A/N: Hi Friends - Thank you all for sticking with me through my overly long hiatus! It really makes me happy to see so many people following the story! Reviews are ALWAYS very much appreciated! It lets me know you guys like the story and where it's going...so please don't forget to leave a review!

I have to admit - while it wasn't my original intention for Bulma to be a "bad guy" or Yamcha for that matter... I do like that everyone seems so on board with hating them right now lol I promise though, this is a love story between Bulma and Vegeta in the end.

Thank you!

XOXO


"I have to admit, I was surprised when I got your text. I haven't heard from you in a while." Chi-Chi smiled warmly at the woman sitting at her kitchen table while she finished pouring the two cups of green tea into her finest china. Bulma accepted it gratefully while letting her eyes roam the small kitchen. She had to admit that she was impressed with Chi-Chi's ability to take practically nothing and make it a cozy home. It couldn't have been easy living with Goku, but it must be even harder with him gone. She was lucky to have Gohan and Goten around to help out.

Pots and pans hung from a metal rack above the small stove, while dozens of tiny pots all containing different herbs and spices decorated the window ledges. Occassionally a small tremor rifted through the floor boards as the boys wrestled outside.

"I know, things have been hectic as you can imagine… how are you doing? Are you excited to see Goku again?" Chi-Chi sat on the old wooden chair letting out a heavy sigh as the chair matched with its own weary creak.

"Yes…and No…Don't get me wrong, I love Goku. Always have, always will…but…what kind of father just chooses to stay dead and leave his family you know?" She kept her eyes focused on her cup, gently blowing on it. Bulma held the mug between both hands enjoying the heat as she nodded empathetically. "I'm excited for Goten to meet his father, but of course it takes a tournament for Goku to agree to come back to earth. To see his wife? Never in a million years. To see his kids? Nope. To have one day to fight? Oh, THAT…that's a valid reason." She laughed sarcastically and took a sip.

"To be fair, he didn't know about Goten before he did what he did."

"But he knew about Gohan. That should have been enough." She bit out. "Sorry," she tried again a bit softer. "It's just… as you can imagine… a sensitive topic. I'm not even sure how to explain to Goten that he gets to meet his dad for one day and then that's it. I'm not convinced it's even a good thing to do to be honest, but since the boys are fighting in the tournament it's not like they won't see each other." She leaned back in her chair and quickly wiped away the sad look from her face as she forced a smile. "But, you didn't come all this way to talk about my husband. What's on your mind."

Bulma fidgeted in her seat unsure of how to bring up the topic she most wanted to discuss.

"Chi-Chi… when Goku was around…did you ever feel like…like he's rather be fighting than be with you?" Chi-Chi gave her a blank look and raised an eyebrow.

"Is that a joke? We just confirmed that my dear husband is returning to earth for one day ONLY to fight in a stupid tournament…Yes. Yes, I can confidently tell you that Goku would choose fighting over his family without and hesitation or thought. He's a Saiyan…apparently it's all they're programmed to do." Bulma bit her lip and took a small sip. The tea was too hot and much too bitter but thankfully kept her face neutral.

"I'm sorry, I just…even when Vegeta isn't off training and it's just the two of us I get the sense that he's not happy here, with me. He's always looking for a reason to go off a train, some invisible villain is always on the outskirts…it's never over." Chi-Chi shook her head and tried not to roll her eyes.

"Bulma, I've told you once and I'll tell you a million more times. Vegeta is a monster. He's cold, egotistical, selfish…of course he doesn't really care for you. He can't. I swear the man doesn't know how to love anything besides the fight." Bulma glared slightly, her nails clicking against the cup.

"That's not fair. Vegeta has proved himself trustworthy and capable of love. He loves Trunks and his family –"

"Just not more than fighting." The women held each other's gaze hardly. Both unwilling to back down. "Look, Goku may have seen the good in everyone which is why he let Vegeta live…but I don't buy this mister nice guy act he's trying to hide behind. Once a monster – always a monster. You can even take that bet to the bank that he'll snap one of these days and revert. People like that don't change Bulma." Bulma opened her mouth to argue back but Chi-Chi went on as if she didn't notice. "Once a killer – always a killer." Chi-Chi chuckled to herself as she took another sip of the tea and grinned up at the open mouth expression Bulma wore. "Besides… I thought you liked your men evil?"

Bulma nearly dropped the mug on the table as the color drained from her face. Chi-Chi raised an eyebrow as a few beads of sweat suddenly appeared on Bulma's brow.

"What's wrong? Are you ill?" Bulma shook her head numbly as she tried to regain her composure. Chi-Chi continued to ramble on about a new girl Gohan was seeing clearly thinking it was time to change the topic. Bulma could barely hear her though as the blood pounded in her ears and the cold voice whispered in hear ear from her nightmares.

I thought you liked your men evil

"…and I hear Yamcha is dating someone new as well."

"Huh?" Bulma brushed her hair out of her eyes, coming back to the conversation at the name of her ex. "Is he? He didn't mention anything to me the last time I spoke to him…" Though, that had been several weeks ago, she admitted to herself.

"I'm not sure how serious it is, but apparently he's bringing her to the tournament tomorrow. If she's anything like the last few there's nothing to worry about." Bulma blushed faintly and gave her friend a quizzical look.

"Worried? I'm not worried. Why would I be worried or care who he's seeing? It's not like we're together – I'm with Vegeta obviously. Yamcha is perfectly ok to date whoever he likes." She rambled too quickly. Chi-Chi gave her a look but said nothing. "I should get going…Trunks needs his rest for the tournament tomorrow and it wouldn't be a good idea to have the boys beat each other half to death today when they get to do it in front of a crowd tomorrow." She smoothed her skirt before standing and pushing away from the table.

Feeling far more flustered and no less anxious she left Chi-Chi in the kitchen and briskly strode outside.

"Trunks! It's time to go home! Say goodnight to Goten - you'll see him tomorrow." She called as she dug in her purse for the capsule containing their car.

"Aw Mom… ten more minutes?" Trunks whined as the boys suddenly appeared in the air a few feet in front of her.

"No, Now." Before I strangle Gotens mother.


He stood at the end of the bed and watched the woman twist in her sleep, her legs caught in the sheets, the strap to her thin silk teddy slipping off her shoulder exposing most of her breast to his gaze. Vegeta stood silently, like a predator marking his prey, torn between leaving to find somewhere to sleep that would be quiet, letting him get the rest he would need for the morning… or release some stress with a quick session with the scantily clad woman sleeping in his bed.

She sighed as if she knew what he was debating, rolling to the other side, her knees bent together as her arm stretched above her head. He had to admit that she was as stunning now as when he'd first met her. Bulma has always been attractive, but he found that as she aged, she matured in ways he did not know the human race could. Her lips were spread apart just enough to make it appear as if she were going to whisper something to him. Beckoning him to her.

The damned woman drove him crazy. Even when he found himself contemplating blowing up the entire planet just so he wouldn't have to deal with her…he knew he could never resist her. She was his Queen, his muse, his inspiration.

He silently crept closer to the bed until he stood at the edge a few inches away from her. He reached out his hand and gently cupped her exposed breast, letting his thumb flick over her quickly hardening nipple. She let out a low moan that sent a ripple of pleasure through his skin. He felt himself growing hard under his shorts as her breathing became heavier while he continued his assult with his fingers.

Moving his hand further down her body he let his finger tips glide, barely brushing the skin while leaving little goosebumps behind until he reached the center of her. She was hot and moist, the scent of arousal hitting his nose making his situation climb from uncomfortable to painfully trapped within his shorts. He needed her. Needed the connection and reminder she brought to him that this life was worth the sacrafices. It was worth the limitations that seemed to build on top of him. She groaned with a primal lust as his fingers expertly touched her. Using his free hand he pulled the shorts from his body until he stood over her naked and wanting.

Her eyes remained shut, sound asleep though enjoying the sensations coursing through her body. His hand left her only long enough to position himself at her entrance. Vegeta looked down on the sleeping woman for a second longer, letting the walls come down around his heart and admitting to himself how much this woman meant to him. He leaned forward and kissed her gently.

"I love you Bulma." he whispered softly against her lips as he kissed her once more while pushing the length of himself into her. She gasped and groaned while automatically wrapping her legs around his waist. He began to move gently, lovingly...letting himself feel the woman beneath him. Admiring the way her warmth enveloped him.

Her sleepy eyes fluttered open momentarily as she smiled and moved her head up to kiss him back, wrapping her arm around his neck and pulling him tight against her. He could feel her muscles building, her ki spiking...the flush of rose on her skin letting him know she was just as close as he was.

Moments later she ground her hips into his as he spilled himself into her and she clenched around him. Milking every last drop as she gasped and her own release found her.

"Bulma." he nuzzled against her neck. She smiled, her eyes still sleepily closed.

"...Yamcha." she whispered before falling back into a sound slumber.

Vegeta froze, pulling off of her aburptly and just as quickly forcing his clothes back on. His face remained blank of any expression as he gazed down on Bulma while she rolled over, turning her back to him. The silence stretched for what felt like hours as he stood over her, the muscles in his hands twithing uncomfortably. He forced himself to breathe, to blink, but he couldn't force himself to walk away.

He waited for the rage to encase him. To overpower everything else until there was nothing left but the desire for death and blood by his hands.

He waited.

But there was no hatred, only a black, thick, strangling pain that gripped his chest and burned. With a final glance at Bulma's peacefully sleeping face, her mouth curled into a satisfied smile as she lazily gripped the sheets, he turned his back on her and left the room.

He had been foolish to think he could find real happiness on this filthy mudball planet. Naive to think he could truly care for someone other than himself and his son. Bulma was a problem, a leech in Vegeta's life - sucking the motivation for greatness from him and leaving him nothing more than a shell of the Saiyan he was born to be.

Never again will I be made to look the fool. he thought to himself as his scowl deepened, the blackness moving to settle around his heart, constricting and manipulating. They will all pay.


Bulma woke to the sounds of a small body crashing into her door followed quickly by a small yip of confusion as Trunks tried again unsuccessfully to open the door.

"MOM!" he yelled excitedly before rapidly knocking again and again until he heard the faint groan of acknowledgement.

"Trunks...it's barely seven in the morning. Why are you so awake." even as the words left her mouth she knew the answer to her question. The tournament was today.

"We have to hurry Mom! Everyone else is going to be there soon!"

Bulma sighed and rolled over to wake Vegeta before she realized she was in bed alone. She frowned at the abscence of the man until she felt the tell tale dampness between her thighs that proved he had been with her during the night.

"No one is getting there before noon. I already checked yesterday, we have plenty of time." she heard him slump against the door, banging his forehead as he groaned.

"But you take forever to get ready in the morning. We're not going to get there until after everyone at this rate." she frowned and threw a pillow at the door, missing by several feet.

"It does NOT take me that long to get ready you brat! We will be there on time." she sat up and stretched, noticing that the house seemed a little too quiet. There was no hum of the gravity room in the distance, no sound of the television playing downstairs or the angry stammerings of a Saiyan Prince as he tried to grapple with his laundry from the cleaning bots.

"Trunks, where is your father?" she swung her legs off the edge of the bed before walking to the closet to grab her robe. Once she was fully decent she unlocked the door and watched her son fall into her room.

"I don't know. Must have left early. I don't feel his energy around here." he sat up on his knees and shrugged his shoulders. "So...we should leave early too then! Dad would want me to get there as early as possible to start warming up." She sighed, fishing in her robe pocket for a cigarette that wasn't there. Something didn't feel right.

"You're right. Ok, go get some breakfast while I get dressed and we'll head out. Deal?" Trunks jumped in the air with a whoop before scrambaling out of the room and down to the kitchen.

Bulma stretched her back before turning to her closet, knowing that she had at least a solid half hour before Trunks would be done eating.

Staying true to her word she was ready to go within the hour, and as Trunks had predicted they were still the last ones to arrive. Bulma waved when she saw Krillin and 18 standing by ChiChi and Tien. Goten paced nervously behind his mother occassionally darting a glance to his older brother who was anxiously looking over the tops of the crowd.

"No sign of Goku yet then?" she asked to no one in particular.

"Not yet. Should be soon though. Goku is late for a lot of things...but never a tournament." ChiChi sighed as she fixed her hair again before checking on Goten. Trunks stood by his mothers side, wanting to go to his best friend but feeling that now was not the right time.

"Has anyone seen Vegeta?" Bulma stood on her toes looking for any sign of the spikey hairdo she was accustomed to and frowned when she realized he wasn't anywhere around. "I didn't think he'd actually miss seeing Goku come back?"

"Dad's here" Trunks looked off into the distance as if the path were completely clear. "I can feel him standing at the back." Bulma crossed her arms over her chest debating if it was worth pushing through to crowd to go find him.

"Yamcha!" Krillin yelled shifting Bulma's attention immediately. She had done her best to ignore her ex and had almost forgotten that he would be at the event. "You made it!"

"Of course I did." he laughed, his arm drapped around a pretty girl who simply beamed at the attention. "I wouldn't miss seeing Goku for anything." his eyes raked the crowd of friends until he found her, looking as beautiful as ever. "Bulma." he nodded in a greeting, his blood pumping just a little faster. Arms wrapped themselves around his waist as the girl beside him clung defensively.

Bulma smiled back and waved, a pit forming in the bottom of her stomach. Yamcha kept his gaze focused on Bulma until she started blushing and looked away to fuss with Trunks hair. Guilt stung at her like a thousand hornets but she wasn't sure why.

In the distance Vegeta's scowl depened as his fists clenched tighter, his knuckles white against his palms. He could feel them all standing there. The pitiful monk and his robot wife, the three-eyed freak, that old pervert...Kakarots infuriating clan...but it was the prescence of him that darkened the princes mood from foul to deadly. He could feel them standing a few mere feet apart from each other and he ground his teeth together to fight the urge of flying over there and killing him immediately. No. When he killed the louse again - and he would kill him... it would be in front of her. She would cower before him, she would understand and witness his power in it's true form.

A feeling of a strong breeze blew through his mind and his attention was diverted to the new power energy standing in front of him. A small smile slid onto his face without reaching his eyes. The woman and her human would have to wait a few more minutes to die. Vegeta pushed off from the wall he leaned on and walked over to the taller man who grinned at him like a clueless idiot.

"Welcome back Kakarot. Are you ready to die again?"


A/N: Oh Snap! I half wanted to continue this chapter through the tournament...but... I feel like that chapter might be best on it's own. Let me know what you think!