DISCLAIMER: DBZ I do not own.

A/N – Sorry this chapter took so long to get out but I’ve been busy with school and my formal and all the after parties…oh and that big bushfire which is threatening to engulf my house – can’t forget that!

IMORTANT: This chapter takes place a year after the last chapter ended.

Chapter 10: ‘Rebellious Hell’

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~*~ Oh shame! Where is thy blush? Rebellious Hell, ~*~

~*~ If thou canst mutine in a matron’s bones, ~*~

~*~ To flaming youth let virtue be as wax, ~*~

~*~ And melt in her own fire: ~*~

- Hamlet from ‘Hamlet’

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“How’s my girl?”

Raven cooed happily as Bulma lifted her from the cot and held her to her chest. “Did my little girl sleep all night? Yes you did!” Raven opened her incredibly bright-blue eyes and stared meaningfully at her mother, her tiny tail lashing behind her as she let out a wail, indicating her hunger. Bulma hummed happily, used to her daughter’s moody behavior by now – she took after her father in that department. Or after her mother. It depended who you asked.

As she sat Raven down in her high chair and began preparing her meal, Bulma let her mind wander. She could hardly believe that it had been a year to the date since she’d bonded with Turles. It seemed as if it had happened a hundred years ago…so much had changed since then.

Bulma had given birth to Turles’ daughter six months after they bonded. It hadn’t been a terribly hard birth, but it hadn’t been easy and Bulma had felt Turles’ fear for her safety the entire time she had been in labor. She had even detected his animosity towards the baby at one point, for putting Bulma in danger. It was absurd now, looking back. Turles adored his daughter and loved her with all of his being. Whenever Turles was in the room with Raven, Bulma could feel how happy and proud he was of his daughter through the bond.

It wasn’t just Turles who indulged on the tiny Saiyan girl; all of the Saiyans seemed to be overly protective of her. Vegeta had explained to Bulma early on that, since Raven was the only female Saiyan in existence, the male Saiyans were naturally over protective of her. And Raven was very Saiyan looking, indeed. Not only did she have a beautiful Saiyan tail, but she also had her father’s unruly, black hair and his huge appetite. From Bulma, Raven appeared to have inherited only her blue eyes and an X chromosome.

It was hard to imagine, but Bulma knew that her beautiful and exotic-looking daughter would one day be expected to become a Saiyan warrior and fight alongside her father in battle. Abruptly her daughter let out a sudden, happy squeal and Bulma put down the spoonful of baby food and turned to face whoever it was behind her.

“Hi.” Vegeta nodded at Bulma as he entered the room and sat down beside her. “Word has come from the battle front. I thought you should hear from me that the battle is over and Turles has succeeded in conquering the Meridians.”

“You doubted he would?” Bulma added a mocking tone to her voice and Vegeta grinned briefly.

“Not for a second, but I knew you had your fears about him.” He watched Raven as she reached out a hand towards him, but kept out of her reach. “Not that I could blame you for fearing for your mate.”

Bulma snorted and continued feeding her daughter, she could feel Vegeta’s eyes on her and she glanced at him, waiting for him to continue speaking. She’d been waiting for him to approach her for weeks now. Even since she had learnt from Turles through the bond that unless another saiyan was born Raven would be expected to take one of the other saiyans as a mate – and that really only left Nappa or Vegeta. Turles didn’t know that she knew. He didn’t even know that Bulma’s power to each into his mind was strengthening.

“I had another reason for coming to speak to you.” Vegeta looked slightly nervous now and Bulma eyed him carefully.

It took a lot to make Vegeta nervous.

“Yes?”

“It’s about Raven.” Vegeta flicked his eyes from her, to her daughter, and then back again. “This is a hard question for me to ask and no doubt a difficult one for you to answer, but…”

“Yes,” Bulma interrupted. “If you’re going to ask what I think you’re going to ask, then the answer is yes.”

Vegeta swallowed hard. “You knew I would ask?”

“Turles has attempted to breach the subject with me, but kept chickening out each time he did. His emotions betrayed him, though.” Bulma glanced at her friend. “You should have asked me a long time ago.”

“I wanted to, but…well, she is your daughter and just a child…most parents would be upset when discussing the future bonding of their daughter. On Vegeta match making and arranged marriages were normal but you’re human.” Vegeta shifted uncomfortably.

“Vegeta, I knew Raven would be expected to bond with one of the other Saiyans, I’m just glad that it will be you who takes her as a mate and not Nappa.” Bulma watched as Vegeta flushed. “I’m also very, very honored. You are, after all, a prince.”

“Of a dead race,” Vegeta quietly reminded her.

“Not quite.” Bulma smiled again, then quickly frowned. “How old do you plan on her being when you bond with her?”

Vegeta shrugged. “In her late teens. The earlier I can forge a bond with her, the better it will be for our relationship.” Vegeta noticed Bulma looking him over critically and hastily added, “I won’t have aged much in the time it will take for her to grow, Saiyans age at a much slower rate then Humans.”

Bulma rolled her eyes. “I know that, I was just thinking how odd it is sitting here with my daughter, who is less then a year old, discussing her future bonding. You don’t think Turles will be upset that we decided this without him, do you?”

This time Vegeta rolled his eyes. “Who do you think asked me to come and talk to you because he was too chicken to do it himself?”

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A/N – I know this is really, really short but we have a bush-fire burning near our house and we might have to be evacuated tonight. Bear with me guys, I’ll try to have the next chapter up by tomorrow, and as always please review.