I would insert a customary Author's Note here, but I can't think of anything to write other than this obvious line stating that I don't know what to write for an Author's Note.

WARNING: I threw in a lemon at the end of the chapter: dirty talk, foreplay, and penetration. Mildly (or very, I dunno?) smutty but still tastefully grilled. (Sorry, KimiruMai. I lied.)

Enjoy the chapter!

Meanwhile, in a cave on the other side of the planet…

A guttural growl reverberated in the distant, and a pair of tired black eyes flew open at the sound of it. The holder of those eyes let out a tiny gasp and scooted deeper into the cave, pressing himself against the hard rock as if it could provide him with a sense of security. The feral roar of the Namekian dinosaur loudened and neared the cave he was currently seeking refuge in. His ears strained to hear the movements of the reptile as he desperately prayed that the beast could not sense him in there.

Heavy, monstrous feet treaded towards the cave's opening and plunged into a puddle of slush. The growling stopped just as it reached the entrance and the dinosaur glared dangerously into the dark perimeter. Shrouded in blackness, frightened beady eyes watched the predator from the shadows, not daring to make even a squeak. He knew for a fact that the reptiles were colour-blind but lucky for his kind, his individual scent was similar to any other plant that consumed water. As far as he was concerned, he did not smell like delicious meat.

Moments passed and the bored reptile turned and carried on its journey elsewhere. He did not release the breath he was holding until he was sure the dinosaur was far and beyond from his vicinity. Once affirmed, he sank to the cold, hard ground and hugged his knees. He buried his face into them and quietly wept; for his people and what has become of him.

It was miserable being the last of his kind, and possibly the sole survivor on this wasted planet.

Of all the blessings life can bring, I've always needed something.

I need you like water, like breath, like rain.

I need you like mercy from Heaven's gate.

I Need You – LeAnn Rimes

2 months since the reconciliation…

The suns of Namek rose and set in a vicious daily cycle. Some days were rainy, most days were scorching. However, when one hadn't been paying enough attention, one would not have noticed the two months that flew by, the changes in weather or even the shift in temperature. But who had the time to consider their surroundings when there were more important things to tend to?

Important things like a growing baby who required sustenance every hour, and a life-size baby who required constant attention nearly every other hour when he wasn't drowning himself with training.

A gloomy, rainy dawn greeted the terrains with light shadows. Flying space birds graced the skies and scurrying land creatures went on about their morning rituals. Within a dark cave, the barren planet's notorious couple slumbered soundly in each others' arms. Bulma was lying on her side and facing a sleeping Vegeta when a sharp kick struck her just above the pelvic bone. She woke up with an abrupt start and winced, groaning softly as she grimaced. Her unexpected commotion roused her grumpy sleeping partner.

An eyelid fluttered open to reveal a dark eye. Vegeta watched Bulma in his half-sleep state, and when he was a little bit more focused, realised she was in pain. He propped himself up on an elbow and gripped firmly at her waist to serve as leverage for the throbbing. As the pain receded into a dull ache, she smiled weakly at him. She remained still for a few seconds, gathering the strength and focus to regulate her breathing. Once she has regained control, she sagged back into the mattress and mouthed a 'thank you' to her man before shutting her eyes and snuggling up against his warmth.

He embraced her tightly and mused in silence. It felt strange to handle a pregnant mate, considering how soft he had to lower himself to when he was around her fragile yet explosive frame. He briefly sneered at his own weakness but after that disgusting worm episode, he knew he'd go all out to see Bulma free from pain.

Closing his eyes, he slowly released a breath and frowned. Some time through their dysfunctional relationship, he'd admitted that she has successfully wormed her way into his psyche, a place where no other could. She even became his weakness and because of this, he would have to ensure that she would be his only flaw. He sighed inaudibly, imagining his father laughing and mocking him in the other world; the last of the Saiyan Prince, downgraded to a monster's slave, then taking in an alien woman and making babies with her.

He pulled Bulma closer to his chest and snuggled into the back of her hair. He agitatedly shook the fabricated ridicule out of his head and scowled. His grip on Bulma tightened a little bit more protectively and allowed sleep to claim them for another hour. Nobody ridiculed him or his life decisions; not even the dead.

On another part of the planet…

Black eyes cracked open as sunlight poured into the empty Namekian house in an abandoned village. Sitting upright, five-year-old little Dende lifted a chubby hand to block out the glare, and then rubbed the sleepiness off his eyes. He yawned loudly, smacking his lips as he ran his tongue across the roof of his dry mouth.

A brand new day has arrived, but the same old situation remained.

His planet was a large mass of blue and green, but even he could tell that his beloved home was slowly dying. Blue leaves that once flourished were turning a crisp red and brown, while waters were becoming murky from its usual glistening clearness; a sign of severe dehydration and pollution. The animals that roamed the land were meeting their imminent doom, and there was only so much healing that he could do to help. Though the worst part about it all was not the condition of the planet, but rather the cruel reality that there was nothing he could do to save it.

The day Frieza left, Dende found himself lying in the crevice of a rocky mountain not too far from the initial battle premise. He woke up feeling pain all over, and when he tried to move, he discovered that his leg was broken caused by the rocks that crushed it. He healed himself and then immediately went into hiding. He stayed away for the remainder of the day, losing himself in the grief that Frieza has wrecked upon him, his family, and his world. His young mind didn't understand why or how, but his heart felt every twinge of pain that sliced through it. That night, he cried himself to sleep.

Months came and went. His morale became devastatingly low and whatever mystical powers his little frame contained to help him survive was dwindling. But he would not give up finding the others, so he searched and never stopped searching. In the first two months, he successfully covered a small fraction of the planet but found nothing and no one. By the third month, his hopes were ultimately crushed when he stumbled upon a settlement that was pillaged, just like the others. The only thing that separated this village from the rest was that here, his brothers' bodies were strewn all over and left to rot.

He figured this was the village that the Saiyan soldier destroyed in order to attain the Dragon Ball. The rugged alien even admitted to it when they had been forced allies. No matter, he thought as he painfully piled their decayed bodies together in a huge hole he'd dug, one that took him nearly three days to finish, considering his size and strength. Deeply saddened to have found them like this, he cried silently and muttered his love and sympathies as he covered their bodies with soil.

Five-year olds should not have to endure this.

Dende snapped out of his forlorn daydream and hopped down the bed that once belonged to his fellow Namekian. He didn't know who it belonged to but it gave him a sense of closeness to his kin. He dragged his feet as he walked out of the house, heading towards the well to fetch some water. He cleaned himself up and had a little bit to fill his stomach. Once he was relatively full, he prepared himself to set on his search again.

The little boy inhaled sharply as he looked up into the sky, his hand shielding his eyes from the fierce glare. He looked away and blinked tiredly; he was exhausted and weak. This morning, he'd decided that he'd continue to venture north. It may take him only a little over two weeks, considering he was already halfway there. He prayed and hoped that this time he would stumble upon someone.

13 days later…

The morning suns shone on the ground where the notorious couple resided on. Fresh out from the showers, Bulma shuffled on her feet and trudged out of the cave with a hand pressed against her aching back and the other cradling her heavy frontal load. Seven months along, and while things seemed to be getting better, their sucky situation still remained. It wouldn't be too long before rescue came. She took in deep and steady breaths as she walked, silently berating her other half who was utilising the gravity simulator as she passed the spaceship.

She grumbled under her breath as would a nagging old grouch. While she was consciously aware of her mood swings, she would still complain about the heat, the mild pain in her injured leg, the distance which she was about to make, the man inside the spaceship, and nearly anything and everything annoying she could think of. Bulma treaded a few metres away from the vessel and stopped just at the edge of a miniature crop field which she made herself.

Ever since Vegeta's near-death hunting incident, she had vowed to grow their own food, if only to keep him away from getting into freak accidents again. But certain circumstances which happened after that prevented her from doing so until now. What more with the baby on the way, she would need all the healthy sustenance she could get.

Bulma walked in between the rows of Namekian crop and carefully lowered to her knees. She knelt before them, checking on their condition as she cradled and bounced the leaves and fruits in her palms. Satisfied, she smiled proudly at her growing produce and silently thanked her mother for imparting her gardening tips.

It wasn't that difficult to source for the vegetable seeds and the seeds of her favourite fruit, really. All she had to do was have Vegeta get her the fruits and some edible leafy greens, then extract the seeds and roots, plant them, and voila. She admitted that her crops were somewhat pitiful, even Vegeta had very graciously pointed that out to her. But they were growing fine and they were hers, and she would care for them for as long as they were on the planet. She sighed contentedly as she looked around the green and blue canopy of her farm. This was how she spent most of her mornings; at least she had something to do while Vegeta trained.

Hunched over and focused on her farm, Bulma was oblivious to the sudden rustling in the shrubs. The movement darted closer to where she was and only then she realised and reacted to the abrupt shift in the air. She lifted her head and turned to stare wide-eyed and cautiously into the distance. She caught sight of a vicious dog-like creature covered in black and dark blue fur just at the other side of the field. She stiffened.

The beast growled low, its mouth pulled back to reveal its stained pointy fangs. Bulma gulped as chills ran up and down her spine. She was frozen to the core. Her fight-or-flight response kicked in and her brain went into overdrive, but given her condition, there was no way she'd win this brawl no matter what she did.

She slowly got up on her feet and dawdled on her heels, removing herself from her spot. The beast carefully treaded forward and preyed upon her, grunting its pleasure and licking its sharp, jagged teeth excitedly at the sight of the thick, juicy piece of meat. Bulma whimpered, her bottom lip quivering, her eyes watery. She couldn't possibly run; the creature would no doubt catch up to her and maul her to death; but she couldn't just stand there and let it approach her either. Her mind flew to Vegeta and wondered would he have been able to hear her over the gravity waves if she had screamed.

A fat tear rolled down her cheek and she sniffled. She desperately amplified her panic and prayed that Vegeta sensed it. She cradled her belly, consciously protecting her child as she took steady steps backwards. She was getting closer to the edge of the farm and the spaceship when her ankle caught an up-coiled branch, its edges slicing her flesh. She yelped and fell backwards.

Fortunately, the heel of her palms broke her fall and supported the weight of her pregnant body.

Unfortunately, the hungry beast exploited her momentary dropped guard and took the advantage to descend upon her.

Bulma shrieked in terror and scooted away frantically as the creature pounced from its spot. She turned and positioned her body in such a way that the beast would not be able to target her stomach first. Eyes clenched and heart pulsating, she waited for the pain. But the pain didn't come as a howling little green Piccolo jumped out from behind a rock and intercepted the beast in midflight, tackling it to the ground.

The woman watched in horror as the little Namekian and the creature wrestled. The animal bit into the child's arm, piercing its flesh and the boy howled. In the other end of the field, the spaceship gave a clank and hum of the spaceship decreased. A hissing was heard and the beast realised that another being was fast approaching. It whimpered its inevitable defeat and hightailed out of there, leaving the Namekian with multiple teeth gashes.

Vegeta was absorbed into his training when he sensed Bulma's distress. He quickly dropped whatever he was doing and without even waiting for the gravity to lower down to a safe level, rushed towards the entrance and slammed on the open-door button. He nearly tore down the main door to get to her. He knew she was in her little garden, but until he heard her shrieks, he never expected her to be in any danger. After all, he was only a few steps away.

When the ram finally peeled open with enough space for him to squeeze through it, he practically flew to the scene, charging an energy ball in his palm in the process. His eyes glinted with battle lust as he caught sight of the green enemy. He snarled and a wave of energy burst through him, poised to attack; he didn't care what it was but he was ready for the kill.

"VEGETA, WAAAIT!" Bulma screamed at the top of her lungs as soon as she realised Vegeta's intention.

The Saiyan abruptly discharged his attack and covered his ears. He whipped around to face Bulma and barked, "Goddammit, woman! Control your volume!"

"Don't hurt him!" she cried frustratingly, her eyes darting between Vegeta and the frightened Namekian child who was cowering behind one of the vegetable rows.

Perplexed, Vegeta turned towards the direction of the intruder and saw two tiny green antennas and peeping black eyes camouflaging behind the shrubs. His eyes narrowed into slits and he approached him with a scowl, successfully scaring off the little guy and making him dart out of sight.

"Hey! Show yourself, foul creature!"

"Vegeta, stop scaring him!" Bulma chided from the ground, wincing in pain as she finally realised that her ankle was bleeding.

"That's the whole point, now stop interrupting me!" Vegeta threw over his shoulder, securing his glare on the tiny frame that was still hiding. He continued to intimidate the child, "Come out or I'll go in there and haul you out. Trust me, you don't want things to go that far."

The little guy swallowed and finally revealed himself. Vegeta's eyes widened a little, gleaming with recognition the moment the boy stood up. It was that darn kid who had refused to heal him. He scowled and his eyes narrowed even more dangerously at that recollection. The boy shook visibly under Vegeta's murderous glare. He nervously looked to the human female for help, whom he vaguely remembered.

"Stop being a bully, Vegeta, you're only making things worse!" Bulma scolded as she studied the little guy. She, too, vaguely recognised him but she had an idea who he was. So forgetting Vegeta, who was sputtering in disbelief for trying to help, she smiled warmly at the child.

"Hey, little guy. Don't be scared, it's okay," she pacified in spite of her bleeding ankle. She tried her best to keep the boy calm before luring him towards her. But his tiny feet were practically rooted to the ground as he stared apprehensively between the two grownups.

"Did anyone else come with you?" Bulma pressed, wanting very much to stand up and pull the hopelessly lost-looking boy into her arms.

The boy looked at the ground sadly and shook his head with a small pout. Standing by the side, Vegeta scoffed, rolled his eyes, and folded his arms agitatedly.

In spite of Vegeta's insensitivity, Bulma smiled sadly. She tried easing the tension a little and introduced themselves, "I'm Bulma and that is Big Bad Vegeta. He's scary, but you don't have to be afraid of him because he's all bark and no bite. What's your name?"

"Woman, shut up or I will eat you!" Vegeta defended angrily, no innuendo intended but only to prove that he could bite. Bulma shot him a nasty look nevertheless but otherwise refrained from saying anything as she waited for the child to respond.

The boy lifted his head shyly and darted his eyes to a scowling Vegeta, his thin lips suppressing a smile. He looked back at Bulma and a tinge of purple formed in his cheeks as he spoke for the first time in months.

"I'm Dende," he introduced, his boyish, little voice raspy due to being underused.

Bulma gave a huge smile and motioned him forward, which he did after a few seconds of hesitancy. He approached her in small steps, anxiously looking between Vegeta and the ground, then to Bulma and back. The Saiyan kept his glare on him, his dark eyes purposely following the boy's movements to set him on the edge.

"I can heal your ankle," Dende stopped before Bulma and meekly offered, successfully garnering an incredulous snarl from the grumpy Saiyan.

'So now he offers help!' Vegeta sneered bitterly, scowling hard at the Namekian child.

However, after having seen firsthand what the boy was capable of, he allowed it. In fact, he felt kind of bad for not noticing that Bulma had hurt herself. So he observed the interaction between them, with Dende kneeling by his woman's side and working his magic. He didn't miss the huge and relief smile on her face as she awed at the boy's skills.

As he watched the exchange, an epiphany came to him and told him that maybe keeping the green brat around wouldn't be such a bad idea after all. It would be a waste to not exploit the kid's powers considering how prone to injuries Bulma was; plus, he'd make an excellent alternative outlet for the woman to vent her horrendous mood swings on.

"Puny Namek," he grunted and both Dende and Bulma looked over, "While you're at it, heal the rest of her as well." Dende's eye grew at his demand and Vegeta felt compelled to explain, so he growled out, "She was involved in… various accidents."

Bulma's eye twinkled and her heart swelled at the very notion of Vegeta trying to be caring. She bit her inner lip to contain her giddiness and told herself that she'd tease and reward him later for it. She looked at Dende with bright blue eyes and politely asked, "Will you do it for me, Dende?"

Dende smiled back, nodded eagerly, and told Bulma to lie down on the ground and relax. Vegeta continued to watch them from the side, observing the way the purple magical waves flowed over Bulma's body. The shift in her eyes was a telltale sign that she felt the change taking its course.

Two minutes later and Bulma was as good as new. All her past wounds, inner and outer, were healed. She thanked the boy and slowly moved to get up, taking pleasure in her rejuvenated body. She struggled to stand but otherwise did not look to Vegeta for help. Instead, she flashed him another nasty look.

Dende assisted her and briefly wondered about the growing life he sensed within her. He knew for a fact that Earthlings did not produce asexually, the late Grand Elder had enlightened him that much during the invasion. So he turned to the only other being that could have helped in the procreation process; he looked at Vegeta, whose dark eyes caught his own in an angry glower, and he fearfully turned away.

"Why don't you come inside, Dende? You need a bath and some rest," Bulma offered as she looked down fondly at the boy, already feeling attached to him. He was just so small in size, barely up to her mid-thigh. He was even smaller than Gohan, as far as she could remember.

"Nooo," Vegeta drawled out irately, snapping her out of her daydream.

She turned to face her lover and warned, "Vegeta…"

"No!"

"Vegeta!"

"That little green thing is not sleeping in the house!"

"Oh and where do you suppose he should sleep then, hmm? Don't forget that I dragged your half-dead carcass across the land and let you sleep in the house, too!" She stomped towards him, hands planted firmly on her hips.

"I don't care. He's not staying!" he snapped, ignoring her insulting remark as he leered closer to her face.

"I care, so he's staying!" She fought back, eyes flaring angrily as she tip-toed a little to meet his nose.

"Then you stay here with him because I'm out!" he turned away, folded his arms angrily, and glared into the distance.

"Fine, you can sleep in the freaking spaceship!" she spat and grabbed Dende's tiny hand, "Come on, Dende."

She stormed past Vegeta with Dende in tow, ignoring the baffled expression on the Saiyan's face as he sputtered incredulously at her audacity. He scowled and stalked angrily after her, his hands clenched into fists.

"You can't make me sleep in the spaceship, woman!" he argued, his ultimatum clearly not working on Bulma. He didn't really want out; he just wanted Bulma to want Dende out.

Bulma came to an abrupt halt, causing Vegeta to nearly ram into her back with Dende trapped in between them. She turned around and smiled deviously at him, saying, "I may not be able to make you sleep in the spaceship, but nevertheless you'll be sleeping somewhere else and not here!"

With that said, she turned around again and dragged a clueless Dende into the living hall bathroom. The door was left open, so Vegeta slumped against the frame with arms firmly folded as he glared at the duo. He watched Bulma fuss over Dende, who was trying not to squirm as she stripped him down bare and washed him like the dirty child that he was. Vegeta rolled his eyes and turned away, but continued to stare at them from the corner of his eyes as he sulked.

Dende wisely dared not further incur Bulma's wrath at this point of time and remained still, not especially when Vegeta was standing there glowering at him with every intention to bury him in the ground like a plant. The rowdy Saiyan had once given him a beating when he'd refused to heal him; he didn't want a re-enactment of that episode again. Once she was done with him, Vegeta straightened up and barked, "Alright, that's done. Out, boy!"

Her buttons were roughly pushed and she finally reached her breaking point. Bulma closed her eyes and took in deep breaths through her nose, her lips tightly pressed into a thin line. She steadied herself and gently pushed Dende to the side, motioning for him to stay put before she turned to face Vegeta. She approached the grouchy Saiyan and poked him in the chest. He allowed her to push him backwards as they exited the small bathroom. She closed the door behind her and whispered angrily.

"Listen here, you unreasonable Saiyan. Dende is a survivor like us and he's probably the last of his kind. It is a work of miracle that he found us on this large planet after so many months, so as long as it is within my power, I will not let him wander out there alone. We both know the kind of monsters that lurk out there, and I don't want to even imagine the things he has gone through to stay alive. I am grateful that he's stumbled upon us, so I don't care what you think, I am not letting him go back outside."

Vegeta quieted but his scowl remained as his brain worked towards that logic. Call it empathy on Bulma's part and apathy on his, but he still saw no reason for Dende to be sleeping in the same living space as them. He only saw the boy as a burden and an intrusion of his personal space… and his space with Bulma. His scowl deepened, bordering into a pout, at that last notion. It was unacceptable.

Naturally, as a genius, Bulma finally pieced the puzzle together and understood why Vegeta was being so stubborn; so she relented, deciding to let his opinions matter for once and compromise. She wound her hands around his neck and pulled him as close as her belly allowed. He responded by slipping his hands around her waist, briefly wondering what brought on this sudden change in demeanour.

Bulma smiled slyly and her harsh whisper altered to an octave higher. She spoke huskily, "Hey, I know you feel strongly about not wanting Dende to sleep in the house, I still won't throw him out, though. But I can let him sleep in one of the large vessels I have; it'll fit him just fine. That way, he won't… hinder us from our playtime," she eyed him seductively, not knowing what that look sparked within him. She planted a soft kiss on the corner on his sealed lips and then pulled back a little, "What do you say?"

Surprised but not shocked, he was glad that Bulma has finally caved and solved the problem, and even so, he wouldn't show his pleasure. But as much as he wanted to give in to his desires at the moment, he gripped on her hips and gently pushed her away. He folded his arms angrily, but his scowl has softened into a frown. He curtly muttered, "Do what you want."

Bulma smirked knowingly and winked at him. He merely rolled his eyes in response and walked away to continue his training, satisfied that his objective has been met. The blue-haired woman shook her head and did an eye-roll herself at Vegeta's retreating back. She mentally berated him for his peevishness but also found it to be amusing at the same time. It was great that he has finally opened up to her, albeit a little, but even that little could be suffocating at times.

Once the Saiyan was out of the cave, Bulma went to retrieve Dende from the bathroom. She opened the door and almost slapped herself when she saw the boy curled up in the corner of the wet floor, looking lost but adorably cute, and freezing to the core. He looked up at her almost pleadingly, his tiny teeth chattering as he spoke.

"C-can I come out n-now? I-I'm c-cold."

The multiracial group of three aliens sat by the fire grill as they prepared for their evening meal. Vegeta chose not to have his food cooked today, so he simply bit into his bloody piece of raw meat. Meanwhile, Bulma watched her sizable slab of meat sizzle on the grill and Dende sat quietly with a large bowl of water in his hands. He settled on the side of her, away from Vegeta, for obvious reasons. The boy took little sips and watched the two grownups mull over all that he had told them.

Bulma made him tell his story. She wanted to know what happened to him from the day Frieza left the planet till the time he stumbled upon them. Vegeta, however, wasn't in the least bit interested but listened anyway, though he graciously threw in his two cents. He told the boy to not keep his hopes up in finding any Namekian survivors; because they were all dead. That much, he could confirm.

This garnered him a backhanded slap on the arm from Bulma, who then threatened him with no sex for as long as she pleased if he said anymore nasty or mean things to Dende. Reluctantly, he kept his mouth shut. So here he was, gnawing his food in displeasure as he waited for nightfall. He would make her pay tonight for daring to threaten the mighty Saiyan Prince.

Dinner ended almost abruptly. The day had been one of their most mentally draining one and everyone was equally exhausted. Also, Bulma wanted Dende to settle in as quickly as possible so that he could get all the sleep he had been deprived of.

She decapsulated one of her mediocre planes and placed it several metres from the house, nearer to the mouth of the cave but away from prying eyes. The planed had a single cot much like the one she occupied before this. She tucked him in and watched him sleep, once again mulling over the things the boy said he had went through in the past several months.

'No five-year-old should have to go through what he had,' she thought sadly.

She was really grateful that he found them, and now that they were all here, she would make sure that they stayed together. Bulma thought it was strange that Vegeta hadn't sensed him before, but she supposed it was because the boy had been too weak for him to detect. Having Dende here only made her realise the possibilities that there could be more survivors out there, but she wouldn't hold her breath.

The boy fell asleep almost instantly and Bulma smiled. The wonders the sense of security could do to a small child. She sighed, dimming the light in the sizable hangar. She quietly climbed out and shut the door gently behind her.

She straightened her clothes and slowly shuffled towards the house, cradling and rubbing her stomach protectively. After putting the Namekian child to sleep, it was time to tend to the other baby who was most likely sulking in the house. Bulma had sensed Vegeta's immediate withdrawal after she threatened him over dinner, and unsurprisingly, was expecting a lewd confrontation from him come bedtime. Somehow, she already knew how the night would end; hot and steamy for sure, but she wasn't going to let him off that easily.

She was able to tolerate his insensitivity all those months ago when he told her that her friends were dead, considering the kind of person he was – crude, selfish, and bordering evil. But with that kind of attitude towards a child, she just couldn't – no matter how blunt and honest he was trying to be.

Bulma entered the dimly lit room and quietly closed the door behind her. She eyed the sleeping figure that was under the blanket before proceeding into the bathroom to get ready for bed. She emerged a few minutes later, donning an oversized and comfortable t-shirt which Vegeta used to wear.

The Saiyan lied on his side, deliberately showing her his back and pretending to be asleep. He was still sore to say the least. The woman climbed in and joined him, slinking into his back as closely as she could get. She slipped her hands around his torso and planted kisses on his shoulder, attempting to rouse him. She knew that he wasn't sleeping.

"Thank you," she whispered into ear as her kisses reached the back of his jaw, the angle just below his earlobe.

Vegeta's eyes popped open and then immediately narrowed into slits. 'There she goes again with the gratitude.' It was something that still baffled him till this day. He shifted and threw a look behind his shoulder, catching her eyes and lifting a questioning brow as he did so.

"For having Dende heal my injuries. I always knew you cared."

He eyed her for a few seconds, frowned, and then 'hmphed' before dropping his head back down onto the pillow. He closed his eyes and growled in his defence, "I do not care. I just don't want you to bitch about pain all the time. You're annoying. Go to sleep."

"I don't bitch. And you don't have to be mean about it," she argued and lied down on her side of the bed. How was she going to tell him off when he was always acting like a mean old grouch?

"That reminds me," he suddenly pushed himself up and rolled over, startling Bulma. She yelped as he climbed over her, planting both hands on either side of her head and leaning down to her face, "What you thought I said to the Namek kid was nasty, was only the truth. You should know by now… I don't lie."

"I know you don't, but he's only a-" Bulma tried stating in Dende's defence but he cut her off.

"A child? Don't you think I understand where he's coming from?" he growled, ignoring the perplexed look on his woman's face. He paused for a second as Bulma's eyes widened with realisation, and then struggled to say what he was about to admit to the only person he ever learned to trust, "I was like him… a mere child when I lost everything. How do you think I lived through it?" he hissed angrily, his fists clenching the sheets beside her head. But then he softened at the sight of her eyes, "I accepted reality and moved on. He should, too. At least he wouldn't be enslaved," he finished, the last word barely a whisper.

He stopped talking about his past and left it at that. His fingers brushed away her strayed fringes and then buried them in her hair. After he shed light on his past, even the smallest fraction of it, Bulma's perspective of him altered. Her heart swelled with pain and pride for the man before her, and she gave him a smile before wounding her hands around his muscular neck. He leaned down to peck on her lips and then moved to suckle her neck to build her up for what he had reserved for her.

"However, those aren't the only nasty things I can say," he whispered huskily against her tender skin and she moaned.

"Mmm… what other nasty things can you say?" she responded, sensually rubbing his arms up and down.

"Like the things I'm about to say – about what I'll be doing to you," he smirked sexily, "It's going to be so nasty you're going to wet yourself just from hearing them."

"Oh, do your worst, your highness," she praised him in a sultry voice, playing along and further inciting his passion.

"You're going to love what I do to you with my tongue," he implied and buried a hand in her pants, his tongue licking a hardened nipple through the fabric of her shirt. His fingers found her sensitive nub and he pressed on it, eliciting an appreciative moan from her pouty lips.

"I'm going to fuck you so hard and hold you down as you come until you beg for air," he suggested lewdly and moved to capture her lips in a deep searing kiss, his fingers massaging rapidly on her clit. Bulma swallowed hard and her breathing quickened at the words enunciated through his guttural, husky voice. She pressed her legs together to ease the pressure but Vegeta kept them apart with his knees.

Her hands clutched at his shirt desperately and he pried them away, very roughly pinning them above her head. She allowed him to dominate her as she delightedly writhed beneath him. She didn't what he had in store for her, but whatever may come, she'd be more than happy to just lay back and enjoy the ride. As far as she knew, the kinky bastard has never failed to excite her.

Vegeta's fingers felt further south, rubbing the lips of her moist entrance and prodding them open before plunging in two thick digits. Bulma bucked at the sudden intrusion, mewling and gasping in ecstasy as he tortured her walls. He concentrated and fingered her roughly, taking pleasure in the sloshing of her wetness, her moans and sporadic panting. To heighten things up, he charged a tiny ounce of energy to his fingertips and zapped her inner walls. Bulma gasped aloud and stiffened for a second or two before her limbs collapsed. She curled violently and cried savagely into Vegeta's neck, holding onto him as she released and rode the waves of the phenomenal sensation he built.

Her cries set him on the edge and nearly toppled his self-control. What he initially wanted to end as a punishment for the little blue minx was beginning to turn out to be an all-out night of sweltering sex. Which he wasn't opposed to and it didn't really matter; he could always improvise. He paused for a moment to remove his pants and whip out his painful erection. He was ready to play.

His dark eyes bore into Bulma's and he told her to remove her pants and shirt, not even giving her a moment to recover. One hand pumped his hardened member, while the other sensually caressed her leg up and down, "Touch yourself and let me watch."

The woman blindly obeyed, dazed by the lustful fog that he created. Her delicate fingers travelled downwards and gently rubbed her tender bucket of sensitive veins. Her other hand clutched and pinched her swelling nipples.

"Now finger yourself," he demanded breathlessly and Bulma slipped in a finger, and then two into her slippery wetness.

She bit her lip to suppress her moans as Vegeta reached out and pushed his middle finger into her drenched hole, joining hers. His fingertip brushed against her inner walls, setting her digits in the same motion as his. He quickened the pace, and his masturbating hand also picked up speed to match their frantic thrusts, further sending the both of them to the brink. Then he let go of his manhood and leaned over her, his busy hand pushing their fingers deeper into her core while his free hand encircled her throat.

He lowered his lips next to her ear and growled huskily, "I'm going to take you, use you, and have my way with you." Bulma's eyes rolled back at the intensity of his words and she released a strangling moan.

He pressed his thumb against her clit while his single digit continued to guide her fingers within her depths, eager to build her up to the peak once again. His other hand was clasped gently around her neck, controlling her breath intake by tightening and loosening his grasp. He watched her intensely, just as intensely as she was watching him but with a tinge of sick fascination. He observed the way she struggled between thirsting for precious air and riding out the ecstatic waves their fingers were creating.

He felt her second release nearing but it would have to wait. He let go of her, pushing her hand away from her entrance and replaced it with the tip of his throbbing member. He went in dry, using only her wetness as lubricant. He pushed an inch or two into her slit and then pulled out several times, teasing her with only the head of his penis.

"Please… I need you… inside me," she managed to breathe out, clutching his shoulders tightly as her body practically begged for his intrusion.

"Getting vulgar, are we?" he taunted with a smirk and he realised that he was enjoying this far more than he should, "The only vulgar words I'll allow you to say are harder, faster, and deeper; and every time you come, you're going to scream my name."

"Don't tease me…" she whimpered desperately. She arched her back, pushing her hips upwards in an attempt to slide herself onto his dick, but he withdrew and chuckled at her disappointment and frustration.

"Once I am done with you, you won't be able to walk right for a week," he boasted, gripping her hips and dragging her down to his eye level.

"The baby-" she breathed out, clutching his arms alarmingly as the thought of rough sex worried her. While his touches and lewd suggestions may be able to put her in a daze and make her unable to think or react properly, her mind still managed to register whatever sensibility that was left.

"The boy is Saiyan, he'll be fine," he brushed her off confidently and lowered his face to hers, silencing her with another fiery kiss. When he was done, they were yet again breathless and panting for air. He pulled back and traced a finger over her jaw line and paused at the chin. He tilted her head a little upwards and smiled at her wickedly with a lustful, malicious glint in his eyes, "But you… I'm going to destroy you."

Bulma whimpered breathlessly. She anticipated what was to come and anchored her excitement by clenching her fists in the sheets. With one swift movement, Vegeta shoved forward and pushed past her barrier, filling her up and earning him a drawling moan from her lips. It was music to his ears. Fuelled by the raw sound of her voice, he picked up a feverish pace, thrusting deep and hard into her. Grunts, groans, and moans filled the room. While his body ploughed aggressively and repeatedly into her tiny frame, his subliminal mind shouted and urged at him to be gentle and take it slow.

He lessened his fervour down a notch but remained a steady but even and powerful rhythm. His wavering consciousness struggled to keep in mind the energy of the little one inside her. He would take his time tonight and drawl it out for as long as he could. She may not learn of his intention but after tonight, genius or not; pregnant or not, Bulma Briefs would not forget just exactly to whom she belonged.

His callous hands kneaded her breasts and she sighed appreciatively. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the feel of her walls grazing against his member, constricting around him every time he hit her core.

Vegeta leaned down and crushed his mouth to hers, nibbling on her lower lip. He lowered his kisses to the juncture of her neck, sucking and licking her pulsating artery. She threw her head back, mouth agape in a silent 'O', her inner walls tightening. Groaning softly, his fingers reached for her hands and clasped around her wrists as he held her down.

Bulma screamed her release and he felt her muscles violently push and spasm around him. That was her second release, easily stronger and more powerful than the first. He smirked, still driving into her, as he vowed that it would not be her last tonight. He lowered himself beside her ear, alternating between sucking and biting her earlobe.

"Is this what you wanted?" he heaved, breathing heavily as he grinned smugly into her hair. He pulled back and caught her eyes as he waited for a response.

Her eyes were clouded by a lusty haze as her body twitched and revelled in the remnants of her recent release. He held her gaze, his fingers lazily lacing with hers. Hot, heavy breaths intermingled and swept over the other's face, their lips barely touching.

"Yes," she choked brokenly, her eyes and cheeks stained with tears and sweat. After two amazing releases, it was becoming more difficult to articulate her desires. She only wanted nothing but for him to take full control over her.

"You want more of this?" he goaded through a smirk, his tempo reducing as he allowed her a miniscule timeframe to recover. He buried a hand between their sweaty bodies and massaged her swelling clit with his middle finger. His engorged member slid in and out of her slowly and she gave a soft whimper. He wanted to tease her some more, but he could feel his impressive self-control starting to wane.

"Yes," she sobbed through gritted teeth, fisting the bed sheets and clenching her eyes as his finger pressed down against her nub, "Y-you know I want it."

He removed his hand and pressed her cheeks together, his thrusts momentarily ceased. He watched her through hooded eyes and lightly feathered his lips over hers. He gazed at her a little longer, losing himself in the blue of her eyes. Suddenly, his heart swelled with an unexplainable emotion and he felt his breathing a lot less controlled. He licked his dry lips, the tip of his tongue lightly brushing against her lower lip.

His gaze lowered to her mouth and his hot breath caressed her skin as he exhaled. He looked back up again and released her cheek. He reached out for her hand and laced his fingers with hers, grasping it in a tight, possessive lock. He swallowed uncertainly and pressed his lips softly to hers, closing his eyes in contentment as he poured what was unexplainable into the slow, deep and passionate kiss. When he was finished, they were completely breathless and panting for air.

Still lodged deeply inside her, she gasped as he grinded his hips a little to remind her that he was not done with her yet. That momentary surge of emotion triggered something in him; something that was long ago buried and lost deep within along with the death of his parents. He was, in the least, shocked that Bulma had been the first and only person to drown his demons and pull him out of the water.

He recalled the time when she was uncertain if she loved him. He hadn't reacted then as he wasn't sure if he was capable in reciprocating even if she had, but now he has reached the startling revelation that he wanted… needed her to requite – because he was certain of that sliver of emotion he felt just moments ago.

"Say it," he whispered, entangling his free hand in her cerulean tresses.

Bulma was just as emotionally dazed, overwhelmed by her own rupture of feelings. When he had gazed into her eyes, she never thought she'd see and feel compassion and warmth, even love radiating from this man. Was it even possible? She couldn't help but feel like he was reflecting off her own emotions. Were those the things she felt?

He pushed his hips down a little more, jostling her out of her muse. He needed her to say it; to tell him what he yearned to hear from those coral, pouty lips.

"Tell me…" he trailed off, breathing desperately against her lips.

Bulma's eyes searched his; silently pleading with him as she struggled to understand, in the midst of her lusty haze, what it was that he so desperately wanted to know. Her lips moved, unsettlingly and soundlessly as she knew not what to say. Vegeta squeezed her hand and began to move, sliding in and out of her three times slowly and gently. She gave a pleasurable gasp and then groaned frustratingly the second he ceased movement and withdrew from her heat.

"Vegeta…" she breathed out, feeling the tip of his hot member, slicked with her juices, hovering just outside her wet slit. All she wanted at the moment was to reach the highest climax and then plunge into a sea of swirling emotions together with him. But she never expected his next move.

He released the hand that was buried in her hair and placed it on her belly. Bulma's eyes widened as he rubbed and felt the underside of the bump, caressing the surface slowly and almost tenderly. It was as if he was trying to connect to her through their child; trying to express something that he couldn't possibly put into words. He gave her hand another squeeze, his dark eyes pierced through her blue orbs as they pleaded with her for her to realise.

"Let me know what you need."

It was then she figured it out – the yearning in his voice said as much. She cupped his face with her free hand, their noses a hairsbreadth away. She slipped her hand to his nape and closed the gap between their lips, this time taking control of their kiss. He welcomed her hot, inviting tongue with his own as he immersed himself fully once again, inhaling the warm air that she exhaled, and vice versa.

He entered her still slick entrance, purposely teasing her with his head again. It took him tremendous control to not bury his entire length inside her. She whimpered her frustrations and bucked towards him, slipping herself onto his hardened member a little bit more. But he remained stubbornly motionless, holding off just enough distance for him to be still lodged within her, but not enough for her arch forward.

"Vegeta, please…" she whispered brokenly, with a voice filled with an intense desire for his body, mind, and heart, "… I need you."

And with that single phrase, he pushed all thoughts from his mind and let loose. He closed his eyes and pushed himself completely into her, kissing her deeply. He rocked his hips at a feverish and even pace, yet was gentle enough to not jostle her stomach. Both hands gripped on her side near her belly, keeping her in place and the jerking to a minimum as he slammed in and out of her.

No longer thinking, Bulma buried her face into his neck, chanting the same words repeatedly. Each desperate repeated phrase of 'I need you' was accommodated with one powerful push. Her third release was coming, and he could feel his own nearing as well. Her muscles constricted intensely around him. He felt his eyes roll back due to the tightening of her walls, compounded with the friction of his swift movements. His thrusts increased with speed and she screamed her release, her dire chants turned into blissful cries of his name.

He barely registered his name rolling off her lips as his own release pulled at his tip, and he quickened his pace a little more. He threw his head back and with a drawn-out groan, came inside her in an incontrollable stream. He withdrew almost immediately and Bulma suddenly felt cold – empty, as she laid there perspiring, shaking, and practically swallowing air.

Panting hard, Vegeta dropped next to her, revelling in the aftermath of his release. He rolled over and pulled her to his sweaty chest. She moulded her back against the outline of his body and held onto the muscular arm that encircled her waist, just above the top of her bulging stomach. He felt her shiver and moved to grab the blanket and cover them. Their legs tangled and rubbed against one another beneath the sheets. He nuzzled into her hair and purred at the back of her ear.

He did a mental calculation of their latest romp and figured it lasted for a little over an hour. Granted it was not the longest he had gone with her, but given her condition, he could only imagine how it has been for her. However, she didn't complain so he guessed he'd done well. He wouldn't regret it if she felt sorer than usual come dawn. After all, he had only wanted to show her who was the boss of whom.

His idea of punishing her was to behave exactly the opposite of how she wanted him to act – nasty.

Ironically, what he thought was supposed to be a nasty romp, consisting of nerve-wracking foreplay and dirty words, turned out to be an extreme emotional build-up that led to what he never thought he needed most – for her to need not just his body, but him.

I hope the end of this chapter wasn't sappy. If it was, I'm sorry.

However, this is my first time writing smut, so I don't know if it was mild or very smutty. Please be gentle with me!

My apologies for any mistake found. Hope you enjoyed Chapter 21! Do review!