A/N: Well, you all waited so very calmly for this chapter. I hope that there are as many readers as there were before. I apologize for my lack of updating. I promise to be a lot better. The story is almost over, and it has yet to get to the very good parts. Believe me, you'll thank me and then in turn probably hate me when it's over. I'm sorry that it's so short, but I thought that you all would just like to see yet another small tender moment between Bulma and Vegeta, and I thought that I should start off small and once more work my way into the groove of Black Sunrise.

Black Sunrise

Chapter Thirty-Four: Broken Fever

She struggled to pull herself out of the drug-induced sleep. The only sounds she could here were the constant blipping of machines all around her. Eyelids were heavy, refusing to open without a large fight. Vision blurry, Bulma blinked a few times to try and work out the haze that seemed to cover her sight. The medication that was bring dripped into her system via an IV had started to wear off and the moment she moved, a hiss of pain sounded almost inaudible to even her own ears. Footsteps were heard coming towards her, a hand on her brow, a light flashing into her eyes and then a few heartbeats later, blissful numbness.

Her dreams were crowded together, reflections of the past and the present, mixed in with hopes for the futures. Every time she tried to move, a flash of burning pain would take over her body before a blanket of numbness once more covered it so that there was no longer any more pain. During some hour, she woke up once more, sweat sprinkled over her brow, eyes snapping open and a scream breaking free from her.

All that she heard was the tell-tale shot that tore through her body.Even though her eyes were open, the only thing that she could see was the horror-stricken face of Vegeta. His dark eyes flashing, burning with pain as the bullet entered her flesh, her shirt becoming red and sticky with her blood. Something entered his eyes and it struck her to the very core. She knew that this man was the only man that would ever own her heart. But she had brought so much trouble into his life already, and there would only be more until the problem was solved. She didn't think that it would be over as easily as she had hoped.

It seemed that through all the endless nights of trying to think of ways to better herself so that Jade couldn't find her, she had totally forgotten about Cara. And a sense of dread fell over her mind and body.

"Bulma dear. Calm down honey. Shush now. It's alright." A hand reached out and brushed back a lock of hair, caressing her cheek, thumb brushing the tender flesh just under her eye. A rush of musky vanilla flooded her nose and her insides quickly trembled, her body forcefully quivering with pent-up sobs. "There's nothing here that'll harm you. The worst is over now. We're here to protect you. Don't worry my darling. I'm so sorry that this is happening to you...but it's all over."

The musky vanilla turned into the sickening stench of blood. Its metallic smell invading her mind. Now the shot had been replaced with the crunch of bone and iron meeting, bone splitting apart, body falling forward. Her fingers twitched at the memory of dropping the frying pan, its invisible weight once more coming to her hands. Bile coated her tongue and she knew that she was going to be sick. Pushing her mother away from her, she turned her head and became violently ill all over not only the blankets that covered her, but herself as well. Another step of footsteps entered her hearing and then the soft opening and closing of a door.

"It's alright my love. It's alright. Mommy's here now to take care of you. How could you keep the babies from us secret Bulma? I've never seen you pregnant, I think that I deserve this chance to dote all of my attention on your changing, expanding body. I love my little darling. Daddy's here. He just went to go and get a nurse to clean you up. Oh my love. Quit crying please..."

But the tears just wouldn't cease. All of the fear and terror that she felt cascaded from her body in the tears that flooded her face. A pair of nurses came into the room and within a half an hour they had her bathed, cleaned up and dressed in fresh clothing. Lying in a freshly made bed, they had left a small pail beside her bed just in face Bulma felt the need to get sick once again. In that half an hour, her tears had trickled down slowly and stopped, leaving her looking tired and worn out. Once her head hit the pillow, she once more fell into a dreamless sleep, thankful for once that she was no longer alone.

She could hear her mother and father talking around her, but couldn't do anything about it. Their voices were a comfort that she thought she could live without, but in turn was glad and slipped into an even deeper sleep. When she next awoke, she felt ta hand resting heavily on her stomach, a tickle of hair against her bare arm and another hand resting in her own. Turning her head slowly, Bulma saw, for the first time in what felt like years, Vegeta clearly. He was sleeping, his head resting on the bed beside the hands that were linked together, his face turning away from hers so that his eyes would open on the hand that was resting over the growing children within her womb.

A smile tugged at her very dry lips and she slowly, carefully moved her thumb over Vegeta's, caressing his flesh. Even in his sleep his body responded to even her lightest touch. Fingers closing around hers a little more tightly, he nuzzled his cheek even deeper into the blanket that he was using as a pillow. "Vegeta." She whispered, dragging her thumb back and forth of his hand still. "Vegeta..."

He let out a little moan and began to move. The hand that was resting on her stomach gripped the blanket before letting go and he slowly opened his eyes. He thought he had heard his name being called and sat up to look around the room to see who had disturbed his sleep. But there was no one. He turned to look at Bulma, to see her sleeping figure against the stark white of the hospitals' pillow, only to be surprised that she was looked at him with clarity in her eyes. "Bulma." He breathed and felt his eyes burn with unshed tears.

He had held her hand for hours, begging for her to open her eyes and to let him know that she was going to be alright. After the surgery, the doctor had told him that her chances of survival were 100. What they didn't expect, once the first 12 hours had passed, was for the fever that had crept over her and held onto the fragile body, refusing to let go. That had come as a total surprise and for the first time in a week, Bulma was lying in that bed, the sweat from her brow gone. Awake and non-delusional. "Vegeta." She smiled, licking her dry lips. "Can I have a glass of water?"

Her voice was horse and low and he wanted to fetch her the liquid, but couldn't bare to leave the beauty alone for even a moment. "Bulma..." he breathed again, thankful that she was alright and that the fever had finally gone. He saw the pleading look in her eyes and squeezed the fragile fingers softly before getting up from the chair.

He was away from her side for moment, having to leave the room to wander down the hall to grab the requested drink. But when he came back he had the privilege of seeing Bulma almost sitting up, her body propped upwards with pillows resting behind her back and neck. "Here." He gently pressed the paper cup into her hand.

"Thanks." She drank it slowly, sipping at it, allowing the clear liquid to flow into her mouth and down her parched throat. He sat back down and looked at her. Even though her skin was paler then it had ever been, and her hair was limp down her shoulders, she was still the most beautiful person he had ever seen.

"You're welcome." Taking his seat once more, Vegeta sat down beside Bulma and picked up her slender hand. "How are you feeling?"

She held the flimsy cup in her free hand, looking down into the empty bottom, not knowing how to answer the question, so she did the best that she could. "I'm alright. Tired, but fine." Her voice was feathery-soft and Vegeta shook his head slowly, marveling at the fact that this one woman could take on so much and be able to handle everything that had happened to her. It took a strong woman, never mind woman, it took a strong person to be able to live and survive with the knowledge that there was someone out there to get them, someone that was hellbent on ruining their life.

"And the babies?"

She looked up and for the first time in a long time felt panic welling up inside of her. "Babies?"

"We're having twins."

"Twins?"

"As in two?"

Bulma shook her head and felt her eyes widen even more at Vegeta's nod and for a moment neither one of them said anything. He let the information settle itself on Bulma's mind. He wanted her to adjust to the knowledge that they were going to have instead of two, three children to run and chase after. He didn't care. Just as long as she was happy.

But she said nothing. In fact her face held a blank, startled look to it. The expression reminded him of a deer caught in the headlights of a speeding car. "Fuck." She muttered softly, under her breath.

"What?"

"Twins? Three kids? I'm not even 20! My life is going to fall to bits around my ears."

"No it won't."

"Yes it will Vegeta! You don't understand anything do you? I've got some crazy nut-job on my case that won't be happy until I'm dead or totally ruined. And they've come close to it, a few times. They've ruined my family's house, they've ruined my life..."

"Tried."

"They're doing a damned good job of it." Her voice becoming brittle and hard.

"Bulma. What's bothering you?" He sat beside the bed in the chair that he had fallen asleep on. Taking her pale thin hand, his thumb worked over the fragile skin. She didn't look at him, and in fact, turned her head away from him. But he could see that her eyes were still open. Something gripped his heart and he knew that she was thinking about running again. Running away from him and trying to outrun the troubles that plagued her life at every turn.

"Vegeta... I..." Her voice was whispering soft.

"Bulma. I love you. I've loved you from the first moment I laid my eyes on you, but I didn't realize that I could love you as much as it seemed until you left. It was then that I realized that you were, and are the only woman in my life that will every be able to make me feel the things that I feel for you," He paused for a moment. He wasn't one for barring himself to anyone and it was difficult for him to articulate the feelings into words for the woman.

She shifted in the bed, wincing slightly as she jarred her wounded shoulder. Her bottom lip was pulled between her teeth and she chewed on it, fighting back the tears that were starting to sting at her eyes. She knew he loved her, hell, she loved him, but she couldn't put him in any more danger. Already his life had been placed in danger, all because of her.

"I love you Bulma. I love you more then anything else in this world. I'll love you until the very breath leaves my body, and then from the other side I shall love you throughout all of eternity. I want you by my side and I don't care what you bring or what follows you. By my side I can at least fight with every fiber of my being to keep you safe. Please Bulma...please let me stay with you. I'll send Rayne and 18 home, back to my parents house where they'll be under the watchful eye of Mitch and everyone else... but let me stay. Bulma. My love. My soul. I'm begging you." His voice was starting to break and he mentally cursed himself for being so weak in front of the woman that he loved.

She turned her head to say something but her watering blue eyes just stared. Lips parting, she took a deep breath and shook her head sadly. "As much as I love you Vegeta I just cannot..." She was cut off as four figures burst into the room.