"I'm sorry, Vegeta."

"For what?"

Bulma groaned. "Are you going to make me list everything?"

Vegeta pulled her closer to him in their bed. "Hn. That is a good start. Perhaps we should get paper to write them down. We can use your voice recorder, too."

"You really are going to be a hard ass tonight, aren't you?"

"Of course I am," Vegeta thought. He would milk her urge to apologize for all that it was worth. It would be rewarding.

"Once again, you are asking a question you know the answer to."

"Okay, fine," Bulma said slowly, which her husband noticed. "I apologize for terrorizing you about Yamcha. You made a good decision. I'm looking forward to continuing when we're back. Do you want to watch?"

"Not now. You and your trainer need the space to trust each other through the process - god, I can't believe I'm saying this about Yamcha. You will feel pressure to perform if I am there. That is why you asked me to step back, remember?"

"Yeah, I know." Bulma looked over at her crutch and then reached for a small glass of water on the nightstand, which unexpectedly slipped from her hand. Vegeta reared back in the bed and pulled the top blanket to his side as the liquid splashed.

The accident caught Bulma's emotions off guard. The insecurities and anger she and Yamcha discussed before invaded her mind. She and Vegeta were in the prime of their lives. It was so unfair.

"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!" The sound of her words grew faint as she stuttered through them. Then she began to cry.

Vegeta lowered his voice to calm her. "Listen to me, we are fine. You are fine. I will get another blanket."

"No, it's not! Just look at us. I'm sorry. I'm sorry!"

"Come here, woman." He pulled her back into his arms. "Shhh. There are plenty of things you could cry over. This is not one of them. Look down. See, your breasts are perky now. I like that."

Bulma wiped her face and laughed. Who knows how long that would last? She tried not to dwell on it. At least human science had advanced far enough to keep her looking relatively attractive, just not young. It disturbed her that she obsessed so much about it lately. She returned attention to her husband.

"I hate you, Saiyan."

"And you still married me, foolish girl. Let the buyer beware."

"Yeah, I guess I got a decent bargain." She touched his chin and kissed him. "I'm so sorry I haven't been as sensitive to your needs and fears. You have been dignified, but you have been hurting inside for a long time. Please forgive me. I love you."

She didn't expect Vegeta to say anything at first, and he didn't. Instead, he closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. Her words had captured his heart. They embraced him in same the way he sometimes held her at night, when she cried from pain.

"Honey, I…

"Do not… continue, Bulma." He shook his head as his voice choked with emotion. "You said what I needed to hear."

He left the bed to put clothes on. Bulma was not surprised.

"I am taking a walk."

"Take as long as you need, babe."

Vegeta discovered the next day that Bulma had pre-ordered breakfast for delivery. She was asleep when the giant platters arrived, mostly for him, and delivered to the sitting room next door. She also got through the night without any pain, pleasing him considerably.

He got down on his knees next to the bed. "Hey, breakfast is here. I can bring you some now, but why did you order so early?"

Bulma yawned. "You… have… to train. I'll eat later. The food will stay warm."

Normally Vegeta would have left her alone, but he wanted some company before the long day they had planned. He shook her slightly before she drifted back to sleep.

"Wake up. You did not eat much at dinner last night. Try having some of this with me. I will leave for training afterward."

"Damn it." Bulma pushed herself up in the bed and rubbed her eyes. "All right, fine. I need to have my leg brace or use Artemis, and I'm returning to bed when you leave."

Vegeta had already brought a tray to the bedside by the time Bulma finished complaining. "Hmm, maybe I should let you starve instead. I have eaten half of my meal already."

"I'm not surprised," Bulma said, nibbling on a piece of bacon. "By the way, Sonali was impressed with you and Trunks on that cliff yesterday. You looked great, and you were showing off."

"I do not show off," Vegeta replied with mild irritation. "Here, taste the fruit. I merely have high standards. This is just the start. Trunks is halfway there already, at least for now."

Bulma licked her finger and continued chewing. "You're not telling me something. Get on with it."

"I will not continue instruction after the family moves in."

"Because?"

"He must stand on his own."

"And?"

"And what, woman? You just heard me."

Bulma handed over her coffee for Vegeta to finish. "I have explained more to Sonali about your concern for Trunks and my well-being. I also shared more personal thoughts about being your wife. We also discussed expectations."

He sat up straight as a board and puffed out his chest like a preening peacock. "Were your thoughts about being my wife and best friend all wonderful?"

"Not a chance."

"Damn it."

Vegeta's sipped the coffee with a frown, while his dark eyes playfully peered at Bulma over the edge of the cup. He had endless simple ways to make her smile. This was a favorite.

"You just asked a question you knew the answer to, honey."

"True." He grabbed the last pieces of bacon from her plate.


"Go away."

"No."

"Go away, Gohan."

"No."

The day had turned out gorgeous. Vegeta made this nature preserve a frequent place to train outside of his home. Capsule Corporation also owned the land, which meant that public access could be shut off as needed. He decided to close the location all week after everyone returned from their beach trip. Trunks and Sonali and the twins departed to their modest home to gather their belongings - and dispose of decorations that would likely give Bulma panic attacks if they brought them inside the estate.

The prince's core personality was quiet and reflective. When they met, Bulma recognized it long before the others. He always talked a lot of bullshit before, during, and after he fought; or when he angrily demanded something to achieve whatever extreme goal he had set for himself; or when someone else challenged his pride. Beyond that, he kept his own counsel.

Over time his quiet ways had become a magnet for others who wanted to talk - either about his feelings or theirs. The behavior puzzled him. He rarely welcomed it, especially during these moments, unless it came from family or people he strongly liked and respected. Son Goku had become more like an annoying younger brother, so he could tolerate the man's blathering for short periods, too, until he was forced to yell at him.

Vegeta crouched into a forward-leaning posture with his hands raised. "You are just as annoying as your clown of a father, although I will admit after all these years that I somewhat like you."

Dressed in his traditional orange karategi, Gohan smiled with the cheerful eagerness of a man who had found gold. Getting Vegeta to talk with him usually required a respectable beating, and the prince's invitation to spar was too tempting to reject.

He bent his knees and raised both fists to his face.

"It's great to see you, Vegeta! I'm sorry we didn't chat at Bulla's wedding. Now let's get down to business. I have a feeling that you want me and Piccolo to work with Trunks."

"Hn." Vegeta lunged in for uppercut punches to Gohan's chest and chin. "What makes you think I would ask you or the surly green giant for anything - and your standing posture is all wrong for this fight. Did you break your feet or something?"

Gohan's head swayed as he blocked hits from both sides. "You didn't have to ask me to help. I'm like your second son. I know you would trust me with Trunks' life, but my influence on him will never match yours right now. He needs his father."

"Trunks does not need me in the way you believe, boy."

"Dude! When will you stop calling me boy? My own kid is a year older than your daughter."

Gohan grabbed Vegeta's wrist and spun the man behind his back, until the prince stepped through the twist to fling his opponent underneath him.

Vegeta smirked. "Like you said, you are like my second son."

Gohan's surprise at Vegeta's plainspoken confession also left him open to the prince's powerful right hook, throwing him a few miles back until his body slammed into the mountainous foothills surrounding them.

"You dirty bastard!"

"That was a fair hit!" Vegeta barked. "My admitted fondness for you is no excuse to leave yourself unprotected! Unacceptable! What if an evil being possessed my mind again? How do you expect me to believe that you can work exclusively with my son?"

"Well, at least that wasn't as bad as the punch in dick you gave me on Namek when I was a kid," Gohan yelled back. "And your last question is stupid! We are toying with each other now."

"Awww, are your little feelings still hurt? You certainly were strong enough to take my love punch then, and you deserved it."

"Vegeta, I was surprised that I could still have children until my wife became pregnant. That hit was a sucker punch meant for my father, asshole - and you told me as much. As I recall, your 'nobility' in battle could be erratic sometimes."

Vegeta waved him off. "Stop whining! You stayed alive. Recall that you almost crushed every bone in my body when you turned Oozaru and fell on me - as a kid. If I were a regular human I would have severe arthritis by now."

"No, you would be dead." Gohan spun and dived for the ground.

"Indeed, I would be," Vegeta said, speeding next to him. The energetic look on his face faded back to seriousness. "I need to be alone now. You had your fun bothering me. Make yourself useful and visit that giant green beanstalk you call a teacher."

Gohan jogged after him after they landed together. "You were the most disappointed when I didn't pursue taking full advantage of my powers at first, weren't you?"

Vegeta looked over and said nothing.

"My father…"

"What about Kakarot?"

"He would've loved that too, of course, but you took it so personally. Actually, I kind of appreciated it, even when you stopped talking to me for a little while. In some ways dad remains a big kid. He also…"

"Quit it, Gohan. Both Kakarot and I made choices in our lives - some quite unwise and selfish - that endangered our loved ones or hurt you emotionally. Furthermore, when you were a boy, you were one of the first people who saw me at my nastiest. Do not sugarcoat the past to resolve your mixed feelings about your father's absences from your family. I cannot support that."

"Vegeta, if you would stop interrupting me, all I want to say is thank you for helping me grow up, in your own bad-tempered way, when dad wasn't around. You struggled, too, but I also respected your attempts to be with your family until you got it right."

"Ugh! I cannot take much more of this from you, boy." Vegeta thrust his hand past Gohan's arm. "Go sit over there in the grass - in fact, sit far enough away so I can restrain myself from punching you out of anger this time."

Laughing, Gohan walked a few steps and sat cross-legged on the ground. Vegeta looked down at him with a scowl as if he were preparing to scold a ten-year-old. Then he sat next to him.

"Of course I was disappointed. My god, you were so powerful when you were a boy. It was amazing. How could I not be impressed? My jealousy was much different from my rivalry with your father back in those days. I also respected your bravery for someone so young. You are the only fighter that I have ever apologized to - twice - for acting like an asshole.

"Gohan, at first I wanted Trunks to achieve what you had, not just me, and surpass us both. But then, like it had for you, my son's desire faded. I had to accept it, and you know why."

"Well then, give him the chance to learn again and fight alongside you as a man, just like you did when…"

"When Trunks from the future sought help to fight those bastards Zamasu and Black? That is a poor example. My sons' personalities and hardships are different. This Trunks will not grow if I take the lead. He would disagree, but I know he would be more focused on trying to be like me than maximizing his potential. Besides, I need to step back to deal with… other priorities."

Vegeta lowered his head. His thoughts had silenced his words.

Gohan leaned forward to get his attention. "Vegeta?"

"I need to be with his mother, Gohan. I am giving her the space she requested, and I will continue doing it, but she still needs my support. I would not be the man I am now had it not been for her. Surely you can agree with that. Our son will be fine."

"I understand, my friend. I understand."


Trunks had felt Vegeta's restlessness all morning before they arrived at the nature preserve. It had only been a month since Sonali and their children returned home to pack. The task could have been done quickly, but instead they stayed there longer to give Bulma and Vegeta more time alone together. There would be much to do once everyone arrived, including preparing Sonali to run Capsule Corporation. Trunks returned regularly to check on his parents. He felt grateful for their kindness, but he now wondered if Vegeta regretted his offer for them to move in.

Vegeta didn't speak before they bowed to each other to begin practicing routine kneeling and standing fight positions. On their knees, Trunks grabbed his father's wrist, pinning Vegeta's arm sideways while the man laid face-down beneath him.

"Father, what's going on? Your energy is off balance. This should be meditative practice for us."

Vegeta returned to his kneeling position. "Son, I am not leaving Earth to train with you, Gohan, and Piccolo. Our work together ends when you are completely settled at the estate."

"What do you mean you're not going?"

"You have accepted this life. Other beings far more powerful can help you, willingly, as they did with Kakarot's family and me. And you will soon be asked to help others even more than you have done already."

"But father, I want you there..."

Furious, Vegeta turned abruptly and pushed his finger into Trunks chest. "Silence! You think this is hard now, just wait! You are a Saiyan prince with my blood in your veins. How dare you stand here pleading! I will not tolerate it!"

Vegeta's flew far above him between the mountains and burst into his Super Saiyan form. His voice grew louder.

"Son, remember your fury and pain when Majin Buu almost beat me to death?! See it! Breathe it! Use your anger with me from long ago to drive you, too. These experiences will move you to the next level, as it has with others in our clan!"

Trunks spiraled into the air to face his father and held the man's shoulders until Vegeta shook him off. They looked into each other's eyes and returned to ground.

"This anger isn't just about me."

Vegeta turned toward him. "Oh, a lot of it is, boy. Trust me on that. If you keep this up, I will hammer you again like I did on your sister's wedding day."

Trunks shook his head. "No, mom is affecting you too. Why are you upset? She seems okay since we returned from the beach weeks ago. I mean, when Sonali and I were ill, she looked after us with you as much as she could too."

Vegeta knew Trunks was right, but he remained restless.

"I am not upset with her. Bulma admitted that, in some ways, she was building an emotional wall between us because of her own doubts. I began to believe I was not doing anything right, but now I am encouraged. Your family needs stability too. I am here for you - always - but I cannot do this for you."

"Father, you know what mom wants. She has encouraged us - and what makes you think I can't provide stability for my family anymore? You did with Bulla and me."

Vegeta knelt back down. "Hear me on this. Your mother is supportive, but she also feels uncertain. She gave birth to you. You are our only son. You are choosing in young adulthood to endanger yourself, and you have an inbred drive to fight. Do you understand now?"

"What about my other question?"

"You will continue being a great father, but your twins will go through major growing pains. They are strong and rebellious, which I admire, but they will need someone like me to help you and Sonali guide them through tougher moments. Wait, do you feel that?"

Vegeta touched his head and then his chest. The shock almost knocked him over. The first words he said were unclear. Then he looked over at Trunks, horrified.

"No!" he yelled. "Tell me this is not happening now, son. Oh god, please not now. This cannot be happening!"

Trunks ran over to pull his stunned father up from the ground. His eyes filled with tears as Vegeta's pleas continued. Then the prince leaned forward across his knees. His strong, deep voice had been replaced by a grief-stricken murmur.

Trunks bent down next to his ear. "Father, listen to my voice. I haven't left you. We have to go now. You're going to be okay. We are in this together."

Nodding, Vegeta reached for Trunks' arm from the ground.

"Yes, my son."