All rights belong to Akira Toriyama, Toyotarou and Toei Animation

This is based on the manga cannon, so there may be some discrepancies with the anime.

"No."

That was all Bulma could say when Goku re-emerged in her living room the next night, all banged up and with cargo.

"No. Not him. Not in my house!"

Because she had already betrayed her husband enough, keeping the tournament from him at Whis' behest.

She couldn't allow this breach of trust.

"Get him out of here!"

Frieza. The tyrant who raised her husband to be a merciless killer. The cruel dictator who eliminated her husband's home planet, killing off the remaining saiyans one by one as their prince was forced to look on, helpless. Frieza. Whose name Vegeta cried out in his sleep, twisting the bed sheets as he was embroiled in yet another nightmare, soaked in sweat and begging in some unknown language. Frieza. Who had caused, or ordered to be caused, the many scars which littered her husband's body, grotesque and deliberate. Not the result of battle. Frieza, who had eventually ended her husband's first life, strangling him with his tail, something he would do often, beating him continually and finally silencing him with a shot to the heart.

Frieza.

"I can't do that, Bulma," Goku protested, "He's a member of our team for the tournament!"

What.

"Goku, how can you be so thick?!"

How could he? Really, how could he? In Vegeta's own home?! Surely he knew, he had to realise, to comprehend the depths of antagonism, violence and abuse between those two individuals. Vegeta had said they shared a room, training with Whis. Hadn't he witnessed the nightmares? Wasn't he there when Vegeta was cruelly murdered? Didn't he know their terrible history?

"What? He's really strong!"

Was that the only thing that mattered?

"So?! So's my Vegeta, but you didn't trust him to work in a team! You can't join forces with Frieza!"

"It'll be fine, Bulma, don't worry."

"Don't worry? Get out of my living room! Get out of my house!" she pointed harshly towards the door.

"Oh, but Bulma, everyone else will be here, soon."

Which reminded her. But Whis spoke up, first.

"No, not everyone else. We've just had some unfortunate news."

"News?"

Bulma slumped down on the couch, head in her hands as Whis proceeded to explain. She just couldn't believe Goku would be so insensitive. It was ridiculous. Vegeta was bound to have sensed Frieza's presence immediately. He would know, and Bulma wasn't sure what to say to him, or whether she should try to calm him at all. He had every right to be incensed.

"It seems the Buu is hibernating. He will not be able to join us for the tournament."

"Oh."

"Yes, indeed. Under the circumstances, we decided to include Vegeta on our list after all. Although, considering your own choice…"

It was too cruel. Too terribly and insultingly cruel. To expect Vegeta to team up with the monster who had ruled over him with an iron fist for two decades. To be on the same side again after almost the same amount of glorious freedom.

A moment later she felt it. A powerful energy, raking her hair and whipping her clothes, wind shrieking around them like the final throes of Frieza's many victims.

"Vegeta…"she whispered, looking up and spotting him in the entry way. Gosh, he was pale, even when powered up to super saiyan 2 and lit by that aura. Shaking, shuddering with rage his mouth was open in a silent scream as if he could not find the words.

Because the betrayal had to be obvious to him, with Goku standing nonchalantly next to his tormentor.

"Vegeta, we need to talk…" she called out softly, rising slowly to her feet and beginning to make her way over to him, in spite of the charged energy zapping around him. She didn't trust him not to unleash all that bottled up fury in her living room, and she honestly wouldn't blame him for doing so.

"What is he doing here?!" Vegeta growled, his voice low and threatening.

"Oh, Frieza's part of our team for the tournament," Goku said normally, as if there was nothing the matter at all, "By the way, Vegeta, you should settle down. You're not strong enough to beat Frieza right now."

Of all the callous things to say! Bulma could have yelled at him, if she didn't think it would make the tense situation worse. To highlight Vegeta's weakness in front of his abuser! How thoughtless! She didn't like the expression Frieza's face was twisting into at the news, not one bit.

"Goku, you shut up!" she bit out, turning to her husband, "Lord Zeno has organised a tournament involving eight universes. There will be ten combatants from each universe participating. Our ten are up on this board here."

"Frieza's not there."

"Oh, that was a last-minute idea," Goku explained, before Bulma hissed at him again.

"The rules are simple. Knock the members of all the other teams off the stage. Last team standing, or the team with the most participants left after 48 minutes, is the winner."

"And what do they win?" Vegeta narrowed his eyes at her as she fidgeted. She hadn't wanted to tell him but…

"A wish on the super dragon balls," Whis replied before she could.

"On the super dragon balls?" Vegeta's face took on a considering look, "I could wish for my strength back."

She would have to speak with the others, to make sure it wasn't Vegeta who phrased the wish. She didn't care about strength, she just wanted her husband.

Vegeta's piercing eyes swivelled to the former terror of the universe.

"And what have you promised him, in return for his aid?"

"Oh, we're going to wish him back to life with our dragon balls."

Bulma couldn't believe Goku, absolutely could not believe him. Of all the reckless, selfish, insensitive things to do! She couldn't find the words, it was just too…too…

"You cannot be serious," Vegeta's voice was flat, as if begging for Goku to say 'just kidding!' It seemed he didn't want to comprehend it either.

"Yep. He deserves a second chance."

"He squandered his second chance!" Vegeta yelled.

"Yeah, well, so did you," Goku scratched the back of his head innocently, "If he tries anything, I can just kill him again."

Ignorant. Buffoon. Bulma couldn't keep it in any longer. She took a step forward, and slapped him. As hard as she could.

Ignoring the ringing pains in her hand she yelled at him at the top of her lungs

"You insensitive jerk!"

"Oh hoho. What a feisty wife you have there, my little prince." Frieza spoke up for the first time since arriving.

An instant later Vegeta's bulk was between her and Frieza, super saiyan power a useless barrier between her and the tyrant.

"I am not your little prince, and you can keep your beady eyes off her."

Frieza merely laughed, as if it were all a game to him. All her husband's pain, all his torment and the memories which must be warring within him. Just entertainment.

It was sickening.

Still, the little protective act was heart-warming. It almost made her feel that Vegeta cared about her.

Almost.

He probably just viewed her as yet another person Frieza was threatening to take away from him, a pawn in a hideous game of chess in which any move Vegeta made was the wrong one.

Like she would be the one he would lose if he made another mistake.

"Kakarot, are you set on including this beast on our team?" Vegeta asked, fists clenched and shaking by his sides.

"Yep." Goku slapped a fist into his palm, "Frieza's gotten even stronger. There's no way we'll lose with him on board!"

"Unless, of course, he sabotages our efforts."

"Oh, Frieza wouldn't do that. We have an agreement."

Vegeta snorted, "You cannot trust a creature like that, Kakarot. Not at all. But I have my own goals to fulfil." He turned his hard face in the monster's direction, "If you stay out of my way, I'll stay out of yours."

"Oh ho ho. I don't think I need worry about that. After all, you've gotten weaker, haven't you, Vegeta?"

Vegeta bristled, stepping back and levelling Goku a glare that would have curdled ice-cream.

"I'll be back minutes before we plan on leaving. Not before," he growled, stalking from the room.

He hadn't dismissed his super saiyan 2 form throughout their interaction. Bulma gazed forlornly at his departing back, wondering what he was thinking, what he was feeling. A year ago she would have pursued him, but he was different now, more closed off, and she was pregnant. She wasn't able to run after him like she used to.

"Goku," she said, falling down on the couch as they waited for the others to arrive. She tried to convey all of her raw, hurt feelings, all of her betrayal in a look, "I hate you."

Krillen picked at his gi idly as they waited for the count-down to finish. The setting was ominous, an enormous spinning top in the middle of a void, space spanning out around them, leaving no escape. In the distance, he could see the stands housing the deities and angels who had come to witness the spectacle, and the two Lords Zeno perched on ornate thrones, joined by what could only be the Grand Priest he had heard about.

Other universes were teleporting in, some with only eight participants. Krillen supposed there hadn't really been all that much time to prepare.

The other fighters were certainly intimidating to the small man, with a large array of shapes and sizes, and probably a wide variety of abilities too.

Cabba bowed to Vegeta, showing not respect for his position as prince, but thanks for helping him to ascend to super saiyan. Krillen doubted Vegeta would have been willing to provide such a service now. But he did acknowledge the deference, which made Krillen smile.

Maybe even if they didn't win, everything would be all right.

But he couldn't think like that. Bulma was counting on them to succeed. Krillen couldn't shake her face from his mind, trying to hold back because her husband had finally returned from avoiding Frieza and she didn't want him to know about their plans. Just looking at them meaningfully, round belly protruding and making Krillen churn with guilt.

She might even give birth while they were away. It was terribly unfair. Vegeta should have been by her side, supporting her through the process. But he was here, ready to fight in the tournament like any true saiyan wanted.

As they waited, Goku took it upon himself to leave their gaggle of fighters, calling out to the Universe 11 team.

Universe 11. He had heard that they were the ones to beat.

Krillen shook his head as Goku's attempts to greet his opponents was rebuffed. As if anyone wanted to chat before a major tournament. Really, Goku was such a fool.

Even more so, he thought, turning his eyes to Frieza, lurking at the back, than he had ever known. How could they possibly trust Frieza? Thanks to Goku's split-second inspiration and Buu's inconvenient sleep habits, their team had two wild cards.

Vegeta, weaker than he had been in quite some time, hostile and unpredictable. Certainly not a team player. And his goal was different from the rest of the team – they absolutely could not afford for him to be the last one standing, for him to make a wish. Who knew what Vegeta would do if his power was restored but not his personality? He might chose to murder Goku.

Although Krillen could hardly blame him for that after the trick Goku had pulled, bringing Frieza into their team. Frieza. Whose history with the saiyan prince was shrouded in mystery and rage. Krillen didn't know the whole story of Vegeta's early years under the yoke of Frieza's army, but he suspected it hadn't been sunshine and roses.

Two wild cards, with their own agendas, who couldn't be trusted to cooperate with the rest of the team. Might even try to knock their own team members off the platform if they thought it would help them attain their selfish desires.

Bulma's face as she sobbed swum into his mind's eye, followed by the itching feeling of sensing Trunk's barely repressed anger.

He had to do this, had to be triumphant.

For Bulma.

Of course, as the Grand Priest announced the kick-off, five of their ten team members immediately vanished into the fray.

So much for the team work Gohan was hoping for, but Krillen should have known what to expect from them. Only, he had been hoping to stick together with 18. They were married, after all. Did she have to leave him? Also, he had figured that 17 and 18 would work together, or at least close to each other.

Things weren't off to a fantastic start.

Three weaklings down, and 18 was ready for more action. She hadn't fought in a long while, but her moves were smooth and flawless. She was stronger than stainless steel, and not about to get rusty.

Still, no need to get cocky, she needed to concentrate.

Because it was very important that she win.

It was odd for her to be doing something like this, fighting to help someone else. Krillen had certainly noticed but it was none of his business, really. 18 was a woman who fought if she was threatened, or for her family, not for acquaintances. She might have moved on from the person she had been, that chaotic woman bent on mayhem, but that did not make her a nice person. Not in the least. She didn't do things out of the goodness of her heart.

This was different, though.

She hadn't wanted to go back there.

Please…mercy! Please!

Hadn't wanted to delve into the depths of her past depravity. She wasn't like that anymore! Hadn't been for years! She just wanted to live in peace with her family, she didn't want any reminders of the person she had been.

She was ashamed of that woman, of the things she had done, of the things another version of her had done in a far off future.

Don't hurt me! Please!

She had been deaf to their cries, their pleas for clemency. Just revelling in the carnage around her as fire after fire sprung up, as metal collided with metal and houses crumbled.

It had been beautiful, for a few minutes, that freedom.

And then, all of sudden, the smog had cleared. And she realised where she was, who she was, and what she had done.

If she had been capable of vomiting, she would have done so, there and then.

Fortunately the police had been unable to track her as she made her way back to the house. She couldn't tell Krillen, even as he pestered her about her condition. He had looked so worried, little innocent Marron too.

She hadn't been able to tell them.

To tell them she had nearly murdered someone.

Multiple people. Just for entertainment.

Later, she had learned, to her relief, that she hadn't really been at fault for it. A Darkness had arrived on Earth which warped people's minds, turned them evil. She hadn't been the only person to attempt murder, either. But that was a little secret between an overtaxed Krillen and herself.

She might have agreed to participate in this tournament purely for the safe of her husband's friend.

But she had bigger obligations than that.

Because Vegeta was the reason she hadn't taken a life that day. His sacrifice had saved her, and she owed him big time, even if he did not realise it nor care.

And she thought, from the look on her brother's face, that his situation was similar. He would have been impacted by the Darkness just as much as she was.

18 flinched as her eyes found her husband, falling from the stage. Their first casualty after an assault by the Frieza look-alike from Universe 6.

So much for his determination to help Bulma, it had given him no advantage. And Tien was down as well, not that she had expected much from him, although she hadn't anticipated a great deal from her husband either. Not that she would tell him that.

Fortunately he called out to Goku from the stands, bringing his attention to the situation, so she wouldn't need to step in. Goku could handle…'Frost' was it? No problem.

Ah, but no. She gathered, amongst dodging another round of attacks, Frieza had betrayed Frost. Interesting, but irrelevant. Time to focus on her own opponent.