Hi everyone, I'm back with another chapter. It's short but I hope you all like it despite that! Thank you for ALL the reviews, (seriously) it's nice especially since it's my first work. I thought I'd only get 2 reviews or something so I am thankful!

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Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ or DBM and this story is only just for fun.

Chapter 4: The Bad Idea

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It was almost noon and while Bulma previously debated on whether or not she should cancel the party all together, Yamcha told her not to. He told her that she would be running away and letting Vegetto get to her. Bulma's weariness about the situation allowed Yamcha to cloud her better judgment and reluctantly she agreed.

No sooner than an hour later her father and mother had arrived for support after Yamcha had called them. Her mother handled the party and her father hired many construction workers and all sorts of volunteers to make sure that all the damage caused this morning ceased to exist.

However just because she didn't see that hole in the wall didn't mean Bulma could forget the heart ache she felt when Vegetto handed her what would be her son's broken body. She wouldn't forget the sudden farewell and the feeling of dread that lingered within the back of her mind. The tears, they were just so hard to hold back.

Her son's hand rested in her left hand. In fact her grasp never left his, not even for a second, and now she sat besides his bed in the medical room. Her son slept but not as peacefully as she wanted. He called for a father who was long gone and she could only ease him by telling him it was okay, that she was here, and that's all that mattered. It was slowly killing her.

This reminded her of all the times where Vegeta startled her from her sleep. She could still hear his painful cries in the back of her mind. Bulma always drew herself close to him despite the fact that he didn't want her there in the least bit. He claimed that she pitied him, but she just wanted to help him, he always looked so lonely.

"Dad…" Trunks called in his sleep and Bulma rested her right hand onto of his sprawled left hand that was already held tight by her own guiding left.

"Trunks, mommy's here." Bulma cursed Vegetto bitterly. She knew he knocked out Trunks quickly to prevent anything from getting out of proportion. Most likely for her sake considering her request earlier.

Don't blow up my house. Bulma scoffed at the memory. She would rather Vegetto blow it up as many times as he pleased if it meant keeping him here. After all she wasn't just his mechanic, Bulma was his mate, yet now she had become something worse. She was basically Vegetto's version of Goku's Chichi.

"Mom," Trunks called and she looked up from his hand to see her son's wavering gaze set on her. Bulma felt herself smile as she leaped out of his chair and pulled him into a hug, a hug which he would weakly return but it was enough. "Sorry."

Bulma licked her lips, shaking her head. She was just glad he was up and soon would be running around again. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a Sensu bean. Piccolo had delivered it out of the blue. She suspected Vegetto's hand in this and knew Piccolo only did it as a favor to Goku but not so much as Vegeta.

"Trunks eat this." She commanded as she held the bean to his lips and he complied accepting the gift with much needed appreciation. After a moment, she was able to move away as her son rose from the bed and legs now hung over the side. She wanted to say so much more but felt she couldn't disturb him. His eyes were closed.

He must have been looking for Vegetto. She thought as she felt anxiety build up. Vegetto should be long gone by now though

"Vegetto left." He confirmed and placed his right hand on his forehead. "Stupid." He whispered, than slapped his forehead again. "I'm such an idiot…How could I be so stupid? Stupid, stupid, stupid…" He continued to berate himself to the point Bulma stepped in and grabbed her son's hand.

"Trunks—"

"Mom I saw him." Trunks suddenly said, now facing directly towards her. "I saw dad."

Bulma felt her breath caught for a second but she managed to relax the tension within her muscles.

"I know Trunks."

"Do you?" He asked sounding annoyed. "I don't think so." Bulma winced as Trunks jumped off the bed and started doing stretches to get his body going again. "I have to fight him again."

"Trunks no!" Bulma quickly intervened as she found the voice she had lost during her son's accusation. "I forbid you. Can't you just let it go? You got what you wanted. Vegetto's gone!"

"I can't let it go mom! I saw him! It's hard to explain since you couldn't see! You didn't fight him, but I did! I saw him! I saw my father and I will see him again!"

"No Trunks!"

"No nothing! You can't stop me – you're strength is nothing compared to mine!"

Trunk's mouth clamped shut after saying it, but the pain already set in. Bulma stood from her seat, and turned her back away from her son. She couldn't face him. The tears were already starting to form. "Mom I—I'm sorry." He whispered, closing his eyes and balling his hands. "I didn't mean…"

"You did." She corrected him, and shook her head. "But it's okay because it's the truth. I've always known how physically weak I am. I just never expected to hear it from…Well that doesn't matter. I'll be okay. "Bulma said trying to shake off the pained expression written on her face.

Besides Vegeta always said so much worse.

Bulma chuckled sadly as she left her son to his own thoughts while she battled her own.

XXX

"Hey B, Trunks finally wake up?" Bulma nodded as she exhaled a puff a smoke from her cigarette. She settled next to Yamcha leaning over the counter in the now newly designed kitchen that was recently created for her sake. Yamcha gently slid a coffee cup towards her. She eagerly took his offering as she put out the cigarette she had been smoking after her talk with Trunks. "You know those things don't suit you B." Yamcha said, and Bulma rolled her eyes. He had been on her case ever since he stumbled upon her doing it. "You should quit B. You're way more attractive that way."

"Then it's a good thing I smoke then. " Bulma snapped reminding him that just because Vegeta wasn't around didn't mean she was free. "Besides if you still lived here, you'd understand why I need this so much."

"Oh believe me I have an idea but even then you know it's not good for Trunks to see you like this..." He commented hitting her on a sensitive topic. Bulma grumbled and handed her cigarette pack to him reluctantly. "That's the Bulma that I know."

Bulma gave a bitter laugh as she picked up her cup of coffee and brought it to her lips to drink. Its heat was most certainly welcomed as it gave her that flicker of energy that continued to burn out with every troubling event that passed by. "You should get changed B," Bulma felt her brow rose. "The others will be here soon and they might worry considering your still wearing the same clothes from yesterday."

Bulma looked down and saw that Yamcha was indeed telling the truth. Hell, she might as well throw in a shower at that. She probably smelled too. "If Trunks comes down, I'll let him know where you went." Bulma felt herself smile, a real smile.

"Thanks Yamcha," She said, looking up at him and raising her cup to him. "You're a true friend."

"No problem B, you know I'll always be here for you." With that they bonked their cups together and laughed.

Just like old times.

XXX

Bulma slipped into a green dress, it wasn't too dark or light, it was perfect. When she came down from her room a number of people had arrived. She almost had a heart attack as her eyes caught sight of Buu but Hercule informed her that Buu was now on their side. Bulma gave a shaky laugh and skid away toward the front door where she could hear Yamcha and Krillin chatting away.

18 greeted her with a wave and Bulma did the same before cheerfully greeting Marron in 18's arms. It wasn't long before Chichi showed up, her sons looking overdressed as usual and Bulma hid her snicker as she greeted with a smile. Chichi however displayed hostility and Bulma didn't understand why until she realized Vegetto didn't show.

A frown quickly set in and Bulma wondered if she should apologize after all his absence must have been her fault.

"Where's Vegetto?" Krillin asked and Gohan scratched the back of his head.

"Well uh." Chichi turned her head up in disgust.

"Vegetto? Never heard of him. Whose he anyway?" With that Chichi shoved past the group and headed inside ignoring Bulma's attempt to get a word in with her. Bulma sighed once she heard 18 mutter something of the lines of, 'Maybe you should have said Goku instead,' but no one but Bulma seemed to hear.

"Gosh what did Vegetto do this time?" Krillin wondered innocently and right before Bulma could speak, Chichi's yell countered it.

"He's having a baby!"

"A what?" 18 exclaimed with a shocked expression and Gohan chuckled.

"It's a long story…" Gohan mumbled and Goten took it upon himself to go run off to go find Trunks. 'I'll tell you guys—"

"Does it have to do with Vegetto leaving?" Bulma asked in curiosity. She knew when Vegetto told her that he was going away. He really meant it. Meaning she wouldn't be able to find him. Not even at Chichi's.

"Leaving?" Krillin questioned with concern. He didn't like hearing about his friend departing again so soon. Gohan seemed uncomfortable about this topic but reluctantly he nodded and began talking about it in a soft tone.

"Yeah apparently dad decided to go to otherworld and see if he could get King Yemma to revive Majin Buu as a good person." Bulma blinked, that's not what she was expecting to hear.

"What how come?" Krillin questioned with wide eyes.

Gohan swallowed roughly. "To dad Majin Buu would be the ultimate training partner. Goten and I, aren't much of a challenge to him anymore."

Bulma tensed.

Leaving for the bigger fight. That was something Vegeta would do. He would even drop Trunks and her to accomplish it.

Bulma growled, feeling her fists tighten.

So Vegetto's leaving had nothing to do with her at all. He simply decided to add on the spice to reassure her he was doing this for Trunk's well being. Bulma grit her teeth. No, she was wrong. She couldn't let her anger control her or she might as well lose sight of what was truly important to her once again.

"Vegetto said that?" Krillin gawked and Gohan quickly waved him off.

"No of course not! Dad would never say something like that! It's just obvious you know? I'm usually busy with school work these days and mom forbids Goten to fight again after experiencing the fear of losing me. I can't really blame dad for taking off."

"What about me though?" Bulma felt her head whip toward the door way and there stood her son. His gaze was sharp, but he displayed a false smile in order to lure off any suspicions.

Gohan sweat dropped, not too sure how he should say this without causing any more problems for Bulma's feelings.

"Well…" Gohan began and wished that someone would intervene upon feeling Bulma's burning gaze. "I guess dad doesn't want to hurt you considering your power level." Gohan let out a hesitant chuckle when he saw Bulma slap her forehead.

"I am not that weak." Trunks snapped as if Gohan had pressed a button. "I won the tournament didn't I?"

"Yeah but Trunks dad could still really hurt—"

"Maybe but at least my dad would try to train me! He wouldn't call me weak and push me aside. My father was proud of me!"

"Wait, Trunks I never said that dad wasn't—"

"Enough! I'm tired of sitting around and doing nothing like the rest of you! I'll find a way to get my father back. Just you wait!"

"Trunks!" Bulma exclaimed and Trunk's eyes jerked toward her. He gave her an apologetic look.

"Thanks for the party mom but I'm done for today." With that he turned and left to retreat back into what she hoped would be his room. Bulma bit her right thumbs's finger nail.

This was all going to hell and the worst part was Bulma knew this was going to happen.

Why the hell did she let Yamcha talk her into it?

Now her son was slowly becoming out of her reach and Bulma was afraid that he might leave her too.

Bulma wasn't an idiot. She could see the hatred building inside her son in a way that would match Vegeta's rivalry to Goku. Yet Bulma didn't know what to do. She thought she could stop Vegeta's but then look what happened at the tournament! If Bulma couldn't stop her mate, what chance did she have against stopping her son?

"Bulma?" Yamcha called yet his voice died on deaf ears. She felt so dizzy. Her vision blurred by the ever growing tears. "Bulma." Yamcha said once again, hand clasping hard on her shoulders that she jolted out of her shock to see her friends gathered around her in concern. Bulma let herself breathe then. It was hard but she couldn't seem weak. She was better than that.

"Sorry," She squeaked out with a gentle smile as she rubbed her head. "Just a really rough day." She joked but Trunk's sudden outburst still weighed heavily down on her shoulders.

"Sorry Bulma, I went out of line." Gohan apologized and Bulma quickly shoved it aside. All she heard these days were apologies. Bulma was so sick of it. Bulma didn't need to be pitied. Now she knew why Vegeta was so angry whenever she approached him. She missed him so much.

"Gohan has, has Goten ascended yet?"

Gohan thought about this awhile and shrugged his shoulders.

"Not that I know of but I honestly think Goten isn't going to bother considering," Gohan paused, glancing around to see if his mother was around but she was well out of sight, "uh mom. She calls him a monster whenever he's a Super Saiyan."

Krillin couldn't help but laugh.

"That sounds like Chichi alright!" He exclaimed and 18 whacked her husband over the head for being so loud. He apologized while rubbing the back of his head causing Yamcha and Bulma to snicker at the sight of 18's annoyed expression. Marron giggled in delight as well.

"Bulma if you don't mind me asking, why are you so curious about Goten ascending?" Gohan wondered and Bulma shook her head.

"You know for a college kid you're not very bright." Bulma joked and Gohan's expression turned blank.

"Huh?" He exclaimed and another round of laughter filled the air. 18 shook her head.

"Trunks can ascend." 18 stated smoothly. Gohan continued to blink at her words and Bulma nodded to confirm it.

"Wow really Trunks can ascend?"

"Gohan!" Bulma cried hushing him while 18 grumbled something along the lines of men having such big mouths. Bulma agreed without any hesitation. Men were awful at keeping things down on a low profile it seemed.

Gohan quickly covered his mouth, and soon lowered his hand to reveal a sheepish grin after he settled down.

"Ah well, sorry, I didn't know it was a secret but man oh man, that's amazing. I can't believe it." Gohan replied in hushed voice. Gohan placed his right hand on his chin and closed his eyes. "But wait does dad know? It doesn't make sense that he would leave if he did."

"No he doesn't. I suspect too that Vegetto would have stayed to train Trunks despite Trunk's hostility if that was the case. However I don't want Trunks fighting Vegetto the way he is now…" Bulma's eyes fell to the ground when Gohan asked her what she meant by that. "He's only trying to fight Vegetto in order to see Vegeta's persona come out."

"Oh so you've seen it to?" Gohan questioned and Bulma's gaze slowly rose up back to Gohan's with confusion written in it. "Well I have tried to spar with Vegetto before but it got pretty messy. The constant taunts and accusations of me growing too weak for his standards made him seem so different from my father. It's almost like he's a different person when he fights. The gentleness is wept away into this cockiness that I can recall from Vegeta. The similarity is simply unmistakable."

"It makes sense for Vegetto to act that way though." Yamcha spoke up, crossing his hands over his chest. "Considering Vegeta's got no one left to battle since Goku's gone from his sights."

"Saiyans are so barbaric." 18 commented.

"Well that's the prince of all Saiyans for you." Yamcha laughed. He gave a playful nudge to Bulma but she did not move. Her mind was elsewhere because as much as she wanted to pin all her frustrations on Vegeta, she couldn't.

Bulma knew Goku. She knew he was just as guilty as Vegeta was and perhaps even guiltier. After all Goku had always enjoyed the thrill of a good fight so naturally to her this is why Vegetto was the way he is now. He had the ego of two men who loved to fight and according to what Vegetto told her, he was only trying to meet the desires of both men.

Man what a pain in the ass. Remind me to never to fuse with Chichi.

Bulma froze at the thought.

Fusion with Chichi? Would it ever come to that if Vegetto couldn't be separate again?

Bulma hoped not. She and Chichi didn't see eye to eye and if Trunks was going to be this hostile toward Vegetto, how was he going to react to losing her as well? Bulma removed the thought from mind. Of course Vegetto could be separated. What in the world was she thinking?

"Hey is that the GR starting up?" Gohan questioned out of the blue. Bulma followed his gaze outside the window to see sure enough the GR was on and running. "That's strange I don't sense dad."

"Oh god Trunks!" Bulma immediately recognized and while Gohan and the others offered to help her, she told them to leave it to her. She was his mother and it was her responsibility to get him to stop all this madness.

Thus Bulma was outside in double time and pried the GR doors open. Bulma knew it might be dangerous to step inside the gravity room however as soon as she did; she was shocked to find it off.

What the hell? Bulma wondered as she moved toward the console. It looked like it wasn't tampered with at all. If that was the case why was the GR on? The only thing it could really do was gravity work out and well—

Bulma whirled around to see the door to the GR lock shut and her eyes widened. She went to the door to see that it was locked. Impossible. Bulma said in her mind. There was no way to lock the GR from the outside. Not unless she voice programmed it to. "Computer?" Bulma questioned and the ship didn't make a sound.

Bulma then decided to check the cockpit. After all that's where the GRs main computer frame was. Bulma made movement to sit in the chair to begin analysis but instead she discovered her missing son. Trunks looked up at her grinning wildly.

"It's about time you showed up mom. I didn't want to leave without you." He said and Bulma blinked at his words.

"Leave?" She echoed his words carefully, and he smirked, grabbing her and settling her down in the chair besides him. "Trunks, what are you doing?" Bulma wondered as he buckled her in.

"Doing what we should have done from the beginning." Bulma didn't follow so she began to feel aggravated.

"Trunks explain."

"I'm going to bring dad back home with the dragon balls." Bulma gave him a weary look.

"Trunks the GR isn't used like my jet is honey. It used for space travel. Besides our dragon balls are—"

"Useless for two years, I know mom." Trunks grumbled and Bulma sighed, preparing to unhook the belt buckle lock but Trunks stopped her. "But New Namek's dragon balls aren't mom." Bulma's mouth dropped open in realization and slowly her hand pulled away from the belt buckle.

"Your right Trunks...If I remember correctly Vegetto only made one wish on Porunga. There should still be another wish available and Porunga is far stronger than Shenron is as well! Which can only mean," She took a deep breath which Trunk's grin only grew, "The chances of Vegetto being able to split again is at a high rate of success!" Bulma exclaimed with a grin.

This also meant that Vegeta would be back home in no time. Everything would be set in stone and back to normal. She could have her family again. "Wait a second I don't even know where new Namek is!"

"I'm already ahead of you mom. The coordinates are locked in and were good to go."

"But how?"

"Dende of course. Didn't I already tell you? I'm tired of sitting around playing charade. Let's bring dad home mom." Bulma blinked at him. He was so brave, so inspiring but she couldn't just up and leave. The others, surely they were better for this mission than her. She wasn't as young as she used to be and wasn't as strong. "Mom." Trunks called grasping her hand and knocking her out of her panic. "I'll protect you."

Bulma sighed, and relaxed into her chair.

"Did you bring the dragon ball radar?" She asked, disbelieving her own words.

"Duh. Come on mom, I'm a genius remember?" Trunks said causing Bulma to chuckle.

"Naturally." She responded while squeezing his hand.

Vegeta was right. She totally spoiled their son.

"So are you really going to come with?" Trunks asked and Bulma nodded.

"Well someone's got to supervise you…Besides I'm sure the Namekians will remember me of all people."

"Why?" Trunks wondered and Bulma shook her head.

"I'll tell you on the way."

"Promise?"

"Yes Trunks, I promise." Bulma replied laughing.

"Kay, because here we go!" Trunks yelled somewhat surprising her as he turned on the ignition.

In a matter of seconds everything began to get so loud. In fact Bulma could hear all of friend's yells in the distance. She thought her head would explode, so she closed her eyes but when she did, everything got so quiet.

"We did it. Were in space. This is awesome." She heard Trunks say and slowly she opened her eyes and took in the sight outside the windows. It was a sight so beautiful that Bulma regretted not taking the time to enjoy the first time she went out to space with Gohan and Krillin.

Back then all her thoughts rested solely on the mission however now it was an entirely different story.

Her planet, her home, it was slowly dissolving away from view and all Bulma could think about was that there was no looking back now.

Everything would weigh heavily on the outcome of this journey.

XXX

TBC –

Thanks again for all the reviews. I'm still hoping for more though. I did a silly and found a deviant art page where you can make a wish on the dragon balls. I wished for more reviews so here's hoping it comes true. See you again soon – hopefully!