author: FireCracker KLee624820@a...
(Italic copy bordered by_underscore_)
Archive? You'd better.

A/U

House of Vegeta: Vegeta Reflects and Suspects pt.11a

The Ouji stared at himself in a full length mirror. Cascading robes
of shimmery red and blue fabric couldn't hide it. He was huge, or so
it seemed.

_Kami, I'm big as a bloated slargg._

Silent footsteps entered his private chamber. Vegeta didn't need to
turn around to know who it was.

"Greetings, father."

The Ou came up behind him. "Brooding, I see. Are you well?"

Vegeta turned to face him with a sigh. "Well enough...I just wish the
twins would come already."

Vegeta Ou smiled gently. "Babies come in their own time, my son" he
put an arm around the ouji.

"Come, sit down. You're running a small fever."

Vegeta blinked at him. "How did you know?"

"Experience, boy. I've been through it before. Fevers at this stage
aren't uncommon, but you must guard against overexertion."

"Inactivity galls me. I haven't been able to train seriously for two
months now."

The Ou guided him to a soft couch. "A necessary evil. Has Kakarot
been by?"

The ouji had to smile as he sat. "Hai, three times already. He's as
jumpy as a volt with a hotfoot."

Vegeta Ou poured some cold juice into crystal mugs and handed one to
his son.

"That boy's just jumpy, period. I thought he had an academy class to
train in the thirteenth district?"

Vegeta sipped his juice. "He did, but suspended the training sessions
for a couple of hours to visit."

"Hn, that's unacceptable...with war looming on the horizon, everyone
needs to be honed to perfection."

Vegeta glanced at his fully rounded belly. "That hardly includes me,
father."

The Ou ruffled the thick flame of hair. "You'll do fine. Are you
having any pains?"

The ouji sighed, rearing back on the couch. "Mostly late at night...I
have difficulty sleeping sometimes."

"I'll have Glerunn give you a draught for that. You need rest at this
stage."

Vegeta leaned into his father, rubbing his eyes. "My energy is shot
to hell..."

"That's typical."

Black eyes shone with emotion. "Father, do you think I'll make a good
parent?"

The Ou nodded with assurance. "I know you will, Vegeta."

"This all feels so strange to me...as if someone else occupies my
body."

His father grinned, patting the plump midsection. "Someone is, my
boy. Those two little ones."

The ouji blushed. "What I mean is, this all feels like an out of body
experience."

A strong arm saddled his shoulders. "Hai, parenthood can be
overwhelming. But you are strong, Vegeta. Both you and Kakarot have
intelligence and passion. I have no doubts or fears about your
ability to raise chibis."

The prince glowed. "Adieru, father. I needed to hear that."

"Anytime."

"I know you had serious reservations about me mating Kakarot."

The Ou sipped his juice. "It was...unexpected."

"Granted, he's third class..."

"I don't do the birth ratings, Vegeta."

Brilliant black eyes narrowed sharply. "Hn...I often wondered at a
super saiyan from third class. It makes no sense, ne?"

"Genetic flukes happen, Vegeta."

"Our connection was no fluke. It existed since we first met."

The king was clearly uncomfortable now. "I don't know what you mean."

The ouji grinned smugly, as if he held a secret. "Come now, father. A
saiyan's instincts are ever true. I could 'read' Kakarot even before
we mated-"

"Where is all this coming from?"

"A lifetime of strange coincidences. Or have you forgotten, as a
royal I too have access to the secret archives?"

"What did you hope to find out?" the Ou stared.

Vegeta drank juice thirstily. "Answers to questions you wouldn't
readily give."

"Vegeta!!"

"It's alright, father. I understood the need to protect royal
secrets..."

The Ou was flustered now. "What secrets?! Are you insane??"

"I was referring to the history of royal bloodlines. The secret
archives hold all true records, ne? Not the public version."

The king fell silent.

"I often wondered at the proliferation of third class saiyans that
were close to the throne."

"What proliferation? Who are all these third class?"

"All through my childhood both Raditz and Kakarot were in and out of
the castle. Why?"

"I held their father in high regard" the Ou answered carelessly. "He
served well and showed ability far beyond his station."

Hawklike eyes sheared again. "Oh yes...your current mate."

The king growled at his son. "I'll allow this nonsense since I
understand strange moods during this stage-"

"Stop blustering, father, I have eyes. First mother liked Bardock,
then she despised him. What happened?"

"She felt it inappropriate that lower class spend so much time among
the elite, regardless of duty."

"I sense him like I sense Kakarot. Not to mention Raditz."

"What's the point of all this, Vegeta?!" the Ou felt panic rise.

"Raditz and I have talked often on this topic."

"Am I supposed to connect this rambling, boy?"

"It's been little things, really. Nothing obvious."

The Ou sighed. "Vegeta. This conversation is taking a bizarre turn.
The isolated incidents you mention are hardly important."

"Then I'll be blunt, father. I've always known that I wasn't Inshei's
natural son."

His father spluttered. "What insolence..."

The younger saiyan grinned. "I sensed her ki, but I could never
_feel_ her in my bones through instinct. And Bardock was always
there. Not obvious, but still around. Curious, a third class that
looks like a royal. Once mother was out of the picture, the two of
you made it official, ne?"

The Ou went white.

A gentle laugh. "Don't worry, father...your expression tells me
everything."

The king turned his son to a resting position on the couch and threw
a blanket over him.

"Rest, Vegeta. I'll come check on you later." the Ou managed to
regain his composure.

Heavy eyelids drooped as the prince snuggled down. "I have no doubt
my babies will be perfect" he added with a lazy yawn, tail coiling a
pillow.

The Ou watched him drift off. His thoughts were in disarray after the
strange conversation.

_Kami, am I a fool? Perhaps Bardock was right, we've been deluding
ourselves all these years._

He slipped out in silence, cape billowing gently as he moved.


THE END


When is a secret not a secret? When someone suspects...