Hey everybody, sorry for the lateness of this chapter, but I was thinking...this could very well be the last chapter, ya know? Well, I was thinking a lot about how I want it to end, and IF I want it to end, if I should have a sequel and things like that, so...let me know what you think.
Chapter 22 - Decisions
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I'm thinking of you
In my sleepless solitude tonight
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Bulma sat bolt upright in her bed as the thunder rumbled outside, shaking the house and rattling her windows. It was obviously the prelude of a thunderstorm.
A few beads of sweat dotted her forehead and she wiped them away with the back of her hand. Why couldn't she sleep?
She rose and slipped a robe about her shoulders and stalked quietly into her son's room. He was still asleep. She smiled slightly as she gazed down on his peaceful young face; she had never seen a more beautiful sight.
After tucking the blanket more snugly around his small form, and checking the monitor, she stole out of the room.
She removed her robe and draped it across the end of the bed and snuggled under the comforter, but still couldn't get to sleep. She flinched as the lightning lit up the sky once more.
"This is impossible!" She exclaimed finally, throwing the covers aside and slipping on her robe once more.
She threw open the door and stalked down the stairs to make herself a cup of coffee.
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If it's wrong to love you
Then my heart just won't let me be right
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She sighed as she sat at the kitchen table over the steaming cup. Something didn't feel right. It was almost like something, or someone, was trying to tell her something, but she couldn't understand what.
She downed the cup and decided to go for a drive, just to free her mind. She started to leave a note but she thought better of it; she would be back before anyone missed her.
She climbed into her car and started the engine, wincing, as the sound seemed to echo endlessly. She drove away quickly, just in case someone had awakened.
She drove down two streets and made a left at the next block, though she had no idea where she was going. She felt almost as if someone was guiding the car.
She rounded a corner just as the rain began to plummet from the bleak, swollen clouds. She turned on her wipers as the drops increased, smacking into her window with quiet tappingsounds.
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'Cuz I've drowned in you
And I won't pull through without you by my side
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She sighed and stopped at a red light, glancing at the car next to her. She felt like vomiting when she saw the laughing, teenage couple and their smiling faces, just happy to be with each other. She used to be like that.
She put the pedal to the metal when the light beamed emerald as she felt a wave of sickness roll over her at just seeing the young couple.
Suddenly, she knew her destination. She smacked her forehead with the palm of her hand as she remembered. She was supposed to stop by Vegeta's this afternoon to say goodbye! She had completely forgotten!
She drove a bit faster, glancing at her watch, praying with all of her heart that she wasn't too late.
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I'd give my all to have
Just one more night with you
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She glanced at her watch again, suddenly anxious to get to him. How could she forget? She felt she had to see him before he left, though he probably wouldn't be too enthusiastic about seeing her at 12:17AM.
She finally turned into the parking lot and her heart sank as she took in the site. Two men were carrying numerous boxes into a large Uhaul truck.
She parked quickly and ran to his door, bursting into the room without even knocking.
Her eyes scanned the room frantically, searching for some sign that he was still there. A wave of relief flooded over her as she realized that he hadn't left yet.
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I'd risk my life to feel
Your body next to mine
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"Vegeta?" she called, roaming through the large apartment as if she herself lived there.
He appeared, seemingly out of nowhere and crossed his arms over his muscular chest, scowling at her.
"What do you want, woman?" he snapped harshly.
She was so glad to see his face that she thought she might throw her arms around him and beg him to stay right there, but her pride wouldn't let her do that.
"I--"she was suddenly at a loss for words, seeing him here, in his almost deserted apartment, having his things carried into a moving truck. There really wasn't anything she could do or say to make him change his mind; she knew that. But she had to try!
"I forgot to come over this afternoon...I'm sorry," she mumbled, gazing at the floor and pulling on her dripping locks.
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'Cuz I can't go on
Living in the memory of our song
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He took in her appearance almost with regret; this would probably be the last time he would see her.
She was soaked through and through. Clad only in a t-shirt and some baggy pajama pants, she looked more beautiful than ever. She glanced around, obviously not knowing what to say.
She looked up at him, and her eyes said everything. She loved him. She wanted him to stay. She needed him. His son needed him.
He turned away; he couldn't take this right now! He was leaving in...he glanced at his watch--four hours!
It wasn't that he wanted to leave, but more like he had to leave. He couldn't stay here, living like this for the rest of his life. He was a failure to everyone, including himself! He had to do something, go somewhere he could start over.
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I'd give my all
For your love tonight
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"Vegeta..." she felt the tears welling up in her eyes, but she couldn't cry, she wouldn't cry in front of him! She had to get this out before she burst into tears and dashed out the door.
She tried again. "Vegeta...I--don't go!"
There, she had said it. She glimpsed at him and rushed on.
"I need you--well...we need you! Trunks and I. We...we love you."
She saw some unfamiliar emotion fleet across his features for a moment, but then it was gone; replaced by that cold, menacing look, and those steel dark eyes that bore into her very soul.
She thought she really would cry when she saw the malicious look on his face. He was chuckling! How could he?! She had offered him her heart, and all he did was stomp on it, crush it, and return it to her, cracked and broken.
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Baby can you feel me
Imagining I'm looking in your eyes?
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"Well...I don't want you, either of you." He said, icily.
She shook her head in disbelief, backing away from him. "You don't mean that! Tell me you don't mean that!"
He only smirked and turned on his heel, disappearing into another room.
She stared after him for a moment before sinking to the floor in a heap. What had she done to deserve this?
It was there that she finally allowed the tears to fall. Her poor heart could only take so much. How could he do this to her? All she had ever done was love him! Love him and give him a son that loved him!
'And reject him.'
The realization hit her like a slap in the face. She had rejected him only two days before and this was his answer; this was her punishment. He was giving her a taste of her own medicine; trying to show her how she had really hurt him.
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I can see you clearly
Vividly emblazoned in my mind
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He sat down on the bed and placed his head in his hands. What had he done? How could he have been so cruel to her, when all she had tried to do was to convince him that he was loved and needed?
He felt as if someone had punched him in the stomach, taking his breath away. No one had ever said those words to him...ever. Those words he had been longing to hear his entire life. He had never been really loved. Cared for, yes. But other than that, there was nothing. And when someone had finally said those precious words to him, all he could do was laugh in her face and turn her away. Damn his pride!He heard her sobs from his spot on the bed, and it broke his heart. He wanted to reach out to her. To hold her in his arms and tell her everything would be all right, but no, he was in here, mulling over the fact that he had turned her down.He had to do something! He rose from the bed and threw the door open before he could stop himself. He couldn't do this to himself.He had thought about this woman since the day he had first laid eyes on her. And when his son was born, he couldn't even explain his feelings at knowing that he had a child. A living, breathing, screaming, child; his own flesh and blood, but she had broken his heart in two on that night. He couldn't bear the thought of never seeing his son.But now... he couldn't let himself walk away, as if she meant nothing to him, when he couldn't live, couldn't breathe without her.
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And yet you're so far like a distant star
I'm wishing on tonight
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She rose to her feet and looked him straight in the eyes, trying her best to be brave, though she hardly felt it.
"Well...at least stop by before you go... Your son will want to see you one last time."He knew what she meant. She wanted to see him one last time.He nodded and stared after her until she turned a corner and was hidden from his sight.He sighed and sank against the wall, placing his head in his hands once more. He couldn't take this! It was just too much.
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I'd give my all to have
Just one more night with you
---
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'Cuz I can't go on
Living in the memory of our song
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"So...do you want to talk about it?"
Once she had finished, he sat quiet for a moment before asking, "So...what are you going to do?"
"What do you mean what am I going to do?" she shot back.
He shook his head, "Nevermind."She sighed, "I just hope...I don't want him to leave, Austin. I--I really do love him.""He loves you too."
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I'd give my all
For your love tonight
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"H--how do you know?"He gave her one of those would-I-ever-lie-to-you looks, "I can tell."She was skeptical. "What do you mean you can tell?""It's hard to explain, I just...I know he does.""I hope you're right," she said quietly.
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I'd give my all to have
Just one more night with you
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Austin sat at the table, holding his breath until he was positive his sister had gone to sleep. He let out a breath and pulled the picture out from under the table where he had been hiding it since she had come in.
Thank god she was too preoccupied on her own problems to ask him what he was doing up at midnight sitting at the kitchen table. He glanced at the torn picture, the singed edges flaking off. He would find her, if it took him the rest of his life. He would find her!
Wow! What do you think is going on with Austin? Who is this girl that he has to find? And what about Vegeta? Will he stay, or will he go? What do you guys think should happen, cuz I can't decide either way. Let me know what should happen with B/V. Should they get back together? Should he leave and there be a sequel? Let me know!! Chapter 23 will probably be the last chapter, and then there will most likely be an epilogue, so...yeah. Just warning you. Read and Review!!