Disclaimer: Not mine.

Helpless 22

Runaway

Two days later she felt well again to return to the Guardian Angels Agency. She wasn't at all sure what she wanted to do next. The thought of moving to another city seemed like the best idea. She didn't think she could stand to open up the newspaper and see pictures of Trunks with his latest conquest.

Ms. Morris greeted her with a look of mild disapproval when she walked into the main office. "It seems as if you had quite an adventure," she said, making it sound as if the entire incident was Marron's fault.

"It got a little tense, for a while, yes," Marron said with supreme understatement. "All's well that ends well, as they say."

"Yes." Ms. Morris looked at her over the top of her glasses. "Fortunately, Mr. Briefs seemed well satisfied with your work. He gave you a glowing recommendation."

Marron's cold heart thawed a little. "How nice of him," she murmured mechanically.

"So now you are need of another contract."

"Yes, if you have something for me." She might as well take another assignment, Marron thought. At least until she'd made up her mind what she wanted to do.

"Here's the address." Ms. Morris handed her a page torn from her notebook. "It's for general office work with computer experience. Are you familiar with the neighborhood?"

Marron looked at the address and shook her head. "I'm sure I can find it, though."

Ms. Morris sighed, and scribbled something down on her notepad. She tore off the sheet and held it out. Here, it's easy to find."

Marron took the instruction and glanced at them. "Thanks, I'll get over there right away." She left, with Ms. Morris' disapproving glare boring into her back.

The woman probably blamed her for sinking the River Rat, Marron thought gloomily as she climbed back into her car. She hoped that Trunks had the houseboat well insured.

Thinking of Trunks violated her promise to put him completely out of her mind, and she concentrated on finding the address of the new client.

The rain had finally stopped, and the sun gleamed on the newly forming leaves of maples and flowering cherry trees when Marron drove up the quiet residential street.

She'd been expecting an office building, and she felt a little apprehensive as she pulled up in the parking lot of Cherry Lane, which turned out to be a small, landscaped square of elegant houses.

She checked her notes again. Mahiwo Katagiri, her new client, lived in an imposing looking house tucked away in the corner. All clients were thoroughly investigated, Ms. Morris had impressed upon her when Marron first signed in with the agency.

Even so, Marron thought as she climbed the steps to the front door, she would have felt a good deal more comfortable if it had been an office building downtown.

If she hadn't been so anxious to get away from Ms. Morris' accusing stare, she'd have thought to ask what Mr. Katagiri did for a living. She could be working for a pimp, or something just as bad.

She rang the bell, promising herself she'd plan an escape route out of there, just in case.

The door opened almost at once, as if the person inside had been waiting for her. Marron opened her mouth to introduce herself, but the words froze on her tongue.

"Good morning," Trunks said cheerfully." "You're right on time as usual."

She stared at him, wondering how she could be having this dream when she felt so wide-awake.

"You're not going to stand there all day on the doorstep, are you?"

He gave her his crooked grin, but knowing him as well as she did, she could tell he was unsure of himself. That didn't happen very often.

"This is your house?" It didn't really matter, except that she couldn't think of anything else to say at that moment.

"I rented it for the time being."

"Then who is Mahiwo Katagiri?"

"My barber. I borrowed his name. He's a nice guy. He won't mind."

She couldn't imagine what this was all about. She wasn't at all sure she wanted to find out. She'd spent a very bad couple of days trying to erase him from her system. Seeing him again like this only pointed how utterly unsuccessful her efforts had been.

She looked down at his ankle. It was the first time she'd seen him in jeans. They were a snug fit, clinging to his long legs and over his slim hips. With them he wore a white sweatshirt with the phrase I'm All Yours! Come And Get Me! emblazoned across the front.

Marron hastily switched her gaze to his face. He was watching her, amusement and something else she couldn't quite analyze flitting across his strong features. "I, er, thought you were working back in the office, now that your ankle is healed," she said, feeling a telltale warmth creeping over her cheeks.

"I am." He stood back and gestured for her to come inside. "I'd like to talk to you."

She eyed him suspiciously. "What about?" If he was going to offer her a job, she thought wildly, she'd turn it down flat.

There was no way she could possibly work for him everyday, watching him flirt with all those glamorous women right under her nose.

"If you'll come in, I'll tell you. I think you'll like what I'm going to say."

"Why can't you tell me out here?"

"Because it's impolite to keep someone talking on the doorstep."

"I don't mind."

"Well, I do. Besides, I have nosy neighbors."

She glanced at her shoulder at the empty courtyard. "Why didn't you just ask me to come and see you? Why all the pretense?"

He gave her a rueful smile. "Would you have come if you'd known it was me?"

She lifted her chin. "Probably not."

"I rest my case."

She stared at him, trying to gauge his intentions. Part of her wanted to turn around and turn away as fast as she could, yet another part of her refused to let her move.

"Marron," Trunks said gently, "I'm not going to make you do anything against your will. I doubt if I could anyway. All I'm asking is a chance to explain a few things, that's all. After that, you'll be perfectly free to walk away, and I'll never bother you again. I promise."

She didn't want to hear what he had to say. She didn't want to hear him explain why he couldn't love her, or any woman. She already knew why.

"Please?"

She never could resist that earnest little-boy look of his. She stepped past him, into a narrow hallway papered in a pale cream bamboo design that she liked instantly.

"The living room's on your left," Trunks said, and for some reason her skin began tingling, though she had no idea why. Except that he always had a strange effect on her whenever he was close to her.

The living room was charming; its pale rose walls and long latticed windows gleaming with warmth and light. A white stone fireplace took up one corner, with deep rose cushions piled on either side, and a long, low couch in pale blue graced the far wall.

It was simple, elegant, and essentially Trunks.

"You designed this?" She asked, knowing the answer even before he nodded.

"The whole square. Every house is different. Do you like it?"

"I love it."

"I'll show you the rest of the house if you like. But first we'll talk."

He took her jacket from her, and she sank down on the end of the comfortable couch, next to the fireplace. She could just imagine the flames leaping up the chimney, and the pungent smell of burning logs as they crackled in the grate.

How romantic it would be to lounge on those enormous cushions with Trunks, sipping champagne, listening to dreamy music.

"Can I get you a cup of coffee? I have some brewing in the kitchen."

Startled out of her dangerous daydream, she stammered. "Thanks, I'd love some."

She made use of the moments he was gone to recover her common sense. It was quite simple really. Listen to what he would say, tell him she understood and then get out of there as quickly and with as much dignity as possible.

He came back far too soon and handed her a steaming mug of coffee. The aromatic fragrance soothed her jangled nerves, and she managed to take the brimming mug without spilling any of the contents. She took a couple of sips, then set the mug down on the glass-topped coffee table in front of her.

"I saw you on TV," she said, "after you came out of the hospital."

"Oh, that." He screwed up his face in a wry grimace. "All I can say is they must be hard up for news to waste their time with me."

"You could have died in the river," Marron said mildly. "I think that the narrow escape of a person as well known as you is a newsworthy story."

He looked amused. "You do, huh?"

"Yes, I do."

"You were the one in danger, not me. I didn't fall in the river."

"I'm not newsworthy."

He must have had a tinge of resentment in her voice. He studied her for a moment, then said quietly, "I kept your name out of it. I didn't think you would want your reputation sullied. As for Hikaru, she heard about what happened on the news. She was waiting for me when I left the hospital."

She didn't answer, the memory of the smiling Hikaru hanging on his arm vividly clear in her mind.

He watched her for a moment longer, then sat down next to her on the couch. "Marron," he said gently, "I have a story to tell you, if you'll listen."

Attacked by a sudden stab of panic, she shook her head. "Trunks, please, there's no need-"

"No- " he held up his hand. "-let me talk. I need to say all this."

She sat very still, her heart beginning to thump. She wasn't sure how she was going to handle this. It was likely to be painful for both of them. She just prayed she wouldn't make a fool of herself in front of him.

"I had a family like yours, once," Trunks said, his voice husky and not too steady. "Two older sisters, one younger brother, the usual set of parents. We lived in a nice house, in a great neighborhood in West City. We were a nice normal family, with a good life."

Knowing what was coming, Marron clenched her fingers so tight her nails bit into her palms. She wanted to yell at him to stop, to talk about anything but the tragedy that ruined his life.

Yet she couldn't. He was right. He needed to talk about it. Why he'd chosen her to listen to his story she wasn't sure, but if he needed her, the least she could do was to be there for him. She'd deal with the pain later.

"The Christmas I was nine years old we had a house fire," Trunks said, speaking slowly and distinctly. "Some lights on the Christmas tree shorted out. I don't remember much about it, mostly just the smoke, the noise, and my mother screaming at me to jump out the window." He paused, staring down at his hands gripped over his knees.

Feeling his anguish, Marron made an involuntary movement, but he started to speak again. She sank back, wishing there was something she could say that would take away the dreadful haunted look on his face.

"What I do remember," Trunks said, "was the aftermath. The sight of the only home I'd ever known smoldering in ashes. Everything gone. My clothes, my books, my toys, my beloved train set, the family dog- and every single member of my family."

She waited, heart thumping, in what seemed an interminable silence while Trunks sat staring quietly into space.

Then just when she thought she could bear it no longer, he cleared his throat. "I was brought up by the only family member who would take me - an aunt, who lived a thousand miles away from the neighborhood where I grew up. She was kind, generous, and she did the best she could. But she wasn't married, and she wasn't too sure how to deal with this lonely, sad little boy who had been more or less dumped on her."

He uttered a sigh that would have broken Marron's heart if it wasn't in pieces already. "I had gone from being a member of a warm happy family to a kid with no friends, or anyone else who was familiar to me. Those were lonely years."

"I'm sorry," Marron whispered, aware of how inadequate those words could be.

Trunks turned to face her, and she saw a tear glistening in the corner of his eye. "Part of that was my fault," he said gruffly. "I crawled into my little hole of misery and stayed there. I wouldn't look back, or forward. I wouldn't let myself get close to anyone, or anything for that matter. I guess I figured what I didn't have I couldn't lose."

She was crying now, big fat tears that slid unheeded down her cheeks. She didn't even know if she was crying for him or for herself. It didn't seem to matter. Nothing mattered anymore."

"Marron," Trunks said brokenly, "I'm so sorry. I know I hurt you, but I thought I was doing what was best for both of us. I was blind, and stubborn, and incredibly selfish. I don't know if you can ever forgive me, but-"

"Don't," Marron sobbed, unable to bear anymore. "I understand, I really do. I have to go." She started to rise, but he reached out for her, his hands firm on her shoulders.

"I didn't realize the truth," he said deliberately, "until I saw you slip into the water and disappear from view. I thought I'd lost you. The devastation I felt was worse than anything I remembered. I realized then, that I'd already made a commitment to you, without even knowing it."

She caught her breath on a sob and stared at him, afraid to believe what she thought he was saying.

"Marron, I'm a changed man." He took her hands in his and held them to his chest. "I know that I have nothing to lose by loving you. Because, if I let you walk away from me now, I will have lost the only thing in the world that matters to me anyway."

Fresh tears fell from her cheeks and she gulped, unable to say a word.

Trunks leaned closer and peered at her anxiously. "I don't know if you could possibly love a reprobate like me, but I want you to know that I love you enough for both of us. All I'm asking is a chance to prove that I mean what I say. I've given up the old life, and I'm more than ready to settle down. All I need I you by my side and I'll have all the excitement I could ever want or need. Will you give me that chance?"

She nodded, struggling to control the stupid tears that wouldn't stop flowing.

Trunks sighed. "Thank God. I need, Marron. I need your caring, your capable way pf handling things, your common sense, you sweet sense of humor, your delicious cooking."

At least she could laugh, a choked little sound that caught in her throat. "I love you, Trunks. There'll never be anyone else for me."

He was immediately serious again. "Marron, all I want is to make you happy. Marry me, and we'll turn the house at the beach into a halfway home for runaway teens. I grew up without a family, and I'd enjoy having kids around me. It will be a whole new experience for me."

"If I marry you," she said, marveling at the words on her tongue, "you'll have a whole new family."

He looked anxious. "Do you think your family will like me?"

She pretended to think about it. "I think my sisters will envy me. I know my brothers will enjoy telling you how bossy I am, my mother will adore you, and my father." She paused, and smiled up at her future husband. "My father will be proud of the man I chose."

"I hope so," Trunks said, looking so worried her heart melted with tenderness.

She leaned forward and gave him a kiss that took a long time to end. Pulling back from him at last, she said carefully," I might be too busy for a while though, to run a halfway house."

He frowned. "Well, I'll understand if you want to go on working, but-"

She placed a finger on his lips. "I didn't mean that. I meant that I'll probably be too busy raising our own kids for a while."

He didn't need to answer her. His expression of joy and wonder took her breath away. She'd chosen well, she thought as he pulled her into his arms. She'd been wrong. Trunks Briefs was good husband material after all.

The end

Really :)

Masaka! I killed Starlie again! Oi! Live! This is the last chapter, really!

Well, I hope you enjoyed this fic as much as I did. I wanted the sad ending but due to popular demand, what I can I say? Now, don't tell me that I don't love you guys.

Thank you for all your reviews. I listed your names in alphabetical order so that it wouldn't seem that I favor some more than the others. (I don't usually lie, but, of course, what writer doesn't like reviews?)

Doumo arigatou gozaimasu!

Aerith Angie Maximillion Asanra Bishounen Chaser Bloodlust Night Carmen Forever Broken i won't tell Jill JoSav Juu Juu 2003 kawaii megami kazeko Kim Hallam Kinomi Kitsune kitty8688/kitty8688 the only Legolas Luver Lia Lily10 Litesea2 marron12 Marron-sk8er-069 punky gal pyromaniac1 Starry-Eyez888 Starlie SsJcHiKa terpischore TM or nothing! Trixie Gal Verci Winged Angel

And the same to all those readers who don't feel like reviewing. I was one of you before too.

I'd gladly give stuff like chocolate ice cream and the like but I can't figure out how to send it over the net :)

Now, that we're finished with the special sappy ending, go on and read Captive. Yeah, that's right. Shameless advertising from me. It won't be as innocent with locked up feelings like Helpless. Why does a certain reviewer that keeps on demanding romance pop in my mind? Hmmm.

Happy reading and see you at the next one!

Mata ne!