Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ, there. I admit it.

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 Chapter 2

So what went wrong?

'Was it because of his ambition to be the best fighter, to beat Goku?'

'Did we distract him so much that he had to pretend we don't exist?'

'Was it too much to for him to show that he cared about us?'

'Didn't he love me at all?'

Bulma thoughts raced through her head. She let drops of tears escape her ocean eyes. She inhaled her cigarette deeply and closed her eyes. She puffed out all the smoke, as though she was releasing all her stress. She was sitting alone in her laboratory looking out the window.

She watched her son running around his garden, who seemed to be training. He was punching and kicking the air. He did few impressive flips also, probably to show off to his mom. He knew that she could see him from her laboratory. Bulma couldn't help but to smile.

It has been 6 years since Vegeta left them. Trunks grew up as a bright 8-year-old boy. She was now the president of Capsule Corp. after her father's retirement. She was vibrant and looking young as always have been.

Bulma and Trunks got along very well, enjoying each other's company. They had so much fun together. They seemed to be so much alike, both confident and fun-loving.

But he was also so much like his father. He was too young to have any memories of him, but he had so much of his father in him. From his intense eyes to his egoistical smirk, Trunks was clearly Vegeta's son.

Also, to Bulma's amazement, he could turn Super Saiya-jin; and he was only 8. And he did it with such ease, as though it was something natural in him. He didn't need the explosion of rage that drove Goku, Vegeta and Gohan into Super Saiya-jin. For Trunks, two pairs of hard-held fists seemed to be the only requirement for the transformation.

Bulma would never forget the day she saw him in Super Saiya-jin form for the first time. He called her and her parents to the garden and showed them what he could do. It was unforgettable the way his whole body ignited with light; his lavender hair to golden flames; his blue eyes to emerald green. And to astonishment, he kept his cheeky smile through the whole quick transformation. He made her so proud, and she knew if Vegeta were there, he would have been proud too.

Every time she missed Vegeta, she tried not to feel sorry for her and Trunks. Instead she told herself that even if Vegeta were here, it wouldn't make much difference. All he ever did was to train all day and try to pick an argument with her. He would just stand with his arms crossed and his face plastered with a smirk, like he was the only one who existed.

But in some corner of her mind, she knew it would make a difference. As much as she hated to admit, she hated the fact that Trunks was growing up without his father.

So she defended Vegeta for her son. She planted positive things about Vegeta to Trunks – only positives. She told him constantly, how his father is a prince of all Saiya-jins, how powerful he is, and how he is coming back someday, after his little 'business trip' (what she called it to make sure Trunks understand). She would never forget his excited reaction ('I belong to a Royal family? I'm not only the richest kid in the world, but my dad's also a prince? Does that make me a prince as well, mum? Ha! Wait 'till I tell Goten! He has to call me 'your highness'!'). She always kept her smile and hoped and prayed that his son won't be disappointed. She hated to disappoint her son.

'Don't give up on father.'

Bulma remembered Future Trunks' words. And she hoped that the hope he gave her was worth waiting for.

'He never said he was going for good,' she thought, trying to plant some hope into her mind. She clearly remembered the day he left and he did not say that he wasn't coming back.

'He didn't say anything at all,' she remembered as she had another inhale of her cigarette. She let out a smoke out of her mouth, releasing it instead of her tears. She felt weak, ashamed to cry for a man who left her 6 years ago.

"Ms. Briefs," a voice came from the speakerphone on her desk.

"Yes," Bulma answered as she threw away her cigarette.

"You have a guest. It's your friend, Son Gohan."

"Send him up here," said Bulma, wiping off the tear marks on her cheeks.

~~~

"Hi Bulma!" spoke a shy but a cheery voice.

"Hey Gohan! How's school?" Bulma asked.

"School is good…"

"Hey Gohan!" Trunks came flying into Gohan. Gohan rubbed Trunks head as he greeted him back.

"Hi, Trunks! You've grown!" Gohan commented, chuckling.

"So, how's my invention?" Bulma asked. She was referring to the Great Saiyaman suit she had built for him few days ago. Gohan didn't answer, trying to find the words to say. Bulma caught on and asked.  

"Why? What happened?"

Gohan began to explain that Mr. Satan's daughter, Videl was in his class, and how she's threatening to tell the whole world of his identity if he doesn't enter the World Martial Arts Championship. He told her that Videl found out about his identity because of his voice.

"So you want me to build the helmet so it alters your voice?" she asked.

"No, I can't wear anything that might give me an advantage over the opponents in the tournament. I can't wear anything that might lessen the damage of the attacks."

"Ah, so you just need something to cover your identity? That's easy!" Bulma then ran out of the room to grab her solution. She came back with a pair of sunglasses and a sheet of fabric. Gohan and Trunks both looked puzzled at first. She handed Gohan the sunglasses to wear and began to wrap his head with the fabric.

"That's perfect!" Gohan exclaimed as he looked at the full mirror near by.

"So, Trunks, what do you think? Don't I look stylish or what?" he asked as he turned to the little Saiya-jin.

"I'm not going to say anything," Trunks replied in I'm-just-glad-it's-not-me voice.

"So Gohan, what's fun in entering the competition when it's so certain that you are going to win?" asked Bulma. It was true. Despite the fact he didn't train since he defeated Cell, he was certain to win.

"I want to enter too!" said a mystical voice from above. But of course Gohan and Bulma could easily recognise the goofy voice. Trunks just stood puzzled and looked around.

"DAD!"

"GOKU!"

"How are you Dad?" asked Gohan in excitement.

"I'm… well… even though I'm dead…" Goku answered in unsure voice.

"It's good to hear from you, Goku!" said Bulma with a wide smile.

"You too, Bulma. I can't wait 'till I see everyone! I can come to Earth for a day of the tournament. It's been a while since I was there, you know?"

"Mom will be so pleased! And Goten can finally see you!" said Gohan, who just can't seem to wipe off the smile.

"So I'll see you guys then!" Goku said in energetic voice.

"Bye!" Bulma and Gohan said almost at the same time. Trunks was still looking around, trying to figure out where the voice came from.

"Gohan, you better tell everyone about Goku. Maybe they'll want to enter too," said Bulma, in a cheery voice.

Gohan nodded and flew straight out of the window. Bulma and Trunks waved good-bye and in a second, Gohan disappeared completely from their view.

"So who was that, mom?" Trunks asked, not holding back his curiosity.

"That was Goku, Gohan and Goten's father," she answered, smiling down at her son.

"But, how can he speak to us, I mean, he's dead right? And how can he come back for a day if he's dead?" the purple-haired boy asked as he sparkled his blue eyes.

"Uh…" Bulma struggled for words. Bulma did not quite know how it worked, as she's never been dead before. Goku explained to her about the whole thing a long time ago, but he wasn't the best person to explain to her.

"Let's just say anything's possible, Trunks. Goku is a very… interesting person," Bulma answered, while looking unsure herself.

Trunks seemed satisfied at her answer; or just had something else in his mind. He seemed to be thinking, because she saw a familiar face on him – herself. He had that expression she had, when she was thinking, trying to build an invention. She waited for her son to say something, to fill her in.

"If anything is possible, mom… do you think dad will come back for this competition? I mean, since Goten's dad's coming back and everything… and dad's really strong, so maybe he might come back…"

Bulma nearly shed a tear. But she didn't; she couldn't. She could not cry in front of her son. So instead, she took one deep breath and kneeled down in front of her son, matching his height. She put on a brave smile on her face. She touched her son's cheek and stared into his eyes. He just stared back innocently. 'God, he's cute,' she thought.

"Who knows? Anything's possible."  

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