Pre-read Announcement: After reading some of the reviews I feel it only fair to tell you that you never find out why Vegeta left ::sweatdrop:: And that I have a fear of mobs! ::ahem:: At least, you don't find out why he left in this story. If you want to find out why Vegeta left, you have to read the sequel which I have not posted yet, and won't until all of this story is posted.

Sometimes I just forget
Say things I might regret
It breaks my heart to see you crying
-Peter Certera

Trunks awoke sweating. He glanced at the clock. It read 3:17 am. He then remembered why he had woken. He had had that dream again. The same scene kept playing in his mind. His mother shouted for Vegeta to stay, he, Trunks took a fighting stance to stop him, and then swore to never forgive him... Trunks pushed himself out of bed and downstairs for water. He walked sleepily into the kitchen, not noticing he was not the only one there.

"You should be asleep." said a deep voice. Trunks turned to see Vegeta.

"It's not easy to sleep when the visions of your father leaving you keep playing in your head." Trunks retorted. The words seemed to have the desired effect on Vegeta. He suddenly looked very uncomfortable and his cheeks were tinted with pink.

"What did you and Mom talk about?" Trunks questioned, even though he had heard it.

"Nothing."

"You'd better let it out soon, she's tired of waiting."

"She's been waiting five years; she can wait a few more days." Vegeta caught the fist that came flying towards him. An angry face looked up at him.

"She should never have had to wait, you jerk. You should've been here the whole time! If you really don't care about us then leave! We're better off without you!" With that and no retaliation from Vegeta, Trunks took off to his room.

"Get up Trunks." The voice was hard and frozen. Trunks woke up bleary eyed and saw Vegeta standing over him.

"What time is it?" Trunks muttered.

"Five-thirty." Vegeta answered.

"Get up; it's time for your training." Trunks nearly laughed.

"Yeah right." He chuckled, "Next time, only wake me if it's important." He rolled over, turning his back to Vegeta.

"I'm serious Trunks, I'll blast you."

"No you won't." Trunks was wrong. He massaged his tired and now aching face.

"You can't come in here and expect me to obey your every command after five years!" Trunks nearly shouted.

"I'm not seven years old anymore!"

"Correct. So you shouldn't be as weak. Let's start with 200g's this morning."

"Pft, child's play." said Trunks quietly. Vegeta heard him.

"Correct again, 300g's should be more of a challenge." Trunks began to protest but decided against it. He had been working at 275g's, but he was not going to show any signs of weakness.

Trunks cringed as 300x's Earth's gravity pressed down on him. Vegeta, however, sighed as if he'd just sunk into a hot bath.

"Get ready." advised Vegeta. Trunks resisted the gravity enough to slide his foot back and place his arms in front of his face. He was not sure if he could do anything more. No. he told himself. This was his chance to get back at Vegeta for everything. He would win. For once, he had to. Vegeta came at him. Trunks's body reacted automatically to block Vegeta's punch. Vegeta's face showed mild surprise. Trunks smirked. Vegeta continued a series of punches. Trunks blocked them all except the last on. As if in slow motion, Trunks felt his body fall and roll as it hit the floor. Vegeta stared down at him, breathing slightly heavy.

"It seems," he said, "that you are right brat, I can't treat you like a seven year old anymore." Trunks watched from the floor as Vegeta's hair turned blonde and his eyes, turquoise. Battling the gravity to stand, Trunks followed the suite. He was startled that it felt good. He felt re- born. He had power coursing through him. He straightened up fully. The gravity felt almost miniscule now.

"You haven't powered up in awhile, have you?" Vegeta asked. "Feels good, doesn't it? The gravity feels like nothing. But believe it or not, you're straining to keep this level."

"Shut up." Trunks growled, and sped fist first to his opponent. Vegeta was put on the defensive this round. Trunks threw each fist at Vegeta repeatedly. Vegeta blocked them all. Trunks brought his knee flying into the Prince's chin. Vegeta recovered quickly and responded by bombarding his son with disks of energy that sent Trunks spinning into the air.

Trunks wiped the sweat from his brow. That last attack was stronger than anything he's ever used on me, thought Trunks. No! He shook his head. I will not let him win this! It's my turn! For once I will be the one who knocks him to the floor!

"Are you going to come down or should I go up?" Vegeta called. I will win! Resolved, Trunks closed his eyes to focus. He gathered energy from all of his body, concentrating it into a beam and released it. By the time Vegeta realized what Trunks was doing he did not have time to dodge. Vegeta was blasted into the ground. Trunks landed and walked calmly to where Vegeta lay.

"Weak am I Vegeta?" Trunks's eyes and heart burned with malice. But as he stared at Vegeta, sprawled on the floor, eyes endeavoring to open, and blood spilling down his face, Trunks had a second emotion: compassion. For a brief instant, Trunks wanted to reach down and hug him, tell him he forgave him for everything. Just as quickly though, the almost overpowering Saiyan-like desire came to kill Vegeta, his father. Trunks extended his arm powering an energy ball, ready to give into that desire. But as he released the ball, a more human voice used his mouth to cry,

"NO!" The blast went astray and Trunks snapped back; complete and utter fear overpowering him. He dashed out of the room shutting off the gravity as he ran. Vegeta sat up enough to yell,

"We're not done yet brat!"

Trunks pulled a blanket over himself. He was terribly frightened by what just happened. He had wanted to kill the man lying on the floor, unable to move himself. Trunks guessed it was the Saiyan half. But what if he could never control it? He'd been so close to committing murder a few minutes ago, what if he could not stop himself next time? Was that what Vegeta felt every time he looked down on a weakened opponent, even a seven year old boy? A wave of aching tiredness came over the child, and he slumped onto his bed in fretful slumber.

Vegeta walked quietly into a familiar room. It was his son's room. Sometimes he would come in here and watch Trunks sleep. He could still remember the time that Bulma was away on a business trip. There had been a thunderstorm that night. Trunks had come running into his room and clung to his arm. Vegeta gazed into the face of his sleeping son. It was troubled and angry. A steamed tear crawled down Trunks's cheek. Vegeta wiped it away with a gloved hand and turned to leave. A sweaty hand came out from under the blankets and grasped the air.

"Don't leave Daddy...I'll fight...my fault..." With seven words the Prince of Saiyan's felt his cold heart shatter. He walked back to his son.

"Trunks, I am never going anywhere." Vegeta swore, gripping the small hand firmly.

"Don't worry." Lightly, he kissed his son's forehead.

Vegeta walked into another familiar room. He knew it well. He knew the lamp, the TV, the dresser and the bed. He had slept in here often, though Bulma never knew. He was always up before her and went to bed after her. He touched the bedpost. A flood of memories rushed back. The sight was no different. Bulma, asleep with soft blue hair falling into her eyes. Himself, standing there admiring her beauty. Vegeta knelt beside the bed.

"I hurt you Bulma, and Trunks. He hates me now. Well, I guess I accomplished half of what I set out to do. Now I don't think I could ever make you hate me, no matter what I do." He stood and turned to leave.

"Vegeta," Bulma murmured, "love you..."

"I love you too Bulma, but then, you already knew that." Vegeta said to her unconscious ears. He tried again to leave but his legs would not move. The empty space on the opposite side of the bed looked inviting. She would not notice if he slept there one night. And so, kicking off his trademark white boots he lay down in the space that had so long been deserted.

Thank you for the reviews! ::sniffs:: I love you guys! Anyway, I did have a question that I hope the answer will be emailed to me. One review I got brought to my attention that 'Aishiteru' is the incorrect form of 'I love you' for this story and now that the reviewer has told me, I feel incredibly stupid for not remembering that. Anyway, I would very much appreciate it if that reviewer would be kind enough to tell me the correct form so I can edit the end before I post it. Either that or I'll have to switch to English. The review probably told me and I didn't catch it, but forgive me. Ok, that's it for now!