I actually had a few rough drafts on how to end this chapter, but I chose this one because I thought it was... wholesome. I could probably add a chapter with the various endings if anyone's interested?

Watch the kid, she said. It would be easy, she said. Except it was nothing like Bulma had promised him, and the boy had been crying and crying for hours on end until he finally exhausted himself to sleep.

Finally.

Vegeta stood right there, in front of his crib. His gaze hardened- arms crossed right over his chest as he looked right at the sleeping boy. ❝That's right. Stay there. Just like that,❞ he huffed. Wiping the sweat from his brow before he turned and left him there to sleep. Now it was his turn to do just the same. But with the smell of diapers stinking up the place, he went outside instead and slept on the grass, where he could gaze up at the stars and imagine he was miles and miles away from this planet.

Wake up.

No… no he didn't want to wake up. It had only been ten minutes. Leave.

Vegeta, wake up!

He didn't want to wake up- not right now. But whoever… whatever it was, it sounded urgent. He blinked- his vision cloudy, and yet he could make out Bulma's figure. Her hands on her hips, taking on that usual stance when she was angry about something. ❝Leave me alone...❞

❝Hello to you too!❞ She harrumphed. ❝I'm glad to see you're not doing what I asked to do! I'd rather let OUR child just take care of himself!❞

❝Relax, Bulma- the boy is asleep,❞ he insisted before she continued harass him some more. He finally stood right on his feet and pointed right towards the house, where the boy slept. ❝He's right in there, fed and bathed. Go see for yourself!❞

She didn't know what to expect when she came back home. She just needed to step out real quick and then come back. Vegeta was given one small task- make sure Trunks was safe and sound while she was away. So when she saw him lounging around outside, she was expecting the worst. She figured he left their son to do whatever he wanted while he lay out here doing nothing. She was a little shocked and pleased to hear that was not the case.

❝Oh, sorry I just-❞ She paused when she saw the look on Vegeta's face. ❝Nevermind what I thought...❞ She reached for him, and pressed a kiss to his cheek. When she pulled back, she was welcomed to such a lovely sight. The Prince of All Saiyans blushing like a schoolgirl. ❝Thanks for taking care of him, Vegeta. You've really outdone yourself.~❞ She hummed.

❝I guess I'll go check on him before I got to bed,❞ she said- though she was saying this to herself before she turned to look at Vegeta again. He was still oh so red in the face, and looking elsewhere to save himself the embarrassment of the affection she had given him. It… it made her feel so warm inside, and she missed it. She missed what she had with him. Maybe… it wasn't so late to rekindle what they had before?

❝Vegeta… I'll leave my door open...❞ She added before she began to step inside. ❝Just in case you need me...❞ Her eyes drooped and her lips puckered in a very inviting way. Vegeta simply looked at her- his brow lifted with a questioning look.

❝Why would I need to do that? I have my own room.❞ He argued- clearly not understanding what Bulma had just offered him.

❝Ugh- nevermind.❞

Vegeta simply shrugged and followed her right back inside. It was starting to get cold, and he wanted to lay down and forget about the day. Though- he wanted to go see Trunks off. If he was awake, he was sure Bulma was going to come get him and watch him while she slept. As soon as he stepped inside, he was a little surprised to hear it was quiet.

Way too quiet.

He stood before the crib, and stood there- completely expressionless. The crib was empty. The crib was empty. THE CRIB WAS EMPTY. WHERE IS HE!?

❝Vegeta, can you get Trunks for me? I'm gonna feed him before I go to bed.❞

Sweat started to pour down his body like buckets of water being dumped right on top of him. He could have sworn he was asleep this whole time! He was only out there for a couple of minutes! He couldn't feel him nearby, which meant- which meant…

He got out of the house!

❝Vegeta, I'm not going to ask you again. Get me Trunks, I want to go to bed!❞ She stepped inside the nursery, and was surprised to see Vegeta standing there, so stiffly. ❝Vegeta, you okay?❞

❝I'm fine.❞

❝You don't look it...❞ Her face immediately paled when she saw him standing there in front of the crib. ❝Where's Trunks?❞

❝...❞ Vegeta swallowed hard, and finally mustered up the courage to turn around. ❝He's... ❞

❝He's- he's what? Vegeta? Where is my son!?❞

❝He's playing.❞ He managed to think right on the spot. ❝Playing hide and seek.❞

❝I don't think he's old enough to be playing that game-❞ She let out an exasperated sigh. ❝Look, just get him and bring him to me, got it? I'll go to bed and I'll be waiting for you.❞ She gave him one final stern look before she went off to her bedroom.

As soon as her footsteps receded, he jumped right out of the window and began to look around frantically. Looking everywhere and anywhere from high above the ground and even below. Where could he have gone, and in such a short amount of time too?!

He even went as far out into the city, looking into the dumpsters and the recycling bins- every nook and cranny he could have crawled himself into.

That was the first thing Yamcha saw as soon as he stepped out of the noodle house. Vegeta practically scurrying about from trash can to trash can. Definitely not the kind of thing he would ever see him do.

❝Vegeta?❞

Yamcha staggered back when he saw the almost feral look in his eyes. ❝Hey- cool it man! I'm just here buying some noodles and I saw you here! What's wrong? What are you looking for?❞

The last thing he wanted to do was run into this idiot while he tried to look for his son. ❝Nothing that concerns you! Idiot!❞

This would have frightened him before, but… there was something obviously wrong here. Vegeta never left the house unless it was really important. Then there was this look on his face, and he'd seen it once before. In the Cell games, when Trunks was killed right in front of him. There was definitely anger, but there was also concern.

❝It's Trunks, isn't it?❞ As soon as he mentioned the name, Vegeta grit his teeth, and balled up his fists. ❝I knew it! He got out of the house and you're looking for him. Why else would you be here? You know I could-❞ Before he could even offer his help, Vegeta had already turned away and started to walk down the other street. ❝Hey! I'm going to help you look around! See if I can find him. Two heads are better than one, right?!❞

❝-better one head if I got rid of the other,❞ Vegeta grumbled under his breath.

❝Hey, I heard that! I'll be back if I find him!❞

Finally, he was left alone and he continued to look from high above- his hands balling into fists. This was not what he had expected. The fact that he had taken off right under his watchful gaze? Had he really let himself go so low that he couldn't even sense his own child? He was furious. He had failed him before during the Cell games, and now? He couldn't even find him!

He was failing him again…

❝Vegeta?❞

❝Great! Now I'm surrounded by idiots!❞

❝Now, hold on a minute!❞ Krillin finally managed to catch up with Vegeta. He was running a couple of errands when he saw something he thought he would ever see with his own two eyes. Vegeta looking around frantically, out at night in the middle of the city. ❝Maybe I can help you find what you're looking for? I've been told I'm really good at finding things!❞

❝Good. You helped me find a lost cause, because I'm looking at one right now.❞

❝Hey! That's really unfair, Vegeta! You haven't even given me a chance...❞ Honestly, he was only trying to offer his help, but he was even more unhinged than the last times he had seen him. It was different this time- even his verbal jabs were nothing compared to this. He looked… concerned. ❝It's not Trunks is it? Has he gotten out of the house?❞

❝I wish you would all just cease to exist!❞ Vegeta growled. Two. That was two now. The scarred fool and now this other fool! Was he destined to be surrounded by idiots during his most vulnerable of moments?!

❝Don't worry, Vegeta! I'll help you find him! He's somewhere out there, and he needs us!❞ He took the high ground, and Vegeta just waved him off while he continued his search. Contemplating the fact that he was probably not meant to be a father, when he couldn't even look after his own son.

He felt dejected- the biggest low he ever had since the Cell games. This was not how things were supposed to go. He was going to become immortal. He was going to destroy Frieza with his own two hands. He was going to become the greatest Super Saiyan alive. But all of it was robbed- ripped away from him; never to be recovered again.

❝I should have taken off when I had the chance!❞ There was an empty can on the ground, and he kicked it as far as he could. Before it could even land, he found himself staring right at his son, who was standing on his feet, just a mere feet away from him.

❝Trunks?❞ At the sound of his name, Trunks perked his head up- grin on his face and clapping loudly. He finally did it! He had found his father! He had wanted to keep playing with him, but he saw that he had been left alone in his room, and out the window he went. Out the window to find him, but he got distracted by a cat and he went out to chase it. Now, he had his father and he went to him, and jumped straight into his arms. Safe and sound.

❝...❞ Feeling the weight of his son in his arms...he finally let out a sigh of relief. It had been such a nerve-wrecking night, and the boy was just looking at him with those big, bright eyes of his, as if nothing had happened.

At least he was safe.

❝Do that again, and I'm getting rid of all of your toys!❞ He pointed a threatening finger right at him, but Trunks simply took a hold of it and played around with it. He liked the feeling of the glove, and he tugged on it until it came off.

❝Tell your mother about this, and we're both dead-❞ He insisted, before he took off- right back home to Bulma. He was completely determined to have him back home, he didn't even notice Krillin and Yamcha had been watching him the entire time.

❝Told you I'm good at finding things,❞ came Krillin's smug reply as he watched father and son take off. He had actually found him first, and picked him up before depositing him safely right in front of Vegeta. He was just so distracted in his frantic state that he didn't even see him.

❝Wow, Vegeta. I gotta hand it to you- you really did a good job with him.❞ Vegeta had taken him straight to Bulma, and now she held him in her embrace. Smile on her lips as he cooed at her nonsensically. His clothes and diapers were both clean, and he smelled good to top it off. ❝Thanks, Vegeta. I really appreciate the effort you put in for him tonight.❞

He simply nodded, and kept his gaze out her window. He hadn't stepped inside this room in a while. Not since he- well not since Trunks was conceived. ❝We're done here, right?❞

❝Right...❞ She decided not to push it any further and just let him be. He was the one that sought her out the first time, so maybe next time… maybe next time, he'll want to find her again. But before he took off, she called out for him again.

❝Hey, Vegeta...❞ She looked right at him- her features softened when he turned around to look around at him. ❝Thanks for finding him as quickly as you did- this isn't the first time he's done this. I think I should put a tracking device on his clothes...❞

His expression deadpanned at her words. ❝YOU KNEW!? ALL ALONG?!❞

❝Well yeah- he is my son. He's getting into that age where he's wanting to go out and explore, I guess.❞ She sighed. ❝But you got him here so fast. I'm so glad...❞ She climbed out of her bed with Trunks in her arms. He was fast asleep now, and she placed him right on the crib before approaching him. Before Vegeta could take off again, she grabbed him by the neck and guided him to her, kissing him. On the lips this time. ❝I told you. I'm leaving my door open… so come see me whenever you need me...❞

Her words sent shivers down his spine. He would have flat out denied her, but he quickly answered her with a nod before he went back to his room. He was exhausted- physically and emotionally drained. Perhaps some other night- he would go to her room again.