Several months later as summer had turned into fall, things for Bulma were becoming very mundane as the residents at Capsule corporation settled into their daily routines. A stark contrast compared to the excitement the last couple of years had brought. Bulma occupied her time by picking up more projects in Capsule Corp departments she wasn't as experienced in so that she could round out her knowledge since she would be taking over more responsibilities in the company in the future.

When her and Yamcha discussed Vegeta having a room in her home, she had explained that Vegeta was harmless, keeping to himself and not caring to interact with them. She had also reminded Yamcha that they did not want to make an enemy of Vegeta by insulting him in throwing him out of her house. Yamcha had reluctantly agreed with her, but asked that she keep her distance and to limit the amount of time she spent on extra projects for him. Out of respect for Yamcha and their relationship, she agreed to try to scale back the amount of time she invested into Vegeta's demands.

That was an easy request since Bulma continued to work on Vegeta's equipment for necessary maintenance, but they were minor repairs, and gravity room upgrades up to 500 times gravity was hardly any work at all and it was faster to just provide duplicate upgraded bots than to fix the ones he destroyed. Several good prototypes of Vegeta's new flight suit, boots and armor were already made that he was getting good use out of.

Vegeta was working harder than ever, spending longer days in the GR or taking longer trips to where Bulma assumed was remote areas to train uninhibited in the wilderness. Several times Vegeta had let Panchy know in advance when he would be gone for an indefinite amount of time so that she wouldn't be cooking for him which Bulma thought was surprisingly considerate.

When Bulma did occasionally see Vegeta, she noticed he seemed on edge and they had very brief, transactional interactions. One time Bulma asked Vegeta when she ran into him in the kitchen eating how the bot fighting program was working for him and he only said they were adequate. He normally would have complained, which would have resulted in a lively verbal spar.

...

Vegeta was hovering above desert valley plateaus a few hundred miles outside of West city.

He had just damaged the surrounding terrain not from his usual training but from releasing some of his growing frustration. It was a strain on his ego that as an ultra-elite with a royal bloodline, he had not yet claimed his goal. He thought he could feel it within his grasp several times, having increased his strength with the gravity machine far past where Goku had, but it eluded him every time and he was seemingly no closer to reaching his ascension despite single mindedly giving it his all. Day in and day out.

What was he doing wrong? He wondered as he tried to calm his heart rate and mind for a moment of clarity. He racked his brain for an answer.

He had felt that the gravity room explosion months back had unnecessarily caused him to take convalescence for a few days which subsequently caused him to be off his game. Although he was back to training quickly, he had felt distracted. Distracted by the decent food, comfortable bed, annoying earthlings… and her?

He and the woman had interacted quite a bit for several weeks while she was working on major upgrades to the gravity room and while she had been creating his armor. Somehow, the woman had quickly gone from being an inconsequential annoyance to someone he had familiarity with. He had realized it after their last argument. Who did she think she is, asking questions about his business and throwing Kakarot as her protector in his face? Her, a weak female, taunting him? The woman had guts and although he felt insulted and extraordinarily annoyed, he also felt his chest stir with how headstrong and fearless she acted towards him.

These distractions had no place in his plans.

Vegeta thought about his next course of action. He needed to leave. Staying on earth where he could constantly feel out Kakarot's ki, and taking notice of the bothersome woman was not helping him take full control and deliver his full input. So of course he was not achieving the desired output. He needed to get away from the frills the earthlings forced upon him and get to a place where he could truly test his limits in the expansiveness and solitude of space.

As Vegeta was contemplating his next course of action, he suddenly sensed the being who had been fast approaching close in on his location.

"So, you've come to see what a true warrior trains like, Namek?" Vegeta said, knowing that Piccolo was hovering nearby.

"Hello Vegeta. You're not exactly being discreet while you destroy the local ecology today."

"What's it to you? Oh, I forgot you were supposedly the guardian of this planet of weaklings. Come to protect some useless rocks like a good little boyscout?" Vegeta said with a mocking manner.

"That would be Kami who is the guardian but I too have a vested interest in the concern for the planet. I won't presume to hassle you over your training activities as I know that would only cause the earth more imminent harm, but I have come to check on you."

"That's right you're no match for me Namek… is that the only reason why you have come? If so, you can leave now. I've had enough time with the other Namekeians at the woman's home to last my lifetime."

"And how is Bulma doing? Is everything alright at Capsule Corp?" Asked Piccolo.

"It's fine so long as they are not in my way."

"Is that so? Said Piccolo.

"What is it to you, Namek?" What is it you really want to know? If you are wondering, I haven't killed any of your earthlings. Although you couldn't keep me from doing so should I choose. The woman's annoying screeching alone may be reason to destroy this mudball."

"I will admit, I don't understand earth women either and their extraordinarily heightened emotions. Are you behaving yourself with your gracious hosts?"

"Hmm. Oh, I have been behaving exceptionally well. I can assure you." Vegeta said sarcastically.

With his telepathic abilities Piccolo had felt a disturbance in Vegeta's ki as of late which was why he wanted to check on him. He had sensed a negative energy which worried him regarding the safety of the residents of Capsule Corp.

Specifically, he was concerned that perhaps Vegeta had figured out that Trunks was his son. Due to the boy not looking much at all like Goku or Chichi yet being a Saiyan who resembled Vegeta and being from a future earth sporting a Capsule Corp jacket. Piccolo wanted to understand if Vegeta had guessed the boy's paternity and if he was looking to avoid this scenario altogether by eliminating Bulma and her family. He wouldn't put it past Vegeta to stoop to such levels to avoid any unnecessary attachments.

Piccolo could not sense hostile feelings towards Bulma, so it gave him some assurance that his concerns were unfounded. He understood from being near Vegeta and better sensing his emotions and peripheral thoughts that his anger was due to frustration in not yet achieving ascension.

Piccolo sensed that Bulma was on Vegeta's mind but that he didn't have any desire or the will to harm her. That likely meant everything was falling into place and Trunk's future was safe in this timeline.

He was also suppressing whatever emotions were surfacing while coping with living in a new peaceful environment.

"Sometimes the goals we set for ourselves are what keep us from achieving greatness. Don't force it. Use your instincts, it is the only way to tap into your full potential. Good luck with your training."

With that, Piccolo flew off.

Later that day…

"I need the ship readied for departure." Vegeta said as soon as he made his way to Doctor Briefs in his lab.

"Oh, hello Vegeta… take the ship you say? Alright. Have you let Bulma know?

"No, I haven't. You built the thing didn't you?" Vegeta said.

"Yes, son. Alright. Well, I will let her know, I will want her to help get the ship ready since the gravity machine is intertwined with the ships system she has been working on upgrading."

"Very well, tell your daughter what must be completed as soon as possible."

"You bet."

Vegeta nodded and walked away.

The Doctor finished his task and then went to find Bulma before he forgot to do so altogether.

"Hello Dear. Do you have a second?"

"Yeah, I'm just approving a work order. What's up?"

"Well, Vegeta came by and said he wants to use the ship here soon. I told him I would need you to work on it since you have been toying with the gravity machine so much. I can do it, but it will take more time if I get involved and I figured you would want to oversee it. He is wanting to leave as soon as it can be readied. I would recommend making sure the ship is sound for space travel assuming he will be using the enhanced gravity"

"Is… he planning on coming back?" Bulma said, trying to hide her concern.

"I assume so, but I'm not sure now that you mention it. He seemed in a hurry and I didn't get a chance to ask him" The doctor said scratching his head.

"Ok, I guess I will ask him. I'm sure I could have the ship ready by next week. I sure hope he plans to return to help fight the androids"

"Ok, hun. Let me know how I can help. Give him the old charm and tell him he needs to help us earthlings out with the androids. I'm sure he will listen. I will see ya."

"Bye, dad!"

Bulma felt a pit in her stomach, feeling offended that Vegeta had not sought her out for help with the spaceship.

'First, he goes out of his way to only talk to mom about when he will be around and then speaks to her father about leaving in the ship… is he leaving us high and dry with the androids!' She thought.

Was there something she was missing here? Was he avoiding her? Was that why she hadn't seen him much lately.

She couldn't help but think that it had to do with something along those lines. But why? Perhaps Yamcha had said something to him and pissed him off so much that it had blown their chance to have him help defeat the androids. She doubted it since she knew Yamcha generally steered clear of Vegeta, but it would explain why he was avoiding her. Yamcha had mentioned that he wanted to give him a piece of his mind but she assumed this was all talk.

She also knew that Vegeta was a little shy and any suggestion that he would involve himself in impropriety or "vulgarity," as he put it, would certainly make him angry, so she could see Yamcha telling him to steer clear of her really back firing.

Vegeta also didn't have any other options for where he could stay on earth as far as she knew if he was fed up with them so perhaps he would leave the planet and never come back.

...

So, when do you think you'll go? Bulma asked Vegeta from the video screen as he was doing various pushups and other weight bearing exercises in the extreme gravity.

"As soon as it can be arranged. Supply however much fuel reserve can accommodate a trip for three to four months."

Bulma felt a weight lift off her chest at the confirmation that Vegeta would indeed be returning.

"All right, that's no problem! I'll need to work on reinforcing the ship since we've upgraded the gravity so much. I'm going to have to do the manual labor myself because it's not a great idea to have techs around while you are training or knowing about this alien stuff you know."

"Whatever woman just do what needs to be done as quickly and efficiently as possible. I know how distractable you can be."

"Alright I'll get started on it. I'm thinking I can get it done in a week or two. Vegeta, can I ask… did I do something to offend you a while back?"

"What makes you think that woman?" Vegeta said dryly.

"Well, I've noticed that I don't see you as much"

"I avoid any earthling when I can."

"But you could have just as easily sought me out to discuss that you're going to space, you know, and getting the ship ready?"

"Hmmm. Does it matter?"

"No, I guess but I was worried that I pissed you off or something… and I miss fighting with my favorite angry Saiyan."

His eyes went wide and he tensed up before making a come back. "Tch. Don't you get enough amusement tormenting the weakling mate of yours and making him run away from you?"

"Ugh. Very funny, jerk. Speaking of Yamcha, did he… say something to you? Is that why…. you know what never mind. I was just being paranoid"

"At that moment, Bulma could see a quick torrent of thoughts run through Vegeta's head as he understood exactly what Bulma had suspected and why. And he suddenly looked at the screen to study Bulma's features at his response carefully."

"No, woman."

The following week…

Bulma made her way to the unoccupied gravity room with the task of installing a dozen electronic devices on the walls that would act to reinforce the ship with an internal force field. They would serve to keep the energy contained within the gravity room and avoid the force breaking the ship walls apart.

As she got down from her ladder, having finished the first six installations on the lower level of the ship, she wondered how she was going to install the rest since her ladder wasn't tall enough. She couldn't remember which of her capsules contained her hover bot, so she decided to run some system diagnostics on the spaceship while she thought about where she may have put it. She was becoming as forgetful as her father, she thought drearily.

Vegeta walked in, returning from eating.

"Oh, hi! Vegeta, can you help me? I need a boost so I can quickly install the rest of the panel reinforcements. It would be fastest if I get on your shoulders so my hands are free and I need you to lift me up towards the top of the ship."

"Why woman? Can not your bots help you with what you are trying to do? No one mounts the Prince of all Saiyans." He said crossing his arms.

"Because you are a man and you are supposed to help a lovely lady when she needs help, especially when said lady is fixing your spacecraft!"

"Don't assume I subscribe with the earth's idiotic notions of chivalry, woman."

Bulma huffed, getting ready for her biting comeback but then saw a red light blinking on the main control panel.

"Huh, what's that warning?"

After reviewing the warning code, Bulma saw that it said that the hull had sustained damage from the inside on the upper right side from where she was standing. She started looking up at the walls and ceiling.

"The damage is up there." Vegeta said pointing to a spot on the ceiling.

"Where?" Bulma said looking the way Vegeta was pointing. Bulma squinted for a few moments but could not see what Vegeta was pointing to.

Seeing that Bulma couldn't locate what he was pointing to, Vegeta sighed and walked over beside Bulma and pointed directly so she could better gauge where the damage was.

"Oh, I see. Well, we will have to fix that. I need to get up there to see—whoooooaaa!"

Before Buma knew it Vegeta had grabbed one arm around her waist and tilting her back, he put his other arm under the back of her legs and levitated up towards the ceiling like she weighed nothing.

"Vegeta, I thought you were going to kill me!" She said with a shriek before grabbing handfuls of his shirt in her hand for dear life.

"Trust me woman if I was going to kill you, you wouldn't even see it coming. Stop scratching me!"

"Oh well, that is a relief... I'm glad you have put some thought into my painless death."

"Oh, I didn't say it would be painless, Vegeta said menacingly with a slight smirk."

Bulma knew that he was joking but a chill ran down her spine as she thought about his threat and took a peak at his dark eyes glinting with amusement.

Bulma took a few moments to study the damage to the hull.

"Happy?" Asked Vegeta.

"Yeah… hey—um— I don't need to "mount you" but could you fly me around like this so I can finish installing my devices?

"Hmmm. I suppose so. But don't be surprised if I drop you from an extreme height if you start to annoy me." Vegeta said, his voice laced with amusement.

"You wouldn't dare!"

Bulma directed Vegeta to fly her down while she gathered the first device.

Vegeta floated Bulma around the upper side of the gravity room. All bulma needed to do was lean her arm out and her devices would latch on easily for a semi-permanent attachment against the wall.

"These will provide an extremely strong internal force field. They are basically indestructible so long as you don't go all out with your power and blast them directly. You should be fine." Said Bulma.

"Why didn't you install these before?" Vegeta said to Bulma's annoyance.

"Hey, just be thankful now that you have them so you can use your gravity room in space!"

"Tch, I would have been more would be grateful if you would —"

"Oh shut up, ungrateful jerk "! Said Bulma as she quickly covered his mouth with her palm to stop him complaining.

Vegeta growled and shrugged his face out of her grasp.

"What did I say woman? How does dropping you from 6,000 feet sound?"

"Well, will you catch me? Oh, come on, just let me finish so you don't have to threaten my life every other minute!"

It probably wasn't the best idea to ask the prince of darkness to wrap his arms around her for an extended period of time but she trusted Vegeta. He had shown glimmers of decency and honor which she assumed came from whatever was instilled during childhood as a little prince.

"What did you think the weakling would have talked to me about?" Vegeta asked after a few minutes of silence.

"What? Oh, that… um, just possibly that he was jealous of the time I spend on the gravity room pretty much. Bulma felt her ears go hot, especially while the Saiyan was holding her up at that moment.

"Not because he thought I would take advantage of you. Try to claim you?"

"Um, no. Well, he didn't come out and say that."

"Hmmm. Go on."

"Um, that's pretty much it. You know how men can be. Very territorial."

"Indeed. So why haven't I seen him around here lately, then?"

Bulma sighed. "I don't know but I'm so busy I didn't really notice. He hasn't been here much has he."

"All right that's it that was the last one"

Vegeta set Bulma down gently.

"I'm going to locate my hover bot and I will come back and fix the gash in the ceiling. Then we just have to refuel and you can be on your way."

"Hmmm."

"You sure you are coming back?" Asked Bulma.

"I said I would join the earthlings in fighting androids didn't I? although it will be me who does the defeating when the time comes."

"Right, I know you will keep us safe. Well safe journeys and if you run into trouble don't hesitate to call me from space."

"Hmmm."

"Do you mind if I check in with you just for my own peace of mind while you are gone?"

"I do mind, you are not to mother me and I don't like anyone in my business. But I will contact you or your father if I require your expertise."

"Alright" Bulma said with a smile. With that she turned to pack up her tools.

"Woman… call me if anything happens on earth while I'm away and I will see how quickly I can get back."