Challenges

By:

Me

Thank you for all the reviewers. You are much appreciated for all you say.

{OO}

AU/Yaoi/Mpreg fic. Hope you enjoy. Review if you want. Criticize if you must, but do so out of the need to correct, not hurt.

I own nothing

Chapter Ten

Vegeta swayed as his eyes rolled back into the back of his head and he fell straight back into Radditz's arms before I could catch him.

All the color drained out of my face when I saw my mate lying like a sack of potatoes in my older brother's arms. I tuned out everyone else as my breath released in a hiss.

"Vegeta!" I screamed as I returned to reality and reached for my unconscious mate, "Llazzine!"

Radditz scooped my mate up in his arms and pushed me away with a shoulder. The larger Saiyan's face was grim which made me even more frightened than I already was.

"Radditz, is he okay?!" I growled as I again tried to get a closer look at Vegeta, "Kami, the baby! Are they okay?! Say something!"

"Shut up, Kakarot," Radditz ordered as he laid my limp mate on the abandoned couch and began to examine the Prince.

"Dad!" Trunks cried out hurrying over with the forgotten tray of brownies still in his hands as everyone crowded around my mate.

"Vegeta!" Bulma also called as she rushed forward.

"Get out!" Radditz shouted as he rounded on everyone, "Give him so room to breathe. Let me look at my Prince in peace. I can't concentrate with you all hovering. Go!"

"I'm not leaving!" Bulma and Trunks yelled simultaneously before I blocked their path with my body.

"Let Radditz work," I ordered, "Go out in the hallway. I'll come out and let you know something soon. Go on."

"Goku…" Trunks began before I put a warning finger in his face.

"I know. You want to stay close, but that is not the best thing for Vegeta right now," I consoled, "Let my brother work. I promise to take care of your father. Just wait outside for me, okay? Goten, take everyone outside now."

"Sure, Dad," my youngest son agreed as he pulled Trunks away and gently pushed him towards the door with one last look of worry at my still mate.

Everyone allowed themselves to be herded out by my son. They anxiously went out in the hallway, but I refused to leave. Radditz looked up at me in anger before backing off at my feral stare and warning growl.

"Don't fuck with me, Big Brother. I will never leave my mate's side," I snarled as I stayed close and watched the larger Saiyan blink at me in surprise, "Tell me what's wrong! Now! Kami, please hurry up!"

Radditz nodded and continued to examine my mate before he sat back up with a sigh. He finally backed off so that I could get to Vegeta and assess him on my own. It made me feel better to see that the smaller Saiyan's breathing was even as I gripped his hand in my own.

"Prince Vegeta and the cub are both fine," Radditz began to explain with relief in his voice, "He was overly upset and then had a dizzy spell. Your mate just fainted. He'll probably come around in a few minutes."

"Thank, Kami," I whispered as I allowed myself to finally breathe deeply again.

"Share some of your ki with your mate," my brother instructed as I cuddled Vegeta closer and did as Radditz instructed, "Good, Kakarot. His Majesty and your cub will be okay. Your mate is made out of stronger stuff than we give him credit for."

I nodded as I continued sharing my ki with my mate until Radditz assured me that Vegeta wouldn't need anymore.

"If you give him too much then you could overload his system which will not be good for the cub," the larger Saiyan explained, "Vegeta can usually feel his limits being reached and pull away, but in his unconscious state you need to be very careful."

"I understand," I answered as I laid the Prince gently back down to rest before stiffening in burning rage, "Watch my mate, Brother. I'll be right back."

I calmly walked outside and ignored everyone's questions before I jerked Yamcha up by his shirt and powered up to Super Saiyan. There were shouts of alarm and Trunks moved in my range of sight with a tense aura of anger that glowed around him. His flicker of ki let me know that he had my back.

"If you ever upset my mate like that again while he is pregnant, I will kill you slowly even if you are a friend," I stated with little emotion as Yamcha froze in fear, "I realize that you were trying to joke, but Vegeta is in a very delicate condition right now and cannot take your stupidity. What you said was no laughing matter, Asshole."

Yamcha's mouth opened and closed for several seconds, but he couldn't seem to get any words out. I continued to stare him down in calm, seething anger. Krillin and Goten tensed in case they needed to step in if I allowed my temper to get away from me.

"Say something, Jackass," Trunks demanded as he glared, "You had plenty to say to my Dad earlier. What the hell is your problem? Dad is in no condition to put up with your stupidity. Why would you say what you did? I should kill you!"

"Back off, Trunks. I don't want to hear you talking about killing anyone. Killing is only a last resort which is my right as Vegeta's honorable mate," I hissed before narrowing my sight back on Yamcha and giving him a strong shake that rattled his bones, "You better be glad that I'm letting you live after causing my mate to collapse. You will never mention Frieza to Vegeta even after he gives birth. This will be the last warning I ever give you on this subject. Do you understand me, Old Friend?"

"You…you bet, Goku," Yamcha stuttered out as he tried to use his hands to pull himself up enough so he wasn't choking, "I am so sorry, Man. I didn't mean anything honest. He is okay, right? You wouldn't be out here if Vegeta and the baby weren't okay, right? Please tell me that your mate is okay? Please?"

I realized that Yamcha was truly concerned so I dropped him back on his feet as everyone else began to fuss and question me about my mate. I had to breathe deeply before I was able to return to my normal ki levels.

"Goku! Tune in already!" Bulma shrieked, finally getting my attention, "Well? How are Vegeta and the baby?"

"The cub and I are fine," a voice snapped out as Radditz assisted Vegeta to walk out into the hallway.

I hurried over and steadied my standing mate carefully in my arms. He seemed fine, but he looked a bit pale. The Prince nodded at me when I placed my hand with concern on his burgeoning stomach and he internally soothed my worried thoughts.

"Prince Vegeta wouldn't stay put," Radditz explained when I turned an accusing glare on him, "Your mate is damn stubborn."

I couldn't argue at the words. Vegeta was his own person most assuredly. Bulma and Trunks crowded forward and my mate allowed them to bombard him with questions for about 1.9 seconds.

"I'm fine, Brat. Act like a Saiyan," Vegeta groused at his son as Trunks looked ready to have a coronary, "The cub's just interfering with my equilibrium. I'll be fine. Don't look at me like that, Woman. I don't need you to examine me. Radditz already verified that the cub and I are fine."

"Vegeta.…" Bulma began before growing silent when he waved his hand at her.

"I'm good. Stop your pestering," my mate interrupted before leveling a look to kill at his ex-wife's boyfriend, "And you…."

Yamcha straightened and faced Vegeta with a contrite face. I was unsure, but I helped my mate walk up to my old friend since the smaller Saiyan was determined to confront Yamcha. The Prince growled as he looked the Earth man up and down. I felt Radditz move up behind Vegeta and I, but I kept my focus on Vegeta.

"I'll blast you the next time you cross me," my mate declared, "Then I'll feed your carcass to the dogs starting with your most prized parts. Don't fuck with me, Dickhead, and don't you ever talk to me that way again or bring up any of this shit in front of the new cub. Got it?"

"I understand. I'm so sorry for my dumb words," Yamcha apologized, "It was wrong of me to bring up such a painful history for you, Goku, and your mate's brother. I meant no harm. I swear I didn't mean anything by what I said."

"Hn," Vegeta snorted before using his shorter height to a great advantage by nailing Yamcha with his knee right in the Earth man's crotch as Radditz laughed a menacing laugh, "Don't kill him, Radditz. The Woman wouldn't be happy and I believe that he won't let his mouth get away from him again, but it he ever does then I will allow Kakarot and you to get the first hit."

I winced at the Earth man's pain, but it felt good to see him suffer for a moment. Maybe Yamcha would think more careful in the future with his loose lips.

"You'd better be glad I am not the Saiyan I once was," Radditz growled out as he leaned down into Yamcha's face threateningly while the stricken man rolled around in great pain, "Watch yourself, Dip Shit. Nobody messes with my Prince or Little Brother's honorable mate. Consider this a warning. You'll never get another."

I didn't even spare Yamcha another look as I pulled my mate more securely against my side. The smaller Saiyan looked up at me with a smirk before beginning to look around him.

"Where are my brownies?" my mate barked as he looked over at his son and caught Trunks licking crumbs from his fingers, "Brat! Give me those! Damn thief! Stealing from your Father and unborn sibling. Unforgivable!"

I chuckled as the smaller Saiyan reached out and snatched his treats back with a huff. Trunks smiled at his father's spirit and I saw him breathe a sigh of relief. His relief was a feeling that was echoing throughout my very being as well.

"Shame on you," I teased the boy as my mate's son blushed.

"Come on, Idiot," Vegeta ordered as he urged me forward, "Enough for one day. Take me to my nest."

I was glad to hear Bulma tear into Yamcha with a vengeance from behind us while I supported my mate as he walked to his nest. The Prince lost his footing for a second and I scooped him up in my arms.

"Put me down," Vegeta gritted out, "I just didn't see the edge of the carpet because of the platter. I can walk."

"No," I growled back, "You are right. Enough is enough and I've had enough for one day. Just let me have this moment. I need it, Llazzine."

Vegeta huffed, but relaxed in my arms. I purred happily as my mate allowed me to coddle him for just a little bit of time. Radditz trailed behind and sat on the floor, at the edge of the fur covered flooring, as I helped Vegeta to settle on his window seat. The smaller Saiyan set his brownies on his table and leaned against his cushions with a scowl on his face.

"Asshole," my mate sniped as he settled and yanked me down beside him with his tail as he grumbled out phrases like "kill him," "embarrassing," and "fainting like a damn woman."

"Let me kill him," Radditz begged as I tucked my mate's fur blanket over his laps, "Please, Prince Vegeta? I will make his death swift and painless if it pleases you, but let me make him an example for others to realize that Saiyans are not to be taken lightly."

"No. You cannot kill him," I replied as I pulled out some cold milk from the refrigerator and poured my mate a glass as he began to eat, "Yamcha is still a friend. A stupid friend, who I will kill myself if he ever says something like that again, but a friend. Trust me. There is not one person in our social circle that takes Saiyans lightly."

"Who said that you could talk for me, Kakarot?" Vegeta mumbled with a full mouth before swallowing some milk as his tail snapped my head back.

"It says in chapter 12, section 4 of paragraph B in the Saiyan Handbook on Bonded Couples that I can certainly talk for my mate when it is necessary," I stated, while rubbing my stinging forehead, which made Vegeta and Radditz stare at me as if I was a loon.

"Bwah ha ha ha ha ha!" Radditz and Vegeta erupted in laughter which lasted for several long moments.

I got what I was after since the joke had lightened the mood. I watched as Vegeta turned to me with an amused sparkle in his eyes.

"Idiot," my mate snickered out as my older brother wiped his eyes in mirth, "At least you're good for a laugh."

"Might be good for more than that?" I asked innocently as my mate's tail curled around my waist and squeezed me in a tail-hug.

"Maybe," Vegeta agreed as my own tail curled around my mate, "Felt you go Super Saiyan on Yamcha's ass. Did he piss his pants? I bet the weak Bastard did. Ha!"

"Vegeta," I whined out in equal amounts of amusement and scolding.

"Bet he did," my mate repeated before banging his glass several times on the table to let me know that he wanted some more milk.

I nuzzled the Prince before pulling out the milk carton to do as my mate asked.

"Daddy?" a voice called getting all three of our attention as Bra peeked around the corner with a look of concern on her face.

Vegeta sat up and gave his daughter his full attention.

"Are you and the baby okay?" Bra asked as she twisted a lock of her hair in anxiety, "Mom said that Yamcha made you get really upset and you passed out."

"Kami-damn Woman," Vegeta swore before standing to go hug his daughter, "The cub and I are fine. Yamcha is an ass and I do not know what your mother sees in him."

"I don't either," Bra grumbled out before brightening, "He is now on my grudge list. He'll be sorry he messed with my Daddy."

Vegeta smirked as his daughter gave him a kiss on the cheek before skipping away. I was a bit puzzled as I walked my mate back to his window seat.

"My Princess is going to make that man's life a living hell," the Prince chuckled out as he drank his glass of milk contentedly, "You do not want to be on that Brat's grudge list. That's my girl."

I shook my head at my mate before noticing that Radditz was eyeing me strangely. I looked up to meet his eyes in question. The larger Saiyan blushed as he realized that he had been caught staring.

"What?" I prompted as Vegeta listened in curiosity.

"I was wondering if I could ever go Super Saiyan?" Radditz mused aloud before turning slightly hurt eyes on my giggling mate, "Prince Vegeta, do you really think that I am so less that I couldn't attain such a state as my little brother?"

"Don't mind me. I was not laughing about your power levels even if I do tease you with the name 'Weakling.' I think there is no question that you could achieve Super Saiyan with the right training," Vegeta answered as he leaned back into his cushions and rested a hand on his belly while my brother perked up at my mate's words, "I just suddenly got an image of your mane standing straight up. That would be quite a sight to see since your hair is so damn long. You wouldn't be able to fit through a doorway."

Radditz and I both saw the same image and began to grin before beginning to giggle along with my mate.

"Thank you for your words of support, Your Majesty," Radditz said after he got himself back under control, "Would my mane really stand up straight? I think it's heavier than Kakarot's so it would probably only get spikier and turn golden. If it did stand up straight, I think that I would best many an enemy since I could kill them easily while they were laughing at me."

"Hn," Vegeta snorted in amusement.

I smiled as my mate yawned. I knew that the drama of today would catch up with Vegeta sooner or later.

"Go away," Vegeta sleepily ordered us as he settled to take a nap.

Radditz nodded at the two of us and left, but I wrapped my tail tighter around my mate and pouted. I was still not quite over what had happened.

"Fine!" Vegeta agreed as he sensed my thoughts, "Stop whining in my mind like a child. Scoot! I need a nap."

"Wait, Llazzine," I gently ordered as I helped him stand and rearranged the cushions and furs so I could fold out the window seat into a bed, "I thought curling up would become more uncomfortable with time with the baby weight so I made this so that it could fold out into a bed when I created your nest. This way you can stretch out."

Vegeta watched the bed unfold and looked delighted. My mate arranged all of his cushions and furs to his liking before crawling back into his nest. I smiled at the feeling of contentment that radiated from Vegeta's mind. I wrapped the smaller Saiyan back up with his fur blanket and crawled in beside my mate even if being on a twin bed was a bit tight.

"Mm," Vegeta hummed as he relaxed against me, "I like stretching my legs. Good thinking, Idiot."

I grinned at my mate and purred softly until he was sleeping peacefully in my arms. I would be happy when the dizzy spells were no longer a problem.

"Hi, Baby," I whispered down to Vegeta's stomach, "Daddy won't let that bad man upset your Daeleen anymore. Uncle Yamcha is very sorry for what he did so don't hold anything against him, okay?"

My mate mumbled in his sleep and I settled down so as not to wake the Prince. I dozed for about an hour next to my mate. It was a fluttering under the hand that rested on Vegeta's stomach that woke me back up. The baby was saying "hello" and letting me know that he or she was okay.

"Cub, stop with the tail," my mate grumbled to our unborn child before his face smoothed and he yawned.

"Go to sleep, Baby," I whispered to both my mate and unborn child before I drifted back to sleep.

I guarded my mate with a vengeance that left Vegeta both amused and disgusted. I was determined that the Prince wouldn't ever be upset like he had been again. Vegeta's dizzy spells lasted a full month, much to both my mate's and my own displeasure. The smaller Saiyan wouldn't have a problem for several days and then would have a sudden attack of disorientation. I marveled at the fact that it seemed the baby had been making my mate overly tired so that he was usually sitting when the dizzy spells hit him. Vegeta and I were both happy when the dizzy spells finally ended.

"Saiyans are survivors," Radditz explained when he and I got to hunt together while Trunks looked after his father.

"I don't understand," I admitted as my brother drew up short and put a hand to his chin in thought, "I know that Saiyans are survivors. I can see this in my mate, but how does that explain how the baby was making Vegeta so tired while he was having the dizzy spells?"

"I really need to teach you more about our culture," Radditz mused before growing serious, "The cub sensed that Prince Vegeta's equilibrium was off so he or she created a reason for your mate to need to stay down. The cubling was pretty strategic in keeping his or her Daeleen safe so that he or she could continue to develop in safety. Feels like your cub is a pretty clever little creature and already has advanced, thinking skills."

"Sounds like a chip off the old, Vegeta block," I remarked with a smile as my brother and I tracked down a herd of boar, "I'm glad that the baby is going to be smarter than me."

"You are not stupid, Kakarot," Radditz denied, "You just think a little differently from Prince Vegeta and myself. You are clever in your own way. You would never have survived in battle the way you have if you do not have good common sense."

"Thanks, I think," I said to my brother before changing the subject, "Have you been able to figure out the sex of the baby yet?"

"Nope," Radditz denied, "Your cub is more modest than you are obviously. Won't let me or Bulma get a good read. You know I just remembered that you take after our Dad with your lack of modesty."

"I do?" I asked in curiosity.

"Walked around naked all the time in our private quarters," Radditz grunted out in disgust, "No child wants to see the hardware of his or her parent. Nasty!"

I laughed as my brother gave an exaggerated shudder at the images that were running through his mind.

"I guess the cub will let us know when he or she is good and ready," I remarked before gesturing to my brother that we had finally caught up with the herd of boar.

Radditz and I made quick work of our hunt and were soon heading back home. My older brother wouldn't let me IT us home because he said it made him nauseous to teleport long distances. I thought about the baby as we flew and decided that I wasn't upset with the idea of being surprised on the day of my newest child's birth. It was Vegeta who was itching to know what the baby's gender was going to be since it would make it easier to buy the appropriate, gendered clothing for the baby.

"Already caught the Women buying lots of prissy, pink clothes," Vegeta had ranted to me recently, "If our cub is a female, then she will not be raised to be a weak, sniveling woman. Our daughter will be raised a proper Saiyan Warrior-Princess."

Radditz and I returned to Capsule Corp and found Vegeta and Trunks sitting on a blanket outside. Hold up. My pregnant mate was sitting outside! In winter!

"Llazzine, what are you doing outside in the cold?" I fussed as I shoved one of the boars that my brother and I had killed into Radditz's arms before leveling a look at Trunks, "Why would you let your father outside in the cold in his condition?"

"Don't you blame my son for my and the cub needing some fresh air," Vegeta sniffed, "Kakarot, it's nearly the end of March. Spring is in the air. I'm a Saiyan and this weather is not what would be considered to be cold. Plus, you did see the outfit Trunks forced me to wear, didn't you? I feel like one of those Eskimo people that I have seen on television. Look at me."

I did indeed notice the long, overly-stuffed jacket, heavy winter boots, and fuzzy mittens that my mate was wearing. Trunks had even made the Prince wear the hood of the jacket. He looked like a fuzzy penguin. Radditz muffled a laugh while Vegeta glared up at him.

"Dad insisted on going outside," Trunks explained, "Said that my little brother would be very unhappy with not getting some fresh air. How do you expect me to say 'no' to that, Goku? I couldn't do that."

"Well, I don't like…" I began before pausing, "Did you say 'little brother' just now?"

I squatted down next to my mate as both Vegeta and his son smirked at me. My mate nodded his head as my hands went immediately to stroke the Prince's swollen tummy in glee.

"It's a boy," the Prince proudly declared as he rested a mitten-ed hand on his stomach, "Bulma confirmed the cub's gender while you and your brother were gone. About time for our cub to let us know his gender. Now the Woman can take back all of those damn, pink clothes. What is it with her and that color?"

Vegeta continued to grumble, but I could feel through our bond his happiness. I think he had really wanted a second son. I was happy for both my mate and myself.

"A boy," I breathed in wonder before laughing happily, "Another son for the both of us! We're going to have a new, baby boy! This is so great. I can't wait until our baby is born, Llazzine. We'll have to get the word out to everyone."

"A new Prince," Radditz chuckled out with a grin, "I can't get over the fact that our line always seems to throw male cubs, Little Brother."

"Mom has already started calling everyone," Trunks said as he too beamed happily, "Dad even let Bra and I feel our little brother wiggling about in his stomach. This is awesome. I so wanted to be a big brother like Gohan was for Goten. Being Bra's big brother is cool, but I want to be a good role model for my little brother to look up to."

I ruffled Trunks hair and pulled my contented mate to his feet. My arms lingered around him longer than necessary as I hugged the Prince close.

"Sap," Vegeta laughed out before pulling away and pushing the hood off of his head as he slapped his son in the face with his tail, "I am never wearing a hood again, Brat."

Radditz and I laughed as Trunks spat hair out of his mouth from my mate's tail. I looked closer at Vegeta and frowned.

"Inside," I ordered as Vegeta scowled at me, "Don't look at me like that. Your nose is turning blue. Get inside. I'm going to prepare our meal. Get!"

Radditz and Trunks tensed at my words and readied for the explosion. Vegeta merely snorted and waddled away without a word until he reached the door.

"I wanted to go inside anyway," Vegeta called out as he flipped his middle finger up at me.

My mate was in a good mood and was playing with me. I kept up the act and placed my hands on my hips.

"Good," I called back.

"Fine," my mate stated as he stomped his foot.

"Get inside then," I retorted.

"Bite me," Vegeta snapped back as he went inside with a sniff of disdain in my direction.

I bit back a snort of laughter as Trunks rolled his eyes and followed his father inside. Radditz helped me butcher the boars and soon I had everything grilled and ready. I found my mate sitting at the kitchen table with Bulma and his two children

"About time," Vegeta snapped as I sat his lunch in front of him.

"I went as fast as I could, Your Majesty," I laughed out as Radditz sat another platter near Bulma, Bra and Trunks, "Have some ribs, guys. I cooked your platter a lot more done so you can eat with us."

"Thank you, Goku," Bulma beamed as she accepted the plates my brother held out to her and handed them out to her children.

We all began to eat and I smiled at this feeling of contentment that filled my thoughts. My mate caught my eye and nodded his head to let me know that he was content as well. I hoped that things continued to be as happy as this moment.

To be continued…