The Lost Art of Keeping A Secret

--Out of the Frying Pan...And Into the Fire--

"So, you two are actually together now?" Trunks asked as they sped through the clouds.

"We should focus on finding Dad instead of holding a conversation," Bra said, not even looking at her brother. She didn't want to talk to him about it and he didn't want to hear about it. It was a win/win situation if they left it alone.

"Hey, I just wanted to give you my blessing," Trunks told her.

Bra thought for a moment. That was really sweet of Trunks to say. It made her wonder if he felt alright. Maybe he was sick or maybe.... Was her brother dying? Of what? She wasn't sure what to say. Trunks' intentions toward her were rarely ever positive. As a matter of fact, he had always been the villain as far as she was concerned.

She kept silent and increased her speed. And of course, her brother did the same. Her main focus was the safety and well-being of Goten. And heaven only knew what Vegeta might do now that she too had angered him.

Tracking their father, Trunks and Bra ended up at the Sons' house. They could see ChiChi standing at the front door, giving Vegeta an angry look. From what Bra could tell, her father had only just arrived. She and her brother landed nearby.

"Goku isn't here right now. You'll have to fight with him tomorrow," ChiChi told Vegeta. She had her arms folded across her chest and a dish towel in one hand.

Not even the lady of the house feared Vegeta. And she knew that it got under her father's skin.

Vegeta folded his arms across his chest as well. "That's not why I'm here, woman. I'm looking for your youngest brat. Now where is he?" he spat out.

ChiChi leaned against the entrance with her arms still folded. "You have no manners whatsoever. It would probably kill you to be polite for a change."

"I have no time for your nonsense! Now tell me where the brat is!" Vegeta bellowed.

"I'm not telling you anything with that attitude, Mister," ChiChi said. She looked over toward the wooded area and noticed Bra and Trunks standing there. "What is this?"

Bra decided to emerge from behind the trees. "Hi, Mrs. Son." It was only proper to speak. Especially to the mother of the man you loved. "Dad, it's time to go home."

Vegeta gave Bra a very angry look. "I knew you were following me. You and that brother of yours." He looked over at Trunks as he too walked out from behind the trees.

"Daddy, I want you to come home. You're so mad right now you can't even think straight," Bra told her father.

"Don't tell me what to do, child," Vegeta muttered through his teeth angrily.

"I am NOT a child! Why can't any of you see that?" Bra shouted. She folded her arms across her chest and tears threatened her eyes. Was she pouting? That's exactly what she was doing. Maybe she really WAS just a child.

The look on Vegeta's face softened a bit. He could never stand to see his daughter angry. And he could never ever stand to see his daughter cry. Crying was not an option in their household. Not even when they were young. Their father called it a sign of weakness. But it was really his weakness to see someone cry.

"Bra, are you ok?" ChiChi asked. "Why don't you come in and sit down?"

Bra didn't let her tears fall. She couldn't. Not in front of her father. Not in front of her brother. And definitely not in front of ChiChi. For some reason, she felt the need to give ChiChi the impression that she was a strong woman both emotionally and physically. So she sucked up her tears. "No, thank you. We'd better take our dad home."

Vegeta squinted his eyes. "I'll go. But it doesn't change that brat's fate."

ChiChi looked at Trunks. "What's his problem anyway?"

"Too much coffee. He's just really wired," Trunks lied.

Bra was confused for a second. Why would Trunks tell her that? Well, surely no mother would want to hear that someone had intentions of killing her youngest son. Not only that, But ChiChi had a bit of a temper herself. It was really for the best. Man, Trunks was smart. She didn't give her brother enough credit sometimes.

"See ya later, Mrs. Son," Bra called as she, her brother and her father started back toward Capsule Corp.

None of them spoke. It would be dangerous to say the wrong thing while in mid flight. Their father could cut and run at any time. There was no telling what that guy was thinking.

--back at CC--

They had done a superb job of retrieving their father and bringing him back home. He seemed much calmer after the long silent flight. And Goku had left before Vegeta got home. That was good. Seeing him here would have only angered him again. Vegeta sat on the sofa and turned on the TV to watch the news.

Bulma must have been off in her lab. It was strange. She was usually in by this time in the evening. Then again, she'd been known to pull all-nighters every now and then.

Bra let out a sigh of relief. "Thanks for coming with me, Trunks."

"No problem. I think I'm gonna head home myself. I got a lot of work to do," Trunks told her. He took his leave.

Bra smiled to herself. She'd saved the life of the man she loved. At least for today. There was nothing that could bring her down now. "Hey, Papa. I'm gonna grab a snack. Can I get you anything?" She walked toward the kitchen door.

"I guess," was Vegeta's response. "Just bring enough for two."

Bra nodded. She opened the kitchen door and gasped at what she saw. There stood Bulma and next to her was Goten, chopping up vegetables. Bra just stood in the doorway, astounded.

"Hi, honey," Bulma greeted with a smile.

"Hey, Bra," Goten said cheerfully.

Bra shook her head. "Wha--What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to talk to you," Goten told her. "You disappeared from the library so fast. We didn't even have a chance to study."

"You shouldn't be here," Bra said. "Dad--"

"Oh, your father won't be home for hours," Bulma assured her.

"No, he's--" Bra began.

"By the way, I was just telling Goten that Goku told me about you two," Bulma chirped. "I think it's wonderful. We have to plan for the wedding." She looked away dreamily.

Goten scratched the back of his head and laughed goofily. "Don't you think it's a little soon to be talking about a wedding?"

Bra was trying to get the words out of her mouth that her father was indeed in the other room when the man himself came through the kitchen door.

"You. I knew I heard your voice in here," Vegeta said. He obviously wasn't happy.

--End Out of the Frying Pan...And Into the Fire--

--Welcome back, people. I hope you enjoyed this strange episode. I rarely have plans about what's going to happen, so if you have any suggestions about what you want to see or if you have any comments about what has already happened, please let me know.

--Thank you for reading this installment of Versus 2. And thank you for all the past reviews. Just to let you know, I've already decided to do a Versus 3. But we have to see how this one is going to turn out first.