Heya! Juppers, I'm back... again. :) Hope you're liking the fic so far.. Kami knows I'm loving writing it. :) I don't really have much to say this time (shocking, I know) So I'll just skip to the chappie now, kk?

Plugs: Chance Encounters, Renewed Love, and the Mystic, by MistyDea.. And Tangled Emotions, There You'll Be, by both Misty and Myself. (Shameless plug.. I know) The last two are posted under Vegetas-Princess, however. :-D

Disclaimer: Anyone want a roommate? I've got three I'd be more than happy to give you!! All males! All of them!! (must go together)

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The Vow: Broken Promises

Chapter Three: Why mates and exes should be kept separate...

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Last Time, on "The Vow."

One, Vegeta wouldn't be there in the morning.

And two, for the first time in her life, Bulma Briefs was terrified...

Terrified of her mate.

Terrified of her lover.

Terrified of...

Vegeta.

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Bulma wiped the sleep from her eyes quickly, confused for a moment as to why the Saiyan Prince wasn't beside her. After a moment though, she remembered, an angry scowl taking place on her pretty features.

"Asshole..." She muttered, before climbing from the bed. She walked toward the bathroom, but stopped suddenly as the humming of the gravity chamber caught her attention. "So, the little twerp's calling my bluff, is he? Well, I'll show him." She muttered to herself, before running to shower.. For the first time in Seven years, dead set on impressing her ex.

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Vegeta felt the increase in her ki as she awakened, and cursed silently to himself for not leaving. But, then again, where would he have gone? As much as he hated to admit it, his ten years at Capsule Corp had softened the Prince substantially. The idea of having to hunt for his own food seemed suddenly beneath him.

"Bitch" He muttered, before grabbing a towel, and heading for the shower located at the back of the chamber.

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A little under two hours later, Bulma was situated by the kitchen table, dressed in abnormally warm clothes for the season. Clothes that would hide the bruises on her arms.

She called Chichi quickly, and, upon getting the answering machine, left a message asking if she'd watch Trunks for another night, skirting carefully around the fight with Vegeta. There was no need for Trunks to know anything was wrong.

Shortly after that, she left the house, and hopped into her car, leaving the top down so that the wind could run through her hair.

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Yamcha yawned lazily as he stretched out on the couch. Dirty clothes were strewn about the room, and he made a note to himself that he needed to clean house... later.

His eyes moved unconsciously to a picture of himself, Bulma and Trunks in the hospital, that was hanging on his wall. Everyone seemed so happy then.. seemed being the key word. He knew Bulma would never be happy with him. To this day, he'd never regretted what he'd done. Kicked himself in the ass for it, perhaps... but never regretted it. She was happy with the arrogant prince, even if he treated her like shit.

A knock on his door shook him from his reverie, and he hopped up from the couch and jogged to the door, surprised when he found the object of his daydreams standing on the other side.

"Yamcha..." She greeted warmly as she wrapped her arms around the man's neck in a tight hug.

"Bulma!" He exclaimed, before he too returned the hug with equal warmth.

Try as she might, she couldn't hide the sharp intake of air as he embraced her. His arms were clenched tightly around the bruised skin, sending a sharp, shooting pain down her arm. Tears sprung to her eyes, but she quickly dried them away, praying silently that he hadn't noticed.

He had.

"What's wrong?" He half asked, half demanded.

"Nothing's wrong." She replied, a smile forced upon her face.

"Bullshit, Bulma. I know you better than that. And what's up with the clothes? It must be at least eighty degrees out there! Wanna tell me the REAL reason you're wearing long sleeves? Or do I have to force it out of you?"

"Honestly, Yamcha, nothing's wrong! I was a little cold when I woke up, so I put this on. Nothing more."

"Once again, Bullshit. You're the one that always tried to freeze me to death in my sleep, Bulma. Now, please, tell me what's wrong. I can't help if you don't."

"That's the problem, you'll try to help, and you can't!"

"Yes, I can. Now, take off the shirt." Yamcha replied, his gut twisting into horrid knots.

"Yamcha..." She started, before noticing the glare he sent her way. She reluctantly undid the buttons to her shirt, letting it fall open to reveal the lacy black bra underneath.

It was Yamcha's turn to gasp as her body came into view. He'd forgotten how beautiful she really was.

She let the shirt fall a little past her shoulders, in hopes that had satisfied him, but upon seeing the glare yet again, she let it fall completely to the floor. She turned her head away, for some reason ashamed.

"Fuck..." Yamcha spat, before running a finger lightly over the fresh bruises. "Oh Kami, Bulma...." He breathed, his gaze turning from sympathetic to downright murderous. "Why didn't you tell me?" He hissed, before forcing himself to look away from her battered body.

"He didn't mean to, Yamcha. he forgets I'm not as strong as he is. And I know he was trying not to hurt me, otherwise my arm would be completely broken by now."

"Bulma... I'm stronger than you are! And no matter how mad I got, I never did this!" He cried, a lone tear burning it's way down his cheek. He ran his hand over the bruised skin again, silently cursing himself as he shivered involuntarily at the close contact.

"You're two different people, Yamcha. You knew my boundaries even better than I do. Vegeta never cared to find out."

"Stop defending him, Bulma! He's a monster! Have you looked at yourself lately? Have you?" He questioned, before turning her around to face the mirror in the bedroom.

Bulma gasped aloud at her own reflection.

The bottom three quarters of her forearms were bruised... badly. Large red welts covered what little of the skin that wasn't a hideous purplish black color. She looked away quickly, her gaze falling on Yamcha yet again.

"I..I'm not defending him, Yamcha. He didn't mean it.. But I'm scared of him, and I can't stay with someone I fear." She replied softly.

"You know you and Trunks are always welcome here, though I'm really not sure how the little guy would take living her with me."

"I couldn't do that Yamcha. You have a life, and I couldn't take that away from you."

"You ARE my life Bulma... Always have been."

Bulma blushed slightly at the comment, before a sudden thought struck her.

"Yamcha.. I have an idea."

"What's that?" He questioned.

"Well, why don't you come to Capsule Corp instead? There's so much more room there.. And I'd feel a lot safer with you there. Not to mention that might not be as awkward on Trunks."

Yamcha shifted uncomfortably for a moment, before her pleading blue eyes once again talked him into it. "Fine.. Lemme grab a few things and we can go."

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The duo decided to drop by Chichi's first, and ask her to watch Trunks for a wee bit longer. Thankfully, the boys were outside playing with Piccolo, so the only ones to witness Bulma's bruises were Chichi.. and a very upset Gohan.

"Vegeta..." He hissed through clenched teeth, his anger evident by the golden hair and teal eyes he was currently sporting.

"No.. Stop it right now, young man! Don't you DARE get any ideas!" Bulma scolded, relieved when the young man powered down

"Bulma.. I can't let him do this to you! My father would never forgive me!"

"Your father isn't here, Gohan. And even if he was, it wouldn't matter. I'm a big girl, and I can take care of myself. One way or another." She replied, before pulling him into a gently hug. "Just take care of Trunks for me for a few days. I could never live with myself if he saw these." She said as she gestured to her arms.

"Bulma... fine. There's no use arguing with you anyway."

"Damn straight" The woman replied, before they said their goodbyes, and exited the tiny house.

As Yamcha was leaving, the Demi-Saiyan stopped him, and whispered a quick "Take care of her" into his ear. He gave one small nod, before following the blue haired beauty to the car.

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There, how was that? I know, still too short. But well, look at it this way.. It's the longest one yet! I know, I know, no excuse.. But it's midnight, I've updated three other stories, and to put it mildly, I'm tired as hell. :)

UPDATE LIST TIME!! If you wanna be added, email this little addy right here: Vegetas-Princess-Update-List-subscribe@topica.com Simple, ne?

Take care, guys! Love ya!!

~*Chante*~