~This one is actually edited. I found a program online that is called and I used that and it worked really well. So your eyes won't bleed anymore for my blaring grammatical mistakes. Enjoy!~

Maria had been working for Bulma as her personal assistant for almost a month now. As generous as Bulma was being to her family she expected her generosity to be in return for Maria's hard work. Maria had to hit the ground running it had been years since she had been in the corporate world. Before Maeve was born she had briefly worked at a large corporation as an intern for a couple of years. Then she had met Maeve's father and when she had become pregnant she had taken up another position as a bank teller in a small town. Maria had stayed with the same banking company and branch up until her divorce from her second husband just a few months ago. Coming to Capsule Corp. had not only been a good opportunity but the biggest challenge of her life. There was some night that Maria would walk through the door barely able to keep her eyes open. She was thankful for her elder daughter being able to see to her younger daughter's care. Bulma had promised her it wouldn't always be like this they were busy right now due to the fact Bulma's last personal assistant had not done a very good job and had left a mess for Maria to pick up. After a few weeks, Maria was finally starting to see some progress and Bulma was pleased. After the mess, her life had been the last few months she was so thankful for some stability.

The improvement she was seeing in not only herself but also her daughters she was thankful for. Chica was finally settling down and not acting out as much. Then of course Maeve who had had to face so many demons was finally finding some peace. It broke Maria's heart to have to choose between her daughter and her husband but she was a mother first and foremost and Carl should never have asked her to such a thing. Inside she still couldn't believe what he had done. He had always been a good father to both Maeve and Chica and then suddenly had done a complete one-eighty. Although through their decade of marriage Maria had seen his temper and his distrust that came from the fact his own mother had been a drug, addict. Carl had had his own demons to fight and Maeve's downfall into addiction had come to a shock to them all. Maeve had always been a bright and loving girl and then when she went off to college that all had changed. Maria had asked her so many times what had started her down that path, but Maeve to this day refused to tell her. All Maeve would say is that it as something bad and from that moment on she had made one bad decision after another. Maria remembered the day she received Maeve's letter from her treatment program. Carl had been intercepting them, while Maria didn't even know if her daughter was dead or alive, and destroying them. Maria finally by accident found one before he could destroy it and without him knowing started writing back to her daughter. Soon she found a time while Carl was away on a business trip to go visit her alone.

That time she had seen Maeve it had been the first time in three years. Maeve had left for art school when she was eighteen and at first thrived and kept in contact. Then her contact dropped off and she stopped coming home to visit. Then Carl had found out the credit card they had given her for emergencies was maxed out and money was disappearing from their checking account. Maeve had only had access to their checking account in special occasions and she always called and told them what she needed before getting any money out. Soon it didn't take long before the school sent her things, that had been in her dorm room, back in a box. When Maria in a panic had asked where she was the school said she had been dismissed from her program and had lost her scholarship. Legally Maeve was an adult the school didn't have to contact Carl and Maria and let them know what was going on. Maria and Carl tried to find Maeve thinking she was in trouble. They finally got a phone call from a police station and Maria and Carl had gone down there to get her. When Maria saw her she felt like she was staring at a stranger. The daughter had her face and her looks but other than that her sweet Maeve was gone. In her place was a pale, sickly thin, hazy-eyed heroine addict. Her once beautiful long and curly strawberry blonde hair was matted and greasy. She had dark circles under her eyes, but the most shocking thing was the needle marks and bruises on her arms. Maeve had been caught still not with possession, but that didn't matter Carl took one look at her and turned around and walked away. Maria in shock not knowing what to do for the moment followed him thinking that he was just angry needed a moment. Maria had been shocked when he grabbed her arm and drug her to the car slamming her against the side and pinning her there. He had never hit her, but the look in his eyes made her believe he wasn't above doing it.

He made her swear right then and there that she wouldn't go back to Maeve. In a desperate move, Maria agreed because she was trapped and terrified of her husband. Seeing Maeve like that had awoken something dark inside of him that he had buried years ago as memories of the abuse he suffered from his mother came back with a vengeance. They left that day, but it didn't take long for Chica, then nine, to hear her older sister had been found. Carl having a soft spot for his daughter agreed to try to let Maeve come home and they would get her counseling and help. Maria was hopeful that this would work, but she was wrong. They weren't equipped to handle Maeve's withdraws and soon she was back on drugs and this time especially after almost putting Chica in danger there was no coming back from this. Carl kicked Maeve out and it was from than three years before she saw her again at the recovery center. Thinking back Maria remembered seeing Maeve through a glass window sitting in a private visiting room to see her mother. She was still sickly thin, but Maria could tell that life had once again been breathed into her. Maeve's beautiful hazel eyes were lit up again and not dull like before. Her hair was clean and cropped severely short, a pixie cut then, and her arms were molted with scars from needles and syringes that she kept covered with long sleeves. Maria had walked in and Maeve's thin pale face and hazel eyes looked at her. Neither woman made a move at first until Maeve started crying. She didn't beg or weap for forgiveness silent tears just trailed down her cheeks. Maria didn't see a beaten and bruised young woman she saw her child and she saw that she needed help.

They visited for several hours that day mostly quiet just holding hands. Maeve was too uncomfortable than to touch hardly anyone. Later speaking with her counselors and psychiatrists Maria had found out that there had been some sort of horrible event Maeve had been at the scene of. She had witnessed something gruesome and shocking and quite possibly been a victim of the physical assault, but she wouldn't tell them anything about it. Maeve had wondered into an emergency room a hysterical mess begging for help The counselors assured her Maeve was going to recover, but it would take time. Physically she could recover but mentally that could take years. Maria had gone home and faced Carl and he had threatened to take Chica away from her if she brought Maeve back. Luckily Chica had been listening and took her mother's side, something Maria was both thankful and regretful for, she hated Chica had become inadvertently a pawn against her father. Carl couldn't say no to her especially when she had seen him screaming in her mother's face. After that night, she and Carl both had agreed on a divorce. Carl had his own demons to deal with and seeing his past behavior he had told Maria he didn't want to be around Chica. He was scared about what his anger might make him do. Maria never believed for a second that he would physically hurt Chica but mentally and emotionally was another matter altogether. They also agreed for the time being until Carl got some help himself he would not see Chica. So Maria had picked up and moved with her two daughters hoping to start over the divorce finalized praying to start over and get her girls a better life.

So here she was alone sitting by the pool in the wee hours of the morning with a glass of wine. She had been out here for a few hours lost in her thoughts. She sensed something was wrong with her daughters but having talked to Maeve her worries were somewhat settled. Maria sensed it had something to do with Chica. She downed the last of her wine rubbing a hand through her neatly trimmed bob before standing to walk back inside. Maria gasped turning to see Vegeta standing there looking at her. His obsidian stare focused intently on her. Bulma had said he got up early everyday to train and Maria didn't realize it was quite that late.

"Hello, Vegeta," Maria said kind of out of sorts. She had spoken with him briefly before, but she knew Vegeta was a man of few words. He didn't show any emotion towards her at all. He treated her more like a piece of furniture in the background.

Vegeta looked at the woman close to his mate's age. To think she had a whelp so old she had mated young and produced children young. Also something else queer to him was the fact she had had more than one mate apparently and also that she had recently left her mate, the father of her youngest. This concept of a female leaving one's mate was completely unheard of to the Saiyan Prince. His people never left their mates once they had sanctified their union. True mates didn't spend as much time together as these human couples did but still they were true and loyal to one another especially if they produced offspring. Humans were very queer to him even now after sixteen years on this planet. Maria was on the average side for a female in height and looks nothing spectacular about her at all.

"You shouldn't be out here." Was his only reply which he practically grunted walking past her. Maria sighed knowing he was right grabbing her empty wine glass and heading back inside to go to bed. She quickly texted Maeve if they were allowed to just stay at the Son's for most of the day. Maria suddenly felt like sleeping in late and didn't want to be bothered by anything for a few extra hours because her motherly instinct was telling her their new challenges to face.

Maeve looked at her phone curiously seeing her mother's text asking her to stay out for the day. Maeve suddenly felt worry clench at her stomach wondering if her mother was all right. It was unlike Maria to not want Chica home especially lately with the sudden developments with Chica's powers.

"What's the matter, dear?" Chichi asked curiously seeing her perplexed expression. Maeve was helping her clean up the kitchen after breakfast as the kids were outside and Goku and Trunks were showering.

"My mom asked if we could stay out for the rest of the day."

Chichi looked at the young woman seeing the look of worry on her face. She didn't know Maeve's mother but guessing from her expression this was unusual for the woman. Chichi patted her forearm smiling. "Sometimes us mothers need a break from not only our kids but life in general. You said something about her having been working hard for Bulma maybe she just wants to relax."

Maeve sighed "I guess so. That makes sense."

"Well, its only a day you two are more than welcome to spend the day with us here if you want." Chichi invited

"I don't know where else we would go to be honest Chichi. If you're sure it's not a problem." Maeve said

"Not at all. If you don't mind helping out a little, I would be grateful it's not often I get an extra set of hands around here." Chichi said chuckling

"Sure. I don't have a problem with that." Maeve said smiling kind of looking forwards to spending more time with the woman. Chichi might be a bit on the stubborn and mean side at times, but Maeve liked her. Honestly she was more comfortable around her than Bulma, not that she didn't like Bulma, they just didn't seem to have much in common. They chatted idly as they cleaned up the kitchen. Chichi unlike the city people in the country had a slower laid back kind of accent. Maeve liked it reminded her of a teacher she was fond of from highschool. Only a few minutes drifted by before Chichi gave her a queer look. Maeve looked at her curious.

"I meant to ask you. Has Goku been bothering you about your relationship with Mirai Trunks?" Chichi asked

Maeve sighed hard "Yes."

Chichi giggled "That's just like Goku. He means well I promise."

"I know it's real, really, really complicated, though," Maeve said hanging up the drying cloth as they were now finished with cleaning.

"I can imagine. He's from the future or alternate timeline or something. I don't really understand it." Chichi said confused tapping a finger to her chin

"Neither do I and he won't talk much about it," Maeve said, "We both agreed though to just be friends and whatever happens happens. We're both really not looking for a relationship."

"That's good. At least you both are on common ground but just keep in mind if it is love you can't stop it." Chichi said winking at her

Maeve had to smile rolling her eyes slightly at the cheesy line. "I'll keep that in mind."

"Now then. Let's get you a fresh set of clothes for now and give me those and we'll wash them." Chichi said grabbing her arm and pulling her towards her bedroom. Goku walked out clean and in a fresh Gi that as orange with strange symbols on the front and his usual blue undershirt.

"Goku you're not training again are you?" Chichi asked glaring at him

"No! I mean even if I do I'll just need another shower." He said grinning at her promptly making Chichi blush and Maeve snorted clapping a hand to her mouth.

"Son Goku! Don't you think for one minute that you can weasel your way into getting what you want by, by, by...ugh! Never mind move!" Chichi snapped still blushing shoving him out of the way to which the tall man laughed hopping to the side on one leg. Maeve wisely followed her still trying not to laugh at the comical display.

"Go outside and check on the kids!" she yelled over her shoulder

"Okay." Goku chuckled heading outside.

Maeve soon found herself wearing a Chinese style blue dress with a red pair of pants underneath and black flats. Chichi also managed to tame her hair and clipped her shorter layers back. Maeve felt a little strange but liked the dress.

"There you go I knew it would fit you," Chichi said grinning

Maeve looked in the mirror "This is a nice dress thank you Chichi."

"You can have it actually. I can't fit into it anymore after having two children." Chichi sighed softly. Maeve looked at the beautiful woman. Sure she had a couple of gray hairs and a few wrinkles but she still was beautiful. She wore her long black hair in a low ponytail since her "shower". She was petite and pretty with almond-shaped brown eyes. She knew it was not true, but it would be pointless to argue with Chichi her own mother did the same thing.

"Oh, are you sure?" Maeve asked and Chichi nodded "Okay thank you."

Soon she found the kids, Goku, and Trunks outside. They were all down by the koi pond. As Maeve approached Chica looked up and gave her and odd look. "Mae what are you wearing?"

Of course everyone else's gazes followed. Goku grinned seeing Chichi's old dress standing "Hey I haven't seen that in awhile. Hey, Goten that the same outfit your mom had on when she and I found in the Tenkai Budokai."

"Oh wow! Cool!" Goten said grinning

"Oh really? I didn't think this was a fighting outfit or whatever you guys call it." Maeve said as she approached looking down at it.

"It is sort of not a gi like ours just a traditional outfit. You look nice." Goku commented

Maeve smiled "Thank you. I like it actually its really comfortable."

"Come here Mae and look!" Goten said waving her over

"Okay," Maeve said and came over to the side of the pond her face lit up with a smile seeing the fish. "Wow! Those guys are huge they're pretty, though."

"Aren't they cool!?" Chica asked

"They're all right." Trunks snorted

"You're just saying that because one bit you." Goten teased him earning a glare while Chica and Maeve laughed

Goku smiled watching the teens and Maeve glancing at Mirai who stood behind them smiling too. Goku was happy the warrior from the alternate timeline had finally seemed to found peace. At least for the moment.

Trunks watched the kids play and then seeing Maeve he realized he was happy he had come here. Maeve looked nice in Chichi's dress and seeing her laughing and smiling with the kids also made him feel a protective streak. He had lost so much in his life to finally find something to love and cherish again surprised him. He didn't know the depth of his feelings for Maeve or if they would ever go past friendship but he was happy he found a kindred spirit. Maybe one day soon he would be able to tell her about his past and maybe she would share her pains with him too. Until then he as happy to just be in her presence and be able to call her a friend as well as being able to have her little sister, Goten, and Trunks around. He thought he had lost everything, but here he was finding he had gained a family.