Author's Note: Alright guys, just bear with me. I'm sure you will not be disappointed as you read on. After all, nobody ever knew what had happened when Vegeta went to space to train. So it's practically subjective. Here's a lollipop each for you guys. ----O ^_^

"Your father's filthy feline caught your tongue?" Vegeta said as he chuckled at Bulma's sudden lack of speech. What a total asshole.

Bulma was fuming inside. How dare he mock her in front of that… that alien! She sent him a deathly glare as her anger started rising as the minutes pass. "Well, look who's back?!" she spat as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. "I thought you were considering settling down on the next planet the last time I called you."

"I figured I had more than enough fuel to go another few hundred thousand miles, so I thought why not return to this backward planet of yours," he smirked. "There are more substantial materials that I can obtain from here," he shrugged as he began to walk past Bulma and towards the house, with the alien still holding on to his arm.

"Hold it right there, Vegeta!"

All he did was stopped where he was, and turned his head to look at her with a raised brow.

Bulma was looking nervously between the two and once again, her lack of speech was catching on. She finally decided to look straight into Vegeta's eyes and tried not to show that she is in fact, feeling quite vulnerable to the whole situation.

"Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend? After all, you're both visitors to my home and my planet."

A sly smirk started to play on Vegeta's face showing that he was feeling quite amused with where this conversation was leading them. As he turned around fully to face Bulma, the alien too stared expectantly at Vegeta, waiting for him to introduce them.

"Oika, meet Bulma of earth. The princess of her home and land," he said sarcastically as he stared into Bulma's eyes as she diverted them to Oika while he brought the two females closer. She ignored his little sarcasm but felt a little proud to be called a princess of her home. Well, she is practically a princess, being the daughter of the wealthiest and most successful, most brilliant scientist in the whole world.

"Nice to meet you, Oika," said a smiling Bulma as she extended her hand for a friendly shake, unbeknownst to Oika who only smiled back politely mainly because she didn't know the customs of earth. Feeling rather stupid for a minute, Bulma quickly retracted her hand awkwardly and just gave her a simple nod of acknowledgement.

"Oika was a captive where I found her on one of Frieza's lingering planets. She was running away from the capital when she tried to escape and lucky for her, she bumped into me. She had begged me for help to save her life so I've taken her back here with me for the time being to do whatever is necessary. At the same time I want you and your old man to prepare the ship with every essential needed so I can travel into space again."

"… You're leaving again?" Suddenly Bulma felt like its de ja vu all over again. He didn't plan to stay after all. He had returned only to restock and then he will be off again. Of course, how could she have think otherwise?

"Yes, woman we are leaving and in within the next two weeks I expect all damages to the ship are to be amended. The fuel and food storage is to be appropriately refilled." He replied as he turned to walk away once again with Oika gripping on his arm. Heartache tugged at every inch of Bulma's heart, causing her system to be numb as she stood like a love sick fool in the middle of the garden looking into the retreating form of Vegeta and his--

She wrapped her hands around herself as a sudden breeze blew at her causing her to shiver while she stared continuously through the kitchen windows. She could see silhouettes of three persons moving around the dining table. Her mother must have seen that she has more than one guest who returned from the trip and it disturbed Bulma greatly knowing that even her mother was getting a better treatment from Vegeta than her, even if it was only silence.

"You win, Prince Vegeta," she nods quietly to herself as she whispered to the silhouette of Vegeta, "You win." With that said she used the front door instead of the kitchen and proceeded to her room to get some much needed shut eye. She will have to start forgetting about Vegeta now since he has found someone who seemed to be much worthier than her. Perhaps they deserved one another. On top of that, she will be too busy in the next two weeks to even think of him. Not at least until he leaves.

----

The following day, Bulma has been going on endlessly at the half damaged contraption of Vegeta's all day long, she's even missed her lunch. Her only best friends were her favorite mug and a pot of coffee which was constantly being refilled. Repairing the internal walls of the GR is not an easy job to do when she was required to climb high up to the ceiling herself. However, she loved to configure the computer system which she was currently doing now. They had brought a table into the GR where she used her laptop with while Dr. Briefs continued with the wiring at the main console.

"This goes here, that goes there… mmmm… no that's not it…"

"Dad, if you start talking to yourself, I'll have to award you as the Mad Scientist," laughed Bulma as she listens to her father's mumblings.

"I really don't mind being declared as the— Erm… I'll see you inside for dinner, dear," and he got up awkwardly from kneeling beside the console and strolled towards the GR exit.

Bulma felt it was kind of weird for her father to cut his words like that. Unless…

"What is it, Vegeta?" she frowned at her ability to sense Vegeta whenever he is nearby. She cursed him mentally as he leaned at the table side next to her. She tried her best not to look to the side, knowing that he is staring at her.

The silence dragged on as Vegeta decided not to answer her. Feeling rather annoyed with his presence and silent treatment, she turned to look at him but to her surprise, his stance was reserved with his arms crossed and he had a distant look on his face.

"What's wrong, Vegeta?" she asked softly, her heart was getting softer by the minute the longer he kept his distant look. She felt compelled to acknowledge his every problem, his every emotion mainly his very existence. She wanted to comfort him, just like how he had.

"Hush," he shushed her while his eyes were closed. He looked like he was in deep thoughts and nothing should penetrate that working mind of his. She stared up at his face which was completely serene and peaceful. Nothing much like the angry annoyed look he's always given her. 'Perhaps he just wants someone to stay quiet with him.'

Giving a small smile, Bulma continued her focus on the computer, letting Vegeta alone with his thoughts or whatever he's doing.

She was really engrossed with her work as she almost finished configuring the entire system when suddenly, "You look hideous." Bulma's eyes widened, terribly shocked and stunned as her mouth went agape but nothing came out of it. She narrowed her eyes and scowled while she turned her head slowly towards the source of the voice. To her surprise, Vegeta was looking down at her with a smirk plastered on his face and although she wanted to retort to his sudden comment about her appearance, she thought better of it and remained her glare.

Bulma flinched slightly as Vegeta brought his hand to her face. He pause his movement and took a moment to stare at her but continued further as she watched cautiously, afraid that he might strike her again. With a frown, he slid his hand to her face, caressing it gently before tangling his hand in her hair and soothing it with his fingers. He stared longingly at her short tresses, an expression which Bulma has caught him in several times. After a minute or two, he turned to look at her in the eyes, silently telling her what he meant by the comment he just made.

He missed her long hair.

After that little silent exchange, Vegeta retrieved his hand and walked out of the GR, leaving a completely confused Bulma behind. A small smile crept to her face as she brought the back of her hands and touched the spot on her face where Vegeta has caressed while she stared at his retreating form and disappeared out of the GR without a backwards glance. Remembering their kiss from three weeks back, her face heated up shamelessly. Shaking her head, she turned her focus back to her work but her mind wouldn't push the images of Vegeta or the past three weeks out of her mind. She felt like there's something amiss and that something was yet to be solved.

Apologizing to Vegeta.

Yes, she will have to apologize to Vegeta and she will do it as soon as possible. She felt really guilty although she had insulted him or pushed him countless of times, he still wouldn't stay angry at her for long. So there has to be an explanation to all these and she will find it out soon enough. She will have to confront him. And if God is willing, she will confess her feelings for him.

----

Although Vegeta had preferred Bulma with longer hair, that doesn't mean he would want to touch it so openly and even stared at it as if he's devastated that it's been cut short. In fact, she still looked beautiful to him no matter what hairstyle she has. He was doing just fine by controlling his urges before he had to open his damn mouth and commented about her appearance. Obviously she would want to know why. But he had been fast enough to react and, well, he managed to shut her up in another way.

Circling at the sides of Capsule Corp. in several rounds, Vegeta can't stop thinking about the woman. If it wasn't because of the ship being unable to withstand any other fuel than the ones they provided on earth, he wouldn't have to return. How backwards. He's always thought that earth was lacked with the proper advanced technology compared to the ones that he used back in Frieza's days and how right he was, but, on the other hand, if it wasn't because of her intelligent and brilliant mind, he wouldn't have the privilege to train in something so great that can withstand such immense gravity. His strength has really increased and it was all thanks to…

He sighed as he noticed he's finished circling another round and back to the GR where the woman is currently confined. He stared at the metal piece for awhile, thinking if he should go back into the GR and have a little talk with…

'Little talk?! Since when have I turned into an emotional, sissified warrior?!' his expression was scrunched up in mild disgust for himself. Exactly when had he transformed into a warrior who would rather talk with his mouth than with his fists? He frowned at his sudden degradation and turned towards the house.

He stopped where he was as he spotted Oika sitting on the kitchen doorsteps, playing with one of the Brief's rodent, Kitty. His frown deepened, his mind decided to take himself into the house using the front door. Oika is a complicated issue, which he admits. When he had first found her on Planet Karra, one of Frieza's neighboring planets; she was a mere prisoner, escaping from a life filled with misery, pain, torture and enslavement. Hah! He had went through the same shit when he was taken in by the lizard, and no one was there to safe him or even bothered to help him, so why should he do the same for anybody else with the same fate?

Because she looked like Bulma.