Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ FATHER'S DAY ❯ MOther's Day ( Chapter 2 )

MOTHER'S DAY

Sequel to Father's Day

By: AMCM74

Disclaimer: I make no claim to own, or having created DB/Z/GT or any of the characters used in the series.

Things have changed. After their trip to the past, Vegeta has come to realize that he had not lost everything when Frieza destroyed planet Vegeta. His mother and the brother he never knew he had, survived. The only thing left to do is find his mother, and tell Goku the truth about their origins.
"You're not going." The dark eyes snapped up from the sink full of dishes and hot soapy water. ChiChi looked over her shoulder at the stunned expression fixed on Goku's face. "Its none of our concern if Vegeta finds his mother or not. Besides, we need you here."

Goku closed his mouth and leaned forward, resting his arms on the wooden table. "It's his mom, Chichi." The voice was the normal tone of explanation. He sounds a lot like a teenager begging his parents for the keys to the family car. "I can't just let him go out there alone."

Chichi dried her hand on the worn dishtowel. She turned to face her husband, with displeasure etched on every line of her face. "Neither one of you have been acting right since you went on that little excursion of yours. If you think I am going to let you just run off with him, you are sorely mistaken, Goku." Turning her back to him was Chichi's way of signaling she was done with this conversation.

Goku stood up silently. He really didn't get what Chichi wanted from him. 'We need you here.' That is what she had said. He looked around the house helplessly. The fact was, they didn't need him here, not at all. Chichi had the house well in hand, and Gohan was in his room pouring over books that already far surpassed Goku's education. Aside from sitting around looking decorative there was nothing for him to do. He swallowed and lifted his chin. "I am going."

A dish hit the floor and the pieces went flying. Goku felt more like he was watching his courage go with each jagged fragment that cairned across the floor as she turned that look on him. "I just told you that you are NOT." Chichi leveled her gaze at him. Goku felt the silent urge to run. Actually he would have, if fear had not left him feeling like some one had just glued his boots to the floor.

Chichi advanced on him. Goku leaned back and squinted his eyes shut. He turned his head a bit, waiting for the cast iron impact. It never came. He dared to open his eyes and his wife stood before him, scowling. "I don't like Vegeta! To be honest, I have never met a single Saiyan I have liked. Why would I want you running off for Kami knows how long only to bring another one of . of. those, back to this planet? No Goku, you're not doing it."

"But." Goku started.

"I SAID NO!" Chichi thundered back at him.

"Are you forgetting that Kakkarot is a Saiyan?" The low growl came from the door. Goku and Chichi both swung around to see Vegeta standing at the door. He held the knob still in his hand. Clearly he had not even bothered to knock. "You claim to hate Saiyans, but that is exactly what your ." he sneered the word. "Husband is."

"Goku is nothing like you!" Chichi fired back. She was trembling with rage. How dare that man just enter her home like that? No manners! No manners at all.

Vegeta looked right past Chichi and on to Goku. "Bulma has explained to me that the craft will be ready to take us into space in the next three or four days."

Goku nodded once, with a determined look. Chichi slapped her hand down on the table with an ominous crack. "I have already told Goku that he is not going anywhere. You will have to find one of those other worthless fighters to trail along behind you." She crossed her arms and turned her back to the both of them.

"Other worthless fighters." Vegeta's voice was hushed as he stepped toward the nasty creature. This could all be easily solved with one small ki blast. Goku moved anticipating the Prince's movement and set the palm of his hand square on Vegeta's chest. Vegeta batted it away. "Why won't you let him go? You don't like Saiyans and he is nothing but a worthless fighter." Chichi jolted at the words. But did not turn to acknowledge him.

"Vegeta." Goku's voice was quiet.

Vegeta looked over at his brother and gnashed his teeth. This was ridiculous. How could his own blood cower from a mere human? "This has gone on long enough." He growled facing Goku.

"What has.?" Goku stepped back. Confusion was once again taking the lead role.

"You think Bulma has not told me, or that I can't see!?" Vegeta scoffed. "That damn harpy has been making your life a living hell. Why are you putting up with her?"

Chichi spun. "WHAT!" Without thinking her hand reached out and grabbed the first thing that it came in contact with. It was not the pan, her weapon of choice, but the thick wooden spoon would have to do. She rushed across the room at Vegeta. The movements were so fast that Chichi never saw any of it until it was over.

Vegeta elbowed Goku in the stomach, not stopping the movement his hand swung back, grabbing Goku by the back of his head and shoved the larger Saiyan out of his way.

Goku landed on the hard wood floors cursing the polish that slid him back into the wall. Looking up he saw the ki blast forming in Vegeta's hand. "VEGETA NO!"

Vegeta dissipated the blast and grabbed the spoon-wielding wrist twisting Chichi around. She staggered back in the direction she had come a bit, before her hands caught the edge of the table. Looking up, she saw Vegeta standing motionless. Spoon in hand.

"You're a lousy mate." Vegeta half smiled as his words slapped the woman in the face. "It's no wonder Kakkarot sought out the comforts of a real woman, a Saiyan woman, while we were gone."

Goku paled and stood up. Chichi shook her head slowly as the realization of what Vegeta had said began to sink in. She turned large eyes on her husband "Goku?" It did not take any words. The look on his face was damning enough. "I don't believe.it can't." She lowered her face and leaned fully against the table.

"Chichi?" Goku moved to his wife's side. She pulled away from him in one swift movement.

"How could you do this?" Chichi glared, but the anger was being drowned out by the shock and hurt. "I have been a good wife to you!" She ignored the snort from the intruding third party.

Goku dropped his arms and looked over at Vegeta. "Wait out side for a moment please, Vegeta?" There was a sound of hopelessness in his voice. It was clear that this was not something Goku wanted to deal with.

The Saiyan prince shrugged and moved slowly out of the house. The silence was loud. Breathing was the only sign that time had not stopped in the room. Gohan peeked through the door at his parents. It was an alternate universe in there. His mother was not yelling, and his father looked as serious as HFIL.

"I can't believe you did that." Chichi slumped into a chair. The rage was so strong and potent; it was drawing all her energy just to remain in control.

"Neither can I, but I did." Goku looked up. "I did not instigate it, but I am not sorry it happened." Chichi gasped and Goku looked away. Of all the times Goku had envisioned telling Chichi about Celipa, this was not what he had thought the explanation would sound like. It was not until just now the moment of truth was upon him that he realized just how little regret he really harbored for his actions. "You know it was nice to be wanted." He looked back at his wife. "To have someone who really thought I was someone worth having. Not once did she point out just how stupid I was, or how lacking she found me." The words were quiet and yet they were also full of hurt.

"BASTARD!" Chichi came to her fit with a slight wobble in her legs. She clenched her fists, until the knuckles were white. The low hiss could have melted his skin with the sheer scorn or it. "Of course she didn't point out your faults. She did not know you're all body, and no brains! Some one would have to LIVE with you, like I have, to realize how completely incompetent you are." The delicate angles of her eyebrows narrowed as she added, "Couldn't think your way out of a wet paper bag. You hide behind your alien strength and lead those bumbling idiots, you consider friends out fighting a few times, and you think you're some kind of hero!"

Goku stood before her, unmoving. He looked calm and uncaring, but inside he recoiled in horror, as his wife's true feelings about him, were revealed. "Why did you marry me Chi?"

"Because I was young and STUPID!" She pointed to the door "Now just get out of here. Go to space with Vegeta! Hopefully the two of you never come BACK!"

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Gohan slipped out his bedroom window. He glanced around to make sure the coast was clear before heading for the forest line. Whatever was going on in his house, at that moment, he really did not want any part of. Then later on he could claim complete ignorance of his parent's marital dispute, without with of them being any the wiser.

"Just what are you doing brat?" The gruff voice stopped him in his tracks.

He closed his eyes and straightened his shoulders. Vegeta, just what was the Saiyan Prince doing here? This was the last person he expected to thwart his escape attempt. It also shed light on what, or more likely who, had ignited the flames of discontent between his parents. Still this was not the time to broach that. Now was the time to fake innocence. "Me?" Gohan turned rubbing the back of his neck in classic Son style. "Nothing."

Vegeta stared at the child, his nephew. New realizations were still trickling through him on a daily basis. A situation like this was not something one could wake up and accept all at once. Acknowledgment was coming slowly, as his world shifted from one angle to the next. That was part of the reason he had yet to tell Kakkarot what he had learned. Truth be told, Vegeta was never going to admit this to the other man. Kakkarot would never believe it, if Vegeta were to tell him any way. Vegeta watched Gohan struggling under the heavy gaze and smirked with genuine amusement. The child was trying to figure out what was going on in Vegeta's mind. He would never guess, and Vegeta was not about to admit this newfound information easily, least of all to his brother's only son. "You're sneaking off." It was not a question, just a simple statement of the truth. Vegeta chuckled and rested his hand on Gohan's head. "You have more Saiyan in you than you realize."

Gohan frowned and moved his head so that Vegeta's hand slipped off. To heck with innocence, Gohan glared at Vegeta and then went for the jugular. "Were you the one who stirred up trouble between my parents?"

"In a sense." Vegeta looked over at the little house a short distance away. "Your father will be leaving with me in a few days, for space. Will you be ok with the harpy while he is gone?" Vegeta looked back and watched as the face of the child darkened

"I will be perfectly fine in the care of my mother!" Gohan stepped back and looked at his father coming out of the little house. "Why do you want my dad to go with you?" A thoughtful look danced with in the black eyes.

"It's very simple." Vegeta crossed his arms, all amusement draining away. "I get him alone and trusting then I open the hatch and kick him out into deep space." Vegeta sensed Kakkarot coming up behind him before he heard the slight chuckle. "Isn't that right Kakkarot?"

Gohan looked from Vegeta to his father and then back again. "That is not funny." Gohan grumbled, "And I would not put it past you. Dad, you don't really trust this guy! Do you?"

"Son." Goku kneeled down, placing his hands on the boy's arms. "How would you feel if mom was lost and I was gone?"

"I would be upset." The reply was simple. He knew exactly where his father was heading with this.

"Exactly, and you would do everything you can to find her. That is all Vegeta is trying to do, and I have to help him. She is his last surviving family member." Goku looked in his son's eyes. "Do you understand?"

Gohan nodded, defeated. Leaning in to hug his father, Gohan whispered. "Be careful, don't forget who he is."

Goku pulled back and nodded. He stood up and looked over at Vegeta. "I am gong to have to stay with you at Capsule Corp. until we leave. I don't think staying here and trying to patch things up right now is really all for the best."

"That's fine." Vegeta nodded. "If I am to be locked in a spacecraft with you for months, I think I can handle a few days of you at the compound."

"You be good for your mother, Gohan." Goku turned from his child and took to the skies. He flew off with out a word to Vegeta. He rocketed ahead knowing Vegeta was behind him. Although he was still willing to continue the journey with Vegeta, that did not mean he was overjoyed with the man now. There had been no reason for Vegeta to tell Chichi about Celipa. That was Goku's secret to tell. To be honest Goku had not thought about Celipa much since he had left her side back on Vegeta-sei. She had been a member of his father's crew, and not met her fate on Vegeta's soil. She had died as she had lived, as a warrior. To a Saiyan there was no greater honor. Goku swallowed and bit back the bitterness. Being in the past had awaked a being within himself he had not known existed. He still hated the idea of killing and planet purging, but the Saiyan race had turned out to be much more then that. They had been fun loving amongst their own, like him. They loved challenges and excelled in them, like him. Goku had learned more about his truest self in the short time he had been in Celipa's arms than he had learned through his entire life. As wrong as it was to hurt Chichi in that way he could not, and would not be sorry.

"Let it go. Kakkarot." Vegeta appeared next to him. Goku looked over with a glower. "Don't give me that look. You should have taken the woman in hand long ago. She over steps herself."

"Even so." Goku shot back. "She is my wife."

"She is NOTHING!" Vegeta stopped hovering in the air. He watched as Goku stopped and looked at him. This was not something Goku wanted to hear at this time. That fact was clear to Vegeta. Still, keeping himself silent for the sake of others was not Vegeta's way. The distance between them was far and yet the eyes of each warrior saw the other clearly. "Human vows are meaningless. You are Saiyan and can not be held by their simple words."

"Your wrong." Goku stated. "I made a promise to Chichi, and I kept it."

"Ahhh the marriage promise." Vegeta shook his head chuckling. "Bulma told me about it. You were a child when you made that promise, and didn't even know what you were saying. You've never kept that promise Kakkarot. You might have gone through the motions, but in your Saiyan heart you withheld."

"Don't play these games with me Vegeta." Goku rubbed his temples. "You know damn well I don't know what you're talking about."

"I think you do." Vegeta waited. Kakkarot was battling within himself. "You never bonded to the woman, Kakkarot. You could have easily made her part of you, and yet you held back."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Goku shouted back

"Then you're a liar! You don't need to be shown how to go about it. Don't forget I was taken from Vegeta-sei before I had even turned five. I knew what I was doing when I bonded to Bulma!" Vegeta hovered in the air daring Goku to say something.

"Vegeta." Goku sighed dejectedly. "You can drop ChiChi's spoon now."

The Saiyan Prince startled and looked at his hand to where the wooden spoon sat.

Silence reigned.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *

Bulma sat on her bed, Trunks bouncing happily on her lap. "I still can't believe you, Vegeta. What ever you told Chichi had to be pretty bad for you to allow Goku to stay here." She looked over at the bathroom door where Vegeta could be seen leaning over the sink. "I still can not understand why you are taking him with you to find your mother. It's not like you are not used to lone space travel."

"Stop asking questions you don't want answers to, woman." Vegeta drew the razor over his face again. The silly woman always waited until he was shaving to start her prattle. It was most likely due to the fact that she knew he would not just walk out of the room on her, a captive audience so to speak. Bulma was being understanding to a fault over finding his mother. Bulma Briefs would be one of the last women in the universe who would want to deal with a mother-in-law, and yet here she was actively constructing the very vessel that would transport him to space.

"I am dying to know the full details of what you learned when you were on Vegeta-sei." Vegeta stiffened. So she had already began to chip away at the wall that held his secrets. Bulma leaned to the side and added. "I know there is more than just the information about your mothers exile."

"She was not exiled. She was sent into hiding." Vegeta tried not to laugh. Bulma was trying to bait him into telling what he knew. Setting down the razor he turned to lean on the doorway. It was not like he could hide the information she wanted to know from her that much longer. "Fine, there are two other interesting facts." He watched his mates face beam with delight. She was going to finally be told that which she desired so intently to hear. "You have to swear not to breathe a word to anyone. It won't cause anything but pain."

Bulma nodded and felt her joy slipping from her. Maybe she should not have pushed for this. Vegeta would not have withheld the information if she really needed to know it. It was her curious nature that had lead to the weeks of questioning. She set Trunks off her lap and on to the bed next to her. He grasped his mothers shining satin nightgown and pulled himself up, the chubby hands balancing precariously on her shoulder. Bulma nodded to Vegeta to continue.

"The reason Kakkarot is here is because he had an affair on Vegeta-sei with a Saiyan warrior. I think her name was Celipa." He watched as Bulma's eyes grew large and was swift to add. "Before you get any ideas, she died later that day while off on a mission."

Bulma felt her mouth opening and closing. "Goku... Goku. OUR GOKU!?!"

"I have not told you the most important piece of information yet." Vegeta walked toward his mate with a smooth gait. He rubbed his hands evilly together as he approached her. Vegeta wanted to be close enough to read ever line of her face. To see the stunned realization glimmering in her eyes as the words slipped from his mouth. "It seems that Kakkarot and I share more than just Saiyan blood." His dark eyes absorbed scene before him with great pleasure. "We also share a mother. Kakkarot is my brother." Vegeta tilted his head and wondered if those choking sounds his mate was making were good. or bad?

"You're joking!" Bulma finally was able to form the words. She knew he was not by the look on his face. Still how could it be possible? "Goku is a prince?"

Vegeta laughed at that. No wonder she was having trouble with what he had just told her. Sitting on the bed he pushed the strands of blue hair back before cupping her cheek. "My Father was King of Vegeta-sei, Kakkarot's was a low level warrior named Bardock. My father had refused to bond to my mother because of the weakness it would bring to Vegeta-sei and the rest of our people. It was a great sacrifice on his part. Still my mother found comfort in the arms of Bardock, to my father's great dismay. I saw with my own eyes though that his love for her was stronger than his jealousy."

"So Cauli is Goku's mother as well." Bulma took a deep breath. "Have you told Goku? Does he know this?" Vegeta shook his head and dropped his hand. "Why the hell not! Its not just your mother you are looking for now! It's his, and he is even going with you to look for her. How could you NOT tell him? Oh Vegeta," Bulma stared at him in stunned fixation "You have to tell him."

"And what if Frieza or his men did find her, despite my father's attempts to save her?" Vegeta pointed out. "It will save him a lot of pain not knowing if that happens to be the case. Also Kakkarot is never going to believe me on this. Finding her is the only way he can ever know."

"But, Vegeta!" Bulma started.

"No! Trust me on this." Vegeta stood up. "Now put the brat in his own room. I will finish shaving soon and I don't intend to merely sleep in that bed with you when I am done."

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Goku stretched and rolled over. The bed was larger than the one he had at his house. He looked to the widow and could hear the bustling of the city just outside. There was a faint scent of food drifting through the air. He felt his stomach rumbling in response as the scent of bacon, sausage, eggs, he squinted for a moment and then smiled, ah yes pancakes as well. Some things never changed. Goku sat up and the shining white sheet, the lone survivor from all his tossing and turning, pooled in a rumpled mass at his waist. He was just about to toss one toned leg to the carpet when there was a slight tap at the door. "One min." that was as far as he got before the portal was shoved open and Bulma entered coffee pot in one hand and a cup in the other.

"Good Morning Goku." She strolled in ignoring his hand that clenched he sheet to his hips, and the way he slumped back on to the bed in embarrassment. She set the pot and cup on the nightstand. Then she turned and stepped up to the window and pulled the panels open. "Maybe a little sunlight will get your lazy ass out of the bed."

Goku felt his eyebrows drop together as he stared with some loathing at the black brew. Its rich scent wafting through the room as it seemed to be heralding the day. "Bulma, You know I don't like coffee."

"Of course, I know you don't like it." She turned. "You Saiyans think everything is for you, don't you?" She shook her head and lifted the pot pouring the cup to capacity. Taking a sip she looked over the rim. "This is for me. I have no idea when I will get back to the kitchen. I just left Vegeta there and if you don't hurry there won't be a scrap left for you. After making sure you were aware of this fact, I am off to wake and feed my son. Then I get the overwhelming joy of helping my father fix the space ship's main engine. That he burst into my room at 3AM, at the most untimely moment of rapture between my mate and I, to tell me he had blown to bits." She took another fortifying sip before adding. "I don't have to tell you that his invention was not the only thing that almost got blown to bits."

Goku laughed and ran a hand through his hair. "Vegeta was not too pleased with the interruption, I take it?"

"Vegeta Nothing!" Bulma picked up her pot and stomped to the door. "Like it bothered him in the slightest. I was the one who wanted to kill." She left the room still muttering about last night's events until Goku could no longer hear her down the hall. There was nothing left now to do but get dressed and go fight Vegeta for food. This could actually turn out to be entertaining. Goku tossed the sheet aside and pulled on his Gi. Finding the kitchen was not turning out to be much of a task at all. He simply had to follow the scent of food.

The table was laden with all sorts of delectable goodies. Vegeta sat back in his chair while one hand flipped pages of a book lying on the table before him. The other hand was preoccupied with a huge black mug.

"Vegeta!" Goku choked "Don't tell me she has you drinking that bitter soup?"

The Saiyan Prince jolted in the chair and looked up. "No, this is not that wretched brew. Kakkarot, You sure took your sweet time getting up," With an evil smirk he added, "Getting your beauty sleep?"

"No." Goku ran a hand through his rumpled hair. "I had trouble sleeping last night." He slid into the chair on the opposite side of the table from Vegeta. They sat in silence for a long moment. Eyeing each other up. Goku swallowed hard. This was Vegeta's territory; there was no mistaking that. Goku had never really had time to ponder any of this before. The Saiyan Prince had made Earth his home and Bulma his mate.

Vegeta watched Goku shifting in the chair uncomfortably. With a grunt of annoyance he tossed a plate at Goku. "Dig in. There is plenty here and afterwards you can accompany me to the gravity room." He tried to refrain from smiling. "If I am going to be forced to endure your presence, I can at least make good use of you."

Goku smiled brightly and began to pile the food on his plate. While Vegeta looked back down at his book. "What are you reading?"

Vegeta shook head. "I am not reading. I am studying."

Goku choked and began coughing hard. Reaching out, under Vegeta's fierce glare, Goku grabbed a large glass of orange juice. "What the hell for? Are you going to school?"

"If you must know." Vegeta came to his feet. "I was not raised on this planet, and its bothersome trying to figure out how this planet works by trial and error. You think I just woke up and understood their monetary systems, Social standings, and things like that."

"I never thought about it like that." Goku blinked, looking a bit deflated.

"Precisely! I did not come here as an infant and have some old man hand me everything." Vegeta looked back down at the book, but Goku's laughing brought his head up.

"NO" Goku was trying not to laugh, and failing. "You showed up as a man and got the richest woman on this planet to hand you everything."

Vegeta froze and looked back down at the book to hide his smile. For an added cover he snorted disdainfully.

After a small silence, Goku murmured quietly "Vegeta.?"

"What is it now Kakkarot" Vegeta never lifted his eyes from the pages.

"I was just wondering something." Goku sounded distant. "Are all Saiyans supremely intelligent like you and Gohan?"

Vegeta cringed. This was going to be a hard one. How many times had he called Kakkarot and idiot? It was countless. "What is your point?" Vegeta growled

Goku looked back down at the muffin in his hand. The shoulders were ever so slightly slumped. The dark Saiyan eyes refused to rise to face Vegeta directly. "You know I don't have hardly any knowledge of the Saiyan race. You have pointed out countless time yourself." there was a deep sigh. "I don't act Saiyan. At first I thought it was because I was raised here, on Earth, but after going to Vegeta-sei." Goku looked up suddenly "Well I guess it really doesn't matter does it?"

"Kakkarot."

"Yea?"

"Shut up and eat."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Several days later.

Bulma staggered into her bedroom and slumped down on the bed with a loud sigh. Vegeta rolled over sliding his arms behind his head. "It's late."

"We're done." Bulma fell back. The locks of blue hair trailing over Vegeta's lap as shining blue eyes stared at the ceiling with heavy lids. "I know we are two days behind schedule, but Dad insisted we take extra precautions since you and Goku will be traveling together in it. It had to be Saiyan temper tantrum proof, before he was satisfied."

Vegeta sat up and stroked the luminous tresses. "Should I be pleased that he took such an effort, or upset over your lack of concern?"

She yawned and rubbed her cheek into his muscular thighs. "Actually I think if you want to endanger your life by blasting a hole in the ship's hull you deserve what is coming to you."

Vegeta chuckled and lifted his mate on to his lap. "When you wake up tomorrow morning I will be gone."

Bulma leaned up to brush her lips softly against his. "Has Chichi called Goku yet?"

"Gohan called him three or for times a day, as for that over bearing nag, No. She has not eve whispered in the background." Vegeta frowned. "What is beyond me is why Kakkarot is depressed about it."

Bulma shook her head and began unbuttoning her shirt. The soft peach colored nails traced down the front of her yielding cotton shirt. Each finger flicking one tiny button after the other. Thick eyelashes fanned gently as she bit her lip gently in anticipation. She knew exactly what she was doing. She watched Vegeta's dark eyes fixed on the smooth swell of breasts over her satin bra. Shifting suggestively on his lap, she rubbed the rounded curves of her bottom against the newfound hardness that bulged there. "They have been married a long time, and they have a Gohan. There is a lot for him to be upset about."

"What?" Vegeta looked up swiftly, his attention diverted from his lewd thoughts.

"I was talking about Goku..." The mask of innocence was well placed to cover up her truest intentions. Vegeta's hot breath slipped over her neck in a single puff.

Vegeta nodded slowly as his palm, cupped the back of her head. Lean fingers pulled her to him. The Saiyan Princes lips were firm and gentle as the tested his mate's mouth. He felt rather then saw the tremble that wracked her form as she tossed her arms around him. She was always like this, even from the first, so tempting and eager. It was all he could do not to be over come by her zeal. It was up to him to set the pace, which he did with delight. Most would have thought him a rough, passionate lover, and he could be that, but this was his mate. She deserved pleasure beyond compare; no ordinary encounter could have ever sufficed.

Vegeta pressed her to the side pinning her down amongst the over stuffed pillows on their bed. He leaned over her stroking back the silken tangles of her hair and let his eyes roam over what was his. He felt a swell of pride as his eyes seized the mark that was located low on her neck that proclaimed to all, that here was the property of the Saiyan Prince, his chosen mate. Still something nagged at him. Chewing holes of doubt in his consciousness. He had tried to deny it. The thought was stupidity and yet it made so much sense.

Bulma was his Saiyan mate, nothing could be stronger then the bond they had forged, still it mattered little here, this race, and these people. "When I returned." He locked his gaze to hers. "I want that earth ceremony."

Bulma tipped her head back and looked up at him. Her hand that had been playing over the firm contours of his chest stilled. "What?" He had not said what she thought she had heard. Bulma felt her heart pounding in her chest driven by something other than lust. It was all she could do to form the words as she whispered to him. "What did you say?"

"I want you to marry me, in the earth fashion. I have realized that although a Saiyan bond is far superior to your spoken vows of fidelity, the people of this planet don't understand or acknowledge what we have now." Vegeta's voice was low as he said the words she never thought to hear. "When I return, everyone on this planet will know just whose woman you are."

Vegeta was rewarded for his words by her hands running into his hair. The blue eyes were bright with joy the edges shimmered with tears. "My Vegeta! My proud Saiyan warrior! I have waited my entire life for you." She clung to him and sobbed.

Vegeta's eyes narrowed a bit as she crushed the life from him. The woman confounded him at every turn. This was not what he expected. Joy, yes. Tears, no. He moved his hands down her body until the came to her tight little rear and grasp each cheek in his hands lifting her so that she was pressed full against him. "You did not forget what we were about, did you woman?"

Cupping his cheek in her hand she kissed him, then moved on to prove she had not forgotten anything, and that there were still a few things even a prince could learn.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*< br>
Goku dropped the phone back on the hook. His back was straight. Chichi was still not speaking to him. Whatever he had been expecting from her, it had not come to pass. It had been an entire week. He had gone longer than that while training and it never seemed to matter. This was different though. There was no taking back what had happened, to the changes that had taken place in him. Gohan had said very little. Leaving it pretty obvious that Chichi was in the room with him every time he called.

"Vegeta is already on the ship." Bulma said quietly from behind him. Goku jumped and whirled around to face his long time friend, the person he had known the longest. She walked over to him and set a gentle hand on his arm. "She is still not speaking to you, is she?" Goku smiled weakly and tilted his head to the side, not meeting Bulma's eyes. Ever since that first morning she had looked at him differently. There was something in her eyes that went right through him. It was obvious that Vegeta had told her what had happened on Vegeta-sei. Not that Goku really cared who knew any more. It was something else. "I will talk to her while you're gone, Goku." Bulma announced slapped her hands together and rubbing them fiercely. She actually looked like she was relishing the idea.

"Bulma." Goku said his voice was deep with warning. " I don't know if that is such a good idea. You know how Chichi can be. I don't think you should go out there and cause trouble.

"Peh! Some one should cause her more trouble!" Bulma turned crossing her arms. "She has her comfy quiet little life up there on MT. Paozu, it's about time some one shook some sense into her! Even you, Goku, are entitled to a few mistakes."

"That's the problem. Bulma." Goku whispered.

Bulma looked back over her shoulder at him. When he didn't respond to her she turned completely. "Goku? What do you mean?"

"I mean it was not a mistake. I don't regret what I did. I told Chichi as much." Goku looked up and there was a fire in his eyes that Bulma didn't dare challenge. "I am going to the ship now. It's not like Vegeta will wait forever for me." Goku walked past Bulma and then paused. "Take care while I am gone, and please check up on Gohan once in a while for me." With that he left the room with strong strides.

Bulma sank into a nearby chair. "Oh Goku. What are you going to do?" she covered her mouth with her hand and shook her head. This was not going to be easy on him. It was obvious that Goku was already experiencing a rebirth of himself. He had learned so much about himself and his people already. If Vegeta was successful in finding their mother there was no telling what kind of changes would take place.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*< br>
The explosion shook the ground as the transformed Saiyan space pod too to the skies. Goku picked himself up off the floor and dusted himself off. "I am surprised you waited for me. Vegeta."

Vegeta kicked back and propped his feet on the control panel. "You're not the only one." He muttered. "You sure took your fucking time about it."

'So you have any idea where we are going to look first?" Goku walked over and leaned on the chair looking out at the darkness of space and the flickering stars that danced and shifted around them.

"My father was thorough in this plan of his. He never even mentioned the planet, race, or coordinates at any time. I am positive he personally plotted the course in each of the body guards ships himself."

"Really?" Goku dropped down in his chair next to Vegeta and drummed his fingers on the armrest. "What makes you so sure?"

"Because, that is what I would do." Vegeta growled. "Frieza had already taken me and his motivates were becoming apparent. There was no one my father could trust other then himself at that time. Under normal circumstances we would be shit outta luck here." Vegeta pulled up a huge image on the mail console of rotating solar systems. "But I worked for Frieza for the majority of my life. I know the areas he frequented and the Saiyan range of space travel as well. Add that to the planets that are inhabitable and those with advanced enough calculations where Cauli would have the most comforts, which would have been as important a consideration to my father as her hidden location."

Goku stared blankly. "Vegeta. I think you are forgetting who you are talking to.."

Vegeta jumped up. "Fine. I will make this simple. She is either." He pointed to the map with his finger "HERE, HERE, HERE or HERE."

"Those are planetary systems.. Vegeta?" Goku choked

"Yes I know. But that is the best I can do. If this were easy Frieza would have found out and killed her. So in this case that harder the better." Vegeta observed the map silently. This could take years. He walked away from the console to the huge window. Resting his hand on it he wondered how long it would take to return to Earth.

"I am sure it wont be that long." Vegeta spun around in stunned shock to see Goku stretching out. "We'll find your mom and you'll be back in Bulma's loving arms before you know it."

"Are you reading my mind, Kakkarot?" Vegeta ground out as he watched the younger man.

"Nope. That'd be Bulma's job." Goku rose up on one hand and kicked his feet skyward. "Doesn't take a genius to see you're over there mooning over her."

It took all of three steps and a fierce growl before Vegeta was close enough to grab Goku's legs and shoved him to the floor. "Taunting me won't do you any good."

"Darn." Goku stood up. "What if I ate all the food?"

Cringe. "Don't even think about it." Vegeta watched as the orange gi disappeared around the corner. "GET BACK HERE!!! KAKKAROT I WILL KILL YOU!!!"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The wind blew gently through the trees and the branches waved a bit. Dark Saiyan eyes pinned to the heavens looking out at the stars. Frieza and his men had come and gone and yet she had remained alive, the guards that had been sent with her long dead at the hands of his men. Cauli rubbed her wrist where the shinning bracelet remained latched. In the first few days on this planet, Fara, she had screamed and threatened to remove her own hand to be rid of it. She had thought he life was over anyway. King Vegeta was dead, he sons either dead or servants of Lord Frieza. She had found herself without the ability to fight or transform. It made matters worse, her own people, had helped the Faraians, a race of golden haired pacifists, drag her into a room where they had stripped the color from her hair and dyed it to their own shining color. It had not yet sensed to amaze her how she, a blood thirsty savage Saiyan, had been transformed. She reached up and touched the still golden hair. It was, as always weaved and wrapped up behind her to hide it's spiky rebellious nature. She looked the part perfectly.

That is what had saved her that day Frieza had arrived. Rumors had passed to him over the five years since he had destroyed Vegeta that Saiyans were residing on Fara. He was determined to find them or kill the entire population of Faraians. Cauli remembered the looks on the faces of warriors as they left her. It was not in their nature to die without a struggle, and so she knew there would be a struggle. Cauli still despaired wanting to go with the last of her race. It did not seem fair that she had no hand in the avenging of her people. In the end it was worse. She was, to her knowledge the last Saiyan alive. It had been a slaughter. Frieza, himself not taking part in the killing, but allowed his men to have sport with them. It was not like the Saiyans had not taken any of Frieza's men with them, but in the end there had just been to many. That is what Cauli had been told. She had not been allowed anywhere near the fighting. Instead "her highness" had been bound and gagged and hidden away.

It was only a few days after that tragic day Cauli had learned there was a pair of bond mates that had left together. Before they had gone however they had left their child with a Faraian mage. He had used his magic to hide the child from discovery. Cauli had demanded to see the child. Cauli had lost everything she had ever known and was now being forced to adapt to a way of life she did not agree with. It was agreed soon after that Cauli would be the best guardian for the two-year-old Lettice. It was not only true that Cauli was the best suited, but there was no one on the planet willing to oppose the Saiyan Queen. Although her ki was restrained she was still training and deadly in hand to hand combat.

The magical Faraian people had welcomed Cauli and little Lettice as one of them. There was nothing that was denied. King Vegeta had done his work well. Cauli turned her head and listened to the wind. She had a wonderful peaceful life here for many years, but doubt still nagged at her. Vegeta, her son, heir to the Saiyan throne was with Frieza. The child she would sacrifice anything for. He was the symbol of everything she had ever held sacred and important. Cauli would do anything to know where he was and how he faired. There was always Bardock's son to consider as well. King Vegeta had sent him off to a remote world. She could only hope that he was doing well there, and training hard.

"There you are!" Cauli spun around to see her adopted daughter floating down next to her. "I have been looking all over for you."

Cauli spun with her staff in hand. The rings that hung around the large golden loop rang out like chimes. "I thought you were off studying."

Lettice's shoulders drooped. "Not you too!? I can't take it anymore. It's just not natural to stay stuffed in a musty room on a day like this."

Cauli leaned the staff against the tree and began to unpin the flowing veils. "So you want to spar?" She stretched a bit. "Remember to be gentle with me. You're getting to powerful for me."

"If you think I am going to fall for that you have another thing coming." Lettice dropped into a stance. "I have had my ass kicked far to many times by underestimating you."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Goku slumped on the floor. "I might never move again." He looked over at Vegeta who struggled to lift his head. "How long have we been sparring?"

"Hand to hand. no energy blasts." Vegeta gave up and lay motionless on the floor. "I think it's been about three days."

Goku's stomach roared. "No wonder I am hungry." He held his aching stomach and whined "But I am to exhausted to move let alone get any food."

Vegeta chuckled darkly and resumed his struggling to get up. "HA Kakkarot to weak to eat, huh. I have you on the ropes now." Rolling over to his hands and knees he added, "My time of victory is at hand."

"That might not be to far from the truth Vegeta." Goku nodded as he leaned back against the wall to rest. "But I am closer to the senzu beans then you are."

"You no good dirty cheater!" Vegeta staggered to his feet. He looked up to see Goku pulling himself up against the wall and inching toward the forgotten bag. "How dare you call yourself a hero!"

"Hey! I am a Saiyan. What ever it takes to win." Goku picked the bag up and set it on his lap. Pulling the zipper, he reached in the depths and pulled out the little bottle. Dumping one senzu in his open hand. Goku pondered it for a second and then he popped it in his mouth and closed his eyes.

Vegeta growled low, as he set his menacing glare on Goku. This was a side of Kakkarot he had known was there, but had not seen much of. Yes, it was true his younger brother was fun loving and mischievous as he was powerful. Still no one else would understand the burden carried by Goku like he did. The strongest fighter in the universe could not afford the luxury of taking breaks. There would forever be some one out to topple him and claim the title from him. In a way Vegeta was glad that he had yet to succeed in beating Goku. It was easier to fight to achieve a goal. Protecting the prize was not something Vegeta relished the thought of. Enemies and rivals could pop from anywhere. Vegeta begrudgingly admired the naturalness that Goku carried his burden with, and yet Vegeta knew, that Goku would fight to and beyond the death to keep his status.

"Heads up!" Goku shouted and Vegeta lifted his head to see a senzu flying at him in a large graceful arch. Vegeta opened his hand and captured the bean in a firm grasp. "See you're not that badly off! You caught it." Goku got to his feet. " I need to get something to eat. Coming?"

Vegeta nodded as he lifted the bean to his mouth "I will be there in a minute." He waited until he heard the door whoosh open before he added "And Kakkarot."

"Yea Vegeta?"

"You had better make enough for both of us."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Lettice strolled through the main gate at the Sprit of Light Academy for Young Mages and Magesses twirling her staff. There was a group of other students standing there. "Lettice! We missed you at Class." One of the girls left the group walking over to her. "I brought you a list of everything we covered so that you can keep up."

Lettice looked at the paper for a second and then scowled. "Thanks a lot." She knew that Azale was merely trying to help her.

"Is that a black eye?" The blonde head tilted to the side.

A huge sigh escaped Lettice as she shook her head. "I doubt it's black, maybe a bit puffy." That was the trouble with Faraians, so damn sensitive and touchy. The groups had moved around her and were talking about their plans for later that day. Study was the main goal of all Faraian society. They strove to learn about everything. Being a highly intelligent race, they had such vast resources of information that no one could ever learn it all in a lifetime. Not that Lettice was inclined to try. Although she was born on this planet, she was by far not a Faraian. Being a Saiyan in a culture that scorned violence of any type was hard enough. There was no situation that could not be talked through. Lettice growled thinking about the amount of bookwork she would have to catch up on.

Azale laughed and patted Lettice on the back. "It wont take you long and I am sure you can use the new spells to work some manner of unprovoked violence." Lettice withheld her amusement at the girl's words with a side- glance that was completely expressionless. "Now that I know I have completely ruined any chance that you might have had at any fashion of a good day." Azale waved "I must meet Jozah for lunch."

"Is he buying?" Lettice sighed.

"No, I am." The dark amber eyes opened wide with question. "Why?"

Lettice gave an evil smirk and dropped her arm around the other girl's shoulders. "Good you can redeem yourself. Plus it has been forever since I have seen your mate."

Azale laughed. "Very well. Speaking of mates." There was a sly expression on the delicate features.

"No." a curt reply

"No? Come on Lettice you can not remain alone forever." The statement was simple, but far from true. Lettice would never allow herself to bond to a Faraian. That was a disaster she was all too pleased to avoid.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*< br>
Vegeta could scarcely believe his luck. He held the little blue alien by the throat. "You had better not be lying to me! The Saiyan with me is the one who destroyed Frieza, so it would be nothing for him to take out your entire planet."

"Me no lie you!!" the little fellow squirmed to be free. "I see talk of Saiyan on Fara!! Frieza think kill all, but he no know!"

"If you have lied to me, you wont be living long, you got that?" Vegeta shook the alien once more before dropping him. He let his eyes flash blue for the briefest of moments. It was all that was needed to send the little imp running for cover. Turning he walked back to the shop where he had left Goku.

Goku was surrounded by the little blue Zolakies. They were staring up at him with awe as he ate. One blinked its four little black eyes at him and asked "You really be one kill evil Ice-Jin?" It looked him up and down. "You no seem dangerous."

Vegeta scowled. "He's not." Leaning down at the creature as he cowered away he proceeded. "Did they give you the supplies you asked for, Kakkarot?"

"WE GIVE!! WE GIVE!!!" they huddled in a little group shouting loudly. The reputation of the Saiyan Prince was well known, and if this other Saiyan was as strong as they were saying there was one thing they wanted from the duo. For them to leave and quickly

"Vegeta, you don't have to scare them you know. They gave us everything I asked for and more. They have been very charitable and friendly to me." Goku stepped between Vegeta and the little Zolakies. "Hey, I am sorry he comes off so gruff. I want to thank you for all your help." There was a loud snort of annoyance behind him. "We really appreciate it. If you ever need anything look me up!"

As Vegeta and Goku walked away Zolakie looked at another. "He no Saiyan! He nice."

Vegeta sat down in the command chair. After a quick run through of all the ships functions and a brief look around the exterior he could only marvel at the superior job the Capsule Corporation had done on this new model. There were no defects or bugs thus far. Which was going beyond his initial expectations.

"I checked everything out, Vegeta." Goku walked in and sad down. "The interior and the supplies have been restocked. We're good to go."

"Yes" Vegeta smiled. "And I have a lead. One of those blue twerps heard a rumor there is a Saiyan alive on a planet called Fara. It fits the class planet that my father would send Cauli to. It's also remote enough and useless enough for Frieza to have left it alone. I think we got lucky."

"To Fara then." Goku kicked back in his chair. "I can't wait to see your mom! The things I can tell her about you."

"You don't know the half of it."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Cauli sat up straight, her breathing coming in gasps. Lettice stepped back letting go of her mother's shoulders. "You were dreaming again." Cauli put her hand on her forehead and nodded. "I think you need to see a healer about this. They are getting worse, I think your screaming is going to bring the house down."

Cauli tossed the blankets aside and got out of the bed. Taking up the sheer robe into her hands she strolled across the glossy wooden floor to the open window and looked out. In the deep blue-black sky hung a huge moon with a glowing aura around it. "I figured as much." Cauli muttered. "You had your tail removed when you were very young, Lettice. I don't think I ever mentioned to you about the role of the full moon in the Saiyan race, have I?"

"The moons? I don't think so." Lettice stared at Luminous the largest and closest moon to the planet. Tiu, Vallis and Io the smaller and more distant orbs where hardly visible, being far to drown out by Luminous's radiant light.

Cauli chuckled and shook her head. "The planet Vegeta had only one moon. Which only became full every seven years. Although we did use the full moons from other planets and an energy generated orb to transform as well."

"Transform?" Lettice felt her skin prickle. "Saiyans can transform?"

"Yes, we called it the Oozaru. It's a huge ape like form that gives us great power but at great cost. We are killing machines and rampage until the moon sets or it's light is blocked from our sight." Cauli turned. "Unlike you, I have experienced this transformation. That is why I am more sensitive to the full moon."

"Why didn't you tell me about this?!" Lettice walked to her mother's side to stare up at the huge white light.

"I never thought it important." Cauli shrugged and walked back into the room pulling the blanket up around her as she sat on the bed. "Can you tell me what I was yelling about tonight, or was it just more gibberish."

Lettice turned and wrung her hands. "I actually did make part of it out." Dark eyes meet and Lettice took a long fortifying breath. "You were screaming for Vegeta, your son. Cursing Frieza as well." Cauli flinched. Hearing that she was still so internally damaged from the day Frieza had taken Vegeta after all these years. There were some wounds even time could not heal. "Mother, if you want to talk about Vegeta-sei, I would not be opposed to hearing about it. I admit, I am very curious to know more about my people. What they were like and how they lived."

"It's very painful for me Lettice." Cauli shook her head. "All of our people are dead, aside for us. I think maybe we should just continue to get on with our lives and leave that horror behind."

Lettice patted her mother's hand and kissed her forehead. "I understand. Try and get some sleep. I am going to make something to eat." Even though Lettice left Cauli alone she still wondered lots of things. There were so many things that never quite added up. First off, how had her real parents and Cauli ended up here on Fara, so very far from Vegeta-sei? Cauli had obviously adored the planet so very much to name her first-born son after it. Then there was the bracelet that she wore. The one time that Lettice had asked why she never took it off Cauli has answered her simply. Saying she could not remove it, that some one else special would have to do that for her. Lettice shook her head and walked into the kitchen. The one thing she knew for sure was pushing her mother for answers would not solve anything. Knowledge always comes in its own time that is what Arch Mage Io always said.

Tossing her hair she picked up a red piece of fruit out of a basket and shrugged. Who was she to argue with an Arch Mage?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Vegeta set the ship in an orbit around the glistening golden planet. How many times had he passed this quadrant of space? It must have been countless. He had traveled constantly since he had begun his life as one of Frieza's henchmen. To know that his own mother had been alive and well not but a few hours out of his way was like another knife in his gut. There was comfort in the face that if he had remained to clueless then perhaps so had Frieza.

"Do you think she is down there?" Goku leaned over the console looking at the computer-generated image of the planet below them.

Vegeta felt a sense of certainty deep within him. There were countless strong ki's on that planet, and Cauli could be any one of them. "Lets take the ship down there."

Goku nodded and looked over the control panel. "So umm so how would I go about doing that again?"

Vegeta glared. "There is no way you're that stupid, Kakkarot! How many times have I shown you?!?"

Goku smiled and rubbed that back of his neck. "I know, I know, but to be honest every time you start talking about this stuff my mind wanders." Vegeta gave him a blank look. "I cant help it I start thinking about food and fighting and."

"Kakkarot."

"Yea?"

"Either you figure out how to land this ship right now, or you are not eating today." Vegeta went back to starring at the golden glow. "Is that clear?"

With a sigh Goku slid into the chair and began the landing process. "Crystal."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*

The door to the conference room burst open and a young man shouted, "There has been an unidentified ship entering the atmosphere not far from Kali-ten- yur."

The group of students murmured amongst each other. The head scholar held up his arms to quiet them. "Please calm down." He turned on the viewing monitor and the class stared in silence.

"As far as we can tell this is a new craft to our knowledge, although it does appear to be fashioned after the original form of the Saiyan space pods that." All eyes moved to Lettice whose eyes grew as wide as saucers. Jumping up she grabbed her staff and raced out the door.

"Lettice!! Lettice, Come back here!" the head scholar raced after her.

Azale drummed her fingers on her desk. "She must have forgotten to tell us she had relatives dropping by."

Lettice had no idea what she was going to encounter, but if they were Saiyan. Her heart was hammering in her chest. Was it possible that others had survived? She pushed open the huge oaken double doors that graced the front of the Academy. She ignored the shouting behind her as she took to the air. The fact was all he life she had been taught the Saiyan race was a warrior race, whose main revenue was the purging of other alien worlds. There was no doubt she was just as scared as she was excited.

She reached the landing site after a full hour of flying at intense speed. Coming to a stop she looked at the white and black ship. The design on it was obviously some sort of written word. It was still unlike anything she had seen before. She slowly rotated in the air around the craft.

"YOU THERE!" a strong voice came from behind her. Lettice reacted out of shock. She spun and around flipping her staff in hand shot and ice blast at the intruders to Fara.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Vegeta looked around. There was no one around to greet them, something no so typical of a peaceful people such as the Faraians. "I don't like this Kakkarot." He growled low. "This does not seem right.

"Maybe they were all just busy? Give them some time Vegeta." Goku followed him in his typical slow relaxed gait. He too a deep breath and looked up. "This is a pretty nice planet, Vegeta. I bet your mom would have liked it here."

"You can ask her when we see her." Vegeta headed away from the ship toward a clump of trees. "Let's scout out a bit and see what we can find."

"Don't you think we should stay near the ship?" Goku blinked "Just in case some one comes?"

"I don't think any one is coming." Vegeta snorted.

"I doubt that cause there is a girl handing over the ship right now." Goku pointed over to the raven-haired woman that was slowly circling the ship.

Vegeta would recognize a Saiyan a mile away. He rushed forward shouting "YOU THERE!" He had forgotten just how touchy the Saiyan race was. In a flash she spun on him and the staff in her hand was thrust forward. The rest happened so fast that most of it was a blur. The staff flashed blue and a wall of ice soared through the air at him. Vegeta jumped into the air to avoid it. He looked up at the girl who pulled the glowing staff back to her chest and prepared for combat. So she wanted to fight the Saiyan Prince, so be it. It was then Vegeta noticed Kakkarot using his instant transmission to appear behind the girl. Vegeta charged.

Lettice raised her staff back over her shoulder preparing a barrier chant. She never expected the sickening crack of her staff off the assailant behind her. She turned and saw the burly Saiyan male in the orange uniform holding his face. "Oh. I didn't. I am sorry!! Does it hurt?" Well of course it hurt!! In fact she hoped it hurt like hell. How dare they scare her like. THEY! The other one! Just as she remembered she was seized by the leg and swung around. The next moments were full of pain as she slammed into the earth leaving a crevasse where she landed.

"Kakkarot are you alright?" Vegeta watched the ground for a trace of movement.

Goku rubbed the left side of his face. "KAMI! That hurt!" The blood trickled off the wound.

"Well, be more careful." Vegeta stated. "She is getting up."

Lettice staggered to her feet. She thought Cauli hit hard. Now she knew that was nothing compared to the full-unrestrained power of a Saiyan warrior. The one who had thrown her had even been holding back. She could tell by the hesitation in his grip. Lettice raised her staff and hit the ground on her left and right side. Then flipping the stand in a graceful spin she embedded it with in the ground before her summoning up the planet's dirt sprits. Normally used for farming and simple excavation, the huge hands formed of mud and clay rose up under her control.

"V...V. Vegeta?" Goku choked looked down at the huge monstrous arms reaching out of the ground. "What is that thing?!"

"I don't know." Vegeta dove to the side to avoid being grabbed by the hulking mass. "Just don't let it grab you."

"I'm trying!" Goku dodged to the left and then to the right and then forward. "I AM TRYING!!" It did not take long before Vegeta was seized with on swift twist of the hand. He threw his head back and shouted as he tried to break the restraints. Goku rushed to him and pulled on the huge clay finger that wrapped ever tighter on the Prince. "I can't get it!!" Goku gritted his teeth and pulled back. He failed to estimate the speed of the other hand that grabbed him and held both him and Vegeta captive.

Lettice held her hands in two fists as she looked up at the trapped Saiyans. She was panting with exertion. Ok, she had them. Now what? She did not have long for her debate as both Saiyans let out howls of rage. Shimmering yellow light broke though the mud breaking them free and crumbing the dirt back to the ground. Lettice found herself staring at the two golden fighters that hovered before her before her and swallowed hard. Their power had risen by an unfathomable amount and both sets of piercing blue eyes rested on her. She was Saiyan. She would not show weakness, she would not back down. She smirked and pulled her staff free. Twirling it around her she dropped into a stance that Cauli had taught her. Let them come.

"Vegeta" Goku gave Vegeta a side-glance as he stared at the warrior on the ground before him. "I don't think she's going to back down from this fight."

Vegeta nodded is full agreement. "Neither do I. That leaves us little choice." Vegeta moved in front of Goku and added, "Here is the plan. I charge her full out you, use the instant transmission to get behind her and knock her out." Goku nodded and Vegeta charged full out. The girl bent her knees and prepared for the assault. There was a blue of movement behind her. Lettice gasped and began to spin around, but she was just not fast enough. A single hand shot out and hit her between the shoulders and all was black before she ever hit the ground.

"CEASE!!!" Another shout echoed around them as a group of cloaked forms descended on the battlefield. "By what right do you come to our planet and provoke violence among us?" the leader stood rigidly still.

"That girl." Vegeta snarled landing next to Goku and pointing to the ground where Lettice's form lay sprawled out. "Attacked us. We have come in peace to... find..." A woman charged forward tossing the hood of her cloak back. The golden hair was perfectly styled on her head as she rushed to the girl's side. She had changed drastically, and yet her face and those soulful black eyes were still the same. Cauli the Queen of the Saiyan race, his mother was alive.

Cauli practically skidded on her knees as she bent over the prone form of her daughter. "Lettice, sweet spirits baby, wake up." She held her hands only fractions of an inch from the pale skin, but feared touching it. Cauli was a Saiyan and not easily given to tears, instead she gnashed her teeth in rage. She looked up at the intruder before her. The sun was blocking his features from her eyes as she snarled "You! You did this to her!" She gathered her skirts and climbed to her knees "She is only a young woman! What kind of monster would do such a thing to a defenseless girl?" she looked again at the face of her daughter's assailant and bit back as gasp. "Bardock?"

The man's eyes flickered with stunned surprise at the name and then locked on someone behind her. Closing her eyes she sensed the familiar aura in the air. No it could not be. She would not dare to even hope it. She barley had the courage to turn around. Part of her was dreading what she would see. When the sight of the crown Saiyan Prince filled her vision, it was immediately washed away in a blur of hot tears. Cauli dropped to her knees and bowed her head. It was not just out of respect, but the fact she could not have stood if she had wished to. "Prince Vegeta! I apologize for my rudeness!! Please forgive me for my indiscretion!"

A murmur ran through the group and soon all began dropping to their knees before the Saiyan Prince. They bowed their heads and the leader dared to look up. "Cauli says you are Prince Vegeta of the Saiyan race. If this is so we forgive your brash arrival, and humbly offer you sanctuary here on this planet from any who wish to harm you, mighty Prince."

"Damn, Vegeta they really seem to like. wait a second!" Goku looked at the women before Vegeta. "That's Cauli?!? That's your mother?"

Cauli stared up at Goku and then braved a looked at Vegeta. He put his hand out to her. He wished the silent tears that were streaming down her face would cease. It was making it hard for him not to hold back the dabs of moisture that were collecting at the corners of his eyes. "Yes she is."

Cauli shook her head slowly as she came to her feet. "Who? Who could have possibly told you that?"

"It's a long story. " He looked into the dark eyes that were the mirror image of his own. "There is something else I want to tell you" He paused before he added "Mother."

Cauli felt her breath catch as she heard the word out of her beloved son's mouth. The child that she had borne out of love was standing before her. He was alive and well and he knew who she was. It really did not matter to her in the slightest how he found out. He knew and that was enough. He had grown so much, and into the image of his father, her one true love. It had her heart aching in bitter irony. King Vegeta still lived on. She could see it more clearly then she had since that day he sent her away. He stood before her now in the form of their son. Closing her eyes against the tears she sent her thanks to whatever deity had made this possible.

Lettice stirred a bit on the ground. She awoke with the flickering of think lashes. She suppressed a moan of pain as she sat up rubbing her now numb shoulder. Looking up, the young Saiyan stared at her mother who was in tears before the somber intruder. Lettice looked over at the other one who was smiling brightly as the scene unfolded before them.

Vegeta looked over at Goku. "I think you should know that I came from the planet earth. The Saiyan there is known as Goku, but his given name was Kakkarot." Vegeta watched his mother pale and spin around.

"It can't be." Cauli's voice was barely above a whisper. She walked over to Goku and set her hand on his cheek. "Little Kakkarot? My little Kakkarot?!?"

Goku stepped back giving her and odd look before moving his gaze to Vegeta. Lettice, still on the ground, looked to Vegeta as well "What is she talking about?" Goku asked tentatively.

"It means, Kakkarot." Vegeta stared at Goku with a deadly serious expression. 'That you and I share the same mother," He watched the denial flashing in Goku's eyes. "Cauli is your mother, and I." Vegeta stopped and looked away

"And Vegeta is your brother" Cauli stood up straight. "Through me, you share a blood bond. I should have known he would find you Kakkarot. We Saiyans are drawn to our families."

"This is ridiculous!" Goku stared in stunned silence at Cauli for a long moment before cold eyes turned on Vegeta. "It doesn't matter."

"What?" Cauli's head shot up.

"I said it doesn't matter." Goku backed up. "I am Son Goku now. I was raised on Earth by my grandfather Gohan, any life I had or might have had on Vegeta-sei means nothing to me."

"Kakkarot, now is not the time for ." Vegeta started slowly as he watched the effect Goku's words were having on his, no their, mother.

"FOR THE LAST AND FINAL TIME!" Goku shouted "MY DAMN NAME IS GOKU!" He turned and added before he flew off. "And you're no more my brother then Radditz was, and you see how far that got him."

Cauli gapped and looked to Vegeta "What did he mean by that."

Vegeta just scowled and looked at the ground. He only managed to come eye to eye with the Saiyan Lettice who stared up at him, shock, awe and a lot of resentment dancing in her eyes. Damn, this was not tuning out like he had envisioned it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"What do you mean that they are your sons?" Lettice held a platter of food in her hands and Cauli set various foods on it. Cauli had seen the questions in her adopted daughters eyes. It was clear that the girl was struggling within herself. "DAMN IT!" Lettice was shaking when she shouted. "Don't you think I have the right to know? The Supreme counsel members bowed to Vegeta! They called him PRINCE!"

Cauli stopped moving and looked to her daughter. "I didn't say anything cause I really didn't think it would matter any more." The girl before her was all Cauli had clung to. The only thing that remained from her old life, for all those lonely years since Vegeta-sei was destroyed. "Vegeta is the crown Price of Vegeta-sei, his father and I were lovers for a very long time." Cauli tried to block the image of the man she had loved from her mind. She saw him enough in her dreams. She prayed his ghost would leave her in peace at this trying time.

"You're the Saiyan Queen!" Lettice gasped. The platter that had been almost unnoticeable in her hands seemed to gain weight until it as pulling her down. "It's true isn't it? That is why you and my parents were sent here to Fara." Lettice felt her eyes growing wide. " That is why Frieza came and then they died protecting YOU!"

Cauli could not deny it as she hung her head. "It's true. King Vegeta made me the Saiyan Queen mere hours before I was sent into exile. It was to protect me from Frieza."

"So you have only been a mother to me out of pity?" Lettice set the tray on the table behind her. "I was orphaned, because of you, and to make up for your guilt you took me in." The girl turned stalking from the room.

As she reached the door she saw Vegeta standing there, his dark eyes glaring at her with disapproval. Lettice slowed her stride and gave him a mock bow. "Your highness." The hurt caused her to push brashly past him and continue on her way.

Vegeta snarled, and decided he would deal with the girl later. He looked to his mother who was visibly trembling. Silently he walked over to her. For a long moment they stood in silence, and then he reached out, and set his arms around her. "It will take time for them to adjust to this new turn of events."

Cauli turned her face in to her oldest son's chest and did the one thing she had wanted to do for years. She sobbed.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Goku sat on the bank of a crystal clear stream. The water moved over the stones, leaving rippling patters on the water. Was it true? Was Vegeta really his brother, and that woman, his mother? He sincerely doubted that it was a lie. Vegeta would never make something like that up. He and Cauli had not had the time to plot it either. He didn't want a family. It was hard enough dealing with Chichi. Things were different with Gohan though, more natural, almost relaxing. Cauli's words echoed in his head. "We Saiyans are drawn to our families." That would explain a lot. Why he had spared Vegeta, when Krillin was about to kill the Prince. Yes, he knew it was most likely a mistake, and yet every fiber of his being had cried out that it was wrong. A deep sigh wracked his form as he pulled up a fistful of grass and let the wind carry it from his open palm. What was he going to do now?

"Deep thoughts?" The feminine voice caused him to turn. Lettice stood behind him resting her weight against her staff.

"You." Goku turned from her and looked out to the horizon before him once again. "For once, I am not in the mood to fight."

"I did not come here to fight." She whispered. "In fact I was not looking for you and did not think I would find you here. Kakkarot?"

"Ignore what they are telling you." Goku snorted and wrapped his arms around his legs. Resting his chin on his knees he added, "My name is Goku, and I am from a planet called Earth."

"You look Saiyan enough to me." Lettice said quietly, " But I am not about to argue with you about it. You see, I am a Saiyan, but I was born here, on Fara. I never set foot on Vegeta-sei because it was destroyed before I was ever born. That makes me a native Faraian despite my appearance. So I can understand where you are coming from, Goku."

"Are you my sister?" Goku felt sick asking. Although after today he would not pass of the possibility of any relationship. Radditz, his brother, Vegeta, his brother, Bardock, his father, Cauli, his mother, who had Nappa been then, his uncle? Goku thought sarcastically.

"My parents were low level warriors from Vegeta-sei, or so I have been told. Frieza killed them when I was only two years old. I don't even have any memories of them." Lettice looked down at the sullen warrior. "Although you can call me sister. By the Farian's law and decree I am the legally adopted daughter of the Saiyan called Cauli."

"Oh that's just great!" Goku muttered standing up and looked over at Lettice with bitterness in his eyes. "She shot me off to a distant planet when I was barely three days old and then adopts another child." Sarcastically he attached "I guess she really wanted a girl."

"I have to defend her there." Looked at Goku and her young eyes noticed the sudden similarities to his mother. However slight they were, they were still there easy to see for the knowing eye. "Cauli only took me in because I was the last Saiyan around. She is a good mother, and a caring person. I hope you take the time to get to know her." She felt the heavy hand drop on her shoulder and looked up.

Goku smiled and nodded. "If she can raise a child like you, I am sure she is an excellent mother." Looking past her, his stomach rumbled. "So, Sis, any idea where I can get some food."

Lettice laughed and linked arms with the bulky Saiyan warrior. "If I know mom it's on the table waiting for us. We had better get there before we get in trouble."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*

"He did what!" Cauli clasped her hand over her mouth as Vegeta recounted tales over the tabled that was piled with several tasty foreign dishes. "I can't believe my son defeated Frieza!" Vegeta nodded at her and Cauli could not contain her delight. "Bardock would have been bursting with pride! He was such a solider. All he ever really cared about was fighting, that is why. well that is why we seemed to fit so well. He didn't care anymore then I did."

"I am sure my father did not agree." Vegeta scowled into his cup. "Then again, I am grateful. I would have lost my life that if Kakkarot and his friends had not been there."

"I would have attributed your ability to transform into a Super Saiyan to your father, but now I don't know." Cauli murmured. She did not know what to make of this. Both her sons had attained the unattainable in such a short period of time. Vegeta was a strong and proud prince. King Vegeta would have delighted in his son, had he lived. Then there was her little Kakkarot; he was, from what she was told, gentle caring and infinitely powerful. The amount of training and dedication it would have taken for him to raise to where he was today was astounding. Cauli and Bardock had both been low level warriors, but then Bardock had grown stronger with each battle. There was no doubt had he lived he would have broken through the classification to an elite at the very least.

"It's defiantly genetic." Vegeta looked up. "Kakkarot's brat is on the edge. He will achieve the ability to transform after a bit more training. That is if his nagging, harping mother give him a chance to train."

"Kakkarot has bonded?!" Cauli was still reeling form the fact she was a grand mother. Obviously Vegeta had not given any thought to how she would and was feeling about that bit of news.

"No he has not bonded in the Saiyan way. Instead he has chosen to join his life with a meaningless Earth custom. I shudder to think of the hell he would endure if he ever decided to bond."

"He has adapted well then to his life on his new home world." Cauli nodded. "Lettice refuses to even consider a bond to a Faraian. Although I don't blame her, it would lead to nothing but heartache for her. No man on this planet would ever understand her." Vegeta flushed. It was clear that there was more that he wished to tell her. Cauli was eager to learn all she could about her sons, most especially Vegeta. "What?"

"I have bonded and have a son as well." Vegeta the cup in his hand.

Cauli paled. "You what?" She slapped her hands down on the table.

"An Earth woman, who goes by the name of Bulma Briefs has agreed to be my mate. She has already given me a son. She calls him Trunks, I prefer brat." Vegeta had a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"All in all Trunks is a pretty good kid." Goku stood at the doorway, behind Lettice, his hand on her shoulder. "You have room there for two more?"

Vegeta looked over at Cauli. She bit her lip and nodded at the son she had never even seen until just recently. "Of course Kakka. err..." She cast confused eyes at Vegeta.

"Ignore his temper tantrum, Mother." Vegeta leaned back and sent Goku a challenging look. "He is a Saiyan and your son. He will eventually adjust to the use of his given name. I refuse to call him anything else."

Lettice sat down next to Cauli pouring herself a drink. "I have decided to call him Goku, since that is what he prefers."

Cauli looked over at Goku who was pulling out a plate before him and eyeing up the assortment on the table. "I don't want to offend you overly, but I do prefer Kakkarot, because that is who you are to me."

Goku nodded "You can call me that. It was wrong of me to go off like that."

"So, Lettice, Mother says you are talking of leaving Fara for a time." Vegeta looked across the table. "Would you case to visit the planet Earth with us?"

"I think I would like that. Goku was telling me about it on the way back. It seems like a wonderful place."

"At times." Vegeta looked at Goku. "Mostly if you ignore his loser friends."

"HEY!"

Cauli leaned over to rest her chin on her hand. If anyone had told her that morning she would be watching her three children bickering across the dinner table that morning she would have killed them for their arrogance. Now it seemed like the most priceless of gifts.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
T he sun was rising slowly over the trees as Cauli strolled to her kitchens stretching. She rubbed her eyes and stretched. It had been a busy day yesterday. Today would undoubtedly be the same. Vegeta had agreed to stay on Fara for a while to give Cauli and Lettice time to settle most of their affairs and prepare to take a long trip to the planet Earth. To Cauli, who had traveled all over space, this was nothing to be nervous about. Lettice though, was a ball of excited nerves. Lettice had questioned Goku extensively. Cauli chuckled and opened the back door and her eyes popped open. Goku was there drenched in sweat. He kicked a few times then spun around and kicked a few more. Cauli saw the raw determination in his eyes, just like his father. There was no doubt that fighting was a part of him.

Goku formed a ki blast and shot it. Then he instant transmissioned in front of it grabbing the blast with is bare hands. Goku strained to hold the blast back as it pushed him across the grass. Finally he managed to gain control enough to kick it upward into the sky where he formed another blast and sent them both into on huge glowing explosion. The large shoulders rose and fell as he panted and then collapsed on his back.

Cauli walked over and looked down at her youngest son. "Is this how you start every day?"

Goku opened his eyes and looked up. Golden hair was framing the face of an angel. It took him a moment o realize this was no ordinary angel; this was the Saiyan Queen, and his mother. "Morning, Cauli." He tried to rise but only succeeded in flopping back down wearily. Cauli leaned over and put her hand under his shoulder. The tension crackled as his entire form went ridged at her touch. So much unlike Vegeta's tender acceptance. It was clear as Goku shrugged away from her and sat up with his remaining strength that although he had acknowledged her he had not accepted her. "That's ok. I can do this myself."

Cauli stood up and watched him struggled to his feet. "Perhaps you would like something from the kitchen?"

"That would be great. I am starved!" Goku gave her a dazzling grin, that shone with so much sheer delight. Cauli nodded. "Then come with me. We have tons of foods. I would really like to know which you prefer."

"Anything is fine." Goku dusted himself off and walked to the door. Cauli frowned and followed him. She watched silently as he pulled a pouch off the table. He pulled loose the tiny strings and pulled a bean from it. He ate it and shut the bag again; only this time he tucked the bag into the belt at his waist.

Cauli was just about to ask, when Vegeta's voice filtered through the room "It's what we call a senzu bean. It regenerates your body and strength in a mater of moments." He sat down at the table and looked to Goku. "I am sure Kakkarot is feeling much better already."

"How very odd." Cauli tilted her head. "Perhaps you should let one of the Faraian scientists study one. They are very good at synthesizing and reproducing such things. Being organic in nature they would surely find it most fascinating."

"I don't know what Korin would think about that." Goku clasped his hand over the bag. "He has stated on more than one occasion these beans are very hard to grow."

"Maybe the are not native to your earth and thus the hardness in cultivating them." Cauli mused.

Lettice walked in tying a veil to her shoulder. "Beans. GAH! I leave you alone and all you can discuss is beans?" She leaned over the table and plucked a muffin like item from the table. "I am late for the conference at the academy. I am sure they wont give me credit for gossiping about alien beans with my long lost family."

Vegeta snorted. "Aren't you a little old for school?" he stared at the girl for a long moment. "You are what two years younger then Kakkarot? Six years younger then I?"

"That would depend on what your definition of a year is, your highness." Lettice gave him a scathing glance. "As for study, the Faraian's Supreme Planetary Counsel deemed, a long time ago, that knowledge is the true key to peace and power. All Faraian citizens are required to have mandatory learning periods through out their lives. I am filling my quota, that's all."

Vegeta narrowed his eyes, while Goku paled and then shuddered in horror. "I think I would like to sit in on this conference." Vegeta stood up looking from Cauli to Lettice. 'If that is alright with you?"

"By all means, Vegeta! They would be honored to have you." Cauli nodded.

Lettice choked and stepped back. 'I.I guess so. I don't see any reason why not." She looked to Goku. "What about you."

"I guess if Vegeta is."

"Absolutely not." Cauli set a cup and a plate of food on the table before Goku. "You need to eat and take a bath before you are presentable to the Faraian people. Saiyans are considered to be barbarians by many alien races. That does not mean we can run around making it so." She slid into a chair next to her youngest son. "No, you're staying here."

Goku shot Vegeta and Lettice a pleading look, but Vegeta ignored it and Lettice could only sigh. 'She is right and I am running late already." The two Saiyans left the room and soon the slam of a door followed. Goku looked from his plate to his mother then back to his plate. It was time like this one had to sit back and observe their situation. He was at a table with food, while Vegeta was on his way to some institution of higher learning. All in all he felt he made out rather well with the food.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Lettice!" Azale rushed to her friend. "I heard the gossip is it." the girl's teal eye's grew wide as she saw Vegeta coming around the corner behind Lettice. "True?"

"Yes." Lettice looked back at Vegeta. "Vegeta this is my friend Azale. Azale, this is the Saiayn Prince Vegeta."

Azale's mouth opened and closed a few times before her mate Jozah set his hand on her shoulder. With a glance back she collected herself and looked once again at the Saiyan prince. "Please to meet you, your highness."

"Yes, we are very flattered to have you here, Prince Vegeta." Jozah nodded to the Prince. "Please forgive my mate. She is just a bit stunned at your sudden arrival. In fact the entire planet is already raving about your visit."

"Really." Vegeta gave a bored looked and arched an eyebrow at the couple. "Lettice, where is this conference of yours."

"Let Azale and Jozah lead the way. They attend the same ones that I do." Then with a devilish look. "We can sit near them. Perhaps Jozah can explain some of the native terminology to you as well."

"I would be honored." By the look the man gave to Lettice it seemed he was just that. Highly honored to be in the presence of the Saiyan prince, and just as proud to explain the Faraian thinking and society. Azale paled and Vegeta glared at Lettice. Lettice folded her hands behind her back. "And after that you can tell him all about your beans." Vegeta actually growled at her then. This might be a good day after all.

They entered the room and scouted around for a few seats together. It did not take long for a man Lettice knew to wave them over. "Tryd!" she hugged him quickly. "Thanks for saving us a place. I am sure you have not meet Prince Vegeta yet." She was starting to get amused at the way Vegeta gnashed his teeth as her gushy introductions. Then again she pondered. Perhaps she should lighten up a bit. She was going to be traveling to his adopted home world soon. Pay back was always a bitch.

Tryd kindly greeted Vegeta, but after that his eyes were on Lettice. She smiled and squirmed under the steel blue gaze. Damn Faraians, when they had something they wanted to say, they were pretty bold about it. It was clear that Tryd had something on his mind. She doubted he wanted to announce it before the Saiyan Prince.

It did not take long for Tryd to get his chance. The head scholar was quickly informed that the Prince of the Saiyans was in the room and pulled Vegeta aside for some polite conversation and an overly warm welcome to the conference hall. As soon as Vegeta was out of ear shot Tryd turned to Lettice. "I heard that you and your mother are going back into space with them for a while. Is that true?"

Lettice frowned. It really was not any of Tryd concern. He was a friend of her yes, but they were hardly close. "Yes, we have agreed to travel to their adopted home world. They call it Earth. I am very excited, see that this will be my first time off Fara.'"

Tryd looked horrified. "Lettice!" he took her hands. "I don't want you to go!" He frowned and looked deeply into her eyes. "I was not going to tell you this until after the summer solstice, but I wanted to ask you if you would be my mate." He flushed a bit looking down. "After a sufficient wooing of course."

"Tryd?" She choked. "Are you feeling well? Every one knows I would make a terrible Faraian mate. I am Saiyan, rebellious and argumentative."

"You're wrong." He looked unbelievably hurt. "You were born here. You're a bit willful, but I am sure you will grow out of it." Lettice looked up sharply. He smiled "I am not going to take no for an answer."

"I am afraid you will." Vegeta interjected as he moved back to take a seat between the two. "Lettice wont be changing for anyone. She is a Saiyan, and as such she will follow me and her mother to space." He looked at Tryd's angry expression. "Don't worry Romeo. We will be returning her to Fara." Then back handedly he added, "If that is her wish."

Lettice knew that for a Faraian to slip so much, as to show a negative emotion, it was extremely bad. Obviously Tryd had given a lot of thought to this matter. The sad thing was after study hours; she never gave him a thought. Damn, things were getting complicated.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*

"Bad day?" Goku asked as Vegeta and Lettice came through the door.

"Not really." Vegeta stretched. Ever fiber of his being was aching for some physical exertion. Sitting there in a chair for that long was like some kind of exacting torture. The lecture he had listened to was not the most entertaining thing he had ever heard, but by far not with out theory or thought.

Lettice on the other hand picked up her staff. "Speak for yourself. I am going to find something to do. Those lectures are pure torture." She looked at Vegeta accusingly. "You could have at least blasted the head scholar half way through. I could tell you wanted to."

"That's not a very Farain thing to say." Vegeta dodged the bullet. The girl had been right. Half way had been just about enough.

"Yea well I think you could have gotten away with it." She stretched and prepared for a good work out. "That's the kind of behavior they expect from a Saiyan."

"You're a Saiyan." Goku pointed out looking around. "Why didn't you do it?"

Lettice stopped stretching to look at him sharply "And just whose side are you on anyway?"

Vegeta laughed loudly, the sound bringing Cauli into the room. "So you're back! How was everything?"

"Lets just say, as soon as you're ready and we get clearance I want to head back to Earth as soon as possible. This planet is remarkable, but how the two of you have managed to make it in a culture that is anything but inhabitable to the Saiyan race is beyond me." Vegeta looked over at his mother. "And you are wrong. Lettice does so appear to have a Faraian suitor." Lettice gasped and shook her head adamantly. "And he seems rather determined to me. Although I don't think he is ready for the responsibility of a Saiyan mate."

"Could you shut your damn mouth!?!" Lettice raged. She turned and left before she did anything she really regretted.

Goku slapped his hand over his face. "Vegeta!"

"What!" the Saiyan Prince glared over at the bulkier Saiyan.

Goku grabbed the staff by the wall. "Can I use this?" before Cauli could agree he raced out the door after Lettice.

"I don't know what is worse. The disrespect that they talk to you with, Vegeta." Cauli walked over to the door and watched Goku chasing Lettice's disappearing silhouette. "Or the fact he just took my mage staff and has no idea how to use it."

Vegeta walked up behind her. "Oh he knows how to use it."

"He does?"

"Yea, but don't expect it to be in one piece when they get back."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*< br>
Goku ran up after Lettice. "Wait for me! I don't know where you're going."

Maybe that is because I don't want you to know, or to come, Goku" Lettice snarled. "Did it ever cross your mind I just might want to be alone for a moment?"

"Actually no." Goku came up along side her and settled into pace with her. "It's really not fair trying to lose me like that. I don't know this planet of yours well enough yet."

Lettice let out a frustrated scream and spun around. "Goku" She pointed back in the direction of the house. "Go Away."

"Why would I want to do that?" Goku rubbed the back of his neck, a confused expression settling on his face. "You're pretty upset and I don't think being alone will really do you any good."

"It will do me a lot of good! I can pitch a fit! Release this pent up frustration and hurt something!" Lettice tried to keep a level tone as she spoke, but failed miserably.

'The only thing you are going to hurt is yourself." Goku pointed out. 'On Earth I use to train in what we call the Martial Arts., It teaches you how to control your inner emotions while honing your body with complex and difficult fighting skills."

'You need to bring one of those instructors here. That kind of thinking goes against basic Faraian beliefs. How can fighting control your inner emotions? That doesn't make any sense. Isn't combat a form of a loss of control."

Goku stopped and thought about her words. It was a very rational thought, even if it was wrong. "Well, I would ask Master Roshi to come along when we return, but I think it might do more harm then good." Goku lifted Cauli' staff. "What if I try to show you?"

"Sure, my mother, our mother," Lettice corrected herself swiftly. 'Taught me how to use this in combat."

"So I saw when I first arrived, but you don't use it to its maximum potential. That is why you should train. In doing so you burn aggression, and gain a skill. You are accomplishing a goal while aiding your inner peace." Goku dropped into a stance. "Follow my moves."

Lettice sighed and dropped to mimic his stance. "Like this."

"Spread your legs a little more." Goku nodded as she did as she was told. "Yes just like that!"

They spent the next several hours going over forms and mock fighting. Lettice was a fast learner, not surprising considering her Saiyan blood.

"You're doing really well!" Goku smiled as he sat down looking out at the sunset. "You wait until we get to Earth. There are plenty of people there to spar with, physically and verbally."

"Really?" Lettice dropped down beside of him.

"Yup. I spent my entire life fighting, and I would never hurt anyone without a reason." Goku wrapped one arm around her shoulder in a supportive hug.

Lettice sighed and leaned her head back against Goku's shoulder. Maybe that is what she needed. Earth. Yeah, from what Goku had said, that sounded like the perfect place for a fresh new start.

THE END