Time to Heal

by Last Thought

This is a fic covering those infamous three years before the Android Saga. I'm gonna try to express the complexity I see would be true for Bulma and Vegeta's relationship. In character as best as I can manage. so expect it to be sad-sweet but worth it.

1. Chapter 1

Bulma was the only one that could help Vegeta heal.

She had not accepted it yet when Goku told her how Vegeta died and begged her to take the prince into her home.

"He was crying, Bulma. He has so much pride but lacked the ability to defend it against Frieza. It was his reason for living--to be the best for his people and himself. But because of Frieza he's tasted the ultimate defeat. He's not killing anyone, and he needs somewhere to go," Goku said to her through the space ship communicator.

It was so like Goku to forgive and forget so easily. Bulma had been catastrophically hurt by Vegeta when he had Yamcha killed so easily the year before. She saw the prince's face when her heart died for the first time. He didn't care. He was a monster. Bulma believed he couldn't change. To hell with him, she had thought.

Then she remembered her brief interaction with him on Namek. He seemed troubled and not quite the incredible beast she saw on the television. He also had saved her life when he betrayed Frieza by killing Zarbon and the stomach-turning Dodoria.

But she knew it when she saw him that first day back on Earth. He would not meet Bulma's eyes. And Bulma found this unfathomable. She never thought she would want to help him, but this strange act of meekness stirred her curiosity and called her heart to action. Goku convinced her with his last words that day.

"You're the only one strong enough, Bulma."