Fallen – Chapter 12

The next morning when Vegeta awoke his mind was in a fuzzy haze, a faint headache forming behind his eyes. "Great! This day promises trouble" he grumbled as he threw his arm over his eyes. "How much longer do you plan to torture me, Kami? I have stayed my hand against . . ." Vegeta sat up, panic setting in. As the haze of sleep left his mind the memory of Bulma getting up and wandering through the apartment returned vividly. He also became acutely aware that she was not in the bed with him. He threw off the covers and rushed to the bedroom door. Before he reached the door he heard a large crash and Penny scream. He threw the door open to find breakfast on the floor and Penny pale as a ghost.

Vegeta glanced over to see Bulma sat on the floor in the middle of the room, her legs crossed in front of her. Trunks was on her lap and they were embracing. Bulma had a genuine smile on her face. Neither seemed bothered by Penny's scream or the crash of breakfast. Vegeta walked over to Penny who stood, transfixed at the sight of the pair. He scowled at her, "Have you lost your entire senses woman?" Penny looked at Vegeta and jumped slightly. She felt like a rabbit under Vegeta's gaze and he was a tiger about to pounce on her. "I . . . I. . ." she stammered but was a loss for words. She brushed of her uniform and began to pick up the food and plates from the floor.

Vegeta paced back and forth, silently counting to himself as Bulma had instructed him should he be close to losing his temper with the staff. He turned and his scowl deepened when he heard a rattle from the tray. "I will get more" Penny offered with a weak smile and she fumbled with the door and escaped his brutal stare.

Vegeta turned his attention to Bulma and closed the distance between him and the woman. She was still in her nightgown and Trunks in his pajamas. Trunks pulled away first, "Look father, mommy is better!" Trunks said with a broad smile. He looked expectantly at his father. His smile fell when he saw his father's usual scowl in place. "Go and dress yourself for the day" Vegeta instructed. Trunks had learned not to argue with his father and returned to his room to do as he was told. Vegeta watched his as we walked away from his mother and followed his father's instructions.

Vegeta looked at Bulma. She looked at him, confusion evident on her features. "Let's get you dressed" he said quietly. He offered his hand to her and she looked at it for a moment before placing her hand in his and he led her back to their bedroom. One inside he sat her on the bed as he searched for some clothes. "Must I do everything myself?" he muttered. Normally he would expect Penny to wash and dress Bulma but he felt she was in no condition to do so this morning. He did not want Penny's poor reaction to negatively impact Bulma's recovery.

He retrieved a simple dress and some undergarments. He went into the bathroom and filled the tub. He returned from the bathroom to find Bulma looking at this and that before she picked up a picture of Vegeta sleeping with an infant version of their son taken when he returned from the Cell Games. She smiled at it before setting it back on the dresser and turning and facing him. The smile still present on her lips and a glimmer in her eyes. Vegeta walked to her, intent on getting her to bathe.

Bulma was confused. Her memory was jumbled but she was not used to this. She remembered him speaking to her, soft and caring. Today was different. He was angry with the other woman and offered no kind words to her or the child, only instruction. Something was wrong. She looked at him, her brow furrowed with thought. She placed her hand on his cheek and he froze. He closed his eyes and gently pressed his cheek into her hand, "Woman, I wish I knew what was going on in that head of yours" he whispered. "W. . w. . why" she whispered back with difficulty.

Vegeta's eyes shot open wide in amazement. Did she really speak to me or am I losing my mind? Is what he thought what he said was "What?" Her hand left his cheek and traced his forehead, "why are you so angry?" she calmly asked him. He legs threatened surrender and he sat on the bed. She really was speaking to me! His mind reeled. She sat down next to him. He took her hands in his. He was afraid to ask the next question but he knew he had to. "Do you know who you are?" he hesitantly asked. Her face remained cheerful as she shook her head, "No." Before he could ask her anything else Trunks came running into the room. "Mother!" he cried out in joy as he jumped on the bed next to her. She put her arm around him and he snuggled in closer. "Do you know the boy?" he asked. She smiled at him and rest her chin on Trunks' head, "I know how I feel for him."

A few tense moments of silence passed. Vegeta felt the need to escape and jumped at the chance as Penny returned. "Your breakfast is on the table" she announced and both Saiyans attentions turned. Penny stood tentatively in the doorway. Bulma stood and walked to her, "I know your face" she told Penny. "And I know yours" Penny teased in return. Bulma started to follow the men but was stopped by Penny, "Perhaps we should dress first." Bulma looked at her wide-eyed. "Your parents will be here shortly. You don't want to meet them like this do you?"

Trunks went straight to the table and happily ate his bountiful breakfast. Vegeta was having a hard time accepting this new Bulma. She did not know him or the boy. You should be happy, what's wrong with you? He paced the balcony until Bulma returned, combed and dressed. Vegeta watched perched against the wall, armed folded in front, the look of disdain frozen on his face. Look at the way she examined everything, like she has never seen the most basics of her surrounding before. A babe in a new and foreign world. He stiffened slightly when she walked over to him and again traced the creases in his brow, "Why so angry?" Vegeta's eyes darted around the room. He had much he wanted to say to her now but there were too many eyes upon him.

All at once the doors to the apartment swung open and Dr. Briefs and Bunny entered the room. Bulma was startled and hid beside Vegeta. She looked up at him for reassurance. Vegeta rolled his eyes and frustration began to mount. He led her more forcefully then intended to her parents, "These are your parents, silly girl! They will not harm you or the boy." Dr. Briefs noticed the tone in Vegeta's voice but said nothing. Some things were better discussed later. Bunny held her daughter and wept. Vegeta felt the wall closing in and did what he always did when a situation became too much, he ran.

Vegeta hadn't gone far. He had found a secluded place outside of the city lights. It was times like this that he envied country living. He found the cave he once lived in for weeks at a time to escape the compound. He had many capsules stashed away for just in case. His mind told him he should be happy. She was well enough to start fending for herself. He could return to his routine. That was the rational part of him. But right now the irrational part of him was winning the debate. "She doesn't know me!" He always knew this could be an eventuality. He never thought she would ever be more than a breathing doll for a while. "Yesterday she could not feed herself. Today she is walking and talking. Things may continue to improve." Vegeta began to search the capsules for one in particular, his spaceship. Confirming it was still there he hid is once again. "I cannot stay if this is all she will ever be to me. Better to be gone than a stranger in my own bed."

The sun was beginning to set and Vegeta lay on the ground and looked up at the stars. They were brighter here. A feeling of panic gripped him and made it hard to breathe and he knew, "Bulma!" Without a second thought he flew off towards home. Before he could even see the compound he flared his ki to see if he could determine the cause of her panic. "I am going to kill that loser!" Vegeta promised the night sky as he sped up.

As he landed on the balcony he hesitated, "I glad you came to visit. It was sweet. I didn't realize how fast news traveled!" Bulma's voice was higher than normal. Vegeta could sense distress still. He took a minute to compose himself and in doing so saw a red rose blooming in the garden below. He swept down and plucked it, taking care to use his Ki to singe the thorns from the stem. He returned to the balcony and strode in. Yamcha sat on the sofa and visibly straightened his posture, but his eyes refused to make contact with Vegeta's. Bulma fluttered over to him, "You're back" she said as she placed her hand on his chest. She never looked back to Yamcha. Her pulse quickened when she touched him. Vegeta scowled at Yamcha before turning his gaze to Bulma as he handed her the rose. "How beautiful!" she exclaimed. She took the rose and went to the kitchenette. Vegeta stared at Yamcha and propped himself against the balcony doors and crossed his arms in front of his chest, willing himself not to kill him.

Bulma looked in several cabinets before finally finding a vase and placing the rose in it on the table. She smiled at Vegeta, "Will you take me?" she asked. Vegeta broke his stare from Yamcha. Bulma's face was sweet and without mal-intent. That meant that Yamcha was making her uncomfortable and she didn't know how to get rid of him other than ignore him and hope he went away. That was the only reason he could figure for the fear radiating from her. This bond may prove useful after all. "I will bring you to the gardens tomorrow. You could use some sunshine." Vegeta told her. She beamed him another smile. "Yamchi brought us some candy. Don't you think that was sweet of him?" Bulma was quite child-like and simple. She didn't see what he was trying to do. "Did he now?" Vegeta sneered. How dare he take advantage of her like this?

Yamcha cleared his throat and stood. The room had become to crowded. "You will consider my offer?" he said as he made his way to the door. Bulma turned to him, "Of course I will!" she said with a bright smile. Yamcha smiled back and made his way to the door. Vegeta's hands were balled into fists that threatened to bleed his own hands if he tightened them further. He flared his ki to warn Yamcha he was definitely crossing the line. Yamcha eyes widened briefly before making his escape.

Vegeta continued to stare a hole into the door. Bulma checked on Trunks and returned to see Vegeta still staring at the door. Yamcha's ki had left the compound completely before he unclenched his hands. Bulma walked up to him and ran her fingers across the creases of his forehead in a motion that was becoming a fond greeting. "Why so angry?" Vegeta turned his gaze to her and his face softened. Bulma smiled, "That's more like it!" Vegeta instinctively put his arm around her. She leaned into his chest and looked up at him. The fear that had been radiating off her was gone. "This is what I remember most about you. This feeling." She withdrew from his embrace and took his hand. She led him to the sofa and fetched a plate from the kitchen, "The nurse saved this for you" she said as she offered him the plate. Bulma retrieved a some crackers and ate them as Vegeta ate his supper.

When they had finished Bulma was the first to break the silence. "What happened to me?" she asked, eyes wide with curiosity, "no one will tell me." Vegeta's mind went into hyper drive. "You were in an accident and hit your head. You've been in a coma for a long time" he said softly. He watched her eyes for a glimmer of recognition but none came. He decided to leave out the kidnapping. She had enough to deal with without adding that to it. "We were married before, I mean, you are my husband. This is our home. The child in the other room is our son." She was beginning to piece things together quickly. He didn't know how much she was told or just assuming. He decided to also avoid the topic of they weren't really married and he only officially claimed her as his after the accident.

Vegeta felt drained all of a sudden. "You are tired" he said. "How did you know?" she looked at him in surprise. Vegeta began to walk his bedtime pattern, checking doors and windows. "You and I are bonded. I can feel your emotions, like when that loser showed up, you were afraid. Now I can feel your fatigue."

Vegeta led her to the bedroom and when they arrived he turned to her, "Why were you afraid. He has been a long time friend of yours. Did he do something I should be aware of?" he asked as he looked into her eyes. She looked momentarily lost, trying o find the words when she finally said "He acted like he knew me so well, so familiar with me. But truth-be-told I have no memories of him like I do you. I don't know. It seemed wrong. I know it doesn't make any sense." She shook her head. "Hnn." He said.

He walked to his dresser and removed a pair of sleeping pants. When he saw that she stood there looking once again lost he went to her dresser and removed a night gown and handed it to her. She began to remove her clothes and Vegeta quickly turned his back to her. She finished changing and sat on the bed. Vegeta took his clothes and went to the bathroom to change. When he returned he found her laying in the bed.

He grabbed his pillow and blanket but before he could say anything he saw the look in her eyes. "I have done something to disappoint you" she said solemly as she looked down. "No. . . why. . .what the. . .?" Vegeta was for a loss of words. Why would she think such a thing? Will this woman ever cease to infuriate me? "This is your bed too, is it not?" Suddenly the meaning of her questions all day with this came in to focus. He sat on the bed. "You are innocent like this. You are looking at this world like a child seeing the sun or stars at night. I was respecting you by not watching you change, not sharing a bed without your consent. I . . ." Bulma cut him off, "Never asked."

Vegeta took a deep breath. She needed him and she needed him near her. He was unsure if it was simply she saw him as a protector or as more he did not know. She seemed to have a basic understanding of their relationship before the accident. Separation from him caused anxiety and therefore caused him anxiety. He was going to half to teach her to control her emotional transmissions to him when her health improved. "Alright, Onna. You win, as always" Vegeta proclaimed as he climbed into his side of the bed. He barely settled in before Bulma pressed herself against him. Soon she was asleep.

And so this was the new bedtime routine. He would share her bed, if only to keep her there. He would stay distant in front of others but when they were alone they would talk as he tried to fill in her missing memory. Sleep was difficult. Her nights were wrought with nightmares and she would wake up screaming. Usually she was unable to describe specific events other than being chased or held down.

One night several days later Vegeta awoke and Bulma was not in the bed. He went in search of her and found her standing on the balcony, holding the rail. He called out to her but she did not seem to hear him. Is she sleep walking? He pondered until he was over taken by intense fear and it wasn't his own.

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