Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Falling in Love the First Time ❯ The Proposal ( Chapter 17 )

Falling In Love The First Time

Chapter 17 - The Proposal

"Bulma, will you marry me?"

Mere moments had felt like hours as Bulma's mind raced to register the request. She had dreamed of this moment since she was a little girl. That perfect proposal: the romance, the giant rock of an engagement ring, and the longing look of a man eternally in love with her. She finally had it all and yet, for a split second, regret spread through her. Even with the perfect proposal, something felt so very wrong.

Jet held his smile as he watched Bulma part her lips to answer him, but he stopped her before she could. "Don't," he covered her mouth with his palm. "I don't want an answer right now. I know how complicated your life is. You have blessed me with this truth many times and I know you can't answer me right away. I know you have to think this through, consider how it will affect your son, and your… ex." Jet wasn't quite sure how to refer to the man. "So, I am willing to wait for my answer. Take as much time as you need."

Bulma blinked as she lifted her hand to gently remove his that was covering her lips. "Wow," she couldn't help but utter, "I don't know how you can be so understanding."

"It's a selfish request actually," he intertwined his fingers with hers as he offered his explanation. "I want more than anything for you to be my wife, but such a union is meaningless to me if you do not desire the same." He paused as his hand drifted up to her cheek, stroking her now flushed and mildly embarrassed expression softly. "I am no fool, Bulma. As I've said, I know how complicated your life is. I know your happiness is very much reliant upon your son's, and I understand you would have to discuss this with him, and his father." Jet paused another moment, having more difficulty with that concept that any other. "I honestly do not wish to disrupt either of their lives; I only want to enhance yours. I want you forever in my life. I want to raise a family with you, grow old with you…" he paused again to wipe an uncontrolled tear that had fallen from his hopefully fiancé-to-be's eye. "I guess this means you know what I want; now you need to decide what you want." He leaned in to place a gentle kiss upon her cheek.

"And what if I told you I already have my answer?" She smiled between tears; she was waiting to awaken from her dream.

"I am still afraid I wouldn't accept it. You need time to think on this, and I intend to give you that time." Jet then rose from his seat and briefly left the table to order the limo brought around. He returned quickly.

"I suppose this means our evening is over?" Bulma asked as she rose from her seat, the closed engagement ring box in her hand.

"Not over," Jet disagreed as he helped her with her coat, "just to be continued."

"I don't know what I did to deserve you." She wiped a few stray tears before lifting her head with a smile. "When do you want your answer?"

"Whenever you are sure you have the right one," he responded coolly as he guided her out of the restaurant and to the limo he had called for her.

"Alright," Bulma nodded reluctantly before exiting the restaurant. Jet watched from afar as the limousine took off with the woman he loved, silently hoping she would find her path in life leading back to him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~

Vegeta had spent the rest of his evening in the GR. He finally quit his rigorous workout around ten o'clock to eat the dinner he had been ever so unhappily turned off from after the infuriating interlude he had with Jet earlier. After chomping down his meal, Vegeta set off to bed, not wanting to still be lucid when Bulma and Jet came home from their 'special dinner.'

'Humans and their gushy emotions,' Vegeta cringed as he thought of the sick ritual of dating. 'Saiya-jins were so much wiser,' he concluded after thinking about how much more fun it would be to just go out and hunt for a mate as opposed to sitting in some poorly lit restaurant exchanging mindless banter. 'Pointless…all of it. Words mean nothing, actions prove everything,' he decided rather disappointedly. As strange as it was for him, he fully understood that was not how things worked on this planet, and even if he could convince some female to allow him to hunt her, it surely wouldn't be much of a challenge. The average earthling woman was no stronger than Bulma, and she certainly would be no physical challenge. 'Or perhaps her intellect could make up some of the difference.' He imagined the possibilities briefly before reminding himself his thoughts were useless-Bulma would never let him hunt her, let alone mate with her again; it was all too futile to even consider.

Vegeta had only been a few steps outside of the living room when the sound of the front door sliding open interrupted his thought process. He cursed his bad timing before preparing to turn around and head outside to use the balcony to get to his room, when he was stopped by the faint sound of… humming? "Bulma?" Vegeta wondered as he turned around to see a much too delighted figure gracefully swaying back and forth to a tune Vegeta had come to recognize as the annoying melody played when two people join in what humans call marriage. 'Why the hell would the woman be humming that unless… No, it couldn't be…' Vegeta thought before focusing on Bulma's finger. He had long ago learned that a ring was the frivolous symbol of a joining on this planet. He silently threatened Dende that such a symbol had better not be upon her. 'That bastard weakling could not possibly attempt to make Bulma his life mate; but even if he did, she surely wouldn't accept!' Hoping this to be the truth, Vegeta breathed a sigh of relief as he watched Bulma remove her coat and gloves.

No ring.

Why was he suddenly so relieved? Not wanting to find out, Vegeta turned to leave but found himself halting once again when he noticed Bulma remove a small velvet box from her coat pocket. 'No…' Watching helplessly as Bulma opened the box and pulled out the blazing ring inside, Vegeta realized he had never seen her face light up as it did at that moment.

"I was beginning to think I would never be offered one of these." Bulma unconsciously spoke aloud as she pulled the ring out and slipped it on and off her finger a few times, assessing its fit. "Perfect," she smiled as she left the ring on, eyeing its flawlessness with pride. The perfection of the moment suddenly seemed to begin to fade as she started to think about all that the ring signified. Marriage; a lifetime commitment, an eternity of companionship, love making, raising children-children, Trunks! How could she tell Trunks about this? It would be asking him to accept another father into his life. Could she ask Jet to move in with them? Live as one big happy family? Herself, Jet, Trunks, and Vegeta-Vegeta? How could she tell him? How could she ever expect him to stay while she invited another man to live with her? What was their rule? No sleepovers? She did not simply want this man to merely spend one night, but an eternity with her. How could she ever explain all this? How could it ever work out?

Bulma suddenly wanted to offer her praise to Jet for having the foresight to allow her ample time to think this through. How could she ever decide what she wanted when it seemed that no matter how she answered his proposal, heartbreak would follow? Trunks would be devastated to finally face the reality that she and Vegeta would never be together, but what of Jet? Was she truly ready to marry him? Yes, he is charming, romantic, considerate, caring, and genuinely in love with her but was that enough? What about her feelings? "Am I truly in love with Jet?"

"No."

The confident voice startled Bulma and she turned around, shocked to see that she had been watched. "Vegeta!" She gasped, grasping her chest to calm her breathing. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?!"

"You asked a question, I gave you an answer," he spoke bluntly. "You are not in love with that fool. You will not marry him."

Bulma couldn't help but gaze in disbelief as she listened to his lecturing tone. "Excuse me?" she definitely needed him to repeat himself; she could not have possibly just heard what she thought she had.

"You heard me," Vegeta refused to repeat himself as he uncrossed his arms and walked right before Bulma, leaving little space between the two of them. There was no way in hell he was going to let her marry this weakling. Sure, she could use him for her enjoyment, but marriage was out of the question. He was willing to part with her, but not to a man who was so unworthy-part with her? Did he ever have her in the first place? Vegeta tried not to consider that technicality too carefully. No matter what was or was not between them, he had a responsibility to protect her, and that included from a 'marriage' that was doomed to fail. "You should have returned this frivolous symbol the moment he offered it to you; you will not join with him."

Bulma blinked, it appeared she had heard him right. "Are you actually trying to tell me whether or not I may marry?" Her temper was rapidly gaining fuel; she was not one to be ordered around, especially by Vegeta.

"You asked a question as to whether or not you loved this man; I gave you an honest answer in the negative. Now as I recall, you told me you didn't want to partake in this silly human custom of marriage if you were not under the influence of such affections. Therefore, you are not properly inclined to join with this man." Vegeta spoke calm and collectedly with a sound argument. He even impressed himself with the restraint he displayed.

Bulma stood agape, rendered speechless by Vegeta's assessment of the situation. First, because Vegeta had made sure to keep his distance from her and any romantic attachments she had formed over the last few years. Second, because Vegeta never thought or spoke this rationally. And third, as reluctant as she was to admit it, she agreed with him. But such a statement did beg the question, "How the hell could you know what I do and do not feel for Jet?"

"Many reasons," Vegeta was quick to shoot back, "starting with your lack of attraction to the man."

"What!?" Bulma objected. "I happen to be incredibly attracted to Jet! He's smart, he's funny, he's charming, he's-"

"-boring," Vegeta cut her off. "Who are you kidding woman? That fool lives to adore you. He puts you upon a pedestal, and though the thought of being praised might appeal to some vain women, it's not for you. You don't want an inferior; you want an equal, a challenge, someone with passion who keeps you on your toes. That fool will put you to sleep before he displays anything close to fervor."

"Says you! You haven't spent more than five seconds with him. You could not possibly know what you're talking about." Bulma argued, even though a nagging feeling of agreement pulsed through her veins.

"Oh," Vegeta smirked knowingly, "then if I am wrong, why haven't you slept with him?"

Bulma's eyes widened considerably, "First of all, that is none of your damn business. And second, what the hell makes you think I haven't already?" She asked with a suggestive hint, hoping to make him flinch.

Vegeta's smirk only deepened as he took a step closer to her, leaning in and taking a long full breath of her scent. "I know you haven't been with this man," he confirmed as his lips stopped right against her ear, "because your body still bears my scent. Had you been with another since our encounters his odor would envelope you. But instead, even after so many years, I am still in your pores… just as you are still in mine," he admitted to Bulma's blatant shock. Not only did he just warn her that he would be able to tell the moment she slept with another man, but in his own way honestly admitted he had been living as celibately as she for these past years.

'Dende, why must he tell me this right now?' She groaned at the strangely arousing effect his words had on her. "Vegeta, please," she pushed him back from her and turned to take a seat upon the couch. "I don't have time for your little games."

"Games?" Vegeta acted appalled by the implication. "I am not playing games with you woman," he explained while taking a seat next to her, "I am simply attempting to give you some perspective."

"Perspective? Like you really care," she hissed bitterly. "My getting married would be an inconvenience to you. That is the only reason you object."

Vegeta smirked at the concept. "Perhaps you are right. I don't really give a damn how you waste the rest of your life, but…" he stopped himself suddenly as he noticed a tear roll down his former lover's cheek. "Woman?" he asked with hesitation as he tentatively raised his hand to wipe away her tear. This was so unlike her; he had not seen her cry before him since they separated.

"What was it?" she asked quietly while keeping her gaze away from him. "What was it about me that made it impossible for you to care for me?"

The raw emotion in her voice was enough to leave Vegeta momentarily speechless as he considered her question. Did she truly believe what her statement implied? Does she honestly think he never cared for her, and even more shockingly, that it was some defect of her own that had caused it? "Bulma," his voice held a note of disappointment as he hesitantly encircled her cheek with his palm, strategically wiping her tears away with his thumb, "your question is absurd. There is not one damn thing that is inadequate about you; I simply do not hold any capacity for that which you demanded."

Turning her head slightly so that her eyes could finally meet his, she searched for some truth to his words. Surprisingly, he seemed deadly serious. "I think you are wrong," she suggested regretfully, "I think you do have the capacity; you are just too set in your ways to bother making the effort to do anything about it."

"I thought we were talking about your feelings, not mine," he deflected quickly, being gravely uncomfortable with the topic.

"Are they not one and the same?" It was her turn to twist his face back to hers as she begged an explanation of her own. "Vegeta, we share a child together; I could not in good conscience make such a serious decision in my life if I did not at least ask for your feelings on the matter."

"I already told you," Vegeta snapped irritably, "You are making a mistake; you do not-"

"No, Vegeta." Bulma stopped his repetition. "You only told me what you think I feel. I want to know what you feel. How would you feel if I did marry Jet?"

"How the hell do you think I would feel?" Vegeta jumped to his feet, angered she would demand an answer to such a stupid question. "Do you think I want you to bring another man into my home? Do you think I want to see that fool try to incite influence over my son? Do you think I want to be kept up at night while the two of you mate? Of course the concept would make me sick. Just as it will the boy if you tell him. So, if you want my advice, be wise about this and tell the weakling 'no.' It will save a lot of people a hell of a lot of disturbance."

"Except for me," Bulma argued, "I have been alone for nearly seven years, Vegeta. I do not want to be anymore. And ruffling a couple of feathers to end that solitude is not sounding like a terribly awful idea at the moment."

Vegeta felt a bizarre chill run down his spine, as if he suddenly knew what it must have been like all of these years listening to him. "Dende, woman, do you hear how fucking selfish that is! How pitiful? If you are lonely get a damn cat like your father! There is no need for you to marry!"

Bulma's head fell as she tried to push away his insulting words. "You know what Vegeta," she rose from her seat, and took a long breath, "you are right. Maybe I am being selfish, but I think I am entitled after all I have sacrificed for you and Trunks, to keep this broken family--a family which you broke by the way--together."

"Oh, so now this is all my fault?!" he laughed at the absurdity. "Well, trust me onna, if I had any idea that my rejection was going to cause you to make such stupid decisions then I would have let you continue crawling into my bed!"

Closing her eyes slowly, she shook her head, unable to believe what he had just said. "Dende, you have not changed at all in these last five years. Everything just comes down to sex with you."

"What the hell else is there!?" he demanded, in a moment of brutal honesty. "You humans have the most ridiculous courting process, do you know that? Having meals together, talking for hours, and taking part in various in and outdoor activities---you can do all of that bullshit with any male or female friend of yours. 'Sex,' woman, or mating is about passion! That you can only feel for one being, you can only share it with one person. Those damn flowers your weakling brings you will die, the jewels he buys you will shortly be forgotten, and the expensive meals he pays for only add pounds to your already deteriorating figure." Bulma spread her lips to refute his insult, but Vegeta did not allow her the chance before continuing. "The point is this joining of yours is doomed to fail before it even begins. Mates are nothing if they do not have the desire that keeps them addicted to one another. You do not have that craving; I know so, because…" he paused as he ground his teeth, momentarily debating his next words before speaking them, "I know what passion looks like in your eyes, Bulma, because I saw it when you were with me." He choked on his last word, clenching and unclenching his fists a few times; having difficulty admitting to what he knew he had to before it was too late. "Do not waste any more of your life on a man unworthy of you." He wrapped his fingers around her face, forcing her to look at him from her now tear swollen eyes. "You have already wasted too much on me."

Closing her eyes, the only form of protection she could raise to shield herself from his absorbing gaze, she placed her hands atop his to try and pull them from against her face. When he would not let her, she crumbled before his affection, letting herself be pulled against his chest. Her tears flowed freely as she buried her face within the crook of his neck, allowing him to mold her body into his. They stood together for some uncertain amount of time, Bulma releasing her misery as Vegeta attempted the art of comforting for the first time in his life.

Though she was not certain when, at some point Bulma's former lover had scooped her into his arms and carried her to her bedroom. Her cries never ceased from the moment he rested her in his lap, to when she had fallen asleep in his arms.

Vegeta had maintained a determined silence throughout Bulma's emotional liberation. He felt a bizarre fusion of sorrow and comfort as he sat with her within his embrace. Sorrow for all of the pain he had caused her, but comforted in that he was the one trying to heal her. Before long, her sobs had quieted to mere whimpers, then the whimpers became labored breathing, and finally her breathing had become almost too quiet for his Saiya-jin ears to pick up. He felt an internal debate rage inside him as he realized he did not know whether he should stay with the beauty or leave.

After deciding the latter would most likely cause less animosity between them, Vegeta gently began to undress his former mate and then placed her comfortably underneath her silken sheets. Seeing her tear stained eyes, Vegeta felt a moment of pause before he left. Reaching out to wipe the liquid away, he placed a quick kiss upon her forehead before rising from his seat upon her bed to leave; wordlessly hoping tomorrow morning would bring her more clarity on the situation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~

Author's Note: Hm, so will it? Has Vegeta's argument against marrying Jet sunk into Bulma's thick head? Or will another Saiya-jin have to weight in his opinion on the matter to make her choice clear? Next time…