Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball Z.

Author's Notes: Just decided to upload another chapter, because it's fun. And it's around the same time and theme as my previous chapter. Enjoy.



Chapter 14: Welcome Wagon

Jita stared at the clothing Vegeta's mate - Bulma, the woman had insisted - had provided, her face showing disgust and disbelief. Bulma was reluctant in her welcome, but she gave her a room and some clothes to replace Jita's own worn garments. Jita realized this was a gesture of good will, but . pink?

With a barely audible sigh of relief, Jita realized this wasn't the only thing in the closet. Jita quickly assembled a black outfit with a little blue mixed in. She then sprayed her hair and dried it instantly with a tiny bit of ki.

"You will keep your hair clean and styled, as is befitting your status in the royal elite."

Jita shuddered at the sudden memory of her father. Vegeta had grown up to look so much like their father. 'This line of thought will lead me nowhere. Focus on the present for now. Analyze."

Analyze. Yes. An experiment. She would live here and experiment with the life of being a master-less warrior - to see if it suited her. This life had the risk of weakness, and if she found it to ultimately lead to weakness, she still had her spaceship. Nowadays there were limited opportunities for warriors, especially Saiyans, but she could always find something.

'Besides, this life is all I have.'

Jita knew exactly what her fate was, after death. Hell. Unspeakable torment. Unending torture. 'I have to live before I die.'



Bulma glared at her husband. "Why did you invite her to stay?"

Vegeta's face remained neutral. He had been expecting this. "She didn't have a place to stay," he answered her levelly.

"You know what I mean. She came to kill you! And now everything's fine?"

Vegeta's face set into his usual scowl. "I came here to kill everyone, and it wasn't even personal. My being alive is just an accident."

"That's not the same thing," Bulma protested.

"You think she deserves less of a chance than I got, woman?"

Bulma's glare met and rivaled Vegeta's. He was right, of course. But all she could think about was how much she distrusted this new woman. This woman who had attacked her child without a thought. Who had run a sword through her Vegeta. And having that monster in her house, around her children.

"I don't have to stay here."

Bulma whirled around. Jita was standing in the doorway, arms folded and scowl in place. However, a strange look was in the Saiyan girl's eyes, one that she had seen in Vegeta's eyes. It was a sort of haunted and lost look, as if suddenly her whole tragic life had caught up with her, and she was feeling all the pain she had experienced herself and doled out to others. As she was looking at Jita, Bulma's conscience, which always sounded like Goku, urged her, 'Take her in. She will change just like Vegeta.'

"No. You don't have a place to stay, and we have plenty of room. Besides, you're - family."

Bulma saw a sliver of relief in Jita's eyes. Bulma was by no means convinced, but this new addition couldn't possibly go against five Saiyans, so everyone was relatively safe. However, Bulma just couldn't stand to be around the girl any longer. With a half-hearted smile, she turned on her heel and walked into her lab, locking herself in.

Jita cocked her head. "She's as unpredictable as a changeling."

Vegeta snickered and looked up toward the east. "Well, here's something a little more predictable."

As if on cue, Goku, Gohan, and Trunks dropped out of the sky. Goku had one of those dead serious looks that he gets when he senses a threat, and Gohan and Trunks sported matching glares. Jita regarded their approach with an unreadable expression. "Well, here's the welcome wagon."

Gohan growled and said, "What are you doing back? Other than lie and kill again."

Jita's eyes widened, then narrowed. "My business here is my concern. And I will not be addressed in such a manner. I am the Saiyan princess."

Trunks pointedly ignored the princess. "Dad, is she alright?"

As Vegeta nodded his head, Trunks relaxed visibly. Of all people, he trusted his father's word the most. Trunks gave Jita a slightly guarded smile and walked into the house."

Gohan, however, was not convinced. Showing a darker side of himself, he folded his arms and glared harder. "For as long as I can remember, a full Saiyan coming to earth has been trouble - Radditz, Brolli, Nappa - and even you, Vegeta. All are dead except one. And all brought death with them - including you, Princess. That was my daughter you almost killed out there. I know I can't tell you to stay or go, but if you make even one wrong move, I'll kill you." With that, Gohan flew away in a burst of angry speed, leaving his father alone with the two Saiyan royals.

Vegeta's gaze focused on his long-time rival. "What about you, Kakarrot? Any questions or ultimatums? Is there anything you want to do to make this harder? Go ahead! No one is stopping you."

Goku was taken aback by Vegeta's barely disguised hurt tone. Apparently this entire situation was getting under his skin. Goku gave a small smile. "I only wanted to see if there was any trouble. Now I see there isn't, I'm kind of embarrassed about all the fuss." Goku's smile widened into his usual grin as he addressed Jita. "H! I'm Goku. I guess you're here to stay for a while, huh?"

Jita's eyes widened in shock, and she gave Vegeta a sideways glance, as if to say 'Is he for real?" "So, you're Kakarrot?"

Goku scratched the back of his head and laughed a little. "I guess. That's what Vegeta calls me, but everybody else calls me Goku. Listen, I'm sorry for what my son said. He gets like this when he stop training regularly. Well, I guess I'd better get back home. Chichi's almost finished making dinner." He hovered a few feet off the ground.

"Wait," Jita interjected, bringing Goku to a halt. "Why did your other son not come?"

Goku shrugged. "Goten? I guess he didn't want to."



Goten watched the exchange from a distance, keeping his ki strictly suppressed. Every reaction had been predictable. Trunks trusted his father too much to doubt him. Gohan had gone through too much in his short life to be readily accepting. And Dad - was Dad. He would always give everyone at least one chance. As for himself -

Goten didn't know what to think. He was still very attracted to Jita. Just thinking about her sent his thoughts and hormones racing. But her perfection had soured. And now he couldn't hate her - or love her.

He took one last look and left, wishing to leave behind his pain - and his love.