"I sometimes wonder if I can forgive. At another time I would have granted it gladly with not a second thought. But then again, that was yesterday and this is now."

She smiled so perfectly it nearly killed him. Knowing she was in his arms was such an unspeakable relief to him. It was strange sometimes how he'd almost have difficulty breathing around her. Perhaps it was the little things. Her crystal blue eyes, so deep that he could drown in them. Or maybe her pale skin, so clear and pure it looked like milk. Then again it could have been her soft blue hair, so wonderfully smooth, his fingers never tangled in it. And there was also her scent, so fragrant, so tantalizing it made him dizzy.

Now that she slept he could really look at her. Every time he observed the details he found something new. He noticed that when she slept in his arms, her lips curved up with the slightest hint of a smile, more like one of contentment and trust.

Trust. Now there was a word, and one he didn't hear often for that matter. Being who he was, that word usually didn't apply to him. But she trusted him, and that was something.

Morning spilled through the window and Vegeta found the urge to groan. With the day came the time where he had to leave the bed, and leave her. So little he told her about his true feelings, and yet so much she knew of him. It was an odd arrangement, this marriage. Even the word marriage was foreign to him and yet he had done it. Why, he couldn't say, but he had. Regret? Never. Perhaps only boredom as of late. No one to fight, no one to kill. Nothing to be done. So he was trapped in paradise. With this idea, he smiled. Who would have thought? With a sigh, he allowed the morning sun to bathe the room and stayed put. Today he'd remain a little longer with her, and make sure he was awake the entire time. Life was good if one liked blue hair.

"Well, are we ready for it yet?"

"Yes sir!"

"Good, let's go in then and execute the extraction. I'm counting on you and your team for complete accuracy in your mission."

"Understood sir. You can rely on us!"

"Bring her back safely, and make sure you have something… appeasing for her to wear. After all she must look pleasing for it to want to bond." A slight fidget, perhaps a tremble, always the more noticeable when something uncomfortable is mentioned. And then a wavering reply.

"Yes…sir."

"I'll kill you today Kakarott!"

"All right Vegeta, after all today I have a full stomach!" Screams and blasts, punches, kicks, the exchange of confident smirks and competent blocks. All in the midst of a minute. Then retreating from each other, sweating and gasping for breath.

"Whew, what a work out, that one was heavy!" Vegeta smirked and looked up, catching his breath.

"I'm just getting warmed up, Kakarott!" Goku matched his smirk.

"So am I." And then the energy crackled once more and the frenzy of a good-spirited battle was underway.

"Oh yuck!" Bulma picked up a week old banana peel that had been dismissed under the couch cushion. "Look for a remote control and get rewarded with Goku's left over snacks." She threw it behind her and it was almost immediately retrieved by a robot. She turned around and plopped down on the couch. "I'm so bored!" Griping never got her anywhere, but it gave her something to do. After serious consideration, she decided to use her personal quiet time to an advantage. And so, like she always did when she had nothing else in mind, her thoughts turned to Vegeta, and their unusual morning.

First she had woken up late and in his arms no less. She could hardly believe he had stayed in bed holding her all morning, it was nearly ten when she woke. The first thing her eyes had caught were those intense black pupils. The second thing she noticed was that they were directly focused on her. She sighed and nuzzled his chest slightly, wanting him to know she liked this new change. Finally she could no longer resist.

"What's on your mind?" He didn't look surprised when she finally spoke, but almost as if he had been waiting for her to ask him.

"I'm not sure what it is," he replied, and absently ran a hand through her hair. She liked that and kissed him lightly on the cheek.

"I can help you out if you need," she offered. Usually coy remarks such as this put fire in his eyes and pleasure would follow. Not this morning though.

"Do you think you could?" This was a question seriously asked, and with it Bulma was taken aback. There was something more then what usually was portrayed on those handsome features. He seemed to be uncertain of something.

"What's wrong?" It was a simple question, frank and to the point. Vegeta liked those and Bulma didn't relish in beating around the bush. They had always been compatible in conversation.

"Bulma…" He'd said her name, that was something new. "I've…never felt anything before about…" Ah, Vegeta was caught in new territory and he was lost.

"It's all right, go on." Perhaps by urging him on she could get whatever confession he was about to make out of him a lot sooner.

"Well… I don't know why but I think I know what love is," he said. That one threw her through a loop. Vegeta had assertively articulated the L word. Time must have stopped. Eyes wide, Bulma considered.

"What do you think…love is?" He sighed and looked down at her, searching her face, perhaps trying to read her mind. It was times like this when Bulma wondered if Saiyans could read minds. She shook that thought away quickly. He opened his mouth to speak but then closed it quickly as if he couldn't find the words. Bulma had always been an impatient person. "Vegeta, you know very well you can tell me anything. We've known each other too long. No secrets, remember? I told you that, now trust me." As soon as she said 'trust me' he looked right into her eyes took a deep breath and…

"I'll tell you one day, but not today. I… I'm just not ready." He looked down, almost as if he was ashamed of himself. Bulma smiled and pulled herself to him.

"Don't worry," she whispered. "I'll wait for you, always." Vegeta flashed her a genuine smile and kissed her on the forehead. Then, detaching himself from her, got out of bed. "Where are you going?" He turned around in annoyance.

"Since when do you care?" He fired back. Now this was the Vegeta she knew.

"Since I said YES at our wedding!" With out another word, the pillow was in the air and he caught it quite easily.

"I'll be back late, and you'd better be ready for me when I come, woman!"

"Oh yeah, well you'd better be ready for me!" With that she was out of the bed and in the bathroom, slamming the door and starting the shower. She remembered as she felt the hot water roll over her back, hearing his hesitant footsteps as he tried to decide whether to pursue her or leave the room. Slowly he left, but not before he turned the faucet on hot and let her enjoy a cold shower.

At this thought Bulma repeated her vow. He was really going to get it for that little stunt. She smiled at the thought of 'giving it to him'. It was going to be a great night. The 'love' conversation had been odd, but Bulma was finding that she learned more about her Saiyan partner each day. She could wait for him to tell her what love was. She could only hope that she was in that definition, somewhere.

Perhaps she was so deep in reverie that when the door to Capsule Corp. was knocked off its hinges, she had a delayed reaction. Or maybe she was still in a stupor from waking up so late in the morning. Either way, when they entered they caught her quite by surprise.

"Bulma Briefs?" It's really strange how people react sometimes to different scenarios. The figures were so imposing and so sudden that Bulma was terrified. However, when she tried to produce a good scream, she couldn't even gain the willpower to open her mouth. They didn't ask anymore questions, only nodded to one another in silent finality.

Perhaps she couldn't make any sound but that didn't stop her from fighting back. She punched with her fists, tore with her nails, gnashed her teeth and kicked with all the might her slim figure possessed. All futile and all in vain, of course.

The sharp jab to the back of her head was sudden. She gasped, and that was it. Blackness, peaceful and calm. Full of despair.

"Vegeta."