I Can Finally Say...I Love You

In the next few months I increased the intensity of my training tenfold. We had very little contact. I spent almost all my time in the gravity room. She knocked on the door once in a while until slowly she began to get the point. They left my meals outside the door. Sometimes I ate them, sometimes I didn’t.

My frustrations were taking on a whole new meaning. No matter how hard I tried I did not seem to get anywhere. Once in a while I felt Kakarotto’s incredible Ki. I was grateful when that happened; it reminded me how pathetic I was and how much harder I needed to push myself.


This was one of those days, where I needed to be reminded of that. I was fighting with my bots, when I felt a surge of two Ki’s. One was undoubtedly Kakarotto, but the other could be no one’s but his half-breed brat. How the hell did that kid get so strong in such short amount of time? He must be at least ten times stronger than he was in Namek. I felt cheated. I felt as though a kick was given to my groin and at that second, the bots began their attacks, throwing their beans. That, combined with the rage I felt made me power up to my limit, until the ground began to shake. I saw a beam coming straight at me, and without thinking I shot back, but my exhaustion and the gravity combined proved to be too much. I knew I would get hurt maybe even die. But if I couldn’t even beat a third class moron and his brat, my life was not worth living.

The beams collided and the whole ship collapsed on top of me…heh, what do you know, it didn’t kill me…I struggled to get the debris off of me, but I was too weak. In the distance I heard a familiar voice calling my name…it couldn’t be her, it couldn’t. The voice got closer, then I felt some weight being lifted, and I heard the voice more clearly…it was her, calling my name, desperately. I summoned strength of will alone and force my way to the surface. She fell back, on top of that moron.

“Are you still alive?” Now why would I think she was alone and worried about me?

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“What were you thinking? You almost destroyed my house!” Hmph you haven’t see me in months, and that is all you can say, I thought as I focused on getting up.Leave just get away from there. I struggled, but it was futile, I fell to my knees, then flat on my back.

“Vegeta!” I hear her yell, then I felt her hands on my body, even if I was half dead I still felt tremors. Her hand smoothed my face, my hair, I opened my eyes and noticed her bleeding hands, the hands that helped me out of what might have been my tomb, had she not been there.

“Don’t do anything foolish. You’re getting in the way of my training.” I said weakly. I still remembered her words… weak excuse of a prince…

“What are you talking about? You can’t train like this!”

“These wounds are nothing. I am Vegeta no Ouji, the strongest Saiyan in the universe. I have to surpass Kakarotto and claim my rightful place.” I was losing consciousness fast.

“I don’t care! Now just do what I tell you and stay put.”

“Are you trying to order me around?” Darkness completely overtook me.

+++

I had dreams…nightmares, I saw Kakarotto and that other Super Saiyan, and no matter how much or how fast I ran I could not catch up. I had dreams about her, they were always the same. We were in my court, she came in and took my hand, then that moron would come in and take her away, I ran after them, but they would just fade away and I was left alone.

I woke up, not sure where I was. It took me a moment to realize I was in my room. I felt a presence in the room with me, I turned to see her, sleeping, slouching over a chair. My heart tightened as I let my eyes wonder over her beautiful sleeping face. I looked at her until I fell asleep again. This time, the dreams did not come.

+

I don’t know exactly how long I was out, but my wounds were completely healed by the time I came around again. I felt strong enough so I got up, showered, got dressed and went downstairs. I was indecisive about whether I want it to see her or not. I left it to fate.

I passed by the living room and I was assaulted by yells and leaps of joy…did they care this much? The woman and the moron were there as well, she looked at me, thinking on what to say, and then she ran and threw herself into my arms. I caught her somewhat shocked that she would do this in front of so many.

“Vegeta! God, I was so worried. Don’t you dare scare me like that again! I thought you were going to die.” I looked at her, not knowing what to say or do, and then I looked up to see their expressions reflecting the same, all but his. He just sat there glaring. I realized I still held her and she seemed to realize the same because we let go at the same time. I felt my face get hot, and hers was red all over. Blondie came and hugged me and that fluffy ugly black thing started purring at my feet.

“Come Vegeta chan, I better make you something to eat.” Blondie took my arm and led me to the kitchen. She indeed fed me…more than I could eat actually. Briefs came and sat down with me. He told me he had fixed the ship, but turned the gravity down to 300g and the bots were toned down. He installed an automatic shut down feature--as soon as the room got to a certain pressure, the command would kick in. I felt flattered by their worry, but I couldn’t train with such restrictions. I would have to come up with a way around it. Right now thoall all I could do was thank them.

+

I did not train that day; just did some light meditating; I couldn’t really concentrate on anything else. And I didn’t see her again; the moron took her away…like in the dream.

I made my way to my room that night and as I passed her door I thought I heard crying. I stood by the door to make sure I was not mistaken. I wasn’t.

I opened the door slowly and let myself in. I saw her sprawled on her bed, sobbing to the four winds. She didn’t hear me as I walked to her. I sat next to her on the bed. She looked up and my throat tightened as I saw her glorious eyes full of tears.

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh Vegeta,” she cried and threw herself on me, putting her arms around my neck. “I can’t take it anymore!” I felt her tears on my shoulder.

“Take what?”

She said nothing and sobbed for a few more minutes. I just stayed there, helpless to soothe her pain away. Then as if everything just went away, she stopped crying.

“It’s ok…I’m fine now. I don’t want to bore you with my problems. Why are you here?” she asked, me switching gears.

“I heard you crying. Your problems don’t bother me. I- I came to thank you.” I found it difficult to speak; her eyes just pulled me in.

“To thank me… for what?” She dried her tears and put on a fake smile…for my sake?

“For caring for me.” Her eyes lit up and her smile turned real.

“It was nothing. I mean… it’s the least I could do…”

“I do not have anything to repay your kindness.” I cut her off. I couldn’t take it anymore. Her eyes, her smell, her skin, I kissed her lips like I’ve seen the moron do. I was expecting her to push me, to slap me, to throw me out. It would have been worth it. Instead, she kissed me back, I felt her tongue running over my lips, I parted them, letting her in. Her hands were on either side of my face…This was not happening, it is another of those silly dreams of mine... I laid her on the bed and ravaged her lips as she ravaged mine, I didn’t quite know where I learned to do this, but it was good…oh so good.

“You don’t have to do this to repay me.” She said the words, but I knew she didn’t mean them.

“It’s the only way I know how.” Her hands explored my body; I tore her clothes, my coarse hands on her. I couldn’t hold it, too many months of suppressed feelings, too many months of dreaming, wondering. I hastily and clumsily pulled my own clothes out. She whied sed something to me but I didn’t hear her. I didn’t care. She grabbed my hips, that was all the encouragement I needed, then I was inside… I gasped… the heat, her heat was overwhelming. I began to move, I felt her lips on mine once more, we kissed hard, she moved in time with me, and just like that with no warning I came. My shuddering body sent her reeling to a climax of her own; she breathed my name over and over sending me higher into heaven still.

We had each other again and again that night, and into the early hours of the morning, for once I didn’t care about training. We slept, and again the dream came. Kakarotto and that boy, and this time as I ran to catch up they disappeared. I fell; I couldn’t get up, my own weakness kept me from it. I woke up startled and sweaty…I must become strong, I must surpass them, I must defeat them, to do otherwise would be to admit that I am weak. I turned to look at her and let my hand caress her face.

“Sorry woman,” I whispered, “I cannot stay here. I will not be what I must as long as you are around”

I kissed her forehead as I got up.

“We were never meant to be.”


+++

I took the ship and left without a word. I was not sure whether I was coming back. One thing I did know, I was going to reach my goal. I was going to become Super Saiyan.
I went to countless planets, fought countless races. Yet I found no one strong en to to present a challenge. Was this it? Were we truly the strongest in the universe?

I blocked everything out, everything but the desire to succeed, to surpass my limits. I traveled for montfinafinally finding a desolated planet where I could let it all go. I spent weeks, months there. I lost grasp of time completely. I didn’t care.

I trained, I meditated, then I trained some more. I hardly ate or slept or thought. I was nothing but a muscle, a walking mindless muscle with only one thought…Super Saiyan.

Sometime during the course of my stay, the weather began to change, the sky turned black and electric storms became the norm. I didn’t care in the beginning. In fact I thought it was good for my training. But then it became too much, the ground shook, there were acid rain, the electric storms became viciously dangerous. Still, I would not leave I did not care. I often ventured outside the cave I had claimed my own and fought the elements. I was doing just that when I saw a gigantic asteroid, at least the size of Chikyuu’s moon coming right to this planet. At the sight of this my mind snapped and I began to rationalize once more, this was exactly how it happened in Namek. Right before it was destroyed. I panicked, I flew to my ship, but the conditions made it impossible to fly, I was thrown back by the winds, hit by lightning. I saw my whole life before my eyes. Vegeta-sei, Freeza, Kakarotto…what did I have to show for, what had I accomplished? ing,ing, then my mind came to that one night, that one night I let all go and truly felt alive…I couldn’t die, I couldn’t die here alone, with none of my goals achieved, I couldn’t die with out seeing her beautiful eyes one more time.

I stopped in mid air, my ship on plain sight, almost swallowed by the planet, the asteroid almost upon me. I screamed, I screamed out of rage, out of frustration.

“I WILL NOT DIE, I WILL NOT SURRENDER, I AM VEGETA SAIYA-JIN NO OUJI…I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE!!!!” Then I felt it, I felt all my power, all my strength reach its limit and go beyond it. I was blinded by golden light…Super Saiyan raw power…Yes, yes, I laughed maniacally and welcomed that pebble with arms wide open… I was back.

+

I narrowly escaped the explosion. I took the ship to the nearest planet and trained my new found glorious power, I couldn’t control it at first, but eventually I got it down.
Indeed I was back. I was back and ready to go back to Chi and and confront those Androids, and then Kakarotto.

+++

I came back in the middle of the night. I turned off the turbines so as to not make any unnecessary noise. I was logically expecting someone to come running out of the house, to either hug me or kill me. No one, not a sound. I went up to my room. I didn’t even know if I was welcome here anymore, but right now I was too tired to worry about it. As I passed her door I couldn’t help but sticking my head in the to to see her. It’s been almost a year and even though I can’t say she was completely on my mind, I had thought about her…about us, the whole way back.

There she lay asleep, I could make out her contour, but I couldn’t see her face, her eyes. Gods, I needed to, I needed to see her. I came to the conclusion to let her be, to let her be happy with the man she loved, to have a normal and healthy life. I was no good for her. What we had that night was nothing more than a moment’s weakness on both our parts. She more than likely had a fight with her mate, and I, well, I was just lonely. It was better this way. At least I could end my days knowing what it felt like to have her, if only for a little while.

Once in my room I showered and went straight to bed. I had no dreams that night, only memories of that one night.

+

“Vegeta!” I was awaked by her yelling voice. I shifted, my body still wanting to rest. A weight fell on me. Did she jump on the bed? I opened one eye grogily to see her smiling face peering down at me, then just like that her eyes sparkled with anger and she began hitting me with her fists.

“Where the hell did you go? How could you do this to me? Without telling me, without saying goodbye?”

I grasped both her hands and held them there, I didn’t know whether to kiss her, or kill her for being so obnoxious; but it felt good to know that I was missed. We stared at each other. I let her hands go and she just stood there on all fours above me on my bed.

‘I thought it would make things easier.”

“Make things easier? Do you know the hell I went through? Not knowing the reason why, knowknowing if it was me?”

Her eyes filled with tears. I did not wanted to see her cry. I couldn’t, my resolve would vanish, I would send it all to hell and hold her, console her. I couldn’t let that happen. I already made up my mind that she belonged to another.

“We made a mistake, we were not thinking straight, we…” I was interrupted by a sharp slap. My eyes opened wider, never in my life had anyone d to to do such a thing. She jumped off me and ran out of the room. I just lay there holding my face like a fool.

She came back holding a child His hair was lavender, his eyes blue, but his face, his face was…mine.

“Is this a mistake too?”

She did not have to tell me what she meant. A child, I had gotten her with child. That night, in the throes of my own passion I had held nothing back, I didn’t even think about it. Gods, we did it so many times, it would have been a miracle if she didn’t conceive

I looked at my son, at those tiny eyes staring right at me, I saw that tiny tail sway back and forth. I panicked and of course I did what I do best. I ran away.

+++

I came back two weeks later. She was by the pool with the child, her mother and that moron. What the fuck was he still doing around? Well, I hadn’t necessarily been the best father or anything else to her. I didn’t blame her, but still it hurt.

I landed by them and was promptly confronted by her angry eyes and the not so pretty sight of the moron right on my face. It took all I had not to blast right then him for his presumption.

“Woman…” I said, trying my best to ignore him.

“You got some nerve, Vegeta, coming back after you ran out on Bulma twice.”

I hated to admit it but he for once was right. Still, I stood there waiting.

“Yamucha honey, I think they need to be alone now.”

Thankfully Blondie understood the situation and took him away.

“But Briefs-san, I have to…” the moron tried to resist, but one look at the woman’s face made him change his mind and cooperate. He followed the woman, giving me a look of hate, worthy of my own.

“We need to talk. “ I said once they were gone.

“Yes, we do.”

“First, I must apologize,“ I said, “for putting you in this situation. I didn’t mean to impregnate you.” Her gaze hardened, but I continued. “I just…lost control.”

“You mean you regret that it happened?”

“Don’t you?” How can she not?

“Trunks is the best thing ever to happen to me, him and…” she looked the other way, suddenly stopping, as if afraid she might say something she shouldn’t.

“You know what happened between us was not meant to be. I thought about it the whole time I was away. I’m no good for yI’m I’m not like…like him. I cannot he the things he does for you. I cannot say the words you want to hear. I’ll only bring you pain.”

“Well, that makes two of you, Vegeta. Don’t speak of what you don’t know. I knew what I was getting into that night. I thought you’d at least stick around. When I found out I was pregnant, I was so happy because it was your child. Don’t ask me how I knew, but I did. And then just like that I started crying bse yse you weren’t here and I didn’t know if you’d ever come back…then you did, and I was happy again and just as fast you ran away again.” The tears in her eyes were flowing freely now. “I truly thought this time was for good.”

“It was,” I said lowly, “I just need to know why. Why do you wait for me every time? Why me? Why?”

“Because I love you.”

I gasped. I’ve never heard those words directed at me before. What have I ever done to deserve them, to deserve her?

Did I love her? I knew I felt something strong for her, but love? Impossible. I was not capable of such emotions.

“I cannot lie to you.” I said finally. The words just came out. Her tears fell anew, but she quickly hid them.

“It’s ok, I can wait. Just say you’ll stay with us.”

She looked at the child…Trunks. I looked at them both then came to them and gently took his tiny tail between my fingers. Mine…mine and the only woman I could ever conceived of fathering children with.

“I will.”

+

I went to train extensively on a desolated island, reassuring her that I was not running away, tha that I needed to be able to train without reserve or concern for their safety. I didn’t come back to her either. Rather, I stayed away until the day the Androids showed up. I got there early, keeping my Ki suppressed so they wouldn’t know I was back. I saw her and the boy. What the fuck was she doing here? Just like when Freeza showed up three years before. I had to discourage her and make sure they went home safely.

My cold, calculating mind had returned to me. My ego strong as ever. I was going to come in with a bang. Then I would make sure the woman understood this was not a place for her to be in. She wanted tough? She would get tough.

I saw the androids. Hmph, what a joke, and here we were stressing about it. They looked weaker than baldy! I kept my distance until the very moment Kakarotto lost it. The moron hadn’t even taken the medicine that boy gave him, the idiot! He was told exactly how and when he was going to die, he was even given the way to fool fate, and the idiot still needed to be reminded.

I fought the Androids, and even killed one. The pleasure it gave me cannot even be described. I was high, adrenaline coursing throughout me whole being. As we chased after the other Android, I saw her plane fall out of the sky. I should have gone after her. I should have saved her, but instead I went after the Android, letting someone else take care of my own family. I even said mean derogative things to her--I wanted her gone from there. I wanted to get the Androids over with so I could take care of them properly. I thought it was the best way, to show her hate, detachment and carelessness, that way she would go back to mommy and daddy and out of my way. I couldn’t worry about them; I couldn’t have them interfere with my reason. I look at it now and see how utterly selfish I was.

My only concern back then was winning, showing the world how strong I was, how powerful, omnipotent. This ultimately lead me to make costly choices, not only for me, but for the whole wo and and again I was not able to back them up. I was not able to appreciate my son’s strength. Instead I led him to his death…and for what? Just so I could prove I was something I was not.



+++


Cell was defeated, not by me, but by a child, a mere child. Somehow that did not bother me as it should. I flew to my son, my future son. I stared as his lifeless body and I realized for the first time that I cared. I, Vegeta-sama, Saiyajin no Ouji, asshole extraordinaire, cared. He died so he could save others while I, so consumed by my own selfishness, my own desire to prove to everyone that I am strong, I let him die. I let it come to this. I let everyone down, and moreover, I killed the one I so wanted to defeat.

I knelt down by my child, taking him in my arms, ready to fly him away from prying eyes, to give him a proper burial. I feel a hand on my shoulder; I turn and was met by Gohan’s eyes.

“The dragon can bring him back, Ve-san-san.” Even after exerting himself to the limit, even after my selfish actions killed his father, he still found it in his heart to think of others.

“Don’t you want to bring your father back?” For the first time my words held no sarcasm, no mockery.

“We’ll use Namek’s dragon balls. We have three wishes, we’ll bring Trunks-kun back.” I was at a loss for words, so I did what I do best, I hid behind my mask. We all flew to Kami’s place where I left my son to them and went awa my my own. I doubted the boy would want to see me and I was too ashamed to face him.

I went to the island I used as training grounds. As I got there I realized how utterly miserable my life was. The Androids were gone, Cell was dead, and I was a Super Saiyan, all the things I had killed myself this past three years to accomplish were done with. And yet, I felt as empty as I ever felt in all my existent. I fell to my knees not trying to suppress the feeling of helplessness any longer and cried and cried, for Kakarotto, for the woman, for my son…for myself and my foolish pride. Pride that kept me from being normal, from being…happy.
I could no longer use the excuse I had back then. I was not on Vegeta sei anymore, Freeza did not control me, I had people who cared for me and yet I acted the same. My cries became a strangled cry of despair. For the first time I was not ashamed, did not felt weak, just lonely, lonely and utterly lost.


+++

I set foot on the ground, by the gravity room. I saw her waiting. I looked into her eyes and I saw tears in them, she ran and threw herself into my arms, even after shunning her again and again. She cried, cried for me, for the one who causes her pain.

“Woman…”

“Oh Kami, Vegeta, I thought you were dead. I thought I lost you!”

Her arms tightened around my waist. I held her close, for the first time I truly held her. Her azure eyes met mine and without thinking it twice I kissed her lips. How long since I wanted to do this, since that night we found solace in each others arms. I levitated to her window, set her down on her balcony, never tearing from her lips, I wanted this to last, to make it if only for a minute, my moment, to pretend that she belonged to me fully and completely. She broke the kiss and I let her go. I turned my back on her. I needed to go, to get away from this…this feeling that was threatening to come loose.

“Vegeta, where are you going?” her voice called.

I wanted to stay. I wanted to loose myself in her like I did then, but my foolish pride wouldn’t allow me.

“I need to tend to my wounds,” I lied. No, not exactly-- the wounds to my cold heart needed to be tended to.

“Will you let me?”

Her hand touched my arm. I turned to her and we stayed like that for a while, looking into each others eyes, into each others souls.

I descended on her balcony and I let myself be guided into the room beyond. It smelled the same as it did back then, the same sweet smell I thought I would never know again.

“Here, sit on the bed.”

She pulled me and I complied as she led me like a puppet. I sat on her bed, the same one I see night after night. I let her cleanse my wounds, my aching body thankful for the much needed attention. Gods, this felt so odd, so alien. Yet, in the years I have spent on this planet I’ve come to expect her to care for me, to give me her full attention…selfish.

“What’s wrong?”

I snapped back to reality, realizing that she was no longer cleaning my wounds, but looking into my eyes instead.

“How can you still want me? How can you still care?” I whispered.

“You can’t tell the heart who to care for,” she whispered back. I cupped her face and kissed her out of instinct alone. Her arms came around my neck returning the kiss. I let my hands fall from her face, to her shoulders, then to her hips, her finger tips explored the planes of my face and threaded though my hair. I cannot even begin to describe the feeling, so much more deep and intense than that night. I brought her closer to me. I suddenly needed the contact, to feel her hot flesh against mine, to make her feel how I burned for her, as I’ve never burned for anyone before…or never will again.

Forgotten were all thoughts of Cell, Trunks and even Kakarotto. I only focused on here and now. I lay her gently on the bed, her eyes on mine reflecting complete trust, complete surrender.

I kiss those eyes that never cease to pull me in, to make me forget everything but her. I kiss her face, neck and shoulder. This time I will do this right; thime Ime I will do it for her. My hands roamed over her smooth skin… and those eyes, those beautiful azure eyes…how I wanted her, how I needed her.

My mouth followed my hands. I slowly remove her clothes, reveling what I’ve been obsessed about for so long. I finished undressing her slowly, kissing every part of her, her soft moans and panting leading me on. I made my way down her body, to that place I’ve only seen once, but I’ve thought about ever since, her legs spread welcoming me, her scent alone threatening to drive me mad. I tested her, I have never done this to anyone before, but it feels right and her hands made their way to my hair, stroking it, pulling it, and holding my head in place in the throes of her passion. Hmph, as if I would go anywhere.

I heard her call my name over and over, arching her back, driving me insane with need and desire. She shuddered, my name but a whisper on her lips now. I kissed her violently, letting her taste herself in my mouth. I can’t hold it any longer and I eased into her. The heat threatened to swallow me whole and her arms and legs wrap themselves around me as her ambrosial lips kissed my mouth, face, neck, shoulders. I was almost at my limit, almost reaching that paradise I’ve only known once. All inhibitions suddenly leaving me, I looked into her eyes and I saw love, hope… alien emotions I’ve never known before. I smiled at her, truly smiled, letting go of my mask, and I sank my teeth at the base of her neck, marking her, making her truly mine. She screamed throwing her head back…this time I will give you everything, I will hold nothing back…and as I made my silent vow I felt her teeth piercing my skin as well.

All her feelings came rushing into me at once, consuming me, taking me to a place I never wanted to leave. Then I heard her answer I will not hold anything back either…I love you. I exploded into her, her name on my lips and we both shook from the intensity of it. I spoke to her with my mind, for I knew I would never be able to form the words, I would never be able to cheapen the meaning by speaking them.

I love you Bulma…you belong to me and I belong to you.

+++


“Ottousan, Bra invited me to go with her to eat at the restaurant,” Pan’s shrill of a voice wakes me up from my light daydream, I look up to see Gohan and his mate descend on the terrace by the girls. I feel the woman stir groggily.

“To a restaurant?!” Kakarotto’s brat exclaims unbelievingly.

“You can come too, Gohan –onisan, Videl-onesan.” My baby adds matter of fact.

“Thank you Bra-chan but we really don’t want to impose.” The brat says in that agreeable voice of his, always proper. At least that harpy of a mother did well with this brat.

“It’s no bother,” I hear the woman say, still dozing on me,

The brat and his mate look over our way as if they did not know we were here. Such a careless fool. The woman pinched my side, seeking my approval and I just roll my eyes.

“Vegeta, Bulma-san,”

He dropped the honorific ‘san’ from my name a while ago, when he decided he was a man and no longer saw it necessary. His mother however, has not allowed him such liberty with the woman, much to my approval. I will not have half-breed morons fraternize with my woman.

“I didn’t see you there,” he adds shyly and I realize the position we were in.

“How are you, Bulma, Vegeta-san?” hite Vte Videl asks, bowing slightly. Them I could stand. It’s the rest of the family I still cannot fully swallow.

“We’re fine,” my woman says, stretching on me. Gohan’s eyes still don’t believe the scene. “You are welcome to come with us.”

“Is it alright, Vegeta?” Gohan asks. I roll my eyes again.

“We’re coming. Right, Daddy?” Pan runs to the brat, jumping in his arms. He must feel the same way as I do towards my princess.

“Sure honey, we’ll come with.” He smiles at me. I “hmph” and look the other way. Since when do people smile at me?

“Oiiiiiiiii Gohaaaaaaaaan,”

We all looked up to see who that is, although I have a very good idea. Sure enough, I see Trunks flying in with that obnoxious brat Goten. The boy is so weak it’s almost pathetic considering who his father and brother are. They land by Gohan, taking in the scene. Trunks comes over to us and kisses the woman on the cheek, acknowledging me while doing so.

“I told Goten he could come with us,” Trunks says, giving me a look that told me the brat had pretty much invited himself.

“That’ll be great!” the woman exclaims. “Gohan-chan, Videl and Pan are coming too.”

“Great!” says Goten. “Hey Vegeta-san, I could not believe it when Trunks told me you didn’t train today. I had to see it with my own eyes.”

The brat continues his ranting; at least he still treats me with respect. In other times I would have beaten him to a living pulp, inste “hm “hmph” and roll my eyes. I do that a lot of late.

“Papa, Papa, let’s go to your room so I can pick your outfit!” my little princess yelps excitedly. I try not to smile at her in front of all this fools, but the gesture comes completely on its own. “ I’ll make you look like the prince on my story book.”

“What story book?” I ask, fearing the answer,

“The one you read to me last night.” I try to remember which book that was.

“It’s not the one with that kissing fool?” I look at my daughter, scared.

“It’s not a kissing fool, Papa. It’s Sleeping Beauty.”

“He dresses like a moron.”

“No he doesn’t. C’mon, Papa, let’s go.” She pushes me towards the house. I give the woman a look that begs for help but she just shrugs at me and winks her eye. Great, not only will I get to eat with Kakarotto’s brats, but I will eat with Kakarotto’s brats looking like a fool.

++

I come down wearing the mismatched clothes she picked for me. It’s not as bad as I thought, certainly better than those hideous clothes some other blue haired angel chose for me long ago. I smirk as I picture the ‘Bad Man’ pink shirt.

“Ready?”

The woman comes to meet me, taking my hand to go. I didn’t think she would change, but she did and into that blue dress I so love. I have never told her so, but she knows. Like she knows everything else…my woman…my Bulma.

“We should forget about this foolishness and go to that place.” I say to her, accepting her guidance. She blushes at the mention of that deserted island where we had our “honeymoon” or so she calls it. To me it was two weeks of non-stop romping.

“Later. Tonight we share with our friends, Kami knows you’re not always in such a good mood.” She had a point, but I still would take the island over dinner anytime.

“Yo!!” A voice startles me from behind, I can never get used to the fool appearing out of nowhere like that.

“Son-kun!!” The woman jumps, as does everyone else.

“Ottousan.” Gohan nods.

“Ojiisan!!!!” Pan jumps onto his arms.

“Goku-san.” Trunks smirks at the third class fool

“Hey tossa, kassa, what you doin’ here?” Goten asked as I notice the harpy behind the fool, holding the ugly gi he still wears.

“We went shopping to Satan City, so we decided to come and visit.”

At that moment the most obnoxious growl makes its way to my ears. The fool looks at me with that ridiculous smile of his.

“Hey Vegeta, uh… we came to see if you guys have something to eat. Chi-Chi spent the money we had for our meal.” The moron laughs.

“Goku-sa!!!” Harpy hits him with her purse.

“You’re in luck, we were just going out to eat,” the woman said. Again I roll my eyes. I cross my arms this time too and glare, a posture I reserve for only when Kakarotto is around.

“Really, can we come too?!” the moron asks.

“Sure, everybody else is.”

“Yay!!” he yelps like a child. He’s nearly fifty years old and still acts like Trunks never did.

++

We take the big transport. They are all talking at the same time, yelling laughing, being…well Sons. The funny thing is, it doesn’t bother me as much as it used to. As a matter of fact, it doesn’t bother me at all. I find myself listening to them, smiling along. The woman squeezes my hand, keeping her eyes on the road ahead, making small comments now and then. This reminded me of the time we went to that “Tenkka Itchi Buddokai” tournament to meet Kakarotto, before Buu.

We get to the restaurant, the woman’s favorite. Kakarotto and Goten are drooling over the place...Hmph low class morons… Gohan and his mate are clearly embarrassed by them. Harpy yelps non-stop with the woman; the children race ahead to the table, and I walk behind, watching.

“Thank you Toussan,” I hear Trunks’ voice by my side.

“For what?”

“For doing this. It means a lot to Kassan…to me.”

“Don’t get used to it.”

He smiles, contentment written all over his face. I would have thought it weak years ago, but now I’m just glad it is not to late for him to have a normal family, with loving parents. Even if I was never to say it, he knows how I feel.

“Wow Bulma, Vegeta… sugoi, you guys always eat in places like this?” Kakarotto asks, looking around obnoxiously.

“Isn’t it expensive?” Harpy adds.

“Don’t worry, order whatever you want. I’ll close the restaurant if I have to.”

The woman beams. She’s positively happy. How long did it take me to realize how little it took to please her…fifteen…twenty years?

“Alright!!” Kakarotto’s moronic brat yelps.

We all order our meals, reminiscence about the past, tell jokes and do the things normal people do. I look around to each and every one of them, engraving this moment into my memory. My family…my friends…my woman.

How many years did it take to realize my place, how many years to admit that I lost, to them, to her? To admit I succumbed to their wishes and became what they wanted me to from day one. I love her, she is my sun, my moon, my stars, without her I am nothing. I am lost.

How many years has it been…fifteen…twenty?

What does it matter now? It took too long, too many damned years, but yet she stood, as I will stand until the end of our days. I move closer to her and whisper in her ear the words I should have said long ago, the words I can finally say.

“I love you Bulma.”

She turns to me, I have never seen her eyes the way they are now. As if I was being pulled into her. Without thinking or analyzing the way I always do, I kiss her in front of everyone, not caring anymore; proud of the fact that I was the one she loved. Our eyes stare into one another’s souls.

She breaks the kiss and beams at me. I smile, the way I very seldom do, as her words reach my ears.

“I love you too, my prince…I love you too.”


The End

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