Elizabeth Knight

Chapter 7

Ally was at the dinner table when she heard the doorbell ring. She jumped up and made a mad dash for the door, but ChiChi was there first. Both mouths dropped open as they stepped back to admit a blushing Bulma and a smiling Yamcha.

"We just dropped in to tell you we're on our way home." Yamcha nudged Bulma.

"Um…Ally, about the night you left, it was all just a big misunderstanding." If possible, her face went a shade darker. "I hope you'll forgive Vegeta. He was only in there to give me a message. I was just so happy with the news…" Bulma peeked up at Yamcha, and he squeezed her waist.

"We're not staying. We just wanted to drop in and say hi. Come on Bulma. We've better get going." Yamcha turned and pulled Bulma back out the door with him.

"Well now." ChiChi said speculatively.

Ally flushed scarlet. Maybe she had jumped to the wrong conclusion after all. It sure looked like Bulma was very happy indeed to be back with her husband, but where was Vegeta? He was supposed to come back. He said he'd be back, hadn't he? Yes she was sure he had said he would be. Ally shrugged her shoulders, and with a sigh of disappointment went back to the kitchen table to finish dinner. Maybe she had been right after all. Vegeta hadn't said anything to her question earlier. Just because Bulma was back with Yamcha mattered little. It just meant Bulma didn't love Vegeta, but if Vegeta loved her, Ally couldn't see how Bulma could refuse. Vegeta was very persuasive when he wanted to be. Ally's cheeks went scarlet as she recalled some of his better techniques.

**************************

When Vegeta got to the house all the lights were out and it was late. He checked the window. It opened easily and he smiled. She always left it unlocked. For him anyway. He entered quietly and a twinge of guilt assailed him. She'd cried herself to sleep again. He crept across the floor to the bed. She had her face berried in a pillow that had his robe on it. Her nose was pressed against where his neck would be and her head tilted where her cheek would be against his chest. Slowly he reached for the pillow and tugged it from her clutching fists. He smiled as he changed into the robe. It used to smell like him, he knew, but now her perfume and her own distinct smell covered it. She whimpered in her sleep, her hands grasping for the silky robe that symbolized her deepest desire, conscious or otherwise. How he loved her. The thought was getting easier and easier not to fear and to appreciate. A tear trickled out the corner of one eye and down her nose. He reached out and caught it in his hand before it hit the pillow. When he opened his palm it lay in a perfect drop shape frozen to a crystallized point. He put it in a small vile he'd used earlier for safekeeping, then on the bedside night stand.

"Vegeta. Please don't go. Don't leave me alone." She whispered.

Vegeta turned to look at her, but she was still asleep. He crawled in behind her and snuggled as close as he could, leaving room to prop on his elbow so he could see her profile. "Ally, your never alone. I can't live without you." He whispered in her small shell shaped ear.

Ally started and sat up. "Vegeta?" At first she didn't see him. Then slowly she became aware of the warmth radiating behind her. Vegeta reached over to caress her cheek, watching her every move. He pulled her back against him, fusing them together. She'd asked the what if this morning and now she needed an answer. She couldn't hide anymore. She had to know.

"Vegeta, I need to know."

"Ally I won't force you to come home." Vegeta answered.

"That's not what…" Ally started.

"I said…I won't force you, you've got to come home on your own, but I want to tell you something."

"Vegeta, what about…"

"Quit interrupting me woman! This is hard enough to say as it is. Ally, I want you to know about what I've said before that I didn't mean you. Where you're concerned, If you're my weakness then I'm at my strongest when I'm at my weakest. Do you understand what I'm saying Ally?"

"I think so."

"You think so? Ally I'm trying to tell you I need you."

He was going to say it. She just knew it. He pulled her closer if that was possible. "Ally,"

"Yes?"

"Come home with me."

He hadn't said it! She couldn't believe it! He had said he cared for her though, and she knew what it had cost him to be patient and ask for her to come home." She could at least let him retain some of his royal pride. After he answered her question of course.

He knew she was disappointed that he hadn't told her, but he wasn't ready just yet. He'd just come to grips with the idea of how much he loved her himself.

"Vegeta?" Ally pulled him from his musings.

" What?"

"Are you and….I mean…. Do you have special feelings for Bulma?"

He heard the catch in her voice and knew what she was talking about finally. What an aggravating woman. He couldn't believe she still thought there was a possibility of it after what he'd just told her. Fine. He wasn't going to make it easy for her either. She was going to have to risk his anger and flat out ask him instead of insinuating the affair she thought he was having with Bulma.

"Of course. Bulma and I have been through a lot together in the past. She's very special to me."

"I see." She whispered, "What are we going to tell Trilku? He won't understand."

"Crazy woman!!" he hissed in her ear, then nipped it. "I said she was special, not that I was in love with her."

Ally's heart soared and her mind whirled. He hadn't said he loved her, but he had said he didn't love Bulma. "What about me? Does this mean that you…"

Vegeta smiled to himself. "Of course it does. How could you think otherwise? Ever? Ally, there's no other woman for me but you, and I'll always be faithful."

"And how do you know I will be?"

Vegeta growled in her ear, "Because I'd kill him, and because you love me, and I, at least, know it."

"How do you know? I haven't said so in a long time."

"Oh yes you have woman!" He turned her onto her back so he could look her in the eyes. Vegeta pinned her wrists above her head, and lowered his face just a breath away. He dared her to deny it again.

"I never said…" she began, and Vegeta scowled. "I did? When? How?" Vegeta broke into a very wicked looking smile.

"Like this."

He bent down and kissed her gently. Caressing her body the same loving way he had the other night, he watched her eyes darken with passion, then widened in surprise. He knew the moment she understood what he'd been trying to tell her all along.

************************

When Vegeta awoke this time, Ally was cuddled up on his chest just where she was supposed to be. Finally. He smiled slightly as he thought of the plan's he'd arranged with Tien to use his house by the lake. She was going to be surprised to say the least. Now the only thing left to do was confront the dragon for help. He supposed she would be in the kitchen making breakfast by now. Oh well. He needed her help, and there was no time like the present to ask. Vegeta climbed out of bed quietly, and snuck downstairs. ChiChi stood at the counter butchering a batch of battered eggs. Vegeta winced, thinking she looked like she was in a bad mood. ChiChi turned around and glanced over at him.

"Oh joy. How did I know you were going to be here this morning?" she ask, smiling slightly.

Vegeta straightened and walked into the kitchen, slightly embarrassed to be caught peeking around the kitchen door. He shrugged his shoulders in response to her question.

"I suppose you'd like me to watch Trilku for the both of you this evening." Sometimes he'd swear she could read minds.

"That and something else."

"What?"

"I need you to keep Ally distracted till this evening. Maybe take her to get her hair done and all that girl stuff."

ChiChi gave him a comical glance. "I think I can handle that. Anything else?"

"Yeah. A trey with some breakfast. Ally's still asleep." ChiChi raised both brows in surprise and stood back to survey him. She had to see this. Vegeta carrying a trey of food up to Ally for breakfast in bed? Vegeta was the kind who liked to be served, but never served. Thyis was rich. She quickly prepared a tray for him and nodded back when he tilted his head in thanks."

Vegeta shook his head. The things he did for his woman. If he hurried maybe Kakarrott wouldn't catch him like this. He turned towards Ally's room at the top of the stairs and entered quietly. Ally had just woken up and was in the process of sitting up when he'd come in. Whe nshe'd first opened her eyes to discover Vegeta gone she thout perhaps she'd dreamed it all, but there was Vegeta holding a tray of food.

"Are you hungry?" he asked, walking to the side of the bed.

"A little." she answered, watching him.

"Good. You should be." Vegeta winked at her.

"Aren't we the assured one this morning?" Ally laughed, picking up a sausage link.

"And every other morning hopefully." Ally snorted and tossed a piece of toast at him playfully. "What?"

*********************