Vegeta decided to climb to the roof this time to stargaze. Stars illuminated gauzy, luminous nebulae, providing generous evening entertainment. Saiyan eyesight granted more sharpness, unlike human vision, but even he needed an appropriate telescope to revel in the iridescent blue-violet and crimson hues. He never tired of watching them.

"Do you miss it, daddy?"

Vegeta handed his daughter their massive bowl of buttered popcorn, mulling an answer. His prolonged silence didn't disturb her. They treasured these moments together. Bulla probably would become sleepy first, though, so he wouldn't take too long responding.

"It's hard to miss much about space travel considering my history, princess, if that's what you're asking. I have been a duty-bound traveler since childhood, driven by others' passions alongside my own. Therefore, I'm content staying put for a while. Reaching the final destination - here, with your mother - has rewarded me many times over."

Vegeta's answer offered an interesting bone for Bulla to chase after. He hadn't intended that, but much like their mother, his children enjoyed puzzles. In their minds simple answers didn't exist, simply.

"So let's say some bug-eyed, thirteen-legged creature from a previously unknown universe arrived here seeking an exhibition fight with you. A bonus is it doesn't want to kill you or anyone else. Would you agree to battle?"

"I dislike this hypothetical," Vegeta grunted. "Just because something declares its desire not to kill you doesn't mean it can't, won't, or shouldn't. Doesn't matter if it's lying or being truthful either. Number of legs is irrelevant, as well."

"You're not answering the question," Bulla said, gently punching his shoulder. "It's one giant riddle."

"I told you what I thought," Vegeta replied as he swiftly undid Bulla's neat mound of spiral locks. "How you judge my answer's merit is your business, not mine."

Bulla laughed, taking the hand telescope from him. "You always go after my hair! What did it do to deserve such disrespect?"

"You could have stopped him from doing that long ago," Bulma said, poking her head through an entryway. "If your Saiyan reflexes are that feeble as an adult, then you have my permission to blame him indefinitely for poor instruction."

Vegeta eyed the special women in his life with love and admiration - and then proceeded to ignore the hell out of them.

"Daddy?"

"What?"

"You're not going to respond?"

"Don't stay up here all night, either of you." Vegeta stood, helping his wife take his place. "I'm not sorry I messed up your hair either, brat."

His hand briefly touched the crown of Bulla's head as he kissed Bulma's temple. His wife patted his chest as he strolled off.

"Don't wait up, handsome."

"Yeah, yeah."

Smiling excitedly, Bulma cuddled next to her daughter after Vegeta left. "He didn't flinch when I called you an adult this time! Did you notice?"

"That means nothing," Bulla replied, "and you know it, mom. I see no evidence that being eighteen is anywhere near daddy's ideal of adulthood for me. Maybe when I'm your age, mom. He might agree then."

"Let's hope for your own sanity that you don't care by then, because he'll likely be dead anyway," Bulma said sweetly. "Me too."

Bulla extended the telescope, observing another cluster of stars. "I highly doubt that, but I do know you both prepared me well for the time when you're not around anymore."

"We know."

"Victory."

"Victory."

They threw popcorn at each other.

Notes: The door was closed on this story for a while, but this ending short came to mind while I revised chapters for cross-posting on Archive of Our Own. Portraying this family's thoughtful, unvarnished honesty with each other has been enjoyable. I couldn't resist adding a glimpse of their future based on events from the previous chapter. As always, thanks for your support.