Chapter 21: To Return

"Mate?!" Bulma exclaimed. She covered her mouth when she realized her voice had echoed through the many corridors. A blush spreading her nose as lowered her hand to mouth such a word under soft breath.

Trunks naturally blushed too, but eventually, he followed suit with a stern nod earning an awkward laugh from his mother. Bulma's eyes drifted to ceiling overhead.

To mate with Vegetto would fix everything. The idea itself was questionable at first but then again it did make sense. After all angry sex always was the best medicine after a fight. It is after all how Vegeta and herself lasted together after all these years.

"...Needed a good sparing."

Vegeta would call it whenever they performed their ritual dancing of sheets between their breathy gasps.

Bulma snickered out loud unknowingly.

"Who needs a good sparing?" Moori asked suddenly. His presence popping into the conversation and nearly causing Bulma to jump out of her skin. Bulma's mouth cracked into a hesitant smile.

"Oh - no one at all," Bulma waved laughing, "Just thinking out loud."

"Mother..." Trunks dragged tiredly. It sounded as if he was embarrassed to be aside her.

He of all people would know where her mind was leading her.

A perverted imagine of her laying in bed with a very naked Goku and Vegeta crawling towards her flashed into mind.

Right into the gutter.

Bulma's nose steamed but she shook it off.

Now was not the time.

"You said we had elders to meet?"

Moori nodded, and finally for what seemed like ages the three pressed on until they ended up in an entirely different area.

The grass finally dissipating and hard cover white flooring appeared before them. Lights shown over head, blinding eyesight but with a couple of blinks Bulma could see the rustling of white coats and Namekians that followed. Some of them were working at lab tables discussing the latest in crop and climate conditions while others worked at chemist stations.

When Moori made his presence known however – their work was silenced and all that were present gathered. Including three elderly ones spotting canes with beards that fell to floor. One tall, one plump, the other one somewhat in-between. What was most evident however was how they commanded the room with ease. Moori bowed, explaining their wishes and thankfully all permission was granted.

The dragon balls would be gathered and a wish would be procured from it.

Bulma and Trunks were eventually shown capsulized rooms where they could stay until the moment had arrived. The convent house itself included everything one would need to survive. Bathrooms,shower,kitchen, living room, and bed room. Something her father had insisted the Namekians take with them - Bulma was sure of it especially when she saw their logo sporting on the door outside it.

Trunks took spot at the dining table. He removed sword from around his body and rested it against the other frame of chair beside. His eyes closed searching for whatever had caused him to shudder so strongly before.

With a frustrated sigh, he opened them and whilst looking at no-one, in particular, spoke out to her for guidance.

"Still no sign of father."

Bulma wrapped her arms around her chest.

She didn't want to think the worst.

Nor did she want her son to be worried as well.

Bulma approached the table, and softly touched Trunk's right hand for emotional support.

"I'm sure he's fine – he probably got so irritated that his belly rumbled dry. Most likely he's at Chichi's stuffing his face in or something. He's got that Goku in him after all."

She smiled widely when Trunks squeezed back with his own toothy grin.

"Yeah your right."

"Of course I am. I am your mother after all."

It was times like this that brought comfort to her soul. Even if Vegeta or Vegetto disappeared from her heart. She would always had her son – right beside her. "Oh Trunks!" Bulma exclaimed so suddenly as if all her system finally collapsed on her. The tears that were held back finally fell upon her son's warm grasp.

Her son.

Her baby boy was gone.

Died trying to protect her.

If only she was stronger.

Thankfully the Mirai version of him was here and he was quick on his feet pulling her into a much needed comforting embrace.

"It's alright mom – I'm here." Bulma tearfully nodded into her son's left shoulder as she gripped onto him, tightly. She couldn't loose anyone else. She just wanted to go home. If only she could just go home and all of this was nothing more than some silly, silly dream.

If only.

X-X-X

Later after the tears had all but subsided. Bulma found herself brewing some coffee as she always did while Trunks had gone to take a nap. These days were becoming ever so draining. This trip was draining. Her emotions were draining. Vegetto was draining. Bulma groaned as she leaned against the counter. How was she ever going to handle such a man? Would she be able to?

It wasn't like she didn't have feelings for him. Even now just thinking about the way his lips burned against hers made her heart skip endlessly. She wanted to feel him close. To have his rough hands slide up her shirt and grasp hold of right breast. She wanted to feel him nip at neck as his buldge teased her from behind. Bulma moaned but as she did so she slammed right hand against kitchen countertop.

Hair frazzled.

Bulma scowled. She mustn't act like some horny school girl. There was a crisis at hand. A crisis!

Now was not the time. She shouldn't be laying her lamenting about her problems! She needed to be out in the field – researching and helping the Namekians with that big damn brain of hers!

With a deepening scowl, Bulma dumped her prized coffee and made way to head out the door. When it opened however Vegetto popped right in front of her – just as he always did. Sending her to her bum with a loud curse.

"Yo." He called to her despite the obvious glare.

"Just where the hell have you been?" She shouted as she rubbed her bum, and managed to get back to her feet. Without the help of a certain bumbling idiot.

"Oh just here and there." Vegetto said dismissively. Bulma groaned, crossing her arms.

"Well for your information Trunks was worried sick about you. You could have like – you know – popped back in a lot sooner. Gave me one less of a headache." Vegetto approached her and tapped her nose casually.

"Aw you were worried about me?"

"What?" Bulma blushed, slapping his hand away. "W-who said that?"

"Your face does." He breathed out and she tried to look away, sweating anxiously.

Unfortunately Vegetto probed closer, examining her, and his right thumb to grazed over left eye. "You were crying." It wasn't a question. Bulma's eyes lowered. "Trunks?" She nodded numbly. "I'm sorry I wasn't quick enough." Bulma's eye's widened at his words and she was drawn back to his face without hesitation.

Again he was apologizing!

She blinked back tears when his warm pillow-like lips pressed against her forehead.

This was Vegetto.

So caring, so different.

Foreign but appreciated.

Bulma wavered, but that slow-moving moment instantly shattered when his stomach growled loudly. "So Bulma, you wouldn't happen to have any food here would you?"

A vein appeared over head.

Out of all the things to say...

"Vegetto you idiot!"

He caught her hand effortlessly, laughing. "How can you think about food! We were all worried sick! You just poofed on us again! I told you how much I hated that! Can't you be a little more sensitive?"

"So you were worried too."

Bulma faltered sputtering but quickly recovered as she always did. Pulling her hand away and crossing her arms over chest defensively.

"Of course I was worried! Without you how would I get off this rotten planet?"

"I'm sure you would have figured out a way with that big foolish brain of yours."

"Foolish?" She echoed clearly insulted. "I happen to be a world renown genius back at home." She smugly proclaimed as always.

"Yes but here – you're clearly out of your element. Foolish Wo-man." He teased and she glared darkly. Bulma reached out to him, and grabbed a handful of his gi.

"Take that back now." She threatened dangerously, Vegetto simply smiled through her threat.

"Or what? What's a pip-squeak like you going to do?"

"Rock your world." She breathed out before pulling him down towards her and closing the gap between their lips. It was brief, but the moment left Vegetto stunned. Bulma smiled triumphantly.

Thankfully before Vegetto could utter a word Trunks barged in. His eyes traveling to a blank-faced Vegetto with glee.

"Father you've returned!" He exclaimed excitedly. He was met with silence from the hailed hero and it was then that Trunks looked between his mother and his father. A sweat drop rolled down his forehead. "Uh was I interrupting something?"

Bulma was the first to react.

It was a twitchy, sputtering response that made Trunks inwardly sigh.

His mother was so easy to read. "Right...Well when your done. Just let me know. I'll be in the next room. Just try to keep it down you-know."

"Thanks son." Vegetto replied soon after, thumbs upping Trunks and Bulma looked at him incredulously.

"Trunks there is nothing going on." Bulma said as a matter-of-factually. "Your father and I were just talking."

"So kissing is a form of talking now? Please educate me more." Vegetto replied, laughing ever so much much to Bulma's disdain. The bluenette found herself trying to clear her throat.

"Please feel free to stay." She told her son, despite the clear as day mischeviously grinning Saiyan beside her.

With an uneasy groan and a glance between the two Trunks decided to stay on his mothers good term.

He owed her that much.

"So father – the enemy – and that power level – was that you?"

Bulma couldn't help but draw her eyes to Vegetto by then. It was a question on both their minds equally especially when Bulma had sensed something so unsettling between the bond.

Vegetto face grew dark, tense, brows knotted, and fists curled. For a moment Bulma saw his ki grow around him before settling still and nothing.

There was a mometary mutual understanding between Trunks and Vegetto right then and there that Bulma realized the boy had been right all along. Vegetto had lost his temper and perhaps went and sought vengeance against those who had wrong him.

She took a step back skeptical.

"And what of the enemy?" She breathed out cautiously.

"Their dead." He replied coldly. His gaze was locked onto hers intensely now. "All of them. Dead."

Bulma shivered at his dangerous tone. Her eyes re-imagining what had happened at the tournament.

Dead bodies littering the area came to mind and Bulma found herself wheeling away – feeling burned.

Vegetto laughed. "What are you seriously afraid of me now woman? I did what I had to for our son. They took him from us so they damned well deserved it."

Bulma swallowed roughly at his scowling face.

It wasn't like he was wrong. He was right it just - the idea that all those people - just like that - gone - without a trace.

His energy flared again at her wavering form. "I will not let their actions grow unpunished! I don't care what you think of me! If I'm a monster so be it."

Bulma knew it was a lie especially from their many bouts before then. If Vegetto truely had a weakness it would be the fact that people kept rejecting who he was and what he became.

"Your lying." She told him flatly. Her shoulders dropping low as she made such an announcement. "I know it."

Vegetto didn't argue with that and with a long hestitant inward breath her decision was made and Bulma acted upon it. Moving back to his side, invading his personal space once more.

His energy was startling – nothing she had previosuly encountered before. She wasn't a fighter so her only experience with energy had been through Trunk's ascension and fighting that mirror version of herself. Both had not felt as dreadful as this.

Vegetto energy felt torn – broken – as if he had severed deep inside from the loss of his son.

Through their bond - Bulma felt him wavering...All that power and still he managed to let one of his own slip away.

His energy snapped out at her for invading her mind but it didn't hurt her. Just make her a little skittish as her hair blew back from such a strong gust.

Yet Bulma knew it was all a front especially when Trunks of all people made no sign to intervene. It was clear Vegetto wasn't a threat - just trying to scare her away at best. But not this time. Bulma swore as she shook her head and mustered the courage to press a kiss upon Vegetto's cheek before rounding his face and pressing lips to his own.

His ki dropped immediately from her actions and when something wet hit the bridge of her nose - Bulma pulled away confused. That was until she realized a lone tear had fallen as his eyes shimmered full of love. Bulma laughed, closing her eyes and smiled brightly.

"Thank you for avenging our son. You did well." She told him before opening her eyes and laughing again. "I am so blessed to have someone so strong in my life. A real keeper."

It was then that Vegetto laughed a grand smile and pulled her close.

Another kiss was shared between the two that Trunks couldn't help but to smile as well.

After all he had never seen his mother and father so close but now he could proudly say he had.

Finally after all these years...This is what it meant to be a family.

A real family.