Sunlight shone through the burgundy curtains, bathing the room in a ruby hue. Ceramic pots lined along the windowsill housed the beginnings of green sprouts, the seeds of plants still indistinguishable from one another as they rose to meet the sunlight.

Launch turned over in bed, her blonde locks bathed in pink and ruby giving her a fiery warmth, green eyes tinged deep blue by the cool red hues in her bedroom. She sighed longingly as she gazed out the window, to some far-off place, anywhere but here. Slowly, she removed her bare skinned body from the sheets, coming to stand in front of the large mirror perched where the natural light would hit her skin in a flattering way. She pulled her robe off from where it hung from the hinge, and slid her arms into it, the fabric sliding down and melding around the curves of her body as she observed herself, her long, golden brown tail twitching.

Launch placed her hands on the tops of her breasts, frowning as she noted how they had grown tender and full, her nipples sticking out more than usual. Her hands moved down to her abdomen, and she turned slightly, sighing as she observed the gentle swell to her stomach that curved outwards with her back. She was still small enough for her pregnancy to go unnoticed to most but to her, it was incredibly obvious. Launch huffed and pulled the robe tight around herself, knotting it as she headed towards the bathroom.

Stupid Tien. Why'd he have to knock me up and die like that? Now my baby will have three eyes and everyone will know it's his. She thought angrily, walking into the bathroom and shutting the door behind herself. She picked up the boar bristle hairbrush from the sink, and began smoothing out her tousled honey blonde curls. Especially Raditz. I'm sure he's disgusted by me now, if he were to ever see me, bloated like a beached whale like I am. She thought and frowned, placing one hand on her stomach and stroking it.

"Sorry, kiddo.. I didn't mean to think that. I just feel a bit self-conscious, but you'll understand once you're born, and have three eyes instead of two like everyone else's." She sighed, stroking her tummy.

"What am I even thinking? I don't need a man to be a mother, right?" Launch attempted to reassure herself, but it wasn't working. She leaned over the sink and tried her best to hold back the new wave of depression coming over her.

"I just wanted some love and attention, was that such a bad thing? What's even worse is that I'd take it from the man that tried to kill my baby's father. Raditz, why didn't you ever come back to talk about this? Blue misses you. And, you know what…? I do too." Launch said to the teardrops falling into the sink, then sunk down and rested her cheek against the porcelain, sobbing.

Steam rose from the pink coffee held snugly in Bulma's hands to warm them on this cool morning, the rising sun lighting her profile. She gazed outside in a daze, her endless blue eyes watching the yard without actually watching. She just stared off at nothing. Vegeta stood there, and almost thought to walk over and snap his fingers in her face, but then again she had told him to leave her alone yesterday. He huffed and decided to do just that. Bulma slowly came out of her haze after hearing the beeping of the microwave, then the door slamming shut as Vegeta heated up his capsule full of breakfast foods. The tempting smells tickled her nose and she peered at him from her peripheral, noting how he had already donned his morning athletic gear to go train outside.

She took a sip of her full coffee cup, then stuck out her tongue. Blech, it's cold. She grimaced, looking towards the microwave where currently Vegeta was warming up his fourth course of breakfast while he devoured the third. She sighed, How much can this man eat? Bulma stood, and licked her lips as she eyed the stack of pancakes and greasy sausage patties he was reheating. She would never tell him, but she loved the stuff. Bulma always felt embarrassed to eat what she really wanted in front of the haughty prince. She wasn't sure why, maybe she just wanted to prove to him that she could really maintain the princess image she had been leading him to believe before. Except, now he knew she wasn't a princess, and yet he had not left yet, seeing as his responsibilities there were now over.

Vegeta noticed her pitiful reflection in the microwave door, and snorted. The malnourished little princess ate like a bird, only ever picking at her food in his presence. But he knew. Vegeta knew that when he wasn't in the kitchen, Bulma would sneak down and raid the fridge before scampering back up to her bedroom or the living room and munching loudly on chips or popcorn. That, or the sound of a spoon scraping the inside of an ice cream container combined with sobs kept him up, long into the night. He grit his teeth and felt determined to stop this stupid game. Besides, he had eaten enough to sate the first surge of hunger today. If he went out now, he could work out and come back in for a second breakfast when Bunny got around to cooking it.

He saw that it was finished, and removed the plate, leaving the door open as a welcome for her to use it as he buttered his pancakes and put syrup on them. He even did something unthinkable as she walked over to the microwave and put her cup inside. He grabbed a handful of strawberries from the open container she always kept stocked, and sprinkled them on top. He added a generous pile of whipped cream that made her scoff at his gluttony, then set it down nimbly on the table before leaving her in the dust. Bulma whirled around and gasped, blinking. The plate was situated before her chair, a clean fork and knife beside it. Her heart raced and she placed one hand over her breast to calm it's fluttering. Vegeta...You care. She thought warmly, and sat down to eat.

"All right, Launch. Take your pick!" Bulma said warmly, twirling the display stand that held all of her colorful scarves. Launch's jade green eyes glittered as she gazed at them in awe; dazzled by all the colors and patterns she had to choose from.

"Wow, Bulma… you have so many different scarves… how could I pick? I mean, which one would match best?" She asked, stopping the display to stroke the many different fabrics. Bulma stroked her chin in thought, assessing Launch's features and considering which colors would suit her best.

"Well, you could wear red, to match your ribbon? I mean really it's your choice, Launch. And besides, it's not as if you have to stick to just one color." Bulma said sweetly, then her eyes widened slightly as Launch took a bright orange scarf off the rack and grinned. She was about to say how maybe it wasn't the perfect match then let it go to instead assist Launch in tying on the ascot. She tied a bow then slid it off to the side of her neck, craftily covering the small crescent shaped scar on her neck that oddly resembled a bite mark.

Bulma's curiosity increased as Launch held her hand over that spot and closed her eyes, attempting to sense Raditz through the cloth barrier. When nothing happened, Launch seemed satisfied and began fluffing her hair in the mirror, liking the way she looked with her new accessory.

"Hey Launch… So tell me, what's it like?" She asked, placing her hand on the side of her own neck. Launch saw the gesture from her reflection and stopped her preening, looking down at herself in her usual lime green tank top and yellow shorts. From this angle she could see the tiny bump distorting her figure, and crossed her arms under her chest to conceal it.

"Being bitten? Hmph." Launch scowled, disapproving of Bulma's question.

"Yeah… I was just wondering. If it's anything like a hickey then I guess it's nothing really new… nevermind!" She said sheepishly, waving her hand in a dismissive motion. Launch smirked, knowing the reason why Bulma was feeling shy about asking.

"It's alright, I can tell you." Launch shrugged, thinking back to that time once again when she and Raditz had marked one another. She was in her blue-haired form but that didn't make too much difference as she could still recall the moment through her, though fuzzy.

"He had an interesting taste. Once you get a taste of it…It's hard to resist. It feels like…well, I can't really even describe it. Like heaven washing through you, from your head to your toes. You'll feel a connection with him unlike anything you've ever experienced before." Launch said with a sigh, opening her eyes to see Bulma's curious expression, she could tell she was hanging onto her every word and almost felt guilty for telling her the truth.

"But don't let that fool you. Those sharp teeth freaking hurt. Not to mention, it's blood you're trading. Make sure if you ever do that, it's what you really want. Or else, you'll be stuck with that guy in your head always listening, you'll always feel him no matter where he is. It's a lot to commit to, and I don't want you to make the same… mistake I did." Launch clarified, and Bulma's smile shrank back into a frown.

"Oh… I wasn't really planning on it, really." She said with a nervous giggle, and Launch nodded her head. She couldn't stop Bulma from going after Vegeta, nor would she try. Besides, she doubted he'd ever make that sort of commitment to a woman he couldn't stand being in the same room as longer than five minutes. Launch began to walk out of the room, before Bulma grasped her arm and gave her a pleading gaze.

"Was it really a mistake? I thought you and Raditz were really-" She began, but Launch shrugged her off.

"I thought we were too. But look where he left me? And where is he?" She snapped back, and Bulma was quieted. Launch left the room angrily, the mark under her ascot burning to be heard.

The birds in the forest chirped away happily as Raditz sat in a tree, his tail hanging down, swaying back and forth contentedly as he took a bite out of a large yellow gourd with pink stripes. He'd found this type of melon shortly after landing on earth, and he had barely the chance to taste it before being interrupted by Piccolo and Goku. He licked his lips and took another bite, easily cracking the shell with his sharp fangs and crunching it away to get to the juicy pink interior he loved. A tiny monkey sat on a tree limb above him watching, holding a smaller gourd in his hands. The smaller primate cocked his head and watched how Raditz easily broke through the shell and frowned. What was impossible for them to accomplish was so easily done by this odd looking creature. Most of the monkeys would smash the gourds against the tree trunk, or throw them to the ground where they would shatter and they'd have to hurry to get to the ground so they could lick up the pulverized fruit before all its juice seeped into the dirt.

Raditz licked the inside of the gourd, then tossed it over his shoulder, reaching up to retrieve another. He was feeling peaceful today, it seemed quieter in his mind than usual and it was nice to have a moment truly all to himself. Well, almost. He'd noticed some time ago that a small, brown macaque with a curious look on his face was observing his actions intently. Raditz smirked and recognized the tiny primate as some type of distant relative by its curly tail and its nervous smile that indicated that it wasn't a threat. Raditz looked away to focus on his own fruit and not intimidate the monkey, keeping his facial expression neutral while he cracked the shell in half with his bare hands. It was nothing for him to open up, and he could easily go get another.

Raditz held out the fruit in a peace offering, closing his eyes calmly as the small monkey observed the large, odd looking primate with an incredible mane, and a long tail hanging down beneath him. Though Raditz certainly looked strange, his body language was friendly, and the little monkey could ascertain that he was being offered the fruit. He hesitantly crawled towards the limb Raditz was sitting on, swinging over quickly by a vine to quickly snatch the open fruit from his hands. Raditz stifled a chuckle as he felt it being swiped from his hands and opened his eyes in time to see the monkey hopping back up to his own respective branch with his gift cradled carefully in his long, furry arms. The monkey sat down and licked juice from the shell eagerly, taking a chunk of fruit out and eating it from his hand, smacking the juice clean from his lips in an obvious symbol of gratitude and submission. Raditz nodded to the small animal and leapt down from the tree, making his landing on the forest floor.

Furry brown shapes scurried away from him so fast that he did a double take as they took to the trees immediately, leaving gourd shells abandoned. He looked around and saw a few more gourds that hadn't been opened, and stomped on them with his boots just hard enough to crack them open for easy access. With that, he left the area and heard the forest come alive with excited hoots and hollers as he walked through their territory, then silence upon finding the cracked fruit he'd provided. Raditz had other things to do than monkey business, though. There was much to do in the forest like any other day, he had woken up early to get some food in his belly, stretch himself out and begin scavenging for supplies.

He returned to his shelter and prepared to start the day, taking a spool of rope he'd fashioned from plant fiber, and a tub of sap kept in a hollowed out gourd shell to use as a bonding agent. Raditz was somewhat of a Robinson Crusoe, having learned much about survival during his time on alien planets. He slung the rope over his shoulder and held the sap under his arm as he took flight, taking off towards the area where there was a fading black stain, no trees remaining in the area where he'd made quick work of the logs and done away with their bark and branches. The controlled burn rid the area of weeds and rot, leaving only bare soil with ashen remains of the forest left atop it. With time, the rain would wash away the ash and new grass would grow, the ashes providing proper nourishment.

New trees would grow too, maybe a few calabash trees with the fruit he liked. He could easily obtain seeds of his choice and plant them here. By myself? Raditz pondered as he landed and looked around himself at the bleak landscape. For the moment it only served to remind him of the blackened, smouldering battle fields of his past. In his time under Frieza, purging was an essential part of his life. It was his only way of life. Now, things were so different. He was using some of the same skills he'd learned to do something… good. He was now going to sow seeds in the soil and give it new life instead of decimating it all. The wind blew over the open plain and clouds of ash rose and billowed out into clouds, Raditz walking into the path of the ash and his figure becoming obscured but for a faint outline. It's so quiet. He thought solemnly, and walked on into obscurity.

"More tea?" Bunny asked kindly, holding up a pink tea kettle.

"Yes, please." Launch nodded, sliding her teacup closer so Bulma's mother could fill it with hot water. Launch used a small fork to pick up two slices of ginger and a lemon wedge, dropping them in the cup as Panchy finished filling it. She was feeling a bit nauseous and tired, but she hoped the fresh air and ginger tea would do her some good.

"Bulma, tea?" Bunny said in a sweet intonation, her eyes closed in a blissful looking expression. Her daughter shrugged and allowed her cup to be filled, resting her jaw on her propped up hand as she gazed past the garden trellis covered with roses and ivy, and towards the empty yard where Vegeta would normally be.

"You seem distracted, dear. You've barely touched your lemon tea cakes, those are your favorite!" Bunny gasped in concern, her hand over her mouth.

"Oh…I'm fine. It's nothing…" She responded with a long sigh, her longing gaze giving her away.

"Uh oh." Launch said, stirring sugar into her tea. She knew what a sigh like that meant, after all she'd been guilty of it herself.

"Oh, Bulma! You're pining after a man, aintcha? I know, it must be Vegeta!" Her mother giggled, taking a seat and sipping at her own tea, a plate of delicate finger desserts in front of her bouncy chest as she giggled like a schoolgirl.

"Mom…I'm not pining… I was just wondering where he is, that's all. I haven't seen him since this morning." Bulma explained, huffing. It was a classic tea party situation. Each time her mother announced it was time for afternoon tea in the garden, that typically came down to one thing - her favorite pastime, and that was gossiping, or 'spilling the tea' as she liked to say. Topics ranged from the goings on in town, to celebrities, then to her favorite: everybody & anyone's love life, including her own and Bulma's. Bunny thought herself something of an expert due to her age & experience with men.

"Of course dear, you would notice he's not working out shirtless today." Bunny winked, Launch giggling with her. Bulma set the cup down a bit too hard, a tiny bit of black tea splashing out of her cup. Bunny reached to dab it up but Bulma beat her to it, blotting the flower patterned tablecloth with a napkin.

"No, listen! This is unusual for him. Vegeta is a very perfunctory type of man. Everyday, he does the same things, at the same time. He has a schedule." She said thoughtfully, mentally recalling all the repetitive things he did.

"Vegeta isn't home." She stated with conviction, a tiny bit of worry in her tone. Launch gasped and stood up suddenly, her blue curls bouncing with the motion.

"What if he's with Raditz?!" She shouted, her blue tail quivering with barely restrained agitation. Bunny stood and gently directed Launch to sit back down in her chair.

"Shhh, sweetie, it's ok. I know you're missing your favorite guy too." She soothed, petting Launch's tail to calm her. Bulma sipped her tea, humming in thought.

"You know, you have a point, Launch. He did agree to talk to him… if he is, I hope he's making some type of progress."

"I sure hope so! Can't you ask Vegeta what he knows about Raditz? He's been missing going on for six weeks now! I - I'm so worried about him." Launch admitted sadly, looking forlornly at Bulma.

"I could try, but as far as I know, he hasn't gotten in touch with him. Why don't you ask, Launch? He might be more forthcoming with you. Half the time when I talk to him, he doesn't even take me seriously." Bulma scoffed, taking a bite of her lemon cake.

"Hmm… I suppose I could. He sort of creeps me out to be honest." She said, her shoulders shaking with her nervous giggle.

"You think Vegeta's the creepy one..?" Bulma snarled. Bunny clapped her hands excitedly.

"Go on, Bulma. Tell Launch how that makes you feel." She said, pouring more tea into Bulma's cup. She glared daggers at her mother, not noticing that Bunny had kept pouring until the tea was spilling out onto the table.

"Bunny, the tea!" Launch shouted.

"Piping hot today, isn't it!" Bunny giggled, Bulma gasping as the tea spilled onto her lap. "Mom! You spilled tea on me!" She cried out, then stormed inside to get changed.

"Oh, I'll get this cleaned up!" Bunny tutted, and Launch went to assist her. As Launch was using a napkin to wipe off the chair, Bunny was pouring tea off a saucer and onto the ground, looking sad that her tea party had ended so abruptly.

"You know, Bulma's right. You should talk to Vegeta. Get real teary eyed too, he'll feel bad and tell you the truth. But, if he doesn't, I think Raditz will be ok. He's a grown man, you know?" Bunny soothed, Launch nodding. She sat on the ground, clutching the soiled napkin.

"I'm sure if I tried, I could find him. I have saiyan senses. That and my mark that calls to him. But, I don't want to have to be the one to chase after him." Launch expressed, wringing out the napkin as she did. Bunny finished cleaning up the mess then sighed, her hands on her hips. She opened her eyes and really looked at Launch.

"Launch, darling. You are a beautiful woman. You're going to be a wonderful mother, and any man would be an idiot to leave you. But…" She began slyly, kneeling down to talk conspicuously with her. Launch stared into Bunny's aqua eyes anxiously as she moved to whisper to her.

"To tell you the truth, I could take Raditz or Tien. If I were you, I'd keep my options open. The father of your child already has a connection to you that's more than skin deep. He has a commitment to you he needs to consider making. Raditz on the other hand, feels like you already chose Tien by having his baby. That's why he ran away…" Bunny whispered, then paused once she noticed Launch's lower lip beginning to tremble. She wrapped her arms around her and patted her back as Launch softly sobbed.

"I know, I know. It's a hard decision, but I'm sure you'll figure it out. Until then, just enjoy your little gift and use your time alone to think about what you truly want." Bunny advised her, and Launch nodded.

"You're right. I'll try my best." She said softly, and began to recover. Much remained prevalent in her mind, and her heart ached with the mentions of Tien and Raditz. She had never been loved back by Tien quite like her blonde haired version had, but for the longest time she'd been close to him, hoping for the day he would pay her some attention. Apparently that wound still bled for him and she hadn't realized it until now, now that Raditz was gone and she was carrying Tien's child. Maybe it was an option she should consider, given the likelihood of Tien being wished back to the living.

"That-a girl! You get em'. I know you can do it, sweety." Bunny winked, and Launch nodded in agreement.

"Thanks, Bunny. Um, you know what? I feel like taking a little walk around the property to think if that's ok with you." Launch said, and Bunny quickly nodded.

"Sure thing! Don't wander off too far, though. We do have an electric fence on the property so strangers don't try to get in, but you never know what could be out there. Just come back in time for lunch, alright?" She said, turning around to go collect the dishes.

"Alright then, I'll see you for lunchtime." Launch agreed, and began walking down the garden path.

…

There was a clang and the sound of running water as Bulma rinsed her jean skirt in the sink, standing there in only her pink underwear and tank top. She grumbled as she scrubbed at the spot with a sponge and dish soap, a trick Bunny had taught her for getting out stains quickly. She'd already soaked the spot in vinegar and hot water, and it seemed to be lifting well enough. Bulma was scrubbing away, not paying attention to her surroundings as a shadow slinked towards the refrigerator. Vegeta had snuck his way back from working with Raditz to fetch them both something fresh to drink.

He paused at seeing the weird spectacle Bulma was providing, one eyebrow raised.

"There! Good enough." Bulma concluded, squeezing water out of the skirt. She looked down and realized now her skirt was much too wet to put on now and sighed, turning back to go to her room. She yelped in surprise at seeing Vegeta bent over, retrieving something from the refrigerator. His tail weaved around in the air curiously as he sniffed a pitcher of pink lemonade, making itself the perfect target. Bulma grabbed ahold of it and yanked, effectively pulling him straight up.

"There you are! Where have you been, Vegeta!?" She accused him, not stopping to think about what she'd been doing beforehand. She quickly held the skirt over herself and huffed, seeing how he turned around with the pitcher in his filthy hand. He was covered in some black substance, dirt, sticky sap and woodchips. Not to mention, the sheen of sweat covering his face and mostly exposed upper body, wearing a tight black tank top and shorts.

"It's none of your concern, unhand my tail now!" He snapped back, looking like he was ready to take off if not for her hand gripping his tail so hard.

"Not until you tell me what you're up to! Why are you so filthy?!" She yelled back, coming close enough to smell him, even through the scent of mud and sweat she could still pick up his sweet caramel scent mixed with crisp pine. Vegeta looked to be considering his next words carefully, looking away from her exposed legs and angry face.

"...It's like you said, I'm training in the wilderness! Besides, why is that an issue?" He questioned, not understanding her anger with him.

"Hmph. Well, besides the muddy footprints you tracked through the kitchen, we have a perfectly good workout station right here!" She huffed, gesturing towards that direction and letting go of his tail in the process. Vegeta took a deep breath and wrapped it around himself, relieved.

"Yes, but you forget I am a saiyan, I need more resistance than a human. I've gone through the entire assortment of weights you have available, and they no longer affect me. I need more weight. On Planet Vegeta, our gravity was 10 times yours." He stayed now calmly, setting down the pitcher to fill himself up a glass of pink lemonade. He would have to supplement this pink drink with extra water, he found after Bunny gave it to him one too many times 'to cool him down in the heat' and he was left with a pounding dehydration headache.

Bulma stood still for a moment, considering everything he'd said before grinning.

"You just gave me a great idea, Vegeta!" She beamed, then ran out of the room and towards the lab bottomless, her thinly veiled cheeks jiggling, which caused him to look away quickly. Vegeta shook his head and placed two glasses of water and two lemonades on a platter before capsulizing it and catching the capsule in mid air.

"Maid-Tron." He said as he walked towards the door, hearing the chirrup of the robot as it rolled out of a closet.

"Yes, Master Vegeta?" It said robotically, and he smirked.

"Clean up the floor." He said, hearing the chirp of confirmation before a broom came out of the vaguely woman shaped robot and started sweeping.

That was close. He thought, closing the door.

The wading bird pool was a perfect place to get cleaned off quickly, Raditz found. The Briefs loved animals, and so beyond the garden there was an assortment of bird baths, feeders and houses made for birds, squirrels and whatever other small critters might wander into the yard. His hair and his tail were frizzed out from walking through the electric fence, so he attempted to tame them as well as some water, sweeping his hands over his mane, then his tail until he felt he looked put together enough. Why did I follow him to the city? I should have stayed in the forest. Raditz thought, sitting down on a bench and resting his forehead in his hands. It was so loud here with all the sounds of traffic and the humming of electricity that only someone with ears like a saiyan would hear. Raditz felt like he couldn't even think straight when he was in the city, the noise was so bothersome. He closed his eyes and rested for a moment, hoping Vegeta would return soon.

Launch meanwhile, was beginning to realize just how large the yard was, panting heavy. She hadn't accounted for the heat, either. Launch made her way down the path where there was a small bird bath and sat down on a bench that was split in half by a tree, the Briefs not wanting to disturb nature anymore than they had to upon seeing that this particular tree housed many families of squirrels and raccoons. She sat back and sighed, removing her hair ribbon and using it to dab at her forehead and chest. She wore a soft lilac colored dress with a darker purple bow around the waist, the loose strips laying over her belly curving slightly with her baby bump.

Raditz sat up straight, his eyes wide. He heard a sigh, and smelled that sweet aroma like honey, except now it had an odd medicinal, woodsy scent; like myrrh. Raditz took in the scent and wrinkled his nose at it, then he froze once again once seeing something moving at the fringe of his vision. It was a blue, curly haired tail moving slowly from behind the odd tree chair he sat on. His brows creased with anxiety and he attempted to flatten himself to the tree - he hadn't anticipated coming this close to Launch! Her scent was different now, and he hadn't sensed her, even from so nearby. He frowned. Her scent has changed because of the child she carries… That odd smell is reminiscent of him. Raditz looked hurt by this information, his face paling as she yawned now, stretching out her legs. Why am I afraid of her? She's nothing but a small woman... He cursed himself, clutching the wood so hard his fingerprints were indented into it.

Launch rested her head against the tree and closed her eyes, attempting to take a brief nap to recover her strength. Though she was half-saiyan, she still carried a heavy burden. Fatigue was not spared for Saiyan or Gemini women it seemed, so she took care to listen to her body. Raditz closed his eyes and took a deep breath, taking in her scent with it. It hurt him to be so close to her like this and unable to reveal himself. Raditz was so worried that all it would take is to startle Launch and… Something terrible would happen to her. He'd heard the warnings about saiyan females carrying children and he wished now that they had the same system here as they did on his home planet.

When a woman missed her heat, she would have her mate or another saiyan check her ki for any discrepancies. If even a small disturbance was found, she would have reason to suspect pregnancy and would quickly go to have her egg incubated in a pod. The reasons saiyans were so careful about carrying children were many, but the main driving force was to ensure each child survived. The pod had the capability to give the child all the nutrients it required, incubated it in the perfect temperature and would alarm it's guardians if there were any issues with the child inside. Carrying it as she was, a small, fragile woman Raditz was worried any fall, bump or scrape could harm her child. But why do I care? It's not mine, after all...He mused, but he knew he was lying to himself. He didn't want her to lose the child, knowing how her heart would break for the infant.

"Raditz, what am I going to do?" Launch suddenly said, startling him out of his introspection.

"I just don't know anymore. Bunny said you ran away because you felt like I'd already chosen Tien. But...I don't want him." She sighed, speaking her thoughts aloud. What Launch didn't know was that he could actually hear her, right now and was sitting just on the other side of the tree. Raditz opened his mouth to speak but hesitated as he saw Vegeta heading over in their direction. Raditz saw the way he glanced first at him, then Launch and wasn't sure what Vegeta intended on doing until seeing the Prince smirk. Raditz glared at him and urged him to mind his own business mentally. Don't you dare. He growled, and Vegeta snickered back.

You make it seem as if you're worried I'll say something wrong… Don't worry. I know just what to say. Vegeta answered, then landed in front of Launch. She seemed startled to see him, then relieved when he opened the capsule and took out his tray of drinks, handing her a glass of water.

"Oh, thank you, Vegeta!" Launch said gratefully, taking the glass and gulping it down.

"It's no problem. I saw you out here and thought you looked parched." He said with a wry grin, Raditz baring his teeth at him in a threat that he noticed, then ignored.

"Silly me, I walked out here, but then I got too tired to go back. Did Bunny send you?" She said with a sheepish giggle, Vegeta stroking his chin.

"Ah… yes. She did."

"I figured. You and I haven't really had a conversation yet.." Launch said, struggling to stand. He put his arm out for her to grab ahold of and she took it, lifting herself off the chair.

"That's a pity, I'm sure I've been sorely missing discourse with such an engaging lady." He said politely, Launch blushing slightly.

"Thank you, Vegeta. What a gentleman." She said sweetly, patting his shoulder before putting a healthy distance between them. Raditz growled, then was relieved to see Vegeta step back as well.

"Of course." Vegeta smiled and nodded, setting the drinks down where she had been sitting.

"Why so many cups? Are you expecting someone?" She asked, then put her hand over her mouth, feeling rude for asking the prince so many questions. Vegeta hesitated to answer, sweat running down his temple as the air grew thick between them.

"You don't have to answer, actually I have a better question!" Launch said with triumph, dusting off her skirt as if that made her seem more brave. He nodded, and waited for her inquiry.

"Remember when Raditz took off after you and him got in an argument? Did you ever find him?" She asked now timidly, looking up at him with baleful violet eyes.

"..." Vegeta considered her question for a moment, then answered her carefully.

"I remember. I did find him."

Raditz's heart raced as a look of hope came over her face, then felt it crushed when she looked saddened by the answer.

"If you found him... then why didn't he come back?" She asked softly, and Vegeta let out a meditating sigh.

"He needs time. Can you give him that, your time?" He said sternly, and Launch paused to think about it, her brows furrowing with confusion.

"I… I suppose. But why couldn't he just tell me himself!?" Her voice rose, Vegeta reaching out to stop her from crying. He raised his hand before he and she seemed to shrink back. Raditz was just about to fly out of his seat before hearing what Vegeta said next.

"Stop and think. What have you done to shut him off from you?" He asked slowly, his hand gesturing towards her throat. Launch's hand flew to the ascot and she gasped. Raditz's mark flared in protest when he saw the orange scarf around her neck, not believing that she would cover it up on purpose to silence him.

But do I blame her? He thought, feeling it was what he deserved, he slumped back down on the bench where she still hadn't noticed him. It was better that she didn't, and he stayed invisible.

"It's your choice whether or not you want to keep the bond open. He is closer to you than you think." Vegeta said softly, Launch nodding in understanding.

"I… I suppose I can give him some more time, because I need to think about my future and so does he…" She sighed, looking forlorn, but also more content than before.

"That's right. Just don't lose hope. He's a saiyan, we're a loyal, proud breed. We don't leave our women and children to despair." Vegeta said with finality. Launch took heed of what he said and turned back to the house, glancing over her shoulder at him.

"Thank you, Vegeta. I'll do my best." She said, deciding to take flight back and make the trip easier on herself, plus this way she could get a lovely bird's eye view of the grounds. Once she was far away enough, Raditz removed himself from the bench where his fingers had left deep gouges, his angered expression towards Vegeta making the prince shake his head.

"Quench your thirst, Raditz. Your aura is about as hot as the sun right now." He said, chuckling.

"I hate you." He growled, his frizzed tail lashing around behind him like an angry cat's. Vegeta lifted the tray, and Raditz took a cup and guzzled it down, picking up another directly after and downing that one too as Vegeta joined him by drinking his own in silence. He was angry that Vegeta had been the one to soothe Launch's concerns when it could, and should have been him.

"Hate is a strong word. But, I can't blame you after all, she did seem…flattered." Vegeta said once finishing his beverages, wiping his mouth with the back of his arm.

"I'll kill you." Raditz snarled, shattering his glass.

"Let's go back to the woods and you can 'kill' me there." Vegeta sneered, and Raditz nodded, more than willing to have a sparring match. The two of them flew off, leaving nothing but the signs that Raditz had been an ever watchful observer.