The Popstar

Chapter 8

The following morning, Bulma awoke to the weight of Vegeta's arm draped across her waist. She was laying on her stomach, facing him. He as well was on his stomach, facing her as he slept. It was early enough that the light was peeking through the blinds and she could see him clearly.

He looked so relaxed and dare she say, adorable as he slept. His face was not in a scowl, which somehow surprised her and he looked somehow even more handsome. It was almost strange seeing him look so… not surly and she wished she had her phone to take a picture of him because it was one of the few times his face wasn't set in a hard scowl.

Bulma remained completely still, refraining from touching him or snuggling in closer to him; he was warm. She could feel the heat radiating off of him and while she wanted desperately to scoot in closer to him, she also did not want to disturb him. She was certain her spending the night and sharing his bed, no matter how innocent, would definitely be considered breaking some rule of his; so she knew she needed to behave. Why was that to hard though? Bulma was fully aware that the only reason he had even allowed her to share his bed was likely because she'd caught him at a very vulnerable moment after the nightmare she'd awoken him from. If she knew him as well as she thought she was getting to, he would not be pleased with himself later on when he woke up…

Bulma closed her eyes and relaxed. She was still extremely tired from the three day video shoot and long plane ride. Today she couldn't remember what she was supposed to be doing; she'd need to check her emails. A part of her didn't want to get up though. She was comfortable, felt safe and content and getting up and starting the day meant acknowledging the fact that her stalker was indeed back. She looked at the sleeping Vegeta again as she held her breath in dread at the thought. It was a violation. Just when she was beginning to think that all of that had gone away and she might be safe again, he had to show up in her home and leave something for her.

Why?

Not only that but how? How had he gotten into her home? She was beyond certain that she had not left the patio door open. Not only that, but Vegeta would have made sure the front door was locked; he didn't go into her side of the apartment very often, only to do a security sweep when they came home and before they went out. So if she had somehow left it open before they had left, he would have known. No, she hadn't been on her balcony in a few days before they had left for the video shoot and there was no way it would have been left open for days without Vegeta noticing.

She felt Vegeta stir and she quickly closed her eyes, pretending she was still asleep and not staring at him as her mind was doing a whirlwind of mental gymnastics over everything.

Vegeta grunted somewhat as he realized the position he was in and carefully removed his arm a moment later. Inwardly, Bulma's heart sank that her suspicions about his thoughts this morning were confirmed that he was so quick to be sure he was not touching her. He did not move again, however for a few moments and she wondered what he was doing. Was he looking at her as she had been him not a few moments ago? She hoped she didn't look too terrible first thing in the morning.

Bulma nearly started when she unexpectedly felt him lightly brush his hand across her cheek. She felt her stomach flutter in excitement and hoped to god that she wouldn't blush and give it away that she wasn't sleeping. It was only for a fleeting second though; his hand did not linger and a moment later, she felt his weight shift as he got out of bed and went to use the washroom.

She remained laying there and discreetly bit the tip of her thumb, trying to refrain from smiling and going after him. So he was crushing on her! She'd suspected for a while that he might have been, but he was so aloof that she'd questioned herself many times when she thought she may have seen him glance at her in a heated way when he assumed she would not notice or when she'd tell herself she was reading too much into some of the sweet, but polite things he did for her like grabbing her favourite wine or chocolate bar when he was out running errands. So then why was he refraining to this extent? Sure she was his employer, but… they could change that, couldn't they? If Vegeta became her boyfriend, then he wouldn't have to be her bodyguard; though she knew she'd still want him to accompany her and with how adamant he was about not wanting her to constantly pick up the tab for everything, she knew he would not allow himself to just tag along. There had to be some kind of solution, couldn't there be?

Vegeta quickly left the washroom and very quietly closed his bedroom door, presumably not wanting to disturb Bulma. As soon as she knew he was gone, she shifted over to his side of the bed, burying herself in the still warm side of the mattress and comforter he'd recently abandoned. It and his pillow smelled like the alluring mixture of his left over cologne and his own personal, natural, male scent. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, pretending he was still in bed next to her, and had wrapped his strong arms around her.

Amidst her fantasizing, she dozed off back to sleep for another hour or so.

-0-0-0-

Bulma walked into the kitchen to find him on the phone. He was already arranging for surveillance and extra security measures for her place and her stomach once again fluttered giddily at the thought that maybe, just maybe he was doing this not only because it was his job, but because he genuinely cared for her. She couldn't remember the last time she felt genuinely cared for by someone, other than her parents of course, rather than it being purely obligatory because it was expected because they were on her payroll. It felt good and her appreciation and admiration for him had grown tenfold.

Vegeta turned and noticed her. She was looking at him strangely and he felt his stomach drop. Had he woken her up when he'd stupidly touched her face on a whim? He'd been certain she was fast asleep; or he wouldn't have dared. However he was looking at her and there was a lock of hair in her face and he couldn't help himself, he just had to brush it away.

Why the hell had he allowed her to sleep in his bed, he wondered again. He should have gone and slept on the couch when she'd crawled in under the covers! Or done that once she'd fallen asleep again. Instead he'd woken up with her right beside him and with his arm practically around her! While he'd been mortified to have woken up that way, he'd been relieved that she'd still been asleep and unaware… or was she? And yet then he'd had to push the envelope and touch her. He wasn't even sure why!

"I am on hold," he said to her. "It looks as though most of the things I need are in stock, however if we want installation today, it will be an extra charge."

"That's fine," she nodded, pouring herself some coffee he'd already brewed. "I don't care what it costs. You have full authority. Whatever you think we need, don't spare any expense."

Vegeta grunted and only hoped it would not be too expensive, even though the woman had given him clearance to spend as much as he wanted. "Yes," he said into the phone. "Today if possible… hang on," he said and looked at Bulma. "What is on your itinerary today? Someone will need to be here."

"Crap, I forgot to look," she said, reaching for her phone.

"Give us moment," he said to the person on the other line.

"Alright, looks like I have an interview for a magazine this afternoon at a coffee shop at one," Bulma said and her stomach immediately went into knots at the thought of having to go alone. "Want me to see if I can reschedule or see if they will come here instead?"

Vegeta thought for a moment. After last night, he definitely wasn't comfortable with sending her out on her own and he could understand if she was hesitant. "No, do not cancel if you do not have to. I could see if they could come tomorrow?"

"No, you were right. We need to get this done ASAP," she said.

"You can see if they are willing to meet you here, but can you trust them to not report it when they see workers around installing security equipment?"

"I don't know," she shook her head.

"Do you think Kakarott would be willing to escort you instead?"

Bulma looked at him. "I didn't even think of him. He probably would, but I don't know if Chi-chi would let him."

"Alright, call him and I will book this. If he cannot come, have them come here," Vegeta said to Bulma. "Yes, today will be fine." He said to the person on the other end of the phone.

Bulma found Goku in her phone contacts and called him.

"Hey Bulma!" Goku greeted cheerfully.

"Hi Goku. How are you?"

"I'm good. Still recovering and doing physio, but I'm otherwise great. What's up?"

Bulma smiled. Goku never was much for small talk. "I have a bit of a favour to ask,"

"Sure thing! Actually I'm kinda bored, so whatever you need,"

"Well, I have a magazine interview to go to and I need Vegeta to stay at my place to take care of something here. Is there a way you can come with me?"

"I'd love to!" He said. "When do I need to come get you?"

"How about noon?" She asked. "It's just an interview at a coffee shop so I just need you to come out and get a cup of coffee and hang out for about an hour or two."

"Sounds good! I haven't seen you since your concert and I'm honestly going stir crazy!"

"You're sure Chi-Chi won't mind?" She asked.

"Nah," he answered. "I think I'm driving her crazy. So if I left for a few hours, I don't think she'll be upset."

"Alright, thank you!" She smiled. "See you in a bit,"

"Absolutely!"

"He'll take me," Bulma said, putting her phone down.

"Good," Vegeta nodded.

About two hours later, the workers showed up to begin installing the new security equipment. There was a lot of it. More than what Bulma had thought there would be and certainly more thought put into it than what she would have been able to come up with if she'd had to order it all on her own. Vegeta was not messing around and she appreciated that.

There were cameras on the outside of her door, one in the entry way and one at each balcony where there was a door. There were sensors put on all of the doors and windows that would be triggered if opened when the system was armed and they were away. There was an app that she could get on her phone that she could log into and at any time look in on her home and make sure all was well; Vegeta would have the same app on his phone as well. If she wasn't sure the front door was locked, she could lock it from her phone remotely, anywhere.

"So I'm in jail, essentially," she said to Vegeta unenthusiastically. She understood it, but she still hated that her life had come to this.

"I am sorry," he said, understanding her point of view.

"It's not your fault," she said. "And no one can hack into the security cams and steal footage to sell to the tabloids?"

"No," he said. "I already inquired about that. Everything is encrypted. Only we have access to security footage and if something happens and the police need to review it, you will have to give clearance and permission for them to view it."

"Not you?"

"It is not my home," he said.

"But if something happens to me and I'm not able to give permission, then this is all useless," she said. "Put yourself on there as a second person who has authority."

Vegeta nodded. "Alright. I will need you to speak with them about that however and clear it."

"I will,"

An hour later, it was time for her to go to her interview and Goku arrived at her place on schedule.

"Wow, what's all this?" He asked, looking around. "Vegeta making you beef up your security around your home?"

"He sure is," she answered.

"I cannot believe you did not do the same," Vegeta said to his friend, shaking hands. "Especially once things began escalating."

"I did suggest it, but Bulma didn't see the need for it," he shrugged.

"Yea, well that was before, when all he was doing was sending me creepy letters in the mail," she said. "You were right though."

"What happened?" Goku asked with a frown. "Is be back?"

Bulma took him by the sleeve of his shirt and dragged him into her personal gym, the only room in her home currently not occupied by workers. Vegeta followed.

"He's back and this time he was in my home," she told him. "He left behind a note and a bottle of wine while we were gone on a video shoot for a few days."

"No way!" Goku exclaimed. "Good thinking, Vegeta."

"We will find this person," he said. "We wanted this done today and we do not want the press or anyone knowing about it."

"Right, so don't tell anyone about it, please. Not Chi-Chi, not Yamcha, nobody,"

"Gotcha," he nodded. "Well I hope you won't need it, but if you do, I hope it comes in handy! Are you ready to go?"

"I am," she said. "I should be back in a few hours." She said to Vegeta and off she went with Goku.

"So, hows it going?" Goku asked her once they were in the car. "I mean aside from your stalker being back. I'm sorry."

"Don't be, it's not your fault," she sighed. "I was just beginning to think that maybe it was all over. Though I guess this means Vegeta will be sticking around indefinitely,"

"Why? Is he getting anxious to go back?"

"I'm not sure," she said. "He mentions it here and there that he's only working for me temporarily, but hasn't said anything specific like when he's going back. I really don't want him to."

"Vegeta just loves the life," Goku shrugged. "Don't take it personally, though I was kinda hoping he'd change his mind after a little while and decide to stay working for you."

"Nope," she sighed. "Do me a favour, will you? The next time I tell you to hire someone hot and single, don't listen to me. Find me the ugliest guy you know."

"I didn't pick him because of his looks, Bulma," he shrugged, but had a funny look in his eye. "I chose him because I knew he would do the job better than I can…"

"And?" She pushed, narrowing her eyes at him suspiciously.

"And nothing," he shrugged again with a grin. "I was hoping that after such a scary incident, he might want to quit serving and find someone to settle down with and you might want to find someone who can keep you safe too after your ordeal."

"So you were match making!" She pointed her finger accusingly at him. "I knew it!"

"I wouldn't call it match making…" he said, scratching his head. "I just knew you needed a good replacement after me. Someone who could be trusted to live with you and not have ulterior motives and try to take advantage of you and I knew he was off because of injuries and Vegeta hates nothing more than sitting around doing nothing. You're always busy so he wouldn't be bored and it just happens to be that you're both single and attractive and my friends."

Bulma rolled her eyes at him. "Whatever you say,"

"Why? Are you guys getting along well?" He asked. He'd been dying to know, but hadn't wanted to ask for fear of interfering. "According to the tabloids, you guys are all hot and heavy, but I know how unreliable they are."

"Oh god," she snorted. "They're having a hay day over Vegeta because they can't figure out who he is. They still think he's a backup dancer."

"And how's he handling that?"

"He hates it, but he ignores it all for the most part, which I find hilarious," she chuckled. "Him being so elusive only makes them more curious."

"And is there any truth to any of it?"

"No," she sighed dejectedly. "He just too serious. Trust me, I've dropped innuendos, flirted and shamelessly thrown myself at him to the point where I'm sure I'm going to be slapped with a sexual harassment lawsuit once he's had enough and leaves."

Goku chuckled at her. "Good old Vegeta and his principals,"

"More like boring old Vegeta who's a major stick in the mud," she corrected him. "I mean, I appreciate that he's not a creep and he's extremely professional, and sort of why I flirt with him so much is because it's funny watching him squirm and pretend to ignore it; but between you and me, it's difficult living with someone you're very attracted to and can't have.

"And then he sends me like mixed messages! Every time I think that just maybe he's loosening up a bit, he distances himself again. It's frustrating and confusing. He doesn't flirt with me, but it's small, thoughtful things he does and I can tell he does them without thinking and then he freaks out once he realizes he's being overly nice or something."

"Sounds like he just doesn't want to make a mistake and ruin your professional relationship," Goku said. "Which makes sense. That's kinda why I thought he'd be good for the job but just be patient. Maybe if you get all this kidnapper stuff over and done with and you don't need him to stay with you anymore, he'll come to his senses and realize that you'd be the best girlfriend ever once you don't need him as a bodyguard."

"I wish I was as optimistic as you," she sighed. "At this rate, as soon as that's all done, he'll go back to the military and get himself killed before he figures it out."

"Nah," he waved his hand. "Just play it cool and don't scare him off. He'll come around. Vegeta is just very professional and over thinks everything and he probably thinks he can't be both your bodyguard and love interest. Which is kind of true, it would be a conflict of interest and highly unprofessional for him to pursue you."

"I know," she said. "I just really like him and we get along great. I can't remember the last time I was this excited about a guy, not to mention I'm kinda tired of having fake boyfriends and tabloid romances. You know how long it's been since I went on a real date?"

"No,"

"Like over a year, not counting the day Vegeta took me skydiving," she said. "And he was very adamant that that wasn't a date."

Goku chuckled. "I saw that in the news paper. I was actually really surprised he'd do something like that,"

"Right?"

"Did you have fun?"

"I had a blast!" She said. "We even went out for beer and wings afterwards like a normal couple and then the next day he was back to being mister professional again." She explained with an eye roll, purposely leaving out the part about her drunkenly proposing to him the next day. That he hadn't bailed on her after that was still shocking to her.

"I hear ya," he nodded. "If it's any consolation, you guys look really good together."

"Hmm well maybe tell him that," she snorted. "How's things with you guys?"

"The same," he shrugged. "I'm not ready to start looking around for anything yet. I'm still doing physio and so I've just been helping Chi-Chi out around the house with projects we needed to get done and never did since I was always off with you somewhere, but we're pretty much done everything and so now I think I'm mostly just getting on Chi-Chi's nerves."

Bulma laughed at him. "Can't win some days, can you?"

"Nope," he smiled. "Though I've really enjoyed the time off and being able to spend it with her and Gohan. He's growing fast and getting teeth and trying to walk. I'm kind of glad I didn't miss out on all of that."

"I'm glad you didn't either," she said sincerely.

A few minutes later they arrived to their destination. The shop had been closed just for the occasion and there were a few fans outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of Bulma, but she rushed quickly inside, rather than stopping for quick photo ops or autographs as she normally would. Truthfully, she was afraid that if she stopped and looked at everyone, her attacker would be there waiting for an opportunity. It was both nice and strange being accompanied by Goku again. He was so different than Vegeta. It was a nice, familiar feeling having him back, but she decided she preferred Vegeta's over board methods and close attention to detail. Goku was a lot more laid back and lax, she realized.

Bulma grabbed a coffee and took a seat with the woman interviewing her for an entertainment magazine. Goku grabbed a coffee and a snack and sat a few tables down from them.

The questions were mostly generic… What new projects were on the horizon? When would her next album be? Was she adding more tour dates? It was mostly routine until she began asking about her abduction.

"What was that like for you?" The woman asked in such a casual tone, it instantly annoyed Bulma.

"Im sorry, but I'm not discussing that today," Bulma said politely. "I believe my manager had mentioned that topic was off limits for this interview as well or he was supposed to have notified you."

"Is it that you cannot discuss it for legal reasons?" She pushed.

"No," Bulma snapped. "It's because I don't want to talk about it."

"There are those who have the opinion that the whole thing was a clever marketing hoax arranged by your record label. Your constant refusal to discuss it kind of makes it appear that way,"

"Well then those people are idiots. How can it be a marketing hoax if I don't discuss it? I just want it to go away and for no one to mention it or bring it up ever again. I wish it had been a hoax! If it was, then sure, I'd love to milk up all the added extra attention, and sympathy, but no.

"You and everyone else wants to know what that was like for me? How about this… I am terrified to be on my own! I will not leave my house alone, not even for a cup of coffee. Hell, I cannot even stand to be in my own home alone to the point where I actually hired a bodyguard to live with me! I don't sleep and all I do is work so I don't dwell on what happened and I'm working myself into exhaustion as a result but I still can't sleep. How's that for an answer for how that was for me. Does that sound like a hoax? I think we're done here." She said, standing up after her rant.

The interviewer sat there absolutely flabbergasted. "My apologies, Miss Briefs. Take a seat and I'll ask about something else, I did not mean to offend."

"No, I'm going home," she said. "Goku, are you ready to go?"

"Sure, just let me put this in a to go cup," he said, getting up and going to the counter with his coffee and a magazine under his arm.

Bulma watched him and moved closer to the center of the closed shop, away from the door. She couldn't bring herself to look out at the crowd that had gathered. By this point, there were not only fans, but paparazzi surrounding the place and she knew she would be bombarded by shouting and camera flashes as as she exited the building.

"Look, I really am sorry," the interviewer said. "I was just following instructions from my boss is all. He wanted me to at least try to get you to open up about it."

"Well, I did." Bulma replied curtly, fishing through her handbag to look for her sunglasses. "Mission accomplished."

"May we continue?"

"I have nothing more to say to you about that or about my career," Bulma replied and felt relief wash over her when she saw Goku was ready to leave.

"Ready?" He asked, handing her a coffee.

"Ready," she nodded, frowning at the coffee. She linked her arm through his and they braved their way to the car, which was parked right in front of the coffee shop, with her head high.

"Where is your boyfriend today?" Someone asked her.

"The really good-looking one!" Someone else shouted.

"Did you guys split?"

"Are the engagement rumours true?"

"Has your abductor appeared again?"

The voice behind that question was familiar and Bulma's stomach instantly dropped; along with the coffee she'd been holding and she nearly tripped at the sound of the voice. She slowed down to regain her footing while looking in the direction from where she thought that question had come from. There were so many people shouting out random questions at her and pictures being taken that she couldn't single out anyone or anything and the combination of feeling overwhelmed by the noisy crowd and the terror that her abductor was there nearly paralyzed her as she began to hyperventilate. Thankfully, Goku had kept up the pace and before she knew it, she was back inside the car, in the back seat and behind the privacy of tinted windows before she could think.

"Whew! I forgot how intense it can be out there!" Goku said in a care free tone. "You alright?"

"I dropped your coffee," she replied dumbly, trying to catch her breath, looking frantically out the window, looking for him. She was certain she'd heard his voice ask her if she'd heard from her abductor. Though she did not recognize a single person out there, with the exception of one or two photographers who were usually around.

"Oh that wasn't mine. I got you one because it didn't look like you had a chance to enjoy yours," he said, holding up his that was in his other hand.

"Aww thanks, I'm sorry," she said, sitting back. "She just insisted on asking about my abduction and I didn't want to talk about it… I'm not ready and I don't want the whole world knowing more than they already do."

"It's okay to be still rattled over that," he said casually. "And you'll talk about it when you're ready. Don't let anyone make you feel like you have to."

"Thanks," she said, slumping further into her seat, just wanting to melt into the warm, soft leather until she made it home. She didn't even want to tell Goku that she thought she my have heard the voice of her kidnapper. She wasn't even sure now and she didn't want to make him worry, especially if it was just in her head. She took her phone and decided to message Vegeta and let him know they were on their way back. She hoped the workers were done, though she'd only been gone an hour and doubted she'd be that lucky.

That was fast. He replied almost immediately. Is everything ok?

She smiled. Yea, I just missed you.

The speech bubbles were rolling and she subconsciously held her breath as she waited, wondering what he would say. Finally, Of course you did.

Oh my god… she thought to herself, trying not to burst out laughing in giddiness as her stomach fluttered while she re read the message. It was the first time he'd actually flirted back with her! Or, this was the closest thing to flirting he'd done and she wasn't sure how to respond. What if he wasn't actually flirting with her? What if he was being sarcastic? That was more his style. Suddenly, she was back to second guessing herself and wondering if she was reading more into his actions than she should. She decided to play it safe, not wanting to scare him off.

Interview was lame so I excused myself.

You can do that?

If they are asking me questions I don't want to answer even after I say I don't want to talk about it, yea. She replied. I'll tell you when we get home. Workers done?

Almost.

Bulma leaned back in her seat again. She frowned as she noticed the cover of the magazine Goku had taken from the coffee shop with her on the cover. "What are you reading?"

"This?" He smiled, holding it up. The headline read "Pregnant and Engaged! A surprise baby and secret engagement for the Popstar. The photo on the cover was from a shoot she'd done for a fashion magazine a year or so ago, wearing a white dress. There was a small picture of Vegeta's face cropped from another photo in the upper corner looking his usual surly self.

Bulma rolled her eyes.

"These aren't very good engagement photos," Goku said, flipping to the cover story and showing her. As expected, they were just photos of them out and about together. There was even an old one of them skydiving. "I'm going to tell him the least he can do is go get some proper photos taken with you for the occasion."

"Oh god, that'll go over well," she snorted. "How far along am I?"

"Not sure, but here's a picture of your baby bump," he said, showing her another picture where she was wearing a frumpy hoodie. It wasn't form fitting or flattering, but she didn't see how it made it look like she had a baby bump either. However there was a large red circle drawn around her midsection area that apparently "proved" it.

Bulma shook her head and pulled out her phone.

Apparently we're pregnant now... She texted Vegeta, not being able to resist teasing him about this latest development. Come to think of it, she had no idea what he thought about having kids. He was probably as against it as he was about marriage, she assumed.

She smiled as she saw the speech bubbles starting to roll on her screen. They stopped for a few moments and then started again. She snorted in amusement. Was he speechless?

"What?" Goku asked.

"I texted Vegeta and let him know he's going to be a father."

Goku laughed. "I'll bet that'll go over well."

"It probably won't," she shook her head. The speech bubbles had stopped again. "He keeps responding but then not."

"I'm going to have some fun with him when we get back," Goku said. Maybe if he teased his friend about it, he would loosen up a bit.

"It'll be good for him," she shrugged. Her phone vibrated and she looked at it. Twins or triplets?

Bulma laughed out loud. "Well he's obviously in a good mood so go for it when you get back."

Not sure, but we're secretly engaged, lover. She responded.

So secret everyone except us knows tho.

Yup! You're gonna have to step up and get me a ring pretty soon or people will think we're cheating on each other next.

They'd made it back to Capsule Corporation before he could reply.

"Here," she heard Vegeta from the kitchen as soon as they walked in. She looked at him and he tossed her something.

Bulma caught it. It was a large onion ring. "What's this?" She asked in confusion.

"A ring," he snorted.

She looked at him and laughed. He clearly was in a good mood that he was actually teasing her about this. Maybe he had been flirting with her earlier on text? She didn't know. "Aww thanks! I always wanted a giant ring." She said, taking a bite. "You ordered food in?"

"No," he answered. "I made them from the freezer and some wings."

"Huh, I don't even remember buying onion rings," she said.

"You didn't," he rolled his eyes. "I did,"

"Wow, now look who's all domesticated," Goku teased him. "You're way ahead of me, Vegeta. Chi-Chi won't let me go anywhere near the oven."

"That is because you are an idiot," Vegeta replied. "And I am tired of ordering in. Are you staying for a while?"

"If it won't put you guys out since the workers are still here, sure. I don't have anywhere to be."

"They should be done soon," Vegeta said. "Get a beer and a plate. There is wings and onion rings,"

"Don't mind if I do and since I guess you guys are all official and all, you need to go out and get some real engagement photos done," he snickered, grabbing a beer from the fridge.

"What are you talking about?" Vegeta frowned.

Goku slid the tabloid magazine across the counter towards him with a smirk. "Congratulations? I think?"

Vegeta frowned deeper at the magazine cover. So the tabloids actually thought Bulma was pregnant? "Do these people have no life?" He asked. Suddenly the joking around with Bulma about it wasn't so funny especially since he was on the cover too.

"Nope," Bulma answered, disappointed that his mood seemed to have changed again.

Vegeta looked through the magazine and grunted at the photos. "You do not look pregnant," he snorted, holding up the "baby bump" photo to her.

"I know," she sighed. "I think this will be the third or fourth time I've been pregnant? Don't worry about it. When it's plain to see that I'm obviously not pregnant, the articles about me being fat will be all over the place again. It's a vicious cycle."

"No one bothered you when you were working for Bulma?" He asked Goku.

"A bit," he shrugged. "Every once in a while there would be stories about our supposed secret affair, but they didn't hound us and make wild assumptions like this constantly. Probably because I don't hide from the press. I'm always out with Chi-Chi. Also, I wasn't living with Bulma."

"I find it hilarious that they still have no idea who Vegeta is, but all these sources are coming up out of the woodwork and making claims that he's a dancer or whatever, yet he's never been in a single video or show of mine."

"Who are these sources?" Vegeta asked.

"Who knows," she shrugged. "They could be anyone from workers around the compound, to someone my mother is friends with. They could be someone I went to school with back in the day that I haven't talked to in ages, backup dancers and assistants I have. I have wondered if they just say source as a way of covering their asses for all the false stores they print because then they can say someone told them the story rather than taking responsibility for what they print."

After having a beer and a few wings, Bulma excused herself to her side of the apartment. She was happy to have Goku around again, it had been ice catching up with him, but she really wanted to be on her own for a little bit. With the workers done on her side of the suite, she opted to take a shower and a nap.

Vegeta and Goku visited and snacked for a little while longer and Goku left just as the workers were finished and began showing Vegeta how to use everything.

Vegeta knocked on her door to her side of the suite once they were gone.

"Come in," she said.

He walked in and saw her on the couch, watching a cartoon. Her hair was still wet and in a bun on top of her head and she was dressed in a pair of loose pyjamas rather than her usual tight-fitting yoga pants and tops she typically wore. She had a blanket and her pillow and was sitting comfortably on the couch.

"Are you hungry?" He asked.

"No," she answered.

"Would you like to see all of what's been done?" He asked. It worried him that she was acting so withdrawn all of a sudden. He'd wanted to see if she was alright, but had no reason to seek her out other than to ask if she was interested in the new security modifications.

"Sure," she said. She wasn't even really watching the program anyway. Her mind was deep in thought worrying about the incident that afternoon and the previous evening.

"Pretty high tech," Bulma said to Vegeta, pouring herself a glass of wine once he was done showing her everything. "Thank you for setting all that up,"

"Thank you for trusting my judgement," he said.

"Of course I do," she said. "And if you leave to go back to work, I feel much better having all of this in place," she added awkwardly, taking a seat in her living room to watch some tv.

"I am not going anywhere just as of yet," he said. "Especially if this person is going to begin harassing you again,"

Bulma breathed out a quiet sigh of relief upon hearing that from him. Even if this wasn't happening again, she still was not ready for him to leave. "That's good to know,"

"I will give you plenty of notice when the time comes," he said. Truthfully, he was somewhat torn about what he wanted. Part of him could not wait to get back out there, but the other part of him was enjoying this assignment and the woman's company. "So tell me about the interview," he said, wanting to change the subject. He'd asked earlier when Goku was there and she'd been very quick to change the topic and then had left them shortly afterwards. He'd noticed during their visit that she seemed troubled by something.

Bulma shrugged, "Not much to tell. She just had asked me what it was like for me with regards to the abduction and when I declined to comment, she snidely told me that because of my reluctance to discuss it, people think the whole thing is a hoax,"

Vegeta nodded.

"I get it, but if I don't want to talk about it, I shouldn't be obligated to," she sighed. "I don't owe anyone anything!"

"I agree," he said, taking a seat on the end of the couch from her. "Is that why you are troubled?"

Bulma looked at him, surprised he had noticed. She had thought she'd done a pretty good job at acting as though everything had been fine while visiting with Goku. She wasn't sure if she should tell him about the incident on their way back to the car or not. She didn't want to alarm him, but on the other hand, didn't he need to know these things? What if she was overreacting? On the other hand, what if she wasn't? She sighed, but decided to tell him. "I'm not entirely certain, this could have all just been in my head due to paranoia from what happened yesterday and the reporter pushing me about discussing my abduction so I didn't mention it to Goku and I don't want you to get too upset; but when we were walking back to the car, there was a sea of photographers and paparazzi and fans we had to push ourselves through to. Everyone was shouting random questions at me, but someone, a male voice asked me if my abductor had come back and it was a familiar voice. It sounded a lot like him. It scared the shit out of me, I dropped my coffee and nearly tripped when I'd heard it, except when I looked, I didn't see him. Thankfully, I had my arm linked with Goku's because it was a frenzy out there and so I didn't lose my footing from sheer panic.

"Goku guided me back into the car quickly and I looked out the windows, trying to identify him, but I couldn't see him. So I'm not sure if it was actually him who asked me that or just someone who sounded like him, or maybe I just think I heard that because I was being bombarded with a hundred questions at the same time and I'm already upset and on high alert; I don't know."

Vegeta was quiet as he listened to her. He understood her hesitancy to mention anything. It could very well have been her mind playing games with her, but it could also have been him. "You mentioned before that he had indicated that he had been at every public appearance you had been to before?"

"He had said that, yea,"

Vegeta nodded. "You are wise to mention this," he started. "It very well may have just been your imagination given the recent developments in the last twenty four hours, but I think it would be foolish to dismiss it as simply your mind playing tricks on you. I take the fact that he was in your home very seriously and assume that he will be following you wherever you go whenever he can. I feel it would be a wiser assumption to make that it was him than to dismiss it at this stage."

"Yea, I don't know. I wish I could tell you something more concrete, but I can't."

"That is okay," he said. They sat together in silence a long while, seemingly watching tv, but not really.

They stayed up a while, watching mindless television until Bulma fell asleep on the couch. As per the norm, when Vegeta was ready to go to bed and this happened, he draped a blanket on her and went to bed. This time, he was relieved she had not asked to stay with him.

He laid there on his own, thinking things through. He finally admitted to himself that he liked her…

Alright. He liked her a lot; he amended.

However that only caused him further distress rather than feeling like a weight had been lifted. They couldn't be a couple. It just wouldn't work, he told himself as he turned over miserably. He'd seen the relief on her face when he'd confirmed that he would not be leaving any time soon to go back to work. It was true; he hadn't been keeping up with his requirements to stay in touch with Krillin. That had been for a few reasons. One of which he did not feel the need to, the second being that he was really in no rush to go back right now. Especially now that it looked like the woman would need him if this crazy person was back to stalking her.

Today he wasn't sure what had come over him. He'd woken up in a better mood than usual despite the late night and less than optimal sleep. He'd even gone so far as to flirt with her later on in the day through text and when she'd come back.

That was unacceptable. Now was not the time to allow himself be distracted by his growing feelings for her. He needed to be observant and alert, not flirting and joking around with her.

Vegeta sighed heavily and waited for sleep to claim him.