The First Snow

His shoulders leaned back against the smooth building as he watched Trunks run around the yard with his tongue hanging out. He let out a deep sigh, the puff of air coming out like cigarette smoke, as his eyes landed on Bulma. She wasn't running around like their son, but she still had her tongue sticking out as she moved her head from side to side.

"Come on, Vegeta," she called enthusiastically, throwing him an excited look over her shoulder.

"Mommy, Mommy!" Trunks raced over to her. "I caught one!" He held out his tongue and Bulma laughed as she patted him on his hat-covered head.

"Awe, you win this year," she pretended to be disappointed. "Maybe next year Daddy will win." A sly smile etched her lips as she directed yet another glance at him.

Trunks shot a fleeting glance towards the stiff man before looking back at his mother. "Dad doesn't do fun," the four-year-old stated, half-surprising his mother.

Vegeta pushed himself away from the wall. "The boy's right. I don't know why you think I need to participate in these ridiculous games."

"They're not games," she half-pouted. "It's tradition to go out on the first snow and catch a snowflake." Her arms crossed over her chest, the puffy coat she was wearing only making her look more comical than serious.

Trunks' gaze shifted from his mother to his father as the two adults faced off. His father came over and mimicked his mother's stance and gave her his fiercest glare.

"It's your tradition, not some Earth custom or holiday. I won't have you forcing this…."

Bulma stabbed a finger in his chest. "I'm not forcing you to do anything," she berated. "I merely asked you to join us, did I not?" At that statement she received a roll of the eyes from the stubborn man.

"You bitch at me every year to do this with you. Now you have Trunks, and you still wanna drag me out here!" his voice rose as frustration set in.

Bulma unconsciously lay a hand on Trunks' head, although her eyes stayed focused on Vegeta. "Watch your language around Trunks." She received a snort as an answer, and Trunks' head shifted up. "And it's much more fun with the entire family."

"Then drag your parents out here." He turned to walk away, but a hand grabbed his. He felt a tug as Bulma crouched down to Trunks' level.

"Why don't you go inside and tell Grandma to make up some hot chocolate?" she asked the young boy while keeping a firm grip on Vegeta's hand.

The child's eyes rolled a glance towards his father before replying, "'Kay, Mom."

"Thanks, sweetie." She gave a quick kiss to the boy's cheek before standing back up.

With a grunt, Trunks wiped the spot where his mother had kissed. "Ugh, Mom, that's gross," he whined before stomping off.

Bulma laughed at the 'childish' display. If Vegeta hadn't been standing there, she was pretty sure her son wouldn't have been so dismissive of her affection. Thinking of Vegeta, she gave his hand a squeeze and an extra hard tug as she turned her attention back to him. Little white flakes floated between them as they just stared at each other for a moment. "Look," she started, "I don't know how you behave around Trunks when he joins you in the gravity room, but when you're around me," she stopped this time. "I just wanted," she stopped again, not really sure of what she wanted to scold him about. "You know what? Just never mind." She let go of his hand only to have the hand catch her wrist. "You can just keep avoiding these stupid traditions or games," her voice sounding tired.

"Giving in so easily?" the growling of the words was half-playful as he now tugged her from walking away.

She looked at him with a raised eyebrow and half a smirk. "Look, you obviously don't want to do this, so I'll stop bugging you, okay? Next year I'll let you do whatever it is you want." She stepped an inch closer to him as a gloved hand rested on his arm. "I just thought it would be nice for Trunks to see his father as something other than a drill instructor."

He snorted as he turned his head to look at the house. "It's called respect. The boy knows better than to disobey a direct order from me. How about you?" he half-teased through his serious tone.

"Oh, I'm sorry I don't have super strength like the two of you," she grouched back.

"Hmm," he hummed before turning his head up. A snowflake landed right between his eyes as he stuck his tongue out and immediately had one of the cold white flakes melt on the outstretched appendage. He looked over at wide blue eyes with a smirk. "You lose."

Her eyes narrowed, but the smile on her lips didn't disappear. "You're such a jerk," she muttered as she pulled away from him. "That still doesn't get you out of helping me hang the Christmas lights this year. Oh, maybe Trunks can you help you out!" She heard a low growl come from behind as she headed back to the house. "Mom'll get the camera," she said excitedly before turning to look at Vegeta.

He easily caught up to her as she slowed her steps. "You keep that woman and her camera away from me."

Bulma closed her eyes and gave him a wide smile. "But we need more pictures of you to hang around the house," she said in her most cheery voice before breaking off into laughter.

"You'd better watch your back when there's more snow on the ground, woman," he threatened.

She gave him a surprised look. "You wouldn't hit a poor defenseless girl with a snowball, would you?"

He gave her a scowl. "Of course I would, which means you're not safe either." A harsh tug on the back of his coat stopped his steps.

Their eyes once again met as she gave him a serious look. "You don't want to start a war with me, mister," she chided.

His forehead rested against hers as the tips of their noses brushed together. "Oh, I think I do."

Another small smile graced her lips before she pressed them against his. "Then I'll be ready for you."