I groaned as I tried to pry my tired eyes open, rolling over in bed. I moaned as my sore body protested the movement. Something had awoken me, but I wasn't sure what it was.

"I'm sorry!" I heard from outside my door.

"How could you-...? You...!" I tried to shut out the voices as my head pounded. Why was I in such pain? What had happened? Had I trained too hard?

My door opened and two sets of feet came storming in. I felt a hand brush aside my hair, baring my neck to the cool air and heard someone swear.

My neck.

It hurt.

It felt as if I had been stabbed.

The blanket was wrapped around me and I was lifted into strong arms.

"Let me help..."

"You've done enough!" The voice above me said.

"Vegeta?" I asked, trying to peek my eyes open. The Sayajin Prince's face was above mine which only added to my confusion. Why was Vegeta carrying me? Had I been injured? No, if I was, surely Trunks would have retrieved me. He looked down at me at my hoarse whisper, his hard eyes seeming to soften slightly.

"Hush, now," he said.

"What...? Nnn...I feel awful..." I groaned.

"I know," he said sadly and began to remove me from the room. I didn't understand. What had happened that I had gained the sympathy of Vegeta of all people? Where was Trunks?

The Blanket was dropped from my body and I was lowered into a tub of warm water that burned the wounds on my body, causing me to cry out. Vegeta flinched.

I didn't understand. I was so confused, a million questions in my mind but my voice to weak to bring them to light. He caught my curious gaze and shook his head.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I should have...I'm sorry." Fatigue overcame me and I struggled to remain awake as the Prince began to carefully clean my wounds.

"I..."

"Hush," he said again. "Sleep." As hard as I tried to fight the command, I couldn't. I dropped off to sleep in the warm water, somewhat surprised that I could without Trunks at my side.

When I awoke again, I was dressed in a loose gown and laid on a soft bed in a room I didn't recognize. I looked around and saw Vegeta sitting at the foot of the bed, propped up against one of the posts, watching me.

"Vegeta?" I asked groggily.

"It's alright," he assured me, moving over so that he was at my side and lifting me effortlessly into a sitting position.

"What's going on?" I questioned. He looked away from me, his expression one of guilt. I moved forward, seizing his arms, by body protesting the action so vehemently that I let out a pained wail.

"Don't strain yourself," he admonished, urging me back to the bed.

"What happened?" I asked. "What's wrong? Did something happen to Trunks?" Vegeta eyed me for a moment before he shook his head.

"Trunks is...fine," he said. I was surprised he used his name instead of just calling his son 'the brat' or 'the boy', as he usually did.

"Then why...?" I tried.

"You don't remember?" he asked.

"Remember what?" I asked. Vegeta sighed and knelt by the side of the bed, his words seeming to physically weigh him down.

"Last night," he began. "Trunks went into heat and...raped you."

"What?" the words came out in a breath, disbelieving that my sweet Trunks could have ever hurt me.

"I'm sorry," Vegeta said. "I should have..." He cut the words off.

"No, it's not your fault," I said, still shocked then curious. "Why don't I remember?"

"I don't know," Vegeta said.

"How do you know he raped me?" I asked.

"Because he came running into my room and told me," Vegeta replied.

"Is he okay?" I questioned.

"I don't know," Vegeta answered. "After I retrieved you, he flew off. Kakkorot is searching for him."

"But the Legendary..." I began.

"Can wait," Vegeta finished. I stared at Vegeta shocked. The Prince who had ignored our pleas to not search for this being was now disregarding him of his own volition.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" I asked. "What are you not telling me?" Vegeta swallowed, his lips twisting as if what he had to say was bile in his mouth.

"When Trunks raped you, he completed the bond," the Sayajin Prince said in an almost whisper. I stared at him blankly. That didn't exactly answer my question and for some reason, this fact didn't bother me as much as it should have, as if I had known or expected it. Or perhaps I was just in such shock over the entire ordeal it simply didn't register. Vegeta looked up at me, seeing the confusion still on my face and sighed.

"I'm not heartless, you know," he bit out. "And while Sayajins may be a brutal warrior race, taking a mate against their will is an unforgivable act. To form such a bond by force is..." He stopped and stood, pacing towards the window.

"I should have known his heat was approaching," Vegeta said, clenching his fists. "I should have protected you from it."

"Vegeta," I began. "You don't owe me anything. I'm not your child. I'm just some human..."

"Someone needed to protect you!" the prince shouted. "What my son did..." I was surprised at this soft side of the prince. I had only seen the arrogant, proud, headstrong man, but now I realized that beneath all that was a man with a strong set of morals, warped at times, yes, but strong. And to him, his son committing this "unforgivable act" was a great shame and crime that he himself bore as if it was a physical weight. I slide out of the bed, walking unsteadily over to the prince, my legs threatening to collapse beneath me. Vegeta turned at my approach, his arms shooting out to balance me. I leaned against him, hugging him tightly, my face pressing into his shoulder. He paused, unsure of what to do. A sob found it's way to my lips and I felt one of his hands rest lightly on my back, the other going to the crown of my head as a sudden torrent of tears found their way to my cheeks.

"I cannot undo this," he said.

"I know," I whispered.