The Emperor and Empress were found just where they had been left with Bardock. They seemed to be in the middle of a story, as Vegeta and Bulma approached.

"And that's how the Great King Vegeta the Second gained the throne," Bardock was saying.

"I see Bardock has you entertained," Bulma smiled, on cue.

"Oh, yes!" The Emperor said. "Saiyan history is very interesting. I see why the race is so well respected among the galaxy."

"You'll have to excuse me," Bardock said then, taking his leave.

"Thank you!" Bulma whispered as Bardock passed. He gave her a knowing look and nodded quickly.

"Let's talk," Vegeta cut right to business, once Bardock had closed the door behind him. He guided them to the two thrones, where the couple sat. The Emperor and Empress sat across from them in diamond embedded chairs that had been left there for the purpose of the guests. Vegeta placed his hands on the armrests of the throne, and Bulma's heat panged against her chest when she got a look of him. He cleared his throat. "What brings you here, Emperor?"

"Your father and I were in the process of an agreement, dating back to several months ago." The Emperor began.

"Nothing of the sort was mentioned to me," Vegeta replied. "What were the terms of the agreement?"

"We were in the process of negotiating a trade, if you will." The Emperor replied.

"Your father was very interested in the minerals my planet provides us," The Empress added.

"What were the considerations of the trade?" Vegeta asked.

"Technology, your majesty." The Empress answered. She looked at her husband to continue.

"We agreed that a set of your traveling pods would be provided to my planet, in exchange for thirteen units of carolline."

When the word carolline was spoken, Bulma's ears perked up. She had been listening carefully, her eyes wandering about the room. But now, knowing exactly what carolline was, she was completely focused on the Emperor. "Emperor, did the king mention what his intended use of the carolline was?"

"You know what that is?" Vegeta raised an eyebrow, looking to his wife.

"Yes, of course." Bulma looked back. "It is a very strong, durable, surprisingly light mineral. It's quite hard to find."

"That it is," The Emperor smiled. "And my planet produces copious amounts of it each month. We have brought with us a sample for your review."

"I didn't make this agreement," Vegeta said bluntly. "I cannot say I will abide to it." The saiyan was irritated with his father. Why was such a trade so important, and why did he not tell him anything of it? He didn't understand what the mineral would be needed for, and with no immediate use of the carolline, what profit would be returned with such a deal?

"Vegeta," Bulma said. Her voice was just as silky as always, but there was a serious undertone to it. "I would like to see the shipment of carolline."

"Why?"

"Because," She replied cooly. "We don't lose anything in simply taking a look."

"Of course," The Emperor cut in. "After all, that is what it is here for."

"Fine," Vegeta said. He stood from his chair and extended his hand to Bulma, who took it and followed his lead.

"Emporer Salim, I trust that you and the Empress will be joining us for dinner tonight," Bulma said as they began to walk.

"It would be our pleasure." The Emperor replied, smiling at his wife.

"Wonderful! You will be shown to the guest chambers for you two to get some rest and freshen up. We can all take a look at the coralline after dinner, once we've recuperated."

And with that, Vegeta made a call for Nova - much to Bulma's distaste. The skinny saiyaness appeared almost immediately, as if she had been listening behind one of the nearby corners. Nova took the guests with her to lead them to their room. Once they were gone, Vegeta turned to his wife. "What's going on in your head?"

"You must accept the trade!" Bulma whispered.

"Why?" Vegeta said, his tone more curt than Bulma was used to. He was still irritated at the situation, at his father for leaving him in the dark about this.

"Because your father clearly had a plan, and it's coralline. " She urged. "That mineral can be used to make much stronger armors that will be as light as a bedsheet!"

"How do you know that?" Vegeta raised his eyebrow. One of the things that had initially enticed him to the Princess was her intelligent questions she asked during their first dinner conversation. But even with all of that, he was used to her innocent and gentle nature. Her cunningness was not a side he saw of her often, and he was awed to see her thinking so quick.

Bulma took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "Okay, I wanted it to be a surprise, but I'll tell you. I've been planning to design you some training tools as a surprise. And with my mind on the subject, the first thing I thought of when I heard about the coralline is how useful it would be in combat. And even if it isn't utilized for armor, it will be incredibly useful for a number of things."

"You little minx," Vegeta accused. "You were just buying time when you invited them to stay the evening."

"Of course!" She smiled, batting her eyelashes innocently.

"Alright, I am trusting this decision to you. Take a look at it and let me know if you think it is of good quality. If not, they'll leave first thing in the morning. If it is worth the trade, they'll have the pods loaded into their ship."

"Wonderful!" She exclaimed. Her pace increased and she began to walk in front of him, leading him back to their chambers excitedly. She was going to show him what she'd worked up in her blueprints so far, now that he knew of the surprise.

Vegeta watched her from behind, eying the way her dress clung to her torso, the skirt flaring out once it reached her hips. He watched the way the skirt swished from side to side as she walked, the way her hair bounced cheerfully in her stride. Her diplomatic skills were certainly impressive, considering how little taste he had for such a thing.

After all, what he specialized best in was war. Fighting and commanding, strategizing combat. Diplomacy was a skill his father had been grooming him in, but it never resonated with him the way it seemed to his father. But Bulma, his wife, was so natural at it. He really had chosen a wonderful woman to fulfill the role at his side.

And, as he continued to watch her move, he couldn't help but to wonder what was beneath that dress. How she would look if he began to peel it off of her? Then and there. He could take her by surprise and pull her into an empty corridor. He'd teach her pleasure like she'd never known before, the unexperienced coquette that she was.

He wanted to - needed to. She was his wife, after all, and he'd never even seen her naked! The thought tortured him, pulled at his insides. His mind went to what they'd done in bed the night before, and he had to will the thoughts away as his pants began to grow tighter.

She could feel his eyes on her, and she turned to send him a smile. She blushed when she saw the look of hunger on his face, his eyes moving from his hips to her own irises. And there was such a tone in them, one so deep that she was rendered motionless. Bulma stopped walking as she gazed back at her husband, and a smirk lined his lips.

He took her hand in his, and without a word he pressed his face into her neck. Bulma gasped, clutching at his bicep. The way he kissed her neck was not new to her - she had encountered it several times by this point. But she looked around, and said in a hushed voice, "someone could see us,"

"Then let's get back to the chambers," He whispered. "I have something to show you."

Her eyes widened as he began to pull her. And her head spun in copious directions as she deciphered what exactly the meaning was behind those words.