Chapter 3: Cold and Alone
"Knock, knock!" 18 called as she walked in the house. "Grandma's here!"
"GRANDMA!!!" A voice beamed from upstairs. Soon a bright blonde head hopped down the first few steps then a small boy bounded over the railing and into his grandmother's arms. "Hiya Grandma!"
"Hiya Kaden!" She smiled as she spun him around a few times.
"Have I ever told you, you are one of The coolest Grandmas in the world?" He beamed as she sat him down.
"Once or twice." She replied with a smile.
"Yeah Grandma Bulma was really cool too until she got sick... She's still cool but... It's not cool that she's sick... You know what I mean?" He looked up at her with deep thoughtful eyes.
"Yeah I know." 18 replied gently. "How is Grandma Bulma?"
"Not good." Mari responded from the dining room doorway. "As soon as Dad gets changed from work we're going to go visit her."
"I'm sorry to hear that... I'm going to go see her too then." 18 replied sadly.
"Grandma can I come with you?" Kaden asked giving her to big sad puppy eyes.
"Only if it's ok with your Momma." Kaden nodded happily then bounded off towards the kitchen. "How have you been Mari? Are you ok?" 18 asked moving in and hugging her.
"Yeah Grandma it's just... I'm really going to miss her... She taught me so much and she took me shopping with Bra and we had a lot of fun together..." She replied in a far off voice.
"I'm sorry we couldn't do more of those things together... It was never really my thing..."
"I know... Fighting was your thing and between you and me, I'd really love to learn some techniques but I don't think Dad wants me too..." Mari whispered.
18 laughed minute then leaned in close and whispered in her granddaughter's ear. "What Daddy doesn't know won't get you in trouble." Mari smiled back as 18 winked. Kaden bounded back in the room.
"Mommy said it was ok and they'd meet us at the hospital."
"All right then I'll see you in a little while Mari unless you want to come with us."
"No that's ok I'll come later. Bye Grandma, bye Kaden."
"Mari love ya sis!" Kaden and gave her a hug.
"Love you too Little Bits. Love you Grandma."
"Bye Mari I love you too." With that 18 and Kaden headed out the door.
"Grandpa Veggie... I mean Vegeta..." Kaden stammered. He remembered how Grandpa would give him a stern look every time he called him 'Veggie'.
"Hey short stuff... Grandma's looking forward to seeing you." Vegeta said with a faked smile.
"K... I'll come back and talk to you in a bit." Kaden said quietly as he slowly walked into the room. Within seconds you could hear Bulma's hoarse laugh echo out the door. Vegeta sat down in the chair he had pulled out into the hall then glanced up at 18 then turned his focus on his wringing hands.
"How are you doing?" She asked leaning against the wall and staring at the one across from her.
"As well as can be expected I suppose... How has Kaden been doing?"
"You actually care?" She sounded a bit surprised.
"Of course I do he's my flesh and blood isn't he? Just because I'm not all lovey dovey like Kakorrot doesn't mean I don't care..." Vegeta snapped not turning his gaze. The normal sharp words were dulled with pain. "I've seen how Bulma would light up every time he'd come over and show off for her. I'd beam every time his Mother would tell him to be careful and he'd act invincible. I'd glow every time he'd say 'Grandpa Veggie I got straight A's again isn't Grandma Bulma gonna be so proud?' He's a great kid and I just wish I could train him... Make him strong enough to beat his illness so he'd never be weak and no one would ever have to worry about him again... So he really could be as big and invincible as he seems..." He choked out clearly trying to hold back tears.
"I had no idea you felt that way about him..." She replied now clearly stunned.
"No one did. You're the first one I told because I know you feel the same way. You spend more time with him some days than his own parents." Vegeta responded hardening up a bit.
"He reminds me of Krillin sometimes." She chuckled a second. "He's so little and fragile but in his own mind he's just as tall and strong as you and me. And he's too stubborn to be told differently. But more than that... Nothing is ever hopeless to him... There's always a light at the end of the tunnel even if he can't see it right then..."
"Like when he almost died when he was 4?" Vegeta smiled and chuckled himself. "He told everyone not to be sad if he did die because then he could be in heaven watching over us. And he looked at me and said but I'm a fighter like my Pappas and I'm not going to die this easy... He really is a great kid... I hate to see him suffer when he does have an episode."
"We all do Vegeta... We all do..."
"Pappa... Grandma's energy level is dropping so I told her to stop talking and rest... I don't think she's going to last much longer so you might want to go say good-bye now... I already did and gave her a hug..." Kaden whispered as he tugged on Vegeta's shirt. Vegeta looked at him a little shocked then eased as he got up and walked into the room.
"I told her I didn't want a hug back so she could save her strength until Mommy and Mari got here so they could say good-bye too." Kaden whispered going over and hugging 18's waist.
"That's very admirable." 18 responded quietly as she wrapped an arm around him. The elevator at the end of the hall dinged and out came Marron, Trunks, and Mari. 18 gestured for them to hurry and they ran quickly down and into the room.
Bra's really, really sad... She sat there trying not to cry..." Kaden whispered. A few minutes later Mari ran out bawling as the buzzers started going off.
"What's going on Grandma?" Kaden asked worried as he clung to her tighter.
"Grandma's gone now Kaden... She died..." 18 responded clutching him a little tighter.
"Is that all? Well one more angel to protect us." He grew very quiet and slowly loosened his grip on 18. Vegeta came out and putt his hand on Kaden's shoulder briefly before sitting back down in his chair cradling his head in his hands. A doctor rushed past them and turned off the alarms. Kaden went over and sat down on the floor in front of Vegeta.
"Pappa..." He said slowly peering up under his head. "Grandma Bulma told me... it.. it's ok to cry sometimes..." Vegeta lifted his head slightly. She told me when my goldfish died... You wanna know what she said? I remember EVERY word..."
"What did she say?" Vegeta asked as he raised his head and looked at the boy with little real interest. 18 looked on.
"She said that tears are like the stars of your eyes. And she said when someone or something you love dies it goes to heaven and lives with the stars. So when you cry for them, you're sending them little star of love. The more you cry for them, the more they know you care. But you shouldn't cry because you're sad. You should cry because you're happy you get to see them again..." Vegeta looked at him wide-eyed before grasping the little boy up in his arms and hugging him gently. For one of the few time in his life a tear left his eye and rolled down on to Kaden's back. "I love you Pappa."
"That story was quite possibly the most foolish... and most beautiful thing I have ever heard. But thank-you for telling me." Vegeta choked out quietly. Kaden simply nodded and clung to his Grandpa tightly.
"She told me she'd send you lots of stars... I love you Pappa... You better not leave me too! Not yet!" He choked out between coughs. His breathing was growing worse. Vegeta pulled away and looked at him worried.
"You better not leave me first..." In that moment Kaden's eyes closed and he went limp in Vegeta's arms. "KADEN!" 18 swooped in and grabbed the boy and ran towards the nurse's station. Trunks ran out of the room and looked around.
"Where's is Kaden?! What's wrong?!" He exclaimed worried. Vegeta simply stood up and looked at him sadly. He wrapped both arms around his son and cried for the first time in front of him.
"I think you're going to lose him this time..." He choked out as he pulled away; his face striped with wet lines.
"No Dad... He's going to fight because he wants to show you he's strong... He's going to beat this again because of you so just go and be with him. We'll take care of Mom's arrangements..." Trunks said resolutely.
"But he's your son..." Vegeta said confused.
"But you're the one thing that's keeping him holding on so go and I'll take care of this and send Marron if it will make you feel better. Someone has to wait here in case Mari comes back anyways. Now go." Vegeta hesitated a minute. "GO!" Trunks fumed and Vegeta took off down the hall following the bed and army of nurses and doctors now racing down to the emergency room.
"Everyone's leaving me now and soon enough I'm going to be cold and alone once again..." He thought as he caught the elevator.
"Knock, knock!" 18 called as she walked in the house. "Grandma's here!"
"GRANDMA!!!" A voice beamed from upstairs. Soon a bright blonde head hopped down the first few steps then a small boy bounded over the railing and into his grandmother's arms. "Hiya Grandma!"
"Hiya Kaden!" She smiled as she spun him around a few times.
"Have I ever told you, you are one of The coolest Grandmas in the world?" He beamed as she sat him down.
"Once or twice." She replied with a smile.
"Yeah Grandma Bulma was really cool too until she got sick... She's still cool but... It's not cool that she's sick... You know what I mean?" He looked up at her with deep thoughtful eyes.
"Yeah I know." 18 replied gently. "How is Grandma Bulma?"
"Not good." Mari responded from the dining room doorway. "As soon as Dad gets changed from work we're going to go visit her."
"I'm sorry to hear that... I'm going to go see her too then." 18 replied sadly.
"Grandma can I come with you?" Kaden asked giving her to big sad puppy eyes.
"Only if it's ok with your Momma." Kaden nodded happily then bounded off towards the kitchen. "How have you been Mari? Are you ok?" 18 asked moving in and hugging her.
"Yeah Grandma it's just... I'm really going to miss her... She taught me so much and she took me shopping with Bra and we had a lot of fun together..." She replied in a far off voice.
"I'm sorry we couldn't do more of those things together... It was never really my thing..."
"I know... Fighting was your thing and between you and me, I'd really love to learn some techniques but I don't think Dad wants me too..." Mari whispered.
18 laughed minute then leaned in close and whispered in her granddaughter's ear. "What Daddy doesn't know won't get you in trouble." Mari smiled back as 18 winked. Kaden bounded back in the room.
"Mommy said it was ok and they'd meet us at the hospital."
"All right then I'll see you in a little while Mari unless you want to come with us."
"No that's ok I'll come later. Bye Grandma, bye Kaden."
"Mari love ya sis!" Kaden and gave her a hug.
"Love you too Little Bits. Love you Grandma."
"Bye Mari I love you too." With that 18 and Kaden headed out the door.
"Grandpa Veggie... I mean Vegeta..." Kaden stammered. He remembered how Grandpa would give him a stern look every time he called him 'Veggie'.
"Hey short stuff... Grandma's looking forward to seeing you." Vegeta said with a faked smile.
"K... I'll come back and talk to you in a bit." Kaden said quietly as he slowly walked into the room. Within seconds you could hear Bulma's hoarse laugh echo out the door. Vegeta sat down in the chair he had pulled out into the hall then glanced up at 18 then turned his focus on his wringing hands.
"How are you doing?" She asked leaning against the wall and staring at the one across from her.
"As well as can be expected I suppose... How has Kaden been doing?"
"You actually care?" She sounded a bit surprised.
"Of course I do he's my flesh and blood isn't he? Just because I'm not all lovey dovey like Kakorrot doesn't mean I don't care..." Vegeta snapped not turning his gaze. The normal sharp words were dulled with pain. "I've seen how Bulma would light up every time he'd come over and show off for her. I'd beam every time his Mother would tell him to be careful and he'd act invincible. I'd glow every time he'd say 'Grandpa Veggie I got straight A's again isn't Grandma Bulma gonna be so proud?' He's a great kid and I just wish I could train him... Make him strong enough to beat his illness so he'd never be weak and no one would ever have to worry about him again... So he really could be as big and invincible as he seems..." He choked out clearly trying to hold back tears.
"I had no idea you felt that way about him..." She replied now clearly stunned.
"No one did. You're the first one I told because I know you feel the same way. You spend more time with him some days than his own parents." Vegeta responded hardening up a bit.
"He reminds me of Krillin sometimes." She chuckled a second. "He's so little and fragile but in his own mind he's just as tall and strong as you and me. And he's too stubborn to be told differently. But more than that... Nothing is ever hopeless to him... There's always a light at the end of the tunnel even if he can't see it right then..."
"Like when he almost died when he was 4?" Vegeta smiled and chuckled himself. "He told everyone not to be sad if he did die because then he could be in heaven watching over us. And he looked at me and said but I'm a fighter like my Pappas and I'm not going to die this easy... He really is a great kid... I hate to see him suffer when he does have an episode."
"We all do Vegeta... We all do..."
"Pappa... Grandma's energy level is dropping so I told her to stop talking and rest... I don't think she's going to last much longer so you might want to go say good-bye now... I already did and gave her a hug..." Kaden whispered as he tugged on Vegeta's shirt. Vegeta looked at him a little shocked then eased as he got up and walked into the room.
"I told her I didn't want a hug back so she could save her strength until Mommy and Mari got here so they could say good-bye too." Kaden whispered going over and hugging 18's waist.
"That's very admirable." 18 responded quietly as she wrapped an arm around him. The elevator at the end of the hall dinged and out came Marron, Trunks, and Mari. 18 gestured for them to hurry and they ran quickly down and into the room.
Bra's really, really sad... She sat there trying not to cry..." Kaden whispered. A few minutes later Mari ran out bawling as the buzzers started going off.
"What's going on Grandma?" Kaden asked worried as he clung to her tighter.
"Grandma's gone now Kaden... She died..." 18 responded clutching him a little tighter.
"Is that all? Well one more angel to protect us." He grew very quiet and slowly loosened his grip on 18. Vegeta came out and putt his hand on Kaden's shoulder briefly before sitting back down in his chair cradling his head in his hands. A doctor rushed past them and turned off the alarms. Kaden went over and sat down on the floor in front of Vegeta.
"Pappa..." He said slowly peering up under his head. "Grandma Bulma told me... it.. it's ok to cry sometimes..." Vegeta lifted his head slightly. She told me when my goldfish died... You wanna know what she said? I remember EVERY word..."
"What did she say?" Vegeta asked as he raised his head and looked at the boy with little real interest. 18 looked on.
"She said that tears are like the stars of your eyes. And she said when someone or something you love dies it goes to heaven and lives with the stars. So when you cry for them, you're sending them little star of love. The more you cry for them, the more they know you care. But you shouldn't cry because you're sad. You should cry because you're happy you get to see them again..." Vegeta looked at him wide-eyed before grasping the little boy up in his arms and hugging him gently. For one of the few time in his life a tear left his eye and rolled down on to Kaden's back. "I love you Pappa."
"That story was quite possibly the most foolish... and most beautiful thing I have ever heard. But thank-you for telling me." Vegeta choked out quietly. Kaden simply nodded and clung to his Grandpa tightly.
"She told me she'd send you lots of stars... I love you Pappa... You better not leave me too! Not yet!" He choked out between coughs. His breathing was growing worse. Vegeta pulled away and looked at him worried.
"You better not leave me first..." In that moment Kaden's eyes closed and he went limp in Vegeta's arms. "KADEN!" 18 swooped in and grabbed the boy and ran towards the nurse's station. Trunks ran out of the room and looked around.
"Where's is Kaden?! What's wrong?!" He exclaimed worried. Vegeta simply stood up and looked at him sadly. He wrapped both arms around his son and cried for the first time in front of him.
"I think you're going to lose him this time..." He choked out as he pulled away; his face striped with wet lines.
"No Dad... He's going to fight because he wants to show you he's strong... He's going to beat this again because of you so just go and be with him. We'll take care of Mom's arrangements..." Trunks said resolutely.
"But he's your son..." Vegeta said confused.
"But you're the one thing that's keeping him holding on so go and I'll take care of this and send Marron if it will make you feel better. Someone has to wait here in case Mari comes back anyways. Now go." Vegeta hesitated a minute. "GO!" Trunks fumed and Vegeta took off down the hall following the bed and army of nurses and doctors now racing down to the emergency room.
"Everyone's leaving me now and soon enough I'm going to be cold and alone once again..." He thought as he caught the elevator.