After she asked, or rather demanded her question, she took off up the stairs. Goku had a shit eating grin on his face. This was what he was waiting for, for them to be a family again, and now it was actually happening. He couldn't help it, even if he did look like an idiot.
"I knew she'd come around." he stated out loud once he saw the last bit of her hair disappear around the corner. He sat down in Bulma's chair with a loud thump.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Piccolo asked as he stepped forward, speaking for the first time. He had a serious look on his face as he voiced his opinion.
Goku and Turles both sent him a bewildered look.
'Is he serious?' they thought at the same time.
"Are you serious, man? Why wouldn't it be?" Tien questioned as he hopped onto the counter beside Launch.
"Well, what are you going to do if she blows up on him? She's supressing 12 years of memories, most of which are bad. She's a loose cannon, especially with what just occured." He sent a firm look to Goku, who knew he was right.
"Relax guys, I'll be there. Besides, she wouldn't hurt her own father just because of what happened. She's not that crazy." Goku retorted quickly.
Turles nodded along with ChiChi and 18. Vegeta was once again in his own world.
'She wouldn't hurt her own father, would she? From what i've heard, she loaths this man. Why does she want to visit him all of a sudden?'
As soon as the thought occured, a clean Bulma emerged from the staircase. She was clad in a black Volcom hoodie, some white skinny jeans, and her lime green Vans. She has gone with a natural look, opposed to her usual dark make-up, as her hair was in a messy bun. She looked a million times better than when they first saw her. She looked around at the group of people in her kitchen. People these days just didn't understand the concept of pivacy apparently. She would've come around when she felt the need to, albiet she was being a bit ridiculous. It's not the end of the world when a guy leaves you, yet to her it was. She sighed and hoisted her purse over her shoulder and grabbed her keys.
"Kakarott, let's go. Everyone else, get the fuck out of my house." She growled lowly to emphasize her point.
Turles grinned then put a pout on his face.
"Awe, come on cuz. That's not a nice thing to say." he jutted out his lower lip, trying to look sad.
"Stop pouting. You look like a fish. Besides, who ever said you could come in in the first place?" She crossed her arms and raised one thin eyebrow. Turles rubbed the back of his head in the classic Son manner.
"I'm just messin' B. Go have fun!" he gently pushed her out of the door, then closed and locked it once everyone else had filed out. Goku followed her to her car and got in the passenger seat. Everyone waved and hollered "Good lucks" and "See you laters" as they pulled out and sped down the street.
"Why do I have a feeling something bad is going to happen?" Krillin asked as they all walked to their respective vehicles.
In the car, Goku started up a conversation.
"So, why'd you decide to see Dad all of a sudden?" he questioned as he looked her way.
She glanced sideways at him.
"Don't worry about me. The point is i'm going to see him." she replied as she turned.
"Wait, how do you know where we live?"
"It does no good not knowing where important places are. Remember that." she smirked as she pulled into his driveway and shut off the car. Goku placed a reassuring hand on top of hers, which was still resting on the gearshift. She nodded to him, and they stepped out of the car together. She took a deep breath.
'Here goes nothing.' She started the walk up the large front porch. As they walked in, the aroma of freshly baked bread and pasta invaded her senses.
"Kakarott?" a deep voice yelled from what she assumed to be the kitchen area, "Did you check up on your sister?"
Bulma frowned as they walked into another huge room.
"I do not need 'checking up on', old man." She leaned against the doorframe and crossed her arms and ankles.
The guy at the stove swirled around to reveal a much older version of Goku, only he was slightly darker and had a scar on the left side of his face. He stared wide-eyed, mouth hanging open at Bulma.
"B-B-Bulma?" he stuttered as he sat a wooden spoon beside a stainless steel oven.
"No, it's Kakarott's harpy. Of course it's me." she smirked. "I guess I was right, you have gone senile, father."
He walked forward and cupped her face with one of his ratherly large calloused hands.
"You've grown so much." he whispered.
She scowled and pulled away. He dropped his hand regrettably and turned back around.
She sighed and decided to speak before it got any more awkward.
"We need to talk." she stated as she walked to a round wooded table and took a seat. Bardock sat across from her, and Goku was on the other edge.
"Bulma-" he started, but was soon interupted by his daughter.
"No. I need to know one thing," she hesitated for a minute, "why did you leave me?"
Bardock sighed.
"Look, I know what you've thought the past 5 years, but you've got it all wrong. I didn't merely go in that place just to retrieve Kakarott then leave. I knew you could take care of yourself. I knew that's how you would have wanted things to go. Regardless of whether I commanded you to follow me or not, you would've stayed. It's how you work, and I took that into consideration once I arrived."
She was bewildered. She had thought all wrong these past 5 years? But, she saw what happened. He told Kakarott to leave, then left himself. She needed to get some things straight. Before she could question him, he continued once more.
"I know what you're thinking, 'how could he just go get Kakarott and leave?' Well, once I told your brother to get out of there, I went to seek out Radditz. He was the only one who even had a chance of persuading you to leave without finishing the job. When I found him, he was already looking for you, so I knew you would have been taken care of. I told him to meet me at the house, and when he never showed I got worried. So, I did what any concerned parent would do. I went back to the scene. When I got there, I found many cops and ambulances surrounding the buildings with two strechers being pulled out of the warehouse. One I knew to be Radditz because his shoes were poking out through the sheet. The other, I wasn't so sure about. The figure was very feminine, yet there was no indication to who it was. When I tried asking, I was denied and told it would be on the news. Later that night, I relayed everything to Kakarott, who was an even bigger wreck than myself. We watched the news nonstop for days, but the only thing on there was about Radditz, nothing on the second body. We soon had his funeral, and started to search for you. I knew you weren't dead, but there was no way to be positive. I never thought you'd actually come here. When Kakarott told me you didn't want to see me, I was heartbroken once more, for I knew I should have waited for you." At this point, Bardock had tears in his eyes.
Bulma just stared at him, absorbing the information.
'He actually tried. He knew i'd hurt myself if he tried to get me to follow, so he let me do it my way. He didn't actually leave me..' She blinked, then tried to form words as Goku looked at her expectantly.
"I-I don't know what to say." she mumbled as she looked down at her hands, twidling her thumbs.
Bardock smiled then grabbed her hand from across the table.
"You do not have to say anything. What's done is done, it's in the past now." he squeezed her hand then let it go. He leaned back in his chair as Bulma flashed him a smirk.
"So, Bulma. Tell me how life has been for you."
They talked for another few hours, catching up and reminiscing on old times. The three were finally a happy family once more.
"So, will you be staying with us?" Bardock asked in a hopeful voice as he walked Bulma to the door, Goku trailing behind.
"No, I still need some space." she replied as she opened the door.
His face fell.
"But I will visit often as I can." she finished.
He smiled once more and walked out on the porch and gave her a hug. Goku joined in and soon it was a family hug. Bulma marveled at their warmth, one only a family can give. She was glad she had finally gotten straight with her father for once. Life alone was no fun.
"I love you, Bulma." Bardock called out as she walked down the steps. She stopped midstep and turned around.
She sighed and looked down.
"I'm not ready for that, but I did miss you." she mumbled as she raised her head to meet his eyes. What she saw was truly shocking. Instead of being filled with anger and sadness, they were filled with love and devotion, ensuring her he'd wait a lifetime if that's how long it took her to be ready. He gave her the hereditary Son grin and waved.
"Bye Bulma!" Goku yelled as he waved to her as well.
It truly was a happy day. His family was one again, minus his mother who had left them years ago.
She smiled at him and waved as well.
"Goodbye Kaka-"
She didn't get to finish as a gunshot rang through the air.