Disclaimer; Don't own it….yet…..Mwa ha ha
A/N; I have another new chapter. Sorry it's kinda short, but the next one will be real good, I promise. Thanks to everyone who reviews the last chapter, I really love reading what you all think about my story. ~D.B
P.S; Funky Munky I really wish I could tell you why this story is called And Then You'll Know, but the truth is…I can't remember. Back when I was writing the prologue I planned on taking the story in an entirely different direction than what I ended up doing, but now I can't even remember what that was.
Anyway, this chapter is dedicated to you.
And Then You'll KnowChapter 34
1 year. 12 months. 365 days. Whichever way you put it, it meant the same thing. Today marked exactly one year since 18 had been so violently thrust into this life. She was quite amazed, that she had managed to survive this long actually.
She really felt like she had accomplished something by surviving down here, though she wasn't sure why. Her brother had done it for years now. But still, no one had said anything. She guessed this was the equivalent of forgetting someone's birthday. She sighed deeply; she would give anything to be able to remember what day her birthday was. The way she worked it, the very first day of the year, she became a year older. She had lost so much of her memory back when her father and Gero had 'improved' her. She had an inkling they had left her the memories of her tormented childhood just to spite her. Sometimes she had dreams or her past, but they were fuzzy, short, and more often than not, horrifying. She guessed she would never really know if the things she dreamed about ever actually happened, or if it was just her mind playing cruel tricks on her.
"Hey" 18 jumped, the new voice surprising her. She looked up to see her brother walking towards her.
"17, you shocked me," she said, following 17 with her eyes as he sat down next to her on the bed.
17 was quiet for a few minutes, but when he did speak, there was a tone in his voice that 18 had never heard before, he sounded so serious. "18…I…I know this probably isn't an easy day for you. Don't think I've forgotten. I thought you might need someone to talk to. Someone who maybe, can relate to what you're feeling"
"Remember when we we're young 17, and we used to lay in the yard and make pictures out of the clouds?"
17's face was blank, "no" he replied.
18 didn't look at him, instead her gaze dropped down to the floor, "me either" she said, her voice barely even a whisper. "I can't believe it's been a whole year. It doesn't seem like that long"
"Yeah," 17 mused out loud "a whole year since I got you back"
"You never lost me 17. I was just…on vacation"
17 shook his head and a small smile wormed its way onto his face. Even on today of all days, she had managed to make him feel better. "Well I'm glad you came back. Though I never did get a souvenir" he joked.
18 looked up and across at him and rolled her eyes, "trust me 17, you would not want a souvenir from where I was".
17 laughed, the mood in the cold room suddenly becoming a lot brighter. "Well, I know this is supposed to be a bad day and all, but I have some good news"
18 arched an eyebrow; she was extremely skeptical about the prospect of good news "what?" she asked
"I spoke to Krillen, and Tar and I are moving out of his room"
"What?" 18 asked again "really?"
"Yeah, we told him we felt we had way overstayed our welcome, and he suggested a switch"
"A switch?"
17 nodded eagerly "yeah, he's been using a room in the guest quarters, and he said we could have that, and he'll have his own room back. He says there really nice, and we wont have to be so quiet or anything. Which will be especially good when the baby comes"
18 smiled, this was good news.
"We're making the switch tonight"
***
"Krillen!" 18 shrieked in a loud whisper, trying very hard not to laugh. It was almost 2am, and the halls were deserted. They were in the part of the palace the contained the kitchen, which was very far away from where anyone was actually sleeping, but still they had to be quiet.
But that didn't mean they couldn't have a little fun.
They had been making their way towards his room, to fetch 17 and Tarie, when Krillen had decided he had wanted to catch 18, she of course didn't want to be caught and had ran. It hadn't taken Krillen long at all to catch her and get her to the ground. Which was where they currently were.
"Krillen, you are so evil, get off me!" she tried to hit him, but he caught he fists and kissed her. He had been surprised at first that 18 was so responsive, she usually wasn't the playful type. Maybe he had just never gotten her at the right time. Well, in any case, he couldn't say he didn't like it.
"Me? Evil! Yeah right" he said and kissed her again, then helped her up off the ground. They had only taken a few steps forward when Krillen swept her up off her feet and into his arms, like he was cradling her, carrying her like she weighted nothing.
"Would an evil man carry you around like this? Or would he just drop you, like this?" he said, and let go of her, only to catch her again a second later.
18 scowled at him in the dark hallway "I swear Krillen, if you drop me…" she threatened.
"Relax babe," he said as he held her closer, "do you really think I'd drop you?"
It was only a matter of minutes until they were at Krillens bedroom. 18 – who was still in Krillens arms – knocked gently on the door, and they waited. The look 17 flashed them when he swung open the door was priceless and 18 had to bury her head in the crook of Krillens neck to stifle her laughter.
"You ready to go?" asked Krillen
"Yeah, almost. Tarie is just straightening up for you"
"You don't have to do that" insisted Krillen
"It's ok" said Tarie, as she came up beside 17, "I'm done"
Krillen quietly lead the couple down the halls of the palace, they hadn't had to worry about noise before, but now, they were walking right past peoples bedrooms, so they had to be extra quiet. Soon though, they got to the guest quarters, and Krillen opened up a room. 17 flicked on the light and took a look around, and he had to admit, he was impressed.
They weren't rooms, they were small houses. Right now, he was standing in the living room, which was connected to a kitchen. Krillen answered his mental questions as to what was behind the doors.
"The first door is a bathroom, and the other 2 are bedrooms. You'll find everything you need in there, beds, shampoo, food, and if there is anything you need – anything at all, I'll be more than happy to arrange it for you"
Tarie was at a loss for words, she wanted to say something, but she couldn't think of anything to say. "Prince Krillen, this is to much" she finally spoke up.
"Nonsense" Krillen said, the tone in his voice stating that he had just had the final word, "I only wish I could offer you somewhere better. And it's not Prince Krillen, I can't stand to be called Prince, please, it's just Krillen"
"Of course Pri…. of course Krillen"
"Now," 18 spoke up. "You two get some rest ok" she said with a smile.
Tarie was about to shut the door, and leave Krillen and 18 to do what ever they wanted, but she felt compelled to thank them one last time before she left. "18, Krillen," she placed her hand on her pregnant stomach and smiled, "Thank you. Thank you both so, very very much, if it weren't for you two, this baby would never of even had a chance"
A smile formed on 18's tired lips. Resting in Krillens arms and listing to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat had been soothing, and made her drowsy. Yet she placed her feet on the ground and took the few steps towards her friend. "Anytime Tar," she said as she wrapped her up in a hug. Smiling at 17 – who was standing behind them, as she did. "Anytime."
***
Trista grinned triumphantly to herself as she draped the I.D card over her neck. Getting into the palace had been easy enough. Book an interview with the King, then roam around freely, he would never know if one person didn't show up during the day.
She got the end of the hall and had to stop. Pulling a map from her pocket, she carefully studied it. Apparently she was in corridor 12, section 8. And she needed to be in corridor 4, section 24. Damn this palace was big.
She wandered aimlessly down the halls for another 10 minutes, taking in everything around her, it was very plush inside the palace walls. People were running around all around her. Talking on mobile phones, reading through papers. They all had places to be, things to do.
Eventually, she arrived at the science wing. After that it wasn't too hard to find Bulma's lab. She fixed her hair, and knocked on the door. "It's open" she heard a women call from the other side.
Bulma was busily typing away at her computer, entering important data to help calculate the changes she would need to make to the G.R's. She was in desperate need of her lunch break, her stomach grumbling every few seconds.
"Ah, Ms. Brief's?"
Bulma looked over the top of her computer monitor to the unfamiliar woman walking across the lab. "Yes?" she asked, "can I help you? Are you lost?"
Trista shook her head and sat down. "I'm from Vegeta-Sei Weekly. I'm here to do a follow up report. It's standard procedure, I merely have to ask you a few questions regarding what you though of your time with us at the magazine" she lied, and lied well.
Bulma blinked and saved her work, "well, ok then".
Trista began normally enough, asking a few questions, but soon she began to stray off the topic. Bulma hadn't even noticed they had strayed, until Trista asked one certain question, "So Ms. Brief's, are you single?"
Bulma blinked, "I don't see what this has to do with the magazine, but yes, I am single".
'Damn' Trista thought to herself. She had been eyeing the photo on Bulma's desk for the last 10 minutes, a shot of herself, with her arms thrown around the prince's neck. Both grinning. She needed to get her hands on that photo, and if she could get into a room with Prince Vegeta, who knew what kind of information she would be able to get.
***
18 slowly pushed open the door to Chi-chi's room, dreading what was waiting for her on the other side. But when she opened the door she was surprised to say the very least. The room was dark, and despite the fact that it was almost 11am, Chi-chi was still sleeping. 18 walked across the room on her tiptoes towards the desk, but Chi-chi had not left her a list of jobs to do.
Score!
Well, looked like she had the day off, and she didn't plan on wasting it in here. There were much better places she could waste her time.
She quickly made her way down the halls, knowing where she was going.
"18!" she stopped when she head a familiar voice call her.
"Morning Bulma" she greeted her friend, "you on your way to see Tarie?" Bulma nodded.
The pair slowed down considerably, chatting to each other as they strolled down the halls. Every now and again, 18 would find herself staring at the large black bag Bulma was clutching. She had seen bags like that before, and usually they contained things that weren't very nice.
A short time later, they got to the room where 17 and Tarie were now staying. Someone must have informed Bulma of the switch that took place the night before.
She knocked on the door, and almost straight away 17 swung the door open. Both the twins looked surprised to see each other.
"18. What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be working?" asked 17 as he ushered them both into the room.
"Shouldn't you?" she asked in reply.
"Well, where is she?" asked Bulma as she put her bag on the table, and began to pull things out of it.
"I'm here," announced Tarie, as she came out the bathroom and sat herself down on the couch. "Hi 18" she said with a smile
"Hey".
"Well," Bulma rubbed her hands together eagerly, "Are we ready to find out?"
"Find out what?" asked 18, she hated being out of the loop.
Both 17 and Tarie looked at her and smiled, but it was 17 who answered her query "we're finding out the sex of the baby!" he happily announced.
18's eyes lit up, she was going to find out if her little niece or nephew was indeed a little niece or nephew. She didn't particularly care what sex it was, as long as it was healthy. A girl would be nice, but a boy would be lovely as well.
The twins watched on as Bulma set a laptop computer on the coffee table, and connected several other devices to it. 17 noticed the concerned look on Tarie's face and went to sit beside her, taking her hand in his. "Don't worry," he said.
"I'm not"
All was quiet for a few minutes, they watched as Bulma moved the object she was holding around Tarie's stomach, and fuzzy black and white images were sent to the laptop screen. Soon Bulma stopped, and a happy smile spread across her face. She was content to let them sit for a few minutes, wondering. But 17 would have none of it.
"Well?" he asked impatiently
"It's a girl!" Bulma announced.
"Oh my god!" Tarie squealed, throwing her arms around 17's neck in a very tight hug. "A girl, we're going to have a daughter!"
"Congratulations" said Bulma, "and just incase you're interested. She's perfectly healthy"
18 smiled brightly. A niece, she was going to have a niece. What a great day this was turning out to be. "17, Tarie. I'm really happy for you" she said, and she truly meant it.
***
"Nappa, where is my daughter?" the King demanded to know. He was not in a good mood today.
"I don't know, sire"
"Well find out!" he snapped, "then bring her to me"
Nappa bowed deeply to King Vegeta, and then quickly exited the room. He strode down the hall, letting the passers by know he was important; after all, he was the Kings right hand man. Almost every decision the King made, Nappa had a say in, if someone wanted to see the King, they had to see Nappa first.
He came to Chi-chi's bedroom door and knocked loudly on it 3 times. At first there was no response, but soon enough the door was swung open and a very irritated princess greeted him.
"What the hell do you want Nappa?" she spat. Walking back into the room to fetch her robe and put it on.
Nappa, who had always had a very keen sense of smell, could instantly tell something was not right. "Princess Chi-chi, have you been drinking? You know it is an offence to drink before you become of age"
"You're not my father Nappa, don't you dare tell me what I can and can't do" she snapped
Nappa took a step back and scowled deeply at the obviously hung over princess, he wasn't going to argue with her, he valued his job too much "Your father wishes to speak with you ma'am"
She waved her arm listlessly in his general direction, "whatever, I'll be along shortly" she said and slammed the door in his face
***
Trista smiled, she had her treasures tucked away safely in her pocket. She was quite proud of what she had acquired. A fair bit of information from Bulma – of course, she hadn't realized she had given it. She had gotten not only one photo of the couple, but had found two more in the desk draw, and she had thought it would be hard to get back into Bulma's lab after she left, but she had just walked right on it.
Now, she just had to track down Prince Vegeta. She felt like she was about to burst with pure excitement, Vegeta was such a hunk, god she hoped he was wearing spandex.
It took her almost another half an hour of wandering, but she did find Vegeta, but he wasn't wearing spandex, instead, he was wearing a pair of casual black pants and a dark blue, short sleeved shirt. She followed him around for a minute or two, before working up the courage to call out to him.
"Oh excuse me, Prince Vegeta"
He stopped and turned around to face the woman who was calling him. Damn, she was wearing one of those stupid passes around her neck. Did he have an interview booked for today? He was almost sure he didn't. "Who are you? And what do you want?" he asked, his question short and to the point
"I am from Vegeta-sei Weekly, I was wondering if we could have a little chat"
"Do you have an appointment?"
"Well…um…of course I do" she lied as she tucked some loose hair back behind her ear.
"Will it take long?"
"About 10 minutes"
Vegeta rolled his eyes, he hated the media. "Well then, follow me". He led her down several halls, until they arrived at a small sitting room. The walls were painted a pretty beige color, and adorned with lots of nice landscape photographs. The furnishings in the room were kept to a minimum, there was a tan couch and two matching armchairs, and in the middle of them, a low glass table.
"Will this do?" Vegeta asked as he flicked on the lights.
"Yes, yes this will be just perfect".
Vegeta eyed the camera that was also dangling around her neck and sighed quietly, he wasn't in the mood to smile today. Yet, if this woman wanted pictured what other choice did he have? The general population of Vegeta-sei knew Vegeta as a generally friendly kinda guy, which, if you got to know him well enough, he supposed he was.
"Well, are you going to start, or just stare at me?"
Trista cleared her throat; at least Bulma had been somewhat pleasant. "Ok, first question. Since you've arrived home from Namek, how has your life changed?"
***
After standing under a cold shower for 10 minutes, Chi-chi had to admit, she still felt like shit. She had tried drowning her sorrows with alcohol, it hadn't worked, she still felt miserable and now she had the hangover from hell.
She slowly pulled on a pair of dark blue jeans and a black tank top, not really caring about getting dressed up. She quickly brushed her hair, rummaged through her medicine cabinet from some aspirin, found some, took it then headed down to see her father.
He noticed her almost as soon as she walked into the throne room. "Ah Chi-chi, I've been waiting for you"
"What can I do for you papa?" she asked, already planning to get in and out of here as fast as she could, then get back to bed.
The King sighed deeply and looked at his daughter. Somewhere along the line, he had lost her. "Are you alright dear? You haven't been yourself lately"
"I'm fine, things have just been a bit…crazy" she explain, though she knew it wasn't true
"What do you mean?" he asked, clearly not understanding what could be so 'crazy' as to make his daughter act like this
"Well with Namek and stuff, and I may need some more sleep"
"Darling, they boys arrived home from Namek almost 2 and a half months ago" the King stated, "Are you sure every thing is ok?"
"Yes papa"
"Well ok. But still, I have sent for someone. I thought, you might like another female to talk to, since I clearly have no idea what goes on inside those pretty little heads of yours"
Chi-chi blinked, "and who might that be papa?" she asked
"Queen Kahlia. She will be arriving here on Monday"
***
A/N; Well, what did you all think? I know it was kinda a short chapter and I hope you don't all hate me for it, but the next one will be longer. Hopefully it will be up within a few days!
Well, don't forget to review, and I'll see you all in the next chapter!
~D.B