34

TRUNKS Briefs paced a restless line hesitantly back and forth while the strange-looking Guardian of the Earth, another Namek, though this one old and withered and kind, not a grump at all like Piccolo was, silently went about his work and inspected his young mother, who lay disturbingly still on the bed, hidden from his view, while his father stood off in the furthermost and darkest corner of the bedroom, nursing his bloodied and broken nose with a harsh grunt.

He'd not said a single word to Trunks since Kami had sauntered into the room with Mr. Popo at his heels, and Trunks highly doubted if his father would speak to him again after that display and the little act of aggression displayed towards him.

Trunks couldn't manage to care anymore. He'd already been proven that just by him coming to the planet Yardrat per his mother's advice in his own time that things in this time were different than in his world.

"So?" Trunks barked in a gruff voice that sounded remarkably like that of his own father's voice, and he'd succeeded in managing to startle his father, who'd not stopped sulking and brooding in the corner once, and though Vegeta showed no interest in speaking to his own flesh and blood, he also displayed no sort of desire to leave behind his wife, which proved that Vegeta was…different.

It was clear to him that he'd not yet left Bulma alone to go to some distant remote planet to train, and Trunks had no intention of letting that happen to his sweet mom if he could help it. His mother had sacrificed and given up so much of herself in order to raise Trunks to the best of her ability, even without Vegeta by her side in Trunks' timeline.

"A moment please, boy, I must confess I have never healed something of this nature before, it's taking longer than I expected, and I require sweet blessed silence to concentrate, of which you are interrupting," was all the reply the green Namek gave, while Kami stooped over his mother's figure, to which her adult son from the future reacted to by letting out a low growl of frustration and tugged on a lock of his lank lavender hair, turning to look towards his father.

Goku had offered to do what he could, but between the frustrated sighs of Mr. Popo and Kami and even Vegeta, the younger Saiyan quickly realized he was getting in the way.

Prince Tarble was resting unconscious on the other bed to the left of Bulma, looking beaten and bruised, but sans his tail and he was sure to make a full recovery soon enough. Surely, Vegeta's brother would be ecstatic upon learning there was a way to bring his wife back with the Dragon Balls when he woke up.

Trunks decided to let his mom tell him the good news when he regained consciousness. Trunks tried to feel a little bit better, but it didn't stop him from worrying as his mother did not look at all good and hadn't uttered a single word since his father had ushed her inside this strange bedroom in the Lookout.

"King Vegeta?" uttered Kami as he slowly swiveled at the waist to regard the sulking Saiyan King, who'd coincidentally, said very little when he realized the stranger who had tried to help save his wife's life was his future son.

Vegeta slowly, almost sanguinely turned his head to look at the elderly Namek who leaned heavily against his wooden walking stick for support, his usual trademark scowl of impassive indifference coupled with annoyance plastered across his olive-toned face, though his narrowed black eyes glistened with moisture that Trunks knew not to be tears, per se, but he was worried for Mother nonetheless, which was saying something, really.

"Yes?" he barked in his usual gruff voice, though Trunks swore he caught the faintest hint of nervousness seeping its way into his voice. He cautiously unfolded his arms from his chest and stepped out of the corner and the shadows and towards Bulma's bed. "How is she? The baby, did she lose…?" His voice trailed off.

Trunks stiffened as he swore he heard his father's voice crack. Was that…caring that he heard in Father's tone?

He grunted wordlessly in response and waited for Kami to speak as he tore his gaze away from King Vegeta.

The Namek narrowed his eyes, almost as if suspicious of Vegeta, before exchanging a knowing glance with his strange little servant and companion, Mr. Popo. "I believe, Your Highness," he grunted, wiping his hands on the front of his white billowing robes as he took a step away from Bulma's bedside and towards the center of the room where Vegeta and Trunks stood (begrudgingly) side by side, waiting for news of Bulma and the baby's condition, and Tarble, too. "That your wife is lucky to be alive, King Vegeta. Shadow Weed is a deadly poison with almost irreversible effects, though as a Namek, my healing abilities counteracted the effects of the poison in her system. Had you arrived here a second and a half later, the babe would have been lost and I'd not have been able to assist in healing her. My abilities are great, yes, of that there is no denying, but even I have my limits. But since you arrived just in the nick of time, I was able to stem the bleeding and extract the poison from her system. Your wife will be perfectly alright in a few days, though I must confess, she might be sore for a few days, and going forward, considering her…delicate situation, I would suggest that she not strain her body too much. Too much stress on the body would only exacerbate her condition and cause problems. There is a good chance she might have a slight stomachache for a few days after this, and to combat that, I'd recommend bland foods for a few days, at least. Soups, loaves of bread, some cheese, and the like. If you like, I would be happy to head back to the kitchens alongside Mr. Popo and prepare a light little supper, just in case your wife and brother are hungry when they wake up and want something to eat. Shadow Weed is not to be trifled with and can cause some ah, interesting side effects, from what I know of it," Kami said, furrowing his brows in a frown. "Might I ask who is responsible for giving your wife such a deadly poison, sir? What happened? What on earth did your mate do to entice this person's anger that would make them want to poison her? I'm afraid that I do not understand this at all," he questioned, biting the wall of his cheek as he looked at Trunks and Vegeta collectively, waiting for them to answer.

"A club owner named Madame Destiny on the planet Yardrat gave it to her under Frieza's orders," Vegeta spat with no small measure of anger laced throughout his voice.

Trunks was momentarily taken aback by how pale his father had become, and his entire body was practically shaking with rage in the effort to control himself.

"I see," Kami said slowly as he nodded his head in understanding, though his antenna drooped slightly as his frown deepened. He looked towards Vegeta curiously. "And what, may I ask, are you going to do about her? What punishment is the woman to receive for committing an act against the crown? It matters not that she is a resident on another planet, the fact of the matter is she has committed a crime against the crown, against you and your wife, not to mention the life of the babe inside her, and you have the right to punish her solely as you see fit, Your Highness," he asked.

Vegeta pursed his lips together in a thin line and shot a withering look towards Trunks as he noticed and felt his son's piercing icy stare practically burning a hole in the side of his skull. "I wish to speak with her, but I'm staying by her side," he growled, never once taking his eyes from Bulma as he spoke, the anger in his voice unmistakable. "I am not the one Madame Destiny almost killed. I think it's only right to let my mate decide her fate," he growled, his hands balling into fists at his side. He opened his mouth to say more, though another voice from behind him spoke up and cut King Vegeta off.

"Destiny and those two other Saiyans under your command that killed Tarble's wife need to answer for their crimes," Goku spoke up in a harsh barking tone, more of a bite as he stepped up slowly towards where Vegeta and Trunks stood by Bulma's bedside. "They'll face justice for what they've done. Just say the word and I can bring them all back within five minutes. Kami, Mr. Popo, I don't suppose you have a holding cell of sorts where those guys could be detained until Bulma wakes up and has a chance to speak to them?" he asked, swiveling his head to look towards Kami.

Mr. Popo graciously stepped forward and shot a nervous, somewhat apprehensive look towards Vegeta, as though fearful of the Saiyan King's temper and what the man would do if they provided an inadequate enough answer which displeased the new King of the Saiyan Race.

"Of course," Mr. Popo nodded graciously. "We do have a spare room in the back that was mostly used for storage, but it could be cleared within five minutes and used as a detention room."

"Do it." Vegeta barked in a rough voice and coming from the new Saiyan King, it was not exactly phrased as a request.

It was a command, though seemingly one that Mr. Popo was only too happy to oblige as he nodded quickly and scuttled off to begin the clearing of the room. Vegeta heaved a sigh of frustration and turned towards Kakarot and growled, not liking the strange way Kakarot looked at him.

"So, what do you want, Kakarot?" he huffed and folded his arms across his chest as he perched himself on the edge of Bulma's mattress, his gaze flitting from Bulma, then Tarble.

Kakarot suddenly flashed Vegeta a hopeful white smile as he gingerly rubbed the back of his head in a way that made Vegeta want to puke as his insides lurched.

"Some guy named Whis just sent me a message, Vegeta, I thought you'd wanna know all about it, man," he grinned, tapping to his head to indicate their shared telepathic abilities. "He said some God named Beerus invited us both to train on his world. He says they saw the whole thing, how you really gave Frieza what he deserved, and asked me to invite you to come with. So? Are you in? It's six months…"

Trunks inhaled a sharp breath, not even aware he was holding it in until he let it out as he turned to his father, trying to gauge the Saiyan King's reaction. Instinctively, he felt himself stiffen, digging the heels of his combat boots into the floor, fully prepared to do whatever he had to in order to prevent his dad from abandoning his pregnant wife.

This was bloody it, the moment his mother had warned him of. This was why he had come back in the first place.

Well. That and there was the troublesome matter of Android 18 seemingly on friendly and good terms with this group.

This was it. The moment when his father would leave his mother to train on some distant remote planet and leave Bulma alone during the midst of her pregnancy to carry and deliver his heir alone with no one except for her parents and Android 18 and Krillin by her side as a good support system.

Trunks gnashed his teeth together as he could see his father weighing the pros and cons in his mind, the wheels turning.

Trunks felt frustration rise within himself at the expression on his father's face. He could see it for himself.

The Saiyan King was sorely tempted to go with him.

But Trunks could not let that happen for the life of him, even if it killed him. It seemed to take his father a moment or two to find his voice.

Trunks steeled himself, straightening his gait to his full height, a head or two taller than his father.

Though what Vegeta said next, not even Trunks was prepared for his answer.

"That's tempting, Kakarot, but I'll have to pass," he grumbled through his teeth as he looked towards Bulma before returning his gaze back toward Goku.

Goku slumped his shoulders forward in defeat. "But why, Vegeta, you're always down to train, aren't you?" he sighed, sticking out his bottom lip in a slight childish pout.

Trunks was utterly flabbergasted as he carefully studied his father's expression. Out of all the answers he had expected Father to give, this was… not exactly it, really.

He parted his lips open slightly to speak, though all that came out was a strangled attempt at speech. Trunks debated on whether he was having a heart attack or a panic attack. Regardless, he didn't hear a word that came out of his father's mouth in response to what Goku had just said.

By the time Trunks blinked a couple of times and shook his head to clear his mind and came back to himself, Goku and Vegeta were in the middle of a somewhat heated discussion.

Well, heated mostly on his father's side as his temper surged at Goku's more childlike innocence and ways.

"Would you use your brain?!" he shouted, raising his hand and smacking Goku upside his thick skull. He pointed a shaking arm towards Bulma still sleeping soundly in the bed, though her eyelids fluttered at hearing Vegeta's raised voice. "Do you not see my wife? She was almost poisoned, and she's pregnant, she could—" he started to say, though he was interrupted by Goku letting out a noise that Trunks supposed was supposed to be laughter as he clutched at his sides and doubled over, slumping to the floor in utter shock.

"WHAT? NO WAY! SERIOUSLY, MAN! BULMA'S PREGNANT?! Y—you're really going to be a daddy?! Wow!" Goku gasped out in a hysterical laughing fit, rolling around on the floor as though he'd never heard anything funnier in his life at the thought of the arrogant newly appointed Saiyan King becoming a father to Bulma's child.

Vegeta raised an eyebrow in alarm and surprise at Kakarot's reaction, staring at Goku in utter disbelief and ire.

"Did you seriously not know, Kakarot? No, what am I saying, of course, you didn't, because you never know anything!" Vegeta huffed in frustration.

It took Kakarot several minutes (much to Vegeta's growing annoyance) to get his hysterical laughing fit under control as he shakily rose to his feet, having to clutch onto one of the posts of the four-post bed to support himself as he managed to get himself up off the ground, still chuckling.

"Okay," he gasped out in between heaving breaths, "so Bulma's pregnant, um, I guess congratulations are in order, man, but what does Bulma being pregnant have to do with you? I mean, the baby comes out of her not you, doesn't it?" he asked, his question causing both Trunks and Vegeta to make an odd, strangled noise of disbelief in their throats.

"Tch," Vegeta scoffed, rolling his eyes in disgust at Goku. "I have no idea how the hell you're still married, Kakarot, but in any case, I'm staying here on Earth, damn it, no matter what Beerus and his stupid lackey want! Why do I have to explain this to you? If I leave the planet now, then I'd never hear the end it from Bulma, Kakarot!" he said.

"You mean she'd be mad?" Goku asked, wide-eyed.

Vegeta could no longer contain his wrath.

"OF COURSE, SHE'D BE PISSED, YOU HALF-WITTED IDIOT! Tell me this, Kakarot, were you even around for your Woman when she was pregnant with your little brat, Gohan? You weren't, were you, so don't you lecture me on what you think I need to be doing with my time!" he shouted, his face reddening as bright as a tomato in his anger, though before he could say anything further, Mr. Popo awkwardly shuffled into the room and announced that the spare storage room had been cleared out and was ready to receive the intended prisoners for detention until Bulma and Vegeta could decide upon the appropriate punishments. "I'm staying by her side for all this, so just drop it, Kakarot!"

Kakarot sighed in frustration and pulled a face, sticking his tongue out at Vegeta, which only incensed the Saiyan King's anger further.

"Okay, but just remember, you chose this, okay. So don't get mad when I come back in six months stronger than you, Vegeta!" Kakarot pouted.

"Shut up! Just go then if you're going and be quick about it. You ask me, I'll be glad to be rid of your company for six months! Six months of sweet, blessed silence that saves me from listening to your stupid prattle, Kakarot," Vegeta called out in a hoarse gruff voice as Goku solemnly nodded in Mr. Popo's direction and placed his finger on his forehead, furrowing his brows in intense concentration as he prepared to transport himself to the planet Yardrat to retrieve the Saiyans under his command and Madame Destiny who'd had a hand in killing Gure and poisoning Bulma with that disgusting bitter tea, he stopped.

"What is it?" Kakarot asked somberly, mentally steeling himself for another of the stubborn Saiyan King's outburst. He looked towards Vegeta in a guarded manner.

Trunks felt his body seize and anger prick at his heartstrings as Vegeta turned his narrowed black eyes on his son, a strangely contemplative look in his darkened eyes.

"Take my son with you to Yardrat. You might need the help. Feel free to rough them up a little if they give you any trouble," was all Vegeta said before stiffly turning away from Goku and choosing instead to look at Bulma and Prince Tarble. "I'm staying right here. Someone needs to let them know what's going on when they wake up and I think Bulma needs to hear it from me that Frieza's dead," Vegeta growled.

Trunks inwardly cringed as Goku's dark eyes widened in shock as the older Saiyan warrior met Trunks' gaze, and he heard the audible gasp of surprise as his eyes met Trunks' blue ones, and he knew Goku was looking into the eyes of his old friend he'd known since he was a little boy.

"BULMA'S YOUR MOTHER?!" he screeched, his loud scream of surprise eliciting a frustrated groan from Vegeta, who immediately clamped his hand over his ears and shot Goku a withering look of irritation before looking at Bulma.

Trunks awkwardly shot Goku an odd little-half smile that felt strained and nodded, a light pink blush speckling along his cheeks as he stared down at his boots, looking at anywhere but at his father, though he felt Vegeta's glower.

"You could say that," was all Trunks could think of to say, though sensing his father's growing irritation with Kakarot, he calmly stepped forward and took hold of Goku by the arm, steering him out of the bedroom and towards the main platform in order to teleport to Yardrat and give Bulma and Tarble the peace and quiet they needed to recover. "My mother sent me here from the future to see you. It's about Android 18 and her brother, Android 17," he growled, casting a nervous glance to the left and right, searching for any sign of the familiar blonde bombshell.

When Trunks could spot no sign of her or Krillin, he began to grow nervous. His mouth had suddenly gone dry, and his tongue felt thick in his mouth. "Where is she, Goku? I—I don't know how to tell you this, but she's a monster."

Goku looked more than a little shocked but less so than Trunks had expected him to be, which he thought odd.

He furrowed his dark brows in a frown as Trunks and Goku stood in the middle of the platform, ready to disappear, though Goku made no move to transport them both just yet.

"I—I dunno that I'd call 18 a monster, Trunks, isn't that kind of harsh?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at Trunks. "I mean…yeah, she can be kinda rough around the edges, but if you look past her temper, she's not a bad woman…Just give her some time, she'll come round. She's just…not used to positive feedback and reinforcement yet." Goku let his voice trail off as his inquisitive eyes made a quick scan of the Lookout, as though searching for something or someone. "Oh. There they are. Krillin's with 18, she's fine."

Goku looked towards Trunks, expecting Vegeta's son to be happy with this revelation, but it wasn't the case.

Trunks gaped at Goku, hardly daring to believe that was the opinion he held of the blonde android.

"Well, you might be the only one in this group besides my mom who thinks so! She's dangerous where I come from, Goku. She and her stupid brother destroyed entire cities, almost half the planet! My mom sent me back to this time to save her life, b—but when I got here, it's like I almost didn't need to be here! I have to go back to Yardrat anyways since that's where I left my ship, and I'll follow you back here in my ship. I'd…like to say goodbye to my mom first before I leave if I'm able," Trunks explained quietly, lowering his voice, though even as he spoke the words, he wondered just how much of this timeline's events had changed just by him coming here.

His mother had told him once that time was just a loop, that every action we take was a causation of destiny, that time travel wouldn't change anything that had happened, but still, Trunks knew he just had to try to change his fate, to stop Vegeta from leaving his wife, and Trunks, much to his surprise, didn't even have to do a thing.

Father had made that decision all on his own, and even as he thought back to first laying eyes on Android 18, she looked as though she hadn't really wanted to kill him.

She could have probably cleaned his clock if she'd really wanted to and was of a mind to try, but she hadn't.

The blonde android had gotten a look in those cold blue eyes of hers that almost resembled that of concern, and even now, as Trunks continued scanning the area, he thought he saw a familiar head of blonde peek out from behind one of the white marble columns, spying on them.

When they locked eyes as 18 had spotted Trunks looking, the woman immediately sneered and darted back behind the pillar and left as though he'd thrown her a ki blast.

Goku, sensing his company's attention had fluttered to somewhere behind him, turned his back to see what lurked there, but he only saw an empty pillar.

Confused, he turned back towards Trunks but said nothing, holding out his arm for Trunks to take.

"Well? Are you coming?" Goku grinned cheekily. "I'm anxious to get these guys picked up so I can go start training. I don't know who this Beerus guy is, but the program he wants to put me through sounds tough! I can't wait to see how much stronger I'll be getting!"

Trunks couldn't help but smile. Goku's childlike innocence and curiosity were infectious.

Trunks slowly nodded his head, a look of determination and resolve set upon his features as a muscle in his jaw twitched. Father might not want him around right now, but that didn't mean he was going to let his mother suffer.

"Yeah. I'm coming. I owe it to my mom to help out in whatever way I can, Goku. I'm not doing this for my father, I do this for her. Take me there."

As he wound his fingers around Goku's strong bicep, he was hardly aware of Android 18 still watching the pair of Saiyans from the shadows of the entryway of the Lookout, watching them leave with an interested gleam in her eyes…