A/N: I was hoping to have this out last night, but we finally got the DSL to work on our main computer and it screwed up the dial-up connection on my laptop. So now I have to switch my story over to the main computer so I can upload it. Now the formatting is different. Which sucks.

A/N2: I almost didn't post this tonight. I was thinking that maybe I should wait until I get some more reviews. Then I decided to hell with it! I'll post it anyways. *smile* Don't you just love me? (At least I hope you love me enough to review! And not only to review this story, but to read and review my other stories as well! They're mostly all humorous!)

A/N3: I try not to beg for reviews, but pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseprettypleeeeease! *puppy dog eyes, quivering lip* Pwease?

A/N4: This is the FINAL CHAPTER!!! There will be NO MORE after this! So if you didn't review the other chapters, this is your last chance! This story will not in any way be continued! THIS IS IT!!! And now on with the finale!

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Man to Man

Chapter 3

It wasn't until much later that evening that Vegeta finally gave up his training for the night and left the gravity room. The mansion seemed strangely empty. The Woman's parents were off on some tropical vacation, his future son was probably over at Kakarott's, and the Woman was who knows where.

Vegeta's steps lead him to the set of bedrooms that he used. When he and the Woman had been on better terms, he had hardly seen these rooms, instead spending his nights in hers. Lately though, he had begun to spend more nights in here, alone.

There, he took a shower, reveling in the feel of the hot water cascading over his tired muscles. It was no substitute for a warm body.

Vegeta dried off with a quick flare of his ki and proceeded to get dressed. He then went over to the sink, leaned on it, and stared at himself in the mirror.

Though he would never admit it, the mighty prince was confused. He thought about his recent fight with his son from the future. He couldn't forget the storm he saw raging in his son's sky blue eyes. They were his eyes. They had the Woman's coloring and most of her shape, but something about them made them distinctly his eyes. Despite the fact that Vegeta appeared outwardly cool and in control during his stare-down with Trunks, his insides were in turmoil.

He and the Woman had been in many fights before, but they had never ended like that. Vegeta didn't understand. He thought back to that night....

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

The day had been riddled with particularly nasty little arguments about insignificant things. It seemed they had finally gotten to the heart of the matter now though. Vegeta was leaning against the wall in his typical cross-armed pose. The Woman was glaring at him, hands on her hips. Despite the aggressive stance, Bulma's voice was high-pitched and a little frantic.

"Back to space?" she said. "Why would you need to go back to space?"

To be honest, Vegeta wasn't sure why he talked about going back to space. Even he wasn't sure if he would go through with it. But that didn't matter. It was the principle of the thing. He could go wherever he damn well wanted! He didn't need permission and if he really wanted to go, there was nothing the Woman or his future son could say that would make him change his mind! Vegeta was starting to get fed up with their attempts and his constant need to repeat himself. And he was getting tired of this particular argument.

"To train, Woman," he answered gruffly.

"Why?" This question again.

"So that I, The Prince of all Saiyans, can beat Kakarott." Vegeta felt that he was being very patient.

"And how do you propose to do that? Goku's dead, remember?"

Vegeta was also getting tired of being reminded of that fact. Of course he knew Kakarott was dead. Did they think he was an idiot? And how dare Kakarott die and refuse to come back without finishing the fight between the two of them! If he had really wanted to be dead so badly, Vegeta would have been glad to oblige him. AFTER their battle.

"We will meet again. And I plan to be ready." Vegeta would wait as long as it took. He had to prove himself the stronger! It was all he had left.

But what about—"

Thoroughly sick of this argument, Vegeta cut her off. "Beating Kakarott is all that matters!" he shouted at her.

Bulma looked him in the eye then. She looked almost.......hurt. But that was ridiculous! Vegeta had surely said worse things to her in their numerous other arguments. Why would she be so affected by this one?

"What about Trunks?" she asked, reminding him of their future child's fate of growing up father-less. "Does he matter?"

Vegeta was silent.

"What about me?" Bulma pleaded, her voice quavering. "Do I matter?"

Still silent.

A tear rolled down her cheek, but her chin lifted defiantly and she shook herself into action. "Fine," she said. And with that, she stormed off to collect her things and her son. Vegeta merely stood there quietly. Too bewildered to say anything. That tear had confused him, had thrown him off balance. He could do nothing but watch as Bulma stalked past, bags in one arm and baby in the other.

Vegeta heard the door shut with a resounding slam. There was a finality to it that disturbed him.

From an upstairs window, Mirai Trunks watched his mother's harried departure and he knew that something was up.

Hours passed.

Bulma did not come back.

Vegeta sat on her bed that night, waiting. When she did not return all night, he went to the gravity room to train.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

And now here he was, staring at his reflection in the mirror. In an empty house.

Vegeta couldn't tell the Woman he was sorry. He didn't know how. Princes never had to apologize to anyone.

Vegeta again thought of his Mirai son's eyes, how filled with cold hatred they were. He thought of the Woman's the last time he had seen her, sad and angry at the same time, and shimmering with unshed tears.

The mighty prince leaned in closer to the mirror, and staring hard at his reflection, he began to speak softly to himself. His words echoing his son's and his own to Yamcha those years ago........

"Man to man.....tell me the truth. Tell me—were you ever there when she needed you?

Man to man.....look me in the eye and tell me: if you really.....loved her, why'd you make her cry?

Man to man.....who cheated who?

You're the one to blame. Tell me it isn't true......

Man to man.....

Man to man.....

Vegeta was startled out of his reverie when he heard a door close downstairs. He left his bathroom to investigate and was surprised to run into Bulma in the halls.

For a long minute, neither one of them spoke. Vegeta just stood there, staring at her quietly. Bulma fidgeted uncomfortably and finally broke the awkward silence, unable to take it anymore.

"I just came back for some files that I left here," she blurted. Bulma stared at her hands and mentally cursed herself for making excuses for being in her own home. "I'm.....just going to go now," she said flatly.

As she started to turn away and leave, Vegeta was still struggling to speak, struggling to overcome the rising panic, afraid that she might leave again. He didn't know what to say, knew he had to say something. He took a deep breath.

"Bulma.........."

Her breath caught in her throat at the single word. Her name. He had never said it before. Heart in her throat and tears in her eyes, she turned back to him.

Bulma looked in his eyes.

And she knew..........