Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or the characters
*Long author's note, skip passed the bold to just get to the story*
Okay, a long, overdue apology is in order. I know it's been months since I've posted anything (for all of my stories, actually). A lot has been going on. I touched upon it in whatever stories I updated (can't remember which ones since it's been so long). Between work (40 hours a week), catching the flu at New Years', lots of uncertainty about the future, applying for an online schooling program to build up my credentials in my field, spending time with a new friend when we both have spare time, helping another friend deal with anxiety and mental illness, vacation to Disney to celebrate a little girl's birthday (by the way, Galaxy's Edge is AWESOME), spending time with family, commuting back and forth when I finish work on weekends 2 hours each way, preparing to work on a couple of actual books…I've just had very little time to sit down and actually write for any story.
But there's good news. To keep me longer at my job which most positions require funding (we're waiting to hear on that) I have to work just a few less hours meaning I can come home earlier in the week. That's given me time, not a ton of time, but time to sit down and write a little bit. I want to say, it's not that I haven't written anything in the last few months, but it does feel like it. Honestly, I've written a couple paragraphs or one scene here and there in random stories. It's just taken a long time to pull it all together. That's going to be my new normal for a while. I'm still adjusting, and I still have so much to do. And I need to take time sometimes just to sit and be while I adjust to the mass chaos going on around me.
Nevertheless, I am not giving up any stories or writing fanfiction. It's just going to take me quiet a long time for a while. I thank you for your patience and support, always. And now, let's get to the story.
Gure breathed out a sigh of relief after she closed another wedding magazine. The woman smiled and looked across from her. Tarble was lying down on the couch with his gaze intently on his own magazine. The couple had spent many days in preparation of their nuptials. Even though the two hadn't been engaged that long, both agreed that they wanted to get the planning taken care of, and they decided to do it on their own.
Tarble looked away from his magazine and sat up when Gure stood and headed towards the kitchen. "You okay?" he asked. His concern earned a thankful smile from his fiancé.
"I'm fine, just tired," Gure told him. "I'm now starting to see why people just go to City Hall, though." Tarble snickered at that. "Your sister and Vegeta made this look so easy."
"That was just the image," Tarble stated. "There were a few times Bulma called me complaining about all the preparation. Eventually she and Vegeta just allowed their overexcited mothers to take over. I'd ask mom and Bulma for help, but they've both seemed really…distracted. I wonder what's up…"
Gure hesitated. Of course, she knew everything from Trunks who had been so concerned about his mother. The counselor knew that ever since hers and Tarble's engagement breakfast that Bulma and Launch were not in a good place. Though Trunks didn't know the details, he knew Launch had forced Bulma to listen to her account of events regarding Bulma's father. Gure still remembered the first time she met Tarble, how Bulma had told her brother the day before everything about the hell their father made her endure her life. Tarble had struggled with it considering he looked up to the man all his life.
If he knew that not only his father's past actions but his mother's current actions played a role in Bulma's "distraction," he would be a wreck. This is where Gure both appreciated yet hated the whole confidentiality part of her job. Still, it was helpful for her to know what Launch had done. Now, she could keep an eye on the two and make sure Bulma was never alone with the woman again. Bad things happened whenever they were. Considering that Bulma had been coming home in hysterics, drunk, and had been hardly eating for a while, Gure knew that a talk like this could never happen again for the sake of Bulma's mental health.
"Well, you could always talk to them," Gure suggested.
"I tried to ask," Tarble stated, "but they both keep giving me the runaround saying everything is fine. All I can think of is that morning where Bulma said she and mom talked about dad. But Bulma…she said she'd be okay." His eyes widened in alarm and shot to Gure's. "Do you think that's it?"
Gure bit her lip. She couldn't lie to her fiancé, but she had to protect both Trunks's and Bulma's privacy. "Maybe," she told him, "but like I said, you can only keep asking them. I have a feeling things will work out, though."
Tarble nodded and sighed. "I really hope so, Gure. I can't imagine having them at odds with each other after everything. I just want them both to be okay."
Gure went to sit by Tarble's side. She placed a hand on his shoulder. "I know you do, Tarble, but there's only so much you can do. If it does have anything to do with that day, they probably aren't saying anything because they don't want you to have to choose sides. They're both grown women and will have to figure it out on their own. Just know that your sister has a good support system."
"I know," Tarble weakly replied, "but mom…she really doesn't have too many people to lean on, not even our family. That doesn't mean I think what she did was right, but I'm really worried about her too."
"Try not to worry," Gure pacified. "You can still love them and support them both. They're your family. This isn't about who's right or wrong. Whatever was said, they will eventually learn to coexist. You may just have to accept, though, that they will most likely never be close."
"I don't like it," Tarble stated, "but I'll live with it. Bulma had to learn to live with her two families being separate. I can handle it. Like you said, neither will make me choose."
"Right," Gure agreed with a smile. "Now, how about we take a break from all of this and make lunch. We need to keep up our strength if we're going to get through any more today."
Tarble beamed at the woman. "Yeah, you're right. Sounds like a plan." Before Gure could get up from the couch, Tarble stole a quick kiss. "And Gure, thanks. I…I needed to hear all that."
Gure laced her fingers through Tarble's spiky hair and grinned. "I love you, Tarble. Everything is going to be all right. We're in this together." As if to prove a point, Gure took her fiancé's hand in her free hand and squeezed it in reassurance. Tarble knew without a shadow of a doubt that Gure was right about that.
A decision was not made regarding Valese's custody at the next court hearing. However, that didn't mean the courts were opposed to the daytime visitation idea. There was a ton of hearsay being tossed around the courtroom, but still Anita's attitude colored her. The judge could see how difficult this all was on Walsh. The man grew angrier and more bitter each time he was met with the woman and heard more of what Valese's lawyer had to say, all that he heard from the therapist, which was in turn coming directly from the teenager. According to Anita, Valese lied about their relationship.
The court wanted to see the two for themselves.
So, they granted daytime visitation at a facility with a court appointed guardian to watch over the teenager. Valese was nervous when she arrived, much earlier than her mother. The supervisors wanted to get to know the girl and allow her to feel more comfortable. She relaxed slightly, but not enough. Her whole body tensed when she heard her mother's voice.
Anita, of course, was not happy about being on display, but she knew she had to play nice for the courts to grant her custody of her daughter. The woman put on a happy face and beamed brightly. She laid it on really think when she exclaimed, "Oh, Valese, my baby! How are you doing?"
The two supervisors looked to one another skeptically. They could tell immediately that the woman was trying to put on an act. What was even more telling was that Valese looked like she was about to face her death. "Hi…mom," the teenager murmured out. She shrank within herself and dropped her head. "I'm…fine?"
"That's so good to hear!" Anita gushed. "Tell me, how was school this week? Did you have any tests? How did you do?"
"Fine," Valese said in reply to the first question. "Two, got an A and a B."
"Good, good," Anita nodded and praised. She looked to the two strangers in the room and said, "My Valese is just brilliant, isn't she? All of this court stress and she's still keeping her grades up."
Valese's mouth dropped open. Did her mother really just say that? Honestly, she struggled on both the exams, but thanks to her friends and their study parties she was able to push her way through the exam. Her mother had no idea, or at least didn't care, what this was all doing to her, and now she was parading it around like it was something to be proud of!
Anita's attention returned to her daughter. "So, what about your friends? How are they doing?"
"They're fine," Valese replied, crossing her arms over herself as a form of protection. It was when she did that, though, that all hell broke lose.
With that movement, Anita caught sight of a ring shining on Valese's left finger. It was too plain to be an engagement ring, but Anita knew immediately what it was, and she certainly knew who gifted it to her daughter.
"Oh, hell, no," Anita breathed out, her tone colder and eyes full of anger. She yanked her daughter's hand out and held it in front of her face. "Valese, what the hell is this?"
Valese was stunned when her mother abruptly shifted her behavior, despite being used to it at home. "I…" she breathed out. "It…it was a gift, from Goten." With more confidence and determination, she met her mother's gaze with as neutral as an expression as she could muster. Even so, she glared at the woman defiantly. "He gave me a promise ring. We're planning to get married after high school."
"The hell you are," her mother hissed bitterly, a display of her true colors to the supervisors. "I can't believe you would be so stupid to accept. I raised you better than that."
Valese's bravado faltered when her mother called her stupid. The female supervisor looked to her colleague, mouth dropped open. "Ladies, please," the male supervisor tried. He looked to Valese's mother. Her anger clearly was upsetting her daughter. "This conversation should be held another day, when emotions aren't so high."
Anita flashed the man a heated glare. "You stay out of this!" she shouted before her ire was once again directed towards her teenage daughter. "That boy is mental and you're planning to whore yourself out to him. You're continuing the cycle by sleeping with him!"
Valese sucked in a surprised gasp at how vicious her mother was being in front of an audience. She swallowed nervously and said, "Not that it's any of your business, but Goten and I haven't been together that way. He respects me, and when we are ready for that point, we already know we have a long discussion about the future ahead of us."
"Oh sure," Anita spat. "That's just another way of saying 'he's getting it elsewhere.' You're a fool, Valese. That boy just sees you as a piece. He'll never truly be yours. He'll eventually leave you or cheat on you. I would know."
By this point, Valese was crying. She knew what her mother said was the furthest from the truth. Goten came to her whenever he was upset. The two were always together when they weren't at home. The closest thing to what her mother was saying was when Goten was with Paigen, but even then, Valese and Goten had not been dating. Paigen had blackmailed him, and Valese nearly lost Goten to his self-loathing and disgust with himself. He thought he betrayed her, and he nearly lost himself in the process. Goten would never cheat on her. Still, her mother's words hurt Valese deeply, especially when the woman practically threw her own affair in the young girl's face.
The woman who had been so stunned finally stood up and said, "That's enough! Don't you see you're upsetting her?" She looked to her colleague who was already on his feet to usher Valese out of the room. Valese didn't even need him to lead her out. She was at the door instantly, waiting to be freed from this farce of a visit.
The teenager ran down the hall and found a lobby with a couch. She threw herself down, not caring about the other office workers who were most likely watching her as she sobbed hysterically. A comforting hand patted her back, and Valese shot up and gasped. The court appointed guardian who had first tried to stop her mother's outburst before it got worse smiled sadly at her and silently offered the girl a tissue box and bottled water. Valese took it thankfully.
The man sat in a chair off to the side and watched the girl as she tried to compose herself. Valese took a few slow sips of water and dried her tears from her face. When the sniffles came less and less, the teen blew her nose and then threw herself back on the couch and stared at the ceiling. Once he was certain the child was calm, the guardian asked, "Is it always like this?"
Valese answered with a nod and looked at the man. "I want to go home…please."
"I'll call your father," the man surrendered without a second thought. "Will you be all right here for a moment?"
"Yeah," Valese replied. She just wanted to be left alone for a moment, plus she wanted the man to go and call her father so she could just be with someone who loved and supported her.
"Okay," the supervisor stated before he started to walk away.
He rounded the corner but didn't make it much further when he heard Valese murmur, "She can't even fake it for more than an hour…" The man's heart twisted, but he steeled himself to make the call to the girl's father, and then he would be making a phone call to the girl's lawyer and counselor. There was no way to doubt the child now that it had been seen firsthand by a third party. The girl's mother was truly toxic.
Bulma was anxious and a bit twitchy in her seat. She and Vegeta were at the adoption agency to meet with Furry and the birthmother. Of course she'd be a bit eager and overwhelmed all at once. Though Vegeta kept a neutral, steeled gaze straight ahead and appeared completely unmoved as he sat tall and straight, Bulma knew her husband was just as nervous. His hard grip on her hand proved that to her.
The door opened, the couple jumped at the sound and looked over to see Furry enter along with the birthmother. Vegeta's eyes widened when he recognized the blue-haired woman. His dark eyes landed and on Bulma who was heatedly glaring at the young woman. The feeling was mutual as the birthmother returned the heated glare.
"Maron?" Bulma nearly shrieked. "You're the birthmother?"
"You're the one looking to adopt my child?" Maron scoffed as she crossed her arms. "Aren't you too old for that?"
Bulma's jaw clenched shut and Furry and Vegeta looked between the two women. If Vegeta recalled correctly, this was the woman he saw the day Bulma went to have lunch with her ex, and Maron, he knew, was the woman who cheated on Bulma's brother. This was not at all what he expected.
"Is everything all right?" Furry asked the two women.
Maron became smug and stood her ground. "Oh yeah, we're fine. I just think it's a little weird that Bulma would want to adopt her brother's baby."
"Oh please," Bulma snapped. "You and Tarble haven't been together in over a year. That's not his child. It's scientifically impossible!"
Maron grimaced. She forgot that flaw in her logic, but of course she just wanted to get that extra jab in at Bulma. The older woman never liked her, ever. No one would blame Maron for having a tad bit of bitterness over that.
"Besides, Tarble is finally engaged to a nice woman," Bulma shot back.
Her words made Maron pout. "That ugly thing?" she mumbled under her breath. "Oh well, his loss."
Bulma was about to fire back, but Vegeta placed a hand on her shoulder, and instantly rationale returned to her. The woman took a deep breath and shook her head free of the insults that were on the tip of her tongue. Vegeta looked to Furry and suggested, "I think we should give the women both some time to cool down so we can start over."
"I wholeheartedly agree," Furry approved before his gaze landed on the indignant Maron. He had expected as much with her attitude over this whole adoption process, but he hadn't expected that she and the people she wanted to adopt her child would have already met and already been on bad terms. "I need to have a talk with Maron, anyway."
Vegeta led Bulma out of the room, and once the woman was gone, Maron huffed and sat down in a chair in the center of the room. "That could have gone better," Furry told her. "I'm surprised you already knew them. Did you know when I gave you the file?"
"No," Maron snapped. "There's a lot of businessmen and scientists in the city. How could I even know when all I see are numbers and letters? Just leave me alone."
"Of course," Furry replied. "I'll leave you. Remember, if you want to, you have the power to pull out from this meeting. You can choose to go with someone else."
Furry left Maron alone, and the bitter mask disappeared from the young woman's face. She placed a hand on her slightly protruding abdomen and frown. Of all the people in the city… she thought, frustrated. She shook her head free of anger and then murmured, "I'm sorry," to her unborn child.
Once alone, Maron was able to cool down. Still, her mind reflected on what had just occurred in the room. How had she gotten here, she wondered? Well, deep down, she already had the answer.
After seeing Tarble with his thing, Maron had felt lowly over her life's choices. When she had been with Tarble, everything was easy for her. Tarble came from money, and he had a decent job, so she knew she'd always be taken care of. The blue-haired woman had never really loved her fiancé, though. She was only in that relationship for the money, and Tarble was too blinded by his affection for her to see it.
It was always her plan to have a side man. She knew she could hide it well, give Tarble all the superficial affection he needed, and she'd get the life she never had. Her parents had both been part of the class Maron deemed "the working poor." Maron barely had much material possession growing up, and her opportunities for education after high school were limited. She had her looks, so she was able to land a career in modeling; however, as she got to try more fancy food, she gain a couple pounds and lost that position. She ended up working in a dead end job as a makeup salesperson.
When she left the restaurant after Tarble told her off, Maron felt like she had hit rock bottom. She went to a bar, and this guy had come onto her and bought her a drink. The two fell into a torrid affair right after, and it persisted for weeks to come. Maron surprised herself when she realized that she had fallen in love with the man. Shortly after her epiphany, she got sick, and she avoided her "Romeo" like the plague. She didn't want him to see her like that. After a week of persistent sickness, Maron broke down and went to the doctor.
That was when Maron found out she was pregnant.
At first, she panicked, but then she was excited. After all, she was in love with the guy, and she figured he'd be over the moon. When she asked him to meet up with her for dinner, she told him, and his face grew blank. She still remembered his callous words, that she was a nice girl, but he was just looking for a good time. He had no desire to father a child, and he told her he didn't want to see her anymore.
Maron cried for days and did not know what to do at all. With her job, no boyfriend, and no family at her side, she knew she could never give her son or daughter anything. She made the decision to put the baby up for adoption. Still, she had some say as to who got her child. Her eyes were only drawn to the more prestigious applications. The wealthier the couple, the better. If a family had money, then Maron was certain her child would not end up to be a screw up like her. Still, she was not expecting to see her!
Not to get Maron wrong – Bulma wasn't a bad person – but Maron just could not look past that judgmental gaze the woman casted her the last time they had seen each other. To be fair, Bulma had just learned that Maron had cheated on her brother with none other than Bulma's ex-boyfriend – which Maron hadn't even known until that moment. Bulma was very protective of her family, and Maron knew the woman was a good mother. Maybe she shouldn't have tried to provoke Bulma.
Honestly, Bulma's and Vegeta's application was the best that Maron had seen so far. She didn't know much about Vegeta, but he was a decent businessman who salvaged his father's failing company within a couple of months. With him, Maron knew her child would have opportunities and discipline that Maron never received from her father. Plus, Bulma was a devoted mother. Maron remembered her impression of Trunks. That teenager, despite the craziness in the media, was a good, well-mannered kid. Maron sighed. Maybe she should apologize. Her child really would be better off with Bulma and her husband, despite Bulma's opinion of Maron.
Furry re-entered the room, about to ask what she wanted when Bulma and Vegeta also returned. Bulma did not meet Maron's gaze. The younger woman couldn't blame her. "So," Furry spoke up, "what have we decided?"
Maron watched Bulma and Vegeta closely. The two looked to each other, a strange look in their eyes as if they were holding a complete, silent conversation just through a simple gaze. Vegeta looked to the agent and said, "We have decided that, if Maron is willing, we would happily adopt the baby." Maron's mouth dropped open when Vegeta explained, "We don't know your situation, but we know that this is not an easy decision for you. To give up your child and to vet the applications like we heard, we know you want better for him or her. We decided that it is more important that the child is well taken care of and loved rather than a victim to any petty squabbles."
"We?" Maron looked over to Bulma, and the older woman sighed and nodded.
"We. Vegeta reminded me why we are here, and even if you and I are far from friends, I can promise you, I will love the baby with all my heart." Bulma met Maron's gaze. "If you're still willing to move forward, that is."
"I am," Maron said a bit too hurriedly. "And…I'm…sorry. I shouldn't have said what I did."
"I'm sorry too," Bulma replied tiredly. "So?"
"Yeah," she looked to Furry and said, "I'd really like to move forward. Despite what you saw earlier, I already know Bulma is a good mother, and I'm sure if her and her husband agreed on this that he'd be a good father." Bulma's eyes widened over the unexpected compliment.
Furry breathed out a sigh of relief and smiled. "There are still a few things we need to do. Even with that statement, we still must do the home study and talk with any others in the household and those who will be around the child to make sure he or she is going to a stable home. This won't be a problem, I'm assuming."
Vegeta and Bulma looked to each other and exchanged a nod. "It will not be an issue," Vegeta said as he returned his gaze to Furry. "We'll do whatever we have to in order to move forward."
"Then congratulations, you two," Furry offered. "I'm looking forward to meeting the rest of your family."
Valese ran the second the court appointed guardians said she could leave. After the explosive argument during their visitation, the two supervisors contacted the judge and he granted early leave for Valese's mental health. It didn't mean Valese was free to leave. They wanted her to wait for her father, but when their attention was elsewhere, Valese made a break for it. All she wanted right now was to be as far away from the building she sprinted from, far away and safe. The only place she'd feel that now was Goten's house. She wanted her boyfriend.
She took all the transportation she could to get there. The surroundings blurred by around the teenager; tunnel vision set in, and somehow Valese ended up at Goten's front door. In desperation, the girl banged on the door and barely took notice of the pain of the harder-than-usual impact.
Thankfully, Goten opened the door, and Valese felt like she could breathe and hear again. Goten looked surprised, his brow furrowed in concern. "Hey, Val…how did it g-"
Goten could not finish his sentence before Valese threw herself into him, their lips crashed together. She kissed him passionately, and Goten gave into the feeling and closed his eyes. His hands moved to hold her upper arms. He traced comforting lines up and down her skin.
Then, the unthinkable happened. Goten's eyes snapped open in shock as Valese's hands began to fumble with his pants. The boy squeaked into the kiss and pulled away. "Valese, what are you doing?" he frantically asked.
Valese looked into his eyes and said, "Please, Goten…I need this. I need you."
Goten's expression grew firm, yet concerned. His eyes were practically unreadable when he said, "No," rejecting her offer.
"No?" Valese repeated his answer with apprehension. Her expression fell and stomach dropped. She tried to fight the doubt that arose in her, but when the word left Goten's mouth, the girl couldn't help but fear that her mother was right.
As is sensing the raging distress in Valese's heart, Goten softly stated, "I'm not rejecting you." He lightly gripped her shoulders, eyes full of warmth. "I mean…we shouldn't talk about this now."
A brown brow rose, and Valese wiped away tears that were about to form. "Why not?"
At that question, Goten hesitated and blushed. He pushed open the door to his house fully which revealed all of their friends and Goten's brother. Valese turned pale before she flushed three shades of red. Her mouth opened, but words failed to leave. The girl was completely mortified. "What are you all doing here?" she questioned, her voice hoarse from embarrassment.
"We knew you were doing that visitation thing with your mother," Mai admitted empathetically.
Gohan stepped forward and smiled sheepishly at the brunette. "We got together to try and figure out what we could do to help take your mind off of everything."
Valese felt her heart ache, but so much warmth surround her. "Really?"
"Yeah," Trunks spoke up. "The first 'Make Valese Happy Meeting' commenced."
Videl grinned knowingly when Valese appeared bewildered. "It was Goten's idea."
Stunned, Valese looked to her boyfriend who was rubbing the back of his head nervously. "You…you did this for me?"
"Well, yeah," Goten murmured shyly. He shook off his nerves and grew serious again. "I don't like seeing you sad. It makes me angry at whoever caused it." They all knew he meant her mother, but they let it remain unspoken.
Valese felt overwhelmed. Here she had been worrying that Goten didn't care because of her mother's baseless words. When he turned her down, she felt rejected. Still, this all reminded her that her boyfriend truly cared about her, and treasured her way more than as a physical object. The brunette felt so foolish.
Her actions from moments ago returned to her mind, and the embarrassment returned along with a sliver of shame. Their friends had witnessed her throwing herself at Goten. She couldn't imagine what they must have thought of her now…
Mai never took her eyes off Valese, so of course she noticed when her friend's expression soured and Valese became uncomfortable. The raven-haired teen approached Valese and placed her hand on her shoulder. "Hey, let's go get you some water," she suggested.
Valese knew what Mai was trying to do, and she flashed her friend a thankful glance. "Yeah, that sounds good." She turned back to Goten, her eyes filled with guilt. She said nothing when she escaped the room with Mai; Videl followed closely behind. That left the three males standing by the front door. Gohan and Trunks looked to Goten questioningly. The palm-tree haired teen merely shrugged unsure of what prompted such a strong reaction from his girlfriend.
In the kitchen, Valese sat on a stool at the counter, head hidden in her hands as she shook her head. Mai and Videl exchanged looks of concern, both worried for their friend. Videl motioned to the brunette with her head, a silent indication to Mai that she should say something. Videl wasn't clueless. She knew Mai and Valese were much closer than Videl herself was with the girl.
Mai nodded before she moved to get a glass and fill it with water. She placed it down beside the distraught teenager; Valese finally uncovered her face and looked to her friends with shame dancing in her eyes. "So…" Mai started carefully, "what was that all about?"
Valese swallowed down a lump that formed and took a large swig of water. She practically slammed the glass down on the table after she did so. "What do you mean?" the brunette croaked out.
"With Goten," Videl stated. Mai gave her an incredulous look. The raven-haired teen ran fingers through her long locks nervously. She figured Videl would let her handle this gently. "You were ready to jump his bones."
That was clearly the wrong thing to say. A whine escaped Valese; she covered her face with her hands again and repeatedly wailed "I know. I know!." Videl panicked and looked to Mai, the latter of whose eyes were narrowed and conveying the message, "You're not helping!"
"I-I…I mean," Videl stammered; the tough girl actually flinched when she caught the sound of sniffles. Crap! Videl though. "It's not that big a deal that you did, but it seemed so unlike you. We just want to make sure you're okay."
Valese pulled away from her hands again, this time with tears rolling down her face. Both Mai and Videl seemed completely genuine in their concern. Here Valese was waiting to be scolded for her stupidity, but her friends weren't like that. They cared, and that was why Valese told them everything her mother said. As the words left her mouth, Valese could see her friends grow angrier and angrier.
"S-She said he'd leave me," Valese murmured. "I know it's not true, but it just hurt so much that my mother said all that. I just wanted the pain to go away. I thought maybe if we did…maybe that would override this awful feeling inside of me…that my own mother thinks I'm a piece of garbage."
"Val," Mai softly called her friend's nickname. "Your mother is wrong. Goten loves you."
Videl piped in, "Yeah, it's true. And besides that, you shouldn't jump Goten based on that." The two girls looked at her, and Videl sighed. "I'm not very good at this."
That actually caused Valese and Mai to chuckle. "What Videl is trying to say," Mai interjected, "is that if you and Goten took that step, it would be a big deal for the both of you. When that day finally does come, it should be because you both want to and feel comfortable and safe…not because you feel lousy and scared."
Mai's words resonated with Valese; the brunette sighed and nodded. "You're right," Valese agreed, though her voice still conveyed how broken she felt. "I know you're right. I just…God I'm so stupid. Goten must feel terrible."
"Psh, I doubt it," Videl teased. "It's not the worse thing in the world to have the person you love in your arms. If anything, he's just as concerned for you. Let's just go back to the guys and chill, and later you and him can talk about it. I'm sure he has no problem with what happened. He just wants you to be okay."
Valese wanted to believe Videl's words. She did deep down. Goten wasn't the type to be angry over something like that, but the flicker of doubt was still there, especially after what Paigen put him through. As those memories returned to Valese, she felt even lower then low. She couldn't believe she had nearly stooped to that level, although when Goten stopped her she didn't try to continue either, so there was that. "Yeah," she murmured despondently, "let's go."
The brunette got up from the stool she had sat on and left the kitchen. She missed her friends exchange those silent, concerned glances. They followed her into the living room where the guys were. Goteb heard footsteps and immediately looked over to the girls, his eyes singling out his girlfriend. His expression was grave before he put on a smile and motioned for Valese to sit next to him on the floor. The girl hesitated, but joined him.
Goten surprised her when he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her flush against him. Red dusted her cheeks, but it didn't matter. Goten wasn't looking at her. Shame filled Valese, still she knew Goten couldn't be too mad at her if he was holding her so close. Maybe Videl was right and the couple could talk about everything later. Valese just hoped Goten could forgive her.
The teenagers spent the rest of the afternoon watching television, mostly movies and stupid videos on the internet. Everyone was munching on snacks save Valese who still felt her stomach roil in her anxiety. She was very quiet, even when all her friends laughed at the ridiculous comedies and jokes they made. Goten noticed, and though he snacked, he remained silent with his girlfriend. He looked down at her in his arms multiple times, Valese's eyes glossed over. The girl was completely zoned out, and Goten's heart ached. He wished he was alone with her so that he could ask her what was going on inside her head. Most likely she was fighting the biggest battle in the world all alone, and Goten wanted to be able to reassure her.
Goten's hatred for his girlfriend's mother skyrocketed. Obviously the court supervised visit hadn't gone well. That had to be why Valese was so inconsolable. What were the court appointed people there for if Valese had ended up so broken up, anyway? Would they force the girl to see the horrid woman again? Goten had met the woman only a handful of times back when he and Valese had just become friends. The woman was barely ever around, and when she was she had just left them alone. Once Goten was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, the woman barely said two words to him. Goten didn't care then, and he still didn't care now if the woman didn't like him or was wary of him.
The first time Valese told Goten about her mother verbally degrading her, Goten was done with the woman. Her opinion of him no longer mattered because he had no respect for the woman after she called her daughter a stupid, lazy bum for getting a C on one exam. Once the whole cheating thing came out and Valese confided in Goten how many times her mother paraded different men around the teenager when her father was away disgusted Goten. He didn't care about what her mother did; Valese should have never exposed her child to it, no matter how bitter the woman was towards her travelling husband.
Valese was oblivious to her boyfriend's stares. She was focused on a space on the T.V., seeing the pictures, but hardly focusing on any of them. Goten's brow furrowed in his concern. He really wished they were alone right now so he could ask her what happened. It felt like his plan to try to find ways to help her backfired. The presence of their friends normally helped, but Valese was hardly engaging with anyone.
Eventually, Trunks was called by his mom. The woman wanted to share some news with him and Mai, so Gohan and Valese took that as an opportunity to go out together. Goten was thankful for that. His brother nodded to him, an indication that the couple would keep themselves scarce so Goten could talk to Valese without an audience.
Valese was still so withdrawn. She hadn't even reacted when their friends left them, not to their "goodbyes" or anything. No words were spoken; the room just felt eerily quiet. Goten was the first to make a sound.
A long sigh escaped him before he moved slightly. The shift was the first thing to catch Valese's attention, but she still didn't look at her boyfriend's face. "Val," Goten spoke softly.
Valese jumped, startled. She had not expected such a quiet and kind greeting after what she had done earlier. Her head dropped and shoulders slumped. Tears fell once again from her eyes. "Val, talk to me," Goten encouraged. His comforting hand cupped her shoulder, and then Goten gently slid his hand up her neck and to her chin. Next thing Valese knew, she met her boyfriend's fearful gaze. "What happened?"
Tears formed again as Valese thought about her mother. She shook her head and buried her face in Goten's chest. Goten rubbed her back in soothing strokes, the girl's body shaking as she sobbed. "Sh," Goten whispered lovingly. "Sh, it's okay. I'm here. You're safe. It's going to be okay."
"Oh, Goten, it was awful!" Valese wailed, her voice muffled by Goten's body. "She was so , so…so mean!"
Goten clenched his teeth to prevent the rude and angry words he was sure he'd spew. "Well," he forced out quietly, "we knew it wouldn't go well. Did the supervisors see it?"
Valese pulled away and finally looked into Goten's eyes without prompting. She nodded. "At first, she was being so fake, like overly so. I one-word answered her when she asked questions. Then…she noticed the ring."
Goten tightened his grip on Valese. The girl didn't have to continue for Goten to know where this was going. He narrowed his eyes and wryly said, "So she isn't coming to the wedding?"
That brought out a chuckle from Valese, but the girl's mind went back to her mother's heartless words. "I knew she wouldn't be thrilled, but I didn't expect her to be so awful. Goten…she, she called me a 'whore.'"
"What?" Goten practically snapped.
Valese leaned her head against Goten's shoulder. "Actually, she said I was whoring myself to you. When I told her we weren't doing that yet, she said it meant you were going for it elsewhere and that I was just a piece and you'd either leave or cheat on me." She pushed off of him and met his angered gaze. "I know she's wrong. I know you love me and would never do that to me, but I was just such a wreck. I just wanted to see you, wanted to be with you."
Goten's gaze softened when he took in the defeated form of his girlfriend. He moved his hand to hold the back of her head. "Val…" he breathed out, his hand entangled in her hair. "We…" He looked at the clock and then realized something. "Wait, what about your dad? Wasn't he supposed to pick you up?"
Valese paled and gasped. "Oh! They called him, but I didn't text him that I came here."
"Go call him," Goten stated. "I'll go make us something to eat, and then we can talk more about this."
The brunette nodded and allowed Goten to help her up off of him. The boy stood up and paused. Valese tilted her head in confusion as to the look he flashed her way. Before Goten left the room, he swept Valese up in his arms and kissed her. The action took Valese by surprise and ended almost as soon as it began. When Goten left the room, Valese raised her right hand to her lips. She couldn't believe that Goten wasn't upset with her.
As she was told, Valese took out her phone and dialed her father's number. The man immediately answered, frantic and worried. Goten wasn't to far away and heard his girlfriend reassure the man and promise never to pull a stunt like that again. Goten breathed out a sigh of relief, then went to busy himself making snacks.
The teen slammed two plastic cups on the counter and glared at them before he grabbed the juice container from the fridge and filled them. Goten then went to get a couple different packages of cookies. He nearly slammed them down on the table too, but didn't want to alert Valese. Still, Goten was furious. He couldn't believe what Valese had just told him. The youth knew his girlfriend's mother had become toxic, but he didn't expect that level of wickedness. It bothered him that Valese had been forced to spend time with someone so vile against her will, but he hoped that after seeing that the court would finally give Walsh a break and award him custody already!
When Valese entered the kitchen, head downcast, Goten felt pain in his chest over seeing the woman he loved in such a state. After she sat across from him at the island, she finally looked at him with a sad smile and troubled eyes. "Dad wanted me to thank you for looking out for me," she said quietly. "Apparently, he's been calling me, but my phone was on silent during the visitation so…"
"Yeah," Goten murmured. "About that…" Valese's eyes widened, and Goten could tell his tone worried her again. "You were right in saying your mother was wrong. I adore you, Valese. I love you so much. I wouldn't have given you the ring and promised myself to you if I didn't."
"I know," Valese replied. "I know you do, and I love you too. I shouldn't have let her get to me, but it was just awful. I wish I hadn't…" The girl blushed, and dropped her head as she shyly continued, "…acted that way with you…in front of everyone. All I know was I just wanted to feel better."
Goten nodded. "I can understand that, but Val…we just can't…I just can't do this yet." He pushed away from the table, got up, and walked around the table to embrace his girlfriend. She stiffened at firstnin his hold, but then relaxed and wrapped her arms around him. He softly told her, "The reason I haven't pushed physically isn't because I don't want to be with you. I do…more than you can imagine, I do. Sometimes it's hard not to be with you, but Val..." He sighed. "I've already already had a bad experience with sex. Not only that, but I want our first time to be really special. I don't want it just to be because my hormones took over or because you're trying to ease your pain. We deserve better than that. You deserve more than that.
"Val, I can't give you what you want."
Valese hugged Goten tighter and nuzzled her face in his neck getting his shirt wet in the process. Goten's eyes widened when he felt her smile against his skin. "I want to be with you too," she admitted, "but you're right. After talking with Mai and Videl, I realized that I'm not ready yet. I'm just so glad you aren't mad at me."
Goten pulled back and looked at Valese as if she had said the strangest thing in the world. "I could never be mad at you for something like that. Trust me, I understand. Sometimes we make rash decisions based on what we're feeling during stressful times. That's what I do…. Besides, we'll get through this. After that, I'd be surprised if they ever make you see her again."
Goten moved to release her, but Valese didn't want to let him go. Her boyfriend looked to her, confused. "Can…can you just hold me for a while, at least? I just…I just want to be near you."
Dark eyes softened, and Goten nodded at her. He took her hand, snacks forgotten on the table, and led her into his room. The two laid down on the bed, and Goten held his arms open for Valese. She nuzzled against him as his arms wrapped around her and hid her face against his chest. Goten smiled weakly, especially when he realized how stiff and tense his girlfriend was. He moved his lips to her ear, his breath tickling her. "This," he whispered, "this I can do."
At that, Valese relaxed in his hold, and the two cuddled until later when Chi Chi returned home and Gohan returned. The four of them ate dinner together, and then Walsh came to pick Valese up before it got so late. Goten's eyes never left his girlfriend as she departed, his eyes full of worry. Despite what he said earlier, Goten was truly worried that the court might keep Valese in this awful situation. And then, he tried to remember how the court system did not fail Trunks months back.
He had to have faith everything would work out, not just with Valese, but with his father too.
"Oh Bunny, that's wonderful news!" Gine exclaimed. "Congratulations to you, and especially to Bulma and Vegeta."
When Goku heard the name of his childhood friend, he paused in his stride. He was about to enter the kitchen, but waited to hear what his mother was talking about. Curiosity caused him to eavesdrop.
"So they went to the adoption agency today?" Gine asked. "Didn't they just put in their paperwork recently?"
Goku's eyes widened, surprised. He remembered when Bulma told him about Vegeta's idea to adopt and how he, as her best friend, encouraged her. A smile, a true, genuine smile touched his lips. He was so happy for his friend.
And then he remembered the last time they spoke, how he treated her, and his stomach dropped. Goku knew he caused her a lot of pain, and he really didn't know how to fix it. The man kept to himself a text message Bulma recently sent him about how she would wait for him to heal, but she wasn't going anywhere. He simply thanked her, but he knew his absence in her life to talk to and share this exciting news with was probably very hard on her. It killed him, too. He should be hearing this wonderful news directly from his best friend, not from eavesdropping on his own mother's private conversation with Bulma's mother. Of course, he was the one responsible for this divide. Deep down, he knew Bulma was afraid to tell him anything right now, in fear she'd push him away further.
He needed to be the one to reach out. He needed to be the one to remind her she could come to him about the good and the bad, that she could trust he wouldn't truly disappear from her life.
Goku took out his phone. It was time he try to make this all right. He opened their text message and began to write. Hey B! I just heard the news. Congratulations!
His finger hovered over the send button; his eyes roved over the message and he froze. This moment reminded him of the time back in college, when he had broken up with Bulma and how he wished her a Happy New Years and acted as if nothing ever happened. It had led to a fight, and Goku just couldn't handle that right now. He deleted the message and sighed in defeat. He went back into his room to sleep away the pain.
