The Lost Art of Keeping A Secret

--Enemy Sighted, Enemy Missed--

Bra, Pan and Trunks sat in a dark corner in the restaurant. Bra hoped that Goten wouldn't feel their energies. Her brother and her best friend were pretty smart. They were suppressing theirs like she was. She could only hope that this off-the-wall scheme would work. She wasn't sure what she expected to come of this, but it was a plan. And that was something she didn't have.

She was surprised that Marron would agree to a stunt like this. Bra never really liked Marron much, and the feeling seemed to be mutual. But she was kind enough to take part in this evil plot that could quite possibly destroy Goten's reputation. There was only one way to find out whether Pan's idea would fall the way they needed it to.

There was a lot of random prattle in the restaurant, so they would all have to concentrate in order to hone in on what Paris and Goten were saying. Bra was beginning to feel remorse already. It wasn't like her to butt into someone else's affairs like this. She knew that she wouldn't want someone to do this to her. But it was for a good reason, wasn't it? It was for the bettering of THEIR relationship, right?

Marron quickly made her way over to Goten and Paris's table. She looked like she was quite angry. Bra thought that this woman might actually make a good actress if she went into the business.

Both Goten and Paris looked up from their dinners.

Marron remained silent holding Nicholas in her arms.

"Hey there, Marron," Goten greeted in his usual cheerful way. "I didn't even know you were here. What's up?"

Paris narrowed her eyes at Marron.

"Don't 'what's up' me," Marron said sternly. "I can't believe you abandoned us like that."

Goten looked utterly confused.

"Wait a minute, Goten! Who's she?!" Paris asked.

Goten furrowed his brow. "Oh, this is a friend of mine. Marron. Marron, this is Paris."

Marron ignored Paris altogether. "A 'friend' of yours?" This woman was really putting on a show. It's like she believed the lie.

Goten was still confused. "Marron, you're kinda weirding me out here. Hey, who's the little guy?" He waved to the little boy Marron was holding.

"He's our son," Marron said plainly.

Paris looked at Goten angrily. "What is she talking about, Goten?"

Goten raised an eyebrow. Then he laughed. "Oh, I get it. This is some kind of joke."

Marron looked as if she might explode. "THIS IS NOT A JOKE!! HOW COULD YOU?! YOU WON'T EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE OUR RELATIONSHIP?! YOU WON'T EVEN CLAIM YOUR OWN SON?!"

"But Marron, this doesn't make any--" Goten began.

Marron handed over the boy. "His name is Nicholas. He's seven months old. And he's your son. So you'd better start taking some responsibility."

Goten held the child and looked at him strangely.

"Goten, what is this all about?" Paris asked.

"So, this is the reason you left?" Marron question, well on the verge of weeping. "You left me pregnant and ran off with this skank?"

"Skank?! Who do you think you're calling a skank?!" Paris asked. Her usual sugar-sweet tone was now the voice of an angry pre-pubescent girl. She stood from her seat.

Goten couldn't get a word in edge-wise. And little Nicholas had started to cry.

--at the other table--

"I don't know if this was such a good idea," Bra said, watching the two women argue. "Maybe we should have let Goten in on our plan first."

Pan cringed. "Oh, yeah. I didn't think about that."

Trunks was laughing.

"What's so funny?" both Bra and Pan asked simultaneously.

"You two call THIS a plan? It would have been a better idea to get some woman off the streets to do it instead of sending Marron over there. He knows her," Trunks replied. He chuckled under his breath. "If he knows her like that then he knows he never slept with her. At least with someone he doesn't know, there's always the possibility that he just doesn't recognize her."

Bra frowned and looked at Pan.

Pan grinned nervously and shrugged. Then she looked at Trunks. "Why didn't you tell us this outside?! You heard the plan!" she yelled.

"Cause it's funnier this way. It's like a messed up reality show," Trunks said, still laughing.

--back at Paris and Goten's table--

"What was that? I could swear I know that voice," Goten interceded.

"Don't go changing the subject! I want to know what's going on!" Paris shouted. She stood with her hands on her hips.

"I'll tell you what's going on! This is a man who won't own up to something he's done!" Marron yelled.

"Okay, Marron, this is getting a little out of hand. I don't know what you're up to, but we've never slept together and you've never been pregnant," Goten said.

Silence....

A long silence....

Bra was certain that this was the end of Pan's plan. And if Paris knew Goten like she knew Goten, then she'd know that he was telling the truth.

"I...can't believe it.... You're in denial." Marron had tried to make a recovery.

Goten ignored her. He looked at Little Nicky and started playing with him. "Who's baby is this, anyway?"

Marron took Nicholas away from Goten. "I'll see you in court." And with that she walked out of the restaurant.

Paris sat back down and looked at Goten angrily. "Was that woman telling the truth?"

"NO! I've never even been with her like that. Marron? Noooooooo. She's like my sister," Goten said. "We grew up together."

"Then why would she pull a stunt like that?" Paris asked. She still didn't seem to believe him.

Goten shrugged. "She was probably just trying to pull a prank on me. Of course, Marron's never been much of a prankster...," he muttered. Then it seemed a light came on in Goten's head. "A prankster." He frowned. "My niece did this."

"Oh, the girl with the black hair in your first class? The one everyone thinks is your sister?" Paris asked.

--at the corner table--

"Busted. We'd better get out of here," Pan suggested.

Trunks looked at the ceiling. "I can't believe you two actually tried to pull off something like that. Especially when you know Goten's not that bright."

Bra growled. "Yeah, like you could come up with a better plan."

Trunks laughed. "If that's a challenge, then you're on, little sister."

--End Enemy Sighted, Enemy Missed--

--Welcome once again. This is your host, SludgeMetal666. I know this was a short chapter. Sorry about that. And I know it's a little silly. Sorry about that too. I hope you enjoyed it.

--Some of you may be wondering: Does she ever plan on finishing this story? Yes, I do. I just have to find out what's going to happen first. You'd think I'd have a plan when I go into this stuff, but as you know from previous episodes, I don't. So, I apologize for seeming a little...I don't know. You can come up with your own word for it.

--As always, thank you for reading this episode of Versus 2. And thank you for the past reviews. Without people who actually like this story, there would be no story. If you have suggestions, comments or criticisms, please let me know. Thanks again.

--Oh, yeah, I meant to mention that idea for this chapter was absolutely hilarious! You know who I'm talking to. Unfortunately, I'd finished the chapter before I read the suggestion. Sorry. Maybe next time.