Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ The Dark Duke ❯ Fight! Fight! Fight! ( Chapter 29 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ, or the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story. But if I did own DBZ I would make sure that Bulma would not have become such a secondary character the more the series went on. I know she could not fight, but that does not make her any less badass!!

Warnings: Cussing and some fighting...though does that need a warning? Well it's getting one!

A/N: Okay, thank you to everyone who put up a song idea for this fic--there are some good ones on there, and I recommend my readers listen to them as well. Personally, I love that this story inspires you guys to pick music, as that is one of the highest forms of compliments you guys could have ever paid me!

As always, sorry for the wait, but life, end of the term craziness, and more life. Thank you to my readers and reviewers, and thank you for always pushing me to become a better writer. This story has gotten so much bigger than I would have ever anticipated, and now when I write it, I write it for those of you who have been so great to me as much as I do for me. Also, for those of you who send me PM's, I love you. It might take me forever ever to get back to you with them, but I will always reply to them. Especially when they are as well thought out and amazingly put like your guys' were. Never be afraid to PM me!!

Lilpumpkin girl, you continue to rock my socks off. Thank you for that...though you might need to buy me some new socks soon.

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Fight! Fight! Fight!

Vegeta felt his body twist in the direction he had been hit, feeling weightless as he fell, before he heard (and felt) a loud thump as his body hit the hay-strewn ground like a sack of coal. The hay got into his mouth, his nose, and his eyes, the air knocked from his body, leaving him wheezing into the foul smelling wheat. If Vegeta had been at the top of his game--or hell, even just at his normal level--he would have popped back up like the fighter he was. Instead he took a good moment on the ground, his eyes closed, his breath shallow, to assess just what in the hell was going on and to allow the world to stop spinning.

Okay, how had he gotten here? Here in Scotland, he thought, or here on the ground? Starting with the easier question, he thought back to earlier today. When Nappa had rushed into his fight (or non-fight) with Piccolo, tilting his world completely off-axis with the news that Kakarrot and Bulma had run off together to be wed. From there he had traveled all day at a mad pace to get to Gretna Green, to discover if Bulma and Kakarrot had married. So that took care of getting to Scotland. As for how he had ended up on the ground of a stable in some hotel, that came down to the man in front of him, his very own blood, Kakarrot, who instead of answering his questions--had led him out to the stables and then hit him. Wait. Not just hit him, but also certifiably knocked him out, that vicious right hook going for a dirty hit to the head.

Vegeta's eyes popped up as he finished assessing the situation, a growl starting low in his throat as he slowly got up from the ground. His eyes sought out his cousin, who was staying a good distance away from him, circling Vegeta, his eyes hard as he watched the man on the ground. When Kakarrot saw Vegeta getting up, off of the ground, Kakarrot's hands came up, fisting, looking very much like he was prepared to fight.

Vegeta got back on his feet, his back ramrod straight, his eyes following his cousin as he coldly bit out, "Just what in the hell are you doing Kakarrot? Do you have a death wish?"

Kakarrot moved around him, slowly, but methodically, studying his opponent. His fists stayed close to his face even as he spoke, his voice much deeper than usual as he calmly answered, "Not at all."

Vegeta finally moved, cracking his neck in a swift motion, trying to loosen up his body for what he assumed was going to be a dirty fight. Unfortunately the loud pops and creaks alerted him to the fact that he was still sore from the long hauling-ass ride up here, though he kept the wincing at this fact on the inside as he glowered at his cousin. Usually this look brought people down to their knees around him--Kakarrot just shrugged it off, causing Vegeta's glare to turn frostier, downright glacial. "Then would you care to explain to me why you attacked me?"

Kakarrot took a few steps back as Vegeta moved towards him, keeping the distance between them the same. His voice was still calm as he spoke, pissing Vegeta off even more as he rationally explained, "I can assume that by your arrival here not so long after Bulma and I, Vegeta, that you have quite literally chased us all the way from London." When Vegeta said nothing, only continuing to glare, Kakarrot prompted, "Am I right?"

Vegeta's eyebrows knit together not liking the 'chasing' part of that sentence, but knowing that it was accurate. Still, he kept his voice clinical as he replied, "I came here as quickly as I could, as soon as I heard the news, yes."

"And I can also assume," Kakarrot continued, "Since you have blatantly admitted that you are not here for Bulma, then you are here to stop me from committing what you consider an egregious error by marrying her."

Vegeta confusion at where this was all leading only got further muddled at his cousins seemingly growing vocabulary, (though Vegeta was sure that was just a side effect of being around Bulma all day) though he still answered the question. "I have come to stop you from making a huge mistake by marrying a woman who is untitled and unworthy of the Vegetasei name, and for no other reason!" Vegeta ignored the voices inside of his own head that whispered back to him, liar, instead frowning at Kakarrot as if he was the ones who said the words.

Kakarrot's face darkened further, his fists tightening as he said, "Well, Vegeta, I can assure you that I am doing what I consider best. Inside that inn is a woman I love, dearly, and I am not going to leave her for any reason."

Vegeta's confusion turned to fury at his cousin's words, the beast thrashing inside of him again, roaring mine! Mine! Mine! Vegeta felt his own hands fisting as he spoke next, his own body moving of its own volition, staying with his front to Kakarrot as they moved around the stable. His blood started to surge through his sluggish body, waking him up as if the beast itself was taking him over, his muscles started to pound and quiver in anticipation of beating his cousin senseless, his eyes in slits as he told him softly, "Then I will drag you out of here myself, Kakarrot."

Kakarrot surprised him by giving him a dark smile, nodding as if that was exactly what Kakarrot was expecting. "And I cannot allow that to happen, which is why I hit you Vegeta. The only way you will drag me away from here is unconscious, so I hope you have been practicing since the last time we sparred. Because I sure as hell am not leaving Bulma behind if there's even a sliver of consciousness in me," there was a pause, before Kakarrot added, "Unlike some other men."

Vegeta saw something flash in those dark eyes, and at his words, the beast inside of him coiled, baring its fangs at the impertinence of the younger man. Vegeta wondered idly if Kakarrot knew about Bulma and him, but there was no way Kakarrot could know about what had happened between them. That was a secret Vegeta was going to take to his grave, and he knew Bulma would not speak of it to her brother, of all people. The beast inside of him urged Vegeta to tackle, maim, kill, to go straight for the jugular, but Vegeta kept a reign on him as he spoke again, "Before we start, then, answer me one question."

Kakarrot cracked his knuckles together, shaking his neck, before he got back into fighting stance as he stopped circling Vegeta so he was right in front of him. "Perhaps."

Vegeta felt his hackles rise, but he kept his voice even as he asked, one last time, "Are you two already wed?"

Kakarrot surprised him by not only not answering him, but also smirking as he shrugged his shoulders.

He looked downright cocky, and Vegeta's beast growled for blood to show the younger man in front of him who exactly was alpha here, and it certainly was not Kakarrot. But still, Vegeta kept the beast caged for just a little bit longer as he nodded. "So be it Kakarrot. I will take you down, just like you have so badly been asking for since we first fought."

Vegeta considered rushing Kakarrot in that moment, blindsiding his opponent, but he knew that would be fruitless, so instead he took a moment to take his jacket off, folding it (which would limit his movements), which also allowed him the opportunity to survey his surroundings, though it was a pretty standard barn. The area they were in currently was not huge, but it provided a decent enough space for a fight. One that Vegeta would fight with every ounce of his being, as if his very life depended on it. Even if Bulma and Kakarrot were wed already, if he were too late, Vegeta could easily have it annulled by making sure they did not consummate the wedding. No wedding night, no proof of consummation, an easy enough way to make sure the wedding was not legal.

But that was only a short time solution, and he knew he needed to get Kakarrot away from Bulma. And if the only way to do that was to kick his younger cousins ass--then kick his ass he would.

Vegeta felt the soreness, the tiredness melt away from him as his heart started to pound, his fists going up as the two circled each other, eyeing each other, warily, watching, waiting. They had been sparring together for months now, they knew each other as opponents, and so neither was ready to rush into the fight unnecessarily, especially since they knew how evenly matched they were. But Vegeta felt extra adrenaline pumping through his body at that moment, the extra kick he needed to win this fight, and he smirked as he finally let the beast inside of him free, rushing his cousin with a fierce growl.

Kakarrot easily sidestepped, as Vegeta suspected he would, and Vegeta crouched low, sweeping his left leg out behind him, knocking both of Kakarrot's feet from under him.

Kakarrot hit the ground hard, emitting a loud oomph as the air was knocked from his body, and Vegeta popped back up, bringing his foot high as he aimed it for Kakarrot's exposed neck. Kakarrot was quick, though, and by the time Vegeta had let his foot down, he hit nothing but hay as his cousin twisted out of the way, before doing a flip that had him on his feet again.

Vegeta smirked at his cousin from where he stood, his fists back up, before he slowly approached his cousin again. Kakarrot made the first move this time, his lethal right hook coming for Vegeta again, knocking the side of his arm as Vegeta got knocked back. He kept his fists in front of his face as Kakarrot jumped and spun with his left leg out, his body flying towards Vegeta. Vegeta grabbed Kakarrot's ankle as his foot hit him square in the sternum, absorbing most of the hit, but pulling his cousin with him as he flew against the side of the barn, a loud creak sounding as they hit the old wood.

Vegeta shoved his cousin off of him, kicking high, making hard contact with Kakarrot's stomach, knocking his cousin back a few feet as Vegeta approached. This time they both went in for wide punch's at the same time, Vegeta's arm locking around Kakarrot's throat and shoulder, as Kakarrot's wrapped around the back of Vegeta's neck and under his arm. Vegeta wasted no time in throwing his weight into his arm, knocking both of them to the ground. Vegeta tried to use his lower body to pin his cousin down, trying to get his arms free to throw some more punches, or asphyxiate him to the point of being passed out, but Kakarrot had muscle and weight on him, and Vegeta could not keep him still or down.

Kakarrot brought his knees up, quickly, as soon as there was space between their bodies, catching Vegeta in the solar plexus, knocking his cousin off of him, before he popped back to his feet again. Vegeta got on all fours to avoid the kick Kakarrot was aiming towards Vegeta's chest, before he too moved far enough away to stand on his own feet. The pair of them stood about five feet apart, both of them dirty, sweating and panting, bruises already forming on exposed skin, though neither moved in that time. Vegeta watched his cousin, closely, looking for even the smallest sign of weakness, but there was none. Kakarrot was a good fighter, it was the thing Vegeta admired most about his cousin.

But he made it damn hard for Vegeta to try and knock him unconscious.

Plus, it seemed as if Kakarrot was being fueled by his own inner beast as they moved, the younger man changed as they fought. It infuriated Vegeta to imagine that the beast inside of Kakarrot was also trying to stake a claim on Bulma, urging Vegeta to want to tear out his throat with his very own teeth. But if Vegeta and him were physically matched (and they were), Vegeta knew they were both in for a long fight, sure to leave both of them bloodied and broken.

Well if there was anything that sparring with Kakarrot had taught him was that while Kakarrot might have very few physical weaknesses, he did not often engage in fighting as a mental game, and that was where his Achilles heel rested. Vegeta took a few steps back, trying to concentrate only on the need to kill and not the physical pain he was sure to be in, his voice low as he said, "So Kakarrot, why the change in heart?"

Kakarrot kept moving, keeping his body warm as the two circled each other, ready to lunge at any moment it seemed. Still, his voice was curious as he asked, "Change of heart?"

Vegeta kept his voice light, "You think I don't know about everything that goes on in my own damn house, do you?" Vegeta grinned as he saw Kakarrot's eyes go wide, and he gave him a cruel smirk as he continued, "You've been sniffing around the chef ever since you first got to Saiyan Hall--what's the matter, did you grow tired of her? Does she no longer put out to master anymore? Moved on to Bulma now? Decided she was a good enough of a fuck to marry--."

Vegeta did not get to finish that taunt as Kakarrot rushed him, pushing them both out into the rain of the courtyard with a mighty roar. Kakarrot gripped Vegeta around the waist, pushing him to the ground, landing on top of him as he started to throw wild punches, some that landed on Vegeta, some that hit the ground as Vegeta thrashed under him. This was what Vegeta wanted--Kakarrot to blindly attack him, to waste his energy on emotional fighting rather than thinking it through. Kakarrot's voice cracked through the thud of the punches and the pattering of the rain, his voice growing hoarse as heÊemphasized the punches as he yelled, "You! Don't! Get! To! Talk! About! Them! Like! That!"

Vegeta waited until a punch went too far to the right, and grabbed Kakarrot under the shoulder, flipping them both, so that Vegeta's knee was in Kakarrot's back, his arms around his neck and head, holding him in a sleeper hold. Vegeta kept his arms tight around his cousin, his knee flat as he brought his mouth to his cousin's ear, hissing, "One of them is nothing but a servant, the other is an American who will open her legs for any--"

Kakarrot surprised him by biting Vegeta's arm, the shock causing Vegeta to loosen his grip just enough so that Kakarrot could bring that big head of his knocking right into Vegeta's jaw knocking him completely off guard as he got flipped so he was under Kakarrot again. Rather than continuing to attack like that though, Kakarrot got up, moving away from Vegeta while he yelled at him, "Both of those women have more honor and pride then you ever will, and you should bow down in their presence you asshole!"

Vegeta smirked, as best as he could with his newly rearranged face, though he put his hands back up, ready for another rush. Though it was pounding down rain, neither seemed willing to make the move back into the stables, the dark atmosphere a fitting setting for such a contentious fight. Vegeta's voice was harsh even to his own ears as he continued to speak in a flippant tone, "Please, Kakarrot. Who are you trying to fool with that speech? Are either of those women really worth what will happen to your reputation, your honor? No woman is." Again, unbidden, a surge of guilt washed through him, and that teasing voice whispered again, liar.

Kakarrot growled distracting Vegeta from his own thoughts, as his face contorted, a finger pointing accusingly at Vegeta. "What would you know about honor Vegeta? You are as honorless a man as I have ever met!"

Vegeta's smirk turned deadly as he felt his own emotions get caught up in the fight, the beast inside of him quieted by the burning desire he held within himself to always seen as respectable and honorable. His voice was no longer taunting, but harshly edged as he spoke, "Careful where you tread, Kakarrot. I have proven myself over and over as a warrior I have more honor in my right pinkie than you could ever know about."

Kakarrot shook his head, looking disgusted at his cousin, causing Vegeta's anger to soar. Kakarrot's words were almost pitying when he spoke next, causing Vegeta's hackles to rise. "There is more honor in life than just that of a warrior. You have no honor as a person, Vegeta."

Vegeta's snarl was animalistic and unconsciously done, though he no longer had the iron will control over himself he usually prided himself on. "Fuck you Kakarrot! What would you know about me as a person?"

Kakarrot put his fists down, stopping as he stared at him for a good long minute, as if assessing Vegeta, or thinking about what he was going to say-- a surprise from Kakarrot. Seeming to have made up his mind about something, Kakarrot straightened, his eyes flashing fiercely as he calmly said, "I know that you would abandon a virgin after bedding her, making no offer for her. Which is dishonorable as they come, Vegeta."

Virgin? What the fuck.... Whatever attack on his character Vegeta had been gearing up for, it was not this, and it caught him off guard as if Kakarrot had struck him. Vegeta's fists went slack, his arms crossing over his chest as he haughtily told him, "You have no idea what you speak of. I have never lain with a virgin."

Wrong thing to say, apparently. Kakarrot's face grew hard, and his mouth tightened as he spoke in a chilly tone that reminded Vegeta that this was his cousin he was fighting, "What of my sister?"

Vegeta could not even process his surprise that Kakarrot knew about Bulma and him, instead slipping into the easy routine of the lie as he went for nonchalance, hoping to convey that he had never slept with Bulma before. "What of her?"

Kakarrot's next attack was a blindside, especially as he had been standing so lax just a moment early. Kakarrot rushed him again, as he crashed into him, forcing Vegeta against the temporary hitching post, the wood groaning in protest as they threw their weight against it. Vegeta was expecting more punches to the face, but instead, Kakarrot grabbed him by the sides of his head and brought his knee up as he smashed Vegeta's head down, over and over. The world started to grow fuzzy, everything spinning as he was repeatedly hit in the face, his brain sloshing around in his skull, though Kakarrot's words were clear as day when he finally released Vegeta, who slumped to his own knees without Kakarrot supporting him. "You're a right fucking bastard you piece of shit!"

If Vegeta had not had all of the air knocked out of him, or so dazed from the repeated head hits, he would have been amazed to hear his cousin, who he had never heard cuss before, cuss so spectacularly well (another side effect of hanging around Bulma all day?). But as it was, Vegeta was too busy trying to remember his own name to even let the words register, though he was pulled from his foggy haze as Kakarrot grabbed the fronts of his shirts, lifting him off the ground, pulling them so they were face to face. His voice was downright chilly, and even Vegeta had to admit he could sense how the import in the words to Kakarrot. "That woman in there is worth ten of you! She is my sister, and you don't get to speak about her like that."

Vegeta was fading, even with the rain and Kakarrot yelling at him, but he managed, "If she's your sister... why...why are you marrying her?"

Kakarrot's eyebrows drew together, his anger palpable as he softly said, "Because I love her, and I will be there for her when she needs me." Kakarrot paused, slowly putting Vegeta on the ground, so he was leaning on the hitching post he had just gotten beat over, his voice even more deadly and serious as he went on, "Especially after you abandoned her."

Vegeta tried to maintain level eye contact, but his head was still swimming and it took effort. He searched Kakarrot's face, seeing that there was no denying to him what just had gone on in between Bulma and himself. He cursed Bulma, wondering why she had felt the need to tell her brother, but knew it would be futile to contradict Bulma's story. No wonder Kakarrot had gotten so mad when Vegeta had tried to deny ever having slept with her. Blame it on the exhaustion, or the fact that even the beast inside of him was too busy being dizzy to shout for blood, but Vegeta told him the truth, "I didn't abandon her." Vegeta winced as he spoke. Okay, well he did abandon her technically, but it was not as if he cast her out of his bed and left her to the wolves, tattering her reputation beyond repair. His next words were earnest, words he had repeated to himself ever since he had turned his back on her the night they had retrieved the list for Basil. "She can still make another match--you do not need to marry her to keep her honor intact. No one will know about what happened between her and I."

Kakarrot shook his head, crossing his arms as he muttered so low Vegeta almost did not catch the words, "You have no clue. You really don't know, do you?"

Vegeta's focus seemed to be returning, and he cocked his head as he stood up straighter, "Don't know what?"

Kakarrot's head came back up and he caught Vegeta's eyes, his voice serious as he admitted, "You are wrong Vegeta about anyone finding out about the two of you." His eyes grew hard, though his face was almost sympathetic, "Not only did you dishonor my sister by taking her outside of marriage, laying with her and taking her maidenhead--you left her with child."

Vegeta, who had finally found his footing, finally felt the Earth stop spinning, tumbled back down to his knees, unable to keep standing as Kakarrot's words hit him. Without thought, Vegeta's first reaction was denial. "Bulma? Pregnant? No. That's impossible." But even as he said the words, he knew it was very much possible. Both times he had lain with her, he had come inside of her, unable to control himself as he was usually able to, nor had he taken any precautions to ensure that she would not get pregnant. "But...she has not...she told me...nothing." Vegeta looked up at Kakarrot, confused, almost pleading with his eyes as he said. "Are you sure?"

Kakarrot shifted, crossing his arms, but seeming to find comfort in how stricken Vegeta looked at the news. He really had no idea, did he? Kakarrot's voice was warmer as he spoke. "She is. She says she is over three months gone."

Vegeta swallowed heavily, doing the math and realizing that put them at the Vegetasei ball, the first time he had taken her. Vegeta felt two very warring emotions conflicting inside of him. The beast inside of him was crowing with victory, roaring its approval of Vegeta's complete marking of the female of his own by planting his seed. It was ecstatic at having mated with his woman, proving his virility to all who wanted to see by making her heavy with his child. It demanded that he go upstairs and claim that woman as his own, so that no man could get between him and her.

The logical side of him, though, the one who knew he still had a vendetta to settle and people to avenge, the one who had been a part of him his whole life, felt a sinking dread in the pit of his stomach. He had gotten a woman pregnant. One of the very things he swore he would never do--it was not only a compromise to the family honor, but his own plans and his very life. He had plans that he had to carry out, plans that would mean he would not be of this Earth very much longer. The last thing he wanted was to leave a babe, fatherless, in this world. This is something he had never wanted to happen, something that was completely against who he was. This is why he should have avoided Bulma the moment he first felt a spark of emotion for her when he had first met her in America--she was dangerous to him, and to all that he still had to accomplish. She was a roadblock to his plans, and he should have known that being with her would have fucked everything up completely. This is what happened when he let his body and emotions make decisions instead of his cold hard logic.

But even as he thought it, he knew he did not want to leave Bulma, pregnant and alone, unwed and open to the advances of any man willing to offer for her. He knew the smart thing to do would be to allow Kakarrot to marry her, to give her the Vegetasei name when Vegeta could not--but it was not even the beast in him that rejected that idea. Every single part of him rejected that idea. The thought of Kakarrot, or any other male, marrying her and playing father to his own child caused his skin to crawl, his stomach to curdle, and his very heart to stop beating. He would not be alive for much longer...but the very least he could do for Bulma was to give her his name, and if the child born was a boy, he would inherit Vegeta's title, not Kakarrot, after Vegeta died.

Plus, Vegeta could not deny something in him glowed warm at the thought of Bulma being his wife, despite everything he knew he should be thinking of marrying a woman who had no title, and hardly any aristocratic blood flowing in her veins. She would have his name for the rest of her life, and after he was gone, she would carry on his family through a child they created together. Plus, she would be socially mandated to be in mourning for up to a year, unable to find another husband or lover during that time. So she would remain Vegeta's, and just Vegeta's during that time period. Something warm and fuzzy sparked in him, indeed, and Vegeta quickly rubbed his chest, as if he could rub that feeling away from himself. Ê

Vegeta looked up from the ground, making up his mind in that instant. It did not matter what was right or wrong at this point, it only mattered what he wanted, and dammit if it made him selfish, then it would make him a selfish bastard who would die happy.

"Kakarrot. I will marry your sister."

A tension seemed to drain from Kakarrot his whole body slackening as he let out a deep breath and he clapped Vegeta on the shoulder. "Good. I was hoping you would. That is assuming she will have you."

Vegeta stiffened under the other man's hands, not liking how he was on his knees before Kakarrot, but unable to stand just yet. The idea of Bulma rejecting him was not something he considered, nor would he consider, though he could not stop the icy slide of fear as it went down his back. What if she did reject him? "She will accept me." His voice brokered no argument, and Kakarrot said nothing, so he only repeated, "I will marry your sister but I have a couple of conditions."

Kakarrot's face drew harsh again, as if he were expecting the worst from the man in front of him. After a second though, he gave a nod, "Name them."

Vegeta finally found the strength to get off of his knees, standing, wavering, but still standing as he used the hitching post as a crutch to help him up. When he could, he met Kakarrot's eyes again speaking with every fiber of his being, "I cannot give you all the details, but there are some things I must do soon Kakarrot, and by doing so I must put myself in dangerous situations. Bulma might be a widow sooner rather than later," the might was thrown in there to make this easier for Kakarrot, but Vegeta would not admit that out loud, "And once I'm gone, I need you to protect both Bulma and the babe. I do not need or want you to marry her, but if the babe is a boy he will be the next Duke, and I need you to protect them. Nappa will step into the role of second-man, much like he did for me, and there are tutors who can teach them all about being a real Duke. But you need to care for them as if they are your wife and child."

Kakarrot nodded, tension leaking out of his face again. "Of course. I would do so without you having to ask. Bulma is my sister, after all."

Vegeta gave a grave nod. He looked down before he spoke next, throwing every ounce of earnestness behind the next words because they were important. "Good...also, I need you to ensure that the dowager has no part in that child's life." Vegeta unwillingly thought back to the role she had played in raising him, and he had to fight the urge to shudder. Or to grow angry as he imagined her in his own child's life. His next words were icy, but he could not help it. "She has a way of changing a child forever, and I would not submit my child to the life I had growing up. No innocent deserves that, Kakarrot."

Kakarrot gave a rueful smile, but his assurances were clear as he spoke, "As if I would let the old hag near either Bulma or the child."

Vegeta gave a weak smile at the belligerence in his cousin's tone. "Good. I am glad we see eye to eye on that matter." He sighed, rubbing his face with his hand before looking back up, getting off the hitching post as he headed back towards the stables to get his jacket. When he came back, Kakarrot had not moved, and Vegeta sighed again, before asking, "Where is she?"

Kakarrot nodded towards a room that had a candle glowing by the window. "Upstairs. I have gotten us two rooms here. You can sleep in my room if there is no other openings in the inn."

Vegeta gave an appreciative nod towards the other man. "I will inform her in the change of groom." Vegeta straightened at that, his eyes making contact with Kakarrot, "That is assuming I am not too late. Will we have to annul your wedding before I can marry her?"

Kakarrot shook his head, smiling for the first time all night. "You are not too late." His face grew serious as he said, "Though if you do not marry Bulma first thing in the morning, I will not hesitate to do so myself."

The beast in him growled, but Vegeta kept his face stony. "It will not come to that. It will never come to that, Kakarrot."

Kakarrot said nothing, only giving Vegeta a smile that spoke volumes.

~~&~~

Bulma could not sleep. She sat up in her bed, her knees pulled up to her chest, as they had been for the last three hours, her arms wrapped around them. Her eyes were heavy, her body was far past stiff, her muscles and joints aching, and her arms were cold since they were uncovered. But she did not move. Ever since Kakarrot and her had parted for the night, he to make arrangements for not only their wedding, but for their travels back to America, Bulma had been in this position, thinking.

On the awful and long carriage ride up here, she had told Goku as much about her and Vegeta as she could, leaving out the more colorful bits (well and the spying bits), as Goku listened, telling her everything she needed to hear. How he did not blame her, how she was not a fool, how she was hardly a loose woman, how...well, just how she was still his sister and she would never have to fear about anyone else's censure when it came to their child. She had slept for some of the journey, cradled in the crook of her brother's arm, the first real sleep she had gotten since she...well, forever...and she had felt safe in that time.

But now, as she sat here thinking about what she was preparing to do, Bulma did not feel safe. She felt sick.

So she had sat thought about just what was making her feel sick, just what about marrying a man she loved and respected (though she did not love in that way), who would save not only her reputation, but that of her unborn child's as well, was not sitting well with her. And the solution had become clear the second she had stopped thinking out of desperation, and gotten a sort of reign on her still tumultuous emotions. Though Goku's offer of marriage had come to her like a blessing she desperately needed, Bulma knew--with more and more certainty as her body grew more and more stiff--she could not take it. Yes, they were already here, already so close to being married--but when push came down to shove, she could not do that to her brother. She could not trap him in a life that was not his, could not force him to raise a child that was not his--and could not steal him away from a woman who did love him.

Chi-Chi's face had been flashing in Bulma's mind all day, making the American feel guilty. It was not like Goku was as unattached as he used to be and Bulma could not take a chance of love out of her brother's hands. Just because her own chance for love and happiness and a real family was gone did not mean she could take away someone else's. She was selfish--but dear Kami, she was not that selfish. Especially not when it came to someone she truly did love. She just could not do that to him, even though Goku was offering her a very appealing solution to all of her problems.

No matter how appealing the solution was Bulma knew she could not do that to Goku. He was too good of a guy, and he deserved a better life than the one she could give him. So she decided she was just going to leave for America tomorrow, making her way back, unwed and pregnant, and she would figure it out on the ship ride back. She had always thought of something in the past when push came to shove, and since she would be stuck in her cabin with seasickness the whole time, she was sure she would have plenty of time to think of something to do with her situation. She was not the first woman to be put in between a rock and a hard place like this, and she did not dare to think that she would ever be the last. If all those women before her could make it through this, then dammit, so could she. She was Bulma fucking Briefs. She would persevere.

Her mind finally made up, Bulma felt a huge weight lifted off of her shoulders, the guilt that had been running through her body for the last three hours evaporating, and she finally lowered her legs from their stiff position, her resolve ironing inside of her as her body screamed in protest. She had to tell Goku now. She had to tell him that while she appreciated his love and affection for her, she could not accept his sacrifice of marrying her. She just could not. And this could not wait until morning, because she was afraid her resolve would weaken between then and now, and selfishly marry Goku, ruining not only her life, but his as well.

Bulma threw on her dressing gown over her night rail, tightening the belt as she walked to her front door, throwing it open, uncaring of the late hour, or the fact that she was in a public inn. She needed to talk to Goku and she needed to talk to him now.

Only to freeze before she could get a foot over the threshold as she saw just who was leaning on the wall across from her door. Her throat constricted, her heart slamming in her chest as she whispered, "Vegeta?"

This had to be a vision--there was no way Vegeta, who could not even bother to come watch his ship launch with a steam engine, the first in the Kami-damned world, the same man who had been ignoring her for weeks, hell, months--was standing in front of her door. So she blinked. And blinked again.

But he was still there. Still standing there, his hair and body dripping wet, his legs covered in mud, his face and arms covered in bruises, those dark eyes flashing as they took her in. Somehow, even soaking wet and covered in dirt--the way he held himself as he leant against the wall, that flame-shape hair of his standing tall and proud--he managed to look regal and refined. She had to wonder how he did it...before she grew slightly hysterical at realizing what his being here meant.

She knew why he was here. He was here to protect Goku, to make sure he did not make a mistake by marrying an American. Bulma was not stupid enough, or self-absorbed enough to think his standing here meant that he was here for her. She had offered herself up to him the night at the hotel and he had flat out refused her. There was no way that he had come for here.

Her thoughts whirring in her head, she finally met his eyes, tearing her own from his disheveled appearance. When her blue eyes met his, his mouth tightened, his eyes narrowing, anger radiating off of him. His voice was subarctic when he spoke, the tone brooking no argument, "Just what in the hell do you think you are doing?"

Bulma did not know which 'what in the hell' he was referring to (the running away to Scotland? The running away to get married?) but his bloodied appearance caused her throat to constrict with fear for her younger brother. Especially as she knew that only one person in the world was strong enough to beat Vegeta this badly--and Goku had surely not won the fight if it was Vegeta standing across from her in the hallway. Her voice was a whisper as she questioned him, "Where is Goku? Did you kill him?"

Vegeta's mouth tightened into a thinner line, the black fire she knew so well banking in his eyes as he pushed off of the wall, taking a step closer to her. "Of course not. Why would I kill the man I traveled halfway across the world to bring back to his home country?" His eyes grew darker, somehow, and he approached her further, "Now I am going to repeat myself--what in the hell do you think you are doing?" Bulma gulped again, still confused as to what he was asking her about, though she did not have to wonder long as he hovered over her on the threshold of the doorway, menacing as he approached her. "May I remind you you are in a public inn, not your private house, and it is beyond unseemly to leave your room in nothing more than your fucking pajama's?" Bulma looked down at her perfectly modest gear, though she knew what he was saying was the truth.

She looked back up at him, prepared to say something, but his eyes flashed that fire again, his voice soft as he commanded, "Get back in the room Bulma."

Bulma felt her body grow hot and cold at the same time at the way he spoke to her. Something about that soft command, it caused the part of her that only he could seem to awaken to stir to life, wanting her to throw herself at him, while the part of her that was an independent strong woman wanted to punch him in the face for thinking he could talk to her like that. Her confusion twisted into anger at the tone of his voice, and she frowned at him, folding her arms around her traitorous body, glaring at him with all of her might. "Fuck you Vegeta. You don't get to tell me how to run my life."

Vegeta's mirthless smile turned something vicious in her gut, and he crowded her, stepping over the threshold of her room, approaching her like a predator would approach a prey. "That's where you are wrong, Bulma." Her body responded to his dark, sure tone by growing hot, her skin tingling, her heart pounding in her chest as he approached her like that--though she did not rush into his arms as her hormone-riddled body begged her to do. For every step forward, she took one back, keeping her eyes locked with his own, even as he closed the door behind him, shutting them in her room. Bulma had never felt so threatened by his presence before, nor had she felt so turned on by the way he stalked her.

Bulma backed away from him further, even after he stopped a few steps into the small room, needing to put space between them. Her emotions, just so settled and resolved after she had decided not to marry Goku, were back in an upheaval, and her stomach began to twist in knots, alerting her to the fact that she might throw up at any second. She focused on her anger though, taking that as a focal point to concentrate on as she watched him. Her body might be throwing both of them a million different signals, but she knew in her head that she needed to be worried about self-preservation, not how wonderful and musky Vegeta smelled as he took her already small room and made it feel a thousand times smaller. She needed to remain angry with him. Thankfully, months of abandonment made it easy for her to find ways to be angry with him, and she responded with her head tilted, her chin high in the air. "What are you talking about? We are no longer under your roof. I owe you nothing."

Vegeta stayed where he was, in front of the door, planting his legs and crossing his arms as he met her eyes, an impenetrable barrier between her and freedom. That smile of his turned into a cruel edged smirk, and he spoke, his voice louder than it was in the hallway, though something about the tone made her think of the dark, private way he spoke to her when he was seducing her. "Remember the deal we made when I first asked you to help translate for Basil?" Bulma's mind whirled back to that day, so damn long ago, and she gave a nod, and he continued, "You said I had to answer three questions of yours truthfully--and I agreed on the condition that you would answer mine just as truthfully." Bulma's felt the blood leave her face, though she stayed, standing tall, hoping Vegeta could not see her pallor in the darkened room as she realized where this was going. "Well Bulma, I have answered two of your questions honestly--now you must answer two of mine."

Bulma remembered how cocky she had been when she had told him she had nothing to hide, that time that felt so many lifetimes ago, that she could barely fathom that it was only a few months ago. Now she had plenty to hide, and she had a feeling Vegeta knew that from her prolonged silence. But she forced her head back up, her arms crossing in front of her as she said, "Okay."

Vegeta did not move, but his eyes traveled up her body as he took her in, his arms clenching around his body as he spoke. "Question number one...the night I took you in the gardens, Bulma, were you a virgin?"

Bulma's guts twisted again surprised by his direct approach (though she knew she should not have been, he was a top notch spy, and Vegeta was not one to beat around the bush), but she forced herself to stay still even though she felt like collapsing on the bed. How could he possibly know that? Had he come across the whole damn country to ask her that?! But Bulma was a brave, independent woman, and she was not going to let him overpower her with questions that really did not matter anymore. So she stood her ground as she said, "Yes. Yes I was." She paused for a second, then found herself elaborating, especially as his face did not change, "If you need proof, the gown I was wearing the night of the ball is in the back of my dressing closet, and there are some blood stains on them that are all that remain of my virginity." The last word came out as a heated hiss, Bulma growing angrier as she realized how lightly he was forcing her to take the subject.

Vegeta nodded, tersely, and his eyes were flashing as he met hers again. "I will have the gown brought to Vegetasei."

Once again, she was thrown into confusion, none of her questions to him having been answered. "Vegetasei?"

Vegeta's displeasure at her question practically radiated off of him, as if it was a thick presence between them. "It is not your turn to ask questions, Bulma. It is mine. I have one left."

She grew irritated with him, and his ability to make her feel like a fool at the same time he made her feel like a child. Kami! At this point she did not even care why he was here--all she knew was that she wanted him gone. And if that meant answering another one of his questions then fine. Though why he would suddenly care about whether or not she was a virgin went beyond him--was he really that thick that he could not tell from her inexperienced ways with him? Though...she had to admit that when she was with him she did not feel inexperienced. Her body just seemed to take over...but that was not something she was going to think about right now! Instead she narrowed her blue eyes back on Vegeta, wishing to Kami she had the ability to explode heads with her mind. "You have one question left, Vegeta. I suggest you use it wisely."

He smirked again, that dark smirk that even when it distorted his face (as it currently was doing) had her shivering. These pregnancy hormones were not something to be fucked around with, Bulma mused. Especially not when you were running through every emotion conceivable in such a short time period, alone in a bedroom with a man you could not decide if you hated beyond everything else--or could not live your life without. Dammit!

This time, Vegeta took a few steps further into the room, approaching where she stood with her back to the window, his face drawn as he calmly and surely asked her, "Are you currently pregnant with my child Bulma?"

Goku told him! Bulma's mouth opened in a silent 'O,' and the blood in her head rushed to her stomach, her knees going weak as she fought the urge to sink to the floor. No. No. This was bad, this was beyond bad. The last thing she wanted was for Vegeta to find out--Kami, how many nightmare scenarios had she had with this exact thing happening? She had never wanted him to find out! Instead of collapsing within herself like she wanted to do, Bulma forced her back straight, her eyes meeting his square on as she flipped the long braid her hair was in over her shoulder. "Yes. Yes I am."

Vegeta took a deep breath at that admission, seeming to deflate a little as his eyes strayed to her abdomen. Clothed, Bulma knew that there was not much to be seen--but she knew that there was definitely a telltale bump that had not been there before, her flat stomach already starting to swell. Without thought, her hand went to her abdomen, as if she could protect the child she carried within her with such a simple gesture. Vegeta's eyes shot back up to her face, his face set in stone as he informed her, "We shall be wed in the morning then."

Bulma's mouth snapped angrily closed at that command, for once not feeling the heat she usually did when he spoke to her as such. "Says who?"

Vegeta's eyes flashed at her as he spoke, the fire in the warming her as much as real one could. "Me, Bulma." His finger pointed to her abdomen, that cruel smirk back in place. "The father of that child inside of you."

Bulma's hands tightened around her abdomen, and she glared at him, resisting the urge to stalk up to him and poke her finger at him. She knew at this point that that never ended well. "This is my child Vegeta. Not yours."

Vegeta growled as he stalked further into the room, stopping so he was only a few feet away from her. "That is where you are wrong, Bulma dear. It is our child, and I intend to see it brought into the world as such! That child could very well be the next Duke of Vegetasei, and I would not have it born out of wedlock." He stopped for a second, taking a deep breath, the lines of his face smoothing out as he earnestly spoke to her, "Do not push me on this, Bulma. You are a smart woman, and I am sure you are aware of the fact that if I really wanted to, I could take this child from you the second it is born." Her face must have showed her shock, because he added with a palm up, "I do not want to do that Bulma. This child will be the next Vegetasei heir, and I would rather prefer it be born in this world not as my bastard, or without its mother."

Bulma heard the threat Vegeta had issued, but she found herself focusing more on the end part of his little speech. He did not want to take her child from her--and he wanted to give it his name? He wanted to give her his name? Kami--if she had thought Vegeta was confusing before, he was beyond understanding now. He wanted her, he did not want her, he wanted her again? Could anyone blame her for questioning her own sanity at a time like this??

Bulma met Vegeta's eyes, a dark cloud passing between them as she made up her mind, and she hissed at him, "Fine. I will see you in the morning."

He turned to leave, but she stopped him with her words, needing to regain some of the momentum she had lost to him in agreeing to marry him on his terms, "But if you expect me to be a meek-willed wife who will do as you say, and only that, you are sadly mistaken. I will continue to work, continue to invent and I will be a true Duchess who runs your estates, do I make myself clear? And I will not stand for you to have extra-marital affairs. If we are getting married, we are doing this the right way. "

Vegeta turned back to look at her, and Bulma swore she saw that fire that had been flickering in his eyes burn to a bright flame that spoke of the passion she knew he had once felt for her--but he blinked and it was gone. Still, there was some sort of...pride? Admiration?...in his voice as he said, "I would have it no other way. Now get some rest before the ceremony. We will leave for Vegetasei directly afterwards, and that is a long day's carriage ride away, even if we leave early."

Bulma said nothing, knowing that even though his anger seemed to have evaporated he was still not in an answering questions kind of mode, so she only watched him go, wishing that she could find something to say to him that would get past the lump in her throat that had suddenly appeared.

Instead, she was surprised when Vegeta froze at the door, his hand resting on the door handle before he turned around, looking her in the eyes. His voice was low and intimate, definitely what she remembered from him seducing her as he said, "I would expect you to go above and beyond with all of your upcoming wifely duties, Bulma, and I know you will not disappoint me."

A delicious shiver worked its way down her spine at his tone, her knees finally giving out as he swept from the room. The only thing she could think was pregnancy hormones or no, she was in for a world of trouble when it came to Vegeta and what he could do to her body and soul.

~~&~~

The next morning Goku stood, grinning and waving like an idiot as he watched his recently married sister and her new husband as they rode out of Gretna Green, on their way to Vegeta's main estate, Vegetasei. Bulma kept her head out of the window of the carriage, waving until he could no longer see her, though Vegeta did not move to even acknowledge him as he rode on a horse next to a carriage.

It had not been the wedding ceremony he had ever envisioned for his sister, but it had still been beautiful--even if he had had to beat the groom into marrying her.

But still, the simple anvil ceremony Scotland was famous for had gone by flawlessly--Vegeta had even handed Bulma a small bouquet of flowers as she had entered the blacksmiths shop so that they could wed. It had surprised Bulma more than it had surprised Goku, but he had seen the tender look in her eyes as she collected the purple violets and blue lilacs from him, as well as the almost imperceptible red that had stained Vegeta's cheeks as he had handed them to her.

There was one other witness, necessary by law to be there to observe the ceremony, a girl who was often employed for such ceremonies, but Goku had paid her no heed as he instead watched his sister and his cousin as they wed. It had been a tumultuous road (literally, Goku thought as he rubbed his still store backside from yesterday's ride) to get them here, but he had to admit he was glad with the outcome. Though neither was particularly beaming at the other, or spouting great declarations of love as they declared their intentions to be husband and wife--but neither looked particularly unhappy to be here, and Goku knew with Vegeta and Bulma's attitudes, this was a good start to their marriage.

Goku sighed as he turned back to the stables, prepared to ride back to London, making sure to get Midnight, Vegeta's horse in the town of Derbyforshire. Or was it Hertfordshire? Some kind of shire--that was all Goku knew. Thank Kami he had written the town down...but where had he left that damn slip of paper?

Goku shrugged, knowing it would turn up, as he thought back to seeing Vegeta last night. He had been so happy to see the older man, assuming he had come for Bulma--and though he had had to beat the older man, Goku was convinced that no matter what Vegeta had said, he had really come for her last night. He frowned as he thought of the promises he had made to Vegeta the night before, wondering just why the Duke thought that he might leave Bulma a widow before long--and what exactly he could do to stop Vegeta from heading down that trail....

Before he could get too into those thoughts though, Goku found himself facing a community board of sorts, with notices from all over Scotland posted on it. His eyes were not drawn to the wanted posters, job notices, or resident listings, but instead to the missing person's portion of the board where he his eyes were drawn to one particular notice as if his eyes were fated to align on this persons likeness.

Goku blinked. Blinked again. Blinked three times in quick succession, and when he saw that that the person's likeness was still staring back at him, Goku quickly looked around to make sure no one was paying attention to him before he grabbed the billet off of the board, stuffing it in his pocket, before he practically ran to the stables suddenly, wanting--no needing-- to get back to London as soon as possible.

~~&~~

A/N: Woohoo! The two of them are married--stories over, everyone can go home!

I WAS JUST KIDDING, COME BACKKKKK!

Ahem, anywhoo, man this chapter has been a long while in the making. A Vegeta/Goku fight (I watched UFC fighting clips to try and lend some realism to how they fought, so hopefully that came across- I am not the best at fighting scene), a Bulma/Vegeta confrontation (some truths FINALLY come out), and a wedding (hopefully you guys will agree the right couple got wed), plus a dramatic reveal for Goku (wonder what it could be...). Wonder how Bulma and Vegeta are going to fare in their new roles as husband and wife, though I think it is safe to assume for everyone there will be passion. Oh yeah--there will be passion. Hopefully I can get the new chapter up by New Years as an end of the year thank you!

If not, happy holidays to all of my readers, and seriously, thank you for being as awesome as you have been. It's been an interesting year for me, but you guys have always given me plenty of reasons to keep smiling. Love you all!