Um, yeah, so, it's taking a little while because I'm considering a major plot change, and I don't know if I wanna follow through on it yet. But, I'm trying…
Oh yeah, the two Bulma's talk a bit in this chapter. Same deal as with the two Trunks'; Older, Mirai Bulma is with a little b:bulma. And younger, dead Bulma is a big B:Bulma!! So, hopefully no more confusion(or at least I hope not…) headed your way!
Also, ~~~~ indicates a falshback. I can't remember what I did last time I flashed back, and I'm too dern lazy to go look.
Discalimer: I own my CD player. And various CD's, some that even have DragonBall Z music on them! Well, I do't own the DBZ cd's, they're pirated copies that my HOST FAMILY made while I was in Japan, so, um, don't sue nobody!
(~*~)
bulma stretched, trying to relieve the crick in her neck from sleeping wrong. A soft knock sounded on the door, and she gave a sleepy, slightly slurred, "Come in." She waited patiently for trunks to open the door, and tried to hide her shock when a young, halo-bearing Bulma entered. Vegeta stood against the wall, visible over Bulma's shoulder.
She looked herself over quickly, making sure no important parts were showing. She sat up, feeling a little like an intruder.
"Morning already?" she asked, trying to break the somewhat awkward silence.
"Hai," the younger woman answered. "All the kids are here for breakfast. 'The kids' as in your kid, my two, one each of Goku's and Gohan's."
bulma nodded, "Ah, Goten, Bra's friend?" She gave Vegeta a questioning look, and he nodded gruffly, anger crossing his face wordlessly. Bulma stifled a chuckle. "And Gohan has a…daughter, right?" Bulma gave her a quick nod in the affirmative.
"Hai, Son Pan. Well, I'll let you get dressed, breakfast is on the way. I hear Bra is cooking. Pancakes I think, Goten's request." She grinned as she looked at Vegeta, who nodded again, gruffness and anger still evident. "You'll get used to him, dear," Bulma noted, patting Vegeta on the head in a condescending manner before leading the way back down the hall. He muttered something about Bra not watering down her blood by mating a human as he followed his mate.
bulma shook her head in disbelief as she got out of bed. The two had actually treated each other in a civil manner, though there was still sarcasm involved. Aside from their nightly endeavours, she and her mate had been quite distant, maybe with a lot of time and effort they could have reached the stage that the alternate couple enjoyed. But that wasn't going to happen, and nothing could change it now.
She stepped into the shower, cursing her aging bones, reminding her that even if she fixed their own past, she wouldn't have much longer to enjoy it. She might even get less time, if things progressed as they had here. Everything would be reversed. She would have what she wanted, and then she would be the one removed from the pattern. There may be no winning this battle, the odds seemed set against her either way.
Silently cursing whoever had come up with the bright idea of numerous timelines, she scrubbed her body clean, somewhat thankful that all her favorite soaps and shampoos were in stock. Already in the shower in fact; it seemed that she and her counterpart enjoyed the exact same preference in soap.
Bulma marveled again at what Vegeta could have been. The story of her life; could have, would have, should have been…or the ever-present 'what if'. All represented another dangerous train of thought, which led only to depression and hopelessness. Ah yes, the rest of the story of her life. Depression and hopelessness. Constant, bitter companions, who brought nothing to the table and left with all they could carry.
She chastised herself; plenty had been given her. She still had her little boy, who would of course outlive her. Her mind tried to branch off in that direction, to regret leaving Trunks very alone in an already lonely world. She shrugged off the thought that always saddened her nearly to the breaking point.
She realized with a start that the water was becoming steadily colder, and she had long since finished washing her small form. Turning off the faucet quickly and removing herself from the spacious shower stall, she grabbed a towel off the warmer and dried off.
Seeing Bulma, with her little halo and perfect age reminded her yet again of why she could not stay and live in this time. It was a known fact that you never know when you're going to kick off, and Vegeta might be waiting for her in their Ano-yo. She let that idea take her fancy until she finished dressing. Imagine, looking forward to death. And she was probably one of very few…
Another perk of being in your own house and not, clothes that fit perfect. Clothes bought just for you! Only this treasure trove was in her counterpart's bedroom, down the hall a mere few feet. She found a pristine terry-cloth bath robe and slipped silently down the hall on soft feet. She thanked Kami to find the door open and the room empty. Though it was a bit on the messy side. The sheets were horribly rumpled, the blankets on the floor, pillows in odd places on the bed, and two pair of clothes lying wherever they had landed. Rather odd places to find clothes, too, on top of the tv, a bookcase, and lamp.
She shook her head bemusedly and dressed quickly in the large closet. She headed downstairs toward a veritable ruckus of young voices, silenced abruptly by a yelling Saiyajin no Ouji. The patter of voices continued softly, with a few giggles and chuckles audible. (AN: Yeah, I know it sounds weird, giggles and chuckles, but I just don't see Trunks and Goten giggling. Nor do I see Bra and Pan really chuckling, though I guess that one would be okay. Whatever, I'm rambling horribly. It's near 1:30, can ya blame me?)
(~*~)
He watched silently as the only two women that were worth anything(in his mind at least) prepared breakfast. He asked how long the meal would take, wondering if he had time for a quick spar with his eldest. He longed to spend every waking moment with his mate, but he also knew that he had to spend time with his son, else he would regret it later.
He decided to wait until after breakfast, Trunks was occupied with his friends at the moment anyhow. It was interesting to watch the way he interacted with the other semi-saiyajin.
Bra was treated nicely, although there was some annoying-little-sister feeling present. Goten was still the same companion. trunks was ignored for the most part, but only because Trunks seemed a little creeped out by his counterpart. Pan, who seemed to be socializing happily with trunks, was also ignored, having been merely Bra's little playmate. He had even babysat her numerous times.
His eyes moved to refocus on his mate. How could he tell her? Tell her the words she needed to hear, that he needed to speak. He had pondered it the whole night, deciding finally that it was best not to tell her just yet. That it would only bring her pain when she left again in a few hours. Hours. Mere hours to have them back. How much longer till Bra and Goten were really mated? He supposed he should wait till she had bourne her first child successfully before he left. Leave and join Bulma eternally. At least this time, he could say goodbye.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Vegeta?" A grunt in reply. "I'm going clothes shopping, do you need anything?" Bulma received the usual order for sweat pants and other training gear.
"I'm taking the kids," she called out as she gathered her purse in the living room.
"Whatever," he replied. She rolled her eyes although she was in a different room and knew he couldn't see her.
"I'll be back in time for dinner, just don't eat the meat I set out to thaw," another grunt for a reply. A small blue haired child bounced into the kitchen, squealing shrilly. Vegeta covered his ears to protect them from the onslaught. She wrapped small arms around his leg in a fierce hug, still giggling. He patted her head uncomfortably, still unsure of what to do with displays of affection from people other than his mate.
"Bye bye Touchan!" She crowed before running out of the room after her mother and brother. Kami how he hated that title. At least the older brat called him Tousan.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vegeta considered the irony of the bittersweet memory. The only one who had actually gotten a goodbye was the one that would live to see him again.
He was glad for Bra's company, though having his entire family would of course be preferable. If they had all perished that day, he didn't think that he would still be living. After all, what would he have to live for? Train himself to death? No, he would have followed his instincts, taken his revenge, and ended it. It would be so wonderful just to end it, to free himself of all the constant pain and pointlessness of his life.
He mentally shook himself, ridding his mind of such depressing thoughts. They were here now, and he wouldn't let such things get in the way of their last times together.
*****
I know I know, it's short. But I hate taking forever to get chapters posted.
Also! I only got ONE review last chapter! A most cherished review, but still! I do require more than one review!! I may start putting limits on you people, such as, no chapter #whatever until I get __ many reviews!! So review or I swear I'll do it!