Disclaimers: Don't own, don't ask, don't sue.
A/N: So, just so you readers know, Vegeta's got a very dirty mouth, but then again, who doesn't love a hard-core rebel man? So, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, and hey, excuse all the errors in the previous, and following chapters. Sometimes I get so tired I miss them, know what I mean Jelly Bean?
Black Sunrise
Bulma rolled her eyes as Chi-Chi had invited her to Vegeta's Halloween party. "I'm sorry C, but I'm all ready going to a party. Otherwise I'm sure I'd have loved to. I haven't seen too much of that Veg-Head for a while."
"What are you going to dress up as anyway?"
Bulma gave her friend a wink and looked at Star for she was the only person that knew what her costume was going to be. "Aww, can't you even give me a little clue?"
"No, sorry. But listen, I should get going. I've got to pick up Rayne a little costume before I head home. I'll stop by your place tomorrow before I go to the party and I'll show you. Then you can tell me if it's all right? Ok?"
"Sure. Can't wait. I'll see you then. Hey Star?"
Star looked up and grinned. "Yeah?"
"Have a good one!"
"You too Chi-Chi!"
Bulma and Star got into the black Audi and waved to their friend. "Well, this is going to be great!" Bulma chattered happily.
Star nodded her head and idly chewed on her lip. Bulma was going to freak right out if she knew that they were going to be going to Vegeta's party tomorrow. It was a surprise, and boy what a surprise it was going to be. She felt the need to play matchmaker with the two hotheaded teenagers, knowing full well that they were perfect for each other.
"So, what do you think your girl will be for Halloween?"
"An angel. She'll be perfect for the role."
Bulma had invited Star over a few weeks ago and had introduced her friend to her daughter. Knowing full well that her secret would be safe with her trustworthy friend, Bulma felt at ease with Star in the house. Rayne had taken to Star instantly.
"That she will be. She's such a little darling Bulma. I cannot believe how well behaved she is."
"I know, I was almost expecting a little devil child myself, but she's just, perfect." Both girls giggled and started singing along to the music that blared out from the car stereo. "Do you have everything you need for your costume?"
"Oh yeah, picked up the rest of it last night. What about you? How's your hair coming along?"
"It's fine. Once I wash the black out, it'll be its natural color."
"I cannot believe you actually got the black out without any trouble."
"I've been working on taking it out for a while now. Just got to know how to handle the dye. Is black your natural color?"
"Yeah. But you should sell your secrets on Ebay. People out kill to know how to get black out so easily."
Bulma laughed loudly and shook her head. "It wasn't hard. I wasn't using a permanent dye as it was. Just stuff that washed out in a few weeks."
"Ah. Well, that's smart."
"No shit."
They continued their chattering while Bulma pulled into the Mall and they spent a few hours there picking up Rayne's costume, then went back to Bulma's house. Star had her costume and a few overnight things in the trunk of the car and had arranged with her parents to stay at Bulma's for the weekend.
They did their homework, watched two movies and then got ready for bed. Star read quietly while she waited for Bulma to get out of the shower and remove the one-day only black goop that she spread through her hair to cover her natural color. She was anxious to see what her black haired friend would look like in her natural colors, and couldn't wait. Flipping the page to her book, her ears caught the sound of water being turned off.
A few minutes later Bulma emerged with a towel wrapped around her head wearing a pair of gray sweatpants and a black tank top. "Well?" Star asked, putting her book beside her.
"Well what?"
"Well? Can I see what it looks like?"
"I guess." Bulma smiled, pulling the towel from her head. Cascading down her shoulders to her mid back were waves of damp sky blue tresses. The dark-haired girl gasped, hand covering her mouth.
"Holy shit B!"
"Holy shit what?" Bulma asked, confused.
"Holy shit your hair is blue!"
Bulma laughed and sat down on her bed. "Yeah, what else did you expect it to be?"
Star shrugged her shoulders and smiled. "I don't know, blonde maybe, your mom is blonde..."
"This I know, and I've pondered for many hours as to why I got stuck with blue hair, but you know something? I'm glad to know that I'm back. Well, almost all of me is back, which is a good thing. For the past two years roughly, my life has been nothing but an empty shell. I hardly talked if ever, and the only person that I had to live for, was my daughter. That was it. But now...I've got friends, and I've got a happy family..." She ran her fingers through her damp hair, digits snagging on a few knots.
"We're all here for you. I cannot believe how quickly Chi-Chi accepted you into her group, well, accepted us actually. Normally she and 18 don't let anyone in. But no, she likes you."
"I know, and I like her as well, the only person I cannot stand is that cocky loud-mouthed Vegeta. There's just something about him..."
"Could it be his rock hard abs, his strong arms, his deep eyes, his ever so cocky smirk..."
"All that is totally true, I mean, he is just, drop dead gorgeous but with that insufferable attitude of his, it just makes him a sexy demon. And that's just, ew."
Star shook her head and sighed. "Bulma, you think he doesn't think that about you? But that's just something you cannot deal with. He hates everyone that comes in contact with him...but we'll forget all about him tomorrow won't we? Oh yes. We'll find you someone to hook up with...but let's get your hair brushed, and then let's get to sleep. We've got one hell of a busy day tomorrow!"
Nodding her head, she handed her friend the black brush. Star ran it through the azure locks quickly, yet gently. Once Bulma's hair was brushed, she swept it up into a messy bun and laid down on her side of the bed. Star snuggled up close to her and sighed happily.
"I'm very glad we're friends Bulma."
"I'm glad too Star. I don't know how I could have gone the whole year without you guys with me. I was getting so lonely, and I'm just glad that I have someone to talk with now. It's good to know that I've for friends."
"I'm glad that you're my friend Bulma, because without you, Chi-Chi and I would only be nice to each other in the hallways, and you're so...lucky to live in a place such as this, with wonderful parents and everything like that. It's just amazing how...well off you are compared to me."
"Listen Star, just because I'm rich, or my parents are rich, doesn't mean that I won't lead a normal life like anyone else. I chose to go to a public school, and I chose to stay away from those rich-bitch schools. I know that there are other people in the school like Chi-Chi and yes, even Vegeta that are almost just as rich as me, but just because we have money doesn't mean that we've got to flaunt it."
"I know, but still, I'm just...glad. I don't think I could thank you enough...you know?"
"Oh, I know, now little chatterbox, let's get some sleep." Bulma rolled over onto her side and gave her friend a quick hug before she settled her head into the pillow and closed her eyes.
Someone was shaking her shoulders and calling her name. Opening one eye, and then the other, Bulma rubbed her face and pulled the blanket over her head. "Come on you lazy ass. Get your sleeping carcass out of bed!"
"Ugh...go away..."
Star yanked the blanket off of Bulma and shook her head. "Now, now, is that any way to be talking to your best friend?"
Bulma growled, stuffing her head under her pillow, holding onto it tightly. "It's too bloody bright in here."
"Did you know, that in 5 hours, we've got to leave, and did you know that you can sleep until ungodly hours in the afternoon? Rayne's been up for hours."
With that comment, Bulma shot up and jumped out of bed. Star laughed and tousled her all ready messed up hair. "It's all right, she's been well looked after. She's walking around the furniture, and cooing away happily while crawling after a ball."
"Holy shit! How the fuck could you let me sleep in that late!?"
"You were tired, so Mom and I let you sleep." Star had given up calling Bulma's mom Mrs. Briefs or Bunny, so she settled on just calling her 'mom'. "Plus, it's not like we don't know how to handle Rayne. So C'mon, you've got a ton of things that you need to do before you get into your costume."
Bulma swung her legs over the side of her bed and mumbled as she took out the hair tie that held her hair out of her face during the night. Shaking her head, she stood up and walked to her closet. Pulling out a gray sweatshirt, she tugged it on over her head. "All right, so we've got to bring something to snack on huh? So, what do you suggest?"
"Cookies. Always a favorite of mine."
"Cookies? Don't you think we're too old for those?"
"We can NEVER be too old for cookies B, what the hell are you thinking?"
Laughing, they walked out of the room and down the stairs. Bulma disappeared into the kitchen for a few moments to tell everyone that she and Star were going to be using the kitchen for the afternoon. Rayne crawled to her feet when she saw that her mother was within distance and gurgled happily. Bending down, Bulma scooped up the year old into her arms and kissed her loudly on the forehead. "How are you baby? You being good for grandma? Is she going to take you out and show you off to everyone?" Rayne giggled and Bulma smiled widely to her mother.
Bunny returned the smile and went to pick up the newspaper. Unfolding it, a small envelope fell out from the middle of it. Picking it up, Bunny looked at her daughter. "Bulma sweetie, it's for you."
Puzzled, Bulma walked to her mother and handed Rayne to Star. Taking the white envelope into her hands, she slowly opened it up and unfolded the note. Her eyes scanned it quickly, and she let you a horrified gasp. The paper fell to the floor and Star placed Rayne on the ground. "What is it?"
All the scared girl could do was point at the letter. Bending down Star retrieved the dropped article and read it. Her small frame started to tremble in anger. "Who the fu...flying fairies would send you something like this Bulma?"
She fell to the floor, knees pulled to her chest. "He...he's found me...oh my god, oh my god, oh my god..." she whispered, arms wrapping around her raised knees. Bunny jumped up and stepped over Rayne who had decided to crawl towards her mother. Chubby hand slapping her foot.
"Who? Who found you? Bulma? What's going on?"
Bunny looked at the piece of paper that was causing so much trouble and read it slowly. Walking over to the side cupboard, she pulled out a small crystal glass and opened up a decanter of an amber liquid and poured in an inch. Walking to her trembling daughter, she placed the cup into her hand. "Drink this. It'll settle your nerves."
Bulma effortlessly downed the drink and made a face as the brandy burned from throat to stomach. "Thanks." She managed to get out in a weak voice.
"Now, this is what you're going to do. You are going to go to this party tonight, and you are going to have fun. You are not going to let this get in your way of having fun tonight. I will phone your father and tell him that...I will tell him what has happened today, and he'll deal with it."
Bulma nodded and handed her mother the glass. She looked down to her daughter and chewed on her bottom lip. "Listen, you've got to look after Rayne while I go out for a few hours. Don't worry; I'll be back before you girls have to get ready. Bye-bye baby, you be a good girl for mommy!" Bunny knelt down and kissed her granddaughter firmly on the cheek before she straightened herself and walked away.
Star helped Bulma up from the floor and then scooped the wiggling Rayne into her arms and hugged her tight. "Well? What do you say we go and get those cookies made?"
"Yeah. Sure." The startled teen took her daughter from her best friend and held her close. They walked into the kitchen and looked around, mentally preparing themselves for the task ahead of them.
"Don't worry B, I know what I'm doing!" Star chirped happily, rummaging around the kitchen for a few minutes, arms loaded with bowls and spoons. Bulma shook her head and lounged against a marble counter, Rayne settled comfortably on her hip playing with her mother's ear.
"I'm glad you know what you're doing, I'm helpless in the kitchen."
"I be you're not. I'm just betting that you don't want to admit that you're a fabulous cook."
"No, seriously, if I step foot in a kitchen, I burn everything I touch..."
"Well, it's a good thing for me then, that you'll be decorating the cookies I make!" Star giggled and busied herself with preparing the batter and placing it in the fridge to harden so she could shape it. She then began to start making some sandwiches for lunch. The two girls sat on the wide counters and happily ate in silence while Rayne was sitting in her playpen, having all ready eaten.
"Y'know..." Star started, swallowing the last of her sandwich. "I really think you need to get a boyfriend."
"WHAT?! Are you insane? Do you think I could actually get a guy, let alone explain to him about Rayne and everything else that is happening right now in my life?"
Star tossed her head, hair flying over her shoulders. "Well, I'm sure there is someone out there for you, someone that will accept you for who you are, and what you've done. Make no mistake though, when you find this person, make sure that you hold on tightly...you need all the love you can get..."
Bulma let out a cold snort of disgust and tossed the remains of her sandwich into the garbage. "Is the dough ready for molding yet?"
"Let me go and check..." Star jumped off of the counter with a swing of her legs and landed lightly on the spotless floor. She opened up one of the many large stainless-steel refrigerators and poked at the object in question. "Yeah, it's done."
"Good, let's get these things ready...I've got to go and put Rayne down for her nap soon, so if you don't mind."
Star rolled her eyes and held up her hands in a sign of defeat. "Oh yes, high and mighty powerful Mistress, I shall bow down to your every whim."
The blue haired teen stuck her tongue out at her friend. "Quit being so sarcastic Star."
"Then quit being so god-damned moody with me. I'm only trying to help you here. Why don't you go and get Rayne down for a nap, and then go take a bath or something. You look like..."
"Shit?"
"I wasn't going to say that, I was going to say you look worn out."
"You would be too if you just got a letter from...someone..." Someone from your past, someone that knows all of your darkest secrets, someone that has been haunting your every waking moment; wondering if you'll stumble across him again.
"That letter, right, listen, that's just some sick joke for Halloween."
"Some sick joke. That scared the shoes off of me..."
"You're not wearing shoes."
"Great observation there."
"I know, but you take your daughter, put her down, then take a bath. I'll call you when the cookies are ready to be decorated."
"All right, all right. I can see that you want me out of your kitchen."
"It's your kitchen, but you look like you're going to blow a fuse."
"Maybe I am." Bulma snapped, running a hand over her face.
"And maybe you need to take another shot of whatever your mom gave you, go upstairs and take a bath. Smoke a cigarette too, it might actually calm your nerves."
"The only thing that'll calm my nerves is a..."
"Good lay?" Star piped up, winking.
"You're hopeless."
"Oh, you know you love me!"