TRIGGER WARNING: miscarriage

Everything was so damned bright. Bulma coughed when fresh hair slapped her in the face, jarring her awake. All seemed so still and quiet, and she didn't know how long she'd been sitting like this. The Bluehead, her eyes closed, groaned in pain as she felt around her. Her hand brushed against something sleek, and then something cold, and her brain couldn't comprehend what any of it was.

It was too tiresome to open her eyes, but Bulma did her best to try. Her heavy lids were rough to negotiate with, and that burning light hitting her pupils only made them shut again.

"Veg…" She breathed. A very hazy memory vaguely floated through her mind, one of the Saiyan stuffing a senzu bean in her mouth before turning away. All this did was create even more confusion in a whirling skull, because it didn't make sense why she felt so unbearably weak if she'd been given a bean.

After all, didn't that bean make her feel better? Surely she remembered that energy surge afterwards…

…Hadn't she?

"Veg…et…a…" The Bluehead struggled to find her breath as she pushed herself from her seat, blindly falling forward onto her knees. She felt around with her hands again, moving carefully, and a moment later she was falling from the ground and onto something even rougher.

Where was she? Why did everything feel so familiar? Why did her body hurt so numbingly bad?

Quain did his best - his damndest - to stay calm. A bead of sweat was falling down his temple as he flew, and he knew he was getting close to where that space pod had entered the atmosphere. It was the same shape and size as the one used by the killers who called themselves "The Ginyu Squad", whom had shown up many moons ago. Was their planet about to be ransacked again? Were the Namekians going to be in danger once more?

Despite how terrified he was at the prospect of impending death, Quain had been born with his gift of nobility. And so he left his village, daring to be the first to analyze the landing, with the promise that he'd warn his people as soon as he could.

If he could.

In the distance he saw the crater, and his mouth went dry. This hole was the exact kind that had been left behind by the foreign invaders before. Quain froze in his place, hovering in air, deciding it was best to flee before he was seen. He needed to warn his brothers. It was just as he began to turn when his pointed ears picked up on the sound of a ragged breath from within the penetrated soil, and the Namekian froze again.

Though the sound was far away, he was certain that it was pained. Could it be that the landing had gone wrong? Were his people saved by fate?

Hesitantly he approached, moving with a speed slow enough to keep his aura low, and soon he was landing on the bright grass that overlooked the crater. Quain held his breath when he stepped to the edge, peering down. He saw a frail woman crawling out of the space pod, and it only took half a moment for him to jump in.

"Are you alright?!"

"Ahh-" Bulma gasped. She felt the dirt shift as someone landed by her side. She had been scratching the ground as she felt about for something to pull herself up with, and there was soil under her nails as a result. She opened a hand, dirt falling out of it, and once again attempted to open her eyes.

She could make out a leg that was in front of her. Her maculas struggled to focus on the view of the ankle, and all she could recognize was that specific hue of green skin. "D…Dende?"

"Huh?" Quain gasped. Had he heard right?

A shaking hand reached out and clasped his leg. Bulma's head was spinning too much, now. She couldn't take it any more. "Dende…" The ringing in her ears was fading, agony readiating through her body. So badly that the rest of her senses were being sucked into an abyss, and all she felt was pain. She knew she couldn't hold on anymore, and her grip weakened as she succumbed to slumber once again. "Den…de."

"Dende?" Quain breathed. Was this the other visitor he had heard about? The one that had saved them from the Ginyu Force? He looked her over, realizing there was blood smeared across the lower half of her body.

—

Everything was blurry, but she felt so incredibly blissful. No more pain, her insides were warm as she radiated in the sensation. When Bulma opened her eyes her vision was no longer blurry, andshe saw the young Namekian holding her shoulder. He was a young boy, feeding her his healing energy intently. No wonder she felt so amazing.

"Dende," She breathed. And she wanted so desperately to know that this wasn't a dream. That she was back on Namek, safe, happy, and around the kind and welcoming inhabitants of that planet.

"You're awake," Dende said.

"Am I?" She asked, sitting up. "H-How did I get here? What's going on?"

"I was going to ask you the same thing." Dende mumbled. His eyes looked so sad, so deeply ashamed about something. He wouldn't meet her gaze.

"I found you," A strange Namekian claimed from the side, and that was the first she realized that she and Dende weren't alone. "Your pod had a rough landing."

"Pod…?" Bulma breathed. Her brain went to the edge of a faint memory, but immediately she pushed it away. Whatever that memory was, she knew she'd have an anxiety attack if she truly thought too hard on it. She could feel her body warning her not to think about it.

In fact, she didn't want to remember anything at all. And so she forced a smile at the Namekian claiming to have found her, her heart sinking as it all subconsciously began to come back.

"Miss." A third voice made his presence known. This one was just as skinny as he was tall. He wore a tan coat, and his face was just as mournful as Dende's currently was.

"What…?" She looked back to Dende, who was still avoiding her eyes. There was obviously an elephant in the room, and her already pounding heart only grew more anxious as she wracked her brain for what it could be. "What's wrong? What… What is it?"

"I'm so sorry." Dende mumbled, his lower lip quivering. "I did everything I could. I tried my hardest, but it was no use. I failed."

Bulma looked questioningly to the tall Namkien, silently pleading for some kind of explanation.

"The fetus." The Namekian's face was grim. "It was birthed as you were transported to us. It was already dead. There was nothing we could do."

It took her a minute of staring before the words registered. Horror flooded inside as her brain processed this information. And she looked back to Dende, his eyes still cast to the floor.

"My…" Her breath was strained. She swallowed for air, unsure of how to even talk anymore. Silently she looked down to her stomach, a shaking hand pulling up the blanket, and it was already far more deflated than the last time she'd seen it.

"No…" She choked. Completely trembling, she turned back to the tall saiyan. "No."

"I'm so sorry," He grimaced.

"No… No!" Bulma shook her head, every pore in her skin burning from the inside. She wanted to scratch it, to rip herself away from this body that was now closing in on her. She was claustrophobic. She needed to be free. "No! NO!"

Her scream echoed through her own ears, and Dende immediately put a healing hand on her again, filling her with his soothing energy once more. Her body stopped trembling, and she was able to catch her breath. But it didn't stop the primal sobs escaping from deep within. She buried her face in the pillow, wailing desperately to the room around her. Begging to know why it had to be her baby. Why couldn't it have instead been her. Why did it just keep getting worse?

It just kept getting worse…

Just a moment ago she was desperately hoping that she wasn't in a dream. Now she would give anything to be able to wake up.

All three Namekians bowed their heads, her painful cries filling the walls. Dende continued his healing touch, tears running down his face, wishing there was something he could do as she collapsed into herself. His power could heal injuries, not mental anguish. All he could do was stand there, holding her stoically, waiting for her tears to eventually run themselves dry.

.

"Another pod is approaching the atmosphere." Someone poked his head in the room.

Bulma had been staring solemnly at the mattress as she hugged her knees, and she now looked up. There was no telling how much time had passed, how long she had been drifting through a haze. But as soon as she heard those words, something inside told her this was good news. And while there was no excitement that could be triggered inside, she wasn't frightened. There was no logical way to explain it, but she just knew this pod was a welcome arrival.

"Has its landing point been projected?" She asked quietly. And the Namekian replied with a nod. She looked at him slowly, her eyes empty as she studied his face. "Can you take me to it?"

And there was no denial. It was decided that Quain, the Namekian who had found her, would take Bulma to where they expected the pod to land. And Dende would join, just in case his healing powers were immediately needed again.

She didn't feel anything as she hugged Quain, flying on his back. And she watched as the pod landed up ahead. They landed on its outskirts shortly after.

It took several minutes for the pod's door to swing open. But when it finally did, two children came staggering sloppily into the dirt. Dende immediately jumped into the crater to heal away their grogginess from the hibernation. And Bulma dropped to her knees when she realized who it was.

As soon as Dende finished his healing treatment, Gohan came staggering out of the crater with Roxena. When he saw the Bluehead, he wailed. "Miss Bulma!"

And Bulma couldn't resist the sobs that came out, immense relief at seeing that the boy was alright. He threw himself into her, burying his own face in her stomach. For him, everything was flooding back, too. And Dende's healing couldn't make up for the immense pain he'd had to endure.

"You're here," She breathed. Not bothering to ask what all had occurred. She knew that whatever he'd been through had been horrible. It was for everyone. All she cared about was that he was safe. That he was with her.

"Miss Bulma," Gohan wailed. He pulled out of the hug. "It's Mister Vegeta. Mister Vegeta's dead!"

.

Hours had passed, and Bulma was on Quain's back again.

The news of Vegeta had been too much to comprehend, and she'd fainted as soon as Gohan said it. She'd been out for hours, despite Dende's healing attempts, because there was nothing physically wrong with her. Her mind had just desperately needed a rest.

Gohan was flying behind them, Roxena carrying a much healthier Roxena on his back. Dende was at his side.

Bulma shouted out instructions as she directed them to the cave she had originally sought refuge in. Though she spoke effectively, she wasn't comprehending the words coming out of her own mouth. Everything around her felt colorless, her motions on autopilot as she numbly told the Namekians where to go.

And how convenient it was that the dragonballs were still exactly where Vegeta had left them. Grouped together in a sloppy pile at the side of the cave opening. The people of Namek were so gentle and non aggressive that anyone who had stumbled upon the balls chose to leave them rather than choose to steal.

The group landed. Roxena looked around at her surroundings, fascinated. Gohan and Dende had spent time explaining what the dragon balls to her while Bulma was still asleep. The group knew that they wouldn't be able to achieve all of their goals with just three wishes. But the promise was that once the balls has regenerated after four months, Roxena's home and family would be wished back to life. And after all she had been through, all of her grief and pain, she didn't mind. Four months was a drop in the hat when she was finally free from Frieza's reign.

But it was horrible to see how distraught Bulma was. Of course, Roxena had heard plenty about her back on the warship. About what the other slaves had subjected her to. But she'd never officially met her. And seeing her now, so quiet and melancholic with a thousand mile stare, Roxena could only think back on all of those horror stories. Guilt welled inside, even though she'd had nothing to do with it. She wished she could have done something to stop it.

The sky grew dark as Dende yelled, thrusting his hands above his head. Calling for the dragon to grace them with an appearance. Asking for it to awaken, to appear. And Bulma didn't so much as flinch when lightning came cracking down from above, an ominous thunder rumbling through the ground.

The Namekian dragon looked much different from the one on Earth. But Bulma couldn't care about that. Her mind wasn't even on the dragon or what they were about to do. All she could think of were the two recent deaths, and how cold her insides felt.

Gohan wished first. He called to the dragon, asking that the androids on Earth be turned human so they would no longer be invincible. When the sky cracked its reply, they knew this had been granted. Gohan gulped, thinking of all the lives that might now be spared, tears welling in his eyes.

"Your turn, Miss Bulma." He said.

But all she could think about was her lost baby, and that there was no bringing it back. She didn't even want to ask. She just couldn't bear to get her hopes up. The fact was that a miscarriage was a natural cause of death, and there would be no returning from that.

"Miss Bulma." Gohan whispered, taking her by the hand.

"I AM WAITING!" The dragon called.

"Miss Bulma," Gohan urged again. "Anything you want. Please."

"I can't," She mumbled, unable to think of anything but that baby. And how unfair it was that she couldn't have the one wish she wanted. "Gohan, you go again. Take my turn."

"No, Miss Bulma!" Gohan whispered. "I couldn't!"

"I WILL RETURN TO MY REST IF YOU ARE SATISFIED WITH YOUR ONE WISH." The dragon boomed.

She was breaking down, sobbing again. Bulma dropped to her knees, gripping the grass below, her body convulsing with her wails.

"I AM STILL WAITING." The dragon called.

It wasn't fair. She couldn't bear the idea of continuing in life on her own, she couldn't imagine a future without the two most important people in it. Even if Vegeta had been there at that very moment, she knew he wouldn't be comforting her. For they had essentially broken up before she'd been kidnapped.

He wanted to achieve his immortality and seek greener pastures within the vast extents of space.

And she just wanted to go back to a recovered Earth. She wanted her home.

"ONE LAST CHANCE." The dragon called.

"Vegeta…" Bulma finally cried out loud. "I want you here… Vegeta…"

And then the ground began to shake. The shock wiped the tears from her eyes, and she jumped up with a gasp. Did Namek experience Earthquakes?

The trees around them were jerking with the seismic activity. Bulma scattered to Gohan, wrapping protective arms around him. Rocks were starting to fall from the nearby cliff above their heads. And she was terrified that one of them would end up injured.

But then, just across from the dragon, a purple light began to hue from thin air. And then the light took on a shape. An outline of a lean muscular frame.

She gasped, her stomach welling as the figure became more prominent. And then the light faded, and in front of them stood Vegeta. His hands balled into fists, face as confused as it was defensive. He looked as if he were expecting to be ambushed, glaring from side to side. And then his eyes fell on Bulma, and all hostility fell away.

"Vegeta," Bulma breathed. She couldn't help herself. In a moment she was upon him, her arms wrapped as tightly around him as she could manage. Vegeta was still too stunned to adequately respond. He looked down at her slowly, jaw dropping as he then looked to Gohan.

The lack of hug made Bulma pull away, and she looked at him sadly. His apparent indifference only reaffirmed that horrible rift. It really was true, after all. Things just wouldn't be the same between them as they had been before they'd left the planet Earth. He was clearly still set on his reckless plans.

"Okay," She breathed. Normally she might have tried to pull herself together. To not let him see how much their rapture was affecting her. But she didn't care. Her life was in shambles, and there was nothing left to look forward to. What else did she have to lose?

Vegeta was staring down at his perfectly clean hands, turning them this and that, as if confirming that they were really his. And then he looked back up at Bulma, still too stunned to speak. What kind of chamber in hell was this? What could he expect to be unleashed upon him? Was he going to have to watch her be tortured again?

"Okay, Vegeta." Bulma repeated. "You're back."

What? He blinked, looking up to the sky. Seeing the dragon hovering above them for the first time. His eyes wandered down to the pile of dragon balls, from which the dragon was cast. And he couldn't believe it. Had he been wished back?

No way.

There was no way he was alive.

"And the last wish is for you," Bulma was crying now, backing away shakily. "Go ahead and get your immortality. Now's finally your chance."

She couldn't take it anymore. With another sob she turned on her heels and began to run. Bulma didn't know where she was heading, or when she would stop. She just knew she needed to be alone, to get away. To not bear witness to anymore. Bulma just wanted to disappear.

She collapsed under a tree when she finally ran out of breath. And, her back against the trunk, she slid to a sitting position on the ground. She hugged her chest, struggling to gain control. Struggling to find a way to be okay with everything. But there was nothing she could think of that made her feel even remotely better.

Everything really was gone, as Bulma stared sadly in front of her. Her surrounding were still dark, barely lit by the glowing aura of the giant dragon.

And then suddenly a loud crack of thunder errupted, making her jump. She gasped, watching as the sky faded back to its natural hue. The darkness was fading, and she knew that final wish had been made.

But she felt a warmth inside. Something tugging at her, forcing her to hold her arms outwards. Stunned, she watched her involuntary movements, some invincible rope holding her in place. And then, as she held her breath, she watched another figure that began to form from thin air.

And it was small.

Soft.

A fuzz of lavender hair, two closed eyes. Perfectly pouted lips. A serene expression as the baby curled into her arms. Immediately Bulma felt her heart lunge. No explanation was needed as her instincts swirled. This familiar aura was one she had known for so long. One that was embedded in her, as if connected by an invisible string.

Happy tears, Bulma let out a relieved breath. She nuzzled her face into the baby, hugging it as tight as she could. Holding it to her chest, placing delicate kisses on his small forehead.

Her son.

Now something was telling her to look up. She let out a breath as she did, and she saw that Vegeta was standing over her. As she watched, he dropped to his knees. And he moved so slowly, as if he felt just as defeated as she had a moment ago.

"Vegeta," Bulma said through her cries. "How?"

"It wasn't natural," He whispered, looking from her eyes down to the sleeping boy. "The dragon said he died during one of your assaults."

"So…" She breathed.

"I asked for the boy to have a second chance. To come to you as if he was just birthed."

Her heart filled with warmth as she smiled hesitantly. She let out another sob, this one joyful, and Vegeta's arms were around her. They sat, the small family holding one another, Vegeta's forehead pressed against the top of Bulma's. The sun shining down on them. A small breeze was flowing through the air as, as if to promise that a new day was dawning. A new era upon them.

"But your wish," Bulma whispered. "Your immortality-"

"Bulma." He pulled away to look at her, his eyes slowly studying her face.

And she stared back, frozen in place, her breath catching at his expression. At the deepness of his eyes, the sincerity he exhibited as he held her gaze. He put a hand to her cheek and stroked it, as if confirming that she was was really there.

"Vegeta," She whispered.

"Bulma." He said again, carefully leaning forward. He caught her lips with his, pouring himself into her. Feeling her give all she could back. Not wanting to let go, not knowing if he'd be able to tear his lips away ever again.

It was as if she could read his mind, because slowly she began to pull back. And they were looking into each other's eyes again. His thumb went over her lips, tracing them delicately. Taking her in. Not wanting to take anything for granted, not wanting this moment to ever end.

"I wished for what I wanted." He whispered. And she stared, as if she wasn't sure she heard him properly. And he pressed his forehead against hers, taking in her scent that he had fallen in love with long ago. "All I want is him. All I want is you."

No more words were said. She allowed herself to fall into his hold, the baby in her arms still peacefully asleep. And as he rubbed her arms, her head resting on his chest, she looked out at the planet around them. The bright sky, the lit sun, the healthy leaves blowing in the breeze. Out in the distance she could see the Namekians, Gohan, and Roxena. Standing in wait as they watched her and Vegeta.

They were all in this together.

And she knew it would be another four months before they could wish back all of the stolen lives, for all the reparation. Before they could go back to Earth. And none of that mattered. She didn't mind that there was still so much to do, or that they would have to get used to a new way of life in the meantime.

For Bulma and Vegeta, it didn't matter where they were. When they were together, together with the baby that had been granted an opportunity of life, nothing else was of importance.

They had a home in each other.

AN:

Well, that finally ends the story. It ends a journey for me, a project that has taken five years to bring to completion.

I am sorry I took a hiatus during COVID, but I always promised I would finish this story someday. I do what I can to keep my promises.

I hope you enjoyed this story. I hope the ending was worth the wait, was worth all the time you've spent reading all the other chapters.

I am considering posting one last piece - an epilogue.

Love to you all,

xx surelysaiyangood