The Nature of Tears
Part 3
"Vegeta."
The aqua-haired scientist fought to suppress a 'wince'.
The proud Saiyan Prince's name echoed hollowly in the frozen
silence that had settled over the med lab. She gathered her
strength and spoke again. "Have a seat Vegeta. There's a
lot that needs to be said."
Vegeta stared down distastefully at a high-backed chair
with a molded cushion seat but finally he sat. His stiff
posture reflected the inner tenseness of his mind, as did his
terse words. "Kakarot's pregnancy?"
Bulma forced up a smile, attempting to belie the palpable
tension with an easy-going tone. "-Is going well. The baby
is developing as it should and-"
"How long?!"
Bulma's smile vanished at the interruption and frown
lines appeared to crease her brow. "As I was saying, the
baby's development is good and-"
"Woman, I asked how long!" Vegeta's nostrils flared
along with his infamous temper. He 'began' to rise from the
chair but a sharp command from Bulma held him in place. Her
words were edged and brooked no argument. "Vegeta, SIT DOWN!"
After uttering the command, she seemed almost to deflate. A
worn look crossed her youthful face as a deadly serious tome
entered her voice. "You need to hear a rather long story I'm
afraid. And it will take a lot less time and be much less
painful for the both of us without constant interruptions.
And, yes, it relates to Goku's pregnancy. You see Vegeta;
it's not his first.
Stunned by this revelation, Vegeta could only gape in
shock. "Wha- who - how?" A thousand questions struggled to
be asked.
Bulma noticed his predicament. "It's not his first
pregnancy. The first time Goku conceived was a while before
the androids arrived, about the same time I was carrying
Trunks."
Lightning quick, Vegeta's thoughts followed her words and
leaped beyond them. His relationship with Goku hadn't
developed until after the younger man had returned from the
dead a second time. That meant he had been carrying another
man's child… That meant- A low snarl formed in the Saiyan's
throat at the mere thought of someone touching his mate.
"Please, please understand Vegeta!" The earnest
desperation was plain in Bulma's voice. "You must understand
what was Goku's situation. It all started shortly after he
arrived from Yardrat. He had spent the whole year not only
developing his instant transmission but also coming to terms
with the fact that he was falling in love with an arrogant
Saiyan prince. With you Vegeta. And then he returns to find
you shoved forever out of his reach the moment Trunks revealed
his origins. He could never disclose his true feelings for
you knowing that you and I were fated to bring Trunks into the
world. How could he betray the young man who had risked so
much in a gamble to save the earth, how could he endanger
Trunks' very existence? There was no way he, or we, could
have know the eventual truth of the situation."
Vegeta nodded. Unable to resolve his feelings for the
Earth-raised Saiyan, he had instead focused solely on the goal
of attaining the level of super Saiyan. Only Bulma had
reached out to him, despite his past and his present
obsession. Passion and need had ruled the relationship at
first but at time flew by; he had come to realize that he
loved her. Not long after that the two of them had both come
to terms with the nature their bond. The love they shared was
the love between close friends or siblings. He fought with
Bulma as he would a sister and loved her much the same way.
It was far from the soul-searing emotion that Kakarot wrought
within him. However, back then, all this lurked unforeseen.
So Goku, unknowing, had been forced to turn away from his
dream to try and pursue another. But who and-
"What happened?" Vegeta spoke. "Obviously he didn't go
to his shrew of a wife."
"Somehow I don't think that was even an option Vegeta."
Bulma commented without humor. There was more to come and she
was positive that Vegeta wouldn't like what he had to hear.
"Who then woman?"
The reply slipped out in flat tones to hang in the still
air. "Yamcha."
"What!" Instantly, Vegeta was on his feet, eyes flashing
dangerously.
"Vegeta!" Bulma too stood, attempting to calm him.
"Will you stop it! Listen to me! Goku had known Yamcha since
he was only 12! Yamcha was 16 at the time and involved with
me. But our relationship had always been on-again, off-again.
As Goku grew, Yamcha began to notice him as more than a little
kid, and not just as a great fighter. So he flirted with
Goku now and then. It wasn't a big deal. Nothing happened
then. But now, with you out of the picture, Goku was
vulnerable to affection. Kami knows that was never Chichi's
forte. Yamcha and I were over so he opened his arms for Goku
to run right into.
Vegeta took a deep breath and turned away. It made
sense. He didn't like it. He REALLY didn't like it, not one
bit. But it made sense. Bulma, noticing that Vegeta wasn't
going to blow anything up just then sat down and continued in
a softer voice.
"So Goku had an affair with Yamcha. Chichi never
suspected. She never really saw Goku as anything more than a
convience. He was her husband; he ate her food, lived in her
house, completed her ideal little family and that was that.
His own emotions and desires never entered her thoughts.
Yamcha treated him as a person, something that Goku needed
desperately. Yamcha enjoyed the diversion I assume, but Goku
began to place his affections upon Yamcha. I guess he started
to dream about a happy home with Yamcha. But after a short
time, he began to feel ill at times, especially when he first
woke up. Now and again he would experience odd twinges of
pain. Feeling guilty about having an affair, he blamed his
problems on the stress and remorse over keeping his secret.
Therefore, he chose to confide in Krillin. He told Krillin
about the affair with Yamcha, and that he was considering
divorcing Chichi. Master Roshi must have overheard because he
recommended that Goku wait and mull it over before taking any
extreme actions.
"He came to visit me about the same time I discovered I
was pregnant with Trunks. I had been researching your logs
for any information on Saiyan reproduction because of my own
pregnancy and I asked Goku to assist me. On accident, we
stumbled on the information about some Saiyan males being able
to bear children. It was then Goku realized what was wrong.
He was carrying a child. He told me everything and begged for
my help. He was ecstatic; he genuinely wanted that baby. His
dream would come true. He would divorce Chichi, move in with
Yamcha, bear his child, and they would live happily ever
after. He rushed back to Yamcha to tell him everything…"
Bulma's low voice trailed off as she suddenly choked a bit.
Her gaze wandered around the med lab, looking anywhere but at
Vegeta. The Saiyan prince lowered himself into his chair.
"Bulma." She startled at the use of her name and stared
at him. "Tell me."
Forcing a smile, Bulma continued in a shaky tone. "So he
told Yamcha. He-" She paused, gathering herself. When she
spoke again her tone was level. "Goku told Yamcha he was
pregnant with his child, that he wanted them to be together.
Yamcha freaked, claimed he needed time to think it over. He
packed a suitcase and left. Didn't say where to, never
called." Her tone grew rough, angry.
"The fucking bastard just took off and abandoned Goku and
the child! Poor Goku had no clue what to do. His world just
stopped. He quit training for the androids, gave up living
for anything but the baby living inside him. But he had no
idea what he was doing. He got sick and he- He lost the
baby. He miscarried." Bulma's voice was laden with sorrow
and her eyes glistened with unfallen tears. Within himself
Vegeta felt a hollow ache at the thought of what his mate must
have gone through. He vowed that if he ever laid eyes on
Yamcha again, the bastard would be dead before he could draw
another breath.
"Goku sank even deeper into depression. He retreated to
Master Roshi's island. He wouldn't speak to anyone, had to be
forced to eat, and slept fitfully. Krillin, Master Roshi, and
I were only able to pull him out of it by reminding him that
the androids were coming. His son lived but Gohan was
depending on him. We all were. It was the love for his son
that finally got Goku out of his stupor. For Gohan's sake, he
began to recover. But he was grievously wounded Vegeta. He
loves you with all his heart. He knows that what you and he
share is nothing like it was with Yamcha, that you're nothing
like he was and that you love him fiercely. But Vegeta, now
with this pregnancy, he's terrified. It might not be rational
but then again, fear rarely is. It's tearing him apart and
hurting those who love him. It's hurting me. His scars go so
deep. He needs you Vegeta." Her blue eyes bore into his,
pleading.
Vegeta stood, his bearing oozing regality. He turned to
the door and strode to the exit.
"Where are you going?"
His answer was abrupt and he left without hesitating,
"To find my mate."
Ish here! Sorry peeps – I couldn't get this in html so I
eventually had to save it in text! Anyways, I hope you're
enjoying the fic so far! Part 4 will be coming up!
Part 3
"Vegeta."
The aqua-haired scientist fought to suppress a 'wince'.
The proud Saiyan Prince's name echoed hollowly in the frozen
silence that had settled over the med lab. She gathered her
strength and spoke again. "Have a seat Vegeta. There's a
lot that needs to be said."
Vegeta stared down distastefully at a high-backed chair
with a molded cushion seat but finally he sat. His stiff
posture reflected the inner tenseness of his mind, as did his
terse words. "Kakarot's pregnancy?"
Bulma forced up a smile, attempting to belie the palpable
tension with an easy-going tone. "-Is going well. The baby
is developing as it should and-"
"How long?!"
Bulma's smile vanished at the interruption and frown
lines appeared to crease her brow. "As I was saying, the
baby's development is good and-"
"Woman, I asked how long!" Vegeta's nostrils flared
along with his infamous temper. He 'began' to rise from the
chair but a sharp command from Bulma held him in place. Her
words were edged and brooked no argument. "Vegeta, SIT DOWN!"
After uttering the command, she seemed almost to deflate. A
worn look crossed her youthful face as a deadly serious tome
entered her voice. "You need to hear a rather long story I'm
afraid. And it will take a lot less time and be much less
painful for the both of us without constant interruptions.
And, yes, it relates to Goku's pregnancy. You see Vegeta;
it's not his first.
Stunned by this revelation, Vegeta could only gape in
shock. "Wha- who - how?" A thousand questions struggled to
be asked.
Bulma noticed his predicament. "It's not his first
pregnancy. The first time Goku conceived was a while before
the androids arrived, about the same time I was carrying
Trunks."
Lightning quick, Vegeta's thoughts followed her words and
leaped beyond them. His relationship with Goku hadn't
developed until after the younger man had returned from the
dead a second time. That meant he had been carrying another
man's child… That meant- A low snarl formed in the Saiyan's
throat at the mere thought of someone touching his mate.
"Please, please understand Vegeta!" The earnest
desperation was plain in Bulma's voice. "You must understand
what was Goku's situation. It all started shortly after he
arrived from Yardrat. He had spent the whole year not only
developing his instant transmission but also coming to terms
with the fact that he was falling in love with an arrogant
Saiyan prince. With you Vegeta. And then he returns to find
you shoved forever out of his reach the moment Trunks revealed
his origins. He could never disclose his true feelings for
you knowing that you and I were fated to bring Trunks into the
world. How could he betray the young man who had risked so
much in a gamble to save the earth, how could he endanger
Trunks' very existence? There was no way he, or we, could
have know the eventual truth of the situation."
Vegeta nodded. Unable to resolve his feelings for the
Earth-raised Saiyan, he had instead focused solely on the goal
of attaining the level of super Saiyan. Only Bulma had
reached out to him, despite his past and his present
obsession. Passion and need had ruled the relationship at
first but at time flew by; he had come to realize that he
loved her. Not long after that the two of them had both come
to terms with the nature their bond. The love they shared was
the love between close friends or siblings. He fought with
Bulma as he would a sister and loved her much the same way.
It was far from the soul-searing emotion that Kakarot wrought
within him. However, back then, all this lurked unforeseen.
So Goku, unknowing, had been forced to turn away from his
dream to try and pursue another. But who and-
"What happened?" Vegeta spoke. "Obviously he didn't go
to his shrew of a wife."
"Somehow I don't think that was even an option Vegeta."
Bulma commented without humor. There was more to come and she
was positive that Vegeta wouldn't like what he had to hear.
"Who then woman?"
The reply slipped out in flat tones to hang in the still
air. "Yamcha."
"What!" Instantly, Vegeta was on his feet, eyes flashing
dangerously.
"Vegeta!" Bulma too stood, attempting to calm him.
"Will you stop it! Listen to me! Goku had known Yamcha since
he was only 12! Yamcha was 16 at the time and involved with
me. But our relationship had always been on-again, off-again.
As Goku grew, Yamcha began to notice him as more than a little
kid, and not just as a great fighter. So he flirted with
Goku now and then. It wasn't a big deal. Nothing happened
then. But now, with you out of the picture, Goku was
vulnerable to affection. Kami knows that was never Chichi's
forte. Yamcha and I were over so he opened his arms for Goku
to run right into.
Vegeta took a deep breath and turned away. It made
sense. He didn't like it. He REALLY didn't like it, not one
bit. But it made sense. Bulma, noticing that Vegeta wasn't
going to blow anything up just then sat down and continued in
a softer voice.
"So Goku had an affair with Yamcha. Chichi never
suspected. She never really saw Goku as anything more than a
convience. He was her husband; he ate her food, lived in her
house, completed her ideal little family and that was that.
His own emotions and desires never entered her thoughts.
Yamcha treated him as a person, something that Goku needed
desperately. Yamcha enjoyed the diversion I assume, but Goku
began to place his affections upon Yamcha. I guess he started
to dream about a happy home with Yamcha. But after a short
time, he began to feel ill at times, especially when he first
woke up. Now and again he would experience odd twinges of
pain. Feeling guilty about having an affair, he blamed his
problems on the stress and remorse over keeping his secret.
Therefore, he chose to confide in Krillin. He told Krillin
about the affair with Yamcha, and that he was considering
divorcing Chichi. Master Roshi must have overheard because he
recommended that Goku wait and mull it over before taking any
extreme actions.
"He came to visit me about the same time I discovered I
was pregnant with Trunks. I had been researching your logs
for any information on Saiyan reproduction because of my own
pregnancy and I asked Goku to assist me. On accident, we
stumbled on the information about some Saiyan males being able
to bear children. It was then Goku realized what was wrong.
He was carrying a child. He told me everything and begged for
my help. He was ecstatic; he genuinely wanted that baby. His
dream would come true. He would divorce Chichi, move in with
Yamcha, bear his child, and they would live happily ever
after. He rushed back to Yamcha to tell him everything…"
Bulma's low voice trailed off as she suddenly choked a bit.
Her gaze wandered around the med lab, looking anywhere but at
Vegeta. The Saiyan prince lowered himself into his chair.
"Bulma." She startled at the use of her name and stared
at him. "Tell me."
Forcing a smile, Bulma continued in a shaky tone. "So he
told Yamcha. He-" She paused, gathering herself. When she
spoke again her tone was level. "Goku told Yamcha he was
pregnant with his child, that he wanted them to be together.
Yamcha freaked, claimed he needed time to think it over. He
packed a suitcase and left. Didn't say where to, never
called." Her tone grew rough, angry.
"The fucking bastard just took off and abandoned Goku and
the child! Poor Goku had no clue what to do. His world just
stopped. He quit training for the androids, gave up living
for anything but the baby living inside him. But he had no
idea what he was doing. He got sick and he- He lost the
baby. He miscarried." Bulma's voice was laden with sorrow
and her eyes glistened with unfallen tears. Within himself
Vegeta felt a hollow ache at the thought of what his mate must
have gone through. He vowed that if he ever laid eyes on
Yamcha again, the bastard would be dead before he could draw
another breath.
"Goku sank even deeper into depression. He retreated to
Master Roshi's island. He wouldn't speak to anyone, had to be
forced to eat, and slept fitfully. Krillin, Master Roshi, and
I were only able to pull him out of it by reminding him that
the androids were coming. His son lived but Gohan was
depending on him. We all were. It was the love for his son
that finally got Goku out of his stupor. For Gohan's sake, he
began to recover. But he was grievously wounded Vegeta. He
loves you with all his heart. He knows that what you and he
share is nothing like it was with Yamcha, that you're nothing
like he was and that you love him fiercely. But Vegeta, now
with this pregnancy, he's terrified. It might not be rational
but then again, fear rarely is. It's tearing him apart and
hurting those who love him. It's hurting me. His scars go so
deep. He needs you Vegeta." Her blue eyes bore into his,
pleading.
Vegeta stood, his bearing oozing regality. He turned to
the door and strode to the exit.
"Where are you going?"
His answer was abrupt and he left without hesitating,
"To find my mate."
Ish here! Sorry peeps – I couldn't get this in html so I
eventually had to save it in text! Anyways, I hope you're
enjoying the fic so far! Part 4 will be coming up!