Vegeta woke up from his slumber and glanced around at the clock. His eyes jumped open as the 5:40 glowed off the nightstand, filling the area with the faintest of light.

'Ah, only a month after Buu and I'm starting to sleep later. This is pathetic.' He slowly got out of bed and walked to the dresser, pulling out sweatpants and a shirt, his usual training attire. While changing he noticed the faintest signs of the rising sun outside their window. He grumbled and pulled on his shoes, preparing to enter the gravity room and continue his training, for as he put it 'one must not go soft in times of peace.'

Stealthily he exited the bedroom and made his way downstairs. He hadn't quite mastered cooking, per se, but he had achieved his goal of pouring a couple bowls of cereal for breakfast. He would return at 8 and eat his real meal with the rest of the family but now was training time. He paused at the doorway to the training room and thought to grab Trunks for some early morning work-out sessions but decided the better option would be to let him sleep. He really didn't need a tired nine year old boy whining around him all night at the little party tonight that Bulma wanted to throw.

He knew a part of him had changed when that dread that usually filled him whenever he heard the phrase 'Vegeta, I'm having a get-together tonight, be nice,' hadn't affected him quite as much as every other time. The prince was definitely nowhere near the point of excitement, but maybe party food would be nice. His woman and brat would be pleased and entertained. Nothing terrible would really come of it.

Bulma slept peacefully through his training session and awoke at seven o'clock, just enough time to shower, change, and cook enough food for two armies and herself. By 7:30 the waffles were in the waffle maker and the toast was in the toaster and she allowed herself to relax before waking up the sleeping half-Saiyan upstairs. Her eyes started to droop as she allowed her head to rest on her arm. By 7:32 the woman was asleep and by 7:35 Bunny Briefs was standing over the toaster putting in new bread.

Trunks slowly rolled over on his bed. A faint buzzing was coming out of the alarm clock next to his head but at that moment he wanted nothing more than to sleep. Of course he had to get ready; there was a lot of decorating and preparing for the day ahead. Guests would start arriving around one so an early day was needed to get the house clean and the bots ready. Trunks still didn't know why exactly HE needed to be the one to help, but his father volunteered him and it meant Goten was coming over so he accepted it.

As the young Saiyan made his way downstairs he could already smell the delicious food's scent wafting through the air. Running downstairs he saw his mother still slumped over her arm, completely asleep and his grandmother humming away while she grabbed more butter out of the fridge. Trunks walked up to the younger Briefs and gently shook her arm.

"Mom…" he whispered. "Breakfast is almo-"

"BREAKFAST?" She jumped up, nearly knocking the younger Saiyan over and turned to see her mother cheerfully catching the last pieces of toast. Bulma let out a sigh and laughed. "Wow, thanks mom, I don't know what I'd do without you sometimes."

The older lady just smiled. "Don't worry about it. As long as you don't nap through your party I think you'll be safe."

Bulma smiled and felt a wave of excitement once again. She'd been planning this party for two weeks and for once everyone would be there. Goku and chi-chi and the kids, Krillin's clan, Yamcha and Puar, even Piccolo. All for this peaceful time.

Vegeta entered the room wiping sweat off his face with a towel. Bulma's mother had sat a plate in front of her with a large waffle and two pieces of buttered toast. She slowly nibbled on the corner while her mother split up the rest of the waffles between the other two. Through breakfast Trunks rambled on and on about all the hanging out and partying he was going to do while Vegeta pretended to pay attention while keeping his eyes on Bulma. She was definitely spaced out, her eyes never leaving the window. Usually she was the one who took control of the listening to Trunks part of parenthood but her head was so wrapped up in what to do and what to wear and who will come that she basically ignored the other people seated at the table.

Noon time had come around and Bulma cheerfully finished programming the last of the bots for tonight's feast. Guests would be arriving any moment now and she needed everything to go off perfectly. She WAS Bulma Brief's after all and of all people SHE needed to know how to throw a party. She turned the machine on, moved the punch bowl one last time, warned her partner to be nice and reapplied a light coat of lipstick just in time to hear a crash through the door. Smirking, she knew who it had to be. Luckily, she'd sent her son out there a few minutes ago to start receiving people. 'Hopefully he stopped Yamcha's car from doing too much damage,' she thought. She definitely should have offered him a less powerful vehicle.

As more people started entering she made her rounds and took in the scene. Trunks and Goten were running around with a little Marron tagging along at their heels. Vegeta was off in the distance with Piccolo, their mouths moving but she couldn't hear a word coming out. By the buffet table, Yamcha and Krillin were piling food onto a plate and laughing about life with an android wife while 18 rolled her eyes from the other side, a small smile sitting on her face. Oolong and Master Roshi started going through an old photo album he brought, holding it up to compare everyone and laughing merrily while the trusty turtle ate pieces of bread dropped on the floor. Hercule and Buu sat at a table, laughing as they watched the puppy named bee chase after Puar in hopes of getting the treat the flying shape-shifter was teasing him with. Chi-Chi straightened up Gohan's hair by the table while he and Videl blushed from embarrassment. Even Tien and Chiaotzu were enjoying a nice conversation with Dende by the flowers. It was a perfect sight, minus one person, but Bulma knew better than to bring Goku up right at the moment. Everyone had comment on his lack of presence, it was best not to set Chi-Chi off any more.

After a couple of hours the food started to settle and the conversation died down. Bulma knew that she needed to kick this barbecue up a notch; it had to be the greatest night ever.

"LET'S BOOGIE!"

Half of the gang took to the floor and started having fun, enjoying the music and the lights show. She looked over and saw her little half-Saiyan happily dancing along with his friend which caused Bulma to smile. 'Well, maybe he's not all Vegeta after all! He's got a little me in there.' She went to glance over at her prince when the sight nearly floored her. Not only was he tapping his fingers on the table along with the music, Piccolo seemed to be patting his foot in time with the beat. It was almost unbelievable and made her smile widely.

Of course, this little moment was cut short rather quickly when everyone started stepping to the side to watch Gohan and Videl get a special little dance in. She more than happily joined them and clapped along merrily. All of a sudden the moment was lost when Chi-Chi stepped in the middle of them, showing them how to 'really dance.' This, of course, ended up being one of the highlights of the party but she seemed happy and that made Bulma happy.

Vegeta sat in his chair, Puar floating overhead and the larger Namekian standing nearby. "I never really thought you to be the party type," Vegeta commented over the loud music.

"You're one to talk Vegeta," Piccolo said with a smile. He wasn't sure what to make of this 'new Vegeta' but he definitely felt it was an improvement over the old one.

Their conversation was cut short by a sudden stop in music and a bent over Chi-Chi. "Give me a senzu bean and I'll be alright!" She said, which lead to laughter amongst the gang and even a chuckle out of Vegeta. The laughter was cut short with the mention of Goku, giving the room a solemn feeling.

"It's just not the same without him…" Bulma mused aloud, giving voice to everyone's feelings.

"Gosh, you really care for Goku," the other woman said teasingly. "Hey, I know! How about we trade mates? Vegeta for Goku!"

Bulma looked at the other woman, trying to figure out exactly where this joke was going and hoping it wouldn't set off her prince, who had been very polite and patient during this whole party, into some sort of embarrassing tirade.

"Vegeta's not as sweet but he's certainly more dependable. I think it evens out." This sent the crowd into a giggle, even Bulma herself, but as she looked over, expecting a scowl or frown she noticed an amused smile grace his face.

"Hey, I'm available ladies," Yamcha jumped in. "What do you say?"

"We're talking an even trade! We don't want a downgrade." For once, Bulma decided, Chi-Chi managed to be the life of the party.

This banter seemed to lighten the mood of the gathering greatly and it continued on its merry way. Master Roshi sat down and began a rousing game of poker with some of the adults while others watched from the side. Piccolo caught the attention of the two smaller half-saiyans with tales of how he was the one to train Gohan which amused them greatly. Bulma swooned over Marron who was happily sitting in her mother's arms, talking about how great it would be to have a mini-her running around ("That boy is too much like his father") and Krillin watched peacefully as the sun set.

"Well, I think it's time to get going…" he mentioned as the sun dipped lower behind the horizon.

A few friends followed behind to say good-bye to the first group to leave, most of them feeling the same want to crawl into bed. As the three turned and began to exit a man came bursting through the door like his life depended on it. Then on, if you're married to Chi-Chi and hours late to a party you were supposed to go to with her your life may actually be in danger.

"GOKU!" The room burst out into excitement, people dropping their cards and jumping up to get a look at the man who was six hours late to a party. One person unfortunately did not share in the cheer.

"Where's your mother?" Goku whispered to his son, hoping that maybe, just maybe, she was sitting somewhere having a grand time without him. This was not his lucky day.

"I'LL TELL YOU WHERE I AM! ON LONELY STREET. When you were dead you had an excuse but now it's just shameful neglect." The other members of the party tried to stifle giggles at this outburst. It had been expected at this point if he did manage to show up it wasn't going to be pretty.

"But… if you could only see those eggs…" His goofy grin seemed to have a cooling effect on his wife, much to everyone's joy.

Part of Goku's punishment wasn't a restriction of food, much to his joy, so he sat down at the table to eat while everyone gathered around, listening to a strange tale of saving dinosaur eggs and attacks by giant fish. It was an interesting tale and seemed to make everyone forgive him for the long delay to the party.

Goku laughed and glanced around at the gathering of all his friends and family over these past years. He couldn't remember the last time all of them were together, and especially in such a social setting. He gave it one last glance and noticed that a certain prince happened to be missing. His eyes roaming the room again he noticed the man leaning against the wall right near the window, away from everyone else.

"Vegeta, what are you doing over there?" the taller Saiyan enquired. "Come over here with us."

Vegeta smirked as everyone added their own little encouragements and walked closer by Bulma, still a good foot from the rest of them. Goku let out a hearty laugh. "Well, it's a start."

The party naturally wound down and people were departing in groups until it was down to the Brief's family. Bulma looked around and sighed, not feeling any sort of energy in her to clean up at all. Trunks had already retreated to bed as soon as the last person left, exhausted from playing. Vegeta leaned against a wall, clearly worn out from the adventure of the day. It was nearly midnight and the prince had wanted to wake up early to fit in some of the training he missed today.

While surveying the damaged he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning around he noticed his mate looking up at him with a half smile and a glitter in her eye.

"Well, don't you look amused," he offered, clearly confused.

"Well, I think this is the first successful party I've ever held that you didn't sulk off or blow something up. I'm impressed."

He smirked. "I'm glad I could please you by acting normal."

"Hey, monkey boy," she said teasingly. "I'm just happy you didn't blow up over the teasing you got from Chi-Chi and Goku. I think someone," she moved in closer and let her eyes drop seductively. "Someone deserves a reward."

A/N: My favorite part of this episode was the argument over Vegeta between Bulma and Chi-Chi while he just stood there with his "bitches love me" smile. Probably even my favorite from the saga. Also, I always imagined Piccolo to be the closest person (creature? Living things?) that Vegeta had to a friend. From here on out it'll be more "original" work so hopefully it'll be longer and more detailed =]