Woah... I got a few people upset over the appearance of Brennen... there is a reason that I have angst as one of the major headings for my story...
It Never Ends
Part 2
Haunting the Present
Turmoil
Pan frowned as she looked at her husband who was going over papers at his desk. Work. Deadlines. He had people to help him do those things and was even training Junior to help him with the company but Trunks still had to take everything into his own hands. Even if he complained about how much work it was.
She was hoping -hoping- with Crystal in bed, that she could have some husband/wife time with him. He had spent the day taking care of their daughter, Crystal, while she went shopping with Bra. That was nice. But now, she wanted her husband back. He seemed glued to his desk since after supper when the phone ran.
"Trunks," she whispered.
He looked up. He looked odd with his glasses riding low on his nose and a pen stuck between his teeth. Not a look that you would see a fighter with but cute all the same.
She posed in the doorway in the new 'outfit' that she had bought today with tonight's plan's in mind.
The pen that he held between his teeth fell into the pile of papers. She got pleasure of seeing him blush slightly as he pushed his glasses up his nose.
Oh yeah. She still had it.
"Oh... Uh... Pan!" he stood, removing his glasses and throwing them on the table with his other papers. She could see his eyes scanning her. "I'll be... when did you buy that?"
"Today," she said and started to walk closer to him. She knew, very well that he liked to see her in these type of outfits. She knew it drove him crazy. Anything to get him away from the pile of papers and e-mail.
"Really?" he said as she stood in front of him and looked up at him. He looked back to the papers and then back at her. "Um... I... Pan... I..." she smiled. Boy, it was nice to see him with that blush on his cheeks. It made him look so young.
The computer beeped and toned, "you've got mail."
She stepped closer to him and brushed her hand along his side. He put his hands on her side.
"I have to get this," he said and moved her aside.
Moved her aside!
He sat back down at the computer and found the mail that had entered.
MOVED HER ASIDE!
"I'll finish this as soon as I can Panny," he said but didn't look at her but was concentrating on the white and black images on his screen.
She wanted to yell and scream at him. When did he get so engrossed in his work. He hated his job! She was supposed to be more important than any e-mail! But she didn't yell at him or curse at him. The anger quickly left and she felt crushed.
How could he just move her aside like that?
..........................................
Goku had the weirdest dream that he could ever remember.
He was used to vivid dreams. He always had vivid dreams but since his fusion with Shelong, they had even been more prevalent.
They usually were pleasant dreams.
This one wasn't.
It involved Soyna.
The dream started off with Soyna lying on, what he thought now, must be his bed, covered in blankets and tossing in her sleep. It looked as if she was having a nightmare. Her body was covered with sweat and that white sheet didn't cover near enough of her.
"See what you have done."
He turned to see another Soyna. At least he thought it was her, but she was powered up with her golden hair framing her stern looking face and falling onto the shoulder protectors of the armor she wore. It was like the armor that he remembered Vegeta first wearing when he came to the planet. She even wore a scouter over on of her eyes as she glared at him with her dark green eyes.
The warrior Soyna stood defiantly with a look that he thought only Vegeta could have. "You have awakened Sorrow."
He usually had control of his dreams. Usually. This one didn't seem to be in his control though as the warrior walked over to the bed and sat beside the tossing Soyna and put her hand on the head of sorrow. "I had her under control but you woke her!" The woman on the bed tossing slowed for the moment.
"I don't know what you mean," he said.
The Soyna in the bed moved away from the comfort of the warrior Soyna and continued to toss. He then realized that she was tied down. She let out a mournful sound that tore at his heart. She was in pain.
"How can I help her?" he said to the warrior Soyna.
The warrior stood. "You can not. You caused the sorrow to be buried and now she will awaken." He never thought anyone could have such arrogance as Vegeta, but she was sure carrying it off well. She crossed her arms and looked at the woman in the bed. "I had her under control!"
"I'm sorry," he said, not really understand the dream all that much.
The warrior sniffed and looked away. Sorrow screamed and struggled against her bonds that tied her to the bed. He wanted to save her. She was in so much pain. He could not allow this.
"Oh, but you have," The warrior growled and glared at him. Did she hear his thoughts. Well, it was a dream after all. "You have allowed this. Just being here allowed this!" The warrior shook her head violently. "She did not need the wish!"
"Wish?" he gasped. He could feel the dragon tattoo on his body start to warm.
The warrior growled at him. "I am not strong enough yet. Sorrow is filling me but I will get strong enough to hurt you and take my own wishes from you."
"What?"
He knew that there would be more if ChiChi had not woke him up, and complained about talking in his sleep.
Was Soyna going to challenge him? What did the dream mean? He did not sleep for the rest of the night, for the answer to the odd dream eluded him.
...........................
Vegeta blinked.
It was Sunday morning. Sunday. Yes, he was still sore from his fight with Kakarott, but he wasn't incapacitated. He looked forward to his Sunday training sessions with Soyna. It was usually the bright point in his week, for he hardly saw her anymore. She was always so busy with her children and the child like Goten.
But she never had done this before.
She refused to train with him. REFUSED!
Her only explanation was, "I don't feel like it."
He could not believe that she would say those things. Don't feel like it! She always liked to train! Even when she was pregnant with that annoying Goten's kids, she still trained much against everyone's protests.
He walked into his house, still stunned. She didn't feel like it! She must be sick or something, or maybe Goten did something really bad to upset her. She looked so sad and distracted. She did not look like the Soyna he knew, nor was she behaving like the Soyna he knew.
She refused to train with him!
She had never refused before. She may have cut the training short, but she never just said that she didn't feel like it. Never. She hardly even looked at him when she said it and she was never one to look away from a confrontation, even from him. They used to fight all the time and argue but they still would train together every day.
He was sure that it was Goten's fault. It had to be. How else would his grandchild shun him!
....................................
Trunks could see how mad she was at him. Pan didn't even look at him in the morning and after a quick breakfast, she scooped up Crystal and left. He tried to apologize and explain to her why he had to shun her.
He had too.
The multi-billion (not million. Billion with a B) deal with the Haxzets had fallen almost, literally, into the ocean over the last three hours. Some bad construction materials were going to cause the ruin of his business if he didn't do some damage control. He had to do it. He couldn't pawn it off on anyone else. He had to do it. He was the president and people wanted to hear from him. He still had work to do on it.
Lots of it.
He was mad at himself for turning away so abruptly from her, but he couldn't look at her and concentrate on this failed deal. He had to do it. She knew what that color did to him. She knew what those outfits did to him.
He had to fix this and fix it fast.
He had to fix his company and his marriage.
................................................
Goku bit his lip as he saw the empty gravity room. He looked at the clock. Usually she was in here with Vegeta by now. It was Sunday after all. He sighed and went to the house where she lived with his son.
Benot was watching his little brother and sister on the front lawn.
"Hi, Goku," Benot said. He may not like Goten but he knew that he like him. Benot was a strange fellow and as he looked at him, he could see so much of Trunks in him that it was almost scary.
"Is your mother around?" he asked as he walked into the yard.
"Yeah. She's inside," Benot said and his eyes narrowed. "She is arguing with the..." he coughed... "With Goten." Benot tried not to insult Goten in front of him, he noticed. He was sure the boy was going to call him a wimp again. Would he ever accept the marriage?
"Arguing?" Goku asked. Did this have something to do with his strange dream. "What about?"
Benot shrugged and went to go rescue his sister, who was trying to crawl under the fence. "Don't know. Mom is just in a really strange mood today and Goten is hovering her around her like a thick fog."
"Strange mood?" he said and looked down to see Flint tugging on his leg. "Do you know what happened?"
Benot shook his head. "Nah. They don't tell me anything."
He picked up Flint absently. He bit his lip. Should he interrupt them. The dream bugged him. Why had Soyna separated into two different ones in his dream? Did that mean anything? He was getting a headache thinking about this.
"Why isn't she sparing with Vegeta?" he asked, not really aware that Flint was pulling on his hair and giggling as he did so.
Benot looked kind of worried as he placed his sister on the blanket that held their toys. "She said that she didn't feel like it," Benot sighed. "Mom always like to spar. I mean, she would get this glow in her eyes when someone challenged her." He looked up at him. "Goku? I am worried about mom."
Benot's green eyes were so sad. He placed Flint down beside his sister. Sorrow was tied down in his dream and the warrior stood strong. What if it was reversed now? "I'm sure things will work out." He said. "I'm going to have a talk with my son."
Benot nodded and sat down by his younger siblings. "You just make sure that my mom doesn't get hurt anymore." His voice was stern and low. "One day, I will be strong enough to protect the family and we won't need the help from anyone else. Ever again."
He looked down at Benot and was a bit shocked. He never knew that he felt that way. But he had other things to deal with. He had to deal with the dream that was giving him such a headache.
He went into the house to see his son standing in the center of the room, looking like he was lost. "Son?"
He looked over and smiled half heartily. "Hi, dad."
"Is everything okay?" he asked.
Goten rubbed his head. "I think so." He looked at he ceiling. "She say's she is not mad at me anymore, but she won't really talk to me about it. I know, she was never one to talk much, but I always got her to open up before. I just don't understand what is going on."
Goku looked at the pain on his son's face.
"Things will work out," he said. "She loves you."
"I know. But sometimes, I worry to much about her." Goten smiled brightly now. "Hey, dad. Wanna spar?"
He smiled and nodded. Maybe it would take his mind off the strange dream and the other problems that seemed to be brewing.
.......................................
"You still have that?"
Brennen looked at the slim leather purse that was owned by Soyna Briefs Son. At least that is what the ID said on the inside of the purse. There wasn't much in there. A few credit cards, and her picture ID. She looked mad in the picture.
"I'll return it Monday," he said.
Mart shook his head. "I warn you. You should just mail it back to her. If you see her, you are going to end up talking like you're underwater."
"oh, come on. Give me a break. I can control myself."
Mart just shook his head. "Are you coming or what? Emergency central at work today. Let's go. Time and half!"
Brennen nodded and gathered his coat.
He had to get rid of that purse so that he would stop thinking about her and thinking about how she touched him... he had to go to work! Work! Money to pay rent. He had to keep his mind straight.
..........................................
She was sitting on the couch, a hand on her forehead and the other tapping on her knee. Mom sure looked distracted. He had never seen her this way before. "Mom?"
She did not respond. Her brow furrowed deeper.
"Are you okay?"
she seemed to break out of her self induced trance. "Benot?" She rubbed her forehead. "I didn't hear you. I'm fine. Just thinking."
Benot shook his head angrily. It had to be the wimp that upset her. It had to be. "What did that wimp do to you?" He really wished that he was strong enough to teach him a lesson.
She laughed lightly. "Come sit down," She patted the couch beside her. "The 'wimp' is not the one that caused this headache."
"What's wrong mom? You look so down," he snuggled beside her. He seldom did that. He was used to being the man of the house. Legen could afford to be weak but he couldn't, even with the wimp supposedly taking care of her. That was supposed to be his job.
She sighed. "You are much to young to be bothered by adult problems."
He frowned and rolled his eyes, "that's what you tell Legen! I don't thinks so! You went from mad to sad and then you turned down a fight with Papa Vegeta. There is something wrong! You don't get sad. You get mad! I can deal with you mad, mom, but sad! I'm worried about you," he said. "I won't be brushed off like you brush off Legen. I am nearly eight now!"
She rubbed her head again.
She must have a headache.
"Do you want some of those pills that Raymond gave us," he asked. They were made especially for the ones with Saiyian blood. A might bit stronger than your average extra strength Tylenol.
She shook her head. "It'll go away." She looked like she had to force her hand from her head. "When did you become so stubborn?"
"I learned it from you," he said and looked up at her worriedly. He had never seen her like this and he was still sure that the wimp had something to do with it. "Can you tell me what's wrong?"
She smiled grimly. "I wish I could."
He sighed. "Then I will just sit here until you do."
She sighed and rubbed her head. A distant look came over her eyes. She started to speak in a low voice, "I have been thinking about your father. All those memories have come back to me in a flash and I am having a little trouble sorting them out."
She seldom talked about dad. She always avoided it. He never really pushed it because he could see that she did not like talking about him. He tried to ask Junior from time to time about his father, but he would avoid it too. He only knew if father from that picture book that she seldom looked at anymore. "Mom," he chewed his lip. "What was dad like?"
He could feel her stiffen.
"Please mom. I don't even know what dad's favorite color was. I know more about the OTHER Trunks that I do about my own father." He gripped her arm tightly to prevent her from running, like she usually did when Legen asked. Of course, now, Legen didn't ask anymore. He got the wimp. He got what he wished for.
She rubbed her head again.
She looked like she was in a lot of pain. Why was she so stubborn when she was hurt. The whole situation was absurd! What was she trying to prove with struggling with a headache?
"I know it was a long time ago and I know a lot has changed since then," he continued. "But.." how was he going to say that he missed his father that he never met or never knew. "I just want to know something about my father. Is there anything about me that resembles him? Uncle Junior says that Legen looks just like dad all the time and I am tired of hearing how much I look like grandpa. Do I have any traits that are my fathers?"
He looked up at his mother. She was really still, but at least she wasn't running away.
"Green." She said.
"What?"
"Your father's favorite color. Green. The same as yours." She said in a low voice. She didn't look as upset but she still looked like she was fighting a headache.
He smiled. "Really."
"yeah," she said with a sigh. "It is hard for me to think about him."
"Why?"
She sighed and a new flash of pain flooded across her face. He shouldn't have asked about dad when she was upset to begin with.
Her voice came out if gasps. "I was not able to bury him." She winced. "I let him die... die on the cold...cold floor." She cringed and leaned against him. He could feel his mother shaking. "I ... I ... shunned ... your father ... I... Your ... I ... forgave... didn't ... Couldn't tell ... I ..." she almost doubled over as she grasped her head. She pulled away from him but he persisted in hugging her. He was not about to let her go when she was revealing such a painful secret.
"Did you love dad?" he asked. He knew that he should be silent. Mom was in pain and he was pushing it.
She gave a grunt and clenched her teeth. "I am here now. Here. HERE!"
"MOM!"
He could feel an unfamiliar panic rising in him. He had never felt so worried before. Not even when he was captured by Krad's men. He knew that he would be saved then. He never felt so helpless!
Her power fluctuated erratically for a moment and he was almost tempted to run out and get Raymond but she grabbed his arm. Her shaking was terrible. His mother was supposed to be so strong. He was ready to run and get the doctor because his mother was never weak.
He allowed himself to be hugged by her as she fought her own internal battle and he could finally feel her body ease and her power to lower back to normal. She made a sharp startled sound and pulled away form him. "Benot! Oh. I am so sorry," she whispered. "I didn't mean to scare you."
He was scared. Mom was acting so un-mom like. It was his fault for asking about dad to begin with. "I won't ask about dad again. I'm sorry mom."
She blinked at him. "No. No, I want you too. You should know about your father and maybe it would ease some of the sorrow that is in me to talk of him."
"But I hurt you," he said. She was still shaking but not nearly as bad as before.
"No. You didn't" she released him from the hug. She sighed heavily, "I can't explain to you why ... Benot ... I... did ... I loved ... I dearly loved your father then, but this is now."
He stared at his mother who seemed to have gotten most of her composure back despite her hesitant words.
"What?" He didn't really understand what she was getting at with the this is now talk.
"This time. I can't go back. I have to stay here," she said. "I am here and time has moved on." He really didn't understand much about the time travel thing, but he was sure that this was part of it. She stood and pulled him into her arms. "I does hurt me a great deal to remember my past, but that does not mean that you should not know about it."
"Mom?"
"The past haunts me. I should not haunt you," she said simply. Like it was all supposed to be clear to him now. He was getting more confused by the minute.
He just bit his lip and looked at her. He would get her to explain it to him better when she was no longer showing signs of a headache that was still written across her brown.
"What caused you to remember?" he asked as she began to carry him out of the room. She hesitated slightly but them resumed the walk. "A few things," she said and shook her head as if she was trying to chase those thoughts out of her head. "Why don't we do something, just me and you. I usually end up watching Legen's shows and movies. How about one of yours?"
Mom wanted to something with him! She had been so busy with the new additions that she seldom had time for stuff like that. This was great. "The park! We can go to the park. I am sure that there will be a street performer or something there."
Mom paled a bit and shook her head. "I would rather say in."
He didn't care what they did. He was going to be spending time with his mother! "I can challenge you to a game!:
She laughed. That was nice to hear from her. "You know that I am lousy at those games."
He smiled. "I know."
................................
Author's notes:
Pan is mad at Trunks now. Will they be able to work it out\
What is going on with Capsule Corp?
Has Soyna worked out her inner turmoil?
Sigh! What else could possible go wrong?
It Never Ends
Part 2
Haunting the Present
Turmoil
Pan frowned as she looked at her husband who was going over papers at his desk. Work. Deadlines. He had people to help him do those things and was even training Junior to help him with the company but Trunks still had to take everything into his own hands. Even if he complained about how much work it was.
She was hoping -hoping- with Crystal in bed, that she could have some husband/wife time with him. He had spent the day taking care of their daughter, Crystal, while she went shopping with Bra. That was nice. But now, she wanted her husband back. He seemed glued to his desk since after supper when the phone ran.
"Trunks," she whispered.
He looked up. He looked odd with his glasses riding low on his nose and a pen stuck between his teeth. Not a look that you would see a fighter with but cute all the same.
She posed in the doorway in the new 'outfit' that she had bought today with tonight's plan's in mind.
The pen that he held between his teeth fell into the pile of papers. She got pleasure of seeing him blush slightly as he pushed his glasses up his nose.
Oh yeah. She still had it.
"Oh... Uh... Pan!" he stood, removing his glasses and throwing them on the table with his other papers. She could see his eyes scanning her. "I'll be... when did you buy that?"
"Today," she said and started to walk closer to him. She knew, very well that he liked to see her in these type of outfits. She knew it drove him crazy. Anything to get him away from the pile of papers and e-mail.
"Really?" he said as she stood in front of him and looked up at him. He looked back to the papers and then back at her. "Um... I... Pan... I..." she smiled. Boy, it was nice to see him with that blush on his cheeks. It made him look so young.
The computer beeped and toned, "you've got mail."
She stepped closer to him and brushed her hand along his side. He put his hands on her side.
"I have to get this," he said and moved her aside.
Moved her aside!
He sat back down at the computer and found the mail that had entered.
MOVED HER ASIDE!
"I'll finish this as soon as I can Panny," he said but didn't look at her but was concentrating on the white and black images on his screen.
She wanted to yell and scream at him. When did he get so engrossed in his work. He hated his job! She was supposed to be more important than any e-mail! But she didn't yell at him or curse at him. The anger quickly left and she felt crushed.
How could he just move her aside like that?
..........................................
Goku had the weirdest dream that he could ever remember.
He was used to vivid dreams. He always had vivid dreams but since his fusion with Shelong, they had even been more prevalent.
They usually were pleasant dreams.
This one wasn't.
It involved Soyna.
The dream started off with Soyna lying on, what he thought now, must be his bed, covered in blankets and tossing in her sleep. It looked as if she was having a nightmare. Her body was covered with sweat and that white sheet didn't cover near enough of her.
"See what you have done."
He turned to see another Soyna. At least he thought it was her, but she was powered up with her golden hair framing her stern looking face and falling onto the shoulder protectors of the armor she wore. It was like the armor that he remembered Vegeta first wearing when he came to the planet. She even wore a scouter over on of her eyes as she glared at him with her dark green eyes.
The warrior Soyna stood defiantly with a look that he thought only Vegeta could have. "You have awakened Sorrow."
He usually had control of his dreams. Usually. This one didn't seem to be in his control though as the warrior walked over to the bed and sat beside the tossing Soyna and put her hand on the head of sorrow. "I had her under control but you woke her!" The woman on the bed tossing slowed for the moment.
"I don't know what you mean," he said.
The Soyna in the bed moved away from the comfort of the warrior Soyna and continued to toss. He then realized that she was tied down. She let out a mournful sound that tore at his heart. She was in pain.
"How can I help her?" he said to the warrior Soyna.
The warrior stood. "You can not. You caused the sorrow to be buried and now she will awaken." He never thought anyone could have such arrogance as Vegeta, but she was sure carrying it off well. She crossed her arms and looked at the woman in the bed. "I had her under control!"
"I'm sorry," he said, not really understand the dream all that much.
The warrior sniffed and looked away. Sorrow screamed and struggled against her bonds that tied her to the bed. He wanted to save her. She was in so much pain. He could not allow this.
"Oh, but you have," The warrior growled and glared at him. Did she hear his thoughts. Well, it was a dream after all. "You have allowed this. Just being here allowed this!" The warrior shook her head violently. "She did not need the wish!"
"Wish?" he gasped. He could feel the dragon tattoo on his body start to warm.
The warrior growled at him. "I am not strong enough yet. Sorrow is filling me but I will get strong enough to hurt you and take my own wishes from you."
"What?"
He knew that there would be more if ChiChi had not woke him up, and complained about talking in his sleep.
Was Soyna going to challenge him? What did the dream mean? He did not sleep for the rest of the night, for the answer to the odd dream eluded him.
...........................
Vegeta blinked.
It was Sunday morning. Sunday. Yes, he was still sore from his fight with Kakarott, but he wasn't incapacitated. He looked forward to his Sunday training sessions with Soyna. It was usually the bright point in his week, for he hardly saw her anymore. She was always so busy with her children and the child like Goten.
But she never had done this before.
She refused to train with him. REFUSED!
Her only explanation was, "I don't feel like it."
He could not believe that she would say those things. Don't feel like it! She always liked to train! Even when she was pregnant with that annoying Goten's kids, she still trained much against everyone's protests.
He walked into his house, still stunned. She didn't feel like it! She must be sick or something, or maybe Goten did something really bad to upset her. She looked so sad and distracted. She did not look like the Soyna he knew, nor was she behaving like the Soyna he knew.
She refused to train with him!
She had never refused before. She may have cut the training short, but she never just said that she didn't feel like it. Never. She hardly even looked at him when she said it and she was never one to look away from a confrontation, even from him. They used to fight all the time and argue but they still would train together every day.
He was sure that it was Goten's fault. It had to be. How else would his grandchild shun him!
....................................
Trunks could see how mad she was at him. Pan didn't even look at him in the morning and after a quick breakfast, she scooped up Crystal and left. He tried to apologize and explain to her why he had to shun her.
He had too.
The multi-billion (not million. Billion with a B) deal with the Haxzets had fallen almost, literally, into the ocean over the last three hours. Some bad construction materials were going to cause the ruin of his business if he didn't do some damage control. He had to do it. He couldn't pawn it off on anyone else. He had to do it. He was the president and people wanted to hear from him. He still had work to do on it.
Lots of it.
He was mad at himself for turning away so abruptly from her, but he couldn't look at her and concentrate on this failed deal. He had to do it. She knew what that color did to him. She knew what those outfits did to him.
He had to fix this and fix it fast.
He had to fix his company and his marriage.
................................................
Goku bit his lip as he saw the empty gravity room. He looked at the clock. Usually she was in here with Vegeta by now. It was Sunday after all. He sighed and went to the house where she lived with his son.
Benot was watching his little brother and sister on the front lawn.
"Hi, Goku," Benot said. He may not like Goten but he knew that he like him. Benot was a strange fellow and as he looked at him, he could see so much of Trunks in him that it was almost scary.
"Is your mother around?" he asked as he walked into the yard.
"Yeah. She's inside," Benot said and his eyes narrowed. "She is arguing with the..." he coughed... "With Goten." Benot tried not to insult Goten in front of him, he noticed. He was sure the boy was going to call him a wimp again. Would he ever accept the marriage?
"Arguing?" Goku asked. Did this have something to do with his strange dream. "What about?"
Benot shrugged and went to go rescue his sister, who was trying to crawl under the fence. "Don't know. Mom is just in a really strange mood today and Goten is hovering her around her like a thick fog."
"Strange mood?" he said and looked down to see Flint tugging on his leg. "Do you know what happened?"
Benot shook his head. "Nah. They don't tell me anything."
He picked up Flint absently. He bit his lip. Should he interrupt them. The dream bugged him. Why had Soyna separated into two different ones in his dream? Did that mean anything? He was getting a headache thinking about this.
"Why isn't she sparing with Vegeta?" he asked, not really aware that Flint was pulling on his hair and giggling as he did so.
Benot looked kind of worried as he placed his sister on the blanket that held their toys. "She said that she didn't feel like it," Benot sighed. "Mom always like to spar. I mean, she would get this glow in her eyes when someone challenged her." He looked up at him. "Goku? I am worried about mom."
Benot's green eyes were so sad. He placed Flint down beside his sister. Sorrow was tied down in his dream and the warrior stood strong. What if it was reversed now? "I'm sure things will work out." He said. "I'm going to have a talk with my son."
Benot nodded and sat down by his younger siblings. "You just make sure that my mom doesn't get hurt anymore." His voice was stern and low. "One day, I will be strong enough to protect the family and we won't need the help from anyone else. Ever again."
He looked down at Benot and was a bit shocked. He never knew that he felt that way. But he had other things to deal with. He had to deal with the dream that was giving him such a headache.
He went into the house to see his son standing in the center of the room, looking like he was lost. "Son?"
He looked over and smiled half heartily. "Hi, dad."
"Is everything okay?" he asked.
Goten rubbed his head. "I think so." He looked at he ceiling. "She say's she is not mad at me anymore, but she won't really talk to me about it. I know, she was never one to talk much, but I always got her to open up before. I just don't understand what is going on."
Goku looked at the pain on his son's face.
"Things will work out," he said. "She loves you."
"I know. But sometimes, I worry to much about her." Goten smiled brightly now. "Hey, dad. Wanna spar?"
He smiled and nodded. Maybe it would take his mind off the strange dream and the other problems that seemed to be brewing.
.......................................
"You still have that?"
Brennen looked at the slim leather purse that was owned by Soyna Briefs Son. At least that is what the ID said on the inside of the purse. There wasn't much in there. A few credit cards, and her picture ID. She looked mad in the picture.
"I'll return it Monday," he said.
Mart shook his head. "I warn you. You should just mail it back to her. If you see her, you are going to end up talking like you're underwater."
"oh, come on. Give me a break. I can control myself."
Mart just shook his head. "Are you coming or what? Emergency central at work today. Let's go. Time and half!"
Brennen nodded and gathered his coat.
He had to get rid of that purse so that he would stop thinking about her and thinking about how she touched him... he had to go to work! Work! Money to pay rent. He had to keep his mind straight.
..........................................
She was sitting on the couch, a hand on her forehead and the other tapping on her knee. Mom sure looked distracted. He had never seen her this way before. "Mom?"
She did not respond. Her brow furrowed deeper.
"Are you okay?"
she seemed to break out of her self induced trance. "Benot?" She rubbed her forehead. "I didn't hear you. I'm fine. Just thinking."
Benot shook his head angrily. It had to be the wimp that upset her. It had to be. "What did that wimp do to you?" He really wished that he was strong enough to teach him a lesson.
She laughed lightly. "Come sit down," She patted the couch beside her. "The 'wimp' is not the one that caused this headache."
"What's wrong mom? You look so down," he snuggled beside her. He seldom did that. He was used to being the man of the house. Legen could afford to be weak but he couldn't, even with the wimp supposedly taking care of her. That was supposed to be his job.
She sighed. "You are much to young to be bothered by adult problems."
He frowned and rolled his eyes, "that's what you tell Legen! I don't thinks so! You went from mad to sad and then you turned down a fight with Papa Vegeta. There is something wrong! You don't get sad. You get mad! I can deal with you mad, mom, but sad! I'm worried about you," he said. "I won't be brushed off like you brush off Legen. I am nearly eight now!"
She rubbed her head again.
She must have a headache.
"Do you want some of those pills that Raymond gave us," he asked. They were made especially for the ones with Saiyian blood. A might bit stronger than your average extra strength Tylenol.
She shook her head. "It'll go away." She looked like she had to force her hand from her head. "When did you become so stubborn?"
"I learned it from you," he said and looked up at her worriedly. He had never seen her like this and he was still sure that the wimp had something to do with it. "Can you tell me what's wrong?"
She smiled grimly. "I wish I could."
He sighed. "Then I will just sit here until you do."
She sighed and rubbed her head. A distant look came over her eyes. She started to speak in a low voice, "I have been thinking about your father. All those memories have come back to me in a flash and I am having a little trouble sorting them out."
She seldom talked about dad. She always avoided it. He never really pushed it because he could see that she did not like talking about him. He tried to ask Junior from time to time about his father, but he would avoid it too. He only knew if father from that picture book that she seldom looked at anymore. "Mom," he chewed his lip. "What was dad like?"
He could feel her stiffen.
"Please mom. I don't even know what dad's favorite color was. I know more about the OTHER Trunks that I do about my own father." He gripped her arm tightly to prevent her from running, like she usually did when Legen asked. Of course, now, Legen didn't ask anymore. He got the wimp. He got what he wished for.
She rubbed her head again.
She looked like she was in a lot of pain. Why was she so stubborn when she was hurt. The whole situation was absurd! What was she trying to prove with struggling with a headache?
"I know it was a long time ago and I know a lot has changed since then," he continued. "But.." how was he going to say that he missed his father that he never met or never knew. "I just want to know something about my father. Is there anything about me that resembles him? Uncle Junior says that Legen looks just like dad all the time and I am tired of hearing how much I look like grandpa. Do I have any traits that are my fathers?"
He looked up at his mother. She was really still, but at least she wasn't running away.
"Green." She said.
"What?"
"Your father's favorite color. Green. The same as yours." She said in a low voice. She didn't look as upset but she still looked like she was fighting a headache.
He smiled. "Really."
"yeah," she said with a sigh. "It is hard for me to think about him."
"Why?"
She sighed and a new flash of pain flooded across her face. He shouldn't have asked about dad when she was upset to begin with.
Her voice came out if gasps. "I was not able to bury him." She winced. "I let him die... die on the cold...cold floor." She cringed and leaned against him. He could feel his mother shaking. "I ... I ... shunned ... your father ... I... Your ... I ... forgave... didn't ... Couldn't tell ... I ..." she almost doubled over as she grasped her head. She pulled away from him but he persisted in hugging her. He was not about to let her go when she was revealing such a painful secret.
"Did you love dad?" he asked. He knew that he should be silent. Mom was in pain and he was pushing it.
She gave a grunt and clenched her teeth. "I am here now. Here. HERE!"
"MOM!"
He could feel an unfamiliar panic rising in him. He had never felt so worried before. Not even when he was captured by Krad's men. He knew that he would be saved then. He never felt so helpless!
Her power fluctuated erratically for a moment and he was almost tempted to run out and get Raymond but she grabbed his arm. Her shaking was terrible. His mother was supposed to be so strong. He was ready to run and get the doctor because his mother was never weak.
He allowed himself to be hugged by her as she fought her own internal battle and he could finally feel her body ease and her power to lower back to normal. She made a sharp startled sound and pulled away form him. "Benot! Oh. I am so sorry," she whispered. "I didn't mean to scare you."
He was scared. Mom was acting so un-mom like. It was his fault for asking about dad to begin with. "I won't ask about dad again. I'm sorry mom."
She blinked at him. "No. No, I want you too. You should know about your father and maybe it would ease some of the sorrow that is in me to talk of him."
"But I hurt you," he said. She was still shaking but not nearly as bad as before.
"No. You didn't" she released him from the hug. She sighed heavily, "I can't explain to you why ... Benot ... I... did ... I loved ... I dearly loved your father then, but this is now."
He stared at his mother who seemed to have gotten most of her composure back despite her hesitant words.
"What?" He didn't really understand what she was getting at with the this is now talk.
"This time. I can't go back. I have to stay here," she said. "I am here and time has moved on." He really didn't understand much about the time travel thing, but he was sure that this was part of it. She stood and pulled him into her arms. "I does hurt me a great deal to remember my past, but that does not mean that you should not know about it."
"Mom?"
"The past haunts me. I should not haunt you," she said simply. Like it was all supposed to be clear to him now. He was getting more confused by the minute.
He just bit his lip and looked at her. He would get her to explain it to him better when she was no longer showing signs of a headache that was still written across her brown.
"What caused you to remember?" he asked as she began to carry him out of the room. She hesitated slightly but them resumed the walk. "A few things," she said and shook her head as if she was trying to chase those thoughts out of her head. "Why don't we do something, just me and you. I usually end up watching Legen's shows and movies. How about one of yours?"
Mom wanted to something with him! She had been so busy with the new additions that she seldom had time for stuff like that. This was great. "The park! We can go to the park. I am sure that there will be a street performer or something there."
Mom paled a bit and shook her head. "I would rather say in."
He didn't care what they did. He was going to be spending time with his mother! "I can challenge you to a game!:
She laughed. That was nice to hear from her. "You know that I am lousy at those games."
He smiled. "I know."
................................
Author's notes:
Pan is mad at Trunks now. Will they be able to work it out\
What is going on with Capsule Corp?
Has Soyna worked out her inner turmoil?
Sigh! What else could possible go wrong?
