Weekend With the Brats

Part Nine: The Best Babysitter Ever

"Are you almost done?"

Vegeta crossed his arms and leaned against the wall behind him. He, Trunks and Bulma were out grocery shopping, and the two males of the family were already bored within being in the store for fifteen minutes. Trunks, who was also leaning against the wall, imitated his father and crossed his arms too.

Bulma was in the next aisle, looking at bread. "All I have to do is get some milk, juice, butter, eggs, bread and fruit," she answered.

In other words, no, Vegeta thought and rolled his eyes. He growled impatiently. He didn't want to be here another hour. Not another minute. He wanted to go home and train Trunks, now that he finally had permission to.

All he had to do was promise not to crush Trunks in the Gravity Room...

Speaking of his son, Vegeta looked down, ready to ask him if he was bored and wanted to go home too. But the child was not there. Vegeta growled again. Darn you, boy, he thought worriedly. Where are you??

Great. He had only been here fifteen minutes and he was already in trouble. He had lost his son, and he knew that if Bulma found that out, he'd be headless within a minute. Then after she killed him, she'd revive him just to talk and scold him to death again.

Vegeta couldn't let that happen. He had to find Trunks right now.

He was about to sense his son's ki when he heard voices. He stopped, curious. It sounded like Trunks. The voices were of Trunks and...

Vegeta carefully followed the sound of the voices and ended up in the produce section. To his surprise, he found Trunks chatting with Goten, both boys leaning against a cart that held melons, apples, oranges and other assorted fruits.

Goten was laughing as he held open a bag for his mother, who placed fresh apples into it.

Vegeta frowned. This was not good...

"Thank you, sweetie. I'm done here," Chi-Chi was saying to Goten before she turned to Trunks. "Trunks, I think we should go find your mother now. We don't want her to worry."

Trunks nodded. "I guess you're right. Ok, let's go."

Time to go, Vegeta thought and quickly tried to leave, but he was unsuccessful as the trio bumped into him around the corner.

"Mr. Vegeta!" Goten exclaimed, smiling. "I didn't know you came to the grocery store too!"

Vegeta rolled his eyes. "I have to eat, don't I?"

Goten giggled. Mr. Vegeta was just too funny sometimes.

"Hello, Vegeta," Chi-Chi greeted politely. She was pleasantly surprised to find that he did not snap at her today or make any rude comments. He merely nodded at her.

"We were just on our way to take Trunks to Bulma, but since you're here, I'll just leave him with you," Chi-Chi said.

Trunks came and stood next to his father, who frowned at him. "Don't run off like that again," he scolded. "The woman will worry."

"Sorry, Dad," Trunks apologized. He then looked up at him cheerfully. "Hey, me and Goten were talking and we wanna play. Can Goten spend the night again please?"

"Pretty please?" added Goten, clasping his hands together.

Heck no, Vegeta thought, but said nothing and instead crossed his arms. He glanced at Chi-Chi (partially for help) and luckily she responded. She smiled at the boys' behavior and rubbed her son's head affectionately.

"Now, Goten, don't bother Mr. Vegeta with such questions. You can play with Trunks another time," she said.

Goten hung his head in disappointment. "Aw man..."

"Hey, don't worry, Goten," Trunks said, giving him a thumbs up. "It's my birthday next week and I'm gonna have a sleepover party. I'm gonna invite you and all my friends from preschool. It'll be fun."

Vegeta's eyes widened when he heard that. Darn it. He had forgotten Trunks's birthday was next Friday. And what did the boy say? A sleepover party with his classmates and Goten? That was a lot of kids...

Even worse, Vegeta knew Bulma would force him to help with the party. He was getting dizzy thinking of all the things Bulma might make him do. Horrible images filled his head as he imagined being a clown, giving the children horsey rides, trying to chase thirty preschoolers hyper on cake and ice cream...

He shook his head. Kami, help me, he thought.

"There you are!"

Vegeta turned around when he heard Bulma's voice. She approached him and gently punched him in the arm. "Thanks for abandoning me."

She saw everyone there and smiled. "Oh, hi, Goten, Chi-Chi. Vegeta, listen, I was thinking of--" she paused and covered her son's ears before continuing, "chocolate cake for Trunks' you-know-what with vanilla ice cream on the side. What do you think? Oh and I've planned out all the party games, which you'll be helping with of course. And after this, we need to go downtown to pick up your clown suit."

Vegeta's left eye twitched. "I am not wearing a clown suit."

"I think you should dress up as a pony," Goten giggled.

Bulma laughed. "Oh, how cute. Would you like pony rides, Goten?"

Goten jumped up and down. "Yeah, yeah!" he raved excitedly.

Bulma smiled. "It's settled then. Vegeta, you'll be the horsey and I'll skip out on the clown."

"Yay!" Goten cheered, and Trunks moved his mother's hands from his ears. "What's Goten so happy about? And why does Dad look like he's gonna cry?"

Bulma smirked. "Your father is just a little upset that he has to do something he doesn't want to do."

Goten giggled again. "Yeah, he doesn't wanna be a pony for your party. But it'll be fun!"

"Goten," Chi-Chi chided gently, giving him a look. "Bulma covered his ears for a reason, sweetie..."

Bulma laughed politely. "Oh, it's ok, Chi-Chi. It's not much of a surprise party anymore. Trunks has been looking forward to it for a while. But yes, Trunks, your father's going to be a horsey for your birthday party. Isn't that nice?"

Trunks smiled at his father. "Really, Dad? This is gonna be cool."

Vegeta growled and looked away, blushing.

"It's a sleepover party, right?" Goten wanted to know. "Will Mr. Vegeta play with us after he's done bein' the pony?"

Bulma smiled and glanced at her uncomfortable husband. "Yes, he will, Goten. And he will be more than happy to."

Goten grinned. "Yay! He's the best babysitter ever!"

Vegeta looked up at the sky, knowing all hope was lost. And just like that, I have yet another weekend with the brats, he thought.

The End.

I know this last part was a bit short, but it was a good ending. Vegeta's not quite done yet as he's earned another weekend with the children. Hehe. Thank you for reading, everyone. It's been fun!

-Sadako