Author's Note: Okay, I know that up until now my chapters have been pretty short. I'm sorry about that. It's been because save for the first two chapters, I've really been recapping the Dragon Ball Z episodes which run concurrently with the timeline of my story. This chapter is also kind of short, just a fair warning. I promise, the chapters are going to get longer, starting with the next chapter. Please hang tight. Thanks. Author out.

In Search for Home

Chapter 8: Choosing a Princess

Nine months had passed since the boy from the future had come and told the Z Fighters of the coming androids. The fighters split up to each train in their own way. Yamcha returned to Capsule Corp., as did Vegeta. Vegeta trained hard, gaining strength everyday, but he had yet to achieve Super Saiyan status and thoughts of Bulma still haunted him. He received a little bit of amusement as the arguments between Bulma and Yamcha grew each day. Vegeta spent most of his time training, but on this particular day, he was meditating, gaining mental strength and strategy.

"Ugh, you are so rude! You're impossible! I want you out of my house now!" Vegeta's meditation was interrupted by Bulma and Yamcha storming into the room. Vegeta pretended not to listen, but still paid close attention.

"But Bulma, I thought we were…" Yamcha had to duck as Bulma threw a book at him.

"Out!" Bulma screamed. Yamcha fled the room and house with Puar as Bulma sat down exasperated on the couch. It was only then she noticed Vegeta in the corner. "Oh, Vegeta, I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were in here," her tone quite different with Vegeta than it was with Yamcha.

Vegeta tried to fight the urge to go to the couch and comfort her, but it was to no avail. He gave into his compassionate side, a side he did not know was still there and gently sat down next to her, slightly surprising her. "It's alright. Are you okay?" he gently asked, not quite realizing what he was doing.

Bulma did not have time to be surprised as the dam of emotions inside her broke and she fell into Vegeta's arms weeping. Vegeta surprised himself as he held her close and let her cry. As she cried, an unexplainable emotion began to fill his heart, his very being. It was an emotion he had not felt since he had Vichell taken from him. He felt care and concern for Bulma, but the anger inside him for Yamcha was almost unbearable. What about Bulma made him feel this way? Surely she wasn't meant to be his wife? She was just a weak human and he…he was the prince of the strongest race in the universe. He looked down in his arms where Bulma had cried herself to sleep. As soundly as she slept, Vegeta figured this was the first she had slept in several days.

As he watched her, something touched Vegeta's heart. Try as he might, he could no longer deny he cared for Bulma. He really did not have a reason before for fighting the androids, but now he felt like he did. He could not let anything happen to Bulma and, if his suspicions were right, their future son. He gently picked Bulma up and carried her to her room, laying her on the bed. He was walking over to close the curtains when she stirred. "Vegeta?" she said softly.

Vegeta did not know how to respond. Up until now, he had appeared to be rude, arrogant, and uncaring, but somehow, he could no longer respond that way to Bulma. "Sleep," he said gently as he drew the curtains closed then walked over to sit next to her on the bed, "Just sleep. You haven't slept in days."

Bulma smiled, but she was still perplexed; why was Vegeta being so cordial with her? Was she dreaming? There was no way the real Vegeta would be this nice to her. Someone had to be playing a trick on her. But no one was. This was actually Vegeta sitting on the bed next to her. "Why…why are you doing this?" Bulma's curiosity was getting the better of her.

Vegeta sighed; he owed her the truth, but could he? Why was it so hard for him to be around her, yet he could not stay away from her? He did not know the answer to her question, in truth, for he had been asking himself that question for several weeks. He looked at her; she was waiting for an answer. In her, Vegeta could see so much of his mother. Was that why he was acting this way? That answer would probably be the best one to give Bulma. "I guess because you remind me of someone in my past," Vegeta said, but as soon as he did, he realized it did not really fit.

"Oh, I see," Bulma said, disappointed. Obviously she was not satisfied with that answer, and, in truth, neither was he. But just how could he tell her the truth? They sat there in silence for several minutes, just staring at one another. Slowly, to his surprise, Bulma placed her hand atop Vegeta's. "Thank you for everything today. I honestly didn't think you cared about anyone but yourself. But now I know you can; thank you for sharing it with me," she said softly. Vegeta did not know what to say, but he gave Bulma a small smile, a smile she would come to love.

Vegeta sat a Bulma's side as she fell back asleep; her hand still resting on top of his. His heart and mind were racing, trying to figure out what he thought he was doing. He knew he was falling in love with her, but could he really afford to take a wife when, in two years, he was going to be in a battle where he could possibly loose his life? Could he really do that to Bulma? But could he really afford not to? The pain of being without her was worse than anything he had ever felt before.

She unconsciously took hold of his hand as she turned toward him in her sleep. He looked at her. She was beautiful, but it was more than her beauty which touched his heart. He could not place just why he was falling in love with her, he just knew he was. He found himself smiling as he watched her sleep. "Maybe I could handle having her as a wife," Vegeta thought, "After all, she doesn't seem to fear me. She even seems to like ordering me around. Mother always said only a queen would not fear ordering a king around. Is that it, mother? Does she not fear me because she feels the connection between us as well?" Vegeta watched as Bulma curled up next to him in her sleep. A small part of him was still chastising himself for becoming soft-hearted, but the rest of him was beginning to feel…almost normal. To the rest of the Z Fighters, he could never drop his cover, but maybe, just maybe, he could allow Bulma in.

Vegeta knew he should take the afternoon to train in the gravity chamber, but he could not seem to leave Bulma's side. She was so vulnerable right now, having her heart broken by Yamcha that morning. He wanted her to know she was safe, to know she could rest in peace. He brushed a stray hair out of her face and studied her features. "I have been training straight for nine months. I don't think it will hurt to take the afternoon off, not if it means spending it with her," Vegeta thought, smiling. He gently lifted Bulma and moved her over slightly so he could have a little more space to sit on. She stirred slightly but did not wake. She still held his hand and when she resettled, her head rested on his leg. He leaned against the bedpost and was asleep before he knew it.

"Vegeta?" Bulma asked, still half asleep.

Vegeta stirred at her voice and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Outside, the sun was already low on the horizon; he had been sitting with her for hours. He looked down to where her head was still lying in his lap. She looked up at him bewildered. "Did you sleep well?" he asked softly, ignoring the chastisement from his warrior side.

"Yes, but…" she slowly sat up, turning to face him, "What are you still doing here? I figured you would be training."

Vegeta shrugged his shoulders. "Fell asleep against the bedpost," he replied, "Besides, you had my hand and my lap."

Bulma smiled at him. "Oh, so the big, strong warrior couldn't move a little human?" she played with him, moving closer to him and once again taking his hand, "So that means you can't move right now."

"Oh, stop it, woman," Vegeta pulled his hand away but was careful not to hurt her, "I just wanted to make sure you were asleep before I left. I just fell asleep before that happened."

Bulma said nothing, looking at the bed to hide her disappointment. Vegeta was taken back but did not show it. Was she having as much fun spending time with him as he was spending time with her? He gently put his hand under her chin and lifted her head so he could see her face. Tears threatened to spill down her cheeks. "Hey," he said softly, "I didn't mean anything by it. I…I was worried about you. I didn't mean to fall asleep myself. I guess training non-stop has begun to take a toll on my body. But what do you say about dinner? I'm probably not the best cook around, but I'm fairly descent. We've both slept the afternoon away and I'm ready for some food." Vegeta surprised himself at his words. He had not meant to say that much, only to ask her if she wanted dinner.

Bulma stared at Vegeta in disbelief. Was this really the arrogant Prince of the Saiyans who was acting so sweetly with her? Surprisingly, his hand was smooth and soft against her chin. She tilted her head, pressing her cheek lightly against his hand. Vegeta struggled within himself whether to remove his hand or not; she seemed to be returning his small gesture of affection and in truth, he enjoyed it. "Dinner sounds nice," she said softly, "I'll even help if you will let me."

"I…I would like…like to make it myself," Vegeta struggled to keep his composure as she placed her hand gently on his holding her cheek. He could barely believe she was returning his affections; it had been years since anyone showed compassion toward him.

Bulma smiled sweetly as she placed a small kiss in the palm of his hand. "Alright then," she said, standing, "I'll just freshen up while you are cooking. Crying all day can make you a little unpresentable." With that, she walked into the bathroom and closed the door. Soon, the water began running as she took a shower.

Vegeta sat breathless on the bed, staring at his hand where she had just kissed it. Was this really happening? Could the dream which had haunted him for nearly five years actually be coming true? "Well, if you want to find that out, you better get to the kitchen and fix the dinner you just said you would make," he said to himself, willing himself to stand. His legs felt like jelly and he took a moment to gain his balance before walking out of Bulma's room.

About thirty minutes later, Vegeta was finishing the last touches on the meal he was preparing when Bulma walked into the kitchen. She inhaled deeply, leaning over his shoulder to see what he was cooking. "Smells delicious," she said, inhaling once again.

Vegeta smiled. "It's almost ready. You're parents left while you were in your room. They said they would return in a few weeks, something about a conference in South City," he replied, replacing the lid on the pot and turning to face her.

"Oh, yeah. That annual convention dad goes to. What a bore. I went once. Nothing but speeches on scientific discoveries which everyone thought was new but dad and I had learned a long time ago. He still tries to get me to go every year. I'm glad to stay home," she said, smiling and leaning into him.

Vegeta stopped a shudder coming from the depths of his being. How could this be happening? Bulma's simple touches and gestures of affection were unraveling his world form the inside out. He took a few calming breaths before moving her to an arm's length from him. "If you want, you can set the dishes on the table while I finish the last bit here," he said as calm as he possibly could. She smiled, took the dishes he had out on the counter, and nearly danced into the dinning room. He chuckled despite trying not to. "She's just like a child," he thought, "But then, she just had her heart broken and you were her prince charming." He stopped short, holding the pot he was going to carry to the table in midair. Had he really just done that? He was a prince, but did he have a chance of being her prince? He shook his head, trying to bring himself back to reality. "One step at a time there, 'prince charming.' You have to win her heart first," he scolded himself mentally for being too hasty, but he had set his mind up. He was going to win Bulma's heart and make her his wife. This might just be the hardest battle in his life.

Author's Note: Okay, like I said in the beginning, I'm sorry this is still a little short. They will get longer with the next chapter. But in the mean time, be nice, please review. :) Thank you!