Dear readers,

I'm sorry for my absence from this story. Work has been steadily increasing and I've been quite busy. I expect the workload to remain large in the upcoming months. I have had a bit of time to get creative and managed to write some more for this, but I've also taken my time since I'm thinking it'll be 30 chapters for this story. I've got a basic idea of where I want it to go and I'm not going to rush it. I just ask for a little patience. I've also started another fandom as well and writing for a different set of characters has helped clear my block. It's fun and refreshing. I hope you'll stick with me and I'm sorry this chapter took so long.

Please enjoy,

VP

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Chapter 22

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Preg-nant … Preg-nant … Preg-nant …

The word held on and swirled in his mind to the beat of his heart. It was too soon for this. He hated his reaction to this word but he just didn't know what to do. Vegeta finally decided to go confront the demon of his nightmares, the end of his people, avenge the kingdom … and now this. He felt her sadness as he slowly walked away to gather his thoughts, his mouth frozen, his voice taken from him. He felt her crying through their bond yet felt helpless.

He had nothing to offer her at this moment, no solace, no soothing words, just emptiness. If he failed in his mission, his quest, his purpose, then the child would grow up without a father. What madness was this? Why would the Gods permit him a child when he might not live to see it? Fate could be cruel.

Footsteps echoed at the entrance to the pool area where he had decided to stay. She had finally decided to follow him and he looked up at her tear-streaked face.

"Are you going to come to dinner?" She asked softly.

"I'm not hungry." It was true, his appetite had disappeared completely. He was too distraught with this new development.

"Will you, at least, talk to me then? I'm just as upset as you are for the same reasons." She sighed and took a seat at the edge of the pool.

"I thought we were careful." He looked down at the tile next to her leg.

"We were, Vegeta." She sighed. "Apparently since you're another species our methods are not as effective. I'll have to study your DNA to create a better birth control method. I'll have to tell my sister about it as well. I'm sure she and Raditz have been active as much as we have with the same assumption."

Vegeta sighed softly and finally looked up at his mate. She was tired, bone tired, just as he was. Sleep was fleeting and this new development didn't make it easier. Two days remained until battle and he felt utterly helpless. In a rare display, he pulled her in close and laid his head in her lap, wrapping his arms around her middle.

"I will return." He vowed.

He felt her hand in his hair as she gently scratched his scalp. "You can't promise that."

"I will do what I please, woman. My word is all I have to give in this moment. I have nothing else of worth except for myself."

"Okay." She gave a watery smile. "At least eat something. You need to keep your strength up."

"Fine." He sighed and shifted before getting out of the pool. "Gather me some garments and I will eat."

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Tights felt depressed when Raditz told her the deadline. They'd barely left the room since then. It's as if he was just as desperate as she was. A sigh escaped her lips as they descended the stairs for dinner. It was maddening, this ever-present time clock above their heads. A loud countdown to the time they all had to leave. He had a duty to his prince and he took it seriously, but she wished that it would just go away.

It was hard to enjoy anything with him knowing that he might not return. She wondered how Bulma and Chi-Chi dealt with this nagging feeling. It was a foreign concept to her, but she was powering through it to the best of her ability. Yet something else felt off as she looked at her sister and Vegeta across the table. She wondered what it could be.

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Bulma really didn't eat much at dinner, she didn't really feel like eating. Most of the meal she pushed some food around her plate, maybe taking a small bite here or there. Vegeta went back down to the training pool and she went to the lab to work on the new birth control method with the blood sample he had given her after dinner. She had to keep herself busy and she had to have hope that he would come back. Nothing about this situation was normal, but she just needed something.

The door sprung open and in walked her sister. A soft groan escaped her lips as her sister sat across from her at the workstation and said the two words she was dreading to hear.

"Spill it."

"Tights ..."

"Look, something's obviously bothering you. I've known you long enough to see when something isn't right." She began. "So, spill it."

"I'm pregnant." Bulma let out, giving in. It was important she knew anyway.

"What?" Her sister blinked rapidly. "Isn't that good news?"

"Well, under normal circumstances, yes." Bulma sighed. "But right now, it's … Complicated."

"Right."

"This involves you too, though. Normal birth control methods don't seem to be effective so you'll have to get me a sample of Raditz blood as well so I can create a method for you."

"Well, you don't have to worry about me right now. I know I'm not pregnant."

"Ah, well it'll still be good to get a head start on it." Bulma looked at her sister in earnest.

"I get it, B. I do. I'm happy for you as well."

"Thanks." She smiled softly. "I did want kids, just not so soon and not when my mate is getting ready to go to battle."

"Yeah, that does put a bit of a damper on things." Tights rubbed her chin. "I'll get that sample to you later tomorrow. I know working on something takes your mind off of things."

"Yeah."