Lacor's wet tongue rolled around the piece of fruit, slobbering it up into his jaws and chopping down on the thing, feeling the juices roll down his chin. A handful of small entries was hardly a banquet, but it was the first time he'd eaten something other than one of those damnable protein trays in four long years. To him, it might as well have been dishes straight off a god's table. He knew he had to eat quickly, couldn't risk one of the guards taking notice of his meal, but at the same time he did his very best to savor every moment of it.

Plus, there was still the delightful taste of blood in his mouth. There was no way for him to get back at Nevrrest for intentionally letting him get throttled by Vegeta, but he'd managed to vent his anger on her little shit of a minion. That was enough for him. Overall, it had been nothing short of an absolutely delightful day. He grabbed a loaf of meat up in his teeth, drenched in a simple but delicious sauce, running the length of his tongue over it before ripping off a bite. He groaned, intent on every texture and flavor, allowing it to lift him to the heights of euphoria.

But then, out of nowhere, there was a pair blue boots on the floor before his face. "Yeee-AAAAHHHH!" Lacor screamed, fleeing to the back of his cell, his chain going taut.

Blood vessels bulging beneath his skin, Goku lifted his head, his teeth clenched. Lacor utterly gaped at him as the Saiyan warrior lifted a finger, pointing directly at the mutant. "Liar," he seethed, "You're a liar, aren't you?!"

"How the hell did you get in here?!" Lacor shouted, his jaws agape with terror, "You can't…you can't just…the cell never unlocked!"

"You're not just a liar…" Goku continued to point, his other hand clenched in a fist at his hip, "You're…you're vicious! First Vegeta…then Sepis…!" The pointing finger lowered into a fist. "I may not be able to prove it…but I know the truth!"

Lacor stared at him, his anxious expression starting to drift away. "Oh dear…you're not supposed to be here, are you?"

"Ernm!" Goku growled, glaring pointedly at him.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk…" Lacor clicked his tongue, shaking his head, "Someone's going to be in trouble…"

"I don't care…" Goku hissed, "I want to hear the truth from you. What you did to Vegeta…it wasn't self defense, was it?! And that man…he didn't sneak up on Vegeta, did he?! I know he didn't, he couldn't have! And…" He pointed fiercely again, making Lacor's back tense against the wall. "I know this was planned! All three of you…and Nevrrest…" His face twitched with grief. "Even Sepis…"

Lacor eyed him for a moment before slowly slipping from the far wall, bending over and rolling up the last of his meal in tongue, resting it on his shackled arms. "Well, if you're going to blow me away, Saiyan…perhaps you could let me finish eating first?" He snapped up another chuck of the meat loaf and smiled. "That is what you are, right? A Saiyan? And missing his tail, for shame…" He cackled softly.

Goku's chest heaved angrily. "How dare you laugh? After what you've done?"

"Heheheheheheh…fun fact about me, Saiyan," Lacor grinned, "Good times and bad, I always find something to laugh and smile about."

"Just so long as someone's getting hurt, right?"

"You catch on quick!" Lacor praised. He pulled the last of the meat loaf into his jaws, his eyes shifting as he chewed, spotting a piece of fruit he had neglected. Swallowing, he bent to retrieve it, his tongue reaching once more. Goku grabbed it first, balancing it in his palm and inspecting it. Lacor's face darkened. "Oh now give that back…"

"So is this why Sepis was here?" Goku snapped, holding the fruit up, "To give you this?"

"I'm telling you, now give that back, Saiyan," Lacor growled.

Goku paused, his brow lowering, and held out the fruit. "You want it?" he challenged, "Come and take it then."

Lacor glared at him with extreme prejudice. His better judgment made him turn away, but desperation had him turning back, jumping at the outstretched fruit with open jaws. The Saiyan didn't even touch him. All he did was jab a finger forward and the air itself blew him back, slamming hard into the far cell wall, gasping and crying out. As the mutant hit the floor, Goku's jaw clenched again. His hand lowered and tightened, muscular grip shivering about the fruit as it was crushed and exploded into pulp. Lacor's jaw dropped and eyes widened in horror, like a child had just died. He stared at the juices as they ran down Goku's fingers…and started to laugh. It started slow and low, but soon he was roaring and cackling with it.

"Rrr!" Goku snarled, teeth bared once more, "This is not a joke! Now tell me the truth about Nevrrest and what you did to Vegeta!"

But Lacor just laughed all the louder. "And I thought you were here to kill me!" he howled, nearly breathless with it, "Hehehehehahahahahahahaha! …Super Saiyan indeed…" He grinned, getting to his feet once more. "You didn't kill Frieza, did you?" he mocked, "Something else got to him…a soft belled little urchin like you can't even put the hurt on someone who bludgeoned his prince until he sneezed blood. Heheheheheheheheh…" He grinned all the more to see Goku start shaking, his eyes burning with helpless rage. "Oh this is precious… the strongest Saiyan alive…" He puckered his lips. "And he's got a soft little heart…what an absolute hoot!"

Goku hissed. "I'm warning you…"

"Or you'll what?" Lacor cackled with a scowl, "Murder more fruit in front of me? Hit me with air again until my hair gets over-fluffed? No…I'm not saying anything I didn't already to the Warden." He shoved his grinning face into Goku's, his eyes utterly dancing. "But if you want to get serious, then get it on! Break some bones, blow some holes in me, I dare you! Come on, you great, pillow-handed ape, show me some of that Saiyan brutality your kind is so famed for! Come on now—what are you waiting for?—do it! AHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Goku was absolutely frozen with rage. He wanted to. He wanted to knock this monster straight through the wall. But he couldn't. He couldn't bring himself to cross that line. All he could do was stand there and seethe, choking back the screams that wanted to erupt, his heart breaking open and pounding in his chest.

Suddenly, Lacor stopped laughing and just smiled past Goku's shoulder. "Oh…too late. Looks like your time's up."

The rage slowly drained from Goku's form as he sensed the presence behind him. He turned around just as the transparent wall lifted, seeing the group of guards that had gathered. Hameus, standing in the center of them, gave Goku a sympathetic look, saying nothing but simply raising a hand and motioning him forward. A shadow fell over Goku's eyes as he bowed his head and obeyed, silently leaving Lacor's cell and joining the group of guards.

Once they were a few steps away, Hameus folded his arms and sighed, shaking his head. "Son…I don't hold it against you. Lacor is a worthless piece of shit. And I don't buy his story about him defending himself…and neither does the Grand Warden. But we do things by the book here. And you just broke the rules. You realize that, right?" Goku said nothing, staring silently down at the floor. Hameus sighed once more. "I'm sorry, but as standing warden of Prison Ship 7 I'm having you confined to quarters. Now that's a slap on the wrist, you could get sent home or worse for what you just did."

Goku's hands tightened over his belt. "…I understand…" He walked on ahead, heading for the transit tube back to The Hammer.

Hameus glanced over at a couple of his guards. "Make sure he gets there and seal him in…but give him some space, I don't want a scene made out of this." He watched as Goku moved with heavy steps. "Man's had a rough day as it is."

(**Scene Break**)

Alone in his room, Goku let it all out. He had to one way or another, or surely he'd explode. At first he'd just stood there in silence as the door closed behind him. There were no words, no action that could justify what was burning inside. But eventually, he just collapsed to the floor and started to scream. He wasn't sure for how long his screams carried on. When those ran out, there were only tears. The screams mixed with the tears, running like a river down his nose and dripping onto the floor, then gave way to weeping at last. Weakly, he clamored onto the edge of his bed, putting head into his hands and continuing to cry. A Saiyan warrior, unable to fight. A good man, unable to do the right thing. He was broken and lost; trapped and scorned.

And worst of all, he was failing his friends.

Hours passed into what would normally be his dinner. He didn't order anything. He wasn't hungry. Today, it was like his stomach didn't even exist. For a little while, he distracted himself with some simple exercises – but broke down all over again in the middle of it. Once again, he found himself on the edge of his bed, weeping into his hands, teeth clenched and hissing. He couldn't even look at his own reflection he felt so ashamed. The tears ran out again – then came the silence. It swamped around him, echoing the emptiness he felt inside.

What more could he do? The trial was in just a few days. Until then he was confined, Vegeta was lost in madness, Nevrrest would be making her next move…and he had nothing left to say.

His face a sticky mess from the tears he'd shed, Goku stared at the far wall, trembling slightly at intervals. He knew he should do something with himself other than just sit there, but he couldn't even bring himself to stand. His time trying to convince himself to start moving again was interrupted when he sensed something drawing near. Something about that presence alone was enough to make his heart begin to stir once more. And then the door opened, sending a ray of light into his dark room.

His vision blurred from crying, he couldn't see what it was at first, the shape indistinct against the bright backdrop. "Hello?" he asked, squinting. Something stretched out above him with a pulse of that beautiful energy. A second later he felt an object drop into his lap. He looked down. "Huh?" he said, grasping the large, lush fruit.

"Eat…" a beautiful, whispery voice shuddered through the air.

Goku rubbed his sore eyes and blinked hard as the door shut, at last making out the green foliage that had begun to fill his room. His eyes widened. "Misado…!"

Vines grew out and wrapped around his arms, lifting them and the fruit up to his chin. "Eat," Misado bid him once again.

He blinked twice at the mass of leaves and flowers, his gaze filled with a child-like softness, innocence, and curiosity. He looked at the fruit and did as asked, biting into it. As soon as he did he froze, giving off a soft gasp, his eyes widening and sparkling. Goku in his life had eaten a great many things, more than most, from heaps of rice to clouds in Other World. But biting into that fruit he could only compare to the feeling of eating a sensu bean. The moment its juices filled his mouth, both his body and soul felt immediately revitalize.

And he had the terrible realization that he was starving.

Misado grew around him as he absolutely chomped down on the giant fruit, noisily and with great enthusiasm. Almost angrily even. No sooner had he finished it that another was dropped into his lap and he dug into that one as well – he would have stuffed the whole thing in his mouth were it not so big! He ate and ate without hardly taking a breath, each devoured fruit quickly followed by a replacement. He eagerly reached up for them as the food was dropped into his hands, his face sticky now with sugary juices rather than tears.

Goku found himself giggling like a wily little boy as yet another fruit was dropped into his lap. "No, no more, please!" he laughed, "You've completely stuffed me, I can't eat another bite!"

The leaves wavered around him. "This last is not for you, golden one," it answered, "On the day of judgment, give it to Prince Vegeta. It will revitalize him and give him the strength to face what is to come."

Goku's expression fell. Somehow, for a moment, he'd forgotten his grief and all that had happened. "I…appreciate it, Misado," he assured, "But…I think Vegeta's going to be needing a lot more than just fruit here soon."

"Assuredly, you speak the truth," rustled Misado's whispery voice as Goku wiped the juices from his chin, "But do not give into despair, Son Goku…where there is good, hope will always remain."

"I wanna believe that," he stated, somberly turning the fruit over in his hands, "But I don't know if I can see it anymore."

The leaves and flowers stretched in size. "Then we shall be your eyes, for we see much. We have watched your struggle. And we have seen our error."

"Huh?" He looked up as the vines stretched over his head. "What do you mean?"

The moving plant-life drew lower to the floor. "We did not see. We did not know. We mistook him for what he was not. But we know him now for what he is, for we heard his voice also as it cried across the stars…"

Misado glowed a soft blue around him and Goku could see it in his mind – a saiyan prince crying out in a desperate plea. Don't let Majiin Buu destroy you and your children! Please! DON'T LET HIM WIN!

"Ah…" Goku gasped, his expression bright as it grew into a smile.

Misado grew in power, the foliage stretching and expanding as it began to fill the entire suite. "The cry of a newborn…a pure heart risen from the ashes of wretchedness." The leaves shuddered, the voice gaining strength. "WE…ARE…MISADO. MATRON TO ALL THAT IS GOOD." The blue light shimmered, casting shadows on the walls. "To walk the righteous path is to be of Misado. You are not alone, Son Goku. You have never been alone. And so…" The vines spun and twisted through the air. "SHALL VEGETA RECEIVE HIS JUST REWARD. SO SHALL HE BE SPOKEN FOR. WE…WILL DEFEND HIM."

"You…you will?!" Goku cried, jumping off the bed, "That's great!" He laughed, but then frowned, touching a hand to his chin. "But wait a minute…how are we going to prove that Vegeta's changed though? Vegeta's not gonna have a chance to show it before the trial and well, let's face it, my word alone isn't gonna be good enough."

The foliage shrank in size again, drawing in closer to Goku. "Are there not others who have witness Prince Vegeta reborn?"

"Well sure, I can think of lots of people," Goku replied, scratching his head, "But even with instant transmission, it would take a while to bring them all here and I'm not even sure if some of them could come or not. Or if Nevrrest would let me get away with it…come of think of it, that's not even my only problem." He looked up at one of the larger flowers as it opened. "I broke the rules. So I'm not allowed to leave my room until the trial. If I used instant transmission, I'll get sent home for sure."

"Fear not, for you have already done your part. Now, it is our time to act. We need only your assistance."

"You got it," Goku stated firmly, his brow lowering with a little smile, "What do you need me to do?"

"Give us your hands." Goku and Misado reached out for each other, as they had when he'd first arrived, the vines wrapped up and around his arms, curling over his chest and up his neck onto his cheeks. He gasped as his eyes flooded with blue light, feeling his and Misado's energies pass equally between them. "Feel us, Son Goku. We are with you. Show us your desire, and we shall fulfill it."

Goku's brow intensified. "I can't do this alone. Vegeta can't do this alone. I want to reach out to everyone – everyone who saw how he changed with time and the good things he's done. I want their voices to be heard."

"So…IT SHALL BE SO…!" A vine grew off from Goku's chest, a new blossom budding there. It grew in size, peeling back its petals in a burst of light, tiny seedlings beginning to pour forth, spinning on little green wings and bright yellow tails. "GO. GO FORTH."

The seedlings bobbed and flew forth in a torrent, shoving at each other as they squeezed out through the door crack. They poured down the halls, scaring workers and guards alike, finding their way through the vents and out into the darkness of space. Personnel gathered at the windows, gaping as the sparkly seedlings spun about the fleet.

"GO," Misado commanded, the seedlings turning into tiny meteorites as they shot off in multiple directions into the stars, "Carry the voice of Son Goku with you. Go to the far corners of the galaxy…to the Kias…to the Namekians…to the guardians of the Earth…delve even into the depths of Other World…go to all who would testify in the name of Prince Vegeta!"

It was much like touching King Kai's shoulder, but even stronger. He could feel them all out there through Misado, all his friends and allies. Without even being told, he knew what he needed to do.

"Everyone! Hear me. This is Goku…"

(**Scene Break**)

Krillin sighed as he stood on his house's front porch, his tiny daughter Marron neatly balanced in his arms. While it was nice to finally have a place of his own instead of having to live with Master Roshi – courtesy of the money Eighteen had pinched out of Mr. Satan – recent events had made it impossible for him to celebrate. Word had gotten around as to what had happened to Vegeta and Trunks, and of course he'd gone to the Brief home to give his emotional support. But all he'd gotten in return was an utter earful from Bulma for neither him or Eighteen showing up to help during the battle. He'd tried to explain to her that while yes, he'd sensed the whole thing, but by the time he'd started to worry something was wrong – after all, this was Vegeta and Goku they were talking about – the battle was over and Vegeta was gone. Of course, that wasn't what she wanted to hear.

Out of nowhere Marron started giggling, bouncing, and squirming in his arms, like she was trying to take off flying or something, making Krillin hiccup and flounder to catch her. "Woah, hey, hold on there, Marron!" he nervously chuckled as he got ahold of her again, "You nearly made Daddy drop you – and Mommy wouldn't be happy about that at all."

"But Daddy, look!" Marron chirped, her blonde pigtails catching him in the face as she pointed upward, "It's so sparkly and pretty! I wanna touch it, Daddy!"

"Sparkly and pretty?" he questioned, frowning as he looked up and down the street. Something tiny struck him right in the forehead, making him stumble backwards in surprise, the missile falling right into the palm of his hand.

"Daddy, you got it!" she happily gasped.

"Actually, I think it got me, firefly," Krillin mused with a smile, rubbing his brow a bit before glancing at the thing he'd caught. "Well, would you look at that?" He held up the shimmering seedling to eyelevel. "I wonder where this came from? I've never seen anything quite like it."

"Me either." Krillin glanced over his shoulder as his wife, the former Android 18, came out of the house, holding an identical seedling in her hand.

"They so pretty!" Marron cheered, raising her hands over her head.

Krillin turned around, their daughter balanced on one arm as he held out his seedling. "What do you think? Some kind of new tree planted around here?"

"I don't know," she answered in her usual low, cool tone. She looked down at the seed. "But it came right at me. Somehow, I don't think that was by mistake."

"Huh, that's weird…mine did the same thing to me." He frowned thoughtful and got an idea, gripping the seedling in a fist and chucking it away from him. It spun through the air for several feet before turning right around and nose-diving back at him. "Gee-ha!" Krillin ducked the projectile this time, coming up and catching it as it came around again. "Well, no doubt about it now, this little guy wants me to have it for some reason."

"Hmph," Eighteen grunted, tossing hers aside. She walked away, spinning around a moment later as it flew after her, bouncing off her chest and landing in her palms.

Krillin laughed. "And it looks like that one likes you, Eighteen!"

"Well what exactly am I supposed to do with it?" she challenged, eying him a bit accusingly.

"Eh…" Krillin scratched at his cheek, "Well, hun, I don't really—"

They both heard it. Everyone! Hear me. This is Goku.

"Goku!" Krillin cried, looking up at the sky, his face brightening.

Eighteen snorted softly. "Goku, huh?" she said – as if to say 'but of course, who else?' – looking up as well.

(**Scene Break**)

Life in the Capsule Corp Mansion was abruptly disrupted as a good handful of the seedlings came rocketing in as both the Briefs and the Sons sat at the table, eating the meal that Mrs. Brief and Chi-Chi had prepared. Not knowing what it was, Gohan deflected the one that came at Videl several times before he got assaulted by his own, Dr. Brief swatting at another, thinking it a bee.

"Hey, cool!" Goten cried as he held up the one he'd caught, "Check it out, it's like a little plant!"

"He's right," blinked Bulma as her own came to rest in her palm, "They're seeds…"

"Gohan, sit down, its fine," Videl chided her fiancé, grabbing his shirt tail and pulling him back into his chair to end the seedling war. She grasped hers out of the air and looked at it. "Where do you suppose they came from?"

"It's Goku," said Chi-Chi with certainty, clasping her own, "This is just like something he'd do – and right in the middle of dinner too."

As to confirm this, they all heard his voice calling out to them. Bulma gasped and immediately stood up, her hands thrust down on the table and looking intently up at the ceiling. "Goku!" she cried, "You better have some good news for me! You promised, Goku! You promised!"

"Sweetheart, please," Dr. Brief took her shoulders, urging her to sit again.

"Where's Vegeta, Goku?!" Bulma continued to shout, shaking the seedling in an upheld fist, "And when is he coming home?!"

"Dad!" Gohan called out as well, "We can all hear you just fine! Is everything alright?"

But this time, it seemed, the connection wasn't two way, for he continued without responding. Right now, I'm communicating with you through Misado. And I need your help. But even more than me, Vegeta needs your help right now. I know many of you had your differences with him in the past and saw him do terrible things. But you also saw how he's changed, how he's suffered, and all the good he's done. I need your help because Vegeta's about to be put on trial for the crimes he's committed in the past. I need you to defend him. I need you to tell his story, the story the rest of the galaxy doesn't know.

It may sound like a lot to ask, but you don't have to do much. If you're hearing this, you've received one of Misado's seedlings. All you have to do is swallow it. Don't worry, it won't hurt you. Just swallow the seed and when you sleep tonight, Misado's magic will gather all your memories of Vegeta into that seed and by the morning it will have returned to be a witness for you. Please, do this for Vegeta. Do this for me. Do it for everyone out there Vegeta's ever hurt. If you do, I know things can finally be made right!

Bulma slowly lowered back into her chair and stared at the seedling as something suddenly precious. Her large blue eyes grew moist and wavered. "Vegeta…"

(**Scene Break**)

Piccolo's clawed fingers shadowed the seedling as he held it in his palm, his mouth a flat, concerted line. "So, that's it," he said as Goku's messaged finished coming through, "He's found a way for the rest of us to help him after all." He smirked. "Hah, he's actually doing something clever for once." He glanced back over his padded shoulder, seeing Trunks standing at the mouth of the cave, glaring grimly down at his own seed. The boy's teeth clenched and he grunted loudly, taking the seed in a fist, throwing it on ground, and beginning to stomp on it. Piccolo's eyes widened and his arm snapped out. "Trunks, stop! What do you think you're doing?!" He flew at him and seized him by the shoulder, yanking him backward.

"Grr—don't you see?!" Trunks shouted, throwing an arm to the side, "It's from that plant monster! It's one of things that took Dad!"

"Don't be so naïve," Piccolo sternly scolded, still holding his other arm, "Even if that is the case, it wouldn't be the first time Goku's turned an enemy into an ally. I would know that better than most." He let him go and Trunks jerked away, fighting the urge to scream or cry. "Would you really destroy the only chance you have to help your father? What might be his only chance of ever seeing you and your mother again?"

Trunks hissed and turned away, folding his arms and shaking a little.

Piccolo stooped to inspect the seedling – now cracked open and withered. He hummed and picked it up, watching as a tiny green leaf and stem stretched out of it. He held it out to the young half-saiyan. "I'm going to do my part. I suggest you do the same."

Trunks glanced back as Piccolo slipped one of the seeds into his mouth, his thick, green throat rippling as he swallowed. He caught his damaged seedling as Piccolo let go of it, the Namekian heading deeper into the cave to leave him to his own devices. Trunks pinched the thing against his thumb, holding it up at eye level, his lower lip stiffened sourly. At last, he placed it on his tongue, begrudgingly letting it slid down his throat.

(**Scene Break**)

"I don't like the idea of some plant growing inside me," Eighteen stated blatantly, pushing back a lock of blonde hair to lock him in a sharp gaze, "And you shouldn't either."

"Come on, honey," Krillin encouraged, stepping carefully over Marron as she tried to play with his shoe laces, "Goku said it wouldn't hurt us."

"And since when has Goku been the expert on what's safe and not?" she challenged, turning and planting a hand on the kitchen counter.

"He needs our help!" he insisted, holding up both hands.

"I'm sorry, but I think I've had my insides messed with more than enough for one lifetime."

"This isn't like that. I know it isn't. And Goku wouldn't ask for help if it wasn't really important." He sighed as she turned aside and folded her arms. "Don't be like that, please? Look…" He held up a finger. "Tell you what. Just do this for me and I'll take up baby duties all day tomorrow. And I'll stop at the store tonight and buy that ice-cream you really like. Come on, what do you say?"

Her eyes opened and shifted to him. She smiled a little. "All right. I'll play along." She opened her hand and looked at the seedling. "But you'd better be right about this, Krillin."

He sighed and smiled as she swallowed it.

"Daddy!" Marron called, pulling at his leg, "Can I see the pretty plant again?"

"Sorry, sweetheart," Krillin patted her head and held up the seedling, "But it's down the hatch for this little guy." He tossed it into his mouth and gulped.

(**Scene Break**)

Bulma sat on the edge of her bed – Vegeta's and her bed – massaging her bulging stomach silently. All the others had already swallowed their seeds hours ago. Hers rested on the bed next to her. It wasn't that she didn't want to help Vegeta. It was that she was scared to try. It had been hard enough to put her faith in Goku when he'd first left. But having to do it a second time, knowing he needed her help…it was even harder. The baby had been kicking a lot lately. Was he upset? Did he somehow know that his father was in trouble?

Was he anywhere near as scared as she was these days?

Her head bowed as she ran her hands over her belly once again. "Vegeta…" He too had made her a promise.

It about a week after Bulma had revealed the news of their second child to him. Oh and what an announcement that had been. She hadn't even tried to be subtle like the first time. She'd walked in on him in the bathroom of all places, cleaning up after a work-out, towel around his waist and a bandage pinched awkwardly in this teeth.

"Hey Vegeta."

"What?"

"So I thought you'd like to know I'm pregnant."

And watched with amusement as he inadvertently took the cold water handle right off the sink, floundering and cursing as it sprayed all over the place. Bulma smiled as she thought of this, wiping a tear from her eye. Yes, it had been just about a week after that. On the whim of a craving, she'd made a fresh batch of cookies, naughtily eating some of the dough as she slipped the trays into the oven. Normally the smell would have Saiyans all over her, but with Trunks at school only Vegeta had been lured in. A spontaneous thought had made her yank the hot tray out of his reach, she with a wily look and he scowling.

"The hell was that for?" he demanded, folding his arms.

"Oh I'm bribing you…well more like blackmailing," she smiled, holding the tray tantalizingly over her head.

"What are you going on about?"

"A deal." She poked him in the chest. "You want my cookies? You gotta make me a promise."

He gave her an unamused look. "You know, I could just take that from you. Easily."

Her brow lowered. "Not if you want me cooking for you the rest of the month you can't! Besides, it's a fair promise anyhow. Really, it should just be expected."

He grunted. "Fine. What is it you want?"

"Oh nothing much…" She leaned forward, her brow even more intense. "I just want you to promise that you'll be there when this baby's born."

"Are you serious?" he scoffed, turning his chin aside slightly, "Why are you even thinking of that? I was under the impression the birth wasn't till months from now."

She leaned back and put her hand on her hip. "You want my cookies or not?"

He growled, rolling his eyes. "Oh whatever. Yes, fine, I'll be there."

"Saiyan honor?" she challenged, poking him again.

He rebuffed her hand irritably. "Of course. Now give me a goddamn cookie."

She giggled. "As my prince commands," she chimed, promptly sticking one in his mouth.

Back in the moment, Bulma gave a whimpering grunt, shutting her eyes as the tears ran again. "I'll never forgive you, Vegeta. I'll never forgive you if you're not there. Just come back to me, is that too much to ask?!" She grabbed the seedling and squeezed it tight in her hand, glaring at the floor as she blinked out more tears. "Fine, I'll do it. I'll do it for you, Vegeta. And then you better come home…" She saw his proud visage in her mind. She saw him leaning close and whispering those three words in her ear. "…You pigheaded asshole."

She swallowed it and curled up on the bed, hands pressed to her stomach.

(**Scene Break**)

Exhausted from the stresses of the day, without realizing it, Goku fell asleep in Misado's grasp. Its sweet aura lulled him into contented slumber and the ancient world spirit held him gently in the vines of its avatar, watching as his eyes slipped closed. His mouth hung open as Misado slowly lowered him onto his pillow, the foliage gently uncurling from him as a sheet covered his chest. Last, it left the fruit by his hand and withdrew, leaving the saiyan warrior to his well-deserved rest. The avatar departed to go where it was needed, as it always did.

Deep in space, a lush planet circled a brilliant star. Across the galaxy, seedlings rested in the bellies of many good, kind, and honest souls. An aurora of blue lights danced through the sky of this magnificent planet. Its energies reached out through the darkness of space. There was a throb, like a heartbeat, quaking in the chests of many, and this blue shone around those who had dared to believe in the power of good. The seeds awakened in them. They absorbed this goodness. They grew in this faith.

Collectively, these beings sighed, new plant-forms escaping their mouths; floating forth into the black on shimmering wings.