A/N:

This week was not the best. I'll just leave it at that. this chapter was supposed to be longer, but I didn't have time to write the next section. I'm sorry.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed last chapter! TheGlassandEmberRing, ZombieChick422, Many Voices In My Head, Sayian Queen, Megan, Ayaka86, Black Diamond07, grumpirah, bvprincess23 (This one's really late...), Onba, The Azu Soul Lilly, Gindorf091, Greendragonsheart, Linneh, YukiraKing, WinryCherry101, Death101-Fox Version, Girness, The0Blind0Writer, MK08, merlincrazy, koii (:D canonicity means a lot :D thanks!), Duncan Luva, Bulma and Vegeta forever (or Tessa :D), dyingdreamsv2, SobakasuAshura, Cara2012, WildVegeta, Naughty Cat, dalejrgurl008, artificialmasquerade, dolce-bebe, Katie Loom, Jena08, gege, BloodyXan-Xan, and Renae724.

If you asked a question and I didn't answer it, I apologize in advance. I've just been so busy and sick and a boat load of things that I shouldn't complain about over the internet. If you have a question, I WILL answer it. Just remind me through review or PM. I'm going on spring break tomorrow (thank goodness), so I'll have so much more free time to do things I actually enjoy.

Disclaimer: Could I just borrow Dbz? For like a day maybe?

Saiyan Lessons

She seriously had to stop dreaming of him. It was becoming a little too weird, a little too obsessive. Though this one, she had to admit, was exceptionally better than her usual dreams. She couldn't see him clearly, just a short dark shadow with flame tipped hair. The air around her felt thick and was a hazy red. She immediately knew she was back on Karbos, the humid heavy air hitting her harshly even in this dream.

The wind picked up around her, hitting her white lab coat with red dust. Bulma walked forward, approaching the shadow slowly. There was no noise but the wind and the soft crusty sensation of her heels hitting the ground. He was still so unclear even when up close. She could make out the faint outline of his widow's peak, his pointed nose, his smirking grin, but the finer details were hazy.

"Vegeta..."Her hand unconsciously rose, gliding across the figure's upper arm and over his face, stopping on his wet lips. She took a step closer, her breath catching as she already began to feel his energy radiate around her. "Are you okay?"

The darkened figure made one decisive move, grabbing her wrists and crashing their bodies together. Her skin curled as hot waves of air escaped his lips and pressed on her neck. The energy around him was binding, pushing her flushed against his muscular frame. His warmth swallowed her whole, his energy like a vacuum, his presence a magnet. "Vegeta..." She ran her fingers through his coarse black hair, "I've...missed you."

Buzz.

Her blue eyes flashed open, extremely annoyed at her alarm clock. Bulma groaned unhappily at her interrupted dream, but then felt the warmth of another body next to her. What? It can't...

And it wasn't. Her smile faded when she saw Yamcha, in a baseball shirt and loose shorts, curled up next to her on the bed. The alarm clock next to her continued to buzz, and Bulma hit it angrily, turning her disappointment into fury. I shouldn't be disappointed. What am I thinking?

She gave Yamcha's sleeping form a quick hug, trying to make herself feel less guilty, but it wasn't working. Only 10 months now. 10 months and she would launch Kami's spaceship to Namek. 10 months and she would see Vegeta again. But with the way her mind was subconsciously building up this moment, she only hoped that it wouldn't be a total let down. Stop it! Stop Bulma Briefs! You took Yamcha back and you're still thinking about Vegeta!

Bulma rolled out of bed, putting on her fuzzy slippers and robe before dragging her still tired body down the stairs. Boy did it really suck being Vice President of a globally acclaimed corporation. You would think that being one of the most influential women in the world would at least let her sleep until 8 am. But no such luck. At 6:30, the sun was barely rising. The air was still crisp and cool when she stepped out into the back patio, pulling out a cigarette from her bathrobe.

"Honey, you told me you were trying to quit!"

Her mother's high pitched lectures were exactly the last thing she wanted this morning. She dragged the cigarette coolly from her mouth, "I am. This is me trying."

"Now, now, Bulma. Your father already has that disgusting habit. I don't want my little girl to have it too." Mrs. Briefs held out her small hand, "Give it here."

She was trying to quit, honestly! It didn't take a genius to figure out that cigarettes weren't healthy. Plus the vain side of her knew they would just make her look older in the long run. But she was having a rough morning, rough month actually. "Yeah, you're right mom." She dropped the cigarette on the ground, burning her fuzzy slippers slightly when she extinguished it. Reluctantly, she handed over the pack from her pocket.

Her mother cocked her head to the side, "Bad dream, Bulma?"

No. Good Dream. "Yeah...I'm just nervous about Gohan."

"I'll make you an omelet and some coffee before you head out, okay?"

"Mom?" Her soft voice managed to stop her mother's retreating form. Mrs. Briefs turned back around, looking at her daughter with mild concern. Bulma shuffled her feet, a little embarrassed. "...Have you ever, um, idealized a memory before? Like...make something seem better than it actually was?"

The blonde held a finger to her chin, seemingly deep in thought. "If you want me to be honest, Bulma, I do that with your father all the time."

The young woman's blue eyes widened, "Um, what?"

"Don't get me wrong, sweetie! He's a wonderful husband and man, but when he's gone on those business trips of his, I just get so lonely without him. I always make him out to be perfect, but there's no such thing as perfection."

No need to tell me.

Mrs. Briefs continued, "But there's a reason why we put Dr. Briefs, or Yamcha in your case, on such a high pedestal." She giggled to herself, not noticing her daughter's paling face. She grabbed Bulma's chin, squeezing it with surprising strength, "It's because we love them. Aw, sweetie! It's so great that you have Yamcha!"

"Mom!" She pushed her away, face growing red with embarrassment.

Mrs. Briefs frowned, "Sorry sweetie. But you can't stop a mother from being maternal! Isn't it about time you and Yamcha gave me some grandbabies?"

If her face could possibly get any redder it would have, "Mom, we're not even married."

Her mother just shrugged, "Doesn't stop people from having children, Bulma. Just think about it, okay? I'll go make you some coffee." Mrs. Briefs shot her daughter another smile before heading towards the kitchen.

He would never get used to this. He was used to the constant glances of fear gestured in his direction, but this, these kinds of looks he would never get be comfortable with. Frieza soldiers were practically giggling like little girls as the Saiyan Prince walked down the hall. Their hands quickly covered their mouths when Vegeta shot them a look of disdain, but he could still hear it, their trilling soft laughter following him through the corridor.

"Good morning! Hello there!"

And it was all because of the little brat.

"Hiya! My name's Gohan!" The toddler was excessively waving to every passerby. When Vegeta had told the annoying half breed to be fearless, he did not expect such an extreme change in the little boy's demeanor.

"Will you be quiet, brat?"

The little boy immediately frowned at Vegeta's harsh tone, "But Uncle Vegeta sir, my mom always said that if you want people to like you, you should be friendly towards them."

"These people are not worth being friendly too." Vegeta picked up his pace, causing the little boy to scoot along a little faster. The prince had to admit, although being a weakling half breed, Gohan looked almost presentable in his new Saiyan armor. Raditz had the gall to ask if he could wear Vegeta's royal armor, and the prince had to relent. Either that or train him in yellow, moronic human clothes. He wouldn't dare ask Frieza for child sized armor, that was just asking for attention. And besides, there was something satisfying about seeing the seal of Vegeta-sei being worn again, the small red crest residing right over Gohan's chest. "You are not to speak to anyone, Gohan."

"Yes, sir."

Vegeta stopped suddenly, causing Gohan to bump into his legs as the toddler trailed behind him. He suppressed a light growl and plugged in the code to the training center. "Remind me how that idiot convinced me to train you."

"Umm..." Gohan looked a little confused, "If by idiot you mean Uncle Raditz...I mean Daddy Raditz, he said something about how I have a lot of untapped potential! Like what my mom says when she tries to teach me math!"

Vegeta raised an eyebrow, "Your mother sounds horrifying." Though to be honest, he still wasn't too sure who Gohan's mother was. Could Kakarot have mated with Bulma? The thought was completely vile.

"She's not! She just doesn't want me to be a fighter. She says real responsible people use their heads."

Vegeta snorted, "And fighters don't?" He led the boy into the stark, large room. His deep voiced echoed against the spherical metal walls as he turned to face Gohan, "Raditz and Nappa may not be the best examples, but a true Saiyan warrior uses his mind as much as he does his ki." Vegeta blinked at Gohan's seemingly dumbfounded expression, "You do know what ki is, don't you?"

"Course I do! My dad's an expert on that stuff. He taught me how to sense ki a long time ago, just in case mom or him needed..."

"Sense ki?" Vegeta bent down, becoming eye level with Gohan, "What do you mean 'sense ki', boy? I'm talking about energy blasts.' He produced a small blue light from his hand.

"No, I know about that too!" Gohan sighed, "Though I can't exactly do that yet...or fly. Nimbus does that for me!"

Vegeta ignored the excess rambling, "Then what did you mean that Kakarot can sense ki?"

"Well, my real dad can detect when people are coming by reading their ki signatures. He told me that everyone, even mom whose ki is kind of weak, produces a different energy signature. And if you concentrate super hard, you can detect and recognize the signal."

The Saiyan Prince raised an eyebrow, "And you can do such an ability?" His mind was racing with the possibilities. Sensing ki would mean no more scouters. No more scouters meant no trackers, no unintentional communication with Frieza. His faith that Bulma had actually done him a favor and disabled his tracker died the second she left. "Prove it."

Gohan shrugged, "Okay Uncle Vegeta! This will be fun!" He placed a hand over his eyes. "Stay on the ground though! I can't fly yet!"

What has Raditz been doing these past weeks?

"Alright brat." Vegeta swiftly vanished to the far side of the room, and to his surprise Gohan immediately turned towards him, waddling over on his tiny, chubby legs.

"Found you!" He pointed straight at the prince's face.

Impossible.

Gohan opened his eyes, "You're not even suppressing your power level, Uncle Vegeta. It's a little too easy when you don't do that!"

Vegeta gritted his teeth. He was supposed to be teaching the half breed brat of a traitor Saiyan to fight, not the other way around. "What?"

"Like this!" The little boy took a deep breath, relaxing his shoulders and limbs. "See? Check the scouter!"

Gohan's power level was almost nonexistent, not that it was incredibly powerful before, but now the scouter didn't track anything at all. How the fuck did he ever..."...Impossible."

"You like it?" Gohan laughed, "See, Uncle Vegeta! I can help you guys! I've already started showing Uncle Raditz! Do you want me to teach it to you too?"

"Hmph." His cold eyes glanced to the floor and then back up as he started to hover off the ground. "You expect me to take lessons from the half-breed offspring of a treacherous Saiyan?"

That was obviously not the response Gohan was expecting. He blinked, rightfully confused, and nervously rubbed his small hands together. "I...I...was just offering Prince Vegeta, sir."

"Don't make such a stupid offer again." Vegeta flew up higher, "I am your prince. I am stronger than you, smarter than you, and more experienced. Do not patronize me with offers of assistance, boy. I am here to train you."

Gohan gulped at the severity of Vegeta's tone, "Yes, sir." He took a step forward, still far away from the prince because of their difference in altitude. "What will you be teaching me today?"

Vegeta smirked and raised his hand, producing a small, yet insanely bright, light in the palm of his white gloved hands, while covering his own eyes with his other arm. The small toddler on the ground immediately cringed, and Vegeta could hear his shouts for the Saiyan prince to "turn off the moonlight".

It confused her at first to see an orange uniform outside her front door, mostly because Yamcha was already inside. "Goku?" Bulma let the fighter in, clear distress painted on his face. Goku looked uncharacteristically somber. His usual youthful carefree expression was explicitly absent, and it sent a chill straight through Bulma's spine. "Is everything okay, Goku? What's wrong?"

"Are your parents here?" His voice was lower too. It was so serious, a tone he usually saved for fights, not friends.

"Yeah, but Dad's in the lab and Mom's in the kitchen. Goku, did something happen?" Bulma didn't mean to pressure him, but whatever Goku wanted to say, he clearly didn't want anyone to hear, and Yamcha could be out of the shower any minute now. "Why don't we sit down and talk about it?"

He shook his head, shrugging away her touch on his shoulder. "It's just..." The tall man shook his head, eyes cast downwards, "You knew, didn't you? You knew all this time about my... about me. And you never thought it'd be a good idea to tell me?"

Her brain stopped. Bulma stood there, still in the entranceway of her house, looking at the Saiyan with pure guilt and sudden terror. She thought Goku looked passed that whole fact, that he didn't know or didn't care that she knew that he was an alien for over a decade now. "I..."

"Did they tell you about my real name too? About how I'm actually this Kakarot guy?"

"Goku, I didn't think it'd make a difference." She shook her head, wanting to tell him the truth, "I didn't know how I would ever explain it."

"You couldn't try?" His voice wasn't raised, but there was hidden frustration there, "Chichi says she's not afraid of me, but..."Goku shook his head, "And she was so confused about Gohan, about everything. She didn't understand why he had a tail, even when I reminded her that I had one when I was younger too. But I couldn't explain why he was so strong or why I had to hide him from the full moon. I couldn't explain to my wife anything about me or my son."

Bulma bit her lip, "I'm so sorry, Goku."

He shook his head and walked deeper into the house, sitting down on the nearby living room's long sectional sofa. "I'm not angry, Bulma. I don't want you to apologize. I'm not sure what I would do in your situation either...if I knew a secret that affected your whole life." He sighed, scratching his black hair, "I guess I would keep it from you too, if I thought it was for the best."

"How could I tell a twelve year old boy he was an alien?" She slid next to him and rested her head in her hands. She felt awful for it now, but what could she have done? How could she have explained to the child Goku that he was actually from outer space? That she had met the remnants of his family and that he was really a bloodthirsty warrior with a slight personality problem? "It doesn't change who you are, you know. You're not Kakarot. You're Son Goku."

He lightly smiled at that and nodded, "Yeah, I know, but I kind of came over here for more than just to say that."

Bulma raised an eyebrow, "Oh? What?"

"I want to know more about who we're dealing with. Raditz couldn't possibly be going to Namek by himself. He wasn't that strong when he came here, and with the training I've been doing so far, I think I'm already up to his power level."

Bulma somehow didn't doubt it. Even though Goku had only been released from the hospital last week, she had no doubt when it came to his training capabilities. "You're probably right."

The growing grin on Goku's face made Bulma's body immediately stiffen. They had known each other for too long; he could read her far too easily, even though half the time he did seem like a clueless numskull. "Do you know who else is coming?"

He already knew the answer was yes. Bulma didn't bother trying to lie, already feeling guilty from the last topic. "Yes." She waited for Goku to press her more, but he didn't. He just sat there patiently, letting Bulma take her time. "He'll probably be going with two other guys."

"Two other ones? Hopefully both Tien and Yamcha want to come then. You did ask Yamcha to come, didn't you?"

She hadn't. Bulma had briefly explained that she was going to a peaceful planet named Namek to get some dragon balls to wish Gohan and possibly Piccolo back, but she hadn't asked him to join her. Sure, he had offered, but she would usually just shout at him them, saying that she could handle herself, and he'd immediately dropped the issue. "I...um, haven't. Maybe you can ask him, Goku?"

"Yeah, sure, Bulma." His smile faded, "Who are the other two guys?"

"Well..." She coughed, "You have to remember that it's been like 12 years since I've last seen these guys, so don't yell at me if I get some facts wrong, okay?" Bulma didn't wait for a response, "Raditz is the weakest one out of all them. There's this one guy who seemed about thirty or so 12 years ago. He had this creepy moustache too..."

"Bulma," Goku interrupted, "What about their power levels? How much stronger are they than Raditz?"

She shrugged, "Beats me. I can't exactly read ki, you know. The old guy's name was Nappa. He's kind of a jerk, didn't like me very much."

"And the other one?"

Bulma opened her mouth to speak, not wanting to draw attention with a pause, but nothing came out. She relented, pausing and taking a big breath, before speaking again. "The other one's Vegeta."

"Vegeta?" Goku asked curiously. "What do you remember about him?"

"Not much." The lie came quickly, a little too quickly. "He's...um, a little older than you. He's only a year older than me, actually. Crazy black hair, strong. Much stronger than Nappa."

"Stronger than Nappa?" Goku asked, disbelievingly.

She nodded her head, "Yeah, well I guess that comes with the territory."

"Huh?"

Bulma cracked a grin, suddenly feeling extremely proud, "He's a prince. Prince of the Saiyans."

"What?" Goku looked flabbergasted and then suddenly held his stomach, breaking out into laughter.

"Hey! What's so funny?" She didn't meant o sound so defensive. It just sort of came out. Bulma coughed, "I mean, it's not ridiculous that aliens have prince's too, is it?"

Goku shook his head, "No...but, what Saiyans are there to be prince over?" Goku wiped a stray tear from his eye, and quickly recovered, seeing Bulma's scowl. "Sorry, Bulma. It's just weird hearing you're an alien, even months later, and then finding out that you have a prince to obey too?" Goku suppressed another laugh, "It's like one of those awful books Chichi's always trying to get me to read."

"Well, it's not just a story." Why was her tone so harsh? "He's real."

Goku eyed her curiously, "Oh...of course he is. I'm sure he's nice, Bulma." She didn't like the knowing look on his face, not at all. But luckily for her, before Goku could comment even more on the matter, he suddenly raised his head.

"Goku? Is something wrong?"

He nodded, "It's Chichi's ki."

Bulma stood up, following Goku's movements towards the door. "Is she okay? Is everything alright?"

"I don't know. There's no one else with her, but it's really high. I wonder what..."

"Hey, Bulma?"

Bulma turned away from Goku to face Yamcha, fresh from the shower with her cell phone, "Yeah? What's up?"

"Um... nothing really." He stared at the phone and then Goku, "Chichi just called asking if she could talk to Gohan. She...um, seemed pretty freaked out when I said there's no service in outer space."

What. Bulma stared. That was all she could do. Her body went completely numb at Yamcha's words. And when she finally had the capability to speak again, her tongue felt heavy with anxiety, "You...said, what?"

Yamcha shivered away, "Did I say something wrong?"

Goku breaking down the front door to fly home was the only answered he needed.

A/N:

I know it's short. But I will make it up to you! And expect the final take off to Namek next post! Sorrysorrysorrysorry D: