Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Dragonball Z

This is it, the final chapter. Please enjoy :)

Bardock's story

Chapter 21: Raditz's arrival

"Hey! Move!"

Unsuspecting saiyans walking in and out of the medical centre were forced against the walls as one of their people dashed in at lightning speed. Many of them were annoyed to be pushed aside by an impatient young man. Then, they were made even more annoyed when four more young saiyans raced in after their friend

"Hey, Bardock!" Tora shouted, "Wait up!"

"NO! He's here!"

"Who's here?" Borgos asked, loudly.

"Kayla and Bardock's baby" Fasha replied.

After just over nine months of waiting, Kayla's pregnancy was finally coming to an end and Bardock was eager to get to her before it was too late.

It had been like a whirlwind since that day the King laid in to Bardock. The last thing the scarred warrior remembered, before stepping out of a healing pod, was Kayla standing between him and Vegeta and announcing she was pregnant. After her announcement, Bardock finally passed out after struggling from King Vegeta's attacks. When he stepped out of the healing pod and dried, Kayla was waiting for him.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" She asked.

"Better," He replied, "Though still in shock."

Kayla smiled, "From what? Being saved by a girl or finding out you're going to be a father?"

"Well, if you had been just a few seconds later, you wouldn't have saved me. So don't be too smug."

"Well, I did consider just standing there and watching while the King blasted you from existence."

"So what made you jump in?" Bardock asked, knowingly.

Kayla smiled a little more, "You know why, you great lump."

Then, suddenly, Kayla wrapped her arms around Bardock's neck and buried her face in his skin.

"I really thought you weren't going to make it," She sighed, "King Vegeta didn't exactly hold back."

"Ha, I'm tougher than that. He's powerful for sure but I'm stronger than people think. Anyway, he was furious that you chose me instead of him."

"Well, he's not angry anymore."

Bardock gently moved her so he could look in her contented eyes. His eyebrow cocked questioningly. Kayla smiled, knowing what he wanted to hear, then began to explain

After everyone left, King Vegeta sat down on his throne. He looked preoccupied as he rested his head on his fisted hand, elbow propped on the arm of the throne.

"It seems we have much to talk about."

Kayla nodded, ready for anything the King wanted to say. She walked over and sat herself on the steps in front of the throne. For a few moments, she wasn't sure if she should start the conversation or not. She just stared in to Vegeta's eyes as his stared back. Luckily, the King answered her question.

"So, you met Bardock before you met me?"

Kayla nodded.

"How long?"

"A few weeks, sire. We'd seen each other a few times before we actually introduced ourselves."

"You got along well?"

"Yes, I can't say how, but I really liked him from that first introduction. The feeling was clearly mutual."

The King lowered his and his gaze shifted to be looking at his knees.

"So, that evening we met, you had already formed an attachment to Bardock?"

Kayla nodded. She could see that the King certainly upset by what she was telling him. But she could also see that he cared about her. Why else would he be so upset about the situation?

"Vegeta, I'm sorry for hurting you. When we met, I was attracted to you. Why wouldn't I be? Any saiyaness would. You are a great King and a great saiyan. But Bardock already has my heart. Now, I'm carrying his child. As great as you are, I've made my choice."

For a few moments, the throne room was silent. Kayla waited with baited breath. King Vegeta just sat, deep in thought. There was no telling what he was going to say next.

Finally, Vegeta lifted his head. But Kayla's eyes widened with what she saw. The King was smiling.

"I never stood a chance," He said, "Did I?"

Kayla just shook her head with a slight smile.

"Very well, like you said, any saiyaness would be honoured to be queen. But I was just too late, so there's nothing more to do."

Kayla watched as Vegeta's smile grew. She stared, in disbelief at his face, trying to decipher what was saying. Then she saw it.

"Do you mean…?"

"Go, find Bardock and start that new life of yours."

A huge overwhelmed smile appeared right across Kayla's face as she realised what the King was doing.

"He's let it go. We can be together."

Suddenly the medical centre erupted with excited laughter as Bardock pulled Kayla closer, hugging in celebration.

Since that eventful day, the two young saiyans had found a little home, just big enough for three, quickly making it their own. Over the months, Kayla's abdomen grew larger and more rounded as the baby grew. Things got tense towards the end of the pregnancy and Bardock was anxious to be there when the baby was born. But yesterday, he and his team were sent to a new planet to conquer it, meaning Kayla was alone when her labour began. Now Bardock was desperately running to get to his mate before the baby arrived.

As Bardock got closer to Kayla's room, his ears were alerted to the sound of a crying baby. The crying was loud and the baby sounded very irate. But when Bardock finally reached the door, the crying died away. He stopped for a few seconds as Tora and the others reached him. They also stopped, looking at Bardock, confused.

"What's the problem?" Fasha asked.

But Bardock didn't answer. Tora however could see what was wrong. The reality of becoming a father had finally hit him.

"Bardock, just get your ass in there," He chuckled, "Standing here won't get any answers."

The scarred warrior looked up in to his best friend's face and saw Tora was right, as ever. He smiled slightly then lifted his tail towards his old friend. Tora saw the gesture and smiled back, lifting his tail too. Just like when they first met, the two warriors knocked their tails together. Then, with a deep sigh, Bardock stepped in to the room.

The sight that greeted him almost took his breath away. It was one of the most beautiful scenes he'd ever seen. Over on a bed, Kayla laid back, her head and torso tilted up enough to sit her up a bit. Her long black hair was loose, a little messy and her bangs were wet with her sweat. Her bright green eyes looked exhausted but Bardock could see the pride in her emeralds. Then he saw it. Laid on his mother's chest, making very little noise compared to a few moments ago, was Bardock's new son. The tiny saiyan was already latched on to one of Kayla's breasts, suckling. His hands were fisted next to his mother's skin and his tail was curled. Kayla had a hand on her baby's head and the other on his back, holding him tenderly. After a few moments, she turned her head and gave Bardock a tired but warm smile.

"It's about time you got here," She teased, "You missed the 'best' bit."

"Well, I'm here now." Bardock replied, jokingly.

"Yes, you are. So are you coming over to say hi or what?"

With a light chuckle, Bardock stepped over to her side and got a closer look at his boy.

The baby was happily suckling when he realised that he and his mother weren't alone. As he suckled, his eyes moved to look at Bardock. His eyes were dark, like Bardock's and his skin was roughly the same as his father too. There was already some spiky black hair on his head. With a small proud smile on his face, Bardock lowered himself until he was looking the baby right in his eyes.

"Hey, little guy," He said, "You couldn't wait to get out here, could ya? I was only a few minutes away."

"But you made it," Kayla pointed out.

Carefully, Bardock reached over and touched his son's head. The little boy followed the hand with his eyes then looked back at his father. That's when Bardock noticed exactly how much hair his son had. It slicked back and ran all the way down his back to his knees.

"Hey, he's mostly hair!" Bardock commented, slight shock in his voice.

"I wondered how long it'd be before you noticed," Kayla giggled, "He must have got that from me. Well, it's length at least."

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Well, all he needs now is a name."

"Hmm, well when I was a kid; there was this guy who worked at the training centre near my home. He was like my mentor. He was called Raditz, great guy."

Kayla looked in to her son's face, eventually smiling. "I love it. Raditz"

The two new parents turned to each other and kissed sweetly as Raditz finished suckling and fell asleep. With a name for the little saiyan, Bardock and Kayla could now begin to enjoy their new lives together.

The End

Well, that is that. I just want to thank everyone who has followed this story right from the start and to everyone who reviewed. I've been humbled by the response to this story and am grateful to all of you.

For those who are interested, the sequal to this story (called Their Story) is already up and completed so please enjoy that too.