A few minutes later, we touched down at the foot of the entrance to my father’s underground palace. "She’ll be here soon- I can sense it" I turned to Vegeta before walking down the steps. "Hn" he nodded. I glared at the watch on my wrist, holding it above Zegeta and said, twisting my neck back around, "Training cession should almost be over- she’ll be back this way in a few minutes. Just stay right where you are, and try not spook the passing civilians!" I moaned and then strode down the rest of the steps. Vegeta never did reply to me.

The heat of the underground strobe lights frayed the top of my head as I passed

through at least three before reaching the tall and embroidered doors that marked the entrance to my father's royal court. "Okay, Zeggie! Let’s go pay Grandpa a visit!" I smiled down at the baby boy and then shoved the doors open with a wilted force. "Daddy?" I glared about, stepping in on the royal-red carpet and glaring about with a twist of my head. Zegeta squirmed, not feeling comfortable around all of the dark columns and shadows that cloaked around the solemn room. "Hello? Daddy? It’s me! Ryver!" I shouted, my voice echoing questionable around me. "Where have you been child?" his firm voice groggily wheezed towards me as I approached his shadowed thrown.

Zegeta huddled close to my chest, feeling a breeze pass across his face. I cradled my arms around him, feeling his warm and chubby cheeks press up against my arm. "It’s been at least 2 years since I’ve seen you last" he continued, coming into plain view as a servant passed my in a hurry to flick the lights on. I approached my enormous father, seeing his hands wilted over the arms of his chair. "I know, Daddy"- I smiled, trying to recall brighter moments. His eyes instantly exploded with surprise when he saw the small baby in my arms. "WHO’S IS THAT!?" he roared, almost bearing his teeth as he growled down at me, listing himself out of his seat. "He’s MY son, father!" I growled back, my tail snapping on the cold tiles that were piled on both sides of the carpet. He snarled a wheeze, coughing up through his jugular throat. "And WHOM might the father be!?" he growled back, knowing for certain it wasn’t Tenchi. "His name is Vegeta" I growled back. "VEGETA!? AS IN THE PLANET VEGETA!? WHAT HAS HAPPENED, RYVER!?" he roared loudly, making poor little Zegeta trembled up next to me and grip me tight with his small, pudgy hands. "A LOT HAS CHANGED, FATHER!" I growled, snapping like a twig with outrage- but I tried to keep my temper, just so I wouldn’t scare my son. "Where did you meet this ‘Vegeta’?" he growled, his voice quieting, but his expression booming with anger. "I met him when I went to the planet Vegeta. I went there to avenge Tenchi, but- I found that I had to let him go. I battled Vegeta at first, meeting up with his father, the King a few times. I was imprisoned after being caught with him once, but Vegeta came through for me and helped me escape. He hasn’t gone back because his father was so furious to see hi helping ME out.

Vegeta’s been challenged by Rayne to a battle- but that was 2 years ago. Both of us have spent those years on the planet Earth. But with the baby and all, Vegeta had to start training quickly before we left to come back here again" I said, staring up at my monstrous father the whole time, seeing no change in his expressions. "So, you came back before you went to this planet earth? And didn’t even tell me!?" he started to growl, but I settled it by chiming in soon enough. "I had to! Vegeta took me hostage at first! And then, from there, it was more like I’d been invited to tag along" I explained, a crisp tone echoing across the floor. "Well", he tapped his clawed fingers on the stone thrown he sat upon. "So I’m a grandfather. A grandfather to a child that is now a Halfling… just like you… and where is this father of his now?" he asked, his tail snapping up against the side of his chair. "Waiting- for Rayne" I said, looking away and cradling my son. "WHAT!? They’re still going to fight!? Even though you’ve had a CHILD with this man!? How is he as a father!? Does he ever spend time with the two of you!?" he started to wheeze again, a cough following his semi-outrage. "Vegeta does what he can, father! He’s been training so hard, he hasn’t had the time! He’s not the type of Prince that sits around, waiting to be fed all day!" I started to hiss. "I tried my best to keep the ‘fight to the death’ part out. But Vegeta said he would do what he had to do- so I trust that he will" I started to lighten up, rocking Zegeta back and forth.

My father’s expression started to lighten as silence started to fall in the room, and he stared longingly at the baby in my arms. "A grandson… I never thought… I’d have one…." He sighed, resting his head on one of his wilted hands. "Well… you do! And he’s the best grandson there ever is! Isn’t that right, boy?" I nuzzled my nose against his cheek and smiled, trying to bring out more joy on Zegeta’s chubby face. "May I?" my father asked, outstretching his scaly arms towards me. "Sure thing, Daddy- as long as I’m forgiven for being gone so long! I mean, at least I’m all right and so is my baby boy!" I grinned cheerfully, handing Zegeta off into my father’s clawed fingers that carefully avoided poking Zegeta’s chubby sides. He grinned toothily at the small baby boy in his arms, seeing his furry Saiyan tail unravel and curl- making him laugh, even though it wasn’t a dragon tail.

"He’s never been this good with other people holding him! Vegeta can’t even get a hold on him without getting a good ring in his ears after withstanding all of his crying" I tilted my head, crossing my arms with joy and swishing my tail about at the sight of my father holding my son with happiness flooding over both of their faces. "He’ll be big and strong! Just like his grandpa!" my father said, holding Zegeta up and giving him a good look wit a smile.

The minute he was lifted, Zegeta began to cry rabidly, and that scared my father at first. "Here Dad" I grinned, taking my upset little baby boy out of my father’s clawed hands and placing him over my shoulder, hushing him as I swayed back and forth to calm him. My father scowled, looking so worried as if he’d caused him to cry. "You were never so fussy!" he seemed to blush with even more curious worries. "Dad! Babies always cry. It wasn’t your fault, he’s just not used to other people yet" I grinned, tucking Zegeta back in the cradle of my arms and smiling down at him with a twinkle from my eyes to his.

"Well", I sighed, starting to turn on my side, "let’s go see Daddy, boy!" I smiled down at him, winking.

"WHAT!? But- what if he’s fighting Rayne right now! Don’t want either of you getting hurt! Maybe you should stay" my father gave me a worried look as I turned at his protest.

"Daddy, I just wanna go take a look and then I’ll back off! I don’t want them starting something so serious it hurts the civilians around here, and I just wanna make sure they don’t get into it" I said, turning for the doors and walking off. "Well", my father whimpered loudly, "take care! Don’t get in the middle of it, child!" he yelped as I slid open the doors and left his royal court.

I huffed, widening my eyes at Zegeta with tire. "Well, that’s a relief! Now you have a good Grandpa, just like Mommie hoped!" I started up the stairs, hearing small snarls and a wheezy yell not too far from where my head started to emerge. My sight was clotted with smoke and dust that made me scurry to cover Zegeta’s eyes so that it wouldn’t get caught near him. I walked up the last step and felt so lost when all the dust rushed in a wave over me. My tail fanned the air behind me, so at least it wouldn’t come back my way. "Vegeta? Rayne?" I coughed, fighting my way through the thick smoke that started up again after a flash crossed my eyes not too far ahead of me. "Rayne?" I coughed, "Vegeta?" I fought my way with an arm raised over my son’s head, as I started towards a clearing in the smoke.

My eyes widened at what I saw in the clearing as I popped my head through.

"Rayne? Vegeta?" I tried raising my voice at the two who were kicking and punching at eachother in a furious hurry on the ground. Vegeta and Rayne raised their heads, their fists raised at eachother but their glare pointed straight at me. "SPACE CASE!? That you!? Who’s the small fry!?" she gulped down in much surprise on her charred and worn face. "That- SMALL FRY- is- m-my SON!" Vegeta grunted. I couldn’t believe he’s said it instead of me- my mouth had been open to tell her myself. "WHAT!?" she fell over, her fists fallen away from Vegeta automatically. "NO WAY, MANN! You two- you- you- you two- you guys- a-actually h-hooked up!?" she blinked from me to Vegeta. I nodded, giving Vegeta the break. "NO WAY!!" she grabbed her scalp and pulled, not believing a word. I looked at Vegeta, as his eyes seemingly rolled towards me- his wheezy voice panting in exasperation. "Wh-what are you doing out here?" he snapped. "I just wanted to check up on the fight- and I think little Zeggie here wanted to see his Daddy!" I nuzzled the small boy’s cheek and then looked back up at Vegeta. "What’s his name again!?" Rayne asked, almost on the ground again. "Zegeta" I looked down towards her. At the sound of his name, she collapsed face first on the charred ground. "I-CANNOT- believe this!" she coughed in a mumbled tone with her mouth buried in the dirt.

Rayne pulled her face out of the muddy ground and stared from Vegeta to me- grass sticking out of her frayed hair. "O-Oh my god… the kid looks like you too, Vegeta! I… can’t believe this! I-I-I- oh dear" she fainted with thud, not able to finish. Zegeta giggled when seeing her fall over, his toothless grin catching Vegeta’s eyes and making him sneer at the boy, crossing his arms. "Oh, thank you so much Vegeta! You didn’t kill her!" I grinned, beaming as I pulled up next to him. "Don’t thank me yet. I think YOU killed her- with laughter" her arched one brow down at my fainted sister. "It’s useless. She had the upper hand when we started. But, she started to get weak the more I started to pound her" he sighed, as if it wasn’t worth the training. "Well, at least you got a fight out of this trip! I’m guessing we won’t stay much longer?" I blinked, looking towards him questionably. "Hn- first of all, how did your old man take it?" he glared at Zegeta and then back up to abruptly. "Oh! Daddy wasn’t too hard to get by. I’m guessing he likes the idea of a grandson, and that’s enough to get his approval" I grinned at Vegeta and then turned to my occupied son- fidgeting with his swishing tail. "Hn" Vegeta wheezed, looking longingly at the boy- thinking that the little thing really DID start to look like him!

"Rayne? Can ya hear me, sis?" I blinked, looking over my sister’s dead and numb features cautiously- holding Zegeta close to my chest to prevent him from squirming. Vegeta stood over me, his shadow coldly cloaked over my shoulders as I sat on a stool next to my sister- strewn on her bed after Vegeta’s efforts.

"C’mon, Rayne!" I whined, not thinking to nudge her or try and startle her awake. "Vegeta" I turned to him, "go get a glass of water" I said, without showing any compassion or a ‘please’. He just strode off and returned almost instantly with a whole pitcher. "Well now! Aren’t YOU the favorite of the servant girls around here!" I started to snarl, but he seemed not to take that joke at all. I sighed and then gripped the heavy and clear- filled up pitcher in my free hand. "Forgive me, sister" I squinted and then dumped the water over her head, thinking I’d be clobbered- very soon.

"GAAAGH!" Rayne spat, water spewing in small droplets all over my face as she turned to me, her head wet and soggy- drooping as she struggled to regain her sight.

"WHAT were you THINKING, SISTER!?" she roared in my face, droplets of water drizzling down the edge of her nose. "Hehehe- now, now Rayne. I do recall you were the one that fainted and uh- not me" I pointed a dry finger at her and wiped the water off my face after making my point. Zegeta seemed thrilled at the droplets that were left on his nose, trying to brush them away without much luck. "ERGH! What is HE doing here?" she snarled, arching her pierced brow up at Vegeta. "Rayne, you just back off!" I snarled, almost standing in such rage that made my tail snap on the floor, "Vegeta has EVERY right to be here! If it wasn’t for him, you’d still have your head in the ground!" "If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have had my head in ground in the FIRST place!" she growled back, picking her upper body up and swerving her tail around as she turned to me, not looking towards the man that stood over me. "So, what’s up with little pee wee here, eh?" she smirked slightly, trying to push the fact that Vegeta was the father away. I rolled my eyes and looked up at Vegeta and then back down to my sister. "Well, you see- when Vegeta- took me with him to- to the planet Earth to train for the big fight, something just- just happened and- well- little Zeggie here was born. Thank the gods for technology! Being stranded in a forest isn’t exactly your luxury hospital! I think me- and- Vegeta were afraid of- going to the doctors for help on that planet. You know, people just get so suspicious when they see a tail! So, after this lil guy was born, I think Vegeta really did get some training in" I started to glare up at him, but hesitated not to. "I was never AFRAID! Maybe afraid you’d explode but that was about it" he snickered, turning a cold shoulder on Rayne and I. "Hn! I remember someone panicking more than I was! And I don’t recall us befriending anyone while we were there, if YOU know what I mean" I glared up at him with a smirk, starting to cradle Zegeta again as he eased back down into the cradle of my arms.

"Hn… He sure does look like his Dad! I bet he’ll grow up just like him, too! He’s got Dragyn blood now! Pure royalty, aint he?" she grinned at me, outstretching a finger to rub little Zegeta’s chubby chin. Vegeta snorted and glared down at the small baby in my arms. I caught his glare, but he shied away when being recognized.

"Doesn’t seem to have ANY scales, Rayne! Just green eyes and brown hair like me! And then, he’s got the Saiyan tail and his Daddy’s face"- I stopped when I noticed how Vegeta had removed himself from Rayne’s room and was shadowing the door from the outside wall. I looked behind me and went to stand.

"Rayne", I stared straight at the door, "take care of Zeg for a sec" I said lifelessly, handing him off into Rayne’s arms before she could say another word.

"But- but Ryver! I aint no good with the little people! Ryver! Ya hear me!? AGH!" she yelped, but I had already walked out the door.

I peered over Vegeta’s shoulder and looked at his stone face.

"Vegeta?"

"Why’d ya hafta name him that!? His name is practically my own! But we BOTH know that he isn’t even CLOSE to having a name that has run in my FULL BLOOD family for generations. He won’t make it in this world with two types of royalty pulsating through him. He can’t stay here and he won’t go back to Vegeta. So where is that little thing supposed to grow!? Where am I supposed to stay!? What if he can’t fit in?" Vegeta glared from me to the floor in an instant. "Vegeta", I said calmly, starting to grin, "He’ll grow with us! And you’ll stay with him and me! They don’t call them mothers and fathers for nothing you know! Just give him a chance! He’ll be unique! And he’ll be educated the way that we’ve both grown up! I promise you, Vegeta- our son will not fail in this world! And it won’t kill him to have rich blood- we’ll just be high and mighty for the rest of our lives!" I grinned at him, my face beaming with happiness I hoped to share with him.

Vegeta turned and glared at me with a look that said, ‘If I could find it in myself to smile, I would’.

I grinned back and fell back into Rayne’s room with Vegeta tagging behind me…

"Yeah, but I was always taught to think before you strike!" "No, no- you only have to know you enemies before you strike! Unless you have no clue of who you’re dealing with, ya can’t attack! Makes sense" "No! Look, basic training studies have shown that"- "Forget those! I used ta take on those cabbage heads you fried ever since I was as old as my kid!" "Vegeta, he isn’t ALL yours! Besides, he isn’t even walking yet and you wanna teach him how to fry up a few vegetable blockheads?"

Vegeta and I struggled all the next day to decide on a good teaching method for our young son. I assured Rayne that he’d grow accustom to his new-found aunt more than his HUGE Grandfather, so she had duty of watching him while Vegeta and I discussed the topic with much debate.

"All right- so when he’s about oh, 4 he should learn how to fly?" "Fine" "All right! When he’s 6, I’m gonna have him reading algebra like a book, though!" "WHAT!? No son of mine is gonna be a tax-collecting freak! He needs to get strong, anyway! I think you’ve started to feed him too much! He’s so flabby! It wouldn’t hurt him to miss a meal!" "DON’T insult my son! He’s still a baby, Vegeta! And babies need lots of food! Every baby is fat! They aren’t muscle men when they’re 2, Vegeta I can GUARANTEE that!" "ARGH! Fine then! Just let him be fat and happy!" "Well… ya didn’t hafta put it THAT way…."