[I've taken some very artistic license at this point. After writing, I went back and watched the part of the series around which time this happened, but left it unchanged. Enjoy.]

Chapter 4

He kept a close eye on his Earth clock, trying to calculate exactly when his child would be born. Within the week he guessed. This planet he was on was so remote. There was an electrical storm followed by a meteor shower. He decided to fight both.

I have to be stronger. I have to protect them. They are my reason.

He stared up at the large meteor that threatened to destroy the planet. His spark ignited. His power rose to extreme levels and his hair turned blond. "Big Bang Attack!" The energy burst towards the meteor destroying it on impact.

He stood still in the moment. The energy flowed to his body in a way he never felt before. He felt like he could feel each individual blood cell course through his veins. He leaned his head back and laughed. He was lost in the euphoria of his new found power.

A solar system away, a purple haired boy was born.

"Bulma, you did great! He's beautiful." Her blond mother practically skipped around the room at the sight of her grandson.

Chi-Chi sighed with relief. "Your labor was longer than mine."

Bulma looked into the face of her new son. "Welcome to the world."

Goku burst through the door holding flowers with Gohan following behind him holding balloons.

"Goku, be quiet. There's a baby in here!" his wife hissed at him.

"Sorry, I'm just so excited. He's family."

Bulma grinned at her best friend. "Come get him." Goku took the baby boy tenderly in his arms as the others watched on.

"What's his name?" Gohan asked.

"Trunks."

"Where's Yamcha?"

"Probably being a loser somewhere. This isn't his baby, anyway. He's all mine."

Goku babbled at the baby quietly so no one could hear him as Gohan was talking to Bulma and his mother. "Who's the prince of all Saiyans? You are. Yes, you are! You have your father's scowl. Yes, you do." He laughed when the baby opened his blue eyes. "You don't know this, but we've already met. I look forward to watching you grow up."

"Goku has such a way with children," Chi-Chi said. "Give Trunks back to his mother. It's time for us to go home."

"Aw…" He handed Trunks to Bulma and kissed her on the cheek. "He's beautiful. Tell Vegeta we said hi!"

She nodded, even though she didn't know when or if she was going to see him again.

She went home the next day with infant in tow. She set up the nursery with a cute animal theme set to pale blues and greens, but she intended on keeping him in her room with the bassinet until he was comfortable sleeping through the night.

He returned late one night, sneaking in when the others were asleep. He felt the small presence and went to find it. She was collapsed on her bed at an odd angle. He picked up the package in the baby bed and tiptoed out quietly. He turned on the small lamp in the child's room and studied his features. That was his face; it reminded him of his own father. His hair was purple, though like his maternal grandfather.

She walked into the room rubbing her eyes. "Mom? I didn't even hear him." She looked at him and gasped. "Vegeta!"

He looked up from the infant's face, shocked, but not able to hide the pride from his eyes.

Her eyes filled with tears. "You came back."

"I gave you my word."

"Did you do it? Are you a Super Saiyan now?"

"Yes." He looked back at the infant's face.

"His name is Trunks. He's only a week old."

"Exactly one week?"

"Yes…"

"That's the day I became a Super Saiyan."

She smiled. "Wow, that's amazing. Maybe your energies were in harmony. No, that's silly. You left before I found out I was pregnant."

"I knew before you did. I could feel his energy inside you."

"And you just left?"

"I had to get stronger."

"Because of the Androids or so you can have your rematch with Goku?"

"I did it for you!"

She was taken aback. "What?"

He gently set the baby into his unused crib. "Do you want to die when the Androids arrive? I have to be strong to protect my family."

"I know you're strong." She looked down at their son. "There's more than one way to measure strength. The size of your heart can't be picked up on one of those scouters." She embraced him. "I missed you so much."

"I can say the same about you, even with your endless nagging."

She rolled her eyes. "I can't believe I missed this." She looked at him. "So, can I see it?"

"You want to see the transformation?"

"Yes. Come on, we can go in the gravity room!"

"It might be too much for you."

"I'll decide that for myself. My mom will hear him if he wakes." She pulled on his arm. "Please?"

He let her drag him outside to the gravity machine. She sealed the door behind them and waited patiently for him to show her his new found power.

It was easier now. He imagined her face and well as his son's and the overwhelming need to protect them from harm. His power level rose higher and higher until his spark ignited, transforming his hair and eyes.

She shaded her eyes from the blinding energy coming off his body. For the first time, she felt his energies pulsating around him. She looked at him. He was in another world enjoying the strong power. He laughed. It sent a shiver up her spine. She'd heard that wicked laugh before on Namek. She became fearful.

"Your power level is nothing! You're weak! You were a fool for thinking you could face me!"

She couldn't move. The energy became stronger. The true Saiyan he had always been was before her and he could kill her at any moment, but she couldn't run. "Vegeta…"

"How dare you address me? I'm the prince of all Saiyans! The most powerful in all the universe!" He glared at her with cold, aqua colored eyes.

She gasped. "It's me; Bulma. You have to stop this. You're scaring me."

The energies calmed down in the room. He looked at her softly, his appearance unchanged. He was ashamed he couldn't control himself in that moment. He saw the fear in her eyes and looked away. "I'm sorry."

"No, I should have listened to you. You said it would be too much and I didn't believe you. You're much stronger than I expected. It's… wonderful." She embraced him. "I'm proud of my strong prince."

He kissed her, softly, wrapping his arms around her waist.

She smiled. It was just as she remembered before he left. She rested her hands on his chest and noticed his muscles were very tense. She looked up at him. "I don't think I like this look." She ran her hand through his blond hair.

He closed his eyes and took deep breaths in an attempt to relax. She watched his determined face as his hair darkened before her eyes.

"That's better." She grabbed his hand. "It's very late. I want to go back to bed before the baby wakes up."

"You're not too surprised by this?"

"It's part of who you are. You will always be you; strong, determined and short fused."

"My fuse is longer than yours."

"You'd have to be taller for that to be true."

He could only laugh. He missed her too much to be upset at that moment. She was his driving force, and he felt honor bound to her.

"Can I tell you something... personal?"

"You can tell me anything."

He rested her forehead against hers. "I love you, too."

She smiled. "That's all I ever wanted." She finally had her prince.