Chapter 20: We Made It

"Oh, Bulma," Chichi sighed as she looked at her friend. Bulma looked nervously back.

"Well?" she pressed. "Do I look OK?"

"OK? Bulma, you look beautiful." Bulma smiled in thanks and turned back to look at herself in the full length mirror of the dressing room. 18 stood a little further back, observing the other two. Bulma sighed. Her dress was cut into a shapely V-neck and dropped from her waist into a huge long train.

"It is nice, isn't it?" Bulma smiled as she did a small twirl. 18 and Chichi were dressed in their matching bridesmaid dresses, a dazzling emerald green which matched the ties of the groomsmen. Bulma turned to her friends. They grinned back.

"This is it, B," 18 smiled at her. "You made it. After all the phenomenal amount of shit you two went through, you made it."

"We did, didn't we. We're here. We're together. Oh my God, guys. I'm marrying Vegeta!" It still hadn't really sunk in yet. After so many years of fun and heartache, it was hard to imagine that they were finally going to settle down together, just like she had always wanted but never dared to hope for.

"Well darling, we'd better go. You're five minutes late already. Don't wanna be much more than that," Chichi smiled. She handed Bulma her flowers. Bulma smiled at her friend sadly. She knew that this must be hard for Chichi, it would be like reliving her own marriage to Goku which had ended so tragically. Chichi seemed to know what Bulma was thinking. She shook her head.

"Don't worry about it B. I'm so happy for you. Don't worry about me. I had my time with Goku." The two hugged, and with no further conversing, left the dressing room.

Vegeta breathed out as he heard the door of the church open. He, Krillin and Masa, his workmate who was his other groomsman. He had abstained from naming a best man in honour of Goku, whose absence was painfully noticeable in one of the most important moment's of his best friend's life.

There she was. Vegeta's breath caught in his throat and he as good as choked as she stepped through the door. Speechless, for perhaps the first time in his life, Vegeta watched as his bride to be made her way towards him. Her face glowed, beaming smile as her eyes met Vegeta's. He smiled back, reaching out and taking her hand as she stepped up opposite him. Her bridesmaids took their place behind her.

"We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of two young lives." And so the celebrant began. As he spoke, Bulma cast a sad eye to the gathered crowd and noticed how many faces were missing. Her mum, her father, her sister, her brother in law, Goku, Sarah. So many people that should be there that weren't for one reason or another. She turned back to look at Vegeta, standing opposite her, clasping her hands in his. His eyes stared at her with adoration and she smiled back just as adoringly.

It came time for the vows. Bulma went first.

"Vegeta. Wow. Where to start. I can't believe we're finally getting married. I've known you for longer than I can remember. I never knew that the day you came into my life that we would go through so much, or that we would end up here. I have so much to thank you for it would take a lifetime to list it all. But know this Vegeta. Of all the people I have ever met and even will, you are the only one I could ever want by my side. You are my other half, you bring out the best in me, you make everything in my life worth it. You've brought me through the worst parts of my life and I know I wouldn't be here now. I love you Vegeta. You're my everything."

Vegeta looked up.

"You think you didn't know where to start? I have never in my life met anyone who challenged me, knew me, or matched me as well as you do. You never gave up on me, you never accepted less from me when you knew I could do better. You pushed me woman, You pushed me past a boundary I never thought I would top. You made me love you. Not by anything you tried to do, but because of everything you are. I could never ask for someone in my life as amazing and dedicated as you, and I can never love or care for anyone the way I do you. Never. I love you Bulma Briefs. You are my life.

"Thank you both. Now Bulma Briefs. Do you take Vegeta Ouji to be your husband. For richer or poorer, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, in living and dying to have and to hold from this day forth?"

"I do," Bulma said, her face beaming.

"And do you, Vegeta Ouji take Bulma Briefs to be your wife. For richer or poorer, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, in living and dying to have and to hold from this day forth?"

"I do," he answered in a deep growl.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." Vegeta leaned forward, threw Bulma's veil off and crushed his mouth against hers, wrapping his arms around her back as the two of them kissed passionately. The crowd clapped and cheered. Chichi and 18 were both in tears as they beamed, clapping and hugged each other.

Bulma and Vegeta, hand in hand, made their way down the aisle as everyone stood and clapped.

It was a half hour later when the wedding party departed the church. The couple stood at the top of the stairs as the guests threw rice. The song Chichi and 18 had organized to play was coming from the wedding car.

I do swear.

That I'll always be there.

I'd give anything
And everything

And I will always care.

Through weakness and strength,

Happiness and sorrow,

For better, for worse,
I will love you

With every beat of my heart.

Bulma smiled up at Vegeta as he squeezed her hand gently. She tilted her head onto his shoulder.

From this moment life has begun
From this moment you are the one
Right beside you is where I belong
From this moment on
From this moment I have been blessed
I live only for your happiness
And for your love I'd give my last breath
From this moment on.

"We made it, Vegeta," Bulma whispered.

"Yeah," Vegeta answered. "We did babe."

I give my hand to you with all my heart
Can't wait to live my life with you, can't wait to start
You and I will never be apart
My dreams came true because of you
From this moment as long as I Iive
I will love you, I promise you this
There is nothing I wouldn't give
From this moment on.

All through high school, through the fights, through the challenges, through the mafia and Vega's father, through America and most of all, through Chris. They'd done it. They'd survived.

You're the reason I believe in love
And you're the answer to my prayers from up above
All we need is just the two of us
My dreams came true because of you
From this moment as long as I live
I will love you, I promise you this
There is nothing I wouldn't give
From this moment
I will love you as long as I live
From this moment on.

Vegeta kissed her on the cheek.

"I love you, woman," he whispered.

"I love you too Vegeta." The two of them made their way down the stairs and into the car. Waving to the guests outside the church, the car slowly pulled away, followed by cars with the wedding party, Lisa, Kevin, Vega, Bulma's aunty who was her only living relative who had come down for the photo shoot.

"Wow," Bulma remarked as the wedding party arrived at the photo shoot. "Vegeta..." He smirked.

"Well I dunno," he shrugged.

"I think it was a very good place, Vegeta. For the photos, and because he spent a lot of time here. This place was as important to him as it was to you."

They were at the top of the cliff in the forested area overlooking West Capitol where they had spent so much time over the high school years.

"Hey 'Geta," came a voice. The yound couple turned around to face Vega. She was so grown now, barely recongizable from the young girl they'd fought for so desperately in high school.

"Vega," Vegeta smirked. The girl came up and hugged him.

"You did it bro. I'm proud. You couldn't have picked a better girl. But Bulma?" she asked, turning to her new sister in law. "Why Vegeta man? I had to live with him but I didn't have a say in it. You're choosing to spend the rest of your life with him?" She screwed up her nose in confusion, Bulma laughed as Vega hugged her.

"Don't worry, Vega. I'm sure we'll be fine together and one day you'll understand where I'm coming from." Vega looked at him skeptically. bulma laughed and the two woman hugged her again.

"But honestly, I am happy for you guys. And I'm so happy you finally got back together." Vega hugged her brother again and the photographer hurried them up.

After the family photos and wedding photos, the rest of the group departed, except the wedding couple, Krillin, 18, Chichi, Chichi's children and Vega. The group of them stood looking over West Capitol.

As they thought of Goku.

Father.

Husband.

Friend.

They stood there, as they all reflected on him and what he had brought to their lives.

Over Mountains
Over Trees
Over Oceans
Over Seas
I'll be there

In a whisper on the wind
On the smile of a new friend
Just think of me
And I'll be there

Don't be afraid, oh my love
I'll be watching you from above
And I'd give all the world tonight,
To be with you

Because I'm on your side,
And I still care
I may have died,
But I've gone nowhere
Just think of me,
And I'll be there

On the edge of a waking dream
Over Rivers
Over Streams
Through Wind and Rain
I'll be there

Across the wide and open sky
Thousands of miles I'd fly
To be with you
I'll be there

Don't be afraid, oh my love
I'll be watching you from above
And I'd give all the world tonight,
To be with you

Because I'm on your side,
And I still care
I may have died,
But I've gone nowhere
Just think of me,
And I'll be there

In the breath of a wind that sighs
Oh, there's no need to cry
Just think of me,
And I'll be there.

A tear slid down Chichi's face. No one said anything more as slowly they disappeared back to the remaining two cars, leaving Bulma and Vegeta alone on the clifftop.

The two of them stood there, still in their wedding clothes, holding each others' hands as they faced each other. Vegeta leaned forward and kissed his wife. She smiled back. He said it again.

"We made it, Bulma." She looked up at him, running her eyes across the dark handsome face that she knew so well and had known so long. She reached up and brushed a stray hair off his face, and kissed his lips.

"Yeah. We made it Vegeta." He put his arm around her waist as she rested her head on his shoulder, looking across the city.

They had made it.

They'd beaten the odds.

They'd proved everyone wrong.

They would keep going.

They would stay by each other's side.

They would make it.

They were strong enough.