Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Hold On ❯ Hold On ( One-Shot )

DISCLAIMER: I do not own DBZ or any of the lyrics used in this fic.

A/N - I was listening to this song last night and it seemed really fitting for a V/B angsty romance fic. It doesn't have any lemon in it, but it has some cute moments.

This fic is dedicated to VGChaos, my friend and follower!

Lyrics from: 'Hold On' by Limp Bizkit.

~*~

You keep your distance

I can't deny you

~*~

Bulma stared at the empty space next to her in the bed. She could hear the tell-tale hum of the gravity machine from outside and tears welled up in her eyes. Just once it would have been nice to have woken up next to him.

Just once.

But that was too much to ask of her prince. He'd told her time and again that he wasn't going to be ruled by 'weak human emotions' as she was.

He was a warrior.

He was strong.

He didn't love her.

Yet even knowing all this, Bulma could never seem to deny Vegeta anything he asked of her. No matter how cold he was towards her she would always give in to him when he turned to her.

~*~

I got the feeling

Can't satisfy you

~*~

Why she gave into him again and again Bulma didn't know. It wasn't as if Vegeta hurt her or threatened to hurt her if she didn't comply with his wishes…it was just something about him that drew her to him.

He needed somebody. Loathe as he was to admit it, Bulma knew that Vegeta needed somebody to be there for him. Maybe he didn't know it yet, but one day he would.

One day he'd know how much he needed her.

Bulma got to her feet and winced; her body was slightly aching from the physical activity she had engaged in with Vegeta last night. She sighed as she saw the slight bruises on her waist and rib cage.

She hated being so weak, being so fragile.

She hated being the one who held Vegeta back from completely giving into his saiyan nature during sex.

She held him back from complete enjoyment. He'd often said so in his crueller moods.

~*~

I got your picture on the wall

I got the picture long gone

~*~

So why did he stay with her? Bulma padded into the bathroom, turned the taps on in the shower and stepped under the warm spray.

As she washed her body an image of Vegeta's face infiltrated her mind. He was so perfect. From his hair to his eyes and from his eyes to his gorgeous body he was the embodiment of perfection.

Bulma stepped from the shower and began to dry herself off, as she did she summoned up another image of Vegeta, this time an image of Vegeta sleeping peacefully with his head nestled on her chest.

He was so beautiful when he slept. He lost that look of fierce stubbornness and simply looked peaceful. It was hard to believe when he slept that he had murdered millions of people in his lifetime.

Bulma walked from the bathroom back into her bedroom and stared at the single picture of Vegeta that she had.

He looked happy in that picture; he was actually smiling for once. Vegeta hadn't looked like that in a long time. The days when he would loosen up a little and smile were long gone; lately Vegeta had only been cold and distant towards her.

Bulma looked back in the mirror and debated telling Vegeta her secret.

~*~

You keep your wishes

I'll keep my feelings

~*~

Vegeta stopped out of the gravity machine and walked slowly back to the house. By now Bulma would be awake and, if he was lucky, might even have started cooking his breakfast.

He should tell her.

Vegeta shook his head at the absurdity of telling Bulma the truth. If she knew the truth she'd lose all respect for him. She's probably laugh. It was better that he kept his feelings to himself.

He walked into the kitchen to the sight of the woman, his woman, setting plates of food down. She looked up briefly and smiled slightly, a crooked smile as though she couldn't quite decide what to say to him.

She put the final plate down and stared at him nervously. "Vegeta…I think there's something you should know…"

"Tell me later." Vegeta ignored the crushed look in her eyes as he sat down to eat. When would the woman stop expecting more from him then he could give? He wasn't about to change his nature just to conform to her wishes.

No, he wouldn't tell her…not yet.

~*~

There goes along the one

That kept me breathing

~*~

"It's important." Bulma sat down next to him and took the fork out of his hand. "It's something that you need to hear."

Vegeta looked up into her face and for the first time registered the uncertainty and fear written there.

She was afraid of him?

"This is probably the last thing on earth you want to hear…but…I can't hide it from you anymore. You would have found out eventually anyway. It's not like I could hide it from you forever." Bulma nervous tugged on her hair and bit her lip.

Next to her Vegeta had frozen. What was the woman trying to say? Had she been having an affair? Was she leaving him? Vegeta's breath caught in his throat.

She couldn't leave him, he wasn't sure he could go on without her.

He'd come to depend on the woman, had come to…

No.

He wouldn't even think it.

~*~

I'm waiting for you

I know you're leaving

~*~

Bulma watched as Vegeta paled next to her. His hand slowly curled into a fist and Bulma nervously took a deep breath.

She could do this; she could tell him…she'd done it before after all. Back when she had still been with Yamcha she'd given him this same speech.

The same speech but different, she'd lied to Yamcha all those years ago, but this time she wasn't going to lie to Vegeta.

She'd been hiding the truth long enough. This time she wasn't going to be deceptive.

This time she wasn't doing this because she didn't want to admit the truth.

This time she was doing it because it was the right thing to do.

"Well, what is it?" Vegeta had apparently collected himself. "What do you have to tell me?"

Bulma noted the defensive tine in his voice and a slight sense of wonderment descended upon her.

Was Vegeta afraid of what she might be able to tell him?

~*~

I still adore you

You never need me

~*~

"Vegeta…I'm pregnant again." Bulma lowered her gaze away from Vegeta.

She didn't want to see how he'd react. The last time she'd given this speech she'd told Yamcha that she was pregnant to him.

But she'd lied to him…she'd told him Trunks was his son, and when she'd eventually admitted that she'd lied about Trunks parentage it had been one of the most devastating moments of her life.

Now she was afraid of what Vegeta might do to her. Mentally of course, he'd never hurt her physically. But mentally he had only to say the same things he'd said when she had told him that Trunks was his and she'd be devastated.

It wasn't like Vegeta needed her; it wasn't as if he couldn't find another woman to sleep with if he decided he didn't want to stay with her any longer. Or even worse - if he decided he didn't want her to have another child.

Bulma closed her eyes as perhaps the most painful though of all forced its way into her mind: Even if he left her she'd still adore him, still love him and do as he asked.

~*~

Hold on

I've found another way to let you go away

~*~

Bulma risked a quick look up at Vegeta face. But she couldn't read any emotion there. He was merely staring straight ahead with a deliberately blank look.

"Is it mine?" He kept his face blank and his eyes off her as he asked.

"Of course it is!" Bulma couldn't help but look hurt at his obvious distrust. But then maybe she disserved it. After all, she'd deceived them all when Trunks had been conceived.

It seemed like such a long time ago now. Yamcha had been cheating on her, she'd found out and had cheated on him in turn with a very obliging Vegeta.

She hadn't expected to get pregnant with Trunks. Her relationship with Vegeta back then had been merely an agreement, nothing more.

She hadn't cared for him and he hadn't cared for her. They had merely used each other for there own reasons. But then…then she had become pregnant and had lied to everyone.

She'd broken it off with Vegeta, had told Yamcha it was his baby and had been pleasantly surprised when Yamcha had immediately said he would marry her.

But it hadn't lasted. Yamcha had cheated again, and Bulma in her anger at him had shocked everyone by admitting who the father of the baby really was; Vegeta.

It was no wonder Vegeta didn't trust her. Now he was probably going to do what he'd done last time.

Leave her.

~*~

Hold on

You've found another way to bleed my soul away

~*~

She was pregnant.

Vegeta watched as Bulma looked away, her eyes already shining with unshed tears. Could she really blame him for having to ask her if it was his? At least this time she had told the truth instead of lying as she'd done last time.

Vegeta ground his teeth at the memory.

It had been bad enough when Bulma had abruptly broken off their very pleasant affair and had told him she was pregnant to Yamcha, but it had been doubly bad when Bulma had admitted that he was the father merely to hurt Yamcha.

It had really hurt knowing that the woman didn't think he was fit to be a father and had though the child would be better off if she pretended Yamcha was the father.

He didn't know why it had hurt. He still didn't know why it had hurt, all he knew was that he'd been angrier then he'd ever been in his life once the hurt had faded.

She had almost undone him all those years ago. Somehow Vegeta had given her a weapon to use against him without even knowing it.

And now she had that weapon out again…maybe she didn't know how much he really needed her.

Or maybe she just didn't care.

All Vegeta knew was that if this child turned out to be another's he'd probably die just from the sheer knowledge that the woman he trusted had hurt him this was yet again.

~*~

The things you told me

To hear you speak

~*~

"I need to know how you feel about this Vegeta." Bulma looked back to him. "I need to know how you feel about me."

"I don't know." Vegeta stood up, suddenly not feeling like eating. "I need to think."

"You know I love you Vegeta." Bulma snaked a hand out and caught his arm before he could walk away. "Don't…don't leave me all alone again."

Vegeta roughly pulled out of her grasp. "If I planned to leave you I'd have said so."

He turned around and stalked back out to the gravity machine, a defensive anger emanating form him as he turned it on and began training again.

He'd lied to Bulma of course.

Not about leaving, but about needing to think. The last thing he needed was to think, he wanted to clear his head. He wanted to drive the voice of the woman out of his head.

He didn't want to hear that anguished tone in her voice when she'd begged him not to leave her all alone again.

~*~

I'm burning slowly

I'm growing weak

~*~

Vegeta continued to train, desperate to drive out the woman's voice which plagued him, but it was to no avail. He couldn't rid himself of it.

She was in his system now; she was almost a part of him, and she was making him weak…so why didn't he leave her?

Why couldn't he walk away before it was too late?

Vegeta stopped the gravity machine and walked back to the house again. He needed to hear the woman say she loved him again, needed her to hold him and reassure him.

Vegeta paused by the door, how had he let the woman become such a large part in his life? How he come to need her so much? When had he started craving her like a drug?

He opened the door and stepped softly inside, half expecting to hear sobbing from the bedroom as he usually did after one of their fights. But this time there was only silence.

Vegeta walked into the kitchen and halted in his tracks when he saw the woman still seated at the table in the same position he'd left her in.

"Bulma?" He used her name as he sat beside her and captured her gaze with his.

"Vegeta?" The question in her voice had a deeper meaning and Vegeta let out a breath he hadn't known he had been holding at the need in her voice.

She needed him too.

~*~

You bring me closer to yesterday

Yesterday's a million miles away

~*~

Bulma could only stare into Vegeta's ebony eyes as he held her gaze, seemingly searching for something in her eyes.

"Did you think everything over?" Bulma mentally cringed at the fear in her voice.

Vegeta wouldn't respect her weakness for him, he wouldn't appreciate that she feared and worshipped him more then anybody else ever would.

"I trust you Bulma; I want you to know that." Vegeta looked down again. "When I asked if it was mine…could you blame me after last time?"

"The past is gone Vegeta. It's a million miles away from where we are now." Bulma scooted her chair a little closer to him, craving his nearness.

"I know it's just that, but I can't help but remember last time." Vegeta suddenly let out a harsh laugh. "And to think I mocked Yamcha for being weak when he became so torn up over your betrayal." He looked up at Bulma's face. Not meeting her eyes just studying her features. "The thought of you with another man…" Vegeta trailed off.

"It hurts you?" Bulma put her hand over his, not put off when he moved his hand away again.

~*~

Why can't you hear me?

Why can't I see you?

~*~

Vegeta didn't answer immediately. "The thought of you with another man…and the knowledge that you cheated before when I was the other man, it makes me doubt you." Vegeta watched the pain play across her face and cursed himself mentally.

If only Bulma could understand how he felt without him actually having to say it out loud.

"You think I'd cheat on you?" A tear slipped down Bulma's face.

"No, I don't think you'd cheat on me." Vegeta ran a hand through his hair. "I've never trusted anyone in my life Bulma…but I trust you, and I can't help but be he a little apprehensive." He looked away from Bulma and took a deep breath. "You have the power to hurt me Bulma…and I don't want the person I trust to be the one who hurts me."

"I'd never hurt you, I love you too much." Bulma wiped her tears away with her hand. "Do you…love me?"

"I don't know. I've never loved anyone before." Vegeta ground his teeth. Why couldn't Bulma hear what he was trying to say?

~*~

And I don't understand

What keeps me breathing

~*~

"You say you trust me?" Bulma stood up and moved beside Vegeta and drew him up until he stood next to her. Their eyes perfectly level.

"Yes."

"Then trust me enough to tell me how you really feel about me." Bulma brushed a strand of her from her face.

"First tell me, what do you feel for me?" Vegeta swallowed, waiting for the woman to demand he speak first.

She didn't.

"I love you…"

"No, what do you feel for me? How do I make you feel?"

"You make me feel every emotion there to feel." Bulma smiled wryly. "Sometimes you hurt me, sometimes you infuriate me…but then in the next moment something you do will make me want to hold onto you for ever and ever." Bulma moved closer so that their bodies were touching. "I wake up sometimes, in the middle of the night, and I'll watch you sleep and when I watch you all I can feel is love." Bulma cupped the side of his face. "Without you I'm empty, I'm nothing." Bulma stared at him expectantly and Vegeta swallowed.

"When I'm with you I feel like a prince again." Vegeta kissed her hand. "And when I'm not with you I can't breath."

~*~

I'm waiting for you

I know you're leaving

~*~

"You can't breathe without me?" Bulma put a hand to her mouth in shock.

"I don't know how to say this but…I've been waiting for you my whole life and earlier when you said you had something to tell me I assumed the worst. I thought you were leaving me…and I couldn't breath."

Bulma hugged Vegeta tightly. "I never though you felt so strongly about me."

"I didn't want to believe it at first. I kept on telling myself it was just lust, that I was becoming attached to being in your bed." Vegeta shook his head. "But I couldn't keep lying to myself. I knew that I was becoming attached to you. Not to you're body but to you, all of you."

"I thought you just lusted after me." Bulma shook her head slowly. "I was so afraid of telling you that I was having your baby because I thought you'd leave me."

"I couldn't leave you." Vegeta kissed Bulma gently.

~*~

I'll still adore you

You'll never need me

~*~

Vegeta sighed as Bulma rested her head on his shoulder, content to simply be held by him, something Vegeta had rarely ever indulged in. He closed his eyes as he sort the spark of new life in Bulma.

"You're almost five months pregnant!" Vegeta pushed Bulma away so he could stare at her stomach in shock.

"I know…I kind of put off telling you for a while." Bulma watched in amusement as Vegeta got down on his knees and put his ear up against her stomach.

"How did I miss this?!" He looked up at her from his position on the ground.

"You were too busy training." Bulma bit her lip and then added; "As usual."

Vegeta raised an eyebrow. "I was too busy convincing myself that I didn't need you, unfortunately it didn't work." He put his head back against her stomach and smiled. "She's going to be very strong willed."

"She?" Bulma smiled. "Our baby is a she?"

Vegeta nodded. "And she's probably going to be just as adorable as you."

~*~

Hold on

I've found another way to let you go away

~*~

"It's not going to be an easy road for me…or for you I imagine." Vegeta stood up again. "I'm never going to be a chirpy loving husband towards you like Kakarot is to Chichi. Neither will I be as devoted to my children as Krillen is with his daughter." Vegeta looked into Bulma's cornflower blue eyes and felt himself smirk. "But I'll try my best to be as good a husband and father as a saiyan can be."

"I have a feeling you're going to be a great father and a great husband in your own way." Bulma giggled suddenly. "I don't think I'd love you as much as I do if you were any other way. You're my prince and I like it that way."

Vegeta felt his smile melt off his face. "This isn't going to be a fun ride for us you know. I don't really know what love is. Maybe what I feel for you isn't love and maybe it is. All I can promise you is that I'm going to try to love you."

"And I'm never going to let you go away ever again." Bulma leant forward and kissed Vegeta.

They stared at each other for an eternity before Vegeta turned away. "I'll be training."

Bulma watched him go with her head tilted her head to the side and smiled slightly when she heard the gravity machine start up.

She knew Vegeta wouldn't change over night, but maybe tomorrow she would wake up next to him for once.

"I'll be waiting."

~*~

Hold on

You've found another way to bleed my soul away

~*~

A/N - Wow…this is the longest one shot I've ever written. I hope everybody liked it. Who knows, if people like this enough it might develop into a story. Please review!