Thing change

By Hannio

Chapter Ten

A few steps at a time

DISCLAIMER: I own none of the characters mentioned in this story

AUTHOR NOTE: Right here's chapter 10, man I've neglected so many stories but that's going to change now I'm gonna do my level best to keep up somehow. I haven't done this story for ages so I hope I haven't lost any of the ideas I have for it, anyhow enjoy the chapter.

            Bulma's eyelashes fluttered and she gave a groan as consciousness filled her mind and body, her head was pounding fiercely and her face felt blotched up

            "I probably look terrible" she whispered struggling to sit up right, she lifted a hand to her head willing it to stop it's painful administration and stood up, it was such an effort, all she wanted to do was lie there for the rest of her life, but she had fallen behind in her work and so she had to get it done. She walked over to the mirror and looked at herself as she had done a while ago. She looked so… heartbroken, as if there was nothing left in the world for her. Her hair was perfect and shiny but it was the only thing that was perfect. Her face had an ashen appearance to it and her blue eyes seemed huge with bags underneath, they were bloodshot and suspiciously moist looking, her mouth was dropped into a sad little line. She pulled out her large makeup back and set to work to make herself look slightly normal and as she did her mind surfaced what happened.

            The whole Yamcha thing seemed as if it was just a bad dream even though she knew it wasn't but the whole Vegeta thing had filled her dreams and filled her with what? Longing? She shook her head as she applied blusher to her pale cheeks, there was no way in this world that she would rebound with Vegeta, he didn't give a damn about her so she wasn't going to fall into his arms and have causal sex with him after all the cold bastard probably didn't even know how to please a woman and he'd hold it over her till she died. She frowned. The way he held her as she cried though seemed to prove her wrong though he had held her with something akin to tenderness and concern, but it had been Vegeta? She knew she hadn't imagine the whole situation, she could still picture the flame blazing in his black eyes and the way his face had gone deadly calm, a sure sign he was beyond angry, when she told him about Yamcha. She pursed her lips and glanced at herself, she looked her usual self though her eyes still looked heartbroken and she appeared more fragile, she gave a grim smile, having all the confidence knocked out of you was probably likely to do that, she stood up and got changed into some black trouser and a normal blue v-neck vest top and left the room, she wasn't going to think about what happened at all, not about Yamcha and definitely not about Vegeta.

She walked straight past the kitchen and towards her lab; she didn't think that her stomach could handle any food today. She pulled her key out for her lab and stuck in the door and turned it

"Better?" a gruff voice said and she turned round to see Vegeta watched her, he was leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, she glanced down to see him dressed in a pair of jeans and a plain black t-shirt, she looked back and met his eyes, her heart starting pounding and her eyes widened, she never had that full a reaction before. She clasped her hands together

"I've been better" she said and was horrified to here how weak her voice sounded, Vegeta's eyebrow lifted

"Have you" was all he said, her eyes narrowed slightly and some natural redness entered her cheeks

"Well yes that's kind of why I said it" she replied, he shrugged

"I thought you were just going on just like you always do" she opened her mouth to give some sharp reply back but instead her battered self control gave way and she turned away with a sob and struggled with the door.

Vegeta pushed himself off the wall and watched her, surprise flickering the dark depths of his eyes, he knew from last night she was fragile but he didn't realize she had taken it so much to heart that any slight bit of critism could set her off, he turned her round by her shoulder and glared into her eyes

"Stop it woman" he said, she tried valiantly to stop and save herself some pride, a faint stirring of respect blossomed in his stomach but he ignored it "I mean it" he said lowly, he didn't like her crying like this especially when he caused it.

"You are such a jerk" she said shakily pushing herself away from her, he shrugged

"You should be used to it by now" he replied, she started that would be the first time he admitted that he was less then perfect, she gave him a look from beneath her lashes to see if he noticed the mistake, he hadn't or else he was just hiding it. She turned and walked into the room and went to close the door when he spoke "By the way" he said, she sighed

"What I gotta get to work cause some of us earn a living" he glared at her and she glared back then he sighed slightly, at least it was an improvement on her last attempt

"You should have something to eat you're not like me you can't go without food so get something" he then turned and walked off in his usual powerful, arrogant stride, Bulma closed the door locked it then set to work, a few minutes later she stopped and gave up the pretence and began to cry softly into her arms, Vegeta's last bit of kindness had taken it's toll. She couldn't take it what the hell had she done to deserve this, she had a sharp tongue and a bad temper she knew but didn't everyone? There was a soft knock on the door and she stumbled over and opened in front of her stood her father

"Bulma I wonder if you have a…." he stopped and blinked at her "Why Bulma what's wrong?" he asked, Bulma threw herself into his arms and sobbed while he comforted her like he did when she was younger

"Oh Daddy everything's gone wrong" he shut the door and led her to the chair and sat her on his lap

"What's wrong dear" so she poured out the story basking in the comfort of his arms, other than Vegeta's no other man's arms made her feel so safe other than his, she blinked why did she keep on thinking of Vegeta? She had to be desperate.

She finished her story and waited to hear what he had to say

"Poor darling" he said "It's going to hurt for a while and it will be the next few weeks that will be the worse for you but it will soon be ok, it will take sometime but you'll recover and then someone who deserves someone as great as you will get you, perhaps someone like Vegeta" he said, before she could reply to that comment he carried on "As for Yamcha he's not welcome in this house anymore till you say he can" she nodded her head

"Thank you Daddy" she muttered tiredly against his shoulder

"Now take the rest of the day of dear and go into the garden and relax there, take a nap if you can don't worry about your work I've just finished mine for the day and so I'll do it" she nodded and stood up heading towards the door

"Oh and Bulma dear" she turned back and looked at him with a questioning look on her face

"Yep?"

"Don't let your mother set you up with anyone" she nodded and small smile coming to her sad face

"I'll remember" she commented and left the room leaving her father to turn round and begin work commenting to himself

"Good thing Vegeta told me" he muttered "aaaahhhh Cat do you think it goes here?"

There you go I hope you enjoy it, poor old Bulma at least she has Veggy looking after her even though she's not aware of it. Please review but no flames people, I'm not a firewoman I don't put out fires so don't bother. Chapter 11 will be up as soon as I'm physically capable of it, other than That I don't promise anything.