An – Time for a review award, don't you think?

Review award for chappie seven:

I wonder what' gonna happen next in this fic!

PLEASE CONTINUE CAUSE I LOVE IT

Blu

(A woman of few, but simple words)

Shout outs, just because I don't feel like studying for geography. Oh, and also coz it hink you guys deserve them…

Forbidden secrets: I like granting the wishes of my readership.

Omega Weapon : Read on, dear reader

SL I'm sure if you read any of my other works, you know I'm not one for miserable endings. Thanks for the name, makes it easier.

Ozuma's girl Cool, preggy Geta! I hope those ideas are making you jump! Yeah, my ooc little Vegeta. Cute, isn't he?

Blulily19 Congrats on a review award! Glad you love it.

Goleta Tension of all kinds…but this is quite a long story. You might have to wait a while.

Lenora Here's a double shout out! Vegeta is a bit odd, but he tends to have blinding realisations that smack him hard on the nose…this chappie is for you because I ruthlessly overlooked you last time.

Clarobell I always know I'm not an utterly hopeless case when you review coz if I can convert ppl to male/male, then I can't be that bad. Thanks for being such a great fangirl!

Gutterball You see this is why we hate Chichi. All she does is give Goku complexes. Evil bitch.

Bra-Two There's nothing like Goku/Vegeta. And I mean nothing. I could go on and on about them…but I'll save that for another time.

Onwards!

Chapter eight: temporary separation

"Well, I'm off. I'll see you on Monday." said Vegeta, his overnight bag in one hand, as he stood on the lawn outside their house. Goku looked a little sad.

"Look after yourself, Geta."

"I will." Vegeta about to fly away, when Goku stopped him.

"Hang on! No hug?" Goku grinned. Vegeta dropped his bag, and Goku bear-hugged him.

Vegeta closed his eyes, as his arms went around Goku's chest. Goku wasn't willing to let go. He was going to miss Vegeta. For three long days and two nights, it was going to be back to the lonesome life.

They were like that for a while, but Vegeta pulled away, blushing slightly.

Maybe I enjoyed that a little too much.

"Bye, Kaks." Vegeta picked up his bag.

"Bye, Geta." Goku waved, as Vegeta took off, also waving. He flashed into super saiyan, then blasted off. Goku let his hand drop, then went back into his house. Already, it felt colder.

I landed on the Capsule Corp lawn, and was greeted by the group gathered there. Bulma has really outdone herself. It's hard to find Tien and Chiatzu at the best of times, but she managed to get them to come.

"I see the beanstalk has decided to come down from his perch." I greet Piccolo, who smirks at me.

"Rather tall than short."

"Touché, Namek."

"Hey, dad!" I turn around, and there's my son, grinning.

"Hey, Trunks, happy birthday." I say, as I hug him.

"Thanks dad. Glad you could make it. Hey, where's Goku? Mom said you might have been able to get him to come."

I feel awkward. I hate lying to the kid, but I've got no choice.

"Kakarot was feeling rather sick. He's got flu."

I hear Krillin laughing.

"That sounds like a Mr Satan excuse!"

"I'm right here! I heard that!"

"Sorry, Hercule," chuckled Krillin, who punches my arm, while winking at me.

"Seriously, Vegeta, where's Goku?" asks Yamcha.

"I've told you already. He's sick. Taking some bed rest, just like the doctor told him."

My tone puts them off from asking any more questions. But I hear a voice that has always clawed at my nerves.

"That's just typical of Goku. Always like him to duck out when other people need him."

I turn around, and there's Chichi, but with some one I don't recognise.

"Back off, harpy. Kakarot has his reasons." My fists clench, as I glare at her. Then my eyes travel to the guy next to her.

"And just what is this?"

Chichi just smirks at me, as she leans against the pretty boy next to her.

"This is Mark, my boyfriend."

The others all suddenly disappear, supposedly to go to the bathroom. I guess they sensed my energy spiking.

"Oh, I never knew it was Bring A Dog day. Correct me if I'm wrong, hellcat, but aren't you married to Kakarot?"

I watch her put her arm around his waist. For some reason, I find this annoying.

"It's hard to remember I have a husband when I haven't seen him for almost four years. Maybe you should marry him, Vegeta. I hear the two of you are quite close."

"Kakarot is my friend, and what you're doing is wrong. He's going to be hurt by this. But not that you care, you cheap slut."

Mark makes his first comment.

"Hey, you treat her nicely!"

I laugh, making Mark recoil.

"Well, Mork, maybe you should teach your girlfriend some manners. But I guess you can't teach an old dog new tricks, hey?"

"Vegeta, you bastard!" yells Chichi, while being restrained by Mark.

I laugh and walk away to join the others and leave behind a fuming Chichi and a terrified looking Mork.

That afternoon, we all board Bulma's jet, and I take the seat next to her in the front. Goten and Trunks are horsing around, Videl is chatting to Gohan, and I feel nauseated as I stare at Chichi kissing Mark. Bulma can tell that I'm unsettled, and she puts her hand on my knee.

"It's okay, Vegeta. Let it go."

I stare out the window instead. I think about what Kakarot is going to say when he finds out. He's going to be devastated. It means nothing to me what Chichi does, but I worry about Kakarot. He's done nothing wrong and he doesn't deserve this. I guess if he'd visited more often, it wouldn't have happened. He's going to feel so guilty. Maybe I won't tell him. I doubt he'll find out. At least, I hope he won't. A finger taps me on the shoulder.

"Hey, Vegeta?"

"Yeah, Gohan?"

The demi saiyan crouches behind my seat, and I turn to face him.

"How's my dad doing? I haven't seen him in so long. Is he okay?"

I close my eyes for a second. When I open them, his worried face is still there. I think he should know the truth. I know that he's smart enough to understand why Kakarot isn't here. And I think he deserves to know why.

"Can I tell you later? When there's no one else around?"

Gohan nods, and goes back to his seat next to Videl. I continue staring out the window.

Kakarot, they miss you so much. But I miss you too.

The plane lands at a dock and we all climb out. There's a red carpet, with a small sign posted next to it.

" 'Briefs Party.' That's us! Wow, mom! You really know how to throw parties!"

Indeed, even I was impressed. Bulma, being her usual extravagant self, had booked the most impressive yacht I'd ever seen. I know nothing about boats, but it looked big, luxurious and fast. Not to mention expensive. I clutched my small black bag as Bulma ushered us all aboard. I walked behind everybody as they all chattered, Piccolo walking beside me. Everyone calls us the silent but violent ones. Violent is right; if Chichi doesn't stop smirking like that, I might just tear off her lips and ram them down Mork's throat. Piccolo is also looking rather disgusted. I look up at him, and he makes a retching noise, which makes me snort with laughter. This might turn out to be quite an amusing party.

After we are all shown to our cabins, I'm not surprised to see that Piccolo and I have been allocated a cabin together. I'm wondering how we're going to fit, until I open the door. This isn't a cabin, this is an apartment!

"Like it?" Bulma pokes her head around the door, smiling. I turn, and grin.

"Looks great. There's enough space here to keep me and Pointy Ears far enough apart."

"I don't know, Vegeta, there's barely enough space on this planet for your ego."

I see Piccolo bending down to get into the cabin, but he can straighten up inside. I can see he's impressed.

"Oh, Piccolo, I made sure that they stocked the fridge with your favourite." Bulma winks, and Piccolo walks over to the minibar. A grin lights up his green face.

"Still Evian mineral water! This should make living with Vegeta far more bearable."

Bulma laughs, and I laugh too.

"Just as long as the two of you don't spill any blood on the carpets. I've got to go make sure that everyone has settled in. Dinner is at seven, in the main dining room."

"It's casual, right?" I ask, budging Piccolo out of the way so that I can get to the minibar fridge.

"Nope, it's formal. Trunks is dying to see everyone in suits. I took the liberty of organising for outfits for every one. Here's yours."

Bulma chucks a capsule each to Green Bean and myself. We both look horrified.

"A suit?"

"Oh, come on, Piccolo. You'll look gorgeous in one. Ask Vegeta to do your tie for you."

"Over my dead body."

"See you two later! Play nicely!" Bulma blew a kiss at us, then disappeared. We both look at the capsules in our hands.

"You have got to be kidding me" grumbled Piccolo, putting the capsule down on the table, and reaching for a bottle of Evian. I grab a can of Fanta, take over the most comfortable chair in the room, and sip thoughtfully.

"I wonder what Kakarot would look like in a suit."

Piccolo nearly chokes on his water.

"Where did that come from!?"

I just shrug.

"I dunno. I was just thinking about him."

Far away, Goku was thinking about Vegeta. He was flying home from his usual training session with Uub, and wasn't looking forward to going home. He landed, and walked up to his house. He put his hand on the door handle. Usually Vegeta left Uub twenty minutes earlier, and was already home before Goku. He showers, then gets dinner going, has a favourite CD playing, and switches the lights on. But now, the house was just a cold shell. No music, no gruff presence, nothing. Goku sighed as he let himself in, and shut the door behind him. He switched on the lights, and went to the kitchen. He opened the fridge, grabbed a tin of Fanta and a microwave meal, and slammed the door closed with his foot. He put his meal into the microwave, and waited for it to finish. Then he realised that he had to turn the thing on first. If Geta were here, he'd tease me about it, or something. But, then again, I'd be making a proper supper with him, and enjoying myself.

Goku finished making his supper, then pulled a rather disgusted face when he saw his food under the foil cover. Limp vegetables, tough meat and dry rice, all neatly partitioned off from each other. Nothing like the fresh pasta that Vegeta makes himself, with some delicious sauce with a fancy Italian name that Goku can't even pronounce.

He sat in the lounge, switched the TV on, and watched cartoons, while he ate his "dinner.' But the antics of Bugs Bunny weren't quite enough to lift his mood. Cartoon Network is not quite Vegeta's favourite way of passing time. He enjoys anime and violent cartoons. And South Park too. More often than not, Goku would catch Vegeta watching Discovery channel or something like that. His excuse?

"I still don't know enough about this planet, Kaks. Besides, it's really interesting. You see, there was this program about sharks, and…"

Then Vegeta would reel off a whole list of facts and figures without hesitation. His memory never ceased to amaze Goku. Sometimes, it was too good. Vegeta had a habit of remembering all the times Goku forgot to do dishes, or go shopping. Goku poked at his food, then gave up.

"Stuff this. I'm having take-outs. Now, where did Vegeta put that take out menu?"

Goku strolled over to the phone, and found the take away menu buried under Vegeta's National Geographic magazines. He paged through, and a note fell out. He picked it up off the floor, and smiled when he recognised the handwriting.

Hey Kaks

I knew that you'd be missing my cooking. Don't worry, I'm missing you too. Just don't leave the house a mess. I'll be back on Monday afternoon. Time will pass. But I wish you were here.

-Geta