Judging by some of my reviews, I think that my writing has come off as confusing to some people. The concept of this story is to show how Goten and Marron fight to try and make their relationship work. Yes, Goten does come off as a horrible father. But this story isn't supposed to really analyze his and Kira's relationship. Yes, Kira's presence played a role in Goten and Marron's romantic demise, so to say, but she really is only a small character in this story. "Runaway Hearts" is more about the trials that 'Ten and Mar had to endure before the end. And try not to hate either Goten or Marron; it will all work out in the end. I promise.

Oh, and Chi-Chi really comes off as a bitch in the rest of this fic. I love Chi-Chi, I really do. She's one of my favorite characters. But I've always pictured her as one of those overprotective mothers, and that side of her really shows in this chapter and one coming up. So try not to hate her either.

Thank you again for the reviews. They really keep me smiling.

My mother, as I said before, cut off all communication with the Briefs and the Chestnuts. So you can imagine what she did when Bulma called one afternoon to say she had just gotten new pictures of Kira.

"Goten, I thought you weren't going to talk to those people anymore! You said that you wanted nothing to do with them!" she shouted.

"No Mom! You said that! I have no reason to be mad at Bulma! And neither do you! She did absolutely nothing to either of us. Why is it that Dad can go over there every other day and spar with Vegeta and Pan can over there and hang out with Bra, but I can't have a phone conversation with Bulma? Damn it, Mom, I'm a grown man!"

She looked at me in shock. "Your father does as he pleases, and Gohan tells Pan what she can and can't do!"

I looked her square in the eye. I had her right where I wanted her. "Then why isn't Pan allowed to go to Marron's?"

My mother was fuming. I had never seen her so furious. "Gohan and Videl are enforcing that rule. I only suggested it."

"No, Mom. That's not what happened, and you know it. You weren't here when Marron brought Kira over. Gohan and Videl were accepting of both of them. Marron is Pan's aunt, and I always thought you put family first, but I guess I was wrong." And with that, I left the house.

~

I didn't know where I was supposed to go when I left my house, so I flew around for a while before setting down in Satan City. I walked the rest of the way until I was in front of Capsule Corp. It was the middle of the day, so I figured, what the hell, and I went in.

As I opened the front door as I did every day since I could remember, I heard a shriek and Bra's voice. Bra? I could've sworn she moved out. But then again, Trunks moved out when he turned twenty-five, but was at CC so much, no one knew the difference.

I hadn't even stepped fully into the foyer when something ran into my legs, Bra at its heels. I looked down and gasped as my daughter sat sprawled out on the floor.

"'Ten!" Bra exclaimed, stepping over Kira to throw her arms around my neck. "What are you doing here?"

"Eh, I had a fight with my mother."

Bra nodded knowingly. "Oh. Hey, my mom's working in one of the labs, but you want a soda or something? I'm just babysitting for--- Oh." She realized the situation as she lifted Kira off the floor. "Come on little girl, let's go have some lunch."

I followed her into the kitchen, scratching the back of my head nervously. "I could come back…"

"No! I'll figure something out. Do you think I should call Trunks? Maybe he'll know what to do. What do you think?" she asked, sitting Kira on the table and placing her hands on her hips, Bulma-style.

I shifted my wait uncomfortably. "But aren't he and Marron… you know?"

"Do you know my mommy?" Kira piped up, glancing up at me with Marron's gaze.

I shot Bra a nervous look. "Um, sort of. Your mom and I used to be really good friends," I explained. What else was I going to say? I could just see it now. Your mom and I were married, but then she slept with Trunks, and I left her, and then we found out that you were really my daughter, and we haven't spoken in the past six years. But not specifically in that order.

Kira looked at me suspiciously. "What's your name?" For a six year old, she was pretty damn smart.

Luckily, Bra cut into our little conversation. "This is Goten, Kira. Now, I think if you don't eat your lunch, your mom will get a little mad at you. So, what will it be?" She opened the fridge and buried her head inside.

"Goten. I've heard my mommy and Trunks fight over someone named Goten. Do you know Trunks, too?" Kira asked.

I nodded. "Yeah, I used to be good friends with Trunks, too."

"Okay!" Bra chimed in loudly. "Now that we all know each other, let's eat! Kira, your usual, I presume? And Goten? Your usual?"

"Five peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with banana," Kira and I confirmed simultaneously. We glanced at each other.

"Oh Dende!" Bra exclaimed. She grabbed the phone. "I'm calling Trunks. He'll know what to do."

Kira cradled her head in her hands and looked up at me. "Goten, how do you really know my mom? And me? Do you know who I am?" she asked.

I cleared my throat. "You know Kira, I think you should ask your mother that kind of stuff. I think she could explain it to you a little better than I can. But hey, I want to hear about you. Tell me about yourself."

~

Three hours later, Kira, Bra, and I were sitting in the living room playing video games. And I seriously cannot remember a time in my life when I had had more fun. So, of course, that got me thinking to what it would be like if Kira knew who I really was, and if Marron and I got back together, and we were a real family. I was thinking it would be really good.

Then the front door opened. "Ugh, I had the worst day at work today, and then I forgot that I brought Kira over here, and I went to my parents', which is so far out of the way. Did you guys eat? Where are y---" Marron stopped in mid-sentence upon entering the living room. Her jaw dropped slightly, and I swear, she looked just as beautiful as the day I married her.

Kira jumped up from the game she was playing and rushed over to her mother. "Hi Mommy! This is Goten; he said that you and him were old friends. We were playing video games, and I was winning!"

Marron knelt down so she was eye-level with Kira. "That's great, baby. Why don't you go upstairs and get your stuff so that we can go home and have dinner."

She nodded and ran to the stairs, black pigtails bouncing up and down against her shoulders.

Marron waited until our daughter was up the stairs before her face paled. "What does she know?"

I smiled encouragingly. "I just told her that I was an old friend. That's all I told her Marron, I swear. I didn't know she'd be here. I thought she stayed at your parents' during the day."

"My parents went away for the week. Are you sure she doesn't know anything?"

Bra stood up and wrapped a supporting arm around Marron's shoulders. "I'm positive. We just had lunch and played video games, Ron, I swear."

I stared at my feet. "But, um, Marron, while you're here. I was just wondering if maybe you wanted to, you know, have dinner with me this weekend. I want to talk to you about some stuff."

Marron eyed me for a second, and then she smiled. "Yeah, I'd like that. Pick me up on Saturday night." She looked at Kira bouncing down the stairs. "Come on, baby doll, say goodbye."

"Bye Bra! Bye Goten! Will I see you again?" she asked, her big blue eyes looking up innocently at me.

How could I say no? "Of course you will, Kira, I promise."