Seba rolled so he could sit up on his hands and knees, and the small cub looked over his shoulder at Kome and Tama. Second meal was large and Tama fell asleep holding Kome to him, but he allowed the smaller cub to curl up freely beside him. Now both looked like they were sleeping, and Seba wanted to play. Since his family was sleeping, the cub looked over to the not there wall. Maybe New One would play with him?

He was sitting on his nest with his eyes closed while he was sitting. The tiny boy cocked his head to the side trying to figure out what the male was doing. He couldn't be sleeping; he wasn't resting against anything. What could he be doing?

The cub slowly crawled closer to the clear wall while carefully watching the big male. The closer he got, he just realized how big he was, and Seba became slightly unsure if playing with him would be a good thing to do. He paused with his tail twitching behind him about halfway to the wall.

But he smelled nice. And he could talk like Kome could! And he hadn't been mean to him and Kome and Tama like Bad One. Thinking of Bad One made the small child shiver and almost let out a whine, but he did that Tama would wake up and make him go back to the nest. He wanted to play! So Seba slowly moved closer once more.

He finally got beside the not there wall and tilted his head to the side as he looked at the male. Seba kneeled with his hands resting on the floor between his legs with his tail curling around him. Now that he was beside the male he saw just how big he was! He was bigger than Tama.

Seba looked over to see how he was sitting. New One had his legs crossed with his hands resting on his knees, and that tail was resting on the floor beside him. The boy narrowed his eyes to try and figure out what he was doing, but he had no idea. Was he pretending to be asleep? His eyes darted to the long brown tail that twitched on the floor.

The little cub reached for the tail. It moved again! New one made a weird sound….a laugh! He didn't hear laughs often! Looking up the cub saw New One watching him. With a squeak, the little cub darted away from the not wall. Seba stopped halfway back to the nest and turned around and tilted his head curiously. New One was looking around like he didn't see him. Maybe he could sneak up on New One like Tama!

++KV++

The littlest cub was "sneaking" over again. Vegeta found himself marveling at how "normal" his behavior was. Granted he didn't speak but beside that he boy was just like any other young cub. If the prince had to guess the cub was at least 3 years old, at the oldest he would be maybe 6. He was small but looked healthy so it was unlikely he was any older.

He opened his eyes all the way and stared at the cub grinning as he scampered back towards Toa's nest. Vegeta played along and closed his eyes pretending not to see him and watched with cracked eyes. He had been meditating before when he heard the boy coming over the first time, and he was curious about his teacher's mini clone.

He was dressed like the older cub in those flimsy scrubs, and the wild spikes on his head looked exactly like Bardock's hair. It made Vegeta wonder if this cub was somehow related to the 3rd class general. The sound of another small squeal drew the alpha from his thoughts as he opened his eyes to "notice" the tiny boy once more.

The cub turned and crouched on all fours and trilled in excitement as the little black tail swayed happily. Vegeta didn't wait for him to come all the way back to the wall and "noticed" him before the cub made it half way sending the cub scampering away again with a grin on his face.

The alpha had to admit to himself that this was kinda fun. It was a strange version of hide and seek, but seeing the small cub having fun and laughing help improve Vegeta's mood. It reminded him of when he used to play with his younger brother. It was rare that he ever got time to spend with Tarble, but whenever he had free time, he always tried to see and spend time with the young prince.

++KV++

Seba squealed happily waking Kome up. He looked up and felt his heart stop at the sight of Seba scurrying away from the wall. He was confused when the little cub stopped well away from the nest and turned around. The male was sitting with his legs crossed and eyes closed. Tama….Tama had sat that way when he was really little. Seba was creeping towards him again, and it took everything Kome had to not fight to get loose from Tama's hold. Tama was mad at him for hissing at the male. He wasn't allowed to leave the nest. But Seba…

A giggle distracted him from his worry. It was Seba, his little brother was giggling as he scurried away from the wall. He hadn't laughed or giggled since before Bad One visited. A glance back at the male showed he was relaxed, and smiling. Was he playing with Seba?

None of the others had even looked at them, what did that mean? Why was he playing with Seba? Was he up to something?

Kome whined softly only for Tama to hold him tighter to him and purr softly. Tama wasn't worried. If he was worried, he wouldn't be sleeping. It wasn't like the male could actually get to Seba now that he thought about it. There was a wall between them. And if something happened, Seba would run for the nest. Those thoughts had the older cub relaxing a small bit, but he still kept his eyes glued to the form of his little brother.

The smell of ice reached his nose then and he whimpered. Cold One!

"Tama! Tama, Cold One!" Kome whispered shaking the beta.

++KV++

Vegeta grinned at the cub who was leaning against the barrier with his hands against the prince's. The alpha moved his left hand a small ways on the clear wall, and his grin grew when the boy copied the movement. The cub's tail was wagging happily while he grinned, eyes bright. Kalious, this cub was cute, and he suppressed a laugh at the thought of calling anything that looked so much like his teacher "cute". Bardock would murder him if he ever found out.

The alpha brought his tail around to wrap the end around one of his wrists before letting it go to tap at the barrier. He chuckled as he saw the boy try to stop his tail from wagging long enough to do the same. The boy turned to stare at the furry limb as it refused to stop moving before he finally got it under control. When the cub turned back to him, the prince saw a proud and triumphant expression as the tiny tail tapped at the wall. He was so involved in playing with the boy that he didn't notice the person coming up to the cells.

"Well well, you made a friend, Vegeta. How adorable." The little cub shrank back and crouched in fear looking up at Frieza and Vegeta's blood boiled. "You know, I hardly ever see the little monkey this closely." He taunted looking closely at the tiny cub. The prince could see the boy's trembling as a spike of fear filled the air. Seba was staring wide-eyed and breathing shallowly in fear as he shook.

"Oh look, the poor little thing is scared half to death." The frost demon said with a chuckle as he saw tears appear in the cub's eyes. "I do think he's going to cry now."

Before Vegeta could say anything, a growling snarl came from the other side of the cell. The prince looked over to see Toa dashing over to place himself between Frieza and his cub. His tail immediately wrapped around the boy, and the boy latched onto one of the dark gray pant legs that the beta was wearing.

The alpha could see that Toa was afraid of the ice lizard as well. Despite the fact that the beta was baring his fangs at Frieza, Vegeta could see him shaking and smell the terror that was coming off him in waves. A small part of Vegeta's mind admired the courage that Toa was showing.

"And here is mama." Frieza sneered unamused. "Honestly, I don't know why 01 is so protective of a failed experiment. He hides them every time I come to see them while they are with him."

"Perhaps he just doesn't want his boys to see your ugly face. I'm sure they'd be traumatized at the sight alone. I know I was when I first saw you." Vegeta casually said as he shifted to sit on his bedding in a more comfortable position. "There's also the fact you're a creepy nudest that parades himself in front of young children. Or maybe, and I'm going out on a limb here, just maybe he knows what a five foot frozen sack of shit you are and hates your guts." Vegeta's voice went cold as he glared at the demon.

Despite knowing what was going to happen to him if he made the frost demon angry, the prince felt like he needed to keep Frieza's attention away from the tiny beta and his cubs. He had to protect them, and this was the only way he could.

"Come again," Frieza hissed looking at the alpha with murder in his eyes. "I'm not sure I heard you correctly."

"You heard me, you short-" Vegeta's jaw clenched shut as electricity shot through him dropping him into his bedding as he lost control of his limps. He refused to scream as he clenched his teeth shut. Another burst hit and he curled his body inward trying to ride through the pain.

"What's the matter, monkey? No more funny jokes." Frieza snapped finally letting the voltage die off. The prince's body shook from the aftershocks and sweat bloomed all over his body. A weak raspy laugh made the demon look at the prince with a raised eyebrow. "Do tell me what is so funny about your situation?"

"Your ugly ass face." He groaned through clenched teeth as Frieza shocked him again. He could smell flesh burning as the pain almost made him scream. 'You are stronger than this. You are protecting your mate and cubs, he is not going to beat you!' He screamed in his mind.

"My Lord." Suddenly the collar cut off letting the alpha take a shaky breath. He had never felt so relieved to hear that blue alien's voice. He knew any attempt to move was out off the question as his muscles shook and clenched on themselves at random.

"What is it, Sorbet?" The tyrant sounded like a child who had their fun interrupted.

"There is a transmission from your Father in the command center. He says its urgent."

"Very well," He sighed. "It seems our fun is over, Vegeta. Sorbet, cut his rations for a few days. Maybe that will teach this filthy monkey some manners."

"As you wish, sire." The blue alien said bowing to the retreating figure. Once the tyrant was gone he opened Vegeta's cell and knelt to check the alpha over.

"That was remarkably stupid of you." He said accessing the burns on the saiyan's neck. "What did you possibly hope to accomplish?" Sorbet pulled a spray and bandages from the pockets of his lab coat and worked to wrap the burns to keep the collar from ripping the skin open. He had nothing to worry about the prince couldn't even lift his head let alone try to escape.

"He...stopped antagonizing...Toa…didn't he?"

"Toa? You mean 01? You gave him a name?"

"Better than…a stupid…number…"

++VK++

The beta was moving Seba back to the nest, but he kept looking over his shoulder at Alpha. Bitter One was talking to him as he wrapped white stuff around his neck, and the smaller saiyan felt his chest hurt at the sight of Stronger One. He was twitching and clenching his teeth as he laid on his nest.

Alpha was hurt. Cold One had hurt Alpha with that metal circle around Alpha's neck.

Seba whined in fear, and the beta picked him up and held him to his chest as soon as he got back to the nest. Kome came up and crawled in his lap, and the small saiyan had to juggle the two cubs in his arms until he was able to hold them. He covered the shaking boys with his blanket and purred to reassure the cubs that they were safe.

He was scared too. He thought he was going to loose Seba. Cold One was very strong. Stronger than Bad One. Every time he saw Cold One, his head hurt and his body shook. But Alpha…Alpha drew Cold One's eyes away from them. He challenged Cold One, but now Alpha is hurt.

Alpha let out a groan that drew his eyes back over to the not there wall. Bitter One was still there and Alpha's voice sounded strained. He wasn't moving. Why couldn't Strong One move?

He whined as he watched Bitter One stand up but not leave. He felt like he needed to look over Alpha. He protected them like he said he would. He couldn't leave the cubs though, and they didn't need to see Alpha if he was hurt. Seba mewled pitifully and shook despite his reassurances. Quietly he wiped tears from the cub's face and purred louder holding the little one near his heart.

"He played with Seba." Kome said softly. He hoped Tama understood so he could know why his brother was so upset. He didn't always understand when Kome spoke now and the older boy feared a day would come where Tama didn't understand anything he said. Toa nuzzled both cubs and settled with them in the blankets. Seba whimpered but still dozed off and curled into Kome looking for more comfort. The beta watched them both with worried eyes while he ran his hand through the older boy's hair.

He couldn't lose his babies. Toa shivered at the thought. He couldn't survive if he did. The babies he didn't birth hurt bad enough, either of his boys would kill him. He didn't know how he knew that, but he knew it was true. Seeing the cubs sleeping while clinging to each other the beta rearranged his nest better to keep them comfortable.

Stepping away from the nest, Toa crouched and winced at the flashes in his head. Cold One hurt them. He always hurt them. Walls moved around him boxing him in. Pain and his instincts telling him to run. Shaking his head he tried to push them away but they wouldn't stop. Laughter and a dark cold room. Hands pulled at his hair dragging him somewhere.

Alpha, he needed to check on alpha! He growled softly forcing the images back. Turning to the not wall the beta quietly moved beside Alpha and leaned down to sniff him. He could smell the burnt skin, something that was familiar and see the shaking of his muscles. He whined not knowing what to do. Alpha was hurt, Alpha shouldn't be hurt. Alpha grunted then and shifted weakly in the nest. Dark eyes met his and Toa saw the pain in them fade a little.

Why did Alpha do that? Alpha should have known Cold One would hurt him. But Alpha protected them. Whimpering again the beta didn't know what to think.

Alpha was saying something but he didn't understand. Just the word "Toa". Alpha called him that. Alpha spoke like Kome….like he had? He head was cradled in his hands as the pain grew. Too much. Too many things, bad things. Memories hurt.

"Toa…" Alpha's tired voice cut through the confusion in his head. He looked tired. Was Bitter One making him sleep? Sleep was good, sleep made the pain go away. Hesitantly the beta settled close to the wall and purred for Alpha. It made his cubs sleep, it would make Alpha sleep.