Here's my take on how Bulma and Vegeta's relationship developed over the years after the Cell games.

I don't think for one second Vegeta doesn't know the concept of love. I think it's just something he chooses not to display so openly, but it doesn't mean he doesn't understand it.

I don't own DB/DBZ/DBGT/DBKAI/DBSuper or any characters related...please don't sue!

It had started a few weeks ago. With the threat of the androids and Cell now a thing of the past, things in the world turned back to normal, or as normal as things could possibly get. After Future Trunks left, the Z fighters resumed their normal lives. Gohan went back to his studies and helped Chi-Chi with the pregnancy. Piccolo went to Kami's lookout, every now and then training with Gohan. Krillin went back to Master Roshi's and started to go out with 18. Yamcha went back to baseball and Tien and Chiatzou went back to the mountains. Even Bulma went back to running her father's company and raising her son. Yup, you can say everyone went back to their normal lives, except one member of the group: Vegeta.

Vegeta's normal life didn't consist of peaceful times. All his life, he has fought for strength, for his pride, and for the race and rights he had lost. So now that there is no enemy for him, no challenge or obstacle, Vegeta wasn't really sure what to do anymore. He didn't have anywhere to return because being normal for him wasn't an option anymore.

There was also another thing bothering Vegeta, he wasn't sure as to what to make of Bulma and Trunks. He always told himself that he should leave after this whole Cell and android ordeal. Bulma was just a fling with unwanted consequences and Trunks didn't need a person like him around. In fact, he turned out fine without him. But Vegeta still couldn't find it in him to leave. Every time he got anywhere near the space pod, his mind would flash the scenes of his only son dying. He didn't have the strength to protect him. He failed as a warrior, as a prince and now as a father...

Bulma was walking towards Vegeta's room. After Vegeta left her for dead in the plane crash, Bulma wasn't too eager to share a room with him anymore. Actually, she still hadn't gotten over of how he just brushed Trunks and her off after he returned from space. Bulma had done pretty questionable choices in her life, but thinking that Vegeta could actually be husband and father material made her down right crazy.

Bulma knew that deep down, Vegeta could never be the man she wants him to be or the father Trunks needs him to be. However, Bulma wasn't phased by that. After seeing her son grow up to be a capable young man, Bulma wasn't all that worried about raising Trunks alone. Bulma was the richest woman in the world. Even if she did take off from CC become a full time mother, finances would never be an obstacle. She could give her son everything and anything in the world. But it didn't mean it didn't hurt to see her future son long for his father's approval, something she couldn't give him. And Bulma definitely wasn't going to tolerate Vegeta if he did that to their present son.

Bulma sighed. It had been a while since she had an actual conversation with Vegeta, and part of her didn't really want to have it, but after rethinking it over and over, she couldn't hold off anymore. She just needed to know if there was any kind of hope between them. She knocked on his door and entered slowly.

Vegeta was on his bed, watching TV. He didn't really seem to be paying much attention, to the TV or to Bulma who had just entered her room. She wondered if this is what he did all day.

Bulma looked at little more intently. He didn't look too well. He didn't wear a scowl like he usually did. His expression looked tired, as if he had worked a double or stayed up all night. Scruff was forming around his always clean shaven face, and he looked like he lost a bit of weight from the lack of exercise; he didn't seem as bulky as he was a couple months ago.

"Hey Vegeta..." Bulma said a bit quietly. She didn't want to come off too harsh. He still stared at the TV, still lost in thought.

"Look, Vegeta, it's been three months now..." Bulma began, Vegeta snapped from his trance and just gave her a brief glance before he rolled his eyes. There were butterflies in her stomach, but she wasn't sure why.

Vegeta turned off the TV and sat up, his back to Bulma. "What do you want?" He responded to her in an annoyed tone, as if she had interrupted him from something important. He didn't feel in the mood to talk, especially with her.

Bulma tensed a bit but she tried to keep her composure. "It's been three months Vegeta, I just wanted to ask what your plans are as far as Trunks goes." She asked him, with a little anger and annoyance.

Vegeta picked up on her tone. He was in a sour mood today. Vegeta got up and walked slowly over to Bulma and stopped a few inches from her. He crossed his arms and with venom in his voice he said "I don't have to tell you a damn thing about my plans. You don't own me you stupid bi-"

*SLAP*

The sound resonated throughout the room. It happened so fast, but it felt as if it was done in slow motion. Bulma was beyond outraged and shocked she actually had the strength in her to throw him off balance. Adrenaline rushed all over her body it didn't even bother her how much her hand stung from the hard smack she had given Vegeta.

Vegeta was not a happy camper. He didn't know how to react. Bulma actually managed to slap him, and hard, evident by the glowing red mark forming on his cheek. He wanted so badly to give her a hard backhand slap to her chops to teach her not to touch him, but he had more control than that. So he decided to bite her ear off instead. But as he composed himself for the ensuing argument, Bulma's demeanor made him cower a bit. She was coming at him full force.

"Listen you fucking asshole, I don't ask you these questions so I can keep tabs on you. What happened between you and me is in the past. I know it, and I understand that! Don't treat me as if I'm some girl that's too stupid to figure it out!" Bulma yelled at Vegeta and before he got in a word edgewise, she began, "You're son is growing up, he's almost a year old. I'm not asking you for father of the year. I'm not even asking you to contribute financially. I'm asking for you to acknowledge your son. I'm not going to let you treat Trunks the way you treated future Trunks. We screwed up Vegeta, not Trunks. He didn't ask to be here. He doesn't deserve what you're doing to him..." Bulma trailed off in that last part. She didn't deserve what Vegeta was doing to her either... She just wanted them so badly to be a family.

Vegeta was at a loss of words. He wasn't sure what to say. Usually he liked to see Bulma all riled up, but this was something different. The look in her eyes wasn't playful or feisty. It was a look of desperation. For the first time, Vegeta felt ashamed.

"Look..." Bulma started, knowing she was going into uneasy territory. She looked away from Vegeta, too humiliated to look him in the eyes for what she was about to tell him next. "I... I still love you. I don't know why and I wish I knew why so I can find a way to stop..."

Vegeta felt weird, as if his heart skipped a beat. She loved him? How could she love him? After all he's done to her? He was confused. All this time he thought she hated him for abandoning her and Trunks when they needed him the most. But has she been waiting on him all this time? He felt something weird stir up in him and her voice snapped him back to reality.

"I've accepted that you won't be the man I'll spend the rest of my life with and someday you'll leave forever and I'm preparing myself for that..." Bulma now at the brink of tears. "I'm moving on Vegeta, not just for me, but for Trunks. If you don't want to be his father, I'll find someone man enough to do so." Bulma then turned and walked away. That last statement hurt more than the slap. Vegeta grabbed her from the wrist before she could leave.

"Bulma I'm..." Vegeta was searching for the words, but he couldn't find them. He was lost in her sad blue eyes. The same eyes that used to light up every time she saw him, were now dim, hopeless and tired because of him.

"Let me go Vegeta..." Bulma said as she brushed off his hand. She walked away from him. It didn't turn out the way she wanted to, but at least Bulma got a weight off her chest.

Vegeta was left at the door, watching Bulma walk away. Did she really love him? It was all he could think about. He never had anyone tell him that. It surprised him. It seemed to oddly calm him down. He completely forgot about his sore cheek.

Then Vegeta felt something he hadn't felt in awhile. He felt motivated. It was like something had ignited in him to get him going again. He was tired of wallowing in his own misery the past few months. Vegeta had lost many fights in his life, but he sure as hell wasn't going to lose this fight.

Hi everyone! Thanks for reading chapter one of this story I'm trying to write. Let me know how ya'll like it. Chapter 2 is up, so give it a read!