**Forever and Always**

Vegeta departed from the home of Gohan and Videl, the pain that filled the room still lingering on him. He rolled the windows down as he drove his truck back home. Was it home anymore? His kids never came around, and his marriage was absolutely drained. They rarely spoke or saw each other. He often wondered why she wasn't home in the middle of the night, an event that has been occurring more and more frequently the past two months.

He felt his locked grip on the steering wheel slightly ease up as he took in the cool evening air that swept through his trimmed mane. Considering the situation just six miles behind him, he realized how much he took for granted. Health. As long as you have your health, you should be happy. And love. He was in love… but was it that blissful love that he had felt for years with his bride since his marriage had first begun? He didn't even know where that woman went. His chest tightened as he considered that his wife no longer loved him. The light in her eyes was gone, her red lips never touched his, and her hands were used for solely gripping a pen and a stack of paperwork.

He flicked on the lights to the foyer as he kicked off his shoes at the entrance of his home. He was curious as to why a lamp to the living room was left on. As he approached it to turn it off, he stopped as his eyes landed upon her. Head in her hands, sweat pants, and a tank top hugging that figure he had longed to caress again.

"I didn't know anybody was home. I'll leave the light on." He felt his shirt tug as he made his way past her and stopped in his tracks as her grip remained on his shirt. He watched her slowly bring up her head from the palm of her other hand. Her eyes were red and puffy, her face not caked in the usual makeup she swore she'd never be caught without.

She rose to her feet and slowly rose her trembling hands to circle his waist. The motion completely caught him off guard as he hesitatingly reciprocated her movement but wrapped his arms around her shoulders and lightly combed his fingers through her moist hair. He could smell the scent of her bath products, she had showered recently.

She lifted her head from his chest. "I don't know what happened. Nothing will be the same… Vegeta, I love you. So much." They ascended the stairs in silence and took their places in their bed.

Vegeta hadn't spoken a word since her last words downstairs. After climbing under the covers, he had finally made a move he hadn't done in months. His hand grazed her side as he slowly brought his lips to hers. Their passionate kiss ensued into shifting bodies and clothing removal. It was long overdue, but the gap in time had made it feel so much better. He missed the way she felt against him and the comfort that they shared between each other. Their slumber was warm and came easily as they rested skin to skin, tired from their passionate love they had finally released.

That slumber was disrupted as a series of what sounded like banging came from downstairs. Vegeta swiftly threw the sheets from his body and slipped on sweats and a t-shirt. "Stay here." He ordered as Bulma sat up, covering her body in the sheets they had once been entangled in.

Briefly glancing out a window with view of the driveway, he recognized Goku's car. He swang the door open. "Have you gone mad?! What the hell are you doing?!" Vegeta shouted angrily as Goku pushed past him.

"Where is she!" Goku was enraged, Vegeta had gathered that much.

He stood protectively in front of the stairs. "Who the hell are you taking about!"

"That dirty ass wife of yours. Where is she." He slowly approached Vegeta in a threatening manner, ready to do whatever it took to show her a lesson. Would he really hit a woman? He hadn't thought about that part yet.

"Don't threaten me Goku. You stay away from my wife. You got something to say, say it to me." He was blinded by his love for his wife now that she had given him the best night he's had in months.

"BULMAAAA!" He cried, demanding she show herself. Vegeta ended Goku's rant with a heavy shove that sent him feet back, luckily the couch stopped his fall.

Vegeta prepared his right hand as he predicted an attack from the man racing towards him. His palm caught the jab from Goku's right fist, then ducked as he came from the left. Goku sought out his opportunity and circled his massive arm around Vegeta's neck.

"Goku! Goku, stop!" Two men rushed through the open door of the Briefs's home. Luckily the men had forgotten to shut the door, giving them a clear view of the events inside. The men jumped on both of Goku's arms to release his hold.

"Goku, it's us." Kao and Tsoga, Goten's attornies. "We have eyes everywhere, as does the plaintiff. We need to get out of here as quickly as possible." The men dragged Goku from the home. Goku stopped resisting as they explained this could do more harm than good for Goten's case.

'Is Vegeta in on this? Who the hell can we trust anymore…'

Vegeta panted as he caught his breath that was cut off by Goku's hold on him. He watched as the two strange men carried him away, too many questions running through his head.

After cleaning up whatever was knocked over from the brawl and closing the front door of the home, Vegeta returned to the bedroom with a trembling Bulma still sitting upright but with a tee shirt and pj shorts on. "Bulma, what's going on." He asked in a no bullshit manner.

Bulma chuckled in her throat. "Baby, you already know. I'm trying to protect our daughter."

"Why is Goku coming at two in the damn morning ready to kill the both of us?"

"The hearing is tomorrow. I've been helping with the conviction because he deserves to be behind bars for what he's done. Goku knows that. He has every right to be upset, his son is a criminal." Something was wrong. Usually the thought had always enlightened her, but now, she felt something catch in her throat. Was it guilt?

"Drop the case." Vegeta demanded.

"Even if I drop the case, the DA will pick it up and pursue him. Let's face it, he's done for."

The dreaded day had come. Gohan and Pan held Videl's hands while she laid on the gurney being transported to the operating room.

They spent all morning together, repeating their love and farewells, but now this was it. The hospital staff pushing the gurney stopped to glove up before pushing her through. "No more tears, Gohan. You are the best love a woman could hope for. Pan, I love you so much. No matter what happens, I will be around, fixing you dinner or in your hearts. I'll always be around, especially to protect my unborn grandson." She smiled.

Pan gave her a kiss on the cheek, followed by a kiss on the lips from Gohan.

"I love all of you. Forever and always."

Pan nuzzled her face into her father's arms as they both tried to cope with what just happened.

"Forever and always." Videl spoke once more before the gas eased her into a deep slumber.

It was an extremely difficult decision to make, but they had all agreed that Gohan and Pan be with Videl as her operation began, while Trunks, Goku, Chichi, Renji, and a couple other witnesses from the NYE party sat in the benches. Valese sat at the plaintiff desk with her attorney, scanning the room for Bra. She didn't show up.

"All rise for the honorable judge Kase."

The large man in his black robe instructed the room to sit once he reached his bench. "Bring in the defendant."

The crowd watched as Goten, clad in his orange jumpsuit, was escorted to the desk next his attornies.

"Karuben and Briefs vs. Son. Charges include administering drugs to 2 nonconsenting persons and 2 counts of rape. Plaintiff, you may take the floor."

Valese was absolutely frightened. Was this all worth it? Revenge and money? Like Bulma said, if she dropped the charges she would be punished for lying. Tundra sat in the front bench right behind Valese, wearing a scarf over her head to be less noticeable to familiar faces. Tundra looked around the room as Valese did. Bulma was not present either.

Trunks sat alongside the Son family on the defendant's side, front row behind Goten. They were all frozen in silence. The hearing had begun.