Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Sole Survivors ❯ Awaiting the Day of the Dragon ( Chapter 11 )

Sole Survivors

By QueenSaiyajin

(DBZ does not belong to me, and this story is written purely for the enjoyment of all those Bulma/Vegeta fans out there. Thanks for all the comments, and look for Part 12 soon!)

WARNING: Lotsa lemon in this chapter. Rated NC-17. Please stay away if you are under age!!!!)

Chapter Eleven: Awaiting the Day of the Dragon

The house was silent; deathly silent. It had been this way for three weeks, yet it seemed even more so tonight under the black moonless sky. How this silence grated on his nerves, in the house that had once been filled with the sounds of…his family. He missed the baby's chatter most of all, those unintelligible sounds laced with the excited Pa pa pa pa every time he came into the room. The exuberant smile on that innocent face had never failed to warm his heart. Just as the soft lullabies that his woman would sing calmed him as if he were an infant himself. Her voice had been silenced too. The little songs, the cheerful chatter, even the occasional nagging that in truth amused more than annoyed him, seemed to have faded into memory. It was as if King Kold had drained the life from her as well. And Vegeta had let it happen. To both of them. To all of them.

Even his need to be with her, to seek comfort in their bond, was subverted by his guilt. He could barely be in her presence without drowning in the onslaught of her anguish that washed over him. He dared not look her in the eyes. Her beautiful blue eyes that had sparkled with her happiness and love for him and their child were now lifeless and unseeing. Trunks was worried about her-he'd said as much. But Vegeta refused to even acknowledge to his son that Bulma was sinking deeper into her despair. He was losing her. She was slipping away from him like sand through his fingers. And his own guilt for having caused her this pain made him incapable of doing anything about it.

He slipped into bed as he had for the past three weeks, long past the time when she had cried herself to sleep. He had heard her in his mind, and it had ripped him apart inside. But he had not had the courage to face her. Instead, he had waited each night until she was asleep to join her, so exhausted himself that he would not awaken until she had already arisen. Thus he had gotten into a pattern of avoidance. It was shameful. It was painful. But it was all he could do.

For a long while he stared at her back to him, willing himself the courage to touch her. Gingerly he reached out finally, wrapping his arm around her and spooning against her, closing his eyes as he took in the scent of her, gasping softly as his whole body seemed to sigh in relief at the contact it had so desperately needed. Only as his hand sought to touch hers did he realize that she had fallen asleep with something clutched tightly in her arms.

He lifted his head, glancing down at the stuffed blue stegosaurus that he had ridiculed before the baby's birth, only to see it become his son's constant companion. It was the first time he had seen the toy since…that day…and he felt his throat tighten as he remembered watching Bulma tuck Trunks into bed with the steg possessively in his tiny grasp. He should be learning to kill creatures like those, not cuddle them, he had grumbled. Bulma had just dismissed him with a dirty look.

What he would not give to see the baby nestled in his crib with that silly creature now.

He held her closer as he lay his head back down, too close perhaps because she awoke just then. Turning in his arms to face him, she blinked sleepily. "Vegeta?"

"Sshhhhhhhh," he soothed her. "I didn't mean to wake you."

"It's okay," she murmured as she snuggled against his chest. "It just feels so good to have you here. I've really missed you," she whispered.

There was no reproach in her voice, and that made him feel all the worse. "I'm…sorry, Bulma…" he managed. How much easier it would be if she would yell at him!

For a few moments she was silent, and he dared to reach out to her with his mind…only to find that overwhelming wall of despair that had imprisoned her to him. His guilt grew a hundred-fold. He was glad she was cuddling against him like this-he could relish her warmth without having to look into her eyes. But suddenly she spoke the words that threw him into utter confusion.

"I don't blame you, Vegeta. I know…you can't even bear to look at me. I know…it's all my fault…"

"What are you talking about, woman?" he asked in a hushed whisper. And as she looked up at him finally, it was not condemnation he saw in her eyes, but…guilt.

"It's my fault Chibi died…" she whimpered, her already reddened eyes filling anew with tears.

Vegeta could not believe his ears. "What foolishness is this?"

"I convinced you to train with Trunks. You didn't want to leave us alone-"

"You convinced me to do what was right for our son," he replied. "It was my decision. And I was the one who left Rossdark to guard you."

"You wouldn't have had to if I hadn't stopped you from killing Jorlegan that day."

He sighed deeply. He couldn't deny that he had cursed himself a million times over for not killing the bastard when he'd had the chance. But he had never thought to blame his woman for that. "You told me that I couldn't go around killing everyone I didn't like. And you were right," he admitted, having thought this through in his long days of training. "No one would trust or respect a king who did."

"But you knew he was a danger. I shouldn't have stopped you-"

He shook his head slowly. "A king must have the strength to destroy those who are a danger to him, and the compassion to spare those who pose no real threat. But most importantly, the wisdom to know the difference. I'm the one who made the wrong choice, Bulma. And it cost us …our son." He cursed his own voice for betraying his emotions as he said, "Dragonballs or no, I can never forgive myself for letting him die. And I can only pray to the gods that once he's with us again, I will never again be fool enough to make the same mistake."

He brought his hand to her face, caressing her cheek as he looked in her eyes, baring himself now to her as he had not since their son had died. "You have no blame in this, woman. It is… all mine. And if I have not been able to face you, it's my own guilt that's kept me away." His voice had begun to falter with his admission, and he finished in a whisper, "I can't bear to see…all the pain…I have caused you…"

He was trying desperately to read her face, her thoughts, to know if she could forgive him for failing her in the worst way possible. But there was no anger, no resentment from her, as he had feared. To his amazement, there was only… relief… that he did not hold her responsible for the loss of their son. In his worst moments of anger and grief he had never once blamed her! How had she ever imagined he would?

And how could you ever think I would blame you? she thought back to him, hearing his silent wonder.

I vowed to protect you when I made you mine…and yet you have suffered…no matter what I do…in this time…in the other…What use is this power if I can not keep you and my son from harm!? He could not have expressed in words the swirling maelstrom of emotions that had suddenly begun to spring from his soul. His guilt over what had befallen them, both in this reality and the other, ran as deep as his love for her and their son. Damage had been done that no dragonballs could ever repair. Even as she lay in his arms now, the image of that other Bulma who had been brutalized for two decades and had gladly escaped into the comfort of death was emblazoned in his memory. And so it should be always. He owed it to her. He had left her to a fate worse than death. And his son…

He found himself sobbing as he clung to her, silently begging her for forgiveness. Only when he heard her whisper in his ear, "I'm your Princess, Vegeta…and that's something I'll never regret," did he begin to realize that it was her absolution that he had secretly needed all along. That he had recoiled from her grief because it intensified his own, exacerbating his guilt, his sense of utter failure as a husband and father…

No, she said gently in his mind as she wrapped her arms around him. He had come to comfort her, and somehow their roles had become reversed. But the love that seemed to emanate from her was such a balm to his tortured soul that he did not even care how shamefully he was acting, how so unlike a Prince…

You are a Prince…but you are a man, too. A man who loves his family. There's no shame in that… Her words soothed his mind even as she ran her fingers through his hair, holding him against her breast. He closed his eyes, drowning in the peace that he had not allowed himself in weeks. He needed her so much. He didn't know if he could survive if she ever stopped loving him like this… Perhaps that's what he had feared all along. That she would not forgive him for letting this happen. That she would be lost to him…She who had helped him to become what he was…And without her…he would be nothing…

"I'll never stop loving you," she whispered. And neither did she. You know that. And through her own memories she forced him to see it again, the image of Mirai Bulma as she had said her final good bye…

"It's not your fault," she said again, her blue eyes boring into his. "I love you! And I don't regret for a moment my decision to be with you!" Her eyes filled with tears again, but this time he sensed they were tears of relief. "And I'll be with you again! You and your Bulma will live on, and be happy. And my Vegeta…he's waiting for me. I've seen him in my dreams. And I know. And once we're together again, no one will ever be able to pull us apart!"

Even the words meant to give him solace could not assuage his guilt. For a long moment he lay against her as he found his calm and his voice. Slowly he brought his face up to hers, looking into her eyes. "Do you believe that, Bulma? Do you believe that they're together…that we…?"

"Of course, I do," she told him with utter certainty. "Goku was in Other World when he died. It's real."

"Yes, but…" How to say this? "Kakarot was not in Hell. Nor would you ever be. But I…"

"Don't even say it," she warned.

"I've always known I would be condemned to Hell. You know…what I was. All that I did-"

"And you're not that way any more," she reminded him.

He sighed. A month ago he might have believed her. And yet knowing now what he was up against…

"You'll do what you have to," she told him, reading his thoughts. "But there's a difference between killing people who threaten you and destroying whole worlds…"

"I will destroy the Tsiru-jin," he told her plainly. "And on Vegeta-sei, there will be those who oppose me. Who will be a threat to you and our sons-"

"Like your father?" she asked knowingly.

He nodded, the fury for his sire welling within. "I can't let him live, Bulma. Not after all this."

She nodded slowly. "I know."

He searched her eyes for disappointment in him, but did not find it.

"You'll do what you have to do," she told him again. "And nothing will change the way I feel about you. Ever."

He couldn't find the words to tell her what that meant to him. So he brought his lips to hers, kissing her tenderly. The words were done for now. And as he made love to her, even conscious thought became unnecessary. They were one, no matter what lie ahead. And with that knowledge, he could face anything.

"What's wrong with you humans? A house this enormous, and you still can't build a bigger bathtub?!"

Bulma smiled at her husband's complaint, laying back to mold her body against his. She didn't have to look back at him to know that he was quite comfortable with the tight fit. She closed her eyes, reveling in his touch as he smoothed the soap bubbles over her breasts, lingering there with his gentle caress. How she had needed this closeness with him! How she had needed to know that he didn't blame her for…

Stop it, woman. Just relax… he commanded her as he kissed her neck from behind. He refused to let her slip back into her depression, and she willed herself to comply. After all, in less than a week the horror would all be over, and their baby would be in her arms again…

"If you had designed a more spacious bathing pool, we could probably have spent the whole week right here," he murmured, his arousal pressed against her from behind making her wish it were so.

"So, what kind of bathtub will we have in the royal palace?" she challenged, rubbing against him.

"A bathing pool the size of our bedroom," he replied as she turned to face him. It was difficult to mount him in these close quarters, but they had done so before…

"Isn't that a little excessive?" she asked, placing herself over him.

His eyes were closed in pure ecstasy as she lowered herself onto him, taking him in. Perhaps it was his preoccupation with what she was doing to him that caused him to answer without thinking, "It's for the pleasure slaves…to bathe the king…"

Almost immediately he realized what he was saying and his eyes opened to look at her, his cheeks growing crimson. She had stopped moving on him and was staring at him in shock. "When I was a boy…I walked in on my father…" he stammered.

"I don't want to hear it," she told him with disgust. "And if you think that's going to go on in any palace where I'm Queen, you've got another thing coming! Unless you want your son to ascend to the throne while he's still in diapers!"

"Calm yourself, woman," he said, reaching up to touch her face. There was neither anger nor amusement at her threat in his eyes, just concern that he had upset her. "You and I are bonded together. I couldn't be unfaithful to you even if I wished to." He pulled her face down to his, looking into her eyes with all the pure unadulterated love he felt for her. "And I would never wish to. So rest easy. There will be no pleasure slaves in our palace."

"No one is touching this body but me," she pouted, running her fingers over his perfect form, still unnerved by the thought of what went on in his society. "It belongs to me," she whispered as his lips sought hers.

As yours does to me, he whispered in her mind as he took possession of her. Slowly she began to move on him again, matching the urgency of his kiss with her own. His hands were on her hips now, supporting her as she rose and fell at a quickening pace, and his mouth found its way to her breasts, suckling them each in turn, as she tightened herself around him, his primal growl of pleasure intensifying the sensation of his hot breath against her skin, his unbridled passion washing over her and becoming one with her own…

Bulma sighed against his body, passion and energy spent. The bath water was cool now, but even as the stray thought struck her, he warmed it with his ki. Vegeta gently brushed her hair from her face, and she looked up into the adoring eyes that were hers alone in private moments like these. Could a pleasure slave make you feel like this? she teased him silently.

Never…hethought back to her as he kissed her face.

A knock at the door to their bedroom broke their perfect moment and Vegeta growled, "What is it?"

Trunks' voice came hesitantly from the hallway. Could he sense what he had interrupted? Bulma was mortified at the thought. "Dad, Mom…I'm sorry to disturb you…but Rossdark is downstairs to see you."

Bulma felt her husband's entire body tense at the mention of the man's name. In three weeks, Vegeta had not even spoken of the friend who had betrayed them to King Kold. "Tell him I have nothing to say to him," Vegeta replied tersely.

"Father, he says it's urgent," Trunks responded.

"Fine! Tell him I'll be down in five minutes!" he spat angrily, lifting them both from the tub. He set her on her feet, and she put her hands on his chest.

"Vegeta, please, just stay calm. See what he has to say. It may be about the dragon. He was, after all, the one who made the wishes with us."

Vegeta's face had turned to stone, his eyes flaring with an anger that still burned deep. "I will speak with him. But I will never trust that man again."

"I know," she said soberly, her own resentment for Rossdark's actions rekindled with the mention of his name.

Silently they dressed, and she followed her husband down the stairs, fully aware that only the pleas of a little girl had kept Vegeta from killing the man they had once called friend. Trunks was looking at them expectantly, tensed as if waiting for an explosion from his father. She glanced at him and nodded slightly as if to tell him that things would stay under control. At least, she hoped so.

Rossdark was solemn, the weight of his guilt still heavy upon his shoulders. He bowed his head in respect, and said, "Ouji-sama, Princess. I am sorry to bother you, but-"

"You're no longer welcome in my home, Rossdark," Vegeta broke in curtly. "So state your business and leave us."

"Of course," he responded, making no motion to speak in his defense. He had apologized to Vegeta and Bulma profusely, and knew that he had lost their trust. "The early warning system has detected a vessel entering our system-we estimate it should make planet fall by tomorrow. So far, they have made no attempt to contact us. I thought you should know."

Bulma's heart began to pound as she watched her husband's eyes open wide in concern. But then, as he reached out with his senses, she knew even before he spoke what he had felt.

"It's just Kakarot," he said with relief. "And his father. They're alone. They've probably come to escort us back to Vegeta-sei." I would have sensed them before, woman, if you hadn't…distracted me so!

Bulma breathed deeply. "Thank Kami it's just them."

"Then…you will be leaving as soon as the wish has been made?" Rossdark asked boldly.

Vegeta glared at him. "I don't intend to spend one moment more than I have to on this blasted planet."

Rossdark looked at him regretfully. "We will be sorry to see you leave. You have done much for our world-"

"You should have thought of that before you delivered my wife and son to Kold," Vegeta snapped.

"Do you think it was easy to betray you, Prince Vegeta? After all you have done for me? Your family was like a part of mine! But that bastard Jorlegan chose to exploit my greatest weakness-my love for my child. Can you honestly say that you would have done any differently in my place?!"

Bulma could feel the emotions swirling within her husband, his fury and grief at war with the one undeniable fact-that Rossdark had done nothing that Vegeta himself would not have done to save his own child. "I understand why you did it, Rossdark," Vegeta said finally, his tone controlled. "But that doesn't mean I can forgive you-or ever trust you again. My son is dead."

His voice broke off, as if he wanted to say something more, but could not. Bulma spoke for him.

"You can't imagine what this last month has been like, Rossdark. Even knowing that we'll bring the baby back with the wish-it can't erase the pain of not having him to hold…" Her voice drifted off, as her own mixed emotions rivaled Vegeta's. She knew damn well that Rossdark hadn't meant for this to happen-but it didn't change the fact that her baby was gone.

"I am sorry, Princess. Truly."

Bulma nodded as she wiped the tear that had fallen down her cheek. "Have you spoken to the Namek elder, Payson? Do we need to go to the frozen continent where we summoned him originally?"

Rossdark shook his head. "Payson says that the Dragon will appear to us wherever we are." He moved towards the door, then stopped. "I will return in six days so that the dragon will find us here together. And then the wish is yours to make." He paused as if remembering something, and pulled a paper from his pocket. "Pota…knew I was coming. And asked me to give this to you."

Bulma accepted the sheet of paper as Rossdark made his departure. Vegeta and Trunks looked at her curiously as she unfolded the hand-drawn picture of a handsome prince with black spiky hair, and a beautiful blue-haired princess with a tiny baby in her arms. A child's handwriting beside the picture read, "Dear Prince Vegeta and Princess Bulma. I really miss you! And I miss
Baby Trunks so much! I'm sorry, and Poppa is too! Please don't forget about me when you go away. I love you! Love, Pota".

Bulma's eyes filled with tears.

"What is it?" Vegeta asked pulling it from her.

Only Bulma could see the sorrow flutter briefly in his eyes. The little girl had touched him deeply from the start. If she had not, Rossdark would be dead right now. "Damn him, using a child to-"

"I'm sure she did it on her own, Vegeta," she sighed. "She was always drawing whenever she was here. She used to come over every day to play with the baby. She must feel terrible."

"So do we all," he replied, refusing to show that the drawing had touched his heart. He handed it back to her, and turned to Trunks. "I'm going to tear up some landscape. Care to join me?"

"Sure," Trunks responded, never turning down an opportunity to train with his father.

"Vegeta…" she began, but didn't know quite what to say. All she knew was that she didn't want to lose him to his anger and guilt again.

You won't, he promised silently. It was the only reassurance he would give in front of his son. But it was enough.

I'll be waiting for you… she thought back to him.

He turned back to her at the door. "And woman, have a warm bath waiting for me when I get home."

Even without the mischievous twinkle in his eye, she would have caught his meaning. She sighed as they left, trying not to dwell on the fact that she was all alone. Soon. By tomorrow Goku would be here. And in six days…

She looked again at the drawing, and closed her eyes. Soon, my baby. You'll be back with us soon.

The landscape was barren of life, far from any sign of civilization, with deep ravines and towering cliffs that had probably made settlement close to impossible. It was Vegeta's favorite spot on this backwards planet. Here he could take out his frustrations to his heart's content, blasting until the mountains fell as huge boulders into the canyon below. Of course, it wasn't as grandiose as splitting an entire planet to its core-he'd done enough of that in his time. But it wasn't his aim to destroy this world, no matter how much fury welled in him at the thought of his son's death. The innocents of Korwal-sei were not culpable for his grief; even Rossdark's betrayal did not warrant such wide-scale wrath.

Besides, if he destroyed the planet, the dragon would go with it. Without the dragon and its final wish, his son would be lost forever.

Vegeta glanced over at his grown son as the dust cleared from the landslide he himself had engineered. Trunks had been watching patiently while his father released his emotions in the way that he knew best. Vegeta smirked at him now, motioning below them. "You like the canyon? I did it myself a couple of weeks ago. Centuries from now some asinine geologist will probably try to come up with a theory as to what formed it."

Trunks smiled wanly. "That is, if you haven't changed it a dozen times before you leave."

Vegeta breathed deeply, sobering in frustration. "Enormous power, and I'm still at the mercy of a fucking mystical dragon."

Trunks was silent for a moment, then said, "Mom seems…a lot better. I'm glad."

Vegeta nodded. "She is an incredibly strong woman. She will make an excellent Queen."

The boy's face darkened. "Will they let her, Dad? Will they accept her…accept us?"

It shamed Vegeta that he could not answer his son's simple question as he would have wished to. It was maddening not knowing what was going on on Vegeta-sei, or how many would oppose him as his father had. But he replied with the one certainty that he knew, the one reassurance he could give to this son who had suffered more than he could bear to contemplate.

"They will have no choice. I will be their King, and no one will dare touch my family again."

The confidence and approval in his son's eyes only made him wish this boy had not had to wait so long for his protection.

"When Kakarot returns, he'll apprise us of the situation, so we can be better prepared,"

he said, then added grudgingly, "He's a decent warrior. It will be advantageous to have him on our side."

Trunks looked perplexed. "Father, there's something I don't understand about Goku. Mom told me he was the most powerful man on Earth-and, since he's a Saiyan, that only makes sense. But she told me that the first time you came to Earth, Goku and his son Gohan…they…"

Vegeta's face grew hot with embarrassment as he realized the tale his son had been told. "I was not at my full potential," he responded in his own defense. "And that little freak friend of theirs had cut off my tail. The kid went Oozaru, and I was already back in my natural form."

"I see," Trunks replied, nodding his head. "I couldn't imagine how anyone could-" The boy clearly didn't even want to use the term 'defeat', as if he knew what that would do to his father's pride.

Smart boy, Vegeta noted.

"Mom says you and Goku are friends now, though," he added, wisely changing the subject.

Vegeta raised an eyebrow. "I wouldn't exactly go so far as to say that. Your mother tends to use that term too loosely." The betrayal of the one man he had considered a friend stung at him like an insect bite whose itch was a constant reminder of the original offense. "It would probably be more appropriate to say that Kakarot and I have reached an understanding."

"And what is that?"

Vegeta smirked. "Kakarot understands that I am superior to him now."

Trunks grinned, pride in his father evident. "He doesn't even know about Super Saiyan 3-or 4 for that matter."

Vegeta nodded with satisfaction. "He will soon enough. I'm sure there'll be time for a little sparring session before we leave." It was just a shame Kakarot's kid wouldn't be there. It would give Vegeta great pleasure to see his own son kick that little brat's ass. Then Kakarot would know without a doubt whose son was superior… "Well, I'd say I've leveled enough of this landscape," he began, but Trunks raised his hand to blast one of the only remaining cliffs that stood above the mess he had made.

"You forgot one," the boy said, and then his face grew suddenly pensive as his own action seemed to have engendered a troubling memory. "You know, I used to do this a lot when I was younger," he confided, his eyes seeing the past as if it were laid out before him. "Once, when Kold sent me on a purging mission, I felt so sick afterwards for having killed all those people…I knew he wanted the planet for its natural resources-so I destroyed it just out of spite. I told him I just got carried away. I don't know if he believed me or not. But I'll never forget how good it felt to blast it out of the sky. I made believe it was him, and I just fired and fired until it was gone."

A shiver went down Vegeta's spine as his son recounted a memory not very different from his own. "I…did the same. Every time I imagined it was Frieza…but no matter how many times I did it, the son of a bitch was still alive." Trunks looked at him then, somehow comforted that his father understood. Yet Vegeta would gladly trade all his power to have spared his son the horror that they both shared in common now. "Come," he said, unable to think about it any more. "I just remembered that I never had any breakfast…I think I could use some."

But even as he flew back, Trunks at his side, he knew it was just an excuse. Thinking about what that perverse lizard had done to his son made him lose any appetite he might have had.

The Saiyan no Ou stood from his throne, glaring angrily at his son. "You dare bring your alien whore and these half-breed brats to Vegeta-sei? After I forbade it?!" He turned regally towards the ministers of his court who stood quietly to the side, hesitant to interfere in this royal matter. "My son has brought dishonor to our people. I can only assume that his years under Frieza have corrupted him, and made him ignorant to the ways of our people. For that reason, I will spare his life. But I have no other choice than to disinherit him. I can never allow him to bring a half-breed bastard heir to the throne. I hereby exile him from the Saiyan Empire!"

Vegeta's fury flared even as he saw Trunks move to stand protectively in front of his mother and the baby. "It is you who have dishonored our people, Ottousama! First by selling your son as hostage to Frieza, and then foolishly allowing him to destroy our planet! A greater King would have at least learned from his mistakes. Instead, you plotted with King Kold to hand over yet another Saiyan Prince!" There were gasps from the others in the room as he made his father's treachery public. Vegeta turned to the ministers. "Had my son, Prince Trunks, not traveled from the future to warn me, I would be dead, and Vegeta-sei would be destroyed once more, this time by Frieza's father! My Princess, the woman responsible for bringing life itself back to our planet and our race, would have been taken as a prize by King Kold, along with the last surviving Saiyan-my infant son.. This is the future I have prevented my Father from bringing upon our people!"

"That's a lie!" Vegeta Ou cried. "How do we even know this man is truly your son!?"

Vegeta glared at his father. "Because he is a Super Saiyan, just like his father!" He nodded to Trunks, and together they burst into the glowing golden form that had become like second nature to them.

The King, though visibly shaken, smirked evilly. "Super Saiyan-and yet the two of you together challenge me. Do you think to rule by committee, Vegeta? Or do you simply need his help to defeat me?"

"I need no one's help to destroy you, Father!" With all the rage and hatred of a lifetime, Vegeta's ki soared until the palace nearly shook to the ground. Even Vegeta Ou's eyes opened wide with fear as he gazed upon the red-furred, half-man, half-beast that was his son in his Super Saiyan 4 form. Vegeta stepped towards his father, smirking in satisfaction as the once-proud King backed away from him. "You have betrayed your son and your people for the last time," he proclaimed in a voice deeper than his own.

"No, Vegeta, please…" his father began weakly.

The blast silenced him once and for all.

Vegeta turned to the others in the room, the ministers, and the crowd of onlookers who had rushed in to see the source of immense power."Is there anyone else who challenges my right to lead my people?!" he dared them. "Is there anyone who questions my choice of Queen, or the legitimacy of my heirs?!"

No one dared speak, even move. Finally, the Prime Minister, Melangianes, stepped forward and bowed to his knees. "No, Sire. There is no doubt you are the Legendary reborn. No one questions your right to ascend to the throne, and name your heirs." In a show of agreement and respect, the others fell to their knees…

Vegeta's eyes shot open, and the royal palace dissipated into the morning light. In his arms his woman stirred, looking up at him with a disorientation that matched his own. "Whoa. That was intense…" she murmured, still half asleep. She snuggled back against his chest, the warmth of her bare skin against his pushing away the cold chill of his dream. "Was that my dream…or yours?" she asked sleepily. It was not uncommon for them to share dreams. But this one had been so real…

"I'm not sure," he said softly, wrapping his arms protectively about her. The thought of bringing her into a possibly hostile environment still unnerved him more than he could bear. Had his anxieties manifested themselves in this dream?

"Maybe it was a vision," she offered. "Like the one I had of King Kold…"

He breathed deeply, burying his face in her hair and kissing her lightly on the neck. "If it would all go as easily as that…" he murmured.

Bulma pulled away to look into his eyes. "I know…that it won't be easy for you. No matter what he's done."

"I could have dealt with what he did to me," he told her honestly. "But for what he did to my family…" I can never forgive him. Ever.

Bulma nodded lightly, her eyes suddenly filled with a pain he knew was for their son. For both their sons. Neither can I, she admitted. Only Vegeta could understand what that meant coming from a woman who seemed to have an infinite capacity to forgive.

He brought his hand up to her cheek. I will avenge them both. Avenge…you… He couldn't even say it aloud. He couldn't bring himself to speak of her, of her other self, that had suffered so. He'd destroyed Kold in this time, and would make his father pay for his betrayal. And once he kept his vow to his son, perhaps that other Bulma would rest in peace…

His woman's eyes widened suddenly and he realized in alarm that his thoughts had betrayed him. "No!" she said in a hushed whisper that soon gave way to a frantic cry with her rising panic. "Vegeta, you can't! And you can't let him! I won't let either of you go back to that Hell no matter what revenge you need! It won't change what happened! And I won't take a chance of losing both of you!"

"Calm yourself, woman," he said firmly, his hands falling to her shoulders.

"How can you expect me to be calm when you've been hiding this from me?!" The fear in her eyes was laced with hurt. "When were you planning on telling me?" she asked angrily. "Right before you both hopped into the time capsule?!"

"Obviously not, since you're going to have to refit it for both of us," he told her.

"Oh, no you don't. There's no way I'll take part in that. I'd sooner demolish the damned thing than let you both go off-"

"Even if it's to heal the boy, Bulma?" he proposed, with the one argument he knew she could not counter.

"We can heal him, Vegeta," she implored him.

"No matter what we do for him, it will never be enough." No one knows that better than I do, he reminded her. I've destroyed my demons. He has to destroy his own. I'm just going to go along to make sure he gets back to us in one piece.

She sighed deeply. She knew he was right. "I still don't like the idea that you kept this from me," she glowered.

"I only just promised the boy," he told her truthfully. "I would have told you sooner, but I did not want to distress you." She seemed to accept that-why shouldn't she? He'd never lied to her in all their time together. But he had caused her more distress than he cared to contemplate. He kissed the wrinkles of worry on her forehead as his hands left her shoulders, tracing a line to her breasts. "It will not be for a long time," he whispered as he kissed his way slowly down her face, to her mouth. Perhaps when the time comes…you will convince him otherwise. Even as she responded to his kiss, he could feel her mind working, as she convinced herself that she would keep Trunks-keep both of them-safe. In truth, he hoped she would change her son's mind in time…

Their kiss deepened as he caressed the soft mounds of flesh that he took so much delight in, comforting her in the only way he knew how. With relief he felt her worries flee her mind, as she reveled in the sensations that his touch engendered. Pleasure was all he wanted to bring her…no more pain. He had brought her enough of that for a lifetime. A moan of pure ecstasy escaped her lips as his mouth tasted its way down the curve of her neck, finally finding its destination in her already hardened nipple. He twirled his tongue around her sensitive bud, nipping lightly.

"Vegeta…" she breathed, tangling her fingers in his hair to hold him in place.

The sweet aroma of her fresh arousal filled his nostrils, heightening his own burning need for her. His tail had already slid between her thighs, separating them of its own accord, making way for him to enter her. Pushing her gently on her back, he levitated over her, taking in her beauty even as his entire being seemed to shake with his desire for her. Her tiny hands reached up to stroke him, and he gasped as he had to struggle to hold back his passion. She smiled seductively as she guided him into her blissful warmth, his own heaven on this plane, his sanctuary from the horror of his past and the uncertainty of his future, his escape from-

Kakarot?!?!?!?

His eyes shot open to clear his mind of the most unwanted image that could have popped into his head at this moment. Bulma was looking at him in wide-eyed confusion, still breathless as she asked, "Excuse me?!"

Vegeta growled in anger as he felt himself rapidly losing the erection that still throbbed within her. "That son of a bitch! Who the fuck needed him to try to contact me telepathically just to let me know he's on his way?! Doesn't the clown know I would have sensed him anyway?!"

He collapsed on top of her, careful not to crush her as his head rested on her shoulder in frustration. For a long moment he let her rub his back, silently praying to the gods to drive the image of that clown from his thoughts. Suddenly, he heard his woman giggling lightly and he lifted his head to look into her face. "What do you find so funny?" he asked gruffly, though it was hard to be angry with her as her blue eyes smiled at him.

"I guess it would be difficult for you to maintain your…um…concentration with the image of Goku popping into your head."

His face flushed as he realized that his manhood was shrinking away as rapidly as his desire. How dare she mock him! Did she have any idea how humiliating this was? How could she possibly understand…? Not sure any more who was the object of his anger, he began to pull away from her.

"No!" He wasn't sure if it was her tone or her hands around his neck that prevented him from leaving. Certainly her strength was no match for his, and if he wanted to break away he could.

But you don't…she soothed him wordlessly, finding much better use for her lips as she sought out his.

Once again, her soft warmth reached out to him, cradling his body in her arms even as she enveloped his spirit in hers. I'm sorry…I wasn't making fun of you…I saw it to, through your thoughts…Believe me, I did not need to see Goku while you were making love to me. Yuk!

Imagine how I felt, then, he replied, finding it easier to see the humor through her eyes. He wanted nothing more than to go back to where they had left off. But if that clown and his father were arriving, shouldn't he…?

Let them wait, she commanded, her tongue playing with his as her body began to move against his once more, the sweltering core of her womanhood embracing and caressing him from within the way she always did when she wanted him yet again. His hands slipped under her bottom, fondling her flesh as he brought her up to meet him, his desire even greater than that which had been unfulfilled, his tail wrapping around her waist to support her as he thrust deeper and deeper into her, her soft cries of delight and the sense of her intense pleasure pushing him over the brink…

She cried out his name as the warm nectar of her passion surrounded him, the intense pulsing of her release triggering his own. He gasped, holding her tightly against him as he erupted within her, not sure if the exultation that overwhelmed him now was hers or his own. But as he held her protectively in his arms, still suspended in the air above their bed, he knew the answer. It was neither his joy nor hers that he had felt. It was theirs. For neither of them existed now as a separate entity. From the moment they had bonded it had always been so. Two parts of one being, that in the intimacy of their lovemaking would merge into the one spirit that they had become.

For a long moment frozen in time they held each other in their silent union. Vegeta slowly lowered them to the bed, careful not to break their physical connection as he turned to lie on his back, cradling her spent body in his arms. He could feel his erection growing within her again, but knew that they had idled in their languid pleasure for too long. "Woman…" he whispered, stroking her hair. "Bulma…"

He knew she was pretending to be asleep, and smirked at her trickery. Did she actually think he would not know?

"No," she said, lifting her head to smile down on him. Gods, she was so beautiful… "I just wanted a few more minutes like this. Before we have to face the real world…"

This is the real world, woman, he told her with his thoughts. I am the Prince of all Saiyans, and you are my Princess. And as soon as I take care of my business with that clown of a friend of yours, I will take you again…and again…and again…

She pulled away from him, leaving him with a momentary regret that she had not tempted him again with her warmth. "Woman, wait…" he found himself saying.

She sat on the bed facing him with a smile. Correction. An absolutely enticing smile…"Yes, my prince?"

"I should probably bathe before our company arrives."

"Really," she replied coquettishly, her hand resting nonchalantly on his stomach. "And what might that have to do with me?" Even as she batted her lashes innocently at him, he held his breath as her hand moved downwards to rest on his now painful erection.

He moaned in utter rapture as she bent down to take him into her mouth.

Their company could wait. The whole fucking Universe could wait.

Bulma closed her eyes as she let the hot bath soothe her aching body, the soreness that always accompanied as intense a lovemaking session as this morning's had been. They'd made love at least three more times before Vegeta had reluctantly pulled himself away. She'd suggested he bathe alone, and although he had grumbled all the way to the bathroom, it had been the right decision. Having spent the most miserable three weeks of their lives avoiding each other in their own private grief and guilt, the strengthening of their bond in the last two days since they had reached out to one another again had been more than either of them could have expected. Her awareness of his every move, his every emotion, had been so enhanced that sometimes she could lose herself in him. Never had it been so intense as these last two days. Had their physical intimacy so dramatically boosted their mental connection? Bulma didn't think so. They had been passionate together from the start, and at times their desire had been insatiable. Certainly their bond had begun to form that night when they first gave themselves to each other. But Bulma's scientific mind had made a mental note of what had preceded these spurts of sudden intensification in their psychological bond. Each time Vegeta had opened up to her, revealing more and more of himself, their bond had been enhanced. And the physical need, rather than being a catalyst of their bond, would spring as a result. One would feel the other's desire, and it would trigger a spiral that could only end in the consummation of that passion that flowed naturally between them.

But wasn't this really just common sense? That the more of himself he shared with her, the closer they would become? The more they would want to be together?

He'd called her foolish one day for contemplating a scientific explanation to something that was indeed…spiritual. On many levels, he was right. There was no way to logically explain the connection between them. It was beyond words, beyond definition, stemmed in emotions so profound that simple over-used words like love could not express them. She'd understood for some time now why he found verbal assertions of his love for her so unnecessary. But by the same token, the part of her that was imprinted on his soul had taught him why she needed to hear these things from time to time.

Even now, though he had dressed and hurried downstairs to check on the status of Goku's approaching ship, she could feel the tenseness in his muscles as his anxiety grew. She closed her eyes, imagining herself there rubbing his shoulders, willing him to be calm, telling him that everything would work out all right…

Woman, unless you want me to come back upstairs and take you right now in that bathtub, I think you should allow me to do what I need to without distractions!

His voice was as clear as if he were standing beside her, and she giggled. The image of him had begun to lead her thoughts astray, and she could imagine what it was doing to him to picture her lying in the bathtub as if waiting for his return. Uh, sorry! she projected to him, though she knew he wasn't angry. Apparently, reaching out to him with her mind, even unintentionally, had the same effect as physically touching him. She'd have to guard her thoughts a little better. She couldn't very well send him out to do his royal duties with a hard-on every day!

Vegeta smirked at his woman's erotic thoughts and made a serious attempt to keep his own thoughts from straying back to her. He would have to be the one to focus his mind, since the entire notion of telepathy was literally so alien to her. She could not control her thoughts, at least not yet. Perhaps it was something he would need to teach her when they were alone. They had always, however, found other things to do… Stop it! he scolded himself mentally. I can not behave like an adolescent who has just discovered sex. I am the Saiyan no Ouji, and will soon be the Saiyan no Ou. I must command respect, not incite ridicule!

The sound of Trunks coming through the door brought a thankful end to his session of self-reproach. The warrior instinct within him took over as he saw the look of apprehension on his son's face. "What is it?" he snapped, perhaps a little too sharply in his effort to regain his control.

"It's just landed, Dad. Goku and Bardock's ship."

"Yes, I know, I…sensed him coming," he replied in annoyance, still irritated over Kakarot's invasion of his privacy. He strode towards the door, then turned to his son, who seemed to be awaiting his orders. "Come. This should prove to be very interesting."

The ridiculous grin on that clown's face only exacerbated Vegeta's irritation. Bardock, standing next to his son, wore a more serious air. Was it their personalities? Was this Kakarot simply a fool, or was he merely a product of an Earth upbringing? Would his own son grow up to be…?

Forbid the thought. No, Bulma was not a fool, though he teased her incessantly about her emotions. She had raised one son to be a fine warrior even without the benefit of his presence. Chibi Trunks would be a future King. He winced as he thought of the baby, still far from their reach in the next dimension. Soon…

"Hey, Vegeta! How's it going?!"

Vegeta frowned. Hadn't Bardock taught him a thing about proper respect? Would the clown think to address him thus when he is King?

Bardock bowed his head to his prince, and Vegeta nodded his approval. This man was no fool. Perhaps he could work on his mentally impaired offspring.

"Captain. Kakarot. It's about time."

"We came as soon as we could, Vegeta. There's a lot of stuff going on back on Vegeta-sei, and we tried to stick around as long as possible to try to keep things under control."

"What kind of 'stuff' you moron? Is that the best analysis you can give me of the situation?" Bardock seemed to raise an eyebrow at Vegeta's tone with his son, and he realized that perhaps he was overdoing it a bit. But they did have a history, didn't they? Not to mention, he was still irritated by Kakarot's little visit into his brain…

"We will brief you fully, Ouji-sama," Bardock told him. "But first we must warn you-your father met several times with King Kold. I'm afraid he's going to make the same mistake-"

Vegeta breathed deeply. "You're too late," he snapped. "Kold has been here already."

"He's here?" Kakarot asked in confusion. "But I don't feel his-"

"He's dead," Vegeta stated matter-of-factly.

Even Kakarot could read the grim expression on his face, and the clown lost any bit of a smile that had started to form at Vegeta's revelation. Before they could throw a barrage of questions at him that he had no desire to answer, he quickly added, "And so is my son."

There. It was out. Bardock closed his eyes in a reaction that seemed too devoid of surprise. Had the bastard foreseen this? Fury rose in him as he asked bitterly, "Did you know this would happen?"

He shook his head sadly. "No, Prince Vegeta. I didn't. You have my deepest sympathies."

He looked to Kakarot, whose face betrayed a grief and rage that eclipsed completely his normally genial façade. "I can't believe it! Vegeta, I am so sorry. Bulma must be…" He couldn't even find a word to describe how his best friend, his sister, must be taking this.

"She is incredibly strong, as you well know, Kakarot," he replied. "And the promise of the dragon's final wish is as great a comfort as possible under the circumstances."

Kakarot nodded knowingly. "The dragon. You'll wish him back. Thank Kami for that."

"Things could have been a great deal worse," Vegeta murmured. Only then did he motion to the young man who had stood at a distance, waiting for his father to greet their visitors himself. Trunks took his father's cue and flew to stand beside him. Bardock's eyes opened wide with understanding, but Kakarot was confused.

"Who--?"

"Allow me to introduce my son," he began, but Kakarot was as clueless as ever.

"Vegeta, I didn't know you had another son! Does that mean you had a wife before Bulma? Because I know she is not going to be too happy about-"

"Bulma is his mother, you idiot!" Vegeta cried impatiently. How thick was that skull of his? "Don't you see he has her eyes? This is Trunks, from twenty years in the future!"

"I've heard a lot about you from my mom, Goku. It's nice to finally meet you. And you, Captain Bardock."

"The boy came from the future to warn you," Bardock surmised correctly. "He was the young man I saw fighting at your side. Except…he looked different…" Bardock mused, trying to remember his vision.

Vegeta smirked proudly. "Why don't you show our guests what you can do, Trunks?"

In a show of power that shook the ground beneath them, Trunks easily transformed into a Super Saiyan. An encouraging look from his father and he pushed further, powering up until he had reached Super Saiyan 2.

"Wow," Kakarot said with an appreciative grin. "Now I'm impressed."

Trunks smirked, his expression identical to Vegeta's. "Thanks. I've been here for almost three months training with my father. I can't reach half of his power yet, but he's helped me get a lot stronger…"

"Wait a minute," Kakarot interrupted, intrigued. "Do you mean to say that Vegeta's gone beyond Super Saiyan Plus, or whatever you call the level you've reached-"

"Super Saiyan 2," Vegeta informed him proudly. "And yes, I have ascended twice since our last meeting. You have no idea how powerful I've become, Kakarot. If you think I gave you a beating last time, you're in for a real surprise."

"Sounds like fun," Kakarot replied, his Saiyan blood thirsting for a challenge.

Vegeta almost laughed in spite of himself. The thought of defeating this dolt again did sound like fun.

"Kakarot, you boys will have your time to play," his father told him sternly. "I think right now it's more important to apprise Prince Vegeta of the situation at home."

Vegeta nodded, slipping into his regal façade once more. It didn't even irk him that the Captain had referred to him as a boy. The older soldier had probably just spared his son's life, or at least saved him a few broken bones.

For now.

"Come," he told them. "We'll discuss this all over a meal. Bulma is waiting for us."

Bulma smiled brightly to see her childhood friend enter the house with Vegeta and Trunks, his father Bardock following quietly behind. "Goku!" she ran over to him, accepting his characteristic bear hug. Gods, he seemed even stronger than he had been before.

"Bulma, I'm so sorry about what happened…" he said quietly, hugging her tightly.

Her friend's sympathies threatened to bring the ever-present tears to the surface. "We'll wish him back," she said bravely. "That's what we've always done before, right?"

"Yeah," he said with a wistful smile as he squeezed her tightly again, then released her. His face became serious as he said, "I'm just glad Vegeta made King Kold pay. If he hadn't, I would have gone after him myself."

Bulma could feel Vegeta tense from the moment Goku had touched her, but at his words her Prince could not contain his indignation. "I do not require any assistance in avenging my own son, Kakarot-"

"I didn't mean to say you did," Goku replied seriously. "I just meant-"

"He just meant well, Vegeta," she told her husband gently. Please, Vegeta…chill out, okay?

How can I 'chill out', woman, when that third class soldier has the audacity to embrace you like that?

He's like my little brother…

A sister who looked like you would drive any man to incest, he grumbled in her mind, but she could tell that his tension had eased.

She turned to Bardock. "It's good to see you, too, Bardock."

The older version of her childhood friend nodded respectfully. "And you, Princess Bulma."

"I told you last time, you can call me Bulma. I won't have Goku's dad calling me by some title."

Bardock glanced warily at Vegeta, but the Prince nodded his approval. "Although in public you must address her with respect, you are guests in our home."

"And friends," Bulma added, though she knew it was a word Vegeta had issues with.

But he nodded his agreement. "You may do as she wishes."

Bardock seemed to relax, and Bulma was glad. Maybe it was his resemblance to Son-kun, or perhaps the admiration she had for him for his visions. But she liked him. And when Son-kun found his way inevitably back to Earth, it would be nice to have a friend, especially one with a familiar face.

"Come on, guys. I've set out enough food for an army of Saiyans."

She didn't have to point them in the direction of the dining room twice.

They actually did eat enough for an army, though there were only four of them. She'd fed Goku before, and knew his table manners were, well, less than adequate. Bardock seemed to show more restraint, though in quantity consumed, he rivaled his son. Trunks was not nearly as voracious as the full-blooded Saiyans, and was certainly more refined in his etiquette. Good boy, she kept thinking each time he used a napkin, or covered his mouth to burp. At least she had taught him well.

Vegeta was lacking his normally healthy appetite, and she attributed it to his nerves. Outwardly he seemed cool and confident, his anxiety hidden well from all but his mate. The men had reported very little about the situation on Vegeta-sei, interested in hearing about Trunks and the world from which he had come, the timeline that had been averted by his very appearance here. It only confirmed what they had surmised upon seeing the King meet secretly with King Kold. The Tsiru-jin monarch had intended to trick King Vegeta into trusting him, then would repay the Saiyans in like manner as his son Frieza once had.

"With all due respect, Ouji-sama, I can't believe your father could be such a fool twice," Bardock commented in disbelief.

"My father has no respect due him," Vegeta said bitterly. "He handed over my wife and son out of his own cowardice." He didn't have to mention that he had done the same to Vegeta himself. They all knew, to his utter humiliation. "If Trunks had not come to warn us…" He did not finish the sentence, and Bulma knew it was because he feared the emotion that would show through if he thought about what might have befallen them.

"If people only knew what he had done, they would turn against him," Goku said, truly believing it.

"Do you really think so, Kakarot?" his father replied. "Now that you've seen some of those stubborn old bastards in action? He's got half of them convinced that his son has gone mad by breaking tradition and law to marry an alien woman."

"They know I am the Legendary reborn and they dare question me?" Vegeta growled angrily.

"They know of your power, and your transformation, Ouji-sama. Kakarot and I have spread word throughout the planet, first secretly, and then openly when your Father denounced you publicly."

"He what?!?" Vegeta roared, electricity beginning to swirl with his enraged ki.

"They have not seen you, Prince Vegeta. Some believe, because they have seen Kakarot transform, so they know it's possible-"

"And I hope you let them know that I am more powerful than Kakarot!" His hair burst into golden energy, and Bulma thought he probably had not even done so consciously.

"Calm down, Vegeta," she told him, putting a hand on his arm.

"Don't tell me to calm down, woman!" he cried, shaking off her hand and her concern. "My father has spent the last few months turning my people against me-!"

"You knew that would happen, Dad," Trunks reminded him. "But it doesn't matter! All you need to do is transform and let them feel your power, and they'll back down!"

"There are those loyal to the King," Bardock explained, "the hard-liners who haven't learned a fucking thing from being dead for the past thirty years. He's got them convinced that you'll turn their society upside-down if they let you rule."

"Someone needs to do it," Goku commented grimly. "You wouldn't believe the stuff that goes on there. They actually have slaves that do all the menial work at home while they send their citizens out to be soldiers." He glanced at his father before adding, "Not to mention the whole idea of sending babies out into space. I don't think any of them were as lucky as I was."

"Our society has always been that way," Vegeta admitted with difficulty, as if he did not want to seem as if he condoned such things. Bulma knew he didn't, but he had warned her that it would not be easy to recondition an entire race that thrived on its delusions of superiority. "The planet itself was the spoils of conquest. It is ingrained in Saiyan society that having less power is equal to being less worthy. Only the strong survive." He paused. "But the strong can make change, and that is what I have vowed to do. They should fear me. I won't let them destroy themselves again."

Bardock nodded his approval. "You will prevail, Ouji-sama. I have seen it."

Vegeta glanced at her, as they both recalled the dream they had shared. "So have I,
Captain. So have I."

For hours Vegeta sat listening to all the detail Bardock and Kakarot could recall, carefully taking note of possible allies and enemies. The Royal Council itself seemed split in its opinion of the Saiyan no Ouji. While half seemed more than willing to await his return before passing judgment, the conservative faction that resisted all change thought the idea of a half-breed heir was an outrage. Not even Kakarot, who had gained their respect by destroying Cooler, could convince them that his life-long friend was more than deserving to be their next Queen.

"The nerve!" Bulma had sputtered upon hearing of their insults. "If it weren't for my dragon radar, they'd still be in Hell!"

"Intellect is not as valued on Vegeta-sei as physical strength," Bardock tried to explain to her. "The Saiyans are a proud people, and even though Kakarot told them that you are of a royal family on Earth-"

Vegeta smirked. "Royal family?" As fond as he was of his in-laws, the absent-minded professor and his ditsy wife were not exactly his image of a king and queen.

With his ki lowered in his relaxed state, Bulma's slap on his bare arm stung. "Don't make fun of my parents, you! Poppa's probably the richest man on Earth, and certainly the most intelligent!"

He loved seeing the fire in her eyes so, that he ignored the fact that she had just slapped him in front of his subjects. "Yes, your highness," he said, smiling at her with his eyes. He turned to Bardock, serious once more. "And the Prime Minister-Melangianes was it? Where does he stand?"

Bardock looked at him suspiciously. "How did you know his name?"

Vegeta breathed deeply, his confidence rising as he confirmed what Bulma had suggested just hours ago. "I had a vision," he responded, much to Bardock's surprise. "Where he bowed to me after I-"

He hesitated, not sure if he should, or even wanted to, say it aloud. Bardock saved him by supplying, "after you murdered the King."

He nodded gravely. "I suppose your gift is infectious," he murmured. "Either that or the gods simply wish me to know what I must do."

"You do know, then, don't you?" Bardock asked, as if trying to measure Vegeta's willingness to murder his sire.

"If you are a true Seer, then you shouldn't have to ask," Vegeta replied dryly. "But yes. I've known for quite some time."

"Then you should prepare for the Civil War that could very well ensue. It's already begun." Bardock paused thoughtfully. "Kakarot and I had thought you might be able to avoid the bloodshed by using the dragon's last wish."

Vegeta could feel Bulma's alarm even as his indignation over the very suggestion made his stomach clench. "No," he said sharply, without hesitation. "There's only one wish to be made. My son will be revived in four days, and I'd sooner let our people send each other back to Hell than let my child spend one more moment in the next dimension."

"I'm with you on that one, Vegeta," Kakarot said, his approval unnecessary but his support appreciated.

"I understand, Ouji-sama," Bardock told him carefully. "But it would be best if you did not make such statements in front of anyone other than those of us who are in this room right now. It would only make you seem weak-"

"Weak?!" Bulma cried. "What kind of people would call a man weak for caring about his own child?!"

"There are those who believe a King should be willing to sacrifice everything, even his own family, for the sake of his people…"

For a gifted prophet, Bardock was as much a fool as his son! Vegeta roared with a fury borne of the suffering of a lifetime, triggered by the words that had held a more personal meaning than anyone could understand. Energy crackled about him as he snarled, "Anyone who questions my strength or my loyalty to our people will answer to me! But I am not my father, and I will not sacrifice my son!"

Vegeta… she whispered in his mind, even as he felt her presence wrap around him as she could never physically do in front of these others. They know. They're our friends. Please. Just calm down…

Bardock was silent, but Kakarot looked him in the eye fearlessly as he said, "Vegeta, we are all on your side. But Ottousan is just trying to tell you what you're going to be up against. They're not like us," he said simply, and though Vegeta loathed having Kakarot consider him a kindred spirit, there was a sincerity in his words that he could not ignore. "You know, Vegeta, you taught me to have pride in being Saiyan. And I do. But I'm not proud of the things I've seen our people do. They're not bad-some are, some aren't, just like any other people. But they need you to change their way of thinking. And you're the only one who can do it. Because they'll respect your strength, and they'll have to listen. But it won't be easy." He took a deep breath, pausing, wincing at Bulma as he said his next words. "That's why I've decided to come back to Vegeta-sei with you. Not because you need my help," he said quickly, as if knowing the Prince would resent that implication, "but because I want to help."

Vegeta was left speechless. He knew how much the oaf wanted to get back to that little mud ball he protected so diligently. Had he really instilled such Saiyan pride in this man who had been cut off from his heritage that he would be willing to work with Vegeta to bring a new order to their world?

His woman of course, was never at a loss for words. "Chichi is gonna kill you when she finds out," she pronounced blandly.

"Yeah, I know," the warrior replied meekly, a Super Saiyan one moment, an utterly whipped husband the next. "Do you think you could get your Mom to tell her, Bulma? I was kinda hoping she and Gohan would join me there when things settle down…"

"I won't pretend to understand you, Kakarot," Vegeta said finally, with a smirk. "But I appreciate your loyalty. And I haven't met your woman, but I have a feeling she would fit in quite adequately on a warrior planet. If she has you so completely terrified of her, she must be a force to be reckoned with."

"Uh, thanks," Kakarot replied, not quite sure if he had been insulted or not.

Vegeta stood, an evil glint in his eyes. "Now, why don't you show me exactly how far you've come since we last battled?"

"Are you two going to start already?! Vegeta, they just got here!"

"Hush, woman. If you're going to be the Queen of all Saiyans you have to get used to the idea that this is what we do for fun."

"It's kinda like dessert," Kakarot explained to her, rising to meet the challenge.

Bardock chuckled. "This should be a good show. I just hope you know a spot far from any civilization."

"Can I fight the winner?" Trunks asked excitedly. Diplomatic boy, wasn't he? He knew damn well who the victor would be.

"No, you'll fly me there so I can watch," his mother commanded him.

Vegeta turned to her in shock. "You can't be serious, woman. How am I supposed to spar with Kakarot if I have to worry that you might get accidentally hit by a ki blast or-"

"Trunks will protect me, won't you sweetie?" she said, standing beside her mortified son. "So will Bardock, won't you?"

Bardock nodded through his amusement.

"Absolutely not, the battlefield is no place for-"

"-a Saiyan Queen? Didn't you say I had to get used to it?" she asked sweetly, throwing his words back in his face.

"She's got you there, Dad," Trunks piped up.

"Shut up," his father told him humorlessly.

"Come on, Vegeta. You can ask Goku. I've been around little boys beating each other to a pulp for years. Anyway, I wanna watch when you go SuperSaiyan 4 again-"

"Super Saiyan 4?" Kakarot asked her in disbelief.

"Yeah, you should see him, he looks so cute with that red fur and the long hair-"

"Red fur?! Is that true, Vegeta? Can you pick the color-?"

"No, you can't choose the color, you idiot!" he cried in exasperation. He turned to his wife. "And Bulma, no one wants to hear how cute I look! A Super Saiyan is not supposed to be cute! I certainly hope you don't intend to speak to me in this manner in front of the Royal Court-!"

"Just calm down," she told him, placing her hand on his arm. Gods, she knew what her touch did to him! "We're among friends, here, in our own house. You said so yourself."

"You heard what they said, didn't you?" he asked seriously. "I cannot afford to seem weak, in any way. That includes not having my Queen embarrass me publicly," he shook her hand from his arm, "or display any kind of affection in public!"

He could feel her anger raging within, but all that her eyes displayed was the hurt of having him reject something so innocuous as a pat on the arm. Perhaps he was over-reacting, but the need to appear strong before his people was something that had been ingrained in him since infancy. Would the hard-liners on Vegeta-sei accept a King who was so soft as to allow his mate to bend his will with a simple touch?

"Prince Vegeta," Bardock interrupted gently. "You left our people at an early age. The ideas you have of what Saiyan behavior should be were shaped by your father and that idiot Nappa. I'm sure Raditz would never have dared tell you in front of that bastard how often he saw his mother win an argument just with a smile, or bend my will with a caress." His eyes misted over as he spoke of the woman who must surely have been his bonded mate. "In the battlefield I was considered one of the best, but in our home, she controlled me, simply because I adored her so."

Vegeta's eyes opened wide at the man's admission. His programmed reaction would have been to crush the man's spirits, remind him that he was but a third-class warrior… But this man who was old enough to be his father was revealing to him a secret that his own father had withheld. That emotions were not a folly to be despised, but a strength…just as his own woman had proven to be the source of his strength again and again. He wanted to thank Bardock for sharing this with him, but once more was too overwhelmed to speak.

Luckily, his woman was never at a loss for words.

"Wow, Son-kun, did you actually get to meet your mother?" she asked in wonder.

"No," Kakarot replied with regret.

"She died giving birth to him," Bardock explained.

Vegeta's heart stopped. How could it be that he and Kakarot shared that same misfortune?

Bardock's face clouded over with guilt, and Vegeta knew why. That was why he had consented to have his son sent off into space. He could not bear to look at the child knowing that his life had cost his mother's. A memory wafted through his mind, the first few days he had shamefully ignored his son because it was a painful reminder of why his woman lay unconscious, lost to him…

"Thank you…for sharing that, Captain," Vegeta said softly. It was all he could manage. And as they stepped outside, prepared to take flight to Vegeta's favorite training grounds, he was unashamed to take Bulma into his arms as they flew silently across the quiet wasteland. He even kissed her cheek lightly as she snuggled against him, savoring her warmth, and grateful as always that the gods had brought her to him, and seen fit not to take her away.

"So, Kakarot, let's see what you can do."

Vegeta watched with interest as Kakarot easily powered up to Super Saiyan. Too easily for his liking. Vegeta wasn't sure if it was the golden hair or the power of his ki, but suddenly he looked less…foolish. There was a knowing gaze in the teal eyes, and a warrior spirit that seemed to occult his normally childlike nature. "Your turn," Kakarot said in a voice slightly deeper than usual.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!" With ease Vegeta transformed, then continued to power up until he had reached the next level, or Super Saiyan 2. He could easily squash Kakarot at Super Saiyan-but why not show him that the Prince of all Saiyans was one step ahead? At the very least…

"Nice, Vegeta. But you're holding back."

"Idiot, I want to spar with you, not kill you," Vegeta replied with a smirk. Actually, he wanted to get him back for the beating he'd taken on Earth. Especially now that his son and his woman were watching.

"Come on, not even Super Saiyan 3?"

Vegeta laughed. "You're a masochist, aren't you? Don't you know I could kick your ass just like this?"

"Perhaps," Kakarot replied. "But I still like a challenge."

Vegeta frowned at the same cockiness that Kakarot had shown the last time they'd met, when he'd predicted he would catch up to the Saiyan Prince in a few months. He had, the son of a bitch. Determined to teach him a lesson, Vegeta concentrated his ki, powering up to the next, more difficult to attain level. The look of surprise on Kakarot's face was well worth the effort. Vegeta could hear Bardock below commenting with astonishment on the immense power he was projecting. His woman made some comment on how sexy he looked with the long hair, and he grimaced at her indiscretion and poor timing, but nevertheless made a mental note to try it some night when they were alone.

"So, is this sufficient, Kakarot?"

"For now," the bigger Saiyan replied.

For that alone, Vegeta threw the first punch.

So it began. Vegeta held back his full power, wanting to see just how far this underling had progressed. In truth, he was fairly impressive. Life-threatening injuries he had sustained in his fight with Cooler had most definitely set the Saiyan healing factor into effect. His power had increased by a hundredfold since their last battle. If anything, Vegeta would be glad to have Bardock and his son lead his royal battalions. The two were a formidable pair, and it wouldn't hurt to have them on his side.

But soon the testing was over. Vegeta knew there was a limit to how long he could sustain this form, and he would be damned if he would let Kakarot believe that he had weakened him. Vegeta grabbed Kakarot by the ankles, swinging him around in circles, dizzying him before sending him crashing to the rocks below. He chuckled to himself as he remembered Trunks' prediction that he would change the landscape yet again before leaving this place. They'd done so already. Kakarot's thick skull and the force of his fall had created yet another ravine breaking off from the primary canyon.

But Vegeta would not be laughing for long, as the clown sped almost at the speed of light to grab him by the leg, attempting to return the favor. Kakarot captured one booted foot, but the other slammed into his jaw, sending him flying backwards. With the thrill of the fight in his eyes, Kakarot finally resorted to his finishing move, that Kamehameha wave. Vegeta heard his woman cry out-did she actually think that could hurt him?-and Vegeta countered with his Galick Gun. Their energies vied for supremacy, each man pushing more power into his attack, until finally Vegeta lost his patience, thrusting more into it than perhaps he should have.

Kakarot fell to the ground, making a new crater of his own.

Vegeta flew down to him, standing over his prone body with a satisfied smirk. Kakarot opened one swollen eye, and said, "Okay, now how about Super Saiyan 4?"

"I don't think you're ready for it," Vegeta replied dryly. He powered down to his normal state just as Bulma and the others ran towards them.

"Give me a few months," Kakarot replied, his grin fading as he winced in pain and clutched his broken ribs.

"Fuck you," Vegeta replied.

"Okay, I think you boys have had enough fun for today," Bulma said as she came to stand beside him.

"Very impressive, Ouji-sama," Bardock commented as he examined the barely conscious body of his son.

"There's a regeneration tank in our house. Bring Kakarot back there to heal his injuries," he instructed the man.

"Good…we'll do this… again …as soon as I get out…" Kakarot said without opening his eyes, as his father lifted him up.

Bulma shook her head as Bardock flew off with his son. "The sick thing about this is that I think Goku enjoyed that as much as you did."

Vegeta grinned at his mate. "I don't know if that's possible. It felt pretty damn good."

"That was great, Dad," Trunks told him. The pride in his son's eyes was an even greater reward than paying back Kakarot for his humiliation. "So, do I get to take on the winner?"

Bulma glared at him, and he shook his head. "Tomorrow. I've had enough sparring for today."

That wasn't quite true. But the sparring he had in mind would be between a certain blue haired Princess and her Super Saiyan 3 Prince.

The mid-day sun was high in the sky, a cloudless blue sky that Vegeta's eyes searched relentlessly for some sign. His vigil had gone on since daybreak, and each minute that passed had played upon his uncertainties until he felt he would go mad. They had calculated it precisely, and pinned their hopes on the promise of the dragon to return this very day. Bulma had arisen with him, holding his hand, her presence granting him the comfort and patience that he was desperately lacking. But as the sun had risen higher into the sky, he had seen more clearly the reddened eyes that signified her heart was about to break. Neither of them would dare voice aloud the fear that they had been betrayed, or deluded into security. But desperation began to give way to despair as the clock ticked away…

She had left him some time ago to go back into the house, and alone he felt his exasperation coming to a head. Temporarily abandoning his watch, he went indoors, calling impatiently for her, and then, upon hearing no reply, simply following her ki to the bedroom.

The sight which greeted him made his heart stop. Sitting on the edge of their bed, oblivious to his presence, she was rocking their dead child in her arms.

He sat gingerly down next to her, his arm draping around her shoulders, his free hand reaching out to touch the baby's face. The icy chill of his skin made Vegeta's eyes burn with the tears he was trying desperately not to shed. "Bulma…" he whispered, kissing her cheek tenderly, and tasting the salt of her tears. "You mustn't do this…to yourself…" He couldn't even voice aloud what this was doing to him, but he was sure she must know.

"He was in the refrigeration capsule. I had to take him out before he's revived," she murmured.

"Woman, we've been waiting all morning. What if…?" He couldn't finish the thought, even if she would have let him.

"Don't, Vegeta," she said firmly, looking into his eyes, her own filled with a stubborn unwillingness to succumb to her worst fears. "Don't even tell me that the dragon might not come. That little bit of hope is the only thing that has kept me from going mad."

He didn't answer her. He couldn't. He just dropped his head to her shoulder, drinking in her intractable optimism to keep himself from going insane.

For a long while they held each other like that, each afraid to move and face the reality that the day was slipping away. Suddenly, they heard the frantic shouts of their son from the future. "Mom! Dad! Come down! It's the dragon!"

Vegeta wasted no time, scooping his family into his arms and flying down the stairs, setting Bulma down next to him as he looked up at the darkening sky. The others were gathered there, Kakarot, Bardock, and yes, even that traitor Rossdark, whose presence was presumably necessary. Suddenly it was there, in all its glory, the Korwal-sei dragon that had begun this cycle of renewal, and would complete it through giving his son new life.

"You have fulfilled your obligation," the writhing creature pronounced in a deep baritone. "Now you may ask for your final wish."

Vegeta took a deep breath and shouted, "I wish for you to-"

"Wait," the dragon interrupted. "The final wish must be made by a native of this planet. Those with no ties to Korwal-sei could easily make a wish that would destroy this world."

"What?!" Vegeta cried in fury. He glared at Rossdark. "You bastard! You knew this all along!"

"I did not, Ouji-sama!" Rossdark replied, sincere astonishment on his face. "Dragon! Is there no way Prince Vegeta can make this wish? I assure you his wish will not harm Korwal-sei…and he has more than fulfilled his obligation."

"There is only one way an alien may make the final wish," the dragon replied. "If he vows to remain on this planet for the rest of his natural life."

Bulma gasped even as Bardock cried out, "Ouji-sama! You cannot agree to that!"

"This is ludicrous!" Vegeta yelled at the dragon. "We have done as you asked! There is no one on this world I would trust to make this wish!"

"Then you will stay?" the dragon asked.

All eyes were on Vegeta as his mind raced with a million possibilities. Even as Bardock reminded him of his responsibility to his people, Bulma's eyes filled with anguish at the awful prospect that their son might not live again today. And as his eyes settled on the lifeless form in her arms, his pride in his race, his duty to his people, all paled in comparison to the awesome responsibility he had as father to his son. The Trunks of the future was watching silently, truly not knowing what his father would choose. The fact that Trunks did not instinctively know troubled him deeply. I will not fail you again, he vowed to both his sons.

"All right," he told the dragon. "If that's what it will take to make this wish-I will remain on this planet."

(((What?!?!?!?!? Is Vegeta's mistrust of Rossdark so great that he will give up taking his rightful place as the King of all Saiyans? Don't worry, Chapter 12 is coming soon! As always, please send comments to queensaiyajin@aol.com. And if you know anyone who was following this on ff.net, please send them to mm.org or my site, www.geocities.com/vegetabulmaromance ))