Behind Palace Walls ch 43

So for this chapter I'm toying around with something new. Something that I've been thinking about…for a sequel? (Don't kill me lol)

Anyway, instead of a traditional chapter, it comes in the form of chronological snippets or one-shots. I hope you like it. Your likes will determine if I press on or not because I mean c'mon…you haven't even met Goten yet :p

Enjoy!

XXXX

Part I: Sip and See

"What was it you told me some months ago? Stop fidgeting?" Bulma glanced from beneath her make-up team while her husband adjusted his bow-tie for the thousandth time.

Vegeta growled and fussed with it again. It felt like it was choking him to death.

"Your native garb is constricting," he complained. "I don't like it."

Bulma giggled then winked at him. "Sorry we couldn't get you a cape."

After a few weeks of recovering from the trauma of childbirth and settling in with Trunks, Bunny had finally got her way with her formal sip and see. She actually had been planning it—secretly—since the moment Bulma opened her eyes. The couple tried to hold it off as long as possible, citing a multitude of reasons from recovering wounds to keeping germs away from the baby. Eventually Bunny had cornered them when they were relaxing outside—Vegeta training and Bulma tinkering with one of the bots, and the baby in open air, exposed to all the germs the world had to offer. Their excuses were no longer valid and so they had to concede to Bunny's demands.

The team finished off on Bulma's make-up and she thanked them so she could shimmy into her dress next.

When she closed her bedroom door, she turned to her husband to find him slouched on her bed, starting longingly out the window.

"You're not thinking of bailing on me are you?"

"No" he said drolly.

Bulma smiled. "Good, cause if I'm stuck with this thing, then so are you."

He mindlessly flicked on the TV while she wondered in the closet and the first image that popped up was her.

In the midst of planning Bulma had suddenly realized that having seven full bred Saijins and two Demi Saijins in the center of a full-fledged Capsule Corp event—with press—was probably not a good idea. Bunny wanted her event to have a shock value. Oh look, my daughter's home, and she's also married to a Prince, and she also has a baby! But considering the fractured relationship between Earthlings and Saijins coming off a generation long period of kidnapping and sex slavery, Bulma didn't think that was such a good idea.

Shortly after Trunks' birth she and Vegeta began discussing some things. One of which being the agreement that they wanted their son to have an equal homage to both Earth and Planet Vegeta. However that would require some majors repairs to the relationship to each race on both planets. They decided that it would be a good idea for Earth and Planet Vegeta to become allies, not just for their son's sake but for both planets alike. Aside from the weaponry that Dr. Briefs had supplied the Saijins, Earth had many other benefits like medicine and technology that The Saijins could benefit from. And considering that without Goku on their planet, Earth had no real protection from Freeza or anyone like him, the Earthlings could benefit from the Saijins as well. This could be a long-standing alliance if both parties were willing to set aside their grievances for the greater good. Therefore, since he was booked for an extended stay on the planet, Vegeta decided he'd start his work on Earth.

Thankfully the Briefs were friends of many people, many dignitary people, so setting up a meeting wouldn't be hard. Unthankfully, it was Dr. Briefs who had those connections which meant that Bulma had to sell him on the idea.

"I don't know Bee," By this time, he had resumed work in his lab and so Bulma had to follow him there to talk to him. "I'm not entirely convinced that I can trust them. And if I can't trust them, how can I ask others to?"

"Dad, I know this is because you hate Vegeta—"

"Hate? Why that's such a strong word Bee," Dr. Briefs sipped his tea then set it back down on his desk. "I actually loathe him."

The heiress sighed. Repairing the relationship between her father and mate would have to be saved for another day. "But if you could put aside your feelings for him for one moment," she reminded. "You know this makes sense. You've had seven Saijins living in your home for months, and everything has been fine."

"Well my grocery bills have increased exponentially." He twitched his mustache.

"Dad…" she whined at him to get back on track.

"Yes dear but they are seven out of how many? If we compared these seven to the seven-hundred thousand that have invaded our planet and have taken thousands of women over the years, and the things they've done to those women…." He paused when his mind began to trail at Bulma being one of those women. She had yet to share the full compass of her story from kidnapping to Trunks and it haunted Dr. Briefs to wonder what might have happened to her.

"Daddy," Bulma reached out to touch her father's arm, brining him back into the present. "There are plenty more like the seven that we know. More than the bad ones. I know them; I've spent time with them." She thought about Valerie and Vanessa, Mozzar and Yarmit; the innocent people who lost their lives at the fair. Of all the Saijins she's met, most of them had regarded her with curiosity and civility, despite whatever feelings they may have had about her race or her strength. There was a dark cloud of Saijins, who would still like to follow the practices of the King and the barbaric ways they've been accustomed to, but after spending the amount of time she had on the planet, a large portion of the Saijins she knew had hope that things could change. And it gave her hope too. "Many of the soldiers here were just following orders and we know from our own history how bad things get when people just follow orders."

Another twitch of the mustache.

"Vegeta will change things daddy, I trust him and I have faith in him. He's already ordered the removal of the Saijin fleet from Earth's atmosphere and has put a stop to the sex slavery almost a year ago. His council has released all Earthlings home, and he's sent task forces to reunite them with their families and help them acclimate back to life here back home."

She was right. In her time away all those things had happened and the attitude of fear among Earthlings was slowly beginning to change. Shortly after Vegeta had cut Dr. Briefs off from his daughter he did exactly what he said he'd do and then some. He removed the Saijin presence from Earth and girls were slowly trickling home. He had contracted an ally planet to begin the process of reuniting the tens of thousands of survivors with their families, and send them with restitution to help resume a normal life. There was at least one survivor's camp on each continent and daily news reports of another survivor making it home.

It was a weird time for Dr. Briefs because while he was torn to visiting every camp site in hopes of finding his baby girl, he knew she was still being held captive on Planet Vegeta by the Prince. So while the world was beginning to grow with relief and happiness, he was beginning to grow resent.

Bulma could see his face changing, to what she didn't know. "Let him pay the restitutions daddy," she continued. "He's willing to do it."

"At what price Bee? Nothing in this world comes for free."

She nodded her head reluctantly at the compromise. "Of course… there are things that we have that could benefit them…."

Her father scoffed. "Then how can we be sure it won't be a pillage? That they won't rob us of everything we have and leave us with nothing?"

"Well at one time you certainly seemed to think it was a good idea." She was referring to his own agreement he had made with the Saijins long ago. In the heated exchange between Dr. and Prince, she had learned about that, as much as he tried to keep it a secret from he, Dr. Briefs had to do many things he regretted to keep his family safe. And that included supplying weaponry to a dangerous alien race in exchange for his family's protection.

"That was to keep you and your mother safe!" he slammed his fist down on his desk and Bulma was beginning to worry she had crossed a line. Maybe this conversation wouldn't be as easy as she thought. "And it didn't work…"

"Daddy—"

"Bulma," he yelled her name at first, then sighed so he could calm down. "Bulma, I don't want your puppy love for this man to cloud your judgement." She recoiled at the term puppy love. Vegeta was not a fling in her young love years. He was her life partner and the father of her child. But as much as she wanted to defend her husband, this conversation was bigger than that. She had to bite it down and pick her battle.

"I'm not clouded daddy. I've seen a lot while I was gone. There are monsters out there, bigger and badder than anything we've ever seen. Our military isn't even a scratch on some of these creatures and they can blow us away without a wink. The Saijins can protect us. They can protect everyone. The camber net is a blanket but it's not a defense. If we truly want to be safe then we're going to have to trust them."

"How can I trust someone who has caused nothing but turmoil for this entire family?"

Bulma was beginning to think she wouldn't win this argument. This wasn't about the Saijins, this was about Vegeta. And until that relationship was repaired, this might never work.

"Bulma!" Bunny suddenly came screeching down the hallways with a crying baby in tow. "Bulma honey! Bulma!" Finally she came through the sliding glass doors into the lab and it appeared as though she had just met her maker. Her face was panicked and her blonde curls were spilling from her hair band. She was even devoid of her precious high-heels. Roaming the compound looking for her daughter was much faster barefoot she had learned. Trunks on the other hand was screaming until his face matched the red bib around his neck. Hot tears dribbled down his cheeks and his fists were balled with fury. One would think someone yanked his little foot off.

"What happened?" Bulma was immediately shot up from her seat, concerned he was hurt. He certainly was crying like it.

"Oh Bulma honey, I tried everything! I fed him, I changed his diaper, I burped him, gave him a bath, nothing is working!"

Bunny deposited him in his mother's arms, quick to stop the wailing before she developed PTSD. Bulma quickly examined him for any bumps or bruises but he was fine.

"What's the matter baby boy?" she cooed, and she held him over her shoulder to rub circles on his back while swaying him side to side. His wails slowed down to crying, then his crying slowed down to moans and hiccups, and then his tears dried up and he was calm again.

"Awww, you just wanted your mommy didn't you? Didn't you big boy?" Bulma retrieved the pacifier from her frazzled mother and popped it in Trunk's mouth. He was close to sleeping by now.

Bunny let out a sigh of relief and plopped on a nearby chair. She needed a drink.

Meanwhile Bulma had abandoned the previous conversation with her father to give all her attention to her son. She wasn't the best singer but he seemed to like her humming so she hummed a soothing tune to him while cradling his neck and planting soft kisses to his cheek and face. She was walking around the lab now and landed by the open windows hoping the sunlight would be of comfort to him. From the angle at that window, they had a full view of Capsule Corp grounds where Vegeta and Goku were engaged in a friendly spar on the lawn.

Bulma watched them for a bit and smiled. Trunks had major separation anxiety. Which for the time being she didn't mind. He liked being held by her and she liked to hold him. He especially liked when he was in full view of both of his parents and one of them gave him some form of physical contact. She knew he could sense his father nearby and his nestled head into her shoulder told her he was in heaven.

Just then Dr. Briefs approached and palmed a thumb to his grandson's soft head. "I can try and trust them for him."

Three days later a meeting was arranged with some of the most powerful leaders of the free world, and one week after that, a press conference spearheaded by Bulma herself.

Since that press conference, delivered on the Eve on Bunny's Sip and See, it was on repeat on every formal media outlet that would have it.

"Good Evening," cameras flashed brightly in her face. Next to her were her father and mother and on the stage were some of the planet's finest dignitaries; at least the ones that had so far cosigned on her ideas. She thought it best to keep her husband, baby and Saijin friends out of view for now—Vegeta included. Earthlings were panicky and could only handle things in small chunks. So if she were prepared to deliver a speech on trusting a foreign race, better it came from a person they can trust first, before the race itself.

"My name is Bulma Briefs, and I'm a survivor of the Saijin fleet's invasions of Earth."

Cameras snapped double time and the audience erupted in a commotion of questions.

"Bulma! Ms. Bulma over here!"

"Bulma can you tell us your story?!"

"Bulma what happened?"

"How did you make it home?"

"Where you raped?"

"Where you injured?"

"I have a pretty long story, and I don't have time to share it today," she quieted the questions by continuing our speech. "In fact, that's not the purpose of this press conference." The commotion quieted down but the cameras were still snapping. "Many girls like me have returned home and are beginning to become reunited with their families." Dr. Briefs gave her a little squeeze. "Many girls, sadly, have not."

"But while I was away I have grown to know some of the Saijins on planet Vegeta. Some of them, are very powerful people."

Vegeta wanted to buff up with pride. He knew that reference was to him.

"I've learned that Saijins are not that far apart from humans. They hurt, they cry, they feel compassion for their loved ones. And they care about other living beings aside from themselves. It's one of the reasons why I'm standing here today." More camera flashes.

"About a year ago the Prince of the Saijin race has ordered the removal of the Saijin fleet from Earth. He has begun returning all of the women who were captured and sold into slavery, and has begun paying restitution to acclimate them back into civilian life. But I'm here to tell you today that, that is not enough, and he'd like to do more."

There was an unsure reaction from the crowd. They weren't sure if they should assault her with more questions, cheer, or get up and walk out. Whispers responded to her instead and so Bulma did the best thing she could do and continued.

"Our girls deserve the very best commitment from the planet that wronged them. And the families of the girls who didn't survive, deserve the best justice they can receive. Planet Vegeta is currently under a transition of power. And under the leadership of its new King, he plans to begin to correct the disorder that has come to our planet."

Some of the skeptics were beginning to listen again.

"I believe that planet Vegeta has a lot that they can offers us. Many of you may feel that we deserve it, others may feel that the Saijins should just go away. But I think, with a new working relationship, it can better the lives of not just the survivors, but the coming generation as well."

"I know that many of you don't trust the Saijins, and many others are scared. We have a recorded twenty-two years of fear to overcome. But the human race is known for being resilient. We've overcome great things in the face of injustice, fear and opposition. I believe that this is another obstacle that we can overcome with the cognizance of our future in mind. Behind me sits a panel of leaders from our planet who believe the same thing."

"I'm asking you today, not to forgive and forget. But for one step forward. Thank you."

"Bulma!"

"Bulma!"

"Ms. Bulma!"

When the cameras and the crowd went bazzerk again, she stepped down from the podium to let the dignitaries take over. Each with their own speech prepared of how they planned to allow planet Vegeta to aid their respective countries.

And in between each speech, news commentators would speak over the super-imposed reel, to dissect and comment the proposals of the countries involved.

"Jeez, are you watching that thing again?" Bulma called from the closet.

Vegeta smirked. "I can't help it. It's on every channel. Nothing else is on." He flipped a couple of channels and her face was on repeat.

Bulma came out of the closet, dressed in underwear and a full face of make-up, her hair in pin-curls, ready to be let loose. "I'll say, you'd think I was delivering the cure to cancer or something."

She was downplaying the monumental moment this was both for her country and planet, partly because she could only compartmentalize the things that were happening around her. Right now, her world was her husband and her baby and she feared if she let this larger moment get to her, she might panic with overwhelming worry. So she lived with the pride that was able to get the conversation between human and Saijin going and now her focus was on the party.

"Which one?" She held up two dresses to Vegeta.

Meanwhile she had no idea how proud her husband was of her. She'd make a phenomenal Queen.

"Vegeta c'mon, stop looking at me like that. Which one?"

He snapped out of his pride. "If you don't wear the one your mother purchased for you, she might rip the other one off of you in the middle of the party."

Bulma rolled her tongue over her teeth. "Yeah you're right."

Discarding the other dress on the bed, she removed the mauve shimmering gown from its hanger and began to slide in. Vegeta helped her with the zipper and clasp.

"Oh Jesus," she hitched her breath when the dress became tight around her chest. Hopping to the mirror, Bulma examined her breasts closely with a scowl. "These things are out of control." She tried sucking in her stomach, exhaling and turning from side to side to make the angle of her bosom more appealing. It was no use. The senzu bean had aided her in snapping back pretty quickly to what she used to look like but her breasts? They nearly doubled in size since breast feeding.

"They look great to me," Vegeta snaked up behind her and nuzzled her neck. He was careful to wrap his arms around the upper part of her waist, allowing him to graze her supple breasts in his hands. She was very subconscious about them but he was loving it. And after all the mommy diapers and nipple cream and Peri bottles, he thought this to be his reward.

Bulma could feel his hard on, pressing into her bottom. "Vegeta stop it," she promptly turned around and swatted him away.

Now he scowled. "What? The doctor said six weeks and the boy was six weeks yesterday."

"Well…technically I've only been awake for five." She argued and began pulling out the bobby pins from her hair, letting her curls loose. "So you're gonna have to wait another week."

Vegeta frowned and plopped for a seat on the bed, his hard on falling flaccid in a matter of seconds. She was still traumatized from childbirth he could tell, she barely let him snuggle her at night. It apparently was going to take a lot of work to coax her back into bed and tonight was not the night to do it.

"So how long are we going to have to stay at this thing?" Abandoning his ideas about sex, he changed the conversation.

She was back in the closet again, digging for shoes. "One round of hellos, a presentation of the baby and we're out of there." She hitched her thumb over her shoulder for emphasis. "Great thing about being new parents, we have the baby as an excuse."

"Good, cause I'm dying to get out of this suit."

Bulma smiled, slipping on a shoe. "Aww, but you look so handsome in it." And handsome he did. But if looks could kill, she'd be dead right now. "Which is worse, the mommy diapers or the suit?"

Vegeta growled. "Can we go already?"

It caused her to release a warming laugh. "Ok, ok, almost done." She was sliding on the last shoe, then stopped for a final look in the mirror. "Ok," she sighed. "How do I look?"

Vegeta was forced to let go of his annoyance because she was a knock out, just like the day that he met her.

"Beautiful."

Bulma blushed. She loved how he could threaten to kill her, yet still make her heart flutter with butterflies. "Thank you," she let him hold her for a moment, so they could share a kiss and linger in each other's embrace.

"Alright, c'mon let's go so we can get you out of your straight jacket," she giggled and Vegeta reached for her clutch on the bed.

"I just thought of something. Aren't you worried that you just gave a speech about trusting my race last night and now you're appearing with me and your half-breed baby?"

Bulma accepted her clutch from him. "No, why would I be worried about that?"

"Looks a little biased no?"

Bulma scoffed. "I work in big business honey, not politics. I can be as biased as I want to be."

Vegeta stopped for a moment when he grabbed the door handle. "But I…work in politics." He didn't know if she had forgotten that small detail.

Bulma grinned from cheek to cheek. "Good luck tonight."

XXXXXXXXXX

Part II: Flatulence

It had been established long since Trunks' was born, that he was a screamer. Both parents argued who was to be thanked for that. Vegeta thought it was Bulma because she just naturally had a loud mouth and Bulma thought it was Vegeta because it was Trunks' impatience that made him scream.

When Bulma was in the coma Trunks had spent a lot of his time, screaming in the arms of Bunny, Chi-Chi and Emmeline, hoping to be reunited with his mother. Since his reunion he discovered that screaming in fact, was a super power. He screamed when he was hungry, he screamed when he was wet, he screamed when both of his parents—under the impression that he was asleep, wondered away, and left him alone in his bassinet.

And when he screamed he found, he got exactly what he wanted. He had the type of cry that must have been what dogs heard when their owners bought those ultrasonic bark control devices. It pierced through the ears of the residents of the compound and left a migraine in its wake.

Thankfully his screams didn't last long. Eight weeks into parenting and Bulma had learned what each scream meant, which meant that she could quickly soothe him and shut him up. Not so thankfully, today just wasn't appearing to be one of those days.

Three hours. Trunks had spent three hours screaming non-stop. It had been a rough couple of nights anyway. For some reason he was waking up every 90 minutes or so in need of something and now he was just in a terrible mood today, probably in as much need of a nap as she.

Bulma tried to do everything she could think of. She fed him, changed him, bathed him, took him outside for a walk, hummed his favorite song, put him down for tummy time, picked him up and walked him around the whole compound.

Nothing.

Trunks was intent on screaming today and so scream he shall.

After hour one had passed and it was evident that Trunks wasn't letting up, Bulma's blood pressure shot through the roof. And it didn't help that she was on her own today too.

Ever since the press conference Vegeta was away almost everyday, meeting with Earth's world leaders and conference calling his council back home. Satisfied at the success of their formal sip and see, Bunny and Dr. Briefs decided now that their daughter was acclimated and the world was elated at her return—and surprisingly her baby, they'd take this time to vacation to Cabo. They even brought Bardock and Emmeline with them as a way of showing their gratitude for all of Bardock's hard work.

Goku and his family went back to Mount Pouzu to spend some alone time together and Turles and Brolly begrudgingly went with them.

The only person left in the house was Radditz and he only emerged from his books for food and a shower.

Bulma looked down at Trunks in his crib, and Trunks looked up from his crib at Bulma, letting his fireworks fly. He had cried so much that he was hot and Bulma had to strip him of everything but his diaper.

She tried swinging another toy in his face, this one a baby hippo and be batted it away to continue his tears.

"What Trunks," she tried yelling over his screams. "What do you want!?"

His response was more crying.

Bulma plopped down on the floor and balled her fists in her hair. This was beginning to get to her. She so far thought—ignorantly so—that she had mothering under control, but this was the first thing that completely overcame her. Part of it was the lack of sleep, the other, much larger part was just not knowing what it is her baby wanted. It was like the world's hardest puzzle and it was eating her alive that she, daughter of a renowned scientist—and a bit of a genius herself, couldn't master this piece. Her mother had warned her about this. "Genius, is no place for child-rearing" she said. "You need to let your instincts take over."

Too bad her instincts needed a nap.

Bulma sat there, letting her baby drown himself in his tears, hoping the passing of time would tire him out and he'd stop.

That plan worked for all of 15 minutes before she gave up on that too.

She took him out of his crib and left his nursery, hoping something downstairs would help. Maybe he wasn't too young to be plopped in front of the TV.

When she made her way down the hallway to the stairs, a head popped out from the library.

"Helllllllllooooo," it was her faux arch nemesis. She almost didn't hear him over the drowning screams. "Trying to study in here," Radditz sang. He then glared rather rudely at the loud baby.

Bulma's shoulders were slumped over in defeat, too tired for a snippy retort to her giant friend. "I can't get him to stop," she whined. She was near tears herself. "He's been at it for hours now."

"Yeah I know," Radditz was still glaring. "I can hear him. Everywhere." He had begun studying in the living room but when Trunks took that over with his screams, he moved to his bedroom. Then Bulma moved him to her suite, which was down the hall from his, so Radditz moved one last time to the library. But the distance didn't really matter anyway because his ears were too sensitive and picked up on everything.

Radditz didn't know that complaining meant and invitation into the library but she walked herself and her obnoxious baby in, so he guessed it did.

"I can't make it stop," Bulma was exhausted. So exhausted she thought she might almost drop him. "And it's making me anxious, look at me, I'm sweating! I just…I just can't take it anymore."

She looked defeated and Radditz almost felt bad for her. He couldn't live with himself if he helped save a woman from childbirth only to have said woman die by the child later. That or she might turn into the type of woman he's been reading about in his psych book. The ones who threw their babies into the oven.

And so with a long, unforgiving sigh, he dropped his pencil and offered a hand. "Here, give him to me."

Bulma passed Trunks along without hesitation.

Radditz sat down on the floor and Bulma sat with him. He placed Trunks on his back, then took the baby's feet in his large hand. Trunks seemed not to like this, and so his screaming came in rippling waves like a hurricane on the beach.

"Settle it down kid, I'm not hurting ya." Radditz exercised Trunks' legs back and forth, bringing his knees to his chest, then his feet down to the floor like a reverse crunch. He did this a few times for no more than 20 seconds before….

Pffffffffft!

A sudden burst of gas escaped Trunks' tiny bottom and then his crying stopped.

Bulma's head, which was bowed in defeat, suddenly shot up at the sound of silence. "Oh my God," she looked to her son, who was just as shocked as she was but more so that the sound came from his own body. "Oh my God. Oh my God, you got him to stop."

Radditz picked up the baby so they were at eye level. Radditz examining him carefully, and Trunks, now scowling like his father, content that relief had met his bowls.

"Oh my God, how did you know!?" Bulma was astounded. Radditz really was a man of many talents.

The warrior shrugged. "Goku used to have the same problem when he was a baby. I just took a shot in the dark honestly."

"Oh my God, thank you Radditz, thank you so much!" She wanted to kiss him but thought better of the idea. If Vegeta killed him it meant that she'd have no one to help her the next time Trunks got like this.

Just when she thought her problems were over however, when she retrieved her son from the warrior's arms, he kicked back up again.

"Oh c'mon Trunks, don't do this to me," she begged. She placed him on the floor and tried the same trick Radditz had done but it wasn't working. Not only was he not farting but he was still crying.

"How come it's not working?" Bulma whined. "I think I broke him."

"You didn't brake him, you just have to—" Radditz gathered the baby into his arms again to show her something and the crying stopped.

Bulma cocked her head to the side. "Wait a minute." She took Trunks into her arms again and he started crying. She passed him to Radditz and he stopped. Took her into her arms again and he was wailing, placed him in Radditz's lap and he stopped.

Bulma looked up at the warrior wide eyed.

Before she could speak, Radditz reached the same conclusion. "Ooooooooooh no you don't." He was quick to gather the baby and place him back in his mother's arms. The crying started again.

"Oh Radditz please," Bulma begged. "Please, please, please. He likes you," she held out the baby to him and Radditz refused.

"Well that's too bad because I don't like him."

"Just 30 minutes. Please, I just need a 30-minute nap."

"No Bulma, I have a test tomorrow. Ironically on babies. I have to study."

"He'll be the perfect study buddy then." Radditz didn't know how but Trunks was suddenly in his arms again. The crying stopped. "You can even practice on him. I don't care, just keep him quiet."

"Bulma—" but she was already on her way to the door. Somehow a blanket and pacifier had been left next to him in her wake.

"Just an hour," she clasped her hands together in gratitude. "I only need an hour nap."

"But you just said 30 minutes!"

"Thank you!"

And then she was gone.

Radditz grumbled a sigh and looked to Trunks who looked straight back. "You know your parents are nuts right?"

Trunks blinked, then huffed a sigh of his own.

XXX

Finally, after what seemed like forever, Vegeta made it home. He had been gone way longer than he anticipated because what was supposed to be a three-hour meeting turned into a six, and then eight and then ten. He hadn't gotten a chance to call in and check on his mate either because he found himself being a diplomat to the six political figures arguing with his council phoned in via conference call.

He currently needed dinner and a good night's rest and maybe a good fuck but after a day like today he wasn't up for coaxing his wife into sex.

"Hello?" He entered the house and dropped the keys into the bowl kept in the foyer. The compound was unreasonably quiet. "Where the hell is everybody?"

He knew it was only Bulma, Trunks and Radditz left but he did expect to hear some shuffling and noise afoot. It was long passed dinner time which usually meant by now Bulma was bathing Trunks or giving him a bottle to get ready to settle him down for bed.

He could feel all three ki's upstairs and hear murmuring along with it, so he followed upward to the sound.

"Alright kid, so I know there's a stigma and everything behind rectal thermometers. I mean believe me, they're not pleasant. But you know your own kind, you guys are fussy, and you move around too much. And I'm not sure why your mom hasn't had the genius idea to make something like, I don't know a pacifier thermometer so it's more comfortable for you but I digress. It has to be done."

Radditz was on his tummy gazing through his books and Trunks was also sprawled on his tummy though on top of Radditz' back, surprisingly having more dexterity and grip for a baby his age. His tail had something to do with it, Saijin babies had remarkable balance, and it also helped that Radditz had a full mane that reached down to his toes, perfect for a back-nest to nestle a baby. The two were oblivious of Vegeta's approach, Radditz penciling somethings in and murmuring to himself and Trunks peering over Radditz's right shoulder, seeming to understand the material at hand.

"Alright so, what are some symptoms of jaundice in babies?"

Trunks made a noise between a gurgle and a moan. "Check, check, check and check. Drowsiness, inability to gain weight, pale stools and dark urine." Trunks kicked his feet and a glop of drool escaped him, landing on the bottom corner of the book.

Radditz wiped it away without a thought. "Now, if the jaundice is severe, what are some of the treatment options?"

Another gurgle.

"Really? You'd go with phototherapy? Cause you know if it were me, I'd just do the blood transfusion. Why waste time with a lightbulb when you're gonna have to do the blood transfusion anyway you know?"

When Trunks kicked again, Radditz checked behind him to make sure he wasn't falling and it was then that he noticed Vegeta.

"Oh, hey there Vegeta,"

"Uhhhh, what's going on in here?"

Radditz seamlessly slid the baby from his back, into his arms and then sat up. "Why does everyone keep asking me that? I'm studying like I always do. I have a test tomorrow."

Vegeta looked at his son and then Radditz in the eyes.

The warrior looked down at the baby. "Oh him, right. Well he was crying non-stop and Bulma was going nuts so she asked for my help. Coincidentally I just helped him blow one out the ass, I mean to be honest with you, I really had no idea what I was doing and now, I don't know, he's attached to me I guess. See? Watch."

Radditz set Trunks down on a nearby sofa then turned his back. On cue Trunks began to get revved up again. Then, not three seconds later, he picked the baby up and the young Prince stopped. Set him down, cry. Picked him up, stopped.

Radditz then turned to his superior and shrugged at the phenomenon. "Weird huh?"

"Yeah…" Vegeta was still put off by the weirdness of this scene. He didn't know if it was the fact that he didn't like his finest warriors turning into babysitters, or if he was bothered by his finest warriors being great babysitters. "Where is Bulma?"

"I don't know. She said she was going to take an hour nap but that was about two hours ago."

"Huh." Accepting all that he needed to hear, Vegeta began to close the door.

"Hey wait! Where are you going?"

"Well you said that he's attached to you? Far be it from me to get in the way of your new friend."

"No wait! Vegeta! I have to study!"

The door closed, leaving Radditz again alone with the baby.

The two stared at each other. "Alright look kid, you might be the next heir to the throne and all but let's just get one thing straight here." Trunks blinked. "I do not work for you ok?"

He pointed a stern finger in the baby's face and not knowing any better (or who knows, maybe he did) Trunks smiled and grabbed Radditz finger to gum it in his mouth.

The warrior sighed.

"Slave to the palace, yet again."

XXXXXXXXXX

The Date

By week twelve Bulma and Vegeta were finally getting into the groove of things. Wake up, feed Trunks, tag-team shower. Have breakfast, Vegeta left for a meeting and Bulma was home with the baby. She was finally getting him in a good routine, eat, burp, tummy time, nap, eat again and then Vegeta got home. They tag-teamed again for a dinner and bathing the baby and then it was wash, rinse, and repeat.

Bulma didn't mind being a stay at home mom. At least for now. She hadn't expected Vegeta to come here and work when he told her he was here for an extended stay but she also knew her husband, and rest didn't come easy to him. And it wasn't like he wasn't using his time wisely. He was actively trying to fix some of Earth's issues with his native planet with great headway. Fifteen countries have agreed to accept military assistance and protection from Saijin warriors including Canada and the U.K. Bulma was proud of him and even more proud that he still found time to come home to her and help her with Trunks.

As far as she was concerned however, if she were an outsider looking in, she wouldn't recognize herself. She hasn't touched a computer in months. Baby programs with dancing purple dinosaurs occupied her intellect and when Trunks was asleep, she was in the kitchen with her mother and sometimes a visiting Chi-Chi, learning how to prepare meals.

She talked about things like baby detergent and butt paste to anyone who would listen. Lately her once cropped curls had taken over her head and she was akin to letting them do whatever they wanted, occasionally pulling them back to match her new best look: sweatpants and an over-sized Tee.

The press was stunned. They had thought that the return of the heiress to the Capsule fortune would mean the return of her, featured in her regular hangouts: Barney's, Fabricio's Italian Cuisine and Club Retro downtown. But the paparazzi found themselves catching more photos of her husband than her. If she left the house it was on a quick errand for the baby and she never did anything exciting. She'd palm a couple of jars of formula, read the ingredients on the back, maybe grab a new outfit or two for the baby and then she went home.

These days Bulma didn't have time to think about her own life, she only thought about Trunk's, and Vegeta sometimes. But most times when the couple talked, they talked about Trunks and so her world was consumed.

It was beginning to become noticeable.

Right now the couple was tag-teaming dinner, Bulma breast-feeding Trunks and Vegeta spooning her a mouthful of food when he took a break from his own. While one hand was cradling her son and simultaneously patting him on the bottom, the other was trying to shovel a couple of scoops of formula into a bottle.

"I know the pediatrician said three to four ounces a feeding but I don't think he's really taking into account that this baby is half Saijin," she seemed to be talking into thin air but she was addressing her husband. "This kid can really eat. I think we're gonna' have to up the ounces again."

"He can self-regulate," Vegeta said between spoonfuls. "He'll tell you when he's full."

A squawk from underneath the blanket told Bulma that her breast was all dried up and he was ready for the good stuff. She pulled him out and placed him on her lap while she added the water and shook up the bottle. Trunk's eyes were transfixed on the process while breast milk residue leaked from the corners of his mouth.

"I sure hope so. But I'm a little worried if we do that, he'll eat too much and throw up in the middle of the night." She laid him back and brought the bottle to his lips. It took a millisecond before Trunks inhaled like he hasn't seen milk in 40 days. More milk was leaking from his mouth but he liked it there.

"He's not going to throw up woman, he's fine."

"Hmm, if you say so." Bulma accepted another bite of food from her husband.

Bunny had been watching the entire exchange at the table and for reasons she couldn't understand, she suddenly felt a heightened combination of sadness and panic. In the months that Bulma had been home, she's changed. First into a woman longing for her husband and now into a woman that knew nothing but her husband and baby. And while there was nothing wrong with that, Bunny also knew her daughter. Rest did not come to her easy. She saw the way her carbon copy milled about the windows and stared longingly at broken gravity chamber still perched on the lawn. Her fingers twitched; they needed a wrench in them. And when Bunny asked her what was wrong, her daughter covered up her sadness with a smile and said, "nothing." Then she asked her mother to show her another recipe. This new mother in Bulma was a part of her but it wasn't all of her. And Bunny was convinced if she didn't act now, her daughter would be gone down the rabbit hole.

"Bulma," she announced suddenly.

Her call surprised Bulma because usually during dinner her mother would talk to her father about Capsule Corp's latest event or her new shopping haul but her tone of voice sounded like she had something of urgency to share.

"Yeah mom?"

"Bulma honey," Bunny readjusted in her seat. "Why don't you and Vegeta go on a date?"

Her eyebrows furrowed together. "What?" She was pretty sure her mother was going to share tips on preventing sleep vomit, given that this was the most recent conversation. Needless to say, she was surprised at the question that followed suit.

"You know, a date honey," her mom cooed. "Go out on the town, go see a movie, get dinner somewhere. Tomorrow is the weekend; I think that'd be a perfect time to go."

Bulma eyed her husband who purposely broke from her stare and re-directed his attention to his food. This conversation wasn't for him.

"Uhhhh," Bulma was at a loss, still trying to pin-point the origin of this question.

"When's the last time you've been on one?"

"Uhhhh," Now she was really at a loss. Aside from the formal sip and see, hosted by her mother, Bulma couldn't recall the last time she's been out with Vegeta. At least out to spend time with him anyway. As far back as she could trace it, it was the day he took her to the fair when she first found out she was pregnant. And that had turned out to be a disaster. Come to think of it, have she and Vegeta been on any dates? Maybe they weren't the dating type.

Bunny meanwhile, read her daughter's face like a book. "See, it's been ages," she concluded. "You need some alone time honey. Just the two of you, away from the baby."

Bulma looked down at her son, suckling away at his bottle. "I don't mind being around the baby mom. He's still a newborn, he needs me."

"Honey, he's three months."

"Hey, if he were a business he would just be completing his first quarterly review. So technically still in infancy."

Bunny shook her head and began to clear Vegeta's massive empty plates. "I'm not disputing he's an infant honey, I'm just saying. Look at your poor husband. He's dying for you to get dressed up. Treat him with those stunning good looks of yours."

Bulma again looked at Vegeta. He had slowed his inhale of wontons and was looking to the table for help. Radditz was engrossed in his book and Dr. Briefs engrossed in the paper. It was just he, Bulma and Bunny so again, he chose to remain quiet and eat.

"Is this about my sweatpants?" When a plop of sauce fell onto the pants in question, Bulma used her finger to scoop it up and place it in her mouth.

"No," her mother handed some of the plates off to the wait staff, then gathered some more. "Though I can't understand why you keep wearing those awful things." Sometimes when she got the urge to put on a pair of jeans or a dress, Bulma bit it down and put the sweats on instead. Just because she knew it drove her mother crazy. "I just think it's good to get out for a bit honey. Your life has become all about the baby. And too much baby can be a bad thing."

Her eyebrows were still kissing each other. "He's an infant mom, how could that possibly be a bad thing?"

Bunny passed more plates to her wait staff, while another came with dessert.

"Just trust me and listen to your mother ok?" she planted a kiss to the top of Bulma's head. "You and Vegeta will go out to dinner tomorrow night and I'll watch the baby for you."

"But—"

"I insist"

Both parties stared at one another, they knew this was the end game. Vegeta had learned long ago that arguing with Bunny was like arguing with someone who didn't speak the same language. And when she had insisted something, it had practically become law.

She insisted Vegeta take the room with the best mattress when he arrived to Earth, she insisted he tried her various international coffees—which he surprisingly liked—each morning she could catch him. And she insisted he wear a pink "Bad Man" shirt she had purchased for him for Kakkarot's barbeque last weekend. He wasn't prepared to argue with his new mother-in-law and arguing seemed fruitless anyway so he just kept his mouth shut and did as she asked. Which meant that now, he guessed, he and Bulma would be going on a date tomorrow.

"Hmmm, I wonder where you should go," Bunny sat down and palmed her chin while she poked at her dessert. "Honey," now she addressed her husband. "Where do you think Bulma and Vegeta should go on their date tomorrow night? Oh, how about Bella Italia? We liked that place, right dear?"

"Mmm, sounds great dear," Dr. Briefs was still behind his paper.

"Ok perfect! So it's settled. I call the restaurant now to make the reservation."

She was gone like a force of wind and when she left, Vegeta finally finished eating.

Bulma glared at him with mild malice. "So you weren't going to help me just now?"

The Prince eased back in his chair, satisfied with the meal he had eaten. "Nope."

"Oh c'mon, what happened to the big-bad, I'll-kill-you-if-you-look-in-my-direction- Prince?" Her father's attention was drawn from beneath his paper. "This was totally your moment to assert your dominance! Get in there and tell her what's what!"

Vegeta was unphased. "This isn't my territory," he replied and abruptly stood up from the table. He cupped her neck and planted a kiss to her forehead. "I'll see you tomorrow night."

Bulma huffed when he was gone, leaving a wind of curls to flop in her face.

She guessed she and her husband had a date.

XXX

"Ok so don't forget he needs his bath at seven and then his bottle immediately after."

"Mmmhmm,"

"I pumped extra bottles of breast-milk just in case of an emergency ok? They're on the top shelf in the fridge."

Bunny was sitting down now, cooing faces at her grandson and not paying his fretting mother any attention.

"Oh and when you give him a bath, be careful of his tail ok? He likes to play around and wrap it around your arm but if you're not paying attention you could yank it too hard and then he goes nuts."

"Mmmhhmm,"

"I know you know my number mom but I left it on the side of the fridge and on the counter just in case. I wrote Vegeta's number down too. I mean he doesn't much answer it but he will if it's you."

"Bulma," Bunny knew Bulma's fret would soon sour the evening if she didn't stop.

"Oh and don't forget to wrap him in the blue blanket when you put him down ok? Not the green. He doesn't like the feeling of the green one and he'll un-wrap himself and start crying."

"Woman," Vegeta was waiting impatiently, while his wife rattled off meaningless nonsense. His stomach was starting to growl.

"And mom, don't put him in front of the TV too long because the doctor said that he—"

"Honey, honey, honey," While one arm was cradling the baby, the other was placed on her daughter's shoulder. "I've got him ok? Go and enjoy yourselves, we'll be ok here."

Bulma looked hesitant. "Ok…" she palmed the blanket that swaddled her son and swiped her finger across his robust cheek. "Are you sure you don't need me to stay for five more minutes? Sometimes he freaks out when me and Vegeta leave at the same time."

"No," Bunny eased gently. "Go and have fun," she swayed Trunks from side-to-side.

Vegeta already hand his hand on her other shoulder, prepared to ease her out the door.

"Ok…" she turned back before Vegeta could get her out the door to give her son a kiss. "We won't be gone long ok?" she told her mother, but really she was reassuring herself.

"Byyyyeee," her mother had already turned her back.

Before she knew what was happening, the front door was closed and she was on the opposite side of it. Cool breeze swayed her straightened hair and tickled her already blushed cheeks. It felt weird to be outside of the compound without her baby in hand. Even when she went out to the store, she always took him with her. Bulma looked to her hands for comfort but in the absence of a small warm body, she suddenly felt empty.

While Vegeta fished in his pockets for something she could feel prickling in her eyes. She sniffled once, drawing his attention.

"Are you crying?" he stopped what he was doing to hover in front of her, hoping to catch the evidence that astounded him. He wasn't quick enough to catch it however and was met with the back of her dress.

"No!" she defended, hiding her embarrassment from her husband. It was near to impossible though; he could feel her sadness through their bond. "Yes! Just…just give me a minute dammit!" A few more tears and a whimper escaped her and she hugged herself for comfort. The breeze was too cold she told herself, and this slinky red-dress she was wearing really did nothing to shield her from the changing weather.

A crisp blazer was suddenly around her shoulders. Followed by muscled arms. Bulma allowed herself another sniffle and leaned into her husband's embrace.

"Bulma," his voice was strained with contrite reassurance. "He's going to be fine." He let go and turned her around so he could look her in the eyes.

"I know he's going to be fine," a hankie produced in her hand. "But I just…I don't know. I don't want to leave him yet. It's too soon."

"It's only for a few hours," Vegeta tried to reason but that argument seemed null and void. "Listen, I'll make you a deal, hmm? If you can get through the next couple of hours with a brave face then we can bring him on the next date."

Bulma's blue eyes met his onyx promise, her mood instantly seeming to brighten. "You promise?"

"Regrettably," Vegeta could already foresee the consequences of his bargain. "But yes, I promise."

A smile spread from cheek to cheek. "Ok," she dabbed her eyes and her face once more so as not to ruin her make-up. "Let's go have dinner then."

XXX

When he laughed at her suggestion of taking the hover car they wound up flying to the restaurant and landing in the ally before walking inside like regular patrons without flying capabilities. They were ushered to a dimly lit private room, accented with all the finer things that an Amex black card would buy: priceless art on the walls, plush velvet seats, chilled vintage wine, and a personal waiter for the night, ready to meet their every request met before they could ask it.

Vegeta held out Bulma's chair for her and tucked her in before taking his own. The waiter followed suit by pouring each of them water and wine.

"Would you like to hear our specials tonight?"

"Sure," Bulma smiled.

While he rattled off an array of fishes and meats for tonight's selection, Vegeta stared awkwardly at his menu.

"I don't know what any of this is," he confessed. He's been introduced to a lot of new foods while on Earth but Italian was something he's yet to try.

"That's ok, I'll order for you," she said. "I'll have the risotto for me and four of everything on the menu for him."

The waiter almost lost his eyes from his head. "I um," he gulped and cocked his head closer to make sure he heard correctly. "Excuse me? Four of everything Ms. Briefs?"

"Mmmmm," Bulma thought cautiously to herself. "You know what, you're right. Better make that five."

"Ehh-hem," the waiter stood up straight, then covered his mouth when he cleared his throat. "Yes of course. Would you care for anything to start?" He was almost afraid to ask but wouldn't be a good waiter if he didn't.

"Just bread please," Bulma said sweetly.

"Yes of course. Right away ma'am."

Vegeta watched him go, then took a glance around the restaurant. "Nice place." He hasn't eaten in too many places outside of the palace and when he did they were usually on a ship or in a hut somewhere. Planet Vegeta wasn't known for fine dining. "Does your planet usually make it a point to isolate guests from other people when dining out?" He thought back to the movies he's seen of Earthlings and usually they eat together.

"Only when you have the big bucks," Bulma smiled, rubbing her thumb and pads of her fingers together. "Plus, with the paparazzi and everything, it's nice to sit away from the cameras."

"Oh. Right." That had been an unintentional side-effect on his vow to make an extended stay on Earth. One he did not enjoy.

There was an awkward silence between the two before Bulma broke it. "Do you think Trunks is ok with my mom? Should I call her?"

Vegeta's eyes flat-lined. "Woman he's fine. Stop doing that."

"Doing what?" she blinked innocently and grabbed a piece of bread once the basket arrived.

"You know what you're doing. The baby is fine. Leave he and your mother alone."

"I know Vegeta but he has diaper rash. I forgot to tell my mom to—"

"Bulma," his tone was a low warning tone. She hadn't heard that tempo in a long time. "Stop it," he ordered. "No more baby talk."

Bulma topped off her bread and sighed. "Fine," she bit out.

There was another break of silence, the only sound being the soft strumming of romantic music in the background. It was actually a sax solo which Bulma found cheesy and she briefly wondered what her mother liked about this restaurant. She strummed her fingers on the table and looked to her husband.

He looked rather content; he was never bothered with silence. But Bulma was so she decided to break it. Again.

"So," she said and she grabbed another piece of bread. "How are you enjoying your time on Earth?"

He took a sip of his wine. "I don't think enjoying is the word."

"You don't like it here?"

"I like you. I like being with you and our son," he said plainly, then he tried to think of more things that fascinated him. "Your home is nice. And I like coffee…"

"Butttt," Bulma dragged.

"But?" He didn't know what else to say. Earth was a mudball and if he could have it his way, he'd be home already.

Suddenly Bulma gasped and dropped her bread on the table. Vegeta was mildly concerned until he realized she was being dramatic again. "Oh my God!"

"What woman?"

"You're homesick aren't you?"

"What? No! Don't be ridiculous." He was becoming stiff in his chair and a mild blush tainted his cheeks.

"Awwwwww," she cooed at him and he could feel his old threats to kill her resurfacing to his lips. "Veggie misses his home! How cute!" She reached over to cup his cheeks, earning a shove of her hand in the opposite direction.

"Cut it out. And don't be absurd. I've fought many of battles months away from home. I am not homesick."

A couple of starters came out that she didn't ask for, compliments of the chef. Bulma giggled and squeezed the lemon wedge over the clams.

"Well you at least miss your mother don't you?"

"Hn'" Vegeta tried one of the clams, then rumpled his face and put it back down.

"What about your father?" He glared at her and she giggled again.

"I miss my father about as much as your father enjoys having me in his home."

"Oh stop Vegeta, daddy doesn't mind you there." He glared at her again this time, his eyes giving way to the truth.

"Why are you staring at me like that? I mean it," she said. Partly she knew that he was privy to the things her father said about him to her in private but she found no harm in covering for her father to safe face.

"Mmhmm," Vegeta swirled his wine and took a sip. The waiter brought a minestrone next. "What about you?"

"What about me?" Bulma patted her mouth with her napkin.

"This dinner is supposed to be about you isn't it?"

"Uhhh, I think it's supposed to be about us. And whatever pretend problems my mother sees about us in her head." She finished with an eye roll. Then she thought of something. "They are pretend problems right?"

Vegeta shrugged. "I don't have any issues." A mental sigh of relief. "But I do tend to agree with her."

"About what?" Bulma abandoned the clams and grabbed a spoon. "Don't tell me you've fallen prey to this whole, 'I give the baby all my attention and don't give you any' thing?"

"No, I don't think I need any more of your attention." He paused. "I take that back. I could use more of your attention but we'll talk about that later."

She rolled her eyes. He was talking about sex and the many ways in which they were not having it.

"But I do think things have changed." Bulma laid her napkin on her lap and brought a spoonful of soup to her lips. Her eyes never left her husband. "It's not your fault. It's no one's really. Things are supposed to change after you have a child. At least that's what everyone tells me."

"Butttt?"

"But," Vegeta took a spoonful of his soup as well and continued. "Tell me what's on your mind at this exact moment?"

"Well I would, but I'm not allowed to talk about him," she flipped her spoon to the side for emphasis.

"You've made my point. A few months ago, your mind was everywhere. The lab, the cloaking scouters, the gravity chamber, hell torturing the hell out of Mozzar and Yarmit." Bulma smiled. She missed them. She hoped they were still alive. "Now you're not thinking about the future anymore. You're only seeing what's in front of you."

"Well, that's not fair," she defended. "A couple months ago we had Freeza to worry about. I couldn't see anything but getting past that."

"And now?"

Bulma sighed, abandoning her soup. The waiter had returned to clear their unwanted plates while inconspicuously ignoring their conversation. "I don't know Vegeta, now it's all about Trunks I guess." She picked at the table cloth before looking back at her husband. "I feel so guilty," she confessed. "I feel like I missed all of my pregnancy because I was worried about Freeza or the birth, or just…something crazy. I didn't get to enjoy it because there was always something you know? Hell, I missed my own birthday." She shook her head in shame. "And I don't know, I guess I'm just worried that if I pick all of those things up again, I'm going to miss him." Another deep sigh. "I don't want to do that."

"All of those things are understandable Bulma. I feel that way too." She abandoned wiping imaginary crumbs off the table at caught his eyes at his confession. "But," he added. "I know that if I consume myself with him, ironically, he won't have a future. I have to think about the future if I want to include him in it."

Bulma dropped her head into her palms. "I guesssss that makes sense," she groaned.

Vegeta chuckled. He could feel the guilt in her head. "I'm not shaming you Bulma—"

"Sure feels that way…"

"Take all the time you need to bond with our son," he added. More wine was brought to the table. "Just remember to think about yourself too."

Bulma sighed. "I suppose it can be done," she huffed.

"Isn't there anything you've been meaning to do?" She eyed him suspiciously while the waiter returned with carts of food proceeding him. "Anything you've been meaning too…."

"Meaning toooo?"

"Fix?"

"You mean the gravity chamber?"

"Took the words right out of my mouth." Vegeta was smirking by the time their food was placed in front of them, his still being wheeled in by the cart load. The waiter mentioned something or the other about his continuous onslaught of food and they began to eat.

"Real smooth Vegeta," Bulma rolled her eyes and he was already finished with his first plate. While he got a kick out of sparring with Goku on the lawn, he was dying to take the chamber for a spin with his best warrior.

"I suppose I can start repairing some of the damage soon. Maybe tomorrow." Something then crossed her mind. "Mmmm, maybe Monday. Trunks and I have a special Tom Cats episode to watch tomorrow, I know he's excited about it."

Vegeta slowed his eating for a sigh. "I don't even want to ask."

She smiled, accepting her delayed return to the work force and took her first bite of risotto. Ah, so this is why her mother liked this place, it was delicious.

"So is there anything else rattling around in that brain of yours I should know about?"

"Mmmm, just one more thing," Her eyes lolled to the corner of her sockets.

"What?"

"Thank you." Vegeta stopped eating.

"What? Thank me for what?"

Now Bulma giggled. She loved it when he was confused. He was so cute. "I don't think I've ever stopped to say thank you. For…everything. For making it here, for staying with me, being great with Trunks." She smiled in appreciation. "I know it's not easy, especially since my dad hates you and all—"

"But you just said…"

"But, I really gotta hand it to you Vegeta. You've been a great dad, and even though you and my mom are in cahoots to get me out of my sweatpants," he glared feigned annoyance at her. "I'm really happy. So thank you."

She was trying to be funny, though truthful at the same time. It's been a long time since the two of them have had an opportunity to talk about anything that was just the two of them and in that conversation, Vegeta had to admit it was nice to be appreciated. He was working hard to be the man that she needed him to be and while he could always feel her gratitude it meant something different to hear it vocalized out loud.

"Well you're welcome," he said awkwardly. Clearly he struggled to receive compliments. "I see you've underestimated my capabilities."

Bulma's eyes flatlined. "See what you did there? You took something nice and you made it weird. That's the last time I compliment you. Ever."

Now Vegeta laughed. It's been a long time since he's laughed.

And for the remainder of their meal the couple just talked. They talked about things they hadn't talked about in months, almost a year. Vegeta shared his grievances about the leaders on her planet, and his aptness for Cocoa Puffs and coffee. He was planning to return to his planet with a boatload stowed away on the ship. Then once the flood gates were open Bulma started talking about Capsule Corp. She talked about where she left off before she traveled to planet Vegeta and where she'd like to pick up, and how she could possibly get a branch beginning back on Planet Vegeta.

She was so busy rambling that she hadn't noticed, in the midst of his eating Vegeta had mentioned something to the waiter. She kept on talking, they kept on talking and enjoyed the hours they hadn't noticed go by.

"Have you ever wondered if Goku and Chi-Chi have sex?"

It was his last bite of food and thanks to her he was now choking on it. Bulma watched him regain himself, unphased by her own question.

"No!" Vegeta managed to blurt from beneath his attempts to save his own life. Bulma kept talking.

"Like when I think about how we have sex, I can't fathom the two of them doing it." She thought out loud.

Finally, the Prince had caught himself. A few hairs were out of place and he was looking at her dazed. "It's had woman. How we had sex." He corrected. Bulma waved him off with a flap of her hand. "And I never think about anyone having sex, ever. Especially not my best warrior and his loud wife." He didn't even want to ask how that thought had managed to cross her mind, he just hoped she would change the subject.

She wasn't. "I mean they have to right? They have Gohan after all but Goku is just soooooo…soooo…"

"Moronic?" he finished for her.

"Childish," she concluded for him with a pointed look. "And Chi-Chi is just so classy. And it's crazy because I could totally see Bardock and Emmy doing it. Bardock looks like a freak."

Vegeta's fingers were dragging across his face. "Please stop talking."

"But Goku and Chi-Chi? I just don't see it. Maybe they just don't have sex," she shrugged.

"Join the club," he thought to himself but he thought it loud enough for her to hear. She glared at him.

"Well the thought came to me because I was hoping that Trunks could have a little play-mate you know? It'd be kind of lonely for him if he was the only kid around, Gohan is too big to play with him. Goku and Chi-Chi are kind of the only viable option but I think it's safe to say that those two are never going to have another kid." She snorted.

The waiter re-entered just then, thankfully saving Vegeta from this conversation.

He was holding an array of desserts: chocolate mousse, crème brulee, flan and chocolate cake. Each had a lit candle in the center of them and a large Italian man, dressed in a 3 piece suit followed behind him to sing Happy Birthday.

Bulma thought they had the wrong table for a moment. Today was definitely not her birthday. And neither was it Vegeta's. But she momentarily forgot her guilty rant to her husband about her chaotic pregnancy that had caused her to miss the celebration of her own birthday.

Then she looked up and saw her husband's smirk.

She truly was married to the best man in the world.

XXXX

The Date: Epilogue

Something about gelato was an aphrodisiac. Bulma didn't know what exact ingredient it was, but after two licks, she had abandoned her cone and she was all over her husband.

After dinner they decided to go for a stroll, Bulma finally having the chance to show Vegeta some of the landmarks. That lasted not even an hour before the paparazzi caught onto them so they ducked into a gelato shop and Bulma treated him to a few scoops.

She couldn't describe it but there was something about seeing Vegeta this way: calm and casual that turned her on. He used his finger to hold his blazer over his shoulder, the muscles in his face were relaxed and he had an earnestness about him that wasn't urgent but attentive.

It started with a chaste kiss, because she wanted to taste the pistachio nutoff of his lips. And then the peck turned into a kiss, and the kiss slipped in some tongue, and by that point Vegeta had set down his ice cream to pull her into his arms.

The paparazzi was having a field day outside, snapping frenzied photos from the clear pane window. And while it was becoming apparent that this moment was getting steamy, Bulma didn't want it to stop.

Vegeta however was a little more conscious of on-lookers. He broke their kiss and leaned his forehead against hers. "Ready to go home?" he asked her through their bond.

"There's an exit in the back."

They were through the doors and in the sky before she could blink.

It was a half-hazard fly, Bulma having her lips and hands all over him in the process. He almost dropped her twice because his hard-on was becoming too stiff to balance her and focus. When they touched down on the front porch Vegeta was fumbling for his keys and Bulma's hands were rubbing front to back on his crotch. She was being PG but her mind wanted to reach into the hem of his pants to grab his cock.

"Dammit!" There were too many keys on the chain, none of them the right one to open the door.

Bulma laughed and hiked her leg around his waist using it to pull her pelvis to his. "C'mon Veggie," she cupped his neck to whisper in his ear. "Can't you put the key in the hole?"

Vegeta kicked in the door. Another reason for Dr. Briefs to hate him yes, but he promised he'd fix it tomorrow, hell he'd fix it tonight, he just needed to be inside of his wife, like right now.

Bulma giggled as he carried her over the threshold, the noise capturing the attention of a few of the house help and her mother.

"Oh goodness Bulma, I thought that was you," Bunny was suddenly in the foyer. Vegeta set Bulma down but she was still giggling. "Goodness what happened to the door?"

While he was prepared to have his hard-on deflate again, in preparation of respectfully dealing with her mother, it was Bulma this time who was ushering him away. "Uhh, nothing mom, Vegeta just, doesn't know his strength that's all."

"Oh," Bunny seemed to accept without reason. "Ok." She was following them. "We'll you'll be happy to know that me and Trunks had a great time. I put him down a little while ago and he's sleeping in—"

"Yeah that's great mom um, can we finish this later? I have to ummm, I have to pee…really bad, and you know it's just gonna eat me up if I don't go right now." She had Vegeta half way up the stairs, her giggling hands still roaming him.

"Pee huh?" Bunny placed a hand on her hip.

"Night mom!"

They were in her room behind the closed door before either of them knew it.

"You know your mother knows what we're up to right?"

"So," After a breathy kiss, she was fondling his shirt in an attempt to get it off. His blazer had already been abandoned in the hallway. Vegeta couldn't have gotten a greener light.

He allowed her the grace of taking off his shirt before he took control. He grabbed her by the ass and set her on his waist to straddle him, then he slid down the straps of her flouncy dress. Her exposed breasts were in his mouth as soon as they were set free.

Setting her on the bed, he only broke free to swipe off his belt and pants then he tore her dress off and climbed on top of her. Bulma could only giggle, reminiscent of their first mating when they couldn't keep their hands off of each other.

She remembered the first time she took him into her mouth. And how timid she was to pull him into her lips. She felt confident now, assured that she could make him come in minutes. The memory and her willingness to repeat made her vagina damp and Vegeta's dick harden even more. He groaned in agony at the porn she replayed in their minds. She wanted to re-create that moment but Vegeta was about to explode. He didn't have time for foreplay, he needed to fuck.

Their tongues were sloppily mouthing each other down, then he to the mark on her neck. He kneed her legs open and tore her panties away. She rolled her head to the side with a moan.

She smirked in anticipation, palming her husband's back and urging him to go. But two baby blue eyes sent a jolt of lighting from her toes to her brain.

"Shit Vegeta, the baby." This must have been what her mother was trying to tell her. She put the baby down in the bassinet in their room and not in his crib in the nursery.

Vegeta meanwhile was still fascinated with her neck and never looked up. "So?"

"So, he's watching us." Trunks wasn't really watching anything. He was sucking his pacifier with a pout, dissatisfied he couldn't get both his fist and his pacifier into his mouth simultaneously.

"Good," his father replied. "He'll learn early how to fuck."

Vegeta sheathed himself into her without a second thought and Bulma cried out in a burst of blissful satisfaction. There was a bit of pain considering she hadn't had sex since she was pregnant and she was 12 weeks post-partum but there was no room to think about the pain. Everything about his heavy cock piercing her at the hilt sent rivers of pleasure down every facet of her body.

Vegeta needed to a moment to acclimate too. It had been a long time, he almost forgot what it felt like. And he could cry at the satisfaction that tickled his soul.

He was moving in no time, abandoning the idea of taking it slow and penetrating her with long, deep strokes. Bulma was struggling to breathe; not because she couldn't keep up but because she too forgot how good this felt. She wrapped her arms around him and met him stroke for stroke, careful not to come too soon. She was hyper sensitive.

"Fuck," Vegeta groaned into her neck and lifted her ass to bring her pelvis closer to his. He wanted to roll into her deeper.

"Oh God Vegeta," she was careful not too be too loud. Her parent's room was not far down the hallway, not to mention that Radditz always had listening ears and he was a pervert.

When missionary got to comfortable, he turned her on her side (away from the bassinet) and spewed her leg over his so he could roll into her from behind. He cupped her breast, her newly ample breast into his hands and pressed her closer to him so he could get deeper.

"Fuck Vegeta," Bulma lolled her head into a pillow to cry into the plush confines.

Even though she wasn't facing him, she was stilling grabbing him, still attempting to pull him closer to her body. Vegeta was sure this is what heaven looked like. He gripped her waist harder, and sheathed in and out of her in rapid succession.

"Mmmmmm," Bulma moaned in acceptance, this position hitting her G-spot in the way that made her eyes flutter. When he picked up the pace, the slaps of skin was music to both of their ears. "Vegeta hurry, I'm gonna come."

With the ease of an acrobat, he picked her up and swirled her around so she was straddling him. He wanted to see her face when she peaked.

Bulma bounced on top of him and he pulled her down closer so her clit was rubbing against him with each thrust. Her eyes crinkled together, her release coming soon.

He thrust harder, forcing himself to reach with her. And in three more pumps the two of them came together. It was hard to be quiet when a long-awaited orgasm hit like this one. Bulma didn't realize how loud her cries were until Vegeta quieted her with his lips on top of hers.

Her final rides came in quivers until the Prince pulled out forcing her legs to shake on the bed. He released the remnants of his seed on her stomach until there was nothing left to do but collapse and breathe.

Both of them were sweating, neither of them prepared to move from the sweet wet goodness they had left on the bed.

Vegeta leaned over to nibble his marking on his mate's neck and Bulma sighed in content. She cupped his cheeks to kiss him then a sudden outburst from their son, brought them back to reality.

Trunks lost his pacifier in an attempt to gum his fist again, and didn't have the dexterity to get it back.

When they realized he wasn't dying, just troubled, the rested their craned necks back on the bed.

"We better not have made another one of those," Bulma declared.

Vegeta only smirked. Though he had to agree with her, he couldn't help but think that if he put another baby in her, he'd be nothing but proud.

XXXX

The next two chapters will be the final two installments

Review!