After receiving so much positive feedback for my other multiple chapter submission, I thought I'd start another one! While I wonder (as we all do, I'm sure) about what might have happened during those ~mysterious~ three years, I think an even more intriguing mystery is what happened for our favorite couple and dysfunctional family between the Cell and Buu sagas? Personally, I think these are the years our Saiyan Prince and beautiful super genius fell in love. I hope you enjoy! I will try to update as often as possible. If you find yourself waiting for an update, however, always feel free to check out my other B/V stories (they are plentiful). Thanks so much for reading! Don't forget to R&R!
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, or any of these great characters.
I.
Homecoming
Vegeta stared at his son. His son, the infant, played with its toes. How strange it was to imagine this child, still mystified by the workings of his own digits, would grow to be the boy Vegeta had trained with for a grueling year in the hyperbolic time chamber—the man Vegeta had trained with for a grueling year in the hyperbolic time chamber. No, that wasn't right; this child would never become that person. The Saiyan's jaw tightened; it was too confusing to continue his perseverative thoughts, bouncing back and forth to try and make sense of every timeline and every uncomfortable feeling. He knew, for certain, only one thing: he never wanted this babe to endure what his future counterpart had. No pain, no suffering, no death, and, beyond all else, no disappointment in his father. His ears pricked at the sound of soft footsteps.
"Vegeta?" The footsteps approached, and she was there beside him. She looked into the crib, just as he did, admiring the creature they had made together. "Trunks is going back to his time, soon. Other Trunks, I mean. We're all outside waiting to send him off." She shifted uncomfortably, folding her arms across one another. "I think you should come say goodbye."
The Saiyan made no indication that he heard the woman, gazing still at their small son. He waited for her to pester him, as she usually did when he ignored her, but she did not. Finally, he turned to look at her, and saw that she was crying. He felt himself tense, distantly noting how frustratingly attached to the human's well-being he still found himself. She looked back at him, their eyes locking. They stood in silence for a moment longer, until finally a sob escaped her lips. She threw her arms around him. "I'm really glad you're alive," she whispered.
Before Vegeta could push her off, however, she removed herself from his neck, straightening her clothes and flicking her tears away. "Now, let's get out there. He hasn't got all day." She reached into the crib and gathered up their baby, then turned for the door. She paused, shifting Trunks to her hip. "You coming?"
Stiffly, face ever serious, Vegeta nodded and followed. As they walked together, he allowed himself to indulge in the memory of her fleeting embrace. It felt comfortable and familiar, yet so electric—it had been many months since they shared any intimacy, and he was not sure if they ever would again. Perhaps, her emotional display suggested she would be amenable to continuing the arrangement they had before he left. He was ashamed to admit to himself how much he wanted that. Either way, he intended to stay on Earth, at least for a while. He needed to train his son the way an heir of the Saiyan Prince deserved to be trained. He needed to do something worthy of the idol his son, past or present, believed him to be.