Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Project: Vegeta ❯ And Then There Were Three ( Chapter 11 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Bulmaveg_Otaku 
Missed Periods, unnatural cravings, swollen ankles... You guessed it. Welcome aboard, Baby Briefs.
Anime/Manga: Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Sci-fi / Romance | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 12.22.2008 | Updated On: 01.07.2009 | Pages: 1 | Words: 4.0K | Visits: 1.3K | Status: Completed
Missed Periods, unnatural cravings, swollen ankles... You guessed it. Welcome aboard, Baby Briefs.
Anime/Manga: Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Sci-fi / Romance | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 12.22.2008 | Updated On: 01.07.2009 | Pages: 1 | Words: 4.0K | Visits: 1.3K | Status: Completed
A/N: I am rather proud of this Chapter. Let me know if YOUR thoughts! Oh, and lots of swearing in this one.
Chapter 11:
And Then There Were Three
Bulma sat eyeing the intimidating little stick with apprehension.
Things had been pretty okay the last few weeks and had gotten back into the normal flow with one major exception. During the day Vegeta continued to train unceasingly. He would sometimes find time to make demands for food and equipment and pick fights with Bulma, who gladly returned the verbal assaults. And every few nights Vegeta would make his way into her bed, or drag her into his as they continued to try and get their fill on one another. It wasn’t a perfect situation for either of them, but it seemed to be working out well enough. Until now.
For one reason or another she’d just never worried about birth control with Vegeta. She’d discovered long ago that being on the pill made her go crazy. Even the lighter dosages sent her hormones spiraling out of wack. She’d nearly killed Yamcha before deciding it would be best if she stopped taking it. So they’d gone with condoms. But Vegeta didn’t seem like the kind of guy you told to wrap it up and lived. She’d been afraid to. And now she was afraid because she hadn’t. He’d never seemed worried about it, so she hadn’t really let it concern her. Then she’d been late. And then missed entirely.
The egg timer buzzed and she shut it off quickly, the ringing only irritated her already frayed nerves. When silence once again filled the room, she reached across the sink and picked up the test. Dread and excitement poured into her. She was pregnant. How was she going to tell Vegeta?
She forced the panic down, telling herself she’d could wait till he was done training. She busied herself in the lab, working to keep her mind occupied. At dinner she and her parents made small talk while Vegeta stuffed his face. She didn’t want to have this possible volatile conversation in front of her mom and dad so she tried to act normal. She avoided looking at or talking to Vegeta at all. If he noticed he didn’t say anything. He seemed pretty absorbed with his own thoughts.
She tried to think positive. Maybe he would be excited to have a child, an heir. A half Saiyan child, she thought with trepidation. Chi chi had managed to bear a half-Saiyan child. It couldn’t be that much different then a normal human baby, right? She ignored the wheedling thoughts that whispered that Chi chi was at least ten times stronger then she was. Probably more, much more. Still, she was almost certain she had nothing to worry about. Maybe she should call Chi chi. But not until after she’d talked to Vegeta. She glanced up at him across the table and caught him frowning at her. She looked away quickly and tried not to tremble. She felt his eyes on her a moment longer and then heard him push up from his seat and leave.
Bulma waited another few minutes and then stood. “I’m pretty tired. I think I’m going to go to bed now,” she said to her mom and dad. Her mother stood and caught Bulma’s arm.
“Is everything okay, Bulma?” she asked. “You look a little pale? And you’re shaking!” her mother placed a hand on Bulma’s forehead.
“I’m fine, Mom,” she said and pulled away. “I’m just tired. I haven’t been sleeping very well...” she blushed a little when her mother grinned and winked at her.
“Well, I can’t say that I blame you!” her mother started, and Bulma guessed that this conversation was heading into a bad place. She’d known her mother would figure things out eventually.
“Okay then, I’ll see you in the morning!” she said cheerfully and nearly ran from the room. She was upstairs before she realized it and, suddenly, the fear was back. ‘You can do this, Bulma!’ she told herself as she forced her feet to take her to Vegeta’s door. She raised her fist and paused. Her gut was clenched tighter then she’d ever thought possible. Her body felt cold with fear, a shiver up her spine sent her whole body into micro-spasms. She lowered her hand. She couldn’t do this! She whirled around and felt her heart drop out of her chest when she spotted Vegeta leaning against the wall behind her. She very nearly screamed, but managed to bite her lip instead. Her chest heaved as she struggled to get enough air.
“Kami, Vegeta! What the hell are you doing! Are you trying to put me in cardiac arrest?” she put a hand over her heart and willed it to beat slower.
Vegeta narrowed his eyes at the Woman. She was acting strangely, and she reeked of fear. “What is wrong with you, Woman?” he was pretty sure her fear was aimed at him, and not because he’d startled her. She’d smelled of it at dinner, too. He was refusing to feel the hurt that kept trying to squeeze it’s way into his chest. She hadn’t been afraid of him since... well since Namek probably. He didn’t understand why she seemed petrified of him now. He’d done nothing to earn her fear. Lately.
Vegeta resisted the urge to punch a hole in the wall as he watched the Woman’s eyes nearly pop out of her head and onto the plush hallway carpet. Her heart was pounding and her lip was bleeding slightly from where she’d bitten it. And her nails were soon going to break the flesh on her palms. It sickened him that he no longer relished her fear. That instead he found himself wanting to put a fist through whatever was causing her to shake like that. And the fact that it seemed to be him made his stomach twist. He forced himself to take a deep breath. Stupid Woman. Why did he care if she was cringing away from him in fear? He didn’t care.
Bulma forced herself to move, stepping towards Vegeta. “I...I need to... There’s something...” she hated how scared and weak she sounded. She took a breath and then forced herself to swallow her fear. “We need to talk,” she said, more calmly now.
Vegeta groaned inwardly at her words. He watched her get a hold of her fear and take another step closer to him. It caused a small swelling of pride as he was witness to her conquering her fear. He’d admitted, albeit grudgingly that the woman seemed to have balls of steel. She’d stepped up to face Frieza when he’d been about to tear apart her world and she was conquering her fear of him now. He pushed away from the wall and stepped closer to her. “Fine then. Talk.”
She hesitated. “Can we go into your room first? Please?” she said still trying to work above her terror. He grunted and walked past her. Once they were in his room he watched her close the door behind herself and then turn slowly to face him. It suddenly occurred to him that she was going to refuse him further access to her bed and that she was afraid he would be angry because of it. His gut twisted even more. He pulled on his reliably stable anger and crossed his arms over his chest rigidly preparing for her rejection. He told himself he didn’t care. It would be less of a distraction for him anyway. He was ready for whatever she could toss at him.
“I just thought that you should know that I... I’m pregnant.” she said that last part so quickly he almost missed it. He wasn’t ready for that.
“What!?” he hissed, her words sinking in finally. “Why would you let that happen?” he was confused and defensive. Which translated into furious.
“I didn’t LET it happen, Vegeta,” she said back, crossing her own arms. “It just... It just did. That’s what happens when a man and a woman have unprotected sex. Repeatedly.” She knew that wasn’t completely true in every sense of the word. She hadn’t done anything to stop it from happening.
Vegeta was unfamiliar with the term unprotected sex. “What does that mean?” he asked. He’d never considered the possibility that the Woman would be stupid enough to want to get with child. His child. Saiyan women could choose the time and man then considered most worthy in order to conceive. But then again, the Woman was human, not saiyan. “Human women do not control their conception,” he said, as soon as the thought occurred to him.
“No, we don’t,” she said quietly. “Are you saying that Saiyan women can?” she asked frowning. That would explain why he’d never seemed concerned with the possibility. This was just a case of cross-species mis-communication.
Vegeta nodded. Then he shook his head. “Why would you risk having a child with a man you...” he stopped his question. A man you hate? A man you fear? A man you know is a cold-blooded, heartless murdering bastard? He wasn’t sure what he’d meant to ask but he didn’t want the answer, either way.
Bulma threw up her hands up. “I don’t know!” she put her hands over her face. “We were just... And I was trying to... I mean you were so...!” She didn’t seem to be able to finish a thought either. She wasn’t going to cry, though, she wasn’t!
Vegeta stood there, silent, letting the weight of the situation bear down on him. The Woman was pregnant. She was going to have his child. He was going to have a half-breed son. He did not have time for this. “I hope you don’t expect me to be happy about this,” he spit at her angrily.
Bulma laughed bitterly and lowered her hands to roll her eyes at him. “Trust me, I’m not all that thrilled myself.” Mostly she was just glad he hadn’t killed her yet. “But it’s happened and, now we have to deal with this like two grown up, adults.”
It was Vegeta’s turn to laugh. His scorn stunned Bulma. “I don’t have to deal with anything. This is your problem. You were stupid enough to get yourself into this situation. If I had known the risk I would have never touched you!” he was practically yelling now.
“Don’t act like this is all my fault, Vegeta. This is just as much your child as it is mine. It takes two, remember?” she no longer feared for her life. She feared being left alone to raise this child. She feared being abandoned by the man that she... Her thoughts stopped and she paused, on the verge of tears. ‘The man that I what?’ she wondered. Her heart felt as though Vegeta had plunged a knife into it. She’d known he wouldn’t be happy about this situation. She’d even thought he might kill her over it. Or had she? Had she really thought him possible of murdering her now that she carried his child? No, she realized. She’d never really thought he would. Nor had she though him possible of sending her on her way, tossing her like a empty candy wrapper now that the fun was gone. “I... I’m afraid, Vegeta.” she wanted to reach out to him, to have him wrap his arms around her and tell her it was going to be all right. But she knew that was never going to happen. “I need you.” she whispered, hands gripping her arms. “I can’t do this on my own.”
Vegeta nearly choked on her words. He didn’t know how to be a father, or a husband or... even a friend. He couldn’t give support or love. He was the worst possible person to come to for anything but death and mayhem. Purging planets, he could do. Killing millions of innocent people, sure, he could pull off with out breaking a sweat. But this... “I can’t,” he said simply and then he pushed past her and out the door, her sobs reaching his ears even as he exited the compound and blasting his way into the night sky.
For the next 8 months Bulma hardly saw Vegeta. He’d take off for days at a time and when he’d return he’d lock himself up in the Gravity Simulator. Bulma’s mother and father were as supportive as two parents could be. Dr. Briefs spent a lot of his time making baby friendly devices and building things like a temperature controlled crib and an automated dipper receptacle. Her mother would bring home new baby clothes and blankets and toys every time she’d go shopping. After a while they needed a whole new wing for all the baby stuff.
Bulma never called Chi chi or any of her other friends. Partly she was wanting to keep it a surprise and partly because it hurt to much to explain about the baby’s father.
One day, after she’d started to really show she had an unannounced visit from her ex. He’d walked up behind her while she’d been outside talking to her mother who was working in her garden. He’d tried to wrap his arms around her waist and had gotten the shock of his life.
“Holy shit! Bulma! You’re huge!” he shouted and she’d barley restrained herself from punching him in the throat.
“I’m not huge,” she’d muttered crossing her arms over her chest, “I’m pregnant. There is a difference, you know.” She’d felt a smirk of satisfaction cross her face when his face had fallen.
“Pregnant!?” He seemed angry for a second. “By who?” he had sounded jealous.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but it was Vegeta.” And she’d forced down a laugh when Yamcha nearly fell on his face in shock.
“Vegeta!” he yelled, “How could you?! With Vegeta!? But Bulma, he’s a cold-hearted killer!” he stammered.
“Not to mention a total ass hole,” Bulma agreed. “Trust me on this one, I know.” She tried not to think about how much she missed him, in spite of that fact. “What are you doing here anyway?” She asked, not un-rudely.
He’d gone on to explain that he’d just broken up with a girl from his aerobics class and had though he’d drop by to ask Bulma out. That was just like Yamcha, to expect her to just be sitting at home waiting for him. Well, she’d shown him. Even if she hadn’t been carrying Vegeta’s baby, Bulma would never have accepted, she told herself. Her and Yamcha were over, for good. After that he’d turned down her mother’s invitation to stay for lunch and had left promptly. Bulma hoped she was right when she’d though he looked pissed. Her hormones were making her vindictive and petty.
Other then the wild mood swings and the crazy cravings her pregnancy was pretty routine. She didn’t have a lot of morning sickness, although her sense of smell jumped through the roof.
On one particularly warm evening she was sitting on her bed brushing her hair, her feet were swollen and her back was killing her. She could feel the southerly breeze that was blowing through her open balcony doors and breathed deep the scent of grass and wind and her mothers garden. With the next gust she picked up another scent, one that was masculine and brought on a gut wrenching response.
“Vegeta?” she whispered. She stood and walked to the balcony. In the grass below Vegeta seemed to be doing some stretching. She could barley make out the shape of his flame swept hair in the dim starlight. She closed her eyes and breathed in deep, his smell filling her mind and her senses. The memories of him she’d been so carefully guarding came crashing in on her all at once.
The way his eyes seemed to flash with anger and excitement, all at once, when he fought with her. The smallest upturn to his smirk when he found himself so very amusing. His touch, so demanding, yet gentle. The way his mouth tasted when he claimed her lips in a deep and passionate kiss. The way his body moved as he thrust in and out, in and out. Suddenly she felt a gushing between her legs and she cursed him for having such an effect on her even as she stood alone, his child in her womb. Her stomach clenched violently and she fell to her knees, her arms wrapped around her bulging abdomen.
Bulma gasped in pain as she doubled over, her body huddling against the railing. And then he was just... there.
“Woman,” he growled as he knelt beside her frowning intensely. She felt his hands on her stomach carefully as she grimace in pain.
“I’m fine, Vegeta,” she hissed through her teeth. “Don’t trouble yourself,”she rallied behind her anger and forced the pain down.
“Don’t be obstinate woman, you’re birthing time is come,” he eyed her soaked pajama pants and felt her womb contracting under his hand. “You need to get medical help.” He moved to slide his arms around her back and under her knees.
“Don’t touch me!” she shrieked. The pain was receding. She gathered her strength and pushed away from him. Standing on her own two feet she leaned against the railing and glared at him. “You think you can just come back here now and act all helpful and noble now that I’m ready to give birth. Well that’s not the way it works. This is my problem, remember? My problem, and I’m dealing with it my way! I don’t need you! I plan on having MY child just fine with out you! You can just...” her words cut off as she was hit by another painful ripping in her gut. She hunched over, clutching her stomach. “OH, Kami...” she grunted. “Don’t just stand there!” she hissed. “Take me to the damned doctor already!” she screeched as the pain drove her to her knees again.
Vegeta scowled as he scooped her up and took off for the nearest hospital. Bulma clutched his shirt until the pain subsided enough that she could open her eyes. “Not so fast, Vegeta!” she shrieked. “If you haven’t noticed, I’m kind of in labor here. You don’t want to put me in danger while I’m in my delicate condition...” She gasped as another contraction hit.
“Too fast....” she hissed. “They’re coming too close together. We’re never going to make it!” She tipped back her head and screamed for all she was worth.
Vegeta’s ears were ringing. “Shut up, Woman,” he muttered, “You’re going to be fine so stop your shrieking.” He landed just outside the emergency room at West Capital’s largest hospital. Bulma wondered how he’d know where to go as another contraction hit her.
“Son of a Bitch!” she screamed as he carried her inside. “This is all your fault you fucking ass hole!” Her insides felt like they were on fire and her stomach felt as though it were trying to crush the flames out. “I never want to fucking see you ever ever again!” She howled as Vegeta placed her in a wheelchair he’d seized by tossing a young man with a broken leg across the room.
“This woman needs a doctor now,” he said in his most dangerous voice to a stunned nurse. “She is about to deliver my child.” He pushed the wheelchair towards the still stunned woman. “Take her now.”
“Your child!” Bulma laughed bitterly. “Ha! If that isn’t a cosmic fucking joke! Kami, what was I thinking!” she winced as another wave of pain swept up her body. “Don’t leave me, Vegeta!” she reached for his hand and gripped it in her fist.
Vegeta was surprised to find he couldn’t pull his arm away. The Woman’s power level was spiking intensely with each labor pain. “You don’t need me, Woman,” he said, hunching down to speak to her at eye level. “You are strong.” He whispered as the nurse began pushing her away. Her grip on his hand forced him to follow.
“No, I’m not,” Bulma whimpered, “I’m not strong, I’m weak. Please, I need you! I don’t want to do this alone!” she begged but the pain was seeping away and with it her unnatural strength. Vegeta stopped walking and his arm pulled from her grip. The nurse pushed her down the hall and around the corner. Away from Vegeta. She sobbed his name as they placed her on the bed and removed her clothes. They barely had time to wrap one of those flimsy gowns around her body before she was screaming bloody murder and cursing his name again.
45 minutes later she was huffing and puffy and pushing with all her might. There hadn’t been time for any drugs. She screamed one last time as she felt the seemingly massive body of her baby push the last of the way out of her body and into the waiting doctors arms.
Gasping and sobbing in relief she laid back on the bed, her body drenched in sweat from head to toe. Her hair clung to her neck and shoulders. She lay there panting when she heard the first sharp cries of a baby. “My baby...” she breathed, sitting up carefully. She reached out and after a few seconds was rewarded with a warm little bundle, it’s cries hearty and loud. “Oh, baby,” she whispered smiling down at the scrunched up little face that was a mirror of his fathers in miniature.
“Congratulations, Miss Briefs, you have a healthy baby boy,” the doctor said and then he stepped away to give mother and son a moment to meet.
Bulma looked in amazement at the tiny purple fuzz that crowned the baby’s head. She brushed a finger over his forehead, pushing them aside and marveling at the feathery softness of his hair and skin. “Purple hair, just like papa...” she whispered in awe. “Trunks,” she said firmly. “I will call you Trunks.”
Then Trunks sighed and fell asleep.
On the roof of the hospital Vegeta listened carefully to what was going on in the room below. He had a son. A healthy and strong son. “Trunks,” he whispered. After a moment of swelling pride he swallowed his emotions and took off.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Joyous Kwanzaa, and Cheers for a shinny new year, Everyone!
Chapter 11:
And Then There Were Three
Bulma sat eyeing the intimidating little stick with apprehension.
Things had been pretty okay the last few weeks and had gotten back into the normal flow with one major exception. During the day Vegeta continued to train unceasingly. He would sometimes find time to make demands for food and equipment and pick fights with Bulma, who gladly returned the verbal assaults. And every few nights Vegeta would make his way into her bed, or drag her into his as they continued to try and get their fill on one another. It wasn’t a perfect situation for either of them, but it seemed to be working out well enough. Until now.
For one reason or another she’d just never worried about birth control with Vegeta. She’d discovered long ago that being on the pill made her go crazy. Even the lighter dosages sent her hormones spiraling out of wack. She’d nearly killed Yamcha before deciding it would be best if she stopped taking it. So they’d gone with condoms. But Vegeta didn’t seem like the kind of guy you told to wrap it up and lived. She’d been afraid to. And now she was afraid because she hadn’t. He’d never seemed worried about it, so she hadn’t really let it concern her. Then she’d been late. And then missed entirely.
The egg timer buzzed and she shut it off quickly, the ringing only irritated her already frayed nerves. When silence once again filled the room, she reached across the sink and picked up the test. Dread and excitement poured into her. She was pregnant. How was she going to tell Vegeta?
She forced the panic down, telling herself she’d could wait till he was done training. She busied herself in the lab, working to keep her mind occupied. At dinner she and her parents made small talk while Vegeta stuffed his face. She didn’t want to have this possible volatile conversation in front of her mom and dad so she tried to act normal. She avoided looking at or talking to Vegeta at all. If he noticed he didn’t say anything. He seemed pretty absorbed with his own thoughts.
She tried to think positive. Maybe he would be excited to have a child, an heir. A half Saiyan child, she thought with trepidation. Chi chi had managed to bear a half-Saiyan child. It couldn’t be that much different then a normal human baby, right? She ignored the wheedling thoughts that whispered that Chi chi was at least ten times stronger then she was. Probably more, much more. Still, she was almost certain she had nothing to worry about. Maybe she should call Chi chi. But not until after she’d talked to Vegeta. She glanced up at him across the table and caught him frowning at her. She looked away quickly and tried not to tremble. She felt his eyes on her a moment longer and then heard him push up from his seat and leave.
Bulma waited another few minutes and then stood. “I’m pretty tired. I think I’m going to go to bed now,” she said to her mom and dad. Her mother stood and caught Bulma’s arm.
“Is everything okay, Bulma?” she asked. “You look a little pale? And you’re shaking!” her mother placed a hand on Bulma’s forehead.
“I’m fine, Mom,” she said and pulled away. “I’m just tired. I haven’t been sleeping very well...” she blushed a little when her mother grinned and winked at her.
“Well, I can’t say that I blame you!” her mother started, and Bulma guessed that this conversation was heading into a bad place. She’d known her mother would figure things out eventually.
“Okay then, I’ll see you in the morning!” she said cheerfully and nearly ran from the room. She was upstairs before she realized it and, suddenly, the fear was back. ‘You can do this, Bulma!’ she told herself as she forced her feet to take her to Vegeta’s door. She raised her fist and paused. Her gut was clenched tighter then she’d ever thought possible. Her body felt cold with fear, a shiver up her spine sent her whole body into micro-spasms. She lowered her hand. She couldn’t do this! She whirled around and felt her heart drop out of her chest when she spotted Vegeta leaning against the wall behind her. She very nearly screamed, but managed to bite her lip instead. Her chest heaved as she struggled to get enough air.
“Kami, Vegeta! What the hell are you doing! Are you trying to put me in cardiac arrest?” she put a hand over her heart and willed it to beat slower.
Vegeta narrowed his eyes at the Woman. She was acting strangely, and she reeked of fear. “What is wrong with you, Woman?” he was pretty sure her fear was aimed at him, and not because he’d startled her. She’d smelled of it at dinner, too. He was refusing to feel the hurt that kept trying to squeeze it’s way into his chest. She hadn’t been afraid of him since... well since Namek probably. He didn’t understand why she seemed petrified of him now. He’d done nothing to earn her fear. Lately.
Vegeta resisted the urge to punch a hole in the wall as he watched the Woman’s eyes nearly pop out of her head and onto the plush hallway carpet. Her heart was pounding and her lip was bleeding slightly from where she’d bitten it. And her nails were soon going to break the flesh on her palms. It sickened him that he no longer relished her fear. That instead he found himself wanting to put a fist through whatever was causing her to shake like that. And the fact that it seemed to be him made his stomach twist. He forced himself to take a deep breath. Stupid Woman. Why did he care if she was cringing away from him in fear? He didn’t care.
Bulma forced herself to move, stepping towards Vegeta. “I...I need to... There’s something...” she hated how scared and weak she sounded. She took a breath and then forced herself to swallow her fear. “We need to talk,” she said, more calmly now.
Vegeta groaned inwardly at her words. He watched her get a hold of her fear and take another step closer to him. It caused a small swelling of pride as he was witness to her conquering her fear. He’d admitted, albeit grudgingly that the woman seemed to have balls of steel. She’d stepped up to face Frieza when he’d been about to tear apart her world and she was conquering her fear of him now. He pushed away from the wall and stepped closer to her. “Fine then. Talk.”
She hesitated. “Can we go into your room first? Please?” she said still trying to work above her terror. He grunted and walked past her. Once they were in his room he watched her close the door behind herself and then turn slowly to face him. It suddenly occurred to him that she was going to refuse him further access to her bed and that she was afraid he would be angry because of it. His gut twisted even more. He pulled on his reliably stable anger and crossed his arms over his chest rigidly preparing for her rejection. He told himself he didn’t care. It would be less of a distraction for him anyway. He was ready for whatever she could toss at him.
“I just thought that you should know that I... I’m pregnant.” she said that last part so quickly he almost missed it. He wasn’t ready for that.
“What!?” he hissed, her words sinking in finally. “Why would you let that happen?” he was confused and defensive. Which translated into furious.
“I didn’t LET it happen, Vegeta,” she said back, crossing her own arms. “It just... It just did. That’s what happens when a man and a woman have unprotected sex. Repeatedly.” She knew that wasn’t completely true in every sense of the word. She hadn’t done anything to stop it from happening.
Vegeta was unfamiliar with the term unprotected sex. “What does that mean?” he asked. He’d never considered the possibility that the Woman would be stupid enough to want to get with child. His child. Saiyan women could choose the time and man then considered most worthy in order to conceive. But then again, the Woman was human, not saiyan. “Human women do not control their conception,” he said, as soon as the thought occurred to him.
“No, we don’t,” she said quietly. “Are you saying that Saiyan women can?” she asked frowning. That would explain why he’d never seemed concerned with the possibility. This was just a case of cross-species mis-communication.
Vegeta nodded. Then he shook his head. “Why would you risk having a child with a man you...” he stopped his question. A man you hate? A man you fear? A man you know is a cold-blooded, heartless murdering bastard? He wasn’t sure what he’d meant to ask but he didn’t want the answer, either way.
Bulma threw up her hands up. “I don’t know!” she put her hands over her face. “We were just... And I was trying to... I mean you were so...!” She didn’t seem to be able to finish a thought either. She wasn’t going to cry, though, she wasn’t!
Vegeta stood there, silent, letting the weight of the situation bear down on him. The Woman was pregnant. She was going to have his child. He was going to have a half-breed son. He did not have time for this. “I hope you don’t expect me to be happy about this,” he spit at her angrily.
Bulma laughed bitterly and lowered her hands to roll her eyes at him. “Trust me, I’m not all that thrilled myself.” Mostly she was just glad he hadn’t killed her yet. “But it’s happened and, now we have to deal with this like two grown up, adults.”
It was Vegeta’s turn to laugh. His scorn stunned Bulma. “I don’t have to deal with anything. This is your problem. You were stupid enough to get yourself into this situation. If I had known the risk I would have never touched you!” he was practically yelling now.
“Don’t act like this is all my fault, Vegeta. This is just as much your child as it is mine. It takes two, remember?” she no longer feared for her life. She feared being left alone to raise this child. She feared being abandoned by the man that she... Her thoughts stopped and she paused, on the verge of tears. ‘The man that I what?’ she wondered. Her heart felt as though Vegeta had plunged a knife into it. She’d known he wouldn’t be happy about this situation. She’d even thought he might kill her over it. Or had she? Had she really thought him possible of murdering her now that she carried his child? No, she realized. She’d never really thought he would. Nor had she though him possible of sending her on her way, tossing her like a empty candy wrapper now that the fun was gone. “I... I’m afraid, Vegeta.” she wanted to reach out to him, to have him wrap his arms around her and tell her it was going to be all right. But she knew that was never going to happen. “I need you.” she whispered, hands gripping her arms. “I can’t do this on my own.”
Vegeta nearly choked on her words. He didn’t know how to be a father, or a husband or... even a friend. He couldn’t give support or love. He was the worst possible person to come to for anything but death and mayhem. Purging planets, he could do. Killing millions of innocent people, sure, he could pull off with out breaking a sweat. But this... “I can’t,” he said simply and then he pushed past her and out the door, her sobs reaching his ears even as he exited the compound and blasting his way into the night sky.
For the next 8 months Bulma hardly saw Vegeta. He’d take off for days at a time and when he’d return he’d lock himself up in the Gravity Simulator. Bulma’s mother and father were as supportive as two parents could be. Dr. Briefs spent a lot of his time making baby friendly devices and building things like a temperature controlled crib and an automated dipper receptacle. Her mother would bring home new baby clothes and blankets and toys every time she’d go shopping. After a while they needed a whole new wing for all the baby stuff.
Bulma never called Chi chi or any of her other friends. Partly she was wanting to keep it a surprise and partly because it hurt to much to explain about the baby’s father.
One day, after she’d started to really show she had an unannounced visit from her ex. He’d walked up behind her while she’d been outside talking to her mother who was working in her garden. He’d tried to wrap his arms around her waist and had gotten the shock of his life.
“Holy shit! Bulma! You’re huge!” he shouted and she’d barley restrained herself from punching him in the throat.
“I’m not huge,” she’d muttered crossing her arms over her chest, “I’m pregnant. There is a difference, you know.” She’d felt a smirk of satisfaction cross her face when his face had fallen.
“Pregnant!?” He seemed angry for a second. “By who?” he had sounded jealous.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but it was Vegeta.” And she’d forced down a laugh when Yamcha nearly fell on his face in shock.
“Vegeta!” he yelled, “How could you?! With Vegeta!? But Bulma, he’s a cold-hearted killer!” he stammered.
“Not to mention a total ass hole,” Bulma agreed. “Trust me on this one, I know.” She tried not to think about how much she missed him, in spite of that fact. “What are you doing here anyway?” She asked, not un-rudely.
He’d gone on to explain that he’d just broken up with a girl from his aerobics class and had though he’d drop by to ask Bulma out. That was just like Yamcha, to expect her to just be sitting at home waiting for him. Well, she’d shown him. Even if she hadn’t been carrying Vegeta’s baby, Bulma would never have accepted, she told herself. Her and Yamcha were over, for good. After that he’d turned down her mother’s invitation to stay for lunch and had left promptly. Bulma hoped she was right when she’d though he looked pissed. Her hormones were making her vindictive and petty.
Other then the wild mood swings and the crazy cravings her pregnancy was pretty routine. She didn’t have a lot of morning sickness, although her sense of smell jumped through the roof.
On one particularly warm evening she was sitting on her bed brushing her hair, her feet were swollen and her back was killing her. She could feel the southerly breeze that was blowing through her open balcony doors and breathed deep the scent of grass and wind and her mothers garden. With the next gust she picked up another scent, one that was masculine and brought on a gut wrenching response.
“Vegeta?” she whispered. She stood and walked to the balcony. In the grass below Vegeta seemed to be doing some stretching. She could barley make out the shape of his flame swept hair in the dim starlight. She closed her eyes and breathed in deep, his smell filling her mind and her senses. The memories of him she’d been so carefully guarding came crashing in on her all at once.
The way his eyes seemed to flash with anger and excitement, all at once, when he fought with her. The smallest upturn to his smirk when he found himself so very amusing. His touch, so demanding, yet gentle. The way his mouth tasted when he claimed her lips in a deep and passionate kiss. The way his body moved as he thrust in and out, in and out. Suddenly she felt a gushing between her legs and she cursed him for having such an effect on her even as she stood alone, his child in her womb. Her stomach clenched violently and she fell to her knees, her arms wrapped around her bulging abdomen.
Bulma gasped in pain as she doubled over, her body huddling against the railing. And then he was just... there.
“Woman,” he growled as he knelt beside her frowning intensely. She felt his hands on her stomach carefully as she grimace in pain.
“I’m fine, Vegeta,” she hissed through her teeth. “Don’t trouble yourself,”she rallied behind her anger and forced the pain down.
“Don’t be obstinate woman, you’re birthing time is come,” he eyed her soaked pajama pants and felt her womb contracting under his hand. “You need to get medical help.” He moved to slide his arms around her back and under her knees.
“Don’t touch me!” she shrieked. The pain was receding. She gathered her strength and pushed away from him. Standing on her own two feet she leaned against the railing and glared at him. “You think you can just come back here now and act all helpful and noble now that I’m ready to give birth. Well that’s not the way it works. This is my problem, remember? My problem, and I’m dealing with it my way! I don’t need you! I plan on having MY child just fine with out you! You can just...” her words cut off as she was hit by another painful ripping in her gut. She hunched over, clutching her stomach. “OH, Kami...” she grunted. “Don’t just stand there!” she hissed. “Take me to the damned doctor already!” she screeched as the pain drove her to her knees again.
Vegeta scowled as he scooped her up and took off for the nearest hospital. Bulma clutched his shirt until the pain subsided enough that she could open her eyes. “Not so fast, Vegeta!” she shrieked. “If you haven’t noticed, I’m kind of in labor here. You don’t want to put me in danger while I’m in my delicate condition...” She gasped as another contraction hit.
“Too fast....” she hissed. “They’re coming too close together. We’re never going to make it!” She tipped back her head and screamed for all she was worth.
Vegeta’s ears were ringing. “Shut up, Woman,” he muttered, “You’re going to be fine so stop your shrieking.” He landed just outside the emergency room at West Capital’s largest hospital. Bulma wondered how he’d know where to go as another contraction hit her.
“Son of a Bitch!” she screamed as he carried her inside. “This is all your fault you fucking ass hole!” Her insides felt like they were on fire and her stomach felt as though it were trying to crush the flames out. “I never want to fucking see you ever ever again!” She howled as Vegeta placed her in a wheelchair he’d seized by tossing a young man with a broken leg across the room.
“This woman needs a doctor now,” he said in his most dangerous voice to a stunned nurse. “She is about to deliver my child.” He pushed the wheelchair towards the still stunned woman. “Take her now.”
“Your child!” Bulma laughed bitterly. “Ha! If that isn’t a cosmic fucking joke! Kami, what was I thinking!” she winced as another wave of pain swept up her body. “Don’t leave me, Vegeta!” she reached for his hand and gripped it in her fist.
Vegeta was surprised to find he couldn’t pull his arm away. The Woman’s power level was spiking intensely with each labor pain. “You don’t need me, Woman,” he said, hunching down to speak to her at eye level. “You are strong.” He whispered as the nurse began pushing her away. Her grip on his hand forced him to follow.
“No, I’m not,” Bulma whimpered, “I’m not strong, I’m weak. Please, I need you! I don’t want to do this alone!” she begged but the pain was seeping away and with it her unnatural strength. Vegeta stopped walking and his arm pulled from her grip. The nurse pushed her down the hall and around the corner. Away from Vegeta. She sobbed his name as they placed her on the bed and removed her clothes. They barely had time to wrap one of those flimsy gowns around her body before she was screaming bloody murder and cursing his name again.
45 minutes later she was huffing and puffy and pushing with all her might. There hadn’t been time for any drugs. She screamed one last time as she felt the seemingly massive body of her baby push the last of the way out of her body and into the waiting doctors arms.
Gasping and sobbing in relief she laid back on the bed, her body drenched in sweat from head to toe. Her hair clung to her neck and shoulders. She lay there panting when she heard the first sharp cries of a baby. “My baby...” she breathed, sitting up carefully. She reached out and after a few seconds was rewarded with a warm little bundle, it’s cries hearty and loud. “Oh, baby,” she whispered smiling down at the scrunched up little face that was a mirror of his fathers in miniature.
“Congratulations, Miss Briefs, you have a healthy baby boy,” the doctor said and then he stepped away to give mother and son a moment to meet.
Bulma looked in amazement at the tiny purple fuzz that crowned the baby’s head. She brushed a finger over his forehead, pushing them aside and marveling at the feathery softness of his hair and skin. “Purple hair, just like papa...” she whispered in awe. “Trunks,” she said firmly. “I will call you Trunks.”
Then Trunks sighed and fell asleep.
On the roof of the hospital Vegeta listened carefully to what was going on in the room below. He had a son. A healthy and strong son. “Trunks,” he whispered. After a moment of swelling pride he swallowed his emotions and took off.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Joyous Kwanzaa, and Cheers for a shinny new year, Everyone!