Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ PLAYTIME ❯ Chapter 14 ( Chapter 14 )

First of all, I have good news, this chapter is beta-ed, so from now on no more of my horrible grammatical errors. Many, many thanks to chibigoku who was so generous to offer to beta, I think she made a great job, but that is for you, all readers, to judge. Thanks to chibigoku, B-Degrees and Kambri for their nice comments about the previous chapter. I hope you like this one. This chapter is too long, even longer than the previous, but I hope it isn't boring. Just one thing: In this chapter appears Arale, that little oranged haired girl who was one of Goku's childhood friends in dragonball. (I can't remember if Goku still had his tail when he met her) Now, enjoy the chapter!

PLAYTIME

Chapter Fourteen

Vegeta roused from his sleep feeling the right half of his body crushed by a dead weight, once he opened his eyes he grinned, seeing Goku clinging onto him for dear life: The younger saiyan was partially lying atop of him using Vegeta‘s shoulder and arm as a pillow, his tail tightly curled around Vegeta’s thigh almost cutting off his blood circulation, his right arm equally tightly wrapped around the waist of the prince. It seemed that the cocoon of blankets they were buried under were not enough to keep him warm.

Vegeta did not mind the numbness of his body, or the cramps and the dull ache sweeping through his muscles as he inhaled the wonderful scent emanating from his sleeping companion and felt the sparkle in energy of his child’s ki, announcing his presence, greeting him as though, somehow, he had recognized his father.

Goku was profoundly asleep, so the older saiyan remained there in blissful silence enjoying the tight embrace. His old, heartless self could never had imagined that a little, simple pleasure like feeling the warm breath of his mate over his chest could make him feel so good, so alive. He would not let anybody, nothing, steal this from him, not again; he would die defending his family. An icy chill made him shudder as dreadful thoughts crossed his mind, he tried to shake them off pulling Goku closer against him, if possible, as if with that desperate act he could capture his mate’s soul and retained it forever by his side, protected and shielded from the rest of the world. Meanwhile he was chanting incessantly in his mind, as a desperate mantra: “mine, mine, mine…”

Vegeta sighed deeply, more at ease, when he sensed Goku slowly stirring. The younger male yawned and then, with his eyes still close, nuzzled his nose into Vegeta’s chest while letting out soft purrs of delight. The intensity of his purrs increased as he heard his companion purring back in response while running his fingers into his spiky hair. Goku moved his head, opening his eyes and started to lick Vegeta’s neck.

“Good morning to you too” Vegeta mouthed with amusement, smiling as the younger saiyan rose his head to look him in the eyes. The prince stayed transfixed for a moment at the breathtaking sight of Goku‘s beaming face, the beauty of his pure soul pouring out in warm cascades from his eyes. Vegeta unable to restrain his desire, switched positions, till he was on top of his mate, and brushed his lips against Goku‘s. He let his tongue flicker lightly over Goku‘s lips, teasingly. Then he slid it between Goku’s lips, licking across his teeth, first pleadingly, then demandingly till his lover granted access. The moist appendage once inside the sweet, hot cavity explored, caressed and tasted, encouraged by the sensual moans of his lover. One tongue slid over the other, engaged in an urgent, frantic exchange of saliva.

Finally, the couple broke apart, panting deeply. Goku, rolling onto his side, lay against Vegeta’s body, resting his head on the firm chest, wrapping an arm around the prince’s waist, while stroking Vegeta’s thigh with his tail.

.

“I feel so lazy… I could spend the whole day in bed.” Goku said with a sleepy voice , as he yawned.

“Tired?” The hint of amusement in Vegeta’s voice did not get lost to Goku, who lifted his head narrowing his eyes. Vegeta chuckled at the stubborn pout on Goku’s face.

“It’s your fault, you jerk.” Goku snapped, slightly annoyed.

“Really? It wasn’t me who spent the whole night screaming ’more oh more, take me again my prince’.” Vegeta smirked rather smugly, the mocking tone of his voice irritating even more the younger saiyan, who, giving out an angry look, grabbed Vegeta’s cock and pulled hard. The prince yelped in pain.

“Damnit, Kakarot that hurt!” Goku shrugged with indifference, and rolled onto his side, lying with his back to the prince. Vegeta sighed deeply, he should know better than to tease a pregnant saiyan. He moved to spoon the younger male, caressing his swollen belly and purring gently, in an attempt to placate Goku’s irritation.

“Come on, Kakarot. Don’t be like that.” He whispered softly, then added, “If you want, I will call the boys to cancel today’s scheduled training.”

.

Goku looked over his shoulder and could not suppress a smile at the desperate expression on Vegeta‘s face. He rolled back to face the prince again, shaking his head.

“No, they will be disappointed if you do it. Let’s stay here just a little longer.” He said softly, sinking his head in the crook of Vegeta’s neck.

“Vegeta, we still haven’t chosen a name for the baby.” Goku said all of a sudden after a long, but comfortable silence.

“Umm, do you have something in mind?” Vegeta asked languidly, while delicately caressing and stroking Goku’s flank.

“Not exactly, but I want to give our child a saiyan name. Tell me, was there some tradition to name the children on our home planet?”

“Kakarot, my knowledge about our people is vast but limited. I hadn’t enough time to learn about all our customs and culture. I only know that many families used to name the first born after his sire. The first king of Vegitasei, and after him, all his successors, were given the name of our planet. But it was forbidden that any other than the heir of the throne had that name. It was very common too, amongst our people, to name the newborns after a national hero, a famous warrior. After all you have achieved, if we were on our planet, there would be an entire generation of saiyans named Kakarot.” Vegeta said smirking.

“Would you be very disappointed if our child wouldn’t have your name?” Goku asked, anxiety could be traced in the tremor of his voice as he waited for the response of the prince.

“What’s wrong with my name?” Vegeta exclaimed in a partly offended and partly playful tone of voice.

“Nothing.” Goku replied, raising his head to look at Vegeta and laughing nervously, then he added, “But I would feel awkward and very uncomfortable calling my child by the same name I scream each time I'm…umm, cumming.” Goku trailed off, blushing furiously.

Vegeta started to laugh in hysterics, so uncontrollably that, soon tears were streaming down his face and his whole body was shaking from head to toes, as Goku blinked in bewilderment.

“You are definitively something else, Kakarot.” Vegeta mumbled, trying to compose himself. “Anyway, since there’s no kingdom to inherit, it doesn’t matter.” He added, fully recovered from his outburst as Goku leant again his head on Vegeta’s chest.

“You asked me about traditions, well, didn’t you know that all the saiyans are given plants names?”

“Really?” Goku asked idly; although he seemed to be more interested in the circular patterns he was tracing with his finger all over Vegeta‘s torso, he was listening attentively to the prince‘s words.

“My father knew a lot of curious things about our culture and folklore; he could spend hours talking about it. I preferred the legends about great battles and super saiyans, but some of his stories were rather interesting. In one occasion he explained to me the origins of this ancient custom to give people the names of plants. In fact, before our people won the war against the Tuffles, our world was called planet Plant. Our ancestors, the great apes known as Oozaru, lived out in the great jungles, which were rich in luxurious and savage vegetation.

They were a primitive and superstitious race. When they were not able to explain a natural phenomenon they believed it caused by supernatural forces. Hence they considered plants sacred and magical, because of their curative and healthy effects. Many of them were used as amulets and naming a newborn after the name of said amulets was considered to bestow good luck. When our race evolved into our actual, more sophisticated form; this custom was so deeply-rooted that it persisted, immovable, generation after generation.”

“So you’re telling me that my baby will have the name of a vegetable?”

“Says the man who named his first son after his favorite meal.” Vegeta replied, chuckling.

“But he chose it by himself.” Goku looked up at the prince puckering his lips in a childish pout.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Vegeta said flatly, with a expression of incredulity on his face.

“No, it’s true. When Gohan was born, Chichi’s father paid us a visit to see the baby. They started to argue about what would be the best name for my son. Each time they proposed a name, the baby started crying. I could only look at him in awe. It felt so odd but, at the same time, so good to be a dad. And he was so perfect, all pale and tender, as delicate as boiled rice. That’s why I exclaimed ’Gohan’ and he giggled happily. And that‘s how it was decided.”

“Figures, only you would think of food while looking at a baby. Anyway I think it would be better to decide it when we see the little one.” Goku nodded in agreement, grinning and curling his tail around Vegeta’s arm.

Vegeta suddenly furrowed his brow in preoccupation and Goku, sensing Vegeta’s distress, propped his elbow onto his pillow and leant his head on the heel of his hand to gaze upon Vegeta’s face.

“Kakarot,” He muttered in a tremulous tone of voice, looking seriously at Goku and caressing his face. “There’s something more important to think about. I’m worried about the labor; you will have to be cut open to extract the baby.” Goku closed his eyes and fidgeted nervously, wincing, as his breath increased in rate.

“Shh, my warrior, calm down.” Vegeta let his aura sparkle and radiate in powerful waves till it was enveloping Goku‘s body in a regenerating and consoling embrace. Then he tried to browse Goku’s mind through their weak bond; once their minds were connected he started to project sentiments of calm and serenity till he felt Goku less anxious.

Goku took a deep breath and opened his eyes, letting his gaze flutter to meet the prince’s onyx orbs.

“I…” Goku’s ability to speak faltered for a while and no other sound escaped from his parted lips than that of his agitated breath. Vegeta rubbed his back reassuringly to help the younger saiyan to regain his courage.

“I’ve been trying to avoid the subject ‘cause I’m terrified. I know I have been through worst but this is so unusual and overwhelming, and it’s my child’s life which can peril, not only mine.” He snuggled against Vegeta looking for that comfortable sensation that was his mate’s warmth.

“Kakarot, we must be prepared. We will have to go to a hospital, it’s the only way it can be done, but I don’t trust the earthlings. I don’t know if they would take us seriously, and even though they wouldn’t freak out and would agree to help us, they have no knowledge about our physiology. I‘m not sure if they would be capable to do it without risking your life. I’m scared too, I… I don’t want to lose you.” He clenched his eyes shut and moved to pour a rain of feathery kisses all over Goku’s round abdomen, then he softly leant his head there to feel the already strong ki of his unborn child, while Goku soothingly ran his fingers through Vegeta’s hair.

“If something goes wrong we… we can count on Dende. And we have the senzu beans…“ He trailed off, trying to convince himself more than his mate. Then, an idea struck him like lighting, reducing his dark thoughts to mere ashes blowing in the wind, far, far away.

“Vegeta, everything will be alright.” A brightened up Goku said. “I know who can help us. My friend, Arale.” Vegeta tilted his head to see his mate now smiling with renewed spirit.

“You don’t know her…She was one of my childhood friends, I haven’t seen her for ages…more exactly ten years ago, before the battle with Cell. I somehow knew that I wouldn’t survive so I spent my last days visiting old friends; I wanted to see them one last time. That’s when I knew that Arale had become a doctor. I remember I told her it didn’t surprise me ‘cause she was a good person who enjoyed helping other people… and now I’m babbling too much.” He said grinning at the perplexed look on Vegeta’s face.

“We can go visit her this afternoon. She knows I’m not a conventional human and I really trust her. We won’t have any problems with her.” A tiny smile appeared on Vegeta’s lips, Goku’s enthusiasm was so contagious that he forgot all his worries for the time being.

.

Later that morning, Vegeta and the two younger demi-saiyans, as it had become habitual, were sparring outside not far from the house, while Goku watched their evolutions with interest, sprawled on a blanket with his hands beneath his head. He was wearing three layers of clothes to keep his body warm as well as a thick coat and a scarf. Even Gohan was there, just because Videl was spending the weekend at some relative‘s home. He was sat near his father, both chatting animatedly while paying close attention to the fighters above their heads.

A routine had been established; Vegeta trained first with the two children together for two hours, and then Goten and Trunks transformed into their fusion so Vegeta could have a more adequate adversary, because the purpose of their intensive training was not only to prepare the children, but himself too. Sometimes Gohan joined them when he was not occupied training or hanging out with Videl.

He still was holding a grudge, one more in his long list, against Vegeta because Gohan had proposed to take Videl to spar with them and Vegeta had categorically refused. The prince was right in his assertion that the weak girl, (weak to his standards), would only slow down their progress, being obliged to hold back. Not to mention that Gohan couldn’t concentrate entirely in the fight, distracted by the supposed charms of the feisty girl.

But who the hell was Vegeta, Gohan thought to himself, to come with such lame excuse when the prince himself got distracted from the fight most of the time, paying more attention to his father, acting like a lovesick adolescent. And, what was the matter anyway? Vegeta would win even without training. At this stage, he had no rival; Gohan’s power level was now far below the prince’s, since he had lost part of his battle-lust. Suddenly, Gohan’s thoughts were interrupted by the potent voice of his father.

“Gotenks, cover your side.” Gotenks smugly shrugged, ignoring Goku’s advice.

“Ha, as if the old man could even get close enough to touch me.” He replied, with his habitual cockiness. Immediately a hard punch sent him plummeting towards the ground onto his back as Vegeta smirked, his attitude as arrogant as the fusion’s. Gohan slapped his forehead with the palm of his hand and Goku sighed, shaking his head.

“Gotenks will have to learn not to underestimate his opponents. It will be his downfall in battle if he doesn’t.” Goku commented in slight disappointment.

“Dad, do you really think that Vegeta is capable to teach him that?” Goku stared at Gohan, narrowing his eyes in annoyance. He was finding more and more difficult to tolerate any criticism against his mate, not even from his sons. The demi-saiyan smiled nervously.

“Geez dad, I don‘t want to make you upset, but you know I‘m right. Vegeta might be a great warrior, but you know better than anyone how many times he had been defeated because of his inflated ego and his overconfidence.”

“I don’t want to discuss that with you.” Goku replied in a stubborn tone, turning his nose up and pouting like an angry child. Gohan rolled his eyes at his father‘s bizarre antics.

Meanwhile, Gotenks stood upon his feet and, dusting himself off, looked up at Vegeta angrily.

“Haven’t you had enough brat” The prince remarked, conceit present in his voice, as the fusion flew up charging towards the boastful prince, only to find a hard fist colliding violently against his face

“Here they go again… stubborn kid.” Gohan mumbled

“Why don’t you go help Gotenks, he had lost most of his energy with his useless and stupid attacks, he won’t resist much more.” Goku suggested, while looking at his son out of the corner of his eye.

Gohan grumbled, but obeyed. He was not elated at the prospect to have to fight Vegeta; the cockiness of the prince exasperated him to no end.

“Good morning Piccolo!” Gohan greeted to his former master as he stood up. Goku, surprised, tilted his head to look at the newcomer, he still felt terribly uneasy not being able to sense ki.

Piccolo nodded to the boy before Gohan floated towards the fighting pair.

“Hi Piccolo!” Goku greeted him in his usual chirping tone, as the namekian gave a simple nod as a salute.

Then Piccolo sat, floating, beside Goku and a deep, loud growl resounded from above. Both looked up at Vegeta, who was glaring at Piccolo very dangerously. This distraction cost him to be beaten hard in the stomach by a delighted Gotenks. Vegeta yelled, bending forward, at the stinging pain. But he rapidly launched a furious attack on the insolent kid, punching him repeatedly on his stomach and face, enraged at being caught off guard; while blocking with success all the blows Gohan was throwing him.

“Don’t mind him.” Goku said to a slightly bewildered Piccolo. “Lately he’s being an ass; he always behaves that way whenever someone gets too close to me. You should have seen him the day we went shopping for the baby. He was obsessed with the idea that everybody was looking hungrily at my ass. Can you believe it? I never been one to get easily embarrassed, but when he started to glare and growl at anybody who passed by our side, I just wished the earth would swallow me up.”

“I can’t understand why he’s so jealous, he’s got no motive.” Piccolo replied.

“Oh, it’s one of those stupid things I still don’t understand about saiyan instincts and dominance. But I think that he’s not really jealous because someone could feel attracted to me but, just felt hurt because he thinks he’s not the only one I trust with all my life. I’d wish he wouldn’t be so emotionally insecure.”

Goku realized that he was talking too much about his intimacy and Piccolo may be uncomfortable, so he tried to change of subject.

“I apologize for my behavior last time you came to see us, we shouldn’t have mocked you.”

“Forget it.” Piccolo replied, shrugging, then added, “I see that Vegeta is being stricter than usual with the boys.”

“Yeah, he’s been training really hard during the last month because he wants to enter the tournament.”

“Really? I thought he despised it… I mean, during the seven years you were dead he refused to participate in any tournament saying he would never lower himself to fight with such unworthy and weak creatures. He entered the last one only to have the chance to fight you. So why is he so interested now?”

“That’s another of those I‘m-the-dominant-one things. He feels obliged to provide for his family. It’s been bothering him since I mentioned something about money. At that moment I hadn’t the slightest clue why he was so worried all of a sudden, but when he told me he was going to enter the tournament I knew the reason.”

“I didn’t know you had money problems.” Piccolo commented, folding his arms and raising a speculative eyebrow.

“No, not really. Though the baby will be an extra, I have saved enough money to maintain us for some years but, Vegeta needs to feel that he’s in charge. And I can’t blame him; after all he’s been through in the past I understand that necessity to prove to me and to himself that he is a worthy mate.”

Meanwhile, Gotenks had split after receiving a hard kick on the right shoulder. The two exhausted boys, both rubbing their sore shoulders; followed by Gohan who was all battered too, with purple bruises on his face and neck and a thin trail of blood running from the corner of his mouth down to his chin; went into the house to clean and refresh their bodies and to get something to eat.

Meanwhile Vegeta, snorting, walked towards the younger saiyan and sending an unfriendly gaze at Piccolo, pushed him to one side to seat himself between Goku and the namekian. When Goku curled his tail around Vegeta’s arm the prince smirked in deep satisfaction, looking at the namekian with an expression that claimed ‘I’m the boss, here’. Piccolo just chuckled, finding terribly amusing Vegeta‘s attitude.

“I’ve been told that you’re going to enter the tournament. Maybe I will do it too. It would be a pleasure to kick your royal ass.” Piccolo couldn’t resist provoking the grumpy prince. Vegeta looked venomously at the insolent namekian and opened his mouth but before any harsh remark could escape from his lips Goku surprised the other two males by speaking first.

“As if that could happen.” The tone of Goku’s voice was so serious and confident, the expression of his face so smug and the comment so unexpected that Vegeta started to laugh, suddenly forgetting his tantrum, while Piccolo stared in disbelief at the pregnant saiyan, not very sure if that weird demeanor was caused by his hormones or by spending too much time around Vegeta.

“I think I’m going now.” Came the barely audible response of the partially shocked namekian.

“Ok, bye!” Goku chirped happily, confusing his friend even more, while Vegeta was still laughing his head off.

“You know, Kakarot, if you continue creeping him out like that he won’t come to visit you anymore.” Vegeta said as he stood up and reached out to pull Goku up.

After lunch time, the couple flew to meet Arale. When they arrived at her house and rang the doorbell, a tiny woman in her sixties opened the door. After her initial shock, seeing Goku after so many years and in his state, Arale’s mother invited them in for tea.

Goku asked for Arale, and when the woman explained that her daughter was at the clinic she currently worked in, the younger saiyan, who froze for a second as his face went blue, accepted her invitation. The woman and Goku conversed for almost two hours, as an annoyed but patient Vegeta remained in silence. He knew that Goku was trying to delay the dreaded visit to the hospital for as long as possible.

Noticing that Vegeta’s nervousness was increasing dangerously and afraid that the prince would have an outburst, Goku finally rose from his seat and, after asking the address of the clinic and giving his thanks to the kind woman for her hospitality, headed outside followed closely by the prince.

When they reached their destination Goku dismounted from Kintoun, all pale and shaky. Vegeta held Goku’s hand in his to instill some courage into his distraught mate as they approached the door. Once they found Arale’s office they were told by a nurse to wait in a nearby room.

Fortunately, for Goku’s increasing anxiety, there was only a woman awaiting there. The woman stared openmouthed and with her eyes bugged out of her sockets at a furry appendage wagging nervously from side to side, behind the inflated man sat in front of her. The woman stood up and dashed out, her face contorted in a grimace of horror as she ran away.

Vegeta chuckled but he immediately frowned the moment he looked at his flustered mate. Goku was tightly clutching the edges of his chair, with his gaze fixed on the floor, and a blank expression on his face, as thick beads of sweat dripped from his brow and the pace of his breath became more and more labored. Vegeta, sighing, grabbed Goku’s tail and gently petted it.

“Kakarot, try to relax, I promise there will be no needles.” He mouthed in a soft whisper. Goku squeaked out at hearing the word ‘needle’, but taking a deep breath, looked at Vegeta and nodded, trusting his words.

After some minutes the same nurse came into the room to announce they could see the doctor.

“Goku! Oh, my dear!” An orange-haired woman shouted, joy and surprise fluttering in her voice, as she saw the younger saiyan appearing through the door.

Goku smiled, a little shocked. He barely recognized the mature woman before him. After ten years she looked so old, time had left its ominous mark on her nice features. The woman was more shocked than him and she gawked with widened eyes at Goku’s round abdomen.

“Wow, it seems that finally your voracious appetite has taken it tolls on you. Have you come because you want to lose weight?” She asked an embarrassed Goku, who flushed bright red and blinked several times, as Vegeta grunted, folding his arms and narrowing his eyes in irritation.

The woman glanced curiously at the smaller male, not having noticed his presence while in her excitement to see her old friend, though he had been beside Goku the whole time.

“I’m not fat, I’m pregnant.” Goku said bluntly, then laughed nervously.

“What? But that’s impossible?… How?…Oh, my God!” She mumbled in shock and disbelief. But seeing the serious look on Goku’s face and the poisonous glare the other man was throwing to her, she let her body collapsed on a chair and breathed deeply.

“Arale, last time we met I told you that I came from another planet, that I belonged to a race of people called the saiyans. Well, it seems that this is a natural thing between my people.”

She nodded as she tried to regain her composure. Once calmed enough, she stood up and looked again at the smaller man.

“So you must be the father.” She uttered a little taken aback by his unfriendly and cold attitude.

Vegeta snorted out his disdain for the woman, but seeing Goku fidgeting uncomfortably, upset at Vegeta’s behavior, the prince just sighed allowing Goku to respond to the question.

“He’s Vegeta, my…“ Goku paused for a moment as he pondered which word he should use, not wanting to embarrass Vegeta. But the prince solved his dilemma without hesitation, “Kakarot’s mate.” The woman blinked in slight confusion.

“Kakarot?”

“That’s my saiyan name.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Enough chat. “ Vegeta was starting to lose his patience, but before he could say something offensive, Arale spoke first.

“Then I suppose that you will need my help during the delivery.” She smiled warmly.

Both men nodded, then sat down as Arale motioned them to do so.

“Obviously, I know nothing about your species, so I will need some information about your state Goku.” Goku’s pleading eyes flickered to meet Vegeta’s, searching for his help.

“Ask, woman, and I’ll tell you what you need to know.” Vegeta ordered as the woman picked a pen from her desk and started to write something in her notebook.

.

“How advanced is his pregnancy and when approximately is he expected to go into labor?” She asked, her voice and attitude suddenly turned from friendly to competent and professional, which seemed to satisfy the exigent prince.

“He’s in his fifth month. Usually, saiyan pregnancy lasts seven months, but Kakarot is a special case. The development of the baby depends on the energy supplied by the mother, and Kakarot’s are exceptionally high, so it could be any moment. You must know that surgery will be required to deliver the baby.” The woman lifted her head from the paper, furrowing her brow in preoccupation. Meanwhile, Goku who had been a little unnerved as the others talked about him as though he wasn’t present, started to sweat profusely, seeing worry reflected in the faces that now were looking intently at him.

Arale tried to relieve the tension smiling with confidence at his friend.

“Goku, I need to run some tests on you,” When she saw him flinch in slight panic, she added in a reassuring tone, “Don’t worry, I’ll only check your vitals and take some urine samples. Since I have nothing to compare the results to know if everything’s Ok, your, um… ‘mate’ will have to undergo the same tests as you.” Goku, visibly more tranquil when he knew needles won’t be involved, grinned impishly while looking at Vegeta who was huffing and frowning like a cranky child. Great, now he was going to be a laboratory rat.

Arale asked the two men to take off their clothes, except the boxers. Goku immediately obeyed and started to unbutton his jacket

“Kakarot, stop it now!” Vegeta ordered, his face glowing bright red, as Goku, stopping what he was doing, looked at him in confusion.

“Why the hell must we be naked?” The prince asked, enraged and embarrassed, with his arms stubbornly folded over his chest.

Arale rolled her eyes, startled and, at the same time, a little amused at the outburst of the grumpy man.

“It’s the normal procedure.” She flatly blurted out.

“Can we have, at least, some privacy?” Vegeta asked more composed, but a light tone of suspicious could be detected in his voice.

“Of course, you can go there.” She replied pointing to a contiguous cabinet. “Inside there are some gowns, put one on when you’re undressed and call me when you‘re done.”

Once they were ready, Arale walked into the room and handing one little bottle to each men, instructed them to fill the recipients with their urine in the lavatory that was across the room.

Once inside, the two saiyans stared blankly at the bottles.

“But…I can‘t do it.” Goku murmured, looking at the prince with wide eyes, like a helpless child.

“Me neither.” Vegeta groaned, slapping his forehead with the palm of his hand. “This is the most embarrassing situation I’ve ever been through.”

“And how can that be? Have you never peed before?” Goku asked in a mocking tone, slightly chuckling as Vegeta sent him a death-glare.

“Shut up, Kakarot. You know what I mean, don’t be a smartass.” Goku frowned with an expression of anger and frustration on his face and he suddenly exploded, unable to contain anymore of the tension accumulated during the last hours.

“Shut up you, Mister-I-have-an-attitude. I’m the one who’s been suffering with the pregnancy and who will have to be cut open! I’m tired, my back and feet are sore; I’m so weak that a simple blow could knock me unconscious. I can hardly move my heavy and ugly body, the lightest movement drains the little energy I have left in me. But since we left home you’re being a jerk and won’t stop complaining ‘cause someone asked you to pee! If I had some strength I would beat the crap out of your stupid face right now!” Goku ceased his rant, panting heavily, as the prince gawked in shock. Then Goku closed his eyes, wincing, and rubbed his temples feeling a sudden, sharp headache.

His legs were shaking, and Vegeta stepped closer to support him as the younger saiyan almost collapsed to his knees.

“Damn, Kakarot, I’m sorry. But you know I can’t stand those earthlings for so long, they grate my nerves. I just wish to be at home, just you and me.”

“Umm…there was a time when you couldn’t stand my presence either, or so you used to claim.” Goku replied, apparently more relaxed.

“Want to know a secret?” Vegeta’s voice now was soft and low, flitting all over Goku‘s ear making it all tingle. The younger saiyan nodded giving out a small moan.

“It wasn’t true. Well, maybe only for a short time at the beginning, cause every time I saw you I felt ashamed of myself. You were nothing but a reminder of my weakness, but soon I came to terms with the fact that you would always be the best. But I was too proud and stubborn to admit that I didn‘t despise you.”

Then he added even more gently, a mere whisper like a soft breeze caressing Goku’s earlobe, “I’m sorry I can’t be the mate you deserve.”

“Shhh,” Goku placed two fingers on the prince’s lips, shaking his head, “don’t say that, you’re doing fine…” Vegeta curved his lips in a tiny smile and Goku added smiling back at him, ”…most of the time.” Both men chuckled, their ebony orbs sharing a gaze of playfulness and complicity.

“Well, Kakarot, if that woman wants so badly my royal pee, let’s fill the damned blasted bottles from hell.” Vegeta said smirking and Goku rolled his eyes.

“Royal pee? Oh, my…now your bodily fluids are royalty too? I knew your ego was excessive but not to this extent. This is ridiculous.” Goku remarked, partly in a teasing mood and partly flabbergasted

“Ridiculous? I thought you had become very fond of certain fluids of mine; addicted, would be a more accurate term.” Goku blushed scarlet bright, as he stepped back almost stumbling.

“OK, I’M GONNA PEE NOW!” He shouted as Vegeta let out a mischievous smile. It was very amusing and at the same time rather appealing, to see Goku acting so shy when their conversations with one another acquired sexual undertones, while in the intimacy of their intercourses he was so uninhibited and passionate.

Once they resumed the assigned task and walked back into the cabinet, a nurse took the urine samples and labeled them, then she left the room and Arale handed Goku a big glass of water.

“Goku I‘m going to do an ultrasound so you can see your baby…” She couldn‘t finish the sentence as her eyes doubled twice their size when Goku, uncurling his furry appendage from his waist, started to sway it happily from side to side.

“Really?” He asked overly excited, laughing with joy.

“Holy…that’s a …” She babbled like a child. Goku tilted his head perplexed at his friend’s reaction, curling back again the tail around his waist, under the gown.

“Yes, that’s a tail, woman.” Vegeta remarked cuttingly, after sighing in slight annoyance. A nervous, but soft laughter erupted from her lips as she snapped out of her stupor. Then she coughed to clear her voice to speak again.

“As I was saying, the ultrasound will let us see the development of the creature. But to obtain a clear image you need to have your bladder full. So you must drink all that water.” She said pointing at a huge jar, placed on a tray, containing at least two litters of liquid. Goku gulped, he wasn’t even thirsty, but he obeyed, and started to drink from the glass he was grabbing, after sitting down on an examination table settled in the center of the room. Vegeta remained in silence, looking attentively and seriously at him, ignoring anything and anyone else.

“Umm…may I ask you something?” Arale asked weakly, almost frightened, trying to catch the attention of the elder saiyan. Vegeta slowly turned his face to look at the woman. She took that gesture as an affirmative response.

“There’s something I cannot understand. Why does he need surgery? It doesn’t make any sense. I mean, if male pregnancy is something common between your people, you should be physically equipped not only to gestate but to expel the child in a natural way, too.”

Vegeta sighed uncomfortably, disliking the fact to reveal so much information about his people to a stranger but, though reluctantly, he answered the question; because Goku had raised his eyes while still drinking, giving a curious and eager look at the prince.

“Originally, the birthing males conceived naturally. They had a little slit on his lower abdomen, barely visible; it was just a thin line over the skin, but during the pregnancy, that slit expanded and deepened, so the child could came from out there. As far as I know, the labor was similar to that of a female from your species: The contractions, the waters break, the pushing to release the child…But that changed after the ‘great war’ for the conquering of the planet.” Vegeta paused for a while, but seeing the interest of Goku, he continued his narration.

“Two different races coexisted on our home planet. We were stronger and more violent, while the other one relied on their superior technology. They tried to exterminate our people releasing some supposedly lethal chemical agents into the air, which were completely innocuous for their species. But fortunately we are immune to almost any kind of agent; whether it be biological, chemical, or even radioactive; our system is able to eliminate almost anything. But we didn’t end up totally unharmed. Those bastards were really smart and the effects of those substances became patent on the next generations: the children showed evidences of genetic mutations, appearing diseases never seen before between our people. Some of them were very serious, causing immediate deaths of the newly born, but very infrequent and with a very low prevalence. But soon, a high incidence in a specific mutation was detected: many birthing males were lacking the labor slit and couldn’t conceive without surgery. That prevailed generation after generation, till the point that natural conceptions were very rare. When I knew Kakarot was pregnant I pleaded for him to have that birthing channel. On our planet that wasn’t a great problem, a c-section was a very common practice, with zero mortality. But here…” Vegeta trailed off, looking with concern at Goku, who was holding his breath, all the color drained from his face as thick drops of sweat ran down his brow.

Meanwhile Arale, sighing, stepped towards Goku and started the exam. She grabbed his wrist to check for his pulse. Then, she took his blood pressure.

“Goku, I need you to calm down cause your pulse is too accelerated and your blood pressure is too high. Meanwhile I‘ll check Vegeta‘s to use them as reference.” Goku nodded taking deep breaths, as she proceeded to examine the prince.

“Your results are slightly higher to human standards but considerably lower than Goku’s. Are you nervous too or is that normal?”

“Woman, I can keep my vitals constant with enough concentration, everything is as it should.”

Arale took Goku’s vitals again in hopes that the younger saiyan was less nervous, but the results showed no variation.

“Well, then Goku, though usually during pregnancy it’s normal for a slight alteration in some of the vital signs, yours are too high and that worries me a little. It might be just your anxiety, but I would like to make sure that it’s nothing serious.”

“What do you mean?” Vegeta asked, all hints of harshness or anger had vanished from his voice, remaining just a sincere and profound preoccupation.

“The child might be pressing on his blood vessels and that could entail some risks for Goku‘s health and make even more dangerous the conception; he would be needing special cares and medication. Or it might be caused by any anomaly in his heart.” Vegeta frowned, suddenly remembering something.

“Ten years ago he almost died because of a heart disease. Could it have left some sort of defect?”

“Well, it’s possible, but I don’t want you to panic. We’ll go step by step. First I will do an electrocardiogram. But I need him totally relaxed. I will leave you alone for some minutes. After all these years treating patients, I think I’m qualified enough to say that there’s nobody more capacitated to soothe one’s nerves than their partner.”

“Or to grate one’s nerves, both could apply.” Goku muttered, grinning, as Arale laughed with gusto.

“I should say that, after all it’s me who’s living with a moody saiyan.” Vegeta replied, with a playful smirk, once Arale left the room.

“Ha, I’ve been moody for just some months, but you’ve been having mood swings since I first met you.” Both men roared in laughter relieving some of the built-up stress.

There had been an emergency and Arale’s presence had been required so she couldn’t return till thirty minutes later. When she entered the room, the two saiyans were dozing off on the table. She smiled and sighed a little envious to see the couple so tenderly embraced, it seemed that the prince had made a great job relaxing the younger man.

Her first impression after meeting Vegeta had been to think Goku a fool for getting involved with someone apparently so cold and insensitive but, it was obvious that under his tough appearance and despite his atrocious manners the surly saiyan was a softie with his companion and his preoccupation for Goku was genuine.

Vegeta, sensing the presence of the woman, immediately sat up, a little flushed, and shook Goku gently to wake him up. The younger saiyan slowly opened his eyes and blinked for some seconds till his mind completely registered where he was.

“Goku, I need you to get off the table.” Arale said smiling; then she added, looking at Vegeta, “Take off the gown and lie down back, I‘m going to prepare you for the ECG.” Both men did as instructed, while the woman, grabbing some items from a shelf, walked towards the table and proceeded to clean the skin on Vegeta’s chest, arms and legs with sterile lint impregnated with alcohol; then she affixed the electrodes on the clean skin, as Goku sat on a chair beside the table, observing with curiosity and interest in all the process. Vegeta tilted his head to look at the younger man when he heard the giggle that escaped from Goku’s mouth.

“You look funny with all that wires and disks attached to your body.” Goku explained and grinned as Vegeta shook his head, sighing. How his silly, beautiful mate could be so mature and insightful some times while others he just acted like a naïve and clueless child was something Vegeta would never completely be able to understand.

“Goku, don’t distract him, he must remain immobile.” Then she started the contraption, ordering the prince from time to time to hold his breath for some seconds. When the procedure ended, Arale grabbed the graphic paper with the results and studied it meticulously.

“If it’s true that you can control your body vitals, then I must assume that the rate reflected here is the norm for your species.” The prince nodded as he sat up and started to detach the patches from his body.

“Well, the rhythm is perfectly fine, as it should be, consistent and even. And the rest of the information I will consider it normal too. Goku, now it’s your turn.”

After the same process was applied on the younger saiyan, Arale looked at the two expectant men, smiling with satisfaction.

“Both graphics are identical, that means that there‘s nothing to worry about, Goku. You seem to be perfectly healthy.” Vegeta breathed deeply as the anxiety that had been taking a tight grip on him suddenly flew away. Without noticing, he had been holding Goku’s hand in his with such force that the younger saiyan hissed in pain.

“Sorry, Kakarot.” He mouthed, looking apologetic at Goku. The taller male shrugged as the grimace on his face was replaced by a tiny smile.

“Now, to the ultrasound. The machine is in another room, but before we go, Vegeta, you can put your clothes on” Arale said while walking out of the room and into her office to wait for the elder saiyan to change clothes.

Before getting dressed, Vegeta with a serious expression on his face slid his hand over Goku’s cheek in a tender caress. Then placing the hand on the back of Goku’s neck, pulled Goku to him and captured his lips in a tender kiss, pleasantly surprising the younger saiyan, who wrapping his arms around Vegeta’s waist, returned the kiss enthusiastically. After some moments of tongue wrestling, Vegeta broke apart to flicker his moist appendage over Goku’s neck in a wet caress. Pressing his lips against a sensitive spot below Goku’s ear he started to suck, eliciting a moan of pure bliss from his lover. The moan deepened and grew in intensity, turning into a roar, as Vegeta’s teeth gently nipped the delicate skin as his lips suctioned more and more frantically.

“Shh, the woman is in the other room.” Vegeta shushed him covering Goku’s mouth with one hand while smirking in amuse. The younger saiyan, blushing, gasped for air once the prince removed his hand.

“You shouldn’t be so scared, Vegeta, I know everything is going to be alright.” Goku murmured quietly, soothingly, locking eyes with the prince. Though Vegeta’s tender gesture had been caused by the relief he felt knowing that there wasn’t going to be any complication or risk, Goku had felt fear and preoccupation flowing from his mate in waves, so powerful and strong that almost physically punched him. It was heartbreaking seeing his prince in such a state; he liked the strong and confident Vegeta, not this desperate and anguished shadow that had taken the place of his mighty prince.

“Kakarot, I would like to be as optimistic as you are, but life has taught me to expect always the worst. It’s true, I’m scared. I’m scared to be happy for always it’s the same. Every time I’ve had the rare chance to savor the sweet taste of happiness, the universe conspires against me to steal what I held dear, leaving me miserable, only counting on my pride and wrath to recompose the shattered pieces. And this time I have so much to lose…Kakarot, I... I…” Vegeta struggled to let out words that he had wanted to say to his younger companion for quite a long time, but something in the back of his mind tugged at him and made him hesitate. He still wasn’t ready.

Not that he doubted of his feelings for Goku, but he dreaded to see Kakarot disappear before his eyes, vanishing like morning mist as a cold laughter coming from the very core of hell mocked him, if he dare to say those words out loud. He sighed with profound sadness, loathing himself for being such a coward and, sinking his head in Goku’s chest, he lovingly traced with the palm of his hand the curve of Goku’s swollen belly, hoping that his mate would understand. That he would feel all those unspoken emotions the gentle saiyan had awakened in his soul.

Some instants passed as both men remained clinging onto one another, concentrated on the scent and warmth of the other, to conjure all their fears away; when an insistent knock on the door sent them back into reality.

“Is everything OK?” Arale asked from outside the room.

“Just a minute” Goku replied as Vegeta swiftly put his clothes on. Vegeta sighed, he was being a pathetic idiot. For crying out loud, he was going to see his son for the first time. It was a time for rejoicing, not for grief and mourning. He held tightly his mate’s hand with valor and determination, a sweet smile gracing his lips, making Goku squeak in joy at this comforting attitude of his prince.

AN: I had to cut it somewhere, the chapter was going to be even longer, but finally I decided that they get to see their child in the next chapter. And I'm very excited with the next chapter, I think it's going to be very interesting, Vegeta will regrow his tail, but it will be different from other fics. In the stories in which they regrow their tails it's by making a wish with the dragonballs or after having wild sex. The way I've planned it is completely different and I think it would be surprising. I'll try to update sooner.So see you in the next chapter! (Please tell me what you think of this one) TBC