Concerto Twenty Five: Tick Tock

oooOOOooo

As soon as his hands circled closed, as soon as the last note hung against the curves of the ceiling, Vegeta bolted out of the back door and into the alleyway.

The silence of the night clung to him like a damp blanket. It was almost like the stars teased him from above as they shone down, illuminating the eerily empty alleyway. Vegeta's heart beat so fast he had to clutch his chest, struggling to catch up to the breaths that spilled from his mouth.

Bulma…

He was a fool. A modern day fucking fool. He had known since day one of admitting how much he truly cared for Bulma that this was always a possibility. That she could, at any point in time, become a pawn for Frieza to dangle over Vegeta's head whenever he saw fit. Knew that being with her was a risk, that falling openly in love with her was a risk….but like the idiot that he was, he fell. He let her delicate fingers soothe his tired soul until he felt a rebirth, let her honeyed words fall over him like a prayer, and now he so desperately needed one of those things himself. It wasn't fair, he thought as he walked down the other end of the alleyway briskly, that his reason for living was in the hands of his enemy. That this was the ultimate confirmation that good things just did not happen for him.

That he just wasn't allowed to be happy.

No sign of Frieza still. Vegeta felt like a fucking joke. Probably….probably was the butt of Frieza's joke, too. With a lumpy swallow of rage, he let his mind drift to the worst, wondering if Bulma and their child were even alive now. If Zarbon had delivered a fatal blow to her while they were on the phone and Frieza was using the excuse of her being alive as a higher leverage in this situation. Not as if he needed to do that anyways; he'd already managed to swift kick Vegeta hard in the nuts the second he admitted to having Bulma in his iron grip.

…What if Frieza wasn't even here because he was too busy cleaning her blood off of his shoe?

Panicking, Vegeta pulled out his cellphone and scrolled down his call log, jabbing Nappa's name as soon as it flashed on his screen. Each chirp that rang in his ear hurt worse than the last, making Vegeta go mad with anxiety. "Come on, pick up Nappa!" He grit through his teeth, his upper lip foaming with sweat.

Finally on what should've been the last ring before voicemail, Nappa's impatient tone whispered through the phone. "Vegeta why are you calling me? I'm holding on to my end of the plan, but you're supposed to be meeting with Frieza!"

"They've got her, Nappa," he choked out, barely able to say the words without his knees feeling like they wanted to give out entirely.

Nappa's deep breathing stilled then, the phone static growing quiet at Vegeta's confession. "…Shit," he responded after a while, everything about his tone sounding as defeated as Vegeta felt. "Shit….shit...no. Goddamnit!" There was a soft thud in the background indicating that Nappa slammed his fist on something, a long sigh following soon after. "I'm so sorry Vegeta, this was something I didn't see coming. When you said that she had her gallery opening tonight, I considered us lucky. Thought that she'd at least be safe way across town. Now I realize how fucking dumb that is. She was all alone….she should have been in your care or came with me…I'm a fucking idiot for not seeing that loophole, shit!"

"It wouldn't have mattered," Vegeta said, feeling a well of what he assumed to be a cry bubbling in his chest, "If Frieza intended to get her, she'd always be gotten. He knows how to look through the cracks when no one else is paying attention. It's…..it's all my fault for damning her in the first place."

"Hey, hey now stop that," Nappa was still whispering, but his authoritative and fatherly tone seeped through his words. "That woman loves you and you love her back, and despite whatever the hell's going on right now, you need that in your life. So how's about we focus on that instead of you doing the guilt trip thing? Use some of that tenacity and get her and your unborn child back, damnit! We still haven't lost!"

Vegeta nodded despite Nappa unable to see him, afraid that if he said her name he would crumple into a pile of dust. "How…how is it on your end?" His shaky voice struggled to find stability, but he managed to choke the words out anyways.

"Good," Nappa sounded optimistic as he said it, making Vegeta feel somewhat relieved, "For the most part anyways. Despite this chip having all of this information on it, the detectives are moving slowly. Fine combing every piece of evidence they can find with precision. They really want to put Frieza away for good and I guess it hasn't been….easy for them before. I thought they'd be done by now," Nappa trailed off, sounding extremely irritated, but he took a deep breath and appeared to calm himself. "It shouldn't be much longer. Whatever you can do Vegeta, I need you to stall, okay? I don't care if you have to dance around and sing some stupid song to distract him, keep that motherfucker occupied until I get there."

"I'll do whatever it takes," he said, uneasily of course. Stalling wasn't the problem. If…If Bulma was dead, then it didn't matter how long Vegeta distracted Frieza, didn't matter if Nappa came through or not. Nothing else mattered if he couldn't hold her lively body in his arm after all of this.

If we make it through this, I want to marry you.

His words hit him like a freight train, his eyes misting as the question of 'will I even be able to see her walk towards me down the aisle?' popped in his mind. He prayed to whoever was in the sky above them that he could see her in that dress, could see his child being held in her arms in a hospital bed, could see the family he so desperately wanted more than anything else. Fuck this concert, fuck this orchestra, fuck him, just gods please let Bulma and their baby be alright.

"Have faith, Vegeta," Nappa answered his unspoken request, "I just know everything is going to be all right. Don't…Don't give up on me. I failed our family once, I refuse to let it happen. And maybe I don't say this enough cause you and me aren't the sentimental types but…I…me and Natsumi…well…we love ya, alright? You're…ahh to hell with it. You're the only son I've ever known, even if you aren't that much younger than me. I'm saying all of that to say: I'd do anything for you. And I know how much Bulma means to you; the changes that are a result of you finally being happy are too obvious to miss. So by extension she's my family too. And we'll both protect her, okay? I won't fail you Vegeta, not this time."

Nappa's words held such conviction that Vegeta was inclined to believe them like they were scriptures. The optimism in his voice was infectious, almost as believable as Bulma when she spoke to him at the gallery. Nappa was right; they hadn't lost yet and despite the overwhelming gloom around them, he still had a chance to get her back. To win this. To get vengeance for his family. To make them proud.

It was his pride as a N'Ouija, after all. And N'Ouija's, if nothing else, weren't quitters.

"Thank you, Nappa," Vegeta responded, hoping his uncle could see his affection that slept under the gratification. "I will trust you. I will listen to you and trust that you'll come through, for her sake. I…I just want her back, Nappa. I need her back."

"I know son," Nappa's voice was calm and even again, like soothing waters in the middle of a still forest. "And we will. Just…be careful. As much as you want her back, I know for certain that she wants you back too. And me as well. Listen, I have to go but if you run into trouble send me an SOS. Don't try to be the hero when I have a cape too, alright? I'll see you soon."

"Loud and clear," Vegeta said, hanging up the phone and depending on Nappa with the faith of the religious. He stared at the blinking name until it dissolved completely, his screen turning black when it was finished. A cool nightly breeze wafted through his hair and gave him a small sense of renewed hope. Bulma…his Bulma…

From the bricked walls of the theater, Vegeta could hear the noisy musicians celebrating their victorious finish. The end of the concert had been perfect, even with Vegeta's struggling mental health. Tien brought the theater to silence, and when the piece concluded they stood and clapped as if they were pouring their souls into their applause. His musicians they…they deserved it. They deserved all of this. They were the most talented people Vegeta had run into during his entire career, and despite that he wasn't always kind to them, he relied on them so much. Even Yamcha. They all deserved to know what it felt like to be the best, to be loved and celebrated for simply sharing their craft with the world. He hoped they rode on airs right now. He hoped they felt the complete opposite of him. In that moment, with his heart heavy and his emotions out of synch, he hoped that someday all of their dreams came true.

And most importantly, he hoped that when those dreams did come true that they would still call him their conductor. That no matter where their musical wings flew them to, that they'd still call his orchestra home. Vegeta wished for this and for Bulma so desperately that his teeth chattered. He just…he just needed the normalcy to return like a lost love.

The clacking of shoes from behind him brought him out of his thoughts and made him turn around with the reflexes of a cat. His stomach dropped and his defenses heightened as he laid eyes on the intruder, that stupid, soft featured face smirking under the lights on the building.

"Come now, is there a need for the hostility?" Zarbon raised his hands to show he wasn't a threat, but all Vegeta could hear was Bulma's screams as he did whatever he had done to her. Vegeta's eyes flashed red, his fingers itching to wrap themselves around Zarbon's throat until his skin bled green. But remembering Nappa's words he clenched and unclenched his fists, trying his damndest to stay on task. "She isn't dead Vegeta. Maybe not exactly as unsullied physically as you remember her, but definitely alive."

"Where's Frieza?" Vegeta barked, unable to grant Zarbon any conversation. He searched his eyes for the truth of Bulma's condition, and reluctantly began to accept that perhaps Zarbon was being honest. He still refused to lower his guard, though.

"Well you certainly get to the chase, don't you? He's not fucking stupid, Vegeta. You have an entire orchestra behind you and lots of witnesses. Surely this wouldn't be the best place for business discussions. Too many bodies in one place has never been Frieza's bag, he's much too clean for that. And so am I." Zarbon ruffled around with his green blazer, as obnoxiously colored as that ridiculous hair of his, and smiled a feigned innocent grin towards Vegeta. "Take a ride with me. You might just find what you're looking for."

Zarbon offered no room for protests as he turned then, walking towards the end of the alleyway to a black truck. From where he stood , Vegeta could see Dodoria behind the wheel, his eyes focused straight on the road in front of him. It would've been so easy for Vegeta to just do it now. Just take Zarbon out when he wasn't looking. But then he'd never get to Bulma. And Frieza really put a fucking wrench in his plans by switching locations when Nappa was supposed to come here. But life always called for adaptability, and Vegeta refused to stay dormant. Using the brief window of opportunity, he stuffed the phone into the pocket of his suit jacket and unlocked the screen, pressing the call icon to go to the last dialed number. And then he pressed Nappa's name, letting it dial and turning down his phone volume.

"So where are we going Zarbon?" He called out to the man when he was sure Nappa picked up, making his voice sound concerned and as if the question was valid. "Since Frieza wants to have a change of scenery, I can't imagine that this doesn't end in my death."

"Don't be so melodramatic, Vegeta," Zarbon stopped and said over his shoulder, his tone sounding slightly insulted. "If Frieza wanted you dead right now, then we wouldn't be having this conversation. Get in the car and you'll see where we're headed. I hope you like the view of docks, it'll make for one hell of a show."

Zarbon thought he was being clever. There wasn't a single cliché action movie that Vegeta had seen where bad guys plus a dock didn't equal death and dismay. But stupid fucking Zarbon played right into his trap. There were only two docks in the neighboring cities, and while they were a good half hour away, it was easy to rule out which one they'd be visiting. If Frieza was calling the shots, he'd be doing it on his own turf, wouldn't he? And there was a very large, very indistinguishable dock that was very close to Frieza's lair. Which meant Nappa could use that information to pinpoint the whereabouts exactly.

I'm leaving it to you, Nappa. I'll do what I can.

And with that, Vegeta strolled after Zarbon, hoping that the cosmos would align themselves in his favor for once.

oooOOOooo

The moon was exceptionally big as it hung in the sky, slightly growing with the shade of red. It's reflection waved around in the waters on the other side of the high fence, but it was almost blocked out by tall crates and crane machines on the wooden dock. Every inch of the spacious port was covered by machines and boxes and all types of industrial mumbo jumbo. Vegeta almost gave Frieza props for picking a good spot where they all could be virtually undetected. Almost.

His Oxfords collided the wood boards and made a hollow sound of music as they walked towards the lone pier, and Vegeta's stomach sank as he saw Frieza's disgusting grin gleaming at him under the moon's rays. He looked so content, so pleased with himself and his cruel torture of Vegeta's heart. Dodoria turned around once to taunt Vegeta once Frieza was in sight, almost to say "You lose, asshole," but Vegeta refused to bite his bait. His eyes pressed forward as his brows drew into a look of concentration, his lips pressed into a tight, frigid line.

Frieza stood next to his limo, his hands folded neatly behind his back. His white suit stood out among the blackness, making him seem like some god without the fanfare. It made Vegeta sick.

Once they were in talking distance, Frieza began to laugh sinisterly, clearly being entertained by the punchline of a joke no one had told. But Zarbon and Dodoria -the fucking lapdogs that they were- joined in on his chuckling like they were all chummy pals telling jokes over brews. Vegeta found none of it funny.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Frieza unclasped his hands and rose them in the air on either side of him, bowing slightly in the trios direction, "The final act has begun! I do hope you enjoy the show!"

Vegeta bit the inside of his jaw down to keep from responding to Frieza's taunts, but he was sure his face said everything it needed to. After throwing a long, cold glare towards him, Frieza threw his head back and laughed to the sky, the arrogance of his tone raining down on them like thunder. That son of a bitch. "Why, I've never seen you look so serious! Your father sported that same look once upon a time, you know. You both are like little circus monkeys, just doing whatever you want until it's time to be tamed. How about you call me your tamer, Vegeta?"

Vegeta grit his teeth and didn't care if Frieza saw him do it or not. At this point the only thing that mattered was Bulma's safety and Nappa's listening skills. At one point during the car ride, he heard Nappa snort through his pocket, but covered it up with a cough of his own. Zarbon and Dodora seemed to be none the wiser, but he hoped Nappa had picked up on it to at least mute his fucking phone. At least he knew that his uncle could hear them, and with the detectives present, he knew also that his location could be tracked.

"Where is she?" Vegeta managed, his tone low and threatening and uncaring. "Where is Bulma, Frieza?"

Frieza blinked at him slowly before his thin purple lips, painted with purple lipstick, curved upwards to meet his cheeks. "Well well, I didn't think you had the right to demand the 'where's', Vegeta. After all, it is I who should be wondering where is my revenue?"

"It's coming," he thought of on the fly, hoping that Frieza would buy it. "That's too much cash to carry around, and I had to make a last minute business deal to gather the rest. My contact said he would text me when everything is ready to go."

Frieza's face fell to an impatient glare, his eyes cutting dangerously sharp towards Vegeta. For the first time since seeing him, Vegteta felt an uneasy chill run through his body. He covered it up to never show his weakness, and it must have worked. Frieza returned to his grin, albeit a forced one, and nodded in his direction. "So we play the waiting game, is it? Lucky for you, Vegeta, I'm a very patient man. However, I don't believe in idle time. It is the devil's playtime, you know they say."

You mean your playtime? Vegeta thought but didn't speak, swallowing down the slick comeback as soon as it penetrated his brain. He kept silent as Frieza stepped closer to Zarbon and Dodoria, both of which who turned to face Vegeta and stood at Frieza's right and left sides, respectively.

"How's about we talk business then, since you deliberately disobeyed me and did not have my money in the time manner of which I allowed it. Since it is Zarbon's birthday and all, I might be feeling a bit…generous."

"Thank you very much for the remembrance, my Lord," Zarbon sounded every bit as grateful as his words indicated, a cheerful smile on his face. "Serving you is the best present one could have."

Frieza turned to Zarbon and put a hand over his chest, some off-putting look of affection stealing his face. "How delightful to hear, Zarbon. Do you see, Vegeta?" He turned around to him and tucked his hands behind his back again, "Working for me isn't awful. I treat my minions right and they respect me. It's only when rules aren't in compliance that I have to…take action. I'm sure you understand where I'm coming from, don't you? After all, you are a leader yourself."

"It's hardly the same," he forced out, biting down on his bottom row of teeth in aggravation. "I'm a leader; you're a manipulator."

Frieza's face, much to Vegeta's concealed glee, turned down in anger and his eyes carried the weight of a threat. "Dodoria, would you agree with him?"

Dodoria smirked at Vegeta, running his beady eyes up and down his body like he was nothing more than a toothpick to clean his teeth with. "Oh come now, boss. I don't listen to what could be the final words of a dead man. They talk all crazy and stuff; I see it all the time."

Vegeta swallowed. Frieza flashed his 'I-gained-the-upper-hand-again' grin.

"Now now, let's give the circus monkey some credit, shall we boys? He hasn't listened to my offer yet." He stepped forward a few paces, inches away from being able to reach out and touch Vegeta if he wanted. Vegeta fought the urge to either step back or defend, and he discovered that staying in place and not even trying to make a move on Frieza was the hardest action he'd taken all night. After all, Bulma still wasn't in his sight to observe.

"I'll give you one last chance, Vegeta. And I hope you're smarter than your dear daddy." Frieza squared his shoulders back, taking on an entirely new persona. More businesslike. More calculated. "Work for me. You can still have your orchestra, can still have your fame and your gifts and all of that jazz- no pun intended. But push my product to your peers. That Broadway man came to see you -Whis, was it? From what my birds tell me, you're a sure fire winner in his 'find-the-musician' game. All of that power, all of that influence. Pardon me if I'm having trouble not being able to see anything but dollar signs all over that idea. Say that you'll do it and the money is forgotten. You can leave here and celebrate with your loved ones like you rightfully should. Whatever loved ones you have left, anyways."

If Vegeta ever had doubts that words alone could produce bile in his throat, Frieza just all but confirmed that with his speech.

Vegeta searched the depths of his belly for the most honest conviction that he could muster, and once he did, he compiled them together to coat his tongue so that Frieza and the gang could hear him out clearly. "There is nothing," he spoke slowly, "Nothing, that could ever make me work for you. Not after what you've done to me, to my girlfriend, and to my family. I hope there's a special place in hell for you to rot Frieza, because only the dancing of the wicked will hypnotize you into believing that I ever would."

Vegeta may not have been able to make a solid move just yet, but damn it all if that didn't feel good.

Frieza laughed again, although most of the gusto was removed. "Funny you mention that, this girlfriend of yours. Because when you say nothing will change your mind, I just have a hard time believing you're telling me the truth." He stared at Vegeta long and hard before parting those vile lips of his again. "Zarbon, would you do me the honors?"

Zarbon nodded and Vegeta had the pleasure of watching the bastard smile at him wickedly before walking to limo and opening the back door. When the door was shut, Vegeta's stomach fell to his feet for all the right reasons….and for a good chunk of the wrong ones.

Bulma…she…she was alive. Her hands were bound behind her back and tape over her mouth. He assumed she was gagged under there too, because her cheeks were puffy against the duct tape. What made Vegeta want to kill them all, however, was the purple and brown looking spot under her eye, a dried trail of blood racing from the top of her hairline to just under her chin.

How…how…how dare they? Touch his Bulma? Hurt her? If this…if this world wasn't real…if this was some silly teen show…Vegeta was sure that in that moment he could've powered up to some great, godlike being and destroyed them all with a flick of his pinky. As relieved and grateful that he was that she was alive and conscious, he couldn't help the rage that bubbled inside of him at her marred face.

"Bulma…." He whispered, unable to hold back the affection that cuddled the syllables of her name. She looked over to him, those crystal eyes of hers that he loved so much twinkling in recognition. They looked just as relieved as he felt, her love for him shining in her sapphires like a starving man begging for food. He could also see her pleas for him to save her and she mumbled his name back, her tone wet with tears.

I swear to all of the gods, Bulma, that I'll get us out of here. I'll get all three of us out of here.

"Well isn't that precious?" Frieza looked back and forth between them, feigning a look of admiration. "I suppose true love exists after all! Here the both of you are with your lives barely registered in the foreseeable future, and you're all but eye fucking each other in front of us!" His expression straightened out to that of a brick and his tone hardened as he added, his words clipped: "How. Sweet."

"She has nothing to do with this Frieza," Vegeta hoped that Nappa was on the way, that any moment they would hear the sirens that would put this whole mess to bed. "Just let her go."

"Oh, the contrary, Vegeta!" He raised one lone finger in the air and carried the look of a child who was about to correct an adult, " She has everything to do with this. After all, what good is a pawn if you don't know its weakness! And do you want to know something interesting about weaknesses? Your sweet, precious love here tried to reason with me! Asked me to be gentle with her because she's pregnant! My, I certainly believe congratulations are in order! The proud parents to be!" He clapped slowly and Zarbon and Dodoria followed suit. Vegeta's eyes were thrown open wide as they met Bulma's, her own wet with tears and apologizing. Shit…shit! That was the last fucking thing Frieza needed to know! He couldn't be mad at Bulma for the slip up, after all she was just playing her trump card, but SHIT!

"So Vegeta, still think there's nothing you won't do?" Frieza nodded to Zarbon, and Vegeta watched in horror as he yanked her arm forcefully behind her back, making Bulma scream out in pain, her eyes going wide and looking towards the stars. Vegeta grunted loudly, one foot stepping slightly in front of the other. Frieza laughed from the pit of his belly. "My, I love that song! It never grows old! So what'll be, circus monkey? My offer or your girlfriend and child? Choose wisely. Either you all walk out of here alive or only you will. Who says your death has to be today? But Ms. Briefs and baby won't have that luxury. Tick. Tock."

Fucking hells! Vegeta panicked inside, his stomach rolling around as he thought desperately. Working for Frieza and Frieza knowing he has a child on the way? He would be signing himself up to repeat his father's mistakes without doubt! Bulma and their baby would win in this decision for sure…but then what? Bulma screamed again, and Vegeta held his breath as he thought that he would watch her being hit by Zarbon, but instead she was shaking her head no!, tears racing down her face as her eyes pleaded with him. How could she be so selfless at a time like this!? Didn't she know… didn't she know that living just wasn't living if she wasn't in it!?

Frieza clicked his teeth and looked behind his shoulder at Zarbon and Bulma. "I don't recall making this an open forum for opinion. Zarbon, be a dear and teach them both a lesson, would you? Make sure he learns to make a hurried decision, and make sure she learns to shut the fuck up." Zarbon snorted, yanking Bulma around to his front.

And with sickening horror, as time seemed to all but stop, Vegeta watched as Zarbon lifted a powerful leg and drove it home into Bulma's belly. She screamed out a piercing wail that was unlike her previous ones, her body falling on its knees to the wooden boards. She writhed in pain, crying out in such a desperate plea that Vegeta felt his heart rip in half.

And then he fucking lost it.

Screw the fucking plan, screw Nappa's advice. Zarbon had officially crossed the fucking line. With an adrenaline rush that was unlike anything he had felt before, Vegeta ran past Dodoria, ran past Frieza and bolted to the tall, effeminate man. By the time Zarbon's face twisted to confusion, Vegeta's fist made direct contact with that plastic, sculpted nose of his.

Vegeta had never considered himself a fighter. Sure, when he was younger his fists kept any bullies away that thought he might be weak due to his choice in hobbies. But that was to the average joe schmoe, certainly not to thugs like these. But somewhere inside of him was something powerful and dormant, and he tapped into that strength as he sat on top of Zarbon and gave him the wailing of his life.

Dodoria's strong arm flung Vegeta off of Zarbon and onto his back, but he quickly composed himself and shot up, delivering a forceful punch to Dodoria too. Zarbon groaned on the ground, unable to move as he cradled his face, blood oozing from his fingers and onto his white shirt. Vegeta ducked a heavy (but far from proficient) punch from Dodoria and managed to get a swift, weighted kick to the nuts in, making the fat slob cover his privates and sink to his knees. And then Vegeta knocked him over, delivering the same blows to Dodoria as Zarbon. A happy birthday to the fucker indeed with the gift that kept on giving.

He felt powerful, in that moment. All of his frustrations poured from his fists to Dodoria's fleshy face, and it felt so damned good. His mother, Tarble, his father, Bulma -all of it came out of him like this beating was therapy. He couldn't stop, not even when Dodoria placed his hands up in retreat. How many times did his victims beg? That his mother and brother begged? And how many times did Dodoria listen? Show mercy?

Zero, Vegeta thought as he packed a final punch to the center of Dodoria's face, completely knocking him out cold. He hopped over to do the same to Zarbon when Bulma's shrieking woke him back to reality, his fists mere inches from Zarbon's bloody face.

He turned then, his eyes growing wide as he took the scene in from behind him. His flaring nostrils retained their rhythm, his body frozen in action. Frieza, with a frustrated and wild expression possessing his features, held Bulma against his chest, her back to his and his arm looped under her breasts. And at her temple, against her pretty, matted sky kissed hair, was a gun.

"You think you're clever, Vegeta!? DO YOU?!" Frieza spat, saliva pooling around the corners of his mouth. He looked like a rabid dog ready to strike. "Beat up my best men, will you? Clearly you have forgotten WHO THE FUCK I AM!" He pressed the gun closer to Bulma's head and she whelped, squeezing her eyes shut as tears flowed from her face like fresh rivers.

No…

"I'm through playing games! You have ten seconds, ten FUCKING SECONDS, to have my money in my hand or I'll blow these beautiful brains all over this goddamned pier!"

"Fine!" Vegeta shouted, releasing Zarbon from his grip and carefully standing up. "I'll work for you Frieza! I'll sell your drugs, I-I'll make you money, just please let Bulma go!"

Bulma muffled out something, but Frieza shook her and cocked his gun, his eyes growing mad and frenzied. "Shut up! The deal is off, circus monkey! My money, in my hand, ten seconds! Ten!"

Fuck…fuck… fuck! What could he do! What could he do?

The gun pressed harder into her head. Bulma cried softly as she shook in his grasp. "Nine! Eight! Seven!"

Nappa! Where are you!? Why haven't you shown! We've run out of time!

"What'll be Vegeta? Six! Five!"

How!? How could everything have failed!? He failed! He couldn't protect them after all!

"Kill me instead!" Vegeta pleaded, hot tears rushing down his face in what he would always consider to be his most vulnerable moment. "Shoot me!"

It fell on deaf ears.

"Oh in due time, monkey! But right now, that isn't an valid option! Press a key and try again! Four!"

Vegeta sobbed and looked at Bulma, engraining every inch of her to his memory. Flashbacks of them in bed, under the stars, in the shower all played through his brain like a black and white film. Every kiss, every hand hold, every I-love-you in the whispers of the night. Every meal, every sleep, everything they shared was in jeopardy. "Please Frieza!" He dropped to his knees and sobbed, uncaring how foolish he looked or how desperate he sounded. "I need her, please! Don't do this!"

"Three!"

Bulma cried harder and opened her eyes, looking at Vegeta with understanding. He could tell that underneath the tape she was smiling. Smiling because….because she knew.

Knew that this was the end.

"Two!"

Vegeta met her stare and held it, more tears pricking his eyes and rushing down his face. It was over…it was all over and he didn't save her. He would be forced to watch his family die, just like his father. And it would be all of his fault, just like his father.

He, in the end, turned out to be just like his damned father.

He opened his mouth then, wanting to take this last moment and use it to his advantage. "I love you, Bulma!" He sobbed, wiping snot on the back of his sleeve as he looked into her eyes, this woman who had taken everything he had and birthed something better. The mother of his child. His moon and stars.

His Bulma.

"I love you and I don't care what life I'm in. I will always love you. I'll find you in the next world and I'll love you better! I'll love you harder! There is no me without you! Wait for me, Bulma!" Her eyes returned his sentiment and then some, fresh tears welling up and spilling over her cheeks. The tape moved and he could see it. Could see what she was trying so desperately to say.

I love you too, Vegeta.

"I'm sorry, Bulma. I'm so sorry." His sobs were uncontrollable. He didn't care; he let it out with pre-grief.

"How adorable," Frieza said in a sickengly calm tone. And then, with a cocky smile to Vegeta, he pushed the gun closer to her scalp, his tone eerily cool and calm as he said:

"One."

And then, there was a shot.

oooOOOooo

A/N

I know, I know. I'm sorry to leave you on a cliff hanger but it's necessary. This chapter was one of those chapters I saw in the beginning when I planned this story out. I hoped it conveyed all that I intended it to.

Please rate and review, guys! I'd love to hear your feedback on this one!

Only two chapters left before this story is finished. Keep a look out on my Tumblr for a sappy, emotional post around that time.

Until next time, my friends!