Goten dozed on the couch after he ate. He heard Trunks come in and wondered vaguely why he was early, but didn't move to get up. In a few minutes he felt Trunks curl up behind him, wrapping two protective arms over body. It was nice, and they just laid there for quite a while drifting in and out before he finally turned to him.
"Why were you back so early?"
"I quit school. I'm staying with you from now on. Don't worry."
Goten chuckled sleepily. "Do I look worried?"
"No, you look drugged. Are you okay?"
"Fantastic," he giggled. "Remember that time we stole the key to Master Roshi's liquor cabinet and got really drunk and then really sick? Take away the sick part and our parents yelling at us and that's where I am. Just floating."
"And that doesn't concern you at all?"
"Nooooope," he said, popping the 'p' at the end. "I'm hungry, we should go get some food."
"I brought sandwiches, they're in the fridge."
Goten hopped up immediately, staggering slightly. Trunks caught him, frowning slightly as he helped him to the table. "I want to talk to Mom about this. It can't be normal for you to be so out of it."
"Not for humans," he shrugged. "I'm not human. Just give me a couple weeks, okay? Once Bulma knows she'll tell Mom and then we're going to get an earful. I need some time to get him started."
"A week, but no longer than that. More than a few days sick and she'll be all over us trying to nurse you back to health. When we head back to your house for the week we sit everyone down and just get it over with."
"Kay," Goten said with a mouthful of food.
"I changed my mind, this is a terrible idea," Trunks said with a groan.
They were flying towards Goten's parent's house, their little home in a capsule in Trunks' pocket as always. He'd been insistent that Goten not fly himself; if he was having trouble walking straight there was no way he was letting him guide himself through the air. Goten didn't care, he was holding on tightly to Trunks' back and seemed content to do so.
"Everything's going to be fine," Goten assured him. "I'm not worried."
"Of course you're not worried, you're high as a kite."
Goten giggled. "That's funny 'cause we're in the sky."
"Holy shit I'm completely by myself in this aren't I?"
"No," Goten assured him. "I'm just chill, not in a coma. I'm still me. I understand we're about to drop a bombshell here, I'm just not scared of it. I knew what I was getting into, I wanted this."
As they approached the house on Mt. Pauzo Trunks could see Chichi waving at them from the lawn. He wasn't surprised; she'd been told her son had the flu for a week now and she'd been worried about him. Seeing him riding on Trunks' back instead of flying on his own seemed to make it worse, because as soon as they landed she was grabbing his face and feeling for a fever.
"My poor Goten!" She tutted, sweeping the hair from his face. "How are you feeling, Sweetheart?"
"Like a kite," he said dreamily.
"He, uh, he took some cold medicine," Trunks lied, "so he's a little loopy."
"Let's get you inside, Goten. Would you like to sleep in your old room tonight? Maybe the familiar surroundings would be comforting, help you shake the symptoms."
"Nah," he shrugged as he followed her in. "I like my bed. Trunks is warm. Where's Dad?"
"Training with Piccolo, I think," she shrugged.
Goten looked like someone had crushed a puppy in front of him. Tears sprang to his eyes. "Daddy won't be home tonight? But...but we wanted to…" he sobbed.
Chichi rushed forward and hugged her son frantically, not understanding why he was so emotional. She shot a worried look at Trunks who just mimed taking the cold medicine again, pointing at his mate and mouthing 'loopy', silently. He'd seen this already a few times; moodswings seemed to very much be part of Saiyan pregnancy, and even after one week they were hitting poor Goten full force.
"He will be home tonight, Sweetheart! He's only out for the afternoon."
"Oh. Okay!" Goten shrugged smiling again. "Got any food?"
"I suppose you can have a snack while I start dinner."
"Say, Miss Chichi," Trunks said, pulling out the capsule that contained their home, "I actually have dinner covered if you don't mind. I was hoping my mom and dad could come visit tonight, and we wouldn't ask you to cook for all of us on such short notice."
"Oh," she considered it for a moment. "Well it would be nice to see Bulma. But I can still cook, I'm sure we have enough."
"It's fine Mom," Goten said around a mouthful of fruit. "Trunks is a really good cook. He's been cooking for me all week while I've been...sick."
"Oh? Well, if you're sure, I'd appreciate the night off." The placed a hand on Trunks' arm. "You're getting to be very considerate, Young Man."
Trunks smiled at her guilty, very aware that her opinion might change when she found out her sixteen year old was pregnant.
It was easy to get Bulma and Vegeta to come to the Son house with Bra that night. Like, suspiciously easy. Trunks vaguely mentioned wanting to get the families together and Bulma agreed instantly. So, yeah, he had a feeling they knew more than he thought.
He diligently worked on the thick cuts of meat he'd brought in the little kitchen of the Son house. Their moms would be hard to pacify regardless, but their fathers could usually be calmed down from anything with juicy steaks. It was as if Goku could sense them from miles away because he gravitated home earlier than normal and was quickly rushing to stand right over Trunks' shoulder.
"Hey Goten, what's up buddy? Mom said you'd been sick. Feeling okay?" He asked as he passed by his son, ruffling his hair.
"Awesome," Goten said, slumped against the kitchen island as he watched Trunks cook. "So awesome, Dad."
"You wanna go get a quick spar in before dinner?"
Trunks stiffened, but his relief Goten just shook his head. "Nah, I'm not at a hundred percent yet. Some other time. Oh hey, who am I sensing outside? Oh, Piccolo! Hey, !" Goten shouted.
The Namek poked his head into the house. "Uh, yes?"
"I haven't seen you since my birthday!" Goten beamed. "You have to stay for dinner. I know you don't have to eat but even a slug man can enjoy a good steak, right? We have enough meat, right Trunks?"
"Sure," Trunks nodded apprehensively. "I thought we were doing family only tonight, Ten."
" is family," Goten waved him off. "Oh, and Gohan! I've gotta go get Gohan!" Trunks shot him a warning look. "I mean, someone should go get Gohan and Videl, not me, cause I'm too sick to fly."
"I'll go and see if he's busy," Goku offered, instant transmitting away quickly.
"Doesn't Gohan have a phone?" Trunks asked, shaking his head. "If Goku keeps just popping in on people like that he's going to see something he regrets one of these days."
Goten giggled. "What if he'd popped in last night when you had me pinned against the-"
"Steak then, Piccolo?" Trunks interrupted quickly.
Piccolo shifted uncomfortably and shrugged, leaning against a wall, which Trunks took as a yes. He was sure the possibility of Gohan and his family being there had something to do with it.
Eventually they were all seated around the table; the teens, both sets of their parents, their siblings, Videl and Pan, and on Goten's insistence Piccolo who was looking much more at ease now that he was holding Gohan's daughter. Something that could be said for Trunks was that he knew how to feed a Saiyan; there were piles of meat and noodle dishes on the table with more prepared and waiting in the kitchen.
They had a plan for this set up in advance. It was best to wait until their fathers were about halfway full, so about five to six cuts of meat in. That way they wouldn't be crabby from hunger, but also wouldn't storm off because they were not done eating yet. It was harder to think of ways to relax their mothers; they just kept the coffee coming and made sure no one made a mess.
Trunks was working up the courage as he saw Vegeta digging into steak number four when Gohan nudged him. "So, you guys wanted everyone together. You look nervous. Is this the part where you admit you're going to marry my brother?"
There was some snickering around the table. "Uh, well, of course I am," Trunks sputtered out. "I mean if he wants to, I'd planned on making it part of our official stage three ceremony."
"Duh," Goten said, sticking his tongue out at Gohan.
"There, everyone knows, so stop looking like we're going to shoot you," Gohan said, clapping him on the shoulder.
There was some applause and a cheer from Videl. Trunks took Goten's hand under the table. "That's not really why we wanted everyone together."
The room grew quiet as they waited for him.
"Uh, Goten thinks...Is pretty sure actually, he won't be convinced otherwise-"
"I'm pregnant," Goten said.
There was a pause. Videl slapped the table and pointed at her husband. "I knew it. You owe me five dollars, Gohan."
Vegeta didn't look shocked, and Goku looked more confused than anything. Bulma sighed and rubbed her temples. Chichi was a different story.
"Are you insane?" She asked, standing quickly. "As much as we've talked about being safe you still make the same mistake we warned you about?"
"It wasn't a mistake, I did it on purpose," Goten said boldly, no trace of fear or remorse in his voice.
"You did what ?"
"I wanted to be pregnant and now I am," he continued. "And don't look at Trunks like that, he tried to talk me out if it, he's got nothing to do with it." He snorted. "Well, he's got something to do with it, but he didn't want a baby yet. All me."
"Why am I here?" Piccolo asked, his face in his hand.
"You...you're grounded, Goten!" Chichi said, clearly uncertain of her own words.
Goten laughed. "No I'm not, I don't even live here Mom."
"You can't have a baby! You are a baby."
"I'm really not."
"What about school?"
"Trunks is taking his GED test next month, I'll take it after the baby's born. We might still do college," he shrugged, "but not for a couple years."
"So you know for sure, right?" Bulma asked, placing a reassuring hand on Chichi's arm. "Like, you've taken a test? How far along are you?"
"Like...eight days? Around there."
Chichi laughed and sank back into her chair, clearly relieved. "Oh, Sweetheart, that's impossible. You can't know you're pregnant in eight days."
"That's not entirely true," Vegeta piped up, digging into another steak.
"What do you know about this?" Chichi snapped. "Been pregnant much, Vegeta?"
He glared at her. "I've seen more Saiyan pregnancies than you, Woman. It's important for a warrior to know immediately, if they do not know and are injured in battle the life can be extinguished before it even takes root."
"Is that why Goten's acting so weird?" Trunks asked, making them all look at him. "I mean...he's not really taking cold medicine, he's just…" he gestured to him. "Kind of high. What's the point of that?"
"Goten, what's your favorite activity in the world?" Vegeta asked him.
"Fighting."
"Like all Saiyans. Would you like to go fight me right now?"
"Nah, not in the mood."
"There you have it," Vegeta nodded. "Chemicals released in the brain keep the warrior complacent and drive down the urge to battle."
"So I get this feeling the whole time?" Goten beamed. "Sweeeeet."
"Mom, do you think you can check him out?" Trunks asked worriedly. "I know it's too early to really see anything but you and Dad know more about this than any doctor."
"Of course," Bulma nodded, "but this is me going on record saying you're both dumbasses. Goten for the idea, and you for going along with it."
"Don't be mean to Trunks!" Goten snapped loudly, slamming his fist on the table as he suddenly went Super Saiyan.
Trunks put a comforting hand on his head and his hair returned to normal. "Sorry, Mom. Moodswings."
Goten frowned. "I'm not having moodswings. You just don't deserve to be put down, I made this decision."
"It takes two," Chichi said with her arms crossed.
"Do you really want details, Mom? You wanna hear how I seduced him and how Trunks kept begging me to use protection but I didn't want to because I like the way it feels when he comes in my-"
"Holy shit, Goten," Trunks yelled, clamping a hand down over his mouth.
Chichi buried her face in her hands, blushing deeply.
"Why am I here?" Piccolo asked again.
"Goten, calm down," Trunks ordered.
Goten's eyes drooped and he leaned against Trunks' shoulder. "Kay."
"He's just not himself right now," Trunks explained. "Something about uh...finishing stage two made him decide he wanted a baby, and there was no talking him out if it."
"You know, Chichi," Goku said carefully, "you were just saying the other day that you wished you got to see Pan more. This is a whole other grandchild, and it would be living here part time. Maybe another little girl? You loved picking out Pan's baby clothes."
"It's almost definitely a boy," Vegeta mused. "I believe the odds of two males having a female child were incredibly low, like a one in twenty chance."
Chichi was losing steam, but she still sighed sadly. "What about your studies? If you're taking your test early we still have more to go over."
"I'll study," he muttered sleepily against Trunks' shoulder.
"Like this?" She gestured at him. "You really think you'll be in a better frame of mind when you're loopy and further along? Let me tell you, it's no picnic to carry around a half Saiyan, I did it twice. They kick like mules; Gohan broke one of my ribs and you broke two. You're hungry all the time and you want to punch someone's face in. That's not even counting normal pregnancy symptoms!"
He shrugged. "Might be different for me, feel pretty good right now. If it's not, I don't care. I'll get my degree when I get it, Mom, for you. I don't need one. I didn't really want one even before the claim, I just wanted to get stronger like Dad. That still matters to me just...not right now. He matters right now," he smiled, rubbing his muscled stomach.
"Wonderful," Vegeta said sarcastically. "Now if we're done talking about my son's sex life can we eat the damn meat?"
