Chapter Forty-Two: Cured
Authors Notes: The update drought is over! I'm really sorry for being so late with my updates, but I hope you all read and understood my reasons. Anyway, I am (hopefully) back in business. Writer's block hits me really hard, but I'm trying to get this finished quickly. I am out of school in January and that is coming upon me quickly, so I have to hurry! Again I'm sorry! Enjoy this very late chapter!
It was daybreak on R'haksin. Vegeta awakened to find himself alone in his bed, with Bulma nowhere to be seen. He yawned and scratched some uncomfortable areas and got up to groggily drag himself to the kitchen.
Their food supply was, naturally, depleting faster than he could have imagined. It -was- Bulma's fault and she knew it. If she hadn't barged onboard that day, he wouldn't have had to share any of the food.
He snatched up a box of half empty Cheerio's and poured what was left into a bowl. It was strange, but since he had been to Earth, he had started to actually enjoy their food. He shoveled a spoonful in his mouth, crunching thoughtfully. When he was done he left the bowl on the counter and went in search of Bulma.
She was in the basement, as he had suspected, tinkering away at what was still a mystery to him. He watched her for a moment; not being able to see past her shoulders at what it was she held. He could hear her grunts of frustration when something apparently went wrong. After a few minutes of watching her he stepped down the stairs and approached her.
"How long have you been up?" he grunted. Bulma gasped in surprised and clutched the clutter of loose wires and cables defensively to her chest.
"KAMI!" she cried her heart pounding. "Do you have to sneak up on me like that all the time?"
He shrugged. "How do you feel?" he asked, indicating her cramps.
She sighed and settled back into her chair, still holding the strange machine to her chest. Vegeta then noticed that it looked similar to what Bulma called a 'VCR'. It had a number of buttons on it, some large and some very small, and a tiny screen on the top of it, which looked like the screen of a television set. He frowned.
"I feel fine." She said. "Which is a relief." She put the machine down delicately. "Look, if you're wondering what this is, I'm not telling you yet." She paused. "It will be done today, in a few hours, if you'd just leave me alone." She finished hopefully.
"I can take a hint." He said coolly, turning to leave.
"Look, Vegeta, you don't have to be like that." she trailed off, sounding uncomfortable. He knew they were both thinking about last night.
She turned around in her chair and faced him, although his back was turned. "I'm.cured, Vegeta." She said in little more than a whisper. "Haven't you got the slightest idea what that must do to me? My body and my mind are in turmoil right now.I can't really focus on anything."
Vegeta considered what she said. "That could be true." He said with a snort. "But it looks like you have more than enough focus to concentrate on that hulk of junk."
"That's because I have to get this finished!" she said determinedly. "It's important that I do."
Vegeta shrugged. "When do you want to leave?"
Bulma looked back down at the machine. "There's still a lot I have to do. I have to get this finished, I have to go see Strifelon, and we have to do something about the rest of the Roctorns." She sighed. "I also want to say goodbye to some people."
Vegeta nodded. "Put that shit down and come with me to Strifelon's."
"I."
"Come on, woman! Your cursed health is more important than that stupid machine, whatever it is." He looked her in the eye. "You know I'm right." He added a little more softly. Bulma noticed well the look in his eyes. She stood and followed him regretfully toward the doorway. He was right.
Koru and Arden were already there when Vegeta and Bulma arrived. The giant lizard-woman ran toward Bulma and embraced her in a gentle hug. Bulma knew the woman was absolutely overjoyed at finally being rid of her inevitable death, but Bulma could feel something else underlying the emotion. It was a relief so great that it practically overruled every other sensation the Storkrin woman could have felt. Bulma hugged her back with the same feeling, although she had only suffered for months and Koru had suffered for years, they still shared an understanding that no one else in the room could possibly have comprehended.
It felt amazing.
After Koru and Bulma hugged Strifelon and Arden (Vegeta stood back awkwardly) Strifelon led the two women away into the next room to be closely examined and tested for any remaining ailments. Vegeta made himself comfortable by propping himself against the wall and adopting his favorite stand-offish expression. Arden sat at the table, staring into the contents of his mug that he grasped in clawed hands. They were silent for a moment, then Arden spoke.
"It feelsss wonderful, doesssn't it?" he said sssoftly. "To know that they'll be all right?"
Vegeta broke out of his glare long enough to ponder the words. They were true, to more of an extent than the Storkrin sitting across from Vegeta could have ever known. But too many barriers had been let down lately for the Sayajin Prince to feel comfortable admitting any others. He simply nodded curtly and let his eyes settle back into their soft glare. He could not deny that they kept darting to the opposite room. He experienced the emotion of worry. He hoped Bulma was all right.
"It'sss jussst ssso ssstrange.I mean, one day I jussst meet thisss girl.I fall in love, only to realize that ssshe isss ill. Then," he lifted his red eyes to Vegeta, who met them with his own. "Then you and your mate come, and everything changesss." he looked back down into his mug, then took a hesitant sip. "Everything hasss changed."
Vegeta didn't say anything.
"Do you believe in fate, Sssayajin Prince?"
Vegeta's eyes snapped up. Fate? It was a word too powerful to use loosely. He thought of his distant life of cruelty and pain, thought of his meeting with the third class Sayajin warrior, Kakarott. He thought of their battle, so very long ago now.and he was stilled. What would have happened, had he won? The Earth would have been destroyed.and Bulma along with it. He would not be the man he was today, had that battle been his. Yet.to not be the man he was today.was that good or bad? He could not put words to his answer. Yes, everything had changed. But did he believe in fate?
Fate had brought him to her.
Arden seemed to know that Vegeta would not answer. He smiled, feeling his own emotions surge through him at the knowledge that his love would be all right. He tipped the remains of the drink to his lips and swallowed. Lowering his cup, he leveled another ruby gaze at the Sayajin standing across from him.
"You have dissscovered much, Prince." He said.
Vegeta was about to reply when he heard Bulma's laughter. He watched as Strifelon led her and the giant Storkrin woman out of the room. All had smiles on their faces. Vegeta felt the hardly perceptible worry in his body ease. Bulma took her place beside him and took his hand in her own. He did not pull away. Instead, he fought not to pull her closer.
"Everything isss fine." Strifelon announced. "You are healed women."
Although both Koru and Bulma had known since the previous night that they were cured, hearing it for the first time from the mouth of a Doctor was, well, nothing short of indescribable. Bulma squealed and threw herself into Vegeta's arms while Koru did the same. Strifelon smiled happily, then sent the Sayajin Prince a knowing look as Vegeta struggled to keep his emotions at bay.
Bulma finally detached herself from Vegeta, her cheeks coloring a bit when she met his ebony eyes, and turned back to Strifelon. "Thank you so much for all you have done for me." She looked at Koru and Arden. "Thank you."
Koru smiled and hugged her friend briefly, wanting to remain in her lover's arms. "No Bulma, thank you. Without you, I would still be down there, and without a friend." She looked at Vegeta. "You too. Thank you for getting rid of that horrible place."
Vegeta said nothing. All the emotion in the room was getting to him. He simply wanted to take Bulma and go back to the ship.
"When ssshall you leave?" Arden asked, one massive arm wrapped around Koru's waist.
Bulma looked at Vegeta. He shrugged; he had no answers. She turned back to the others. "I don't know for sure.there are some things I must do before we leave."
Strifelon placed a hand on her shoulder. "Yet you dare not dilly dally about it, dear one. I'm sssure there are many friendsss and loved onesss back home who are terribly worried about you."
Bulma nodded. "I know." She said. "I know."
It was nearing midnight, but Bulma could not sleep. The invention she had been working on had become too frustrating, and she had reluctantly abandoned it. She stood by the window overlooking the red cragginess of R'haksin, wishing she were home, wishing she was staying just a little longer. She had opened the window slightly, just enough to let a gentle breeze of air in. It was enough to raise the hairs on her arms, but she had the company and added heat of Spider and his siblings to warm her. They sat around her on their haunches, golden and red eyes blinking slowly, mouths yawning and tails lazily swishing.
"I'll miss you guys." She said suddenly, one hand on the windowsill. The Roctorn's looked up at her and the moonlight glinted off of their small pebbles embedded in their fur. "I never gave any of you names, nor have I spent very much time with you." she kneeled down beside them, taking them all toward her in a giant fuzzy hug. "But I experienced probably the most emotionally powerful time of my life with you."
The Roctorns growled happily.
Bulma stood and took in the dark red scenery, her hands running over her belly and up over her arms. She sighed shakily, still not believing that it was finally over, that she could finally return home. She imagined what her parents would think.what Goku and Chi-Chi would say.
.And what Yaumcha would see.
Bulma frowned at the thought. If Yaumcha still believed something existed between them, then he was a very stupid man indeed. She looked down at her belly as a sharp pain twitched within her. She frowned but ignored it, continuing her thoughts. She was with Vegeta now, and he loved her.
Did he?
Just as she finished the thought two strong hands encompassed her in their grip, wrapping around her belly and pulling her backward. She sighed contentedly as she leaned into the steel body and twisted her head, looking into Vegeta's black eyes.
"We'll be leaving soon." He said. Spider lashed his tails around and curled up near the Sayajin Prince, at their feet. Bulma looked out the window, stroking the area between his thumb and index finger. She nodded slowly.
"And you harbor regrets?" he said, his face twisting into a soft glare.
Bulma shrugged. "I cannot say what I feel." She said. "I have changed so much, in so little time."
Vegeta thought of Arden's words back at Strifelon's. He twisted Bulma around in his grip and held her tighter against his body.
"Do you believe in fate?" he asked softly. Bulma could feel the growing arousal in his groin, and she shifted against it, her mouth parting slightly.
"Fate, Vegeta? You would be one to talk of such things to me?" she lifted her mouth to his and ran her lips lightly against his chin. "I believe fate has many things in store for us all."
She felt his wandering hands stray onto her belly and she stilled. Looking up into his eyes, Bulma felt her heart thud painfully in her chest.
"Then believe this," he leaned down and whispered into her ear. "I will not let you live your life a barren woman. I will never let anyone or anything hurt you." He lifted her chin. "And may it be that I will not be the most loving husband, nor the most attentive or understanding.but I will give you a child, Bulma, and I will protect and remain with it as I will you."
Bulma opened her mouth but no words came out. She felt the heat of his body and the warmth and love of his words, and found she had no tears. She felt only a deep relief that flooded her body and whispered to her of honesty.
"Do not lie to me, Vegeta, because I don't know if I could handle that." She whispered.
"I am not he, Bulma." He nipped at her chin. "Let me be with you as I would, and I will never be as he was."
Vegeta lifted her gently into his arms, his arousal growing within the heartbeat of every second. But it was a different lust than any he had experienced lately, and in this he was confused. He looked down into her blue eyes and had to tear himself away. For how could any lust stem from long buried emotions and a reluctant admittance? As he entered their room and lay her on the bed, touching every part of her, loving every moment of her skin, he knew only that he was changed, and that he would never quite be the same again.
Authors Notes: The update drought is over! I'm really sorry for being so late with my updates, but I hope you all read and understood my reasons. Anyway, I am (hopefully) back in business. Writer's block hits me really hard, but I'm trying to get this finished quickly. I am out of school in January and that is coming upon me quickly, so I have to hurry! Again I'm sorry! Enjoy this very late chapter!
It was daybreak on R'haksin. Vegeta awakened to find himself alone in his bed, with Bulma nowhere to be seen. He yawned and scratched some uncomfortable areas and got up to groggily drag himself to the kitchen.
Their food supply was, naturally, depleting faster than he could have imagined. It -was- Bulma's fault and she knew it. If she hadn't barged onboard that day, he wouldn't have had to share any of the food.
He snatched up a box of half empty Cheerio's and poured what was left into a bowl. It was strange, but since he had been to Earth, he had started to actually enjoy their food. He shoveled a spoonful in his mouth, crunching thoughtfully. When he was done he left the bowl on the counter and went in search of Bulma.
She was in the basement, as he had suspected, tinkering away at what was still a mystery to him. He watched her for a moment; not being able to see past her shoulders at what it was she held. He could hear her grunts of frustration when something apparently went wrong. After a few minutes of watching her he stepped down the stairs and approached her.
"How long have you been up?" he grunted. Bulma gasped in surprised and clutched the clutter of loose wires and cables defensively to her chest.
"KAMI!" she cried her heart pounding. "Do you have to sneak up on me like that all the time?"
He shrugged. "How do you feel?" he asked, indicating her cramps.
She sighed and settled back into her chair, still holding the strange machine to her chest. Vegeta then noticed that it looked similar to what Bulma called a 'VCR'. It had a number of buttons on it, some large and some very small, and a tiny screen on the top of it, which looked like the screen of a television set. He frowned.
"I feel fine." She said. "Which is a relief." She put the machine down delicately. "Look, if you're wondering what this is, I'm not telling you yet." She paused. "It will be done today, in a few hours, if you'd just leave me alone." She finished hopefully.
"I can take a hint." He said coolly, turning to leave.
"Look, Vegeta, you don't have to be like that." she trailed off, sounding uncomfortable. He knew they were both thinking about last night.
She turned around in her chair and faced him, although his back was turned. "I'm.cured, Vegeta." She said in little more than a whisper. "Haven't you got the slightest idea what that must do to me? My body and my mind are in turmoil right now.I can't really focus on anything."
Vegeta considered what she said. "That could be true." He said with a snort. "But it looks like you have more than enough focus to concentrate on that hulk of junk."
"That's because I have to get this finished!" she said determinedly. "It's important that I do."
Vegeta shrugged. "When do you want to leave?"
Bulma looked back down at the machine. "There's still a lot I have to do. I have to get this finished, I have to go see Strifelon, and we have to do something about the rest of the Roctorns." She sighed. "I also want to say goodbye to some people."
Vegeta nodded. "Put that shit down and come with me to Strifelon's."
"I."
"Come on, woman! Your cursed health is more important than that stupid machine, whatever it is." He looked her in the eye. "You know I'm right." He added a little more softly. Bulma noticed well the look in his eyes. She stood and followed him regretfully toward the doorway. He was right.
Koru and Arden were already there when Vegeta and Bulma arrived. The giant lizard-woman ran toward Bulma and embraced her in a gentle hug. Bulma knew the woman was absolutely overjoyed at finally being rid of her inevitable death, but Bulma could feel something else underlying the emotion. It was a relief so great that it practically overruled every other sensation the Storkrin woman could have felt. Bulma hugged her back with the same feeling, although she had only suffered for months and Koru had suffered for years, they still shared an understanding that no one else in the room could possibly have comprehended.
It felt amazing.
After Koru and Bulma hugged Strifelon and Arden (Vegeta stood back awkwardly) Strifelon led the two women away into the next room to be closely examined and tested for any remaining ailments. Vegeta made himself comfortable by propping himself against the wall and adopting his favorite stand-offish expression. Arden sat at the table, staring into the contents of his mug that he grasped in clawed hands. They were silent for a moment, then Arden spoke.
"It feelsss wonderful, doesssn't it?" he said sssoftly. "To know that they'll be all right?"
Vegeta broke out of his glare long enough to ponder the words. They were true, to more of an extent than the Storkrin sitting across from Vegeta could have ever known. But too many barriers had been let down lately for the Sayajin Prince to feel comfortable admitting any others. He simply nodded curtly and let his eyes settle back into their soft glare. He could not deny that they kept darting to the opposite room. He experienced the emotion of worry. He hoped Bulma was all right.
"It'sss jussst ssso ssstrange.I mean, one day I jussst meet thisss girl.I fall in love, only to realize that ssshe isss ill. Then," he lifted his red eyes to Vegeta, who met them with his own. "Then you and your mate come, and everything changesss." he looked back down into his mug, then took a hesitant sip. "Everything hasss changed."
Vegeta didn't say anything.
"Do you believe in fate, Sssayajin Prince?"
Vegeta's eyes snapped up. Fate? It was a word too powerful to use loosely. He thought of his distant life of cruelty and pain, thought of his meeting with the third class Sayajin warrior, Kakarott. He thought of their battle, so very long ago now.and he was stilled. What would have happened, had he won? The Earth would have been destroyed.and Bulma along with it. He would not be the man he was today, had that battle been his. Yet.to not be the man he was today.was that good or bad? He could not put words to his answer. Yes, everything had changed. But did he believe in fate?
Fate had brought him to her.
Arden seemed to know that Vegeta would not answer. He smiled, feeling his own emotions surge through him at the knowledge that his love would be all right. He tipped the remains of the drink to his lips and swallowed. Lowering his cup, he leveled another ruby gaze at the Sayajin standing across from him.
"You have dissscovered much, Prince." He said.
Vegeta was about to reply when he heard Bulma's laughter. He watched as Strifelon led her and the giant Storkrin woman out of the room. All had smiles on their faces. Vegeta felt the hardly perceptible worry in his body ease. Bulma took her place beside him and took his hand in her own. He did not pull away. Instead, he fought not to pull her closer.
"Everything isss fine." Strifelon announced. "You are healed women."
Although both Koru and Bulma had known since the previous night that they were cured, hearing it for the first time from the mouth of a Doctor was, well, nothing short of indescribable. Bulma squealed and threw herself into Vegeta's arms while Koru did the same. Strifelon smiled happily, then sent the Sayajin Prince a knowing look as Vegeta struggled to keep his emotions at bay.
Bulma finally detached herself from Vegeta, her cheeks coloring a bit when she met his ebony eyes, and turned back to Strifelon. "Thank you so much for all you have done for me." She looked at Koru and Arden. "Thank you."
Koru smiled and hugged her friend briefly, wanting to remain in her lover's arms. "No Bulma, thank you. Without you, I would still be down there, and without a friend." She looked at Vegeta. "You too. Thank you for getting rid of that horrible place."
Vegeta said nothing. All the emotion in the room was getting to him. He simply wanted to take Bulma and go back to the ship.
"When ssshall you leave?" Arden asked, one massive arm wrapped around Koru's waist.
Bulma looked at Vegeta. He shrugged; he had no answers. She turned back to the others. "I don't know for sure.there are some things I must do before we leave."
Strifelon placed a hand on her shoulder. "Yet you dare not dilly dally about it, dear one. I'm sssure there are many friendsss and loved onesss back home who are terribly worried about you."
Bulma nodded. "I know." She said. "I know."
It was nearing midnight, but Bulma could not sleep. The invention she had been working on had become too frustrating, and she had reluctantly abandoned it. She stood by the window overlooking the red cragginess of R'haksin, wishing she were home, wishing she was staying just a little longer. She had opened the window slightly, just enough to let a gentle breeze of air in. It was enough to raise the hairs on her arms, but she had the company and added heat of Spider and his siblings to warm her. They sat around her on their haunches, golden and red eyes blinking slowly, mouths yawning and tails lazily swishing.
"I'll miss you guys." She said suddenly, one hand on the windowsill. The Roctorn's looked up at her and the moonlight glinted off of their small pebbles embedded in their fur. "I never gave any of you names, nor have I spent very much time with you." she kneeled down beside them, taking them all toward her in a giant fuzzy hug. "But I experienced probably the most emotionally powerful time of my life with you."
The Roctorns growled happily.
Bulma stood and took in the dark red scenery, her hands running over her belly and up over her arms. She sighed shakily, still not believing that it was finally over, that she could finally return home. She imagined what her parents would think.what Goku and Chi-Chi would say.
.And what Yaumcha would see.
Bulma frowned at the thought. If Yaumcha still believed something existed between them, then he was a very stupid man indeed. She looked down at her belly as a sharp pain twitched within her. She frowned but ignored it, continuing her thoughts. She was with Vegeta now, and he loved her.
Did he?
Just as she finished the thought two strong hands encompassed her in their grip, wrapping around her belly and pulling her backward. She sighed contentedly as she leaned into the steel body and twisted her head, looking into Vegeta's black eyes.
"We'll be leaving soon." He said. Spider lashed his tails around and curled up near the Sayajin Prince, at their feet. Bulma looked out the window, stroking the area between his thumb and index finger. She nodded slowly.
"And you harbor regrets?" he said, his face twisting into a soft glare.
Bulma shrugged. "I cannot say what I feel." She said. "I have changed so much, in so little time."
Vegeta thought of Arden's words back at Strifelon's. He twisted Bulma around in his grip and held her tighter against his body.
"Do you believe in fate?" he asked softly. Bulma could feel the growing arousal in his groin, and she shifted against it, her mouth parting slightly.
"Fate, Vegeta? You would be one to talk of such things to me?" she lifted her mouth to his and ran her lips lightly against his chin. "I believe fate has many things in store for us all."
She felt his wandering hands stray onto her belly and she stilled. Looking up into his eyes, Bulma felt her heart thud painfully in her chest.
"Then believe this," he leaned down and whispered into her ear. "I will not let you live your life a barren woman. I will never let anyone or anything hurt you." He lifted her chin. "And may it be that I will not be the most loving husband, nor the most attentive or understanding.but I will give you a child, Bulma, and I will protect and remain with it as I will you."
Bulma opened her mouth but no words came out. She felt the heat of his body and the warmth and love of his words, and found she had no tears. She felt only a deep relief that flooded her body and whispered to her of honesty.
"Do not lie to me, Vegeta, because I don't know if I could handle that." She whispered.
"I am not he, Bulma." He nipped at her chin. "Let me be with you as I would, and I will never be as he was."
Vegeta lifted her gently into his arms, his arousal growing within the heartbeat of every second. But it was a different lust than any he had experienced lately, and in this he was confused. He looked down into her blue eyes and had to tear himself away. For how could any lust stem from long buried emotions and a reluctant admittance? As he entered their room and lay her on the bed, touching every part of her, loving every moment of her skin, he knew only that he was changed, and that he would never quite be the same again.