To KK (guest reviewer): Don't feel bad! You're not putting any pressure on at all :) It's great to see that you are enjoying the update frequency, because often I need to restrain myself from posting the next one too soon. I always figured I gotta let the dust settle from the previous chapter before throwing out the next one, but hearing that you actually enjoy the odd quick release is reassuring! Plus, you guys are all so brilliant, that I love being able to treat you when I can.

Do you (and any other guest reviewers reading!) have a FF account? I like being able to PM readers, but can't do that with guest accounts. I might just start responding within the chapter, as I rude feel not saying anything back. Guest reviewers, I hope you don't think I'm simply ignoring you! I absolutely adore each and every review. If you have accounts, definitely flick me a PM if you're keen to chat outside of the public eye :)

With a deep breath, Bulla knocked on the door. Her stomach felt like it was on a wash cycle. Kami, I loathe to bring this up again, she bemoaned while she waited for a response. It was now a solid fourteen months since that weekend, and around eight since she and Goten had their little heart-to-heart in her room. Both of them had clearly moved on with their lives, but the revelation she'd uncovered about her father's dark suspicions of Goku's youngest brought everything back to the surface. For Bulla at least.

It had already been a week since her father had shared his concerns in his training room, and she had been content to wait for some organic moment in which to let Goten in on the news, but that moment never came. If she waited much longer, she'd risk having to bring it up at her birthday party, which was only another week away. She strongly suspected that would not bode well for anyone involved. If he won't show up on my doorstep, I'll just have to show up on his, she'd eventually decided.

She heard some movement on the other side of the door, sensing him as he approached. His face appeared soon after. Inching the door open, he didn't even remotely attempt to veil his surprise.

"Bulla. Hey?" He was looking at her suspiciously. "What's up?"

"Hi, is this a bad time?" She asked nervously.

"Uhm, that sort of depends I guess." He stepped out of his apartment, pulling the door closed behind him. He was wearing black slacks with a partially unbuttoned white shirt still tucked in. His sleeves were rolled and his hair was somewhat dishevelled. Belt was still secure.

I guess he must've gotten back from work not too long ago.

The teen herself wore a navy floral dress paired with opaque tights and tan leather ankle boots. She had dropped her school bag and coat on the ground near his door to relieve herself of the excess load.

"What's going on? And why are you masking your energy?"

Her heart was beginning to race as the reason for her visit became increasingly imminent. She turned her head suddenly when she heard another set of footsteps wondering around his apartment.

"Oh God, do you have someone over? I'm sorry, I shouldn't have just shown up like this. I don't have your number or anything, and you haven't come around over the past few days, so- "

"Bulla, slow down," he frowned, resting his hand on her shoulder. "You're starting to worry me. Why are you here? Has something happened?"

She inhaled slowly. "My dad knows."

He was still watching her in confusion when his face suddenly fell, blanching noticeably.

"Wait, not exactly," she corrected, scrunching her face. "Ugh, sorry. Let me try again. Can I maybe come in? I don't really want to talk about this in your hallway."

He nodded, opening the door and ushering her in while surveying the main passage for any onlookers.

"Hey Dee, something's just come up," he announced, overtaking Bulla and heading for his quaint living area. "Could we maybe reschedule for some other time?"

The teen carefully observed the pretty young blonde sitting on his leather couch. She was well put together with her hair in a high ponytail. What happened to Red? She wondered idly.

"Oh. Yeah okay," she responded cheerily and began gathering her things. "Call me later so we can sort something out."

Bulla quietly took in her surroundings, in awe of how much time had passed since she'd last been here, as well as how much things had changed. Unthinkingly, her eyes fell to the bench top where she had apparently almost lost her virginity to her brother's best friend. A faint blush hit her cheeks, worsened by the fact that when she looked up, she found Goten had been watching her. Great.

Dee made her way to the door, turning around to give him a hug. He closed the door behind her quietly before pivoting to face the heiress.

"Start from the beginning," Goten voiced calmly.

Bulla clutched her arm and stared back at him apprehensively.

"About a week ago I was training with my dad in the GR and he started interrogating me out of nowhere," she began. "I finally lashed out at him, asking why he keeps being mean to you and asking all these accusatory questions."

"Accusatory?" He interrupted, rearing his head. "What do you mean?"

"Well, every now and again he'll ask me stuff about you, but not in a nice way, like he's interested in your well being or anything. More like, he's trying to catch you out," she answered.

"What has he asked you about me?" He asked, folding his arms.

"Ages ago he asked me where I learned to read ki," she responded. "When I told him you taught me, he started barking at me, demanding I tell him what else you taught me, and when I'd been sneaking off to get lessons from you. I told him it wasn't like that, and you just showed me how during that weekend that I stayed here. That just opened up a whole other can of worms."

"What else?" Goten was staring at the ground, brows furrowed.

"He asked me why the house smelled like you, and why I smelled like you one random night like two weeks before." She rolled her eyes.

He was looking back quizzically, clearly unable to piece it together himself.

"It was that time it was raining, and you came over looking for Trunks. We hung out in the living room while I moped about my break up with Jett," she clarified.

"Oh, yeah I remember that night," he affirmed, taking a seat on one of his kitchen stools.

"He didn't bring it up straight away for some reason," Bulla continued. "I don't know why. But he seemed to just stew on it. I asked him why he keeps asking these things, and he said he doesn't trust you."

The older halfling slowly lifted his head to look up at her. "Did he say why?" He asked warily.

"He said that ever since he got back from space, you haven't been able to look him in the eye," she answered reluctantly, loathing to lay it on any thicker. "He thinks you're hiding something from him, and judging by the type of questions he keeps asking..." She hesitated as she felt her cheeks begin to warm. "I'm pretty sure he thinks you're, like, into me or something."

"Fuck!" He hammered his thigh with his fist, causing the heiress to recoil.

"He didn't say it in so many words so I told him I had no idea what he was talking about and that you're a good guy, who's been there for me more than once over the years. That seemed to calm him down at the time." The guilt was beginning to set in as she watched him fidget. I caused this. He would never have lost my dad's confidence if I hadn't made that first move. "I don't get how he could jump to such a crazy conclusion so quickly," she added. "I mean, surely he realises that you're off chasing all these modelesque women every week, why would he think you'd have any interest in me?"

He looked up at her with a sheepish expression, as if to say, Really, Bulla?

"I'm serious!" She responded, extending her fingertips towards the floor.

He cracked an unexpected smile and his shoulders began to shake.

"Are you laughing right now?" The teen questioned disbelievingly.

He lifted his head to face the younger halfling, laughter clearly bubbling up. "Yeah," he breathed. "This is pretty fucking funny."

"How on earth is this funny?!" She exclaimed. Is this guy starting to crack, or what?

"Because somehow the great Saiyan Prince, a guy who only really has one emotion and one expression to show that emotion still managed to see right through me." He shook his head. "And here I thought he'd be the easiest to fool," he added with a mumble.

"So...What? You think he's reading your mind now and can see exactly what happened between us, like, more than a year ago?"

He mumbled once more, this time inaudibly.

"What?" Bulla cocked her head, straining to hear his words.

"Nothing. Look, I'm glad you told me, but you should probably get home." He stood up suddenly and headed towards the door, signalling the heiress to do the same. "I'll figure something out."

Taking his cue, Bulla walked to the exit. She turned to face him when he pulled the door open. "Goten, I'm really sorry," she frowned. "When I kissed you back then, I didn't even think about what kind of mess it could cause for you."

He sighed as he looked down upon the heiress, leaning his left hand on the door frame while the other hung loosely on the door handle next to her. "You don't have to apologise, Bulla. It honestly wasn't your fault. All you did was give me a green light."

Huh?

"What do you mean?" She asked innocently, glancing up at him with wide aquamarine eyes.

A dry smirk broke on the older man's face. He glanced at the passage wall before returning his attention to the heiress beneath him.

Time slowed as the two half-Saiyans observed each other carefully, Bulla suddenly acutely aware of their close proximity. Her brows began to furrow while her eyes slowly traced over Goten's face, taking in the fine stubble that was beginning to show through by now at the end of the workday, his adam's apple bobbing up and down as he swallowed and the strong smell of aftershave mixing in with his own personal scent.

With her hands behind her, Bulla slowly stepped backwards, gently nudging the door closed until it clicked and leaned herself against it. She lifted her eyes to meet his obsidian ones, his own lids heavy as he looked upon her.

Neither moved a muscle. Her heart was beating so fast that she could hear it drumming in her ears.

"You should go," he uttered, voice low.

Bulla nodded slowly but remained where she stood, every cell in her being crying out to close the already questionably narrow gap between them. He inched closer, resting both hands on the door above her. Lowering his face to hers, their mouths were only a hair's width apart.

"Green light," she breathed.

She watched as his entire body suddenly tensed, followed by a deep throaty growl. He pushed himself off the door abruptly and stepped away. The teen slipped out wordlessly, picking up her coat and backpack that was still waiting for her against the outside wall as she headed down the main hallway, noting that Goten was not making any attempt to come after her.

As soon as she got home, Bulla raced upstairs and hopped straight into the shower. Now that she knew what her father was looking for, it was essential that she not give him any more fodder over which to brood and speculate. Her heart was still racing, and she couldn't tell if it was from flying home so hurriedly, or her fried nerves from the intense encounter she had just had with her fellow half-Saiyan. Why did I do that? Wasn't it stupid enough the first time?

After her shower, the teen spent an immeasurable amount of time on her bed staring at the ceiling while still wrapped in her towel, trying to calm herself down. Once she felt sufficiently relaxed, Bulla threw on some comfortable PJs and floated down the stairs, only to find her mother sitting at the kitchen bench reading the newspaper while sipping on a cup of coffee.

"Hi mom," she greeted sweetly.

"Hi, honey." Bulma peered over her glasses, eyeing her daughter as she took another gulp. "You came racing in here so quickly earlier, I thought someone was chasing you," she jested.

"Just really wanted to wash the day off," the teen smiled, drumming her fingers on the granite. "What's for dinner?"

"I thought we'd order pizza tonight," Bulma answered. "I mentioned it to Trunks and he said he'd join us. So now I'm just waiting to for your father to finish up in the GR so we can have a nice family meal again for a change." The scientist grinned and shook out her paper.

"Four cheese for me, please!" Bulla requested on her way to the sliding door.

Strolling through the yard, the heiress noted that the lights in the GR were indeed still running. She passed it nervously, staying firmly on the footpath leading to her brother's house. After a couple of warning knocks, Bulla invited herself in.

"Hey Bulla," Trunks greeted as he pulled on a t-shirt, patting it down neatly. "What's up?"

"Mom says we're getting pizza tonight. I thought I'd hang out here until it comes," she answered simply, eyes dancing over the assorted sculptures and paintings that decorated his new build.

"Uh huh. Nothing better to do on a Thursday night than hang out with your dear old brother then?"

"Pretty much." She pressed into her tippy-toes and lowered herself again, fidgeting as she continued to take in her surroundings. She'd been here a few times since it had been built, but always found herself oddly impressed at her brother's taste. The home was generously sized for a mere bachelor, with a kitchen, lounge, bathroom and gym downstairs and three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a generous study upstairs. I doubt he'd even keep living in this place if he ended up having his own family, she contemplated.

"I was gonna stream something if you wanted to join me," he commented, entering the living area. She followed in after him and set herself up on one of the two-seaters while he got himself a drink. When he returned, he threw her a coke and sat down on an adjacent couch, aiming the remote at the TV.

"Do you think you'll ever get married?" She asked suddenly

He immediately paused and looked at her quizzically. "What?" He laughed. "Where did that come from?"

"Nowhere in particular," she shrugged. "Just wondering if you ever think about settling down."

"Uh, I assumed I probably will one day," he answered hesitantly, returning his attention to the television set.

"But not any time soon?" She pulled the tab on her drink, causing an audible pop.

"Well, that sort of requires finding someone I want to settle down with," he countered, flicking through his series selection.

"True," Bulla nodded, holding the can to her mouth. "So is it that you haven't found the right girl, or guy." She showed her hands, illustrating that she wasn't trying to judge. "Yet, or have you maybe found someone, but you're not quite ready to stop 'playing the field,'" the teen added, making air quotes.

"Since when are you this interested in my personal life?" He snorted, glancing at her suspiciously.

"Since always," she responded casually. "I'm usually just too polite to ask."

"Well keep doing that instead." He dropped down against a cushion, resting his arm behind his head and facing the TV, legs stretched out along the length of the soda. "It's weird talking about this shit with you."

"Talking about what shit?" Both Briefs siblings turned around to see Goten Son standing in the archway behind them.

"Hey man, you made it," Trunks greeted amiably. "I thought you said you were busy tonight."

"Yeah, well my plans got cancelled at the last minute," he answered, glancing briefly at the teenager in front of him. "So I thought I'd see what's happening at good old Capsule Corp."

"My folks are gonna order some pizza for dinner, and Bulla's just sitting here giving me the third degree," he answered. "Do you want a drink?" The oldest of the three sat up once more.

"Yeah, something non-alcoholic," he nodded. "Wanna keep my wits tonight."

Trunks gave a thumbs up and headed for the kitchen.

"Hey," Goten greeted, approaching Bulla's couch.

"Hey yourself," she responded coolly, flicking through her phone.

He sat down next the heiress, moving her legs aside. "So what have you been up to today?"

Bulla cracked an involuntary smile and pulled a cushion out from underneath her, throwing it at the halfling in response. "Yeah, as if I didn't show up on your doorstep, like, two hours ago."

"I don't know what you're talking about," he teased, smirking while he glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. "I haven't seen you in weeks."

"Sorry for ruining your date," she muttered.

"What?" He responded, turning his head in confusion. "Oh- "

"So, the food should be here in, like, an hour," Trunks interrupted, passing the metal can to his friend. "Let's watch some dumb shit while we wait, shall we?"

The roars of laughter could almost be heard from the main residence, with the three half-Saiyans doubled over at the ridiculousness of Trunks' chosen film. Bulla's face was bright red as she wiped the tears out of her eyes. "Ugh, I need to pee," the teen muttered, pushing herself up off the couch and wandering off toward the guest bathroom.

She assessed herself in the bathroom mirror while she washed her hands. Not realising that they'd have company tonight, the heiress hadn't put much thought into her post-shower attire. She was wearing an oversized flannel sleep shirt and a pair of soft cotton shorts. Her hair was wavy and tousled, since she'd simply washed it and let it air dry. Really bringing out the big guns, aren't you Bulla, she mocked with a snort.

"Food's here," Trunks announced on her return. "We're gonna eat in the main house."

"Cool," she nodded, grabbing the empty cans to toss into his recycling bin. "You gonna join us Goten?"

"Uh..."

"Dude, don't even deliberate," Trunks chided. "Free food."

The three demi-Saiyans made their way over to the family residence in good spirits, the outdoor lighting casting large shadows on their lively forms. Impulsively, Bulla jumped on her brother's back, squealing when he squashed her legs to his sides and spun around. She held on for dear life, giggling all the rest of the way, eventually slipping herself off once they approached the sliding door. Trunks pulled the glass door open and rubbed his hands eagerly.

"Oh Goten, I didn't know you were here," Bulma greeted cheerfully. "Will you be joining us for dinner tonight? What a treat!"

"Only if you'll let me," he answered, returning her smile with his own.

"Of course!" She beamed, clasping her hands together. "It's always so wonderful when you're here. It takes me back to the days when you and Trunks were still two troublesome little boys, constantly on the lookout for adventure. How have you been?"

"I've been great," he grinned. "Staying out of trouble for a change. Work's keeping me busy, but I still try to make some time for my favourite family. Hey Vegeta." Goten waved at the patriarch as he descended the stairs, not even skipping a beat.

Vegeta simply grunted, grabbed a full box and promptly left for the living room.

"Are you coming to Bulla's birthday dinner?" Bulma asked, picking a couple of slices herself.

Goten furrowed his brow and looked quizzically at his lavender-haired cohort.

"Aw, fuck," Trunks groaned. "Sorry man, I meant to tell you. It kept slipping my mind."

"Trunks Vegeta Briefs!" Bulma scolded. "How many times did I remind you to tell Goten about this dinner? I knew I should have just mailed him an invite, but you insisted that it wouldn't be necessary."

"When is it?" The hybrid asked, strategically sparing his friend any further lecturing.

"Next Friday," Bulla answered with a mouth full of cheesy goodness. "Nothing special this time, I wanted it to be low key. Rather put that money towards something cool, like- "

"Keep dreaming, brat," Trunks interrupted. "Mom and dad are not getting you a convertible."

The teen stuck out her tongue childishly while she sat cross-legged on the granite bench top, smile still firmly planted on her face. "They so are."

"Sorry, Bulla, I don't think I'll be able to make it this time," Goten answered with a frown.

The teen shrugged, reaching for another slice of four cheese. "If you come across your niece while you're out travelling," she responded. "Can you tell her she's cutting it really frickin' fine."

"She has a way of doing that, doesn't she," Trunks pondered. "I thought she was meant to be back by now?"

"She was!" The teen exclaimed. "She promised me she'd be back in time for my eighteenth, and yet she's still off gallivanting, doing who knows what, who knows where. She forgets I can kick her ass now if she gets on my bad side."

"Now that is a fight I would pay to watch," Goten grinned.

Bulla was lying on her back on top of her covers, lights off and earphones in while she quietly hummed and bobbed to her playlist. The boys had returned to Trunks' place after dinner while the heiress opted to retreat to her room.

The teen had reflected on the evening's events and found herself feeling remarkably optimistic on all accounts: her conversation with Goten had gone surprisingly well, and there hadn't been any awkwardness between them when he'd shown up later in the day, despite the bizarre tension from earlier. The three hybrids had a great time hanging out together over movies and, subsequently, pizza. Even her father seemed to keep his temper under control upon seeing that Goku's youngest was back in the house.

Maybe all that freaking out was for nothing.

Bulla was drawn out of her reverie when she heard what sounded like faint tapping. She pushed into her elbows and pulled out a bud, waiting to see if the noise was indeed coming from outside her head.

She heard the sound once more and followed it to her heavy curtains, pulling them aside suspiciously. She nearly jumped out of her skin on seeing the silhouette of a man standing on her balcony. Sliding the door open, she gazed upon the figure quizzically.

After a few moments, she took a step back, signalling that he could enter and headed for her bedroom door, ensuring that it was closed properly and not merely pushed on.

Bulla stepped slowly in his direction, stopping a few feet short of him. They watched each other carefully, both demi-Saiyans remaining still, neither uttering a word. The curtains were still drawn back slightly from her inspection of the deck, providing the only source of light to the otherwise darkened room.

The older halfling lifted his hand to lightly graze the bottom of her jaw and approached her quietly. She looked up at him, gazing upon a face largely obscured by shadow. He lowered his head to hers, meeting her mouth with a soft, gentle kiss.

He pulled away to look upon her once more. She could see the light reflecting off his eyes as they searched her own intently. Unthinkingly, Bulla stood on the tips of her toes and returned her mouth to his, lightly wrapping her arms around his neck. He brought his hands to her back, setting the skin underneath on fire. Tightening her hold, Bulla pressed herself further into Goten's broad form.

His hands slid down the muscles along her spine, coming around to grip her waist. The heiress carefully turned the pair around and angled herself towards her bed, pulling him with her when she leaned back on to it. He put out one hand, resting it on top of her quilt and kneeled his leg onto the mattress edge, never taking his mouth off hers. She shimmied herself backwards, prompting him to crawl on after her. Bringing his other knee to the bed, the dark-haired demi-Saiyan was now pressing into all fours and hovering over the Capsule Corp. heiress.

Bulla gazed up at him while he drank her in, his open palms either side of her head and knees each side of her hips. She hooked her hands around his neck once more, pulling him down onto his elbows and reunited their throbbing lips.

Reluctantly, he pulled away, rolling himself onto his back with a sigh.

Bulla turned her head to face her unexpected guest, desperately attempting to read his thoughts.

"Why did you come here?" She spoke finally, breaking the silence that had filled her room up until this point.

"I don't know," he whispered, keeping his eyes on her ceiling.

He glanced over at her, the two halflings regarding each other quietly before he pushed himself up to a sitting position, letting one leg rest on the floor next to her bed. Rising back to his feet, Goten leaned over the young Briefs once more and offered one last kiss before standing up straight and heading back to the balcony, leaving without another word.

Post chapter notes:

Well, well, well…

I know at least some of you have been waiting for this moment, right?