Author's Note: Okay, here is the next one. I know that this is skipping around a lot, but since we know what happens to everyone's favorite couple and their family, it's not like I'm spoiling anything. LOL This one takes place during an episode actually...right before the Tournament where Goku comes back from the dead.

Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball Z or the song Sweet Child of Mine. They belong to those responsible for creating them.

"Sweet Child o' Mine"

"Mom!"

Bulma looked up from the sink full of suds and dirty dishes as her young son, Trunks, ran into the kitchen. His big blue eyes gazed up at her, sparkling with fiery intensity. It reminded her of the passion she had often seen in the eyes of a certain Saiyan Prince.

"Mom!" Trunks shouted again, stopping in front of her and putting his hand on his hips, standing proudly. "Guess what!"

He's got a smile that it seems to me

Reminds me of childhood memories

Where everything

Was as fresh as the bright blue sky.

The grin on the young boy's face was so bright and cheery that Bulma couldn't help but smile back. "What Trunks? What has you so excited?"

"Dad said I could train with him again today! This time I get to finally use the Gravity Room!"

Bulma had to use a lot of effort to keep her smile from melting off her face. She worried about Trunks when he trained with his father. Although she was glad that Vegeta was making an effort toward being with his son, she wished he would do something other than teach him how to fight. Plus, the gravity room was dangerous for a small boy like Trunks. She wondered if he could take it in his state.

Or would Trunks finally show his father the power that he had inherited.

That was what Bulma was so worried about. She had been proud of her son when he had shown her his transformation, but Vegeta was sure to be jealous. Bulma was afraid he would get too jealous, or too angry.

"That's great Trunks!" she exclaimed with all the happiness she could muster. "You'll be big and strong like your father in no time!"

The lavender-haired boy's eyes grew large. "You really think so?"

Bulma grinned wider. "I know so!"

"Thanks Mom!" Trunks yelled, spinning around to sprint down the hallway towards the Gravity Room.

Now and then when I see his face

It takes me away to that special place.

And if I stared too long,

I'd probably break down and cry.

Bulma Briefs' grin faded as she swallowed hard and turned back to her dishes.

Her son was her absolute pride and joy. His determination and passion for everything he did astounded her. She remembered when she was younger, traveling with Son Goku, looking for the Dragonballs so she could wish for the perfect boyfriend. Bulma chuckled softly to herself, plunging her hands into the warm soapy water. She washes the porcelain plates slowly, lost in thought, laughing at how superficial she had been as a teenager.

How different her outlook on life had become.

Her family meant everything to her. Vegeta would never be the perfect father for Trunks. His past was too scarred for that possibility. But he did love her, and he loved his son. He tried his best, and that was what mattered.

Trunks looked up to his father so much. The young boy thought Vegeta was the greatest thing on this planet.

Bulma wondered if he noticed.

She knew he would be a harsh teacher for Trunks. It was what her son wanted. She just didn't want to see the bruises and the bleeding that followed hard training. When it came to her son, things like that made her want to cry. He was still just a little boy to her.

Oh, sweet child o' mine.

Oh, sweet love of mine.

Bulma focused on her chores, pushing back the worries in her mind. ~Just try not to hurt him too bad, Vegeta.....~

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Vegeta turned his head as the large steel door to the Gravity Room slid open and Trunks poked his head in.

"You're late," Vegeta muttered, turning his face away.

"Sorry, Dad," Trunks said quickly as he entered the room, allowing the door to slide shut behind him. "It won't happen again."

"It better not!" Vegeta snapped. "Otherwise, *this* won't happen again, either!" His deep voice echoed of the metal walls, amplifying them. "I don't train with slackers!" Her turned to face Trunks, giving his son a smirking glare. "Understand?"

Trunks' eyes grew wide and he nodded quickly. "Yes, Dad. I won't be late again."

Vegeta looked him dead in the eye. The boy wasn't lying. Those eyes never could lie, because they were just like hers.

Big, blue, and beautiful, though they looked a bit scared now.

He's got eyes of the bluest skies

And if they thought of rain

I hate to look into those eyes

And see an ounce of pain.

Vegeta nodded to his son, giving him a smirk. "Let's get started then." Trunks' eyes lit up and he smirked back.

"Hai!"

Vegeta turned to the control console, rapidly pushing buttons. "We'll start at one hundred fifty times normal gravity and see if you can handle it."

The machinery began to whir as the air grew denser. The force began to push down on Trunks' lavender-topped head, but he braced his muscles and stayed on his feet. The pressure continued to increase, and he looked over at his father as his muscles strained against the gravity. His father stood still as a statue, staring at him with those dark, black orbs.

Trunks straightened up, standing tall and proud, his face focused and determined.

After all, if it got too hard, Trunks knew he could just go Super Saiyan.

His hair reminds me of a warm safe place

Where as a child I'd hide.

When the gravity finally stopped climbing, Vegeta was mildly surprised to find that Trunks was still on his feet. Apparently, the boy had been training on his own longer than he had previously thought.

"Try walking around for a little while and see if you get used to it," Vegeta commanded before he effortlessly flared hi ki, turning into a Super Saiyan and beginning some warm up exercises. Trunks nodded, furrowing his brow and lifting one foot of the ground. His young muscles strained hard but he managed to begin a steady walk, making a circle around the edge of the gravity room. Vegeta snickered as he saw the sweat already running along the young Saiyan's skin after only one lap. The boy worked so damn hard for him.

"150 times gravity is a man's training level," Vegeta mocked, trying to encourage the boy. "It looks like you're still a child."

The Prince was surprised when his son ignored his remark. "Last night, I got a call from Goten," Trunks said slowly, changing the subject as he continued pacing around the room. "He's competing in the World Martial Arts Tournament, so I want to go too."

Vegeta snorted, annoyed. "It's just a damned festival for weaklings." The Saiyan Prince could tell that the boy was quickly getting frustrated with the power of the gravity, but he was surprised when the boy stopped suddenly and shrugged his shoulders.

"I can't do it like this," he said vaguely, glancing over at his father. Then the royal smirk began to spread across his face. "Guess I'll just have to go 'super.'"

And pray for the thunder

And the rain

To quietly pass me by.

Vegeta stared wide-eyed as jagged bolts of golden ki spiked and flashed around the young boy's body. The ki bolts swirled up and around him, glowing like golden fire as Trunks' lavender hair flared upward in pieces and flashed gold. Vegeta's mouth fell open stunned, gazing into his son's eyes.

They were the same crystalline blue that he shared with his mother. They were the eyes of a Super Saiyan.

"What....!?" The word tumbled from the Saiyan Prince's mouth. There was nothing more he could think to say in that moment.

Trunks began to sprint circles around the gravity room with laughter. "This is easy, now!"

Vegeta shook his head and blinked a few times, utterly confused. "Since when has he been able to do that..." he mused, his hand coming up to run though his own spiky blond hair. "This isn't funny. There's too many of what was called a legendary warrior. How is it that he was able to achieve in his few years what I struggled for decades to become!?" Vegeta frowned then, thinking of something else. "Trunks," he called.

Oh, sweet child o' mine.

Oh, sweet love of mine.

Trunks skidded to a halt, turning to face his father. "Yeah?"

"Can Son Gohan's brother become a Super Saiyan as well?" Vegeta asked curiously.

Trunks nodded. "Yes."

The Saiyan Prince rolled his eyes and cursed. "This is like a Super Saiyan bargain sale." He sighed angrily before he spoke again, changing the subject this time. "Okay, Trunks. It's time for some real training." Vegeta took a defensive stance and beckoned for Trunks to attack him. "We are going to spar. Now, come and get me."

The young Saiyan's eyes widened as he shook his head. "That's impossible for me. You're too strong."

Vegeta snorted impatiently. "Hurry and attack me." When Trunks hesitated again, he added, "If you can hit me in the face, I'll take you to the park for one hour."

He was not surprised when Trunks' face brightened significantly. "Really!?" he said excitedly, his eyes sparkling. "You will, Father!?"

Vegeta nodded. "Attack me as hard as you can! Okay?"

Trunks' smile turned to a smirk, his features hard with fierce determination as he nodded. "Okay, here I go!"

The young boy flew towards him and Vegeta was shocked at the speed of his attack. He easily dodged a series of quick jabs, but when a punch to his left jaw followed a distracting low kick, the Prince felt the small fist connect hard with the lower side of his face. Pain lanced through his jawbone, but the anger that followed was stronger, causing the prideful Saiyan to strike back at his son before he had time to think of the consequences. The blow from his fist struck Trunks hard in the cheek, sending the boy sprawling onto the floor several feet away.

Vegeta stood speechless for a moment, not knowing what to say.

Where do we go?

Where do we go now?

Trunks pushed himself up off the floor, tears brimming on the edges of his eyes. "That's no fair," Trunks whimpered, clutching his injured cheek. It was read and already beginning to bruise. "You never said you would hit me back."

Vegeta inwardly cursed himself. He hadn't meant to hurt him. ~I was not angry with the brat,~ Vegeta thought. ~I was angry with myself for underestimating him. Damn those blasted instincts. Although he took the punch a lot better than I thought he would. I put quite a bit of power behind it.~

"I never said I wouldn't, now did I?" Vegeta said loudly, trying to teach his son a lesson. If he ever found himself in a fight with a powerful enemy, they wouldn't be easy on him.

"But...but..." The tears began to leak down his son's face, and Vegeta shook his head, turning away.

"Dry your tears," he said softly. "We're going to the park."

A joyful cry flew from the boy's mouth as he sprinted in front of his father, smiling happily.

"So," Vegeta began, curious. "Who is stronger? You or Gohan's brother?"

"I'm just a little stronger than Goten," Trunks replied proudly. "I'm a year older than him, and he can't fly."

Vegeta nodded. "You will be entering the tournament then," Vegeta said simply, eliciting another grin from his son. "You'll have to show me what you've learned."

Trunks nodded.

"Now, go tell your mother we are leaving."

The boy nodded again before racing from the Gravity Room towards the kitchen.

Vegeta chuckled to himself as he heard the boy telling his mother the news. He knew Bulma would be pleased, and maybe even give him something in return for his small sacrifice once night came.

After shutting of the gravity simulator, Vegeta also exited the room to find Bulma waiting for him just outside the door. She was looking at him questioningly, her gaze amazed.

Grabbing a towel from a rack next to the door, Vegeta wiped the sweat off his brow. When he was finished, the woman was still standing there silently, just staring at him.

"What is it, Bulma?" he asked impatiently.

"Trunks is in his room changing," she explained. "He says you're taking him to the park."

Vegeta looked her dead in the eye. "Yeah. So, what?"

Bulma's eyes lightened with surprise. He knew she was pleased with his gesture. "I just think that it's nice of you to do that for him, although at first it was hard to believe." She laughed softly. "He works very hard to try and make you happy, you know."

Vegeta just shrugged. "I know," he said simply, turning left and walking towards his room. "When Trunks comes back, tell him I'll meet him at the front door."

And then he disappeared through their bedroom door, leaving Bulma standing alone, dumbfounded but happy.

Her husband had changed so much. As she was very proud of him.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

The sun was shining and the birds were winding in the park that afternoon. Two figures walked down the beaten path, a father and his son. The father had his hands shoved deep in the pockets of his jeans, he head glancing towards his son every now and again. The boy looked around excitedly, his speech rapid and his attention changing focus constantly.

And they were both happy.

Vegeta couldn't think of a time that he had been happier. He had a beautiful wife, and a son who had already become a Super Saiyan. If things worked out the way he thought he would, Vegeta would finally be able to defeat Kakarot in battle, through a fight between their sons. All was right with the world.

His soul felt at peace for the first time in his life.

Looking down at the lavender-haired youth, Vegeta genuinely smiled.

At one time, the Saiyan Prince thought that he'd be sacrificing his pride by living on Earth. But now, he realized, he'd been wrong. His choice to remain here had restored his pride.

He had pride in his son. Although he couldn't come out and say it, for words could not express how he felt, he was so damn proud of Trunks.

And that was a pride that no one could take away from him.

Where do we go,

Sweet child o' mine?