Kakarot's funeral was held 2 days after they returned back from the war, people congratulated Vegeta on his amazing ascension to Super Sayian but he really didn't care at all. Vegeta had Kakarot entombed in his own private crypt which he would share with him when he eventually died, Bardock had no complaints and Raditz hadn't said a word since he found out the news. It was raining as the doors to the crypt were closed and sealed shut, over the past hour people trickled down and returned back to their homes to continue with their normal lives until eventually there was only Vegeta; Bardock and Raditz left.
Bardock didn't say a word as he walked next to Vegeta and put his arm around him trying to shield him from the rain that was beating down on them mercilessly. "I'm sorry." Vegeta said flatly as he kept his eyes on the crypt doors. "If it wasn't for me he would still be here… I wish I never assigned him to be my guard!" Vegeta fell to his knees as he broke all over again.
"Shhh come on now, don't say such silly things, it's not your fault." Bardock cried as he held onto Vegeta tightly trying to think of the best way to comfort him. "It's not your fault at all Vegeta." Bardock kept repeating the same thing while he clung to Vegeta who was on his hands and knees screaming into the ground, in too much pain to care who saw him in this state.
"My brother died doing what he loved." Raditz said finally breaking his silence as he knelt down next to his Father and Vegeta. "He has adored you since we were kids, he always said he was going to meet you one day and you would become friends, he had it all planned out how he was going to scale the palace walls and play with you in the garden's. It annoyed me how innocent he was, how he could live in his own little world and not be affected by the things going on around him, I was envious at that. You know I remember how much he cried when I left to join the royal legion… I didn't hate my brother, I just wanted him to stay as innocent as possible for as long as possible and if that meant I had to stay away and push him back I was willing to do that." Raditz confessed before standing and placing his hand on the crypt doors then walked away quickly back to the palace leaving Vegeta and Bardock in the mud and rain.
"Can I say with you for a while, I really don't want to go back to that room." Vegeta asked as he picked himself off the floor.
"Sure, I think it would do us both some good to have some company for a while." Bardock smiled as he wiped the tears off his cheeks then off Vegeta's. "I'll get one of your servants to collect a few of your things and move them into the spare bedroom." Bardock put his arm around Vegeta and slowly guided him away out of the grave yard and back towards the palace.
"Morning Vegeta, fancy some breakfast?" Bardock smiled as he handed his son-in-law a cup of coffee.
"What you cooking nice?" Vegeta smiled as he sat at the breakfast bar and watched as Bardock dashed around the kitchen. 'Kakarot used to cook like that too.' Vegeta thought to himself but shook his head free of the thought, it had been 3 years since they buried Kakarot and even though it still killed him he knew he couldn't stay locked away forever, he had become emotionally unattached to everyone but Bardock, Vegeta had even agreed to an arranged mating his father had planned for him as he felt his time on the thrown was coming to an end and wanted to see his son mated before he could resign and pass him the crown. It had caused a big argument between Vegeta and Bardock but after some explanation from Vegeta Bardock gave up and agreed to support him whatever he chose.
"I'm cooking bacon, pancakes and toast." Bardock smiled sadly over to Vegeta who was spinning his wedding ring on his finger clearly thinking about Kakarot. "You know you can still say no."
"What do you mean?" Vegeta huffed as he put his hands around his coffee mug and sipped on it.
"Nothing, it doesn't matter, what time does the ceremony start anyway?" Bardock reluctantly asked, he didn't want to see Vegeta get mated when he knew how much he still loved his son, but he understood he couldn't keep him locked away either.
"It's at noon…" Vegeta huffed clearly not looking forward to it at all.
"Well I got some stuff to do this morning so I'll meet you there at 11.30. Help yourself to breakfast I made plenty." Bardock laughed as he slapped Vegeta on the back and quickly left to attend to some work and visit Kakarot's crypt before the ceremony. Vegeta sat in the quiet kitchen thinking about what his life was going to be life after today, he would have to return to the room he once shared with Kakarot and worse off he would be taking a female there. I kissed his wedding ring and prayed. 'Kakarot, please don't hate me for doing this, I can't tell you how much I miss you and you know I'll always love you… but you're not here anymore even though I wish with all my heart and soul you were.' Vegeta opened his teary eyes and headed out to prepare himself.
"Are you all ready?" Bardock asked as he stepped up behind a numb looking Vegeta as he waited to enter the ceremony hall.
"Am I betraying Kakarot by doing this? Will he hate me?" Vegeta asked, Bardock took Vegeta by the shoulders and hugged him tightly.
"Kakarot could never hate you; he loved you with every fibre of his soul, if you are happy he will be to." Bardock smiled and opened the doors to the hall.
Raditz had decided to skip the mating and visit his brother instead, he came here every day to tell Kakarot what had been going on in the day and how he was taking good care of his previous job role which Vegeta offered to him to keep the family close together. Raditz looked up to the sky when he felt cold drops hit the top of his head, "Brilliant, it's raining again." BANG! "What the hell!" Raditz yelled as the ground shuck and smoke bellowed out from behind a hill near Kakarot's crypt. Raditz flew at top speed and landed with a cry when he saw the doors had been completely destroyed.
Raditz stood wide eyed as he studied the damage. "Whoever did this is going to pay dearly!" Raditz huffed as he turned to search the surrounding area for the culprits.
"Raditz?" Someone wheezed from the rubble by the door. Raditz felt tears streaming down his face as a figure pulled itself up from under the stones and lent up against the door for support.
"This isn't funny!" Raditz barked as he readied himself to fight. "How dare you desecrate my Brother's tomb!" and charged forward grabbing the figure by the scruff of the neck and dragging him out into the rain, as the rain washed away the dust and dirt from the man Raditz let the figure go and backed off.
"Raditz I know you're confused but trust me it's me."
"Kakarot?" Raditz asked as he watched as more and more dust was washed off the figure standing in front of him revelling the unmistakeable signature mess of hair and smile only his brother could pull off. Raditz didn't need to know any more, he lunged forward and hug his brother tightly over joyed by this miracle.
"Thank you for coming to visit me every day." Kakarot laughed as he hugged his brother back.
"How did you know that? How are you back? How did you…" Raditz was interrupted by giant bells ringing out telling everyone it was noon. "SHIT! We need to get you to the palace now!"
"What what's wrong?" Kakarot laughed.
"Vegeta is about to be mated!" Raditz panicked as he grabbed Kakarot and flew off towards the palace at top speed.
"How do you know about us?" Kakarot asked as he held onto his brother thankful he didn't have to make the flight, he used up the last of his energy to break out of the crypt.
"Vegeta told me when he came back from the war with your body." Raditz looked away quickly trying not to think back to that day and how broken Vegeta looked.
"I'm sorry but the ceremony has already started." A guard in black shouted as he blocked Raditz and Kakarot's way.
"Move out the way you fool!" Raditz ordered flashing his badge showing he outranked this fool.
"I'm sorry sir the rules are the rules, I can't let anyone else in." The guard huffed but was still unmoving.
"Please, my name Is Kakarot and I need to get in there!" Kakarot begged as he got off his brothers back, the sight of him must have stunned the guard enough for Raditz to take this opportunity to knock him out. "Come on we have to hurry!" Raditz yelled as he grabbed Kakarot's hand and dragged him to the hall.
Inside the hall Vegeta couldn't shake this sinking feeling in his chest, he looked over to his mate to be who smiled sweetly at him but he didn't smile back, he wasn't even listening to the elder who was performing the ceremony, he thought back to his time at the beach house with Kakarot and found himself growing slightly happier.
"GET THE FUCK OFF ME!" Everyone in the hall turned to the door where the shouting was coming from.
"SOMEONE DEAL WITH THAT!" The elder shouted and smiled apologetically at the Prince.
"Just carry on." The King shouted from his seat and waved for the ceremony to continue.
"Yes my lord… Now with the tying on this ribbon we symbolise the tying of the union between these 2 Sayians." The elder spoke as he tied a red ribbon around 2 glasses, one held by Vegeta and one held by his mate to be. "Now please drink from your cups and may the mating be completed." Vegeta raised the glass to his lips silently apologising to Kakarot what he was about to do.
"VEGETA NO!" Someone shouted as the doors flew open to reveal a mound of soldiers knock out on the floor with Raditz standing next to a dirt figure in the door way. Vegeta lowered the glass from him lips and scowled over to Raditz and his accomplice. Everyone in the hall stood up ready to fight to protect the King and Prince.
"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!" The elder shouted as he stepped around the couple on the platform and headed down the stairs towards the pair who had slowly started walking into the ceremony hall. "This is unacceptable Raditz, and who is this… this dirty creature with you?" The elder poked Kakarot in the chest.
"Shut up old man! Your about to give away something that belongs to me!" Kakarot hisses as he pushed his way past and headed for the stairs. Never taking his eyes off Vegeta who looked so defeated and broken it killed Kakarot.
"Guards remove the intruders!" The elder shouted and Kakarot was tackled to the ground just as he was in read of his beloved who didn't even look at him, he just stared into his cup.
"Let go you bastards!" Kakarot kicked and punched, he was too close to give up now. "Vegeta please look at me!" Kakarot begged as he was rugby tacked to the floor and started being dragged away. "No let go! Vegeta! REMEMBER THE BEACH HOUSE!" Kakarot screamed as he continued to fight with the guards holding him down.
Something inside Vegeta snapped as he heard the words and the memories came flooding back all at once, he dropped the cup he was holding and staggered down the stairs. "Stop!" He ordered the guards and stood at the bottom of the stairs looking at the figure on his hands and knees on the floor gasping for breath. "Explain yourself and do it quickly!" Vegeta ordered.
"It's Kakarot!" Raditz yelled as he managed to free himself.
"Kakarot is dead!" Vegeta hissed.
"Vegeta…" Kakarot slowly stood up and walked closer to a very angry Prince. "I can't explain what happened, but I heard you cry for me in the cave, how you put my hand to your cheek and refused to let me go." Kakarot reached his hand out slowly to touch Vegeta's check but he slapped it away.
"Kakarot died, this joke has gone on long enough." Vegeta hissed as he turned too walked back up the stairs. Kakarot fell to his knees and punched the ground, every step Vegeta took further from him felt like a knife stabbing him in the heard. "How can you not remember me!" Kakarot sobbed and pulled himself off the ground. "Did I mean so little to you that the moment you thought I died your forgot me!" Kakarot ran up the stairs a grabbed onto Vegeta's hand, the contact sent chills up and down his body stopping him in his tracks. "I married you because I thought you loved me." Kakarot held his left hand up to show Vegeta his wedding ring which hadn't been removed from his body at Vegeta's request. Kakarot used his right hand to lift Vegeta's left hand and held it next to his to show the matching rings. "The only 2 of its kind, no way to be forged." Kakarot's eyes started to water when he saw Vegeta coming to realise he wasn't lying.
"Ka…Kaka…rot?" Vegeta whispered as he slowly reached his hands up and placed them on Kakarot's cheeks, Kakarot closed his eyes at the warmth he knew so well and held Vegeta's hands to his cheeks so he could have more of the warmth and comfort that came with them. "Kakarot." Vegeta whispered again as one of his hands ran over Kakarot's features while the other stayed to his cheek.
"I'm sorry I left you Vegeta." Kakarot smiled as he reached over and placed his hand on Vegeta's cheek. "I'll never leave you again." Kakarot vowed as he pulled the pair closer.
"You had better not." Vegeta whispered before he closed the gap completely and kissed Kakarot who wound his arms around Vegeta's waist and hugged him tightly desperately trying to get as much of Vegeta's warmth as he could. The hall went up in angry screams and shouts while the pair kissed and hugged in front of everyone. A few Sayians tried to rush the stage but were blocked by Bardock, Zero and Leo.
"Back off!" Zero growled as he pushed several sayians back down the stairs. Eventually Vegeta and Kakarot let go and turned to see the ciaos one kiss had brought, everyone was standing and shouting at each other, all but one rather large and very pissed off Sayian who was staring at the pair with hateful eyes. Kakarot grabbed onto Vegeta's hand as The King pushed his way from his seat to the stairs.
"Vegeta, this wants to be a horrible joke!" The King's voice echoed through the hall silencing everyone.
"No father this is not a joke. I've been in a relationship with Kakarot for…"
"SILENCE! No son of mine is going to be gay! Now you are going to send Kakarot away to a distant planet and you're going to get mated right now!" The King growled and ordered the elder to take his place back on the stage.
"No, if I can't mate Kakarot and have him by my side then I'll never be mated." Vegeta declared showing no sign of fear!
"And if I let you mate him then what! You won't be able to have an heir, what would happen to the thrown then?"
"I would gladly be a surrogate for their child!" A female stood from the crowd. "If it hadn't of been for Vegeta I would never have been able to Mate the man I love. If I could do this small thing for him I would gladly do so." Elizabeth smiled, Vegeta was a little shocked to see how much she had changed from when he saw her last at his mate matching session a life time ago, they spoke occasionally on their scouters but once she had children she was very busy. The King shot her an evil glare but she was unmoving.
"So this is the path you seriously want to take." The King hissed again.
"Yes, I want to be with Kakarot, I thought I lost him once and I'm never going through that again!" Vegeta said proudly as he held onto Kakarot's hand tighter.
"And you." The King shot his gaze to Kakarot. "Is this the road you want to take too!"
"Yes Sir, I would follow Vegeta to the end of time."
"YOU!" The king shouted pointing to the Elder who was in a state of shock. "Finish the ceremony."
"My lord I would by the bride has…" The King walked up and picked up the cups and ribbon which had been dropped on the floor when the commotion started. The king refilled them and walked over to Kakarot and Vegeta. "You ever break my son's heart like that again I will make you wish you were dead." The king vowed as he handed them both a cup.
"My lord, are you seriously telling me you want me to mate these two?" The Elder hisses in disgust.
"You forget my son is the Legendary Super Sayian… Do you want to go against him because I certainly don't?" The King laughed as he took his seat and ordered everyone to do the same without any complaints. He had had a sneaky suspicion about the pair for some years now, but he understood why his son would want to keep it from him, he was a hard man very much stuck in the old ways, so maybe this was a way of starting a new way, one his son would be at the forefront of, but he also wanted his son to be 100% certain this was the road he wanted to walk down.
"Now with the tying on this ribbon we symbolise the tying of the union between these 2 Sayians." The elder repeated again and tied the ribbon around the cups. "Now if you are ready and truly committed please drink from your cups." Kakarot and Vegeta both downed the fluid in record time and smiled to each other. The elder removed the ribbon and took the glasses. "In the eyes of all those here and in the eyes of our God's you are now mated together, in this life and the next."
The elder bowed and the hall slowly filled with claps and cheers, mostly from Elizabeth, Leo, Zero, Bardock and Raditz but eventually the rest of the hall followed suit.
"You're stuck with me forever now." Kakarot laughed as he wound his arms around Vegeta.
"Dame I wonder if I can take it back." Vegeta laughed as he wound his arms around Kakarot's shoulders. "I love you so much Kakarot."
"I love you to Vegeta, so much… I missed you." Kakarot smiled sadly as he kissed is mate and refused to let go this time.