A Whole New World

© 2002 SaiyaSith

Disclaimer: Akira Toriyama created Dragonball & all its sundry characters. I'm just a fan paying tribute to the master…

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A smirk played across the man's chiseled face as he recalled the events that took place in the photograph lying on the table. He remembered the island retreat and the glorious time he had spent there with his wife after the last battle with Majin Buu. The nights had been the best part: brilliant starscapes, incredible food (capsuled and catered, of course), and some of the best sex they had ever had. The smirk grew wider when he realized that it was on that vacation that Bra had been conceived. Bulma, he thought towards the heavens, I hope it was as pleasurable for you as it was for me.

The entire evening had been one of healing for the Saiyan prince. The dark shroud of despair and grief that had driven him half out of his mind seemed to lift a bit with each memory of his beloved "Woman". His stomach was full for the first time since her death. As the night progressed, he was able to remember more and more of their early times together. Vegeta was surprised at how much passion he had shared with his wife over the years. Thinking about her still brought an ache to his heart, but it was no longer a gaping wound. Vegeta was starting to heal.

The next morning, Vegeta decided to fire up the gravity room. It had been awhile since he had trained himself last, and he honestly had nothing else to do. He was on his way out the door, when he heard a vehicle approaching. He snorted in exasperation when he recognized his son's ki.  Trunks was greeted by the sight of his father leaning against the side of the house. "What do you want, boy?" The Saiyan sneered.

He seems to be in a better mood. The younger man thought to himself. "Um, hello father." He replied. "Bra and I just wanted to check up on you…" Trunks wondered how his father still had the ability to make him feel five years old again even after all these years.

"Hn. As if the Prince of all Saiyans needs his brats to take care of him!" Vegeta's look was pure malice. Inwardly, he was grinning; he loved to torment his son.

Trunks stared at his father, unsure of what to say next. He suddenly realized that without his mother, he no longer had anything in common with the man that had given him life.

"Cat got your tongue, boy?" Vegeta mocked. At his son's odd expression, the man's face softened. "Trunks?" He said.

Shaken out of his musings by his father's question, Trunks locked eyes with his sire. He decided that the best way to deal with his father's unnerving scrutiny was to adopt the Saiyan's aloof style.  "I can't stay long. Is there anything you need?"

Vegeta studied his son. It had been a long time since they had spent any time together. There wasn't much that they both enjoyed doing. He decided to try to find some sort of common ground with his child. "I could use a sparring partner." He smirked and couldn't resist adding, "Not that you would be much of a challenge."

Trunks didn't know what to say. It had been years since he had worked out, much less sparred. His father's Saiyan blood made him fit, even in his 60's, but sparring? "Uh…I think I'm a little too old for that intense kind of workout, dad."

At the mention of age, a ragged shock of pain passed through Vegeta's face. When he first got involved with Bulma, he hadn't realized how short human life-spans were. As his mate was dying of old age, the Saiyan was just entering the prime of his adulthood. A sickening realization entered the older man's heart. No man should outlive his children. Suddenly angry at the inevitability of his fate, he snapped: "Never mind!" and turned on his heel and headed back inside.

A bewildered Trunks slowly walked back to his aircar and headed home to his family. "I don't think I'll ever understand him…" He said to passing wind.

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A/N: Another short chapter, I know. It's just so much easier to organize my thoughts this way and I update a whole lot faster when I'm going for content instead of length. I haven't forgotten about the capsule, either! That's next chapter…maybe!  ^.~   Hmm… also, thanks for the wonderful reviews! They're all really appreciated!!!

Also, I realize that Vegeta was a little OOC the last two chapters. It was my feeling that losing a mate of more than 60 years--especially one as vibrant as Bulma--would be nearly unbearable. Grieving people do weird stuff. I know if I lost my husband (I've been with him LITERALLY half my life now), I would go nuts. As the wound heals, though, people tend to get back to normal. I hope this explains why I wrote him that way! Thanks again for the reviews!