Thank you everyone who is following this fic. And a scpecial thanks to Nolidoli, elleelle, BVRG0614 and SaiyanPrincessBB for your lovely reviews ^-^

I hope you like this chapter =)


Bulma woke up with the sun on her face. She looks on the other side of the bed to find Akira still sleeping. One fast look at the watch and se realized that she was going to be late for work. Damn night out. Her dinner with Akira last night was great, she love to do this, just go out with the person she likes, talking about bullshit… but sometimes going out in the middle of the week it's not a good idea. Especially when you have so much to do on the other day.

Getting up fast she took her shower and her clothes as fast as she could. Another look at the bed and the saiyan lying there haven't even move. As soon as she arrived at Cap. Corporation her assistant Miya came to her.

"You are late!" she said singing a little ate the end.

"I know… what's up?"

"You have a meeting with the board right now…"

"What? I thought that my father was supposed to be on this meeting"

"Change of planes… Dr. Briefs in on another meeting… I update you later" she said rushing Bulma toward the door.

"Wh-. Can you tell me at least with who?" She whisper as they enter in the room.

"The militaries" Miya whispered back and turned to the men waiting for them. "Thank you for waiting".

Bulma who still have a confused look on her face had no other choice but turn to the men too. "I'm sorry for the delay. Now can we start?"

After three hours of a very boring meeting they finally ended. Still curious about the sudden meeting with the militaries she went to her father's office. But his secretary stop her.

"He still on the meeting?"

"I'm afraid so Miss Briefs"

"Do you know what they want?" the lady send her a negative signal. "Well I'll be in my lab, when he's free can you please tell him to find me?"

"Sure.. I can do that".

It was just after noon that Dr. Briefs went to see Bulma in her lab.

"Hi honey. I was told that you wanted to see me"

Bulma drop everything that she was doing and smiled at her father.

"Yes… I don't know I just was wondering… I had to replace you this morning"

"Uhn.. yes the militaries came with no previous note".

"Why?"

"Well… I was going to talk to you about it tonight but… anyway.. it seems that the general wants to update.. uhn improve their equipments… you know, space ship, guns, armor… so they came by to ask for us to make new designs."

"Still that was a long meeting…and we do that all the time for them."

"Yes honey we upgrade their materials.. now they want something new and better… and we have a bit of a problem".

"What problem?"

"The general wants to monitor the process, for that we have to build thin in the Capital… and here's the problem I can't go. You know I'm so full of appointments… so I schedule you to go instead" he said it casually

"What? But what about my appointments?"

"Oh don't worry honey you'll be fine.. plus their labs is great I'm sure you can keep your research there". She couldn't believe what she was listening. "You need to leave by the end of the week… and if you need a place to stay you let me know, they will put you on a close hotel and everything".

She still had her mouth open trying to understand everything. Her father didn't seem to notice.

"Good to see that you agree… I see you later honey" with that he left the lab. But Bulma wasn't able to go back to her work.

Later that day, Bulma told Akira everything that happened and the sudden change of planes. He was confused just like her.

"So… when do we leave?"

"By the end of the week… I need to meet with the general on Monday morning".

"And.. uhn.. where are we going to stay?"

Just now she realized his words "We? Are you coming with me?"

"What? No? I mean I still have some days off of my vacations. I want to be with you." With that she couldn't fight the smile on her face.

"Well I have a friend there.. remember Aya?"

"your crazy friend… how can I forget?"

"Stop that" she laugh a little. "Well I'm going to call her now and see if we can stay there then". And of course she agreed.

oOo

The next week at Monday morning Bulma and Akira arrived at the Capital using one of her cars. It's been a while since Bulma was here... Passing through the main street she could see the Royal Palace. And couldn't help but wonder if Vegeta was there now.

"Amazing isn't it?" told Akira looking at the palace. "I wonder how is like to live in a place like that. Don't you?" he turned to see Bulma who was still looking at the building.

"Not really" Change the subject. Don't talk about this. Not now. "I need to go see the General, can I meet you at Aya's?"

"Now? We barely arrived."

"I want to do this as fast as I can"

"Yeah sure. Take the car I go flying there". She send him a smile and once the car stopped she gave him a kiss.

"Thanks. See you later".

Once at the military base Bulma waited for a while before speak with the general.

"Miss Briefs" the man approached her for the uniform it was the one she was waiting. He was tall, very muscular, tan skin, apparently at his 50's . "I'm general Ross, good to finally meet you, heard a lot about your... Let's say..brain skills."

"Thanks..." I guess... "Shall we start?"

They talk for hours.. he told her what he wanted, how he wanted. She was going to work on the military base. With her own lab, and full access to the science department.

"..and I want a weekly report about your work".

"and I deliver this report to..."

"To me personally... every Friday I will be on my office at the Royal Palace". This caught her by surprise.

"Sir I-I don't have access to the Palace"

"Well we will give you, don't you think so… it's done. Shall you start?"

He showed her lab, and left for her to work. Bulma couldn't believe that after all those years she was going to see the inside of the palace once again. Part of her wish that she could see Vegeta during those visits, another part of her didn't wanted to see him.

It was only later that night she finally arrived at Aya's.

"Hey you! I thought you were lost" her friend greeted her.

"Hi Aya" they share a little hug until Akira came by.

"That was long.. Where were you?" he asked a little annoyed.

"Sorry it took long than I expected."

"Well, tell me everything!" Aya said excited and pushed Bulma by her arm for inside the house. After the update, Akira went to sleep and left the girls alone to talk. He thought that they might want some time alone.

"Wow.. I can't believe that you are going to have access to the Palace" said Aya. "can you tell me what you are working on it?" She was beyond excited, Aya always had a crush on the King, just the thought of someone she knows will be inside the palace was amazing.. Much less Bulma who was her best friend.

"No" answers Bulma not showing half of the excitement, which Aya thought was odd.

"Really Bulma? If you be more happy about it I think you're gonna blow! What's wrong?"

Bulma opened her mouth to say something, but the. Close it again, she wasn't sure how to explain her mix of feelings

"You know you can tell me everything"

"You're not going to believe this"

"Honey if one said to me two days ago that my best friend would be working at the Palace I wouldn't believe... Now look at this".

"Yep that's the thing... The royal palace"

Aya stop for a while trying to understand her friend..."I don't follow"

Bulma look over Aya's shoulder to make sure that Akira wasn't there

"What I'm going to tell you... I never told anyone, Akira doesn't know so please..."

"You can trust me"

Bulma told her everything, how she went to live in the palace as an infant, how she meet Vegeta, how they started an innocent relationship, and how they grow apart. Aya never interrupted her, just let her speak, too afraid that she interrupts her friend would stop taking.

"... now I don't know... It's been such a long time that I don't know how to act around him anymore.. I don't know what to say, how to react... I can't treat him so informal like I use to, but I'm afraid to be too formal and push him away."

After a couple minutes in silence, Aya asked: "Are you sure that's all you are afraid of?"

"What? What do you mean?" visible confused.

"For what you told me, he was someone very important in your life... You really cared for him... Are you sure that your fear is only what you say, or you fear fall for him again?"

"Really Aya?"

"It's not impossible... look at what you told me and tell me that I'm wrong".

Bulma as in silence, she didn't know what to say. Couldn't deny that her friend was right.

"And" Aya continues. "my God that man is hot!" she add with a pervert look on her face that Bulma had to laugh. "Why you never spoke about this?"

"I don't know… It's all so crazy.. when I look back I… sometimes I don't even believe it, if it wasn't for his necklace I would probably thought that it was just a crazy dream".

"Indeed it's crazy. You still like him?"

Bulma thought for a minute "He was always someone special for me".

The silence was back in the room. Both girls too absolved by their own thoughts. "you know… if you marry him I wanna be maid of hour"

They laughs "shut up this is serious… please don't tell Akira about this."

"Don't worry. Let's go cause I work tomorrow and you too.."

oOo

"King Vegeta" greet the general as he enters at the throne room.

"General I thought we had an agreement. You were about to update me about that stupid box of yours". Said Vegeta not even bother to look at the man in front him.

"I'm sorry you highness. We still are trying to find someone to analyze it.

"I understand that you ask permission for an outsider enter the palace"

"yes sire… your highness gave me permission to update your armory.. This permission is for the scientist, so she was able to bring me news when she feels it's necessary". As Vegeta stood in silence he added. "She arrived this morning, and already started to work. I told Miss Briefs that she could meet me here by the end of the week to bring me the reports, have a good feeling about her"

He started to tell the King about the new projects and what he asked for, but Vegeta wasn't listening. Briefs? Did he said Miss Briefs or am I hearing things?

"What's her name?" he suddenly ask.

"The scientist? Briefs, Bulma Briefs"

Vegeta was in shock, he was trying very hard to show this but he knew he was failing. "Why my King? Is that important? Do you want me do dismiss her".

"No!" He almost yell. "It's all right, you can leave now".

Bulma is here?! He couldn't believe it. After so many years he was going to see her again. He wonder why she didn't came by to see him earlier when she arrived. She is probably busy, getting her stuffs together… she will come by.

He didn't saw when Ross left and when Stane came by.

"King Vegeta… I need to speak with you for a moment". That's when he saw Vegeta's face. "is everything okay sire?"

"Yes. What do you want?"

"You know the big holyday is coming, the one he celebrate Friezza's death, we thought about make a ball here to celebrate. This way we can invite your allies and it's a good time for your highness be next to the noble woman".

Now this again find a mate. "I thought I was clear Stane, I am not going to mate your niece"

The elder man suppress his reaction to the Kings rejection. "I understand that, but there will be plenty others woman for your highness to choose".

"Whatever… do your stupid ball". Stane was about to leave when Vegeta add "invite the militaries too". Stane was about to question."You can go now… you have a ball to organize". Said Vegeta as he stands up from the throne. He wanted to be alone. He wanted to see Bulma, but he didn't know where she was… he could fly around searching for her ki but he wasn't sure if he could recognize it after so long. Its better wait…she will come.

But she didn't. Bulma as too absorbed at her work and also too afraid to see him. The first week she enters the palace she went straight to the general office, looking over her shoulders so she might see Vegeta. She also didn't.

It wasn't until her third week there when she had a climpse of him. She was walking down one of the halls talking with one of the soldiers there, Kakarot was his name, and the boy didn't know when to stop talking. She didn't know how to make him stop so she could leave and that's when she saw him. On the floor above her, next to the stairs. He was speaking with that woman, what was her name? Astrid!

Boy he was handsome! The photos that she saw of him didn't quite make him justice. He was way better in person. She didn't know what to do. Do I go over there? And what would I say? 'hi! Remember me?' don't be stupid Bulma. Think about something!

"Bulma!" Kakarot said shaking her a bit. Until she looks at him "hehe you sleep with your eyes open! I'm also going home, can I walk with you?"

"Yeah.." still looking up. "sure". She turned her face to the soldier and they turned to leave.

Vegeta was talking to Astrid about the new projects when something caught his eyes.. something blue. He looks down to have a better look and saw a blue hair woman leaving with a soldier. Was it her? There's no other woman I know with that hair color