Lightning cracked and thunder rattled the window glass. Bulma stirred for a moment but remained asleep on her side of the bed. Vegeta's arm was hanging off the side of the edge and he hazily stared at the ceiling of their bedroom. He couldn't sleep with all the noise outside; the storm had started a few hours ago and hadn't let up since. He sighed and closed his eyes for what he knew was going to be a futile attempt at rest. It had not been more than thirty seconds when he felt a slight pull on his arm. He opened his eyes and glanced over the side of the bed. It was Bra in her pink onesie Bulma had thought was so cute in the store. She had managed to escape her crib and stumble her way down the hall to her parent's bedroom and was now holding on to her father's arm for dear life. There was another flash of lightning and she pressed her face tighter against him, hiding her eyes from the window. Vegeta could feel the tears streaming down his wrist.
"What's wrong Bra?" He tried to sound indifferent but a tinge of sympathy crept into his voice.
"Daddy, I'm scared! There are monsters outside and they keep banging on my window." A sob escaped her throat. Vegeta lifted his arm up to the bed; Bra was holding on so tight already that she trailed right up with it. He couldn't believe how small and fragile she always felt. He sat up, careful not to wake Bulma, and held Bra in his lap. She threw her arms around his waist as tightly as she had his arm and pressed her face against his chest. Vegeta was taken back for a second, almost unsure of what to do, but eventually put his arms around her and lightly rubbed her back in an attempt to settle her down. Bra's sobbing eventually subsided and her grip on him loosened. She looked up at her father.
"Daddy?"
"Yes Bra?"
"Can I sleep with you and Mommy tonight?" Vegeta shook his head yes and Bra crawled out of his lap and over to his side, in between him and Bulma. Vegeta lay back down and shifted the covers to make sure Bra was tucked in. He closed his eyes and soon felt Bra cuddle herself under his arm and rest her head back on his chest.
"Will you protect me?" She whispered half asleep.
"Of course I will."
"Okay, good thing you're so strong…" she trailed off as she drifted back into her dreams, her thumb found her way to her mouth and she peacefully nursed it as she slept.
"Yes, good thing." Vegeta whispered to himself, unaware that the storm outside had stopped.