Welcome! This is my 2nd fic, and I am going to attempt to do a 3-year gap story! While I can't guarantee much, I will say I do give my best! If you like AU's please check out my other fic "Chanced Encounters" as it is definitely NOT the typical 3-year gap story (mature audiences only), especially if you like long thorough original storylines. If you like my work, please comment, and share! As always: thoughts are italicized; direct quotes are in "quotations," and I don't own any of these characters as they are property of Akira Toriyama.

Introduction

The rays of sunshine swept across his face as he lay there on the soft grass. The wind blew without care as the birds chirped upon the breeze. His hair tussled lightly as his eyes trained on the small white clouds that puffed across the sky like cotton spun carelessly from the wheel.

Surely there had to be a mistake.

He closed his eyes as he processed so much that had occurred in what seemed like a blink of an eye. His memory ran back to the moment he was struck down—he could still feel his last exhale as he was struck in the heart by the tyrant Frieza. He could feel as his head hit the ground; the blurry image of the last face he'd ever see etched into his mind.

Kakarot

He swore to Vegeta that Frieza would pay for his sins, and then all went dark. It was only what felt like seconds later that he dug himself from his shallow grave on the Planet Namek to find his body restored, his energy returned, and his life reset. Then only moments after that when he had Frieza in his sights only to be instantly transported to the place he found himself now.

Vegeta propped himself up by his arms resting his weight onto his hands as he looked around. Blue skies littered with white clouds were cast across a vastness of green grass and rolling hills. A few flowers grew aimlessly about as bees landed to gather their sweet pollen. He looked to his left and saw what looked like the outline of a city—he could hear the noise emanating from the residents milling about. He looked to his right to see the outline of a compound, but still a bit far away to read any descriptors of sorts. Vegeta exhaled and closed his eyes, looked up, and opened them to observe a single sun shining down merry and bright.

He squinted his eyes as he furrowed his brow.

Earth.

Vegeta let his hands slide away from his body as he fell back onto the grass.

Great.

One by one each Namekian scouted and searched about. The field was littered with green aliens searching about with joy on their faces as they reunited with the others ultimately all convening around their Grand Elder Guru. They were also in a state of confusion with the occurrences around them, but feared little as they had guidance and leadership from their Grand Elder. Krillin, Gohan, and Piccolo were also on scene which brought what could potentially had been a chaotic scene into a very casual encounter.

Krillin looked around with a smile, but then scratched his head as he walked over to Piccolo and Gohan, "So, what do we do now?" They turned to look at the field of Namekians idling about to which they all released a sigh of indecision. Piccolo pursed his lips, "I am not sure. I have no idea what we are going to do now that we are here on Earth." The Grand Elder had also become part of this hushed discussion, but it wasn't long until the topic became a very popular focal point of interest. That was until a loud voice carried over them all.

"Hey!"

They all turned as a hush carried over the crowd.

"Oh, thank Heaven it worked!"

They watched as a woman jogged up to them exhibiting very characteristic blue hair that they had seen before.

"It's Bulma!" Krillin clapped his hands while Gohan cheered. "BULMA!"

She jogged over to them and laughed, "Oh my…I was so scared I was really starting to think that I…"

She looked around as all eyes and ears were trained on her.

"…"

She looked up at Piccolo as he stared into her HARD.

"Oh, well, what I meant to say is that I was, uh scared, that…I…uhhh…"

She looked around at the Namekians as they stared at her with a bit of fear.

"…I thought I…uh…left my KEYS, yeah, back on Namek! But I have them! Everything is good everyone!" She waved about as the tension dropped.

Whew…that was close. I guess they don't need to hear how I thought the plan wasn't going to work.

Piccolo motioned to the others to meet up so they could discuss the events unfolding. "So, Goku remained on Namek to battle Frieza. I wonder how that is going right now." The small group fell silent as they thought about Goku left on Namek per request, of course, to defeat that horrible tyrant Frieza. Bulma sighed as she turned to Gohan and ruffled his hair, "I am sure your dad is fine." Gohan smiled, "Yeah, he is, I just know it!" Krillin smiled as he looked about the field of green, and he wasn't looking at the grass. He watched as Guru approached them with a very similar look on his face that Krillin had.

Krillin spoke low so only their small group could hear, "So, does anyone have a plan on what we do with everyone here? It isn't like we can get them an apartment in the city until we can wish them off planet." Guru shook his head, "I fear I have no answer as I am only a guest on this world."

Bulma's eyes lit up, "That's it! Guest!" They looked at her a bit concerned about her sudden joyous exclamation. "Don't you see, you can be guests at Capsule Corps! There is more than enough space for everyone here plus room to spare." Krillin nodded his head and looked over to Piccolo, "That would definitely work." Piccolo turned to Guru as Bulma beamed next to him, "Grand Elder Guru, this plan would be the most satisfactory for everyone involved." Guru turned to Bulma with hesitation regarding such an overwhelming favor to ask anyone, "Child, would you be so kind to open your home to so many displaced Namekians in our dearest time of need?"

Bulma nodded, "Of course I would."

Gohan cheered, "Then it's settled!" Piccolo smiled and placed his hand on Bulma's shoulder, "You have no idea how much this means to us all." Bulma smiled, "I know you'd do the same for me." Bulma turned around as Guru addressed the crowd regarding their new homes for the time being. Grateful was an understatement for the Namekians as they cheered for Bulma, as well as Gohan, Krillin and Piccolo. Krillin laughed, "It's so great when a plan comes together so perfectly!"

"I believe you have a severely demented definition of 'perfect' if you ask me."

First there was silence across the masses, and then audible gasps of fear. The Namekians knew who this was—it was the Saiyan that ended the lives of many of them. It didn't take long for the calm to erode into fear and hatred compounded by the fact that Vegeta was here—on Earth—and they were absolutely dependent on the earthlings.

Vegeta stood with his arms crossed across his chest as he leaned up against a tree staring over the crowd. He could feel the tension from the Namekians, and it was satiating. Krillin's eyes widened, "What the—how's this possible?" Piccolo turned his body to face Vegeta in a stance ready for battle, "I'm not entirely sure, but that doesn't change the fact that he's here. Who knows who else might show up."

Bulma's heart raced. How the Hell did…wait a second…

She thought back to the wishes. It can't be… She began to dissect them in her head.

Piccolo and Krillin squared up ready to brawl as Gohan joined the ranks.

Vegeta stood and smiled.

The air was tense and thick with anticipation. Piccolo, Krillin and Gohan versus Vegeta.

That anticipation was shot dead from the sky by unexpected laughter from behind. Vegeta was snapped out of his joyous moment as he heard the repeat laughter from a somewhat familiar source. Piccolo, Gohan and Krillin also turned around to witness what madness was unfolding behind them. Krillin tilted his head, "What the…?"

Bulma gently pushed her way to the front of the crowd and next to her friends.

"Now, wait right there!"

She rested her hands on her hips. "No one is fighting anyone," she looked right at Vegeta, "and that means you as well."

Vegeta blinked. Then he blinked again. He had no time to respond before Bulma turned around to the Namekians, "It's fine everyone! Everything is fine!" She turned back to Krillin and Gohan, "Would you guys please escort them to Capsule Corp? It's getting late, and I can wrap this up here." Krillin and Gohan about died at her request, "Bulma, you can't be serious right now!" Bulma nodded, "I am. Besides I have backup if I need it, which I am sure I won't." She winked at Piccolo who blushed slightly, but turned back to Vegeta. "Go on you two. I will handle this if necessary."

After much hesitation Gohan and Krillin backed off, and lead the escort of the Namekians to Capsule Corp where they could get settled in. Vegeta watched this brief changing of the guard as his mind wandered. It wasn't long before his attention was trained on the blue haired woman who began to approach him as everyone else began to leave, save the single Namekian standing by. Vegeta watched as she gained ground towards him narrowing his eyes slightly when she stopped mere feet away. His arms were still crossed as he remained propped up against a tree. There was a moment of silence between them as she peered at him with an eyebrow raised. Piccolo watched the scene unfold with his own adrenaline coursing through his veins. Bulma, what are you doing?

"Vegeta."

He said nothing.

Bulma continued, "You can cut the act. We both know why you are here."

Vegeta raised his brow at her remark, "Excuse me, woman? Last I checked I was dead on Namek." He leaned forward from the tree and unfolded his arms. Bulma swallowed hard. He was very intimidating, but she had her mind set. He doesn't know about the wishes…shit.

Bulma sighed, "When we used the dragon balls to wish everyone back we were very specific about who we brought back. Specifically, no allies of Frieza, and no one that worked for him." The two sat in silence for a second as Bulma watched Vegeta internalize her words. Bulma continued, "So, in essence since the dragon spared you, it means you were neither those things, hence…" Bulma took a risk and very lightly poked his chest with her finger as she gave him a wink, "…you're a good guy now." She withdrew her hand and backed up a foot or two. Vegeta said nothing.

The breeze picked up as the sun was beginning to set. Three of them stood there in silence for the moment until Bulma spoke once more. "Piccolo, would you please give us this space? I'll meet up with you all shortly, I promise." Piccolo straightened at her request, and then locked eyes with Vegeta. "Bulma, do you really think that is a wise request?"

Vegeta rolled his eyes and sighed loudly, "No need." He pushed passed Bulma and walked off into the opposite direction of everyone else. Bulma turned back to Piccolo and shooed him with her hand. "Fine. You have 20 minutes, Bulma." With that Piccolo retreated to the compound to aid in settling the others.

Bulma turned towards the direction which Vegeta began to walk and followed. He didn't go far, and once he heard her call out to him he stopped.

"Vegeta…"

She watched him stop and gaze out over the skyline of the city way off in the distance.

"…look, I know there are plenty of other places you'd rather be than here."

Vegeta laughed, "Woman, you have no idea."

Bulma crossed her arms, "As I was saying, I know you don't want to be here but that doesn't change the fact that you are." Vegeta began to grow increasingly frustrated at the woman behind him spitting out the obvious. He spun around to face her as his impatience was now extremely obvious, which scared her more than she'd openly admit.

"What's you point, woman?!"

Bulma balled her fists in anger as she responded to Vegeta's lack of patience in kind, "My POINT is that although you are stuck here for the time being that you are going to need somewhere to go as well, you inconsiderate ass!" Bulma continued her tirade much to the entertainment of Vegeta who began to see her anger as a basis of amusement. "Also, there is a possibility that I can get a ship in working order for you to take and go away, far away as you like, if you can agree not to blow up Earth in the process."

Vegeta raised his eyebrow and laughed. "So, you are bribing me with shelter and a way off this planet just to preserve yourself and your planet, is that it?" Bulma turned and shrugged, "Why is that such a surprise? I mean, if you aren't a good guy, wouldn't it be smart of me to try and appeal to the bad guy?"

Vegeta laughed, "But if I am the bad guy, then why would I make a deal with YOU?"

Bulma turned around and smiled—an action that caught Vegeta by surprise.

"You see, you are a good guy, you just said it yourself." Vegeta opened his mouth to retort but realized she had successfully manipulated him. He peered at her through agitated eyes as she brought her hand up to her mouth to stifle a giggle.

"Tell you what, Vegeta. You see that house way over there?" She turned and pointed to a large structure not too far away from their current location. "There is a large window with a balcony on the second floor that faces away from the city. I'll leave it unlocked in case you change your mind. I guarantee you won't have to share any space with any of the others, or the Namekians for that matter. It'll be your spot until I can get a ship in working order for you."

Bulma turned and walked away from Vegeta towards the capsule Corp compound. He stood there in silence before yelling out to her, "Woman." Bulma turned to listen to him reducing her pace slightly, "Yeah?"

Vegeta gritted his teeth, "Why do you care?"

Bulma smiled, "Because someone as cute as you shouldn't be left unattended on this planet for too long. Who knows what'll happen to you." She faced forward and continued on her way leaving a slightly blushed Vegeta behind her.

Vegeta looked off towards the city, and then to the area where Bulma had offered him to stay for the time being. He clenched his fists in anger. If he was going to survive, he was going to have to side with them—at least until he could get off this planet. Vegeta looked up at the stars as they began to come in as the sun set in the distance.

This is all your fault, Kakarot.