Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or the characters
Hey, everyone! I'm here with a new story, actually a request CoreyPeters on DeviantArt, my first official Goten X Bulla story. Only changes with them is the age difference. It will be a three year age difference, meaning Goten is three and Trunks is four when Bulla is born. That changes the timeline and ignores some events pretty much making this an AU. Also a special thank you to SarahWDBZ for helping me to brainstorm and flesh out some ideas regarding Vegeta.
Be sure to follow me here, on Tumblr, and on DeviantArt.
I hope you enjoy!
Precious moments with a loved one are to be cherished.
It was an exciting day at the Breifs's household as a child was entering the world. In a quiet room in the medical wing of Capsule Corp., little Bulla Briefs was born. She came into the world just as peacefully as the atmosphere around her. The child looked just like her mother, a fact that left her father completely floored and taken with her. When the child was shoved into the Saiyan's arms by his wife, he knew in that moment that he would do anything for the babe.
Bulma's friends were all there with their families, called over by Panchy at the time her daughter went into labor. They had not been allowed in right away, the doctor only wanting Vegeta there to be beside his wife. Too many people would have created mass chaos, especially considering the members among the group.
"Wow, she looks just like you!" Goku exclaimed when he saw his honorary niece for the first time. His overeager shouts caused the baby's brow to furrow and tears started to form.
As her little cries filtered the room, it set her father off immensely. "Damn it, Kakarot! Look what you did?"
"Now, now, boys," Bulma laughed, taking her daughter from her husband's arms before Little Bulla got caught in the fray. She rocked the baby and cooed softly. "There, there, Bulla. Don't cry."
The soft, dulcet tone of the woman's voice soothed the baby, and she quickly silenced herself, her deep blue eyes shifting to her father and the loud man. Bulla saw her father at the ready to attack, fist in the spiky-haired man's face, and Goku held his hands up in defense. The baby let out happy sounds, almost a laugh as if she was amused by the whole thing. These charming little noises dispelled the tension, Bulma and Chi Chi chuckling with mirth at their husbands' stupor.
Chi Chi looked to the new mother and asked, "Would you like me to get the boys? I'm sure they're getting antsy."
Bulma nodded and said, "Bring Krillin, Eighteen, and Marron too. I'm sure they're all eager…and ready to be pulled off of babysitting duty."
The raven-haired woman nodded, heading out of the room, and moments later she returned with everyone else. "Is this my new sister?" Trunks asked, eagerly running up to his mother, surprised to see just how similar she looked to his mom with her blue hair and blue eyes.
His best friend joined his side, Goten looking down at the child with a baffled expression before he grinned so widely. "She's cute!" the three-year-old chimed.
A round of laughs could be heard around the room. "Yeah, she's a looker, just like her mom," Krillin chimed in. "I bet you're going to be chasing off the boys when she grows up, huh Vegeta?"
Vegeta grimaced at the thought, but otherwise said nothing as he crossed his arms. Considering the Earthling had his own daughter to worry about, he knew that his joke was actually a valid concern they now both shared.
Bulla eyed the two boys looking at her and smiled at her older brother, but the moment she saw Goten she saw someone who looked similar to the loud man. Her brow creased again causing Goten to become confused. A moment later, the baby managed to free one of her arms and pushed the unsuspecting child down.
Gasps of shock rang out as well as a loud, boisterous laugh from Vegeta. Goten got back to his feet and glared down at the baby. "Hey, what was that for?"
Bulla then smiled kindly at him, disarming the boy, and she extended her hand this time. Goten timidly touched her hand with his finger, grinning once the baby grabbed it with her strong grip.
"Saiyans," Bulma muttered lovingly before meeting her eyes with her husband. Their little girl was going to be a force to reckon with one day. She just knew it.
As Bulla grew, so did her friendship and rivalry with her brother and friends. She was close with the boys and even their friend Marron. The kids would go exploring and get into all sorts of adventures together, though their adventures were tamer than any their parents ever had. Every so often, they planned to go on their own Dragon Ball hunt like their parents before them, but Bulma had the radar under lock and key. With how many enemies she and her friends had faced, she didn't want the kids to have to go through that too.
Through the years, it was business as usual. During the school year, the older kids would go to school, and Bulla would be left to her own devices at home. She would spend time with her grandmother in the kitchen or go out shopping with her mother. Other times, she'd watch her father train. It interested her to watch, which she didn't understand until her father told her about their proud, Saiyan heritage. Bulla took to training like a fish to water. It was something she now had in common with her older brother and his best friend. She would even spar with them occasionally and, although she was only four, she could keep up very well with the boys and always aim to trounce Goku's youngest son. This fact filled her father with pride. It seemed that the rivalry between his and Kakarot's bloodline would always run strong.
Of course, it wasn't all work and no play for the kids. Goten and Trunks were at that age where they enjoyed playing pranks on the girls. Marron was usually their victim, but soon their focus shifted to Bulla. Her reactions amused the boys, especially when she actually fought back. It wasn't enough to dissuade them, and every so often Bulma and Chi Chi would intervene. Surprisingly, Vegeta would as well. It was common to hear, "If you have time for childish pranks, you have time to train." Trunks knew, though, that his father had a soft spot for his sister. If he was being honest, Trunks did too.
One day, though, even he could admit that they took it too far.
It had been a bright and sunny day, and Chi Chi had brought Goten over to play. He and Trunks spent the day watching television and playing videogames. Bulla had been out with Bulma shopping for a dress for the Capsule Corp. Gala.
Trunks was growing bored and wanted to head outside. He and Goten had sparred for a bit, too. They noticed when Bulla came home, and Trunks had gotten the bright idea for a prank. He told his idea to Goten, and Goten got excited. The plan: when Bulla came outside to play, a paint bomb would go off.
But Bulla didn't come outside to play. Instead, Bulla came outside to show them her new dress. Because of Trunks's bright idea, her dress was ruined.
Goten and Trunks were horrified especially when Bulla started crying. "Uh, B-Bulla, we didn't mean to…"
Bulla pushed Trunks out of the way and ran deep into the yard. Their mother heard the commotion and came outside, asking Trunks what happened. He exchanged a conspiratory glance with Goten, his spiky-haired friend knowing exactly what needed to be done. Goten ran off after Bulla leaving Trunks to deal with his mother. Bulma was staring down at the guilt-ridden boy, her arms crossed and body tense. "It was my fault," Trunks admitted. "I ruined her dress."
Bulla ended up by the side of the pool, the four-year-old so upset to be caught in one of the boys' practical jokes right when she wanted to show her new, white dress with the pink polka dots. Now it was ruined, and she was covered in red paint of all things. Her cries had been reduced to sniffles, but she still felt lousy.
"Bulla…?"
The princess gasped and looked over to see Goten standing there, the seven-year-old looking at her with the most apologetic expression she had ever seen. Still, the youngest Saiyan didn't want to talk to the boy right now. She cast him a glare that would have made her father proud before looking away and crossing her arms. "Hmph," she scoffed. "What do you want?"
"Bulla, I'm sorry," Goten emphasized. "Trunks and I just thought you were going to come out and play. We didn't know you'd come out in a dress. If we would have known, we wouldn't have done that. We're really sorry."
"Don't care," Bulla replied haughtily, feeling the tears welling up in her eyes. She closed them tightly and yelled, "Just leave me alone."
Goten felt a jab inside his chest when she tried to send him away, and he didn't like it. Bulla never got angry at him and Trunks in the past before whenever she got caught up in their jokes. If anything, she'd call the idiots and give them a good smack or two, all of them finding enjoyment in good, harmless fun. This time, though, their prank did cause harm, and Bulla was taking it almost personally. Where Goten didn't understand why Bulla needed a new dress when she had dozens, the Capsule Corp. Gala was important to her.
The boy's shoulders tensed as he deflated. He always hated it when Bulla was mad at him. Her temper usually ebbed pretty quickly, but this time he and Trunks had gone overboard. Goten's eyes cast over Bulla, and even though the girl was turned away from him he could see that she was shaking.
"Go away!" she shouted again, though it came out more choked.
Goten panicked. Bulla wasn't just enraged. She was sad!
He shook himself out of his stupor, knowing he had to do something. The half-Saiyan refused to just leave her. Instead, he knelt down behind her and hugged her from behind. Bulla froze, her head tilting slightly to regard the young Son. When she looked into his eyes, she could see just how sorry he was. Bulla sighed and looked away before nodding her forgiveness.
Bulla figured Goten would get all excited again and run off now that he had gotten her forgiveness, as usual, but he lingered this time. His smile wasn't a playful grin, but full of a sincerity the boy never seemed to possess. He was happy his friend forgave him, but he could still see that she was upset. He hoped that his next words would make it all better. In frankness, he said, "You look really good in red."
The little girl blushed immediately at the compliment before murmuring an awkward "thank you." Out of nowhere, they heard Chi Chi's voice calling for him. She did not sound happy. Bulma must have already alerted the woman to her son's antics. Goten sighed. "I guess I'm out," he murmured before smiling at Bulma, the big genuine curve of his lips. "Later princess!"
Goten left the girl alone by the pool, but Bulla felt far from relaxed. Her cheeks were still red, his compliment playing over and over in her mind. Likewise, her heart had skipped a beat, but that didn't make any sense. That was only supposed to happen in fairytales when princesses found their prince. Her blush darkened considerably.
Did she have a crush on Goten?
The adults always found their children's dynamic cute. There were times they pestered each other and other times they played nicely. It was great to see their babies getting along with each other. Truthfully, after everything the Z Warrior had been through in their life, all the years they had known each other, and all the trials they overcame, it was nice to see that their children would get to live a life of peace.
Vegeta didn't expect the peace to last forever. After all, he had seen his fair share of hardships. For the longest time, he served under the malicious dictator, Frieza, scouring planets for a living. Around the time of Frieza's defeat at Goku's hand, Vegeta was abruptly sent to Earth and put into a whole, new world. It was during that time that they learned about the threat of the Androids and the start of Vegeta's unlikely relationship with the Earthling, Bulma. They shared a night of passion and, as a result, they shared a son. Vegeta was bitter about it at the time, but his opinion changed after meeting their futuristic offspring and watched him die. It had been the most helpless he had ever felt, surpassing when Frieza shot him in the heart.
The older Trunks wasn't the only one who had died in battle. Even the Earth-raised Saiyan perished. Unlike his son, Goku refused to return to life in the living. He believed that he drew danger to the planet, and so he hoped that in his death he'd spare the Earth more turmoil. When Gohan told his mother, she was disheartened and demanded to speak to Goku. They returned to the Lookout, asking Dende for assistance.
No one knew what the woman wanted to say but, once the connection was made, she yelled at her husband to come right home. Goku tried to reason with his wife, but she admitted she didn't care about that. She admitted to Goku that she was pregnant with their second child. The boy needed his father, and so Goku did decide to return, though it was after about a year considering the Dragon Balls were inert after using them early. That meant he went through a year of training in other world, his strength increasing quite a bit.
When he returned, everyone was willing to live a life of peace. The only difference was Vegeta's presence. With someone to test his strength against, Goku was always willing for a good spar with the prince that usually left the both of them beaten and bloodied. They were the last two remaining full-blooded Saiyans, and that was a bond no one else would ever understand. Their need to surpass each other became commonplace. Bulma and Chi Chi had spent many a night patching them up.
This training together helped relieve much of Vegeta's anger. As such, he wasn't always nearly as moody as when he first arrived on Earth. He took an interest in his son and his training, and his relationship with Bulma, though ever confusing, had improved. It wasn't a surprise when Bulma informed the prince that she was pregnant with his second child. Their four-year-old son had been excited. The idea of have a brother like Goten excited him. Vegeta could actually admit that he was looking forward to another son to train. Bulma deflated them slightly by angrily asking, "And what if it's a girl?"
That shut them up really quick.
Gohan sighed as he effectively completed another school day. He smiled as he returned his textbooks to his locker. The half-Saiyan had started at Orange Star High School earlier in the year. It was a great change of pace from his usual homeschool routine. Besides, it was about time he started making friends around his age. His little brother was already excelling at that.
Though school was his main priority, Gohan still remembered his first day. He had been running late to school, careful to use his speed to get there. He didn't want anyone to know who he was, the boy who defeated Cell. He saw a statue of the famous Hercule Satan and laughed. Well, the boy who fought Cell. Everyone thought the champion had defeated him. Gohan was completely fine with that so long as it meant he was free to do what he wanted.
A shooting at the bank stopped him.
The son of Goku couldn't just turn a blind eye to the injustice of criminals hurting the innocent to get their way. Visions of Frieza and his men, the events of Namek, flashed into his mind. He wanted to help, but he didn't want to be recognized, so he transformed into Super Saiyan and took out those crooks instantly. He disappeared just as quickly as he appeared, and then she appeared.
Her name was Videl Satan and, after he had returned to base form, she had shown up demanding to know what had happened. Gohan was completely shocked by the girl's combative attitude. She claimed she should have been the one to handle the robbery. At the time, he had no idea who she was, and she had no idea that he was the "Golden Fighter" one of the citizens claimed to have seen. The only clue Videl had was that the Gold Fighter was someone who went to her school.
She was really determine to find out who he was.
Gohan was a little nervous when he showed up to class, a bit soft-spoken as he introduced himself. It was Videl's friend, Erasa, who invited him to join their group in class. Still, it was Videl who caught Gohan's attention. It seemed everyone was talking about his vigilante antics, and Videl's attention focused solely on him and how he was nearby the crime scene. Plus, he was new, and the Golden Fighter showed up in the exact same day Gohan enrolled.
Videl was as cutthroat as she was suspicious of him. His secret was at risk of being found out on day one. That's when Gohan decided to go to Bulma for help. He couldn't just sit idly by and let evildoers get away with hurting others, but if he was going to fight then he was going to have a disguise. Maybe that would get Videl off his case.
But it didn't. Videl grew even more suspicious of him. What made it even worse was that Gohan thought he had been caught once before by another girl, going on his first albeit reluctant date, a fact that alone disgusted the Saiyan prince when he stopped by Capsule Corp. to pick up his brother.
Even though Videl had some fascination with his identity that was borderline obsessive, Gohan actually found that he rather liked her. Her suspicion made him nervous, but he enjoyed being around her and their group of friends. Honestly, if he was being honest, he started seeing another side of her when she risked her life to save people from that fire. She is one tough girl, he mused, unknowingly smiling at his open locker.
Closing his locker door, he turned to see the girl who seemed to be infiltrating his thoughts as of late. She seemed to be as started as he was as they turned at the same time. Videl and Gohan met eyes in the hall, everyone around them existing only in the bachground. Gohan grinned his goofy smile and waved, but Videl simple turned away from him sticking her nose in the air. Once she was out of eyesight, though, Videl's expression softened and her eyes shifted back towards the hall where she just came.
When he first showed up at school, she knew something was off about him. Not only had she seen him at the crime scene of the bank robbery, but he was wearing exactly the same clothing that the Gold Fighter had been seen in. She knew deep down that he was hiding something, but he was able to keep his mystery. Her skepticism never let up. She interrogated him with her friends around so he couldn't get out of answering. Even on the spot, he made up crazy-sounding but logical explanations. Oh how she just wished she had proof.
The Great Saiyaman appeared shortly after, helping her rescue hostages on a bus. He saved them all, including her, from going over a cliff, and after his goofy, little dance, he flew off and said goodbye to her. The fact that he knew her name and appeared after her suspicions of Gohan were out in the open made her think that Gohan was trying to disguise himself. It wasn't beyond the realm of possibilities. There was just something about him.
The gentle expression soon turned sour as the girl's eyes narrowed. She let out a quiet "hmph" before continuing her trek out of the school. Don't you worry, Gohan, Videl thought haughtily. I'll figure you out.
But, for now, she had a job to do.
It was getting harder. He didn't know how much more he could take.
"Well, well, well," a sinister, saccharine voice cut through him like a knife. "If it isn't my favorite monkey."
Vegeta was breathing heavily, splashing his face with cold water, but still feeling just as awful as when he was asleep.
"Frieza…you," the prince growled, shaking with rage. "No, you're dead."
He remembered that disgusting, eerie laugh, even awake. It made him shake with uncontained rage. He clenched his eyes shut and he gripped the counter.
"Maybe," the tyrant drawled, "but not for long. I'm coming back."
No… Vegeta mentally told himself. He refused to believe it. Frieza was gone, and he would never return. He was free. His children and wife were safe. He was living a different life. There was no reason for these dreams to show up out of nowhere. He hadn't had nightmares of his tormentor in years!
"The hell you are!"
Frieza merely chuckled, smirking viciously. Vegeta knew that look. It was the same look that monster wore whenever he had the upper hand. "You know I am."
Vegeta's dark eyes widened as he looked at his reflection in the mirror. He was panicking, he knew. He kept trying to take deep breaths, but he felt like he was breathing water. Sweat covered his brow, and Vegeta could just feel it. Something was wrong. Something was going to happen. Could…could Frieza actually be coming back?
"You know I am," Frieza repeated, the landscape around them changing to that of his ship. Vegeta's eyes widened, looking down to see his old armor. He was on his knees before Frieza, a position he vowed he'd never be in again. Then, something caught his eye. A little group of people, a blur of blue and lavender.
Vegeta punched the mirror, shattering it and cutting his fist. It couldn't be. It just couldn't be. Frieza couldn't hurt them. It was just a barbaric nightmare, but Vegeta could still hear the screams of his loved ones as Frieza tortured them before him. In his nightmare, he was powerless to stop the manace, each time he tried getting beat down again and again.
"Just like old times, monkey," Frieza jeered, straggling Vegeta with his tail. Vegeta struggled to break free, cringing but managing to keep one eye open on his baby girl crying in Frieza's clutches.
"Leave…her…alone!" he shouted desperate, Trunks and Bulma already bloodied on the floor. He couldn't, couldn't let this happen.
Frieza looked down cruelly at Vegeta.
"Try and stop me, weakling."
"Vegeta?"
Vegeta tensed and looked up at the broken mirror, the tired reflection of his wife catching his eye. Bulma rubbed the bleariness from her eyes and then took in the scene in front of her. A sigh escaped her lips. "Honey, again?"
"Hn," Vegeta scoffed, crossing his arms, ignoring the way his warm blood ran down his skin.
Bulma took notice and went straight for the first aid kit before looking at her broken mirror. "You know, breaking a mirror equals seven years bad luck."
"Spare me your superstitions," Vegeta returned. "I'm in no mood."
The woman was careful not to step on the broken shards of glass to get to her husband, Vegeta reluctantly allowing her to treat his fist. "Vegeta, this is the third time this week. Frieza again?" Vegeta didn't have to answer for her to know. "They're just dreams. The kids and I are safe. You're safe. He can't hurt you anymore."
But that wasn't true, and Vegeta knew it. He felt like his dreams were telling him something. Saiyans were known to dream of enemies before they even appeared, and this recurring nightmare was not helping. There was no way Frieza should be able to return, but Vegeta knew that there was a way. After all, he had died and lived to tell about it. Frieza would do the same. This…this was a warning.
"It'll all be okay," Bulma tried, moving to gently stroke her face.
Vegeta stopped her and glared at her. "You don't understand," he told her. "You don't know him like I do."
Bulma huffed and looked to her husband with a defiant glint in her eyes. "He's gone. Trunks killed him. You need to put him behind you."
The prince growled and looked away. How could he do that when just moments ago the bastard was standing right in front of him?
Why couldn't he shake the feeling that something was wrong?