Ch 28

"I—I think I'm going to throw up Trunks."

"You're not alone in this chibi. We're a team. We can do this. Besides it's just Gohan and his family. How bad could their reaction be?"

"I guess you're right," Goten said as he took a breath in and then out before knocking on Gohan's door.

The door opened and a smiling Videl holding a smiling Pan greeted the two young men. "Hello boys," she said, "please come in," she said as she closed the door behind her. "So, what brings you two by?" asked Videl as she sat down on the couch and put Pan on the floor to play with her toys.

"Is Gohan going to be home soon?"

"He should be home any minute," said Videl as she heard the sound of the keys turn the lock and in walked Gohan. "Wow what great time!" exclaimed Videl. "Goten has something he wants to tell us."

"Oh?" said Gohan as he hung up his jacket and placed his suitcase down and joined his wife, child, brother, and Trunks in the living room. "What's going on Goten? Is this about what happened at the Reed home?"

"No. I have no idea what happened. What I have to say is good news," he said as he grabbed Trunks' hand in his own and felt Trunks squeeze his hand. "Trunks and I are in love with each other," he said as his little niece clapped her hands and laughed. Goten smiled at Pan.

Videl got up and smiled. "This is great news," she said as the boys got up and hugged her. She stood back and looked at the couple. "I wish you both happiness, and you're both so cute together anyway.

"Thanks Videl," said Trunks.

"Yeah it means a lot to us," he said and then looked to his brother.

"It's going to be hard Goten, do you know that? Do you know what you're getting into?"

"I know Gohan but what do you mean what I'm getting myself into?"

"You're dating the President of Capsule Corporation. Trunks is a very popular figure. Can you handle it when your relationship becomes public?"

"I know what Trunks is, and I know what he does. I also know who he is inside, and there's no one and nothing that will stop me from loving him or being with him."

Gohan was moved by what his brother was saying and then his mother and grandpa came in the door.

"Goten! It's so great to see you," said Chichi as she hugged him.

"How's living in your capsule home?" asked the Ox King.

"It's great."

"So, what brings you by?" asked Chichi. "You missed my cooking, didn't you?" she smiled.

"I have, but that's not the reason I'm here," said Goten as his older brother got up and stood beside his brother.

"Don't tell her," he whispered in his ear.

"Why?" Goten whispers back to his brother.

"Trust me we'll talk about this later."

"I—all right. Well mom I wanted to spend some time with Pan. I know I'll be starting school again as a junior in a few months, and I don't want her to forget about me."

"I don't think that's possible," said Trunks.

Goten felt flustered and touched at the same time by his boyfriend's words. "Thanks Trunks."

"Hey Trunks can I talk to you in private for a minute," said Gohan.

"Uh sure Gohan," he said as he followed him outside.

"Huh, I wonder what they have to talk about?" asked Chichi.

"You and me both," said Goten.

"You know Goten your grandfather and I have been talking, and we think it would be great if you moved your capsule home here. You will still have your independence, but you're close to your family. Doesn't that sound wonderful?"

"Uh well can I think about it?"

"Goten, you know very well it doesn't reflect good on the family if you're living on your own without being married," said the Ox King.

"I'm sorry grandpa, but I make my own decisions. I'm happy, and you both should be happy for me. Isn't that what parents are suppose to do, support their children?"

"Yes Goten," smiled Videl. "That's exactly what they're suppose to do," she said as she picked up her daughter in her arms. "Now take Pan and go play with her in her room."

"It would be my pleasure Videl," he said as he took Pan into his arms and walked away with a happy, giggling baby.

Trunks didn't like the silence of his mentor but waited nonetheless. He could tell he was thinking hard about what he wanted to say, and Trunks could be patient. It was taking too long for his liking.

"Gohan?"

"This isn't a good idea Trunks. My brother is fragile, and he's been through a lot. I'm not sure a relationship is what he needs right now."

"It's not like I forced him to be in a relationship with me Gohan. I gave him a long time to think about it. If he didn't want to be with me, I would have respected that and continued my friendship with him."

"I don't want to see him get hurt again and if my mother knows about your relationship, she will find a way to end it Trunks. She won't approve and neither will my grandpa. I'm warning you as a friend, it won't end well for Goten."

"You know I don't think you give him enough credit. He is stronger than you think he is, and—

"You clearly don't know my mother Trunks. She will make him feel like being with you is wrong and unnatural. I don't want to see my brother torn down like that."

"It's up to Goten what he wants Gohan. I won't make him either and if you think me breaking up with him won't hurt him, then you would be sadly mistaken. I love your brother, and I won't apologize for it."

"I know you love my brother Trunks. I've known for a while now because I know you."

"Then you know I'm not giving him up unless he wants me to let him go. It's in your brother's hands now."

"Between you and me Trunks I do approve. I think you two would make a great couple. I never cared about sexual preference. I think happiness and love in the end is all that matters."

"Couldn't have said it better myself," said Trunks as he smirked.

"Whatever decision my brother makes, I'll always be here for both of you. That won't change."

"Thanks Gohan."

"I'm sure Videl would say the same thing."

Trunks smiled. "Your brother loves me to you know."

"I know. He's more obvious then you are," Gohan smiled.

"I want to be with him forever Gohan," he said as he felt his mentor's hand on his shoulder.

Gohan was thrown off by what he said and hoped things worked out for the best.

Videl saw Gohan and Trunks come back into the house. She could tell they had some kind of understanding. She walked over to her fiancee and Trunks and smiled. "Glad you two didn't kill each other out there," she joked.

"Well mom would have been furious for one thing," said Gohan.

"Yeah but your ego would have been bruised when I'd wipe the floor with you," said Trunks to Gohan.

"Whatever you say Trunks. Hey Videl, is Goten with Pan?"

"Yep I swear every now and then I hear her laugh. I didn't even know she could laugh so much."

Gohan smiled. "I'm going to go talk to him," he said as he left the room.

"Now, where is he going?" asked Chichi as she entered the room and she looked at Trunks. "Trunks, what's going on?"

"It's personal Chichi," said Trunks.

"You know I don't like secrets," she said.

"Don't worry Chichi I'm sure you'll find out soon enough," said Videl.

"Well all right. So, when are you and my son planning to get married?" asked Chichi.

"We'll talk about all the plans during dinner," said Videl as Chichi smiled.

"I better get back to the kitchen. Dinner isn't going to finish itself."

Trunks looked from Chichi to Videl. "It seems like she's rushing you and Gohan to get married."

"She would have liked Gohan and I to get married while I was still pregnant with Pan, but my pregnancy was up and down. I just needed to concentrate on taking care of myself."

"My mom felt that way with me. I was a very chaotic pregnancy for her, and my grandparents wanted her to marry my father because it didn't look good to them or the media. She ignored everyone else and concentrated on herself."

"Your parents are still not married, right?"

"No, and I always wondered about that. I mean they're not the most conventional people."

"They are quite a pair," Videl laughed as Trunks smiled. "So, how's Bulla doing?"

"She's grown quite an attachment to my father. My mom finds it adorable," he said as Chichi rushed back into the room.

"Trunks, are you staying for dinner?"

Gohan walked into Pan's room to see his brother sitting on the rocking chair, rocking his daughter to sleep. She looked very peaceful to Gohan, and he smiled. It reminded him of his father who had that kind of effect on people, making them feel at peace. He watched as his brother got up, carefully placed Pan in the crib, and kissed her forehead before turning to see Gohan.

"Hey Gohan," Goten whispered.

"We need to talk," said Gohan as he followed Goten out of his daughter's room, closing the door quietly behind him.

They went into the guest room, and Gohan closed the door as Goten sat on the bed. Gohan sat beside him.

"So, you talked to Trunks?" said Goten.

"Yeah," he smiled. "I like him for you Goten. I really do—

"But?"

"Mom is not going to like the news Goten and neither will grandpa."

"So, you want me to keep my mouth shut about me and Trunks' relationship?"

"No, it's up to you Goten to decide what you want to do. You kind of have a sense of how mom likes to butt into our business. She will tell you to your face how wrong she thinks you are for being with Trunks. Words can hurt Goten, and I'm afraid you'll get hurt. Trunks will also be in the line of fire. She won't hesitate to put him down in front of you."

"Why would she do such a thing Gohan?"

"Mom had this expectation for me when I was born. I was going to go to school, get my education, start a career, get married and start a family. Ironically these are things I wanted to. A part of me will always enjoy fighting but it was never my dream. It was always something I had to do. Now that mom has you back she's probably thinking about your future and how she wants the same life for you."

"I don't want your life Gohan, no offense. It's not like she can force me into this person she wants me to be."

"None taken. No, she can't force you. Now you have to decide if you want to be with Trunks, tell mom about the relationship, and deal with the consequences afterwards."

"I've fought all my life Gohan. I've fought to stay alive in an abusive home because I had hope, and I had dreams I wanted to make come true. Now I'm here with my real family and my boyfriend and he's wonderful and I can't picture my life without him."

Gohan smiled. "Then you know what you have to do little brother. You have to tell mom," he said as he gave Goten a hug for support.

"Well it's about time you two got here. Dinner's ready," said Chichi as Gohan and Goten joined their mother grandpa, Videl, and Trunks at the table to eat.

"Sorry mom. Goten and I had some brotherly things to discuss," said Gohan.

"Wow mom everything tastes so good," said Goten.

"Thank you Goten," she smiled. "So, what were you and your brother talking about?"

Goten put his utensil down and wiped his mouth. "I have something to tell you and grandpa," he said as he could feel the butterflies in his stomach. "I've been seeing someone and—

"Oh my kami who is she?" asked an excited Chichi. "You'll have to bring her by the house, so I can meet her. Oh of course I'll have to meet her parents and—

"Mom calm down," said Gohan. "Let Goten speak."

"Oh sorry honey I just go so excited."

"I'm in love, and you all ready know the parents. Mom, Trunks and I are in love with each other." The room was silent, and Goten felt Trunks' hand find his under the table and squeeze it. While Goten was smiling on the outside, he felt sick on the inside. The silence was killing him and the certainty of what would happen next was frightening, so he risked speaking. "Mom?"

"How do you know you're in love with him?" asked Chichi.

He was thrown off by her question. He thought she would curse him out and tell him to leave the house and never come back. "It comes from inside me mom. It's hard to explain, but he's always been there for me. He takes care of me, and he knows who I am inside. It's cheesy, but he completes me mom. He makes me happy. I'm asking you to accept us, to accept me. I'm your son, and I love you. Please—

"No more of this nonsense Goten," said the Ox King. "This is something I can't accept. I—it's just disgusting!"

"It's not disgusting you're just a close minded old man!" exclaimed Goten.

"Goten! Don't speak to your grandfather like that. He's just worried about you and with good reason honey. You just got out of an abusive situation."

"Says the woman who put him there!" seethed Trunks.

"I admit to my mistakes, but you are the biggest one my son will ever make in his life!"

"You couldn't be more wrong mother. The biggest mistake was me coming back here and expecting to be accepted and loved without conditions."

"GET OUT!" yelled Chichi as the two demi-saiyans rushed out of the house and took off into the sky, never looking back.