Vegeta had finally finished his meeting and was relieved when he found out that was it for the entire day, after turning 16 Vegeta's life became a blur of meeting's and greeting's, battle strategies and peace keeping lessons to train him for his eventual assentation to being King. In all honestly he didn't mind it at all, it was a necessary evil if Vegeta wanted to be a good King to his people, but he hated how it cut into the time he could spend with Nappa and especially Kakarot. The 3 used to spar every morning and eat breakfast together but now by the time the other 2 awoke, Vegeta was already half way through a meeting, but today was going to be a nice chance, he had the rest of the day to kill and he knew exactly where he was going to stop at first.

Before Vegeta even reached the battle arena he could hear Nappa "Come on Kakarot, your form is slipping!" He shouted from the side of the area as he watched the adolescent Sayian sparing with his older opponent. Kakarot had been in a world of his own as his mind wondered, in all honesty these sparing sections were boring him to tears and all he wanted was to go see Vegeta, but he knew he was in a meeting until late so he had to find a way to occupy himself, but this clearly wasn't working, Kakarot decided enough was enough and with one punch knocked his opponent out; he dusted his hands and placed them behind his head before smiling over to Nappa.

"What's the point in you even being here if you're going to knock everyone out?" Nappa laughed as he flew over the barrier and grabbed Kakarot in a head lock.

"It's not my fault, I got bored." Kakarot laughed as he struggled to free himself from Nappa's large arms. Nappa looked down and smiled at the younger Sayian before letting him go, he thought back to the relief he felt when Bardock brought the young Prince back to the palace.

The doors swung open making everyone in the meeting ready themselves for battle believing they were under attack. "My Lord… Bardock has returned with the young prince." The guard at the door yelled. Napped slammed his hands on the large table as he stood up in disbelief, he was unsure if he heard correctly or if it was just his wishful thinking. "Apparently Bardock's younger son found him in the woods and gave him shelter." The guard continued but Nappa had all the information he needed, he flew over the desk and out the door not caring what the old Sayians might say about his behaviour.

"Waw Vegeta, this place his huge." Nappa heard an unfamiliar voice speak but assumed it must be Bardock's son who the guard mentioned earlier.

"Well this is a palace Kakarot, what were you expecting?" At the sound of the Princes voice Nappa felt his insides break… He was alright…Vegeta was alright. Nappa stood outside the door for a while listening to the boys play and talk, he had never heard Vegeta sound so happy before and he didn't want to interrupt.

"You must be Nappa." A rough voice said from behind him.

"Yes I am and you must be Bardock." Nappa turned and smiled at the Sayian standing in front of him who was holding 2 juice boxes. "Thank you for returning the Prince safely, you have my thanks."

"Thank you but it's my son who took him in, I only found out the Prince was at my house a few hours ago." Bardock laughed and opened the door where the children were still playing, Nappa stood in the doorway and watched as Bardock handed the boys a juice box each and again almost broke when Vegeta looked over to him and smiled… His little Vegeta, a boy how only smiled during battles was smiling at him, but this smile was different, this wasn't the smile of enjoyment while you beat you opponent senseless, this was a genuine happy innocent smile.

"Oi old man you going deaf?" Kakarot laughed as he elbowed Nappa in the ribs bringing him back to reality.

"Who you calling old!" Nappa laughed and punched Kakarot in the arm making him stumble to the side and cry out in pain.

Vegeta smiled to himself from the higher observation seats as the pair below play fought and hurled non insulting insults at each other, he decided to just sit and watched for a while but couldn't help notice how much Kakarot had changed, his hair was still outrageously scruffy and spiky, his smile was still wide and heart-warming but his manor had changed, the way he carried himself was tall and bold, his skin had darkened slightly after puberty hit and his muscles became more apparent and defined. Vegeta had started to notice over the past few months how he would stare intently at Kakarot and would only notice how intense the viewing was when his felt his cheeks burn red hot. "What the hell is wrong with me?" Vegeta scolded himself and shook his head clear.

"Oh Kakarot, I can't believe how strong you are." A group of females laughed from the side lines of the arena. Another thing Vegeta had started to notice was after he and Kakarot were done with puberty they had both started to get A LOT of attention from the females. Vegeta watched on as Kakarot's smile faded and his face became hard and unreadable as he walked over to the group looking rather unamused, which was his normal reaction when females were sniffing around. "How about you show us some of your moves?" One of the females shouted and blushed at the thought.

"I'm done with my training." Kakarot huffed in his deep but silky voice making Vegeta feel a quick shiver, he loved seeing this side of Kakarot, he didn't get many chances to see it but when this side came out Vegeta would always be amazed at how Sayian Kakarot real was. "Oh well maybe next time we can see you in action." Kakarot just nodded and hoped they would go away but unfortunately they were here to stay for a while.

"So Kakarot do you know who the Prince is taking as his partner for his Royal birthday party?"

"No I don't." Kakarot again huffed.

"Will you put in a good word for me?" One of the females winked.

"No I will not."

"Oh Kakarot your so mean." She pouted and pretended to be sad. "So who are you taking as your partner?" another asked bluntly.

"None of your business." Kakarot growled. In truth there was someone he wanted to go with but he knew it would be impossible.

"Well maybe you should ask me, I might say yes if you beg." Kakarot just huffed but refused to reply. "Fine, I would only go with the Prince anyway, he is much more of a catch then you." This time Kakarot couldn't help but feel angry as the females laughed and gossiped about how attractive the Prince was and what they would give to be his partner. Kakarot's blood boiled, 'How dare they speak about MY Vegeta like that!' he thought to himself in anger, he couldn't stop the need to be protective of Vegeta, he was his best friend, someone he knew would always have his back no matter what and to hear these females talk about him like he was a grand prize in a competition did nothing but anger him more.

"I suggest you leave and quickly." A deep and rough voice said from the middle of the arena. Kakarot felt his heart skip a beat as he turned and smiled happily at the sound of Vegeta's voice, he was stood arms folded across his chest and a smirk on his face. The females all pushed and pulled at each other as they tried to get Vegeta's attention but he only walked over to Kakarot and punched him lightly on the chest plate. "They are not worth you getting angry at." Vegeta said still smirking; Kakarot smiled widely and put his arm over Vegeta's shoulders.

"You could tell." He laughed as they walked over to Nappa who had been rearranging his daily planner on his scouter this whole time.

"Of course, how long have we been at one another's side?"

"Ye, you know me better than anyone." Kakarot smiled down at Vegeta as they continued to walk. "I thought you were going to be in meetings all day?" Kakarot continued sadly.

"Yes I was meant to but this afternoons meeting was cancelled after the lead spokesmen fell ill."

"REALLY! That's brilliant." Kakarot smiled and gripped onto Vegeta's shoulder a little tighter. "I mean I hope the spokesman is alright but at least this way we can spend some time together, feels like forever since we did anything fun."

"Yes that is true; I was hoping to get away from the palace for a while if you wish to accompany me."

"You bet, where were you thinking?" Kakarot let his arm fall back to his side as they reached Nappa.

"Why not go to the waterfall?" Nappa suggested as he continued to play with his scouter.

"Oh ye come on lets go there, we haven't been there since we were kids." Kakarot laughed as he eyes sparkled with pure delight.

"Fine the waterfall it is, will you be coming as well Nappa?" Vegeta asked forcing the giant Sayian to focus on him and not the scouter.

"Unfortunately I can't this time. I'm being forced to help with your Birthday Party preparations; which is being held tomorrow don't forget; but once that's all out the way and done with we will go again all 3 of us." Nappa smiled and bid the young pair a good trip and told them to watch each-others backs, a typical Sayian farewell.

"Come on; come on; come on, when are we leaving?" Kakarot begged as he sat down on Vegeta's sofa.

"Calm down Kakarot, I just have to put some things away and change then we will be off." Vegeta laughed to himself, some things just never change… Like Kakarot's patients. While Vegeta placed his files away in a secure draw Kakarot decided he would have a snoop around Vegeta's living room area before making his way over to Vegeta's desk, he sat in the large chair and flicked thought the papers which were sprawled out onto it, Kakarot smiled as he found some of Vegeta's drawings, a few of the garden, one of his mother, Nappa and there was even a drawing of Kakarot. Kakarot learnt soon after moving into the palace with Vegeta he was an exceptionally good drawer, he would only have to see an object once and was able to draw it in detail. Kakarot looked at the drawing of himself with great admiration for Vegeta's talent, in the picture he was in a fighting stance ready to fight an opponent who hadn't been added to the picture.

"Your being unusually quiet." Vegeta laughed before he saw why and dashed over to the desk snatching the drawing out of Kakarot's hands. "I didn't say you could look through my stuff!" Vegeta growled.

"Oh come on I've seen all your other drawings. I didn't know you still drew." Kakarot smiled happily as he picked up another drawing off the desk and examined it.

"I don't have much time to anymore, but that still doesn't mean you can just snoop in my stuff." Vegeta again growled but Kakarot was totally oblivious to it.

"I really like your drawings though, I remember when we used to stay up late drawing." Kakarot laughed at the memory. "I was never as good as you though." Kakarot half laughed as he handed Vegeta the picture in his hand. "It's nice to see you still do draw from time to time."

"As I said I don't get much time anymore." Vegeta shuffled awkwardly but wasn't really sure as to why.

Kakarot got up from the chair and slapped Vegeta on the back and smiled. "So you ready to go?"

"Ye sure come on before it gets too late."

"Why not bring your pad and pencil's, you can draw me a picture of the waterfall." Kakarot laughed as he held out Vegeta's sketch pad to him.

"Why would you want a picture of that?" Vegeta didn't mean to make it sound like he was making fun of Kakarot for the request and half smiled to show he wasn't being funny.

"Well that way when you're off in your meetings and I feel lonely I can look at that and think of all the fun times we have had there." Vegeta didn't argue or say another word; he just picked up his pencils and headed for the door followed closely by a wide smiling Kakarot.

They landed on the soft grass and took a moment to take in the sight as the water plummeted off the cliff side and filled a crystal clear pool below, they both took a deep breath and smiled at each other. "It feels like ages since we've been here." Kakarot laughed as he took a seat under a tree just a few meters away from the lake. Vegeta didn't reply as he sat down; opened his pad and began to draw, Kakarot continued to talk knowing full well that Vegeta didn't really speak while he was drawing but that didn't really matter to much, he knew Vegeta was still listening and any point Vegeta thought about while he listened he would make a mental note of and make them once he was finished. The Pair sat beside each other for an hour as Vegeta drew and Kakarot spoke filling Vegeta in on all the things he had been getting up to while Vegeta was at his meetings.

"I sometimes wish we could go back to when we first met, when it was just you and me in my old house, making mash potato, fishing, play fighting all day out in the sun." Kakarot laughed but Vegeta could hear the sadness in it as well as the happiness of the memories. "It would be nice wouldn't it." Vegeta said softly breaking his silence as he added the finishing touches to the drawing.

"Oh is it done." Kakarot sat up happily; Vegeta handed the pad over and smirked when he saw how Kakarot's eyes sparkled with delight. "This is awesome." Kakarot tore his eyes away from the drawing and looked up at Vegeta. "Thanks."

"No problem, just don't go showing everyone, it's not the best skill to have when you're a Prince." Vegeta thought back to when his parent's would shout and scream when Vegeta used to spend his days drawing rather than fighting and reading hard political books, that's why now he doesn't show off his gift.

"I promise I'll keep it all to myself, I won't show anyone." Kakarot continued to stare at the drawing some more while he lent up next to Vegeta on the same tree.

"I guess it's too late to go for a swim now, pity." Vegeta said quietly as he skimmed a stone across the lake.

"It's getting cold to and Nappa would kill me if you were ill for your birthday party." Kakarot laughed and brought his knees up to his chest and swallowed hard, "So who you taking to the party?" Kakarot managed to say without his voice shaking.

"At any event I'm forced to attend I spend most of my time with you, what makes you think this will be any different." Vegeta skimmed another stone and inwardly congratulated himself for breaking his old record of 9 hops with his new record of 13.

"I just thought cause it was your birthday you might be taking a date or something. I didn't know if the King had picked one out for you." Kakarot stood up and took a skimming stone from Vegeta's pile and threw it across the lack only managing 4 hops.

"Please, my Father isn't that stupid to think he could force me to go with someone not of my choosing." Vegeta laughed at the impossible thought.

"Well I don't know how it would all works; I thought he might have at least suggested someone."

"Why the sudden interest Kakarot, you have never asked me before." Vegeta asked eyeing his friend suspiciously.

"No reason, I was just wondering." Kakarot tried to laugh and hide his blushed cheeks but Vegeta could see right through him.

"Kakarot speak what's on your mind." Vegeta demanded as he turned to face his friends arms folded across his chest.

"It's just… It's nothing, forget I said anything." Kakarot smiled and turned his head towards the tree they had earlier sat under trying not to make eye contact with Vegeta.

"Kakarot look at me." Vegeta demanded but Kakarot refused to comply. "Kakarot!" Vegeta again demanded but again Kakarot refused to look at him. "Fine, if you don't want to tell me that's your business." Vegeta snapped, he felt a little hurt by Kakarot's refusal to look at him, since they were kids they told each other everything, even if it was just something small or something huge. "I thought we could talk to each other about our problems. I guess I was wrong." Vegeta huffed and walked over to the tree to pick up his things.

Vegeta picked up his sketched pad and pencils and turned to give Kakarot one fine chance to talk before he flew off to the castle. Vegeta stood frozen for a few seconds waiting for Kakarot to do at least something. "Fine, I'm going back alone." Vegeta turned and readied himself to fly off when he felt himself being pushed sideways and forced up against the tree.

"Kakarot, what do you think you're doing!" Vegeta barked as he looked to see his friend standing in front of him holding his arms up against the tree. Vegeta's heart raced at the close proximity of the pair but refused to show any reaction.

"I wish I could tell you, I really do wish I could." Kakarot whispered as he looked at the ground still holding Vegeta up against the tree.

"Why can't you tell me, you have told me everything before, what's changed now?"

"You will hate me if I told you, and I can't… I can't lose you." Vegeta could hear how hard Kakarot was trying to fight back tears.

"Kakarot listen, you are my best friend how could I bring myself to hate you, so tell me."

"It's because I've betrayed out friendship and if I tell you; you will defiantly hate me." Kakarot gave up fighting and let the tears roll freely.

"Kakarot just tell me, I'm not playing games now, don't make me have to order you." Vegeta growled he needed to know now, out of everyone on the planet he would have never thought Kakarot was capable of betraying their friendship so he needed to know. Vegeta managed to fight against Kakarot and free one of his arms. Using his now free hand he grabbed onto Kakarot's chin and forced him to raise his head. "Tell me now Kakarot!" Vegeta yelled.

Kakarot's tears has stopped and he took a deep breath, it was now or never, he knew Vegeta wouldn't just forget this conversation and wouldn't let either one of them leave until he had his answers. "Vegeta, you are my best friend, when I look back at some of the happiest moments of my life you have been there right by my side, you have helped me through thick and thin and stood by me. I would give my life for you if it meant you could live a happy and long life. I don't remember when it happened but I found myself more and more protective of you, longing for the time we could spend together and just be ourselves." Kakarot moved his free hand up and cupped Vegeta's cheek gently rubbing it with his thumb and slowly closed the gap between the pair. Vegeta was in a state of shock, he was focused so hard on making sure Kakarot didn't notice how quickly his heart was pounding he never really noticed the close in distance until it was too late. "I love you Vegeta." Kakarot whispered before he gently pressed his lips against Vegeta's.