Disclaimer: Do not own DBZ or its characters.

Claimer: © Son Cheena

AN: Thanks for the reviews so far everyone. Much appreciated. Have you ever seen on t.v. when two people are telling the same story but they are talking to different people at different places? Well I'm about to try and pull that off in this chapter. It should be a piece of cake...I hope. See you at the end.

*~Chapter 7: Two Sides; One Story~*

Trunks tapped his fingers on the steering wheel as he waited at a red light. His eyes occasionally glanced over at his wife who had her attention out the passenger window, glaring at the car beside her.

"Cheena, what are you thinking about?" he asked as he glanced up at the light then back towards his wife. Clearing her throat, Cheena folded her arms across her chest and turned her attention towards the streetlight above them.

"Green." she said as she settled back against her seat, closing her eyes and sighing slightly. Glancing up at the light, Trunks shook his head as he pressed lightly on the gas and took off down the street. Pulling up in front of a large house, Trunks slowly stopped the car. The house was similar to the homes owned by their family members but this one was much bigger, with connecting smaller rooms attached to the main house. Climbing out the car, Cheena opened the back door and unbuckled her sons from their seats. Taking them both into her arms, Cheena backed up into the door to close it then walked towards the front door. Waiting at the door, Trunks took his son, Alex, out of his wife's hand and walked inside. Setting Li down, Cheena closed the front door and took her coat off. Hanging it up, she quickly walked off towards the kitchen. Watching her go, Trunks bent down and picked Li up.

"How about you boys go upstairs and play. Daddy has to talk to mommy for awhile, ok?" he asked as she set them both down.

"Ok" Li and Alex said together. Taking their coat's off, Trunks watched as the boys slowly walked up the stairs towards their room. Hanging not only their coats up but his as well, Trunks walked towards the kitchen. Pushing the door in, he looked to see his wife standing by the sink, glass of water in her hand.

"Let's talk about this" he said as he sat down at the kitchen table. Cheena looked up at the ceiling as she brought the rim of the glass to her lips. Taking a quick sip, she drummed her fingers along the side of the glass, eyes focused on the ceiling.

"There is nothing to talk about" she said as she brought the glass back to her lips and took another drink.

"I know you're still upset with your dad and that's bothering you" Trunks said as he stared at her. Finishing her glass of water, Cheena laughed slightly.

"Sorry to say but you don't know. You don't know if that is bothering me" she said as she turned towards the sink Placing the glass in the sink, she grabbed a long stemmed brush and cut the water on.

"If it's not bothering you then let's go back to the house" Trunks replied as he watched her. Scrubbing the glass in her hand, Cheena shook her head from side to side.

"You can go back if you wish but I will not. I refuse" she said as she scrubbed the glass even harder then before. Standing up, Trunks walked over and stood behind her. Looking at the glass, he shook his head before looking at his wife.

"Talk to me. Tell me what's on your mind" he said. Cheena shook her head as she continued to scrub the inside of the glass.

"No" she said as she dipped the water down into the water and continued to scrub the inside. Watching her, Trunks reached over and cut the water off. Taking her hands out the water, he reached for a towel and pressed it against her hands.

"Yes" he said as he continued to dry her hands. Cheena stared at him before pulling her hands away.

"Don't tell me yes. I don't have to tell you if I don't want to. There is nothing to tell. What do you want me to say?" she asked, her voice rising slightly.

"I want you to say what is bothering you. I want you to say what you're feeling now" Trunks said as he folded his arms across his chest.

"You want me to say what I'm feeling? DO YOU? I FEEL LIKE YELLING. THERE, ARE YOU HAPPY?" Cheena shouted before she placed her hand over her mouth. Dropping her hand down at her side, she turned her head, looking at the sink. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell it's just..." she said as her voice slowly trailed off. Taking her hand into his, Trunks lightly turned her face towards his, forcing her to look at him.

"I know but you should get rid of all this anger that is inside of you. Let's sit down and we can talk about it" he said as he led her over to the kitchen table. Sitting her down in one of the chairs, he quickly took the one next to her.

"I'm not sure I can talk about this. I've kept it inside for so long" Cheena said as she rested her elbows on the table.

"Well now I'm here to help you let it all out. If you want to yell then yell. I understand and I want you to yell. I want you to let it all out" Trunks said as he looked at her. Looking over at him, Cheena sighed.

"What about the boys?" she asked.

"Don't worry about them for now. They are upstairs playing. Let's worry about you right now" Trunks said as he placed his hand upon her back. Cheena ran her fingers through her hair, her head down facing the table. Nodding her head, she glanced over at Trunks.

"Are you sure you will listen?" she asked. Trunks grinned as he sat back in his chair.

"Of course unless something that's not important comes up" he said. Cheena laughed slightly as she pushed him lightly.

"Very funny" she said as she shook her head. Placing his hand behind his head, Trunks laughed.

"Well I needed you to laugh at least once" he said. Cheena smiled but then frowned as she stared at him. Looking at his hand resting on his lap, she quickly took it into her own.

"Well now it's time for me to be serious and I hope you are too" she said. Shutting his mouth, Trunks nodded his head, a look of seriousness on his face. Inhaling, Cheena slowly exhaled out, as she began her long awaited story to be told.

~*Son Residence*~

Looking at Chi-Chi, Goku walked over to her and tugged on the bottom of her pants leg.

"Chi-Chi, what's wrong with Cheena? I thought she was visiting?" he asked. Chi-Chi sighed as she sat down. She looked over at Goten as he held his daughter on his lap.

"I wish Gohan wouldn't have left. Maybe he would have been able to tell this" Chi-Chi said as she looked at the door.

"He wouldn't know the best way to tell it mom. He hasn't been here in awhile, especially when it happened" Goten said as he looked at his mother.

"When what happened?" Goku asked as he looked at his son. Goten looked at his father then over to his mother as she looked down at Goku.

"Goku, while you were gone, a few things changed around here" Chi-Chi finally said. Sitting down on the floor, Goku leaned back, placing his hands behind him.

"I don't understand Chi-Chi. The house still looks the same" he said as he looked around. Chi-Chi smiled slightly as she looked around as well.

"Mom doesn't mean the house, she means the people in the house" Goten said as he held his oldest daughter on his lap.

"What about the people in the house? You and Chi-Chi seem ok" Goku said as he turned his attention over to his son.

"I'm talking about Cheena, Goku. She changed once you left. She believed you were going to come back and when you never did...she just changed" Chi- Chi said.

"How did she change?" Goku asked as he looked between his wife and son.

"She hated everything and anyone who was against what she believed. She no longer believed in you. She believed in herself and only herself. She talked back, she was rude, and she came in at all hours of the night. She just changed who she was" Chi-Chi said. Goku blinked a few times before looking over at his son.

~*Briefs Residence*~

"I didn't know you stayed out at all hours of the night" Trunks said as he stared at her. Cheena laughed as she looked at him.

"Well there is a lot you didn't know about and I chose not to tell you. At that time you were getting ready to become President of Capsule Corps. I didn't want to ruin it for you by worrying about me. Besides, I didn't care about anything anyway so my behavior didn't even matter to me. How messed up is that?" Cheena asked as she stared at him.

"So you forgot all about your dad, I understand that, and you changed your attitude but why still hold a grudge against him?" Trunks asked. Staring at her husband, Cheena slowly stood up.

"Come on. I want to show you something" she said as she grabbed his hand. Standing up, Trunks followed along as Cheena led him out the kitchen and into the living room. Standing in front of wall, Cheena and Trunks both stared at the pictures on the wall. The wall was completely covered in pictures from them as children, their family and friends to the family they have now. Looking at the pictures, Trunks looked over at Cheena.

"I don't get it Cheena. We have pictures of Goku in almost half these pictures. What's the problem?" he asked. Cheena smiled as she looked at the all the pictures.

"You know, the reason we put these up here was for us to remember the past and for the kids to see how adorable I was when I was younger" she said. Trunks raised his eyebrow as he stared at her.

"Now I wouldn't say adorable..." he said as Cheena's head quickly turned towards his direction.

"Then what would you say" she said as she let go of his hand and folded her arms across her chest.

"...I would say beautiful" Trunks said grinning. Cheena smirked slightly as she turned back towards the pictures.

"That better be what you would say" she said as she stared at the pictures.

"Cheena, why are we standing here like this?" Trunks asked as his face grew serious. Reaching forward, Cheena took one of the pictures off the wall. Handing it to Trunks she frowned.

"What's wrong with that picture?" she asked. Trunks looked at her then at the picture. It was a picture of his wedding day. Trunks and Cheena stood in the center with her family beside her and Trunks family beside him. He smiled as he glanced at the picture.

"I don't see anything wrong with it" he said. Cheena frowned as she snatched the picture out of his hand.

"Well I do. I see no father in here. I see myself standing there with a smile on my face, acting as if everything was ok but knowing that it wasn't. Do you know how hurt I was when I walked down the aisle? DO YOU!?" she yelled. Trunks stared at the photo in her hand then at her.

"I could only imagine" he said, not sure of what to say. Laughing slightly, Cheena hung the picture back on the wall.

"Do you know I still thank Vegeta to this day? Kami knows he didn't have to walk me down that aisle. He didn't have to do that for me but he did. My own father in law so the question remains..." she said as she turned and looked at her husband. "...WHERE THE HELL WAS MY FATHER?" she yelled. Trunks stared at her, not sure if he should speak, not like he could say much. Shaking her head, Cheena again laughed slightly, water forming in her eyes.

"The twins birth, remember this picture?" she asked as she handed him the frame. Trunks looked at the picture in his hand. He saw his wife holding Li while he held Alex, sitting beside her on the bed. Around them again were their family members, and just like before, Goku was nowhere to be found.

"I know Goku wasn't here for this either but..." Trunks said as Cheena snatched the picture frame out his hand.

"But what? Don't make excuses for that man. Eventually I got over the fact that he wasn't there after the tournament but not there for the most important times in my life. Graduating from school, my wedding, my kids..he's never there...NEVER" Cheena said as she hung the frame back on the wall. Picking up another frame, she looked at it, a picture of everyone when she was only 7 years old.

"Cheena, I know Goku can't make up for what he missed but you can at least talk to him" Trunks said. Cheena stared at him and frowned.

"And say what to him Trunks? Thank you for missing out on the most important times of my life? He wasn't there when I was born and he wasn't there when my own children were born. He doesn't care...HE DOESN'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT ME, GOTEN OR MOM!" Cheena yelled as she tossed the frame on the floor, breaking the glass and frame. Trunks moved back slightly as he looked down at the frame. Staring at it as well, Cheena pressed the back of her hand to her mouth, hoping to silence the cries escaping her lips.

"Mom? Dad?" Li and Alex both said as they stood at the top of the stairs. Quickly turning around, Cheena wiped her eyes. Looking towards the staircase, Trunks turned and looked at Cheena.

"I'll take care of the boys then clean this up. Why don't you go and get some rest?" he asked. Shaking her head no, Cheena turned towards him.

"No, I made this mess and I'll clean it up" she said as she dropped down in front of him and started to tend to the broken glass. Watching her, Trunks quickly walked off towards a closet and pulled out a small broom and dustpan.

"Let me do it. I don't want you to cut yourself" he said. Cheena looked at him and nodded her head as she stood up. Sweeping up the glass, Trunks dumped it in the garbage and put the broom and dustpan away. Sitting on the chair arm, Cheena glanced down at her hands.

"I don't know why I'm so upset about this? I mean, should I be?" she asked. Picking up the picture, Trunks set it to the side and walked over to his wife.

"Your dad hurt not only you but your brothers and mother as well. I can't say if you should still be mad at him but I can say that you should talk to him. Just listen to what he has to say" he said. Cheena nodded her head as she looked out the corner of her eye to see her sons slowly walking towards her and Trunks.

"Mom, are you ok?" Alex asked slowly. Cheena smiled then nodded her head slowly.

"I'm ok. I just need to go for a walk, that's all" she said as she looked at Trunks. Standing up in front of him, Cheena lightly kissed him on the lips. "I'll be back in time for dinner" she said. Running his hands up and down her arm, Trunks nodded.

"I'll either have it made or we can order out. I think it'll be smart to have it ordered out" he said. Cheena smiled then looked down at her sons. Turning away from Trunks, she dropped down in front of them and gave them each a hug.

"Can we go too?" Li asked as she pulled away from him. Shaking her head no, Cheena stood up and brushed her hand over her hair.

"Not this time. I'll be back later, ok." Cheena said as she looked at Trunks. Nodding his head, Trunks walked over and lifted his son's up into his arms. Smiling at the three of them, Cheena quickly turned and walked towards the front door. Grabbing her coat, she opened the door and walked out, closing it behind her.

"Dad, what's wrong with mommy?" Li asked as he watched the door close.

"Is she going to be ok?" Alex asked as he looked at Trunks. Staring at the door, Trunks cleared his throat then smiled, looking at his sons.

"Your mom will be just fine. Let's go upstairs and get ready for dinner" he said as he turned towards the stairs.

"Ok but can we order pizza tonight?" Li and Alex asked said together as Trunks walked up the stairs, disappearing around the corner.

~*Son Residence*~

The room was silent as Chi-Chi and Goten told Goku of all the events that took place over those past years. Looking down at the ground, Goku was left speechless.

"Don't feel so bad dad. I mean, Cheena will get over it" Goten said.

"She shouldn't have to get over anything. I should have been there for her, for all of you. You shouldn't have been forced to be the man of the house. I should have been here" Goku said.

"Yes you should have been here dad but the fact remains that you weren't and that brought us all down. I can't even say I forgive you for not being here when you should have been" Goten said. Chi-Chi quickly looked over at her son then looked away.

"I know you don't forgive me Goten but I can only hope that in time you will" Goku said. Shaking his head, Goten stood up with his daughter in his arms.

"You weren't here when mom was crying over you and you weren't here trying to handle Cheena and you weren't here when I needed someone to go to. Gohan wasn't always there for me so I had to figure things out on my own or go to my mother. I should have had my father there for me when I had questions. What did I know about getting married? I needed my father there to explain something's to me. Anything at all" Goten said.

"I'm sorry for that Goten. I don't know what else I can say" Goku said as he stared at his son.

"I don't know what else you can say either dad. I really don't. You chose what you wanted to do and you did it" Goten said. Standing up, Goku looked at his son.

"Goten, I just couldn't pass up that opportunity to train Uub. I just shouldn't of stayed away as long as I did" Goku said.

"You shouldn't have left in the first place. I know you always have to be this perfect person but I'd rather you of been here as my dad then out training someone you don't even know" Goten said.

"I said I was sorry Goten now drop it" Goku said, getting slightly irritated. Sensing this, Goten growled slightly as she stared at his dad.

"You have no right to get upset here. Mom, Cheena and I have plenty of rights however. You hurt us all and now you expect to just walk back into..." he started before Chi-Chi cut him off.

"...that's enough Goten" she said as she stared at him. Looking at his mother, Goten sighed.

"Whatever" he said as he held his daughter close to him. Walking by his mother, he looked down at his father. Shaking his head, he slowly walked up the stairs and towards the room he shared with his wife. Chi-Chi kept her head lowered as she heard the bedroom door close upstairs. Goku looked towards the stairs then at his wife.

"Chi-Chi, I'm sorry" he said. Chi-Chi kept her head lowered as a smile crept on her face.

"I know Goku and I'm sorry too" she said as she stood up. Goku looked up at her, a puzzled look on his face.

"Why are you sorry?" he asked. Chi-Chi looked at him then turned away.

"I'm sorry for myself because I should have been used to this" she said as she closed her eyes, forbidding any tears to fall down her face.

"Should have been used to what?" Goku asked.

"I should have been used to you leaving for days, weeks, years and coming back. I should have known you'd be back someday, not as a kid, but back either way. I should have been used to the pain that you put me through" she said. Goku was silent as he dropped his head, his hands lying still at his side. Laughing slightly, Chi-Chi looked up at the ceiling.

"Chi-Chi, I'm..." Goku started as Chi-Chi cut in just like she did with Goten.

"...sorry, yes I know. Listen, I'll have dinner ready in a little bit" she said as she turned and walked towards the kitchen. Watching her disappear behind the door, Goku sighed as he looked around the house. Shaking his head, he quickly walked towards the front door. Opening the kitchen door, Chi-Chi stared at him as she watched him open the door.

"Goku, where are you going?" she asked. Looking back at his wife, Goku smiled.

"I'm just going outside for some fresh air. I'll be back in time for dinner. I..." Goku started before he stopped. He wasn't about to make a promise to her, knowing how he and promises worked.

"Ok Goku, I'll have dinner ready for you when you get back. Put a coat on or something, its cold outside." Chi-Chi said as she walked back into the kitchen. Turning his smile into a frown, Goku stepped outside into the cool air. Shivering slightly, he closed the door behind him.

"I don't think any of my old clothes will fit me anyhow. Besides, right now maybe this cool air will wake me up from the dream I've been living for so long" he said as he looked around. Closing his eyes, he slowly opened them and flew off into the sky, not sure of where he was going, but sure that he needed to just get away from it all for a while.

Walking along the street, Cheena kept her hands in her pocket and her head lowered. Reaching the corner, she looked to see that she had the right of way and slowly cross the street. Grabbing the collar to her jacket, Cheena pressed it close to her neck as the cool breeze blew around her.

"Wish I knew where I was going" she said as she continued walking. Looking up, she saw that she was in front of all places, Capsule Corps. Shrugging her shoulders, Cheena slowly walked towards the front door and rung the bell. Looking around, she turned towards the door as it opened to see Bulma staring at her.

"Hi Bulma" she said with a weak smile on her face. Bulma smiled but then frowned as she looked behind Cheena.

"Goku? Is that you?" she asked. Cheena's eyes went wide as she turned around to see her father behind her.

"Mind if I talk to you, Cheena?" he said. Cheena stared at him then turned towards Bulma.

"Can I come in?" she asked. Bulma nodded her head as she stepped to the side.

"Are you coming in too Goku?" Bulma asked as Cheena walked by her and inside. Goku nodded his head as he slowly followed after Cheena inside. Bulma watched him walk in before closing the door behind him, keeping the cool air outside. Goku kept his eyes on Cheena as she walked in front of him.

"Cheena, we really need to talk" he said. Rolling her eyes, Cheena folded her arms across her chest.

"You just talk. I'll listen if I must" she said. Goku nodded his head and took in a deep breath as he continued after his daughter but one thought still remained on his mind...would she be willing to listen to him and not only that...forgive him?

AN2: Next Chapter: Goku and Cheena talk. What is the outcome? How is everyone else coping with Goku's return, meaning Bulma and Vegeta? Also, how do you tell your kids what happened so long ago? Well Trunks and Goten are about to try and explain it all to their kids. To see how it goes you'll have to check out the next chapter. Now you know the drill, leave a review. Please and Thank You. ^_^