The Little Orphan Girl
Thank you everyone who reviewed the previous chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Ball Z
Choosing a path is easy. Following that path is difficult.
Bulma could not help wondering whether she had made a mistake. She was really sorry for the child and her heart ached to think of her plight. But was she capable of handling this responsibility? It was already hard to take care of one teenager, another one would be impossible. But she had made a promise to Janet that she would try as hard as she possible could to convince her family to adopt Susie Tanaka. And now that she had given her word, she would have to keep it.
Bulla was pestering Bulma with questions regarding their visit to the Shadow Ridge Orphanage in the car on the way back. Bulma thought about answering but then decided against it.
"I'll tell you when we're home," she replied sternly. She was usually not very strict with her daughter but today she would have to be stern. Bulma would have to collect energy and strength to face Vegeta and convince him, because she was sure he would be the hardest to persuade.
"Did you like the children there?" Bulma asked her daughter.
Bulla frowned. She had not told her mother about the strange child at the orphanage, and she did not want to remember her. That girl had freaked out Bulla.
"They were fine," Bulla replied as Bulma drove into the compound of her house and parked the car. The two got out and went inside.
"What happened mom?" Trunks asked.
Bulma's family members were sitting around her, well, the children were sitting around her; Vegeta was leaning against the wall. She was really nervous and did not know how to continue. Vegeta was glaring at her and Trunks seemed slightly impatient though he tried to hide it.
"As you know I had received a call from Shadow Ridge Orphanage," Bulma began, "And we had fixed the meeting today. As decided, I went there to meet Janet Hayes. She told me that, well, she told me… how to proceed? Ok she told me that we may…"
Bulma stopped and sighed. She was clueless as to how she should proceed especially since everyone in the room was staring at her without blinking.
"Come on, woman. I don't have all day," Vegeta barked.
Bulma mumbled something so fast that the family could not understand what she was saying.
"What language are you speaking?" Vegeta snorted.
"Mom… I didn't really understand," Trunks said.
"Wemayhavetoadoptagirl," Bulma said quickly.
"I'm leaving," Vegeta announced and turned.
"Wait! I said-" she took a deep breath, "We may have to adopt a girl."
The house had never been more silent than that day. Trunks was staring at her with wide eyes and a shocked expression on his face whereas Bulla's mouth was open so wide that a moth could have hatched eggs in it. Vegeta was more puzzled than surprised or angry.
"Joke of the day?" Trunks asked at last.
His mother shook her head. "No son, you'll have another sister soon, if we agree to adopt her that is."
"What would we do with another child?" Vegeta asked and groaned at the same time.
"Look Vegeta, Janet has asked me to adopt the girl as a favour. The child has been abandoned and rejected all her life. When she was five, her mother left her at the orphanage and Janet took her in. She has changed many foster homes till now but nobody wants her. Janet has been taking care of her for a year now even though the orphanage wants to throw her out."
"If Janet is taking care of her," Trunks interrupted, "Then why do we have to adopt her?"
"Because Janet doesn't have much time. She's very ill and all she wants is to secure the future of the girl."
Bulla frowned. Susie Tanaka was the one who matched this description. She hoped she was not the same girl that her mother wanted to adopt. Bulla had not liked Susie at all.
"We don't have to keep her forever," Bulma added, "We have to keep her till she's eighteen. Then she'll be a legal adult and independent. We won't be responsible for her."
"Five years is a long time," Bulla objected.
"Another sister…" Trunks said, "Now, what would she be like? You know I want to meet her…"
The others looked at him questioningly.
"I will vote for adoption. I want to meet my new sister," Trunks said.
Bulma smiled. At least somebody supported her.
"Well, I'm not having another kid running here," Vegeta said.
Bulma knew this was coming. "Please Vegeta, just this once."
"What do you mean by just this once? You plan to adopt more kids? Do you want to open an orphanage?"
Vegeta said it quite rudely. If it had been anyone else instead of Bulma they would have been hurt. But Bulma just shrugged it off and walked up to him.
"Vegeta, imagine that all of us die except Bulla. Imagine that there is no one for her, she's completely alone and unwanted. Now there is hope that someone might take her in and give her a family. What would you want? And if she's so lonely and helpless, how you would feel?"
Vegeta stayed silent, his eyes drifting to his daughter then back to his wife. He showed no emotions but Bulma knew what he was thinking. She could read it in his eyes.
"Now Vegeta, I think you know what Janet is going through right now."
Vegeta still did not say anything.
"She loves the child like her own daughter. I've seen it in her eyes. I don't have the heart to shatter her hopes."
Vegeta stayed silent for a few more moments, the two looking at each other fixedly.
"Fine Bulma," he said, "You can do what you want."
And with that Vegeta left the room. Bulma heaved a sigh of relief. She felt as if a weight had been taken off her heart.
"And you, Bulla, what do you say?" she asked, turning to her daughter. Bulla looked at her brother who smiled at her and nodded.
Bulla knew that she could not really refuse, especially since her father had agreed to it. Reluctantly, she nodded her head.
"Thanks!" Bulma said and grinned at her children. Janet would be really happy; Bulma had kept her promise.
She smiled. It would be nice to have a new face in the Briefs household.
