This chapter took me ages to write! This is easily the longest piece I've written (it was even longer, if you want to count the small portion I published as Chapter 31 a few days ago!)

I hope you enjoy!

"Why does it look so lumpy?"

"Lumpy? Vegeta, don't talk about the ship like it's spoiled gravy. That's rude."

"It's extremely lumpy, Woman. I'm calling it the way I see it."

It was nearing midnight, and after two hard weeks of work, Bulma was tiredly standing beside the saiyan as she revealed the finished spaceship to him. She had spent that entire day installing specialized plates to the exterior of the ship, resulting in the vessel looking like a dark grey pickle to the naked eye. The Bluehead wasn't surprised by the saiyan's reaction - especially considering the fact that this was his first time seeing the vehicle with the panels installed. "Those lumps, as you put it, aren't for decoration. They're going to help achieve stealth." She explained. "See? These panels are designed to, when activated, absorb light. This will prevent it from reflecting off the ship's surface, meaning that the ship won't be visible in space. It won't work too well in a place that's lit up like this, where it's standing in front of distinct scenery, because we can still see that our view is being blocked off by an object. So, what we get instead is semi-camouflage. But in space, where it's so dark and the only light that may hit us would be from another ship or distance star, we'll be able to basically achieve invisibility."

Vegeta was studying the spaceship as Bulma spoke, and he turned to blink at her with wide eyes.

"You don't understand?" She sighed.

"Of course I do!" He frowned. "It makes perfect sense! But I want to see it in action. Show me."

"Alright…" Bulma walked to the light switch at the far end of the room, and she didn't give any warning before flipping it to the off position. Consequently the two were now engulfed in absolute darkness, with Vegeta still looking towards where the ship was. He listened, intrigued, as Bulma spoke again. "Now, check it out. Let's pretend that someone senses a power source in your approximate location, and they decided to investigate. They go to where they calculate you to be, and let's say they have headlights of some kind that they're using to view their surroundings with."

A clicking sound was heard as Bulma turned on a flashlight. She began to shine it around the room. The beam first hit the desk, revealing the lamp and papers amid the darkness. She then moved to a wall, illuminating a shelf of battered looking books. Then, as Vegeta watched, the beam moved to where the ship was, but there was only darkness. There wasn't even a sparkle to reflect the flashlight's beam. All he saw was the light continuing into what looked like an empty void, an optical illusion that he was staring into the abyss. "Brilliant." He said, unable to keep the smirk from his lips. "This, combined with disguising my ki, will completely eliminate our trail."

"Right?!" Bulma replied. She sounded a little more cheerful as she flipped the light switch back on, and now he could see that she was smiling proudly at her creation. "Okay, now check out the inside!"

The interior of the ship was more spacious that Vegeta had expected, yet it was still rather small. The main cabin was the larger than the living room of the capsule house, yet the absence of a kitchen and dining area made it feel much more compact. There was simply a small kitchenette cramped into the corner of the room, yet no table or chairs to eat with.

The ship was also equipped with two sleeping quarters, both of which were large enough to have stuffed a double bed in, along with a nightstand, dresser, and desk - but that was about it. Vegeta hadn't realized just how large the capsule house's bedroom was until standing in this ship - nor had he realized just how accustomed he'd become to the luxuries of Earth.

"It needs to be smaller in order to prolong fuel efficiency." Bulma explained, sensing the saiyan's surprise. "To include the gravity simulator in the main room, we had to compromise the weight of the ship elsewhere – so, knowing these rooms would only be used to sleep in, we chose to keep them small."

"There's a gravity simulator?" Vegeta replied, raising an eyebrow.

"No, but there will be. The one you currently use. It will be a tight fit, but you should be able to set it up in the main cabin. To expedite the building process, we decided not to go into the schematics of designing an entirely new gravity simulator. But, we wanted to make sure you had one so that you can continue training during the trip."

"Very well." So monotone and reluctant to show enthusiasm, and so typical of Vegeta. After all of her hard work, Bulma had been hoping for something else. She frowned at him and turned, walking back out into the laboratory. The saiyan followed after, and when they both stepped outside she capsulated the vehicle.

"So, that's it?" Vegeta asked, and he sounded a little uncomfortable now. "The project is complete? It's all ready to go?"

"Yup, ready when you are."

"Hm," The saiyan turned to glance about the room, and Bulma could see it in his demeanor. Having initially been filled with pride as she flaunted the ship, her mood was now dropping. And then he spoke again, after clearing his throat. "Is it equipped for me to leave at sunrise?"

"Yes, it's stocked with groceries and clothes."

The already quiet room was steadily growing more silent with each passing second. Vegeta nodded, staring towards the wall instead of making eye contact with her.

He couldn't even look at her now?

"So... you're leaving in the morning." Bulma commented. It wasn't that she hadn't been expecting him to take off so soon, but it was that she couldn't believe he still was set to go without her. "You're... going... to leave."

"Of course, I am. That was the whole point, wasn't it?"

"But you want to LEAVE ME." She continued, and her cheeks were starting to flush. Now Vegeta raised an eyebrow and turned her way, understanding exactly where this conversation was going. He'd expected it, though, for their talks had trailed in the same direction every night. "Don't act so shocked, Woman."

"I can't believe you!" She hissed, turning on her heels and storming to her desk. She slammed the capsule down before spinning back to him. "Even with the invisibility shield, you don't even want to HUMOR the idea of me going!"

"Of course not!" Vegeta spat back. "Was that the reason for designing it, then?! Did you manage to convince yourself that I'd invite you to join along as a reward? Even though I keep telling you, no?!"

"You make it sound so conniving! Of course, I made it because I wanted to help! But I at least thought, with added protection, you'd CONSIDER it! I thought you might want me to go enough to at least THINK about it!"

When she said this, Vegeta broke eye contact again. He turned, dropping his gaze to the floor as if considering her words. His hands balled to fists, his biceps tight as his shoulders shook. For a moment Bulma thought she had gotten through to him, but she realized he was only trying to stop himself from yelling when he finally looked up and spoke again. "You're staying here. That's final."

It was really hitting her now. Despite anything she had tried, even with an invisibility shield that basically guaranteed they'd arrive to Namek without incident, Vegeta still insisted that she stay. Even though she had nothing to look forward to on Earth. Even though she felt safer staying with Vegeta than anywhere else. Even though she was pregnant with his child, and he had once promised her he wouldn't grow to regret their time together. Even though she still felt that he cared when he held her at night, Vegeta clearly didn't. Things were obviously far different than how he'd conveyed… Yet she'd believed him. Now, any remaining bit of denial she'd been holding on to was fading away. "You... bastard."

"What?" He stepped towards her with this, and Bulma stepped back to keep her distance. "You... PIG... You asshole. You... JERK! You-!"

"Stop." She had her back to a shelf now, and Vegeta was quickly cornering her. Wanting to prove her point, Bulma reached behind to grab something to throw, but only felt large computers instead of something small enough to actually fling. "Get away from me. Get out. Just leave now, since you insist so damned much!"

"What the-?" Vegeta started. She seemed as if she'd done a complete 180 from a few seconds ago. Now, instead of being so pleading and hopeful, she was pissed. What was going through her head...? Why was she acting so shocked?

"You FUCKER!" She snapped, slapping his arm when Vegeta put a hand to her shoulder. "Let go! Get away from me! Get away from me and LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE!"

"Stop it!" He growled, holding her even tighter. She put both hands to his forearm and scratched as hard as she could to try and break his grip, but the saiyan didn't even flinch. "Calm down, Bulma!"

"Don't tell me to CALM DOWN!" She panted, her face red from exertion. "You told me...! You promised me...! You! I TOLD you before we did anything that I didn't want you to regret it and do something like this to me! I KNEW you would, but you TOLD me you weren't going to! And I was stupid enough to believe you! I WAS SO DUMB! Why was I so STUPID?! You fucking told me-!"

Vegeta raised a quizzical brow as she screamed, and suddenly his eyes widened when he realized what she was referring to. Quickly the memory hit him, and he was taken back to a particular moment he'd shared with Bulma. So long ago, back in the capsule house, it was just before they'd slept together for the first time. They were on the couch, and he'd been on top of her after a hot snog. She'd just gotten out of a bath, and he had been so excited to pull her towel off and get a first look at her naked body. Just as his hand reached the top of the fabric, though, she had stopped him. "I need to know if you really want this." She'd said, and she'd explained that didn't want him to blame her if he grew to regret what they did. She didn't want to be used.

Not only had it impressed him that she had enough foresight to predict such a thing, but he'd also been amazed that it was the last thing he could have seen himself doing.

In fact, regretting such a thing something like that had been completely unthought of. Not with her…

He'd promised Bulma that he wasn't going to resent what they shared, and he'd kept that oath. Even two months later Vegeta still didn't regret a thing, but evidently Bulma had come to a different assumption.

She had now finished with her ranting and was staring at him with distraught eyes, studying his expression as he continued holding her shoulder. For a moment Vegeta wondered what type of face he must have been making to render her so speechless, but before he could think too long he began to pull her in.

This time she didn't resist, and she allowed herself to fall into his chest. "Stop it..." He murmured, his tone no longer so hard. "Calm down. You know that's not true..."

"But then... Then..." She was taking in sharp breaths, and he put his hand to the back of her head as she buried her eyes in his shoulder. "Then... How can you... I... I..."

He was pulling her, leading her towards the bed. When they reached the mattress, he lowered her so that they were lying beside one another. She had her eyes closed, and he watched the strain on her face. Still looking pissed, it also appeared as if desperation was setting in as well. "Vegeta, I can't stay here. I don't want to. You can't leave me here! What am I supposed to do?!"

"Live." The saiyan replied. "Be with your parents. Be with him. They'll take care of you."

"Be with him?" Bulma had been trying to collect herself, to keep her voice down, but this was enough to make her struggle all over again. "What - with YAMCHA? You're going to actually suggest that to me, when I can see how jealous he makes you."

"I have seen how he interacts with you and your parents. And I distinctly remember him telling you to run when I first came after the dragon balls. I remember him trying to protect you when we first met..." Vegeta's eyes narrowed. "Even if it is platonic, I know he will do what he can to take care of you and the infant."

"You know you don't even mean that! You're grasping at straws!" Bulma screeched back. Based on what he was saying, Vegeta hadn't just been jealous when he'd discovered her and Yamcha together in the kitchen... He'd also been analyzing them? Determining how their dynamic would be once he was gone? No wonder the saiyan kept startling them when the two were having private conversations - he'd purposely been trying to stay unnoticed until it was convenient for him! This only added to Bulma's mood - now she was starting to feel even more betrayed. He'd really put a lot of thought into this, and he'd still decided to abandon her! "What - so you really want me to believe that you like the idea of me and your future child growing old with him?! If you actually cared, then you'd want to be the one here for us! You want Yamcha to take your place, then?! Even if he means well, you don't actually expect me that crap?! He doesn't stand a chance against the Androids! If they find us, we're all done for! You're grasping at straws, and you know it!"

Vegeta had never heard the phrase grasping at straws, but it didn't take much thought to understand what she meant. And perhaps she was right with that observation, but he would never admit it. This was what needed to happen. The saiyan had made this decision as soon as he knew of the trip, and that was final. She wouldn't be joining him into space, and he was not going to change his mind.

As Bulma studied his face and saw no sign of relent or second guessing, she knew how useless her negotiating truly was. Vegeta was dreadfully stubborn, had always been up until this point, and his mind was thoroughly made. No matter how hard she tried, she was going to wake up in the morning alone, and he would be gone... Perhaps for good.

"Don't look at me like that." Vegeta said then, and Bulma hadn't realized she'd been eying him any differently than she ever did. "Stop it, Bulma. Don't."

"I can't help it..." She replied, and her chin was quivering with how hard it was to get the words out. She was trying desperately to keep from crying, to keep her voice from rising to the pitch that it always did with tears. "I... I'm... I hate you, but I'm going to miss you... and I..."

"Stop it." Vegeta repeated, but this time he put his hand on her cheek. His own voice was softening, the firm edge no longer there. "This is how it needs to be. I can't risk Frieza capturing you. I don't want to feel you like this..."

FEEL?

He'd said FEEL, as if he could actually feel what she was going through. Those words, combined with his touch, had Bulma boiling over. She closed her eyes as hot tears rolled down her face, her skin trembling against the saiyan's hand. "I can't help it." She broke. "I..."

"This is for the best..." Vegeta's hand grew heavier on her face. "Bulma... You know this..."

"No! This isn't RIGHT! I feel like we'll never see each other again, and... I just don't WANT that! How could you?! I can't believe this is so easy for you!"

Kami, Vegeta stopped breathing. Did she not see how angry he was about the situation? He was trying not to show it - he didn't want to give her any ammunition to support her desire to stay with him - but could she really not tell? All of the anxiety and desperation he was sensing from the Bluehead was curling through his veins now, which only added to his pessimism. He could feel it bubbling over, making him just as dreadful as her, and he didn't want it. The saiyan was nostalgic for the days when he could reach out for her ki and feel a warm and comforting bliss, but lately all he got was a dark sense of impending doom. He didn't want that for her, and he didn't want this to be their last encounter before he left. He'd give anything to make her feel better, and yet he knew there was nothing to say...

"See? You aren't denying it!" Bulma was sobbing now. "You know we'll never meet again. You really aren't wanting to come back! You've been planning to move on, you're taking this as the opportunity to do it, and you're just trying to let me down softly!"

"That's not true..."

"If you wanted to return, then-"

"Listen to me!" He rolled on top of her, cutting her off. She was refusing to make eye contact with him though, her face turned to the wall as she continued to sniffle. "Bulma, listen... I cannot promise you anything, so I won't. But I will do ALL in my power to come back. Understand?"

She didn't reply, instead proceeding to tremble as she continued her stare at the wall and tried to pull herself together. Oh, how she hated that he was seeing her cry... How she hated this...

"You know you are with child. In your condition, you are better off here." Vegeta could only tell her this, not wanting to mention how dangerous it would be if Frieza learned that the prince of all saiyan bared a heir or heiress. She didn't need to know about Frieza's torture chamber, or what could be lurking at any moment. She didn't need any more worry. She just needed to be okay. "You'll be happier, you'll have more freedom, and you'll be safer. You must trust that I know what I am talking about with this. I am not just making excuses."

"I'm not free on Earth, anyway." She shook.

Oh, how Vegeta wished he could stop having to hear her speak with such a morose tone. "Happy? I'll just be stuck in this stupid bunker, counting down the minutes until those Androids finally uncover us. As if that's how I want to spend the last of my days. You think that'll make me HAPPY?!"

They were only going in loops - the saiyan sighed. All he could do was keep repeating his points, and all she would do was repeat hers. Clearly this wasn't working, and she wasn't going to be coming to terms with this any time soon. All he wanted was for her to be less panicked, and to settle her mind about the ordeal. All he wanted was to have this last night with her, and to have something to remember during his trip…

"I don't like this..." Bulma was audibly sobbing now, her chest bouncing as she wailed. She seemed to be lamenting out loud to herself, mumbling and sniffling as she spoke. The tears were coming back at full force, and she was losing all hope to stop them. "God... God... I hate this. How did my life end up like this? How is THIS happening? Why? Why does everything have to be so-"

"Shh..."

She felt fingers on her chin. She tried to resist his tug, but he was too strong and there was no way she could. Vegeta pulled Bulma's face towards his own, forcing her to look at him. He was still on top of her, staring into her eyes, watching so deeply. "Bulma... Stop... Don't."

She was going to respond - to tell him she was trying not to cry, but just couldn't help it. To ask him what he could expect when her outlook was so bleak. To perhaps even become offended again, and insult him for putting her in this state to begin with. To tell him it was all his fault for meeting her, taking her, treating her the way he had, and causing her to develop the feelings she was burdened with. But no words had the chance to leave her mouth, because in an that instant his lips were upon her.

He was kissing her with so much ferocity, and she hadn't seen it coming. Her chin was still quivering with tears as he nipped her, pressed his tongue through her lips, and ran it across her own. Her eyes were still watering as he pulled away so he could brush his mouth across her hairline before finding a place by her ear to nuzzle. Her breaths were still jagged with sniffles as she reached up and held him, his tongue running from the side of her cheek down to her collar bone.

And when he pressed his lips against the arch of her neck, braising his teeth on the sensitive skin, her whimpering finally ceased. Slowly but steadily her melancholy was giving way to what he was doing to her body. He felt so true, so genuine, and Bulma wanted to do all she could to appreciate it… While she still could...

Her hands had been cupping the back of his shoulders, but they were slowly moving down his arms as he continued his affection on her neck. Jolts of electricity were shooting through her limbs as he sucked, causing her lips to part as he worked. Vegeta wasn't moving any further along her body, instead paying such attention to that particular arch at the beginning of her shoulder. Licking and nipping with his teeth as she gasped from the sensation, the Bluehead could already feel a nudge in her thigh as his own body reacted to the exchange.

Just as she was about to let out another gasp, Vegeta pulled away, moving back up to meet her mouth again. This time Bulma reciprocated, pushing herself closer to him and swirling her tongue against his lips. His hands were cupping her face as they embraced, and she could feel his rough thumbs as they wiped away the tears from her skin. He was massaging her, working to dry any residual dampness in her eyes... Comforting her as best as he could.

He felt so sincere. His hands so tender. It was conflicting - she was starting to feel that he really didn't want to leave her after all, despite all the signs and signals she had seen up until this point... Despite how indifferent he had been acting about it all, he almost felt desperate now.

Vegeta had pulled away from her mouth and was now planting pecks against her cheek - again, and again, and again. Frantically kissing her repeatedly, as if he was doing so would convince her to forget about everything and cheer up. And somehow, in spite of herself, it was working. She fought the urge to grin when he buried his face into her shoulder, kissing yet again. Bulma almost playfully told Vegeta to stop, but she wouldn't let the word leave her lips. He was toying with her now, and she was going to let him. Despite the fact that the Bluehead wasn't speaking, the saiyan could tell that she was resisting a laugh as he landed yet another peck on his skin. She did, however, give him a light slap on the back of the head.

"There you go..." He whispered, pulling away to look at her. She still had her mouth pulled into a soft pout, but her eyes spoke enough. He could feel her ki starting to warm, and her irises shimmered with the same lighter mood. She was giving him a knowing look, and he knew his actions were successful... She just didn't want to admit it.

His eyes still locked on her own, the saiyan began to slide his hand down her front. His touch hardly grazed her breasts, though, as he continued down, and she raised a knowing eyebrow as he worked his way across her torso. Her lips were pulling at the ends - she was struggling not to grin - but those slight movements told enough.

And when his hand found the front of her core, his fingers brushing the fabric of her pants teasingly, she bit her lip.

"Do you want me to do this?" He asked huskily, his rough hand sinking under the layers of fabric so that he could caress her bare skin. His calloused palm was sliding across the front of her pelvis, one finger curling to teasingly dip against her silky nether folds. "Do you want me to continue?"

Bulma only responded by unbuttoning her pants to give him better access, lifting her hips off the bed as he began to pull them down. His entire body was starting to sink lower now, his chest rubbing against her stomach as he inched his way further along her flesh. She could feel his breath hitting her skin as he went, traveling so slowly, yet confidently...

'Hm.' Vegeta thought, noting the goosebumps curling along Bulma's flesh at every centimeter he touched. He'd been planning this for weeks, thinking of this specific night to do it, and the time was actually here. The concept was still so strange to him, and yet he'd enjoyed himself so much when Bulma had been the one inflicting such treatment on him. If he could make her feel half as good as he had, he knew she'd forget about everything completely.

If only temporarily.

When his chin reached the bottom of her hips, Vegeta heard Bulma take in a sharp breath, but she did not exhale. As if she knew what was coming and was bracing herself. As if she was... intrigued.

He wasn't looking up at her face, but was staring at the rest of her body instead. A sweaty shirt covered her torso so stubbornly, an unfortunate pair of panties protecting her womanhood from his view. His head between her thighs, Vegeta narrowed his eyes as he studied the fabric, noting how he could make out the slit of her nether lips through the fibers. He'd been set to do this for some time, he had his strategy ready, and he intended to stick to it. And still, he was taken aback by how hot this all was.

The saiyan had originally intended to rip her panties away as soon as he reached them, but they looked so coy as they smugly contained her secret treasure. Hidden, yet still so visible, it only enticed him even more. Curiously and defiantly, as if to prove that the confinement wouldn't keep him away, Vegeta didn't remove her underwear before planting his mouth on her sensitive core.

Bulma, who had been holding her breath as she waited in anticipation for what Vegeta was going to do, let out an instantaneous hiss. The saiyan noted this, but it wasn't what encouraged him to continue. Rather, it was the texture and taste of what he was experiencing that consumed his mind. Not having known what to expect, he was completely surprised. Something about this was just so exhilarating, and the feel of it on his lips immediately made him famished for more.

There was a dampness seeping through the fabric and onto his chin - and oh, how he loved it when she got wet for him. It was enough of a turn on to feel it with his hands and the rest of his body - but on his face? He was pretty sure he was seeing red with lust.

Or, at least, he would have been, if his eyes had been open. But they were closed, and he only had his mouth to guide him as he pulled her closer in for more. The cloth twisted and tangled under the force of his teeth, and Bulma was gasping from the waves of his tongue. The more Vegeta got, the more his appetite grew, and he was pulling and nipping at her panties to suck as much taste through the cloth as he could.

"Holy-" Bulma was trembling from somewhere above his head. He was aware that she was rather enjoying this, and yet Vegeta was so focused on his own desires that her pleasure was merely an added benefit to this exquisite exploration. Finally, when he could take it no more, he gripped the cloth between his teeth and pulled, ripping it away like the rabid saiyan he was quickly becoming.

The Bluehead was gasping again, likely from surprise at his actions, but Vegeta gave her no time to settle before narrowing in on her exposed and inviting flesh. Now her body was fully his to take, now she could no longer receive protection from such irritating barriers made of such frilly cotton.

"Ah!" She choked, before cutting herself off. Her hands went to Vegeta's hair as his lips pressed into her silky folds, taking in what lay underneath and sucking it in between his teeth. Kami - what was this? This wasn't a lust he had grown accustomed to from his previous fucks with Bulma - this was something else! His tongue was awake and ravenous, his taste buds sending screams to his cerebrum to continue. Completely beside himself, he was going at her as if he'd never eaten before in his life, and there was no instinct beckoning him to hold back.

There was so much to discover, and the more his tongue touched, the more he wanted in return. This was his, wasn't it? His right to feast until he was full! Why hadn't he done this sooner?! How many times could he have indulged in such a treat by now if he hadn't waited?!

The noises she made were so raw. Muffled as if she'd placed a pillow over her head, Bulma was still moaning loud enough for him to hear, coiling and bucking against his face. A low growl was humming from his own throat as he held the backs of her thighs and dipped his tongue into her entrance, where he normal would have been thrusting instead…

... It wasn't until the Bluehead started yanking at his hair did Vegeta snap out of his trance and realize how overcome he'd truly gotten. He opened his eyes for the first time and pulled back to look at her, seeing her flushed cheeks and heaving chest. "Careful." She breathed, meeting his gaze. It was clear from the look in her pupils that she'd already reached her peak - and yet he hadn't even noticed! She'd already explained to him before that she became extremely sensitive after such a thing - almost to the point of it being unpleasant. She always needed a few minutes to recover after an orgasm before he could touch her again without it making her flinch. And so Vegeta held back from licking her just one last time, instead opting to slide up her body to be eye level with her blue orbs.

Cheeks puffy and pink, her hair tangled and bushy from rolling her head around so much, Bulma was silently catching her breath as she returned the saiyan's gaze.

"Tell me when you're ready." He husked.

"My turn?" She breathed.

"No." His hand went to her lower stomach, as if threatening to touch her again…

"Fine then," Bulma replied. "Keep going."

He didn't have to be told twice. In an instant he was pulling his clothes off, kicking his pants furiously as if he was ready to destroy them. And then he was climbing over Bulma, grabbing her by the hips and positioning himself with her body. She was watching him with lidded eyes, still seeming to be recovering from her earlier orgasm. And Vegeta watched back, and he was shocked at how awestruck he became just in doing so.

It was hitting him that this might be the last time they would lay together like in such a way, those few seconds of anticipation that would build before finally commencing in their lustful dance. They might not ever do this again, and if they did it could easily be years... Vegeta, his mind locked on Bulma's ki, could feel her heart beating so hard with desire as he held himself above her. He'd always relished in sensing what she was experiencing during moments like these, taking in her euphoria at the same time that his own was building along with her.

He bit his lip, trying not to lose himself in the reality of the situation, and instead dropped his head to bury into her neck. Taking in a deep breath, wanting to memorize this exact moment, Vegeta inhaled the scent of her salty skin. His teeth sank into her flesh as his hips began to dip into her own, her warmth enveloping him as his erection found solace within her inviting core. She gasped, her nails digging into his shoulder blades as she stretched to accommodate his size.

Pulling back so he could look her in the eyes again, Bulma gulped as she took in his expression. In that moment he was telling her everything she had been trying to learn for weeks. Everything that he had refused to express, which had made her feel so insecure. He'd been trying to hide it, but she could see it now that he was looking at her so longingly. He was going to leave, and yet he didn't want this any more than she did. As much as she yelled and pleaded that they stay together, and as much as denied her, Vegeta wanted to bring her just as bad as she wanted to go...

He was thrusting with more force now, his breaths becoming shallow with each buck of their hips. Bulma pressed a hand into his shoulder, trying to speak through her jagged gasps. "Wait... Vegeta... Wait."

"What?"

She pushed him harder, and this time he got the hint. The saiyan rolled off of Bulma, laying on his back while she climbed on top of him. He looked up at her - heated skin glistening with both of their sweat, her hair hanging down over her face as she positioned herself atop his member. She flipped her blue mane over her shoulder to clear it from her face, giving Vegeta a thoughtful look as she lowered herself down on him. The saiyan's hands went to her hips to guide her movements, and she swatted them away. "No!"

She wanted absolute control. Intrigued, Vegeta obliged, instead folding his arms under his head to get a better view as he peered up at her. Taking full advantage of Vegeta's submission, Bulma placed her palms against his chest as she began a steady rate. She could see in his eyes that he was enjoying this, and so she continued as eagerly as her energy would let her.

Bouncing breasts made his erection grow even more, and he couldn't peel his eyes from her body as she moved. Bulma noticed, and when she saw the strain forming on his cheeks that indicated his impending release, she spoke. "Are you going to come back?"

Airy and gasping, her voice was more seductive than she'd expected. Vegeta seemed to like this, for he threw his head back and groaned.

He wasn't answering her. Was he too lost in pleasure to understand her question, or was he actually onto what she was attempting? Bulma tried again. This time she swayed her hips in a circular motion, pressing a nail down into his erect nipple. "Are you mad that we have to separate?"

"Ah-" Vegeta was already groaning from the added stimulation, and when she asked this he let out a strained "Yes!"

And then, immediately after, he pushed her off of him. Rolling her to her stomach, Vegeta wrapped his arms around her waist as he propped her onto her hands and knees. Bulma gasped when he entered - for it was such a fast switch of position that she was still taken aback that this was even happening. Her whole body shaking, her breasts swaying as he slammed into her from behind.

He seemed to have been perfectly content with her riding him - so why the sudden move?

She knew it was because she'd gotten him - all he'd given her was a single word, and yet she had all the information he'd been trying so hard to hide. He had confirmed her new suspicions. He didn't like having to part ways any more than she did, but for some reason he didn't want her to know.

Yet she did know, and even though what he was currently doing worked to distract her thoughts, she wasn't going to forget... Bulma moaned as he reached around and took hold of one of her breasts, his mouth finding her neck as he began to thrust even harder. She was being brought to the edge again, and the Bluehead was sure that he wasn't far either...

—

A sweaty heap of ripped clothing and limbs, the couple lay together on the messy bed hours later. Bulma was completely passed out in Vegeta's arms as he stared down at her, watching the features on her face as she slumbered. He had gone at her so ravenously, and he hadn't allowed them to stop until she grew so tired that she nearly fell asleep under him. The Bluehead had reached her peak two more times during their session, and Vegeta had held off from his own release for as long as he could. He'd wanted to prolong the experience, and he'd managed to hold off for hours. But still, the saiyan hadn't wanted this to end any time soon when he finally came, and he lamented the moment that they finally pulled apart.

Eyes glossing over her body as she continued dozing in his arms, Vegeta's pupils settled on the large bruise that was still actively forming across the arch of her neck. He'd always been a fan of tasting her there, but tonight he'd been a lot more aggressive with his actions. Small punctures indicated where his teeth had sank, and he'd sucked hard enough to break some of the vessels under the skin.

Smiling to himself, Vegeta resisted running a finger over the bruise. This would take months to heal, if not longer, and it would be very clear to Yamcha that Bulma was not his. That scarface could spend the rest of his life fawning over her, spoiling her and trying to win back her affection… But whenever Yamcha looked at her from now on, he would always remember seeing the Bluehead with the lovebite Vegeta had given her. He would remember who she'd bared a child with, and the Z-Fighter would know who she really belonged to.

Not only did she look so good in her exhausted state, but she felt amazing, too. Aside from his own need for fulfillment and closure, their recent tumble had certainly worked in soothing Bulma's melancholy woes – just as Vegeta had known it would. Right now, he could feel the bliss of ease she was in as she slept through her afterglow, a sensation that he hadn't sensed from her for weeks. This was the first time she was resting so peacefully since arriving in West City, especially because he had just fucked every last ounce of energy out of her. She'd likely snooze well into the day, far after the sun rose from behind the clouds…

… By that time, he would be long gone, and she wouldn't be traceable even if he tried. He wouldn't be able to sense her reaction, and yet he already knew exactly what it would be, and he could already feel it...

… Kami, he couldn't take this.

Just thinking of such a thing made Vegeta want to defiantly hold Bulma tighter and refuse to leave - to put the trip off indefinitely and find all excuses to stay. And her aura was quickly doing it to him - her lingering happiness putting him in a calm enough state that he was sinking into the mattress with her… Thinking that it would be no big deal to hold off on his travels...

But that wouldn't do.

It wouldn't work.

If she and him were going to have even a remote chance at living to see even the next year, he was going to have to leave. And yet, by doing so, he might never see her again…

By now it was undeniable that Frieza knew of his treason, and the tyrant would be out for his blood. The saiyan didn't know how the ensuing conflict would result. There was a chance that Vegeta would be able to twist and manipulate his way into convincing the lizard that he hadn't abandoned course, after all, and instead had encountered unexpected complications during his trip that set his schedule back. That, or he might fool his way into convincing the old fuck that he'd been simply doing research of valuable planets instead. If this convincing was successful, it would be months or even years before he got the Ginyu force off his ass enough to present himself with the opportunity to return to Earth.

And if bullshitting Frieza didn't work?

Well, Vegeta would be finding himself in a battle he might not be able to win. Perhaps with the disguising of his ki, combined with the invisibility system Bulma had installed on the ship, his trail wouldn't be intercepted at all. He'd make it to Namek, locate all of the balls, make his wish for immortality, kill Frieza, and then get back to Earth for a celebratory dance between Bulma's legs. Vegeta hoped this, he fancied the idea, but he didn't want to plan on it.

He had to go - before Frieza found him there on Earth. Before Frieza learned of Bulma…

In order for her to have the best chance to avoid prolonged torture, Vegeta had to go. He knew perfectly well that the Androids were still rampant, that she might not even live if he left her, but he was still doing her a favor by keeping her away from Frieza. He had to choose the better of evils, and he needed to keep himself from growing weak with his own wants. At that precise moment, the saiyan needed to halt the idea of staying before it had the chance to grow.

Closing his eyes, he pushed her out of his mind. Focusing instead on Gohan's aura that was wafting from inside the capsule house, Vegeta did all he could to rid himself of the Bluehead's invading ki. To clear his veins of the warmth that she was plaguing him of, to push away the feeling of her aura. And, after a few seconds, it worked. The pleasant sensation of her mood was no longer clouding his vision or blanketing his skin.

All he felt was nothing, and that was how it had to be.

Carefully sliding out from under the woman's clutches, Vegeta couldn't even bring himself to look at her one last time as he rose. He stood by the bed, his jaw clenched as he stared at his feet and waited to hear any indication that Bulma might be stirring from the movement. After 10 seconds passed without a sound, Vegeta carefully pulled his clothes on, grabbed the capsule containing the ship, and stepped upstairs. The farther he moved away from the bunker, the more he felt that a dark shadow was casting upon his back. A dreadful cloud that made his stomach churn, this was a feeling he had once been so accustomed to that it seemed normal, yet he hadn't encountered this in quite some time.

Alone…

He made it to the capsule house and nearly stepped inside, but he stopped himself jut as his fingers touched the doorknob. Gohan had sworn multiple times during their training sessions that he wanted to join in on this trip. He wanted to do his part in retrieving the Namekian dragonballs, to participate in the resurrection of his beloved mentor.

But did it really matter?

The boy was getting quite good, but he still lacked enough experience to smoothen the flaws in his technique. Was it necessary to drag him along on this course that would forever change his life? If he went, his prospects were as unlikely as Vegeta's. If Gohan stayed, he'd be a close comrade of Bulma's, and he'd be able to protect her better than Yamcha would - if he didn't lose control of himself, that is.

Vegeta sighed and stepped back.

Furrowing his eyebrows as he turned around, he extended his arm and threw the capsule out into the empty land ahead. The ship appeared with a distastefully loud pop, and the saiyan began to march for it. He was able to get halfway to the ship before something made him jump.

"Wait!" Gohan's voice suddenly erupted, causing Vegeta's jaw to tighten painfully at the abruptness of it. "Quiet, boy!" He hissed, spinning on his heel.

"What are you doing?!" The child continued, lowering his volume like Vegeta had ordered. He was standing at the edge of the house's small porch, glaring at Vegeta with disdain. "Are you already leaving? You didn't even tell me the ship was ready! And you told me I could come with!"

"I changed my mind."

"You can't DO that!" Without warning Gohan broke into a run, charging at Vegeta with all the speed his groggy feet could muster. Vegeta scowled and side stepped to avoid the boy's blow.

"Stop it."

"You told me-!"

"I have decided you will stay, do you understand? We will likely not return to Earth for years, if we don't face our death while gone! You will stay!"

"I don't WANT to, Mr. Vegeta!"

"You-"

"What do I have here?!" The boy shot, his prepubescent voice crackling with his pitch. "My entire family is dead! It's my fault Piccolo died! I've been training for this and have nothing else to do with myself! You can't just leave me here! I want to go and help!"

"Don't try me, boy." Vegeta growled. "I have made up my mind."

"You know what?" Gohan spat. "You told me my Dad was a saiyan! That means I am one, too!"

"You are a half-breed." Vegeta frowned, and Gohan snarled back. This was the first time the boy had stopped spouting, though, and the two stared at each other in the darkness of the stale night. The saiyan clicked his tongue, studying the boy's eyes, which were filled with so much hate.

The boy was really pissed, wasn't he? He truly and wholeheartedly wanted this. And it was true, he did have saiyan genes in his blood, and perhaps that was fueling his urgency to leave...

"Fine." Vegeta spat, kicking the soil. "Hurry up before I change my mind."

"I need to get my things. You didn't warn me we were going tonight."

"Pack lightly." Vegeta had his arms crossed. He was speed walking with the boy, wanting to expedite the process by grabbing the items with him rather than just waiting. He was ready to get things over with and leave this fucking planet as soon as possible, and the sooner Gohan was ready, the sooner they'd commence their journey.

They both disappeared into the capsule house, fishing blankets and outfits into their arms as they worked as quietly as possible. What surprised Vegeta was that Yamcha was passed out on one of the couches, and he didn't so much as flinch throughout the entire ordeal. Not even when Gohan, who was moving with too much urgency, stumbled and tripped over the coffee table and created a loud crash.

"Is he drunk?" Vegeta wondered out loud when he looked towards the Z Fighter and saw that the man was still completely passed out.

"Is he what?" Gohan replied.

"Nothing. Just be more careful. And hurry up."

"I'm ready, though."

"You are?" Vegeta looked down at the items that had gathered in his arms before glancing back at the boy. "Good. Come on. I want to be off this planet within the next five minutes."

They left the capsule house, and just as he did with Bulma, the saiyan could not bring himself to even give the main room one last look. Too many memories had been accumulated here in such a short span of time, and now he was going to have to live with them all. How had he let himself become vulnerable enough to get like this? In the beginning Vegeta had tried his damndest to stay detached, and yet he'd grown far too fond of the life he'd acquired on this unsuspecting planet.

He was feeling worse than he had in a very long time, and with each step closer to the ship he was fighting with his own urges to stay put. How frustrating it was that he wanted to throw all logic away and act purely on his desires. His legs were quivering with the desire to run downstairs and curl up against that Bluehead once again! He was having to fight his own body!

'One more day,' His inner voice was suggesting. 'You can put this off and stay for another day...'

And yet, as Vegeta already knew, he couldn't. With that, the infuriating sensation of dread was building with each meter he strode towards the ship. And it only grew when they entered, and Vegeta slammed the door shut behind them. His vision was slurred as he marched for the control center, not caring to give Gohan an introduction of the ship or let him process his surroundings. There would be time for such sentimental moments after they made it to space. "Prepare yourself!" Vegeta barked, as he threw himself on the captain's chair. "You will disguise your ki right now. We must keep it as low as possible throughout the duration of our trip so that we don't attract anyone."

Gohan didn't respond, but Vegeta could feel has he obliged. Suddenly his ki was so dim that the saiyan could barely make it out at all, and his eyes only narrowed as he followed suit and did the same. He listened as the boy scampered to a seat, and Vegeta was so eager to get started that he only growled before slamming his hand down on the ignition.

It happened so fast, and yet it felt like a stabbing eternity as the spaceship powered up and began to shoot into the sky. The vehicle rattled and shook as it moved, Vegeta's jaw tightening as his body adjusted to the change of pressure. This was far from his first trip into the abyss of the universe, and yet his heart was pounding with a nauseating anxiety that made his stomach twist…

… When they made it through the atmosphere and shifted into the weightlessness of space, the ship stabilized and suddenly things didn't feel as if they were moving quite so fast. Palms sweaty, Vegeta punched a few things into the control panel as he activated the light reflecting system that Bulma had designed. Once they were safely invisible, he then calculated Namek's coordinates through the navigation. Gohan was silent during all of this, and when he thought Vegeta was done he finally spoke. "Is it okay for me to get up and move now, Mr. Vegeta?"

"What?" The saiyan mumbled, not even looking over his shoulder. He was glaring at the distant stars that he could see from the monitors in front of him. Real time images that were being projected through a scope.

"Are we stable enough for me to move? I have to go to the bathroom."

"What!? Boy, didn't anyone ever teach you to relieve yourself before commencing on a journey?" Vegeta didn't care to be speaking at all, and this petty conversation was only adding to his already shot nerves.

"You were kind of rushing me!" Gohan shot back. "When was I supposed to go?!"

The saiyan prince still hadn't ripped his eyes from the monitor, and he growled a deep rumble from the back of his throat. Gohan had been such a timid boy, but he seemed to be gaining more of a spine with each passing day. Perhaps Bulma's spoiled confidence had rubbed off on the kid. "Fine. Go. I'll be piloting for a while. Do what you will, but don't disturb me unless you encounter any real problems."

"What about autopilot?" Gohan asked, but Vegeta could hear as his feet began to step towards the back of the ship. The saiyan listened to him go, not bothering to respond to the boy's rhetorical question.

The fact of the matter was that this ship really did come equipped with autopilot, but Vegeta didn't care to take advantage of that yet. Right now his mind was racing, and manually steering the ship was all he could do to keep himself under control. It wouldn't be feasible to go train in the gravity room - he needed to keep his ki low, and as of right now, with how insane he felt, he'd probably lose control and blow this entire vehicle up if he went in there in order to release some of his pent up steam.

His body was tired, anyway. He'd easily been awake for over 24 hours at this point, and he'd exerted himself both from earlier training with Gohan and his time in bed with Bulma. He hadn't gotten any rest at all, and yet he was still too riled up to sleep. And so Vegeta concentrated on the only thing he could in the moment, and that was the ship's course.

Over time he heard Gohan moving about. At one point the boy stalked into the kitchenette, fished through the refrigerator for something to eat, and returned to his room with his arms full of food. Vegeta didn't so much as pull his eyes away from the monitor to glance at him. The pounding in his chest was still so stubbornly rampant, and it took all of his focus in order to prevent himself from tipping over the edge of what could easily become madness.

It seemed that the saiyan could sit there and spend the rest of his living hours trying to soothe himself into forgetting about the Bluehead. Even after all of his attempts, he could still hear her cries and pleads in the back of his ears. All of her begging was looping on repeat, and he'd give anything to make it stop replaying in his head…

How had he gotten himself in so deep like this? Vegeta had gone to Earth with the mere goal of having a good battle with a third class saiyan, and what had he accomplished? Never could he have predicted that he'd leave with so much angst!

There was no telling how much time went by that he sat glaring at the monitors. But when his eyelids got to a point that they wouldn't stop quivering from the strain of keeping his eyes open, and he caught himself falling asleep several times where he sat, Vegeta decided it was a good idea to finally get some rest. Pushing himself back from the captain's chair, the groggy saiyan dragged his feet across the main room.

At some point Gohan had slumped into the main room as well, and he was now sitting on the couch looking rather bored. Vegeta couldn't help but lazily wonder how long the boy had been there, but he didn't bother asking as he passed the kid without so much as missing a step.

So tired that he was stumbling like an unruly drunk, Vegeta made it to the door of his bedroom and grabbed the handle. He groaned - somehow feeling even worse now that he'd arrived at his destination. As he stood, his hand on the knob, he realized that this was going to be his first time climbing in bed without Bulma. He hadn't had to do such a thing in ages…

Resentful of how pathetic he felt, and somehow also in awe that he was actually experiencing such a thing, Vegeta grit his teeth. Before he met her, the task of going to sleep seemed so idle and mundane. Never before had he realized just how much of a grief it felt to be absolutely alone, even though he had spent the majority of his life living that way...

'Whatever', Vegeta thought. He'd force himself through this, and with a bit of practice he would adjust to this routine all over again…

Closing his eyes, he pushed the door open and clicked on the light. He was ready to sleep for an eternity, yet he still carried the burden of needing to change his clothes first.

… But Vegeta didn't quite make it to the dresser before his focus shifted…

"There you are!"

A familiar voice, the saiyan nearly screamed. He quickly snapped his eyes open, and all he made out was a blur of blue. The voice spoke again, an irritated group of words that made his stomach tighten, just as a pair of soft hands touched his chest.

"It took you long enough to come to bed! I was about to give up on waiting for you!"

Alright, there it is! The long awaited moment you might have been hoping to see... Some of the scenes in this update took me days to write on their own. Please let me know what you think. :)