Bulma stood in the little room with Kaida absolutely confused. One minute she was standing in the temple with her mate, interesting how that word has come to replace husband, even in my mind, the next she's pushed into this room by the king and told to prepare herself. Prepare herself for what she had no idea but she was sure it had something to do with Vegeta ignoring her completely the night before never mind the fact that he hadn't even shared her bed last night...he hadn't even stayed in the same room with her. What the fuck is going on?

Kaida shook her head, how do I keep getting myself into these things. "You need to change," Kaida said holding out another dress. Nodding absently Bulma turned and allowed the other woman to help her out of the dress, "What is going on?" Bulma asked as she shrugged into the other dress, "and why am I wearing these rags?" The dress that she had just been put into was old, faded and close to falling apart.

"The king has decided that you and DehDeh are to be mated and the High Priest agreed to do join you together today. The dress is traditional; no need to go destroying something nice now is there?" Bulma stared at the other woman, "We're getting mated? Now? I don't even know what the ceremony is..."

"Bulma, relax. The ceremony is very simple. First you're going to walk in by yourself, go straight to the altar steps, there you have to stop and curtsy to the king and queen. Then you go to the altar and stand facing DehDeh. You don't have to say anything, just do exactly what he does. He's going to take your left hand, whatever he does to your left hand you do to his right. Don't make any noise and don't flinch, that's the important part. The High Priest will then give you both the challis, you both hold it together, you'll drink first then he will. Once the priest has taken the challis you'll both turn and walk to the first step and kneel. Everything after that is simple, nothing to worry about. Ok you're ready to go," the women walked out of the room and stood near the doors leading to the temple proper, "the page here will tell you when you can begin your walk up the aisle. Just remember to do as Vegeta does and whatever you do don't flinch or cry out." With that happy reminder Kaida disappeared through the doors to return to her spot standing next to her parents.

Bulma took a deep breath, nervous about what was going to happen, she was so lost in her thoughts that she did not notice the page. "Your Highness," the page touched her arm, "Your Highness they're ready for you now. You need to go to the altar now." Bulma nodded, took a deep breath and headed down the aisle.

Vegeta stood at the altar silently cursing his father in his head. Movement near the doors caught his attention; turning he saw Bulma heading toward him. Despite his annoyance with his father Vegeta was secretly extremely happy with this. While he accepted the human mating ceremony for the woman he had never truly felt bonded with her. Now thanks to his meddling father that was going to change.

Once Bulma was standing in front of the altar the High Priest began the ceremony, muttering quietly over the altar in a language that she didn't understand. Bulma wasn't sure what to expect from the High Priest or the ceremony despite Kaida's 'helpful' explanation, so she was a little surprised when the Priest made them stand less than an arms' length apart. I figured we needed to be close but this...Vegeta rolled his eyes at her, he could tell she was thinking of something instead of paying attention to what was going on, probably for the best anyway. She'd throw one of her fits if she knew what was coming. He held her left hand in his right and drew it closer to him, allowing him to kiss her palm.

Bulma felt the kiss and smiled at him, ok I guess this is what Kaida was talking about. I suppose that means I have to kiss his palm as well...noticing that once again she was lost in thought Vegeta held her hand over the challis and brought his left hand towards hers. He had hidden his left hand behind his back when the priest had given him the dagger. He quickly ran the edge of the blade across her palm, being careful not to cut to deep and cause damage but deep enough so that it would leave a scar.

Bulma saw the dagger in his hand but didn't understand what he was going to do with it until too late. Being so lost in thought she didn't have time to cry out or flinch away, all she could do was blink her eyes at her mate. Vegeta had to bite his cheek to keep a straight face; the look on his mates' face was almost too much for him. She wasn't expecting that. What the hell did Kaida tell her anyways? As he handed the dagger back to the High Priest he mentally checked to make sure that she was alright.

Bulma could feel Vegeta's concern in her head. Giving him the slightest of nods she felt him let go of her hand. The High Priest caught her attention and handed her the dagger. Looking down she noticed the blood covering one side of the blade. Taking a deep breath she reached for Vegeta's right hand with her left, brought it to her lips, kissed his palm and led his hand to hover over the challis. She met his eyes to make sure that she was doing things correctly. When he nodded she ran the dagger across his palm.

Vegeta was surprised at how deep she actually cut him. He was sure that if he looked closely at it he would see bone. The High Priest took the dagger from Bulma's trembling fingers and walked around the couple to place it on the altar. He then picked up the challis and returned to stand in front of the couple holding the challis in between them. Vegeta was the first to react holding the challis in both hands. Bulma hesitated for a moment before placing her hands over his. Unsure of what to do she allowed Vegeta to take control, which he did by lifting the challis to her lips. Surprised by the pressure on her lips Bulma opened her mouth allowing Vegeta to tip the contents of the challis into her mouth. Knowing that the woman didn't enjoy the taste of blood Vegeta didn't make her drink much. Once he decided that she had had enough he pulled the challis back and brought it to his own lips downing the remaining liquid. After giving the challis back to the High Priest the couple turned and walked forward, stopping at the top of the stairs. Remembering what Kaida told her Bulma knelt down beside Vegeta wondering what was going to happen next.

King Vegeta watched his son's mating ceremony with an impassive face, anyone who didn't know Saiyans would have thought he didn't care. When the ceremony had finished and the newly mated pair were kneeling at the edge of the stairs the king stood and walked over to stand in front of them, Xeraphina right beside him. The king stood there looking at his son for what seemed a life-time, thinking of everything he had missed in his son's life and everything he had inadvertently inflicted on him. 'My love are you alright?' The king heard his mate calling to him, nodding he smiled down at his son. Turning he took the suit of armour from the Priest standing next to him and helped his son into it. Next to him Xeraphina was doing the same with Bulma. Once they were both wearing the new sets of armour the King and Queen then attached the blood red capes to the shoulder pads.

As soon as the capes were in place Vegeta reached to grasp Bulma's hand in his own, entwining their fingers together and lifting them towards his father. The king looked up from the kneeling couple to the High Priest as he came to stand behind them holding the ribbon he had just blessed upon the altar. The king took the offered ribbon and wrapped it tightly around the couples joined hands, tying them together.

Vegeta gripped Bulma's hand and shifted his weight so that he could stand only to be stopped by a look from his father. Curious he watched as his father reached behind his head to undo the clasp holding the royal medallion on his neck. Following her mate's example Xeraphina reached up and removed the crown from her head. Bulma stared at the crown in the queen's hands, the diamonds and rubies sparkled in the remaining sunlight coming in through the western windows. Bulma glanced over at Vegeta hoping he would be able to tell her what was going on; instead she was confronted by the shocked look on his face. Vegeta couldn't breathe as his father placed the royal medallion around his neck. Turning his head he noticed that his mother had placed her crown on Bulma's head. The king and queen stepped back giving their son and daughter room to stand. As soon as the couple stood the High Priest raised his hands, "All Hail King Vegeta XIII and Queen Bulma." Smiling Vegeta led Bulma down the aisle followed by his parents and sons.

Goku watched the ceremony with silent amazement. Over the last month he had truly learned what it means to be a Saiyan. His father and brother had taught him so much and not just through the 'scheduled lessons' but through how they acted. Once he had gotten over his shock of meeting his family and being on his home planet, Goku had decided to embrace his Saiyan heritage and allow himself to be Kakarot...at least here, he had yet to decide what he was going to do once they returned to earth. Chi-Chi's gasp drew him out of his thoughts and he watched with a mixture of shock, pride, happiness and concern as the king placed the royal medallion around his friend's neck making him king. As the new king and queen walked down the aisle he pushed his human side away and embraced his Saiyan heritage. He let 'Goku' fade into the background and let 'Kakarot' take control and Kakarot did something that Goku would never in a million years consider doing, Kakarot bowed to his king.

So my puppy chewed on my laptop cord last night and I only have enough battery to post this chapter. It might be a while before I can post the next chapter. Hopefully it wont take too long for me to get a new cord and update.