"Done!" Two days later, Bulma smiled down at her prototypes. They were a set of two training bots that she had finally assembled with some scrap metal that she'd recruited Bardock to help her find. They weren't the prettiest, nor the most durable. But, considering he lack of resources, she felt it was more than successful for a beta version 1.

She fanned herself, lamenting the weather. It was exceptionally hot that day, and the air conditioning of the palace just couldn't quite keep up. All throughout her work she'd been a sweating mess, anxiously looking forward to a cold bath that was more overdue.

Now that it was finally time for her to take that bath, she was having second thoughts. Bulma gazed out the window, eying a sparkling pond that she had enjoyed watching during the sunset. The water was crystal clear, and from what she had seen, no creatures were residing inside. And, for the last hour, Bulma had been thinking of what it would be like to take a dip in it.

Smiling happily, she went to her closet. She found the bathing suit she'd packed from Earth and held it up to her body, examining in the mirror if she thought it would still fit. Oh, she hoped that pond water would be cold. She so desperately needed relief from this aching heat!

Carrying two buckets full of water that had been requested, Nova was walking across the palace grounds. Never having been the most strong, this was no easy feat. The scorching sun didn't help, and she cursed to herself irritably. Of all tasks, why was this the one she'd been asked to do?!

A splash caught her ear, which was most unusual, and she turned quizzically. Her eyes widened, and then narrowed. In the distance she could see Bulma climbing out of the diamond pond, pushing her hair away from her face before jumping back in. It wasn't just the fact that she was taking a dip in the pond that struck Nova, but it was her appearance.

Nova had never seen a bikini before. The bottoms were high cut, exposing all of Bulma's legs, and even some of her hip bone. Her top barely covered her breasts, just small pieces of fabric that she was spilling out of.

Narrowing her eyes, Nova bit the inside of her cheek. This was how Vegeta's wife was going to conduct herself? It was incredibly disrespectful! How dare she?!

Summoning all of the strength she could muster, Nova began to walk even faster to the other end of the palace grounds. She needed to tell Vegeta before Bulma finished her swim.

.

"Is that all you've got?!" Vegeta was spitting. A thin line of blood was rolling down his chin, a result of being kicked in the mouth earlier on in the training session. Nappa swung around and shot a punch for Vegeta's solar plexus, but Vegeta caught his fist in mid-air.

"Vegeta!" Nova shouted when she ran into the training room.

Her voice was so shrill, so hysterical, that it made both of the saiyan men cover their ears. "What?!" Vegeta snapped irritably. "What on Vegetasai has got you howling like a banshee?!"

"Sorry," Nova cleared her throat. "Vegeta. You want to go take a look at the diamond pond. Right now, hurry."

"What for?" He asked. Vegeta wiped the blood from his chin and began to remove his training gloves. He was looking down at his hands, unaware that Nova's eyes were sneakily glazing over his sweaty form. "What's wrong?"

"It's Bulma!" Nova exclaimed. "She's practically naked, swimming!"

This description was so out of character for Bulma that words didn't sink in. Vegeta threw his training gloves to the floor before looking up at the saiyaness. "And-?"

" And?! " Nova looked to Nappa for help. This reaction was completely opposite to what she'd been expecting. Nappa's eyebrows were raised, his mustache twitching uncomfortably.

"And…" She looked back to Vegeta. "That's no way for a princess or queen to conduct herself."

"I don't see what's wrong with her going for a swim," Vegeta took a swig of his water. "Leave her alone, Nova."

"I don't think you heard me right," Nova balked. "I said she's practically naked! "

This time the words registered. Vegeta spit his water out, coughing as he choked down what he'd been trying to swallow. "What?!"

"She is!" Nova declared. "She's… She's hardly wearing anything at all! For everyone to see!"

"Why would she-?"

"And!" Nova stuck her nose in the air. She'd been waiting days to tell him this next bit, knowing that he was always one to jump to her defense. Just as he always had when she'd been bullied in the past. "She's been rude to me ever since she got here! You should have heard the way she talked to me when you were in the regeneration tank!"

"Noted." Vegeta's eyebrows furrowed. It was hard to read the expression on his face, or the tone in his voice. One one hand, he seemed incredibly calm. On the other, there was something in the back of his eyes that Nova didn't have enough time to study. The saiyan turned on his heel and stalked out of the room.

Once Nappa and Nova were alone, the bald saiyan grunted. Nova turned to him.

"Now, why did you do that?" He asked.

"Do what?" Nova put her hands behind her back.

"You're instigating trouble." Nappa said pointedly. "For what?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Nova said, feigning as much innocence in her voice as she could muster. "I was simply informing Vegeta."

.

Across the palace grounds he stalked. Vegeta was only half angry, but mostly confused. What Nova described about Bulma's clothes seemed so unlike his wife. Not to mention random. He needed to inspect what this was all about, but he hardly doubted things were as bad as…

He stopped in his tracks.

Up ahead he saw Bulma, laying in the grass beside the pond. She had her arms outstretched, taking in the beams of the sun, her legs spread to match. His eyes flew to her breasts, and he felt a twinge inside. A desire to jump on her, to kiss her, to show her what else he was capable of. And this only lasted for a split second. Because as soon as the thoughts came to his mind, Vegeta realized that anyone else walking by could easily have the same reaction. Feel the same way he did. Imagine doing the same things to her. And she was for him to ravish, and him alone.

His heart was pounding at the idea of some slimy guy getting off thinking about this vision, and before he knew it he was storming right for her.

Bulma heard the grass rustle as he walked, and she lazily opened her eyes to see him approaching. "Hello!" She sang, a blissful smile on her face.

But he wasn't smiling at all. In fact, everything about him screamed that he was pissed. Quickly Bulma sat up, frowning as he drew even closer. "What's wrong?"

"You!" He snapped, grabbing her by the wrist and pulling her to her feet. "What do you think you're doing?!"

"Ah!" Bulma gasped, trying to pull her arm out of his grasp. "What are-"

"Who in their right mind would wear something like that?!" He spat. "You want the entire palace to see your tits and ass?!"

"What?!"

"The audacity!" Vegeta continued. "You are my wife! For me to see only!"

"It's just a bathing suit!" Bulma retaliated. Fury welled inside at his accusations, and she fought against his grip yet again. "Let go of me!"

He obliged, and Bulma nearly stumbled backwards from the suddenness of it.

"That is no bathing suit," Vegeta spat. "That is a sex outfit if I've ever seen one!"

Oh, that did it. Bulma's mouth dropped open. Her cheeks reddening with indignation at his insinuations. After all their time together, this is what he thought of her? He jumped to these conclusions? She had been a virgin until a few days ago, for crying out loud!

"How dare you!" She stepped forward, and her voice began to rise with a tone that Vegeta had never heard from her before. He'd encountered her voice when it was wrapped in sadness, fear, resentment. But he's never heard her so angry before. And the idea that she had the gall to be mad at him, when she was dressed like that, only infuriated him even more.

"How dare I ?" He spat, ready to drive his point home. "You don't see me trotting around with my dick flopping about, do you? There's only one of us prancing like a filthy whore , and it isn't me!"

A voice in the back of his mind yelled that he had gone too far. While he was still too angry to fully regret his choice of word, he immediately knew he had messed up. He'd called her such a thing before during their only other fight, and he'd felt guilty once he had learned the full story. When he realized just how unexperienced she truly was. When he'd learn she'd just been giving someone the benefit of the doubt.

It had been such a horrid feeling that Vegeta had told himself he wouldn't be as rash with her next time they had a fight. That he would summon the patience to hear her side, and gain the full context before jumping to conclusions. But this was too much for him to take. It was so cut and dry. She was hardly wearing anything, she was outside, and that was that.

"I am not a whore!" Bulma shot. She looked at him scathingly, but her voice had a crack. "You know that!"

"You're acting like one." He growled back. "You know what they say. If it looks like shit, and smells like shit, then it is shit."

Her mouth dropped open as she took in a breath of air. Immediately her eyes were watering, and she took a step back. "You…" She breathed, smacking her lips as she searched for the words she wanted. "I… Of all people… You!"

He smirked, glad he'd finally gotten to her as much as she'd gotten to him. And he crossed his arms, mentally challenging her to refute him. He would like to see her try come up with a valid rebuttal.

"You are…" She took a sharp breath, balling her hands into fists. "The only man I've been with!"

He wanted to laugh. That was all she had?

"You are… You're!" Tears began to roll down her cheeks. Memories of a few nights earlier were replaying in her head, in rapid loop, and it was pulling at her insides. He'd acted so gentle and careful, and she'd actually felt like he'd cared for her. That he would do anything to keep her safe, that he understood her deeper than anyone else did. She'd never shared such a moment with anyone, never opened herself up, never allowed herself to be so vulnerable and trusting.

And this was what he had to say?

Clearly he didn't care for her at all. He only wanted to possess her like an object. Had pursued her like a cat and mouse. Played some kind of game with her head, and made himself out to be a completely different person. And that realization wiped the air out of her lungs. It hurt, it really did. And she felt so ashamed, so stupid. She'd known from the beginning that this marriage was merely a business arrangement. Why had she allowed herself to build the idea into something else?

He just stood there, with his slack jaw, his arms crossed. And the longer they spent glaring at one another, the more Bulma realized he really had meant what he'd said. Because he wasn't taking it back. He wasn't apologizing. She knew that she was doing a horrible job at hiding her emotions, and even with that he was standing firm.

In that moment she wanted to punch him. She wanted to push him in that pond, to wipe the victorious smirk from his face. She wanted to scream about how much of a hypocrite he was to take seduce her the way he had, and then call her such things.

Bulma wanted to do so much that she was rendered motionless, her jaw quivering as she fought back her temper. She was about to break into angry sobs, and she didn't want him to see that. There might be tears flowing down her face in that moment, but she refused to let him see her actually sob. Not when he'd been the one to cause it.

Finally, she settled on the only words she could manage. "You. Are. A. Complete. Bastard."

And she stormed away.

King Briefs stirred, feeling a hand on his cheek. It was so soft and warm, such a caring touch. He moved his face into the hand, wishing to feel even more of this comfort.

"You're awake," The voice said. It swirled in his ears. It was so familiar, so much, but he couldn't identify how he knew it. Who it was. He opened his eyes and only saw blurs of shapes, colors that bled into one another. His vision was failing him.

"How do you feel?" She asked.

"B-…" He gasped, taking a deep breath to summon the air. "Bunny?"

"Yes." She said, and he felt another caress on his cheek. His smiled into his wife's touch. Oh, how he had missed her. It'd been so long since they'd met. And he couldn't remember why that was. Where had she been this whole time?

"I love you," He croaked.

"I love you, too."

The fingertips went to his chin, stroking to his forehead. Coaxing his eyes closed again. "I love you so much, I want to marry you all over again." She said.

And he nodded happily at that idea. Oh, how he loved his Queen Bunny.

"Can I have a kiss?" He asked.

And the lips were on his, barely brushing against him. The sensation wasn't quite as familiar, for he thought Bunny typically kissed him differently. But he smiled. It was satisfying all the same.

"Is it okay if we do something small?" The voice whispered in his ear. "For the wedding, I mean? I know you're so tired… my love ."

"Bunny…" He nodded again, falling back into his dreams.

Maron stood back, looking at the sleeping King. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. They were running out of time, but he had given his consent. She needed to fetch a priest and a witness.

Quick.