Disclaimer; Don't own it…

A/N; So here it is! The next chapter of Mind Games. Thank you all so much for all the wonderful reviews I got for Chapter 10. I can't even begin to thank you all enough. You're all so kind and beautiful to me and I am truly lucky. I hope you all enjoy this chapter, I'll try to get the next one out as soon as possible. After this there is only 4 chapters left, so we're on the home stretch now.

-Deadly Beauty

Mind Games

Chapter Eleven

"Krillen" 18 muttered through her tears as she hauled herself up the stairs, through her bedroom and into the bathroom. "Come home". She slowly undressed herself and climbed into the shower, letting her tears mingle in with the cool water. The burn on her stomach pounded, making her feel like she wanted vomit, though she knew she wouldn't, she hadn't eaten in days. Her stomach was empty.

"What the hell was I thinking?" she asked herself as she rubbed her hands over her face. "I can't help 17. No one can help 17" it was an important realization for her, one that had taken her weeks and weeks to come to.

After close to half an hour, 18 managed to drag her tired, bruised and beaten body out of the shower. She pulled on some sweatpants and a tee-shirt and collapsed onto the bed, her body shaking as she cried. Outside, the sky had begun to cloud over, it would rain tonight. What a fitting way to end one of the worst days of her life.

How could 17 treat her like this? She kept asking over and over. How could 17 use her, when she had wanted nothing more than to help him? She had long since forgotten the reasons 17 has been brought to the island in the first place, it seemed like forever ago that they had found him, and 18 had been so terrified for her brother. She was terrified now, but not for him. Oh no, not for 17. She was terrified of what 17 was going to do to her family, what he was down stairs plotting right now. God only knew. She had been such a fool to let herself believe that he could change. That she could change him, and it had cost her everything that was important in her life.

She was losing her husband, who she loved more than anyone or anything in the entire world, to 18, a lifetime without Krillen was something she never ever wanted to think about. Yet here it was, the very real reality that she could well lose her him, staring her right in the face. He could hardly even stand to be in the same room as her. He hadn't kissed her goodbye. He'd remembered their anniversary where she had not. She had been so consumed by everything else, that she had forgotten Krillen, the man who made her complete, tossed him aside for her own selfish wants and desires. Now she was paying the price. In all honesty, she wouldn't be surprised if Krillen did leave her; she deserved it that was for sure.

And then there was Marron. Her perfect little angel who she loved dearly and with her entire heart. Marron was a joy, she brightened up 18's days and filled her dreams at nights. Everything Marron did amazed 18 and everyday was new and exciting when you had a baby to love. Just to watch her grow and learn was a privilege 18 would never ever give up. Who knew what kind of danger she had accidentally put Marron in this afternoon. She hadn't asked Vegeta to come, hell, she would never in a million years reduce herself to that. She hadn't wanted him to find out, because she knew that this would happen. She knew that 17 would go berserk the second his secret was found out.

Pushing herself up into a sitting position, 18 pulled open the draw on her bedside table. Sitting inside was the gold chain Krillen had given her for their anniversary. Picking it up, she opened the locket and her eyes welled up with tears. Her wedding day. That day held so many of her happy memories, that was the day she had really begun her new life. She had sworn to love Krillen until the end of time, to stand by his side through the good times and the bad. She hadn't exactly been living up to her vows as of late though. Snapping the locket shut, 18 unclasped the necklace and attached it around her neck. Wrapping the locket up in the palm of her hand, she sighed long and deep. Would Krillen ever be able to forgive her for this? Would he want to forgive her? Did he even love her anymore?

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"C'mon," Bulma muttered as she twirled the phone cord around her index finger "Pick up"

"Hello?"

Bulma pulled slightly away from the phone. She had dialled the number correctly hadn't she? Yes, she ran over the number in her head, of course she had. "Who is this?" she asked

"This is Arisa," replied the woman.

"Have I dialled the right number?" Bulma asked, beginning to doubt herself.

"Who are you after?"

"Yumcha?"

"Oh," Arisa relied happily, "Sure, I'll just go and get him for you. Who should I say is calling?"

"Just tell him its Bulma"

"Sure"

The line went quiet for a minute and then another voice picked up, a voice Bulma recognised. "Bulma?" Yumcha sounded worried, "Hows things down there?"

"Things? Judging from the information I got from Vegeta, things are not good at all"

"Shit" Yumcha cussed, that had been the last thing he wanted to hear, he wanted to hear, 'What are you talking about Yumcha? Krillen and 18 are perfectly fine and happy, in fact, I hear they could be expecting a second child'. That was not what he heard at all though, and it made his heart sink. "So, how bad is it?" he asked

"How bad?" Bulma repeated, "I don't know, Vegeta wasn't exactly fourth coming with the details, you know him. We definitely need to do something though. From what I gather, 17 is causing real hell there. I got the impression that 18 is in a bad way, 17's really knocked her about"

"What can we do though? I swore to Krillen I would keep this to myself, and now Vegeta knows, and he isn't exactly the best at keeping things to himself when he has the opportunity to rub it in someone's face now, is he? Which is gonna make me look like the worst guy on the planet in Krillens eyes"

"I know" Bulma ran her hand back through her hair and sunk down into her chair, this was one stressful situation, she couldn't even begin to imagine how Krillen felt about it, "But I don't know what to do. We can't break their trust, especially not 18's. It's taken her so long to build up"

She heard Yumcha sigh deeply on his end of the phone and shook her head; she really didn't know what they could do. Neither of them was strong enough to take 17 out and they couldn't try talking to him, as that would let Krillen and 18 know that they knew. On the other hand though, they couldn't just let their friends go through this on their own – not when they had always been there where either on of them had needed them.

"Well, we need to do something Bulma. And from what you've told me, we need to do it soon"

"I agree," she stoped and sighed, rubbing her temples as she did, "Listen, I'm not doing anything tomorrow, how about I drop by and we can talk about it properly"

"Have we got that much time?" Yumcha asked, sounding just as distressed as Bulma

"Yeah, it'll be fine. I'll see you tomorrow. Before noon"

"Ok, bye Bulma"

"Bye"

Yumcha hung up the phone and let himself slip down on the soft chair beside him. He heard the tapping of Arisa's heels on the tiled floor behind him, and sunk further down into his chair.

"Whose Bulma?" she asked as she sat down on the arm of the chair and ran her hands through his soft black hair.

"A friend" he replied

"Just a friend?" Arisa asked – if she had one flaw, it was her jealous streak.

Yumcha opened his eyes and looked up at Arisa, "Yes, just a friend. If you must know, we we're a couple for a long time, but that's all in the past now. She has a husband, and a son, and I have you" he smiled at her.

"Why was she calling?"

"She is very good friends with Krillen and 18, and they need our help at the moment. That's all. Nothing to worry you're pretty little head over"

"Promise?"

"Of course I promise"

"Ok then," Arisa bent over and pecked Yumcha on the forehead. She then got up and headed toward the kitchen, she only got about halfway though, before she stopped and turned to face Yumcha "Is she pretty?" she called out to him from across the penthouse

"Not as pretty as you" Yumcha called back as he rolled his eyes, then shook his head in wry amusement.

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The sound of voices filled 18's ears. Muffled voices that she could only just make out, but voices none the less. She wasn't alone anymore, someone was home with her. Unless of course 17 was talking to himself, which she wouldn't rule out.

Pushing herself into a sitting position, 18 rubbed her eyes, she must have fallen asleep. It didn't surprise her, she was exhausted. Turning her head towards the door, she listened; she could hear two people talking again, much clearer this time. One was Krillen – 18 smiled, and the other…. it sounded like Master Roshi. He must have just arrived back from the city, where he had been hiding since all this madness had began.

"So, how's she holding up?" she heard Roshi ask. Snuggling back down under the covers, 18 waited to hear what Krillen would say in reply.

"I…" he paused, "I don't know. I don't know what she thinks anymore, and to be honest, it scares me Master. I love her so much, and I'm scared I'm going to lose her. When I walked in there before, I swear I almost died. She's so hurt, and she won't tell me the truth. I don't know what I'll do without her"

"Krillen my boy, you need to have faith that she will come to you when she is ready. She loves you and you know it".

Yes. 18 nodded her head, as she waited for Krillens response. She did love him, more than he would ever know.

"I know master," his voice sounded tired and stressed, "But there is only so much faith one person can have. I'm gonna go in and see if she's awake, can you check up on Marron on a few minutes please?"

"Of course my boy"

"Thank you Master"

She heard Krillens footsteps as he advanced down the hall, and without realising it, pulled the blankets up to cover herself even further. The door creaked as it opened, and a whisper of a smile graced her face when she saw Krillen poke his head inside the door. He made eye contact with her and a relieved smile washed over his face. "You're alright" he whispered as he quickly moved across the small room.

Knelling down by the bed, he reached under the covers and took hold of 18's hand in his. "18 I'm so sorry," he apologized, his eyes welling up with tears, "I've been so insensitive," he brushed her hair back off her face and gazed lovingly into the eyes of his wife, "can you forgive me? Please?"

18 slowly blinked. "Krillen, it's me who needs to be begging for your forgiveness. I have been so horrible to you"

"No, no" Krillen climbed up onto the bed and pressed his lips against 18's, "Don't say that. You've been stressed."

18 shook her head. "There are no excuses Krillen. I've been a terrible wife," her eyes dropped, she couldn't look into his shimmering black orbs any longer, "I've been keeping things from you" she whispered.

"18," Krillen titled her chin up, and gazed into her eyes, "I love you. Tell me the truth"

Clasping her hand around Krillens, she squeezed tightly; it came as a great relief to feel him gently squeeze back. "Do I really need to explain it to you?" she asked, not sure she would be able to find the words she needed.

"Yeah" Krillen nodded, "I need to hear it from you"

"Alright" 18 sighed, "alright." Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes, but they never made them very far before Krillen wiped them away. "17," she whimpered, "he did this to me, but sparring had nothing to do with. He is a sick sick man, and I was a fool to think I could help him"

"No," Krillen placed a finger on 18's lips to silence her, "No, you're not a fool. You're a good person and you only wanted to help your brother. You are not to blame for this at all"

"I almost cost us our marriage. I forgot our anniversary. There is no excuse for that." She wrapped her free hand tightly around the locket, Krillen noticed and smiled. "I lied to you" she breathed in and out in funny tones as she cried.

"Hey," Krillen helped his wife into a sitting position and tightly wrapped his arms around her, crying along with her, "It's going to be alright. We're going to get through this, I promise." He paused and took a deep shuddering breath, "God you've have me scared these past few weeks. I thought I was going to lose you."

"I love you Krillen, and I'm so so sorry. But, I didn't know what else to do, 17 is going to kill me when he finds out I told you he has been doing this"

Pulling away from his wife, Krillen gazed deeply into her eyes. Brushing her hair back from her face, he shook his head, "I promise you, from this moment on, he will never lay another finger on you ever again. I will die before I let that happen"

"But you don't understand" 18 pleaded with him.

"Well make me understand" Krillen practically begged her to open up to him, "And we'll work it out from there. Together"

"17. He said…"she stopped, consumed by tears. Krillen gently cradled her back and fourth in his arms, letting her cry, letting her get it all out. "He said if anyone found out, we were all going to pay, and now you know and Vegeta knows, and I don't know what to do about it"

"Shhh" Krillen tried to calm his distraught wife, "It's going to be ok. Just think, the second he tries anything, Gohan, Yumcha, Piccolo, they're all going to know about it. You're main worry at the moment should be getting well again. You've had a lot taken out of you"

There was silence for a few minutes. 18's emotions had taken her beyond words, she needed time out just to think, to realise that this could almost be over once and for all.

"18," Krillen finally spoke up, then kissed the top of her head.

"Yeah?" she mumbled back in response, she was on the brink of sleep.

"We agree now, right? 17 can't stay here anymore"

"17 can't get far enough away from here," she briefly paused, "Why would he treat me like this, Krillen? What did I do?"

"You didn't do anything sweetheart, I promise. You have done nothing wrong. 17 just needs help, but we can't give it to him."

There was another pause, Krillens eyes began to grow heavy, this had been a stressful and exhausting day for everyone, but 18's sweet voice in his ears quickly woke him back up again, "Krillen?"

"What is it?"

"Thank you…for understanding. If it weren't for you, I would be nothing. You are the most important person in my life, and I was stupid to risk you for even a second. I love you"

"I love you too"

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A/N; Awwwwww. Isn't it cute? Anyhoo, hope you all enjoyed this chapter, I think it's pretty decent. Let me know what you thought in a review. Also, I'm currently tossing up idea for while I shall produce as my next masterpiece (lol) so I'll let you all know in a few days when I make my final decision…I'm trying to choose between a about 3 different stories. But don't worry; what ever I decide on, it shouldn't be as morbid as this one was. But then again, who knows, I've really enjoyed writing this. Well, next chapter should be here soon!

Peace Out

-D.B