Author's Note: First of all, I'd like to thank my very first reviewers- Me, Cappucine, LoveOfASaiyin, and Thomas Drovin for reviewing! You're all simply awesome!
Ladii-Chocolate: Yay! I really was my first reviewer! You can never expect people to enjoy your work if you don't like your work yourself!
Cappucine: Aw, thanks so much for the compliments! I'm blushing! I'm glad to see that you've enjoyed it! I'll update soon, don't you worry!
LoveOfASaiyin: I'm quite elated to see that you liked my story. Don't worry- There are plenty more chapters where that came from! I'll be sure to check out your own stories, as well!
Thomas Drovin: It's good to know that my story caught your interest! I'm pleased that you've added it to your favorites. Don't worry, I won't fail you! :P
And without further ado... your chapter awaits! (Bear with me, guys! I'm not sure I myself know what I'm doing, but I certainly am trying!)
Chapter 2: The Party
Vegeta had indeed fulfilled his word, as Bulma's largest living room was teeming with people several hours later. Many scientists, engineers, secretaries, receptionists, clerks, and even some janitors and security guards were with their families, sipping punch casually and wondering what the surprise could possibly be.
"Maybe it's an early retirement. She has been looking a bit weary these days," a janitor commented half-jokingly to his wife.
Chi-Chi, who had been making sure her youngest son and husband didn't eat all of the refreshments, stalked over to the astonished man and demanded pointedly, "Are you suggesting that Bulma's old?" She pulled the man up to his feet violently, holding him by his collar. "Bulma's one of the most energetic women I have ever met -- and she's in charge of a major corporation! Why don't you people have any manners?"
"Excuse me," started the janitor's wife indignantly, rolling her eyes in blatant disgust of the scene that was currently unfolding, "but I don't think it's necessary for an old woman like you to correct my husband..." She trailed off when she saw Chi-Chi's hostile expression.
"Old?!"
"Mom, would you mind settling down? You're embarrassing us..." Gohan whispered softly, as he noticed countless heads turning their way.
Chi-Chi calmed down almost immediately, much to his relief. She released her firm hold on the man's neckband, and he promptly returned to his seat, still a bit shaken. "Oh, I'm sorry, sweetie. It's just that I don't understand some people's lack of respect for their superiors..." she added, glaring at the shocked and insulted couple as she and her eldest son backed away. "I wonder when Bulma's coming? Whatever she has to say must be pretty important, after all."
Meanwhile, Vegeta was trying to play host - well, maybe a very inconsiderate one. At present, he stalked over to Goku and Goten, who still hovered at the buffet table, and shouted, "You buffoons! Don't you have any sense in those puny-sized heads of yours? Wait until she comes back! And tell your woman to stop harassing the guests, Kakarot!"
"Wait, Mr. Trunks' dad, just let me eat this little shrimp first... Oh, and Dad, could you please pass that bowl of creamy stuff?" Goten inquired.
The Saiyan Prince frowned angrily. For a little twerp, he ate almost as much as his father. "Get away from here, now!" The two scrambled away from the spot, and, as soon as they turned their heads, Vegeta tentatively took two handfuls of shrimp and dipped the whole thing into the creamy blue cheese dip to experiment. Delicious.
Bulma walked in the door at that exact moment. She took a quick look at all the people at her house, inwardly touched that they had all chosen to attend her get-together on such short notice. She watched her darling little Trunks play a better host than her husband, serving appetizers to the guests, and then sneaking a few bites for himself. She watched Goku and Goten secretly sneak over to Trunks, grinning as her son snuck some food for them as well.
And then she looked at her husband, who was presently stuffing his face with some creamy stuff, and licking the bowl clean.
And she threw up -- all over the floor.
Some of the guests present began to groan, while others gasped in astonishment. What an entrance... and what a horrible one at that!
"Mom, that's gross!" Trunks exclaimed, but he ran over to her all the same to help her steady herself.
"Oh, my God! Bulma, are you okay?" Chi-Chi demanded from across the room, rushing over almost promptly. She helped the wobbly Bulma to the nearest bathroom, where she washed her face for her.
"Ugh, Bulma!" Goku yelled from the living room, wrinkling up his nose and staring in both wonderment and disgust at the mess. "What did you eat?"
"Shut up!" both women shouted in response. Bulma tried to hold in her vomit, but couldn't control it. She hurriedly opened the toilet seat, kneeled down, and proceeded to regurgitate her lunch up again. Yuck. The vomit burned her throat horribly as she heaved again and again.
Chi-Chi waited both patiently and anxiously until she was done, and then wiped her face for her once more. "It's a good thing you didn't ruin your dress," she lightly joked, lightly stroking the other woman's shuddering back.
Bulma, for perhaps one of the few times in her life, could care less about her exquisite garments. "Ugh..." she groaned, as she finally reached up and flushed the toilet. "I feel terrible..."
"Don't worry, dear," Chi-Chi comforted her, as the weary woman struggled to breathe properly on all fours. "You don't even have to tell us the news today. Resting is far more important right now. Tell us some other time, okay?"
"No! I'm fine. I know I am," she reassured her friend. With help from the Son woman, she stood up straight and washed her mouth with sink water. "Let's just go back out there so I can spill the news out and go to sleep."
"Well, okay..." Chi-Chi was still very worried, and she didn't smile at the small reassurance. Nevertheless, they both walked out of the bathroom, arm in arm.
When the two women returned to the living room, most of the vomit was gone from the floor. Videl had arrived, and, along with a janitor, was cleaning the mess. Bulma smiled gratefully at the young adult on her knees, scrubbing the mess up with a cloth. "Thanks," she whispered weakly, as Chi-Chi hesitantly left her to check on her son.
Unfortunately, Tien and Chiaotzu, Piccolo and Dende, Yamcha and Puar, and Krillin and his family had also arrived. This wasn't bad; it was just that with them came Master Roshi. And when Roshi was anywhere near Bulma, there was bound to be some trouble.
At present, the lecherous old man stared hungrily at the unstable woman. He was about to say something completely gross, but Goku came to Bulma, along with his son, saving her from his gruesome comments (unbeknownst to them).
"Hey, Bulma! You okay?" he asked politely.
She smiled. "Yeah, I'm alright..."
Master Roshi chuckled softly as Krillin and his family gave Bulma a small wave and headed towards the refreshments.
Bulma glared at him. "You're thinking dirty thoughts again, aren't you?!"
"Heh... no! Honestly, Bulma! I was just noticing that you look a little heavy around the middle..."
Bulma wanted to scream in her sudden fury. These people were just so inconsiderate! She realized that she hadn't told them the news yet, though, so she attempted to simmer down (in vain, unfortunately…).
"Uh, I really don't think it's a good idea to say something like that," a strangely familiar scientist commented to Roshi. He sported a bandage wrapped around his head and was staring warily at the angry woman.
"Eh? Why? There's nothing wrong with a girl with some junk in her trunk—"
Too late.
Bulma struck Master Roshi in the head with a tight fist, scowling as he screamed in pain. "You don't seem to learn, do you?" she asked, before stalking away. Goku and Goten followed.
"Hey, Bulma," the former of the two Sons said cautiously, trying to avoid the same fate as his earlier mentor. "Can I at least poke your stomach? It looks kind of jiggly."
"Yeah! Like Jell-O!" Goten agreed. His father curiously inched his finger towards Bulma's stomach...
"No!" As if on cue, Vegeta flash-appeared and stood between his wife and Goku, who ended up poking his stomach instead. "You fool!" the Saiyan Prince yelled angrily. "You don't know your own strength! You'll harm her and the b-" At that moment, he paused; he knew Bulma wouldn't want him to expose the 'news' in such a manner, and though he didn't particularly care how it was told, he knew Bulma did. He finished his statement somewhat differently than he had originally planned. "Buffet."
"Yeah, you're right..." Goku mused, recalling when he had asked Chi-Chi if Gohan could start training years ago. She hadn't wanted him to. Goku remembered just touching his wife's shoulder to reassure her, and how she'd promptly flown out of the window. She'd suffered many injuries, needless to say. 'But wait a minute – I'd just come back from space at that time! This isn't nearly the same situation—'
"Um, Mr. Trunks' dad?" Goten wondered, breaking his father's thoughts. "How can my dad hurt your buffet?"
Vegeta furiously thought of a satisfactory answer, while Bulma smirked in amusement from behind him. "Yes, dear. Please tell."
Luckily for the Prince, Goku gave a somewhat reasonable response to his son. "Don't you see, Goten? If I had poked Bulma's stomach, she might throw up again… and this time, it might be all over the buffet table!"
"Yes, that's it..." Vegeta agreed, uncertainty laced in his voice. "Can you please make the damn announcement now?" he asked his wife irritably.
"Alright, alright..." Bulma made her way to the center of the room, clapping her hands twice. "Attention, please!"
The room immediately grew quiet, staring up at abovementioned woman eagerly. "I just want to thank each and every one of you for coming. I truly appreciate it, really. But before I actually do say anything, does anyone have any important news that they would like to announce?"
A very short silence ensued before many people began hurling out their 'announcements.'
"I finally got a wine stain off my favorite dress!"
"I got a raise from my department boss!"
"Mommy made me a teddy bear yesterday!" little Marron shrieked happily.
"I finally popped that irritating pimple on my forehead!"
"I learned a really good recipe for apple strudel the other day!"
"Really?! Would you please share that recipe with me when Bulma's announcement is over?" Chi-Chi asked the woman who had just spoken.
Bulma glared a bit too irritably at her friend, and she fell silent. "Does anyone have any real announcements?"
No one said anything for a few minutes, but then Gohan got up from his seat and approached his blue-haired friend. He pulled Videl up from her seat on his way. "Come on," he said gently.
Suddenly aware of about fifty pairs of eyes concentrating on her, Videl blushed profusely, placing her hands over her flaming cheeks. "I don't know..." After a few more gentle promptings, however, she got up and followed her boyfriend.
Vegeta rolled his eyes from where he stood in the corner of the room. As if this wasn't pretty predictable…
Gohan cleared his voice nervously. "Well... our announcement is..." he said nervously, taking his girlfriend's shaking hands within his as soon as they'd reached Bulma.
"We're getting married," Videl finished happily, suddenly overcome with emotion. She gazed into Gohan's eyes and grinned, her own blue eyes shining brightly. "He asked me a few days ago!"
The rest of the guests applauded politely, but nothing could be heard as much as Chi-Chi's shrieks in her growing excitement, clapping her hands together joyously.
"Oh, my baby's going to get married! This is the happiest day of my life!" she sobbed, grabbing her surprised but thrilled husband within a tight embrace. This was so wonderful! Her oldest son was finally getting married! "I just knew this day would come!"
Bulma smiled at the soon-to-be married couple. "Do you know when the wedding will be?"
"We haven't seriously discussed it yet..." Videl said, taking an awkward glance at her new fiancé. "But you should see the ring he gave me," she gushed, showing the older woman the ring on her right hand. It was a simple gold band, just the sort of jewelry that was expected from a tomboy and her nerdy fiancé. Upon further inspection, however, there were several little diamonds embedded in the metal.
"Whoa, Gohan! How did you afford that?" Bulma breathed.
Gohan blushed and rubbed the back of his head. "Well, I've been saving up for it. It took a long time," he joked.
From the side of the room, an amused Krillin shook his head. "Gohan, Gohan, Gohan. Do you know what trouble you've gotten yourself into?"
"And what does that mean?" Eighteen angrily asked her husband, shifting a bit to hold her daughter more carefully.
He flinched, recoiling visibly under her piercing gaze. "Uh, n-nothing, dear..." he stammered.
Goku laughed heartily. "Of course it means something. All guys get sick of their wives sometimes, right, Krillin? You told me that when I got married!"
Krillin shuddered as he thought about what trouble that statement would soon cause. Vegeta snorted loudly from his corner, while Yamcha burst into a hearty round of laughter.
"Let's not get carried away..." Bulma started, watching Eighteen give Krillin another deadly glare. "Any other announcements?"
No one said anything. All eyes were on the current speaker, who flushed a bit. "Well, then, I'll guess I'll tell you mine," she continued. "The thing is..."
Many people sat at the edges of their seats, hands clasped and eyes shining. This had to be good. What could it be? Was Bulma really going to retire soon? Had the company done so well with its profits that she was going to give all of her employees generous raises?
"I might not be at work for a while because I am two months pregnant with a baby."
The guests sat for a moment, stunned. This hadn't quite been what the majority of them had expected, really, but then, almost simultaneously, they erupted in delighted cheers and whoops. What wonderful news!
"Yay! A baby! A baby!" Marron chanted cheerfully in her mother's lap.
Chi-Chi burst into tears and tightly gripped her friend around the waist, trying to avoid Bulma's stomach, as if it were suddenly so delicate. "Oh, I'm so happy for you, Bulma! Now we're going to have two new additions to the family!" she howled, indicating Videl and the baby.
Many people began to crowd around Bulma and Videl, offering them both their congratulations. Gohan, Goku, Krillin, Yamcha, Puar, Tien, Chiaotzu, and Dende looked positively overjoyed for their friend of many years.
"Are you planning on having children?" somebody asked Videl.
"Uh, I haven't really discussed that with Gohan... Besides, isn't it a bit too early to think about that?" she hemmed and hawed, blushing immensely.
Chi-Chi temporarily let go of Bulma to yell, "You'd better! I want grandchildren, you know!" before reattaching herself again.
"I guess we're having kids, then," Videl concluded weakly.
"Sure as anything, I knew you was pregnant," the Southern secretary from earlier that day commented to Bulma, who grinned and shrugged.
"Do you know the sex of the baby?" one of her co-workers asked.
"I don't know. But I want it to be a surprise," she answered promptly.
Chi-Chi scowled in her obvious disappointment, but immediately exchanged her pout for a smile. She would just have to wait, like everyone else, to see what Bulma would have.
"You'd better get a nice, strong boy so your other son can play with him," a hefty security guard chuckled.
"No! She should have a girl! That would be the perfect family!" his wife insisted.
Bulma grinned at both of them. "It won't really matter what I want. It's all been decided already." She proudly placed a hand on her stomach.
"You know, there are ways to change the gender of the baby!" the wife insisted still.
"Oh, Bulma, I'm so HAPPY for you!" Chi-Chi howled again, just as she noticed the wife of the security guard. "Hey, weren't you that apple strudel woman from earlier? May I please know the recipe? I'm getting quite bored cooking the same desserts for my family."
"Oh, yes. I know how you feel. This one here eats like a pig, and complains like one, too," the woman exclaimed, jerking a thumb at her husband. "My good friend in East City gave me the recipe... Do you happen to have a pen and a piece of paper with you?"
The only people who didn't seem half as elated as the others were Trunks, Goten, and Vegeta. At present, Trunks drank his seventh cup of punch, something his mother would likely scold him for later. Pregnant? That was going to be weird. He wasn't sure if he wanted a younger brother or not. The way that security guard had referred to him as 'the other son' had infuriated him. He crumpled the paper cup angrily. No, he definitely didn't want a younger sibling. He looked over to Gohan, who, with Goku and Krillin, was still congratulating his mother. Was this how Gohan had felt when his mom was pregnant with Goten?
Goten nervously twiddled his thumbs. He didn't know what to say to Trunks' mother. Was he really happy about all of this? Now that Trunks was going to get a little brother, he might start ignoring him. And when the baby was actually born, Trunks would ignore him totally. Besides, they would never be able to play and train together with all of the attention going to the new baby.
Vegeta stayed in the same corner he'd been in since Bulma had entered the room, chewing meditatively on a chip. He swallowed and frowned at all the commotion that was currently going on. Not being the type to literally jump up in joy, he would show Bulma his pleasure at her having a baby in a different way. For now, though, he decided, enough was enough. He approached the crowd of people that bunched so tightly around his wife.
"Hey, Vegeta! Aren't you happy? You're going to be a father!" Goku exclaimed happily as he spotted him.
Vegeta scowled as the abovementioned Saiyan made his way to him. "I'm already a father, you idiot," he said shortly, pushing past the swarm of people.
"Oh, yeah... Well, I mean, you're going to be a father of another child! Isn't that great?! We're both going to have two kids!"
"Yes, but my kids will be much stronger than your second-rate offspring," Vegeta smirked.
"But what if Bulma has a girl?"
"Females can fight. You've seen the android. I intend to train the baby as soon as it can stand on its own, no matter what the gender is."
"Good point," Goku agreed before leaving to find Goten.
Vegeta peered through the dense crowd. He finally caught a glimpse of Bulma, so he steadily moved to her.
"Move out of my way! She's expecting my child, so unless you don't want your heads ripped off, you'd move!" Upon hearing this remark (and realizing just who had said it; most of the guests present were quite aware of Ms. Briefs' testy husband's temper), many people immediately scattered.
"Oh, Vegeta... Why do you always have to threaten people? They're only congratulating us!" Bulma sighed.
Her husband simply ignored the comment, and took her arm quickly. "You're going to bed right now!"
"But!"
"Oh, Bulma! Can't you see that he loves you? He only wants the best for you and the baby! Now if he can only start being a bit sweeter..." Chi-Chi started, eyes narrowing critically at the Prince.
Vegeta snorted derisively as he began to push past the crowd again, a sulky Bulma in hand. "Get out of here, woman. And take Kakarot with you. Can't you see that I only want the best for Bulma and the baby?" he mimicked.
Chi-Chi growled angrily and pulled her husband to her side. 'He'll never change!' "Okay, party's over! Get out, now! Everyone, come on!"
Many of the guests obediently followed Chi-Chi's command, but some still hovered at the buffet table, hoarding bits of food that they could take home with them. Eventually, they dispersed.
"Bye, Bulma! Take care!" Krillin said, as he, his family, and Master Roshi left. "We'll visit sometimes!"
"Sounds good to me! Just don't bring him," Bulma responded, pointing an accusing finger at Master Roshi.
"What did I do?" he whined as he exited the room.
"Oh, Bulma! I'll visit every day! I'll make sure of it! Take good care of yourself and that baby, you hear?" Chi-Chi shrieked as she, Goku, and Goten left.
Gohan and Videl were now the only ones left. They politely cleaned everything up for Bulma- the former wiped down the tables and the furniture, while the latter washed all of the dishes clean.
"Oh, you guys didn't need to do that," the Capsule Corp. president said, grinning thankfully. "I have two perfectly able, strong men right here," she continued, indicating Vegeta and Trunks. Her husband immediately grunted, turning to glance upon the now immaculate room. "Especially one who knows that it's way past his bedtime."
Trunks immediately began to whine, "Oh, please, let me just watch some TV before I go to sleep! Please, Mom!" He quickly left before she could make up her mind.
"Don't worry about it, Bulma," Gohan reassured her, placing a soft hand on her shoulder.
"Yeah, it's the least we could do. You're having a baby, so you won't be able to help around the house often," Videl added.
"Well, I'm walking -- well, flying Videl home. We'll see you later." The young couple walked out of the open front door, but Videl came running back.
"Oh, by the way, while everyone was all over you about the baby, Gohan and I decided to set the wedding two months from now. It'll be a short, sweet one. Just thought you might want to know."
"That's great-" Bulma started, but Vegeta pushed her out of sight into the direction of their bedroom.
"Good night," he dismissed a speechless Videl.
When he finally came to the room, Bulma was already in her nightgown, reading a book. She set the book down and smiled warmly at him. He frowned.
"What are you mad about now?" she asked irritably. "I'm having your baby. What more do you want? Triplets?"
"You could do that?" he asked somewhat hopefully.
"…Uh, no. And besides, having three baby Saiyans in my stomach? My gut would explode when they'd start to kick!"
They were both silent for a while as Vegeta climbed onto the bed.
"Please tell me she's not serious about visiting every day," he finally said.
"Who? Oh... Chi-Chi? Knowing her, she'll probably keep her promise," Bulma responded, setting her book down on her nightstand. "You know how she is." She turned off her lamp and shut her eyes. "Good night," she murmured, letting well-deserved drowsiness get the best of her.
A pause took place before-
"Good night."
'Whoa, something's different here,' Bulma thought, as she slowly lost consciousness. Vegeta hardly ever said 'Goodnight' to her; he usually responded with a grunt or even a 'humph.' Well, maybe it was just the pregnancy... of course he would be happy upon hearing about the sudden addition. Either way, she, Vegeta, Trunks, and the baby would be a complete family.
Wait a second. Trunks? She'd almost forgotten.
"Trunks? Go to sleep right now!"
"Aw, man..."
Author's Note: Well, there you have it! Another chapter! This one was actually included in the first one, but I had to cut it- it was way too long to actually sustain a reader's interest! Well, now that you've read, why don't you make a Ladii happy and review? I'm always open to ideas, as well, so if you have a particularly good one about the chapters ahead, I'll be more than ready to consider putting it in the story! Come back next time for Chapter 3! It's coming soon!
Ladii-Chocolate