Layla: After proofreading the next chapter I gotta say you're in for a BIG treat! You see Bulma-

Me: Layla shut up! Don't ruin it for the readers! (Who are awesome by the way for reviewing! J)

Layla: Awww, come on! They have no idea what they're missing!

Me: Watch it, or I'll make my cat proofread for me

Layla: Well it is my computer

Me: And?

Layla: Forget it! Enjoy this chapter!

Me: Hey, that's my job! Enjoy this chapter! Aw, screw it. Once its already said, it doesn't make a big difference and all

Layla: Aww, I'm sorry. *Hugs* You can do it next time!

Me: Okay! *Hugs Back*

Together: Enjoy!

Chapter Ten: Bonding Time? Yeah, right!

Trunks got up from the table and wiped his mouth. "Thanks so much. I'm gonna go call my mom to see where she is at." Chichi nodded and allowed the lavender-haired boy to get up and take his plate into the kitchen. Where he sat it down in the sink and then walked toward the phone hanging up on the wall. He hesitated for a moment before taking the phone off the receiver and then slowly dialing her number. For some odd reason, he felt like she wouldn't pick up and just as he predicted, she didn't.

It went straight to voicemail. "Damn it." He muttered and quickly covered his mouth. Mom did say no swearing. But she's not around is she? Trunks' eyes darted back and forth before saying, "Damn it." He said it louder and chuckled loudly to himself. (A/N: Aww Trunks thinks he so bad by doing that. XD) He then dialed her number again and it went to voicemail like it did before.

"Aww man, I wish I brought my bike. I wanna go home and play my PS3." Annoyed, he placed the phone back on the receiver and turned to meet Goten face-to-face. "Hey Trunks, any luck?" The spiky-haired boy asked and sadly Trunks shook his head. "Nope. I wish I could fly. That way I can go home whenever I pleased." Goten nodded at that. "Why don't you call your step-dad? Maybe he might-"

"Goten you dummy, he is NOT my step-dad! He will never be my step-dad! For all I know, he's just some loser my mom moved in with. End of story." Goten jumped from his voice and shook his head. "Sorry 'bout that Trunks. I was just saying. Besides, why don't you call him? Maybe he might be off work and you won't have to wait for your mom. Where is she by the way?" Trunks shrugged.

"I don't know. For all I know, she could be with my dad." Goten looked at him confused. "You're dad? Why your dad? Aren't they divorced?"

He nodded. "Yep. I really don't remember a lot about him. I know I was really little. But I still love him. I haven't seen him in a few weeks, in fact, the last time I saw him was at my birthday party."

"How was it? Did you get my gift?"

Trunks looked at Goten. "Umm, yeah. I did. Thanks a lot for it. What was it again?"

"A helmet you could wear with your bike. I didn't know your dad was gonna get you a new one. I thought you could wear it with your old one. So did you wear it?"

Trunks nodded. The truth was that when Trunks received his helmet, he threw it in the trash. He thought 'safety' was for babies. Plus he didn't want to make himself feel like a little kid in front of Vegeta. That was one man you didn't want to disappoint. Goten reached out a hand and smacked Trunks in the chest really hard.

"You're it!" He shouted and took off running out of the kitchen. Trunks looked at him for a second before charging after him. The two boys ran past Chichi as she had a pile of plates in one hand and her cell phone in the other. "Hang on a second. Goten! Trunks! You better stop running before you break something!" She shifted her plates and walked into kitchen and sat them down on the countertop. "Okay, slow down Launch. I can't understand what you're saying. What did Tien do this time?"

Goku walked in and said, "Chichi where are the extra cups?" She turned around and covered the end of her phone. "What? Goku, I'm on the phone." He leaned on the counter and stared at her. "Is that Bulma? She really needs to come pick Trunks up. If not, he's gonna have to spend the night. He stayed over last weekend and I think that girl Gohan brought with us is staying too."

"Honestly Launch I don't know. Do you know why he isn't talking to you?"

"But then again if she does stay, she'll have to sleep on the couch. Hey, Chichi guess who I saw at Wal-Mart?"

"Goku, not now. I'm on the phone."

"I saw Broly a few days ago at Wal-Mart and guess what he was doing?"

"I dunno. What?"

"He was going down the cosmetics' section with some blonde chick. I think he has a girlfriend."

"That's a lie. Broly doesn't have a girlfriend Goku. I'm sure you confused him with someone else."

"Nope. I'm positive that was him. I called his name like this, 'Broly! Broly! Yo, BROLY!' and I guess he didn't hear me because he kept walking. I was like, 'That's rude.'"

"No Goku, that's rude. I told you it was probably someone else. Now please go away, I'm on the phone with Launch. I swear sometimes you act like 17. Always in on the gossip and stuff like that." She lifted the phone back up to her ear.

"Seriously Chichi. That was him and it isn't gossip. It's the truth. Honest. Goten was there too. Want me to go get him?"

She shook her head and began scrubbing the dishes. "If Launch is upset about Tien, just tell her that he's under a lot of stress. Him and Piccolo. I mean, they are the Varsity coaches and all."

She raised a brow at that. "Varsity? I thought they were just the football coaches and such."

"Nope. Varsity is when they go to different schools and places like that to compete in high competitions. It's a LOT of stress to be the coaches and stuff. I think that football season is almost over. So she shouldn't really worry too much."

"Did you hear what he said? Don't worry Launch. We'll talk more about this tomorrow. Bye." She closed her cell phone and glared at Goku. "What?"

"Next time when she calls, you better be near me. God, that girl can talk for an hour or two. Where's Goten and Trunks?" Chichi got her answer when she heard a loud BANG! sound coming from the living room. "Darn it." She walked into the room and saw Goten laying on his back with Trunks standing above him. "I didn't do it!" He quickly yelled. Chichi looked at her son and then at Trunks. "Okay, I'm gonna ask you once: what happened Trunks?"

"I didn't do it!"

"Just tell me what happened!"

Goten bolted up and put his hands up in defense. "I didn't do it!" She looked at him with odd expression on her face. "Do what? What are you guys talking about?" They both pointed to a broken vase and she frowned. "What did you both do?"

"I swear it just fell off the table. We were running and well, it just fell!" Goten said very quickly. Chichi placed both of her hands on her forehead. "I'm not even going to say anything. Just…clean this mess up. I feel like I'm going to have a headache dealing with you two." Goten and Trunks got down on their hands and knees and started picking the broken vase pieces up.

"Stop! Don't do that! You can cut yourself! Just pick them up slowly!"

"Like this mom?" Goten asked as he demonstrated by grabbing a hand full of them. Chichi's eyes widen with fear. "No Goten! Not like that! Forget it, I'll just do it!" She shooed the two of them away as she carefully picked the pieces up.

Gohan looked up from the table as he heard the doorbell ring. Gwen too looked up and said, "I wonder who that is." Gohan nodded and stood up. He walked over toward the door and was surprised to see the person standing in front of him. "Y-Yamcha? What are you doing here?"

Trunks looked up. "I came to pick Trunks up since Bulma is still at her meeting." Yamcha looked pass Gohan and at Trunks and gave a weak smile. "Hey, ready to go home?" Trunks narrowed his eyes at him. "Who? With you? No thanks." Yamcha ignored his comment. "Come on. Your mom sent me to come pick you up. We gotta leave now." Sighing, Trunks got up and grabbed his book bag off the couch. He gave Chichi, Goten, Gohan, and Gwen one final last wave before walking out the door. Yamcha looked at Chichi, who just shrugged, and walked out before slamming the door behind him. "That's weird." Goku commented from the kitchen doorway. "I was sure Bulma was gonna come and pick him up. Did he try calling her?"

Chichi nodded. "Yep, he did. She must still be in that meeting. Its after seven already."

"Maybe she left."

"No, she would've been over here by now. Funny how she is staying after school with Vegeta of all people. Maybe they're actually doing some work or…"

"Or what?"

"…nothing…forget it."

Trunks walked over toward Yamcha's car and climbed in. It wasn't a very expensive car, just a regular-looking Honda that was bluish- blackish. He slide his butt onto the passenger's seat and slammed the door as hard as he could. "Watch it Trunks! I don't want you to mess this car up!" He walked over to the driver's side and opened door as he yelled that and Trunks muttered, "A tractor is more expensive than this piece of crap." Luckily for him, Yamcha didn't hear that.

He closed the door behind him and turned to Trunks. "Strap your seat belt in. You don't wanna end up in another accident and in the hospital again, do you?" He snorted at that. "No I don't. I think the best part about that accident was that you weren't there. God only knows what you'll do to screw that up." He placed the key in the ignition and turned it to start the car. The engine roared to life and he backed the car out of the Son driveway. It wasn't until when they reached the main road when they began speaking again.

"Trunks, I need to ask you something."

"What? What is it?"

"I just want to ask you…why do you choose to disrespect me? I do keep a roof over your head and I place food in front of you every night. We lived together for five years now and I never ever heard you say one nice thing about me. You resent me for no apparent reason. You should be grateful that someone wants to do that for you. There's not a lot of men that date women with another guy's kid these days. I did step in and try to father you the best that I could other than what your real father has done. In order for this relationship between us to change, I just want you to tell me WHY you act the way you do."

Trunks' eyes widen at that. Who did he think he is? Did he think of himself as a God or something? That he was the best man ever placed on this Earth, and that he was here to make his life better? He looked at the windshield as the road ahead appeared as a blur. The trees and the road becoming difficult to see and before he realized this, he was crying. He tried to open his mouth to respond, but found it difficult. It felt like his heart was in his throat. He wiped his eyes with the back of his sleeve and took a deep breath before saying,

"I honestly have nothing to say to you. If I start talking now then it'll take a miracle for me to stop. You have done nothing in the years you have known me. You act immature and you couldn't remember the simplest of things. Your reckless and don't care about anything my mother says. She deserves someone better than you, a real man, like my father. It must've been really bad karma or faith to make my mom 'fall in love' with you. I hate you Yamcha. You think you're so great just because you live with us and that makes you my father, but I'll tell you one thing, it doesn't. My dad is awesome…he is more of a father to me than you."

He clutched on tightly to his jeans but still kept his head up high. "I don't know why I hate you for an exact reason. But I can't stand seeing your ugly, scarred up face. Without you, me and my mom can last. She does make more money than you. She is a strong, independent woman who doesn't need you. I pray every night that something bad will happen to you. Something so bad that it'll cause you two to break up. It sickens me to see you kissing and touching all over my mom. She may not see anything wrong with you, but I certainly do…"

"Trunks that's enough." Yamcha interrupted. He had enough of his big mouth. Where did Trunks get off thinking he was so tough? One thing that Yamcha didn't like was a child acting like he knew better than him. But that didn't stop Trunks from speaking. He had plenty more to say to him. He woken up feelings and thoughts that he thought he could never say to him. Once he got started, he can't stop now. He was just getting warmed up.

"You are a terrible example for a man. A man would try his best to do things for his so called 'kid'. You, however, failed at that. You can't even remember my birthday! You lived with us for five freakin' years! Can't you do that? I had enough-"

"Trunks shut up! You had enough? You must be joking! I'm the one going through and taking all the crap you give me! I go to work to help you out! For all I care, you can suffer like the little worm you are!"

"So I'm the worm, huh? You are pathetic! I can't stand you right now-"

"Just shut up!" He slammed down on his brakes and glared at him. "Before you go thinking I'm pathetic, you should look at yourself. Your father left you for a reason. The reason why he left was because he was tired of you. Tired of pampering you and such. You're basically crazy, having to see a psychiatrist. Nobody is perfect Trunks. So stop thinking that way about you."

He turned to him, but his eyes didn't meet Trunks'.

"You are a terrible child. You're so needy and desperate for attention. I wouldn't be surprised if you were left in an orphanage. I just wanted to have a normal conversation with you, but just like your dad, that's impossible. I just wanted to spend some time with you, to bond Trunks. I know you are angry and all, but please forgive me. If you were my kid, you wouldn't act like that."

"Bonding time? Yeah right! Correction, I'm not your kid. You can't even have kids! Your sterile! Which makes you even less than a man. A man can have kids, a man can have a good job, a man can be a great father. You're not any one those!"

Yamcha angrily and roughly grabbed Trunks by his shoulders. He pushed the little boy against the door. His eyes full of anger and hatred. Never in his life did he ever touch the boy like this. It wasn't in his nature to hurt him. All Yamcha wanted to do was have Trunks listen to him. To shut his big mouth for once and think before speaking. Talking about him being sterile is going too far. Its not like he was proud of it.

Trunks winced in pain. Yamcha never went as far as putting his hands on him. He has never been so scared in his life. His heart was beating fast and he suddenly felt like crying again. Yamcha's eyes widen as he suddenly realized what he had just done. He looked down at Trunks, who was wincing in pain, and loosen his grip on him. He backed up and climbed back into his seat. Trunks' chest heaved up and down and he backed away from Yamcha. His back pushed so tightly against the door that it hurt him.

"Listen Trunks." Yamcha said through clenched teeth. "I know you don't like me. But you better get used to it. I plan on marrying your mother and the last thing I want you to do is screw that up. You keep your big mouth shut, okay?" He quickly nodded, afraid that he would do something else to him. "Good. You keep this quiet about me doing that to you. I don't want Bulma mad at me." He started the car up and the drive home remained soundless.

Trunks' mind was racing with so many thoughts. He tried to think of good things, but it wasn't possible because he kept coming back to what happened moments ago. One thing was for sure, he wasn't going to speak a word of it to Bulma. He was gonna have to face facts and accept Yamcha the way he is. Why am I thinking like this? My father would think of me being a coward. This joke of a man can't scare or hurt you. He doesn't own you. You can say and do what you pleased without concerning him. But he did…look scary. Oh, god. What should I do?

Yamcha pulled up to the house and opened the door to get out. Before he can take the key out of the ignition, Trunks was already bolting up the stairs to his room where he remained the rest of the night…

Bulma pulled her shirt over her head as she climbed out of Vegeta's bed. She grabbed her jeans off the floor and turned back to the spiky-haired man. "I seriously need to get home Vegeta." She muttered. "I'm afraid Trunks didn't get picked up by Yamcha yet. Then I gotta check and make sure he did his homework and ate. Why did I sleep with you again?" He sat up and wrapped his arms around her waist to pull her close to him. In a very husky voice he whispered in her ear, "To get back at the moron. What else?"

She tilted her head back and whispered, "Do you think I did a good thing? I do feel kinda bad. Especially for Yamcha." Vegeta nodded. "You filled my desires and wants…so you could say you did a good thing." She giggled at that and stood up to slide her pants on. "Not a word about this to anyone. The last thing I want is a student, who happens to be a girl, ask me if you were good or not."

"Was I?"

"I guess, probably."

She quickly fastened her jeans up and sat back on the bed to button up her boots. Vegeta watched her as she continued getting dressed. "I think we can both agree this was just a little fling. Nothing more, right?" Bulma nodded when he said that. "Nothing more. If you stay quiet then so will I. Yamcha can't find out about this. He will never forgive me for this."

"So? He did the same to you."

"Yeah, but…I can't shake this feeling that I'm wrong. That it was all a big misunderstanding. But I'm not gonna think like that." She turned to face him. "Is my makeup smeared or messed up?" He shook his head and she leaned over and gave him a kiss. "See ya." Vegeta climbed out of his bed and walked down the stairs with Bulma. She walked over toward the front door. She gave him one last look before going outside and pulling her capsule out and throwing it to make her car appear.

Sighing, she climbed in and pulled out of his driveway and began heading home. From where Vegeta lived, it might take her an hour to get home. Which was bad considering the fact that it was almost eleven at night. The one thing she kept hoping was that he would be sleep that way she wouldn't have to face him. Bulma climbed out of the car and walked to the front door.

She opened it slowly, and quietly. The lights were off and this made it perfect for her to sneak in. Trunks must've gone to bed an hour or two ago because he wasn't in front of the T.V. in the dark like he usually was. Bulma slid her boots off and slowly walked up the stairs. After living in this house for five years, she knew where all the loose floorboards were and where not to step. Should I stop to check in on Trunks? He might be sleep…Turning to her right, Bulma made her way to Trunks' room down the hall.

He was sleep with half of his body hanging off the bed. Headphones were around his neck and his window was wide open. She walked over and before she could reach a hand out to touch him, his eyes shot open quickly. "M-mom? When…did you get here?" She wrapped her arms around him to make Trunks sit up. "I got here not long ago. What time did you get here?"

"Around seven or eight I dunno."

"Did you eat something?"

"Yep."

"Do you know what time Yamcha went to bed?"

"About an hour ago, why? Where were you? He had to come pick me up. I wasn't really happy about that."

"I know. I'm sorry. I…got stuck in that meeting…which wasn't over until around nine." He looked at her for a full minute as if debating on whether or not to speak. "Mom…" He shifted his weight over a bit as she grabbed the blankets from underneath him. "What is it?" Tears began swelling up in his eyes. You can do this Trunks. You can do this. Tell mom what happened. Bulma noticed the odd look on his face. What was the matter with Trunks?

"Nothing…its just that…Yamcha…forget it." She pulled the blankets over him and took the headphones from around his neck. "Okay. I gotta go, so got to sleep." He nodded and before leaving, Bulma closed the window and walked out of his room. "Night Trunks."

"Night mom."

Now that was taking care of, she still had to get into her room without Yamcha noticing. She cracked the door wide enough for her to slip in and wide enough for it to be unheard. Yamcha's back was to her which made it easy for Bulma to duck into the bathroom. When she emerged fifteen minutes later, it was around midnight. She climbed into the bed and was carefully not to disturb Yamcha. She done this well. At least that was what Bulma thought until she heard Yamcha say, "Where were you Bulma?"

Bulma's heart stopped. Her stomach felt like it was tied in knots and her body felt numb. She opened her mouth and meticulously said, "I-I had a meeting…I thought I told you that…" He rolled over on his side to face her. "I know. But did it have to last all night? Bulma its midnight, I know it didn't take you that long. Please, just tell me the truth. Where did you go?"

"Yamcha, I had a meeting that last until nine. I had to the mall and get a few things."

"Like what?"

"Why are you interrogating me? Do you not trust me Yamcha?"

"Oh, I trust you. I was worried Bulma. Its not like you to not answer your phone."

"It was off, plus I left it in the car. Look, can we talk about this tomorrow? I'm really tired." She placed a hand on his face to bring him closer to her. "Where were you this afternoon? I got a call from your cell phone and some weird girl picked up."

This time, Yamcha's heart seemed to become motionless. Oh, god. She DID hear Nicole's voice! I hope she doesn't ask me if I'm cheating! Bulma sat there waiting for him to answer. Oh, this is too good Bulma! Once he says he was cheating on me, I can break up with him and he won't ever find out about me and Vegeta! I'm so smart! Yamcha sat up and turned on a nearby lamp. "Bulma, listen…"

Just say you cheated! That way I can end this relationship already! "…I have to come clean with you about something…that girl you heard on the other end…she was my ex-girlfriend. Her name is Nicole and I was seeing her for something."

"So you were cheating?"

"No, I didn't say that! I swear to you I wasn't cheating. You see, before I met you…me and Nicole were engaged and I gave her my mother's ring. I went to see her today and asked for it back so I could…" He reached underneath his pillow and pulled out the small box. Opening it, he revealed to Bulma a small, platinum golden ring. It's detail so beautiful that no other ring in the world could compare. "…propose to you. Bulma, I know you wanted me to do this and, I don't know if you're ready but I'm willing to wait for your answer if its no. But…will you marry me?"

Now of course, any girl in this situation would've yelled, "Oh, god! Yes! Of course! I love you! I love you! I love you!" Then embraced the guy, and take the ring out to get a better look and feel of it. It was to be the most happiest day of a woman's life, besides getting married itself. They say that you get a warm, funny feeling in your heart, but Bulma didn't.

She didn't feel that at all.

She never felt so dirty in her life. She felt cold and sick. What was she suppose to say? If yes, should she tell Yamcha the truth? Or should she lie her way through it. Either way, it'll hurt her more than it'll hurt him. She sat there in a daze, while Yamcha waited eagerly for her answer. Her eyes were bloodshot and her face pale. Her blue eyes didn't meet his when she said, "Yes…I'll marry you Yamcha…I will love to be your wife." That made his night.

Yamcha happily reached over and embraced Bulma, wrapping his arms tightly around her. "Oh, thank you Bulma! I love you so much! I will be the best husband to you ever!" She nodded and practically forced her arms up to hug him back. But she knew that this was wrong. What she did was wrong. If Yamcha were to find out, he will never forgive her. Now Bulma had a big bundle of regret, hate, and sorrow placed upon her shoulders. This burden so heavy that she busted into tears.

Yamcha, on the other end, thought that this was because she was happy. But little did he know, it was because of something so horrible that words alone couldn't describe it. That it was enough for him to take his ring back and forget that Bulma ever existed.

THE END!

A/N: Just joking! What type of person would I be by just leaving you all with a cliffhanger like that? Not a very good one. Hmmmm, I wonder how many reviews I'm gonna get on the whole Yamcha and Trunks thing. I know a lot of people out there hate Yamcha, and I can't blame you all. Now some people might hate me for making Bulma say 'yes' and all. But don't worry. She'll get with Vegeta…I hope. LOL. So read and review! Thanks again for reading! See ya! Happy Valentine's Day!