Chapter 21

Marie looked up as the hospital room door opened. Vegeta stepped in, seeming to hesitate before closing it behind him and slowly walking towards her.

"Are you okay?" he asked, gazing at her face.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that question?" She shot back, watching his jaw clench.

"Sorry I missed the rest," he muttered, looking towards the wall before turning back to her.

"Yeah! You sorta passed out," she smirked.

Marie chuckled, watching his face redden. A snort came from across the room. Vegeta jerked his head towards it.

"Shut up," he demanded, sending Zoey a glare. Zoey hid a smile behind her hand.

He looked back to Marie, watching as she pushed herself to a sitting position. He bent to help, moving her pillow for her and adjusting the blanket.

"Is that good?"

"Yes MOM!"

Vegeta scowled. "I'm only trying to help," he stated softly, frowning as he stepped back.

"Look, Marie. I wanted to ask-"

They all looked towards the door as it opened, a nurse strolling in with the baby in a carrier, the wheels squeaking a little as she positioned him next to the bed. She smiled at Marie, seeming to wait on something.

Another nurse strolled in, and Vegeta went white. She pushed the baby next to the other one. They both studied the little bodies, smiling.

Everyone looked up when someone else came through the door. A nurse strolled in with another carrier, oblivious to the surprise on the father's face. Vegeta sat down. "Oh my god!" he whispered.

He looked over at Marie, catching her studying him, a smirk on her face.

"Three!" he practically squeaked, "we have three babies!"

"You're not gonna faint again, are you?" Marie studied him.

He shook his head, gazing stupidly at the three little bundles in front of him. She saw a smile start across his face. "Three," he whispered, before looking back at her and smirking.

This time it was Marie that blushed.

"oooohhhh! Look at the wittle babies!" Zoey exclaimed, stopping next to the nurses and gazing down at the newborns.

"Are they all..." Vegeta started, stopping again to look wide-eyed at his offspring. He swung his gaze back to Marie. She smiled, nodding.

"All boys!" she sighed, "We're sure gonna have our hands full!"

"If you don't need any assistance, we'll leave you alone with your newborns," one of the nurses said, and after confirmation that they didn't need any help, all three left.

"Do you care if I hold one!?" Zoey asked, hopping from foot to foot, looking at Marie in desperation. She chuckled, telling her friend to go ahead. Zoey gently picked one up, sitting in the rocker next to the bed and whispering baby talk to him.

Vegeta slowly climbed to his feet, and Marie noticed his hands shaking a little before he clenched them, then relaxed, all shakiness gone. He reached down and picked one of the baby's up. She watched him gaze down at the baby, settling it in the crook of his arm before looking up at her. She saw the fright in his eyes.

"It's okay Vegeta," she whispered, meeting his gaze, "you won't hurt him."

She saw him swallow, then look back down at the bundle in his arms. He slowly rocked back and forth, and Marie didn't think he even knew it.

"Vegeta," she said softly, "bring one of them to me." She watched him walk over, laying the baby down gently in her arms before picking up another. He sat on the foot of the bed, the baby cradled in his arms.

Zoey's voice cut through the silence moments later. "Hey," she said, not looking up, "I have a question."

Marie and Vegeta looked at her, waiting for her to tear her gaze away from the baby. She finally looked up, after whispering a little more baby talk to him. She studied her friend on the bed.

"Could I go with you, just for a little while, when you go back to your world, universe, whatever!?"

Marie met Vegeta's gaze, before turning her head back to her best friend. "It might be dangerous," she stated softly.

Zoey snorted. "What! And coming here wasn't! Girl, you landed in New York! The freakiest place to go!"

Marie hesitated again. Vegeta spoke up. "It's nothing like this world," he stated softly.

They watched Zoey roll her eyes. "Well, Duh!"

The couple gazed at one another. Marie finally looked over at Zoey, and nodded. She let out a whoop, apologizing a minute later when the baby she was holding started to cry.

"So!" she shouted over the screaming, "Watcha gonna name them?"

They all waited anxiously up at Kami's Place. Getting word a week ago about Goku's sister and Vegeta coming back, they had been coming up here every day, waiting on them. Goku was anxious to see his sister, while everyone else was anxious to see what had occurred all these months with both of them gone. They thought for a while that there was a slight chance Vegeta wouldn't find Marie, but as Goku pointed out, Vegeta's not a quitter. After all, it has been over a year since Marie left, half for Vegeta. They were waiting to see the results. Besides, Marie had told BaBa that they were bringing some people with them. The fighters, along with their wives, didn't know what to think of that!

They all sat on the steps, watching Goku pace back and forth in front of them. He was obviously anxious. Not knowing exactly where his sister had gone, or Vegeta for that matter. The two had been living in a foreign land, or according to BaBa, another dimension. He couldn't quite believe that! Now they were bringing "friends" with them! Were those two nuts, or what!?

"Goku, would you sit down! You're starting to make everybody nervous." Chi-Chi said, glaring at her husband.

He ignored her.

"Goku!"

"Huh!" he finally stopped, looking towards them in surprise. He noticed they were all studying him.

"We're all anxious Goku," Bulma said, clasping her hands in front of her, "But there's no use in you making tracks in the floor and making everyone nervous."

Goku frowned, rubbing his chin. "Sorry," he mumbled, deep in thought.

"Man!" Yamcha sighed, leaning back against the steps, "What's taking so long?"

"Well they did say they were bringing people back," Chi-Chi huffed, "maybe they had to prepare."

"Well I think-"

Bulma cut off. They all swiveled their heads toward Goku. He studied them for a moment, before he felt it too. He whirled around.

"Oh My God!" Goku shouted, looking at the group behind him. Marie beamed at him, holding a little boy of about thirteen months old, his tail swinging back and forth. Vegeta was holding a boy as well, this one with a widow's peak identical to his, a tail wrapped around his middle. There was another attached to his leg, the tail behind the boy flicking wildly. They all appeared to be the same age. A woman with wild curls and a sunny smile stood beside them.

"Hey everyone!" Marie stated, letting the boy in her arms down, Vegeta doing the same. She watched the boys toddle away, grinning. Her gaze met Goku's. "How is everyone? I missed you all." She walked up to Goku, giving him a big hug. She pulled back, laughing at his shocked face. "What's the matter brother? Shocked you're an uncle three times over!?"

Chi-Chi walked up to them, wide-eyed. "I see you both have been busy!" Marie didn't blush as she thought she would, she just smiled. She reached down and grabbed one of the baby's scooting past.

"This here is Pace," Marie said, smoothing her hand over his hair, making his widow's peak deepen. "Here!" she said, thrusting him in Goku's arms.

"Umm..." Goku still looked shocked, and Chi-Chi elbowed him. He seemed to come out of it, looking down at the boy in his arms. The baby looked right back, his scowl rivaling his parents. Goku burst out laughing. Marie snatched another out of the air as he flew by.

"They know how to fly!?" Bulma shrieked.

Marie smiled. "Yep. We taught them. I know they're young, but they were eager."

She paused, "And impatient!" she admitted, laughing.

"Hey everyone! I'm Zoey, Marie's friend!" The woman who had been standing back patiently watching the family reunion finally spoke up.

"Oh Zoey! I'm sorry" Marie exclaimed. Zoey waved her off, going towards the group to shake hands.

Marie tucked the baby she was holding under her arm, seeming oblivious to his squirming. Everyone laughed when he scowled up at her, his tail flicking behind him.

"Yep," Goku said, chuckling, "You can definitely tell they're Vegeta's kids!"

The man in question grunted, holding their third son in his arms. The little boy calmly watched the chaos around him, studying everyone for a moment before squirming down, and toddling over to Bulma, looking up at her with a curious stare. She smiled, reaching down and picking him up.

"Hello, little man!" Bulma threw him up in the air, noticing he smiled, but didn't laugh, as she expected. Her brows furrowed. "Hey, Marie!"

Goku's sister looked over at her, noticing right away who she was holding. Marie smirked. "That's Gideon. Don't let his quietness fool you! He's as loud as his brothers." She quickly turned away, handing the baby she was holding to Chi-Chi. "And this is Brock," she said, laughing as he squirmed with pent up energy. "He's the handful!"

Chi-Chi looked doubtfully at the boy, before looking over at the baby in Goku's arms. "Are you sure? It's not Vegeta Jr. over there?"

They saw Vegeta smirk. "They're all handfuls," he said, speaking for the first time since they got back. He strolled over, looping his arm around Marie's waist. They all noticed. While Goku beamed, the other's smirked, laughing a little at the small show of affection. Marie and Vegeta ignored them. They all caught up for a while, until Goku started whining that he was hungry.

Vegeta laughed. "Some things never change!"

Goku smiled, grabbing Chi-Chi and teleporting them to Capsule Corporation. Bulma took out a capsule, a loader plane appearing, telling everyone to pile in so they can get going. She had set up a banquet in celebration of their return. Marie smiled softly.

"Well! Are you guys coming?" Bulma hollered, looking towards the two still standing away from the plane, their three kids rolling around on the floor in front of them.

"We'll be there. Don't worry!" Marie called back, waving to them as they took off.

They watched the boys tumble over one another for a moment. Marie looked at Vegeta, putting her hand in his and threading their fingers together. He lifted it, kissing her hand clasped in his. Gideon flew at them, grabbing Vegeta's leg in a death grip. They smiled.

"Welcome home." Marie murmured, grabbing Brock out of the air without looking. Vegeta grabbed Pace, smirking gently down at him before they took off, the boys letting go after a while and flying loops around their parents.