A knocking at the door woke Bulma, and she rolled over in her rousing. She opened her eyes to see the Prince sitting at a desk, reading some book he had probably swiped from the library shelf.

"What time is it?" She asked groggily.

"Probably 7 or so. Sunrise wasn't long ago." Vegeta answered without looking up.

"I slept the night away," The Princess noted… Before remembering what had woken her. "Is someone at the door?"

"Probably breakfast." Vegeta mumbled. He turned a page of his book. It was hard not to watch him as he sat there, lost in focus on whatever he was reading. His side profile accentuating his strong jawline and chiseled cheeks. Bulma remembered kissing him the night before, smiling to herself.

But then she remembered more - them holding one another, her falling asleep while he stroked her back. Did he fall asleep, too? Did they pass the night together in the same bed, or did he excuse himself to sleep on the couch in the library?

And what did he think of her when she fell asleep?

"You can stare all you'd like, but I'd suggest eating your breakfast before it goes cold," Vegeta snapped her out if her thoughts while turning another page.

Blushing, Bulma carefully stepped out of bed. She padded to the door in her bare feet - oh, how she loved being bare footed - and opened it carefully. Sure enough, there was a tray loaded with double portions this morning.

"Prince-"

"Ah, ah. Just call me Vegeta, remember?"

"Erm, Vegeta. There's breakfast for both of us here."

"I'm not hungry," Vegeta replied simply.

Hm. Bulma carefully carried the tray across the room. Normally she would sit at the desk while she ate, but seeing as how Vegeta was already occupying it, she settled for the bed.

She ate in silence, wondering what Vegeta was reading. Bulma wanted to ask him, but she'd interrupted him enough already. She didn't want to disturb him anymore.

When she was half way through her meal, he closed his book and cleared his throat.

"Do you have to go to work today?" She asked before munching on a buttered roll.

"Yes, I have work to do. But I'm not going to." He replied.

She waited for him to elaborate.

He didn't.

She sighed. "Okay, well… What are you going to do, then?"

"I don't know. Sit in here."

"All day?"

"Yes. I don't care to see anyone."

That's what he'd said several times the previous day. Bulma stopped munching when the memories set in, and she realized that it all hadn't been a dream.

Oh, oh no .

King Vegeta was dead. It was horrible! It hadn't been a nightmare at all - he was gone, and she'd been so fond of him.

Tears filled her eyes. She couldn't believe she had forgotten until that point. And if she was this saddened, how must the prince feel? Of course he didn't want to see anyone. All they would want to do was talk about his dad.

And with the King being gone, that meant Vegeta would no longer be prince. He'd have to deal with a coronation, crowds of people, public speeches and intergalactic meetings to maintain civil relationships.

Of course he wanted to push it all off for a day.

"Come eat," Bulma offered. "I don't feel like seeing anyone, either. So come and eat, won't you?"

He stirred in his chair, and then he looked right at her. Once again, for the umpteenth time, he just watched her silently while obviously pondering something in his own head.

"That is… If you're hungry?" She added awkwardly.

"I already said I'm not."

"Okay, then. Don't come here."

He got up and moved to the bed, taking a seat at the opposite end.

"I thought you said you weren't hungry," She said.

"But I didn't say I wouldn't come over," He smirked.

"You goad me,"

"I'm merely stating a fact."

Bulma took one last sip of juice from her glass. She then stood up and carried the tray to the door, setting it just outside.

"So you're planning on just staying in here all day?" Vegeta asked when she returned to her seat on the bed.

"Aren't you? Why can't I, too?"

"Hm…" He stared. "What shall we do, Princess?"

"I don't know, perhaps we'll drive each other mad."

"I know," Vegeta smirked. "Let's continue where we left off last night,"

Bulma blushed, remembering how he'd pulled away from the kiss so abruptly. He wanted to continue? He must have liked it.

"I'll go first." Vegeta said. "Why did you agree to marry me?"

Oh. He meant playing Truth or Dare. She didn't realize how excited she'd been at the aspect of kissing again until now, for she was rather disappointed. "What kind of question is that?" She asked.

"It's my turn. That's my question."

Should she tell him the truth? That Maron had urged her to marry him. Had convinced Bulma, to the point of desperation, that it was the only diplomatic option for Earth.

How would the prince react if she explained all of that? Surely he would be hurt, and perhaps angry. Perhaps disappointed, or even - just maybe - sad? Bulma found she couldn't bear to face any of those potential outcomes.

"What is the dare?" She asked.

"So you don't want to tell me why you married me?" Vegeta looked surprised.

"Well, you didn't want to tell me what you're afraid of." Bulma shrugged. "So what do I have to do?"

Clearly he hadn't been expecting this. There was no dare he'd already thought up. No ulterior plan that he wanted to corner her into. No, he'd genuinely wanted to know, and why did that make her stomach churn with butterflies to consider?

"I suppose…" He mumbled. "Well, compliment me, I guess."

"That's a dare ?" She almost wanted to laugh.

"You can't tell me why you wanted to marry me. So I dare you to name one redeeming quality about me."

How egotistical was this guy? Bulma's lips formed a fine line as she considered all the things she could say. But what would he want to hear? What could she confess that was both truthful and not embarrassing?

"Well," Bulma finally said. "You're quite smart. And quite strong."

"I see." He said.

"So, it's my turn now?" Bulma asked, wanting to confirm he was satisfied.

"I guess so," He looked wary.

And Bulma smiled. Since he was in the mood to ask hard hitting questions, she would ask some too. There had been one question in particular that she hadn't felt comfortable asking the night prior. But she would ask it now.

"What is your connection to Nova?"

"I saw that one coming." Vegeta smirked. "Jealous again, are we?"

"She seems rather attached to you." Bulma was frowning. "And you don't make her call you Prince , either."

"Her and I are far past that type of formality."

"And why is that?" Bulma felt her stomach churn in unanticipated anger. She straightened her posture. "Nova was so rude to me when you were in the regeneration tank. She kept telling me it was my fault."

At this news Vegeta stopped smirking. "She did, did she?"

"Yes." Bulma furrowed her eyebrows. "And she keeps trying to check up on you, as if she is a girlfriend or something. I want to know-"

"I've never dated the woman," Vegeta waved his dismissively. "And I'll have to talk to her about the way she addresses you."

"Why would she even say what happened to you was my fault?!" Bulma voice was rising. All of the indignation from Nova's treatment was coming to the surface, and she couldn't stand how calmly Vegeta was reacting to everything. "I would never have wanted you to leave if I knew that was going to happen! Where does she come off-"

"She's saying that because I went to look for my Dad." Vegeta interrupted. He was still speaking with such a nonchalant tone, but his face was dropping into a snarl, which Bulma found quite satisfying. If he cared about her, he should be mad at Nova. "My Dad disappeared while he was off for a meeting with King Cold."

The Princess was still scowling, but her glare softened as the Prince continued.

"He claimed to have left in order to discuss Vegetasai's new linkage with the Planet Earth. We are not sure what happened to him after that. But he ended up on the rebel planet of Seiko. I think King Cold must have gravely injured him. And on his return to Vegetasai he became so ailed that he had to make an emergency landing, regardless of how dangerous the planet was."

"So it is kind of my fault," Bulma breathed. "It's due to my planet's relationship with the Cold Empire that your father was -"

"No." Vegeta snapped, not wanting her to finish the sentence. "The fact that Nova put that in your head-"

"She really hates me-" Bulma cut in.

To this the Prince didn't respond. He looked at her, and she knew he refused to lie. He agreed that Nova didn't like her, and it was driving the princess mad.

"What happened on that Seiko planet when you arrived?" She asked. "And who is Nova to you?!"

"Raditz, Nappa, and I went to look for my dad." Vegeta replied, not bothering to explain who Raditz or Nappa were. "We were ambushed. I am not sure if they were anticipating us to come in search of my father, or if they were just retaliating to our landing. But we were far outnumbered."

"But you lived!" Bulma gasped.

"Barely." Vegeta grunted. "I sent Nappa away to get my Dad home. Raditz and I took the rebels on. But it wasn't good. I barely made it out of there alive, and Raditz…"

"Is he?"

"Raditz took a fatal blast for me." Vegeta growled. He was staring straight ahead, lost in the recollection. A vein was forming on his forehead, his teeth grinding together. "And they decided to retreat, they decided one death was enough if I was going to return on the brink of it. They said it would make a much stronger impression than if they killed me."

The Prince's voice was rising now. "I had to crawl to Raditz' pod like a pathetic worm!"

"You lived, though." Bulma breathed. "That isn't pathetic at all, Prince. You came back."

"Barely." Vegeta grunted again.

"We'll hold a memorial for Raditz. We can honor him." Bulma announced. "He died saving you."

"Well of course!" Vegeta snarled, turning on her.

With a jump Bulma flinched, and Vegeta bit his lip. He hadn't meant to lash. Not at her. "We will." He said, his voice noticeably softer.

She returned the gaze, studying his tired face. After several moments of silence passed, Bulma decided to speak. Ever so softly she leaned forward, and carefully she said "I'm glad you came back."

"Are you?"

"Yes," She raised her eyebrows. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"I thought you were afraid of me." He smirked.

"I can still be glad you're here," The Princess smiled. "I was so worried when I heard something went wrong."

Vegeta thought this over, and then remembered the white coat explaining that Bulma had gone into shock when she'd first learned. His pulse quickened, and he wondered just how deep her feelings ran. She cared that much about him to be physically affected when he was injured?

Wordlessly and hesitantly, he put a hand out. And he grazed her fingers ever so gently, as if worried he might burn her at the touch.

The feel was enough to make Bulma's breath catch. She looked down at his hand, studying his toughened skin and noting his calloused palms. And she placed her other hand on top of his, feeling the warmth radiating through.

"When I saw you in that tank, I…" The Princess continued. "I… I couldn't even breathe, I didn't know what I would do. It was terrifying."

"I wouldn't have anticipated you being so upset by it," The Prince gave a coy smirk. "I figured you wouldn't have cared, or have even been glad-"

"I would never be glad about something like that happening!" Bulma gasped. "Not to you or anyone!"

For a moment Vegeta's heart fluttered - but then she had to add that last part in. So, she felt that way about everyone. Her feelings and concern could still be platonic when it came to him.

Why was his hand loosening in hers? Bulma noticed the change, and she felt him slowly starting to inch out of her grip. What kind of rejection was this? She held even tighter, as if to say "you aren't going anywhere," and it made Vegeta's breath catch.

Why was this princess so maddeningly confusing?! Every single signal she gave was mixed! He couldn't take it anymore! As much as he tried to distance himself, to give her respect and not force himself upon her. As much as her lack of experience put a weight of responsibility on him that was daunting, as much as he felt so damned wary. It was hard not to be tempted when he looked in her eyes, saw her sitting so close in that night dress, felt her soft skin assuringly caressing his.

He couldn't stop himself when he put his hands on either side of her arms. And even if he'd tried, he wouldn't have been able to restrain from finding her lips with his own.

Bulma gave a sort of 'mh!' sound, and then her arms flew around his neck. And that was so encouraging. Not wanting to overwhelm her, he carefully put a hand on her thigh. And she made another muffled sound into his mouth. Oh, how it was satisfying to know he could elicit such a thing from her.

Still holding him, the Princess fell back into the mattress, him following her down. Vegeta could feel her chest rising and falling under his, and he placed his mouth on her shoulder.

"Ah!" Bulma gasped, and she threw her head back.

She threw her head back!

Oh, if she liked that, he had quite a few things he could show her. He placed a hand on her hip, swirling his fingertips in, running his tongue across the arch of her neck. She inhaled sharply, and then her hands found his hair.

He loved how her fingers scratched at his scalp as he suckled her skin. How her chest began to rise and fall more rapidly, the fast pace of which she breathed in his ear.

Lord, she was beautiful. And her skin so sweet between his teeth. She began rything against him as he gently nipped, carefully to only let his teeth massage her. Careful not to bite.

"Oh, Prince ," She breathed. And he didn't bother to correct her this time. Vegeta quite enjoyed when she used his title with a tone like that. In fact, it completely set him on fire.

He pulled his weight off of her enough to place a hand to her chest, and experimentally he gave her breast a soft squeeze. She stiffened slightly, but continued rubbing her hands through his hair. And if felt so good, so soft without being oversized… He licked her neck again, and then suddenly she gasped. But this one was much less eager, and much more unsure.

"What's wrong?" His voice was husky when he asked. And they locked eyes, and she looked so damned unsure of herself. Vegeta was panting at this point, so turned on that it was painful to stop,

"I…" Bulma breathed. "I think I feel your… I."

Christ.

Vegeta lifted his hips off of her.

"Sorry, it's just…" She shifted awkwardly. "I didn't mean to-"

"It's alright," Vegeta replied, but it was hard to hide the strain in his voice. His bottoms were becoming uncomfortably tight, and he was so damned eager to continue. But there she was, under him, overwhelmed just at the feel of his excitement. And no, she was not - could not - be ready.

She was so damned beautiful, too. And she felt so damned good.

Vegeta rolled off of her. Bulma was still panting, and she put two shaky fingers to the part of her neck that he'd been nibbling.

"Are you okay?" He asked. As sexually frustrated as he was, it was hard not to enjoy watching her. On top of everything else, she was so damned cute.

"I'm fine, I just… I got startled. I'm sorry. We can-"

"No." He sat up. "I shouldn't have initiated anything."

"But-"

"Sshh." He cut her off. What the hell was he doing? She was too innocent, too pure for him. It wasn't just sexually - she was pure, and the contrast was too much for him to take. Vegeta, the prince of saiyans, who had ended entire races of people, had just been on top of a woman who was so free from moral corruption that she couldn't be exposed to her own husband without audibly gasping and shaking in apprehension.

He needed to get out of here. To calm his soaring hormones, to get the dirty thoughts out of his head.

"Where are you going?" She sounded disappointed. What was it with her and these mixed signals?!

"To the library." He said. He still didn't wish to leave the quarters, to see anyone that would ask him intrusive questions or offer condescending condolences. But he had to give her space. He needed space.

And he couldn't look at her as he disappeared into the connected room.