Dragon Ball Z: Dynasty – Prince Vegeta's Struggles with "Friendship"

Written by: Feraligreater328

Overseen by: StevenBodner and SparkerLightning

Chapter 14: Babysitting

At Bulma and Vegeta's home...

Fold. Fold. Fold. Tuck. Stick. Stick.

Vegeta finished applying Trunks' new diaper with an almost surgical precision and then set the boy aside. Trunks cooed and smiled, watching as his father stood up and walked into the kitchen to dispose of the foul-smelling, older diaper.

On the couch, Android 18 watched this all happen with a look of pure awe. "Th-That was...wow..."

Vegeta cocked his head. "What are you on about? Did I do something that impressive? It was just a shitty diaper..."

The Prince reached into the cabinet and pulled out a jar of baby food and a little packaged lunch. He moved back to the couch and flopped down next to 18. First, Vegeta pulled the top off of the packaged lunch and set it on the ground next to his toddler. Trunks greedily plunged his grabby hands into the tray of nutritious, easy-to-chew morsels and ate them with a contented smile. "Watch him while I feed Bulla. Tell me if he starts to choke."

18 nodded. "R-Right..."

Vegeta nodded and picked up Bulla. The little girl happily cheered as her father popped the lid off a jar of mushy bananas and started to feed her by the spoonful. 18 watched with a pensive little frown. She felt a tug at her pant leg and looked down to see Trunks offering her a dried piece of fruit. She took it with a half-smile. "Th-Thanks..."

Vegeta continued to feed Bulla. "What's wrong with you?"

18 flinched. "Huh?!"

Vegeta turned to her. "You're acting moody. And not in the normal infuriating way. What is the issue?"

18 sneered. "Since when do you know me well enough to judge my mood?!"

Vegeta flinched, nearly fumbling the jar. He glared away with a burning glow on his cheeks. 18 shook her head, pressing her palm to her face. "I'm...not trying to be a bitch. Sorry..."

She sighed. "Our wedding is in a few days...mine and Krillin's..."

Vegeta nodded. "It's in our front yard, yes. Bulma has been working on it around the clock..."

18 nodded, looking from Vegeta, to Trunks, to Bulla. "It's just amazing. And scary. Wedded life...that walk down the aisle..."

She mumbled. "The two of us having a Trunks or Bulla of our own..."

Vegeta glanced over at her. 18 smiled a nervous smile. "I'm excited. I wanna grow old with him and live a life worth living. I'm just...scared..."

Vegeta rolled his eyes. "Since when do you know me well enough to confide in me...?"

18 glared, but then sighed. "Guess I deserve that for yelling at you..."

Then, Vegeta spoke again. "Child care isn't easy, but you can definitely do it. And if you need help, I suppose I owe you for helping me out today. Feel free to bring any of your children here, whenever those children might happen..."

18 looked at Vegeta for a long, quiet while. He just continued to feed Bulla. Finally, 18 cleared her throat. "N-Need a favor..."

Vegeta turned to her. "Hm?"

18 mumbled. "Bulma is our wedding manager...Goku is Krillin's best man...I have 17 and 16 giving me away...and I don't know anyone else that well..."

Vegeta cocked his head. "What are you mumbling about?"

18 was bright red. "It's...a bizarre request. But, uh...would you...be my M-Maid...er, Matron...of Honor...?"

Vegeta cringed. "Y-You want me to do that?!"

18 bit her lip and nodded. She looked nervous enough to throw up. "P-Please...I'm sorry...I...I don't have anyone else..."

Vegeta was taken aback. He looked from the shuddering 18 down to his daughter. She smiled up at him. After a long silence, Vegeta closed his eyes and nodded. "Fine."

18 gasped. Vegeta spoke clearly. "It would...be my honor..."