Can a Saiyan change his ways?

Androids. The words haunted Vegeta's thoughts as he stared at faceless enemies in the Gravity Room. His mind had been swimming in the past few weeks since he'd mated Bulma. This wasn't a fight about pride, he now had something he had to protect. Wanted to protect. That and surpassing Goku were his goals. Still, even with something to fully fight for he couldn't focus. Her ki was intoxicating. Her tender hands, warm body... Vegeta's mind wandered too far and the Gravity Room punished him for it. He slammed hard into the ground, his chest raw from a blast. His teeth gritting, Vegeta barked out a command. "End SIMULATION!" The red glow of the chamber lifted and Vegeta stood quickly in normal gravity. "Shit." he grunted, wiping sweat and blood from his mouth.

He had been continuing on like this for weeks. Bulma made him happy. Bulma satisfied him. But she was pulling his mind out of the game. He couldn't fight the compulsions to check on her. It was if he was worried about something but had no idea what. He crept into the surrounding darkness outside of the Gravity Chamber and into the house in silence. He hovered into her room and stared. She was sleeping soundly, perfectly fine. Vegeta was becoming annoyed by this new found attachment. His intuition had been trying to tell him something for weeks to no avail. He sat down quietly and continued staring. Compulsively he reached out and rested a hand softly on her stomach, and that was when he felt it. It was faint but he detected another ki.

He jumped up, almost startling the sleeping girl as his mind whirled with realization. Bulma was pregnant. Vegeta was in disbelief for a moment until he remembered all of the passionate sex they'd be having. How hadn't she gotten pregnant sooner? Few things struck fear in the Saiyan's heart, but this was among them. He barely remembered his own father, besides the fact that he had at least respected him at some point. Frieza and Nappa were the closest things to guardians Vegeta ever had and he certainly had no interest in rearing a child to be just like him.

Vegeta hurried out of the room, his head spinning. How had he been so careless? He was finally coming to terms with emotions he had ignored for years and now he'd have to deal with an offspring? It was too much for the Saiyan to take. How could he juggle this apparent family and training to save the pathetic earth they all lived on?

There were two things Bulma was beginning to notice. Her 'mate', who had begun showing signs of progress and emotional growth was now regressing to worse than he ever was. He was distant. He was cold. He all but ignored her. What was the cause of his apparent disinterest? In addition to Vegeta's plight Bulma had her own; She was nauseous 50% of the time. It was debilitating. She was crawling from her bed at all hours of the night and morning retching her brains out. Fortunately and unfortunately Vegeta was seldom there so he couldn't be disturbed. It seemed like things were falling apart as soon as they had come together.

Bulma glared at her mate with determination as he finished his meal and prepared to resume training. "Vegeta!" He winced slightly as she approached, a pout on her face. "Vegeta, you haven't been to bed in for days. You've trained a lot. Come to bed with me." Her voice was pleading, she looked exhausted. 'How can she be so unaware?' Vegeta thought to himself as he looked her over. He turned away from her.

"Ningen, I've got training to do." He was surprised to feel her tiny hand on his wrist.

"Vegeta, mating me is not a sometimes commitment! You train 24/7 damn it! I matter too!" Vegeta whipped around to face her, his hand now gripping her arm.

"Bulma, if I am not strong enough for the oncoming Android onslaught there will be nothing. No capsule corp. No 'going to bed'. No Earth." He glared at her before dropped her arm and setting off outside. Bulma let out a defeated sigh. It was all she could do.

She went to bed soon after, feeling completely and emotionally drained. A terrible feeling in the pit of her stomach woke her up. Not nausea just a terrible dread. Was Vegeta okay? Determined to find that answer for her peace of mind Bulma quickly dressed and set out to the Gravity Room. Vegeta however was in her lab rummaging through her things. She watched him for a while in silence. He had to have known she was there.

"Go to bed." he barked without facing her as he eyed a capsule. Bulma frowned.

"Just what are you doing?" Vegeta sneered.

"What do you think? I'm leaving. I have to train somewhere without limitations." Bulma was infuriated at this. "Limitations? You've got the best equipment you can find, buddy! Where could you go that's better?"

Vegeta seemed to choose to ignore her current tangent, angering her even more. "Vegeta." Bulma hissed as she stalked toward him. At this, he turned around.

"Calm down." His voice wasn't raised but it was definitely an order. Bulma cocked an eyebrow. 'The nerve of this guy!' "I'll calm down when you stop being an ass!" With a hint of pleading in his eyes he continued.

"Bulma, you have to take care of yourself. And it." He jabbed a finger in the direction of stomach and Bulma just stared.

"It..?." Vegeta said nothing else as he grabbed another capsule.

'The fatigue... The sickness... Kami help me, I'm PREGNANT?!' Bulma was trembling at the realization. She was pregnant. With a half Saiyan. By Vegeta. Her mind was whirling and she knew she needed him now more than ever. Bulma tried to talk but her tongue felt too thick. "Vegeta..." she began as the man stalked past her. 'If I'm going to get any training done... I have to sever this bond temporarily in any way I can.' "V-Vegeta..."

"I'm leaving." Was all he said.

"VEGETA. Please- Please don't leave me!" He didn't look back, he couldn't. He had to go. To train miles, and miles away from this distraction. His Family. His future.

Bulma just watched. But she didn't move. She couldn't follow, his rejection had left her paralyzed. Shattered.