Chapter Nine - Evacuation:

Author's Note: I don't feel particularly like going through the entire DBGT episodes, just did enough to give more context for the storyline. This chapter picks up after Baby is killed and as the Z fighters find out Earth was going to blow up in two weeks.

It was always one crisis after another. With Baby finally defeated, Trunks assumed everything would be back to normal. He could finally return home and enjoy a cold beer, even returning to his job at Capsule Corp didn't seem so bad. But what he forgot was that Baby made another wish on the Black Star Dragon Balls. In two weeks, the Earth would explode because the one-year time limit was reset.

Pan had suggested, rather optimistically, that they could return to space. It had taken them nine months the first time to collect all seven balls, there was no way they could do it in two weeks. We'd be lucky to get ONE in two weeks, Trunks thought with a frown.

Trunks watched Goku stare up at the ceiling in confusion. He knew what Goku was thinking, because he was thinking the same thing. We failed.

He saw Goten pacing the room and biting his thumbnail nervously. Gohan was leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, deep in thought. Poor Pan had tears in her eyes, no doubt terrified at the thought of what was going to come. Trunks walked over wrapped his arms around her, leaning low to whisper in her ear, "It's going to be okay, Pan."

The young teenager cried in Trunks' arms as he rubbed her back up and down. The only thing he could do was be strong for his friend right now.

The young lilac-haired man's ears perked up as he heard a ring on the communications channel. Releasing Pan, Trunks walked up to the screen and accepted the signal. On to other end was his mother, "Trunks, is everyone there? I think I know how we're going to fix everything."

Bulma explained her plan. With Goku's new transformation, he would be able to transport people from Earth to the Tuffle planet in the next two weeks. Both Earth and Planet Plant had large human transport vessels, which the people of Earth could book passage on to travel safely.

"The issue is going to be convincing everyone to go," Gohan nervously chuckled, "It's not like many people know what's going on."

Gohan felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to see his father-in-law grinning at him, "It's my time to shine, Gohan."

Hercule explained his plan to everyone, who agreed to be onboard with the transport. By Bulma and Gohan's estimates, they would be able to safely move everyone in ten days.

It was time to get to work.

Goten droped onto Paresu's balcony, sighing as he ran a hand threw the spiky mass of black hair. Hercule had arranged a press conference earlier that day, announcing that the people of Earth needed to evacuate temporarily and that his "helpers" would be supervising transport.

I wonder if she's heard the news yet, he thought.

Reaching into his pocket, Goten pulled out a spare key to her apartment and unlocked the sliding glass door. As he walked inside he noticed all of the lights were off, save for the soft glow under her bedroom door. Goten quietly crossed the room and opened the door, smiling softly as he watched his girlfriend doze. Not wanting to disturb her, he walked over and ran his hand through her long brown hair, "I've missed you."

"I've missed you too," she mumbled as her eyes fluttered open. She smiles sweetly at her boyfriend and sat up, the bed sheet sliding down her chest to reveal an overly large yellow and green t-shirt with the words, "Goten Son" written in large black letters.

"I hope I didn't wake you, I just wanted to check on you," Goten softly smiles as he sits on the edge of the bed, "There's been a lot of weird stuff going on."

Paresu rubbed her boyfriend's arm up and down, "I saw Mr. Satan's announcement today while at Cocoa's. We've booked our transport for later this week. I assume you're going to help out with everything?"

Goten nodded, before bowing his head, "I didn't just come here to check on you... I owe you an apology for our date a few weeks ago."

"Don't be silly, Goten. Mr. Satan said you had to go fight that weird alien guy. And to be honest, I don't remember much after that." Paresu leaned over and kissed Goten on the cheek, wrapping her arms around him in a warm embrace. The couple remained in the embrace for a few moments before Goten pulled away.

"There's some other stuff we should talk about," Goten started. It was time to tell her about who he really was. He had been dreading this conversation ever since they had become serious.

"Can it wait until morning?" she pouted, "It's already pretty late."

"Yeah, that's fine. I'll stop by in the morning," Goten smiled as he started to get out of the bed. He stopped as her hand grabbed his and turned to face her. She rubbed his hand with her thumb and smiled sweetly at him.

"I want you to stay, silly. We can talk about this more before you head out."

The dark-haired man nodded with a smile, before he quickly removed his shirt and disposed of his pants, leaving him in his boxers. Paresu moved over to the other side of the bed and lifted the covers, letting Goten join her in bed. Once he was in bed, the brunette kissed her boyfriend lightly on the lips, before nuzzling into his chest. With his free arm, Goten leaned over and turned off the light before wrapping it back around his love.

I'll tell her everything tomorrow, Goten thought as he rubbed her back, I just hope she accepts me.

The Z fighters successfully moved everyone over to the Tuffle planet with not a moment to spare. However, there was one casualty: Piccolo. The Namekian had elected to stay behind during Earth's final moments, as his life was tied to the existence of the Black Star Dragon Balls. After Porunga wished the Earth back and everyone was transported back to Earth, Bulma suggested a party to celebrate everyone's success as well as Piccolo's memory.

Trunks arrived shortly after work, still wearing the tan suit from his earlier business meetings. He was in the process of undoing his tie when Marron arrived, having come straight from a photoshoot. The blonde placed her belongings on a chair before running up to Trunks to give him a hug.

"Hey Mar, it's good to see you," Trunks smiled as he lifted her up from the ground, earning a squeal from the blonde, "How's it going?"

"I've been great! Work has been busy and I started seeing someone recently. After I showed Mizumaki my makeup portfolio, she let me start doing makeup for some of the models!"

"That's amazing!" Trunks smiled. He knew Marron always wanted to be a makeup artist, and her position as a dressing assistant had been temporary, "Let me get changed out of this monkey suit."

Trunks returned to his room and changed into a blue sweater and grey khakis. As he returned to join Marron, a sky car parked near the festivities on the lawn. The two watched as Goten hopped out of the driver's side and opened the passenger side to help Paresu, who looked beautiful as ever in a white sundress and leather sandals. Trunks and Marron smiled as the couple approached them and the two men embraced.

"Hey, bro! How's it going?" Trunks smiled as Goten hugged him. The two had been so busy with the evacuations that they hadn't had a chance to catch up.

"Amazing, and it's easy to see why," Goten grinned at Paresu, who giggled and shook her head.

"Hey Trunks, it's been a while" the brunette said as she embraced Trunks and kissed his cheek. He inhaled her flower perfume and rubbed her back lightly, resisting the temptation to pull her closer. She released him to give Marron a warm hug, before suggesting that the two grab a drink.

Goten and Trunks stayed behind to watch the two women walk away, before smiling at one another, "So things are going well, Ten?"

"Everything is good, shes amazing" Goten smiled distantly.

Trunks blinked and leaned in to whisper, "What is it?"

"Well, I'm just worried about how things are going to go today. She knows about the Saiyan thing, but it's a whole other thing to see it."

"She knows?" Trunks raised an eyebrow, "So you two are pretty serious."

"Yeah, I figured it was time. I've met her family a couple of times, and now she's meeting everyone."

Trunks nodded as Goten went on about the details of his relationship. He wasn't terribly interested, especially knowing that the brunette was involved with his best friend. "What about you? Seeing anyone?" Goten grinned Trunks.

Trunks snickered, "I was in space for a year idiot."

"Oh yeah, whoops!"

Paresu and Marron came back a few minutes later with their drinks, as well as an extra for each man. The brunette smiled sweetly at her boyfriend before saying, "Babe, I don't want to be rude, but are you going to introduce me to everyone?"

"Yeah, let's go find my parents." Goten waved at both Marron and Trunks, "We'll see you guys later!"

Trunks and Marron waved goodbye as the couple walked towards where Goku was sitting, a mountain of food in front of him. Trunks looked quizzically at Marron, "Are you still into him?"

Marron snorted, "I have a boyfriend now, Trunks." The blonde pulled out her phone to show her friend a picture of her new boyfriend. In the photo, a dark haired, muscular man had his arms wrapped around her. He had a big, goofy grin and dark eyes. At first glance, you'd think it was Goten.

"What's his name?" Trunks asked. He was leaning towards a G name.

"Gem, why?"

I knew it! Trunks thought, before smiling down knowingly at Marron, "He looks alot like Goten"

Marron wrinkled her nose and put her phone away, "I didn't notice."

Trunks snickered as Marron stared him down. The blonde crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, waiting for his laughing to subside. Once he was calm, she whispered, "So are you over her?"

"Who, Mai?"

"No you idiot." she whispered, nodding her head in the direction of Goten and Paresu. The two watched as Goten introduced her to ChiChi, who much to their surprise embraced the brunette.

Trunks sighed and looked at Marron, "Not exactly, but it's not gonna happen."

Marron rubbed her friend's arm warmly, "What about Mai? Maybe you guys could get reacquainted."

Trunks chuckled at the thought, "We'll see, Mar. Why don't we go join the others?"

Trunks stared at the number on his phone and debated if he really wanted to send the message. It wasn't a flirty message, but he knew she wouldn't necessarily appreciate it. She had been on his mind on and off, ever since Marron suggested they get "reacquainted." Sighing, Trunks hit the send button on the phone.

He checked his phone on and off through the rest of the day, hoping that she would reply. It wasn't until he was getting ready for bed that he heard his phone buzz. He pulled his phone out and read her reply, "Hey, it's been awhile! How've you been?"

Trunks smiled to himself and typed back a reply, "I'm good, just getting back from a long trip. What's new with you?"

Her next message made him take a step back. It was a photo of her hand with a diamond engagement ring shining brightly at him. Trunks forced a smile as he typed his congratulations, before falling back into his bed with a sigh, Trunks closed his eyes as his relationship with Mai played in his mind. Meeting each other, their first kiss, the trips together. And then the fights, the breakups, the makeups. The final breakup.

She was going to get married to another man. He wasn't disappointed, Trunks was happy for her and it didn't feel like he missed his chance. Because his mind was on another, dark-haired beauty.