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And Then There Were Three	By : LisaB Category: Dragon Ball Z > Het - Male/Female Views: 1634 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own DragonballZ, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 3
- 4
AND THEN THERE WERE THREE

~~Three Years Later~~

Disclaimer: I do not
own Dragonball Z, nor am I making any money off this
story.

Author�s Note: This
story was completely inspired by Gutterball�s
exquisite story, Coercing Kakarrot, which can be found here: http://www.saiyanhideaway.us/Fics/GutterBall/CoercingKakarot.html

Her story is the second part to this story, so you should
have already read it before you read this part. If you enjoy this story at all,
it is completely due to her ability to write believably and brilliantly. I most humbly thank her.

********************************************************************************

Hands slide up my body.
My eyelids flutter open to daylight.
Lips on my shoulder, hot, wet, seeking. I smile.

I know it�s Goku. One, the gravity machine is running and two,
Goku likes a nice, sleepy fuck in the morning.
Slow, unhurried, dreamy. It�s a fine
way to greet the day.

I roll over to wrap myself in his arms, and my stomach
lurches, stirs with something that is not lust---far from it. I try to ignore it, to return Goku�s caresses, but it grows stronger, and I know that I�m
going to be ill. I leap from the bed and
rush to the toilet, spewing bile and anything else into the bowl.

�Bulma?�

Goku has followed me into the bathroom. I feel his hands on my back, rubbing in soothing
circles. He�s so considerate. Vegeta would snort something like �weakling�
or �pathetic human� and go about his business.
Not Goku. He�s handing me a wet
rag to wipe my mouth, filling a cup with water.

Embarrassed, I drink.
�I don�t know what came over me,� I say.
�I moved and my stomach just screamed �no!�

He leans forward to whisper in my ear. �Too much cum.�

I blush; I can�t help it.
After three years of this, you�d think I�d be immune to such raunchy
talk, but no such luck. And he�s
right. Last night we played a favorite
game of mine: both of them before me
while I take my mouth from one to the other.
They each try to hold out longer than the other while I make sure they each
get a fair shot at winning. Goku won
last night, but when they both turned their attention to me, I knew I was the
ultimate winner.

�Goku!� I say appalled, but I add,�
go back to bed. Let me brush my
teeth.�

He leaves and I scrub my mouth clean of the sick taste. Then I crawl back in bed and put myself in
the exact same position I was when I woke up.
�Wake me up again,� I say.

His hands move upon me.
I roll over again, this time with a smile. �Good morning,� I say and kiss him.

Good morning indeed.

****************************************************************************

Please don�t turn
blue.

I�m sitting in my bathroom staring at the stick. I�ve never been so scared in my life.

Since that morning with Goku, I�ve been sick five more
times. No one has noticed---Goku�s gone back home and Vegeta is usually up before me
anyway, but I can no longer deny the possibility that I might be pregnant. I�m on the pill, but I wouldn�t even know if
I was late because I switched to the one that only gives you four periods a
year.

Seemed like a good idea at the time; I always hated my periods. Funny how I would sell my soul
for one right know.

The stick turns blue.
My eyes burn and my vision blurs as my eyes fill with tears. I feel like I�ve just been given a death
sentence. Because in
way, I have.

I know this is the end of everything.

I just wish I knew how
it was going to end.

********************************************************************************

�Vegeta, I have to tell you something.�

We�re in our bed, still dressed, but we�ve been kissing and
Vegeta has stepped up the action and pulled my shirt up out of the way to get
to my breasts. His warm tongue glides
across them. The pleasure is
distracting, but I can�t carry this burden alone anymore.

�Vegeta---�

�Save it. Kakarrot is
coming over, and I want some first.�

�You just want him to walk in on us. It turns you on.�

�I�m already turned on,� he says, kissing me. �But yes, I like it.� Another kiss, a whisper. �He
likes it.�

�I know, but Vegeta---�

Goku appears in our bedroom.
He�s wearing jeans and a t-shirt that clings nicely to his chest. Since Chi Chi isn�t
around to replace his gi, Goku�s
taste in clothing has improved.

He comes over to the bed and crawls up beside me. He kisses me first, taking long enough for
Vegeta to growl, �I saw her first, Kakarrot,� then he
kisses Vegeta. He pulls back and lays down on his side, his head propped up on an elbow.

�Don�t mind me,� he says, grinning.

�I won�t,� Vegeta snaps, and his head nuzzles
my breasts. �You can just wait your
turn. I�ll get to you soon enough.�

His hands pull my shirt over my head, and he returns to tease
my nipples, biting them, then licking gently in
apology. I moan and any thought of
delivering my news flies out of my head.
My hands wind into Vegeta�s hair and I arch my breasts toward him,
giving him more.

My pants come off, my panties. Vegeta fills me, and I swell in
pleasure. I love how different sex is with
these two men---Vegeta�s overwhelming passion, Goku�s
sensual generosity. I look at Goku
through my haze of desire and see that he has unbuttoned his jeans and is
stroking his cock. My
mouth waters. I feel like
Pavlov�s dog.

Vegeta thrusts become more urgent and I know that he too has
seen Goku. I smile. Great
minds . . . . I wonder if I�ll have
to fight him for it.

But no, we finish, and Vegeta decides to share. We take turns turning Goku into a thrashing
puddle of need on the bed. One devouring his cock while the other caresses and kisses him
blind.

I end my turn by taking him as deeply as I can, then
dragging my teeth across his sensitive flesh as I pull away. I look for Vegeta and I find he�s decided on
the end game---his hands are coated in lube and he�s stroking himself,
waiting. I grab two pillows from the bed
and Goku lifts his hips so I can put the pillows under them. Vegeta�s hands slide up Goku�s
thighs in anticipation, then he bends Goku�s knees up so his feet are on the bed. He brings himself to Goku and presses inside
in one smooth stoke. All three of us sigh, I never get enough of seeing them together. Watching them is almost a good as being with
them; it�s so powerfully erotic.

Vegeta�s thrusts begin, and I lean down to kiss Goku, his
face, his chest. I reach down to stoke
him with my hand and he moans into my mouth.
He pulls at my shoulders, wanting more�what I don�t know. It�s to rough for me to suck him off when
Vegeta�s thrusting inside him like that.

�Climb on top,� he breathes.
�Fuck me.�

I feel a renewed wetness between my legs at Goku�s command. I
throw one leg across his abdomen and slide back, guiding him into me.

�Oh, Kami,
Bulma!� I hear Vegeta say and I realize the view I�ve just given
him. I waggle my ass as temptingly as I
can. His thrusts have such power that I
realize I don�t need to do much beside keep my balance and rock my hips. I lean down to kiss Goku.

�Feel good?� I ask playfully.

Deep breath. �Yeessssss. Too good.�

I sit back up and Goku grabs my hips and pumps them up and
down, his great strength moving me in ways I couldn�t in this tight
position. I balance my arms on Goku�s knees, my head lollling to
the side, my breasts bouncing. All I can
do is submit to their control and feel.

I hear Vegeta growl in time with his thrusts, a sure sign
that he�s close. He always growls when
he�s fucking Goku. Sometimes he does
with me, but with Goku, always. I know
he�s letting go in ways he can�t with me.
It reminds me of the control he�s exercised over the years, and I�m glad
I gave him this freedom to have what I cannot give him.

I squeeze my inner muscles around Goku. I want them to come together, to hear their
joint cries of ecstasy. Goku�s moans become more like uncontrolled cries�yes! He slams me down painfully as he cums with a final cry, Vegeta�s final thrust is accompanied
by his own shout of pleasure.

There is only breathing for a few moments, then I topple to the side onto the bed. There is an ache between my legs and it feels
good to pull my knees together.

Vegeta comes around and collapses near me, his face opposite
mine. His eyes are tired, the kind of
good tired they get when he�s had a really good fuck. He smiles, reaches out and pinches my ass.

�Ow!� I say, but there�s no real pain.

�Serves you right, flaunting that delicious piece in front
of me when I was busy,� Vegeta says. He�s
so at peace right now, so deliciously sated.
His eyes are warm and I know it�s love. He
loves me; I know this. He loves Goku and
he loves me. He loves us together.

It�s a heady feeling.
I reach my hand to stroke his cheek.
�I love you.�

Only that isn�t what I say.
That�s what I meant to say,
but when I open my mouth what I really say is:

�I�m pregnant.�

He freezes. His eyes
blink once. �What did you say?�

My first thought is, Lie! Here�s
your chance! Take it back! But that won�t do any good, will it? If not tonight, if not tomorrow, then later
and certainly in eight months when a baby pops out.

�I�m pregnant.�

He sits up slowly and I can see his mind thinking, working
out all the angles.

His jaw finally moves.
�How did this happen?�

Goku remerges from his own afterglow with a stretch. �How did what happen?� he asks.

�She�s pregnant!�

Goku�s face immediately brightens
into a smile. �A baby? Bulma, that gre----�

�Shut up, Kakarrot!� Vegeta snaps. Goku closes his mouth and his eyes fill with
concern. Vegeta turns his gaze back on
me.

�How did this happen?� he asks again.

�You know how it
happens, Vegeta,� Goku says, smiling. I
don�t know whether he hasn�t fully understood Vegeta�s mood or if he thinks his
joke will pull Vegeta back.

�Shut up, Kakarrot!�

�Hey, Vegeta, calm down,� Goku says. He�s confused by Vegeta�s anger at this
situation. I�m not.

�I will not calm down.
Bulma, how did this happen? You were taking the pills.�

I take a breath, trying to calm myself, but I can�t. I know this is bad; I know it�s going to get
worse.

�I know, I . . . I may have missed one a couple of weeks
ago. The kids were gone with their
school to that martial arts tournament, remember? We hardly left the bed. I must have forgot---�

�You forgot?� Vegeta sneers.

�Or maybe I just took it late. The dose is low; you�re supposed to take them
at the same time everyday . . . .� I
can�t look in his eyes. My own are
starting to water. I wish this were over
so I could go hide and cry.

�Nice way to fuck up, Bulma,� Vegeta says. He crawls off the bed, heads for the
bathroom. He takes a piss, flushes. I hear water run. He comes back out and tosses me a wet
washcloth.

�Clean yourself up,� he orders.

�Hey, Vegeta, lighten up,� Goku says. �It was an accident. Can�t Bulma make a mistake?�

�Not when she�s fucking another man, she can�t, no.�

There it is. Out in the open. I
sneak a look at Goku who�s clearly just understood the real issue here. �So I could be . . . the father of this
baby?�

�Bravo, Kakarrot.�
Vegeta is standing against the wall, his arms across his chest. It�s like he�s regressed ten years.

Goku looks at me for confirmation. I nod.
He looks back to Vegeta. �Why is this a problem, Vegeta?�

�She�s my wife,�
Vegeta says slowly.

�I see,� Goku says. He
gets up, finds his jeans and starts pulling them on.

�What are you doing?� Vegeta asks.

�This is over,� Goku says.
�Everything ends now.�

�What the fuck are you talking about? Just because the woman got herself knocked
up---�

�Let me ask you something, Vegeta,� Goku says, turning to
face him. �Is your problem that Bulma is
pregnant or that it might by my baby?�

Vegeta�s jaw works, but nothing comes out.

Goku walks over to Vegeta, pins him with his gaze. �I know
you, Vegeta. We don�t even know who the
father of that baby is and already you�re pissed. Just the thought that Bulma might be carrying
a �third-class brat� has you foaming at the mouth. Tell me, has it already run through your mind
that even my seed beats yours?� Vegeta�s eyes look away and I know that, yes,
he has already had that thought. Goku
reaches out and cradles a cheek, but it�s not a gentle touch. �You never change, do you?� He drops his hand and walks away. He kneels by me.

�Bulma?�

I look at him.

�Is there a way that you can settle this? That you can find out about
the baby?�

I nod. He kisses my
cheek. �Just let me know what you need,
OK?�

I nod again. I don�t
trust myself to speak.

�Is it OK if Goten stays here tonight? I know he was really looking forward to it.�

�Of course,� I say.

He nods, stands. He looks at Vegeta one more time, then walks through our bedroom door. Probably for the last time.

Silence. What is there to say? I�ve ruined everything, cost him Goku. I steal a glance at Vegeta. He�s not looking at me, but staring at the
floor. Finally, he moves to the window
and slides it open. He leaves without
looking back.

I cry.

**********************************************************************************************

It�s the middle of the night and
he finally returns. I�m awake. I tell myself I�m awake because I just can�t
sleep, but I know I�m waiting for him.

He stands beside the bed, staring
at me for the longest time in the dark.
He knows I�m awake; I�m sure of it.
Finally, I hear him sigh and lie down on the bed. He doesn�t touch me; he doesn�t speak.

I swallow, then ask the question
that been running through my mind all night.
�Do you want me to have an abortion?�

He turns his head on the pillow
and looks at me. It�s too dark to see
his face, and a part of me is glad. I�m
not sure I want to see whatever is reflected there.

He doesn�t speak for a long
time. I don�t think this possibility had
occurred to him until I brought it up. I
hold my breath, waiting. I don�t know
what I want him to say.

He turns away from me to look at
the ceiling. �No,� he says at last.

I release the breath I�ve been
holding, and I know that�s the answer I wanted.
It would have been a vindictive move on his part; it wouldn�t have
solved anything. The damage is
done. But . . . I think I would have done
it, if he had asked it. I�m glad I�ll
never know for sure.

�Tell me you didn�t plan this, that you didn�t mean for this to happen,� he says.

My face wrenches slightly and I
feel my eyes burn with tears. So much
lost . . . .

�Vegeta, I swear to you, I did not
plan this. I did not mean for this to
happen.�

He accepts this silently, then rolls onto his side to face away from me. The conversation is over.

*********************************************************************

My mother drives me to the hospital
for the procedure, something called chorionic villis sampling (CVS) and they can perform it earlier than
amniocentesis. Fortunately, my age makes
me a de facto candidate for genetic testing, so I don�t need to explain why I
need the test. I�m sure the doctor would
refuse to perform the test solely for paternity--- there is some risk of
miscarriage---but all I really need to do is schmooze him into surrendering the
cultures to my labs once his own testing is complete. I really don�t need the press getting wind of
the fact Bulma Briefs doesn�t know who the father of her unborn baby is.

Mom chatters on and on, oblivious
to my mood. She�s so excited about the
baby. Dad�s and Trunks�s reactions were a
little more subdued. Dad muttered something
about having to baby-proof the lab again, and Trunks . . . well, he�s appalled,
actually. He�s fourteen and while he
knows his parents have sex, a
physical reminder that we�re doing it
is gross. There may be a wee bit of
jealousy on his part as well; he�s been an only child for so long, he�s got to
wonder why we decided we needed another child.
Isn�t he enough? It should be
interesting to see his reaction when he�s confronted with the actual
infant.

�I hope it�s a girl!� Mom
coos. �Won�t that just be too much to
see Vegeta dealing with all that pink?�

Vegeta . . . .

He�s around. I can say that at least. He�s not angry anymore, at least not ugly
angry. But he�s quiet. He spends time in the gravity room with it
not running. We haven�t discussed what
we�ll do when we get the test results back.
I tried to bring up the subject once, and he left the room without a
word.

I�ve put him in a horrible
position. His pride cannot accept the
fact that I might be carrying Goku�s child. It�s just one more defeat by Goku in his
eyes. He may want Goku; he may even love
Goku, but there�s always that thing
between them. It�s clear that Goku
believed they had moved past that point, but I don�t know if Vegeta ever
will. He�s got to surrender too much of
his pride, I think.

And Vegeta cannot trust me. I told him this was not on purpose, but I�m
not sure he believes me. Goku said to
Vegeta, �I know you.� Well, I know Vegeta too. For all his bluster, he�s an insecure little
bastard. I know the questions running
through his mind. Did I do it out of
jealously, to break him and Goku up? Do
I love Goku? Do I want his baby?

I love Goku, but I did not want his baby. I didn�t want any baby. I was perfectly
content with my husband and my lover, with never-ending weekends of mind-blowing
sex. I�ve never felt more beautiful,
more loved. I don�t know how long
everything would have lasted had I not become pregnant, but I was ready to find
out.

I suppose I should be glad it
ended now, before I got wrinkled, old and undesirable. It�s inevitable, I know, but I think it would
be more than my ego could take when Goku and Vegeta stopped sharing themselves
with me because I was no longer the way I am today. They would be gone all the time, sharing
themselves in some kind of ultimate Saiyan sex/battle combo, and I would sit at
home, waiting . . . always waiting . . . .

I feel something on my cheek,
touch it with my fingertip. It�s a
tear. I look outside the car window and
see we�re finally at the hospital.

�Here we are!� my mother says. She sees my face. �Oh, Bulma, honey, don�t worry! It�ll all be over with soon.�

Oh,
Mom, if only you knew . . . .

***********************************************************************************

�Vegeta.�

He stops his kata
and looks at me. He doesn�t speak.

�I . . . I need to swab the inside
of your mouth . . . for the test.�

He doesn�t move for a minute, then
nods once and walks over. I raise the
swab and he obediently opens his mouth for me.
One swipe and then it�s back in the bag. Done.

�Thanks,� I say. He meets my eyes for the first time and we
stare at each other. Does he know how
badly I want to throw myself into his arms and cry? Maybe. Maybe that�s why they�re so cold.

�Vegeta---�

He turns away and walks back to
the center of the room. �How long until you have results?� He begins his kata
again.

I drop my head, giving up. �A day, once I have everything I need.�

He nods, never breaking his form.

I leave.

********************************************************************************************

As I land at Goku�s
house I realize I haven�t been here since Chi Chi�s funeral. The bushes and things are a little overgrown,
but otherwise, it looks like it did when Chi Chi was
alive.

Goku felt me coming, of course,
and comes out to greet me. It�s an
awkward moment, maybe the first time we�ve ever greeted each other and didn�t
hug.

�I came for the sample for test,�
I say and gesture lamely with the kit I�m holding.

�Oh,� Goku says. �Well, come on in.�

We go inside his little house, and
I�m struck again by how much everything looks the same. It even looks clean. Goku�s doing or Goten�s? I smile, looking around. Somewhere in heaven Chi Chi
is screaming �about damn time!�

�So how do we do it?� Goku asks,
yanking my eyes back to his face. He looks unsure and I realize he�s a little
scared.

�Well, I have this big needle---�

Open alarm. It�s always been funny to me how Goku will
face down any monster or petty tyrant who steps foot on the planet, but a
hypodermic needle gives him an apoplexy.
I know better than to take the joke too far though.

�Psych!� I say. His eyebrows draw together, then release as
he realizes I�m joking.

�Bulma!� He shakes his head.

�I know, my bad, but I couldn�t
resist.� I pull out the swab from the
bag. �I just have to wipe the inside of
your mouth with this.�

He opens his mouth and a second
later we�re done.

�That�s it?� he asks. �That was easy.�

He�s smiling at me, and something
about it just tears through me and my eyes burn. I need that smile so much. I need someone to not hate me, to not blame
me. I�m so tired of feeling punished.

�Hey,� he says and I feel his hand
on my shoulder, pulling me into his arms.
I let him and sob against his chest, clutching at him with my own
hands. He rocks me a little, rubbing my
back. He�s saying something soothing,
but I don�t even hear. I can only feel
his arms around me. It�s so good not to be
alone.

I don�t know how long I cry, but
at last my tears end and I pull away, mopping at my eyes with my hands.

�Sorry,� I say. I feel so embarrassed.

�It�s OK, Bulma,� he says and I
meet his eyes. There is quiet
understanding there. �So Vegeta hasn�t .
. . calmed down?�

�Oh, he�s calm, all right,� I say,
getting up to find some tissues.
�Quiet. Reclusive.
Stoic.� I
shrug. I don�t know what else to say. I
take my tissue and plop onto the sofa beside him.

�I�m sorry.�

�Don�t be sorry. It�s not your fault, Goku. I�m the one who fucked up.�

�Bulma, it was an accident.�

�Tell that to Vegeta.�

His face gets hard. �You know, maybe I will.�

I panic. �Oh, please don�t, Goku. The last thing I need is you running to my
defense. That might really put him over
the edge.�

He doesn�t say anything, and my curiosity get the better of me. �So you two haven�t been . . . seeing each
other?�

�No.�

�Oh.� I may kill myself for my next words, but I
say them anyway. �Because you can, you
know. I mean, you don�t have to worry
about me. I�m OK with it.�

He looks at me sharply. �I don�t want to �see� Vegeta. Not as long as he�s treating you like a
criminal and me like an opponent.�

�Oh.� Guilt washes over me
again. Was it only a few weeks ago we
were all tangled in bed together smiling?
I start to cry again.

Goku pulls me into his arms again,
patiently repeating the process we went through earlier. Mercifully, this time it�s shorter. I pull back.

�Sorry.�

It�s all right,� he says. �Anytime.�

He�s looking at me intently. There�s no threat there, no accusation. It�s friendly, open . . . loving. I get a little embarrassed by it.

�I must look a mess,� I say,
running the tissue over my face again.

�Nah,� he says, �you look
beautiful.�

My breath catches at his
compliment. It�s so familiar, so foreign
all at the same time. I glance at his
eyes again, but I cannot hold his gaze.
It�s too intense.

�Not right now, I�m not,� I say jokingly.

His lips are on my cheek. �No, you�re always beautiful,� he says and I
feel his lips at my ear, my throat.

�Goku---� but
I cannot finish. His lips take my mouth,
holding my protest captive within. He
uses all his skill on me. His slow tongue, his hands, his fingertips. I�ve been so long without a loving touch I
cannot help but respond. My hands trail up his arms, his shoulders, curl behind his neck,
pulling him deeper into the kiss.

It would be so easy to give in, so
easy to take this solace. He still wants
me, I know it. And I . . . I could sure
use a good fuck right now.

His hands put up my shirt, free my
breasts. His fingertips brush across my
nipples. His mouth leaves mine to seize
a nipple, sucking it gently. He laps his
way across to my other breast, treating it the same. Then he settles on one breast, nipping,
licking, sucking.
I grow wet in anticipation.

�I�ve missed these,� he says. �Are they bigger?�

�A little,� I sigh. �They always
grow when you�re----�

Pregnant.

It�s like a bucket of cold water
splashed on my head. My hands push him
off and I scramble off the couch. I jerk
my top down and turn away.

�Bulma---�

�No, Goku. It�s not right. Not now.�

�I don�t understand. A moment ago you told me it was okay if I saw
Vegeta. I assume you didn�t mean it was
only talk.� He walks around to face
me.

�That�s right.�

�So I can fuck Vegeta, but I can�t
fuck you?�

�Yes.�

�So I�m just a pawn in all of
this? It doesn�t matter what I
want?�

I blink. Is that true?

�No, Goku!� I deny it, but doubt clouds my mind. �You do know we'll probably have to trick him
. . .?�

�I think you�re lying,� he says
quietly and turns away.

�No!� I insist. �It just wasn�t supposed to go this far. I didn�t think you�d understand what Vegeta
wanted, how he felt.� I�m tired of talking
to his back and I walk around to face him.
�He wanted you so much. He has
for so long. He wouldn�t approach you on
his own out of loyalty to me.� I�m
crying again, not out-of-control sobs, but tears course down my cheeks. �I had to help . . . he . . . I love him so
much.�

�So you were never supposed to be
a part of this?�

I shake my head. �No.�

�So why did you let me kiss you
that day?� He looks down to the floor, says this next bit more softly, �Why did
you let me . . .?�

I think back to that day, so long
ago. �You surprised me.� I smile.
�And you were so sexy. I�ve never
seen you that way before. It was . . . a
big turn on.�

�And afterwards? With
Vegeta?�

�I thought you were about to
leave, never see Vegeta . . . that way
again. It was the only way I could think
of to keep you . . . interested.�

�So it was all a game to you?� There is accusation in his voice.

�No! It was real.
The desire was real. I liked
being with you, I liked being with you with Vegeta. It was�� I touch his
arm. He pulls away. �Amazing.�

He turns away again. �I didn�t ask to be a part of any of
this. The two of you pulled me into
it. I don�t deny I wanted it, once it
was offered. Chi Chi
was gone. I was lonely. Vegeta is . . . very skilled at seduction.�

He turns back to face me. �But I was a part of it. For three years, I had you both. Now I don�t have anything again. Vegeta can�t get past the same old rival crap
that has haunted us since we met and you . . . well, it was all for Vegeta,
wasn�t it?�

I swallow. I can�t deny this now. �He�s my husband.� I can�t meet his gaze and so look down. �I�m sorry.
I�m so sorry.�

He accepts this silently for a few
minutes, then he speaks again.

�And what�s going to happen if the
baby turns out to be mine?�

I cringe. Considering I have thought of nothing but
this for the last few weeks, it�s hard to believe I don�t want to discuss it
now. �I don�t know.�

�You . . . could lie.�

My eyes shoot up to meet his. �What?�

�Lie about the results. Say it�s Vegeta�s baby even if it�s mine.�

I shake my head. �No, too easy to get caught
out in that. What if the baby
needs blood, a transplant or something?
I could never keep silent if I knew my child needed the help only a
biological father could provide. I�d
have to tell the truth. Vegeta barely
trusts me now. A lie like that would
make sure he never trusts me again.�

�So what are you going to do?�

I shrug helplessly. �Perform the test. There�s as good a chance that it�s Vegeta�s
baby as yours. Maybe Kami
will give me break.� I smile a weak
smile. There isn�t much hope in it.

He doesn�t smile back. �How long will it take you to do the
test?�

�I should know late tomorrow
night. It can take anywhere from twelve
to seventeen hours, start to finish.�

�You�ll let me know, right? Either way.�

�Of course.� Awkward
silence. I turn to go, but I stop
at the door and look back. �Don�t be too
hard on Vegeta.�

�Vegeta made these rules,
Bulma. I�m just playing by them.�

I wince. �I�m just saying that maybe you could
reconsider your relationship with him.�

This time there is a smile, but
it�s hard. �I don�t have a relationship
with Vegeta anymore, Bulma. But I can
promise you this, if I ever do decide to have a relationship with Vegeta again,
it�s not going to be because you gave me permission or he tricks me into
it. It�s going to be because I want a relationship.�

I nod and go through the
door.

*******************************************************************************************

�Ms. Briefs?�

I look up from my computer. Dr. Clark stands in the doorway to my
office. I can see that it�s dark outside
and glance at the clock. Ten o�clock
at night.

�The program�s almost finished
running. You wanted to know.�

My stomach tenses. A funny voice in my head says And now, the moment you�ve all been waiting
for. . . . There�s no accompanying
laughter in my head though, just a sick feeling in my stomach.

I head down to the lab and wait.

98
percent complete . . .

99
percent complete . . .

100
percent complete.

The screen flashes again.

Sixteen
gene markers compared.

Subject
excluded from consideration.

I take a deep, shaky breath, and
then I go to look for my husband.

*******************************************************************

He�s in the shower, so I sit down on our bed to wait.

Wait. Wait.
I�m sick of waiting. Sick of treading water.
Something�s finally going to happen.
Will I get pulled to shore or left to drown?

The water stops. A few seconds later, Vegeta appears in our
bedroom. He notices me, but doesn�t
speak. He heads to his dresser, pulls
out some night clothes.

I can�t wait.

�Vegeta, I have the test results.�

He turns and I can see that I have
his full attention. More than
attention�interest. For all he�s acted
like he couldn�t care less these past weeks, his silent, stoic veneer has
vanished. I see his jaw clench in . . .
apprehension? Even dread?

�Goku has been excluded as a
father. This baby is your child.�

His shoulders visibly settle, and
I realize he�s just let go of the breath he�d been holding. He takes another breath.

�You�re sure?�

�DNA is 99.99 percent
accurate.�

He walks toward me and sits down
on the bed. He is relieved, but he is
still unsure�unsure of me. I�m not
surprised at his next question.

�You wouldn�t . . . lie to me
about this, would you?�

I try very hard not to be
offended. I suppose if I was in the same
circumstances, if my trust had been shaken in someone --- someone I now had no
choice but to trust --- I suppose I would ask the same question.

�I know you need to ask me that,
and the answer is �no.� I would not lie
to you, not about this. Not about
anything.�

He hangs his head and I can
visibly see all the tension he has been holding the last few weeks melt
away. When he speaks, his voice is soft.

�I was so certain I had lost you,�
he says.

My jaw drops.

�What?�

He looks at me then. My god, I have never seen him look so
uncertain. Even after Cell, he never
looked so . . . lost.

�I knew if the baby was Kakarrot�s, I would lose you.�

A part of me wants to laugh---I
can�t believe Vegeta would say such a thing.
But then, this thing with Goku
has never brought out the best in Vegeta.
OK, maybe sometimes, but Vegeta usually went kicking and screaming into
it.

I scoot over and wrap my arms
around him. I hug him tightly for all
its worth. �You are such a fool,
Vegeta. I can�t believe you would think
that. I would never choose Goku over
you.�

�But you brought him to our bed.�

Another shock. I can�t speak for a
second. �I kept him there for you,
because you wanted him. After working so hard to give him to you, I
couldn�t just let him walk away.�

His eyes narrow in accusation.

�OK, the thought of having you
both in bed was incredibly hot. I admit
to being totally turned on by the idea.�
I poke him in the chest. It was
my turn to accuse. �You thought it was
totally hot too. Don�t deny it.�

He gives a small shake of his
head, a small smile. �No. I don�t deny it.�

At his smile, I finally give in to
laughter. �I can�t believe you would
think I would choose Goku!�

�He�s stronger, better-looking and
nicer than me.�

What a night for revelations! �But he is not you! Look, let me put it
to you this way: I�m beautiful, rich,
and powerful. I could have any man on
the planet, including Goku. If I wanted
him, I would have had him twenty years ago.
I didn�t want him. In the past
three years I�ve seen sides to him I never knew existed, but I still prefer
you.� I stroke his cheek, amazed that I
need to reassure him like this. �I chose
you.
I will always choose you.� I
grin. �You know, for the cockiest guy on
the planet, you sure do pick some interesting times to get insecure.�

�I�m not insecure!�

I roll my eyes. �Never.� I kiss him then, a sweet kiss, full of wonder
at this complex man. He kisses me
back. It feels so good. Funny how I thought I�d lost him.

I pull back. �I need to call Goku, let him know.� I get up and reach for the phone. Vegeta�s hand stops me.

�What?�

�Let�s talk about Kakarrot,� he
says.

�Okay . . . what about him?�

Vegeta looks uncertain. �Do you see things . . . returning to the way
they were?�

Oh. The sex. Our sex. I really hadn�t thought about it. I was so scared about what the results of the
paternity test might be, how our lives would change.

Now . . . I think this happened
for a reason. The way we shared
ourselves was beautiful, but I think we ignored a lot when we were
together. Clearly, we ignored a lot when we were together. Perhaps if we�d been more realistic, more
practical about it, we wouldn�t have been blindsided by the issues the
pregnancy brought up.

Pregnancy. I�m pregnant.
I�m going to have a baby. Now
that I�m not terrified, the reality of a
baby sinks in. Late
night feedings, dirty diapers, soft blankets and squeaky toys. Not exactly conducive to
hedonistic threesomes.

And I don�t think I�ll miss
it.

�I don�t want to go back to the
way it was. Can I just be happy with
you?�

He grins. �You�re happy with me? That�s a new one.�

�Marginally happy,� I snort. Now for the tough one. �But this all started because you wanted
Goku. Do you . . . still want him?� I glance up from under my lashes. I know this answer already, but we have to
talk about it.

�Yes. Does that make you angry?�

I shake my head. �No. Disappointed, maybe.
But I know I can�t give you everything you need myself. And if Goku can . . . .� I trail off.
Vegeta�s desire for Goku still confuses me. I think it confuses Vegeta as well.

�He�s angry with me.�

�Yes,� I say. �Your reaction to the baby hurt him. He thought you had moved past that
point.� I look Vegeta in the eyes. �But you�ll never let go of it totally, will
you? That�s part of the attraction.�

�Yes,� he admits.

�Then you may have a problem with
him.� I reach over and touch his
hand. �But you won�t have a problem with
me. I promise you that.�

He takes my hand, kisses it. It�s such an outwardly affectionate gesture
(a rare thing with Vegeta) that I feel my eyes burn with tears. He pulls me toward him, and I fall into his
arms.

***********************************************************************************

I called Goku the next
morning. He took the news well; there is
no choice for him, of course. I wondered
if he was disappointed, but I really didn�t care. I was too thrilled that the baby is Vegeta�s. I don�t even want to contemplate what would
have happened had the baby turned out to be Goku�s.

And then Goku was gone. From the entire planet. Vegeta looked for him, but he couldn�t find
him. He thinks he used his instant
transmission and took off with Goten somewhere.
New Namek? Yardrat? Who knows?

A part of me does feel guilty at
this. I know that he left because of the
baby, because of me and Vegeta. He knows
about Vegeta�my last words to him when I called were about Vegeta wanting to
see him--- but it�s clear that he doesn�t want to see Vegeta yet. Maybe he
won�t ever.

I�m being induced tomorrow. This baby is a week overdue, and the doctor
has finally taken mercy on me and my swollen ankles. At least, they tell me they are swollen. I haven�t seen my feet in two months.

I�m a little scared because the
baby hasn�t turned yet. I�m already blaming Vegeta for this uncooperative
streak in his child.

***************************************************************************************

I�m awake, but I can�t move. I feel like I�m floating in water. There is a numbness
throughout my entire body. I don�t
wonder what�s wrong. I know it�s the anesthesia
wearing off. The baby never turned, and
I had a C-section. My bikini wearing
days are over.

I�m so tired. I try to drift off again, but a voice pulls
me back.

�How is she?�

Goku!

Part of me stirs, tries to pull
out from under, but it�s like a heavy blanket covering me.

�She�s asleep.� Vegeta�s voice. �She�ll be fine.�

�The baby?�

�A girl.� Is that distress in
Vegeta�s voice? He�s known for months,
of course, but the reality of all that pink may finally be settling in. �She looks just like Bulma.�

�I bet she�s beautiful,� Goku
says.

Vegeta says nothing at this. Even in my drugged state, the silence feels
uncomfortable.

�How long have you been back?�
Vegeta asks.

�A few weeks.�

Weeks! Ouch.
He�s been keeping his ki suppressed then, avoiding Vegeta.

�Where did you go?�

�Around.�

Goku is really making this
difficult. I suppose he�s earned the
right, but this is a new side to Goku. I
saw a little bit of it that day at his house.
I think it�s grown stronger.

�I looked for you,� Vegeta
says.

Goku says nothing.

�I . . . wanted to see you.�

�For?�

Vegeta says nothing. I hear shuffling, perhaps a rustle of
clothing. Is he touching Goku? Telling him with touch the words he will not
say?

�Vegeta, it�s not that simple.�

Yes, yes he was.

�What do you mean?� Vegeta asks.
�Why can�t it be simple?�

�Because it never is. I�ve been
thinking---�

A snort.

�Exactly. You want this, but
you�re not ready for this. I won�t be
seduced again. If we come together
again, it will be because you�re ready to let go of all the bullshit you carry
around where I�m concerned. And I don�t
think that will happen anytime soon. It
may not happen until . . . you need somebody again.�

�What do you mean?�

�I mean Bulma, Vegeta. She won�t live forever, you know.�

�I know that!� It�s clear he thinks Goku is speaking
nonsense.

�While she lives, you don�t need
me.�

�I---�

�No, Vegeta. You want
me. There�s a difference.�

Vegeta is silent while he
considers this. �I don�t think you
understand what I feel,� he says finally.

�I don�t think you understand what you feel either,
Vegeta. I�m not saying there won�t be a
time for us, I just don�t think that time is now. You�ve still got Bulma, a new baby. Those are great things, Vegeta.�

�I know what I have! But Bulma understands---�

�Bulma loves you, Vegeta. She wants you to be happy. She�ll give you anything to make you
happy. But . . . maybe some gifts should not be
accepted. Maybe some things shouldn�t be
shared.

�You told me once that Saiyans
live long lives, maybe twice or three times a human�s lifespan. That�s a long time to live with regret,
Vegeta. That�s a long time to look back
and wish you�d done things differently, to wish you�d made a different choice. When I chose to stay dead, I was doing the
best thing for the Earth, but now I think I should have done the best thing for
my family�for Chi Chi, Gohan
and Goten. I should have been thinking
of them, not the Earth and not myself.

�You need to decide who you�re
making your choices for, Vegeta, and make choices you won�t regret.� I hear the door open. �I�m not going anywhere for a long time,
Vegeta. I�ll still be here when you�re
ready. I�m going to go see the baby
now.�

I hear the door close.

I drift back down into slumber.

**********************************************************************************

This time when I awake, I am no
longer numb. I can move, feel pain.

My eyes focus on an empty room.

�Vegeta?� I croak. I think
back to the choice Goku spoke of and wonder if Vegeta has made it.

A touch, his voice comes from the
other side of the bed.

�I�m here, Bulma.�

~~Fin~~

*********************************************************************************************

Big thanks and hugs go out to Ember, for being able to spot
a mistake a mile away and to debbiechan for endless
creative support and feedback. There
aren�t enough hugs for you two!

And of, course, to Gutterball
for being outrageously brilliant.

Feedback is begged for.
Be sure to let Gutterball know what you
thought of her story as well! GutterballGT@hotmail.com Thanks for reading.
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And Then There Were Three