Misconstrued

Summary: Her world had turned upside down since the day Vega, Princess of all Saiyans finally up rose against Frieza and escaped to Earth. Though now her child is six years old, growing stronger day by day, she wonders if she'll ever be able to defeat the evil tyrant. Unbeknownst to her Nappa has betrayed her and the Saiyan race to save his own life and now makes his way to lure the Saiyan Princess out into the open for Frieza to grab hold once again.

Enjoy!

Chapter 10: Guilty Conscience

Vega felt as if she was floating… the burn in her gut fading to a numb and she rode on a wave of unconsciousness drifting in and out of the black and spaces of her mind. She heard muffled voices, varying for current and past… haunting nightmares, and pleasant dreams… Was this what it was like to be so close to death? Or was she already dead?

She wasn't sure… but the fact she no longer felt any pain made it seem so… and for a brief moment it was a relief to her. Death came sweet since she wouldn't go into the abyss alone. She had conquered her nightmare, conquered the evil that had plagued her since childhood. It was sweet death she was feeling… no more Frieza, no more tyranny, her conscience and birth right fulfilled. She could die happily now knowing it was over.

"Is that what you believe now?" A familiar voice struck her from her thoughts and in the void of darkness Vega floated, bare to the eyes, watching for the figure that qould appear.

"Bardock…" she greeted the man with a nod. "So I am dead after all."

"No… not yet, your highness. You've still some life in you, and I suggest you take it up while you have the strength to fight."

"Why? I'm tired of it all Bardock… for the first time in my life I'm tired of fighting… Frieza is dead, my legacy is safe, what've I to live for now that all I know is at peace?"

"Is that the Princess of Saiyans, speaking? Sounds more like you're the clown rather than my son." Bardock retorted.

"For once I'm in agreement." Vega's back went up as the voice she heard sent her spiraling into the past.

"Father!" She turned her head to see her father's form stand oppose Bardock.

"No child of mine would dare give into such a pathetic death! You shame me by giving in so easily!" King Vegeta scowled down at the girl, both men standing tall over her making her rigid.

"I've fulfilled my wishes and my birthright… I have avenged the Saiyan people, I have produced an heir, and killed Frieza with my own two hands, what MORE do you want from me father?"

"Who was it that claimed she would be the next Super Saiyan?" Vegeta accused.

"Super Saiyan… i didn't need to be a super saiyan to beat-"

"No, you didn't defeat Frieza… you didn't take on his full force, you didn't take on his final form instead you let him crumble while he was weak. You should have persisted, you should have met his challenge."

"And risk death?"

"You're already dying what difference would it have made. Where's your pride girl? Where's the pride of the Princess of all Saiyans?"

Vega clutched her fists her eyes narrow and she lowered her head the guilt of killing Frieza too soon lurching in her gut. "What would you have me do? Frieza is dead, there's no bringing him back."

"No… but there is one you could defeat in his place… one whom yourself said could take on Frieza in your stead should you have failed."

Vega's eyes widened as realization hit her. "Kakarott." She looks up seeing the matching smirks of the two who stood before her… the darkness broke and she found the light. It hit her and she awoke gasping for air and screaming.

"KAKAROTT!" The regen tank exploded around her spilling heavy floods of healing fluid over the floor and causing a great dent to one side of the ship. Goku came in slipping across the floor staring wide eyed at the mess she had made.

"Vega! You're awake!" His happy face fell when he saw she hadn't fully recovered yet. Though the bleeding stopped the wound still burned andached and she'd yet to fully recover her strength.

"Fight me, Kakarott!" She grunted between her teeth raising a fist to send his way but he easily caught it and her as she stumbled forward and onto her back. He picked her up making her wriggle in complaint. "Fight me!"

"Vega you're still injured, now's not the time nor the place." He closed the door of the healing room and made his way to the bedroom to set her down. He checked the wound his fingers running over the new and raw skin that had formed.

"Stop touching me…" she ordered in a weak voice her eyes looking up fierce and struggling. "I have to fight you… I have to find out if I'm stronger… I need to become a super saiyan!"

"Vega… just stop it. You can't fight in your condition. We've all the time in the world to fight over who is stronger." He held her down firmly by the shoulders then took her hand gently in his. "So sleep…"

"I can't… you got too far ahead of me the last time I did… I don't want to fall behind again! I won't let it happen."

"You don't have to worry about that… I promise you I won't train without you."

"Swear it to me," she said through gritted teeth her hand clutching his now as his face began to blur. "Swear you won't leave me alone."

"I'll be right here with you, Vega." He sat beside her on the bed… and using the trick he'd seen Chichi do to help Gohan to sleep he place his hand over her head and gently stroked her hair lulling her to sleep. "I'm not going anywhere."

Goku watched her eyes slowly close, her grip never leaving his hand. He gave a deep breath and lay his head back against the headboard of the bed. The woman had been out for almost a week. He had though the wound would have healed in a couple days but according to Bulma whom he had contacted she had probably injured a few major organs and the regen tank would take longer to stitch them together if at all. He worried for her… scared that death would take her away from him before he got a chance to thank her for all she had done… for teaching him, trianing with him… and for saving his son.

Gohan had been wracked with guilt over the entire matter. He came in to check on her frequently hoping for a change in her condition. No matter how many tiems Goku tried to assure the boy it wasn't his fault, Gohan continued to ride on a guilty conscience. Xena, surprisingly, was like a rock. Though he could see the tears, and the worry she didn't let it affect her concentration. She handled the steering and navigation of the ship well enough. He was thoroughly impressed with her knowledge and understanding of all of Bulma's and the Doc's buttons and levers.

Vega had raised her well, and even if Bulma had assisted he could see the mark Vega had made on Xena… the strength that lifted the girl's chin, the control of her emotions, the determination to fight even though now there was nothing left to fight but each other.

"You've a lot to live for now, Vega… even if Frieza is dead you stil have to see your life through to the end. You have to continue to look after Xena… be an example for her… show her strength and will. Don't make her lose you now just when you've become so vital in her life."

Vega's hand twitched a little in his grasp and his smile slowly spread… he turned his face down to meet hers and he felt a thud in his chest that caught him off guard… with his freehand he held his chest feeling the familiar tug and twinge of pure affection and care… no it ran deeper than that… somehow his bond with Vega had deepened into something more… something forbidden.

He looked to the door letting go of Vega briefly to just close and lock it up so he could feel free to explore this feeling coursing through him. He didn't want to be disturbed, His body came back over across the bed, turning her slightly so she lay fully on her back. She was bare under the covers, an oversight he had neglected since he'd been swamped with worry before.

He touched her cheek the warmth of his hand meeting the cool soft skin and he traced the lines of it… the angles of her cheekbone.. the slight jut of her chin… the softness of her lip. His own mouth parted slightly to let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding. The urge was too great to fight back… he leaned down letting his uneven breath dance over her lips… in sleep Vega murmured his name… and he gently closed his lips over hers.

The softness of them both surprised and delighted him… as did her taste. He tried to hold back… to pull away while he still could but he was hooked. his tongue dipped into her mouth and hers came alive against his even in the midst of sleep.

He'd never felt like this, even with chichi, he'd never felt such a hard tug of need… of want… of desire. HIs hands braced over his head as he straddled over her body continuing the kiss letting it stir her awake a little.

Groggy with sleep Vega sunk into the kiss, exploring this new and fresh taste in her mouth, the scent of man surrounding her making all things feminine do a little dance inside. her hands gently touched his curling over the wrist before their palms met and fingers laced.

"Vega…" Goku whispered her name, and he was gone.

When Vega awoke again she felt warm… her head was propped up by something she couldn't quite tell what but the smell was inviting as was the heat… her body shifted a little and her hands made out the ripple of muscle. Her eyes flew open and she stared at the chest she lay against… She touched and stroke, she heard a gentle giggle followed by a snore and her eyes widened in sheer horror.

Ignoring the pain in her gut she sat straight up and looked down at Goku who lay naked beside her snoring away happily drool pooling from the one corner of his mouth his hair tossed about carelessly from rough sleep.

"No….dream.. dream dream DREAM!" She smacked herself over and over pinching her cheeks hoping this time it all really was a dream in her head… but no… She cursed and rolled to one side hissing in pain as her whole body sung with it. "Blast it!"

Angry and pained she turned back towards the source of it all and gave him a quick shove sending him sprawling onto the floor. Goku landed with a hard thump and a quick yelp from his lips. "Ow! Hey!" Goku sat up on the floor rubbing his head. "What was… oh… "

Suddenly all the events that had occurred rolled into his mind at once causing his cheeks to flush and his mouth to stutter. "I uh… I can explain!"

"Oh this I've got to hear." She snarled at him getting onto her knees on the bed holding a sheet to her chest to cover what little modesty she had left.

"Well, you see, it was like this… I… you…" he stammered and stuttered and every word her managed to get out just caused the knot in her head to get bigger and bigger until she raised up a fist and brought it down smartly on his head. He let out a loud yelp and rolled around on the ground whining and whimpering.

"You no good, cheating, clown! How dare you put your hands on me! Is this the thanks I get for risking my life and saving your coward of a son! What the hell are you going to say to your wife when we return home? You know she'll put the blame sorely on me! I'm not going to deal with it, Kakarott! I'm not taking the blame for something that I KNOW was entirely your idea!"

"Yeah well… I'll just tell her the truth I guess." Goku said in a dejected voice.

"Oh? And what would the truth be, Kakarott?" Vega demanded ready to whack him over the head with a pillow. The urge to hit him grew as his dejected look turned into a sort of coy shy smile. He scratched his cheek and met her eyes and he spoke with clear honesty.

"I'm in love with you."

A little fast, but because the other chapter took so long to redraft and such I had already finished this one in my head by the time I got the other down on paper… it was only a matter of getting from point A which was last chapter, to point B this ending. Hehe hope you enjoyed!

Next Chapter: Marital Status?!