Okay, last chapter! Yay! I just wanna say that you guys have been great readers and I enjoyed writing this story a lot. Those who actively read and reviewed (you know who you are, I probably e-mailed you if I had access to your ddress) I really appreciate it. Kisses to you!

Just to warn you, though, other stories I write will not be updated as fast, mainly because this story was pretty much finished when I started posting it on the web. In any case, I hope you enjoy the last chapter of Something Better.

WARNING: Vegeta's way out of character at the end. Has there ever been a time when he wasn't out of character and he got 'married' to Bulma?

"Bulma, go tell Vegeta that the party's starting in thirty minutes."

"Mom, can't you tell him? I'm busy." Bunny glanced at her daughter and smiled. She was applying lipstick that was the same shade as her dress. Vegeta's dress, of course.

"Bulma, dear, you know Vegeta doesn't listen to me. You have to tell him." Bulma sighed heavily and put away her make-up.

"Fine," she grumbled. Her heels clicked as she walked down the hallway. If Bulma hadn't been so preoccupied about talking to Vegeta, she would have noticed the faint smile on Bunny's lips.

BANG BANG BANG! The incessant pounding on the gravity chamber's door irked Vegeta. Only one person in the house ever banged on the door like that, and Vegeta didn't really want to see her. "Open up, you lazy bastard!" the woman screeched from the other side.

Reluctantly, he pulled it opened and inhaled sharply. Yes, she was that breathtaking, especially when she was angry.

"Why didn't you open the door when I knocked?" she burst, placing her hands on her hips. Vegeta's eyes wandered momentarily. His dress fit her so well—

The Saiyan willed his eyes back to her face. "I do not have to answer to likes of you," he said loftily.

Bulma just rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "The party's starting in a half an hour. I suggest you get changed."

"You can't make me," he stated simply. She was a little shocked at his reply, but it soon wore away into a self-satisfied smile.

"Oh, really?" she asked, clearly amused. "Would you like me to tell everyone your little Santa story? I'm sure they'd find it very endearing."

His scowl deepened. "Fine, idiot."

"I knew you'd come to your senses," she said over her shoulder as she bounced out of the room. Just like old times, in a way. But there was something different in the way they were talking to one another, a definite change. But was it for the better?

The party was in full swing, everyone drinking and dancing and basically having a good time. 'Basically having a good time' because there were a few who clearly were not enjoying themselves.

Vegeta was one of them. He was leaning on a wall off to one side, watching the party with an air of detached superiority that one would only expect from a Prince. He told himself it was because he didn't want to be there, but the real reason was hidden deep down inside him: Bulma and Yamcha were getting along.

Which was why Goku wasn't having a good time, either.

"Why aren't Vegeta and Bulma hanging all over each other?" Goku whispered to his unwilling partner-in-crime.

Piccolo snorted at him. "Can you picture Vegeta hanging all over ANYONE?" The Saiyan looked at him sadly and Piccolo rolled his eyes. "Just leave them alone. I have a feeling that they'll work things out."

While all of this was going on, Yamcha and Bulma were having a good time talking and eating together. Now that they weren't pretending with each other, there was a genuine affection between the two.

"Bulma, would you like to dance?"

"Sure! I love this song!" The two headed to the middle of the living room to dance.

I drive these brothers crazy,

I do it on the daily,

They treat me really nicely,

They buy me all these ice-ys.

Dolce & Gabbana,

Fendi and then Donna—

THWACK!

Yamcha was decked. Bulma let out a shriek and tried to help him up, but found she was being held back by a strong arm. By Vegeta.

All eyes were on the three in the middle of the room, especially on the Saiyan Prince, who had a golden aura and turquoise eyes. Bulma was too angry to notice, though. "What the hell did you DO to him?"

Vegeta didn't look up. "He was…hurting you again."

Bulma looked at him, slightly surprised, then scowled again, but not as angrily as before. "No he wasn't! We were DANCING!" She struggled against his grip, and he finally let her go. Immediately, she was at Yamcha's side. "Are you okay? Did Vegeta hurt you?"

Groggily, Yamcha shook his head. "Nah, I'm fine. Where'd that bastard go, anyway?"

Bulma looked over her shoulder and, sure enough, the Prince wasn't there. "He must have gone upstairs," she stated. Yamcha got up to get him. "No, wait!" He stopped. "Let me talk to him. He won't hurt me."

Yamcha gave her a quizzical look. "The Saiyan murderer won't hurt some earth woman?"

Bulma rolled her eyes. "He's not a murderer, he just killed people."

"Funny, I thought that was the same thing." But she was already heading up the stairs. "Wait!" Yamcha called as he started to follow her, but Bunny jumped in front of him.

"No, you don't!" she exclaimed cheerfully. "You don't want to miss the count down to New Years!" He reluctantly agreed to stay, but the party had come to a stand-still. Bunny looked them all over with a smile on her face and said, "Isn't it nice that Vegeta can transform now?" Everyone stared at her stupidly and then the attention of everyone fell on the television: there were only three minutes left until the New Year.

Elsewhere, Bulma was hurriedly running down the hallway to Vegeta's room. She had decided to tell him, especially after that little display of affection. When she reached his closed bedroom door, she pounded on it. "Vegeta, open up right now!"

Surprisingly, he did so without a complaint, and it was Bulma's turn to lose her breath. He was only wearing a pair of boxers; obviously he had just been getting ready for bed. "What do you want?"

She glared at him. "We need to talk."

"We have nothing to discuss. Leave now."

"We have PLEANTY of things to discuss." She shoved past him into his room and sat on his bed. "Close the door." He glowered at her but obeyed.

Downstairs, Bunny called over her shoulder, "One minute!"

"Vegeta, why did you hit Yamcha?"

"I vowed to protect you," he growled, as if angry at himself. "Saiyans cannot break vows."

"He wasn't hurting me. Why did you hit him?"

"I thought he was."

"No you didn't! Why did you hit him!"

Vegeta suddenly exploded. "I don't know!" He stared at her, fuming, but she only smiled.

"Thirty seconds!"

"I know why," she said quietly, standing up and gliding over to him. "You like me."

Vegeta's eyes flew open. "What do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean, Prince," she breathed. Vegeta could feel his hair prickle.

"Well, you're wrong."

"Am I?" She inched closer to his bare chest and he started to inch backwards.

"Fifteen seconds!"

"You are," he managed to say unconvincingly. He was now pressed against the wall. Vegeta audibly gulped when he felt her body press against his. It wasn't her touch that frightened him; it was what he felt when she touched him that did it. If she only could understand….

"You know what?" she asked playfully.

"Ten!"

"I love you."

"Nine!"

Vegeta gaped at her.

"Eight!"

"Do you love me?"

"Seven!"

No reply.

"Six!"

"Well?"

"Five!"

"I…."

"Four!"

"I'm waiting!"

"Three!"

Another pause. Bulma was visibly frustrated.

"Two!"

"Bite me, prick!"

"One!"

"OW!"

"Happy New Year!"

Bulma was too shocked to hear everyone celebrating downstairs. She was nursing the newly acquired wound on her neck. "You BIT me! What the hell was that for?"

Vegeta smirked at her, but it wasn't from amusement. It was from affection. "You're the one who told me to."

"Well, I didn't mean it LITERALLY."

"Didn't you say you…loved me?"

"Yes, but—"

"So you're mine now."

"Huh?"

"You're mine now. Don't you remember when you bit me?" He showed her the scar on his shoulder. "And now you'll have one." Vegeta's fingers grazed her wound gently.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Her voice was becoming softer as he fingered the bite mark; his caress was mesmerizing her.

"Well," he began, moving closer, "on Vegeta-sei we would have been bonded. I guess you could say we're married." At an attempt to be surprised and appalled by Vegeta's sudden tenderness, she choked, "M-married? Wait a minute, I'm not—"

He cut her off with a kiss. She immediately responded and they fell into each other.

Sighing contentedly, Goku backed away from the staircase and gave a small thumbs up to Piccolo, who shook his head and muttered something unintelligible.

Bunny bumped into Goku. "Oh, Happy New Year, dear. Have you seen Bulma anywhere?"

Goku's eyes widened. "I…uh…don't—"

"Is she with Vegeta?" Mrs. Briefs asked matter-of-factly. Finding there was nothing else to say, Goku nodded and she smiled at him. "It's about time those two got together."

She walked away humming and the young Saiyan warrior stared at her back in disbelief. 'Sometimes I wonder if Bulma got her brains from her father….' Without giving it another thought, Goku joined the party to welcome the New Year.

Mrs. Briefs is my hero! She kept Yamcha at bay so Vegeta and Bulma could get together. She's so cool!

So that's the end. It might seem a bit abrupt, but, hey, I believe when they got together, it was really fast. If it took a long time, Vegeta would have a lot more self-control. Besides, it's really late at night. And don't let Vegeta's OOCness bother you. If I recall correctly, he CRIED on Namek. The man is completely unpredictable.

The next BV fic I have for you is The Mechanic's Daughter, and I will post a teaser to the story that will follow called Little Secret. Expect the new stuff to be up on Monday. I hope you like them!

Sincerely, Star0307