Disclaimer: Dragon Ball Z is owned by the absolute genious Akira Toryama. I do not own these characters, or make any prophet what-so-ever off of this story. I write it out of respect for Akira, and his wonderful characters.

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Chapter Nine; Happy Birthday

Five years later...

"Okay, Trunks, now I want you to stand up.", Vegeta told his six year old son.

"Dad, it's a-hundred and fifty times gravity! I can't! I can barely breath."

"Fine." Vegeta turned the level down to one-hundred. "Now get up. I don't want any excuses. I know you can do it now."

Vegeta stood over his son, who he knew was putting all possible effort into rising to his feet. his son stood. "I..did..it!", he said.

"Good work, son. Now walk across the room."

"Alright.", Trunks began walking, showing great effort.

"Trunks.", Bulma's voice came from outside, "Goten's here. He wants to know if you want to play with him."

Vegeta's son looked up at him, his slanted blue eyes pleading. Vegeta glared at him strictly, then smirked. "That'll be all for today.", he said, turning off the gravity.

"Wow, thanks, dad!", Trunks said, running out with a big smile. Vegeta couldn't deny the boy a little fun once in a while.

Vegeta walked out, and saw his five-year-old daugter solving mathematical eguations that he had yet to master. Trunks was smart for his age too, but was not a genious like his little sister. "Hay, Bra, when are you going to be done with those stupid math problems? I don't want you to turn into that sissy Gohan all over again.", Vegeta said.

"Daddy!", she said, jumping up, and hugging him, "You've been training all day. You should take a break."

"That's what I'm doing right now.", he said, "And just what exactly are you doing?"

"Just algebra, and decimals put into fractions. It's mostly just basic order of operations.", she replied.

"You lost me at at algebra, Bra. Why don't you take a break? Come on. You can train with me."

"But I have to practice my arithamtic skills, or I'll never be able to run Capsue Corp. all by myself someday."

"You'll go soft, Bra. I'm telling you.", he said, "Never mind." Vegeta had always pushed Trunks to get stronger, but Bra was just too smart for that. She could take care of herself with or without his training.

"Hay, vegeta, you should change out of that sweaty jump-suit, and into something clean before the party.", Buma said.

"Party?!", Vegeta asked.

"My birthday party! Don't tell me you forgot.", Bulma said. Truely, he hadn't. He just liked to act oblivious to his personal life sometimes. It kind of ticked Buma off, but also made a great show for the public.

"Oh yeah. Fine. I'll change."

"And take a shower.", she yelled.

"Fine. Get off my back woman."

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Five hours later...

The party guests were all over Bulma's house, and Vegeta was hiding somewhere in the many rooms. She hoped he hadn't started training again. She knocked on his gravity chamber door. "Vegeta? Are you in there?"

"Hold on." She heard the closet door open and close, then he came out. He was dressed in pair of jeans, and a read short-sleeved dress shirt, with buttons, and a collar. Her looked great. "You want me to come out, right?", he asked.

"If it wouldn't be too much trouble.", she said sarcastically.

"Okay, Bulma, but don't expect me to sing."

"I don't."

They walked out, and Vegeta fixed himself into a dark corner in the back of the room.

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They sung Happy Birthday to her, and then ate a large cake which Vegeta refused saying that he didn't care for sweets. He didn't really move from that corner much the whole night until the party was over.

"I got a lot of nice presents tonight.", Bulma said.

"Feh. The cake Kakarot ate must have cost ten times as much as his gift.", Vegeta replied.

"That's not the point. It's the thought that counts."

"Follow me.", was his only reply.

Bulma was suspitious, but followed. Vegeta led her into the gravity chamber, where he went to the closet, and withdrew a brown grocery bag. "Thankyou.", she said, as she opened it. she gasped. It was a hand-crafted glass vase with many perfect zig-zag lines, and a few hearts.

"Made it myself. I knew you collected art or something, so I decided to be all artsy about it."

She jumped at him, and gave him a kiss. "Thankyou so much, Vegeta. I love it." Bulma set it down, then kissed him again. At that, Trunks and Bra came in, and grabbed Vegeta's legs. They tripped him, and Buma fell on top of him. Instead of yelling, he just laughed, and hugged his family. A moment like this only happened once in a lifetime. That warmth returned. He knew, at that moment that he would never feel true sorrow again as long as he, and his family, remained alive.

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From The Author: Ii have only got a couple of reviews for the last chapter so far, but I'm continuing anyway. I don't know how much longer this story is going to last, probebly only a few more chapters. I am going to get to the point soon. Well, Please review. Thanks!