Chapter 1

July 2nd

I rolled over, shifting uncomfortably underneath the thin set of satin sheets that laid atop me. It wasn't an unbelievably warm summer night. I couldn't fall asleep, not just because of the sweltering heat in my upstairs room. All the racket going on downstairs was keeping me up as well. I thought I'd be used to it by now...

They were more than likely arguing again in the den, which sadly was directly down from the staircase that led up to the small hallway on which my room was a part of. The square vent in the floor to cool me off in the sunny season was aiding to the abrasive noise infiltrating my ears. I flopped onto my back, limbs sprawled out lazily. Hard as I tried, the pillows I squashed over my face and ears were doing nothing to dull the quarreling lovers.

There was a small crash downstairs; sounds like he flipped the new glass coffee table. I sighed heavily before pulling myself up, hunching forward as I peered into the darkness around me. He was always quick to break stuff. Probably because he had to hold back from breaking her face. I knew sometimes he wanted to hurt her, maybe even kill her for what she does. But he never brought himself to it.

When I got hired, I had absolutely no clue how horrible of a couple the two of them were.

Three Months Earlier...

"Your credentials are very impressive."

The older woman in front of me thumbed through my resume. I purposely had stretched out the paper work as much as possible to give off the facade of being eloquent, intelligent, and well-experienced.. Well. More than I truly was..

"Thank you, Mrs. Briefs." I said sweetly, smiling as wide as I could.

Nobody wanted a cold short-tempered nanny. I had to come off as nice as possible, which wasn't too hard. I was a nice person, I suppose.

"Of course, dear."

She sat the papers on the desk in between us, rising and smoothing out her perfect red dress. The one simple garment of clothing looked like something I'd never be able to afford even after saving up months of income.

"I'm more than positive when I say that I'd love for you to be Trunks' live-in nanny!"

I held in my jump for joy. I, a 19 year old high school graduate, just landed a job that university grads could only dream of! I'd be paid annual salary on top of having living expenses taken care of, and while watching a 9 year old that basically took care of himself. I'd seen Trunks play around with Goten while I had studied for exams with Gohan and Videl. All of us graduated the same year. I couldn't wait to tell them both the big news.

"I can't tell you how happy I am you chose me, Ms. Briefs." I forced myself to calmly state, reaching forward to grasp the soft - although overtly lotioned - hand she had extended, shaking it happily.

"Oh please, call me Bulma." She said with a wave. "Shall I show you around the house?"

I nodded, and promptly followed her out of the door and down the stairs of the office. It was a short walk until we reached one of the main pathways of the vast Capsule Corporation landscape. Everything about the facility was beautiful. There were flowers and perfectly cut hedges as far as the eye can see. Tulips framed the smooth-stoned pathway that led us out of her office area. I'm so lucky to be here.

As we walked towards what I assumed to be the main house - mansion, rather - I slowed down. Outside of a disc-shaped building was a man in black spandex pants. No. Not a man. An Adonis in the flesh. He had perfectly sculpted, albeit bulging, muscles. His well-developed chest heaved slightly as he stretched. His body and exquisitely handsome face glistened under the bright spring sun. The only thing he was lacking was height. But for the way he looked, I could forgive that.

I was taken aback by how good looking he was. What kind of sex god was living here? All I had seen since I first applied were scientists, accountants, and other people whom held more than lack-luster appearances. Stereotypical 'nobodies'. Not to seem stuck up, but it was true. Honest.

Bulma seemed to notice the lag in my walk and glanced back over at my lust-glazed eyes. "That's Vegeta, my hubby." She said knowingly, and in a very proud tone of voice. I shook my head to snap out of my brief trance to glance back at the elder woman ahead of me. I couldn't say it out loud, but dear God she seemed 20 years older than him! Maybe he was a sugar baby or something. I giggled inwardly before nodding, "I never noticed you wearing a wedding ring." She shrugged.

"Well, we're not formally married... anyways, this is where.."

Her voice faded in my mind as I glanced back at the man behind us who was now guzzling water from a gallon sized jug. Seems he finished a workout. Then our eyes locked. I blushed intensely at the fact I had been caught practically eye-humping him. He didn't seem to like the fact. He turned around to enter into the strange dome, but not before throwing a rather annoyed looking glance my way. It sped my heart up all the same.

I was brought out of my thoughts by the sound of something else crashing to the ground, and the voices yelling even louder. "I know where you're always going off to, don't even dare lie to me woman!" I could hear the dark raspy voice I loved so much shout. Even when he was yelling in anger it sent a shiver down my spine.

"If you know where I'm going then don't make such a big deal out of it!" Bulma yelled in return. Their voices melded together as they each attempted to shout above one another.

"I told you if you ever left to him again I'd kill him with my own bare hands!"

I could hear someone punch the wall, causing the foundation of the side of the house to shake. Every time they got into a fight, it was as if only they existed in their petty world. Careless to who heard, me or their child.

"Fuck off Vegeta! You're not my father! If you even try something like that I'll throw you out into the streets. You don't have anywhere else to go, so stop trying to tell me how to live my life."

With that, the side entrance to the den slammed shut. I could hear Vegeta yell in rage before more shattering sounds occurred. "That whore! How dare she... she..." His voice choked down into short gasps. It sounded like he was crying, but I knew better. He never cried. He would never shed a tear over that old woman. I snorted, indeed I was jealous how much he cared for her.

It was all too well known with everyone in the mansion, her parents and maids and cooks alike, that Bulma was sleeping with some woman-killer by the name of Yamcha. I mean, how could anyone not notice something so obvious? She was on the phone with this guy every hour of the day, and only ever laughed or smiled genuinely when she was around him. I could tell it drove Vegeta crazy. It's what drove them into their argumentative rage.

Every couple of nights or so since I had started working here, they'd get into the same fight over and over. It wasn't anything new. I was surprised they didn't try to hide it better, or just try to keep it under wraps at all. It was rather shameful. I knew Vegeta wasn't the most affectionate of men, but you could tell how much he loved her. Even if he wouldn't admit it for the death of him. He would get so upset about her leaving to be with that Yamcha fellow, and she would hold his living situation above his head.

But that's not what had made the fights as bad as they were now. The fact her affair had led her into carrying life for the man she was having an affair with brought even greater shame to their family. If the tabloids got a hold of that story, their reputations would be destroyed. She admitted to the pregnancy rather easily and with little care to Vegeta's possible feelings. The little girl that was on the way was... well... going to be very resented after her birth. At least by Vegeta. It was so sad... At least to the rest of the world outside of these mutli-billion dollar walls, and to Trunks, the daughter would be Vegeta's.

I blinked, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. I should check Trunks to see if the commotion with his parents had woken him up. They were truly heedless when it came to that boy and their spats. Didn't care if he heard them at all, it seemed.

I quietly crept down the hall to the boy's room. As I was his nanny, I remained in close distance to him at most, if not all, times. I reached for the cool sterling silver door knob and slowly creaked his bedroom door open to see him fast asleep in his massive queen sized bed. Massive for his tiny size, anyways. I smiled, thankful that the boy was still asleep, and shut his door as quietly as possible. It was a good thing he slept like a rock, otherwise even he would know about his parents' personal affairs.

After reassuring he was okay, I made my way down the staircase and into the den to make sure the older prince was alright, too. One thing I knew for certain, was that after every argument, Vegeta seemed to dull his frustrations with alcohol. From what I understood of these Saiyan creatures, however, was that it took a substantial amount of alcohol to even get them tipsy, since their metabolism worked on overdrive. The alcohol would be broken down and absorbed before they even had the chance to enjoy a truly drunken haze.

It was upsetting to see him like that, trying to drink himself into a stupor. But I may or may not need to drag his ass to bed. Or at the very least throw some blankets atop of him if he passed out on the couch or floor, like he occasionally did.

"Vegeta?"

The lights were dimmed, and I could see several things turned over and broken. The stink of a hard liquor penetrated my nose, causing me to wrinkle it up in disgust. He must have flipped over over the liquor cabinet in addition to the glass table. The smell was so strong and thick it burned my throat as though I had taken a shot with no chaser. Exceptionally bitter.

"Vegeta.." I said once more, before noticing him on the couch. A bottle of Hennessy in his hands.

He didn't pay me any mind and took a long swig from the gallon of expensive liquor. "You know you shouldn't drink after fighting..." I continued to say before walking towards the soft white leather sectional.

"Hmph."

That was all he gave me before swallowing more of the foul liquor. I had no clue how he could drink the stuff with nothing to wash it down with. However, I knew anything I had to say against his over-consumption of alcohol didn't matter, but it was the thought that counts.

I sat down closely next to him, our knees touching slightly. He didn't react much differently at our skin against skin contact.

"I'm sorry she left again." I muttered, reaching up to him and rubbing his upper back comfortingly. Over the few months I'd learned that as long as he wasn't angry at you, he didn't truly hate being touched. His personality just made others feel scared to get close to him.

"I don't need anyone's pity." He grumbled before throwing the half-empty jug at the wall across the room. It shattered and splattered its content everywhere. Staining the carpet and white eggshell walls.

"I know, Vegeta. I know.."

This had become such a common occurrence it just seemed like another part of my life now. His face remained stoic and unreadable as he reached his arm out to me. Snaking it around my waist and pulling me against him. I leaned into his chest and pressed my hand against his chest. I loved the way his heart beat pulsed against me. But it never really sped up when I was around, like mine so often did for him.

For some reason, holding me helped him calm down. Although I liked to pretend it's because he held genuine feelings for me, I think it was more along the lines of the fact that he could pretend he was holding her. I awkwardly bent forward, cheek pressed against his hot and bare skin as he tangled his hands within my hair. He said something, hardly above a whisper. I couldn't exactly make it out. He must be getting groggy from the alcohol. I turned my gaze up to him as he captured my lips in a brief kiss.

"I'll never leave you, I promise." I told him as we parted. As much as I wanted him to gently reply with something loving and romantic, all he could do was smirk at me with his typical cocky attitude. At least when I stroked his ego he would act more like his regular self.

Well... when I stroked that and something else.

Just like the first time a fight had broken out between the two, I knew what tonight would lead to. He'd take me into his arms and carry me up to the master bedroom where he'd lay me onto his bed and crawl over me once more. He'd take out his aggression and pent-up rage on my body and hold me as I fell asleep. I knew this game all too well. And I always gave into his advances. I told myself after each time it'd be the last, but it never was.. Those moments were the few moments I could pretend that he loved me. Not her.

But of course, it wasn't true. I welcomed the thought of his rough hands bruising my hips and thighs. I welcomed his crude dirty-talk. Sometimes I didn't even mind when he said her name instead of mine.

Vegeta tucked one arm under my knees and firmed his other around my back, standing up and lifting me along with him. I didn't protest, he knew I wouldn't. Not until tomorrow that we couldn't do this again. Oh well

At least for now, I could pretend. Pretend that he loved me.

TBC