Chapter Eleven

Bulma lay on the white floor, listening to her children talk to her. They were talking about useless things now, and she was getting bored. Where did Vegeta go? How come he wasn't talking to her now?

Oh, Kami. He felt like it was all his fault about what happened, which wouldn't be far off the mark. She didn't want to make him feel that way. She thought he'd be happy now that he was free. But he seemed to be more miserable.

Bulma got up from the floor and started to pace again.

"What's wrong?" Shakna asked her.

Bulma stopped for a moment. She'd forgotten that Shakna was even there. "Nothing," she said, her voice not even convincing herself.

Shakna eyed her, knowing full well something was wrong.

Bulma sighed. "He thinks it's his fault," she said miserably, sitting down again.

"Well, he should. He should have been able to protect you," Shakna said with conviction in her voice.

"He can't protect me from myself," Bulma muttered.

Shakna looked like the dawn had hit her for the first time. "You tried to kill yourself?" she said, her voice deathly low.

"Yes," she said, her voice equally low but weaker.

"But you love him."

"I didn't think he loved me," Bulma replied quietly.

Shakna looked like she was shell-shocked. Bulma wondered if she could get hurt in the state she was in. Probably not; she couldn't even sweat. But she didn't want to think of what Shakna would have done if they weren't in-between.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vegeta gathered the dragonballs together and placed them on the grass surrounding the house. If he called on the dragon while inside the house, the house would fall apart. And when the woman was brought back, she'd be supremely pissed. Now he had to think about what he'd wish for. He couldn't just wish her back to health; she'd try it all over again eventually. He had to wish for something that would ultimately prove to her her worth in his life. He had an idea.

He was about to call on the dragon when the phone rang. He ran inside and grabbed it.

"Dad!" he heard the voice say on the other side. "You've got to come here quick. She's slipping."

Vegeta felt his heart stop for a moment. Damn, he had to be fast; if she died before he could make his wish, he wouldn't be able to wish her back. He dropped the phone, leaving Trunks to yell after him.

He stood in front of the dragonballs again. "I call upon the dragon, Shenlong!" he roared.

The dragonballs came to life, and a long serpentine body erupted from them. The dragon stood suspended before him, his green scaly skin glimmering in the moonlight. "You have two wishes. What will be you're first wish?"

"I wish that Bulma would live the rest of my life with me alive and well," Vegeta said strongly.

The dragon seemed to consider this. Vegeta could feel the time slipping from his grasp. "Granted," the dragon said, his eyes glowing.

Vegeta sighed. She'd be okay.

"What will be your second wish?"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bulma felt the world start to spin around her. Shakna looked at her, her eyes growing big. "What's happening?" Bulma screamed.

"You're going back," Shakna said, her voice small.

Bulma felt sorry for her. Shakna would be stuck here, possibly for a long time more. Bulma thrust out her hand towards Shakna. "I will be back for you," she said, before she faded away.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bulma woke and blinked her eyes a few times, trying to adjust to the glaring light. She was still in the hospital.

"Mom!" she heard Bra screech in her ear. She felt her daughter's arms wrap around her.

Bulma shakily drew her arms around Bra. "Where's your father?" she asked her, her voice weak.

"He's on his way, I think. We thought you were slipping, but then, miraculously, you were awake," Bra said happily.

Miraculously? Vegeta used the dragonballs! "Where's Goku?" Bulma practically screamed. There could be some time left for the last wish.

Goku appeared in the doorway. "Hey, B! Thought you'd be gone for sure," he said.

Bulma tried to get up from the bed but she was tied down with all the wires. "Goku, I need to get home right now."

"Bulma, I think-"

"Don't think! I need to go right now!" she yelled.

Goku's eyes went big, but he walked over to her side. He touched her with his hand and then they were gone. All Bulma felt was a whirring of the world past her and then she was in her front yard. Vegeta stood there, with the dragon before him. Good, the second wish hadn't been made yet. She tried to walk over to him but realized she was too weak.

"What will be your second wish?" the dragon asked.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vegeta stood dumb-founded before the dragon. Second wish? He'd forgotten about that. What the hell should he wish for?

"Vegeta!" he heard a voice call . . . her voice.

His head shot up in the direction of her voice and their eyes locked. Kakkarot was there, holding her up in his arms, but for a moment it was just them. Time seemed to stop as they looked at each other, feeling like it was the first time.

He was jolted out of his revere when she called him again. "Vegeta!" She turned to Kakkarot. "Take me over there so I don't have to scream."

Kakkarot phased out and then in, right next to Vegeta. Vegeta opened his arms and Bulma fell into them gratefully. Kakkarot stepped back and let the two of them talk.

"I have a wish," she said to him.

He looked at her, his eyes softening. "Whatever you wish can become a reality," he said, his voice tender.

Bulma grunted, a look of determination crossing her eyes. She looked up at the dragon. "I wish that Shakna was here with me."

Vegeta looked at her sharply. Who was Shakna? Did she find someone on the other side?

Before he could ask her the dragon said, "Granted."

Suddenly a body appeared next to them, battered and torn. Bulma pushed him away and crawled over to the body. She drew their head onto her lap. "Shakna?" she said, her voice shaky.

Vegeta looked at the being jealously. Who the hell were they, and why did the woman waste the last wish on them? He vaguely saw the dragonballs gather themselves together and shoot off into the night. He was caught up in watching the woman and this being. She was cradling their head in her lap and whispering to them, tears streaming down her face. Who the hell were they?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Shakna?" Bulma said weakly as she looked down at the Saiyan before her.

"My Queen," she said, trying to get up and offer proper tribute. She fell back weakly onto Bulma's lap. "Where am I?"

"You're on earth, with me," she said, her face streaming with tears.

"Earth?"

"Yes, you baka. That's what she just said," Vegeta said from behind her.

Shakna looked up and saw her Prince, actually, now King. She forced herself up onto one knee and placed her right hand over her heart. "My King."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

King? Was this person a Saiyan? He nodded, too stunned to say anything. The being fell back onto the floor.

"Shakna!" the woman screamed. She looked up at him. "Help me, Vegeta! We need to get her to the regeneration tank."

Vegeta shook himself out of his stupor and picked up the woman on the floor, the one Bulma called Shakna. Shakna was unusually light, considering she was a Saiyan—which he knew to be true because of the tail dangling beneath her. He carried her to the lab and was about to place her in the regeneration tank when she spoke.

"My King, let me die," she said.

"My mate will not let you die," he said roughly. He again made an attempt to place her in the regeneration tank.

She powered up suddenly, causing Vegeta to drop her out of surprise. "I will not be placed in another regeneration tank!"

At that moment the woman came in. "Shakna!" she cried.

Shakna turned to look at her, her eyes pleading. "Don't put me back in the regeneration tank. I have been in one for 52 years. Just let me finally die in peace," she said to Bulma.

Vegeta looked at her confused. 52 years? How could she have been in a regen tank for 52 years? Did someone forget about her? He shuddered. He couldn't imagine being stuck in a regen tank for 52 years. He wouldn't want to be placed back in the regen tank if he'd been stuck in there that long either, but he didn't want to hear the woman yelling at him for the rest of his life for letting this woman die. He looked at her, waiting for what she said. He could easily overpower Shakna and place her in the tank if need be.

"Shakna, you can live a new life here. I won't leave you in the tank for any longer than you need to be," she said softly.

Shakna looked at her, her eyes understanding but stubborn. "I can't live life. I don't know how to. I have been waiting to die for 52 years. Now . . . I can," she said, her voice set.

The woman seemed to fight with herself. He couldn't tell what she was thinking now. She sighed finally. "All right."

Shakna smiled and powered down, falling to the ground. The woman ran to her side, cradling her head again. He walked over to them and stared down at Shakna. He knew she'd be gone soon, really soon. And he knew the woman would be torn to see her go. He knelt down beside them and placed his arm around the woman, knowing she'd need support.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shakna looked up at her King and Queen. She smiled. They would last, especially now since her Queen knew what the mark meant. She was fortunate enough to see this moment between them. She was very grateful for what the Queen had done for her. She'd been skeptical, but not anymore; the Queen had kept her word. But she couldn't stay in this world anymore, not after she'd been waiting to die.

"Thank you," she said.

She let out one last shuddering breath and closed her eyes.