Chapter 22

A/N: so yeah, this has been…what? two years in the making? Three? On a pure whim I decided to read my reviews for this story, and I saw that people were still reading and reviewing the story, and a big pang of guilt hit me for not following through and finishing. So that is what I plan to do…finish. I hope its OK. I haven't watched DBZ since I left off with the story, but I just reread it, and I know where I was headed. Enjoy folks, sorry its extremely overdue!

Yamcha quivered beyond belief. He laid on the ground, now looking up into Vegeta's cold, glaring, unforgiving eyes.

"I can explain," he whispered, trembling with each syllable.

"So EXPLAIN," Vegeta thundered, grabbing Yamcha by the throat and sweeping him up off the ground in one swift, fluid motion. He squeezed Yamcha's neck tight as the powerless human kicked and squirmed, trying to pry at Vegeta's hands, gaping for air. "I said, EXPLAIN!" And with that, Vegeta grasped Yamcha tighter.

"I…followed…Bulma," Yamcha coughed out, struggling to speak and gasp for air as Vegeta slowly choked him. Cavala simply watched in horror and Cartock, slightly grinning, tried hard to look upset on Cavala's behalf. Bulma simply cowered on the sofa.

"I followed her, and I accidentally found the shippp," Yamcha sputtered. Vegeta's squeezed harder, prompting Yamcha to continue. "Your father threatened to kill me if I didn't spy!" Yamcha nearly whispered in horror.

"Well," Vegeta let out a sinister cackle, "looks like you die either way." He then squeezed Yamcha tighter and tighter, and Yamcha began to whimper. His face turned a bright shade of red-purple, and his eyelids drooped. It was at this point that Bulma screamed, throwing herself at Vegeta's feet, grabbing his strong Saiyan legs.

"Vegeta! Please!" She wailed. "Yamcha isn't a good person, he makes mistakes, and he's really messed up, but please! Please don't kill him." Bulma screamed and wailed, tears falling down her cheeks. She shook Vegeta's legs and looked up into his abysmal eyes, silently pleading with him. Although she hated Yamcha – after all, he had tried to rape her – she just couldn't watch him die helplessly in Vegeta's grasp. "Please," she whispered, hopeless.

And that's when Vegeta dropped Yamcha. Yamcha crumpled on the floor, hardly breathing but undoubtedly alive. Vegeta looked at Bulma, at her silent thankfulness toward his mercy, at her contentment and surprise. And at that moment, he knew that the power Bulma held over him was love. He loved Bulma. He loved her enough to avoid killing. Vegeta sunk to his knees and looked Bulma directly in the eye. He nudged her chin with his fist, and then patted her somewhat awkwardly on the shoulder.

Cartock and Cavala stood back, astonished at the open affection Vegeta showed toward an earthling. Silently, Cavala thought, "He's found a mate." And to Cavala's surprise, she heard Cartock think, "He certainly has."

"Bulma," Vegeta whispered, lifting her chin with his calloused hand, "no groveling. I won't have it." With that, he lifted her to her feet. Bulma was in too much shock to do anything but comply and fall into Vegeta's grasp. And just as it seemed he would embrace her in a proper hug, the door swung open.

"SURPRISE!" Chi Chi yelled, her dark eyes, not yet accustomed to the inside light, couldn't comprehend the scene that lay before herself and Goku: Cavala and Cartock, standing off in a corner, Vegeta and Bulma awkwardly holding one another, and a black and blue Yamcha slumped on the floor. But Goku had taken everything in, and he quickly clamped a hand over Chi Chi's mouth, pushing her indoors and slamming the door quickly behind them.

"What the…" Chi Chi whined, rubbing her backside where Goku had forcefully shoved her, at the same time realizing the scene before her. "Oh my…"

"KAMI! IS THAT YOU, KAKKAROT!" Cavala squealed gleefully, bounding across the room, hopping over Yamcha, and tumbling into Goku's arms.

Blushing sheepishly, Goku replied, "Yes, Cavala, it's me, but I go by Goku now." With a quick nod, Goku and Cartock acknowledged one another. "Now can I ask you all…what the HELL is going on here?" Goku finally said as the full knowledge of his friends from Planet Vegeta standing before him in the Briefs home sank in.

"Oh nevermind that," Cavala giggled, forgetting Earth's imminent doom, "tell us who this lovely lady is," she said, wagging her long, manicured finger at Chi Chi. Chi Chi was so confused, all she could do was smiled stupidly, and all Goku had the power to do was blush.

"Well," Goku began, "this is Chi Chi, my fi— "

"ENOUGH!" Vegeta interrupted, fury seeping from every inch of the short Saiyan. "Cavala, have you so soon forgotten our predicament? Cartock, why are you so silent in all of this. We must think of a plan of action, immediately, or Earth is doomed."

"Oh man, what has happened?" Goku asked, no longer thinking of Chi Chi, weddings, or his confusion over Cavala. "Oh God, Cavala, you didn't come here looking for him, did you?" Goku pointed at Vegeta, and Vegeta simply rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Wow," Vegeta said, "that is one of the first times you've ever been right on a first guess." Sneering at Goku and Chi Chi's dumbfounded expressions, he continued: "Father sent me on a mission to Earth to scout the territory. Cavala tracked me down because she thought I was dead, and we are sure now that Father knows she is here with me, thanks to dumbass here," Vegeta snarled, pointed at Yamcha. "So now Earth is doomed. Father wants to control it out of revenge. And control it he will…our only problem is we don't know when he is coming…"

And at just that moment, everyone in the group fell silent. The only sound filling the air was the sound of thousands of space jets filling the air…the sound of fear…the sound of death.

"Father," Vegeta said slowly, "wastes no time, I see."