She had nobody to go to. No friends, not her parents, nor anyone else. There was only one person who she felt she could talk to, even though they barely knew each other. Bulma had cried the entire time she'd been in the shower, and her tears began to subside as she put on a fresh gown. She knew her eyes were red, and her face swollen, but she couldn't bear to be alone.

She was glad she didn't encounter Vegeta as she walked through the palace, and Bulma all but burst into the kitchen as soon as she got to the door.

"My lady!" Bobble jumped - and this time it wasn't uncalled for. It was so shocking to see Bulma stumbling in like this. It was even more stunning when Bulma was immediately on her, sniffling into the hug.

"What is wrong?" Bobble asked.

Where could Bulma begin? She barely knew Bobble. She immediately regretted her decision to seek her out, and at the same time it had felt so good to receive a hug from someone that was old enough to be her Mom. And it was so overwhelming as the thoughts and shame continued to replay in her head, those memories of Vegeta's body feeling like a slap in the face. "I want to go home… I miss Daddy…"

It was all a blur. Her head hurt, and her eyes were watering again, and her throat was so dry. The next thing she knew, she was sitting down, and a welcoming breeze was hitting her in the face. Bulma opened her eyes and saw that Bobble had led her to the small table tucked in the corner, and was fanning her with a cutting board. And Bobble sounded so genuine when she spoke, and it felt like another hug. "What happened, my lady? My sweet and noble princess - oh, please don't cry."

"Vegeta's so horrible," She lamented. Bulma didn't know how much detail she wanted to get into, but it was true. He really was.

"Let me guess, you two got in a fight?" Bobble continuing fanning the Princess.

"Not even," Now that she was confiding, the loneliness that had her beside herself a moment earlier was twisting back into anger. "We don't fight. He just gets mad and starts yelling at me. I didn't even do anything."

"Did he tell you why he was mad?" Bobble asked. She didn't seem surprised by Vegeta's behavior, but was more concerned about the context. She moved across the kitchen to pour a glass of water before crossing back.

"I just went for a swim, and he didn't like what I was wearing." Bulma replied. She smiled when the glass was set by her, and she gulped it down in a very un-dignified way.

"Well?" Bobble asked, taking a seat beside Bulma. She put a caring hand to the Princess' shoulder, and Bulma felt her eyes welling with tears again. Goodness, her emotions were all over the place. Bobble was being so sweet…

"I was wearing a bikini," She bit her lip. It felt too stupid to even say out loud. How ridiculous was this?

Bobble's hand got tighter on Bulma's shoulder. She whispered, as if worried that the words might be painful. "My Lady, what's a bikini?"

What's a bikini?

If she wasn't currently so upset, Bulma would have laughed. She'd never, in her entire life, expected to be asked such a simple question by someone with as much life experience as Bobble had. "A bathing suit?" Bulma offered.

"Oh, I know what that is. I didn't know they were called bikinis on Earth,"

"I mean," Bulma looked up to the ceiling, wondering how to word this without coming off as condescending. "A bikini is a type of bathing suit. A certain style. That's what we call the ones that are in two pieces instead of one."

"Only two pieces?!" Bobble breathed. "Oh, wow!"

"I'm so confused!" Bulma confessed. "What - how many pieces are you guys used to?"

"Oh, it depends on your ranking," Bobble said. She gave Bulma's shoulder a reassuring pat before removing her hand. "Low class civilians usually wear the three pieces. You know, the top, the bottom, and the headpiece."

Suddenly Bulma was picturing something similar to ones that were common on her planet more than a century earlier. And things were starting to make a little more sense…

"But for the royal family, well. It's extremely rare for them to swim outdoors, as it's considered a public sighting. The men only have four pieces, but the women have those five." Bobble began counting on her fingers. "There's the long sleeved body suit, then the bustier goes over it, a swim skirt on the bottom, then jeweled headpiece, and finally the cape!"

"Cape?" Bulma balked.

"Oh yes, one designed for swimming, of course. It's water resistant and doesn't get so heavy," Bobble nodded.

"That seems like a lot of clothing!" Bulma breathed. She wanted to add that it was a ridiculous amount of clothing, but she thought better of it.

"Well, My Lady, outdoor swimming is a public sighting. It's important to maintain a reputation or stoicism. And the body shouldn't be the only thing on display. Don't you agree?"

"Mm…" Bulma looked down at her empty glass. Clearly there was a big cultural rift, which could explain why Vegeta had been so… angry . Unreasonably angry. It added context to the way he reacted to her bikini, but still… "He doesn't have to say such things just because he's mad."

"You mean Vegeta?"

"Yeah…" Bulma swallowed deeply, hoping she wasn't about to regret sharing this. "He's so nice when he's in a good mood, but when he's been upset at me, he's a completely different man."

"How do the men on Earth act when they're angry?" Bobble asked. And Bulma's eyes widened. She wasn't sure if she was quite ready to wrap her head around another vastly different custom.

"I don't…" She started.

"My Lady, everyone gets angry, do they not?" Bobble's hand was back on her shoulder. "Why, even Nova. You've been witness to her treatment of us servants when she has lost her temper."

"So that's normal ?" Bulma couldn't help the scornful look on her face. "I thought Nova was overly harsh. Are you saying everyone behaves like that when they're mad? They just take it out on other people and act like savages?"

"We aren't savages," Bobble quipped. "Anger comes naturally. And Vegeta, he's always had quite the temper."

"So he's allowed to just call me names?!" Her voice was rising with the disgruntlement of it all, and Bobble's hand tightened on her shoulder.

"My Lady, he doesn't mean it." She whispered. "His temper always gets the best of him, but what matters most is how he treats you when he calms down."

"No." Bulma stood up. "That's not okay. It's not okay for anyone to act like that. It's so disparaging."

"My Lady," Bobble sounded frightened now. "I didn't mean to upset you."

"I'm not upset at you," Bulma said. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and smiled. "I really appreciate you, Bobble."

"May I?" The cook asked. Bulma didn't know what she was referring to, but she said yes all the same. Bobble's arms wrapped around the Princess, squeezing her into another embrace. "You are so noble, my lady. So just and fair."

Bulma blushed, hugging back.

"But there is only so much that can be changed, My Lady. I am not sure what the custom is on Earth, but I assure you that anger is just as natural as water."

"Yes, but…" Bulma replied. "… But, there's other ways to handle anger. Without hurting the people around you. You shouldn't say things that you can't take back just because of a temporary feeling."

"I know the Prince is quite taken with you, My Lady. It's the talk of the palace - his treatment of you reminds us so much of how his father treated Queen Pris. Whatever he said, he didn't mean it. He was just upset. "

Bulma frowned, her eyes casting to the floor. That didn't make her feel any better about what had happened. Perhaps it explained a few things, but she wasn't okay with settling on mere acceptance.

"This isn't okay!" Chi-Chi protested. Her arms were folded over her chest as she leaned against the hallway wall, glaring at Yamcha as he shaved in the bathroom. He hadn't cared to stay hidden like Krillin had warned. The ex-captain hadn't met Chi-Chi during his time courting Bulma, but he'd heard a lot of stories about her. The woman seemed far more hysterical than Bulma ever described. She hadn't stopped lecturing him since she learned about him sneaking on the ship.

"I need to see her." Yamcha dipped his razor into the sink, cleaning the blades in the water. He'd said this so many times. It was as if it was becoming his mantra.

"At the cost of all of our lives?" Chi-Chi hissed. "Well, maybe not mine. I have Kakarot on my side. And Bulma, too."

Yamcha slammed his hands on the bathroom counter, glaring at Chi-Chi through the mirror. "Don't insinuate that Bulma wouldn't be on my side!"

"I keep telling you!" Chi-Chi snapped back. "Kakarot had many calls with Vegeta during his stay on Earth. They're fine! From everything they've discussed, Bulma is fine! Do you understand that?!"

"Of course he would say that." Yamcha slid the blade across his left cheek, the hair wiping off as smooth as soap. "He's the one who forced her into marriage."

" AND you ruined her wedding day!" Chi-Chi continued with her rant. "Kakarot told me what happened! Do you know how dangerous that was?!"

"Exactly!" Yamcha pointed at her in the mirror. "Dangerous! Key word: danger . Which is what Bulma is in."

"Idiot!" Chi-chi yelled. "It's what we're all in because of you!"

But Yamcha didn't care, as he continued grooming himself. His hair was no longer shaggy, his skin softer and much less pale than he'd been on her wedding day. Now he no longer had facial hair, and he was looking so much more like his old self. It felt so good to look in the mirror now. He hadn't recognized himself before.

Captain Yamcha was back.

A deep shiver ran down Bulma's spine. She was back in her chambers, writing in her journal. She dropped her pen to look around. As if expecting to see someone, but she knew she was alone.

"Hm." She remembered a tale her mother had once shared. It was a legend that when someone randomly got a shiver, it meant they were being talked about.

She wondered who must be discussing her then…

Nova had seen it all. The confrontation between Bulma and Vegeta. She'd giddily run to watch from afar after Vegeta had stormed off, and it had gone exactly as she hoped. Vegeta seemed to turn the other cheek a lot when it came to that wife of his. But public indecency was something not even Bulma could talk her way out of. She had deserved what she's received, and Nova was glad of that. And so she was more than irritated when she stood in the corner of the training room, watching Nappa and Vegeta argue about it.

Initially they had resumed their training session where it had been left off. And Nova had been happy to watch. Vegeta was always a treat for the eyes - especially when he was angry. And the way he threw himself more aggressively than ever as he swung at Nappa would swoon any saiyaness with half a brain.

But Nappa had sprung it on Vegeta once they finished their session. As Vegeta had been wiping his sweat away with a towel, Nappa grunted in his direction. "You shouldn't have done it, you know. I could hear you from over here."

No clarification was required for Vegeta to know exactly what Nappa had been referring to. He had spun around and thrown his towel at the bald saiyan, snarling as he yelled obscenities back.

"You forget that customs are different where she comes from!" Nappa then yelled.

And here they were, twenty minutes later, still screaming at each other as Nova silently watched. She appreciated how Vegeta was standing his ground, and she was furious with how adamant Nappa was about defending the Princess. What should he care? Bulma had been flaunting her body all about the palace grounds, and it was just as bad as having an affair. Nappa knew that. So why wouldn't he just shut up?

"I will say it one more time!" Nappa barked. "She isn't from here! We've been to plenty of planets where they wear far less for formal events! You know this!"

"Enough, or I'll have you demoted!" Vegeta barked. "I don't care what any other cultures are like! We are here, on Vegetasai , and she is my wife!"

Nova frowned when he said this. Even at this moment he spoke of Bulma so possessively.

Even after her public betrayal.

"Fine." Nappa spat. "Demote me for speaking the truth." He tore his armor off and threw it across the room. It landed so close to Nova, and she squealed at the loud clang it made. "But since I'm being relegated anyway, I'll say one more thing. You're a fucking idiot."

"How dare you!" Vegeta launched for Nappa, and the two commenced in a throwing of fists, moving so quickly that Nova couldn't keep up with her simple eyes. She heard yelling, and then a curse. And then suddenly Vegeta was on one side of the room, Nappa on the other. Nappa was holding his bleeding nose, and he let out an animalistic growl.

"You are!" Nappa spat, blood flying as he yelled. "That Princess has about as much worldly exposure as a housecat, and she obviously means well. You're pitting yourself against her over something stupid."

"Nappa…" Vegeta warned through gritted teeth. "Don't make me banish you."

"Banish me over a fucking girl rivalry, then!" Nappa replied . "This is stupid! I don't need this shit!"

"What do you mean, girl rivalry?" Vegeta said. He was so caught off guard by this choice of words that he stopped yelling, though he maintained his fighting pose.

"Don't you see it? Nova's obsessed with you!" Nappa pointed an accusatory finger at the saiyaness in the corner, and she jumped. She had thought they'd forgotten about her being there. And she was mortified at what was now being said.

"What are you implying?" Vegeta growled.

"She's fucking with you guys." Nappa swore. "I'm not sticking around to be involved in this stupid horseshit. Maybe you should get your head out of your ass and stop blindly defending Nova just because she's been following you around her entire life like a lost dog!"

Gritting his teeth, Vegeta looked to Nova, and then back to Nappa. "You're wrong."

"Like hell I'm wrong. She clearly hates the princess, and I don't need her causing even more shit in the kingdom. Everything's fucked up enough as it is with the previous King's dying!"

Nova had a hand to her mouth, and her wide eyes stared at Vegeta. She was embarrassed - absolutely humiliated - at being called out in this way. It was shocking that Nappa could read her admiration of the Prince. She thought nobody knew!

But Vegeta merely glanced in Nova's direction, and then he rolled his eyes. "You're out of line, Nappa."

"Yeah," He deadpanned. "Sure. I'm wrong."

"How's your nose?" Vegeta asked. He looked down to his pants and wiped his hand off on them. One wouldn't have suspected Vegeta of being so angry a moment ago when he spoke so calmly now.

"It's fine." Nappa grunted.

"Good." Vegeta huffed. He picked up his towel that he had thrown down twenty minutes earlier and began blotting at his face again. "Nova was right to inform me of my wife's behavior. I'm choosing to believe I got to her before anyone else saw her dressed the way she was."

And this was why she loved him so much. Nova smiled, her heart fluttering with appreciation. She knew she could count on Vegeta to have her back, to defend her against any nay-sayer. It was what he had always done. And that didn't seem like it was going to change any time soon. He was so wonderful!

"Whatever." Was all Nappa said.

"I'll see you at your post tomorrow morning." Vegeta said. "Unless you really do want to be demoted. You're my right-hand man, don't piss me off again."

"Right." Nappa grunted. He'd known all along that Vegeta wasn't actually going to punish him for the way he'd spoken. After all, he needed to hear it. And while Vegeta's first instinct was to blindly defend Nova like he always did, Nappa knew that Vegeta would realize he was right with time. If nothing else, Vegeta would certainly be over-analyzing Nova's behavior from now on.

"By the way." Nappa said. "When do I get to call you King? You need to be coronated. This makes no fucking sense to stay in limbo indefinitely. You aren't a prince anymore."

"Yeah." Vegeta grunted. He dropped his towel into the waste-hamper and went for the door. "I'll get to that."