The Eighth Chapter
High School Reunions
Shades of Crimson
Poised.
Collective.
Confidant.
Exquisite.
Agile.
Angelic.
--Beautiful.
The words ran through her head. She had tried her hardest to put each of them to truth - but she was failing miserably. For the only word that seemed to register in her mind was frazzled.
She was clearly anxious and had more than enough stress laying on her tanned shoulders.
"Chi." A comforting voice coaxed, "Relax."
"Relax?" She shot back venomously, "How the hell am I supposed to relax in this dress and on this day and with my hair pulled back like this, Bee. Honestly."
"Chi." Another voice sounded as she glared at her black haired friend, "How about remembering your manners. You are a lady, you know?"
The black haired woman sighed in defeat and rolled her dark eyes, "Thanks Launch."
The two blue haired women in the room rolled their eyes simultaneously and sighed.
"Now Chi." Bulma began with a smile and brush in her hand, pointing the small brush towards the gorgeous woman in the long, flowing white gown, "To fix your makeup!"
The two boys stood in the doorway, the carbon copy of Goku fidgeted with his tie, "Trunks, why do we have to dress like this?"
The lavender haired boy shrugged as he glanced down at his small tux to glare at his own tie, "I don't know, they're your parents."
Goten frowned, "Why do they have to get married again anyway?"
Trunks shrugged again at his best friend, "Why do you have to ask me so many questions, Goten?"
The boy blinked at his friend and shrugged, "I'm huuungry Trunks - let's go find the buffet my dad kept talking about!!"
The two smalls boys made their way to the buffet table, only to find once they had approached the table that it was already being picked over by four very hungry men with large appetites.
Goten frowned at his dad, who was wearing a white tux with a pastel pink tie and matching booteneer in his pocket. It wasn't, however, the rare occasion of his father "dressed up" or the fact that he was donning a pink flower on his chest, but it was the fact that he was eating one of the many sushi platters his mother had hand picked out rather sloppily and wearing white while doing so.
The young boy knew well enough through all of his naivety that this was something his mom would not be too happy about.
Trunks, on the other hand, just shot a gaze to the other three men and asked if he could have some as well.
Tien, casting a short gaze at the lavender haired boy, blinked. He still could not grasp the concept of his old high school friends conceiving a boy, but he absently extended his hand to give the two small boys a platter and they began devouring it quickly.
He smiled at the boys. So their fathers eating habits are genetic I guess …
Tien was wearing a light purple flower on his jacket, Vegeta a light blue, while Yamcha wore a pastel green flower. The plan ChiChi had so strictly coordinated was for each of the men to wear a different color booteneer, while her bridesmaids would wear a matching color dress and carry white lilies down the aisle. ChiChi, however, would be in a traditional white gown while carrying pink lilies - to match her husbands booteneer and tie.
The guys however, were not so excited about wearing booteneers, and did not find the concept slightly well …
"Kakerot, these flower things are queer ."
Goku looked up at his flame haired friend, who was glaring down at the blue flower pinned to his black suite. He smiled sheepishly in mid-chew and shrugged, "Chi's idea."
Just then, the door to the reception area swung open and all six of the males in the room looked over to the woman who was frowning at them in the doorway.
Goku placed the tray he was snacking on back on the table while Trunks and Goten just shot her guilty looks.
The blue haired woman, in the quite flattering light blue dress, just continued to frown, "You boys know that if ChiChi found out about this she would be majorly pissed ."
Yamcha feigned a sigh, "Well Bee Babe - that's why you're not going to tell her - Right?"
Bulma rolled her eyes at him, "You guys just eat carefully, I doubled the stock of food for the reception. I knew you boys would go and do something irresponsible like this."
Vegeta blinked. That was all the bitching she was going to be doing?
The boy at his side stole the next thought and said it allowed.
"You look really pretty, Momma."
Bulma beamed down at her son and rubbed the top of his lavender head, messing up his previously combed hair.
She brought her attention back up to the men and smiled, "The wedding is about to start," she reached over and straightened Vegeta's flower, not without noticing that it matched her dress nicely.
He shot her a sexy smirk, causing her to roll her eyes at him, "Now go take your places boys - ChiChi would never let any of us live it down if her wedding got screwed up."
"Yep." Goku said, slapping Tien on the back nervously, "Let's go do this."
From the piano the cliché wedding march theme played. The song that always set the mood of the church with that surreal and happy, elegant feeling.
The large double doors of the church spread open and two small boys in tuxes made their way down the aisle with ring in each of their hands.
Four men stood next to the priest, one of which was growing very anxious to see his wife all dressed up and experiencing the wedding she always wanted but never had a chance to have.
After the boys made their was down the aisle and took their seats in the pew, the bridesmaids entered.
Launch first - looking stunning in her lavender, floor length dress.
She was followed by Marron, in pastel green, and then Bulma in light blue.
Each of them walked elegantly, holding their small orchid bouquets, their hair pulled back in buns, and smiles adorning their pretty faces.
After they were down the isle and standing opposite from the men, ChiChi entered the church and the people in the pews stood up, smiling adoringly upon the bride.
Goku watched his wife walk down the isle - his breath catching his throat.
She was beautiful.
The reception hall had been decorated rather lavishly with pastels, orchids, and a whitewood dance floor. There were two parallel buffet tables adorned with different kinds of sushi, desserts, and strawberry champagne punch.
It was ChiChi's picture perfect wedding.
From the wide double doors of the reception hall you could see people laughing as they gathered around the punch, various couples slow dancing to the live band, and ChiChi and Goku stuffing cake into each others mouths in the distance.
The couple who had arrived together, though couple as in two people together, not as in they were an item. Because … that they were not.
Yet.
Julie sighed lightly and couldn't help but smile as she watched her boyfriend Tien talk to Launch on the dance floor. They were an amazing couple, she thought, and she wouldn't mind being with the man beside her truth be told.
Chip watched the scene of his longtime girlfriend dancing with a blink. He had always been an incredibly jealous person, but now, watching this scene, he felt no ounce of envy.
Their eyes met, and Julie shot him a knowing smile. He returned the smile and sighed, "Well, I guess we know what we've got to do then, hm?"
Her eyes rolled as he finished up another joke and then sighed sheepishly at her response.
Krillin couldn't help but admire the blonde woman. She was beautiful, but something modest and monotone about her made her strangely attractive to him.
Maybe it was the fact that she hadn't thrown herself at him like the other girls he had met. The women he and Vegeta often met in bars were cute - they were clearly ignorant and giggled annoyingly and blew their think drunken breath on him.
He hated that.
But here was a genuinely beautiful woman with taste and class and brains, and he found himself cracking dumb jokes for her "amusement."
She rolled her eyes and flicked a stray piece of hair that had fallen in front of them.
A blush grazed his cheeks as he began to gather enough nerve to ask her … oh, he wasn't sure … on a date, perhaps?
Before he could open his mouth, a dark figure hovered above him and when he leaned back in his chair to catch a glimpse at the man that had so rudely interrupted his gut-gathering and was met with a narrowed pair of onyx eyes.
He gullped.
The tightly drawn lips parted shortly to request his presence.
Juu frowned.
More like commanded.
Krillin gave her a small apologetic nod as he followed his business partner to a corner in the reception room, not without casting an emotionless gaze at a Bulma haired woman holding a lavender headed boy in her arms as she spun him around the dance floor.
Krillin couldn't help but smile at this.
"We're relocating the company."
Krillin blinked at this statement, "What?"
"You heard me," Vegeta stated gruffly, "We're moving. To Tulsa."
Krillin's face was one of bewilderment, "But … why?"
Vegeta frowned, casting a gaze to the dance floor again, but Krillin's eyes only made it to the edge of the dance floor where a certain blonde was dancing with a very bored expression with Goku's long haired brother.
He smiled.
The move gave him no reason to complain.
Vegeta made his way to the woman who was holding their son on her hip as they danced.
The boy was giggling as his mom dipped him back and tickled him with her free hand.
The song the band was playing was an upbeat tune, and Bulma swayed her son to the beat of the song.
Vegeta couldn't help but admire her being a mother. It was something that he wasn't sure he could grasp the concept of - Bulma being a … parent. He was one too. But not in the since she was. She had raised a child. Their child. And from what he could tell, she had raised him well.
The song came to a close and a slow song began sounding from the band, and Vegeta took this opportunity to approach.
"May I cut in?"
Trunks looked over at the flamehaired man and nodded as his mother sat him on the ground and he scurried off to find Goten.
Bulma smiled at him as he took her hand in his and placed his other hand on the small of her back. She, in turn, placed her hand around his neck and smiled at their closeness.
She could smell him, and couldn't help but resist to take a deep breath to inhale the scent she had long since forgotten.
They were close as they danced, and Vegeta looked her in the eye.
"I'm relocating to Tulsa."
Bulma blinked as a look of surprise crossed her face. He smirked at this.
"What woman? Don't want me around?"
She shook her head and smiled. A genuine smile.
She was breathtaking.
Though diction such as breathtaking probably wasn't the word that Vegeta would have used to describe her.
"I'm … happy."
He cast her a strange glace and she sighed, "What? I am. I've missed having you around."
He pulled her closer and took in the scent of her perfume and glanced down at the creamy pale skin of her neck.
"I don't want to miss another seven years of my sons life."
Bulma rested her head on his chest and sighed.
He couldn't see the expression that grazed her angelic features then, but her knew her well enough.
It was guilt.
Yamcha smiled at the beautiful mocha skinned woman across from her.
She had honestly made him laugh like no woman had before.
"You know Yammy - you're kind of making me interested in you." She flashed him an award winning grin, "Too bad you're going back to New York."
He smiled back at her, "Who knows, all of my friends are coming back her - and I'm kind of needing a fresh start.
She giggled as he winked and he and couldn't help the seemingly permanent smile on her lips, "Well, you better call me for a date or something if you decide to stay."
He nodded, almost eagerly, and she laughed again.
"You know…" She began as she watched her boyfriend flirt with his girlfriend, "They would be perfect for each other."
The situation seemed a little unrealistic to him. Was she saying that she wanted them to get togher?
He frowned.
He couldn't say he would be too upset about it.
"Yeah," He watched his girlfriend lean her head back to allow a loud laugh to escape, "And they both live in Florida so it would work out."
Launch sighed as her eyes darted around the room, "ChiChi and Goku are perfect for each other. They make me sick."
He laughed at her mock-jealousy and watched as Bulma and Vegeta held each other closely on the dance floor.
"They look pretty cozy, don't they?"
Launch smiled, "I hope so, they look awfully close anyway."
Tien nodded, "And their coworkers," he pointed in the direction of Krillin and Juu who were seated at a table with Launch's own coworker and Juu's brother, "I guess they're somewhat of an item now."
She nodded, "Leah and Jay as well."
He shrugged, each of them knowing the point they were trying to get across.
Tien extended his head to her, and she blushed slightly at the offer.
"Would you … like to dance, Launch?"
She smiled and took the outstretched hand.
Before they had made their way to the dance floor ChiChi made her way over to them and smiled, "I'm so sorry to interrupt you two but … I would like to ask you both for a favor."
Launch blinked quizzically, "Uhm, sure Chi, anything."
She sighed, "Well, I was originally planning on having Bulma watch Goten for eth evening but…" She trailed off as she watched Bulma and Vegeta dance, "I have a feeling the newly united family would like some alone time."
Launch smiled and nodded eagerly, "Of course Chi! We would love to watch Goten for you!"
ChiChi smiled graciously and thanked the couple. Nodding slightly towards to Tien in an apologetic gesture for interrupting their dance.
Tien, his fingers still intertwined with Launchs' just continued to lead her to the dance floor, frowning slightly as a faster paced song came on, but Launch took the opportunity to dance anyway.
He laughed at her and she frowned, "C'mon Tien!! Have some fun."
His eyes studied her for a moment and let out a defeated sigh, taking the chance to mirror her movements to the song.
Across the dace floor another couple parted when the quick paced song began playing.
The blue eyed woman laughed as Vegeta finished his story with a smirk, and she led him to the buffet tables to pour herself a glass of strawberry champagne punch. Noticing the way the pastel pink matched the theme of ChiChi's wedding.
She turned to see the smirk still present on Vegeta's face and couldn't help but roll her eyes.
Upon seeing the scowl that replaced his smirk she cracked a smile and allowed a small giggle to escape her lips.
The band announced that the next slow song would be the final dance of the evening, and Bulma set down her glass and dragged Vegeta back towards the dance floor. Not wanting to miss another opportunity to have him hold he in a comfortable embrace.
After the wedding ChiChi and Goku drove off in their recently tagged car (compliments of their wonderful friends, of course) towards their hotel.
It wasn't much - just a honeymoon suite in a fabulous hotel in Shreveport a few house southeast from Tulsa.
The couple was quite excited.
ChiChi sighed as Goku drove, "It will be nice to have the weekend to ourselves."
She stretched her legs and placed her bare feet on the dashboard and wiggled her painted toes. Though she enjoyed feeling like a princess in her white gown, it was nice to be in shorts and t-shirt.
Goku smiled at her and then glanced at a note just inches away from his wives feet. ChiChi gave the note a questing glance and picked it up and opened it.
She smiled as she instantly recognized Bulma's note.
It wasn't much, but written out in Bulma's excellent handwriting read,
Chi - Have fun on your honeymoon. But not too much fun. ; ) Thanks for the High School Reunion. We love you. -Bulma, Marron, and Launch!!
She smiled.
For she had enjoyed the High School Reunion herself.
The airport was crowded with families hugging and preparing to depart and business men in suites hurrying quickly to catch their flights with only their suitcases in hand.
Juu and Krillin were just leaving after dropping off Juu's brother and Launch's coworker Julie to fly them back to Tulsa.
The couple seemed eager to have some alone time and cast their friends a small wave as they scurried onto the plane.
Juu and Krillin, however, just glanced at each other with unsteady eyes.
"So …" Krillin began, trying to break the silence as he slid into the blondes SUV.
She cast him a side glance and frowned, he monotone voice steadily cutting the silence, "So?"
Krillin shrugged. He knew that they were going to try and stay up late to give Bulma, Vegeta, and Trunks some alone time. What they were supposed to do, however, was in the air.
A smirk crossed the blondes face as she exited.
The shorter man blinked. "What … Where are we going?"
He looked ahead and couldn't help but smile as he spotted a glowing marque off of the service road.
"Laser quest?"
Juu just continued to smirk, "24 hour laser tag Friday and Saturday."
Krillin's eyes widened, "Are you serious??"
He always loved this type of thing.
The blonde frowned at him, "Of course I'm serious, dimwit. Are you in?"
He nodded eagerly.
He knew that she was extremely competitive and that this was going to be one of the greatest nights of his life …
After a night of ice cream and a stop at a carnival, Launch and Tien drove in contempt silence as a sleeping carbon copy of Goku slept in the backseat. There was a soft snoring sound coming from his wide open mouth, and there was a large, half eaten was of cotton candy in his right hand, while a stuffed bear was clutched under his left arm.
Launch smiled as she cast the boy a glance, and then turned her smile to Tien who was switching lanes, casting a glimpse in the rearview mirror at the sleeping boy.
"Tonight was a lot of fun." She commented softly, remembering the three of them running through the carnival riding rides until they each were sick.
Tien laughed quietly, "Maybe we'll have kids someday, Launch."
She turned her head quickly away from him to hide the blush rousing her cheeks. She had been thinking the exact same thing just moments prior - but she had never expected him to say something like that aloud.
She turned her gaze back to him and found him smiling and she couldn't help but smile in return, "Maybe…"
She quickly spun the key and swung one of the large double doors open to reveal the emptyness of the large house.
She shooed the two boys behind her inside and sighed, "Brr, it's cold!"
Trunks flipped on the lights and looked up at his mother who was sipping on her freshly brewed star bucks cappachino.
He then glanced at the flamehaired man with a smile. He was really excited to have the man staying with him. He really looked up to him, and he had said something at the drive though at Starbucks about helping him train so he could be stronger than Goten!
Bulma smiled at the two boys and cleared her throat, "Well I'm going to make some hot chocolate for you two, make yourself comfortable Vegeta."
When the blue haired woman scurried out of the room, an almost awkward silence filled the Brief's living room.
Trunks blinked up at the intimidating man, "Do you want to play some Xbox with me?"
The darkhaired man looked down at the small boy and nodded lightly, "Sure."
Trunks smiled happily and dropped to his knees, scavenging through his pile of Xbox 360 games excitedly, "Do you want to play Gears of War?"
Vegeta glanced down at the boy and took a seat beside him, "Sure. I'm not great at third person shooter - I'm more of a first person-"
Trunks blinked and then interrupted him, "Woa!! Seriously!! You're really cool Vegeta!!"
Vegeta couldn't help but smirk at the compliment the boy had shouted at him and then frowned as he watched the boy start the game, "Aren't all of the guys your mom brings home cool?"
Trunks shrugged lightly and shook his head, his attention focused on the game, "My mom doesn't like boys. At least, I don't think so. You're the first guy she's ever brought home." He replied, absently.
Vegeta couldn't help but smirk again.
Bulma chose this time to enter the room with a mug of hot chocolate in her hands, she leaned against the door frame with a smile as she watched her two most prized men in the world begin to play.
She gasped as she dropped her duffle bag when their hotel door swung open.
Gokue smiled as he sat the bags he had been carrying down on the floor.
ChiChi just continued to blink from the hallway as he husband turned back to her and led her inside.
She gaped at the bed, roses strewn across the crème comforter, the lights dim, two bottles of champagne and a cake lined with chocolate covered strawberries sitting on the table.
"It's … beautiful."
Goku smiled at her again and took her gently in his arms, kissing her lips gently, "I love you, ChiChi."
She turned her attention from the beautiful room to he husband and smiled at him, the dim lights casting shadows across his face.
"I love you too." She whispered, just before he captured her lips once again.
Bulma cleared her throat as she entered the living room and sat the mug down next to her son as he took a sip of it and thanked her.
Vegeta's eyes darted from the screen and watched as the lavender haired boy sipped on the hot drink.
His nose wrinkled in disgust.
"You're brainwashing him, woman."
She rolled her eyes at him and frowned, "It's hot chocolate Vegeta, chill."
He frowned and paused the game, "Drink your shit boy-" Bulma glared at him and his language, but he ignored her, "I'm going to the bathroom."
"Third door on your right."
He nodded as he disappeared into the hallway and the woman's eyes began to glow, "So? Do you like him?"
Trunks nodded animatedly, his face and quickness unable to hide his excitement, "Yes! He's the coolest."
Bulma smiled as she rubbed his head, messing up his hair, "Good, because we'll be spending a lot of time with him."
Trunks smiled, "Really?"
He then frowned, "Why for?"
A sudden grotesque look crossed the young boys face and he stuck out his tongue, "Is he your new boyfriend?"
Bulma poked him in the stomach with a playful smile, "Nooo. My old boyfriend, actually."
Trunks nodded, "Well I like him."
"Good." Bulma stated, slowly. A nervous look crossed her face, "Because … that's … your …" She sighed lightly, "Because Vegeta is your father, Trunks."
The boys eyes lit up and watched in confusion as a small tear cascaded down his mother cheek.
Vegeta sat down on the other side of Trunks after a few moments of silence and, just when he was about to unpause the game, a pair of small arms wrapped around his waist.
He froze, his eyes wide with confusion, and looked down at the small boy who was hugging him tightly.
Vegeta then turned to the woman and blinked as he watched the sad expression on her face, a small tear escaping form the corner of her eye.
Vegeta relaxed in the embrace of his son and Bulma couldn't help but crack a smile as Trunks pulled away quickly and blushed with a quick apology.
The flame haired business man watched the two figures in the room with emotionless eyes.
He recognized them for the first time as what they were.
They were … his family.
It was a strange word. But there was no denying it. He was going to be a father figure for his son, and Bulma and he had some undeniable connection. That was that.
They were a family.
Vegeta smiled, an awkward expression for the cold man, and watched as Bulma frowned from the corner of his eye as she swallowed a gulp of her hot chocolate.
"Ew. It's cold."
He frowned at her and Trunks watched the two timidly, "Momma, we can go to Starbucks again."
A smile crossed the beautiful woman's face and she shook her head, "I don't want coffee right not hunny, I just want to be with my family."
Trunks couldn't quite comprehend the concept. Family? Like what Goten had. With a dad who could teach him to fight and mom who would cook them dinner and then they would all eat together …
He then smirked at his father who was looking at his mother and smiled wikidly, quickly unpausing the game and letting out a yelp of excitement, "You let your guard down!! Loser."
Vegeta growled as he picked up his remote and began to play, the scene causing Bulma to laugh.
"Tomorrow … Dad." He tried the word, "Will you teach me to fight?"
The onyx eyes continued to focus on the screen but he nodded, "Of course under the instruction of your damn mother you haven't gotten much proper instruction."
Bulma jumped in offence, "Hey Mister! I'll have you know that I have been giving him lots of help! Not only by brining him to Goku's gym for lessons but by building him things to train with as well! Besides, you can't go around using words like 'damn' in front of him and go calling me a bad influence!!"
Vegeta smirked, "I said proper instruction, woman."
A humph escaped the womans lips as she crossed her arms angrily, she seethed through clinched teeth "Jerk."
Trunks watched his parents with a frown, "Uhm, want to watch a movie?"
A few moments latter the family was snuggled on the couch, Vegeta's arms around Bulma's trim waist and Trunks asleep beside them.
Vegeta shot the boy a small glance and smirked, "You know woman, the brats asleep now …"
His hot breath teased her ear as he purposely breathed on it.
She turned to face him and captured his lips in a short kiss.
When she pulled away Vegeta immediately clamped down on her lips, in a hard, forceful kiss. Seven years of suppressed passion went into the fiery kiss.
When the couple pulled away Bulma smiled sexily at him, however a small sigh escaped her lips.
Vegeta smirked at her, "What woman? If I'm going to be here then we may as well 'rekindle things.'"
"Vegeta …"
"What woman?"
"Does that mean that you will be living here??"
"Is that okay?"
She blinked in confusion while he continued, "Besides, that annoying assistant of mine and your friend seem to be a thing now"
A smile grazed her lips as she threw her arms around his neck, a small sob was muffled in his masculine shoulder.
He blinked.
She sobbed again, "I'm glad you're here, Vegeta."
He couldn't utter the words, but the way his arms wrapped around her and he held her rocking body against his was enough. He knew it and she knew it as well.
He was glad he was here, too.
The End.
It took me a while to post this chapter … Sorry!! And ... yes, it is the final chapter. Though I did go back a reread both High School Royalty and Reunions, and I have to say that I am happy with the ending result. I hope you are as well. Do tell me how you feel!! And if you want a short epilogue (and have any ideas for one??) then be sure to shoot those requests this way!!
I love you guys. Seriously, the reviews have carried me this far and it is such an honor to have such wonderful support.
Thanks!!