Author's note: After much consideration as to the future of this fic...I've decided that this is where this journey is set to end. I have decided that this is merely the first in an arc I'm calling 'The Ties that Bind' and will be continued in a new story 'Learning Curve' which will focus primarily on Bardock but will of course continue with Raditz, Broly, and Braiden much like this story only with more emphasis on his parents. I am grateful to all of you who have followed this story and once I get the next one up, I hope that you might give it a chance as well even though I am sure that you might be disappointed in how I've chosen to end things in this story.

Epilogue: Trying to Set Things Right

Ria stares at the male who comes INTO the ship. He'd talked to Bardock too long NOT to know who this had to be. Staring at the balls of KI the other held, he swallows. "Y-you...must be Tora..."

That definitely gets his attention. "You know me?"

"I know...Bardock," he replies quietly, "I was...wondering when you'd come to take him home where he belongs."

As he watches the male's mouth curves. "Well, then, if you would be so kind as to show me to Turles I would be SO grateful."

Ria was pretty sure it translated to 'do as I ask and I might NOT kill you'. He quickly heads off deciding that Tora was one VERY scary dude. He brings him to the door before withdrawing immediately not really sure he wanted to watch what was about to go down.

Feeling worse than he ever had, Bardock wondered why Tora should even bother attempting coming after him. He'd surrendered...he'd fucking SURRENDERED! It was an almost unbearable thought to the spiky-haired male. The water pouring down over him was hot but not nearly enough to help him feel clean again. Squeezing his eyes shut, he berates himself AGAIN for giving in way too easily.

It's not long before a loud thud catches his attention before a familiar energy thrums through him and his eyes widen. A loud crash soon follows heralding what was probably a knock-down, drag-out fight. And Bardock, didn't have the want to to leave the shower and watch it as he was wondering why Tora would come in the FIRST place considering all that had gone on with the dark-skinned Saiyan. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that if he stayed put in the shower that Tora would kill Turles. Part of him was incredibly thrilled with that idea and hoped it was bloody while the other part, the part he despised himself for having had a very DIFFERENT idea on the whole situation and is why he ends up dressed and racing from the room.

The sight of Tora ascended takes Bardock's breath away and he finds himself staring at him for a few minutes before he manages to pull himself and put his libido back in it's box and moves to his side before grabbing his wrist. "Tora, enough," he tells him startling the taller male into turning.

"'Dock..."

"Look, I know that this is gonna sound crazy and I NEED you to bear with me but...you can't kill him right yet."

"Are you completely OUT of your MIND?" he demands.

"No," Bardock says quietly, "but...things are the way they are for a reason."

Tora gazes at him intently before his mouth curves at the edges into a snarl. "He DIDN'T..."

"He did...so...please...at least for a time...suspend judgment."

For a moment, the look told him that the other was NOT at all thrilled with his words before he would glare at Turles. "As you wish," the glowing male grits out, "but, 'Dock, it's only 'cause YOU ask me to."

"I know you don't like it...but thank you, Tora."

Tora grips the other male tightly before sinking his teeth into the others skin hard enough to get a low gasp of pain. "You have NO idea how much I don't like this."

Bardock is quiet a moment before saying, "You know that's not true."

"'Dock, we're not arguing this point are we?"

He shakes his head. "No, just...let's get home. I have a bad feeling Raditz is in trouble again."

"I can only imagine."

"Do...you mind if I come with?"

Bardock turns at the voice. "Ria...well, it would be a long time in coming. I am sure by now your father is no longer an issue...and even if he is, I have a room you can use."

"You trust him?" Tora asks.

"Yes," Bardock says quietly, "Ria's one problem came when Turles pretty much saved his life. He owed him a debt. It's paid now."

"Fine. Let's just get you home. Everything else is secondary."

Somehow, he's not that surprised though the ugly look sent at him by Turles tells him that things were only going to be more interesting in their household but he would handle that AFTER he got back to his boys and checked in on them. 'Please,' he thinks, 'for the love of WHOEVER, please just don't make things more complicated than they already are.' He was pretty sure that no one was listening but somehow that had become the norm for his family.

***POV Change***

Of course no one knew where his mate had gone to this time. Raditz closes his eyes and leans against the wall telling himself that it would be alright, that Broly WOULD come back if only for Braiden's sake. Running a shaking hand through his hair, he wondered if there would ever be a time that he didn't feel like he was tilting so far off balance. Somehow, he was pretty sure that wasn't ever going to happen. 'Focus on what you can take care of,' he thinks as he settles into doing mundane tasks to keep his mind occupied. If he couldn't change the situation as it stood than he had to handle things that he could deal with which was the home and the infant he had a hand in creating. Braiden was the most important thing right now so if his mate wanted to have a fit and leave that was his choice.

He's really not sure how many times he spends cleaning rooms that are spotless before he hears the front door open. He pauses a moment though was pretty sure it wasn't who he desperately wished it would be and goes to continue what he was doing when a voice calls, "If you do not put down that damn rag and come here, brat, I swear I'm gonna come after you and kick your ass." It is enough to have him doing as bade before he realizes it and he stares at the male standing in the doorway with his arms crossed.

"F-father..." he whispers staring at the scarred Saiyan who snorts at his commentary.

"You were expecting? How many times are you going to redo something that's been done before it settles whatever is bothering you?"

"I don't...I don't know what else to do..."

"He left again?"

"I can't blame him...I would, too, watching what happened to me broadcast planet-wide."

Bardock's eyes soften. "Brat, he'll get his head on straight at some point but you cannot take this out on yourself."

"And do WHAT?!" he demands, "I don't know what ELSE to do to occupy myself!"

"You could call your brothers if you're in need of something to occupy yourself with," the other points out calmly, "There are, I think, a FEW Saiyans on this planet who still claim you as a friend even with as much of a pain in the ass as you are and I am SURE they'd have a suggestion. THIS," he waves, "is NOT an acceptable way of handling your stress."

Raditz's fingers clench before he merely crosses the distance and hugs him. "Are you alright?" The feel of the slight tension makes him stare at his father and he's not sure he likes what he reads. "Father?"

"It's complicated," the other says gruffly as he withdraws.

"Define...complicated?"

"Turles will be here awhile," he answers quietly, "by my request."

"But..." Raditz stills a moment, "You think he might have..."

"We'll see," Bardock says interrupting the commentary obviously not wanting to hear the words spoken, "So, Tora's just a little...peevish."

"I'm sorry, father."

The male waves him off. "That's not what you need to concern yourself with. Now, where's my grandson?"

Raditz can't help the soft snort as he goes and gently lifts the sleeping cub and brings him to his grandfather. He watches Bardock's eyes soften and the warrior smiles. "He really is something, Raditz."

"I know," he murmurs, "He's probably the best thing Broly and I will manage to do."

"Don't say that," Bardock murmurs as he holds the cub rocking him genty, "Besides, I'm pretty sure that the both of you will be FINE at some point."

"Define FINE," Raditz mutters. A yelp follows at the feel of his father's tail connecting with him.

"Don't sass, brat, I'm not in the mood."

Realizing that the other probably wasn't, he merely murmurs, "Are you hungry? I have food made." It would be nice not to eat alone at this point.

"I definitely won't say no to that," Bardock tells him.

Raditz chuckles softly before deciding to ask, "Are you sure it was a good idea to leave Tora alone with Turles?"

"Technically Ria is with them but honestly, I doubt it. However, things are as they are for a reason and Tora knows not to kill him. Everything else is up for debate."

Raditz prepares and brings his father a plate. "I hope...that things work out in your favor, father."

"So do I," Bardock replies without mentioning that he was pretty sure that they weren't going to because that is how fate seemed to enjoy dealing with his family. "And I hope that your mate gets his head out of his ass before long and realizes that you need him here."

Raditz snorts softly. "Really wasn't what I was counting on."

"I know it wasn't but it's kind of funny how things happen."

Gently, he reclaims Braiden. "I shouldn't care and I shouldn't want to make this work but...part of me just..."

"Can't help the way you feel about him?"

"Something like that," Raditz murmurs.

"I am sure you'll both figure it out. You're young and you have time. Besides, he's shown that he adores Braiden and at least has a few protective feelings for you."

Raditz finds himself snorting softly at that. "Yeah...that I can see."

"Just give him time to see that he's lucky to have you. He's Jyel's son, too, which means he has to have SOME of his mother in him somewhere."

Raditz can't help chuckling softly at that. "Perhaps...or maybe its just that our line is hopelessly optimistic."

"That, too," Bardock agrees.

*~*~*Time lapse*~*~*

Two weeks pass before he finds himself walking the short distance to a familiar room. "You look like you're getting sentenced to a horrific torture," Jyel comments staring at him.

"You have no idea," Bardock replies quietly, "Just...get me the answers I need, alright?"

"Alright, alright. You need to relax. Being wound up isn't going to change the truth as it is you know."

"I know that but..."

"Bardock, just relax," Jyel admonishes.

Slowly, the scarred Saiyan does so wishing for the millionth time that this would go well, that it would go the way he NEEDED it to because he just couldn't see himself having to deal with the alternative. It was bad enough that Tora was in a foul mood already about dealing with Turles near them at all. He couldn't really see it getting any better if...well, if he'd managed to do what Bardock feared he had.

Finally, he hears a beep and closes his eyes tightly. 'Please...please don't...' "Bardock," Jyel says softly, quietly, "You're pregnant."