Chapter 24

When Gohan went to gather the waiting men, he heard Yamucha's startled exclamation all the way from down the hall.

"You defeated Majin-Buu, all by yourself?!"

"Well, I'd being lying if I didn't say Supreme Kai was there too – but he didn't do much though, he was kind of a pansy..." Mirai reminisced. Vegeta barked a laugh at that.

"Did he have a chance to reach his full power?" Goku questioned him.

"No, Supreme Kai had already planned it with me ahead of time; to let his minions steal my energy so they could find his ship. It wasn't enough to bring him to full strength though, he was just a little under 3/4th power according to Supreme Kai's estimate" he explained.

"Did you kill Babidi? He didn't get away did he?" Goku kept pressing, wanting to hear about the alternate version of the fight that had almost destroyed the universe. Mirai smiled at his enthusiasm, and decided to launch into the full tale of the incident – he had told it to many audiences over the years, along with all his other 'adventures'... Gohan was rooted to the spot, listening from the doorway behind them as the man he loved told a slightly different version of his own story. It was still an epic battle, but one that ended with Trunks breaking through to SSJ3 for the first time and annihilating his enemy, instead of getting absorbed and then dying, leaving the rest to their sometimes dead, sometimes living fathers... When the tale was done, Yamucha actually clapped, then stopped quickly in embarrassment. Goku laughed, but not a Yamucha, he turned so he could see both Trunks and Vegeta as he joked.

"Vegeta wanted to just blow the 'damn ship' up from the beginning as well, I guess we should have listened to him – it obviously turned out better that way" Goku said with a grin.

"And don't you forget it" he huffed in a mock anger at Goku. Goku just laughed. No one mentioned Vegeta's Majin episode. Yamucha didn't know, and Goku was being discrete about it, covering with laughter and slightly snide jokes. If Mirai sensed they were holding back, he didn't show it, didn't care to press them further than they wanted to invite him, that wasn't his place here. Mirai hadn't told their parents that he was King of the Earth in his time either, though Gohan knew. He stood there, keeper of two secrets from different times, thinking about all that had led up to this point. Gohan began to wonder if his mates' regal composure was a product of nature or nurture as his mind compared their two time-lines. Then Bulma came up behind him with her hands on her hips.

"What are you guys doing? I thought that at least you two would want to see your grandson" she glared at Goku and Vegeta. They all jumped up, startled by her outburst, and turned to see Gohan blushing furiously behind them, Bulma scowling at them.

"I'm sorry, it was my fault Bulma, I was going to get them, but I got caught up in the story..." he said, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head. He was six again as she scolded him and then herded them all down the hallway.

The baby did not like Yamucha – wouldn't let him near without growling, attacked him when he tried to hold him – and since baby Saiyans were often sent to purge planets, his punches left some serious bruises. If Yamucha hadn't been a heck of a lot stronger than the average human, it probably would have broken his arm.

"Fine!" he argued with the infant, "Be like that! I'll just go start dinner!" and he marched off. Vegeta was laughing so hard by the time Yamucha left that he was actually leaning on the wall for support. The baby fell back asleep as soon as he left, as if consciousness was irrelevant now that the threat was gone.

"What a drama queen" Bulma said as she rolled her eyes.

"You can tell he doesn't really like me holding him either, but I think he puts up with it because he can smell we're related" she said as she gestured to the crib. She walked over and stroked the blue streak in his flame of hair, and one eye opened to stare at her challengingly, then slowly closed again. She smiled and shook her head, going back to the data she was imputing.

"Can I hold him now?" Vegeta asked quietly of Goten.

"Sure Vegeta" he nodded in amazement at that soft tone. Vegeta had never held a baby, not a baby baby like this one... He had briefly seen his son laying in a crib when he was born, but didn't return from space to battle the androids until he was already a year old. That was just the way it worked. He was Saiyan. This child in front of him would be different though, his half-breed parents would be able to give him the attention he needed... That was good. Good that he would grow up knowing he was loved, not having to hear it for the first time right before his father died in front of him. Vegeta picked up the little bundle quickly before he lost his nerve. Sleepy eyes questioned the wisdom of being hung in the air, supported under each arm by Vegeta's hands, but he made no move to get away or struggle. Goten had a pinched look on his face, watching the way Vegeta 'held' the baby, no one picked up an infant like that... But he was reminded at the next moment that no one picked up a human infant like that, and that their son was definitely not a regular human. As Vegeta stood there, scowling and trying to decide if this had really been worth it, the little bastard smirked at him – smirked! – and started purring that tiny little baby purr. His tail broke free of the loose blanket and wrapped around his grandfathers' wrist. Every woman in the room, which was everyone but Vegeta and Trunks, gave a sickeningly sweet "Awwwe" and Vegeta rolled his eyes and put the child down immediately. He did take extra care not to hurt him as he unwound the tiny tail from his wrist though...

"So have you guys decided what to name him yet?" Goku asked as he smiled at Vegeta like a love sick puppy, watching him gently unwind the tail. Trunks cleared his throat.

"We actually wanted to ask you if it would be ok to name him 'Vegeta', after his grandfather" he asked his Dad respectfully. Vegeta turned to his son with a raised eyebrow, and crossed his arms over his chest to hide the swell of pride there as he nodded his ascent. Goku caught it though. He could not wait to have that man's children, he thought to himself. Vegeta was not used to all these feelings and hormones pulsing around him, and excused himself for some fresh air.

Goku followed him, laying down beside him on the roof of CC. The sun had almost completely set by now, only a few streaks of color still graced the sky, but it was still beautiful.

"How much longer do you think it will be until I go into heat?" Goku asked him with their tails curled together.

"I don't know Kakarot – how old are you in Earth years?"

"I'm 43, if you don't count the time I was dead" he replied.

"I wouldn't, your body doesn't exactly mature anymore once it's dead..." He did some math in his head.

"I'd guess you have another 5 Earth years or so left to go – once you get to around 16 in Saiyan terms, it should kick in."

"I'm not even 16 yet?" Goku sounded dejected...no babies for him for a long time...

"How old are you Vegeta?"

"In Earth years or Saiyan ones?"

"Both?" Goku made it into a question.

"I'm considered 61 in Earth years now, I'd be a little over 20 on Vegeta-sai. And since I know you're going to ask, I've had my heat 5 times already, but I think the effects were greatly reduced due to my not having a tail then."

"How long until you have your next one? I mean, do we both have to be, in heat, at the same time? You know, to make a baby?" Goku asked awkwardly.

"No Kakarot, only females – you have two sons already baka and you've never had a heat yet. Males can impregnate a female at any time, starting a little after age 4 – 12 in Earth years.

"Wow, good thing Trunks and Goten waited until they were teenagers to have sex..." Goku pondered.

"I would hardly call 15 and 16 waiting, Kakarot."

"Dinner's ready!" Yamucha yelled out the side window to them. Goku jumped up immediately.

"Come on Vegeta, foods on!" he said as he flew down off the roof. Vegeta sighed. Anyone who couldn't tell the big baka was still just a child after talking to him for 5 minutes obviously had a few screws loose in their brain – it was good that he would have a few more years left before taking on Vegeta's children. A full-blooded Saiyan child was not something to be trifled with, like these demi's... Though his grandson did seem to have the required attitude, he noticed that tended to get muted over time being raised among other half-breeds and humans... Trunks had managed to retain some of his feisty-ness so far, but Kakarot's sons were almost entirely human until their instincts got the better of them. No, it was better that they had to wait – there was also the issue of Gohan and Mirai Trunks to resolve – Vegeta was fairly sure that Gohan would be leaving with him to Mirai's future eventually, there really wasn't any other way... Kami, that boy had changed, Vegeta thought as he dished himself up. According to Mirai, there must have been a lag between their dimensions of time, because even though he had experienced everything in the same sequence with Gohan, he was vastly older than him, already 40. Kami, he was only a few Earth years younger than Kakarot now! Gone was the insecure child that had followed him around so annoyingly before. Now Vegeta's presence seemed almost irrelevant to him, not that he was complaining. It made sense though, he has here for Gohan this time, not to save them. Well, speak of the devils.

Mirai and Gohan walked into the kitchen with their arms around each others' waists'. Mirai had to change out of Gohan's pants when little Vegeta had peed on him, so it seemed he had opted for a full outfit this time (instead of walking around half naked). Where did he even find those things? Vegeta wondered... His shirt was silk again, a deep jewel green, embroidered, again; and he was wearing black leather pants and knee high boots that were, you guessed it, leather too.

"You look like a cartoon character" Vegeta said in greeting. Mirai smiled as Gohan rolled his eyes and kept filling their plates.

"Oh really, which one?" Mirai asked playfully and he sat down.

"I do not know their names, something frilly you would read to a little girl though."

"What are you going to read to me uncle Vegeta?" Bulla said as she skipped into the room. Goku giggled. Stupid baka.

"Not right now Bulla"

"Oh, ok – can Marron stay for dinner?"

"Of course Bulla" Vegeta said without thinking. The little girl ran down the hall again. When she came back, she had Marron in tow, and had also met up with Yamucha, Bulma, Kurillin and 18. All the talk, all the movement in the room went still, except for the two little human girls. They chatted away merrily in the silence, not noticing a thing. To Kurillin's credit (amazingly, I know) he actually didn't do anything stupid or sudden, just slipped his hand into his wife's as he stood by her side. 18 was the first to break the silence, but her words were not directed to the man calmly staring her down.

"Marron."

"Yes Momma?" the girl answered immediately, knowing that tone in her mother's voice.

"You and Bulla take your plates outside."

"That won't be necessary" Mirai Trunks said softly, and instantly the tension was gone. His eyes were a little wide as he followed Marron's movement, who had gotten up to obey her mother anyway. Bulma gave the girls a picnic blanket on their way out, and they squealed with delight.

"It's ok, it's easier to talk without the little ones too" she said, implying that 'talk' was now the substitute for 'fight' that had been hanging in the air a moment ago.

"Sorry about that – force of habit, you know? There really wasn't anything else to it, I promise." 18 nodded her head, and went to lean on her usual spot against the counter.

Trunks came in a few minutes later to get dinner for Goten, beaming like the the world was full of lollipops and rainbows.

"Kurillin! 18! You guys should bring Marron down and see the baby when you're done! – We named him Vegeta, he may not let you hold him if you smell too human, but Goten would love it if you came just to see anyway" he babbled brightly as he dished up piles of food. Mirai watched him with a smile, then chuckled, casting a glance at Gohan. Gohan returned it warmly, taking his hand. Trunks was laden down with food, just about to leave the room, when he turned to Gohan and the Mirai Trunks with a grin.

"Oh, yeah, I almost forgot, Goten said for me to tell you guys 'congratulations' too" then he winked and walked away.

"Cheeky bastard" Mirai sighed to the ceiling in mock disapproval.

"Congratulations for what?" Bulma and Goku asked at the same time.

"Jinx!" cried Goku. Bulma ignored him. Mirai leaned over and kissed Gohan, then as he pulled back, waved his hand towards their family and friends to signal that Gohan had the floor if he wanted it. Gohan nodded and turned to them.

"I'm pregnant – Goten smelled it while I was helping out with his labor" he said. Goku was thrilled, now there would be more babies, even if he couldn't have his own yet! After a thorough round of hugs and back slapping, they finally were able to finish dinner. Bulla and Marron came in for desert, and were allowed to sit up to the table this time.

"So Bulla," Mirai addressed the girl with a playful smile, "Your uncle Vegeta seems to think I look like a cartoon character, do you think that's accurate?" he prompted. Vegeta watched him through squinted eyes.

"A cartoon? No, not really – maybe from a book"

"Yes, I believe he did say something about a frilly book for little girls – but he wouldn't tell me which one... Who do you think?" he asked with a grin. Bulla was her mother's child. She purposefully looked him over from head to toe, then said reproachfully:

"Well, you're obviously Prince Charming, he must have fallen and hit his head if he couldn't figure that one out" Marron actually covered her ears with her hands, the explosion of laughter around them was so loud. Bulla just smiled and blinked at him a few times knowingly. Good gods, Mirai thought as he leaned back successfully – it's a good thing she's my sister... sort of... Vegeta simmered in place until the commotion died down.

"See, I told you so" was all he said before he left the room. Laughter erupted from behind him as he went, but he wasn't about to put up with anymore of that boy's shenanigans tonight.