~So I've been having some health issues sweetlings. I've developed neurological issues and started having severe migraines they still don't know what's causing them. So unfortunately my writing might slow down a little but I will still be writing just not as often. I can't help it. I can't see very well to write and bright lights like computer screens cause me severe pain. I am going to the doctor to get it treated so don't you worry. I promised I would lay off the Mae/Mirai fluff, well I lied. There is actually a minor amount of lemon at end of this chapter well actually lime really. Nothing serious and its just a little piece. This chapter is mainly Chica and her Dad Carl and the emotions that Maria is going through having him visit. Thank you for all your support~

**Maiko ;3**

My Future Love

Chapter Twenty-One

Maria felt like she was going to throw up. There was no other way to describe it. She sat at her dining room table with an untouched cup of tea that was supposed to calm her nerves but she couldn't bring herself to drink it. She tried not to glance at the clock on the wall but she could still hear the ticking echoing in her ears.

Chica was completely oblivious playing on her Gameboy across from her mother. Maria had sat her down and told her father was coming to visit for a couple of days. Chica had shrugged and just said, 'Okay' before acting like it didn't effect her at all. Maria was wondering if Chica was not fully understanding the situation. Maria didn't know but for the moment her daughter was content and she didn't want her anxiousness to rub off on her.

Finally, at three 'o' clock the door bell rang. Maria asked Chica to wait at the table and went to answer it knowing it was Carl. As she turned the knob and opened the door there stood her ex-husband. Looking at him, his olive complexion, dark brown eyes, and dark hair her heart leapt into her throat. Blue eyes could only stare at him.

Carl's dark eyes focused on her also taking a moment to look at Maria. She had cut her hair shorter and put some auburn highlights in it, lost about fifteen pounds, and was wearing a bit more makeup that he was used to seeing her in. Overall she was just as beautiful as he remembered. Carl's heart clenched at the sight of her.

"Hello Carl." she said softly forcing a smile

Carl saw now not his wife but a stranger. As much as this Maria looked like the Maria he had once made laugh, made love too, and raised two beautiful girls this was no longer his Maria. Her smile was forced and hard to put on her face it wasn't the same unbridled smile that had once made his heart warm. Carl cleared his throat and smiled back, an equally awkward smile.

"Maria," He said gently unsure

Maria saw that his dark hair now had some streaks of grey in it and was cut shorter than the last time she saw him. He had also lost some weight himself and wasn't the lean runner's muscle he once had been. At that moment without saying a word to one another they knew they were no long the same two people who had fallen in love. The separation and divorce following had been hard on both of them in different ways.

"Please come in, Chica wants to see you." Maria prompted taking a shaky breath and stepping aside and opening the door wider.

"Sure. I dropped my stuff at the hotel across town and came straight over." Carl said

Carl walked inside and immediately saw Chica sitting at the table. She looked up and her blue eyes landed on him. Carl smiled at her a brighter smile than he had given Maria. "Hey, Chicki."

Chica grinned quickly laying her video game down and walking up to her father. "Dad! Whoa...you look old."

"Chica!" Maria snapped

"It's okay. I kinda like the salt and pepper." Carl said running a hand through his hair

Chica laughed giggling a bit but Carl noticed in just two years her little girl giggle was fading. In fact, she going to hit adolescence soon. Just two years and he had missed so much of his little girl growing up.

"Can I have a hug Chicki?" he asked using her nickname again faltering slightly as emotion welled in his throat. Chica grinned and hugged her father tight. His arms came around her with a tight embrace. Chica watched him fight back the tears. Carl was wanting this visit to take place as stressless as possible.

"Dad! Dad! Wait till you see what I can do! I have cool powers now." Chica said

"You're mom told me on the phone. Maybe later you can show me." He said as she pulled back from the hug

"Yeah! I can fly now and I can create like energy shield bubble things..."

"Chica. Slow down you're the father just go here. Let's just visit for a little while." Maria asked her daughter

"Yes, ma'am." Chica sighed rolling her eyes

"Go get your photo album you've been working on for him." Maria prompted

"Oh yeah! Dad you're going to love it. I've got some of my school stuff in there, my new friends at school, and also Goten and Trunks." Chica said ecstatic

"Trunks?" Carl asked at the name quirking an eyebrow

"Yeah it sounds like underpants, but don't worry he's cool and one of my best friends," Chica said giggling making Carl chuckle

"If you like him I'm sure he's alright. Go get your photo album." Carl prompted and Chica nodded running up the stairs

That left Carl and Maria together, alone, in the room. Maria smiled at him and he smiled back.

"Was it as hard as you thought it was going to be?" Carl asked softly

"Harder," She replied

"It looks like you have a good life here Maria. Thank you for taking care of Chica when I couldn't." Carl complimented her

"It's not something I wanted to do. Little girls need their fathers, all little girls." Maria said emphasizing what Carl knew she meant

"I know that now," Carl said frowning

"Do you?" Maria challenged

"Yes Maria I do not this visit but another visit I want to try to reconcile with Maeve but let's not talk about that right now. I don't want to fight anymore. I lost too much time already and I need to start over before its too late." Carl said and Maria could see now the weightloss and the Grey hair were physical proof of the demons he had faced the last two years

"That's fair Carl. Right now Maeve is okay. I'm more worried about Chica and you're only here for a few days. Are you thirsty?" Maria asked changing the subject

"Actually yes I am," Carl said smiling gently. Maria invited him to her table and they sat together with Chica for several hours. At least, for a little while, they felt like a family again.

Maeve in all her travels had never been to the beach before. She stood out on the balcony staring at the setting sun on the beachscape below. She was in awe, it was beautiful! She'd seen pictures before but they never did it justice.

Bulma had booked them a weekend at a private little capsule beach house. It wasn't overtly large with just two bedrooms, a kitchen, one bathroom, and a living area. Maeve was glad it was smaller it was cozier. Trunks had wondered off somewhere and at the moment, she was too transfixed by the scenery to care to lean on the balcony railing soaking in the peace.

Trunks had wondered off but not too far just around the rest of the house curious. He was glad that his mother had enough sense to get them two rooms and not just one. He didn't want to know what Maeve would think if she found out there were only one room and one bed. It was bad enough they were sharing a bathroom. After his inspection done he came out on the balcony from his own room, both their rooms shared one balcony and found Maeve.

He had to smile seeing her hair blowing lazily in the wind her body framed by golden light. Her pale skin seemed to glow at the moment. He didn't want to disturb her sensing the calm that was settled over her ki but he didn't want to scare her either. So he gently cleared his throat and she turned looking at him smiling serenely.

"It's beautiful." she breathed with a sigh

"You've never been to the beach before?" Trunks asked curiously walking up to her side and joining her in appreciating the view. He leaned next to her on the railing watching her reaction. She smiled at him "No I haven't. First time."

She watched his smile match hers as she admitted a little shyly having never been to the beach before. "Well then what are we doing up here? Let's go down there."

With that, Mirai grabbed her hand and she let him pull her into the house. Both of them kicked their shoes off before stepping on the deck and into sugar white sand. Maeve grinned digging her toes into the sand as Mirai was patient standing behind her letting her take in the experience. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath before they snapped open once more. She let out a breathless laugh before taking off running towards the surf and waves hitting the shore.

He watched as the long legged red head splashed and ran back and forth in the water breathless with laughter. She was kicking up foam and sea water this way and that getting her clothes damp. Content on watching her Mirai walked up closer. Maeve got a mischevious streak and started kicking sea spray and foam at him.

"Hey!" he laughed as it splashed onto him.

"Ha! Gotcha!" she giggled bright eyed and bright-cheeked.

"Get back here," He said diving in between the waves chasing after her she gave a fake shriek bouncing off. He grinned continuing after her. Maeve didn't see the large wave coming into shore and it slapped into her lower legs knocking her down. She gave a yelp falling face first into the waves. Mirai gasped quickly stumbling through the waves after her and grasping her arms just as she broke water for air.

Mirai scooped her up in his arms out of the water grinning slightly at the now waterlogged red-head. "Are you alright."

She coughed and hacked up a bit of salt water before raking her limp and water soaked hair out of her face. "Fine. Didn't see that wave." She sighed smiling slightly at his amused expression "I look like a drowned rat don't I?"

"A little. You've definitely looked better." He mused thinking honestly she looked beautiful even water logged.

"Oh gee! Thanks, Trunks." She snorted chuckling

He gave her a shrug and a grin before quickly catching her in a deep kiss one that stole her breath with a surprised squeak. Maeve felt him set her legs down from holding her in his arms and pulled her flush against his abdomen. Hard muscle and powerful limbs encircled her and for the first time, she felt so tiny compared to him. He was as much as the friend to her as her lover it was easy to forget he was a hot-blooded man.

Her body was starting to slowly set on fire and she let out a groan and ground herself closer to him. It was his turn to let out a gasp of surprise and it brought him back to reality they were going a bit far to quick. With more effort than he wanted to admit, he pulled away. Maeve's hazel eyes fluttered open and she looked at him with a half open mouth. He swallowed as every one of his male instincts was at attention.

"Are you okay?" Maeve asked softly her lips slightly swollen from his kiss.

"Uh, yeah...its just...god damn it," He growled flushing as he felt that one part of himself give his desire away.

Maeve felt the very male part of him pressed against her hip and she smiled at him understanding. "Oh. I get it."

"I'm sorry." He groused

"For what? It's natural." Maeve said feeling a new level of desire seeing how much he desired her.

"I know its just...so soon...and..."He groaned again and Maeve was concerned seeing how he seemed to be in pain almost.

"Okay, we don't have to do anything Trunks you know that. Not yet but are you going to be okay?" Maeve asked softly touching his cheek.

"Yeah. It's just, this is so embarrassing." He groaned

"What? What? Tell me." She pleaded worriedly.

"Saiyans...like me, even half. When we get aroused we get...a little animalistic and possessive." He admitted

"Oh. Wow." Maeve said and her whole face lit up

"I'm not out of control or anything!" he snapped

"I know! I wasn't worried about that its just that sounds...really hot actually." She giggled

The look that followed her teasing him made her quiet instantly. His eyebrows knit and his azure gaze hardened intensely and she felt a dampness between her legs that made her clench her knees together. He smirked leaning down close to her ear and she squealed as a hot tongue flicked out against the shell of it.

"You better be careful teasing me like that Mae...you'll regret it." He chuckled and pulled back and gave her a quick hot kiss before she found herself standing alone harshly aroused on the beach and Mirai shooting off towards the sea before he dove in.

Maeve stood dizzy, confused, and dazed and hot all over. She shivered and blinked realizing he had gotten her all hot and bothered and left her. She should be angry but honestly, that was the hottest damn thing she had ever experienced in her life.