I hope this pleases, it's a little lighter on the comedy and heavier
on the drama. Unbeta'd, as always.
----------------------------------------
The Great Saiyaman Movie and the Two Legions of Terror
by KC

Disclaimers:
Counting out haiku
syllables of how I don't
own Dragonball Z.

Pairings: Gk/V, Gt/T, Gh/P

Warnings: Sexual themes and adult language. And Chichi bashing. If
you can't deal, ditch.

Other Info: This final installment of the Saiyaman trilogy is brought
to you by the letters B, D, S and M, and by the numbers 6 and 9. This
installment also made possible by a grant of answers from Cyntiger.

----------------------------------

Wrapped in a towel and wearing bath sandals, Goku followed his mate
through the hall and up the stairs. Since everyone else was asleep,
Vegeta walked naked with his arms crossed. His hair, still wet from
their shower, showed signs of standing straight again, although the
ends still curled downwards. He kept his eyes shut, as if ignoring
Goku would make him shut up.

"No."

"But Vegeta--"

"No."

"It'll be fun--"

"No."

"I promise--"

"You said that the last time!" Vegeta spun around, nearly sending
Goku down the stairs, and landed a punch in the center of his chest
that smacked him against the wall. "You said the carnival would be
fun, the finale would be fun, the spaghitto would be fun...is this
going to be as much fun as those?"

"Spaghetti," Goku said as he stood. He readjusted the towel around
his waist before it could slide off his hips.

"Whatever the hell it is! It sticks to everything." Vegeta turned and
walked back up the stairs. "We'll be cleaning that shit out for days.
Don't you dare ask for anything."

"But Vegeta--" Goku transmitted in front of him, grabbing his wrists
when he tried to punch again. "It's free, it's in an amusement park,
we'll get lots of free food, and I promise there'll be no Cell re-
enactments."

"And what the hell is an amusement park?" Vegeta struggled in Goku's
grip, finally settling for planting a double kick on his lover's
chest that sent them both stumbling into their room. "Sounds
infinitely boring."

Goku shut the door with his foot and tossed Vegeta onto their
bed. "It's not boring. There's rides and games and shops and lots of
things to do."

"Sounds like that stupid carnival."

"Well, a little," Goku said. A small lamp stood on the nightstand
beside the bed, and he turned it on. The room filled with a warm
glow. "But it's bigger and better." He sat down next to Vegeta and
waited to see if the prince would attack or relent.

The smaller Saiyan flopped back on the pillows and shut his eyes. "Is
that screeching harpy going?"

"No."

"Humans?"

"Just a few with invitations. Yamcha and Bulma. I think Mr. Satan's
still in the hospital, but maybe Videl..."

The mattress tilted a few inches as Goku leaned back and slipped off
the towel. When he lay down he put his arm around his mate, and he
grinned when Vegeta didn't smack him or growl or curse. "Goten and
Trunks'll be coming."

"Good, keeps the brats out of my way."

"Please, Vegeta..." He began kissing his way from his mate's shoulder
to his throat, scraping his teeth across the claim mark that stood
out like a half-necklace on Vegeta's skin. "I wanna go...and there's
fun things to do there...and then we can sit in the back of the
theater..."

"Your eldest brat and the Namek will probably beat us to it," Vegeta
said. Goku's hands felt warm holding his own. He closed his eyes and
focused on his mate's mouth, now placing a kiss in his palm.

"So will you come? Bulma says we wouldn't even have to dress up."

Silence for a moment, and then the prince cracked his eyes open a bit
and glanced at Goku. "It'll turn out like the last time."

Goku stretched out and lay his head on the pillow, tugging his prince
closer so that Vegeta could nestle in the crook of his arm. For
awhile he lay still, only running his fingers through his mate's
still damp hair. He sighed and looked out the window at the stars.
Vegeta's chest rumbled softly. Goku smiled. His mate rarely purred,
and whenever he did, it was silent, only discernible by that quiet
vibration. He stroked his mate's hair a little slower.

"It won't be. None of them'll show up, and even if they do, I promise-
-"

"What? That you'll let them insult you and your mate and your brats--
"

Goku's fingers pressed against his lips, quieting him.

"--that I won't let them hurt you again," Goku said. "I love you, and
if it means cutting off ties with my friends...then I guess they
weren't my friends after all."

Vegeta's eyes lit up and he rose up on one arm, staring down at his
mate. "And you'll stop acting like a human?"

"Mmm..." Goku grabbed Vegeta's shoulders, flipped him back onto the
mattress and leaned over him, holding him still with his weight. "You
sure that's what you want? Kakarrot likes to bite."

A smirk spread on the prince's face and he let his eyes half-
close. "Kakarrot talks too much."

Goku turned off the lamp.

*

The city lights came on as the sky turned purple and the stars slowly
appeared, sparkling in the rising heat waves. The city sprawled
beneath them, stretching out for miles in all directions, busy with
people on their way home or out for the evening entertainment. A
violet glow spread over the horizon, and the full moon crested bright
and silver over Dream Land's glass dome.

Two Saiyans and two demiSaiyans rode the escalator that spiraled from
the ground to the dome. Trunks and Goten edged as close as they could
to the glass, staring at the landscape far in the distance.

"We're so high up," Goten said, looking down. "They all look like
bugs."

Arms crossed, Vegeta followed their looks. "What's so damn
interesting? You've flown higher."

"But it's neat riding up here," Trunks said. "I didn't think this
escalator went so high. It's weird that we never came to Dreamland
when we live so close."

"It's ridiculous, that's why."

Goku put his arm around Vegeta's shoulders, careful not to
squeeze. "Why do you mind amusement parks so much? And it can't be
just that it's full of humans."

His usual reply cut off, Vegeta looked away and stared at the city
below. "Going with you to anything involving carnivals, circuses or
amusement parks is simply asking for trouble."

"Circuses?" Goku asked. "We've never gone to the circus."

"Um, we have," Trunks said. "Mom got Papa to take me and Goten to the
circus when we were smaller."

"Oh yeah." A smile spread over Goten's face. "I remember that day. I
got to pet the tigers."

"And we chased the clowns all over the tent, zapping them," Trunks
said. "And we ate all their cotton candy and popcorn."

"And tipped over their port-a-potties," Goten said.

"And flew circles around the acrobats," Vegeta said. "And baited the
cops, and started a food fight, and blew the main tent into the sky.
They made the local news. Little brats nearly got me kicked out of
the house for a week."

"That reminds me," Trunks said, grinning at his father. "The circus
is back in town finally and--"

Vegeta lowered his eyes and glared at him. "No."

"Aww..."

The tunnel's sides turned dark and began to flash different colors,
turning their skin blue and green and red. Goten and Trunks opened
their eyes wide and held their hands up, watching them turn purple
and yellow, but the light show caught Vegeta off guard and he pressed
close against Goku.

"Relax," Goku said. "You're jumpy tonight."

A blush spread over Vegeta's cheeks, and he was glad the colored
lights hid it. "Why don't we just skip this?"

"Skip the new Saiyaman movie?" Goten asked. "Are you crazy?"

Goku leaned down to Vegeta's ear. "Don't answer that."

"We have to go," Trunks said. "Do you know how many people would kill
for our tickets?"

"As many as I want to right now?" Vegeta shrugged his mate's hand off
his shoulder, but he didn't move away. "What's so damn interesting
about a movie?"

"It's a Saiyaman movie," Trunks said.

"So?"

"So," Goten said, "they're all like those movies they always show at
the tournaments. Rubber heads, lousy effects, guys in suits stomping
on miniature cities, and this time, the Great Saiyaman is actually
gonna show up at a premiere."

Trunks snickered. "With the Great Green Bean."

"Then why would you want to see it?" Vegeta asked.

"It's kinda like staring at a train wreck," Trunks said.

The escalator stopped and a girl dressed in a blue uniform smiled and
held her hand out. "Welcome to DreamLand. Do you have your
invitations?"

"We're on the list," Trunks said. "Vegeta and Trunks Briefs, Son Goku
and Son Goten."

She checked her list and checked off four places, then backed away so
they could go through the entrance. "Thank you for coming. The movie
won't start for a few hours, so please enjoy yourselves at all of our
rides and games."

"Cool," Goten said as he went in, his eyes growing wide as he looked
from ride to ride. "A theme park all to ourselves."

"Almost," Trunks said. "Let's do the Curling Caterpillar first." He
grabbed Goten's hand and led him towards the roller coaster.

Vegeta shook his head once and started towards the dome's edge, but
Goku had already found the nearest food venue.

"Ooh, ice cream!" Goku took a few steps, then turned. "I'll be right
back, 'Geta. Don't leave, okay?"

Without looking at him, Vegeta shrugged once. While the three ran
off, he walked to the edge of the dome and looked out. The skyline
reminded him of a planet he'd long forgotten the name of, if he ever
knew it, but something seemed off. The mountains in the distance were
the same shape, the city the same shimmer of tiny lights, but the
sky...he shook his head. No wonder. The other sky had been a pale
orange.

A few of the stars glowed bright enough to be seen through the city's
glare, and he put his hand on the glass. He'd stared at space like
this in Frieza's ship, a few inches of clear plastic between him and
the vacuum. A small ki burst could have shattered any window in the
ship and sent him to where Frieza could never hurt him again.

"I would've done it," he whispered. He let his hand fall and looked
at the cars passing by below. "But you would've survived."

Screams shot up into the air behind him, but he only glanced over his
shoulder. Screams no longer startled him. A few humans waved their
hands over their heads as they rode in a steel caterpillar on a track
that ran in loops and corkscrews. In the front seat Goten clung to
Trunks' body and yelled as the caterpillar dropped fifty feet and
spun around. Trunks couldn't yell, simply trying to breathe as Goten
tightened his grip. They zoomed out of sight and Vegeta glanced at
the clock inside the coaster operator's little shack. Another hour
before the Saiyaman movie premiere. He sighed and fidgeted in his
black jeans and sneakers.

"At least the woman didn't choose these," he said, looking down at
himself. His mate had picked their clothes for this trip. "But why
was Kakarott drooling over them?"

"Geta!" Goku walked closer, a huge ice cream in each hand. "Here, I
got you one, too."

"What is it?" Vegeta asked, and held the cone as gingerly as he
could. It felt like it might crumble and fall apart.

"Ice cream," Goku said as he took a lick.

"I know that. But what's it on?"

"Oh, that. It's a cone. You eat it. I know you like chocolate, so
it's four scoops of that."

"Ah." He nibbled the cone, found it not unpleasing, and
continued. "What time is it?"

"Seven. The movie doesn't start 'till nine." Goku looked out the
glass at the sky. "What were you looking at?"

"Nothing. Just remembering." Vegeta whirled and started walking
away. "Why are we here if it doesn't start for another two hours?"

"To have fun," Goku said. "It's been a long time since I've been
here. Careful, don't let the ice cream drip."

While they walked Vegeta glanced at his mate. Like him, Goku wore
human clothes, a white shirt and jeans so tight Vegeta wondered if he
could fight in them, but Goku also wore a long coat that hung past
his calves. He shook his head. He'd be swallowed up in the coat that
barely covered his mate's shoulders.

Green and orange lights flickered over them and they looked up. A
fifteen foot green and orange Saiyaman sign blinked and flashed
twenty feet above the dome. His white gloved hand waved back and
forth as he grinned. Every few seconds, the lights rimming his
sunglasses lit and flickered in circles.

"A pity the Great Green Bean isn't up there too," Vegeta said.

"I think he's gonna be in the next one. Poor Piccolo." Goku felt a
pressure on his side and looked down. Vegeta had leaned against him,
fitting perfectly against his shoulder, and Goku put his arm around
his mate. Vegeta's skin seemed cooler than usual and he hugged him
closer, trying to warm him up. He watched him finish the ice cream in
seconds and smiled. If he plied Vegeta with chocolate, the prince
would let Goku hold him throughout the night, and that was worth the
pissed mood he'd have come the next morning.

A crowd of well-dressed premiere goers, all sipping champagne or
drinking wine or retouching their makeup, came closer down the path.
They all smelled of alcohol and sex. Vegeta pressed a little harder
against Goku. The crowd passed by and he tensed, turning his face
towards Goku's shirt and closing his eyes. His mate's fingers curled
around his cheek and gently brushed his knuckles across his skin.
When he couldn't hear them anymore, he looked back up and found Goku
looking at him. He stared back at the ground, waiting for his mate to
ask questions, root out painful memories, drag him through another
humiliating conversation--

Goku hugged him and kept walking. After a quiet minute, Vegeta smiled
and kept his eyes on the cobblestones.

"Look, it's a Tunnel of Love."

"What?" He looked up and found a pink heart shaped gazebo and swan
boats bobbing in a stream that led into a dark tunnel. "Oh no."

"C'mon, it'll be neat," Goku said and pulled him forward. "It'll be
quiet and dark and no one can see us..."

Swans bumped each other in line as a couple stepped into one boat and
floated into the tunnel, and the two Saiyans stared at the empty
gazebo for a moment. Vegeta made a noise like a short moan and shook
his head. Goku whispered to his mate, "should I bribe you with more
chocolate tonight?"

"Hm. It might help." He leaned against him again. Goku whispered in
his ear, and Vegeta smiled. "Impossible."

"Have I ever lied about chocolate ice cream?"

"Mm. No." Vegeta allowed Goku to tug him through the pink gazebo. "I
really hate this color."

"But I love my little bad man--ow!" Goku jumped as his mate punched
his arm.

"Don't you dare call me little."

"Sorry, sorry," he said, rubbing the sore spot. "Ow. I think that's
gonna bruise."

"Quite whining, baby. I didn't hit you hard at all."

The Saiyans walked up to the edge of the artificial stream and waited
a few seconds for the next swan to come. Set on automatic, the swans
floated down into the tunnel on a regular pace. The white fiberglass
thunked on the concrete side and paused, water sloshing around the
edges. Goku stepped inside first, but the tip of his boot caught on
the swan's edge and he tumbled face first onto the seat.

"Kakarrot...honestly." Vegeta grabbed the scruff of Goku's shirt and
hauled him back up. "Earth's champion defeated by a swan."

"Ow..." Goku rubbed his nose and sat down on the bench seat. "That
hurt."

"Maybe we should enter it in the next tournament." Vegeta stepped
down into the swan and noticed that his side of the bench was wet,
but before he could drag Goku off again the swan started to float
away from the gazebo. "Hell."

Goku looked up at his mate. "What's the matter--whoa!" He leaned back
as Vegeta plopped himself down in his lap and leaned against
him. "You okay, 'Geta?"

"Fine. I just don't wanna get wet is all." He closed his eyes and lay
his head on Goku's shoulder, smiling as he caught his mate's
scent. "Warm."

The artificial breeze picked up as they went into the tunnel, and
Goku noticed that his lover's skin felt even cooler than before. He
put his arms around Vegeta and let the edge of his coat slip over his
mate's legs.

"You get cold so quick," Goku whispered.

"Do not. You're just so damn big."

"And I wore something warmer than a leather jacket."

"S'warm enough. 'Sides, you picked it out." He yawned and cracked one
eye open. "Why's it so dark?"

"'Cause it's a tunnel?"

"Idiot." He looked over his shoulder but couldn't see anything except
a slight shimmer on the water. "Is the whole thing so dark?"

A spark and a whiff of powder were their only warnings as flames
spurted up beside the boat and lit a set of gaping jaws and fangs
that came towards them with a screech like metal scraping metal.
Before the flames could die down, Vegeta yelped and tightened his
grip on his mate so much that Goku's eyes bugged. The jaws
disappeared and Goku hugged Vegeta back. A moment later he gently
nudged him.

"'Geta...c'n't...br'th..."

"Hmph." Vegeta let him go and sat straight again. "Why the hell do
they call this a tunnel of love if things like that jump out at you?"

Glad that the darkness hid his grin, Goku hugged his mate and found
one of the prince's hands, and he held it against his chest. "Because
they startle some people and make them jump into their mate's arms.
And they're so dark no one else can see them."

"Mm. First good idea they've had on this planet." Vegeta's uncaptured
hand slid down Goku's thigh and into the hem of his pants. "How long
will we be in here?"

"Umm..." They only heard the swooshing waves, the edge of the boat as
it knocked the tunnel edges. "Maybe five minutes?"

"Five? I've never seen how fast I can do this..." He yanked Goku's
pants down. Without any light to help him, he ran his hand down
Goku's thighs, feeling his way down, then up. His mate whimpered and
bucked once, nearly throwing him off. "Settle down, Kakarrot. Or do
you want me to stop?"

No movement. Vegeta smiled and began, kissing the only man who'd ever
trusted him to be so close.

*

The Caterpillar came to a rest with a hydraulic hiss and the safety
bars settled back into place. Goten jumped out of the car and
stretched. Behind him, Trunks stepped out and wobbled sideways.

"That was awesome," Goten said. "The way it went upside down and
corkscrewed and went straight down. Did you--Trunks?"

Ignoring his friend for the moment, Trunks leaned against the railing
on the exit ramp and put his hands over his eyes. He groaned, and the
people walking off the ride walked on the other side of the ramp in
case he was sick.

"Are you okay?" Goten asked. He put his hands on Trunks'
shoulders. "Are you gonna throw up?"

"No, just a headache." He leaned against Goten's side and let him
guide them down the ramp towards a bench.

"Headache? Trunks, we've flown loop de loops harder than that."

As they sat down, Trunks leaned back and looked up at the dome's
ceiling. He took a deep breath. "Yes, but you weren't squeezing all
the oxygen out of me then."

"Oh, oh geez, I'm sorry, I didn't think I was hugging you that hard,"
Goten said and hugged Trunks again.

Trunks' eyes bugged and he managed a strangled groan. Goten gasped
and let go again.

"Ah, I'm sorry!"

"S'awright," Trunks said. "I'll be okay." He lay one hand on his
mate's thigh and squeezed. "You can make it up to me later."

Goten opened his mouth to speak, but he was drowned out by a crackle
of thunder and a flash of golden light from inside the Tunnel of
Love. They both turned in time to see smoke wisp out from the
opening. A minute later out floated a blackened swan, its head gone
and the wings melted like candle wax on the boat's side. Goku
straightened his shirt while Vegeta leaned back next to him, smirking
as usual, running one hand through his hair.

"I was right," Vegeta said to Goku, although his voice was loud
enough for anyone to hear.

"About what?"

"Even you cannot defeat the hooded swan." 1

While Goku furrowed his brow, Vegeta stepped out of the swan and
started towards the food court.

Goten and Trunks glanced at each other and started to chuckle. "Ewww!"

*

Up in the sky, beside the birds and below the altitude of planes,
Gohan and Piccolo sat on top of the DreamLand dome and gazed out over
the darkening landscape. A cold breeze rushed over them and Gohan
pressed against Piccolo. The Namek spread his cape around Gohan's
shoulder and hugged him.

"I don't understand why they want to make movies about me," Gohan
said. "It's kinda stupid."

"As stupid as going to the premiere?" Piccolo asked.

"Better than staying home and getting mom's phone calls all day." He
hung his head and sighed. "I have to do something about her, but I
don't know what."

Piccolo laughed. "Threaten to stop studying."

"Piccolo..."

"I know, I know. Still, you're gonna have to do something, even if it
means disowning her."

"No way, that'd be even worse." He looked at the Saiyaman sign,
smiling and waving above them, and thought about blasting off its
head. "Things were a lot simpler before."

"No they weren't, you just remember them that way. Or would you
rather be back in high school?"

"Sweet Kami, no," Gohan said. He started to laugh. "That's true. No
matter what happens, at least I'm not in high school anymore."

They fell silent for several minutes, watching the city move beneath
them. Made up of lines of light in darkness, the city seemed to
breathe on its own, like a living creature they could barely sense.

"It's cold up here," Gohan said. "We might as well drop in until the
movie starts."

"We don't have tickets. Unless you wanna go in our costumes--"

"No problem, watch." He flared his ki a few times and waited.

A few seconds later, Goku appeared in front of them. "Hi Gohan,
Piccolo. You coming in now?"

"Just a sec." Gohan tapped the watch that made his costume disappear,
and beside him Piccolo did the same, leaving them in semi-formal
wear. "Okay, we're set."

"Great. I don't think Vegeta'll wait for me long."

"How'd you get short shit to come?" Piccolo asked. "I thought he
hated being around humans."

Goku grinned. "I had to promise a lot of ice cream." He put his hand
on Gohan's shoulder and put his fingers to his forehead. The city
disappeared, replaced by a yellow and green tent with a shooting
gallery and baby dolls as prizes.

"Darn, he left," Goku said, looking around. "I guess he got
impatient."

"We'd better find him," Piccolo said, "before he destroys something."

"I'll find him. You go have fun," Goku said and transmitted out again.

Gohan and Piccolo exchanged glances.

"Food court?" Piccolo asked.

"That'd be great," Gohan said, smiling broadly. "How'd you know I was
hungry?"

"You're a Son. You're always hungry."

*

Arms crossed, Vegeta stood at the edge of the dome again and stared
outside. The sparkles of light in the rising heat made the city look
like a life form he'd seen once on a distant plant, something like
jellyfish but crystalline. They had been dark blue, not black, but
their bioluminescence rippled like ribbons of lights along their
bodies. Over a hundred feet long and spread out over the planet's
oceans in schools that ran for miles, the glowing creatures had
looked like a city moving in darkness, one of the most beautiful
things he'd ever seen. And he'd vaporized them all.

"Hey 'Geta!" Goku's bit eyes blinked at him.

Even as Vegeta fell backward he cursed himself. He landed on his ass
and glared at his mate. "Kuzo, Kakarrot, nezo kadde o!"

"Huh?" Goku tilted his head. "You okay? I didn't startle you, did I?"

"Diiratta ne gezi--" The Saiyan prince bared his teeth and raised his
hands into a familiar blast technique. "Big bang--"

"No!" Goku dived on top of Vegeta, squashing his hands down and
holding him still until he finally stopped kicking. As his mate
growled deep in his throat, he looked into his eyes. "Y'know, you're
starting to make this a bad habit."

"No worse than that damn technique," Vegeta said. "Get the hell off
me."

"Promise you won't blast anything?"

"Yes."

Goku relaxed his muscles, then tightened again. "And you won't blast
me?" The last time he'd forgotten to secure that promise, his mate
had pounded him into the side of a cliff.

Vegeta turned his head. "If you insist."

"Okay then." He sat up and rubbed the back of his head. "I'm sorry I
surprised you. I just wanted to come quick and I forgot how you don't
like instant transmission."

"Brainless third class..." He closed his eyes and sighed. "I'll never
figure out how you survived your childhood."

"Lots of food. Oh yeah, I forgot." With a broad grin, Goku looked
down the row of rides and game booths to a smoky tent on the other
side of the park. "We've gotta get to the Smoky Chicharone before
everyone else gets there."

"Smoke what?"

"Smoky Chicharone, it's Mexican. C'mon, get up. No, better yet--" He
put his fingers to his forehead. "Let's go now."

"Kakarrot, no--"

They appeared sitting on top of a table under the Smoky Chicharone
sign, a bright yellow arrow pointing at them and flashing on and off.
Goku jumped off of Vegeta and ran to the window, ordering so much
food the owner cheered and told his staff they'd all take vacations
after tonight.

Vegeta lay still on the table. He found he had a good view of the
stars and the area around him was relatively quiet. None of the stars
were familiar, but from this view they looked the same as when he'd
camped with Raditz and Nappa on dozens of dead planets.

A green head popped into view. "Hey, short shit. You still alive?"

Vegeta tilted his head. Piccolo had on black sunglasses and a hat
covering his ears. "Why the disguise? There aren't many seven foot
tall green beans on earth."

Beside him, Gohan blinked and looked at Piccolo. "He has a point."

"I got the food!" Goku said.

Vegeta slid off the table and into his seat as his mate plopped
dozens of burritos, enchiladas, and other variations of meat and
cheese in a tortilla. Food began disappearing into Goku's mouth, and
Vegeta rushed to fill his own stomach before it all disappeared.

"What are these?" Piccolo asked, poking a skillet full of still
sizzling meat and a pile of tortillas.

"Fajitas." Goku rolled the meat up and inhaled it. "S'good."

Gohan made one and tried it. "Not bad."

"Thought you'd become a vegetarian," Vegeta said as he finished off
the last one. Everyone stared at the prince.

"Vegetarian?" Gohan asked.

Vegeta couldn't force the smirk back. "All you seem to eat now is
green beans."

Piccolo snarled. "You little--"

Gohan wrapped his around Piccolo's waist and held him in a grip so
tight the Namek's face started to turn purple. At the same time, Goku
put his hand on Vegeta's shoulder and transmitted out just as a ki
blast singed the chair.

When they reappeared on the other side of the park, Vegeta couldn't
stop laughing. He leaned against his mate and snuggled, and Goku
looked down on him with wide eyes and a dropped jaw.

"Vegeta, what is wrong with you?" He grabbed his mate's shoulders and
shook him once.

"Wrong?" Vegeta laughed louder. "What makes you think--?"

"This!" Goku said, breathing faster and wondering if his lover had
gone insane. "You never laugh like this. Or get angry as fast as you
did, or act like that with Piccolo, at least not that bad. I mean, I
know you have mood swings, but never like this."

"It's nothing..."

"So it is something."

"Oh yes," Vegeta whispered. "A wonderful secret."

About to ask another question, Goku stopped as Vegeta dropped his ki
so low he could hardly feel it. Only a soft glow in his abdomen--

Freeze.

That's not Vegeta.

He knelt and lay his hands on his mate's stomach, feeling the tiny
glow that was their child. "You...how long?"

"Not long. A few weeks."

Fortunately no one else was nearby as Goku, champion of the earth,
fell to his knees and felt all his muscles start to shake. "We're
gonna have a baby...we're gonna have a baby. I'm gonna be a daddy
again. I'm...wait, but how--?"

"Kakarrot, you have three children already. Do I really have to
explain the ins and outs?" Vegeta knelt and put his hands on Goku's
face, steadying him. "Quit shaking already. One more isn't going to
be a problem."

"Won't be a problem, that's not why I'm shaking." Goku smiled. "This
is wonderful. Our own baby..."

"Another brat, yes."

As Goku hugged Vegeta again, a thought wormed its way through his
happiness. "Vegeta," he asked, "why didn't you tell me?" Goku asked.

Vegeta half-shrugged and stood. "I didn't think the mood swings would
be so bad. Nor those seriously strange cravings for different
foods..." He sighed and shook his head, turning away from Goku. He
started to walk away. "Come on, it'll be time for that ceremony to
start soon. If you rea--"

The only reason Goku didn't squash him on the ground was that he was
afraid it would harm the child inside his mate. Instead he lunged
before Vegeta could get far and wrapped his arms around his waist,
then yanked his mate backwards. With a yelp, Vegeta stumbled into
Goku's lap and his tightly wrapped arms.

"Kakarrot! Have you gone crazy?" He tried to get up, move his arms at
least, but Goku had him pinned. He moved to kick him and Goku pinned
Vegeta's legs down with his own. The prince turned his head, about to
bite his mate's cheek, but Goku twisted one of his hands in Vegeta's
hair, yanking his head back. "Kakarrot!"

Before speaking, Goku took a breath and calmed himself down. Growling
at his lover would only make him angrier. He brushed his lips against
Vegeta's ear and nipped. The sting didn't draw blood, but it warned
Vegeta to stop fighting and he did.

"Listen, my prince," Goku whispered. In his grip, Vegeta shuddered
and breathed faster, mouth slightly open and head tilted back on his
shoulder. "You're not walking away from this. You should've told me,
not left me to guess. Why didn't you?"

"Kakarrot--"

"Yes, Kakarrot, your mate. The one who likes to bite."

Vegeta swallowed. His mate's teeth were so close to his throat.

"I asked you a question. Why didn't you tell me?"

"I..."

"Yes?"

Above him, the glass dome shimmered, reflecting all of the inside
lights into one glare that blinded him. He closed his eyes, but he
could still feel his mate breathing against him. He shook his head as
best he could. "I can't--"

His mate's hand tightened his hair, tilting him closer to his teeth.
Familiar fangs grazed his skin and he shivered. Goku's grip around
his body tightened so much he thought his arms might break.

"Were you just going to wait for me to figure it out?"

"Kakarot, dekette maket." The words came in a whisper, but so close,
they sounded like shouting. "Dekette maket teyo."

Goku paused. He hadn't thought he was hurting him, Vegeta had taken a
lot more from him than that and come out laughing, but he loosened
his grip anyway. "I'm not trying to hurt you," he said. "But I want
to know why you tried to keep my child a secret. My child, 'Geta. I
can't let you walk away on this one."

Any sounds of the rides and screams under the dome were gone. All
they heard was each other's breathing.

"Narokk, ask'ta narokette." Vegeta felt his mate shift underneath him.

"Angry?" Goku closed his eyes and tried to fathom how his prince's
mind worked. It only made him more confused. He let go of his mate
but made him turn around. On his knees, Vegeta lowered his head and
wouldn't meet his eyes.

Goku sighed. "I'm not angry. You should've told me--oh...oh, you
thought being pregnant would make me angry with you?" He put his
hands on Vegeta's face and made him look up. "Why would I be angry?"

Nothing. His prince only shrugged and wouldn't look at him.

"I wish I knew how your mind works sometimes," Goku said and
smiled. "It's not fair making your idiot try to figure out a prince."

Vegeta couldn't help a short laugh, and he looked into his mate's
eyes. Goku brushed his knuckles against Vegeta's throat.

"I'm not angry," he said. "I love you. And I'll love our child."

For a moment Vegeta held still, not saying anything. Then he slowly
crept forward and pressed himself against Goku's body, resting his
head on the same shoulder he'd been held against. He closed his eyes
and breathed out as he felt his mate's arms fold around him. Goku's
heart beat just a few inches away and he listened to it, put one hand
on Goku's chest to feel its faint vibration.

Now that Goku knew about it, the new ki inside his mate glowed strong
enough to feel even when Vegeta wasn't lowering his own. Goku
squeezed Vegeta gently. "It'll be okay," he said. "Don't worry. I'll
always take care of you." A sharp nip came at his throat and he
yelped.

"I don't need taking care of," Vegeta said, licking blood from his
teeth.

"You bit me!"

"Kakarrot's not the only one that likes to bite."

Forgetting where they were, Goku put his hands on Vegeta's shoulders
and pushed him flat onto the ground. He briefly wondered if his
prince would tense up again, but Vegeta only smiled and reached his
hands around Goku's neck. The taller Saiyan grinned. "Oh, we'll see
who's biting who--"

"Goku, geez! Cut it out before someone sees you!"

Both of them blinked and looked around. When they didn't see anyone,
they looked up. Gohan and Piccolo, now in their green and orange
costumes, hovered near the top of the dome. Piccolo looked down
without shame, but even under his mask, Gohan was obviously blushing.

"Can't you two wait 'till you get home?" Piccolo asked.

Vegeta pushed Goku onto the ground and stood up. "Look who's talking.
I'll bet you two got a quickie in the chainging room."

"That's...um, not true," Gohan said. He wondered if they could see
his face burning bright pink.
"Behind the restaurant, then?" Vegeta smirked.

"Hey, you stay out of--" Piccolo started.

"That's it." Gohan grabbed his mentor's arm and jerked him one
way. "We're going, Great Green Bean."

"Huh? But--"

A green and orange streak was all that was left as Gohan pulled
Piccolo towards the DreamLand movie theater. Vegeta laughed and
looked down at his mate.

"Well, come on. You don't want to be late, do you?"

As the prince walked away, Goku rolled onto his stomach and watched
him for a few seconds. "Five months of mood swings," he said to
himself. "Kami, I don't think I'm gonna survive."

*

Although some reporters might have noticed the two fighters in the
back strongly resembling the Cell fighters, or the one who looked
like the Pansy without his petals, all of the tv cameras focused
instead on the two superheroes in front of the flashing cameras. The
Great Green Bean stood behind the Great Saiyaman and kept an eye out
for screaming girls.

"Are you going to act in the next movie?"

"Turn this way!"

"Have you heard any more from the legion of terror?"

"Turn this way, Great Green Bean, turn this way!"

Smiling, Gohan waved his hands and answered in his deep superhero
voice. "No to both, actually. We're fighters, not actors. As for the
legion of terror," he glanced quickly at Vegeta, Trunks and his
little brother, all standing in the back, "I think they might have
learned their lesson that good always triumphs over evil."

The legion of terror frowned and stared back at him. Goten stuck his
tongue out, and Trunks and Vegeta both snarled in unison. Gohan
cleared his throat and looked back at the reporters for the next
question.

One microphone nosed its way ahead of the rest. "Saiyaman, is it true
that you and the Great Green Bean are romantically involved?"

Silence. Everyone stopped talking. All they could hear was cameras
still flashing. Gohan and Piccolo froze.

"Ah...wha--?" Scenes passed through Gohan's mind, images of what life
would be if the entire world knew that he was in love with his wise
Namek. The name calling, the anti-gay-hero movement he knew would pop
up, the tabloid headlines, the switch from screaming fangirls to
screaming fanboys...the catcalls on the street.

Thinking Gohan was at a loss, Piccolo took a deep breath and shook
his head. "Where in hell do you--"

"Yes."

The Namek stared at Gohan, his jaw dropping. They looked at each
other for a moment, and then Piccolo smiled. Both of them did.

For a moment, the cameras stopped flashing. A couple people coughed.
In the audience, Bulma and Yamcha stared at them with open mouths.
Goku grinned. And the legion of terror smiled. For a moment, Vegeta
felt proud of his mate's son. Across the city, the sound of a
thousand female groans reached the Saiyans' sensitive hearing.

Someone started clapping, and the sound woke everyone out of their
stupor. The crowd started cheering, and the reporters had to yell to
be heard over them. Cameras flashed even faster now, zooming in as
Gohan took Piccolo's hand in his. Their capes swirled together as
they stood closer.

"Great Saiyaman, turn this way!"

"Will this influence your next movie?"

"Have you set a date?"

"Great Green Bean, turn this way!"

"Who's on top?"

Gohan looked up at Piccolo, his face lightly tinged purple. When
Piccolo saw his lover's grin, though, he grabbed Gohan's shoulders,
bent down and forced a rough kiss from him. The crowd cheered louder
and the cameras clicked so fast the light from their flash didn't die
down. Knowing the entire city was watching, Gohan at first tensed
every muscle in his body, but then relaxed so much that Piccolo had
to hold him up. When he broke away, Piccolo held him against his
chest with one hand and held up the other to the cameras.

"I think that's enough of a story for tonight," he said, and turned
to take the boneless Saiyaman into the theater. Of course the cameras
zoomed in on their clasped hands.

Bereft of their main story, the reporters descended on the crowd,
asking for reactions and commentary. While everyone else was
questioned, Vegeta pulled Goku behind the cameras and slipped inside
the theater, just behind Bulma, who was also tugging Yamcha with her.
They stopped at the open concession stand, everything free for one
night. Yamcha leaned on the counter before he noticed Vegeta coming
closer with a scowl.

As Yamcha rushed behind Bulma, Trunks and Goten zipped in his spot at
the counter and ordered several tubs of popcorn and enough hot dogs
to make a pile as big as their heads. Goku noticed and got behind
them, eager to order something before they finished everything off.

Ignoring Yamcha for a minute, Bulma stepped close to Vegeta and
lowered her voice. "Did you put Gohan up to that?"

"Up to what?"

"That little stunt outside? The coming out, the kiss, everything. Or
are you gonna tell me it was Piccolo's idea again?"

"I had nothing to do with it," Vegeta said. "The brat's finally
decided to be honest with himself is all."

"Mm." Bulma glanced at Gohan and Piccolo, both walking towards the
theater followed by several reporters and celebrities. "Well, he does
seem happy."

"I got the food!" Goku said, his arms loaded with popcorn, nachos and
hot dogs, with two drinks balanced in his hand. "'Geta, could you
give me a hand?"

The prince stared at Goku as if he were insane for suggesting
it. "You're so keen on taking care of me, you carry it," he said and
walked away.

"Aww..." Goku followed him, trailing popcorn behind himself.

Half an hour later, Goku sat cuddled up with Vegeta in the back of
the darkened theater. He had a feeling Vegeta had fallen asleep,
since the prince had said nothing about the bad effects or big rubber
heads for several minutes now. The last scene featuring Saiyaman
defeating the fighters who'd appeared at the Cell battle, one of whom
had sported a flame-like hairdo, would normally have drawn at least a
sarcastic comment from him. Instead Vegeta snuggled against his
shoulder, partially covered by Goku's coat, listening to his mate's
heartbeat.

"'Geta?"

"Mmf?" Vegeta cracked one eye and looked up. The movielight shone
blue on Goku.

"You asleep?"

"Baka..." He eased off of his mate's shoulder and leaned more against
his chest. "Not anymore."

"Oh. I thought you were. You were so quiet."

Vegeta thought about biting Goku, but decided against it. He sighed
and closed his eyes again.

On the screen, a rubber-headed Saiyaman blocked clumsy punches from
the Gold Fighter. Every time he landed a hit, a giant Pow! or Boff!
popped up for a second. Gohan shook his head and put one gloved hand
over his masked face.

"What's the matter?" Piccolo whispered, trying to fight down a smile.

"I can't believe this," Gohan said. "I'm fighting myself..."

"Pretty Jungian." Piccolo watched Gohan groan and slide down in his
seat. "Hey, it could be worse."

"How?"

"Could be Freudian."

"..." Gohan would've answered eventually but noticed something
strange on the screen. "Is it me, or is the screen starting to glow?"

Piccolo looked back at the screen. Sure enough, the colors of the
action onscreen were starting to turn yellow, gradually fading into a
solid gold that grew brighter and brighter. As it got brighter, the
theater looked as if the lights had been on. People started to murmur
to one another and ask if it was another effect.

"Yes," he said. "It's ki energy, and it's not stopping!"

"Everyone," Gohan said in his superhero voice, flying out of his
seat, "clear the theater. It's gonna blow!"

People screamed and rushed the doors. When the exits didn't open
immediately, Piccolo blasted them. The audience ran out, eventually
leaving no one but several brave reporters, Goku and Vegeta in one
corner and Yamcha and Bulma in the other. Chunks of the ceiling came
down, and the reporters dove for cover. The couples making out didn't
stop.

"Hey!" Piccolo yelled. "Quit making out already!"

Startled, Bulma leaned back and readjusted her gown straps while
Yamcha sat straight. "Huh? What? Hey look, we're so good we bring the
house down."

Gohan glanced over his shoulder at the pairs. "Man, and I thought the
terrible chibis would be the worst ones."

"We're not chibis!" Goten's voice came. There was the sound of Trunks
falling on his back and yelping, and then Goten looked over one of
the chairs in the very back row, his shirt on backwards. A second
later Trunks' head popped up, his hair mussed as he put on his shirt.

"Look out!" Trunks said, pointing at the screen.

As Gohan and Piccolo turned, the screen exploded, sending the pair
into the far wall. The Saiyans and demis all flew into the air,
waiting for the smoke to clear. Trunks turned and looked at
Yamcha. "Get my mom out of here, okay? We'll handle this." Yamcha
nodded and scooped up Bulma, flying with her through one of the
smoking exits.

"That's weird," Goku said. He frowned and peered into the smoke. "Was
it me, or did that ki feel kinda familiar?"

"A little," Gohan said, turning golden under his costume. "But it's
different, too. I don't get it."

"That's because you're not thinking," Vegeta said. He blasted the
smoke, clearing most of it. "It's not one ki, it's several."

"Who--"

Wisps of smoke disappeared, and through the blasted screen they could
see an exploded part of the theater wall, and standing there, wearing
white fighting gi's and masks, were seven familiar people.

Gohan blinked. "Mom?"

"Remember," Krillin said, "just like we practiced."

"Right." Chaotzu nodded and looked up at Tien, whose mask had three
eye holes. "Ready?"

"Ready," Tien said, smacking his fist into his open palm. "Time for
some payback. Great Saiyaman, prepare yourself! Your 'legion of
terror' may have been holding back for you, but we won't!"

"What the hell?" Piccolo asked. He looked back at Goku and Vegeta,
then at Goten and Trunks, but all of them shrugged. "Is insanity
contagious on this planet?"

"We're not the insane ones," Roshi said. He floated on a nimbus, cane
in hand, his mask nearly pushed down by the weight of his Jackie Chun
wig. "I know three of you are from different planets, but that gives
you no right to influence the boys. They're just chibis!"

Now with their clothes fully on, the demiSaiyans flew in
closer. "We're not chibis," Goten said.

"You're confused is what you are," Roshi said.

"We're not confused!" Trunks said, and stomped his foot. Since they
were in the air, though, his foot cracked a chair in half.

"Don't worry, though." Chichi readjusted her mask and smiled. "It's
okay, boys. You may be confused, but I haven't given up on you."

"That's right," Krillin said. "We're gonna take you to some of the
best doctors we could find. They'll get you back to normal."

"But I am normal!" Gohan yelled. "I'm not gonna change, no matter
what."

On the floor, a cameraman sat back in one of the unbroken seats and
wiped dust from the camera lens as he turned it on. Behind him, one
of the reporters got to her feet and clutched the mike to her face.
Gray with dust and her head lightly streaked with blood, she coughed
a few times and wobbled beside the camera. "T-T-This is Angela H-H-
Harker, from in...in..." she coughed again. "From inside the
DreamLand theater. There's b-been an explosion...the legion of
terror...but different, there's more of them." The camera zoomed in
on the glowing shapes both in the air and where the screen had once
been. "I don't know if you can see them...I can't make them out, the
smoke's too thick..."

"Saiyaman's facing them," the cameraman said.

"Can you see Green Bean?" she asked. "It looks like there's more than
just two in the air..."

Hovering in the thickest part of the smoke, Gohan glanced at the two
humans and spotted a few other reporters, unconscious in the debris.

"We shouldn't fight," Gohan said. "There's still people here."

"So?" Vegeta said. "They're too dumb to get out of the way."

"Vegeta!"

"Reporters, right," 18 said, crossing her arms. She shook her
head. "Wouldn't wanna embarrass the Great Saiyaman."

Everyone not wearing white tensed. If it had only been the humans, it
would've been no problem, but the androids were a real threat. "Why
are you two here?" Gohan asked.

17 shrugged and tilted his head towards his sister.

"I asked him to come," she said. "Krillin wants me here, and if I'm
fighting Saiyans, I want backup a little better than just these
humans."

"What the hell is wrong with you people?" Piccolo said. "What do you
care what Gohan does?"

"It doesn't even affect you," Vegeta said. "The harpy, maybe."

"Why are you doing this?" Gohan asked. "I don't understand."

"Look at yourself," Roshi said. "Running around in costumes,
pretending you're something you're not."

"That's not true," Gohan said. "I became Saiyaman so I could be who I
really am."

"You were dating girls before," Krillin said. "I wouldn't be much of
a friend if I didn't try to help you."

Tien smacked his fist into his palm. "This isn't just for you. I'm
here for payback. I'm gonna beat Freiza's little bitch into the
ground!"

A ki blast slammed into his head, sending him crashing through the
DreamLand glass dome and off the edge. Chaotzu screamed as he watched
his friend disappear and flew after him. Everyone's jaw dropped, even
18's. At first they looked at Vegeta, expecting to see one hand
raised. Instead they saw the prince staring at Goku's upright hand,
smoke still trailing from his palm. His familiar smile was gone,
replaced by his pissed off battle face.

"No," he said. "This isn't play. This isn't a game. You want to
threaten my family and my mate, then you deal with me. He's made his
choice. The boys love each other. Vegeta is mine. It has nothing to
do with you. Go home, leave them alone, and this never happened."

"They're my sons too," Chichi said. "And I'll be damned if I see them
perverted. Get 'em!"

As they rose into the air, Goten and Trunks dove towards them,
clotheslining Roshi off his cloud. Goten flew up towards the dome's
top, but Trunks turned and blasted Krillin on the way up.

"Dammit," his wife said. "Don't tell me they burned your hair off
again."

Krillin rubbed the top of his head, feeling the inch long locks
carpeting his scalp. "No, it's still there!"

"Kakarrot, Namek, you take 17," Vegeta said. "The brats can handle
the humans."

Without questioning his tactics, Piccolo and the boys focused on
their chosen targets. "What about you?" Piccolo asked.

"18's mine."

"You sure?" Goku asked. "You're fighting for two, remember."

Vegeta gave a small smile and put one hand over his stomach. "I can't
forget. Not to worry. My strength was lower when we last fought. This
time I rearrange her damn parts!"

"'Strength was lower'," Piccolo mumbled to himself. "He'll never
actually say he was weaker than anyone." Shaking his head, he flew
side by side with Goku, streaking towards 17. When the android flew
backwards up toward the glass dome, they followed, firing blasts that
made bits of glass shower down on him.

In the theater, only Gohan and Chichi, 18 and Vegeta were left, but
each pair didn't notice the other. 18 smiled and crouched, ready to
lunge. Vegeta matched her stance.

"Last time we fought, I nearly took you apart," she said. "Think this
time'll be any different?"

"Tell me, woman," he said. "Are you fighting because you agree with
your husband, or because you thought he'd be killed if you weren't
here?"

The smile disappeared. "I just saw Goku blast Tien out of the park."

"That's what happens when you insult a Saiyan's mate."

"So it's true then. You forced yourself on him."

A yell, and then she was dodging a ki blast that left a crater in the
floor she'd been standing on. More followed her up and over the crowd
of premier goers huddled near the exits. "Idiot!" he yelled. "I
forced nothing on him."

"Hit a nerve, huh?" She fired her own blasts, taking out a dome over
the people when he crowd.

Glass rained down on the humans, stopped only inches from them as
Yamcha blasted it all away. He took a deep breath and looked around
for injuries.

"This is insane," he said, about to join the fight. "They'll end up
hitting bystanders."

"Wait," Bulma said, grabbing his arm. "Don't go. You're the only
thing between us and flying debris."

Another explosion, this one destroying another wall in the theater,
pelted them with brick fragments that Yamcha blasted.

"Dammit, you're right. Can't they evacuate the park any faster?"

Bulma looked at the exit ramps. "I think the power to the lights was
hit. They're trying to walk down in the dark."

"Well, you're a genius. Can't you fix it?"

"Um...I don't have any tools, but I guess I can try." She rolled up
the sequined sleeves on her gown and opened up a gray box bolted
beside the exit doors. Multi-colored wires sparked and fizzled as she
gingerly eased them aside.

For a minute, Goku and Piccolo and 17 zoomed overhead, the Namek
tossed backwards but the move giving Goku a chance to kick 17 into
the pavement. They all dived out of sight.

Left behind in the rubble, the cameraman stumbled around broken
chairs and blocks of masonry as he followed the fighters outside.
Angela followed after him, limping out of the cloud of smoke and into
the cleaner air outside the walls. "What going on?" she asked. "Can
you see them?"

"I've got Great Green Bean and...someone else...fighting...wait,
there's two others fighting over there! It's like a second legion of
terror," he said.

*

Left alone in the empty wreckage and vaguely aware of a battle raging
around him, Gohan walked close to his mother until they were only a
few feet apart. The glow of his ki spotlighted them in the darkened
wreckage. "Mom, you have to stop this."

"You're the one who can stop it," she said. "Agree to come home and
bring Goten with you, and say you'll try to get better."

"There's nothing to get better from. I love Piccolo. And Goten loves
Trunks."

"I knew you'd say that." She looked up at the sky and watched the
three battles rage. "That's why I brought them. Once they've finished
off Vegeta and Trunks and that green monster, we'll bring you back.
Then you'll see why we had to do this."

The word 'monster' stuck in his head. "Did you call you Goten a
monster?"

"What? No, that green--"

"Not Piccolo. Before, when you first saw Goten's tail, did you call
him a monster?"

She frowned. "I don't remem--"

"He does. He said you saw it and called him a monster. Your own
child."

"He had one of those awful tails," she said, wiping her eyes with the
back of her hand. "My sweet little Goten, and he had a tail, just
like Vegeta and Goku and you."

"Being half Saiyan doesn't make him a--"

"No!" She stood straight and stared at him, her eyes bright and
unblinking. "He's human. You're human. Your father may be alien, but
you're not. I won't lose you."

"And you won't," Gohan said. "I'll always be your son. So will Goten.
You'll always be our mom."

Grinning widely, Chichi grabbed his hands and held them. "Then you'll
come back peacefully? You'll be my little Gohan again?"

"I..." He looked back up at Piccolo, still fighting 17 with his
father. A ki bolt took out the wall behind them. "I love you, mom,
but I can't leave Piccolo."

"Oh, if you really want, you can still train with him," she said. She
tightened her grip on his hands. "You'll see, when the doctors are
through, you won't even feel a--"

"No." He stepped back, pulling out of her grip. "No doctors. No
trying to change me. I love Piccolo--"

"That's not true," she said.

"--Goten loves Trunks--"

"Not true."

"--and dad loves Vegeta."

"No!" She slapped him as hard as she could.

He didn't expect the hit and couldn't react in time. Both of them
heard bones crunch as her hand struck his cheek. She cried out and
fell to her knees, holding her hand against her chest.

"Mom--" He bent to touch her.

"Stay away from me," she said, shying away. "What are you? You're not
human. You're a monster, just like them."

"Mom, I'm not...we're not--"

"No," she whispered. "Don't touch me. Monsters...I've given birth to
monsters..."

Paralyzed by her voice, he watched her for several seconds. He shook
his head and looked away. She heard the bricks turn under his feet as
he turned and flew. She whipped her mask off and put one hand over
her face, crying so that her tears slipped between her fingers.

*

"You see, that's your problem," 18 said, blasting Vegeta again. The
prince staggered back a step, blood streaming from a gash in his left
arm. "You get so pissed off in battle you act stupid. Didn't like
hearing the truth?"

"What truth?" He fired a blast just to force her back and give
himself some room. "I've only heard lies."

"I heard you forced yourself on Goku." 18 dived down, smashing her
foot into the ground Vegeta had been standing on seconds
earlier. "That you so desperate for action that you're manipulating
him."

A gallic gun attack exploded against her, sending her through a
corner candy shop. Melted lollipops and licorice coated her face and
hair as she stood up in the smoking rubble. She ripped off her mask,
leaving a candyless patch around her eyes.

"Then how does that explain the brats and the Namek?" Vegeta landed a
few feet in front of her.

She shrugged. "I don't know and I don't really care. I'm just here to
make sure Krillin isn't killed."

"And for that you'd destroy six lives?" Seven, he thought. He spit
out a bit of blood. "It didn't occur to you to keep him at home?"

"You know men," she said and smirked and crouched again. "Call 'em
short and they go ballistic."

Stones and candy flew up as Vegeta's ki surrounded him and burned
bright. Anger, indignation, hurt, all familiar friends, filled his
head, fueled by his rocketing energy. Stop her from mocking him, stop
them all from insulting him and his mate and his children and...as he
powered up, his child's ki joined his.

One hand, still clenched into a fist, touched his stomach. His
child's ki sparkled in a small burst, already imitating his own,
growing angrier. He looked back at 18, about to throw her next punch.
His anger faded and he breathed normally, the hatred and wounded
pride stinging less than they had before. A thought hit him, one he'd
felt before but never so keenly.

"I'm going to win," he said, more to himself than her.

"You wish."

A flurry of punches aimed towards his head all missed as he dodged
back and forth. I only cared about the fight before, he thought. But
I ascended because I grew angry at Kakarrot. I ascended because of my
anger, my emotions. When they'd fought Frieza, he'd had nothing left
to lose, but Kakarrot had everything. It isn't soft-heartedness,
it's...

On the battlefield, my feelings are my guide.

He watched 18's face between her punches, cold and purposeful. She
started kicking again, and he blocked them as he usually did, but now
he blocked them not from himself but from the child inside of him.
And the thought of her damaging his child, causing the least amount
of pain to him--

His normal clothing burned away as he ascended to the second level,
leaving behind his familiar black training suit. Screaming, he
grabbed her outstretched arm and yanked, driving her face into his
fist. As her head snapped back, he clasped his hands together and
doublefisted her down into the concrete. Before she'd finished
landing, he dropped like a stone onto her arm. The crack of bone
echoed over the sound of pulverized rock. He grabbed one of her
ankles and picked her up, then slammed her back into the floor. Her
head bounced on the hard surface and blood trickled from the corners
of her mouth. One eye was beginning to swell shut.

As she groaned, her good eye opened and focused on him. Points of
light sparkled in her sight, shapes blurred and wavered. She saw the
blur of his body come closer and one arm come up.

His hand opened and faced her. She couldn't look away. She didn't
look into his face, didn't look for Krillin, didn't look for
something to hide behind. The world focused into her sharp breaths
and his hand, open and ready to fire. He'd never moved so fast
before. Something had changed and she didn't know what, only knew
that she wasn't going to see Marron that night. She tried to close
her eyes but they wouldn't obey.

And then his hand relaxed and fell to his side. "Go home," he said,
his voice tired. "Go home to your daughter."

Feeling like something dark and awful had passed over her, she
watched him turn and walk through the wreckage. She didn't challenge
him again.

*

"Shouldn't we go help them?" Goten asked.

Across the remains of one of the largest candy shops in DreamLand,
Trunks munched on an almond chocolate bar and shrugged. "Nah, I'm
sure they're okay. Their ki's all over the place. Besides, if we fly
out right now, the reporters might get a good shot, and then mom'll
go nuts." He tossed Chaotzu, squirming and dazed, through the air
towards Goten.

They both hovered near the top of the last two standing walls, the
type storeowners would need extended poles for to reach the displays,
each covered in shelves of different kinds of candy. Several feet
beneath them, Roshi had given up trying to blast them and instead
tried to climb onto his nimbus. Laying half over a chunk of masonry
was Krillin, dazed spirals spinning in his eyes.

"I guess you're right." He caught Chaotzu, held him up, then threw
him back at Trunks. "Still, I feel like we're missing all the fun."

Trunks caught Chaotzu, who screamed and fired small ki bursts that
tingled against their super Saiyan skin. "Maybe, but they're missing
all the chocolate."

"True, that." Goten found a box of sticks full of powdered candy.
While he caught Chaotzu in one hand, he used the other to pick up one
stick. He bit the end off and swallowed all the powder in one go.
Then he threw Chaotzu back again.

"Dammit!" Roshi fell on his butt again. As he rubbed the soreness out
of it, he swung his cane at the nimbus cloud that refused to let him
on. "You rotten, good-for-nothing, useless piece of crap!"

"Gee, no wonder he can't get on," Goten said.

"Hey, you think we could?" Trunks said.

"I don't think you could." Goten blinked as his mate frowned. "No, I
didn't mean it like that. I mean, you usually can't get on anyway.
And we've been tossing Chaotzu around for awhile now. That can't be
good."

"Hmm." Trunks hefted Chaotzu up to his face. "Well, clown, you gonna
stop pestering us and let us be?"

Chaotzu growled, and his face reddened despite the white look. "The
minute I get my hands on you'll I'll rip your--"

"Guess not." Trunks tossed him back to Goten. "We're not hurting him.
It's self-defense. I think you could still get on the nimbus."

"You think?" Goten caught Chaotzu and flung him back. "Nimbus!"

The nimbus sailed out of Roshi's reach and floated up beside Goten.
With a deep breath, he plopped onto the soft, cool cloud...and didn't
sink. He smiled and puttered the cloud over to his mate. "Cool!"

"That's great." Trunks looked around at the mess, Krillin and Roshi
on the ground and Chaotzu squirming in one hand. "It's pretty boring
here. Wanna go help 'em anyway?"

"What about the reporters?"

"Oh yeah...forgot about them..." His eyes lit up and he reached into
his jacket. "I only have the masks and a few capes. I didn't really
think we'd get a chance to use 'em."

"Capes?" Goten took the offered items and slipped the mask on. Large
enough to cover most of his face, the mask conformed perfectly to his
skin. The black cape fit comfortably around his shoulders and covered
his clothing. "Cool, it'll be like one legion against the other."

Also masked, Trunks looked back at the small emperor in his hand. He
didn't want to hit him again, but he didn't want him on his tail
either. Winding his arm like a pitcher, he whirled Chaotzu around and
around before flinging him out of the shop, out of the dome and out
of sight. A split second later they saw the usual sparkle of light
that meant he'd fully blasted off.2

"Great, let's go!" He plopped down in front of Goten and sank
straight through. He was so surprised only Goten's hand fisting into
his shirt kept him from falling.

"Guess they're right about you." Goten hauled Trunks back up and onto
his lap. "You are perverted."

"Pervert!" Roshi yelled, pointing at Trunks. "You're a corrupting
influence!"

"Like you can talk, you withered sex fiend." Trunks crossed his arms
and scowled at his mate. "And you...you're just as bad as me. You
just don't know it. The butterflies haven't told you yet."

Goten grinned and kissed his nose. "See what I meant? You're as bad
as your father sometimes."

"Just get us out of here."

With Goten holding Trunks securely in his lap, the pair took off to
find Gohan. Before they made it to the theater, though, they spotted
Vegeta walking out of the crushed pink and white wreckage of the
candy shoppes. His jacket was gone and his shirt torn and bloodied,
but if he was walking and 18 was nowhere near...

"Fly this thing lower," Trunks said.

Goten guided the nimbus down until they pulled even with Vegeta,
floating just a few feet from the ground. The prince glanced at them,
then shook his head and groaned. "Not those damn masks again. Does
everyone have some kind of sick fetish about masks?"

"Mmm," Goten said. "That would explain why Trunks can't sit on the
nimbus..."

"It's 'cause of the reporters out there--" Trunks started.

"That reporter excuse will only work so far, brat."

"I'm serious, that one woman nearly got pictures of us." Trunks
grinned and played his trump card. "Of course if you want mom to see
you unmasked on national tv--"

The threat of the woman's anger did the trick. Vegeta caught the mask
tossed to him and fit it over his face. Soon he had the cape around
his shoulders and the cowl over his head, and unlike the two demi-
Saiyans, he seemed swallowed up in the shadows left by all the broken
lamps and lights around the park. He flew a few feet into the air,
keeping beside the nimbus as they rose over the park for a better
view.

Camera flashes sparkled beneath them, and they glanced down at the
throng of reporters still at the entrance of the amusement park.

Closer to the fighting, the female reporter and her faithful camera
man huddled under a doorframe, earning serious promotions. "We can
still see the Great Green Bean," Angela said, her voice finally
steady again. "I think he's got the Pansy with him now...but I don't
know who they're fighting. Whoever it is has shown no regard for
anyone else, and our heroes have been forced to destroy huge chunks
of exploded bricks to keep them from killing bystanders. There's
still no quick way out, even though Bulma Briefs herself is repairing
the emergency systems. We're all trapped and--oh my God, Green Bean's
hand has been shot off!"

In the air, Goku and Piccolo hovered on one side of a demolished
souvenir shop, 17 on the other, all three nursing bloody injuries and
the Namek trying to regrow his hand. Piccolo chuckled and glanced at
his friend. "Feels pretty damn familiar, doesn't it?" he
asked. "Except he doesn't have a tail to grab."

"If only I could use some real attacks," Goku said, "but anything
stronger and this whole park'll come down."

"We could really use another pair of hands right about now."

"Maybe Gohan--"

"Gohan's got his own mess to deal with," Piccolo said. "He's in no
shape to fight."

"And you? Can you still fight?"

His severed hand lay on the ground below them, and his stump dripped
profusely, but he nodded. "I think so. But all this pounding isn't
doing much but destroying things."

They both stared at 17, who stared right back. "There's gotta be
another way," Goku said, "but how can we use our full power without
killing everyone?"

"Are you two really that stupid?"

The already cool air seemed to drop several degrees as they looked
over their shoulders. In front of the demi-Saiyans on the nimbus,
Vegeta floated with his arms crossed and his cloak pulled tight
around his body. Most of the lights nearby were dark, leaving him in
nothing but moonlight. His face hid in the shadows of his cowl,
making him look like death itself.

"Hey, you won!" Goku said. "I can't believe it!"

"What do you mean, you can't believe it!" Vegeta snapped. "I defeated
18 easily."

Seventeen flinched.

Floating backwards out of the reach of his mate's hands, Goku looked
down at Vegeta's stomach. "She didn't hurt the--"
"No, it's fine." Vegeta hoped Goku wouldn't bring up his pregnancy
again, at least not in front of the Namek. He glanced at Piccolo to
make sure he didn't suspect anything. "If you two can't defeat this
piece of junk, then I will."

"No, wait!"

Just as Vegeta flew forward, Goku grabbed his cloak and yanked him
back. Vegeta nearly choked and turned around, taking a punch at
him. "What the hell? Let me go!"

"We can't use strong attacks," Goku said. "People could die."

"I mated a fool," Vegeta muttered. "You think too much about
strength, you never think about speed."

"Huh--?" Goku suddenly found himself holding a torn edge of Vegeta's
cloak, and his prince already blurring in front of 17. A cold chill
ran down his spine. For all his mate's bravado and strength, he'd
never actually seen him win against anyone, and even though he'd just
defeated 18, he was still carrying their child...

The camera on the ground couldn't follow the fight, catching only
blurs and streaks of light. In the air, no one had ever seen Vegeta
move so quickly, seeming to surround 17 and yet dodge every punch and
kick sent his way. His speed meant he sacrificed some of his brute
strength, but each blow he landed jarred the android's head and wore
him down.

"You couldn't have defeated my sister," 17 said, trying a roundhouse
that swept harmlessly through Vegeta's afterimage. "She beat you last
time."
"Things change." With the android's confidence shaken, Vegeta used
the same move that had sent 18 down, grabbing 17's punch and using
his momentum to double the impact of his fist. A quick kick and 17
landed in a crater in the concrete. Dust shot up in a cloud around
him, so thick he couldn't see anything. Before he could move aside,
Vegeta's boot planted hard in his back and pinned him there.

"I let her go back to her daughter," the prince said, growling out
his words. "The only thing keeping me from killing you are the brats
watching us."

"Goku has nothing to do with it?" 17 said. Despite the pain, he
smirked.

"Smart ass robot..." Vegeta ground his heel down a few times before
backing away. "18's gone, so you might as well take off."

"Didn't wanna fight anyway..." 17 got to his feet, wobbling back and
forth. "You won't blast me in the back?"

"If you don't leave now, I will."

As the android left, the dust around Vegeta cleared, leaving him
standing in the middle of the crater and giving the reporter her best
scoop ever.

"The other torture twin!" she screamed into her microphone. "He's
just saved the Great Green Bean and the Pansy!"

Fortunately for his pride, no one could see his face his eyes widened
as far as they could and his jaw dropped. He clutched his cloak
tighter and looked for an exit, but everything was flattened rubble.
Still in the air, the others noticed her for the first time.

"What the--we've been recorded?" Piccolo said.

"It's not true," Vegeta whispered. He wanted to shout, but the shock
crippled his voice. "I'm still evil, I am."

"And look," she kept going, "the terror twins on the side of angels!"

"Trunks..." Goten couldn't stop staring at her. "She's looking at us."

"Mom's gonna kill me." Trunks hid his face in Goten's shirt and tried
to disappear.

With his usual grin, Goku waved to the camera and gave them a victory
sign. Vegeta groaned and flew up to his mate, blocking him from the
camera, and smacked his head.

"Bad enough I'll have to listen to the woman rant about this," he
swept his arm back over the flattened park, "but now you're on
national tv!"

"But 'Geta, so are you."

"Not unmasked, I'm not! Argh!" He grabbed Goku's wrist and yanked him
across the sky, followed close by the brats and the Namek. "Fate
cursed me with a dumb mate..."

"'Geta..."

*

From his seat on the ruins of the main theater, Gohan leaned back
against the wall and listened to his mother cry on the other side.
She never said anything through her tears, but though she tried to
stop several times, Gohan heard her start crying again and again. He
hugged his knees against his chest and stared at the stars. He'd
removed his Saiyaman costume and sat in his usual outfit, brown pants
and a white long sleeve, but he didn't think to look around for
reporters or bystanders who might have noticed him. His eyes started
tearing up, and his wet eyelashes made streaks on his glasses that
blurred the stars. As he wiped them off on the edge of his shirt,
several blurs descended in front of him. He blinked the last tears
away and put his glasses back on.

"I guess the fighting's over?" he asked.

Piccolo nodded once. "Yeah. We won."

"Oh. That's good." He stood and looked up at him. "This'll happen
again, won't it? Krillin and Roshi and Tien aren't gonna give up..."

"Well, Tien has different reasons," Piccolo said with a glare at
Vegeta, who ignored him. "But yeah. As long as they think they can
change you, they won't stop."

"But I don't wanna live like that. Them always trying to get me to be
straight, I mean. And they'll inevitably get hurt." His mother
started to quiet down again, but they all heard her sniffling echo
between the ruined walls. "No. I'm ending this today."

Vegeta smirked. "Dibs on Triclops."

"No," Gohan said. "No killing. This started because I tried to hide
who I am. Not anymore." He flipped on his Saiyaman costume again and
took Piccolo's hand. "Let's go meet the reporters."

Trailing behind the small group, Goten glanced into the
theater. "What about mom?"

"It's okay," Trunks said. "It's better if she doesn't have to see us.
Someone'll find her and think she got hurt in the first blast."

The yells and screams from the crowd still at the blocked entrance
had quieted now that the blasting had stopped, and the humans watched
as the Great Saiyaman led his newly increased team out of the dust
cloud. Their clothes were torn and singed, they were bruised and a
little bloody, but they each walked as if there was nothing left to
fear and the atmosphere lightened as the crowd cheered.

"Why are they yelling?" Goten asked.

"'Cause we stopped Roshi an' Krillin and everyone."

"So we're heroes now?" Goten asked.

"Ah, no big deal," Trunks said. "Just means you can blow stuff up and
people like you for it."

"Oh." Goten grinned. He loved blowing things up.

Trunks shook his head and leaned against his mate, wondering how he
stayed on the nimbus.

On the left of Saiyaman, Goku spotted a bit of movement and glanced
at the edge of the shattered dome. "Wow." He watched 18 grab
Krillin's shirt and drag him into the sky out of sight. "How'd you do
it?"

Vegeta watched her, but seemed to look through her at the sky he'd
been staring at before. "I...I haven't had something to lose in a
fight before."

"Huh?" Goku scratched his head and looked at his mate, confused by
the strange expression on his face. Or what he could see of his face,
since the cowl was still down. "We've lost people before. We were
just lucky to get them back."

"More than their lives." His head lowered and he shrugged. "I don't
know. I still don't understand it. My anger always hurt me before. I
learned to ignore my feelings in a fight."

Not pressing for more, Goku put his arm around Vegeta's shoulders and
hugged him closer as they walked.

Questions started as soon as they came within earshot and the
undamaged cameras zoomed in on the small group as they stopped
slightly behind Saiyaman and the Great Green Bean. One reporter in
particular, streaked with blood and gray dust, pushed her way through
and put her mike out front.

"Saiyaman, has the legion of terror changed forces and joined you?"

The sound of the three choking didn't reach her, but they made Gohan
grin. Despite everything that had happened, he still had to fight
back laughter. "They sure have! I'm pleased to say they've all seen
the error of their ways and joined the forces of good."

Almost on instinct, both Goten and Goku grabbed their respective
mates before they could fly off. Trunks still managed to pull Goten
off the nimbus, but Vegeta didn't fight much to keep his cloak in
place. In the back, Yamcha snickered. Bulma's shoulders shook with
silent laughter as she finished up the last repairs to the electrical
system.

"Saiyman, who was this new enemy? Another legion of terror?"

"In a way." He took a deep breath and stepped closer so everyone
could hear him. Across the country, anxious viewers watched a close-
up of him as he spoke. "They were a group so strongly opposed to me
being with...who I love...that they were willing to endanger hundreds
of lives in the hope that they could destroy mine." He held a hand up
to stop their questions. "We defeated them, yes, but I think this
battle goes farther than just a handful of villains. We have the
ability to protect ourselves, to defend our right to love who we
want. As the Great Saiyaman, I can live inside my mask and love
whoever I want, be who I am, and for awhile that was enough."

Under his cape, he slipped one hand over the watch that would change
his costume again. "But it's not enough anymore. I can't live behind
a mask forever. It's who I am underneath it that matters, and this
fighting will only end when I'm strong enough to be who I am without
it. This...this may be the hardest thing I've ever done but..."

With a press of a button, his costume vanished. Camera flashes
threatened to burn out as the entire nation saw not Saiyaman but Son
Gohan standing in front of them, unmasked and glowing with power.

"My name is Son Gohan. And this is who I am."

He turned and grabbed Piccolo's hand, dipping him down for a long
kiss. Bulma chose that moment to flip the lights back on, and the
glowing exit tunnel spotlighted the two.

The cheers now made their earlier applause seem tame. Beside them,
Goten whooped and tugged his own mask off before grabbing Trunks'
mask. The purple haired demi-Saiyan shrieked and tried to turn
around, but it was too late. Dozens of photos had been snapped.

Any cameras not turned on those pairs now switched to the Pansy and
the shadowy person next to him. Vegeta glanced aside and flipped them
off.

"Aww, don't be like that," Goku said, reaching for the cowl. He
yelped and drew his hand back instantly, sucking on his bloodied
fingers. "Quit biting me!"

Wiping a bit of blood from his lips, Vegeta snarled. A moment later
he was pinned growling against his mate's body in a tight hug.

*

The next week, the picture on the front of Nakayoshi Magazine was not
a photo from the cameras but a still frame from one of Angela's
cameraman's shots of Son Gohan dipping Piccolo backwards with Goten
and Trunks on one side and Goku with his "mysterious partner" on the
cover's folded inset. Inside were articles ranging from Son Gohan's
life and how'd coming out had changed how his students treated him
("enrollment is up fifty percent!") to speculation on how Trunks
Briefs was juggling life as his mother's corporate assistant, student
and supervillain-turned-hero all at once ("grounded doesn't begin to
cover it").

In-depth coverage and a first hand account by Angela Harker of the
damage done to DreamLand included how the newest Saiyaman movie's
profits would go to help rebuild, as well as the new Saiyaman coaster
that would be the tallest and fastest in the world. An interview
covered a typical day in the life of the Great Green Bean and his
dietary habits. A selection of the Pansy's favorite recipes followed
and an entire section had been devoted to who the mysterious partner
(now dubbed the Saiyashadow) could be, including photos of him
flipping off the crowd, being snuggled in the Pansy's arms and an
earlier picture of him fighting the group now suspected of being the
second legion of terror at a local carnival.

In order to appear fair and balanced, the magazine also included an
editorial about how superheroes used smoke and mirrors to accomplish
their seemingly amazing feats, but sadly Mr. Satan was not an
engaging writer and was shunted near the back of the magazine, next
to an ad for male enhancement pills.

*

A few months later, Piccolo sat at the base of the waterfall near his
home, the spray just light enough to take the edge of the summer
heat. He'd snaked his arms around Gohan's waist and held him in his
lap, enjoying having him close.

"Roshi called me again," Gohan said.

"About the nimbus?"

"Yup."

"But you've told him you don't have it."

"I know." Gohan lay his arms over Piccolo's. "But he can't call Goten
and Trunks' secretary screens his calls, so he yells at me."

"Mm."

"Krillin called, too."

"More yelling?" Piccolo asked.

"Actually, he apologized and asked me to thank Vegeta for him."

"What? No-nose wants to thank Short-shit?"

"Yeah, whatever Vegeta said to her, it's made her stop training.
She's concentrating on raising Marron now." Gohan laughed. "Krillin
said he's not bruised all the time anymore."

Piccolo chuckled. "Nice that one of 'em stopped obsessing over what
you're doing."

"It's funny. I thought it'd be harder, but it wasn't so bad. Even the
ones who didn't approve at first."

"No one can change in one night," Piccolo said. "You just have to be
willing to give them time. Everyone's got prejudices in some way. You
can't judge them for it."

Gohan smiled at him. "When'd you get so wise?"

"Probably around the same time this little clumsy brat taught me how
to be friends."

"'Brat'?" Gohan smacked Piccolo's shoulder and veered just enough to
avoid his own smack. "You've been hanging around Vegeta too much."

"He's got some good points, far and few between." He reached up and
gently plucked the glasses off Gohan's face. "He occasionally gives
some good advice."

"Oh? Like what?"

Piccolo leaned down until his lips brushed Gohan's. "Lemme show you."

*

In the back of a local comic book shop, Goku and Vegeta transmitted
quietly in and looked around. There was no one else except a lonely
virgin paging through his comic at the cash register. Vegeta nodded
to his mate and took him to a set of shelves in the corner. One by
one he examined each comic, skimming the pages and setting an
occasional one aside.

"What are these?" Goku asked. He stood behind his mate and put his
arms around him, lightly touching his mate's distended stomach as he
looked over his shoulder. "Why'd you wanna come get them?"

"I wanted to," Vegeta said. "I like some of these."

Realizing it was probably just his mood swings, Goku glanced at the
inside of the comic Vegeta was holding. His eyes widened when he saw
the two drawn figures in a twisted sexual position. Then his jaw
dropped when he saw who they were.

"Oh my God, that's us!" He grabbed another book and looked through
it. For half the comic, the Pansy, trapped in an enemy's tight and
painful bondage, was forced to play dog for his captors until the
Saiyan Shadow dropped in, destroyed the enemy in one panel, and then
merely loosened Pansy's bonds and took his "reward" for freeing him.
The bonus story in the back showed the Pansy as a flower growing in
the Saiyan Shadow's backyard, nurtured and taken care of until he was
ready to be plucked. "Oh my God..."

"These are the best," Vegeta said, placing that one on a growing
stack. "If it's not rated X, it's usually not any fun."

Faintly disturbed by these unauthorized stories, Goku noticed covers
including Gohan and Piccolo, Goten and Trunks, Trunks and Piccolo,
Goten and Piccolo, Trunks and Goten and Piccolo, Goku and Piccolo,
Goku and Trunks, and he wondered why Vegeta was hardly in any of
these.

And then he noticed that the second shelf was devoted exclusively to
stories of the Saiyan Shadow. He picked one that looked half-decent.
On the cover, Goku stood with a surprisingly accurate Vegeta cradled
in his arms. Inside was a more romantic story as the Pansy saved the
Saiyashadow from an evil enemy and nursed him back to health. With a
warm and fuzzy feeling, Goku flipped the page and found a splash page
of the Saiyashadow caught in an enemy's tight and painful bondage
until the Pansy came in, killed the enemy in one panel, and proceeded
to take his reward for saving him.

"You're right," he said, "these are neat. Do the others know about--"

"No. The woman found these, that's how I know."

*

And late that night, in Bulma's bed, Yamcha lay with his eyes closed
while the genius used a reading light clipped over a comic. She
giggled as the Pansy and the Saiyashadow danced a ballet.

"And he didn't explode?" Yamcha asked.

"Nope." She turned a page. "He asked where he could get them and then
went to find Goku. Aren't pregnant Saiyans weird?"

Yamcha would've said something about pregnant women being weird but
held back. Bulma finished her comic and turned off her light, easing
under the covers for the night. Several silent minutes went by.

"You're sure it's not contagious?" Yamcha asked.

"Oh, for heaven's sake...you can't catch gay, Yamcha." Bulma shook
her head and turned on her side to face him. "Besides, they're
Saiyan."

"Piccolo's not."

"Mm, you have a point. It is a little weird statistically." She
looked at him as she mulled that over. "Maybe it's Saiyan hormones.
They could affect Nameks. I'd have to try a few experiments to find
out. Or maybe it's just their high ki levels." She giggled behind one
hand. "In which case, you have nothing to worry about."

"Hey!"

The End

NOTES:

1. Hooded swan...let's just say I don't think Goku ever got his
snipped. And that's all I'm saying.

2. Anime characters make a little sparkle when they blast off like
Chaotzu did. Just ask Team Rocket.
 
:) KC