The next morning Bulma wakes first. She opens her eyes to Vegeta’s sleeping visage, his face in repose, appears much younger than she had first thought, much closer to her own age than she ever realized. She wonders how old he actually is, the constant lines of his waking tension and fury age him. But when they are banished in the relaxation of sleep, she can almost see the child he was before he had been taken by Frieza. This is one of the few times she has seen his face totally free of the stern lines of his constant concentrated vigilance. The gentled planes of his face are a map of his soul. She wonders about the person he might have become if he had not been stolen from his home. Perhaps with her help he can regain some semblance of his true self.
Sleep softens his mental defenses and utterly bares his soul to her’s, the revelation solely due to their bonding. It has given Bulma the ability to fully empathize with Vegeta and have a deeper understanding of him. Sharpening her perceptions, revealing aspects of his personality unseen and unnoticed by others. She is able to sense beyond the barriers of his outer facade to the shielded, true heart of Vegeta. Their link allows her to sense this his deepest secret. The place beyond the walls he had carefully and painfully built to keep his inner core safe from Freiza. Where he had preserved the true nobility of his spirit, his innate sense of justice and the fragile core of goodness hidden deep within himself, battered but still intact. Veiled from his relentless tormentors behind his fury and pain.
It was the part of him that Frieza and his minions had tried so hard to warp and destroy. But the pride filled Saiyan child had not fully succumbed to their influence, they had only succeeded in temporarily twisting Vegeta’s outer personality perverting his nobility into over weaning pride of power. Now freed of their baleful influences, Bulma could feel his spirit starting to slowly heal under the balm of her love for him.
Suddenly her stomach growls and she realizes that she’s famished. She looks fondly over at her sleeping mate remembering yesterday ruefully. Due to the argument they had both missed breakfast and then later they had slept through supper. The only real meal they had actually had yesterday was lunch in the infirmary. They hadn’t eaten anything else except, she smiles inwardly, each other. No wonder she’s starving, and knowing Saiyan appetites she can guess how ravenous Vegeta will be when he does eventually wake up. She carefully slides from the bed, slips on her silken robe and goes to prepare them some breakfast.
Deep in his fatigued sleep Vegeta had dimly sensed her waking and subsequence departure from his side, but instinctively knows that she is not going very far.
When she senses he is finally starting to fully rouse, she returns to their room, wheeling the breakfast cart. The top two shelves are heavily laden with a large tray and several covered plates, filled with eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits, cereal, juices, fruit and coffee. He starts to rise into a sitting position and groans. Feeling the lingering twinges of his pain, she rushes to quickly assist him. “The doctor said you’re supposed to stay right there for awhile.” She scolds.
His ego has returned in full force during her short absence, so he brusquely pushes her away grimacing in discomfort as he settles himself, “I’m fine woman, let me be.” Then he looks with interest at the cart, smelling it’s contents. “Just what were you up to?”
She can sense his hunger pangs, matching those of hers. “I fixed us some breakfast.”
She places the bed tray in front of him and begins placing a bowl, plate and other utensils on it.
Once his tray is fully set she starts to fill the plates with food. He looks at her then down at the tray in front of him.
She grins at him, “Well are you going to eat or not?”
“What about you?” he asks, sensing her hunger as well.
“I’m going to stay right here and eat too.” She indicates the bottom shelf of the cart where a second filled tray sits. Transferring it to the top shelf she moves the cart over to her side of the bed slips out of her robe and gets in beside him then lifts the second tray onto her lap. Their bared skin brushes intermittently against each other.
He smiles with satisfaction and starts avidly devouring the food.
When they both finally finish, she removes the trays and starts to take them away.
He crosses his arms and asks gruffly, trying to look unconcerned as he glances out the window, “Now I suppose you’re going to go down and start working.”
She can feel the tension beginning to grow within him, and knows that his latent anger is still there simmering just beneath the surface. She senses that he needs her close presence to help fend off his negative emotions.
“What do you want me to do?” She asks pausing at the door, already knowing what he wants, but encouraging him to admit it.
He hesitates, before answering, still loathe to reveal any sign of weakness or dependency even to her, finally closing his eyes he softly says one word, “Stay.”
She understands just how much it costs him to utter that single word, so she gently replies, “Then I will for as long as you want me to. I’ll just put these things up.”
He responds with a sharp nod, still staring out the window.
Returning, she finds he has slipped back down into bed, his back turned. His eyes are closed, though she knows he’s still awake and can feel still feel his tensions increasing. She clambers back into the bed and starts massaging his tight shoulders. He slowly he relaxes under her gentle ministrations and soothing touch. Finally he turns towards her and wraps his arms about her. With a sigh of contentment, she snuggles into his arms laying her head against his shoulder. His pulls her close, as she feels the last traces of his tension seep away. Once more fully relaxed they drift back into restorative sleep.
After dosing lightly for a half an hour, she wakes once more and lies beside him, thinking as he snores softly beside her.
Vegeta insistence that he’s going to eventually leave continues to trouble her because she can sense that he means every word. She consoles herself with the thought that he’s also promised that he’d always return to her. Somehow she knows their bond prevents him from being able to lie to her. And in her heart and soul she’s now certain that it will always draw him back to her. She desperately wants him to stay with her forever, but it’s obviously not going to be that way. She will just have to resign herself to the fact that he will be leaving her from time to time. Well, if ChiChi can bear Goku’s long training absences, she will have to learn to bear Vegeta’s as well.
She desperately wants his child, but until she’s certain that he’ll stay with her long enough, it might be best to postpone any conception. She knows his first priority will be to discover if Freiza’s claims of having destroyed all the Saiyans is true. As soon as he’s had it out one way or the other with Goku, she knows Vegeta will be leaving. And there’s no knowing how long he’ll be gone. It could be months or even years before he returns to Earth, so now is certainly not the time for them start a child.
She hasn’t needed to use any preventatives since she was last with Yamcha. But she thinks there’s still some morning after pills in the medicine cabinet, she’ll have to take one today. And then talk to her mother about a more consistent method.
Finally when she’s certain he’s fully, and deeply asleep, she slips from their bed. Checking the cabinet, she finds what she was seeking. Pausing she considers the little pill for several moments, then finally sighs and takes it.
Going back into the bedroom, she looks over at his sleeping form. Saiyan and Princess have both joined him on the bed and are curled up by Vegeta’s side.
Sensing the depth of his slumber she knows she can leave his immediate vicinity without disturbing him, but she’d promised him not to go anywhere else. Bulma considers her options and finally figures that she should still be able accomplish some of her normal work load without having to leave the apartment.
Going into the dressing room she changes from her robe into a light tank dress suitable for video phone conversations, but easy to slip out of if she needs to rejoin Vegeta. When she’s dressed she heads out to the living room. She leaves the bedroom slightly door ajar and starts making calls to her various department heads from her desk. After an hour of phone conferencing and a couple more doing computer work she begins to sense him starting to emerge from the depths of sleep. Noticing the time, she quickly fixes a lunch for the two of them and is bringing it in just as his eyes open.
He looks up at her, and smiles, then reaching over he pulls her down and kisses her.
She pulls free laughing ,“Someone is certainly feeling better.”
He makes another grab for her. “Much, in fact unless your coming in to join me, I want out of this bed.”
She considers, knowing Goku’s remarkable healing powers. She concedes, “Alright but you still need to take it easy today.” Then adds with mock severity, “You know you can’t hide how stiff and sore you really are from me. I’ll let you get out of bed but only to come out to lay on the couch in the living room.” She smiles, “You can keep me company while I finish.”
She wheels the cart back out. Suddenly he notices his robe is draped across the foot of the bed he realizes that she’s had some of his clothes brought up.
Returning to help him move, she sees him looking at the robe, and shrugs, “When I was making my calls down to the workshops this morning, the staff members all made a point of asking how you were doing. It’s pretty obvious that after yesterday everyone who works at Capsule Corporation has pretty much guessed what’s going on between us. Someone said that even the Nameks know. So I went ahead and had the housebots move most of your clothes up here.”
She assists him into his robe and then helps steady his steps as they move from the bedroom, out to the living room couch. Once he’s settled in she sets up their lunch on the coffee table. She sits down next to him and they begin eating.
“I did manage to get some work done from here while you were asleep.” She tells him through mouthfuls, “Tom’s been busy on the spectrographic analysis of your uniform, he’ll get the full chemical and molecular composition shortly. Hopefully we’ll be able to have production of Saiyansilk started up in a few of weeks.” She smiles, “Then we’ll be able to duplicate it.”
He replies “Good.” Then thinks a minute. “They could use some improvements.”
She shrugs and answers, “Then we’ll just have to redesign them.” She hurriedly gulps the last bites of her lunch, gets up and goes to the desk, returning with paper and pencils in hand. She places them on the table beside their dishes, “We can work on it after you’re finished eating.”
Consuming the last bite he looks at her speculatively, “I was thinking of doing something else.” The familiar glitter is gleaming in his eyes.
She pauses to look at him with concern, “Do you really think you’re up to it?”
He smiles and reaches for her, “You tell me!” He pulls her onto his lap, she feels pressure against her bottom the from the bulge rising beneath his robe.
Bulma wriggles her rear teasingly against his thighs, feeling him rousing in response to her stimulus. She rises and quickly moves the trays from the coffee table back to the cart. Returning, she raises the back of her dress as she descends onto his lap. Correctly interpreting her movements Vegeta opens the front of his robe, to accommodate her now bared bottom, revealing the increasing tumescence of his manhood rising to greet her.
Bulma spreads her legs slightly as she sits, reaching beneath she finds his burgeoning wand, and gently guides it to the entrance of her cashmere cavern. Her moist silken folds caress and kiss his strawberry crown as it seeks the concealed entrance of her velvety grotto. His hands grasp her hips helping to guide her into the proper position and he finally slips into her welcoming warmth.
Their hearts are beating in matched time once more, as they share their sensations. She can feel the exquisite pressure that’s beginning to build within his already throbbing tower. As he experiences the tightening ripples as they course down her pulsing passageway.
She slides down the full length of his pinnacle to sit lightly on his lap, astonishing him once more as she easily embraces his increasing tumescence.
Their passions igniting as they come together, his hands slip upwards as the folds of her dress ride up over his arms. He caresses her smooth body, then he reaches forward to grasp her breasts. She moans with pleasure as his fingers stroke her hardening nipples, his thumb traces the healing outline of his mating mark. His lips find the curve of her bared shoulder, following along it until he reaches the curve where the column her neck rises. He nibbles softly, climbing the tendon beneath her ear, her hands come up to cover his as she lolls her head aside with a soft sigh giving his mouth freer access that sexually sensitive area, his cheek brushing aside her hair.
Leaning back into his lips, she can feel the twin slabs of his muscular chest against her flesh, as the points of his pebble hard nipples press into her back. She flexes her muscles, alternating the pressures of her tunnel about his growing pillar, the added stimulus encourages his ardor even further. His strained muscles temporarily forgotten he begins to eagerly pump into her, and she greets each of his upward thrusts with a matching downwards push.
With each stroke he grows larger. The sensations from each pulse and throb is shared, doubling their pleasure, encouraging the rising tides of desire within them both. They share his increasing tension, the rising delicious ache of his imminent eruption, and the ever strengthening tremors of her mini-climaxes that are leading towards her final earth moving release. But their seated position quickly exhausts an already depleted Vegeta’s energy, he starts to tire, his already abused muscles begin to send protests of pain at his repeated flexings against the pressure of their dual weight.
Bulma senses the onset of his weakness, and feeling the twinges of his pain. She reaches around to grasp his hips, then leans forward pulling him with her until so she’s kneeling on the floor, “Try it this way.” She says breathlessly.
She’s kneeling faced away, in front of him, her hands braced against the table. He is now perched on the edge of the couch, releasing him from the extra burden of her weight. His new half seated position, along with her kneeling suddenly gives him more ease of motion, letting him almost effortlessly continue in his surging penetration of her sweet grotto. The spread of his legs also allows her fuller access to his manhood which she quickly takes advantage of as she backs against his loins to encase his column all the way down to its wide base.
With the sofa now functioning as more of a support than a seat, he’s able to move more freely. His thrusts regain their vigor in the now much easier angle. His hands shift position moving to grasp her slim waist. She helps by adding her own body’s motion to his. He starts to move faster and she increases hers as well. Her nails scrape against the surface of the coffee table.
She can feel his manhood lengthening and thickening with each thrust. She exhales sharply at the impact of each stroke as it drives the breath from her. “Uh!.... Uh!.... Uh!... Uh!.. Uh!. Uh! UH! UH!” Straightening in his grip as they both rise closer and closer to the crest.
Suddenly he thrusts upwards so strongly that he lifts her bodily from her knees, grimacing with his tumultuous release, instinctively he embraces her and pulls her tightly back against his body.
As she is lifted, she clenches her thighs tightly crying out in joyful frenzy as she reaches her climax at the same moment of his eruption within. “AAAAHHHH!!!”
They slump backwards together onto the sofa breathing heavily. Recovering first he easily shifts her limp body, sliding her sideways around to cradle her in his lap. He cuddles her close and nuzzles the side of her neck affectionately as he ebbs from her core, then kisses the hollow of her throat, his hand cupping her breast through the rumpled fabric. She stirs and softly sighs in satisfaction, wrapping her arms about his neck, she buries her face in his shoulder.
Suddenly, a soft chime announces the arrival of the elevator. The doors part to reveal Bulma’s mother. The couple is startled, flustered in their romantic dishevelment, they both begin to blush.
Bulma pulls down her dress, as Vegeta tries to draw his robe closed.
She takes in the tableau of her daughter perched on Vegeta’s lap, his robe open, her dress hiked up well past her waist all awry and correctly assesses the situation.
She studiously ignores their dishabille, pretending there’s nothing unusual occurring. Coming over, she collects the tea cart, and turns her back on them.
“I’d reprogram that elevator access door if I were you, Bulma.” Says her mother’s back casually.
As soon as she’s turned away they hurriedly set themselves to rights.
Her mother continues speaking over her shoulder, as she wheels the cart towards the dining room and kitchen area. “I just came up to check on Vegeta for Dr. Timz. He wanted to re-examine him this morning because he said he found some odd physical inconstancies in the initial examination tests.”
The couple look at each other, in consternation. As her mother disappears through the door Bulma gets up, she helps Vegeta to get more comfortably situated on the sofa and after a hurried kiss of reassurance, follows her mother.
“It looks to me like he’s feeling much better!” Her mother states archly as her daughter enters the kitchen. “Timz said that he kept trying to call you but couldn’t get through. He kept getting a busy signal all morning. So he finally decided to just try to come up himself about ten minutes ago. You’re lucky he couldn’t get past the seventh floor.” She smiles knowingly.
“When he couldn’t get up here, he finally came to me for help.” Then adds with a laugh, “Knowing your habits, I thought you might be busy with something.” Referring to the fact Bulma had been known to disconnect the phone so she wouldn’t be disturbed.
Her mother colors slightly “I didn’t dream,....isn’t he’s supposed to be resting!”
“I know and he was, but...” Bulma shrugs.
“Well I did manage to convince Timz to let me keep a check on Vegeta for now. He’s not exactly happy about it but he finally agreed. Only with the assurance that as soon as Vegeta’s able, he’s to come back down and to see him again.”
Her mother pauses, “I know you wanted to keep Vegeta’s being an alien a secret, but it might be best if Timz is told everything about the Saiyan origins. We know he’s trustworthy and having second doctor that’s thoroughly familiar with that physiology might be a good idea.”
“I guess you’re right mom.” Answers Bulma slowly. “I need to tell you and dad a few things, too.”
“Why not tell us both tonight at dinner?”
“At dinner?”
“I thought since he can’t come down, I’d just bring it up here instead.”
“That sounds great.”
“Well you’d ought to fix those doors first though.” Her mother smiles, “Especially if you and Vegeta are going to continue with your,.. ah physical therapy sessions. Or someone else could show up without warning like I did.”
Bulma looks down and colors, “That wasn’t planned.”
Her mother grins, “It’s best when it isn’t!”
Bulma flushes even darker, “MOM!” Then says, “I’ll take care of the elevator’s program right now. Computer, modifications to the security restriction to tower B, authorization, Dr. Bulma Briefs.”
There is a barely audible chime then, “Awaiting instructions.”
“Reprogram Tower B, main access, elevator and stairwell doors on tenth floor, penthouse suite. Emplace and activate a standard apartment door voiceprint door locks for all tenth floor access doors. Keyed to open only to the filed voiceprints of Bulma Briefs and Prince Vegeta. Entry permission must be obtained from either one before those doors are allowed to open. Retain normal elevator arrival chime announcement, but add a rising three note door chime, keyed upon any vocal request for tenth floor within the elevator. Add visual identification of visitors for all accesses upon request.”
“Reprogramming complete, Bulma Briefs and Prince Vegeta have voice lock authority for all tenth floor penthouse entries, tower B.”
“You’ve given him unlimited access to your apartment!” Her mother turns serious. “Don’t you think you’re rushing this relationship a bit? Just how long have you two actually been ...,together?”
Bulma nods, “Yes I gave him full access and even though it may seem kind of sudden to everyone else, it really isn’t since there’s nothing left to rush.” She beams at her mother. “It’s already happened.”
“Just exactly what happened?” asks her mother turning serious.
A soft smile of happy contentment appears on Bulma’s face, but it only slightly reassures Mrs. Briefs.
“Our relationship, if that’s what you want to call it, although it‘s really much complicated. Only just started the night before last.” Says her daughter. “But what happened is so much more than just sex, we’re not just simply a couple now.”
She looks over to her mother. “I know that it may seem like a lot has happened between the Vegeta and me in a very short time, but what’s happened did happen. Even if the explanation is farfetched sounding. There’s so much more to Vegeta than what he allows to be seen, mom.” She looks at her mother earnestly.
“So why don’t you explain it all to me.” Mrs. Briefs takes a seat at the kitchen table.
Bulma begins cleaning-up the dishes as she tries to find the right words.
“We’ve bonded, at least that’s what Vegeta calls it. It’s the way Saiyans choose their life mates, but it isn’t actually a matter of choice.”
“Are you saying he forced you!” her mother frowns.
“No, no, it’s not like that ,...exactly. It’s more like we brought it on ourselves we ..,forced each other. It started that first day when we came back from Namek, we just didn’t know it at the time. I know that sounds strange, but when a Saiyan meets his perfect genetically matched mate, Vegeta calls me his truemate, a physiological bonding process begins. A psychic link forms between the pair, irrevocably drawing the them together, spiritually and physically, it wouldn‘t have happened if I wasn’t already drawn to him as much as he was to me.”
Her mother looks doubtful. “A link? I don’t understand, Vegeta didn’t force himself on you but you both did. That doesn’t make any sense.”
Bulma suddenly looks towards the door, frowns in concern and then mutters, “He shouldn’t be trying to walk by himself!” She hurries to the doorway as if expecting something.
The kitchen door opens, Vegeta slowly and stiffly shuffles in. Bulma, who had sensed his approach slips an arm around his waist to steady him as he totters wearily to the nearest chair. He settles into the seat then slips his arm around her waist gratefully pulling her to his side to keep her close.
“My Consort makes perfect sense. She is explaining the bonding as best she can. The link between us is permanent and she will always be my truemate.” He looks up at her face his heart visible in his eyes.
Her mother is astonished, “How did you know what we were talking about?”
“I sensed the difficulty Bulma was experiencing trying to explain us, so I decided that you needed to actually see the bond in action.” He answers gruffly.
Bulma then adds, “That’s what I was trying to tell you, the bond links us psychically. We’re able to sense each other’s emotions and physical sensations, it’s as if we are two parts of one whole.” She looks at him affectionately, “That’s how I knew when he was injured yesterday, I felt an echo of the pain he was experiencing. It‘s not really telepathy it’s more like extremely strong empathy.”
Vegeta interjects, “The intensity of the physical sensation exchange will wax and wane with time and distance. But the strongest time is during the initial most intense part of bonding, since the pair usually doesn’t part during this time. The intensity we’re feeling right now is a short lived side effect of that, we will continue to experience it until the bonding process is completed.”
Bulma looks at him in startlement, “Completed?”
He looks up at her, “The initial pair bonding process usually takes about three to four of your weeks to complete,..... unless conception occurs.”
She widens her eyes, but then realization hits, “Then you’ll at least be staying here with me with me for the next few weeks!” She glows with happiness.
“Do you mean you already expected him to leave you?” Asks her mother, looking from one to the other.
“Bulma knows and understands that I will be going away from time to time, I’ve told her that, but she also knows I will return to her.” He shakes his head. “Bulma now understands that there I things I have to do, and I cannot stop until they’ve been done. Besides I am unable to train properly when I am near her, her presence distracts me too much. I cannot concentrate properly when I am near her, that‘s why I was injured yesterday, I started thinking about her, instead of concentrating on the combat program.”
Her mother stares at the two of them, “He says he’s going to leave but that he’ll come back to you and you believe him?”
“Yes, I do. Vegeta can’t lie to me, I’d know if he did.”
“Bulma is correct. Because of our bonding, not only am I unable to lie to her, but I cannot and will never truly abandon her.”
“This bond, then it’s that strong?” Asks her mother.
“Yes!” they answer in unison.
“For some strange reason think I believe you.” Mrs. Briefs shakes her head ruefully. “I knew there was something special about the two of you when you first came home from Namek. It just seemed as if there was something already connecting you.”
“There was, the bonding process had already started we just didn’t realize it.” Says Vegeta.
“Mama, you know you’re motherly intuitions about me have always been infallible.” Bulma comes over and hugs her gratefully.
Vegeta gazes at his mate and her mother. These two females are now irrevocably part of his life.
Mrs. Briefs looks from her daughter to Vegeta and says, “Well, I hope you can make your father understand.”
Bulma and Vegeta exchange glances, “We think we’ll be able to convince him.” They answer simultaneously.
Then Bulma says, “But I still need your help, with something else, mama.” She colors slightly. “Until Vegeta’s done with his traveling for a while.” She looks at him, “I’d think it would be better that we wait to.., well, start a family.” He nods in agreement, she would know better what would be best in such matters than he would.
“I understand,” Bulma’s mother thinks a minute, “Tomorrow while Timz is checking Vegeta, I’ll do a physical on you to be sure you’re not already pregnant and then give you the implant.”
She smiles, “But right now I have to go down and start planning dinner.”
“Mom, would you mind if we invited Dr. Timz, too.” Says Bulma, “That way we can inform him about Saiyans in a more private setting.”
“That’s a good idea,” says her mother, “he might as well know the whole story, if he’s going to be helping me treat Saiyans. I’ll stop by and invite him before I get dinner started.”
Bulma glances at Vegeta, “Why don’t you just make dinner up here. Wouldn’t it be much easier instead of doing it downstairs and then having to haul it all up?”
Her mother looks at Vegeta, “It would make it a lot easier that way, if you’re sure you don‘t mind?”
Vegeta shakes his head. “I think I’ll be sleeping most of the afternoon.”
“I’ll plan dinner for six, then. That means I’ll be coming back up here about fivish to start cooking.”
Bulma comes back over to his side, as he slowly gets up. She can feel the ache of his fatigue growing, he’s nearing total exhaustion again as his rapid healing depletes his reserves. Her mother starts to come to help, but Bulma gives her a significant look and she stops. He slips his arm around her waist and leans heavily against her.
Bulma and Vegeta move slowly towards the bedroom, Bulma’s mother follows them out to the living room.
“I’ll go down and start assembling the dinner ingredients.” She heads for the elevator.
“Okay, Mama, but I’ll call and invite Dr. Timz.”
“Okay but tell him it’s going to be a working dinner.” Says her mother as the elevator doors close.
With her mother’s departure, Bulma feels Vegeta’s tension ease. Even with her nearby he has difficulty interacting socially. She knows tonight is going to be extremely difficult for him in his weakened state. He will have control his normal taciturn irritability and try to impress her parents, as well as, Dr. Timz.
She settles him into their bed. Their bed! How wonderful, it sounds in her mind.
Vegeta smiles up at her, sensing her joy.
“Here, love you better put something on before you fall asleep just in case.” She pulls out a pair of his new pajama bottoms and helps him get them on.
Three whole weeks together, she had thought she’d only get have him here for a couple more days after he got better. But weeks, then thinking about time something else occurs to her.
“Ah,.. Vegeta, just how long is the normal Saiyan pregnancy period?” She asks hesitantly.
He looks at her puzzled by the question, “About ten or eleven months? Why?”
“Well I guess it’s not so bad then, although human gestation usually lasts only nine.” She gazes at him, “Mom can probably help me carry long enough, we wouldn’t want to end up with a premature Saiyan.”
Vegeta nods, only vaguely understanding.
She start to rise, his hand restrains her, “Stay till I’m asleep.” She puts her hand over his and waits quietly until she sense him slip into slumber.
Returning to her desk, she calls the infirmary. “Dr. Timz please, tell him it’s Bulma.”
The receptionist replies, “Yes, Ma’am.”
The call is transferred and Timz voice queries, “How’s my patient doing?”
“He’s still tires easily but is gaining strength.” Then she adds with an unexplained chuckle, “I can’t keep him down for long.”
“Well he shouldn’t overexert himself. Do you think he needs a sedative?”
“No, that’s not why I called. Mom and Dad are having dinner up here with us tonight, we need you to come too. It’ll be a working meal, Vegeta and I need to explain several things to you all.”
“A social gathering? I don’t think that’s very wise for Vegeta to be doing something like that so soon.”
“Mom and you will both be here if there’s a problem but I don’t think there will be. Vegeta’s a lot stronger than you may realize. This isn’t a request doctor, dinner’s at six! I’ll have you cleared to come up. Goodbye.” She hangs up, before he can protest, glad that task was done. Timz is a gifted doctor, he wouldn’t be working at Capsule Corp. if he wasn’t. But he did tend to get overly officious and bogged down sometimes, especially when it came to the care of his patients. It’s what made him such a good physician but it was also very irritating sometimes.
The elevator chimes three times, she goes over to the computer, thinking ‘Who in the..,’ “View elevator occupants.”
The picture comes on to show the two Nameks, Muri and Dende.
‘Now what would they be wanting?’ she wonders. “Access granted.”
Dende grasps Muri’s robe fearfully as the box they’re in starts to move upwards. In all the time he been here it’s the first time he’s been in an el-eva-tor. He much rather had flown but Bulma had suggested that the Nameks refrain from doing it too much when the other humans were around. He almost wishes he hadn’t made the offer when he had finally learned that Vegeta was hurt. But Muri seemed very pleased when he had done so and had even promised to go with him. So now here they were, trapped inside a weird box and rising to face that fierce Saiyan. He just hopes that Vegeta doesn’t kick him again after he heals him this time.
The box stops and the door opens, he peers fearfully out but all he sees is Bulma. Piccolo had explained the reason that she and some of the other humans looked so different was because they were females. He doesn’t care, all he knows is that he likes her, she’s soft with a nice smile and has a bright aura.
One of the other humans had said she was very unhappy when Vegeta got injured yesterday, and that was because she liked him. He can’t quite understand how someone as nice as Bulma could like someone as awful as that bleak Saiyan.
“Hello Muri, Dende, what brings you up here to see us.” Asks Bulma.
“Dende’s offered to come and help Vegeta.” Says Muri.
“Help Vegeta? How?” She looks inquiringly at the young Namek. She’s encountered the reserved boy that had quickly become Gohan’s best friend several times and he always seems to blush the cutest shade of emerald green whenever she spoke to him.
“I’ll let him explain.” Muri pushes Dende forward.
He’s starting to blush again, she notices.
“Well,...,you see.., I..” stutters the small Namek, “can heal people. Make them better if they’re hurt. I healed Vegeta once before, so he knows I can do it.”
“You can heal people? That’s a wonderful gift, Dende.” She smiles at him.
It’s brightness makes him happy to see it.
“Well, I just found out that he got hurt again, and even if I really don’t like him very much, they say that you do. I heard the others talking, they said you were really sad and even crying when it happened.” The alien little boy hesitates. “And since I do like you and don’t want you to be unhappy, I decided to offer to heal Vegeta,... For you.” He sticks out his chin defiantly, “Even if he does kick me again.”
“Oh Dende, that’s very kind and brave of you.” Bulma kneels down bringing her face to his level. “The others are right, I do like Vegeta very, very much and I can you promise I won’t let him hurt you, if you help him for me.”
She stands up, still looking down at him, “Vegeta’s asleep, give me a little while to wake him up and explain and then come in when I call you.”
Dende nods, but asks, “Can Muri come too.”
“Of course, now just wait here.”
Bulma smiles at them then walks though a nearby door.
“Vegeta,... Vegeta love, wake up. You’ve got visitors.” The weary prince opens his eyes.
It annoys him a little when he she calls him that other than when they‘re in the midst of lovemaking.
“A visitors? I don’t want to see anyone,” he growls, “I just want to sleep and who’d be coming to see me anyway?”
“It’s, Dende. He’s offered to heal you and Muri’s with him.”
Vegeta snaps awake. “He’s offered to heal me? Why? I know the brat’s afraid of me.”
“He said it’s because he likes me, and didn’t want me to be sad. I think it’s sweet of him to offer, so you better be nice to him! He didn’t have to make it at all.” She glares at him “Especially after he said what you did to him the last time he helped you.”
Vegeta is surprised by the commanding tone in her voice, she’s starting to sound like him. It‘s because of the bonding, “Alright.”
“And you’ll say thank you afterwards!”
He glowers but then nods curtly.
Bulma goes to the door. “Dende, Muri, you can come in now. Vegeta’s awake.”
The two Nameks enter, Dende is half concealed behind Muri’s robe.
Vegeta frowns at the boy, “Bulma said you offered to heal me again.” says the Saiyan darkly.
The little Nameks nods.
“Well come over and do it then.”
Vegeta doesn’t seem quite so mean this time. His aura seems lighter, too. Maybe Bulma’s liking him so much has something to do with it.
Dende moves out from behind Muri and comes over to Vegeta’s bedside. He can see the numerous dark nasty looking bruises on the Saiyan. He watches him warily as he hesitatingly extends his hands over his body and says, “Just relax.” Part of the healing process is that Dende can feel the other person’s pain, it helps him direct the healing forces to where they can do the most good. He’s surprised at how much the Saiyan is really hurting. He was badly battered in the training chamber.
Vegeta feels the aches and weariness recede as his strength returns.
When Dende finishes, the Saiyan sits up in bed and flexes his arms. Vegeta’s fierce smile returns. He jumps out of bed, bending, twisting and turning his body, strength and flexibility fully restored.
At the Saiyan’s swift movement Dende backs away fearfully.
Bulma looks at her mate, then glares at him until he turns to look at little healer. Dende darts behind Bulma.
“Thanks.” Says Vegeta curtly and Dende’s eyes widen. He hadn’t thought anybody could make this Saiyan do anything.
Bulma kneels down and gives the small Namek a grateful hug, he happily nestles against her she’s so soft, reminding him of the comfort of the Great Elder.
“Thank you so much, Dende.”
Then she goes over to Vegeta and hugs him happily too. Dende watches and seeing how Vegeta arms wrap about her in response, suddenly realizes that the Saiyan must like Bulma as much as she likes him!
Leaving Vegeta in the bedroom, Bulma leads the Nameks back to the elevator. “So just about everybody in the compound knows what’s going on?”
“It’s hard to keep a secret from Nameks, we are telepathic after all.” Says Muri.
“I just wanted it to be our secret for a while.” Sighs the girl regretfully.
“Well maybe we can do something about that for you. Let me consult with the other elders.” The new Namek leader seems to drift away for several moments then his attention returns. “We’ve decided, and since we’re very grateful to you opening your home to us. We all came to an agreement, we can do this one thing for you. It’s our way of thanking you.”
“Do what?”
“Tell us whose memories you want to remain unchanged and we can slightly alter the memories of the rest of the humans here, so that you merely seem to be friends with Vegeta.”
“You can do that?” asks Bulma.
“Easily, but it’s not something we do lightly.” responds the smiling Namek.
“That’d be great, let’s see Mom, Dad, and Dr. Timz. and Maggie.” Then she gets thoughtful and asks, “What about you’re people? If you’re all telepathic they’d just learn about it all over again.”
“You’re right, but we Namekians are very good at keeping secrets. I promise that none of my people will say anything.”
“Okay.” She looks at Dende. Then kneels down next to him.
“I know it will be hardest for you. But can you keep this secret, even from Gohan? I know he’s become one of your special friends.”
The little alien nods solemnly. Then says wonderingly, “You really do like Vegeta!”
“Yes Dende, that’s the secret but it’s really an even bigger secret than you think. I don’t just like Vegeta, I love him. Gohan, his mother and our other friends just wouldn’t understand it or like it very much right now. At least not yet.”
“They’re really, really mad at him.” nods Dende.
“That’s right and it’s because of things that happened before Namek too, .. well it kind of complicates matters.” Bulma shrugs, “It’s just best if they get used to him just being around before we tell them anything else.”
Vegeta has slipped on his robe and come out to the living room.
The little Namek nods, “Okay, Bulma. But I’m doing it for you.” He glares at Vegeta, “Not him.”
“Fine by me kid.” growls Vegeta.
Bulma gives her mate a sharp look. “Thank you, Dende.”
The two Nameks leave.
Vegeta comes over and embraces Bulma, “I thought they’d never leave.” He picks her up and carries her back to the bedroom.
“Vegeta, we don’t have time for this right now. Mom will be coming up again.”
“We’ll make time.” He puts her on the bed and kisses her.
About two hours later the elevator signals that someone is coming up, it’s Bulma’s mother.
She comes in and finds the couple crouched together on the couch concentrating on a design. It surprises her that Vegeta is up and dressed.
“I thought you were going to be sleeping.” She says to Vegeta.
He answers absently, “I don’t need to now.”
Bulma looks up, “He’s been healed. It seems that Dende has a gift for it, it works something like Coriin’s sensu beans. He offered to do it for Vegeta because he likes me.”
“Really.” Says her mother, “I wouldn’t mention that gift to Dr. Timz if I were you. He’d want to try and do a study on the boy.”
Bulma nods in agreement. “We won’t mention Dende then, will we?” She nudges Vegeta with her elbow and he grunts in assent, still concentrating on the drawing, “I will tell him about sensu beans though and just let him draw his own conclusions.”
“That’ll really put his shorts in a knot.” She mother laughs, “First the arrival of green aliens, now Saiyans and to top it all off magic healing beans. But he probably needs it sometimes, he‘s a bit hide bound.”
“When’s dad coming up?”
“Shortly I hope, if he’s not up in a half an hour I’ll go get him and drag him back up.” Says her mother.
Vegeta looks up and raises and eyebrow at Bulma. “Now I know where you get that from.”
Bulma laughs and stands up as her mother looks at her questionably, “I explain it later, Mom. Let’s get dinner started. If you need help with that just yell, love.”
He stops to glare at her, “I really wish you wouldn’t call me that in front of people.”
“As opposed to...?” She dimples at him as he colors slightly and returns to his work on the revised Saiyan armor design.
Thirty minutes later her father arrives, “ ‘Lo Vegeta, I thought you got hurt. You look okay to me.” His cat is, as usual perched on his shoulder.
“I was, no thanks to you old man.” He growls. “Next time you turn something off to fix it, try to remember to turn it back on again when you‘re done!”
“Sorry about that, boy.” He replies sheepishly, then brightens, “I understand that there something that you and Bulma want to tell us.” His cat jumps down to join the kittens, they all tumble around under the table.
“Bulma does.”
“I hope it’s what I think it is.”
“You’ll find out everything at dinner, dear.” Mrs. Briefs comes out and kisses her husband then returns to the kitchen.
He grumps a little, “These women and their secrets.”
He comes over and looks at the design Vegeta is working on. “Looks interesting.”
“It is.”
“Ya know if you reinforce the breast panel from behind like this..,” Says Professor Briefs he pulls a pencil from his jacket and sketches something in, “it’ll give you more protection in the long run.” Vegeta looks at the change and nods in agreement, the two men continue conferring over the armor design.
Dr. Timz arrives promptly at six.
He is extremely upset to find his patient, a man that couldn’t even walk the day before. Is not only up and about against his specific orders but is trying to explain something about flexibility to Professor Briefs by actually demonstrating the complex back flip movement to him!
“What’s going on here?” He protests, pointing his finger at Vegeta. “That man is supposed to be in bed resting!”
“I got tired of being in there, I felt better so I got up.” Responds the Saiyan Prince.
Bulma comes in when she hears the ruckus. “Believe me, Doctor. He gets less rest when he’s in bed.” She grins towards Vegeta.
Vegeta just glares at her.
“What do you mean?” asks a deflated Timz.
“I told you earlier, he’s a lot stronger than you think. But the full explanations can wait, dinner’s ready.” She takes Vegeta’s arm and leads them all into the dining room.
When dinner’s finished, they all adjourn to the living area.
“First off, Dr. Timz I know you found some inconsistencies when you examined Vegeta.” Says Bulma’s mother.
“Yes, without going into the most obvious one of the tail.” Starts the doctor.
“It’s just what’s left of the root.” injects Vegeta. “It’ll grow back.”
Dr. Timz frowns at the interruption, then continues, “His healing processes alone are amazing. Both his lungs and heart are twice normal size but they're not diseased. There is deviance though, a fistual of some sort in his intestines it seems contains some sort of fluid. I think if we drain it it would eventually shrink and dissapper. Also his musculature is massive for his size and his blood serum contains several unknown factors that I have never encountered or even heard of before.”
“It’s all very easy to explain,” says Bulma. “Vegeta isn’t human, he’s a Saiyan, a member of an alien species.”
Timz stares at her then looks at Vegeta.
“I was born on another planet.” Confirms the Prince.
Timz looks round the room, and the rest of them nod.
“Now look here, while I have to admit those green creatures may, and I stress the word may have come from another planet. I cannot believe that he,” looking at Vegeta, “is an alien as well! After all I saw them all arrive in a Capsule plane.”
“It’s truth doctor.” says her father.
“And there are others.” Adds her mother. “You know Goku, well, he’s a Saiyan too and that makes his son half Saiyan.”
Dr. Timz looks thoughtful. He had dealt with Goku before as a very difficult patient.
Mrs. Briefs then says, “I can show you my private records on him. They’re all in the medical computer listed under a special encrypted code. You’ll find the same differences in Goku’s charts.” She laughs, “He’s always been so afraid of doctors and hospitals that he’s never been told that I’m his primary physician. In fact, I’m officially registered in all the hospitals on Earth as Goku’s doctor of record, but until now only his wife and Bulma knew.”
“Is that’s why you quit regular practice?” Says Timz.
“No, I quit originally because I had a daughter to raise.” Says Bulma’s mother, “Then I got so busy working with the corporation I just never started it back up.” She dimples, “And now my practice if you want to call it that, solely revolves around treating Saiyans.” She shoots a glance at Vegeta. “And Saiyan hybrids. Gohan is also one of my unaware patients.”
Bulma then adds, “Mom suggested that it might be a good idea if we had another doctor available who was familiar with Saiyan physiology. Are you interested?”
Dr. Timz says, “I always wondered what those encrypted files were. I’ll have complete access to them all?”
“Only if you agree to keep everything in them a secret.” replies Mrs. Briefs. “There are many special circumstances involved. Privacy is of the utmost importance.”
Dr. Timz doesn’t hesitate. “I agree to keep everything a confidential.”
Vegeta tells him, darkly, “And if you don’t I’ll most certainly kill you.”
Bulma glares at him, “Vegeta!” Then hesitates and adds warningly to the doctor, “Vegeta doesn’t make idle threats, Dr. Timz.”
Then she proceeds to condense the long tales of Goku and the dragonballs.
When Bulma mentioned that when they first met Goku didn’t even know she was a girl.
Vegeta went, “Humph, I knew Kakarot was an idiot, but I didn‘t think he was that dumb!”
Bulma smiled, but then defended Goku, “He was just naive, he grew up out in the middle of nowhere with just his ‘Grandpa’ Gohan for company, at least at first. Then after Gohan’s death, all by himself for who knows how long. It’s kinda unusual but understandable.”
Then she told about the search for the dragonballs, meeting Oolong, Yamcha and Puar. How they encountered the Ox King and Goku’s first meeting with ChiChi.
Vegeta asks, “How long were they alone together?”
She looks at him, “How did you know...?”
He raises an eyebrow at her and she suddenly understands.
“A few hours.”
“More than enough of time, especially if she touched him at all.” Is his enigmatic seeming reply.
But Bulma understands and nods. Then continues on with her story, telling how they fought against Pilaf and the Red Ribbon army, learned the secret of Goku’s tail, it’s first removal and the first time the three boys entered the Tenka’ichi Budokai. Recounting Goku’s battles with and his eventual single-handed destruction of the Red Ribbon Army when he went search for the dragonballs for the second time.
“Well at least he finally started behaving like a proper Saiyan!” Is Vegeta’s side comment.
Then she talked in passing about the boys adventures before their second entry in the Tenka’ichi Budokai, meeting Tien and Chiaotzu. Krillian murder and Goku’s mission of vengeance. His meeting Yajarobi, the first encounter with King Piccolo, his eventual defeat of him and Piccolo’s birth or rebirth. Then wishing Krillian, Master Roshi and Chiaotzu back to life.
Then the last competition when ChiChi showed up and after fighting Goku, she drug him off to marry her. Then Goku’s sudden reappearance at Master Roshi’s, a little under two years ago with young Gohan in tow, the appearance of Raditz, his defeat and Goku’s death. the arrival of the other two Saiyans, and the trip to Namek. The search for those dragonballs, wishing Piccolo back to life to bring Kame and the earth dragonballs back, the second wish to bring Piccolo to Namek, the battles with the Ginyu force, Goku’s arrival, the battle with Frieza, Vegeta’s death, the wish for bringing everyone Frieza and his forces had killed back. Then the last wish on the Namekian dragonballs, to translocate everyone but Frieza and Goku to earth before the destruction of Namek. The arrival on earth and the disclosure of the greater powers of the Namekian dragonballs to bring people back to this life more than just once.
Ending with the groups arrival at Capsule Corp.
Dr. Timz takes a few minutes to digests it all then says, “Dragonballs, dragons, wishes, magic beans, monsters, aliens and other worlds, it even has a damsel in distress,” Dr. Timz smiles at Bulma, “if you pardon the pun. Except for lacking the perquisite prince charming it’s almost sounds like some fantastical science fiction fairy tale.”
“Well, if you really want a prince we’ve even got the one of those, too.” She looks at her mate, “It’s just he’s more like Prince Not So Charming, right Vegeta.” She pokes him with her elbow.
The Saiyan prince frowns at her. She smiles sweetly back at him.
“It’s hard to know what to believe anymore.” States Timz.
“Well if you still need proof, you get it in a little over a month from now.” says Bulma, “That’s when we’re going to call up the Namekian Dragon.”
Bulma’s father interjects impatiently, “So now Dr. Timz knows everything and why he came up here. I still want to know what Bulma’s got to tell us!”
Dr. Timz rises, “Well then I guess I’ll leave, since the rest seems to be family matters.”
He starts for the door, but Bulma’s mother intercepts him.
“Please stay just a bit longer,” asks Mrs. Briefs, “you’ll understand why in a minute.”
Bulma looks at her father and starts blushing, “Well daddy, something kinda happened the other night. Vegeta and I, well that is, uh, we started by having dinner and..,”
Vegeta sensing his mates distress he blurts, “Bulma is my truemate.”
“Truemate? What’s in the world does that mean?” Her father looks from his daughter to the Saiyan.
Bulma glares at Vegeta then softens realizing he was just trying to make it easier for her.
“What it basically means daddy, is that for all intents and purposes and as far as Vegeta is concerned we’re a mated pair, you could even say that, from his point of view, we’re married .”
He father is silent and she watch his face intently, he’d always been protective of her whenever he could and she’s not sure of how he’ll take this news. He’d never been happy about her and Yamcha.
And even with her mother’s assurance, now that her father knows the whole story she’s still a little apprehensive about his reaction to the new situation.
Suddenly a big smile appears on her father‘s face, “WONDERFUL! I knew he was the man for you, as soon as I met him. It took you two long enough.” He hugs his daughter and beams at Vegeta, “Welcome to the family, my bo..., son!”
“And I know what you two need to do now.” Her father grins from one to the other. “Take a honeymoon!”
“That’s a wonderful idea, dear.” Gushes her mother. “We can lend them the island beach house. It wouldn’t hurt for them to be alone for a while, just the two of them. I’m sure Vegeta could still use some rest anyway, after yesterday.”
Letting her husband take over making plans for Bulma and Vegeta’s honeymoon, Mrs. Briefs leads Dr. Timz to the elevator, “You understand now why I wanted you to stay a little longer?”
Dr. Timz nods, “Saiyan hybrids.”
“Yes, I remembered noticing on your application when we hired you, that at one time you had considered becoming a OB/GYN and even specialized in it for a while. But then your interest in physical research ended up taking you off in another direction.” She smiles, “Now it looks like you’re eventually going to get to do both, once they decide to start a family.”
The two doctors chuckle.
Three days later, after he been given a clean bill of health and she had gotten her implant. Bulma and Vegeta take off on their honeymoon. As bonding present for the couple, her father had capsulated the training capsule Bulma had built for Vegeta.
Bulma wasn’t exactly thrilled about the fact that her mate could bring it along and train while they were supposed to be spending time together. But her father’s intentions had been good if just a little misguided. So she had thanked him and added it to her capsule case.
‘At least we don’t have to worry about a bunch of prying eyes.’ She thought, as she surveyed the isolated compound. The Briefs had purchased the island ages ago. It was used from time to time to conduct extremely dangerous or any top secret experiments by the company. But her family had also used it as a private getaway spot, hence the luxurious house in addition to the isolation labs.
The beach house was fully equipped with every imaginable housebot and served double duty as quarters for the lab staff when needed. Right now it had stood empty for several months, so she and Vegeta would have complete and total privacy.
Vegeta has been zooming around the island checking over the terrain. He comes in for a landing beside her. “All secure.”
“Of course it’s secure I told you it would be.” She grins at him.
“Old habits die hard.” He responds then takes her in his arms. They kiss contentedly then Bulma pulls away.
“I’ve been dying for a swim since we got here.” She pulls him by the hand towards the house. “Let’s change and take a dip.”
He leers at her, “Why change, just take your clothes off.”
She stops and looks at him grins then starts stripping, he copies her and they run happily into the surf.
After their frolic in the sea ends, and before their feet can hit the dry sand of the beach, Vegeta catches her up in his arms and floats up into the air to fly them back to the house.
She shivers slightly as they enter the comparative cool darkness of the bungalow. In response, he lights the stacked logs with a single blast of ki from his finger.
They lay down on the floor in front of the fireplace and start to make love.
He starts kissing her soft mouth, he can still taste the sea salt on her lips. She responds ardently and soon their passion rises.
Bulma smiles up at him, “MMMM salty Saiyan, tastes so much better than peanuts.” She licks his chin.
He laughs deep in his chest, “Salty human doesn’t taste to bad either.” He kisses her again as his knee nudges her legs apart.
She spreads her thighs and presses against her mate, eagerly anticipating his entry.
Their spirits come together, as he slips into her welcoming body, still amazed that she has no trouble accommodating him.
Soon their soft breathing becomes heavy, their limbs entwining in love. Her fingers trace the scars on his back as probes her recesses with his mighty staff. Their passions increase, soft sighs mingle with the crackling of the fire.
He nibbles on her neck, the nipping of his teeth reminds her of something he’d said a few days earlier and as their passions increase, she remembers his comment about the Saiyana’s response to her male’s mating mark. He is stirring her passions to a feverish pitch and she is feeling his becoming just as fiery as hers.
She starts nibbling his ear in response, then works her way down the arch of his neck till she's at the point where it and his shoulder comes together. Her tongue caresses the spot and as he next thrusts deeply into her, she bites down hard, until she draws his blood.
He howls in startlement then looks down at her with a fierce gladness in his eyes.
“You’ve marked me! Now we are truly mated.” He tells her passionately, his arms tighten about her and she feel the warmth of his ki power envelope them. The darkening room glows brightly with the flames of his love for her.
They both explode in a final conjoined climax of fulfillment.
Continued in- Chapter Seven THE ATTACK and the EPILOGUE
Rated PG17