Father\'s Day

Cauli sat up straight, her breathing coming in gasps. Lettice stepped back letting go of her mother\'s shoulders. \"You were dreaming again.\" Cauli put her hand on her forehead and nodded. \"I think you need to see a healer about this. They are getting worse, I think your screaming is going to bring the house down.\"

Cauli tossed the blankets aside and got out of the bed. Taking up the sheer robe into her hands she strolled across the glossy wooden floor to the open window and looked out. In the deep blue-black sky hung a huge moon with a glowing aura around it. \"I figured as much.\" Cauli muttered. \"You had your tail removed when you were very young, Lettice. I don\'t think I ever mentioned to you about the role of the full moon in the Saiyan race, have I?\"

\"The moons? I don\'t think so.\" Lettice stared at Luminous the largest and closest moon to the planet. Tiu, Vallis and Io the smaller and more distant orbs where hardly visible, being far to drown out by Luminous\'s radiant light.

Cauli chuckled and shook her head. \"The planet Vegeta had only one moon. Which only became full every seven years. Although we did use the full moons from other planets and an energy generated orb to transform as well.\"

\"Transform?\" Lettice felt her skin prickle. \"Saiyans can transform?\"

\"Yes, we called it the Oozaru. It\'s a huge ape like form that gives us great power but at great cost. We are killing machines and rampage until the moon sets or it\'s light is blocked from our sight.\" Cauli turned. \"Unlike you, I have experienced this transformation. That is why I am more sensitive to the full moon.\"

\"Why didn\'t you tell me about this?!\" Lettice walked to her mother\'s side to stare up at the huge white light.

\"I never thought it important.\" Cauli shrugged and walked back into the room pulling the blanket up around her as she sat on the bed. \"Can you tell me what I was yelling about tonight, or was it just more gibberish.\"

Lettice turned and wrung her hands. \"I actually did make part of it out.\" Dark eyes meet and Lettice took a long fortifying breath. \"You were screaming for Vegeta, your son. Cursing Frieza as well.\" Cauli flinched. Hearing that she was still so internally damaged from the day Frieza had taken Vegeta after all these years. There were some wounds even time could not heal. \"Mother, if you want to talk about Vegeta-sei, I would not be opposed to hearing about it. I admit, I am very curious to know more about my people. What they were like and how they lived.\"

\"It\'s very painful for me Lettice.\" Cauli shook her head. \"All of our people are dead, aside for us. I think maybe we should just continue to get on with our lives and leave that horror behind.\"

Lettice patted her mother\'s hand and kissed her forehead. \"I understand. Try and get some sleep. I am going to make something to eat.\" Even though Lettice left Cauli alone she still wondered lots of things. There were so many things that never quite added up. First off, how had her real parents and Cauli ended up here on Fara, so very far from Vegeta-sei? Cauli had obviously adored the planet so very much to name her first-born son after it. Then there was the bracelet that she wore. The one time that Lettice had asked why she never took it off Cauli has answered her simply. Saying she could not remove it, that some one else special would have to do that for her. Lettice shook her head and walked into the kitchen. The one thing she knew for sure was pushing her mother for answers would not solve anything. Knowledge always comes in its own time that is what Arch Mage Io always said.

Tossing her hair she picked up a red piece of fruit out of a basket and shrugged. Who was she to argue with an Arch Mage?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Vegeta set the ship in an orbit around the glistening golden planet. How many times had he passed this quadrant of space? It must have been countless. He had traveled constantly since he had begun his life as one of Frieza\'s henchmen. To know that his own mother beenbeen alive and well not but a few hours out of his way was like another knife in his gut. There was comfort in the face that if he had remained to clueless then perhaps so had Frieza.

\"Do you think she is down there?\" Goku leaned over the console looking at the computer-generated image of the planet below them.

Vegeta felt a sense of certainty deep within him. There were countless strong ki\'s on that planet, and Cauli could be any one of them. \"Lets take the ship down there.\"

Goku nodded and looked over the control panel. \"So umm so how would I go about doing that again?\"

Vegeta glared. \"There is no way you\'re that stupid, Kakkarot! How many times have I shown you?!?\"

Goku smiled and rubbed that back of his neck. \"I know, I know, but to be honest every time you start talking about this stuff my mind wanders.\" Vegeta gave him a blank look. \"I cant help it I start thinking about food and fighting and.\"

\"Kakkarot.\"

\"Yea?\"

\"Either you figure out how to land this ship right now, or you are not eating today.\" Vegeta went back to starring at the golden glow. \"Is that clear?\"

With a sigh Goku slid into the chair and began the landing process. \"Crystal.\"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The door to the conference room burst open and a young man shouted, \"There has been an unidentified ship entering the atmosphere not far from Kali-ten- yur.\"

The group of students murmured amongst each other. The head scholar held up his arms to quiet them. \"Please calm down.\" He turned on the viewing monitor and the class stared in silence.

\"As far as we can tell this is a new craft to our knowledge, although it does appear to be fashioned after the original form of the Saiyan space pods that.\" All eyes moved to Lettice whose eyes grew as wide as saucers. Jumping up she grabbed her staff and raced out the door.

\"Lettice!! Lettice, Come back here!\" the head scholar raced after her.

Azale drummed her fingers on her desk. \"She must have forgotten to tell us she had relatives dropping by.\"

Lettice had no idea what she was going to encounter, but if they were Saiyan. Her heart was hammering in her chest. Was it possible that others had survived? She pushed open the huge oaken double doors that graced the front of the Academy. She ignored the shouting behind her as she took to the air. The fact was all he life she had been taught the Saiyan race was a warrior race, whose main revenue was the purging of other alien worlds. There was no doubt she was just as scared as she was excited.

She reached the landing site after a full hour of flying at intense speed. Coming to a stop she looked at the white and black ship. The design on it was obviously some sort of written word. It was still unlike anything she had seen before. She slowly rotated in the air around the craft.

\"YOU THERE!\" a strong voice came from behind her. Lettice reacted out of shock. She spun and around flipping her staff in hand shot and ice blast at the intruders to Fara.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Vegeta looked around. There was no one around to greet them, something no so typical of a peaceful people such as the Faraians. \"I don\'t like this Kakkarot.\" He growled low. \"This does not seem right.

\"Maybe they were all just busy? Give them some time Vegeta.\" Goku followed him in his typical slow relaxed gait. He too a deep breath and looked up. \"This is a pretty nice planet, Vegeta. I bet your mom would have liked it here.\"

\"You can ask her when we see her.\" Vegeta headed away from the ship toward a clump of trees. \"Let\'s scout out a bit and see what we can find.\"

\"Don\'t you think we should stay near the ship?\" Goku blinked \"Just in case some one comes?\"

\"I don\'t think any one is coming.\" Vegeta snorted.

\"I doubt that cause there is a girl handing over the ship right now.\" Goku pointed over to the raven-haired woman that was slowly circling the ship.

Vegeta would recognize a Saiyan a mile away. He rushed forward shouting \"YOU THERE!\" He had forgotten just how touchy the Saiyan race was. In a flash she spun on him and the staff in her hand was thrust forward. The rest happened so fast that most of it was a blur. The staff flashed blue and a wall of ice soared through the air at him. Vegeta jumped into the air to avoid it. He looked up at the girl who pulled the glowing staff back to her chest and prepared for combat. So she wanted to fight the Saiyan Prince, so be it. It was then Vegeta noticed Kakkarot using his instant transmission to appear behind the girl. Vegeta charged.

Lettice raised her staff back over her shoulder preparing a barrier chant. She never expected the sickening crack of her staff off the assailant behind her. She turned and saw the burly Saiyan male in the orange uniform holding his face. \"Oh. I didn\'t. I am sorry!! Does it hurt?\" Well of course it hurt!! In fact she hoped it hurt like hell. How dare they scare her like. THEY! The other one! Just as she remembered she was seized by the leg and swung around. The next moments were full of pain as she slammed into the earth leaving a crevasse where she landed.

\"Kakkarot are you alright?\" Vegeta watched the ground for a trace of movement.

Goku rubbed the left side of his face. \"KAMI! That hurt!\" The blood trickled off the wound.

\"Well, be more careful.\" Vegeta stated. \"She is getting up.\"

Lettice staggered to her feet. She thought Cauli hit hard. Now she knew that was nothing compared to the full-unrestrained power of a Saiyan warrior. The one who had thrown her had even been holding back. She could tell by the hesitation in his grip. Lettice raised her staff and hit the ground on her left and right side. Then flipping the stand in a graceful spin she embedded it with in the ground before her summoning up the planet\'s dirt sprits. Normally used for farming and simple excavation, the huge hands formed of mud and clay rose up under her control.

\"V...V. Vegeta?\" Goku choked looked down at the huge monstrous arms reaching out of the ground. \"What is that thing?!\"

\"I don\'t know.\" Vegeta dove to the side to avoid being grabbed by the hulking mass. \"Just don\'t let it grab you.\"

\"I\'m trying!\" Goku dodged to the left and then to the right and then forward. \"I AM TRYING!!\" It did not take long before Vegeta was seized with on swift twist of the hand. He threw his head back and shouted as he tried to break the restraints. Goku rushed to him and pulled on the huge clay finger that wrapped ever tighter on the Prince. \"I can\'t get it!!\" Goku gritted his teeth and pulled back. He failed to estimate the speed of the other hand that grabbed him and held both him and Vegeta captive.

Lettice held her hands in two fists as she looked up at the trapped Saiyans. She was panting with exertion. Ok, she had them. Now what? She did not have long for her debate as both Saiyans let out howls of rage. Shimmering yellow light broke though the mud breaking them free and crumbing the dirt back to the ground. Lettice found herself staring at the two golden fighters that hovered before her before her and swallowed hard. Their power had risen by an unfathomable amount and both sets of piercing blue eyes rested on her. She was Saiyan. She would not show weakness, she would not back down. She smirked and pulled her staff free. Twirling it around her she dropped into a stance that Cauli had taught her. Let them come.

\"Vegeta\" Goku gave Vegeta a side-glance as he stared at the warrior on the ground before him. \"I don\'t think she\'s going to back down from this fight.\"

Vegeta nodded is full agreement. \"Neither do I. That leaves us little choice.\" Vegeta moved in front of Goku and added, \"Here is the plan. I charge her full out you, use the instant transmission to get behind her and knock her out.\" Goku nodded and Vegeta charged full out. The girl bent her knees and prepared for the assault. There was a blue of movement behind her. Lettice gasped and began to spin around, but she was just not fast enough. A single hand shot out and hit her between the shoulders and all was black before she ever hit the ground.

\"CEASE!!!\" Another shout echoed around them as a group of cloaked forms descended on the battlefield. \"By what right do you come to our planet and provoke violence among us?\" the leader stood rigidly still.

\"That girl.\" Vegeta snarled landing next to Goku and pointing to the ground where Lettice\'s form lay sprawled out. \"Attacked us. We have come in peace to... find...\" A woman charged forward tossing the hood of her cloak back. The golden hair was perfectly styled on her head as she rushed to the girl\'s side. She had changed drastically, and yet her face and those soulful black eyes were still the same. Cauli the Queen of the Saiyan race, his mother was alive.

Cauli practically skidded on her knees as she bent over the prone form of her daughter. \"Lettice, sweet spirits baby, wake up.\" She held her hands only fractions of an inch from the pale skin, but feared touching it. Cauli was a Saiyan and not easily given to tears, instead she gnashed her teeth in rage. She looked up at the intruder before her. The sun was blocking his features from her eyes as she snarled \"You! You did this to her!\" She gathered her skirts and climbed to her knees \"She is only a young woman! What kind of monster would do such a thing to a defenseless girl?\" she looked again at the face of her daughter\'s assailant and bit back as gasp. \"Bardock?\"

The man\'s eyes flickered with stunned surprise at the name and then locked on someone behind her. Closing her eyes she sensed the familiar aura in the air. No it could not be. She would not dare to even hope it. She barley had the courage to turn around. Part of her was dreading what she would see. When the sight of the crSaiySaiyan Prince filled her vision, it was immediately washed away in a blur of hot tears. Cauli dropped to her knees and bowed her head. It was not just out of respect, but the fact she could not have stood if she had wished to. \"Prince Vegeta! I apologize for my rudeness!! Please forgive me for my indiscretion!\"

A murmur ran through the group and soon all began dropping to their knees before the Saiyan Prince. They bowed their heads and the leader dared to look up. \"Cauli says you are Prince Vegeta of the Saiyan race. If this is so we forgive your brash arrival, and humbly offer you sanctuary here on this planet from any who wish to harm you, mighty Prince.\"

\"Damn, Vegeta they really seem to like. wait a second!\" Goku looked at the women before Vegeta. \"That\'s Cauli?!? That\'s your mother?\"

Cauli stared up at Goku and then braved a looked at Vegeta. He put his hand out to her. He wished the silent tears that were streaming down her face would cease.was was making it hard for him not to hold back the dabs of moisture that were collecting at the corners of his eyes. \"Yes she is.\"

Cauli shook her head slowly as she came to her feet. \"Who? Who could have possibly told you that?\"

\"It\'s a long story. \" He looked into the dark eyes that were the mirror image of his own. \"There is something else I want to tell you\" He paused before he added \"Mother.\"

Cauli felt her breath catch as she heard the word out of her beloved son\'s mouth. The child that she had borne out of love was standing before her. He was alive and well and he knew who she was. It really did not matter to her in the slightest how he found out. He knew and that was enough. He had grown so much, and into the image of his father, her one true love. It had her heart aching in bitter irony. King Vegeta still lived on. She could see it more clearly then she had since that day he sent her away. He stood before her now in the form of their son. Closing her eyes against the tears she sent her thanks to whatever deity had made this possible.

Lettice stirred a bit on the ground. She awoke with the flickering of think lashes. She suppressed a moan of pain as she sat up rubbing her now numb shoulder. Looking up, the young Saiyan stared at her mother who was in tears before the somber intruder. Lettice looked over at the other one who was smiling brightly as the scene unfolded before them.

Vegeta looked over at Goku. \"I think you should know that I came from the planet earth. The Saiyan there is known as Goku, but his given name was Kakkarot.\" Vegeta watched his mother pale and spin around.

\"It can\'t be.\" Cauli\'s voice was barely above a whisper. She walked over to Goku and set her hand on his cheek. \"Littlekarokarot? My little Kakkarot?!?\"

Goku stepped back giving her and odd look before moving his gaze to Vegeta. Lettice, still on the ground, looked to Vegeta as well \"What is she talking about?\" Goku asked tentatively.

\"It means, Kakkarot.\" Vegeta stared at Goku with a deadly serious expression. \'That you and I share the same mother,\" He watched the denial flashing in Goku\'s eyes. \"Cauli is your mother, and I.\" Vegeta stopped and looked away

\"And Vegeta is your brother\" Cauli stood up straight. \"Through me, you share a blood bond. I should have known he would find you Kakkarot. We Saiyans are drawn to our families.\"

\"This is ridiculous!\" Goku stared in stunned silence at Cauli for a long moment before cold eyes turned on Vegeta. \"It doesn\'t matter.\"

\"What?\" Cauli\'s head shot up.

\"I said it doesn\'t matter.\" Goku backed up. \"I am Son Goku now. I was raised on Earth by my grandfather Gohan, any life I had or might have had on Vegeta-sei means nothing to me.\"

\"Kakkarot, now is not the time for .\" Vegeta started slowly as he watched the effect Goku\'s words were having on his, no their, mother.

\"FOR THE LAST AND FINAL TIME!\" Goku shouted \"MY DAMN NAME IS GOKU!\" He turned and added before he flew off. \"And you\'re no more my brother then Radditz was, and you see how far that got him.\"

Cauli gapped and looked to Vegeta \"What did he mean by that.\"

Vegeta just scowled and looked at the ground. He only managed to come eye to eye with the Saiyan Lettice who stared up at him, shock, awe and a lot of resentment dancing in her eyes. Damn, this was not tuning out like he had envisioned it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

\"What do you mean that they are your sons?\" Lettice held a platter of food in her hands and Cauli set various foods on it. Cauli had seen the questions in her adopted daughters eyes. It was clear that the girl was struggling within herself. \"DAMN IT!\" Lettice was shaking when she shouted. \"Don\'t you think I have the right to know? The Supreme counsel members bowed to Vegeta! They called him PRINCE!\"

Cauli stopped moving and looked to her daughter. \"I didn\'t say anything cause I really didn\'t think it would matter any more.\" The girl before her was all Cauli had clung to. The only thing that remained from her old life, for all those lonely years since Vegeta-sei was destroyed. \"Vegeta is the crown Price of Vegeta-sei, his father and I were lovers for a very long time.\" Cauli tried to block the image of the man she had loved from her mind. She saw him enough in her dreams. She prayed his ghost would leave her in peace at this trying time.

\"You\'re the Saiyan Queen!\" Lettice gasped. The platter that had been almost unnoticeable in her hands seemed to gain weight until it as pulling her down. \"It\'s true isn\'t it? That is why you and my parents were sent here to Fara.\" Lettice felt her eyes growing wide. \" That is why Frieza came and then they died protecting YOU!\"

Cauli could not deny it as she hung her head. \"It\'s true. King Vegeta made me the Saiyan Queen mere hours before I was sent into exile. It was to protect me from Frieza.\"

\"So you have only been a mother to me out of pity?\" Lettice set the tray on the table behind her. \"I was orphaned, because of you, and to make up for your guilt you took me in.\" The girl turned stalking from the room.

As she reached the door she saw Vegeta standing there, his dark eyes glaring at her with disapproval. Lettice slowed her stride and gave him a mock bow. \"Your highness.\" The hurt caused her to push brashly past him and continue on her way.

Vegeta snarled, and decided he would deal with the girl later. He looked to his mother who was visibly trembling. Silently he walked over to her. For a long moment they stood in silence, and then he reached out, and set his arms around her. \"It will take time for them to adjust to this new turn of events.\"

Cauli turned her face in to her oldest son\'s chest and did the one thing she had wanted to do for years. She sobbed.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Goku sat on the bank of a crystal clear stream. The water moved over the stones, leaving rippling patters on the water. Was it true? Was Vegeta really his brother, and that woman, his mother? He sincerely doubted that it was a lie. Vegeta would never make something like that up. He and Cauli had not had the time to plot it either. He didn\'t want a family. It was hard enough dealing with Chichi. Things were different with Gohan though, more natural, almost relaxing. Cauli\'s words echoed in his head. \"We Saiyans are drawn to our families.\" That would explain a lot. Why he had spared Vegeta, when Krillin was about to kill the Prince. Yes, he knew it was most likely a mistake, and yetry fry fiber of his being had cried out that it was wrong. A deep sigh wracked his form as he pulled up a fistful of grass and let the wind carry it from his open palm. What was he going to do now?

\"Deep thoughts?\" The feminine voice caused him to turn. Lettice stood behind him resting her weight against her staff.

\"You.\" Goku turned from her and looked out to the horizon before him once again. \"For once, I am not in the mood to fight.\"

\"I did not come here to fight.\" She whispered. \"In fact I was not looking for you and did not think I would find you here. Kakkarot?\"

\"Ignore what they are telling you.\" Goku snorted and wrapped his arms around his legs. Resting his chin on his knees he added, \"My name is Goku, and I am from a planet called Earth.\"

\"You look Saiyan enough to me.\" Lettice said quietly, \" But I am not about to argue with you about it. You see, I am a Saiyan, but I was born here, on Fara. I never set foot on Vegeta-sei because it was destroyed before I was ever born. That makes me a native Faraian despite my appearance. So I can understand where you are coming from, Goku.\"

\"Are you my sister?\" Goku felt sick asking. Although after today he would not pass of the possibility of any relationship. Radditz, his brother, Vegeta, his brother, Bardock, his father, Cauli, his mother, who had Nappa been then, his uncle? Goku thought sarcastically.

\"My parents were low level warriors from Vegeta-sei, or so I have been told. Frieza killed them when I was only two years old. I don\'t even have any memories of them.\" Lettice looked down at the sullen warrior. \"Although you can call me sister. By the Farian\'s law and decree I am the legally adopted daughter of the Saiyan called Cauli.\"

\"Oh that\'s just great!\" Goku muttered standing up and looked over at Lettice with bitterness in his eyes. \"She shot me off to a distant planet when I was barely three days old and then adopts another child.\" Sarcastically he attached \"I guess she really wanted a girl.\"

\"I have to defend her there.\" Looked at Goku and her young eyes noticed the sudden similarities to his mother. However slight they were, they were still there easy to see for the knowing eye. \"Cauli only took me in because I was the last Saiyan around. She is a good mother, and a caring person. I hope you take the time to get to know her.\" She felt the heavy hand drop on her shoulder and looked up.

Goku smiled and nodded. \"If she can raise a child like you, I am sure she is an excellent mother.\" Looking past her, his stomach rumbled. \"So, Sis, any idea where I can get some food.\"

Lettice laughed and linked arms with the bulky Saiyan warrior. \"If I know mom it\'s on the table waiting for us. We had better get there before we get in trouble.\"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

\"He did what!\" Cauli clasped her hand over her mouth as Vegeta recounted tales over the tabled that was piled with several tasty foreign dishes. \"I can\'t believe my son defeated Frieza!\" Vegeta nodded at her and Cauli could not contain her delight. \"Bardock would have been bursting with pride! He was such a solider. All he ever really cared about was fighting, that is why. well that is why we seemed to fit so well. He didn\'t care anymore then I did.\"

\"I am sure my father did not agree.\" Vegeta scowled into his cup. \"Then again, I am grateful. I would have lost my life that if Kakkarot and his friends had not been there.\"

\"I would have attributed your ability to transform into a Super Saiyan to your father, but now I don\'t know.\" Cauli murmured. She did not know what to make of this. Both her sons had attained the unattainable in such a short period of time. Vegeta was a strong and proud prince. King Vegeta would have delighted in his son, had he lived. Then there was her little Kakkarot; he was, from what she was told, gentle caring and infinitely powerful. The amount of training and dedication it would have taken for him to raise to where he was today was astounding. Cauli and Bardock had both been low level warriors, but then Bardock had grown stronger with each battle. There was no doubt had he lived he would have broken through the classification to an elite at the very least.

\"It\'s defiantly genetic.\" Vegeta looked up. \"Kakkarot\'s brat is on the edge. He will achieve the ability to transform after a bit more training. That is if his nagging, harping mother give him a chance to train.\"

\"Kakkarot has bonded?!\" Cauli was still reeling form the fact she was a grand mother. Obviously Vegeta had not given any thought to how she would and was feeling about that bit of news.

\"No he has not bonded in the Saiyan way. Instead he has chosen to join his life with a meaningless Earth custom. I shudder to think of the hell he would endure if he ever decided to bond.\"

\"He has adapted well then to his life on his new home world.\" Cauli nodded. \"Lettice refuses to even consider a bond to a Faraian. Although I don\'t blame her, it would lead to nothing but heartache for her. No man on this planet would ever understand her.\" Vegeta flushed. It was clear that there was more that he wished to tell her. Cauli was eager to learn all she could about her sons, most especially Vegeta. \"What?\"

\"I have bonded and have a son as well.\" Vegeta the cup in his hand.

Cauli paled. \"You what?\" She slapped her hands down on the table.

\"An Earth woman, who goes by the name of Bulma Briefs has agreed to be my mate. She has already given me a son. She calls him Trunks, I prefer brat.\" Vegeta had a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

\"All in all Trunks is a pretty good kid.\" Goku stood at the doorway, behind Lettice, his hand on her shoulder. \"You have room there for two more?\"

Vegeta looked over at Cauli. She bit her lip and nodded at the son she had never even seen until just recently. \"Of course Kakka. err...\" She cast confused eyes at Vegeta.

\"Ignore his temper tantrum, Mother.\" Vegeta leaned back and sent Goku a challenging look. \"He is a Saiyan and your son. He will eventually adjust to the use of his given name. I refuse to call him anything else.\"

Lettice sat down next to Cauli pouring herself a drink. \"I have decided to call him Goku, since that is what he prefers.\"

Cauli looked over at Goku who was pulling out a plate before him and eyeing up the assortment on the table. \"I don\'t want to offend you overly, but I do prefer Kakkarot, because that is who you are to me.\"

Goku nodded \"You can call me that. It was wrong of me to go off like that.\"

\"So, Lettice, Mother says you are talking of leaving Fara for a time.\" Vegeta looked across the table. \"Would you case to visit the planet Earth with us?\"

\"I think I would like that. Goku was telling me about it on the way back. It seems like a wonderful place.\"

\"At times.\" Vegeta looked at Goku. \"Mostly if you ignore his loser friends.\"

\"HEY!\"

Cauli leaned over to rest her chin on her hand. If anyone had told her that morning she would be watching her three children bickering across the dinner table that morning she would have killed them for their arrogance. Now it seemed like the most priceless of gifts.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The sun was rising slowly over the trees as Cauli strolled to her kitchens stretching. She rubbed her eyes and stretched. It had been a busy day yesterday. Today would undoubtedly be the same. Vegeta had agreed to stay on Fara for a while to give Cauli and Lettice time to settle most of their affairs and prepare to take a long trip to the planet Earth. To Cauli, who had traveled all over space, this was nothing to be nervous about. Lettice though, was a ball of excited nerves. Lettice had questioned Goku extensively. Cauli chuckled and opened the back door and her eyes popped open. Goku was there drenched in sweat. He kicked a few times then spun around and kicked a few more. Cauli saw the raw determination in his eyes, just like his father. There was no doubt that fighting was a part of him.

Goku formed a ki blast and shot it. Then he instant transmissioned in front of it grabbing the blast with is bare hands. Goku strained to hold the blast back as it pushed him across the grass. Finally he managed to gain control enough to kick it upward into the sky where he formed another blast and sent them both into on huge glowing explosion. The large shoulders rose and fell as he panted and then collapsed on his back.

Cauli walked over and looked down at her youngest son. \"Is this how you start every day?\"

Goku opened his eyes and looked up. Golden hair was framing the face of an angel. It took him a moment o realize this was no ordinary angel; this was the Saiyan Queen, and his mother. \"Morning, Cauli.\" He tried to rise but only succeeded in flopping back down wearily. Cauli leaned over and put her hand under his shoulder. The tension crackled as his entire form went ridged at her touch. So much unlike Vegeta\'s tender acceptance. It was clear as Goku shrugged away from her and sat up with his remaining strength that although he had acknowledged her he had not accepted her. \"That\'s ok. I can do this myself.\"

Cauli stood up and watched him struggled to his feet. \"Perhaps you would like something from the kitchen?\"

\"That would be great. I am starved!\" Goku gave her a dazzling grin, that shone with so much sheer delight. Cauli nodded. \"Then come with me. We have tons of foods. I would really like to know which you prefer.\"

\"Anything is fine.\" Goku dusted himself off and walked to the door. Cauli frowned and followed him. She watched silently as he pulled a pouch off the table. He pulled loose the tiny strings and pulled a bean from it. He ate it and shut the bag again; only this time he tucked the bag into the belt at his waist.

Cauli was just about to ask, when Vegeta\'s voice filtered through the room \"It\'s what we call a senzu bean. It regenerates your body and strength in a mater of moments.\" He sat down at the table and looked to Goku. \"I am sure Kakkarot is feeling much better already.\"

\"How very odd.\" Cauli tilted her head. \"Perhaps you should let one of the Faraian scientists study one. They are very good at synthesizing and reproducing such things. Being organic in nature they would surely find it most fascinating.\"

\"I don\'t know what Korin would think about that.\" Goku clasped his hand over the bag. \"He has stated on more than one occasion these beans are very hard to grow.\"

\"Maybe the are not native to your earth and thus the hardness in cultivating them.\" Cauli mused.

Lettice walked in tying a veil to her shoulder. \"Beans. GAH! I leave you alone and all you can discuss is beans?\" She leaned over the table and plucked a muffin like item from the table. \"I am late for the conference at the academy. I am sure they wont give me credit for gossiping about alien beans with my long lost family.\"

Vegeta snorted. \"Aren\'t you a little old for school?\" he stared at the girl for a long moment. \"You are what two years younger then Kakkarot? Six years younger then I?\"

\"That would depend on what your definition of a year is, your highness.\" Lettice gave him a scathing glance. \"As for study, the Faraian\'s Supreme Planetary Counsel deemed, a long time ago, that knowledge is the true key to peace and power. All Faraian citizens are required to have mandatory learning periods through out their lives. I am filling my quota, that\'s all.\"

Vegeta narrowed his eyes, while Goku paled and then shuddered in horror. \"I think I would like to sit in on this conference.\" Vegeta stood up looking from Cauli to Lettice. \'If that is alright with you?\"

\"By all means, Vegeta! They would be honored to have you.\" Cauli nodded.

Lettice choked and stepped back. \'I.I guess so. I don\'t see any reason why not.\" She looked to Goku. \"What about you.\"

\"I guess if Vegeta is.\"

\"Absolutely not.\" Cauli set a cup and a plate of food on the table before Goku. \"You need to eat and take a bath before you are presentable to the Faraian people. Saiyans are considered to be barbarians by many alien races. That does not mean we can run around making it so.\" She slid into a chair next to her youngest son. \"No, you\'re staying here.\"

Goku shot Vegeta and Lettice a pleading look, but Vegeta ignored it and Lettice could only sigh. \'She is right and I am running late already.\" The two Saiyans left the room and soon the slam of a door followed. Goku looked from his plate to his mother then back to his plate. It was time like this one had to sit back and observe their situation. He was at a table with food, while Vegeta was on his way to some institution of higher learning. All in all he felt he made out rather well with the food.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

\"Lettice!\" Azale rushed to her friend. \"I heard the gossip is it.\" the girl\'s teal eye\'s grew wide as she saw Vegeta coming around the corner behind Lettice. \"True?\"

\"Yes.\" Lettice looked back at Vegeta. \"Vegeta this is my friend Azale. Azale, this is the Saiayn Prince Vegeta.\"

Azale\'s mouth opened and closed a few times before her mate Jozah set his hand on her shoulder. With a glance back she collected herself and looked once again at the Saiyan prince. \"Please to meet you, your highness.\"

\"Yes, we are very flattered to have you here, Prince Vegeta.\" Jozah nodded to the Prince. \"Please forgive my mate. She is just a bit stunned at your sudderivarival. In fact the entire planet is already raving about your visit.\"

\"Really.\" Vegeta gave a bored looked and arched an eyebrow at the couple. \"Lettice, where is this conference of yours.\"

\"Let Azale and Jozah lead the way. They attend the same ones that I do.\" Then with a devilish look. \"We can sit near them. Perhaps Jozah can explain some of the native terminology to you as well.\"

\"I would be honored.\" By the look the man gave to Lettice it seemed he was just that. Highly honored to be in the presence of the Saiyan prince, and just as proud to explain the Faraian thinking and society. Azale paled and Vegeta glared at Lettice. Lettice folded her hands behind her back. \"And after that you can tell him all about your beans.\" Vegeta actually growled at her then. This might be a good day after all.

They entered the room and scouted around for a few seats together. It did not take long for a man Lettice knew to wave them over. \"Tryd!\" she hugged him quickly. \"Thanks for saving us a place. I am sure you have not meet Prince Vegeta yet.\" She was starting to get amused at the way Vegeta gnashed his teeth as her gushy introductions. Then again she pondered. Perhaps she should lighten up a bit. She was going to be traveling to his adopted home world soon. Pay back was always a bitch.

Tryd kindly greeted Vegeta, but after that his eyes were on Lettice. She smiled and squirmed under the steel blue gaze. Damn Faraians, when they had something they wanted to say, they were pretty bold about it. It was clear that Tryd had something on his mind. She doubted he wanted to announce it before the Saiyan Prince.

It did not take long for Tryd to get his chance. The head scholar was quickly informed that the Prince of the Saiyans was in the room and pulled Vegeta aside for some polite conversation and an overly warm welcome to the conference hall. As soon as Vegeta was out of ear shot Tryd turned to Lettice. \"I heard that you and your mother are going back into space with them for a while. Is that true?\"

Lettice frowned. It really was not any of Tryd concern. He was a friend of her yes, but they were hardly close. \"Yes, we have agreed to travel to their adopted home world. They call it Earth. I am very excited, see that this will be my first time off Fara.\'\"

Tryd looked horrified. \"Lettice!\" he took her hands. \"I don\'t want you to go!\" He frowned and looked deeply into her eyes. \"I was not going to tell you this until after the summer solstice, but I wanted to ask you if you would be my mate.\" He flushed a bit looking down. \"After a sufficient wooing of course.\"

\"Tryd?\" She choked. \"Are you feeling well? Every one knows I would make a terrible Faraian mate. I am Saiyan, rebellious and argumentative.\"

\"You\'re wrong.\" He looked unbelievably hurt. \"You were born here. You\'re a bit willful, but I am sure you will grow out of it.\" Lettice looked up sharply. He smiled \"I am not going to take no for an answer.\"

\"I am afraid you will.\" Vegeta interjected as he moved back to take a seat between the two. \"Lettice wont be changing for anyone. She is a Saiyan, and as such she will follow me and her mother to space.\" He looked at Tryd\'s angry expression. \"Don\'t worry Romeo. We will be returning her to Fara.\" Then back handedly he added, \"If that is her wish.\"

Lettice knew that for a Faraian to slip so much, as to show a negative emotion, it was extremely bad. Obviously Tryd had given a lot of thought to this matter. The sad thing was after study hours; she never gave him a thought. Damn, things were getting complicated.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

\"Bad day?\" Goku asked as Vegeta and Lettice came through the door.

\"Not really.\" Vegeta stretched. Ever fiber of his being was aching for some physical exertion. Sitting there in a chair for that long was like some kind of exacting torture. The lecture he had listened to was not the most entertaining thing he had ever heard, but by far not with out theory or thought.

Lettice on the other hand picked up her staff. \"Speak for yourself. I am going to find something to do. Those lectures are pure torture.\" She looked at Vegeta accusingly. \"You could have at least blasted the head scholar half way through. I could tell you wanted to.\"

\"That\'s not a very Farain thing to say.\" Vegeta dodged the bullet. The girl had been right. Half way had been just about enough.

\"Yea well I think you could have gotten away with it.\" She stretched and prepared for a good work out. \"That\'s the kind of behavior they expect from a Saiyan.\"

\"You\'re a Saiyan.\" Goku pointed out looking around. \"Why didn\'t you do it?\"

Lettice stopped stretching to look at him sharply \"And just whose side are you on anyway?\"

Vegeta laughed loudly, the sound bringing Cauli into the room. \"So you\'re back! How was everything?\"

\"Lets just say, as soon as you\'re ready and we get clearance I want to head back to Earth as soon as possible. This planet is remarkable, but how the two of you have managed to make it in a culture that is anything but inhabitable to the Saiyan race is beyond me.\" Vegeta looked over at his mother. \"And you are wrong. Lettice does so appear to have a Faraian suitor.\" Lettice gasped and shook her head adamantly. \"And he seems rather determined to me. Although I don\'t think he is ready for the responsibility of a Saiyan mate.\"

\"Could you shut your damn mouth!?!\" Lettice raged. She turned and left before she did anything she really regretted.

Goku slapped his hand over his face. \"Vegeta!\"

\"What!\" the Saiyan Prince glared over at the bulkier Saiyan.

Goku grabbed the staff by the wall. \"Can I use this?\" before Cauli could agree he raced out the door after Lettice.

\"I don\'t know what is worse. The disrespect that they talk to you with, Vegeta.\" Cauli walked over to the door and watched Goku chasing Lettice\'s disappearing silhouette. \"Or the fact he just took my mage staff and has no idea how to use it.\"

Vegeta walked up behind her. \"Oh he knows how to use it.\"

\"He does?\"

\"Yea, but don\'t expect it to be in one piece when they get back.\"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Goku ran up after Lettice. \"Wait for me! I don\'t know where you\'re going.\"

Maybe that is because I don\'t want you to know, or to come, Goku\" Lettice snarled. \"Did it ever cross your mind I just might want to be alone for a moment?\"

\"Actually no.\" Goku came up along side her and settled into pace with her. \"It\'s really not fair trying to lose me like that. I don\'t know this planet of yours well enough yet.\"

Lettice let out a frustrated scream and spun around. \"Goku\" She pointed back in the direction of the house. \"Go Away.\"

\"Why would I want to do that?\" Goku rubbed the back of his neck, a confused expression settling on his face. \"You\'re pretty upset and I don\'t think being alone will really do you any good.\"

\"It will do me a lot of good! I can pitch a fit! Release this pent up frustration and hurt something!\" Lettice tried to keep a level tone as she spoke, but failed miserably.

\'The only thing you are going to hurt is yourself.\" Goku pointed out. \'On Earth I use to train in what we call the Martial Arts., It teaches you how to control your inner emotions while honing your body with complex and difficult fighting skills.\"

\'You need to bring one of those instructors here. That kind of thinking goes against basic Faraian beliefs. How can fighting control your inner emotions? That doesn\'t make any sense. Isn\'t combat a form of a loss of control.\"

Goku stopped and thought about her words. It was a very rational thought, even if it was wrong. \"Well, I would ask Master Roshi to come along when we return, but I think it might do more harm then good.\" Goku lifted Cauli\' staff. \"What if I try to show you?\"

\"Sure, my mother, our mother,\" Lettice corrected herself swiftly. \'Taught me how to use this in combat.\"

\"So I saw when I first arrived, but you don\'t use it to its maximum potential. That is why you should train. In doing so you burn aggression, and gain a skill. You are accomplishing a goal while aiding your inner peace.\" Goku dropped into a stance. \"Follow my moves.\"

Lettice sighed and dropped to mimic his stance. \"Like this.\"

\"Spread your legs a little more.\" Goku nodded as she did as she was told. \"Yes just like that!\"

They spent the next several hours going over forms and mock fighting. Lettice was a fast learner, not surprising considering her Saiyan blood.

\"You\'re doing really well!\" Goku smiled as he sat down looking out at the sunset. \"You wait until we get to Earth. There are plenty of people there to spar with, physically and verbally.\"

\"Really?\" Lettice dropped down beside of him.

\"Yup. I spent my entire life fighting, and I would never hurt anyone without a reason.\" Goku wrapped one arm around her shoulder in a supportive hug.

Lettice sighed and leaned her head back against Goku\'s shoulder. Maybe that is what she needed. Earth. Yeah, from what Goku had said, that sounded like the perfect place for a fresh new start.

THE END