It was dark when Toa tiredly opened his eyes. His shoulder was hurting, stiff, and sore ;and his mind hazily recalled being shot with a dart. Pushing himself up, the beta looked for his cubs not feeling them nearby. He whined not immediately seeing them. Had Bitter One taken them away again? Scenting the air, he calmed still able to smell them.

He looked around trying to find them only to see a pile by the not there wall. It was Alpha's nest, but it was larger than before. The small saiyan blinked in confusion as to why it was larger than before. He shakily got on his hands and knees and crawled out of his nest to the not there wall, wanting to be closer to Alpha.

As he got closer, he could see that the clear barrier was gone. The scent of Alpha was stronger now, and it soothed him. Toa moved closer with his blanket being drug behind him so he could join the larger saiyan. Cubs' scents smelled stronger now too, and the beta stopped by the nest to look down blearily. Alpha was with his cubs. Oh…that's why the lump was bigger.

The beta was confused as to why his cubs were there and the not there wall was gone, but he was more interested in Alpha. Kome was asleep in Alpha's nest. Seba too. Alpha was curled around his cubs, protecting them, Seba curled between Alpha's chest and Kome's body. The little one at ease and lightly sucking the tip of his tail in his sleep.

Toa whimpered nervously but joined the other three in the nest unable to resist Alpha's smell. He flopped down behind Alpha and buried his face between the shoulder blades on Alpha's back. He pulled in a deep breath and purred while the clove scent before pulling his blanket to cover him and the others in the nest with him.

Alpha was warm, and the smaller male could feel his eyes becoming heavier as he settled in a comfortable position. He rubbed his cheek against Alpha's back with a small smile on his face, his purr becoming louder without him realizing it. He was so sleepy that he barely twitched as a tail that wasn't his wrapped around his waist and the larger saiyan moved to lay on his back. Toa blinked once as he felt the tail bring him closer to Alpha and a strong arm wrapped around him as well. A deeper rumble came from Alpha, and the beta sighed as he rested his head on the muscular chest before burring his nose in Alphas chest to get most of the scent that made him feel good. For the first time in a long time, the beta felt almost completely safe as he joined the others in sleep.

++VK++

Kakarot blinked open his heavy eyes with a slight groan. He almost panicked as he heard words being whispered close to him, but the familiar scent and voice had him relaxing in his nest. His eyes finally managed to open half way and glanced around to find the source of that raspy tone and wonderful scent. It reminded him of home. And something else. He knew that scent, it was familiar, from before; but he couldn't place why in the chaotic mess his memory was in.

The only thing he knew for certain was that scent was safe, that the owner was strong and wouldn't hurt him. His other self wouldn't let any thing bad in here. They were here last time he woke up. He made the bad things go away and was so warm.

The beta shivered in spite of the blankets and furs. He wanted to be closer to that scent and warmth. His other self already was soaking up the positive attention if the faint sense of relaxation was coming from him. Kakarot was barely aware of his movement closer to the source of that smell. A soft purr, the muscles weak with how long it had been since he last purred, came from his chest as he curled against the warm body in the nest.

He breathed in the smell allowing it to flood his senses and block out everything unpleasant. Strong fingers slowly buried themselves in his spiky hair and lightly scratched his scalp. The feeling almost has the beta melting in the nest, and Kakarot pushed his head up to slightly increased the pressure.

"Hmmm." His purr finally stuttered out so he was left to hum his appreciation for the attention. He opened his eyes to see Vegeta in the nest with him. The larger saiyan was looking at him with a soft expression.

"Hello, Kakarot."

++VK++

Vegeta wasn't surprised when Kakarot moved closer to him. Toa had almost plastered himself to the alpha as soon as they appeared in the illusion world. The feral half of his mate had looked stressed and upset over what happened earlier in the day, and it made the prince thankful that Toa missed seeing his oldest cub shocked.

There was no telling what he would have done if he did.

"I remember you." Kakarot's voice had Vegeta glancing down at him. "Vegeta...You were a strong fighter back home. You trained all the time."

"That's right." The alpha was pleased that Kakarot sounded more awake this time and not having a panic attack. "I was trained by your father."

"Mmmm…." The small beta moved his head a little so Vegeta's fingers could rub behind his ear. "Teti use to do this to me when I was younger. Back before…"

The prince lifted an eyebrow as Kakarot trailed off. He watched as the younger male stared off into the distance, and he had to suppress the urge to jump when Toa let out a pitiful whimper on his other side. Kakarot mirrored that whimper and worried Vegeta when he curled into a ball with his eyes clenched shut.

"Kakarot?" The air shifted around them and Vegeta wondered what was going on when Toa growled and tightly held onto him. "Toa what's happening?"

"Flash...memory...hurts." Vegeta found himself staring at the living room.

"You should stay here! You're not strong enough to go to the combat zone!" Bardock shouted as he crossed his arms over his chest. Kakarot, one who was obviously a teenager was across the room from him.

"I am! I can fight like any other warrior you have trained in the past, why won't you let me go fight?!" He pleaded with his father not understanding this change of mind. "You told me I was good enough to keep up with a squad."

"This isn't about whether or not you can fight! I know you can, but the answer is still no! I will not allow my son to risk his life just so he can prove himself at something that doesn't matter!"

"It matters to me!" Tears gathered in his eyes. All he ever wanted was to be a strong fighter like his father and brother. "Why can't you understand that!? I don't want to stay planetside and become nothing but a breeder raising cubs. I want to fight!" There was nothing for him on the planet, why didn't his father understand that. No one was even interested in courting him aside from using him to have cubs. Why couldn't anyone understand that?

"Kakarot!" The beta actually shrank back from his father afraid that for the first time the man would actually strike him. His father loomed over him with fury burning in his eyes. "You're staying here! End of discussion!" He glared up at the man and stubbornly wiped his tears away, only for new ones to take their place.

"I won't! I want to fight and you can't stop me!" He spun on his heel and bolted out of the house slamming the door behind him.

"Kakarot!"

"Teti...I'm sorry..." Kakarot whimpered with tears in his eyes as the memory faded. "I'm sorry, you were right."

"Hey, it's ok." Vegeta tried soothing the beta as his fingers rubbed at his scalp again. Another whine made the alpha's heart twist before the small beta pressed closer. "Bardock misses you a lot, Kakarot. He's been looking for you all this time."

"He was so mad..." The beta whined softly as his words died. "He won't want me now...too weak."

"That's not true." The prince could see the defeat in his mate and knew it would be a long time before the beta would believe him, but he had to try. "He's been looking for you ever since you disappeared, Kakarot. I know he'll be very happy to have you back."

Vegeta watched as Kakarot pressed his face in further on his thigh. Toa whined as his leg became damp with tears. The alpha reached out with an arm and pulled the beta up to rest on his side with his face buried in Vegeta's shoulder.

"I've seen Bardock's determination to find you first hand." He tried to comfort Kakarot by purring and rubbing the beta's back. "He's followed every lead and turned over every rock where you were taken. He loves you, Kakarot."

"He won't anymore." The small voice was almost a whisper that broke Vegeta's heart to hear. "I fought so hard, but there were just too many. I used the blutz wave orb to transform, but someone destroyed it before I could finish my enemies. After that…I ran."

Kakarot whined again and tightened his hold on the larger man. The prince used both arms to hug the distraught half of his mate while Toa backed off some, but remained pressed close to Vegeta's other side.

"Teti hates cowards and weakness…and I ran like one. He always says to fight to the end...but I...I couldn't. I just ran and hid like a coward…praying help would come." Kakarot started to sob making his feral side whine and shiver. "I failed at that too. I couldn't even run fast enough to escape, no matter how many times they let me try. I can't even feel my ki; I can't fight anymore! Teti will hate me! He was right, I was stupid to think I could be a fighter. I should have listened to him."

The alpha couldn't take it anymore and gathered up Kakarot in his arms. He placed him in between his legs and pulled him to his chest, letting the younger saiyan cry. Kalious only knew how long the beta had bottled all this up. He rubbed his hand up and down the beta's back trying to comfort him as best he could while tucking Kakarot's head under his chin. He wanted to kiss the younger male, to lick his bond bite and soothe him, but hesitated unsure if it would actually help or upset Kakarot more.

"Kakarot, there's nothing wrong with running when you are facing odds you can't overcome. Its called a strategic retreat. I do it, Broly, the strongest of our race, does it. Hell, I've even known your father to do it a few times." Vegeta said quietly once Kakarot started to calm as he firmly held the beta. "You used the blutz orb, if they managed to destroy that any of us would have had to run. There is no shame in running when your strength has been exhausted. Bardock will understand that, Kakarot. I know you don't believe me now, but I promise he still wants you."

"You...you're sure? I don't want him to h-hate me, Geta."

"I promise." Vegeta said softly. He felt Toa shifted making Kakarot look over at him.

"I fight." Toa said. "I fight for both of us."

"You shouldn't have to." Kakarot shrank back a little from his other half so they wouldn't touch. His eyes were looking through his bangs at Toa. "You've already done enough. This is something I should be able to do."

The prince watched as Kakarot blinked back more tears as he hunched in further in himself. Just seeing that made him want to get the beta back to safety faster.

"You are only here because I couldn't take what they were doing to me. I…" The younger looking beta's voice broke over a sob. "If I was stronger-."

"We are same!" The feral half of the beta growled interrupting the self deprecating words as he reached for Kakarot before the other could stop him. Toa had gently taken ahold of Kakarot's shoulders to pull him closer. "If I fight, you fight!"

Vegeta moved to separate them, but the looks of shock on both of their faces stopped him. They looked at each other, and Kakarot slowly brushed his hand against Toa's arm. It slowly settled just behind the wrist.

"It…doesn't hurt?" Kakarot weakly said going limp against Vegeta. Toa let go of his other hand, but didn't move away obviously confused as well.

"What just happened?" Vegeta asked quietly looking between the two. Kakarot's eyes were already falling closed before the prince realized he was no longer awake. "Toa?"

"Good sleep, too much…" He nodded towards them not having the words to explain more.

"Too much happened." Vegeta finished resettling Kakarot to lean back against his chest between his legs. The beta woke up and had that memory and got upset afterwards, considering how deep he buried himself mentally he was probably exhausted. "You said you couldn't touch each other, that it hurt."

"Used to." Toa responded settling down beside the prince and leaning against his side. "Never not hurt before. Not Me never called flash here either."

"He doesn't see his memories here?" Toa shook his head and seemed to be thinking.

"This Safe Place no Bad Flashes here." He said finally. "Bad Flashes outside in storms, Bad Bad Flashes buried. Good Flashes here, but….fading?" He shrugged not sure how to communicate what went on with their memories before pointing at Kakarot's head. "Not see them, Good Flashes here. Not Me won't let me get rid of that one. It hurts us, but he keeps here."

"That's the last time he saw his father." Vegeta realized. "Bardock, my teacher, came home from a long mission and was in a bad mood the next day. I heard his son had taken a higher ranked mission after the fact. Two weeks later Kakarot's pod went offline, and we didn't know what happened to him."

"Bad One caught us. Bring us here." Toa looked at his other self and where he was still touching him. He still seemed to be confused and in awe that he could now do so. "After split, pain comes from touching."

"What changed?" The prince blinked in confusion. While he was happy that this seemed to be a good thing, he wanted to know how it happened so he could help his mate further.

"You."

That had Vegeta freezing as he was absentmindedly stroking the sleeping beta's hair. His head jerked in the other's direction only to see Toa moving so he could rest against the larger man. He nuzzled his cheek on Vegeta's chest with a small purr.

"What…?"

"You change us. Make us feel better." The feral half of his mate managed to maneuver his way so that he was resting on the alpha's chest like Kakarot. He hugged his other self and buried his face in black spikes and Vegeta's chest. "You good mate."

Vegeta froze at the last word. Had Toa just… He had, the beta acknowledged that he was his…their mate.

"You understand what that means?" The prince asked softly. Toa just nodded and purred.

"You Alpha, you mate, our mate, our alpha. You strong and Good." Toa said as if it was the simplest thing in the world. "You make feel good, you keep us safe. You like the cubs. Good mate. Strong mate, we like you."

As the feral half drifted to sleep, Vegeta tried to process everything. First was the fact Kakarot seemed to be getting better. He woke on his own and didn't immediately panic or breakdown. Being able to touch Toa also was a sign of healing in his opinion. He doubted they'd ever rejoin if simple touching caused pain. Looking at Toa wrapped around Kakarot in their sleep it was painfully obvious how starved for positive touch both sides were. The cubs didn't count. He was their tama, any touch from them would be positive. No, Toa needed touch from another person, an adult. It was just another thing that made him want to kill everyone involved with this shit.

Saiyans were tactile, and Vegeta found himself becoming increasingly aware of that every day he was here. Small things like friendly shoves or hits when messing around. Concerned brushes or gentle touches to injuries to check them. Touches between friends and comrades to help relax or comfort. Grooming between family members. All of it he had taken for granted. Toa was so touch starved he didn't realize it with how he clung to Vegeta. Kakarot was just afraid, and the prince couldn't blame him when nearly every touch he likely received after his capture was to violate him or cause pain.

Second, Kakarot or at least Toa, was aware of the mating bond between them. And not only aware, but pleased with it if Vegeta was understanding Toa's use of 'good' and 'like'. The feral didn't have an expansive vocabulary and at times made it difficult to understand him. But his declaration that they were mates was about as blunt and straight forward as you could get. And Vegeta was finding he liked that. It eased some of his shame and guilt that the beta wasn't against being mated to him, that it actually made Toa happy. He had been afraid once Toa understood that he would hate him and be angry for trapping him in a relationship he may not have wanted.

The thought of forcing a beta to mate themselves to someone was disgusting. He was aware that some alphas would find younger betas and force them to bond just to become breeders. Usually it happened in the lower caste and was an issue with weaker betas. And those rumors were apparently very real if Kakarot's ideas that he was only desired as a breeder as a teenager were accurate. He felt sick for the beta that in trying to escape that fate on their planet he ended up in this hell. At least back home, Kakarot would have had his family, his friends, a life instead of this sad, miserable existence. He considered asking Toa about the bond, about why the beta bit him back, but he had a feeling he wouldn't get anywhere with that. For all he knew, Toa could have liked his scent or bit him on reflex during the mating.

He was going to do something about those other alphas when they got home. And he still planed to offer himself to Tarro's judgment for what he had done regardless of Toa's approval. He wanted to know the goddess forgave him for what happened….that Kakarot forgave him and accepted him. If he didn't and Kakarot wished it, Vegeta would plead with the Goddess to annul their bond. Neither he or Kakarot would ever bond with another being the same way afterwards, it would be a weaker, more shallow bond, but they wouldn't be bound to each other. The prince found himself hoping it wouldn't come to that, in spite of the rocky start he was growing to care more about the fiery little beta every passing day. Now that he was aware of it, he could see more of the Kakarot that used to be in Toa.

Vegeta looked down at the pair still resting on his chest. He was becoming very attached to the beta and hoped that they would remain together when they got back. Although…he was still pretty sure Bardock was going to kill him.