Vegan kept to herself for the next few weeks; somehow, this made her feel worse.

But she knew what it was; Kakarotto.

She was never the type to keep things bottled up...

Even when she was angry at Freiza, Vegan always spoke her mind.

Of course, Freiza just ignored her concerns, but still!

Vegan had to confront Kakarotto tell him to keep his mouth shut!
The idiot couldn't hold water, much less a secret. She didn't need him bragging to his friends about this.

Or for Trunks to find out...

Trunks?!

What was the date?

She looked at her cellphone; the date read: June 1st...

Trunks' birthday!

She jumped out of bed and rushed into the closet.
****

Goku hadn't seen Chi Chi and the children since she got angry and stormed out a month ago.
He's gotten a few phone calls from the boys since then, but it wasn't the same.

And it was summer; she said they'd spend the summer together.

Maybe if he called and apologized for... whatever he said. He knew Gohan's cell number; perhaps he could reach him.

Gohan could always make her understand when he couldn't.

It took nearly an hour, but he finally got hold of Gohan.

'Gohan?'

'Dad, is that you?'

'Yeah, I was wondering if-'

'Sorry, dad, we're getting ready to go to Trunks' birthday party?'

'Oh, today's Trunks birthday...'

'Yeah, we're getting dressed.'

'I bet Vegan will be there...'

Vegan's crossed his mind more than once during the last month...

For some reason, he couldn't get her out of his head.

'It's her son's birthday, so it's a safe bet.' Gohan said stiffly. 'I imagine that you must be quite eager to see her.'

'How do you know that?'

'Tch. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what the two of you were doing that night.'

Goku scratched his head. 'What are you talking about?'

'I didn't tell mom, but if your plan has more liaisons, don't do it with someone who can destroy the world with the flick of a wrist!'

'You sound angry...'

'I'm not angry! It's just... I hoped that you and mom...-

'Well, mom doesn't want to!' He growled. 'I can't make her come back! She doesn't want to, and... I think don't I want her too!'

'Is this because of Vegan?'

'What does she have to do with this?!'

'You can drop it; I saw Vegan leaving!'

'What are you talking about?'

'I'm talking about,' he said as a door slammed, 'you and Vegan having sex!'

'Wait, what?!' Goku choked. 'What are you talking about?'

'Saw her leaving, dad. She reeked of booze and vomit, and her dress was practically falling off her.'

Goku sat down on the bed.

'I didn't know you liked the bar scene.' He remembered her whispering in his ear.

When she spoke in his ear like that, it made him shudder with anticipation.

Her beauty was undeniable, and her presence always left him on fire.

She wore something tight and black and her up in a bun. He preferred it when she hung down, wild and untamed.

'Hercule thought it'd be good if I got out and socialize.' He said quickly.

He always wanted to impress her.

'Socialize...' she downed a shot of bourbon like it was water, 'maybe we should socialize...'

Goku shook away the memories. 'Are you mad at me, Gohan?'

'Yes, but-'

'I'm sorry.'

'It's not entirely your fault.'

'Are you mad at Vegan?'

'I'm disappointed in her.' He sighed. 'I guess the two last sayings hooking up was inevitable...'

'We... we were drunk... and she and Bloomer-'

'Yes, I know. Mom is super excited about it; she's expecting Bloomer and Yamcha to get married. Of course, if she knew what Vegan was doing now...'

'I- should I tell her?'

'Yes. She should know, but you aren't married, so you don't have to.'

'I should.'
****

Vegan hadn't been by Capsule Corp in a month, and she wasn't in the mood to deal with his father's mouth.

She threw on a sensible blue dress, sleeveless and black flats, also suitable.

She left her good heels at Kakarott's home, and the others made her feet hurt.

Her feet were always swollen, and she felt like a blimp, but her cycle always made her feel like a pumpkin.

But it was a little late this month, but at least it's here!

She just wished that the mood swings didn't make her such bitch.

She would just pop in, say hello to the boy, hug him and leave before his bastard of a father showed up.

She didn't tell Eighteen she was going; she'd make a big deal out of getting ready.

Trunks were in his room watching tv; he was alone. Vegan hovered onto the balcony of his room; he paused but went back to the television.

He never looked her way.

'Trunks.' She went over to the boy; he didn't acknowledge her presence.

He's been like this since the tournament...

'Happy birthday.'

'Thanks.' He said flatly.

'I can't believe it's been nine years.' Vegan said quietly as they knelt beside him.

And she instantly regretted it when she began to feel queasy.

Trunks got up and went over to his computer; Vegan slowly stood.

'I remember when you were born, I was terrified of breaking you.'

He didn't look her way; it hurt.

'What does your father have planned for you?'

'A party.' He said quietly.

'That's great.'

'I'm going to head downstairs.'

'Oh, well-'

'You should go before dad sees you.'

The boy exited the room, slamming the door behind him. Vegan went over to the balcony, unsure if she had the emotional strength to leave, let alone the physical strength.

'Trunks.' Called Bloomer's voice out, seemly coming closer.

Vegan felt herself mentally shudder as his energy drew closer.

She didn't want to deal with him right now.

'Trunks-' the door opened.

'You just missed him.'

'What are you doing here?'

'Leaving.'

She turned to him and found him standing in the door away, glaring at her.

'Why are you here?!'

'To see my son.'

'He doesn't want to see you.'

'Clearly.'

She didn't have the time or energy to deal with him.

'You shouldn't have come.'

'I won't stay.'

'So, you're going to abandon your son again?'

'It's not the boy I've abandoned.' He looked away from her. 'He doesn't want to see; I don't have a reason to stay.'

'It's your son's birthday!'

'He doesn't want to see me.'

'You can't just show up and leave whenever you want!' Bloomer growled.

'First, you say I shouldn't be here; now you're telling me that I can't leave, make up your fucking mind!'

'We don't want you here!'

'Then stop holding me back!'

'I'm holding you back?!' Bloomer laughed. 'You've done nothing but cause me misery since I became involved with you!'

'Then why'd you stay!'

'Honestly, I felt sorry for you.'

'What a coincidence; I only slept with you because I felt sorry.'

She was lying, but if he wanted to wound her, then she would do the same.

'Are we done now?' She sighed, barely controlling her queasiness.

'Don't come back here.' He stormed out of the room.

She had to find a bathroom and fast.
****

Goku hated wearing suits, but it's the only way she'd talk to him.

He wore this suit once to one of Bloomer's parties, and she told him he looked good.

Chi Chi only ever told him that he looked civilized when he wore suits.

But she always got angry when Vegan complimented him, so did Bloomer, for that matter.

Vegan was still here, but her energy was low; he wondered why.

Was she mad at him?

Was she embarrassed by him?

Chi Chi was always embarrassed by him...

'Goku?' He turned to find Yamcha walking towards him. 'You're wearing a suit?'

'Yeah...'

'Chi Chi is in the kitchen.'

'Uh, okay.' He said quietly. He tried to leave but then stopped and turned to her. 'Where's Trunks?'

'He's upstairs getting ready, but Chi Chi-'

'Goten's probably with him.' He put his fingers on his forehead. 'I want to see him first.
*****

The nerve of her!

He was showing up after a month of dropping off the face of the earth, demanding to see his son.

No calls, no texts!

Bloomer needed a drink!

'The party hasn't even begun, and you're already drinking?!' His father said as he grabbed the bottle.

'Vegan finally decided to show her face after a month!' He growled. 'She wants to see Trunks.'

'That's good.' Dr. Briefs said quietly. 'He needs his mother. Is she with Trunks now?'

Bloomer paused for a second, then poured himself a drink. 'She took off.'

'Did she?'

'Yes!'

'Did she take off, or did you two get into an argument, and she storms off?'

'She shouldn't have left us!'

'She broke up with you, not Trunks!'

'She walked out on her son!'

'She's been gone longer than that.'

'But we'd know where she was! She didn't-'

'If you don't want to forgive her for what happened, then don't, but Trunks needs both of his parents.'

'I want nothing to do with her!' Bloomer downed the scotch and poured another glass.

'That's fine, but she needs to be with her son.'

Bloomer shook his head. 'She can't be a part-time mother! I can hardly stand the sight of her.'

'Then your mother and I will handle all dealing with her.'
Bloomer looked at him. 'If you wish it, I will personally make sure that you have never seen her again.'

Bloomer looked at his glass of scotch as a knock on the door interrupted them.

'Yeah?'

'Goku's here.' Yamcha's voice cooed as arms wrapped him. 'And he's wearing a suit! I think he's ready to get Chi Chi back.'

'Great.'

'Everything's going to be perfect.'
*****

'Hey, Trunks!' Goku said as he and Goten played in Vegan's training room.

'Aaaaaaahhhh!' Trunks cried as Goten rushed into his arms.

'Dad!' Goten jumped into his arms.

'Hey, buddy, I missed you!'

'I missed you too!'

'Uh, Goku... hi.' Trunks said quietly as he got up off the ground. 'You here for my birthday party?'

'I was looking for your mom...'

'She's gone.' He said flatly.

'No, she's still here, I can sense her...'

Trunks turned to him, surprised. 'My mom's still here?!'

'But Gohan said that you need to talk to mom!'

Why was Gohan so eager for him to speak to Chi-Chi?

'Ok,' he said as he put Goten down, 'I'll find her.'

Goku vanished as Trunks rushed out of the room.
*****

'Chi Chi, I need to talk to you.'

Chi-Chi looked up to find Goku standing behind her; she had just sent her date, a man that one of her father's advisors set her up with, to get her punch.

She wished Goku could have seen him.

'Goku, you're here and wearing a suit...'

'Yeah, I wanted to talk to you. Can we go somewhere quiet?'

'I can't abandon my date.' She said casually.

She wanted him to know that she was serious; if he wasn't going to start acting normal, then she wasn't coming back home.

'You have a date?'

'Yes, Jin is a fine young man.'

'What do the boys think?'

'The same thing, I think. He's a nice man.'

'Are you... happy with him?'

'Yes, I am.'

'Ok,' he said, relieved, 'I was worried about hurting your feelings. I slept with Vegan.'

'YOU WHAT!' She shrieked.

'I SLEPT WITH VEGAN.' Goku shouted back.

'I don't want people knowing that!' She said as she dragged him away from prying eyes. 'What did you say?!'

'I SLEPT WITH-'

'Why are you shouting?!'

'I thought you were. You couldn't hear me!'

'What do you mean you slept with Vegan?!'

'Yeah, I can't believe it either. I'd forgotten, but Gohan brought it back to my memory.'

'WHEN!'

'When you last came over.'

'That was her bra!'

'Yeah.'

'What about our family?'

'What do you mean?'

'You've just thrown away what we had!'

'But, you left me.' He said quietly. 'You said you wanted a normal life.'

'You were supposed to start acting normal! Not shack up with that... slut!'

'She's not a slut.' He said quietly. 'Neither of us are in relationships. We've done nothing wrong!'

'So, you're going to run off with her!'

'But, you've already started seeing someone! I want you to be happy, even if it's not with me-'

'She sees you as a joke!'

'I'd rather be a clown than a monster.'

The statement made her pause; she often called him and the children monsters.
But Goku never showed any signs of it affecting him before.

'Goku-'

'I'm going to find Vegan.'
****

Trunks raced past him so quickly; Bloomer didn't even register it was his until he greeted him.

And when his scotch dropped.

'Trunks!' Bloomer snapped as it shattered. Goten came running by when he grabbed him. 'Hold it!'

'Hi, Bloomer.'

'What's going on!'

'My dad's here, and he's looking for Vegan.'

She's still here?! Bloomer thought as Goten rushed in the same direction as Trunks.

He thought she left hours ago.

Maybe she finally came to her senses.

Well, she thinks that she waltzes back into his life just like that, then she had another thing coming!

He was going to give her a piece of his mind.

He stormed after the boys, ready to unload on Vegan, when a quiet voice asked, 'What's wrong with me?' stopped him dead in his tracks.

He peered around the corner and saw the boys standing around Vegan as she pressed against the wall.

'Have you seen my dad?' Asked Goten.

'No.'

Her skin wasn't usually light olive, but pallid and cadaverous, her vibrant, beautiful onyx hair was listless and dull, and her pétillant eyes were flat and boring.

She didn't look like herself.

He looked at Trunks; he was studying her closely.

'You don't look good.' He said bluntly.

'I don't feel good.' She gasped, placing a hand on her forehead and the other on her stomach. Goten seemed to be looking for something as Vegan pushed herself off the wall and smiled at Trunks. 'It's just a tummy ache.'

'Maybe dad can examine you.' Trunks said as he glanced over at him.

'That's not an option.' She said weakly.

'Why not?'

'I'm just tired.'

'Who's that?' Asked Goten as they looked at her.

'Who's who?' Trunks demanded.

'That.' He pointed at her.

'That's Vegan.' Bloomer said quietly as she glanced over at him.

'But, she's hiding someone! Are you hiding a warrior so tiny that they can only be with a magnifying glass?!'

'What?' Vegan asked, exasperated.

'Ok,' said Bloomer, 'I think it's time to cut off your sugar-'

'I sense it too.' Trunks turned to his mother, touching the hand on her stomach.

'What do you sense?' Bloomer asked as Trunks snatched his hand away; he looked embarrassed. He turned to Vegan, who looked horrified. 'Do you sense it too?'

'I need you to examine me now!' She said as she turned to him.

'What for?!'

'Just examine me!' She shrieked as she grabbed him.

'If you think-'

'Ugh!' She pushed him, sending him back 3ft. 'Where's your grandfather?!'

'In the lab.'

She scowled at Bloomer, then turned on her heel and left, both of the boys following close behind her.