The morning came as Goten made his way into the living room of the Briefs home to see his mother waiting for him on the couch. He sat beside her with his hands in his lap. He risked a glance at her to see her face was surprisingly calm, but this didn't calm him at all.

"Why did you leave the house Goten?"

"Gohan didn't tell you?"

"He's your father Goten. He loves you. You're disrespecting your family by refusing to see him tonight when he comes home."

"I'm disrespecting the family," Goten stood up, not afraid to look his mother in the eyes, "dad's been disrespecting the family for years with his coming and going."

"Goten, you don't understand—

"I understand very well mom. He goes away to get stronger, not realizing the people who love him are what he's leaving behind. I see the look on my brother's face. It's subtle, but I can see it mom and the look on Pan's face hurts me more than you could ever imagine. I see the same look on your face to mother."

"I love him Goten. I don't think that's something you understand. It took me a long while to accept his coming and going, but I know it's so he can protect his family."

"He can protect us all he wants from home, but he didn't. You don't know how much it hurts Pan she looks up to him. When he leaves, she convinces herself that he's doing it to protect us, but I'm sure deep down she feels just the way I do, Gohan to."

"Goten I—

"I can't go back home mom. I can't be in the same room as him without wanting to hurt him. I love him mom. DAMN it I love him. He's my father, but I can never go back home. I can't forgive what he's done to—

"You."

"What?"

"This isn't about Pan or Gohan. This is about you. You don't think about what this will do to your nice, to your brother."

"I know they'll understand. They'll have dad back and all will be right with the world because I'm just a stand in for Goku until he gets back." He felt the stinging on his cheek from where his mother slapped him.

"How dare you say that to me? It's true you weren't planned but not for one minute do I regret having you, and you are not your father. He hasn't disappointed me in the ways you do."

Goten felt his heart sink. "Well here's another disappointment. I'm not getting married, and I don't plan to have any kids you can mess up. Valese cheated on me by sleeping with another guy. You won't have to worry about me anymore. I'm moving out. I'll go get my stuff and be out of your hair."

He made his way out the door with his mother following behind him. "Wait a minute, Valese cheated on you."

"I'm sorry Goten, but there are—Before she could finish, Goten shot up into the sky, leaving Chichi defeated.

"Chichi," said Bulma as she walked outside. "What can I do?"

"Stay away from me and don't let your son anywhere near mine."

Bulma watched as Chichi got into her car and took off and wondered why Chichi wanted for Trunks to stay away from Goten. She knew she would have to get to the bottom of this.

Goten sat with the things he took from his room on a grassy hill. His knees were pulled into his chest and his arms were around his legs. Looking at his stuff laying on the grass, a feeling of loss overtook him as he hugged his knees tighter.

"Goten," a soft, male voice said. He didn't need to turn around to know his best friend Trunks was standing behind him before sitting next to him. "What's been going on at home?" Trunks watched his friend carefully as Goten swallowed the lump in his throat, but he didn't cry.

"Mom and I have been butting heads a lot lately. She expects me to follow down the path from Gohan, the golden child, and I fight against it everyday. All I want is to be my own person. She doesn't accept it, and so that's why I'm here now."

"And also because of your dad."

"I—I can't ever go home again Trunks," he looked at his blue-eyed friend with a glassy look in his brown eyes. "I can't live with a mother who tells me who I ought to be and hurts me because of it, and I can't live with a father who comes and goes without a second thought."

Trunks could feel every emotion running through his friend, and he didn't know what to say to make him feel better but then an idea came to mind. "I'm sorry Goten, but I want you to know that you always have a home with me and my family, hell you are my family." Trunks' hand rested on his friend's back.

Goten smiled. "I know Trunks. We've been through a lot together."

"And we'll get through this together." Trunks smiled.

"So, I guess it's ok to stay with you and your family until I can get my own place?"

"You don't even have to ask. You know how much my family loves you."

"Even Vegeta?"

"I don't know. I think he respects you."

"Well, that's good enough for me," Goten laughed as he got up with his stuff.

"And think of this as a good thing. We can catch up and spend more time together. Make up for the time we've lost."

"Sounds good to me Trunks." He was surprised when Trunks took his hand in his with a look on his face that made Goten nervous.

"I've missed you."

Those three words tugged at Goten's heartstrings. They were filled with sincerity and love. "I've missed you to Trunks," he said as he hugged Trunks tightly with his stuff in his hands.

Trunks was the one surprised, but he held his friend equally tighter as he felt wetness on his shoulder. "So, you ready to go home Goten?" he asked as they separated.

"Yeah," he smiled. "It'll be nice to be around people who aren't trying to change or hurt me."

They took off to the sky together and did some tricks in the air like they used to when they were kids.