Alternate Reality

Alternate Reality
Chapter 2 – The Saiyan Bunch
WC: 6,396

AN: okay so I'm a little nervous posting this because I'm not sure what people will think, but I'm proud of my ideas so here we go. Warning: there is some major Chi-chi and Bulma bashing here so be warned. I've also taken some liberty when it comes to ages but I think everyone is in the ballpark of where they're supposed to be.

Chapter Sum-up: Vegeta and Trunks get some unexpected visitors and news...

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Not a day after he had gotten himself and Trunks settled in did a blizzard hit the area. Thankfully during the process of rebuilding his house he had plenty of left over wood. He had a roaring fire in the fireplace in the living room going and he and his son were stretched out on a fur rug watching television. His son was dressed in a fleece suit with a hole for his tail and booties to keep the cold out, and he himself wore wool socks, sweat pants, and a work-out tank top, leaving his arms bare to better hold his son.

The living room was set up so when you walked in, in front of you was a large fireplace, to the right was a set a windows looking out to the front yard, and to the left was the entertainment system. A series of couches and chairs were laid out around the room so you could choose which focal point to look at. The windows also had a built in window seat and the fireplace had a large mantle. There was also a door next to the entertainment system that lead to the bathroom and through there was another door leading to the library. All in all it was a cozy room, all it needed was personal touches like pictures and knick knacks to make it homey, but Vegeta knew those kinds of things would come in time.

The kitchen was across the hall from the living room. It had all the modern appliances money can buy built in with cabinets along two walls, the wall along the front of the house and the wall directly across from the doorway. There were also windows on the two walls with cabinets and in the middle of the room there was a large island with a sink, stove and eating area able to fit up to six people on bar stools on three sides in the center in the room. To the right there was a dining room with a fireplace connected to the kitchen. Also to the right was a door and small hallway that lead to the green house and a rather large room that was part pantry and part refrigerator to store food since a normal human fridge could not fit enough food for even one Saiyan. Across the main hallway from the greenhouse was the library/study (which is next to the living room). It also had a fireplace across from the doorway and large windows facing the backyard. On the walls were built in shelves and in the center of the room there was a large desk-like table with chairs and two comfy chairs with ottomans sat in front of the fireplace.

Back in the living room, Vegeta sighed with contentedness and dozed lightly with his son watching a DVD of a cartoon about a sponge on the TV, wrapped safe in his papa’s arms. Just as Vegeta was falling into a light cat-nap he heard a knock at the door. His head shot up from his position on the floor. ‘Now who in the world could that be,’ he thought sleepily.

He gently untangled himself from his son, who protested until the yellow sponge on the TV caught his attention again. Vegeta chuckled at his antics before heading to the front door. Who he saw gave him quite a shock. Standing on his front porch with the blizzard howling around them, was Gohan and Piccolo, both whom he had not seen since the Cell Games. In Gohan’s arms was a bundle that looked like it could be a baby, and his suspicions were confirmed when the bundle gave a tiny cry. Both of the warriors were covered in snow, and Gohan looked to be shivering under his jacket. “What the hell are you two doing here,” he asked, shock clearly written on his face.

“Can we come in first before Gohan here freezes his tail off,” Piccolo demanded, though he seemed to be shivering too.

Vegeta’s eyes widened a fraction before he stepped aside and let two of his old sparring partners into his home. He shut the door on the howling wind and chilling snow and turned to his two guests. He watched as they both removed their outer layers, asking with their eyes where they should put them. Vegeta quickly stepped in and put their things in a hall closet by the door. They stood in the hallway for a moment; the only sounds were the echoes of the TV and the slight whimpering of the child in Gohan’s arms.

Vegeta cleared his throat, “Uh…would either of you like something to eat or drink,” he asked his two unlikely visitors.

“Just water for me,” Piccolo said, and Vegeta snorted at how he should have known, ‘Typical Namek.’

“Umm…well…could I have something to eat…umm…something warm,” Gohan whispered, shyly looking up at the man who was practically a second father to him.

Vegeta’s eyes softened at the hesitant look in Gohan’s eyes and he placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Of course you can Gohan,” he quietly said, “I’ll whip up some soup and hot chocolate while you and Piccolo make yourselves at home in the living room through there.” He pointed towards the room that held the sound of the TV and his son’s giggling. “Trunks is in there, I’m sure he’ll be happy to have some company.”

Gohan’s eyes brightened slightly and he nodded his head, and turning around went into the room with Piccolo right behind him. Vegeta stood in the foyer for a few moments, pondering why these two appeared on his door step in a blizzard no less. He shook his head; ‘first things first, attend to my guests then ask questions,’ that was what his father always taught him. He wandered into the kitchen and made a Saiyan size serving of corn chowder and a steaming mug of hot chocolate. He also grabbed a tall glass of water before he headed back to the living room.

Piccolo had sat himself in front of the fire and had a very contemplative look on his face. Gohan had joined Trunks on the floor and was watching the TV. The baby he had carried was nestled safely in one of the chairs, apparently asleep. He took the soup to Gohan first, setting it on a low coffee table in front of the TV. “Here you go Gohan, eat up. Keep an eye on Trunks for me while I go talk to Piccolo okay,” he said as he watched Gohan dive into the food like it was the first meal he’d had in weeks.

“Okay,” Gohan mumbled around a mouthful of vegetables and corn.

Vegeta smirked at his actions, so like his father, and turned to the man who would most likely give him answers. He walked over to Piccolo and handed him his water and took a seat in a chair next Piccolo’s facing the fire. “So do you mind telling me why the hell you’re here, not that I mind. And who is the child Gohan was carrying,” Vegeta asked the statue like Namek beside him.

Piccolo took a small sip of his water then sighed. “It’s quite a long story my friend,” he said, still gazing into the fire.

“Well I have plenty of time so spit it out,” he said, trying not to be harsh because of the expression on his friend’s face, it was almost sad and pained, something he had never seen before on the Namek’s face.

“Alright, let’s start with if you remember the last night Goku spent with Chi-chi,” he said finally turning to the Prince of Saiyans.

Vegeta scowled, of course he remembered, how could he forge?. He and Goku had disagreed on whether or not to tell the others about their relationship. Vegeta had respected Goku’s wish to not tell his friends, but Vegeta drew the line with Chi-chi. He told Goku she had the right to know her husband didn’t love her and that their relationship was over, especially since he wanted the gentle Saiyan far away from that abusive relationship. Goku only hesitated because he feared what would happen to Gohan. But Gohan, after hearing one of the couple’s arguments on the issue, had told his father to do it, because Chi-chi had never shown her family the affection they deserved after she discovered they were aliens.

A few days before the Cell Games were to commence Goku returned to his home to tell his wife it was over. She had thrown a terrible fit, but Goku weathered it out. She then calmed down enough that Goku thought she had accepted it, realizing what was once love between them was gone. Sniffling she asked if she could serve him one last meal before he left. He had readily agreed, never being one to turn down food, it was unheard of. What he didn’t realize was that he made a grave error in judgment.

Chi-chi had laced the entire meal with a mix of relaxants, sleeping pills and stimulants, praising the fact that Goku’s body could handle an onslaught of medications and that he consumed so much at such a rate that the medications were near untraceable to the gentle Saiyan. In no time he succumbed to the effects of the drugs in his system and did not protest as Chi-chi had her way with him.

A few hours later Goku woke with a blinding headache, naked in bed with the woman he thought he was rid of forever. He was at first confused until he was hit with distorted visions of what had happened earlier. He thought he was going to be sick. Not wanting to stay any longer, and feeling in desperate need of a wash to rid the traces of her on him, he fled the scene never wanting to return. Before, though, he could rid himself of the stench he flew into Vegeta who had come to investigate why his lover had not returned to their campsite at the right time. Vegeta was about to greet his lover with a kiss when he noticed three things, the terribly guilty look on Goku’s face, his lack of clothing, and the stench of sex and Chi-chi clinging to him. Vegeta had never flown so hard in his life.

Goku eventually caught up with his distraught lover and tackled him to the ground, trying to reason with him around the kicking and cursing Vegeta delivered his way. Eventually Vegeta exhausted himself and Goku proceeded to plead with his lover to at least listen to him. Vegeta relented; part of him knowing there had to be more to the situation than he was seeing. Goku told Vegeta how he ate a meal from Chi-chi then pretty much blacking out to waking up next to her. As Vegeta listened he took stock of the fact that he could smell alterations in Goku’s scent, indicating the use of drugs and Vegeta finally relaxed. “You swear that’s how it is,” he asked after Goku’s pleas to forgive him.

“Yes I promise Geta. You know I love you, more than anything else. I would never willingly betray that love. You mean too much to me. Please…please forgive me, I don’t want her, I want you…I need you,” Goku broke off in a whisper as he gazed into the eyes of the one who completed him.

Vegeta had smiled faintly and leaned up to kiss the man who captured him so. They kissed gently, no need to rush this moment of understanding and deepening of their relationship. They then left their spot on the ground to go bathe in a nearby stream, washing away the traces of hurt and betrayal, leaving behind their love and trust. They made love under the stars, in no rush to end their moment, fearing it could be their last. At sunrise they flew back to their camp where Piccolo and Gohan were. Soon all thoughts of Chi-chi were erased as the severity of the situation weighed heavily on their shoulders. The Cell Games came and the rest is history.

Vegeta shook the thoughts from his head and turned his head back to Piccolo, blushing in the faint light in letting his mind wander so. “Of course I remember what kind of question is that. What has that got to do with why you’re here,” He asked a bit exasperated, he didn’t prefer thinking about anything having to do with Goku, it was still so painful.

“Everything,” Piccolo whispered as he turned back to the fire. “Apparently Chi-chi had alternative motives for that evening than just sleeping with Goku. She conceived and had a son, the child lying on the chair next to your own.”

Vegeta’s eyes widened a fraction and he whipped his head around to stare at the bundle lying innocently on one of his chairs by the television. ‘A child…Kakarot’s son…what…’ He turned back to Piccolo and waited for him to continue.

“Her motive was to have this child and use Goku’s easily manipulated sense of guilt to lure him back to her and away from you. She is a woman who desires power and control over others, especially Goku because of his simple ways. She would use the incentive of a child to keep Goku locked to her, to use as she so wills, morph him into the husband he could never be for her. Obviously her plan backfired because Goku died in the Cell Games, something she didn’t expect,” Piccolo continued, still staring unblinkingly into the fire.

“That still doesn’t explain why you’re here. What happened,” Vegeta whispered, still trying to process the news.

“No it doesn’t. The rest I am about to tell you comes from Gohan, not myself. When he told me he did not divulge all the details, I’m hoping you can get the rest from him in time. He can’t keep it all bottled up, it isn’t healthy.

“Chi-chi carried the child the full nine months, all the while working Gohan like a slave. I never saw him during that time, Chi-chi always turned me away saying he was studying. She bid him to do everything she would have made Goku do had he still been alive, kind of like what Bulma did to you,” Piccolo deadpanned. Even though Vegeta never told Goku or any of Bulma’s other friends he did confide in Piccolo, who had never really liked the woman. In the short time they knew each other they had become close friends and confidents, someone easily related to, even if no one could tell from the outside.

“Goku’s son was born this morning; Gohan had taken her to the hospital in the town nearby, just before the storm hit. The final straw came when Chi-chi saw the baby. The baby is the splitting image of Goku and Chi-chi decided she couldn’t love something like that. Sitting in her bed she cursed Gohan out, who stood holding his brother in the corner. He hasn’t told me everything she said but she did say that she wanted the two of them gone before she got home. So Gohan left the hospital, packed his things in capsules, and came to me at the Lookout. After he got everything out I knew I couldn’t give him all the help he needed. He needed someone who could give a newborn Saiyan what he needs, and I knew that person was you.”
They both sat in silence for a moment as Vegeta digested everything he had been told. So Chi-chi is exactly like Bulma, he knew it. And poor Gohan, first to lose his father and now his mother, he must be dangling to his sanity by a thread. He’d have to sit that kid down sometime and get him to let all the pain out, only then could he start to heal.

“So will you help my friend,” Piccolo asked after a few minutes, finally turning to look at the silent Prince.

Vegeta didn’t even hesitate. “Of course I will,” he said his voice slightly hoarse with emotion. “I’ll do everything I can, because after all they are my subjects and as their Prince I must take care of them. Besides,” He paused here for a moment. “It is what Kakarot would want. They are a part of him, in a sense they are practically my own cubs, and I always look after my own.”

Piccolo finally smiled a small smile and leaned back in his chair, finally relaxing. “Somehow I knew you would say that,” Vegeta snorted at this, “I was thinking we could do what we did for Trunks, since this new kid will need nourishment, and I know Trunks is already weaned. Think you’re up for it,” Piccolo asked, his smile morphing into a smirk.

The Prince smirked back, “Of course. I’m always up to a challenge, and if this kid is anything like Kakarot, he will have quite the appetite.”

At the time of Trunks’ birth, because Bulma pretty much rejected the baby and wanted nothing to do with being a mother, Trunks had had no source of nourishment for his tiny Saiyan body. Worried that he was going to lose his son Vegeta devoted himself to finding a formula that would sate his hungry son, but Trunks stubbornly refused all human concoctions of baby food and milk.

About a day after he was born, Trunks still had not eaten anything and Vegeta was starting to lose hope. His son was suffering slowly and he didn’t know what to do, until Trunks gave his father the best idea. Vegeta had been holding his son against his naked chest as he searched the Capsule Corps kitchen for something to help his son. Unexpectedly Trunks had latched onto his father’s nipple out of instinct, sucking hard, desiring milk from his parent. Vegeta had frozen, staring down at his son and the answer just clicked. He was such a fool; he was a Sub so he naturally produced milk when he had a child. The problem was because he didn’t carry Trunks in his body he did not produce the milk like he would have done under normal circumstances. In theory, if he could mentally tell his body that he had had a baby then maybe his body would produce some nourishment. In theory.

But since changing his body like that was something he didn’t really have a good idea about, he decided to seek out Piccolo, surely his friend, who meditated near constantly, could guide him in the process. At that moment Trunks released his nipple, giving a loud wail, obviously frustrated his parent wasn’t giving him food. “Shhh my son. Be patient. I promise I’ll feed you soon,” he purred to the distraught cub in his arms.

Trunks calmed at his father’s voice and seemed to understand that his papa would get him the right food. Vegeta left Capsule Corps soon after and headed to where he felt the Namek’s chi. Piccolo had been a bit annoyed at being disturbed from his meditation but had relaxed at the sight of Vegeta and his son, both looking completely worn out. Vegeta then told Piccolo his plan and his friend agreed to help, being one who was quietly fascinated by Saiyans, who were so different than any other species he knew, any chance to learn more about this near extinct species he took.

They sat facing each other in the clearing where Piccolo had been meditating, with Trunks nestled in his papa’s lap. It was a long process finding the right part of Vegeta’s mind and body that needed to be influenced to believe that he had had a child; made harder by the fact that both were sailing uncharted waters, ignorant to what might happen.

A few hours later Vegeta started to feel the tingles in his chest, right behind his lungs, where he was taught by Radditz was where Saiyan males stored the milk, instead of in breasts. There was a long thin area between the back side of the ribs and their lungs where milk was produced, and then through some small tubing, no bigger than blood vessels, the milk traveled to the nipples for the child to feed from. An hour after the tingles began Vegeta felt a slight extra weight in his chest, most likely the milk, and his nipples hardened, full and ready for a hungry cub to feed off of.

When the process was completed the two warriors leaned back from one another and smirked, success. Vegeta then picked up his squirming son, who had perked up at the smell of milk coming from his papa. When the baby was in reach he hungrily latched on to a nipple and sucked, whimpering as he was rewarded with food. His lavender tail wound itself around his parent’s wrist, relaxing as his tummy was filled. Vegeta, on the other hand, had closed his eyes as his son fed from him. What a strange feeling. He had had his nipples sucked on before, them being one of Goku’s favorite parts of the Prince’s body to touch and play with,(among others), but never had it felt like this. He felt the slow withdrawal of the milk from his body and the rush of love he felt for the child in his arms, a bond between them growing.

He watched his son feed ravenously, barely pausing for breath, and was overcome with his feeling of protectiveness and affection and smiled, beginning to purr himself. A while later he pulled his son away; who protested at first, before he turned the cub around and brought him to his other nipple, instinctively knowing it would start to hurt if Trunks drank too much from one side.

Trunks resumed his feeding, his eyed drooping in contentedness. Vegeta’s smile grew and he looked up at his friend, silently thanking him. He was so relieved that Trunks now wouldn’t have to starve. Piccolo gave a rare smile to the Prince and resumed his meditating, silently pleased himself that he could help this man who was a very good friend of his.

Back in his living room Vegeta and Piccolo had sat themselves on the floor like they had before, entering a meditative state together and began the process of once again tricking Vegeta’s body. “While we’re at it Piccolo, I was wondering if you could try to grow back my tail,” Vegeta asked with his eyes still closed.

Piccolo cracked open an eye, curious at the request, “Why?”

“Saiyan tails are very helpful when raising children because they can be used as an extra arm and a way to sooth the baby since our tails are a direct source of our scents,” he explained. “Since I’ll have two cubs in this house a tail would be helpful. Also because I’m not this kid’s biological parent I need to get him used to my scent and the best way is through my tail.”

Piccolo nodded and went back to concentrating on manipulating his friend’s body to accommodate caring for a newborn. This time it didn’t take nearly as long to get Vegeta’s body to produce the milk since both knew where to go and what to do. About an hour later Vegeta felt his body change, ready to feed another Saiyan cub. They spent about another hour trying to figure out how to get Vegeta’s tail back. Soon Vegeta began to feel a painful tingle at the base of his spine before a tail sprouted from his backside pulling a shout from his lips.

He sat for a few moments adjusting to the feeling and letting the dizziness pass, breathing hard. He slowly turned around to face his tail that he hadn’t seen in so many years. It was deep ebony with hints of crimson, just like his hair. He chuckled as his tail waved in front of his face, acting happy to see him. “Thank you Piccolo,” he said as he stood, “I hadn’t realized just how much I missed it. I’m going to go clean up really quick, and then I’ll feed the kid. Keep an eye on the brats for me.” With that he walked to the bathroom and cleaned off the blood and other such extremities from his tail, smoothing the fur with his fingers.

He re-entered the living room noticing Piccolo had moved to a chair by the TV where the boys sat. He came in at just the right time because Goku’s youngest son gave a loud wail, waking up hungry, probably having not had anything to eat since birth. He walked over to where the three half-Saiyans were. Gohan was looking worriedly at his brother, sending anxious glances at Piccolo and Vegeta, not knowing what to do. “Calm yourself Gohan,” Vegeta said, running his fingers though Gohan thick hair. “I’ll take care of your brother.”

Gohan looked a little skeptical but scooted back, sitting at his mentor’s feet on the floor. Piccolo placed a reassuring hand on Gohan’s shoulder. “Don’t worry kid. Vegeta knows what he’s doing,” he said, gently rubbing a tense shoulder. “Trust me; Vegeta will take care of everything.”

Gohan looked up at Piccolo curiously before turning back to Vegeta whom had just picked up his brother. Trunks still sat in front of the TV watching cartoons, oblivious to the action going on behind him.

Vegeta gently pulled back the blanket covering the child and nearly gasped. Piccolo wasn’t kidding when he said the kid was a splitting image of his father, he was a little mini-Goku, with the same hair and everything. He chuckled at the irony, ever since Goku had died Vegeta had tried to avoid everything that reminded him of his lover, but it looks like now he couldn’t do that anymore. Besides, just like Gohan, he needs to face his past pain and accept it so he could move on. Now he had a part of Goku to care for and he wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity.

He settled down in the chair the babe had been in and gently set him on his lap. The child had calmed down a bit, still whimpering, but looking at him with curious eyes, not recognizing his scent as being one of his parents but also smelling the milk he had to offer. The cub raised his cubby arms towards that face asking in baby talk to be given food. Vegeta chuckled at the expression and waved his tail over the baby’s face while removing his shirt. He pulled the cub back into his arms and placed him against his chest with easy access to his nipple, all the while pouring his scent over the child and purring so he could get used to him.

The cub immediately latched on to the nipple when it was offered and sucked with a gusto that rivaled his father. ‘Like father, like son’ he thought as he closed his eyes for a moment at the feeling of being connected to a child in such an intimate way, then opened his crimson tinted ebony eyes again. “So does this cub have a name Gohan,” he asked not taking eyes off the precious burden in his arms.

Gohan was shaken from his stupor at the question. He had been trapped at the sight of Vegeta feeding his brother like a woman. He had known Saiyans were different, just not how different. Vegeta had said a while ago he would teach him his heritage as he got older and came of age, so as of now the eleven year old was still ignorant to what was happening and was fascinated by seeing a man do something he thought only a woman could do. Not only that but seeing such a tender look on the Prince’s normally controlled visage made Gohan freeze and capture the moment. But to answer the question, “Well mom didn’t give him a name, but I was thinking Goten,” he said nervously looking up at a man he adored like a father.

“Goten,” Vegeta murmured to himself, tasting the name and looking at the babe. He smirked, “I think that is a fine name for a Son,” he stated, lifting his eyes to meet those of the boy who had had to do so much growing up in so short a time, “A strong name for a strong Saiyan.

Gohan smiled brightly at the praise and slowly crawled over the floor to get a better look at his brother. He leaned slightly on Vegeta’s leg as he watched his brother Goten eat, a content look on his face. He startled slightly when he felt a hand on his head, gently brushing through his midnight locks. He gazed up at the Prince of his race and his heart melted a bit at the tender look directed towards him. He smiled back and rested his head on Vegeta’s leg, breathing in his sweet, calming musk and closing his eyes against the happy tears building. For all the bad that happened lately this was the best thing that could happen, finding a real parent besides his father that cares about himself and his brother.

“Mr. Vegeta,” he whispered, not lifting his head from its comfortable position, especially because gentle fingers still ran through his hair.

“Yes Gohan,” Vegeta asked back just as quietly.

“Would you mind if I called you Papa,” he asked lifting his head to gaze at the man who had made his real father so happy.

Vegeta’s eyes widened. ‘Could it be true, was Gohan asking…to…’ Vegeta’s shocked expression turned into a rare smile. “Just as long as you don’t mind me calling you son,” he managed to say without his voice hitching with emotion. Goku’s son was asking to be his own, like he would have if he and Goku had fully bonded.

Gohan’s smile could have lit up an arena, and he nodded his head vigorously as his tears finally escaped his eyes. “I’d want nothing more,” he said, his voice thick with happiness. “You’ve always been more like a parent to me than my mom. You loved me unconditionally like she should have. And you love my father like she never could. I want you to be my Papa, and Goten’s too.”

Vegeta laughed around the tears gathering in his eyes, pulling Gohan in to and embrace, being mindful of the child feeding in between them. “I promise Gohan, I’ll be a better parent than that woman could ever hope to be,” he whispered into Gohan’s hair as he nuzzled the boy, purring even louder in happiness.

Gohan laughed too as they embraced, nuzzling his Papa back as a part of him that was in turmoil was put to rest. Vegeta reluctantly pulled away from the embrace as he had to switch sides for Goten to feed on. Gohan watched happily at how tenderly the Prince was with the newborn, who wasn’t even his biologically. Gohan curled up against Vegeta’s leg once again, hugging his calf and smiling at nothing in particular.

Piccolo had watched the entire scene unfold in front of him, a single tear making its way down his face at the heart warming sight. Now he knew what Vegeta means when he says Saiyans are a passionate race. They fight and love with everything they have in them. They feel all emotions more than humans could ever hope to, forming bonds that transcend death and time.

Trunks finally decided to be part of the action when the DVD he had been watching on the TV was over. He turned to where he knew his Papa was and saw he had another baby in his arms that was feeding from him. Trunks whimpered, even though he was weaned and didn’t need the milk he still doesn’t want anyone else to feed from his Papa. He got up on wobbly feet and determinedly stomped over to the chair. When he was next to his Papa he wailed.

“Oh Trunks,” Vegeta shouted, shocked at the unexpected outburst. Trunks’ wail had startled Goten as well who let go of his meal and cried.

Vegeta sighed; he had been worried this would happen. Back on the planet Vegeta, couples had always put a few years between their cubs so jealously and competitiveness for certain kinds of attention from their parents wouldn’t interfere, like feeding or sparring. Now he had two cubs barely a year apart, of course Trunks would be jealous that another was feeding from him, especially because it had been the two of them for so long.

He reached down and pulled Trunks against him, next to Goten, hoping to dispel any animosity before it arouse. If Saiyans hated one another in childhood they were guarantied to hate each other until death, even beyond. Both cubs cried in his arms, but he keep purring and waving his tail to spread his calming scent over them as he waited for them to come to their senses. Eventually Trunks stopped because of the comfort of his Papa’s arms and Goten stopped to latch back onto his dinner, he was still hungry anyway.

Trunks whimpered and looked at his father, trying to understand why there was another baby in his place. Vegeta just smiled and tried to reassure his son through their bond and with his scent that Goten was no threat, he was part of the family, someone for Trunks to protect, and Vegeta stilled loved Trunks first because he was his son. Trunks calmed at the reassurances and looked at the cub drinking from his Papa. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad; anyway this meant he had someone else to play with. Trunks yawned sleepily, throwing a tantrum really took a lot out of you, and he burrowed further into his Papa’s embrace, falling asleep easily. Not too soon after Trunks slipped into dreamland did Goten finally decide he was full, he burped contentedly and fell asleep almost instantly in his ‘mother’s’ arms.

Vegeta relaxed, disaster averted. He looked down at Gohan and he smirked when he realized he was also asleep. “Looks like their pooped,” Piccolo spoke up from his spot, growing more and more impressed with the man in front of him. He was an incredible warrior but also one of the most loving and tender parents he had ever seen.

“They definitely wore themselves out,” Vegeta said, followed closely by a yawn of his own then a chuckle. “Looks like I’m beat too. Why don’t you grab Gohan and we’ll settle in for the night. And I don’t want any excuses about you leaving because I’m not letting you go out in that storm,” he finished as Piccolo came over and tenderly cradled Gohan to his own chest.

Piccolo smirked, “Yes mom,” he said in a false childish voice.

“Brat,” Vegeta retorted as he lead the way upstairs to the bedrooms.

He first went to his own room, the master bedroom, putting both young children on the bed as he made a kind of nest out of blankets near the middle, scenting them with his tail as he arranged them. He gently rested Goten in the blankets then picked Trunks back up. He left his room and went to his son’s room and placed him in his cradle, thanking Kami the boy slept through the night now or he might not be able handle raising both him and Goten. He turned back to his friend, “You should stay with Gohan tonight, just in case if he is haunted by nightmares, which wouldn’t be surprising. I’d watch over him myself but Kakarot’s youngest brat is going to take most of my energy,” he stated as he walked over to the other bedroom on the level. He was thankful to whatever force that had driven him to build all these extra rooms and furnish them completely. At the time he didn’t think it was necessary but now he was eternally grateful.

Vegeta opened the door to the spare bedroom, letting the Namek and his precious burden in. “You sleep well. I’m going to go quickly clean up downstairs then I’m turning in. I’ll see you in the morning Piccolo,” he said watching Piccolo tuck Gohan into the queen sized bed.

“Goodnight Vegeta, and for what it’s worth, I think you are ten times better than both of those bitches put together. You’ll make a great father and I’ll always be around to help. I’m sure wherever he is Goku is incredibly proud of you and grateful for what you’re doing,” Piccolo said turning to his friend and laying his hand on his shoulder.

Vegeta placed one of his own hands on top of the Namek’s. “Thank you,” he said barely meeting his eyes, “I appreciate it, and I’ll definitely take you up on that offer for help. Goodnight,” he finished smirking at the Namek before turning and closing the door.

After cleaning up the downstairs he shut down the house for the night, still a bit overwhelmed by everything that had happened so quickly, but he wouldn’t change a thing. He climbed into bed next to Goten, curling around the cub, situating himself so when Goten woke up in a few hours he could just latch on to a nipple and feast. Vegeta was thankful he still had all of Trunks’ early infancy clothes and diapers. He supposed in a few months when Goten was weaned he would build him a cradle of his own and he would let the two cubs share a room, giving Gohan his own.

Vegeta smiled, things were going to be a lot busier in his house but it would be wonderful, all the last of the Saiyans, his and Goku’s children growing up under the same roof and guidance. ‘I wish you were here to see this Kakarot. None the less, I hope you are proud and happy up there, where ever you are. I love you…” were his last thoughts before he succumbed to his tiredness, getting all the rest he could now that he had two cubs to look after. Up in Otherworld an angel smiled tearfully down on the Prince and infant, ‘I love you too Geta,’ the angel whispered.

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Once again I'd like to know what everyone thinks.
TTFN