I Can't Call You Father

Disclaimers: Nope…no changes

Authors Note: First of all, I apologize for the wait. I've been busy with a lot of things. Yesterday, I had to put my beloved dog of 14 ¾ years, Justa ((Get it? Just-a-dog?)) to sleep yesterday. I've had her for nearly all my life and I miss her deeply.

Authors Note about the Story: Aw…the last chappy was a sad one…Poor Everybody! Lol, here's a chapter I think you guys will like though. It has a LOT of romantic hints, unfortunately not between Marron and Trunks. Or…is that so unfortunate? Prepare to enter Cali's lovelife…but nobody's getting together until 2 more chapters…

Chapter 15: Blossoming Feelings

Cali and Trunks were both silent on the ride home. No "tunes" were playing, no words were exchanged. They had both been contemplating the previous events. "She's right…" Trunks thought. "I don't deserve to be called her father. After all, what kind of father would just ignore his kid? I've been so foolish these past 17 years…" he mused with remorse. Cali, on the other hand, was thinking of the upcoming competition. "How are we gonna be ready by Saturday?" she wondered. If she were to win this contest, Lurid would finally be on the road to stardom. Cali loved fighting, but singing and playing meant more to her than anything.

Trunks' car came to a halt as it stopped at Capsule Corps. "Well…um…that was…fun." Trunks said to Cali.

"Oh yeah…heaps of fun!" Cali replied sarcastically.

Trunks bit his lip, trying to think of something to say to her. "Cali?" he questioned. But to no avail; Cali had already jumped out of the car. Trunks sighed. "How can I apologize and set things right when she won't even give me a chance?" he asked aloud.

Marron stopped reading her book as she heard the door open and close. "Cali-Chan!" she rang out. "Hey mom…" Cali replied monotony. Marron blinked. "What's…wrong Cali?" she inquired with interest. "Nothing!" Cali answered with annoyance and disgust. She then headed to her room, and closed the door.

"Cali…" Marron whispered. Her eyes turned to a sadden Trunks, entering the door. "Trunks," Marron started, "What the heck happened today?"

Trunks heaved a sigh. "Look Marron, this was…. a bad idea." He replied. Marron's face showed a quizzical look. "Bad…idea?" she questioned. "Cali's never going to accept me as her father and I don't think pushing her and me to get together will help change that." Trunks answered sadly. Marron frowned. "I…had hoped that maybe Cali could…"

Trunks shook his head. "She can't Marron. She can't accept me, and I don't blame her either."

Marron bit her lip. "…Trunks I-"

Too late…Trunks had already left abruptly. Marron glanced at the two directions in which Cali and Trunks left. The two had exited in the same manner of hast. "They're so alike…" Marron thought. She sighed. "Why does it have to be like this?" she asked herself aloud.

Tai's hand hovered over the doorbell to Capsule Corps. "Should I be doing this?" he wondered. The only reason he was over here was because Pan had called him earlier…

The phone rang continuously in the Euro household. "I'll get it!" Tai rang out.

"Hello?"

"Hi, this is Majin Pan, may I speak with Tai?"

"This is Tai. What's up Pan-Sama?"

"Well, I'm not sure if you heard but Cali and her mother have moved in to Capsule Corps."

"Why on Earth would they do that? Wouldn't that make the situation worse?"

"Yes but…Bulma Briefs was uh…very persistent." Pan replied scratching her head.

"So, why inform me on all this?"

"I was hoping…if you'd stop by and check on Cali. Her mother told me she's been depressed. She won't talk to anybody."

"You're…asking me?"

"Well I've meddled enough in Cali's and Marron's life. She needs to find somebody else she can talk to besides me. Because I, nor her mother, will be around forever. And she really seems to like you…"

Tai blushed. Cali…liked him?! "Sure thing Pan-Sama."

"Thanks Tai, this helps out a lot."

"No problem. Sayonara!" Tai hung up quickly and darted out the door to Cali's.

Pan let out a triumphant smirk. Ok, so she lied about Cali being depressed and Marron calling her but she was desperate to hook those two up. "Besides…" she said to herself. "Cali does seem a little upset." She continued. "Tai can just…'cheer her up'." Pan started to laugh maniacally.

Uub entered their home to see Pan laughing evilly. He had a sweatdrop on his head. "Don't tell me you're playing matchmaker again…" Uub stated with a worried tone. Pan stopped her cackling. "Aw, Ubby-kins! Its fun!" she answered like a little girl. Uub sighed a mushroom. "Panny…" he warned in a serious tone. Pan giggled and wrapped her arms around Uub's neck. "Baby…why do you worry so much? I'm just trying to do the world some good." She replied.

Uub's face remained the same. "Pan, you shouldn't mess around with other people's lovelife." He commented. "Oh, Uub…you're no fun." Pan answered disappointedly. Uub smirked and scooped Pan up into his arms and headed towards their room. "You sure about that?" he asked with a wicked grin. Pan returned with a smirk of her own. "My, my Ubby-Chan; you have such a way with words…"

Tai took a breath, and pushed the doorbell. Marron's ears perked up as the doorbell rang. "I'll get it!" she shouted. Marron opened the door to see Tai standing there. "Oh, hello Tai." She said with surprise in her voice. Tai bowed politely. "Hello Miss Krillan. I was wondering if I could speak with Cali." He replied. "Um, I'm not sure if she's in the talking mood right now, Tai." Marron answered. "Please Marron-Sama; I want to make sure she's alright." Tai pleaded. Marron observed the boys eyes. They were pure and honest, and were filled with concern. She smiled. "Ok Tai, you win. Just go on upstairs and her room will be second to the left."

Tai grinned and bowed again quickly. "Thanks Marron-Sama…" he said dashing up the door. Marron continued to smile. "Cali could use a boy like him." She snickered.

Tai knocked on Cali's door. "Go away mom, I don't want to talk."

"Cali, its Tai…"

Cali's fell off her bed. Tai Euro…in…her house?! "Um," Cali bit her lip, for she was in her undergarments. She had just taken a shower. "Just a second!" Cali hurried to get her pants on. She ran to open the door. "Hey Tai." She answered.

Tai was a beat red. Cali raised an eyebrow. She finally noticed that he was staring at her chest. Cali forgot to put a shirt on. She also turned red, and slammed the door. Tai continued to blush, but smiled when she closed the door. "Dang…she's hot!" he whispered.

Cali shyly opened the door after she put a shirt on. "Um…c'mon in." she said. Tai snapped out of his daze and entered Cali's room. The first thing he noticed about it…was that it was big!

"Damn, Cali!" he exclaimed. "Your dad sure gave you the luxury suite!" Tai continued. He heard Cali grumble something about "not my father" or so. "Yeah," Cali replied, "its ok. Better than what I had before I suppose." Tai snorted. "It's better than what I have!" he shouted. Cali smiled. "Sorry to make you jealous." She answered.

Tai observed the room. It was decked out in every poster about a band or a singer you could imagine. "You really like music, ne Cal?" he stated. Cali nodded. "It's my whole life." She grinned. Tai smiled back. Cali's grin diminished.

"Why…are you here?" she questioned.

"I wanted to make sure you were alright."

Cali blinked. Tai had been genuinely worried about her lately. "I'm fine Tai…" she lied.

Tai picked up on her lie, "Cali, you're lying."

Cali sat on the bed in despair. "Oh, what do you care?" she snapped at him.

Tai was taken aback. "What…what do I care? Cali, you're my friend, and I care about you."

Cali laughed bitterly. "Friend? That's such an odd word to use."

Tai looked puzzled. "Aren't we…friends?"

Cali stared at him. "Do you consider us friends?" she asked him. Tai nodded. "I'd like to think so. We've known each other since first grade, I'm one of the few people who know about your little 'alien secret', and also, would I even be here right now if we weren't?" he replied. Cali's eyes widened. Tai had a point. "Alright then, friend, if you truly are my friend, then you'll buzz off!" she shouted. Tai smiled. "I'm not going anywhere Cali, not until you tell me what's wrong."

Cali sighed. "If you're that desperate to know, I'll tell you. It all started yesterday…"

"HI-YA!" Bikini screamed karate chopping Boxer's back. "Ow, damn it Bikini! When I agreed to a rematch, I didn't realize you'd be so aggressive!" Boxer shouted. Bikini shrugged. "Sorry." She replied. Boxer got up, and dusted off his arms. "You've been acting weirdly Bikini. You're more angry then usual." He said half jokingly. Bikini shot him a glare. "It's nothing brother…now leave me; I must train." She retorted turning her back on him.

Boxer blinked. "-Wha?"

Bikini snarled. "Are deaf!? I said, Leave me!" she screamed taking off into the air.

Boxer snorted. "Yeesh, what's her problem?"

Bikini thought deeply as she flew. "Cali's emotions are deepening. She's angry, sad, depressed, and scared all at the same time. This cannot be good. Grandpa Vegeta warned me of what could happen if a saiyans sentiment were pushed to the limit." Bikini worried about her cousin. Though she may not have always showed it, Cali was one of her best friends. "I don't want you to hurt yourself Cal…" Bikini whispered aloud.

Cali lowered her head after she told Tai the whole story. "I…had…no idea…how much you went through. Who else have you told?" Tai questioned. Cali let out a weak smile. "You're the first." She stated. Before she knew it, Tai embraced her in a hug. "Cal…" he whispered. "I'm so sorry." He continued. Cali blushed. "Uh, it's alright Tai. Thank you."

Tai embarrassingly pulled away. He flushed a bright red. "Ahem…" he cleared his throat.

Silence

"…"

Silence

"…"

Silence

Tai lowered is head to Cali's. "Cal…I uh…" Cali's eyes blinked with interest as they observed Tai small, yet formidable lips. Oh how they whispered to her own…if she could just whisper back…

"Hey Cali, I have a ques-"TJ walked in on Tai and Cali's tender moment. "-tion." He finished. Tai and Cali quickly pulled away. "Damn you TJ!" Cali thought in her head. She was so close to whispering back to those lips! TJ flushed. "Um…sorry, I'll leave." TJ said heading out the door. Both Tai and Cali had embarrassed looks on their faces. "Sorry." Tai apologized. "It's ok." Cali replied.

Silence

"…"

Silence

"…"

Silence

Cali decided to break the silence. "Um…do you wanna hear a song I'm working on?" Cali asked eagerly. She needed all the practice she could get with the upcoming contest. Tai smiled. "Sure, let's hear it!" Cali pulled out her acoustic guitar. She preferred her bass, but this guitar was special. She learned everything on it. Cali had even named the darn thing, Bubbles. Why? Because…bubbles are cool…

Cali took a breath, and started to sing.

I didn't realize

How lost I was

But you came and showed me the way

I didn't realize

How scared I was

But you came and chased all the monsters away

Tai was in awe of Cali's smooth, celestial voice. Cali sounded like a mix between Leann Rimes and Christina Aguilera. He fervently continued to listen.

Lost, but now I am found

Blind, But now I see

Confused, I but now I understand

Everything I know

And everything do

Is all thanks, to you…

Cali quickly bit her lip. "Ok, don't lie. How bad was it? It's not finished but I still thinks it needs some work and-"

"Cali." Tai cut her off. "That was amazing."

Cali's blue eyes brightened up. "Really?! You liked it!?"

"I loved it."

Cali smiled so wide, her mouth started to hurt.

Tai's smile diminished. "Was it…written for TJ?" he asked sorrowfully.

Cali continued to smile and shook her head. "No, although I wrote it when we were going out, I had imagined…" she chuckled.

"Imagined what?"

"Don't laugh," Cali warned, "I imagined my husband. The most perfect man my mind could think of."

"That's not silly Cali. Lots of musicians do that! And who cares if they didn't, it came from your heart and that's what makes it so meaningful."

"Thanks…Tai. You don't know how much that meant to me."

"Anytime Cali…anytime."

Aw…isn't that sweet? Naughty Pan, you and your schemes! I loved it when TJ came and ruined the whole thing! Lol, lovable baka! I was planning to go on with this, but alas, my time is running out, and I have to post this quickly!

Thanks to…

Serena San, MayhemBass, Punk Gal, Punkygal, Daniella, Son Angie Kuri, Alexonite, Xena, Starlite, Forever Broken, Tachigare Yuushi, KrayZfan, OnCeUpOnAnIgHtMaRe, Gypsee Girl, Omi-Tak, Shasti, Pasjuh, Erica, Sonicwind123, Ali-Chan, Evil Sister, Anglmis, razzle-dazzle, African Uub, and Meiling Chan.

SonChan