In Your Dreams: Chapter 51

''You need to tell them sometime, you know.''

Goku hummed lazily as he shifted on the bed and rolled onto his side to better see his mate, who was busy rustling through the closet. Occasionally a pair of pants or a stray sock would fly from within the space and land on the bedroom floor accompanied by a muffled curse. Apparently Vegeta wasn't having much luck finding whatever it was he was looking for.

''I will tell them.''

Vegeta's head suddenly poked out of his closet, and he glared at the other Saiyajin. ''When?''

''Soon.'' Goku replied. A moment later he yawned and stretched before once again going limp among the sheets. His arm hung lazily off the side of the bed.

The prince huffed and disappeared again, resuming his search. ''Kakarotto, you say that every time we discuss this. You need to tell your sons about the pregnancy. Too many other people know, and it may already be too late to avoid insulting them. Gohan is concerned about you because you've begun to make so many excuses as to why you can't attend your weekly sparring sessions. Goten thinks you're ill; and it worries him.''

''I am ill.''

''You're pregnant!''

Goku shrugged and lazily ran his tail over the smooth satin sheets that surrounded him. The texture felt good against the soft fur, and it made a purr erupt from within his chest.

The next few moments drifted by in relative silence before Vegeta cursed loudly and stomped out of the closet.

''Where the fuck are all my clothes disappearing to?!''

The younger Saiyajin looked thoughtful for a moment. ''Maybe the laundry robots are malfunctioning. You should check with Bulma on that.''

Vegeta fists clenched by his sides. ''Useless pieces of metal! If I find out they've destroyed my favorite shirts I'll blast them into bits so tiny you'll never know they existed!!''

Goku waited until the prince had stormed out of the room before he allowed a small smile to flicker across his lips. He waited a moment or two until his mate's footsteps faded away before he slid off the bed and crept closer to the other Saiyajin's closet. The younger man gathered up a couple of the scattered garments from the carpeted floor before sneaking back to his own closet and slipping inside. Goku paused and looked back toward the door to make sure the coast was clear before he let the closet door shut behind him with a barely audible 'click'.

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''Ok, we're a little in to month four! Let's see what's going on in there!''

Bulma hummed with excitement as she guided the smooth piece of machinery over Goku's belly. All eyes were glued to the screen as a fuzzy image appeared; an image that gradually became clearer as time went on.

''Look at his little tail!'' Bulma cooed as she pointed to a clearly defined appendage attached to the baby's back. ''And he's sucking his thumb!''

Goku blinked as he watched the baby move about on the screen, and he tilted his head back to look at Vegeta, who was standing at the head of the bed he was lying on. The corner of the older man's lip was turned upward in a smile, and he seemed to be focused solely on the picture of his child.

Goku watched him for another moment before returning his attention to the ultra sound. Bulma was pressing the few buttons to print out some pictures and she fell silent only long enough to listen to the baby's heartbeat. After a few more moments had passed, she flipped off the screen and handed Goku a towel to wipe the gel from his stomach.

''Everything looks great! His heartbeat is strong and he has ten fingers and ten toes. Now it's only a matter of time before we get to hold him! Two more months!''

A shiver wracked Goku's frame at the announcement and his throat constricted as the reality of the situation hit home. He wasn't enjoying being pregnant, but he wasn't looking forward to the birthing either. It was bound to be unpleasant, and they still didn't know how it was going to work.

Bulma laid a gentle hand on his shoulder and smiled. ''Don't be nervous. All you have to do is rest and make sure you get plenty to eat. You'll need to be strong for the big day.''

''Uh... yeah...'' Goku smiled weakly and pulled his shirt down over his growing belly before sitting up. The movement made him slightly dizzy, but he waited a short moment until his head stopped spinning before lowering himself to the floor. He was just about to head out of the room when Bulma's voice once again stopped him.

''Goku, your boys called again today. They're worried about you.''

The Saiyajin sighed and looked over his shoulder at her.

''They're hurt. They think you're mad at them.''

A strong pang of guilt hit Goku and he looked over at Vegeta, who confirmed the woman's words with the slight nod of his head.

''Alright. I'll tell them today.''

Vegeta grinned and waited until the younger man had shuffled out of the room before turning to Bulma. ''Woman, I have a bone to pick with your laundry robots.''

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Two pairs of wide eyes stared down at the lump beneath his shirt the moment Goku had greeted his sons, who he'd flown out to see in their usual meeting place. The trip had left Goku feeling a little more winded than it usually did---though the feeling of weakness could also be attributed to his nerves.

A long stretch of silence settled over the trio, interrupted only by the occasional buzz of a passing bee or chirp of a bird. A gust of wind ruffled the Saiyajin's hair, and the movement seemed to break Goten out of his stupor. The youngest man raised a shaking finger and pointed it at his father's stomach.

''Is... Is that a tumor?! Are you dying?!''

Goku was so surprised by the question that he could only stare at his second son in shock as Goten suddenly ran forward and threw his arms around his neck. The demi-Saiyajin held him tightly and sobbed loudly in his ear. ''Why didn't you say anything sooner?! How long do you have to live?! Are you----''

Gohan, who had been standing quietly lost in his own thoughts, blinked when Goten suddenly fell silent. Though he couldn't see his brother's face, he could see his father's; and Goku's eyes were wide and his face was pale.

Then Goten drew back very slowly, and his own wide eyes dropped once again to the older man's stomach. ''It... it just kicked me...''

Gohan's mouth dropped open as his eyes also dropped to the lump beneath his father's oversized shirt, and Goku chuckled as he raised his hand and nervously ran his fingers through his hair.

''Umm... surprise...'' The Saiyajin laughed weakly and his eyes lowered to the grass beneath their feet as his face steadily turned red.

No one said a word for what seemed like an eternity before Goten finally raised his hand and, as gently as he could, placed it on Goku's stomach. The movement seemed to startle the older man, and he started to take a step away from the touch, but his youngest son placed his other hand on the small of his back to halt his retreat. An intense look of concentration settled over the demi-Saiyajin's features, and after a few seconds, he gasped when the baby once again kicked.

''Gohan,'' he whispered, as if he would scare the unborn child if he spoke too loud. ''Come feel this!''

Gohan's eyes met those of Goku's, and it was obvious the older man was still terrified of his reaction. In fact, it looked as if he'd burst into tears at any moment. Keeping that in mind, Gohan closed the distance between them in a few small steps, and with only a small amount of hesitation, he too placed his hand on his father's stomach, right beside Goten's.

He felt the kick almost immediately.

''.....Wow...''

After that Goku released the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. Though he still wasn't completely comfortable with the awkward moment, much of his fear of rejection ebbed away.

After a long moment the boys removed their hands and took a step back to give him some space.

''How long?'' Goten asked.

''A little over four months...'' Goku replied, the blush still evident on his cheeks. ''Bulma thinks I should be due in another two...''

Gohan didn't miss the shiver that wracked the other man's frame. ''You... don't seem happy.''

The statement caught Goku off guard and he blinked up at his oldest. ''I'm not unhappy... This is just... weird, you know? I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around it.''

''Well I think it's cool!'' Goten chirped as he balled his hands into excited fists. ''I can't wait to see the baby!''

Gohan chuckled at his brother's enthusiasm, but he noticed the smile on Goku's face was strained. With a sigh he placed his hand on his father's shoulder and shook him gently to earn his attention. He waited until their eyes met before speaking.

''I wish you would have told us sooner, but I understand why you didn't. I can only imagine what you thought I'd say about this after the way I reacted about Vegeta.''

Goku flinched a little at the memory, but nodded his head once.

Gohan laughed. ''Hey, just because I'm an idiot doesn't mean you should have to feel isolated from your own sons. You can tell us anything, ok? We're here to support you, just like you've always supported us.''

Goku felt his shoulders relax as the tension in his muscles finally drained away, and he felt a genuine smile spread across his face for the first time in ages.

''Thanks, Gohan.''

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When Goku returned home Vegeta and Bulma were still fighting. Their shouts could be heard from where he stood by the front door, though they were several rooms away.

''There's nothing wrong with my robots!!''

''Stop defending them, woman! All my favorite clothes are disappearing! What other explanation could there be?!''

''I don't know!! Maybe you're going senile and just can't remember where you're putting it all!''

''Bullshit!''

Goku shook his head and sighed as he took a few more steps into the house. He was just about to go upstairs when his nose twitched. Turning his head the Saiyajin followed a subtle scent that drifted through the air, and it wasn't long before he found himself in the living room staring at one of his mate's discarded training towels. The white fabric was draped over the back of the couch, and his fingers itched as he reached out and picked it up.

Goku purred heavily as he buried his face in the fabric and inhaled Vegeta's scent deeply into his lungs. He felt lightheaded and giddy as his tail swished through the air behind him, and without really knowing why, the Saiyajin rubbed the towel on his cheeks and neck. The smell of Vegeta's scent on his own skin pleased him, and after taking a quick look around the room, Goku turned and snuck back through the house and toward the stairs.

Unfortunately, he had become so caught up in what he was doing he failed to notice the screaming had stopped.

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Two pairs of eyes watched their target as they silently followed behind.

Vegeta had sensed his mate's return the moment he'd arrived back home, and since he felt nothing but contentment from the younger man, he'd continued to fight with Bulma. However, when a sudden fuzzy sensation coursed through his body, the prince paused and focused more of his attention on Kakarotto. Bulma had fallen silent the moment his demeanor had changed, and she chose to follow along when he silently crept through the halls and paused in the doorway that led to the room his mate currently occupied.

They both watched silently from around the corner has Goku seemingly worshipped one of Vegeta's training towels, which he had left lying on the couch earlier that morning.

Bulma wrinkled up her nose and whispered. ''How many times do I need to tell you not to leave your sweaty towels on the furniture?! It stinks!''

The prince smirked as he watched his mate rub the towel along his own skin. ''Kakarotto disagrees.''

A moment later the younger Saiyajin snuck away in his tip-toes, and Vegeta and Bulma felt compelled to follow. They silently crept along the same path as Goku, careful to duck out of sight whenever the other man turned to make sure no one was around. Bulma was careful to point out the squeaky stairs as they ascended to the next level of the house, and her knowledge of Capsule Corps structure kept them from being discovered.

Soon enough they found themselves at Goku and Vegeta's bedroom door, and they poked their heads inside only enough to watch the other Saiyajin's movement. Goku crept over to his closet, only pausing once to pick up another shirt Vegeta had worn earlier that day, and within a few steps he'd opened his closet door.

Vegeta and Bulma quickly ducked out of view when the other man's eyes turned in their direction, and after a tense moment, they heard a barely audible 'click' as a door shut. They waited for a moment before peering inside the room again, and they found that Goku had disappeared.

The prince was the first to venture into the bedroom, and Bulma followed closely behind. They silently crept across the floor and eventually pressed their ears to the closet door. They could both hear the distinct rumble of Goku's purring, along with some soft rustling sounds as the Saiyajin moved around inside.

Part of Vegeta thought it best to just ignore his mate's behavior and give him his privacy, but the other part of him wanted to know what the hell was going on.

So, after motioning for Bulma to step back, the prince silently closed his hand around the doorknob and twisted it before slowly opening the door so he could peer inside. Bulma, who was now crouched on the floor, peeked in as well.

At first they couldn't see anything in the dark space, but after their eyes began to adjust, a waving black tail became visible. Soon they could see Goku's outline from where he was crawling around on the floor, and it became clear that he was arranging bundles of clothes around his body. The younger man seemed to take his task very seriously, and he fussed with each little fold of cloth and pushed and pulled at the fabrics until they were exactly where he wanted them.

Vegeta's nose twitched when his own scent, which was very strong, suddenly hit him in the face. Bulma must have caught it too, because she suddenly sneezed.

Goku immediately spun around, and his wide black eyes were very visible, even in the dim lighting. He flashed his canines and his trilling purr morphed into a menacing growl as the fur on his tail stood on end.

Cursing the onna's lack of control, Vegeta pushed the door open the rest of the way and stepped into full view. Goku squinted against the initial flood of light before his eyes adjusted, and suddenly his growl ceased and he looked very guilty.

And he should.

The pile of clothes he'd been arranging in the furthest corner of the closet were none other than his missing items... and then some! The pile was large enough that it came up to his knees and spread across a great expanse of the closet's floor. The center had been hollowed out and was large enough for Kakarotto to curl up inside. His mate was currently sitting in that spot, poking his fingers together like a child who had just been caught stealing a cookie.

''Kakarotto....'' Vegeta voice was low, making his displeasure with the situation known. He stepped further into the closet and reached toward the bundle of clothes, but Goku suddenly surged toward and put himself between him and his 'prizes'.

''No! I need them!''

The prince drew back his hand and raised an eyebrow. The sudden desperation in the other Saiyajin's voice confused him.

''What for? You have your own clothes!'' Vegeta motioned toward all the garments that still hung untouched from hangers around them.

Goku shook his head. ''They won't work. Please, I just... I NEED these!''

Bulma, who had been standing quietly just outside the closet, hummed in acknowledgement. ''Vegeta, I think he's made a nest.''

The older man turned his head to look at her. ''A what?''

''A nest. His instincts are telling him to make a safe and secure place to give birth, so that's what he's been doing. He's been gathering clothes with your scent on them to make himself a place he can feel comfortable in.''

Goku tilted his head to the side as he thought about her words. He hadn't really understood why he was doing what he was doing, but the compulsion had just been too great to ignore. What Bulma said made sense.

Vegeta, who had remained silent for a moment, suddenly looked mortified. ''You are NOT giving birth on MY clothes!!''

For a moment Goku was hurt by the look of disgust his mate threw his way, but a sudden surge of anger coursed through him a second later, and the urge to protect his 'nest' became overwhelmingly strong. When Vegeta reached toward the carefully arranged structure again, Goku did the first thing his instincts told him to.

He bit him. Hard.

The prince yelled out as teeth sunk into his forearm, and he shook the injured limb in an attempt to dislodge his mate. ''Kakarotto, release me right now!''

Goku growled and tightened his jaws a little more before he let the older man go, and he remained crouched over his nest defensively. ''Don't touch it! It's MINE!''

Vegeta, who was clutching his bleeding arm tightly to his chest, stared wide-eyed at the younger man for a moment. His mate's eyes were feral and the blood that covered his teeth and dripped down his chin only made him look more intimidating. The prince knew when to retreat, and this was one of those times.

He carefully rose to his feet and backed away, shivering as the younger man's eyes followed his every movement. It wasn't until he'd left the closet completely and closed the door that the sounds of Goku rustling around resumed. He was obviously fixing the damage done to his nest.

The prince stared down at his wound for a moment before looking up at Bulma, who was trying her best not to laugh.

''Woman, I think I need a rabies shot.''

To be continue...