~Sugar and Spice~

It was amazing how water sparkled in the right light. How that lone droplet glittered as beautifully as it traversed the dangers of air and gravity. How it splattered into a million tiny jewels upon meeting its violent end on the smooth tiling of her oversized bathroom floor. Videl knew it would soon be joined by another. She hated to cry. Oddly enough, it was such a novelty when those salty tears escaped her eyelids that she found herself transfixed by them. Or maybe she was just in that desperate of a need for distraction.

Saturday night… She blinked and a second liquid jewel slid to the tiles below. She had lost her virginity Saturday night. Satan Videl had for the first time in her life fully given herself to someone. To Son Gohan. The evening had been far from magical. Well, Prom had been good, what she could remember of it. That wasn't important. It was the sex. Neither had experience. Not then. Why did all the stories always make it look so good? Why didn't anyone ever tell her the reality of it?

Of the first time.

Maybe… Maybe all of those stories, all of that telling of pleasure, maybe that came later. She didn't know. But, when neither partner really knew what they were doing, true pleasure was forfeit. Not, that she hadn't enjoyed parts of it. The feel of Gohan's skin, his hard muscles, his faint scars. The musky scent of the demi-Saiyan in the throws of love. She had enjoyed that. Videl would like to have those sensations again. All of the exploring of that new terrain had been wonderful.

A third droplet fell, this one landing on her bare foot.

The young woman sighed. Sex. That had… hurt. Gohan was… well endowed. Videl herself was, a rather small girl to begin with. Yes, painful. Agony. A screaming, burning, agony that had torn through her. As much as his own need was obvious, Gohan had wanted to stop rather than hurt her. Anything but hurt her. Videl had not let him. She had a goal, and she would not let it go. Even as she tore, and bled.

Two more tears escaped her eyelids, fluttering a moment on the lashes beyond before dropping lazily down her cheeks and toward the floor.

The demi-Saiyan had finished quickly, his inexperience being to her benefit. Then he lay beside her, holding her, soothing her, as she had shuddered with the remaining pain. Kami, it had hurt. After a while, when Videl had somewhat reined in her ragged emotions, Gohan had slipped from the bed and into the bathroom. She remembered hearing the water being turned on. Then she remembered being in his arms again as he carried her to the shower. He had worked quickly and efficiently, cleaning the blood and the sweat off of each of them.

Videl knew she had been no help to him. Just standing at that point had taken effort. It had hurt. Every movement hurt. Gohan had dried her off as well, wrapping the fluffy towel around her shoulders and letting her stand in the doorway as he quietly stripped the bed and found new bedding to replace it. And then she had been back in his arms again, lying skin to skin in her king sized bed. Thinking she would never get to sleep.

A half sniffle half laugh escaped her. Videl had woken Sunday mourning to a fully dressed Gohan, in casual clothing, serving her a breakfast in bed. It had been good, if a bit burnt around the edges. Funny, how before that she hadn't known anything of Gohan's cooking skills, hadn't thought to ask. Was it important?

No. Not right now. Only one thing was important right now. Blood. Videl was bleeding again. Not from sex, no. From this Kami-damned monthly cycle. From her bloody, horrible, ill-timed period! Yeah. The Red Barron was visiting her again. That was the reason Videl sat on her toilet, watching the glittering tears fall to the floor. Rather, what it implied.

The sex, for all of its pain, should have been on the perfect day. At the peak of her cycle. Period now meant one thing. Operation PGW had failed. She was… bleeding. She was childless. And worst of all, Videl was crying.

Monday morning. That's what it was. She needed to go to school. She needed to get dressed. She needed to eat. She needed to find a damn tampon. The young woman closed her eyes tightly, the tears continued to track down her cheeks. Periods sucked. Now she had a new pain to join the one that yet lingered from Saturday. Was she still sore from that? Oh yes. She'd been walking around like a cowboy who had been in the saddle to long. Way to long. Now she could be a bent over because her guts were working against her cowboy who had been in the saddle to long. Wonderful.

Failed. Oh how that stung. Videl had believed… she had been so sure that she could prove him wrong. That she would be able to walk up to Gohan with in the month and smugly tell him that he was going to be a daddy. But… no. No! All she had to her name was a popped cherry and a lonely companion called the Red Barron. Damn, damn, damn!

Then… was Gohan right? Could it really be that such a wonderful, kind hearted soul, could not… father children? Would Dende play such a cruel trick on such a close friend? Was it even in his hands? Videl buried her face in her hands, a true sob escaping her. She loved Gohan dearly. All the more so since Saturday. She would someday marry him whether he liked it or not. She just wished that… that they would be able to have children.

Videl fanned her fingers open so they splayed across her face. Opening her eyes, she looked through them, studying her reflection in the high gloss, tear spattered tiles. What the hell was she thinking? She was Satan Videl! She was known for tenacity! She had a mad dog reputation. Once Videl had her teeth sunk into something she never let go. She had absolutely no right to give up yet! If ever.

So, she hadn't gotten pregnant with the first try. Why was she so sure she would? Videl snorted. Sure, because every story she had ever read had that happen. And all the adults always warning that it can happen the first time. It could also not happen the first time. She just needed to try again. It shouldn't be too difficult. She just needed to follow her reputation, and stick with her plans. Satan Videl would get results!

Err, after she waited for a week while her present company was around. And popped a couple of Tylenol. Yes. She would continue trying. Oh yes.

Now, where the hell had she stashed the Tampons?

______________________________________

Any West Capital resident to happen to look into the sky would spot a wonderful sight just then. The famed and adored hero of Satan City flew above. His white sash and red cape fluttering in the self imposed wind. And any of them who did not get stuck on the gaudy colors of his outfit would have said he looked more heroic than ever right then. Like a favored soldier off to fight a war for his country.

Of course, in Gohan's mind, that analogy was not so very far off. What creased his features beneath those dark lenses was the determination of a man who knew he was going into battle. He had a goal. The problem was, he really needed a woman's help to find the means to his desired end. Which was why he mentally psyched himself for the worst as he flew toward the large Capsule Corps compound.

He needed Bulma's help.

The unfortunate thing was, pregnancy was not something that necessarily suited Briefs Bulma well. Her normally somewhat snappish attitude had been magnified into an all out temper. For Dende's sake, even his mother had been avoiding Bulma of late. The only man or beast brave enough to face her, yes even taunt her, being the fool hearty Prince of the Saiyans himself.

Gohan was not, and never would be a Vegita. Quite frankly, he feared for his livelihood. There was no other option though. There was no other woman he could go to with this. There was no one else he could trust with this. The demi-Saiyan just hoped his life long friend would understand that and not take his head off in a single bite.

It was at times like this; when the really important social conundrums came up that Son Gohan felt the full effects of his childhood isolation. He hadn't the chance to ever learn what was expected of him in regards to words and actions towards his peer group. He knew how to get along with adults. He knew how to get along with and raise small children. His peer group left him at a social loss.

Granted, Gohan was often oblivious to the ways of his fellow teens. He realized that he usually missed the point to a lot of their stories and jokes. The demi-Saiyan grimaced to himself. Even he realized that his Son genes sometimes swept him away from all normal reality. He supposed it wouldn't be so bad if he was always like that, like his father. But Gohan wavered on some middle ground, one foot solidly in the real world and the other in… well, the Son world. It kind of sucked when you were not only slow to catch on to the joke, but knew that you were slow as well.

Gohan snorted. Yeah, that famed Son gene. It was going to kill his social future unless he could get Bulma's help. After all, what did a Son know about proposing?

Well, he knew there was a ring involved and some point he was supposed to get down on one knee and ask her to marry him. Her. Satan Videl. The girl who had blackmailed him right out of his own heart. The girl he couldn't manage to go for more than five seconds with out thinking about. His girlfriend. And now his mate.

Perhaps it was an old fashioned ideal, but the demi-Saiyan had decided that once they had sex, it was only appropriate for him to propose. They were all ready mated, why not make it legal? He really didn't think she would reject him. Hadn't Videl even said once that she would enjoy being wed to him?

There was a second purpose to this as well. Gohan felt he needed to protect Videl. To protect her incase… incase he was wrong. They had had sex; unprotected sex. Despite all of his Son genetics, Gohan knew of what all that could imply. If he was wrong in his guess, and she turned up with child, it would be better for her if she were engaged, or better yet, married.

Japanese culture may have taken great strides in its response to women in the last hundred years, but legally a father still owned his daughter until she was married. At which point, ownership was passed to the husband. Gohan grimaced, it sounded too much like slavery to his tastes. He would certainly never hold Videl to any of that. Satan Hercule, however, was a whole different story. If Videl were to turn up pregnant before marriage, Mr. Satan would have full legal say of what was to become of that child, or if it would have to be aborted.

Gohan would never allow that to happen.

The half Saiyan sighed as he saw the yellow domes of the CC buildings coming into view. He was really jumping ahead of himself here… wishful thinking. First he needed to talk to Bulma.

Landing in the front yard Gohan disengaged the Saiyaman outfit and headed toward the door. He wasn't really too surprised when a little purple haired demi tackled him on the way in. Still, he sprawled ungracefully on his butt in the cold semi-dead grass with a lap full of Trunks grinning up at him. "Hiya Gohan! I didn't know you were coming over today! Did you come to play with me? I just got this really cool new video game that I just have to beat you at!"

Gohan laughed, as much at the wording as at the excited child himself. The elder pushed himself to his feet, dropping Trunks on his own little tush. "I'm sorry kiddo; I think I'll have to take a rain check on that. I came to talk to your mom actually."

"Oh," Trunks pulled an interesting face, "Don't tell me you're here about another costume or something…"

Gohan blinked. "No, actually. Why?"

Trunks quickly straightened his face and waved off the older half Saiyan. "Nuthin'. Uh, Mom's in the living room if you really want to talk to her. She's been sayin' all day that she isn't feeling well; I've kinda just stayed out of there. You sure you wanna talk to her Gohan?"

"Yes. It's kind of… important."

That caught the little sprite's interest as he bounced to his feet. "Important? Whatcha gonna go talk to her about? Does it involve Viiddddellllll?"

Gohan grinned and ruffled the boy's hair on his way into the house. "Maybe, maybe not."

" It is! Ohhhh, wait till I call Goten and tell him this! Did you tell your mom, or is it supposed to be a secret? Did you guys have a fight? Maybe I should go bring Dad in here, "Trunks grinned deviously, "I know he's always real helpful when it comes to talkin' about how to deal with women."

Gohan flinched involuntarily. Sometimes that cute little kid exterior almost hid the little demon with in. He needed to come up with something that Trunks wouldn't have any interest in… Something that may even gross the kid out. Gohan grinned to himself before kneeling at the kid's level and whispering conspiratorially, "I came to swap kissing stories with her. I need to know if I'm getting right…"

"Kissing!" Trunks squealed, "Yuck! You get girl cooties doing that. That's nasty. I don't care anyway; I still haven't beaten the one player mode on that game anyway." And with that he was off trotting down the hall toward the stairs.

The teen sighed. Good. He really did not need Trunks listening in on this conversation. Let alone, Dende-forbid, drag Vegita into it. Walking to the spacious living room, which was right near the front of the building, Gohan spotted Bulma lying on one of her blue couches, a wet towel draped over her eyes. The demi-Saiyan swallowed, maybe today wasn't such a good day to bother Bulma. Still, he was here. He made to quietly wrap on the door frame.

"Come on in, Gohan. Just do me a favor and don't tell me why my son just screamed out the word 'kissing'. I'd really rather not know."

The matron of the house hadn't removed the towel, but Gohan bowed slightly to her anyway. "Uh, sure. How are you feeling, Bulma?"

The blue haired woman groaned before stripping the towel from her eyes and heaving it across the room where it splatted against the wall and slid to the floor. Gohan flinched. Maybe that hadn't been his wisest choice in discussion starters. Bulma sat up and glared. "How do I feel, how do I feel? I feel like a bus! I'm Tired, I'm crabby, and my daughter here is either going to spend a lot of time training with her Daddy as she grows up or is going to join gymnastics! How am I feeling? I'm feeling pregnant! And you?"

Gohan ducked his eyes, shamed. "I'm very sorry, Bulma. I didn't mean to upset you."

Bulma sighed and sat back on the couch, running her hands through short cropped hair. "No, no, kid, don't apologize. It's me. I'm just so use to arguing with Vegita that I get carried away and take it out on others as well. I'm sorry, you didn't deserve that."

"I... Its okay, Bulma. I remember when Mom was pregnant with Goten. It's ruff."

Bulma snorted a wry grin on her features. "You have no idea, Son Gohan. Anyway, what brings you out here, and on a school night?"

"Umm," Gohan dug down into his pants pocket pulling up a very small capsule, which he clicked and tossed onto the coffee table. Out popped an arrangement of four pictures, two framed. "Mum says that you wanted a couple of my Prom pictures."

Bulma's whole countenance brightened. Picking one of the framed ones up she ran her fingers along the smooth glass. "Oh! They're back all ready? It's only what, Thursday? That's amazing! Oh my, Videl did pick out beautiful dress. This is gorgeous. You two are just so cute together! When are you going to get married all ready? I can't wait forever you know!"

Shifting his weight from foot to foot, the teen choose to study the carpeting. "Actually, Bulma… There's kind of something else I wanted to talk to you about."

Bulma raised one sculpted eyebrow at him. "And that would be…"

"Erm, well," Gohan placed his hand behind his head and laughed a bit nervously, "I was hoping you would go shopping with me? I really need a woman's opinion on this."

That eyebrow, now back in normal position, twitched. "You came over here to ask a woman who is seven and a half months pregnant to go shopping with you? Good-Kami, Gohan! What's wrong with asking Videl, or your mother? I'm not exactly in the most fit shopping state at the moment!"

The teen demi bit his cheek, but his eyes never left the carpeting. "I'm very sorry, Bulma. I really can't ask Videl or my Mum for help with this…" Gohan looked up then, unconsciously pulling the Son wounded-puppy face. "I really do need your help and your help only Bulma."

The Briefs woman looked at him flat eyed. She had a defense against the wounded-puppy eyes. "What exactly is this thing that you're shopping for, Gohan? And trust me; you had better not answer anything having to do with 'toy shops'."

Gohan blinked. "What's wrong with toy shops?"

For some reason a sweat drop appeared on the blue haired woman's temple and a blush danced across the bridge of her nose. "Err, never mind kid. Answer the question!"

Boy, the Briefs sure were an odd family sometimes. "I need to go shopping for a ring… a very special ring."

For a long moment there was silence in the room. Then with a delighted squeal Bulma fairly bounded off of the couch and up to one very freighted teen. "You want to propose to Videl, don't you?"

Gohan's turn to sweat drop. "Ye-Yes…"

"WoooooHoooooo!!!!!!!!!!!! Just let me go grab my purse and my keys and we are gone! Oh, and a credit card, definatly a credit card. I think Shimmers would be a good place to start. They cut their diamonds very well. What size of finger do you suppose Videl has? I'd say about six."

"Umm, five and a half. I asked. But… I thought you weren't feeling well? Maybe we should wait until another day…"

"Yeah, and miss the chance of a lifetime to help a groom to be pick out just the right ring? I think not! Oh, I promise, I won't tell your mom. I know how to keep a secret."

Gohan grinned. "I know you do, Bulma. Thanks."

"Welcome, welcome! And, if I hadn't of wanted to come along? I wonder how you were planning on buying an engagement ring with out the world richest woman along with."

The teen demi frowned. "I am buying the ring, Bulma. I don't need your money, I need your advice."

"You have the cash to buy a ring on your own?"

"Yes."

"And how, may I ask, did you get this sort of money? I know you didn't ask your mom, you don't want her to know. And no offense or anything, kid, but I don't think your mom would have that much to give."

Gohan sighed. "I don't think she would either, and I would never consider asking my mom for money. I have a job, actually."

Bulma blinked. "What?!? Chi Chi let you honestly go out and get a job? That's amazing! I thought she was so strict on your studies that she wouldn't consider allowing any distractions like that!"

"Well, Mum wouldn't… She kind of… doesn't know."

"What kind of job do you have that you can get away with it without her knowing? Do you work during your lunch hour somewhere?"

"No, no. I work for a book publisher in town. I saw their ad in the classified requesting someone with skill in the Japanese language to be an editor for them. They gave me a funny look when I went in for my interview with them, but when I edited a couple of test books for them right there, they hired me right away. I can bring the manuscripts home and to school with me. Mum just thinks I've finally been getting more homework since I got the job in December."

Bulma shook her head. "Seventeen and a professional editor, eh? We geniuses need to stick together. So, do you like editing?"

Gohan nodded and smiled. "Yes! I get to read some really fantastic books this way before their even published! That and this company pays me a set amount of Zenny per page edited. I've actually done quite well on some of the longer books. I even had to set up a savings account so Mum wouldn't get suspicious about any extra money."

The blue haired woman smiled as well. "Sometimes, Gohan, you prove yourself to be a lot brighter than most of us give you credit for. We'll take the blue van, I think. Shall we go get you a ring?"

A classic Son smile appeared on that teen face, "Yes!"

An hour drive found the two at, Surprise surprise, West Satan Mall. Apparently Erasa and Bulma agreed on this being the all around best place for shopping. Gohan readjusted the glasses that rested on his nose as he quietly followed Bulma into the mall. She knew where she was going. Gohan had been there once before, but found himself turned around at the first intersection.

Give him a nice space of wild country full of trees and winding mountains. He could maneuver through that at least. All right, so that sounded very Piccolo-esk of him. Gohan couldn't help but feel that his mentor was right on things like that.

The half Saiyan obediently trailed his shorter companion through the maze of people and trinket shops to a corner store with large beveled glass windows labeled as 'Shimmers'. From what could be seen through the windows, it was obviously a very plush store. Something Bulma would feel right at home in. Something that for the bulk of Gohan's life had been way out of his price range. For the perfect ring, he would spend what it took. He had been saving specifically for this, after all. And Videl deserved the best.

Especially if she was foolhardy enough to agree to put up with him for the rest of her days.

Bulma waved happily at what looked to be the manager and fairly came running over, literally bowing and scraping. "President Briefs! What a pleasure and surprise to have your presence grace us today. Is there anything I may help you with? A new necklace for your mother, perhaps? A new bracelet for those beautiful wrists of yours? A necklace for the new baby to grow into?"

Gohan gaped. It really was funny how people treated those few with money. Bulma shook her head. "I'm not shopping for me today, Mr. Belvins. My young friend here is interested in engagement rings though."

Mr. Belvins, a rather stout balding man, disdainfully looked Gohan over. Not many people were inclined to walk into a jewelry store of this class wearing bright colored slacks like those. He sneered at the Orange Star Badge. Miss Briefs was bringing him a high schooler? He sniffed. "I see."

Bulma growled deep in her throat, a sound so faint only Gohan could have heard it, and bared her teeth at the man it what may have passed for a smile. "My friend Gohan did ask me to offer him opinions on this. If I decide that none of your rings are to my liking, I will happily take his, and my, business elsewhere."

Gohan just barely hid a grin. Was that panic he saw alight in the man's eyes? "Oh, my, of course, Miss Briefs! If it would please you and Mr. …"

"Son." She supplied helpfully

"Yes, you and Mr. Son to follow me? We have three display cases full of the most beautiful rings and I will be happy to point out the ones most popular for engagement."

That was how Gohan found himself spending two hours pouring over rings and details like how exquisite the diamond (They all looked a bit the same to him…) to what sort of gold the band was made of. And Bulma was, all though very helpful, also very fussy. "I told you, Belvins! This girl is not a frilly type, I don't want leaves attached no matter if their made from Rocky mountain gold or not! I want SMALL!"

"I-I see, Miss! Maybe this would suit your… excuse me, her tastes better?"

"Good Kami, man, does a diamond the size of my thumb strike you as small?"

"Well, I'm afraid I only have one ring that might match what you're after. Excuse me." The manager then disappeared behind the counter and into the back room. He cam back a few moments later with a tiny black box. "This sat on display for so long that we ended up pulling it. I'm very sorry, miss, but know one that shops here usually goes for something so quaint!"

The lid was opened. Inside, twinkling in response to the show room lights was a tiny ring. The band was white gold, and a small, but wonderfully cut diamond was firmly clasped at the top. Gohan smiled. "May I see that closer?"

Apparently at seeing Gohan interested for the first time, Bulma let her raging tiger act fall. This let the poor manager feel he could breathe. He happily handed the ring over. Gohan pulled the tiny object from its casing, shifting his glasses so he could see the fine details better. Gohan ran his calloused fingers a cross the delicate inlaid rose design on the band. It was perfect. "What size is this?"

Dende must have been smiling on his childhood friend as Mr. Belvins responded, "Five and a half."

Gohan allowed a full fledged smile to take his features. "I'd like to buy this one, Mr. Belvins."

And oh my was the manager happy to make that sale, if only to get rid of his fussy, if very, very rich customer. Gohan felt a bubble of elation stir in his belly. As Mr. Belvins passed him the ring case, Gohan pocketed it. He had the ring, that was the first step.

The two turned towards the great glass doors, Bulma slapping him on the back, saying something about how now he could go get his girl. The Manager worked behind them to finish closing his store. Gohan was laughing, quite pleased with himself. And then a flash crossed his sixth sense, alarm bells rang in his head and instinct born of long years as a fighter, as a protector, forced Bulma to the floor, his body as a shield.

The glass windows surrounding the store exploded to the sound of Uzi's spraying bullets.

The bullets stopped even as the stores alarms went off. The manager was screaming like a little girl behind his register. Gohan counted his blessings that he and Bulma had been the last customers in the store. Bulma, he looked down at her, she was sprawled beneath him in a position Vegita would have killed him for under other circumstances. Gohan sat up quickly, a blush staining his features. Bulma rolled her eyes. "Forget it, Gohan!" She hissed.

And then her eyes went wide, Gohan sensed the Ki behind him right before the cold barrel of the gun was placed against his temple. "Well, well, well. Hey Boss! The cops out to like these hostages. What's say one very rich store manager. And the filthy rich and pregnant Briefs Bulma. And for a dash of media spice, one high school student. I think we out to be given just about anything we want."

Senses on high alert, Gohan identified four more new Ki's along with his personal 'buddy'. "Briefs Bulma, eh? She'll fetch the highest price. Take them to the vault. And one of you shut up that stupid man."

Gohan was ready to move, the manager was never going to see a thing, and who would believe five criminals if they were to say one teenager over threw them all. It wouldn't take much, their strength was in their weapons, and guns gave him very little to fear. He was going to make his move. But Bulma yet beneath him was slightly shaking her head. Telling him no. Gohan blinked but allowed the man at his back to yank him roughly to his feet. Another one came, and admit tingly more gently, Pulled Bulma to her feet. The three hostages were lead to the Vault.

The manager opened the lock, and they were lead inside. The door left open, and two guards left their while the rest went to pillage the store before the cops showed up. The manager sat at the back corner rocking himself back and forth and muttering what sounded like an old lullaby to himself. Gohan shook his head at the man and looked back to Bulma. "Why?" He questioned quietly.

Bulma nodded slightly to a back corner of the safe. She responded just as quietly. "Video Cameras. There going to be all over the News when this breaks loose. You want to be there?"

Gohan frowned. "No, but…"

"Hey you two! No talking! Your genius is well known, Miss Briefs, I don't want you trying any stupid stunts. You and your baby want to walk out of here alive."

Bulma scowled after the guard, but closed her mouth and commanded Gohan to do the same with her eyes. The rest of the gang came back then, hurrying into the vault. "The cops are here, boys! Make sure the vents are clear and close the door. Manager Belvins, get over here and get ready to work the intercom."

The man continued to sit in his corner and rock. One of the men stepped over to him and pressed his gun into Mr. Belvins back. The man whimpered and Gohan caught the acrid scent of ammonia beginning to diffuse in the small space. That would only get worse. "Look, boss, He's so scared he wet himself. Poor baby. Now get up and get over to the intercom like Boss told you!"

Sirens wailed, echoing loudly outside the steel of the room. The bull horn was pulled out, the Police began negotiations. Gohan was thinking furiously all the while. It wouldn't take much to blow out a video camera; he could take out all of these guys with ease. Why wouldn't Bulma let him do it? Normally Gohan would patiently wait to find out. But these guys had guns, and Bulma was not only human, but pregnant. This was calling for a retched situation.

He really didn't have much choice though. He had to wait, but he would protect Bulma no matter what the video camera caught. And then a new voice joined the rumble outside the vault. That voice and Ki signature he could pick out from anywhere. The police had called in Videl. "You crooks are opening that door right now or I'm going to open it for you!"

"Hah!" scoffed the leader into the intercom, "I might be worried, little girl, if I thought that Great Saiyaman buddy of yours were around. I get the feeling he isn't and you aren't coming through no six inches of steel!"

Gohan cringed. They did not just call her little girl, did they? A strangely Amazonian war cry echoed through the vault and with two mighty kicks the door lock busted and the metal swung in freely. Videl stood in the grand opening smirking at the frightened faces of the criminals. "You were saying? Now, all of you, drop your weapons and get down on the floor!"

Four of five complied. Scared out of their wits by a five foot tall girl who could break a safe door with so little effort. One brave, i.e.: stupid, bandit thought other wise. He was one of the ones who came in wielding nothing more than a pistol, which was now held before him, half defense and half offense. His hands shook. Videl growled under her breath and took a step toward the felon. "I told you to drop your weapon and…"

Bang!

The man had pulled the trigger. And just happened to be shaking so bad that his trajectory was thrown at least thirty degrees off target. Which had been Videl. Gohan blinked and placed a hand against the new little stinging sensation in his side. The demi-Saiyan looked up, confused, to find everyone in the room staring at him. Shock wore off quickly on Satan Videl though as he began gesturing at him to… to what? Oh, right. Fall.

Gohan slipped to his knees, pressing both hands tight to his 'wound' and then fully to his butt. He leaned back against the wall and moaned theatrically. Using this as her distraction, Videl neatly took out the lone armed criminal. "And, lie down on the floor. Good man."

The young woman left the felons to the police and turned her attention to Bulma and Gohan. Gohan had all ready given up on the moaning bit. He smiled at his girlfriend as she calmly offered him a hand up, which was accepted. She then quickly brushed him off, taking a moment to pull his black vest down over the bullet hole in the shirt beneath. "You are a rotten actor, Son Gohan. Just for the record."

The teen demi pouted before taking a moment to shake the flattened bullet down his clothing and out his pant leg. Videl kicked it next to the wall. "I don't know what you're talking about, Vidy!"

Bulma shook her head at him. "Really, Gohan. Was that supposed to be pain? You sounded like a cat in heat!"

The Chief of police cut in at that moment, cutting off the pouting boy. "Are you all right, son? The paramedics are here to take you to the hospital, that looked like a pretty nasty hit! Maybe you shouldn't be on your feet just yet."

"Oh, Chief! It's not anywhere near as bad as it looked." Videl smiled kindly at the man. "The bullet missed Gohan, it hit the wall behind. I had him put on that little act to distract the man."

The bearded man gave Gohan a scrutinizing look before nodding slightly. "If you're sure. Miss Briefs, young man, if you'll come with me we just need to get your statements."

The two agreed and Videl fell into to step with them. "You guys mind telling me what you were doing at a jewelry store, any way?"

Gohan choked. Bulma, however, had no such problems. "I was looking for a nice birthstone necklace for my little girl here. And for all of that trouble, I didn't even find one that I liked!" Satan Videl's laughter followed behind the small group out to the squad cars.

One of the lab boys doing a clean up on the vault knelt down near the wall and picked up the flattened bullet. He blinked, and looked back up to study the solid metal before him. A hand was run a cross that surface. Not a mark. His eyes sought out the bullet again. How could it be that a bullet at that range would get flattened against the wall, but not even leave a mark? Must be the best new vault making materials out there!

Author's Note: Here you go guys, my nice little middle of the week treat! And I think I've done a fair job of making up for lost time ^_^.

Now do you understand why I said some parts of this story might make you guys uncomfortable? I hope, not too uncomfortable though. And yes, I had fun dashing all your hopes that Videl would be pregy-nated right there at the end of chapter two. You have to wait a tad longer *Evil Grin*.

Now, lets cross our fingers and hope I can keep up typing at this pace! Actually, you know, don't cross your fingers. Type me a review! I have gotten the most fantastic reviews for this story! You can see how much that motivated me! I'm not going to get down and beg or anything, but reviews are most welcome and appreciated.

I just have to keep my nose out of my new book (Perrin, you know which book I'm talking about ^_~) And keep somewhat focused on my writing.

Look Ahead: Chapter Four

Where is the best place to ask a girl to marry you? Better yet, where is the best place to ask Satan Videl to marry you? At home, the park, a fancy restaurant? Gohan just wishes that for once in his life, trouble wouldn't tail him like a lonesome puppy. Please Dende, just one quite evening with Videl, and just one little positive word…