In Your Dreams

Title: In Your Dreams
Author: CrimsonTide
Pairings: Vegeta x Goku


A/N - This chapter is not as long as I wanted it to be, but it's going on midnight and I just plain ran out of time and energy. I had a hectic weekend ^.^' I've got big plans for the next chapter though, so please accept my apologies for this 'starter' chapter. I figured it was better than nothing at all.

Chapter 29

It was still early in the morning when Goku woke up and rolled onto his side to watch his slumbering mate. For a long while he merely observed the sleeping Saiyajin, letting his eyes roam over his sculpted form before finally focusing on a handsome face. Vegeta’s usually sharp features seemed softer while he slept.

Goku reached over and ran his fingers down the smooth skin between the prince’s eyebrows. The furrow that was usually present was absent at the moment, being as how the older man was completely relaxed. The idea that Vegeta could feel comfortable leaving himself so vulnerable while in his presence made his heart swell with joy. Bulma had told him that the prince had always been a light sleeper, and even the slightest noise or touch would wake him.

Yet, here he was, freely running his fingers across the sleeping man’s face; and he wasn’t even stirring.

Never in his wildest dreams did Goku think he and Vegeta would ever be a couple. There was a time when he’d been sure the older Saiyajin would have strangled him to death if given the chance, yet he’d done nothing but provide him with a sense of protection ever since he’d rescued him from Dr. Villa.

....Well, except for that time he dropped him while flying. The bastard.

But, that was in the past now, and Goku felt he could trust Vegeta with his life. Everyday he felt his affection for the prince growing, and he wondered now how he’d ever gotten along without the older man each day. He understood now what he was missing with ChiChi. His ex-wife had never made him feel so loved or at ease. In fact, it had been the complete opposite; not that she had been a bad mate, they just hadn’t been combatable.

Goku’s lips quirked upward into a smile when Vegeta mumbled something under his breath. Most his words were inaudible, but he managed to pick up the word ‘baka’. The name was no longer such an insult to Goku. He knew the prince wasn’t trying to hurt him anymore when he called him that. It was more like...well, a pet name, he supposed.

Goku drew his hand back when the older man drew in a deep breath and opened his heavy eyes. Vegeta stared at him for a short moment before his lids closed again. Instead of going back to sleep, however, Goku found himself pulled closer by strong arms and tucked close to his mate’s now rumbling chest. No words were exchanged as an auburn tail wound around his waist and held tight, but Goku had no trouble going back to sleep, lulled by the rhythmic breathing of his lover.

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“Come on, it’ll be fun!”

“No.”

“Vegeta, don’t be a poor sport! Why not?!”

“Woman, I have no desire to participate in such ridiculous activities!”

“What activities?”

Bulma and Vegeta turned to look at Goku when he walked into the kitchen and sat down to join them for breakfast. Vegeta’s expression was no longer soft and relaxed as it had been earlier that morning. Instead it was set back to its’ regular scowl.

“A triple date! Me, Yamcha, you, Vegeta... and ChiChi and Victor.”

Vegeta watched his mate’s reaction to the last pair of names, and as expected, wide black eyes shot up to balk at the older woman. His mouth appeared to be forming words, though no sound was coming out.

“I told you it was a stupid idea!” he snapped.

Bulma sighed and took a sip of her coffee. “Goku, I know it’s awkward, but I don’t think you should cut off all communication with ChiChi. You have children together. If you’re worried about Victor, he already knows about Saiyajins and he’s fine with it. He’s already witnessed Gohan and Goten’s power, so nothing you do or say will surprise him.”

“But... but I haven’t told ChiChi about... about...”

“Me.” Vegeta finished.

The blue haired woman nodded. “I know. I think you need to call her and have a long talk. That way there are no surprises tonight.”

“We aren’t going, woman!” Vegeta snapped as he glared across the table.

Bulma glared right back. “You both need to get out of the house and socialize with other people! There’s no reason for Goku to become as much of a recluse as you are!”

It was extreme, she knew, but Bulma had a reason for wanting to go on this triple date tonight. It hadn’t escaped her attention that Goku was less comfortable around strangers since his confinement to the lab, and he had begun to turn down any offer she made to take him out in public. He always had some excuse and it was becoming a pattern. Bulma knew it was unhealthy for a once highly social person to become so reclusive, and the sooner she got him back out there, the easier it would be for him to conquer his new fear of people... or more specifically, she observed, men.

Bulma was pulled out of her musings by Goku’s sigh, and she turned her attention back to the Saiyajin.

“I suppose I do need to tell her...”

“Alright!” Bulma chirped, purposely interrupting before he could change his mind. “You give her a call, and we’ll all hit the town tonight at seven! It’ll be fun!”

The woman smiled happily as she stood up from the table. A distinctive ‘thump’ sounded behind her as she left the room, and she laughed when she recognized the hollow sound as Vegeta’s forehead hitting the table. Apparently he wasn’t pleased.

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Vegeta cursed as he unbuttoned another button on his shirt to loosen the grip around his neck. Bulma had insisted they’d dressed moderately nice for their outing, and both Saiyajins had opted for a couple of button up shirts, his light blue and Goku’s white, coupled with pressed black slacks. Granted, they both looked damn good, but he still wasn’t happy about it.

The older Saiyajin turned to look at his mate, and he frowned as he watched the other man nervously run his fingers through his always untamable spikes as he fussed with his appearance in the mirror. He knew Goku wasn’t worried about how he looked, but rather his meeting with ChiChi and her mate.

Apparently the phone call to his ex had gone smoother than expected. Granted, the woman had been shocked, but she hadn’t been disgusted or angry. In fact, from the way Kakarotto described it, she almost seemed happy for him toward the end after she’d been given some time to absorb the information. The younger Saiyajin, however, was still doubtful about her acceptance of his new lifestyle, and he had been fidgety and nervous for hours now.

Vegeta walked over to the other man and caught his wrists in his hands. He spun Goku around and away from the mirror.

“Kakarotto, stop worrying so much. You already said she was accepting, so just relax and enjoy yourself tonight. Kami knows one of us has to have fun.”

A small grin spread across Goku’s lips, but before he could reply, the doorbell rang, followed by Bulma’s shout.

“THEY’RE HERE!”

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Goku walked as slowly as he could in order to buy as much time as possible, but he still found himself downstairs and approaching a group of excited voices sooner than he would have liked.

He followed behind Vegeta as they rounded the corner and entered the main foyer, and that was where the other’s had all gathered. Both ChiChi and Bulma looked beautiful with their hair and make-up done, and each wore a nice, but casual dress for the evening. Yamcha and Victor had dressed in similar attire as the Saiyajins, and they each looked slightly less enthused than their women.

Goku fidgeted nervously when ChiChi finally saw him, and she smiled somewhat awkwardly as her eyes moved between him and Vegeta. There was a small silence before the dark haired woman finally stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her ex-husband, and Goku couldn’t help but tense up at the unexpected move.

ChiChi laughed softly as she pulled back. “I don’t bite anymore, you know.”

A deep laugh came from behind her, and the woman turned as Goku’s eyes moved past her to Victor. The older man smiled when the attention turned to him. “Don’t believe a word she says. I have the bite marks to prove it.”

Both ChiChi and Goku blushed as the others laughed, well, except for Vegeta; he merely rolled his eyes.

“Goku, this is my.... husband Victor. I don’t think you’ve actually met him yet.”

Goku looked back at the man. He was taller than himself by a few inches and he had lighter brown hair and eyes to match. He appeared to exercise regularly based on his toned physique, and he appeared a bit younger than ChiChi too.

Victor stepped forward after his introduction and held out his hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you, Goku. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

The Saiyajin’s eyes darted to the outstretched hand back to the man’s still smiling face. He was surprised to find that part of him wanted to punch the guy in the mouth, while the other part wanted to disappear and find a nice hole to crawl into. This man had stolen.... no, married his former wife, after all, and instincts screamed at him to reclaim what was rightfully his. However, as much as he hated to admit it, Goku was also a bit intimidated.

“Kakarotto.”

Goku hadn’t realized he’d zoned out until Vegeta elbowed him in the ribs to bring him back to the present. He blinked and focused on Victor’s still outstretched hand. He blushed and quickly shook hands with the man.

“Sorry...Nice to meet you too...”

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Much to Vegeta’s displeasure, this triple date consisted of the typically boring ‘dinner and a movie’. The restaurant they ended up in was a high class place where everyone walked with their nose in the air. He snorted. They acted as if they were royalty or something.

“Does everyone know what they want to order?” Bulma asked as she looked up from the menu.

“Everything, as usual.” Vegeta stated as he propped his chin in his palm.

“Vegeta! I told you to eat before we came so you wouldn’t need to order so much! And get your elbows off the table! Manners!”

The older man rolled his eyes. “This coming from a woman who eats off the floor.”

Bulma blushed as all eyes turned to her. “It... It’s called the two second rule! Everyone does it! Right, Yamcha?”

“Umm.... sure...”

Before anything further could be said, a waitress approached the table with a fake smile. “Are we ready to order?”

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After placing their orders, Bulma having loudly interrupted Vegeta to order for him, the couples were left sipping their drinks and making idle small talk. Goku hadn’t really said much, and he instead chose to listen quietly to the others. Unfortunately, it didn’t stay that way.

“So Goku,” Victor said. “What attracted you to Vegeta? I know I don’t know either of you very well, but you seem like complete opposites.”

The younger man was caught off guard and he looked over at the prince for help. Unfortunately, none was offered. Instead, Vegeta was only smirking.

“Go ahead, Kakarotto. Do tell.”

Goku cast his mate a glare before turning back to the rest of the group, who were anxiously awaiting his response.

“Uh... I don’t know... I guess we just have a lot in common... and....”

Yamcha, who was beginning to feel sorry for his friend as he fumbled for words, decided to take the pressure off by deflecting the attention elsewhere. “How about you, Vegeta? What attracted you to Goku?”

Based on the almost evil smirk that spread over Vegeta’s lips, Yamcha knew he’d just made a huge mistake.

“Well,” the prince began. “Look at him. He’s a fine piece of flesh.”

If Goku’s face wasn’t red before, it was now. “Vegeta!”

The older Saiyajin continued. “But besides being easy on the eyes, he’s the perfect sparring partner, aggressive and strong, yet in bed, he becomes submissive and even shy, not to mention responsive!”

“Vegeta! That’s enough!” Goku growled. He’d noticed that several pairs of eyes were now focused on him; not all of them being confined to their table.

“What? He asked!”

Bulma, who looked both interested and sympathetic for Goku, laughed. “Wow, sounds like you’re describing Yamcha’s bedroom demeanor!”

The scarred man beside her choked on his drink.

Victor laughed. “I can’t say the same about Chi. She’s feisty under the covers! It’s no wonder poor Goku is more laid back. She’s got me whipped!”

The woman in question pretended to be angry as she punched her husband on the arm, but a hint of a smile gave away her amusement.

As the chatter began to pick up at the table again, Goku sent his mate a chilling glare as he drank from his glass. Vegeta literally shuddered under the intense gaze, and he knew he was in trouble.

“Food’s here!”

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TBC

The next chapter is going to be interesting, so hang in there!