These last few weeks have been crazy with my college classes! I've also been going through some stuff in my personal life, so I had to take a little bit of time off of writing. I hope you enjoy this latest chapter! More coming soon! ^^

Bulma had just spent the last hour writing up plans only to realize she'd made a drastic mistake. She threw her pen down with a curse, and that sound alone made the assistants in the other room jump. It'd been two days - two long days, and she still hadn't fully recovered from the sleepless night she'd experienced due to Vegeta.

"Damnit, damnit, damnit!" She ripped the blueprint from the table and wadded it into a large ball. "Fuck!" Her temper was steadily rising with each moment, and she felt as if she were about to have a break down. She was exhausted, having hardly gotten any sleep at all for the past two days. Not only was she having to stay in the guest bedroom until her window could be fixed, but the guest room was the same one that Vegeta had slept in. Despite how many times the sheets had been washed, and how many months had passed since he'd used the bed, Bulma couldn't shake the feeling of his presence in that room. Too many memories had occurred in there for her comfort. They'd argued in that room, they'd made love in that room. Why, she'd even taught him the concept of a down comforter in that room! And she could swear, as she laid in the bed, that she could still feel contours of his body in the mattress from when he'd slept. It was enough to make her head spin, as she would count the hours that passed with no trace of sleep.

What more, the scenes that took place only a couple nights earlier wouldn't cease replaying in her mind. The way his lips had felt, the image of his bare chest. The way his shirt smelt and the way he looked at her when he'd complimented Trunks... Why did her stomach tighten when she thought of it? She'd tried so hard to make things work, and after all of that turmoil she'd finally come to the realization that she had to move on. All she wanted now was for him to leave her alone, and this was when he finally decided that he was going to make an effort?

It just wasn't fair!

There was a blend of emotions welling up inside, and she couldn't determine what to make of anything. She didn't know what to think or what to believe. It wouldn't be beyond Vegeta to be doing this as some type of manipulation tactic, he was just that coy! But, then again, it was hard for Vegeta to compliment anyone other than himself. He wouldn't have said those things about Trunks if he hadn't meant it!

… Right?

"Fuck!" Bulma groaned again, pushing herself up from the table and turning away. She needed to do something to distract her from her own thoughts, even if it was simply by getting a drink of water.

It was when she opened the door to her office that she jumped back with a squeal. "What are you doing?!" She snapped, irritated at being startled. In the doorway stood Tadashi, who appeared as if he were trying to ward off a heart attack. "I... I wanted to..." He stuttered, clutching a few papers in his hands. Bulma watched as the intern gulped before forcing a smile. "I have these reports, just like you wanted them..."

Bulma smiled back as she observed his mannerisms. He was about the same age as Future Trunks, give or take a few years. He acted so awkward that it almost struck her as pathetic, and she couldn't help but to feel both pity and amusement. Her anger was starting to subside when he handed her the stack of printouts that he'd made. "Tadashi, I'm sorry. I guess we both just got startled." Bulma sighed, waving the papers at him.

The intern grinned back. His heart rate was returning back to normal, and his shaking fingers were beginning to steady. Tadashi had always been observant and somewhat antisocial, but there was something about Bulma that magnified this. She was just so damned confident, unlike any other woman he'd ever encountered before. He'd known many girls that had been sure of themselves, but none of them ever held their head up the way Bulma did. No other girl he'd ever met gave off such an aura of authority and self-assurance the way she did, either, and he found himself wanting to be on her good side so badly. Whenever she looked at him he felt a rush inside, and an eager fear of wanting to say the right thing took him over. It was incredibly inhibiting, but when she smiled at him it all felt worth it.

Bulma was back in her office now, setting the stack of papers on her desk. "I'm going to get something to drink. Are you on break?"

Out in the wilderness, where the birds sang to the clouds and the sound of running water could be heard coming from every direction, Vegeta was knelt next to a stream that he was drinking from. He could sense Bulma's ki rising with her anger, and he found it interesting. He really didn't have to be with Bulma or Trunks in order to get an idea of their status - all he had to do was zero in on their ki. He could tell whether or not something odd was happening based on how angry or neutral the two were. Bulma's ki was considerably more low than any of the warriors Vegeta had battled, but it did not cease to amuse him when it rose with her as she became enraged. For a human she was a force to be reckoned with, and at that exact moment Bulma was apparently quite pissed. Vegeta hadn't really cared too much about tracking her ki before he'd left her in her room that night, but he'd noticed how sporadic it seemed to be since then. The saiyan smiled at his own reflection in the water below him, considering what it possibly was that had caused her mood to swing so much.

She really did have a good reason to be angry with him, but she was also being ridiculously stubborn. Sure, she could act tough, but perhaps her bluff was starting to show through. Her moods seemed to confirm that he'd made an impact on her that night.

It'd be a lie to say that she hadn't made an impression on him, either. He hadn't been so physically close to her in a very long time, and he was surprised that it still affected him to feel her skin. In fact, he had a hard time coming to terms with such an emotion, but feeling her ass slap against his cheek as she struggled against him made him feel nothing short of delight.

'Yes...' Vegeta thought, smirking as he recalled that night. She was as difficult as could be, but he'd enjoyed her company. And he was pretty sure he'd made a mark on her - whether she particularly appreciated it or not.

It was good to know that even after being such an ass to her at times, Bulma was still greatly affected by Vegeta whenever he was in her presence. Being on her bad side wasn't exactly a desirable place to be in, but he was starting to think that he just needed time to get through. He wondered if it wouldn't be too soon to pay her another visit, noting that her temper was once again starting to dim back down.

"This isn't over yet, is it?" He grunted. The birds in the trees around him seemed to be laughing in agreement with his comment, and he grinned.

Tadashi watched as Bulma pressed her cup of tea to her lips and sucked at it. She was sitting across the table from him as they sat in the break room, and she hadn't spoken a word since they'd left her lab. She was looking a bit pale, but as she sipped her drink the color seemed to return to her cheeks. She seemed so focused on her current task that the intern began to wonder if she had forgotten about him altogether. It had been minutes of silence in which she hadn't said a word - she hadn't even looked at him! The blonde intern pursed his lips, trying to think of an appropriate way to break the ice. He'd settled on bringing up the paperwork she'd had him do that morning, but that was when Bulma finally spoke.

"So, what do you think so far?" She asked calmly, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear, not looking up from her tea.

What a letdown. He was nervous, but he'd still been hoping that she'd at least make eye contact with him. Tadashi cleared his throat and leaned back in his chair. "I like it here - I mean, I'm still learning... but everyone is great!"

It was at this that Bulma giggled, finally looking up. "That is such a load of rehearsed bullshit!" She set her cup of tea down on the table. Tadashi couldn't help but to smirk, though his heart was pounding in his chest. She was just so blunt! It was refreshing! … Even if it was terrifying to be on the receiving end of it.

Why on Earth did he feel so self-conscious when he was around her? Tadashi gulped. Why couldn't he get a grip on himself?

Bulma sensed the intern's anxiety, and she wondered if she'd been too harsh. Tadashi seemed pretty fragile - and she didn't want to do anything to traumatize the poor boy! "You're doing a good job." She offered. "I was only joking - I just meant that I must be pretty stressful to work with."

Stressful? Tadashi was surprised. Why, sure, he felt stressed when he was around her. But it wasn't her fault that she made such an impression of him. "There's nothing wrong with you!" He blurted, choking back on his own tea. "It-it's really nice working under you..."

Bulma fought back the urge to laugh again. She was used to interns trying to impress her, but something about him seemed so genuine. It was hard for her not to chuckle when he beamed at her like a small child and spoke as if he were just discovering how something worked for the first time. Once again, Bulma felt a strange sensation when she realized that his mannerisms reminded her of Goku at times. Goku was the only other adult man she'd ever met who acted so shamelessly naïve.

"Miss?" Tadashi was saying, and Bulma looked up from her lap to smile at him.

"Are you okay?" He continued. "You don't look so good..."

As soon as he said this Bulma suddenly felt as if her head was going to explode. When had she developed such a migraine? She put her hand to her temple and groaned out loud, letting out a slow string of curses.

"Are you alright?" Tadashi asked again. He was concerned for her, but he also somehow felt as if it were some kind of prank that she was suddenly acting so vulnerable.

.

Another 3 hours had passed before it was the end of her work day, and Bulma didn't feel one bit better when she clocked out. Her migraine had grown so bad that she was almost feeling nauseous, and she groaned as she dug in her purse for her car's capsule. "What a perfect day for Dad to take off early..." She muttered, lamenting her drive home. Her throat was starting to feel a bit sore, and she was pretty sure that she was getting sick.

"Miss?" Tadashi called into her lab from the doorway.

Bulma, who was putting so much focus on trying to find her capsule so that she could finally head home, didn't want to be interrupted. She let out a groan and tried to ignore him, cursing as she turned her entire purse over and emptied it on her desk. Tadashi stepped into the office, watching as she whisked through the pile she'd just made. She was breathing heavily, her shoulders slouched as she worked.

"Finally!" Bulma grunted when she wrapped her fingers around the yellow capsule. She took in a deep breath, her lungs feeling reluctant as they filled with air. It was then that she looked up, still feeling annoyed that the intern hadn't taken a hint in leaving her alone. "Didn't your shift end half an hour ago?"

Tadashi shrugged, taken aback by the harshness of her words. His shift had ended, but he'd stayed behind. He'd gotten her a small present to show his appreciation to her, and he'd been trying to find the courage to actually give it to her. But now that he watched her, knowing that most of the employees of Capsule Corp were in the process of leaving for the day, he began to grow worried. "Should you be driving?" He asked. Her cheeks were flushed as she breathed, but somehow her face still looked translucent. A few drops of sweat were forming at her forehead, and he was sure she was coming down with a fever.

"I'm fine!" Bulma replied. All she could think of in that moment was how badly she wanted to just get home and lay down. She'd done her part in being kind to the intern, but now it felt as if he were an obstacle that was coming between her and her bed. "If you'll excuse me, I need to be going."

She made to walk past, but he stepped in her way. "Oh, what is it!?" She grunted. "Look, I'm sorry, but I'm in a hurry!"

Tadashi looked nervous by her words, but he stood tall regardless. Bulma couldn't help but think that this was the first time she'd ever seen him looking remotely sure of himself. "You shouldn't be driving - you look really bad."

"I probably will be taking a sick day tomorrow, yes." Bulma sighed. "But really, I'm fine. I have no other option, anyway."

The blonde intern shook his head. "Which part of town do you live in?" When Bulma replied, he shook his head. "That's on the way home for me. I'll give you a ride."

Bulma felt her cheeks flushing even more. "That would be inappropriate!" She hissed.

"It'd be inappropriate to let you go home and pass out while you're driving." Tadashi shook his head. "Your father knows my uncle, right? And we work together, don't we?"

The Bluehead couldn't help but to feel tempted by his offer. The more time that she spent talking, the more steadily her body felt worse. The thought of having to drive herself home felt almost unbearable, and he had a point. He wasn't some creep that was trying to hit on her - he was just a kid! And they were coworkers after all...

'Fine.' She thought reluctantly. "This isn't a normal situation. Just this once."

She was feeling so awful at the moment that she couldn't even foresee anything going wrong.

Vegeta was flying through the air, back on his way to the Briefs household.

Back to her.

When he'd left her in her room he hadn't planned on being gone for long. He was hoping that she'd use the time alone to consider her actions, and perhaps regret sending him away. But he'd made a vow that he'd look over his woman and child, and it was a pledge that he intended to keep.

Sure, she didn't seem to be nearly as angry as she had been earlier, but he still wasn't going to let his guard down. It certainly wasn't unlikely that Bulma would send him away without hearing him out again. The thought alone made him chuckle.

Had he given her enough time to consider the words they'd exchanged during their last encounter, or was he going to be subjecting himself to another verbal battle? Somehow the idea of a fight didn't deter him - not if it meant he'd get to be in close physical proximity to her again.

'Well.' He thought, soaring through the sky as he flew. 'This is going to be interesting.'

Thank you to all of you guys who keep reading and providing feedback! I hope that you enjoyed this chapter, and I am already working on the next one! ^^