Hey, all! I know it's been a loooong while since my last entry. As we all know, life is busy, and mine has been VERY busy within the last year! It's hard to find the time to write, but I still do from time to time, and plan to continue this story, even if it may be slowly. Thanks to all who have read, favorited, followed and reviewed! It means a lot!

Anyway, please enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or any of its wonderful characters.

XVIII.

Communication

"No, no, no—Vegeta, no!" Bulma gasped as she feebly swatted at the Saiyan's bare chest, warding him away from his current, hovering position overtop her. "I need a break!"

His expression one of genuine confusion, the puzzled prince retreated, seating himself beside her. "Why? What is the issue? You have changed your mind again?" he growled, his irritation mounting.

Wiping the sweat-matted bangs from her face, the exhausted scientist shook her head. "Chill out, would ya? I just need a break. Human men can't—can't—well, you know, can't go this many times in a row!"

Vegeta rolled his eyes, uninterested in hiding his contempt for the worthlessness of the human male. "Yes, I am aware of that, as well as of their many other shortcomings," he stated flatly, tone dismissive. "However, it was my understanding that human females were not as inefficient in this regard." He crossed his arms, gaze narrowing. "At least, it has never been an issue for you."

"Yeah, well this behavior is new for you, too," Bulma replied, casually throwing her hands behind her head, cushioning it from the hard tile of the gravity room floor. "I mean, don't get me wrong, you've always been committed to doin' the dirty. But we have literally been doing this all day."

The alien blushed, then quickly diverted his gaze from his mate's nude form. "Vulgar woman," he growled through gritted teeth, cheeks still burning. "I do not approve of your description of our activities, nor your assertion that I am in some way committed to them."

Brow furrowing, Bulma, too, sat up and positioned herself directly opposite of the Saiyan. "Hey, cool it. It's a compliment. I just mean you're good at it, that's all, I promise," she stated, holding up her hands as if to show him there were no offensive words inside of them. "And I won't call it 'doin' the dirty' if it makes you uncomfortable. What do you want me to call it?"

Eyes still averted and expression angry, Vegeta grumbled. "I don't see why we have to call it anything. If we never speak of it, it needn't be named."

"Never speak of it?"Bulma repeated, imitating the grumpy voice with only mild accuracy, "Kami, you are such a prude. Some guys like to talk about it. It can be, you know, exciting."

"Would you please shut up," the Saiyan snapped, patience near spent. "I do not care about what vile and vulgar conversations Earthlings like to have. I will not be participating in such a dialogue ever."

"Ok, alright, fine. No skin off my back!" the beautiful scientist said, again brandishing her open hands, as this was the only apologetic posture in her physical vocabulary.

After she felt the appropriate amount of silence had elapsed, and the crimson color had drained from Vegeta's cheeks, Bulma cleared her throat. "Look, I really don't want to start a fight or make this weird. This was good. All I meant was that, you know…before, you never had a whole day to spend with me like this. We had fun, sometimes for hours, but you always had to stop and train. My body just isn't used to doing, erm—this—all day. That doesn't mean I don't like it or don't want to do it more. I do."

"If your fragile body requires rest, fine," the warrior grunted tersely after a moment, his stoic posture unrelenting, arms held tight against his chest, eyes down.

Bulma grinned. "If anything, it's much more flexible than it is fragile, wouldn't you agree? " She coyly slid forward, legs slinking around the waist of the statuesque alien.

Frowning, Vegeta finally met her gaze. "You are truly a disgusting creature," he reiterated, although allowing the physical advances.

The heiress laughed, grin widening. "Yes, but I'm your disgusting creature now, so I guess you're stuck with me," she teased, positing herself in his lap and assaulting his face with an array of unwanted, trivial physical affection.

The Saiyan grimaced but tolerated it, as experience had taught him that entertaining her oral affections could sometimes lead to their disbursement in more desirable locations than that of his face. "You don't seem to me the kind of creature that would ever willingly belong to another," he remarked, tone inquisitive. Although, indisputably, he considered her his mate.

Bulma paused, her hand resting on the warrior's face. "I'm not," she said, her tone and gaze suddenly serious. She studied him for a moment, the shape of his eyes and strength of his jaw intoxicating, their effect magnified by the knowledge that these were the features he gifted their son. "But," she began slowly, "You, Trunks and I…in a way, we all belong to each other. Do you understand?"

Vegeta frowned, cheeks tinting red again. He looked to the ground, then, much to Bulma's surprise, he nodded. The nod was accompanied by an indiscernible grunt of comprehension.

The scientist smiled. "And, believe me, I have no idea what this entire arrangement is going to look like yet. But…we'll figure it out. You and me, together." She took his head in her hands, prompting his attention, and firmly nodded, as if to seal her promise.

"Fine," the Saiyan muttered, reaching around his mate's back, eager to return to their physical communications. He had always been a physical communicator—and this was never truer than when it came to Bulma.

"Ok, ok," the heiress verbally responded to the prince's physical prompts, her smirk cheeky ."But…just so you know, this was nice."

Vegeta paused, confused. "Your break was nice?"

"No," Bulma answered, softly kissing him once more. "Just…talking. It was nice to talk. You aren't so bad to talk to."

"Hn."

"Hn yourself. Now, show me what else that mouth can do."

The Saiyan rolled his eyes, but obeyed. "Vulgar woman…"