Hey guys! What's up?! Well I was proud of my last chapter... so I took a break! Now isn't that nice... heh heh heh... AHEM! Well this one revolves completely around Nanake and Vegeta. ((can see you all whooping for joy)) But unfortunately this one is a songfic chapter. ((can hear you all groaning)) Yes. Another one of THOSE. Sorry. But it's also introducing a new character! (Hooray for Alison!) And without further ado... Chapter 12!!!



Forever



Chapter Twelve: One





Vegeta cradled Nanake in his arms as she slept. He would wait awhile to wake her up and make her heal herself. He closed his eyes and held her close to him as he continued to cradle her sleeping body.



*Some say love

It is a river

That drowns

The tender reed*



He smirked a little as the realization sunk in. He had her again. He was holding her. It felt so good to posses her once again.



*Some say love

It is a razor

That leaves

Your soul to bleed*



He nuzzled his nose in her hair and breathed in her scent. He whispered,

"You're mine again. And this time, you'll stay. Forever."



*Some say love

It is a hunger

An endless, aching need*



Nanake stirred and opened her eyes. Vegeta looked down at her into her eyes and she returned his gaze.



*I say love

It is a flower

And you,

It's only seed*



Vegeta smiled and murmured,

"You should heal yourself."

Nanake smiled back warmly and nodded. She closed her eyes and began the healing process. Her body glowed a light blue color as Vegeta held her closely again, closing his eyes, giving her some of his energy.



*It's the heart

Afraid of breaking

That never

Learns to dance*



She shuddered as her healing process ceased and she was fully recovered. Even with Vegeta's energy as a gift, she was still worn out. Vegeta kissed her forehead and stood up with her in his arms.



*It's the dream

Afraid of waking

That never

Takes the chance*



Gohan watched Vegeta stand up with her in his arms. He never trusted him with her. He knew she was always hurt by him. And now he understood the whole bond process, so that was why she had been in love with him then, and he knew that Vegeta would restrengthen the bond sooner or later if Nanake didn't escape. He knew that wasn't fair that she didn't have the choice. He hated the thought of his childhood friend getting hurt again. But he softened a bit when he saw how happy she seemed and decided against doing anything drastic for the moment and continued to watch them out of the corner of his eye.





*It's the one

Who won't be taken

Who cannot seem to give*



Trunks, on Goten's shoulders under the mask and cape, watched his father stand, cradling the woman he had defeated. He watched his father kiss her on the forehead. His eyebrows knitted together in confusion. He had never seen his mother recieve such tender care and affection from his father. He didn't even know who this woman was.

("Why is dad kissing her? Why doesn't he ever kiss mom? Who IS she and why is she so important to him?")

He watched with innocent sadness in his eyes.



*And the soul

Afraid of dying

That never

Learns to live*



Nanake looked up at him again with the last of her distrust flickering in her eyes. Vegeta smirked warmly and carried her out of the waiting area and into the sunlight. He walked a ways away from the entrance and then layed her down on the grass. Nanake glared up at him accusingly and he chuckled,

"Don't worry woman. Lie still."

He put a hand over her heart and gave her more of his energy, but not enough to drain himself. Soon she could sit up and she leaned against the brick wall. She smiled meekly up at him as he slid down next to her against the wall.



*When the night

Has been too lonely

And the road

Has been too long*



Someone short and innocent watched him put a hand over hers. The little one smiled, but stayed in the shadows.



*And you think

That love is only

For the lucky

And the strong*



Nanake looked into his eyes as he inched closer to her. He kissed her lips gently.



*Just remember

In the winter

Far beneath

The bitter snow*



Vegeta pulled her head down against his chest and closed his eyes, stroking her hair. She smiled and closed her eyes as well. The little one watching in the shadows looked at them, starry-eyed.

"Just like a story book" She smiled.





*Lies the seed

That with the sun's love

In the spring

Becomes the rose*



She tiptoed out of the shadows. and into the light. She continued sneaking up to them until she stood in front of them in the soft grass. She watched them sit in silence and peace until she cleared her throught lightly and spoke meekly.

"E-excuse me..."

Vegeta's eyes were the first to shoot open, only his weren't kind like Nanake's. He glared at the tiny child. Nanake's jaw dropped and she sat up abruptly.

"You're... you're..."

"Yes. You remember me?" The child spoke, smiling, "Well not me... but how the rest of us looked. We all look the same until we gain our independance and ability to age once leaving the temple."

"You're a Time Child!"

"Yes. Do you remember me at the ceremony? I crawled in your lap after you were dubbed a Time Warrior."

"I remember." She smiled and knelt next to the tiny child.

"Nanake. My name is Flute. The Time Kai gave it to me. She thinks I might be able to help you on your mission. Now if I ever return to the Temple, it will be with you... unless you don't need me. Otherwise... I'll grow and age outside of the Time Temple. I'll die someday, yes... but it will be worth the adventure."

"Oh..." Nanake smiled warmly at her new friend and stood up.

"After I've spent more time out of the temple with you... I'll develope a personality. A unique one. An independant one. I'll also grow to look different than my sisters."



"Hey!" Vegeta shouted. He stood up and crossed his arms, letting his shadow loom over the her.



She stared up at him like a deer in the headlights.



"You're barging in on a time where you're NOT welcome... little girl."

"Vegeta..."

"Quiet!"

Nanake's mouth snapped shut and she lowered her eyes to the ground. Flute looked at Nanake and then glowered up at Vegeta.

"Aren't you s'posed to respect her? Aren't you s'posed to love her? You shouldn't talk that way to her!"

"What would you know you little frost-bitten looking thing?! You said yourself you've lived in the middle of nowhere all your life."

Flute's eyes flashed and Vegeta flinched, grasping his shoulder.



"What in the..." he grunted. After a few seconds, the pain stopped. Flute giggled. "What did you do?!"

"I unleashed pain in your arm. But don't worry, Vegeta... that's the peak of my powers. Although by being around you all I'll learn and grow. I'm allowed to copy one species' abilities and then I'll learn them."

"Hmph." Vegeta grunted and turned away. Nanake touched his face and smiled up at him. He glared at her and then melted into a soft smirk. He embraced her tightly and kissed the top of her head. Flute smiled up at the two of them. Naki sat on the straw roof of the waiting area and giggled, watching them.



"Father..."



Nanake wasn't paying enough attention to the world around enough to hear her daughter's whisper. Vegeta's eyes shot open and raised to see his daughter perched upon the roof. He smirked up at her, and she did the same, giving him one of the same. Trunks watched secretly from the door, enraged that his was showing affection to some strange woman.





To Be Continued...



Sorry about the crappy ending... I didn't know how to continue it or end it so there it is. Looks like Trunks isn't going to take Nanake and Vegeta's relationship easily. Bulma won't be too peachy either. But we have a new friend... Flute! If you want a picture of Flute. I'll send it. She's rather cute when she's little and I recommend seeing it. Next up... Spopovitch and Videl fight... And you know what that means... Oh and sorry about the long gap. I didn't mean to take so long... I'm suffering from writers block. And when that happens I work on something else. I started an outline for a Star Wars crossover I'm thining about... But I might now write it. Depends on how I feel. Well... I hope you're all still reading this after the gappy updates. I'm sorry! Come back and read please! Well anyway... Read and Review and be nice! Thanx for reading!!!