Disclaimer: I don't own Dragonball Z or any of its characters blah, blah, blah don't sue me they belong to Akira Toriyama.

A VERY Special Thanks to Nairobi Dawn, Vladegurl, and lilvampgoddess for reviewing not only the last chapter but also my other story, "Trunks and the Saiyahealthian Princess" (yes I know I am shameless he-he), Thank you so much! And also a very BIG thanks to Chazie (sorry you don't like the dialogue!), SiLvErHaRpY, pepsilexxi, Black Death X, Vegamarie, and ButterflyV. Yay for reviewers!

Chapter 36

Last time on Dragon Ball Z…

When everything had seemed lost, Vegeta had given himself a new goal to live for… because that is what the Prince always had to have: a goal. Without a goal he could not survive… and this goal was one that Kakkarot had not yet achieved before him. "And then Kakkarot… then I will see you bow before your prince," Vegeta smirked. His old plans had failed but he was sure that these new ones would work… they just had to.

…

Bulma still looked at the picture in disbelief, "It's Trunks' time machine for sure but it's covered in plant life and looks like it has been here a long time!" She had immediately called Chichi's house but no one answered. Fortunately, Krillin and Future Trunks called her just a few minutes after and she explained the whole situation to them and was now heading over to meet them. "At least now I am getting involved in this battle! I was afraid I was going to have to sit at C.C. the whole time doing nothing but hoping that things would turn out okay… so lame!" Still the whole thing was puzzling. Trunks claimed that he had the time machine with him and it was in perfect condition, "So how could there be another one that is a total wreck? Well I guess we will sort it all out once we get there!" Bulma tried to stay focused on the task at hand but she couldn't help but let her thoughts wander back to a certain Saiyan Prince… "I didn't get to ask what happened during the fight…But since the androids are still around that means that he didn't beat them and that's not a good sign. I hope he isn't too angry but I have a bad feeling that there is something wrong with Vegeta…Ah! Bulma snap out of it! You are going to meet your son and you want him to think the best of you!" Forcing a smile on her face, the blue beauty pushed the thoughts of her grumpy husband out of her mind and began to land the hover craft. She could see Trunks already, "Hey Trunks! Did you miss me?"

Trunks had a hard time making eye contact with the ecstatic woman, even when she was cheerful Bulma was kind of intimidating. "I guess so…"

Gohan could only smile, "Bulma will always be Bulma it seems ha-ha!"

"So tell me what do you think of the younger version of your mother? Pretty cute huh?" She had always wondered if she was going to keep her looks when she got older and now was the perfect time to ask.

A blush immediately crossed her son's face as he stammered, "Well I'd say you haven't really changed that much…"

Bulma didn't know what was more surprising- that she was going to keep her looks for another 10 years or how much her son looked like Vegeta when he was embarrassed! "I can still remember when he blushed at our wedding… Ugh I've got to stop thinking of that stupid monkey! He didn't even try to save me today jeez!" Pulling away from the shy boy, Bulma laughed whole heartedly, "You mean then I'll keep my girlish looks for at least another 10 years! This is great!" She suddenly realized how silly she was being and covered her laughing mouth, "Oh this is so embarrassing!"

Gohan and Trunks both stared at the laughing woman not really knowing what to do. "So… anyways… Look at this!" Trunks interrupted, since he was raised by Bulma he did know how to handle her… sort of, Bulma really couldn't be 'handled' but 'tolerated.' He immediately took the Time Machine out of its capsule to prove that it was indeed in perfect shape. The three looked at the two machines standing before them- they were definitely the same except one was broken and covered by moss.

"So is the other one not yours?" Bulma asked, confused.

"They are both mine. Remember I told you we were only able to make one time machine in the future. The two capsules you see here are actually one in the same."

Bulma scratched her chin, "I don't get it…"

"Here look at this!" Trunks brushed off some of the moss on the other time machine to reveal the word 'Hope!!' written on it just like the time capsule that looked brand new. He then explained to Bulma that her future-self had written those words just before he had traveled back in time. This is when they realized there was something else wrong. The time machine that had moss all over it also had a big hole in the glass, which had come from the inside!

"Why would anyone want to do that?" Gohan asked in wonder.

"Stand back!" Trunks ordered as he opened up the cockpit. When he stepped inside he immediately noticed something that was not supposed to be there: a pink, spiky, egg-like shell that had been divided into two halves. "What is this?"

"They look like a couple of turtle shells!" Gohan exclaimed as he observed the pink semi-spheres.

"Hey! Let me have a look!" Bulma called from down below. "I am not going to be left out here!" Gohan brought her down the shells and watched as she put the two halves together. "I think they are like egg shells or something…"

Trunks growled, "Just great! Another thing to add to the list of stuff that I have no fucking idea about! Just wait until father finds out about this! He is going to be even more upset with me! What the hell is going on here?"

"That's really strange! What comes out of a shell like this?" Gohan asked and both he and Bulma looked to Trunks for the answer. The egg was in his time capsule after all.

But Trunks was already checking out the hole in the glass, "Whatever came out of that egg must have blasted through the glass!" Trunks sat down and tried to turn on the time machine, "Looks like there's not much energy left. I better work fast!" Trunks' began to scowl like his father as he began to figure out when the capsule landed, "It looks like it landed here three years ago! No, Wait! It came here four years ago…That just might explain a few things! It means that by the time I battled Frieza three years ago whoever used this other time machine had been here for a year!" Trunks' body began to shake in anger, "Is it possible that he is the one who changed history? There can't be any other explanation!" The time machine ran out of batteries at that point and Trunks made his way back down. "But…who was it?"

Bulma looked upon her frustrated son with a soft heart, "He looks so much like his dad when he is angry and confused. I still don't understand exactly what is happening here either Trunks…" But Bulma Briefs was never one to keep a long face, "Well I guess that proves I'm a genius after all boys! Imagine, ME building a time machine in the future!" Smirking she made a mental note to hold this over Vegeta's head the next time they had a verbal spar.

They then encapsulated the two time machines, thinking that it was probably not smart to just leave that kind of technology lying around. "I'll take the weird egg-shell-thingies if you don't mind." Bulma's scientific interest began to take over and she was positive that these two little pink things would help her get more involved in the fight.

"Bulma," Gohan said in a serious tone, "Listen I think we should all head over to Master Roshi's now…"

"Why?" She was a little taken back by the boy's grave look.

"Because at anytime now those androids are going to show up and try to fight my dad! But if he is still sick in bed he won't be able to defend himself! I just think its best if we get over there and if he's not 100 percent we will still have a chance to move him!"

"I see but shouldn't enough of your dad's friends be there to help him out Gohan?" She really didn't see how she could help in this case since she was kind of lacking in the strength department. Besides seeing Goku defenseless did not appeal to Bulma in the slightest. He was her best and oldest friend and she just didn't think she could handle seeing him like that.

"I don't think you understand!" Trunks interjected, "Even the combined strength of Piccolo, Tien, myself, and my father were no match against those androids!"

Bulma's ears perked up at the mention of the Saiyan Prince. "So I was right… Vegeta couldn't beat them. But he is a Super Saiyan now…I thought that that meant he was invincible! Oh man he is probably really pissed right now!" Bulma tried to hide the fear in her voice, "Wow they are that strong huh? So how is Vegeta? Is he okay? Did he go back to Master Roshi's too?" She knew she was showing too much concern for him but she didn't care at that point. "If he is at Master Roshi's then I will go too!"

"He's gone off to train alone somewhere!" Trunks spat, "Man! He is so focused on himself that the thought of anyone else helping never even occurred to him!" Even though he had eaten a senzu bean he could still feel the aching in his gut from where Vegeta had punched him earlier that day.

Bulma only laughed and agreed half heartedly, "Oh Vegeta I see you are putting up your tough guy act again! Even in front of your own son! When this is all over I am giving you a people skill lesson!"

"I think I see something over there!" Gohan interrupted and began walking away as if in a trance.

"What is it?"

…

Vegeta soared through the air, feeling lighter than ever since he had a new purpose! He was about to head over to that ridiculous beach house when he had felt it… "The woman's ki." A part of him commanded that he ignore it and continue on his way but the other half was still pondering a question that he had been asking himself since that morning: Who did she believe in more him or Kakkarot?

The latter half won out and Vegeta turned and headed towards his unsuspecting prey.

…

"GROSS!" Bulma shook all over. "That was the biggest, nastiest, most disgusting bug I have ever seen! I know I said I wanted to help out and all but when it comes to bugs count me out! I mean seriously why would any thing that ugly exist? And what was with that news report… all those people disappearing in a city near by there? Ugh everything is so weird! But I'm sure Trunks will figure it out! He is such a smart boy… that definitely comes from my side of the family!" She smiled proudly as she pictured the purple haired boy, "I'm going to be a great mom apparently! And I am going to keep my lo- AHH!"

Out of no where her hover craft had just stopped with a jerk. "What the hell is going on?"

"Going somewhere?" An all too familiar voice asked.

Bulma's eyes widen as she felt her breath give out. "Vegeta!"

She attempted to turn around but the harshness in his voice cut her off, "Just land this damn contraption Woman!"

Her gut twisted in fear for even though she could only see him out of the corner of her eye she could tell that there was something wrong. His face was even harder than usually and his eyes… They were completely devoid of feeling… just total darkness. "Um, okay." Bulma bit her lip nervously. "Okay think Bulma he just lost a battle he has been preparing for the last three years even after he attained his life long dream… I mean obviously he is going to be pissed but why did he find me out? Vegeta isn't the one who looks for a comforting shoulder to cry on… so this can't be good."

He had somehow made it into the passenger seat now and they sat there in silence for what seemed like an eternity once she landed the ship. Just last night they had been unable to keep their hands and thoughts off each other but now Bulma could feel there was distance between them that was as wide as when he had come back from space the first time… and it was breaking her heart. "This won't take long, if you cooperate Woman." His gruff voice finally broke the silence.

"Cooperate? Vegeta I don't know what you are up to but-"

"SHUT UP!"

Bulma stared at him in total shock. "He hasn't yelled at me like this since… since I don't remember when! Not since our honey moon. He has said harsh things to me but never has he yelled like that!" But her shock only lasted a few moments, and then anger took over. "Don't you yell at me! Not after that stunt you pulled today! Trunks and I could have died and you just stood there!"

"I told you not to come! I thought I had made it perfectly clear that I would not be able to protect you and the brat but you decided to be the foolish wench that you are and come anyways!" He clenched his fists in an attempt to control his rage. He was starting to regret coming to see her for he was afraid he might do something that he would regret later.

"Well I just thought that may be-"

"I DIDN'T COME HERE TO DISCUSS SUCH RIDICULOUS SUBJECTS WITH YOU!" Vegeta roared as he sent his fist through the passenger window.

"Oh just great! Now look at what you've done! You're probably bleeding; let me see your hand!" She reached over to take a look at his hand.

Vegeta's brows furrowed as he tried to suppress the feelings that her touch and concern aroused inside of him. "I just insulted and yelled at her but still she is concerned about my well-being! She really is clever… But I won't be tricked again!" Roughly tearing his hand away, the Saiyan growled, "Don't touch me!"

"What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you acting like this?" Bulma was pissed now. "Jeez I even ignored the fact that he broke my window and he is still being a prick! What did I expect? It is His Royal Ass-ness that I am dealing with here!"

"Just shut that hole in your face for one minute and cooperate with me!" Vegeta commanded.

"Like hell I will!" Bulma opened her mouth in protest but suddenly his gloved hand had wrapped itself around her venomous lips.

"Now you have to make a choice, Bulma," His eyes stared intensely down upon her from above, "Who are you going to believe in, me or that 3rd Class fool Kakkarot?"

Her blue eyes flashed angrily as she tried to break free. As soon as he removed his hand she responded, "You can't be serious! This is why you have been acting like a total jerk! I have been worried sick about-"

"ME OR KAKKAROT?" He roared as he shook her entire body.

Bulma stared up at him as he moved her back and forth and she could see his vulnerability. "You want me to be angry to justify your own anger but I'm not going to give you what you want Vegeta… I'm not going to let you go back to how you used to be!" Sucking up all her courage, Bulma closed her eyes and stated calmly, "Vegeta, stop, you're hurting me."

"Then answer the question!"

"How could I possibly answer that? Goku is my best and oldest friend and you… you are my husband. I don't want to choose!" She cursed the tears that were beginning to form behind her eyes.

"Well you have to!" They were nose to nose now, both scowling and angry.

"No." Bulma stated firmly.

"She dares to defy me?" Vegeta took his gloved hand and wrapped it around porcelain neck, "Woman I am not playing around. I told you that you would always be second to my goals and fighting and if you try to get in the way then I have no qualms with sending you and that brat into the next dimension!"

"Bullshit, Vegeta!"

"You think I won't!?" He squeezed her neck slightly, hoping that she would just give in. "Huh, Woman?"

"Bullshit." Tears fell down her face, partially from the lack of oxygen but mostly because they were back to this.

Vegeta bared his teeth and stared hatefully into Bulma's blue orbs. She was challenging him and he knew he was going to lose. "Why didn't she just answer my question? Why does she have to make everything so difficult? I hate her! I hate this planet!" Scrunching his nose with self-disgust, Vegeta growled one last time before soaring thought the broken side window.

Author's Note: The first interaction between the couple since chapter 19! What did you think? There is more trouble up ahead for them I'm sorry to say… But we will get to that later he-he. Anyways HAPPY HALLOWEEN and I hope you enjoyed it! PLEASE REVIEW!!!