Behind Palace Walls

by NeenaD91

Prince Vegeta has two goals that must go undeterred: Beat Freeza, and clean up his shitty ass Kingdom. He thinks he's making headway until someone he least expects comes along and reminds him to breathe: a concubine.

38. Not Again

Behind Palace Walls ch 38

XXX

The journey back to Earth was a long ride home for everyone aboard.

No one could stand to see Bulma crying the way that she was, and yet at the same time, no one could manage to get in between.

Chi-Chi had tried first, offering her homemade cookies she brought for the flight but the heiress declined. She then tried offering a verbal apology for their former strife. One, because it was high time she said it and two, she was trying to get Bulma's mind off of her current heartbreak.

Mentioning Vegeta in any form or facet however, only made it worse. Bulma paused for a brief moment to listen to the raven-haired homemaker, before bursting back into tears for wishing that Vegeta was here to hear this apology with her.

At that Chi-Chi threw in the towel and Emmeline tried next. She gave her some tea, and got her to settle down a bit, if only for a brief nap. But the matriarch made the mistake of leaving the room when the heiress was down for the count. As soon as Bulma woke up and realized she was alone, she was at it again.

Whenever she wasn't wailing, she sat by the window in her bedroom and let silent streams create rivets in her face. The boys—unfamiliar with how to deal with any type of emotional strife—were cautious to approach her, and the ladies tip-toed around as if she were a sleeping baby.

Bardock called her father on the first day and made him aware of their arrival, as well as the circumstances for their quick departure. Dr. Briefs anger toward his daughter had simmered days ago but now, in light of recent circumstances, he found himself pressed to speak to her in person and check on her condition.

Bardock and Emmeline tried for two days to goad her out of the bedroom to speak with her father but she refused to move; she barely acknowledged their presence when they came in to ask to her. On the third day, Dr. Briefs told them not to worry and just to allow her the space to grieve. He'd see his daughter when she arrived home.

At that Bardock made one final call late at night, sequestered in secrecy while everyone was asleep in their bunks.

"How is she doing?" Vegeta was shirtless and sweating, a sign that he was in the middle of training in the new gravity chamber, which was currently hovering over Planet Vegeta's airspace. His eyes looked tired; he probably hadn't slept in a couple of days but they still lit up at the mention of his other half.

Bardock gave him a pointed look. "Physically or emotionally?" Vegeta made a disgruntled murmur and his eyes found the tips of his boots. "She feels about as bad as you look," the Doctor added and that caused the corner of the Prince's mouth to tug, tickling his nose with his five o'clock shadow.

"You know I had to do it Bardock," he said quietly.

"I know, I know," the doctor's tone was leveled with understanding. "And she knows that too. She'll get a little better when she sees her family."

Vegeta nodded plausibly. "And the baby?"

"Baby is fine; not under any stress and he's resting comfortably."

"Good"

There was a moment of silence between them, Vegeta ready to cut the call to prevent any further awkwardness. Unfortunately for him, Bardock had one more question.

"Are you coming back for her?"

Vegeta studied the cracks in the floor, taking a few deep breaths while Bardock studied the Prince's flaming hair. His eyes never left the screen as if this were a conversation they were having face to face and Vegeta could feel the pressure from his elder.

"I can't answer that," he said to the floor. "Right now Earth is the best place for her." There were two more breaths between them, and Bardock was about to concede but the Prince kept talking. "News broke yesterday of her pregnancy," he announced. The doctor struggled not to react. "I had to touch down to quiet a few rebellious mouths and make sure the palace was secure. Apparently a group of disgruntled idiots banned together and tried to storm the front doors."

That took Bardock aback. Not because of the people's reaction because he figured it would be as much, but because they had actually gone the lengths to get together and form a rebellion group. That kind of behavior was unseen in Saijins for centuries.

"How's your mother?"

"She's fine; a little shaken up but I've given her added security."

"And the civilians? They still think Bulma's on Planet Vegeta?"

"Yes, and I want to keep it that way. I don't want Freeza to have any reason to believe she's not here and go after her." He paused a beat then kept speaking "Royal council released a statement yesterday that she's under lock and key in a secure location until they "figure out" what to do with the baby."

"You meaaannnn imprisonment?"

"Yeah I guess."

Now it was Bardock's turn to tug at the corners of his mouth. "A little harsh if you don't mind me saying."

The Prince sighed a hard sigh and stood up straight. "It was the only thing that would keep both parties at bay. If the Kingdom thinks she's being held prisoner at least they'll simmer down for awhile and Freeza can go on a wild goose chase looking for something that isn't here."

Bardock wasn't sure what a goose was but he chose to ask something else instead. "And I'm assuming you want to keep this under wraps from her?"

Vegeta let out another unsure sound. He'd certainly learned his lesson about keeping secrets from his mate but he didn't want to stress her either with troubling information. Especially now when her heart was broken.

"I will tell her eventually but in the mean time if you could keep her away from any media outlets in Saijin form it would be greatly appreciated." Bardock nodded. "At least for now until I can come up with something more favorable."

"No problem"

"And keep your idiot son from saying anything to her as well."

That made him smile. "A bit harder to do but I can manage."

Another moment of silence and Bardock had one more bit of sage advice. "When this is all over…with Freeza, make sure you're here to hold you son in your arms Vegeta. It will change your life."

Vegeta's face was stone cold, but his eyes were deep with the things he could never say aloud. "They only way I'd miss it is in death."

And then the video call terminated.

XXX

The rest of the journey was uncomfortable at best and there wasn't a person aboard that didn't exhale a sigh of relief when the ship finally touched down on Capsule Corp's lawn.

Bardock along with the rest of his family peered out the windows as the ship descended and finally powered down. Everything about Earth was sunny, bright and happy; a direct contradiction of Planet Vegeta's dark environment and violent weather. They could feel the crispness of the afternoon air and the beating rays of vibrant sunshine permeating into the ship and changing the entire atmosphere. It was the warmest welcome some of them had ever seen in their lives yet to Bulma and Chi-Chi, this was home.

On his last visit to Earth, Bardock had thought from the size of Gohan's home that Earthlings had lived rather modestly but looking out the window at the sheer size of the Capsule Corp compound, it was clear things had certainly changed since his last visit.

Though not nearly as large as the palace, the cluster of buildings towered over surrounding homes in the area, and came with luxury finishes like balconies off of every suite, a massive pool along an outdoor patio, and a garden with a walkway along the East wing.

Bardock could feel the hustle and bustle of a full staff inside along with two people who were approaching the ship with nervous energy, awaiting the doors to open. He thought those must have been Bulma's parents.

Leaving his family who was gathering some luggage and personal items, Bardock made his way to Bulma's suite and knocked on the door. He listened carefully for a silent "hmm" that granted him entry.

"Hey," he said with a careful head poke from the crack of the open door. "We're here."

She was on her bed with her knees balled up to her chest and she used the wall to support her translucent fixation outside the window. Since they began their journey she had barely moved from that very spot.

Now that they were on the ground, she could see her parents exit the compound and approach the ship. Her mother had a hankie at the ready to dab the wisps in her eyes and her father searched the ship top to bottom with his bifocals, trying to catch any glimpse he could of his daughter.

Bulma felt a pit lull in her stomach, almost nervous to re-introduce herself to people she's known her entire life. "Do you think they're still mad with me?" she asked quietly and Bardock peered out the window next to her. He saw the same look in them that he had in himself when he was reunited with his own son.

"Them? Nah, no way. They'd be happy if you stuck a toe out and jumped right back in this ship."

Bulma wanted to smile but she couldn't. She just nodded and turned to Bardock with tired eyes. "Will you go with me?" she asked. "Just in case?"

"Of course," he offered her a hand and she took it. "I'll be with you the entire time."

Bulma readied herself to stand up before Bardock remembered something and eased her back down. "Hey," he said motioning to the ankle monitor attached to her. "You don't need this anymore. Let me take that off for you—"

"No!" Her loud and abrupt outburst came with hands that shooed his away, then she brushed over the silver monitor. "You can't take it off. Vegeta…he…if you take it off then he can't…."

"Bulma," Bardock began abjectly; she already hated his tone. "The range is too far," he confessed. "He hasn't been able to get a read for days now."

Another tear slipped down to her chin and she brushed the anklet again. She had theorized the same thing a few days prior but she was still holding out hope.

"Look," Bardock offered. "Why don't I take it off for you and I'll give you my scouter?" He took the small eye piece from his pocket and placed it in her hands.

"Can it reach him this far?"

Bardock was working on removing her anklet while he spoke. "Sometimes; it needs a good signal but your home is the best technological compound on the planet right? If it doesn't, I'm sure you can come up with something."

Bulma's face morphed into the first complacency of hope she's had in days and by the time his explanation was finished, the anklet was off. The ring of skin where the monitor used to be was shades lighter than the rest of her and she grazed her hand over it.

"Thank you." She now cradled his scouter in her hand and he offered her another.

"You're welcome. Now c'mon, you've got excited parents waiting to meet you."

When he brought her out of her suite they were both met by the comforting smiles of the Son family, save Radditz who was tasked with hauling the luggage. She made her way to the door and Chi-Chi gave her a reassuring pat on the back while Emmeline gave her a hug.

If Bardock wasn't there to hold her, her hands would be shaking but she used all of her bravery to push open the doors and greet her long awaited home.

A flushed summer day with the sun at its peak, caused her to shield her eyes while she adjusted to the days brightness. She could see the shadows of her parents and hear the warm waves of the wind whistling in the trees and tousling her curly tendrils.

She was barefoot and felt the warmth heating her gummy toes and the once cool steps of the steel ramp. The ramp felt never ending but just as she reached the edge of the bridge, body weight and breasts collided into her and then she smelled it: Blueberry muffin mix and Chanel No. 5.

"Bulma!" Bardock let her go as her mother took her in, her long abandoned hankie now decoration to the well-manicured grass.

"Mama," Bulma was in tears again and she drank in her mother's embrace. She still couldn't see her under the adjusting glare of the sun, but her cool soft skin, and spiny fingers that hugged her in a display across her back all felt the same. She was the same height, the same weight and the same Bunny she left behind.

"Oh Bulma! Bulma my dear it's really you!" Bunny cupped her face to make sure her daughter was really hers and she cried in delight at the blue eyes and faint freckles that greeted her sight.

"Mama," was all Bulma could say and Bunny swayed her daughter in a mother's hug.

"Oh my Bulma, I can't believe it's you. I've missed you so much." The two cried in each other's hugs and Bunny pet her daughter's hair. She too had to feel every inch of her to make sure she was real. The girl in front of her had changed; there was a womanness about her that only came when a woman fell in love but regardless it was still her baby girl.

Movement swelled between the two from the outpour of emotion and Bunny gasped to take a step back, while her arms still encircled the back of her daughters. "Oh my!" she clasped a hand on her mouth when she got a look at Bulma's protruding belly.

Bulma held her breath, preparing herself for the verbal lashing but she was astounded to see fresh tears meet her mother's eyes. "My goodness look at you! I'm going to be a grandma I can't believe it!" she hugged her daughter again, this time with excitement and then she withdrew and pressed both hands to Bulma's belly. "Oh my goodness, look at this! Look, look honey, he's moving!"

The baby swelled and turned at his grandmother's touch allowing his mother the bit of joy she hadn't seen in days.

Bunny had heard the news of her daughter's pregnancy through her husband and hadn't had the opportunity to speak to her daughter herself. She hadn't felt anything about the news when she heard it because she was overcome with the will to have her daughter home. But now that it was real and in front of her, bliss filled her heart and she suddenly morphed into a floppy mush of baby love.

While her mother was relishing, Dr. Briefs finally stepped forward, causing her mother to pause her cooing and step back.

The two Briefs met each other's blue eyes with anxiousness, neither of them knowing what to say. Dr. Briefs could see by his wife's delight that Bulma's pregnancy was real but he found himself not giving her belly the same anger he had not a week ago.

All he could see was his flesh and blood, tried and true in front of him.

"Daddy," Bulma melted in his arms and Dr. Briefs caught her, his own tears betraying his usual stout demeanor.

"Bumble Bee," he drank in the changed woman in front of him and admired the new person that she was. She was different not just because she was pregnant but because she had grown into a woman since her departure. The bright-eyed innocence of a young girl's demeanor had left her and was replaced by a woman whose seen strife and pain, yet joy and fulfillment all the same. There were stories in her eyes and Dr. Briefs wanted to hear every last one of them.

But right now he wanted to do what he hadn't been able to do in over a year and that was hold onto his daughter.

"Oh my Bumble Bee," he swayed her from side to side just like his wife.

"Daddy I'm so sorry," Bulma bit out in a sniffle. Another tear escaped her and tapped her father's shoulder.

"Bee you have nothing to be sorry for," he said, then cupped her by the shoulders. "Nothing to be sorry for, you hear me." Bulma nodded and squeezed him harder.

"I'm the one whose been a fool," he murmured, but it was loud enough for her to hear him. "I'm just so happy that you're home."

There were tears in the peanut gallery from Emmeline and Chi-Chi. Each member of the Son clan was happy to witness the emotional reunion, save Radditz who was again, wrestling with the luggage.

A woman who had exited the compound with Dr. Briefs and Bunny carefully approached the trio and interjected the reunion.

"Umm hi, I'm so sorry to break this up," she said while she held a clipboard in one hand and extended the other. "Hello Miss Briefs, I'm Dr. Gliss, I spoke to your Dr. on Planet Vegeta about your pregnancy," she greeted.

Bulma quickly wiped her tears away with the back of her hand and took the Dr's hand. "Hi," she said and turned to Bardock who quickly recovered from idle standing.

"Oh hello, yes, nice to meet you in person. I'm Dr. Son." He introduced while he shook her hand next.

"Nice to meet you too," Dr. Gliss smiled. She was dressed in green scrubs, a coat and stethoscope, signaling she was here on business. "Look I know it's been a long journey for you all and I promise I'll be a quick minute but I'd love to take you inside and give you a quick look-over. Make sure you and the baby are doing well after space travel."

Bulma took in a deep breath of air but she new the Dr. was right. Bardock had been doing quick check-ins the entire journey over but it would be relieving to have a complete exam.

"Ok," she acquiesced quietly.

"And Dr. Son, if you have her medical files that'd be great so I can take a look at those and we can share notes?"

"Oh yes of course. It's just back on the ship. Radditz can you—"

When he turned to his son, there were suitcases in his hands, wedged into his armpits, hanging from his shoulders and back, and one handle gripped between his teeth. He had a vice grip on the luggage and a death glare on his face, and if his mouth were available, he'd use this moment to tell his father to fuck off.

"Ohhh ummm, never mind, I'll run up and get it."

"Oh my, who do we have here!" Bunny asked, ever excited to have company. She had noticed other people exiting the ship but it was the first time she acknowledged them.

Bulma wiped the sniffles from her nose. "Mom, Dad, this is the Son family. They're my friends from planet Vegeta and they've helped keep me safe on the journey here." She came off of the ramp and allowed the rest of the gang their decent until they were all gathered on the lawn. "This is Bardock's wife Emmeline, and their children, Goku and Radditz, and this is Goku's wife Chi-Chi, and their son Gohan."

Each member of the Son clan waved their warm welcomes while Radditz's face was now telling everyone to fuck off.

"Oh my, lovely to meet you all. I'm Panchy Briefs but you can call me Bunny," she smiled then stood next to her husband. "And this is my husband Dr. Briefs but you can call him….well I guess Dr. Briefs because people don't call him much else," she smiled and clasped her hands together while everyone made their rounds of hello's. "Oh dear, honey," she now addressed her husband. "Do you think I made enough muffins? I didn't think we'd have this many guests."

Her mild concern was eased by her husband's calm demeanor and Bulma watched the two interact. She missed watching them be themselves. Her mother, a doting housewife and her father, Bunny's patient supporter. "I'm sure you've made plenty dear," he eased with a reassuring shoulder rub before returning to the rest of the guests.

"Come, please everyone," he began to lead the posy inside. "Welcome to my home."

Bulma's parents were on either side of her, locked in hands behind her back while they entered the compound. The sliding glass doors greeted them with welcomed air conditioning and a butler with a tray of warm towels for their hands.

Radditz was the only one lacking the class to keep his whistles to himself once he entered the compound. The palace was something but this place was really something.

Capsule Corp had the heir of luxury that was effortlessly wealthy. The palace was dripping in golds, marbles and silks, so much so that the family's wealth was overwhelmingly overbearing to anyone who visited. But Capsule Corporation came with glistening modern flooring, a crisp, fresh color palette on the walls, and modern furniture and finishes that were the envy of all who saw it. The palace made one aware that he wasn't rich, Capsule Corp made one want to be rich.

When the Butler took their discarded towels, another one came with glasses of water, and another right behind him to begin removing the piles of luggage from Radditz.

"Miss," the butler asked Bunny. "Where shall I place these?"

"Oh just put them in the hall of the West wing please Joseph; we can sort them out later," Bunny waved and a few more wait staff came to remove the luggage. "Come, come please. I'm sure you're all hungry. Let's go to the kitchen."

Bunny's tiny high-heeled feet clicked on trendy wood to lead the gang to her even trendier kitchen. As a dutiful housewife with a passion for butter, she spent most of her time at the center of her home so she made sure the kitchen was a space to not only express her creativity, but to be a space of comfort and ease.

Recessed lighting lit up at the moment of her entry, showing off the kitchen's center stage. A grand island with marble countertops floated in the center of the kitchen and on that island was a buffet of samplings for breakfast and lunch.

"I didn't know what you all liked to eat, so I made a little bit of everything," her tone of voice was the one of a hostess who felt she had underprepared but her kitchen spoke otherwise. Bulma wondered briefly if destiny saw it fit that she was married to a Saijin and was having a half Saijin baby because her mother always seemed to prepare food in Saijin like portions.

Goku and Gohan's eyes meanwhile lit up in bright white sparkles, as luminescent as the white cabinetry in front of them.

"Dad do you see this?" Gohan was nearly drooling.

"I don't believe it…"

Meanwhile Emmeline and Chi-Chi shook their heads and gave each other cross looks. "You think they'll ever go back?" Emmeline asked her daughter-in-law.

"Please, please, help yourself," Bunny said as she brought out some plates. "There's a seating area by the bay window. Or if you want we can take it into the dining roo—Oh my" Gohan and Goku were the first to rush in. Bunny was barely able to catch them fill up their plates, sit down, and wolf it down before they were up for seconds.

Chi-Chi only palmed her forehead. "Nope," she answered Emmeline and watched her husband and son quickly put a dent in the brunch spread.

"My gosh! This is delicious Bunny! Thank you so much!" Goku spoke between mouthfuls.

"Jesus you pig, save some for the rest of us," Radditz entered the kitchen to grab himself a plate with far more grace and class than his brother, before Bardock and Emmeline were behind him.

"Bulma dear?" her mother asked. "Would you like something to eat?"

Bulma instinctively cupped her tummy when she declined. "No thanks." She wasn't sure why the kitchen she had always known was suddenly overwhelming to her. It was something about seeing new friends in an old home that was becoming emotionally overbearing. "I'm not too hungry right now."

"Don't forget Bulma," Bardock began. "You're on a strict eating regimen and it's about time to eat again."

The heiress nodded and Dr. Gliss decided to step in. "Well, why don't we get you checked out really quickly and then you can sit down to eat?" she offered. Bulma nodded again, still feeling as though she wasn't in her body and was being pushed and pulled like garbage amongst waves.

"Right, why don't we make our way to the infirmary dear?" Dr. Briefs said. "This way,"

Dr. Gliss called to Bardock who set his plate down on the counter to join them. "I'll be right back you three," he told his two sons and grandson. "Stay right here and behave. Don't touch anything." Radditz gave his father a terse look complete with an eye roll while Goku and Gohan murmured and affirmative and toasted each other with cinnamon rolls.

XXX

Shortly after Bulma was born and started toddling around at the age of one, Dr. Briefs built a small infirmary adjacent to his lab. He had long ago foreseen his curious daughter gracing herself with knicks, scrapes and burns, and over the years it had proven quite useful as she had done just that. Since her childhood, he's added much more space and equipment, and has recently launched Capsule Corp's newest investment in medical research which has called for a fully functioning infirmary/research lab and full-time staff.

But most importantly, the infirmary came quite handy for moments like these when, a hidden pregnancy with a half-alien fetus needed an equally hidden check-up.

"Alright my dear," Dr. Gliss made herself comfortable on a swiveling stool and patted the examining table. "Up and at um."

Bardock helped Bulma up and she made herself comfortable, glancing around the room to acclimate to the changes since she had left. She hadn't remembered there being a sonogram machine before, but she figured her father had it ordered stat, upon the news of her arrival.

"Ok, ok, ok," Dr. Gliss thumbed through the chart in front of her, which Bardock had spent the last few days on the ship translating into English. "How are you feeling today? Any nausea?"

"No"

"Dizziness?"

"No"

"Discomfort?"

Bulma shook her head to accompany her negative responses. Her blue eyes were still doey and wandering, trying to adjust to Earth's new lightness and the feeling of familiarity.

"Are you sure dear? Because you can tell her if something's wrong," Bunny was clutching her husband's hand, anxious to be in the room and hoping her daughter didn't ask for privacy. "We hired the best OB this side of the hemisphere for you and the baby." She nodded in reassurance while her father stood tall.

"No, I'm ok." Bulma reassured out loud. She could sense her mother's unease and she wanted to reassure her that her presence was fine; wanted in fact. "I feel fine, and the baby…he feels fine. Nothing is unusual."

"Alright then," Dr. Gliss said with a smile. "Let's take a look then."

Bulma slid back on the table and gave the Dr. access to her tummy. She was used to the cold gel by now but never used to the sound that breathed life into her own.

Tha-da-dump, Tha-da-dump, Tha-da-dump, Tha-da-dump

Before a new wave of tears could spill in her eyes, her parents beat her to it. Hugging their long-awaited daughter and hearing their grandson within the hour was more joy than humanly allowed. Their hearts were bleeding love by now. "Oh my," Bunny took a step closer to the machine and placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Honey look at him."

Dr. Brief's tears were betraying his calm demeanor again. Regret filled his throat for the harsh exchange he had with his daughter not days before, but it was quickly washed away by the pride that came from new life, created by the sew of his seams. The baby was just a tiny squib for now, but in that squib, Dr. Briefs saw everything he saw in his own daughter when she was born. And just like that, he was in love again.

"By God, would you look at that," Dr. Briefs removed his glasses to wipe his eyes clean.

Bulma smiled this time; and for the first time in days it was genuine. As routine as her Dr.s' visits had become, it always warmed her heart to hear her son ticking away in her belly. And now that her parents were here to share this moment with her, she was beginning to feel the happiness she had missed.

"Everything is looking good…" Dr. Gliss said aloud, careful not to impeded on the family's joy. "You're definitely having a boy," she confirmed. "And…oh my…you weren't—" she scooted closer to the screen and scrunched her face to get a better look. "You weren't kidding about those tails were you Dr. Son?" Her finger trailed the screen while she moved the wand over Bulma's belly. "My goodness am I seeing right?"

Dr. Son now stepped over to confirm. "Yeah, that's his tail. It's measuring about right; 5.5 inches long; and it's in a good position, no where near his neck or around his head."

"5.5 inches? Yeesh, that's about as long as the baby…"

"Well tails don't grow very much. Babies are born with them about as long as they'll ever be. They do most of their growing in the womb and then they sprout at about age 5 or so."

Bulma's head was following the conversation back and forth while Bunny and Dr. Briefs were still oozing at the baby. They were so enthralled with their grandson it was as if tails were a normal part of baby conversation.

"I see," Dr. Gliss noted, then cut some more images and entered some numbers into the computer. "Whelp," she said after a few more minutes. "The jury is out and everything looks to be great Bulma." The Dr. smiled at the heiress who softly returned it and accepted the hand offered to pull her up.

"Oh, that's it?" Bunny whined. "But I wasn't done looking at him yet! His nose and his ears and…I have to know how they all look."

Dr. Gliss giggled. "I'll print out some pictures for the family. In the mean time I wanted to begin a discussion about the birth."

Bulma was wiping gel from her belly but she was listening. "Dr. Son informed me that Saijin births can sometimes get a little well…hairy." Bulma was still listening and while her mother waited for the print outs and her father's attention had been captured. "So I'll have to go home today and review your charts, but I think a scheduled C-section will be the best option for you."

"A C-section?" both Bulma and Bardock said in unison.

Dr. Gliss looked to each of them, not sure which one to respond to first. Bulma had reacted as any patient would, while Bardock looked like he had heard of a scalpel for the first time today.

"Ummm, yes," she tried to address both at the same time. "A cesarean; It's a procedure where we make an incision in the abdomen and uterus to remove the baby…."

"Ooooohhhh," now Bardock was following. "Back home it's called…well never mind that, but I don't think that's an option for her."

"Why not?" Now it was Bulma and Dr. Gliss who spoke in unison.

"Those types of procedures are almost never performed on Saijin women because they're extremely dangerous."

"How so? This is the safest option for women with high-risk pregnancies."

Bardock pulled up one of the sonogram images to illustrate his point. "This tail right here is only going to get longer as the baby grows. At full term it'll be nearly twice the length of the baby and during labor, the baby wraps the tail around itself to prepare for delivery."

"Ok, we'll I'm sure we won't cut it if that's what you're worried about…"

"Well that's the thing, it's really hard not to cut it. And tail blood is extremely toxic to its owner. Once you cut it and it bleeds into the amniotic fluid, the baby can ingest it and die within minutes. The only antidote is tail blood from the mother or father and since Bulma doesn't have a tail…."

"We can get some from the father can't we?"

That caused a ripple of silence in the room, and swiped all of Bulma's returning joy from her body. Dr. Gliss sensed the uncomfort and immediately regretted her question. She wasn't made privy to Bulma's social situation, only her medical one. But years of single mothers on her examining table should have held her tongue.

"I'm sorry, I—"

"We're not doing it." Bulma declared. "I'm not taking any risks to lose my baby."

"Miss Briefs," Dr. Gliss tried. "Let me assure you, I will go home over the next few days and thoroughly review your files and consult with some of the best obstetricians on my team. Making an incision to avoid the tail should be no different then making an incision to avoid the head or the umbilical cord. I can assure you we are extremely trained in what we do. It's only going to take careful research and communication with Dr. Son to choose the safest option for you. All things I promise you I'll do."

"No" Bulma looked her dead in the eyes this time and refused.

"Bulma honey," Bunny cooed, and her arm was back on Bulma's shoulder but the heiress shrugged it off.

"No," she stood up and replaced her seat with her discarded towel. "I'm not going to put him in harm's way."

"Maybe we can use the tail blood as a preventative measure sweetheart," Dr. Briefs offered next. "If the blood works as an antidote, it might be able to work as a vaccine and we can send Goku back to planet Vegeta and—"

"Can we not—talk about Vegeta please," she hadn't realized her declarative had come so sudden until the room was quiet. "I just….can't. Vegeta's busy and he won't….I just don't want to talk about him, ok?"

"But Bumble Bee—"

"Ok, sweetheart, it's ok. We don't need to talk about this right now." Her mother was immediately at her side, but not before shooting a silencing look to her husband. Bunny pet her daughter's forehead and wrapped her in her arms. "It's alright, everything will be just fine. I trust you, and you have to trust your instincts. You're a mama now, and mama's know best."

Bulma took a deep exhale. She didn't know if her mother believed her own words or not, but in the mean time it brought down a measure of anxiety.

"C'mon honey, why don't we go upstairs to your room? It's been a long trip, you need to rest."

Bunny cautiously guided her daughter out of the room, leaving three defeated Dr.'s behind. All of them had Bulma's best interest in mind yet none wanted to admit that this road was about to be a long one; and each of them were worried.

XXX

When Bulma reached her room, she wasn't thinking off anything but sleep and getting Vegeta off of her mind. Therefore she didn't anticipate the shrine of memories that was there to greet her.

It had been so long that she almost forgot what her room looked like.

White walls and crown molding encased a book nerd's paradise: Shelves and shelves of biology and chemistry books and journals, among posters of her favorite TV shows and sketches of her "dream inventions." There were half-finished computer parts, and pencil shavings littering her desk, while her once unmade bed (now made) held open journals of her deepest thoughts and brightest ideas.

She let her toes scrunch into the soft carpet and her favorite plush green rug, while she picked up one of her journals.

May 7

Can you believe Oscar is such a damn dick? I can't wait until my dad makes me V.P. so I can fire his ass. Where does he get off telling me to run along? Me? Bulma! I'd run circles around his ass in a lab any day.

She smiled at the entry. This was two days shy of the day she was captured. Things were so different back then.

"I didn't change a thing," Bunny said as she came up behind her daughter. "I wanted to make sure it was exactly the same for when you came home."

Bulma tried to smile, but she could only get half of it to come out. She exhaled again and set down her journal, then she sat at the edge of the bed. "Yeah, the room looks the same but I'm…" her hands instinctively found her belly. "I'm a little different now."

Bunny sat next to her. "Everyone changes honey," she offered her manicured hand and Bulma accepted.

"Not this much mom. I don't even feel like the same Bulma anymore."

"You'll never be the same Bulma," she cupped her hair and her daughter's chin. "You'll always grow into a better version of yourself. This is the Bulma you were meant to be. This is the Bulma that your son needs." A little more of her smile, found its way out. "And I still love this Bulma, with just as much fever as when you were born. That will never change."

"Oh mama," she leaned into the comfort of her mother that she had longed to feel in such a long time. "I've missed you so much,"

"I don't have the words to say how much I've missed you honey," she could hear the choke in her mother's voice; she was about to cry again. "I'm so happy to have you home."

The two allowed a trickle of happy tears to escape between them, before Bunny gathered herself and eased her daughter into bed. "Oh goodness, look at me. I'm a mess," she sniffled a laugh and pulled the blankets up to her daughter's torso. "What will your friends think of me? I'm such a terrible hostess."

Bulma smirked to herself and allowed her body to decompress. She forgot how comfortable her mattress was. "They'll be fine mom. The only thing you need to know about Goku and Gohan is that they like to eat. So leave them alone with some food for a few hours and they won't bother anyone."

Her mother chuckled. "Yes well, I'll just run down and make sure they're ok. I'll get them settled and bring you some tea hm?"

Another tug at her smile. "Yeah mom, that sounds great."

"Alright honey, I'll be right back ok?"

Bulma was already drifting to sleep. "Ok."

Her mother was gone for what seemed like a minute but Bulma couldn't tell because she was drowsier than she anticipated. When she clicked back into the room however, without the tea in hand, Bulma realized it hadn't been long.

"What's wrong mom?" she propped herself up in bed just high enough to catch her mother slipping off her heels—which she was pretty sure she saw Bunny sleep in—and climb into bed next to her.

"I sent Joseph for the tea. I just can't…I can't leave you again honey. Not right now…not again." Another tear sniffled out while Bunny spooned her baby girl and pressed a firm hand at the top of her curls. When she pushed back the blue masses, similar to her own blond ones, she kissed the crescent of her daughter's forehead, then rested comfortably behind her.

Bulma's immediate instinct was to tell her mother she was ok, and she'd be just fine while her mother tended to her guests. But she longed to have this moment again, where it would be just her and her family, and she didn't want her own independence to ruin her memories.

So she eased back into her mother's hold, and the two of them drifted off into a perfect afternoon nap.

XXXXX

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