On the 3rd day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
3 hushed words
"Vegeta!"
Vegeta dashed into his wife's study, finding her hunched on the floor, a hand cupping her very pregnant belly. She glanced up at him, her face scrunched in pain.
"I think it's time."
Already? But she was two weeks early…
Vegeta kept his worry to himself, and in a heartbeat had her in his arms. He took her to their bedroom, grabbing a blanket to wrap around her, then picked up the bag she had prepared for just this occasion.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Trunks," Bulma gasped through her pain, clutching his neck.
"The boy can fend for himself."
Vegeta enveloped them in his aura before flying out into the winter night's sky. It would be faster and safer to fly than taking conventional transportation. Vegeta flew at a steady pace, keeping a close eye on his wife. Bulma had calmed down, her pain temporarily subsided. They flew in silence, giving Vegeta time he would rather not have to dwell on the upcoming birth. He had done his homework these past months. Barely on the sidelines for his first child's birth, Vegeta wanted to ensure that this time he was there for Bulma. In doing so, he had learned more than he ever thought he would care to know about female reproduction, about how brutal birth could be, and just how concernedly fragile humans were.
Bulma suddenly cried out and doubled up in his arms.
"Bulma?" he asked, alarmed.
"Ow, hurts," she groaned. Vegeta's mouth thinned, knowing there was little he could do to ease her through this. Being powerless didn't sit well with him.
"Hold me as tightly as you need. Your pathetic human arms won't hurt me," he told her.
Bulma laughed weakly, squeezing tighter.
"…I don't know if I can do this," she whispered, her voice so soft and strained it was almost lost in the wind.
He tightened his arms around her. "Of course you can. You've done it before," he said matter-of-factly.
"I was a lot younger then," she confided.
Vegeta couldn't argue that. She was no longer in her prime child-bearing years, but Dr. Bensen had assured them that Bulma was in good health, and could carry a baby full term. But she knew that, repeating it wouldn't comfort her. Nevertheless, Vegeta felt compelled to put her ease, to support her the same way she always did him. "…You're not alone this time. I'm here."
Bulma looked at him, surprised, opening her mouth to respond when another contraction took her. She groaned and buried her face in his neck, squeezing him for support.
"Ow, Vegeta…"
He cradled her head against him, and whispered three little words into her ear he rarely vocalized, hurrying them to their destination.
~xox~