"Bulma," Vegeta slurred. He'd been standing outside the woman's door for about twenty minutes trying to get her attention.
Bulma sat on the opposite side of the door trying to convince Vegeta to go home. How Vegeta even knew she was back, she couldn't figure out. She made sure to lower her ki to that of an ant when she entered the compound. "Vegeta, we can talk in the morning. Go get some sleep." Bulma loathed drunk Vegeta. Drunk Vegeta was clingy and aggressively pathetic.
"I just," He paused for a moment catching his breath. "This is temporary." When she returned earlier that day, he could not understand why she chose to hide out at her parents home. They had a home that they shared with their child. It was clear that she had no problem seeing Trunks. Of course, she wanted to see her child. She just didn't want to see him.
So, here he was, drunk and needy everything he knew the woman didn't like. He had just needed some liquid courage but, one cup turned into a bottle, and a bottle turned into ten.
He knew he wouldn't be able to take care of the boy in this state, so he had left him with the woman's mother, who had been more than happy to babysit.
Bulma. The light of his life. The woman who had wormed her way into his heart. The woman that he didn't appreciate. The woman he was determined to win back. He didn't care if he had to get on his hands and knees and beg for forgiveness. A week without her was a punishment that he could not possibly bare for any longer.
Vegeta was going to get his woman back. There would be no more taking Bulma Briefs for granted.
His mind raced with the possibility that he was too late. Suddenly, he jumped up, determined to get sober. "I'll be back in the morning to speak with you."
Bulma could only sigh in relief. She didn't want to open the door. Drunk Vegeta was also very persuasive. Her foot had been down when she took the week off. And now her foot had to be down. She had told herself that she would not take Vegeta back no matter what he said.
"She wants to what?" Vegeta asked perplexed. He was also a little annoyed. The woman was now using her mother as a messenger, which irritated his very soul. Yes, it may have been childish of him to approach her drunk, but this was just petty.
Bunny gave him a sympathetic look. "She wants co-parent. I'm sure you've read about it in those parenting books." She glanced down at her grandsons sleeping form. Trunks was just a baby. A baby whose parents were going to fight over possibly for a very long time.
Vegeta remembered briefly skimming through a book that talked of co-parenting. The idea repulsed him. Mates should always stay together and raise their child as a family.
"... Until you can work out your issues."
"Stop your babbling foolish woman," Vegeta said coming out of his thoughts. He hadn't realized Bunny was still talking. And Bulma the coward was trying to sneak her way out of the house undetected. "No matter how low you make your ki I still sense you. It seems as though you forget we are mated."
Bulma muttered a string of curses and made her way down the stairs. It was worth a try but, even a fool could see Vegeta was never going to go for something like that.
Bunny muttered something about a soap opera, quickly placing Trunks in Vegeta's arms before making her exit.
"You've had your week of being irresponsible," He spoke in a tone that was of a parent scolding their child. "Let's go." He started towards the door, stopping when it was clear the woman was not going to follow.
Bulma knew what she wanted to say. She'd been thinking about it all morning. It was clear that Vegeta took her leave of absence as something temporary. "Vegeta I'm not coming home," She approached Vegeta slowly.
"Okay, I'm going to count to five and if-"
"Vegeta I am not a child!"
"Well, you could have fooled me. You abandoned your mate and child for a full week."
Bulma shook her head. "I just-"
"Don't say one word," Vegeta warned. "Now you're lucky I chose not to come after you. You have a lot of nerve pulling the stunt you did. We're mated Bulma. You belong to me. No one will ever have you the way I've had you."
The momentary shock that embedded Bulma took a full minute to wear off, in its wake it left a bout of anger. "Let me hold my baby," She wanted to have Trunks in her arms for what she was about to tell Vegeta.
"You mean the baby you abandoned. If that's the baby you mean then no. Where were you anyway?"
"An island resort not too far from her," She told him. "Now can I hold my baby?"
Vegeta held Trunks tighter. "And who were you with?"
"I wasn't with Goku. I want to be though... actually no I'm going to be with him."
Anger flashed in Vegeta's eyes, he quickly shoved Trunks into Bulma's arms and punched the nearest wall. "I won't lose my woman to that third-class scum."
"This is happening. You cannot force me to stay. We'll both be miserable."
She was right.
Vegeta would be a fool to say he didn't know why this was happening. Hell, he was a fool for losing the only woman who could put up with his bullshit.
But being a fool wouldn't stop Vegeta from beating the shit out of Kakarott the next time he saw him. The goofy Saiyan had yet to touch the woman who sired him a son, but it was only a matter of time before he did.
"If you walk out of that door don't ever come back," Vegeta harshly stated.
Bulma's eyes widened as she took in his words. She knew that he meant it. And if she left there would be no more Vegeta and Bulma ever again. She nodded absentmindedly before heading out the door Trunks in her arms, not sparing Vegeta another glance. She couldn't look back in fear of changing her mind to keep her family intact.
Chi-Chi had been preparing dinner awaiting the arrival of her husband when she heard a faint knock at her door. It couldn't have been Goku he would have just strolled right in. She hadn't been expecting anyone which made her uneasy about who it could have been. Washing her hands quickly she made her way to the door opening it.
"Let's talk," Bulma said. "Woman to woman."
To say Chi-Chi was stunned would have been an understatement. She would have never thought Bulma the object of her husband's affection would be so bold to come speak to her. She even brought Trunks which meant Chi-Chi would have to behave. There would be no getting angry and kicking this woman through the wall in front of the infant.
"Sure," Chi-Chi said moving out of the way so Bulma could push the stroller inside of the house. "Did you bring him for protection?"
Bulma gasped a little offended at the question. Never would she use her son to avoid an altercation. "Of course not Chi-Chi," Bulma said. "I had no idea you felt that way towards me. I have done everything in my power to respect your marriage."
They made their way to the living room sitting on opposite sides of the couch.
"Perhaps you're right," Chi-Chi admitted. "Maybe I'm just a little bitter. It's hard seeing the way he looks when he's daydreaming of you."
"I want to apologize."
Chi-Chi was a little taken aback. Whatever was this woman apologize? She'd not yet slept with Goku. In fact, she'd done everything in her power to push Goku to his marriage. "Why are you apologizing? You cannot control how my husband feels about you."
"I feel the same way though Chi. I just wanted you to know I had no intentions on-"
"On what?" Chi-Chi spat. "On my husband falling in love with you or you returning his feelings?"
Bulma looked to the floor saying nothing.
"Look Goku isn't happy here," Chi-Chi continued. "He's going to be here soon, and I was going to tell him he has to leave. I can't do this anymore. He's sulking, he's moody, he's neglectful to and a woman has needs. I have needs. I don't want to have sex with him while I clearly know he's thinking of you. So with that being said when he gets here, you can take him with you."
"But that's not what I came here to do," Bulma argued. "I don't want to be a homewrecker."
"Please," Chi-Chi scoffed. "Goku wrecks his home on a daily basis. Him being gone won't be anything new. Goku has always been a free spirit and no one can stop him from pursuing what he wants. I'm surprised he stayed with me this long when the only thing that seems to be on his mind is you. He just needs to make sure he spends time with his son."
"Well, that's true."
"Exactly, but Bulma don't get me wrong just because I'm getting rid of Goku doesn't mean me and you are okay. You are still the woman who stole my husband away from me and for that, we will never be friends again nor will I make an effort to get along with you."
Bulma felt Goku's Ki approaching the house, suddenly becoming self-conscious. How was he going to feel when he walked in on her talking with his wife? Would he be happy to see her?
Goku strolled into the living room looking as though he hadn't a care in the world.
"Hey Goku," Chi-Chi greeted. "Bulma's here to get you. All of your things are packed by the door as you can see."
Goku glanced warily at his wife. It was clear she was kicking him out but he couldn't understand why. He'd done his best to make it work. "Chi-Chi can we talk about this?"
"Nope," Chi-Chi said getting up. "Get out now before Gohan gets back I don't want him to see you leave."
Bulma took this as her cue to head towards the door. Trunks was asleep in his stroller and she didn't want an argument to wake him.
"Aww but Chi-Chi," Goku started to argue.
The glare Chi-Chi sent him told him she had no intentions on letting him stay.
"Tell Gohan I'll be by to see him tomorrow," Goku told Chi-Chi, leaning in for a hug.
She stepped to the side avoiding the hug. "Just leave. I can't stand to look at you any further." She went to hold the door open.
"Can I at least have some of the food you made?" Goku asked heading out the door only to be met with a slammed door in his face.
That night dinner at the Son residence was quiet. Gohan kept glancing at his mother suspiciously. The fact that his father was not there was normal but tonight something was off. His mother was squirming which sent warning bells off in his mind. Something was up, and he intended to find out exactly what that was. He hated being so blatantly left in the dark.
"Where's dad," He spoke.
Chi-Chi who had been taking a sip of her water almost choked at the question that shouldn't have had a reaction at all.
It was such a simple question, nevertheless one she had not been ready for. "Gone."
That was a simple way to put it.
"When will he be back," Gohan inquired further. The simple statement 'gone' was not good enough for him. His mother was trying to give him the runaround but he had no intention on letting her get around straight answers.
"I'm not sure."
"Where did he go?"
"I don't know."
"Didn't you ask him where he was going?"
"No," Chi-Chi said firmly. "Why are you asking all these questions, Gohan?"
"Because I don't understand!" Gohan admitted. "I don't understand why you and dad have been acting strange ever since that guy came from the future. I feel like you guys are hiding something from me. We're supposed to be a family! Families don't hide things from each other. Just tell me what's going on."
Chi-Chi shook her head. How was she going to tell her son that his father wanted to be a family with someone else? "Your father is going to be with Bulma."
"Wha- What do you mean?"
"I mean that it's going to be you and me for a while."