Unfaithful

I felt sorry for Bulma. No matter what happened, what anyone did, she only seemed to become more withdrawn. Especially after her father found out that she was indeed keeping the baby.

"You can't do it, Bulma! It's absurd! The child will be half-alien, half-monster, and what happens if-"

"Dad, I have to keep this child! It's not about Vegeta and I, it's about the fact that-"

"It most certainly is not about your relationship with Vegeta! You know damn well that he doesn't-"

"Damn you, just listen to m-"

"Love you and you know that you don't-"

"And why can't you just understand for once that this is not your-"

"Love him and you know full well that this child could be a menace! It's dangerous, Bulma, dangerous! And what if you can't handle the-"

"Choice! Dad, this really isn't your choice! You have no right to be butting into these sorts of affairs-"

"Affairs! How long had you been sleeping with Vegeta before Yamucha found out-"

"Oh, you're really one to talk, Dad, it's completely irrelevant and you're not going to make me-"

"You have got to get rid of that child! What if it's evil?"

"And what if Vegeta kills me for killing his first child? Huh! He was absolutely furious when I told him that I'd been considering abortion!"

"Bulma, I know full well that you're not scared of Vegeta and you're just protecting-"

"I'm not going to-"

"It's not even like you're in love with Vegeta! It's not like you're going to marry him or start a family with him, and it's not like he loves you! I don't even know why you would want his, this thing growing inside of your body!"

Shouting shouting shouting. Oh, my. I sighed a little bit. Bulma'd been fighting for days over the topic. I wanted to intervene. Vegeta is very much marriage material, and give him a little bit of time, but I knew with certainty that they would eventually marry and they would become a family.

They both struck out at each other, but she seemed tired and unwilling to fight most of the time. But she was still fighting, fighting to keep the child, and I could not hide my obvious irritation with my husband. He would come into the room, I would huff, tilt my nose up, and leave.

He seemed very isolated, but he would not give up on the idea that Bulma should give up the baby. Our grandchild! But that's not what he saw. He saw Vegeta's child. No matter what, Vegeta was nowhere to be seen.

Bulma was getting quite large, moving was hard on her. She had a very small frame for all of her fuss, and it was getting hard for her. That was when I saw Yamucha coming up. Part of me frowned, thinking that he too would try to convince her to have an abortion. And once again, I stood outside of the room to listen in on the conversation.

"Bulma.."

"What is it?"

"Do you love him?"

"No."

Lie, I thought. She was having his baby. She had to love him.

"What happened to us?"

"You know exactly what happened to us." Her tone was icy cold. Like she had a reason to be angry at him.

"Look, I know you're pregnant with Vegeta's kid… and I just want you to know that I do want to be your friend and here for you. He sure as Hell isn't-"

"Why does this have to be about Vegeta?" She snapped, "Why? Huh? Vegeta hasn't done anything at all! I wish that everyone would just shut up and leave it alone! Stop talking about him, I don't want to hear it! He's gone, and he didn't leave because of me or because of the baby, Vegeta left because he wanted to go train!"

"Bulma, I'm sorry. It's just a shock to everyone. We were all so sure that you hated him."

"And I do. I hate him very much."

"I really, really want to believe that." I could hear him standing up, "Look, I just want you to know that I'm extending a hand of friendship to you right now. I won't be your best friend, especially when he comes back because maybe I am bitter and maybe I am jealous and I just can't believe that you let him fog up your mind bad enough to let things happen the way they did."

"Look, I'm sorry, okay? You know how he is-"

"He humiliated me, Bulma! On the night before I thought that our life, OUR life as a real couple would begin! That child should be mine," Yamucha got very quiet for a few moments, "But it's not."

He left. Bulma looked pale, as though she was on verge of tears. But she didn't, because she's too much like Vegeta to do that.

A few days later, Krillin showed to see her. We all knew that the child would be along at any time now. "Heya, Bulma."

"Is Gokou going to come?"

Krillin sighed a little bit, "You know how he is, Bulma. He's training so hard it's nearly impossible to even find him."

She clinched her fists a little bit, "Fine. Who needs a best friend, anyway."

"I know. He's my best friend too-uh, look, Bulma.."

Krillin sounded like there was something quite wrong, but Bulma stared on, a tad bit irate, "Yes? What is it?"

"I just want you to know that… I'm, I'm sorry, okay?"

"Why?"

"Nothing. Nothing. Don't worry about it."

"No, what is it? Something's been up with you."

"I just... I know you didn't want kids."

Bulma didn't believe him, but she stood with difficulty. "I'm going to go grab something to drink. I'll be right back, Krillin."

She ran into me listening in. I perked up immediately, "Oh, Bulma, Dear!"

"Mom," She sighed, but she looked good natured. "Keep an eye on him, will you? He seems a little bit… strange."

The second she was out of earshot I hear a soft thump, as though Krillin'd punched a pillow in frustration. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I took him to see you guys. I knew he was going to catch you guys in the worst way possible but I did it anyway. Because I was jealous. It's easy. Just say it... Just..."

He didn't tell her.

And finally, our very own prince arrived. The labor was long and hard. Bulma seemed to be in constant pain, but I was only allowed to fret several rooms away.

She was shrieking. "It's killing me, dad! It hurts… so bad! Oh my god... my god..."

Very much to our surprise, it was four days later that Vegeta returned.

-CL