Wow, it sure has been a while since I last posted a chapter on here, eh? Like, a whole month! If you've been patiently or impatiently waiting for the next chapter, I am very sorry for taking so long! With school and a broken computer, it was pretty hard to find time to even think about writing this story!): Anyway, now that I've gotten everything moved over to this computer, I can get back to working on this story! (Happy belated Thanksgiving for those who have celebrated it this past Thursday!)

With all my rambling out of the way, enjoy!

*I do not own anything pertaining to Akira Toriyama's DB/DBZ/DBGT*

(Melanie)

"Aw man, I don't believe it! That's the fifth time already!" Nick threw his hands up and rolled off the ottoman onto the floor.

"Don't forget the eight times she beat you before dinner." Melanie looked down at her brother from the couch. He turned to glare at her.

"You promised not to say anything about that!" Melanie just laughed.

"I call 'em as I see 'em. Besides, Laura is a champ at this game. You should probably wise up and play a different one against her. Preferably one you're good at." She returned to looking at the photo album as Laura paraded around the room doing a ridiculous victory dance.

"Yeah, I guess you're right.," He paused. "What are you looking at?" Nick rose and leaned in to see the photo of their father in his younger years with a woman.

"Hm? Oh, that's dad and mom when they were my age. They met when dad moved over here from the North West region," Melanie explained. There was a loud crash as Laura tripped over the ottoman. "Smooth move, moron." Faint grumbling from Laura was the only response.

"Why did dad move here? Did grandpa get a new job here or something?" Nick took the album and began to flip through it.

"Not exactly; dad was on his own when he moved here. There was this great college that dad wanted to go to, and our grandparents didn't see the need to stop him from doing what he wanted." Nick looked impressed.

"Whoa. You think dad would let me follow my dream of starting my own band?" He stopped flipping through pages. "Hey, who's this?" Melanie leaned closer to see.

"I dunno, but she is really pretty. I guess she was a friend of moms. Hey, Lue, quit smelling the floor and come here. Do you know who this woman is?"

"I'm not sniffing the floor!" Laura took the album from Nick. "That's the woman who lives across the street." She gave the album back and walked over towards the computer. Nick didn't seem convinced.

"How do you know? There's no way you could have ever met THE Bulma Brief!"

"Actually, Mel and I both did. When you were at school on Friday she and her grumpy husband came over. Dad's been friends with Bulma for almost as long as mom was. Though she and mom lost contact for a while when Bulma went to look for some wish granting thing when she was around sixteen. Mom used to talk about how much she wished to go along with her, but her parents were afraid she'd never come back. I guess Bulma never found that wish granter, since she never told mom about it." With a yawn, Laura looked at the clock. "12:00 already? I have a breakfast date with Hayato tomorrow! Man, now I have to get up extra early tomorrow to plan out an outfit and do my hair and make up in record time! Mel, I'm stealing your alarm clock! And probably your clothes while I'm here." Shaking her head, Melanie walked into the kitchen for a drink.

"I'm surprised she remembered the stories mom used to tell us before bed. She never really seemed interested in them. Then again, it is one of the only ways to remember her by." Yawning, she walked back into the living room to see her brother still awake.

"You should probably get to bed soon, seeing as I have to take you to school tomorrow before I go into work.. And I'm not getting yelled at by dad if you miss a day of school." Nick groaned.

"Oh, come on sis, it isn't like I'm going to be up all night. I'll go to bed at 12:30. If I'm not up by 6:00, you have my permission to do whatever you deem necessary to wake me up." Melanie smirked.

"If you allow it, fine by me. Well, night." With a yawn, she made her way up the stairs into the bathroom for a shower.

Soo, whattaya think? This chapter I kind of wanted to give a little more insight on this new family living across from the Brief's.

I'll try to update a lot faster than I have been, and thankfully, Christmas vacation is coming up, so I should have some free time to work on this!

Ta ta for now!

Oh, and since you are so kind as to be all the way down here, why not make my day and drop a review!:^3