24

Trouble

"Tobe?"

He could feel that he was angry.  He knew his brother and it took a lot to get him angry and this feeling was not good.

"Tobe?"  He felt a hand on his arm.  He turned to see Soyna looking at him with a concerned look on her face.  "What is going on in there?"  she felt it too.

He hated the fake name.  Why couldn't he use his real name?  He knew the answer to that but he still wished he could use his real name!

"I don't know," he said and was about to go find out.  It shouldn't be so difficult to talk to Vegeta about the fixing of the time paths.   But it was already over.  Vegeta stormed out of Bulma's lab and flew off without a word of notice.

Then Cyrus appeared.

He took a slight step back and gulped.

Cyrus had tears coming down his cheeks and his hands were frantically trying to wipe them away.  It was the hands that made him take the step back.  The marking were moving on his hands, they had quickly slipped up his sleeve but he had seen them and so had Soyna from the sound of her gasp.

He tried to smile but it didn't work.

"What went wrong?"  he said as he walked towards his brother.  He was very aware that Soyna, 'Geta and Boxer were curiously following as well.

Cyrus just put on that fake grin of his and tried to look nonchalant.   "Nothing," he said.  "We just had a little disagreement."

"Don't lie to me," he said.

Cyrus sighed heavily as he saw his brother's knee's sag a bit.  It was Soyna that stopped him from falling to the ground.

"You are still cold!  You should still be in bed!"  She said in a curt voice.

Cyrus gave her such a sad look as he struggled to his feet again.  "I will be okay," he said.  "I think I will take you up on that food offer though.  I am quite hungry."

She frowned slightly but didn't ask anything else.  She started leading him to the kitchen.

He wanted follow.  He really wanted too but knew that the question he had to ask were not for the ears that were near him.  He couldn't with the young version of his uncle and an uncle that he never was meant to have looking up at him.  He had been having so much fun with them!  It was like he was back home but that had just been an illusion.

Reality really sucked.

…………

Trunk's walked into the kitchen and was a little startled to see Cyrus out of bed.  Soyna was doting on him right now and he was reveling in it all.  At least that explained the run in with Brennen that he had.

He really thought that they should tell him that she was doting on her children, not suitors!

He was down right miserable and being over protective.  He was starting to really like his son-in-law.  He did love her and he doubted that the betrayal that happened in the other time, would happen in this.  Not with him acting the way he was.

Soyna didn't seem to notice though.

"Dad," Soyna said with a smile.  "Where have you been all morning?"

Cyrus grunted a greeting and kept on eating.  He obviously was doing well and eating like a Son.

"Stuff," he said with a grin.  He couldn't help the grin.  It was a very good morning.  Carmen was still in bed.

She made a face and shook her head.  "Ew… I didn't need to know that."

Was he that transparent?  Cyrus was looking between them with a confused look on his face.  He didn't need to know.  He was thankful that Cyrus gave a little shrug and resumed the devouring process.

"It is good to see that you are up," he said to Cyrus.  "You look much better."

"He should still be in bed!"  Soyna said in a stern voice that he remembered very clearly the older version using with her own children.  He couldn't wait for his own grandchildren.  Of course, he never thought he was going to even think that before he knew…  "He is still cold to the touch."

"wha wood wis wamming ma wup," he said with his mouthful of food, swallowed and then said it without the food.  "The food is warming me up.  I am feeling better.  You don't need to worry.  I know my limits."

She sniffed.

Yeah, he knew that his family had a problem with that.  Limits.  They were the things that they all tried to ignore.  All of them.

"Really.  I know my limits."  He said.  "I will be back to my normal self in a day or two."  He said and resumed eating.  You could defiantly see the Son blood in him.  Wow, he could shovel it in!

"We shall see," Soyna said and looked at the clock.  "Well, I have to go to my shift in the hospital.  Bye dad.  Bye Cyrus," she said and was off.

……………………..

She was doting on that kid again!  Why the hell did she have to dote on him like that?  It wasn't proper for a married woman to look at another man like that!  And the way that he looked back at her!

Brennen didn't like this at all!

So what if they were supposed to be here to save the world.  He had a hard enough time understanding the time travel stuff without those two boys doting on his wife!  He didn't like this at all.  No one else seemed to have a problem with it.  No one.  His father-in-law who was usually so easy to criticize him for looking at a set of pretty legs was not even bating an eye at what his daughter was doing!

He tried not to let him bother him at first, but it was pretty hard to ignore how she was leaning in on that Tobe fellow when they were talking together over dinner one day and the way she was always check on that Cyrus guy!

He forced himself to take a few deep breaths.

He was angry and he didn't want the anger to fade.

It was too dangerous to let the anger fade.

He didn't want to start crying.

………………………….

Bulma groaned.  She hated meetings and the last one was just awful.  No one was willing to make a decision and it was all up to her!  And where was Brennen!  She would defiantly give him an earful for missing the meeting!  He said he was right behind her!  He had been so distracted lately!  She was going to have to set him straight!  He was supposed to be preparing to take over from her! 

Didn't really matter though.  She was tired and hungry and it was almost time for lunch.  That was when her intercom buzzard went off.  "Miss Briefs.  You have a Vegeta here to see you.  He said you would want to see him."  Her secretary's voice sounded annoyed.

"Send him in," she answered back.

No one really knew who the father of her son was.  It wasn't something you tell people.  He was that guy that just about destroyed the earth… yeah, that sounds really good.  She just said that he passed away.  She wasn't about to start telling people that he was back from the dead… well, sort of.  This certainly would start rumors.  Oh well, it was to be expected.

He walked in and gave her secretary and angry glare.  Those two could have a staring contest.

"What brings you here?"  she said.  She was glad to see him.  Maybe she could persuade him to join her for lunch.

"I ended up here," he said and took a seat on the couch.  He looked so distant.

She shook her head. "Well, then you can join me for lunch."

She was expecting a protest and was pleasantly surprised that he just grunted and stood.

She smiled at the thought of having a date with Vegeta.  They had never had a date before.  Vegeta just wasn't that type of guy.  At least he wasn't before.  It was going to be interesting.

"What do you feel like eating?" she asked.  "I know a great pasta place down the street."

He just nodded.

Great.  There was something wrong with him.  She just about grabbed him and told him to snap out of it.  But she didn't.  Might as well take advantage of his distraction.

……….

He hated being wrong.

He hated it so much!

Vegeta scowled at himself as he found himself in an Italian restaurant.  He grumbled an order to the waiter and looked across the table at the woman that sat there with a smile on her face.

Cyrus was right.

He didn't like the boy being right!  He didn't want to leave!  He especially her!  But he had to go back and deal with the loss.  He had dreams after they told him what happened in the other time.  They were terrible dreams and he hid the fact that he was having nightmares from Bulma.

Most of them revolved around his little princess, Bra.

How could he just leave her like that!  He knew that she was pregnant and it must have been horrible for her to loose the baby that she had been carrying.  A grandchild that her mother had been pining for.

Every time he looked at Trunk's youngest he thought of his own little girl.  She needed him.  Trunk's was always the strong one.  It had been his fault for that.  But Bra, he knew he was going to be different the day she was born.

He wouldn't have her, but he could have part of her.  He had his children and he had his grandchildren….

"I don't want to leave you," he said in a low voice.

Bulma's eyes grew wide but she didn't say anything.

"Cyrus… he asked me…I …"  he couldn't form the sentences.  He took a deep breath.  "I have to leave you to help them and I can't come back."  It hurt so much to say that.

She gave a little gasp.

Great.  He grit his teeth.  He came to this time so that he could make up for all the pain that he caused her and here he was, causing her more.  She had a hand on her chest and there was water in her eyes.  Great.  He made her cry again.  He couldn't do anything right!

"How soon?"  she said in a sad voice.  He thought that she was going to start yelling at him.   Not ask, 'how soon?'

He shrugged.  He didn't know.  He had to tell Cyrus yet that he would do it.  He didn't even know what was all involved yet.

She smiled then, but it was a sad smile.  "We will just enjoy our remaining time together," she said.  "I will order some wine and take time off work so that we can be together for what time we have left."

She barked an order to the waiter.

"I didn't mean for this to happen," he said.  She didn't know the whole story and he wasn't about to explain all that Cyrus told him to her.  He did not revel in the thought that he went mad and went back in time to when she was 16 only to loose her to scar face!  "I have to fix it."

She nodded.  "I didn't think you could stay forever," she said with a sigh.  "I hoped, but I know that is not how things work around here," she smiled brightly.  "But I had you back for a little while.  This is more than most people ever get."

It was a real smile now.  There was no sadness in it.

He wished he could return it.

He felt like she had died all over again.

"A person can not remain sane seeing the ones they love die so many times,"  Cyrus had said.  He remembered that line very clearly.  He was beginning to understand.  At least he would not physically have to watch her suffer again.

………………………………

Cyrus could feel Brennen's contempt for him as soon as he walked in the room.  It didn't bother him, it was rather humorous after all that he was such a jealous man.  Benot was taking it personally though.  He didn't like the fact that the man that he got close to in the other time looked at him with such hate.

He had slept some more and was feeling rather well, despite the fact that he was not sure if he was going to be able to fix things further.  It was also nice to not feel Shelong crawling along his skin right now.  He had calmed down considerably and he felt calm as well.  He didn't know why.  He should be on edge.

He had been earlier.

But it was just so easy to relax in the peaceful house.  Everything was just so nice around here and he could hardly have any contempt for his brother and Crystal for doing the same.  Crystal and Bra had become soul sisters.  They were nearly inseparable; Bra was even trying to go 'blonde' like Crystal.  She had already asked if she could dye her hair but Carmen refused.

Carmen.

The grandmother that he never knew.  It was so nice getting to know her.  She was a much much calmer version of his mother.  He wanted to get to know his younger uncles and aunts… they were so happy here! 

Everything was so peaceful.

"Well!"  Brennen said and glared right at him.  "Where is she?"

"Huh?"  He said.  What was he talking about?

"She said that she was going to be home by now.  Where is she?"

He bit his tongue.  He just about said 'mom'.  "Soyna?"

"Whom else would I be talking about?"  He snapped. Geez.  Temper temper.  He was glad the other Brennen wasn't like this.    He felt his gut tighten.  He stood and started to feel for her.  Where was she?  Mom was so good at hiding herself and he was not that good at searching it out.  Dad was the only one that could find her when she was purposely blocking herself.  He didn't have that ability.

"What is it?"  Benot said.  He snapped to attention as well.  Crystal, who had been playing Candy Land with Bra stopped as well and stared at them.  So much for the relaxing family time.  That was over.  Time to get to work.

"I can't feel her," he grumbled.  "Can you?"  He looked to Benot and Trunks who had been playing a card came with 'Geta and Boxer.  He looked toward Vegeta who had been silently sitting by Bulma and listening with patience.  He was tense now as well.  He had been just talking with Bulma about her current inventions and helping her with ideas that she was having.  He was hoping to have a talk with Vegeta but the look that he kept giving him was later.  It was promising.  Maybe that is why he had over looked the feeling.

The feeling in his gut tightened.

"It's happening again, isn't it?"  Crystal said.  There was fear in her voice.

He looked to Benot and Crystal and saw the pain and panic in there eyes.  Trunk's was ready to fight.  'Geta and Boxer looked on with the usual child like curiously and anxiousness.  Vegeta face was set in a scowl.

"Damn her," Trunks said.  "I have to give her hell for learning how to hide herself so well."  It looked like he was straining.

"What's going on?"  Brennen asked.  His anger melted to worry now.

Benot growled.  "Damn it.  How come I didn't feel that before?"  His whole body sparkled with energy.

He felt it too now.

They were in so much trouble.