"I've stood on the precipice of Hell, and you held me back. Now let me fall... let me endure my fate without your hindrance!"

The night was so calm, so perfectly peaceful. The sky was etched over with monotonous charcoal hues that trimmed around bright, piercing stars. She was out there.

No, never again. He'd told himself he'd never think of her. Two years, full of agony and survival, where each day yielded nothing more then the promise of another after that.

They'd tried to wish her back, but all in vain. Vegeta knew this. The dragon said it wasn't possible to bring her back. Vegeta couldn't tell them it was because she wasn't really dead. She had made it clear before she left that she was.

Bra had taken her mother's death better than Trunks. She was still far too young to understand the finality of it all. For her, mommy was gone and wouldn't be back for a long time. Trunks had sobbed endlessly for days on end. Never had Vegeta seen him so heartbroken, so exhausted with depression.

Goku had fell on dark days as well. He remained in his house for a month, only leaving the bedroom for meals that he barely consumed. ChiChi had stayed by his side, crying here and there for her departed friend.

Even Piccolo had been noticeably moved. An occurrence such as this could only yield dreariness.

No one knew of the truth except for Vegeta and Dende himself. Vegeta had spoken to the young Namekian and they had both agreed it would be better to have Bulma remain dead, seeing as how that was what she wanted.

And so two years had come and gone, each day a little less happy, each day far more dark then the first. Color had left the world, Vegeta's environment was a pallet of black.

At night he found it hard to sleep, the bed was empty, he was alone. He couldn't believe how hard it was to get used to being by himself again, since he'd accomplished that existence all his life. So he usually sat somewhere quiet and contemplated the past.

And now he was here, looking up at the velvet night sky with a certain melancholy he knew would never leave. Whenever he wasn't keeping himself busy, his memory replayed that last scene of a life that no longer existed. A life with her.

Standing there, he'd condemned her. No mercy, not a moment of consideration, just passionate hate. She'd broken his heart. Yes the Saiyan prince once had a heart and she had shattered it. He'd called her a whore. But wasn't she? After all, he'd seen her with that beast and she'd fucking enjoyed it. Her smiles of pleasure still haunted him, for it was then that he had felt his heart tear in two.

Why had he struck her? That perfect face, so full of confusion. He still felt the force of the blow, and allowed a single tear to escape his eye. He'd vowed never to harm her. However, she'd hurt him worse.

Pain-filled cerulean blue eyes still pleaded with him. They still asked why.

He didn't have the answer.

Life goes on, as the familiar saying goes. The Zed warriors had come to terms with their loss and finally they learned to move on. Goku was jovial once more, even though at often times, one could tell his eyes had lost their carefree luster.

Vegeta had learned to care for his children as best as he could. Bra had grown considerably, and her potential beauty had reached new heights. Vegeta had a hard time looking at her, for fear of remembering her mother. Bra was Bulma's mirror image. Trunks had become strong in his youth. He and Goten trained constantly, destroying new barriers of power as they went along. Vegeta himself found that he was no subject to idleness. If he wasn't training in the gravity room, or sparring with Goku, he was doing something productive. He couldn't stand not being active, for then his thoughts would wonder back to her and he'd ache all the more.

****

"Goku! Supper's ready!" The raven-haired beauty shouted. "You'd better hurry..." A blur flew by her. Soon she heard the sounds of her husband gobbling up dinner. "Or it will get cold." She finished.

"All wite! ChiChi..." He said through frantic bites. "You.. made my favowit! Aw... you're.. the gweatest!" She grinned and sat down at the table across from him. Nearly as soon as her body came into contact with the chair Goku was done.

"You liked it?" She asked. Goku smiled and leaned back, absently putting a hand on his full belly.

"DEElicious!"

"I'm glad. Tomorrow I'll cook..." She was silenced by a whirring sound that was too loud to be the wind. She and Goku both stood up.

"Whoa buddy! Something's... something's coming, and it's a big something!"

"Oh no! Not more aliens! We don't need any more fighting!"

"Gee ChiChi, I'm sorry, but this... this one's ENORMOUS!! I've never felt a ki like this before. It's too much! It's...more then me... more than Gohan... more... more than anyone!" ChiChi stood there, bottom lip quivering and she looked at her husband in worry. Suddenly, she grabbed a plate and flung it at the wall.

"Dammit! Another super being who wants to mess with us!"

"Now ChiChi!"

"Oh don't you ChiChi me Mr.!" And then she stopped suddenly and rushed forward, falling onto Goku in tears.

"Aw ChiChi, what's wrong now?" He said, carefully pulling her to him, holding her close. He felt her body trembling in his arms and looked down on her in confusion.

"Goku... I just don't want you...fighting... anymore," she said between sobs. "I'm afraid you'll die again... or Gohan... or... Goten... or..."

"ChiChi, I've been against some tough odds, and we've always come out ok now haven't we? Don't worry, I promise you, I'll live through this. Besides! Maybe it's a nice alien this time!" ChiChi cried even harder.

"Oh Goku, you know they're never nice!"

"ChiChi," serious, he'd spoken so seriously. She looked up at him, dark eyes filled with sadness. "I love you," he said. For a moment, ChiChi saw passion that lay dormant in the enormous man. She saw the insatiable love that had always been there. She smiled through her tears.

"I love you too," she said. He leaned forward and touched his lips to her own. Bliss, she'd always remember this. If he died tomorrow, she'd have this moment forever.

****

He sensed it, the approaching power. It was enormous, he'd never win. Because of this he couldn't wait to battle. He longed for destruction, whether he inflict it, or it be done to him. If he died today, release. If he killed today, fulfillment.

Let them come.

Author's Note: Do not worry my wonderful readers, B and V will soon meet again. It is predestined! Why else would Dende allow Vegeta to say she was dead... cause he knows that something's gonna happen! Anyhoo, hope ya liked the warm little moment between ChiChi and Goku. Thought this one needed just a little happiness in the bleak insanity I've created thus far. Never fear, I promise you diamonds, but until then, be satisfied with rhinestones. Luv to everyone, even those that don't get it! That is all ~JZero