Unwanted Mating

Author's note: Sorry for the delay in updating. The holidays were a little too festive so I had to write Yuletide Joy...and then my computer decided that it wanted to break down. Things are looking up so it shouldn't take so long for the next update! As always, reviews and comments are greatly appreciated...and yes, there is yet another fun plot twist...enjoy...

Part Nineteen: Whispers of a Dark Past

Gently, Raditz takes Braiden ignoring the the fact that he knew his father could tell things had been BAD. Gently holding the infant to him, Raditz tries to find some sort of emotional stability. "Raditz..."

He shakes his head. "Please...just don't."

Bardock sighs softly. "Alright, son."

Raditz stares down at the small bundle and swallows. "I...can't see him caring about him."

"Braiden has enough family members to love and raise him, Raditz."

"Part of me wants Broly to love him...if nothing else."

"Part of you wants Broly to love YOU, too."

Raditz flinches. "I..."

"Raditz, it's not surprising that you want what your brother has...MOST people want that sort of happiness."

"Then why is it denied ME?" he demands, "What crime did I commit that was SO henious that fate makes THIS my lot in life?"

"You do what is asked of you, Raditz. You care about others more than yourself."

"And so THIS is what comes of the doing the RIGHT thing? It's nice to know what honor will get you."

"That's not true and you know it. Hell, Raditz, I don't have an answer for you for why things are like this...and I wish I did. You DON'T deserve this!"

Raditz forces the bitterness down. "I'm sorry, father, I just...I hate this so much right now."

"I know he's hard to live with..."

"No, it's not Broly," Raditz interrupts, "It's ME! I know he's the worst sort of person...I KNOW that and yet...yet I am the idiot who keeps hoping that maybe he'll change...that maybe he could grow to like me just a LITTLE."

It hurt to hear his eldest like this. Bardock was already torn up enough from this whole damn fiasco. "You have no reason to be angry with yourself for wanting something of your own...something that doesn't make you fear going home at night. I just...I wish I knew why fate doesn't seem to want to give it to you."

Raditz walks in a slow circle holding Braiden. "I...still would have done it," he says softly, "I am...too much like you in that regards, aren't I?"

"Sometimes...sometimes I wish you weren't."

"Sometimes, I do, too...but only sometimes. I just...wouldn't be able to live with myself to be like that. I just...wanted better for myself." He looks down at Braiden, "Perhaps...perhaps fate will at least let me break even. If my mate won't love me...hopefully my son does."

"I don't think you have to worry about that, kiddo."

Raditz smiles slightly. "I hope not."

*****POV Change*******

"I think things have gotten harder and not easier," Kakarot sighs.

"I would agree with that," Vegeta tells him, "but really...can you see Broly making it easy for Raditz?"

"No...which pisses me off."

"Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done right now."

"That just makes it worse...I just don't know which of them is more miserable Raditz or my father."

"Tora will deal with Bardock, I am sure."

"I hope so...because this is tearing my family apart."

Vegeta's arm wraps around his mate's waist before he draws the male to him. "Stop worrying so much, Kakarot."

"I can't help it."

"I know that...but it does none of you any good to be like this. The truth is horrible, of that there is no doubt, but worrying it to death isn't helping either. We'll just have to be there for Raditz and Braiden. Though I have to wonder," he muses, "I wonder who would be the best one to tell Raditz that if something happens to either of us that Braiden gets the throne."

Kakarot snorts. "Oh, I am sure that will thrill him."

"Well, it makes my father happy so he might stop being such a grouch about things."

"Well, can you blame your father? You weren't really supposed to pick me."

"And?"

Kakarot shakes his head. "Nothing, Vegeta."

*****POV Change*******

The door slides open and Jyel turns from what he's doing. "Oh, it's just you."

The king raises an eyebrow. "It's nice to see you, too."

Jyel snorts. "Did I hurt your feelings?"

"Hardly. Hiding in the medical wing AGAIN?"

"I am the medic. My place is HERE. If you wanted a trophy, you should have picked someone else to be yours."

"You don't need to be so short-tempered, Jyel."

"This whole damn situation SUCKS if you really must know."

"I realize that."

Jyel sighs. "I don't know how they are supposed to have a conducive relationship for raising a child."

"Raditz will do what he thinks is best for Braiden, you know that."

"It's still not fair to him OR Braiden to be in such a position."

"I know this. Unfortunately, our race had a moment of very REAL weakness."

"I just...I don't understand it, Vegeta. Paragus would have NO real grudge against Bardock. Hell, there have been no real grudges against him since..." Jyel stills.

"Since?"

"I just had a thought...and it wasn't a pleasant one. You remember...the boys's mother?"

"Yes, I remember her. She gave Bardock hell."

"Uh huh, but do you remember her BROTHER?"

He feels the king go tense. "Turles. Yes, I remember him. He was damn near obsessed with Bardock."

"We never found him, sire...remember?"

"Before Cold came...You're right, he vanished with that motley crew of Space Trash."

"It IS possible that he came across Paragus and Broly..."

The king shakes his head. "Don't, Jyel, don't EVEN go there."

"Sire..."

"Jyel, I don't want to open that chapter of Bardock's life back up...not before I have to. You KNOW how bad it was for him...how close he came to just giving up. Leave that alone...unless you get unarguable proof."

He's not surprised to be left alone. He sighs softly. "Do you really think I would do that to him?" he says to the empty room, "Do you really THINK I want him having nightmares about that AGAIN? Really, Vegeta? Do you think me HEARTLESS? I'm just...I'm just sure that he's back...and he's plotting against him...and god help us if we don't stop him in time."