All I have is one last chance,

I won't turn my back on you

Take my hand, drag me down

If you fall then I will too

"Vegeta? Can we talk? I have to tell you something."

"About time. I figured something was bothering you. You tend to recluse yourself when something's on your mind. So…what is it that has you so anxious?"

"First of all, I apologize for avoiding you. If there's one thing I still need to learn, it's talking to those who are concerned about my wellbeing. Gine hopelessly tries to remind me of that."

"Indeed. Get to the point."

Madara took a deep breath. She had been rehearsing this one crucial line all morning. Now was the moment of truth. Now would she drop the bomb and see how the man reacted. The words tried to form on her tongue, but they got caught in the back of her throat. She choked down her pride, back straightened and confidence in her posture.

"Vegeta, I'm pregnant!" she announced. "There! I said it!"

The man simply stared at her, making Madara feel foolish for her outburst. The silence permeated her being, an uncomfortable air hovering around them. Then, finally, Vegeta allowed a small smile to grace his features.

"You're sure?" he asked.

"I've been expelling my insides for the past few weeks, I've missed two of my monthly torture fests, I've put on visible weight, and I can sense another life inside me. I'm pretty damn sure, Vegeta!"

"Excellent!" he said. "Can you tell what the gender is?"

Madara narrowed her eyes. "No. That shouldn't matter to you, right?"

"Not really, but a son would be preferred. At least with a son, I don't have to worry about accidentally spoiling him."

"Believe me, Vegeta; if you're anything like my father was, you don't have to worry about being gentle. We women can be just as tough as men. You know that from example."

He chuckled. "I suppose I do."

"Either way…what are we going to do?"

"Excuse me?"

"Well, the Saiyan race will have to know about the new prince or princess. As soon as they do, Frieza will hear about it. I can't imagine what he might do to our child if he or she is born with a strong power level. Not to mention if he finds me…"

"I see…"

"Vegeta, promise me you won't allow Frieza to take our child. No matter what, you can't let him! I've lost enough people I cared about. I refuse to have it happen again."

"It won't happen, Madara. Trust me."

"I do, but…I have to assume the worst could happen."

"As for Frieza, the only way to make sure he doesn't discover that you're alive is to have limited contact with royalty."

Madara gritted her teeth. "You're planning to keep me away from my baby?"

"Not always; only when Frieza shows up…or until things can be straightened out. We have time to figure it out."

"Like hell am I going to accept that!"

"Do you have any better ideas?" the King growled.

Madara clenched her fists, her shoulders trembling. She could feel the buildup of tears behind her eyelids. They escaped, trailing down her cheeks. She cursed her overly sensitive emotions. She hated acting like a weakling. As much as she wanted to keep her baby close and away from any possible danger, its lineage would never permit it. The kid was destined to rule Planet Vegeta and therefore had to learn how to fight and defend itself.

She felt a gloved hand wipe away her tears. A rare occurrence, but one that showed the love he felt for her. Vegeta wasn't one to show tender gestures or express his emotions, much like an Uchiha would. It was one of the reasons why she able to connect with him on such an intimate level.

She let out a heavy sigh, desperately wishing that everything would turn out alright.

Weeks turned into months and Madara became painfully aware of her condition. She looked in disgust as her stomach grew bigger as each month passed. She had always been in top physical condition. To be forced to stop her daily training and being limited to the castle grounds throughout her pregnancy drove her up the wall. She wasn't used to her will being confined due to circumstances out of her control. She wished she could visit Gine at least once, but Vegeta had dismissed her desires. Secretly, Madara believed the King had previous interactions with Bardock and the two hated each other's guts. It wouldn't surprise her if it was true.

However, despite her discomfort and her going stir-crazy, the most magical part of pregnancy was well worth the wait. The moment she felt her child moving for the first time filled her with indescribable joy. As the child grew, those movements became more defined. She could make out feet as they pressed against the barrier that separated them from the outside world. She would occasionally play silly little games with it, watching it respond with vigor to her fingers that were disturbing his or her quiet existence.

It was also during this time when Madara finally became a Saiyan through her eating habits. She had never eaten so much meat in her entire life. Vegeta had explained that the Saiyan caloric intake was like that because they were constantly fighting and therefore had to keep their energy and stamina up. Having a Saiyan baby, it was understandable that most of what she ate went towards the child. Madara sighed at that fact. No wonder she was constantly hungry, craving nothing but meat throughout the months. At least she never gained too much weight from all the food she was scarfing down every day.

She groaned, feeling another kick slam against her insides. At this rate, she'd have permanent internal bruises to her organs. She rubbed her stomach, silently scolding her baby to settle down. She sighed in relief when the child stopped its constant movement. If there was one thing she already knew about the kid, it was the fact that it was strong. It gave her hope and it eased her worries. If its power was this great even as a fetus, then that meant it would have no problems proving its strength when it grew up. Perhaps it could become the golden Saiyan of legend and be the one to overthrow Frieza. She relished in that thought.

"Is he acting up again?"

Madara eyed her king, giving him a smirk. "Like father, like child."

Madara struggled to sit upright, her girth not helping her in the least. She had been growing anxious about the birth of their child. Seven months had passed, which made her suspect that labor might be coming soon. She already looked like she was nine months pregnant and she definitely felt that way too. In fact, she hoped the little brat would pop out soon. She was sick of being unable to do the things she used to. Walking had become a chore, she was losing her taste for meat, and she could not do any sort of training regimens. She wanted to get back to her fit shape as soon as possible.

"Soon," Vegeta said, helping his wife up.

"Vegeta, I was wondering…"

"Yes?"

"We haven't gone over names yet," Madara admitted. "I don't want our child to be nameless when it comes into the world."

"That's absurd."

"What do you mean?"

"It will be my heir. I want him to be named after the planet he is destined to rule. If it's a girl, I think Yasai would be good."

Madara scowled. "I am not naming our child 'Vegeta'!"

"And why not?"

"First of all, I'd get confused between the two of you. Second, I'd rather not have my child be named after vegetables!"

"Then what do you have in mind?"

"…If we're naming it after something, I'd name him Tajima after my father. If it's a girl, Miyako after my mother."

"Those aren't Saiyan names."

Madara sighed. "I'm well aware…"

"How about this: if it's a boy, we'll name him Vegeta," Vegeta proposed. "If it's a girl, we'll name her Miyako."

"Fair enough," Madara answered, lightly rubbing her baby bump. "I'm glad you're at least accepting of one of the names I picked out. I don't want to fight over something as trivial as baby names."

"He or she is just as much your child as it is mine. It will be a Saiyan, but it is also an Uchiha. It has the right to know about both sides of its lineage."

"To be honest…I'd rather it not know about the Uchiha."

Vegeta raised an eyebrow. "What makes you say that?"

"The Uchiha are a cursed clan. I don't want it to follow the same road so many before it have taken."

He placed his hand upon hers. "You worry too much. Nothing bad is going to happen."

"I wish I could believe you…"

Her wish for an early birth was soon granted. The next morning, she woke up to terrible pain. Later on, she understood why when her nightdress was soaked through. She yelled at the nearest maid before she was led to a special room in the medical ward. Only a few people were there, the ones Vegeta knew he could trust with his darkest secrets. Madara and their half-Saiyan child were a part of those secrets. Madara was laid down on the soft bed, breathing deeply to mute the pain she was feeling. She started voicing numerous choice words, many being directed at the man who caused this whole mess. By the time she was able to start pushing, she was pissed. Vegeta stayed well away from his seething mate when he saw the blue skeletal arms form, demanding he come closer so she could gut him open. He knew she would follow up on her words if he got any closer. He could easily stop her, but he really didn't want to agitate his mate any more than she was at that moment.

It was a long day for both parents, but it was well worth it when the process was over. Madara lay panting, her forehead slicked with sweat. She could hear the wailing and she desperately wished she could move so she could see her "pain in the gut" in the flesh. She saw Vegeta stand next to her, moving her sweaty bangs away from her face. The midwife walked up to the two, holding a screaming bundle in her arms. She handed the bundle to Madara, smiling at the new mother as she peered inside the blanket.

Madara gazed at eyes that bored into her. The child had ceased its crying, finding interest in the person before it. Madara moved the blanket some more, looking down and smiling at what she saw. A furry tail poked through, waving lazily in the air. She brought her baby closer, nuzzling its cheek.

"So we finally meet," she said sweetly. "Vegeta, my baby boy…my little Super Saiyan."

The baby Vegeta cooed, recognizing his mother's voice. She played with the tuft of black spiky hair atop his head, noticing it had a slight blue tint much like her own. It was fainter than hers, but it was only evident if one was looking carefully at it. He had his father's looks, which she was grateful for. Yes, he was a Saiyan and he could easily fool others into thinking he was a pure-blooded Saiyan. But if one looked closely, they'd notice his eyes weren't completely black. Eyes belonging to an Uchiha.

Eyes that Madara hoped would retain their sparkle like they had now.

"Do you like him?" she asked her husband.

"Of course I do. Why would you ask such a foolish questions?"

"I have to wonder about you sometimes. That's why."

"Ah!" the younger Vegeta babbled, looking up at his father in awe.

The King smiled at his son. "Prince Vegeta. It's like looking in a mirror."

"Exactly," Madara agreed. "It was what I was hoping for. The entire Saiyan race will know he is your son…and no one will suspect who his mother is, not even Frieza. Gine is going to have a fit when she sees him."

Vegeta scowled. "I won't allow it. I will not have my son mingling with that third-rate trash of Bardock's."

"Bardock and Gine are my family. Don't you dare speak ill of them!"

"Hn…"

A smirk spread across her face. "Oh, I get it. It's a rivalry thing, isn't it? I bet Bardock humiliated you in a show of strength at one point and you couldn't handle it like a man?"

"SHUT UP!"

"You are so predictable…"

Prince Vegeta blinked in confusion at the apparent fight between his parents. He didn't really understand what was going on. He snuggled closer to his mother, deciding that sleep was more important than listening to the silly bickering between the two adults. It was just the beginning of the prince's new life and he felt like things could only get better from there.

Or not.

"OH MY GOSH! HE'S SO CUTE!"

"…Mom? You're scaring me."

"Kid, you're not the only one who's scared…"

The prince's eyebrow twitched, glaring at the short woman who was holding him. He was smart enough to know this woman wasn't his mother. His mother was currently hiding her giggles and the female in pink nuzzled her face into his hair as she practically strangled him.

"Adorable!" the happy one squealed. "He even has your glare!"

"Gine, you are hopeless…" Madara sighed as she took her son out Gine's arms. "Do you always act like this around newborns?"

"Yep!" Gine answered without remorse. "Seeing little Vegeta makes me want to have another one myself."

"Oh, HELL NO!" Bardock yelled, crossing his arms in an X-shape. "I ain't dealing with that bullshit again!"

"But Bardock—"

"No ifs, ands, or buts! At least wait until Raditz is old enough to handle himself before we even think about doing that again. I'm not dealing with another needy brat so soon."

"Don't listen to him, Raditz," Madara said to try and soothe the frowning child. "He's just a grump. He loves you even if he doesn't say it aloud."

"I know…Doesn't mean I like it…"Raditz sighed before turning to face the baby. "So this is my cousin? He's puny!"

"You were puny once too, Raditz. He'll grow up big and strong just like you did with time."

"I'm not that big, Auntie…At least not—OW!"

The little prince giggled with glee as he tugged on a lock of Raditz's hair. Raditz scowled at the kid before it melted away when he saw how much fun Vegeta was having. He leaned his head over, allowing the baby to continue playing with his hair. Madara smiled at the sweet scene. Even though they were aliens, they acted like a normal human family would. Such bliss was unforgettable. She gently removed Vegeta's hand from Raditz's hair.

"I forgot to warn you that he likes to tug on hair," she apologized.

"If that's the case, let him tug on Daddy's hair!"

Mischievous smirks spread on everyone's faces as they faced Bardock. Said Saiyan backed away from the four of them, pressing his back against the wall. He was cornered with no way out. He silently cursed Gine and Madara. He swore they existed solely to make his life a living hell. Madara crept closer, placing the little prince in Bardock's arms. He and Vegeta stared at each other for a good few minutes. It definitely was the king's devil spawn. That same goddamn superior look in his eyes and he wasn't even a few weeks old yet. A small chubby hand reached up, taking one of his overhanging bangs and tugging it. He winced slightly. Still a brat and already he possessed strength greater than Raditz right now. Vegeta glared at Bardock's hair, as if he was displeased with it. He looked back to Bardock, the glare disappearing as he babbled out senseless sounds. Gine began laughing, causing both baby and man to look at her.

"That's hilarious!" she said in between her laughs. "He likes you, but hates your hair!"

"Oh joy…" Bardock muttered sarcastically. "The kid's already judging his subjects. Remind me to get the hell off this godforsaken rock when he's old enough to rule."

"Bardock, take it easy," Madara said as she took back her son. "You make it sound like he's going to be a replica of the King."

"He might as well be."

"I'm not going to let it happen. He may be a Saiyan, but he's a human as well. I'm going to do my best to teach him humility and compassion. I don't want his Saiyan pride to be his downfall."

"He's going to be a warrior, Madara. Kindness and modesty isn't going to get him anywhere."

Madara narrowed her eyes. "Oh really? Then what happened to you when you met Gine?"

"That doesn't count!" Bardock snapped, a faint blush staining his cheeks pink.

"Admit it, Bardock. You're not going to win this argument. I have seen it myself what compassion can do."

Bardock sighed. "Right…the brat who overcame everything."

"Yes…the brat who defeated me and completely destroyed my pride. I hated that…but if he hadn't, I wouldn't have understood how pointless my efforts were. Just that one moment of clarity was enough to show me what truly mattered. I want Vegeta to know that too; to understand what truly matters."

"Good luck with that. Knowing him, he'll be a stubborn one."

"I've dealt with someone who had a much bigger stick stuck up his ass than Frieza does. If I could deal with him, then I can handle whatever my son throws my way."

"Well, if you ever need help, come to me," Gine said. "I'm sure I can give you a few pointers on motherhood. Especially if the guys start acting up."

Madara blinked at the devilish gleam in Gine's eyes, seeing both Bardock and Raditz finch at the notion of Gine punishing them. The Uchiha smiled, never feeling more at home then she did right now.

How she wished things could stay like this.