Lord all mighty, you people are going to make me ball my ass off!! Hehe.
Thank you so much for all the wonderful feedback. I would first of all like
to apologize for making Serena sound a bit snotty in the end of my last
chapter. I know you weren't flaming me!! (Smiling) And I know that it
wasn't true to her character but the woman is frustrated. Hehe. But thank
you!! I really appreciate all of your comments! I (stops speaking and gasps
at Vegeta who is in the process of erasing her entire story) VEGETA!! What
the hell are you doing?
Vegeta: What does it look like I'm doing you idiot!? I'm erasing this crap. You're making me look soft!!!
Drea: Oh, I am not! (Wrestling eraser from Vegeta)
Vegeta: I have a reputation to uphold here woman!! I'm mean damn it!!!
Drea: Come on Veggie!!! I'm just trying to have a little fun with your character!
Vegeta: Fun!?! I don't need fun. You saw the reviews! They like the attitude! They think I'm hot.don't you ladies? (Smirks and winks at readers.)
Drea: (rolls her eyes) Anyway!! I hope you continue reading and enjoying the story. You're reviews are always welcome. Good and bad. Thank you again!!
Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and DBZ? Don't own em. Never will. Damn. Also, for some crazy reason I used a song in here. That's not mine either. "Full of Grace" by Sarah McLachlan. GOOD SONG. It seamed to tie in really well with the story but will probably be my first and last attempt at a son fic. Enjoy!!
Serena distractedly sorted through the files in front of her, the fingers of one hand playing with the delicate silver chain around her neck. She tried to remain focused on the her task but the discussions she'd had with Vegeta last night replaying in her head made it impossible to do so. What had she been thinking? Although everything she had said to him seamed right at the time, now the words only caused her a great deal of embarrassment. She had sounded just about as conceited and thick headed as Vegeta.
Throwing her pen down with a disgusted curse, Serena leaned back in the leather desk chair and covered her face with her hands, thinking it would be nice if she could stop thinking about him for just one second so she could get some work done. Like that would ever happen. He was the main reason that she was here. She was sure of that now. When he touched her, it didn't matter if it was with his eyes, his hands, or his lips; there was just a feeling of rightness about it. Not to mention the man was sexy as hell!
A lazy smile curved Serena's lips as she started picturing a shirtless Sayian Prince with a washboard stomach and a devilish smirk. He was training right now. Serena could feel him. With every level his ki increased, her heartbeat would quicken. Her eyes drifted shut and she sighed, imagining Vegeta's strong hands on her. 'Should I go to him?' she wondered. She had been so angry with him for laughing at her the night before. Now all she wanted was for things to be right between them.
"Serena?"
"ACK!" The chair tipped dangerously and Serena toppled backwards landing hard on her back. "Ouch."
"Hehe. Hey Serena." Trunks said, scratching the back of his head.
"Trunks." She muttered painfully. "Sneak up on innocent people often?"
Trunks laughed and helped her up. "Sorry, I thought you heard me."
Serena rubbed her shoulder and sat on the desk looking down at Trunks. "So. Did you need something?"
"Yup. A sparing partner."
"Oh, Trunks.I wish I could but I've got a ton of work to do." She said, motioning to the stack of files.
"Oh." The boy's shoulders drooped. "Okay." His bright blue eyes filled with disappointment and he turned to leave the room.
She felt like she had just kicked a puppy. Searching the top of the desk frantically, Serena's eyes landed on the credit card and grocery list Bulma had left for her before taking off for a meeting in the city.
Grabbing the card and the lengthy strip of paper, Serena jumped off the desk and ran after Trunks.
"Hey! Trunks wait up!" She caught him halfway down the hallway where he stood waiting for her, an amused smirk on his face. "I can't spar with you.but your mom left me a list of things to get in town. I don't suppose you would want to come with me, would you?"
Trunks nodded eagerly. "Yeah! It's totally boring here."
Serena laughed at the face he made. "Okay. I'll go grab my purse and we'll get going."
"Are we gonna fly there?"
"Ha! Yeah right. I can't even handle across the yard. Besides, we'll have a lot of bags to carry back. We'll take one of the Capsule Corp. cars."
Casting a longing glance down the hallway towards the gravity room, Serena turned and ran up the stairs to get her purse. She changed into a pair of khaki colored pants and a baby blue dress shirt with sleeves that ended above her elbows. She grabbed her purse and a pair of sandals and ran back downstairs.
She had made it almost to the bottom when her foot caught on one of the stairs and she pitched forward. Serena cried out, fully expecting a head on collision with the hard wood floor and was immensely relieved when; instead, she landed against the broad muscular wall of Vegeta's chest. His hands gripped her slender waist tightly.
"Your Highness." He said in a mocking voice. Serena swore she could actually hear the smirk in his voice. Pushing herself away she narrowed her eyes at him. "Arrogant prick." She spat out, surprising even herself. She quickly tried to walk away but Vegeta was having none of that.
His hand snaked out and gripped her arm, yanking her back around. Her face ended up a mere inch from his own. God, she smelled just like ripe raspberries. Fighting the overwhelming urge to kiss her, he stared into her eyes. The bright sapphire orbs burned with defiance. It was, to him, utterly arousing.
"You shouldn't speak to royalty like that, girl." He growled.
"Why don't you take your own advice?" she hissed back.
Something dangerous flashed in the depths of his eyes and Serena unintentionally moved closer, drawn by his sheer masculine power. She could feel his ki rising slowly. She was making him angry!
"This game that you play is a risky one brat. I hope you know that." His voice was low and uncontrolled. It wreaked havoc upon her senses.
"I know." She replied, suddenly breathless. "I don't care though."
Vegeta's hand came up and cupped the back of her head, his fingers entwining in her hair. "You'll never have me." He vowed and pulled her closer.
Serena brushed her lips against his, a thrill going through her at the sensual contact. He already was hers. He just didn't know it yet. She smiled up at her dark Prince. "Yes.I will."
"Hey Sere! Are we goin' soon?"
The two jumped apart just as Trunks came waltzing in the room. The boy looked back and forth between the two and Serena found herself wondering how perceptive a twelve year old half-Sayian could be.
She raised her eyes to Vegeta, her cheeks burning. Ebony clashed with sparkling blue and held momentarily. Then, cursing under his breath, Vegeta turned and stormed out of the room.
Serena sighed. She was getting nowhere fast. How was she ever going to make good on her promise to make things better between them? All she had managed to do so far was piss him off and allow herself to fall hard and fast for a man she hardly knew.
"Serena?"
"Huh?" she looked down at the lavender haired boy still holding onto her hand.
"Are we going?"
"Oh.yeah. I'm sorry about that. Let's go." She said, leading Trunks out of the house. "You want to stop for ice cream too?"
"Yeah!!"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Trunks stared in absolute loathing at a cardboard cut out of the "All Mighty" Hurclue in a store window across the street.
"What's wrong Trunks?" Serena asked. She was sitting across from him at a table outside the ice cream shop, a spoonful of hot fudge drizzled ice cream halfway to her mouth.
"Is it okay to hate someone?" he asked.
Serena blinked. "Hate's a pretty big word Trunks." She said thoughtfully, licking the ice cream from her cheap plastic spoon. "How about strongly dislike?"
"Okay. Is it okay to strongly dislike someone?"
"I suppose. If you have a good reason for it." She noticed Trunks was glaring at something behind her and turned to see what was so upsetting. A cardboard cut out of a large, black haired man with a cheesy grin stared back at her. "Who's that?" she asked Trunks.
"Hercule." Was all she got for an answer.
"Okay.." She said at length. "So, I'm taking it this is the man you 'strongly dislike'?"
Trunks nodded. "Yeah. When I was a baby, my dad, Goku, Gohan and the other guys went up against this jerk named Cell. I guess it was a pretty intense fight. Gohan was the one who finished Cell off.and that asshole Hercule took all the credit."
"Trunks!"
He looked up as Serena with an amused expression. "What?" he asked innocently.
"I can see the reason why you would dislike the man but you're too young to be using words like that." She scolded.
Trunks shook his head trying not to laugh at her stern face. "Come on Serena. You know who my dad is, don't you?"
Serena opened her mouth to speak and quickly shut it again. Trunks had a point. With a dad like Vegeta it would have been a surprise if Trunks has made it to age six without learning one single curse.
She smiled ruefully. "Yeah, I guess you're right." She allowed, reaching over to give his lavender hair a quick ruffling.
Trunks laughed and pushed her hand away. "Hey Serena.would it be cool if we sparred later tonight? Like after supper?"
"If I'm done with all of my work, sure. I don't see why not." She went back to eating her rapidly melting sundae.
"Serena."
She looked up to see his clear blue eyes watching her curiously.
"You don't.you don't strongly dislike my dad.do you?"
Serena was caught off guard. Obviously a twelve year old Sayian was much more perceptive then she had initially given him credit for. "I.no Trunks. I don't dislike your father at all." She said softly. "What made you ask that?"
His hair fell as he looked down, hiding his eyes. "You guys were fighting."
"Come on Trunks. You know your dad, don't you?" she said lightly, repeating what he had said earlier. He looked up and she gave him a reassuring smile. "To tell you the truth. I like your father, very much."
"You do?" Trunks asked, wide eyed.
Serena nodded. "Uh huh."
The boy's eyes were sparkling with happiness as he went back to eating his ice cream. "Good. Cuz I want you and my dad to be together." He said matter- of-factly.
Serena laughed. "That makes two of us, hun."
They finished their ice creams and drove back home. Bulma was in the kitchen waiting for them when they walked through the door.
"So did you guys have fun in town?" she asked, helping them put away the groceries.
"We had a great time. Didn't we Trunks?" Serena smiled down at the boy standing next to her.
"Yup! Serena even said she would spar with me after supper. Is that okay mom?" he asked hopefully.
"Sure. As long as it's okay with Serena." She looked up and the blond nodded.
"That's fine. I just have to finish my work and-." She stopped in mid- sentence and leaned heavily against the counter. Damn Vegeta. He was doing it again. His raw power slammed into her like a loaded truck. Flaming passion consumed her; it's fire licking at her senses until she burned inside and out.
"Serena.are you okay?" she could hear Bulma's concerned voice faintly in the back of her mind but wasn't able to concentrate on it. She looked up. There, with his arms crossed over his chest watching her was Vegeta. He wore dark jeans that hugged his muscular legs and a worn black t-shirt. Did anyone ever tell him how attractive he was? One of his eyebrows arched slightly. Weather it was in interest or amusement, she couldn't tell.
"Serena?"
She turned her distracted gaze to Bulma and forced a smile to her lips. "Sorry about that. I don't know what came over me." Pushing herself off the counter, Serena took a deep breath to steady herself. "I'm going to.uh.go finish those files."
"If you want to, you can eat with us tonight." Bulma offered with a friendly smile. "Supper should be ready in about two hours."
"Sure. I'll be back in two hours then." She turned and left the room, refusing to make eye contact with the Sayian Prince. She didn't want to risk the chance that he might be able to read what was so painfully clear in her eyes.
Serena made it about fifteen steps when she realized that she was being followed. Coming to a complete stop, she sighed and waited. He was mad, like usual. She could feel his anger.
"What is your problem, woman? Are you ill?" he snapped.
Serena turned, careful to keep her eyes downcast. "No Vegeta. I'm not ill." She said in exasperation.
"What is it then? You reek of weak human emotions."
That did it. His snide remark managed to push Serena right over the edge. She raised her eyes to him, no longer afraid of what he would see there. "You want to know what my problem is, Vegeta?" she walked boldly up to him, forcing him back. "It's you! You with your holier-than-thou attitude, your incredibly good looks, your damn eyes!! The way you make me act.and.and say things I would never usually say!"
"Damn it woman, would you stop doing that!" Vegeta demanded, snatching her hand to keep her from poking him in the chest again. She was irritating the hell out of him but he had to admit that she was beyond beautiful when she was angry. Her vibrant eyes blazed with an inner fire that he would give almost anything to find for himself.
It was hard, trying to act like he didn't admire her, like he didn't want her every waking hour of every day. He had laughed at her passionate declaration the night before but something inside him had recognized the truth in her words. And that, for him, was a big problem. He was actually falling for the little blonde minx! Him, Vegeta, Prince of all Sayain's was falling for a woman. Disgusting.
"And another thing! Can't you do something about your power? You could at least try to hide it or something!" She exclaimed. Her cheeks were flush with anger. Vegeta wasn't really paying attention to that though. How did this little slip of a girl know anything about his power?
He quickly pulled her around, switching positions with Serena and pinning her up against the wall. "How do you know of such things, girl?"
Her eyes searched his, the aggravation slowly fading from their cerulean depths. "You don't' know." she whispered.
"Know what?!"
"I.I can feel your energy inside of me, Vegeta." She explained softly. "When you're angry, when you're training.when you're standing nearby.I can feel it. It's like fire rushing through me."
He shook his head in disbelief. "That's not possible."
"It is. Sometimes it's so incredibly strong it's almost painful. How do you think I knew you were out on my deck last night?"
"You saw me."
Serena sighed. "No. I felt you first. Then I saw you." She saw a trace of something in his eyes, something that said he knew exactly what she was talking about. Then it dawned on her. "You feel it too."
"No."
Serena reached out and traced the line of his jaw. "Don't lie to me, Vegeta. Tell me you feel the same things that I do." She pleaded.
His gaze softened slightly and filled with something akin to regret. "I can't." he said firmly. He released his hold on her and stalked away, his energy slowly leaving her until she felt nothing but emptiness.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Serena stepped out of the shower. Her muscles ached slightly after her long sparring session with Trunks. She had never realized that she was so out of shape. She would have to fix that. The fact that her mind had been elsewhere all night hadn't helped that much either. All she could think about was Vegeta. Something was bothering him and she knew it. He hadn't shown up to super at all. She couldn't help but feel as if she had just made things worse between them.
Slipping into a pair of soft pajama pants and a small t-shirt, Serena pulled a robe on and walked out into the night. Stars sparkled above her, their brightness doing nothing to better her mood. Nothing seamed to be going right anymore. Her life was one big chaotic mess that she was only making worse by the minute. Hot tears pricked at her eyes and Serena allowed them to fall, the frustration being too much for her to keep inside any longer. Thoughts of Rini and the Sailor Scouts came unbidden to her mind. What were they doing now? Were they safe? Did they miss her at all?
Scalding tears ran down her face, loneliness filled her aching heart and a song came to mind. One that had helped her through the hardest times of her life. She had often sang it in the solace of her room where no one could hear her in hopes that it would ease her suffering. Lifting her face to the heavens, Serena breathed in the cool, crisp air and began to sing.
*~*~* Winter years are cold, and bitter, chill us to the bone
We haven't seen the sun for weeks, too long to far from home
I feel just like I'm sinking and I claw for solid ground
I'm pulled down by the under toe
I never thought I could feel so low
Oh darkness, I feel like letting go
If all other strength and all other courage come and lift me from this place
I know I can love you much better then this
Full of Grace, full of Grace my love
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* He watched her as she sang, her beautiful voice carrying to him on the wind. She looked ethereal, standing there with tears shimmering on her face and her hair blowing with the diminutive breeze. Her sadness pulled at his heart, making him feel things he had never felt before in his life. He wanted to go to her. So, damning the consequences, he did.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It's better this way, I said
Haven't seen this place before
Where everything we say and do hurts us all the more
Just so we stay, too long, in the same old sickly scheme
I'm pulled down by the under toe
I never thought I could feel so low
Oh darkness, I feel like letting go
If all other strength and all other courage come and lift me from this place
I know I can love you much better then this
Full of Grace
I know I can love you much better then this...
It's better this way.
Serena's quavering voice died away with the last words of her song and she felt lonelier now then she had before. What was she going to do? It all seamed so hopeless to her.
"Serena."
She gasped and whirled around. Vegeta stood behind her, his face hidden in the shadows of night. Her heart skipped wildly in her chest. "Vegeta.If you're here to yell at me, you can save it. Now is not really a good time for me." She said in an unsteady voice.
He walked slowly forward, his steps echoing in the stillness of the night. When he reached her he stopped, their bodies a breath apart and he raised his hand to her face, brushing away the tears that stained her cheeks. Serena felt a lump catch in her throat as she leaned into his caress. He leaned it and it seamed to take forever, but finally his firm lips settled against hers. She moaned softly and leaned against him, her arms coming up around her neck. His arms snaked around her waist, pulling her body up against his and he kissed her with startling fierceness, his velvety tongue brushing intimately against hers. Serena arched wantonly against him, her body his to control. Then, just as quickly as it had started, Vegeta broke the kiss and tensed.
Serena muttered a foul oath and glared up at him. "You're not going to get mad at me for kissing you again, are you Vegeta?" she asked.
He covered her mouth with his hand. "Can you feel that?" The tone of his voice quickly brought Serena back to reality. She pushed her feelings of lust away and slowly began to feel what he was talking about. A power. A very black negative power becoming stronger and stronger by the second. "What is that?"
They stood in silence, each of them trying to make sense of the force that seamed to be coming towards them.
"Shit!" Vegeta swore, attempting to push Serena back before the blast he could sense coming hit. But it was too late. Light exploded around them and Serena went flying backwards hitting the wall of the house with a sickening crack. She cried out as pain surged through her. Blood trickled down her neck. She could feel the slick warmness of it. Who was attacking them? Serena weakly raised her eyes, searching for Vegeta. He stood not far away, his eyes fixed on her and full of concern.
'How ironic. The first time the guy ever show's a hint of feeling towards me and it will be the last time I ever have the chance to see it.' She thought a second before the darkness came and claimed her.
Vegeta: What does it look like I'm doing you idiot!? I'm erasing this crap. You're making me look soft!!!
Drea: Oh, I am not! (Wrestling eraser from Vegeta)
Vegeta: I have a reputation to uphold here woman!! I'm mean damn it!!!
Drea: Come on Veggie!!! I'm just trying to have a little fun with your character!
Vegeta: Fun!?! I don't need fun. You saw the reviews! They like the attitude! They think I'm hot.don't you ladies? (Smirks and winks at readers.)
Drea: (rolls her eyes) Anyway!! I hope you continue reading and enjoying the story. You're reviews are always welcome. Good and bad. Thank you again!!
Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and DBZ? Don't own em. Never will. Damn. Also, for some crazy reason I used a song in here. That's not mine either. "Full of Grace" by Sarah McLachlan. GOOD SONG. It seamed to tie in really well with the story but will probably be my first and last attempt at a son fic. Enjoy!!
Serena distractedly sorted through the files in front of her, the fingers of one hand playing with the delicate silver chain around her neck. She tried to remain focused on the her task but the discussions she'd had with Vegeta last night replaying in her head made it impossible to do so. What had she been thinking? Although everything she had said to him seamed right at the time, now the words only caused her a great deal of embarrassment. She had sounded just about as conceited and thick headed as Vegeta.
Throwing her pen down with a disgusted curse, Serena leaned back in the leather desk chair and covered her face with her hands, thinking it would be nice if she could stop thinking about him for just one second so she could get some work done. Like that would ever happen. He was the main reason that she was here. She was sure of that now. When he touched her, it didn't matter if it was with his eyes, his hands, or his lips; there was just a feeling of rightness about it. Not to mention the man was sexy as hell!
A lazy smile curved Serena's lips as she started picturing a shirtless Sayian Prince with a washboard stomach and a devilish smirk. He was training right now. Serena could feel him. With every level his ki increased, her heartbeat would quicken. Her eyes drifted shut and she sighed, imagining Vegeta's strong hands on her. 'Should I go to him?' she wondered. She had been so angry with him for laughing at her the night before. Now all she wanted was for things to be right between them.
"Serena?"
"ACK!" The chair tipped dangerously and Serena toppled backwards landing hard on her back. "Ouch."
"Hehe. Hey Serena." Trunks said, scratching the back of his head.
"Trunks." She muttered painfully. "Sneak up on innocent people often?"
Trunks laughed and helped her up. "Sorry, I thought you heard me."
Serena rubbed her shoulder and sat on the desk looking down at Trunks. "So. Did you need something?"
"Yup. A sparing partner."
"Oh, Trunks.I wish I could but I've got a ton of work to do." She said, motioning to the stack of files.
"Oh." The boy's shoulders drooped. "Okay." His bright blue eyes filled with disappointment and he turned to leave the room.
She felt like she had just kicked a puppy. Searching the top of the desk frantically, Serena's eyes landed on the credit card and grocery list Bulma had left for her before taking off for a meeting in the city.
Grabbing the card and the lengthy strip of paper, Serena jumped off the desk and ran after Trunks.
"Hey! Trunks wait up!" She caught him halfway down the hallway where he stood waiting for her, an amused smirk on his face. "I can't spar with you.but your mom left me a list of things to get in town. I don't suppose you would want to come with me, would you?"
Trunks nodded eagerly. "Yeah! It's totally boring here."
Serena laughed at the face he made. "Okay. I'll go grab my purse and we'll get going."
"Are we gonna fly there?"
"Ha! Yeah right. I can't even handle across the yard. Besides, we'll have a lot of bags to carry back. We'll take one of the Capsule Corp. cars."
Casting a longing glance down the hallway towards the gravity room, Serena turned and ran up the stairs to get her purse. She changed into a pair of khaki colored pants and a baby blue dress shirt with sleeves that ended above her elbows. She grabbed her purse and a pair of sandals and ran back downstairs.
She had made it almost to the bottom when her foot caught on one of the stairs and she pitched forward. Serena cried out, fully expecting a head on collision with the hard wood floor and was immensely relieved when; instead, she landed against the broad muscular wall of Vegeta's chest. His hands gripped her slender waist tightly.
"Your Highness." He said in a mocking voice. Serena swore she could actually hear the smirk in his voice. Pushing herself away she narrowed her eyes at him. "Arrogant prick." She spat out, surprising even herself. She quickly tried to walk away but Vegeta was having none of that.
His hand snaked out and gripped her arm, yanking her back around. Her face ended up a mere inch from his own. God, she smelled just like ripe raspberries. Fighting the overwhelming urge to kiss her, he stared into her eyes. The bright sapphire orbs burned with defiance. It was, to him, utterly arousing.
"You shouldn't speak to royalty like that, girl." He growled.
"Why don't you take your own advice?" she hissed back.
Something dangerous flashed in the depths of his eyes and Serena unintentionally moved closer, drawn by his sheer masculine power. She could feel his ki rising slowly. She was making him angry!
"This game that you play is a risky one brat. I hope you know that." His voice was low and uncontrolled. It wreaked havoc upon her senses.
"I know." She replied, suddenly breathless. "I don't care though."
Vegeta's hand came up and cupped the back of her head, his fingers entwining in her hair. "You'll never have me." He vowed and pulled her closer.
Serena brushed her lips against his, a thrill going through her at the sensual contact. He already was hers. He just didn't know it yet. She smiled up at her dark Prince. "Yes.I will."
"Hey Sere! Are we goin' soon?"
The two jumped apart just as Trunks came waltzing in the room. The boy looked back and forth between the two and Serena found herself wondering how perceptive a twelve year old half-Sayian could be.
She raised her eyes to Vegeta, her cheeks burning. Ebony clashed with sparkling blue and held momentarily. Then, cursing under his breath, Vegeta turned and stormed out of the room.
Serena sighed. She was getting nowhere fast. How was she ever going to make good on her promise to make things better between them? All she had managed to do so far was piss him off and allow herself to fall hard and fast for a man she hardly knew.
"Serena?"
"Huh?" she looked down at the lavender haired boy still holding onto her hand.
"Are we going?"
"Oh.yeah. I'm sorry about that. Let's go." She said, leading Trunks out of the house. "You want to stop for ice cream too?"
"Yeah!!"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Trunks stared in absolute loathing at a cardboard cut out of the "All Mighty" Hurclue in a store window across the street.
"What's wrong Trunks?" Serena asked. She was sitting across from him at a table outside the ice cream shop, a spoonful of hot fudge drizzled ice cream halfway to her mouth.
"Is it okay to hate someone?" he asked.
Serena blinked. "Hate's a pretty big word Trunks." She said thoughtfully, licking the ice cream from her cheap plastic spoon. "How about strongly dislike?"
"Okay. Is it okay to strongly dislike someone?"
"I suppose. If you have a good reason for it." She noticed Trunks was glaring at something behind her and turned to see what was so upsetting. A cardboard cut out of a large, black haired man with a cheesy grin stared back at her. "Who's that?" she asked Trunks.
"Hercule." Was all she got for an answer.
"Okay.." She said at length. "So, I'm taking it this is the man you 'strongly dislike'?"
Trunks nodded. "Yeah. When I was a baby, my dad, Goku, Gohan and the other guys went up against this jerk named Cell. I guess it was a pretty intense fight. Gohan was the one who finished Cell off.and that asshole Hercule took all the credit."
"Trunks!"
He looked up as Serena with an amused expression. "What?" he asked innocently.
"I can see the reason why you would dislike the man but you're too young to be using words like that." She scolded.
Trunks shook his head trying not to laugh at her stern face. "Come on Serena. You know who my dad is, don't you?"
Serena opened her mouth to speak and quickly shut it again. Trunks had a point. With a dad like Vegeta it would have been a surprise if Trunks has made it to age six without learning one single curse.
She smiled ruefully. "Yeah, I guess you're right." She allowed, reaching over to give his lavender hair a quick ruffling.
Trunks laughed and pushed her hand away. "Hey Serena.would it be cool if we sparred later tonight? Like after supper?"
"If I'm done with all of my work, sure. I don't see why not." She went back to eating her rapidly melting sundae.
"Serena."
She looked up to see his clear blue eyes watching her curiously.
"You don't.you don't strongly dislike my dad.do you?"
Serena was caught off guard. Obviously a twelve year old Sayian was much more perceptive then she had initially given him credit for. "I.no Trunks. I don't dislike your father at all." She said softly. "What made you ask that?"
His hair fell as he looked down, hiding his eyes. "You guys were fighting."
"Come on Trunks. You know your dad, don't you?" she said lightly, repeating what he had said earlier. He looked up and she gave him a reassuring smile. "To tell you the truth. I like your father, very much."
"You do?" Trunks asked, wide eyed.
Serena nodded. "Uh huh."
The boy's eyes were sparkling with happiness as he went back to eating his ice cream. "Good. Cuz I want you and my dad to be together." He said matter- of-factly.
Serena laughed. "That makes two of us, hun."
They finished their ice creams and drove back home. Bulma was in the kitchen waiting for them when they walked through the door.
"So did you guys have fun in town?" she asked, helping them put away the groceries.
"We had a great time. Didn't we Trunks?" Serena smiled down at the boy standing next to her.
"Yup! Serena even said she would spar with me after supper. Is that okay mom?" he asked hopefully.
"Sure. As long as it's okay with Serena." She looked up and the blond nodded.
"That's fine. I just have to finish my work and-." She stopped in mid- sentence and leaned heavily against the counter. Damn Vegeta. He was doing it again. His raw power slammed into her like a loaded truck. Flaming passion consumed her; it's fire licking at her senses until she burned inside and out.
"Serena.are you okay?" she could hear Bulma's concerned voice faintly in the back of her mind but wasn't able to concentrate on it. She looked up. There, with his arms crossed over his chest watching her was Vegeta. He wore dark jeans that hugged his muscular legs and a worn black t-shirt. Did anyone ever tell him how attractive he was? One of his eyebrows arched slightly. Weather it was in interest or amusement, she couldn't tell.
"Serena?"
She turned her distracted gaze to Bulma and forced a smile to her lips. "Sorry about that. I don't know what came over me." Pushing herself off the counter, Serena took a deep breath to steady herself. "I'm going to.uh.go finish those files."
"If you want to, you can eat with us tonight." Bulma offered with a friendly smile. "Supper should be ready in about two hours."
"Sure. I'll be back in two hours then." She turned and left the room, refusing to make eye contact with the Sayian Prince. She didn't want to risk the chance that he might be able to read what was so painfully clear in her eyes.
Serena made it about fifteen steps when she realized that she was being followed. Coming to a complete stop, she sighed and waited. He was mad, like usual. She could feel his anger.
"What is your problem, woman? Are you ill?" he snapped.
Serena turned, careful to keep her eyes downcast. "No Vegeta. I'm not ill." She said in exasperation.
"What is it then? You reek of weak human emotions."
That did it. His snide remark managed to push Serena right over the edge. She raised her eyes to him, no longer afraid of what he would see there. "You want to know what my problem is, Vegeta?" she walked boldly up to him, forcing him back. "It's you! You with your holier-than-thou attitude, your incredibly good looks, your damn eyes!! The way you make me act.and.and say things I would never usually say!"
"Damn it woman, would you stop doing that!" Vegeta demanded, snatching her hand to keep her from poking him in the chest again. She was irritating the hell out of him but he had to admit that she was beyond beautiful when she was angry. Her vibrant eyes blazed with an inner fire that he would give almost anything to find for himself.
It was hard, trying to act like he didn't admire her, like he didn't want her every waking hour of every day. He had laughed at her passionate declaration the night before but something inside him had recognized the truth in her words. And that, for him, was a big problem. He was actually falling for the little blonde minx! Him, Vegeta, Prince of all Sayain's was falling for a woman. Disgusting.
"And another thing! Can't you do something about your power? You could at least try to hide it or something!" She exclaimed. Her cheeks were flush with anger. Vegeta wasn't really paying attention to that though. How did this little slip of a girl know anything about his power?
He quickly pulled her around, switching positions with Serena and pinning her up against the wall. "How do you know of such things, girl?"
Her eyes searched his, the aggravation slowly fading from their cerulean depths. "You don't' know." she whispered.
"Know what?!"
"I.I can feel your energy inside of me, Vegeta." She explained softly. "When you're angry, when you're training.when you're standing nearby.I can feel it. It's like fire rushing through me."
He shook his head in disbelief. "That's not possible."
"It is. Sometimes it's so incredibly strong it's almost painful. How do you think I knew you were out on my deck last night?"
"You saw me."
Serena sighed. "No. I felt you first. Then I saw you." She saw a trace of something in his eyes, something that said he knew exactly what she was talking about. Then it dawned on her. "You feel it too."
"No."
Serena reached out and traced the line of his jaw. "Don't lie to me, Vegeta. Tell me you feel the same things that I do." She pleaded.
His gaze softened slightly and filled with something akin to regret. "I can't." he said firmly. He released his hold on her and stalked away, his energy slowly leaving her until she felt nothing but emptiness.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Serena stepped out of the shower. Her muscles ached slightly after her long sparring session with Trunks. She had never realized that she was so out of shape. She would have to fix that. The fact that her mind had been elsewhere all night hadn't helped that much either. All she could think about was Vegeta. Something was bothering him and she knew it. He hadn't shown up to super at all. She couldn't help but feel as if she had just made things worse between them.
Slipping into a pair of soft pajama pants and a small t-shirt, Serena pulled a robe on and walked out into the night. Stars sparkled above her, their brightness doing nothing to better her mood. Nothing seamed to be going right anymore. Her life was one big chaotic mess that she was only making worse by the minute. Hot tears pricked at her eyes and Serena allowed them to fall, the frustration being too much for her to keep inside any longer. Thoughts of Rini and the Sailor Scouts came unbidden to her mind. What were they doing now? Were they safe? Did they miss her at all?
Scalding tears ran down her face, loneliness filled her aching heart and a song came to mind. One that had helped her through the hardest times of her life. She had often sang it in the solace of her room where no one could hear her in hopes that it would ease her suffering. Lifting her face to the heavens, Serena breathed in the cool, crisp air and began to sing.
*~*~* Winter years are cold, and bitter, chill us to the bone
We haven't seen the sun for weeks, too long to far from home
I feel just like I'm sinking and I claw for solid ground
I'm pulled down by the under toe
I never thought I could feel so low
Oh darkness, I feel like letting go
If all other strength and all other courage come and lift me from this place
I know I can love you much better then this
Full of Grace, full of Grace my love
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* He watched her as she sang, her beautiful voice carrying to him on the wind. She looked ethereal, standing there with tears shimmering on her face and her hair blowing with the diminutive breeze. Her sadness pulled at his heart, making him feel things he had never felt before in his life. He wanted to go to her. So, damning the consequences, he did.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It's better this way, I said
Haven't seen this place before
Where everything we say and do hurts us all the more
Just so we stay, too long, in the same old sickly scheme
I'm pulled down by the under toe
I never thought I could feel so low
Oh darkness, I feel like letting go
If all other strength and all other courage come and lift me from this place
I know I can love you much better then this
Full of Grace
I know I can love you much better then this...
It's better this way.
Serena's quavering voice died away with the last words of her song and she felt lonelier now then she had before. What was she going to do? It all seamed so hopeless to her.
"Serena."
She gasped and whirled around. Vegeta stood behind her, his face hidden in the shadows of night. Her heart skipped wildly in her chest. "Vegeta.If you're here to yell at me, you can save it. Now is not really a good time for me." She said in an unsteady voice.
He walked slowly forward, his steps echoing in the stillness of the night. When he reached her he stopped, their bodies a breath apart and he raised his hand to her face, brushing away the tears that stained her cheeks. Serena felt a lump catch in her throat as she leaned into his caress. He leaned it and it seamed to take forever, but finally his firm lips settled against hers. She moaned softly and leaned against him, her arms coming up around her neck. His arms snaked around her waist, pulling her body up against his and he kissed her with startling fierceness, his velvety tongue brushing intimately against hers. Serena arched wantonly against him, her body his to control. Then, just as quickly as it had started, Vegeta broke the kiss and tensed.
Serena muttered a foul oath and glared up at him. "You're not going to get mad at me for kissing you again, are you Vegeta?" she asked.
He covered her mouth with his hand. "Can you feel that?" The tone of his voice quickly brought Serena back to reality. She pushed her feelings of lust away and slowly began to feel what he was talking about. A power. A very black negative power becoming stronger and stronger by the second. "What is that?"
They stood in silence, each of them trying to make sense of the force that seamed to be coming towards them.
"Shit!" Vegeta swore, attempting to push Serena back before the blast he could sense coming hit. But it was too late. Light exploded around them and Serena went flying backwards hitting the wall of the house with a sickening crack. She cried out as pain surged through her. Blood trickled down her neck. She could feel the slick warmness of it. Who was attacking them? Serena weakly raised her eyes, searching for Vegeta. He stood not far away, his eyes fixed on her and full of concern.
'How ironic. The first time the guy ever show's a hint of feeling towards me and it will be the last time I ever have the chance to see it.' She thought a second before the darkness came and claimed her.