Dragon Ball Z: Dynasty – Prince Vegeta's Struggles with "Friendship"
Written by: Feraligreater328
Overseen by: StevenBodner and SparkerLightning
A/N: Three more chapters until this little side story ends. I know not a lot of people read this compared to Dynasty, but this development is important for stories I want to tell going forward. Also, quieter and more human stuff like this is fun to write in its own way~
So, I guess my question for anyone who actually cares about this is thus: for the next side-story, would you guys prefer Gine and Chi-Chi to be the focus? Because I have things I want to delve into with them too. :)
Chapter 17: Parenthood
At Android 18 and Krillin's townhouse...
Android 18 watched in genuine awe as Vegeta seized his crying daughter. The Saiyan Prince's motions were a blur, only sound could be heard as the diaper bag came unzipped, the mat was thrown onto her and Krillin's freshly mopped hardwood floors, the portable wastebin was deployed and Vegeta got to work.
One moment Bulla was screaming her head off, the next the rancid smell of a dirty diaper filled the air, and then all at once it was gone. The old diaper was deposited away, a fresh one with a healthy jet of baby powder was applied, and Bulla's tears were being wiped away with a clean hand baby towel.
Vegeta picked her up and set her on her feet, using his tail as a third hand to make sure she kept balance. And when she did, she beamed warmly at her father. Vegeta smiled with pride. "Very good. Now, go and play with your brother."
Bulla giggled and toddled off, walking towards Trunks with heavy, slapping footsteps. For his part, Trunks looked utterly terrified and tried to run away, failing as his little sister leapt upon him and started playfully pummeling him.
Android 18 cocked her head. "Uh...is he going to be okay?"
Vegeta shrugged. "Children need to learn to be tough. And who better to teach that lesson than their own siblings?"
18 gave him the side-eye. "Says a man with no siblings."
Vegeta responded. "I have a brother."
18 turned to him. "Where is he then?"
Vegeta responded. "This isn't about him."
The Prince sat back, watching as his children playfully fought one another, satisfied to see that Saiyan instincts were already kicking in and neither one was prepared to back down from this little spat. "I'll break them up if it seems like things are going too far, but it's important to me that they become independent. This universe favors the strong and I don't want either of them to be dependent on me should a threat come along and I'm not there. My kids need to outshine me in every way so I can go to Hell in peace when my time comes..."
Android 18 sighed. "So morbid...talking out dying and your kids moving on without you. They're barely old enough to eat anything other than mush..."
She glanced down at her hands, twisting her wedding ring around her finger. "Krillin was talking about trying to have one...when I'm ready. But he says he wants a family..."
Vegeta rolled his eyes. "Do you not?"
Android 18 sighed. "I do. I really do. I want us to have that perfect life I always dreamed of. Me and him and Chester/Marron..."
Vegeta cringed. "Chester?!"
18 groaned. "Apparently, it's tradition in Krillin's family to name the first born after a chestnut. He comes from a lineage of chestnut farmers..."
Vegeta was blunt. "That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. And I spent thirty minutes talking to Kakarot on the phone the other day..."
18 chuckled. "It's better than being named after a stone because your mother thought it might make your father take you off her hands..."
Vegeta snorted. 18 sighed. "I'm just worried, ya know? I'm worried about starting a family because I'm worried if I even have it in me to be a good Mom..."
The Prince was, once again, blunt. "Quit being an idiot."
18 flinched. Vegeta didn't even look over at her. "You'll be a great mother when it happens. Get out of your own head and just take things at a comfortable pace. Don't let life surprise you and you can be prepared for anything..."
Android 18 smiled. "W-Wow...that was actually good advice..."
Vegeta rolled his eyes. "I'm wise. I don't-"
*CRASH*
Vegeta was up like a bolt. "Damn it, Trunks! At least try not to let her put you through a table!"
Android 18 warmly smiled as she watched Vegeta wrangle his children. And without thinking, she mumbled to herself. "Thanks Vegeta...you're a good -."
18 gasped, hearing in her head what she had just said. Thankfully, Vegeta didn't seem to hear her say it. As he grabbed hold of his kids and began to promise to replace her coffee table, 18 swallowed a lump in her throat. She couldn't believe that she had just said that to him...