Next day 11:00am
"Bulma dear. It's mum. Can I come in?"
Bulma looked up from brushing her hair at the dressing table.
"Yeah."
Bunny opened the door and walked into Bulma's bedroom.
"Hello dear. How are you doing?"
"I'm ok. I feel better after that sleep. I needed it."
"Good good. Did Trunks finally get to sleep? Actually, where is Trunks?"
Bulma pointed to her bed where Trunks was sleeping peacefully.
"He slept like a baby all night."
"Oh good. Well, you come down for breakfast when you're ready ok? There's no rush."
"Ok mum thanks. Mum, I know I don't say it that often, but I love you."
"I love you too sweetheart."
Bunny wrapped her hands round her daughters shoulders and hugged her tightly. Then left the room.
Bulma walked over to her bed and sat down on the side. She reached over and shook Trunks gently. He quickly opened his eyes and sat up. He had a panicked look on his face and was breathing heavily.
"Trunks? It's ok sweety. Shhh."
"Mum?"
"It's ok Trunks. I'm here."
"I was having a nightmare. About dad. You were in it, and so was I. You were running, carrying me and…daddy was chasing us…he was angry…and the whole time we were just running…"
Trunks crawled onto Bulma's lap and she hugged him tightly.
"It's ok sweety. It'll be ok. I'm scared too."
"You are?"
"Of course I am. What Vegeta did was scary. I think you've taken it incredibly well. I thought you would be worse than this, considering how much you looked up to him."
"It's not that that's scaring me."
"What is then?"
"Well yeah. I am scared of the fact that daddy hit me, but what I'm more scared of is that it didn't hurt me that much."
"What do you mean? That's a good thing!"
"No you don't get it. You see, dad was super Saiyen right? So it should have really hurt when he hit me, like it hurt you right? Well I noticed that his power went down a bit before he hit you. He obviously didn't want to hurt you too much. But when he hit me his power was quite high, and it didn't hurt. Which means I must be pretty powerful myself. And I'm scared that one day, I may get stronger than dad. And I know how much pride he puts into his power. And I'm scared of him finding out."
"Oh. I see. Look Trunks, I know dad puts a lot of pride in his strength. He's the strongest man alive now that Goku's gone. Well, Gohan's really strong too. But he's not really a fighter anymore. Besides, Vegeta always wanted to be better than Goku. So if you become stronger than Gohan is then nothing would make him happier. Understand?"
"I guess so, but what if I surpass him?"
"Look Trunks, you not even a super Saiyen yet. I don't think there's chance of that happening anytime soon."
"Yeah. You're right. When's breakfast?"
"I swear you remind me so much of Goku. Your stomach always comes first."
Bulma giggled.
"Grandma said we could go down when we're ready. But I want you to have a bath and get dressed first."
"Awww. Mum! Do I have to?"
"Yes. Now scoot."
Trunks sulkily climbed out of bed and shuffled into the bathroom. Bulma sat on the bed thinking.
So, he lowered his power before he hit me……because he didn't want to hurt me…if he didn't want to hurt me, then why did he hit me in the first place? It doesn't make any sense.
Bulma heard the bath water start to run in the bathroom and it snapped her back to reality. She got up and rummaged through her draws for her clothes. Tears came to her eyes as she thought of how she used to get ready at her own house. She started to think about what Vegeta would be doing right then….
Bulma and Vegeta's house
Vegeta had just woken up. He yawned and reached over to the other side of the bed. He turned and looked over and when he realised that Bulma wasn't there. A feeling of sadness rushed over him as he remembered what had happened the day before.
I miss her. A lot. I never realised how much I would miss her once she was gone. I want her. Back with me.
Vegeta got up and walked over to the phone. He glanced up at the clock. 10:00.
She should be up by now.
He dialled the number for CC in the phone. With his luck Bulma answered the phone.
"Hello? Bulma Briefs speaking."
"Bulma…it's me."
"Vegeta?"
Bulma's voice turned from confident to shaky.
"W…what do you want?"
"Bulma please come home. I need you. I miss you. I…I…love you."
"Vegeta…I can't. I have to go. Trunks needs his breakfast. Goodbye."
Before he could speak a single more word Bulma had hung up the phone. Vegeta slowly set the phone on the receiver and stared into space ahead of him.
CC
Bulma sat with her head in her hands in tears. Why had he rung her? It had only been one day. Was he really that miserable without her? Or was he just upset because he had no one to make him his breakfast? But he had said that he loved her, and he never said that. What should she do?
"Mum where are my shirts?"
Bulma whirled round on her chair and saw Trunks standing in the doorway with a pair of jeans on. Trunks looked at his mum.
"What's wrong mum?"
"Nothing. Your dad just called. He asked me to go home."
"Oh. What did you say?"
"I said I couldn't and then I hung up."
"Oh. Mum, what do you think he would be like if we did go home?"
"To be honest with you I don't know. I don't know if I want to know. What I do know is that I'm hungry and I'm sure you must be too so lets go and get breakfast ok?"
"Um…ok then."
Bulma reached into the bottom drawer of her cabinet and pulled out Trunks's favourite T-shirt.
"Here you go."
Trunks slipped it on over his head and put on his slippers. Bulma scooped him up in her arms and cuddled him tightly while carrying him down to breakfast.
Same day 3:30
Bulma sat with her chin resting on her hands, looking out of the kitchen window. Trunks was training outside. Bulma felt a hand on her shoulder, she turned round and saw her mum looking at her sympathetically.
"Don't worry hunny. He's fine. He's training because he likes it. I did have an idea earlier. How about you invite Krillin and 18 over. You can talk to 18 and Trunks can train with Krillin."
"That's a great idea mum! Can I invite them over now?"
"Of course you can hunny!"
4:00
"Oh my god! He what! He hit you?"
Bulma nodded slowly.
"I can't believe him! Are you ok?"
"Well, physically yeah I'm fine. Mentally, not so good."
"I can totally understand that. I mean, I know Vegeta can be a total grouch at times, but I never thought once that he would hit you!"
"Me neither. But…he's my husband…and I'm scared of him. Women aren't supposed to be scared of their husbands…are they?"
"Now I can't really answer that question. See, Krillin and I love each other but I can be quite scary. I sometimes make him fight me for his breakfast to keep him in shape. And I really go at him with force."
"So you think I should go back to Vegeta?"
"It depends if you can trust him. This is different from mine and Krillin's little play fights. I personally think you should stay here until you feel you are able to go back to him."
"I guess so. It's just, even though he did hit me, I miss him. A lot."
A single tear fell down Bulma's cheek. Then another. 18 put her arm round Bulma's shoulder.
"Come on. It's ok. It will al work out in the end. Of course you miss him. It's understandable. You've been living with him for…god how long has it been now? Five years? Something like that."
"To be truthful, it's not myself that I'm worried about. I'm worried about Trunks. This isn't going to do anything for the whole father/son relationship. I mean, he's going to grow up being scared of his father! And I know how much Trunks looked up to Vegeta."
"Trunks will be fine. He's a strong kid. I mean look at him with Krillin. He looks fine."
Bulma turned round and stared at Trunks through the window. He was training with Krillin and had a big smile on his face. Bulma smiled when she realised that he was happy. She turned back round to face 18.
"You're right. He is a strong kid. Just like his dad. Thank 18."
"No problem Bulma. You know I'm always here to talk to. But I had better be the first one you tell if anything else happens or else I'll…well I don't know what I'll do!"
Bulma laughed.
"Course. You have my word."
Next day. 1:00pm. Bulma and Vegeta's house (Vegeta's house)
Vegeta got up from the sofa when he heard a knock on the door. He opened it slowly to be greeted with Goku's angry face.
"Oh it's you Kakarot. What do you want?"
"You idiot Vegeta! What the hell were you thinking?"
"What?"
Goku barged into the house slamming the door behind him.
"Hey! What's the big idea barging in here? I didn't say you could come in!"
"Why did you do it?"
"What! What the hell are you talking about!"
"Bulma!"
Vegeta's expression turned to sad in a second.
"What the hell where you thinking Vegeta? You hit her! And Trunks!"
"How do you know about it?"
"Well, Bulma wanted Trunks to have someone to train with because he was training on his own. So she rang up Krillin and 18 and they went over to CC. Krillin trained with Trunks while Bulma told 18 what happened and so obviously 18 told Chi chi and Chi told me."
"Well that figures."
"Well!"
"Well what?"
"What do you have to say for yourself? You hit Trunks and Bulma! Look Vegeta, normally what you do is none of my business, but I am making this my business. Bulma is one of my best friends. I have known her since I was very young. And I'm not going to just stand by and watch while she suffers because of you!"
"Just leave me alone Kakarot. I don't share my feelings with anyone, especially not you!"
"Vegeta listen to me! She's hurting really bad. But I know you must be hurting too."
Vegeta's head jerked up.
"Why would I be hurting?"
"Because you love her."
"What am I supposed to do then?"
"Tell her you're sorry. And that you love her."
"I rang her the other morning and told her I loved her and that I missed her and she said she couldn't come back and then she went. She won't take it. She's being stubborn."
"If you ask me. She's got a right to say she won't come back."
Vegeta glared at him but his expression softened when he realised that Goku was right.
"I don't need help from you Kakarot. Just get out and leave me alone."
"Fine. But before I go I think I should tell you. Bulma's not one to hang around forever. If you leave it too long she may give up and move on."
"Out!"
Goku went out of the house, slamming the door behind him.
Damn that Kakarot. Why does he always have to be right about everything? I know I shouldn't have done what I did, but it's too late now.