Dragon Ball Z: Dynasty

Written by: Feraligreater328 and StevenBodner

Edited by: StevenBodner and SparkerLightning

A/N: God, I'm so bad at scheduling things. Or maybe I just end up writing too much per chapter to keep a schedule. This was supposed to come out the week of Christmas in 2020... ^_^"

Also, 1,000,000 views. Wow! Time sure flies.

Also also, please direct your eyes to the new story cover drawn by my dear friend Keeks! Love ya, Keeks!

Chapter 115: Christmas

In the Capsule Corp atrium...

Raditz, dressed in a bright red Santa suit, and Giru, wearing a pair of antlers on his head, walked around the atrium of Capsule Corporation making sure that all of the guests were cared for and refreshed. Having been put in charge of leading the Saiyans by his overbearing mistress, Giru was hot on the heels of the depressive Saiyan. "You must make sure everyone is content! Giru Giru Giru..."

Raditz grumbled and shot Giru a scornful look. "You're the reason we're stuck in this mess, you Dragon Radar-chomping little bastard..."

He walked over to where Dr. Briefs and Pancy were sitting as Giru hovered over to Korin, Dende, and Mr. Popo. Raditz continued to grumble. "Giru Giru Giru my ass..."

Raditz handed the elderly scientist his mug of hot cocoa and then handed Panchy hers as well. They both gratefully took them and then Raditz started to walk off. However, as he tried to make his way back to the kitchen, a hand suddenly pressed down onto Raditz's shoulder. He turned and Panchy was standing there, a serene smile on her face. "Hey Raditz~"

Raditz's eyes were heavy, but he put on a brave smile. "Yes ma'am? Do you need something?"

Panchy removed her hand and then reached down, grabbing Raditz's hand and gripping it tight. "People think I'm an airhead, but I can tell when people are hurting. Just remember that we all love you, even grumps like Piccolo and Vegeta. Kay, hon~?"

Raditz lower lip briefly wibbled, but he nodded before the tears could come. "Y-Yes ma'am..."

And then, much to Raditz's relief, the doors to the atrium flew open and the noise came along with it. With a sigh, he turned to greet the guest, but then gasped in shock at what he was forced to take in. Goku and Vegeta both stumbled into the room, their faces swollen and bumpy as it they had just gone through a five-round boxing match with their hands tied. Both of them fell flat onto the ground and Raditz sighed, scratching his head. "I guess our loving wives didn't exactly appreciate us blowing that invasion off..."

Goku mumbled. "Gohan...strong enough..."

Vegeta mumbled as well. "Waste...of...time..."

And then, like a furious freight train, Bulma charged in. She stomped across Goku and Vegeta's backs with an audible crack on each before marching right up to Raditz and getting in his face. The two of them stared at one another for a silent moment, and then Bulma gently pressed her fist into Raditz's cheek and started grinding it. "You get a pass. This time."

Raditz's eyes were sullen and gray. He silently nodded in understanding. Bulma sighed, dropping the act and pulled the towering Saiyan in for a tight hug. "Thank you for helping set all of this up, Raditz. Merry Christmas."

Taking a moment to recover, the three Saiyans and Giru all showed off their hard work. The chefs from the Capsule Corp kitchen flowed out and brought with them a sumptuous feast. Food was lined all across the tables. Christmas lights, decorations, and several rich trees all twinkled brightly. Giru split in half at the middle and pressed a button, making music ring out from the various loudspeakers dotting the atrium. Vegeta kicked the snow machine and looked annoyed. "Goddammit! Infernal contraption!"

Dende stepped up. "You called?"

Vegeta glared at the little Guardian of Earth and he smiled. "Allow me~"

Using his ki, Dende clapped his hands together and made a delicate snowfall begin within the building. The Z-Fighters all piled in and a collective wave of relief washed over them. Villainous invasions and deadly threats were done for the evening. Now it was time for a Christmas celebration!

Story #1: Piccolo's Secret

Thirty minutes passed into the Christmas celebration. People had gradually taken their places across the Capsule Corp atrium and relaxed into the evening. Now that everyone was a bit less alert, Piccolo knew it was his time to act. Stealthily, the Namekian made his way around his various comrades. He continued to shadow his target until she was by herself.

Once Bulma was alone, Piccolo walked up behind her and whispered something into her ear. The pregnant scientist and the Namekian walked over to a lonely corner of the atrium to have a private chat...both unaware that someone was watching them in turn. Hiding behind a bush as they spoke, Vegeta grumbled within his head. 'What in the hell does the Namekian want with my wife?'

Vegeta continued to spy, watching as Bulma summoned a Capsule Corp chef and she and Piccolo spoke to him. Bulma said something and the chef eagerly nodded. Bulma smiled and thanked him, before writing a check and handing it over to him. Piccolo thanked the chef as well, politely bowing before the fellow ran back into the kitchen.

After about 20 minutes, the chef returned. He handed Piccolo a massive, tied sack and appeared to explain something to him. The Namekian gave thanks once more and then, once the chef departed, he thanked Bulma once more as well. Once Bulma departed, Piccolo glanced over at Gohan with a contemplative look on his face. Seeing the boy playing with his siblings, Piccolo simply smiled and shook his head. He took his exit from Capsule Corp, departing into the frigid night.

The Namekian seemed unaware that he was being followed.

Miles away from West City, in the northeastern airspace...

Piccolo's blissful ignorance to being followed slowly faded as he continued his mysterious trip. With the mysterious sack gripped tightly in his hand, the Namekian sneered. His hearing and ki-sense told him exactly who was following him. "Go home, Vegeta!"

Discovered and not trying to hide it, Vegeta shouted back at Piccolo. "Why should I? It's a free Earth, isn't it?"

Piccolo stopped midair. He turned and glared at Vegeta. Vegeta, dressed in a red Santa suit of his own, smugly smirked. "Problem?"

Piccolo sneered. "I know Saiyans don't have the hearing Namekians do, so I'll say this loudly and clearly. GO! AWAY!"

Vegeta's smirk became even more smug. "Nah~"

Piccolo's aura flared. Vegeta's smile faded and he went Super Saiyan. It was a tense stand-off, the clouds in the sky vanishing and leaving a clear view of the moon. Eventually, Piccolo relented with an irritated shake of his head. "I don't have time for you right now. If you follow, you had better damn well be on your best behavior!"

As Piccolo flew off, Vegeta released his Super Saiyan form with a mocking chuckle. "No promises."

Even farther northeast...

Piccolo and Vegeta flew into the well-forested countryside. Eventually, Piccolo halted his forward momentum and sharply dropped into a clearing below. Vegeta followed suit and they both landed into a well-maintained yard. In front of them was a premium Capsule House and behind them was a babbling brook. Piccolo shot Vegeta a glare full of nothing less than pure scorn, and then he marched up to the door of the home and sharply cracked his knuckle against it thrice.

The wait was brief as the door flew open and a short old woman with a gray bun and thick, rose-tinted glasses stepped out. She looked up at Piccolo, her jaw briefly dropping. And then a wide smile spread across her lips and she shouted at the top of her lungs. "PA! PA! OUR BOY IS HERE! GET YER OLD DUFF OUTTA THAT CHAIR AND COME GREET 'IM!"

As the old woman rushed into the house, Vegeta turned to Piccolo. "Excuse me..."

Piccolo glared over at him. "Hm?"

Vegeta cocked his head, looking genuinely flummoxed. "...what?!"

A red blush glowed across Piccolo's face. He growled under his breath. "I'm sure they'll tell you. Keep your mouth shut and play along or I'll thrash you."

The two warriors entered the house, only to both suddenly be assailed. The older woman, apparently known as Ma, leaped at Piccolo and pulled some kind of shroud over his face. The older man, Pa, walked up and took the sack from Piccolo as he struggled. Vegeta watched, silently astonished, as Ma adjusted the shroud onto Piccolo, making sure the shoulder pads of his cape made it through the specially knitted slots. Once she leapt off, she and Vegeta both took in the site of it all: Piccolo looked humiliated as he stood there in a hand-knitted sweater with the words "Santa's Grinchy Helper" sown onto the chest.

Piccolo gnashed his teeth and glared at Vegeta, who was absolutely dying in his struggles not to burst into laughter on the spot. As Piccolo shot Vegeta at look that would make lesser men burst into flames, Pa called out from the dining room table. "Lookit the spread he brought us, Ma! The boy out did himself!"

Vegeta, Ma, and Piccolo all looked towards the table and saw a small, but full Christmas dinner being spread out. Pa called over. "Tell Junior and his midget friend t' get over here! We gotta enjoy this food fer it gets cold!"

Ma chuckled and started to walk over to the table. "Fer sure~ Fer sure~"

Vegeta growled under his breath, a vein popping out from his forehead. "Midget?!"

Piccolo slapped him across the back of the head. "Behave and enjoy your dinner."

Vegeta glared at Piccolo, Piccolo glared right back. And then, the Prince bit his tongue and he and the Namekian made their way to their seats.

The meal began in earnest and everyone enjoyed themselves. A bowl of fried chicken, a bowl of mashed potatoes, several vegetables, and a plate of biscuits was split between the four of them. Vegeta watched in surprise as Piccolo, a being that normally disdained eating, powered his way through a meal with a placid expression on his face. As Vegeta enjoyed his portion of the meal, Ma scooted close to him. "Yer the second feller Junior's brought here, other than that smiley little tyke, Gohan~"

Ma pulled out her photo album. "Wanna see Junior's baby pictures?"

Vegeta dropped his fork. "I have genuinely never wanted something I didn't know existed more in my entire life."

Anyone with decent hearing could make out the sound of Piccolo's Namekian fangs grinding against each other, but Vegeta ignored that with a malevolent smirk. He watched as Ma flipped through the album. "So, little ol' Junior first came into our lives fourteen years ago~ He hatched outta an egg~"

Vegeta stared with evil delight at the pictures of Piccolo. One was him nude within an eggshell. One was him forming clothes onto his little body. And one was him blasting a house with his eye beams. Ma chuckled. "He was a rambunctious little feller~! His terrible twos came along right quick~"

Pa nodded. "Left us homeless, he did. All our possession were burnt up!"

Ma flipped the page. "But I still remember the day he came back. Was a year after them Saiyan fellers blew up East City..."

Pa interjected. "By the way, little fella, anyone ever tell you that you kind look like one o' them aliens?"

Vegeta glanced out of the corner of his eye. "No comment."

Pa laughed out loud. "I getcha. I getcha. Don't feel bad, though! Our Junior looks a lot like that King Piccolo feller too~ S'fine~ We ain't gonna judge yer looks~!"

Ma pointed to several pictures in the album. Piccolo helping them build furniture for their new house, helping Pa with fishing in the stream, Piccolo and Gohan working to repair a broken spot in the roof. Ma smiled warmly and gently. "Made my heart sing, it did. Little ol' Junior just showed up at our shack we built one day. He apologized, lookin' plum guilty. Been comin' back to check on us ever since~"

Ma pointed to a picture of Piccolo meditating under a tree, her laying in his lap and reading a magazine. She smiled. "He does his fancy floatin' naps under that tree in our front yard. Makes the whole thang feel peaceful~"

Pa chuckled. "That's our boy. Our good ol' loyal son~ Strong as the day he was born, but so kind after doin' some growin'~"

Vegeta shot a smug look over at Piccolo. The Namekian's entire body was tense. It was quite clear that he was mortified Vegeta of all people was getting this kind of unvarnished look into his personal life. And the Prince simply couldn't wait to accidentally bring this up and embarrass him even more back at Capsule Corp.

...but then something in Vegeta's head seemed to click.

He watched as Ma took her napkin, reaching up to wipe Piccolo's stoic, blushing face. And then an almost forgotten face began to glow in the back of his mind. Her black hair...her gentle smile...Vegeta felt her hand grabbing onto his. He felt her tail wrapping around his. And, as he sat their watching Piccolo and Ma interact, Vegeta heard her voice in his mind. 'My babies~'

Vegeta closed his eyes. He would never tell anyone this, but these thoughts had been in his mind more and more lately. Ever since it was uttered that Gohan might be an Alpha Saiyan. Ever since he had heard that she commanded Bardock and Gine in the Saiyan army. Vegeta's smug smirk faded in a frown of distant longing as, in his mind, he pictured himself and Tarble being held tight in Cassava's loving arms. Vegeta slowly receded further and further into his thoughts on Cassava, almost able to smell her again. Almost able to feel a warmth he hadn't felt in decades.

And then an object, oblong and covered in crinkly, metallic foil fell into his lap. Vegeta snapped back into it and looked around, seeing Ma, Pa, and Piccolo all staring at him. Piccolo was blunt. "Snap out of it. You're holding up the Christmas crackers."

Ma was far more jovial. "You've done these before, right? Ya pull the strings on the ends at the same time and the little packet cracks open and drops goodies in front of ya~"

Vegeta cleared his throat. "The, uh, the concept seems...simple enough..."

Pa chuckled. "Junior's enjoyed these for the past couple a years. You oughta like 'em~"

All four of them grabbed the strings of their Christmas crackers and pulled them simultaneously. Four loud pops echoed out and the sound of things clattering against the table was heard. Pa and Ma both looked satisfied, each of them getting a plastic ring and a few pieces of candy. Piccolo was indifferent, holding a handful of candies as Ma unfolded a paper crown and slotted it over his turban.

Vegeta, meanwhile, swept aside his unwanted candy and picked up his trinket. It was a metal pendant in the shape of an angel, holding two sleeping cherubs close. Ma giggled. "Ah! Wouldja lookit that~ You got the rare prize! Mother o' Angels, the box called it~"

Ma nudged him in the side. "That's a good gift to give yer own mother, if ya fergot to grab 'er one~"

Vegeta was silent. This annoyed Piccolo, who started to scold him for being rude. But then, Vegeta stood up. Without looking Ma, Pa, or Piccolo in the eye, he turned to them and bowed his head. "Thank you for welcoming me into your home. Merry Christmas."

And then, before anyone could say a word, Vegeta swiftly exited the house. Piccolo growled to himself, but Ma gently gave him a pat on the back. "There there, Junior."

Piccolo looked down at her. Ma chuckled. "I can tell that you two ain't the fondest of each other, but it was still nice o' him to come along with ya~ You tell feller he's welcome back anytime he wants to come with ya~"

The Namekian was hesitant, but then he nodded. "O-Of course, Mother."

Ma smiled and pecked Piccolo on the cheek. "Now git. I know you've got a whole nother family waitin' on ya to celebrate with 'em. Don't let a couple a prunes like us hold ya up~"

In spite of himself, Piccolo adopted a small smile. Ma and Pa both grabbed him into a tight hug. Pa cackled. "We love ya, boy~ Merry Christmas~"

Piccolo nodded with a sigh. "Same to the both of you."

After a few more moments of light conversation, Piccolo finally got up to take his leave. He exited the house and looked around, neither seeing, hearing, nor sensing Vegeta. Piccolo growled under his breath. "Asshole is probably already back at Capsule Corp..."

And so, Piccolo took off to head back to Capsule Corp.

In the skies above West City...

Piccolo was feeling unwell as he flew back to Capsule Corp. Prior to today, only Gohan had known about Ma and Pa. And now, Vegeta of all people knew. Not that Piccolo thought his comrades would bother him about his personal life, but it still annoyed him to no end that Vegeta now had that little bit of ammunition to fire off at his earliest convenience.

Entering the city limits of West City, however, Piccolo came upon quite the surprise. Vegeta was hovering there, staring up at the moon with his arms crossed over his chest. As Piccolo approached, Vegeta turned to him. They silently glared at one another, not exactly mortal enemies but certainly not friends. And then, Vegeta flew up to Piccolo and shoved a wrapped box into his hands. Piccolo flinched. Vegeta scowled. "Bulma gives me a budget of 10,000 zeni a month to do with what I wish. So there."

Piccolo glanced down at the box and then back at Vegeta. "And what sort of foolishness is this going to be?"

Vegeta sneered. "Just open the goddamn box, green man. I have a family to get back to..."

Looking back down, Piccolo tore open the box. He fished around within and eventually wrapped his hand around the contents. Pulling it out, Piccolo's scowl worsened. "Oh, ha ha! Funny. Prick."

Piccolo glared at Vegeta's gift, a travel neck pillow meant for people who slept in an upright position. The Namekian was unamused. Vegeta, meanwhile, simply turned and started to fly away with not a single snide comment. "I won't tell a soul about what I saw tonight. I swear on the crest of House Vegeta. Take that pillow at me taking a jab at you or take it as a present. I don't care. Just..."

Vegeta looked down at the Mother of Angels in his hand. He gripped it tight and thought of himself and Tarble laying in their mother's grasp. And finally, he sighed. "...Merry Christmas, Na... Merry Christmas, Piccolo..."

As Vegeta flew back towards Capsule Corp, Piccolo was left floating there in his sweater and paper crown. He had been considering removing them before he got back to Capsule Corp, to avoid any questions about them, but he simply sighed and started flying back as well. "Merry Christmas, Vegeta."

Story #2: Krillin and Android 18's True Companions

As Piccolo and Vegeta both went missing, the rest of their friends and comrades remained to enjoy the party at Capsule Corp. And, in the midst of this party, to collectives were each discussing their own plans. Something was long overdue and they were looking to correct it.

Android 17 and Android 16 stood behind a miniature forest of trees, fidgeting with something small. Meanwhile, the other group was wound up in a quiet, private conversation.

Master Roshi, Turtle, Yamcha, Launch, Puar, Tien, Chiaotzu, and Bulma are stood side-by-side. The pregnant scientist crossed her arms over her chest. "The rest of us were all a bit preoccupied today, as you're well-aware. So, you and Oolong got it. Right, Goku?"

Goku chuckled. "Yeah. We got it~"

Oolong looked less amused. "Only after Goku got lost for 3 hours. I stood in front of that jewelry store for so long, I felt like a frozen pork chop!"

Everyone shared a collective sigh. That sounded about right considering it was Goku. Tien chuckled. "Always one to get lost in a big city, huh?"

Yamcha shrugged. "If it were any other way, it just wouldn't be Goku. And that wouldn't be any fun."

Bulma reached out and grabbed a small, felt box from Goku. She gripped it. "I don't know why you guys insisted on paying a share for it. I could have had this made months ago if I just bought it myself."

Blonde Launch wrapped her arm around Bulma's shoulder. "It wouldn't be nearly as special if we did something like that! This is a gift from the heart, Bulms. Not from the checkbook! I worked hard on the farm for that money!"

Puar smiled. "Oolong and I worked as street performers for ours!"

Oolong scoffed. "People could learn to tip better for entertainment like that!"

Tien smiled. "Chiaotzu and I started holding beginner's martial arts classes in our spare time to raise our cut."

Chiaotzu winked and gave a mischievous smirk. "Tien's intensity scared a lot of clients away, but we made it work!"

Yamcha sighed. "I couldn't give as much as I wanted to with Suno learning that she was pregnant and all, but my baseball career helped me to contribute..."

Master Roshi cackled. "Took me and Turtle forever to remember where I buried those tournament winnings from so long ago~"

Turtle groaned. "That island we buried them on didn't even exist anymore..."

Goku smiled. "Dad let me help him with trucking over the past few months to raise mine."

Bulma smirked. "I didn't really have to work for my cut, but I did convince my personal jeweler to give us a good deal and expedient service~ He's the guy who made mine and Vegeta's~"

The scientist popped open the top of the box and the gathered group all stared in awe at the contents. As Chi-Chi, Gine, and Gohan plated with the babies in the background, Goku pulled the golden band from its box and stared intently at it. Two sleek, golden bands entwining around one another, a symbol of a strong connection. Diamonds stretched across the top, sparkling in the light. At the very peak of the band, two larger diamonds were tightly set, as close to one another as they could be without ruining the aesthetic. Two gold bands with eighteen gems stuck into them, a ring made with a single person in mind. All of the original Dragon Crew smiled at the sight of it. Roshi chuckled. "Ol' Krillin really caught me off-guard the day he told me how hard he planned to try for that girl. I thought I would feel satisfied just teachin' him the Virtue of Flowing Water... but I realized, as his master, that just wasn't enough~"

Yamcha glanced over and caught sight of Krillin popping open a Sapporo Golden Premium and pouring it into a glass for 18. She took it with a smile and a nod and he blushed hard. The former bandit smiled wide. "Little Krillin's all grown up. It's enough to make a guy wanna cry, honestly..."

Everyone else nodded in agreement. And then, a new voice spoke up. "Yeah. It's really cute when you look at 'em. Never seem two people love each other more, but my life's been kinda shit 'til recently~"

The group turned and saw Android 17 and Android 16 walking up to them. 17 spied the ring in Goku's hand and let loose and appreciate wolf whistle. "Damn. That's one heck of a piece."

Android 16's eyes chirped. "Approximate monetary value is equal to nearly triple our contribution to the romantic endeavors of Krillin and Lazuli."

17 rolled his eyes. "It ain't about zeni signs, big guy. It's about meaning. They have eighteen diamonds on that thing for a reason, just the same as we have six on ours~"

Bulma cocked her head. "What?"

17 held up his hand and displayed a ring of his own. Bulma tried to reach for it, but 17 pulled away. "Ah ah. Still hot. Needs a few more minutes to cool. I don't wanna burn you and piss Veggie-head off."

16 smiled. "My nanomachines are mostly spent after the events of earlier today, but I had enough left to produce a replication of the gold alloy that makes up the wiring within my brain."

17 winked. "And I went digging for diamonds in my half of the mine one day when 18 wanted to train by herself. Six of 'em. 24 karats. Each one to represent one of those moxi-whatsits on Krillin's forehead."

Chiaotzu cocked his head. "So, we both got Krillin a ring to propose with...?"

17 quickly denied. "No. This is for my sister to propose with. If only Krillin were to do it, it might freak her out or...even worse...make her self-conscious about the whole thing. 18 plays it cool, but she's pretty finicky about that sort of thing..."

16 nodded. "So, we made her a ring of her own to propose with. However,..."

Tien looked to 16 and nodded. "I was just thinking the same thing..."

16 pointed to both of the rings. "They would never just accept these outright. Android 18 is headstrong and contrary. Krillin is nervous and quite bashful. We must engage in a stratagem that will force them to accept our kindness unknowingly."

As everyone suddenly started considering those very real parameters, a brown furry tail snaked around Goku's wrist and snatched away the ring. Everyone turned and Gine was there, a gentle smile on her face. Gohan stood next to her, looking determined. Gine spoke. "Leave Krillin to us. We can handle him~"

Goku nodded with a smile. Bulma stroked her chin. "But, what about 18? Krillin is easy-mode. Her on the other hand...she's terrifying, 17."

17 sighed. "Oh, don't I know it. And since we've started drinking more regularly, I've noticed that her scariest traits are only sharpened as she starts getting tipsy. And, uh..."

Everyone looked to the massive basket of empty Sapporo bottles next to the table that Krillin, 18, Bardock, and Suno were all near. Suno was pregnant, Krillin was too busy attending to 18 to drink, and Bardock seemed to be enjoying a glass of non-alcoholic punch as he leaned over onto that flowerpot he had been carrying around. 17 cocked his head. "I think she might be getting there..."

But then, to 17's surprise, a wrinkled hand reached up and took the ring from him. Everyone turned and watched as Master Roshi, a confident smile on his face, pulled a box with the Turtle Sign on it from his pocket and deposited the ring into it. "Don't y'all worry. I've had 300 years and counting to learn how to handle the finer sex~! You just let ol' Master Roshi plant this ring~! Heh heh heh~!"

Roshi looked up to his comrades, only to see Android 16 and Android 17 glaring down at him. They both looked upon his elderly form with cold, robotic malice. 17 spoke in a clinical tone. "Watch your hands, old man. You certainly don't want us watching them for you."

16 silently cracked his knuckles. Nervous, his mouth immediately going dry, Roshi stammered. "I-I know the score. N-No reason to get upset, boys! Heh...heh...heh..."

And so, the operation commenced!

Gine took point, walking towards the table and unfurling her tail from around her waist. Krillin and 18 were distracted by a conversation with Panchy, giving her an opening to unfurl Bardock's tail with her own. She wrapped her appendage around his and slowly slid across. Their tails separated and Gine turned to wink at her husband, continuing along as if nothing happened.

The pregnant Suno sipped her tea and adorably giggled at Bardock. "Was that some kind of romantic Saiyan custom~?"

Bardock shook his head. "Nah. Military thing."

And then, without hesitation, Bardock slapped the entire punch bowl off of the table and right into Krillin. Krillin, utterly thrown for a loop, cried out. "Bardock?! What the hell, man?!"

Like clockwork, Gohan ran up to the table with his hammiest, most dire tone. "THAT STAIN IS GONNA SEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET! STAIN STICK, MISS PANCHY! WE NEED A STAIN STICK!"

Panchy slapped her hands to her cheek and shrieked in horror. "GOOD HEAVENS, YOU'RE RIGHT!"

With no regard for her own clothing, Panchy heaved the soaked Krillin over her shoulder and immediately went sprinting for the laundry room. Gohan was hot on her heels, a victorious smile on his lips. 18, actually starting to feel the effects of all the beer she had drunk in the past hour, turned to Bardock. "Nice job, ass*BELCH*"

Bardock's voice was dripping with sarcasm. "Lady-like."

18's face was bright red in embarrassment. "Suck my ass!"

But then, 18 flinched as she suddenly felt something pressing against and squeezing her ass. Bardock glanced down, a bead of sweat running down the side of his face. "Bad move. Read the room, Roshi..."

18 turned and saw, to her genuine disgust and horror, Master Roshi taking a double handful of her rear with a perverse grin on his face. He chuckled. "Heh! Soft~ Like a pillow~ Mind if an old man lays his head low for a few-"

With no hesitation, Android 18 mule-kicked Roshi and sent him flying across the room and through a set of glass doors leading into the Capsule Corp lobby. 18 took a deep breath, sighing it out to calm herself. And then she called out. "Sorry Bulma! Take the cost of those doors out of my billion!"

Bulma responded quickly as she and the others gathered around the beaten Master Roshi. "Don't sweat it! Roshi deserved it! Merry Christmas!"

Goku, Yamcha, Tien, and Chiaotzu all worked to help Roshi up, cringing at the sight of a clear boot print from Android 18 planted into the center of his face. Roshi was delirious, but he threw up a peace sign. "Mishun c-complizhed..."

Across the atrium, Gohan and Krillin emerged from the Capsule Corp laundry room. Gohan had a satisfied smirk on his face. Krillin looked embarrassed. There was only one shirt in all of Capsule Corp readily available in his size. Krillin stumbled out, the pink fabric of Vegeta's BAD MAN shirt pressing against his skin. Wearing nothing on his lower body but his undies, the monk was a practical lighthouse his face was lit up so brightly. He was so dejected that he didn't even notice the distinct bulge in the breast pocket of his new outfit. Panchy emerged from the laundry room with a smile. "Sorry doll. That lazy ol' Vegeta still hasn't gone out to buy new clothes since that bug guy blew up his house~ But, we just so happened to have that one here for washing when that all happened~"

Gohan playfully elbowed Krillin in the side. "Good thing you and Vegeta have the same shirt size, huh?"

Panchy giggled. "Sorry we couldn't find any pants for you. You've got those stubby, boy legs. Not like Vegeta's longer, daintier girly legs~"

At that moment, Vegeta came walking back into the atrium. Immediately frustrated, he shouted at his mother-in-law. "Shut your damn mouth, woman! I don't need your commentary on my legs!"

Panchy giggled and went back into the laundry room. Gohan, meanwhile, gave Krillin a firm pat on the back. "I know it doesn't seem like it right now...but you're a lucky guy, Krillin."

Krillin glanced over at his smiling friend and sighed. "Thanks, Gohan..."

Gohan started to walk away, glancing back out of the corner of his eye and smiling as Krillin sighed and pressed his hand to his chest.

The monk flinched and began to fish around in his pocket. Krillin pulled out the box to the ring and flipped it open, finding an amazing, bejeweled band within. He pulled out a small, folded note and opened it. The message was simple. "Go get your happiness, buddy~!"

Krillin stared in disbelief, his lower jaw trembling as he read the signatures of each and every one of his longtime friends. Tears built up in the monk's eyes and he sniffled. "G-Guys..."

Back over by the table, 18, Bardock, and Suno were still engaging in conversation. They watched as Vegeta approached, grumbling and looking furious as he mumbled about his legs. Bardock smirked. "Suno, watch this. It'll be funny."

Bardock called out. "Wassup, Ballerina Boy~!"

Vegeta flinched. 18 called out. "DAISY LEEEEEEEEEEEEGS!"

The Prince glared over at his hecklers. Suno seemed a bit thrown for a loop, but then she looked to Bardock and 18 looking at her expectantly. She cleared her throat. "Um...nice legs...chicken...guy..."

Silence for a moment, but then 18 and Bardock both started bellowing at Vegeta. "CHICKEN GUY! CHICKEN GUY! CHICKEN GUY!"

Vegeta snapped at them. "I'LL KILL ALL OF YOU!"

And then he stomped off in a huff. Bardock and 18 both shared a mocking laugh, galvanized in their shared love of busting Vegeta's balls every chance they got. Suno laughed along with them, nervously at first but then quite genuinely. But then, something caught Suno's eyes. "Hey, 18. What's that in your back pocket?"

18 and Bardock both stopped laughing. 18 reached into her back pocket and pulled out a small box. She opened it up and was surprised to find a ring wedged inside: a simple golden band with a circular indent on top. And lined on that circular indent was six diamonds in a pattern similar to the moxibustion marks on Krillin's forehead. 18 grabbed a note from within the box. "Land you your man, bitch~ 17" "Seize your happiness~ 16".

On opposite sides of the atrium, Krillin and 18 both blushed a deep red as they stared down at the rings in their hands. The moment had finally come, one that they had even joked with one another about earlier. But, with the opportunity in place...could either of them muster the courage to actually do it?

Story #3: Vegeta's Apology

With her part in the antics of the evening over, Gine plopped back onto the ground next to her daughter-in-law, Chi-Chi. With a doting smile, Gine reached over and grabbed Baby Goten. She held her chubby-faced little grandson close and then stuck out her tongue and blew a raspberry, making him smile and laugh. Adding onto that, Gine unfurled her tail and brought it to Baby Goten's ribs, tickling him with her bristling hair and making him laugh even harder.

Chi-Chi was humming a Christmas song, feeding Baby Chika a bottle of milk as she did. She looked out and saw Baby Trunks and Baby Ranch roughhousing on their playtime mat. "Be careful you two! Don't play too rough~"

Blonde Launch sat down next to Chi-Chi. "They'll be fine. Saiyan babies are tough. You should know that!"

Chi-Chi chuckled and Blonde Launch held out a piece of sliced ham. "Yo, Ranch! Mama's got some ham for ya!"

Baby Ranch's eyes went wide. She shoved Baby Trunks over and crawled towards her mother, greedily snatching away the ham and falling flat on her back as she started to gnaw on it. Baby Trunks sat up, looking annoyed, but then he was scooped up as well. The infant handler sat down next to Gine and Chi-Chi chuckled. "Hey, Bul-"

Chi-Chi paused. She was expecting to see Bulma, but that certainly wasn't who was holding Baby Trunks. Vegeta glared out of the corner of his eye. "Problem? Or were you just expecting someone else?"

Chi-Chi cocked her head. "Uh...no. It's just...it's just a bit off to see a Saiyan man really sitting down to feed a kid, ya know?"

Vegeta rolled his eyes, holding up a pine-tree-shaped chocolate chip cookie and letting Baby Trunks start biting pieces off of it. "He wants a cookie. And Bulma is busy addressing that lecher's injuries. So, I'm feeding him a cookie. What's the big deal?"

Chi-Chi was silent for a moment, but then she smiled. "I guess you just impress me a bit is all, Vegeta. That's all I'm trying to say..."

Chi-Chi sighed and chuckled. "I love Goku. With all my heart. And he has been trying more and more lately. He's not the best at it, but he has been trying. He'll always be that excitable, adventurous monkey boy that I fell in love with, I suppose. So, I guess I'm just saying it surprises me that you took to fatherhood so much quicker than him, given how much alike you two are..."

Vegeta snorted, pulling away the cookie before Baby Trunks got too much in his mouth. Chi-Chi looked around. She moved her gaze from Goku helping Master Roshi to his feet, to a flustered Krillin fumbling with his new ring. And then, she looked around at all of the Christmas decorations. "You two have good, caring hearts. And you've both matured into fine examples of husbands..."

Blonde Launch's smile faded a bit. Her gaze fell to her daughter, rolling around with her ham. "Raditz used to be like that. But, ever since Cell..."

Bardock interrupted by crashing down between Vegeta and Gine. After squeezing his way into a seated position, Bardock sat his flowerpot between his legs and then popped open a bottle of beer. Taking a swing, Bardock spoke. "Raditz should be fine, eventually. Cell probably just said something that got to him. He'll eventually open up and then we can get to the root of the issue and fix it."

Blonde Launch frowned. "How long is that going to take? He's been like this for seven months and counting. He won't talk, he barely laughs or even emotes sometimes, and... whenever he tries to interact with Ranch he...he gets this distant, terrified look in his eye and he just...hands her off to me and wanders off..."

The poor woman pressed her face into her hands. "He can't even talk to her without freezing up..."

Bardock and Gine both felt their daughter-in-law's pain. Bardock crossed his arms over his chest and snarled. "Cell..."

Gine frowned. She looked across the atrium and saw Raditz off in a corner, all alone. He had been deliberately avoiding people for the entire evening, just like he had been since the Cell Games ended. "This is our fault. We..."

Bardock placed a hand on Gine's shoulder. "Don't start blaming yourself. We gave birth to him the way we did. We can't help that. We brought him into this world, we surrounded him with people that cared about him for as long as we could. We can't help Saiyan society being the way it was towards people like him. And we can't help the people he had to deal with while we were dead...Vegeta."

Blonde Launch cocked her head. "What are you guys talkin' about...?"

Chi-Chi spoke up. "On the way to Namek, I remember Gine telling me a little bit about all of that. Raditz was born through pregnancy, right? Not like how Goku or Vegeta were...?"

Gine bit her lip. "Natural pregnancies were frowned upon on Planet Vegeta. Vegeta II made them punishable by execution. Because they clashed with his vision of a master race of perfect killers. Vegeta III loosened those restrictions when he took power, but the stigma was made at that point. Saiyans born through the purely natural way were considered..."

Gine's eyes began to shimmer and she wiped her sleeves over them. "My poor baby..."

Bardock sneered. "We did our best for him. We made him as strong as we could. We can't help the people who he ended up partnered with, Gine. Right..."

Bardock glared. "Vegeta?"

Vegeta turned to face Bardock. "You keep saying my name like that. Is it meant to intimidate me?"

Bardock gritted his teeth. Vegeta's face remained nearly blank of emotion. "I'd never claim that I'm perfect. Or that every action I've ever done has been good-natured or nice. But I have no regrets about anything I've ever said or done. My pride as Prince of the Saiyans doesn't allow me to so easily admit mistakes or errors. Especially when I personally don't see what I've done as wrong."

Bardock grunted. "Like bullying our son for his entire life to the point he has no self-esteem?"

Vegeta fell silent for a moment. But then, he continued to speak. "I admit to no fault unless it is discovered that I said or did something under the pretense of misinformation."

The Prince looked to Bardock and Gine, both of them glaring at him. He sighed, really having no desire to fight or argue with the two of them. "But I will say this...I do owe you an apology."

Bardock and Gine were both stunned, flinching back in shock. Of all the things they had expected Vegeta to say, they were not expecting that by any means. Vegeta held up his hand. "To make things clear, I'm not apologizing for anything involving Raditz. What occurred between me and him is a matter for me and him to discuss somewhere far down the line. And your opinions on the matter are, at best, irrelevant."

Chi-Chi scowled. "That is so rude!"

Bardock, however, immediately accepted Vegeta's words. He closed his eyes and put his hands behind his head. "Whatever."

Gine placed her face into her hand. "Fine. But if not Raditz, what are you apologizing for?"

Vegeta gripped his hand tight, feeling the Mother of Angels stowed away inside his gloved hand. "I said something to you, Gine, a few years ago that doesn't sit right. And by proxy, I also said this to you, Bardock..."

Vegeta cleared his throat. "I told you both that my mother had told us stories...stories that mocked and decried you. I was...unaware that you knew my mother back then. She never talked much about her days in the army before I was born. So, I wanted to apologize for lying to you. I lashed out with a complete fallacy out of a desire to hurt you personally. That was...repugnant. Sorry."

It was quiet for a moment. But then, to the shock of the Saiyan Prince, Gine burst out into raucous laughter. Everyone around Gine, except for Bardock, looked utterly confused at this sudden outburst. Vegeta looked annoyed. "I... I apologize and you laugh in my face?!"

Gine took a deep breath and sighed. "No! No... Vegeta, sweetie, I'm not laughing at you. I'm just...oh, that's a relief..."

Vegeta was confused. Gine leaned her head onto Bardock's shoulder. "I'll be honest. That did hurt me for a while. Not Cassava mocking me...everyone mocked me for my failures on Planet Makyo. But...thinking that Cassava changed like that, after getting to know her like we all did. That hurt. It hurt to think that life as a royal would have warped her like that. That, at the end, she lost sight of herself. It's such a relief to know that's not the case..."

Bardock huffed. "I knew he was full of it when he said that. A shitty bitch like Cassava would have called you a loser to your face if she felt that way. Especially if she knew you. She wouldn't just talk about you behind your back to a couple of snot-nosed anklebiters..."

Vegeta nodded. "Well thatDID YOU JUST CALL MY MOTHER A SHITTY BITCH, YOU LOW-CLASS SCUM?!"

Bardock smirked, speaking genuinely and from his heart. "Cassava was the shittiest, nastiest, more overbearing bitch that I've ever met. She was a colossal bitch. A blood-thirsty psychopath. And an unapologetic, unfettered, unrestricted killing machine. She was, and I say this with all of the care in the world, a SHITTY BITCH, Vegeta."

Vegeta was grinding his teeth. Bardock sighed. "But she was also one of the most honest, and genuinely one of the kindest people that I ever got to meet in the Saiyan army. I... miss her..."

Gine nodded. "Me too. She would've loved life on Earth..."

Vegeta was silent on the subject. All three of the Saiyans fell silent, all of them seemingly reflecting on things long in the past. This silence was soon broken by Chi-Chi. "Hey Gine. Let's trade. I'll feed Goten and you can hold Chika."

Gine smiled. "Of course~!"

The grandmother handed off Baby Goten and reached for her granddaughter. "Come to Grandma~!"

Baby Chika looked at Gine's hand. And then, with a mischievous smirk, she rolled off of Chi-Chi's knee and splatted face-first onto the floor instead. She immediately popped up, looking annoyed, and then started to crawl. Bardock, Gine, Launch, and Chi-Chi all shared a laugh. Even Vegeta smirked at the sight of that.

Eventually, Baby Chika stopped crawling. She sat down on the ground and stared up at Vegeta. The Prince flinched. "Wh-What are you looking at?!"

Gine looked over with a smile. "Maybe she just wants you to pat her on the head, Vegeta. Babies like that~"

Vegeta scowled. "I...I know what babies like..."

Bardock mumbled under his breath, taking another swig of his beer. "Yeah, cuz you are one you whiny little shit..."

Vegeta snapped at him. "SHUT UP!"

Slowly, Vegeta reached out towards Baby Chika. He placed his hand atop her head and began to tussle her hair. Baby Chika giggled and Vegeta smiled, just a bit. Feeling a bit less uncomfortable, the Prince turned his attention back to Bardock. "By the way, I've been meaning to ask...what's with that damn flowerpot? Why are you-"

Vegeta winced and yanked his hand away from Baby Chika. He held it up and glared down at the mitten on his hand, seeing that something had completely sliced through the thick wool and now blood was trickling out from it like a faucet. "Wh-What the hell?"

Like a bolt of lightning, Chi-Chi stood and scooped Baby Chika off of the ground. Very quickly, she carried both of the babies away. "Come on, Goten and Chika! Let's take you to see your brother! He's over there, talking with God!"

Watching as Chi-Chi sped away towards Gohan and Dende, Launch, Gine and Bardock all looked utterly baffled. Vegeta yanked the mitten from his hand and stared at the steadily bleeding, deep gash in his thumb. He applied a bit of pressure and hissed in pain. Blonde Launch looked over. "Did...Chika bite you?"

Vegeta grunted. "She had to have bitten me. But I don't see how...my hand wasn't near her mouth, unless she's just that fast...?"

Bardock shrugged. "Weird."

Gine, meanwhile, had a small frown and an almost knowing look on her face. "Yeah, weird..."

Story #4: Merry Christmas!

It was 11:50 pm. The evening of Christmas Eve was slowly drawing to a close. Gohan, Dende, and the babies were all asleep together. Dende and Gohan were laying on a blanket spread out atop the grass, the four babies were slumbering atop the Santa-suited Ox-King's massive stomach. With them all out, the adults began to enjoy the evening a bit more vigorously.

Giru, wanting to please Bulma, was rapidly moving the wrapped gifts from their hiding places and into the space beneath the tree. Meanwhile, Tien, Chiaotzu, Yamcha, Android 17, Oolong, Puar, Blue Launch, Master Roshi, and the Turtle all continuously toasted and chugged their way through any alcohol they could get their hands on. Unable to drink, Suno simply clung to Yamcha and enjoyed her husband's warmth.

As the loud partygoers continued their celebration, Bulma and Vegeta sat on a couch near a television. Panchy and Dr. Briefs had long since departed the party, heading to bed early. Bulma, unable to drink because of pregnancy, sipped her tea and gently pet her father's cat. Vegeta, not drinking in solidarity with his wife, crossed his arms over his chest and watched the television.

On the TV, a news reporter recapped all of the news from earlier in the evening. The Royal Military quickly showed up to Cash Tower once the tourists had managed to get news of what happened to them. Vegeta listened as the reporter spoke. "It is being told to this news station that the Royal Military has seized the body of what seems to be an alien found in the collapsed wreckage of Cash Tower. On the seafloor, the military also took possession of the remains of an extraterrestrial spacecraft and a mysterious, bejeweled sword!"

The reporter touched his earpiece. "And this just in, X.S. Cash also seems to have been arrested, ladies and gentlemen. The charges the military is bringing against him have not been revealed yet, but surely this has something to do with the bizarre attack against the public that occurred at his private event! We will let you know as new details within this situation unfold! But, until then, we are going off of the air. We wish all of our ZTV viewers a very, Merry Christmas!"

As the news broadcast went off, replaced by instrumental Christmas tunes, Vegeta turned to Bulma. "Should Kakarot and I go do something about that? I can't imagine anything good coming of letting the humans hold on to that Bojack cretin's corpse..."

Bulma shrugged. "It's just a cadaver. What are they going to do with it?"

As Bulma and Vegeta talked, however, a new guest joined them by the television. The husband-and-wife duo turned in surprise to see Piccolo, of all people, approaching them. Bulma smiled. "Hey Piccolo! Nice sweater and crown~ Getting into the holiday spirit?"

Piccolo shrugged. "Well, from a certain perspective, I am the son of the planet's former God..."

He shook his head. "But, that's not what I'm here about."

Holding up his hands, Piccolo used Magic Materialization to summon a fully wrapped present into his hands. From the box, a tag hung that read "Merry Christmas, Vegeta". The Namekian tossed the box at Vegeta and then turned away. "I hate you. Merry Christmas."

Vegeta didn't look best pleased, but he kept his commentary to himself. Bulma was confused. "I noticed that you two disappeared earlier. What happened?"

Vegeta was blunt. "Nothing."

He tore open the box and looked at the contents within, immediately becoming quite angry. Within, in the same shade of pink as that accursed BAD MAN shirt, was a piece of cloth bearing the words "Saiyan Princess". Vegeta snarled. "Everyone is making fun of my legs! Why is everyone making fun of my legs?!"

Bulma gave Vegeta a pat on the back at she studied the cloth, noticing a few distinctive indents beneath it. "Vegeta, my love, you have the graceful legs of a skilled dancer~"

Vegeta sneered. "Why you..."

Bulma pulled the cloth out of the box. "But this, dear husband, is a onesie. For a baby."

The pregnant scientist leaned back in her seat. "What a weird gift. Why would Piccolo give you a baby onesie that says Saiyan Princess on it?"

The two of them sat in silence. And then, slowly but surely, their gazes both locked onto Bulma's bulging stomach. Bulma's jaw dropped. "Whuh...?"

Vegeta gasped. "Uh...?"

And then Bulma burst up from the couch and immediately ran in the direction of where her parents' room was. "MOM! MOM! IT'S A GIRL!"

Vegeta, suddenly hundreds of times more cautious, sprang up right after her. "BE CAREFUL, DAMMIT! DON'T TRIP!"

Watching from nearby as Bulma and Vegeta ran off, Piccolo smirked. He wasn't sure how he had known that Bulma was pregnant with a girl, but he was positive that was indeed the case. Satisfied at having returned the favor to Vegeta, Piccolo firmly slotted his neck pillow around his neck, and then he closed his eyes and began to "meditate".

Behind Piccolo, the glowing spirits of Kami, Nail, and King Piccolo all appeared. Kami had a positively jubilant smile on his face. And then, like wisps, they disappeared once more.

Deep within the atrium garden...

Under the gleam of the winter moonlight, two lovers sat side-by-side. They had never shared more than a single, platonic kiss to the cheek, and yet these two were sure beyond all doubt that the person they sat next to was their soulmate, the person whom they were born to be with.

Krillin and Android 18 were both quite sheepish. Snow was starting to fall high above, casting delicate shadows over them as they sat under the atrium skylight. Neither one had said a word, feeling that the other was about to say something. They were in a stalemate with one another and it was driving them both nuts. All of the practice that they had each put into this moment in their heads was failing them. The scripts each had practiced during their seven-month training journey fading away as their rampaging hearts and surging emotions turned their brains to soup.

Finally, the tension became too much and the two of them each decided to act. 18 opened the box containing her ring and Krillin opened his. The two of them turned to one another and started to speak. "Will you-"

A pause. Both of the lovers blushed bright red as they stared into each other's eyes. And then, the two laughed. Krillin's voice was nervous, but he spoke with humor. "16 and 17~?"

Android 18 chuckled, a rare phenomenon, and nodded. "Goku or Bulma, right~?"

Krillin sighed. "All of my friends, actually~"

Things became silent, neither of their blushes faded. The two of them stared into one another's eyes, seeing no sense of hesitation nor regret from the other. This was really happening. A moment that the two of them had written off as a fantasy for their entire lives. This was real. This was now. No Tambourines, or Saiyans, or Frieza, or wicked Androids. No abusive parents or mad scientists. Nothing standing in their way.

Krillin's mouth felt like it was stuffed with cotton. And yet, he managed to speak. "I, uh, I just wanted to say that..."

18 nodded. "...I've never really felt like anyone the way I've felt about you..."

Krillin smiled. "And that my life would..."

18 fidgeted with her hair. "...honestly be empty without you, now that I know you. So..."

Krillin's hands were shaking. "...if it's not a bother..."

18 bit her lip. "...and if you haven't set your eye on someone else over these past few months..."

"Will you marry me?"

It was four simple words, but it might as well have been a gunshot. All other noises seemed to fade. Neither of them said a word.

Finally, as scared as he was, Krillin turned his head to look at the love of his life. And what he saw made his heart burst. For just that brief moment, gone was the cold exterior and the metallic outer shell. Sitting there, the moonlight shining down on her, was not Android 18...but Lazuli Lazarus. A poor girl who had written off love and care in her life as little more than a dream. Despised by her mother, abandoned by her father, taken prisoner and held as a tool by Dr. Gero. There she sat, the moonlight making her hair appear as a glowing silver. Tears built in her eyes, a small drip emerging from her nose, her hands trembling against her thighs.

Finally, as scared as she was, Android 18 turned her head to look at the love of her life. The honest, smiling face of the first real human she had ever trusted. Not her brother. Not 16. But him. The guy who gave his all again and again to make sure she was okay. Against Cell, against his own comrades, against impossible odds that no normal person should face. The moonlight reflected off of his shiny, smooth head and he seemed to glow.

Android 18 spoke in a hushed tone. "Did you really mean all of that?"

Krillin nodded. "Every word."

And then, all inhibitions gone, Android 18 tackled into Krillin. She pushed the love of her life to the ground and pressed her lips into his, giggling like an idiot as she held him close. Krillin kissed her back and then pulled his face ever so slightly away. "And by the way, the answer is yes~"

18 smiled a genuinely smile. "Shut up~"

And then she pressed her lips to his again.

In the Capsule Corp lobby...

Bardock rolled his eyes as he stood next to the Christmas tree in the Capsule Corp lobby, a Santa hat hastily thrown onto his head. "This shit is cliché as hell. Hurry up so we can get it over with!"

Gine, trying her best to get things done, bowed up to her husband and gave him a mischievous flick to the nose. "Behave. It's only going to take a second!"

Goku chuckled. "Yeah, Dad, come on. Have a little holiday spirit! Raditz is gonna be in this one~"

Raditz mumbled under his breath. "Begrudgingly...I guess..."

The older brother glanced at his younger brother. Goku had that same, radiant smile on his face that he always did. In spite of himself, and in spite of how he had felt these past months, seeing his excitable brother smile was enough to put a small grin on Raditz's face. He remembered what Panchy had said to him earlier in the day. "...if it's with you guys, I guess a picture wouldn't be so bad..."

Chi-Chi called out. "Is everyone ready? Take your positions~! Let's get a good one for the family album~!"

As Goku and his family prepared in the lobby, Bulma and Vegeta's celebration continued in a small room just off to the side. Bulma was giddy, practically bouncing up and down. "I can't believe that we're having a girl, Vegeta! I was always too nervous to check for myself! I can't believe it~!"

Vegeta nodded, trying his best to keep his composure. "L-Let's see...Cassava...Eshallot...Parselle, Celeri..."

Ecstatic, Bulma looked up at the ceiling and saw a little bit of mistletoe. Her mother really did decorate every room of the house for the holidays. Her smile spread from ear-to-ear and then, in the quietest voice she had managed since she learned the news, Bulma spoke. "Vegeta..."

Vegeta looked up. Bulma had tears welling in the corners of her eyes. "We're going to be a Mom and a Dad to a bouncing boy and girl, Vegeta~"

At that moment, Vegeta couldn't help but smile. "We certainly are, huh?"

Overcome by her joy, Bulma leaned forward and pressed her lips to Vegeta's forehead.

At the same time, in the lobby, Goku wrapped his right arm over Raditz's shoulder and his left arm over Bardock's and pulled them close. Raditz was still sullen, but his small smile hadn't entirely faded. Bardock was his normal grump self, but that didn't stop Gine from leaping into his arms and pressing her lips against his cheek.

At that moment, Chi-Chi pressed the button for the camera's shutter and the picture was taken. The clock struck midnight and Goku chuckled. Calling out as loud as he could. "Merry Christmas, everyone!"

Story #5: Miguel's Blessing

Videl laid quietly in her bed as the clock ticked closer and closer towards Christmas day. She stared at the shimmering little tree on her side table and allowed the music in the room to wash over her. The angel atop the tree stood radiant. Its hands were clasped in front and its face appeared to be singing a hymn of sorts. It almost appeared as if the angel was singing along with "Golden".

Behind Videl, laying in her bed with her, Mr. Satan slumbered. The two of them were bandaged up from the various injuries they had suffered at the tournament earlier in the day. Videl's pajamas, pressed against her back, were cold and wet. Once she and her father laid down, he buried his face into her back and hadn't moved it since. They had been laying there, listening to her mother's voice from the moment they got home.

But while her father was still quite heartbroken, Videl felt something deeper inside. Her grief hadn't subsided, but sadness had given way to something else. She reflected on what had happened in the tower. How her mother, seemingly from beyond the grave, sang a savior for her into existence. She pictured her Golden Fighter again and again as Miguel's voice sang out. His face was burned into her memory by shimmering golden flames.

Videl closed her eyes, feeling the sensation of sleep washing over her. "A Golden Fighter...? Okay, Mommy...I think...I think I understand..."