A/N: Well I've finally completed a DBZ multichap (actually, it's probably the first time I've finished any multichap!) Thanks to "lor" for the lovely review, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it as it comes to a close. Thanks to all who reviewed and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball Z, any of the characters, concepts or anything else related to it. I acknowledge that Akira Toriyama has these rights. Please don't sue.

Warnings: None

Rating: PG13+

"In Places No One Will Find"

Chapter 7

Bulma headed back to her room quietly, she dashed the tears away and opened her door, ready to tumble into bed and forget the whole thing ever happened. She should never have tried to talk to him, she should have known the response she'd get. As she was about to step into her room, however, she heard a voice say behind her,

"Sorry for what?"

Bulma stopped and, without turning around, replied, quietly, still shocked and hurt from the last encounter only seconds before. She was scared for a moment, he had moved ridiculously fast and she had had no idea he was behind her until he had spoken. It was enough to make anyone jumpy, particularly after she was already on edge.

"I'm sorry I don't understand and I'm sorry I tried to…and I'm sorry if I hurt you, somehow…I shouldn't have pried…"

There was silence for a moment, and Bulma, still amazed that she had produced such a sincere apology, assumed he had gone back to his own room so she began to walk into her room before she felt a strong hand grip her elbow and she heard Vegeta's voice say, behind her,

"I do miss them. I miss the history that was there. I miss the camaraderie between the warriors. I miss the traditions…I even miss some of the saiya-jins…"

Bulma was dumbstruck for a moment before she could find the words she thought were appropriate at the time,

"Do you ever want to go back?"

"Every day," was the response, "I wish I could go back every day."

Bula took a deep breath and asked hesitantly,

"Even with Freiza ruling it?"

Vegeta was silent for a long moment, his fingers tightening on her elbow the only indication that he hadn't stopped still entirely.

"He destroyed my planet, my home. He destroyed me, my father before me, his father before him…destroyed us all. I can never relieve the shame I feel at not being able to defeat him, avenge their names."

Bulma slowly turned and said,

"It wasn't your fault, Vegeta."

Vegeta stiffened, his hand on her arm growing tighter still and she could feel him glaring at her, even if she couldn't see it, the hairs on the back of her neck that were raised were signal enough. She felt his breath on the back of her neck as he snarled,

"Wasn't my fault? My father was charged with the protection of our planet, and as such so was I. I failed them."

Bulma raised a hand and hesitantly placed it where she assumed his chest was. She found his shoulder. Ignoring the fact that she was obviously extremely disorientated in the dark, she replied,

"You were young, Vegeta… you can't possibly be beating yourself up over that…"

He was silent for a moment and all Bulma could hear was the sound of his breathing, heavier than hers, in the dark.

"…I had a responsibility…"

Bulma heard the catch in his voice and stared at him intently, feeling his hand grasping her elbow and she whispered,

"Vegeta, your ancestors will understand, they had a responsibility too, and that was to support and help you, and they failed. For you to feel that it's your fault…"

She felt Vegeta's shoulder shake beneath her hand and she realised he was crying. Without thinking she flung her arms around him and clutched him firmly, saying,

"It's not your fault, Vegeta…it was never your fault…"

The saiya-jin warrior froze in her grasp for a moment and Bulma's breath caught. Thoughts of betrayal leapt through her brain and she waited for a split second for he searing pain that was sure to come from causing him to cry or from hugging him or something…instead she was shocked to feel his arms around her, holding her close to his chest and his head nestled into her shoulder, his breath shuddering on her neck and his tears moistening her bare shoulder. She held onto him, one of her free hands gently stroking his back,

"It was never your fault, Vegeta…"

And they stood there in the dark hallway. One realising something he should have realised long ago, and the other seeing the side she knew existed. It would be gone tomorrow, she knew that, knew that these moments would be rarer than blue moons in this warriors life, but they were there. He cared about things other than himself, he had emotions just like everyone else and he got lonely just like everyone else. Bulma wondered idly as she held Vegeta, if he liked chocolate mousse…

Fin