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Her Ward, Visited

Everything was so dark and confusing and painful. Every nerve in her body screamed and gnawed at her until her very core went numb. If this was death, then it was a hell lot more painful than she had imagined. Her consciousness had once slipped away, but the loud voices around her pull ed her right back in, a harsh rope tying her senses and bringing her back to life. Oh how she hated those voices. How she hated them for waking her from her slumber that a moment ago seemed to go on endlessly and eternally. Her skin seared and every breath she took were daggers to her chest. Her head, however, pounded mercilessly, relentlessly, as if utterly angered for being brought back to the land of the living.

"—I just want to see her—" Someone's voice echoed from a land far, far away, pulling her yet even closer to the realms of reality.

"—someone get her out of here before I blast her through the goddamned roof!" Yet another voice bellowed, and Marron spited this voice the most, for it was the loudest and the most painful to her ears.

"Where's Slip?" Someone else asked.

"—just for a moment… Please…" angry footsteps marched in to the place she was being kept at, and had she had any control over her own body, Marron would have flinched at the sensation of someone taking her hand in theirs.

"I'm sorry…" the voice said again. Somehow Marron felt the emotion in that person's voice run deep through her very core, and suddenly all she wanted to do was reassure them that there was nothing to be sorry for. Seconds later, smaller footsteps tentatively made their way to the other side of her bed, until she felt someone leaning by her legs, the sound of quiet sobs engulfing the room.

Slowly, now that the voices had finally ceased, Marron felt lulled by the silence. She basked on the amazing comfort feeling sleepy brought, as if she was normal and strong and not half alive, half dead. Sleep sneaked by, and without Marron realizing it, she had once again banished, whisked away from the realm of the living, back amongst the dead.

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The tiled floor under her bare feet was so incredibly icy it made her not want to take a single step forward, but her resolution was relentless, and so she pressed on. White nothingness spread all around her, everything was hard and cold and bright, even the robe she wore was so light and transparent she felt she might as well be naked. Nevertheless she kept walking, deep down in her heart something told her she had to keep moving through the white nothingness; right now, reaching her destination was of utter importance. So long she walked that she felt lost and lonely, until she finally reached the end of her track, and in front of her all she could see was a crystal clear glass that went on forever in all directions.

"Hello?" Her voice cracked and her throat felt dry and raspy, as if she hadn't used it in ages.

An incredible mist covered everything on the other side of the glass, and she was sure there was more than just white nothingness past it. She wanted to break through, feel the cool mist upon her bare skin; anything was better than being lonely and clean and cold on this side of the glass. Then suddenly, on the other side of the glass, someone stepped out of the mist and the breath was caught in her throat.

Brilliant, lavender locks adorned the frame of a handsome, familiar face; a face that smiled at her with a pair of blue eyes that she was forever more grateful to see, alive and joyous. Trunks, she knew. My Trunks, she thought. He placed an opened palm upon the glass, which seemed to be less than millimeters in depth, and she mimicked him, also placing a hand on the glass. The glass remained cold and unbendable, not the smallest bit of heat transferring between their pulsing hands.

She tried talking to him, and he tried to talk back, but everything remained quiet—a soundproof nothingness enveloping both. They knelt by the glass, their palms still pretending to be touching each other, until Marron couldn't stop the sobs and the tears that overtook her countenance. "I miss you…" Marron breathed between sobs, and the young man in front of her smiled sadly, deep down wanting to reach over, to touch her…

He then pointed with his other hand to something behind her, which eventually she followed with her eyes, and she turned to see someone else wandering lost and aimlessly through the white nothingness. She eyed the third party incredulously and eventually made to stand up. Marron knew this person, it was Mirai Trunks, and his eyes seemed lost and scared as he looked all over the endless room.

She approached him and the hand she placed on his shoulder startled him, but his frightful eyes warmed up to her gaze. Now it was his turn to surprise her, bringing himself level with her with an enormous embrace, as if he was immensely grateful for having found her, and she felt the heat radiating from his body addictive, engulfing her fully. She smiled in bliss and whispered his name into his ears until he pulled back and his young, boyish eyes stared back at her. He also whispered her name and buried his face in her neck, and all she wanted to do was hold him forever and shower him with love and reassurance.

Then something snapped within her and she realized that just seconds ago she had been weeping for the man she had lost, and now she was in the arms of another. Marron quickly let go of his embrace and turned to look back to the clear glass. The other Trunks smiled at the two of them and she felt ashamed, wondering what he could possibly be thinking—was he accepting her betrayal, or was perhaps his smile reassurance? Then suddenly something amazing happened; Trunks stood to his feet and simply stepped through the glass that only moments ago seemed impenetrable. His body became dense like smoke and see-through like a ghost's.

Marron reached forward as he approached, but he avoided her touch and she watched awe-struck as he simply walked into Mirai Trunks, merging and becoming one with him. The Trunks that now stood in front of her held a mixture of the two men in his eyes, a harmonious mixture that with a single glance led Marron to enlightenment. And she finally understood. She finally loved him—loved them both equally. The newly merged Trunks took hold of her neck with one hand and hold of her hip with another. His touch was so deliciously arousing that she closed her eyes in bliss and leaned forward, feeling the burn of his lips against hers.

An overwhelming joy bred from within her as their lips danced and she felt unable to halt the tears and she wept. Trunks pulled back, laughing at her as Marron let her sobs unfold, until everything, including Trunks, became blurry and the weeping became louder, and she realized that the sobs were now alien, and she wasn't the one crying any longer. The white room turned from grayish to black and darkness folded over them. Marron couldn't feel Trunks' touch anymore and all she could hear were those alien sobs growing louder and louder all around her.

A pair of blue eyes fluttered open, pupils dilating as they adjusted to the warm light engulfing the room. Somebody was still weeping, Marron knew, and with great effort she moved her head until she could see a tuft of lavender locks by the side of her bed, holding her right hand and showering her hand with the moisture of tears and snot. For a moment her head spun as she fought to remember what had happened and where she was.

All around her, on top of every table and chair in the room were bouquets and pots of flowers of every shape and color. On the foot of her bed, even, a round stuffed panda bear sat, adorned with hearts and flowers, almost as if watching over her. To her left stood a machine that was somehow connected to her body, monitoring her vitals, and the Capsule Corp. logo was painted upon a small corner of the machine. So she was in Capsule Corp., she thought. Finally she set her eyes on the weeping bundle of lavender to her right, feeling her heart break at the sight of C laying crying and defeated by her side.

Marron moved her hand away and the girl almost jumped at the realization that the young woman laying on the bed was showing a sign of movement. She sat back and her pretty eyes swelled with tears after seeing Marron alive and awake. "Mommy!" C stood next to her, her eyes scanning every inch of Marron's face, almost unable to believe herself. "You're finally awake, oh I'm so happy you're OK," she squeezed Marron's hand, unaware of the pain she was causing the blond woman, and her face lit up in sheer relief.

"C… what's happened?" Marron's voice was so slight and raspy, she might as well be mute.

C, however, was listening intently, as if every moment she spent with a conscious Marron was precious and irreplaceable. "Trunks brought you back after the fight with Cell—you were in a coma. Android 18 brought me back two days ago… I was afraid… well I just didn't want to lose you, too."

She didn't want to lose her, too.Marron knew what that meant; she didn't want to lose her after losing Slip. C was reading her mind, it seemed, and her eyes watered and her face immediately changed. She leaned on top of Marron's chest, causing some slight pain, and the girl cried louder than ever. Marron just didn't have the strength to embrace her back, and she barely made out a few words the girl was uttering. Marron's eyes watered as well, and she listened intently to C's broken words; she spoke of how she didn't know what life was like without her brother; that it had always been them two together. That he was her first and only best friend. That they had been brought to this world at the same time through the same womb, and she had let him die, she had let Cell take him.

Her woes then shifted and she explained how everyone was so very worried about Marron's condition, that even Bulma herself wasn't sure when she would be able to wake. "Thank Kami you're a fighter," C eventually faced Marron, her bloodshot eyes and stained face smiling in relief. Marron smiled back, and for the first time she realized she was facing a younger, lavender-haired version of herself. Her hand trailed up, taking a gentle hold of her hair, and now that she felt again at peace, felt herself slipping away into the depths of a most-needed slumber.

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Marron slept until the rays of sunlight filtering through the creamy curtains in the room turned from canary yellow to a warm shade of butterscotch to the richest reds. For a long time her consciousness lingered between being asleep and being awake, slightly aware of her surroundings but too tired to open her eyes. She felt a presence enter the room, settling to her side, though she was too content with her current state of consciousness to appear awake. Eventually though, Marron couldn't continue sleeping any longer, and her lazy eyes fluttered open once again. Her ward was devoid of C, she realized, and she allowed her eyes to travel over the gifts and flowers in the room, curiosity slowly seeping inside her.

The young woman turned to her side and was surprised to see none other than Trunks sitting on the chair next to her bed, seemingly asleep. He looked different, she decided; his face was more mature and his beautifully flowing hair had grown down to shoulder length. The gaze she had settled on him had alerted him, it seemed, for merely a couple minutes after her blue eyes had settled over his handsome face his eyes also opened, only to stare dazedly back at her. Now breaking free from his daze, Trunks opened and closed his eyes several times, unable to believe that Marron was also staring back at him, alive and awake. He sat up and whispered, "Marron…"

"I'm not dead," Marron whispered back, a remainder more to herself than to anyone else.

"No—no you're not," Trunks' voice cracked as he smiled slightly.

Marron, too, sat up slowly with some difficulty. Her eyes never left his and she finally asked, "What happened?"

Trunks was unable to keep eye contact after her question, and he turned away as his expression darkened. "That beast almost killed you."

Marron daringly took his hand in hers making him look at her in surprise, she then blushed and released hold of him. "I remember someone picking me up, right before I fainted, was that you?"

The half-Saiyan's face turned red as he nodded his confession.

"How? How were you able to find me? How did you know?"

"Your ki," Marron almost rolled her eyes at his response; it seemed that was always his answer. Trunks sensed this, for he then elaborated, "Well… I felt there was something wrong, and I went to Kame House, but Krillin told me that the androids showed up and that Cell had fought you and Piccolo and the androids—Piccolo and Tien were brought here as well, they are in another ward… Piccolo seems to be alright, and Tien isn't too badly injured anymore."

Marron felt a pang of disappointment at herself, all this time she had been thinking of how she was alright, but not once did she spare Piccolo and Tien a thought.

"I brought Piccolo and Tien back to Kame House," Trunks continued, "and I followed Cell's ki, because I knew you would be with the androids. Just as I reached the place where you and Cell had been fighting I ran into C and the androids, but they avoided me and I had no time to talk to them, because I felt your ki slipping away." His beautiful eyes turned away; they were clouded with a hatred alien to his personality as he thought about Cell, and all Marron wanted to do then and there was hold him forever. He exhaled loudly to relieve some anger and turned back to Marron, to continue with his tale. "You were so broken when I was able to take you away…" His words were whispered gently, as if talking about it would reverse her condition to such a state.

Marron couldn't help but blurting out, "Did you kill Cell?"

He shook his head. "No. I had no time; you needed immediate medical attention. I took you to the West City Central Hospital, but then we moved you back here. You were in a coma, Marron."

His tone was so grave, yet she felt as if she had simply taken a really long nap. "Couldn't you just give me a Senzu bean?" Marron asked cautiously, apprehensive of what his answer would be.

"That's what I asked mother, and she said it would be dangerous; she said your body might recuperate but your mind would still continue to be in a comatose state—"

"To be an empty shell…" Marron interrupted him, shivers running through her very spine.

Trunks didn't dare nod, the stare he set on her empty and emotionless.

Marron leaned back on her pillow and her lips smiled. This boy, so broken and battle-hardened, had been her savior so many times. Oh how she loved him for it, but why was it that every time she was so very close to him he chose to withdraw? She turned her blue eyes to meet with his and set aside any bashfulness, not hesitating in intertwining his hand in hers and gaining his full attention. "Thank you, Trunks," her voice was sweet and enticing, yet knew she need not elaborate.

He didn't reply, simply settling on squeezing her hand.

"Your hair's grown," she casually stated. Her hand released hold of his and shifted up to touch his lavender locks, which were so smooth and well-kept to the touch. Then, in realization and alarmed by the length of his hair, Marron asked in a hurry, "I've been in a coma for that long!"

The boy laughed and replied quickly so to appease her emotions, "No, I was in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber for a year, remember? A year for me and a day for you… it's OK…" Trunks moved her hand away from his hair and back to the bed.

Her lips curved to a perfect "o" and she, too, smiled at her exaggeration. "Who brought all these flowers?" Marron asked after what seemed an eternity.

"Everyone—they've all come visit you all this time. Krillin specially, he comes every day and brings more flowers, we're about to open a flower shop with all the bouquets he's brought, sheesh," Trunks laughed. "Does he know you're his daughter?" He asked her and Marron promptly nodded. "That explains…"

Outside, past the cream colored curtains, the sun was slowly beginning to set. The light pooling in to the room eventually turned from a gradient of red to blue, until her ward became cool and dark. Trunks remained by her side all the while, and although she felt tempted to fall asleep once or twice, she basked on the comfort of their solitude and his presence. All the while Trunks explained who brought which flowers, and they even joked about the stuffed panda bear that sat by the foot of her bed. She found out that Piccolo and Tien weren't in as bad a state as she was when Trunks had brought her to the hospital, and that Piccolo was recuperated enough that he had even visited her once.

It wasn't until there was no longer any light coming in from the window and Trunks had to turn the light of her table lamp on that he finally had the courage to ask, "Marron… what happened to Slip?"

For a moment she thought she had misunderstood his question, for it seemed unbelievable that all this time he did not know, but the gravity of his expression made her tilt her head to the side and clarify, "Wait, you don't know?"

Trunks shook his head and answered, "Ever since the androids brought C back she's been avoiding the question—she's been avoiding everyone in fact. I really don't know…"

Marron turned away, and for a second found herself unable to word an answer, for she felt as if telling Trunks would be admitting that it really happened. "Cell absorbed Slip," she finally said in an undertone, hoping that Trunks would not ask her to repeat the statement.

"Cell absorbed—that son of a bitch."

She eyed him curiously and felt somewhat apprehensive of the hatred that clouded Trunks' eyes whenever Cell was brought up.

"I had a feeling… when I fought him… there was a slight trace of Slip in every one of his movements; I just didn't want to admit it," Trunks confessed.

The room was so dark now that the golden light emitting from the table lamp set harsh shadows over the two of them, yet there was an unspoken comfort between them that made the darkness all the more enticing. As if they were two lovers on a tryst. "Is there anything we can do to reverse it?" Marron asked after a little while for she, too, felt incredibly attached to both twins, and the knowledge that they were her children from the future only intensified that feeling. She momentarily wondered if she should ever tell Trunks, yet decided against it, and inwardly smiled, for it was as if she owned the secret and key of their relationship.

Trunks shook his head. Almost without him realizing, his hand had traveled to caress her cheek, and her heart burst with relish at his touch. "The androids came by when I was still unconscious?" Marron almost regretted breaking their spell, but the question had been pressing in the back of her head for quite a while.

He withdrew his hand and snorted in cynicism. "Yes, when they dropped C off. She wanted to see you," He replied curtly.

"My mom…"

"It's her fault you're like this," he spat.

"It's not her fault." Marron immediately rose up in her defense. "It's Cell the one who did this to me—"

"Because you wanted to keep her alive," Trunks quickly intercepted.

"Then it's my own fault."

He glared at her.

"Were you the one that was yelling for her to go?" Her words were whispered, yet the tone of the demand was apparent within them.

"Father was about to blast her out of the house, if that's what you're referring to. I merely let her do what she wanted to do," He rose from his chair. "She's your mother, so I suppose she had the rights to see you. That, however, does not make her welcome in this house," he walked around her bed and towards the door until he finally said coolly, "rest Marron, it's late." And with those last few words he left her alone in the darkness, the small lamp light next to her bed her only consolation.

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