Author's Note: This fic has an M rating. Hold that in mind if you're squeamish. You could skip the last quarter of the chapter, but where's the fun in that? This fic doesn't have many lemons, but they are there.

Bulma kicked the box back under the bench and packed the vial of circuit etching acid too.

'So, were you and my father together or not when he came back?' asked Trunks.

Bulma paused, rubbing her back which had stiffened up. 'It's hard to say. I don't think we were going to make it, but I never got a chance to find out for sure.'

'Why not?'

'Because, dear one, we had stuff to work out between us. And Vegeta had stuff of his own to work out. And we never got the chance to do it because only a month later the Androids showed up.'

And then Trunks asked her something which really surprised her. 'Well, were you sleeping with him again when he came back?'

Bulma's mouth popped open. Trunks blushed, and so did she. The truth was that they had had sex only three times after he returned, and only the first time could it be described as 'sleeping with him.' She'd found some part of the truth that she didn't want to reveal to Trunks.

'Well, that's not really any of your business, is it?' She blushed harder. That time between Vegeta's return and the Androids arrival and the painful consequences…it was amongst the most regretful, most bittersweet times of her life, and she had spent so much of her life since wondering what she would have done if she'd known that the end of the world was coming for them, and wondering what would have happened if it hadn't.

The memory of Vegeta's first night back, and the last day they were together burned their way back to the surface.

'I'm sorry Mom, I shouldn't have asked that.'

'Oh, don't worry about it Trunks.'

The first night Vegeta was back was wonderful and awful. She couldn't tell Trunks about that. About her own mounting anxiety as the evening came on, as Vegeta said he was tired after finally putting away the last of his massive dinner, and she'd said she was too, but she wasn't really. She just wanted to see if he would come to her room or not. And then in the corridor when he'd walked on past her room and she'd said, in the most shameful of weak voices, that he could come to her room if he wasn't quite ready to sleep. It was the closest she'd ever come to pleading to Vegeta, because she wasn't being suggestive, not really. She was just plain scared that he might not want her any more.

He'd nodded once in acknowledgement and carried on to his room.

She'd gone back to hers, trying not to feel devastated and telling herself that he must be just really tired.

'I'm his Woman,' she told herself, 'he said so.'

But as she got changed for bed all her anxiety made itself known. She examined herself naked in the mirror – she was not the same woman he'd left behind, not quite. This new woman had stretch marks on her belly, which was still not as smooth and as flat as it had been before her pregnancy. She had fuller breasts, but the nipples were larger and darker, and they hung lower. They certainly weren't quite the perky things she'd always taken for granted. And her vulva didn't look too much different now, but she was positive that a difference would be noted. Would he want this? Screw him if he didn't! But…she'd never been rejected before.

And then there was her anger.

She had lain in bed, sleepless, wanting to go to him, but knowing that the ball was in his court. 'He's probably fast asleep anyhow,' she told herself.

And then the door had opened and he was there.

She switched on the bedside lamp, and then wished she hadn't. He wouldn't have such a chance to see how she was different if the lights were off. He was wearing his favourite style of black stretch cotton boxers and a plain white singlet.

'You just going to stand there?' she asked. Wordlessly he came to the bed. He was frowning, a dark gleam in his eye. Bulma knew him better that to read too much into his expression, but it still irritated her. He was still hesitating. What was his problem?

'Are you just going to stand here instead?'

'What is it that you want me to do?'

'Do I have to tell you?' she said. She bit her lip – the words had come out sounding like a complaint.

He scooped her up and shifted her roughly into the middle of the bed, then lent over her, a hand either side of her shoulders. He didn't look amorous, he didn't look happy or turned on or glad to see her. He still didn't move on her.

'Do you even want to be here?' she asked acidly.

'I could ask the same question of you,' he replied.

'Why do you think I asked you in?'

'I'm beginning to wonder.'

'Then stop wondering! Are you going to touch me at all?'

Vegeta growled, his lip drawing back in a snarl, and then he lowered himself to her and kissed her. And rather than the sweet relief she expected, she felt a hot surge of emotion run through her from her lips, and it wasn't desire, it was fury. It was intolerable - she realised that the last thing she wanted was him all over her. She stiffened and tried to pull away.

Vegeta roared, throwing himself off her. 'What? What? What kind of game are you playing with me?'

'No game at all!'

'Then why am I here? You don't want me touching you, yet you ask me to touch you? Why am I here?'

She glared at him for a second, trying to pick out one of the sources of her anger. 'Yes Vegeta, why are you here? Did you even want to come back?'

'Of course I did! Did you not listen to me woman? I finished my task, I came home.'

'Is this your home? Or just the only place you have to come back to?'

Vegeta's eyes bulged with fury, leaping back up off the bed with such force that the gauzy curtains that hung from the four-poster bed were torn right off the rail. He glared at her with eyes full of accusation, teeth bared and veins standing out on his forehead. He was truly frightening, and for a second Bulma thought she had pushed him too far, but then she girded herself with her anger, ready to fight on.

'This is my home,' he hissed, 'or I thought it was! I thought I was coming home to my woman and my son, but instead I've come home to a viper and her ex-boyfriend whose been lapping it up like a dog in the manger!'

'What do you mean?' she yelled right back at him. 'Yamcha's still my friend. He's not banned from coming around here.'

'He's been trying to claim my son as his own while I've been gone. Taking over my place in this house, in this family!'

'What place, huh? The place you rejected? The one you said was a sentimental weakness before you took off again? If you were so worried about your place, why did you stay away so long? YOU ABANDONED ME! And I had to carry our child and give birth to him ALONE! I was lucky to have a friend like Yamcha! At least I could rely on him to babysit occasionally!'

Vegeta turned red. 'You admit it then? You turned yourself over to that scum, that dog? That's why you can't stand to touch me, isn't it?'

Bulma felt her own face turning red. She didn't think she could get angrier, but she did, her pulse pounding in her ears. 'Are you saying what I think you're saying? Are you accusing me of cheating on you with YAMCHA? How dare you! How could you?'

'Well did you?'

'NO! NO! You fool, of course I didn't! Yamcha and I are over, so, so over! And if you never came back it would still be over! Even if I'd given up any faith in you coming back, he'd still be nothing more than a friend.'

'You say that now, but he wants you still.'

'I can't do anything about what Yamcha feels. What is it to you anyway? I mean, truly? Is it just that you don't like other people playing with your toys?'

Vegeta roared again, leaning over the bed threateningly. 'Do you think me so petty Woman?'

Bulma got to her knees on the bed so that she was almost eye to eye with him. 'Well what am I to think? You don't want anyone having the privileges that should be yours, but you didn't mind neglecting them for more than a year. For Kami's sake, you wouldn't even let me talk to you! I tried to be patient and understand, but…you left me alone for a year! The biggest year of my life! What am I supposed to think about that, huh? Maybe I might be a little bit angry?'

Vegeta took a deep breath, calming down somewhat. 'You know what I was doing. You're right, this planet is the only one I have to go to. It's the only place in the universe where anyone who even knows who I am lives now. I don't want a family, but now I've got one. I'm tied to this planet whether I like it or not – a vulnerable lump of fragile rock, so I'm going to do whatever the hell I can to keep it safe. When you've seen as many planets as I have scoured of life, sold and bartered and destroyed, you'll know how hard it is to call any place home.'

Bulma's shoulders slumped. Her anger was melting away into self pity. Her eyes filled with tears, and she knew Vegeta would hate that.

'Woman…' he growled warningly.

'Do you know what it's like? Being the single Mom at the pre-natal class? Going to ultrasound scans by yourself? Having this pregnancy thing happen to you, and the person that put you in this position isn't even there to take the blame? My stomach was so big I couldn't put my own shoes on! I had to have my Mom help me dress like a little kid!' She knew she was whining now, but she wanted him to feel bad.

'No, I don't know. But it's over now Woman. We both came through our trials.'

'But you also missed the best part Vegeta! Trunks coming slithering out and opening his eyes for the first time…it was unbelievable. A tiny new person, half made by you, and you weren't even there to see him born!'

Vegeta made a face of distaste. Apparently he had no answer to this.

Next door the little half-Vegeta was waking up for his midnight snack, making mewling, complainy noises that Bulma knew would soon become out and out bawling if she didn't go feed him soon.

'He's still just an idea to you, isn't he?' she said, climbing off the bed. 'The reality is far, far better.' She sighed. 'And hungrier and noisier and poopier.'

In the nursery she turned the nightlight up a little and fished Trunks out of the crib.

'Hungry, little man?'

The light from the other room was blocked and she turned to see that Vegeta had followed her and was leaning against the door frame, watching her. Instantly she felt awkward. He'd never seen her boobs do this before. Oh well, there was nothing for it. They were all just going to have to get used to this sometime.

She sat in the nursing chair and slipped one shoulder of her nightdress down (it was a nice pale chiffon one that she had carefully selected in case Vegeta had turned up, which he had), pulling it out of the way so that Trunks could get a good grip. She caught some flicker of movement out the corner of her eye at the doorway, but kept her gaze steadfastly on Trunks as he tucked in. She sighed again, relaxing just like the baby did, the small relief of the moment beginning to drain away her anger of a few minutes ago.

'Should I go?' he said from the doorway. Bulma smiled a little at his uncertainly.

'No. No more going. You should stay.'

Trunks's eyes were slipping closed again with contentedness. Bulma's own eyes felt heavy.

'Woman, you're falling asleep sitting up.'

'No, I'm okay.'

'You should go back to bed.'

'But I have to put Trunks back to sleep when he's done.'

Vegeta hesitated. 'I will do it.'

Bulma liked the idea of Vegeta putting his son to bed. 'Okay then.'

The next moment both she and Trunks were scooped up in Vegeta's arms. Trunks merely 'hmm'ed and kept on feeding as Vegeta swept them through to the other room and laid her gently up against the head of the bed. He began to pull his arm away from her shoulders, but she quickly grabbed his hand, and he stayed, settling himself awkwardly beside her. His eyes looked a little wild – she wondered what was going on in his head, because whatever it was it didn't look comfortable. But he stayed. A warm core of emotion ignited inside Bulma's chest. It was little flame of happiness, kindled by hope.

Wow, she thought to herself. That heavy arm, that hard thigh pressed against hers, it felt good, it felt right. And she could smell him, a smell she'd forgotten until now, but it was good, it stoked the appetite she'd been missing before.

Trunks unlatched himself, his supply all used up. 'All done now baby?' she said, smiling at his sleepy face. Bulma bounced him gently, realising she had left the cloth in the nursery. Luckily she managed to burp him without him spitting up. But then instead of falling at once into a doze like he usually did, he began to mewl again. 'What? Don't tell me you want more? You little greedy guts, it's the middle of the night!'

Vegeta chuckled. 'I didn't think a Saiyan would be satisfied with such a meagre feast.'

'Hmm,' said Bulma beginning to wonder as she switched Trunks to the other breast. She was going to have to start feeding him formula or solids soon – he was maxing out her supply.

When he'd taken everything he could get and been burped again, this time with a nice jet of milky spew that had run down her collarbone and had to be cleaned up with a handkerchief Vegeta found in the bedside table, Trunks relaxed into a milk-doped slumber.

Vegeta sniffed her neck where he'd just cleaned up. 'Messy creature. This explains why your scent has changed so much.'

He took Trunks at arms length, like he was handling a bomb with a dodgy detonator, and floated into the nursery, a neat trick that Bulma was quite jealous of. He was gone a bit longer than he needed to be though. She was just wondering whether she should get up and see what the problem was when he returned. He looked wound up about something.

'What is it?'

He shook his head. 'Woman, I don't know if I can do this.'

Her heart sank. Really, this was what she had feared all along more than anything.

'You doing fine.'

'Don't condescend to me Woman. Being able to put a baby in a crib isn't the problem.'

Bulma bit her lip. She wanted to recapture the happiness of a few minutes ago. 'Come here.'

He did, perching on the edge of the bed, not looking at her. She took one of his hands – strong, with oversize sinew and tendons – and kissed she inside of his palm. He didn't object, so she pulled his hand to the other side of her, making him lean towards her. He still didn't look at her, so she leaned in, putting herself inches from him so he couldn't help but see her. Reluctantly he looked into her eyes, and Bulma felt that little surge of panic she always found so exciting when she looked into the black, cold depths of his eyes. She made the face she practiced in the mirror, making her eyes go wide and soft – practiced vulnerability. Hell, she was vulnerable – faking it up wasn't exactly lying right now. His nostrils twitched, a good sign she thought, as her smell had always used to drive him crazy.

'Can you still do this?' she asked softly and closed the distance ever so slowly to kiss him.

'Hnmm…' he said as she did. She kissed him again, a little firmer, a little more lingeringly. Her nerves returned with a vengeance and her heart started racing, but there was no turning back now. Please don't push me away, please don't push me away, she chanted silently in her head.

She pushed past his lips with her tongue, licking the inside of his lip when she met his bared teeth. She pulled on his chin with her free hand, and he relented, opening up to her. She took advantage, darting her tongue into his mouth, sliding it along his. The effect on Vegeta was as if she'd just felled him like a tree. He fell onto her in slow motion, pushing her down into the pillows. He took a deep breath and kissed her back, harder, with a mounting passion.

'Buuulmaaaa,' he growled softly in admonishment, the vibration of his chest and the rare use of her name melting her like it always used to. 'Aah…'

Like a dry haystack touched with an open flame her smouldering libido erupted into an inferno and suddenly everything was happening very fast. She ran her hands from Vegeta's buttocks to his shoulders, pulling him hard against her and wrapped a leg around his back. He kissed her throat, ran a hand down over her breast and side, then the leg she had around him, straight up her nightdress. There were no panties waiting for him – in the same spirit of optimism and preparedness that had made her don the sexy nightdress she'd also omitted the underwear as she recalled some favourite pairs of knickers that had failed to withstand Vegeta's impatience in the past. He sank straight into the sudden slipperiness there, making her jump.

'Eeep!'

'Ha!' He got to his knees suddenly and pulled her up by her arms, then lifted her nightdress to pull it off her. Bulma flipped it off as fast as she could before Vegeta had a chance to get impatient with the chiffon. As her breasts popped out from under the silk she found Vegeta gazing at them with a peculiarly rigid expression on his face. Oh-no, she thought, but before she had a chance to worry about it he caught her up and pulled her under him, then bent his head to run his face down her chest, sniffing and licking along the way. He took hold of one breast, stroking it, gently rolling the sensitive nipple under his thumb. Oh yes, she had missed this!

He made his way down her abdomen, tickling her along the way with his breath and tongue, until he'd drawn all the way back to the tuft of aqua blue hair above her cleft, then paused, apparently taking in the sights and smells. Bulma grinned at the man who was more into sniffing than kissing, and then forgot all about that as he continued his exploration with his tongue, making her squirm with pleasure. One slow stroke, two, three, four, she was rapidly losing it…

'No, wait Vegeta.'

'What?' he said hoarsely.

She reached out, her hands were trembling now, and pulled on his shoulders, pulling him up, then pulled the straps of his singlet up over his head. He got the picture, holding his arms out so it slipped off, but Bulma was already sitting up trying to tug down the boxers one handed. When they were off too, flung haphazardly to join the nightdress on the floor somewhere, Bulma reached out and pulled him down on top of her, legs wide open, desperate to feel his weight on top of her, his hardness inside her and all around her.

'Just get inside me already!'

He didn't need telling twice, slipping home with a shock of sensation that made them both gasp. Moving together, sliding together, it was only a couple of slow strokes before neither one of them was capable of taking it slowly. Bulma, with a handful of one of his tight buttocks to pull him deeper, Vegeta, bucking between her legs, and both of them moaning with each movement, they sprinted towards climax that broke over Bulma first then overtook Vegeta, his face buried in the crook of her neck.

Yes, thought Bulma, this is right, this is what I want!

Vegeta collapsed bonelessly on top of her. He was damn heavy; she wouldn't be able to tolerate it for long, but she wasn't suffocating yet, and for now she was enjoying the hot, sweaty, male mass of him. She traced the column of muscle either side of his spine and his deltoids. His muscles were dense and defined even in relaxation. How many other women could say they had a man like this? None, that's how many. Vegeta was one of a kind, and he was hers.

Vegeta raised his head. He looked down at her with an expression that was almost not a frown, which she took to mean that he was happy.

'Yes, it appears that I can still do that.' He rubbed his face in her hair then, inhaling deepy, then rolling the both of them over easily so that Bulma was left draped on top him. He twitched the comforter to cover them, more or less. 'Sleep,' he said, softly, and tapped the bedside light off. Bulma thought there was no chance of sleeping with her heart so full of happiness, but pretty soon she was out like the light.

She woke sometime later, and for a few seconds couldn't figure out why. Then she saw Vegeta standing in front of the window, staring out with his back to her and she remembered that he was supposed to be in bed with her. She closed her eyes and waited for him to return and as the minutes passed she started to drift off again. A movement stirred her to half open one eye and see that he was now standing over the bed looking down at her. She closed the eye again and waited for him to get back in bed, but then she heard him walk away, cross the room, pick up his shorts and singlet off the floor and slip out the door, as quiet as a ghost. She woke up properly now, sitting up in bed and looking around in case she'd been mistaken, listening for any clue to what he was doing. 'He could just be going to the bathroom' she told herself. But really she knew that he was gone for the night. She had no reason to expect more than that. When they had been together in the past he had rarely hung around post-coitus. Vegeta, he was never one for cuddles and sweet nothings, and she'd been okay with that. But tonight it upset her.

'He is what he is,' she said aloud. But she was beginning to wonder, was she who she had always been?