Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Ball Z, Akira Toriyama does. This story is based on the doujinshi Our Time by Manya and Minea. Thanks to Lord Truhania at Boxer and Rice for help and encouragement of this story.

Time's Lessons Learned

Pillow Time

Summary: Can Future Trunks and Gohan continue to the next level now that they've admitted their feelings to one another. What happens the next day?


The pillow smelled of Future Trunks. Blue lightening sizzling through the wind and leaving a tang of ozone. His entire body weighed down with sleep, he struggled to push up against a mattress that wanted to devour him. A slight wave swirled under him, and he half wondered if he was floating in a sea face down. Rationality turned slowly on like a flickering neon sign that had not yet completely lit but was getting there.

Shakily he shoved down, and dragged himself up out of the covers. They slid down his bare back to his waist. From the full body contact of himself to the under sheet he suddenly shivered. A tremendous ache surged up from the base of his spine, and he felt a strange stickiness associated with evaporated sweat. All around him he smelled Future Trunks, and it staggered him. Or was it the bright crisp white of the walls and white on white textured painting he stared up at. Scrubbing at his eyes with one hand he held himself up with the other.

"Wow," he muttered, sliding that hand up to tunnel through his own hair, remarkably in disarray. A quick turn of the head to one side saw that the sheets were all but tugged up out of one side of a huge king sized waterbed. Little wonder he had felt such resistance to getting up.

Concerned eyes narrowed to focus on the blurry numbers of the bedside clock. He almost panicked, then exhaled a long sigh of relief when they in fact read six AM. If he was where he recalled properly, then he was only a less then fifteen-minute flight by traditional car, and a five-minute flight by levitation from Orange Star High.

"Oh man, I forgot to call home," Gohan groaned, then felt a spasm of ache spread from his backside like a wave of fire. A quick shove down and he flopped over onto his back, staring up at the ceiling's textured swirls of paint. Inside he felt a gaping hole that had nothing to do with feeling, but everything to do with another physical need. The audible rumble embarrassed him, for he realized he was weak from lack of food.

Sensitive demi Saiyan hearing picked up the sounds of a television turned on, and the remote sound of sizzling. A glooping swish of something being poured into something else followed it. Smells of strawberry, cantaloupe, and toast mingled with the tang of freshly brewed coffee. Along with it was that same aroma of fresh stone lightening that wafted up from the sheets. Future Trunks own scent. Smells and sounds grew closer, along with the third confirmation of ki searching like a beacon. The bright blue spark crackled just in the hallway, and Gohan struggled to a sitting position. He shoved a few pillows behind his neck to prop himself up and let the sheets fall to his waist.

"Don't get up, Gohan," Future Trunks scolded, from behind high stacks of fruit salad, toast, and pancakes. He boosted the massive tray, the size of a restaurant waiter's onto one shoulder, then strode gracefully in. A deep blue silk robe was loosely belted at the waist, and Gohan felt himself salivate. Not only for the food, but the preparer of it.

"I'm starved... but you didn't have to..." he began.

"Gohan, shut up and help me eat this," Future Trunks teased, setting the tray at the foot of the bed. He swung himself to sit down next to Gohan, then grabbed a huge mixing bowl filled with melon and blueberry, pushing it into Gohan's lap. Eagerly Gohan eyed it, but hesitated.

"Well, don't be polite. you're half starving and I'm going to think that you're not ravenous like I am. We can't have you passing out in my class," Future Trunks whispered into his ear, shivering him over every inch of skin.

"I forgot to call home," Gohan groaned.

"Don't worry. I left a message on the machine."

You what?" Gohan blinked, shivering again.

"Relax Gohan. By now your mom knows I'm teaching at Orange Star high. Why are you so..."

"Sorry you know how my mom is," groaned Gohan.

"Well Chichi did speak to me on the phone early this morning. I let her know you spent the night..." said Future Trunks.

"Are you crazy?" Gohan stammered, shivering from head to toe. Trunks shoved a piece of strawberry into his mouth.

"What's to worry. She was very thankful of my thoughtfulness. I told her that I'd make sure you got to school on time," Future Trunks smiled, leaning over to kiss Gohan's flaming red cheek.

"B... b... but..." Gohan stammered swallowing the lump of sweet fruit. He buried his nervousness in the mouthfuls he shoveled in despite his pounding heart.

"Gohan, relax. She doesn't suspect anything. Besides, we can break the news to them however you choose. I haven't waited five years for you only to lose you because of your mother's hard headedness," Future Trunks said, pulling him close for another kiss.

"But I... I have to tell... Videl..." murmured Gohan, swooning from the brief but passionate thrust of Trunks tongue across his palate sharing the taste of the fruit.

"I think that's wise. But like I said, it's up to you. I know why you're worried. It wouldn't do for people to suspect something was going on with a teacher and his student. So we'll have to be sneaky," said Future Trunks with a smirk.

"I don't want to lose you either, Trunks," murmured Gohan, loving the feel of Trunks fingers ruffling and scratching his spiky short hair which was standing more upright then usual at strange angles.

By now they were both digging into the stacks of waffles dusted with cinnamon and sugar, drizzled in natural honey. High protein bacon and copious amounts of a cheese and scallion omelet followed. Gohan picked up a pitcher filled with orange juice and chugged it eagerly down while Future Trunks poured two cups of coffee.

"I'd better hit the shower first," Future Trunks muttered, glancing at the clock.

"Right, you want me to um... join you?" Gohan said quietly.

"I'd love that, but if you're in there I never want to come out!" Future Trunks teased, nipping the end of his nose. He then blew him a kiss and grabbed a clean towel from the chest at the end of the bed. Gohan sighed and hugged himself tightly, loving the warmth that spread over him. He felt a low rumbling in his throat that initiated a body wide blush over his entire skin, and wondered if he was glowing from head to toe since he felt that warmth permeated every cell of his body.

He never had felt so safe, so loved. So complete. Rubbing his hands over his biceps he could imagine they were Future Trunks hands roaming his body. Inhaling the cloud of his musk that hung in the air he tumbled into the memories of just a few hours before.

Cupping hands around Gohan's face Future Trunks tugged him forwards. Gohan needed no coaxing to loop his arms around Future Trunks strong neck. He eagerly opened his lips to receive the solid strong lip press that sealed off his breath. Bodies equally tightly slammed against each other, their kiss endless.

Gohan felt strong fingers kneading down his backbone to rest on his backside. He yelped at the strong pinch that arched him into Future Trunks, then felt another hand sliding under his thigh. Ticklish he lifted his leg, then felt the slide of the hand along its underside to pull that appendage around strong hips. Gohan didn't question the motive, he simply feasted on the taste of Trunks lips working over his. Welcoming the slide of long fingers to play with his spikes of hair, and scratch over his scalp. He wished he could tear the clothes off that confined them both. Drawing in great gasping breaths of oxygen when their lips parted, and he blinked into those deep navy pools.

"Gohan..." Future Trunks rasped, almost a low growl in his throat.

"I can't stop..." Gohan rasped back, sliding his hands along Trunks back, and under the sweatshirt that he tugged up. Stepping back Future Trunks slid his fingers between Gohan's waistband and the tucked shirt, jerking it up along with the vest. Forced to cross his arms, Gohan lifted his hands above his head and let Trunks reach and unbutton the shirt before peeling it off.

"I was going to ask how much you wanted to keep it, but I figure it's pretty expensive," whispered Future Trunks.

"Uh huh," Gohan breathed, unable to form coherent words. He felt Trunks hands sliding down the hard smooth muscles of his chest. Arching his neck he slid his fingers into the silky mop of Trunks hair, groaning.

"Gohan..." whispered Future Trunks, pressing kisses from one side to the other, then down the meridian of his chest and belly. Stopping before the waist, he placed his hands on the leather belt, and glanced up at him.

Almost whining at the loss of the hot kisses, Gohan blinked down at the lavender haired demi reclining on one knee before him. He played with the fringe of silk, pulling it up and tugging hard on it. "Why... why'd you stop?"

"Do you want me to continue? I'll stop if you want me to, Gohan. I don't want to push you into anything more then you want," Future Trunks glanced up at him.

"I... I want more," Gohan rasped, his throat rumbling. Insistent tugs on Trunks hair urged him upwards, and he then took Gohan's hands and placed them on his shirt.

"Your turn, no sense in me doing all the fun," Future Trunks breathed. Gohan realized he didn't have to take a passive role here. Future Trunks wouldn't break like Videl under his hands. Grasping folds of Trunks shirt he tugged, and then the garment shredded easily.

"Sorry..." Gohan gasped, dropping the pieces of cloth

"Don't be Gohan. You can be yourself around me. Don't hold back," said Future Trunks, grasping his hands and returning them to his chest. Swallowing the sudden lump in his throat, Gohan reverently massaged the flat planes of Trunks chest. He leaned down, kissing along the collarbone, then rubbing his hands in widening circles over the pectorals.

"Gohan... please... I've waited so long," Future Trunks moaned, squeezing his eyes shut and letting his hands drop to his sides.

Softly Gohan nipped folds of bronze skin, then felt the urge to drag his tongue over the smoothness. It felt so amazing, that lack of friction and the tang of salty sweat that met his taste buds. Snorting suddenly, Gohan then slid his hands around Trunks ribs to his back, and glided up once more. Brining his chest so it was flat against his own, he placed his palms onto the shoulder blades of Trunks back, and devoured his lips in his hungry kiss. This time Gohan became the aggressor, probing, tasting, and inhaling all things Trunks. Fingers threaded through one another's hair, almost pulling it out by the roots, but squirming to get even closer then skin would allow.

Something crackled over his skin like electricity. Gohan released Trunks lips, and felt a surge of ki emitted from his partner's mouth. Blue energy washed over him like a wave, and Gohan released his own wave, matching it. Two energies, white, and blue mingled into a bright turquoise that lit up the room like noon.

"Won't someone notice?" whispered Gohan, sliding his hands under Trunks pants, and feeling the hardness of his backside.

"They mind their own business. We might be more comfortable elsewhere," Future Trunks answered, parting from Gohan. He strode towards the hallway, then turned extending his hand toward his lover.

"Come with me," he whispered. Gohan grasped his palm, seeing the sparkle of ki lighting up Trunks eyes and his hair frizzed a bit from static electricity. Gohan only nodded, placing his full trust and his heart into his gaze back. He smiled and nodded, his dark eyes saying all that words couldn't.

Leading him by the hand, Future Trunks then turned the knob on the door to his left. It flew open, revealing a ghostly white interior that shimmered like pearls in the light of his aura, but with a blue tinge. Waves of energy shimmered their light, casting a variegated pattern that resembled being underwater. When Gohan stepped inside after him, the blue water fluctuations were eclipsed by his own white radiance.

Opposite a large dresser stretched a king sized bed. A quilted duvet spread overtop, topped with fluffy white pillows. At least Gohan guessed they were white, but had the blue tinge of Trunks ki. Unlike what some would assume, the ki had no heat, but light, and there was no danger of exploding anything into spontaneous combustion. Rather the charged energy waves caused the air itself to sizzle.

Trunks hand snared his waist, dragging him forwards. Another hard kiss plunged its tongue deep into Gohan's mouth, and he spun around till he felt the collision of a frame against his knees. Leaning into him hard, Future Trunks lowered him to the bed so he lay atop Gohan's slumped body.

All he could hear were the cry of his name on Trunks lips and the sound of his own ragged scream mingling with it. Gohan panted hard, a long sigh escaping his mouth as he lay limply against his lover's body. Still intertwined they collapsed into exhaustion. Gohan lifted his head first to give Future Trunks a brush of the lips, then a swipe of his tongue, transferring his hot panting air into the other's mouth. Slowly Future Trunks drank in the smooch, his arms wrapping tightly around Gohan to keep him there. As he shifted Gohan whispered, "Please... don't move, you feel so good,"

"I am not going anywhere, love," Future Trunks whispered.

"I don't have the strength to move," Gohan laughed, and buried his face in his lover's shoulder.

"Do you want to stay?" Future Trunks asked, kissing his forehead.

"Yes..." Gohan answered. "I don't want to leave you."

"Damn," Gohan swore. He forced himself to control as he ate the remainder of the foot. Neatly he stacked the dishes before hauling himself out of bed and piling them on the tray. He couldn't stop the need to order things and clean up after himself. So when Future Trunks returned to see his partner making the bed Gohan felt a stinging slap on his backside.

"Knock it off Gohan and get in the shower. I left it running just for you," he whispered.

"Sorry," Gohan said as he rushed into the bathroom across the hall. He leapt into the shower, pushing aside the glass sliding door and letting the hot water slam against him. Future Trunks enjoyed the sight of his lover's bare ass as he exited the bedroom.

"Gohan you need to loosen up a bit more," Future Trunks shook his head, and then smiled in self satisfaction. Gathering up the breakfast tray he took it out to the kitchen. After he loaded the dishwasher he returned to the bedroom to select his clothes from the closet. In addition he placed a pair of corduroy pants with a button up shirt and sweatshirt neatly folded on the foot of the bed for Gohan. Then he gathered up their discarded clothes and placed them into the laundry basket for later.

Ever since he had shown up that morning, he and Trunks had tiptoed about, trying not to arouse suspicion. Together they had ridden the elevator down to the fancy lobby, Trunks wearing a herringbone jacket and tan dress slacks while Gohan wore the borrowed outfit. Glancing at himself in the reflection of the mirrored elevator car, they made an unlikely but pleasant pair.

"I think these are more in style' then my usual clothes," Gohan joked.

"You look great, Mr. Son," Future Trunks joked, leaning over to lightly caress his ear with a kiss. Gohan turned his head quickly and caught his lover's lips. Dropping the briefcase, Future trunks wound his arms around Gohan to deepen it.

Only the ding of the bell and the rolling open of the doors interrupted them. Both arms dropped and they reached down to pick up their items and dash out the elevator doors before they slid shut once more. Still their hands clasped between them as they walked past the concierge to the front door of the building. A cheerful smile beamed their way from the door attendant as he said, "Good morning Mr. Briefs! Hope things go well today!"

"Same here," Trunks waved, still holding Gohan's hand in his. The door attendant touched his cap to Gohan, and they crossed around to the parking garage.

"Are you sure I should ride there with you," Gohan remembered asking.

"Don't worry. If you like I'll let you out right there," Trunks said.

"All the same I think I'll just fly there myself," Gohan suggested.

"All right. However, I'll be missing you. You'd better show up in time for class," Trunks chuckled, leaning in for a quick goodbye kiss. Then backing apart, the two lovers turned their separate ways. Gohan rocketed up and away towards the school, hoping not to be seen. A quick transformation to Great Saiyaman and he felt more comfortable zooming over the slowly rousing city.


People sped by in their cars below, and he touched down behind a bush so he could quickly transform. Then he blended in seamlessly with the group of students milling into the building. Some yawned while others rubbed the dust from their eyes, and carried cups of coffee.

"Gohan, there you are," someone said, making him jump.

"Oh hi," he said, noticing Erasa and Videl standing right inside the door.

"You rushed off pretty quickly last night. Everything okay?" Videl asked.

"Oh no problems. I um… the teacher wanted to hire me as a tutor," Gohan hastily explained, a blush crossing his face.

"Lucky guy," Erasa sighed dramatically.

"Oh shut up," Videl elbowed her, and Erasa grabbed her arm.

"Well I guess we'd better head to class, right ladies?" Gohan suggested, wondering if he had missed something.

"Yeah, better head to class all right…" Videl said, then stepped a bit apart from Erasa when her blue eyes widened. Past them milled Sharpener in the midst of a group of jocks.

"So you got home late didn't you?" Sharpener rested his hand on his hip.

"Ah…" Gohan stammered, feeling his neck flush red.

"No, no problems, not that it's any of your business," Videl stammered, blushing hotly.

"Seems people were rather busy last night, weren't they?" Sharpener sneered.

"Sharpener what the hell is your problem?" Videl snapped.

"I wouldn't know. Some of us don't have secrets to hide like others," Sharpener glared towards Gohan.

"Sharpener, back off," Gohan glared at him.

"Ohh a bit touchy are we, Bookworm," Sharpener snorted. "Well, I'd love to stay and chat but I've got warm-ups…"

"Jerk," Erasa snorted. Sharpener laughed and wandered off with his cluster of male cohorts. Videl fumed, glaring daggers at him as he wandered away. Still Gohan wondered if Sharpener had suspected anything, or if Videl was wise to the changes in their situation.

"Um Videl, I need to meet you after school. There's something I need to talk about," Gohan said quietly.

"What for?" Videl said defensively.

"Well, the after school tutoring session that Mr. Briefs asked me to run," Gohan fumbled for an answer. "You and Erasa are in the group I was supposed to help."

"Oh yeah, of course," Erasa said, leaning on Videl's shoulder.

"I guess, but I had plans, and well…"

"Right. It will only take a half hour. And there's something else I need to talk to you afterwards, Videl," said Gohan.

"Um, actually that's a coincidence because I've got something to chat to you about, Gohan," Videl said quietly, looking off to the side a bit.

"Right, then its coffee and study, right?" Erasa laughed, nudging between them and linking arms with both Gohan and Videl. "Better not be late to class! Or sharpener will get eth best seat!"

"Right," Videl and Gohan nodded, letting their friend walk them to class. Gohan felt the tension radiating off Videl in waves, his mind spinning with the strangeness of her behavior. It was as if she was trying to avoid him, and he wondered if she already knew.


The day had dragged by achingly slowly, and each minute in Physics was torture. To watch his lover up in front without being able to touch him was physically painful. Gohan had to rest a heavy book on his lap to keep from showing the evidence of his arousal. Wearing that suit, Future Trunks cut such a handsome figure that Gohan couldn't keep his eyes off the teacher's front or back.

If he glanced sidelong, he could see Erasa and Videl leaning towards each other. Videl was sipping a cup of hot chocolate and Erasa absently reached over and grabbed the same cup to take a draught as well. Together they shared the hot beverage, glancing sideways at one another. Was it is his imagination or did someone pass him a note.

"This is for you," said Erasa quietly.

"Passing notes are we?" asked Mr. Briefs, slapping his yardstick down on the table.

"Um… no… I mean…" Erasa gasped dropping the slip of paper.

"Ah," Mr. Briefs glanced down, stepping on the piece of paper with a highly polished shoe. Leaning down he picked it up and unfolded it.

"I'm sure that we wouldn't mind if you shared it with the rest of the class," Mr. Briefs teasingly said, his glance towards Gohan only a split second. Gohan felt the heat in that gaze, full of pent up desire and shivered. He squirmed in his chair, feeling how tough it was on his tender backside.

"It's nothing, honestly!" Erasa squeaked.

"Just a joke," Videl chimed in.

"Meet me after class, must talk to you about something urgently… Gohan…" mumbled Future Trunks. "What's all this?"

"Um, it's for the after study session!" Gohan blurted out.

"Right that's it!" Videl chimed in. "I wanted to remind my new tutor here that we were eager to get cracking open the books!"

"Well I'm glad to see you're so enthused, Miss Satan. Now let's jump ahead a bit to the end of chapter 1 and start chapter 2?" smirked Mr. Briefs, his eyes twinkling in amusement at Gohan. Erasa let out a huge sigh of relief then rested her chin on her folded hands while the teacher spun around. Videl swallowed hard, looking annoyed at the eyes trained on her. She mouthed a thank you to Gohan who nodded with a wink.


That's what brought Gohan here; waiting in the shade of a borrowed umbrella, dripping wet and soaked to the skin under his blue capsule jacket. Cars pulled up and people huddled under improvised rain shelters and a spectrum of umbrellas. Sharing a large umbrella with pictures of kittens on it, he recognized the gait of two women with arms linked, giggling as they stumbled through the puddles. Erasa and Videl were squeezed together, hip to hip as they struggled to share the shade of their umbrella. Both their hands were clasped around the shaft.

Seeing Gohan, they dashed between cars towards him. He grabbed the handle of the front door and opened it for them politely. Nodding their thanks, they stopped under the awning to swing their umbrella down. Erasa shook the water off it while Videl rubbed her arms and readjusted her soaked coat. Then they all bustled into the warmth and dryness of the café.

"This way ladies, glad you could make it," Gohan led the way towards a nearby table. Other patrons either stood in line before the glass cases filled with various tasty treats. Some wandered past the coffee bar while others already sat down with their trays of sandwiches and cakes.

"There's a table," Erasa pointed out. Videl smiled and rushed over to grab the chair and toss her jacket over it. Erasa and Gohan soon joined her, Gohan choosing the chair across from Videl while Erasa moved to set her books by Videl's chair. They had selected a table right by the window still, where they could watch the rain pattering on the streets while people strolled by or rushed in their efforts to stay dry or enjoy the precipitation.

"All right. We can all get coffee and something to eat, and then get cracking," Gohan rubbed his hands together.

"What do you want Gohan? I'll get something for all of us," Videl offered.

"Oh no, I'll get it!" Erasa insisted.

"No you won't. You'll sit down and let me bring you something, girl," Videl nudged her by her hip. "Gohan?"

"I can…" he began, rising from his chair. "Why don't you save the places Erasa…?"

"If you insist!" she waved to them. Both Gohan and Videl moved up to the line behind the brass bars. Not quite able to make eye contact, they both took plastic brown trays and set them on the triple bars that others slid their purchases along. Videl grabbed a large fruit salad, wrapped in plastic, and a piece of chocolate cake drizzled in thick icing. Gohan piled a few plates laden with various sandwiches on his tray, along with a half dozen cookies.

"What did you want to see me about, Gohan?" she asked quietly.

"Well I was going to ask to meet you alone but I didn't want people to get the wrong idea," Gohan said.

"Thank you," Videl whispered. "For not kicking Erasa out. "

"I just need to tell you something. It's pretty important, but it can wait till after the study session," Gohan sighed.

"Well Gohan, I… well I had hoped to say something myself. But it's going to come out sooner or later," Videl said as he reached for a piece of coconut pie and set it on his tray. The line moved along, just shy of the coffee ordering counter.

"What's wrong Videl?" Gohan asked quietly, feeling the tension in her voice.

"I… well Gohan…"

"What will it be miss Satan?" asked the clerk politely.

"Um, a hot cappuccino, a cup of cocoa with whipped cream…" Videl said, flustered with the interruption.

"And you Mr. Son? The usual?"

"Yes please just plain coffee with cream and double sweet," Gohan said. "Thank you!"

"It will be right up, just step to the side, and we'll call your number," chirped the young woman, who had long red hair tied up in a bun under her net.

"Thank you," Gohan smiled politely.

"But anyway, Gohan… I don't know how to break this to you…" Videl sighed, picking up her tray and almost dropping it. Gohan rescued it, and balanced it in his hand while carrying his in the other. Why wasn't she looking him right in the eye?

"Go ahead Videl. You can tell me anything," Gohan said softly, standing close.

"Gohan, you're a very nice guy… and a very good friend… and we've shared a lot," Videl began, and then sighed. "Damn, this is so hard to say…. And I don't want to upset you."

"Videl, don't worry. Please just say what you need to. It's obvious you're preoccupied, so just come right out with it. I won't get mad," said Gohan reassuringly. "Besides, I have to tell you something too… and I'm not sure how you'll take it."

"I mean I care about you a lot but… you and me… it just…"

"Videl, it's all right, I understand…" Gohan blurted out. "I know it's not working well between us and I…"

"No, you don't… I don't' want to hurt you…" Videl protested, covering his words with her own.

"I know, and I don't' want to hurt you either, so I also need to tell you something too…" Gohan continued.

"You don't understand Gohan… I can't see you anymore…"

"You do?" Gohan flinched. "You mean you already know?"

"Know what?" Videl blinked at him, her eyes wide with uncertainty.

"You know I'm seeing someone else?" Gohan laughed awkwardly.

"You are… I mean you are…" Videl gasped. "You're serious?"

"Yes… wait Videl, you were saying…"

"This is crazy… here I was about to tell you that we needed to see other people and you're already with someone else?" Videl blinked.

"Don't be mad Videl… it all happened so fast and it…" Gohan stammered, seeing the narrowing of those blue eyes.

"Number 12!" shouted the beverage clerk.

"That's your order," Gohan meekly replied.

"Thirteen, your order's ready!" shouted the clerk again. Gohan turned to grab his coffee but Videl grabbed him instead.

"But… this is amazing," Videl managed to say, her voice breaking. "I didn't think that it would happen this way…"

"Videl… I'm sorry."

"No, don't be Gohan. Don't you see this is all right… because I was all worried about admitting to you that I was seeing someone else I thought you'd be heartbroken and to hear you're already with someone else…?" Videl half laughed in disbelief.

"12 and 13! Please get your beverages!" the cheerful but insistent voice cut in.

"Oh, let me," Videl offered, rushing past Gohan to get their drinks. She returned balancing hers and Erasa's on top of one another, and Gohan's in her opposite hand. They turned to one another and juggled drinks to set them on trays before returning to their seat.

"I'm famished!" Erasa commented, when Videl set the dray between them.

"One hot cappuccino and a hot chocolate," Videl offered. "A fruit salad and a chicken Cesar… and chocolate cake!"

"Mmm, and a straw?" Erasa asked.

"Right here," Videl passed it to her, and she leaned over to kiss her cheek.

"Thank you so much sweetie," Erasa smiled, then leaned back when Gohan set his tray down.

"It's all right, I know," Gohan held up a hand, with a smile of his own gracing that handsome face.

"You do?" Erasa blinked up at him. She squeezed Videl's hand, sitting on the table.

"I'm happy for you both. Really I am," Gohan beamed. "I hope things go well for you…"

"It's all right," Videl whispered in her ear. Erasa blushed, and then Gohan coughed discretely.

"Well, shall we get started? I believe we've got a whole chapter to cover, and one of you is rather math phobic?"

"Well, I'm okay with precalc," Erasa nibbled on her straw as she sipped her cocoa. "But Videl here…"

"So I'm lousy at algebra, so sue me," Videl poked Erasa in the ribs teasingly.

"Ladies, let's dive in feet first?" Gohan smiled, feeling relief settle over him like a familiar blanket. Seeing the two women share food off one another's trays made him melt inside. Yet he wished Trunks were there sitting in the empty chair by his side. Books were opened and set in the empty space, while Gohan whipped out a pad of paper and took the pencil from his bag to start scribbling equations.

He held a chicken sandwich in one hand and tucked the pencil behind his ears after scratching his temple with it. Mumbling he grabbed his glasses from the case in his bag and slipped them on.

"I just don't' get why there are four quantum numbers," Videl glared at the problems.

"But it's like an address, see?" Gohan pointed to the K, L, and M numbers.

"But plus and minus?"

"Up or down," Erasa brightly giggled. "Plus or minus. It's right there honey…"

She reached over Videl's wrist to point to the diagram in the book they had spread between them. Crumbs feel from the sandwich and she brushed them aside. Videl blinked then the penny seemed to drop into place when she said, "Oh yeah…"

"Coordinates. Then each of these is a part of the wave function…" Gohan recited, light gleaming off his glasses.

"How are my budding quantum physicists doing?" interrupted a voice. Erasa and Videl glanced up into the cobalt blue eyes of Mr. Briefs. Standing there with his raincoat over one arm clutching the briefcase, he held a tray laden with several sandwiches.

"Mr.… Briefs?" Gohan flinched, and then stared up into Future Trunk's amused face. "We… we're right in the middle of one and…"

"Relax, Mr. Son. Mind if I join you?" he asked, and Gohan and Videl moved books aside while he set his tray down. Chairs creaked and slid while he sat down next to Gohan, and settled into place.

"It's still kind of weird, but cool, these quantum numbers… and all," Erasa commented, licking icing off her upper lip. Mr. Briefs swung a packet of sweetener back and forth between thumb and index finger. He ripped it open.

"Glad to see you're meeting with your new Tutor, Miss Graphite. And Miss Satan, I hope that you're also finding these helpful," Mr. Briefs asked, opening his plastic cup to discharge the packet of sweetener inside. His arm brushed Gohan's and he felt the warm gaze of dark eyes through those glasses at him. Invisible energy crackled between them, and Gohan shyly smiled.

"Nice of you to join us, sir," Gohan softly informed him.

"Glad to be here," Future Trunks nodded, his knee bumping Gohan's under the table. Both couples, one known and the other secret feasted on cake and coffee while the rain pattered against the window. Just what the future held was anyone's guess.