Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or the characters

I have a poll going on now about which story I should update first in the New Year. You get to vote for three so make them count ;) I'm kind of curious to see which one wins out so have fun with it. Thanks!

Pallyndrome: Thanks, glad you liked it. And, haha, I know. Totally unexpected.

It couldn't be happening; it just couldn't be happening. This was not happening. His specimens were now less than ideal candidates. They had friends and a job. If he took them now, it would cause commotion. It would just take one missed day at work or missing a date and then there would be cops searching everywhere. And to top off his luck, Bulma Briefs was the friend of his mortal enemy and now the twins' boss and the girl's new boyfriend was the best friend of said enemy.

"Could this possibly get any worse?" Dr. Gero asked himself. Even his newest model, Android 12 (AKA Professor Phan) was worried. The boy known as Krillin had accompanied the twins to class that day and the two of them had moved into the Briefs' compound. They must suspect something, but how is that possible?

He couldn't figure it out. He had kept all of his research a secret. No one knew where his secret lab was located. What had tipped them off?

Then it hit him. The blip of energy.

Dr. Gero moved to his computer and typed in a bunch of randomly confusing numbers. He then typed in the date that Frieza and King Cold came to Earth, they day he received their energy for another of his creations…one that he needed the twins for. That's when he saw what really happened.

"Who is that boy there?" he asked when he saw the purple-haired Saiyan fighting the two aliens.

But there weren't any more Saiyans other than Goku or Vegeta, well minus Goku's son, and this one looked nothing like a Saiyan. Maybe he wasn't, well at least not a full-blooded one. But how could that be? Goku had only one son and Vegeta didn't have any children of his own, so how could it happen.

Then he saw the machine. He had never seen a machine like it but it had the Capsule Corp. logo. Somehow, this machine brought a teenage Super Saiyan to the battle. It would take him time to figure out who the boy was and what that machine did. In the meantime, he needed to find new specimens. His research would stop for no one.

"Okay, so what is all of this?"

"Oh, hey Vegeta," Bulma said with a smile. "Well, it's the twins' birthday today, so I'm helping mom bake a cake. How does it look?"

Vegeta eyed her curiously before glaring at the colorful food. "For what reason does the appearance of any food matter?" he asked.

Bulma giggled. "Because it's a birthday cake, silly. Haven't you ever-" He raised his eyebrow at her and she stopped before finishing her question. She already knew the answer. "You never celebrated your birthday before, have you?"

Vegeta frowned. What kind of question was that? The day of his birth was not something he had ever reveled in while working under Frieza. To him it just meant another year of living as a slave, a failure, a disgrace. Why would he ever want to celebrate it?

She could tell what he was thinking and walked over to him. He backed away from her, staring intently at her as if waiting to see what she would do or say.

She smiled at him. "We should celebrate the next time it comes around," she said sweetly. "Trust me; it will be a lot of fun."

"I will not," he replied.

"Why not?"

"Because it doesn't hold any value," he told her. "Not to me, not to anyone else."

"It matters to me," Bulma said defiantly.

Vegeta sighed. He would never understand this human companionship thing. Saiyans never really cared about birthdays either…or did they? He couldn't remember. He was so young when he was taken from his planet and any good memories, if any, he had of his life were erased by the years under Frieza's regime.

"I can tell, but I refuse to be a part of it," Vegeta answered with finality. "Besides I've never celebrated it before. Why would I want to now?"

"Because you're free," Bulma whispered sadly. Vegeta heard her and looked down. Why was she always right and why did he always upset her? "Look, just come to the party tonight, okay? There will be a lot of food, and if you don't like it you can always go to your room or the GR. Just come."

Vegeta nodded. He would go and, even if he did enjoy himself, he would tell her he hated it. There were two reasons for that: one, he didn't believe he deserved to enjoy himself after all the pain he caused; and two, he didn't really remember when his birthday was. On Frieza's ship, age meant nothing. Power was all that mattered and if you survived to adulthood, great. All that Vegeta had kept in mind time wise was how long it had been since he had seen his home planet, hunted with his father, looked up at the planet's night sky…that's all that mattered to him. He would have told the woman this, but she was smart. Maybe she would figure it out on her own and save him the trouble of being weak and talking about his "feelings," as the humans call it.

Bulma could tell that Vegeta was having a better time at the party than he was letting on, if only because of the food. He didn't enjoy having too many people around. He seemed relaxed around Goku and Gohan, thought he would probably never admit it; however, anytime Krillin, or the twins, or Tien, Chiaotzu, or Yamcha (unfortunately invited by kind-hearted Goku) came near him, he would tense or threaten them.

Was she the only human that he fully trusted? When he left the room in a hurry, she figured she had her answer. Vegeta was nervous.

Bulma excused herself from talking to Chi Chi (who just made everyone nervous) and followed him.

Vegeta was out on his balcony, rapidly breathing. He had just had another stupid memory or Frieza and his little get-togethers when that weak human, Krillin, had put his hand on his shoulder by accident. Why? he mentally cried. Why can't I rid myself of this nightmare? Maybe this is what I deserve. To be continuously haunted by my tormentor and destroyer of my race and world.

"Vegeta?" He turned around quickly. The woman had startled him. How could he have not sensed her coming?

Bulma took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat off Vegeta's brow. "You need to stop stressing yourself out like this," she said calmly. "You can really hurt yourself."

Vegeta scoffed. "I already know that, woman. I don't need a lecture."

"Well, you need something," Bulma replied. "I just wish I could help you."

"No one can," Vegeta retorted.

Bulma didn't believe that for one second. "Why do you hate yourself so much?" she asked.

Though surprised by her question, Vegeta was more surprised by the answer he gave. "I failed them."

"Who?"

"The question, woman, is who haven't I failed. I failed my parents, my race, Raditz and Nappa. I failed myself and that low-class warrior and his brat. I've failed everyone!"

Vegeta's rage got the better of him and he blasted a tree in her yard causing birds to fly away.

Bulma just stared blankly at the panting Saiyan. "Do you feel better now?"

"What?" he snapped.

"You just released a lot of energy and anger," she observed, "so I'll ask again. Do you feel better now?"

Vegeta had to think about it for a minute. He actually did feel better, but why? Whenever he was angry, he did unleash his anger, but this time it was different.

And some people think talking about their problems doesn't help, Bulma thought with a smirk.

Vegeta looked at her in shock. "What did you say?"

"Huh?" Bulma asked. "When?"

"Just now, about talking…"

"I didn't say anything, Vegeta," Bulma said nervously, "but I did think it. Wait, can you read minds now?"

Vegeta didn't know what to say. Was he really that stupid? He had claimed her and then, when he decided it couldn't work out for him, he had bonded with her. How could he let that happen?

"Vegeta?" Bulma tried again, this time brushing her hand against his forehead. Her eyes widened when she saw one of his memories. The one he had during the party.

He had been forced to attend Frieza's meeting/party and ended up being forced from the party by that blue guy with green hair from Namek after muttering something disrespectful and traitorous against his lizard-like captor.

She removed her hand before she could see anymore. Vegeta opened his eyes that he had clenched shut and stared into her terrified ones. How could I do this to her? Vegeta asked himself. This was one of the things he never wanted to taint her with.

"You didn't do anything, Vegeta," Bulma told him as she heard him blame himself. He looked away from her. "And you're not a failure. You prove that every day you get up and train. Every day you live is another day you move on and show Frieza that he didn't destroy you, that you were always better than him. You've done terrible things, Vegeta, but you have also done great things and just because YOU don't think that matters, it does. So stop this self-pity and live your life. As for Goku and Gohan, you haven't failed them." Vegeta perked up a little bit waiting for her to explain. "Did you know that Goku comes by sometimes to see if you'll spar with him for fun, or that Gohan asks me questions about you and Planet Vegeta thinking maybe you've told me things? They admire you, Vegeta, because you are the only one that can tell them of the world they never knew. And after how you helped them on Namek, they trust you. I trust you too."

Vegeta couldn't believe it and wanted so hard not to. That made his jealousy over Goku's transformation seem pointless. If the low-class warrior who had become a Super Saiyan before him respected him, then what more could he really ask for? Sure, he may not be able to lead them on this mud ball of a planet, but part of them did want to keep their heritage alive. Bulma wanted to help keep their heritage alive.

"I don't know," he said.

Bulma raised her eyebrow at him. "You don't know what?"

"I don't remember when my birthday is. I only remember a circular constellation appearing in Planet Vegeta's night sky that only appeared on my birthday before I was given to Frieza."

Bulma smirked. "That can work."

"What do you mean by that, woman?" Vegeta asked nervously.

"Don't worry about it," she replied. "It's my secret, for now. You're just going to have to trust me."

"That's what worries me."

Bulma giggled and then caught Vegeta off-guard by kissing him. When she moved to leave, Vegeta grabbed her wrist.

"Stay," he requested. Bulma nodded in response. The two of them walked back to his room and lied down on his bed. Vegeta closed his eyes and started rubbing Bulma's sides. He had never so at peace before in his life. He was content, almost happy. He felt Bulma's fingers running through his hair and massaging his scalp. It was comforting.

Bulma kissed his forehead, his jawline, and then moved to his lips. She smiled when she felt him kiss her back with equal passion if not more.

Vegeta knew very little about women, but he did know about the Saiyan mating process. He knew that once bonded, the next step was mating. Whatever fears he had outside on the terrace were erased when he felt her hands underneath his shirt stroking his back.

Goku knew what was going on; he could feel it. He let his goofy grin show as he and his son were flying with his wife back home.

"Dad, what's up?" Gohan asked.

Goku chuckled. "Nothing Gohan," he lied though with a smile on his face. "Nothing at all."

A/N: Sorry if this chapter sucked. Kind of been writing it over a few days with little sleep (my fault of course). I hope it flowed and was fluffy enough and wasn't too completely random. XD