Hey, guess what? Here's another update. Oh, bet you didn't see that coming did you? :) Well, I couldn't sleep last night, so I figured it was an excellent opportunity to write some more of the story. :)

Thank you everyone for all of the continous reviews. And thank you Zofonik; my heart goes out to you, and my thoughts are with you also.

She sighed softly, closing the book she had been reading for almost a week now. The still-lovely woman closed her eyes as she processed the story over again in her mind; she had just closed it for the last time, because she had just read the last page. After a few minutes she smiled to herself, deciding that she was pleased with the novel; it had been a beautifully written romance. The woman opened her eyes again, feeling incredibly happy. She had desired very much that she would complete the novel before she passed on; and now, she could say she had. There was, now, officially nothing in this world that was left undone for her.

Yes, she was ready. She had seen her children and grandchild just yesterday and she had prepared the house and materials to help Vegeta live on without her. She had also talked to Goku, and made him promise that he would stay with Vegeta after she was gone.

With a slightly shaking hand, Bulma laid the book on the table next to where she lounged, and leaned back into the pillows of the couch, closing her eyes again. She hoped Vegeta would come around soon, before she got too weak; she didn't want to die here where guests and maids could pop in and out at any time. She wanted to go to her and Vegeta's room to spend her final hours. She supposed she was being a bit sentimental, maybe even silly, but she wanted to be there; she had spent her most intimate and most incredible moments with Vegeta in their bed. It was one of the few places where he would relax, and drop his tough-guy attitude, just for her.

As if he had heard her very thoughts, Vegeta appeared from around the corner a few minutes later. Bulma looked up to see his face completely emotionless. She could sense that he knew her time was fast approaching. But he wasn't going to be weak.

She smiled as he came to stand by her side.

"Vegeta… I want to go to our room," she whispered weakly, closing her eyes once more, as if keeping them open for long amounts of time required her too much effort.

The Saiyan prince remained silent, but bent over, and picked her up as delicately as he could manage. She snuggled into his broad chest, fitting there perfectly. He tried not to choke on the emotions that were running through his mind as he strode forward, toward their room in the back of the house.

He opened the door, and walked inside, shutting the it behind him. He turned the lamp on that sat on his side of the bed, and then gently laid her in the middle of their large bed. He sat down on the edge of the mattress, letting his legs hang over the side.

"Vegeta, hold me… please," she murmured quietly.

"No, Bulma… it can't be time… no…" he finally croaked in reply.

"I think I'll still be here a little while longer."

"Here, let me take you to the hospital, I'll-"

"No," she interjected. "It's my time Vegeta. I've lived longer than a lot of humans; I've watched so many of my friends pass on; Master Roshi, Oolong, Krillen, Yamcha… heck, even Piccolo is gone, and he wasn't even human."

"I've lived a very fruitful life; I've raised two beautiful children; I've seen the world; I've traveled through space; I've invented countless things; I've been the life of the party. And, I've had you."

Vegeta looked away, grunting in response as he struggled to control his feelings.

She coughed lightly and let out a small moan, indicating she was in pain now. Vegeta didn't understand why she was letting this happen, but he knew he would respect her wishes.

He slowly turned around and crept across the bed as gingerly as he could, moving to sit next to his dying mate. He pulled her to him, placing her body between his legs and laying her at angle against his self. She laid her head on the side of his sturdy chest and placed one hand on the other side. She let out a sigh of contentment and allowed her eyes to close once more. She felt so incredibly tired, but she promised herself she would not fall asleep. Bulma wanted to spend her last hours with her prince.

"Vegeta?"

"Yes?"

"Can you… tell me your favorite memories of our family? It would mean a lot to me."

Vegeta was silent a moment as he contemplated her request. He really didn't like the idea of going back to memories and getting into mushy emotions. But apparently, that's what his mate wanted, so he kicked his pride out the window, and took a deep breath as he began to tell her the stories he had saved within his mind. He talked about the first time they had made love. He talked about watching Trunks go Super Saiyan for the first time. He talked about when he hugged Trunks for the first time before he sacrificed his life to try and end Majin Buu's reign of terror. He talked about all of the family scuffles they had had over dinner. He talked about looking upon his beautiful baby girl, Bura, for the very first time, and holding her in his arms. He talked about taking Bura to her first day of kindergarten. But he also talked about small, little details that Bulma had never imagined that he would remember; like what she had worn on a date they went on years ago, or the day Trunks got his driver's license. Hearing the man she loved more than life recall such precious and such small things brought her such intense joy that she felt herself begin to cry.

"Bulma, Bulma! What's wrong? Do you hurt?" he asked urgently, grabbing the hand she had laid on his chest hours ago.

"No, I'm okay. You just… you've made me so happy Vegeta. I love you so much… I want to stay with you forever," she cried softly, tears rolling slowly down her cheeks.

He held her tighter, as if daring death to come closer. As if he could fight it off, like an unseen enemy.

Her breaths were now apparently ragged, and he could tell she was labored to simply breath. He felt his head start to spin, and his emotions start to take control of the situation.

"Vegeta, please don't cry," she rasped.

Vegeta blinked, and it took him a few seconds to realize why she had said that.

He was crying now. Tears rolled down his own cheeks now, cascading into her faded aqua-colored hair. He tried to wipe them away, but as soon as he did, more replaced them. He gave up, and instead focused on the fading life force of his mate.

"Bulma, I love you," he choked, holding her tighter, and watched her face relaxing as pain left her body, She opened her eyes to gaze at him. They were as blue as he had ever seen them.

"I love you too… I love you so much Vegeta…" she said, giving a weak smile. He gently touched her face as she spoke, soothing her as best as he could.

Then she closed her eyes, and met with darkness.

Vegeta sat holding her, unable to move. His mouth was slightly agape as his eyes searched for life that was no longer there. He had felt her last intake of breath almost thirty seconds ago. He had felt her ki slip away, and fade forever from earth. He had felt a slicing pain wash over his heart ten seconds later as he understood she was gone.

Gone.

Forever, gone from him.

Gritting his teeth against the grief that crashed against his heart, he gave a feral cry of despair. Tears were fresh across his face again as he buried his face in her hair. He sat there for almost an hour, crying out in agonizing pain over the loss of his mate. He didn't give a damn if he was making a blubbering fool of his self. Nothing mattered.

No, nothing mattered anymore.

Bulma was gone. There was no reason for anything anymore.

He wanted to die with her. Escape this terrible, dark room that gave him flash backs of nothing but his blue-eyed angel.

He didn't know how much longer he lay with her body in his arms like that, her head still resting against him. Time seemed to freeze, and nothing changed.

But what could have been minutes later or days later, he felt something try to take her body from him. He let out a screech, oblivious to the world, as he fought to keep her in his arms. But whatever was taking her was as strong as he was, and was finally able to pry her away. He whimpered in defeat, and reached out blindly, desperately looking for his mate. He needed her, he needed her damnit! When he found that she had vanished he leapt from his place, but suddenly found something stronger than him wrapping its arms around him. He slumped down into the grasp, admitting defeat. He was barely coherent at this point; he no longer had any strength to fight whatever insisted on holding him, although he hated to be touched.

He felt a warm hand rubbing across his back in a soothing motion, and he felt slightly comforted. He slowly reached up to clutch the clothing of whoever held him, and let out a low moan of agony. He didn't think about anything after that though; blackness surrounded him, and he welcomed it with open arms. Maybe, he would find Bulma there.

"Is he going to be okay?" Trunks asked as he eyed Goku.

"Yeah. He was there for me when Chi-chi died… I'll be here for him now." Goku replied, still stroking Vegeta's back as the prince slept in his arms.

Trunks shifted his gaze uncomfortably. It bothered him to see his once proud father collapsed in Goku's arms, looking practically dead. He couldn't begin to comprehend why it was Goku that was supporting his father… after all, the last he knew, his father still despised Goku, at least slightly.

"Okay. Well… I've made arrangements… and people are going to start stopping by pretty soon. I think it would be best if you could take him to one our spare rooms, further away from here." Trunks said, his gaze resting upon his mother's still body.

"Right," Goku replied. "Where do I go?"

"Hmm… oh, I know. When you walk out of here, take a left, go to the end of the hallway, take another left, follow that hallway to the end, and take the last room to the right," Trunks replied.

Goku looked at him a moment, amazed that Trunks knew exactly where the room was without even looking.

"What? I lived here for almost twenty years Goku," he chuckled.

"Oh, right. Okay then, I'll take him there."

Goku stood up with the other Saiyan slouched in his arms, and walked out of the room, following Trunks' directions. He came to the room after about two minutes of walking. He opened the door to find a modest room, seemingly normal compared to Vegeta and Bulma's lavish room. There was a simple queen sized bed with a crimson colored bedspread, and a small nightstand next to the bed. There was a small television, a single chest of drawers, and a door that most likely led to a bathroom. There was only one window in the whole room.

Goku thought it might be too basic for Vegeta's royal taste, and he wondered why Trunks had sent him here. But after thinking about it for a second, he realized that this room was probably the furthest room to the back of the house, and that it was highly unlikely anyone would disturb Vegeta here, considering it was by a dead end and tucked away into a quiet space.

He moved to the bed, holding Vegeta with one arm, and pulling back the blankets with the other. He put the prince down on the comfortable mattress, and was about to leave when he saw a disturbed look spread across Vegeta's face in his sleep. Goku realized that though Dende had blessed Vegeta with sleep now, the prince still subconsciously felt alone.

Not taking another moment to think it over again, he sat down on the bed, and pulled the covers over the both of them. He knew that Vegeta would most likely freak out and attack him when he woke up later, but something inside of Goku longed for him to try and comfort the other Saiyan, no matter what the later consequences were. He didn't know why, but he felt that being there for Vegeta was the most important thing in the world right now.

He sat with his back against the head board of the bed, with his rival and friend in his arms. He knew exactly what kind of pain Vegeta would be in when he awoke. He would awake to a world of heart ache and misery in a sense he had never experienced. Goku knew Vegeta had been through complete hell during his life; but he would go through a much different sort of hell now. It couldn't quite be described to someone who had never experienced the loss of a child or mate.

'I know you're bothered by me sometimes Vegeta, but please, please don't push me away now. I have you all figured out; when you hurt, you lash out at everyone to push them away. But I'm here for you my friend, and you need me as much as I need you.'

Goku eventually felt his self dozing off. He figured Vegeta would have a hissy-fit when he woke up. But Goku didn't care.

He had promised Bulma to watch over her prince when she passed away.

He had promised his self he would watch over the prince.