Chapter 4 – Who Knows her Better?

Vegeta walked across the room to where Bulma lay with Goku doggedly following.

"Man, Vegeta you are really devoted to Bulma, aren't you."

"Devotion has nothing to do with it Kakarot. I simply want what is mine."

"You'd better not let Bulma hear you say that."

Vegeta expelled a low growl and his hand went up swiftly to silence the badgering Saiyan.

Kakarot was right. His onna would produce such a fit of rage, the likes of which the bravest of humans would cower from. The thought sparked his emotions. One side of his lip curled upwards as he was reminded of how she made him feel. When he reached the bed, the others stepped aside, allowing him to gaze upon his precious vixen. They could never understand his attachment to this common earthling. The relationship between him and his onna was too delicate, yet solid, too extreme, yet taming, too raging, yet promising. Though the Prince did not look for it, he had found a companionable mate that dared to offer the one thing he could not take.

No, Vegeta would not give it up, not now, not ever. "This woman is too strong, to retreat from reality. I want to know what is wrong, and I want it fixed immediately." Vegeta's words lacked there usual threatening nature. He spoke solemnly, thinking as he spoke. "There is no question, as to the complexity of this particular being. However, this woman has no good reason to withdraw, especially now."

Being the much older and wiser when it came to the nature of human's, Dende looked to Mr. Popo for an explanation. If anyone new the hearts of men it was Mr. Popo. The turbaned man blankly looked beyond the others as if in thought while speaking. "I don't believe this is a matter of retreat, more rather, a passage of discovery. She is quite inquisitive, is that not so?"

Vegeta's gaze never left his onna. "Humph, without a doubt. Then what does she seek? Where is she looking?"

"Ah, the human mind is quite complicated indeed. Normally, we assume to know ourselves, but when faced with death, a human may question their validity or legitimacy, if you will. They look beyond their own set limitations; finding unopened doors, places that are and are not meant to be explored. Bulma faced death and Dende offered her a choice. I believe she has not emerged from this experience because she is seeking the answer."

"Impossible!" growled Vegeta. He turned away from Bulma, angered by the thought that she was considering death. Walking to the closest window he looked to Earth and hissed. "The woman would never consider leaving her son. Your words are meaningless."

"All we can do is to wait."

"How long will it take?"

"The length of her journey will depend upon her."

Goku looked to Dende and Mr. Popo, "Is there anything we can do?"

Silently, Mr. Popo shook his head. Seeing Vegeta tense, Mr. Popo added, "You should be glad for her. This is a wondrous right of passage which is rarely bestowed upon mere mortals. Like you as Saiyans finding within yourself the warrior you were meant to be, she will look within herself to find who she was meant to be."

Dende laid his hand on the dark man's shoulder, "Well put, my friend."

"She is meant to be with me." They looked to Vegeta who wheeled around and marched over to the bed. He aggressively drew back the cover from the latent Bulma and effortlessly lifted her into his arms as he quietly hissed, "Once again, this little green piece of shit has toyed with my life." Then the Prince spun around and glared at Dende. "Mark my words, Namek! The outcome of your little game will fall to my favor..." He smirked then, ever so slightly with HFIL's blue fire burning in his eyes, "...or Earth will be looking for a new Guardian."

Goku piped firmly, "You can't mean that, Vegeta."

"Kakarot. You of all know the clout behind my threat." He turned his back on all of them and went to the window that faced the direction of his home.

"Vegeta, this has nothing to do with you, I did what was right."

"That's right, Namek. If you keep telling yourself that, you just might convince someone." Glancing over his shoulder, he looked to the Earth-Saiyan. "Kakarot, are you staying or going?"

"Uh, uh, going I guess." He shrugged his shoulders to Dende and Mr. Popo then followed Vegeta. When the prince floated out of the window, Goku secretively looked back and silently mouthed the words to Dende, "Don't worry, everything will be OK." His faith was strong. Not in himself to keep the peace, not in Dende to make Vegeta understand, or for the Prince to see the truth...No his faith was found in his oldest and dearest friend, Bulma.

"KAKAROT!"

"Coming!"

Out dashed the Universe's greatest warrior to sheepishly follow a Prince with no kingdom; save for his adopted earth family pondered Dende. He knew Goku's temporary subservience to Vegeta was for everyone's benefit. Unlike Vegeta, the Earth-Saiyan was pure of heart, and would not allow pride to cloud judgment. The guardian had no doubt Goku would protect him and Earth from Vegeta's wrath. He walked over to the window that they had exited and caught a glimpse of the three before they disappeared by way of instant transmission. His chin dropped and he slowly floated up to hover with his legs crossed. A long, calm and insightful meditation was what he needed. He wanted to begin with all reasons as to why he did what he did and that it was the right thing to do...But first he had to get Vegeta's damning words out of his head: "That's right, Namek. If you keep telling yourself that, you just might convince someone."

Silently, Mr. Popo put out the lanterns, gathered the tray, and left Dende alone. The Guardian's servant sighed after closing the door. Standing still, his unblinking eyes stared into the dark, showing only the whites of his eyes that completely surrounded his pupils. After a time, he suddenly moved; hurrying as if on his own mission.

"Where is your pride, Kakarot. Leave before my son sees you wearing that ridiculous garment."

"Huh? Does it really look that bad?"

Vegeta was sitting on the side of his bed with his back to Goku, watching Bulma's peaceful face for any sign of revival. "Feh, if you expect me to reevaluate my opinion, than you are even dumber than you look."

Goku looked down at his hearted boxers and pouted, "Well, that wasn't very nice. I mean I left my wife-who wasn't very happy about it; in the middle of the night-our first night together in how many years?; To offer my--"

Vegeta interrupted the big baby by taking a deep breath and sighing, "Don't go away mad, just go away. Kakarot."

Slighted, Goku mumbled, "Fine. Take good care of her. Bulma is my best friend you know." He put two fingers to his forehead and added, "I'll check in tomorrow and make sure she's ok."

"Was that a threat Kakar-" Vegeta's sensed that Kakarot was gone and knew that his challenge went undelivered. His attention went back to his onna. After turning off the table lamp next to the bed, he brushed away the loose strands of hair from Bulma's forehead and then affectionately cupped her cheek. He whispered in the shadows with only the outside security spotlights offering enough illumination to view her face. "Why, onna? Was this life not good enough for you? Am I not what you want?" Not getting an answer, his hand and head dropped in defeat. "If you choose to end this life, then I have no purpose to live."

Suddenly, the bedroom door burst open. "Dad!" Trunks hurried in, headed for the bed and scrambled onto Vegeta's bedside next to his mom, "Mom! Are you ok?"

Vegeta put his arm up to keep Trunks from jumping on his mother. "She's alright son. She's resting now." Dr. and Mrs. Briefs came over to Bulma's side of the bed to crowd Vegeta, oblivious to the Saiyan's blatant discomfort.

Relieved, Mrs. Briefs began to bubble over as she leaned in past Vegeta to touch her daughter. Having no choice but to flee, Vegeta snorted, stood abruptly and walked over to the opened terrace door.

Dr. Briefs turned on the lamp to examine his daughter. Finding her head healed, he relaxed until he realized that all the commotion from his wife and grandson should have awakened Bulma. He stood up and looked to Vegeta, his brow narrowing behind his glasses, "Why doesn't she wake, son?"

"Oh, she must be so tired from the ordeal," chirped Mrs. Briefs and lovingly tucked her precious daughter in. Trunks stilled, watched and waited for his father to reply.

"Vegeta? What's wrong?" When Dr. Briefs didn't get an answer, he crossed the room and was tempted to lay his hand on Vegeta's shoulder but pulled it back when the glaring Saiyan wheeled around.

"I am not your son, earthling," growled the Prince. His brows closed in and he continued, "Touch me old man and I will strike where you stand."

"Father!" Trunks flew next to his Grandfather's side ready to come between the two.

Dr. Briefs did not back down. "Why won't Bulma wake up?!"

Vegeta looked from his would-be father-in-law to his anxious son. "What's wrong with mom?"

"Your mother does not wish to wake," was all Vegeta flatly offered to his son. The confusion that flooded over Trunks' face caused Vegeta to turn away from him.

"You say that as though she has a choice," coldly surmised the Bulma's father.

Vegeta studied the old man. Did Dr. Briefs know of this right of passage? With much restrain he growled, "Your pathetic Guardian of the Earth gave her the option to choose life on this miserable planet or to ascend to Paradise." So close was he to hitting something, he about faced and headed out onto the terrace. Before taking off, he voiced his opinion, "She knows full well what Paradise entails...I suspect the woman will not want to wake."

As Vegeta lifted into the air, he heard Trunks call after him. "You can bring her back father!" The naive boy had always placed Vegeta on some higher pedestal. His fearless warrior prince of a father was capable of overcoming the greatest of enemies. Was he so blind? True, as of late, he would gladly challenge the enemy that threatened any one of his family. But what was he to do when there was no foe to face?

Glancing back, and without reserve, Vegeta admitted to his son, "I don't know how to fight this one, Trunks." Then he was gone. He did not want to stick around to hear their worthless conjectures nor be inundated by the boy's troubled heart; that was always the onna's department.

Feeling abandoned, Trunks looked to his grandfather for explanation. "Grandpa?" He felt a gentle hand come from behind to rest on his shoulders. Elated, he expected to see his mother standing behind him. It was his grandmother, and his hopes were dashed, only to be renewed by her warm and unencumbered smile.

"I think we are all overreacting. None of you seem to be thinking clearly. Must be from lack of sleep. Is their school tomorrow, oops, that would be today, right dear?" Trunks shook his head slowly in disbelief at how lightly his grandma was taking this. "Fine, why don't we all take a trip downtown and wait for the Dainty Donut Shop to open? Nothing like a hot donut fresh from the oven!"

"You mean vat dear, they're deep fried. But I don't think this is the time--" explained Dr. Briefs before being interrupted by his incredulous grandson.

"Grandma! Grandpa!" Trunks marched over to the bed, and sobbed, "We gotta make sure Mom stays..." He picked up his mother's hand and added, "somehow."

"Nonsense, sweetheart. There's no need to interfere, our Bulma is not going anywhere." Dr. Brief's stood quietly to hear what Mrs. Briefs had to say. As long as he had known his wife, the woman always astounded him with her unconventional insight that overflowed with optimism. The crazy thing was she almost always was right. Before she'd finish, he would know that everything would be alright and hoped his grandson was learning to trust in his grandmother as well.

Mrs. Briefs followed by Dr. Briefs, went over to Trunks. Grandma sat down next to Bulma and Grandpa stood behind him with a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I know my little girl." The delicate blonde patted Bulma's leg. "Bulma Briefs has never left anything undone in her entire life, unless of course she was forced to..." The woman paused a minute as if to double check her memory. Trunks stared at her with glazed eyes and he and Dr. Briefs anxiously waited for her to make a point. "Oh, you men!" She flapped her hand. "Do I really have to spell it out for you?..." She winked at Trunks and pointed a slender manicured finger at him, "Why it's you silly. She's not done raising you...Come to think of it...she's got a lot work to do on that handsome father of yours too." They both looked at her blankly, causing her to plant the back of her hands on her hips. "Vegeta did say she had a choice didn't he?!" Finally, Mrs. Briefs could see the wheels churning in each one. Their faces became less and less grim as they confirmed and strengthened her assumption with their own history with Bulma. Doubt whittled away.

Dr. Briefs looked down at Trunks with a grin they knew was there despite his bushy white mustache. "You know, son? She's got point there. A darn good one."

"Honest to goodness. I don't know how you boys could possible get on without us." Lightly slapping Bulma's leg, she added affectionately half expecting an answer, "Isn't that right Bulma, dear? Hehehe."

Trunks watched a second for his mom to stir and then spat out, "I should go tell Dad." Without waiting for an answer, he dashed out onto the terrace and into the night.

Sighing, Mrs. Briefs walked over to the terrace door and closed it. "I hope Vegeta sees to it that Trunks gets to bed. You know how grumpy he gets when he doesn't get enough sleep." She chuckled quietly, "Wouldn't hurt his father either. He does have his looks to think about."

Dr. Briefs kissed his daughter on the forehead and whispered "sweet dreams" before turning the light off. Then he met his wife at the foot of the bed. He put his arm around her waist. "Come on dear. It's been a very long night. Do you mind if we forego the donut trip and get a little shut eye ourselves? You know, I can get grumpy too."

"Oh you." The giddy woman mock slapped his shoulder, "You don't have a grumpy bone in your body." They headed for the door. "Sweetheart?"

"Hm?"

"Will you check and make sure our little Saiyan men are safe and sound?"

Dr. Briefs sighed. "Certainly dear. I'll check the security screens. I'm sure they are around here somewhere. Probably in Vegeta's gravity room." When they were out in the hall, Dr. Briefs took Mrs. Briefs hand and kissed it before sending her on her way. "I won't be long dear. Keep the covers warm!"

Mrs. Briefs padded down the hall talking to herself, causing Dr. Briefs to appreciate the woman that much more. "Tsk,tsk,tsk. It's about time her man came around. I was beginning to wonder if that poor boy's heart was ever going to open up." Indeed, there was a noticeable difference in the way Vegeta was acting since he had returned from the dead.