Chapter 10

Trunks watched as Bulma crept forward and sat beside him, her face raw with worry. "Honey, you don't remember do you?"

Trunks hung his head and molded his currently innocent expression into a crestfallen one. "No…I'm sorry mom…The last thing I remember is going to bed to get some sleep before dad and I went training. Did we go? I'd hate to have missed it," he said, shutting his eyes and trying to look as pitiful as he possibly could.

"Baby, you ran away, remember? You left a note and everything. You flew off from the training site and after that, we couldn't find you. In the note, it said that you were running because you thought we were ashamed of you. Especially your dad…" Bulma said gently, brushing a few strands of hair out of his eyes.

"Huh? Wow, why would I do that? I love you and dad. I'm sorry I made you worry, but I just can't…Wait, I do remember something…It was before I woke up…There was a woman. She said she was my grandmother," he said, prompting the prince's head to snap up and look intently at his son.

"Your mom, dad. She told me to tell you she's proud of you, and that she could never be ashamed of who you are," said Trunks watching his fathers face go from shock, to disbelief.

"What did she look like?" Vegeta asked, suspicious.

"She had dark brown hair, black eyes, and she was really nice to me…I thought I was dead at first, but she comforted me, and told me I wasn't…Oh, and she told me to tell you congratulations, mom. Why? She wouldn't say," Trunks asked, as his mother became wide eyed, and Vegeta stared on in renewed shock.

Bulma stood and turned back to Vegeta, whispering to him, though not quietly enough to escape Trunks' sharp Saiyan hearing. "He couldn't possibly know that, it has to be true!" Bulma hissed at her husband, who was still in disbelief.

"How could it be possible, woman?! She's long dead!" Vegeta hissed back at Bulma, who shook her head.

"Don't you believe in the supernatural at all? Maybe she came to him as a ghost or something!" she said to Vegeta, who scowled in disgust.

"Ghosts? Honestly, you earthlings will believe anything!" Vegeta shot back, though he didn't sound like he was convinced.

I couldn't possibly know what? What was going on? "What is it mom? Did I do something wrong?" he asked, genuinely baffled.

"Oh, no honey, you didn't do anything." Bulma said, turning back to him to give him a reassuring smile. "Your grandmother must watch over us alot. She was congratulating me about your new brother or sister. I'm pregnant."

"What?! Really?!" Trunks shouted, sitting up too quickly as he did so. Oh, crap…He fell back and groaned softly, clutching his head as he tried to stop the dizziness from plunging him into darkness. All of a sudden he felt like he was going to pass out, and Trunks hated the feeling.

Trunks heard his mother's startled gasp, and vaguely registered someone touch his shoulder gently. He didn't realize it was his father until he heard him speak. "Well, doctor, aren't you going to make yourself useful and do something?" Vegeta uttered harshly.

"He's just tired. He needs his rest," Silverman said, just as Trunks dropped his hands from his face, and struggling to pry his eyes open.

"You just sleep baby, don't worry about anything. It'll come back to you, I'm sure it will. Until then, just take it easy, okay?" Bulma said, her voice so soft it was almost a whisper.

Kami, he was tired... It was hard to focus on their faces anymore. He could hardly even move his lips enough to speak. "Kay…wish I hadn't missed training…I was waiting to go all year…"

Vegeta gazed at him with an odd expression on his face, one that Trunks couldn't quite place, but for a second he thought his father looked guilty. Then again, maybe it was just his imagination; he could tell he was delirious. What else would you call it when you felt like laughing at things that normally weren't even remotely funny? Dad, guilty? Hehehehe…Yeah right…

"We'll go once you're well again," Vegeta said, much to the half lucid demi Saiyan's joy. He really did wish they could've finished out the session…If only this stupid conflict hadn't gotten in the way…His master plan for love was sounding dumber and dumber by the second…Maybe if he hadn't been sick it would've been alright, but of course he just had to go and nearly kill himself in the process.

Bulma kissed him on the cheek and pulled the covers snugly around him. "Sleep honey. You'll feel better after that. I promise." Reluctantly, she left his bedside, and allowed herself to be led out of the room by Dr. Silverman. That was alright…Trunks knew he wasn't much company like this anyway. And he was so damn tired…. His heavy eyelids slid shut, and he felt the pull of fatigue drag him through the barrier of unconsciousness. Before he knew what was happening, he was drifting into a blissful sleep.

But just before he lost all touch with the world of the living around him, he could've sworn he heard the words: "Be well, my only son."

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Relieved laughter floated all around Vegeta as he stood outside in the waiting room, Bulma beside him relaying the good news. Joyful tears were shed from shining eyes; hands were shook with fresh enthusiasm, shoulders were punched in gentle congrats. Vegeta stood through it all, outwardly tolerating their celebration, but truly, he was numb. His son would live…Not only that, he had retained most of his memories, and his mind was as sharp as ever. It was more than the prince had ever hoped possible.

However, his own mind was a jumbled, chaotic, mess. What was he to think? Had his mother really come to Trunks, or was that just the boy's delirious imagination at work? If that were the case, how had he known about the pregnancy? The only explanation was that what his son had described had actually happened. It can't be possible! Was it possible?

As if that wasn't enough to throw him off balance, he had to deal with Trunks' lost memory. The boy didn't remember anything that had occurred between them at the training site. What was he to do? The cunning thing to do would be not to mention it at all. It was unlikely that Trunks would ever remember it, leaving himself the only one who knew the specifics of what had occurred. What could it hurt to tell a little white lie? He could keep it to himself, and Trunks would be none the wiser.

Or it could screw up their relationship even more.

Damn it! When have I ever been compelled to be honest!? He'll never know! Then again, the doctor had said he might regain his memories in time. If that happened, the Saiyan prince would be in serious shit, and the rift between he and his son would become even worse then it had been before. Besides, my son nearly died as a result of my mistake. Was it at all fair to Trunks to deny him what he had sough in the first place? How is he to know the depth of my affection if lie to him and keep everything to myself?

But why did Trunks have to know the depth of his affection for crying out loud!? He should know it with out my saying so! But how could he? Vegeta had never so much as hinted at using the word love to anyone out loud. Not since his mother had died. Not since his father had crushed every attempt Vegeta had made to earn his love. Not since Frieza had taken everything away from him. Was he himself really repeating the cycle with his own son?

My father was weak! I am nothing like him! Vegeta would prove that he was different from that cowardly fool, even if he had to do something as dreadful as expressing his feelings to accomplish that. Though he certainly wasn't going to get carried away. Just blurt the damn dreaded three words out and be done with it. I hope Trunks is up for a gigantic dose of truth, because that is exactly what he is going to get!

"Hello, Earth to Vegeta! Wake up! What the heck are you thinking about, anyway?" Goku shouted, waving his hand in front of the Saiyan's face. Vegeta scowled and slapped it away, causing everyone to burst out laughing.

"What's it to you? I'll think about whatever I want," he said, haughtiness only royals could pull off creeping into his tone.

"He's back!" Goten said, causing the Z fighters to erupt into another fit of laughter.

"Damn right I am," he muttered, prompting a girlish giggle from Bulma.

"Aww, of course you are honey! My fierce Saiyan prince!" she said, which only made everyone laugh even more, and earned her an annoyed glare from her husband. He growled under his breath and, after the laughter died down, turned to Goten.

"Did you get all the songs on that i-pod?" he asked.

"Yup. Got it right here," said Goten, taking it out of his pocket and handing it to Vegeta.

"Good," said Vegeta. Maybe giving this to Trunks would soften him up for what he would have to tell him.

Goku stood up from the chair he'd been sitting in and stretched. "Well, now that we know Trunks is alright, we should probably go home and come back tomorrow to visit. I'm starving!" he said, surprising no one with the last statement.

"Yeah, Kami forbid dad goes a few hours without eating," said Goten, rolling his eyes.

"You guys go on ahead. I'm gonna take Videl home," Gohan said, taking her hand and walking with her towards the elevator. Videl turned her head and looked over her shoulder, waving. "I'll be back tomorrow everyone. If Trunks wakes up before that, tell him I said hi!" With that, the couple stepped into the elevator, doors shutting behind them.

"Bye guys, see you all later! If ChiChi doesn't kill me for not calling…Hehe…" said Goku nervously, as he and Goten found a dark corner where no one could see them, transmitting out of the hospital.

Vegeta turned to Bulma and spoke. "I will take you home, then come back. You shall rest."

"What about you?" she asked, concerned for his welfare.

"I'll shower and change, but I don't need sleep," he said. How could he possibly sleep when a million things at once were running through his head?

"Well, alright…but come back and get me first thing in the morning! I want to be here when my baby wakes up!" Bulma demanded, hands on her still slender hips.

"Very well," said Vegeta, not in the mood to argue with this demand. If it made her happy to think she was in control, whatever…He'd let her think it for a while.

"Well then, see you guys later. 18 is gonna kill me for being gone so long…"said Krillin, scratching his head in nervousness. Shooting a wave to Piccolo, Vegeta, and Bulma, he sprinted towards the stairs, apparently in the mood for a run.

"Later," said Piccolo, walking away, also towards the stairs. A Namek of few words, as always.

"Come on," said Vegeta, walking towards an elevator that wasn't currently in use, Bulma following. Almost shyly, she slipped her hand into his, and for once, he didn't have the heart to pull away. What the hell? This day is already fucked anyhow. One more display of tenderness couldn't hurt. It wasn't as if anyone was watching. Besides, he needed the practice if he was actually going to say what he planned to say to his son.

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Done! Took longer than I wanted, because my week was crazy... My computer was out of commission for a few days, and I was busy all weekend too, so I didn't have much time to work on this, but it turned out for the best.

Also, thanks to the new readers and reviewers! You guys are the best!