Disclaimer: Do you own DBZ? There's your answer.

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Lily - Wow, this was a last minute adjustments. Thank goodness I decided to recheck my stats in order for me to add you here and thanks for reviewing my other fanfic! : )

Son Asana - Thank you for those kind reviews! *Blushes* Those are the author's weakness.

Chibi Summanaro - Thank you!

Ren-chan - Thank you for that lovely, long, and hilarious review you gave me. Honestly, I finished this chapter a while ago, but ff.net didn't allow anyone to upload their story. Basically, this chapter was just sitting on my desktop, waiting patiently for it to be uploaded. Yikes, up to chapter 25?!?! Uh, thanks, but I…can't make any promises. I might just start another T/M fic in the future to make up for those unwritten chapters. : ) Your threat will just become one of my fantasies. Who wouldn't want Vegeta or Goku to come over to their house, hehe! *Drools*

This chapter is dedicated to Ren-chan! Thank you again, for letting me know of my mistake.

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The Secret is Out

"How's that possible, I mean, that'll only happen if we were…"

"bonded."

Silence.

'Hello…HELLO, is anyone there? I know we're bonded, but what're we suppose to do? Are you guys there?' Goten asked, concern evidently in his voice. He smacked his forehead, realizing that he was attempting to converse with his two friends, when in fact, he was bonded to Marron, which was why they could hear each other's thoughts, but Trunks couldn't. He knew that Marron was alive and well, except, still getting over her initial shock, but he had no idea how his best friend was doing and this scrutiny silence wasn't helping the matters any.

'He's fine.'

'Should I come over?'

'Sure, we need to figure this out.'

~*~

"My parents are going to kill me," Marron stated the obvious, frantically pacing across the room. The two had patiently waited for the arrival of their raven haired friend. Then, to insured their privacy, they swiftly went to Trunks' room to discuss the matter further.

"At least we know one thing: you guy are going to tell them. It's better for them to find out from you, then from someone else." All nodded in agreement. From the light's ray, he noticed a glint, indicating tears escaping from Marron's eyes. "What's wrong?" he asked, knowing very well he didn't have to state her name since the two were linked.

"I-I'm scared. What if," she looked away, ashamed, "what if they won't accept me after they know? I won't be able to live with myself, knowing that my family have shunned me."

Trunks looked at her, listening with a sense of sympathy for his friend. He knew nothing he say would lighten her sorrows, except for her parents' acceptance.

Goten entwined his fingers with hers for comfort. "I'm sorry I put you in this situation, Marron," he said, guilt suddenly washing over him.

"Don't be. It's takes two in order to bond, remember?" she gave off a weak smile, then, overcome with a sudden dread, abruptly stood up. "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!"

"What is it?" both chorused.

"I haven't been home since yesterday, before the party. Oh my gosh, they must be worry," she exclaimed, heading to the front door with the others following in tow. "Thanks for everything and tell your mother that also! I'm sorry but I have to go." She left the porch, before realizing she needed a ride home.

"Don't worry, I'll take you home." Goten volunteered after reading her mind, and scooping her up into his arms.

"But don't you have to talk to your family as well?"

"I will after I take you home, after all, I am still your escort, and part of that is making sure I get you home safely." he said, then, winked and took off.

~*~

The ride to the Kame House was in a nervous silence. Through their link, Goten could distinguish the blonde, in his arms, was coming up ways of letting her parents know. He kissed her forehead, reassuring her that he would be there for her. Goten had volunteered to break the news to her parents, but thankfully, Marron objected, saying that she had to do this.

Soon, the pink house resting on a secluded island, arrived. They descended and before he let go of her, he asked, "Let me know how it goes, okay?"

"Sure, um, let's meet at the park at around five."

They kissed each other quickly before she ran to her house. She composed herself, before letting herself in. At once, she was swarmed by her parents.

"Are you all right? Are you hurt?" Krillen asked, checking for any indication of injuries. To his relief there was none. Then, to his daughter's dismay, his concern visage averted to a frown, along with his tone. "Why didn't you come home last night? You worried us sick!"

Juuachigou, who had been silent the whole time, finally spoke, "What your father meant is that when Bulma called us and told us everything, we didn't know what to think. We thought something terrible happened to you."

Marron gave her sweetest smile, showing her gratitude to her mom. She always knew just how to calm him down.

Krillen sighed. "You're our only child. I-we wouldn't know what to do if something had happened to you."

Marron didn't want to say anything that would complicate the matter so she settled with hugging both of them.

"Oh, I almost forgot. I gotta go and wash up," she said, breaking the embrace and heading towards her room.

"Wash up? What for? Didn't you do that at Bulma's place?" Krillen queried.

"Well, yeah, but I have to get ready." She hoped that they would just let it go.

Unfortunately, for her, he didn't. "Get ready for what?" he asked, suspicion in his voice.

She seemed to hesitate for a moment before answering his question. "I'm meeting Goten at the park later."

What happen next wasn't to anyone's expectation, especially Marron. "No you're not!" Juuachigou heaved.

Silence settled in. Marron couldn't believe the situation. Her mother never used that kind of tone with her. Finally, founding her voice, she spoke cautiously, "W-what?"

"You heard me. After what happened last night you still want to go out with him?"

"Of course, I do! Why wouldn't I?" She found herself raising her voice to match her mother's.

"Because he already proved to us that he can't be trusted! He's not responsible enough to get you home or take care of you!"

"That's not true! Since I'm here, that's proof that he can accomplish your first demand. For the second one, I bet he can if he wasn't UNCONCIOUS!" she exclaimed. She knew the 'unconscious' part needn't be explain since Bulma already did that. "Besides," she went on, "we're not getting marry, we're just going to talk."

"Don't raise your tone at me and furthermore, I forbid you from ever dating him or see him. Now go to your room!" she finished, her tone daring her to continued, which was dangerous at the moment.

Like a trapped rat, she turned to her father for support, whom still wore the same shocking visage from the beginning. Shaking out of his trance-like state, he sadly glance at her. "Listen to your mother, Marron."

The flabbergasted pigtail, cornered by all sides, stomped angrily to her room. She felt if she had stayed a minute longer, she would have gone through an outburst, making the situation worse, if that was even possible. She purposely slammed her door, indicating her beyond irritation and, at once, threw herself, head first, onto her bed.

~*~

"18, why did you do that? Why did you forbid her from seeing Goten? Don't you think that was kind of harsh?" he asked cautiously, after he noticed that she had cool down.

"I can't believe you're even asking me such a question. I would have thought you would agree with me, seeing your reaction when she walked into this house," she said, walking over to the kitchen stool. "Where were you when Bulma called?"

"I was here, with you," he cautiously answered, thinking it was a trick question.

She rolled her eyes. "Then why are you acting like this is no big deal?" She paused, looking pensively, "Could it be that you're only allowing her to continue dating him because he's the son of your best friend. That's no excuse!"

"That's not fair, 18. Of course not. If he was anyone else-"

"Even Trunks?" she interrupted.

Silence.

Juuachigou smiled in victory. "I rest my case." she said, getting ready to leave.

"He's different." Krillen said calmly, stopping his wife in her track.

"How so? Oh, because his father isn't your best friend?"

"No," he stated bluntly, not giving any indication that he was hurt by her words. "Because she doesn't trust him, but she still trust Goten, which counts for something." He looked into her azure eyes, before continuing, "We weren't there, 18. We don't know the whole story, but she does. If she feels that she doesn't trust him, then she wouldn't date him, but she have to decide that, not you," he finished, leaving his wife to absorb his words.

"So you want her to date him, even after what happened?"

He stopped between the doorframe. "I think you should give him a chance to redeem himself."

~*~

"I-I'm sorry, Goten, but I-I can't see you tonight," Marron sobbed into the phone. She had tried restraining herself from crying, but it was all in vain. Goten, at once, knew something was troubling her, besides the fact that she couldn't meet him tonight. He tried prying further, but he couldn't understand anything through her constant sobbing.

"M-Marron, stop crying. Please, you have to calm down. Stop crying and take a deep breathe," he advised.

She complied and a minute later she was back on the phone, explaining the situation after arriving home. After she finished explaining everything, she felt new tears sliding down her cheeks. Her brow furrowed when silence settled through the connection.

"G-Goten, are you still there?" she asked, holding her breathe to restrain her sobs in order to hear more clearly. "Go-"

"Yeah, I'm here. I can't believe it. Your parents won't give me a second chance?"

"No, I tried persuading them, but they wouldn't give."

"So, this is it. I can't believe it have to end like this. I'm so sorry, Marron. I really want 'us' to work."

"Me too, Goten. Me too," she said, dropping her voice. If he wasn't a saiyan, he would have missed her last words.

"Arg, this is all my fault!" he said to no one in particular.

"No! Don't you dare say that! I won't allow it. It is not your fault. You were a victim, Goten, not the fault. You couldn't have predicted what would happen that night." she argued over the phone, attempting to convinced him, but more to herself. She hadn't admitted it to him, but she thought the one who should be blame was her. She couldn't help but mentally laugh, mockingly at herself. Here he was, openly revealing how he felt and whom he assumed was the fault. While she was convincing him that he wasn't. All the while, she was doing the same herself. Now she felt guilty. Before she could contemplate on the matter further, her door sounded.

"Hold on, Goten," she whispered, her voice carrying the 'I'll-tell-you-later' message, while shoving the phone under her pillow. Turning to the door, she called out, "Come in." Her eyes widened at her visitor.

~*~

Juuachigou stood outside her daughter's room, pondering on her husband's words. After much thought, albeit she felt touchy around Goten, but with her husband's help, she realized she was wrong. Now she had to apologize to Marron.

Stepping to Marron's door, she gently place her hand on the knob. Before she turned the knob, however, something inside caught her attention. Her daughter was…crying! She haven't thought she hurt her this much. The last thing she saw was a raging Marron, but tears? Had she been so stubbornly stuck to her answer that she'd block everything out? She didn't know, but she wanted to learn more.

"G-Goten, are you still there?"

Goten? She's talking to him? Had she already terminated their mother-daughter friendship that her daughter wouldn't come to her when she had a problem and, instead run to him? She couldn't believe it, but before she could contemplate on the subject, the conversation inside continued, unknown of the eavesdropper outside. She heard the voice of her daughter parleying with silence.

"Go-"

Pause.

"No, I tried persuading them, but they wouldn't give."

Pause.

"Me too, Goten. Me too," she said, dropping her voice.

Pause.

Suddenly, Juuahigou heard her daughter's tone avert into one of outrage.

"No! Don't you dare say that! I won't allow it. It is not your fault. You were a victim, Goten, not the fault. You couldn't have predicted what would happen that night."

Marron's speech had hit her…hard. 'So someone tried to hurt Goten,' she thought. She had thought he drank too much last night and passed out. How wrong she was for making that terrible assumption. Making sure to compose herself, she decided now would be the best time to interrupt their conversation. She knocked on the door, hearing her daughter's whispering sound, only to determine that she had either terminate her call or put him on hold. After hearing Marron called out, "Come in," Juuachigou turned the knob and stepped in.

"Mom!"

Juuachigou smiled gently, knowing she had caught her off guard. "Marron, can we talk?"

"Uh…" She glanced at the hidden phone and hesitantly accepted. "Sure, have a seat," she said, patting on her bed.

'So she hidden the phone under her pillow,' she thought. "I came here to…apologize." She caught sight of her daughter's shock visage. "I shouldn't have gone against your judgment on who you're dating. I should have trust you." She paused.

Marron, in the other hand, was listening intently and wasn't planning on interrupting anytime soon. She knew how strong her mother's spirit was and how apology wasn't one of her strong points.

Finally, the blonde cyborg looked up, making eye contact with her daughter. "I was out of line when I forbid you from seeing and dating Goten. I'm…sorry."

Marron didn't say anything, except throwing herself at her mother for a hug. After a moment, Juuachigou began, "So, I guess you can let Goten know that the date is still on…or should I?"

The little look-alike, at this point, abruptly broke away from the warm embrace and gave a quizzically glance at her. "Goten? He's not here…" Her voice faltered and, instead her eyes followed her mother's transfixed gaze, which landed on her hand. 'The phone!' She mentally slapped herself. She was so overwhelmed with her mother's approval that she forgot to release the phone before embracing her mom.

"I-I can explain!"

"About what? I didn't see anything," she said innocently, while getting up to leave. Whispering, she said, "I want all the details, 'k?"

"One juicy detail, coming right up!" Before the door was closed, she unintentionally called out, "What?"

Juuachigou turned to her daughter with a quizzically visage placed on. "Is anything wrong?"

"Oh nothing, I was talking to Goten."

Her mom arched her eyebrow. "Marron, you do know that Goten can't hear you unless you talk into the mouth piece, right?"

She realized that her phone was still lying on her bed, not next to her ear. She gave off a sheepish laugh, "Right! Of course, I knew that." She held the phone next to her ears and pretended to listen to Goten talk, when in reality, she was actually using her link to speak to him. 'Why did you say, 'wait' for?'

'You forgot to tell her about our bond.'

She winced. 'Do I have to? We just made up, I…uh…fine.' She sigh and mentally prayed to Dende that he'll give her strength to survive the incoming blows from her mom. "Mom? I need to talk to you and you might want to sit down."

"I don't like the sound of that. Should I call your father to get up here, too?"

"I don't know. I guess it might be easier that way." She waited agitatedly as Krillen came into her room, and she gestured for him to sit. She inhaled again, then began, "I have something to tell you guys. I…"

'Goten, are you sure about this?'

'Yes, you can do it.'

"You…?" Krillen pressed on, wondering what could be so hard for her to tell them.

"First, promise you guys will think about this and listen, before judging. Promise?"

They both nodded.

"Well…" In one breathe, she just blurted everything from the last time they saw each other, which was before the party, until now and hastily told them of her story without pausing. Her parents were either surprised at how fast she talked or what they were hearing. All in all, she ended her confession with one, painful sentence, "Goten and I are bonded."

She waited for her parents to absorbed every words she said and when they finally do, they shouted at once, "You're what?!?!"

To be continued…

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A/N: Please review this fic. Tell me what you think. Also, anyone who wants to be notify of when I update this fic, let me know in your review!

Also, please, please review my other DBZ fanfics. It's a K/18 fic called, The Cold Exterior of a Warrior. Please, tell me how I'm doing with that, thanks!. It was my first attempt on a action fic. Again, thanks for reading this!