Disclaimer: If I did I'd be in a much better financial situation right now.

AN: Hey you guys! You really seem to like this! I'm so excited. Well, on to the tale. Enjoy.

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"So, I'm going to ask you, even though I know you're going to say no," Goku was saying through the speaker phone.

"Then why waste my time asking?" Vegeta responded, focused on the textbook in front of him.

"Because after you say 'no' I'm just going to hound you until you say 'yes,'" Goku countered with good humor.

Vegeta flipped the page of his book. "Then spit it out, Kakarot."

"I want you to be my best man."

"No."

"Oh, come on, Vegeta," Goku whined.

"No."

"But why not?"

"I didn't know I needed a reason," Vegeta said with little interest.

"Look, Vegeta, you're my best friend so you have to be my best man," Goku pleaded.

"If you think I'm your best friend, you have more pressing problems than who should stand beside you at your execution," Vegeta tossed back.

Goku chuckled. "Execution? You're kidding, right?"

"No, I'm not."

"You better not let Bulma hear you say that," Goku laughed.

"And why is that?"

Goku paused at the sudden interest in Vegeta's voice. "Well, because women expect you to marry them eventually. It makes them happy. And if you love them shouldn't you try to make them happy?" There was a long pause causing Goku to wonder if Vegeta had hung up on him, as he was apt to do. "Vegeta?"

"How did you become such an expert on what makes women happy, Kakarot?" Though he intended to make the words sarcastic, Goku realized there was real question there.

"Oh, well, Krillin said so," he answered.

There was relief in the gruff chuckle that followed. "I see now. Baldy is miserable and he wants you to join him."

Goku frowned. "Well, Krillin sounds happy to me. Plus, being married to ChiChi won't be miserable at all. Besides, if you don't come around in your thinking, you're going to be the unhappy one."

"Oh really?" Vegeta countered, having returned to his book.

"Well, I wouldn't want to live with an unhappy Bulma."

Vegeta's eyes snapped to the phone. "What do you mean by that?"

"Just that ChiChi told me Bulma's upset because she knows you will never ask her to marry you. ChiChi said she'll never be happy just as your girlfriend." There was another long silence from the other end of the line. "Are you still there?"

"Tell me, Kakarot," Vegeta started, "did Bulma tell your woman this or was it her own conclusions?"

"Oh, well, she said Bulma told her that yesterday morning," Goku told him. More silence. "Vegeta? Vegeta, you're starting to freak me out. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," came his harsh response. "I have to go."

"But Vegeta, what about being my best-"

Hanging up on the other man, Vegeta focused his attention on the window across from him. So Bulma wanted to get married. Why hadn't he seen it before now? Over the last few months she'd seemed, well, weird. It hadn't been anything specific but she was different. Originally, he chalked it up to her being Bulma. She was inclined to regular and wild mood swings so he had figured she'd get over it eventually. However, her behavior since the conversation over breakfast yesterday actually had him concerned. Learning that she wanted to get married, coupled with his comments the morning before, now made her strange behavior clear.

"Why does she have to do this now?" he muttered to himself. Marriage was something that had never crossed his mind. Why it would cross Bulma's, baffled him. His parents' sham of a marriage aside, Bulma had seen in her own family what havoc the disillusion of a couple could wreak. The divorce of John and Emily Briefs had been devastating to their daughter. Why Bulma would want to subject them to the failure marriage ultimately lead to was beyond him.

Sighing his frustration, he pinched the bridge of his nose. He didn't know what she was thinking but he was sure he'd find out soon.

No longer clear headed enough to focus on his work, Vegeta closed the book before him and stood. Heading to his bedroom, he grabbed his keys and his gym bag. A little exercise would do him some good he thought as he left the empty condo.

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Sawing into the tough meat, Vegeta cut off a piece of his steak. Sticking it in his mouth, he chewed on it. So much for her cooking improving. Glancing down at the chef in question, he watched as she popped one of the canned green beans in her mouth. She might as well be at the table alone for all the attention she paid him. Her eyes never left the book next to her plate in the twenty minutes they'd been sitting at the table. He had to admit that it irritated him that she was so obviously ignoring him. They both knew full well that she was completely prepared for her own finals and was not in further need of study.

Returning his attention to his plate, he attempted cutting another piece off his steak. "Good book?" he tossed offhandedly.

"Yeah," she half murmured as she forked a carrot, eyes never leaving the page.

Silence ruled for five minutes before he spoke again, nonchalantly. "I spoke with Kakarot today."

"Hmmm," was all she supplied.

"He had some interesting things to say."

She turned the page of her book, still not interested. "Wow, someone other than yourself spoke and you were interested? I must ask Goku his secret," she replied sharply.

Ignoring the snide remark, he tossed a retort of his own. "It does when he tells me you want to get married."

The shock on her face would have been comical as she looked up if the stare her eyes met hadn't been so dark. The look on his face was unreadable as he held her gaze across the table, leisurely tearing a piece of bread off his roll and consuming it without ever looking away.

She broke the gaze first, looking down at her plate as she sputtered. "I- I never told Goku that."

"Of course not," he said, turning his attention back to his plate, "you told his woman."

'Damn that ChiChi! Why couldn't she keep her big trap shut about anything?!' "She wasn't suppose to repeat that."

"Well, I assumed as much. I mean you wouldn't want people to know you believe in such stupid ideas," he said as if speaking of the weather.

Her angry eyes flew back to his face. "They're not stupid ideas, you jerk!" she snapped.

He dropped his fork on his plate and matched her gaze. "Oh yeah? So why don't you explain just how they aren't stupid?"

"You know what? I don't have to explain a damn thing to you," she half growled as she stood grabbing her plate. Walking over to the sink, she tossed her dishes in with a clatter.

Sitting back in his chair, Vegeta glared at her. "This is just like you. Every time things are going fine, you have to ruin it by changing things."

"Well, things aren't fine for me, okay?!"

"Why?!" he demanded just as angrily. "Why can't you just be satisfied with things as they are?"

"Because, I love you, okay?! Because, I fucking love you!" she threw back. "What is so wrong with wanting to marry a man I love?"

Crossing his arms over his chest defensively, Vegeta continued to glare at her. "We live together. We sleep together. All our free time is spent together. Please explain exactly what you think the difference will be if we have a sheet of paper verifying our situation?"

Bulma lowered her eyes briefly then returned her gaze to his as she sighed. "It would make a world of difference to me, Vegeta."

The pleading look in her eyes caused him to look away this time. Taking a deep breath, Bulma crossed from the sink to the table and took a seat next to Vegeta. "Look, I know it doesn't make sense to you but it does make a difference. I do love our relationship now and if its all I get...well...I'd rather have something than nothing. But if I could have more, well," she paused briefly and sighed. "Vegeta, please look at me?"

He'd been presenting her with his profile throughout the speech. As he turned his head to look at her, his stare remained cold. "You have yet to explain the difference."

"I don't know the difference, okay?" she huffed in frustration. "I just know that it would be different and in a good way. To be your wife as opposed to being just your live in lover would be amazing for me. I know that your parents set a bad example of marriage and my parents didn't do any better a job but not all marriages are like that. I know ours could be better."

Vegeta couldn't help pinching the bridge of his nose. "This is doomed to failure. Why would you want to put us through that?"

"But it won't be that way. I love you and I know you love me. We're all ready great together plus-"

"All right," he grumbled.

"-it will look better when we-" she paused. "All right? All right what?"

Sighing in submission, he sat back in his chair. "You know what."

Almost afraid to hope, Bulma questioned further. "You mean, all right we can get married? Really?!"

"When this blows up in our faces don't come crying to me," he said, crossing his arms again.

Bulma shook her head. "It won't! I swear it won't."

"Whatever," he grunted.

Now that the realization of what he was saying was sinking in, Bulma shrieked and jumped into his lap. Vegeta was completely caught off guard, barely getting out a startled, "What the fuck?!" before her arms were wrapped around his neck and his chair was tipping backward under the sudden weight.

They hit the floor hard, Vegeta growling as the back of his head hit the floor, but Bulma hardly noticed as she placed excited kisses on his face. "You'll never regret this! I'm going to be the best wife ever!"

"Right," Vegeta said skeptically. Despite his tone, he had to admit, to himself at least, that seeing her this happy was ... well ...nice.

Bulma paused mid kiss, her eyes going wide. "Oh my gosh! I have to call my mom!" she exclaimed. She gave him one last kiss, then scurried off him and ran to the bedroom to retrieve her cell phone.

Vegeta remained on the floor and stared at the ceiling in disbelief. What had he just done?

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Yea! They're engaged! And wasn't Veggie's proposal just the most romantic ever? Lol. Anyway now, the real story can begin! Thanks for reading.