Ch 23

"Oh it's so good to see you Goten," smiled Videl as she hugged him. "After what Gohan told me, I'm surprised you wanted to come back here."

"Well I still have family here that accept me and I wouldn't be a good uncle if I didn't spend time with Pan."

"Gohan's at the university and Pan's at school but maybe you can come with me to the grocery store. I have to pick up a few things for dinner tonight."

"Sure," Goten said as his eyes lit up with excitement. "I'd love to, but is there any chance I can cook dinner?"

Videl smiled. "Have I told you how much I love you right now?"

"Boy you really don't like to cook, do you?" he laughed.

"It's all right. It's not my life's blood like it is for you."

"I'm glad someone understands," he smiled.

The grocery store was an exciting place for Goten, and Videl watched in amusement as he spotted ingredients he wanted to use for tonight's meal and put it into the cart. "I'm excited just thinking abut what you're going to cook. So, how's living at Bulma's?"

"It's nice. Everyone's off doing their own thing. Sometimes the home is so silent that it's peaceful."

"How are things with Trunks?"

"Yeah Goten, how are things with Trunks?"

Goten turned around. "Yamcha, what are you—?"

"I heard you two at the hotel yesterday. I can't believe it. You and Trunks are sleeping together. You know like father like son, right? He'll just end up hurting you, throwing you aside once he's satisfied."

"Shut up Yamcha. Everyone knows your bitter because of the way things ended between you and Bulma all those years ago. Get over it and move you pathetic piece of trash," yelled Videl as Goten wheeled her and the cart away from him and into the next aisle. Videl smiled. "Thanks Goten, I was about to kick his ass. No one misses with my family."

Goten smiled. "Gohan's really lucky to have you Videl so is Pan."

"You're so sweet. All right lets finish here and get back to the house."

"You got it!"

It had been a nice night as Goten flew back to the Briefs home. The cool air felt great on his face, and he sighed. Dinner with Gohan, Videl, and Pan had been nice. He was caught up in what was going on in their lives.

Seeing the Briefs backyard in his sites, he got lower until he stood on the grass. Before he got to the door, he saw the gravity chamber open and out came Vegeta along with a sweaty, shirtless Trunks. The site of him made him blush, and he turned away and made his way inside the house, praying Trunks hadn't seen him. 'Oh man how embarrassing,' he thought as walked passed the living room.

"Goten."

"Oh hey Bulma," he smiled as he came into the kitchen to see her with a book and a cup of coffee.

"How was your day?" she asked as Goten sat down at the table.

"It was good to see Gohan, Videl, and Pan again. I'm just glad I didn't run into mom or grandpa," he sighed. "That's just terrible to say I know."

"I'm sorry sweetie. You think someday your mom will at least come around?"

"I don't know. I'm always hopeful," he smiled.

"Do you want something to eat? I'm sure you've had dinner, but I know from a experience that a saiyan's appetite is larger than the average human's," she smiled. "Something sweet might help you feel better," she said as she got off the chair and opened the freezer pulling out a gallon of ice cream.

"Strawberry."

"Yep Trunks told me it's your favorite flavor so I picked it up," she said as she looked closer at Goten. "Sweetie, are you ok?"

"I—I think I'm falling for him, but I'm scared."

"Well believe it or not I know how you feel. Falling in love with Vegeta was pretty scary for me to. My feelings were so strong and intense that it overwhelmed me. Some days I wondered if I was to in over my head because of who he was and his past."

"When did you fully accept how you felt?" he asked as he dug into his ice cream.

"Actions speak louder than words. It was the night we conceived Trunks, our first time together. He was gentle with me which I didn't expect and with every touch and every look he gave me, I knew he was the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. I fell in love and of course we had our ups and down and people kept telling me he wasn't worth it. I stuck true to my heart and never looked back. I have no regrets about who I choose to love and have children with."

Goten smiled. "Thanks Bulma you've given me a lot to think about."

It was late at night when Goten woke up abruptly from a nightmare in a cold sweat. He couldn't shake how scared it made him as he got up and decided to wander the halls. There was something about the long hallways in the Briefs home that comforted it was always the memories he had running up and down these halls, causing mischief with Trunks.

'Trunks,' he sighed. 'How did we end up here? it seems like yesterday we were two kids having fun and saving the world. Now, I don't know anymore. Suddenly I have all these feelings about you,' he thought and suddenly he saw his grandfather's furious face in his mind and shivered. 'What's my nightmare trying to tell me? It felt so real, but it doesn't make sense. I know he doesn't approve but why would he beat me?'

Ending up at the end of one hallway, he made his way into another. He could see Trunks' room at the end of the hall, and he could sense that he was awake in his room. Curious about what was keeping his best friend up, he stopped at his door and knocked. "Trunks?"

"Come in," he said.

Opening the door, he saw Trunks as this desk working on his computer in nothing but sweatpants. He blushed but calmed down before Trunks looked at him. "So, do you usually work this late?"

"Sometimes," he said as he looked up from his laptop. "What's keeping you up so late?"

Goten sat on Trunks' bed and held his knees to his chest. "I had a nightmare, and I had to get out of my room and calm down."

Trunks shut down his laptop and sat beside his friend. "What was it about if you don't mind me asking?"

"My grandfather was yelling at me, but I couldn't hear what he was saying. He started to beat me, and I was too weak to stop him. That's insane because I know I can fight him off, but I think my nightmare is trying to tell me something," he said as he felt Trunks' comforting warm hand rubbing his back, sending pleasurable shivers down his spine.

"That is a very unsettling dream. Maybe you need to keep your distance from him."

"Why?"

"Well because if he hits you, then I'm going to have to hit back. I'm sure your family wouldn't be happy with that."

Goten smiled as he looked at his feet. "I can always count on you to make my life brighter."

"Well you've done that for me growing up. I hit some pretty dark times in my life, and you were always there to remind me I wasn't alone. We were in this life together," he smiled.

"We still are. It's just different now."

"Why does it have to be different?"

"Well because sex makes things complicated. We can't just pretend nothing's changed, everything has because of this bond."

"I'll always be your friend, that won't change for me. I can't force you to love me because that would be wrong, but I guess your right. The bond makes things more complicated, but we can work together on this. We're still a team, right?"

Goten smiled. "The best there ever was. So, what were you working on when I came in?"

"I'm working on getting the Capsule Corporation airline up and running. First I have to finish the inside of the plane and then show it off to investors at this convention that's coming up in a couple of weeks."

"Wow, that's not a lot of time."

"Yep," Trunks smirked, "but I do well under pressure. I'm more than confident I can get it done on time."

"Your arrogance amazes me," he said sarcastically.

"I think it's one of my more attractive features."

"No, I think that would be your eyes," said and then realized he said that out loud. "Oh shoot," he cursed.

Trunks smirked. "You like my eyes."

"Shut up Trunks. Don't you even think of making fun of me."

"I wonder is there anything else you find attractive about me? I saw you staring at me when my father and I came out of the GR."

"You're so mean Trunks," he said, blushing as he got up from the bed and headed towards the door.

Trunks sighed. "Look I'm sorry chibi. It's just fun to tease you. You blush a bright red, and it's cute."

"So, you've been making me blush on purpose?" he said as he turned around to face Trunks.

"If it makes you uncomfortable, I can stop. I think maybe I'm crossing the line with you and trying to push you into something you'll never be ready for. I'm sorry. Sometimes I can't help myself. You're so—you know what I think I've said enough."

"I—I think I'm starting to feel what you mean, and it's a little overwhelming. I should go and get some sleep. Goodnight Trunks," he said as he left the room without looking at him. He couldn't because the eyes were the windows to the soul, and he was afraid of what more he would find in them as he walked back to his room. Closing the door, he sat on his bed. He still wasn't sure he was going to get sleep tonight, but he would do his best to close his eyes.