Hello, yet another much awaited update. I will be trying to make these chapters longer because you're all wonderful and I should stop waiting so long to update. Sorry about that! Anyways, please review?

One week later.

Trunks watches the clock tick over to two o'clock pm and massages his neck as he rolls it side to side. He hardly had a goodnight's sleep, his morning meetings had been incredibly stressful, and not once in five days did he had a chance to visit Chi-chi.

And it was the day he was finally going to obtain something he had promised himself to achieve five years ago. The culmination of all his hard work. Long hours of research and studying, and sleepless nights of experimentation and investigation; of attaining a name for himself in the field of technology when he realized being the heir of the largest, richest and most influential companies in the world just wasn't good enough for him. Trunks had long ago learned he wouldn't get anywhere through being the grandson of the founder alone. By the end of high school, he'd decided on devoting the rest of his time as a scientist like the rest of his maternal family.

So he worked harder on reaching his mother's position than anyone else in the corporation.

And here he was. Trunks wonders if she'd change her mind. Bulma always insisted that they keep their personal lives separate from their professional lives, so no mercy will be given during his evaluation interview for the position of president at Capsule Corp.

With an exhausted sigh, Trunks closes the file in his hands and tosses on his desk. A buzzer rang from the phone on his desk. "Sir, your mother will be arriving to your office shortly."

"This will take a while-" his voice is harsh and he clears his throat. "Please cancel my next meeting, Andrea."

"Yes, sir." The secretary mutters through the speaker. He did not, under any circumstances, want to be interrupted from his interview.

Everything you've worked for counts on this one, he cautioned himself. You got this, T-man.

And then the door swung open and, hardly aware of doing so, he straightens his posture.

Trunks glimpses up. He couldn't help but feel nervous when the heiress of the company sat down. As a child, he'd been to a handful of interviews and meetings with his mother and the employees almost seemed to shrink and fade as she poured out questions and scenarios to them, expecting nothing but the best to work at their family's company. It didn't matter how much you kissed up to her.

He was the youngest scientist of the Capsule Corp, yet he was one of the most successful and one evaluation away from being the top of the chain. He caught on to resentment some of the other scientists had given him. It was always the jealous ones who had fifteen to thirty years behind them when he only had gotten out from college, not to mention all the reputable degrees and practices they earned as well.

"I appreciate you doing this, Mom" Trunks says politely and proper. His purple hair was long enough for him to tie back in a business ponytail with the short pieces falling to the sides of his face. The black glasses on he wore were no more than an accessory to match the sophisticated style of his colleagues.

"Right," Bulma responds. "Again, before we start, be aware that this position isn't the easiest job in the world. Not only would you be responsible for the entire company, but you will also need to take care of the finances, marketing, distribution, logistics, employee management. Basically Capsule Corp.'s every need. If it were up to me, I would have you wait another five years before even considering being president of the corporation, but you have your father's stubbornness. It will be hard, Trunks."

"Mom, I know what I'm capable of. I can do this." Trunks counters quickly, his eyes never leaving hers. It takes that one look on her son's face to convince her to go through with the plan and start the evaluation, and another three hours before either of them could leave the room.

...

A week came and went and everything seemed to be back to "normal". Trunks continued to work restlessly at Capsule Corp. while Chi-chi lounged around, worked chores, or went to the market. Trunks' absence had not as nearly been as lonely as she had anticipated - Goten, of all people, had surprisingly called to at last join her for lunch the that morning. She had been practically begging her son for company for a week.

Chi-chi closes her eyes and enjoys the hot tea she sips from her cup. She had gotten a great night's sleep, cooking lunch had gone well, and for the first time since he'd moved, Goten was back at home. And, on top of all that, Chi-chi had taken the entire day before finishing the rest of her chores. She did not, under any circumstances, want stressing about chores to interrupt her time with her son.

A smile forms on her face. It was going to be another great day.

Goten is on the other side of the patio table, happily eating away at the lunch his mother had served him. Across from him, his mother calmly sips her tea. To anyone else, there was nothing odd about it. However, Goten knew there was something else. He was not sure why his mother was in such a good mood, since nothing fantastic had happened, but he wasn't one to knock a smile when it came back.

"I have to admit, Goten, I wasn't expecting you to ever come back to visit me." Chi-chi pleasantly jokes when she looks up at her son. Goten rolls his eyes and chews, his mouth too full to respond. After a few moments he swallows.

"Have a little faith, Mom. Sorry, but a city life is a busy life, you know." He grabs the napkin next to his plate and smears the ketchup off his mouth. "And how could I ever forget about these wonderful meals you always make me?"

Chi-chi smiles, yet again. "It's okay. I'm not mad at you or anything. You just surprised me by calling, that's all, dear. Not seeing Valese today? Where is she?"

"At the beach. Or with her girlfriends. Probably both." he answered.

"How's she doing? You told me she got a job last Friday."

"She's fine. Though, Val spent most of her first pay check buying clothes and swim suits."

Chi-chi smirks. "I can imagine you love that."

"Love what?" Goten obliviously asks, picking up yet another chicken leg. Chi-chi rolls her eyes behind closed lids. He was indeed his father's son.

They sat in silence for a few moments as Chi-chi finished the rest of her cup.

"Mom, can I ask you a question?" Goten asks after finishing his own orange juice.

"You just did, sweetie."

Goten sits in his chair, trying to figure out the right way to ask his mother about the other night when he found out about Trunks.

"Mom, I..." Goten begins after a few minutes.

One week before...

And so the first part of the day went by, Goten not hearing from Trunks for any of it. He'd sent his best friend a message twice every hour, incredibly excited to be done with the craziness of moving into his apartment and wanting to show it off to someone.

Reaching into his pocket and pulling out his phone, he saw saw no new messages.

With an irritated expression on his face, Goten decided to get that lunch his mother had been nagging him for out of the way. He had to sooner or later. Gohan would have a hissy fit if he didn't.

He typed the number in his phone and called Chi-chi.

"Hey, mom-"

"Please leave a message after the tone."

Goten groaned. After hitting the end button on the screen, Goten decided ring the Brief house:

"Hello?"

"Goten?"

"Bra? What are you doing answering the phone? Shouldn't you be in school?"

"..." The youngest Brief heard the man laugh on the other line after a moment.

"I won't tell your parents. I'd be doing the same."

"I'm assuming you're calling for Trunks, right? Well, your boyfriend's not here."

"Where is he, then?"

"Oh, you're boyfriend? I dunno, it's not like I keep tabs on him."

"Oh, alright."

The Saiyan scratched his head and ended the call.

"...What the hell could he be doing?" he asked aloud, becoming more frustrated than bored as he tried figuring things out. He'd never ignored Goten before, so why was he doing it now?

really bro? my mom isn't picking up her phone. thats the reason ive been trying to call you. i think something happened. your sister picked up the phone when i called your house, said you weren't there. hope ur OK and i hope my mom is too. He sent him.

No reply.

Fine, if no one was going to talk to him, he wasn't going to stress over it. The last thing he needed was to worry about whatever was going on with everyone.

At some point later that day, Goten eventually got tired of being killed by the darkspawn creatures, so he turned his Xbox off, slipped out of the apartment and got into his car. It was nearly midnight and during the entire evening, Chi-chi didn't once answer her phone. Starting up his car, he pulled out of the parking lot and took off towards his mother's house.

With the radio playing quietly, he caught the light in the windows of the spherical house ahead of him. He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. Although he hated to admit it to himself, he was slightly worried about her.

At first, Goten was ready to get inside. He hadn't eaten since noon and all the fast food restaurants had to be closed by now. But then the door opened.

"It's no problem." Trunks said as he opened the door and got out.

Chi-chi also got out, then the two of them looked at each other.

"Trunks?" Seated in the drivers seat with the windows open to let the gentle breeze in, Goten quickly shut off his engine. Kami forbid they'd already seen him. He was frustrated, to say the least, knowing Trunks was here all along instead of being with him, but he quickly reminded himself of the real question. Why was Trunks here in the first place?

Just as he glanced back up, he saw the Saiyan jump up into the air and take off, with his mother leaning on the door, looking out at him. That made him angrier than he thought it would.

"Mom...?" Goten whispered to himself when she got back inside and closed the door behind her.

He sat alone, in the middle of the night, outside his mother's house in his car. Part of him wanted to get out and demand his mother tell him what that was all about, but the better part of him that knew what his mother was going through made him decide against it.

The last thing Goten thought about that night wasn't Chi-chi.

Unexpectedly, he found himself quickly opening his phone and hastily typing away a message.

trunks, what were you doing at my moms house?

...

"You...what?" Chi-chi asks, shaking him from his train of thought.

"N-nevermind." He decides to save it for another time. He couldn't risk ruining the positive mood she was in.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Well, no, but at the same time, yeah."

"You're doing that confusing thing you do again, dear."

The both share a smile.

"Anyways, Mom, I was feeling a bit uneasy about moving out. You know, leaving you alone here."

"Thanks for the concern," Chi-chi says, inwardly rolling her eyes. "But it's not as bad as you think. I'm actually feeling better about the whole thing, now that I've had time to think over it."

"Gohan and I will always be there for you. So will Krillin, 18, Bulma, Trunks..." Goten finishes, emphasizing his last word.

Chi-chi's heartbeat pumps faster when she heard his name. She grew incredibly warm, and looks away to avoid looking obvious.

"What is it?" Goten asks suddenly.

"..."

"...Mom..."

"I'm really glad you came, honey. And I'm even gladder that you've stayed so long." Chi-chi says as she took the dirty lunch plates.

...

Sitting at in his office with his tie undone and one of his shoeless legs on top of the desk, Trunks felt glad it was finally over. After the interview, the man would be damned if his mother didn't choose him for the position.

His mom may not have been able to tell Trunks was exhausted by the time she left, but he had his sweaty jacket off the moment she turned around to leave.

And just like that, the clock ticks over to the five and his work week was finally finished.

Once Trunks was outside the building, Trunks looks down at his cellphone screen with a voice notification from his mother:

"Trunks, you gotta pick up your younger sister from Pan's place. Your father broken the cleaning VI again, so I'll be busy fixin' that mess up!" In the background he heard his father yelling four letter word obscenities. "Vegeta, stop scolding it! Anyways, honey, get her something from Burger King, too. I know, I know, you don't want to, but I don't trust her flying yet! And also, I don't think I'll have time to make any dinner. Love ya!"

Trunks rolls his eyes. Damn. Can't a guy catch a break?