15

A nervous Panchy keep the young men at her table in hot tea and secreted homemade sweets. Even when they'd say that they were full, she'd leave the plates and cups anyway, smiling knowingly all the while. Noticing the two Saiyans hunched over his table when he arrived, Hank Briefs was about to ask where his wife was when she pulled him into the cramped bathroom. "You are going to help me cheer those two up." Panchy ordered and her husband knew better then to defy her on matters that he was not familiar with. "Ok Honey, I'll do my best. But why am I cheering them up?"

The ditzy blond cocked her head to the side, frowning, "You haven't heard? Paragus sent a team to rescue our daughter and the other Winners. Judging by what little I've managed to get out of Vegeta and Goku, Nappa went on the mission but something happened and Freeza found out. Vegeta's been a crying mess since he arrived and that poor Goku has done nothing but stare at the bottom of my teacups, like he's trying to read the tea leaves or something."

Hank nodded in understanding, a wiry grin on his face, "I think I have just the thing." Mouth gaping in horror as her husband left the bathroom, Panchy marched after him screeching, "Hank E. Briefs! Don't you dare give those boys alcohol!" Clutching his ears, Vegeta snarled, "Enough! If you wish to fight then do so later, I'm in no mood to be 'nice'. Your woman was accurate in her information, Old Man."

"Wait, you could hear us?" The blond woman questioned, her anger forgotten. "Of course I could hear you." Vegeta scowled, turning his onyx gaze back to his cup, "A Saiyan's entire body gets stronger every time they survive death. Both times have been in those blasted Arenas; first the Cave, then the lightening. We heal faster too." "Fascinating." Dr. Briefs whispered as he sat, a million questions buzzing through his mind. Lightly chuckling at how similar the father-daughter pair were, Vegeta felt a small grin slip through his defenses, "The Woman thought the same thing."

Suddenly Bardock poked his head in, speaking quickly, "They're back. Everyone's in the hospital." Abandoning their tea, the teens all but flew past the Saiyan warrior; Goku only a step behind Vegeta. The doctors paid the teens no mind as they burst through the double-doors.

A sharp clatter brought the Prince's attention a woman, her once gorgeous blond hair buzzed so short she appeared to be bald, fighting and kicking the nurses and doctors. Her raven-haired twin and the bald Escort trying to calm her down, "Stop it Sis. They're not trying to hurt you." Krillin climbed up onto the bed, grabbed her wrists and with a strength never seen before, pinned the weakened Winner to the bed as he mumbled in her ear, "Shh… It's alright Eighteen. You'll always be beautiful in my eyes. I'm just glad your safe." Icy blue eyes glared at the tiny man pinning her down, huffing as she tried to fight the tears gathering in the corners of them, "You never were one for society's definition of beauty, were you?"

"Goku!" A voice called, shoving nurses to the side even as they tried to keep the raven-haired teen in bed. "Chi-Chi?" Goku walked towards her as if in a dream. Slowly he reached out to touch her face, the only evidence of what she had been through on her face was an eye that was swollen shut; his fingertips barely brushing against her skin. "I'm not made of glass, Goku." Chi-Chi quipped. Hugging her tightly, the spiky-haired teen sobbed, "I've missed you, Cheech." The teen just let him hold her as she stroked his unruly hair, "I missed you too, Goku."

Holding back tears as she watched her youngest hold his Chosen again, Gine sighed, content that she had done her best to reunite them as well as her Prince and his Mate. Bardock paused to gaze at the sight of his son and Chi-Chi before sliding his eyes over to his Mate. The only features left recognizable was her shoulder-length, shaggy black hair and one coal black eye that wasn't swollen.

A dark frown pulled on Bardock's scarred cheek, growling, "Who did this to you, Mate?" "I already took care of them, Pops." Raditz stated, arms crossed as he leaned against the wall. Reluctantly pulling his head from Chi-Chi's pillow, Goku looked at the Saiyan with long, shaggy black hair still dressed in his white Freeza Force uniform, although it had some red speckles on it, "I have a brother?" "Yes, Kakarot. Didn't Mom ever tell you?" The former spy rolled his eyes at his younger brother's ignorance.

Focusing on the battered mess of a Saiyan laying in the bed between him and his new brother, Goku whispered, "Mom?" Gine turned her face away, choking out, "Don't… Don't look at me. This isn't how I wanted you to meet me…" Gently turning her face towards him, Goku beamed down at his mother, "What do you mean? Your my mother. I'm just happy your alive." His honest words broke through her defenses, causing tears to flow freely down her cheeks as she finally got to hug her little boy for the first time in almost two decades. Walking towards the watching Prince, Raditz paused, whispering to Bardock, "He hit his head as a child, didn't he?" "Yeah," Bardock whispered back, "I doubt he would've been much different though. The kid may look like me but he's always had your mother's heart."

Jealousy arose within Vegeta as he watched the tender reunion of Goku and a family he never knew he had. Enjoy it Kakarot. Before you end up like me… Vegeta thought bitterly as Bardock's oldest walked up to him. Bowing slightly, Raditz gruff, raspy voice held a hint of uneasiness to it, "My Prince, I believe your Mate was taken this way." Vegeta motioned for the former spy to lead the way, having to fight the urge to run to his guardian as he came into sight.

"Nappa! What happened?" The teen snapped as he crossed his arms and glared up at the mountain of a Saiyan. Shrugging his massive shoulder, Nappa sighed, "I don't know Vegeta. I knew when the lights came on that we had triggered an alarm of some sort; but no one came other than Raditz. And on the flight out we could've, should have been shot down or at least shot at. But they didn't. It's almost like they let us leave." Nervously tapping his foot, the Prince glanced around for a familiar head of blue hair. A heavy hand settled on his shoulder as Nappa rumbled softly, "Bulma is… not well, my Prince. Just be prepared. Your Mate's in the room behind me."

Dashing around the corner to the door to the examination room, Vegeta paused, taking a deep breathe before slowly pushing the door open. Dull blue hair, stringy from oil, hung limply down her back and Vegeta bared his slightly pointed canines at the nurse and doctor, silently ordering them to leave. Slowly approaching Bulma like he would a wounded animal, Vegeta suppressed a growl at the sight of bruises marring her skin with all different shades of dark purple to sickly yellow.

"Bulma?" Vegeta whispered. Cold, empty eyes locked on his inky orbs at the sound of his voice. It's ok, Woman. I'm here. I'm real… He murmured across the Bond, hopping that it would help. A flicker of light flashed in her eyes, just for a second before it vanished. Noticing the Saiyan Royal Crest pin on the bed beside her, he reached out to pick it up only to pause when a deep, warning growl sounded from Bulma. Growling right back, Vegeta's hand continued its journey; but to his surprise, the other teen grabbed his wrist and hissed, "No one touches that but me and my Mate." "Woman, I am your Mate." Vegeta snarled, his desire to kill Freeza doubling the longer he stared at her.

Unconvinced, Bulma held his wrist tightly, "Prove it." "How do I 'prove it'?" His deep, gravelly voice rumbled, causing another flash of recognition in his Mate. The blue-haired teen pulled her bottom lip between her teeth as she thought, finally settling on something, "What Region did we pass right before we first met on the train to Region 12?" Vegeta answered without hesitation, "Region 4. Your father walked in on me staring at its sea in amazement. Much like you did on the train home after our first Game." Still skeptical, she asked another question, "How old are we and did we do anything for our birthdays?" "Seventeen and no, we did not because we were too busy training for the Quarter Quench. Are you convinced that I am your Mate, Prince Vegeta Saiyan?" He purred, quirking a black eyebrow up.

Shaking her head, a tiny grin on thin strawberry lips, Bulma replied, "No. If you really are my Mate then show me this Legendary he spoke so fondly of." "As you wish, Woman." Vegeta smirked playfully as he pulled his wrist free and powered up. Black hair changed to golden yellow, stiffening with the flame-like points becoming more pronounced, inky black eyes shifted to an electric teal while his muscles strained against the confines of his clothes.

Boldly placing his hands on either side of Bulma, Vegeta rumbled seductively, his teal eyes piercing her blue pools, "Are you convinced now, Woman?" "It's really you…" She breathed, a single tear falling from her clear blue eyes. Kissing the tear away, he picked up the brooch and pinned it to her flimsy hospital gown, "I want to know everything that lizard did to you… when you're ready." Bulma wrapped her arms around him, burying her face against his hard chest, her voice muffled, "Not yet… But I wouldn't've survived as well as I did without your voice in my head." When this war is over and Freeza is dead, we will become full Mates. 'I'd like that…'