I stood at the large ramp leading out of the ship, into the very same clearing I had come into when I had exited Frieza's ship. The landing had taken longer than suspected due to spring rains and unsure ground condtion. I held my small duffel of the few outfits I had planned to take, and the scouter was hidden in the bag as well.

I was wearing a pair of black capris and a black beater to match, I didn't want anything more than nessacery to get messy with mud than already would. No one was around to see me, they were all either searching the woods for people who could see them or serve as slaves, and the other half were in the ship with Vegeta, planning. I shuddered and walked down the ramp, careful not to slip. I had to do this, I told myself, I had to, so I could save at least my friends, and have a peaceful sixteenth birthday. The desperation was the thing that drove me to run all the way, slipping and falling, to Goku's house, which I was sure that they would all be at.

Before I reached his house, I knelt in some bushes and put on the scouter, and saw that yes, there were three people in the house. A Saiyan, a human man, and a very weak woman. I smiled and got up, taking a breath. I was praying to Kami that they wouldn't shun me.

I was going to knock on the door, but it opened before I could touch it. Yamcha stood at the door, his face twisted in disbelief at me being here. He called Goku, never looking away from me, and Goku ran to the door, behind Yamcha. He started at the sight of my scouter, and I smiled and tore it off, placing it in my bag. Yamcha looked shocked at my muddy appearance. It was in my long, curly hair and on my body and clothes.

Goku pushed Yamcha out of the way and smiled his trademark smile. "Hey! I knew I sense Saiyans close by!" He exclaimed. "But I don't *see* any..."

I smiled and shook my head. "No, Goku, I came here to stay. I ran off as soon as I could. They want to take Earth!"

Yamcha came back to his senses and spoke up. "Really?" He exclaimed, eyes wide.

I nodded and Goku did so, also. "I expected this. Earth is so much more rich than Vegetasei, and it makes sense. Come in out of the rain and mud, Bulma, you are dirty and soaking wet. But be quiet, Chichi is sleeping."

I stepped inside his pleasantly small house and kicked off my mud-coated shoes. Yamcha placed an arm around me and smiled a big, sloppy smile.

"Welcome back, Ms. Briefs!" He said, and I found that the happiness was contagious. Goku smiled and nodded to the guest room.

"You can crash there," He said, and tossed my stuff into it, not even really having to look. I smiled at him, grateful.

"Hey, Bulma, I bet that you miss baseball!" Yamcha said, and pulled me to the sitting room, where a staticy TV was blaring with a baseball game, due to the rain. I hated baseball and always had, but I smiled and sat beside Yamcha and Goku anyway, glad to be part of a group of friends again, so much that I didn't care that we were watching baseball.

-*-

I was about to fall asleep on the couch, being warm and relaxed, when someone shouted from the stairway behind us. We all jumped and looked behind us to see an angry Chichi, still in her bathrobe, glaring daggers. At me in particular.

"WHAT IS SHE DOING HERE?!" She screamed, and all three of us winced. Yamcha, being somewhat of a coward, used the excuse of having to go to the bathroom to escape. Goku and I looked after him.

"Aw, Chi! She just came with the Saiyans and escaped!" Goku said, trying to be nice and innocent, to melt Chichi, I guess. It didn't work.

"I DON'T BELIEVE YOU!!!!! I DON'T SEE ANY SAIYANS!" Chichi yelled, hands on hips.

I was getting *real* sick of this woman, so I stood up and crossed my arms. "DON'T YOU EVER JUST *SHUT THE HELL UP*?!" I screamed, and she looked shocked. I growled at her and glared harder, meaning to shut her up good. "They are here, alright, all you need to do is jog a mile to the west and you will see some, alright!"

Chichi glared back, her gaze not nearly so evil as my own, she hadn't spent all these years around a Saiyan King with a fatal temper. She gave up and walked the rest of the way down the stairs, on her way to the kitchen. She stopped and looked down at her feet.

"Well, she can stay if she helps me around here! You two have a horrible appetite!" She walked into the kitchen, and I could hear her start something cooking.

I smiled and looked at Goku, who smiled also. "Yes!" I said, and walked to the bathroom to clean up before I helped Chichi. I was finally home!

-*-

I checked on the food in the oven and pulled it out, satisfied. I wasn't a good cook at all, having slaves bring me food for so long, but I could work an oven, at least. I sniffed the air, and smiled. The meat *looked* good, and I was sure that it would taste as good as it looked!

Chichi sat on a stool near the stove, arms crossed. "Not bad. But it looks just a little overcooked," She said, eyeing the meat. I shook my head. She noticed the littlest things from a mile away!

"Oh *well*!" I said, and crossed my own arms.

"You don't need that temper of yours around *here*, Bulma Briefs. It won't get you a thing!" Chichi said, and set the table with ease, like she had been doing only that her whole life. I didn't see how she did it! "And besides, who are you going to fight but me? We *have* to get along now!"

I smirked, then smiled when she winked at me good-naturedly. Maybe this *would* work out, Chichi and I were similar in temprements, my temper exceeding hers by only a sliver.

She announced dinner, and Goku and Yamcha came pouding down. As soon as they sat down, they were devouring everything. Yamcha gave in after a while, but Goku was a force to reckoned with. I had never seen another Saiyan to rival his appetite, not even Vegeta! Chichi and myself ate daintily, and sparingly.

Goku finally gave in once all the food on the table was gone, save for the stuff on myself and Chichi's plates.

He smiled a goofy grin and pointed to our plates. "Are you gonna eat that?"

-*-

Awww homecoming for Bulma....she needed it! Oh and look out for the end!! IT IS COMING SOON!!! Ahh I know you are all so so sad!! Ja ne!

b e a u t i f u l : : i r o n y

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Chapter 50