Chapter 11: The Morning After

Bulma awoke alone, and in her room. She looked up at the ceiling for a moment slightly enthralled by the lights dancing off it from the cracks in her curtains. She sat up slowly, the pain between her legs wasn't as bad as she figured it would be, and she smiled.

After a long hot shower, she dressed in a pair of kaki shorts and a pink shirt that had Capsule Corps. Logo airbrushed on the front. As she reached for her door a funny feeling fluttered through her stomach. ' I wonder where Vegeta is? Oh boy, how do I look him in the eye and act normal?' she sighed and shrugged then headed for the kitchen. 'Man, am I hungry!'

She waltzed through the kitchen door and froze. Her mother was sitting at the table with Yamcha. A very nervous Yamcha.

He looked up, eyes full of questions. "Hey Bulma."

She frowned. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to talk to you. About what happened last night."

"Yes, I think we should talk about a lot of things that happened last night." She looked up as the door opened and Vegeta walked in. Sweaty from a morning work out, he was in his shorts and sneakers with a towel slung around his shoulders. Their eyes locked for a moment, before he glanced over at the other man.

"Are you hungry Vegeta?" at his nod Mrs. Briefs got up and began to fix him a large breakfast.

He sat down at the table opposite Yamcha, his face neutral. But he remained silent. He might have won the bet, but he wouldn't humiliate the woman. It was up to her to drop that bomb on the jerk.

'Well, now, isn't this awkward?' she thought as she sat down between them. A quick look at Vegeta and she knew he wasn't going to say anything. She smiled slightly at him, and he blushed a little. "What is it you wanted to say, Yamcha?"

He fidgeted with a fork that was lying on the table, "I really would prefer to speak in private."

"Why? Vegeta knows about your little escapade with that slut last night. I made him go with me to the club you were at. I saw you leave with her, and I suppose you can guess the rest since you obviously found the ring this morning." She casually reached out and poured herself a cup of coffee, trying to ignore the gasp that came from her mother who was stirring a bowl of eggs a little too vigorously.

Yamcha's face went red. "You spied on me!?" he directed the question at Vegeta.

"No. He didn't. It was my idea to follow you last night. I've been hearing things Yamcha. I'm not stupid ya know." She sipped her coffee.

"Where did you go? You must've been upset. Kami, you didn't do anything you're gonna regret did you?" his eyes narrowed, a sudden sinking feeling coming over him. Vegeta was being way to passive.

She arched an eyebrow at him. "You mean like help Vegeta win your little bet?"

"Bet? You told her?! You son of a bitch!" he bent the fork between his fingers. 'He cheated!'

Vegeta frowned. He wanted to kill the man, and all the noise that crazy woman was starting to make over by the stove was not helping his nerves any.

"No. He didn't tell me. I found out about it a long time ago. The day you two made it. Someone left a nice little recording of your conversation." She frowned at her mother as she spilled some of the pancake batter on the floor.

"Tape? Then you've known all along? I can explain babe, really! I didn't do it to hurt you. I really do want to marry you." He looked desperately at her. It suddenly dawned on him that he meant what he was saying.

"Well, I really don't want to marry you. How on earth would I ever be able to trust you Yamcha? Do you even have a clue as to what all this has done to me? Do you even care?" she folded her arms around her unconsciously. He was silent, a look of shame on his handsome face. "I'll tell you the same thing I told Vegeta last night. The bet's off. This is my house and I'll do what I please with whom I please and no one is going to dictate who can come and go. You're free to train here as usual, but as far as us, we're through." She felt rather proud of herself for not crying or yelling. She felt more grown up than she ever had.

"The bet's off? Then you didn't?" he looked hopeful.

She looked at Vegeta. His face was it's usual mask, but his eyes bored into hers and it was almost like she could feel his thoughts. It was her call to make. A very devious look played across her features.

"Oh, yes I did. And I don't regret it for one second."

Vegeta let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding, and smirked.

Yamcha's mouth dropped. "YOU SLEPT WITH VEGETA?"

They all turned as the bowl of eggs hit the floor and splattered. Mrs. Briefs face went pink, her hand on her cheek. "Bulma!"

"You knew about the bet but you still slept with Him?" Yamcha spat out in disgust.

 She held her head up with dignity. "Yes I did. I'm an adult and if I want to have a relationship with a handsome, well built Saiyan Prince, then that's my decision to make."

"But he tricked you! Did his past just go flying out the window because he acted nice for a few days? He killed me for Kami's sake!" he yelled.

Now she did get mad. "He didn't trick me! I knew he was acting, and for your information Vegeta can be very sweet when he wants to be! I know he killed you once! If anyone is aware of that I am. I busted my ass to get the dragon balls to wish you back you moron and how am I repaid? You lied and cheated. At least Vegeta's honest about his feelings."

"What feelings?! He's a murderer!"

"People can change Yamcha. Remember when you couldn't even look at a girl without hyperventilating? You sure changed! So why can't Vegeta? He's agreed to stay here and help us out. He didn't have to."

"He's just staying to beat the shit out of Goku! Or have you forgotten that too?"

"No, I haven't. But I know Goku better than just about anybody, and he can take care of himself."

"You didn't have to have sex with him!" he yelled and stood up, pacing the floor. "What kind of future do you think you could possibly have with someone like him? As soon as he gets what he wants here, he's gone! He doesn't care about you or anybody else besides himself."

"Shut up, human." He growled. No one predicted what he would or would not do. Not even Frieza had been able to do that.

"Make me monkey boy!" Yamcha shot back, his anger clouding his judgment.

"That's enough!"

They all turned to see Mrs. Briefs, red faced, hands on hips. And they were shocked. The woman never raised her voice.

"I'll not have all this bickering in my kitchen. Really! Sit down now and I mean it." She waited for them to sit. Vegeta leaned against the counter instead, but it didn't seem to bother her. "Now you're all acting childish. You're all to blame for this mess. Yamcha, how could you use Bulma like that? After all the two of you have been through together? I don't blame her for not wanting to marry you. I never thought the two of you were meant for each other anyway. All you do is argue. And Vegeta. You lied to me. I knew something was going on between you and Bulma and I told you to leave her alone until you figured out how you felt about her. Did you? No, you just went right on with your little game. And Bulma, how could you have used Vegeta like that? As a pawn to get even with Yamcha? You were just using him, right? Or is there something more to it than that?" she looked at each of them in turn.

Yamcha looked as though someone had sucker punched him.

Vegeta was frowning, but looked somewhat abashed.

Bulma was gaping. Why was she getting reprimanded for any of this?

"I.. I'm sorry Bulma. I know you're furious with me, but… well, I don't even know what to say. Nothing I guess. I just hope you can forgive me someday." Yamcha looked at the floor. Afraid to see the look she might give him.

She felt her lip quiver. "It might take me a while, but I will." She looked up at Vegeta; he was looking questioningly at her. Had she just used him? She was so confused now. "I don't believe I used you." She managed to choke out.

He smirked slightly. "No one uses me woman."

"So now what is everyone going to do?" the blonde asked.

"I'll go train somewhere else for a while." Yamcha stood and with one last look, left for the next several months.

Vegeta looked at his ruined breakfast and sighed. "I'm going back to my training. I've fallen behind so don't expect to see me much. Just put my food in the fridge and I'll eat when I can." He looked at Bulma and saw the look of disappointment on her face.

"Guess I'll get back to work then." 'What did you expect him to do? Propose?'

"I won't tolerate any disturbances, woman. If you want me to defeat those androids, then you'll understand that my training comes first." He stated with all seriousness.

"Yeah, I understand." 'I've been dumped.'

He smirked. "I doubt that." Then left for his onslaught of training sessions.

"I think he likes you."

Bulma blinked at her mother. "Huh?"

"I said I think he likes you. Think about it." She smiled and began to clean up the mess she had made.

Bulma rolled her eyes at the thought, but didn't feel like arguing with her. She looked up as her father entered the room.

"Good morning Poppet! Have I missed something?" he looked at the disheveled room and arched a brow.

Still not over. More chapters coming! Thanks!