A week later Goten was cleaning up Baba's store, sweeping the remaining dust into a pan and then into a trashcan. His eyes looked up from his work to see Baba come through the front door.

"Hey Baba," he said as he observed her closely. He could tell something was up with her. "What's going on?"

"There's something we have to talk about." She looked around the store to see the store was empty. "Close up early and meet me upstairs."

"Yes ma'am."

Coming upstairs from completing his work, he saw Baba preparing tea in the kitchen. "That bad, huh?" he asked.

"Not necessarily," she said as she settled the tea on the table and handed a cup to Goten.

"Thanks, so what do you want to tell me?"

"Well, I haven't completely been honest with you. I let one person know what happened to you Goten. They promised not to tell anyone, but they are coming by tonight to check in on you."

"What! Baba, I—

"I promise it's the best person possible to tell. You know you can count on this person to be there for you no matter what. Plus you're going to need help in understanding why you tried to commit suicide."

He sighed. "Ok, fine you're right."

"Well, change and get dressed. We're meeting this person at Lamplight in an hour."

Goten was nervous as he shed his clothes and jumped into the shower. The warm water on his tense muscles wasn't enough to relax him. He had butterflies flapping their wings in his stomach. 'I wonder who she told. She definitely didn't tell my mother. There's no way she would understand,' he sighed, 'heck I don't think I understand it. How did I become so weak as to try and end my life? I'm half-saiyan for kami sake. You think that part of me would have kicked in and fought for my life, but I am human to.'

Finishing up in the shower, he got out, dried off, and changed into fresh clothes he had left out for himself. Coming out of his room, he saw Baba watching TV and he sat beside her on the couch.

"You can't tell me who it is we're meeting."

"It wouldn't be fun if I told you now would it."

"Is it my dad?"

"No, he hasn't come back since he left with Shenron to train."

"Big surprise," he retorted.

"I know there's nothing I can say to make you feel better about it."

"Good, because I don't want to talk about him."

They were walking down the block and the restaurant came into sight. They came in and the waiter led them to a table where a person covered by the hood of their coat was waiting for them. As they got closer and closer, Goten could feel his heart racing an unusual speed than what he was used to.

When they sat in the booth with the person, Baba looked to Goten, who looked nervous. "It's all right Goten, trust me," she said as the person removed their hood.

"Hello Goten."

"Trunks," said Goten.

"I thought who better to tell than your best friend," said Baba. "You two have always been so close. I thought he would be the perfect person to help you Goten."

"We don't have to talk here Goten, but we need to talk about this." He smiled. "For now, lets eat I'm starving."

Goten smiled at him. "Sounds good to me Trunks." Inside he felt nervous. 'She just had to pick the one person I have feel—He was interrupted from his thoughts by his best friend's hand on his shoulder.

"You know you were never so much occupied with thinking," said Trunks. "You really are changing," he sighed. "I guess this is what I get for being selfish and not coming to see you for a year."

"No, I don't blame you. I was going through a lot since dad decided to leave and train. Valese and I broke up, and mom—

"Wait, Valese and you broke up. What happened?"

"I caught her in bed with another guy, and mom's been telling me I don't have good taste in women. So she has elected herself to find me a woman to marry and give her grandchildren."

"Goten," he took his hand tenderly in his and Goten could feel his heart racing, "I'm so sorry."

Baba could sense something between the two boys, and she knew she had made the right choice in telling Trunks about what happened to Goten.

Trunks felt Goten's hand tighten around his, and Trunks grew concerned right away. "Goten, what are you not telling me that Baba's failed to mention?"

The food came, and Goten let go of his hand. His appetite was back to normal, and that was a good sign to Baba. She could tell Trunks was still unsettled. 'Trunks, calm down.'

'I can't believe he would do such a thing.'

'He's your best friend. He needs you right now.'

'I'm going to be there for him Baba. I promised him that when we were kids I always would be there.'

'Good.'

'Baba, do you sense what he's not telling me?'

'No, even if I could, it's his secret to tell when he's ready. A mind should be private.'

'Not if he plans to hurt himself again.'

"Hey!" said Goten to get Trunks and Baba's attention. "I can hear you. You know it's rude to talk about people when they're sitting right in front of you."

"Well it's rude to also listen in on people's conversations to, right Goten?" Trunks smiled.

Goten rolled his eyes. "Whatever Trunks, you're paying for this meal," he said as he sat back against the booth.

Trunks laughed. "Yeah I know. Anything to take care of you."

"Trunks," he said in a serious tone. "Thanks for coming."

"You're my best friend Goten. I'd go anywhere for you. You've always been there for me. It's time for me to be there for you."

'I want you to know that I love you,' Goten thought. "Thanks Trunks."

Trunks followed Goten and Baba into her store. She locked the door and put up the closed sign as she turned to the two men in front of her. One was lost and the other needed something meaningful in his life. She smiled. 'They can help each other.'

"Goten I'm afraid you'll have to share your room with Trunks," said Baba.

"Sure no problem Baba. Trunks and I used to sleep together all the time." He blushed, realizing what he had just said. "Uh heh I mean slept in the same bed together as kids."

"Sure," Trunks smirked, "that's what you meant."

"Shut up Trunks," said Goten. "You know what I meant."

"There's a difference between what you meant and what you want Goten."

Goten's heart began to pound, and his eyes widened. 'No! He couldn't possibly know that I—

"Goten," said Trunks as Goten came out of his head.

"Huh? Sorry, what did you want?"

"It's not what I want. It's what you want."

"I don't know what you're talking about Trunks," he said as he headed upstairs into Baba's apartment. He heard Trunks coming up behind him.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about Goten. Why don't you just tell me?"

He turned to face Trunks, whose face wore a soft expression. It surprised him just like in his dream. "I can't. It's no that simple Trunks. I have things in my life I have to deal with. It's best to keep things the way they are."

"And what if I want things to change? What if change is just what you need to be happy in your life?"

"They can't. Change will only cause my mother to hate me even more than she all ready does."

"Is that the reason you tried to end your life? Your mother not accepting the one person you want to be with?"

"I don't want to talk about this anymore Trunks," he said as he made his way into his bedroom, closing the door behind him. He thought that would be the end of the conversation for tonight but was thrown off by Trunks slamming open the door. "Trunks."

"You don't get to decide when we're done talking, and you don't decide to be unhappy for the rest of your life Goten. I won't let that happen. You mean too much to me for me to stand back and let you ruin your life. It's finally time for you to be happy. You shouldn't care what other people think. Be selfish for once in your life Goten!"

Goten was blown away by his best friend, who spoke so passionately about being happy, so he wondered something. "Are you happy Trunks?"

"Not unless you're with me."

"That's not a good answer Trunks."

"It's good enough for me," Trunks smiled.

Goten sighed and shook his head. "Trunks I—He was interrupted by Trunks' warm fingertips on his face and then his warm lips on his. When he pulled away, he smiled at the dazed look on his friend's face.

"I love you to Goten. I always have, and I always will no matter what happens in life. I know we make each other happy, and I know I can help you with what you're going through. I'm your best friend right now Goten, but we can be so much more."

The silence filled the dark room, as Goten lied awake in the bed he was sharing with his best friend who was asleep. Trunks' words were running through his mind, and he couldn't stop thinking about. 'Why can't I just let go and be happy? I mean I should be happy. He loves me back but why isn't that enough?' An image of his mother passed through him, and he sighed. A feeling of rejection filled him. 'My mother would never accept it, but we're all ready drifting apart.'

He didn't realize a tear had run down his face until a warm hand brushed it away. He turned to see Trunks' concerned expression through the darkness of the room. "Trunks."

"You think too loudly chibi," he smiled sadly.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt your sleeping."

"I wasn't really sleeping. How can I when you're in so much turmoil about your mom?"

"I've been butting heads with her ever since I can remember Trunks, and I think I'm really losing her this time."

"You've done nothing wrong Goten. If she can't accept your life choices, then you need to separate yourself from her until she comes around."

"Trunks what if she never comes around," he said, his eyes full of worry.

Goten felt Trunks' arms around him, holding him close to his body. His lips were up against Goten's ears. "Then you know there will always be people in your life who love you for who you really are."

He felt Trunks' warm breath on his ear and shivered as he felt Trunks' excitement pressed against him. The feeling was new to Goten, but it was a pleasant feeling to be wanted by someone who loved him. He turned quickly to face his best friend and didn't waste any time thinking as he kissed Trunks passionately on the lips while his arms went around him, pressing their bodies together, causing both of them to moan.

When Trunks kissed back, he felt the prince's tongue trace the inside of his mouth very thoroughly and hungrily. It made Goten feel a little bit dizzy but happy. He had never in his life wanted to hold onto someone so much. He never wanted to let Trunks go because then he had to think about things he didn't want to think about.

Trunks separated their lips, so they could breathe. "Goten," he smiled, "you surprise me." He took the raven-haired man's hand in his.

"I love you so much Trunks," he said as happy tears ran down his face.

"I love you to Goten," he said as he kissed his forehead, "and we'll get through this together."

"I know." He squeezed Trunks' hand. He saw as Trunks' gaze went to the scars on his pale arms.

"Promise me you'll never hurt yourself again." His tone was serious, but he cared about what happened to Goten.

"I promise Trunks," he smiled but felt there was something else on his mind. "What is it Trunks?" What are you thinking?"

Trunks smirked. "I'm thinking of buying a nice apartment in Hong Kong where we can live together. Baba's place is nice and everything, but we need our privacy."

"I don't know Trunks. Isn't that moving too fast?"

"For me it feels right. Like we were meant to be together forever in our own place."