This one is for Almaseti, and of course, the wife, Talysmin, who was about to cry when I said I might leave this one alone. And like I said before, I'm behind on everything, so when I said I'd post tomorrow, I meant, um, 4 days later. Hehehe…

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

            "Trunks," she breathed.

            She didn't know if he had heard her or not. The entire room had exploded with cheers and song only a second after she had opened her mouth. It didn't seem to matter anyway.  Both were contented with staring at one another in shock and awe.

            That is, until the large man and his female companion accidentally hit Usagi in the back. She wobbled on her high heels for a moment, before her ankles gave way and she was propelled towards Trunks.

            'This is the most embarrassing moment of my life,' She thought as her face pressed up against his chest, and his arms came around her waist to catch her. But it was at that moment that several memories surfaced and flashed before her very quickly.

            She remembered the first time she had met him. When he had yanked the headphones off of her ears. She remembered telling him about Mamoru. She remembered being hugged. She remembered hiding behind a box of panty-liners.

            Her cheeks caught fire. How many embarrassing, surreal moments had she had with him? One would think she would have gotten used to the feeling, or would have learned how to avoid them…

            But it had been almost three years.

            Her eyes met his. His face was red as well. She pulled away, and stood on her own again. She cleared her throat nervously. She had to think of something to say. Fast.

"L-long time no see," She mentally groaned. 'That was the stupidest thing I could have possibly said, next to "Oh hey! You mean you do remember me as someone other than the girl that slept with you and then ran away?'"

            Surprisingly, he smiled slightly. "Yeah." He looked as though he were about to say more, but Usagi was distracted by another intoxicated man almost mowing her down in his exuberance. Trunks noticed this, and hesitantly asked, "Do you want to get out of here?"

            She looked at him, feeling relief wash over her. She would give her firstborn male child to get out away from the party. "Yeah, that'd be great," she said with a smile.

            She followed him through the dancing crowd to the edge of the room, out a side door and onto a patio leading to the manicured lawns of Capsule Corporation.

            They both halted, and turned to one another. Usagi felt her cheeks reheat. And then suddenly, she burst into laughter.

            He looked at her strangely.

            "I'm not laughing at you! I'm so sorry! It's just, even after three years, I mean, every time I'm with you it seems something extremely embarrassing happens to me and I'm always left standing here feeling like a bumbling idiot!" she blurted out, and then laughed harder.

            He smiled as well. "You don't look like one," he reassured.

            "Good," she grinned. "Because I need my good looks to get by in life!"

            They laughed more.

"You don't mind if I sit down, do you? Whoever decided tall shoes were fashionable was a man that never had to wear them," Usagi all but collapsed on the nearest chair she could find, and yanked off her shoes. He sat down in a nearby chair as well. After getting comfortable, she looked at him again, searching for words. "So…how have you been?"

            He seemed to hesitate before answering. "I've been fine," he replied. "And you?"

            "I've been pretty good," she said after a moment. "I moved back to Tokyo, and I've been writing for my dad's newspaper,"

            He smiled. "That does sound good,"

            "Yeah, it's not bad," she said easily. "So what have you been doing lately?"

            "Not much," Was all he said.

            Her brow furrowed slightly, but she didn't pursue the subject. "How long have you been back?"

            "Only a few days,"

            This conversation was going nowhere. "Did Bulma-san tell you I was going to be at the party?"

            "She told me she sent you an invitation, but she wasn't sure if you were going to show up,"

            "I wasn't either," Usagi shifted uncomfortably. "Last time I came to one of Bulma's parties I got shot in the shoulder,"

            He winced. She regretted saying anything at all. She regretted coming here. God, why did she have to bring up something awful like that?

            "That wasn't the best of nights," he murmured, looking down at his hands thoughtfully.

            The conversation died an awkward death.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

            Usagi's eyes slowly opened. There was a shaft of light hitting her square in the forehead, and she was beginning to wonder if there it was burning a hole in it. She shifted in irritation, and realized that she was not alone, and that the bed she was in was not hers.

            Oh.

            She looked at him fearfully. Asleep. Thank God. Letting out a calming breath, she crawled out from under the sheets, and began the search for her dress and shoes.

            Creeping around on the floor, she found her clothing spread around in various places. Pulling them on quickly, but silently, she stole one last glance at him. Still asleep. Thank the Lord. And made for the door.

            "You're out of practice."

            She froze.

            "This time wasn't nearly as silent as three years ago," Trunks said calmly from his seated position on the bed.

            Usagi turned, her face red and her heart pounding. Hadn't she said something the night before about embarrassing moments with him? This one beat all. 'Bumbling, clumsy idiot!' she chastised herself.

            Swallowing the lump in her throat, she found a surprising answer. "What was I suppose to do this time, wake up late with you, have another round and then borrow your clothes and have breakfast with the family?"

            His eyebrows rose. "If that's what you want,"

            "No, what I want is to leave before I do get bombarded by your mother making marriage plans," she said angrily.

            "It's ten in the morning and your car spent the night here," he answered. "And so did you. I mean, do you do this to a lot of men? Is this a joke?"

            She felt a spike of anger. "Since when was I in control of this?!" she shouted. "It's not like I dragged you into bed! Far from it! Either time!"

            "But I'm not the one who attempts to disappear the morning after, like it never happened!" His anger matched hers with ease.

            She swallowed again. "You don't understand,"

            "Usagi, how many times have you told me that?" he said quietly. "How many times have you dismissed me?"

            "Trunks, it's not you, it's my fault. Do you know how much I want to stay? I'd give anything to be with you again, permanently." She felt the lump return. "But-"

            "-You just can't. Usagi, I don't need the same song and dance you gave me three years ago," He said. She felt his annoyance.

            "Trunks, listen to me!" she shouted, tears stinging in her eyes. "This wasn't my fucking choice! It's never been my choice! It's always been somebody else grabbing me by the wrist and pulling me in one direction or another! Don't guilt-trip me because I can't control my own god damn life!"

            "Just leave Usagi," he said quietly. "Just run away,"

            She stared at him. Her eyes burned. He was pushing her away, and suddenly, it began to hurt. Her chest tightened. "Trunks-"

            "This is what you want, isn't it? To be able to leave without regrets? Usagi, get out of here. Go back to Tokyo and pretend this never happened."

            She took a deep breath, and halted the tears. With a short nod, she left the room.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

            "Just stop crying already," she muttered harshly to herself. "You were the one who left!"

            She all but slapped the turn signal on, and twisted the wheel violently around. She had to pull herself together. She let out another angry sob, and began to wipe the tears away from her eyes with a free hand.

            She had turned the radio on some time ago, hoping it would calm her nerves, maybe distract her. An upbeat love song sent her smacking the off button.

            "Idiot," Usagi murmured. "Stupid bumbling idiot,"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

            I promised Talysmin I'd have this out the night before this…I'm such a bad person. And it's not finished. No. One more piece to the puzzle. You knew I'd draw this out, didn't you? It's just my way I guess, nothing can ever be a real one-shot with me. Ah well, I'd finish it right now but I am so tired I'm about to pass out and fall asleep on my keyboard. I love you Wifey! *Gives her a bouquet of roses* And I am SO sorry! I've straightened everything out, and I promise I'll wear the apron any time you want, so long as I can wear the slippers too! ^_-