Insert standard disclaimer here. I do not own the rights, just having fun.

Chapter 1- Fallen

Vegeta woke up at his usual time, slightly confused about the weight at his shoulder. Then he remembered, the Woman. He slipped his arm out from under her head, glad she never woke with him, and proceeded to dress for the day. Training shorts, a tank top, and sneakers. He let his energy pulse through the house. Just as he expected Trunks was awake and waiting for him. A quick glance in the mirror and he crept from the room down the hall to his son's room. The door was slightly ajar and he peaked in. Trunks sat in his crib waiting for his father to give the nod that meant he could leave the confines of the room and go play. Vegeta enter, walked over to the crib and picked Trunks up by the back of his pajamas and set him on the floor. Vegeta pointed to the clothes the Woman had placed the night before, "dress" he instructed. Trunks looked at him with big eyes and followed his father's finger to the pile of clothes. His face lit up as he understood and wobbled over to the clothes.

As Trunks began to change Vegeta pondered how he came to this? A prideful warrior reduced to a mere shell of the man he was before. He had once been a proud and feared mighty warrior. Now he was tending his eighteen month old son, woman's work. Things were not necessarily bad, but different. He was not at peace with the whole situation but things had rather came to equilibrium. He had a beautiful woman to warm his bed and cook his meals, a son that had the potential to make him proud (all though his mother coddled him too much and he had to be that much more of a bastard to make up for it) and he was with one of the most wealthy families in the country. The problem was except for the Woman's father, no one respected him. He had no worthy opponents to test his strength. He had lost his pride and his honor and was more or less just going through the motions, day to day, waiting to come into his own. Yes, he had made the legendary status of Super Saiyan and yet when it counted it wasn't enough and he fell. To make matters worse he was denied a warrior's death and Kakarot sacrificed himself to have his son save the day.

After Cell was defeated he flew off as hard as he could until his body would take no more and collapsed. He battled his turmoil of emotions, one by one. When the older version of his son showed up to bring him home, he fought him too. He was unsure how long he stayed away, ragged and unsure of the path before him he eventually made his way back to Capsule Corporation, the place he had called home for the past three years. He made a quiet descent. The Woman and her brat would be sleeping for sure and he mentally thanked Kami for it, he wasn't ready for that battle yet.

Vegeta's thoughts were brought back to the present day as his son tugged on his arm indicating that he was finally ready to proceed. Vegeta looked down and gave a slight nod of approval, he had dressed himself and everything was on right. Vegeta began to walk down the hall with Trunks quickly on his heels. This was Trunk's favorite part of the day. It was the only part of the day his Father spent any time with him, one on one. The rest of the day his father would ignore him.

A few minutes later, longer than Vegeta would have liked, they arrived in the Gravity Simulator. The process of getting Trunks ready and down to the GR took close to twenty minutes, but Vegeta refused to dress the boy. Vegeta walked over to the controls and increased the gravity to 3. Trunks wobbled a minute but the look of determination crossed his chubby features and he countered the gravity. They began with minor calisthenics and moved on the strengthening exercised and finally to speed. By the time they began cool down stretches the chimes sounded to alert them that breakfast was waiting.

Vegeta disengaged the gravity and began to walk to the main compound, noting Trunks followed at a distracted pace. Vegeta turned to see what was distracting his son. Vegeta's brows furrowed seeing what looked like Bulma's suitcase being loading into the trunk of a limo by a driver. He had seen the driver before for the Briefs and Vegeta had known this one to also be a body guard that the ditzy blond used when making more valuable purchases. Where did the Woman think she was going, why did she require a body guard, and most importantly why had she not told him. That last part hurt Vegeta's pride, he thought they had come to an understanding. "You have no right to be upset; you haven't properly claimed the female", his mind bringing his treacherous thoughts to the light.

Vegeta failed to realize he had stopped walking as he stared at the limo driver. That is, until his son crashed into his legs. Vegeta looked down and determined his son had not hurt himself when he toppled over. With a newfound determination to find out what was going on, Vegeta deepened his scowl and proceeded to the kitchen door. Trunks was also confused with what was upsetting his father so. Everything that morning had been according to schedule, he hadn't cried all morning and thought things were going along just fine. Then he thought of the man dressed in the black suit. Everything was fine until then so that is what must be upsetting his Father. Trunks therefore took a disliking to him. Trunks mimicked his father's scowl and trotted along after him.

Vegeta entered the elaborate kitchen. The woman's mother was cooking, even though they could have hired a chef she simply preferred to cook herself, Dr. Briefs sat at the table reading the paper and the woman was nowhere in sight. Vegeta assumed his regular seat and Trunks climbed into his own chair. Mrs. Briefs bubbled right on up, "Oh, there are my handsome men!" and gave Trunks a kiss on the head. Trunks didn't acknowledge her but continued to stare at his father wearing his father's scowl. "Oh my, aren't we cute, pretending to be Daddy!" She exclaimed and she patted him on the head and returned to cooking. Vegeta had been unaware of his son's facial expression, he was used to the boy staring at him at this point and paid him no attention he was facing the other doorway, waiting.

After a few minutes Mrs. Briefs began to fill the table with a feast fit for, well a Saiyan. Vegeta continued to wait for the woman to make her appearance. Trunks, who lost his scowl the moment food was placed on the table, looked at his father and questioned "eat, eat", pointing to the food excitedly. Vegeta replied "No, wait for your Mother." As if on cue, in walked Bulma. Father and son's mood immediately dropped as they took in her appearance. Bulma was dressed in a red business suit. So, I was right the woman is going somewhere, Vegeta thought to himself.

Bulma strode into the kitchen and grabbed some coffee. She kissed Trunks on the head and smiled at Vegeta. "You have all of the emergency numbers I gave you?" she asked her mother. The blonde confirmed with a smile and a nod. "Bath at seven, bed by eight. And. . ." Bunny cut her off "I did just fine with you when you were this little, I think we can manage one night". Vegeta stiffened in his chair. One night, where in Kami was she going that she wasn't coming home to her son tonight and with whom. Vegeta looked at her with unspoken words. Bulma's blue eyes met Vegeta's black and she realized, he completely forgot their conversation last week. He never listens to me, she thought. "Don't wait on me to eat, I think I will eat in the limo on the way to the conference" Bulma announced. Trunks didn't have to be told twice and he began to grab for this and that.

At that moment the limo driver enter the front door, "Mrs. Briefs, if we don't leave soon we will not make it in time to the hotel for registration." Vegeta tensed further and Trunks began to stare at the intruder in a suit with his father's scowl once again. Bulma looked over her shoulder and called, "I will be there in a minute Myoki!" Bulma grabbed her coffee and a basket her mother had prepared for her. She kissed Trunks on head, "Be good for Grandma and Grandpa while mommy is gone?" She noticed the scowl on his and his father's face and she added "Mommy will be back in time for supper tomorrow night."

Bulma left the kitchen and went into the living room to gather the rest of her things. Vegeta slid his chair from the table, "Excuse me a moment" he announced to no one. He followed the woman into the living room. She never explained what was going on and he would be damned if she left without giving him one. She is just following the rules you set, do not be too personal in front of others, no foolish emotional shows either, his brain teased him. She did try to explain what was happening to you by way of talking to Trunks, he thought.

Bulma stood there, arms crossed over her chest, waiting. Vegeta approached with caution. He was unable to read her emotional state. Her face was sweet, but her body threatened to strike out at a moment's notice. "Vegeta, I don't have time for this!" Okay, she was definitely pissed.

"Where do you think you are going and abandoning your son for until tomorrow!", Vegeta asked, "and who is that?"

"First of all, I am not abandoning Our Son; I am attending of a conference on new building materials to possibly reinforce our space capsules with. Second of all, that was Myoki, my chauffer. I want to be able to work on some research and blueprints on the four hour long drive there. Lastly, I did ask you to go with me but you chose your training over time alone with me. I was hoping you would have reconsidered over the last week but evidently you don't even recall the conversation. Don't worry, I know where I rank in your to do list, I won't make the same mistake again!" Vegeta stood there dumbfounded. He recalled something about a business trip and him not wanting to attend some boring seminar. He didn't realize how important it was to her. So much for reaching an understanding. He had been so self-absorbed in his routine to have given it much thought. Seminar, ski lodge, and overnight popped into his head.

Vegeta dared not let her see what was lurking below the surface of his mind and he maintained his usual post against the wall, armed crossed and scowl firmly in place. "He is sleeping in a different room?" he motioned his thumb towards the front door. Bulma returned his smirk. "Sometimes, you sound like you're jealous." Vegeta let the façade slip, "I do not like the idea of you being so far, for so long" he stated, hands now at his sides. "You could still come with me", Bulma stated hopefully. Vegeta began to debate actually going with her. The idea of her going to the ski lodge, alone and overnight filled him with apprehension.

The front door once again opened and Myoki entered but before he could say anything he found himself on the floor with a eighteen month old on his chest growling out him. Trunks was going to get rid of the stranger in the suit, he was reason his parents were yelling at each other. He was the reason mommy was going away and daddy was mad. Trunks all of a sudden felt himself being lifted by his shirt and found himself staring at his father's eyes. He heard his mother laugh, "and this is why I chose a driver that could double as a body guard, Trunks scared off the last one." Myoki got up and dusted himself off, "Mam, we really must be going. The roads are really not safe due to ice after dark." Without another word Myoki went back to the limo. Bulma took Trunks in her arms, hugged and kissed him "Mama loves you baby, be good for daddy!" and she set him down. Trunks returned to the table to eat without looking back at his father. Bulma's walked over to Vegeta and took his hand, knowing how much he despised public displays of affection. Surprisingly Vegeta pulled her into his arms and kissed her. "Just wanted to remind you who you belong to, woman." Bulma pulled away slightly to make eye contact, "I will call home as soon as I arrive." Vegeta gave her a nod and watched her go down the front steps and into the limo.

Vegeta went straight back to the GR and turned the gravity up to 450x. He no longer was hungry and couldn't shake that bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. He dove into his work hoping to drown out his feelings.

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