Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or the characters

It felt so surreal when the three landed safely back on Earth. Part of Vegeta was just waiting for something to go wrong, or someone to attack them. Instead, it was just like when he came to Earth the first time. He hadn't wanted to be there, but he was, and surprisingly everything had worked out. He glanced at Bulma who seemed to be taking in the features of her mother land. She knew what was going to happen, and she already knew what she would choose.

Vegeta had to explain it all to her. He and Nappa had hinted to it in the past. Unfortunately, it didn't matter if all the people of Earth were with them. Someone had betrayed them and forced them into war. He almost lost Bulma and his son, thought he had lost them. No, the alliance could not be kept here, which meant many people had to choose between Planet Vegeta and Planet Earth. Vegeta would have understood if Bulma couldn't do it. He knew if he had to choose, he'd choose his home without a second thought.

"Wherever you are is my home."

It had been such a simple statement that carried so much weight. Bulma couldn't see the Earth as home, especially if he was not there with her. Their son needed the both of them, and Bulma refused to separate him from his own child. She would return to Planet Vegeta with him, even if that meant saying goodbye to the place where she was raised.

Bulma had given up so much for him, and Vegeta promised himself that he would make it all worth her while.

Getting to Bulma's home was easy and Bulma was surprised to see that part of her childhood home had been destroyed. Vegeta could see the concern for her parents etched on her face. "Don't worry," he assured her. "They weren't attacked."

"Could've fooled me," she retorted making Vegeta chuckle. Despite the severity of the situation, at least she still had enough lightness in her heart to make jokes.

At that moment, Bulma's mother had come outside to air out a blanket when she saw the three of them standing there. Her eyes connected with Bulma's and she dropped the cloth and nearly ran over to her child. "Oh, thank God!" she shouted loudly as she embraced her daughter, tears streaming down her face.

Bulma felt a little nervous, laughing weakly as she held her sobbing mother. "Yeah…I had everyone worried, huh?"

Her mother looked at her with a heatless glare. "Understatement, Bulma, a complete understatement."

Bulma laughed fully at that, but cried along with her mother as her friends and others were congregating outside her house. Maron and Yamcha had come to talk to her and Vegeta while Chi Chi nearly tackled Kakarot over, the third-class Saiyan loosely wrapping his arms around her as they kissed. Eventually, Raditz and Peppan made their way out, and Vegeta and Raditz exchanged knowing glances. His former comrade and friend nodded to him, letting him know he was fine despite the memory loss, and that was enough for Vegeta.

Bardock stayed inside with Dr. Briefs, watching the scene occasionally glaring down at the human. Piccolo had chosen to do the same, Baba having gone back to the Lookout earlier to inform the guardian of what was to happen.

It only left one more person who had yet to make an appearance.

"Mom…"

Bulma's heart leapt as her attention shifted to the teenager Vegeta had told her about. Her eyes landed on Trunks, the man her little child would have grown into under the harsh rule of Cold. He was standing an arm's length away from her yet he seemed so far away, his head tilted off to the side looking down in shame. A smile appeared on her lips as she released her mother and approached her son slowly. "Trunks," she whispered lovingly, testing the name out for the first time. Her expression softened as his eyes widened, yet he still looked away. "You're a handsome one, aren't you?" she teased. "I see you've inherited both mine and your father's good looks."

Trunks couldn't help it. He had been so keyed up and overwhelmed all day that hearing his mother's past counterpart say a joke she always had to tease him made him both chuckle in humor and cry from the overwhelming sea of emotions he'd been trying to hold back. He always did he best never to cry. Cold would have taunted him and he knew that Saiyans weren't really ones for emotions. But the part of him that couldn't conceal his emotions, the human side, sometimes won over and this happened to be one of those times as Bulma pulled him close to her and simply held him. To add to the support, Vegeta walked up to them and put one hand on Bulma's shoulder and one in the center of Trunks's back. Bunny shooed everyone back into the house leaving the family to have their moment alone. It had been a really long day.

Later, everyone was inside eating the large array of food Bunny made, and additionally had catered. Kakarot recounted the battle as Vegeta remained quiet, holding Bulma's hand resting on his thigh. Trunks was in awe as Kakarot told them how he and Vegeta became Super Saiyans, and that was when Vegeta's expression soured. Bunny, likewise, kept her eyes on her daughter hoping she wouldn't cry. However, the tale was interrupted as Bardock slammed his fist down on the table nearly causing it to go flying.

"Is no one going to discuss what's going to happen next, or are we all just going to keep playing human tea party?" he snapped.

Dr. Briefs had opted to remain in the other room, away from everyone, but he heard Bardock loud and clear. He knew he had messed up. The alliance would be broken and he would lose his daughter, though at least she'd be alive and happy. His wife made it clear she'd stay with him, but he knew that one day she'd resent him because she would not be able to see her daughter or grandson.

Vegeta sighed having not wanted to say anything until his father had given orders. "I can only say what is said would happen," Vegeta started. "My father has not given official orders, and we have never been betrayed by an ally before, not like this. The one time it happened, we made a clean break."

"Will you really have to leave?" Bunny asked sadly.

Vegeta nodded. "And all travel, trade, and aid to this planet will cease. No one here will be able to go to Planet Vegeta or any other allying planet, and no one from Planet Vegeta will be able to come here. Unfortunately, many of us are going to have to make choices."

Bunny looked to her daughter and already knew her choice. Likewise, Bulma knew what her mother would choose. "I'm sorry, Bulma…"

"Mom, I understand," the woman replied with a sad smile. "Look, dad is going to need you. I don't know what King Cold told him, but he implied he brainwashed him into believe some story based on a loss he had experienced in the past. I may not know what that is, but I'm sure you do. You have to stay with dad."

Vegeta could feel Trunks's power flicker in anger. He, like the boy, honestly had no respect for the human and blamed him completely for what was to happen. His eyes then moved to Kakarot and Chi Chi. "I…can't leave," Chi Chi whispered, her voice broken.

"I know," Kakarot told her, "so I have to stay."

This made Chi Chi's eyes widen. "But…Kakarot, your family…you can't." Bardock glared at his son. He had been hoping he would have had sense to return home, and Raditz also seemed disappointed but said nothing. "I can't let you do that."

"You're not letting me do anything," Kakarot assured her. "It's my choice. Chi, I've already told you I've felt more at home with you than anywhere else. I'll miss Planet Vegeta." He looked between his brother and best friend, "And I'll miss you all, too, but I just can't leave. If you were in my position, what would you do?"

"I'd stay with my intended," Vegeta announced, to everyone's surprise. To be honest, had Bulma chosen to stay on Earth, even if he would have hated it, he would have told his parents to make Tarble their heir and he would have stayed with her. Bulma knew this and made the choice for him.

"Is…" Bulma tried to speak. "Is there a way that we could convince your father that even if he breaks the alliance with Earth that we can still contact Earth via video? Or that if something really horrible happened in the future that we could maybe help a bit?"

Vegeta didn't find Bulma's requests unreasonable. She was an Earthling, and if something were to happen to her home and family and friends, they wouldn't want to see them destroyed. Besides, Kakarot would be staying, and most likely he'd have children with his future mate, and they would all be part Saiyan. If something horrible were to happen in the future, their own kind would be at risk. "I will speak with him about it later," Vegeta promised. "For now, as it stands, this may very well be our final meal together."

Trunks still didn't know what he was going to do. The least desirable decision was to return to Cold's ship in the future. He needed to get Kakarot out of there. It wasn't fair to leave the man to deal with the bastard's wrath. With him and his mother gone, it would all fall on Kakarot. He couldn't leave him behind.

He was outside looking up at the sky. He had never been on a planet where he wasn't forced to wipe out the population before. Sure, he did fight and kill that day when it was attacked, but now he was lying on the grass and staring at the stars. His mother had told him that it was the most relaxing thing in the world to do. So far, he found she was right.

He wasn't surprised that the Kakarot of this timeline wanted to stay for Chi Chi. The man often spoke about her, hoping one day he'd see her again. Thankfully, Cold had never destroyed Earth even in his timeline. He just wiped out the majority of the population and sold it. Chi Chi was on Planet Vegeta in his timeline, safe and sound with the others except Dr. Briefs who was incarcerated on a neutral planet. The war in his timeline was still pretty much going on, and Cold was getting more territory.

He heard the sound of footsteps next to him, yet he had no desire to move and see who it was. Whoever it was sat down beside him and lied down next to him, also looking at the stars. "Your mother convinced me to do this, once," Vegeta stated. "It's a different view of the universe than we're used to."

Trunks scoffed a laugh. "Yeah. If I didn't know what hell was out there, I'd say this actually looks kind of nice. It's peaceful at least."

"You shouldn't be hard on yourself," Vegeta assured him, answering the unspoken anxiety. "Your mother did not judge me for my past, nor do we judge you. You lived a life that could have been my own. I was only with Frieza a short time. You were with his father a lifetime."

"I hate him," Trunks growled, though he was still calm from looking at the stars and breathing in the scent of the grass. "I'm glad he's dead here, but I wish I could end him in my own timeline. I need to go back soon or Kakarot will be next."

"Kakarot will be fine," the prince assured him. "I know from my short time how the ice fucks operate. Cold might torture him for amusement or send him on your missions, but he'll keep him alive. Kakarot might have a lot of demons he needs to fight, but he'll be alive. You need to train with me here before you return. You've hardly ever had this much access to your power. Besides, you and I need to work on these transformations of ours. Once you can control it, you can go back and finish Cold, and then do what the Namek said and use these 'Dragon Balls' to bring us back."

"Do you honestly believe it will work?" Trunks huffed. "I don't want to find out it was all a lie."

"The Nameks, Kanassans, and Saiyans were the first alliance against Frieza," Vegeta stated. "This Piccolo holds true to it. He would not lie to us or to you. You will get your wish for your parents. I promise."

Trunks softened a bit and sighed. "What if..? Never mind."

Vegeta waited for Trunks to speak again, for he had a feeling he knew what he'd ask. "Are you proud of me, dad?"

"Yes." It was simple and sincere with no hint of doubt.

Trunks sat up abruptly and glared down at his father. "How could you be?" he shouted. "I killed! I let that bastard walk all over me and make a mockery of both yours and mom's race! I'm nothing but a murderer! How can you be proud of that?"

Vegeta could now understand all of Bulma's words that were spoken when he told her about his past. He finally saw what she did, but in this amazing teenager that held the best of both of them. "You're stronger than I am," Vegeta admitted, "in the sense that you survived something with your sanity intact that I would have succumbed to long ago. Had I been with Frieza for over a decade, I know what I would have become. I had been so close to that before my rescue. I started to enjoy killing, Trunks, and I hate that I felt that way. I'm grateful that Frieza had been defeated, because I would have become a monster. Even though I told your mother practically everything, I never told her that because when I returned home the desire to kill left me. I just wanted to escape the memories of torment."

Trunks blinked a few times in surprise as Vegeta continued. "I disobeyed every command my father gave me. He told me never to show fear, to hold onto my Saiyan pride, and to never let Frieza know I cared about anything, even my planet and race. It was hell, and I honestly believed that I was a lost cause that didn't belong among his people.

"And then I met your mother, and her outlook made me feel strong and whole, something I hadn't felt since before I turned six."

They were both quiet for a moment, and Vegeta couldn't help but feel he was having the most difficult talk again. Vegeta wondered if this was what it was like to have a bond with his child, similar to the bond he had with Bulma, but in a different light. He couldn't be sure since his relationship with both of his parents had crumbled. He wondered if his untainted son would be able to handle his past, if he should tell him, but he knew he wanted to show his son that he could trust him with anything by showing the boy he had nothing to fear from him. Bulma's words once again returned to him, that because of how betrayed he'd felt, he'd be a good king and, unspoken, a good father.

Bulma had always known, even when she hadn't mentioned children.

Vegeta turned to his son, his expression serious but his eyes warm and full of pride. "You survived," he said forcefully, "and because of that, how could I not be proud of you?"

Trunks grew quiet and glared down at the ground, but he nodded. Even if he didn't necessarily agree, he had to be forced to accept it. Vegeta knew one day that Trunks would meet someone and she would make him see his worth as Bulma had done for him, but he figured that Trunks needed to learn that on his own. For now, having his father's confidence was enough.

"There you two are."

Bulma had come outside looking for both of them and sat down beside both her boys. She kissed Vegeta on his forehead and then did the same to her son, both men blushing profusely at the public display and liking it. "Is everything okay?" she asked, her voice soft and light.

"I'm sorry, mom," Trunks whispered, saddened, "but I…I couldn't save you."

"My mother told me about what happened," Bulma stated, "and you were definitely not at fault. She also told me about what Piccolo said." She then looked to Vegeta, a bit of urgency in her voice. "Kakarot and Raditz are on the line with your father. They're having difficulties convincing him about what I asked earlier."

Vegeta stood up and started heading to the house. He paused in the doorway. "I'll handle it."

They watched as his form disappeared before the two looked to one another. Trunks felt uneasy with his mother staring at him with the loving smile he had come to know his entire life. "Well, the atmosphere out here seemed heavy when I joined. I hope you two were having a pleasant conversation."

"Um, uh," Trunks muttered, "yeah, as good as it can be, I guess."

"That's nice," Bulma cooed while rubbing her stomach. "You know, I just found out I was going to be a mother this morning, and now I get to see what my little boy will look like. I even know your name and-"

"Please, don't name him Trunks!" Bulma was startled by the outburst, her mouth dropping open. Trunks was glaring at her with hate, though she was certain it was directed at someone else and not herself. "I hate my name! Don't you know how much we suffered because he literally put us in Cold's hands? I never wanted it. You only named me that to protect me from people who hated dad!"

Bulma's mouth pursed into a line as she let her son continue before she would correct him. "And I had to live with this horrible name, a constant reminder of the bastard that started this."

"Trunks," Bulma interjected, "I know he screwed up, but he is still your grandfather. Please, don't call him that. Also, I've always wanted to name my son Trunks, not because of my father but because of my grandfather who I actually did get along with and respect. He was hard on your grandfather because of me being born, and that I never fully accepted, but I have many good memories of him and me. I told your father long ago that I wanted to name my son after him, despite the way my father treated me."

"I…" Trunks started before he looked away again. "I didn't know that. I always just assumed when Zarbon said my grandfather was a traitor and I shared his name. He was the one who put that idea in my head saying you didn't want my name affiliated with my father because of his enemies."

"Well," Bulma snorted, "Zarbon was an idiot and had no idea anything about me, so listening to him is pointless. As far as the idea, why didn't you ask me? I would have told you."

Trunks heaved a heavy sigh and sat hunched with his arms on his legs. "I knew you wouldn't like me unloading how I felt about your father, so I never brought it up. As for what I called him, I'll try not to, but that's all I see him as. I hate him, too."

Bulma reached out to Trunks who flinched at her touch before she wrapped her arm around and leaned her head on his shoulder. He sat rigid in her grip and a sad smile graced her features. He was so skittish and it made Bulma's heart ache. The teenager in her arms reminded her so much of Vegeta, though thankfully Vegeta had always been welcoming of her touches. There were times, however, in private where he'd seize up, but eventually he'd relax. She caught herself wondering if Vegeta would have been like Trunks in receiving affection had Frieza had him longer. Vegeta was tenser around other people, including his family. With Bulma he normally felt at ease.

Hopefully, whenever Trunks went back, he would find that perfect girl for himself.

"I cannot even imagine everything you've been through," Bulma stated, "but that's a lot of hate to harbor in your heart. You're going to be with me and Vegeta for a little while. I hope that you'll be able to get some rest and learn to relax a bit. I don't want you to let this experience hold you back, Trunks, never."

He thought back to his father's words, his survival, and realized that his father had only relaxed whenever he mentioned his mother. He couldn't fight the grin that appeared on his face, especially because this was exactly what his mother would want for him. At times, his mother had spoken of escaping and how much different it would be, how they'd be able to relax and loosen up. Surprisingly, it all started now for him.

"You're going to love Planet Vegeta," she assured him. "It's so beautiful, really hot though. Your dad knows some amazing places. There's this restaurant we love. We'll have to go there at some point."

"This is going to sound dumb, but what the heck is a restaurant?"

Bulma chuckled. "A place to go and eat. People cook and then serve us."

"Dad's okay with people handling his food?" Trunks asked in alarm.

Bulma tilted her head in confusion. "Um, wouldn't they have cooked food on the ship and serve it to everyone?"

"It's different," Trunks argued. "If someone poisoned the food, they'd poison the entire fleet. Most would survive, though it would suck, and they'd kill the idiot responsible."

"Don't worry, Trunks. Your dad trusts the place, always has. No one on the planet wants to poison us."

"You're sure…"

"I'm sure."

Trunks breathed out, but he figured he had to get used to this different world, and the world his would become once he defeated Cold. "I trust you and dad," Trunks relented, but his eyes held stern resistance, "but only you and dad."

"We'll take what we can get," Bulma responded softly, giving Trunks one last squeeze. "Now, don't stay out too late. If you want to explore…I would do it now, but please come home, okay?"

Bulma left Trunks alone outside appearing to be fine, but inside her heart was breaking. She didn't know what to do or say to anyone about anything. Her day had been a complete whirlwind of emotions, and she didn't know how much longer she'd hold. She had to leave Earth, which honestly wasn't so bad. It was the never returning part that left her feeling sick to her stomach and the baby's ki fluctuate.

A shaky hand moved to her stomach to quell the raging ki as she ran into Chi Chi. Both women simply stared at each other with saddened eyes and the dark-haired woman embraced her friend. Away from the prying eyes of others, they both released tears that had stored up all day. For Bulma, they were tears of both her anxiety and relief, and also of her confliction in leaving her home planet and family forever. For Chi Chi, they were tears of the fear of losing Kakarot all day as well as guilt for him staying and no longer having his brother and friend, but also the sadness that the Saiyans and her first, true friend would never be with them again.

Dr. Briefs sat alone in his study with a scotch in hand, still in disbelief of the events that day. He had thought he was protecting his daughter, but he had failed her terribly. It didn't even bother him that he ruined the alliance save the fact that he would never see his daughter again. He had been so nearsighted that he never considered the repercussions of his actions.

Vegeta entered the room without knocking, and Dr. Briefs thought for sure he was dead. It would honestly be a blessing for him to not have to deal with the agonizing guilt he felt for the life of his daughter and grandson, what it could have been. His wife would also be free to leave. With him gone, maybe the alliance wouldn't need to be destroyed at all.

"What did Cold say to you?"

Dr. Briefs was stunned by the question. He expected to experience the prince's full wrath. Instead, he only held the man's cold glare with a question lying in between them. He sighed and then sipped his drink and returned the glass to his desk. "It doesn't matter," he answered, his voice tired. "It won't change what I did."

"It could change a lot of things," Vegeta admonished. "I asked you a question and I expect an honest answer. Believe me, I will know if you're lying."

"It's my business," the doctor said harshly, slamming his fist on the wood. His glare was almost as forceful as Vegeta's, though the Saiyan had no plan of backing down. "What he said was that the bond was for exerting your will on a person and that Bulma would be enslaved to you. I believed him. I shouldn't have, but I did. Now, just leave me alone."

Vegeta rolled his eyes at the man's request. "If you wanted to be left alone, then you shouldn't have betrayed us. You lost the right to banish me the moment you put my mate, your daughter, in harm's way. Bulma said Cold said you experienced some great loss and that's why you believed his tripe. What the fuck did he mean, and don't give me the 'it's none of your business' bullshit because you made it my business when you brought the father of my tormentor back into our lives."

Briefs sighed, but he made no attempt to answer the prince infuriating him. "All men are entitled to their secrets, Vegeta. This is mine. Whether or not you choose to accept that, I don't care. I'm taking this to my grave. Now, get out of my study and leave me alone. I wish to see no one, not even Bulma."

"Even though she's leaving tomorrow." He saw the doctor's expression fall, his own expression softening slightly. "Despite all the shit you've done, what you've put her through over the years, you do love her. Are you really planning to walk out of her life without giving her any explanation as to why you trusted Cold over her? Why any of this had to happen?"

"I'm protecting her. It's better if she doesn't know the truth, and I intend for her to never find out. If you care about her safety and mental health, you'll let this go and leave me."

Vegeta knew he wasn't going to get anywhere with the man. At least he had had better luck with his own father when he demanded that the communications remain open between Bulma's mother and Kakarot's family and Planet Vegeta. If anything happened to the Earth, like another invasion, because it was Bulma's home, they would be allowed to aid, but only Vegeta and any other Saiyans that might volunteer their services, but Vegeta and Bulma would need to be active in their roles as royals if they wanted this, and Vegeta would take over as king whenever his father wanted meaning that he and Bulma could not flee to any remote planets as she had suggested. Vegeta only agreed to what he felt was a prison sentence on the condition that Earth would be assimilated back into the alliance once he and Bulma took the throne. The king had been adamantly against it, but Vegeta told him he'd forsake the entire kingdom and run away with Bulma the second they had a chance. Between the two of them, they'd escape. This was the only way to ensure Vegeta's cooperation, and so, after an hour of the king yelling and Vegeta watching him with an unyielding, bored expression, finally agreed.

He knew he had made the right decision, planning to have the Earth back in the alliance. Despite the actions of one man, the Earth had remained their ally. It was Bulma's home, too. He had to make it so that she could return one day, whether or not it was anytime soon, especially when she was throwing her entire past and school career away for him. He knew she wouldn't have chosen any differently, but this was a huge gesture she made for him.

Knowing that only one man ruined the alliance angered Vegeta, but he owed it to Bulma to get answers that would hopefully give her closure. The human wasn't budging, and unfortunately Vegeta had to give up just this once. As he turned, he caught sight of a picture that immediately grabbed his attention. It was a picture of Bulma as a little girl, and there was a tall, blonde woman with straightened hair holding her. She couldn't be much older than he and Bulma were presently, and reminded him of that imaginary friend Bulma told him about. "Who is that woman?" he asked out loud beside himself.

Dr. Briefs froze as Vegeta saw the one picture he wish he hadn't. Nervously he said, "My sister, Brooke. Now, will you please get out?"

Vegeta glared at the man once again before leaving the office, but not without forcefully slamming the door behind him. Dr. Briefs cringed, but sighed in relief when he no longer heard Vegeta's footsteps. He got up from his desk and made his way to the frame. He looked at the picture fondly, and with a sad sigh and a heavy heart, he whispered, "And now, I've truly lost you both…my daughters."