A/N: Hello! I just want to say a giant, whole hearted THANK YOU to every single one of you who took the time to read the story, leave me a review, send a message… I am floored by the support I'm receiving. It is absolutely encouraging to see the thousands of people who have read through the entire story!
"I don't think we should be together anymore."
He heard the words clearly, each syllable, every flick of her tongue against her teeth as she said the words was imprinted on his brain. He heard the words. He saw her say the words…but he still couldn't believe them. Was she rejecting him? Kicking him out? Telling him she didn't love him anymore? The relief he had felt just seconds ago instantly vanished along with the rest of the world as he focused his eyes on hers. Confusion splayed openly on his face. Bulma bit her lip as she fought back several tears.
"Why?" Vegeta whispered. In the distance of his mind he heard Trunks yelling, demanding answers, hot and angry tears freely falling. The boy stood between them, and Vegeta realized he was yelling at his mother, his back protectively defending his father. Bulma shook her head, her gaze darting back and forth between the other families that stood much too close and much too interested in his family affairs for Vegeta's comfort. Ignoring her plea's he picked her up in his arms and began flying them back to their house. Trunks followed closely behind as they left the others behind, mouths gaping and concerned whispers in the wind.
Bulma clutched tightly to Vegeta's neck, feeling the muscles tense beneath her fingers and letting the heat cover her completely. She hated flying like this, the pressure of the wind giving her a headache as the chill of the clouds bit and stung her cheeks. Still, when the notion that this might very well be the last time Vegeta held her this close after the talk they were about to have entered her mind, she focused everything on memorizing the feel of his arms around her and his scent of raw masculine musk and pine.
Trunks continued to yell at both his parents, his anger, frustration and confusion spiraling out of control. He couldn't understand what would prompt his mother to say such a thing. He definitely couldn't understand why his father hadn't said anything about it and seemed to just calmly be flying them home, and he couldn't understand why they both felt that if they ignored him long enough he would go away. But he was a part of this family too! And if there was going to be a huge family discussion and choice made he would damn well be sure to be there for it.
Touching down on the grass Vegeta pulled Bulma's arms from around his neck and stood her in front of him. Trunks landed sloppily next to them, continuing his barrage.
"Boy! Shut up." He firmly told Trunks, keeping his eyes trained on his woman. "Your mother and I need to talk. Go and wait for me in the training chambers."
"No." Trunks bit back, his fists tight against his sides. "If this is about the family that includes me! I deserve to be here." His lip wobbled as he glared at both his parents. Bulma turned to Trunks and reached out to lay her hand on his shoulder which he quickly stepped away from. She frowned, stung by the action.
"Sweetheart, we're still a family, we will always be a family. Just let me and your dad talk for a few minutes ok?"
"You told Dad not to come home." He screamed, fresh tears pouring from his eyes. "Why would you tell him that?" Bulma and Vegeta sucked in a sharp breath before turning their attention back to each other.
"Trunks. Do what your mother says. Go. Now."
"Or what? You'll knock me out again and fly off? I don't think so!" Vegeta ground his teeth, tiring of the boy's sass.
"I said GO. Do NOT make me repeat myself again. Understand?" he snarled, letting a fraction of the anger he had been working very hard to contain seep through. Trunks narrowed his eyes and spit on the ground before flying off at speeds too fast for Bulma to keep up with.
Once Vegeta was assured that Trunks was out of hearing distance and safely locking himself in the gravity room he focused his anger back on the female in front of him that not even half an hour ago he had felt elated to see again. The woman he sacrificed himself to save. The woman he had changed so much of his life for – the same woman…he had tried to kill. His anger eased slightly on his chest as he scanned her fully and felt the fear, resistance and worry that radiated from her body.
"I won't hurt you." He said the words without meaning too; surprising himself and her as she rubbed her arms and found an interesting spot in the grass to stare at. He took a step closer to her and immediately stopped when she involuntarily flinched. "Bulma…"
"Vegeta…I…I'm glad you're not dead…again."
"Yes, I gathered as much when you told me you wanted to leave." He snapped, before blushing in embarrassment.
"I don't want you to leave… I just…think…it would be best."
"Best? Best for who exactly? The boy? You? Me? Because from the looks of things now the boy would not really appreciate this arrangement…and I can tell you for damn sure that it wasn't even a consideration on my radar. Which leaves us to this is for you. This is what you want. So don't lie to me so blatantly." Bulma frowned and planted her hands on her hips.
"That's not true. You're the one that doesn't really want to be here. Even if I weren't one already, it doesn't take a genius to see that." He barked out a sarcastic laugh and took another step towards her, again causing her to take one back away.
"Oh really. Then please enlighten me with your genius reasons as to why I am here if I did not want to be? Obviously you know me better than I know myself so go ahead, Genius, why is this my idea."
"I didn't say it was your idea Vegeta." She snarled, her fear turning to anger as well. "you never wanted to stay on Earth, you never wanted a family, you never wanted this life…you've never made a choice of your own ever until you went Majin and your first instinct was to kill me! KILL ME! Vegeta! The woman you supposedly care for! It was so easy… so…" tears welled up in her eyes as she hastily brushed them away. Vegeta took a step backwards away from her. "Did I mean nothing to you? After everything… how was it so easy for you to look at me and…if Yamcha hadn't been there –"
"Oh yes, Thank Kami for Scar-face. Whatever would you do in life without him constantly saving your day." The air rippled around them as Vegeta's temper flared into his ki.
"What is that supposed to mean?! Yamcha is just a friend –" Vegeta rolled his eyes.
"Just a friend. Of course. And I'm a pacifist monk. Let's not lie to each other right now Bulma. That will get neither of us anywhere. I'm not as oblivious as I let you think I am. I know that he's been pawing after you for months now. I know that asshole has been trying to worm his way into our bed and kick me out – and I know that you've been letting him."
Bulma clapped both hands over her mouth in outrage, and took two steps further away from him.
"How dare you! I have always chosen you and been faithful! Even when it could have been so easy to have chosen otherwise. With all the time you're away for I could have multiple lovers without you being the wiser! But I have NEVER betrayed you by letting someone into our bed – or going to anyone else's I should add. So screw you for suggesting as much! But if you're SO concerned with other men being in my life then maybe you should make an effort to actually be around instead of running off and training for weeks on end! Do you even realize how impossible it is to have a relationship with someone who's never around?!"
"Never around? I have forced myself to be around! I have changed my entire life to accommodate you and the brat! I have sacrificed EVERYTHING to be here for you and still it's not enough? Will it EVER be enough?!" he screamed, echoing off the side of the building as cars on the road began to slow down and stare out the window.
Bulma nodded in sad agreement.
"That's not fair to you Vegeta." She whispered before taking another step backwards. He raised a confused eye brow towards her. "I want you to be here with me… but…you're doing it for me instead of for you. I need a man who doesn't have to choose to be here, he knows this is where he belongs. Chichi made me see –"
"The clown's wife?! She's the one that started all this?"
"She didn't start anything, she just pointed out that you've never made any of your own choices. It's always been Frieza or me forcing your life on you…if I hadn't gotten pregnant…" she shook her head, choking on the end of the sentence. "I love you so much Vegeta." She whispered and sobbed. He stared after her bewildered, confused as to where this conversation had suddenly gone.
"I did choose you woman. I came back for you. For the boy. Before the Androids…Buu…even in death. Every time."
"Aren't you miserable? I'm giving you the chance to choose your own future right now Vegeta! I'm giving you the chance to go off and start over. Rule the universe. I don't want you to be trapped here with me in this too small life when you deserve so much more."
"You idiot woman." He sighed and ran his hand over his face. "Do you truly think I would stay here if I did not wish it? Do you truly think that you – the weakest female I have ever encountered – really has the power to make me do anything I do not wish to do? I am the Prince of the Saiyans. I am a true warrior capable of defeating any adversaries who dare threaten my home." He took several steps towards her, and she did not retreat. "I have seen hundreds of planets, traveled the stars, and lived on worlds you couldn't begin to imagine. I've lived through torture, humiliation, disaster…witnessed my planet and my family slaughtered by my captor. I have fallen second only to the one man I would even consider calling a friend"
He took several more steps until he stood directly in front of her, taking her face into his hand he brushed the remaining tears from her eyes with his thumb.
"I have picked the most beautiful, and the smartest woman on this planet and made her my own. I have raised a son who is smart, strong, worthy of upholding the Saiyan title. Does that sound like a man who is trapped or settled for a life not of his own choosing?" Silently she shook her head as she leaned into his palm and grinned.
"Bulma Brief. You are my woman, in this life and the next. You are the mother to my son, and the only female worthy of being my Queen in all the universe. Nothing can keep me away from you – not even death. I would choose you every day, every hour, every minute if you asked me. The real question….is would you choose me?"
"Of course I choose you. I love you Vegeta."
"Then prove it to me. Marry me."
A/N: Alright, a bit shorter than I intended - but this is a good place to end the chapter :) and I wanted to post something since it's been about a week.
Again, thank you so much for reading! Leave me a review and let me know what you think! I appreciate everyone's opinions!