Author's Note: A thousand apologies I realise how horrible of me it was to leave you guys hanging especially at such a crucial place in the story (the end) and I really don't have any excuses except homework, writer's block and an overactive social life! But hey NCEA next year (equivalent of School C) so I might as well enjoy my social life while I can. Anyway here's the next chapter I really hope you guys enjoy it.

Chapter 30: Final Memories

Vegeta placed his arm around Bulma's shoulders and led her out of the mansion. Bulma stepped silently into the car as Vegeta closed the door and climbed in the other side. Bulma leant her head on Vegeta's shoulder and his hand subconsciously slid onto her leg. Noiseless tears trickled down Bulma's face as silence reigned. Vegeta took her hand in his.

"I'm sorry," he whispered again, stroking her palm with his thumb. Bulma looked up, her eyes wet.

"Don't be," she told him. "You have to go. I understand." Vegeta nodded.

The rest of the car ride home was silent. Vegeta was going back to Bulma's place for the night. The limousine driver dropped them at Capsule Corp and left hurriedly. The two teens made their way up to the door and let themselves in. It was already 1.00 in the morning. Bulma turned some lights on and then headed upstairs to her room, closely followed by Vegeta.

When he came in he found her sitting on her bed with a box of photos out. She smiled as she pulled one out and showed him. Vegeta felt a smirk tug at his lips. It was a primary school photo and somehow by some tremendous force someone had managed to get him into a dress. Vegeta gave a small chuckle and sat down on the bed next to Bulma, slipping his arm around her waist.

For the next hour and a half the two silently went through the photos, both reminiscing on the past, long forgotten memories jolted into the conscious mind by the photos. It was when Bulma came across a photo of her and Yamcha that the silence was broken.

"Is that the night you………………" Vegeta didn't finish the sentence. It was the same picture of her and Yamcha that Yamcha had torn up when the two of them had broken up. Bulma swallowed.

"Vegeta I want to tell you something." He looked up, perplexed. "That night at that party………….. Yamcha and I didn't actually………………. He didn't really take my………………. I'm still a virgin," she smiled a little guiltily. Vegeta frowned.

"I thought you and he ah….." Silence again. Bulma shook her head.

"We were going to but I just didn't feel right. He said he understood but we just told everyone we did." Vegeta gave a small smile as Bulma blushed red. "Are you still……?" Bulma had no need to finish the question. Vegeta smirked and nodded. Bulma's eyes went wide. "But all the things you did………….. all the times you were drunk or stoned you never………" He shook his head. Bulma took a deep breath as Vegeta reached up and stroked her cheek with his thumb. Before she knew what had happened Vegeta had crushed his mouth on hers and pushed her back on to the bed. Bulma closed her eyes as she felt his warm mouth on hers. He pulled back.

"Are you sure you want to?" he asked her seriously. "There's no going back," he warned. Bulma nodded.

"If it's not you now it's going to be someone meaningless in a few years. I want my first time to be something special with someone special," she told him. Vegeta nodded.

"Alright then."

Sorry guys, NC-17 rule I really don't want my story removed so you'll just have to imagine what happens next.

Bulma lay her head on Vegeta's chest, sighing contently. Vegeta smirked and put his arm around Bulma's shoulders. Bulma snuggled into the warm embrace.

"Thankyou," she smiled as she lay there.

"For what?" Vegeta asked curiously.

"For being there for me, for being my first." Vegeta smiled, the first genuine smile he had smiled for a long time but said nothing. Bulma sighed. It had hurt, she had known it would but that hadn't lessened the pain but Vegeta had been so careful that it wasn't as bad as it could have been. "I love you," Bulma whispered. "And I understand you have to go to America. But I'll wait Vegeta. I promise."

"You don't have to. I'm going to be gone seven years……" Vegeta sighed.

"I want to."

Nothing more was said as the two lay down next to each other, contented and trying to forget that in less than two weeks they would be parted.

The rest of the term passed in a rush. Before they had really come to terms with the fact that Vegeta was leaving, it was the last Friday of term, graduation night, and Vegeta was leaving the next day. The group of them had gone back to Goku's house after the prizegiving. As Bulma, Vegeta, 18, Krillin, Goku and Chichi sat on the couch and on the floor there was an unspoken air of tension about them. All of them, particularly Bulma understood that this was the last night they'd see Vegeta for a very long time. His flight left at 11 o'clock the next morning. Vegeta slid his hand across Bulma's leg and grabbed her hand. Bulma smiled up at him, a sad smile that said a thousand words.

"You alright?" 18 asked. She was sitting on Bulma's other side. Bulma nodded and leant her head on Vegeta's shoulder.

"I can't believe he's really going. It seems so unreal," she told 18. 18 nodded sadly.

"But he'll be back. I know he will," she told Bulma. She turned and looked at Vegeta. He'd changed so much this last year. She remembered all too well the frequent eruptions of anger between the two of them.

Flashback

"Wench, get your fat ass over here!" Vegeta yelled causing everyone in the class to turn around. Bulma opened her mouth and Krillin, Yamcha, Goku, Chichi and 18 all blocked their ears.

"WHY YOU LITTLE SHIT! HOW DEAR YOU CALL ME A WENCH! YOU ARROGANT, SELFISH, CONCEITED GRRRR," Bulma screamed. Vegeta winced.

"I'll call you a wench if I want, though it's more like whore," he added. Bulma's eyes were dancing at the anticipation of a verbal sparring match.

"You asshole. You total asshole. You call ME a whore? ME! How many guys have I been out with in the last," she paused, "seven years? Aye? I'll tell you how many. One! ONE! YAMCHA! WHAT ABOUT YOU?" she paused again.

"Seven," he told her, "you only stay with Yamcha 'cause you can't get anything better. I have chicks on my heels constantly! So many of them want me, when I'm sick of them I can get rid of them," he yelled. Vegeta was now on his feet. Goku stood, too, in case he needed to hold Vegeta back. Bulma gaped at him.

"I've stayed with Yamcha for seven years BECAUSE I LOVE HIM! You couldn't get involved in a serious relationship if you tried!" she screeched. Bulma's blood was boiling and her face was flushed. The rest of the class looked on in horror as Vegeta and Bulma raged their war of words. All of a sudden, after Bulma accused Vegeta of being an unfaithful prick, he launched himself at her, only to find himself held back by Goku.

"Let go of me Kakarot! You insolent little shit! I said let go," he yelled at the top of his lungs as Goku held his arms behind his back.

"No, Vegeta. You can yell at each other all you like, but I won't have you hitting or attacking Bulma!" Goku yelled at him. Vegeta relaxed, and although Goku couldn't see it, he smirked.

"Cheating on Chichi are we now Kakarot? I never thought you and the loud-mouthed wench would get together, I thought you were faith-"

"SMACK!" Chichi was standing in front of Vegeta her hand raised to strike again. A red hand mark was appearing on the side of Vegeta's face.

"Don't you ever, ever, ever accuse Goku of cheating you asshole!" Chichi told him in a calm voice. Vegeta gaped, holding his cheek. Vegeta looked over at Bulma who was sniggering in the corner.

"Shut up, you whore!" he yelled at her, spitting on the floor by her feet. Bulma yelped and stepped back.

End Flashback

Bulma smiled remembering that day in art. She had been so angry at Vegeta that day. Who would have thought that the two of them would have ended up together? Not her, that's for sure. He had been so angry back then.

Flashback

"B are you OK?" Chichi asked worriedly. Bulma shook her hand and collapsed onto the couch in the bathroom.

"Chi-ch-ch-chi I-I-I HATE him," she cried, tears rolling down her cheeks. She looked at Chichi. "I hate him so much. Why does he do this to me, I never deserve to be treated that way," she cried, leaning on Chichi's shoulder. Chichi patted her back.

"Don't worry about it, B. You don't need to cry over it, this is what he wants you to do. Don't give him the satisfaction of seeing you like this," she comforted. Bulma looked up at her friend. She gulped.

"Thanks, Chi. I know I shouldn't be crying over it, but I've never felt hate this strong for anyone before!"

End Flashback

She had felt so angry after that. He had driven her to tears and she had been honest when she'd said she'd never hated anyone that much before. But now it was the opposite. She loved him as strongly now as she had hated him back then. And nothing would ever change that. She smiled, holding Vegeta's hand remembering when they had first got together.

Flashback

"You faggot!" she yelled, grabbing his ankle and pulling his feet out from under him. He gave a loud yell before he was on his back. He groaned as he felt Bulma climb on top of him.

"I said put me down, not drop me," she glared. Vegeta groaned.

"Get off me, woman!"

"Make me!"

"You wanna back that up?" Bulma gulped.

"N-n-not really," she laughed. Vegeta suddenly flipped her and pinned her arms above her head with one of his arms and placed the other on her stomach.

Vegeta looked at her. She looked so beautiful. Her blue hair was spread out and had leaves all through it. She was smiling and her blue eyes were shining.

Before he knew what he was doing, he had leaned down and placed his lips on hers, locking them in a passionate kiss. Bulma was a little shocked at first and made to pull away, but felt herself responding. She pressed into his kiss and breathed in deeply as she felt his tongue slide into her mouth.

Vegeta loosened his grip on Bulma's arms and let her sit up. Her hands slid up his sides and came to a halt on his cheeks, pulling him into her.

They eventually broke apart, both breathing rather hard. Bulma licked her lips, smiling. Vegeta looked at her and smirked.

"You enjoyed that," he told her. She laughed.

End Flashback

And then when Vegeta had asked her out.

Flashback

"Woman. You know what?"

"No, what?"

"You're so ugly."

"What! Vegeta, you-" she rolled over to face him. Up until now, her back had been against his front.

"Shut up. You're extremely ugly, you're loud, you're a bitch and you're bloody annoying." Bulma gaped, fury etched all over her face.

"And that is why I wanted to ask you, will you go out with me?" Bulma opened and closed her mouth several times. She grinned.

"Yes. Yes." Vegeta grinned and leaned in, kissing her passionately. Bulma kissed him back, and ran her hands over his body.

They fell asleep an hour later, Bulma snuggling into Vegeta's chest and his arm placed protectively around her shoulders.

End Flashback

Bulma swallowed, her eyes filled with tears. Vegeta noticed them and smiled sadly, brushing them away with his thumb.

"Don't cry," he whispered in her ear. Bulma blinked and two hot tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I don't want you to go Vegeta.," she whispered, leaning on his shoulder. He kissed her cheek.

"I have to." Bulma cried silently as she thought of all the time they had wasted, and all the time they were going to be apart.

Slowly the night passed away, the six of the reminiscing on high school and it finally started hitting home that Vegeta was leaving, that they had finished High School, that they were going out into the real world to get jobs and start their lives as adults. Vegeta's departure would leave a huge hole in their friendship and an even bigger one in Bulma. All of them were only too aware that Vegeta wouldn't be back for a minimum of seven years. Maybe even longer.

Without anything more said, one by one they fell asleep. Vegeta was the last awake, Bulma sleeping with her head on his shoulder. He breathed deeply and looked out the window. He stayed like that for a few moments, just thinking. Then he kissed Bulma's forehead and closed his eyes.

Next Chapter: The final chapter; Vegeta leaves

Author's Note: A bagillion apologies first for the lateness and second for the shortness but I'm just glad I got it up at all.

Kaibun