A.N: Hello, everyone! I wanted to thank you all for keeping up with us on this story, unfortunately, both Serradragon and myself are going hiatus for a while. Things have gotten a bit stressful for us for a bit, and we need to take a break. We are not sure how long it'll be, but we will be back.

Peals of laughter pulled the alpha's attention from his stack of paperwork. Vegeta had turned the office in their home into his primary work space. He wanted to be with his mate and children as much as possible. Glancing out his window to the gardens he smiled seeing three of his cubs.

Rahi and Amara were going on ten years old now. His son was taking after him more in appearance as he got older but he was more like Kakarot in personality. Calm and nurturing towards his siblings with a dangerous protective streak considering his son was almost on par with Kome in terms of power and still growing.

Amara was just as smart as her older brother and was more often seen studying various texts and books she would take from the library and occasionally Bardock or Turles when the man visited. Bardock and Yasi both said she seemed to have traits similar to her grandmother and great grandmother on either side with her impressive mane of hair much like her uncle's. Seba and Tasik had remained thick as thieves all these years and he and Kakarot were honestly expecting the older hybrid to ask permission to begin formally courting by the end of the year. At 15, Seba was too young to actually mate but it would serve to keep other interested parties away from the young beta. Not that anyone in the family would allow Seba to be pushed into anything against his will. Vegeta smirked at that. He had done what Bardock and his father had failed to do and cracked down on poaching in the lower classes.

Shortly after Retaso's death Bardock had come to him for help. A third class family had their 15 year old cub taken from their home. He was their only child. Desperate they reached out to Bardock for help and the older alpha in turn brought it to him. He agreed to champion them to get their son back. The elite accepted their challenge only to find to his horror he was facing off against the prince in his super saiyan form. Vegeta made his opinions on poaching exceedingly clear as he savagely beat the alpha into a coma and publicly stated he would champion any family who had a child or loved one taken in such a way.

Needless to say only a handful of fights occurred after that but the need for them practically vanished within a few weeks. Many elites simply released their mates if they wanted to go and had their bonds quietly annulled without his involvement. When members of the council tried to reprimand him for his actions, Kalious blessing Vegeta with his sigil in a flash of light before striking them blind for three days put an end to that. He had the approval of the gods and that was all that mattered.

Happy squeals pulled him from his more serious thoughts as he saw another of his cubs join Amara and Rahi. In total, he and Kakarot had seven beautiful children before he finally convinced Kakarot they had to stop. While Kakarot had mostly recovered from his time in captivity it had done irreparable damage. His body just couldn't withstand the natural stress of pregnancy anymore. The birth of their youngest and last had nearly killed him. It took Chorri almost 10 minutes to restart his heart after it gave out.

Kakarot had suffered a severe bout of depression after the news and during his recovery from the resulting surgery to prevent any more pregnancies. Paragus informed them it was a mix of postpartum depression and Kakarot finally coming to terms with the lost of all his previous cubs. He had mourned them certainly but he had never truly accepted or moved past those losses. They had fenced in a small portion of the gardens for Kakarot alone to help him cope and find closure as a sort of monument for his departed cubs. His mate had carved flowers for all of them. Vegeta had never had the will to count how many.

Not only that, Kakarot had struggled with the idea his only purpose was to have cubs. It hurt to see his mate go through that on and off for the last ten years. Kakarot was conditioned to think that under Frieza, but it took several weeks after Retaso's death for the beta to tell them what was said to him while he was alone with the traitor. The alpha wished he could bring the bastard back to life and kill him again even slower. As it was no one was sure what specifically killed the bastard when Vegeta had transformed in his rage. Kakarot's supposed death was easier to figure out according to Chorri. Retaso had strangled him and partially crushed his windpipe which stopped his heart with the lack of oxygen. As best she and Bardock could tell the shockwave that blew out the walls hit Kakarot with enough force to restart his heart and get him breathing again, albeit weakly. Thankfully there was no lasting damage to his mate.

The whole identity crisis lead to Paragus convincing Kakarot to try different hobbies and arts to boost his self esteem and eventually find something besides childcare to let Kakarot feel a sense of purpose. Saiyans were rarely lazy creatures and outside familial duties devoted themselves fully to either fighting or a craft of some sort, something Kakarot was missing.

Truthfully he and Kakarot didn't exactly plan to have so many cubs. Unfortunately a side effect of forcing Kakarot to have heats so often led him to have irregular heat cycles that didn't always have visible symptoms and what Chorri termed, "false heats" with all the symptoms but no fertility. Vega had been a complete surprise. She was born roughly two years after the twins. He smiled remembering that day.

Flashback

"All I'm saying is that you should name your child Vegeta. It's tradition and you've already named your heir something else but there has always been a Vegeta in every generation of the royal family." KV said as they sat in the waiting room with the whole family.

"I told you, it's up to Kakarot." The prince said pinching the bridge of his nose. "He's the one that's carried the child all this time, so he has the most say in what our children are named. Besides we don't know if this cub is even a boy or not." Their child had seen fit to hide their gender with their tail every time they tried to look.

"Bah, you know as well as I do the odds of Kakarot having a girl are one in a hundred. You already have one girl I doubt he'll have another."

"Your father does have a point, Vege." Yasi said with a smile. "Odds are this cub will be male, but we'll love them just as much either way."

"I'm a personal fan of Bardock myself." The general teased making the reigning monarch frown.

"We are not naming one of my grandchildren are you."

"Well maybe I don't want MY grandchild named after you?" Bardock teased with a grin. "Besides I happen to think my name is pretty strong and lucky given I'm the first person to ascend to super since Broly."

"There is a long history and tradition with naming the royal line, and I'd like at lease one of my grandchildren to follow them." Vegeta sighed and tried to ignore their bickering. It was mostly harmless anyways. He wouldn't deny naming one of their cubs after him would be nice but he actually wanted to have the chance to name one after Kakarot if the beta was willing.

Chorri finally came out with a smile on her face. Vegeta was on his feet before she even made it three steps from the door.

"Kakarot is fine. Everything went perfectly and he wants to see you."

"And the cub?" He asked in anticipation.

"A healthy baby girl." She said with a grin and a sharp look and the older males. They stared at her dumbfounded and even Vegeta couldn't help but be surprised. Kakarot had given birth not only four times by now but had had one beta and two girls. That was almost unheard of. Still Vegeta grinned as he stepped past Chorri into the delivery room.

Kakarot was tired but in much better shape than the delivery of the twins as he held the tiny cub to his chest in a blanket he'd made during his pregnancy. It was a complete mess of knots and dropped stitches but he was proud of his attempt at knitting even if he didn't make anything else.

"She's beautiful Aiyo." Vegeta said as he sat down beside his mate and looked over his second daughter. Tarro had certainly blessed them with so many bearers in his line. "Have you named her?" Kakarot purred and leaned into him nodding.

"Vega." The prince was startled by that but didn't have a chance to comment as their parents came in.

"Wonderful name! Short for Vegeta I presume?" His father said with a smug grin at Bardock. Kakarot frowned and pulled his cub closer to his chest.

"No, Vega." He said softly. "Too many Getas." Yasi couldn't help but laugh at the look on his husband's face while Bardock snickered gleefully.

"Kakarot you don't have to name her after me if you don't want to." Vegeta said softly. The beta just smiled up at him.

"Vega is a good name, strong like her Teti's."

Flashback End

Vega was certainly like him in a lot of ways. She loved sparing and like her older brothers, very gifted. She had done the impossible and gotten Kakarot to actually set foot in a training facility after all these years. The beta never tried to spar with his children or anyone but he started watching her practice after her repeated begging and eventually was convinced to teach her and their other children some of the forms he'd learned as a child. Kakarot had started doing those forms as exercise with their cubs almost everyday since then.

Vega was lightly pushed by another young cub, Karrotto, who darted away laughing. He was meant to be their last and the only cub Kakarot and Vegeta had truly planned for. Kakarot wanted another child when Vega was around a year old and Vegeta agreed wanting their children to be closer in age to each other so they would have more companionship with each other than himself and Tarble had. His relationship with Tarble was more closely akin to Kome's relationship with his youngest siblings. He loved them all very much but by the time they were old enough for an equal sided relationship he was grown and busy with his own duties. That didn't stop him and Tarble from visiting with them almost every day but it wasn't quite the same thing as sharing lessons and play time with each other. Even the smaller difference between Seba and the younger cubs was glaring in someways.

His eyes drifted to the painting on his wall with a smile. Seba was the only one of their brood to do something other than academics or fighting so far. The beta decided he wanted to paint and that is what he did. He studied the traditional styles of their race before convincing them to let him study on Earth, one of their newer allies, for a few months. He of course wasn't alone as Raditz ended up not only the ambassador of the saiyan race to earth but mated to one of their natives. Bulma Briefs. She was the single most brilliant individual he'd ever met. In a competition between her Turles, Kome and Bardock he honestly couldn't say any of them would out wit her. And with her business like mind and no non-sense attitude she was a force to be reckoned with. His sister in law was almost saiyan like and absolutely adored Kakarot which immediately won her the favor of most of the family. She and Raditz had their own cub around Karrotto and Vega's age named Trunks. He was shockingly similar in appearance to Tasik without the tail and cat ears, although his hair was more grey with hints of his mother's coloring coming through more and more as he aged. Some joked that Trunks and Karrotto were the second coming of Seba and Tasik with their similar appearances, Karrotto being marked with a head of starburst spikes similar to his Tama's.

He could never be more grateful to Bardock for ending that damn war. Simply knowing that his children could grow up without that hanging over them let him sleep in peace every night. He couldn't imagine how his parents coped.

Vega had just turned four when Frieza snapped and decided to launch a direct assault on their planet. Since both he and Bardock had ascended to Super Broly had been allowed to go on missions off world and deal with the other Colds. The ice demon having caught wind of this assumed the saiyan home world was weakened and planned to blow up all the saiyans there and effectively cripple the saiyan alliance.

Bardock went up against the demon and his forces alone and with his riot javelin killed not only most of Frieza's attack force but the demon himself. The injuries Bardock had sustained nearly killed him but the stubborn alpha pulled through. The war itself lasted only another four months after that with both Cooler and King Cold falling shortly after.

He noticed his office door open a crack and the shuffling of small steps. Their youngest, Toa was awake from his nap...well partly. The cub was rubbing his eyes as his tail trailed the ground behind him dragging Kakarot's blanket in his other hand. Smiling the prince picked up his cub already knowing what he wanted and leaned back in his chair covering him with the blanket while Toa curled into his chest.

Out of all their children, Toa was the most like Kakarot. Not in appearance, but behavior. Bardock just grinned with that nostalgic look on his face with each of Toa's "firsts". Sometimes even Kakarot got a distracted look on his face watching the cub. Toa had taken after his namesake in looks. His hair was naturally similar to the wild spikes Kakarot's hair had tangled into. His mate once confided he felt that their child was Toa in a sense, the fierce protector given a chance at a real life. Vegeta was inclined to believe him since Kakarot had never again slipped into his "other self" after Toa's birth. Both Bardock and Paragus still expressed caution and the possibility Kakarot might still occasionally slip even after all this time, but Vegeta had a feeling Kakarot was right.

The beta had never completely gotten over his caution and anxiety with strangers, especially alphas. He didn't panic around them but it was clear he wasn't comfortable and didn't spend any more time near them than he absolutely had to. Occasionally he slipped around dignitaries of other races and had to leave to prevent an episode. It didn't take long to figure out Kakarot had been attacked by members of those races.

That said for all his "issues" Kakarot was well loved not only by the palace workers, but the people in general. The trial had unfortunately given Kakarot a proverbial mountain of concern and skepticism to fight, his parents had been right to warn him in the beginning that things would be hard. Kakarot wasn't hated but he wasn't supported or acknowledged as anything more than Vegeta's mate for years. His opinions ignored or outright dismissed unless one of the family was present. It wasn't until Vega was born and Kakarot very publicly made it clear he would be the only one besides their immediate family to have any say in how his children were raised that people started to realize Kakarot was perfectly able to stand on his own if push came to shove. The timid beta hated fighting after everything he'd suffered but he was not a pushover.

The staff loved him for the sheer fact he would watch their children no questions asked. Thyn had a recruit that been frantic with his wife ill having no one to watch his youngest child and Kakarot simply took the cub and settled him right down with Rahi, Amara and Vega for play time before shooing him and Thyn off on their day. He still remembered the surprise of some of the council when Kakarot walked past them with at least seven young cubs all holding tails in a line like little ducklings. The beta smiled and waved at Vegeta before he and the children went into the garden courtyard. Cries of glee and laughter were commonplace in that part of the palace now when Kakarot would take cubs to play there.

One councilman had seen it beneath Kakarot's station to play "nanny" as he called it until his wife promptly pointed out Kakarot was in fact watching his grandchild regularly. That put an end to all debate on the issue. In truth, Kakarot didn't plan to work so much with other children. He loved it and was very good with cubs certainly, but he confided he simply didn't know what else he was supposed to do besides that. He didn't have any skills outside child rearing and even then he still didn't know how to do things properly with the twins and Vega at times. It was much smoother with Karrotto and Toa, mostly due to trial and error. Yasi simply assured Kakarot that was normal and part of being a parent when the younger beta got upset or overwhelmed. Vegeta didn't care if that's all Kakarot wanted to do and would support him if he wanted to get schooling in a career of his choosing.

He suspected Kakarot would eventually get lessons once Toa was older. As it was he only kept Karrotto and Toa with him all day, the others old enough for lessons with other children since the beta wanted their cubs to never be alone like Kome and Seba had been. The prince agreed remembering how isolated his childhood was and Kakarot's was just as lonely aside from his friend Atarau.

"I don't know why I don't just look in here first." Kakarot said softly from the door way. The beta smiled at the sight as he leaned lightly on the door frame.

"He takes after you." The prince said with a grin. His hand ruffled the cub's hair. Toa sighed and purred under his touch while his tail coiled around his father's arm. "Is it time?"

"Almost." The beta said running his fingers through his youngest's hair with a soft smile. "We're mostly waiting on-"

"Kome! Tarble!" The loud chorus of their other children shouted announcing their arrival. Kakarot and Vegeta both chuckled. Sleepy dark eyes blinked open before rubbing his face in his father's chest with a soft whimper.

"Hey baby, did you have a good nap?" Kakarot cooed softly. Much like his namesake Toa was a rather quiet cub, but he was very affectionate and curious about everything lately.

"You know what today is right?" Vegeta asked gently finally getting the cub to sit up and yawn cutely. "It's not everyday you turn three."

Three was a special birthday for saiyans. It signified a cub was strong enough to make it to childhood in the old days when cubs didn't often survive infancy. Now it was just a traditional milestone and sign cubs were approaching the period they were becoming less clingy and dependent on their parents. Of course that wasn't always the case. Betas and females often maintained their clingy behavior longer thanks to their inherent instincts to seek protection from strong alphas but it happened in alphas just as often.

"I guess we'll have to let the others have all the cake if you're not interested." Kakarot said lightheartedly. "They came here just to see you. Even your Uncle Radi and Aunt Bulma."

"But I like cake..." the little cub said a bit sleepy still. Thank the gods Toa had never had trouble sleeping through the night. Their worst problem was getting him up.

"Well you have to get up if you want some." Kakarot said lightly tickling him earning a smile and soft giggles before he was swept up in his tama's arms.

"Is it chocolate?" Toa asked snuggling into the older beta's chest, loving the attention his Tama gave him.

"Of course!" Kakarot said rubbing their noses together. "It's not a birthday party without your favorite cake. Let's go say hi to everyone, kay?"

"Kay! Then cake?!" Toa chirped earning a small laugh from his Tama.

"Then cake reka."

"Yay cake! Cake! Come on Teti!"

"Just a moment, Toa." Vegeta said softly as he ruffled the cub's already wild hair. "I have to put my work away, it won't take long. Go on with your Tama I'll be there soon."

Toa smiled at him before waving as he and Kakarot paused in the doorway.

"Don't take long Geta."

"I won't Aiyo."

Vegeta smiled to himself as he watched his mate leave before placing any important paper work in the drawer and locking it. His children knew to stay out of his office but accidents could happen. His gaze fell on the picture of himself and his mate he kept on the desk. Kakarot was leaning against him with Vegeta's arms tight around his waist under the tree in the flower garden. It was a candid shot Yasi snapped about 4 years back, Kakarot healthy and vibrant. It and the picture of them and all their cubs in the family room were his two favorites. His mate and children were the light of his heart and a happiness he never expected.