In Your Dreams: Chapter 61

'You want me to do what now?''

Piccolo stared at Vegeta as if he'd grown a second head. The Namekian had been minding his own business, silently and peacefully meditating in his favorite secluded spot nestled within a forest somewhere in South America, when Vegeta had shown up rather unexpectedly. Piccolo hadn't known what to expect from the man, who had refused to meet his gaze and had only stood there awkwardly for the first several minutes after his arrival, but based on the question that had tumbled from the prince's mouth in a jumble of barely recognizable words, he'd been right to feel the dread that had slithered down his spine.

Vegeta growled low in his throat and shifted, clearly agitated that he'd have to repeat himself again. It'd been hard enough to ask the first time, and if Piccolo wasn't careful, he was going to rip off his giant ears and shout directly into them to make sure he was heard and understood.

''I want you to perform the ceremony, green bean!''

Again, Piccolo could only stare down at the shorter man in shock. He was sure his jaw was hanging open because a fly managed to zip into his gaping mouth and have a look around before continuing on his merry way. That was kinda gross, but it wasn't his main concern at the moment. No. His main concern was that Vegeta was serious.

Green lips moved soundlessly for several beats before he managed to find his voice again.

''You want me to marry you two?''

Vegeta, if possible, scowled ever more deeply at the Namekian, and his teeth were clenched together so tightly it was a wonder his jaw hadn't fractured yet. Piccolo received no verbal response, but the venomous expression was enough to confirm the prince's words.

''Vegeta, I would have no idea what I was doing. And I'm not qualified for that!''

His response seemed to ease some of the tension from Vegeta's body, and the Saiyajin's hard scowl melted into a less scary smirk.

''All you'll have to do is read what I've already prepared......You can read, can't you?''

''Of course I can read!''

''Just checking.'' More amusement filtered through Vegeta's suddenly dancing eyes, and he continued on. ''As for being qualified... You're part Kami! How much more qualified can you get?''

''Have Dende do it then.''

''It would mean more to Kakarotto if YOU did it.''

That brought Piccolo up short, and any argument he may have had became lodged in his throat. The very idea of playing 'priest' at a Saiyajin's wedding made him want to shiver, and seeing as how he was not effected by the cold, that was saying something. Speaking of a priest though...

Just as the Namekian's mouth was opening to make his latest suggestion, Vegeta cut him off, clearly having already predicted what he was about to say.

''We can't have an ordinary human do the job, for obvious reasons.''

Piccolo's mouth snapped closed. Of course the other man was right. But still...

''Isn't there anyone else?''

Vegeta's eyebrow arched at the question, and he folded his arms over his chest and swished his tail along the forest floor, kicking up some fallen leaves in the breeze the movement created.

''There's Roshi. However, I didn't think you'd be so cruel as to allow Kakarotto to suffer through THAT.''

That wasn't fair. That really wasn't fair. The little bastard hadn't come here to ask him to do this as a favor at all... he'd come to TELL him. He'd already been locked in! Bastard! The short little bastard!

The prince's lips curled into another amused smirk as he evenly met Piccolo's gaze, almost as if he could hear the murderous insults that were being mentally hurled his way. Maybe he could. He was yelling loud enough in his own head, after all.

With an exasperated sigh and a slight roll of his eyes Piccolo finally relented. His tensed muscles relaxed as he admitted his defeat, and his arms hung loosely at his sides.

''Fine.''

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With only one day left before the wedding, people were beginning to get hectic. At least, the women were. Nothing was getting done fast enough for them, and apparently the tiniest problems and setbacks were resulting in mental breakdowns.

It was amusing to watch.

''Stop smiling! This isn't funny!''

Vegeta swiveled his head to look at Bulma. The woman was a mess. Her hair didn't look as if it'd seen a brush in days and her clothes were rumbled. She smelled of flowers and various foods, which, if he looked close enough, could be seen sticking to different parts of her. Apparently there had been an issue at the caterer.

Her appearance only made his smile widen.

With a low growl Bulma thrust her finger in his face and wagged it at him as if she were scolding a child. ''Do you realize you're getting married in less than twenty-four hours?! Do you know how much is left to be done? Do you have any idea how many IDIOTS I'm dealing with right now??!!''

Several members of the hired helped paused and threw offended glares at the woman as her screeching increased in volume, but like the professionals they were, they brushed off the insult rather quickly and continued to attend to their assigned jobs.

Bulma hadn't even noticed.

''AND,'' she continued. ''Do you even KNOW where Goku is?!''

Vegeta looked past the woman's wagging finger and shifted his eyes to someplace behind her. He maneuvered himself around and took Bulma by the shoulders, steadily turning her so that she faced a table that had been set up to hold all the samples of the food that would be available for the after party. Goku was happily making his way down the line, stuffing a little of everything in his mouth while humming some unknown tune. Then, as if he felt the eyes boring into him, the Saiyajin froze for a moment and slowly turned his head until his gaze met Bulma's. Suddenly he looked like a deer caught in a set of headlights.

''Goku! I've been looking EVERYWHERE for you! There's SO much we need to discuss!''

Terror flashed across Goku's face, and he grabbed one last handful of food before turning and dashing away. Vegeta chuckled and held Bulma in place a little longer than necessary in order to give his mate a decent head start. The women had wanted to get their hands on the younger man for days now, and Kakarotto wanted no part of it. The only thing that had been able to draw him out into the open was food... and today that proved to be his downfall.

Despite the head start he'd provided, Bulma still managed to catch Goku somewhere a couple rooms away. The agonized wail coupled with a triumphant laugh confirmed that fact. Seconds later several chitterling giggles joined the sound of struggling, and Vegeta knew then the pack of women had descended upon his mate. Despite Goku's desperate yells for help, the prince knew he was no match. Instead he turned and helped himself to the assortment of food.

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A few hours later when the bedroom door was flung open Vegeta was prepared. He'd made himself comfortable on the bed where he sat playing with Momoku, or rather, letting her entertain herself by prodding and tugging at him, when Goku burst into the room with an angry huff.

The prince lazily raised his eyes to his flustered looking mate, and he smirked at the glare that was directed at him. For a long moment Kakarotto only stood motionless in the doorway, save for the rise and fall of his chest as he panted for air, but finally the tension was broken by Momoku's delighted squeal at the appearance of her mother. Chubby hands threw themselves up and out in Goku's direction, and Vegeta could see most the anger drain from his mate's face as large dark eyes left his own in favor of focusing on the child.

With one final deep breath, the younger man stepped into the room and calmly shut the door behind him. He was at their side in a flash, and he scooped up the overly pleased chibi in his arms and sat down on the bed. Goku smiled down at Momoku and took a moment to poke her in all her ticklish spots, much to her delight, before he turned his attention back to Vegeta.

''You threw me to the wolves!''

The prince snorted and leaned back against the headboard casually, folding his arms behind his head. ''I did no such thing. I even gave you a head start. You're the baka who pranced into plain view.''

The younger man's expression remained accusing, but the way his bottom lip suddenly poked out in a sulking pout alerted Vegeta to his victory. The tip of his chestnut tail waved back and forth as he savored his win, though the small movement went undetected by his mate. It was a good thing.

For a long moment Vegeta only sat, silently watching the way his mate and daughter interacted. To most it wouldn't look like much, but he could see the way Momoku's eyes danced and darted to every part of Kakarotto's face as if she were trying to burn his image into her memory. He didn't think it was possible for a child so young to feel so much adoration for someone, not even a parent, but there was no denying that was the case here. Apparently Momoku had been starving for her mother's attention, and now that she was getting more of it, she was sucking it up like a dry sponge sucked up water.

The prince's eyes shifted from his daughter's face to Kakarotto's. He was pleased to find that he saw a similar expression there, though unfortunately, it didn't seem quite as intense and obvious as Momoku's. Still, the way the younger man sat so relaxed with the child cradled in his lap as he teased her chubby cheeks with the tip of his tail was pleasing to him. He no longer had to force this kind of interaction, and Goku seemed to respond to Momoku's wants and needs like a normal parent would their child. He offered up affectionate touches and murmured comforting words whenever the child got fussy, and the delight that flashed across the younger Saiyajin's face whenever his actions manage to comfort Momoku and calm her from a potential tantrum pleased him immensely.

''So is there anything else left to do?''

Goku shifted his gaze from his daughter to his mate, blinking large eyes. Apparently the question had caught him unaware. His mind must have been wandering.

''Nah. Bulma said I can't touch anything anyway. Say's I'll break it.... or eat it.''

He chuckled and stuck his tongue out at Momoku when she squealed loudly in response to his voice, and her feet kicked at the air as she squirmed in excitement.

''I think she's wise in that aspect. I plan to hide out here for the rest of the night anyway.'' Vegeta responded. He meant that too. All the chaos was giving him a headache, not to mention all the flowers that had been delivered earlier in the day. Bulma had been quick to store them all in a large freezer to prevent them from wilting in the warm weather, but the sheer number of budding weeds had been enough to fill the entire building with a floral scent.

It made him want to puke.

''I thought I'd told that woman to take it easy on the flowers.''

Goku grinned and shrugged. ''She said she did. That was only half of what she'd originally ordered.''

Vegeta only grunted in response, though that didn't stop the sweat drop from forming on his forehead. Half? The bill for the flowers alone had been nearly $15,000! The woman was insane!

''Hey...'' Goku began, earning the older man's attention once again. ''What are you wearing? You haven't shown me.''

The older man smirked, and his tail once again twitched in response to his suddenly good mood. ''And I don't plan to show you. You'll see tomorrow.''

''That's not right! I want to see now!''

''Nope.''

''Vegeeeeeeeeta!''

The prince rolled his eyes at the extended whine, and his eye nearly twitched when Momoku tried to duplicate the nasally sound. Oh no. She would NOT be picking up his mate's bad habits as well.

Vegeta pulled away from his comfortable spot against the headboard and scooped his daughter up into his arms, settling the giggling chibi against his shoulder as he stood and crossed the room to the door. It was time to begin their nightly routine that eventually led to bedtime.

Despite the space that now separated them, the prince still heard the irritated muttering from his mate, and he smirked and glanced over his shoulder as he opened the door to walk out.

''Tomorrow, Kakarotto.''

To be continue...