TITLE: Who Wants To Live Forever
AUTHOR: Lady Lark
PAIRING: Bulma/Vegeta
RATING: PG
WARNINGS: Death, angst
DISCLAIMER: I do not own the rights to any of the DBZ characters contained within. This is based off of the song "Who Wants to Live Forever" by Queen (covered by Dune). 
NOTES: I am going through some difficult times right now and need a catharsis. This story is it.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Thanks to Mia Skywalker for beta'ing this.
* = Song Lyrics

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Who Wants To Live Forever
part 3

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*Who wants to live forever 
Who wants to live forever?*

Vegeta and Bulma agreed to have a quiet ceremony at home in her mother's rose garden with only their family and friends attending.

The wedding was planned for two weeks after Vegeta's proposal. The local justice of the peace officiated, but he was really only there in a legal capacity. The couple had decided to write their own vows and ceremony.

Vegeta escorted Bulma down the aisle. He was wearing his Saiyajin armor with the royal crest of Vegeta emblazoned on the right shoulder. She was wearing a simple ivory dress of silk with three-quarter sleeves and a hem that fell to just above her ankles. She wore a wreath of flowers on her head and her short blue hair could be seen poking through it.

That any of her hair had grown back was a joy to Bulma. She was looking forward to being able to style it but for now she was happy to have hair at all.

The couple reached the end of the aisle and turn to face each other. They clasped hands and Vegeta turned his head to address the assembled audience.

"I am Vegeta, Prince of all Saiyajins. I claim this woman as my lifemate. She is more than deserving of such an honor. She is strong enough to defeat the strongest of warriors. She has defeated me. Any who oppose my choice challenge me now or forever hold your peace," Vegeta declared in a ringing voice glaring pointedly at Yamcha whom he still hadn't forgiven for possessing his woman first.

He waited for a moment, then turned back to Bulma who was turning her head to address the crowd.

"I am Bulma Briefs, master inventor and super genius. I accept this man as my lifemate. He is truly deserving. For he has captured my most valuable possession. He captured my heart. Any who oppose me will face my wrath," Bulma proclaimed in a sure voice.

"I take you, woman, as the Keeper of My Heart and Queen. I shall honor, cherish and protect you from this day forward."

"I take you, prince, as the Guardian of My Soul and King. I shall honor, cherish, and care for you from now until eternity."

Vegeta drew a dagger from the belt on his armor and drew it across his arm.

"I swear this vow in blood so that none may break our bond."

Bulma took the dagger from him and repeated the gesture on her arm.

"I swear this vow in blood so that none may break our bond."

They clasped their arms together to let the blood mingle and form an everlasting bond. Then they leaned forward and kissed, ending the ceremony.

Trunks leaped out of his seat and started cheering. Bra had tears in her eyes and was looking at Goten with love in her eyes. The rest of the Z team and their families stood up and started clapping, even Yamcha.

Bulma and Vegeta broke their kiss and smiled at their guests.

"Go! Feast!" commanded Vegeta in a jocular tone.

They then walked over to the justice of the peace to sign the appropriate forms. There was some consternation over Vegeta's last name. But Bulma solved that problem quickly.

"Call yourself Prince. You are taking my last name anyway and I am adding your first name to mine so we are losing nothing."

Vegeta smiled. "Agreed. Do it man."

They signed the forms and then went to join their guests at the reception.

It was one of the happiest days of Bulma's life and Vegeta had made it all possible. Even the cut on her arm was healing quickly because of the healing properties of Saiyajin blood.

If only it could heal her body, but it wasn't that powerful.

Vegeta stalked up to Goten and confronted him.

"You have asked my daughter, a princess of the Royal House of Vegeta, to be your mate."

"Yes, sir, I did," Goten responded nervously.

"You are hardly worthy, but you may prove your worth to me. You must fight a champion of my choosing. Do you agree?"

Goten gulped, "I agree."

"Good. You must defeat Bra in unarmed combat. But you may not hurt her, only subdue her."

"Yes Sir!"

"Bra!" Vegeta called to his daughter who was trying to eavesdrop on the conversation without being caught.

"Yes, Daddy."

"You must battle Goten in unarmed combat. If he defeats you, he may take you as his mate. But you cannot submit to him. If I feel that you have given up on purpose, I will not allow the mating. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Daddy."

"Yes, Sir."

"Good the battle begins now."

"WHAT!?" cried Goten and Bra in unison.

"You heard me. Begin, before I change my mind."

Goten removed his jacket and handed it to his brother who had walked over at the outburst. He then moved into a ready stance.

Bra kicked off her shoes and moved away from the throng of people to a more open location keeping her eyes glued on Goten.

Goten's eyes narrowed briefly then he charged at Bra attempting to tackle her and pin her to the ground quickly. But Bra sidestepped him and pushed him off balance. She had lived with Vegeta and Trunks her whole life and while she was not a fighter she knew the basics. That and she often used to watch her father train in the Gravity Room so she was more versed in fighting skill than even she knew.

Goten got up and gave Bra a little salute acknowledging her maneuver. He then charged again but this time instead of trying to knock her down he phased behind her and wrapped his arms around her.

She screamed in anger. She should have expected that trick. Shifting her weight slightly she quickly elbowed him in the stomach and then snap kicked him away from her.

Goten rose again. He was going to have to turn it up a notch. He shifted into Super Saiyajin and walked toward her calmly.

"No fair!" Bra cried and looked to her father for a ruling.

Vegeta smirked and motioned for the fight to continue. He wasn't going to contest this move.

"Crap! Now what." Bra wondered aloud. She searched for an opening and found one.

As Goten got within arms reach. She quickly stepped into, him planted a kiss on his mouth, and shoved. Goten only took a few steps back but that was all the time Bra needed. She leaped into the air and hovered there.

"Tricky, tricky beloved."

Bra smiled ferally at him. This challenge was turning her on.

Goten leaped into the air and faced her. He released a flurry of attacks designed to push her back and eventually pin her against the wall of Capsule Corp. She was so absorbed by trying to avoid his attacks that she was unaware of her surroundings. She felt her backward movement stop abruptly. She had hit the wall.

She moved to the left but Goten had placed his hands on either side of her. She attempted to attack him with her fists but Goten captured first her right hand and then her left and pinned them. She tried to kick him but he pushed up against her smothering her so she couldn't move.

She howled in rage and began to power up unconsciously. Goten continued to hold her in place. She raged against him turning her head to try and bite his arm. He continued to hold her. She finally let loose a primal scream and her hair flashed from blue to gold. Her power cracked the wall behind her.

"Enough!" shouted Vegeta from below.

Goten released Bra and swooped his head down and claimed her lips.

"You have won the right to mate with my daughter, brat. You will join with her tonight. After you have borne your first child and heir, only then will I allow you to marry. Also from this day forward you will live here on these grounds."

"Yes sir, thank you sir," Goten said gratefully. He was in awe. Bra's father had given permission. He was so happy.

But one person was not happy at this recent development.

Chi-chi stormed over and started to harangue Vegeta.

"What do you mean they will get married after their first child is born? That is not proper and my son won't do it!"

Vegeta crossed his arms and glared at the woman, "He will if he wants to ever marry my daughter. He agreed to the conditions. You have no say."

"NO SAY!' Chi-chi screeched. "I am his mother and I won't allow it!"

Bulma walked over and faced the angry woman.

"Chi-chi, Vegeta is following the laws of his people," she soothed, "They will get married. But he is paying me an honor by forcing them to do this. We were together for 33 years without a wedding ceremony. He wants them to realize that their relationship is based on love and respect, not on a ceremony in a church."

"Hmph. I still don't like it. And why do they have to live here? Why can't they live near me?" Chi-chi complained.

"It's because I am dying. I have cancer, Chi, and I will die within a year. Vegeta wants me to have my family around me during these last months," she answered softly.

"Bulma! Why didn't you tell me you were dying!" Chi-chi cried attracting everyone's attention.

"I didn't tell anyone because I don't want pity. I want to live my life to the fullest and go out in a blaze of glory. But if I can't have that, then I want to be surrounded by the people I love for as long as I can."

Chi-chi looked away abashed. "I'm sorry, Bulma. I didn't understand."

'That's ok. We're still friends and now family. Besides, you didn't think I cut my hair this short on purpose?" Bulma teased.

"Well. . ."

"Wench! I'll get you for that!" Bulma said mock threatening.

"Hey it still looks good, Bulma," Chi-chi laughed.

"Thanks. I just can't wait for it to grow longer. Now if you excuse me I have to prepare two wedding chambers for tonight," Bulma said as she walked towards the house.

"I'm sorry, Vegeta. I didn't know," Chi-chi said after Bulma was out of earshot.

"Hmph," he grunted.

Bra, who had remained silent with Goten during the previous exchanges, piped up, "That means 'It's okay' in Vegeta-ese."

"I guessed. Welcome to the family, Bra honey."

"Thanks, Mrs. Son."

"Call me Mom."

"No. I have my own. But if you let me, I will call you Chi-chi."

"I understand."

Vegeta smirked and walked away. His little girl had everything in control. He could now go and spend some quality time with the beautiful woman who had consented to be his wife.

~*~

*Who dares to love forever? 
When love must die*

Bulma was getting worse. Her strength left her more quickly and was harder to regain. She no longer could travel to and from town by herself. She even got winded climbing the stairs to her and Vegeta's bedroom.

But most disturbing was that she kept getting sick. The mildest cold would leave her bedridden for days.

But she was happy. Bra had announced two months after her mating with Goten that she was pregnant. Trunks had finally admitted that he was in love with Marron, Krillan's daughter. And Vegeta was ever attentive. He was still gruff most of the time but he stayed with her. He trained while she was sleeping during the day and rejoined her soon after she woke.

But it was now 7 months since her wedding and she knew that she didn't have much time left. Dr. Sharp confirmed this.

"Bulma," he told her when visiting her for a check-up, "you don't have much time left. I am going to stop the Prednisone treatments since they leave you open to infection easier. Instead I want you on a steady regimen of vitamins and minerals. And you need to get as much rest as you can. I know you want to see your grandchild before you die and this is how you are going to do it."

"Thank you, David. I'm sorry that I couldn't be one of your success stories."

"I am, too. But we are going to cure this disease so no more families have to go through what yours is."

"I wish you luck, Doctor. I don't think I will see you again."

"If that is the case, then let me prescribe you some pain medication. I don't like to do this since it is highly addictive."

"I don't think we will have to worry about me fighting addiction for long," Bulma laughed grimly.

Dr. Sharp looked at her. Her face was very thin and her blue hair had been cut into a stylish bob. But her eyes were bright and full of life.

"I think you are right on that score, Bulma."

He packed up his case and from the doorway said, "Send me a card when your grandchild comes."

"I will. I will."