Disclaimer: I obviously do NOT own DBZ or any of its characters so this will be the first and last time you hear me say it.

AN: This is a "three years story". We begin our story soon after Vegeta has left, along with the rest of the fighters, to save Earth from the Androids. Will be told through Bulma's eyes, from her point of view.

Breathe

Prologue

"Good morning, beautiful." I whisper, my voice hushed and soft in the otherwise silent room. I caress my sleeping child's plump, pink cheek; my fingers brush tenderly over his feather soft skin. Running my hands through his silky lavender hair, I twirl my fingers through each precious tendril. A small sigh escapes his lips, and I smile. Even now, slumbering so peacefully, he reminds me of his father. Tears form in the corners of my eyes, and I can feel the familiar lump begin to rise in my throat.

Delicate rays of sunshine pierce the darkness of the room as dawn nears ever closer. I shakily wipe the hot, burning tears from my face and move slowly to the window. Where are you? Where are you?

Resolve gives way to pain, and I sob quietly to myself as I stare out into the endless morning sky. How many times have I stood here, in this every spot, and have done this very thing? Morning after morning, day after day, night after night, since he has been gone. Since he left to fight for us all. To save me...to save our son. To save humanity in all its righteous glory.

There is a deep, dark emptiness in me because he is not here. Inside myself, I long for nothing but to see him again, to know that he is alright, to know he is alive. On the outside, I must stay strong, I must have the facade of an unbroken woman. I must take care of my son.

The war inside my soul, however, rages on. Every seemingly endless day drones on until the sleepless nights, where I only sit and pray that he will return to me. Hour after hour, until the morning comes to begin another endless day.

I love him more than I ever thought possible. Before him I didn't even know what it was to love, to want to give everything you had, all of yourself just because you wanted to. Just to make them happy.

But how many precious days did I throw away foolishly because I was too stubborn to admit to myself that I loved him, that I will always love him? I took for granted that he was so close; I told myself I would have plenty of time for him later. I thought he would be around forever. Now I realize, all to late, what little time I really had.

What if he doesn't come back? What if all the training, all the praying, all the hoping was for naught? What if my son never has his real father? The tears come back again, spilling slowly down my cheeks, and splashing silently to the floor. What if today is his last?

I can still remember the first time I met him, all those years ago. His devilishly sexy smirk, his arrogant swagger. Despite the circumstances, something in me knew I was connected to him some way, although back then I was too naive to understand. Then, he was the enemy, he was the demon we fought against. He was Prince Vegeta of the Saiyans.

He was an evil, ruthless murderer with nothing but hate in his black, empty heart. He killed for sport and he tortured for a quick laugh. Somehow that all changed, however. Sometimes I like to think I had something to do with it. I gave him reason to break away from his haunting past, and yes, even taught him how to love.

How could I have known, that day when I invited him to live with me, that it would lead both of us together, that he would be the father of my son? That I would fall in love with his everything?

Sighing, I tear myself to break away from my reverie and once again wipe the stinging tears from my face. The sun has completely risen now, and I can hear the soft chirp of the birds outside. I check on my son in his cradle on the far right of the room, then lay down on the bed, not even bothering to get under the covers. The cold I feel can't be satisfied by fabric.

I stare at the emptiness there, where he used to be. Closing my eyes, I imagine that he's still there, holding me like he'd never let go, and remember how it all happened...how it all began...

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AN: I am re-publishing this this story and fixing the mistakes. It has been 3 years since I worked on this story, and after many false starts, I would truly like to finish it this time. Please review and tell me what you think. I appreciate everyone's opinion.