Goku decides that he wants to give something important back to Vegeta for his birthday. Yet, the implications of what he does are something he does not understand. It only takes some time for him to find out the mistake he has made and how it could affect everything and everyone. "Vegeta, wait…take…take me with you."

01:

A Pin Needle Drops

Bulma watched Kakarrot with an uncertainty in her eyes. She knew that there was an exchange that she had missed, something she just wasn't understanding. I wasn't about to fill her in, instead I was more worried about the fact I had missed. Something so fundamental that it had truly escaped me. "You know that we may never come back here." I was being clear with him; I did not have the time for him to decide halfway there that he wished to leave. His tail swished and then wrapped tight around his waist.

"I know…" His voice shows the ache that he's feeling. The ache he has from having to leave his family… Leave his friends… Yet, we both know that he has no choice in this matter.

"…" I let him process this all, even though he has already 'agreed' to what I said. He is hesitating in all of this, but the truth is a harsh one.

"Can one of you please explain to me what's going on?" She speaks finally, the woman is watching us with careful eyes. "Goku…what's going on?" She moves closer but I reach out and stop her hand from touching him.

"Don't." She looks at me and something flashes across her face. I don't know if I should worry or if I should move aside.

"Vegeta- "

"Don't." I repeat, hoping that she will understand. She stops though and gently lowers her hand.

"Why?" She murmurs, wanting to console her friend. I have to sigh and pause, thinking of the best words. Something too rough and she'll be alarmed.

"Do not forget, Kakarrot is a sayian as I am. He however, hit his head as a young child and lost his sayian way. However," I have to hesitate, "that is not the whole story." She looks troubled already, but I continue with my words. "Around that same time I suspect that it was when Vegetasei was destroyed. If he hit his head and Vegetasei was lost…so was he. If the planet had lived there is a chance, he would have retained his memories eventually. . . Completing the mission he was sent here for and trying to find a way to get home. The sayian instinct would have come back stronger due to the fact that he had lost it before…and now…" I watch her starting to piece my words together. She looks at me before her eyes close just a little bit.

"I get it." She cuts me off from saying anymore. She looks at me, before touching my cheek. "Take care of him, Vegeta… I'll take care of Chi-Chi and the boys…is there…is there any chance you will come back?" She looks hopeful, but I cannot give her the answer she wants.

"I do not know. It is possible that once we land there we will find mates and take separate courses. As his sayian instincts come back…I am unaware if he will…" I hesitate. "If he will retain his human memories."

"He could forget us?" She looks…horrified. "Forget his sons…forget his wife? All of it?" She whispers, but I cannot reassure her of anything else. Kakarrot twitches and I kiss her cheek as a final farewell.

"Kakarrot, let us go." He looks up and for a moment his eyes widen…yet he nods. He is closer to me than needed as we walk to the ship. He has nothing with him but the clothes on his back and I sigh. "Woman!" She looks up at me. "…. can you retrieve some things for him? Tell his wife that he is staying with me for a time, until we have left." The last thing he needed was that blasted woman getting in his way.

"…yeah. I can do that. I'll be back as fast as possible. I'll also grab more provisions since it's now two of you…wait there…" I nod and take Kakarrot inside, to get him settled in. Luckily it was built with two rooms, but it would still be cramped with the two of us. "Kakarrot," He looks at me, his eyes uncertain, "I will teach you our way of life…and about our home… So it is not too much of a culture shock to you…" He nods, and I notice he has hardly said a word now. "Kakarrot…go rest. We will leave when we have more clothes and provisions…"

"Vegeta…" He trails off for a moment before looking at me. His head drops when he makes eye contact with me. "You're the…prince right?" His words come out slow, which is unlike him.

"Yes, I am…you know this Kakarrot." He sighs a little bit.

"When we land, I will never see you again will I?" I blink, having never put thought into that. I pause before clearing my throat.

"That's absurd." He looks up quickly, looking into my eyes. I continue before he gets a chance to speak, "you're powerful Kakarrot. When we arrive on Vegetasei, there will be many sayians wishing to court and mate you. However, you have not been immersed in our culture. I cannot just allow you into society knowing that. You will stay in the palace despite any objections from my Father or your family. You will be safest there until you can understand our way of life…and your place in it. If I have my way you will remain in the palace despite what happens, even when you acquire a mate." He almost seems bewildered by my words.

"I thought I was just some third-class sayian." The words make me flinch inwardly and I sigh.

"Yes, you were born a third class. However…you will be the most powerful sayian on that planet. And you have earned living in the palace for the rest of your life. Depending on my Father's response to this I could even bring in your family…" He is watching me carefully, his tail giving a twitch to show that he was listening. "…I do not think he will disagree. You are powerful, Kakarrot…and you can easily be an elite on our planet." I wasn't lying of course, he could. Perhaps even a royal bodyguard if I pull enough strings. He would do well at that, especially if it just meant he was around me periodically. He wouldn't have to feel pressured to fit in, in that sense. Kakarrot nods then before he flicks his tail some.

"One other…question…" He pauses, the change he's experiencing from our planet being back must really be affecting him.

"Yes?" I question, and he looks up at me with uncertainty, choosing his words carefully.

"I really know nothing about our race or even my family… If I'm honest I'm already doubting that I can do this…" He sighs a little bit, his tail dropping. "Do you think I can?" He finally gets to his question, and to be honest… I'm not sure I have a ready answer prepared for that.

"Yes." I say it without any hesitation. Even if that is not the correct answer in the end, it is the answer that he needs to hear. "Now go rest, it'll be a long journey. I expect you to be well rested and stop worrying so much about everything." He blinks before nodding, leaving the main room. I sigh a little and sit down in a chair nearby to wait for Bulma. She won't take long, knowing her. Yet, I wish she was already back. I am starting to understand why Kakarrot is worrying so much, and I know he has fair points. This will be a new experience for both of us, but he has never had one to rely on to begin with. I know that he will have a hard time adjusting to being on his home planet.

x-x-x-x

The woman had brought clothes, food, and other necessary supplies with her when she returned. We put everything up before she looked at me gently. She took one of my gloved hands and held it for a few moments. "Take care of him, and take care of yourself." She murmured. "I'll take care of everything here, but please tell me if you come back…for any reason." I look at her gently before kissing her cheek.

"I know…." She smiles gently before leaving the space craft. I sigh, sitting down. Carefully I hit the button to start our course. It will take time to reach Vegetasei…but in the end I can only hope that it will be worth it.

x-x-x-x

"Vegeta…" I look up as I hear the younger sayian's voice. He has finally woken up from his "nap", and looks to be hungry. "We should make something to eat…" I was right, but I was also hungry so I had no argument.

"Yeah." I get up, watching him shuffle to the kitchen area. "What do you want, Bulma brought us a lot more than what I originally had here." He blinks and looks over at me, before tilting his head. I know he will eat anything you put before him.

"Hmn…just hungry." I huff at the response but work on grabbing various things that Bulma packed for us. She knew how much to pack thankfully, to fill the both of us. He watches me with a curious look, wanting to know what I'm doing. He sits down nearby and I toss a box over to him.

"Then eat that for the moment. We'll have a more proper meal later…you slept for almost ten full hours." He blinks, looking up from the box he is opening.

"Really? It was that long?" He passed to think about that, before shaking his head some. "That was the best I've slept in a while, honestly." He admitted as he finally got to the food inside the box. "I guess I really needed it."

I sit down, grabbing my own box of food. "Why haven't you been sleeping?" He blinks before smiling a little nervously.

"Erm, Chi-Chi and I have just been having more arguments lately…" Then he trailed off. "But I guess I won't be seeing her again…huh?" He murmured softly, resting his head on one of his hands. I lean back, sighing a little bit.

"Was there a reason you two were arguing more?" He scowls at this notion and looks at me.

"Yeah! She always gets angry when I want to train one of the boys! It's not like I make them train with me or anything! And then she got angry because Goten has been hanging out with Trunks rather than studying! It's unnatural for a kid that age to be learning…. calculus? That was the book she was waving about when she was angry…. But either way Gohan was telling her that it was a little too much for Goten…and somehow it became an issue of me training them instead of them studying… Gohan always has his nose in books anyways." He pouts more, having forgotten about the box of food. "Then she told me to get out until they were done with their homework…so I waited outside for who knows how long! She didn't even tell me when dinner was done or when they were going to bed! I spent the night outside because I didn't want to make things worse…" I scowl as I listen to him.

"Why do you stay with her Kakarrot? Or…stayed with her?" He looks at me before he leans back. He's trying to think of a logical answer to that question.

"... well I mean, I had Gohan with her…and then Goten…" He trails off, still trying to think about that. "I guess…well…you know, Vegeta. At one point in time I did love her. I did, but I think after Gohan was born things got a little rough between us. I was going to be there for Gohan no matter what but…things just weren't the same. She was always uneasy about me being around him when he was a baby, because she was worried I would do something to him… And then when Raditz came I think her fears were kind of confirmed. When I came back, you know, after fighting you and Nappa… She was really sweet and nice. However, she was continuously more worried about Gohan and his studies. I guess I can't expect any less of her, that's just how she is… But…it was also around then she got… scared of me I think." He looks at me, frowning some. "I think when she found out I was a sayian it affected how she felt about me. She had always thought I was this really kind and nice person, but she also always thought I was human…. I thought things would be okay but… When the androids and cell happened… We just had more of a disconnect…." He closed his eyes a little bit. "I fell out of love with her, no matter how much I wanted to make things work. I didn't want Gohan to go through something like that, I had seen before how it could affect a child…

"But then you know. I died. Again. This time I didn't really think I would be coming back. But Buu happened and I did end up coming back. This time I had another son, Goten… He was so small and fragile when I first met him. He was so excited to meet me though, and excited to be around all of the fighters in the stadium…" He smiles then, thinking about his youngest. "But…she was even more protective of Goten than Gohan. Despite everything I did, she was worried that I would take another one of her sons away from her… I don't know why she couldn't let them do what they wanted. We had a really bad fight the night after everything was settled…. … …" He closes his eyes. "I hit her. Vegeta, I hit her."

"Kakarrot?" I murmur, watching his eyes slide closed. I didn't ask for this whole explanation but, honestly, I am glad he is telling me this. That bitch of a woman infuriated me enough, but now I'm more pissed than I was before.

"I hit her, and she was scared." He looks up at me, before his eyes fall. "That's when the problems escalated beyond my control. I wasn't able to keep my instincts down starting around then. I wanted to protect my sons from how she was acting, I could care less about myself. So I stayed. I stayed for them, this whole time. I was selfish when I wasn't there, because they probably needed me there for them…" He ran a hand through his hair. "…you know I thought this birthday gift would be great for you. Something that you've wanted for years… But in the end it seems that I was just being selfish again. I needed a way out, and this is one hell of a selfish way to- "I put my gloved hand over his mouth, shaking my head.

"Kakarrot that's enough." I murmur gently. "You're not selfish. You had no idea that this was going to happen. If anything you did not know your instincts would kick in…or that your tail would grow back…or even that…well that your mission was going to hit you at full force. You certainly had no intention of coming back with me… That's why you were so sad when you told me, I'm not stupid."

He looks at me, before he sighs a little bit. "Vegeta, this time you're wrong. I was…I was sad because…I wasn't going with you." I blink, and lean back. I want to hear more about this. "I mean…I know I'm not a proper sayian or anything…in fact I'm pretty bad at being one as far as I know…but... but…" He hesitates. "You were my link to something I didn't know. And I really like to spar with you, no one else is strong enough too…you know?" He sighs a little bit, shifting the weight of his head. "I also wanted to learn about my culture…and how it works…and my family. Besides Raditz, I've never met any of them… I'm just really excited for all of it! But I had reason to stay on Earth. My kids being my main concern, because I didn't want to leave them behind… But… When Chi-Chi touched me last night… Even though she barely did… I was about ready to claw off her face. Not because of an argument, but just…from her being around me. I guess it snapped into place at that point in time…" He hesitates, like he's worried about continuing with his words. "…I remembered what I was sent to Earth to do. Just the scent that she gave off rallied me up. I left after that, I didn't want to actually do something I would regret. Gohan and Goten tried to follow me but I told them to go back and eat dinner… I didn't want to tell them the truth, Vegeta…" All of this is a lot for me to take in, something I wasn't expecting to come of Kakarrot coming with me. Yet, I suppose there is a lot about him that I honestly just do not know. Even if I think I do, there is still a lot I have to learn.

"I knew then…that my only choice was to come with you. If I had stayed on Earth…I suppose I would have been compelled to complete my mission. I don't…I don't really want to admit that, but I know it's true. I don't think that anyone could have stopped me, save my sons…and Trunks. But it would have still taken a lot… I didn't want to risk that. But…I also wanted to come. There wasn't much hesitation in my thought about coming here, I'll admit. I didn't want to leave Gohan and Goten, but… I'm ready for something new. And starting off fresh seems like a good plan…" He remembers then that he has food. I watch him starting to eat it, but he still seems distracted. "That is pretty selfish isn't it?"

I sigh, leaning backward in the chair I sit. "Kakarrot, I don't think you're being selfish. As a matter of fact, I believe that you are doing what you think is right. That is hardly being selfish. To be honest, I never thought that the woman was good for you. She was always holding you back and trying to make you something that you weren't." I huff just a little bit. "It wasn't...I don't think that it was good for you. Being away from her is a good thing, and your sons can make their own choices. If they choose to come to our planet, that is their own decision. If they choose to stay, that is their own decision. Bulma will handle all of that. Don't worry about it, Kakarrot. Understood?" He looks at me before he smiles just a little bit.

"Yeah yeah, okay I get it…" He murmurs gently and then keeps eating. "I'll try to not worry about it." I sigh some and watch him for a time. I honestly had not assumed he would be coming with me; I had assumed that I would be going on my own back to Vegetasei. Even if at times he's a dimwit and pisses me off, I cannot say I am angry about him coming with. If anything I am thrilled at the idea of showing him our sayian culture.

x-x-x-x

Kakarrot has been quiet on this trip so far. Out of the seven days I have spent with him, our only true conversation happened the first day on the ship. Our schedules are different, as we tend to hardly see one another. Yet, still, I suspect that he is also avoiding me. He does not tend to openly try to speak with me any longer or even ask questions about our roots. I will have to start teaching him soon, but I don't know if he's ready. "Vegeta." I turn my head away from the screen that is mapping how long it will take to reach Vegetasei. I watch the uncertainty in his movements as he approaches me. "Vegeta…" He repeats before he sits down next to me. "I don't feel that well…" He murmurs, and I blink. I reach over and touch his head as Bulma had done for Trunks and myself.

"Don't tell me you've gotten sick. I don't know if she gave us medication or not." I murmur. Sayians do not often get sick, besides like humans, the average cold can. However, some diseases have whipped out several hundred Sayians in some cases. We are always careful when it comes to illnesses, but not always can Earth medication help either. As far as I was aware, Kakarrot had hardly suffered from any illnesses. And if he did, they were all Earth ones. Nothing that he should worry about. He makes a small sound, and I can feel the tender fever starting. I sigh a little bit, looking at him gently. "Kakarrot, is this why you've been sleeping so much? How long have you been feeling like this?"

"…I don't know. Maybe four days or so… At first I thought I just needed to catch up on sleep but now…" He makes another sound. His tail droops as he speaks, but I'm not too surprised. He appears to have caught something and it's one of the first space colds he has ever had.

"You'll be okay. The first one I caught, Nappa had to take care of me. I will tell you now that he wasn't very good at it." I snort and then sigh a little bit. "I'm going to check to see if we have any medications. If we don't we may have to stop on a planet and try to acquire some." I move to leave but he grips onto my hand tightly.

"I think..." He trails off, his grip getting tighter.

"Kakarrot?" I murmur, moving closer to him. I touch his cheek, trying to gather if it's safe to leave him be. He's starting to look worse as I look at him. "…okay…look…stay right here, I'll be back in a few moments. But you don't look well enough to stand back up." He grips on still, and I sigh. "Kakarrot I will force you to let go of my hand. And you know that I will. So don't make me. I need to know if we can treat this or not."

"…I don't think it's a cold…" He whispers then, before looking at me. "I think…" And he tries to stand before stumbling. I move quickly to catch him; glad he was still gripping onto my hand.

"Kakarrot?!"