Bulma sighed and stretched. She squinted her eyes against the glaring sun that was peering through the window of her palace room. She couldn't believe all that had taken place since her bond to Vegeta. Their friends were shocked to say the least when they had heard all that had happened between her and Vegeta. Bulma grinned to herself. She knew her friends were thrilled for her...and themselves, for they all had found the silver lining in the dark clouds that shadowed their lives. Bulma rolled over and reached out for Vegeta only to find that he wasn't there.
Vegeta...where are you? Bulma asked through their bonded mind.
Woman?!?! I'm obviously not there. Now stop talking to me, I'm busy!
Bulma growled. He can be such a jerk sometimes! She shrugged and got out of bed.
I heard that woman!!! Vegeta hissed. No matter, you can make up for it tonight... he said, the smirk evident in his voice.
Bulma blushed even though no one was in the room. They had been living in their new room on planet Vegeta since their arrival 3 weeks ago, and every single night had been filled with passion. At first, the people of planet Vegeta had been appalled by Vegeta's choice of a human mate...but after they had found out about her astounding, intellectual capabilities and the fire she possessed, they knew that no other woman would suit Vegeta as well. After proving herself to everyone, she was accepted as Vegeta's mate and the mating ceremony was performed. Although, the majority of it had already been completed in the kitchen of her apartment, they still had to have a ceremony. Their ceremony consisted of pledging their lives eternally to their mate in front of the whole kingdom, and then they were excused to their room. Bulma again smiled to herself and then thought of the day ahead. She walked over to her closet and pulled out a very conservative dress. Vegeta really was a very jealous man, and no one but himself was allowed to see any skin other than her face and her hands. She went to the bathroom to ready herself to go meet Vegeta and their friends.
~*~*~
Vegeta was scared out of his mind. He couldn't believe he hadn't noticed it right when it happened. He and Bulma had had a wonderful night full of ecstasy and passion. He had never lost himself like he had last night. He had never loved her so much, and showed her his love as much as he had last night. Then, they fell asleep in each other's embrace.
Vegeta had woken up in a cold sweat before dawn after again having his nightmare. What scared him more was the fact that something was different about Bulma. Her ki just wasn't right. He turned to look at her and she was sleeping peacefully, facing him. She had such a serene and peaceful look on her face, and her lips were curved up into the faintest smile. He focused on her body, searching what was wrong with her, and then he felt it. Bulma had two ki's. Vegeta immediately got up and left their chambers, heading towards the conference room. He stopped a girl on his way and told her to run and fetch Kakarot and Krillen. What is taking them so long?!?! The woman is already awake and will most likely be seeking me out in no time. I need to speak with them NOW!!! Just then, the door swung open and in entered a perplexed Kakarot and Krillen. They quickly bowed and took their place and the conference table.
Vegeta stood up and paced back and forth. Krillen and Kakarot just waited for him to speak, knowing he would when he was ready. They could see a flicker of fear and worry in his eyes but it was quickly masked by an angry scowl.
"Kakarot, Krillen, I have made a huge mistake..." Vegeta started. Kakarot and Krillen just looked upon him with confusion in their eyes but waited for him to continue. "As you know, we have been planning for weeks now how to keep Bulma safe from my nightmares. I don't want anything to ever happen to her. I had determined that I would change the future...or at least prolong it as long as possible....I don't know what to do. I...well, I mean...how could...." Vegeta just stared at them begging them to understand him and help him. He looked down at his feet in defeat and whispered, "Bulma's pregnant..."
Krillen and Kakarot were both shocked to their cores. Krillen looked on him with understanding. Kakarot just grinned. He got up from the table and smacked Vegeta square on the back, "Congratulations Vegeta!"
Krillen gulped as he felt more than saw Vegeta's whole body ignite with anger. Vegeta turned smoldering eyes to Kakarot's fear-filled eyes, "YOU IMBECILE! DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?!?! MY DREAM IS COMING TRUE...SHE'S PREGNANT...WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME LEFT. THE BOY WAS ONLY 3...4 AT MOST, IN MY DREAM. BULMA IS GOING TO DIE!!!!" Vegeta was gripping Kakarot so tight around the throat that his lips were turning blue. Krillen reached out and laid a comforting hand on Vegeta's shoulder. Vegeta dropped Kakarot and resumed his pacing.
"So what do we do, Vegeta?" Kakarot asked after regaining his composure.
"Does she know?" Krillen asked.
"No, not yet..." Vegeta replied.
"I propose, that for now, we don't tell her. That will give us some time to figure out what to do. Until then, act completely normal around her. You can't give away the fact that you know anything. We'll figure something out Vegeta, don't worry..." Krillen said.
Vegeta lifted his nose in the air, "As if I'd ever worry about anything. I'm Vegeta, Prince of planet Vegeta, and the most powerful man in the Universe on top of that. No one can beat me! I will take care of Bulma...nothing will happen...no one will take her away from me...I won't let them!" Vegeta just stared straight ahead with more determination in his face than ever and strut out of the room, leaving his two guards behind.
Krillen turned and looked at Kakarot. "And don't you go slipping up either. You can't say anything to Bulma. And don't you dare tell ChiChi either or Bulma is sure to find out. Then she will be asking plenty of questions like how the heck you knew before her. Don't mess this up. In the meantime, you get ChiChi and 18 to stick with her wherever she goes. Their duties from this point on are to be Bulma's personal guards and escorts. Now I'm going to go talk to the doctor and see what are options are concerning Bulma's pregnancy. Don't forget, don't say a word to Bulma or the girls! Got it?" Krillen asked.
Kakarot nodded his agreement and they both went their separate ways to carry out their duties.
~*~*~
Kakarot found ChiChi and 18 in the royal kitchen. When they had gotten to planet Vegeta, they had been reinstated as the palace cooks.
"Hey girls!"
"Oh, hey Kakarot...what brings you here?" 18 asked.
ChiChi who had been completely oblivious to everything because she had been trying to keep some saiyan children out of the kitchen, whipped her head around at the mention of Kakarot's name.
"Kakarot!!!" ChiChi squealed jumping into his arms and hugging him tightly around the neck.
Kakarot just spun her around. As he set her feet back on solid ground, he placed a soft kiss on her lips. He leaned in towards her ear and whispered, "I love you Chi, you know that right?"
ChiChi blushed as he pulled away. Her eyes sparkled in her happiness.
"So what brings you here, Kakarot?" 18 repeated.
Kakarot smiled sheepishly. "Oh, I've come to tell you, your duties have been reassigned. You are no longer to work in the kitchen."
ChiChi slightly grimaced. Working in the kitchen was the only job she was willing to do on this planet. It was the only thing she enjoyed and she was scared to hear what her new duties would be. I better not get bathroom duty. I will be so pissed if I get stuck scrubbing toilets and tubs where some hairy ape has been.
She was shook out of her thoughts as 18 gripped her hands and jumped up and down.
"Isn't that great Chi? Oh I'm so excited! This is awesome!!! Don't you think so ChiChi?" 18 rambled on.
ChiChi just looked at her dumbfounded and then blushed her embarrassment. "Oh I'm sorry, I was thinking to myself. I didn't hear what Kakarot said. So what has gotten you so excited 18?" ChiChi questioned.
"We get to be Bulma's personal guards and escorts! We get to spend ALL DAY LONG with our best friend! And that's considered out work. Isn't that wonderful? I can't wait to see her. I'm so excited!" 18 said.
ChiChi's face fell from the shock. The shock didn't last long because soon they were twirling each other around the room giggling and grinning. As they came to as stop, ChiChi sighed happily, "This day just couldn't get any better..."
Kakarot just grinned and ChiChi and went up to her. "That's what you think. How about you move out of that apartment you're sharing with 18 and come stay with me. I want us to go through the mating ceremony," Kakarot said grinning. ChiChi stared up at him in confusion until the truth hit her hard like the floor.
18 and Kakarot just stared and ChiChi. Kakarot was the first to recover. He rushed over to her and picked her up of the floor. He began stroking her cheek while whispering her name over and over. "Chi...Chi are you okay...can you hear me Chi?" he said frantically.
ChiChi's eyes fluttered open and she just stared up at Kakarot in amazement. "You want to bite me?" she asked. He just grinned and licked his lips in reply. ChiChi again slipped into unconsciousness. He shrugged at 18. "I'm going to take her to my room to rest. You go to your room and change and freshen up. You start your new duties today, but it is up to you to locate Bulma." With that said, Kakarot turned and walked out of the kitchen towards his chambers.
18 stared after them dumbfounded. First Bulma, now Chi...they are both leaving me all alone. Now what will I do...I will be the outcast, they will be able to share jokes with each other that I won't really be able to participate in and understand. At least they are happy... 18 thought to herself. She quickly gathered her things and left the kitchen, heading towards her and ChiChi's apartment.