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Vegeta took his time getting back to his room while he processed everything that's happened over the past week and a half. Twirling the thorn-less rose in between his fingertips, the flame-haired teen nearly ran into someone. Snapped out of his thoughts, the Saiyan Prince lashed out, "Watch where you're going, Triclops!" "You were the one who almost ran into me," Tien stated, irritated as he turned to fully face Vegeta.

The tiny, pale woman in Tienshinhan's muscular arms looked as if she had been crying, with her dark eyes red-rimmed and bloodshot. Vegeta felt a pang of hurt in his chest at the sight of how upset the Dwarf had been, his voice soft and quiet, "The parachutes were yours, weren't they?" Nodding as she buried her face into her partner's chiseled chest, Chiaotzu clung to him like a child, "I'm sorry! I killed them!" "Shh…" Tien soothed, beginning to bounce her up and down like one would a child, "You didn't know he would use them… It's ok…"

Slowly her sobs became soft hiccups and when Vegeta felt that the strange woman had calmed down enough, he spoke, "I am not upset with you, Dwarf. If anything, I'm impressed with your invention since it would have many uses in hunting. But those deaths were not your fault. You have no blood on your hands from this war. No matter what anyone tells you, including yourself. Morn the dead but do not blame yourself."

"I'm going to take Chiaotzu back to the room so she can rest. See you around, Vegeta." Tien bowed his head before quickly moving past the teen. Watching the tall, broad, bald man disappear around a corner, Vegeta shook his head. Those two just need to get married already… Everyone can see how much Triclops cares for the Dwarf…


Having to rely on his nose and the Bond, Vegeta found his way back to his room where a worried Bulma was waiting. "Where were you? I thought you had just gone looking for food." The blue-haired teen wondered, her arms crossed in anger. He hoped the rose would pacify his fiery Mate, offering it to her as he replied, his deep, gravelly voice lacking his usual confidence, "I found Freeza and we talked. I hate to say it, but that lizard confirmed everything I already knew."

A gentle smile graced her strawberry lips as Bulma took the outstretched rose, gushing as she lifted it to her nose, "It's lovely, Vegeta. Thank you." Placing her gift into a crystal vase, she asked, "What did you two talk about?" A firm scowl set in as Vegeta crossed his arms, not really wanting to talk about it but knowing he had to because his Mate wouldn't drop the subject, "He told me that my Father planted the bush your rose came from on the day he found out my Mother was pregnant with me. And that no matter what he did, it wouldn't die."

"Sounds like a certain Saiyan Prince I know." She giggled, causing him to shake his head, his scowl faltering for a second before he continued, "Then he offered his condolences for the dead medics. Going about how he doesn't 'kill without a reason' and the parachutes weren't his. But then the lizard said something odd… that Scar-Face was going to take his place… I've been racking my brain trying to understand what Freeza meant by that but I'm coming up blank."

Humming in thought, the blue-haired inventor tapped the side of her pale, milky face with her index finger, "Maybe Paragus will become President? Or do you think Freeza meant something else?" "That's just it," Vegeta sighed as he slid into a violet chair, "I don't know. My mind is a mess now that I have nothing to focus on. Nothing to drive me forward… Nothing to keep me sane…" The last sentence he whispered so softly, Bulma almost didn't hear him. Almost.

Boldly stepping forward, Bulma sat down in her Mate's lap with her legs hanging over the armrest as she held his perfect, angler face in her hands, "Yes, you do, Vegeta. You have me. And you promised me yesterday that in three days we would become full-Mates. If you back out on me, so help me… nughff!" Rough, dry lips pressed and moved against soft, supple ones as Vegeta threaded a hand into to his Mate's blue locks, cradling her head. His tongue swiped across her lips, requesting entrance which Bulma gladly gave.

They sat like that, their tongues locked in an ancient dance for some time. Whining as he pulled back, Vegeta panted, "Stop… I can't… not now." "Can't what?" Bulma asked, a sultry smirk on those gorgeous strawberry lips as her clear blue eyes became half-lidded. Something between a snarl and a whine came from him as he ground out, "Get off." Pretending to think about it, Bulma smirked, "Umm… No."

Vegeta unleashed a roar, his hair changing colors as he pinned his playful Mate to the rug. Easily holding both her hands above her head with one hand, he began to run his free hand over her soft, heart-shaped face. Electric teal orbs stared into clear blue pools as his hand left her face to skim over her body. "You should know better than to play games with me, my Mate," Vegeta growled seductively, his tongue flicking out to taste the shell of her ear.

When his hand fisted her shirt, Bulma's eyes flew wide open as panic set in and she began to struggle, "Vegeta! Stop! Please, Vegeta! Please…" His grip tightened, stopping her pathetic squirming with a sharp warning growl, "Enough, Woman. I have no intention of Mating you tonight, nor will I force you." Blinking back the tears that had started to form, the blue-haired teen couldn't help the crack in her voice, "Then what…" "You played with me and now I'm playing with you, Woman. Turnabout is fair game, after all." The blond, flame-haired Prince whispered, his breath hot against her lips.

Just when she thought he was going to kiss her again, he pulled away. One second she was staring up into her Mate's teal eyes and the next, she wasn't. Blinking, Bulma sat up and expected to find Vegeta back in his chair with a smug smirk on his face. The soft click of the door closing made a deep-seated fear rise within the normally fearless teen. "If this is your twisted idea of a game, Veggie; so help me!" The blue-haired teen shouted through the door as she stood up.

Jiggling the doorknob, trying to get it open, Bulma found that while it turned, something was keeping the door from opening. "Vegeta Saiyan!" Bulma screeched, thumping a fist against the door, "Open this door right now!" Stop yelling, Woman. Or else I will leave you here. She could tell how much he meant his words as his frustration flashed across the Bond. 'Fine. Why'd you… …lock me in…'

An odd sadness reached her as he spoke, It's not safe for you to be near me right now… I will send someone to let you out but do not come looking for me. I'll see you in the morning, Bulma. 'That still doesn't…' I was ready to force you to complete the Bond… just like I was the night of the Quarter Quench announcement. For us to be together… alone… I do not know what I would do to you… 'You don't want… …to hurt me… Ok then, I… ...think there are... ...some couches in... ...the library…' Already there. Nappa should let you out soon. 'Goodnight, Vegeta…' Goodnight, Bulma.