This takes place after the Buu Saga and I might even venture into GT, basically my take on Vegeta's dramatic character change between the two series and how he came to terms with becoming a family man and an Earthling.

M for sexual content and other adult themes

Disclaimer: I do not own DB, DBZ, DBGT, or any of its characters.

And as always please R&R.

Chapter 1

Things had settled down to their natural rhythm at home, and Bulma had immersed herself in her work at Capsule Corporation once again. Things might have seemed normal from the outside: Trunks was back in school, her parents were enjoying retirement tending to the animals, and Vegeta as always was isolating himself in the gravity chamber. But she knew the events that had taken place just a few months ago had changed them, had caused a riff. For some reason she had been reluctant to confront her husband about all that had transpired after the wizard Babidi appeared on Earth. There were a few things that didn't quite fit, and no one seemed to want to burden themselves by giving her the full story. And quite frankly she was terrified of finding out the truth. She let time pass in hopes that Vegeta would bring it up but she should have known better, she got no such break from her stubborn long-term partner.

"Stupid Saiyan, why's he always making things difficult?" Bulma mumbled to herself, scribbling down her signature on the first of many papers that needed her approval.

"Excuse me, ma'am…I didn't quite catch that."

Bulma looked up at the young brunette carrying a stack of papers and walking towards her desk, "Oh sorry, Jackie. I was just thinking out loud," she replied sheepishly.

Her secretary gave her a warm smile and allowed the papers to drop with a thud on her desk.

"When will this end!" Bulma let out in exasperation, looking at the mounds of paperwork that surrounded her desk.

"Well ma'am because of the Buu incident and your extensive leap of absence we've fallen very behind schedule," Jackie replied pulling out a small notebook from her pants' pocket, "Now before I go, I just want to remind you that you have a 10 am meeting with the executive board to discuss a merger deal, after that you're needed in Lab 602 for approval of a new project, then at noon Mr. Tak Fuji will be waiting at the bar across the street for your business lunch…."

Bulma's eyes glazed over as she stopped listened to her secretary recite her incredibly long list of duties for the day. Her thoughts immediately going back to Vegeta and Trunks, they had both changed dramatically since this whole ordeal ended and it felt like her whole family had drifted apart and she didn't know why. Vegeta had lost his spunk, he almost seemed at peace and very rarely initiated or sustained a verbal battle with her, which seemed like a good thing but it was so out of character for the Prince that it just freaked Bulma out endlessly. Trunks seem to have hardened and matured after everything was back to normal and unlike before was less interested in spending time with his father. For the first time in her life Bulma felt like she was at a loss, "how can I fix this…"

"Do you need me to repeat anything?"

"Huh?" Bulma said snapping back to reality.

"Would you like me to repeat anything, Dr. Briefs?" Jackie replied with an obvious look of annoyance in her face.

"No, it's alright. I got it!" Bulma said scratching the back of her head in a very Goku-esque fashion.

"Well, just gimme a call if you forget anything…" She replied with a look of suspicion before turning on her heels and heading out of her office.

Bulma let out a sign of relief; she grabbed her cup of coffee and took several sips before getting back to her paperwork.


He exhaled slowly, allowing all the air in his lungs to escape his body before taking in another deep breath which caused his chest to expand in unison. Lately his days had been spent sitting on the floor of the Gravity Chamber, mediating, reflecting on his life: his past and his future.

He was no longer the dark and evil prince he once was; even when the darkness of his heart had been unsealed with magic his last thoughts were of his loved ones and his actions had been to save Bulma and Trunks. It was a hard truth to swallow, how he wanted to fight it, his pride had blinded him once again allowing him to believe that if things were different he'd abandon everything and resume his life the way it had been before he came to Earth. But if he looked deep inside he knew that he could never be more content or happy than he was right now, even though it was a pitiful and mundane life unfit for a warrior. His love of his family was so overwhelming that he was willing to sacrifice everything and even permanently merge bodies with the clown Kakarot. It was a difficult choice to make but he did not know what else to do, he needed meaning in his life again and he knew that he had to find a new purpose as a "good" guy, and maybe even as an Earthling.

Vegeta let out a grunt, and pulled himself off the floor. He walked towards the control panel and wearily stared down at all the buttons.

"Why hasn't that blasted woman tried to talk to me about that day…she's always staring at me questioningly, the words practically painted on her lips but when I notice she'll start babbling on about something trivial or just turn away…She's never been afraid to speak her mind. Now that I want to pour my soul out she doesn't bother trying, she's so infuriating." Vegeta clenched his teeth while setting the chamber to 500x the Earth's gravity to begin his exercises for the day, a routine he had to maintain just so he wouldn't experience muscle atrophy.

His thoughts were tormenting him for months now, he wanted nothing more than to rid himself of his burden by confessing his wrongdoings and admitting his desire to atone but it seemed as though he'd have to take out his frustrations on his body for now.


"Dad! Dinner is ready," Trunks yelled while banging on the steel door of the Gravity Room and before he could step away Vegeta yelled back.

"I will eat my meal in here; bring it to me at once."

Trunks rolled his eyes before walking away and heading to the kitchen, Bunny and Dr. Briefs were setting up the table while Bulma looked over some seemingly important portfolio.

"Dad wants me to bring him his food," Trunks announced.

Bulma looked up, and frowned.

"Well Darling, just grab your father a couple of plates then hurry on back. Don't want any of your food to get cold," Bunny chirped in her usual happy way before sitting down on the table.

Trunks nodded and was out of the kitchen in no time, he was trying to balance several plates on his arms and head while he hovered slowly to the room not wanting to make a second trip.

"I'm just gonna leave the food out here!" Trunks yelled at the door, it slid open suddenly and Vegeta appeared at the entry in his usual exercise attire, blue spandex shorts and gym shoes.

"Bring it in here," He commanded grabbing the plate off his son's purple head of hair and setting it down on the floor a few feet in.

The door slid close behind Trunks, he placed the rest of the food on the floor and turned to his father.

"Why aren't you eating at the dinner table?" Trunks asked looking up at Vegeta.

"That's none of your concern," Vegeta replied. Trunks gave his father a stern look and started to walk around him.

"Stop, I need to talk to you."

Trunks froze and looked up again curiously but slightly afraid he was in trouble.

"Wha…what is it, dad?"

"I know something has been on your mind lately, I'm giving you an opportunity to say what you want."

"I don't know what you mean."

"Don't lie to me, brat. Stop being a coward and say what's on your mind."

Trunks gave his father a venomous look, Vegeta knew that his son had inherited his pride and tempter and the offensive word would not be taken lightly.

"Look who's talking!" Trunks spat out before he could stop himself. He stared silently at his father, expecting him to react violently at the accusation. But Vegeta stared down unfazed and waiting for his son to continue. Trunks growled in frustration, his father's apparent apathy making him angrier.

"Only a coward would willing give up his free will and throw away his whole life just so he can have a chance against his stupid rival! You almost killed mom in the process too…" Trunks blurted out, he could feel his eyes grow hot with tears.

"Who told you?"

"Goten told me at the party…he overheard Gohan and Piccolo talking about it. It was so humiliating to think I defended your honor…I told Goten you were the toughest guy in the world and a Prince…and then I find out it was all your fault Buu was even released from his pod in the first place…without any regard for our lives." Trunks lowered his head furiously as he said the last line, he couldn't allow his father to see the tears streaming down his face.

Vegeta dropped down to one knee, so he could be at eye level with his son. He placed his hand on Trunk's shoulder, feeling him tense up. He knew his son wanted nothing more than to slap it away but he didn't.

"Forgive me, you're right I was a coward and if I could undo it all, I would," Vegeta said, his voice low and his features softening.

Trunks looked up with pure shock, his eyes drying up instantly.

"Honest?"

Vegeta responded with a slight nod. Trunk's face lit up, he had never imagined in his life he'd get an apology from his father and the act had such an impact on him that his anger had almost immediately dissolved.

"My actions were inexcusable, I put my own selfish needs before my family and in the end I realized there was nothing more important to me than protecting you and your mother."

Vegeta pulled Trunks in by the shoulder, and once again embraced his son with one arm. Trunks tried to enjoy the show of affection, acknowledging that this act may not be repeated again anytime soon.

"Now go eat," Vegeta commanded lifting away from his son and walking around him to his own meal.

"Uh…one more thing dad." Trunks said while watching his father sit on the floor, his back turned towards him.

"What is it?"

"Did you mean it…when you said you were proud of me?"

"Boy, I would never lie about such a thing." Vegeta answered turning his head slightly to the left.

A few moments of silence passed while Trunks grinned at his father who had finally turned back to his food and began to shovel it down his throat.

"Thanks, dad," Trunks whispered before running out of the gravity room happily.

"Honey, what took you so long?" Bulma asked when Trunks finally made his appearance in the kitchen.

"Oh dad just wanted to tell me something," Trunks replied nonchalantly, stuffing his mouth with mashed potatoes in seconds. He quickly decided it was probably best he didn't let his mother know what happened, she was still totally oblivious about the events that took place the day of the tournament, and he wasn't going to overstep his bounds and possibly piss off his father or even worse cause his parents to break up over the whole ordeal.

Bulma looked at Trunks suspiciously.

"What, pray tell, couldn't wait till after dinner?"

Trunks gulped down a mouthful of pork meat before turning to his mother again.

"He wants me to start training again, he says I had enough of a vacation," Trunks lied.

Bulma glared at her son but didn't press matters any further; she wasn't satisfied with his answer but didn't have any reason to not believe him otherwise.


It was 3 in the morning when Vegeta stepped out of the shower; he glanced over as his reflection and grimaced. He looked worn down, he felt some relieve this evening when he able to open up to his son but he knew Trunks' admiration for him would make it easy. He knew his son's forgiveness would come much more easily than Bulma's and the uncertainty really weighed him down.

He was determined to tell her everything, no matter the reaction or consequence; he needed to do it even if it meant the end of his relationship with her. She deserved more than anyone to know the truth.


She felt the mattress rock as Vegeta climbed into bed, her back turned towards him. Most nights she couldn't sleep and it was especially difficult when Vegeta decided to stay up late in the GR.

She'd lie in bed for hours replaying that moment when Goku informed them of Vegeta and Gohan's death at the hands of Majin Buu. The emotions of that moment would swell up inside her, and she wanted nothing more than to hold Vegeta and tell him that she didn't care about the truth she just wanted him here, with her.

She clenched the blanket with her hand before turning over to face him; he was lying on his back motionless. She slid her hand over his stomach slowly and moved it up allowed it to rest on his chest; she pressed herself against him and rested her head on his shoulder. She could feel his head turn towards her, she looked up and even though it was pitch black she could still faintly make out his face. After a few moments she leaned in even further and her lips found his, she moved her hand up to the nook of his neck and pulling her body even closer, she intensified the kiss. He moved his hand from underneath her body and pulled her in by the waist, easily positioning her right on top of him never breaking the kiss. His hands quickly pulling up her dress allow her legs to open up around him, his hands then resting on the back of her thighs. Their movements were slow but passionate, they made love for the first time in months and not a word was said between their sighs.

There's gonna be a bit of angst here and there but eventually it'll lighten up. Hope you enjoyed, please remember to review.