Bulma studied her image in the full length mirror. She smiled. Not bad, not bad at all. In fact, she was really rather hot even if that was her own opinion.

The cut off jean shorts were new, she turned and stared at her butt in the mirror. Her legs were smooth and lotioned up and looking amazingly long. Turning face forward, Bulma cocked her head to the side. No midriff baring shirt. She was going for hot, not slut. Then again, maybe she should? No.

Bulma patted her pregnant belly and knew that she wasn't showing her pregnancy yet, but was still self-conscious about showing off her midriff. So the shirt covered the waistband of the jean shorts, but was fitted in a very flattering way. Cleavage, but nothing too overt.

The turquoise woman smiled sensually. Hey, while her belly might not be showing anything yet, her breasts definitely seemed to be a bit larger. And more sensitive, tender even.

Her skin was glowing, according to her mother and father. And her curls were sexy and soft.

Perfect.

Time to seduce a husband. Hers specifically.

A frown marred the image in the mirror, and Bulma turned away. She took a seat at her vanity and then frowned at the mirror there too. Turning away again, she looked at her bed.

Their bed.

Bulma sighed.

In the week since she'd told Vegeta about her pregnancy, everything had changed.

The first three days he'd simply disappeared, muttering one word. Training.

He'd come back bruised and exhausted and had slept for nearly eight hours. Normal for human, but not really for a Saiyan. Not her Saiyan anyway, who could function quite well on five hours of sleep or less a night.

Ever since then he had been ignoring her. Bulma blinked rapidly and reached for a tissue. Her emotions were much closer to the surface right now, probably hormonal from the baby. She was NOT going to cry. It would ruin the look she was going for!

Just the day before yesterday she'd started crying watching a greeting card commercial. Vegeta had walked into the room, spotted her tears and turned around without a word and had walked out.

Bulma pursed her lips. She was not going to put up with this! Starting today.

She heard his footsteps outside of their room and she stiffened. "Starting now." She whispered.

.III

Vegeta's nose flared slightly. She was in the room. And he wanted to go to her more strongly than anything else right now. Equally strong was the desire to run.

His hands turned into fists, which he forced to relax again. He was Saiyan. Weaknesses didn't exist, and certainly weren't shown. Even to a mate.

Defying his own feelings, he opened the door with a casualness he didn't feel.

The sight of her was like an energy blast to the chest. His lungs seized up as he took in the sight of his gorgeous mate. His. Beneath the veneer of civility that Saiyan's wore poorly anyway, there was a underlying instinct to grab, claim, own. She was his and she was carrying his child.

Child.

Vegeta could breath again. Focus on the child.

Able to finally look away from her, he glanced around if only to show that he could focus on something other than Bulma.

His eyes stopped on the bed. There was a gaily wrapped box.

"It's for you." Bulma said softly, her voice rubbing sensually over his nerves. His body stirred.

Vegeta frowned. "I don't need anything." He headed for the bathroom, then stopped as she grabbed the box and moved to stand in front of him.

In the local customs, she handed him the box with both hands.

Vegeta shook his head to indicate he didn't want to take the gift.

In the local customs? He'd just insulted her terribly.

Pre-pregnancy Bulma would have yelled at him. Now hormonal Bulma felt tears prick her eyes right before she yelled at him anyway. "Idiot! It's a gift and you have to take it or you will find yourself divorced!"

Vegeta smirked maddeningly. "I though we discussed this. I won't grant you a royal decree."

"Murder works well too." Bulma hissed. "And I'm smart enough to find a way to accomplish it." She shoved the gift into his chest.

Vegeta's hand had come up automatically when she'd pushed the gift to him. He frowned and sighed. He could remove her physically from his path. But ...she was pregnant. Scowling he ripped the paper off the gift. He grunted and tossed the book back on the bed behind him.

"I suppose I should say thank you." Vegeta sneered and stepped around her, closing the bathroom door in her face.

.III

Bulma's eyes burned as she fought not to cry. That hadn't gone well.

She looked at the book on the bed and grabbed it, heading downstairs. She didn't want to face a certain stupid Saiyan again. Ever!

Bulma fled into the kitchen before the first tear fell.

Startled at her sudden appearance, Dr. Briefs looked up from his sandwich making, mustard dripping from his knife to plop on the floor. The kitchen bot clicked and whirred as if chiding him for being sloppy as it zoomed out to clean up the small mess.

Two more tears joined the first. And Dr. Briefs scratched his head as he turned to the intercom. Another small splatter of mustard hit the floor and the bot followed after him with small mechanical whirring sounds.

"Darling? Could you come to the kitchen please?" Dr. Briefs turned around and then looked down at the bot staring up at him. No, at his hand. He shook his head as he realized he was still holding the knife. He flicked some mustard deliberately on the floor for the bot to clean up and the doctor smiled, almost paternally proud.

Bulma's tears turned into a half-way chuckle as she watched her father play with one of his inventions.

"Yes my dear?" Bulma's mother came into the kitchen, looking as lovely as ever. She saw her husband dropping mustard on the floor and then clapped her hands. "You made a new kitchen helper!"

"No, no dear." Dr. Briefs shook his head and pointed at Bulma. "Our daughter is crying."

The pretty blonde looked shocked. "Oh my dear? Did you like the old kitchen bot better? If you miss it that much, we can give it to you."

Bulma choked back a laugh and swiped at her tears. Leave it to her mom.

"Oh, it's the same kitchen bot." Dr. Briefs shook his head. "It just looks so cute cleaning up, like it's scolding me." The kitten on his shoulder purred as if in agreement.

Bulma's mother shook her head. "Oh, my little girl! Are you upset because your father didn't make a new bot for you? I'm sure he will!" The blonde looked over at her husband in an almost stern manner. "You need to go make a new bot for Bulma dear! Maybe one in lavender?"

The pregnant woman's tears gave way to real laughter now.

"White is a much cleaner look than lavender." Dr. Briefs shook his head slightly. "No, wait. She's not crying about the bots." He paused for a long moment and then looked over at his only child. "Or are you?"

Bulma silently shook her head, smiling sadly.

"Did the big book give you a headache?" Her mother reached for the gift that Vegeta had summarily rejected. Reluctantly, Bulma let her mother take it. "Reading always gives me a headache."

"I could make you a lavender kitchen bot. Improve the original design." Dr. Briefs thought about it a moment. "Or pink perhaps?"

"Dad. I don't need a kitchen bot. I don't have a kitchen!" Bulma shrugged lightly.

"I could make one for you." The good doctor offered, not liking to see his little girl so upset.

"You're trying to spoil me." Bulma chuckled.

"You're carrying my grandbaby." Dr. Briefs smiled happily. "Of course I'm trying to spoil you."

Bulma's smile faded as she touched her belly. Baby. Right. "Damn that Vegeta, he's ruining what should be a celebration!"

"What To Expect When You're Expecting?" Bulma's mother looked at the book. "I'll tell you all you need to know darling, you don't need to give yourself a headache reading this."

The young woman sighed slightly. "It was for that stupid Vegeta to read." Since he'd seemed so freaked out by the thought of her carrying his child she'd thought it might help him understand better. Calm him.

"Can he read it?" Bulma's mother looked up looking puzzled.

"Of course he can read." Dr. Briefs shook his head. "I just don't know if he'd want to, of course."

But in her head, time had stopped. Bulma's eyes went really wide. Could Vegeta read? Earth books. Different language and all. Warrior race. What kind of education had he had? But he was a Prince, right? Surely royalty had a better education? But then look at his manners, they weren't suitable for royalty. But those manners were perfect for Saiyans. So ...

Could Vegeta read?

"I just meant can any man read this book?" Bulma's mother continued, unabated. "It's on pregnancy. There's not like a law or a rule that says only women can read this, right?"

"Darling, they don't put gender restrictions on books." Dr. Briefs looked amused.

"Are you sure?" Bulma's mother didn't look convinced.

.III

The next day Vegeta stormed into the room, ready to fight. He took one look at Bulma and stopped cold.

His mate was currently sitting on the bed in the ugliest gown he had ever seen. Her beautiful curls were scraped back harshly to form a knot at the back of her head. This was not a woman looking to seduce him.

She was reading a book and had earphones on, his eyes narrowed. She was also ignoring him completely.

"Where is it?" He asked her coolly. Having to raise his voice because of some horrendous sound coming from her stereo equipment. One voice hit a particularly high note and Vegeta winced. "What is that racket?"

No response.

Sneering, he marched over and unplugged the stereo. He looked up to see his mate watching him.

"Is that how you're looking to kill me? With sound?" He scowled.

Bulma shook her head at him. "I can't hear you." She pointed at the earphones.

"Take them off!" He yelled at her.

Bulma then did the unthinkable. She blinked, smiled, and mouthed 'no' and went back to reading her book.

Fuming, Vegeta marched over and made as if to take the earphones off of her himself.

"Don't touch me or you'll hurt the baby." She said coldly.

The Saiyan actually paused, taken aback. His mind raced and he grabbed the headphones off. "No it won't. Don't make the child into an excuse so that I can't touch you."

"Why not? You are the one using it was an excuse not to touch me." She spat the words back at him angrily.

Vegeta stared at her, not willing to go down that conversational alley-way. Then frowned sharply. "Woman. Where is it? What have you done with the computer part?"

Bulma nodded sagely. "You mean the one I left a note about? The one I took out of the gravity chamber so it won't work?"

He actually growled at her.

"So. You can read." Bulma said it as if surprised he had the capability.

Stung, Vegeta watched her with wide eyes. "Huh?"

"I didn't know you could read." She flipped a page in her own book, as if she could care less that he was anywhere around. "Wasn't sure."

"Of course I can read! I know more languages than you do, woman." Vegeta roared at her. "I read that stupid note you left me about taking the piece from the gravity chamber! Woman! Are you listening? I need to train, where is it?"

"It's in the the third flowerpot on the left, outside the front door." She yawned. "Oh, and plug the stereo back in when you leave please?"

Vegeta stared at her, unsure. Had she just dismissed him? As if she were the Elite and he the Low-Class? He gritted his teeth as his temper rose alarmingly. "What was that horrible sound anyway?"

"Opera. It's for the baby. Helps make her smarter."

"HIM." Vegeta glared at her. "The child is a boy!"

Bulma glanced at him and shrugged. "Whatever."

Vegeta was literally shaking with fury. He looked at the stereo equipment and thought about smashing it to pieces. "It's hideous!"

"It's art." She yawned.

"I think it's illegal on at least three planets!" He snarled.

"But not this one." She smiled lazily.

A sudden thought struck him and he turned to stare at her. "You had headphones on, you weren't even listening!"

Bulma blinked and gave him a smug little smile. "I don't like opera."

It took every ounce of his control to hang on to his temper. Vegeta took a deep breath, then another. Finally he gritted his teeth. "You would subject my son to that awful sound, when you won't even listen to it? What kind of mother are you?"

"The kind that wants the best for their child. Not like her father who could care less." Bulma yawned. "Won't even read a book to prepare for a child."

A beat passed. Vegeta stared at his mate and nodded slowly. "So that's it. You're angry about the book."

"What was your first clue?" She glared at him. "Now. Go away. Go train. Jerk."

The Saiyan nodded. He should go train. But his feet didn't move. This was a battlefield, and he didn't run away from a fight. Not even from this kind of battle. "You took the piece from the gravity chamber to get my attention. Now you have it. What do you want?"

Bulma stared at him a long moment. What did she want? Him to love her. She frowned. Where had that come from? Instead, she turned away from that particular thought. "Do you want this child?"

"Yes." Vegeta answered simply.

She nodded. "Do you want me?"

The Saiyan scowled. "You are my mate."

"That doesn't answer the question!" She snapped at him.

He snapped right back. "Yes it does!"

"You haven't touched me in a week!" Bulma yelled at him.

"You won't put the child in a proper birthing pod!" He yelled back.

"I AM THE PROPER BIRTHING POD!" She screamed at him, blinked once and then started bawling.

Vegeta stared, appalled. Completely at a loss he picked up a box of tissues and tossed them on the bed next to her. No response. He looked around and grimaced as he plugged the stereo back in. Opera poured loudly from the speakers.

Bulma cried louder.

"STOP CRYING!" Vegeta roared out the order.

Bulma sniffled and glared at him. "Don't order me around!" He could barely hear her over the racket from the opera.

He watched as his mate got off the bed and reached over to shut off the stereo. Blessed silence.

Watery blue eyes stared at wary dark eyes.

Finally she took a shaky breath. "So. No more sex because I won't put the child in a birthing pod that doesn't even exist on this planet? Because you're afraid of hurting the baby?"

"I fear nothing!" Vegeta told her reflexively.

"Prove it." She dared him, standing there with puffy eyes and no make-up while wearing the thickest, ugliest gown she owned.

He didn't move.

She sneered. "You only wanted me long enough to get pregnant. You don't really want me at all."

"I want to bite you."

The ultra-calm way he said it shocked her.

"I want to toss you over my shoulder and take you where no one can ever find you."

Bulma's eyes went wide. This was NOT romantic at all.

"I want you never to wear clothing again and I want to touch you always."

She shook her head and protested. "That's barbaric."

"Don't care." Vegeta reached behind her head and pulled the pins from her hair, letting the curls free. "It's instinct, pure and simple. I just want you."

Something funny turned over in her stomach, and she knew it was too soon to be feeling the baby.

"But what I will do is go train to be a Super Saiyan. I will do it to protect you."

She frowned. "You'd do it anyway. You like to fight."

Vegeta nodded and then pinned her with a long stare. "I would take you into battle, anytime." He said with great weight and determination.

Again. Not romantic. Bulma gave a weak smile. At least he was trying.

"What do you want?" He asked her gruffly.

She didn't even try to lie. "You."

He smiled with supreme satisfaction and grunted his approval.

"Now." She put her hand on his chest, near his heart.

Vegeta stilled and suddenly looked uncertain.

Bulma gave a wry chuckle. "It's okay for us to have sex, as long as it feels comfortable."

"It doesn't." He muttered.

She frowned sharply. "As long as I feel comfortable, idiot. After all, I'm the one with the baby."

Vegeta suddenly looked a bit green.

Bulma shook her head. "Pods weren't always around. Babies have been born the old-fashioned way for over a millenia. Get over it. Just don't be rough."

"Not rough?" Vegeta looked unsure. "But I'm a Saiyan."

Bulma shrugged. "Then let me be on top."

"On top of what?" He looked confused.

She stared at her Saiyan lover for a long moment, then smiled widely. "Oh. This promises to be fun."

.III

Happily exhausted, Bulma pushed a sweaty curl out of her face. "Well now, seems Saiyan's don't do well with not being on top."

Vegeta held his mate and frowned. "Did I hurt you?"

"No." Bulma reassured him, stroking his arm.

"You screamed."

The young woman smiled. "That was a good scream, trust me."

Vegeta wondered if she was insulted that he'd not been able to last with her being on top of him during sex. But he'd not been able to help himself. Halfway through, he'd rolled her over and under him. Instinct.

Bulma smiled lazily, stroking her Saiyan's arm. "I'll have to introduce you to the Kama Sutra."

"What?"

"Another book." She grinned.

He grunted dismissively.

Bulma rolled over to look at him in the face. "You'll like this book. Lots of pictures."

Vegeta shook his head at her. "Woman. I told you I can read. We Saiyans did a lot of planetary travel and had translators in our headpieces. A little time here and I had the language just fine. Don't need the headpiece anymore."

"Travel?" She clucked her tongue. "Conquering would be a more accurate description."

Vegeta didn't argue with the truth. He held his mate and thought about how he should be training. The woman was ruining him. He opened his mouth to tell he he needed to leave, but her hand left his arm and she petted his abdomen.

His body stirred appreciatively.

"Woman?"

Bulma's hand moved lower and she encountered the distinctly male portion of his anatomy. Her hand wrapped around his swollen flesh and Vegeta closed his eyes in appreciation as he hardened even more. His hips thrust slightly upwards involuntarily.

"Woman?" It was both a question and a caress.

"Shush. I'm conquering." She teased him and pushed him onto his back. "I love how you are ready to go again so soon. Hurray for Saiyans. I love how you make me feel." She tried out the word love, but didn't stress it when he showed no reaction to the word at all. Maybe it was just too soon for him.

Vegeta watched his beautifully nude mate rise up over him, settling her knees on either side of his hips as she moved to position herself above him.

"I thought we agreed I don't do well on the bottom." His hands reached for her breasts, loving the feel of the silky skin as her nipples hardened for his touch.

Bulma laughed throatily and leaned into his touch as she slid her body down onto his, impaling herself smoothly. She groaned as he moved his hands to her hips, helping to set the pace.

She looked down into his face and smiled wickedly. "I'm the daughter of a scientist. We never make a conclusion after only one trial."

.III

Sorry for the delayed update, very busy! But I really hope you enjoyed the chapter! Shout out to The Deadly Colera for the idea for Vegeta to read "What To Expect When You're Expecting". Gave me all kinds of ideas. Not that he actually did read the book! LOL! But it lead to other plot bunnies.

THANKS so much!