Temperatures held fast at ninety-five degrees without raining. All the water seemed as if it evaporated before it hit the bucket. Chichi tried to conserve water. Vegeta flew tow tank loads in from a spring high in the mountains.
"I don't know what we're going to do if it doesn't rain soon; all my flowers are dying out." No air stirred as Chichi sat on the back porch drinking ice water after dinner.
"There is a storm front coming from over the mountains tonight." Vegeta's voice rumbled like distant thunder. Vibrations ran through the muggy air. Both sat quietly for a while, watching the sun set. Vegeta drifted into the boys' room half and hour later.
Scene Break *********************
Just before midnight the storm front rolled over the mountains in the distance. Vegeta could smell it coming as he lay on the low bed sleepless. Since his nightmare sleep had been hard to get. Hot nights reminded Vegeta of Bulma and the steamy nights they'd spent together before Trunks came along. Quietly he slipped out of bed to watch the storm roll in. Standing outside Gohan and Goten's room the Sayian Prince watched lightning flash and heard thunder explode.
Chichi rolled and flopped in the bed trying to get comfortable enough to fall asleep. Thunder and lightning coming over the mountains sounded the arrival of the rain she needed for the flowers and crops. Too hot to bear, she got up to get a wet wash cloth for her face. Dressed only in her cotton night gown Chichi walked out into the hall and into Vegeta. The long figure stood by the window, apparently lost in thought when she collided.
"What are you doing out here?" Chichi wondered aloud. Vegeta continued to stare for a moment before speaking.
"Watching the lightning and rain." Loud, heavy drops began smacking the large windows where they stood. Lightning flashed, outlining Vegeta in a dramatic profile shot. Chichi looked at the scar over the warrior's heart. It was deep and white, starting just to the left of his sternum. She ran her fingers timidly around the scar, barely enough to feel. Chichi's heart beat fast in her chest as she studied the jagged, white line.
"Does it hurt?" Her eyes met Vegeta's before he spoke.
"Not anymore." He laid his calloused hand over Chichi's against his heart. Her own heart beat wildly out of control. A cool, damp breeze pervaded the house. Chichi took the dark Sayian by the wrist and pulled him toward her bedroom. Curtains at the windows cast shadows all around the room. Vegeta followed her into the chamber, intrigued by her bold initiative. They stood pressed together, Chichi's excitement sparked his. Vegeta lifted her hanging head to plant a probing kiss on Chichi's cherry red lips. Her fingers slid around the back of his neck then through his thick hair. Carnal urges rose like a fanned flame for both of them. Vegeta began pulling Chichi's cotton nightgown up and over her head. His lips trailed down her neck to the hollow of her throat as the flimsy nightgown hit the carpeted floor. Thoughts raced around Chichi's mind as she slid her hands down Vegeta's back and paused at the small of his back. She could feel Vegeta's yearning calling her to act. Her own screamed louder than the racing thoughts. The warrior unfastened Chichi's simple, white bra easier than snapping his fingers. It hit the floor on top of her gown. Giving in she untied the drawstring holding Vegeta's shorts up on his hip bones. Chichi ran her small hands around his waist, pushing the slinky nylon away. To her surprise at the base of the Sayian's spine was a soft patch of what felt like dog fur. Vegeta tensed up all over, letting out a thunderous purr of pleasure as he nibbled her neck. His rough, muscular hands expertly removed Chichi's underwear, gliding then over her hips and down her tone legs. The double bed felt cool and inviting as they sank into the cool sheets. Vegeta's slightest touch thrilled Chichi and at times overwhelmed her senses. It amazed her that love making came so effortlessly to Vegeta. He seemed to know how to push her every button and just how hard to push them. Goku had always been clumsy and awkward. His loving heart had always more than made up for it. Thunder and blinding lightning punctuated the incessant driving rain all around the small house. Vegeta and Chichi too let the force of their passion free. It was almost s if they caused the furry threatening to wash the world out from beneath them and leave both to the mercy of the storm.
Chichi's passions peaked in a slow, sublime fit of ecstasy, leaving her weak. Part of her wanted still more. By the same token Vegeta sought to hang on as release found him moments after Chichi ceased to need him. It had been so long since a woman had needed him that way. Maybe it was Vegeta who had been in need. He didn't know and it was certainly too philosophical to think about as he lay still, regaining his inner control.
The rains poured as Chichi lay awake listening to it hammer the tin roof. She couldn't believe what she'd done or how she'd felt while doing it. All her life had been lived morally and honorably, until then. Shame made Chichi cry softly. The hot tears fell as she sat up in bed. Light from the outside security light hit Goku's picture in a brilliant shaft of light. It was a family photo Chichi kept on the dresser, but she only saw Goku in his orange and blue gi. The eternally happy Sayian's smile seemed somehow dimmer, as if he knew what Chichi had done. She couldn't bear it anymore. Sobbing Chichi grabbed her robe and ran out of the bedroom. Self loathing and shamed she ran head long into the screen covered back porch. Cool air blew freely through the narrow room. Chichi collapsed against the wall crying with her knees pulled up beneath her chin. Her head and her heart were at odds. She'd never had such passionate, tender sex before but she still loved Goku. Her desires had been insatiable once awakened. Chichi felt like she'd betrayed not only her husband but Bulma and her own sons. Kimchi padded in and put his wet nose against his human's bare legs. Chichi pulled the mutt into her lap and cried into his fur.
Silently Vegeta walked in a few minutes later. He sat down against the wall beside woman and dog. The silent warrior simply sat there watching it rain as Chichi sobbed. Eventually she calmed down enough to speak.
"Why are you here?" She spat accusingly, taking her anger out on him. Vegeta just took it. He understood some of what Chichi was feeling.
"It was Kakarot's photograph that fueled you remorse, wasn't it?" His voice was level but tired sounding in the dark.
"Of course, I just cheated on him with one of his friends and actually wished I'd done it before." Chichi let it tumble out before she thought.
"What do you care anyway?" She nearly shouted. Emotions overwhelmed the widow bringing more sobs. Vegeta didn't speak right away. When he finally did his voice was jagged and old sounding.
"Some said that because I showed no outward emotions at Bulma's funeral that I had none to show, that I should have cried." Chichi stifled her sobs and listened.
"Had I cried I would have screamed, had I screamed I might have exploded when I saw them close the casket." Now she understood why Vegeta had been so in control at the service. Chichi felt astonished and privileged that Vegeta would tell her something so dearly personal and revealing.
"You truly loved Bulma, didn't you?" Vegeta turned and looked at Chichi.
"Yes, I did." She could hear how restrained his voice was. Chichi's heart broke for him. Everything Vegeta could have counted on had been taken away. Tears no one would ever see pricked the warrior's eyes. He blinked them away. Vegeta and Chichi sat together but very much alone in the dark. Chichi cried herself out as she poured out all of her pain, jurt, anger and confusion to Vegeta and the storm. Bulma's memory played in the Sayian Prince's mind. She was so full of life and promise in Vegeta's memory as she played with Trunks then Bra or worked on some invention in her lab.
Chichi fell asleep sitting up, Kimchi snuggled in her arms. Gently Vegeta picked them both up and carried them to bed. Sheets and pillows were scattered around Chichi's bed, tossed away in the throes of passion. Her vanilla scent filled the entire room. Usually it was mixed with the scent of whatever she'd cooked for supper. Vegeta had to admit Chichi was an excellent cook. Quietly he collected his back pack of stuff and left. He lay the pictures he'd borrowed on the coffee table.
Scene Break *******************
Chichi woke up reaching for Goku in the empty expanse of their bed. Her dream had ended too soon. Once more he had hugged everyone, Chichi last and walked away with the Old Chi. The Sayian hero had told his family, Krillin and Master Roshi goodbye for the last time. Just before he moved out of sight Goku turned and waved.
"I can't wait until we'll all be together." Then he disappeared. Only Goku could see dying, never to return, in an optimistic light. There would be no wishing him back. Goku had lived what had been left of the Old Chi's life and fell through too many loop holes.
Chichi finally accepted that her husband was gone. She cried fresh tears for him. Kimchi scratched at the door to be let out. It was time life moved n. Passing the boys' room Chichi noticed Vegeta's bag was gone. She wasn't surprised. The next few days were lonely for Chichi, who worked hard to keep her mind busy and off of how guilty she felt. She cleaned the house from top to bottom and every shelf, drawer and every window sparkled.
Vegeta stayed gone nearly three weeks. He showed up early one morning as Chichi was cooking breakfast, cereal and milk. It was too hot to cook on the stove. Sleepy still, Chichi sat munching Cheerios when Kimchi started barking. Then came Vegeta's very decisive knock. She let him in the back door. He walked in with his pack in one hand and a big grain bag in the other. It was very lumpy. Chichi looked at him for a minute before opening the door. Her dark, silky hair hung loose over her thin cotton gown. She looked almost like a ghost in her bare feet and summer tan.
"Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes, have you eaten?" Chichi blinked, moving away from the wooden door.
"Yes." Vegeta grunted. He handed the grains sack to her as he pulled his boots off. Inside she found two cantaloupes and a watermelon. Chichi split it down the middle. Vegeta changed his mind and dug into the half Chichi had set aside. She just rolled her eyes at him and continued eating. The cereal had been forgotten.
Neither Chichi nor Vegeta spoke anymore that day. It was as if their sack session had made them cold towards one another. Vegeta trained while Chichi concentrated on her garden. Everything was growing well but she had to water it every evening about sunset. Kimchi lay in the shade of a forsythia bush while Chichi worked. It had become a routine. A few days after showing up Vegeta breached the distance between him and Chichi. After dinner Chichi washed dishes as always. A small radio set played a classical station from the window above the sink. She hummed along as the soap suds bubbled around her hands. Soundlessly the Sayian warrior stepped up behind Chichi and laid his rough hands on her hips. She quit washing mid-plate, heart pounding furiously.
"The dishes can wait." Vegeta's voice vibrated in her ear as his body pressed against hers. It had an intoxicating effect on Chichi. His hands gently tightened on her hips, then moved slowly down and forward. Chichi's knees went weak.
"I shouldn't." She whimpered breathlessly. Vegeta began nibbling her right ear lobe.
"Tell me to stop." He moved the silky curtain of hair hiding Chichi's swan neck. Her mouth opened to speak but nothing came out. Heart and head battled for a moment, with heart losing. Even Chichi's heard had to admit it, she was single again.
"The dishes can wait." She finally uttered. The plate hit the bottom of the sink, cushioned by water as Vegeta's nimble fingers untied Chichi's apron strings. She could smell his pleasantly masculine scent as she turned around to face him. Neither one spoke, not wanting to break the spell. Vegeta let the pink trimmed floral pant apron hit the faded linoleum at their feet. Chichi pulled the back of his denim shirt up, drying her hands in the process. She wondered if he was going to take her right there on the kitchen floor or move to one of the bedrooms. As if reading her mind Vegeta pulled Chichi's thighs up around his waist to carry her. She left the ground as easily as a child. Strong hands squeezed Chichi's thigh muscle, making her tense all over. Lust ready to boil over Vegeta made the short distance to the bedroom in record time. He'd half expected Chichi to turn him down. Her naïveté and guilelessness made Vegeta feel young again. No one he knew could be as crass and stubborn. Being married to Kakarot he could see where she almost had to be. For a split second he wondered what Kakarot would think of him bedding his wife. When Chichi slammed the bedroom door his mind shut the door on any deep thought knocking around his brain.
Love and sex are two different things and need is somewhere between the two. Neither Vegeta nor Chichi knew why they were discarding clothes and giving kissed like hormonal teenagers. They both needed to feel needed again. Chichi surprised even herself that night. Intimacy with Goku had been simple and straightforward. With Vegeta she felt free to play and explore, to ask for what she wanted. It made her bolder ever time Vegeta complied.
It was a long night for the Sayian Warrior. Chichi kept him guessing. She was part innocent, part sex kitten. The odd connection they had was hotter, more intense. Chichi started off by trailing kisses down his chest, across his abs to the top of his happy trail just below the belly button. The Super Sayian tensed, trying to hold back until his self control could go onto autopilot. She worked her way back up, moving his arms over his head and wrapping her hands around his wrists, pinning Vegeta to the bed. When he started to resist Chichi grinned devilishly and pushed back.
"I won't break so easily." She purred seductively. Vegeta raised one dark eyebrow.
"Really." He thought to himself. Both began testing the other's limits. Vegeta still had to think about what he was doing so as not to hurt Chichi. Still it was the first time on Earth he'd been able to let go any at all. Near dawn Chichi fell asleep, exhausted. Her long, dark hair lay messily down her bare back. Vegeta laid on his back playing with a strand of it between his fingers. He had always, secretly, wondered what her hair felt like. Sayian women tended to have thick, coarse hair. Bulma's had been fine and silky, like a cat's. Chichi's was somewhere in between. After a few minutes Vegeta realized that for the first time in months he didn't hurt so much inside when he thought about Bulma. It still hurt, but he didn't want to die every time she crossed his mind. Vegeta fell asleep with his back to Chichi.
Scene Break *********************
