Trunks was washing his new aircar, and his little sister was "helping" him. Bra was supposed to rinse the car off, but was actually hosing off Trunks, who was spluttering and trying to ward off the spray. Goten felt a small smile twitch across his lips as she laughed and ducked under Trunks attempts to catch her. She had no idea of how pretty she was, blue eyes flashing, and that smile lighting her face.
Goten remembered when she was still a little girl, and nearly identical to her mother. Now she had filled out a lot, her body was remarkably curved, unlike Pan's. Goten's niece was still as slender as ever, her own budding body much less developed, even though she was one year older than Bra. Of course, she didn't have Bulma for a mother, which must be a big help in that department. He realized he was blushing, and shook his head.
"Come on, Goten, forget it!" He snapped. There was no way, just no way he could ever have her. Vegeta would kill him, if Trunks didn't do it first. And she was always looking at the boys from her school, who were closer to her own age. He was thirteen years older than she was, almost thirty. Chi-Chi was bugging him to get a woman and get married, like his bother Gohan had. Gohan had married Videl when she was only a little older than Bra was right now.
A squeal brought his attention back to the scene below. Trunks had caught Bra at last, and was tickling her fiercely. She flailed, her black tank top riding up her ribs, and kicked her brother in the shins. Trunks just snorted in her ear and kept tickling.
"Beg for mercy, sis, or I'll call Goten to help me!" He said. She froze.
"No! No, don't call him! Please Trunks!" She said, face hard. Both Trunks and the unseen Goten frowned in surprise.
"Why not? I thought you liked Goten! He's helped me torture you before... "
"It's different with you, you're my Brother, but Goten... he's a GUY!" Bra said lamely. Trunks looked at his sister intently. She was blushing. About Goten? But Bra had known Goten all her life... Suddenly Trunks realized that his little sister wasn't so little. She was as voluptuous as their mother now, and looked more like a woman than a girl.
"Um, Bra? Goten is like an uncle to you, he's not some guy! He'd never hurt you, I mean... "
"I'm too old now, and he is too... " She said stubbornly. He frowned, and nodded, and they turned back to the aircar. Goten winced, and decided to leave.
**********
As he went through the kitchen, he ran into Bulma, her short hair styled fashionably, even though she wore the dingy blue coveralls she used in the lab.
"Hello, Goten! Hungry?" He shook his head, and Bulma blinked in surprise. Like all Saiyans, full or part, he was always hungry; she couldn't remember Goten ever refusing food. "Are you all right?" She asked, concerned. He tried to smile, and shrugged.
"Oh, yeah, I'm just thinking." He tried to leave, but she blocked his path.
"Goten, forget it. I know you even better than I knew your father. And you don't get lost in thought like this. Sit!" She forced him to sit and glared at him. "Now, what is wrong?" He stared at his toes and tried to think of something good to tell her. He didn't want to lie but...
"It's a girl, isn't it?" She said softly. He looked up, alarmed. Bulma nodded, her blue hair drifting into her eyes. "I can tell. Chi-Chi is on you to get married and make babies, just like Gohan, isn't she? I told her that you'd find the right woman in your own time, but she wants a grandson so bad... " She sighed and watched him from the corner of her eyes. She wasn't stupid, and had noticed his constant presence at Capsule Corp, and knew it had to be a girl, since Goten only paid attention to women and food; which was one more thing than occupied his fathers mind most of the time. And since he never ever went into the Corporate Offices by the door, (He flew up to a window to see Trunks at work) it had to be a girl in the house. That left either Surry the maid, or Bra.
"I... Yes, you're right, Bulma-san, But its not anyone you know..." Goten was sweating now.
"Hmmm, and here I thought it was my daughter that had caught your eye!" She said smoothly. Goten went white and looked about to faint. She grabbed a cup and poured him some coffee, which he gulped down shakily.
"Demo, but how did you know?" He suddenly was remembering that Bra didn't seem to like him anymore, and the point was probably moot.
"Oh, I just used my head, and I watched you mooning over her. So, what's holding you back?" He laughed mirthlessly, not like Goten at all.
"Maybe the fact that she doesn't like me at all at the moment. And the fact that Trunks and Vegeta would kill me doesn't help much. I just have to face that it's hopeless." He said, and shrugged again. Bulma frowned and sat across from him.
"Nothing is hopeless. I never thought Vegeta would ever look at me, yet he did, in the end... " He was amazed to hear this, since he'd never really understood how Vegeta had gotten Bulma to care for him. Now she said she'd wanted him first! She chuckled at his face, and blushed.
"I had to seduce him in the end... hey... " Her eyes narrowed and her smile became devious. "Seduction... it could work, yes it could... " Goten blinked and then blushed as he realized what she meant.
"I can't possibly! She's so young, and I'm not very... "
"Hush. She's old enough, and besides, I don't mean THAT! I think we should plan to try and get her alone with you for a while... " Goten was just in shock that Bra's own mother was saying this to him. But, if Trunks was to be believed, she and Vegeta had quite the married life, and had had to soundproof their bedroom. She knew what she was talking about in this situation!
"Ok, how do I do this?"
"Like this... "
**********
"Trunks!! Come here!" Goten called. Trunks looked up from his efforts to dry the Aircar. Goten looked odd, not his usual cheery self. Bra looked up as well, and then bent to her task, ignoring him. Trunks sighed and wandered over to his friend.
"What's up? I gotta dry it before its gets spotty!" He grumped. Goten glared at him, making Trunks pause. This was so unlike Goten, who didn't have a serious bone in his body.
"What's this I hear about you scoping out Paris? That is low, I mean, you're so desperate for a woman you'll go for my ex-girlfriends?" Goten growled. Trunks jaw dropped in shock as he listened. His blue eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"Goten, no! I'd never do that! Paris, no way! Hey... " He frowned too now. "I'm not desperate! I can get any woman I want, I'm just not ready for one yet!" He huffed. The friends were nose-to-nose, eyes narrowed in anger.
Bra had looked up at the accusation, and now could tell both men were ready to go SSJ in their anger. She gasped and ran between them.
"Hey, guys stop this! Goten, Trunks would never look at Paris, she's not his type!" She said firmly. Goten's eyes dropped to hers, and she stared at him evenly. "Little girl, you should get out of the way. You're not a woman yet you know, even if you think you are!" Bras jaw dropped at this, and she blushed in embarrassment. Behind her Trunks bit his lip, tying not to laugh at his sister's predicament.
Bulma watched from the security room, and was amazed at Goten's acting ability. Of course, his job was acting on that TV show, but still, this deserved an Oscar! She watched Bra sort of shrink for a second, and then she straightened and sneered at Goten.
"Oh no? I'm more woman than you'll ever be able to handle, Son Goten!"
"Hmmm, I doubt that, Bra. I mean, you've never even had a real date with a real man, have you? For that matter, neither has any woman Trunks has dated!" Goten said smoothly. Sure enough, Trunks erupted into Super Saiyan, and Bra nearly fell into Goten because of the blast of energy. Goten caught her easily and went SSJ as well. She looked up at him, his eyes that aqua color and wondered at what was wrong with him. Her earlier dismissal of him to Trunks was forgotten in her bafflement.
"Stop stop STOP!! She screamed, and they all froze. She turned to Trunks and waved at him to go. "I'll figure this out! Get out of here!" Just as Trunks paused, and powered down, Vegeta appeared, eyes ablaze.
"What the hell is going on here!? What are you doing, Goten?" He snapped, and stared up at the son of his rival. Goten powered down instantly, and smiled sheepishly. He never had gotten over his awe of Vegeta, and still thought of him as a sort of stepfather figure; a stepfather that could cream him in a fight with his eyes closed.
"Ah, Gomen, Vegeta-san!" Trunks snorted in disgust as Vegeta turned his eyes to his daughter. Bra smiled sweetly at him.
"Nothing is happening, just a little disagreement, Papa!" Vegeta shook his head and tuned his back to them.
"I thought I had gone backwards in time there, and needed to kick both your asses like when you were six!" He said, chuckling. Both men blushed as they remembered times when Vegeta had done just that for childhood pranks. Bra laughed at this and looked up at Goten brightly.
"Oh, I was born too late! I wish I could have seen that! Papa spanking Goten for being bad!" She laughed. Goten scowled and stepped back.
"He never... " He stuttered. Vegeta humphed and stalked back to his training, while Trunks laughed at Goten.
"Don't lie, he knocked us into shape! But really Goten, I haven't been eyeing any of your girls. OK? But I do think you should apologize to my sister, you were kinda mean... " Trunks said hopefully. Goten crossed his arms like Vegeta did, and shook his head.
"Fine, Trunks, I believe you, but I'm not saying sorry to Bra. She's too good to speak to anyone anymore, too "grown up" and I'm sick of it. I thought she was my friend, but I was wrong I guess." He said. This situation was hard to keep up, he wanted to say he was sorry but he couldn't. If Bulma was right, he wouldn't have to, at least not yet.
"Your friend! Ha! You're so immature and stupid!" Bra snapped. Goten shrugged and pointed at her.
"See? Very "grown up", isn't she?" He sneered. Bra almost stamped her foot in frustration, but restrained herself. She growled, and then smiled.
"Ok, I'll show you who's grown up! Let's make a bet!"
"Oh yes a bet. What kind of bet?" Goten smiled. Bra looked at him and then turned to Trunks.
"Trunks, call Marron for me. She'd gonna judge this." Trunks stared at her blankly.
"Um, judge?" Bra nodded
"Yes, Son Goten and I are going on a date, and we'll see who is more mature, and who has the best adult behavior." She said. Trunks shook his head.
"I don't see what that will prove... You have never gone on a real date, sis, just with guys your own age." He said. She wrinkled her nose at him and blew one of her bangs out of her eyes.
"All the better to prove that I'm ready for any man, and Goten better be ready to eat his words." She said, and turned to the house. As she walked inside, Trunks grabbed Goten.
"OK, what the hell was that about? I've never seen you like this, Goten, and... what?" Goten was laughing, and shook his head, patting Trunks on the shoulder. "I... Need a moment... here Trunks!" Man did Bulma know her kids! It went exactly as she'd said it would. Of course, Vegeta nearly blew it, but it worked out ok. Now hopefully, Bra wasn't too mad at him.
"Goten... " Trunks said, his voice lowering in that, 'start-talking-and-it-better-be-good-voice'. Goten pointed to Trunks window, and they flew up to his room, where Goten explained that he'd heard Bra talking about him, and it pissed him off. And he HAD heard a rumor of Trunks chatting with Paris, (but he'd not really believed it) so he'd just come down to vent his anger at them. He didn't explain about Bulma or her devious plan to trick Bra into a date with Goten. He didn't want Trunks to know he even liked Bra yet.
"So, you got mad about her attitude? She's sixteen! We had bad attitudes at sixteen too, Goten. She is really looking for a boyfriend, but she can't find a good guy, and she's annoyed at all men because of it." Goten nodded and smirked very Vegeta-like.
"She should look for an man, and not boys, then." Trunks looked at him funny, but Goten leapt up and declared he needed to go plan this date and flew off to his acting coach.
Trunks sat for a moment and frowned. Goten was just not himself lately. Neither was Bra for that matter. He got up and went to her room. It was in colorful disarray, all her dresses piled everywhere. She was looking at her feet in a pair of red high-heels. She looked up at him.
"Trunks, do my legs look nice in these?" Trunks sighed. So this was what he had to look forward to till this date was over?
"No, ladies don't wear red. You should get some black for this. Kaasan looks great in black, and you look a lot like her, you know?"
"Oh! You think so? Then I need to go shopping!" He groaned; any excuse to go to the mall! "Did you call Marron?" he looked sheepishly at her, and she pointed at the phone. He crept away to do her bidding, and wondered at the power of Bra and his mother to make his father and himself do what they wanted...
**********
Goten prepared for this date like it was an acting role. He was an actor after all, on that darned TV show, and he was hoping for a movie one day. For now, he'd try to act like the gentleman he needed to be to get Bra to forgive him. He'd gotten some coaching on "proper" behavior from his mom and his coaches. He'd gone shopping and picked up a great suit, and ordered flowers for the date. He'd gone to Yamcha for advice on good cologne. He'd almost gone to Dende to ask for a wish to win this thing from the Namekian Dragonballs, but restrained himself. He'd get her to see him as a suave man if it killed him.
**********
Bra was a demon about dating. True, she'd only dated high school boys, but still, the principle was the same. Still, it was different too. She had dragged her mother along on her shopping trips, to get her advice on a dress and shoes, and on perfume and make-up. She'd grilled Trunks mind for what Goten liked about women, (Trunks couldn't even tell her some of it, he'd just blush, to her delighted disgust) and even gone to her father for some personal training to lose a few extra pounds.
Vegeta was so shocked at his little girl wanting to train, that he'd just stared at her for the rest of breakfast. It was Vegeta's second breakfast really, and he should have been more prepared for the day's shocks, but still... Bra never worked out, she didn't like to get sweaty. Other than learning to fly, and she only had done so because Pan could, she'd never even shown any interest in training.
"Um, really? What, you think you're too fat? You're part Saiyan, you'll never get fat, Bra." Vegeta said suspiciously. Bra sighed and pointed to her stomach. "Papa, look. I want a tight tummy, like Pan has. I'm all flabby." Vegeta leaned over and attempted to pinch some fat on her side. She batted his hand away, squealing at the pain caused by his fingers as his attempt failed to show any excess flesh. He chuckled at his silly daughter.
"Girl, you are fine! But if you want, I'll turn down the gravity today, and I'll coach you. You owe me, Little Bit." (DBSZ reference!^^) Bra smiled and thanked her father with dignity and went back to her breakfast. Vegeta turned to Bulma.
"What the merry hell is going on here lately?" Bulma shushed him, and he sighed; maybe it was better not to know....
**********
Finally, the big night came. Marron was to watch, kind of like a chaperone, and had Uubu and Pan along just for fun. And Bulma had sent Trunks and Vegeta off to some deserted island paradise as a vacation, to keep them out of the way. She Chi-Chi and Juuhachi-gou were waiting at CC, sighing over the long lost youth they had enjoyed.
It was time, and Goten was almost at the door...
**********
