More than 150 followers, and nearly 100 favorites – wow! I can't believe this story is managing to hit such milestones! This is amazing! Thank you to everyone who has been reading and sticking with me! I know that my updates sometimes can take a few weeks, and I appreciate everyone's feedback and patience! You are all so great!

This update, and most likely the first half of the next one, will be working to shift the story along. So, while it may potentially feel like somewhat of a "filler", it's definitely getting the job done for what the story needs right now! As a result, this chapter does not have too much of Bulma or Trunks in it, and I apologize in advanced if you were hoping for that!

Please enjoy reading, and I can't wait to post the next update! The next chapter I am going to publish may require a disclaimer, so please be forewarned!

Enjoy! ^^

Vegeta stood, sweat dripping at his forehead. His pulse was soaring as he caught his breath. Standing in the center of his gravity room, the smell of fresh equipment was still present in the air of this newly paved chamber. His nostrils flared as he inhaled – he'd never cared much for such an odor. And while he was still waiting for the day that his gravity chamber was successfully aired out, the thrill of standing in one that was new and his was more than intoxicating.

It'd only been a few days that he'd been settled into his new house, and he certainly kept himself busy in that time. Adjusting back into his old instincts for survival, he was waking at the crack of dawn each morning. His first few hours were spent flying through the country-side and fetching himself food for the day. On some days this had proven to be giant fish that he'd challenged and defeated, on others he simply relished in a wild cow or two. But, regardless of what his choice for sustenance would be, he was certain to keep his stomach full each day.

Aside from the aspect of food, there was another task that he was sure to fulfill as part of his daily routine. Making a detour on his way home each morning, the saiyan would stop to retrieve a certain item. The object in question was an enchanting plant that he'd come across quite a long time ago. He first discovered it during the months of seclusion he'd spent in nature as he completed his training leading up to the Androids' emergence. It was during that time that Vegeta had left his woman and his then-newborn son to seek solitude in the wilderness, straining himself to exhaustion each day, both physically and mentally. And each night he had slept among the worms of the mud, in his make-shift bunker that he'd constructed upon his arrival. It was a long and limitless cycle that he quickly became captivated by at that point in his life. He had been stuck in a fog – his warrior instincts finding delight in the strict routine of never-ending physical exertion and focus. Such a lifestyle was exhilarating, much like when he first made the transition into super saiyan. It worked to intoxicate his soul, and it wasn't long before he found himself completely submerged with his own goals and need for perfection. It was an endless daze of obsession and desire that he hadn't cared to pull himself out of, utilizing every moment he was awake to work towards his desire of achieving ultimate strength. It was as if the saiyan were sinking into a pit of self-perfection, and he was failing to find the motivation to pull himself out of it.

He'd been mentally trapped within that coffin, time flying by as quickly as it came. But slowly, surely, his subconscious managed to finally pull him back to reality. It was a slow process of certain images and ideas flashing in his mind, and eventually his senses did become sobered, and he'd recognized that he needed to return to the woman and greet the Androids. But what was it that had spurred his subconscious into bringing him to such an epiphany? What was it that finally dragged him out of his mental pit?

It seems that what initiated this change had been when he'd accidentally uncovered a certain blue.

A blue field, hidden beyond the depths of the forest. Underneath the heads of the trees and tucked safely away from the threat of sunlight, this field appeared to have not yet been uncovered by human civilization. Vegeta had come across it during a session of training, in which he'd been flying through the trees in order to practice his speed. He had dipped between branches and tree trunks, relishing in his speed as he successfully dodged any obstacles that crossed his path. And before he knew it he found himself floating in that wonderful field, his breath taken away at the sight before him. Not even a footprint was embedded into the soil, and the blossoming petals surprised the saiyan as he took in the scene around. He didn't know much about plants, but he didn't think many flowers were capable of blooming in such a way without the sun. And yet, blue and green swayed in the wind, beckoning him to think of her. As Vegeta studied these shrubs that danced before him, his core had begun to ache dangerously with memories of her…

… It was now months later - months since he'd accidentally found that field - and he'd still hadn't forgotten about those blue roses. Each time he looked into Bulma's deep eyes or thought of her soft hair, he was reminded of that enchanting grove that was neatly tucked away in the forest. The rose was an odd enough plant as it was. With petals as soft as silk and thorns that seductively coiled around the stem, the plant was ready to prod any unsuspecting person that foolishly attempted to handle it in the wrong way. The nature of the rose reminded Vegeta a lot of Bulma. She was beautiful, her aura soft and gentle. Yet it was not unheard of for her to fight back when she felt threatened. She demanded both respect and delicacy - much in the way of a rose, unafraid to prick if need be.

It seemed only suitable that he pluck a single flower from the shrub each morning for his woman. Flying with it tucked neatly under his arm, Vegeta would stop by the Briefs residence to leave the rose placed on the doorstep. His plan was that she would discover the flower as she left the house for work every day, and it was his way of reminding her that she was in his thoughts.

Whatever was to occur between them, he wanted her to be happy.

He wanted her to know that he didn't hold her actions against her.

He wanted her to know she was desired...

It was mid-morning at the Capsule Corp headquarters, and one thought that Tadashi couldn't shrug was how obviously shaken he noticed Bulma had been acting for the past few weeks. While she was generally good about interacting with others in a respectable manner, there was an air that followed her wherever she went, and it really felt tense. On some days Tadashi could sense it more than others. But no matter what, the aura was always there. It was clear that something was stressing her out, and what struck him as worrisome was the fact that her state was lingering. It wasn't that she was simply having a bad day and would feel better after a night of rest. Her demeanor was an everyday occurrence. She was unmistakably distracted by her own mind, and it didn't seem to be getting any better as time progressed.

And to make matters more concerning, there was only one thing Tadashi could think of when he saw Bulma in this state. When the intern was in the same room, and could see the faraway glint in her eye, all he could think of was him. Was she hurting because of him?

Him – He was an overwhelming stature of tightly packed muscle, extremely black hair, and a violently pompous attitude (or, perhaps, he was instead pompously violent...) He was the man that Tadashi encountered when he'd once taken an ailed Bulma home. The intern had watched as Bulma interacted with this beast, and he was amazed by how absolutely unperturbed she seemed with everything that maniac did. As if she has seen it all before. As if there was nothing left that could shock her.

Vegeta.

Vegeta was completely hot-headed, and it wasn't right!

Tadashi could remember just how quickly Bulma had become hostile when Dr. Briefs once spoke the name. Whatever relations the two had, her reaction to the mention of "Vegeta" was something the blonde intern didn't consider normal. The mere word alone had been sufficient with putting the Bluehead on the edge, and that was enough to unnerve Tadashi. And, to add to the already peculiar situation, was Dr. Briefs himself. How calm Dr. Briefs was about it all! This was his daughter, and he seemed to hardly care that she was upset. If anything, he seemed to find her behavior amusing!

Could the professor just not see?

Was he really this blind, or was there even more to the situation that Tadashi hadn't yet learned? What a confusing and horrifying mess it all was!

And poor Bulma, she was apparently stuck in the very middle of it!

..

Bulma was making her way through the hallway, her white lab coat blowing behind as she moved. While Tadashi had, at one point, worked fairly close to the blue-haired beauty and her father as he was being trained, the intern had now developed responsibilities of his own. These tasks required him to sit and type at the computer - sometimes for hours on end. This meant that he didn't work as closely under Bulma as before, though he would still catch her in the hallways and he would still report to her at the end of each day.

And it was on this particular day that Bulma was making her way down the hall, walking towards him as she went. He always enjoyed seeing her. It was a pleasant surprise that was sure to leave his mind racing, even hours later! He'd managed to grow steadily more comfortable around her, too. Especially since he was now interacting with her nearly every day. That being said, he was still the same awkward man he'd always been. Especially around her – he'd find himself hesitating to speak, stumbling over his words and struggling with a fluttering stomach whenever she was standing near. So, it was because of his newly-found comfort, that Tadashi found the confidence to shoot a grin as she came.

Bulma politely smiled back, her feet shuffling quickly as she charged down the hall. Without even uttering a word she continued her march, running past the intern and leaving him feeling disappointed by her lack of conversation. He turned and watched as she disappeared in the opposite direction, and he could swear she was muttering to herself about how "late" she was with something. There was still an hour left before the day ended, but apparently Bulma was already stressed about time. It was curious, but Tadashi reluctantly returned to his desk.

An hour later, when Tadashi went by her lab to report to her, she still seemed stressed. She was already standing, kneeling down over her desk as she furiously clicked to shut her computer down. There was a pile of papers laying beside her keyboard, and she was muttering to herself once more about how "late" she was for something, cursing under her breath as the computer froze mid-task. Bulma was so distracted with her own endeavor that she hardly even noticed as Tadashi approached. And when she finally glanced up at the intern he was sporting a nervous grin.

"Is it a bad time?" He asked.

"It kind of is." Bulma, feeling distracted, didn't want to be rude. "But it's fine – I know what all you've been working on. We can discuss your progress on Monday, is that okay."

It was Friday afternoon, and Bulma Briefs was feeling the pressure of making it to an appointment she'd made. It'd taken her days of corresponding with the party planner, and finally they had set a date. This party planner in particular was said to be the best in the hemisphere, and her schedule was accordingly tight. Her emails were short and her conduct was hasty. And Bulma, having gathered an idea of the type of woman this planner seemed to be, knew that if she was even 5 minutes late to the meeting she would miss her opportunity altogether.

Glancing at the clock on the screen, Bulma let out an exasperated sigh. "Do me a favor!" She hissed, grabbing her purse and throwing it onto her shoulder. "Please shut down my system for me! I have to go!"

And with that, as Tadashi watched, the stressed scientist fled from the scene. Feeling concerned and somewhat dejected, the intern turned to her desk. Beside her computer lay the pile of papers that he'd seen her carrying with her earlier in the day, and he couldn't help but to think that they were important.

Well - whatever she's going to be doing this weekend, I'm pretty sure she will need these... Tadashi thought, placing a hand over the top of the pile...

Vegeta was seated in his dining room, alone at his table as he ate. He'd started a fire in his yard and roasted a wild boar for dinner, and he gnawed away in silence. He'd always enjoyed solitude – it was in his nature. And while he found the calm aura of the empty house refreshing in contrast to the chaos that was always rampant in the Briefs household, the saiyan couldn't help but feel that his meal was incomplete without the smart-assed comments that Bulma typically would make at the table.

The two really hadn't spoken very much since he'd officially been moved out of her home. In fact, they'd hardly spoken since the realization she'd made in his room. She hadn't gone out of her way to address him, and he didn't wish to impose herself on her if she still needed her distance in order to cope with her mind. There were times that he would go by the Briefs residence and fetch Trunks from Mrs. Briefs while Bulma was away at work, but that was another story altogether...

He could sense her emotions, though. He felt her ki flare each morning as she stepped out of the house, and he knew that she was reacting to the rose he'd left for her. It never failed to make him smirk when this happened, knowing fully well that she was more flattered than she ever liked to admit. He would also sense her when she arrived back at the home in the evening, typically weak from her fatigue. Though, on this day in particular he hadn't felt her arrival yet. It was nearly an hour later than usual, and this was a bit odd. Vegeta finished with his plate and pushed himself back from the table, curiosity striking as he looked out the window. The sun was already starting to set in the sky, so where was she? She was a woman of routine, and this was not like her.

'Odd…' The saiyan thought, as he closed his eyes and focused his energy. What was she up to? It wasn't just that Bulma was missing, but apparently the whole damned family had vacated the premises! Not a single living aura, other than the weak creatures that the professor and his wife kept as pets, could be sensed in that house. As Vegeta's mind searched for the familiar ki of his woman and his child, to see if they were all located in the city, there was something that interfered.

His eyes snapped open. His nerves had suddenly flared. There was a certain ki that he had only encountered once before, and it was now too close in proximity to his liking. No longer concerned with the whereabouts of his kin, Vegeta was now distracted by the person attempting to pay a visit next door.

What business did that beta male have in coming back here?! How dare he find the audacity to show himself after Vegeta had specifically told him to stay away!

Without another thought, the saiyan's energy was soaring. He was going to make sure Tadashi understood boundaries this time – and it was just his luck that there wasn't going to be anybody around to intervene...

.

As Tadashi stood on the porch and knocked at the front door, he couldn't help but have the feeling that he was being watched. But it wasn't as if someone inside the house were peeking out the window to see who was at the door– it was as if someone were standing behind him, and waiting... The intern glanced over his shoulder nervously, only to see that he was alone. He attempted to shrug off his anxiety, giving the door one more knock before pressing his ear against its wood. He stood in silence, holding his breath, listening for a sign of activity on the inside. Instead of hearing the humming of a TV or the shuffling of feet, all he heard coming from the interior of the house was silence.

He blinked dumbly, taking a step back. What now? It was evident that nobody was home. So, with a sigh, Tadashi stepped away from the porch and made his way towards the street where he'd left his car parked. He was holding Bulma's stack of papers in his arms, and he couldn't help but to feel a bit dejected from his wasted trip. And still, there was that sensation that he was being watched!

It wasn't until Tadashi had made his way into the street, closing in on his vehicle, when he felt a gust of wind hit him in the back of the neck. The blonde turned, his eyes widening at he came face-to-face with the man he'd encountered once before.

With a gasp, papers went flying, and the intern squirmed as he felt his feet being lifted off the asphalt. He let out a gulp of air and watched in horror as Vegeta held him by the shirt and glared into his eyes. There was a coldness in his pupils that made a chill run down Tadashi's spine, and the young intern let out another yelp before he felt himself being dropped – not thrown - onto his rear. The saiyan, whose initial instinct was to chuck the intern with all his might, had been sobered by the idea that he'd be on even worse terms with Bulma if he did such a thing. So, instead of sending Tadashi to the other side of the planet, he remembered how fragile Earth creatures were and decided dropping him on his ass would suffice.

"What do you think you're doing here?" The saiyan snapped, glaring down at him with his hands on his hips. The thunder in his voice was one Vegeta couldn't control, and his pupils flared as he looked upon the intern with loathing.

Tadashi, feeling that his suspicions of this man were now confirmed, felt his own eyebrows furrow. He grabbed at the asphalt below him, clenching as he attempted to raise himself back onto his feet. "You!" He breathed, feeling slight panic as he temporarily forgot how to work his legs.

Vegeta, finding the display pathetic, prodded at the intern with his boot. "Answer me at once! What business do you have coming here!?"

Tadashi let out another yelp before managing to pull himself to his feet. "I came here to see Bulma!" He yelled back, his eyes watering slightly as he realized that Bulma's stack of papers had now been scattered about the asphalt around them.

Vegeta crossed his arms and spit down onto the street. "I told you to stay away from her, didn't I?"

"I just came here to give Bulma her documents that she left behind!" Tadashi yowled, his limbs shaking in shock. "They-they seemed important to her! And you..." His head turned at he looked over the display of papers that surrounded the two. Vegeta followed his gaze, turning to see the mess. The saiyan had been so blinded by his rage that he wasn't even aware that the beta male had been carrying anything.

With a sigh, Vegeta backed off from the creature in front of him. "Pick them up, then." He said, once again locking eyes with the beta.

Tadashi gulped, his eyebrows furrowing by the nerve of this man! "What?"

"You heard me. Pick. Them. Up." Not even a kilogram of sarcasm in the saiyan's tone.

"You're the one who manhandled me!" Tadashi argued, "You ruined her documents! And you're telling me to clean this up?!"

Without a warning the saiyan shot out an arm and grabbed the mouthy intern by the shirt once more. "I don't think you're in a position to give me lip, now, are you?" He hissed, giving the beta male a firm shake before pushing him back.

Tadashi landed on his rear once again, with a yelp. Without another protest he immediately scrambled to scoop the scattered pile into his arms. 'She LIVES with this man!?' Was all he could think, his breath heaving as he moved. When he was finished with his assigned task, the intern shot Vegeta a frightened look of hate. "Give it here." The saiyan ordered, gesturing his hand towards the pile in Tadashi's arms.

"I came here to give these to Bulma." The intern replied, his voice shaking just as much as his nerves.

"Isn't it obvious that she isn't home!? I will see to it that she receives her items upon her return."

Tadashi clutched at the stack in his arms, tempted to argue back at the beast before him. Though he knew it would be no use – Vegeta could easily shove him again, resulting in those papers going flying once more... "You – you'll tell her that I brought these by?" He gulped, hesitant to give Vegeta an opportunity to look like a hero.

The saiyan snarled in response, a disgusted look on his face. "She will receive her items, that you can be sure of."

A moment later Tadashi was safely tucked into his car, speeding away as fast as he could. His heart was pounding and his mouth felt dry. A monster! That man back there was nothing less of a monster! He was capable of lifting and throwing the intern as if he weighed no more than a peanut! Tadashi couldn't quite put his finger on it, but something about Vegeta came off as un-human. Almost robotic, almost beast-like, there was a lack of humanity in his eyes that everyone else had.

And the idea of Bulma being subjected to such a thing!

It was too much to bear!

.

Vegeta watched as the intern's vehicle disappeared into the sky. That squirrely little blonde, though physically inept, was not to be trusted. The saiyan was certain that Bulma would never go with someone as pathetic as this weasel, but then again – she had stooped so low as to bed Yamcha at one point!

Great, Vegeta let out a low growl. Even though it was established by now that Bulma and Yamcha were hardly even on speaking terms, the saiyan prince wasn't fond of remembering that the two had been together at one point.

He couldn't stand the thought of anyone else brushing a hand across her skin. It didn't suit her.

There was no way of changing what she'd done in the past before she'd come into his life, but he'd be damned if he stood idly by and watched such a wimpy little man attempt to usurp his position as Bulma's other. There was only one way that someone would take Vegeta's place, and that would only be if they managed to destroy him in a battle.

He would surely fight to the death before allowing anyone to touch her...

It wasn't just the obvious attraction to Bulma that bothered Vegeta about this beta male. But it was also this rodent's lack of boundaries. He'd had no right to invade Bulma's privacy and visit her home…

The saiyan growled. Nobody was going to hurt her, and it certainly wasn't going to be a little blonde pest that seemed to get winded just by turning the ignition of his damned vehicle!

With a furious sigh, the saiyan began to head back to his home. He'd worked himself up into a mood, and he was going to be spending the next few hours in his gravity room just to blow off his steam.

There we go! Another update! I've been working so hard to get this one complete. You have no idea how many hours I spent on this chapter, re-arranging scenes and even removing some to be included in the next. I tried very hard to make this an enjoyable read, despite it being a filler. And I hope that you weren't disappointed. Summer classes are in session, but I'll be doing all I can to update again real soon! ^^