Uh..uh...sorry? It's been a while and I apologize. I've been busy with school and stuff. this chapter is short!

However the next chapter will be a lot longer. And i'll update sooner! i promise! Thanks for reading and reviewing!

to those following this story...thank you over nine thousand times. You're all amazing =)

enjoy!

The room was dark and almost nothing could be seen. There was a faint light shining somewhere far off in the distance, it must have been warm. This room wasn't warm; it was cold almost to the point of freezing. The guard across the room could almost feel the shivers given out from the locked up princess. This was the only way to keep her from attacking them and getting away. Her energy was frozen, her hope was almost gone, and there was nothing left. They took him from her. They took over the planet. There was nothing left. Nothing she could do. What could she do? She didn't even know if he was still alive. What was going to happen to the rest of the people? All she could do was move her arms and try to escape the restraints once more. She was so weak now, and it had only been a few days. What was happening everywhere else? Would anyone even know to come find her down there?

"How is she?" the dark voice asked this everyday and the guard always said the same thing

"Same as always, sir,"

"So still not talking?"

"No, sir." He'd say and the man with the voice would usually leave, but not this time.

"Still being difficult I see, we'll have to fix that,"

She jumped and looked around for him. She had been watching the door the entire time, how could he have snuck up on her like that?

A shiver went up her spine as she felt his warm breath on her neck, she shuddered and opened her mouth to ask how it was possible for him to have done that, but then the pain set in and she screamed…

"Ah!" Amy woke up with a gasp, and then bolted up from bed only to fall to the ground on her hands and knees. This nightmare had been going on in her head since the King and Queen had left days before. She wasn't getting much sleep at all. At first she had blamed Trunks for moving her room. She was no longer sharing with the other girls, she was in her own room on the next floor up, the same floor as Trunks and Veala's rooms were on. The other girls were all angry at her; they were jealous which was understandable. So her and Veala had been getting closer and talking a lot more. Trunks seemed to like that…

She shuddered a few times remembering her nightmare and then attempted to get up. She was shaking terribly and fell to the floor once more. A single tear fell down her cheek. She heard a light thud, but had sensed him the second he left his own room.

Just like the night before she knew he'd show up. Trunks seemed to know more and more when she was in trouble or bothered. It was starting to scare her a little, but at the same time she thought it was a good sign. It meant that they were getting closer.

The next thing she knew she was being picked up. He sat down on the edge of her bed and held her on his lap, not saying anything just holding her. Amy buried her face into his shoulder and held onto him tightly. He made her feel a lot better, and after a little while the trembling stopped and she let out a sigh.

"Another nightmare?" Trunks asked softly, running a hand through her hair. He couldn't hold her close enough when he thought she was sad or scared.

She nodded a little and let him hold her; she closed her eyes and mumbled slightly

"Same one as before… It just feels so real,"

Trunks tilted her head up with his hand and she opened her eyes to look at him. He simply kissed her lightly and smiled. That smile melted her every single time she saw it. How was she so love struck? They hadn't known each other that long, but she felt like she'd known him all her life. He understood her more than she ever thought anyone would. And it made her feel different than she'd ever felt before.

"Don't worry about that ever happening, okay? Because I'm not going to let anything like that happen to you," he pecked her nose "not ever, you're going to stay safe and with me for a long time Amy,"

She nodded slightly and nuzzled closer to him, closing her eyes once more.

"Sorry I woke you up,"

"That's alright, I was awake anyways," Trunks said with a slight chuckle. He carefully stood up and laid her back down on her bed, then not so gracefully jumped onto the other side of her and hugged her close to him. She couldn't hold back a slight laugh at his actions. He acted all cool and composed and arrogant in public, but when it was just them he was so immature and playful it made her laugh.

"Well Princess may I stay here? Maybe we'll actually be able to sleep if we do it together," he smirked up at her and she rolled her eyes giving him a light kiss on the forehead.

"I guess you can stay, but only for tonight and only if you promise not to do anything stupid," she sighed contently and rested against his chest. It was warm and comforting and strong. She felt at ease with him. He had taken it upon himself to call her 'princess' even though she was only a duchess. He kept saying she wasn't one yet but she would be. Amy thought it was cute so she let it slide.

"When do I ever do anything stupid?" he asked not expecting an answer. His voice was slightly muffled by her hair; he was busy inhaling her scent. He had been having nightmares as well and in all of them he lost her. He wasn't going to let that happen. He refused to let it. Trunks held her closer to him and let his eyelids fall shut as they both very slowly fell back asleep.

Two rooms down Veala and Goten were having similar issues.

"But what if…"

"No, go to sleep,"

"But if we could just…"

"Veala! Go to sleep!"

"But… mmm!" Goten had kissed her to shut her up. Usually he was very gentle and patient with her, but he hadn't slept well lately. Everything irritated him when he was tired. She pulled away from him and looked at him in exasperation

"Won't you just consider it for a second?"

"Maybe tomorrow…"

"Goten!" she moved so she was straddling him, instantly getting his full attention.

"Alright…what was I considering again?" he asked his hands resting on her hips lightly.

She rolled her eyes and then glared at him.

"I'm having nightmares…that on their own don't make sense. You're having nightmares that again on their own don't make sense. Trunks and Amy are both as well! But I've been thinking…"

"A dangerous thing," he muttered while his eyes started to wander down just a little bit.

She ignored him and continued

"If I put them all together they make a lot of sense…but only if something is coming here to take over the planet...They all have one thing in common Goten, this dark voice that none of us see at all," she frowned and rolled off of him much to his dismay. He sighed and looked over at her.

"Veala, stop being so ridiculous….wouldn't we know by now if someone was going to attack the kingdom? And this dark voice… well we don't know that it's the same now do we?"

"It's the same in my dreams and in Trunks'…" she whispered to him quietly. These dreams were really starting to freak her out. She didn't think it was a coincidence that they all started having them the minute her parents were gone. But no one would listen to her! Goten just brushed it off like she was just being a little too creative, Trunks ignored it completely and Amy just didn't even want to think about it. Veala sighed and flipped over onto her stomach. She buried her head into her pillow and groaned in frustration.

After a minute she felt a strong hand on her shoulder and she looked up at him through her bangs.

"What?"

"You need to calm down okay? If something like that does happen….well we know it's coming, sort of, so we have a head start. I'll protect you," he was suddenly very serious

"I'll always protect you Veala; I hope you know that," he looked into her eyes; those lovely dark blue eyes that he got lost in all the time.

"I do know that," she said gently, her eyes and voice soft. She was only soft for him.

"But Goten I think we need to talk to my parents about this..."

He sighed again and shook his head.

"Vey right now let's go to sleep... Then tomorrow if you still feel like it we'll talk to Trunks about it,"

She hmphed and turned away from him, giving him her back. However he just used that to his advantage and pulled her up against his chest, keeping her securely against him. It was the only way he had been able to sleep the last few nights, with her in his arms.

She didn't really mind it kept her feeling safe and calm enough to actually sleep. She closed her eyes but knew that it would only be a matter of time before something bad happened. She just knew it was going to happen and it made her head hurt. She frowned in her almost unconscious state, she remembered her head hurting like this once before a long time ago. It made her uneasy, but the thoughts were slipping away as her brilliant mind shut off and she fell into a deep sleep.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOO

"Mom! Focus!" Bulma was trying to get her mother to focus. They didn't have very long to talk before Vegeta's meeting was over and she got in trouble for checking up on her kids again.

"Sorry dear! I just can't help it; those grandkids of mine are just too cute! I want their weddings to be just perfect!"

Bulma put a hand on her forehead and counted to ten to calm herself down

"Mom…now is not the damn time! Just….tell me they're doing alright,"

"Oh they're all doing well dear! Trunks and his little girlfriend are getting along very well. Veala and Goten as well! I don't think you have anything to worry about," her mother was smiling but Bulma couldn't really tell if she was completely serious. Her mother hated to make her worry so she sometimes lied to her.

"Well…okay if you say so, just take care of them alright? They're my babies…"

"But of course I will dear! Now you get on with your mission, I'm sure you'll do very well! And we'll all be here when you get back!"

Bulma nodded and cut the connection losing the image and continued to stare at the now blank screen until someone touched her arm and she jumped.

"Oh…hey Tarble," she smiled at him but it didn't reach her eyes. She was worried about everything and nothing had made her really smile in the last few days.

"Sorry to interrupt you Bulma, but…Vegeta's not done with his meeting which means neither is Goku…so I was wondering if you'd like to spar with me. Even if for just a little while…"

Ever since Vegeta had seen Bulma and his brother becoming friends he had taken it upon himself to keep them very far apart at all times. That included training. Now Tarble could spar with any of the crew but not Bulma. Vegeta made sure she only fought him or Goku, and she'd been too preoccupied with her children's safety lately to even notice. Tarble usually fought Goku because he wasn't mean to him like the rest of the crew.

"Sure! I could use a distraction, let's go!" Bulma jumped up and grabbed his arm, pulling him quickly down the hall to the training room. She walked over to the control panel and turned up the gravity. It was enough to give them a good workout but low enough that it wouldn't kill them the next day. Then she slipped behind the training room door and came back out a little later with her sparring outfit on. It was very distracting, especially to any male in the room. Her shirt barely covered what it needed to and her shorts were just that. Short.

Tarble blushed and tried to remember they were just there to spar and nothing else. Besides she was taken..by his older brother...but that didn't mean he couldn't find her attractive, right?

Bulma made the first move and Tarble had to hurry to dodge. She was fast, really fast. He struggled to keep up, and in the end he had only landed two punches at all. His brain was too busy thinking about what Vegeta was going to do to him if he ever saw them fighting, especially with her wearing….almost nothing.

He was breathing hard and shook his head as they took a ten minute break to breathe and drink something.

"Y-You're fast…" he managed to breath out.

"I have to be able to keep up with Vegeta, I don't really have another option," she laughed lightly. Tarble's eyes followed her as she sat down and ran a hand through her beautiful blue hair and took a sip of her water. He blushed and looked away. How did his older brother who was the biggest ass hole in the entire universe end up with her? She was amazing and he wasn't sure he could help his growing feelings for her. He wasn't even sure he knew how to act around a woman anymore! He'd been away for a long time! And the only other exiled people he'd met were men…

His eyes followed her every move without him even trying to do so and he sighed lightly. Vegeta probably didn't even know how lucky he was to have such an amazing mate. It made him sad, because Bulma deserved the best.

When the door was flung open, Tarble jumped in surprise and looked up to see his older brother fuming at the door.

"Woman, what the hell!"

Bulma groaned lightly and then looked over at Tarble with a smile and a wink before she stood and walked over to her husband and king.

"What the hell what?" she asked him, tilting her head to the side slightly in confusion.

"What the hell are you wearing? Put some clothes on!"

Bulma rolled her eyes

"But we're training. And I can wear whatever I want, you're not the boss of me," she folded her arms stubbornly.

Vegeta glared at her, not that he didn't appreciate the view. He just didn't want anyone else to appreciate the view of what belonged to him. He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to him, sending a quick silent message to his brother who had stood up to be respectful, letting him know that he wasn't going to be forgiving if he even thought about her after they left.

"Well you're going to train with me now, so you're right, it doesn't matter," he leaned down and whispered into her ear

"They'll be off you soon enough as it is," he smirked slightly as she shivered.

"Vegeta…" she had to swallow once to continue speaking correctly

"I wasn't finished here…"

"Tarble doesn't mind, do you little brother?" he said it with venom in his voice, and his eyes threatened the younger Saiyan.

"N-No sir…go ahead Bulma…Goku will be done now so I'm fine," he smiled weakly at her but didn't have a chance to say anything else as Vegeta grabbed her and flew away.

"Why are you such a bastard?" she asked him as he flew them to their room. She didn't feel like flying so she wrapped her legs around his waist and arms around his neck, pulling herself right up against him. Vegeta grunted slightly but other than that he didn't respond. She put her lips at his neck and started kissing. That didn't help him form a coherent response.

All that was happening in his head was the thoughts he kept having lately. What if he lost Bulma? What if something went wrong and he lost her? He couldn't handle that. He tried to think about it and it makes him tremble with fear. What this woman was to him…it was starting to make him weak. Not physically but he knew he couldn't live without her. The desperation came out of nowhere for him. He didn't know what was going on but he figured if he had his way with her physically it would cause him to bounce back to being able to function without her right next to him.

As he landed inside their room and closed the door she hopped down and let out a sigh. Vegeta wrapped his arms around her from behind, closed his eyes and just took in everything that was her. The feeling of her hands covering his own, her scent, the feeling of her hair as it just barely touched his face as he put his chin on her shoulder, just resting there.

"Vegeta?" she asked quietly. This was a rare occasion. When he was being gentle and loving before the intercourse.

She closed her eyes as he let her feel everything he'd been feeling those past three days and it made her gasp a little.

"Oh…" she had been worrying so much about their kids, she forgot to worry about them. She almost hit herself but his strong arms were wrapped too tightly around her for her to move her arms.

"Vegeta…love it's going to be alright," she leans back into him, feeling his chest up against her back. It makes her breathing hitch just slightly. She feels like she's drowning in all these feelings. Worry, doubt, fear, love, need, desperation, it's almost too much for her to handle.

"You don't know that," Vegeta's voice was barely above a whisper. It was starting to scare his Queen just a little bit.

"You can't know that…but I swear Bulma I'll keep you by my side no matter what happens. And I'm going to promise you in the only way I know how to," he gently turned her around and put a hand on her cheek, looking into those ever blue eyes he'd learned to love and rely on. He just let his actions speak for him. He kissed her with all the passion and love he could muster. He wasn't good with words. Not good at all, but with his actions and body? Yes. He could communicate very well that way.

She didn't know what the sudden change in his attitude was all about, but she wasn't going to say anything. She let him love her. She let him sooth himself in what he was doing. What they were doing.

They were awake for a very long time. It wasn't their usual speed and power, this time when they made love it was to promise each other that nothing would ever happen to tear them apart. This time it was to calm down the king and make him see that he's not weak, he's strong. And she's the reason that he is. When the touching and loving was all done Vegeta was nuzzling into Bulma, his arms around her waist and his head buried into her chest.

Bulma was running a hand through his hair lightly, not wanting to get up or move at all.

'We should just stay here forever and let the crew take care of everything,' she told him mentally

He scoffed quietly

'Yeah right, and who will lead them? Some of them don't even know my name,'

Bulma chuckled slightly

'What about Goku?'

'Kakarot isn't allowed to lead without me present ever, remember what happened last time you put him in charge?'

'It wasn't his fault that Veala and Trunks were in the mood to be mischievous,'

'Bulma they almost single handedly destroyed the palace. I'm not giving him power ever again,'

'I like it better when you're in charge anyways, it's sexy,'

Vegeta chuckled and smiled genuinely. She couldn't see it because he was still laying on her, but she just knew he was smiling and it made her happy. But the happy was short lived, and they had to get up to get dressed and work once more. They had things to be doing. Their planet was in danger and they had no other choices. The worry and fear would be back soon enough.

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"How long until we arrive?"

"Ten hours, sir,"

"Good,"

They were almost to Vegeta-sai. They were almost to their victory. He wondered if perhaps they'd recognize him when he came out of the shadows. Perhaps not. They were only children last he saw them. He smirked and thought to himself that this was going to be very fun. He was back and he'd make sure not to fail again.