Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Finding Peace ❯ Parenthood Frays ( Chapter 21 )

~~``` Chapter. Parenthood Frays

I know that it never goes away

all I feel, everything I'm not today

so I try and try to make everything right

I don't feel like I'm doing it, it affects me-- Staind

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Vegeta stared up at the sky, the white puffy clouds dotted the blue heavens, slowly rolling by with the light breeze. He took in a deep, calming breath, filling his lungs with the meat that now was cooking on the grill. Hearing voices, Vegeta turned his head towards it. The harpy held in her hands a clamp thingy, picking up the meat and flipping it. Kakarot was watching very movement of the cooking flesh, saliva dripping from his open mouth. Vegeta sneered at the sight, baring his teeth in disgust. Just as a third class would act if they were still on Vegeta-sei.

The demon woman quickly slapped the wondering hand of the Sayian as he reached for the tantalizing meat. Kakarot acted as if it had actually hurt, holding the appendage close to his chest. Such the weakling he was. But after realizing what the fool was doing, Vegeta chuckled. The woman apologized, kissing his hand while picking off a little meat and feeding it to him. Vegeta turned his eyes as the two shared a kiss.

They've been here for five hours now, and it was getting quiet boring. He knew if he challenged Kakarot for a spar the harpy would quickly hound them about it being Bulma's Birth Day and if they didn't stop immediately, no food would be allowed to the two. As much as Vegeta could careless, his opponent would go running in the opposite direction and stay by his wife's side like the dog he was.

Vegeta closed his eyes, laying upon the blanket where he hadn't moved from since his food. The woman had come by a few times but other then that, left him alone which, regrettably he was thankful for. She knew he didn't like public affection and no matter how much she did like it, she laid off. But damn did he always want to be touching her. She was like a drug to him, one that he was addicted to the first time they took each other on his bed. He could still feel her first touch upon his body, the first time he slept with a woman who wasn't afraid to be with him.

He may have only raped those few times, but Vegeta was never really sure about all the hundreds of times he had been with a female. True he never forced them, let them leave when they wanted, let them do just about anything, and in return let him touch them. But he didn't know if any of those women really wanted it. They stayed because they were afraid what would happen if they didn't. Some other male would be willing to pick them up and violate them so why not be with a man that at least cares to some extent about what they want?

No woman had really just wanted him like Bulma did. That whole night they had made love, waking up the next day in early morning with her still in his arms. He had instantly and carefully gotten from the bed, dressed and was about to leave when instead he sat down in a chair that rested in the corner and watched her sleep for an hour. The whole time he had stared upon her resting body, wondering what the hell had happened. It had scared the hell out of him. He didn't know what they had done. He didn't know what you called the act they committed the whole night. It wasn't like all other times before. Something else was there between the touches and the moans. And not knowing what it was, made him want to leave. And he did. For a year. And in that time, achieve Super Sayian.

Coming back had been, in Vegeta's present state, a mistake. Seeing that child she held in her arms as she stared up at him, he couldn't decipher any words. He just turned around and flew off. It had scared him beyond Frieza's capabilities, he could barely look at himself in the reflection of the lake where he stayed for a few days, trying to contemplate what he was going to do now. It wasn't like he could abandon her. He all ready did that when he left the first time. But now that he knew he had a heir, he couldn't just leave his son. So after many hours trying to figure out what it meant to have a heir, Vegeta headed back.

He entered through his old room window, only to find that it was now the new baby's room. When he looked down into that crib, seeing that lavender hair, the pale features and the light purple tail that was held in the baby's grasp, holding it like it was a stuffed animal, Vegeta was just baffled at the sight.

Oddly enough, he didn't feel anything toward the kid. As he watched the child sleep, Vegeta had to keep reminding himself that this was his brat. His blood ran through this baby's veins. It was crazy. Him having a child. Unheard of! He was only twenty-two years old, that's young in both Sayian and human years to have a baby. All of his plans to go to outer space after the androids and after he defeated Kakarot once and for all were now all destroyed. He couldn't possibly take the child with him until at least four years of age. Did he even want too? But he couldn't leave the young boy. No matter how much he wanted too. It was against his pride and honor to leave behind blood. And then there was Bulma to think of. What was between them? He didn't stay long enough to find out. So many questions attacked his brain.

He stayed in that room, staring at the child for what seemed like hours into the night, trying to give answers to all the questions that roamed about. Until the thing started screaming for some odd reason. Vegeta had quickly hid himself back into a dark corner and watched as Bulma came rushing in, picking the child up and sitting in a rocking chair where she fed him her breast. That picture had frightened him beyond belief. Never had he once seen that, nor known what the hell the woman was doing.

Vegeta came from the darkness causing the woman to gasp and try and cover herself while the child was still feeding, 'What are you doing?' He asked with knitted brows.

'Feeding your child, you jerk.' She quickly bit back, tears nearly springing from her eyes. 'What the hell are you doing here?'

And from then on, the conversation went from bad to worse to futile. Whatever relationship, friendship, or something of that caliber that had been created before his departure had certainly been ruined by it. They argued constantly, never once seeing eye to eye about anything. For a year this went on, the androids came and went, it was only during the ten day break before the Cell games that they finally talked like normal people.

After the cell games, and after he lowered his pride enough to come back, Bulma had willingly opened her heart to him again. It took a lot for him to come home since he had sworn to her the night before the games began, he was going to beat the monster. And instead, a eleven year old boy did it. The Prince of All Sayians failed where a hybrid-child did not.

~~

Bra slowly tip-toed behind the tree, peaking her blue eyes out, watching her father laying on the blanket, eyes closed, breathing constant. He was asleep. She giggled to herself at her devious plan before she counted to three in her head since that was all she could count too and pounced on his stomach.

But her laughter was caught short when her father's hand quickly wrapped around her throat and held her up in the air, his eyes dark and filled with rage. She whimpered in pain as her body dangled there, pleading with her dad to let her go only with her eyes since her voice could only emit painful groans.

Vegeta blinked, hearing a soft cry of 'Daddy' from the form in his grasp causing the haziness to abruptly become clear, giving him perfect vision of his daughter's painful face. He quickly dropped her, watching with wide eyes her hands reach for her neck while she slowly pulled herself to her feet, her eyes filled with tears gazing at him in hurt, "Bra." Vegeta stumbled out, reaching for her arm while she was stumbling backwards away from him, "Bra." He said again but she only pulled from his reach and ran away, crying for her 'mommy'.

Vegeta dropped his head, shaking it in disgust for himself. He ran his hands through his hair, cursing himself to all of the heavens and hells.

Bulma was startled when she heard her daughter's tearing call. The little child ran through the crowd that had all stopped talking to watch Bra quickly bury her head into her mother's thigh as she cried. "Bra, honey." Bulma kneeled down, taking the little girl in her arms and hugging her tight while the child sobbed, "What's wrong?"

"Daddy hurt me." She whimpered, tightening her arms around Bulma's neck.

Bulma mentally saddened but she pushed it away for now, needing to care for her daughter first. Her eyes darted around, noticing all of her friends' eyes on her. Slightly turning her back, "Let me see, what'd he do?" She gently whispered.

"He grabbed me by the neck. He's mean. I hate him." She pouted pulling away so her mother could see what the 'monster' did.

"Does it hurt?" Bra nodded, even if it really didn't. Bulma smiled and kissed the child's neck before gently rubbing it with her hand, "Let's go see daddy."

"No! I don't want to see him ever again."

Bulma ignored her daughter's protest making her way out the screened door, over to her husband who stood with sorrow filled eyes. Bra sniffed refusing to turn around to face the man that harmed her. "Bra, honey, look at daddy."

"No!" She pouted.

Vegeta sighed heavily, not really knowing what to do or say to his child. Bulma saddened her expression as she stared at him, smiling lightly in reassurance. "Daddy's very sorry. He didn't know it was you. Remember what I said about the boogie man."

"Yeah." She whimpered with a sniff.

"He was having a bad dream. He didn't know it was you, baby. You know daddy would never hurt you. He loves you so much."

Bra slowly tilted her head so her cheek laid against her mother's chest, her face soaked with tears as she hesitantly let her eye roll over to her father who was gazing at her sadly, "Would you have hurt me if you knew it was me, Daddy?" Her little fingers picked at her mother's suit straps, fidgeting. Her lip stuck out in a sad pout as she waited for her father's answer.

Vegeta sighed through his nose, stepping closer to his daughter and mate, "Never, Princess."

Bra joggled the statement in her head for a few moments, deciding that he wasn't lying. With uncertainty, she reached her hand out, silently asking to be held. Bulma shifted to place the little girl in Vegeta's arms. He took his daughter in his embrace, holding her tight, taking in her pure scant. "I'm sorry I scared you, Daddy." She whispered into her father's neck, fisting his shirt in her small hands, squeezing with all her might.

"Me too, Princess." Vegeta let his eyes rest on his mate's who gazed at him sympathetically. He slowly stroked his daughter's back, feeling awkward the whole time but wanting to soothe the little female's fright. Something he had caused.

"Why don't you two take a nap?" Bulma kissed her daughter's cheek before she mouthed to her husband, "You OK?"

His answer was turning from her, telling her he was everything but all right. Vegeta sat back on the blanket, laying down, letting the child snuggle into his body upon his chest. Vegeta used his other arm to bring the blanket to fold over her small form as she let her body succumb to sleep, leaving Vegeta to once stare up at the sky but this time with shame.

Bulma sighed as she turned away from her family, stepping back up to the porch where Goku was waiting for her with a smile, "Everything OK?"

"I don't know." She stepped into his arms, wrapping hers around his large waist. "Sometimes everything's fine. But then just one little thing can trigger something off." She rested her cheek against his chest, "Goku, I hate to do this. But could you keep the kids for awhile, I mean once Trunks is better. I don't want to keep him away from them, Son, I'm just so afraid he'll hurt them."

"I don't know if that's the best thing, Bulma. Taking Vegeta's kids away from him is like taking his pride. He won't let you."

"I'll just tell him that they are staying over here as a sleep over or something."

"Just how long do you think Vegeta will believe that? I know you're scared, but Vegeta right now is probably horrified of himself. He needs his kids to keep him in line."

"Then what do you think I should do, Goku?" Bulma pulled her head away to look up at him, "Tell me. What should I do because I will do anything you say if it means keeping the children. Tell me, please."

He gently pulled her back into his embrace, "I don't know, B. I don't know."

~~~``

Bulma laughed out as she watched Chi-Chi roll in her three-story birthday cake. Goku following with drool dripping from his lip before he sat down right next to the birthday girl, eagerly waiting for the moment Bulma said that he could have his share.

Bra wiggled in Bulma's lap laughing happily as Goten tickled her, standing behind Trunks who sat on the opposite side of her. Trunks' slapped the male's hands away in a playful manner receiving a glare from his sister, "Mommy, I want to go to Goten." She insisted as she slid out of Bulma's lap to be instantly picked up by the older half-Sayian and placed on his shoulders.

Bulma sighed turning her view to Goku who had his own arms full with his granddaughter Pan who was also waiting impatiently for the moment to dig into the giant dessert. Bulma looked around, spotting her husband over at the bar, his back leaned against it, facing her with a drink in his hand. More likely it was water since the Sayian rarely ever drank alcohol. She remembered the first time he tried the poison liquid was on their honeymoon. He took one sip of the champagne and flung it across the room, growling that the drink was spoiled.

Bulma laughed as everyone began singing the famous song. Their voices even causing the birthday girl to cringe casting a glance to her husband who wincing at every high note Goku purposely hit. Once done, Bulma took a deep breath and blew out the candles, hurrying to cut the first piece and hand it to Goku who was at the moment sneaking a hand up behind the cake to take a big chunk out without Bulma's attention.

After giving a piece to everyone, Bulma carried hers and Vegeta's up to him, placing it in his awaiting hand with a smirk. "Good, Slave." Bulma just glared sticking out her tongue before sitting next to him and pouring a small glass of rum and coke for herself.

"Trunks!" Goten's voice yelled out above the rest causing Bulma to swing around. "Trunks, are you OK?"

Placing her drink and food down, Bulma hurried over to her son. His head was leaned back against his chair, cake dropped forgotten on the floor. He groaned as he weakly opened his eyes and smiled, "I'm fine." He whispered.

Bulma knelt down before her son, "I think you need to rest."

Trunks closed his eyes miserably, "I think you're right."

"Butor? Are you all right?" Bra pushed her way through the crowd wanting to crawl in her brother's lap only to be pulled back by Chi-Chi. She shook her head to the little girl who frowned up at her.

Trunks let his head fall to the side to face his little sister that was detained at the moment. He smiled, "I'm fine, squirt." She smiled in return.

Bulma sighed silently, standing and stepping behind his chair to wheel him out of the room to one of Chi-Chi's spare bedrooms, Goten right behind her. She pushed the locks to the wheels in place, "Can you lift him?"

"Yea." Goten stated, he stepped to the chair and lifted his buddy to his feet, making Trunks arm wrap around his shoulders stepping carefully to the bed. Goten gently lowered the weak Sayian on the bed receiving a groan in response.

"Thanks Goten." Bulma sat beside her son and leaning down to kiss his forehead. "Go to sleep, baby." Trunks needed no other force to tell him that, closing his eyes immediately and instantly falling into darkness.

Bulma sadly gazed upon her frail son. She knew he wasn't ready for this. She should have never allowed him to stay. He was too weak for this. He only just got over his withdrawal, it was only right for him to be incapable of much else for a couple days.

On Thursday, she had stopped giving him morphine so all day he was in pain from his stomach wound and his right leg which kept on going numb on him. Then during the night Bulma was startled awake by a cry from her son over the communicator and ran to his room only to find him leaning over the bed and throwing up. The whole day on Friday he was puking, sobbing, and groaning in pain since every time his stomach muscles gathered to vomit, it harmed his healing wound.

Bulma was just glad that he wasn't human. For a human it was like instead of morphine it was heroin that had been pumping in Trunks veins for five years. And instead of going through withdrawal for a few weeks, he went through it the whole day and was quiet by nightfall. She was pleased that it didn't last as long as it would have for a human but it was just as painful. She didn't know if she could go through it again. It had been pure heartache to watch her young son reduced to such a pitiful state. Bulma at times had wanted to break and just let his body have the morphine but she knew she needed to be strong for him. It was the only thing she could do.

Bulma straightened the covers before rising meeting her husband in the doorway. "What happen?" Vegeta had stayed away the whole day on Friday, knowing that his son would hate to be seen by him in such a pathetic state. But that didn't mean he didn't stay in the shadows while the boy rested, watching over him.

"He's just weak. That's all. Nothing bad. He should be able to get out of bed by tomorrow." She smiled though Vegeta looked anything but delighted. He turned his back and left the doorway.