Disclaimer: I don't own DragonBallZ.
I would like to thank everyone who has been reading, and most of all you people who have been reviewing! Your reviews are so encouraging and uplifting, and they mean a whole lot to me! So here's to Trugeta, Spring Rain of Harusame, Ladii Chocolate, and animeprincess1452! You're all just great!
To Trugeta: Oh, the food craving didn't make only Trunks feel sick, huh? And I'm glad it's nice to know that the little one's going to be healthy! And you'll find out whether it's a boy or a girl soon enough. Thank you!
To Spring Rain of Harusame: Well...sorry, but I don't think she's going to change her mind. She's pretty set on her decision! But you can say what you think it'll be! That'd be cool!
To Ladii Chocolate: Thank you! Yeah, Trunks was anxious, but hey, he's a father. Just what you'd expect from a father! And no problem on the updates! As you can see, I'm actually updating pretty fast right now...Which I'm glad of, because I know I should have been updating much sooner with this story.
To animeprincess1452: Thank you once again for those great compliments! They make me so happy! Yeah, poor Trunks. Having to deal with all of that. And more, as you'll see in the chapter! Thank you!
Chapter, then...
It was nearly two months later and Demi began to grow a little. Already her stomach had begun to round and she was struggling somewhat to fit into her favorite pair of tight, black jeans. It had been quite a sight for an uneasy Trunks. She was lying out flat on the bed, trying to suck in her tummy so as to zip up her jeans. It had taken a while, but she managed to get it done. Women were amazing...
Bulma and Chi-Chi paid them small visits every month before dragging Demi (and on the very last occasion, Trunks) out to the shopping center to browse at baby supplies. Clothes, cribs, books, blankets, and toys were only some of the things they were forced to look at. They'd bought a large, comfortable crib and several toys so far, but Trunks had this solid feeling that it was nothing compared to what they would have to buy in the future.
If one good thing came out of all of this, it was the fact that he had finally caught up to his wife in her little thought-hearing game. Before it had been a lot trickier and an absolute pain.
. . . . . .
Flashback
Demi growled while Trunks was frozen in a flinched position, save that he started to rub the sore spot on his tender head. He just knew that that was going to be blue in the morning (if it wasn't blue already, that is.) Whatever the case, it hurt like heck, and he couldn't help but think, 'Man! She hits hard!'
"Ow!" Another hit to the head for thinking the wrong thoughts, and Trunks was now protectively covering his head with his arms.
Demi groaned before glaring at her defenseless husband. "Now look! My best frying pan is broken!" She threw the shattered metal shards at his feet to show him the damage he'd done to her favorite cooking tool. It had endured his Saiyan skull far longer than the others, hence the reason for Demi's fondness. And now it was worthless!
"Calm down, please," he said, still holding his arms over his head. "I promise I'll get you another one, okay?"
She suddenly sighed in exhaustion and decided to join him over in the little corner of the room on the floor.
She took a seat next to him, and he straightened, tensed and anxious. 'I'm not thinking anything. No sir, nothing at all. Empty-headed, just like Goku.'
Demi gave a more audible sigh this time, leaning her arms out behind her. "I'm so tired..."
And the couple sat on the floor for a long while, both of them very much fatigued and stressed out. It would be a miracle if he ever managed to read her thoughts the way she did with him...
End Flashback
. . . . . .
Well, that had all changed. He could finally hear her thoughts, and it gave him quite an advantage as far as figuring out her 'next move' went. The tables had turned at last...
. . . . . .
Flashback
"Ow!"
"If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times not to use language, Trunks!" He would have thought it was actually humorous the way she was standing there in her large, light blue nightgown, frowning, and a newly purchased frying pan held within her firm grasp. Except that that frying pan had just connected with his head. And hard!
"I'm sorry," he whimpered, rubbing the bruise that began to form.
Demi inspected her cooking tool, making sure it wasn't starting to break only on its eleventh hit. 'Damn cheap things...'
Trunks suddenly looked up at her with triumph lit up on his face. "Ha!" he pointed at her with a clever smile. "So if I don't curse out loud it's okay then." He rose from where he sat on the floor and gave her an accusing stare. "Is that it, Demi dearest?"
"Why...I..." She paused in wonderment. 'How did he do that? Could he have...? But I thought...I...'
'You thought it was going to be just you, didn't you, love?' That smirk on Trunks' face looked uncannily like Vegeta's. It was just as sadistic and intimidating. 'Didn't think I would catch on, did you? Didn't think I might be able to hear your thoughts eventually, too.'
"I..." Stunned and confused beyond speaking, she stood gaping at him, still holding her frying pan in both hands. She was just so shocked, and couldn't think of any logical explanation behind those...thoughts! She couldn't hear his thoughts anymore without him hearing hers? 'But it's not fair!' she pouted.
'Life's not fair, honey. Now why don't you just let me take that for you?' And he held out his hand to receive (or rather take) her frying pan, still smirking.
"...I..." Suddenly her cheeks turned cherry red, and she stared up at him in anxiety. She must have been really embarrassed! Why else would she look like she was ready to break down and cry?
She started to sniffle before she reached a sleeve up to her eyes, which started to fill with tears.
Good lord! She was really going to cry! Trunks' expression softened and he put his arms around her. "Come on, sweetie. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."
"It's not that," she told him. "It's...that...I hurt you!" And she hid her face in his shoulder, sobbing like she never had before in her life.
It was madness. One second she was mad like a rabid dog, and the next she was crying on his shoulder in distress. Ah, these happy days...
End Flashback
. . . . . .
All in all, it had been a good thing for him. He knew exactly when to retreat from the same room as his wife, and that was when a little something about frying pans popped up in her head. 'I really must thank Gohan for explaining all of this to me,' he grinned.
Today, though, everything was peaceful, for the woman of the house was sleeping in the next room. Lately she wanted to do only two things. Eat and sleep. Trunks didn't mind, though, as long as she was content...and quiet...
He awoke from his deep contemplation when a loud and abrupt noise caught his attention. He reached over to the table beside him and picked the ringing telephone up off the hook. "Hello?"
"Hello, Trunks," a familiar, cheery voice chimed.
"Hey, Mom. What's up?"
"I wanted to call to see how everybody's doing," she replied. "I haven't seen you guys in a few weeks. So tell me how everything is. How are you? How's Demi? How's the baby? Oh, and speaking of whom, did you find out when your little one is supposed to be arriving?"
He paused in thought to all of her questions. "Well, uh, we're all good here. And yes, we did find out when it's going to be born. The doctor said it'll be in the spring."
He could hear a dreamy sigh on the other end of the line. "In the spring," she repeated in a distant tone. "How cute. Oh, but what about names?"
"Um...Demi and I have been thinking but we're still not sure yet. You were right; it really does take a lot of thought and planning."
"Well, of course. You're trying to name a person," Bulma laughed.
"While we're on the subject, though, I thought maybe you and Dad might want to think about what you'd like your grandchild to call you."
"'Grandma' is fine for me, dear," she smiled. "But you father...let me ask. He's right here, anyway. Vegeta."
He filled up an enormous glass of water from the refrigerator, not bothering to look back at his wife.
"Now please just answer the question, Vegeta," Bulma told him. "What do you want your grandchild to call you?"
He thought for a moment and then smirked. "'Lord' will do."
"'Lord'?"
"Or 'Majesty.' 'Your highness,' any of those are fine..." He began to drown down his glass of water.
"What about just a simple 'Grandpa'?"
He paused during his drink. "Don't be ridiculous. That's that absurd name that the spawn of Kakarot's first spawn uses for him." Translation: 'That's what Pan calls Goku. No way am I going to be called something like that.'
"Vegeta wants 'Grandfather,'" Bulma spoke back into the phone, deciding for him. "Not 'Grandpa,' of course, we prefer 'Grandfather.'"
'Grandfather...' That would do for Vegeta. Simple but still formal in its own way. He didn't see any need to argue against it.
"Okay," Trunks nodded. "'Grandma and Grandfather.' I'm sure Demi will be glad to know about that."
"Well, I guess I'll let you go, then," Bulma said. "I'll talk to you later, then, Trunks."
"Yeah, thanks for calling, Mom. Bye."
He set the phone back on the hook and glanced over to his left to see that Demi was awake. She ran a hand quickly through her midnight-purple hair and glanced at the clock on the wall. "Time for lunch," she said. "You want me to fix you something, too?"
"Uh, sure," he replied, and she headed into the kitchen to prepare their midday meal. 'Please let it be something normal, though...'
'Trunks!' she thought back harshly.
'Sorry, dear...'
Hope you all enjoyed the chapter, then! It took me two days to get this written up. Please review!