Bulma sat in front of her vanity, gazing solemnly into the mirror.

'Where had the years gone?'

She heard the click of the door closing behind her. Vegeta walked across the room and realized she was staring into space.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing!" she snapped, earning a brief look of surprise from her husband. Then she asked quietly -

"What happens when a Saiyan's mate dies?"

"Why does it matter?" Vegeta responded in his usual manner.

'Of course he would say that.' she thought

"Fine, whatever." she sighed, "Sorry I interrupted whatever it is that you were doing."

"I wasn't doing anything woman. What the hell is the matter with you today?"

Bulma had been more hostile with him than usual today - she was in a bad mood, not that it was an excuse.

"I'm not getting any younger, Vegeta." she stated plainly, trying to hide the emotion in her voice.

"Here we go..." said Vegeta as he picked her up and tossed her onto the bed. She yelped in surprise.

"What was that for?"

He ignored her question, not that she was expecting an answer.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked, sitting on the bed in front of her

'Is he really going to sit here and talk it out with me?"

Vegeta didn't budge through her silence.

'Yes.' he returned through their mental link. In her state, she had forgotten to block her thoughts from his mind.

"I keep thinking that I'm not going to be around that much longer...I'm only human. I remember when you died, the feeling almost overwhelmed me. The only thing that kept me sane and holding on was Trunks. When I die, you and our children, our friends...they'll feel that too. It hurts to think about."

Vegeta cringed. He knew that feeling all too well. He had it years ago, when Goku had told him that everyone was killed by Buu, including Bulma.

"Bulma..."

The sound of her name escaping his lips helped to soothe her bothered mind.

"Everything must come to an end, it's a fact of life. All things - people, plants, entire planets - die eventually. I've learned it's foolish to contemplate your inevitable demise so often when you have loved ones with you in the present."

Bulma looked at her husband and smiled.

"It's hard not to see myself getting older though." she said

Vegeta chuckled.

"So? Yes, you are older, but you are more wise, mature, more knowing of the world. That may have changed but you are still the same stubborn and brilliant woman I fell in love with all those years ago."

Her heart beat wildly, like it always did, when he managed to outright say that he loved her. He sensed this, and pulled her closer.

"Yes, just as stubborn, brilliant, hot headed and smart mouthed...flexible...and just as beautiful. If that was something you were worried about."

Bulma blushed, he could read her like a book.

"So, you didn't answer my question."

"Nothing...really happens. Ours was a warrior race, we understood that our mates would likely die in battle."

"Oh."

"But, I...we, are not the same anymore. And I don't want to think about what would happen."

Bulma leaned forward and planted a light kiss on his lips.

"I understand." was all she said

Vegeta gave her a disgusted look, kidding around with her. She gave him a smack on the head.

"Now, before I say anything else uncharacteristic of myself...I'm going to train." he stated.

"Hey! I thought you said you weren't doing anything!"

"I wasn't, but now I am. Is that a problem, woman?"

"No, but I was thinking you could get exercise some other way." she said, a sultry tone in her voice.

"Well..."