Chapter 25 family get together
We stand outside the Italian restaurant my dad has chosen to meet up in, I'm so nervous my stomach feels as though it's doing cartwheels; I'm pretty sure if I eat anything I will be sick. I have nearly turned back a few times, called my dad and cancelled, telling him I'm ill or something but Vegeta's constant reassurances that it will be fine, he can't wait to meet them all and he will do his best to get on with my mum keep me moving forward. There is a window near us and through it I can see my mum and dad are already in there, along with Raditz. My auntie, uncle and Bulma haven't arrived yet.
"Come on cutie, it's okay, let's just go in," Vegeta urges, taking my hand.
"I will in a minute, I feel really sick," My heart is racing in my chest. What if mum starts a whole big argument? What if she tries to embarrass me again? There's a lot of people in the restaurant, I really don't want her shouting that I'm gay in front of all them.
"What are you so worried about? that is literally the worst that can happen, it will be fine," He assures me.
"What if she shouts at me? What if she tells everyone I'm gay?" I mutter.
"Everyone, like who? Your family already know you are gay and you don't know any of those other people, who cares about them. Besides, I planned on walking in there holding your hand, to show we are still strong ya know, so everyone would probably figure it out anyway." I think he's trying to put my mind at ease but he's kinda making it worse.
"I'm scared," I admit quietly. He moves toward me, his arm snaking its way around my waist, his lips inches from mine.
"I seem to recall you saying that you aren't scared when I kiss you, would you have me kiss you now?" he asks in a whisper.
"Vegeta, stop, someone might see," I tell him as my body impulsively moves forward and I kiss his soft lips. He chuckles against my mouth.
"You kinda contradicted yourself a bit there baby, do you want me to stop or not?" He asks between me pushing my lips into his over and over.
"Yes stop," I mumble, holding him in place so I can continue to kiss him, gently slipping my tongue inside his mouth. He giggles again but makes no attempt to remove me from him. I tell myself that this is a bad idea and that I will feel pretty stupid if we get caught like this, but I don't listen, his lips are so addictive.
"OHHH! Look, it's Goku!" I hear my auntie Panchi call out in her strange high pitched squeal and I quickly push Vegeta away from me and try to look innocent, she totters over in her much too high heels and skimpy red dress, her blond hair piled high on her head, Bulma close behind her.
"No need to stop smooching boys, you carry on, don't let us put you off," She giggles with a huge grin on her face. Vegeta can see that I am already too embarrassed to speak, I stand there, silent, face burning.
"It's okay, we were just about finished," He answers. "You must be Mrs. Breifs, I can see where Bulma gets her beauty from. Vegeta Breigh," He introduces himself as formally as ever, kissing her hand and making her blush and giggle, I can already see that she loves him.
"Well, aren't you a polite little petal, it's lovely to meet you Vegeta, call me Panchi. Well, Goku, Bulma told me you'd gotten yourself a hottie but oh my, he's totally gorgeous," She coos, blatantly peeking at his butt.
"Mum, shut up," Bulma scolds.
"Oh I'm sorry, did I embarrass you dear?" Auntie asks looking at Vegeta.
"No not at all, thank you for the compliment. Hello Bulma, it's nice to see you again."
"Hi," Bulma answers, looking like she's had enough already "You'll have to get used to my mum, she can be a bit-"
"Oh nonsense," Auntie cuts her off, "Vegeta already said he wasn't embarrassed, now come on lovely, let's get inside and you can tell me all about yourself and how you met my darling nephew," Auntie rambles on taking Vegeta by the arm and leading him inside the restaurant, so much for walking in hand in hand.
"Ha-ha, do you think he'll survive the Spanish inquisition?" Bulma asks me, with a smirk.
"You know what, I actually think he'll enjoy it," I answer honestly. I watch Vegeta's face as they walk through the door, he's full of smiles and charm, I don't think there is any situation in the world that he couldn't handle like a pro, he is so cool.
My uncle's' voice interrupts my thoughts.
"Nice to see you Goku," Is all he says. I didn't expect any more from him really, my uncle is a man of few words and the words he chooses to say are ones with value, he certainly finds no interest in my sexuality, I doubt he cares much. He walks past and myself and Bulma follow behind.
Inside the restaurant my family is sitting at a large table next to the window, Auntie Panchi has already sat Vegeta down at the opposite end of the table than my mother, she may act totally oblivious to anything but in all honesty she's a very clever woman. My mum looks relatively happy, even when she is the worst mood imaginable my auntie can usually cheer her up, the two of them have always got on like a house on fire. My Auntie brings out a side to my mother that we rarely see. They throw their arms round each other.
"Panchiii, it's been too long," My mother declares. As I approach the table Vegeta stands and pulls my chair out for me, ever the gentleman. Both Bulma and Radditz notice his gesture and smile at each other.
"So cute," Mouths Bulma. I roll my eyes and take my seat at Vegeta's side, he grips my hand under the table. I will have to tell him to stop treating me like a princess… At least not in front of everyone. The rest of the family say hello to each other but it's hard to even hear each other over the noise of my mum and Aunties jabbering, women are noisy.
"Did my mum say hello to you?" I whisper to Vegeta.
"No, but she did give me a kind of half smile, so that's a massive improvement to last time I spoke to her," He whispers back, smiling. He seems genuinely happy. I wonder how he can forgive my mum so easily for all the things she said to him, she was horrible, and yet, here he is sitting at a table happy that he might be starting to get her to not hate him. He really is the strongest, smartest person I have ever known, every day he amazes me. I squeeze his hand under the table and smile back.
A waiter appears and hands us all a menu, the table falls quiet as we decide what we want.
"What are you having cutie?" Vegeta asks me, earning yet more 'Awes' from the girls, to whom I shoot a death glare at.
"I don't know what half this stuff is," I admit looking at the strange Italian food names.
"I could choose for you, if you don't mind?" He asks eagerly, I can see he wants to order for me, there he goes treating me like a princess again, I roll my eyes and agree. Closing my menu and placing it in front of me. When the waiter comes to take our orders, everyone giggles as they try to pronounce the names of the dishes. Eventually he asks Vegeta what he would like.
"I'll have the penne alla rusticana and a glass of sassicaia. And Goku will have the pappardelle gorgonzola and a coke per favour," He pronounces every word perfectly, and even says please in Italian as he hands his and my menu back to the waiter. I'm glad he remembered that my mum doesn't allow me to drink alcohol, although I don't think I would want it anyway after last time's performance.
"So, Shirley, tell me all the gossip," Auntie Panchi squeals, rubbing her hands together.
"Well, for the first time ever I don't have any, pretty much all the gossip between the girls over the last few weeks has been about…" She flaps her hands around awkwardly, searching for the right words, "…Other stuff," She finishes weakly. The table falls awkwardly silent, we all know who the gossip has been about.
"Oh well, people will talk," Auntie Panchi shrugs it off and turns to me and Vegeta.
"So, where did you two love birds meet then?" She asks, fluttering her eyelashes at Vegeta. My eyes automatically flash to my mum, I really don't want to talk about this in front of her, the last thing she probably wants to hear is us being called lovebirds, and the last thing I want to do is upset her even more.
"Auntie Panchi, maybe we should tell that story another time…" I suggest.
"It's okay Goku, I want to hear how you two met as well," My mum cuts in with a little smile on her face, I feel the smile spreading across my face and my heart warming. She's trying so hard, I suddenly feel overcome with emotion, it feels like everything is finally falling into place. For the first time, I can actually see a future where my family accepts Vegeta, like him even and it's the best feeling in the world.
"You sure?" I ask, trying not to cry.
"Yeah, I'm sure," She answers finally. I smile at Vegeta who is already smiling back at me.
"We met at work, Vegeta is my boss's nephew and he was running the shop for a day."
"Aww was it love at first sight?" Auntie gushes.
"No," I answer.
"Yes," says Vegeta at the same time.
"Well it was for me at least, I mean how could I not fall head over heels for him, he's so cute. Goku took a little more convincing but I won him over in the end," He smiles proudly.
"I was under the impression that you went to Goku's college?" My mum surprises us all by asking him a direct question.
"I do now, I started just after I met Goku," He answers grinning beautifully at my mum, who surprises us even more by smiling back, Vegeta's smile is very contagious.
"Why did you start college so late? You seem older than Goku?"
"Only a little older, four years. I spent a lot of time travelling, and I lived in Italy for a couple of years. The world is too beautiful to not go and see it," He muses.
"Tell us about your travels," My dad chimes in. Vegeta launches into a deep and descriptive speech about some of the places he's been and things he's seen, and that's all it takes, every member of my family is completely captivated by him, they ask him all manner of questions which he answers with perfect manners and prose, it is totally impossible not to fall in love with him. I sit and watch him, doey eyes as he recounts his experiences. He laughs as they tell him their own travel stories, none as elaborate as his, and he asks interesting and thought provoking questions. His people skills are second to none. He listens intently as they talk, not even looking away as he absent mindedly lifts my hand to his lips and kisses my knuckle.
After I have sat silently for a while he soon turns his attention back to me.
"You're very quiet, are you okay?" He asks me.
"I'm fine."
"Do you not like your food, I can order you something else?"
"It's fine, Vegeta," I assure him.
"Do you always fuss over him that much?" My dad asks with a smile.
"Err… I don't think I fuss over him much, do I?" He turns to me.
"Yes dad, he always fusses over me this much," I answer for him. Vegeta laughs.
"Do I really?" He asks completely incredulous, he obviously pampers me so instinctively that he hasn't even noticed he's doing it.
"Vegeta, you literally fuss over me all the time, I don't think I've opened a single door since I met you," He laughs loudly, a heartfelt and pretty laugh.
"That is true, would you like me to stop 'fussing' over you, cutie?"
"No way."
"Good 'cause I wasn't going to."
The hours pass quickly, the conversation flowing freely, Vegeta fitting in as though he has always been part of the family, everyone seems happy, even my mother can't wipe the grin off her face. When it comes to paying the bill my dad and my uncle usually argue for a few minutes over who will pay then finally decide to split the bill, they seem to have this strange idea that men should pay the bill, neither one wants to back down as that would be like saying they were less of a man that the other, the rest of the family let them get on with it, Vegeta does not. While they are still bickering over who will pay he hands the waiter his card.
"My treat, I insist," He says. Both my dad and my uncle swiftly hand their cards over as well and it's decided that they will split the bill three ways, it seems there is a new man at the table.