Chapter 49: Goodbye's
Authors Notes: Well, I'm updating again. I just have to point something out: I know that Vegeta was five (I think. . . or was it 15?) when Vegetasei was destroyed, but I wrote him being eight years old in the flashback. Why? Because I wanted a semi-pre-pubescent Vegeta to appear to Bulma. I didn't want him to be -that- young. I know I shouldn't mess around with the DBZ timeline, but I already have, and. . . well, I say: Meh. If someone doesn't like that, sue me. It's my fanfic and I'll do whatever the heck I want to with it. ;) I'm sure you're all too happy that I'm updating again to be mad at me, anyway.
I know I'm also messing up the titles and numbers of some of my chapters. Hopefully that doesn't bother anyone too much.
P.S Thanks for all the nice reviews! (Bulmachick05...nice words! thank you!) I'm glad some of you are still loyal to me! And after I made you wait so long, too!
Well, enjoy!
Yes, Bulma decided. They would get through this. Everything -would- be OK.
The sun was quickly setting on R'haksin, which signalled that their time was running out. They were not on a schedule, but Bulma and Vegeta both knew that they needed to return to Earth as quickly as they could. Bulma hadn't thought about her Home in a long while, and now she found she was more than eager to return to her family and friends.
So many things had happened. How could she ever tell Chi-Chi all of it? She knew her friend would be estatic to see her, and even more estatic to know what had transpired on the strange planet known as R'haksin. Bulma's life had changed, and she knew there would be no getting out of it with Chi-Chi. She would want to know every last detail, no matter how ugly, and Bulma would be more than glad to tell her.
As Bulma kneeled beside Spider and Ghost, securing her knapsack around her shoulders, preparing to leave, her thoughts wandered to Yaumcha. What would he think, when he saw his once ago girlfriend emerge from a spaceship, wrapped in the arms of a man who had tried to kill them and decimate the planet? Better yet, how would he possibly react when she broke the news to everyone? She went over it in her mind. Maybe she would sit everyone down around the coffetable in the Brief's living room. Her mother would have cakes made. Bulma giggled at the thought of Piccolo snacking on a pink sugary treat while she stood up and announced, in a completely nonchalant tone; "By the way, I'm pregnant with Vegeta's son. Just thought I should tell you all."
"What are you laughing about?" Vegeta's annoyed voice broke through her daydream. She stood up beside him, watching him as he zippered up his jacket. He had demanded that he go with her to Strifelons. There was no way that she was going alone, anywhere. It seemed to Bulma that since she had become pregnant, Vegeta's attentions had become much more tender and protective, rather than sexual and mischevious. She couldn't claim to dislike it.
"I was just wondering how I'm going to tell everyone that I'm pregnant." She said softly.
Vegeta looked tired. She couldn't blame him; the mental effort it must have taken him to open up his Soul to her like that must have been exhuasting. Despite the fact that she was still a bit distraught and more than a bit angry with him, she put a hand on his shoulder and tried to smile. "I can't very well hide it from anyone."
Vegeta moved away from her touch. He was much colder than he was in the last few days, but for once, Bulma understood why. "Are you going to tell that weakling boyfriend of yours that he had better stay the hell away from you?" he growled. "You are mine, now. If he touches you, I'll kill him."
Bulma knew it to be more than a threat. She sighed, exasperated. "Vegeta, things are a lot different now. I'm not 'yours' you know. I'm not anyone's property. We're together, you and I, but I am still my own person. You do not 'own' me." She ignored the look on his face. "Yaumcha and I were over long ago, you know that. There's no reason for you to carry on like this." she paused. "I don't know how he'll react, but however he does, you most certainly cannot kill him."
Vegeta's eyes flashed angrily. "If he touches you, I will!"
"Yaumcha is an asshole, but he is still my friend. He has it in him to be a good person." She hiked her pack up higher on her shoulders and opened the door. "He is allowed to touch me in a friendly manner."
Vegeta took up pace beside her, Spider trotting alongside, easily taller than both of them. The sun had almost set behind the mountains, and Vegeta raised his Ki a tiny bit to give off a bit more light. Bulma jumped a bit at the sensation, but easily relaxed into it. It was comforting, somehow. "And what exaclty is a 'friendly' manner?" he growled.
Bulma rubbed at her temple with her one good hand. "Vegeta, I don't want to get into this right now. Can you just ditch the jealous act and be quiet for a bit?"
Grumbling, Vegeta obliged, much to Bulma's surprise. It took them but a few moments to walk to Strifelons. Bulma could feel joy swelling in her breast at the idea of meeting up with all of her friends again. She hadn't truly realized just how much they meant to her. She swallowed hard at the lump in her throat when she remembered that she was coming here to say goodbye.
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"It hasss been an adventure, yesss?" Strifelon said as he pulled away from Bulma's embrace. "You have come a long way, my dear."
Strifelon's house, be it dark and damp, always seemed cozy to Bulma. Perhaps it was because it was so very different from the bulidings on Earth that she was drawn to it. Smiling, she walked toward the table and undid the clasps on her knapsack, setting it down. "I have, haven't I?" She said aloud as she began to take small contents out of the pack. "I came here thinking I was going to die. Instead. . . I meet some of the nicest people I've ever known in my lifetime."
Strifelon's lips drew back to reveal his yellowed, razor sharp teeth. "I knew you were different, child, sssince the moment I sssaw you." He leveled at bony finger at her, his claw crooked. "Now, tell me what it isss that you have in mind." he nodded to her pack.
Vegeta stood by the doorway, watching Bulma carefully as she undid the plastic lid to a small tupperware container. His eyes narrowed as he wondered at what it was she was getting at.
"Remember I asked you about soil samples?" Bulma asked, holding the container to her chest. "Well, I brought this here to take some. I thought you would have some advice for me, or maybe some samples of your own that I could take back, for scientific purposes."
Strifelon's face visibly tensed at the mention of the soil samples. "I thought I told you I wasss not comfortable with the idea." He said simply, turning his back as he walked into the adjoining room where he kept his assorted vials and contraptions. Bulma watched his stooped back as he shuffled around through cabinets and cuppoards. "I do not want any trouble for our Planet." he said softly.
Bulma made a hopeful face as she watched him remove a small, rusted jar. "I give you my solemn promise that I won't bring attention, publicity or trouble to R'haksin." she said softly. "It would be the chance of lifetime for your race, Strifelon."
He turned to her, the cowl of his hood pulled up around his head. He clutched the rusted jar and leveled a curious look to her, his golden red eyes narrowed. "How do you propossse?" he asked.
"I told you before, my Father is the head of a wonderful team of very intelligent Scientists. I would convince my Father to keep the studies confined to our labratories and ours alone." she paused, giving him a reasurring smile. "My father is a good man. You can trust him, you can trust me. . . " she looked over her shoulder at Vegeta. "And you can trust him."
Strifelon smiled again, that curious old-man grin that Bulma loved so much about him. "Him, yesss." he said, watching Vegeta as the Sayajin grew more uncomfortable with each passing moment. "He hasss changed more than he caresss to admit."
Vegeta gave Strifelon his best 'I'm going to brutally disembowel you' glare. "What do you know, old man?" he crossed his arms and leaned more into the shadows.
Strifelon winked at Bulma. "I know that a man and hisss Pride are not easssily parted."
Vegeta's face paled for a split of a milisecond, before he resumed his glower. Bulma and Strifelon pretended not to notice, for the Prince's sake.
"Now." Strifelon shuffled over to Bulma and handed her the jar. "I do hate to disssuade a young Ssscientissst from furthering her career." He smiled at her as she took the jar. "There are many small bitsss of the Psssytrim in this jar. Hopefully, with your sssoil sssamplesss, it will be enough."
Bulma smiled and put the jar carefully into her backpack. "It's more than enough, Strifelon. Thank you! You won't be sorry, I promise!"
Strifelon shrugged, making a muttering noise that brought a smirk to Vegeta's lips. "I hope not, for both of our sssakesss." He said as he pulled out a chair to sit in. "Now, what let me sssee about that hand."
Vegeta's grin disipated, and Strifelon felt the immediate tension in the air between the Prince and the Earthling. Being tactful, he was careful not to say the wrong thing as Bulma sat across from him and gently moved her hand toward him. Strifelon eyed the darkening bruise with hidden discomfort, and avoided asking the question that would ultimately upset the mood.
"I accidentally slammed it in the doorway when I was working in the basement." Bulma said softly, saving him the trouble. She ignored looking at Vegeta as she said the words. "It hurts quite a bit. Is there anything you can do about it?"
"I can mend it." Strifelon said, a bit indignantly. "And I can give you a sssalve to apply, to eassse the throbbing." he lifted a thorny eyebrow as they made eye contact. "You mussst have ssslamed the door quite hard." Bulma's face contorted into a mask of embarrasment, shame, anger, and sorrow at the Storkrin's words. She pulled her hand away and put them in her lap, staring at them where they lay. Time ticked by uncomfortably, before Bulma gaped in open-mouthed astonishment as Vegeta approached the table and said the words that most definetely changed Strifelon's perception of the Prince forever afterward; "She broke it slamming me in the face, old man. She got a bit fiesty when I said I wouldn't eat her cooking if it was the last edible morsel in the universe." he smirked, ignoring the way Bulma sputtered. Strifelon eyed the Prince for a moment, and something unseen passed between the two.
"I hope it wasss not in vain, then." Strifelon said at last, after a barley perceptible nod from the Prince. He reached for Bulma's hand again as she tried unsucessfully to smile. Strangely, she could feel tears swelling up in her eyes. Damnit! She didn't want to cry, not here and now. Lately she had been an uncontrolable rollercoaster of emotion, helpless to take the reins and pull herself back in. Why had Vegeta said that? Was he trying to bait her? Was it his own strange way of stepping into the apology circle?
She lifted her eyes to him as Strifelon stood up to get gauze and medical supplies from the other room. Vegeta's dark eyes were lowered, but not enough that she couldn't look at him.
For you.
She gasped aloud as she heard the words spoken in her mind. It had been Vegeta's voice, she was sure of it. Strifelon returned to the table with gauze, salve and a contraption that Bulma didn't recognize. Without giving her time to think, he gently took her hand and began to slowly wrap gauze around her palm, over and over until it was nice and thick. He secured it with a pin.
"The sssalve ssshould take away sssome of the pain. You will have to wait until you return to Earth to receive proper medical attention." Strifelon said, settling back into his chair. "You will need much medical attention, my dear. Much."
Bulma nodded, feeling the tears returning again. She still couldn't make sense of the words she had heard inside her head. Vegeta was ignoring her again, staring off into the corner where he had wandered to. She met Strifelon's eyes and tried to smile. "Yes. I will. Thank you Strifelon, for everything you've done for me." she sniffled. "I've. . . come to say goodbye."
"I know, Bulma." Strifelon said softly, standing up from the table. He held his arms out to the Earthling, who walked into them easily. Bulma wrapped her arms around his thick torso and put her head gently into his chest. She held on to him and cried much the same way a small child would embrace a beloved Grandfather. Vegeta had the tact at least, to make a graceful exit. Bulma hardly noticed him leave as she hugged Strifelon tight.
"You've done so much for me." She said. "I couldn't have done any of this without you."
Strifelon smiled. "You are a ssstrong woman, Bulma. You did mossst of it yourssself." he stroked her hair and then pulled away. "Take care of yourssself, and your baby."
Bulma's eyes widened and she gasped, looking up at him. "How. . . ? Did Koru or Arden tell you?"
Strifelon winked at her. "One knowsss many thingsss, when you are thisss old." he lifted her chin as she started to sniffle. "You are ssscared, are you not?"
"I don't know what Vegeta will think. I've told him. . . but he's never had a child. He's never. . . he's never done any of these things. It's very new to him, and very frightening. Sometimes, I don't think he knows how to cope."
Strifelon held her at arms length and smiled, the wrinkles in his face deepening. "Vegeta isss a proud, ssstubborn man, but he isss no fool. He knowsss what he hasss. He would not be ssso foolisssh asss to let it go."
Bulma let a trickle of hope flood into her. She smiled, wiping at her eyes. "I think so, too." she sighed.
"Now, child. Take care of yourssself, and do not be afraid. You will remember me, yesss?"
"Of course I will! How could I forget any of you?"
Strifelon smiled. "It hasss been an adventure, indeed."
___________
Koru opened her door to Bulma with a look that both of them knew. She smiled, instantly pulling Bulma into a hug. "I know why you're here." She said softly, rubbing Bulma's back. "I've never been one for sappy goodbye's. . . but I'll try."
Koru had known Bulma was coming to say goodbye. It was a sort of internal Storkrin instinct that had let her know her friend's motives. She had been sad, truly sad, at the prospect of saying goodbye to Bulma, the only friend she had ever known, but she was also filled with joy. So many things had happened since the strange Earthling had survived, things both terrible and wonderful. Bulma was going to have a baby, and had found Love. For this, Koru smiled for her.
Bulma pulled away from the warm woman's embrace. "I just came from Strifelon's. He let me take some soil samples."
Koru grinned. "You would have taken them anyway."
Bulma giggled. "You're right." She noticed Koru looking at her hand. For a moment, she was going to tell her that she had slammed it in the door, when she remembered how Vegeta had owned up to it. "Vegeta and I had a little tiff." she said in explanation. "I whacked him good."
Koru laughed. "Looks like you did! Good thing he's a Sayajin, and strong enough. Although by the look's of it, you must have left a mark! Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Bulma said, laughing now. "And to think I'm merely a 'lowly woman". She took off her knapsack. "I have something to give you, Koru."
Koru raised an eyebrow. "You have given me enough, Bulma." she paused. "Is it cheese?"
Both the women erupted into laughter at the mention of the picnic they had made Vegeta endure. It had brought out happiness in all of them, even the stoic Prince. "Vegeta's waiting outside." Bulma said. "I told him. . . that I wanted to say goodbye to you alone."
Koru nodded. "I would like to say my thanks to him." she said. "He has helped me."
Bulma sighed, following the Storkin woman toward the table. "Vegeta isn't very good at open thanks or emotion. You sure you want to talk to him?" she lowered her eyes. "He's a bit. . . sour right now."
Koru placed a hand on Bulma's knee. "Are you two doing alright?"
Bulma found that the smile came easily to her face. "Yes." She said slowly, aloud to herself. "We are. I thought that for a moment there, we wouldn't be. But. . ." she looked toward the doorway where she knew Vegeta waited outside. "He's changed."
"I hope for the better." Koru said with a wink.
Bulma straightened in her chair. "How about you and Arden?" she asked. "How are you two doing?"
Koru seemed thouroughly embarrased as a blush crossed over her stony cheeks. "We are. . . doing more than alright." She said softly, behind her hand. "Arden is wonderful."
Bulma smiled. "I'm so happy for you, Koru. You deserve him. You deserve everything."
A silence filled the room between the two women, but not the sort that made a pair uncomfortable. It was a wise silence, a knowing silence that let both the women sit comfortably in their chairs as pleasantries drifted through their minds.
Yes. Bulma thought. So many things -have- happened. . . and most of them have been for the better.
She lifted her suddenly sad eyes to her friend. "I don't want to say goodbye to you, Koru." She sniffled.
Koru gave her a sympathetic smile. "Nor do I want to wish you farewell, Bulma. You have been my only friend, and I would love to cerish you here. . . but you have so many things waiting for you. Your home. Your family, and friends." she paused. "A man who truly loves you. And a wonderful new life within. I wish that there was some way we could stay in touch."
At that, Bulma smiled. She reached toward her knapsack and removed the object she had been working on for the last few weeks. "I think I may be able to arrange that."
"What is it?" Koru asked in wonder, taking the small mettalic object carefully into her clawed hands.
"A communicator." Bulma replied proudly. "I built it myself, with some spare parts. I have the other half of it. Through it, we can communicate to one another."
Koru looked baffled. "All the way from Earth?" she asked, incredulous. She turned the object over and over in her hands, inspecting every inch of it.
"Yep." Bulma nodded. "Neat, isn't it? My father showed me how to make them. It's not too complicated. Here, I'll show you how to work it."
Koru learned fast. Within moments, she had the communicator turned on and in working order. She smiled as she held it to her chest, as though it were a precious treasure. "This means so much to me, Bulma. I'll be able to talk to you, whenever I want."
"If it malfunctions, Strifelon should be able to help you." Bulma said. She sighed, thinking of the time. "I don't want to go, Koru. . . but Vegeta and I need to do some small repairs on the ship before we go, and. . . "
Koru smiled. "What a wonderful goodbye present, Bulma. I wish I had something to give you."
"Like you said, Koru. You've given me enough."
Koru smiled.
__________
Outside, it was dark enough that Bulma took a moment to find Vegeta. He was sitting crosslegged on the ground, his knees pulled up and his arms resting over them. Bulma knew that he knew she was watching, but she couldn't help but stand and admire the strange man she had come to Love.
Vegeta gave no indication that she was bothering him. He seemed to be in a trance-like state, and for a moment, Bulma wondered if he -did- know she was there. The hot, dry wind blew through his upsweep of hair. His jacket, half open, flapped gently in the breeze, giving Bulma a quick peek at his muscular chest. The last fading rays of the sun had found their way across R'haksin and gently caressed his face, giving his skin a faded, crimson look. She smiled and approached him.
"Cold?" She asked as she came to a stop beside him. She stood, one hand holding her elbow as she let her injured hand lay against her cheek. The wind blew through her hair as well, and she turned her face toward the sky, staring at the stars.
"Hn." Vegeta replied, a short noncommittal grunt. He looked down, his face seemingly at an unease. "Sayajin's do not get cold."
Bulma found herself laughing. "Right, because only 'weakling' Humans do, right?" she closed her eyes as the breeze washed over her heated skin. "Well, I'm not cold, and I'm Human."
"You are a fool." Vegeta replied softly. "You do not know what you get yourself into."
"You did not give me much warning."
"Reckless."
Bulma turned her face down to him, her hair falling around her features. She narrowed her eyes, a curious smile on her face. "Me, reckless? I do not rush into battles headfirst, with no regards as to what may happen."
Vegeta snorted. "Are you saying I do?"
"I am saying that."
He smirked. "I rush into battles because I win them." he said quietly.
"There are some battles that cannot be won, Vegeta." Bulma whispered. "There are some times. . ." she paused and put a hand on his forehead, letting her fingers dance along his hairline, softly running through his hair. "When you simply have to accept what is, and go along with it."
Her words hurt him, and terrified him, because he knew their worth. "I always win." he replied, so softly that Bulma had to strain to hear him.
Bulma let the question hang in the air a moment before she asked. "Will you win this battle?"
For a moment, she wasn't sure if she would get an answer, and for a moment, she wasn't sure if she wanted one. Maybe it would just be best, just be for the better, to simply stand and listen to the nothingness around them. Watch the rays vanish behind the mountains. Listen to the distance waves of the rivers. Watch the stars as they moved and passed between one another, never changing themselves, yet always changing the paths of others. Maybe, just for a moment, they could be like this, and nothing would matter, and no one would worry, and no baby would kick at her and remind her of her headfirst rush into darkness with a man she knew nothing and yet everything of. Maybe. . .
And then, just as she was beginning to lose hope, when she was ready to turn around and return to the ship, return to sleep without unanswered questions, Vegeta did something that made her stay. Without saying a word, he gently lay his head against the side of Bulma's leg, letting her hands dift into his hair.
And then, Bulma got her answer.
And it was perfect.
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Authors Notes: Well, I'm updating again. I just have to point something out: I know that Vegeta was five (I think. . . or was it 15?) when Vegetasei was destroyed, but I wrote him being eight years old in the flashback. Why? Because I wanted a semi-pre-pubescent Vegeta to appear to Bulma. I didn't want him to be -that- young. I know I shouldn't mess around with the DBZ timeline, but I already have, and. . . well, I say: Meh. If someone doesn't like that, sue me. It's my fanfic and I'll do whatever the heck I want to with it. ;) I'm sure you're all too happy that I'm updating again to be mad at me, anyway.
I know I'm also messing up the titles and numbers of some of my chapters. Hopefully that doesn't bother anyone too much.
P.S Thanks for all the nice reviews! (Bulmachick05...nice words! thank you!) I'm glad some of you are still loyal to me! And after I made you wait so long, too!
Well, enjoy!
Yes, Bulma decided. They would get through this. Everything -would- be OK.
The sun was quickly setting on R'haksin, which signalled that their time was running out. They were not on a schedule, but Bulma and Vegeta both knew that they needed to return to Earth as quickly as they could. Bulma hadn't thought about her Home in a long while, and now she found she was more than eager to return to her family and friends.
So many things had happened. How could she ever tell Chi-Chi all of it? She knew her friend would be estatic to see her, and even more estatic to know what had transpired on the strange planet known as R'haksin. Bulma's life had changed, and she knew there would be no getting out of it with Chi-Chi. She would want to know every last detail, no matter how ugly, and Bulma would be more than glad to tell her.
As Bulma kneeled beside Spider and Ghost, securing her knapsack around her shoulders, preparing to leave, her thoughts wandered to Yaumcha. What would he think, when he saw his once ago girlfriend emerge from a spaceship, wrapped in the arms of a man who had tried to kill them and decimate the planet? Better yet, how would he possibly react when she broke the news to everyone? She went over it in her mind. Maybe she would sit everyone down around the coffetable in the Brief's living room. Her mother would have cakes made. Bulma giggled at the thought of Piccolo snacking on a pink sugary treat while she stood up and announced, in a completely nonchalant tone; "By the way, I'm pregnant with Vegeta's son. Just thought I should tell you all."
"What are you laughing about?" Vegeta's annoyed voice broke through her daydream. She stood up beside him, watching him as he zippered up his jacket. He had demanded that he go with her to Strifelons. There was no way that she was going alone, anywhere. It seemed to Bulma that since she had become pregnant, Vegeta's attentions had become much more tender and protective, rather than sexual and mischevious. She couldn't claim to dislike it.
"I was just wondering how I'm going to tell everyone that I'm pregnant." She said softly.
Vegeta looked tired. She couldn't blame him; the mental effort it must have taken him to open up his Soul to her like that must have been exhuasting. Despite the fact that she was still a bit distraught and more than a bit angry with him, she put a hand on his shoulder and tried to smile. "I can't very well hide it from anyone."
Vegeta moved away from her touch. He was much colder than he was in the last few days, but for once, Bulma understood why. "Are you going to tell that weakling boyfriend of yours that he had better stay the hell away from you?" he growled. "You are mine, now. If he touches you, I'll kill him."
Bulma knew it to be more than a threat. She sighed, exasperated. "Vegeta, things are a lot different now. I'm not 'yours' you know. I'm not anyone's property. We're together, you and I, but I am still my own person. You do not 'own' me." She ignored the look on his face. "Yaumcha and I were over long ago, you know that. There's no reason for you to carry on like this." she paused. "I don't know how he'll react, but however he does, you most certainly cannot kill him."
Vegeta's eyes flashed angrily. "If he touches you, I will!"
"Yaumcha is an asshole, but he is still my friend. He has it in him to be a good person." She hiked her pack up higher on her shoulders and opened the door. "He is allowed to touch me in a friendly manner."
Vegeta took up pace beside her, Spider trotting alongside, easily taller than both of them. The sun had almost set behind the mountains, and Vegeta raised his Ki a tiny bit to give off a bit more light. Bulma jumped a bit at the sensation, but easily relaxed into it. It was comforting, somehow. "And what exaclty is a 'friendly' manner?" he growled.
Bulma rubbed at her temple with her one good hand. "Vegeta, I don't want to get into this right now. Can you just ditch the jealous act and be quiet for a bit?"
Grumbling, Vegeta obliged, much to Bulma's surprise. It took them but a few moments to walk to Strifelons. Bulma could feel joy swelling in her breast at the idea of meeting up with all of her friends again. She hadn't truly realized just how much they meant to her. She swallowed hard at the lump in her throat when she remembered that she was coming here to say goodbye.
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"It hasss been an adventure, yesss?" Strifelon said as he pulled away from Bulma's embrace. "You have come a long way, my dear."
Strifelon's house, be it dark and damp, always seemed cozy to Bulma. Perhaps it was because it was so very different from the bulidings on Earth that she was drawn to it. Smiling, she walked toward the table and undid the clasps on her knapsack, setting it down. "I have, haven't I?" She said aloud as she began to take small contents out of the pack. "I came here thinking I was going to die. Instead. . . I meet some of the nicest people I've ever known in my lifetime."
Strifelon's lips drew back to reveal his yellowed, razor sharp teeth. "I knew you were different, child, sssince the moment I sssaw you." He leveled at bony finger at her, his claw crooked. "Now, tell me what it isss that you have in mind." he nodded to her pack.
Vegeta stood by the doorway, watching Bulma carefully as she undid the plastic lid to a small tupperware container. His eyes narrowed as he wondered at what it was she was getting at.
"Remember I asked you about soil samples?" Bulma asked, holding the container to her chest. "Well, I brought this here to take some. I thought you would have some advice for me, or maybe some samples of your own that I could take back, for scientific purposes."
Strifelon's face visibly tensed at the mention of the soil samples. "I thought I told you I wasss not comfortable with the idea." He said simply, turning his back as he walked into the adjoining room where he kept his assorted vials and contraptions. Bulma watched his stooped back as he shuffled around through cabinets and cuppoards. "I do not want any trouble for our Planet." he said softly.
Bulma made a hopeful face as she watched him remove a small, rusted jar. "I give you my solemn promise that I won't bring attention, publicity or trouble to R'haksin." she said softly. "It would be the chance of lifetime for your race, Strifelon."
He turned to her, the cowl of his hood pulled up around his head. He clutched the rusted jar and leveled a curious look to her, his golden red eyes narrowed. "How do you propossse?" he asked.
"I told you before, my Father is the head of a wonderful team of very intelligent Scientists. I would convince my Father to keep the studies confined to our labratories and ours alone." she paused, giving him a reasurring smile. "My father is a good man. You can trust him, you can trust me. . . " she looked over her shoulder at Vegeta. "And you can trust him."
Strifelon smiled again, that curious old-man grin that Bulma loved so much about him. "Him, yesss." he said, watching Vegeta as the Sayajin grew more uncomfortable with each passing moment. "He hasss changed more than he caresss to admit."
Vegeta gave Strifelon his best 'I'm going to brutally disembowel you' glare. "What do you know, old man?" he crossed his arms and leaned more into the shadows.
Strifelon winked at Bulma. "I know that a man and hisss Pride are not easssily parted."
Vegeta's face paled for a split of a milisecond, before he resumed his glower. Bulma and Strifelon pretended not to notice, for the Prince's sake.
"Now." Strifelon shuffled over to Bulma and handed her the jar. "I do hate to disssuade a young Ssscientissst from furthering her career." He smiled at her as she took the jar. "There are many small bitsss of the Psssytrim in this jar. Hopefully, with your sssoil sssamplesss, it will be enough."
Bulma smiled and put the jar carefully into her backpack. "It's more than enough, Strifelon. Thank you! You won't be sorry, I promise!"
Strifelon shrugged, making a muttering noise that brought a smirk to Vegeta's lips. "I hope not, for both of our sssakesss." He said as he pulled out a chair to sit in. "Now, what let me sssee about that hand."
Vegeta's grin disipated, and Strifelon felt the immediate tension in the air between the Prince and the Earthling. Being tactful, he was careful not to say the wrong thing as Bulma sat across from him and gently moved her hand toward him. Strifelon eyed the darkening bruise with hidden discomfort, and avoided asking the question that would ultimately upset the mood.
"I accidentally slammed it in the doorway when I was working in the basement." Bulma said softly, saving him the trouble. She ignored looking at Vegeta as she said the words. "It hurts quite a bit. Is there anything you can do about it?"
"I can mend it." Strifelon said, a bit indignantly. "And I can give you a sssalve to apply, to eassse the throbbing." he lifted a thorny eyebrow as they made eye contact. "You mussst have ssslamed the door quite hard." Bulma's face contorted into a mask of embarrasment, shame, anger, and sorrow at the Storkrin's words. She pulled her hand away and put them in her lap, staring at them where they lay. Time ticked by uncomfortably, before Bulma gaped in open-mouthed astonishment as Vegeta approached the table and said the words that most definetely changed Strifelon's perception of the Prince forever afterward; "She broke it slamming me in the face, old man. She got a bit fiesty when I said I wouldn't eat her cooking if it was the last edible morsel in the universe." he smirked, ignoring the way Bulma sputtered. Strifelon eyed the Prince for a moment, and something unseen passed between the two.
"I hope it wasss not in vain, then." Strifelon said at last, after a barley perceptible nod from the Prince. He reached for Bulma's hand again as she tried unsucessfully to smile. Strangely, she could feel tears swelling up in her eyes. Damnit! She didn't want to cry, not here and now. Lately she had been an uncontrolable rollercoaster of emotion, helpless to take the reins and pull herself back in. Why had Vegeta said that? Was he trying to bait her? Was it his own strange way of stepping into the apology circle?
She lifted her eyes to him as Strifelon stood up to get gauze and medical supplies from the other room. Vegeta's dark eyes were lowered, but not enough that she couldn't look at him.
For you.
She gasped aloud as she heard the words spoken in her mind. It had been Vegeta's voice, she was sure of it. Strifelon returned to the table with gauze, salve and a contraption that Bulma didn't recognize. Without giving her time to think, he gently took her hand and began to slowly wrap gauze around her palm, over and over until it was nice and thick. He secured it with a pin.
"The sssalve ssshould take away sssome of the pain. You will have to wait until you return to Earth to receive proper medical attention." Strifelon said, settling back into his chair. "You will need much medical attention, my dear. Much."
Bulma nodded, feeling the tears returning again. She still couldn't make sense of the words she had heard inside her head. Vegeta was ignoring her again, staring off into the corner where he had wandered to. She met Strifelon's eyes and tried to smile. "Yes. I will. Thank you Strifelon, for everything you've done for me." she sniffled. "I've. . . come to say goodbye."
"I know, Bulma." Strifelon said softly, standing up from the table. He held his arms out to the Earthling, who walked into them easily. Bulma wrapped her arms around his thick torso and put her head gently into his chest. She held on to him and cried much the same way a small child would embrace a beloved Grandfather. Vegeta had the tact at least, to make a graceful exit. Bulma hardly noticed him leave as she hugged Strifelon tight.
"You've done so much for me." She said. "I couldn't have done any of this without you."
Strifelon smiled. "You are a ssstrong woman, Bulma. You did mossst of it yourssself." he stroked her hair and then pulled away. "Take care of yourssself, and your baby."
Bulma's eyes widened and she gasped, looking up at him. "How. . . ? Did Koru or Arden tell you?"
Strifelon winked at her. "One knowsss many thingsss, when you are thisss old." he lifted her chin as she started to sniffle. "You are ssscared, are you not?"
"I don't know what Vegeta will think. I've told him. . . but he's never had a child. He's never. . . he's never done any of these things. It's very new to him, and very frightening. Sometimes, I don't think he knows how to cope."
Strifelon held her at arms length and smiled, the wrinkles in his face deepening. "Vegeta isss a proud, ssstubborn man, but he isss no fool. He knowsss what he hasss. He would not be ssso foolisssh asss to let it go."
Bulma let a trickle of hope flood into her. She smiled, wiping at her eyes. "I think so, too." she sighed.
"Now, child. Take care of yourssself, and do not be afraid. You will remember me, yesss?"
"Of course I will! How could I forget any of you?"
Strifelon smiled. "It hasss been an adventure, indeed."
___________
Koru opened her door to Bulma with a look that both of them knew. She smiled, instantly pulling Bulma into a hug. "I know why you're here." She said softly, rubbing Bulma's back. "I've never been one for sappy goodbye's. . . but I'll try."
Koru had known Bulma was coming to say goodbye. It was a sort of internal Storkrin instinct that had let her know her friend's motives. She had been sad, truly sad, at the prospect of saying goodbye to Bulma, the only friend she had ever known, but she was also filled with joy. So many things had happened since the strange Earthling had survived, things both terrible and wonderful. Bulma was going to have a baby, and had found Love. For this, Koru smiled for her.
Bulma pulled away from the warm woman's embrace. "I just came from Strifelon's. He let me take some soil samples."
Koru grinned. "You would have taken them anyway."
Bulma giggled. "You're right." She noticed Koru looking at her hand. For a moment, she was going to tell her that she had slammed it in the door, when she remembered how Vegeta had owned up to it. "Vegeta and I had a little tiff." she said in explanation. "I whacked him good."
Koru laughed. "Looks like you did! Good thing he's a Sayajin, and strong enough. Although by the look's of it, you must have left a mark! Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Bulma said, laughing now. "And to think I'm merely a 'lowly woman". She took off her knapsack. "I have something to give you, Koru."
Koru raised an eyebrow. "You have given me enough, Bulma." she paused. "Is it cheese?"
Both the women erupted into laughter at the mention of the picnic they had made Vegeta endure. It had brought out happiness in all of them, even the stoic Prince. "Vegeta's waiting outside." Bulma said. "I told him. . . that I wanted to say goodbye to you alone."
Koru nodded. "I would like to say my thanks to him." she said. "He has helped me."
Bulma sighed, following the Storkin woman toward the table. "Vegeta isn't very good at open thanks or emotion. You sure you want to talk to him?" she lowered her eyes. "He's a bit. . . sour right now."
Koru placed a hand on Bulma's knee. "Are you two doing alright?"
Bulma found that the smile came easily to her face. "Yes." She said slowly, aloud to herself. "We are. I thought that for a moment there, we wouldn't be. But. . ." she looked toward the doorway where she knew Vegeta waited outside. "He's changed."
"I hope for the better." Koru said with a wink.
Bulma straightened in her chair. "How about you and Arden?" she asked. "How are you two doing?"
Koru seemed thouroughly embarrased as a blush crossed over her stony cheeks. "We are. . . doing more than alright." She said softly, behind her hand. "Arden is wonderful."
Bulma smiled. "I'm so happy for you, Koru. You deserve him. You deserve everything."
A silence filled the room between the two women, but not the sort that made a pair uncomfortable. It was a wise silence, a knowing silence that let both the women sit comfortably in their chairs as pleasantries drifted through their minds.
Yes. Bulma thought. So many things -have- happened. . . and most of them have been for the better.
She lifted her suddenly sad eyes to her friend. "I don't want to say goodbye to you, Koru." She sniffled.
Koru gave her a sympathetic smile. "Nor do I want to wish you farewell, Bulma. You have been my only friend, and I would love to cerish you here. . . but you have so many things waiting for you. Your home. Your family, and friends." she paused. "A man who truly loves you. And a wonderful new life within. I wish that there was some way we could stay in touch."
At that, Bulma smiled. She reached toward her knapsack and removed the object she had been working on for the last few weeks. "I think I may be able to arrange that."
"What is it?" Koru asked in wonder, taking the small mettalic object carefully into her clawed hands.
"A communicator." Bulma replied proudly. "I built it myself, with some spare parts. I have the other half of it. Through it, we can communicate to one another."
Koru looked baffled. "All the way from Earth?" she asked, incredulous. She turned the object over and over in her hands, inspecting every inch of it.
"Yep." Bulma nodded. "Neat, isn't it? My father showed me how to make them. It's not too complicated. Here, I'll show you how to work it."
Koru learned fast. Within moments, she had the communicator turned on and in working order. She smiled as she held it to her chest, as though it were a precious treasure. "This means so much to me, Bulma. I'll be able to talk to you, whenever I want."
"If it malfunctions, Strifelon should be able to help you." Bulma said. She sighed, thinking of the time. "I don't want to go, Koru. . . but Vegeta and I need to do some small repairs on the ship before we go, and. . . "
Koru smiled. "What a wonderful goodbye present, Bulma. I wish I had something to give you."
"Like you said, Koru. You've given me enough."
Koru smiled.
__________
Outside, it was dark enough that Bulma took a moment to find Vegeta. He was sitting crosslegged on the ground, his knees pulled up and his arms resting over them. Bulma knew that he knew she was watching, but she couldn't help but stand and admire the strange man she had come to Love.
Vegeta gave no indication that she was bothering him. He seemed to be in a trance-like state, and for a moment, Bulma wondered if he -did- know she was there. The hot, dry wind blew through his upsweep of hair. His jacket, half open, flapped gently in the breeze, giving Bulma a quick peek at his muscular chest. The last fading rays of the sun had found their way across R'haksin and gently caressed his face, giving his skin a faded, crimson look. She smiled and approached him.
"Cold?" She asked as she came to a stop beside him. She stood, one hand holding her elbow as she let her injured hand lay against her cheek. The wind blew through her hair as well, and she turned her face toward the sky, staring at the stars.
"Hn." Vegeta replied, a short noncommittal grunt. He looked down, his face seemingly at an unease. "Sayajin's do not get cold."
Bulma found herself laughing. "Right, because only 'weakling' Humans do, right?" she closed her eyes as the breeze washed over her heated skin. "Well, I'm not cold, and I'm Human."
"You are a fool." Vegeta replied softly. "You do not know what you get yourself into."
"You did not give me much warning."
"Reckless."
Bulma turned her face down to him, her hair falling around her features. She narrowed her eyes, a curious smile on her face. "Me, reckless? I do not rush into battles headfirst, with no regards as to what may happen."
Vegeta snorted. "Are you saying I do?"
"I am saying that."
He smirked. "I rush into battles because I win them." he said quietly.
"There are some battles that cannot be won, Vegeta." Bulma whispered. "There are some times. . ." she paused and put a hand on his forehead, letting her fingers dance along his hairline, softly running through his hair. "When you simply have to accept what is, and go along with it."
Her words hurt him, and terrified him, because he knew their worth. "I always win." he replied, so softly that Bulma had to strain to hear him.
Bulma let the question hang in the air a moment before she asked. "Will you win this battle?"
For a moment, she wasn't sure if she would get an answer, and for a moment, she wasn't sure if she wanted one. Maybe it would just be best, just be for the better, to simply stand and listen to the nothingness around them. Watch the rays vanish behind the mountains. Listen to the distance waves of the rivers. Watch the stars as they moved and passed between one another, never changing themselves, yet always changing the paths of others. Maybe, just for a moment, they could be like this, and nothing would matter, and no one would worry, and no baby would kick at her and remind her of her headfirst rush into darkness with a man she knew nothing and yet everything of. Maybe. . .
And then, just as she was beginning to lose hope, when she was ready to turn around and return to the ship, return to sleep without unanswered questions, Vegeta did something that made her stay. Without saying a word, he gently lay his head against the side of Bulma's leg, letting her hands dift into his hair.
And then, Bulma got her answer.
And it was perfect.
______________