That bastard!

It had been a week since that idiot had dared to kiss me. Me! Kakarot had dared to kiss me, of all people! Like I was some blushing bride to be wooed! It was the most ridiculous, insulting thing he had ever done to me. I felt mocked, humiliated and… frustrated.

It should have been the other way round! And a lot less sappy! Kissing me underneath the aurora. How… sickening!

I had confined myself to the gravity chamber, barely leaving to eat and sleep. Bulma had returned from her conference, and hadn't thought anything of my obsessive training. This was regular behavior, as far as she was concerned.

The first and only time I had left the chamber, my former-mother-in-law was making lemonade. "Hey, Veggie! Did ya enjoy the cake I made?" the older blonde woman said as she handed me the pitcher. Needless to say, she was left confused after I stormed off.

She brought my meals outside of the door after that.

Not surprisingly, Trunks and his black-haired girlfriend (of indeterminable age) checked in on me, but I just turned them away. I didn't care about their plans to wed, but of course I would be present at their vows. (Her closest friends were a bipedal dog and a strange gremlin… what weird company my son kept.)

Finally, it was the woman who got through to me.

"I would say that I was worried about you, but I've gotten used to this." Bulma said through the speaker system. Her voice was getting scratchy with old age. "What's your latest gripe?"

I stopped, panting, shoulders heaving with exertion. "None of your business, woman." I said automatically, and I could feel her mocking me, mouthing the words as I said it. Had I become so predictable?

"Fine! You want to know? Kakarott kissed me!" I said, and smashed a training robot after my confession.

The speakers gave nothing but the hum of feedback, and the door to the chamber opened. "What? Son-kun kissed you?" I could hear her before she arrived, wide eyed and… excited? She grabbed my shoulders and shook me, babbling, "How did this happen? Why did that happen? Tell me!"

Of course, this was just gossip to her, about her two oldest friends. I rolled my eyes and gently removed her hands. "Stupid woman, this isn't entertainment!" I chided, picking up my towel and wiping the sweat from the back of my neck.

After a few moments of silence, she was still staring at me expectantly. I sighed, looking heavenward. I had to admit, after all these years, I still loved her, even if it was just as a friend these days.

"He kissed me. On my birthday." I said quietly, dropping my walls.

She clasped her hands together, "Oh Vegeta! That's wonderful!" she chirped, her eyes sparkling with youthfulness, as if her own child was telling her this. "So when's the big news, huh? Are you finally going to move out? Are you getting married? We should have a combined wedding with Trunks! Mai wouldn't mind if we encroached on her big day-"

"Stop!" I held my hands up, before the ridiculous woman got even more carried away, "It was one lousy kiss, woman, and I didn't even…"

Bulma tsk'ed, shaking her head, "Of course! You panicked. Is that why you've been holding up fort in here? Because you're embarrassed? Over a kiss?"

"Why-!" I couldn't even grace that with a response, I was too enraged. How dare she?

She looked down at my hands. "Oh… Vegeta, you're bleeding." she said sadly, taking one hand and peeling the glove off. She sighed, "You're biting your nails again! I thought you'd stopped that after Bura was born."

I pulled my hand away, "Dammit, Bulma, stop fussing!"

The woman shook her head and backed away, "Fine. But agonizing over this isn't going to get you anywhere. Goku… he cares a lot about you. You know, he rang the other day, asking if you were still mad at him."

What? "He rang? Why didn't you tell me?" I yelled, before I could stop myself. I was acting like a love-sick teenager over this. But I couldn't help it. Red in the face, I asked, "What did he say?"

Bulma pressed her lips together and giggled, "You like Goku~" she sang, and then laughed behind her hand.

"Gods-dammit, woman!" I groaned, but my ceaseless blushing gave it away, and only made her laugh harder.

"Oh, Vegeta…" she said, wiping her eye, "He said he was keen to spar once you were ready. Ready for what, I wasn't sure but… Now I know." she smiled, but there was something sad in her eyes, "Vegeta… you have to do something. You can't just leave him hanging. He's already heartbroken that Chi-Chi left him, and… well, who wants to be lonely?"

"Tch." I hissed, but she was right. I didn't want to be lonely. Bulma would die within the next thirty years, and she had her insufferable ningen to keep her company. I had centuries left on my clock, and… even though I didn't want to admit it, Kakarott would most likely want to stay with me until the day one of us died. He was so loyal, even to his own harpy of a wife, who had left him after their marriage had voided. And to me…

"And I know… deep down, you love him." Bulma said, putting her hand on mine. I didn't flinch, but I couldn't look her in the eye.

After a moment of silence and hand-holding, she nodded, thinking that I wasn't going to budge. "You're welcome to join us for dinner, although it's going to be all wedding planning. And Yamcha's there. Why don't you go for a, uh, fly? This place is really starting to smell. And have a shower, too."

I knew what she was trying to do, because 'going for a fly' would most likely turn into 'going for a spar with Kakarott'. But she left and I showered, trying to mentally prepare myself for… gods, I didn't even know what I was going to do or say once I saw the idiot.

I flew in quiet contemplation, trying not to panic.

Goku's POV

I was worried about Vegeta.

Okay, so I kinda knew that he was lonely and that he had a little bit of a crush on me. One of the reasons why I came back was because he… well, there was this pull, this longing of his that drew me back to him, and for some reason I couldn't exist.

When I absorbed the dragon balls, it gave me their powers, and I guess it kind of turned me into some sort of god. Or a human version of Shenron, because, well, I can grant wishes now! Like a genie! But not as scary as Mr. Popo, heh.

I came back and, of course, checked on my family. Gohan and Goten were growing up so fast, and Chi-Chi… wow. She was so old. And she'd met someone else while I was away. She told me she didn't think I was coming back, and she was lonely. Plus, the new guy had money and could look after her. She didn't have to cook and clean for herself any more, even though she would probably criticize the cleaning lady's work…

I was happy for her, but a little sad. She looked after us so well. She fed us and cleaned us, and kissed our heads in the morning. But with no Saiyans in her house, she needed someone to care for. I understood why she moved on. I would miss waking up to her in the mornings.

Living back on Earth with no bad guys attacking was… weird. I had meals with Goten, Trunks and Mai, (who woulda thought that Trunks would end up with a girl who was actually older than his mother, in a younger body?) and Gohan, Videl, Pan and Piccolo. And I sparred, with the kids for old times sake, but also with Vegeta.

Vegeta…

I looked up at the sky.

I had visited him first, actually, as soon as I got back. He was shocked to see me, and demanded we fight there and then, to show him what I had learned. And we fought, and it was glorious. And every day after that, we fell back into routine, sparring and keeping each other on our toes.

So it was strange that he hadn't visited me in my little Capsule house since his birthday. I didn't think a kiss would affect him this much.

Y'see, uh… Me and Chi-Chi didn't kiss each other on the lips, even when we… y'know. And I didn't know kissing was such a big deal until Vegeta's very soul was screaming at me to kiss him.

So I did!

And got cake in my face.

(It was very good cake.)

But it had been a week and Vegeta wasn't back to spar. It was enough to make me feel pretty antsy and distracted… and lonely.

Vegeta was… he was amazing. He had come so far since we first met. He could really take a beating! I always admired him, and… he radiated something that made me want to be near him. It was the same thing that made me attracted to Chi-Chi, the feisty, strong-willed-ness that challenged, amused me and was a big turn on, I had to admit.

I did a lot of thinking, and I came to the conclusion that me and Vegeta… well, we should stay together. We were the last pure-blooded Saiyans, we were gonna be sticking around for another hundred or so years and… it was good to have company. Especially if it was someone you really liked. And I really liked him.

And if kissing was gonna be part of it, then… well, I was gonna kiss him.

...still wasn't expecting the cake in the face.

(It was really good cake, I might have to ask Mrs. Briefs to make it for me).

So… where was he?

I landed outside of Kakarott's capsule house, but I knew he wasn't home. The idiot did have a quaint little abode, surrounded by apple trees. I was half expecting the smell of fresh pie and seven Krillin sized ningens running around.

"Kakarott!" I barked out when the usual welcome didn't happen. It echoed off the trees.

Did he leave again? My heart started to race and I flew up into the sky, looking around for him frantically. How dare he? If he just up and left without telling me…

(I was aware of the hypocrisy, but I would never admit it.)

I finally spotted smoke rising from further out into the dense forest, and flew closer. I touched down on the grass and… of course, the idiot was having a fucking nap next to a stream. He was barefoot, in his old orange gi. He even had a fishing line set up.

"Idiot." I couldn't help but smile as I walked to join him, sitting down next to him. He was snoring. It was a nice day, but I wanted his attention.

So I smacked him on the stomach.

"Ow!" Kakarott sat up instantly, and I snorted. "Vegetaaa… Oh! You're back!" he said, and then he beamed in that stupidly endearing way.

"Yes, Kakarott. I'm ba-" and then he pushed past me to check on his fishing line. Seriously?

"Ah! I got a bite!" he said, reeling in the line, pulling in a huge fish, "Lunch time!"

"Kakarott! Is that any way to treat your intended?" I spat out, and then covered my mouth. Did I really just say that?

"My what?" He looked at me over his shoulder. My face heated up. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

"I… I came back for you, didn't I?" I spluttered. This was a disaster, but I had to keep going with it. "I have decided to let you court me!" I crossed my arms and looked away, but I couldn't help but peek at his reaction.

"Court you?" Kakarott blanched, and then looked about him like the fool was on some prank television show.

Well! If he wasn't taking this seriously…

"Are you talking about the kiss?" he asked, tilting his head like a dumb animal.

I slapped my hand over my face and groaned. "I've changed my mind. Goodbye, Kakarott." I said, standing up and turned to leave, but he was suddenly behind me, tugging on the back of my shirt.

"Hey… you came here to talk?" he said, and I smacked his hand away.

"No, I came here to…" I started with the usual sarcasm, but I stopped myself with a huff, "Kakarott… you should just kiss me again." I said quietly. Obviously I wasn't good at the whole 'talking' thing.

Kakarott smiled and then shrugged, "Well, uh… I don't have to, if you don't want me to…" he teased, but he leaned in closer anyway.

"Of course I want you to!" I growled, grabbing the front of his gi and pulling him in close. "Just do it, Kakarott, before I-"

And then he did. He pressed his lips to mine, this time he was cake free, thankfully. I opened my mouth to let him in, and, much like with my previous kisses, it felt wonderful, now that I was expecting it. My hand left the front of his shirt and up around his neck, and I had to stand on my toes, but it worked.

We parted, and he looked at me with his big eyes and smiled that smile that I was slowly beginning to hate less and less. "So… am I your 'intended' now?" He repeated, looking smug.

"Tch! Just shut up and kiss me!"

After the clothes had been shed, and we mated for the first time, we lay in the sun with a pile of fish bones and sated appetites. I laid my head on his chest and relaxed, content with my new choice of mate, and he took my hand in his…

And looked at it.

"Why do you bite your nails?" he asked, tracing his fingertip over sore, red skin and deformed keratin.

I felt my face heat up in annoyance and shame. "It's none of your business." I growled, looking away.

Kakarott laced our fingers together and kissed my knuckles, a saccharine gesture that should have made me ill, but I found that I didn't mind. "You don't have to do that anymore. I wanna make your life as stress free as possible." He whispered into my hair.

I rolled my eyes, but… it was appreciated. Though, I couldn't help myself. "This isn't 'stress', Kakarott - this is years upon years of torment and anguish that you could not even fathom experiencing." I explained, looking up at him.

He grinned - the nerve of this simpleton! - but he leaned up to kiss me. "I can't undo the past, but I really hope we can stay together and make each other happy." he said, rubbing our noses together.

"And how should I keep you happy, Kakarott?" I sat up, sneering, "Feed you, clean up after you? I won't be some kept wife!"

"Noooo…" he said, putting his hands behind his head and relaxing, "We'll cook and clean together. And we'll spar every day. We'll work together if any bad guys come along. Does that sound good?"

Surprisingly, that did sound good. I my sneer fall and I nodded. "Fine. But don't expect me to make you a cake on your birthday. Or go to any of your friends' parties. Or put up with your kids, or-"

He sat up and kissed me, pulling me back down on top of him.

Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.