Almost everyone still addressed the time traveler as 'Trunks', despite insisting the name shouldn't be used for anyone else but the native one. As a kid, carefree as his father was and polite as his brother and mother were, once he had understood more or less what was going on, Goten got stubborn and decided 'the one with long hair and a cool sword' was 'Trunks-san', and the one with the attitude and the larger than life personality who was his best friend remained 'Trunks-kun'. Only two kept using 'Tora'. Not-so-little-anymore Trunks, who had been using 'Tora' since infancy and didn't care for the confusion when others used his name about someone else, and Gohan, who kept using 'Tora-san' ever since they first met when he was six years old.
Her son from the future showing up for an impromptu visit (not like he could really call ahead, could he?) had Bulma doubt whether the plans for the next day could go ahead. Instead of doubting and assuming whether it was appropriate or not in his name, she decided to let him decide. So she asked him whether he'd come along to the day at the beach with the entire family (plus Goten), and if he refused, they'd reschedule and do something else. Big Trunks, or 'Tora', agreed after considering it for a moment.
And so, the next morning, the entire family loaded two cars. Vegeta couldn't be trusted to follow traffic laws and fly inconspicuously, so Bulma drove with him and Bra, and Tora easily accepted taking the two young adults along in the sports experimental car. As far as they all knew, Tora's age was still somewhat in the mid-twenties range, but with Saiyan biology and the peculiarities of time-hopping hobby, who knew? Tora never really answered, giving easy shrugs about Bulma's comments trying to pry into the time traveler's business.
They reached their destination quickly; a tiny private resort in one of the southern islands, where they could relax as themselves, far from prying eyes. Sandy natural beaches and pristine blue waters were all they needed for a little day-long outing; a luxury in its simplicity and intimacy few could enjoy.
After somewhat helping settling a tiny 'base of operations', as Bulma called it, consisting of large parasols, blankets and lots of drinks and snacks in large coolers, Goten and Trunks went straight for the ocean, throwing shirts and shorts as they ran, pushing each other on the way. Vegeta focused on helping his latest change, while Bulma removed her dress to sit in her red bikini and apply some sunscreen; she might have been almost fifty, she still had a great figure she liked showing off. Bulma was only reminded they were six vacationers when her 'eldest' sat by her side in the shade of the parasol.
Tora had to weigh the pros and cons about going to the beach with everyone. She concluded that it was feasible and perhaps even desirable, and she would be cautious. She had come to see Trunks, the baby she once held, who was now the age she was when she fought Cell. And as her eyes lingered on his and Goten's mutual bullying, Tora felt warmth, seeing how peace had created a full happy family who enjoyed time with friends.
And a little sister. Tora couldn't help a quiet chuckle, seeing Vegeta being absolutely dominated by Bra. At almost five, the little girl wanted to be independent, but also be served like the little princess she was.
Tora pulled a pack of cigarettes from her swimming shorts' pocket and lit herself one, and absentmindedly offered one to Bulma.
"You don't want to go play with the boys?" Bulma had noted Tora had changed into beach-appropriate clothes, but not swimwear. A white printed tank top with an undershirt of sorts, a short sleeve reddish-pink shirt, knee-length shorts. Unlike the Trunks she gave birth to, who wore swimming trunks (ah!) and no top, the future one always covered up more. She accepted the cigarette offered and appreciated her 'son' lighting it up for her.
"You know they will absolutely gang up on me," Tora knew it was a terrible idea just because of who the boys were. Bulma observed the two friends try to drown one another, understanding the older Trunks' reluctance. Her 'eldest', as she had understood since they first met almost twenty-five years prior, had basically two modes: mindful and selfless, or take-no-shit, kill-on-sight. The Trunks from the future didn't do 'play-fighting' like the boys. A little like Vegeta.
"It's true, they play rough," Bulma conceded.
Tora also had two other, very good reasons. The first being her alternate family still had not seen her out of her binder, and hence (to her knowledge) all still believed she was male. The second was slightly more practical, and one she was willing to give if someone insisted she go in the water with them: Tora didn't know how to swim.
As they smoked quietly, Tora's eyes lingered on the man whom she had somewhat accepted as her father. Vegeta being bullied by the little girl about putting the floaters properly was a sight to behold, and she wanted to burn the images and words and expressions into her mind, so she could relay them back to her mother. When the girl deemed she was ready, she dismissed her 'servant' and ran off to the ocean, while Vegeta stood, arms crossed in the sun, eyes on his daughter.
Bulma protested about letting the girl go on her own like that, but Tora quietly reminded her that Vegeta was fast and was watching. Once Bra stepped in the water and rushed to join her brother and his best friend, Tora felt how Bulma relaxed. Trunks and Goten were trustworthy, after all, and soon enough they were climbing on top of each other to create a make-believe diving platform for the little princess, who screamed at her 'papa' to look at how high she climbed and jumped from.
Tora burnt her cigarette butt once she was done, absentmindedly contemplating the family life she was invited to.
"'Papa'..." she repeated the little girl's word with a faint smile.
Vegeta was watching the kids, and both Bulma and Tora knew just from his pose that his expression was stern and reserved. Both also knew there was a certain softness, a genuine interest and care in his restrained, hard to read demeanor.
"He's come a long way," Bulma touched her eldest's arm, gently. There was something in her voice, sadness that Tora never got to experience any of it.
"He has," Tora confirmed in a whisper, leaning in to the touch, eyes still focused on Vegeta. "You successfully tamed him."
Bulma disagreed, scooted closer and put her arm around Tora's shoulders in a side embrace. Stiff and a loner due to circumstances, Tora never accepted her as 'mother', and usually rejected the proximity, but this wasn't one of those instances.
"No, I didn't do anything, Trunks," the mother's hand squeezed on the shoulder to convey her truth.
"He stayed by your side, you taught him earthling ways, Bulma-san," Tora disagreed, but Bulma shook her head no.
"That came afterwards. You tamed him."
That made Tora finally look away from Vegeta, questioning the older woman wordlessly. Bulma often saw in Vegeta that intense stare, a harsh look betraying inner turmoils, but Tora's eyes also contained the signature Brief colors which made it so much easier to read emotions. Bulma reached to touch Tora's face, pushing away some loose hairs that were blown by the ocean breeze and placing them behind the ear.
"The kids owe you, they reap the benefits of your hard work.. We all owe you." 'And I wish you could have enjoyed all of it yourself, and not just spectate it.'
Tora blinked, knowing how easily any version of Bulma could read her, and looked back towards the ocean and the little girl splashing the two young adults who enthusiastically played victim.
"Why are you saying that with such a sad face?"
"Because.. you didn't get to have any of it." 'How are you not jealous, or bitter?'
"That was precisely the reason why Mother built the Time Machine. My circumstances don't matter, a Trunks and this little girl.. and you get to enjoy it. It fills my heart. And Mother couldn't be happier."
Tora saw Bulma look at her with hurt. Second-hand pain, even. But she focused on the other four. Goten played Bra and showered her with compliments, Trunks tried getting his friend to stop fueling the sun-sized ego of his little sister, and Tora knew, just from his quiet energy, how much at peace Vegeta was observing the three of them. The comparison from almost twenty years prior was night and day. After all, their year together in the Room of Spirit and Time wasn't that long ago, from her perspective.
"Witnessing it, seeing him now.. made our fights worth it," the time traveler reminisced their hardships. No resentment, the two had made peace a while ago.
".. I raised you so right." 'Selfless, generous, kind, smart.'
Tora laughed, agreeing with the sentiment even if not with the actual facts, gave a gentle pat on Bulma's hand and gave her a sincere, beaming smile.
"I had the best mother in the entire multiverse."
"Big sis, mama, you aren't looking!" Bra scolded and yelled, standing on Trunks' shoulders, who was standing on Goten's. The half-Saiyan column had a fragile balance, and Bra was agitated. That didn't help.
Tora chuckled, stood and waved to show she was looking. Bulma made a passing comment about her 'eldest' clearly needing a haircut, but Tora dismissed it. Keeping her hair long gave her a sense of identity and pride, and one day, one day her alternate family will know.