Author's Note: A HUGE apology for the tardiness of this chapter. I realize it has been MONTHS since I last updated but rest assured, it was not far from my mind. I am no where near giving up on this story and I have every intention on finishing it but I just started a new job as a ER nurse (MY DREAM!) so I've just been busy with that. I do have plans for another story because I just finished reading Count of Monte Cristo - greatest book ever with a fabulous plot so I'm going to do something along those lines for my next story. I'm forcing myself to finish this one first. Thank you for your patience! Enjoy.
Darkness is a harsh term don't you think?
And yet it dominates the things I've seen.
-Mumford & Sons
Set Me Free
Chapter 15
Seconds passed.
Silence.
Seconds turned into minutes.
Silence.
Finally Vegeta cleared his voice, prompting an answer from the woman who sat across from him. He stared into her deep blue eyes as her mouth hung wide open. She was clearly still in shock.
The prince's heart pounded inside his chest and his breathing increased. Suddenly he noticed the temperature was increasing inside his chambers and he pulled at his collar unconsciously.
This was a mistake! His mind yelled. Vegeta was not one to be rejected. No woman has ever said 'no' to him before! Then again, when has he ever asked this sort of question?
Meanwhile, Bulma was facing her own battle. Did she hear him correctly? One moment he was babbling on about some upcoming battle the next… something about a mate? This cannot be right. Earlier that day she believed he never wanted to see her again and now this? He was right – she was currently in shock from the question he proposed.
"Um… what?" She questioned, completely perplexed.
The prince released a frustrated growl and continued his pacing. "Don't make me ask again." He gritted between his clenched teeth.
Bulma immediately nodded and looked down at her hands, which were now mindlessly pulling at the hem of her shirt. She bit her lip and looked back at the man before her. Married to Vegeta?! It had to be a dream! Bulma pinched her outer hand; almost hoping she was not sleeping.
Nope. Not a dream.
The young woman's face grew red as she realized the prince had stopped pacing and once again turned his attention back to her. She looked back at him, a smile from ear to ear, and whispered a "yes."
A relief swept over the prince and he released a sigh. Unsure of what to do next, he mumbled a "good" and immediately left the room. He needed some time in the gardens to think and also get a breath of fresh air.
As soon as the large wooden door shut behind the prince, Bulma released a long sigh, still smiling. She was still in denial about the scene that just occurred between her and Vegeta but nevertheless, she was ecstatic to say the least. Well, what now? She pondered, looking around the empty quarters of the prince.
"No!"
"Yes!"
"Well… I just do not believe it."
"I could not either at first." Bulma said, sitting back into her leather seat and swirling her tea in her hands. She looked back at Chi Chi, who sat dumbfounded with the news she just heard from her best friend. Bulma sipped cautiously at the tea, attempting to contain her excitement but was having some difficulty as her hands trembled with the cup.
"I have to inform Kakarott!" Chi Chi announced and immediately rose to call upon a servant to give the message. However, Bulma hand gently grasped her friend's arm in objection.
"As much as I would love for him to know, I am not sure if Vegeta wants the entire palace to hear of this news yet. Can we keep this between us?"
The princess nodded in agreement and sat down once more, taking her own tea in her hands and nibbling on a dry biscuit.
"So, you and Kakarott are doing well?" Bulma questioned, raising her eyebrows toward her best friend.
Chi Chi gave a 'hrmph' and leaned back in her chair. "I guess not as well as you and Vegeta."
Bulma could not help but smile. To be honest, she was completely ecstatic about the entire event and there was really no denying it. She pushed her feelings aside and quickly waved her hand in dismissal. "Give it time, Chi. You know how he is."
"Yes, you are right. But I also know how Vegeta is…" She rolled her eyes and released a long sigh but at the end, gave a huge smile and took Bulma's hand in her own. "I'm so happy for you!"
Following the meeting with Chi Chi, Bulma made her way to her lab and attempted to get some work done. She spread out her blueprints and sat down at the drawing table, pencil in hand.
Hours passed and she continued to work, determined to finish some designs and perhaps begin work on prototypes. The young woman was motivated to complete some projects, hopefully in time for the upcoming battle. By the sound of these strange alien creatures and the "tidbits" Vegeta would mention to her about the battle, he might need the extra help.
Her ocean blue eyes squinted at the many layouts before her. Bulma leaned back and released a long, frustrated sigh. She hit a roadblock in her plans. The young woman groaned and rubbed her temples, attempting to focus once more. Hopeless.
"I guess this means its time for a break." She mumbled, tossing her pencil aside and getting up from her chair, hearing the slight cracks in her joints as she stretched her limbs.
"I'll say."
Bulma quickly turned to the husky voice, belonging to the muscular man standing in doorway of the lab. She folded her arms but her lips molded into a smirk as she mimicked the man before her. "Well, to what do I owe the pleasure…"
"Let's not jump to conclusions…" Vegeta said, flashing Bulma smirk. Within a blink of the eye, the prince had his woman pinned against the wall and both were viciously entangled in each other's arms. Bulma released a loud moan as the prince trailed kisses down her neck and she dug her nails deeper into his skull.
The prince's muscular arms held her close as his talented hands worked their way down her body before settling on her toned buttocks. She released a giggle against his lips as he gave it a squeeze before making another journey further south. Vegeta's gifted fingers roamed her curves and traced along her thighs until they found the ultimate destination.
Bulma assisted her fiancé in hiking up her modest skirt. The prince released a small growl before quickly tearing away her undergarment. She braced herself, awaiting the sudden surge of pleasure. When it did not arrive, she opened her eyes and gave her lover a puzzled look. Vegeta glanced at the clock and slowly pulled away.
"Time for a meeting."
The look on the young woman's face; a look of pure disappointment and devastation, made a small smile appear on Vegeta's face. He gave a quick peck on the cheek before disappearing from her laboratory and giving a shout "Till tonight then?"
Bulma gave a 'huff' of annoyance by the interruption of pleasure she was experiencing. She folded her arms and glared at her fiance's back as he left her laboratory. However, a smirk left its mark upon her face as she counted down the minutes till she saw her prince again.
Bulma was making her way about the palace, giving herself a break from her laboratory and blueprints for the day. Her headache was beginning to get the best of her and she needed to give her mind a break, especially after her little encounter with Vegeta. She wandered about, looking for something or someone to distract her until she could meet with her prince once more.
Finally, her eyes fell upon Kakarott, who was coming straight for her, a grin plastered on his face as always. She had not talked with her friend alone for quite some time and was excited for spend some time with him. Perhaps a walk in the gardens would be in order.
Bulma waved down the young soldier and he quickly met her. "Kakarott! How's it going?"
"Hey Bulma! Oh you know, busy busy busy!"
Bulma nodded. "Well, would you have time for an old friend?" She smiled, already making her way towards exit, signaling him to follow.
"Oh Bulma, I wish I could! But I have lots to do before leaving for the battle."
The young woman's entire demeanor dropped. She gave him a puzzled look, urging him to continue to explain himself.
Kakarott put his hand behind his head, feeling the pressure. He felt awful for leaving one of his closest friends when she wanted to see him. He felt even worse for causing such distress at the news of their departure. "Yeah, we leave in a few days."
As if her day could not get any worse, now she felt the blow of having her prince leave her in a few days time, after just getting engaged. She frowned and nodded at the young man's words.
"I'm sorry Bulma. I gotta run but I'll see you later!"
Bulma watched as Kakarott disappeared quickly from her sight. She released a long sigh and rubbed her eyes, feeling a heavy pit in her stomach from the recent news. How long was he going to be gone this time? She absolutely hated it when he was gone, especially for a new battle at some other planet.
The young woman tried to focus her attention on something else but her mind continued to drift back to the subject at hand. She was going to be alone for days? Months? Hell, it could even be a year till she would see her prince again. These battles did not have a time limit and she prayed to the gods it would be sooner rather than later. Time was not the only consequence of this upcoming battle but another question at hand was the prince's safety. Sure, it was foolish to think he would ever get seriously injured. Cuts and bruises were common when the prince returned home from battle, along with possible fractures. Nothing too serious ever occurred. But still, that thought lingered in the back of her mind. He was not invincible…
Over the next few days, Bulma tried her hardest to spend as much time possible with her new fiancé. She followed him wherever he went, such as numerous meetings and councils. She even bothered him in his office where he attempted to finish the details on the upcoming war. No such luck. At one point, the young woman followed him into his training arena but he put his foot down at that and immediately denied her access to the facility.
Although he would not ever admit it, he did not care so much that she followed him around. He added little to their conversation but that seemed perfectly fine to Bulma, who proceeded to give him details of her life story and her daily life, as well as her projects and inventions in progress. Yes, he did not mind her tagging along with him… for the first day. As the second days rolled around, the prince was ready to rip out his hair and choke the life from her. Being a solitary man for most of his life, this was new for him. He caught himself snap at her a few times, along with being short for his answers. Fortunately, she knew who she was dealing with and learned to "back off" – giving the prince his much needed space.
Now, he found himself staring at the ceiling and thinking about his departure tomorrow. The prince turned on his side to find the bed empty next to him. He glanced quickly towards the balcony doors to find the dark curtains blowing in the crisp air. The doors were slightly ajar, in which he could make out the figure of a woman standing outside on the stone balcony. His woman.
Slowly, Vegeta made his way towards her and soon was standing right behind her. Bulma was staring out onto the vast landscape of Planet Vegetasei. The moonlight and millions of stars lit up the land before her enough that she could make out the slightest detail of the countryside. To the north, a wide range of mountains towered high; jagged peaks pierced the night sky. To the east and west, a dense forest that seemed endless disappeared from view.
Bulma could feel the prince standing behind her, his warmth radiating around her. A small smile appeared on her cool red lips. She did not expect him to join her but here he was.
After standing in silence, she released a small sigh and turned to face him. "I don't want you to leave." She mumbled, looking down at ground.
Vegeta said nothing, only releasing a sigh and remained in silence. He had no idea what to say to this woman. No words of comfort came to mind. No thoughts of support. The prince was not accustomed to this. He has never had a woman by his side before, much less an Earthly woman. Saiyan woman are not as… needy nor emotional. They do not expect love or kindness because they will not receive it.
Vegeta remained stoic. His mind, however, was racing for an answer for the woman before him.
He suddenly noticed a slight shaking coming from the young woman. Her thinly laced nightgown was barely enough clothing for the cool night. Even with her arms wrapped tightly around her, her body still lacked heat. The prince noticed her biting her lip slightly to keep her teeth from chattering.
Without thinking, he reached out and pressed his body against his, wrapping his massive muscular limbs around her petite body. He may not be able to offer words of kindness and comfort, but this simple gesture is the best he could muster.
Bulma felt an instantaneous blanket of heat envelop her body. The sudden change nearly took her breath away and took her completely by surprise. She looked about her at first before she realized it was none other than the prince. She did not expect much from this man, after learning his culture background, but this action proved to her how much of a prince he truly was. This man was her man.
This touching moment was briefly interrupted as the young woman returned her thoughts to what brought her out here in the first place. Vegeta was leaving in the morning for another battle. Who knows how long he'll be gone?
Spinning around in the toned arms, Bulma pressed her hands against the bare chest of the prince and faced him. "Please, do not go."
Vegeta released her, sighing. He was hoping she would drop the subject but it was clear it was not going to be that easy. "Woman…" He groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance. The early morning hours were starting to wear on him and lack of sleep was making him aggravated.
"Vegeta I'm serious! I just have a bad feeling-"
The prince glared at her before returning back into his quarters, Bulma at his heels, continuing her argument.
"I just fear you are going to get hurt or worse!"
"Enough!" He bellowed, irritated by this argument. "This conversation is getting old and I will hear no more of it!"
Bulma laid on her side, facing the window. The moonlight seeping through, lighting up the room. Small tears escaped and she quickly wiped them away. She could hear the deep breathing of the man lying next to her but knew he was not asleep.
After their minor dispute, the couple climbed back into bed in silence and pretended to drift off to sleep. However, each knew that was not the case and now here they were, both awake and waiting for the other to make a move.
Vegeta cleared his throat. "I am prince of all Saiyans. This is my duty to my planet and my people. When I am King, I will become their supreme leader. I need to prove my loyalty to them now."
Bulma nodded in understanding. The prince could see her acceptance and unspoken truce. She slowly turned to him and wrapped her slender arms around his waist, laying her head against his chest and listening to his breathing as it lulled her to sleep.
The following morning, she awoke to the sound of Vegeta getting ready to leave. He was currently buckling his belt then moved onto tying his combat boots. Bulma sat up in bed to further observe her prince as he moved about the room, packing up items and completely oblivious to his audience.
A knock at the door broke them both from their trance. It was a palace guard informing the prince that his ship was ready, along with his crew. The prince mumbled a 'thank you' and handed the guard some baggage to load.
As soon as the door was shut, the prince turned to the young woman perched on his bed. He released a sigh and ran his hand through his hair. He was no good at goodbyes. Why? Because he never had to do one till now.
"I have something for you." He began, walking over to a set of drawers and opening one, removed a velvet black box.
Bulma eyed it curiously. A piece of jewelry, no doubt. A ring perhaps? That is the custom of Earth for engagement, however, Bulma had no idea what it was for Saiyans. She never noticed any of them wearing rings that were specifically designed to represent matrimony.
Vegeta slowly opened the box and revealed its contents. Inside laid a gorgeous necklace, containing one sapphire and several rubies surrounding it. The sapphire was a deep blue, one that reminded Bulma of the ocean depths back home, while the rubies were a marvelous shade of red. The arrangement of jewels hung from a black chain that was tightly woven.
"Black gold." The prince said, taking the necklace from the box and proceeding to hang it around the young woman's neck. "A specialty here on Planet Vegetasei."
"It is absolutely gorgeous, Vegeta." Bulma said, glancing in the mirror at the breathtaking piece around her neck. "But, why?"
Bulma was curious to know. A gesture like this was not customary for Saiyans, especially for their prince. She had an idea of why he gave it to her, but she would rather hear it coming from his mouth. She urged him on.
In his mind, Vegeta knew exactly what the gift was for. He knew she would wear it continuously and other Saiyans will recognize it, knowing she is not to be touched by any other man. She was taken and this necklace was the unspoken proof. With this in mind, the prince's mind may be at ease a little while he is away.
The prince shrugged nonchalantly. "It is just a gift, woman. Unless you do not want it…"
"No, no!" She took a step back. "I love it."
Vegeta smirked. He glanced at his pocket watch before turning towards the door. Bulma noticed and immediately threw her arms around her lover. "Don't get yourself killed."
"Try not to miss me too much." He replied, still smirking.
Bulma rolled her eyes but gave him a quick peck on the lips and before she knew it, he was gone.
Author's Note: Ok, not my best work but I wanted to hurry up and get SOMETHING out for all of you that are still following this story. I apologize if this chapter is a little (or ALOT) OOC, I tried to keep it somewhat in character but for this story, this is how Vegeta is in my mind. I hope you like it so far!
A big thanks to all my reviewers - it is amazing to hear your comments and words of encouragement. Please keep it up because I do this for you!
