Okay, here's part 7. I just wanted everyone out there to know that when these parts take a long time in coming out, it's for these three reasons, or a combination of them. First, school work. This one shouldn't be a problem during the next week since it's spring break, but pretty soon I'm going on vacation to somewhere where there is no Internet readily available for my use. Second, my brother. If any of you people know what astromudd is, suffice it to say that the boy is addicted to it. Thoroughly addicted. And I can't just camp out at the computer to assure that I'll be able to use it. Thankfully, the boy has mono right now, so I can usually wake up earlier than him and stake my claim on the computer. But the second I get up for food or something, he takes it. And third, sometimes the fanfiction network messes up or something and it takes me many attempts over the course of several days to submit my work successfully. Ah well, just wanted you guys to know. Now, on with the story…
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That night, Bulma woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. She glanced at her digital clock. 2:07 a.m. Bulma groaned inwardly and decided to get herself a glass of water. Perhaps that would help her get to sleep. She groggily pulled on a robe over her nightgown and slid her feet into her slippers before making her way downstairs and to the kitchen as quietly as she could possibly manage. Bulma didn't want to wake anyone up at this time of night. She was standing in the kitchen drinking her water when she realize that she hadn't turned on any lights, yet she was having no trouble seeing. After looking for the source of the light, Bulma noticed that pale moonlight was seeping in the windows. It must be a bright moon to make so much light. She considered going outside to look at it. It had been a long time since she had seen a full moon. The last time had been right after they used the dragon balls to wish the moon back. She walked to the sliding glass door which opened to the back patio before stopping dead in her tracks. Bulma set her empty glass down as she smiled curiously. Out on the patio, leaning against the railing and staring into the sky, was Vegeta.
What could he be doing up at this hour? Could he be stargazing? Bulma almost laughed at the thought of Vegeta taking pleasure in a simple thing like stargazing. But he was staring at the sky intently and…sadly? Was she hallucinating or did Vegeta actually look sad? Or lonely? Bulma wasn't accustomed to reading Vegeta's facial expressions. Usually, he only had two: angry and really angry. But she could definitely sense something sad about the mighty prince. After some deliberation, Bulma slid the door open and stepped out to join him.
Vegeta head snapped around in shock at the sound of Bulma opening the door and walking out onto the patio. He tried desperately to compose his surprised expression when she walked over to him casually and leaned against the railing right next to him, turning her face skyward.
"Beautiful night." She commented. He tore his eyes from her lovely face and also looked up at the stars.
"Hmph" was his indignant reply. She turned an amused face toward Vegeta as he continued looking at the night sky.
"If you disagree, what are you doing out here at two in the morning?" she asked him, smiling wryly.
"It…it is different." Vegeta commented.
"What is?" Bulma turned her attention back to the dark sky sparkling with stars.
"The sky." Came his answer, sounding almost…wistful?
"You mean the constellations have moved?" Bulma guessed logically.
"No, the view." Vegeta corrected, "It is different from that on Vegeta-sai."
"Well, of course it is." Bulma couldn't laugh at the comment though. There was something in the way Vegeta had said it that made her feel sympathetic instead of incredulous.
"That's the last time I looked at the stars." Vegeta recalled. "When I was on Vegeta-sai. My father would point out all the systems he had reign over. I knew all their names and a lot of the ones that didn't belong to us as well."
"Is that why you were looking at the sky?" Bulma asked, "To look at all the systems you would own?"
"No." Vegeta admitted, "I was trying to figure which system is the one where Vegeta-sai was located."
"Did you find it?" Bulma asked.
"There. I think that's the system." Vegeta pointed to a faint star close to two others. "But I can't be sure. It's hard to think of the sky in three dimensions and rotate the view in one's mind."
"It was so far away." Bulma squinted at the tiny pinprick of light. Then she turned her eyes to Vegeta, watching him closely for a reaction as she asked her next question. "Do you miss it?"
"Hmph." She watched him scowl as he stared at the sky. There was a long silence, and she was beginning to think that a grunt would be the only answer she would get out of him. Out of nowhere though, he continued. "I was prince of all Saiyans." His voice was quieter now, and though the rest of his face remained set in a typical, cold expression, Vegeta's dark eyes hinted at deep emotion. "With my father's training, I had the strong potential to be King of all Saiyans and ruler of countless planets. But Frieza feared the coming of a new Super Saiyan. So in his cowardice, he demolished almost all of the Saiyan race in one thoughtless action. Frieza decided the fate of all the Saiyans." A look of disgust flashed over his features. Then Vegeta paused, looking down at his hands with a weary expression, "Now I have but two subjects, one of which is more powerful than I, and both of which have little or no fear or respect for me." There was another short pause. "I should be there right now." He jabbed his finger at the distant star. "It was not supposed to end this way." Vegeta turned away, ashamed at what had been an extreme emotional outburst for him.
"Vegeta-" Bulma began after some thought.
"I need to get some rest, woman." Vegeta turned to leave, but Bulma firmly grabbed his arm and he did not resist. She moved in front of him, blocking his intended path of escape.
"Just like you Vegeta." She smirked at his nervous face. "You can't just admit that you miss it. You have to allude to the truth."
"Dammit woman! Don't start on-" Vegeta was stopped by Bulma's hand over his mouth. She pointed inside the house and wagged a finger at him.
"Tsk, tsk. People are trying to sleep. Show some consideration." She moved her hand from Vegeta's mouth to his cheek and he flinched at the contact, but set his expression again and allowed Bulma's hand to roam over his face.
Bulma said nothing, taking advantage of Vegeta's relatively allowing mood to reach up and gingerly touch his hair. Shocked at how natural it felt, she put her fingers in it, running them through the coarse strands and twirling a bit of it before letting the stubborn fibers return to their former position.
Tilting her head slightly in curiosity at his unresponsive behavior, Bulma stepped even close, lightly placing one hand on his chest to discover much to her satisfaction that his heart was beating furiously. She gave him a smirk and a slight chuckle, enjoying herself immensely. Vegeta was confused, and she delighted in every moment of it.
Bulma brought her face up to his, quickly brushing her lips over his chin. He leaned forward to kiss her, but she ducked her head out of the way, giggling. She waited until his unsure expression returned before leaning toward him again, only to give him a quick peck on the cheek before ducking her head away again.
Next she pressed her body against his firmly and leaned upward again. She brushed her lips over his, lightly flicking her tongue over the seam of his mouth. That did it.
Vegeta grabbed her waist with one hand, holding her head in place with the other as he leaned into the kiss hungrily. Bulma pushed back lightly when it felt as though he'd smash her body in his grip, and surprisingly Vegeta loosened his hold until she felt comfortable. When they finally broke, he swept her up in his arms and flew up to her window.
"Vegeta," she caused him to pause at her balcony doors. "I don't know if we should…because of the baby." She gave him a worried look. Vegeta grinned at her wickedly.
"As though that is all we can do." He carried her into the room, almost forgetting to close the door behind him.
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The next morning, Bulma woke up before Vegeta did and lightly kissed his peaceful face. His body stirred beneath hers and she lifted her head to look into his slowly opening eyes.
"Good morning Vegeta." She whispered into his ear nibbling delicately on the lobe.
"Yes it is." He rolled on top of her so he could kiss her neck and throat. She closed her eyes, enjoying his ministrations when a thought occurred to her.
"Vegeta?" she asked, slowly opening her eyes.
"Hmm?" he continued kissing her jaw line.
"Do you love me?" Bulma inquired.
"What do you mean?" Vegeta lifted himself slightly so that he could talk with her better.
"I mean, do you love me?" she replied, a bit hurt.
"No woman, what does that mean, that word?" Vegeta cocked an eyebrow curiously. Bulma almost burst out laughing at herself. She had again forgotten how new all of this was to Vegeta.
"Love?" she blushed, "Well, isn't there a Saiyan translation? Don't you know it?"
"Not that I recall. Many of your words do not exist in the Saiyan language." Vegeta explained, "Earth people rely far too much on words."
"Oh. Well," Bulma looked around searchingly as she tried to think of a way to explain the concept as Vegeta patiently waited. "It's really hard to explain, Vegeta. It…it's like a term of endearment. It is stronger than liking someone, but it has different meanings depending on whom you're referring to. Basically, it means that you feel a lot of affection for someone, and they are very important to you. Does that make sense to you?" Bulma asked hopefully. She didn't really know how to better explain it. He narrowed his eyes questioningly.
"What do you mean, it has different meanings?" he asked.
"Oh…Well Goku loves ChiChi, and he loves Gohan too. But it isn't the same type of relationship between Goku and Gohan as it is between Goku and ChiChi." Bulma explained. "I love you, Vegeta." She added, blushing deeply as she admitted it.
"I'll have to think about this." He considered, "I still don't quite understand. But when I know, I will tell you."
"Take you time." Bulma advised, reaching up to rub his face softly, "You want to be sure of it when you say it."
"Why?" Vegeta asked.
"It's just important. You have to be careful with how you use it, or it doesn't mean anything at all." She explained, smiling at him.
"Odd word." Vegeta commented before bending down to kiss her once again.
***The End (Of part 7, that is)***