He flew down to the ground, and the ground happened to be in the middle of a forest. If Bulma didn't know any better, she'd say he planned all this.

"I did," he said. "Now run." He turned his back and Bulma heard his mental voice counting, but since she didn't know what he was doing or how high the count was going to be, she ran.

She ran from him.

Note: In the time it took me to get around to updating (you guys must be really patient if you waited all this time) my writing style severely upgraded, as well as my vocabulary. Although at the moment I'm once again forced to use WordPad due to the lack of anything better, which again means a lack of spellcheck. Typos for me aren't common anymore, and I plan on revising the rest of the chapters to fix these typos, grammatical errors and/or expand the paragraphs to lengthen the chapters. The chapters I write now are about five times the length of my first Sickness chapter. Some of you may know this, if you know Transformations; another fic I plan on revising as I get ideas for it.

Now for chapter 15 at long (about 2 years) last:

Third POV

The next morning, Bulma moaned as she awoke. She didn't remember much about the night before, having some nightmare, running through a forest. . . .But she knew this wasn't Chichi's house. In fact, it looked like her bedroom. But how did she get back here?

Her answer was given pretty sufficiently when she heard a moan and glanced towards it. Vegeta was asleep beside her, face-down, one arm around her waist. Certain parts of her anatomy acted up upon seeing him, some with excitement, some with aches. Oh yes. She remembered now.

Vegeta came to her at Chichi's and brought her to a forest and had her run from him. She rememebered all the tricks she used to stay one step ahead of him, but eventually, he got wise to her tricks and caught her. The rest of the night was a pleasure-filled haze, punctuated with moans and screams of ecstasy. Her mind's eye saw the canopy of the forest fade after several hours into a happy sequence of dreams, usually with black backgrounds, but always with the same alien.

And now she awoke to find herself in her bed with a happy-looking and utterly sated Saiya-jin beside her, still either asleep or waking very slowly. The question was, was that entire forest sequence a dream itself? One way or another, she was at Chichi's house and now she was at her own. Her body ached in places only a lover could reach, and that was proof itself of a long night of intense loving.

Either Vegeta had the time of his life screwing her in her sleep, or the forest escapade truly happened. Considering it seemed out of Vegeta's entire standard that he would practically rape her in her sleep, and that she would stay asleep the entire time, she had to wager that she really did run from him in the forest, only to be caught and thus thrust into the most pleasurable time in her life.

How the hell did he manage that!

He moaned again, moved only slightly, and sighed into the pillow. "You think too much," he murmured.

He sounded tired. "No way, Vegeta. . .are you. . . worn out?" she asked incredulously.

"You wouldn't let me stop," he replied, and rolled onto his back. He was smirking again. "Not that I wanted to, but the added effort of flying back here would tire anyone out after. . ." He paused and chuckled. "Well, you remember."

"Yeah, I remember." She pushed off the covers and swung her legs over the edge of the bed, only to stop to gasp at the amazing amount of pain that shot through her core.

"Bulma?"

She moaned, but not in pain. If they continued these trysts, she might as well give up walking. She wouldn't be able to go downstairs to her lab today, at the very least. Well, not without help. It wasn't just her flower that ached, either; her inner thighs did, too. Who knew sex had this effect on muscles? Yamcha certainly never gave her a workout while making love.

She heard Vegeta chuckle. "Yamcha wouldn't know how to please a woman if he had a manual and she told him what to do."

"You certainly love to slander names," she noted.

"Only of those I hate, dislike, or want my mate."

"Which amounts to everybody," she laughed.

"Very nearly," he corrected, almost purring the words in her ear.

Oh, of course. Everyone excluding me, she thought. How could I forget?

He kissed her neck. "Temporary loss of thoughts," he told her, getting up. "It happens after a night of. . .how did you phrase it. . . 'pleasure-filled haze, punctuated with moans and screams of ecstasy'. I think I rather like that phrase."

"Of course you do." She stood up, trying to ignore the way her body protested active movement. "Now if you don't mind, I need a shower before I start my day."

"Oh, I don't so much as I like the idea," he replied, smirking.

He was either teasing her or hinting. "A lone shower. Another bout of rutting with you would break me."

"Does that mean I can't wash you?"

She raised an eyebrow. "I can't believe you would want to. Since when does a prince bath another person?"

He grinned, fangs all for show. "Since he gained a mate worthy of his particular brand of bathing."

Her smile, while reluctant, was an affirmative. The term 'mate' was so primitive to her, yet so personal and possessive. The animalistic way he purred and growled only tended to excite her, and the intense way he faced every challenge. She couldn't help but give in.

LATER

The entire world seemed brighter after that shower. Vegeta not only washed Bulma, but he also seemed to be worshipping her. He kissed her and touched her the entire time, which truly might've been a tease, but true to his word, he didn't even attempt to make love to her. Judging by the color of his erection, she knew he wanted to, and had to praise his control for holding himself back.

She was starting to think that this whole 'mate' schtick wasn't such a bad thing. Her work in the lab went by in a pleasant breeze, and the rest of the workers kept looking at her with confused gazes. She didn't yell or complain about a single thing throughout the day.

When lunch rolled around, she actually enjoyed the little spars she had with Vegeta at the table. Especially because under the table he kept rubbing her thighs with his 'hidden' hand. It was really just as relaxing as it was a tease.

Playing lover's games was new to her. Yamcha rarely stuck around long enough to do anything of the sort, and she was starting to enjoy Vegeta's small affections, as minimal as they may be around others. His possessive side showed up later, at dinner, when a drunk worker hit on her.

She rolled her eyes and suggested he not have another drink, which he disobeyed by drinking more. She could already feel Vegeta watching like a hawk, which made her feel oddly safe. The worker made a seemingly innocent move, just a touch to her hip, which made Vegeta explode. Almost literally. He punched the worker straight across the room, nearly killing him with one blow.

As the worker was being patched up and taken to the hospital, Vegeta gave a long and frightening speech about nobody else ever doing anything like that to Bulma, ever. Large, wide eyes all held affirmatives, most of them already well aware of Vegeta's temper and strength.

That night Bulma asked about that show in the dining room.

He replied rather simply. "You're mine and you're pregnant with my child."

Possessive, all right. That statement only angered her. "Like I didn't know that already," she said sarcastically. "You nearly killed that man and all he did was barely touch me!"

"I barely touched him," Vegeta countered.

"Yes, but his touch didn't almost kill me!"

"It was his fault for being a slob."

"You're not getting this," she sighed, dropping her head into her hands. "You can't nearly kill a man for touching someone else. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of a slob."

"A drunk man is much stronger than you realize," he snapped. "They don't feel pain as much. If you can't knock them out in one hit, you may not get another chance."

She glanced up, confused. "Were you worried about me or just proving what's yours?"

He paused. That didn't stop her from hearing his thoughts, though.

Both.

Well duh. She could have kicked herself. He only told her he loved her. As intense as Vegeta is, it'd be stupid to not expect him to be just as intense in protecting her. Unfortunately she didn't respond well to sudden changes. Being a mate to Vegeta wasn't exactly what one would call a slow transaction.

She groaned and fell back on her bed. Not a moment later Vegeta took a seat beside her. Her eyes were closed, but she knew he was looking at her.

"Becoming pregnant isn't a slow transaction, either," he told her.

She looked at him. "That's what we call 'stating the obvous'."

To her surprise, he smiled and laid his hand on her womb. "How long do human women remain pregnant?"

"Nine to ten months. It depends on the woman, her stress levels, et cetera."

"Could you handle having a son?"

"A son?" she echoed. "It's too early to determine the sex of the child."

"Nonsense. Saiya-jins always have a son first."

"You're kidding," she accused him, sitting up. "That's impossible to prove."

He shrugged. "Our entire line of sons coming first proves it. We're much different from humans."

"You don't say." With a sigh she laid back down. "Alright, so say it's a boy. . . ."

"Do you believe you can raise a son without problem?"

"I'd like to know why you're asking this."

"I can raise a child by myself."

"Wait a minute. . ." She sat up again. "You're telling me that if I can't handle him, you could?"

"Yes."

That was. . .shocking. "I don't see you as the fatherly type."

"You humans have a phrase. . . 'Appearances can be decieving'. If necassary, every Saiya-jin can raise a child by themself. It's something we developed by many parents dying in battle. Mothers can raise children alone; so can fathers."

"So it's innate."

"Exactly."

She smirked. "Do you believe you could continue to train like you are while raising a son?"

He paused. "If necassary," he repeated.

She laughed. "If I can raise you, a baby is no problem."

His eye twitched. "So it seems."

"An unexpected baby doesn't make it unwanted," she told him. "Just like every other human woman, I've dreamed of having children since my childhood."

"Saiya-jin women aren't so different," he noted.

Another thought dawned on her and she couldn't help but smile. "You realize this is the longest we've ever gone without arguing?"

"We've never had to talk so seriously before," he said, shrugging.

"That's true."

They were both silent for a moment. In fact, they were quiet for several moments. Bulma stared at her thighs during this time. The moment was broken by Vegeta; out of nowhere he decided to start sucking on her bite mark.

Her blush was half embarrassment and half passion. "What are you doing!"

Helping it heal, he told her through his mind.

"How will sucking it help it heal?" she asked, dumbfounded.

She could almost see him roll his eyes. Because I bit you, my actions would make it heal. As you said earlier, another rut would break you; this is an alternative.

"So anything you do to me would make it heal?"

Anything that makes you passionate.

Well, that was a nice thought. Vegeta making her passionate would help her heal wounds. She wondered if it worked the other way.

It should, he told her. He drew back from her neck and licked his lips. "The fact that you're human might contradict the concept, but you are my mate."

"Is there any other word for 'mate' you could use?" she asked, getting a little annoyed.

"It's as good as I can translate it," he tried. "You humans don't have a word for it."

"Alright," she sighed. "What's the Saiya-jin word for it?"

He smirked. "You'll know that as soon as you gain my memories."

Her eye twitched. "Fine. Hope you have fun with my memories of fucking Yamcha."

He jerked and his expression was priceless. She'd never seen him look so shocked. . .or possibly disgusted.

"Hadn't thought of that, did you?" she asked, using a sweet tone.

He gulped. "You don't happen to have a way to erase memories, do you?"

She grinned, but it was a cruel grin. "Amnesia."

He looked positively pitiful. "Perhaps I'll get lucky and not gain that memory."

"Doubtful. My first memory of yours was you killing a lizard-boy."

He glanced away. "Don't think I'm proud of it."

"I thought you were proud of everything you did."

"The Saiya-jin race aren't murderers," he snapped. "Freeza used us, all of us! If I'd have had the power to kill him earlier -"

"Would you have stopped universal conquest?" she broke in. "Like all men, you want power."

"I never wanted death!"

"I can believe that. What I can't believe is that you would have stopped."

He looked pissed. "No, I wouldn't have stopped. But I wouldn't have wiped out planets."

"No, you would've declared war on planets!"

"I would've asked for obedience!"

"Earth wouldn't have given in! If I had resisted, would you have killed me!"

"Never!"

"Why not!"

"Because all Saiya-jins sense their mates!" he snapped, standing. "I may not have understood it at first, but the reason why I continually let you live was because I felt it! If Kakarot hadn't forgotten everything and had wiped out your planet, he would have left Chichi alive because she's his! I could never have killed you!"

"If Goku hadn't forgotten everything, you would never had met me to spare me," she countered. "Would you have killed him for killing me!"

He looked away, sharply. Fists clenching, he said, "If I'd have known you were here, yes."

Well, then. She stood up. Her anger subsided for the moment, and she was able to speak calmly. "It's late and I'm getting tired."

He nodded and left, but she could sense that both his thoughts and emotions were in turmoil. She must've struck a deep nerve.

She shook her head and got ready for bed. It'd been a strange day as it was. She needed time to herself as much as Vegeta did right now. She only hoped answers would come to her in her dreams, instead of questions. And no more violent memories of dead alien children.

She crawled into her bed and settled down. It didn't take long for her to notice that Vegeta left behind his smell, and she smiled as she inhaled it.

Wow.

That intense animalistic quality of his was intertwined with every fiber of his being, apparently. And apparently that smell did exactly what she needed: it lulled her into sleep. How amazing.

END CHAPTER

I have returned, that I have. :World rejoices: Yes, and I'm so sorry I haven't updated. . .I just haven't gotten any good ideas about what to do to continue this, and I lost a lot of interest in DBZ for a while. . .The only reason why I've updated is cause I fully realized that it's been two years and peopl are still begging for the next chapter. x.x So here you are, all of you. I still hope to finish this sometime.

Maybe this whole update thing is a sign that I'm finally getting my act together. . .but then again, I overanalyze stuff. XD

See ya next chapter!