Love is Forever

He sits at the end of her bed, watching her now thin, sickly form lying so still in their bed. It hurt him to see her in such pain, the days had grown longer as he watches her slowly dying before him.
Her long beautiful air had thinned and finally fallen away from the chemotherapy, but he still found her beautiful as ever. She now wore a white bandana around her head to cover her baldness. The doctors had said there was nothing more that they could do for her now. The cancer had spread to the many organs of her body and was slowly devouring her till there was nothing more of her. He'd been sitting like this, day after day. Not once did he leave her side unless he had to use the restroom or to retreive something that she needed. It was only a matter of time now and he knew it'd be soon.
16 year old Trunks stands at the doorway, he'd just gotten home from school and found his father where he'd last seem him that morning. He hadn't moved. Trunks turns to his 5 year old sister who sat in the livingroom watching television. She was still too young to understand what their mother was going through. He turns back to his father who sat at the end of the bed, watching his mate wither away into a lifeless husk of her former self.
Friends and family had all come to visit each day, offering Vegeta consolation, but the proud prince wouldn't allow it. He would only sit there watching her, guarding her precious soul that threatened to escape into the world of light.
Goku still refused to give up on his and Vegeta's friendship as he came everyday to talk to Bulma as Vegeta watched with hollow eyes.
Bulma's breathing was now just above a whisper as Vegeta finally moved to her side after not moving for nearly 24 hours.
Trunks blinks as he takes a step back. He knew what was happening now, but he refused to accept it.
Vegeta took Bulma's limp hand into his warm one's and squeezed her palm gently as he leaned forward and placed a kiss gently upon her lips. "Du De na se wekeska," (I'll love you forever...) Vegeta whispered in his native tongue.
Bulma smiles weakly as she rested her eyes upon the man that she loved...so much. She couldn't find the strength to speak, but her expression ment the world to Vegeta. Suddenly he spoke, "Trunks."
Trunks flinched, wondering if his father was angry at him. He steps forward, slowly approaching his father till he stood at his side.
Vegeta did something that he hadn't done in a long time. He brought an arm around Trunks and brought the young man to a sitting position at his side on the bed. Trunks awaited for what seemed an eternity before his father spoke.
"I don't want your sister to see her die... She is still young and I don't want her to know the pain that her mother has suffered, but you... You are my son. I want you to stay here with me. Be proud, your mother has done so much for us."
Trunks nods. "Hai tousan."
Vegeta smiles.
Bulma releases her last breath and for that moment it seemed that all motion on Earth had stopped.
Vegeta blinked as he slowly inhaled.
Trunks could feel the hot tears burning at the back of his eyes as they slowly filled his lids and he blinks, allowing them to fall in silence.
Vegeta also does something expected. He brings his son against his chest and allows him to cry into his shoulder.
Vegeta closes his eyes as he held his sobbing offspring. He himself was in so much pain that he needed someone close. Trunks, his son, whom he was so proud of he held tightly to as he could feel his own throat convulse, forcing a soft sob to escape his lips. Together, at this very moment...the bond that father and son shared had grown ten fold as Bulma passed into another plane of existense.
Vegeta's worst fear had now come true, even with his children, there was still a hole in his heart. Without Bulma he felt like nothing. He no longer felt full of pride, he'd lost that as he released Trunks and brought Bulma's lifeless form into his arms. Bulma wanted to die at home, amongst her family. It was better this way... That's what she wanted, to die happy in the presence of the one's she loved most.
Trunks slowly rises, and walks in a zombified state to the phone. He dials the number he'd come to memorize so well. The Son house.
The phone rings twice before Goku's voice replied on the other end.
Trunks tries to hold himself together. To keep himself from going into histerics. "S...Son Goku...," the teen stammered. "M...my mother...sh..she."
Goku didn't need to hear anymore. He already knew. Before Trunks could do anything else, Goku had teleported to his side. Trunks clutched the phone so hard that his saiyan strength crushed it into pieces. Trunks drops the crumbled phone and sobs.
Goku brought an arm around Trunks and lead him to the livingroom.
Bra knew by the way her brother was acting that something had happened. She stares wide eyed as Goku lead Trunks to the livingroom couch. "Maybe you should stay here and try to comfort Bra while I go check on Vegeta." He brushes away Trunks's tears and smiles.
Trunks nods, sniveling lightly before doing as he was told.
Goku slowly approaches the master bedroom to find Vegeta clutching Bulma's limp form. The pain that he saw etched on Vegeta's face nearly tore his heart into two as he quickly went to his best friend's side to comfort him. "V...Vegeta."
Vegeta frowns, closing his eyes and bowing his head as his last barrier shattered into a million pieces. Vegeta wimpers lightly as he began to cry for the first time since his death back on Namek, on those oh...so many years ago. "K...Kaka...rottooo....."
It takes everything for Goku to pry Vegeta's arms from around Bulma. He lays Bulma gently onto the bed as Vegeta suddenly stood.
"Vegeta I..."
Vegeta whipes the tears from his eyes and sniffles once. He gazes down at Goku who was still sitting. He turns on his heel and walks to the sliding glass doors. He swiftly opens then and steps out onto the balcony.
Goku watches with sad eyes as Vegeta flew off into the sky. He could feel tears burning his own eyes as he returned his gaze to his childhood friend. "Why you Bulma? Without you...Vegeta feels that he is nothing. Bulma.. I will miss you terribly old friend." He rests his hand over hers and allows his tears to fall. "I'll never forget our andventures, I just wish they could've lasted longer..."

As Vegeta flew, the wind in his face... he allows his tears fall. He grits his teeth and howls in pain as he shot through the air as fast as a bullet. He wanted to fly forever, to drownd his sorrows away from his beloved Bulma. Why her? She was barely above 40 years old and was so full of life, then one day things changed. She had been ill for the last few months and no one knew why. Bulma finally went to the doctors and to much of her dismay found that she had lukemia. She cried her eyes out with her face buried in her husband's shoulder.
Vegeta had told her he'd be with her all of the way and that he wouldn't allow her to die. She didn't deserve to die.
After making such a promise, Bulma was losing the war between the disease and her body and finally she died....
Of all the sins he'd commited in his life, were they so unforgivable that he had to lose her? The one thing that gave him hope, and the goodness that he thought he never had. He loved her so much that no female in all the universe could compare to how she'd effected his cold heart and made it's black exterior into that of the finest gold.
Vegeta had cared, cried, and shown emotions that he'd vowed that he'd never express, but all that changed once he fell into the grace of Bulma's loving arms. She was his mate and his queen, he would not allow such a precious thing in his life be lost to him forever! He just couldn't! He couldn't stand the look on his daughters face when she was told that her mommy was dying. The way she'd looked at Vegeta with those wide blue eyes that were identical to Bulma's. She'd thrown herself into her Papa's arms and Vegeta had held his little girl and soothed her with loving words whispered into her ear. His little girl Bra, he couldn't deny that she had him wrapped around her little finger and he was a bit overly protective of her. Bra seemed to enjoy that protection though... Trunks, he was still so proud of and Vegeta knew that no matter what he felt that he had to watch over his children. He was taking position as mother and father now, but he still needed Bulma. He wouldn't live a life without her... Bra, their little girl needed a mother and just thinking of his darling little girl crying over his mate's loss tore at his heart. Yes! He'd find a way to bring Bulma back, he had to keep the family together! Vegeta lands on a cliff overlooking the ocean, he stands there in silence, allowing the wind to blow through his spikey hair.
Bulma always loved being by the ocean and whenever he had the chance he'd fly her to the very spot and hold her in his arms as she gazed out into the wide open blue that surrounded them. He'd taken her here for the last time the day before today. She was so light and frail and Vegeta was afraid that he'd crush her if he wasn't careful. She laid her head on his shoulder and inhaled the ocean breeze, allowing the few strands of hair that poked out from beneath her white bandana to blow freely in the wind.
Vegeta stood there for the longest time watching her as her eyes drifted closed and he'd brought her home. He knew she was not long ment for the world so he had taken her home and laid gently into bed and watched her without a wink of sleep.
And now here he stood, alone... so very alone in such a big world without Bulma. He knew that Bulma couldn't be wished back because she'd died a natural death, but there had to be another way... there just had too....
He clenches his fists, and allows even more tears to fall from his eyes. Vegeta lifted his head to the sky and screamed, "WHHHHHHHHY?!"
Dende frowned from Earth's lookout. Seeing Vegeta, the great warrior with such pride, falling to his knees in agony. The poor namekan couldn't take it as he felt tears rimming his own eyes. Bulma had been his friend and savior since she helped him on Namek when he was just a little boy and now he stood tall in his late teens wondering if there was another way of bringing Bulma back.
His tempermental friend and protector Piccolo stood not far from him and seemed to know what he was thinking. Piccolo stared at Dende for the longest time, watching as the young god shed tears before him. "Maybe..."
Dende looked up at Piccolo hopefully, drying his tears on the back of his sleeve. Piccolo possed the memories of the previous god, Kami. Of all people, Kami probably knew what could be done. He smiles as Piccolo turned on his heel to head to Enma's office. Perhaps, there was a way... he only hoped that Enma, the lord of the dead would agree...

Vegeta does't even turn to acknowledge the presence that stood behind him as a certain young god approached.
"Vegeta."
Vegeta only continues into another uncontrollable round of sobs. "Go away brat....*sniff* my pride has been broken enough... *sob* I don't need your sympathy!"
Dende gulps, and tugs nervously at his puffy colar. "I think I know a way you can save Bulma..."
Vegeta turns to Dende, face red and eyes still watery. He whipes his eyes and sniffles. "N...Nani?"
"We may perhaps beable to save Bulma, but it's.... somewhat difficult."
Vegeta frowns, regaining his remaining dignity. "Hmmph, what is it?"
Dende hesitates to allow Vegeta to straighten himself up a little more then spoke. "You have to go and retreive her soul in heaven, but in order to do that you can only be there for a short time or you too will die."
Vegeta gets ready to reply, but Dende interrupts.
"But even if you find her soul, there's no way of healing her body."
Vegeta blinks. "Hmph. I'll do it..."
"But."
"Saiyan blood is immune to cancer you baka!"
Something clicked in the young god's head. "Perhaps I can exchange some of your life essance into her to revive her long enough to...."
Vegeta smirks while sniveling lightly. "See, now your thinking."

Dende's face brightens. "Oh course! Why didn't I think of that!" The young god slaps himself upside the head with a laugh. "Of course! It all works now! Come Vegeta, take my hand and we can go to Enma where he awaits our arrival!"
Vegeta nods and takes Dende's hand as he began to disappear into a flash of light, taking Vegeta with him.
Vegeta doesn't realize that before he can go into heaven, he must be purified...meaning that he must be forgiven.~~~~~1 day passes~~~~~
Trunks stood before a full body mirror, dressed in a black suit, white shirt, and black tie including his black dress shoes. He had wished never to be prepared for this. His mother was still far to young to have died such a cruel and unforgiving death such as lukemia. What made it worse was that his father had disappeared and hadn't show neither hide nor hair of himself since his mother's death. He watches as his best friend Goten walked in and slung an arm around his shoulders.
The 15 year old Goten didn't have a big smile like he normally did. He looked just like his father, hair spiked out in all directions, yet... he no longer had that innocent smile.
Trunks leans against his best friend as he sobbed dryly, his tears long since dried up from crying so much.
Goten pats Trunks's back and leads him to the livingroom where family and friends awaited him. "G..gomen Trunks."
Trunks smiles weakly at his friend. "Don't apologize man, you had nothing to do with it. It just... happened because I guess it was her time. That's all..."
Goten nods and glances up at his taller father who wasn't smiling as usual either.
Without Bulma, everyone had lost a part of themselves... they all no longer smiled. It was the day of the funeral. Smiles were never present in a funeral...never...
~~~~~Enma's Office~~~~~
Vegeta stood before the enormous desk of Enma as Dende stood at his side with Piccolo standing nearby with his arms crossed as usual.
"Normally I'd never allow anyone to do this Vegeta, even for a man who used to be a ruthless killer such as yourself. But I've come to terms with Piccolo and Dende and after looking through your paperwork... *sigh* After all you've been through, me and my collegues have learned to forgive you for your sins. Your love for your family and friends has proven to us that you do have a heart and you are probably the only saiyan who's ever earned his way into heaven... not counting Goku of course. I know he's good."
Vegeta stood silent, yet impatient to once again see his mate.
"You may only enter heaven at one condition Vegeta. You are granted only a 5 minute total before you too will die, thus ending the whole idea of you saving Bulma and coming out of it alive. Even though your sins have been forgiven you must be purified before entering. Of course, you'll be yourself... your soul needs a little filtering though... Come this way Vegeta kun. Remain here Dende and Piccolo san and hopefully I'll return with good news."
The young god and namekan warrior Piccolo nod.
Vegeta could hardly wait to see her again, his heart was racing and he felt like dancing like an idiot because he was so happy. He knew he'd beable to find Bulma in time and return to Enma all before the 5 minutes were up, but this purifying thing. He didn't know what it was going to do to him while he was in heaven.
Enma stops at a golden doorway and allows Vegeta to stand at it's side. "Vegeta kun, your now going to undergo a purifying process. Remain still."
Vegeta watches as a sudden light enveloped him and suddenly he felt...strange... like as if 30 years were taken off his 50 years. He could feel so many different sensations suddenly coarsing through his very being and he wonders how he could have ever accually been forgiven after what he'd done. But he didn't need to ask, when he was forgive and told by the lord of the dead himself he definitely wasn't going to questions. The sensation finally died and he found the door to heaven open. He turns to the light as it enveloped him and he slowly entered. The light was incredibly warm against his skin and he had the urge to just lay down and bask all day, but he knew better. He shakes his head away from his pleasurable thoughts. Every second was counting... Seconds he could not waste. He flies through the brightness, searching and calling out to Bulma and what he found had him baffled.
There she stood, dressed in the finest of white silk, wings spread from her back and a golden halo hovering a few inches above her head. All her sickness was gone, she looked like she did when he first laid eyes on her. Young, sassy, beautiful and full of life. "Bulma... I can't explain now, but you have to take my hand."
Bulma turns to him eyes sparkling. "VEGETA!" She flew to him, throwing her arms around her beloved and kissing him full on the lips.
As much as Vegeta wanted to stand there and enjoy the kiss a little longer he knew he had to hurry. He took Bulma's hand and he flew as fast as he could to the gateway of heaven till at last it was just beyond his sight.
She couldn't believe it, Vegeta looked as young as she did now, he looked barely at the age of 20 even though his low saiyan ageing had preserved his youth. He still seemed younger than the 50 year old Vegeta she'd left upon her death. Bulma held tightly to Vegeta's hand as her halo and wings soon faded away as she approached the real word. She was blinded by light and she closed her eyes, hoping that all this wasn't just some, beautiful dream.
Vegeta had to hurry, the gate was closing and he suddenly flew at full speed, praying to god that he was fast enough... he couldn't die... his children...family....and friends were counting on him.

Vegeta closes his eyes and suddenly fell and hit the floor with a hard thud. He grunted holding her tightly in his arms.
"Welcome back Vegeta."
Vegeta's eyes fly open and he finds Dende and Piccolo standing over him with Enma now sitting at his desk with a big grin on his face.
Piccolo lent Vegeta a hand and Vegeta took it for some reason as he felt himself being pulled to his feet. He wobbled sightly and shook his head, trying to shake away the dizzy sensation he had.
"Hmmph, you're younger and you have a tail," Piccolo muttered.
Vegeta blinks. "Neh?" He looks behind him to find his tail had grown back.
(yet again, I bring back the tail. I'm such a stinker. Anyways, tails have many good qualities. Meerowrrr. I mean...uh achem..*Blushes*)
"Indeed he is, that's what purification does," Enma's deep voice boomed.
Vegeta looks down at Bulma's spirit whom laid sleeping in his arms.
Dende walks up to Vegeta. "I have collected the dragonballs."
Vegeta nods and smirks. "Arigatou Brat, I owe you."
Dende nods, accepting the thanks from the prince of saiyans. "I'll take you to the funeral." He takes Vegeta's hand and they disappear in a flash of light.
~~~~~The Funeral~~~~~
Goku is the first to feel the approach of the young god and suprisingly Vegeta...and....no...he could feel... Bulma's spirit. If that made any sense at all. He suddenly stands up and shouts. "Vegeta!"
Everyone's heads turned to Goku as he ran to the end of the isle of the church.
Dende appears with a youthful looking Vegeta whom had a tail and also had something in his arms.
Goku grins. "Bulma..."
Vegeta smirks.
Dende approaches Bulma's coffin as everyone stood.
Trunks rushes up to Dende's side, as Bra ran up to her papa to greet him.
Trunks glances at his father and whatever he hand in his arms and finally turns to Dende. "Dende, what are you doing?!"
Dende did not speak as he rests his hands upon Bulma's dead body. "I'm creating a link between Vegeta and Bulma so he can give her some of his life essance to revive her for a short moment... The dragonballs are out side. "Summon him Trunks, and wish for Bulma to be turned into a saiyan. It's the only way for her to survive due to the fact that saiyan blood is immune to cancer."
Although Trunks had his doubts he nods and runs outside, immediately summoning Shenron.
Vegeta's knees wobbled as he felt his energy suddenly being drained from him and being trasferred to Bulma's body.
Goku holds up Vegeta and helps him to Bulma's coffin. "You have to do this Vegeta. Come on... I had a feeling you were thinking of something like this. I... I don't know how, but I sensed it."
Vegeta nods weakly as he held Bulma's sleeping soul tightly in his arms.
Friends and family surrounded Bulma's coffin as Vegeta settled Bulma's soul gently onto her body.
Bulma's soul slowly was absorbed into her body just as Trunks told Shenron his wish that his mother was to be a saiyan.
Things all happened in slow motion as Bulma's body glowed with a yellow light and she suddenly sprang to life, her teal blue hair growing from her bald scalp and her thin body becoming full and young again. She also had another small addition, a tail.
Dende's eyes brighten as he released the hold he hand on Vegeta's life force.
Vegeta collapses into Goku's arms from weakness and falls unconscious, hoping that when he woke that she'd be there...
Bulma's chest quickly rose and fell as her eyes flew open.
Everyone cheers as Bulma slowly sat up, looking around her with surprise. She was alive... truly alive and it was all thanks to her beloved Vegeta.
"MOMMIE," Bra screamed as she ran up and threw herself into her mother's open arms.
Bulma held her little girl tightly to her and she began to cry.
Trunks quickly approaches the doorway upon hearing the cheers and cries of joy. "MOM!" He ran as fast as his legs could carry him and he flew into his mother's arms next to his sister. He cried hard into Bulma's shoulder as he knew she was alive. He could feel her beneath him!
Bulma kisses her children's foreheads. "Oh Trunks.... and my sweet little Bra. "How I've missed you both so!"
She looks up to see Goku with a big grin and an unconsious Vegeta in his arms. She looks down at Dende and leans forward, kissing his cheek. "Arigatou Dende."
The young god blushed fiercely and smiled. "No, thankyou Bulma... I owed you big and now it has been paid."
Bulma smiles.
Trunks releases his mother and helps her to climb out of the coffin as Bra clung to her mother.
She smiles at all her friends and replies. "Oi, I need to get out of here... waking up from the dead really makes a person hungry."
Everyone laughs at that comment and they all go to Capsule Corp. to have a celebration on Bulma's new lead on life.
The preist stands in silence as he clutched his bible. This was surely the work of God and he smiles as he slowly moved his hand in a cross symbol over his chest. "May those two love each other for all eternity... I wish you well....Vegeta....Bulma. May love forever be your keeper."

The End