would never know the difference. He stood up and brushed off his hands, scanning
the room. He nearly fell down when he saw Trunks playing with the broken glass of the previous lamp. He snatched his son away and put him in an
empty and remote corner of the room. As he cleaned up the first lamp, he wondered how on earth a child that had no means of real locomotion could be
so much trouble. He sighed and went to throw the lamp remains in the trash.

He had reentered the room, collected Trunks, and was holding him in his lap on the couch playing "bouncy-bouncy" when Bulma burst through the
front door, hair wild. Vegeta looked at her warily, slowly moving Trunks into a more dignified position. She set down her briefcase and looked at the
two with a smile on her face.Vegeta stood up and walked over to her. "You two look so sweet," she murmured, chuckling at the disgusted expression
on Vegeta's face. She took a step forward and kissed Vegeta passionately on the mouth. As she pulled away she smiled again at the look of shock on
his face. "You'd better change your shirt and get cleaned up before dinner," she said, pointing at his shoulder. He grimaced as he realized the spit-up
what still there. He held Trunks out to her like he was a dangerous animal, and she took the baby gleefully. Trunks, however, looked back at his father,
reached out both his arms, and started crying. Vegeta turned to walk away and Trunks let out a bloodcurdling scream. Vegeta whipped back around.

"What was THAT for?" he exclaimed. He saw Trunks' short arms waving in his direction and was confused.

“Awww!” Bulma cooed. “He misses Daddy!” She walked over to Vegeta and handed Trunks back to him. Trunks immediately stopped crying
when he was in his father's arms. Bulma laughed and leaned her head against Vegeta's shoulder."He loves you," she murmured. Vegeta turned his
head a little to look at her skeptically. "No," she protested. "He really does. And he will forever, regardless of how you are. Just remember Future
Trunks. He hardly knew you, and he still loved you with all his heart. "

"Love is for weaklings," Vegeta snorted.

Bulma took Trunks back, and this time he didn't cry. "You think so?" she said. "Do you think, then, that since you are so much stronger than the rest
of us that you don't have to work to live up to his love? "

Vegeta gave her a look full of welcoming and turned, disappearing up the stairs. “Do you think you can live up to my love?” Bulma whispered, then
shook her head. "No, honey," she said quietly to Trunks. "I don't know if I really love your daddy, but I promise you that I'll do my best to take care
of you, because I'm certain I love you. "She smiled and patted her son, following Vegeta up the stairs so she could put the baby down for a nap.

Luckily Vegeta hadn't put trunks down earlier, because he slept like the dead, and it looked like he would continue straight through dinner. Bulmasighed at the miracle as she opened the front door. Goku and family came up the front walk, ChiChi leading and waving. “Come in!” Bulma greeted,
and motioned them all to come inside. "Trunks is sleeping, so you'll have to excuse us for being quiet."

Gohan took Bulma's hand and executed a little bow. "Congratulations on your son, Bulma-san," he said with a smile. Bulma grinned back and
thanked him, waving them all into the living room.

Vegeta was sitting in a chair when they arrived, dressed in black slacks, black tie, and green dress shirt. Dressed like that, ChiChi could see what Bulma
what attracted to. He looked very dignified, but still mysterious and dangerous. Goku went over to the seated man and leaned down so Vegeta could
hear. "ChiChi made me dress up funny, too," Goku whispered, fingering his tweed vest. Vegeta smiled faintly and kept staring straight ahead. Bulma
brought wine in from the kitchen, and soon the two women were chatting. Vegeta sat, arms crossed and frowning, as Goku picked at his vest, sighingand looking very bored. Gohan sat on the floor, pulling a book out of his pocket and reading. After what seemed like an eternity, the women's talking
was interrupted by a wailing. Vegeta cringed inwardly as Bulma looked at him.

"Please bring Trunks down Vegeta," Bulma asked. Vegeta shot a look at ChiChi, and wondered why he ever asked her how he could get Bulma back.
At times like this he wasn't so sure he wanted her. He rose and went up the stairs, returning a few moments later with Trunks. He handed the baby to
Bulma. "I had to change him again," he muttered as he sat down on the couch next to her.

"Thanks," she said. "I knew you could do it," she whispered to him. She passed Trunks on to ChiChi, Goku and Gohan coming over to look. The
three cooed and bubbled at the little boy and Bulma took the opportunity to look at Vegeta. "Say," she said in a low voice, "Did you melt his diaper
together? "

He reddened. "I couldn't find the fasteners," he growled, frowning. She smiled and kissed him on the cheek, causing him to redden even more."No harm done. You're surprisingly competent," she whispered with a little laugh
and looked up. Trunks was sound asleep in Goku's arms.

“I love kids!” Goku beamed, rocking the baby in his arms.

"Vegeta, why don't you show him where to put down Trunks?" Bulma asked. "The rest of us can get dinner on the table."

"Fine," Vegeta muttered and gestured for Goku to follow him up the stairs.

Goku whistled as he came into the nursery. "Wow, this is great," he murmured. "Did you do this, Vegeta?" Vegeta shot him a poisonous look.
"Well, whatever," Goku sighed. "You're lucky, at any rate, to have such a cute kid! He looks just like you, except for the coloring, I guess."

"That shouldn't be surprising. I am his father," Vegeta spat.

Goku laid the baby down gently. "Well, I hope you have as much fun with Trunks as I have with Gohan. Bulma'll probably let you start training him
earlier than ChiChi let me train Gohan. "

"Maybe," Vegeta grunted, and headed back downstairs, giving Trunks one last look before he left.Goku shrugged and followed him.

When they got downstairs Bulma had everyone seated in the dining room, where the table was heaped with food. ChiChi gave Goku a warning look,
making Vegeta laugh, but he sobered when he noticed Bulma give him the same look. Goku and Vegeta looked at each other in surprise and Gohan
laughed. Soon everyone was laughing and the meal started out well.

As the first course was finished, Bulma folded her hands on top of the table and waited until she had everyone's attention. She took a deep breath and
began to speak. "ChiChi, Goku, you know I invited you here because you're both my friends, but I also have other motives." She paused and noticed
Vegeta's puzzled look. "What I've also asked you here for is to ask you a favor, probably the biggest I'll ever ask of anyone." Everyone sat up a little
straighter, focusing entirely on Bulma. "What I have to ask you is if, in the event that something happens to both myself and Vegeta, you'll take care of
Trunks and raise him as your own."She fell silent and Vegeta's sharp intake of breath was heard by all.

Goku and ChiChi looked at each other, then at Gohan. He smiled at his parents, and they nodded in unison. "Of course, Bulma," Goku said. "We'd
be happy to take him in. But we'll hope that nothing happens to you two! "

Bulma let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you all so much. I'll get it legalized tomorrow, now that Vegeta is a pro with Trunks. You should have seen
Trunks cry when Vegeta gave him back to me after work today! "She giggled, and everyone, except for Vegeta, began to laugh again. Bulma took the
remains of the first course into the kitchen and returned with the food for the second. She made several trips, and as she was returning to the kitchen,
Vegeta excused himself and followed her.

"What in the hell was that?" he demanded quietly.

"I just wanted to make sure Trunks' future was secure," she retorted. "You go off on an awful lot of dangerous fights, and I'm a highly public figure.
Something could happen to us without any warning at all, and I don't want Trunks to go live with some stranger. "“But Kakarotto!” Vegeta hissed. "The man has fewer brains than a turnip!"

"Maybe so," Bulma countered, "But he'll take the best care of Trunks. I trust him, and he loves kids. He'd never let anyone harm our son while he
lived, and Gohan would be an excellent role model. Besides, ChiChi would make sure was decently fed and clothed. She makes up for whatever Goku
paint in sense. "

Vegeta growled and looked away. Bulma needed to find a way to appease him quickly before he made a scene. She walked over to him and put her
arms around his neck. She was lucky they were the same height, because she never had to crane her neck up at him. She gave him a huge hug and
planted a sideways kiss on his adam's apple. She looked into his eyes and found them burning. Maybe her distraction had worked too well. Hey
pushed her back into the counter and undid the buttons on her blouse. She cried out in protest, but he yanked the pieces of fabric apart and began to kiss
her chest and neck. He placed his hands on her rear and lifted her, setting her on the lower counter.She gasped as he slid her skirt up around her waist
and grabbed her thigh violently. Trying to hold him at arm's length, she gasped "But we have company!"

He smiled at her wickedly. "That's what makes it particularly exhilarating," he rumbled, and attacked her throat. She groaned quietly and threw her
arms around his neck again. She felt him drag her underwear down, letting them come to rest on her left ankle. She heard him undoing his belt and
soon she moaned as he began to move against her, kissing her roughly.

Bulma and Vegeta had gone about five minutes when ChiChi heard a crash in the kitchen. She looked at Goku, who