Chapter One: Going Home

Mira Trunks stood next to his mother's time travel machine. Everyone had shown up to seen see him off for the second to last time, including his father. Through the crowd of people, he could see the Saiyan Prince leaning against a tree trunk. He was looking at the ground in front of him, making a point to not be noticed or notice anyone. His mother stood a few feet away from Vegeta with a bouncing baby in her arms.

Gohan was standing next to her along with Chi Chi and her father. Piccolo stood next to Gohan with his arms crossed over his chest. He had a smile on his face, but it was like Trunk's father's smile in a sense. It still maintained a cool, wicked air about it as if to say, "Don't mess with me."

Tien and Yamcha were also there with Chiaotzu, and Mira Trunks realized something he thought he would never realize. I'm going to see them soon, in my timeline…

Mira Trunks looked over at the seven, golden orbs next to him. He was going to be borrowing them for a while. He'd be back as soon as he could with them for a final visit to this timeline. He only had a few wishes to make, and his life would finally be the way it was supposed to be.

Turning back to look at the crowd of friends, he noticed his mother, walking through them with his baby self in her arms.

"I'm so proud of you," tears were in her eyes as she looked up at him. "I wish you could stay here with us; you feel like a son to me. Well, you are my son, but still…it hurts to let you go. You have a mother that needs you, as well as those seven Dragon Balls, and I know that she will treat you the same way I would."

"Thanks, Mom," he smiled at her as she threw her arms around him, causing the baby to wail.

She walked backwards a few steps, rocking the baby in her arms. She turned to look at Vegeta, who was now looking in their direction, "Well? Come on, Vegeta! Say goodbye to our son!"

Vegeta got up from the tree trunk and made his way towards Mira Trunks and Bulma. The crowd separated, knowing not to anger him or touch him. The only person who could manage that was Bulma, mostly because she was also not one to be trifled with.

"I'm not good with goodbyes or the whole 'mushy' stuff," Vegeta cringed as the word "mushy" left his lips. He put his hands into his kaki pant pockets and looked at Mira Trunks. "I guess the farthest I can go with this whole fatherly-son parting would be to say: you made me proud, Son."

Mira Trunks smiled, knowing, for his father, that was as good as it got, and it was perfectly alright with him. He extended a hand for his father to shake. Vegeta didn't hesitate as he hit his hand with a force that could have sent a normal person flying and shook it. Trunks looked at him, "It's been real, Dad."

Vegeta smirked and nodded, letting go of his son's hand.

With the goodbyes in the family done, his friends gathered around them. Chi Chi hugged him, despite the fact she was still confused about the whole time travel thing and how Mira Trunks was the baby in Bulma's arms. Piccolo shook his hand, saying a goodbye. Gohan had done the same, smiling and laughing. Mira Trunks felt bad for Gohan. He lost Goku just like he had lost Vegeta, but Goku chose to stay dead because of the trouble he always caused.

Things were awkward with Yamcha because of the whole thing about Bulma being his ex-girlfriend, but they still exchanged a pat on the back. Tein shook his hand and patted him on the back. Chiautzu said goodbye, but didn't bother shaking his hand. Krillan patted his back and said goodbye. Eighteen just waved, knowing that in his timeline she was a killing machine and that her relationship with Mira Trunks was strained because of it.

Mira Trunks got into the time capsule with the seven Dragon Balls. He closed the top and pressed the buttons necessary to get him home; he waved as the capsule floated in the air. His friends and family looked up at him, waving back, with the exception of Vegeta, Eighteen, and Piccolo. With that, Mira Trunks was flashed back into his timeline.

In Mira Timeline…

"Trunks!" Bulma exclaimed as she watched the capsule touch down.

Trunks waved at her as he landed and the capsule turned off. He opened the top of the capsule and jumped out.

"How was it?" Bulma asked as she walked over to her son and threw her arms around him.

"Great. I even got to train with Dad!" Trunks told her, seeing the shock in her eyes.

The shock was replaced by contentment. She smiled, "I'm glad. I thought you would never know your father, but it seems you know him better than I do!"

Trunks frowned, knowing that his father was a touchy subject with his mother, but then he remembered what he brought back with him from the other timeline. He grabbed his mother's shoulders and picked her up. He swung her around as she laughed.

"What is it, Son? Why are you doing this?" she managed to say in between laughs.

"I brought back something that will fix all our problems and make all our troubles go away!" Trunks exclaimed, putting his mother down on the ground and looking into her surprised, blue eyes.

"What, Trunks? What did you bring back with you?" she asked, her eyes widening with anticipation.

Is it a way to defeat the androids?

Is it the Z gang itself? No, the group was too large to bring back.

Could it be…Vegeta? Was he hiding in the capsule? No, he wouldn't do that…

Trunks ran to the capsule and climbed over the top to reach for one of the spheres in it. He pulled out and jumped to the ground, showing it to his mother.

Bulma gasped, bringing her hands up to her mouth. She felt tears streaming down her cheeks, but she didn't care. Her son brought back the seven Dragon Balls. They could wish the Z team back. They could wish for the androids' demise. They could wish for Vegeta…

"Trunks! You brought back the seven Dragon Balls?" Bulma was ecstatic. She jumped up and down, making her look like the teenager she once was.

Trunks smiled and nodded. He was so happy to see his mother this way. She always looked so old and tired, but now that he looked at her, he could see her glowing in a way that she never did anymore because of his father's untimely death.

"Well? What are you waiting for, Son! Bring all of them here! I'm going to call Chi Chi!" Bulma exclaimed as she entered their house.

She ran down the hallway to the kitchen. Chi Chi had just visited her last night, and it was a long way to her house without Goku to fly her and the androids about. Still, Bulma knew that once she told Chi Chi about what Trunks had brought back with him from the other timeline, Chi Chi wouldn't be able to get here fast enough. They would all be alive again! Goku, Gohan, Vegeta, Piccolo, Krillan, Tein, Chiautzu, Yamcha, her parents, and…

Oh Kami, Vegeta…I can't see him like this! I'm no longer the young, beautiful girl he remembers! How am I supposed to present myself to him like this?

Then Bulma remembered that the Dragon Balls had more than one wish…She could wish for everyone to be the same age as before the androids came, excluding Trunks because he probably wouldn't want that, but then again…she should ask him. She was sure he would like to grow up with a father if Vegeta would have her.

"Hello?" Chi Chi's voice broke up Bulma's thoughts.

"Hi, Chi! It's me, Bulma," Bulma replied, looking at the picture she had hung above the phone of everyone before the androids. Everyone was so young then…

"Hey, Bulma! What is going on? You sound so happy and out of breath!" Chi Chi asked, concerned and excited for good news. "Did Trunks get back safely?"

"Yes! More than that, he brought something back with him!" Bulma squealed as she jumped up and down.

"What?" she heard Chi Chi gasp. "Did he bring Gohan back? Goku? Vegeta? Someone who can help us?"

"He brought back…the seven Dragon Balls!" Bulma exclaimed and giggled from pure joy.

Chi Chi was silent, but moments later, Bulma could hear her crying for delight. Gohan had just died a few years ago, making her depressed as ever. He reminded her of Goku, just like Trunks reminded her of Vegeta in more ways than one, and poor Chi lost him. She would have him back and the man she married. She was truly and utterly happy.

Chi Chi sniffled, "Don't do anything until I get over there! I want to see the Dragon Balls before you make the wish. It sounds too good to be true…"

"Of course we'll wait, Chi. I've waited for years to see them all again and doubted there was a way, but Trunks found one. We want you here to welcome them home. Bring your father with you. I think I have a second wish up my sleeve to make up for lost time…"

"All right, Bulma. We'll discuss that when I get there," Chi replied. "We'll be there in a couple of hours, okay?"

"Yeah, okay," What was a few more hours? She waited years for this day that she thought would never come. "Bye, Chi!"

"Bye, Bulma!" the line went dead, so Bulma put the phone back on the charger. She turned to see Trunks enter the room with four of the seven Dragon Balls.

Trunks saw her quizzical expression and felt the need to explain, "I know the androids don't know about them, but the last thing I want is for them to come upon them and figure them out."

Bulma nodded, "Chi Chi will be here in a couple of hours, and I'll talk to her about this then. I have an idea to make up lost time, and for you to go through your life with a father."

Trunks looked at her weirdly, but asked her to go on.

"I was going to wish for all of us to be the age we were before the androids came. That way, we can make up the lost time with loved ones, and you can live a childhood with Vegeta and me this time. Of course, you will be a baby again, but don't you think it's worth it?" Bulma asked him, hoping his answer would be "yes."

Trunks looked at the tile flooring, then at his mother, "Alright, but I want you to tell Dad all of the things I've done while he was gone. I want him to be proud of me before I grow up to make him proud. I've already done that part, and hopefully, after the androids, there won't be another chance to make him proud."

Bulma nodded, smiling, "I'll keep a few recent pictures of you. When he comes, I'll tell him all about his son."

"Thanks, Mom," he smiled, putting the Dragon Balls down. They hugged before he turned towards the kitchen archway. "I'm going to go get the rest of the Dragon Balls."

Bulma smiled with tears rolling down her cheeks. She would miss Trunks, but he would grow even better this time, knowing a life with and without a father. He would remember.

Trunks came back in with the rest of the Dragon Balls. He put them down, next to the others.

"So, Trunks. Tell me about what had happened while you were in the other timeline. I want every detail!" Bulma smiled as she sat down on a kitchen chair and pulled out the other for Trunks to sit on.

He sat down, "Well, when I arrived again…" he started to tell the story about Dr. Gero, the Androids, and Cell. He even described the one-on-one times he had with his father. The story was long, so by the time he was done, and Bulma had asked all her questions, Chi Chi had arrived.

Bulma got up from her chair to let Chi Chi in, but when she stood up, Chi Chi was already in the room all hyped up.

"Where are they?" she asked, looking around the room.

"Here," Bulma pointed to the seven Dragon Balls behind her and Trunks.

Chi Chi ran towards them and picked one up. She hugged it as if it were her child, "Thank Kami! Thank Kami!" She looked at Trunks. Dropping the Dragon Ball, she ran over to him and hugged him. "Thank you, Trunks! You have no idea how much this means to us!"

Trunks hesitantly put a hand on her back, but he looked at his mother as if he were completely lost.

"Chi, we might as well discuss…" Bulma trailed off when she saw Chi Chi's father come in.

"Hello, everyone!" the big man smiled as he entered the room.

"Father! Look!" Chi Chi ran towards the Dragon Balls and picked two up. "See! These will get us Gohan and Goku back!"

"I see!" her father exclaimed, clasping his hands together. "We will finally have some justice brought into our lives!"

"All thanks to Trunks!" Chi Chi looked over at him with such pride in her eyes. He was the reason they would have their old lives back.

"Our other selves are the people you should be thanking. They helped me get them and allowed me to bring them back here!" Trunks explained, blushing from the attention he was getting from everyone. He always was a bashful boy.

"Oh, Bulma!" Chi Chi threw her arms around her. "Isn't this all fantastic?"

"It is, Chi. It truly is…" she smiled, patting her friend's back. "But we have to discuss something before we do any wishing!"

"And what is that?" Chi Chi asked, pulling away from Bulma.

"The wishes we are going to make. We have to all agree on them. The last thing we want is to waist them!" Bulma explained.

They all agreed, knowing that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

"The first wish is obviously to wish back to life all the people who died in the last twenty years or so. That way, Goku and the rest of the Z team will come back along with the people killed by the androids," Bulma clarified. The others gave a nod of encouragement. "The next wish, which I already discussed with Trunks, is that we wish everyone to be the age they were before the androids attacked. It will give us the chance to relive the part of our lives that didn't include our loved ones. Trunks understands he will be a baby, so he has given me a condition that I have promised to do since he is agreeing to the wish."

"That's a marvelous idea!" Chi Chi exclaimed, twirling around the kitchen. "To be young again…with Goku and Gohan!"

"So are we all in agreement?" Bulma asked, looking around the room.

Everyone nodded.

"Good. Now, I'll do the wishes," Bulma said as she went over to the Dragon Balls. She picked two up, and Trunks picked up four. Chi Chi decided to help, so she picked up the last one. "I know just the place to do this!"

After loading the car, Bulma, Trunks, Chi Chi, and Chi Chi's father all got in. Bulma drove down town to a familiar ground. It was what was left of the Capsule Corp mansion. There was where she found Vegeta and the others dead. They were trying to protect the mansion, but it was no use.

Bulma remembered the day she found them dead. Gohan was with her, and he was devastated. Still, nothing could compare to the death of Goku. Gohan was still haunted by the day his father died from that stupid virus when he died himself!

With the Dragon Balls, the group walked over the rubble and around the ruins. They stopped on the ground where the Z team was found dead. The day was similar to the day Bulma found them all. It was overcast, and the sky was threatening rain…

Bulma climbed over the rubble, moving pieces here and there. She held Trunks close to her beating heart.

Vegeta…he can't be…

She came across the main battle ground. There, she saw what was left of the Z team. Gasping in horror, she looked away.

"Gohan!" she was chocking back tears.

"You found it—?" Gohan landed next to her, eyes wide. "No…"

They both ran towards the bodies, still and cold. Bulma found Vegeta, lying by the wall that once held up her bedroom on the second floor. With tears in her eyes, she fell to the floor. Rain poured down from the heavens, sobbing the bodies, Gohan, Trunks, and herself, but she didn't care. Vegeta…was…gone.

She lifted her head back, looking up at the sky. She wailed, "NO! VEGETA!"

She shuddered as the sobs ran through her body. Placing Trunks down, she put her head on Vegeta's chest and sobbed into it. He was bloody, and his armor was banged up, but Bulma was too upset to even consider that. She sat up and looked at his face. His eyes were closed and blood ran from his lips and the many cuts on his face. She leaned forward and kissed his cold, dead lips. He was gone.

"I'm sorry," Gohan whispered, putting his hand on Bulma's shoulder.

She looked up at him with tears in her eyes, "Everyone thought he was a bad man, but he wasn't. He was gentle and kind in his own ways, and I knew he had another side to him. I was just beginning to find it…"

Gohan smiled, "I'll help you take his chest plate off so you can have something of his after we bury him…"

Bulma sniffled, wiping her tears. She looked at her dead lover, "Yeah…"

Together, they took off his chest plate, putting it aside. They then dug a hole and put Vegeta in it. After covering it up, Bulma found a huge stick. She put it at the head of his grave and put the chest plate over it. She held her toddler at her hip, looking at the grave. She and Gohan had a lot of work to do, but they would do it. The Z team members deserved it.

Bulma felt drops falling on her head as she looked at the grave. Trunks stood next to her, looking at his father's grave. He'd be back soon, and he'd burst out of that grave, demanding to know who dared to put him there in the first place. Trunks smirked. That was his father alright…

"This place is a horrible one!" Chi Chi exclaimed, wiping a stray tear from her cheek. "Let's get on with it!"

"Yes," Bulma nodded putting down the two Dragon Balls she carried.

Trunks and Chi Chi followed. Then they both stepped back to let Bulma do the honors…