Just so everyone knows! My fans kick ass! ;-) (Group hug!) And I accidentally misnamed Vegeta's little brother in the last chapter. It's supposed to be Arro, not Cass! I'm a dork!

DBZ-fan-JESS- I know a year and a half is a long time to skip ahead, but I didn't really think everyone would be too happy hearing about Vegeta and Bulma's relationships with other people, and I really wanted them to have that time apart. Plus, yes! I do like to torture my characters! Mu hahahaha.

Silentslayer- I know. Nobody wants the marriage, but it's important! I swear. You all like how it turns out. I promise! Enjoy!

Hikari Heijin- Thanks for reviewing! I hope you like this new chapter!

Kacy- I've recently updated YSTR a couple times, and will have yet another chapter for it up very, very soon, next couple days. I hope you like this story, though.

Jet- I love Gilmore Girls! Haha. Yeah. I hope you like the new chapter. Thanks!

Na Janay- Haha. Everyone hates Yamcha. It kind of makes me feel bad for him. I'm neutral when it comes to him. I've used him as a bad guy, and I've tried to use him as a decent guy, but that never goes over well. Oh well! Enjoy!

Segma- Wow! Thank you. I really hope you like this chapter!

Lenk- Thanks so much for reviewing! Yeah! Things will really start to get good now in my opinion. Hope you like.

Little Rascal- Thanks for reviewing! Enjoy!

Shades of Crimson- I'm not picking favorites or anything, but I always look forward to hearing from you! (Hugs) Thanks so much! You're amazing. I think everyone will like how things work out. I'll give you a hint. Yamcha's not going to be a bad guy in this fic. I'm really going to try and make him a decent for a change! It means a lot that you like Akira and Arthos. They'll be making appearances in all my fics. ;-) There's definitely a lot happening down the road in this story. Enjoy this new chapter! Much luv!

Seruleyan-Wings- My homie! Where are you! I've missed ya, gal! If you see me on AIM, message me. I never know if it's you when you're names online. (sobs) I miss bob-storming with you! Anyhow. It was great to hear from ya. I'm glad you like! Sorry, you were sick! Get better soon. Luv ya!

Tsume-Hiei luver- Thanks for reviewing! I'm not going to stop writing, so you don't have to worry! I'm really happy that you like my work. It means a lot! Thanks so much!

Kataan- Don't worry! I'm updating! See? ;-)

Just a Fan- A really want to thank you for your last review! I'm glad that some people are so understanding. I will try very hard to get an update for "MNI" up soon. I'm working on it, but I think I might finish this fic first. Not sure! Thanks so much!

Sephoria- Thanks so much! Everyone was really supportive after my last rant there. I didn't mean to scare anyone. I'm still going to write, and I have no plans on stopping. I have far too many ideas in my head to stop. I think I'd go insane if I tried. Haha. So, yeah! Thanks again. I'm glad you like all my stories and my characters.

Vegeta's Baby Sister- It's completely understandable that you haven't reviewed lately. You don't have to apologize for it. I know what it's like to be without a computer for a while. Been there! Hahaha. Anyhow. Thanks so much. Don't worry! I'm not quitting! ;-)

Chapter 14: Picture Box!

(Friday morning)

The airport was pretty packed for it being five in the morning, Trunks noticed. He couldn't wait to see his father! The last time he'd seen Vegeta was at Christmas dinner at his grandparent's house several months ago. They still talked on the phone at least twice a week, but a phone call never could contend with actually being with his dad. Akira sat next to him, flipping through a magazine she'd bought in the gift shop on their way in. She was used to being up early because of the diner. Arthos, on the other hand, had never been one for getting up early. He was slouched down in his chair, his head resting against his girlfriend's shoulder as he snored softly.

"So?" Akira spoke up.

Trunks looked at her. "Huh?"

"The boxes?" She prodded. "And don't feed me that 'Vegeta's assistant screwed up the addresses' crap again. I let it slide last night. What's going on?"

The eighteen year old gulped. "Um. I don't know."

She continued flipping through the magazine. "You were never good at lying to me."

"Uncle Arro is moving out of the apartment," he tried.

"Wrong again!"

He smiled weakly and happened to glance up toward the main hallway. "Dad!" He turned to Akira and nudged her. "Would you look at that, Kir? It's my dad," he announced loudly, hoping his uncle would wake up and save him from Akira's interrogation.

Akira just shook her head. "I'll get it out of you one way or another," she told him before shaking Arthos awake. "Get off me, you bum."

Her boyfriend sat up, startled from his peaceful sleep. "What's going on!" He looked up at his brother and blinked. "Vegeta?"

The older man just glared down at him. "Who else were you expecting to pick up?"

"Good point," Arthos muttered, yawning loudly.

Trunks stood up. "I think we should get Uncle Ar back home before he falls asleep again," he joked.

Akira got to her feet as well and shook her head at her boyfriend with a smile on her face. She turned to Vegeta and gave him a quick hug. They'd gotten close over the past year, as she had begun to spend more and more time with his brother. Her and Arthos had even visited him a couple times while he was in California, and she was at all the family functions now.

"Welcome back," she greeted him.

Vegeta smirked and hugged her back. "Still with my loser of a brother, I see. I thought you might have grown a brain and left him by now," he joked.

Arthos jumped to his feet pulled his girlfriend to his side gently. "Let's go home," he grumbled.

Father and son laughed as they watched Arthos drag Akira along on their way out the door into the parking lot.

(Change scene, Monday morning)

She rolled out of bed to the persistent ringing of the telephone. It was times like these, that she despised herself for putting a phone line in her bedroom. Staggering across the room, she reached for the phone and put it up to her ear. "This had better be good," she greeted groggily. Why'd Yamcha have to go to work so early and leave her here alone to answer the phone!

"Good morning to you too," Goku laughed from the other end of the line. "Did you forget?"

Bulma frowned, making her way over to the window and pulling back the curtains. What was he going on about? She squinted against the intensely bright sunlight filtering in through the glass. "Oh shit!" It suddenly dawned on her. "I feel like a complete ass."

"It's okay, B. You've got your own stuff going on," her ex-boyfriend responded kindly. "You'll make it when you can. I didn't mean to wake you up. It's just that you're normally awake by this time. It's almost ten," he babbled on.

"Ten!" She whirled around to glare at her alarm clock. "I set my clock for eight! Why didn't it go off," she cried angrily. "I'm going to harm it," she threatened.

Goku laughed again. "It's okay. Don't take it out on the alarm clock. I'm sure it's not really its fault."

"Oh, it is," she replied, pulling the plug from the wall and walking back over to the window, clock in hand. "I'll meet you at the Inn in thirty minutes," she told him, while trying to pry the window open with one hand.

"We're already here. Take your time, B."

"Bye." She hung up the phone and set it on the windowsill. Now with both hands free, she was able to open the stubborn pane. She leaned the top half of her body out of the window and held the clock with both hands. "You really let me down," she told it in an ashamed voice. "I'm afraid, it's time for me to move on."

She tossed it toward her empty driveway, waiting for the satisfying smash as it broke into tiny pieces. It smashed alright—right against a shiny, black Mercedes! Bulma blinked. "What the?" She whispered to herself worriedly. Her driveway was supposed to be empty! She swallowed the lump in her throat and looked down at the driver of the car, who just so happened to be getting out of the car when the clock had landed on the roof.

Vegeta looked up at Bulma and cocked an eyebrow at her. "You're lucky this is a rental," he called up to her.

Bulma frowned and propped her elbows on the windowsill, resting her chin in her hands. "I'll be sure to have an extra clock ready for when you bring your car around next time," she threatened with a grin.

He smirked up at her. "Are you going to let me in, or are you just going to sit up there in your room all day?"

"Where's Trunks?" She asked him. It was obvious that Vegeta must have decided to drop their son off after he'd spent a nice, long weekend with his father. Why else would Vegeta come over to her house, especially since they hadn't seen each other in over a year?

"I dropped him off at Keelin's," he told her. "The door, woman?"

She rolled her eyes. "It's unlocked. I'll be right down." She moved back inside and closed her window before walking toward her door. She paused, walking past the full-length mirror, and frowned. Her hair was disheveled, and her nightgown wasn't something most people would find appropriate for entertaining company in. It was short, and semi-sheer. 'Oh, who cares,' she told herself. 'It's nothing Vegeta hasn't seen before.'

Downstairs, Vegeta walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge. He moved several takeout boxes aside and pulled a bottle of water out. "Still haven't leaned to cook, huh?" He asked her, hearing her bare feet pat lightly against the tiled floor.

"Still an asshole, huh?" She retorted, pushing him out of the way gently and grabbed the orange juice.

"Would you still love me if I weren't?" He joked with that damn smirk of his still on his face and that gruff little chuckle of his that always got her thinking of things she shouldn't be thinking of!

Bulma felt the sudden need to sit down before her legs decided to give out from under her. "What are you doing here?" She countered with yet another question.

"Dropping my son off." He sat down across the table from her and took a big gulp of the water he stole.

"You dropped him off at Keelin's. Why'd you come here?"

He sighed irritably and leaned back in the chair. "What? I'm not allowed to come over here now? Fine." He stood up and started toward the back door.

Bulma jumped up from her chair and caught onto his arm. "Wait, Vegeta!" He turned to glare at her, and she let go of him and stepped back a little. "I didn't say that. I just didn't think we were on speaking terms since you left."

Vegeta dropped his hand from the doorknob and turned to her. "You want to keep fighting? Fine by me. I'm always good for holding a grudge."

"Vegeta, come on. You know I hate fighting with you," she told him.

He laughed out loud at that. "No you don't," he commented.

Giving him a heated look, she turned away from him and went back to her seat at the table. "You didn't answer my question!"

He crossed his arms and leaned against the counter behind him. "I heard you're actually getting married."

She lowered her eyes to the table and the paper that Yamcha had left before he had gone to work. "I heard you were dating Tessa."

"We need to start discussing college," he cut in. If she was going to avoid his statements, he'd do the same!

Bulma sighed and flipped the paper open to the editorial's page. "Trunks hasn't decided where he wants to go yet." She skimmed over the articles looking for some thing to distract her.

"I know. I've talked to the boy about it already. He'll get into whatever school he wants to attend. I just want to make sure we don't have another stupid fiasco over the money situation like we did with Worthington," Vegeta told her.

"You don't have to worry about a thing. I have it all under control. Trunks is getting a ton of scholarships, and Yamcha and I will be taking out loans for the rest." She cringed the second the words left her mouth. 'Shit! What was I thinking!' She didn't have to wait long for the explosion.

Vegeta stormed over to her chair and pulled her to her feet. "That thing you call your fiancé isn't going to have any say in this. Trunks is my son and my responsibility, woman."

Bulma yanked her arms from his grasp and glared up at him. "Knock it off, Vegeta! Yamcha cares about Trunks, and he's going to be his stepfather whether you like it or not," she shot back.

"I will be paying for his schooling. All of it," he put in evenly.

She could see the desperation in his eyes, and she backed down quickly, feeling bad all of a sudden. She reached up and placed her hand against his cheek gently. "Oh, Vegeta. Yamcha's not trying to replace you," she whispered. "He could never. Trunks loves you more than anything in this world."

He pushed her hand away from his face and glared angrily at her. "You just don't get it, do you?"

This time, he made it out the back door before she could stop him. Bulma ran out onto the porch. "Vegeta!"

"Mother is having a little dinner this Friday night," he growled out, opening the trunk and pulling out several bags that obviously belonged to Trunks. They were all from bookstores and music shops. Vegeta had taken him shopping, she guessed. He walked back to her and stopped. "Family only. She's expecting you there." He walked into the house to deposit his son's things in his room before he came back out.

Bulma was still standing on the porch, gripping the railing tightly. "Vegeta?"

He ignored her and started walking across the lawn toward Akira's house. "Be there by seven."

"Where are you going!" She yelled at him.

"Where does it look like I'm going?" He shot back.

"Akira's not home. She's at the diner, working!"

"She asked me to pick something up from her house and bring it to her," Vegeta yelled before disappearing into Bulma's best friend's house.

(Change scene)

He liked her house. There weren't any frilly things or flowers all over the place. It was very different in it's décor. No patterns, just solid colors. He'd have to suggest to his brother to just move in here instead of getting a new place for them. He walked into the living room and looked around. Akira had told him that what he was looking for would be in here. He walked over to the fireplace and looked at all the pictures on the mantle. There were quite a few of Trunks from all different times in his young life, some of Bulma and Akira posing funnily next to each other, and a couple new ones from one of Akira and Arthos' visits to California to see him.

He picked up the picture and looked down at it. They were on the beach. Arthos had Akira flung over his shoulder, and she was laughing and pounding her fists against his back. Vegeta was lounging nearby in a chair, Tessa sitting in the sand next to him reading a novel. Arro had taken the picture. Vegeta set it back up on the mantle and moved on down the line. The next one took him by surprise.

It was a prom picture, and there were two couples in it. Akira and some guy he didn't know, and next to them stood another couple. It was Bulma and Goku, from what he was guessing. He turned away from the mantle and glanced around the room for what he came for. He found a wooden chest that was painted white. It looked old. He opened it up and looked inside. This was it! He pulled out some photo albums and flipped the one labeled 'Trunks' open. There were a ton of baby pictures, and as he turned the pages, the boy in the pictures seemed to get older. It was like watching his son grow up. All the things he'd missed over the years were right in his hands now. He was suddenly very grateful that his brother and Akira had hit it off. She'd told him to take the albums and get copies of the pictures for himself.

"I don't think Akira would be too happy if she found out you were going through her stuff," Bulma spoke up from the small foyer.

He looked up at her and scowled. Closing the album, he stood up and placed it back into the small chest. "This is what I came for," he growled out, picking up the wooden box.

Bulma knew what all was in that box. "Why does she need that at the diner?" She inquired suspiciously.

"It's not for her. She brought up at lunch Sunday that she had a million pictures from when Trunks was growing up, and my mother went nuts," he lied smoothly. "She wanted to borrow them so she can make copies."

"Oh," Bulma muttered. "Sorry."

He stood up and walked toward the door. "What did you want?"

She followed him out the door quietly. "I want us to be friends again," she told him. "You're my best friend, Vegeta. We've grown up together since we were babies, and I can't stand us not talking to each other. Up until a couple years ago, we at least could talk openly. I want that again!"

"You have friends, you have a fiancé, and you have our son," he told her. "You don't need me." He put the photos in the back of the car. "Honestly, woman." Vegeta turned toward her and lifted her chin with his hand. His insides clenched at the sight of her big blue eyes filled with tears, but he showed no outward sign that he felt bad. "You act like I hate you or something."

"Don't you?" She sobbed.

He shook his head. "I'll see you on Friday." He opened his door and slid into the driver's seat. "And don't bring him."

(Change scene)

It was like 'baby day' at the diner. June had brought her newborn in, and Ausrin and Radditz had their little boy there as well. It made Akira a little envious. Sighing, she stopped staring at her blond friend who was busy rocking her tiny little girl to sleep and went back to wiping off the table. The bell jingled behind her, announcing that someone had entered her diner. She turned around to see Vegeta. He looked a little perturbed, and he was holding the picture box. She laughed a little.

"You brought the whole box?"

"Shut up, or I'll tell my brother you're biological clock is ticking," he teased back.

"Wow. I'm guessing you talked to Bulma this morning," she went on, following him over to an empty table away from the other occupants.

He set down the box heavily and plopped down in a chair. "Yes," he hissed.

Akira sat across from him and frowned. "What happened?"

"I told her I wanted to pay for Trunks college, and she had the nerve to bring that loser fiancé of hers into it. Did you know he had offered to pay for it?" He demanded accusingly.

Akira's eyes widened. "What? No way! I would have told you or Arthos about that," she confided. "Are you sure she didn't just say it to make you mad?"

"She meant it," he muttered.

"I'm sorry, Vegeta." She looked up at the clock on the wall. "Want me to go through these with you? Radditz can hold down the diner for a change."

He picked the box up. "Sure. You know more about all this stuff than me anyhow."

"Good. Radditz, I'm going for the night. Call my cell if you need anything," she shouted into the kitchen.

"Yeah, yeah! Just leave," he teased back.

"If there weren't customers out here, I'd respond accordingly," she shouted back.

(Change scene)

Chichi was looking at the latest wedding magazines, trying to find the perfect inspiration for her and Goku's cake. Next to her, her fiancé was tasting all the different flavors that she had narrowed their selection down to. He was in heaven!

"I like this one a lot," he pointed to one of the three chocolate cakes to his right.

"Let's see," Chichi said, reaching over to take his fork and try a bit of it. She let the delicious flavor sit in her mouth for a second before finishing it. "The chocolate mocha silk cake it is," she announced happily.

Bulma walked into the room. "Hi, guys. Sorry I'm late," she apologized.

"Don't worry about it, B! We just decided on a cake flavor," Goku told her excitedly. "You've got to try it and tell us what you think." He pushed the plate over toward her.

She picked up the plate and grabbed a fork from nearby. "Oh my god," she responded after taking a bite of it. "That's amazing, Chi!"

"Thanks. I still haven't decided on how I want to decorate it yet, though." She picked up her book and started flipping again. "Oh, June was just here with the baby. You missed it. She's absolutely adorable. I can't wait until we have children," she told Goku.

Most guys would immediately freak out at the mention of children, but Goku just smiled. "Me either, Chi."

"You guys are going to make great parents some day," Bulma told them, smiling at her two friends. She pulled out a clipboard from her briefcase and set it down in front of her. "I finished my invitations last night," she told them. "My hand is still feeling numb, and I hardly invited anyone."

Chichi looked up at her. "I just got our invitations in the mail Saturday morning. They came out so pretty!"

"At least they were right. I had to send mine back twice. What a nightmare," Bulma responded. "Thankfully, I ordered them months ago."

Goku handed her a piece of paper. "Chi finally finished our guest list this morning."

"Perfect! Now, we need to figure out how you'd like the dining room arranged."

"Oh! Round tables," Chichi exclaimed. "It's so intimate that way," she sighed dreamily.

Bulma giggled. "Round tables then!" She quickly scribbled the note down. "Okay. Let's move on to the flowers."

(End chapter 14)

Yeah! An update finally, right!

Next time: We're going to take a little trip into the past again, with Akira as a tour guide! We're going to learn a little about Bulma's relationship with Goku finally, and how things came to be the way they were between those two. Possibly some B/V interaction. Not sure yet. Depends on how far I get.

PANDORA ;-)