Chapter 5: Confrontations

Goku and Gohan paled and even Piccolo looked a little worried. Vegeta looked at them in surprise. "Who is that?"

"Chi Chi...my ex-wife.." Goku's normally cheery countenance was now taut with worry. He was feeling extremely nervous; his ex-wife had not visited since she had stormed out in a huff before they left for Namek. What could she want now?

"Gohan!" Chi Chi cooed as she came in through the door. Gohan tried to hide behind his father.

"Chi Chi, what are you here for?" Goku asked tentatively.

"I came to rescue my baby boy! I only gave you custody because I was distraught. I wasn't thinking straight back then." Chi Chi tried to reach for Gohan, but Goku stepped in her path.

"No! I won't let you!"

Chi Chi got angry and hit Goku in the chest. Caught off guard, Goku stumbled backwards and fell hard. Coughing and wheezing hard, he tried to get up but fell back down. When Vegeta saw Chi Chi strike Goku, she flared up in rage and flew between them. Glaring at the surprised Amazon, she grated. "Out."

"What happened to Goku?"

"Kakarotto," Vegeta placed emphasis on his Saiyan name, "is ill."

"Are you the hussy Goku," Chi Chi drawled his name, "left me for?"

Vegeta gave a short bark of laughter. "Ha! If you were truly mated, Kakarotto would not be able to leave you."

The two raven-haired women glared daggers at each other, their battle auras rising dangerously. The three males sweated nervously.

"Alright." Chi Chi sniffed. "But I'll be back tomorrow to pick up Gohan. I also expect alimony payments."

"What makes you think Gohan will want to go with you?" Piccolo spoke up suddenly.

Chi Chi now turned to glare venomously at the Namekian. "The court will grant me custody of my son. Especially when they see that my ex-husband cannot provide a stable home environment. Consorting with sluts and monsters."

"I am not a slut!" Vegeta screeched in rage but Chi Chi had already turned and left. Goku and Piccolo were forced to restrain the hopping mad princess. "BITCH!"

Goku sat down again, moaning as he cradled his head in his hands. "What am I going to do?" Gohan crouched down beside his father. "I don't wanna leave, 'tousan."

Vegeta finally calmed down and was now pacing. She wasn't sure how the legal system on this mudball worked...who would know? Bulma!

"I'm going to talk to Bulma." Vegeta snapped curtly as she turned to leave. "I'll be back tomorrow morning." She added the last sentence softly.

As Vegeta flew back, her thoughts were in turmoil. Why was I so concerned for those bakas? And why did I feel so angry when that bitch hit my Kakarotto? She almost fell out of mid-air. MY Kakarotto?? Where did that thought come from? Could it be?

She landed in a deserted forest clearing and sank down, lost in her thoughts. When did I started developing feelings for that big lout? Forcing herself to be brutally honest, she searched her feelings and realized that she did feel something for the gentle warrior, even from their first battle. She had been too angry and humiliated by her defeat then, and later she was distracted by the battles on Namek.

In her mind, she replayed scenes of their battles, against each other and together. She remembered training and sparring with him, his constant presence at the CC, their date. She recalled the worry when she heard he was ill.

Rocking back and forth on her heels, Vegeta's eyes grew wide at her own admission. She was in love with him. HE was the reason she's staying on this mudball. Her excuse that she had no way off the planet was lame - Bulma could always build her a ship. Somehow, the large Saiyan had worked himself under her skin (ach, not like that you hentais!) and into her life. Groaning, she closed her eyes in confusion and anger. Her hands clenched into tight fists, nails digging hard into her palm. NO! She couldn't have fallen for a third class baka! She was the Saiyan no oujo!

The Saiyan no oujo of a dead race. Another part of her mind whispered. A race made up of just that baka and his brat. And he could hardly be a third class; he should rank an elite with his power. Especially since he has become the first super saiyan in two thousand years. The traitorous voice continued.

But he is such a baka! The first voice yelled back. A handsome, lovable, loyal, generous baka. The second voice whispered slyly. A sexy, strong, ... Vegeta blushed furiously.

She sat there in tortured silence, not noticing the passage of time. Her growling stomach distracted her and she looked up to see that it was very late in the afternoon. Making up her mind, she stood up shakily, her legs asleep.

Back at the CC, Bulma noticed Vegeta was unusually pensive during dinner. "I didn't see you around today." The blue-haired genius had an inkling where Vegeta went. Vegeta kept silent for a while, then hesitantly told her about her visit to Goku and Chi Chi's demand.

"Well, Chi Chi does have an advantage. The legal system here tends to favor the mother when it comes to granting custody in divorce cases." Bulma narrowed her eyes slyly, her mental wheels spinning furiously. "Of course, if it can be shown that Goku can provide a stable home environment, then it would be highly likely that Gohan can remain with him as Chi Chi did leave Gohan initially."

"How can he prove that?" Vegeta had a nasty suspicion where this conversation was heading.

"Wellll," Bulma widened her blue eyes innocently, "if Goku had a new spouse, someone who can show that she can be a good mother figure to Gohan..."

Vegeta pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes. "Let me guess..."

The normally chirpy woman became grave. "Vegeta, tell me seriously. Do you like Goku?" When Vegeta remained taciturn, she pressed on. "Goku comes by almost everyday and while you grumble and complain, I don't see you refusing his company."

Vegeta gave a sigh and admitted reluctantly. "Yes..."

"Yes what?"

"Yes I do have *some* feelings for that baka."

"Enough to ..." The blue-eyed genius was really enjoying this.

"Enough to ..." The black-eyed oujo swallowed nervously, "tell the courts that I am willing to be Gohan's new mother."

"You don't sound enthusiastic. You sound like you're only doing it for Gohan's sake." Bulma was determined to drag the truth out of the proud princess.

"It has nothing to do with Gohan." Vegeta clamped her jaw shut when she realize that she was just digging herself deeper and deeper.

"So it ALL has to do with Goku?" Bulma was relentless by now.

Vegeta was starting to look quite skittish and her face had taken on a cornered look. "Yes..no...I mean..."

Piercing cerulean eyes bored into shifting obsidian ones mercilessly.

"YES! It has all to do with Kakarotto! Even without Gohan or Chi Chi in the picture. Happy?" The flustered princess yelled, then turned beet red as she realized what she just shouted to the world. Bulma smirked gleefully and raised her fingers in a 'v' sign.

"All righty, then this is what you say to Chi Chi tommorrow." Bulma cracked her knuckles.