Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or the characters.
Cara2012: Yes, gotta love those "awww" moments XD
Iluvveggie: No offense taken. I know I've been taking a long time to update, but you know XD I'm glad you like it.
KimiruMai: Yeah, there needs to be cute moments or else we'd just be bombarded with depressing plots all the time. The cute moments are more like the "comic relief" which we always seem to add that in too XD
Pallyndrome: Thanks.
Preciousjade76: Glad you liked it.
Starchilds: Yup, mess with Veggie and you're in trouble :D
TeamVegetaGirl123: Lol, it seems a lot of people stalk my stories after they read one XD I really appreciate that. Glad you like them.
Vegeta was starting to adjust to his new life and new routine. Sometimes it felt too surreal for him, since he finally felt safe and stable. The guilt would still eat away at him at times, but now he could actually talk to someone about it. Goku had walked in on him a few times having nightmares about everything. At times, Vegeta would wake up thinking they had to call 9-1-1 to put out a fire. It didn't take that much to figure out why he was like this and Goku promised Vegeta that he could confide in him.
Since then, Vegeta hadn't felt a chronic guilt. His friend had been a lot smarter than he thought and he was finally starting to realize that it wasn't completely his fault and that he did try to protect everyone. He still visited Broly and the other teenager was happy that Vegeta was finally starting to forgive himself like he had already.
Bulma was still completely unaware of his past, but she knew he went through something traumatic. He came home with her a lot and sometimes they would take a short nap together, just happy to be in each other's presence. Vegeta would have these violent nightmares and Bulma would wake him up before he could say anything. She may have wanted to know what he could be dreaming about, but she would never just let him go through the nightmare just to find out what he'd say.
"Vegeta, please, just talk to me," Bulma pleaded while Vegeta worked on catching his breath after waking up from yet another nightmare. He looked over to her with doubt covering his face. "It's me, Vegeta. I won't judge you. I…I…"
Bulma couldn't say what she had been feeling for years, but Vegeta needed to know. He needed to hear her say the words he had been longing to hear for the majority of his life. "You what?" Vegeta pressed gently, not wanting to scare her or make her feel more uncomfortable.
Bulma looked at him, tears shining in her worried eyes. Vegeta pulled her in for a hug and placed a warm and gentle kiss on her lips. Bulma smiled and looked up to him. "I love you, Vegeta."
Vegeta let out a sigh of relief. That had been what he wanted to hear. He didn't think he could say the words back, but he told her he felt the same way and that was enough for her. Bulma's question was forgotten as the two teenagers focused on their confessions and not on the nightmares that plagued Vegeta. Everything at that moment felt perfect.
But we all know that perfection doesn't last very long.
Goku and Vegeta were leaving football practice when they saw someone standing at the front gate waiting for someone. Vegeta froze and stared into the eyes of the man that pretty much saved him from going to jail.
"Vegeta, who is that?" Goku asked.
"It's nothing, Kakarot," Vegeta lied. "I'll catch up with you later."
Goku didn't want to leave his friend with some stranger, but he knew he couldn't argue with him either and left, well, left to hide and listen in.
"Zarbon," Vegeta said walking up to the man. Zarbon did not look happy, but he looked more apologetic than anything else.
"They know, Vegeta," he said, "about all of us."
Vegeta forced his outer appearance to look calm, but he was panicking inside. "H-how?"
Zarbon let out a venomous growl. "That bastard made enemies on the inside and was killed by one of them. It was in his damn will that records of every crime he ever committed, or had his 'children' commit would be sent to the police."
"You were released though," Vegeta pointed out. It couldn't have been as bad as Zarbon was alluding.
"I served my time, Vegeta," Zarbon said. "Dodoria and Cui still have a few more months. Now, you remaining six have to be put on trial."
"But we were kids at that time," Vegeta argued. He didn't know much about the law, but he knew kids couldn't be sentenced to jail time.
"You won't go to jail," Zarbon agreed, "but there still has to be a trial. I'm sure you'll all get off with community service or something, but I would still let whoever your adopted you know what's going on so they can get you a lawyer."
Vegeta shook his head. "I can do this on my own," he replied unconvincingly. He honestly didn't believe that, but even if Kakarot had known and accepted him, it didn't mean everyone else would and then he'd lose everything he had left.
Zarbon frowned and put his hand on Vegeta's shoulder. "Look kid, this isn't a game. It's not easy."
Vegeta's temper got the better at him. He smacked Zarbon's hand away and started shouting. "You think I think this is easy? I have to deal with what I did every day of my life! I get no peace of mind, ever, because I know I'm responsible for the death of two families, not including my friend's parents! I'm not an idiot; I know how bad this is! But I deserve to be punished, even if it wasn't my fault because I'm still responsible!"
Zarbon watched as the younger teen broke down into tears. Just then, he saw the boy who was with him earlier and a blue-haired girl who looked completely shocked. The girl started running over to them, and Zarbon didn't know if he could trust her. He blocked her path to Vegeta.
"Let me see him," Bulma demanded.
"No," Zarbon replied. At first Bulma thought he was being a jerk, but then she saw how guarded he seemed. He was trying to protect Vegeta.
"I'm his friend," she told him. "Please."
"Bulma?" Zarbon turned to see Vegeta, still letting the tears fall, but now he was looking up at the girl in shock, but also in hope. He let her go over to the young innocent and walked over to Vegeta's other friend.
Bulma knelt down next to him and pulled him to her. She rubbed his back comfortingly and let her own tears fall. "Why didn't you tell me…us?" He knew she was referring to her family.
"You would have all hated me. Hell, I hate me," he replied. "Besides, I just got you back. I wasn't ready to lose you again and there's no way your father would let you anywhere near a murderer." Vegeta wasn't expecting to receive a slap to the face. He moved his hand to his cheek and looked at Bulma in shock and hurt.
"You are not a murderer," she said, making him visibly relax. "I never want to hear you say that again. And we can help you, Vegeta. You know we have money. It's our fault you ended up with such a monster, so it's our responsibility to get you out of this."
Vegeta blinked most of his tears back and sighed. He thought that he would lose Bulma for sure if she ever found out, but here she was wanting to help him get through this. He could only hope Goku's mother and her parent's would be just as understanding as both her and Goku. Vegeta nodded to her, indicating that he was ready to admit everything and accept her help. He just couldn't do it alone anymore.
