The rest of the day went by in a blur. Immediately the royal palace was thrown into planning of the wedding.

As a marriage had not been the anticipated outcome of their trip, the saiyans had not brought an engagement ring. Prince Vegeta promised Bulma that he would return with a ring for her in exactly two weeks, which would give the royal family sufficient time to get back to Vegetasai, tend to some duties, and return.

The one request Princess Bulma really made was to have the wedding take place on Earth. She noted that her father was in much too frail of a state to go on an intergalactic trip at the present. To her surprise, Vegeta agreed without an argument or protest.

It would be up to Chi-Chi, Maron, and some of the servants to make arrangements for the wedding.

The Prince ordered Kakarot to stay on Earth and keep watch over Bulma. Of course, Kakarot was thrilled with the idea - for that meant more time that he would have to court Chi-Chi.

Soon it was the following day, and King Vegeta asked for a private meeting with King Briefs.

"This wedding announcement comes with good timing. We'll need to proceed with the arrangements as soon as we return," King Vegeta said.

Something about this statement struck King Briefs as ominous. "How come you say that?"

"Because I will have a meeting with Frieza in about three weeks. He wants to discuss borderlines, and that will be the perfect time to make him aware of Vegetasai's alliance with Earth."

"I see…" King Briefs couldn't help the wave of anxiety that hit him. "It still feels so soon."

"Let's face it, the two would have gotten married anyway. They were obviously made for one another," King Vegeta said. "We are just speeding up the process due to diplomatic affairs."

"Perhaps you're right," King Briefs replied. "As long as this is what my Princess wants and it will make her happy, who am I to complain."

And so it was decided that the marriage would occur as soon as the saiyans returned with the ring, and it would be King Briefs' duty to relay the information to Princess Bulma.

It was about 4 in the evening, and the departure was impending. Prince Vegeta went to the Princess' room, letting himself in without knocking.

"Prince," Bulma said, looking up from the journal on her desk. "I was not expecting you,"

"I wanted to give you this before I leave." The Prince explained. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a metal broach that formed the letter 'V'. Made out of dark blue stone, the V was encrusted with white jewels Bulma had never seen before. She took it from him delicately, afraid she might accidentally break it.

"This is a broach that is only granted to warriors that have displayed impressive levels of bravery and brutality in combat. I have had this since I was ten years old."

With a gasp, the Princess looked up. "What did you do to earn it at that age?"

"I'd rather not share that with you. Just keep it to remind you of me. Until I return with your ring,"

"Thank you, Prince."

Princess Bulma looked down at the broach admiringly, and when she looked back up at the Prince she saw he was staring at her with a glazed look in his eyes. "Is everything alright?"

He stared at her for several more seconds before gulping. "Yes. It's just. I enjoy looking at you."

"Oh," Bulma felt a tinge on her cheeks. "You aren't so bad to look at, yourself."

"May I?" He asked, stepping forward. Looking into her eyes, he moved in and wrapped his arms around her frame. Holding her tight, he ran a rough hair through her hair.

This came as a surprise to Bulma, though it shouldn't have. Seeing that they were engaged.

Why did she still feel so confused when it came to him? Why did she compare everything he did to Yamcha? Why should she think of that lying cheater during a moment like this? There were times when she found the Prince's company to be so wonderful that she didn't think of him at all. And then times - times such as this, she thought back on similar moments with the naval officer.

Perhaps it was because that was all she had to compare it to.

And with that thought, Bulma hugged Vegeta back. She laid her head on his shoulder, her arms wrapped around his torso.

And she was surprised to realize how good it felt. His arms were strong, and she felt safe in them. He was the perfect height in comparison to hers. He smelled good. He was so firm, yet soft at the same time. Bulma deepened the hug, her hands running down his back experimentally.

"You smell good," The Prince muttered in her ear.

"Thank you, Prince. I've been told before that I smell like honeysuckles."

"What a suiting name," Vegeta replied. " Honey… "

And then he pulled away from her, his hands resting on the sides of her arms. He was staring into her eyes once more, and Bulma couldn't help but feel he might be about to kiss her.

She hoped he wasn't. The part of her, the part that wasn't conflicted with thoughts of Yamcha, knew she admired the Prince. He was handsome, smart, unintentionally funny, and had treated her with nothing but kindness. But she didn't know if she was ready for a kiss quite yet.

But she would let him, if he chose to.

She was his fiancee.

She saw him lean towards her face, and she closed her eyes expectantly. Her brows lifted when she felt his lips brush against her left cheek, and it sent shivers down her back.

"I must be going," He said.

Princess Bulma placed a delicate finger over her cheek where he had just kissed her.

"Right," She said.

"I do not want you to see me off. Stay here and get back to your journal."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course."

… She watched the pods departing from her balcony, her finger-tips tracing lines over the broach as the saiyan royal family broke through the atmosphere. And Princess Bulma was surprised to find herself feeling lonely as the pods disappeared from view.

She looked down to the broach, tracing over the large "V".

Perhaps this arrangement would work out, after all.

—

Two weeks later, Bulma was trying on her wedding dress. While the event planners involved took charge with most of the details, Bulma had managed control over the dress selection.

The dress was sleeveless and princess shaped.. Blue jewels were stitched into the lace of the fabric, which made her eyes look even deeper.

"Prince Vegeta should be landing before long," Maron poked her head in the room. With no other words, she disappeared.

"I guess I should take this off," The Princess announced. She sighed deeply, reaching behind to unzip the back.

"Oh, let me help you," Chi-Chi said. "There you go, how's that?"

"Thanks," Bulma replied. She stepped out her dress carefully, making sure not to rip it, and moved to her discarded gown that had been placed on the chair.

"You doing okay?"

The two women were alone in the fitting room together. Bulma sighed and shook her head. "It's just so fast," She expressed. "It's only been a few weeks since I learned about Yamcha. I've still barely started processing it, and now I am getting married. I wish time would just slow down…"

—

Alone in the cold cell, Yamcha was sitting in the corner. The shirt had been ripped from his torso during once of his previous whippings. On his legs were a wet pair of pants.

The bruised captain ran a hand through his whispy beard, which had been growing out since he'd been arrested. How much longer would he be held here?

Loud slamming erupted from the other end of the room, and Yamcha knew someone had entered the dungeons. The question was whether it was a guard ready to perform a beating, or a guard here to do a headcount.

Luckily, it was the latter.

"Krillin?" Yamcha gasped. Krillin had been stationed with him long ago, when he had first been drafted into the military. Yamcha hadn't thought of him for a long time, and had no idea where he'd ended up.

"Yamcha? Is that you?"

The captain jumped from his corner and ran to the bars of the cell. "Yes! Krillin! What are you doing here?!"

"Taking count of heads. Tomorrow is a national holiday, and security measures must be taken."

"What national holiday?" Yamcha replied.

"Princess Bulma is getting married." Krillin explained. "Guess I'm not surprised you didn't hear, being in here and all."

" What?! " Yamcha gasped. The last few weeks had been a roller coaster of emotions. Initially he had been so angry at Bulma, having felt betrayed that she'd told Maron about their relationship. But this subsided, and he came to accept the idea that Bulma had probably been misled - manipulated into it. It wasn't in her character to break a secret. He shook his head. "Bulma can't be getting married."

"Well, she is." Krillin fumbled with his hands.

"Krillin. You've got to get me out of here. Something's wrong. Bulma was supposed to marry me! "

"You don't say?" Krillin said, somewhat sarcastically. He looked down at his clipboard that listed all of the prisoners. When he reached Yamcha's name, his eyebrows rose. "Says you were thrown in here for seducing the Princess. Wait - the Princess?! "

"I didn't seduce her!" Yamcha urged. "She and I fell in love! We had a long and consensual relationship, and we were trying to find a way to make things work!"

"Man, the Princess , though? Did you want to have a warrant for your head?"

"You've got to get me out of here. Before the wedding. Please." Yamcha grasped the bars. "Krillin, I need to see her! Get me out!"

"No can do, buddy." Krillin replied. He looked around, as if to make sure there were no eavesdroppers. Then he leaned into the bars and whispered. "Today won't work. Wait until tomorrow."

"But tomorrow she'll be married!"

"Exactly. So security will be easier to bypass. Most of the palace staff will be attending the reception, nowhere near the dungeons."

Yamcha let out a loud groan and fell back into his corner. He put his head in his hands, massaging his temples.

"Okay. Okay. Okay." He said, as if trying to convince himself that everything was alright. "Okay. Krillian. Can you get me a paper and a pen? I need to write a note for Bulma. Please. She must get my message before tomorrow."

In the entry hall of the palace stood Bulma and her father. She watched as King Vegeta and Prince Vegeta approached, followed by a mob of unnamed saiyans dressed in all types of garb.

"Princess." Vegeta greeted with a nod when he was within reasonable distance. He then nodded at King Briefs. "King."

"Prince Vegeta," Both Bulma and her father said at the same time.

"I have something for you," Prince Vegeta said. He stepped even closer, holding out his hand. Bulma blushed, knowing what it would be. She held her hand out agreeably, and he took it gently. A moment later he was sliding a diamond ring on her finger.

Bulma was actually stunned to see it, not having known what to expect. She held her hand up to the light, watching the stone glisten with reflection.

Behind the Prince, the saiyan crowd erupted into loud cheers. Bulma hadn't been expecting this either. Her face reddened and she looked at Vegeta shyly. "It's nice to see you again, Prince."

"Princess…" Vegeta whispered, his eyes locked on hers. "I missed you,"

Butterflies formed in her stomach, and Bulma looked down at her hand abashedly, waiting for the applause to subside.

And soon enough it did. And then she was whisked away, a blur of many faces greeting her while she stoically greeted them back. She was introduced to so many saiyans that the names started blending in with one another, and she could hardly recognize one known face from a stranger.

Speeches were given, hugs were received. Colors swirled in front of her eyes at how fast paced it all was. And the next thing she knew, Bulma's hand was in Vegeta's, and he was leading her to her room.

"You'll need to get your rest," He said. "Those people back there were suffocating."

She laughed at his honesty. "I've been in worse situations."

He squeezed her hand, and it felt so natural to be walking alongside him. Once again Bulma couldn't help but think that this arrangement might not be so bad, after all . They certainly didn't hate each other. And in another lifetime, one without Yamcha, she felt she would be able to love the Prince.

Soon the reached her room and carefully stepped inside. With the door safely shut, the Prince turned to look in her eyes again. "Princess." He said lowly, and she smiled. "Prince."

"It's nice to see you again," He muttered. Moving forward. "I was thinking about it during the return trip. Do you want our first kiss to be in front of that crowd?"

"Wah- Oh." Bulma's eyes widened. In all of the planning, all of the discussion, she had forgotten that marriages were sealed with a kiss. And she gasped, embarrassed.

"I'm not much for public displays of affection, either." Vegeta said. She thought this would be something he might have laughed about, but his face was more serious than ever. "Is that what you want, then?"

"Not really." Bulma admitted. What could be more awkward than having a first kiss in front of thousands of watching eyes?

"Then we should take care of that." Vegeta replied. He put his hands on her shoulders. Bulma's lips parted - he was about to kiss her. This was happening so fast. So, incredibly, fast.

"May I?"

She didn't respond, not feeling that she really had much choice in the matter. They were going to kiss one way or another. She supposed he was right, to break the ice in privacy would be the best scenario.. She closed her eyes, too shy to nod, and Vegeta understood her action as concent.

Then, slowly and oh so fast, his lips were upon hers.

She didn't know what she had been expecting, but not this.

He placed his arms around her, hugging her just as he had done before leaving two weeks ago. And Bulma hugged him back, not breaking the kiss.

Something about it was so confusing. Why did it feel so acceptable? Why did it feel so… right?

The Prince deepened the kiss, pressing against her a little harder. And she let him. In fact, she found herself pressing back. This made him elicit a low groan, and she felt his hands running through her hair.

She would have sighed if she could have. If her mouth hadn't been occupied.. She loved the feeling of her hair being caressed. She loved this feeling in his arms.

Soon she felt something caressing her lower lip. And instantly she recognized it, having received that type of kiss from Yamcha before. But that - that she wasn't ready for. While Vegeta's tongue asked for entrance, Bulma's lips denied, staying firmly shut against his.

Before long he pulled away, slowly brushing a thumb across her face.

"That was," Bulma began, but she stopped short. She couldn't quite think of how to describe it, exactly. "That was…"

"Good." Prince Vegeta smirked. He took a step back. "Get some rest, then. Tomorrow will be a long day."

And then he placed a soft peck on her forehead, and he backed to the door. Bulma watched him go, her heart pounding, butterflies racing. She found herself unable to tear her eyes away. Not until he had opened the door. Not until he'd disappeared behind it.

Now that it was over, Bulma's mind was once again on Yamcha. Once more she couldn't help but feel as if she were betraying him. Even though logically it didn't make sense. She'd just shared her first kiss with another man.

Carefully she placed two fingers to her lips. In spite of herself, she looked forward to doing it again.