In Your Dreams

Chapter 55

In Your Dreams: Chapter 55

After Goku had returned to bed and tucked himself in beneath the covers, he found his mood plummeting down into the depths of depression. He felt like a kicked puppy, and he probably looked like one too with the way his tail insisted on tucking itself between his legs on its own accord. He'd tried, but it seemed pretty obvious to him that he wasn't trusted with his own daughter. And it wasn't fair. To his knowledge he'd never threatened the child in any way; he'd only stated that he didn't feel any sort of connection.

Before his thoughts could drift any further, Vegeta entered the room. Goku's eyes shifted toward the door, and he was surprised to find that the older man didn't have the baby with him. Usually the child was ready for an early morning meal by this time.

The younger Saiyajin watched quietly as the other man moved into the bathroom. There was a brief moment when he heard running water, and shortly after that Vegeta reappeared drying his hands on a towel, which he tossed aside into the hamper before moving over to the recliner chair he'd been sleeping in for the past week.

''Vegeta...''

The prince paused in mid-stride at the sound of his voice, and he turned to cast his mate a questioning gaze.

''I only wanted to see her when no one else was around. I've never been alone with her.''

For a moment it looked like Vegeta might protest the statement, but after drawing in a breath, he paused and let his eyes wander to the side as he thought about it. The only sign he gave when he realized the younger man was right was the slight downward turn of his mouth.

Goku remained silent as the older man sighed and began to move toward the bed, and within a few strides he had seated himself on the edge of the mattress beside him. For a long moment Vegeta didn't say anything, so when dark eyes finally turned to meet his own, Goku could help but feel a little startled.

''You're right.''

The younger man's eyebrows shot up at the prince's confession. That was a surprise.

Vegeta continued. ''I hadn't realized until now that you haven't gotten any time alone with her. However, I was also under the impression you didn't want anything to do with the child.''

Goku's brow lowered again and his jaw tightened as he finally lowered the blankets he had bundled up around him. He sat up gingerly, careful not to tug his stitches again. ''I said I didn't feel any connection with her. I never said I didn't want to try to form a bond once she was born! But... you've been acting like I'm out to harm her, and I've been afraid to do anything besides feed her, while you watch, and then hand her back!''

The prince frowned and folded his arms over his chest as he considered his mate's words. ''Hn. I suppose I've been a little... protective of our daughter.''

Goku snorted at that. ''A little.''

Vegeta looked as if he might have something to say about the younger man's sarcastic reply, but the words stuck in his throat when his eyes suddenly lowered to Goku's stomach. The gauze there was stained red from the torn stitches.

''Kakarotto, what happened there?''

Goku didn't even have a chance to reply before the prince had pushed him back against the pillows and grabbed a nearby pair of scissors from the bedside table. The younger man winced as the gauze was cut and gently pulled away from his healing 'wound'. The material stuck to the drying blood, making him hiss in discomfort as his skin was pulled.

''I tore a couple stitches when you scared me in the nursery. It's not a big deal.''

Vegeta grunted and tossed the soiled bandages into the trash. The older man leaned over Goku as he ran his fingers over the swollen and angry flesh along his mate's lower abdomen, and his brow furrowed in annoyance.