the remaining contents of his father's drink on his slumped form on the floor before leaving.


The king watched his son leave, giving him a murderous glare as he slammed the door behind him. "Goodbye, my son." He muttered angrily before getting up off the floor.


He grabbed the nearest cloth and wiped the liquor off of himself before tossing it to the ground and refilling his glass.


The elder Vegeta leaned over the small drink table with his hands balled in fists, seething in anger. He hated that girl more than he ever remembered hating anyone in his lifetime, and that was saying something.


Very well, he would leave his son to his whore for the remainder of his time here and he would even steer completely away from her while he was on his way to Cold. It was an estimated three weeks travel. That left him three weeks to decide what he was going to do to that blue haired trollop. He was going to take great pleasure in breaking her and making her wish she had never met and corrupted his son.


He would bide his time and once his son was in Cold's custody only then would he make his move. He would also make sure that Cold would keep his son fully informed of whatever it was he decided to do to her.


Up until this moment he had been rethinking his position on betraying his own son. That had been part of the reason behind his wanting to visit with his son before he left for battle. He had been looking for a reason to not go through with it. However since his son chose a relationship with some girl over him that was it; as far as he was concerned, he had no son.


The King finished his drink before pouring himself yet another. He would grieve now for what was about to take place within a very few short weeks so that when things happened, he would have the unwavering strength to see this course through to the end.


-0-0-0-


Vegeta returned to his quarters immediately having left his father’s room, angry and distraught, fullyaware of the fact that he most likely had just made things worse.


He stormed into their bedroom, looking for Bulma, wondering if she had left after their last stupid interaction. He felt shame envelop him; they both had acted completely out of line and had nearly damaged each other over something so stupid that neither of them wanted to bend on. Had it been worth it? He didn’t think so. Especially now after that rather disturbing conversation with his father. He was certain his father would not try anything while he was gone, but if he did, he needed Bulma to know how he felt about her and Trunks. Even if it meant demeaning himself for an evening.


"Woman!" He called out, frantically looking around for her.


"What?!" She hissed at him, coming out of the bathroom with Trunks bundled up.


So she hadn't left.


"What's wrong?" She asked, noting his angry state and immediately felt a wave of fear wash through her. Was he still that angry with her?She herself was ashamed for her conduct and only hoped that he would forgive her for attempting something low.


He took several long strides across the room towards her and embraced them both. "I am sorry, Woman." He murmured to her.


"So am I, I wasn't thinking, Vegeta-"


He silenced her with a kiss and wrapped an arm around her waist, guiding her towards their bed. "Hang on, let me put Trunks to bed."


"No, bring him." He said.


"You never let him sleep with us though."


"For tonight I will make the exception." He said, removing his flight suit and looking for something practical to sleep in.He settled on a loose pair of pants.


Bulma smiled at him and carefully crawled into bed, doing her best to not wake Trunks. While Vegeta had been gone she'd given him a bath and had gotten him to sleep.


Within just a few minutes, he was in bed next to them, his arm around her, holding her close and Trunks nestled comfortably in between them.


"Where did you go?" She asked softly, resting her head on his shoulder. She could smell the slight scent of alcohol on his breath.


"Nowhere." He replied. "I was going to train and hopefully put my fist through someone but ran into my father.had a drink and conversed somewhat."


"And it didn't go well, I'm assuming?"


"What makes you say that?" He asked almost defensively.


"Well, for starters you weren't gone for very long. Secondly you came back looking even angrier than when you left. Even now, I can feel you're disturbed and you're shaking somewhat and I can smell that you've been drinking."


"Hmmmn." He grunted, resting his head against hers and looking at their sleeping son. Yes, he had been drinking but he had not consumed enough that his thoughts were impaired.  


Neither of them spoke for a long time. They just lay there quietly, holding each other.


"Bulma,"


"Hmm?" She moaned, already having begun dozing off.


"The second something feels off I need you to promise that you will drop everything and leave." He said softly; he needed to let her in on the other half of his plan he had kept from her. "I do not care what your reasons are or what you are doing."


"Of course, Vegeta." She nodded. "Wasn't that the plan anyway?"


"Yes, but I want there to be no question that this is what I expect of you." He said leaning away from her towards his night stand and reaching inside the drawer. He blindly rummaged through for a moment before he moved close to her again, presenting her with a dark grey capsule.


"What's this?" She asked, turning it in her fingers, looking for a label as a hint.


"Do not open it here." He said quickly. "It is our ship that we left Callisto with. It is fueled and ready to go, I had Bardock personally run a diagnostic on it; it is sound. Everything you may need is there, it is even stocked with enough frozen food and freeze dried meals that you could get by easily for almost three months. There is money for you should you need to do repairs or need anything else. It is all cash in universal currency so you cannot not be traced or tracked by anyone.one here, aside from Bardock, knows of the ships existence so you may disappear without a trace if you have to on your own without Kakarott should something with the existing plan goes wrong."


"You did all of this?" She asked softly, feeling an overwhelming amount of guilt wash through her for her harsh words to him earlier. She already felt bad for her conduct, now she was ashamed and feeling like she should hands down win the bitchiest, most ungrateful wife in the universe award. She wondered why he even put up with her as of late.


Because I have not acted much better and yet you still put up with me. He replied dryly.


"We both suck, I guess." She sighed. "Thank you for this," she said twirling the small capsule between her fingers carefully. "I will keep it on me at all times."


“Be sure that you do,” he said. “I have noticed you have not been wearing your plasma shield. You may need it.”


“I know,” she sighed. “It’s charging. Trunks always has his on though.”


“Good. See that you do too.” He wrapped his tail around her waist, pulling both her and Trunks close to him; his way of letting her know all was forgiven.


He absently let his fingers trail up the side of her arm, making her shiver at his touch.


"Sleep," he said quietly. "Tomorrow we will set things right."


Bulma nodded once and shifted into a more comfortable position close to him before quickly falling asleep in his arms.


It took a long time for sleep to claim him as he laid there with his family in his arms, listening to them breathe, watching them sleep.


He had been so hard on her the past few weeks and now the thought of it made him feel nothing but shame. He wished more than anything that he could go back and undo it.


Tomorrow he would make it up to her, he promised himself. Whatever she wanted, whatever she needed to hear he would do it. Who knew how long it would be before they would be together again. Not to mention the conversation with his father was still fresh on his mind and had left him more than disturbed.


He didn't think his father was dumb enough to do anything to his family while he was gone, but at least he knew Bulma had every option available to her to get herself and Trunks to safety if she needed to. He only hoped that she would not stick around too long in an attempt to not rock the boat; he also hoped she would not stupidly put herself at risk over her foolish agreement with Asia.


It took him a long time but he eventually fell asleep.

-0-0-0-