"Leave me alone. I don't need anybody's help." Vegeta wiped the blood away from the corner of his mouth with one gloved hand.

The giant green Namek smiled, almost imperceptibly. "Your call," Piccolo said, and flew to join the other Z Senshi.

Vegeta watched as Tien carried Trunks - his son! - out of sight. Cell was responsible for Trunks' death, even though death, in this case, was not final. Cell, and Kakkarot. "He has beaten me completely. First by his own actions, then through his son's. And what has he left for me?" He clenched a fist, staring at the ruin of the battlefield without really seeing it. It was time to leave. He flew away slowly, away from the destination of the others.

Why, Kakkarot? Why did you do it? How could you do it? It wasn't until an flash of yellow and red on an island below him caught his attention that he realized where he'd gone. Bulma's plane sat innocently next to the Kame House. Vegeta landed. If Bulma was in there, so was her son. Their son. He threw the door open, eyes narrowed. Every occupant of the room jumped, shock and apprehension painted on their faces.

"Woman, I want to see my son." Such a simple request, really. And yet it drove them all into speechlessness. Bulma recovered first.

Vegeta was confronted with crossed arms and a stubborn expression. "My name is Bulma. And if you want to see Trunks -" she emphasized the name "- you can say please." She turned her back on him.

Vegeta glanced at the old man and the talking pig, both of whom found urgent reasons to be elsewhere. He returned his attention to his ex-lover. "Please." That one word was like ground glass in his throat. The last time he'd spoken it, it had been a frightened plea uttered by a terrorized child, and he'd sworn he'd never say it again. This was different. It was.

Bulma jerked as if he'd physically struck her. "O-of course." She moved aside. "He's right here."

The child was sleeping. Vegeta stood beside the basket, and searched the boy's face for some sign of the young man who'd died, in part, because of Vegeta's pride. He knelt down and reached out carefully towards the boy.

Trunks, as if sensing someone there, opened sleepy blue eyes and made a grab for Vegeta's index finger. Startled, Vegeta drew back.

Little Trunks frowned.

"Oh, for god's sake." Bulma snatched up the baby and deposited him in his father's arms.

"But I-"

"Hold him." Bulma let go.

It was either hold the child or drop it, and Vegeta did not want to risk his son being damaged the way Kakkarot had been damaged. He held on to the boy.

Trunks closed his eyes again, sleeping in his father's arms. Vegeta looked at the tiny body, entranced. This would grow up to be a strong fighter. He smiled, and gave Trunks back to his mother.

"Wait! Where are you going?" Bulma called out as he walked out the door.

"I'll be back. Someone has to make sure my son doesn't grow up a weakling."

Bulma glared.

Vegeta took off, rocketing through the sky. He wasn't going to make the same mistakes with his son again.