Author's Note/Disclaimer; The next few chapters will be taking place in between the episodes that occur in the Android and Cell sagas, and may contain scenes from the show as well. Most of it is just 'behind the scenes' stuff really, I'm assuming that you've seen the episodes and therefore know what's happening with the rest of the gang.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Bulma watched as Gohan flew further and further away, disappearing into the sky. The poor boy was so consumed with worry for his father, and she could understand greatly how he felt. Worry seeped into her body, she couldn't imagine the world without Goku, her oldest and dearest friend. But she couldn't let her own feelings be apparent in from of Gohan, and so she kept her cheery demeanour.

Bunny turned to Bulma, her bright smile never fading. "So are you hungry dear?" she asked her daughter, but Bulma shook her head. "I've got to fix Trunks up with some fresh new clothes and feed him, maybe later." Her blue eyes focused on the short, chubby man that stood frowning across the lawn. "However, I do know someone who's worked up an appetite!" she exclaimed, and Bunny followed her gaze over to Yajirobe, before approaching him with her hands clasped together.

Bulma turned to enter the house, trying her best to concentrate on Trunks and his needs before anything else. She made his way up to his room, quickly placing him on the change table before getting out a clean diaper and some fresh new clothes. Her son merely watched her with curiosity as she quickly undressed him and gave him a quick wipe over with a wet cloth, before putting on the new diaper and changing him into the clean clothing.

Trunks gave a yawn, and Bulma could tell that he was getting sleepy, he'd had such a big morning already, especially with the plane being attacked and then the flight back home with Gohan. But before he could have a nap, he needed to be fed. Bulma picked Trunks up and cradled him in her arms as she wandered into the kitchen, pulling the fridge open to retrieve some puréed vegetables she had prepared the night before and placed it in the microwave.

As his food warmed, Bulma set Trunks down in his high-chair, where he clapped his hands happily, obviously aware that he was in for a feed. Bulma leaned on the counter and watched her son in awe, he surprised her every day. He was a strong child, no doubt getting that from his Saiyan father, but the smarts were there too, certainly from her.

Her mind drifted to the other Trunks, the one she had first met three years earlier before re-meeting him again after he had saved them from the plane. Only after he had blasted off after Vegeta had she learned from Piccolo that the lavender-haired man was actually her son, he had come from seventeen years in the future to aid them in the battle against the androids.

She felt her chest swell with pride, her son was going to turn out to be a rather handsome young man, like his father, but without the menacing scowl that usually accompanied Vegeta's face. He was powerful too, already able to transform into a Super Saiyan at will, at his young age.

The microwave beeped then, taking Bulma away from her thoughts and alerting her that Trunks' food was ready to eat. She took it out, blowing softly to cool it down and took a spoon out of the drawer, before pulling a chair over to Trunks that she sat down on, her son wearing an impatient look on his face, his mouth already gaped open, awaiting the food to enter it.

She couldn't help but laugh at Trunks, who furrowed his lavender eyebrows together at her. Sighing, Bulma took a spoonful of the vegetables and fed it to him, and he wriggled his toes together happily before his mouth opened again, signalling his want for more food. Bulma complied to her son's wishes, giving him another spoonful.

Before she knew it, the small bowl was empty, Trunks content with his meal and obviously full as he gave a yawn. Bulma was glad that her son was easy to read, she could tell when he was hungry, tired, annoyed, sad. He was a good sleeper, and easy to cheer up when he cried. She placed the bowl and spoon in the sink, before turning back to Trunks and picking him up from his high-chair.

As they made their way back to Trunks' room, he snuggled his head into the crook of her neck, holding onto her tightly with his chubby arms. Bulma rubbed her son's back gently as they entered the sky-blue coloured room, where she placed him down in the crib, covering his small body with the blanket before leaning down and kissing him on the forehead. "Have a good sleep, Trunks."

Closing his door gently behind her, Bulma gave a sigh, knowing that now she didn't have Trunks to focus on, her thoughts were going to come seeping in to her mind, along with the emotions that accompanied them. But before she had a chance to do anything, her mother appeared, whistling softly before she noticed Bulma standing in the hallway.

"Is Trunks having a nap?" Bunny asked her daughter, who nodded. "He's pretty tired. Hey mom, where's Yajirobe?" Bulma asked, noticing the man's absence. "Oh, he certainly did eat a lot! But he had to go home, I think he said. I'm sorry honey, did you want to say goodbye to him?" Bulma shook her head. She was well aware that Yajirobe would have only hung around until he had eaten all that he could fit into his stomach.

Bulma went to walk down to her room, but Bunny called out to her. "Would you like to do something together? Watch a movie?" she asked her daughter hopefully, but as Bulma turned around, she gave her mother a sad smile. "Thanks mom, but I just really need to be alone for a while." she replied, before walking into her room and closing the door behind her.

The first thing Bulma did was select a change of clothes, choosing a matching pants and jacket combination in a bright orange, one of her favourite colours. Her old clothes went into her laundry hamper, before she sat down on the bed, crossing her legs underneath her. It had been such a day, and she wasn't sure how to process it all.

Seeing Yamcha hurt like that, it reminded her of seeing his death broadcast on the television all those years ago, when the Saiyans had first arrived on Earth. Krillin brought him to Bulma, who had been given the bag of Senzu beans by Goku earlier. He looked awful, with blood coming out everywhere from the large gaping hole in his chest.

Quickly she had opened the bag and picked one of the hard green beans out, handing it over to Krillin who fed it to the wounded man. Bulma watched, her heart gripped with fear. She would hate to lose Yamcha again, once had been enough. If he died once more, he would not have been able to be brought back to life by the dragonballs. The wound looked much to serious to her to be treated simply by the a senzu bean. Bulma knew they could work miracles, but Yamcha looked closer to death.

Even if their relationship had changed into a friendship, she still needed him. Yamcha had been the one that stood by her when things got tough, and consoled her when she cried. Even when Vegeta had left, Bulma had been in a pit of despair that no-one was able to reach her in, except for him. He pulled her out, and kept her happy. He was her best friend, and she wasn't sure if she would be able to carry on without him.

To her relief, the affect of the senzu bean was almost immediate. Yamcha's wound began to close up, the skin meshing together once more over the newly repaired flesh. His eyes opened, and seconds later he was sitting up, breathing heavily as his hand gripped over the hole in his gi, the only mark left of the vicious attack he had upon him.

Krillin and Gohan both gave loud sighs of relief, Yajirobe simply said nothing. Bulma rushed over to the scarred man, dropping to her knees and wrapping her free arm around him. "Don't ever do that again." she had scolded him, and he had simply smiled at her, before the city began to light up, an explosion erupting that seemingly destroyed many of the buildings.

The most important thing was that Goku would be alright, and that his heart condition that had forced him out of the battle was treatable by the medicine the older Trunks had given him three years ago, before they even knew who the lavender-haired stranger was, before she had even begun to think of Vegeta in any romantic way at all. The same Vegeta who had failed to protect them, when they were hurtling towards the ground, after being attacked by the newly modified Dr. Gero.

That had affected her greatly, even if she hadn't shown it at the time. The last thing she remembered was seeing everyone, happy that they were all in one-piece, even if they were missing Goku and Yamcha. Vegeta hadn't even shown any remorse, nor concern for either of them. She knew he was cold, but not so heartless. She had seen the true Vegeta today, not the one she had fantasied about in her head, the Vegeta who had a gentle side to him, hidden far away within himself.

And yet, as much as she wanted to hate him for all the things he had put her through, she knew that she still had the same feelings for him, and that she wanted to be with him. It had been a hard couple of months for Bulma, once Vegeta had returned, she had almost expected things to go back to normal. Yamcha had eventually moved back into his own house, but came over to visit regularly. Vegeta retreated to his gravity chamber, and hardly ever came out. And his words kept running through her head, the words that had shattered her heart into a million pieces.

"I did not return for you, nor the child. I came back to fight the androids, defeat Kakarott, and then destroy this mudball you call a planet. I will stay here, however, until that time comes."

The time had finally come, and Bulma wondered if Vegeta had achieved his first task of destroying the androids. Goku would have to wait, his sickness would buy them time at least, even though Bulma felt horrible thinking about it like that. Vegeta would want to battle Goku at his best, his pride would demand nothing less. But would he really destroy the planet?

Two years ago, she wouldn't think that Vegeta would be capable of doing something so evil. Bulma had been so sure that the evilness in Vegeta's heart had diminished greatly, after all, he had slept with her, and not killed her afterwards, something she had been worried about, knowing his track record. But then he just continued to prove her wrong. At least now she knew where she stood with him – nowhere. It was unrequited love, and she doubted that he would ever return her affection.

Bulma lifted a hand to her cheek, surprised to find wetness there. She hadn't even realised she had been crying, too caught up in her thoughts. She wiped them away, annoyed with herself for being so emotional. She was going to have to keep thinking positive, and keep the smile on her face that she had been wearing all day among her friends. They had no idea the emotional turmoil she was going through, and that was the way she was determined to keep it. Only Yamcha really knew the truth, and that was enough.

She needed to breathe some fresh air, and decided to go into the large study, where she would be able to make a couple of calls and find out what was going on with everyone else. She quickly went into Trunks' room first, making a silent apology to her son as she picked him up from his crib, relieved that he did not stir. She took him into the study, where another crib was set up, and placed him down. Bulma needed her son to be near.

The first number she dialled was the Sons, she desperately needed to find out how Goku was doing and if Gohan had returned home safely. But the phone continued to ring, and after a minute had passed, Bulma slammed the phone down in frustration. She went to turn away when it began to ring, and she picked it up quickly. "Hello?" she asked hopefully, hoping to hear a familiar voice at the other end of the line.

"Miss Bulma? We have a man on the other line, he asked to speak to you about something important." Bulma's heart sank in disappointment. She sat herself down on the comfortable chair next to the table on which the phone was sitting, before sighing. "Alright, put me through."

"Hello?"

"Hello there sir, you're talking to Bulma Briefs of Capsule Corporation. How can I help you today?"

"Well, you see, my wife and I found an old abandoned vehicle out where we live, but I'm not quite sure how it works, or how I'm supposed to fly it. So I was wondering if you could help us out, give us some information?"

"Where do you live, sir?"

"In Area 374. It's quite rural out here, and so there's not really anyone here to ask for help."

"I see. Could you please tell me what kind of vehicle it is?"

"Well, uh, it's quite tall, and yellow, with long spindly legs. It looks like it only flies one person, with a large glass roof that unfortunately has a large hole gaping in it."

"Oh, I'm...I'm not sure that's one of our products, I can't recall a vehicle that matches that description..."

"Well, it does have 'Capsule Corporation' written across it, that's how we knew to call you."

"Really? Well, could you possibly send us a photo of it? Just so I can make sure."

"No problem. It should be coming through anytime now."

Bulma sat moved over to the fax machine, hoping that the loud noises it was sure to make wouldn't distract Trunks from his slumber. Just at that moment, it began to beep, alerting her that the picture of the mysterious vehicle was coming through. Her blue eyes widened as the photo began to appear, she had most certainly seen that product before, she had no doubt of it.

"Ma'am? Are you there? Did the photo come through?"

"Yes, I've got it here with me now. I'm afraid that I'm going to have make some inquiries, but if you leave your name and number, I'll get back to you as soon as possible."

Once the man had given Bulma his details, she hung up the phone and sat back down in the chair, her eyes never leaving the photo she held in her hand. It was Trunks' time machine, the same one she had seen all those years ago when he had first arrived. But it had totally been abandoned, covered in moss and looking worse for wear. Trunks would be devastated, there was no way he would be able to return to his own timeline with the machine in such a condition.

She looked over to the phone. She needed to tell Trunks, to break the news to him. But Bulma had no idea where he was right now, all she could do was hope that he was okay, wherever he was. There wasn't much to do now but wait for news. She tried the Son residence again, but once more there was no answer. Just as she set the receiver back down in it's cradle, the phone rang.

"Hello, Miss Bulma? We have a man named Krillin on line, wishing to speak with you?"