"You what?!"

"That blonde bitch in there actually had the nerve to tell me to give her my jacket! What was I supposed to do?" Bulma was so worked up about the encounter she'd had in the grocery store that she was now spitting as she ranted. "Who did she think she-"

"Shut up!" Vegeta grabbed Bulma's arm, pulling her closer to him. "We need to-"

But the store's door opened then, a bell ringing to indicate as Eighteen made her exit onto the street.

"Oh, here she is now!" The Bluehead scowled, putting a hand on her hip. Vegeta was still gripping her other arm, though, and he swung her around to his backside. The jolt was so forceful that Bulma squeaked from the movement. "Hey!" She yipped.

"Shut up!" The saiyan growled. "This is-"

"Oh, it's you again." Eighteen frowned cooly as she slowly walked towards the two. Her eyes were on Vegeta rather than Bulma, her expression looking rather bored despite the circumstances. "I thought we killed you."

"Think again." The saiyan spat, taking a step forward. He cracked her neck from side to side, readying himself for the inevitable altercation that was about to unfold.

"You were fun. I could have another round with you." Eighteen said. "I'll take care of you next. But right now I want her."

The Bluehead was still fuming at Eighteen's audacity, but she had decided it would be best to stop running her mouth. It didn't take a specialist to piece together where Vegeta and this blonde stranger had last seen each other… It was quickly making sense, and the dread was starting to build as Bulma helplessly watched the back of Vegeta's head.

"You can't have her." He was saying now, taking another step towards Eighteen. "Tell me, harpy. Is your brother around, or did he get sick of your crooning and finally leave you to fend for yourself?"

"He's around here somewhere." Eighteen replied, and for the first time her neutral expression dropped into an angry glare. "But I don't need his help. I thought I made that obvious last time when I punched through your ribcage."

"Yes, and you also thought you managed to kill me. But life is just full of surprises, isn't it?"

Bulma could hear the smirk in his voice, even with his back to her. It was amazing that he had strongly emphasized just how crucial things would be if they ever encountered those teenagers, and yet he now stood so tall. The Bluehead nearly forgot just how dangerous the situation was as she watched, she was so mesmerized by the cockiness dripping from his aura.

"You're so annoying! Fine. I'll take care of you first, just to shut you up." Eighteen groaned. She looked over Vegeta's shoulder to glare at Bulma then, her eyes just as cold and distant as they had been in the grocery store. "You wait right here. I'll take care of you, soon enou-"

Eighteen didn't have time to even finish her warning. In that moment Vegeta's knee came into full contact with the side of her head, and she went flying sideways 100 meters before slamming into a light pole.

Eyes wide, Bulma watched Eighteen in awe as she flew away. It had happened so fast that the Bluehead hadn't even seen Vegeta move! He'd made it look so effortless!

"You need to hide." Vegeta's voice was hissing in her ear then, and the Bluehead jumped to realize that he was now standing right beside her. "Don't seek refuge in a building - they might all go down during this fight. Find somewhere else to hide, perhaps the woods… and stay put until I find you!"

"But-"

"Woman, I mean it! I have to keep her distracted. Now go!" Vegeta had the Bluehead by the arm now, shoving her backwards as he barked. "She's already coming back. Get out of here before the other one shows up, too!"

Just as he said, Bulma watched over Vegeta's shoulder in amazement as Eighteen pushed herself to her feet. She was already flying right for them, not even a bruise to indicate the blunt trauma she'd just received.

"Go!" Vegeta was barking, but it was already too late.

Eighteen was on them again, and her soulless eyes looked exponentially darker as she hovered above their heads. "Now, that wasn't very nice."

"You... You..." Bulma breathed. Vegeta swung around to face Eighteen again, and he balled his hands into fists as he started to raise his ki.

"You're a..." The Bluehead continued. Her mind was racing so fast that she was having trouble finding the words she wanted to use. But it was all making sense now. This woman's lifeless expression. Her monotone voice… Vegeta had always told her that the teenagers has no discernible ki, and even that was now understandable.

When Vegeta had kicked her, Bulma had watched as Eighteen's head spun around in a 180 degree rotation as she flew. And now she wasn't even winded after such a thing! It just wasn't possible for a living creature to withstand something like that!

Hell, Bulma was pretty confident that if Vegeta had experienced the same blunt force to the head, he would have at least been groaning from it! His neck would have broken!

There was no way that this blonde stranger could be so unscathed by something like that, regardless of her strength. It wasn't humanly possible…

… Bulma had read about this type of thing in her scientific magazines throughout the years, but even the science community had always played it off as mental conspiracy theories. Nobody would ever be smart enough to pull something like this off, and if such a thing was attempted it would be centuries before it was even successful.

But now, as she stared into Eighteen's eyes, there was only one explanation.

"You're-!" Bulma screamed, pointing her finger up at Eighteen. "You're a cyborg!"

"A what?!" Vegeta allowed himself just one second to turn to Bulma with raised eyebrows, before he swung back around to readily face Eighteen.

"Ha." Eighteen said, but there wasn't even a smile on her face as she folded her arms across her chest. "That's the best guess I've ever received. Kudos to that. But we prefer the term androids. It has a better ring to it."

"Androids?!" Vegeta spat.

"Impressive." Eighteen was continuing, nodding calmly at Bulma. "Remind me to ask you how you could tell. But first, I'd like to see what your intestines look like."

And then she flew at them, a blur so fast that the Bluehead couldn't follow the movement with her eyes. All she saw was Eighteen's body lurch, and the next thing Bulma knew she was being thrown back. She thought that perhaps the Android had gotten her, but when her body hit the dirt she heard Vegeta's voice again. "RUN, DAMMIT!"

She looked up from her stomach to see that he was already gone, standing ten meters ahead. He had caught Eighteen by the hair, preventing her from getting any closer to Bulma.

"Let go of me, loser!" Eighteen was snarling, and then she turned on him. His expression strained as the android started pummeling him with her fists, but his grip on her scalp remained. "Bulma, dammit, get the hell out of here!" He was barking, his voice jumping as he received countless punches to the gut.

"Veggie..." She gasped, pushing herself to her feet. She tried to rack her brain for any ideas on how she might be able to help, but the pain shooting through her left arm was causing a delay in her thought process. She was pretty sure it was dislocated by how she had fallen on it, and her legs had burning scrapes running down her shins.

Bulma watched as Vegeta turned his back to her, finally landing a blow in where Eighteen's solar plexus would have been. The android didn't even flinch, but he was quick to land another blow on her neck. "One thing you underestimate about a saiyan..." He was grunting as he worked, still holding her by the scalp as he returned the beating she had just given him. "You may injure us, but we will always come back stronger. I am not the same weak soldier that I was the last time you saw me."

It was hard to turn away, but Bulma disappeared around a corner as she limped into a nearby alley. The sounds of the punches were fading in the distance as she pulled herself farther away, until she finally fell back into a brick wall. Using her good arm, Bulma ripped open the zippered pocket on her Capsule Corp jacket and began to run her hand through it.

'There's gotta be something in here that can help!' She thought desperately, trying not to groan from the pain that was still shooting through her body as she moved. She tried to remember which capsules she had grabbed that morning before leaving - her car, an empty one for the groceries... the crossbow... But what would the crossbow do?! There was no way Bulma could possibly aim with her injury, and even if she could, the android would be quick enough to dodge the shot before it got her.

The Bluehead jumped as she heard a loud thud on the other street. It sounded as if someone had just been slammed into a building! Oh no - was it Vegeta?!

She heard Eighteen's bored laugh to indicate that her worry was true - he had been the one on the receiving end of that hit. But the Android's reaction was quickly choked off, and surely that meant that the saiyan had already recovered and was on the offense again.

Bulma pulled all of the capsules out of her pocket, and her eyes glistened to realize she had grabbed one more by glorious mistake.

'Perhaps...' She thought, working to calm her breaths despite her injury. It wouldn't do much, but perhaps this one might help, at least somewhat...

She limped back over the corner of the alley, peeking out onto the street to see as Vegeta jumped back to dodge a blast that Eighteen had fired at him. Clasping the capsule with her good hand, Bulma took a deep breath.

This could easily go very wrong, but she had to do something. She couldn't just flee while Vegeta got himself killed…

And, before she could grow any more anxious at what she was about to do, Bulma opened her mouth. "VEGETA!" She shrieked with all of her might. "VEG-GIE!"

Vegeta, who had just shot a purple beam at the android, whipped around to hear his name coming from Bulma in such a hysterical way. Had the second android shown himself?! Had Seventeen gotten her?!

But all he saw was the Bluehead, standing alone, staring at him. "Woman!" He barked. "How many times do I-!"

But, as he shouted, Eighteen took off. "You're so annoying!" She was saying as she flew. "You need to shut up!"

The Bluehead took a few steps backed into the alley, trying to remain calm. She'd known that the android was fast, but she still couldn't believe this cyborg's speed. She had predicted this reaction, and so far it was all going to plan. All she could make out was a blur of yellow as Eighteen gained on her, and Bulma knew she only had about half a second before she lost her chance. The Bluehead grit her teeth as she clicked the button on her capsule, throwing it up over her head.

"Wom-!" Vegeta had started to yell, chasing after to try and catch Eighteen before anything happened to Bulma. But he stopped in mid-air, his eyes widening at what he saw.

A net had suddenly wrapped itself around Eighteen, and she was frozen in place. Floating just about Bulma's head, the android blinked down at her dumbly. "What the…? What is this?"

It was the same net that Bulma had used to kill the flying lizard that had attacked her so many weeks ago. She knew that in just a couple of seconds it would start jolting Eighteen with electricity, and that would give her and Vegeta a chance to escape. There was no doubt that the android would not be killed by the surge, but she knew it would be enough to shock her electrical circuits. It would stun Eighteen temporarily. It would give them a few minutes to get away.

She heard the sizzle as the net began its work, and Bulma immediately started for Vegeta. "Now!" She gasped, moving as quickly as she could. "Hurry!"

The saiyan didn't need to be told twice. He flew for the Bluehead and scooped her into his arms, taking off into the sky as he went. They didn't get far, though, for Vegeta suddenly let out a loud curse and dipped back down towards the village. He landed on his feet, just a few alleys away from where Eighteen was still frying, placing Bulma beside him.

"What is it?!" The Bluehead cried. "We need to get out of here!"

"The second one. He didn't see me, but he's up there!" Vegeta snapped back. "He's on his way. We can't leave, or he'll follow us. You need to hide!"

"Kami, is everything going to go wrong today?" The Bluehead hissed, but she was already looking around. All that was in this alley was a dumpster, and Vegeta had distinctly told her that seeking shelter in something wouldn't do.

Suddenly, as she scanned her surroundings, Bulma's eyes fell on something that made her jump. "There!" She squeaked. She used her good arm to point at what she saw – a manhole that led into the sewer system. "I doubt they'll be able to find us under the ground!" She gasped, starting to make her way towards its iron lid. "Help me open it!"

Normally it would take a crowbar to wedge open such a rusty and heavy plate, but Vegeta was able to pull it off with just one hand. A cloud hit him in the face as he lifted the lid. "Gah!"

But Bulma, who had expecting the odor, was already lowering herself in. "Hurry!" She hissed, starting her climb down the ladder. It was a challenge to do this with one hand, but it was amazing what the motivation of impending death could do! Bulma looked up at the saiyan as she maneuvered, but he wasn't following her lead.

"I'll be back." The saiyan said.

"What? Vegeta, come on! You're not going to be able to beat them right now!"

"The female is incapacitated, thanks to you. I will finish her off, and then I will be back."

"Veggie, wait!" Bulma tried. She had already gotten half way down the ladder, but she was starting to climb back up. Her efforts were cut short, though, as he slammed the manhole lid shut above her head.

.

Muffled explosions and screams could be heard from somewhere up above. Bulma stood at the bottom of the ladder she'd climbed, shaking as she listened to it all. There was no telling how long she had been down there, and she hadn't moved a centimeter since finding her footing.

She was surrounded by darkness, with only a few rays of thin light that were beaming down from the small openings in the manhole lid that was ten meters above her head.

It smelled strongly of human feces down there, but she had grown used to the odor as she listened to the destruction taking place on the streets above her head. The steady sound of liquid sloshing through the sewer pipes had kept the Bluehead from wanting to take move, unsure of when and where she might accidentally step in something foul. And so she had been waiting exactly where the ladder ended, cringing each time she heard the sound of a blast or someone's yell.

"He's so stupid!" She hissed to herself, still shaking in disbelief that Vegeta had been so quick to run off and leave her down here. Did he really think he would stand a chance, even after learning what those teenagers really were? She understood his reluctance to back down, but this was just plain dense!

The saiyan was a good fighter, but all he would do is work himself into an exhaustion. And then what? He'd get to a point where he wouldn't be able to defend himself, and one of those androids would easily take him out.

He'd barely survived the last time he'd encountered them, but at least there had been senzu beans around to keep him alive. But, like a fool, she had left those behind in the capsule house.

What was going to happen now?

Bulma couldn't fathom the idea of anything bad happening to Vegeta, and so she tried her best not to focus on the what-ifs. But it was an incredibly hard thing to do when every few seconds there was another dreadful sound to make her jump.

The pain radiating from her arm was only growing worse by the second, which didn't help matters either… Each time she jolted, there would be another wave of agony that would wash over her mind, and she'd have to fight to keep from groaning out loud.

There was no telling how long Bulma had been down there, suffering in silence as her heart raced, but she finally heard another sound that made her jump – and this one was far different from the typical explosions.

Up above her head, dirt was starting to crumble down as the manhole lid was rustled out from its position. There was now enough light that the Bluehead could see her surroundings, but Bulma didn't dare look up, or else debris might fall in her eyes. Instead she scanned around her body, finding a small crook she could back into where she wouldn't be stepping in anything gross.

The darkness returned as the lid shut, and then there were stepping sounds as someone began to work their way down the ladder.

Was it him?

Had he actually managed to get away?

All she could do was silently hope that was the case, trying not to breathe as she pressed herself deeper into the stone wall she had her back against.

And then she heard it. The sound of feet hitting the ground. And then there was a groan.

"Vegeta!" Bulma breathed.

"Woman." He grunted, and the Bluehead stepped out from her hiding spot to search for him in the darkness. She could barely make out his figure with the small rays of light shining down, but the large outline of his form seemed to be the most beautiful thing she could have ever laid her eyes on.

He had been grunting as if he were in pain, but his breaths seemed to calm when he heard her voice.

"Are you okay?" She asked. She was just beside him now. She held her hand out, but stopped just before grazing his skin. She was hesitant to touch him, as if it would worsen any pain he might be in.

"I'm fine." Vegeta grunted. He had a hand clapped over a shoulder wound as he panted, but she couldn't see that. "Just pissed off."

"I'm glad..." The Bluehead sighed.

"It stinks in here." He said hoarsely, trying to keep his voice low. "It smells like shit."

"Well, we are in a sewer." Bulma replied, but she nodded all the same. "It's awful."

The saiyan didn't care to explain that he didn't know what a sewer was, and he dropped his head back to look up at the manhole he'd just come in from. "It's so aggravating. No matter what I do, they keep coming back as if nothing happened. She should have died twenty times by now, but they're so damned resilient!"

"It's because they're androids." Bulma replied, and this was the first time Vegeta had noticed the shaking strain in her voice. "They aren't going to feel pain, and whoever designed them knew what they were doing. They're just going to keep coming back, and they'll do it indefinitely. If we can't find a way to break their circuits, to overload whatever motherboard they have implanted, then..."

She wasn't used to talking for so long, still overwhelmed by the pain she was in. Bulma dropped her head, taking in a deep breath before continuing. "Then... perhaps maybe crushing them would also work... but… there's no telling how much weight we'd need to effectively do that. I saw what I saw. They can withstand so much..."

"Bulma." The saiyan said, and she looked up. She could vaguely make out the outline of his head, and there was no way she could see his expression. He stepped closer to her. "Are you injured?"

"I'm fine, I'm just... hurt."

Something illuminated then, her pupils constricting from the sudden light. Once her eyes had adjusted, she raised her brows to see that Vegeta was holding a ball of gold light in his hand, which was acting as a lantern. He was glaring as he looked her over, a frown planted on his jaw. "Your arm..."

"I think it's dislocated. But it'll be okay. I'm just glad it's not broken."

"Come here." He said, and then the light went out. The Bluehead had been wanting to hold him ever since this incident started, and she didn't have to be told twice. Stepping out into the darkness, she fell against his chest. His arms were immediately around her. "Bite me." He whispered. She felt his hand on the back of her head, pushing her face into the crook of his neck by his good shoulder. "Do it."

"What?" She replied, and she cringed as his hand snaked down to her injured arm. "Ah-!"

"Bite me, Bulma. As hard as you can."

Normally she would have been inspired to ask more questions about this request, but his fingers were already working into her arm and she was in too much pain to resist. Her teeth sank into his shoulder, the breaths through her nose growing shallow as she braced herself.

A second later there was a cracking sound so loud that made a white light flash across her eyes. In that moment she understood what it meant to be in so much pain that she could see stars. She lost her footing and fell deeper into his body, his arms holding her upright against him. Her teeth sank even deeper into his flesh as she exhaled a muffled whimper, clamping her eyes shut from the recoil of it. Kami, he had just popped her arm back into its rightful place, but the pain was still radiating through her bones and leaving her latched to his shoulder as she groaned. If anything, it was actually hurting worse.

His arms wrapped around her again, pulling her closer into his body as she trembled. Sucking on him as if this would take away the excruciating pain that was trickling through her core, she was groaning as she fought back the need to shout out loud. After a minute of this, she felt enough confidence to raise her weakened arm and wrap it around his neck. Finally she broke her teeth away from his shoulder, pressing her forehead against his skin instead.

"Oh god..." She breathed, sweat having formed at her temples. It was amazing that she could feel so relieved, and yet even more injured at the same time.

Suddenly she felt Vegeta's fingers on her chin, pulling her face up from his shoulder. Somewhere in this dark space were his lips, and they found her mouth only a second later. His kiss was so warm as they hugged one another, temporarily working to make her forget about what she'd just gone through. He was pressing his mouth against her with so much force, as if doing this would take all the pain away. And, as she returned the gesture, it did.

No longer was she thinking of how wretched she felt. No longer was she an anxious bundle of gasps. In that moment she was instead thinking about Vegeta, and how glad she was to be with him again, and how relieved she was that he was alright. Her tongue found its way through the crease of his lips, and he gave it an affectionate suckle before pulling away. "Better?" He breathed, and she nodded against his neck.

"It's because I threw you, Bulma. I knew you'd get hurt, but I had to. She was coming for you, and I-"

"She would have killed me." The Bluehead interrupted. "I appreciate it. I'm okay, I'm alright, I-"

"Are you..." He muttered. "... Are there any other injuries?"

"My legs were bleeding - I don't know if they still are. But they're just scratched up, it'll heal."

The saiyan let out a deep breath of air, as if he was relieved he wasn't going have to go through popping one of her limbs back into its socket again.

Any mental celebrations he was doing was cut short when a loud crashing noise erupted over their heads. Bulma jumped, but his arms were still around her, and they worked to immediately soothe her from the startle. Something had just exploded in the street above where they stood, but for now she and him were still unfound.

It was conflicting to know that so many people were currently being slaughtered while she stood safe. Was it wrong to be relieved that they were still undiscovered, when so many people were dying over their heads? Her shoulders sank against the saiyan as she sighed, and his arms loosened from around her. "Let's find a different place." He suggested quietly, stepping back from Bulma so he could illuminate a ball of power in his hand again...

.

... The sewer was wet and foul, a stream of soiled liquid flowing through each corridor. Thankfully it was large enough that Vegeta was able to hover through the system without having to actually step foot in the muck, holding Bulma in his arms as he went. A few minutes later they had found a clean ledge of concrete to sit on, free from the disgusting black river that was flowing just a few meters in front of them.

Sitting with her back against the stone wall, Bulma was staring into the distance as Vegeta sat beside her. He was still holding the golden ball in his hand so they wouldn't be in absolute darkness, glaring at his legs as he quietly considered all that had just occurred.

"How long do you think it'll be before they leave?" Bulma finally asked softly, breaking the silence.

"They won't go until they've killed everyone. And we should wait a couple of hours after that to be sure they've made plenty of distance." The saiyan replied sullenly.

"I assume you'll be monitoring ki of all the civilians to know when it's over..." How morbid such a thought was, and the Bluehead had to close her eyes as she said it.

The saiyan nodded, not looking at her as he continued his brooding. A few more minutes passed in silence, as Bulma stared at the light reflecting off the black river.

"Hey, Vegeta?"

"What?"

"Since we're going to be down here for a while... I was wondering... Last week when you were acting so angry towards me. Why-"

"Let's not get into that..." Vegeta sighed, his head falling back to rest against the wall. He didn't care to tell Bulma about the dream he'd had, which predicted the Androids coming across this town. Originally he didn't want to tell her, to describe the horror of what had happened to her in his imagination. To admit how distraught such a nightmare had made him. But now he couldn't tell her for an entirely new reason, because then he would be admitting that he should have known better than to assume they could stock up on groceries that morning without incident…

That dream hadn't been all that had been bothering him, though. There was something else that had been lingering on his mind for some time, causing his moods to fluctuate as rapidly as the dream did. And now that he was thinking of it again, it was suddenly all he could focus on. He had been holding off on saying anything, but in that moment he decided he could do that no longer.

"Woman." He growled. His mood was already dropping, and he furrowed his eyebrows as he found a new spot on his knee to stare at.

"What?"

"I wish you would be more straightforward with me. I have been waiting to see when you would tell me on your own accord, but it doesn't seem like that is going to happen any time soon."

Bulma turned to look at him, only to see that he was deliberately avoiding eye contact. "What do you mean?"

"I noticed a change in your ki quite some time ago. Initially I thought that it was perhaps due to the stress you've been under, but as days passed I realized the truth of the situation. I've been waiting for you to tell me, but it seems you've had no plans to do such a thing."

"What?" Bulma straightened her posture, pushing herself forward from the wall. "I haven't been keeping anything from you, Vegeta. I don't even know what you're talking about! What do you mean my ki changed?"

"You feel sick." He growled, and it was then that he looked up to meet her gaze. "You've been sick for weeks. If I can tell that from your aura, there's no way you don't know. Don't try and act the fool to me, Woman. Did you really think I wouldn't find out?"

"Vegeta." The Bluehead said more firmly. Heat was rising to her cheeks, but she was trying to keep from getting too defensive. They were going to be stuck in this sewer together for who knows how long. They didn't need to end up in another fight. "Tell me what you mean. I haven't been sick. I know you say I feel like that, but look at me. You know I've been fine. I haven't even sneezed in weeks."

He narrowed his eyes at her as she spoke, as if trying to detect any sign of a lie. It seemed he was unsuccessful with this, for his look of accusation softened - if only by a small amount. "You really don't know?"

"Dammit, Vegeta, I keep saying I don't. I don't know what you're talking about at all! I wish you'd just tell me."

He cocked a brow, leaning back as he continued studying her expression. He seemed to believe that she wasn't lying, though he still looked suspicious. Finally, after he decided that she really was telling the truth, he spoke. "Your ki changed. Weeks ago. It is the same, but almost as if there is a barrier that is diluting it. I thought it was from stress when it started, but it has not stopped. You still feel different to me right now, even as I speak."

"I don't know how to read ki, remember?" She replied. "I don't understand what any of this is supposed to mean."

"One day I woke up, and I reached out for you. I found your ki, in that room of yours, like I always do. But there was another one with you. It was subtle and weak, but it was there. You were alone when I went in to wake you, yet there was still a second ki lingering in your exact spot. That is when it all began to make sense. That is why your own aura had become dimmer... It all made sense..."

They were sitting together in a sewer, the only source of light coming from Vegeta's palm. Hundreds of people were being killed over their heads as they muttered together, and they were surrounded by the putrid odor of sewage water. Bulma's arm was still aching from its earlier dislocation, her legs burning from where they had been skinned raw. Vegeta was sporting a shoulder wound that had only recently stopped bleeding, and she had no way of knowing if he was hurt anywhere else.

She didn't know how long they would be sitting in this way, and this... This was the situation in which she learned she was pregnant with her first baby. It took nearly a full minute of repeating his words in her head before she even understood it. And it took another full minute for it to start sinking in, disbelief building a lump in her throat.

Vegeta had gone back to glaring at his leg with avid determination, having seen the look of shock on her face before he turned away. It was clear that Bulma really hadn't known, and he didn't understand how. It was a bit of a condolence to learn that she hadn't been deliberately keeping things from him, but he still couldn't fathom how someone could be growing a living creature in their own body and be completely ignorant to it.

He felt as her fingers found the top of his hand, searching desperately for something to hold. He reached out for her ki and was instantly hit with an overwhelming sensation of dread. She was panicking. Bulma was far from happy about this.

"So... you knew, and you didn't say anything." Her nails traced over his knuckle.

"I was waiting for you to tell me. I assumed there was no way you weren't aware of your own condition."

"And... how did you feel... during that time?" Her ki was rising as she spoke, as if she were on the verge of becoming enraged. Vegeta had to shut her aura out to keep his heart from starting to pound along with it. "Is that why you were being so hostile last week? Because you wanted me to be the one to bring it up? You couldn't have just told me?"

"I told you that I was upset about the risks that came with our outing, and that was no lie." Vegeta cut in. "And I'm not happy about this, either. I've never wanted to sire an offspring. I've always done all I can to prevent that."

She took in a deep breath at hearing this. She pulled her hand away from his own, wrapping her arms around her legs now. "I figured..."

"What about you?" He growled.

"Me?"

Vegeta cleared his throat. "What do you think of it?"

"My planet is suffering from its apocalypse, my family is dead, I am living in a one bedroomed capsule home with three other people, and I can't even go out to buy groceries without almost getting murdered. I'm not exactly jumping for joy that an innocent child is being brought into the picture."

"And what about what you said last night?"

"Vegeta, I'm kind of in a state of shock right now. Be more specific with me, I can't keep guessing what it is you're referring to."

"What you said about me leaving Earth after I accomplish my goals. Do you still feel just as accepting of that after learning this news?"

She didn't respond, but Bulma tightened her hug around her legs. She closed her eyes, leaning her forehead into her knees, taking in a deep breath.

"Once I achieve my goals and return your planet to the state it was in months ago. When I defeat those Androids and leave you here to go after Frieza. If we never meet again, you will be okay with that? You will not resent having to raise my kin on your own?"

"Well..." She thought for a moment. After a few seconds of silence, she sighed. "What does it matter if I'm okay with it or not? What choice do I have?"

"You do have a choice." He grunted. "I have never wanted a child, but I have put thought into the matter. I am not going to force termination. I will leave that up to you."

She raised her head up when he said this, turning to get a good look at him. The expression on his face was absolute grim, but he continued. "You know things will only be harder if this baby is born. The infant will likely suffer. If Frieza ever knew that I have an offspring somewhere..."

"I know." She said. Despite all of the rage and hurt that was welling inside, she reached out and took his hand again. "You've already had time to process things, but this is still fresh to me. I understand everything that can happen because of this... I know how complicated things will get... But I can't talk about that right now... So please..."

He gave her hand a squeeze, nodding solemnly. "I just need to make sure you know all that will ensue." Vegeta was still acting as if he were on edge as he resumed his silent glare at his leg. But to Bulma, something about his body language seemed much more relaxed. As if it really was a load off his chest to finally discuss this with her. She watched him in the golden light, her muscles shaking as she considered all they had been through in just that day alone.

'I'm not happy about this,' His words replayed in her head. He never had wanted to father a child. Bulma wasn't surprised by this, especially considering all that she knew of his history. He'd told her before that he would eventually die as the last living saiyan. He'd already planned the extinction of his race.

And still, she couldn't stop replaying that statement in her head. Even as they held each other's hand, she couldn't shake that quote away.

He'd never wanted to be a parent.

She'd never been opposed to having a baby, herself. But to be truthful, she hadn't really given the matter much thought. It wasn't something she had particularly been prepared to do any time soon.

Neither of them had been planning this, yet they hadn't done anything to prevent it. Had Vegeta considered that? Did he feel just as responsible in that moment as she did? Was he aware that this had been their own doing, and they had nobody to blame but themselves?

Was that why he was being rather calm about it now? In the time he had spent wallowing about this on his own, had Vegeta accepted this for what it was?

All she knew was his opinion on being a father. And, according to what he'd just told her, he was still planning to leave... Once all was said and done, he wanted to go. Evidently the baby wasn't going to change that for him in the slightest.

And, as she thought that, a wave of grief washed over her so strongly that she had to take in a sharp breath. She had always told herself that he was going to someday leave, but for some reason it was really hitting her now.

"Shit…" Bulma muttered, but the saiyan didn't reply. She realized she had zoned out while staring at the foul river flowing in front of them, and he hadn't said a word during that time.

She wasn't sure if it was in response to her obscenity, but he put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his frame. As conflicted and emotional as she was in that moment, this gesture felt like the only thing that made sense. She sighed as she sank deeper into him, nuzzling her head under his chin. She could feel his fingers in her hair as she stared ahead at the disgusting river of feces that was still flowing in front of her, and she tried to blink back the wetness that was forming in her eyes.

Suddenly this river seemed rather suiting of her current predicament. And it went perfectly well with her word of choice, too.

Quite literally, Bulma was finding herself to be in some rather deep shit.

AN: I don't exactly consider fighting scenes to be my strongest suit, so it was a challenge for me to write this chapter. I hope you weren't disappointed in it. Thank you for reading!