"I Love You…Good Bye"
Lemme see, where should I start? Well, first of all I owe all of you an apology for my rude rant of an A/N in the last chapter. Needless to say I had been having a bad week and took it out on my poor readers. Those of you who noted the fact that I said that I would still be updating everyday and then found that I didn't all weekend, good for you, you paid attention. I had a very busy weekend in which I didn't get a chance to even attempt to write. So that's my big apology for you all. Me sorry, you read.
Jared- First of all, I know for a fact that Jared didn't write that. In the future, for all of my friends who want to give me a review, leave our personal life out of it. That would be greatly appreciated, Andria. *cough, cough*
Disclaimer: Took me long enough to get here, huh? Yep, that's right, I don't own 'em.
Chapter 16:
Marron smiled slightly as Goten turned over in her lap. 'At least he doesn't snore.' Marron thought sarcastically. He had fallen asleep in her lap for one reason or another and was a very uneasy sleeper. He had a tendency to get into positions not even Marron knew were possible while he slept. Marron jumped as Goten's hand subconsciously came up to stroke her hair. Marron giggled and adjusted her position on the couch. But her movement had been too much because Goten's eyes snapped open and he looked groggily up into her face.
"You're awake?" Marron asked teasingly.
"….why didn't you get me up?" Goten asked as he looked around confused.
"You looked so peaceful and content, I didn't have the heart to do that." Marron said as Goten lifted his head from her lap. He stood up and stretched. When he was done he looked back down on Marron who sat waiting for Goten to get all the kinks out.
"You're too kind." Goten said as he grabbed Marron's hands and lifted her to her feet.
"And you're a softy." Marron whispered as the two rubbed noses. (I think those are called Eskimo kisses?) Goten laughed a hollow laugh and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her down to the couch again.
"Is that so? Well, maybe I can change that." Goten nuzzled his nose into Marron's hair taking deep breaths of the wonderfully scented blond locks. Goten felt a pressure against his chest and looked up to find Marron pushing away.
"You don't get anything until you tell me what you've been doing lately." Marron said stubbornly. Goten could've easily held her despite her pushing, but being the gentleman that he is he let her go. Besides, he loved and respected her.
"What are you talking about?" Goten asked trying his best to look innocent. He did a good job at it, but Marron knew better. She looked at his skeptically as though to say, 'I know you're not that dense'.
"You know what I'm talking about." Marron said exasperated. When he still said nothing she sighed and went on. "You weren't there to take me shopping. You couldn't go out to dinner with the Sons the Briefs and me. Your excuse is always 'I had to do something important' what is it that you're doing?" Marron looked at Goten expectantly. Goten looked into Marron's eyes and saw that she was slightly hurt and sad from his neglecting her. 'It's been a while since I've seen Marron genuinely happy. Where did her smile go?'
"I can't tell you, Marron. Trust me, I would like nothing more than to be with you, but the stuff I'm doing is important. I can't tell you." Goten repeated. Marron looked down. Goten was sure she was close to tears. Goten hadn't always been exactly honest with her. He had hurt her more than once, and he was thoroughly sorry about those times.
"You know, I think Bulma and your mom are trying to get me and Trunks back together." Marron said quietly. Goten cringed and with two fingers he gingerly lifted her head to meet his eyes. She was in tears. Goten opened his mouth but before he could say anything, Marron was in his arms. "I don't want Trunks, I want you." Marron said into Goten's chest. Goten nodded despite the fact that Marron's vision wasn't going to be able to see him.
"I know, I don't ever want that to happen. I know their reasons. They're just greedy old women. They won't break us up." Goten said, his face contorted into a determined look.
"I know why your mother wouldn't want us together, she's afraid her little boy might leave her again for another three years. But why would Bulma be so bent on Trunks and I?" Marron asked from Goten's chest.
"I dunno." Goten said asking himself the same question. She looked up at him and kissed him softly. "I thought-," Marron shook her head.
"Your statement about us not breaking up made up for it. Besides, knowing you, your reasons for not being there to take me shopping must be important." Marron smiled. Not a happy smile. She kissed him again and got up from the couch to go help her mother with dinner.
Goten gulped. "Yeah, important." Goten got up as well to go train in the backyard with Krillan.
Marron sidled into the kitchen where her mother was preparing a large dinner. Since Goten was going to stay for dinner, she had no choice but to make a larger meal than usual.
"Hey, sweetie." 18 said distractedly. Marron smiled in response and leaned up against the counter. She folded her arms and began to fidget uneasily. 18 looked up and saw Marron's reaction. "What's wrong?"
"Hm? Nothing's wrong, mom. Why do you ask?" Marron said quietly. 'Please help me, mommy.' Marron silently pleaded. 18 knew how to take a hint.
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe it's because you're acting a lot different than you used to when you had boyfriends over." 18 let the knife that she had been holding clatter to the sink and she wiped her hands on a dishtowel. Marron now had all of her attention.
"Mom, Goten isn't like any other boyfriends I've had over." Marron said looking to her mother for comfort.
"You're not here to talk about that though." 18 said quietly. Marron shook her head and hugged her mother tightly.
"Do you know what Goten's been doing lately?" Marron asked hopefully. She pulled back from her mother and looked at her with beseeching eyes.
18 smiled and shook her head. "I promised I wouldn't tell." 18 watched Marron's reaction and added hastily. "And your father can't tell you either." Marron slumped into a chair and pouted. 18 chuckled softly and sat down in a chair opposite of her daughter.
"Mom, I don't know what's going on anymore." Marron admitted, letting all barriers towards her mother down so that she could seek her motherly advice openly. "Ever since I came back, everyone's acted so different towards me. I don't know what to feel. Some of them are acting as though I'm a complete stranger, and some are acting a little too friendly." Marron almost whined. 18 placed a gentle hand over Marron's comfortingly and smiled a loving smile.
"Marron, I know it's different for you. It's different for us too. When I say 'us', I mean everyone who knew you as a child and watched you grow up into the woman that we see before us today. You're a beautiful, successful girl who has a wonderful boyfriend and a life elsewhere. Some people would die to be in your shoes." 18 said softly.
"Mom, I don't care about that. I just want to know why everyone is acting so different towards me." Marron demanded.
"Well, have you ever given a thought to what they must be feeling?" 18 asked with a cocked eyebrow as to say that it should've been obvious why everyone is acting differently towards her. "I mean, here, this little girl that they watched grow up is coming home from college. They don't know how to act around you, Marron. They think you're acting strangely as well." Marron looked up. She slowly understood what her mother meant.
"So you're saying that I've changed, and it's not them?" Marron asked.
"That's not what I'm saying. I'm just saying, that you've been away for quite a while. You didn't even to bother coming home for Christmas. This is the first they've seen of you or even heard from you in three years. How do you think they would act? Happy? Sad? Mad…?" 18 waited for her daughter's reaction. She couldn't read it however.
'Who could be mad at me? I didn't think I meant that much to anybody except for my parents. Who would be mad at me other than them for leaving for so long? Who is she talking about?' Marron wondered.
"I heard you and Trunks had a nice time shopping." 18 said suddenly snapping Marron out of her thoughts.
"Oh? Who told you?" Marron asked, slightly peeved that her mother had torn her from her thoughts.
"Bulma. I saw the dress. It's beautiful." 18 cooed. She got out of the chair and picked up the knife. She began to chop some celery. She had clearly had enough of giving Marron advice. 'Hey, they girl's gotta learn on her own sometime.' "Did Trunks help you pick it out?" 18 asked casually. Marron snorted.
"No, he didn't help me at all. He only told me I looked 'ok' and that's all he would say." Marron said, a slight tint of anger in her eyes.
"And you believed him?" 18 asked in disbelief.
"Well, yeah. Why wouldn't I?" Marron asked confused.
"Sweetie, you look stunning in almost anything you wear for starters. And, he and you had something between the two of you before you left. I'm not saying he's trying to get you back, all I'm saying is that he's Vegeta's son." 18 looked up from her chopping and laughed as Marron's face went a bright shade of crimson.
"Why is being Vegeta's son an excuse?" Marron asked changing to subject. Her mother knew though.
"Marron, being a man makes Vegeta stubborn and arrogant, but being the 'saiyan prince' makes him stupid, stubborn and arrogant. What would you expect his son to be like?" 18 chuckled. Marron stroked her hair absent-mindedly.
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Marron laughed.
Krillan poked his head in from the backyard. "Do I smell food?" He asked excitedly.
"It's just about ready." 18 said she looked up and gasped in disgust. "You have time to take a shower though." Marron laughed. Her father was drenched in sweat and had dirt and blood blotches over his face. Goten was obviously giving him a run for his money.
"I thought I looked pretty." Krillan said faking a hurt look and then his head disappeared as he went to go put the weights away. Marron looked over at 18 and she looked over at Marron, they both exploded in a fit of giggles.
*fin
What a touching mother daughter moment, eh? Yeah, well, again, I want to apologize for giving you hell in the last chapter. I didn't mean to sound so…well,… mean. Unless I have a really good reason, then I'll be updating everyday. Get it? Got it? Good.
~S saiyan Vegeta4013
