'Face to Face'

Chapter Four: Want

'It's not meant to be like this,

not what I planned at all.

I don't want to feel like this.

No it's not meant to be like this,

It's just what I don't need.

Why make me feel like this,

It's definitely all your fault.'

Imogen Heap: The Walk

Unbeknownst to Bulma, Vegeta had heard her entire argument with Yamcha. He was stood, still and lost in his thoughts, by the back door, and he heard Bulma slam the French doors into the living room loudly. Her words echoed around his head insistently. 'He's changing Yamcha! Besides, you know what he's been through! You wouldn't have been able to handle it!'…'He's on our side!'

He scowled, What the hell does she know about me? About my life and my history? Why the hell is she sticking up for me? Isn't she supposed to be in love with that buffoon? He couldn't understand Bulma at all- and worse still, he couldn't understand or escape the sheer pleasure and pride he had felt when she had defended him. He knew- though he would never admit it out loud- that there was something about her that was getting under his skin, and he was furious with himself, and her, for letting it happen. I don't have time for this nonsense…the woman is an inconvenience. She is beautiful, true, but she is still no more than another idiot human in the end. I must get her out of my system. And there are only two ways to do that…

Yamcha climbed out his shower feeling rejuvenated and refreshed. He'd managed to shake his argument with Bulma out of his head with some rigorous training. Now, he was determined to sort things out between them. He pulled on some simple black jeans, and then looked in his wardrobe, spotting a white rock t-shirt that Bulma had bought him at a gig of his favourite band that they had gone to years ago. He pulled it on and grinned. She always liked it when I wore this…man, it reminds me of when we were together…this will show her I still care. He styled his hair with his usual care and styling wax, before pulling on some red converse and looking in the mirror one last time to make sure he looked good. He did. What am I going to say? Should I just apologise? Should I get flowers? Hell, I haven't done this in so long…but, c'mon Yamcha! You've known Bulma for years….you've been together for years! With renewed confidence he set out for her bedroom, and suddenly remembered what Goku had said to Bulma about having a baby and wondered with a grin if that was Goku's idea of giving Yamcha a hint. Well, I'm getting it now Goku. Next time I see you, I promise that Bulma and me will be married with that baby you were talking about! Ha, if this all works out we'll even name it after you!

Bulma put her head in her hands and sighed, before running them through her hair and staring at herself in the mirror. What is going on with me? Why did I yell at Yamcha so much? It's not like he has a reason to like Vegeta- although he was being a hypocrite. But why does it mean so much to me to befriend Vegeta? Why does he mean so much to me all of a sudden?

She blamed the dream she'd had of him- way back when they had met the boy from the future. If it hadn't been for that dream she was sure she would never have looked at Vegeta in such a different light…

-- Bulma sat on the balcony, staring up at the sky and watching Goku and Gohan train sadly. She wished she could fight; she wished she could be properly useful for once. She watched them silently before a noise behind her made her jump, and she swivelled around to see Vegeta, leaning casually against the door, looking at her with an unreadable expression on his face.

"Why aren't you training up there?" Bulma asked him, and he shrugged, strolling out to stand beside her.

"I would be if I was you! I'd love to be able to fight like that!" she cried, putting her chin in her hands and sighing sadly.

Vegeta turned to her and said, "Why do you need to fight? Kakarot protects you."

Bulma frowned, "I want to be able to protect myself! I want to be useful!" She stood up and leant against the rails, staring up at the two sparring men wistfully.

Vegeta reached forward and cupped a hand under her chin, tilting her head towards him. "You are useful. You always will be." And he leant down and kissed her hard on the mouth, pulling her to him as his tongue slipped into her mouth and she melted against him…--

She growled into her hands, Argh! I'm beginning to wish that bloody dream had never happened! If it hadn't I'd have never woken up that day and started to question everything about him! I'd still just ignore him, I'd probably have gotten back together with Yamcha…heck, we'd probably even be engaged now! I mean, didn't Goku allude to a baby or something?! Her stomach churned slightly at the thought, I don't want to marry Yamcha though…do I? Oh…I don't know what I want anymore, I'm so confused. She sighed again, Damn you Vegeta.

Yamcha knocked on Bulma's door and heard no response. "Bulma?" he called out, pressing his ear against the door to see if he could hear her moving around inside or something. "Bulma?" he called again, but there was still no reply. Hmm, she might be ignoring me or something…well, only one way to find out.

He pushed her door open and started slightly when he saw her, curled up, asleep on her bed, wrapped in her cream quilt like a mummy. He grinned slightly. She always did steal the covers. He tiptoed quietly over to her bed and looked down on her, grinning wider at how childlike she looked in sleep. She always curled up; head tucked tightly into her chest, legs wrapped around one another, duvet clutched close to her. She always looked like she was frightened and cold. He reached out a hand to touch her, but decided against it, not wanting to wake her, so his hand hovered there for a moment, and she suddenly woke up, letting out a startled shriek when she saw something looming over her bed and kicking out viciously as Yamcha tried to back away. Her foot connected suddenly and painfully with his face and they both let out a yelp of pain, and Bulma finally struggled into a sitting position.

She stared around wildly and let out a huff of breath when she saw Yamcha, "What the hell were you doing?! You scared the hell out of me!" she bellowed.

Yamcha glowered, "You kicked me in the face!" he was holding his hand over his left eye.

"Well you were leaning over me in my sleep! What did you do that for?!" Bulma shouted back.

Yamcha scowled, but kept his mouth shut for a while. When she stayed silent too he remembered he had come to make up with her. "I came to apologise. About earlier."

Bulma frowned slightly, before remembering their argument about Vegeta. "Oh, right. Err."

Yamcha grinned sheepishly, "Sorry."

Bulma let out a little laugh, "It's fine. I'm sorry I kicked you. Are you ok?"

Yamcha lowered his hand and Bulma winced. His eye was already swollen and red.

"Gosh! I'm sorry Yamcha! Here, let's get you some ice!" She scrambled out of bed and beckoned him to follow her. He did so with a dry chuckle.

"That's some kick you've got there Bulma. Maybe you should be fighting the androids too!"

Bulma let out another little laugh, "Thanks!" She reached the kitchen and pulled out a chair for Yamcha to sit in. He did so and watched her rifle through her freezer with a feeling of contentment. Sure, I've got a black eye, but heck, Bulma isn't mad at me, she's looking after me! Maybe this is what it'd be like if we married. He smiled as Bulma wrapped some ice in a tea towel and pressed it gingerly against his eye. "That should reduce the swelling a bit. Jeez, I'm really sorry about that."

Yamcha shook his head, grinning as she wrapped her fingers around his chin to hold his head still. "Nah, it's my fault. I shouldn't have made you jump like that. I know what you're like in bed after all."

The innuendo caused them both to glance at each other suddenly, and Bulma looked away with a blush. Yamcha couldn't but grin wider as she bit her lip, and he slid his hand across the table to poke a finger through her belt loop and tug her closer slightly.

Bulma swallowed, and was stunned to find her stomach churning uncomfortably. She normally welcomed Yamcha's touch, but for some reason she didn't feel quite right about it. She leant away, and said, "Well, it should be fine really. It'll just be a black eye." in a business-like tone that left Yamcha startled. His finger remained looped in her shorts though, so she couldn't entirely move away, and some small part of her didn't want to anyway. Hadn't she always thought her and Yamcha were meant to be? So why was she pushing him away now? Why wasn't she relishing in his attention? He looked up at her, and she knew he was going to ask her something serious, and Bulma couldn't help but feel relieved when the door swung open and her mother breezed in, carrying a completely full brown paper grocery bag. Mrs Briefs didn't notice the looks on both their faces as she smiled chirpily, "Hello!"

Bulma smiled weakly as Yamcha let her loose at last. "Hi Mum, have you been shopping?"

Mrs Briefs beamed, "Ooh yes, I got a little feast in tonight. I thought we could have a barbeque, I know Vegeta likes them so much!"

Yamcha scowled. I'm sure they never accommodated me this much. But nevertheless he offered a hand in carrying the shopping in, and Mrs Briefs thanked him profusely. He shot Bulma a look which clearly said, 'I want to talk later' and then left to collect the rest of the shopping.

Bulma nodded shortly. Oh, I just can't handle this right now…I need to sort my head out. With no explanation to her mother she set off for her lab, determined to distract herself and clear her head with some good old-fashioned, hands-on engineering work.

Vegeta rubbed himself down with a towel and pulled on black jeans and a black t-shirt, his lip curling in distaste when he caught sight of the pink shirt Bulma had made him wear when he had come back from space before the boy from the future showed up. Bloody woman, she lied! Men here hardly wear pink at all! He smirked. Well, she's getting her comeuppance very soon.

He headed to the lounge, where she had last been, and scowled when he found it empty. He heard a noise from the kitchen and stalked in there.

"Vegeta! There you are!" Mrs Briefs beamed as he entered the kitchen. "We're having a barbeque tonight- I know how much you like them after all! It'll be starting in about two hours or so!" she said cheerfully, waving her hand vaguely at the mass of meat she was putting in the fridge.

Vegeta grunted and nodded his head in acknowledgement. "Where is she?"

Mrs Briefs giggled, "Oh, you mean Bulma?"

He gritted his teeth, "Yes…Bulma." Her name sounded odd on his lips, but he found he rather liked it. He scowled again.

Mrs Briefs smiled, Such an interesting man. "She's in her lab," she turned around to continue putting the meat in the fridge, "Y'know, I think she's working on something for you…" she turned back around but Vegeta had already gone. Oh yes, very interesting.

Vegeta reached Bulma's lab quickly and didn't bother knocking, instead he sauntered right in, quietly though, and froze in his tracks when he saw her….she was bent over slightly, her long legs out on show again, her bottom arched up, her vest top riding up to reveal a sliver of her smooth back. He gulped slightly and narrowed his eyes. Bloody woman always catches me off guard…well, for no longer. He smirked and strode over to her, sliding an arm around her waist, up to under her breasts, and pulled her flush up against his chest, his other hand gripping at her hip. Bulma dropped her spanner with a surprised squawk and wriggled, her head twisting around and she sucked in a breath when she came face to face with Vegeta.

She tried to speak, to ask him what the hell he was doing, but the look on his face silenced her. He was smirking wickedly, his eyes glinting dangerously, and he looked so predatory and seductive. He raised an eyebrow smugly. Hmm, she's speechless for once; perhaps I should do this more often. And then he pushed her forward, so she was wedged tightly between his body and the table. Her head dropped away from him and down and she clutched the edges of the table as she tried to catch her breath. Her soft hair tickled his face as it fell away and exposed her neck, and with a surge of desire he leant down and bit her, marking his teeth against her flesh.

Bulma gasped and her head fell back against his shoulders as he trailed the bite mark with his tongue, exposing more of her neck and shoulders and he kissed down her neck and to her collarbone hungrily, eyeing her heaving breasts with longing. He twisted her around suddenly and picked her up, nudging her legs apart with his knee and dropping her on the table, manoeuvring his way to between her thighs in one swift movement. He gripped her hips tightly and stared down at her intently.

Bulma gazed back at him, the desire in her eyes reflecting his, and he found- with some surprise- a spark of warmth in her blue orbs and he pressed forward and kissed her…At last.

It was like he'd powered up- his entire body crackled the moment his lips touched hers. He felt as if he was somehow being burnt alive, but with pleasure. His mind was suddenly awash with confusion and he kissed her keenly, her lips eager under his and he growled with delight as her hands snaked up and clutched at his shoulders, her thighs tightening around his waist and bringing him closer to her.

Bulma felt like her heart had exploded in her chest and her entire body tingled. She gasped into his mouth and couldn't stop herself from pressing herself against him, her back arching to grind her hips and chest against his. Suddenly his mouth left hers and she almost moaned, gazing at him in wonder and confusion.

Vegeta pulled away slightly, and tried to calm himself down. Fucking hell- what's wrong with me? One kiss and I'm quivering like a boy! He stared down at her, his eyes flickering across her flushed cheeks, her parted lips, and her eyes locked on his.

"Vegeta…" she breathed softly and something about the way it slipped sensually, laced with desire, through her lips sent his senses into overdrive and with another animalistic growl he bent down again and kissed her fiercely. He was a little surprised, but smug, when she kissed back with equal fervour, her mouth opening under his eagerly, and his tongue slid against hers. His hands slid up from her hips and she moaned into his mouth as they slid under her top and gripped at her waist, his thumbs brushing teasingly against the underside of her breasts.

She wriggled closer to him still and locked her arms tighter around his shoulders and neck. They kissed passionately, writhing against and gripping one another desperately - and just as his hands were sliding further up her top, just hovering over her lace-covered breasts- Bulma's foot hit the table behind Vegeta, sending the files precariously stacked on it to the floor with a resounding crash.

The sound startled them and they tore their mouths away from one another in surprise. When they realised what had happened, Bulma blushed lightly and looked down, and Vegeta pulled slightly away. Bulma looked up at him, but his face was completely impassive. Oh heck, what just happened? Her entire body was tingling deliciously, and her heart was hammering painfully against her chest. Vegeta shifted away again and Bulma let her legs and arms fall away from him numbly. He withdrew his hands from her top and she blushed further. Kami, who knows what we would have done if that hadn't interrupted us!

Vegeta gathered his senses together, his mind clearing now he was away from her. You fool; you almost let your emotions get the better of you. He looked at her steadily, I need to get her out of my head and fuck her before this gets out of hand. He sensed her own desire and smirked, She obviously thinks so too….well, woman, I'm going to leave you begging for it. You should be grovelling at my feet for me to touch you anyway. I'm the Prince of all Saiyans after all. He snaked a hand around her neck and pulled her off the table and against him gruffly, kissing her hard. And just as quickly as he had done it, he pulled away again and strode from the room, leaving Bulma breathless and clutching the table for support. Oh…Wow.

Yamcha watched as Vegeta exited Bulma's lab, his face set with fierce determination and smug pleasure. Yamcha frowned, What's the betting he's just gone and demanded some new toy? He waited until Vegeta was out of sight before he went in himself.

Bulma was sat on her tools table, her eyes glazed and her hand at her lips, looking pensive but dazed too. She started when the door slid open and Yamcha strolled in.

He grinned, "Alright?"

"Hi." She said breathlessly, swallowing and forcing a grin on to her face. "Everything ok?" she slipped off the table and her legs felt wobbly and weak. She leant back against the table casually and kept the smile plastered across her face, so not to belie her whizzing mind. Holy Kami, Vegeta just kissed me…three times! And the way he looked at me…she shivered slightly. What on earth is going on? Why did he do it? And I kissed him back….jeez…It was amazing. She realised Yamcha was speaking to her and she nodded, smiling still and pretending to listen.

"So, you're ok? We're ok?"

Bulma paused, Crap…what was he saying? He looked so earnest though she had to smile back, "Of course. Everything's fine." She stood up straight and slapped herself mentally. Get a grip Bulma, it was just a kiss. From Vegeta...but just a kiss!

Yamcha grinned, Yes! She's cool with me! She accepted my apology! He walked over to her and peered at the work she was doing, before noticing the files on the floor. "Having some fun in here, are you?" he teased, raising his eyebrows with a cheeky grin.

Bulma's cheeks pinked and she let out a nervous laugh, "Something like that."

"Ah, so you don't think that Tien has a crush on me?!" Yamcha grinned, as he walked Bulma to her room.

Bulma laughed, "Oh no, not at all. He's totally into Piccolo."

Yamcha howled with laughter, "Ha ha! Can you imagine? Tien and Piccolo gay?! With each other?!"

Bulma burst out laughing too. Yamcha had spent the last hour or so with her in the lab and once she had relaxed and put Vegeta to the back of her mind, they'd started to chat and have a real laugh. She felt so relaxed and cheerful and was relieved she was no longer finding herself shrinking from him, although she couldn't help but compare it to Vegeta's scorching hot touch and she couldn't deny that the Saiyan Prince was always lurking in the back of her mind…

"Like a bad smell." She murmured aloud and then blushed when Yamcha turned to her quizzically.

"Huh? Where?" He took a big sniff and Bulma laughed again.

"Nothing, never mind."

Yamcha grinned back at her, his eyes alight.

Bulma realised she had reached her bedroom, "Well, I need to shower."

Yamcha simply grinned again and nodded.

"Well, I'll see you at the barbeque." She waved her hand slightly and smiled, and Yamcha nodded again and leant down, placing a soft kiss on her cheek, before winking and turning off.

Bulma stared after him and smiled softly. Oh, he's lovely.

thanks again to all the reviewers, especially to Ninetendocat, who has thus far reviewed all chapters and I hope will continue to do so :D cheers!

please review and let me know what you think, it's always ace to get reviews and comments :D thanks