Not my best chapter but it works, I went back and forth on the set up of this scene but eventually just allowed my fingers to do the walking and my mind to take a hike. This is the end. thank you all who reviewed and for bearing with me all the way into March.
In the early gray hours of morning Bulma awoke to her arms wrapped around a pillow instead of Vegeta. She wasn't worried because it was far too early for him to leave her for any conventional reason and it was his room after all. She got up and went in his closet to find his bathrobe that she had bought for him and he had never worn. She slipped it on and tied it close before heading out to find him.
She slowly came down the stairs and seeing the glow of the tree she peered around the banister. What she saw made her smile. Vegeta was sitting cross legged in front of the tree in nothing but sweatpants entranced by Christmas morning magic.
She descended the stairs and padded up behind him still staring her eyes filled with love and adoration for the man before her.
"I've never seen the likes of it in all my travels." Vegeta whispered.
Bulma knelt down behind him and kissed his neck before wrapping her arms around his shoulders. He gripped her hands to his chest and savored her presence. This was happiness.
She whispered in his ear. "This feeling, this is hope, love, happiness. Even with all our faults it is something humans cherish above all else and it is strongest on this very day.
Vegeta smirked and pulled Bulma over his shoulder in a quick movement and she landed in his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and leaned in to kiss her whispering, "I cherish you above all else, I think it is you that is the reason for this feeling."
The two sat on the floor entwined in a deeply passionate kiss until they could no longer breathe. Bulma pushed herself back off Vegeta's chest and laughed happily. "Come on lets go get some clothes on and make coffee before the others wake up and find us in flagrante delicto."
"I'm not sure I would mind." Vegeta growled into her neck kissing and nipping playfully. Bulma chuckled, she was truly enjoying this opened up Vegeta she knew that more than likely he wouldn't remain this way at all times, he was a Prince after all and a warrior, appearances mattered and she doubted that in front of the other Z fighters she would have this loving Vegeta, but she didn't mind. These moments alone together were worth far more to her.
"Come on, you can help me dress." She teased as she pulled away from him to stand up but held onto his hands. "Undress is better." He leaned in to whisper in her ear. She giggled but dragged him along. They parted ways at her bedroom door just for a moment so Vegeta could retrieve a shirt. He put on a grey sleeveless shirt and using his inhuman speed he raced out to the gravity chamber or more specifically the room attached to the gravity chamber where he had been keeping Bulma's Christmas gifts. He raced back placing them both under the tree. He was back upstairs in Bulma's room before she had time to exit the bathroom.
He helped her dress, which took half an hour longer then it normally would have. Then they went back down to the kitchen to make coffee and heat up the baked delights Mrs. Briefs had made in advance for the morning. Vegeta found himself loathe to keep his hands off her. She playfully scolded him although she really loved having the arrogant Prince's undivided attention at least for the time being. "Vegeeeetaaa…what if my parents see us like this?" She whispered as Vegeta had his arms wrapped around her waist from behind nibbling on her neck while she tried to set out dishes.
"So let them see us. The Prince of Saiyans is not afraid of what your father could possibly do to me." Vegeta boasted with his trademark smirk.
"Oh really?" She said raising a thin eyebrow with a grin. "What if he destroyed your gravity chamber?"
Vegeta froze for a moment and said dead pan. "Well now that would be unfortunate."
Bulma busted out laughing at his realization when he interrupted with, "But then I would just have you rebuild it for me." She choked on her laugh and playfully elbowed him.
"Yeah sure you jerk, punish me for my love why don't you." She joked.
Vegeta chuckled in his throat pulling her back flush against his front enjoying her teasing and her proximity far too much to let it go even if he did sense the ki of her cousins coming down the stairs.
Robin and her husband appeared in the doorway of the kitchen and froze at the sight of a grinning Bulma and a chuckling Vegeta embracing one another. Corbin blinked and wiped his sleepy eyes and looking at his smirking wife. She had assured him the night before that Bulma was smitten with the house guest and now she was proved correct. He smiled as well, the fact she was right would keep her giddy for weeks.
Robin cleared her throat obnoxiously. Both kitchen inhabitants turned to look at her but neither made a move to remove themselves from each other's embrace.
"Good morning." Robin chimed cheerily her smirk still firmly in place.
"Good morning." Bulma replied. "And Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas indeed." Robin replied saying the last part under her breath. Bulma blushed and Vegeta's smirk grew a little wider at the implication.
The sound of rustling could be heard coming from the upstairs hallway and Bulma turned to Robin. "Hey you want to help get everything out for breakfast? The sooner we eat the sooner we can open presents." She added giddily.
"Sure." Robin replied enthusiastically. "Hey hon can you go get the baby so he can get fed too."
Corbin quickly acquiesced and headed back upstairs.
"Vegeta why don't you go pick a spot in the living room. This is your first Christmas after all you should get first pick."
He nodded his face a little more serious and headed out to the living room.
Robin scurried over to the counter to stand next to Bulma. "Ok DISH!" She hissed out in a hurried whisper.
Bulma laughed and tried to play it cool. "Whatever do you mean?"
"I mean, hotlips," She teased for emphasis. "When did all this happen?" She waved her hand in the direction Vegeta went.
"Well not until recently." Bulma replied nonchalantly.
Robin stared at Bulma intensely as she poured the newly made coffee into mugs.
"You love him." Robin declared.
Bulma shook her head but her smile grew wider in spite of herself.
Before Bulma could even begin to stutter out a reply, Robin cut in again only this time purposefully louder. "ANDDDD…YOU SLEPT with him. MR. BEEFCAKE HIMSELF!"
Bulma quickly shushed Robin but was laughing. "SHHHHH! Yes I slept with him no need to advertise that to the world."
"Why ever not? You should get a sky writer. I am banging the world's second sexiest man." Robin made a sweeping broad and exaggerated gesture with her hand. Bulma raised a brow in confusion.
"Second only to my Corbin of course." Robin qualified. Bulma nodded with a smile and chuckled.
Bulma was going to defend herself but Robin yet again cut her off. "No, you don't have to say anything. I am happy for you." Robin smiled.
Bulma smiled back glad to have Robin on her side if no one else.
As the parents and Randy finally made it downstairs they all grabbed their coffee and pastries and headed to the living room. They all opened their stockings. Vegeta was most in awe of his. He couldn't believe it was filled over night but then again he hadn't been paying attention throughout the night to see if others were awake and about, he had been far too busy….
In his stocking he received mostly logistical supplies which he noted they all received along with candied fruit. He also received two new pairs of gloves one like his old set and one black fingerless set.
They then began to open their presents one by one. Most were interested in the cute gifts Jay received and watching him play was the highlight for most of the morning. Finally only a few gifts remained. Vegeta had already received a few nice pieces of tech and knick knacks from the Briefs and their family. He already thought he received more than was necessary and was honored by each gift, but when Randy who was handing out presents pulled a large flat rectangular box from under the tree and handed it to him he was confused.
"This one's yours dude." Randy said.
"Ooooo that's a big one." Mrs. Briefs commented.
Vegeta looked down at the tag and it said, 'To Vegeta From Bulma.' He opened it carefully much to the cousins' chagrin. When he lifted the lid his eyes fell upon a top quality black leather biker style jacket. It wasn't the quality of the jacket that mystified Vegeta but the familiar red stylized anchor like symbol of the Vegeta royal crest shown brightly on the back. He ran his hands over it reverently, reveling in the smooth leather and the beloved crest.
He turned his eyes on Bulma. She could read the shock in them and she smiled softly and whispered. "Let's see you in it."
He pulled the jacket out of the box and pulled it on. Even more surprising it fit perfectly he turned back to give Bulma a questioning look. She smiled and ran a hand lovingly over his leather clad shoulder. "I've had to fix armor and battle suits so often and every time you get injured I'm the one who takes care of you it was easy to figure out your measurements." She squeezed his bicep.
"And my crest?..." He questioned quietly.
"I remembered it from the first time I saw you."
He raised his eyebrow in surprise. Part of him was ashamed she remembered that day another was amazed at her memory quality, but then again she was a genius.
His genius, his beautiful genius. Her gift touched him deeply and without a second thought he reached up and cupped the back of her neck pulling her down to meet his lips. She instantly responded kissing him back. They remained in their deep passionate kiss seemingly unaware of all the eyes on them, the majority wide with surprise. Finally Bulma pulled away to breathe and stared at Vegeta with a smile. "I'm glad you like it."
"Hey uh I hate to interrupt but uh…this box is moving…" Randy interrupted. Vegeta immediately turned to the tree and the large round box that was moving. He picked up the box and placed it in Bulma's lap.
"I suggest you open it before it opens itself."
She raised her eyebrow quizzically at Vegeta but his eyes shown with encouragement, care, and anticipation.
She turned back to the box and for the first time noticed the holes in the box. She lifted the lid and gasped.
Inside was a blue Great Dane puppy. It was sniffing around the box. Bulma reached in and picked him up and held him up to look at him. "Hi there big guy!" She greeted him. She brought him back down to cuddle him. "Oh Vegeta he's beautiful!"
Vegeta took a breath when he saw how much she loved his gift. For saiyans, a culture that lived for the fight, the hunt, and the kill the giving of a living creature is considered an honor. It was tradition on Vegeta-sei to give your intended mate a pet. Vegeta's father had personally caught and tamed a rare purple phoenix, a fire breathing bird native to Vegeta-sei, to give to his mother. She adored that bird every day of her life and when she died the bird became Vegeta's shadow in the castle, protecting it's mistress's beloved child.
He knew that here on Earth getting Bulma an exotic or dangerous pet would be improper , but he still wanted to get her a pet worthy of her, one that would protect and love her the way his mother's bird did him and yet still give her a noble creature that she would be proud to show off. So he had chosen the Great Dane, it would grow large and regal looking but would be both protective and loving.
Robin and Bulma cooed at the little puppy who after a quick cuddle proceeded to lick Bulma's chin. She chuckled.
"What are you going to call him?" Randy asked leaning in to pet his ears.
"How about Prince?" Aunt Rhonda suggested. "Yes he does have quite a regal look about him." Robin added.
Bulma turned to smile conspiratorially at Vegeta. "Well, I don't think so since I already have one of those, but I suppose every good lady needs a knight. Hmmm…" She held him up and looked him over. "A knight…Lancelot…that's what I'll call him, Lance." She rubbed his ears and belly and he yipped happily in response.
After a few more moments of playing with her new pet Bulma placed him on the couch next to Jay and the puppy nuzzled the baby. They all watched the cute display for a moment before Dr. Briefs heaved a sigh and said, "Well it seems there are no more presents left."
All the women pouted sad that the Christmas morning magic was over but no one noticed Vegeta take a deep breath and set his shoulders. "Not just yet." He said in his usual gruff, no nonsense voice. Bulma threw him a quizzical look at her parents and her aunt and uncle stiffened at his intense tone. He moved to sit on the arm of the couch beside Bulma.
If him giving Bulma a dog was shocking, everything that happened next was totally unexpected even by Vegeta. He reached into his pocket and removed a flat rectangular blue velvet box. He held it out to Bulma and she simply stared, her jaw slack.
"You just said you already have a Prince, but I stand before you now, not just a Prince but a man…a man who would feel like a King…," He flipped open the box as he spoke revealing a diamond choker with a large red princess cut diamond, so red it had black shadowing, hanging from the front.
Bulma covered her mouth to hold down the gasp and the choke that bubbled up.
"If you would be my Queen?"
His eyes bore into hers as her eyes began to glass with tears. She couldn't believe it. Vegeta was proposing to her! She could not mistake it, he was asking her in front of her whole family, not just to be his wife, but to be his queen. She knew how much his heritage meant so the fact that he was willing to make her a part of it proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he loved her. That he had loved her long before last night…
She moved her hand from her mouth and grinned sitting up on her knees turning her back to Vegeta leaning her head to the side exposing her neck. Vegeta shivered at the sight, she had no idea what she was doing to him, she was always oblivious to the saiyan meaning to her actions, but they were always the right ones.
He pulled the choker from the box and placed it around her neck clicking the clasps together. She placed her hand on the red diamond straightening it. Once it was straight Vegeta leaned down and kissed her shoulder right above the place where he would leave his mating mark. She absolutely beamed.
Her mother and Robin held their hands over their mouths to hide the grins. Corbin smiled at the couple and felt a surge of male pride seeing the success of his fellow man.
Bulma's aunt smiled indulgingly and Randy just sat staring unblinkingly at the scene. Bulma's father sat with wide eyes and a slightly dropped jaw while her uncle shot confused and nervous eyes between the couple and the Dr.
The silence was broken by the giggle of baby Jay and Bulma finally leaned up to kiss Vegeta, she pulled back only a little and grinned. "My answer is yes…my King." She whispered into his mouth before giving him a teasing kiss before pulling back again, this time to the sounds of elated screeching from the other three female occupants of the room.
As the girls swarmed Bulma questioning, congratulating, but mostly shrieking, Corbin pulled Vegeta aside and shook his hand. "Welcome to the family, Vegeta. I gather your first Christmas was satisfactory?" He asked raising his eyebrow suggestively.
Vegeta smirked and looked over at Bulma who absolutely glowed as she kept touching the necklace and throwing glances at him. "Yes. Most satisfactory."
In fact Vegeta would later confide in Bulma that it was his favorite holiday and she heartily agreed.
Exactly a year later on Christmas morning Vegeta was wearing a Santa hat of his very own, a gift given to him by his mate in honor of his love of the holiday, sitting on the couch with a baby Trunks in his arms Bulma sat beside him patting Lance's head as they both watched their son play with his new favorite toy.
"Does that dog have to lay on my furniture?" Dr. Briefs grumbled from across the room. He was a cat person and not all together fond of dogs.
"It's pointless to try and make him move dad, he only listens to Vegeta."
Dr. Briefs gave his son in law a look a cross between beseeching and threatening and Vegeta spoke out in his gruff voice. "Lance, come." The large year old Great Dane jumped from the couch and came to heel at Vegeta's knee obediently looking expectantly at its master. "Good dog." He conceded still in his gruff tone brushing its nose.
It was the same with their dog as it was with their son, Bulma was indulgent and coddling, Vegeta was strict and disciplined. However opposite an approach, it seemed to be working for all concerned.
"I'm sure that voice has a similar effect on people." Randy commented smugly from his place on the floor playing with his nephew.
"I have never had difficulty with persuasion." He said cryptically.
"Accept with Bulma." Robin commented with a smug look that Bulma instantly mirrored showing their solidarity in feminine power.
"Oh no, it is quite easy to persuade her as well. It's simply a different kind of persuasion." He smiled and she punching him lightly in the shoulder. Vegeta set their son on the floor to play with his elder cousin and pulled Bulma into his lap. Bulma smiled.
Bulma smiled because Christmas was one of the rare times Vegeta was so open with his emotions. She knew he adored her and Trunks, but he rarely had time to indulge in showing it. Since Vegeta found out she was pregnant he spent every waking moment training with renewed purpose. He had two reasons now to defeat the androids and he brokered no margin for error. She was immensely proud of him for it.
Once upon a time she had never dreamed the saiyan Prince could have a heart at all but now everyday he was proving to her that he was not only a perfect husband and a father but a good man. She was reminded of Scrooge a man who was concerned with no one but himself, who through the joy of Christmas learned to love.