Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or the characters

Welp, it's about time I update a DBZ story again :) Especially since I'm filling my other fandom with material this week for a shipping week ^_^' Hope everyone is keeping healthy and staying safe. Enjoy this update!

Once Bulma came to terms with her pregnancy, she made a really big decision for herself. The city was no longer a safe place for her or her unborn child. Against her father's wishes, she chose to step down from her position at Capsule Corp. Dr. Brief was immensely furious with her. Of course, he had no idea why his daughter would give up the family company. The only people who knew she was pregnant were Yamcha and Chi-Chi, probably Kakarot if she thought about it. Paranoia fueled her to the point where she wouldn't even scheduled a doctor's appointment, fearful that somehow Vegeta, or worse his father, would find out about the baby. She would find a new doctor once she was far away from the city, away from Vegeta's father and his influence.

Despite her secrecy, unbeknownst to her Vegeta's father found out she was pregnant. He still had her watched, much like before. The woman would get sick frequently. As she walked around, she crossed her arms around her to cover her abdomen as if she were guarding it. Now, the Brief girl was planning to leave the city, leaving her very prestigious company behind. Vegeta Sr. knew. There was no question in his mind. The witch was foolish to believe she could ever escape him.

Bulma walked down the street to her apartment, her keys in hand. The moving truck would be there the next day, and she still had some last-minute packing to do. Honestly, she planned to leave quite a bit behind, namely furniture and such. Yamcha said he'd pick some of it up. He had been strangely supportive of her, and it reminded her of why she had given him so much time. Her ex really was a sweet guy, but he deserved much more than she could give him. Because of her trauma, she couldn't give him her body. Because of Vegeta, she couldn't give him her heart. She would miss the man, but it was time to move on with her life and start over the best she could.

"Miss Brief," a man called from behind her. Bulma flinched; her mind drew her into a memory. She turned to see a stranger smiling at her cruelly. Her heart skipped a beat from fear. "Let's go for a ride."

Her stomach dropped, and Bulma took a step back. She mentally cursed herself for wearing heels that day. On the other hand, how was she to know she'd need to run. "I'd rather not," the woman said coolly. "I have something I need to take care of." She took a step back towards the entrance to her apartment building, and the man didn't pursue her. Still, that creepy grin remained. Bulma nearly reached the door when she was grabbed from behind. Her scream was muffled by a sweet-smelling cloth, and the world around her went dark.

When Bulma awoke, she was in a dark room, her hands tied around her back. "You did well," she heard a deep and dark voice say, outside of the room. "And you're sure no one saw you?"

"Relax, boss," the man replied. "Nobody was on the street. It was late, and we were out of view from the cameras. Besides, no one even knows I work for ya, Vegeta." Bulma's heart beat faster when she heard that. Panic flooded her being. She knew which Vegeta her captor meant, and it was not the man she loved. "I'll wait around. You do to the broad what you want, and I'll deal with the mess."

Silence and the sound of retreating footsteps echoed, and Bulma felt herself shake. The frightened woman clenched her eyes shut as another set of steps clicked towards her. She knew the sound of those shoes, remembered everything about her former lover's father. He was gunning for her, probably coming to finish what he started. From the sound of what the underling said, the mafia boss most likely planned to end her for good.

"Well, well, well," the man's dark voice spoke as he opened the door. He smirked when he saw Bulma trembling. "It has been a long time Miss Brief."

Not long enough, the woman thought bitterly. As much as she feared for her life and the life of her unborn child right now, she absolutely detested the man in front of her. He was terrifying due to his power, but he did not have her respect. This man…this vile man…he was the reason Vegeta was forced into this terrible life. She opened her eyes, her brow furrowed in contempt.

Her reaction only made the man chuckle. "One moment quivering on the floor like a frightened kitten, and now defiant as always."

"And you're a creep, as always," Bulma countered as she gestured to her tied wrists. "I mean, really. This is how you treat a lady? I don't care if you don't like me. This is completely barbaric."

"Ah, and there's that sharp tongue that ensnarled my son all those years ago," Vegeta Sr. droned. "That will soon be over. How fitting that I get to hear it in your bitter end."

"What are you talking about?" Bulma asked calmly, though her heart still thumped erratically. Of course she knew what the man meant. Vegeta Sr. really wanted to kill her, but she deserved to know the reason. "I don't know why you'd come after me after all these years. I kept your secret, even after Vegeta and I parted ways."

Vegeta Sr. snickered. "Did you part ways?" he questioned with humor. Then, his brow furrowed, and his eyes filled with fire in the most intense glare of hatred anyone could muster. "Or was that after you spent the night with him and got knocked up with his child." Bulma's startled gasp flooded his ears, and he grinned sadistically. "Yes, you harlot, I know all about it. I've been having you watched since you went off to school. It has never stopped. I knew my son wouldn't stay away from you. When he waltzed in here demanding your protection in exchange for cooperation, I knew you cast your spell on him once again. No more, Miss Brief. No more."

"If you promised my protection, isn't Vegeta going to be pissed when he finds out you're holding me captive." A sinister laugh passed through the mob boss's lips. "What?"

"There's much you don't know of my business, girl," he indicated. "It's very easy, once you know your rivals, how to make it look like they're responsible for the murder. When Vegeta gets a good look at you, it will look like one of the Colds finished you. He'll be filled with that same desire of vengeance, and I will never have to worry about his loyalty or focus again. It's the perfect was to end your story."

"Is it?"

Both Bulma and Vegeta Sr. were surprised to see Vegeta standing in the doorway, a gun held pointed toward his father. The man looked to his son, confused, and Bulma was just in a daze, disbelieving that her lover was standing right there. She snapped out of it when Vegeta took the safety off his gun. He motioned the tip of the weapon away from Bulma. "Move, old man," he ordered, and though his father was furious, he obeyed. He didn't trust that his son wouldn't pull the trigger. Once away from Bulma, Vegeta walked over to his warden. "Give me a reason," he demanded, "one good reason why I shouldn't kill you right where you stand."

"Vegeta," Bulma breathed out, surprised at the coldness in his tone and demeanor.

"You won't do it," Vegeta Sr. goaded. The father didn't notice Vegeta's finger start to pull back on the trigger. "You don't have the guts."

The mob boss was wrong, and Vegeta shot the man point blank in the chest. The mafia runner fell and gasped out as he choked on the blood filling his lungs. "V-Vege—"

"Silence," Vegeta remarked. "There's nothing more I have to say to you."

There was nothing more his father could say either. He died right there. Vegeta stood over him like he had the man in the alley. Differently, though, Vegeta breathed out a sigh of relief, finally rid of his horrible father. He turned to see Bulma gaping at him, her eyes filled with tears, and his expression softened. He put the gun back in safety and placed it on the ground before he slowly approached the woman. As he knelt down beside her, he ran his hand through her hair. The woman relaxed, and only then did he untie her wrists. He frowned when he saw how tight they were; the rope left red marks on her skin.

Once freed, Bulma latched onto Vegeta. She didn't think. Honestly, she was just so relieved to be saved. Still, her eyes went back to her captor, and she was completely bothered by what she witnessed. Vegeta killed his father. The man had it coming, but why did it have to be Vegeta? The answer was looking her right in the face. As her eyes fell on Vegeta's face, she could see his clenched eyes as his grip on her tightened. Had his father not gone after her, Vegeta wouldn't have done this. Wait. How did Vegeta know his father had her?

"Vegeta," another voice called out to him, panicked. Vegeta's attention shifted, and he released Bulma to see Raditz, Kakarot's older brother, standing in the doorway. "You need to get out of here, now."

"Wha—?" Bulma was about to ask, but Vegeta hoisted her up. She looked to the man with questioning eyes. "Vegeta…?"

"We'll be at my apartment," he told Raditz. "We were never here, got it?" Raditz nodded. "The kidnapper was dealt with?" Another nod. "Good. Then we're the only two who knew she was here." His gaze landed on Bulma. She still appeared bewildered. "Come on, woman. We need to leave."

"But what's going on?"

"No time. Come on."

Bulma listened and finally got to her feet. She let Vegeta lead her out of the room through a secret passage that led to the outside world. The woman couldn't believe it. She had been to Vegeta's house before, and she had never seen that. Angry voices could be heard from inside. They were getting closer, but Vegeta seemed calm. They were safe for the time being, but seriously…what just happened?

On the other hand, Vegeta could hardly be concerned about what was going on back at his father's mansion. His mind was elsewhere. Getting the woman to safety was his top priority. He couldn't believe it when Raditz called him to tell him that he saw his father with some peon and an unconscious Bulma. Red was all Vegeta saw then, and his ire towards his father skyrocketed. It was a new form of betrayal. Yes, Vegeta had been betrayed by his father on numerous occasions. His mother's death, Bulma's abuse, having to hide and raise Tarble, and, ultimately, Vegeta being forced into the world's most hellish business were but a few. Planning to harm the woman he adored and the child that didn't even have a chance to be born yet was now at the pinnacle of that list. The woman and their child were innocent victims in all of this, and his father was going to play it off as some rival attack. No. Vegeta knew, in that moment, that his father needed to die. He could take his tyranny no more.

Once they were finally safe at his apartment, Vegeta locked the door, sat Bulma down, and gave her a once over. "I'm fine," Bulma conveyed, and Vegeta's eyes found hers. She looked frightened, completely shaken up, but she was okay. "They used chloroform to knock me out. No one hurt me…not yet, anyway."

"Bulma, I'm sorry you got dragged into this because of me," Vegeta whispered, his head dropped down. "I promised you I'd stay away from you, and I wasn't strong enough to do that. I put you…" He placed his hand on her stomach, and Bulma's eyes widened. "…and our baby at risk. Words cannot describe how sorry I am."

"It wasn't your fault," Bulma assured him. She rubbed his cheek with her hand. Vegeta leaned into her touch; the tightness left his features. His hands found their way to her shoulders and wrapped around her form, encompassing her in a shield of love and protection. "Vegeta, what happens now?"

The question came sooner than Vegeta would have liked. He would have been content just to keep Bulma in his arms, suppress the last few moments that would rain a new hell down upon him. No one in the organization, aside from Raditz, would know that he was the one to end his father's life, but he would still be hit with new problems from within the business. He pulled back from Bulma, eyes serious. She already knew what he was about to say; her shoulders sagged as she deflated.

"I honestly have no clue," he admitted, "but I can't just leave the business because my father is dead. He has rivals who would come after his territory and me because I'm his heir. Even if I said I wanted no part of it, my words would fall on deaf ears because those in the business chose it for themselves. I did not. In any case, my father's people also pose a problem. Because of their experience, they'll either remain loyal to me or they'll try to come after me if I leave or if they want the business for themselves. If I want to stay alive, I have to become the head of the Ouji family, and I have to run my father's territory in a way that will keep rivals away."

"Then we have no future," Bulma remarked, her voice empty and distant. Vegeta frowned. He already knew that would be her answer.

"I know you're carrying my child, Bulma," he told her. "We can't run from that."

"Do you not remember all the talks we had?" Bulma asked him, though her voice sounded soft instead of accusatory. "Don't you remember how much you hated all of this? How your father's position led to your mother's death? How we had to keep Tarble hidden, and the only way we could take him out is if I claimed he was my cousin so that no one knew he was connected to your father? I saw him recently. It was a good idea to have him take your mother's last name, by the way. So that he would never be targeted. He still could be, if anyone knew." She looked to him with sad eyes. "I don't want to live my life in fear with protectors following me around. I don't want to wonder day in and day out if my child will be targeted because of his or her father…"

"Bulma, what would you have me do?" Vegeta questioned. "If I don't do this, we have to live in fear, on the run, anyway. At least this takes the surprise out of everything."

"Vegeta, you have to let me go…"

As much as Vegeta knew Bulma was right, he didn't want to do that again. He couldn't bring himself to let her go. After all these years without her, having her with him again made everything so much clearer, yet he couldn't find a way out of this. "I can't," he admitted to her.

Blue eyes narrowed at him. "Then I'll leave. If you can't do it, then I'll have to be strong enough for the both of us."

"If you leave, I'll bring you right back," he warned.

Her glare intensified. "You're selfish," Bulma whispered heatedly. "If anything happens to me or our child, it's on you."

Then, she left him alone and shut herself into his room. Vegeta didn't even bother stopping her, paralyzed by her words. The truth of them cut him deep down. He wished he had never agreed to his father's demands all those years ago. It was not something he could take back now, and he would not punish himself for it. So what if he was selfish? At least he had done right by the woman, rescued her and kept her and their kid safe. She just needed space. Eventually, maybe, she would come around. Of course, Vegeta was fighting his own thoughts, thoughts that Bulma would be much safer away from him. With a shake of his head, he went to sit on his couch. He dared not let his mind linger on that thought.

From that moment on, Vegeta spent his time trying to win Bulma over. The next day, once all the chaos at his father's manor died down, he sent her back to her apartment, but he left her with the promise that he would not give up on her. She didn't say a word as she walked into her apartment. Honestly, she had nothing left to say. She wanted to be done with all of this, and the only way she could be was if she left.

Kakarot arrived to help and tried to talk Bulma out of leaving. She told him what Vegeta told her, that he would bring her back if she attempted to leave him again. Their friend knew that Vegeta meant what he said. Bulma hoped that Vegeta was all talk on this issue. He proved her wrong when men from his father's organization stopped her from leaving at every turn.

She tried to make her escape the moments she was alone. Her bags were packed, and Bulma was ready to start over. Every time she got close to getting away, someone would show up. One man even threatened her father's life if she tried again, and her heart ached. He had to be following Vegeta's order. How could the man she loved threaten what was left of her family?

Vegeta was both pissed and bewildered when Bulma showed up at his apartment demanding answers. He never threatened anyone she cared about, and he wasn't going to start now. That one employee got an incredibly strong talking to and a broken jaw earlier when he told the new family head what he'd done. Vegeta punched him for being an idiot. Raditz stared at his friend wide-eyed. He had never seen Vegeta act like this before in his life.

"I can't believe you actually think I would do that," Vegeta stated to the woman, his head dropped in defeat. "I thought you knew me better than that."

Bulma scoffed, then turned away from him and crossed her arms. "Yeah, I thought I did, too," she jeered, "but I guess the apple really doesn't fall far from the tree."

Vegeta nearly grabbed Bulma then as she started to walk away to leave the apartment. All he wanted to do in that moment was scream at her for that horrible, demeaning remark, but he refrained. Instead, he startled her by storming out of his own apartment, into the dark of night, leaving her there. Bulma had no idea where he was going, but she felt a strange sense of foreboding. While Vegeta was out, she decided to sit down and wait for him. There was a dull pain in her heart that prevented her from leaving.

Her remark really crushed Vegeta, and instead of fighting with her, as his first instinct told him to do, he went to a bar and drank his weight in alcohol. Vegeta got so badly wasted that he got into a bar fight. His first contact in his cell phone on the counter was called by the bartender. Raditz showed up moments later and held Vegeta back from knocking out some random guy. He thanked the bartender, dropped a large sum of money for the trouble his friend caused, and dragged a reluctant and wrecked Vegeta out of the bar, back to his apartment.

Bulma jumped Vegeta's door was practically kicked in by Kakarot's brother. She narrowed her eyes at him when he appeared, but then she saw that he was carrying an unconscious Vegeta. He went straight for Vegeta's bedroom and tossed him on the bed. A quiet groan escaped the man, but otherwise he curled up in the bed and remained asleep.

Then, Raditz looked over to Bulma, and their eyes connected. "He got plastered at a bar," Raditz explained. "I had to knock him out to get him back here. He's fine, but look after him, will you?"

Bulma wanted to leave, wanted to say 'no', wanted to say that Vegeta wasn't her responsibility or concern any longer, but she answered with a reluctant nod and Raditz took his leave. The woman sprang into action. She got Vegeta water and painkillers in case he needed them, and then sat in his bed to keep vigil over him. "Bulma," she heard him mutter her name before soft snores took over. A blue brow quirked, and his brow scrunched up as if he were in pain. "Please…"

She could only imagine what he was dreaming. The man looked horrendously upset as he called her name again. Gently, she stroked his cheek, his expression evened, and his breathing became more relaxed. A sigh escaped the woman. She mentally asked herself why this all had to be so complicated. Eventually, she stood up, and she did not notice Vegeta's eyes on her. He awoke the moment her soft touch fell upon him. As she neared the door, she heard him call out, "Wait…"

Frozen in the doorway, Bulma listened to see if the man would say anything else in his sleep. She was surprised to find him awake when she turned around. "Vegeta…"

"Don't go," he pleaded, his eyes filled with a fear she had never seen in him at all during his life save for when his mother died. He was desperate, and he needed her with him at that moment.

Her feet carried her back to his bed.

The two spent the whole evening talking. Vegeta admitted everything he suffered those years she was away. Vegeta told her about his training with Nappa, how he took out one of Frieza's newest soldiers, Cui, the bastard who murdered his mother. Once his father found out Vegeta went rogue, he tried to rein him in, threatened Bulma's life so that Vegeta would swear his life and loyalty to the organization he hated. After Vegeta did, his father decided to pick up on his training where Nappa left off. It didn't seem to matter to the man that Vegeta was an adult. Emotional and physical abuse came with his training. Bulma choked on a sob when Vegeta explained to her that his father aimed to prepare him for the possibility of being tortured for information. Vegeta suffered until he found a way to keep silent on all of his father's secrets during brutal interrogations.

"I can't tell you how many times I wished I'd die on assignment," Vegeta confessed to her and took her shaky hand in his. "Sometimes, I'd even run into the line of fire…to protect others, I told myself, but with the hope of getting hit by a stray bullet. I hated what I had become. Still, I had Tarble to think of. He was so young, my only family. Plus, I always hoped to see you again. At nights, I would think of you, Bulma, and picture you doing the things you loved, hoping you were a magazine writer like you wanted or an author. Something, anything… I drew strength from that, and it stopped me from doing stupid things to get myself killed."

Bulma was torn as Vegeta told her all of this. She knew it was on account of the alcohol that he was being so honest, but it actually felt like they were having one of their own talks. Frank Sinatra played in the background. They both loved that classic singer. Vegeta had old records of his mother's and took them from under his father's nose. In the past, Bulma and Vegeta would listen to the smooth voice of the singer, and just dance and relax into each other. They were doing that now as they reminisced about their high school days and the dreams they had. Finally, Vegeta came back to reality and asked Bulma another dreaded question.

"Why did you give up on your dream when you used to be so adamant and fearless?" Vegeta gently pressed.

He watched her take in a shaky breath as she closed her eyes in attempts to stop herself from giving in to her emotions. "When my mother died," she started, "my family fell apart, me most especially. If it weren't for Tights, I wouldn't have even finished college. I received my degree in writing, and at first I applied for many jobs. I got a letter from a magazine awarding me a job, but my father got ahold of it and took it upon himself to call them and reject the job offer for me. News spread, and then my father forced me to take over Capsule. I wanted to say 'no' and fight back, but he was prepared to toss me out onto the street. With no one willing to hire me because of his influence, I gave in. I stopped talking to Tights soon after. She kept encouraging me to stand up to our father, but she hadn't seen him since Mom died. She didn't know how callous, bitter, and angry he became. I told her to stay away from us. I didn't want her to be his next victim."

"I'm sorry," Vegeta whispered while he held Bulma close to him. "I know how terrible that must have been. When my mother was killed, it was you who kept my family from falling apart, and I don't count my father in that. I never could've raised and kept Tarble safe without you. Once I stopped talking to you, I can honestly say I was a fuck up of an older brother and guardian for him. The only reason he turned out so well was because of his few memories of Mom and because of you."

His hand entangled in her hair, and his eyes pled with her as he told her, "There has never been a day where I haven't thought about you."

Bulma offered him a weak smile. "I feel the same way, Vegeta." Then her lips curved downward. "But I can't live this life. I wish I could, but I can't. I can't."

"And I can't live without you," he confessed, his head hung slightly in defeat, "but I know there's only one thing we can do."

"What?"

"I need you to trust me, Bulma," Vegeta requested. "Can you do that?"

Bulma nodded, and then Vegeta kissed her. The two fell onto his couch and undressed each other while the song "I Did it My Way" played in the distance. Their eyes met as their bodies connected.

The next morning, Bulma awoke to find herself alone in Vegeta's apartment. On the coffee table, there was a piece of paper, a note left by her love. The woman sat up and blinked the last remainders of sleep from her eyes. She gently lifted the paper and found heartfelt letter. A gasp escaped her, and her hand quickly covered her mouth as she choked back a sob.

Bulma,

I know now what needs to be done. I'm sorry I tried to stop you from leaving. You deserve a much better life than what you're living now, a fresh start in another town. As much as it pains me to say, I want you to leave the city. You will not be stopped again. Tarble is expecting you. He is waiting for you in a house in the suburbs. The rooms are all set up for you, him, and the baby. I do not know what will happen now that my father is dead, but I am sure the confusion will bring about a war, here. I need you, the baby, and my brother to be safe. No one can ever know that I am the baby's father save Tarble and the friends we've already told. You, me, Tarble, Kakarot, Chi-Chi, and Raditz will be the only ones who ever know.

Also, in light of what you told me, I had one of my men set up an interview with a local magazine in the town. I know you'll knock 'em dead. Please, live your dream and forget about life here. I will contact you periodically through letters, but, Bulma, this is goodbye. Never forget how much I love you.

Yours,
Vegeta

Tears filled Bulma's eyes and hit the written words on the paper. When Vegeta told her to trust him the previous night, she had no idea that he had this plan cooking in the works. He finally decided to let her go, and now she realized that her lover slept with her knowing it was for the last time, knowing he would never have her again. Vegeta showered her with such love and affection, and yet she hadn't seen this end coming. Her heart broke for the man, but she was also thankful he was giving her this shot. She could only hope that he could one day escape this life. Where Vegeta was saying goodbye, Bulma felt a renewed hope. A hope that, one day, he would escape this awful business and join them and their child in a new life.

A/N: More sadness, yet more hope for the future of the story. Now that the stage has been set, it's time to get into the meet of this story :D Hope everyone is staying well!

And now it's time for review responses!

Efri14: Thank you so much for the review. I'm glad you like it. Honestly, I don't have an update schedule with anything. Most of my stories have been on unintentional hold, and I had six chapters of this story stashed away on my computer from two years ago. The majority of the story is planned, but I haven't looked at it in quite a long time. I'm slowly working on updating other stories. I hope to post an update at least once a week during this COVID crisis. For this story, until I run out of pre-written chapters, it's looking like it will be every other week or every two weeks depending on if I remember ^^' I hope that helps.

Brii-chan14: Thank you so much! :D I figured it would be a good time to post content. Everyone is probably bored out of their minds. I'm glad you're excited! ^^

RoyalBlueRoses: It was a pretty intensive chapter, and the intensity is not over yet. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing. Thank you again, for the support.

daughterofrisingsun: It's going to be a pretty sad story for them, but there's still a looooot of story to go, so don't lose hope! ^^