A/N: Yikes! I hadn't realized that six months had gone by without an update... I'm so sorry! I blame writers block and the fact that I got caught up reading other people's stories! I had a few general ideas I wanted to take this story but none felt quite right. I had a few drafts composed but they just didn't... work. And then of course it's the struggle of deciding how long to make the story. Do I continue for another 20 chapters? or do I end it in 3?

Again, I apologize for the wait! But - I am beyond THRILLED to see that we're just a few reviews away from 100! That would make this my most popular story to date! Come on guys! Help a lady out :)

Thank you to everyone who takes the time to read and review the chapters! It brightens my day and makes doing this all the more worth it!

Let us continue now...

The first time he died Vegeta remembered being much too cold. It was worse than as if his bones had turned to ice – it was a freeze that filled his very cells and exploded into white hot agony. To be so cold you felt as if you were on fire was how he had been damned to suffer the eternities along with the cries of his many victims. Shrieks, pleas, the sounds of millions choking to death on their own blood haunted him. Reminded him of the monster he had been. He knew he deserved every second of misery. He deserved to suffer…and then the worst thing imaginable had happened. He had been wished back to life.

To live with the memories of his numerous failures as a warrior … to have died at the hands of the tyrant who enslaved him, killed his family, his birth right – his race… to see the prophecy he himself had been promised at birth attained by a third class clown who hadn't even heard the term Saiyan used until a year ago…to spend eternity knowing he would never have his revenge against Frieza, against Kakarott - that was worse than any physical pain the afterlife could force on him.

Vegeta's first death was not something he was meant to recover from and had spent every day in misery since.

Now, after his second death at the hands of yet another enemy he could not defeat, Vegeta's conscious mind awaited the same foul punishments as before. Except, they never came. Instead he was thrust into the nothingness of death. No sound, no feeling, no color. He was forced to remain in complete darkness with nothing but the nightmares of his mortal life to accompany him for all of time.

No, Vegeta was not plagued with memories of his failures again with Freiza, or Cell, nor even Buu. No. For this hell – he was forced to relive the happy times. The first time he saw Bulma on Namek and felt something other than contempt for a living being. The first time he felt the swell of pride in his son as he struggled and overcame his own short comings to win. The way the woman melted into his arms – unafraid of the monster he truly was and loving him all the same. To see them…feel them was not a comfort – but a terrible reminder of everything he had given up and wasted. Pushed away. The guilt of knowing he would never again feel the love of his family… For the first time since his first death Vegeta wanted nothing more than to be alive.

Vegeta's second death was not something he was meant to suffer forever though unbeknownst to him. The floating fortuneteller watched in horror as every one of Earths last hero's quickly began falling to the monster terrorizing the planet. Soon…too soon…the world would be destroyed. There was only one option. He was needed back on Earth. She would leave him with a warning though before he would be sent back – The next time would be forever. This was his last chance. He could embrace the monster he was and suffer the fate he had only been given a glimpse of – or he could be the hero had the potential to become and spend his after life with the people he loved. One chance, one choice.

Surely he would not make the same mistakes again.

She had stared death in the face hundreds of times and loved the adventure it brought with it. Growing up with Goku had meant you were forced to develop a thick skin against creatures far from the typical imagination, horrors that made your skin crawl, and forcing yourself to keep calm even when presented with certain defeat. She had traveled planets, designed technology that was literally out of this world, her best friend had lived with the gods for goodness sake! She was Bulma Brief! The most important and influential woman on all of Earth! On top of all of that – she had tamed the wild, ferocious Saiyan Prince. The terror of the galaxies… this young, pathetically weak human woman had single handedly taken one of the most notoriously evil men known to exist and have a family with him. A family she was proud of despite recent events with her manic murderous lover.

Yet, as the pink creature towered over her. It's empty black sockets for eyes coldly staring down at her, its mouth parted in a terrifying grin letting her count every one of its razor sharp teeth… her heart pounded in a terror she had never known. Her eyes glanced down at the spot where the egg shell still sat. An egg that had once somehow been her friend and waves of hopeless dread filled her chest. Gohan was gone, Goku and Vegeta – their only hopes lay trapped behind a door that had been blasted sealed. Keeping those inside safe, while simultaneously dooming the rest of Earth.

She couldn't scream, the air having left her lungs. She turned her head to look at the destroyed door that kept her son far far away from this monster and sent a small thanks to Dende that despite whatever would happen to her – her son would live unharmed. What more, he was with Piccolo and Goten. Together, the three would find a way out – and when they did… she prayed they would be smart enough to leave. Flee to New Namek and start a new life away from this horror.

Super Buu laughed, the sound raising the hair on her arms as she stumbled backwards away from him, watching with wide eyes as he whispered the words to end her life, to end all their lives.

A warmth spread over her skin and she felt calmness fill her for the first time in weeks.

King Yemma buried his face into his hands, foolishly hoping if he refused to acknowledge the small floating woman in front of him perhaps she would go away.

"You don't seem to understand the severity of the situation Yemma. We need him." Her brows furrowed in anxious desperation.

"And as I've mentioned to you Baba – we already released Goku for that exact reason! You can't expect me to bend the rules for everyone just because one planet in one galaxy needs the protection. Do you know how many planets die out every year? How many species are purged – in fact – the particular man you are trying to release from here is one of the reasons we no longer have a planet Costa or planet Garlood or anyone from the race of Laulee!" his face began turning shade of purple and Baba threw her hands up in surrender.

"Believe me – I know what Vegeta has done. But dammit Yemma, this isn't about sparing one planet above the rest… this is about stopping the mass genocide of entire galaxies. It's why the Kai's got involved – and they never get involved… Earth might be the first planet to fall, but it's also the only planet with warriors strong enough to possibly stop this before it spreads. Do you really know of any other planets that house as many warriors on the levels of Earth?" King Yemma sighed and buried his head into his hands.

"The paper work would be outrageous to push this through at this speed…at least when Goku returned we had a few months to prepare…you're asking me to pull a miracle" Baba folded her arms across her chest and pulled the ace from her pocket.

"I'm trying to help you avoid thousands of years' worth of paper work if Buu gets his hands on other planets. Think of how many millions of people will suddenly show up on your door step if he's left to wander the entire universe!" King Yemma's face paled.

"Alright! I see your point. Bring the man here… I'll start working on the documents needed to get him his one day pass – but that's all I can promise. One day. After that…there's nothing I can do." He leaned back in his chair and sighed, sending a silent prayer to the kai's that Vegeta would be able to help fix this problem. He truly did not relish the idea of dealing with the case loads of multiple planets worth of people.

Vegeta had not been granted the honor of keeping his body after he died. According to King Yemma, he hadn't really done anything in his life worthy of it. He wasn't a hero like Kakarott…but he wasn't as evil a villain as Freiza or Cell. So when he suddenly could move his fingers, when he could blink his eyes and move his jaw it took him a few minutes to realize that this was real. He really had his body back. He took a moment to glance at himself, checking for any remaining damage from his self-destruction and was surprised to find that not even the Majin mark remained on his forehead.

"What is this?" he asked gruffly to the floating figure in front of him without maintaining his eyes on her.

"You're needed back on earth." She floated closer, scanning his body as well ensuring that Yemma had not cut any corners. She didn't need to waste their one chance with Vegeta with him in sub-par conditions. Vegeta looked up and met her eyes before snorting.

"What could I possibly do to help… I proved to be useless against Buu. Why not get Kakarott or his brat –"

"Both already have tried, both cannot beat him themselves." She did not smile and Vegeta felt a child run down his spine from the way she slowly said the words.

"And you think if I help them that the three of us –"

"No." Vegeta growled. He loathed being interrupted for any reason. "Gohan has been absorbed by Buu."

"Absorbed? But…how?"

"That's not important!" the witch snapped before putting her face directly in front of Vegeta's. "You need to go back to earth NOW and help Goku stop this madness before it's too late! I've seen the future and if Buu is not stopped…" she shook her head, her mind lost to a barren future where death, decay and fear ruled. "Bulma and Trunks are in danger Vegeta."

He straightened a little taller, his eyes widening just a fraction at the mention of his family. He had ended his own life to protect them from this exact horror and now they were still in danger.

But, he was being given another chance to save them. He could happily accept, protect them again…have another chance to tell Bulma –

"What's the catch?" his mouth said before his brain could catch up. He was no fool, years working for Frieza had taught him that missions were never to benefit the one being asked to go.

"Catch? There's no catch. This isn't a deal Vegeta, this is a plea for help. King Yemma can grant you your one day pass but we need you to use it to stop Buu before it's too late. We have no other options. You're the Earths… the entire galaxy's last hope." Vegeta shifted his weight from foot to foot. "be the hero for once Vegeta…now is your opportunity to show everyone that you're one of the good guys. That you're not a monster."

Not a monster? A hero? He had spent his life killing, enjoying the hunt and slaughter… so many lives… could he really turn it around just like that?

Really, what did he have to lose?

He nodded once curtly and felt more than saw the anxiety leave Baba's body.

"Good! Let's get you back to Earth now then."

Bulma sighed and Videl and ChiChi bickered over Gohan's college choices. Honestly, she felt bad for the guy…growing up poor Gohan was either dealing with his mother's crazy expectations for education, or his father's terrible habit of throwing him into a fight that would nearly kill him, and now his girlfriend also seemed to have a very strong opinion as to what he would be doing with his future. Didn't he get a say at all about anything? When did Gohan get a chance to decide what he wanted to do with his life! He had earned the right to make up his own mind after all.

"I just don't understand why you think he would like a career in the sciences! He obviously has a passion for justice and defending people! Law is the most logical choice for him!" Videl tried to keep her voice level as her hands balled into fists against her side, her cheeks turning a slight shade of pink.

"You've known him for what, a week? He's MY son Videl! Don't you forget that! I've always known what is best for him and always will." Chichi snarled before floating to get in Videl's face.

"Time to cut the cord! He's a man now, not a toddler and he wants to come to college with me!"

"No – he wants to do what it takes to take care of his family and that means staying close to home!"

"Why would he need to stay close?! He can fly! He literally can be anywhere on the planet and be home within twenty minutes!" while the two women growled at each other Bulma sighed. When they had first realized and accepted that they were in heaven the trio had been confused, then happy to at least be together while waiting for the others to show up. When none did they began to assume the best – the others had survived because of their super human strength. Now all they had to do was wait to be brought back with the dragon balls.

And so they waited…and waited…and gossiped, and then talked some, and eventually ended where they are now. Bickering about Gohan when the poor boy wasn't around to defend himself.

"You know… maybe Gohan would rather be, I don't know… a journalist? Or a comedian? Or how about an architect!" Bulma snickered but stopped when she saw two sets of furious eyes turn in her direction.

"An Architect?"

"A Comedian?!"

"Sure…why not?" Bulma shrugged and picked some imaginary lint from her dress. "He's spent his whole life doing what he's told, he should get the chance to do whatever it is he really wants to do without being told. Don't you think?" Videl frowned while Chichi snorted.

"That's rich Bulma. Coming from you that's down right ironic isn't it?" Bulma raised a surprised eyebrow before planting her hands on her hips.

"What is that supposed to mean exactly? Trunks is allowed to make his own decisions! We've never pushed him to do anything he didn't really want to do."

"Not Trunks" Chichi cut her off before smoothing her hair down with an air of arrogance. "I'm talking about the Saiyan prisoner you keep in your house." Bulma gasped and felt her chest tighten in shock.

"Excuse me? Prisoner? I cant imagine you're possibly talking about Vegeta...What does he have to do with this at all? He's a grown man who –"

"who has been told what to do, where to be, and how to do it since he was what, a toddler? After Frieza dies then what happens… he moves in with you and is built machines meant to entice him to stay and protect you. Protect the earth, you tricked him to stay didn't you? Goaded him by his desire to beat Goku… Face it, you may not want to admit it to yourself…but you fell in love with a hired thug who was never given the chance to be anything else in life." Bulma stood speechless for the first time in her life. "Maybe instead of worrying about what my son would prefer doing in his life, you should be worrying about what your … companion would rather be doing with his life."

"First of all - he is more than just my companion...we just... haven't talked about officially getting married or anything since...well...it's our business! Secondly, Vegeta has always been a warrior…he's said that. He loves fighting just as much as Goku does! It's the Saiyan in him." Bulma felt a lump in her stomach, knowing that Chichi was right.

"You poor woman…for as smart as you are with everything else you really would make a lousy therapist. You don't ever seem to really listen to what Vegeta says do you?" Bulma stared at her wide eyed. Enraged, and starting to feel the beginnings of an over powering guilt manifesting itself. "Vegeta talks about being a warrior yes, but how often does he feel the need to remind people that on his planet he was a Prince? He was meant to rule his people… lead them. Build an empire! He may be a warrior…but what he's always wanted was to lead his people as a ruler." Chichi smiled at the discomfort Bulma was clearly demonstrating. "Maybe he would have liked to have been a politician? Or a General in the military? But no, instead you keep him locked up and away to use as your own personal secret weapon."

Bulma ground her teeth together, her temper no longer able to be contained. She opened her mouth unsure of what exactly would come out when Videl stepped between the two women and threw her hands up.

"Look at us! Dead for a few hours and we cant stop bickering about the boys! Can't we just agree to at the very least not worry about what the boys will be doing with their lives until we know whether or not there will be any lives to live?" Bulma and Chichi glared at each other for a moment before finally both their shoulders sagged in defeat and they looked off into the distance awkwardly.

"I'm sorry Bulma. I just...get a little crazy when it comes to Gohan." Chichi said with clipped words.

"yeah... I'm sorry too." Bulma replied, more out of formality than sincerity. It was lucky they were already dead, if they'd been on earth - Bulma would have killed the other woman right where she stood.

Vegeta felt like collapsing into a pile and sleeping for at least four years. His bones ached, his muscles burned, his blood even hurt. With a weak laugh he let his head fall back against the rocks and tried to focus on anything beyond the throbbing pain in his skull. The Kai's hadn't been kidding when they said Buu was a monster... mind you, they had failed to mention the several forms Buu was capable of taking on, and while a small part of his mind felt guilty over being the one responsible for giving so much energy that had been needed to awaken the creature - he felt a small bit of redemption that indeed, it had taken he and Kakarott to finally slay the beast.

Like true Saiyans.

Truly the strongest race ever known. His father would have been proud he liked to think.

He licked his cracked lips, tasting the salty mix of blood and dirt as he turned his head enough to see Kakarott standing a few feet away, hands on his hips, breathing deeply. He looked just as bad as the Prince felt, but for the first time Vegeta watched him with a hint of awe. They really did make a good team together. Perhaps...instead of rivals they could be...comrades? The idea sent a ripple through him and he groaned. It would take some adjusting...some getting used to but, just maybe they could even be friends.

Goku let out a small laugh and coughed up a bit of blood before wiping it away with his arm and extending his hand to the fallen Saiyan.

Maybe.

"Come on Vegeta...we've still got one more thing to do before we can take a nap. We have to wish everyone back." Vegeta groaned and let the taller man help him to his feet. His thighs burned but he would not collapse again with Kakarott able to stand with no assistance.

"Always thinking of everyone else... just this once cant we be selfish and go get something to eat first?" Goku narrowed his eyes a bit before shaking his head and putting his trademark smirk on his face.

"it's because we were selfish that we got in this situation to begin with you know." Vegeta grunted in response. "Besides, aren't you in the least bit excited to see Bulma and Trunks again?"

He felt the wind knocked out of his chest, forcing a fit of coughs to start. Yes. He was very much looking forward to seeing his lover and son...and no. He was also dreading the moment, knowing long conversations were soon to be forced to take place.

As Goku summoned the dragon and made his wish Vegeta tried to calm his beating heart, he had done terrible things in his past that the woman had been able to forgive. Surely this would be no different.

You tried to kill her a nasty voice whispered in his mind. He frowned forcing the thought away as suddenly a mass of people appeared in front of them.

Before he could scan the crowd a pair of arms flung themselves around his neck at enough force to make him stumble backwards. Trunks little body clung to his father, silent tears pouring from his face, soaking and burning the bloody gashes in his shoulder. He ignored the pain though as he wrapped one arm around his son and squeezed back as much as he could. Relief flooding him as he felt his son's ki energy was alive, well and normal.

"Dad..." Trunks sputtered out before burying his face once more.

Vegeta scanned the crowd, family upon family reunited, crying, hysterically laughing and cheering... when he finally found the pair of blue eyes he had missed the most he felt his heart stop completely.

She's breath taking he thought to himself. As their eyes locked all doubt and worry left him as he became focused on one thing only. To feel her, taste her, to have proof beneath his fingers that she was really here, really with him... really alive again. Her mouth parted a fraction to call out his name but he was already on her, his fingers running through her hair, his lips crushing against hers as he invaded her mouth with his tongue. Teasing her, pleading with her...needing her.

She threw her arms around his neck and lost herself to him, surprised by the public display of affection he was normally adamantly against - but too relieved to have him with her to actually care.

Vegeta's heart swelled with an unusual amount of happiness as he held his family tight to him. He would never let them go again.

The two lovers pulled away to take a few deep breaths as Trunks made a face at his parents kissing before laughing and squeezing his dad once more.

"Vegeta -"

"Woman...Bulma...I..."

"No, Please let me -"

"I love you." he whispered the words and her eyes widened. For him to say such things out loud... in front of the others...she hastily began wiping at her cheeks as tears began streaming down. "Bulma... I... without you...I'm nothing. I thought...I was convinced that..." he growled in frustration. Why was it so hard to say these things to her.

"Vegeta..." more tears began streaming down her face. Vegeta reached up and wiped a few away with a dirty hand leaving a trail of dirt behind.

"Woman, whatever it is you want to say...later. Right now... I want to get us home. I want to rinse this filth off and then take you to bed." Trunks made another disgusted sound and waving a Goten who was currently smothered beneath his hysterical mother.

"Vegeta that's what I'm trying to tell you... I...I don't think we should be going home together right now." her voice broke as she finished her sentence, fading off into a whisper as more tears began pouring from her eyes.

"I... I don't think we should be together anymore."

A/N: Dun dun duuuuuuuuun

Hopefully the length of this chapter will somewhat work as an apology for the length of time in between chapters!

As always, thank you for reading and please let me know what you think! come on 100! we're so close!