A/N: California King Bed: Rihanna

I just want to take a minute and say thank you for all those who review and especially those who review continually :) It's nice to know that people actually enjoy the story and it really does motivate me to write more and post it faster. I hope you all continue to follow along and like what you read! Thank you!

*…SIX MONTHS AGO…*

Chest to chest / Nose to nose / Palm to palm / We were always just that close / Wrist to wrist / Toe to toe / Lips that felt just like the inside of a rose

Bulma lay entwined in a mess of bed sheets and limbs as she fought for fresh cool air. Her eyelids were heavy with sleep as the morning sunshine rudely reminded her that all actions taken have consequences and she was to experience hers immediately. She traced her toes up the sleeping mans leg hoping he was awake, but just as tired as she. Instead she was greeted by a sleepy groan as he pushed her off and rolled his back to her. Bulma sighed and tried to snuggle up behind him hoping to drift off.

So, how come when I reach out my finger / it feels like more than distance between us…

"Bulma take good care of that baby!" Goku had merrily said just before taking off. A little joke only he seemed to be on that left Bulma's head spinning. Goku was not known to be a man of mystery, and definitely not known to just randomly make up stories…but what in the hell could he be talking about? Yamcha of course had gone insane the moment the words escaped Goku's mouth, blushing furiously and suggesting they get married right away.

That made Bulma's heart drop into her stomach.

For years she had daydreamed, picturing her wedding day, her dress, the flowers and the music…she pictured Yamcha in a lovely expensive tuxedo spinning her around the dance floor until their legs gave out from exhaustion only to begin a whirl wind honeymoon that lasted for months of ecstasy and happiness. She imagined their children, strong, beautiful, and full of brains and bravery. He had never though, brought up marriage before to her. Until now, and instead of fainting with joy, she found herself hiding in worry.

Before, it had been a wonderful secret dream. Kids and marriage, but now that it seemed to real, so close and almost in her hands, she found herself debating with herself whether he was the man of her dreams or just…the man in her present. The more she debated, the more she found herself drifting between avoiding Yamcha for days, and then clinging to him.

Last night had seemed so perfect; she had convinced herself that he was the one for her. After all, he was her first love, they had history together and memories that no one else could imagine to step into. They knew each other inside and out and he would do anything for her. Including die…

Bulma's eyes snapped open once again and she rolled away from Yamcha. She wanted to cry in frustration as yet another con snuck into her head popping her pretty bubble of sureness. He died. How was she supposed to build a life around a man who seems to find himself continually on the receiving end of near to complete death?

In this California king bed / We're ten thousand miles apart / I've been California wishing on these stars / For your heart for me / My California king

Bulma swung her legs over the edge of the bed and silently lifted herself out. Reaching around for any type of clothing she pulled a shirt over her head and grinned when the scent of pine and soil filled her nose a distinct smell that usually accompanied only Yamcha. The shirt was large on her, gently brushing over her skin and falling just above her upper thighs. She debated with herself whether she should chance running downstairs and getting some coffee started but worried about whether she would run into her not so pleasant house guest. It was a bit too early and she was a bit too sleep deprived to attempt a battle of wits and words against the Prince of all comebacks.

Tip-Toeing lightly to the window she peeled the curtain back in inch and peeked at the gravitation room that was set up a bit from the house but easily seen from her position. The lights were off, and no gentle hum seemed to radiate suggesting that Vegeta had not gotten the usual early start she had become accustom to. She grinned to herself formulating her plan to dash downstairs, get some coffee made up and then work on excuses she could use to get Yamcha to leave for the day until she could think through her lists again. A flash of light caught her attention though and she pressed her face against the glass trying to look at far left as she could.

She could just see him, sitting on a rock by her mother's favorite little pond. He wore only his typical black training shorts and had his knees drawn up to his chest, his arms hanging over his knees. He seemed to be starring intently into the water and Bulma found herself pressing her fingers against the glass willing herself to have a better view. What she did notice was how relaxed he looked. She bit her lip as she studied his arms, how for the first time they looked toned, but not bulging to extremes. His face was relaxed from tension as well; his lips curved down but not exactly in a snarl or frown. Just relaxed. His eye brows seemed to scowl focused downward as their normal expression typically carried, but she didn't read it as a sign of anger or annoyance.

He lifted a hand and aimed it at the water. For a minute she panicked he was about to send an energy bomb and destroy the area but instead she watched as he flexed his fingers, one by one. As if studying the motion was new and exciting. He bent each knuckle slowly, deliberately, checking each finger one by one and Bulma found she was jealous at the attention they were receiving. She pictured him looking at her with that dedication, that intense scrutiny and patients to study, memorize, and treat each limb as if it were new and exciting. The idea brought a smile to her face and she realized that she wouldn't mind his eyes focused on her. In fact, the idea thrilled her…possibly turned her on?

Eye to eye / Cheek to cheek / Side by side / You were sleeping next to me / Arm in arm / Dusk to dawn / With the curtains drawn / And a little last night on these sheets / So, how come when I reach out my fingers / It seems like more than distance between us

Pulling her face from the glass she looked over her shoulder at Yamcha, still completely enslaved to sleep. She looked at her feet, ashamed at the way she had felt moments ago watching Vegeta. She was still with Yamcha, the thought of other men shouldn't turn her on. Especially when they weren't even doing anything particularly enticing, and especially when they're Vegeta. The cruelest monster of a man she had ever met.

She peeked back out the window relieved he was still sitting at the same spot. He was done flexing his fingers and what she saw instead shocked her. A bird had landed only a foot or two away from him and was happily chirping a morning greeting. Oblivious to the danger it had put itself. She waited with bated breath for the inevitable blast of energy that would destroy the small animal.

Vegeta sat still though. Watching the creature with neither like, or dislike. He just let it be. Bulma was afraid to blink, afraid that if she closed her eyes for even the briefest of moment's he would do something important and she would miss it. Her patience was unrewarded though as he continued to just sit there. She tried with all her energy to will him to act. To smile, to snarl, to stand up, fly, run…anything except sit so agonizingly still. Without thinking she moved her fingers, her nails barely skimming the surface of the glass and yet it seemed to be loud enough. His head snapped up in her direction, his cold eyes boring deep into her own.

We're ten thousand miles apart / I've been California wishing on these stars / for your heart for me / My California king

She knew there was at least a few hundred feet between them, but as his eyes met hers she could almost feel his breath against her cheek. The intensity of the stare sent her heart racing, panic and excitement setting in deep as a million sparks ran free through her blood stream. Again she found herself unable to blink, terrified he would leave just as she did.

Something inside of her turned, doubts and fears seemed to be erased and for the first time in a while her mind was calm from worry and stress. Thoughts of mystery babies didn't seem so terrifying and a future of destruction and death didn't seem so impossible. She wanted to reach out, touch his cheek and fall deeper into his eyes. So common, and yet exceptionally different. Bolder, wiser, stronger and fragile. Maybe he wasn't as cold and heartless as everyone thought. Maybe…

Just when I felt like giving up on us / You turned around and gave me one last touch / That made everything feel better / And even then my eyes got wetter / So confused wanna ask you if you love me / But I don't wanna seem so weak / Maybe I've been California dreaming

A movement behind her forced her to break the eye contact and push away from the window. Yamcha slowly stretched before reaching to find the bed warm but empty next to him. Lifting his head he saw Bulma standing by the window in only his shirt and he smiled.

"You look amazing in that you know." His voice was husky from just waking up, his eyes still trying to blink in the sunlight. She grinned and clasped her hands behind her back.

"Thanks, I try my best." They stood a few moments, watching each other. Yamcha wanting to ask her to come back to bed, Bulma wanting to ask him to leave. Without a word he swung over and stood up, taking a few steps to reach her. He took her shoulders into his hands and spun her around, pressing her back to him as he leaned his head down and lightly kissed her neck.

"How come you're up so early? I would have thought you'd be asleep at least until noon. Watching the sunrise?" He gently pushed her forward to the window and peeled back the curtain. Bulma felt the blood rush up into her face as she feared that Vegeta would still be outside starring at her…or worse, that he had left.

She closed her eyes tight, afraid to see either reality, waiting for Yamchas reaction. He lightly scoffed and shook his head before leaning his chin on her shoulder.

"Back to that stupid training room again. You'd think he'd at least wait until the rest of us were up before starting that damn contraption. The hum is probably what woke you up isn't it?" Bulma opened her eyes and felt her chest sink as the faint hum and low glow of the Gravitation Room showed life. She had to stop herself from snapping at him. The dedication Vegeta showed in one day was more than Yamcha showed in a year. He was the true savior this world had seen, and ignoring his frequent rants of destroying the world for his own satisfaction, Bulma knew in her heart that this place meant more to him that he let on. With no home planet to return to…well, this was home.

In this California king bed / We're ten thousand miles apart / I've been California wishing on these stars / For your heart for me / My California king

"Let's go back to bed." Yamcha whispered seductively in a way that before would have made her knees buckle, instead made her body tense up. Her eyes were focused on the Gravity Room with a new longing she hadn't before experienced. She wondered what it would sound like from Vegeta if he asked her to bed. She shivered pleasantly and almost laughed at herself. He would never see her in that way. He would probably never see anyone in that way. She sighed and wished, just once…that maybe he could learn to see her in that way.

Maybe.

My California king