Keep Me

Standard disclaimers...

It didn't take long for him to get everything into the house. By the time the last basket was placed down and his bag was shoved somewhere out of the way, Vegeta had walked into the living room to see the taller man sitting heavily on the couch, already twisting the hard vine and lilac together to make his wreathes. It wasn't hard to make them, but he could see that there were going to be many by the end of the week. It was a way to pass the time when television wasn't that appealing and there was a limited amount of what could be done safely.

There wasn't a need to go to the store back in the city. In those baskets he'd seen blackberries, raspberries, and a variety of other fruits from the wilderness. There was also a batch of medicinal herbs in the mix of everything, though he would have to garner other supplies soon enough. For now it was enough to leave most of what was gathered in the kitchen and place the last two baskets of lilac aside him.

"How much are you going to make?" Vegeta asked.

"Not much. Three at the most. Why, do you want one?"

"No thanks. Just asking. Are you ready or do you want to wait a little?"

"No. Let's get this thing over with."

The wreath in the making was placed aside. He shifted backward with his shirt lifted, sighing at the sight of that swollen mass taking over his front. "There's no stopping it."

"Of course not," Vegeta snorted. "What'd you think would happen?"

"I would be asleep through the whole thing."

He snorted again at the tall one's laughter and moved to kneel in front of him. His stomach was much bigger than it had been, and warmer when he laid his hands on the sides of it. There were no tender spots that he could feel or that were uncomfortable, but there were new marks that he was sure the other man was agitated about. He reminded himself silently to get some cream for those, focusing on the soft fast whoosh he honed in on. Vegeta closed his eyes to get a better glimpse, and wound up sitting back after he was done with a slight smile.

"Do you still want to make that bet?" he asked.

"Why? Would I win or lose?"

"You'd win."

"Knowing you, no. So am I all right for the moment?"

Vegeta opened his eyes and looked up at him. "Yeah, but lay off of the pies. It's keeping the brat up and you as well."

"I can't exactly help that."

"Find a new dish."

"Vegeta..."

"Kakorrot..."

"All right, fine. Are you done?"

"Did I say I was?"

"Then hurry up. I'm getting hungry."

Vegeta sighed and reached for the swell once more. There were many things he could be thankful for and many things he didn't quite want to talk about. Of the things he could combine within those two, having an extensive hidden background in medicine from his days in that freak show's army was one of them. He remembered much and kept some records of what he thought would be most important, including information on this and how to do certain things without the benefits of machinery. He'd had to do things of this nature many times when those few saiyans that were left ended up being the mates of those who were killed and left to do the hard work without that much needed support.

His learning wasn't in vain, though he never thought he'd have to apply this knowledge like this here. Nothing was moving faster or slower than it should from what he could hear. As for what he could see…well, genetics were funny maps. He removed his hands and rummaged in his bag, allowing Goku to pull down his shirt.

"What?"

"Nothing major. I want you to take these," Vegeta said, pulling out a small bottle. "This should keep you from losing too many nutrients."

Goku took the bottle and sighed deeply. "More vitamins?"

"You know the alternative."

Did he ever. Goku fought not to shudder as he placed the bottle on the coffee table. Vegeta was still rummaging in his bag, though it wasn't for anything more than to reassure himself he'd grabbed all he'd meant to before coming here. "I did bring some stuff for the room," Vegeta mentioned lightly. "It wasn't easy getting it all without someone being nosey. You don't mind two different designs, right? It was all they had left."

"I don't mind."

"Good." He was hoping that was the case. He wasn't going to seven different stores trying to find two of the same design. He'd gone through that with Bulma and she was enough to put him off of it for life. "I'm going to go wash these out and make something to eat. Do you want anything in particular?"

"Huge sandwich, please."

"The usual?"

"No radish left, but pretty much."

Vegeta grabbed his bag once more, this time headed for the kitchen to empty the contents out in the sink. As he set that up to soak, he could hear Goku shifting, and then heard him back at his prior task. He would be at that thing for hours without stopping to eat, which was all the more reason to make him something so that he wasn't starving later. The sink full and everything dismantled to soak in the hot water and soap; he dried his hands and was off to make that large sandwich.

He was really fortunate to have found this house when he had. If not, he knew a lot of this wouldn't have been possible and that he'd have people on his tail wondering why he was trekking back and forth in the city. Goku didn't particularly like being surrounded by concrete and noise. He'd always been a wilderness type of guy, and at this point in the game he really didn't want to be seen. It was Vegeta's fault that he was in this mess in the first place. How it came about was a sweet memory, tempered with the slight guilt of it happening at all.

Life had been mapped out for them. They were rivals, friends…not much more. They had families that could make them wonder about the stranger aspects of life, and then they had their heritage that separated them from the others in ways that couldn't be understood by humans. It usually left him quiet, and thoughtful about why it all turned in the other direction.

He opened the fridge, grabbing what he wanted still thinking back. It was a warm night like the day, near the end of an Indian summer that had brought in some of the ripest watermelon his lips had tasted. He still longed for a piece, thinking about how sweet that red flesh had been in the heat. The juice had dribbled down his chin and onto his shirt, but he hadn't cared. Something about that night made him feel young, as if he had grown up in the wilderness of the country. It had been the more appealing option compared to sitting around the others sipping sake or guzzling it, listening to wild tales and loud boisterous laughter. Before he could be pulled into that, he'd grabbed some of the melon that had been cut and left to sit where he had been, admiring the night by himself.

He thought it would stay that way, but Goku had shown up an hour later.

Goku didn't say anything. He simply sat against him, tired but free of the smell of fermented tea. He wasn't laughing, and he wasn't frowning. He just simply was, tail swaying lazily as the wind blew over them. Vegeta still had some of the watermelon aside him. He handed him a piece, and Goku accepted it. They sat together shoulder to shoulder, saying nothing, doing nothing. It was probably the first time they were allowed to be themselves without the influence of those in their lives.

He had to reach to the very back to grab the rest of the ingredients. It wasn't too disgusting now. He longed for the days when Goku still ate normally, satisfied with grapes and sandwiches that didn't have something strange in them. He knew those days would return soon, but not soon enough. Vegeta could still see the look on his face when they were alone, absently popping grapes or some sort of berry. His fingers tingled with the chill of the jar he grabbed and the memory of those lips licking off the juice. Those days only pressed to that night not too long ago.

That night was cold. Winter was on the horizon. They were alone again, though this time because their families thought an autumn hayride would be nice. Vegeta hadn't been interested in riding on hay, or getting it where it didn't need to be. He'd opted to stay behind, watching his son climb on that thing and seating himself next to some other guy he wasn't familiar with. From the way that guy leaned into his son, he was sure that someone wasn't going to be home until late tonight.

Goku had once again opted out as well. He wasn't interested in the singing or watching the leaves fall as they trotted down a dirt road. The road would take them to an autumn festival, and neither man thought a party was appealing either. They'd stayed back at Goku's house, knowing that it would be a long while before their families found their way back.

"Vegeta, do I have any apple cider left?"

Vegeta looked in the fridge and pulled it out. It was almost as dark as the warm cider they had shared that night. He called back that there was some and set it aside lost in his thoughts again.

Maybe it was the warming cider. Perhaps it was the warmth of leaning against the other for too long of a time. Whatever it was, their lips had touched and hadn't let go of the other. They kept close, pulling the other closer as time faded from their minds. He hadn't thought about the future at the time. He wanted the sweetness of that moment, just to taste what he had been missing for a very long time. Goku tasted and smelt like cider, felt like heaven and more when they shared his bed. The memory of the moment brought back the scent of it all and the sound of listening to that heart beat under him. He could still hear it clearly if he lingered in that memory long enough.

Through his musings he had finished making the desired meal. He called Goku for it as he set about putting everything away. Goku came in the Kitchen a few seconds later, catching Vegeta's eye as he reached to grab some glasses. His gaze wandered to the result of that night and lingered there with Goku's hand. Goku noticed his gaze and sighed.

"You don't have to stay you know."

"I know."

"So...why do you?"

"Maybe I want to. Maybe I figure it would be stupid to try and forget something I care for. I don't know. Do you think it strange?"

Goku shook his head. Vegeta poured them both a glass of apple cider and handed Goku his while he downed his own. They both sat down at the table; Goku sat a little slower than Vegeta. Vegeta only sat down for as long as his juice was in his glass, then he rose to rinse it out with the items already in the sink. As he turned on the water and began washing, he sighed and wondered how long it would be before he was doing this on a regular basis.

"I really appreciate this."

Vegeta shrugged. "It's no big deal. Just a sandwich."

"No….I meant everything you've done…you didn't have to."

Vegeta realized this, and it made it harder to think of doing anything else aside what he was doing now. He was the one who'd allowed himself to be swept away and remained aloft even after this came about. He truly wasn't intending for it to happen, which made it easier to forget that small tidbit of their heritage. Third Class saiyans were called that for a reason, and not because it was derogatory.

"I did have a hand in this," he offered. "And we're not the same people we were."

"I put myself in this. I wanted to keep it. I didn't want to just..."

"I know. I'm...kind of glad you didn't."

"...you are?"

"...Yeah. It sort of bothers me now." There were ways to do it, but Vegeta honestly found his stomach churning at the thought of having to perform such a procedure. He'd known females did it religiously here on this planet when things weren't of their initial intentions, but for it to happen to Goku? No. He couldn't fathom it. He wouldn't. "I would probably hate myself…and you'd probably hate me."

"Vegeta..."

"Anyhow, I'm sure the others will flip if or when they find out. I'll go with whatever you want to do…except for that one thing we agreed would be unacceptable."

Goku instinctively held his belly. "No, not doing that. But…what do you want to do about…the others?"

"Personally? I would like to keep those brownnosers own of our hair. But seeing that something always goes wrong, they would find out sooner or later."

"So, if I wait for about a month after, would you be upset?"

"No. I'll blast the first person who opens their mouth though."

"Then you might as well kill everybody, because everyone will say something."

Vegeta shut off the water and placed the last item into the dish rack. He dried his hands again and moved back over to the table. Goku was almost finished with his sandwich but he saved the last piece for when his stomach settled a bit. Both hands rested on his waist, rubbing softly as he closed his eyes. Vegeta crossed to where he sat and kissed the top of his head.

"Do you want to stay tonight?" Goku asked softly. Vegeta thought about it for a moment. He had clothes here. He also had the luxury of cool air. He looked down and found himself drawn to Goku once again.

His family wouldn't miss him for a little while.

He nodded.

"I'll stay."

Hehee, I know you're like: "You made Goku what?"

Yeeeeeah. I did. DEAL. lol

Next part please!