An: Aaw, I feel so happy! I have talent? You know, it's hard to read my work and think that, because I can't really step out of my head. But thank you all for your reviews.

Shout outs!

X The Chichi Slaughter House X: Heh, hope this chapter isn't too short! And glad you're so enthusiastic!

Griever Weapon: EEW! Yamcha could never be sexy, that's beyond Shenron's abilities! And I stumbled accidentally across a Vegeta/Yamcha slash. Still have nightmares. And yes, Vegeta is even studlier now.

Kiro: And more you shall have!

Kat-Yaoi Maniac: Hmm, I never thought of that! Cunning observation! Of course the Vedge was going to go back! No one can leave the orange baka.

Joou Himeko Dah: Yes, there has been a return! Yay! My writing must be improving or something…thanks!

Ishuka: You're too kind. Nah, I never punish my reviewers! It's part of my personal code of conduct (which is in my bio). I just thought it prudent to end that chapter there. As nice as it is to have plane-loads of reviews, I don't let the amount influence how often I update. I've posted even when I've had no reviews…and believe me, that's happened. Hope you'll stay with me for the rest of my days on Cool screen name. Mmm, I was toying with a Kakarot suicide, but that didn't seem like a good idea so I went with this. But I cringe when I read this old work of mine; I wrote it about a year ago, and I personally think I've improved a lot since. You'll see in my next work. Thanks for the review!

Lenora: I've read all of Card's stories, and that's one of my favourites, right there with 'Pornstar Dragons'. The idea of Krillin and Vegeta made me cringe, but the story was so good it was worth it. Was kinda sad in parts though. I see you hang out on the Hideaway too. You must check out Xero Sky; she is AMAZING! Oh, and Camaro too. And of course, my mentor, Gutterball. We all need a glass of yaoi to keep us healthy!

Dragon-Angel-of-Light: blush you are really so very kind. Thank you for the words; your encouragement means a lot. And I hope that you will stay with me for the next story. Ask my other reviewers: the name was changed a few times, got quite a few teases about that! Didn't mean to be cruel about the cliffy; it was just a good time to do a break. Thanks for your support!

Karen: Here's the reaction…and you got your wish granted. I'm so very nice…

Falconsblade: Yeah, I got the first flame for this story. Some people need to pull the stick out of their asses. The pudding-brained idiot clearly didn't read the preview and I will NOT apologise for my choice of subject matter. And it is so obviously a guy; probably insecure about his own sexuality.

Probably jealous…Oooh, I'm getting catty. Thanks for reviewing, and more you shall have, dear F-Blade!

Clarobell: Thank you so much for all the adorable pics! The heart ones were so cute! I really should have replied to your mails, but in apology, the sequel to 'Stupid Statue' is yours! I've got those heart (the Goku and Vegeta one) pics as the background on my phone. Well, I don't want to give away anything for the next fic and I want to send it through my editor first (poor woman) so there might be a lag in my updates. Actually, I've got tons of one-shots to fill the time…You're really so kind to me, Clarobell. Thanks for the emails and all your reviews: it wouldn't be the same without your input and encouragement.

Kirsti-Lee: Welcome to the gang! Yes, here is your wish. I find it damn nigh impossible to leave them separated. They just belong together and I don't like unhappy endings either.

Well, that covers the replies…on another note, I will be departing from sap and fluff for a while. But I hope my next work really blows this one out of the water, but you'll have to be the judges.

Onwards to Camelot!

The road to recovery

"Kakarot…you idiot."

Vegeta put his briefcase down and went to the figure passed out on the floor en route to the kitchen. He knelt down next to Goku and carefully turned him over onto his back. Vegeta couldn't recognise the happy Kakarot he had once known. The younger Saiyan reeked of stale smoke, spilt beer and general filth. His face looked dull and unhealthy, and he seemed to have gained weight. His body had lost its lean, sculpted look, sacrificed to his depression. Vegeta saw puke spattered all over the clothes of the Saiyan, and shook his head.

"Uub, I'm going to get him cleaned up. I need you to do the following. Get some help, any one that can clean, some garbage bags and some cleaning materials. Here's some cash; get what we need so that we can pull this house into shape."

Uub nodded, then got started on his mission. Vegeta picked Goku up, a small moan escaping him.

"I wonder how many sleeping pills he took this time," Vegeta wondered as he shifted Goku's weight. Vegeta was glad for the height increase, he wouldn't have been able to carry Goku this easily when he was short. He took him upstairs to the bathroom, and started running the shower. He pulled his clothes off down to his boxers, then put Goku under the warm spray of the shower, sitting on the floor.

After the spray had drummed against his face for a minute or so, Goku woke up slowlyand wondered how he had got there. He supposed that he'd just passed out in the shower again when he heard the voice that had been so cruel to him, yet it sounded sad now.

"Kakarot."

Goku turned his head, and saw Vegeta through the open shower door.

"You're back!"

"Yes, I am. Now hurry up and shower. We've got a lot of cleaning to do. When that's done, we need to talk."

Goku nodded, as he reached for the soap. Vegeta smiled and left him to give him his privacy.

Vegeta was waiting in the hallway outside the bathroom when Goku came out, a cloud of steam following him. He had a towel around his waist, his spikes drooping. Vegeta hid his disappointment at Goku's physical condition; he was nowhere near as toned as before.

"Feeling better?"

Goku grinned as he shook the water out of his spikes. "Yeah. I'm just going to change, okay?"

"When you're done, come down to the lounge."

Vegeta turned and left. Goku went to his room, automatically reaching for his packet of smokes on the top of his drawers. He lit one and took a deep drag as he opened his cupboard. He had one clean pair of jeans left, and a single clean shirt. He pulled them on, but he had to really dig around for a decent pair of boxers.

He went down to the bottom part of the house, and stopped when he got to the lounge. He almost burst out laughing. It was odd to see Vegeta wearing dishwashing gloves and picking up cigarette butts and bottle caps. Vegeta turned to see him, and frowned. Goku was still smoking, and he apparently had become so used to it he didn't notice any more. Vegeta walked up to him, and snatched the offending cigarette from Goku's mouth. He broke it in half, and put it into the nearest dustbin bag.

"From now on, you're going to stop that revolting habit, understood?"

"Yes, Vegeta."

Goku looked offended, then realised that Vegeta only did it because he cared.

Vegeta caught the look of offence on Goku's face, and sighed. "Look, Kakarot, I'm not trying to hurt your feelings, but you need to understand that I don't want you to destroy yourself any more. Now, help me clean up here. This place is like a locker room on Frieza's spaceship."

Goku smiled and started to help clear up the debris of his depression.

After three hours of scrubbing, chucking, sweeping and vacuuming, Goku's house was once again fit for habitation. Vegeta had blasted all the garbage into specks with energy, and Goku had been forced by Vegeta and Uub to pour his remaining beer down the drain. He'd tried to sneak a drink behind the house, but Uub had found him and called Vegeta. The look of disappointment on Vegeta's face made Goku feel like the lowest trash in the universe. He'd just poured his beer out onto the grass and quietly walked back into the house. Vegeta shook his head and berated himself for not coming sooner.

That evening, the two Saiyans were alone again. Goku sat on the couch, and Vegeta sat in the armchair opposite. Goku craved a cigarette and a cold beer. He kept fidgeting, and Vegeta noticed this.

"Kakarot, I –"

"No, Vegeta. I should say sorry. This was all my fault. We had that first fight all because of my cowardice. I should have just given you a chance, I should have done what my heart said, and – "

"No, Kakarot! I shouldn't have just driven off like that! I should have stormed upstairs or punched you, but what I did was wrong too. I shouldn't have just kissed you like that."

Goku got up, took Vegeta's hand, and made him sit next to him on the couch.

"My whole life I've told people to follow their hearts, but…I couldn't do the same. You did what you felt was right, and you got punished for it. That isn't fair. I deserve to suffer withdrawal like this. Right now, I'd give my kidneys for a bottle of beer, but I have to stop those habits. Look at me, Vegeta. I'm disgusting. My entire body has gone to waste."

"I shouldn't have left you, I should have come sooner!"

"I should have gone after you. I shouldn't have given up so easilyand allowed myself to fall into the constant cycle of eat, drink, smoke, sleep."

"But this is all my fault!"

Goku took Vegeta's hands in his.

"We're both to blame. But that doesn't matter anymore. We're together again, the unbeatable tag team of Kakarot and Vegeta. That's what's important. I had the most wonderful guy in the world, and I lost him through my own cowardice and stupidity. All because I got freaked out by a kiss."

Goku grinned.

"Although, admittedly, it was the best kiss of my life."

"You shouldn't have been massaging my tail spot like that. It pushed me over the edge," Vegeta smiled slyly.

"Tail spot? Do I have one? And since when were you so tall? And where did these bangs come from, and your tail?"

Goku tugged on Vegeta's bangs gently.

"I got a wish from the Dragon. He restored my body to its true state. Five decades of damage gone in fifty seconds. Not bad. The bangs are a minor irritation – " he blew upwards at them, then continued "- but other than that, I'm stronger, faster and better."

Vegeta pinched the roll of fat on Goku's stomach.

"You, on the other paw, seem to have gone backwards."

Goku blushed. "I'll work it off in no time."

"You'd better. I miss that hard body."

Goku's blush deepened. "So, what's a tail spot?"

"It's a bundle of nerve endings right above the tail. Mine is more sensitive now that I have a tail, but yours –" He reached around Goku's waist, put his hand under his shirt and ran his fingers down Goku's back until he found the dip.

" – Is still working just fine. It's right about here."

Vegeta pressed down on the area, making Goku gasp, his fingers digging into Vegeta's legs with the pleasure.

"Aack! So that's what I was doing to you? No wonder you lost control!"

Vegeta grinned, as he started rubbing the area. "Err, Vegeta, you can stop now…"

"Not until I've made you beg."

Goku felt his determination slipping as Vegeta increased the pressure, until he had taken as much as he could handle. He jumped forward and pushed Vegeta onto his back, relieving the pressure on his tail spot. Goku put his elbows on either side of Vegeta's head, their noses not even inches apart. Goku realised that he was panting, and Vegeta's hands rested on his cheeks.

"You see what I mean? What you did to me all those months ago? Do you at least understand what I felt and why I reacted the way I did?"

Goku felt Vegeta's tail go under his shirt to stimulate his tail spot again. Goku shivered, and Vegeta grabbed his shirt and pulled him right down until their bodies were together, eyes half-lidded, lips not quite touching.

"Vegeta…"

And Vegeta just smiled.

And with that, their lips connected, tongues met and bodies relaxed, as they relived a moment that took place almost four months ago.

But this time, there were to be no following arguments, no tears, no hurt.

Just a love shared between two best friends.