+\+\

Mother and son talked for an additional half hour before a third party entered the conversation. Trunks' growling stomach was set on interrupting the quality time, and alas, they were forced to rejoin the others, who had, for the most part, already finished eating. Kessho was still picking at her meal, and Vegeta and Bra had retreated outside for the girl's basic training.

Hearing Trunks and his mother enter the room, Kessho glanced towards them, keeping her expression carefully blank until she determined the mood everyone was in. Seeing the light faces made her smile, and she nearly laughed when Trunks made a bee-line for the pancakes, inhaling them at an almost inhuman speed. Never in her life had she seen him eat so fast, and she pondered the thought for a moment.

Of course, before he would have been careful to keep her suspicion down by eating no faster than any normal person. But now, now he was free to be himself. Be himself. She nearly recoiled from the idea, that since she was ten years old she had never really know this young man, this one who had changed her life so drastically, mostly for the better.

Consoling herself with the thought that he had only hidden a few skills, and not a whole different personality, she eyed Bulma warily, still unsure of the woman's views on current events. The older woman seemed troubled, and mumbled something about speaking with Vegeta before exiting the kitchen.

"Things went well?" she asked softly, and he paused with his mouth full to consider her question. He nodded, and finished chewing quickly so he could answer.

"As well as could be expected, I guess. We dealt with a few other issues that needed attention, but she wasn't too against the idea of 'us'." He smiled briefly then, and she returned the gesture.

+\+\

Bulma seated herself silently on the patio, watching contemplatively as her husband and daughter meditated. This was one area where Trunks had struggled, especially at her age. Nowadays he shied away from the act, claiming that his thoughts always turned too deep for his taste, and that he had better things to do with his time. Bulma knew for a fact however that when he couldn't sleep he would meditate, if only to calm his mind in preparation for sleep.

Bra didn't move a muscle, her eyes were still behind her eyelids, and her breathing was slow and calculated. Her style echoed her father's down to the finest detail, including the fine scowl set in her features. She had picked up that habit lately, and Bulma had found her once scowling at herself in the mirror, twisting her eyebrows and mouth around to get the best effect. The middle-aged woman barely contained a chuckle at the memory; how very unique her children were. Bra, at an older age, should have been practicing her most winning smile in the mirror, not her father's scowl. But, like her brother, Bra seemed to worship the ground her father walked on, and Bulma wouldn't have it any other way.

Sensing her unspoken wish to speak with him, Vegeta quietly rose from his place, careful not to disturb his meditative child. Bra seemed completely unaffected, and continued without betraying any hint that she even knew her father had moved away.

Joining her on the deck, Vegeta sensed his wife's unease and pulled her into an embrace. She closed her eyes and melted against him in response, taking strength from his gentle affection.

"What is it?" He whispered into her ear, and she kissed his throat once before pulling away enough to look him in the eye. She cast a worried glance towards Bra, and he quickly eased her concern. "She's dead to the world, you can speak." He immediately cringed at his usage of words, but she chose not to elaborate on the subject, ignoring his accidentally off-color remark.

"I spoke with Trunks, obviously. He made a request of us, one that I had to talk to you about before I promised him anything. I told him that if another human/Saiyan hybrid were to be born, I know how to genetically alter it so we wouldn't have this problem. He seemed happy, of all things, about it. He wanted me to promise that once he and Bra were gone, if, somehow I was able--he wanted us to have more children. He said that both he and Bra wanted this, that they didn't, didn't," her voice broke, "didn't want us to be sad forever, that we should move on. But I don't think I could ever go on without my babies," she choked out, burying her head against Vegeta's neck as sobs wracked her form. He rubbed her back, consolingly nuzzling his face to hers. He waited till her crying had slowed, and took the time to kiss each tear from her cheeks, before laying his lips on hers briefly, kissing her softly, warmly.

"I think I'd like that, if you can take it. I'll understand if you don't." She smiled sadly at him.

"I was hoping you'd say that, but, it's been three years since I went through menopause. It just isn't possible anymore."

"Nevertheless I think it is a safe promise to make." Vegeta laid his cheek against hers, breathing her scent. She settled back against him, feeling weary from lifes struggles and yet revitalized by Vegeta's soothing presence.

Bra smiled vaguely in bittersweet victory, and returned to meditating.

+\+\

Kessho stood slowly fom the table, taking the time to stretch before walking from the room. Puzzled, Trunks caught her quickly.

"Where're you going?" He questioed softly, falling into step beside her in the wide hallway. She turned to grin bemusedly at him, and gestured towards her eyes. "Just putting my contacts in."

He realized then that her eyes were their original green-blue hue. He pondered over when she had taken them out…he certainly hadn't noticed.

"I didn't know you had vision problems…"

"It was only a few years ago that we figured it out. I always used to think that that was just how everyone saw the world, until my parents and I had a long discussion over it. My vision isn't terrible, but it's enough to make you fuzzy right now."

"Stop a second, would you?" She halted her stride and turned to face him. He reached up to lay his fingertips on her temples, and she closed her eyes when he placed his thumbs on her eyelids. "Lemme try something," he murmured, and her brow creased.

Powering up somewhat, he drew the energy to his fingertips and let it slowly filter into her eyes, allowing it to sink into her flesh. She shivered, her breath drawing in short gasps for air at the feeling. Warmth engulfed her, concentrated mostly in her forehead and behind her eyes. Without interrupting the process, Trunks moved one hand to cover both eyes, letting the other slip into her garments to lay against the skin below her bellybutton. He concentrated hard, struggling to focus on what both hands were doing.

He forced his energy within her, allowing it to awaken his seed still within her from the previous night. His mind was filled with only two thoughts.

She would be able to see…

She would not be alone…

Slowly, the moment ended, and he gradually stemmed the flow of power he channeled into her. Removing his hands from her, she opened her eyes dazedly for a moment, before closing them again and slumping against him. He caught her easily, slipping one arm around her neck and the other behind her knees, gently picking her up. He carried Kessho to his room, and laid her on the bed. Trunks set to stroking her face, murmuring softly for her to wake up.

She stirred, and her eyes opened slowly, revealing his gently searching gaze. Quiet blue eyes stared down at her, excitement flashing in their depths as Trunks regarded her in silence.

"What-what happened?" She whispered breathlessly, still not fully recovered from the sensual overload she had sustained moments before.

"How's your vision?" He asked, and she blinked at him in wonder, realizing joyously that she could see him quite clearly without her contacts in.

"How? But—you--I don't understand. How did you correct my vision?"

"Life energy, or ki, has many healing, rejuvenating properties. That is why my father and I heal quickly, and why he hasn't aged a day past adulthood. Generally a creature with a high energy level will live longer, and doesn't have such physical disabilities as bad vision. We also don't get sick…I've never had a cold." She gazed at him in understanding, and then in gratitude.

"Thank you," she whispered, and pulled his head down to hers so she could kiss him. After a moment he pulled away, tenderly laying his cheek against hers as he whispered five cryptic words that she hadn't the heart to ask about.

"I won't leave you alone."

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