FireCracker Archive? You'd better.

A/U

HOUSE OF VEGETA: Fever Pitch pt. 34

Kakarot couldn't remember anything crazier than what he was experiencing. He ran through deep woods in a vain attempt to escape something. He lost his balance, falling down an incline into a lake.

"What the hell? Srdakka, how'd I end up here? I was at the palace!"

Drenched and annoyed, he staggered along a muddy shore. Shaking his wild mop clear of water, he growled in frustration.

"This is stupid. The war could start at any minute, and I-"

"Aha, I have you now!"

Kakarot stared in disbelief. Frieza stood in a nearby clearing, arms folded.

"So, my wayward saiyan. Did you think to escape me?"

Kakarot stalked over. "Escape you? What the hell for, worm. I stomp slime for amusement."

Frieza grinned coolly, poking Kakarot in his rounded belly. "Tough talk from a fat monkey."

Kakarot shoved a small, pale hand away. "Save your insults, Frieza. I'm not interested. Now explain what you're doing on my homeworld?"

A shrug. "Doing a little undercover work." the amphibian waved his tail.

Kakarot sniffed. "I suggest you keep that still. Stinks back there!"

"You dare?!" Frieza leaped onto the startled saiyan.

"Get off!"

"Ha!" the estatic icejin danced away. Suddenly he divided, then divided again...

Moments later thousands of tiny Friezas danced on his stomach. Kakarot howled and shrieked. He rolled away from the attack, landing into the lake again. Hands grabbed at him everywhere.

"Hn, how's he doing?"

"Much better, father." a happy ouji beamed at his mate's bedside. The room was full of smiling saiyans.

Vegeta Ou grinned patiently from a nearby chair, Bardock at his side. "So, Glerunn. When will our loon wake?"

"Soon, my Ou." Glerunn took a few readings. "His blood pressure is good. He'll need much rest, though...I don't want him keeping this small fever."

Raditz entered the chambers in excitement. "Is that normal?"

"In most cases yes. But nothing about Kakarot is ever routine" Glerunn couldn't stop smiling himself.

"Such a cub."

"Ai, always." Bardock was proud, taking his Ou's hand. "Things will definitely be busy."

The Ouji waved his tail in excitement. "Shh, everyone!" He motioned to the bed.

"Haah...hnff." Kakarot coughed, his mouth dry. Bleary eyes winked open.

"Kakarot!" the prince started kissing.

"Mmm?" perplexed, the wild saiyan closed his eyes under an assault of kisses. A dark red tail snaked across and coiled his arm.

"Hnm, nice." Kakarot purred. "But what-"

"Oh, stop talking." the Ouji nuzzled.

"Right now?"

"Idiot! You're beautiful." more nuzzling.

The Ou coughed loudly, eyes sparkling. "While this display warms my heart, there is much to say."

Kakarot pushed himself to a sitting position. He was stiff and sore. "Can barely move."

"You aren't supposed to try." Glerunn chided, suppressing a laugh. "Don't you notice anything different?"

"Yeah, my guts are killing me." he wiggled his toes. "And my feet tingle-"

Raditz chuckled. "Krukka. This is hilarious!"

Kakarot eyed him, still groggy. "You know, I had the weirdest dream. I was going through the woods, and-"

"Kakarot!" Bardock was nearly laughing now. "Silly fool. Pay attention!"

"Everything smells funny. Like..." he looked down at himself. His midriff was tightly wrapped in bandages.

Stunned, he patted himself. "What. Did I...the chibis?!" he looked at everyone in happiness and shock.

"Ai!" the Ouji yelled, hugging him hard. "Kakarot, they're perfect!"

The wild one grabbed his Prince. "All three, Geta?!"

"All three!" Raditz bellowed, before joining in. Seconds later a crush of saiyans enveloped Kakarot in an embrace.

Glerunn quietly slipped out, smiling. He had a special delivery to bring back.

The family chatted in nervous excitement as they waited.

"Have you seen them yet?" Kakarot wanted to know, still struggling to sit up straight.

"Stop that, cub." Bardock pushed him back. "You'll burst something. Be still now!"

"I can't!" Kakarot paused. "Why's everyone wearing different clothes? The last thing I remember is everyone calling it a night."

"Hn! We did, until you went into labor. The castle was up for hours from the noise."

"Ah, well. But why did everyone change? It's not morning, is it? My time sense is off."

The Ouji wrapped an arm around, still cuddling. "Well, delivering chibis is messy buisness. There wasn't time for the naati."

"You mean, they didn't make it in time?"

"Well, only after you started."

Kakarot glanced over at Bardock. "Does mother know yet? We've got to tell her!"

"Already taken care of, cub." Bardock snickered. "Aren't you even curious about what they are?"

"Boys, I would assume."

"Well, they were bloody boys. And a bloody girl."

Kakarot blinked. "What. A girl!"

The Ouji laughed next, in joy. "You were right after all, Kaka."

Kakarot sighed in bliss, leaning into his prince. "A girl."

The naati entered moments later, tiny bundles in tow. There was a breathless pause as the swaddled

chibis were presented to their parents.

"Such fine chibis, royals." one naati smiled in appreciation. "Lusty and loud!"

Kakarot and Vegeta were speechless, cuddling their new brood. Button bright eyes peeped at everyone, blinking to their new world.

Everyone had crowded on the bed. The family immediately started squabbling about holding a chibi.

"Give me one!"

"Shut up. Mine is first right."

"Silence. The King has first preference!"

"Hurry up! I'm tired of waiting."

Raditz held the girl chibi in delight. "I think this one's mine, Kakarot. Look at her mane! Just like her ube (uncle)!"

"Ai, she's got hair everywhere." Bardock agreed, smiling at the chibi he held. "Now this one reminds me of another." he scratched a huge ball of spiked hair. The chibi snarled and spat, kicking crazily.

"Can't imagine who." the Ou felt warm, holding still another chibi. This one snapped at his fingers. "More dazas (demons), eh?"

Kakarot and Vegeta were mellow as they watched, tails coiled.

"What about names, Geta? We'll need a list."

The Ouji kissed his ear. "As usual, our parents have taken that duty. We'll pick tomorrow."

A purr. "Sounds good."

Bardock cursed suddenly, shaking a finger. His new chikki had latched onto his hand with needle teeth.

"Kreddadka! Crazy cub...just like your father!"

Everyone laughed.

The family examined the chibis closely, checking their tails for kinks. Discussion turned to which chibis resembled who.

"The girl looks like me." the Ou puffed, adjusting his robes. Said girl lay comfortably in his lap.

"More like me, actually." the Ouji disagreed. "But its true, she has a mane like Raditz."

"But not the widow's peak." Bardock noted, holding up another chibi. "Tezar may look most like Kakarot, but this one acts exactly like him. Ha! All these years and another loon."

"Very funny." Kakarot replied, cradling the third chibi.

The Ouji tickled a tiny chin. "Hn, he does look like us both, Kaka."

"I was thinking the same thing."

"This one here reminds me of you and father."

"Our daughter has your coloring, though."

"Ai." the Prince was content. A new voice returned to the royal chamber, Glerunn.

"It's time for rest, Kakarot. You're still running a fever."

"I know." the wild one leaned shakily against his mate. "Just enjoying my new chibis!"

"Of course. But it's too soon for so much excitement-"

Kakarot strained against the Ouji's hold, teeth bared. "Excitement? What kind of stupid crap is that. I'm supposed to be excited-" he clutched his waist suddenly.

Raditz crinkled his nose suddenly. "I smell blood, Kakarot. Be still!"

"Stuff it, Raditz-"

"Quiet!" the Ou bellowed. "He's right." strong hands lifted the chibi up and away. A red stain seeped across bandages.

"Shit-" Kakarot gasped in pain. The Ouji pressed against the wound with his hand.

"The last thing you need is an infection with the fever you're running."

Glerunn reached into his bag. "I'm going to treat that now, and give you an antibotic."

Kakarot was still defiant. "All I need is rest!"

Bardock and his Ou quietly made their way to the eastern chambers. They sat at the terrace and watched the stars.

"You're very mellow tonight." Bardock commented, firelight shading his cheekbones.

The handsome king curved a smile. "Our line is strong and breeds true. I couldn't be more pleased."

Bardock yawned, showing his teeth. "I knew you'd say that. More chikki to play with, eh?"

"Even so. Did you draw that list of names up?"

"Yes. I made adjustments and added a few female names. The naati mistakenly assumed they were all boys."

"Morons. They couldn't tell once the babies were cleaned?"

"Who knows? It got pretty crazy once Kakarot went into labor."

"True." the Ou poured two snifters of wine, handing one to his mate. "Kakarot seemed different, more calm."

"Calm for him, maybe." Bardock swished his wine. "It's good the chibis arrived before the war. With any luck he'll be in shape when hostilities start."

"I don't want him pushing himself that way."

"Try stopping him, Vegetaan. It's worse than holding a hurricane."

"Hn, maybe. But five babies are a lot to handle, Bardock. They'll surely drain that nervous energy."

"We'll see."

They fell to silence for a bit, sipping wine.

"Bardock, I'm thinking of having Hurtok build a large pallet for all the chibis."

"Sounds like a good idea. In our chambers?"

"Of course."

"Kakarot and Vegeta will love that."

"It's a good backup plan. For nights when they want to be alone."

Bardock laughed low. "Right. And when they want the chibis back?"

The Ou shrugged, pouring more wine. "They wait. After all, we get first right!"

Bardock clinked glasses. "Sounds like a plan!"

In another area of the castle, Kakarot and his Ouji were content, their new family all sleeping in a pile.

"Vegeta."

"Hn?" bleary.

"I'm so happy. I don't know what to do with myself!"

The Prince nipped his ear affectionately. "Quiet, or you'll wake the little ones. It's enough to keep them separated from their brothers."

Kakarot peeped over at Nuru and Tezar, who peeped back from their pallet. "For how long? I'm surprised they're this quiet."

"Now that the others are here it will help to settle them."

Kakarot waved his tail in joy. "I can't sleep. Aren't they beautiful!" he looked down at delicate faces, long lashes fanning over plump cheeks.

"Ai, so perfect." the Ouji sniffed each chibi in turn. Little noses krinkled in response.

Both parents laughed in delight. Nearby, their other chibis wanted a little attention. Shuffling sounds, as sharp nails scrabbled against the pallet.

"Looks like they're starting up." Kakarot observed, smiling. "Abasane, Nuru and Tezar! See your brothers and sister? Tomorrow you can play with them!"

Nuru and Tezar screeched, climbing up and peering over their bed frame. Meanwhile, their new siblings made whiffing sounds. Button eyes popped open immediately.

The Ouji watched in dismay. "Kakarot, why did you do that? Keep your voice down-"

"What, Vegeta! Look, they want to play already-"

"Look what you've done!" too late. The once quiet chamber filled with shrieks and squalls.

"Ah..."

"Shut up!" the annoyed Ouji bellowed over the racket, hitting his mate with pillow. "This is your fault."

A fair distance away , Bardock and Vegetaan laughed. The chibis exploded in a chorus of screams that echoed through the halls.

Bardock curled against his King under soft blankets. "Hn! So much for a quiet first night, eh? Too much to hope for I guess!"

The Ou chuckled. "Well, the guards had bets going on when it would start. I think our Prince will find this new level of parenthood a strain on his duties."

"Strain? He'll be lucky to get up in time for the conference tomorrow."

"True." they paused at a full throated roar.

"That's Kakarot. Now what?"

The Ou squinted at heavy brass doors. "Who knows? Idiot."

"That won't work anyway-"

"Now I hear Vegeta. They're arguing already."

More earsplitting squalls of various pitch assaulted their ears.

Bardock sighed, climbing out of bed and slipping on a robe. "Come on, Vegetaan. Let's go rescue them."

The Ou joined him. "Don't we always?"

With measured pace they headed towards the west wing.

THE END

Next: The return of Rhuntek