CHAPTER TWO
"FIGHTING CAUSE""Where did Mommy go?" Little Goten asked as Goku hung up the phone, "And why were you crying Daddy? Gohan told me you never cry."
"Yes Dad, why don't you tell us." Gohan glowered at Goku, he was sixteen just like Vegeta.
"Guys," Goku sighed putting Goten on his lap, "your Mom is gone…"
"Is she coming back?" Goten looked at Goku innocently, "Where'd she go? Will she bring me back something? I hope she does."
"I-I don't know." Goku looked down and his eyes darkened.
Goten got nervous at the sad look on Goku's face, "She's coming back right? Right daddy? Right?"
"I don't know Goten." Goku held his son.
"Doesn't she love us anymore?" Goten's eyes grew huge with tears, "Doesn't she?"
Goku sighed and sat Goten down on the table, not knowing what to say, only, "Goten, you're just to young to understand."
"No I'm not, really," Goten blurted.
Goku looked at his son. He could never bare to break his spirits, never bare it. "Why don't you go to bed and get some rest Goten… tomorrow we'll… do something nice… just like a family should."
"Mom always said we needed to act more like a…" Goten stopped and looked at his Dad, "Did Mommy leave because she thought we were a bad family?"
"Not exactly Goten," Goku tried to explain.
Goten looked down sadly and jumped from the table. He dragged his feet out the kitchen and into his room he shared with Gohan, "Night then."
"Goten," Goku sighed and sat down. He looked over at Gohan with his look of disgust, "You know don't you. It wasn't my fault Gohan, I swear by it. Please, don't hate me, that's the last thing I need right now. And fix your face, it's not like I planned this. You're making me feel like I let you down."
"You did," Gohan looked at Goku. Goku looked down and there was an awkward silence until Gohan started up again, "but not for the reason you think."
Goku looked up.
"How could you let her do that to you?" Gohan looked at Goku, "You've known for years that she didn't love you Dad, you've known. I'm so angry at how stupid you've been! And I'm so angry that you let me be that woman's child! That bitch! That's al she is! A dog in heat! Since I was a child I knew! No, in fact I can tell you the exact day. The day you saved me from those Sayians, what was the first thing she told us?"
Goku thought for a second and shook his head meaning he couldn't remember.
" 'You're late for lunch." Gohan started in a mocking tone of voice, " 'now you'll have to eat it cold.' At first I thought she didn't know, but she had brought the letter home, I saw it on the table, she knew. Did she even check to see if I was all right? No. Not at all. She didn't care. She never loved me."
"That's not true," Goku said suddenly, but as soon as he said it he felt his own words weren't true.
"You're going to think this funny, but you know Vegeta?" Gohan chuckled a little.
"Yes, he was one of the Sayians that kidnapped you, the one Bulma saved."
"Yeah well, he's in my class," Goku's eyes widened in shock at this and Gohan went on, "and to be honest, I've always envied him. Bulma cared for him as if he were own child. Well, yeah, sure, he's got that attitude problem and everything—but at least he knows someone cares about him. I mean, she's not even his mother."
Goku just sat there with his jaw-dropped slightly.
"So I guess what I'm trying to say is," Gohan sighed finishing up, "I don't know why you let it last so long, I don't know why you made it last at all. Dad, I know you could've done better and Goten will understand one day."
Goku grinned as he embraced his son, "Thank you, I should've spent more time with you. I should've seen it as clearly as you have. I'm sorry Gohan, I'm sorry I let you down."
"It's okay, I'll try to explain to Goten the best I can," Gohan told his father.
Goku nodded and Gohan went off.
"Hey, Goten," Gohan smiled coming into the room that he shared with Goten, "what's up."
"Shut up Gohan and get lost!" Goten yelled scribbling something on paper, "You think I'm so stupid! I heard you and Dad talking! I know what's going on!"
"What'cha got there?" Gohan came over.
"None of your business." Goten covered it up with his arm and continued to draw.
"Wanna talk about it?" Gohan asked sitting on his bed.
"What's to talk about? Dad's a jerk! And I hate him and I hate you!" Goten continued to draw, more furious.
"Is that so? Then why is he the one sitting downstairs worrying about us? If mom really cared so much, why'd she leave us? Huh, Goten?"
Goten stopped, then started drawing slower this time, "Dad scared her away. You both planned this…you didn't like Mommy so you made her leave! Well, I loved Mom and she loved me, and I don't care what you say! She always told me she liked me the best anyway."
"Then why didn't she take you with her?" Gohan crossed his arms.
"Because… because…" Goten stuttered, "Shut up, Gohan."
"Did she really say that?" Gohan asked suddenly.
"Yeah, she said Dad was a stupid fool and you gave her too many dirty looks."
Gohan snorted.
"Knock, knock." They heard someone call from downstairs.
"Trunks." They looked at each other.
Goku opened the door, "Hey, Trunks. Now is not a good time, can you come back some other time?"
"I just came to see if Gohan's here, he took my homework by accident." Trunks tried to see in the house past Goku and slipped in.
"Go home Trunks." Goku turned around angrily.
"Alls I need to do is get my homework Goku." Trunks argued.
"Here Trunks," Gohan ran out his room and handed Trunks the homework, "Now go."
"Can't I stay awhile?" Trunks resisted as Gohan pushed him out the house.
"No! We'll talk tomorrow when we go out with the girls." Gohan pushed Trunks out the door.
"Hey wait!" Trunks caught the door before Gohan shut it, "Me and the girls are hangin' out tomorrow and I'm not exactly one who like to go out with girls on lonesome, so how's it sound?"
"You're asking me to come with you?" Gohan looked at Trunks.
"Well yeah," Trunks began to smirk evilly, "Videl will be there."
Gohan blushed and slammed the door shut.
"Is that a yes then?" Trunks asked outside the door.
"Yeah, whatever," Gohan grumbled.
"Aight, see ya then, same time same place as always," Trunks called from outside and went on his way.
"I was actually going somewhere tomorrow so would you mind taking Goten along?" Goku asked Gohan.
"Sure, if Gohan wants to," Gohan said aloud.
"I'm not going anywhere with you jerks!" Goten shouted.
"Bra will be there," Gohan said with the same evil grin as Trunks.
There was a silence then the little boy said, "Well, alright, but only because Trunks' little sister is such a looker."
Vegeta cursed under his breath silently as he packed up a Happy Meal. His last customer had ordered all Super-size goods, then when he gave it to her she decided that she wanted a small sprite and a chicken sandwich. So, he got the sprite and the chicken sandwich, but no, now she wanted super-size fries a big Mac and a coke. To top that off Vegeta "accidentally" spilled the sprite on the woman's shirt making her get her meal for free.
He gave his customer the Happy Meal and looked up at the clock. Finally, he could have his break! He took a Super-size meal with a hamburger, fries, and soda, put his money in the cash register to pay for it and sat down to eat.
"You are so cheap." He heard a familiar voice say. He looked up and saw Marron crossing her arms angrily at Trunks. Gohan and Videl were staring at them and Goten was standing there bored(Trunks had left Bra at home).
"Oh shit," Vegeta shielded his face, he couldn't be seen working at here, or even being here at that matter. Not that the people he didn't know were already bad enough, he did not need to hear Trunks' big, over-sized, trap laughing at him.
"I thought you liked McDonalds," Trunks laughed scratching the back of his head.
"Whatever," Marron turned her back on him, "you said we were going to a classy restaurant."
"This isn't classy?" Trunks looked at her.
Videl rolled her eyes as Marron and Trunks began to fight and saw Vegeta.
"Hey, isn't that your friend Gohan?" She pulled on Gohan's jacket and pointed.
"Him," Gohan looked over and called, "hey Vegeta!"
"Don't come over and ask me what I'm doing here," Vegeta repeated over and over.
Gohan came over, "What are you doing here and… what did you do to your hair?"
Vegeta pulled up his jacket to try and hide his uniform, "That's none of your business nit-wit."
"Wait, you work here?" Gohan looked at his name tag and started laughing.
"Shut up." Vegeta stood up, "I wouldn't be working here if the woman who takes care of me wasn't going to lose her house and company because of some jerk the left her for her friend's wife!"
Gohan stopped laughing, that sounded a lot like his father's predicament. Wait a minute, hadn't Goku asked his friend about losing Capsule Corp. on the phone last night?
"My mom left my dad, for Yamcha?" Gohan looked at Vegeta.
Vegeta scowled, "I don't care what bitch that bastard ran away with! Bulma has taken care of me since I came on this rotten planet! I owe her my very life because of your blasted bitch-screwin' father!"
Gohan balled his fist and sock Vegeta in the face, "Shut up about my Dad, I don't care what you say about my Mom, but don't you ever bad-mouth my Dad."
"So? Your mother, eh?" Vegeta got up and looked Gohan up and down, "I should've known the ass who had a hand in this had some relation to you. I always did wonder about your stupidity Gohan, guess it doesn't come from your father's side after all."
Gohan gritted his teeth and punched Vegeta in the face. Vegeta wiped the blood from his nose and as if he had ordered it to, it stopped.
"That was not smart for someone who I suppressed so easily once before," Vegeta scolded.
"I was eight years old and you knock me out with sleeping gas you idiot!" Gohan snapped.
"On Vegeta-sei we have this rule, it's quite Fundamental there actually," Vegeta changed the subject, "If one person intentionally hits another, that other has the right to knock the lights out of the first."
"What do I care?" Gohan shrugged and Vegeta punched him very hard in the face sending him a few steps back.
"Nothing I guess, I was just trying to warn you," Vegeta replied.
Gohan rubbed his nose angrily and jabbed Vegeta in the side of the head sending him off guard, then hammer-fisted him in the stomach. Everyone started screaming and ran out as Vegeta rubbed blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. Furiously he blasted Gohan through the window. Gohan flew back through the window and blasted Vegeta so hard he flipped over the counter.
"Maybe we should go too." Trunks grinned pointing to the door.
"No way, I want to see my brother kick this punk's…" before Goten could finish his sentence Trunks flung him over his shoulder and ran out the restaurant with the girls.
"I'm glad we could get together," Bulma smiled at Goku as they walked down the street, "it's been much too long Goku. We shouldn't have waited for something like this to happen before we spoke to each other again."
"I guess, neither of us wanted to hear the other angry at us our whatever, I dunno," Goku shrugged putting his hands in his jacket pocket, "I'm kind of sad that I didn't get to see that boy though. I wanted to apologize to him."
Suddenly, they saw Trunks, Marron, Videl, and Goten run down the block.
"Hey what's going on guys?" Goku greeted.
"Goku!" Everyone exclaimed except for Goten who didn't say anything.
*BOOM* McDonalds crumbled to the ground and Gohan and Vegeta flew out into the street, still fighting.
"Gohan!" Goku ran over.
"Vegeta!" Bulma followed.
Vegeta was about to punch Gohan when Bulma pushed him back as Goku held Gohan back.
"This illegitimate waif started it." Vegeta tried to get past Bulma making sure he thought of different words in his vocabulary so he didn't curse in front of Bulma.
"Vegeta," She berated firmly, "I wasn't born yesterday, I know exactly what you called him."
"So what if I started it? You should've heard what he was saying about you Dad!" Gohan tried to get loose of Goku.
"Well! You didn't have to go and punch me! You should've known I was going to kick your ass!" Vegeta yelled.
"VEGETA!" Bulma shouted.
"Sorry," Vegeta muttered.
"Well, you should've known you were going to get punched for bad-mouthing my family!" Gohan shouted.
Boys, CALM DOWN!" Bulma shouted, "We're all victims here."
"Shut up, cow. Maybe if you were a better girlfriend your guy wouldn't have wondered over to my mom," Gohan snapped, "all victims here my ass. You're just trying to get some with my Dad."
"Excuse me?" Bulma turned around.
"That's right, you're a big blue cow." Gohan insulted.
"That's it you dirty…" Vegeta stood up and Bulma stopped him.
"I thought we had an understanding, Gohan." Goku sighed sitting Gohan on the trunk of a car.
"I understand it's not your fault, that's what I understand." Gohan replied.
"It's not Bulma's fault either!" Vegeta clamored.
"Hush, Vegeta." Bulma scolded.
"But…" Vegeta groaned and Bulma put a finger to his lips.
"So, what you're saying is it's Bulma's fault?" Goku raised one brow at Gohan.
"Yes it is." Gohan replied, "Maybe if she had treated her boyfriend better he wouldn't have messed with mom's mind."
"That wasn't at all what you were saying yesterday Gohan," Goku stated.
"Yeah well, people's minds change," Gohan glowered at Vegeta.
"Well, maybe if your DAD treated your mom better she wouldn't have come on to Bulma's boyfriend." Vegeta argued.
Gohan knocked Goku out the way, "You wanna piece of me?"
"Excuse me, Bulma." Vegeta pushed Bulma to the side gently, "Yeah, you spoiled brat."
"Will you two stop!" Bulma shouted close to tears, "I can't take it anymore!"
"You're acting like babies," Goku comforted Bulma, "you both share the same wound. Why don't you work together to heal it instead of fighting and making it bigger?"
"I really hate metaphors," Vegeta winced at Goku, "and I'm not exactly your biggest fan either. All I was trying to do was make a little money to help Bulma pay for her home and everything. I've learned okay Goku? I've learned, just like you learned when you were little."
Bulma was touched by this most selfless offer.
"I'm sorry about everything by the way," Goku blurted.
"Me too," Vegeta nodded.
"So will you at least stop fighting with each other then?" Goku looked from one to the other.
Gohan sighed, "Yeah sure."
"It's not like I have to be friends with him or anything," Vegeta crossed his arms sourly.
"Nope, just try not to get in each other's faces or accuse who's family did what," Goku tried to explain.
"Well," Gohan put out his hand.
Vegeta stared at Gohan's hand and winced at him. After a few tense moments shook his hand mumbling, "Yeah, sure. Just stay out my face."
"If you stay out mine," Gohan whispered through clenched teeth.
"I told you first," Vegeta squeezed Gohan's hand.
"You were the one who started the feud by kidnapping me."
"I didn't kidnap you."
"Did too."
"No I didn't."
"Yes you did."
"Now that we're all friends here!" Trunks came out of no where.
"WE'RE NOT FRIENDS!" Vegeta and Gohan hissed in unison glared at each other and then turned their backs on one another.
"Okay, now that we're all getting along here!" Trunks started over, "Let's go to the movies!"
Gohan and Vegeta looked at Trunks annoyed and he backed away slowly.
Goku and Bulma smiled at each other faintly.
"I told you we would survive, didn't I?" Bulma smiled, this time her words had become more true to her own heart.
"This is just the beginning, my friend." Goku patted her on the back, "It' only the beginning."
"Do you think it was smart to leave the boys together?" Bulma asked Goku.
"I told Trunks and the girls to break them up if anything happens, but I doubt anything will." Goku answered eating his Chinese food at Bulma's
"I guess, so what are we going to do." Bulma looked at him. He was eating slow, that is NOT a good sign.
"I was thinking about it last night," He began, "Why should we do anything? If something comes up we'll explain the whole truth. The boys already know so end of that story."
"What about me Goku? How am I going to pay the rent?" Bulma looked at him. She really didn't want to sell Capsule, but she might not have any other choice. And although Vegeta had made that sweet offer, she doubted someone would want to hire a short tempered teenager for real good pay.
"I'll help you pay for it." Goku finished his meal.
"How?"
"Don't worry about it." Goku got up and put on his denim jacket.
"Do you have to go now?" Bulma looked up at him sadly, "I'm not used to being alone."
"Don't worry, Vegeta will be here." Goku smirked looking at the doorway.
"But he's…" Bulma stopped, "Come out the hall all of you."
The whole gang came into the living room.
"I just wanted to make sure you were all right Bulma." Vegeta looked down, "I'm sorry."
"It's okay Vegeta, but you have to stop eavesdropping, it's becoming a habit." Bulma grinned at him.
"Okay." Vegeta nodded.
"Well, it looks like I have to take you home." Goku looked at the kids, "Mind flying? Chi-chi took my car."
"That's okay, we can go home ourselves Goku," Trunks smiled.
"Yeah and I was going to fly Videl home," Gohan explained.
"Alright then," Goku looked at Bulma, "see you around."
"See ya around." Bulma replied as they left.
Vegeta sat next to her, "You can cry now, they're gone."
"What makes you think I'm going to cry?" Bulma sniffed.
"Because, I know you, you've been holding it in all day and you almost lost it when me and Gohan were fighting."
"I think I've gotten over yesterday, being with Goku has lifted my spirits…" then she burst into tears and lied her head on Vegeta's shoulder.
"It's okay, Bulma. You're going to survive remember?" Vegeta hugged her.
Survive? Bulma stopped, survive!
She ran upstairs and locked herself in her room and looked through her CD rack for Gloria Gaynor. When she found it she put it on "I Will Survive," the song she had heard in the shower the night before.
Bulma could never understand the meaning of the song until now, she was going to survive. If this woman could do it so could she! Of course she was going to need a little help.
"Hello?" she asked after dialing a number on the phone and smiled, "Long time no see, no talk, no hear, no write, little buddy."
"At first I was scared! I was petrified!" Vegeta heard Bulma singing from her room as the song played for like the hundredth time and he put his ear on the door, "Thinking I could never live without you by my side!"
*WHAM* The door flung open letting loose the loud music. Vegeta backed up wide-eyed.
"But then I spent so many nights thinking how you did me wrong! And I grew strong! I learned how to get along," She started to dance with Vegeta, "And now you're back, from outer space. I just walked into find you here with that look upon your face. I should have changed that stupid lock, I should've made you leave your key if I had known you'd come back to bother me!"
Bulma began to dance down the steps, "Oh now go! Walk out the door! Turn around, because you're not welcome anymore!"
Vegeta shook his head laughing inside as he watched Bulma dance around her house and listen to that song about a million times more until she knock herself out.
"Is that blue-haired lady the reason Mom went away?" Goten asked at dinner time.
Goku looked up from his dinner at him, "What makes you say that?"
Goten shrugged, "It would explain a lot."
Goku made a face, "Finish eating Goten."
Gohan looked at Goku, "Sorry, about today…I was being thick-headed…then all those memories flooded into my head and I just couldn't control myself."
"It's okay Gohan, but please don't take out anything else on Bulma, she's as innocent as I am," Goku finished eating.
"Then she's not very innocent is she?" Goten muttered under his breath.
"Goten," Goku looked at Goten, "what do you think about when you see your mother."
"Someone who's not like you," Goten snapped bluntly.
"I mean, what do you feel?" Goku asked trying to be patient.
"I feel," Goten thought, "like she cares about me, and that she really likes those silk clothes, even though you can't exactly do anything fun with them, and I see someone who…who…Shut up Dad." Goten finished sourly.
"Do you want to know who I see?" Goku asked.
Goten shrugged.
"I see someone who I thought I could trust, someone who blinded me with a love that wasn't even there. I see someone who betrayed me and my sons and one of my very best friends." Goku said, "I see someone who used me."
Goten looked at his father got up from the table and left.
***NOTE*** A little better? Okay, it sucks, so sue me already!
"FIGHTING CAUSE""Where did Mommy go?" Little Goten asked as Goku hung up the phone, "And why were you crying Daddy? Gohan told me you never cry."
"Yes Dad, why don't you tell us." Gohan glowered at Goku, he was sixteen just like Vegeta.
"Guys," Goku sighed putting Goten on his lap, "your Mom is gone…"
"Is she coming back?" Goten looked at Goku innocently, "Where'd she go? Will she bring me back something? I hope she does."
"I-I don't know." Goku looked down and his eyes darkened.
Goten got nervous at the sad look on Goku's face, "She's coming back right? Right daddy? Right?"
"I don't know Goten." Goku held his son.
"Doesn't she love us anymore?" Goten's eyes grew huge with tears, "Doesn't she?"
Goku sighed and sat Goten down on the table, not knowing what to say, only, "Goten, you're just to young to understand."
"No I'm not, really," Goten blurted.
Goku looked at his son. He could never bare to break his spirits, never bare it. "Why don't you go to bed and get some rest Goten… tomorrow we'll… do something nice… just like a family should."
"Mom always said we needed to act more like a…" Goten stopped and looked at his Dad, "Did Mommy leave because she thought we were a bad family?"
"Not exactly Goten," Goku tried to explain.
Goten looked down sadly and jumped from the table. He dragged his feet out the kitchen and into his room he shared with Gohan, "Night then."
"Goten," Goku sighed and sat down. He looked over at Gohan with his look of disgust, "You know don't you. It wasn't my fault Gohan, I swear by it. Please, don't hate me, that's the last thing I need right now. And fix your face, it's not like I planned this. You're making me feel like I let you down."
"You did," Gohan looked at Goku. Goku looked down and there was an awkward silence until Gohan started up again, "but not for the reason you think."
Goku looked up.
"How could you let her do that to you?" Gohan looked at Goku, "You've known for years that she didn't love you Dad, you've known. I'm so angry at how stupid you've been! And I'm so angry that you let me be that woman's child! That bitch! That's al she is! A dog in heat! Since I was a child I knew! No, in fact I can tell you the exact day. The day you saved me from those Sayians, what was the first thing she told us?"
Goku thought for a second and shook his head meaning he couldn't remember.
" 'You're late for lunch." Gohan started in a mocking tone of voice, " 'now you'll have to eat it cold.' At first I thought she didn't know, but she had brought the letter home, I saw it on the table, she knew. Did she even check to see if I was all right? No. Not at all. She didn't care. She never loved me."
"That's not true," Goku said suddenly, but as soon as he said it he felt his own words weren't true.
"You're going to think this funny, but you know Vegeta?" Gohan chuckled a little.
"Yes, he was one of the Sayians that kidnapped you, the one Bulma saved."
"Yeah well, he's in my class," Goku's eyes widened in shock at this and Gohan went on, "and to be honest, I've always envied him. Bulma cared for him as if he were own child. Well, yeah, sure, he's got that attitude problem and everything—but at least he knows someone cares about him. I mean, she's not even his mother."
Goku just sat there with his jaw-dropped slightly.
"So I guess what I'm trying to say is," Gohan sighed finishing up, "I don't know why you let it last so long, I don't know why you made it last at all. Dad, I know you could've done better and Goten will understand one day."
Goku grinned as he embraced his son, "Thank you, I should've spent more time with you. I should've seen it as clearly as you have. I'm sorry Gohan, I'm sorry I let you down."
"It's okay, I'll try to explain to Goten the best I can," Gohan told his father.
Goku nodded and Gohan went off.
"Hey, Goten," Gohan smiled coming into the room that he shared with Goten, "what's up."
"Shut up Gohan and get lost!" Goten yelled scribbling something on paper, "You think I'm so stupid! I heard you and Dad talking! I know what's going on!"
"What'cha got there?" Gohan came over.
"None of your business." Goten covered it up with his arm and continued to draw.
"Wanna talk about it?" Gohan asked sitting on his bed.
"What's to talk about? Dad's a jerk! And I hate him and I hate you!" Goten continued to draw, more furious.
"Is that so? Then why is he the one sitting downstairs worrying about us? If mom really cared so much, why'd she leave us? Huh, Goten?"
Goten stopped, then started drawing slower this time, "Dad scared her away. You both planned this…you didn't like Mommy so you made her leave! Well, I loved Mom and she loved me, and I don't care what you say! She always told me she liked me the best anyway."
"Then why didn't she take you with her?" Gohan crossed his arms.
"Because… because…" Goten stuttered, "Shut up, Gohan."
"Did she really say that?" Gohan asked suddenly.
"Yeah, she said Dad was a stupid fool and you gave her too many dirty looks."
Gohan snorted.
"Knock, knock." They heard someone call from downstairs.
"Trunks." They looked at each other.
Goku opened the door, "Hey, Trunks. Now is not a good time, can you come back some other time?"
"I just came to see if Gohan's here, he took my homework by accident." Trunks tried to see in the house past Goku and slipped in.
"Go home Trunks." Goku turned around angrily.
"Alls I need to do is get my homework Goku." Trunks argued.
"Here Trunks," Gohan ran out his room and handed Trunks the homework, "Now go."
"Can't I stay awhile?" Trunks resisted as Gohan pushed him out the house.
"No! We'll talk tomorrow when we go out with the girls." Gohan pushed Trunks out the door.
"Hey wait!" Trunks caught the door before Gohan shut it, "Me and the girls are hangin' out tomorrow and I'm not exactly one who like to go out with girls on lonesome, so how's it sound?"
"You're asking me to come with you?" Gohan looked at Trunks.
"Well yeah," Trunks began to smirk evilly, "Videl will be there."
Gohan blushed and slammed the door shut.
"Is that a yes then?" Trunks asked outside the door.
"Yeah, whatever," Gohan grumbled.
"Aight, see ya then, same time same place as always," Trunks called from outside and went on his way.
"I was actually going somewhere tomorrow so would you mind taking Goten along?" Goku asked Gohan.
"Sure, if Gohan wants to," Gohan said aloud.
"I'm not going anywhere with you jerks!" Goten shouted.
"Bra will be there," Gohan said with the same evil grin as Trunks.
There was a silence then the little boy said, "Well, alright, but only because Trunks' little sister is such a looker."
Vegeta cursed under his breath silently as he packed up a Happy Meal. His last customer had ordered all Super-size goods, then when he gave it to her she decided that she wanted a small sprite and a chicken sandwich. So, he got the sprite and the chicken sandwich, but no, now she wanted super-size fries a big Mac and a coke. To top that off Vegeta "accidentally" spilled the sprite on the woman's shirt making her get her meal for free.
He gave his customer the Happy Meal and looked up at the clock. Finally, he could have his break! He took a Super-size meal with a hamburger, fries, and soda, put his money in the cash register to pay for it and sat down to eat.
"You are so cheap." He heard a familiar voice say. He looked up and saw Marron crossing her arms angrily at Trunks. Gohan and Videl were staring at them and Goten was standing there bored(Trunks had left Bra at home).
"Oh shit," Vegeta shielded his face, he couldn't be seen working at here, or even being here at that matter. Not that the people he didn't know were already bad enough, he did not need to hear Trunks' big, over-sized, trap laughing at him.
"I thought you liked McDonalds," Trunks laughed scratching the back of his head.
"Whatever," Marron turned her back on him, "you said we were going to a classy restaurant."
"This isn't classy?" Trunks looked at her.
Videl rolled her eyes as Marron and Trunks began to fight and saw Vegeta.
"Hey, isn't that your friend Gohan?" She pulled on Gohan's jacket and pointed.
"Him," Gohan looked over and called, "hey Vegeta!"
"Don't come over and ask me what I'm doing here," Vegeta repeated over and over.
Gohan came over, "What are you doing here and… what did you do to your hair?"
Vegeta pulled up his jacket to try and hide his uniform, "That's none of your business nit-wit."
"Wait, you work here?" Gohan looked at his name tag and started laughing.
"Shut up." Vegeta stood up, "I wouldn't be working here if the woman who takes care of me wasn't going to lose her house and company because of some jerk the left her for her friend's wife!"
Gohan stopped laughing, that sounded a lot like his father's predicament. Wait a minute, hadn't Goku asked his friend about losing Capsule Corp. on the phone last night?
"My mom left my dad, for Yamcha?" Gohan looked at Vegeta.
Vegeta scowled, "I don't care what bitch that bastard ran away with! Bulma has taken care of me since I came on this rotten planet! I owe her my very life because of your blasted bitch-screwin' father!"
Gohan balled his fist and sock Vegeta in the face, "Shut up about my Dad, I don't care what you say about my Mom, but don't you ever bad-mouth my Dad."
"So? Your mother, eh?" Vegeta got up and looked Gohan up and down, "I should've known the ass who had a hand in this had some relation to you. I always did wonder about your stupidity Gohan, guess it doesn't come from your father's side after all."
Gohan gritted his teeth and punched Vegeta in the face. Vegeta wiped the blood from his nose and as if he had ordered it to, it stopped.
"That was not smart for someone who I suppressed so easily once before," Vegeta scolded.
"I was eight years old and you knock me out with sleeping gas you idiot!" Gohan snapped.
"On Vegeta-sei we have this rule, it's quite Fundamental there actually," Vegeta changed the subject, "If one person intentionally hits another, that other has the right to knock the lights out of the first."
"What do I care?" Gohan shrugged and Vegeta punched him very hard in the face sending him a few steps back.
"Nothing I guess, I was just trying to warn you," Vegeta replied.
Gohan rubbed his nose angrily and jabbed Vegeta in the side of the head sending him off guard, then hammer-fisted him in the stomach. Everyone started screaming and ran out as Vegeta rubbed blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. Furiously he blasted Gohan through the window. Gohan flew back through the window and blasted Vegeta so hard he flipped over the counter.
"Maybe we should go too." Trunks grinned pointing to the door.
"No way, I want to see my brother kick this punk's…" before Goten could finish his sentence Trunks flung him over his shoulder and ran out the restaurant with the girls.
"I'm glad we could get together," Bulma smiled at Goku as they walked down the street, "it's been much too long Goku. We shouldn't have waited for something like this to happen before we spoke to each other again."
"I guess, neither of us wanted to hear the other angry at us our whatever, I dunno," Goku shrugged putting his hands in his jacket pocket, "I'm kind of sad that I didn't get to see that boy though. I wanted to apologize to him."
Suddenly, they saw Trunks, Marron, Videl, and Goten run down the block.
"Hey what's going on guys?" Goku greeted.
"Goku!" Everyone exclaimed except for Goten who didn't say anything.
*BOOM* McDonalds crumbled to the ground and Gohan and Vegeta flew out into the street, still fighting.
"Gohan!" Goku ran over.
"Vegeta!" Bulma followed.
Vegeta was about to punch Gohan when Bulma pushed him back as Goku held Gohan back.
"This illegitimate waif started it." Vegeta tried to get past Bulma making sure he thought of different words in his vocabulary so he didn't curse in front of Bulma.
"Vegeta," She berated firmly, "I wasn't born yesterday, I know exactly what you called him."
"So what if I started it? You should've heard what he was saying about you Dad!" Gohan tried to get loose of Goku.
"Well! You didn't have to go and punch me! You should've known I was going to kick your ass!" Vegeta yelled.
"VEGETA!" Bulma shouted.
"Sorry," Vegeta muttered.
"Well, you should've known you were going to get punched for bad-mouthing my family!" Gohan shouted.
Boys, CALM DOWN!" Bulma shouted, "We're all victims here."
"Shut up, cow. Maybe if you were a better girlfriend your guy wouldn't have wondered over to my mom," Gohan snapped, "all victims here my ass. You're just trying to get some with my Dad."
"Excuse me?" Bulma turned around.
"That's right, you're a big blue cow." Gohan insulted.
"That's it you dirty…" Vegeta stood up and Bulma stopped him.
"I thought we had an understanding, Gohan." Goku sighed sitting Gohan on the trunk of a car.
"I understand it's not your fault, that's what I understand." Gohan replied.
"It's not Bulma's fault either!" Vegeta clamored.
"Hush, Vegeta." Bulma scolded.
"But…" Vegeta groaned and Bulma put a finger to his lips.
"So, what you're saying is it's Bulma's fault?" Goku raised one brow at Gohan.
"Yes it is." Gohan replied, "Maybe if she had treated her boyfriend better he wouldn't have messed with mom's mind."
"That wasn't at all what you were saying yesterday Gohan," Goku stated.
"Yeah well, people's minds change," Gohan glowered at Vegeta.
"Well, maybe if your DAD treated your mom better she wouldn't have come on to Bulma's boyfriend." Vegeta argued.
Gohan knocked Goku out the way, "You wanna piece of me?"
"Excuse me, Bulma." Vegeta pushed Bulma to the side gently, "Yeah, you spoiled brat."
"Will you two stop!" Bulma shouted close to tears, "I can't take it anymore!"
"You're acting like babies," Goku comforted Bulma, "you both share the same wound. Why don't you work together to heal it instead of fighting and making it bigger?"
"I really hate metaphors," Vegeta winced at Goku, "and I'm not exactly your biggest fan either. All I was trying to do was make a little money to help Bulma pay for her home and everything. I've learned okay Goku? I've learned, just like you learned when you were little."
Bulma was touched by this most selfless offer.
"I'm sorry about everything by the way," Goku blurted.
"Me too," Vegeta nodded.
"So will you at least stop fighting with each other then?" Goku looked from one to the other.
Gohan sighed, "Yeah sure."
"It's not like I have to be friends with him or anything," Vegeta crossed his arms sourly.
"Nope, just try not to get in each other's faces or accuse who's family did what," Goku tried to explain.
"Well," Gohan put out his hand.
Vegeta stared at Gohan's hand and winced at him. After a few tense moments shook his hand mumbling, "Yeah, sure. Just stay out my face."
"If you stay out mine," Gohan whispered through clenched teeth.
"I told you first," Vegeta squeezed Gohan's hand.
"You were the one who started the feud by kidnapping me."
"I didn't kidnap you."
"Did too."
"No I didn't."
"Yes you did."
"Now that we're all friends here!" Trunks came out of no where.
"WE'RE NOT FRIENDS!" Vegeta and Gohan hissed in unison glared at each other and then turned their backs on one another.
"Okay, now that we're all getting along here!" Trunks started over, "Let's go to the movies!"
Gohan and Vegeta looked at Trunks annoyed and he backed away slowly.
Goku and Bulma smiled at each other faintly.
"I told you we would survive, didn't I?" Bulma smiled, this time her words had become more true to her own heart.
"This is just the beginning, my friend." Goku patted her on the back, "It' only the beginning."
"Do you think it was smart to leave the boys together?" Bulma asked Goku.
"I told Trunks and the girls to break them up if anything happens, but I doubt anything will." Goku answered eating his Chinese food at Bulma's
"I guess, so what are we going to do." Bulma looked at him. He was eating slow, that is NOT a good sign.
"I was thinking about it last night," He began, "Why should we do anything? If something comes up we'll explain the whole truth. The boys already know so end of that story."
"What about me Goku? How am I going to pay the rent?" Bulma looked at him. She really didn't want to sell Capsule, but she might not have any other choice. And although Vegeta had made that sweet offer, she doubted someone would want to hire a short tempered teenager for real good pay.
"I'll help you pay for it." Goku finished his meal.
"How?"
"Don't worry about it." Goku got up and put on his denim jacket.
"Do you have to go now?" Bulma looked up at him sadly, "I'm not used to being alone."
"Don't worry, Vegeta will be here." Goku smirked looking at the doorway.
"But he's…" Bulma stopped, "Come out the hall all of you."
The whole gang came into the living room.
"I just wanted to make sure you were all right Bulma." Vegeta looked down, "I'm sorry."
"It's okay Vegeta, but you have to stop eavesdropping, it's becoming a habit." Bulma grinned at him.
"Okay." Vegeta nodded.
"Well, it looks like I have to take you home." Goku looked at the kids, "Mind flying? Chi-chi took my car."
"That's okay, we can go home ourselves Goku," Trunks smiled.
"Yeah and I was going to fly Videl home," Gohan explained.
"Alright then," Goku looked at Bulma, "see you around."
"See ya around." Bulma replied as they left.
Vegeta sat next to her, "You can cry now, they're gone."
"What makes you think I'm going to cry?" Bulma sniffed.
"Because, I know you, you've been holding it in all day and you almost lost it when me and Gohan were fighting."
"I think I've gotten over yesterday, being with Goku has lifted my spirits…" then she burst into tears and lied her head on Vegeta's shoulder.
"It's okay, Bulma. You're going to survive remember?" Vegeta hugged her.
Survive? Bulma stopped, survive!
She ran upstairs and locked herself in her room and looked through her CD rack for Gloria Gaynor. When she found it she put it on "I Will Survive," the song she had heard in the shower the night before.
Bulma could never understand the meaning of the song until now, she was going to survive. If this woman could do it so could she! Of course she was going to need a little help.
"Hello?" she asked after dialing a number on the phone and smiled, "Long time no see, no talk, no hear, no write, little buddy."
"At first I was scared! I was petrified!" Vegeta heard Bulma singing from her room as the song played for like the hundredth time and he put his ear on the door, "Thinking I could never live without you by my side!"
*WHAM* The door flung open letting loose the loud music. Vegeta backed up wide-eyed.
"But then I spent so many nights thinking how you did me wrong! And I grew strong! I learned how to get along," She started to dance with Vegeta, "And now you're back, from outer space. I just walked into find you here with that look upon your face. I should have changed that stupid lock, I should've made you leave your key if I had known you'd come back to bother me!"
Bulma began to dance down the steps, "Oh now go! Walk out the door! Turn around, because you're not welcome anymore!"
Vegeta shook his head laughing inside as he watched Bulma dance around her house and listen to that song about a million times more until she knock herself out.
"Is that blue-haired lady the reason Mom went away?" Goten asked at dinner time.
Goku looked up from his dinner at him, "What makes you say that?"
Goten shrugged, "It would explain a lot."
Goku made a face, "Finish eating Goten."
Gohan looked at Goku, "Sorry, about today…I was being thick-headed…then all those memories flooded into my head and I just couldn't control myself."
"It's okay Gohan, but please don't take out anything else on Bulma, she's as innocent as I am," Goku finished eating.
"Then she's not very innocent is she?" Goten muttered under his breath.
"Goten," Goku looked at Goten, "what do you think about when you see your mother."
"Someone who's not like you," Goten snapped bluntly.
"I mean, what do you feel?" Goku asked trying to be patient.
"I feel," Goten thought, "like she cares about me, and that she really likes those silk clothes, even though you can't exactly do anything fun with them, and I see someone who…who…Shut up Dad." Goten finished sourly.
"Do you want to know who I see?" Goku asked.
Goten shrugged.
"I see someone who I thought I could trust, someone who blinded me with a love that wasn't even there. I see someone who betrayed me and my sons and one of my very best friends." Goku said, "I see someone who used me."
Goten looked at his father got up from the table and left.
***NOTE*** A little better? Okay, it sucks, so sue me already!