The bed was empty, the passion-stained sheets crumpled and dangling haphazardly off the mattress. Goku was in the process of reprimanding himself for taking so long when his nose caught the unmistakable scent of food wafting in from the other room. Puzzled, the large man was lead to the kitchen by his stomach, questions forming in his head and on his lips. Absently, he dropped the clothing on the bedspread on his way to the door.

Oh, Kami, you've got to be kidding me. Not only is he a hell of a lover, but he cooks? And cooked well, by the smell of it. His stomach was rumbling loudly over the hiss of the pots on the stove and he was almost sure the small naked man filling a pan in the sink could hear him. Goku blushed a brilliant shade of red as he registered Vegeta's state. The Saiyan stood with his back to the taller man wearing nothing but his tail.

Vegeta acknowledged Goku's presence with little more than a grunt and a nod as he turned, intent on his current mission. Goku stared blatantly as the smaller man set the pan to boil on the stove, stirring the other three pots with a wooden spoon before bending to check something in the oven. He was in awe as he walked slowly toward the section of the kitchen occupied by the bustling Saiyan no Ouji. Stopping a few paces behind, Goku leaned his weight against the counter and waited for the prince to speak. Within the space of a couple minutes, Vegeta turned toward the other Saiyan, a silver spoon in one hand, his other hand cupped beneath it. As he walked forward, the prince paused to blow on the contents it held before closing the remaining distance between them.

The prince knew the precise moment Kakarott arrived back at the Capsule house. His heart skipped an unsteady beat as he busied himself with his work. The smells of his own cooking were making him weak in the knees, though he refused to hasten his pace. The prince was methodical in all that he did--if it was worth doing, it was damn well worth doing right.

He would not admit to himself that he was nervous, though it took all the will power he owned not to allow his hands or breath to shake. Vegeta knew Kakarott was behind him in the doorway, and greeted him with a nod and a glance as he carried the water over to the burner. The Saiyan prince smirked as he turned his back and relaxed almost visibly. Kakarott was as nervous as he was, and that knowledge lent him strength.

Goku looked down at the Saiyan no Ouji with wide black eyes. The sight of the undressed Saiyan wet with the steam from the bubbling pots was highly erotic. Neither one of them had taken a shower since their midnight tryst and the combined scent of sweat and recent passion was stirring his blood. The prince looked up at Goku with a seductive half-smile and raised the utensil to the taller man's lips.

"Taste it."

The tall Saiyan swallowed with difficulty made all the more so by the fact that Vegeta knew exactly what he was doing to him.

Damn you, when don't you know what you're doing?

Throaty laughter met his unspoken thought and Goku glared down at the other man. He opened his lips to swear at the infuriating Saiyan; the prince took that opportunity to place the spoon in his mouth. Goku would have been furious...if the substance in his mouth had not been so damn good.

Vegeta had always known he was sexy. Saiyans as a race were physical animals that lived for pleasure--of the fight, of the body, which included both food and sex. But every time Kakarott's eyes trailed over his body, the prince felt attractively appealing. Someone actually wanted him, wanted to please him, not just take pleasure from him. That made all the difference to the Saiyan no Ouji and it was because of this that he found himself wanting to please his mate in return. Kakarott had proven that he was capable of defending the prince by beating him in battle--as was Saiyan custom. Now, as a result of obligation and personal desire, Vegeta was establishing his own worth in their relationship by showing that he could provide for his mate. Besides, he knew Kakarott's appetite well enough to realize the other man was going to be famished by the time he returned.

The prince fought hard to conceal the blush of pride that dusted his cheeks as Kakarott's eyes closed and he moaned softly in response to the food Vegeta had tactfully pushed into his mouth.

He likes it...the Saiyan thought with a spark of relief. But part of the Saiyan no Ouji still existed in duality.

I can't believe that I even care.

Oh, Kami-sama...The spicy sauce on his tongue was like warm liquid heaven.

Vegeta made this? I'll never criticize his creative ability ever again.

Goku slowly swallowed, savouring the taste as it slid down his throat. His eyes opened to meet Vegeta's and he smiled as the prince lowered the spoon from his lips.

"Wow, Vegeta," he murmured, still resting back on the countertop. "I had no idea you could even cook, let alone cook like that. Damn, Vegeta..." The tall man was blown away. Any who knew him knew the importance food held in his life, and to learn that his mate was an expert chef was like getting a free wish from Shenron.

The other man granted him a small smile before turning back to the stove.

"Of course I can cook, you baka. A seasoned warrior must always know how to cook for himself," Vegeta commented as he removed various articles from the cabinets above his head. Goku ignored the obvious jab; his eyes narrowed and fastened on the muscle play in Vegeta's back and bottom as the small man stretched for something just out of his reach.

The Saiyan licked his lips with a grin. He was hungry for more than just food.

The prince was glowing inwardly from the praise he received from Kakarott. He despised that the other Saiyan's opinion meant so much to him, but he relished it nonetheless.

"K'so," he muttered, extending his right arm a little higher. He had forgotten that this house was Kakarott's. Of course everything would be suited to his height. The Saiyan prince jerked upright as he felt Kakarott's body at his back, one of the other man's arms going above his head to reach easily what he could not. Vegeta wasn't used to intimate contact, despite last night, and so he remained perfectly still as the tall Saiyan handed him the glasses he had been searching for. But instead of Kakarott's arms retracting, he watched them wrap around his waist. The prince swallowed, tensing, but not pulling away. The heat from the man's chest pressed against his back as his arms moved up his body, holding the Saiyan no Ouji tightly.

Vegeta shivered and his breath caught as he felt a hot breath on his neck; he tilted his head back against the hard shoulder of his mate. Warm, moist lips kissed at his throat, throwing his resolve to stay in control to the proverbial dogs.

"Vegeta..." the man's voice was heavy-laden with desire and the prince could feel the growing proof of that pushing against the back of his thigh. He found himself purring under the man's caressing hands, in response to his softly murmured kisses.

His drooping lids snapped open as he felt something furry encircle his upper thigh.

Vegeta tasted even better than the food he made, Goku concluded as his lips worshipped the graceful curve of the prince's neck. Though taunt in the beginning, the man's body was slowly melting to his touch and purring quietly.

The food can wait, Goku mused through a passionate haze, pulling Vegeta more firmly to his chest, preparing to pick the Ouji up and carry him back to the bedroom.

Or take him right here...

But through the film of his desire, Goku managed to forget that he was holding one of the world's strongest men in his arms. It was therefore relatively simple for the Saiyan no Ouji to break free from his heated grasp. Breathing heavily, Goku looked down into his glittering obsidian eyes and saw the desire concealed within them a moment before the other man regained his wits.

"Kakarott...is that your tail on my thigh?"

Goku blinked, his yearning swiftly left behind, replaced by momentary confusion.

"Nani?"

Vegeta focused his eyes away from his lover and down to the tail that lingered on his skin. He was glad for the interruption; the other Saiyan was stroking an inner fire that he was in no position to hide. The hard, muscled body of his one time rival turned the Ouji on in more ways than one and his scent was a powerful aphrodisiac that set his blood to burning.

His lips twitched in a smile as he gently brushed his fingertips over the brown fur of Kakarott's tail. He chuckled as the hair bristled at the sensation and his mate stumbled backward into the countertop at the unaccustomed feelings he was experiencing. Vegeta smirked as his hand ruffled the fur up the length to the base of his tail. His dark eyes flickered up to watch Kakarott's roll back in his head, his soft lips parting in a quiet moan. Vegeta purred at this new development, closing in on his writhing mate.

The tall man's lips were like kerosene to his blazing internal fire. He moaned, gripping the long appendage in his fist, pulling the man to him, thrusting his tongue into his moaning mouth. He tasted of the spicy sauce Vegeta had fed him earlier and the prince delighted in the sensation of their dueling tongues.

Goku wasn't used to having his tail anymore and he kept having other people remind him that it even existed. He opened his mouth to ask Vegeta--

Oh, Kami, so that's what it feels like...the prince's fingers were dancing over his tail, teasing the short downy fur with a strong hand. The large Saiyan lost his equilibrium at the sudden barrage of pleasure, falling back into the counter for support. Vegeta had that look in his eyes again, the gaze that made his knees weak and his heart pound. Oh, but it didn't matter, hardly registered as the Ouji's palm feathered from the tip of his tail to the base.

He managed a quiet moan before his lips were thrust apart by the impassioned Saiyan prince, the hot, compact body of his mate crushed to his chest. The Saiyan no Ouji was suckling his tongue, nipping feverishly at his lips, as well as taunting his entire body with the continued stroking of his tail. Goku felt himself being devoured by the other Saiyan; the tension and anticipation he could sense through their bond was igniting his need to be one with the other man and he could feel the energy building between them.

Vegeta wanted him, wanted to be inside him, to pleasure him...

Fuck! The Saiyan prince forced himself to pull away from the delicious lips of his lover as the timer on the stove began to chime. Reluctantly, and with a frustrated growl, Vegeta released Kakarott's tail. He went to turn, only to find himself being detained tightly by the wrist. With a scowl, the prince glared over his shoulder; Kakarott was trying with all his strength to regain his composure. He didn't even seem to notice that his new appendage had entwined itself around the Saiyan no Ouji's wrist.

"Kakarott," the prince purred softly, watching with sadistic satisfaction as the man's eyes flew open at his Saiyan name. Vegeta held his eyes for a moment before drawing them down to gaze at his lower arm. "I can hardly prepare our meal with one hand, Kakarott." The other Saiyan blushed deeply, withdrawing the furry appendage. The prince noticed almost without meaning to that the other man looked even more appealing when he was embarrassed. It was like he was just asking to be taken...

Vegeta shook his head slightly as he removed the pots from the burners. This wasn't fair to either of them. They were Saiyans--asking them to choose between food and sex was a hateful prospect.

The prince sighed. Which is why I made the choice for us...if it had been up to Kakarott, we would have both starved, one way or the other.

Goku coughed self-consciously as he retrieved his tail. The damn thing was like the devil himself--he would have to learn to control it.

"Gomen, Vegeta," he muttered shyly, blushing under the amused stare of the Saiyan prince. Fortunately for him, his embarrassed state cooled down his arousal and within a moment he was able to stand comfortably. Seeing Vegeta occupied with mixing the different components of their meal, Goku busied himself with setting the table.

Good, Kakarott was making himself useful instead of just watching him again. Vegeta poured the steaming contents of each pot into its respective bowl and proceeded to carry them to the table that now was laid with the silver and china efforts of his mate. With a hidden grin, he noticed the wide, dark eyes of his lover following the overflowing dishes as he placed them. Vegeta was merely thankful for the manner in which the house had been stocked--fit for a Saiyan and his demi-brat.

The Saiyan prince finished his light labour and took a seat across from the other Saiyan. By this time, Vegeta was suffering from the smell of his own cooking, and it was taking all his royal upbringing not to stuff his face like Kakarott--

Vegeta snorted as he watched his mate attack his food as befitted a low class Saiyan warrior. Shaking his head, he brought a forkful of pasta to his lips.

Hn. Not bad.

Goku's attention was torn in half. Part of him strongly desired the Saiyan no Ouji, the other demanded the mouth-watering cuisine that the naked little prince was bringing to the table. The Saiyan could identify only a few of the many platters by the thick, spice-laden aromas. His stomach growled at his lack of consideration and he gave into his immediate craving. As the first rich mouthful saturated his senses, the Saiyan succumbed to the superior talents of his lover.

Concentrating on satiating their Saiyan stomachs, neither man spoke until the jagged edges of their hunger had been dulled.

He may have been smaller, but the Saiyan prince certainly held his own against the larger man. He ate as much, if not more than Kakarott, though with considerably more dignity. Vegeta was pleased with the result of his efforts and when he laid down his silver fork, it was with a soft burp of contentment. He cooled his throat with a glass of water and relaxed back in his chair with a sigh.

Goku couldn't eat another bite. Vegeta had prepared a rich meal and the tall Saiyan wondered how he had managed to live on Chichi's inferior cooking for so many years. He leaned his head back against the wooden frame of the chair and stared lazily at the ceiling as he stretched out his long, muscular legs. The sounds across from him had ceased a few moments ago.

Goku gazed across the wasteland of empty plates and bowls to meet the lethargic eyes of his prince.

"Kami, Vegeta...that was the best meal I've ever had," he groaned, one hand resting on his full stomach. "I'll never eat again." He smiled sheepishly and continued quietly, "Unless, of course, you're willing to cook again..."

Vegeta smirked and chuckled softly as he contemplated the satisfied figure of his mate. Folding his arms comfortably over his chest, the prince watched the man recover from his feasting. The Saiyan no Ouji flushed with carefully concealed pride at Kakarott's comments and laughed at his trailing question.

"I find you entirely too entertaining not to keep around, Kakarott," Vegeta responded with a mocking half-smile. The bigger man blushed and lowered his eyes.

"Arigato, Vegeta," Kakarott's whisper filtered in through the silence that had descended upon the room. Vegeta shifted in his seat a little uncomfortably and cleared his throat.

"What did you expect, Kakarott? You are my..." Vegeta's tongue was suddenly thick in his throat. "Mate."

Goku's black eyes snapped up at the comment. He had expected one of the prince's classic retorts instead of the meaningful declaration that he had received. The tall man swallowed. He could only imagine how hard it must have been for Vegeta to verbally admit that he cared-and he did, Goku could sense the sincerity of his words through their bond.

Vegeta had his head turned to the side, giving the Saiyan a good view of his angular profile.

So proud. Kami, Vegeta, can you ever know what those simple words have said?

It meant that the prince accepted him, them, their relationship. He knew the arrogant Saiyan was still getting used to their new roles--but so was he. Not two days ago Vegeta had been the one man in the world who wanted to see him dead. And now...

Goku let the affectionate smile on his lips grow as he studied the statuesque form opposite. Yeah, Vegeta, I think I'm falling in love with you too.

The Saiyan no Ouji ground his teeth and stared at the floor past his feet.

I can't believe I said that...The heat was rising in his cheeks and his heart was knocking against his bare chest. Vegeta vainly wished that he were anywhere else; he was waiting for Kakarott to make one of his idiotic comments and predictably worsen the mood when he heard the silent words of his lover in his mind.

Vegeta's onyx eyes widened, then narrowed.

Love? Is this love? This sick feeling in my stomach, the pathetic state my body is in. It can't be love--that's a weakness I can't afford to have...Pleasure was one thing that he could appreciate, even the strongest took that. But love...he was a warrior, dammit, and a prince on top of that. His hatred had always given him the strength to survive, love would only jeopardize that. Vegeta felt suddenly ill as he contemplated Kakarott's words. He had always defined himself by his anger, his hatred, and he had absolutely no experience with love...the prince was lost. He was bonded to the other Saiyan, and it somehow felt undeniably right that he was, but at the same time years of quelling his emotions had almost convinced him that he was no longer capable of feeling them.

The Saiyan prince groaned, covering his closing eyes with his right hand.

I want to hate you, Kakarott--I need to. But I think I'm falling with you...

Goku watched his prince with a concerned, but understanding expression. He hadn't meant for the man to hear his unspoken thought, but he could tell that he had. The silence that followed was awkward, but not uncomfortable. The tall Saiyan was getting used to Vegeta's thoughtful silence and found that they didn't need words like he did with all the others, including Chichi. The prince was battling with himself again, and Goku knew there was nothing to be said. The smaller Saiyan worked things out in his own time. Goku knew he cared, Vegeta just needed to discover that himself.

The taller man stood quietly. Vegeta's obsidian eyes flickered up quickly as the wooden legs of the chair scraped across the floor. Goku padded softly over to the seated Saiyan and laid a warm hand on his shoulder. He smiled gently down into Vegeta's turbulent eyes.

"I'm going to take a shower. You're welcome to join me..." Kakarott's voice was unnaturally deep and calm, allowing his words to trail off in invitation. The prince shrugged in a half-assed attempt at throwing off the hand on his shoulder. The taller man saw it for what it was and nodded, giving it a squeeze before letting it drop to his side. Vegeta watched him turn toward the door with a tinge of regret. It wasn't too late to accept his offer...

The Saiyan scoffed at himself. He didn't like that he was developing feelings for Kakarott and he didn't know what to do with them. With an uttered curse, Vegeta got to his feet and began to gather the dirty dishes. He wouldn't just sit and let these annoying thoughts fester. He needed to do something, anything to keep from being consumed by his own uncertainty.

The steaming water was a welcome sensation on the tall Saiyan's tense and knotted body. He may have beaten the small prince the day before, but the Ouji had managed to give his body a run for its money. In more ways than one.

Goku sighed, bracing his palms against the tiled wall and tilting his face toward the spray. It felt good to relax; he may have been the strongest man in the universe, but his body did have its limits and Vegeta was second to him only by a small fraction. The intensity by which that man did everything--Goku shook his head. It was a continuing wonder the prince had not surpassed him.

He sighed again as he felt the tension drain out of his body almost completely. The last few days had been surprising, to say the very least. He knew with certainty that things could not remain as they were with his wife. Now that he was bonded with the Saiyan prince, he knew he would have to die to ever leave him, and even then he wasn't sure if the tie would break. Goku swore softly. There was so much he didn't know about his own race. He wanted to ask Vegeta, but the other Saiyan rarely shared anything personal and he didn't want to place an unneeded strain on their fragile relationship. He vaguely wished the man were more approachable, but knew that the fondness he felt for his counterpart was partially from the very fact that the man was a mystery. Nothing was ever easy when it came to the little prince.

Vegeta dipped his hands into the warm, soapy water and scrubbed unseeingly at the bowl he held in his left hand. His thoughts were still in turmoil, but the prince had managed to accept the inevitability of his bond with Kakarott. And, if he was honest with himself, which wasn't often, Vegeta could even feel himself beginning to like it. But love? His dark brow furrowed and his hands paused in their task. The Saiyan no Ouji had never known love-Frieza hadn't shown him more than the passing affection one denoted to a pet and because of the tyrant's abuse, Vegeta had never taken a lover for any real length of time. The prince growled, wishing he had more experience in such emotional matters.

He rinsed the china dish off and placed it in the rack with the others. There was quite a stack when it was all cleaned up, which wasn't difficult. Both Saiyans had attacked their meal with gusto, leaving very little to wash off. Suddenly Vegeta was left with nothing to do, and he had yet to reach any kind of decision with himself. The prince placed his palms on the counter and hopped lightly to sit on the top, rapping his fingers on the hard surface in thought.

Kakarott...the Saiyan was an enigma. Vegeta hardly knew what motivated the man; he had the chance to kill the prince several times over and had abstained.

But why? Even after that first battle we fought, he specifically stopped that stupid monk from killing me. Surely the bond wasn't forming even then...was it?

Vegeta wasn't sure he believed in destiny, but he had to admit that he had felt a connection the very first time they had clashed in battle. Was it the lack of Saiyan options, or had Kakarott, or even himself, initiated the beginning of a life-bond? The Saiyan no Ouji shook his head as he glanced toward the bathroom door where the faint drum and patter of a running shower could be heard.

Does it matter? I'm stuck with the overgrown bastard...it doesn't really matter how it happened.

The Saiyan prince shook his head, staring blankly at the floor. If the bond was a result of them being the last, the prince had to grudgingly admit that it could have been a hell of a lot worse. He could hardly imagine being bonded to Radditz, or Nappa-Vegeta shuddered, and was grateful that he had disposed of the weak Saiyan. Kakarott at least was...tolerable, and more than pleasing to the eye.

Huh, why not just admit it? My blood burns just looking at him, and Kami, when he looks at me the way he did last night...the way he did a few moments ago I feel like I would do whatever he asked of me...And the tone he adopts when he says my name...it's so different than the man I met when I first came to earth. Is that my influence?

The Saiyan no Ouji brought his legs up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them, resting his chin on his knees. The small man had never thought that he would be placed in a position of potential happiness. Vegeta groaned, laying his forehead on his laced fingers. He hadn't felt this lost since he had first heard his planet had been destroyed...

Goku had yet to move from his relaxed position. He was avoiding the inevitable; not Vegeta, but the questions that needed to be answered that would come from his friends, and more importantly, his son. The tall man licked the water from his lips and bent his head. He wasn't sure what had possessed him to snap at Gohan--instinct, he supposed. All he knew was that the threat of being separated from Vegeta had caused something within him to break.

And now I have to come up with a way to tell them what it's taken Vegeta and I over a year to realize. They're never going to understand...

The Saiyan raised his head as he heard the bathroom door creak open.

"Vegeta?"

The prince sighed and lifted his head. There was no use rationalizing the relationship he had unwittingly developed with Kakarott.

And now there's no stopping it.

Vegeta chewed on his lower lip thoughtfully. The feelings he had around Kakarott weren't necessarily a discomfort. It was just so strange, to be bonded to the man he considered his rival. He had never thought himself to be bonded at all, let alone to Kakarott

. I can't stop saying his name. He's like one of those damn human drugs and I think I'm getting addicted. Sure, he could blame it on the bond, but every time he tried, he found himself thinking of last night.

He could have just taken his pleasure from me--it was his right. But he stopped. He wanted me to enjoy it...The Saiyan prince found himself blushing to the roots of his dark hair. Oh, and he had. He definitely had.

The tall man may have been less experienced than the Saiyan no Ouji, but his instincts had served him well. Vegeta had never felt such pleasure, had never been allowed to feel anything akin to it. The prince growled softly as he noticed what his thoughts were doing to the rest of his anatomy. He still wasn't sure if what he felt for the other man was love, but he did know that the intimacy they shared made him feel more...complete and...Vegeta glanced longingly toward the bathroom door.

"Safe," he whispered softly, uncurling from his tight position. He leapt lightly from the counter onto the floor. His pride was screaming out in defiance--an age-old theme that the prince had grown up and matured to. With difficulty, he managed to ignore it, taking small, but confident steps toward the far entryway.

Kakarott had extended an invitation...and it was his right to accept it if he wished.