Chapter 4: The Encounter

Bulma was surrounded by dresses, shoes, jewelry, and make-up of every color, brand, and cost imaginable. But for the first time in her life, this didn't make her light up with joy.

"Bulma, cheer up, I brought you out to make you smile, not make you feel worse." Chi-Chi came back from the dressing room wearing a cherry red dress accompanied with matching shoes. The dress was coated in sequins and had a short cutoff at the end.

"That dress looks amazing on you." Bulma exclaimed hoping to change the topic.

Chi-Chi beamed at this. "You think so?" She posed in the mirror admiring the view. "I love the dress but Goku would kill me if I bought it. Even though it's on sale it still costs a fortune. And I've already gotten so much."

It was true. This was the seventh clothing store they had been to and Chi-Chi had bought at least one thing at every store.

"Go for it. Once Goku sees you in it he'll be so busy trying to get it off that he'll forget all about the price."

"You think so?" It wasn't hard to please Chi-Chi while shopping. "I suppose you're right. I'll get it, it is on sale after all. Now, what are we going to do about you?"

"What do you mean?" Bulma shrugged.

"I mean you are usually the one dragging me shopping and today you've barely gotten a thing." This was a reference to the lack of shopping bags that Bulma was carrying.

"I don't really need anything right now. Besides, I'm starting to show and whatever I get isn't going to fit in a few weeks let alone months."

Chi-Chi rolled her eyes. "It will all fit afterwards and you might as well look pretty in the meantime. Now get up, I'll help you find something."

"Fine," Bulma reluctantly rose from her chair. There was no sense fighting with Chi-Chi. "You win. Let's shop."

The duration of the afternoon was spent running around the mall visiting every store they could find. It would've continued if the two hadn't gotten hungry and agreed to go home for dinner being that both were out of money. They also weren't sure if they could trust Goku or Gohan with the task of making dinner.

The entire ride home the two girls conversed about everything that had to do with nothing. Bulma had to admit – shopping and pointless talking was a great way to spend a day. They were just discussing what was going to be for dinner when they walked in the door and were surprised to be greeted by a familiar face.

"Yamcha!" Bulma gasped.

"Hey Bulma, Chi-Chi, how's it been?"

"Oh Yamcha it's so nice to see you." Chi-Chi greeted her guest as she walked up the stairs to drop her bags off in her room. "I'll be right back."

Yamcha got up and went over to help Bulma with hers. "It's great to see you too." He called up the stairs. He then turned to the other girl. "Bulma it's been a while. How've you been?"

Bulma was still stunned to see Yamcha. She was motionless and speech was failing her.

"Uh, Bulma…are you okay?"

"What? Yeah, umm…hi." Bulma was blushing ten shades of red. "Sorry it's just that, I wasn't expecting to see you here."

Yamcha laughed. "Yeah I wasn't expecting on stopping by myself. I was just traveling around and I heard you were in the neighborhood." Yamcha's smile faded a bit as he continued. "Goku told me what happened between you and Vegeta. I'm really sorry."

Bulma smiled a little bit hiding her true feelings. "Thanks, it means a lot."

There was an awkward silence for a while until Chi-Chi walked back in. "So Yamcha, are you staying for dinner."

"Oh I don't want to burden you any more then I have."

"It's no trouble at all. In fact I insist. You simply must stay."

"Oh, thanks." Yamcha started a faint blush on his cheeks.

Chi-Chi glanced over at Bulma. "Bulma, why don't you take Yamcha into the living room, I'm sure you two have a lot to catch up on."

Bulma led the two of them into the living room and they both sat down on a one of the loveseats.

"So, Yamcha…how have you been?"

"Pretty good I guess. I've been traveling around a lot. I was hoping to come by and see Goku; it's just great luck that you also happen to be here. I've missed you Bulma."

"I've missed you too Yamcha. And with everything that's happened, I'm really glad to see you. It's nice to see a friendly face."

"I'm sure. I can't believe what a jerk he was. I always knew he was trouble, but seriously you're better off without him. He was only holding you back. He didn't really care about you Bulma. He was stringing you along." Yamcha pushed his hair back and continued on. "He only wanted you for your house and your body. He never really loved you. You'll be much happier without…Bulma?"

Bulma's eyes had become red and swollen, salt water staining her cheeks. Her entire body was shaking.

"Bulma please don't cry. I didn't mean to upset you. It's just…I'm so sorry I shouldn't have said those things."

"I don't know if Goku told you…but I'm pregnant. I'm pregnant with Vegeta's child."

Yamcha lowered his eyes level with the ground. "Yeah, he told me. I wish I could help more. You know I'd do anything for you Bulma. If you need anything, and I mean anything, just ask." Yamcha awkwardly placed his arms around the blue haired girl. "I'll never leave you Bulma. I'll always be here for you."

Bulma closed her eyes and continued on crying. She didn't respond. She didn't think she could.

OOoooOOoooOOoooOOoooOO

That night Bulma stayed awake staring at the dark ceiling in her room. She didn't want to think, but she couldn't help herself. She couldn't get her mind of Yamcha, and for that matter, Vegeta.

During dinner Bulma had stayed quiet for the majority of the time and for good reason. What Yamcha had said hurt her. But what hurt even more was the fact that what he had said was right.

Vegeta didn't care about her. That much was evident. She had been fooled when Goku had said that he had come looking for her. But that was only an act – an act of selfishness that is. All he wanted was someone to cook for him. And if that same body could also provide free sex well all the better.

Vegeta wasn't right for her. He was a complete and utter jackass, and when she had taken him in, she had known that. But she had made a mistake along the way. Her mistake was that she had fallen in love with that jackass, and now she was hurt and alone with his child.

Her next move was instinctive. Bulma took the pillow from behind her and placed in over her face. Then she screamed. She screamed as loud as she could, all the while praying that she wouldn't wake anybody up. After she was out of breath and couldn't muster up any more air to waste she removed the pillow and continued staring at the ceiling. She was crying again. This was something that she had been doing a lot of lately. With each tear she let out a fear, a weakness, a memory. She was destroying herself from the inside out.

"Vegeta..." Bulma sobbed. "…I miss you. I'm so sorry."

Bulma closed her stinging eyes. She was asleep in a matter of minutes. That night her dreams were full of Yamcha, Vegeta, and confusion.

OOoooOOoooOOoooOOoooOO

Yamcha came over again the next day. Bulma was groggily making her way down the stairs when she met him in the kitchen.

"Hello Bulma!" Yamcha greeted with a huge smile.

Bulma rubbed her eyes attempting to wake herself. "Oh, hey Yamcha. Good morning."

"More like good afternoon. It's noon."

"Uhhh,' Bulma groaned. "I slept like crap. Wait," Bulma peaked through the closest doorways. "Where is everyone?"

"Chi-Chi went shopping for food and Goku and Gohan went out to train." Yamcha had a mindless grin on his face. "Chi-Chi told me to stay so someone would be home when you woke up."

Bulma grabbed a glass and filled it with water. "Oh…well in that case, thanks."

"You're still upset from yesterday aren't you?" The smile was quickly replaced with a worried look. "I was way out of line and I can't apologize enough. I'm sure he loves you."

Bulma sipped her water. "If he does he sure has a strange way of showing it. I'm not angry Yamcha. I thought about it last night, and you're right." Bulma leaned back on the kitchen counter. "Do you know what? When I tried telling him that I was pregnant, he called me a distraction. He told me that I was suppose to serve him and leave him alone. You're right. He doesn't care about me."

Yamcha sighed. "Maybe…he's just confused."

"No!" Bulma exclaimed. "He's not confused. He knows goddamn well what he's doing when he speaks to me. He used me, and I fell for it. I'm such an idiot." Bulma began crying again. "I'm so, so stupid. Damn it I'm getting so sick of crying all the time"

"You're not stupid. He's the stupid one. He's an idiot if he let you go. And you're allowed to cry. If fact it's kind of expected"

"It's not okay that I'm crying and I am an idiot. I hate my life right now. I can't believe how awful I am. I hate myself I hate everything about myself. Why the hell am I such a…"

Bulma was cut off by Yamcha kissing her. Right then and there he pressed his lips against hers, and it wasn't a light kiss either. Bulma didn't know what to do. She wanted to move. Her mind was protesting, pleading herself to push him off of her. But her body wasn't budging, it was frozen in terror. And when Yamcha pulled back to allow them to breathe, Bulma could only scream one word.

"Vegeta!"

AN: Sorry for the wait I couldn't think of anything to write and then one day during study hall I began writing the beginning part of this chapter and it all seemed to click. So I hope you enjoyed chapter 4 and hopefully chapter 5 will jump into my head the same way this one did. Thanks for reading and stay tuned.