Disclaimer - I don't own DBZ.

Can't Resist - Chapter 12 - Take Me to the Stars

" . . . and so I'm happy that we were able to plan this little reunion for our daughter, Bulma." Mrs. Brief finally finished her speech. Everyone clapped loudly, grateful that she'd shut up at last.

"And now we're going to have an eating contest. You all know that Uncle Ned was champion last year."

There were cheers.

"But this year we have some new competitors. If anyone feels up to challenging Uncle Ned, just grab a place at the head table. And don't be bashful now!" Mrs. Brief encouraged.

Ten people stepped out of the crowd and took a seat. Vegeta and Goku sat at opposite ends of the long table. Uncle Ned, the eleventh, sat in the middle as the former champion.

"Okay, great people. Now we'll do this with elimination rounds. Whoever finishes last loses. The condolence prize is ten zenii. Any more speeches before we start?" Mrs. Brief asked.

The crowd groaned.

"I guess not then." Mrs. Brief laughed. "Okay chefs! The first round is ten bowls of rice."

One by one the contestants fell until there were only three - Uncle Ned, Goku, and Vegeta. By now, they each had their own cheering sections. Uncle Ned was looking decidedly green, but Goku and Vegeta looked normal. On his third bowl of rice pudding, Uncle Ned lost it and dumped the bowl of pudding over his pudgy head.

"I forfeit . . . they're just. . . . too . . . strong," he whispered into the referee, Mrs. Brief's ear.

"Aww guys, Uncle Ned forfeits! But let's give the former champion a round of applause anyway!" Mrs. Brief called into her microphone as Uncle Ned was carried to a chair in the audience. "Okay folks, last round! Will the winner be Goku?"

There were cheers.

"-or Vegeta!"

There were more cheers.

"Now before we have the last round, I'd like to remind you all that we're not having the reunion next year-"

The kids groaned.

"-because of reasons we adults know and you kids are welcome to try and find out. Also, Lacy will be heading off to college next year at Harvard, that's a prestigious American university. We hope she'll come back as a fine lawyer and maybe even work for Capsule Corporation. Let's all wish Lacy good luck!" Mrs. Brief announced enthusiastically.

Everyone clapped and Lacy called out "Thanks Auntie!"

"You're welcome, Lacy. And it appears the eldest twins will be entering high school this upcoming school year. Don't we all remember high school. Good luck Craig and David. Get out there and make that basketball team! Let's have a cheer!" Mrs. Brief clapped and the relatives joined her. The twins blushed and sank down in their seats.

Twenty children and ten job promotions later, Mrs. Brief finally reached the end of her speech. By this time, half the crowd was comatose, Tien and Chaotzu had run out of knock-knock jokes to tell each other telepathically, and every single person had gotten squirted with the water guns Bulma had given her small cousins - except for Gohan. Krillin's girlfriend, Babycakes, was growing so bored that she'd started berating Krillin. In fact, the only people sitting down that were awake were listening to Krillin get scolded and wincing. Dr. Brief had disappeared into his lab with his smarter siblings while Mrs. Brief's siblings just shook their heads and told people around them that she'd always been like that, it was really sad. Goku was snoring. Vegeta had closed his eyes and folded his arms, tuning her out. Yamcha was busy convincing one of Bulma's cousins to go out with him, but she wasn't buying it. Neliyah, discovering that Tristan could draw, had ordered him to sketch a picture of her so she could slip it into Goku's pocket and make Chi Chi even more jealous. The Ox King was one of the comatose people, who also included Piccolo, Korin, Kami, Oolong, Mr. Popo, Puar, and Launch.

" . . . and so, with out further ado, let the contest resume. Oh, and don't give out any interviews to the press next time people. People? La- la- LAH!" she screeched. "Oh I knew that would wake you all up. Now chefs - bring in the five full course meals! Whoever finishes first wins! But what's the prize? Capsule corp will pay all your debts and build a wine cellar in your basement! We'll stock it full of course and have one of our world class chefs cook you up a fabulous dinner at any world class restaurant of your choosing, free of charge! And while all the renovations are going on, we'll send you on an all expense paid trip to a tropical island of your choice, with spending money! And we'll also pay for your kids' college education!" Mrs. Brief giggled. "Why I sound like a television announcer, silly me. Now are you ready?"

Chi Chi ran up, elbowed Goku, whispered something in his ear about Gohan's college education, and walked serenely back to her seat.

Goku blinked blearily and woke up fully when he saw the first full course meal in front of him. "Yes!"

"Vegeta, are you ready?"

"Whatever." Vegeta grumbled. A couple of Bulma's high school age cousins sighed.

"He's sooo handsome! And he has the best manners! And look at those muscles. Goku's cute, but he's married. Do you think Vegeta would go out with me?" They laughed to each other.

"Not a chance. Bulma's probably got her claws hooked into him. She always gets the best guys. Hey, I heard her and Yamcha broke up. I asked her and she said it's true."

"Why is he here then?"

"Dunno, but he asked Jess out, or tried anyway."

"Yeah, where is he anyway?"

"Over there with Marcie. Think she'll say yes to him?"

"No way. Her boyfriend would flip. I'm surprised she didn't bring him."

"Yeah. I'll have to ask her if they broke up. I never like him anyway. Vegeta is way cooler."

"You don't even know him."

"And you do?"

"I could get to know him a lot easier than you could."

"Could not."

"Could not? That is so immature."

"Humph. He's too old for you anyway."

"Too old? You're only a year older than me."

"A year counts for a lot in maturity."

"Yeah right, besides, I saw Neliyah walking with both of them earlier."

"So? Nel's always with some guy or another. Look, not she's got the guy she came with drawing her, for Kami's sake."

"Hey, isn't that Kami over there?"

"Where?"

"There."

"I don't know. Besides, Nel and Bulma are really close. Bulma wouldn't care if Nel was around Vegeta too much."

"We don't even know they're a couple."

"They are. I heard he lives here. He's one of those martial artists that saved the world and stuff."

"He is? I like a guy who can defend me."

"Oh, get over it. He'd probably expect you to learn to defend yourself."

"Well Bulma's certainly no fighter and you seem so convinced they're a couple."

"Like you could ever steal Bulma's guy out from under her. She'd kill you. You know how quick a temper she's got."

"I don't know how any guys have survived a date with her." the girl snickered.

"Oh quit it. You know you look up to her."

"Sure I do. I wish I was that smart. Even Nel's a genius in her own way."

"You mean the hacker thing?"

"Yeah."

"Yeah, now shut up, they're about to begin."

"You shut up. Don't tell me to shut up."

"Well so-o-ry! Just be quiet, please."

"Ok. Please was all you had to say."

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

At ten o'clock, Bulma found herself in the front parlor, wishing the Z gang farewell.

"Great party, Bulma. Chaotzu, Launch, and I had fun." Tien commented.

"Yeah, thanks, Bulma." Chaotzu agreed. "Tien and I are off to train in the mountains. I hope we'll see you before the androids emerge."

The Z fighters grew serious.

"Yes. We're all going to train our hardest to beat them once and for all." Goku said gravely. "Gohan, Piccolo, and I are going back to the wilderness tomorrow. We all agree to meet outside of North City, right?" he gazed around at his friends.

"Right, Goku." Krillin agreed, clenching his fists. "Hey, tell me if you feel that heart disease coming on. We don't want you falling apart out there in the wilderness."

"Sure, Krillin."

"Yeah, tell me too, Goku." Bulma said.

"Gee." Goku put his hand behind his head. "I didn't know you guys were worried. I'll be fine. I have the medicine."

"I have the medicine, you mean." Chi Chi spoke up. "I'd never let you bring it with you to train. What if it fell out of your pocket? I'd never forgive myself."

"Lighten up guys." Yamcha put in. "Chi Chi's got it covered. Since we've got the medicine, I'm more worried about training my best so we don't all die. So I'll see you guys, it's getting late."

There was a chorus of - Yeah, you're rights. And in a half an hour they'd all left. Bulma missed them already, especially Goku, Yamcha, and Chi Chi. She had been happy with Yamcha for years and they were friends. She decided it was time she let him know he was forgiven and invited him over more often. Her parents did like him. (Well her mom liked everyone, so that didn't count.) And he and Puar had been part of her life for too long to just cast aside. If anything, Puar didn't deserve that.

Bulma's thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Neliyah and Vegeta. Neliyah was staying for a week. She's seen Tristan out and immediately gone off in search of Vegeta. Now she had him by the arm. Bulma wondered why he hadn't just blown her off and gone off somewhere to sulk or do whatever he did alone.

"Hey, Bulma, I've got Vegeta prisoner here. Did Goku and the others leave?"

Bulma plopped down on a couch. "Yeah. Five minutes or so ago. They're resuming their training tomorrow, so they need their rest. Why? Did you want to talk to one of them?"

"Nah. I already slipped my picture into Goku's pocket. He didn't even notice. I just wrote -Love Neliyah- on a corner. Chi Chi is gonna flip!" Neliyah's eyes went dreamy for a second. "I wish I could see it." Her eyes cleared. "If they have a computer, maybe I could hack into it and use the little camera on the top to film it."

"They don't." Bulma told her, cutting of Neliyah's brainstorming, not caring whether that was true or not. "Where have you been, Vegeta?"

"Trying to avoid your relatives."

"Well I see that worked out fine." she glanced at Neliyah. "I haven't seen hide nor hair of you since the monumental eating contest." her eyes suddenly narrowed. "Did you leave and then come back?"

"There you go trying to be my mother again." Vegeta smirked. "Just have some kids and get it over with."

"You are so lucky I don't have enough strength left to take you down."

"You, take down all those muscles?" Neliyah scoffed. "Vegeta, this lady is delirious. Listen, Bulma, I'll stay here and take care of any last minute stragglers that aren't staying over. Hows about you and Vegeta go somewhere to relax, wind-down, mellow out. He'll fly you there, right, Vegeta?" Neliyah nudged him.

"Sure." he coughed out, surprised.

"Come on, Bulma! Do it!"

"Well a nice break does sound okay . . ."

"Great! I'll tell your parents." Let me just run up and unlock your balcony so you can come in that way. By the time I come back, you'd both best be gone." Neliyah fairly sang. She pushed Vegeta a few steps toward Bulma and skipped off up the stairs.

Bulma closed her eyes. "Well, where are we going then? Know any nice spots from your jogs?"

"You mean with a view of the mountains behind you and the city below?"

"Yes." Bulma agreed, opening her eyes.

"No. Are there any on Earth?"

Bulma hauled herself to her feet. "Then I'll pick the spot, you just fly." she grabbed Vegeta's hand and dragged him outside into the front yard. "Now pick me up so we can go."

"I don't think I can."

"Why?" Bulma asked, a little concerned.

"You're heavier than any person I've ever met."

"Why do I deal with you if all you do is insult me?"

"I don't know." Vegeta smirked.

"Let's just go. I don't feel like being stopped by the police either, so don't get caught." Bulma hooked her arms around Vegeta's neck and closed her eyes.

Vegeta debated flying with her only holding onto his neck, but he doubted she'd last very long and she was clearly tired anyway. Her ki was at an all time low. Besides, she was likely to tell if he did that. So he simply picked her up and flew about fifty stories up, secretly enjoying the fact that Bulma, tense at the first moment of flight, had relaxed and leaned passively against his chest. "So where to, woman? I can't hover here forever."

"Take me to an uninhabited island with a waterfall. I need a quick dip to refresh me so I can deal with you." Bulma ordered, closing her eyes once more. "And don't drop me. I'll come back to haunt you." She sighed and shifted into a more comfortable position.

Vegeta sighed. 'I do love her, but her elbow's digging into my stomach.' He moved her arm and started flying towards the sea.

"Oh, sorry, Vegeta." Bulma mumbled. "This is relaxing already. Just fly around, we don't have to find an island."

"No way, woman. My arms'll fall off in a half hour from the strain of holding you that long."

"A couple months ago, you flew me home no sweat."

"That was then, this is now."

"Are you implying that I've gained weight?! I'll have you know I lost ten pounds!"

"You should check your scale again." Vegeta advised. "Very funny. You know, I'm not even going to argue anymore. I am twenty -----. I shouldn't be arguing like a five year old with anyone, even you." she glanced down at the islands whooshing past. "Hey! Slow down. How am I supposed to pick one out if we're flying the speed of light? . . . thanks. That one looked promising, oh no, a village. Well it didn't have a waterfall anyway. . ."

Vegeta began to realize, as he grew bored, that looking for an island was like shopping to his woman. She had to go to every single store before she finally chose to actually go in. And then it was on to ten more before she found something she wanted. And then it wasn't in her size, so she had to go to a couple more until she finally got down to comparing prices. And then she came back next week when there was a sale. He shook his head in disgust. 'No one even cares about what she wears anyway. She looks the same, no matter what. Only the other females care, and they don't matter. Geez. An island is an island - just a piece of land jutting up from the water with plants growing all over it. What's the big deal about a view?'

"Aah, there's the perfect one." Bulma said, breaking into Vegeta's thoughts. "There's a couple of houses on the eastern end, but I want to go there." she pointed towards the beach on the far western tip of the island. "Forget waterfalls. Land on that hill so I can look down at the beach."

Vegeta sighed, annoyed, and decelerated into a smooth landing.

"Listen to me for a minute, Vegeta." Bulma said once they'd settled themselves comfortably on the grass.

"I'm listening."

"I love you and I know you love me, so I'm not going to get in your way again as far as training goes. I don't expect you to take me places or buy me stuff. I mean, I used to expect guys to, but not you. All that seems kinda silly. I mean, I can't imagine you at a dance club. What I'm saying is I'll wait for you to finish training everyday before we talk. I'll wait for you to destroy the androids before I expect you to do that kind of stuff. And that's saying a lot since I usually like to do my own thing. I mean, I always have since I was a kid. I went off to find the dragonballs all on my own. And what a silly wish I planned to make." she smiled at the memories. "So there. Now what do you think?"

"Very touching." Vegeta said with a hint of sarcasm.

"Come on, what'd you think?" Bulma asked.

"I already knew all that. What else does a woman do?"

"AHH! I'm not your slave!"

"I know."

"Then why'd you say that?!"

"Because that's what women do." Vegeta replied.

"That is so self-centered! And egotistical! And chauvinist! And -" Bulma scolded.

"Oh quit it."

"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY TO ME!?!" Bulma yelled, standing up and glaring down at him.

"I said quit it, you'll wake the natives."

"WHO CARES ABOUT THE STINKIN' NATIVES!!! I KNOW YOU CERTAINLY DON'T! AND IF YOU EVER, EVER, EVER TALK TO ME LIKE THAT AGAIN, I'LL KILL YOU IN YOUR SLEEP!"

Vegeta's eyes widened in disbelief.

"That's right! I'LL KILL YOU IN YOUR SLEEP! I'll come in with a needle and inject you with some poison or another! AND DON'T THINK I WON'T DO IT! I'll probably regret it later, but by then it'll be too late for you. You've been warned!" she stomped off down the hill and onto the beach.

'I've got to remember to sleep somewhere else the next time I get her mad.' Vegeta thought as he watched her stomp off. 'Now should I let her seeth on her own or go get her? . . . Well Kakarott would probably come after me if a giant octopus snatched her into the water or something. And with my luck, that just might happen. Then that idiot Yam-chuck-su-ee would come after me and I'd have to kill him . . . I'd better just suck it up and get her.' Vegeta climbed to his feet and strolled down to the beach. He stood beside Bulma, hands in his pockets, not talking.

Bulma didn't even glance at him. She just stared off at the ocean with a stony expression on her face.

"Why don't you go ahead and do your own thing; I'll be around." Vegeta said grumpily.

"Oh please. You still don't get the point. I thought you were smarter than that." Bulma huffed.

"The point is you lo . . . love. . . .love me, -" Vegeta forced out. "- and you know that I llll . . .lo . . . reciprocate your feelings. Why do you keep telling me that over and over? I do understand basic concepts."

Bulma's expression lightened into a smile. "Because I don't want you to forget, silly. You never seek me out and say - Bulma, my sweetheart, love of my life, I would love to talk to you right now. I can't live without you. - Say that sometime soon."

"Fat chance that's gonna happen." Vegeta smirked.

"I know, but I can dream, can't I? A girl's allowed to have fantasies. Don't you?"

"No." Vegeta scoffed in disgust.

"You are so callous sometimes. But don't worry. I know it's all an act."

Bulma stepped in front of Vegeta and leaned back against him. She smiled as his arms encircled her waist. She placed her hands on top of his and sighed in contentment as Vegeta rested his chin on the top of her head. They stared out across the moonlit water and towards the distant stars.

"Will you take me to the stars? After this is all over?" Bulma asked quietly.

Vegeta waited so long, she'd given up on a reply before she heard softly. "Sure . . . I'll take you there sometime."

THE END

(A/N - Hoped you like this fic. For those of you that did, there is a sequel. It's called 'The Urako Incident'. Check it out and if a few people review it, I'll put the rest of 'The Urako Incident' on the internet. It's already complete and sitting in my room in a notebook, lol.)