One More Wish
By: Mirai Catarina (ihugdemisaiyans@aol.com)
Disclaimer: I think it should already be pretty obvious to you who I do and don't own, but just for my sake (and that of my bank account) I do NOT own any of the characters from DBZ. Besides, I don't have enough money for anyone to sue me and I'd like to keep my collection of DBZ Videos, my 3 DB Mangas and my DBZ poster and calendar.
Chapter One: Plans
* * * *
It was finally over. No more androids, no more cell, just a time for regrowth. The ravaged land would be able to heal itself. But as Trunks stood on the ridge overlooking the Western Capital, he new it would never be the same - not without the rest of the Z team there. He had only really known Gohan out of all of them - the rest he had met on his journey into the past.
Glancing up at the horizon, he found the sun growing low in the sky and decided it was time to head home. He lifted off the ground and flew slowly towards Capsule Corp.
When he arrived, he found his mother waiting anxiously in the doorway for him.
"There you are!" she exclaimed. He raised an eyebrow in confusion. "I just finished yet another brilliant invention. Come in, I'll tell you about it over dinner." Trunks couldn't help but smile - his mother took such pride in her inventions and she worked on them constantly, even throughout the horror of the androids.
Bulma led her son inside and took a seat at the small kitchen table, motioning for him to follow suit. As he did so, she began filling their plates - his more so that hers.
"So, about this 'brilliant new invention,'" Trunks said as he began shoveling food into his mouth, "What exactly is it?" Bulma smiled.
"It's a capsule ship." Trunks' eyes became narrow slits. "Don't look at me like that!"
"Mom, what in Kami's name would you need a Capsule ship for?!"
"We're going on a trip, Trunks. I've already made all the plans for it. Now that the ship is finished, all we have to do is take it." Trunks was about to protest, but Bulma gave him a glare that made him shiver and the hairs on his neck stand on end. He kept his mouth shut. "Our destination is New Namek. I did some calculations and figured out its exact location." Trunks now understood what she was planning on doing.
"You plan on using the Dragonballs, don't you?" Bulma nodded, satisfied that her son understood what she was getting at. The rest of their meal went on in silence as the two of them thought over the current situation.
When he finished eating, Trunks stood and cleared his dishes from the table, turning to wash them in the sink. He paused.
Are you going to tell Chichi? I'm sure she'd love to go." he said at last.
"I hadn't thought of it." she said slowly." Gosh, it's been so long since I last saw Chichi. I don't think I've even talked to her since. that day we went to the spa and Gohan baby-sat you.."
Trunks finished washing his dishes and set them in the rack to dry. He moved to the door and stood there for a second before turning to smile at Bulma.
"Then I guess we'll have to pay her a visit tomorrow, won't we?" He left the room, leaving Bulma to her own thoughts.
"I guess we will." Bulma said softly. She stood up and moved towards the sink, her plate in one hand, her glass in the other. "It's been so long Chichi. and you've been living in that house alone all this time."
* * * *
The next morning, Bulma sat in the car, waiting for Trunks to emerge. Growing impatient, she blasted the horn.
"Come on, Trunks! I'd like to get going NOW!!" She felt like she would scream if he didn't get in the car right that second. Luckily for him, he did.
"Alright, alright!" he said, "We can leave now." Bulma immediately slammed her foot on the gas pedal, sending the air car flying over the miles of rubble around them.
Finally, after a half and hour or so, the off-white dome of the Son residence came into view. Pulling up the road towards the house, Bulma slowed the air car down until it came to a complete stop in front of the house. As Bulma and Trunks climbed out of the air car, the front door flew open.
"Bulma?! Trunks?! Is that you?!" She ran to greet them. "Gosh, it's been so long!" she cried, throwing her arms around Bulma in a hug. Trunks stood off to the side, observing the two friends. Chichi turned to look at him and smiled. "The last time I saw you, young man, you were so shy you refused to talk to anyone. am I right?" Trunks began blushing profusely and turned his eyes down to look at his feet. Chichi and Bulma laughed at the warrior's plight. "Well, come on in you two. I was just about to make lunch."
Trunks and Bulma gladly obliged her and followed her into the kitchen/dining room of the house. They sat at the table as she baked various foodstuffs, discussing all that had happened in the time since Trunks had defeated the androids.
Before they knew it, Chichi was setting the table and dishing out food on each plate. That was when Bulma noticed it.
"Chichi? You put an extra plate out," she pointed out cautiously. Chichi turned from heaping food onto Trunks' plate and glanced at the fourth plate. Her brow knitted in confusion and she counted each table setting twice over.
"No, I got it right - four people, four settings."
"But. is Ox King coming over?" Bulma asked, confused. Chichi smiled and shook her head.
"Dad hardly ever comes out here anymore. We usually have to go visit him."
"We?" Bulma was becoming more confused by the minute.
"Yes, I-" Chichi was cut off by the sound of the back door shutting. Trunks jumped up from his seat, knocking the chair to the floor as he focused on the doorway that led from the kitchen into the back hall.
A minute later, a tall figure was standing in the doorway. Bulma gasped as she noticed a somewhat familiar feature about him.
"Those eyes." she gasped as Chichi crossed the floor, smiling to hug him.
"Bulma, Trunks, this is Goten - mine and Goku's second son," she said cheerfully.
"Oh Chichi, he looks so much like Goku. I feel like I'm seeing him all over again." Goten began blushing shyly at all the attention he was getting. "Oh, I'm so rude! Goten, my name is Bulma and this is my son, Trunks. We're glad to be able to meet you."
Trunks just nodded in acknowledgment as he placed his chair upright and sat back down. Goten sat across from him as Chichi began heaping his plate with enough food to have rivaled Goku's eating habits.
"So, where did you go this time?" Chichi asked softly. Goten pushed his food around with his fork for a minute before answering.
"The canyons. Where Dad fought Vejita when they first met." Trunks glanced up at him quickly before he continued eating. After a few minutes of silence, Goten spoke up again, directing his attempt at conversation at Trunks. "So Gohan trained you?" he asked. Trunks looked up at the mention of his former sensei. Goten had his eyes on his empty plate.
"Yes, he did," he replied solemnly. "What about you?"
"Since I was five." Goten answered quietly. "He used to tell me stories about all of the adventures that him and Dad used to go on."
Trunks set his fork down and stood, picking up his dishes to wash them at the sink.
"Oh, Trunks, don't worry about it - I'll get them later," Chichi said when he was halfway to the sink. Goten stood with his plate in hand.
"I'll do it Mom - you just relax," he said, grabbing hers and Bulma's empty plates on his way to the sink. He motioned for Trunks to follow him. That was when Trunks first noticed the mischievous glint in the demi-Saiyajin's eyes. He curiously joined Goten at the sink with his plate in hand to see what he was up to. He spoke in a tone just loud enough for their sensitive ears to pick up. "You like to spar?" he asked.
"I don't get to do a whole lot of it. but yeah, I do. Why?"
"How about we go at it for a bit? I know the perfect place." He quickly glanced over his shoulder to make sure their mothers hadn't heard. When he turned back to look at Trunks, he found an almost devilish smirk on his face. That was all Goten needed. Setting the plates in the rack to dry, he headed towards the front door, grabbing a faded leather jacket off a peg on the wall.
"Mom, we're going out. We'll be back later." With that, he disappeared out the door. Trunks grabbed his denim Capsule Corp. jacket and followed Goten out the door, shutting it behind himself.
"What are we going to do with those two?" Bulma chuckled. Chichi smiled.
"Same think we did with their fathers - be patient and hope they actually listen half the time. All they know is how to fight and how to take care of us."
* * * *
Later, as the stars began twinkling into view, Trunks and Goten lay on their backs at the top of one of the many mesas and buttes that made up the canyons of this area and stared up at the sky.
"I'd give anything to see my father and brother for just one day," Goten sighed.
Trunks looked over at him.
"How old did you say you were?" he asked.
"Twenty," Goten replied with his eyes locked on the stars.
"So you were thirteen when.." he trailed off, not wanting to complete the sentence. Goten finished it for him.
"When Gohan was murdered? Yes, I was." He turned to look at Trunks. "I felt it the second he was gone. Mom said I looked like I was about to got insane and before she could even think about stopping me, I had left to hunt down the androids."
Trunks sat up, shocked. Goten sat up as well.
"I almost died that day. Back then, I wished I HAD died - just so that I could be with Gohan again. But then, I realized what that would have done to Mom. But I still couldn't believe it - two Super Saiyajins defeated in one day! I felt like I had failed Gohan. he had always told me that I was a prodigy because I had gone Super Saiyajin at age seven."
"Seven?! I was twice that age before I even came close to being a Super Saiyajin!" Trunks cried.
Goten smirked.
"I know. I felt it. Not long after Gohan died, I could feel you power surge and I knew I wasn't alone in the world." Trunks nodded.
"I see. Goten?"
"Yeah?"
"Mom and I are going to Namek. Do you think you'd like to go?" Goten quickly turned from watching the stars.
"Are you insane?! I'd love to go!" he cried. "Gohan told me about the trip to Namek so many times It's like I remember being there myself."
"It's settled then. We're leaving tomorrow."
"Both our moms are coming, right?"
"Yeah. It'll take a couple months. I still don't see how your mom and mine will survive us for that long in an enclosed area."
There was a second of silence before the pair burst out laughing.
"Goten, I have this odd feeling that my mom is getting mad that we're not back yet," Trunks said, standing and brushing himself off.
"Well I guess we should head back then. And maybe, next time we spar, you'll be able to keep up with me." Goten stood as well and they headed back to the house.
"Hey, don't push it," Trunks smirked.
"Anything you say, my prince." Trunks playfully swung a fist at Goten, who promptly ducked out of the way.
The two stepped inside, their laughter echoing down the hall. Chichi and Bulma were standing at the door, talking, as the two demi-Saiyajin entered the kitchen.
"There you are. This is the first time I've ever seen you miss a meal, Trunks," Bulma said when she saw them. "And I also believe that this is the first time I've heard you laugh since you were two."
Trunks opened his mouth to respond, but instead, he released a yawn.
"I guess we should get going," he said at last. Bulma nodded in agreement.
"Trunks, before you go, I have something I want to show you," Goten said as Trunks headed towards the door. The purple-haired warrior turned back to Goten. He shifted his gaze to his mother, his eyes pleading.
"Alright, but make it quick," she sighed, exasperated.
Goten headed down the hall to his room with Trunks close behind.
Chichi set two mugs on the table and poured steaming, black coffee into each one. She sat down and picked one of them up, carefully sipping the scalding brew. Bulma sat down across from her and picked up the other mug.
* * * *
Bulma glanced up at the clock half and hour later and sighed.
"It's been great visiting with you, Chichi, but I really need to get home," Bulma said, standing.
"I understand. Shall we go get Trunks?" she chuckled softly. Bulma smiled and headed down the hall behind Chichi.
Entering the room, Chichi quickly held a finger to her lips.
"Shh." she said, pointing at the two young men, fast asleep on the floor. A photo album lay open on the floor between them. Bulma came up behind Chichi with a blanket for each of the sleeping warriors. As she was spreading the blankets over Goten and Trunks, Chichi carefully picked up the photo album.
"What's that?" Bulma asked.
"It's an old photo album of Gohan's." She held it out to Bulma. The blue- haired woman took it and gasped when she saw the picture it was opened to.
"When was this taken?!" Chichi smiled.
"Sixteen years ago," she said, pointing to the digitized date in the corner. "That was the day you and I decided to take a trip to the spa. Goten was taking a nap when you got here." Bulma smiled, tracing the boys' faces with her finger tip.
"It's been so long, Chichi. I only wish the three of them could have known their fathers better."
Chichi sighed as she set the open album on Goten's desk. "I know Bulma, I know." Chichi sighed again as she shut the door behind them. Just as the door clicked shut, a beam of moonlight made its way through the window, illuminating the open album.
It was open to a picture of three boys - one twenty, one five, and one four. Gohan, Trunks, and Goten.
* * * *
Slowly sitting up, Goten stretched as the sunlight filtered through the window. Scanning the room, his eyes fell on the open photo album on his desk. His eyes brightened as he remembered.
"Trunks." He stood, heading towards the door. As it creaked open, he could smell the scent of food drifting down the hall. Padding down the hall, he yawned softly as he came into the kitchen.
"Well, look who finally decided to join us!" Chichi exclaimed sarcastically. Goten rolled his eyes and sat across the table from Trunks as Chichi poured him a mug of coffee. He took it gratefully and sipped at slowly.
"So, about this trip." he said at last. Trunks looked up at him from his own mug.
"We're supposed to be leaving in a few hours," he said, setting the mug down on the polished surface of the table. "So I suggest you get packed for a nice, long trip."
* * * *
"I guess we should get going," Trunks said, standing and moving to put his mug in the sink. Goten nodded in agreement and moved towards the door. He quickly hefted his army-sized duffel onto his back, adjusting the strap on his shoulder and grabbing Chichi's suitcase. The pair headed outside to put the bags in the Capsule Car while the women finished their coffee.
A minute later, Trunks dashed back inside and handed Bulma the keys.
"Goten and I are gonna fly over to Capsule Corp. See you there!" He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and back out the door.
Chichi chuckled, "Those two seem like they're little kids again." Turning to Bulma, she smiled. "I'm so happy that you came, Bulma. It just seemed like Goten was slipping further and further away from me. It's been so bad lately that I almost never see him during the day. He'd come home earlier every once in a while and eat dinner with me." Chichi leaned forward, resting her chin in her hands and sighed.
"Chichi, I know what you're talking about," Bulma said softly. "Trunks hated himself for years for not being there when Gohan was fighting the Androids. He almost got himself three years later when I suggested that he use the time machine because he thought he could take care of the androids on his own."
"Well, it's a good thing he didn't - otherwise that timeline's Gohan would never have been able to defeat. Cell? That what that creature was called, right?"
Bulma nodded. "But, there's one thing Trunks would never have been able to change, no matter how many times he went to the past."
"Oh? And what might that be?"
"Goku's selflessness." Chichi's eyes started to shimmer with tears as she smiled. "Trunks said that Goku died anyway. during the fight with Cell." As Bulma explained the story, Chichi began to sob.
Bulma embraced her reassuringly.
"Chichi, you know that Goku and Gohan will always live on - in our minds and in our hearts."
"I know Bulma, I know. But it's still so hard to accept the fact they they're gone. and this time, they CAN'T be wished back." She wiped her tears away and stood. "I guess it's about time we got going. The boys are probably bouncing off the walls with excitement.." Bulma jumped up frantically.
"My house! Or at least, what's left of it. But still - there are two half- Saiyajin boys ALONE in my house!" She snatched her keys off the table, grabbed Chichi by the arm and dashed out the door.
* * * *
Everyone was finally settled into the Capsule ship and awaiting liftoff.
"So, is everyone ready for two months of well deserved vacation time?" Bulma asked as the ship began shaking violently.
"TWO MONTHS?!?!" everyone else cried in unison as the ship lifted off the ground.
* * * *
A/N: Hey guys, there's chapter one! Please review!! I already have the next chapter all ready to be typed and posted, but I expect a lot more reviews than I got with my other fics. So anyway, see ya! Chihei!
By: Mirai Catarina (ihugdemisaiyans@aol.com)
Disclaimer: I think it should already be pretty obvious to you who I do and don't own, but just for my sake (and that of my bank account) I do NOT own any of the characters from DBZ. Besides, I don't have enough money for anyone to sue me and I'd like to keep my collection of DBZ Videos, my 3 DB Mangas and my DBZ poster and calendar.
Chapter One: Plans
* * * *
It was finally over. No more androids, no more cell, just a time for regrowth. The ravaged land would be able to heal itself. But as Trunks stood on the ridge overlooking the Western Capital, he new it would never be the same - not without the rest of the Z team there. He had only really known Gohan out of all of them - the rest he had met on his journey into the past.
Glancing up at the horizon, he found the sun growing low in the sky and decided it was time to head home. He lifted off the ground and flew slowly towards Capsule Corp.
When he arrived, he found his mother waiting anxiously in the doorway for him.
"There you are!" she exclaimed. He raised an eyebrow in confusion. "I just finished yet another brilliant invention. Come in, I'll tell you about it over dinner." Trunks couldn't help but smile - his mother took such pride in her inventions and she worked on them constantly, even throughout the horror of the androids.
Bulma led her son inside and took a seat at the small kitchen table, motioning for him to follow suit. As he did so, she began filling their plates - his more so that hers.
"So, about this 'brilliant new invention,'" Trunks said as he began shoveling food into his mouth, "What exactly is it?" Bulma smiled.
"It's a capsule ship." Trunks' eyes became narrow slits. "Don't look at me like that!"
"Mom, what in Kami's name would you need a Capsule ship for?!"
"We're going on a trip, Trunks. I've already made all the plans for it. Now that the ship is finished, all we have to do is take it." Trunks was about to protest, but Bulma gave him a glare that made him shiver and the hairs on his neck stand on end. He kept his mouth shut. "Our destination is New Namek. I did some calculations and figured out its exact location." Trunks now understood what she was planning on doing.
"You plan on using the Dragonballs, don't you?" Bulma nodded, satisfied that her son understood what she was getting at. The rest of their meal went on in silence as the two of them thought over the current situation.
When he finished eating, Trunks stood and cleared his dishes from the table, turning to wash them in the sink. He paused.
Are you going to tell Chichi? I'm sure she'd love to go." he said at last.
"I hadn't thought of it." she said slowly." Gosh, it's been so long since I last saw Chichi. I don't think I've even talked to her since. that day we went to the spa and Gohan baby-sat you.."
Trunks finished washing his dishes and set them in the rack to dry. He moved to the door and stood there for a second before turning to smile at Bulma.
"Then I guess we'll have to pay her a visit tomorrow, won't we?" He left the room, leaving Bulma to her own thoughts.
"I guess we will." Bulma said softly. She stood up and moved towards the sink, her plate in one hand, her glass in the other. "It's been so long Chichi. and you've been living in that house alone all this time."
* * * *
The next morning, Bulma sat in the car, waiting for Trunks to emerge. Growing impatient, she blasted the horn.
"Come on, Trunks! I'd like to get going NOW!!" She felt like she would scream if he didn't get in the car right that second. Luckily for him, he did.
"Alright, alright!" he said, "We can leave now." Bulma immediately slammed her foot on the gas pedal, sending the air car flying over the miles of rubble around them.
Finally, after a half and hour or so, the off-white dome of the Son residence came into view. Pulling up the road towards the house, Bulma slowed the air car down until it came to a complete stop in front of the house. As Bulma and Trunks climbed out of the air car, the front door flew open.
"Bulma?! Trunks?! Is that you?!" She ran to greet them. "Gosh, it's been so long!" she cried, throwing her arms around Bulma in a hug. Trunks stood off to the side, observing the two friends. Chichi turned to look at him and smiled. "The last time I saw you, young man, you were so shy you refused to talk to anyone. am I right?" Trunks began blushing profusely and turned his eyes down to look at his feet. Chichi and Bulma laughed at the warrior's plight. "Well, come on in you two. I was just about to make lunch."
Trunks and Bulma gladly obliged her and followed her into the kitchen/dining room of the house. They sat at the table as she baked various foodstuffs, discussing all that had happened in the time since Trunks had defeated the androids.
Before they knew it, Chichi was setting the table and dishing out food on each plate. That was when Bulma noticed it.
"Chichi? You put an extra plate out," she pointed out cautiously. Chichi turned from heaping food onto Trunks' plate and glanced at the fourth plate. Her brow knitted in confusion and she counted each table setting twice over.
"No, I got it right - four people, four settings."
"But. is Ox King coming over?" Bulma asked, confused. Chichi smiled and shook her head.
"Dad hardly ever comes out here anymore. We usually have to go visit him."
"We?" Bulma was becoming more confused by the minute.
"Yes, I-" Chichi was cut off by the sound of the back door shutting. Trunks jumped up from his seat, knocking the chair to the floor as he focused on the doorway that led from the kitchen into the back hall.
A minute later, a tall figure was standing in the doorway. Bulma gasped as she noticed a somewhat familiar feature about him.
"Those eyes." she gasped as Chichi crossed the floor, smiling to hug him.
"Bulma, Trunks, this is Goten - mine and Goku's second son," she said cheerfully.
"Oh Chichi, he looks so much like Goku. I feel like I'm seeing him all over again." Goten began blushing shyly at all the attention he was getting. "Oh, I'm so rude! Goten, my name is Bulma and this is my son, Trunks. We're glad to be able to meet you."
Trunks just nodded in acknowledgment as he placed his chair upright and sat back down. Goten sat across from him as Chichi began heaping his plate with enough food to have rivaled Goku's eating habits.
"So, where did you go this time?" Chichi asked softly. Goten pushed his food around with his fork for a minute before answering.
"The canyons. Where Dad fought Vejita when they first met." Trunks glanced up at him quickly before he continued eating. After a few minutes of silence, Goten spoke up again, directing his attempt at conversation at Trunks. "So Gohan trained you?" he asked. Trunks looked up at the mention of his former sensei. Goten had his eyes on his empty plate.
"Yes, he did," he replied solemnly. "What about you?"
"Since I was five." Goten answered quietly. "He used to tell me stories about all of the adventures that him and Dad used to go on."
Trunks set his fork down and stood, picking up his dishes to wash them at the sink.
"Oh, Trunks, don't worry about it - I'll get them later," Chichi said when he was halfway to the sink. Goten stood with his plate in hand.
"I'll do it Mom - you just relax," he said, grabbing hers and Bulma's empty plates on his way to the sink. He motioned for Trunks to follow him. That was when Trunks first noticed the mischievous glint in the demi-Saiyajin's eyes. He curiously joined Goten at the sink with his plate in hand to see what he was up to. He spoke in a tone just loud enough for their sensitive ears to pick up. "You like to spar?" he asked.
"I don't get to do a whole lot of it. but yeah, I do. Why?"
"How about we go at it for a bit? I know the perfect place." He quickly glanced over his shoulder to make sure their mothers hadn't heard. When he turned back to look at Trunks, he found an almost devilish smirk on his face. That was all Goten needed. Setting the plates in the rack to dry, he headed towards the front door, grabbing a faded leather jacket off a peg on the wall.
"Mom, we're going out. We'll be back later." With that, he disappeared out the door. Trunks grabbed his denim Capsule Corp. jacket and followed Goten out the door, shutting it behind himself.
"What are we going to do with those two?" Bulma chuckled. Chichi smiled.
"Same think we did with their fathers - be patient and hope they actually listen half the time. All they know is how to fight and how to take care of us."
* * * *
Later, as the stars began twinkling into view, Trunks and Goten lay on their backs at the top of one of the many mesas and buttes that made up the canyons of this area and stared up at the sky.
"I'd give anything to see my father and brother for just one day," Goten sighed.
Trunks looked over at him.
"How old did you say you were?" he asked.
"Twenty," Goten replied with his eyes locked on the stars.
"So you were thirteen when.." he trailed off, not wanting to complete the sentence. Goten finished it for him.
"When Gohan was murdered? Yes, I was." He turned to look at Trunks. "I felt it the second he was gone. Mom said I looked like I was about to got insane and before she could even think about stopping me, I had left to hunt down the androids."
Trunks sat up, shocked. Goten sat up as well.
"I almost died that day. Back then, I wished I HAD died - just so that I could be with Gohan again. But then, I realized what that would have done to Mom. But I still couldn't believe it - two Super Saiyajins defeated in one day! I felt like I had failed Gohan. he had always told me that I was a prodigy because I had gone Super Saiyajin at age seven."
"Seven?! I was twice that age before I even came close to being a Super Saiyajin!" Trunks cried.
Goten smirked.
"I know. I felt it. Not long after Gohan died, I could feel you power surge and I knew I wasn't alone in the world." Trunks nodded.
"I see. Goten?"
"Yeah?"
"Mom and I are going to Namek. Do you think you'd like to go?" Goten quickly turned from watching the stars.
"Are you insane?! I'd love to go!" he cried. "Gohan told me about the trip to Namek so many times It's like I remember being there myself."
"It's settled then. We're leaving tomorrow."
"Both our moms are coming, right?"
"Yeah. It'll take a couple months. I still don't see how your mom and mine will survive us for that long in an enclosed area."
There was a second of silence before the pair burst out laughing.
"Goten, I have this odd feeling that my mom is getting mad that we're not back yet," Trunks said, standing and brushing himself off.
"Well I guess we should head back then. And maybe, next time we spar, you'll be able to keep up with me." Goten stood as well and they headed back to the house.
"Hey, don't push it," Trunks smirked.
"Anything you say, my prince." Trunks playfully swung a fist at Goten, who promptly ducked out of the way.
The two stepped inside, their laughter echoing down the hall. Chichi and Bulma were standing at the door, talking, as the two demi-Saiyajin entered the kitchen.
"There you are. This is the first time I've ever seen you miss a meal, Trunks," Bulma said when she saw them. "And I also believe that this is the first time I've heard you laugh since you were two."
Trunks opened his mouth to respond, but instead, he released a yawn.
"I guess we should get going," he said at last. Bulma nodded in agreement.
"Trunks, before you go, I have something I want to show you," Goten said as Trunks headed towards the door. The purple-haired warrior turned back to Goten. He shifted his gaze to his mother, his eyes pleading.
"Alright, but make it quick," she sighed, exasperated.
Goten headed down the hall to his room with Trunks close behind.
Chichi set two mugs on the table and poured steaming, black coffee into each one. She sat down and picked one of them up, carefully sipping the scalding brew. Bulma sat down across from her and picked up the other mug.
* * * *
Bulma glanced up at the clock half and hour later and sighed.
"It's been great visiting with you, Chichi, but I really need to get home," Bulma said, standing.
"I understand. Shall we go get Trunks?" she chuckled softly. Bulma smiled and headed down the hall behind Chichi.
Entering the room, Chichi quickly held a finger to her lips.
"Shh." she said, pointing at the two young men, fast asleep on the floor. A photo album lay open on the floor between them. Bulma came up behind Chichi with a blanket for each of the sleeping warriors. As she was spreading the blankets over Goten and Trunks, Chichi carefully picked up the photo album.
"What's that?" Bulma asked.
"It's an old photo album of Gohan's." She held it out to Bulma. The blue- haired woman took it and gasped when she saw the picture it was opened to.
"When was this taken?!" Chichi smiled.
"Sixteen years ago," she said, pointing to the digitized date in the corner. "That was the day you and I decided to take a trip to the spa. Goten was taking a nap when you got here." Bulma smiled, tracing the boys' faces with her finger tip.
"It's been so long, Chichi. I only wish the three of them could have known their fathers better."
Chichi sighed as she set the open album on Goten's desk. "I know Bulma, I know." Chichi sighed again as she shut the door behind them. Just as the door clicked shut, a beam of moonlight made its way through the window, illuminating the open album.
It was open to a picture of three boys - one twenty, one five, and one four. Gohan, Trunks, and Goten.
* * * *
Slowly sitting up, Goten stretched as the sunlight filtered through the window. Scanning the room, his eyes fell on the open photo album on his desk. His eyes brightened as he remembered.
"Trunks." He stood, heading towards the door. As it creaked open, he could smell the scent of food drifting down the hall. Padding down the hall, he yawned softly as he came into the kitchen.
"Well, look who finally decided to join us!" Chichi exclaimed sarcastically. Goten rolled his eyes and sat across the table from Trunks as Chichi poured him a mug of coffee. He took it gratefully and sipped at slowly.
"So, about this trip." he said at last. Trunks looked up at him from his own mug.
"We're supposed to be leaving in a few hours," he said, setting the mug down on the polished surface of the table. "So I suggest you get packed for a nice, long trip."
* * * *
"I guess we should get going," Trunks said, standing and moving to put his mug in the sink. Goten nodded in agreement and moved towards the door. He quickly hefted his army-sized duffel onto his back, adjusting the strap on his shoulder and grabbing Chichi's suitcase. The pair headed outside to put the bags in the Capsule Car while the women finished their coffee.
A minute later, Trunks dashed back inside and handed Bulma the keys.
"Goten and I are gonna fly over to Capsule Corp. See you there!" He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and back out the door.
Chichi chuckled, "Those two seem like they're little kids again." Turning to Bulma, she smiled. "I'm so happy that you came, Bulma. It just seemed like Goten was slipping further and further away from me. It's been so bad lately that I almost never see him during the day. He'd come home earlier every once in a while and eat dinner with me." Chichi leaned forward, resting her chin in her hands and sighed.
"Chichi, I know what you're talking about," Bulma said softly. "Trunks hated himself for years for not being there when Gohan was fighting the Androids. He almost got himself three years later when I suggested that he use the time machine because he thought he could take care of the androids on his own."
"Well, it's a good thing he didn't - otherwise that timeline's Gohan would never have been able to defeat. Cell? That what that creature was called, right?"
Bulma nodded. "But, there's one thing Trunks would never have been able to change, no matter how many times he went to the past."
"Oh? And what might that be?"
"Goku's selflessness." Chichi's eyes started to shimmer with tears as she smiled. "Trunks said that Goku died anyway. during the fight with Cell." As Bulma explained the story, Chichi began to sob.
Bulma embraced her reassuringly.
"Chichi, you know that Goku and Gohan will always live on - in our minds and in our hearts."
"I know Bulma, I know. But it's still so hard to accept the fact they they're gone. and this time, they CAN'T be wished back." She wiped her tears away and stood. "I guess it's about time we got going. The boys are probably bouncing off the walls with excitement.." Bulma jumped up frantically.
"My house! Or at least, what's left of it. But still - there are two half- Saiyajin boys ALONE in my house!" She snatched her keys off the table, grabbed Chichi by the arm and dashed out the door.
* * * *
Everyone was finally settled into the Capsule ship and awaiting liftoff.
"So, is everyone ready for two months of well deserved vacation time?" Bulma asked as the ship began shaking violently.
"TWO MONTHS?!?!" everyone else cried in unison as the ship lifted off the ground.
* * * *
A/N: Hey guys, there's chapter one! Please review!! I already have the next chapter all ready to be typed and posted, but I expect a lot more reviews than I got with my other fics. So anyway, see ya! Chihei!