Chapter 1

The ticking of the clock echoed on the walls of Bulma's lab as she fiddled with the repair of a few tech toys she'd given the Namekian kids for entertainment during their extended stay on Earth. The day went by rather slow for her liking, and she sighed to herself at the monotony of her project. Her boredom was evident on her face, yet she was able to express a small smile at her work. The kids never used a touchscreen device to play games, and these devices weren't necessarily reinforced to withstand the barrage of tapping from a Namekians strong nails. "Almost done." Bulma adhered a thicker glass protectant across the pad to reinforce the integrity of the touchscreen, and hopefully now to withstand the taps of the kids.

She stood from her chair with a look of relief on her face. She had been in the middle of a bigger project, but the sad faces of the kids and their pleading eyes to fix their new favorite toys was just too much for her to withstand. Of course, she would put more important work on the sideline to help these kids—it is characteristic of her to help the less fortunate. "Let's get these devices back to those kids." She opened her lab door to a starling surprise as four Namekian kids stood outside in eager anticipation. They said nothing, just looked at her with big eyes hoping that she fixed their new favorite things.

"Oh, wow you guys! You startled me!" She giggled as she handed each kid his tablet, "I believe you're looking for these?" Each kid grinned from ear to ear, and they all nodded with joy. "Now, I reinforced the screens, but you have to promise me you'll be more careful when playing your games, ok?" The kids nodded with understanding and excitement. "Well, go run along now. I am sure your games miss you as well!"

"Thank you very much!" One of the kids hugged her leg, and in a flash, he was gone along with the others to resume whatever game it was they have been hooked on. Bulma smiled as she walked out of her lab and into the main hallway where she was met with Piccolo. "So, what brings you here, Piccolo? Don't tell me you broke a tablet as well." Bulma walked by Piccolo as he turned and walked beside her. Piccolo smirked, "No, you are safe there. I came to express my gratitude for your hospitality towards them—towards the kids and the others. I still would have no idea what I would have done if not for your hospitality." They exited the small building together and watched the Namekians as they milled about Capsule Corps.

"Please Piccolo, there is no need for any more thanks. I'm just happy we have options!" They stared out across the compound with little regard to what everyone was up to at the moment. It was peaceful, so they were soaking it in. Usually peace doesn't last too long before someone shows up to try and ruin any peace they could find. Bulma spoke softly, "So, Piccolo…do you think Goku is still out there? I mean, I know he is—I just hope he's ok." Piccolo nodded with resolution, "If there's one thing I can guarantee is that Goku is alive and well, and I am sure he is finding his way back here. It'll take more than Frieza to stop Goku." Bulma smiled, "Yeah, yeah you're right. Goku sure is one resilient man alright." Piccolo agreed, and they both resumed their cathartic stare at all the peaceful Namekians. It wasn't long, however, before Bulma's silent reflection was interrupted as Piccolo lowly inquired, "So, what ever happened to Vegeta?"

Bulma's face turned from peaceful to uncertain as she shifted her weight from one leg to the other.

"I don't know."

She inhaled deeply, then exhaled as she shook her head in uncertainty, "It's been two days now, and I haven't heard from him, or even seen him. Not a peep from anywhere—it's like he just vanished." Bulma looked over to Piccolo with the same question on her face, "Have you been able to sense him at all? I mean, how do you lose a Saiyan—especially THAT one?"

Piccolo sighed, "I know. To be fully honest I haven't felt his energy anywhere around here nor have I had any suspicion of his whereabouts." The breeze blew lightly between them bringing a small chill to Bulma as she rubbed her arms in response. "Vegeta is a very cunning and resourceful warrior. I am certain he is fine—wherever he may be—but not knowing that is hard to handle especially knowing full well what he is capable of doing."

More silence fell between the two as they contemplated Piccolo's words. There was no doubt Vegeta was faring well with the current situation taken into consideration, but not knowing where the deadliest man alive on Earth was residing now had them uneasy. "You know, Piccolo, I just worry that something here is going to unhinge him and we're going to have to play block." Piccolo turned to Bulma with his arms loosely crossed against his chest, "I know you had told me to leave you two to speak in private the other day, but I admit I did not travel far. I heard your generous offer to Vegeta, but I would have been surprised if he took you up on it. He doesn't seem to be the kind to take a handout or make friends overnight—if ever." Bulma opened her mouth to explain her reasoning but was cut off quickly as he continued to elaborate, "I understand why you said what you did, and why you offered what you could. Your logic makes sense even if not traditional—I just could not stand idle in case you were wrong and he, well, as you said it 'became unhinged'."

Bulma nodded at Piccolo's confession as well as his observation of Vegeta's character, "I figured you were close by, but that doesn't matter as I understand your concern."

They stood there for a few more moments before Bulma patted Piccolo on the arm, "Well, if he was out there terrorizing the village I'm sure we would have heard about it by now. It's my guess he's having a hard time adjusting—just like several others I know of at some point in time." Bulma winked at Piccolo, "I'm sure he'll turn up sooner or later." Piccolo closed his eyes, and nodded his head in agreeance, "Yes, I am sure as well. I'm just unsure of which Vegeta we'll be dealing with."

Bulma nodded, "Yeah…which Vegeta indeed."

After a few seconds of silence, the two exchanged goodbyes and parted ways to attend to their own personal business. Bulma pulled a capsule from her pocket and out popped her small speeder bike. She hopped on giving her serene surroundings one last look. It was peaceful, and she wanted to relish in the feeling. She turned away and headed in the direction of her home. The distance wasn't far from the Capsule Corp compound, but it was isolated enough to give her privacy. After several minutes of maneuvering through trails and a few dirt roads Bulma pulled in her drive circling around the back of her place. Daylight was fading into night, and she was ready to have a night out. She popped her bike back into its capsule as she made her way into her home.

It was so nice to be home.

I wonder…

As she headed upstairs to her bedroom she took a quick detour to the opposite end of her home—the area where she'd told Vegeta he could reside until she could get him off world. She made it to the door of one of her spare suits and peeked her head inside. Her eyes wandered the room briefly.

Nothing. Well, Vegeta, I have no clue where you are.

She shut the door behind her and walked back to the direction of her own personal suite. It was certainly a long two days, especially over the holidays, and she was ready to indulge in as much holiday happiness and cheer as she could before the New Year arrived. She walked over to her Christmas tree and turned it on watching the lights glow and flicker the colors of the rainbow. She hadn't spent much time on it this year due to so much happening in such a short amount of time. Hell, she barely had time to put away Halloween décor before it seemed that everything came crashing down around them. Especially between Yamcha and herself.

Bulma sighed low and heavy, "I can't believe I spent part of the holidays on Namek. What a waste."

She headed to her bathroom and started up a bath. She needed a good soak, and she was in need of a good night out. She stripped off her clothes and entered the hot water letting its therapeutic touch enter deep into her muscles. She was still so sore from Namek, and it seemed that no amount of ibuprofen was going to ease her aches anytime soon. She climbed in slowly, relishing the fact that she would have this time to herself uninterrupted. She laid back, closed her eyes, and focused only on the temperature of the water surrounding her, but it wasn't enough to shut off her wandering thoughts.

Where are you, Goku? I hope you are ok…I know Gohan and Chi-Chi are worried sick about you…poor things.

Her thoughts quieted down but not before the next subject of thought creeped through her conscious.

Yamcha.

Bulma sank a little more in her bath. It was no secret that the two had split prior to the Saiyan invasion on Earth, but to have his life cut down in front of her surely made her think hard about their relationship.

Oh Yamcha…

It wasn't fair. Bulma's eyes opened as she thought about their fights, her jealousy, and his nonchalant attitude towards other women who constantly solicited him. Sure, he wasn't a cheater, but he never backed away from getting his ego boosted by swooning ladies. Bulma was the jealous type after all so after his sudden death she couldn't help but wonder if she should've given it a chance. She sighed heavily in her tub as she counted the months before Yamcha would be wished back.

Poor guy. Killed by one of Vegeta's green monsters…

Her therapeutic soak was starting to turn into a pity party of sorts as mind wandered a bit more.

I wonder where he is right now…Vegeta…poor guy must be petrified of what he's going to do on Earth. I feel so bad for the guy.

A few memories ran through her mind of her brief altercations with the Saiyan in question. He was intimidating, crude, dangerous, and not one to shy away from a fight. She remembered when he had found her in hiding.

I thought I was good as dead.

She remembered how he had approached her, confident and calculated. She knew he could see the fear emanating from every fiber of her being, yet he did not attack her. She knew it wasn't because she was weaker than him—she watched him slaughter beings even weaker than herself without care.

It's like he could see right through me.

***Flashback***

She stood in fear peering into the dark eyes of the Saiyan Prince as he peered down at here in same. She said nothing, but even if she wanted to no words would dare leave her terrified lips. He watched as she trembled with fear, and it enticed him. He was curious why this woman was on the planet from the get-go, but she was nothing more than an afterthought. She posed no threat until he realized she was a direct link in acquiring the dragon balls, and it was only after that realization did his interest truly spark.

So here they stood alone with no one to help her, and the chances of anyone coming to her before he could lash out was hopeless. She swallowed hard because there was no moisture left in her mouth. She could smell his sweat and feel the intense heat radiating from his form as he had her cornered among the rocky terrain—his right arm extended with his hand resting against the rock next to her head. She was silent, afraid, shaking, but couldn't look away from the man who she thought was going to end her life right then and there. She felt his hand move from the side of her head thus she quickly shut her eyes and flinched in response to whatever was going to happen next.

A small moment elapsed before she released the breath she never realized she was holding, but before she could open her eyes she felt a small amount of pressure of two gloved fingers gripping the tip of her chin.

"Silly girl."

A sudden rush of air overwhelmed her as she leaned against the rocks behind her for balance. She opened her eyes to the sight of nothing. She was alone. He had left her there, unscathed for the most part, yet she still trembled. She leaned back against the rock shutting her eyes to process what had happened, and to process why she had the sensation of a million butterflies in her stomach.

***End Flashback***

As Bulma relived that moment those same butterflies came back to her, fluttering in her insides, making her question herself and her near death experience with the Saiyan Prince.

But he didn't. He spared me.

It remained quiet in the bathtub as Bulma's mind finally began to level out and process many of the events on Namek. Still her thoughts would fade in and out about Vegeta and his whereabout, whether he was ok, and if there was any hope in coexisting with such a violent man on Earth. Bulma snapped out of her thought when she realized that she was spending the majority of her mental energy thinking about the safety and whereabouts of one man—about Vegeta. She began this bath with a mini self-crisis of how she handled her relationship with Yamcha only to now be concerned about the very guy who indirectly got said ex-boyfriend killed in the first place. She couldn't help but think about all the linking factors involved. Yes, Vegeta was indirectly responsible for the demise of Yamcha, but in the end it was really Vegeta that saved them all on Namek from Frieza and the Ginyu. Even if he was acting for his own self-preservation, he still teamed up with the Z fighters to level the playing field to ensure that Frieza would be defeated, and it cost him his own life in the process.

It was a life for a life. Vegeta's slate would be wiped clean up to this point, and the past would remain in the past. Yamcha would be returned to Earth, and she would try to work it out with him when that moment came. Bulma sighed blowing small bubbles at the water's surface when she repeated all these factors in her mind until admitting that she was unknowingly trying hard to justify Vegeta as a whole.

"Holy cow, I must be more traumatized than I imagined."

Bulma's bath ended a bit early, but she didn't mind. Obviously with the way her train of thought was going it meant she needed to get out to enjoy some Bulma time outside of Capsule Corp, and away from anything dealing with the recent off world shenanigans. "I need a drink."

Bulma dressed in casual attire consisting of a simple tee, jeans, boots and a light jacket. She didn't want any attention being drawn to her as the heiress of Capsule Corp when she was out, so she did her best to dress appropriate for social meandering. Bulma walked onto her balcony to look out towards the glow of the city yet her mind wandered back to the Saiyan that has gone missing. I wonder what he's doing right now.

Before she left for the evening she retrieved a small knit cap and scarf to help with the chill in the air. She would not be out long, but out long enough to defrag. It wasn't long before she was on her way out of the house, and into the nightlife to enjoy what was left of the holiday season.

The stars sparkled high above him as he stared out at the city in the distance. The stars would soon fade the closer he got to the glow of the city lights, but he didn't care. He'd been among stars before—Hel he blew many of them up—so the lack of ambiance didn't faze him too much. He flew down to an area where he could observe these noisy humans in their habitats, yet not so close to be seen or heard. Vegeta was still unsure of what to make of this place, but there was one aspect that got his attention—the smell of food. It had been several days since his last meal, and his stomach pained for sustenance. Unfortunately, he was in no shape to interact with these people or draw unwanted attention to himself. Even though no one on this planet would even stand a chance facing him, he had no place to retreat. He was stuck here on Earth—and that thought seethed inside of him. Vegeta was running out of options, but it wasn't like he had any, at least so he thought.

Tch…

His thoughts wandered back to the events on Namek, and in turn the events that stranded him here. If it wasn't for that woman and their damn wishes he could have remained dead—at least he would have remained a warrior that way. Now he was just an orphan with nothing, on a planet that was unknown to him, surrounded by beings he had no desire to interact with on any level. It wasn't fair.

His stomach rumbled once more for something—anything to fill it. Even the wildlife here was unappealing especially with the smells of the food from the city lingering on the air. He would wait a bit longer to assess more options, but for now he would watch from a distance. Stress was starting to wear on him, and he didn't enjoy it one bit. He turned his back to the city, away from the sounds, the sights, the glitter and lights to stare out at the vastness of the open countryside. He would take to the air in a direction he was unsure of himself. He just needed to do what he was always good at—regroup, reassess, and take action.

Some way.

Somehow.

***That's it for Chapter 1. As the chapters go they do get longer in length. Right now I am working on setting up the story, so please mind the shorter chapters at the moment. Thank you all!***