Clashing Convergence

by ROGUEFURY

Three years have passed. All the training in the world cannot help the twin stars navigate the chaos, strife and fallout of the bioengineered threats created by Dr. Gero. The battles lead to clashes that threaten to splinter their bond, but will the twin stars converge against the trials and tribulations? Or will their love erode under the pressure. Sequel to A Twin Star.

12. Reconciling Strife

Well, the long, simmering wait is over. We have angst, strife, and...SMUT. Thanks for reading this far and being patient! PS - Someone actually said they'd like a playlist of the music Sofia listens to, so I made one. If you listen as you read the chapters, you'll have certain music references I use as markers, so you'll have an idea of when she's listening to certain songs: playlist/3ErHOTo5D7vkaV3bLnQaDG?si=iEYxETn_Ro-n7iHTb34XZw

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Chapter 12: Reconciling Strife

"Speech" 'Telepathy' Thought *Reminiscing*

"I can't BELIEVE the amount of food you were able to whip up!"

"Hah, it was actually super easy with all the kitchen amenities you guys have here. But you gotta let me help you with the grocery bill—"

"Absolutely not! Don't be silly," Mrs. Briefs fitfully waved away her offer as she took off her apron and tossed it to the counter. "I don't think I've seen Vegeta that happy in a very long time—well, maybe ever. He does love to eat," the blonde giggled. "As a matter of fact, I think that's the first time we've all sat together and had breakfast, ever!"

"Aww, I'm glad," Sofia smiled beamingly as she finished drying the dishes and used her telekinetic powers to store everything in its proper place, leaving the blonde so astonished that her blue eyes actually popped open and shown blue. "Hopefully that'll hold everyone over until dinner tonight. I wanted to spend the day sparring," she remarked as she walked out of the kitchen, only to lay eyes on Trunks, who was already passed out on the couch in an almost identical pose as Vegeta had been in the previous day. "Hehehe, apple doesn't fall far from the Saiyan tree."

Mrs. Briefs gushed at the sight, leaning down to brush his long lavender strands out of his face and behind his ear, without stirring him awake. "I think our baby version also got tuckered out, so Bulma went to put him down for a nap. I'm going to make a fresh pot of coffee and take it down to the husband."

Once Sofia had tiptoed out of the living room, she had time to collect her thoughts, and settled on going in search for Vegeta. While gobbling down a stack of waffles, he'd actually agreed to spar with her in the back promenade of the Capsule Corp grounds. She sensed him still inside the main building, however, so she loped down the hall towards the family's quarters. Before completing turning the corner, she halted and hid when she caught Vegeta and Bulma talking at the end of the hall, next to the closed windows. At first she thought they were fighting, until she heard Bulma sigh, "I haven't thought about it once, actually."

"Is that a fact?" Vegeta drawled, unconvinced. His tone was gruff, but almost playful.

"Listen, buster, you don't get to gallivant on and off planet, strutting around here like everyone's at your beck and call, as if I'm waiting for you—" Bulma began to argue, almost reaching that iconic pitch of hers when she really was going to fly off the handle, when Vegeta surprised her by dropping his crossed arms, grabbing her hand just as she was about to storm off.

Gently, the usually surly prince pulled her back towards him and leaned close to murmur, "You look damned good when you're mad."

Sofia internally fangirl cheered as she saw Bulma scoff, but heard her flirtatiously retort, "Take it in, bub, because all you do is make me mad."

"Well, the feeling isn't mutual, woman—"

"Of course it isn't—"

"If anything, you've succeeded in making me anything but mad right now," he continued, unabashed, leaning closer as he husked, "Care to see what I'm feeling instead?"

Sofia saw Bulma's anger wane instantly, but the Capsule Corp heiress placed her palms flat against his chest, determinedly huffing, "You know what I want to hear first."

Instead of the temper flare up or eye roll Sofia expected, she watched Vegeta chuckle, a gravelly sound as he circled one hand around the small of her back and used the other to crook his finger to tip her chin up so he could lean impossibly close and murmur, "I'll let you be on top."

Sofia clamped her hands over her mouth and tried not to squeal with shocked laughter at that before making sure she used her "stealth" abilities to conceal her presence at the end of the hall so the couple didn't sense her.

"That's not what I meant, wiseass—" Bulma began to snap.

"I know it isn't, but if you're going to give me ultimatums, then you're going to be waiting a hell of a long time. You knew what this was—" he began to grumble, his tone cooling.

"Oh my god, you think I'm pining away for a commitment? From you?" Bulma remarked, actually taken aback. "Vegeta…I just want you, for once, to tell me exactly what you feel, without any bullshit grandstanding or bravado."

"…That's it?" Vegeta asked, suspicious.

Bulma's blue eyes softened as she nodded, caressing her hand up his muscular arm to trace his chiseled jaw.

Exhaling gruffly, Vegeta steeled himself as he thought about the proposition. Just when Sofia thought the cagey Saiyan was going to choose to stalk off instead, she watched as he grunted tersely, "I want you, woman. Right now. And I want you to want me."

Absorbing the statement, Bulma's expression softened sultrily before she surprised him by pulling him over to meet her kiss. Before the lip locking grew too torrid, the blue-haired woman pulled back and purred coquettishly, "Now, was that so hard?"

Smirking, Vegeta chuckled before he pulled her with him into his bedroom as he husked seductively, "Not just yet it isn't, so lets get on with it so I can show you how hard—"

Sofia heard the door shut, mercifully muffling the rest of Vegeta's dirty talk, and allowing her to wheeze threw her clamped hands at how fantastic that exchange had been. "God I love 'shipping them!" she giggled before using her unnatural speed to exit the hallway and head for the lower levels of the headquarters building.

The morning had been absolutely wonderful. She'd woken up after a late night of shooting the breeze and goofing around with Trunks and Vegeta out on the patio. She hadn't laughed and carried on without a care in the world like that in ages. She had a spring in her step, an overall looseness to her body language as she'd cooked up a storm for the family that morning. The peaceful routine had calmed the tumultuous thoughts that had plagued her for days, and she truly relished the change in dynamic in being around the aloof yet kind Briefs. Somehow, having confided in Vegeta about her mindset and hearing his take on things had really put a lot of the gloom in her mind into perspective. Their friendship was a needed and gratifying development for her, and she intended to truly become best buddies with the surly Saiyan. Taking a cleansing breath, she skipped the rest of the way down the hall as she pondered maybe going back to Goku's and smoothing things over better with the Son family. I was too in my damned feelings…

Entering Dr. Briefs' lab, she saw him still tinkering over the gifts she'd given him. Across the expansive space, she saw Android 16 was lying on the observation table with two electrodes still plugged into the side of his skull, but he seemed awake. "Oh, come for a visit?" the mustachioed scientist greeted. "I'm just waiting for Bulma to come and check this last backup sequence we ran. Wonder where that daughter of mine could be off to."

Sofia had to stifle a spontaneous chuckle before turning it into a cough as she thought, Skyrocket's in flight,She's having some afternoon delight~! "Oh, she's taking care of something," she replied innocently before skipping over to peek in on Sixteen. "Hey, you awake?"

"Affirmative. System diagnostics have been completed," the hulking Android mused in a monotone. "I should be 100% operational tomorrow."

"Awesome!" she chirped as she went over to lean against the table and smile down at him. "I was hoping you were already back on your feet so we could spar, but guess we'll have to rain-check it."

"That would be an insufficient attempt at preparing for the tournament against Cell," Sixteen stated, glancing at her coolly.

"Damn, that's rude! I know I'm nowhere near as strong as you—" she began to protest, huffily crossing her arms and pouting down at him.

"Incorrect. You are more powerful than I am, so sparring would not serve as a preparatory exercise," Sixteen explained, earnestly staring up at her and catching her surprised glance. "Perhaps once Vegeta is done coupling with Bul—"

"What was that now?" Dr Briefs picked up his head from the device manual he'd been reading just as Sofia placed her hand over Sixteen's mouth and interrupted his comment.

"He said Vegeta is building a battle plan for us to mull over," Sofia hurriedly remarked, nodding vigorously, hands behind her back as she teetered goofily on the balls of her feet.

"Huh…" the scientist hummed before returning to the manual and taking a long swig of his coffee.

Sighing, Sofia shot Sixteen an admonishing glare. "That was the plan, but I can't fault anyone for getting a little afternoon delight in," she whispered, adding quickly, "Anyway, there's no way you can know without being able to sense my power level—"

"Incorrect. There are other data points my calculations are based off of. Your ability to have fought a Super Saiyan Vegeta, as well as your counterattack of Cell after being mortally wounded displays a level of latent strength, that while I cannot register, I can interpret as exceeding my own," Sixteen reasoned, adding, "You've surpassed your battle abilities from the first time you fought Seventeen and Eighteen, which was my base point. If you had more time to train, you could potentially defeat Cell. Probability is 45%."

Blinking wide-eyed at him, Sofia suddenly laughed and waved his assertion away as she whistled, "You are silly as hell, Sixteen! But hey, since we can't spar, I'll quit bugging you."

Waving as she sprinted cavalierly out of the room, Sofia didn't see the frown pull at Sixteen's stoic features at her retreat.

---

He truly was smitten.

The concept of it made him anxious and awkward, but the more he spent time with her, Trunks could feel that nervous energy subsiding. She had a knack for making everyone feel comfortable, and the sense of belonging she instilled in him was a kindness he hadn't known he'd missed out on for so long. Gohan had cultivated it first, and after losing his mentor and friend, he'd felt alone and unsure he'd ever feel like he truly belonged ever again. Now, he relished the hopefulness her spirit and genuine presence stirred in him. The time they'd spent the night before had been the most at peace and content he'd been in his life.

*While the others had eventually turned in for the night, the odd trio had remained, telling stories over beers and watching Sofia goof around, dancing up a storm every time a particular song came over her wireless speaker set out on the patio table. He'd marveled at her ability to sing along, bopping and swaying with some fancy footwork he knew he wouldn't be able to keep up with; dance moves borne of confidence, goofiness and something else altogether. Vegeta had been nice and buzzed enough not to roll his eyes at the display and instead quipped at one point, "Ginyu would've given his left nut to be able to bust moves like that." Sofia had laughed and mimicked the horned Captain Ginyu by posing in one his cringe-worthy stances before going back to dancing in her unique style.

"It's cuz his team had no ladies on it!" she'd chuckled and wiggled her brows suggestively. "C'moooon! I know my moves are just too good, but yer not gonna let me keep dancin' on my own," she'd quipped as a particularly sultry, rhythm-filled song came on, making her switch up her dancing to a sinuous boogey that had Trunks nervously waving off her invite.

Vegeta had snorted, eyes narrowed aloofly as he remarked, "Just show the woman how to do those moves so I can appreciate them on my own time."

Trunks had balked in mortified embarrassment at that while Sofia cackled and fist pumped in comical agreement, "Sounds like a deal, heheheh."

The zeal in her eyes had remained with him when she'd smiled and said goodnight before practically skipping off to bed, making him wish he hadn't been intimidated to dance with her.

"Boy," Vegeta had grunted after he chugged his 16th beer and walked past him to enter the living area. "By the way she can move her body, she's well versed in carnal pleasures, so she's likely to pop your cherry outstandingly well, as long as you quit being a chicken shit and make a move already," he gruffly drawled before yawning and heading off to his private quarters.*

Eye twitching at the reminder of his father's crass words of wisdom, Trunks watched her now as she shadow boxed and sparred alone across from him. He steeled his courage, finally feeling confident enough to approach her and tell her he felt the same way she did. For the longest time, he didn't think she felt anything towards him nor that she felt anything close to what he'd come to feel for her. That is, until that morning.

Recalling the conversation he'd overheard earlier in the day when he'd gone down to the kitchen and heard Sofia and his mother chatting while she tended to the breakfast feast she was prepping, Trunks couldn't help replaying what Sofia had said. Hidden around the corner of the doorway from the large yet homey kitchen, he'd taken pause at the mention of her feelings.

*"—I'm not! C'mon, I just don't see why you can't tell me more. Is it someone I know?"

"Would it matter if it was?"

"Of course! I could give you tips—"

"It doesn't matter, Bulma. He's…well he's in a different place than I am, and no matter how much I want to bridge that divide, I just don't know how he really feels—"

"That sounds oddly familiar," he heard his mother sigh. "Let me guess: he's the apathetic, brooding type that puts it all on you to initiate things?"

"Hah…" Sofia had chuckled hollowly. "Let's just say I don't think I have it in me to do the initiating right now. But, ugh, I don't know," she paused, seemingly trying to find the right words. "I just wish he would look me in my eyes and tell me exactly how he feels, without being too whatever about being vulnerable—"

"Have you told him that?" Bulma tentatively probed.

"This is going to sound harsh but, I don't think I should fucking have to tell him that! He either wants to tell me, or he doesn't. I'm not looking to drag it out of him," Sofia offhandedly huffed. "Sorry…" she quickly added, sounding rueful.*

Trunks had sensed his father approaching, so he phased away from his eavesdropping corner to avoid suspicion or ridicule. Had he remained, however, he would've heard his mother ask, "At least tell me he's an amazing lay to be worth all this grief!"

Sofia had given her a wolfish smirk before it slowly crept into a brilliant grin. "He's beyond—like literally a mind-blowing, phenomenal sexual dynamo!" her eyes became hearts as she fawned, "He rocks my world and is so damned sexy—"

"You talking about me, stealth?" Vegeta had sauntered cockily as he entered the kitchen and leaned against the doorframe.

"Hah! Nah, like I told yah, you're not my type," Sofia snickered and stuck her tongue out goofily at him.

"I told you that, actually—"

"True, and I'm confirming!" Sofia declared glibly before whirling around and pointing dramatically to the heiress and prince as she proclaimed, "I would never come between this powerful union right here~!"

Bulma actually blushed while Vegeta scoffed and smirked wryly, sharing a sly glance with Sofia before catching Bulma's gaze. Steeling her expression, Bulma feigned disinterested and nursed her coffee while Vegeta took the opportunity to contemplate her more keenly.

Trunks walked in and caught his father's heated glance towards his mother and awkwardly grimaced until Sofia caught his expression and shot him a silly smile.

That smile stuck with him the rest of the morning.

Focusing on her as she executed a flurry of vaults and flips before spinning into a series of counters and evasions, he swallowed the nervous knot in his throat and decided to tell her exactly how he felt.

Sofia was concentrating on the sequence of kata palm strikes she was practicing before she spun around and threw an open-palmed strike at empty air – and came only inches away from Trunks' face. Startling, she pulled her headphones off and apologized, "Shit! Sorry, I was in the zone and didn't sense you—"

"No, that's my bad for sneaking up on you," Trunks reassured. "Couldn't find someone to spar with?"

"Yeah, everyone's been indisposed, so to speak," she chuckled as she pulled her hair free of the tight bun at the top of her head so it could cascade down and past her shoulders. Glancing at him, she took in his casual threads and smiled, "Skater chic looks good on you, dude." She admired his fitted blue jeans, green high-top sneakers and sleeveless faded orange top with the Capsule Corp logo in yellow on across the chest. His long lavender hair was finely brushing his muscled arms and framing his chiseled face.

Glancing down at himself, he laughed wryly. "Thanks. Mom got these for me. My other stuff is kind of snug now."

"Oh, I can snap an adjusted version for you, don't worry. I like this though. It's a cool look," she complimented and posed next to him as if she was cool skater too in her blue and white color-blocked crop top t-shirt, fitted cargo green joggers and purple high-top Vans. "I don't know how to skateboard though, do you?" she joked goofily, as she went to put away her music player into her backpack.

"Nah, but Gohan told me about it once," Trunks retorted, noticing the new music player as she returned it to its pocket. "You brought back a bunch of new tech, mom told me?"

"Yeah! I kept a few stuff for myself, and man – what a difference! This baby's got literally thousands of songs stored in it. Ain't that awesome?" she remarked as she showed him the player before zipping her backpack and tossing it over her shoulder.

"Totally," Trunks smiled. "Hey, uh, are you doing anything right now?"

"Nope. Why? You wanna spar?!" she inquired, eyes flashing with excitement at the prospect.

"Actually, I was wondering if we could talk," he explained, pausing when Sofia gave him a surprised look. "I mean, we can go do something, or maybe we can—"

"You're right, I get it. You've done enough training and sparring already, so lets do something else," she suggested, glancing up at the sky and chiming, "It's past noon, so we can go grab lunch—OH! I got the perfect place we can go check out, if you're cool with—"

"Sure! Whatever's cool," Trunks smiled, eyes cresting charmingly as he added, "It's lame, but I don't even know anything around here cuz West City is, well, not as bustling in my time…"

"Aw, I know, that's why I gotta show you around, so let's go, follow me!" Sofia tossed her backpack on and jumped in the air and flew upwards as she gestured for him to follow her lead.

Ascending to float next to her above the promenade, Trunks let her lead the way as they began to fly higher until they were at the height of some of the taller skyscrapers in the city. As they flew, he watched her from the corner of his eye as she suddenly asked him, "Tell me: have you ever had a fat, juicy, delicious cheese burger?!"

"Uh, no! Never have—"

"Then you're in luck, bub!" she declared as she reached over and grabbed his wrist before she blasted off at full speed and hauled him along with her. "Your taste buds have not LIVED yet, haha."

---

Sofia reached into her bag and fished out the last loose fry before popping it merrily into her mouth. "Damn, I love fries~!"

Laughing, Trunks remarked, "I gotta say, they're definitely tasty."

"You haven't tried your shake yet?!" Sofia balked, picking up the frothy cup and shaking it comically in his face. "You gotta try this after taking a bite of your burger. Seriously."

Following her instructions, Trunks did so, and his eyes widened with wonder at the delicious myriad of flavors that danced in his mouth. Swallowing, he declared, "Holy hell…that's awesome."

"Right?!" Sofia giggled, leaning over and stealing a fry from his carton and earning a chuckle from the blue-eyed fighter.

They were sitting high above the rest of the patrons of Billie's Burgers Joint, literally a story above them, directly at the top of the giant aforementioned Billie mascot's propped up burger. Legs dangling over the edge, they sat close to each other to account for the headphone they each had in one ear. Sofia was playing music for him in between their snacking and chatting. He'd commented about being impressed with her vocalizing of songs when she was idly doing the dishes after breakfast, and they'd got onto talking about music in general. "So, you really think everybody's got a music profile, huh," Trunks remarked as his foot tapped absentmindedly to the beat of the song they were listening to.

"Of course! I'll prove it to yah," she picked up the player and continued, "Name someone and I'll play yah what I think totally encompasses their personality."

"Heh, alright. How about…Krillin," he replied, watching as she quickly scrolled her thumb over the dial and zipped through the vast library of music before easily finding a song and pressing play. Instantly, "Can't Stop" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers began to play for him. As he listened to the lyrics and musicality, he bopped along to it and smiled before conceding, "Damn, yeah I don't know why, but that does remind me of Krillin, hahaha." He chuckled while Sofia shot him a confident look. "Ok, ok, then how 'bout Master Roshi?" he countered, and she quickly found the track she felt perfectly summed up the iconic martial arts master. Hitting play on ZZ Top's "Sharp Dressed Man," which instantly earned a broad smile from Trunks before they both laughed at the spot-on song.

"I'm telling you, I've listened to music and thought about such trivial matters hella hard to come up with this theory. Like, this totally reminds me of Tien," she said as she played him "Hash Pipe" by Weezer.

As he tapped his fingers along with the song, he smiled and nodded in defeat. "Alright, you're 3 for 3. I concede," he joked as he slurped his shake in one long shot and instantly got a brain freeze, earning a laugh from Sofia as she patted his head and ruffled his hair platonically. When he recovered, he glanced at her and wondered if he should tell her now.

"Trunks," he stiffened when her eyes focused intently on his features, as if she'd read his mind. Striking cerulean locked onto blazing crimson briefly, and he felt expectation rise into his chest. Reaching her hand toward his jaw, he paused when she tactically wiped at the corner of his mouth with her thumb just as she mused, "Yah missed a spot!" then found a napkin in her empty bag to clean her thumb with. "Bleh, I hate ketchup. Did you like it?"

The demi-Saiyan's pulse returned to normal as he cleared his throat and mused, "Yeah, it was good. You like barbecue sauce on yours?"

"Yep! I love BBQ sauce. I even like dipping my fries in it," she laughed as she collected the litter and tossed it into the empty paper bag. "You better hurry and finish them fries before I steal 'em!"

"You can have 'em. I've had my fill," Trunks smiled and offered them to her, as he finished his last burger bite.

"Ooo, yummy," she drawled as she polished off the fries, licking her fingers clean of salt before collecting the remaining garbage, crumbling it into a tight ball, and skillfully tossing it down the height they were perched on into a waiting trash can below, next to the patio. "Oh damn, I can't believe this—you'd said you wanted to talk? Sorry I let food and tunes distract me—"

"Haha, it's ok," Trunks waved her fretting off as he struggled to keep his long tendrils of hair the breeze was blowing into his face out of his eyes.

"Hey, I really love the long hair, but it isn't really practical. I should know," she remarked before goofily tossing her hair back in the breeze. "It's gonna get in your face like crazy during the tournament."

"Oh, yeah that's a good point," he mused, lips pressing together in a silly expression as he pulled the headphone out of his ear and handed it to her.

Packing everything up, she remarked, "Let's head back and I'll help you with it." Hopping to her feet, she smiled down and offered her hand to him to help him stand.

Taking her hand, he found himself marveling at the imposing power hidden in the grip as it wrapped around his palm. His hand spanned hers almost twice over, fingertips brushing along the pulse line of her wrist, causing his mind to linger on the feeling of her platonic touch, first so close to his lips, and just now in his warm hand. He wondered what her lips would feel like against his.

When they landed in the backyard of Capsule Corp, just across from the headquarters building, Sofia hopped onto the picnic table near the closest leafy tree and patted the spot on the bench seat she wanted him to sit on before she plopped down on top of the table. "Come on over and let me finesse yer lavender locks, good sir!" she petitioned in a playful carny-like tone, smiling when he looked cagey suddenly. It reminded her of Vegeta from hours before. "Ah, c'mon, I won't bite," she chuckled as she willed her ki into her hand and materialized a psionic pair of scissors.

"Whoa…it's really cool how you can manipulate your ki like that," he remarked, impressed, as he went over and sat down at the spot beneath her on the picnic table.

"Yeah, it's a bitch-level amount of concentration, but now that I can do it again I'm definitely back to 100%," she reasoned as she adjusted so she could sit propped in a way that allowed her to reach for his hair. Combing her fingers through the straight-yet-thick length, she remarked, "I'm only going to trim it so it hits your shoulders. That way it's easier to manage."

When her fingers brushed the nape of his neck, Trunks sat with his back straighter as the tickle skittered down his spine. "Sure, that works," he replied, his tone raspy and tentative.

Unable to read his tone for it's timid quality, Sofia shook his shoulder playfully and barked, "C'mon! I ain't gonna hack it all off. This sexy lavender mane is too iconic, haha." Gathering his hair behind his shoulders and sweeping the soft locks together into a low ponytail, she mused, "You should try different hairstyles the next time you grow it out. Maybe a badass braid, or a topknot?" she chatted as she measured the length one last time before she used her psionic tool to cut cleanly at the top of the ponytail, angled between her horizontally-leveled fingers. His hair fanned across his shoulders perfectly and symmetrical. He watched from the corner of his eye as Sofia brushed at the strands that framed his face to make sure they were even before she smiled, satisfied. "Whew, looking sharp!" she playfully purred and waved his chopped hair at him like it was a duster.

Brushing his fingers experimentally through his new length of hair, he smiled broadly at her. "Thanks for the trim, Sofia," he rumbled, blue eyes warm as he sat up from the bench to sit next to her on top of the picnic table. "I've been meaning to tell you something…and was hoping I could tell you now."

Sensing his shift in demeanor, Sofia placed his cut hair aside and allowed her psionic scissors to fizzle away before she turned slightly to give him her attention. "Sure thing. Is something wrong?" she mused, her brows furrowing as her almond-shaped eyes crinkled softly.

"No, actually, it's something I kind of wanted to tell you for a while, but I guess I wasn't sure if I should," Trunks explained, pausing to lean slightly towards her as he confided, "I – well I've been thinking about everything you've done for us, that is, what you've done for me, and for the longest now I've wanted to tell you how amazing I think you are."

Taken aback, Sofia blinked her crimson eyes and blew a raspberry as she grinned and punched his shoulder platonically. "Ah, you're being silly! I think you're really amazing, Trunks. Everything you've been through and the person you are inspire me to be better. I really feel lucky to know you—"

"I don't just think you're amazing," he continued, startling Sofia when he broodingly glanced ahead and exhaled a sobering breath. "I see how you are and everything you've overcome while I've been too stupid or scared to rise to the occasion. Hell, you even get on with Father way better than I do…and I can't even stop rambling and get to the real point of what I want to tell you."

Misreading completely what Trunks was attempting to do, Sofia interpreted his tense demeanor as a much-needed vent session. "Look, you're forgetting I have an advantage here that no one else does. It's unfair, I know, but you shouldn't get down on yourself—"

Glancing back and into her eyes now, Trunks startled her when he shook his head and declared, "What I've wanted to tell you, for a while now, is how you make me feel. Nothing else. Just that since we met, I thought you were amazing and I just wanted to get to know you more, and now that I've had the chance, I don't want to do anything else—can't think of what else to do or say…"

Before Sofia could process what was happening, Trunks leaned in and kissed her on the lips before caressing her cheek gently with his fingertips. Stunned, her eyes snapped wide, and just as her mind began to race in bafflement, Trunks was suddenly and violently propelled away from her by some force she barely registered breezing by her.

Landing on his back on the grass, Trunks sat up and balked up at the intruder, who'd blindsided him, only to gape in confusion up at the furious towering figure.

Shocked by the sudden arrival and completely overwhelmed with confusion by what just happened, Sofia jumped to her feet and bristled when Piccolo whirled around to stare in resentful anger at her before turning to direct his ire at Trunks as he bellowed, "How dare you touch her!"

Sweatdropping and jumping to his feet, Trunks began to stammer, "W-w-what?!" before Piccolo grabbed him by the front of his shirt and loomed threateningly over him. "I don't understand—!"

"If you ever touch her again—!" Piccolo began to snarl, eyes narrowed into a murderous glare on the befuddled fighter's floored expression.

"Piccolo! Stop – let him go!" Sofia shouted as she tried to intervene.

Furious, Piccolo shoved Trunks back and whirled around to bark, "What the fuck is going on with you?! You shut me out and don't talk to me at all, and now you're with him?!"

Recoiling in shock, Sofia snapped back and became livid. "Oh, NOW you give a shit and want to know how I feel?! You didn't give a DAMN about how I felt when you pushed me away and treated me like a worthless weakli—!"

"So because of that ONE fuckup you're with him?!" Piccolo growled rapaciously, pointing venomously at Trunks, who was staring in comical mortification between the two quarrelling twin stars, while Piccolo kept his boiling gaze on hers.

"I AM NOT WITH TRUNKS!" Sofia roared, fists at her sides as her eyes became garnet beacons of seething rancor.

Gaze narrowing in simmering bitterness, Piccolo hissed gruffly, "You could've fooled me!"

"I-I-I don't understand," Trunks stiffly rasped out, blue blush making his features looks drawn and pale.

Whirling sidelong, Sofia bristled. "I'm sorry—let me bring you up to speed, Trunks. Piccolo here has spent years so embarrassed to be with me that he would rather act like I'm a fucking reckless liability to him, so much so he's been BERATING ME for something his jealous, insanely stubborn ass has concocted – rather than admit he's being an ASSHOLE and that he's TOO CHICKEN SHIT TO LET HIS FEELINGS BE KNOWN!" Sofia thundered, blistering shout echoing throughout the space and rippling upwards to scare a flock of birds that flew close by.

Trunks stood rooted in his mortified spot as his mind began to recall every single weird exchange with the brooding Demon King, and how upset Sofia had been after he'd entered the time chamber, as well as when she'd stormed off through the mirror. As it quickly dawned on him that what he'd presumed to be terse disagreements between sensei and pupil were actually tempestuous spats between lovers, the naïve warrior's expression shuttered in. It all clicked as soon as he replayed the conversation he'd overheard. She had been talking about Piccolo, and whatever had come to pass between them was turbulent enough to have caused some sort of falling out. However, Piccolo was in love with her, and every surly look he'd shot his way had been borne of jealousy for what he'd picked up so easily that Sofia had been completely oblivious to.

Turning to level Piccolo with a withering look, Sofia murmured fiercely, "You really think I'm such a liability? That I'm too reckless to be trusted? Fine. At least that's honest, but I don't have to accept it!And I will not allow you to make me feel lesser than because you're too fucking scared to let people know how you feel. I'm done with your projecting just because you resent me for the feelings you have. No matter how much I love you…I will not abide it any longer."

Her words were like a gut-punch, leaving Piccolo defeated while Trunks stood, completely flummoxed, as she turned and stormed off back towards the headquarters building. As they watched her go, the two fighters stood silent.

Then, Trunks spoke up. "I kissed her. I thought—I heard her talking to mom, and thought she was talking about me…I was very wrong. I didn't know…"

Glancing over his cape festooned shoulder pad at him, Piccolo absorbed his tone, which was teeming with the regret and loathsome self-disdain that was also etched in the demi-Saiyan's face before it hardened into the glower that he'd inherited from his father. He didn't know what to say, but Kami and Nail were shouting suggestions at him. Before Piccolo could muster the gumption to respond, Trunks turned and stalked off away from the headquarters building, head bowed, shoulders bunched up around his ears and hands shoved into his jean pockets. He could sense the turbulence in the fighter's psyche and felt ashamed for having jumped to conclusions in such a spectacularly terrible way.

Balling up his fists in disgust, Piccolo exhaled a harsh growl.

"Fuck."

---

The night sky shone inky black – shades of navy undulating across the clouds while the stars twinkled brilliantly, peeking down on the world below. She stared up idly, lost in her thoughts as she sat on the domed roof of the western cylindrical tower of the headquarters building. In her lap she held the Walkman CD player she hadn't paid much attention to since it was returned, completely repaired, days before. Caressing it absently, she lowered her gaze and fought the urge to cry. How could I've been so oblivious?! She thought bitingly, upset that she'd taken for granted all the signs Trunks had given her prior to his kiss earlier in the day. Had she led him on? Glancing down at the player again, she frowned. He'd been so kind and thoughtful – having spent time away from his own training to fix the busted device. That should've told her everything she needed to know. However, her heart had been so angry and hurt towards Piccolo, that she hadn't seen what was so obvious in front of her.

"You're lucky they have pizza delivery on speed dial, otherwise I'd be very annoyed with you not cooking dinner right now."

Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Vegeta land on the same roof she was sitting on, stare aloof and arms crossed as he raised a brow at her.

Sighing, she glanced back down at the player in her lap before she returned it to her backpack for safekeeping. "I owe you a supper feast then. My bad," she responded flatly, glancing back at the night sky.

Grunting, Vegeta sat in a lounging position adjacent to her. The breeze was the only thing to pass between them for a beat, until Vegeta suddenly drawled, "I was really hoping you'd pop the boy's cherry and get him out of his bashful ways, but I didn't account on the Namek actually having more game than him—"

Sofia stiffened and mechanically turned to stare at him with a wide, devolved expression of shock. "What?" she piped.

Vegeta continued, undeterred, "But I guess the whole asexual thing is what led me to assume Trunks had a shot. After all, it's clearly been a while since you've had a good lay. Hard to get a good screw with someone that's got no dick."

Deflating comically at that, Sofia face palmed dramatically before whirling around and announcing matter-of-factly, "Actually, while it has been a while since I've had a nice hot romp, it isn't for lack of Piccolo have a big, thick dick, I'll have you know!"

Startled slightly, Vegeta grunted, taken aback as he groused, "So he's not asexual?!"

"Hasn't been since he met me and we got hot and heavy in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber," she retorted glibly before sighing and lying flat on her back to stare up at the sky. "When did you find out about us?"

"I've seen how he stares at you. You'd have to be a moron not to see it. Your thundering bellows at him this afternoon only confirmed it, but before then I figured it was just some weird touchy-feely airy fairy stuff, hence why I assumed it'd be fine for Trunks to get in—" Vegeta's offhanded comment was cut short when Sofia sprung up and glared with narrowed, glowing red eyes at him.

"You encouraged him," she hissed admonishingly.

"You're catching on. How charming," Vegeta sarcastically deadpanned. "Had I known the Namek claimed you physically—"

"Hah!" Sofia barked harshly as she rolled back into a sitting position to glower at the sky, crossing her arms furiously. "Why's it gotta be that he claimed me?! Why can't it be that I claimed him, hmmm?!" she huffed, adding as an aside, "We're twin stars, but I've been the one to have to initiate and nurture this fucking relationship, coddling his obstinate ways and bottling shit up just to keep things copacetic. So I think that entitles me to being the one to take credit for claiming anyone."

Absorbing that, Vegeta inquired, "Twin stars?"

"It's a long fucking story I'm sure you don't want to be bored by—"

"I asked, didn't I?" he grunted, rolling his eyes when she glanced at him with big, wide eyes. "Just get on with it." Sofia sighed, and went into the history, unburdening herself with everything about her and her twin star, and finally filling in a lot of blanks the Saiyan prince had in regards to her backstory and what'd accounted for the turbulent dynamic he'd had a hand at instigating. Once she'd detailed the cosmic connection Piccolo and she shared, Vegeta blew a raspberry and remarked with a sly smirk, "So why aren't you just fucking and getting over your little tiff? Always works for me."

Staring acerbically at him, she groused, "He's questioned my very character by implying I'm just out here being reckless and acting like a liability. You are NOT the only one with pride, alright?"

Amused, Vegeta scoffed aloofly, "That's fair. So then you will throw the boy a bone—?"

"Just cuz you got it in with Bulma this afternoon doesn't mean you gotta concern yourself with everyone else's sex life, Vegeta," she shot back, earning a cagey look to stiffen the mercurial Saiyan's expression. "So did you keep your promise and let her be on top—?!"

"As if I'd give you the satisfaction of detailing my sexual conquests!" Vegeta barked in a comical harangue before snootily huffing and glaring off to the side crisply, realizing she must've caught his flirty exchange with Bulma from earlier.

"Oh, but you definitely wanted a report of if I gave Trunks a ride, eh?!" she drawled impishly, eyes conspiratorially narrowed as she added, "C'mon, tell me it was everything you needed and how good my girl Bulma rocks your world—"

"I'd rather hear about the Namek balling you before I ever tell you my personal business!" Vegeta countered snidely.

"Hah, I'm sure you would! Not every day you come across a very sexual Namekian who is well hung and trained oh-so-well in the art of erotic pleasure," she purred with a tongue wag and wiggled her brows at him boastingly. "Aka, he's fucking phenomenal at being a beast at foreplay and a freak in the sheets!"

Vegeta's expression actually shuttered in at the concept before slapping his palm over his face and grunting, "It's like talking to Nappa, but with tits…"

"Hah! So you mean WAY more substantive AND awesome, eh?" she laughed brashly, grinning wickedly at him when she comically flexed and blew him a goofy kiss.

Vegeta shook his head grudgingly at that, narrowing his gaze cynically as he grunted stiffly, "Scarier…"

---

Gohan had laid out his outfit for the party the next day onto the back of his desk chair, excited to see everyone. He was pondering what shoes he should wear when he saw Piccolo land in the yard. Running out of his room to greet his friend, he breezed by Goku just as he'd opened the door to invite his former foe in. "Hey Piccolo! Come on in. Chi-Chi just finished supper—"

"Piccolo, you gotta come help me finish up my outfit choice for tomorrow," the still golden-haired demi-Saiyan greeted and pulled the Namekian warrior into the house.

"And you can't figure that out on your own because…?" Piccolo rumbled, trying to keep his feelings guarded from the Son family.

"Aw, c'mon Piccolo. Don't tell us you're not excited about tomorrow! I know dressin' up isn't your thing, but yah gotta do it. I think Sofia'll get a kick out of it," Goku cajoled as he slapped his hand across Piccolo's back reassuringly.

Piccolo grimaced at the thought of Sofia's furious reaction as it flashed in his mind's eye, unbidden. "I'm not wearing any of your hand me downs…" he huffed as he let Gohan drag him down the hall.

"Heheheh, of course not! Remember all the stuff Sofia snapped for us over the years? We got plenty of stuff for you to pick from that I haven't even worn yet," Goku chortled amiably while Chi-Chi rolled her eyes from where she was standing, setting the table.

"Yeah, and I just need to know which will look cooler!" Gohan remarked as he ran over, grabbed the pairs of sneakers Sofia had made for him, and held them up for his mentor's scrutiny.

Stoic-faced, Piccolo grumbled, "The high-top sneakers, kid. She's partial to those…"

"Awesome! Thanks," Gohan's turquoise eyes lit up as he rushed to put his completed outfit aside while Goku silently gauged Piccolo's curt demeanor.

"So, where've you been? Head up to the Lookout?" the golden-haired Saiyan inquired, slipping his hands into his khaki pockets as he leaned against the wall Piccolo was currently brooding across from.

"No," Piccolo dismissively huffed before reining in his sour temper. "I just went to do something, and it ended up not being productive at all," he shrugged flippantly, adding in a mutter, "You think this party tomorrow is really going to improve morale?"

"Sure! The gang rarely gets together for something fun and positive, so it'll be a nice distraction from the tension of the looming tournament. Might as well take the time to enjoy each other's company—"

"You don't think we'll get to do it after the tournament, because we're going to lose," Piccolo groused tersely, fixing Goku with a surly glare.

"Ye of little faith!" Goku chimed and pointed dramatically at Piccolo, a funny refrain he'd picked up after Sofia had done it tons of times over the years.

Sweatdropping, Piccolo slapped his hand over his forehead and dragged his palm down his face in aggravation. "How did I ever lose to you in battle…"

Goku chuckled irreverently at that.

After dinner, Piccolo went to sit out under the tree in the yard, twilight having long advanced now and the sky filling with stars. He was angry and needing a way to quell his brooding thoughts, so he figured he'd try and meditate, but his counterparts had other ideas.

'You just had to jump to conclusions, didn't you…' Nail posited tersely.

Concentrating, Piccolo stepped out of his consciousness to join the other two Namekians on the central bridge of their conjoined psychic space. Glaring at Nail, he barked, 'What was I supposed to think when I catch her sucking face with—!'

'That is not what happened, and you know it, Piccolo,' Kami admonished, shaking his head while Nail crossed his arms and grunted in agreement. 'You arrived at the tail end, and you did not hear what had been said before Trunks kissed her. Regardless, the boy told you what happened, so get control of your jealousy and think rationally.'

Growling and crossing arms petulantly over his broad chest, Piccolo diverted his angry gaze away from them. 'You heard what she said. I screwed everything between us up for good…'

Frowning, Kami glanced at Nail, who was shaking his head impatiently. 'She did not say such a thing—'

'All she said was that she would no longer abide your dismissive and contemptuous treatment of her! Nor that she was going to accept your selfish grandstanding and obsession with keeping your relationship secret,' Nail cut in, aggravated and no longer wanting to handle Piccolo with kid gloves. 'If you're going to mend things with her, you need to stop being a stubborn, controlling jackass—'

'I think what Nail is getting at is that not all is lost,' Kami diplomatically cut in, smiling patiently as he added, 'You both have needed to get on the same page for a long while now. When she was ready, you weren't, and vice versa. Perhaps tomorrow at the gathering you can pull her aside and talk.'

'And it wouldn't hurt if you acknowledged publicly that you care for her,' Nail chimed in aloofly, rolling his eyes as he relented to following Kami's gentle heed. 'It also wouldn't kill you if you played along and followed the theme of the party like the others plan to. It might be a perfect ice breaker.'

Sighing, Piccolo scowled, but gave a curt nod, acknowledging what his counterparts were suggesting made sense. 'And if all else fails…?'

Glancing at each other, Kami and Nail hummed noncommittally. When Kami nodded knowingly, Nail responded for the both of them.

'If all else fails, get on your knees and beg for forgiveness!'

---

Faint light filtered in around her. The glow existed in unrequited darkness, where even the shadows the faint light cast were cold and uninviting. Her surroundings began to focus into tangibility, and she realized that the glowing light came from various candles scattered around the circumference of a post-less and board-less bed. The jagged walls of the dark concave cave were the perches for most of the candles, as was the smoothened rock floor she could faintly feel beneath her feet.

Wait a minute… She thought, feeling an odd sense of déjà vu as she tried to focus further on her surroundings. Why is this familiar?

Focus intensifying before her, she realized that she was now lying languidly on the bed, which was shifting under her. The candlelight made her skin glow to an almost statuesque gold tint, and dully she realized she was nude—

Am I back in our cave? She thought, starting to recognize the space, but not understanding why she was there. The soft warmth the candlelight created on her skin illuminated the space faintly, and her eyes couldn't pierce the dark as she'd become accustom to, so she only sensed the other presence that seemed to be watching her from the shadows.

She heard a low rumbling sound, and felt the figure's gaze intensify on her as it stepped from the darkness closer to her. The tall figure still had shadows playing off his form, but his eyes were shining from the faint light, giving them an alluring gleam of polished onyx, a scintillating gaze that sent shivers to the deepest core of her body. The candlelight flared as the figure came closer. Her skin was tingling with excitement – heartbeat rushing as if the space between them would never end. She sat up and leaned forward on her knees, with her hands splayed gingerly on the bed at her sides, when she finally saw the figure's shrouded features come into focus.

The bed shifted under Piccolo's weight, candlelight casting a bronze glow to his usually emerald skin as she realized he was completely naked. Hands trembling, she caressed his chest and leaned into his touch when he cupped her face before running the fingers of his other hand through her hair as he lowered to brush his lips against hers.

Her body began to ignite with the passionate touch of her twin star as his fingers and palms trailed all over her erogenous areas, and incited gasps and sighs from her that if the firm arousal pressing against her lower inner thigh was any indication— were riling him just as much. The pleasure of his actions caused her body to throb and grow whet with excitement, and her eyes began to glaze over with lust that was subtly mirrored in Piccolo's dark pools, as they gazed at her.

She felt his arousal grind lustfully against her, his hot breath trickling over her neck and ear as he finally spoke in a hoarse and almost primal whisper.

"I can't stand not being with you like this."

Humming, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and murmured, "All I want is for you to love me like I love you—"

"I've always loved you," he husked, tipping her face up so he could kiss her fervently as he wrapped his arms around her and pull her against his hard, muscled body.

Sofia gasped, arching against him for more, desperate to have his weight on her and his throbbing arousal inside of her. When she felt him press her down on the bed as he swiftly undulated his hips between her welcoming thighs, she gripped at his back and sighed in delight, hungry for his love. His antennae brushed her skin softly as he kissed along her throat, down to her clavicle before trailing the tip of his purple tongue teasingly, causing her to toss her head back and whimper for more before she wrapped her legs around his waist when he entered her to the hilt and earned a cry of pleasure from her.

His lips were trailing fire across her skin, hands possessively caressing her curves and lovingly prolonging her bliss as his throbbing, hard manhood stroked her trembling sheath, making love to her with such gusto that she saw the air glow and flash around them – the candlelight gone and replaced with the refracting and gleaming ecstasy they both were wrapped in.

Growing taut under him, she gasped before crying out his name, clinging to his powerful body as if he was her anchor and her lifeline.

Eyes snapping awake, Sofia jumped up into a sitting position and in her hyper-aroused state, panted and stared about at the room she was in. The cave was gone, replaced with her guest quarters at Capsule Corp. Holy shit, that was a dream?!

Balking, she glanced at the clock and saw it was late in the morning. Her body was still tingling as she tossed the blankets aside and realized she had been sweating almost feverishly in her sleep. Grimacing, she got out of bed and felt her body shiver, but not from cold. If anything, she was burning up, forehead and cheeks feeling scalding to her touch as she fanned herself. "Jeez, it's hot in here!" she huffed and rushed to the room's thermostat, shocked to find it at a cool setting. "Oh man…am I getting sick?" Turning and entering the white-tiled and pristine bathroom, she surveyed her appearance. Her skin had a glow to it, a kind of dewy sheen while her cheeks flushed lightly and her lips looked rosy. Her nipples were perked and denting the material of her cotton nightshirt, earning a confused grunt from her. "Whew…that dream was pretty hot," she mused, shaking her head absently as she turned on the shower and set it to cold water before she stripped out of her night clothes and hopped in.

Perplexed to feel just as feverish after taking the cold shower, Sofia dressed in Capsule Corp-branded sweats – a blue tank top and leggings – and left her quarters, trudging lamely down the hall towards the living quarters as she pulled her hair up in a messy bun. Turning the corner into the kitchen, she was shocked to find a casually attired Vegeta begrudgingly sitting at the kitchen table, glaring with a surly glower at the doorway she'd just come through. "Took you long enough!" he barked at her, earning a sweatdrop and a devolved expression of bewilderment from Sofia.

"…Have you been waiting for me to come down and make breakfast?!" she inquired as she idly rubbed at her burning forehead.

"You dropped the ball with dinner last night, and now this," he grumbled, crossing his arms over his black sleeveless top-clad chest in a gruff snit. "I'll accept brunch as a means of equalizing things."

Face faulting to the kitchen floor, Sofia took her time climbing back up, pulling herself up to stare with flustered aloofness at him. "I'll make brunch, as long as you help a bitch out and make her a drink to take the edge off," she drawled comically.

"I don't do menial labor, remember?" he drawled, idly stretching in his chair. "But, the liquor's in the top cabinet above the fridge."

Dragging herself up to peruse the kitchen for enough food to choke a lion, she muttered, "What're you gonna do when I leave, buddy?"

"I will starve," Vegeta remarked laconically, eyeing her as he added, "It's a real shame to waste your cooking on someone who doesn't even eat."

Sofia snorted at that, closing the fridge and beginning to prep the multiple dishes she was going to whip up. "Piccolo eats! But no, he's not a foodie or anything, so I don't cook much for him. Crashing at Goku's these years has definitely kept me sharp in the kitchen," she remarked congenially as her skilled hands flew about, fancy knife work that was not just do to culinary prowess, swishing and slicing through the air as she artfully diced ingredients before tossing them into a sizzling pan. "I could manage well enough before, but Chi-Chi is an excellent cook."

"I figured there was a reason Kakarot kept the shrew around," he muttered nonchalantly as he leaned casually against the table, watching her work. "If only the woman or her mother could fare better. Their cooking is abysmal—"

"Ugh, if you start criticizing, I ain't gonna keep cooking!" Sofia sniped at him, not liking his disparaging tone. She was feeling almost feverish, and not in the mood to abide too much of his snarky airs.

Grunting at that, Vegeta's glare narrowed as he snapped, "What's with you? You were chipper enough last night." He paused as he keenly sized her up and sensed something heightened in her.

"I woke up feeling out of it," Sofia remarked before inhaling a calming breath, causing her nose to twitch suddenly. Whirling around, she narrowed her gaze on the Saiyan. "…You smell really good today. New cologne?" she inquired, delicate brow raised.

He wrinkled his nose at the notion. "As if I'd spray chemicals on myself to smell like a dumb ass human," he grunted disdainfully.

"Huh…" she mused before shrugging and returning to preparing the gargantuan amount of brunch food she quickly laid out in front of him before sitting across from him with her own bloody Mary to sip on. As she watched him heartily scarf down, she replayed the dream, fixating on how Piccolo had possessively taken her. Her cheeks flushed and her body grew even warmer, causing her to shake her head and grumble, "Ugh, I feel so weird for some reason."

"You smell weird too," Vegeta mentioned before shoveling a helping of hash into his mouth.

"I do?!" she balked, self-conscious.

"Not bad, but weird," he remarked, pausing to find the right descriptor. "You smell warm and spiced. Which is odd, but not unpleasant."

Comically lifting her arm and sniffing herself, Sofia earned a scoff and eye roll from Vegeta. "Oh, so where's everyone else? It's oddly quiet around here," she remarked before she drained the remnants of her drink.

"They're in the Atrium preparing for some asinine gathering," he grunted as he sat back and sighed, full and sated. Blinking at him, she stared until he continued, "Did she fail to mention the party?"

"Party for what?" she inquired.

"What am I, the event planner?! Go ask Bulma—"

"Ooooo, you called her Bulmaaaa~, which means you love her," she purred in a singsong at him, earning a consternated blush from the mercurial Saiyan. "Ah, c'mon! We're the bestest buddies now. No need to feign nonchalance."

"Anything to distract from your own dramatic spat with the Namek, I see," Vegeta countered instead, smirking.

Sighing and deflating in her chair, Sofia pouted as she grumbled, "I had the most sexiest dream about him and I think it's left me all hot and bothered. Ugh, why's he gotta be so damned…sexy."

Grunting at that, having gotten an earful about the odd couple's dynamic history the night before, Vegeta prodded, "So you're no longer mad at him—"

"I'm FURIOUS at him!" she declared, ominous rage aura flaring around her even while she comically barked, "And all I wanna do is pounce on him and ride him until I'm no longer furious!"

Shaking his head at the display, Vegeta surprised her by saying matter-of-factly, "Sounds like we alphas just have discerning appetites when it comes to the important things."

Recovering from her surprise at his flippant compliment, Sofia chuckled and nodded in agreement. "Damn straight."

---

As soon as she entered the Atrium, she was surprised to see Mrs. Briefs arranging a long banquet table of refreshments and finger foods while Bulma oversaw the hanging of party decorations. Cradled against her side, baby Trunks was cooing along with his mother as she pointed and told future Trunks how to adjust the disco ball over the dance floor she'd had set up.

"Whoa, what's all this for?!" Sofia exclaimed, smiling as she walked over to greet baby Trunks.

"Oh great! Can you hold him for me? I need to tell the caterer where to park, and see if they delivered enough ice," Bulma listed as she handed the baby off to Sofia.

"Doesn't it all look wonderful? It'll be so nice to have everyone over again for a fun party," Mrs. Briefs declared, smiling at Sofia before excusing herself to go help Bulma manage the remaining arrangements.

Looking down perplexed at Trunks, she drawled, "Can you tell me what the occasion is?"

"Mom invited everyone over for a party to unwind before the tournament. Her and Goku thought it'd be a good idea," the more strapping version of Trunks replied after approaching her tentatively. "They'll start arriving after noon. I take it Mom forgot to mention it," he remarked, giving her a meek smile.

Frowning, Sofia sobered before murmuring, "I'm really sorry about what happened, Trunks! I didn't mean to be so oblivious—"

"Hey, I'm sorry for assuming things. I definitely read into things—" he interjected.

"I feel horrible that I led you on—" she began to sadly muse.

"No, no you didn't. That's what I mean. I thought about it, and you didn't really act any different with me than you did with the others. I just read into it what I wanted to…I should've talked to you sooner," he explained, feeling bold and settled after analyzing everything the night before. "I didn't mean to get in the middle of things…"

Baby Trunks was staring between his future self and Sofia before suddenly tugging imploringly on her top. Glancing down at the baby version of the handsome fighter before her, Sofia couldn't help self consciously smile before wiping the stray tear that snuck out of the corner of her eye with the top of her shoulder.

"You didn't. Piccolo and I have drifted apart and I don't even know how it happened, but it did, and I can't blame anyone but myself," she whispered before shaking her head and giving him a beaming, reassuring smile. "You're one of the greatest people I've ever met, Trunks. Thank you for being so amazing with me."

His blue eyes softened, surprising her when he platonically punched her in the shoulder and groused, "Right back at you, Sofia."

Laughing, Sofia felt a sense of relief come over her as she let her guard down and continued chatting with the lavender-haired fighter until Bulma returned, looking a bit harried.

"Whew, they're setting the barbecue up now, and we should be all set," she remarked as she took baby Trunks back into her arms. "Oh! I was going to mention it, but with finishing Android 16's diagnostic before he took off, I spaced out," Bulma explained to Sofia.

"Aww, he left?" Sofia frowned, wishing she could have said goodbye to the gentle Android giant.

"Yeah, but I'm sure he'll be at that tournament," Bulma mused, cuddling Trunks when he started to fuss in her arms. "Oh, by the way, this party's a 'Fight Gi Free Zone,' so I picked out a cool outfit for you to wear, Trunks," the sea foam-haired woman remarked to her blue-eyed son from the future, startling him.

"Mom, you don't have to dress me, you know," he mused a bit touchily, earning a giggle from Sofia.

"So everyone's coming dressed all cool and casual like?" Sofia inquired, smiling when Bulma nodded eagerly.

"That's right!" the brilliant scientist remarked, adding, "Oh, and that reminds me, we'll need someone in charge of music, and I figured you could help set things up."

Smiling enthusiastically, whatever trepidation Sofia had begun to feel about partying with the tournament looming was dashed. "Awesome! I'll grab my stuff and set it up," she declared beamingly before she went to give Trunks a side-hug as she mused, "I'm going to need you to help be my musical wingman, buddy!" Laughing, Trunks was no longer uncomfortable with her platonic energy or affection, but he did find his nose twitching at the spicy scent coming from her, just as she added complimentary, "Ooo, you smell good today!"

"I do?" Trunks chuckled, charmingly smiling when he remarked, "I was just about to say the same thing to you. You seem different today too."

Mrs. Briefs walked up and heard the compliment. "Wow! Your skin looks radiant! Did you do something different? Facial mask?"

Bulma blinked, noticing what her mother was referring to. "Yeah, now that you mention it, your skin looks dewy and glowy today. I'm jealous!" Bulma chuckled while baby Trunks babbled for attention.

"Nothing different, but I am running a little hot today. I hope I'm not coming down with something," Sofia remarked before pivoting back to the subject of the party. "Anyway, let me go get my stuff and I'll set up the sound system!"

After Sofia and Trunks set up the speakers and connected her laptop, she excused herself to go get ready before guests arrived. Having still felt unnaturally warm, she took another cold shower and found herself feeling scorching regardless. Ugh, at this rate I definitely must be coming down with something. Blegh. Staring at her reflection, she decided she would wear her hair up in the messy bun, but found herself not wanting to be stifled by a lot of clothes.

By the time she walked back down and entered the Atrium, Krillin, Yamcha, Master Roshi and Oolong had arrived. The Kame House crew was jovially chatting with the hosts and Trunks was manning the playlist for her. When she entered, Yamcha and Krillin had to pick up their jaws at seeing her dressed so uncharacteristically.

"Hey guys! Looking sharp," Sofia greeted warmly as she approached, not realizing they had been leering at her until Master Roshi – dressed in his favorite blue suit – cut in between them and rushed forward to greet her, with his hands held out in an air-groping gesture, before Oolong bonked him on the head and dragged the lecherous old master off to the side. "Uhhhh, what's up? Why're you looking at me like that?!"

Trunks – wearing light blue jeans, red sneakers, and a black shirt – joined the group and answered for the others, diplomatically complimenting, "You look really nice, Sofia!"

"Y-yeah! I guess we were shocked to see you in a skirt," Krillin – dressed in a jean jacket, orange polo, khaki shorts and blue top siders– nervously chuckled, rubbing the back of his baldhead absently.

"C'mon guys, she looks like a completely different person!" Yamcha – dressed eerily like Don Johnson from Miami Vice – declared emphatically, earning sweatdrops from the others as he adamantly remarked, "That radiant glow, those soft supple curves—and not to mention the killer flirty ensemble! She's a friggin' fox!" before sliding over to whisper in rapt awe at Krillin, who blushed when the scar-faced fighter wheezed, "And I don't think she's even wearing a bra!"

Sofia tipped forward in a slight mortified dive before catching herself. "Jeez, was I a dog before?!" she quipped sharply. "I know I told yah to think of me as one of the guys, but jeez!"

Yamcha slid over to Trunks and elbowed him jovially as he whispered conspiratorially, "You're a lucky man~!"

"Uhhhh," Trunks grimaced comically, long hair brushing his now stiff shoulders while Krillin laughed and Master Roshi recovered to approach them again.

"Yer lookin' fetching, my dear!" the old master smarmily complimented, instantly honing his pervy gaze at her perky breasts nestled snuggly in the top she was wearing. "If only I was a few years younger—"

"Only a few?!" Oolong chastised before Master Roshi bonked him admonishingly on the head.

"Alright, that's enough leering from all of you!" Bulma – wearing a form-fitting strapless lilac dress and matching sandals – barked at the horny males as she authoritatively instructed them to go get refreshments and chill.

"What was that all about?" Sofia chuckled self-consciously.

"Wear a skirt around this group, and you'd think they devolved into game-less cavemen, I swear," she huffed before looking around Sofia and smiling. "Well well, he actually showed up," she murmured, causing Sofia to look behind herself and see the Badman, antisocially by himself, leaning back against the tree he was standing under across the way in the sprawling indoor park. Wearing a V-neck navy blue cashmere sweater, dark grey tailored trousers and black leather loafers, he looked absolutely bored as he stared aloofly to the side, arms crossed over his broad chest.

Sofia whistled, playfully nudging Bulma as she drawled, "It ain't a pink shirt-green pant combo, but he looks good enough to eat, girl. You better tap that tonight."

Covering her mouth as she giggled, Bulma swatted her arm playfully. "He cleans up quite handsomely, I suppose. I just might tell him so later," she sighed with a silly lilt to her voice as she winked at Sofia before she looked over and smiled when she spotted the newest party arrivals. "Hi, Tien and Chiaotzu! So glad you guys made it," she greeted as the triclops and his small companion walked over.

Sofia turned, and caught the slightly wide, startled gaze the two friends exchanged before staring back at her. "Hi! Wow, you sure look pretty, Sofia," Chiaotzu – wearing a mandarin collared yellow dress shirt and emerald green trousers – genuinely smiled and complimented as he floated over to greet her.

"Aww, thanks, Chiaotzu! I love your outfit," Sofia smiled before eyeing Tien comically and bouncing her eyebrows at him. "Hubba-hubba, Tien Shinhan~!" she whistled before adding, "I love this look! It's so Bruce Lee chic."

Wearing a fitted white button down tucked into slim black trousers with matching polished dress shoes, the triclops actually blushed at her compliment. "Uh, not sure who that is, but thanks," he remarked stiffly and bowed, earning a giggle from Sofia and Bulma.

"He's like, a super badass Kung Fu master from my old realm. Oh! I'll have to show you some of his movies sometime," the red-eyed woman assured and remarked convivially.

As they chatted, Master Roshi and Oolong socialized with Mrs. Briefs and the doctor over by the punch bowl, while the others came back with their refreshments and joined in, catching up on the happenings of the last few days. Sofia sipped her cocktail while the boys carried most of the chatter, allowing her to idly realize she could smell each, and every fighter's scent – while distinctly different, appealed to her for some reason. When Yamcha began to regale Tien and Chiaotzu about the ridiculous World Martial Arts winner who'd been making the rounds on TV, Sofia heard Mrs. Briefs shout a very enthusiastic greeting from behind the group.

"Oh, hi Goku! Oh my gosh – is that you, Gohan?! You both look so different!" the blonde marveled.

Just as the men parted to turn and see the new arrivals, Sofia caught sight of the Son family as they were saying their hellos before her gaze honed in on Piccolo, standing behind them. Her heart skipped a beat when his aloof gaze moved from the couple exchanging greetings across to hers, where it widened and froze in disarmed attention.

Piccolo's jaw tightened as he gulped, his pulse racing as he saw Sofia standing out amongst the group. 'She looks…so beautiful,' he murmured in awe at his counterparts.

'Go tell her so!' Nail cheered, earning a grunt of approval from Kami.

"Hey Sofia—whoaaaaaa!" Goku began to greet before comically rushing over to survey her with wide, turquoise-eyed wonder. "You look so girly!"

Staring wide eyed back at Goku, she was still trying to absorb why her heart was racing suddenly when she finally comically narrowed her gaze at the taller fighter. Before she could bark at him for the weird compliment, her mind honed in on his outfit before snapping back to see how Piccolo was dressed as well and giving them both comically floored stares. Oh my god!

Goku and Piccolo were dressed exactly like Bill and Ted from Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey – Goku wearing Bill's outfit: long sleeve green flannel button shirt, yellow t-shirt, grey jeans and blue high-top Adidas; only thing missing was the red hat – while Piccolo was dressed like Ted from head-to-toe: faded red t-shirt under a salmon-colored long sleeve hooded shirt, red jean-jacket vest, dark blue jeans, and the same white Adidas sneakers, including the green laces. She remembered having snapped those outfits for Goku a long while ago, almost as a joke, never thinking she'd ever see the combo worn by her friend, let alone by her twin star, ever. She stared back at Piccolo as she inwardly fawned at how absolutely sexy and handsome he looked.

"Wow, Sofia. You look lovely!" Chi-Chi – dressed in a flowing turquoise dress with her long black hair down behind her shoulders – complimented with genuine congeniality.

"Yeah! You look pretty," Gohan – wearing in baggy jeans, high-top Adidas like Goku's and a skater-theme purple-dyed t-shirt – cheerfully complimented as he gave her a goofy thumbs up of approval.

Everyone greeted the Son family merrily while Sofia smiled and complimented Chi-Chi and Gohan on their party outfits. She was unaware that Piccolo had used the diversion to avoid greeting the others so he could instead linger by one of the park benches across from the dance floor. From the safe distance, he exhaled the breath he'd been holding since he'd laid eyes on his twin star. Her long, dark brown hair was twisted up into a messy bun, with rogue strands coming down to frame her face. The backless white halter top accentuated her delicately sloped shoulders and teased a hint of clavicle, while the petal pink A-line high-waisted flared mini skirt showed a tease of her slender waist and curvy hourglass shape. Her bare, smooth legs looked inviting to the touch, and the deep blush-colored ballerina flats created an ombre effect that allowed her radiant features to stand out more. His eyes lingered on her countenance. Her cheeks were slightly flushed and her lips were rosy, crimson eyes looking captivating as her long dark lashes batted at something Goku was saying to her. He couldn't get over how absolutely breathtaking she looked.

While lost in thought about how to approach her in the middle of the party, Piccolo only realized Trunks had approached to stand next to him when the fighter cleared his throat. Crossing his arms broodingly, Piccolo glanced sidelong at the lavender-haired fighter, expression stoic.

'You should talk to him,' Kami coached.

'What? Why would I?' Piccolo grunted.

'Because you could BOTH use more friends,' Nail muttered, almost judgmentally.

'I'm terrible at small talk,' Piccolo grumbled.

'And you're never going to get better unless you try. Now, go on,' Kami cajoled.

Reticent, Piccolo tried to think of what he could possibly say after the awkward exchange that had occurred the day before, when Trunks sipped his drink before steeling himself. "When I heard Sofia talking to my mother, she'd told her how all she wanted was for you – well, she didn't mention you by name, you see – but she'd said she just wanted to be told how you feel about her, without worrying about being vulnerable," Trunks explained clumsily before committing his nerve. "It's none of my business and I'm sure you do not care to hear my opinion, but, with the tournament looming, there's no better chance for you to tell her how you feel while you still have a chance."

Absorbing the other man's words, Piccolo dropped his arms to his sides before exhaling a cleansing breath and giving Trunks a curt nod. With his mission accomplished, Trunks loped away towards the booth where the music was playing.

'What a mature, thoughtful young man,' Kami mused.

'I didn't sense an ounce of resentment or hard feelings, Piccolo,' Nail chimed knowingly. 'No better time like the present to go talk to Sofia—'

"Oh my goodness, is that Dende?!" he heard Bulma shout excitedly.

Glancing up, sure enough he saw the young new Guardian of Earth meekly come in, accompanied by Mr. Popo. "Hi, Bulma. I hope we're not intruding, but Gohan said we could stop by," the Namekian smiled when his friend Gohan rushed over to greet him, followed by the others.

"Of course! I'm so happy to see you. How's being guardian going so far?"

Everyone chatted congenially over snacks and refreshments before Sofia and Gohan decided to pull Dende onto the dance floor as Trunks played the dance music mix Sofia had given him the thumbs up to cycle to next.

Sofia was having a blast as she and Gohan did their silly dance formation for the new guardian before cajoling the others to join them on the dance floor. Looking around, she tried to spot Piccolo, when Chi-Chi actually marched up to her and asked if they could chat. While some of the more extroverted Z Fighters cut a rug to the upbeat Daft Punk song, Sofia and the raven-haired woman went to the side to chat, sitting on an empty bench across from one of the picturesque bridges in the enormous indoor park.

"Look, I feel horrible for waiting so long to apologize to you, and I didn't get to give you a proper apology the other day—" the woman tearfully began, startling Sofia before she felt compelled to lean in and hug Chi-Chi reassuringly.

"Chi, you do not need to apologize to me. I love you and forgave you the moment you said it," she genuinely assured, shaking her shoulder sweetly when she added, "You've been like a sister to me. I owe you and Goku so much. I'm sorry I didn't say it better last time. So, lets forget about all that and go back to how things were, ok?"

"I'd like that," Chi-Chi smiled and hugged her, sniffling slightly.

"Hey, you two ok?" Goku inquired as he came up to check on them.

"Sure we are, Kakarot!" Sofia barked as she jumped up and playfully punched him on the shoulder. "I don't want either of you to worry anymore. I've been a total brat lately, but no more."

"Aw, I'm glad you're feeling better!" the jovial Saiyan beamed, scratching the back of his golden-spiky-haired scalp.

"Oh, I gotta tell you something, actually, if that's ok with you Chi-Chi," Sofia gestured for the legendary fighter to follow her to the picturesque bridge so they could chat privately.

"Sure! I'm going to see if I can help Bulma's mom with refreshments."

"What's on your mind?" Goku asked once they were both alone on the bridge, away from the bustling party.

"So, you know I can't tell you too much, but I figured I should let you know that your plan? On building an addition to the house? You should totally do that…just, it won't be for me, but you'll totally be needing it soon," Sofia remarked carefully, leaning against the bridge railing as she glanced at her friend.

"Huh?" Goku gave her that dumbfounded look of his. "Why would we need the extra room then?"

"Maybe you and Chi-Chi will need it, buddy," she smiled, winking conspiratorially at him. "I'll still come and visit you guys, but you don't have to worry about making room for me, is all."

"Well, if we need storage space, I just use my Grandpa's house—"

"Goku. Look at me," Sofia comically gestured to her face, winking slyly as she actually said, "Wink, wink? You know? You and Chi-Chi expanding your family, aka needing more room for said growing family?"

Pursing his lips as his brows furrowed in concentration, Goku brought his hand to his chin as he pondered, "Hmmm…"

"What're you two conspiring about?"

"Oh, hey Vegeta!" Goku affably greeted and waved at his former foe.

Glancing towards the other end of the bridge where Vegeta seemed to stealthily appear, Sofia patted Goku on the shoulder as she answered, "Just discussing remodeling plans. Fancy seeing you looking oh-so-dapper at an actual party."

"I'm only here for the barbecue," Vegeta haughtily mused as he crossed his arms and glared at Goku. "You look like an even bigger idiot dressed like that, Kakarot."

"Awww, c'mon! I think I look cool," Goku affably chuckled in that irreverent, umbrage-free way that so annoyed the Saiyan Prince.

"You do! Now, let's go dance, Kakarot, and leave Badman to be the resident wallflower!" Sofia cackled maniacally as she grabbed Goku's wrist and dragged him behind her speedily to the dance floor.

"I'm no kind of flower, stealth!" Vegeta shouted in outrage from where they left him to brood.

From his perch on one of the observation ramps high above the circumference of the Atrium, Piccolo watched as Sofia went back into the crowd. He frowned, having hoped he could've phased down and had a private moment with her.

'Would you just go down there, halt the music, and tell everyone how much you love her already?' Nail cajoled sternly.

'Nail…' he growled warningly, watching as Sofia danced with Goku and the others, showing off her dynamic and expert moves that only Gohan seemed able to keep up with.

'It would at least be better if you mingled instead of antisocially keeping your distance,' Kami assured.

Pondering the suggestion, Piccolo phased down to stand under the large tree that faced the dance floor down the hill, leaning against it with his arms crossed as he watched Sofia laugh and smile.

"Hi, Piccolo!" he turned when he saw Dende and Mr. Popo come over to greet him. "I wanted to say hello before Mr. Popo and I headed back to the Lookout," the young guardian smiled, eyeing his outfit with wonder. "I'm going to have to get used to the vibrant garb people wear on this planet, haha."

"That'll be the least of the weird stuff you'll have to get used to, Dende," Piccolo smirked. As he chatted with the young Namekian, the others went over to partake in the sprawling barbecue buffet the catering staff finally wheeled out.

Goku and Vegeta literally sprinted to get ahead of everyone; earning a hysterical hearty laugh fit from Sofia as the two Saiyans actually began to comically nudge each other out of the way to get to the meat carving station. Bulma huffed while Chi-Chi scoffed in embarrassment as the other Z Fighters laughed or shook their heads ruefully at the display.

Before long, everyone was sitting around and enjoying the meal over drinks and pleasant conversation. Sofia and Trunks chatted about music while Vegeta and Goku wolfed down food across from each other at the end of the table, even making that a competition. The table was laden with side dishes, appetizers and more laid out family style while everyone dug in and passed platters about. Munching on a helping of fresh, cool salad and crisp veggies, Sofia smiled as everyone conversed around the table. Suddenly feeling a spike in feverish heat, she glanced around the table to see what she could partake in to help quench her heightened craving. "Ooo, Krillin, can you pass that bowl? Those look delicious!"

"Sure!" the former monk grabbed the bowl and passed it down to Sofia.

"Mmmm, I can't remember the last time I had one of these!" she remarked with gusto, crimson eyes twinkling as she eagerly picked up a crisp, cool whole pickle out of the bunch.

Piccolo had just started walking over from where he'd said his goodbyes to Dende, approaching the long banquet table to try and be more social and find his opening for conversation when his gaze froze and honed in on Sofia putting the long, girth of the pickle into her mouth to suck the juices off of it with gusto. Eyes shrinking to pinpoints at the oddly erotic sight, the Namekian warrior gulped and felt his libido rise.

"You would be into pickles," Vegeta muttered humorously from the end of the table while Goku blinked at him, confused by the pun, cheeks ballooned out from the amount of food he'd shoveled into his mouth.

Just when Piccolo could feel the violet blush begin to creep up his neck to burn across his cheeks, Sofia bit down into the pickle with a ruthless chomp, humming with delight as she chewed.

'Oh my!' Nail and Kami tisked in shock while Piccolo's blush turned blue and he dejectedly turned on his heel and stalked away from the banquet table in a mortified retreat.

Vegeta choked on his laugh and almost did a spit take of the food and beer in his mouth at catching the Namekian's about-face out of the corner of his eye once Sofia had devoured the clearly phallic food item. "Whoa, you gotta chew your food thoroughly, Vegeta!" Goku warned comically while the other Saiyan continued to struggle to laugh.

Unaware of what the two Saiyans were going on about at the end of the table, Sofia daintily wiped the corners of her mouth before she declared, "Alright, back to the dance floor!"

The party hit its stride after everyone had eaten, leading to a bustling dance session where Sofia cajoled and literally dragged Z Fighters out to move and shimmy to the music. The disco ball glittered the strobe lighting about while "I'm Still Standing" by Elton John belted out of the speakers. Glancing around every chance she got, she tried to catch sight of Piccolo, but didn't see her twin star brooding off antisocially anywhere. When Yamcha spun her around, she giggled and focused again on her surroundings, taking the chance spin to grab Tien – who'd been standing coolly on the sidelines chatting and watching Chaiotzu dance – and pull him onto the dance floor as well. The triclops' wide-eyed horror was quickly diffused when his companion cheered him on and Sofia bopped and undulated masterfully around him as she recited goofily, "It's-all-in-the-hips~!" as she danced. While she swayed and threw her hands up in the air to shimmy, Master Roshi's sunglass-covered eyes were avidly watching her generous cleavage bounce with her undulating movements, causing the master to quickly succumb to a massive nosebleed while Oolong scoffed in disgust next to him.

Out of the corner of her eye, Sofia caught sight of Bulma handing a sleeping baby Trunks to her mother before loping over to tap Vegeta on the shoulder. The mercurial Saiyan was feigning disinterest as he watched the others dance from the side of the bar he was leaning his elbow against. Instead of the coarse glare typical of the man, his gaze slightly softened when he realized it was Bulma. Heart warming at the sight, Sofia couldn't help wish Piccolo would come up to her and sweep her off her feet and into his arms. She fantasized about everyone parting to make way for him so he could stride towards her, take her hand and spin her around romantically before dipping her in his arms. Her cheeks began to burn with a blush that made her pulse race and temperature skyrocket, so she excused herself from the dance floor and rushed over to get something to drink to try and cool herself down.

"You're a dancing fiend out there!" Goku cheekily exclaimed when he came up with Gohan in tow.

"Of course! Someone's gotta excel at it around here," she giggled as she swung her hips and swayed to the beat. Even when she was dancing goofily, her rhythm and prowess made it look effortless.

"Well we're danced out!" Chi-Chi declared with a sweet smile as she walked up and caressed Gohan's blond head affectionately. "Time to head home and rest, you two."

"Awwww," Goku and Gohan complained in unison, wide turquoise eyes and twin pouting expressions directed at Chi-Chi.

"Ah, she's right, you guys. It looks like the party is winding down anyway," Sofia remarked as she gestured towards the patio table with a sleeping Master Roshi, who had a snore bubble going in his right nostril while the dance floor began to clear as well.

"Oh, ok. But we gotta do these more often! We had a blast," Goku declared, smiling winningly at her.

After saying goodbye to the Sons, she went over and helped Trunks wind the sound system down, saying her goodbyes to some of the others as she approached. Noticing Mrs. Briefs struggling to carry a fussy baby Trunks while also helping her husband, who'd drank way too much punch, walk, Sofia rushed over and offered to take the baby upstairs and put him to bed, sensing Vegeta and Bulma making themselves scarce, for obvious carnal reasons.

"You go on. I'll help clean up and put things away here," Trunks reassured as he helped his grandmother take Dr. Briefs upstairs.

"Cool. Bye, guys! Get home safe," she waved to the others as the remaining Z Warriors said their farewells.

Once she was in the baby's nursery, she found herself having to entertain the precocious tot, who was in no mood to go to sleep just yet. "Ah, c'mon buddy, I know you're cranky, but it's time to sleep," she quipped affectionately as she rocked him along to the beat of a song she was thinking about. "What, want me to sing so we got something to dance to?" when the baby babbled, she laughed. "Hmm, fine. How 'bout…" she cleared her throat before humming the bars of the song that was stuck in her head. "It's a little bit funny, this feeling inside, I'm not one of those who can easily hide. I don't have much money, but boy, if I did. I'd buy a big house where we both could live…" she sung in a breathy tone to the baby as she rocked him gently in her arms. Trunks stared up at her with sweet, innocent blue eyes, his fussing quieted. "My gift is my song, and this one's for you. And you can tell everybody this is your song. It may be quite simple but now that it's done. I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind. That I put down in words. How wonderful life is while you're in the world,"she whispered, cradling his head as he snuggled against her neck, just under her chin. His sweet scent made her feel a fawning love and protectiveness she hadn't been aware of before; kissing the top of his head, she soothingly rubbed his back, continuing to rock him softly as she hummed melodiously under her breath, "And you can tell everybody this is your song. It may be quite simple but now that it's done. I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind. That I put down in words. How wonderful life is while you're in the world. I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind. That I put down in words. How wonderful life is while you're in the world~."

Feeling the baby calm as he fell asleep in her arms, she gently placed him down into his crib, making sure not to stir him. Smiling down at the adorable tyke, she soundlessly tiptoed out of the room and shut the door. Leaning against the door thoughtfully, she sighed to herself as her thoughts lingered on the affectionate stirring of something gentle in her heart.

"That song was nice."

Startling slightly, she glanced down the hallway, surprised to see Piccolo standing there. Her heart skipped a beat, pulse racing like before. Forcing her features into a stoic semblance of calm, she mused coolly, "Where've you been? I didn't see you much…"

Piccolo crossed his arms self-consciously. "I know…I kept hoping to have a chance to get you alone—"

"Of course," Sofia betrayed a hint of irritation in her expression, turning to lope down the hallway. "Why would I expect you to make any effort to acknowledge in front of others how you feel—?"

"Sofia, wait—" Piccolo grabbed her hand and stopped her haughty storm out. The skin-to-skin contact shot a pleasurable tickle up her arm to skitter down into her womb, making her feel effervescent, while her touch and being so near her now were causing his pulse to race and temperature to spike. When she turned to glower furiously at him, instead of shrinking in his resolve, he persevered against the frustration and anger that he normally would've allowed to call the shots. Instead, he confidently wrapped his arms around her as he muttered, "I spent the whole damn time standing around getting up the nerve to tell you exactly what I feel, but I—I couldn't get the courage to do it in front of everybody. I know that's what you want—" he rubbed his palms affectionately up her bare arms, causing her knees to get weak and butterflies to flutter in her womb while her scent made the blood coursing hotly in his veins zip down his body. The more his warm, powerful touch caressed her, the hotter her skin grew and the more her eyes softened, leaving her red irises glowing sensually up at him. Pausing, he felt the electricity of her chemistry tingle through her soft, supple skin. She smelled divine to him, and he found himself pulling her against him. "I'm sorry, I was being an asshole—"

"Piccolo," she whispered hotly, hands pawing up his chest as she melted against his hard, muscled body and wrapped them around his shoulders before murmuring, "Stop talking and kiss me already."

Pulse racing and body throbbing with need, Piccolo did as he was told and brought his hungry lips down to capture hers, kissing her with passion. The sensation was like burning ignition of the wanton desire that was coming alive between them the more he touched her and the more she pulled him closer.

Her body was growing impossibly hot, her yearning seeming to throb and tingle inside her. Piccolo realized he'd pressed her against the hallway wall and was caressing his hands up her thighs, coming dangerously close to pulling up her skirt. Just as he regained enough sense to slow down and suggest they go somewhere else, Sofia grabbed him by the front of his clothes and pulled him along with her to rush towards the opposite end of the hall towards the bedroom she'd been staying in. As soon as they entered and shut the door, Sofia was pressing him back-first against the door as she kissed his throat and caressed her hands up his sides.

His body was burning with arousal as he shook off his shock to finally pick her up and bring her up to press possessively against his chest, allowing her to wrap her arms easily around his neck so they could kiss lusciously. His hands caressed her backside and held her in place as she wrapped her legs around his waist while he pressed her against the wall and himself. They kissed for a short eternity then, his purple tongue caressing hers before delving into her mouth to steal a gasp of excitement from her lips. She could feel the hard ridge of his arousal straining for release against his jeans, and she panted when he kissed a scorching trail down her jaw and neck to lick a studded nipple over the fabric of her halter-top. Her skin was blazing now and igniting a ravenous passion within Piccolo, one that quickly spurred them to make their way to the large bed.

Letting her slide down his body, the usually imposing warrior chased her lips down as she forcefully tugged his layers off. He grunted when Sofia possessively pulled the clothes off his torso in such a way that left him blinking in awe down at her before she pushed him onto the bed, pulled her hair free and shook it out before she pounced onto him. Their shoes went flying and Sofia's halter-top hit the carpet at the same time as his jeans fluttered heavily to the floor next to it. Rolling on top of her, Piccolo trailed his lips down her body as he took her skirt off and tossed it aside. "You're so beautiful, you know that?" he husked as he pulled her panties down her long legs and tossed them without taking his eyes off her radiant, sensual form, stretched out under him in her nude glory. Her skin was smooth and scalding to his touch, breasts rising and falling as her chest heaved a steading inhalation before exhaling in a heated sigh.

She watched him with baited breath as he continued to kiss down her body until he was between her thighs, where he kissed her passionately, lips delectably mouthing her before his tongue twirled against her folds and pressed up against her hidden bud while his hands continued to sensually caress her breasts and trail down her sides to grip her hips. Gasping, Sofia trembled and shivered under the onslaught of pleasure his mouth was causing her as he hungrily weaved his tongue in the way he knew drove her wild. Using the tip of his tongue, he flicked languidly at the pulsing bundle of her clitoris, shooting sparks of pleasure to skitter up her senses. "Piccolo—!" she whimpered, her thighs clenching against him as she squirmed in ecstasy under his oral lovemaking. "Ple-please—I need you," she gasped, hands gripping the bedding under her as she tossed her head back and cried out his name again, eyes squeezed tight from the rapturous throes as she whimpered at a particular flick of his tongue against her quivering clitoris.

"Say it again," he growled, hungry gaze darting up to watch her shiver and mewl in desperate need for the press of his tongue and lips.

Excitement tickled up her spine as she murmured, "Please, I need you," and was rewarded with the sensation of his velvety, warm tongue delving inside her. She gasped and pressed the back of her hand against her mouth in an attempt to stifle her cries of pleasure. Growling, Piccolo trailed his palm up her body to caress along her side to her throat to encourage her not to stifle the glorious sounds she was making. He possessively trailed his fingers along her lips after she gripped his forearm and gasped in exhilaration. She licked his fingers and sighed in pleasure at his all-encompassing passionate attentions. Humming against her pulsing bud now, he pursed his lips over it and pressed the flat of his tongue against it when she arched and moaned in ecstasy. Feeling overwhelmed by the blistering arousal and nerve-melting pleasure of his mouth on her, Sofia cried out in a hearty whimper, "Oh god, yes—!" before hiccuping murmurs of his name as she grew taut and gasped in gratification, back arching off the bed while her eyes fluttered shut as she panted softly.

His pointed ears felt hot from her thighs pressing against them, allowing him to hear the pulse of her femoral arteries thrumming in time with her throbbing flesh he still had his mouth pressed against. Her climax tasted like honey to him as he hummed against her, the heady effect of driving her to come undone just with his artful tongue leaving him feeling drunk on the sinful achievement. Kissing her warm, glistening flesh with pride before licking his lips as he crawled back onto the bed to trail his hungry kisses back up her body, Piccolo pursed his lips over her right nipple and hummed around the flesh. She sighed in delight, caressing her hands over his pink-patched shoulders and down his emerald back, loving the tickle of his antennae as they trailed along her skin teasingly from his ministrations.

Rolling him to lay on his back under her, Sofia pressed her hands down on his firm pectorals as she straddled him and smiled sultrily down at him before leaning to flick her tongue playfully against the bulbous tip of his right antennae and earning a startled growl of pleasure from the Namekian. Now it was her turn to possessively map his body with her mouth, having long committed his multi-textured skin to memory with her lips, but now under her feverish heat, she wanted to trail her tongue along every seam, muscle, and delicate erogenous zone. So, she did, taking her time at laving her tongue against spots that caused him to groan, tense, and gasp with pleasure – like his inguinal red seam, where she nipped and soothed the flesh with her tongue. Groaning, he shuddered under her ministrations, and her mouth wasn't even on his cock yet. Dammit— His breath caught in his chest as he bit down on a moan at the feeling of her nails dragging sinuously down his sides before she hooked her fingers in the waistband of his underwear and pulled, finally freeing his throbbing, hard erection.

Now both completely naked, Sofia smiled seductively at him when she palmed his thick, warm flesh before kissing it. Her dark hair caressed languidly along his skin as she leaned teasingly close and blew cold air over the head of his ramrod erection, causing it to twitch in her feathery grasp. The silken, heavy drag of his cock in her hands sent a pulse of arousal down to her core, making her inner muscles clench in anticipation of soon having the thick of him fill her. Piccolo groaned at the feeling of her lips wrapping around his cock before sucking and humming with pleasure around it, feeling himself shudder when she laved her tongue around the head before flattening it against the slit. Growling, he suppressed his impulse to buck his hips up to drive himself into her delicious mouth, breathing becoming harsh as he panted in desire, loving being driven wild by her oral attention. Fingers digging into the bedding under him, he was reminded of the sex dream he'd had where she'd done exactly what she was doing now, only her warm mouth now was actually bringing him to the verge of climaxing much quicker than he desired. "Oh fuck—!"

She hummed around him, twirling her tongue across the sensitive tip of his throbbing cock; sinfully stroking her fingers around the shaft and feeling it begin to twitch against her tongue. Piccolo suddenly grabbed her, pulling her off, and tossed her onto the bed, earning a startled yelp from her as she bounced on the mattress before he pounced on top of her and hurriedly got between her welcoming thighs. Sofia saw the flustered, stubborn violet blush burning his cheeks and knew why he'd stopped her oral teasing. "Hmm, I wanted to taste you," she friskily complained as she caressed his brow and trailed her fingertips to his cheek, causing him to grunt wryly while his hand gripped the base of his cock painfully in attempt to pull back from the precipice of coming too quick.

"After the way I watched you suck and bite down on that pickle, I might be a bit wary," he joked is a gravelly tone, smiling when she giggled and arched into him playfully.

"Oh, is that a fact?" she whispered teasingly as she squeezed her knees around his hips.

He grunted affirmatively, releasing the grip on himself to trail his hand down her body as he began to press his hard flesh into her tight sheath, thrusting home with practiced skill. Gasping, Sofia clung to him as he entered her and caused her body to tingle with desire and tension. The feeling of the thick of him pressing into her had muscles straining, feeling taut as they gripped possessively around him. The intense sensation was enough to fill her core with tingling fire. Nuzzling him, she whimpered for more, tossing her head back when he began to stroke his thick, heavy cock into her tight core with artful, pumping thrusts. Kissing and panting as their lovemaking became passionate, the twin stars were hungry to reach bliss in each other's arms. When Piccolo pivoted his hips at a practiced angle and caused Sofia to cry out in a breathy gasp, he repeated the thrusts over and over again, leaving only the sounds of their breathing, skin colliding against skin and their hot cries of pleasure to fill the room.

Changing positions, Sofia rolled him so she could straddle his hips, riding his cock with expert prowess as she clutched at his broad, muscled chest and bucked down against the burning strain in her thighs. Piccolo lustfully gazed up at her as she rolled her hips over him, driving him deeper into her quivering, contracting sheath. He kept his hands on her waist as she set the pace of their lovemaking, earning pleased growls of pleasure from him as she gasped and tossed her hair back. His hooded gaze watched as she rode him; intoxicated by the molten heat of her tight, silken core taking his throbbing erection deeper, impossibly deeper with every undulating buck of her hips against his lap. She gripped his red-seamed wrists as she felt herself close to climax again, whimpering his name and blushing after he sat up and wrapped his arms around her just as she cried out and grew taut, arching and trembling as the throes of pleasure eclipsed her. "P-Picc-oh-loh!" She moaned, tears in the corners of her eyes at the sheer, exquisite, hypersensitive sensation of being with him like this again. Kissing her ardently, he led her back down onto the bed and prolonged her ecstasy by undulating his hips to stroke his throbbing cock within her clenching, shuddering core until she wrapped her arms around him and begged him for more. He found himself buzzing with pride at the sensation of her slick essence coating his pulsing erection, her body clutching around him eagerly, so when she clung to him and murmured, "I love you so much, Piccolo. It's hurt so much not to be with you like this," he thought he couldn't feel more triumphantly content than he did in that moment, because his entire being felt exactly the same. Combing his fingers through her hair to then caress the backs of his knuckles along her cheek, Piccolo was disarmed when she whispered, timidly, "All I want is for you to love me like I love you—"

"I've always loved you," he husked, tipping her face up so she could look into his earnest, unguarded gaze. Sofia's own were gleaming crimson gems, beckoning him for more. He kissed her fervently then, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her against his hard, muscled body. The sense of déjà vu lingered in her mind minutely before she abandoned all anger and resentment she'd harbored against him, especially when he nuzzled her lovingly and murmured, "I will always love you, Sofia."

Tears catching in her throat, she smiled up at him before cupping his face in her hands and leaning up to kiss him with every fiber in her being.

Deepening the kiss, their tongues twirled seductively against each other as Piccolo let her roll him again, but this time so he could lean his back against the wall above the headboard-less bed while she straddled him as he possessively caressed and clutched at her curves. When the walls of her tight core hungrily gripped around his throbbing length, he groaned, growing impossibly hot as he gripped her hips while she set the exquisite pace and sequence of clasping warmth and undulating strokes that drove his cock deeper before squeezing greedily around it. Beginning to pant as she drove his arousal further and further to the point of titillating tingle that made him feel like his loins were burning with need for release, Piccolo growled gruffly as he blushed violet and panted hotly against her lips.

She licked his lips tantalizingly before pressing their foreheads against each other as they began to plateau again towards a scintillating climax together now. Feeling each other acutely fall into sensual rhythm, he gripped her against him while she worked her hips over his lap in an ardent roll that drove him deep into her shivering sheath just as she moaned and cried out his name. She clung to him and buried her burning face against his neck as he pumped a few more bruising thrusts into the heavenly heat of her core before he reached climax, groaning from low in his chest as his entire body clenched in sated bliss, pressing deftly against her after he powerfully drove his cock to slide home to the hilt – spilling his seed deep inside her.

Sofia shivered and sighed contentedly as she rested her head against his shoulder, relishing in feeling him reach completion. He was still embracing her possessively to him, his arms trembling slightly as he tried to recover from the mind-blowing orgasm when she was suddenly struck with a moment of clarity.

"Piccolo," she whispered wistfully as she kissed his jaw.

"Hrmph?" he grunted drunkenly, eyes opening to hoodedly glance at her. When he saw how hers were glowing like blazing rubies at him, he tensed. "What's wrong…?" he muttered hoarsely.

"Don't be mad, but, I just realized something," she purred, adjusting to lift her hips – freeing his still-hard cock from her molten sheath, but still be on his lap so she could stare openly into his eyes as she rested her hands on his shoulders soothingly.

"…What?" he rumbled, idly caressing his hands up and down the curves of her sides, as he flicked his stare down her body before darting it back up to her glowing crimson eyes as they appraised him with a burning yearning.

"Remember I told you Kyouran used to take pilgrimages to isolate in the snowy mountains? I didn't tell you it was to avoid going into heat…" she murmured, licking her lips as she teasingly bucked her hips to rub her warm, excited womanhood against his still hard erection, hoping the reference to her past life's practice would dawn on him.

"So—? Oh…" He sweatdropped when he realized what she was doing with her hips, how sexually aroused he still was, and how her delicate nipples were still taut as he gulped and read the mischievous look in her eyes. "So that's why you smell so fucking good," he gruffly drawled, leaning forward to kiss along her jaw before realization slapped him. "Wait—what's this mean?! Are you gonna get—" he riled in rising panic before Sofia hushed him and pressed him firmly to lean back against the wall.

"No, silly! I told you I have that taken care of, but I guess I can't avoid going into heat," she remarked reassuringly before pondering, "This hasn't happened since we were in the chamber—"

"Don't remind me," he grumbled, remembering how his once asexual status starkly got canceled out when she'd gone through the change and activated his dormant sexual reproduction, causing him to manifest the manhood and aching spheres that were throbbing for attention between her welcoming thighs. "But why now?" he wondered, perplexed.

"Babe, think about it. When's the last time we had sex?" Sofia remarked wryly.

"…Dammit. It's been a month, almost exactly," he responded tersely, blushing so deep that it crept up the length of his pointed ears. "So I guess to prevent you from going into heat—"

"I gotta get regular amounts of sex from you. Hah! Even more proof your stupid sex fast was nothing but trouble. I was wondering why everyone smelled so good today—" she began to remark when Piccolo's stare narrowed.

"Why the hell were you smelling everyone?!" he growled jealously.

"Hey, I wasn't going up and sniffing people! It was just like, my sense of smell was heightened, and all the guys smelled good. So, I guess that means, if you don't keep me sexually sated on the regular, my senses will seek out someone who will—" she provocatively jeered, feigning like she'd really have to consider the notion.

"Like hell, you will," he huffed with a surly glower. "Fine! Fasting was completely pointless and selfish," he groused, pouting when she giggled. "And I'll be sure to keep you properly fulfilled so you don't ever go into heat and smell anyone else's pheromones ever again." Piccolo's grumble didn't match the hungry, confident expression that settled over his features as he leaned in and teasingly brushed his lips against hers.

"Oh sure, act like it's a favor you're doing just for me," Sofia purred as she rubbed her hand down his washboard, pink-patched textured abs and slipped it between their bodies in order to palm his hard, throbbing erection, slickened by their co-mingled essence of her climax and his thick seed.

Groaning, Piccolo smirked before he kissed her lips hungrily, growling between each kiss, "I-never-said-such-a-thing."

"Hmmm. So? What're you gonna do about this?" she smiled against his lips as she continued to kiss him in time to her stroking his thick, warm and lubricated cock, appreciating as it twitched and throbbed in her palm.

Scoffing, he playfully wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her down to lie on the bed as he purred in a velvety husk, "Make up for lost time!"

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Thanks for reading! Please consider leaving a review and sharing your positive, constructive feedback. I would be eternally grateful to receive reader's comments.

Whew! This was a chapter that's been long coming - pun INTENDED. I rewrote certain sections several times. It was honestly a bit of a challenge, because I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone and be very descriptive in the smutty sections, which has not been my style previously. Hopefully it was a titillating read and I didn't scare anyone off!