Disclaimer: Not mine.

It was another quiet still evening.

Vegeta had just received his nightly update call from Bulma's physicians at West City hospital. West City did not call the families of all hospitalized patients but Bulma Briefs was an exception. The calls were meaningless to him because it seemed like there was never any change. Bulma was receiving world class care but he would notice a Ki change in his wife first and there unfortunately had been no changes thus far.

His in laws continued to check in with him daily and were optimistic as ever. They also provided business updates that he did not care to know. Mr. Briefs recently informed Vegeta that the Capsule Corp vaccine continued to roll out globally and COVID-19 rates were decreasing. Bulma's second in command, Pensil was interim CEO at Capsule Corp. All Capsule Corp employees tested negative immediately after Bulma was hospitalized. No one could identify how Bulma got the virus but the company had increased PPE and safety guidelines following Bulma's hospitalization. Bulma had been the first and only Capsule Corp employee to become severly sick and hospitalized with COVID-19.

There were no leads on how Bulma became infected with this virus. If it was anyone's fault, it was truly good for them that they have not been identified as the source because it would be a challenge for Vegeta to show them any mercy.

Trunks was another challenge. At first the behavioral changes started small, he noticed that Trunks would arrive late home from school he would then arrive late to training sessions, eventually he stopped giving excuses and talking altogether. It seemed like he spent more time at Kakkarot's home with his brat. Vegeta wanted to force Trunks to be home but Vegeta has class. Trunks was emotionally struggling too, he would come home when he was ready. Trunks was truly's a "momma's boy", as Bulma would call him and Trunks was missing Bulma just as much as he was.

Tonight, Trunks had skipped out on another training session leaving Vegeta alone with his thoughts and worries which fueled his anger.

But Bulma had taught him that anger was a secondary emotion and he knew that underneath his anger he was struggling with sadness and grief.

Sadness that his family was experiencing this tragedy, grief for all of the missed days and night with his beautiful wife.

The virus he had once laughed at had now taken the joy and laughter from his wife.

Life was cruel like that sometimes.

Lonely days and quiet nights slowly turned into months as Bulma lay in a coma induced state at West City Hospital.

The Briefs family was unable to visit due to COVID-19 restrictions but Vegeta quickly found a way around that, visiting in the middle of the night through the open room window after the nurses made their rounds. He overheard the nurses talking one night, they were providing palliative, comfort care but sometimes it seemed like it was hospice care. They hoped the baby would survive at least.

Vegeta cringed at that word.

Hospice.

He wouldn't let this virus beat his wife, even though sometimes it felt like it had already won the fight.

He couldn't stay away from her. He didn't know how the Humans could stay away from their mates. Virus or no virus he would die to see her again, even for a small moment.

It was on such a night, after a quick flight, during such a small moment that Vegeta found himself lovingly gazing at his wife laying on her hospital bed. Her turquoise hair had grown and it flowed effortlessly from her shoulders reminding him of their brief time on Namek. He found her beautiful then and believed that she was beautiful now. Her stomach had grown too, Bulma wasn't fighting this virus alone, she was fighting it with their baby. Unlike the nurses, he knew his wife and unborn child was strong. They would survive this, they had to.

Vegeta couldn't believe how adamant he was about his wife getting an abortion only months earlier. An abortion was out of the question now given her current state but he wouldn't dare even think about such an act. She wanted to fight for this baby even at the detriment of her own health. It seemed like he could hear her more clearly now that he was missing the shrill of her voice, the curve of her smile, and the feel of her warm body next to his every night. He missed her, he was grasping for her, but like the string of a balloon slipping through a child's hand, the Bulma he knew was gone.

The Ki of a nurse approaching Bulma's private room jolted Vegeta out of his thoughts. He exited the hospital through the window before anyone could notice. He normally scoffed at rules but he knew Bulma would care and though she wasn't there to yell at him he could feel her watching.

After leaving the hospital, Vegeta pulled out Bulma's Dragonball Radar. Vegeta had lost Bulma once when she was absorbed by Buu, he refused to lose her again. He was going to do everything in his power to get his Bulma back. He had easily collected six Dragonballs thus far and only needed one more. The Radar indicated that the remaining orb was in a body of water not too far the hospital, Vegeta was on his way there when he noticed a familiar Ki at the home. The seventh Dragonball could wait, Vegeta needed to check in on his son.

Vegeta arrived home to find said son waiting for him in the kitchen.

"You went to go see mom again?" Trunks asked.

"Yep"

"Any changes?"

"Nope"

"Can we go together to see her next time?"

This was new, not what Vegeta was expecting but he quickly responded. "Sure"

One-word responses were all Trunks received from his father these days. This was why he spent so much of his time at Goten's home. He missed his mother and the house didn't seem like a home without her.

Trunks drunk a glass of water and was about to head to bed before his father stopped him.

"Look, your mother was the only person on this planet that I could be emotional with and now that she is …sick…it's hard for me but I know that it is hard for you too. I could see the sadness in your eyes son and I am here for you, I am glad you are home, we will get through this together, your mother wouldn't want it any other way."

Vegeta was not talkative by any means but this was a start.

"Thanks Dad, it has been hard, I'm going to try to be home a bit more."

Trunks blinked and felt the arms of his father around him, he was hugging him, he was telling him he wasn't alone. Trunks no longer felt the need to carry his emotions inside, this burden, the thought of losing his mother, he let it all out, he cried as his father silently provided comfort in the only way he could.

When Trunks and Vegeta woke up the next morning, they found that they were not alone in the home. Goku, Chichi, Goten, Gohan, Pan, Piccolo, Android 18, Krillin, Yamcha, Tien, Chiatzo, even Yajirobe showed up though Trunks was sure it was because there was food involved. Mr. and Mrs. Briefs were there of course and they had the most extravagant breakfast food laid out for everyone. Everyone had there facial masks and washed their hands.

There was a bit of an awkward silence as Trunks and Vegeta descended down the stairs.

Goku spoke up first, signature hand scratching behind his head, "Gosh, thank kami you guys are up, I'm starved, let's get outside so we can eat breakfast!"

After Goku started to grab his food and head out to the outdoor breakfast table the other Z warriors quickly followed suit. They knew they had to move quickly or Goku would eat the entire breakfast buffet by himsel .

Everyone ate in silence, it didn't seem quite right being together, outside her home, enjoying a socially distanced breakfast on a summer morning, without her being there.

Bulma was the glue that held them together, if she and Goku hadn't met all those years ago the world as we know it would not be the same. Goku thought, reflecting on his relationship with his oldest friend before Mr. Briefs spoke up.

"We wanted to come together because we know it has been hard on you both Vegata and Trunks. It's been hard on all of us but we can't imagine how difficult it has been for you too. We have to keep the hope in Bulma, in the baby, and in science, Bulma is strong, she will get through this."

Trunks nodded.

Vegeta remained quiet.

Mr. Briefs cleared his throat as if he was signaling for someone to speak. Everyone, excluding Trunks and Vegeta, looked in Goku's direction. He was busy eating bagels but quickly swallowed his food when he realized it was his time to speak.

"Sorry guys, I was really starved, he laughed nervously before continuing, "Bulma, has been my longest friend ever since I came to Earth and Vegeta you connect me to the Sayain culture, I love you guys, I know Bulma is going to get through this!. Bulma has always believed in strength and in science and I know strength and science is going to help her beat this. "

No response from Vegeta.

Trunks felt confused, there was something going on with this "strength and science" emphasis...where was this coming from? He wondered to himself.

"We know you're looking for the Dragonballs Vegeta and we just don't think you should use them on Bulma in any way, I don't think she would want it."

"And there would be too many questions raised." Added Mr. Briefs.

Trunks looked at his father, "You've been collecting Dragonballs for mom?"

Vegeta nodded. It was his first communication of the entire morning.

Everyone nervously waited for Vegeta's response.

His voice remained low but stern. "My wife and my unborn child have been in the hospital for months and you people come in here saying you want to support but you don't want me use the Dragonballs, its hypocritical you don't want me to use it for my wife and child, but you've used it for thousands of others in the past."

Mr. Briefs responded first, "Son, Bulma is our first and only daughter, we love her more than life itself but this is just not the way."

Vegeta did not let him finish his sentence, "Is your wife in the hospital, or is she sitting next to you? Vegeta asked Mr. Briefs before turning to Goku, "Kakarot, do you have to sneak into a Hospital to helplessly watch your pregnant incubated wife or do you have the luxury of holding your wife at night?"

Silence.

"What's incubated mean?" Goku nervously asked.

Trunks spoke up to help alleviate some of the tension in the air, "It means she's using a tube to support her breathing Uncle Goku. I didn't know about the Dragonballs Dad but I agree with Uncle Goku and Grandpa, Mom wouldn't want them to be used. Remember how hard she worked on the vaccine, she believes in the science, we have to have faith that she will overcome this, we have to believe in her strength."

Vegeta looked at his son silently for a moment before resigning and nodding in agreement.

"Thanks Dad and thanks everyone for coming out, we appreciate it." Trunks said.

"We're family." Said Goku and the others agreed.

Vegeta remained at the table for his son but he did not speak for the duration of the meal.

Mr. and Mrs. Brief stayed behind after the others left. Mr. Briefs had a small book in his hand which he gave to Vegeta.

"It's Bulma's work planner, we haven't been able to track anything via her calendar regarding the virus but maybe there's something in there, she's like me and she's never had the best hand writing so I'm hoping you can decode it."

Vegeta chuckled at that, it was the first time he smiled in several months. Bulma's handwriting was atrocious but he was one of the few people in the world that could read it.

Only father and son remained after Mr. and Mrs. Brief headed home for the night.

"They all mean well Dad, I know it was hard to hear that but as hard as it is, I agree with them, Mom would want to fight this."

Vegeta nodded again.

He did not agree with his son but for the sake of their relationship he would respect the wishes of his son, in laws, and the Z warriors.

He would respect their wishes...for now.

Vegeta found himself up late in the night reviewing Bulma's work planner. There was nothing out of the ordinary scheduled in the days following her hospitalization.

Vegeta was just about to close the book in frustration when two names caught his eye….

Bulma had sloppily written Pensil+Book? on one of the last pages in her book. The subsequent pages were blank beacuse of Bulma's hospitalization.

Vegeta wondered, what did this signal?

Did Bulma meet with these two individuals?

Did she have questions about their relationship?

Did they infect his wife?

Vegeta wasn't sure but he was about to find out.